Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Mar 1955)

FABULOUS FABIANS, & ALSO CANADIANS, ARE WINNERS William Wyatt, manager of the Virginian theatre, Charleston, W. Va., who was pointed out as a “comer” by the Stanle}'Warncr boys in the Pittsburgh zone, and Xicky Langston, manager of the Odeon theatre. Toronto, Canada, who was declared champion showman of his circuit, are standard bearers for two great groups of showmen, heading the list of winners in the fourth quarter of 1954, for the Quigley Awards. Since they can’t all win, we believe this is adequate recognition to the other contenders in two great circuits, for the quality of showmanship which they have displayed in competition with each other, and the rest of the world. But, both Fabians and Canadians are equally fabulous. William Wyatt received the highest praise from our judges and was named first on two ballots. Nicky Langston headed a list of contenders from Odeon's fine theatres across Canada, and deserves his honors. But they were crowded by others who have the same representation — for instance, there were other competitive circuit groups whom you’ll find among the runners-up, and in this quarter, quite a few first entries from new contenders who have never before submitted their efforts in the oldest and most respected showmanship contest in motion picture industry. We can cite the seven Scroll of Honor winners in the usual alphabetical order, as running neck and neck with those who were named for the top awards : E. R. Brennan, Bay theatre, Green Bay, Wise. Diane Gordon, Central theatre, Jersey City, N. J. Bob Harvey, Capitol theatre. North Bay, Ontario. Ted I rwin. Electric theatre. Lamed, Kansas. E. E. Johnson, Strand theatre, Madison, Wise. T. Murray Lynch, Parannount theatre, Moncton, Ontario. Jack Sidney, Loew's theatre, Baltimore, Md. Overseas entries were close, indeed, but the judges, in agreement with the opinion of our specialist on showmanship from abroad, picked a campaign on “Knock on Wood” sent by Jack Plunkett, from the Paramount theatre, Paris, France. But there were others who deserve honorable mention, notably Harry Greaves’ campaign on “Roman Holiday” from the Wintergarden theatre, Brisbane, and the campaign by J. J. H. H. Tapke Lokenberg, on “Three Coins in the Fountain” from the Asta theatre, Amsterdam, Holland. The fine, democratic “Golden Anniversary” program from the Regal Cinema, Kilmarnock, Scotland, which has operated as a theatre for fifty years, won the admiration of our judges. Hard working, these judges for the fourth quarter, and a little fatigued from lifting and weighing, judicially, some heavy campaigns, from all quarters. Above, Mort Nathanson, publicity manager for United Artists, whom we have long known and admired for his fine qualificafions; Paul Ackerman, director of advertising, publicity and sales promotion for Paramount International, and Russ Grant, serving for Ernie Emerling, from the clever and capable department of Loew's Theatres that supplies that excellent "Movie Memo" to newspapers all over the country, in behalf of motion picture industry. Russ was a theatre manager in Hartford, Conn., before he came down to contribute so much to the best newspaper relations project in our business, and for which Ernie Emerling deserves and gets all credit from this corner. 4th Quarter Citation Winners TED ALLEN Tivoli Hempstead, N. Y. KERMIT W. ALLUM Majestic Evansville, Ind. JOHN BAIMER Strand Plainfield, N. J. ELLIOTT BROWN Odeon Victoria, Canada HARRY BURKE Community Saratoga Springs, N. Y. J. A. CALLAGHER Regal Kilmarnock, Scotland DALE CARLSON Madison Madison, Wis. BARRY CARNON Hyland Toronto, Canada RALPH CONNOR Odeon, Trail, Canada MAX COOPER Cove, Glen Cove, N. Y. TED DAVIDSON Majestic Perth Amboy, N. J. ANN DE RAGON Paramount Plainfield, N. J. J. DE BENEDETTO Poll, Worcester, Mass. JOHN M. ENDRES Calderone Hempstead, N. Y. GEORGE FORHAN Belle Belleville, Canada CHARLES GAUDINO Poli Springfield, Mass. HARRY GREAVES Wintergard Brisbane, Australia N. J. HARTLE Capitol Bolton, England D. HUGHES Cabot Bristol, England BOB HYNES Mayfair Asbury Park, N. J. AL JENKINS Vogue, Vancouver GEORGE KEMBLE Strand Perth Amboy, N. J. SHELDON KLIMAN Riviera Hastings, Minn. RALPH LANTERMAN Community Morristown, N. J. A. LOEWENTHAL Ward, New York JOHN LONGBOTTOM Odeon Middlesborough, Eng. JOHN LORENZ Pascack Westwood, N. J. JOHN MCKIM Odeon Ladysmith, Canada RAY A. MC LEOD Hastings, Vancouver F. MARSHALL Lux, Vancouver ROBERT OSBORN Kingston Kingston, N. Y. JACK PARDES Park, Morristown, N. J. GEORGE PETERS Loew's, Richmond, Va. NORM REAY Plaza Victoria, Canada RAY RESKY Broadway Saskatoon, Canada MORRIS ROSENTHAL Poli New Haven, Conn. MATT SAUNDERS Poli Bridgeport, Conn. IRVING SCHWARTZ Pelham, New York HAROLD SHAMPAN Odeon Woolwich, England JOE SOMMERS Broadway Kingston, N. Y. MURRAY SPECTOR Plaza Englewood, N. J. MICHAEL STRANGER Plymouth Worcester, Mass. EVAN THOMPSON Fox, Hackensack, N. J. MANAGERS' ROUND TABLE SECTION, JANUARY 29, 1955 37