Motion Picture Herald (Apr-Jun 1955)

(Coiitimicd front preceding page) Towne, Wilmington, Del., after a long seige of illness. . . . For the first time in theatre history in Reading, Pa., a woman has been named the regular manager of a major first run theatre with Helen Bortz, who has been assistant at the Warner and for 12 years in the theatre business, promoted to manager of the house. PITTSBURGH Jesse Lasky. Dan Dailey and starlet Jarma Lewis among the Hollywoodites here for the world premiere of ‘‘The Cobweb” in the J. P. Harris Theatre in conjunction with the golden anniversary of the first Nickelodeon here. . . . Stanley has a strong line-up with “Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier” current, to be followed by “The Land of the Pharaohs,” “Lady and the Tramp” and “Mr. Roberts.”. . . “Chance Meeting” added to Squirrell Hill booking chart, following the impending “Three Cases of Murder.”. . . “The Green Scarf” in its eighth week in the Guild art theatre topped the seven-week run of “Romeo and Juliet” which ran seven weeks to launch the art policy here last December. . . Art Manson, Cinerama publicist, lost his father-in-law, Anthony Sando, who died in nearby \\hlkinsburg. Mr. Sando was the father of Florence Sando, top TV commentator, locally. . . . Charlie Eagle, Stanley manager, due back on the job after recent surgerj’. . . . Dick Purvis of Loew’s Midland, Kansas Cit)% home for a few days to attend the graduation of his kid brother. Bob, an usher at the Penn. PORTLAND Grover Hanley has resigned from the staff of the J. J. Parker’s Broadway theatre after 29 }-ears service. He has retired. . . . Paramount’s “Strategic Air Command” has done three big weeks of business at the Paramount theatre with promotion by manager Dick Newton and Paramount field man Walter Hoffman paying off. It holds for a fourth week. . . . Jack O’Bryan, UA branch manager, was instrumental in getting several Navy vessels here during Rose Festival week. He is active in the Navy League. . . . Don Cameron is closing his Capitol theatre this weekend. . . . When “Love Me Or Leave Me” opened at the Broadway theatre, disc jockey Bob McAnulty did a remote from the lobby. He offered 25 albums and 25 single records for the first 50 cars that drove up and asked for a platter. Car had to have June license plates. In six minutes he was cleaned out. PROVIDENCE Loew’s State, the RKO Albee, and the Majestic theatre united in running goodsized display advertisements in local newspapers, congratulating the Strand, on the occasion of the latter theatre’s 40th Anniversary. This is further indication of the extremely harmonious relations between the downtown first-run houses. . . . “Doctor In The House” held for a third week at the Avon Cinema. . . . Other hold-overs included “The Sea Chase” for a second week at the RKO Albee; “Soldier of Fortune” for a second week at the Majestic; and “Strategic Air Command.” also for a second week at the .Strand. . . . The Metropolitan has once again re-opened, offering re-runs, and second and third runs. . . . The Warwick Mu sical theatre, first of its kind in Rhode Island history, will inaugurate its first season June 24. The program for the initial season will include “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” “Showboat,” “Wonderful Town,” “Call Me Madam,” and many other hit musicals. The casts will be recruited from Broadway, many of the principals playing their original roles. The permanent company will number 50, while the total number each week, including guest stars, featured players, directors, and other personnel, is expected to total 85. SAN FRANCISCO A1 Goodwin, Marin County district manager, Bluinfeld Theatres, is back from two weeks’ vacation in Honolulu. . . . Jean Eichenbaum, Universal clerk, was welcomed back after a two-month absence due to an auto accident. . . . Jenny Somerville, Westland Theatres former switchboard operator, is now booker for short subjects. . . . James French, Paramount salesman, is on a month’s leave of absence due to illness. . . . Jack Stevenson, branch manager at Paramount, leaves shortly on a business trip to New V^ork. . . . CinemaScope installations at Chester theatre, Chester, Sierra theatre, Loyalton, and El Rio drive-in at Madera are reported by Jim Barry, Western Theatre Equipment Co. . . . D. H. Finke, Coin-0Meter sales manager, here from Chicago on business. . . . Condolences were extended to Ted Riesch, Univer.sal branch manager, on the recent death of his mother, and to Jessie Wells, Western Theatre Equipment, whose husband passed away. . . . Cashier Ernest Eurman, San Pablo Auto Movie, was relieved of $826, the weekend receipts, by an armed patron who had attended the late Sunday night show. . . . Rotus Harvey, Westland Theatres, left recently to attend his daughter’s graduation from the University of Colorado. . . . Congratulations to a recent bridegroom, shipper Jim Cofone at National Screen Service. . . . Everett Bisell, Bausch & Lomb sales representative, just returned from the home office in New York. ST. LOUIS The Strand theatre, St. Charles, Mo., has added air-conditioning. . . . The Strand theatre, Memphis, Tenn., is installing a CinemaScope screen and stereophonic sound. . . . Tommie’s drive-in theatre at Kennett, Mo., has guest nights on Tuesdays and Wednesdays when a full carload of people are admitted on two paid adult admissions. . . . The Illinois theatre and the 67 drive-in theatre, Jacksonville, 111., have joined other merchants of that city in underwriting a series of newspapers ads for a “Go To Church Sunday” campaign. . . . The Ritz theatre at Crossville, 111., has been taken over by Mr. and Mrs. Norman Hughes of Carmi, 111. The building is owned by Delbert Wagner, father of Mrs. Hughes, and .she and Mr. Hughes have worked out a plan whereby the building will be purchased by them. . . . Mrs. Sarha Degen, proprietor of the Mars theatre at Marissa, 111., has just completed installing a CinemaScope screen. TORONTO H. T. Blumson was appointed assistant treasurer of Odeon Theatres (Canada) Ltd., succeeding E. B. McConkey, C. A., who resigned to take another position. V. Mandvere and B. Longbottom were appointed chief accountant and accountant respectively. . . . Pioneer of the Year dinner will be held in Toronto, Nov. 2, announced Tom S. Daley, secretary-treasurer, Canadian Picture Pioneers, sponsors of the event. . . . T\' in Canada now covers 75 per cent of its potential audience, A. Davidson Dunton, chairman of the board of governors of the CBC told a committee of Parliament investigating TV and radio in Canada. . . . Less than 20 per cent of films shown in Canadian schools are made in this country. Dr. A. W’. Trueman, chairman. National Film Board, told the Canadian Club in Montreal recently. . . . William W’interton, Saskatoon theatreman, looks for more education in the homes because of the vandalism in the theatres. He told a home and school convention in his city that vandalism in theatres was out of control. . . . First drive-in in the Toronto area to have a CinemaScope installation is the 400. VANCOUVER After the coldest May in Vancouver’s history, June is making up for it with real hot weather over 70 every day. . . . FPC has pushed back the starting time in the downtown houses, in an economy move, from 11 to 12 noon. . . . Medicine Hat, Alberta, will soon have a fourth standard type theatre, on which construction has started. . . . FPC has blueprints for a 600-car drive-in at North Lethbridge, its second in the area. ... A delegation of Alberta and Saskatchewan showmen attended the IMGM W^orkshop sessions at Billings, Montana. . . . Sam Lechtzier, president of La Salle Recreations, Ltd., said to be the biggest supplier of theatre seats and carpets in W'^estern Canada, has left for England and Europe on a combined holiday and buying trip. . . . Brian Willard, former doorman, was promoted to assistant manager at the FPC Capitol, replacing Jim Webster, who has quit show business. . . . Orville Burrell, production manager at Trans-Canada-Films, and Shirl Wilson, manager of Perkins Electric, are new members of SMPTE. . . . Ivan Acker}-, Orpheum manager, and Lou Karp, FPC district booker, were on a fishing trip over the weekend at Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island. The boys had 17 salmon, with none less than 5 lbs., to show for the trip, indicating they are experts in that, too. WASHINGTON Variety Club International Representative Ralph Pries, whose territory covers New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland, was a recent visitor in Washington, attending the Tent 11 board of governors meeting. . . . Willard Levy, 15, son of Harold Levy, Allied Artists, died after a long illness. . . . Rudolph Berger, southern division saU"^ manager of MGM, and Mrs. Berger .. . spend several weeks in Florida. Mr. j -ger is recuperating from a recent illness. . . . Benjamin Atlas, 48, Washington bureau chief for Billiboard and Tide magazines, and a member of the Variety Club, died June 2, after a short illness. . . . WOMPI, newly organized women’s group, elected Lucille Traband, UA, president; Ora Donoghue, Frutchman Theatres, first vice-president ; Sara Young, 20th-Fox, second vice-president ; Florence Carden, Allied Artists, recording secretary ; Mary Louise Perry, Bernheimer Theatres, corresponding secretary; Agnes Turner, RKO, treasurer. 36 MOTION PICTURE HERALD. JUNE 18, 1955