Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1956)

THEY LED THE DRIVE in New Brunswick for the State of Israel Bonds; and, above, in that Canadian city, J. M. Franklin, center, presents scrolls of honor to Mitchell Bernstein, right, of B & L Theatres, and Mitchell Franklin, of Franklin-Herschorn Theatres. The older Mr. Franklin heads the latter circuit. ( Continued jrom opposite page ) ture, “Love Me Tender” will open at Loew’s State Nov. 21. . . . Manager Eli Arkin of Warner reported the first week of Paramount’s “War and Peace” brought three times average attendance to set the pace for Memphis first runs. . . . E. L. Boggs, Hayti, Mo.; Roy Cochran, North Little Rock, Ark.; H. E. Wheatley, Hot Springs, Ark.; and Mr. and Mrs. Orris Collins, Paragould, Ark., were among visiting exhibitors on Film Row. . . . Between 150 and 200 theatres have signed up to show the “bread and butter” pictures which will be produced by an independent group. The plan was taken up with the Tri-States Theatre Owners convention in Memphis by Jack Jackson, Houston, trade paper columnist. Moe Kerman, New York, Tudor Pictures, attended the convention to say he would finance and distribute the films. The plan was the outgrowth of a suggestion made by Jack Braunagel, United Theatres, Little Rock. Milwaukee Mrs. Louise Bergtold, owner of the Westby theatre in Westby, is proud of: her son Owen C. Bergtold. A graduate with honors from Carleson College at Northfield, Minn., he has been elected an assistant cashier of Northwestern National Bank at Westby. . . . Theatre Service is doing the booking and buying for the Peerless theatre here operated by Ken Gomoll. . . . The Capitol theatre has a new manager. He is Bill Klug. . . . Robert Brill is coming back to manage the Century theatre here. He has been at Janesville. . . . Don Patch, former manager at the Century, will go to the Oriental theatre. . . . Miss Alice Fluhr, a clerk at the Warner exchange, became Mrs. Wm. Flandrena October 27. . . . Tony Kolinski, head booker at Warners, was on his vacation. Minneapolis Economy drives are underway at two more film exchanges. Morrison Buell, booker at RKO for eight and one-half years, was dismissed. His work will be handled by A1 Stern, RKO office manager. One booker remains in the exchange. At Universal Fred Bunkelman, salesman in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, was transferred to Chicago, but the position will not be filled again. . . . The 100 Twin and 7-Hi drive-ins closed for the season, leaving three outdoor stands in the Twin Cities area still open. . . . Ted Mann, operator of the World theatres in the Twin Cities, was on a combined businesspleasure trip to California following a hunting jaunt to Montana. . . . An antitrust action brought by the St. Louis Park theatre against Minnesota Amusement Co. has been settled out of court. Under terms of the settlement the St. Louis Park gains the 28-day slot now shared with Minnesota Amusement’s Uptown with the Uptown dropping back to 35 days or later. . . . Although West St. Paul has a film censorship ordinance, so far it has no one to enforce it. The ordinance places the duty of censoring film on the local police commission, but the police commissioners shy away from this censorship function. New Orleans Vienna Bellelo Montgomery resigned after many years’ service in the booking department of Joy’s Theatres to join Theatres Service Company in a similar position. . . . A. J. and Bernie Rosenthal are now the sole owners of the Midway drivein, Opelousas, La., having purchased Joy theatres’ interest. . . . Savoy’s Joy theatre, Vinton, La., reopened under the new ownership of Rodney Gibbs. . . . Kendell Smith is the new owner of the Park, Pelahatchie, Miss. The theatre had been closed for many months. Former owner Willard Kaminer. . . . Audrey Gregg is the new utility clerk at U.A. She replaces Etta Doby who resigned. . . . Joy N. Houck presented a special family show at the Panorama on Saturday morning to see “Oklahoma.” The price of admission for all seats was 95tf. . . . Mary Murphy, who became Mrs. Franklin McLaughlin October 20, retained her position with U.A. as contract clerk. . . . Mrs. Gerry Adams has handed in her resignation as U.A. ledger clerk, effective November 10 to join her husband in Minden, La. Oklahoma City Mr. and Mrs. Harold Combs and sons Hal and Kent, returned last week from a trip to Los Angeles. Mr. Combs is concession manager for Barton Theatres. . . . The possibility arose last Tuesday that an official Oklahoma City censorship board may be created to stand watch on movies. Charles Schreck, Ward Four councilman, complained that the city’s present board has not prevented the showing to youngsters of films billed for “adults only”. Mayor Street pointed out that the present three-member board is an unofficial agency, appointed by the mayor, and has time to act only when called in by someone who thinks a movie is objectionable. He said members volunteer their time. Schreck did not propose an official board be established by ordinance but indicated he is not satisfied with present operations. . . . Barbara Bauers, secretary to the manager of the MGM Film Exchange, is back at work after spending five days in the hopsital. . . . Eulalia Sample, assistant cashier at MGM Film Exchange, is on a two-week vacation. . . . Fred Eugene Lily has been appointed new assistant shipper at MGM Film Exchange. . . . The Sooner theatre, downtown house, has started a new policy of first run features on every program. Philadelphia Abraham M. Ellis, head of the A. M. Ellis Theatres; Jay Emanuel, veteran exhibitor and trade paper publisher; David Supowitz, theatre architect; Jack Beresin, former International Chief Barker of the Variety Clubs International and head of the Berio Vending Company, and District Attorney Victor H. Blanc, former chief barker of the Philadelphia Variety Club, were the industry members among the more than 200 community leaders elected to the board of directors of the newlycreated Federation of Jewish Agencies of Greater Philadelphia, formed by the consolidation of the Federation of Jewish Charities and the Allied Jewish Appeal. . . . Edward Emanuel, local exhibitor and currently second assistant chief barker of the Variety Clubs International, was named chairman of the 1957 March of Dimes campaign in Philadelphia. . . . William A. Madden, MGM branch manager, is back from his honeymoon, after marrying Sara Starrett in suburban Darby, Pa. . . . Vincent Tate, proprietor of the Theatrical Equipment and Supply Co. in upstate Forty-Fort, Pa., has entered the exhibition field for the first time in taking over the operation and the management of the Orient, Scranton, Pa., which had been dark for some time. Portland George Jackson, general representative in the Oregon territory for RKO Radio, has resigned and will be succeeded by Jack Cummings, formerly with the company in San Francisco. . . . Maurine Ray has left the staff of the Paramount theatre ( Continued on page 50) MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 3, 1956 47