Paramount World (1955)

8 Paramount World NEWS FROM THE NORTH AMERICAN PARAMOUNT BRANCHES Pictures of Paramount eers, news about branch personnel, reports on accomplishments, examples of local Paramount^ salesmanship and showmanship — these are the chief editor¬ ial requirements for the pages now spread before you. These pages will appear every issue. ST. LOUIS t The St, Louis Branch sends greetings to all of our co-workers over the globe, ....THE BRIDGES AT TOKO-RI opened in St, Louis firstrun to one of the largest opening-night grosses in histor7. THE COUNTRY GIRL is now in its 3rd week^,with a second week for MAMBO, ....Jerry Bahner, our Office Manager, was sur¬ prised by our Pep Club vdien he was presented with cuff links in honor ; of being made a Third highlight of the month was the wedding of our contract clerk, Shirley Price, to Rudy Koehler (that lucky fellow) on May 2OTh. The wedding was lovely and the bride, of course, looked beauti¬ ful. After a week's noneymoon in Wis¬ consin, the bride is now back at work, . Pnyllis Looney, Clerk, is wear¬ ing a diamond ring on the proper fin¬ ger and is planning to take the big step in September. The blushing bridegroom-to-be is Warren A. J A 3ast. Jane Smoller TORONTO Whewl We are just starting to catch up to ourselves and settle down a bit. For several weeks we have been on a merry-go-round in Toronto, On May 11 the local Variety Tent brought George Formby and a complete International Revue to the Maple Leaf Gardens, The Paramount P ep Club took in the show after dinner at the Town and Country, The party included Mr, and Mrs, Gordon Lightstone, Mr, A1 Iscove and Mr.W.J. O'Neill, The Formby show was very food and , we were happy that the varety Club had a splendid turnout and raised about $20,000, On SundavjMay 15, a special scr¬ eening of STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND was held in the Imperial Theatre for the R.C.A.F, officials, exhibitors, radio, television and press. It was shown in the new double-frame horizontal VistaVision process on the biggest sci'een. in Canada, 54 feet wide, 24 feet hl^. Approximately 1500 persons attended, and all acclaimed both S.A.C, and the new V,V, process. This is the Mar7 Murphy of HELL'S ISUND as she showed up in the Paramount branch af¬ ter setting all Cincinnati agog while on a personal appearance tour in the picture's behalf. If anybody is interested in the g^5B in the picture, that's Cincinnati Branch Manager Herb Gillis at left, and Short Feat¬ ures Sales Manager Oscar A. Morgan. meeting, Mr. Weltner came to the off¬ ice and everyone had the privilege of meeting him personally. Our organization can be justly proud of the Paramount girls who nave taken such a great interest in the motion picture industry by holding top executive positions in the Assoc¬ iation of the Women of the Motion Picture Industry (known popularly as W0MPI)o The girls are located all over the country and they are: Mrs. Verlin Osborne j Dallas, Texas. President of the National Organization; Mrs, Lorr¬ aine Cass, New Orleans, La,, Vice President and Chairman of the Membeiv ship Committee of the National Organ¬ ization; Mrs, Frankie English, Atlanta, Ga.. Regional Director, Region #2, and Chainnan of Insignia and Pin Coranditeq Mrs, Fairy Wilkerson,MeniphiH,Tenn, , By-Laws Comnittee and Nominating Conn.ittee; Miss Anne Kaplan, President of the Toronto Club, the only Canadian club of its type in operation; Mrs. Myrtle Parker, President, Charlotte, N.C, Wedding bells are ringing in our office for Jack Mitchell, Booking De¬ partment, who is getting married July 2nd. Everyone here wishes him and his fiancee, Joyce, the best of luck, Anne Kaplan PITTSBURGH A six-pound grandson was re¬ cently welcomed by our Office and Booking Manager, Mr, Harry Passarell, and his charming wife, Congratulaticns to the happy parents, and grandparaits on the arrival of Michael Richard, a “pother for cute two-year old Ellen., ....STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND is doing great business in this territoiy, as naturally expected for such a ter¬ rific picture, ... .A hearty welcome is extended to Mrs. Iris DuLac,new Bill¬ ing Dept. clerk,,,Lots of luck, Iris'. Mr, Oscar Morgan was here for a few days. Always a pleasure to see him,., Popular Division Manager Howard Minsky was here recently to brief us on the great new product and many other sub¬ lets outlined at the studio meeting. r Sales and Booking personnel were deeply interested in this information’. ....July birthday congratulations to aaye Grotticelli, branch manager's secretary, and Grace Benitz, head in¬ spectress, _ Marilyn Rabinovitz Cl NCI NNATI We were fortunate in having Mary 5LAND.vi .visit Murphy, co-star of HELL'S ISLv.,«.,j.oj.« our Branch, Miss Murphy was in Cincin¬ nati for a Downtown Retail Merchants' promotion . Oscar Morgan was a brief visitor to the Branch the same day, adding to the happiness of the occas¬ ion, .. .Because an heir is expected, Pat Knapke, Booking Dept. Ledger Clerk, is on leave of absence, Geri Wakeman, MR. WELTNER ‘S PROGRAM OF COVERING U.S. & CANADIAN BRANCH OFFICES WELL UNDER WAY Paramount World-V/ide Head of Sales George Weltner, who is in Europe at the present time attending to important busi¬ ness on the International side of his company responsibilit¬ ies, was well embarked on his itinerary of covering all Para¬ mount branch offices in the United States and Canada within the next several months. Next activity was the Divisional Sales Meeting under Mr, Lightstone' s direction, which already has been covered in Paramount World. After the That was a nice nationwide plug Exploiteer Bob Bixler got from Bob Hope when the star, just returned from Australia, appeared on the Ed Murrow "Person-to-Person" network TV show. Quite a plug for Dallas, too, since top showman Bob O'Donnell got an ace mention also. On May 25-26, following the vital sales meeting in Holly¬ wood, he was in Toronto. June 2-3, accompanied by Division Manager E.K. O’Shea, in charge of the Eastern half of the Un¬ ited States, he was in Boston and New Haven branches, June 9-10, again accompanied by Mr. O'Shea, he visited Washington and Pittsburgh branches. Several days later June 15,16,17, accompanied by Division Manager Hugh Owen, in charge of the Western half of U.S., he visited Paramount's branches in Salt Lake City and Denver.