Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1956)

Oke fjati on ci i Spotiicilit 'poiua Albany Leo Rosen, ex-general manager of Sehine’s WPTR and former Fabian, Hellman and Warner man, announced the purchase of the Rock Hill drive-in, near Monticello, from Harry Lamont. Rosen will reopen 550-car in the spring for operation by Cinema Drive-In, Inc. Lamont conducted it for five seasons, after purchasing it from Joe Lefkowitz. . . . Lewis A. Sumberg, attorney and crew man, is chairman of the Variety Club’s annual Denial Drive for Camp Thacher. Entertainment committeemen arranged a night screening for members and wives, Dec. 14, and a cartoon shew and Christmas party for little barkers and friends the afternoon of Dec. 16. . . . WCDA-TV, Albany, controlled by the Lowell Thomas-Frank Smith group, proposes reactivation of WMGT, Pittsfield, Mass., Jan. 1, if Federal Communications Commission approves. . . . Mel Berman, Tri-State Automatic Candy Corp. general manager, came here from Buffalo to call on accounts with branch manager George H. Schenck. . . . The first run Olympic, Utica, a unit of Kallet Theatres, will be closed for the week before Christmas to permit re-seating and refurbishing. Atlanta The Haines City Women’s Club, of Haines City, Fla., sponsored a theatre party at the Florida theatre. . . . Free admissions to the Florida theatre, Hollywood, Fla., were presented by manager Fred Lee to all members of the safety patrol squads of four schools. . . . James Matthews, manager of the Capital theatre, Plant City, Fla., has been appointed by the Jaycees to serve as teenage driving road-e-o chairman for 1956-57. . . . Bert Middlebrooks is the new owner of the Barbour drive-in, Louisville, Ala. . . . Phil Richardson, head booker for McLendon Theatres in Alabama and Florida, was in booking for the circuit. He reported that the circuit has closed the Clayton theatre, Clayton, Ala. . . . Mary Lane Heard, secretary to Charlie Touchon, U.A. office manager, will become the bride of Thomas H. Lamoureaux December 22. They will move to Columbus, Ohio. . . . H. F. Brown is the owner of the Phillips theatre, Eagleville, Tenn., which was closed recently. Boston Buena Vista had a “Cinderella” luncheon at the Sheraton Plaza Dec. 11 for circuit heads, buyers and bookers, in conjunction with the re-release of Disney’s “Cinderella.” Herbert Shaefer, northeast manager, was in charge of ceremonies. . . . Irving Lashin of Bridgeport, Conn., has taken over the Community theatre, Mechanics Falls, Me., setting an opening date for January. . . . Another theatre closed for over a year, the Bethel, Vt., will be opened in January by A1 Randall, the property owner. The theatre had previously been operated by Jack Champlain. . . . Manny Youngerman, UA’s new sales manager, has arrived to replace A1 Glaubinger, who is now branch manager at Buffalo. . . . Frances Greenberg, Girl Friday at Embassy Pictures, will be married to Benjamin Rubin of Boston March 17. . . . Norman Glassman, Lowell, Mass., exhibitor, was awarded a distinguished service placque by the Disabled Veterans of Greater Lowell for his outstanding work with children in the area. Buffalo An impressive ceremony was held last Sunday in the Variety club of Buffalo headquarters in Delaware Avenue when a memorial plaque was dedicated in honor of departed barkers. Participating in the ceremonies were the club’s four chaplains. . . . A number of Buffalo exchanges are getting ready for their annual Christmas parties. Paramount will celebrate Dec. 17 in the Stage Door. RKO folk will hold forth Dec. 21 in La Marque. The MGM bunch will hold their party in the exchange in Franklin Street, Dec. 21. The gang at United Artists also will celebrate in their own offices, Dec. 18 and the Warner Bros, branch party will be held in the Town Casino Dec. 17. . . . Jim Fater, U-I salesman, is back on the job after being laid up with a leg ailment. . . . Jack Kelly, U-I office manager, who came to town from Kansas City, is now residing in the village of Kenmore. . . . Max Rosing, former comanager of the Roosevelt theatre, is now residing in Miami, Florida and brother George is operating the house. . . . Jere Spandau and his wife leave Jan. 5 for a cruise to South America. Jere is a member of the local U-I sales staff. Charlotte Arthur P. McNally, father of Howard NcNally, president of the Theatre Owners Association of North and South Carolina, was stricken with a heart attack in his Fayetteville home. At last report he was “resting as well as could be expected.”. . . W. L. Hill, Jr., son of W. L. Hill, operator of the Rialto theatre in High Point, has been appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. . . . The Charlotte Variety Club and the Charlotte News were to co-sponsor a Christmas carol sing in the Charlotte Coliseum Dec. 14. . . . Johnny Vickers, Sr., and Charlotte News publisher Thomas L. Robinson are co-chairmen. . . .“Love Me Tender” played to such sensational business at the Carolina that it was held for 15 days. The box office receipts set a new record. . . . Doris Day’s “Julie” earned an exceptionally good three-week record at the Plaza. Chicago Christmas shopping was considered as the reason for a slight tapering off in loop business, although some theatres maintained an above average quota. . . . “Giant,” one of the films reported as holding its own, will continue at the Chicago theatre through Christmas day, to be followed by “Baby Doll” opening on December 26. This will mean nine weeks for “Giant,” a record run of the year. . . . William J. Blanchard was buried December 7 at St. Mary’s Cemetery. He was a member of Chicago Moving Picture Machine Operators’ Union Local 110. ... A heart attack proved fatal to Elmer Benesch December 7. . . . Herman Stern died this week. Mr. Stern at one time managed the Dearborn theatre, now known as the Surf. . . . Two members of Film Row, who had been hospitalized, were able to go home this week. They are Fred Mindlin and Leon Lee. . . . Several holiday parties will highlight Film Row activity. Jack Kirsch, president of Illinois Allied, will host a noonday buffet in the organization’s offices December 21. Cleveland Max Mink, managing director for Cinerama in Cleveland, says this city leads the country in advance sales. Tickets are now selling as far ahead as April. . . . “Giant,” which has done phenomenal business at the Allen theatre, closes its local first run at the end of its sixth week to make way for “Love Me Tender.”. . . James A. Velde, United Artists general sales manager, and Gene Tunick, eastern district manager, met the Cleveland exhibitors at an informal luncheon December 5 in the Statler Hotel. . . . Frank J. Slavik, in exhibition from usher to theatre owner since 1929, sold his Mumac theatre, Middlefield, O. to Stan Robinson, a newcomer, and will devote full time to his other interests including an ice cream business and a restaurant. . . . Eleanor Rushworth, secretary to RKO district manager Hatton Taylor, recently welcomed two new grandchildren, bringing the total to six — three girls and three boys. . . . Carol Masek, daughter of National Theatre Supply manager Frank Masek, was married this week to Ted Bauman of this city. And not to be outdone, son Bill, attending Miami University at Oxford, O., announced his engagement to Susan Coomb of Massilon. . . . Spending the Christmas holidays in Miami Beach will be the Leonard Greenbergers of the Fairmount theatre and the Irwin Shenkers of Berio Vending Co. and their families. Columbus Indianola, North Side neighborhood house which has been dark for several weeks, reopened with A1 Jarvis as manager and Jack Needham as booker. The Indianola, operated by Frank Marzetti of the neighborhood Linden, has resumed family-type features following several months of art film policy under direction ( Continued on page 32) 30 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 15. 1956