Motion Picture Herald (1954)

vlcitioncil Si *po ALBANY The unseasonally warm weather proved a break for drive-ins, whose owners plan to remain open until low-temperature nights became common. . . . The Strand in Albany, the Troy in Troy, and the Stanley in Utica are fixed for “A Star Is Born” scale of $1.25 at night, 90 cents in the afternoon, and 50 cents for children. . . . Joe Saperstein, who recently retired as Fabian division booker, because of a heart condition, was remembered with a present by workers in Palace theatre building, before departing for a winter in Florida. . . . Jan Sterling, who capped a busy day on behalf of “The Human Jungle” by appearing on the Strand stage the night before the Allied Artists film opened, recorded interviews with Ken Parker for “Schine Show Time” over WPTR. ATLANTA Ted Toddy, president of Toddy Pictures, checked in at his office after a trip to New Orleans. . . . On the row visiting and booking were: Bill Griffin, theatres in Cullman, Ala.; Walter Morris, Knoxville, Tenn. ; R. E. Ziebell, Swan, Norcross, Ga. ; William Greene, Glenn, Decatur, Ga. ; Mr. and Mrs. John Carter, Brookhaven, Brookhaven, Ga. ; Jay Soloman, Independent Theatres, Chattanooga, Tenn. . . . Charlie Simpson, owner of theatres in Chattanooga, is back there after a trip to New York. . . . William B. Pratt, former Atlanta theatre manager and later of Tacoma, Wash., was killed recently in an automobile accident near Yakima. . . . B. D. Benton, president of the Benton Film Express, was injured in a parade when the horse he was riding fell on him and broke his hip. He was a member of the horse patrol of the Shriners. . . . Rufus Davis, Jr., head of the Martin and Davis theatres in Alabama, has purchased the Houston theatre from Stancil King and Will and Cowdry Merrill. The building was not included in the sale. BALTIMORE Gil Schmuff, son of Fred Schmuff, Durkee executive, has reported for duty with the Army. . . . Jake Flax, Republic branch manager, in town calling on accounts with Sam Tabor. . . . Leon Rix has taken over at the Watersedge. Walter Gettinger will do the booking and buying. . . . Tom Finn Sr., Keith’s projectionist, returned from a Florida vacation. . . . Henry Hornstein, owner of the Regent and Carver Playhouse, has recovered from a heart attack and is back at his desk. . . . Leon Back, Rome Theatres; C. Elmer Nolte, Jr., Durkee Theatres; and Bob Gruver, New Glen, were among the exhibitors attending the Allied States convention in Milwaukee. . . . Bob Smeltzer, Warner branch manager, was in town visiting accounts. . . . Richard Dizon, Town theatre manager, was in New York on a holiday. ... Ted Kirwan, who recently resigned from the New theatre to enter another business, has returned to that theatre. . . . Caryl Hamburger, Film Centre, is back from a New York trip. . . . I. M. Rappaport, Rappaport Theatres, is in New York on business. BOSTON Herbert J. Schaefer, for the past eight years with Republic Pictures, is leaving the company October 22 to join Buena Vista Productions, selling the Walt Disney features in the New England territory. . . . This state has six new drive-ins under construction for spring openings. Two more permits have been granted for construction to start soon, and three applications for permits are under consideration. The six new theatres are in Lunenberg, Georgetown, North Adams, Shrewsbury, Chelmsford, Leicester and North Andover. . . . Fred Bragdon, for ten years with Columbia Pictures, has accepted the district managership in this territory for Times Film Corp. . . . Richard Feener, manager of ATC’s Central, Somerville, was married October 17 to Eleanor Chisholm, candy girl at the Ball Square theatre, Somerville. . . . B&Q Theatres have placed a woman manager at the Strand, Quincy. Dorothy Riley who joined the staff in 1945 as cashier was made assistant manager and now replaces Robert Dyette who resigned to enter another field of business. BUFFALO “White Christmas” will have its western N. Y. premiere in the Paramount theatre, October 27. ... A new wide screen is being installed in the Glen theatre in Williamsville by Menno Dykstra and it will be inaugurated with the showing of “The Robe,” starting October 24. A new highfidelity sound system also is being installed by the Glen. . . . Franl Lillich, “CourierExpress” sports writer, was the speaker at the first of a series of get-together luncheons in the Variety club last Monday. Greeters for the day were Robert T. Murphy, manager of the Century theatre ; Charlie Kosco, manager of the Fox branch; Jack Chinell, manager of the RKO Pictures exchange, Murray Whiteman, past chief barker, and Dan Sandler. Myron Gross, Co-Operative theatres, is chairman of the house committee of Tent 7. . . .“Get Acquainted Night” was reported a big success at the Variety club on Friday. . . . Dorothy and Myron Gross (Co-Operative Theatres) and Louise and Charlie Kosco (Fox) recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversaries. CHICAGO Allied Artists held a three-day sales meeting at the Blackstone hotel last week. . . . “A Star is Born” attracted local TV and radio personalities as well as city and state officials for the opening night festivities in front of the Chicago theatre. . . . Howard Miller, NBC disk jockey, broadcast from the lobby via NBC radio and showed stills on his CBS-TV show later in the evening. . . . The 4,000-seat Chicago, flagship of the B & K chain, will show the Warner Bros, feature six times a day and the admission will be 98c, $1.25 and $1.50. . . . Bill Hollander is in Rome. . . . The Grand theatre staged an Indian parade on Columbus Day for the opening of “Sitting Bull.” CINCINNATI Unusual public interest is being manifest here in the telecast of the opening night of the Metropolitan opera, scheduled for the RKO Albee, November 8. Present indications point to a sell-out at this 3,300-seat house. Reserved seat orders are coming in at a rapid pace. . . . Business at the neighborhood houses is showing some signs of improvement. The Roxy theatre, at nearby Lockland, Ohio, closed' for the past four months, was re-opened by the J & R Enterprises. . . . Sam Levin, operating the Sherwood drive-in in Dayton, reports that construction work on the new drive-in immediately adjoining is progressing nicely, and should be ready to open around January 1. Equipment will include CinemaScope and in-a-car heaters. . . . Forced to close his Skyway drive-in theatre, which he has operated for seven years, because the house was in the path of a new highway under construction, near Coshocton, Frank Gilfilin will build a new drive-in to be known as the Tri-Vale, on an eight-acre tract, with capacity for 800 cars. CLEVELAND Irving Berlin spent a busy day here this week meeting exhibitors at a Paramount luncheon which marked the first movie gathering attended by Louis Seltzer, nationally known editor of the “Press.”. . . AAF Lt. Charles Johnson, son of E. S. Johnson, film carrier, received his wings as a jet pilot Oct. 27 at Webb Air Base, Big Springs, Texas. . . . Maurice Moser reopened his 187-seat Ohio theatre, Antwerp. House was closed over the summer. . . . RKO Palace manager Max Mink announces a one night stand engagement of a variety stage show Oct. 25 featuring Peggy Lee, Bill Eckstine. . . . Jack Silverthorne, Hippodrome manager, offered the first non-fight closed circuit sports event last Saturday with the Illinois-Notre Dame football game on the screen. . . . Herbert Ochs, who operates a chain of drive-ins in Canada and Mrs. Ochs have left to winter in Florida. . . . Sam Schultz, Allied Artists branch manager and Mrs. Schultz celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. . . . Bill Onie, Cincinnati circuit owner, and Mrs. Onie were in town over the weekend to celebrate their 32nd week. COLUMBUS After a seven months’ run, “The Moon Is Blue” is slated to end its record-smashing engagement at the World. No other film in Columbus history has run so long. ... In ( Continued on page 38) 36 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, OCTOBER 23, 1954