Motion Picture Herald (1954)

( Contimied from opposite page ) secretary, was awarded a prize of a large refrigerator, after successfully performing a gag stunt. . . . After chalking up 46 years in various phases of show business, Dave Ross, city manager for Fox West Coast is retiring. Ross joined the Skouras Brothers while in St. Louis in 1919. In 1933 he came to the West and became conductor of Grauman’s Chinese until 1936, after which time he joined the Fox chain here, advancing to district manager in July of 1942. . . . Back at Warner Bros, after resigning his post to enter another field was Joe Sarfaty, of the sales department. MEMPHIS “A Star Is Born,” Warner Bros, film, did three times average business at Warner theatre in Memphis during the first week and was held over. The film is being shown at advanced prices. . . . Lloyd T. Binford, chairman of the Board of Censors, replied to Juvenile Court Judge Elizabeth McCain in Memphis. The judge, in a talk to the Film Council, said some pictures being shown in Memphis had a bad influence on adolescents. Binford reminded the children’s judge that the Memphis board was a judicial body and was governed by the rulings of the Supreme Court. He added that he too deeply regretted the board’s lack of authority to be more severe in its censoring. . . . Sunset drive-in, West Memphis, Ark., has reduced its admission prices for fall and winter to 50 cents with all children under 12 in cars being admitted free. . . . B. T. Murray, Universal branch operations manager, New York, was a Memphis visitor. MIAMI The salesmen and executives of the seven exchanges comprising the southern division of 20th Century-Fox were in town for a brief get-together at the Roney-Plaza, Miami Beach. Hosting the group at a cocktail party was Mitchell Wolfson of Wometco-WTVJ, with the party held at the studios of the latter. . . . Harry Botwick, A1 Weiss, Bill Russell and Bill Dugan from the southeast division of Florida State Theatres, drove to Orlando to attend the farewell party given retiring city manager Verne Hunter. Filling the vacated post will be Walter Colby, formerly manager of the Mantanzas in St. Augustine, Fla. . . . Allan Armstrong, manager of the Dade, a neighborhood house, reported “pronounced” patron interest in the lobby exhibit of a model and mattress for the run of “Susan Slept Here.”. . . Talent from the local WTVJ station took part in a big stage show given at the Opa Locka Marine Base for USMC personnel and friends. MILWAUKEE Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gross, district manager of the Smith Management Co., operators of the Bluemound drive-in here, celebrated their wedding anniversary during the National Allied convention while attending the convention’s supper party at Jimmy Fazio’s Supper Club October 13. . . . Don Brown, Mars theatre, La Farge, Wis., was unable to attend the National Allied convention because he is very ill in the hospital there. . . . Oscar Olson’s son, Dick, recently returned from Japan, attending the convention with his dad who is business manager of the local projectionists’ union here. . . . Jack Frackman, branch manager Republic, announced that Eddie Gaven is now a salesman for Republic. Mr. Gaven was formerly with Paramount. MINNEAPOLIS Robert Rosen, manager of the Bismarck and Dakota theatres in Bismarck, N. D., has been named co-chairman of the Bismarck Community 'Chest drive. . . . Harris Dudelson, district manager for Buena Vista Film Distributing Corp., was in calling on Charles Wiener, local sales representative. ... Jay MacFarland, branch manager of National Screen Service, is recuperating at home after being hospitalized. . . . Industryites who attended the National Allied convention in Milwaukee included Reno Wilk, operator of drive-ins in Minnesota and North Dakota, William and Sidney Volk, operators of four Minneapolis neighborhood houses, Charles Rubenstein, Twin Cities exhibitor, Frank Hahn, Ashland, Wis., exhibitor, Gilbert Nathanson, partner in Cloquet Amusement Co., Martin Lebedoff, Twin Cities exhibitor, Tom Burke, head of Theatre Associates, Frank Mantzke, head of Northwest Theatre Service, and Eddie Ruben, president of the Welworth circuit. . . . Donna Johnson, bookers clerk at MGM, is engaged to Neil Shoberg. NEW ORLEANS The new owner of the Loma, Campti, La. is Mitchell Cole, who acquired it from former owner Mrs. S. D. Dick. . . . Lewis Cox contemplates the closing of the Bayouland drive-in, Barton, La., very soon. Reopening scheduled for after the first of the year. . . . Loraine Cass, (Paramount) and past president of WOMPI, has been appointed chairman of the organization’s National Convention which will be held here next September 30-October 2. . . . The Starlite drive-in, Canton, Miss, closed October 2. . . . Plans for two important events are being formulated by the WOMPI’s, one a dance Dec. 10 and the other a rummage sale. . . . A. J. Broussard opened his new deluxe indoor Chief, Crowley, La., October 17 in grand style. It is equipped for all the latest techniques in sound and projection. . . . A. L. Royal was in New York in the interest of Panorama Pictures’ initial production “Jesse James’ Women,” distributed by United Artists. OKLAHOMA CITY “A Star is Born,” now playing at the Midwest theatre, has been held over for a second week. . . . Joseph William Brook, 43, assistant manager of the Majestic theatre here, Oklahoma City died Oct. 8 of cancer. He had been ill almost five months. Brock came to Oklahoma City over 15 years ago and had worked for the Majestic since that time. He is survived by two sons, Joseph Jr. and Kenneth and a daughter Cynthia Ann, a sister and two brothers. . . . Oklahoma Tax Commission’s report for the month of August, 1954, shows 314 returns and $38,836.83 tax, compared with 304 returns and $36,242.27 tax for August, 1953. . . . A drive-in theatre, at Tulsa, Okla., was named defendant Oct. 7 in an $80,600 damage suit filed in district court by a woman who claims her eye was injured by a rock thrown by a child playing at the movie. OMAHA Mrs. Esther Green, owner of FEPCO, Omaha theatre advertising firm, sent Omaha friends handbills of the theatres she has attended in London on a European tour and reported a visit to the London Variety Club. . . . The Croft theatre equipment and building in the estate of the late W. W. Troxel of Omaha has been sold and the situation will be closed out. . . . Vern Lindholm, Ainsworth exhibitor, and Rawley Connell, who has the Rock at Bassett, report good progress was made before rain slowed up work on their new drive-in near Long Pine. . . . A. G. Miller, operator of the Miller theatre at Atkinson, has been on the sick list. . . . Mavis Walker of the Columbia exchange is back after a leave of absence. . . . Evelyn Juszyk, 20th-Fox booker nearly 10 years, has resigned to await a visit from the stork. PHILADELPHIA A. M. Ellis, head of the A. M. Ellis Theatres, and Jack Beresin, former chief barker of Variety International, were re-nominated to the board of directors of the Philadelphia Allied Jewish Appeal. . . . Iz Segall’s new buying and booking service will handle the Harold S. Eskin houses, which have been increased to a circuit of 15 throughout the state with the acquisition of eight houses in the Pittsburgh territory. ... New crew for the local Variety Club will be elected at the general membership meeting scheduled for Oct. 26. . . . Harry A. Snyder, owner-manager of the Tremont, Tremont, Pa., for the past 18 years, has resumed his own booking and buying in selling out his outside business interests to devote all his time to the theatre. . . . Tom Clonan returned as manager of the Comerford drive-in, Scranton, Pa., after serving relief managerial duties in nearby cities. . . . Comerford Theatres booker William Salmons, in Scranton, Pa., and his wife, observed their 20th wedding anniversary. . . . Charles Beilan, Warner Brothers branch manager, is back at his exchange post after his recent operation. . . . Jack and Joe Engel announced that their Screen Guild had signed to be area distributors for the product of American Releasing Corporation. . . . United Artists branch manager Mort Magill became a grandfather for the first time when his daughter, Mrs. Ellen Rose, became the mother of a daughter, Nancy Beth. PITTSBURGH Loew’s Penn, which finally got “Brigadoon,” will follow it with “Sabrina,” “Suddenly,” and “White Christmas” in that order. . . . Nearby Scottdale honored former native son, Leonard H. Goldenson, ABParamount Theatres, Inc. head, at a banquet in Pleasant Valley Country Club. . . . The Stanley is asking $7.50 for some 300 loge seats for the Met Opera telecast Nov. 8. . . . The news that George Jessel will emcee the ( Continued on following page ) DEAL DIRECT AND SAVE on Quality Theatre Equipment Factory-to-you Values on the BEST for Driveilmi ■ifulViWi ins and Indoor Houses. SATISFACTION jk). Jig mtjr GUARANTEED. Write for complete catalog and valuable portfolio FREE. first ‘American mJurh.mc. 1717 Wyandotte St., Kansas City 8, Mo. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, OCTOBER 23, 1954 39