Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Mar 1954)

( Continued from opposite page) Bowl festivities, the area had a number of hold-overs. Among them were "The Robe" in its 5th week at Lincoln, Town; "Beneath the 12-Mile Reef,” 2nd week Carib, Miami, Miracle; "Easy to Love,” 2nd week Florida, Flamingo; "Here Come the Girls,” 2nd week Embassy, Roosevelt and "Escape from Fort Bravo,” a 2nd week tenant at Royal and Variety. . . . January 7th at the Lord Tarleton, the installation of officers of the Variety Club was to take place, with International Chief Barker, Jack Berenson expected to attend. . . . Florida State Theatres’ president, Leon Netter, was down from Jacksonville recently, and in conference with George Hoover, division manager of the southeastern district. MILWAUKEE A projectionist for some 30 years, Ejdwin A. Borchardt, 56, died of a heart attack at work at the Oriental theatre here. He was a native of Milwaukee and a member of Richard Wagner Lodge 42, Knights of Pythias. There are no immediate survivors. ... A one-time stage and film star, in the days of silent pictures, passed away at her home in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Mrs. John H. Folger, 66, who was known as Violet MacMillan, the “Cinderella girl.” . . . It was quiet along film row during the Holidays. . . . Business on Christmas day was fair with theatres doing better if they had good bookings. MINNEAPOLIS The 744-seat Suburban World, formerly the Granada, opened Jan. 1 with an art policy. House is being operated by Ted Mann, who also owns the World theatres in downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. . . . Dick Stahl has been named northern Minnesota salesman for Republic. He formerly was branch manager for North Star Pictures. . . . Pat Halloran, Universal branch manager in Milwaukee, was in for a week visiting his wife and family. The Hallorans hope to be reunited in Milwaukee as soon as they sell their home here. . . . Joseph Crown is the new assistant shipper at Warners, replacing Don Ellwood, resigned. . . . Ben C. Ferriss, 68, the first advertising manager of the old Finkelstein and Ruben chain, forerunner of Minnesota Amusement Co., died. He set up the original F & R publicity department in 1919. . . . “Knights of the Round Table” in CinemaScope has been set for Radio City, Minneapolis, and the Paramount, St. Paul, opening Jan. 15. Another CinemaScope film, “Beyond the 12-Mile Reef,” will open at the Orpheums in both cities Jan. 20. NEW ORLEANS Bob Roberts, advance representative of movie and stage roadshow attractions, currently connected with the Civic theatre, is recuperating after a three-week siege of pneumonia. . . . Norman Calquhorn, manager of Columbia’s Memphis branch, was a visitor here during the holiday season. . . . E. E. Shinn, Paramount salesman, spent the Christmas holiday in Salisbury, N. C. . . . Gay, Ferriday, La. closed December 28, according to owner W. G. Pullon. . . . A. M. Randall closed the Fern drive-in, Woodville, Miss. December 24, until futher notice. . . . Dome, Hattiesburg, Miss, reopened January 5 after several weeks’ closing during the holiday season. . . . Page Baker, buyerbooker representative of Claude drive-in, Eunice, La., announced that it will continue in operation weekends only from January 3 until spring. . . . Reo, Golden Meadows closed on December 31. L. W. Dantin, manager, said reopening depends on weather conditions. . . . The Hill Top, Clinton, Miss, reopened on January 4. OKLAHOMA CITY The “77” drive-in, the Bomber drive-in and the Tinker drive-in have been closed for the winter. The drive-ins are members of Barton Theatres, and will reopen in the spring. . . . “Money From Home” was shown at three theatres here on New Year’s Eve: the Criterion, the Tower and the Plaza, all are Cooper Foundation Theatres. The picture will not be shown here regularly until February. ... A new screen has been installed at Twilight Gardens drive-in theatre. . . . The Starlite drive-in theatre, Ardmore, Okla., held its last bargain nite last week when a carload or truck load was admitted for 50 cents. . . . Eight employes of Sullivan Independent Theatres at Wichita, Kas., were awarded two-year service pins Sunday at the Sullivan annual Christmas party. Recipients included were Phil Silvernail, Bill Mitchell, Les Wilhite, Esther Royalty, Lawrence Buchanan, Doris Logan, Bill Feigley. OMAHA The Nebraska Society for Crippled Children announced the appointment of J. Robert Hoff as head of the newly-formed Douglas County chapter. Hoff, general manager of Ballantyne Company, also has been a leader in the Omaha Opportunity Center and the Dr. Lord School and is the new chief barker of Variety Tent 16. . . . Ernest Van Wey, son of exhibitor Glenn Van Wey at the Gothenburg Sun, had charge of the Masonic Lodge’s toy collection project in that area. . . . A large number of film row bowlers contributed to The World-Herald's annual Good Fellows Christmas Fund. . . . 20th-Fox office manager Regina Molseed was hostess at an open house for her sister and brotherin-law, Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Kerrigan, on their silver wedding anniversary. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Harold Dunn are putting in wide screen and much new equipment at the Jewell theatre in Valentine. . . . The Nebraska crops statistics department reported a 16 per cent increase in the state’s popcorn production in 1953 over 1952, with 31,000,000 pounds compared with 26,000,000 the previous year in spite of drougth conditions. PHILADELPHIA With the new year, 20th Century-Fox moves from its present location to a nextdoor building while United Artists goes to a new two-story structure being built by A. M. Ellis to house the offices of his independent theatre circuit. . . . Motion Picture Associates planning for a large industry dinner at the Hotel Warwick Feb. 15 for its welfare fund with Sam E. Diamond, 20th Century-Fox branch manager, the committee chairman. . . . City Council in Harrisburg, Pa., told theatre managers that the eight per cent city tax on theatre admissions, which grosses about $140,000 a year, could not be abolished without imposing other levies or increasing present taxes. . . . Chief Building Inspector Michael J. Fidahce in Wilmington, Del., making his annual inspection of all theatres and projection booths in compliance with the city’s Building Code. . . . Managerial changes at the Comerford Theatres upstate: Chester Budzenski, who resigned as manager of the Palace, Avoca, Pa., to join the Signal Corps, was replaced by Bernard Drexinger. Sam Miles went from the Rex, Dickson City, Pa., to the Orient, Dunmore, Pa., succeeding George Morris, who will be the manager of the Granada, Olyphant, Pa. PITTSBURGH Cool, brisk weather and tojpnotch' attractions gave the downtown first-run houses their best business in months, paced by “Knights of the Round Table,” which is soaring to an amazing $42,000 in its first week in Loew’s Penn. . . . The two other CinemaScope features, “Beneath the 12-Mile Reef” and “King of the Khyber Rifles” are also strong holdovers in the Harris and Fulton respectively. . . . Jimmy Stewart, whose home is in nearby Indiana, Pa., will be in Pittsburgh Feb. 5, to plug his “Glenn Miller Story.” . . . “Miss Sadie Thompson” in 3-D, now at the Stanley, is the second Columbia picture to play the Stanley in recent months: “From Here to Eternity” also played the big house. . . . “The Robe” is cleaning up in the suburbs. It set up a new house record in A1 Weiss’ Liberty theatre, McKeesport, and will remain at least three weeks in that 1,200 seat house. . . . “The Little Fugitive,” mopping up in the Squirrel Hill, will be followed by “The Titfield Thunderbolt” and then, a re-issue of “Hamlet.” PORTLAND Business has started on the upgrade after pre-holiday season blues. . . . Keith Petzold took over duties as g-eneral manager for the Jesse Jones chain. . . . Veteran showman Herb Royster became manager of J. J. Parker’s Broadway theatre and publicity director for the Circuit. . . . Mrs. J. J. Parker is off to film land for a short business trip. . . . Hamrick’s Liberty theatre installed an Astrolite screen and stereophonic sound. . . . The Broadway installed CinemaScope and stereophonic sound last week and is showing “Knights of the Round Table” as the first attraction. . . . Portland now has four first run houses with this type equipment. . . . Willard Coughlin, newly appointed field man for Warners in the NW, took over his territory from Max Bercutt. . . . Oscar Chiniquy has resigned after 20 years with National Theatre Supply. For the last 11 years, he has been manager of the NTS Seattle office. . . . Work is progressing on the remodeling of the Mayfair theatre to be renamed the Fox when it relights in March. PROVIDENCE Christmas holiday business, with excellent film fare on tap, was reportedly more than . satisfactory. The Strand, using double the amount of normal newspaper advertising, presented Bob Hope in “Here Come The Girls,” to large houses. . . . The Majestic used half-pages in the local papers, heralding another CinemaScope attraction, the New England premiere of “Beneath the 12-Mile Reef,” goodly houses were noted. . . . “Quo ( Continued on following page ) MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JANUARY 9, 1954 35