Motion Picture Herald (Apr-Jun 1955)

(Continued from opposite page) Shawnee. . . . For this week, The Tower, downtown 2,100-seat theatre of Fox Midwest, often grouped with three others in first run showings, had a double bill of its own, “Son of Sinbad” and “High Society,” while the otlier three. Uptown, Granada and Fairwa}', have “The Eternal Sea,” and “Santa Fe Passage.” . . . The Glen, art theatre, after several weeks of “The Game of Love,” started “Rome, 11 O’Clock,” June 10. . . . d'he Kimo, following the long run of “The Glass Slipper,” now has “Camille.” . . . The \'ogue announces one more week of “Song of the Land” and “The Beachcomber.” LOS ANGELES Connie Titus, who handles the HeraldExpress Theatre Guide, is now Mrs. Josiah Baker. . . . Irwin Sklar, operator of the Crest theatre in Oceanside, announced that he is taking over the Margo theatre there when Fred Siegel’s lease on the property expires in August. Siegel will continue to operate his Palomar and is starting construction of a new show-case in the town. . . . Back from a vacation in Phoenix, was Judy Poynter, who heads a buying-booking service here. . . . Gladys Camp has resigned her position at Warner Bros, so that she may devote full time to being a housewife. Shirley Golub of the contract department has been promoted to succeed Mrs. Camp. . . . Jim Velde, United Artists western district manager, checked in from New York for local branch conferences. . . . Don Hallstrom, booker for Allied Artists, was back from a vacation to Salt Lake City. . . . Dick McKay returned from Rutledge, Yt., where he attended the funeral of his mother. . . . In town were Charlie Maestrie, Lippert Theatres; Joe Markowitz, Encinitas; Gordon West, Fillmore, and Ben Bronstein, Palm Springs. MEMPHIS Banned three times in Memphis by censors, “Son of Sinbad,” has opened at Sunset drive-in, West Memphis, Ark., just across the river from Memphis. . . . Gordon Hutchins, Arkansas exhibitor, has bought the 64 drive-in, Russellville, Ark., from Mrs. Henley Smith. . . . “Love Me Or Leave Me,” MGM, led the first run attendance parade for a second consecutive week in Memphis at Loew’s State theatre. . . . Film Row raised $300 for the St. Jude Children’s Hospital which Danny Thomas, of the films and television, plans to build in Memphis, chairman Joe S. Young, Warner Bros., announced. . . . Professional talent staged a special show at the Belle Meade theatre, Nashville, to mark Edwin J. Jordon’s 15th anniversary as manager. . . . Paul Wilson, 20th-Fox assistant division manager, Atlanta; and James Frew, Universal district manager, Atlanta, were Memphis visitors. . . . M. S. McCord, head of United Theatre Corporation, Little Rock, was in Memphis on business. MIAMI The complete re-conditioning and modernization of Florida State Theatres’ Regent is nearly completed and the circuit feels the house deserves a new name. There will be a contest with the name selected earning the contestant a season pass. . . . Six of the W'ometco houses will offer a summer entertainment bargain to the children with a subscription ticket costing a dollar entitling the recipient to eight different two-hour shows. Adults may attend only if accompanying children and will pay usual matinee prices. . . . The winner, of a local contest to find a lookalike for Marilyn Monroe, will be photographed in the famous skirt billowing pose and receive an expense-paid holiday at a swank motel. . . . “Davy Crockett” promotion resulted in many window displays and included free theatre passes to purchasers of mocassins of the same name. . . . Bob Harris, executive of the confections division of Florida State Theatres, was down from Jacksonville recently, as were Mark du Pree and French Harvey of the same chain. MILWAUKEE Buena Vista’s new man in this territory is Eddy Safier. He can be reached through Milwaukee Film Center. . . . The Pardee theatre in Pardeeville has closed. It was operated by Robert Armhein. . . . There was a very good turn out for the special trade screening last Wednesday evening of “Marty” at the Fox-Wisconsin theatre. . . . Oliver and Ray Trampe were in Washington, D. C. for one day on business. . . . Jerry Kramer, ■ salesman at the Universal exchange here, is engaged to be married. . . . Donald La Porte, son of Tony La Porte, is stationed in Germany with the Air Force. MINNEAPOLIS Several new drive-ins opened in the territory. Jimmy Randgaard, operator of the Staples at Staples, Minn., opened the new Rand drive-in at V'erndale, Minn. . . . A1 Fritz, owner of the Lyric at Watertown, .S. D., opened his new Melody drive-in at Watertown. . . . Mrs. Clarence Quincer and her son, Don, opened the new Wadena drive-in at Wadena, Minn. Quincers also operate conventional house in Wadena. . . . Ed Sadusky. a manufacturer in Staples, Minn., plans to open his new Rapids drivein at Park Rapids, Minn., June 20. . . . Ed Linder, manager of the loop Gopher, vacationed in Washington, D. C., and New York City. . . . Three exchanges have new booking clerks. John Kovac is the new booking clerk at Paramount, Don Levy, at Columbia, and John MaePherson, at Universal. . . . Harry Weiss, RKO Theatres district manager, was in New Orleans on routine business. . . . Sam Idclkope, booking clerk at Paramount, is engaged to Dawn Blumberg. . . . Irene Efshen, cashier at National Screen, was to be married to Theodore Fraser June 18. . . . Art Jacobs, auditor with National Film Service, was at Independent Film Service. NEW ORLEANS Operation at the Eglin, Crestview, Fla., is curtailed to Saturday and Sunday showings only. It is a unit of the Neal Robinsons’, Sr. and Jr., string of Florida theatres. . . . Linda Lazarus, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Isadore Lazarus, is back home from Northampton, Mass, where she is a student at Smith College. After a brief rest she will accompany her parents and brother on a four-week automobile tour of the west coast with stop overs at Las \Ygas, Los Angeles, Carmel -by-the-Sea, San Francisco and Lake Tahoe. . . . Clara Cote, Paramount Gulf’s telephone girl, is off to Key West and Miami, Fla. for a vacation. . . . Marcia Artigues is the newcomer in 20th-Fox cashier’s department. . . . MGM’s city salesman Cy Bridges and his wife chose Houston, Texas, for their vacation to visit with relatives. . . . Pittman Theatres’ neighborhood Delta is closed for remodeling, large screen and CinemaScope equipment installations. . . . Loraine (Win. Holliday, Paramount manager’s secretary) and Jimmie Cass celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary June 3. . . . The Hi-Way drive-in. Bay St. Louis, Miss, closed. Operating: it for the past year were Mr. and Mrs. Neilius Rhodes. OKLAHOMA CITY “Strategic Air Command,” now in its third week at the Harber theatre, is still drawing large crowds. . . .“Blackboard Jungle” was showing at four suburban theatres this week. . . . Walt Disney’s “Davy Crockett” has opened at the Center theatre. . . . Neighborhood theatres had lots of takers last Wednesday morning on their offer to let children in free while their mothers shopped downtown. A few downtown theatres had a good delegation of youngsters in the audience. . . . Opening night ceremonies were held June 4 at Ponca City’s recently remodeled drive-in theatre, the Airline, located across Waverly on the Blackwell shortcut. Manager Don R. Hall says it has the largest screen in northern Oklahoma, 4,136 square feet. It also has spacious parking areas for cars. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Morris Loewenstein of Oklahoma City, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Herman H. Hunt of Cincinnati, are spending some time in Honolulu. The Loewensteins attended the International Variety Club convention in Los Angeles May 3-10 and spent a week in Las Vegas. Loewenstein, who owns and operates the Majestic theatre, Oklahoma City, says he has kept up his 32-year perfect Kiwanis Club attendance by making up a meeting in Los Angeles May 12, on board ship May 19 and one in downtown Honolulu May 24. PHILADELPHIA The Film Exchange Building, two-story air-conditioned structure presently under lease to R.K.O., was sold to Marie N. Valentine for $185,000. . . . The former Berwyn, in suburban Berwyn. Pa., was sold for $20,000; and the former Rialto, West Chester, Pa., for $50,000 — both houses to be used for commercial purposes. . . . David Supowitz, theatre architect who designed most of the local theatres, is a patient in Temple University Hospital. . . . Mel Fox’s newly-ac(|uired Penypak reopened with a 40-foot screen for CinemaScope showings. . . . Local exhibitors protesting the rigidity of theatre inspections by the city’s Department of Licenses and Fire Housing Inspection. . . . Dave Rosen, independent distributor, handling the area distribution for Louis Newman Productions’ “Desperate Women.”. . . Jack Flynn, Stanley Warner Theatres district manager, celebrating a double silver anniversary — his 25th year with the theatre company and his 25th wedding anniversary. . . . A general alarm fire damaged the Hipp Building, Allentown, Pa., which houses the Midway, to the extent of $100,000 damage. . . . James Tambourelli rejoined the projectionists staff at the Stanley Warners’ (Continued on following page) MOTION PICTURE HERALD. JUNE 18. 1955 35