Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Mar 1956)

{ Continued from opposite page) credit for the idea of using the Tl’ Guide where entertainment-minded people of tlie area look for their TV program notes. . . . The demonstration of CinemaScope 55 at the Orpheum theatre February 9 was attended by 550 ])ersons, mostly exhibitors of the area. M. A. Levy, mid-central division manager of Twentieth Century-Fox, made an introductory talk. Joseph Neger, branch manager at Kansas City, was to conduct a demonstration February 17 at the Miller theatre. Wichita, Kansas. . . . One of the four drive-ins that have been operating weekends all winter (with few misses), was closed the weekend of February 10. The other three were open. The cold weather continues. MEMPHIS Mayor Orgill said this week he will postpone a final decision on Memphis movie censorship for some time. . . . E. S. Gullett, Benoit theatre. Benoit, Miss., died of a heart attack at his home in Benoit. Mr. Gullett was a frecjuent visitor to Memphis. He was a civil engineer and was in charge of the building of several drive-ins in Mississippi. . . . Tom Young, branch manager, 20th-Fox has returned from a three weeks' winter vacation in Florida. . . . Mrs. John L. (Mary Frances) Rygaard, cashier at 20th-Fox, and Mr. Rygaard, are parents of a baby daughter, Elizabeth Irene, born at Baptist Hospital in Memphis. . . . Lyle Richmond, Richmond, Senath, Mo., is in a hospital at Poplar Bluff for a second operation. . . . Jack Braunagel, United Theatres, Little Rock, was in Memphis on business. . . . Tommy Pemberton, owner, has closed the Ritz theatre, Boscoe, Ark., for repairs. It will reopen sometime in May. MIAMI IMarvin Reed becomes one of the youngest executives in the Loew organization with his appointment to the post of manager of the new Loew’s Riviera theatre which opened this week with "Picnic.” . . . The poised friendliness of Olympia theatre manager Jimmie Barnett received official recognition with his appointment by Miami’s Mayor Randy Christmas to the position of official Miami representative and VIP greeter. . . . Down from New York to help his partners open Golden Glades Twin Drive-in recently was Max A. Cohen. . . . For a supposedly retired man, William Scully is still in there pitching especiallv since taking on the additional responsibilities of director of the board of members for the Marlins, Miami’s baseball club. . . . \\ illiam R. Tully who joined the Wometco organization recently as manager of the North Andrews Drive-in, brings a background of experience dating back to the early sound pictures days when he was associated with the Gordon Circuit. The New England and New York City area knew him for 20 years when he was a manager with Paramount Publix. MILWAUKEE iMany exhibitors from throughout Wisconsin made up the large turnout at the Fox-V\ isconsin theatre here when 20th Century-Fox demonstrated CinemaScope 55 February 7 . Much enthusiasm was shown for the new presentation. . . . "Carousel” in the new process will open at the Wis consin theatre March 16. . . . Boh Gross, district manger of the Smith Management Co., attended a district manager’s meeting in Boston, Feb. 14-16. Mr. Gross was recently elected treasurer of the Bluemound Suburban Association. He is also on their board of directors. . . . Jack Jorgens, salesman at MGM exchange, has resigned and will announce a new affiliation soon. . . . The Marion theatre, Marion, Wis., will reopen with Harvey Britten as operator. Mr. Britten is from Alarshfield. . . . “Meet Me in Las Vegas” was sneaked previewed at the Towne theatre to great response. MINNEAPOLIS ^Minnesota Amusement Co. has closed the State at Virginia, Minn., its "C” house there which it has operated weekends only. The circuit will continue to operate the Maco, its “A” house in Virginia. . . . Burlesque will return to the Alvin theatre March 1. Edward Ross, a burlesque operator from Kansas City, Mo., has leased the theatre for two years from Ted Mann, who operates the World theatres in the Twin Cities. . . . Martin Storholm has purchased the Mondovi theatre at Mondovi, Wis., from H. G. Sletter. . . . Exhibitors from throughout the territory were enthusiastic over CinemaScope 55 when it was demonstrated by 20th Century-Eox at the Radio City theater here. . . . Miss Universe, who was in for “The Benny Goodman Story,” was a recent visitor at the Universal exchange. . . . Kenny Adams, U-I sales manager who suffered a broken ankle recently, is back at work with crutches and a cast. NEW ORLEANS Warner Bros, home office executives W. O. Williamson, Jr., Larry Leshansky and Charles Bailey, New York, were here for a one-day conference with southern district division, branch and exchange sales managers. Details of promotional campaigns for 13 of the forthcoming features were outlined. District staff members attending were Ed Williamson, Dallas, Tex.; Grover Livingston, J. D. Woodward, Barney Ross and Carroll Ogburn, Atlanta; J. W. Kirby and Arthur Sklar, Charlotte; John Tomlinson, Jacksonville, and Lucas Clonnors, New Orleans. The meeting was held at the Roosevelt Hotel. . . . C. J. Briant, resident manager, Loew’s, Inc., was host at an invitational private showing of “Meet Me in Las Vegas” at the Imperial, a neighborhood theatre, Eebruary 16. . . . Roy Nicaud has taken over the managerial post of Harold E. Cohen Enterprises (formerly Lippert Pictures Exchange). . . . Lawrence Woollier, of Woollier Bros. Theatres and Woollier Bros, productions, plans to be in New York from February 20-26 in the interest of his recently produced feature, “Swamp Women,” and an upcoming production, “Enchanted Isle,” which is to be made in Hawaii starting in April. . . . The Star at Pineville is now closed because of a fire in the early morning, Eeb. 9. The extent of damage hasn’t been officially reported. . . . Marie Luella Delahaye, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Delahaye, proprietors of Gwen Theatres, Maringuoiii, La., became the bride of Alton Smith, January 28. OKLAHOMA CITY “The Warriors” was lieing shown at three suburban theatres in Oklahoma City this week. . . . Dale Robertson, who lived all his life in Oklahoma City before going to Hollywood, has been here visiting. He rejiorts he has written 1 1 film stories, some just in screenplay form, but others as final shooting scripts ready to start before the cameras. . . . Dale Davis, Okmulgee, (Okla., a manager most of his 19 years with Video Theatres, became manager of the VideoWilbern Theatres in Duncan, Okla., Feb. 8. His assistant is Jim Barton, who also moved to Duncan from Okmulgee. David succeeds Morgan Duval, and Barton takes over the position formerly held by Bob Porterfield. Davis had Ireen in charge of theatre operations for Video in Elk (Tity. . . . The Grove theatre at Groveton, Texas, has been purchased by Darwin Creasy from Mr. and Mrs. Louis Nelms. The theatre will continue to operate under the same name. . . . Mac Wood, a veteran of 41 years in the theatre business, has moved to Cushing, Okla., from Erederick, Okla., to become manager of Cushing’s three movie houses, part of the Video Theatres chain. He has been in Erederick for the last three years. He also has managed theatres in Hominy, Wewoka and Seminole, Okla. PHILADELPHIA A decrease in assessment of real estate value was enjoyed by only two center-city theatres, although no increases were reported for any of the others. Assessment for the Goldman, which was $759,200 last year, is $741,900 for this year; and the Arcadia dropped from $341,300 in 1955 to $334,300 for this year. . . . James S. Montgomery, a founder of the local Gilbert & Sullivan Players, who also appeared as a singer in radio, television and motion pictures during his career, left an estate valued at $313,499, according to an inventory filed this week. He died last November. . . . The annual report of City Treasurer John L. Hoch in Reading, Pa., shows that admissions ticket taxes on theatres, sports and other entertainments brought $131,286 into the city treasury in 1955. This was below the $135,140 total in 1954, and much lower than the mark in 1953. . . . Milgram Theatre Service announced that it is now doing the buying and booking for the Ritz, Coply, Pa. ; Grand East Stroudsburg, Pa., and the Holland, Old Eorge, Pa. . . . Lawrence W. Eenstermaker, manager of the Kutztown, Kutztown. Pa., was re-elected president of the Borough Council at its annual reorganization meeting last week. . . . Harry Waxmann has relinquished control of the Roxy in the Roxborough section of the city. . . . Jerry Janor is the new Screen Guild salesman in the upstate Pennsylvania territory. ... A. M. Ellis Theatres announced the purchase of the Coatesville drive-in, Coatesville. Pa., from Milton Schlosherg. Work has started to enlarge the open-airer to 850car capacity, and the grounds will be completely remodeled for reopening in the early spring. PITTSBURGH The Stanley theatre doesn’t have to worry for bookings for the next few months. Following the current “Lone Ranger,” the de luxe house will offer "The Conqueror,’’ “Our Miss Brooks,” “Rose Tattoo” and “Miracle In The Rain” in that order. . . . “The Prisoner” follows the impending “Trouble With Harry” in the Squirrel Hill art house. . . . "Eight O’Clock Walk” (Continued, on following page) MOTION PICTURE HERALD, FEBRUARY 18, 1956 31