Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Mar 1956)

j ALBANY Promotions of Phil Rapp to city manager in Schenectady, of his brother, Lou, to manager of Plaza, and of Gene Ganott, from assistant manager of Palace in Albany, to manager of State and Erie in Schenectady, followed the Fabian policy of advancing men from its ranks. . . . Paul Wallen was to terminate his lease on the Grand, Albany, Feb. 17. Fabian is closing the 46-year-old theatre — it probably will be razed for a parking lot. Wallen, who managed Leland for years, and then Grand, is leasing the former from Fabian and is making it a first run. . . . Virgil Jones is new Warner salesman, replacing James Moore, now with RKO in the same capacity. Jones came from Boston. . . . Visitors included: Robert Johnson and Lawrence Doran, Cooperstown ; Earl Every, Phoenicia; Charles Rossi, Schroon Lake; and Anthony Querino, Chatham. ATLANTA Dick Kennedj% theatre owner in Alabama and Tennessee, was here booking for his circuit. . . . Norris Stephens, owner of the Grand and Screven drive-in at Sylvania, Ga., has moved his family from Savannah, Ga. to Sylvania. . . . Marvin Reed, former manager of Loew’s Grand theatre, Atlanta, has been appointed manager of the new Loew’s Riviera in Miami. . . . Mrs. O. C. Alexander, wife of the Wil-Kin Theatre Supply Co. executive, was in a local hospital with a broken hip. . . . Mrs. Mildred Bell, National Theatre Supply Co., back at her desk after a spell in the hospital. At the same company, Mrs. Irma Marshall, has returned after a vacation trip to Florida. . . . Fred Store}', president Storey Theatres, Atlanta, back after a business trip to Florida. . . . Tom Jones, also of Storey, and his wife enjoyed a vacation trip to New York. . . . Lee W’aldrop, manager of the Peachtree Art theatre, is back after a vacation trip to New Orleans. BOSTON In taking over the operation of the Brunswick, Maine, drive-in from George Gould, Albert B. Lourie becomes the newest circuit operator. With the Bowdoin drive-in, Brunswick, Maine; the Kittery-York drivein, Kittery, Maine, and the Adams theatre, Dorchester, Mass., the circuit is known as the A1 Lourie circuit. The Brunswick drivein is located about eight miles from the Bowdoin drive-in. . . . Dr. Harold Klein of Newburyport and Louis Josephs have taken over the reins of the Bay State Film Co. and will continue to sell independent productions at 36 Melrose Street. Josephs is the general manager while Dr. Klein, the son of the late Edward Klein, is president and non-participating partner. . . . Sam Horenstein, former Manley, Inc., repre^ntative has been a patient at Waltham Hospital suffering from pneumonia and is now at his home resting. . . . Vergil Jones, Warner salesman, has been transferred to tlie Albany exchange, with Walter Almon promoted from the booking staff to salesman for Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. His booking spot has been taken by Phil Prager from the shipping department, with Robert Davis moving in from National Screen to be a shipper. BUFFALO The Erlanger theatre on Delaware Avenue, which has been operated for some 15 years by Dipson Theatrical Enterprises of Batavia, has been sold to a Rochester real estate operator who will raze the building. It will continue to operate as a theatre until June 30. . . . Dick Smyth, who has been treasurer at the Paramount theatre for the past few years, has been appointed assistant manager at the Center theatre. Fran Kinzie has succeeded Smyth as treasurer at the Paramount and Leo LaVigne, a former Paramount usher, is now treasurer at the Center. Mrs. iMargaret Bailey recently resigned as assistant manager at the Center. . . . Jack Goldstein, former manager of the Buffalo branch of National Screen Service and who had been a sales representative there until his recent resignation, is now publishing a Pennysaver type of newspaper across the border in Fort Erie. Goldstein’s son is publishing a similar sheet in Hamburg, N. Y. . . . Harold Bennett, manager of the National Screen Service office in Buffalo, is vacationing for a month in Plantation Key, Florida. Bennett has been with National Screen for close to 30 years. . . . The Lone Ranger was to appear in person on the stage of the Center theatre Saturday morning, Feb. 18 in connection with a special preview showing of the WB production. CHARLOTTE Elvis Presley, the nation’s newest singing sensation, appeared on the Carolina theatre stage Feb. 10. Also making an appearance here was former screen star Lew Ayres who brought his religious films to Ovens Auditorium Wednesday and Thursday. . . . ‘Alan With the Golden Arm” opened to good business at the Plaza Sunday. . . . “Helen of Troy” was reported strong at the Carolina. . . . “Othello” attracted Shakespeare lovers to the \^isulite. . . . Theatre owners felt the sting of competition here last week. The first hockey game ever played in Charlotte’s coliseum drew over 10,000 persons Monday night. The next night over 11,000 packed the big arena for a “rock and roll” show. Attendance dropped to less than 5,000 for Fred Waring’s revue the next night as the weather turned bad. CHICAGO The Harlem Outdoor theatre, one of the larger drive-ins in the Chicagoland area, proceeded with its planned early February opening despite the season’s first snowstorm. They did about three-quarter capacity business with “Artists and Models.” . . . The Halsted, another large drive-in, hopes for a big opening in mid-March, while most of the others expect to start the summer season March 2. The mild weather permitted one drive-in, the Starlite, to stay open all winter. . . . The Halsted, incidentally, opens with one of the most able men in the business as its managing director. Herb Ellisburg. . . . Kermit Russell, recently reported as joining the RKO offices here, has been named Chicago sales manager. . . . Herb Cohen is the new office manager at Paramount. He succeeded Bill Hamm, who resigned after 39 years of service in the Chicago exchange office. . . . The Laboratory Technicians, Local 780, celebrated the organization’s 15th anniversary with a dinner dance at the Morrison Hotel. . . . Jack Hunt, for years a Chicago theatre operator, is recovering from a serious operation. With his son-in-law, Raymond Carsky, he operates the Trail drive-in in Sarasota, Fla. CLEVELAND Kim Novak of the “Picnic” cast will meet members of the press, TV and radio at luncheon, Feb. 22 in the Carter Hotel, and in the evening will make an appearance at the National Allied drive-in convention banquet. . . . W’illiam Gehring, 20th-Fox general sales manager, will, according to announcement, emcee the Feb. 20 banquet in honor of M. B. Horwitz who is celebrating his 45th year as an exhibitor and his 70th birthday. . . . Sam Weiss, newly appointed local 20th-Fox sales manager, returned to Cincinnati, his former bailiwick to attend the Variety Club’s farewell testimonial held Monday. . . . Bill Twig, Warner branch manager, journeyed to Philadelphia to attend a weekend division meeting. . . . “Carousel” opening date at the Allen scheduled for Feb. 17 has been changed to March 17. . . . George Wakeley of the Limelite theatre, Woodville, is convalescing from surgery. . . . Richard Campbell, who leased the Sylvan theatre, Sylvania, from Ernest Walters, is installing CineniaScope equipment and plans to re-open the house, closed since last August, about Feb. 20. . . . Claudia Astrum, who has served the distribution branch of the industry for 22 years, the last nine years with Columbia Pictures, has joined Co-operative Theatres of Ohio succeeding Stella Smetanka, resigned. COLUMBUS Columbus is one of the 40 cities being considered for participation in the proposed American National Theatre and Academy 40-theatre circuit. The Hartman here would be part of the circuit, which hopes to revive the days of solid 40-week stage bookings throughout the country. Admissions would be scaled from $1 to $2.50, with a lower students’ admission. These prices would be competitive with first run and art houses here. . . . Manager Walter Kessler of Loew’s Ohio acted as stand-in for stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz of “Forever {Continued on following page) MOTION PICTURE HERALD, FEBRUARY 18, 1956 29