Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1948)

(.Continued from page 26) franchise owner. . . . Otto Price of Price Theatre Premiums has named Charles Winet as sales representative in the Cleveland exchange area. COLUMBUS Christmas shopping continued to occupy the attention of prospective patrons, with a consequent adverse effect on box offices, but despite that competition fair business prevailed with three new first runs: "Walk a Crooked Mile," at the Ohio; "June Bride," at the Palace, and "Night Has a Thousand Eyes," at the Broad. The Grand continued "Kiss the Blood Off My Hands" after four days at the Palace. . . . Lane, latest in the growing Academy neighborhood circuit, opened December 16. The Colonial-type house is located in Upper Arlington, swank northwest suburb. . . . Variety Club is sponsoring a four-day Kiddie Christmas Karnival December 21-24, centering around City Hall. . . . First run engagement of the British picture, "Jassy," was held December 15-18 at five Academy theatres. DENVER Ray Katzenbach has sold the Emerson, Brush, Colo., to John Roberts, who operates theatres in Ft. Morgan, 10 miles away. . . . Fred Lind, owner of Rifle, Colo., theatres, suffered a severe heart attack while attending Allied New Orleans convention. . . . Thieves broke into car of Jerry Banta, MGM salesman, stole clothing, etc. . . . Irving Jacobs, former exchange manager, heading company that hopes to get dog-racing franchise for Denver under new law voted in at last election. . . . T. C. Smiley, Selected Pictures general manager, to Kansas City for conferences with Norris Cresswell, branch manager. PES MOINES The new $65,000 Sunset theatre at Sumner was opened last week by Harry Pace, owner. Pace has been in the theatre business for 32 years. . . . The Forest Theatre Corp. has been dissolved in Des Moines by order of its officers : Elias Garbett, Sr., president; N. E. Thompson, vice-president; E. M. Garbett, secretary, and A. E. Thiele, treasurer. . . . Articles of incorporation have been filed for the Cedar Rapids Drivein Co. of Des Moines. Capitalization was given at $24,000, and the following officers listed: A. H. Blank, president; Morris Ebin, vice-president, and L. E. McKeachney, treasurer. . . . Henry Johnson has been named manager of the Walnut, Walnut, succeeding Mrs. James Menefee. . . . The Uptown, Arnolds Park, has been bought by P. L. March of Wayne, Neb., who owns the Royal in Spirit Lake Glidden's new Memorial theatre had its grand opening last week. The theatre is a project of the Glidden post of the American Legion. . . . Mr. and Mrs. J. B. McGrew of Elgin, Neb., have bought the Rio, Churdan. . . . Theatre business in Des Moines fell off during the week. HARTFORD Morris Keppner, operator of the Glastonbury theatre, Glastonbury, Conn., currently building an 800-seat theatre at East Hart ford, Conn., plans completion of the $200,000 house by March, 1949. . . . Nick Kounaris and Paul Tolis, partners in the Newington theatre, Newington, Conn., and George Ulyssis, a New Britain, Conn., businessman, expect to complete their new 1,000-seat theatre at Meriden, Conn., by late winter. The theatre's booth will have space available for installation of television equipment, if needed. The theatre will also feature parking facilities for 600 cars. . . . Two Connecticut newspapers have announced increases in amusement advertising rates: The New Britain Herald and the Hartford Times. . . . Joseph Giobbia, formerly with New York and Los Angeles theatre circuits, has been appointed manager of the Crown theatre, Crown Management Corporation house in Hartford, succeeding Joseph B. LaVista, now in the vending business. . . . Hartford visitors : Albert R. Lessow, Waterbury; John DiBenedetto, Bridgeport; Harry F. Shaw, division manager, New England Theatres. INDIANAPOLIS Trueman Rembusch, national allied representative at the Hollywood Conference next month, is sending 2,500 questionnaires to allied units for distribution to members. . . . Theatres at Plymouth, Ind., were without power for half an hour last Sunday night when a storm blew down electric lines. ... A building permit for a $160,000 neighborhood theatre was issued this week to the Capitol City Theatre Corp. . . . Film exchange Christmas parties will be held by Warner Bros., Dec. 18; RKO, MGM and Universal Dec. 20 ; Republic, Dec. 21 ; Fox, Dec. 22; Monogram and Eagle-Lion, Dec. 24. . . . Earl Cunningham, general manager of the Fountain Square group, left Tuesday for a six-week vacation in California. ... A. Van Dyke, 20th-Fox Chicago sales manager, visited the exchange here this week. . . . Business was mild at first run houses here last week. There was rain over the weekend and concentration of Christmas shopping on store days. KANSAS CITY There were three holdovers here this week. The Orpheum held "Blood on the Moon" and "Angels with Dirty Faces." The Roxy held "It Happened One Night" and "Only Angels Have Wings." The Kimo held "Die Fledermaus." . . . The Uptown and Fairway held Christmas parties Decem ber 11. . . . Howard Busey, long-time theatre manager for Fox-Midwest, has resigned as manager of the Orpheum, Wichita, to enter another business. . . . Nearly 100 persons have applied for the position of motion picture censor, to succeed Mrs. Eleanore C. Walton, retiring February 1. . . . The open mid-year meeting of independent theatre managers was attended by more than 50. They heard William L. Ainsworth and Charles Niles. C. M. Parkhurst, recently a film salesman, takes over as manager of the Kansas-Missouri unit January 1. . . . Kansas City first runs are cooperating in a local safety drive by running a trailer called "Don't Let Death Take Your Holiday," booked into all theatres. LOUISVILLE Changing on Tuesday instead of the conventional Louisville Thursday, the National brought in "Flying Tigers" and "The Fighting Seabees." Loew's played "Walk a Crooked Mile" and "Jinx Money." The Scoop brought back "Dangerous Journey," while the Brown took over "Good Sam" for a further run, following a week at the Rialto. The Mary Anderson had "Fighter Squaddon," while the Rialto played "Road House" and "Trouble Preferred." . . . Film Row visitors : Oscar Hopper, Lebanon ; James Story, Jamestown ; G. M. May, Corydon ; George Peyton, LaGrange; Mr. and Mrs. Don Steinkamp, French Lick; Bob Enoch, Elizabethtown ; C. O. Humston, Lawrenceburg; Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Aspley, Glasgow; Clark Bennett, Taylorsville ; J. C. Smith, Bloomfield; G. D. Saylor, Wallins Creek. . . . The Dixie drive-in, operated by Floyd Morrow, and R. L. Harned's and Reach McAlister's Theatrair drive-in closed December 5. They will reopen in April. . . . Harry F. Petty, 52, motion picture projectionist at Loew's theatre here since it opened about 20 years ago, died last week in the theatre shortly before he was scheduled to go to work. He was president of the Kentucky Federation of Labor. MEMPHIS First run attendance in Memphis was off as Christmas shopping crowds stormed the downtown section. Television made its debut in Memphis over station WMCT last Saturday night. First run managers reported attendance below average. . . . Loew's Palace showed "The Time of Your Life." Loew's State had "Blood on the Moon." Malco opened with "Angel on the Amazon." Warner played "Let's Live a Little." Double features showed at Ritz and Strand. . . . L. W. McClintock, on leave of absence because of illness for several months, was back on the job as branch manager of Paramount in Memphis, and Tom Bridge, acting branch manager, returned to Dallas. . . . All film exchanges were holding Christmas parties. . . . John Walter Cox, Osceola, Ark., who was associated with his sister, Miss Emma Cox, in the Joy and Gem theatres there, died December 8 at Basptist Hospital in Memphis. . . . Visiting mid-south exhibitors included Ned Green, Mayfield; John Mohrstadt, Hayti ; Lyle Richmond, Senath ; C. A. Gilliland, Cooter; Cliff Peck, Covington; W. F. Ruffin, Sr., Covington; W. H. Gray, Rutherford; Amelia Ellis, Mason; Gordon Hutchins, Corning; Horace Stanley, Bebee ; Herod Jimerson, North Little Rock ; {Continued on opposite page) 28 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 18, 1948