Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1956)

( Continued from preceding page ) World” passed its six-months mark, surpassing by far the records set by its two predecessors. . . . Director George Stevens expected here before his “Giant” opens in the Stanley Oct. 31. . . . Arthur Manson, Cinerama publicity head locally, commuting between here and Cleveland, where he is aiding in the opening of "This Is Cinerama” in that city next month . . . “Oklahoma!” definitely closes in the Nixon Nov. 24, with that house returning to legitimate shows two days later. . . . "Richard III” not doing so well in the Squirrel Hill, and the management blames it all on the film first being shown on TV. . . . “Attack” opened in the Stanley following the world premiere of “Tension at Table Rock”. Another Stanley booking, following “Giant” will be “The Girl He Left Behind”. . . . “Private’s Progress” is next in the Squirrel Hill. . . . The Harris follows its “Solid Gold Cadillac” with the re-issue of “Rebecca”. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Paul Jones, parents of star Shirley Jones, have moved from Smithton to Whitehall, which is a suburb of Pittsburgh. Portland Journal drama editor Arnold Marks and Oregonian drama editor Herb Larsen flew to Hollywood for the premiere of “Giant”. . . . Oscar Nyberg, Evergreen’s Oregon district manager, just returned from a business trip to Seattle. . . . Paramount theatre manager Dick Newton is being congratulated for his chores at the United Fund Show. . . . Liberty theatre manager Will Hudson has a “Rock ’n Roll” screen layout for a midnight showing the last of the month. . . . Northwest releasing bosses, Zolly Volchock and Jack Engerman did well with their Louis Armstrong stage promotion. . . . Columbia branch manager Jim Beale was elated over “Cadillac” business the first week at the Fox. Providence The Rhode Island premiere of “Wages Of Fear” was held at the Avon Cinema. . . . Once again, local moviegoers, who like to patronize neighborhood houses or drive-ins, were given very little choice of entertainment when some 13 openairers and neighborhood houses presented “Bus Stop” simultaneously. ... It was reported, on good authority, that Albert J. Clarke, formerly manager of the Majestic before entering the real estate business, and later, manager of a Springfield, Mass., house, recently married and will return to Rhode Island to once again engage in the real estate field. . . . Teresa Brewer made a one-night personal appearance at Rhodes-On-The-Pawtuxet. . . . Bill Trambukis, Loew’s State manager, got some publicity for “Solid Gold Cadillac”, when Adlai Stevenson recently visited this city. Stevenson left his headquarters in the Sheraton-Biltmore Hotel in a solid gold Cadillac which was later displayed in front of Loew’s State. Trambukis arranged an extensive exploitation campaign in anticipation of the screening. ... It has been reported that the C. & F. interests have sold the Majestic to the Stanley Warner organization. Details were not available. San Francisco Maury Schwartz has booked “Intermezzo” and “A Bill of Divorcement” at the Rio. Both films have been shown on TV. He wants to find out if people are satisfied with viewing top films in cut versions, liberally dosed with commercials, on the small TV screen, or if they prefer to see these pictures on a big screen in a theatre. . . . Bob Kunce, former house manager at the Fox, has gone to Dallas, Tex., to manage the Cinerama theatre there. . . . Harold W. Seidenberg, formerly with Fox West Coast in Oakland, has been appointed managing director of the Orpheum here. He succeeds Paul Swater, assigned to Miami, Fla., where he will open Cinerama’s newest theatre in November. St. Louis W. R. Palmer, owner of the Palmer News Company, has purchased the stock of Herbert Mack in the Chief drive-in theatre, Topeka, Kan. Palmer, Mack and the late Lawrence Breuninger had owned the stock of the theatre since it was opened in 1952. The Chief corporation now is owned entirely by the Palmer family. Palmer said he planned no change in policy or operation at this time. . . . The Decatur Outdoor theatre on North Twenty-Second street in Decatur, 111., has closed for the season, Harold J. Peek, manager, has announced. The Decatur drive-in, on North Jasper street, Decatur, was still in operation at last reports and was to continue to operate until bad weather forces it to close. . . . The Irvin theatre, Bloomington, 111., gave a surprise sneak prevue of “Pillars of the Sky,” which was well attended. . . . The East St. Louis drive-in, at 8600 St. Clair Avenue, East St. Louis, 111., just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, has provided a playground for the children. Toronto Phil Stone, of radio station CHUM, who has worked in many industry publicity efforts, was promoted to executive vicepresident of the station. He will retain his position as the station’s sports director and also continue his daily disc-jockey show. . . . Ted Huber, head booker and office manager for RKO here, was appointed salesman in the Winnipeg branch. He will be succeeded in Toronto by Len Herberman. . . . Canadian Picture Pioneers will honor the CPP branch which has made the most outstanding contribution to the Pioneers, and most particularly to the Benevolent Trust Fund. . . . Reg G. March, retired 20th Century-Fox manager in Saint John, N.B., will stand as a candidate in the next civic elections. Another member of the film fraternity, J. A. Whitebone, a motion picture projectionist, also will be a member of the civic slate. . . . Arch Jolley, secretary of the Motion Picture Theatres Association of Ontario, began his fall speaking tour with an address before a service group at the Capitol, Listowel. . . . The 20-year partnership between B & F Theatres and V. Simone for the operation of the Radio City, expired. Simone will operate the house by himself, while B & F will maintain their operation of the nearby Vaughan. Vancouver The best of the local attractions are “Tea and Sympathy,” solid at the Capitol, and “Reach For The Sky,” on a threetheatre booking. “The King and I,” in its 12th week at the Strand, is still doing nicely and stays. . . . Famous Players has hung a “for sale” sign on the 35-year-old Kitsilano theatre. The chain recently sold the Victoria Road house here which will be converted into a bank. . . . The Windsor, local suburban theatre, now closed, is also up for sale by FPC. . . . Shirl Wilson, manager of Perkins Electric, and his sound engineer, Fred Robson, are busy covering the B.C. interior theatres. P-E reports that business is very good. . . . Two Odeon circuit employees traded jobs. Art Graburn, downtown Paradise manager, takes over as booker-buyer at the Odeon district office, while former booker, Norm Raay, takes over as manager of the Paradise. . . . All Odeon units in Abbotsford and Mission in the Fraser Valley, and in Ladysmith on Vancouver Island have gone from a six-day policy to a two-day policy, being open now only Friday and Saturday. . . . Len Keen, Ladysmith manager, takes over as assistant manager of the Paradise, Vancouver. Washington Loew’s Capitol theatre was scheduled to have the Royal Danish Ballet on its stage on October 24. . . . George A. Crouch, Stanley Warner zone manager; Louis Ribnitzi, booking department, and Frank La Falce, director of advertising, and district manager for Stanley Warner locally, were in Philadelphia recently to attend a cocktail party welcoming Bernard Brooks as assistant zone manager to Ted Schlanger. ... A. Dickstein, 20th CenturyFox district manager, was a recent Washington visitor. . . . Jack Keegan, Columbia booker, resigned to join Equity Films as a salesman. . . . Tony Muto was given a farewell cocktail party by the 20th Century-Fox staff, before he took off for his duties in Califoi’nia as a producer for his company. . . . “Don Giovanni,” which did very well at the K-B’s Ontario theatre, has moved over to the chain’s Apex theatre. . . . Jake Flax, Republic branch manager, was one of the head table personalities at the 18th anniversary dinner of the Variety Club of Baltimore. WOMPI 1957 Meeting To Be Held in Memphis ATLANTA: It is announced that the 1957 national WOMPI convention will be held at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Term., and that the eleventh WOMPI club has been formed in Kansas City and is ready to be chartered. Mrs. Myrtle Cain has been elected president. Clubs winning trophies at the recent convention were: The Charlotte club — the Loraine Cass Award for Service; the Atlanta club — the Verlin Osborne Publicity trophy; the Memphis club — the Janice Claxton trophy for monthly club attendance; the Dallas Club — the Mabel Guinan Club Convention Attendance Cup. 40 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, OCTOBER 27. 1956