Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1956)

( Continued from opposite page ) of the Penn’s forthcoming “Teahouse of the August Moon”. . . . “Magic Fire” will be the Christmas booking in the Studio theatre. . . . The Win Fannings, (he’s the assistant film critic on the Post-Gazette) due back this week from a four-week vacation in Europe. . . . The Borough Council of nearby McKees Rocks killed off the ten per cent amusement tax, something that Pittsburgh’s City Council failed to do. Portland Mrs. Tom Walsh, Wife of a J. J. Parker executive, is working for the Portland Symphony Orchestra. . . . “Love Me Tender” went from high business the first week at the Orpheum to low business the second week. . . . A1 Learman was in Hollywood looking for talent for his forthcoming Home Show. . . . Dorothy Mae Johnson (Miss Oregon of 1955) just got a bit role at Paramount. . . . Earl Keate, UA representative in this area, has returned from a trip to New York City. . . . RKO branch manager Dick Lange is doing a good job selling product to TV stations here. . . . Portland’s fourth TV station, KGW-TV, goes on the air Dec. 17. Providence Phil Nemirow, RKO Albee manager, presented photographs of Elvis Presley to the first thousand patrons at the opening of “Love Me Tender”. . . . Three horror films were offered by the Castle theatre at their recent “Spookathon”. . . . The Avon Cinema presented an all-Disney show with the feature, “Secrets of Life” and the shorts, “A Cowboy Needs a Horse” and “Cow Dog”. . . . Incidentally, Nelson Wright, manager of the Avon Cinema for the past four years, is leaving theatre business to enter private industry. He plans to join a Chevrolet agency in nearby North Attleboro. . . . Sgt. George Blessing, amusement inspector and film censor for the city of Providence, was recently promoted to lieutenant. ... It is reported that Stanley Warner will take over the reins at the Majestic about December 15. San Francisco Wayne Glasco, assistant at the Cinema, has taken over at the Peerless from Ralph Dostal, who also owns the Cinema. . . . New steno at Warner Brothers is Deanne Pearson. Judy Jacobs is also new; .she hails from the New York exchange. Norman Moray, sales manager, was a recent visitor. . . . Jack Voorheis is new at Paramount. ... A cigaret dropped into a ventilator filled the Guild theatre with smoke and drove a capacity crowd outdoors. . . . “The Teahouse of the August Moon” was previewed for editors of high school papers in the area. . . . C. J. Zern is the new Altec Service branch manager, replacing Marty Goulsen who resigned. The Centre theatre recently opened its doors in Sacramento. . . . Emilia Hodel, drama critic of the News, plans a Mexico vacation late this month. St. Louis J. Wesley McAfee, president of the Union Electric Company of St. Louis, was given a vote of confidence by the Municipal Theatre Association, where he is a member of the board of directors and a first vice-president. The resolution was adopted in connection with the current investigation of a $35,000 lobbying feed paid by the Union Electric. . . . The Belt drive-in theatre, St. Joseph, Mo., makes it a point to admit all children free at all times. . . . Hal Malone, 41, who went to Des Moines, la., two months ago from East Chicago, Ind., where he was manager of the Vogue theatre, died at his home in Des Moines. He is survived by the widow and two daughters. . . . The Skyview drive-in at nearby Belleville, 111., now is open only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. . . . A fire at the Movieland theatre at Hope, Kan., November 28 caused damage estimated at $2,000. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Robert Freukes of St. Louis have purchased the Grafton theatre at Grafton, 111., and have been doing some extensive remodeling. Toronto Three Quebec women theatre owners, Mrs. Mirella Perron of Dorion, Mrs. Marguerite David of Longueuil and Mrs. Delores Moderis of Lachine entered pleas of not guilty on charges of admitting children under 16 to a movie theatre. The case will be heard later. . . . Norman Simpson, formerly salesman in the Winnipeg branch of Paramount Film Service was appointed to the position of Saint John Branch manager succeeding Robert Murphy. Murphy tendered his resignation to take a position in Montreal. Norm is a brother of Russ Simpson who resigned several years ago as Toronto branch manager to become general manager of the Ottawa Valley Circuit for the O’Brien family. Succeeding Simpson as salesman in the Winnipeg branch is Alf Glass, previously head booker in Winnipeg. . . . Plenty of people moved into the downtown area of Toronto on the occasion of the first night of night-shopping offered by both major department stores, Eaton’s and Simpson’s. Little effect was seen at the theatres though. . . . Aime d’Hondt, former theatre manager at Delhi, Ont., for years, received the appointment of recreation director by the Delhi municipality for the winter program. Vancouver First snow and cold spell took its toll last week, with business at downtown first runs off quite a bit from normal. . . . Best of the new entries is “A Cry in the Night” at the Strand. “Giant,” on its third week at Orpheum, is holding strongly and stays for a fourth session. . . . The Cascade drive-in at Burnaby is the lone drive-in open in the province now and will fold for the season at Christmas after a below average season. . . . Yvonne Lexier, secretary at Empire-Universal Films, was married to Ron Wheeldon of Winnipeg. Miss Lexier was formerly with MGM in Winnipeg before moving to B.C. . . . The Vancouver branch of the Canadian Picture Pioneers, at its annual dinner and business meeting at the Devonshire Hotel, elected Ivan Ackery, Orpheum manager, president for 1957. Don Foli, of the Studio, was named vice-president, and Jimmy Davie of International Film Distributers, was reelected secretary-treasurer. Retiring president is Hank Leslie, of the Orpheum. New members inducted were Frank Soltice, manager of the Pines drive in, Penticton; and Shirl Wilson, manager of Perkins Electric for Western Canada. . . . Mabel Grant, local booker for Astral Films, was the winner of $250 on a local radio quiz. . . . Violet Hosford, 20th-Fox booker, is back from a Chicago vacation. Washington Herndon Edmonds, 20th Century-Fox, and Joseph Walsh, Exhibitor Service, were in the class of 1956, Motion Picture Pioneers. . . . Local women named to national WOMPI committees were Lucille Traband, finance committee; Nelia Turner, by-laws committee, and Eileen Olivier, nominating committee. . . . K-B Theatres will import British films to supply their MacArthur theatre, and also to distribute around the country. First of these will be the Boulting Bros.’ “Josephine and Men” which will have an American premiere December 21 at the MacArthur theatre. Marvin Goldman, a partner in K-B Theatres, is making the arrangements. . . . Sidney Lust Theatres will again have toy and food matinees for needy families. The Allen, Cheverly, Hyattsville and Kaywood theatres were scheduled to have their matinees December 12 and the Viers Mill Dec 14. Founded by the late Sidney Lust, this will be the 22nd year for these matinees. . . . The Hungarian Relief Fund of the American Red Cross will benefit from the opening of “Seven Wonders Of the World” December 27 at the Warner theatre. . . . Robert Dean Shepp, formerly manager of the Newton theatre, has joined the Sidney Lust Theatres chain. .. . . Sam Galanty, mideast division manager of Columbia Pictures, returned from Cincinnati conferences. Take Holiday Series Artists-Producers Associates and the Stanley Warner Theatres jointly announced the acquisition of “The Big Fun Carnival” film series by Stanley Warner for Christmas season bookings through the circuit. The series of 12 pictures, produced by Artists-Producers, is of 90-minute variety programs for children’s matinees, starring Marian Stafford, Jared Reed and the Bunin Puppets. E. M. Loew Wins Point HARTFORD: E. M. Loew, the theatre circuit operator, is entitled to a permit to construct a concession stand for a proposed outdoor theatre at New Haven, the State Supreme Court of Errors here has ruled. Mr. Loew, however, must still obtain permission from the State Traffic Commission before proceeding with his stated intention of erecting a drive-in theatre. Ban Drive-in PITTSBURGH: The City Planning Commission banned the construction of a new drive-in to be built on a tract of land on the north side of Pittsburgh. A petition of more than 1,000 residents protested the changing of their community from a residential to a commercial classification. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 15, 1956 35