Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Mar 1955)

{Continued from opposite page) for Los Angeles to confer with distributors in the area on EPI product and set plans for new productions. . . . The Medina drivein, Easton, Pa., is now Imown as the Starlite drive-in. . . . Harry E. Weiner, Columbia division manager here, was in Hahnemann Hospital undergoing minor surgery. . . . Warners are handling the physical distribution of “This Is the Army” in this area. . . . The Ritz, Weatherly, Pa., has been leased by Robert Rothrock, with Eddie Jones, of Coaldale, Pa., doing the buying and bftoking. . . . Larry R. Levy, for many years manager of Loew’s Colonial, Reading, Pa., before becoming a public relation counsel, served as public relations chairman for the March of Dimes drive in that city. . . . The Rajah, Reading, Pa., will revive a plan used some years ago of bringing in a name band plus vaudeville acts once a month, added to the picture program, with admission prices at “popular” family rates. PITTSBURGH “20,000 Leagues Under The Sea” is giving the Stanley its best business in months, and sure for a long run. . . . The Pittsburgh Junior Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the local premiere of “Cinerama Holiday” the night of Feb. 16 in the Warner theatre. . . . The Variety Club will sponsor a dinner on Feb. 2 in Hotel William Penn for “PostGazette” critic Harold V. Cohen, named America’s best movie critic. . . . M. A. Silver, Stanley Warner zone manager, receives a Jaycee “Man of the Year” award in entertainment at a banquest Jan. 31 for his part in bringing Cinerama to Pittsburgh. . . . With the Penn theatre now being run under Harris Amusement Enterprises operation, “Beau Brummel,” on and off the Penn booking chart for months, gets a Harris date next month. . . . “Jupiter’s Darling” gets a Penn date following the current “Vera Cruz,” while the Stanley will follow its impending “Silver Chalice” with Jane Russell’s “Underwater”. . . . Pittsburgh’s two neighborhood art houses thriving, the Guild with “Romeo and Juliet” and the Squirrel Hill with “The Detective,” both in their fifth weeks. PORTLAND First run business has started to perk after a slump. Nearly all downtown spots now have strong product. . . . Don Prince, RKO publicity executive, was up from Hollywood to work with Paramount theatre manager Dick Newton. . . . George Murphy won plenty of praise and did the film industry a lot of good when he appeared as guest speaker at the Jr. C. of C. “Citizen of the Year” dinner last week. . . . Frank Breal has changed his Century theatre to a 35 “grind” policy. The theatre started as a news theatre, moved to exploitation stuff, and now two strong oldies. . . . Guild theatre manager Marty Foster is undecided about Hawaii or Palm Springs for his vacation next month. . . . The Orpheum theatre did sensational business with “20,000 Leagues” for four weeks. PROVIDENCE Governor Dennis J. Roberts will be guest of honor and principal speaker at the kickoff luncheon of the 1955 Rhode Island Jimmy Fund drive. Sparking the efforts of theatre owners, operators and managers. representing well over 40 houses from throughout the state, the affair will be held shortly, in the Sheraton-Biltmore Hotel. Prominent Rhode Island exhibitors who will head the varied phases of this year’s campaign (which will comprise tag-days, theatre collections, billboard and theatre-screen advertising, sporting events and special benefits) include Edward M. Fay, Willard iMathews, William Trambukis, David Levin, Albert J. Siner, Albert J. Clarke and Harold Lancaster. ... In line with his unorthodox newspaper advertising, which has created considerable interest, as well as increased activity at the box office, Joe Jarvis, ownermanager of the Gilbert Stuart, Riverside neighborhood house, recently included in his regular copy, portions of a letter from an out-of-state man, praising the atmosphere, appearance and service of the theatre. . . . “Ice Capades,” in for a 10-day engagement at the Auditorium, was virtually a sell-out a week in advance. . . . “The Violent Men” held for a second week at the Strand. ST. LOUIS The Fox-Lincoln theatre at Springfield, 111., has been offering a special Saturday movie matinee on Saturday mornings for the chiklren. Adults can come, too, if accompanied by children. . . . More than 200 tickets have been sold for the second Wabash Railroad excursion from Decatur, 111., and nearby towns to St. Louis for January 29 to see Cinerama at the Ambassador theatre. . . . The screen at the Skyway drive-in theatre on the Georgetown Road at Danville, 111., has lieen used by young boys for rifle practice and at least two occasions it has been perforated with holes. Deputy sheriffs are investigating'. . . . Robert Marchbank, who formerly served as district manager for the Commonwealth Theatre Corporation, has been appointed manager of the Calvin theatre at Washington, AIo., succeeding Frank Jones, who will manage a theatre in Norton, Kan. TORONTO The Hamilton “Daily News,” daily paper due to become an evening as well as a morning newspaper, has a show column written by Gordon Bullock. . . . There are now over a million T\^ sets in Canada, according to a spokesman for the Radio-Television Manufacturers’ Association. . . . The Granada, Hamilton, has changed its name to the Downtown after completion of extensive remodelling. The house is managed by Paul Turnbull. . . . Russ McKibbin, manager Imperial, distributed free Martin and Lewis balloons to the first 500 juveniles attending “Three Ring Circus.” Now Russ is getting behind “A Star Is Born,” in its third week. . . . Trade showing of “Romeo and Juliet” for circuit managers in western Ontario was conducted by R. C.. Harvey, district supervisor, at the Odeon, London, with manager Ken Davies as host. . . . Elmwood, a 620-seat suburban house at London, was transformed into an art house by Twentieth Century Theatres. First picture under the new policy was “Modern Times.” . . . Manager Walter Lackenbauer, Soper, Smiths Falls, greeted parents of the first baby in 1955 in his town with a double pass for a month to his house. ... A patient in the Saint John General Hospital for some weeks with virus pneumonia was Mort Bernstein of B & L Theatres. . . . After completion of renovations, Capitol, Woodstock, N. B., was reopened with “The Robe” as its attraction. VANCOUVER “A Star is Born” did smash business at the Capitol. . . . “Black Widow” and “The Barefoot Contessa” both did well on holdovers. . . . An operator of a small town circuit in B. C. said there is a need for more prints on good pictures. . . . B-72 theatre employees union are working on a new deal with the circuits which includes a hike in pay, better working conditions and doing away with split shifts in downtown theatres. Janitors and cleaning staffs members of another union are also talking a new deal under the Buildirtg Service union. ... A check of patrons of local theatres said they want more action pictures, since they get all the talking they want on TV. . . . Bette Kurliak, Vogue cashier, and Rae Waldegrave, in charge of concessions at the Vogue, and both from Australia, have resigned. The wanderlust this time will take them to Furoi)e after looking over the U. S. A. en route. . . . Ed Newton, new assistant at the Odeon-Vogue, has been in show business for nine years, mostly with Paramount Theatres in Great Britain. . . . Frank Gow, Jr., manager of the Broadway, is the father of a son — third child for the Gow family. WASHINGTON Sympathy is being extended to Mrs. Sara -S. Young, 20th Century-Fox booker, whose father died in Boston January 16. . . . Sam Galanty, Columbia Pictures division manager, attended a two-day home office meeting in New York. . . . The Variety Club board of governors appointed associate members Dr. Edward A. Cafritz and IMilton .S. Kronheim to serve on the board in 1955 in an honorary capacity. . . . Anthony Muto, 20th Century-Fox, will be installed as association president of the White House News Photographers Association March 19. President Eisenhower will be present. . . . Vincent lorio, manager of the Trans-Lux theatre, was hospitalized at Georgetown Hospital. . . . The Variety Club will again sponsor the Variety Club Mile Relay in the Washington “Evening Star” games. . . . Donald L. Hearn, Washington “Daily News,” will be Tent IPs local press guy. . . . Frank M. Boucher, Phil Isaacs, and Jack Fruchtman, will head the ways and means committee of the Variety Club of Washington in 1955. Gulf Allied Hears About Warner Policy Directors and members of the Gulf States Allied, meeting in New Orleans last week, heard reports from the field about Warners’ alleged unreasonableness on percentage and alleged unwillingness to sell pictures on flat rental. The members decided the annual convention probably will be held after Easter. YOU CAN ALWAYS DEPEND ON at SPECIAL ^ TRAILERS Imr MOTION PICTURE HERALD. JANUARY 29, 1955 33