Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Mar 1954)

MEMPHIS Memphis Censor Board dominated the Memphis news this week. The dance scene, featuring Rita Hayworth, in Columbia’s new "Miss Sadie T hompson” film was shown twice on the television network during Dave Garroway’s “Today” program over WMCT in Memphis. . . . This was the scene which Memphis censors ordered cut out before the picture could be shown at Malco. Columbia refused to cut the film and the Memphis showing was cancelled. . . . Now the film is expected to be booked in West Memphis, Ark., theatres, just across the Mississippi river from Memphis. . . . J. J. Sharum, who owned and operated Chandelle and Metro theatres at Walnut Ridge, Ark., and was president of the Citizens National Bank, died in Baptist Hospital at Memphis of a heart ailment. Mr. Sharum was 57. He formerly served as lieutenant governor of Arkansas. MIAMI Bill Dock, public relations chief for the Florida State Theatres in southeastern Florida, was elected chief barker for Variety Club, Tent 33, succeeding Ed Melniker. . . . Don Tilzer, publicist for Claughton’s, planned a gala New Year’s Eve party at the Royal, with favors and refreshments added to the premiere of "Money From Home.” . . . With Frank Galgano resigning, Diana Tarpin is now assistant in advertising at the Claughton office. . . . Warner-Pathe’s Washington cameraman, Clarence Ellis, was a visitor at the Bel Aire. . . . Vandals broke into the Paramount Theatre recently, with the destruction damage estimated at $3,000, according to George Hoover, district manager. MILWAUKEE Gene Autry will bring his troupe here for a benefit performance at the auditorium sponsored by the Milwaukee Journal January 17. . . . H. Olshan, branch manager of Columbia here booked one of Autry's latest movies “Saginaw Trail” at the Alhambra January 14 tying up Autry’s personal appearance. . . . Bill Burke, RKO home office representative, was at the branch office this week. ... In town next week will be A1 O’Keefe from Pola-lite. . . . Outside of the Christmas parties things were quiet in the territory this week. MINNEAPOLIS Minneapolis theatres are continuing to advertise in the strike-bound Star and Tribune , although the papers are being sold at the plant only. Truck drivers at the papers went on strike Dec. 19 halting all street sale and home circulation. . . . Minnesota Amusement Co. is using radio and TV spot announcements to inform the public what is showing at its theatres. . . . Station KFYR-TV at Bismarck, N. D., has begun telecasting. . . . Axel Borreson, former owner of the Comfrey at Comfrey, Minn., has purchased a clothing store at Comfrey “Quo Vadis” will return to the Gopher on a wide-screen. . . . Chet LeVoir, former salesman at Republic, will handle South Dakota for Universal. Fred Bunkehnan, Universal salesman, has been transferred to the northern Minnesota and Wisconsin territory. . . . Mannie Gottlieb, Uni versal district manager, was in for a sales meeting. . . . Leo Murray, 50, former manager of the Lyceum, passed away. . . . Helen Feigel is the . new clerk and Lois Rosendahl, the new receptionist at 20th-Fox, replacing Elrene Kunde and Joan Henningsgaarcl, who have both moved their homes to California. NEW ORLEANS Jack Sanders of the Olla, Olla, La., has taken over operations of the Princess, 1 ulles, La. It was formerly operated by George Shelton. . . . The management of the Do drive-in, in co-operation with the Metairie filled many a stocking for the communities needy families by donating receipts from a special movie program arranged to appeal to every member of the family. . . . Travis Madden will open a 600-seater for all-colored patronage in Bossier City, La., January 16. The new theatre is named the Bossier. . . . Frank and Bob deGrauuw’s Bob is undergoing extensive renovations and new equipment installations. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Waguespack, parents-in-law of F. G. Prat, Jr., rounded out 50 years of wedded bliss recently. . . . Milton White, office manager, Exhibitor Poster Exchange, flew to Denver to spend Christmas Day with his son and family. OKLAHOMA CITY Paul Ketchum, 44, resident of Texarkana, Texas, and former city manager, died Dec. 17 at Veteran’s hospital here. He had been ill and hospitalized since October of this year. Ketchum worked as a theatre manager here for Standard (now Cooper Foundation) theatres. He left Oklahoma City about 15 years ago to work in the east and later to own and operate theatres in Texas. In recent years he had become associated with the United Artists Corp. . . . The Midwest theatre, held a big cartoon show Monday morning for the kiddies. Admission price was 20 cents. . . . Cooper Foundation Theatres are presenting a big holiday entertainment. At the Criterion, “Beneath The 12-Mile Reef” is shown in CinemaScope. At the Harber, "Here Come The Girls.” At the Plaza, “A Christmas Carol” with 35 minutes of Tom & Jerry. . . . The Vaska theatre in Lawton, Okla., opened Christmas Day with the showing of “The Robe” in CinemaScope. PHILADELPHIA A test special Saturday morning show at the Boyd for “Cinerama,” restricted to students at all local schools with special student prices, was such a success that the special showings for students will be repeated. . . . The Circle, 3,200-seat key neighborhood house in the Frankford section of the city, has been sold for commercial purposes. . . . The Liberty, neighborhood house, was sold by the Stanley Warner company to Jack Indictor for $75,000. . . . The appeal of the Independent Poster Exchange against the recent decision of U. S. District Court Judge William H. Fitzpatrick, dismissing its action against National Screen Service, will be heard on Feb. 1, by the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals here. . . . Variety Club joined with the Philadelphia Daily News in staging a holiday party for 120 crippled children at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, with chief barker Jack Preis in charge. . . . Melvin J. Fox, head of the independent Fox Theatres chain, and pioneer exhibitor Leo Posel, were named co-chairmen of the Motion Picture Division for the annual campaign of the Philadelphia Fellowship Commission starting Jan. 8. . . . The World officially shifted to the Trans-Lux Theatres chain with the new year. . . . Sam Milgram, of the Milgram Theatres chain, announced the marriage of his daughter on Dec. 27. PITTSBURGH The three new CinemaScope attractions, all Christmas Day openings, look set for extended runs based on their first day receipts. They are “Knights of the Round Table’’ at the Penn, "King of the Khyber Rifles” at the Fulton and "Beneath the 12Mile Reef” at the Harris. . . . The holiday season found the ticket sale for “This Is Cinerama” perking up impressively too. . . . The Stanley gets its first CinemaScope offering, “The Command” in January, following “Miss Sadie Thompson” in 3-D. . . . The Enright theatre, largest neighborhood house in the Stanley Warner chain, re-opened Christmas Day after being shuttered several months. . . . Art Cinema rushed in Anna Magnini’s “Bellissima” when the censor seal on the French “Fan Fan the Tulip” failed to arrive. . . . Rave reviews on “The Little Fugitive” at the Squirrel Hill presage a healthy run for that art house film. . . . Henry Burger, Stanley Warner ad head, and Bernie Elinoff, shorts booker, are both vacationing. PORTLAND Business at first run theatres has been in the dumps for the past several weeks, but strong product, single billed, should increase the take at the boxoffice this week. . . . Broadway theatre manager Keith Petzold has given his resignation to Mrs. J. J. Parker. . . . The 26-year-old will become manager of the Jesse Jones circuit of five houses. . . . The Broadway installed CinemaScope and stereophonic sound this week and opened “Knights of the Round Table" New Year’s Day. . . . The Liberty is scheduled to install a new curved Astrolite screen and stereophonic sound next week. . . . The Orpheum and Oriental both have had equipment for some time now. . . . Oriental manager Oscar Nyberg had a big Xmas party for underprivileged kids. . . . Evergreen’s Fox theatre should be completed in March. PROVIDENCE The Christmas holiday season opened auspiciously with the New England premiere of “Beneath the 12-Mile Reef” taking place at the Majestic. . . . Loew’s State featured Joan Crawford in “Torch Song” on the new panoramic screen. . . . The Boston theatre, where the New England premiere of Cinerama was scheduled for December 30, made a bid for Rhode Island patronage by running the largest newspaper advertising program ever attempted by any out-of-town theatre in the local press. . . . Many leading Rhode Island houses used good sized space in the special Christmas Issue of the Providence Visitor, Diocesan newspaper, extending Season’s Greetings to their patrons and friends. . . . “Martin Luther” held for a fifth week at the Avon Cinema. The popular East Side art house, for the first time, ( Continued on following page ) MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JANUARY 2, 1954 31