Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1951)

ALBANY Warner’s shifted the engagement of “A Street Car Named Desire” from the Ritz to the first-run Strand and set back the opening date to October 31. The picture is scheduled to play for two weeks at $1.20 top. . . . Local industry circles are divided on the wisdom of increased prices for special films, of which the area is witnessing the largest number in recent years. . . . Decision of the Variety Club to split its Heart Fund and Denial Drive into two sections was made after long deliberation. Second assistant chief barker Harold Gabrilove has been appointed chairman of the Big Brother campaign set to start November 1. . . . The Asylum of Horrors traveling spook show has been booked for a midnight performance at the Strand November 2. . . . Fabian closed the Saratoga and Auto-Vision drive-ins for the season, but kept the Mohawk open. ATLANTA Trade in most theatres and drive-ins about average. . . . Playing are : Art, ‘‘Tales of Hofifmann”; Fox, ‘‘Love Nest”; Loew’s Grand, “Saturday’s Hero” ; Paramount, “The Day the Earth Stood Still” ; Rialto, “Drums in the Deep South”; Roxy, “Dillinger” and “Great Jewel Robber.” . . . On the row visiting were: Paul Englar, Eamous, Birmingham, Ala. ; Hugh Martin, Martin Theatres in Elorida; Geo. Oldham, Cleveland, Tenn.; Margaret Story, Warrenton; L. Morgan, Union Springs, Ala. ; A. E. Basley and J. R. Robinson, Headland, Ala. . . . The Martin Theatres circuit has started work on the 400-car drive-in at Washington, Ga., with the opening date set for early in 195k . . . The Martin Theatres has been denied permission by the NPA to build a drive-in near Valdosta, Ga. . . . C. K. Hammon’s application for a $81,000 drive-in at Gainesville, Fla., was approved. . . . Curtis H. Mees has been named manager of the Fox theatre. Van Atkinson will continue as the assistant manager and treasurer. BALTIMORE “Across the Wide Missouri” doing top gross business at Loew’s. “Day the Earth Stood Still” doing the same at the Hippodrome. Stanley with “Come Eill the Cup” rounds out the top trio in town. . . . “The Sea Hornet” at the Mayfair, “The Desert Fox” and the New, “Drums in Deep South” at Town and “Lost Continent” at Keith’s all doing slightly better than average. . . . Variety Club is planning its annual banquet on November 17. . . . Oscar Homand’s Lord Calvert theatre is ready to reopen after a new face lifting and refurbishing. . . . Dick Worman is reopening the Eureka theatre on November 15. . . . K. B. Duke, St. Mary’s Theatres, Leonardtown, Md., has been appointed chairman of the Armistace Day parade. . . . Josephine Baker scheduled for a one-nighter at the Coliseum on October 25. . . . Fred Perry, now operating the Madison in addition to the Edgemere. BOSTON The double bill of “Texas Carnival” and “Red Badge of Courage” at Loew’s State and Orpheum proved so attractive that it will be held over. At the Keith-Boston, “The Day the Earth Stood Still” also drew well enough to hold. . . . After complete redecorating with all new Krohler pushback seats added, the Morton theatre, Dorchester, operated by American Theatres Corp., will reopen November 9. It has been closed since last spring. . . . The Newington Outdoor theatre, a 500-car drive-in near Portsmouth, N. H., was opened October 14 by Owner James Nadeau. . . . The Hamilton theatre, Dorchester, closed its doors for an indefinite period. Prank Lydon is the operator of this theatre which had been in continuous operation for 36 years. BUFFALO An extensive advance exploitation campaign is being down for the world premiere liere on Tueseday, November 6, of Paramount’s “When Worlds Collide,” with E. J. WHEN AND WHERE October 28, 29: Fall board meeting Allied States Association, Biltmore Hotel, New York City. October 30-November I: Annual convention, Allied States Association, Biltmore Hotel, New York City. November 5, 6: Convention, Motion Picture Theatre Owners of St. Louis, Eastern Missouri & Southern Illinois, Chase Hotel, St. Louis, Mo. November 6: Annual meeting. Motion Picture Theatres Association of Ontario, King Edward hotel, Toronto, Canada. November 6, 7: Annual fall convention, Kansas-Missourl Theatre Association, Hotel President, Kansas City, Mo. November 13, 14: Fall meeting. Independent Theatre Owners of Montana, Flnlen hotel, Butte, Mont. November 13-15: Annual convention. Associated Theatres Owners of Indiana, Hotel Lincoln, Indianapolis, Ind. November 26, 27: Annual convention, Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Western Pennsylvania, William Penn hotel, Pittsburgh. December II, \2i Convention, Associated Independent Theatre Owners of Wisconsin, Schroeder Hotel, Milwaukee. Wall and Ben Babb assisting Harold Krolick and Charles B. Taylor on the various activities. . . . Elmer F. Lux spoke on Movietime U. S. A. at the weekly Ad club luncheon the other day, with more than 50 representatives of distribution and exhibition present and Jane Powell and Carleton Carpenter, MGM stars, as guests. . . . “It’s ‘Movietime U. S. A.’ in Buffalo” was the title of a two-page splash in the CourierExpress roto section last Sunday. . . . The Andrews Sisters are appearing in person at the Paramount theatre. . . . The Variety club staged a farewell testimonial luncheon for Chuck Harter, who has resigned as booker at Columbia. . . . James Michaels, manager of the Mercury, had the advisory council of the Albright Art Gallery sponsor the premiere of “The River,” in his house. . . . Milt Harris is presenting “Tales of Hoffmann” at popular prices in the Cinema, following its advanced price run in the local Erlanger. . . . David Zachem has sold the Artistic theatre and the building housing the theatre is being dismantled. . . . Robert Eckhardt and Ered Eischer have taken over the May theatre in Mayville. The house formerly was owned by the Blatt Bros. . . . Robert Van Maaren, formerly assistant manager of the Grand Theatre in Rochester, now is manager of the West End. CHICAGO Several new films bowing in at the first runs have gotten off to good starts : “A Place in the Sun” at the Chicago and “Crosswinds” (plus “New Mexico”) both had sidewalk holdouts their opening days; and “Tony Draws a Horse” racked up an excellent first week at the Surf, as did “No Highway in the Sky” at the Ziegfeld with a first session of over $6,000. “The Day the Earth Stood Still” is reported to have topped $20,000 in its opening stanza at the Grand and is doing well in the second week. With The United Artists experiencing better than average grosses on the run of “Golden Horde” and “Basketball Fix.” “Bright Victory” is at the Woods and “Saturday’s Hero” (plus “The Strip”) at the State Lake. . . . Milton Officer, winner of the $1,000 B. & K. managers’ competition last year, has been transferred by B. & K. from the United Artists to the Nortown, where he is inaugurating a series of kiddie shows with the cooperation of the schools and the PH'A. One of the main gimmicks is a cut-rate series ticket for all six shows. . . . The Electric Institute reports that there were 969,243 TV sets in the Chicago area August 31. CINCINNATI Theatre business, in some spots, is showing improvement, and exhibitors generally are considerably optimistic for the months ahead, particularly with respect to the better product. Current attractions include: “Come Fill the Cup,” RKO Albee; “Mr. (Continued on page 42) 40 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, OCTOBER 27, 1951