Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1946)

SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, June 22, 1946 31 REGIONAL NEWSREEL automobile trip to Palm Springs and Florence Allingham, RKO cashier, back from Canada. Gloria Ferrera is leaving Warner Bros, on July 25 to marry Frederick Watson of Concord. Jack Zamsky has just returned to Universal's sales force following an operation in Los Angeles. Republic has added Helen Barnett to its staff as a switchboard operator. Maury Schwartz is the new owner of the Rex Theatre in San Francisco. Two new drive in theatres have opened in Northern California. The Motor-In at Malaga, five and one half miles south of Fresno, opened with "Bandit of Sherwood Forest" and "Notorious Lone Wolf." The house is operated by Robert L. Lippert Theatres of San Francisco and has a 6Qc top. It has a capacity of 750 automobiles. The San Jose Drive In Theatre has an allotment of 650 automobiles. Guy Meeks, the owner, established a 60c top and highlighted "A Thousand and One Nights" and "Pied Piper" on the opening bill. The theatre is located four and one-half miles north of San Jose. Meeks states that he plans to construct similar theatres in California, Utah and Colorado when materials become available. Also in the paper stage are theatres in Hayward and nearby Marin County. Allister Dunn has been named as the new manager for the Orpheum Theatre and Kenneth Means replaces Dunn at the United Artists Theatre, the Blumenfeld circuit offices revealed this week. Roy Young, former Orpheum manager, resigned because of ill health. Means was transferred from the El Camino in San Rafael. Charles Greb moved up from the treasurer's post to that of assistant manager at the Orpheum. He replaced John Tollini, now manager of the Rafael Theatre in San Rafael. Oliver, B. C. — If plans materialize this town, in the center of the fruit district and not far from the U. S. border, will have two new theatres. Alex Gough, who operates two theatres, expects to build a $20,000 theatre and the Elks Lodge members are talking of constructing a new $60,000 house. — VAN. London, Ont. — In order to prepare the way for the erection of a ISOO-seat theatre here, the City Council of London. Ont. has adopted a motion to revise the zoning by-laws so that construction can get under way without delay. —TOR. New Orleans — The new Gallo Theatre at South Claiborn and Napoleon streets opened last week for colored patrons. The house is completely modern. — OR. Petersburg, Va. — Fairfax Corporation, theatre operators, this week announced purchase of the Tabb Building here from Prudential Life for $42,500 for ultimate use as a theatre. Middlesboro, Ky. — As soon as CPA authority can be procured, the Hyman Pikeville Theatre Company will erect a new moving picture theatre on a Cumberland Avenue site recently purchased. CENTER OF ATTRACTION at the Southeastern Theatre Owners Association convention held recently at Jacksonville, Fla., was Arleen Whelan, Paramount star, who is shown here flanked by B. B. Garner (left), general manager of Florida State Theatres, and R. B. Wilby, president of Wilby-Kincey Theatres. TORONTO Two theatre robberies occurred in Ontario within a week. The Tivoli Theatre, Windsor, was entered following week-end performances and $1,500 was taken from the safe, the burglars making their escape. There was a breakin at the Hollywood Theatre, Toronto, ace house of the Allen chain, where the safe was smashed and the robber made a getaway with more than $700, the day's receipts for "I Know Where I'm Going." Art Knowlton, one of the original officials with General Manager Frank O'Byrne in Queensway Studios Limited, Toronto, has resigned to become purchasing agent for a large company in another industrial field in the Ontario Capital. The Canadian premiere of "Dad and Mom," released by Hygienic Productions of Canada, Newington, Conn. — -Work has been started by the E. M. Loew circuit on a new drive-in theatre here. The theatre is expected to be ready by the middle of July, according to Loew official Lou Richmond. — BO. Milwaukee — Work on the prospective Telenews Theatre (FoxWisconsin Amusement Co.) is at a standstill because of restrictions on building and the use of materials. The house, when it is completed, will be located on Wisconsin Avenue. Richard Phillip is the architect. —MIL. Manawa, Wis. — Additional funds for the construction of the new Manawa Theatre here are now being raised by a corps of business men so that when materials are available the building may be constructed without delay. The total cost of the theatre project is estimated to be $40,000.— MIL. Indianapolis — The Tacoma Theatre Company of 2442 East Washington Street has been incorporated under the laws of Indiana with a capitalization of 500 shares of preferred stock at $100 per value and 500 shares of common stock of no par value. The incorporators are Alfred J. Ackerman, Theodore R. Dann, and Sadie Heidenreich. — IND. as a road show in Masset Hall, Toronto, was featured by long line-ups for six days and was held for a second week. Treasurer and manager of the Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto, from 1907 to 1937, William J. Breen died at his home after a lengthy illness, the sole survivor being his wife. He retired nine years ago because of his health. He was born in New York. Tht Famous Players' Regent Theatre, Ottawa, had a "patron" who tried to enter through the main door with his automobile, the entrance being smashed by the vehicle. The car went out of control following a collision at the business intersection. No person was injured, but the damage was extensive. Secretary Arch H. Jolley of the Motion Picture Theatres Association of Ontario, Toronto, was the guest of honor at a Rotary Club dinner at Stratford, Ont., attended by 200 members and their wives, for which the master of ceremonies and organizer was Manager Walter Helm of the Classic and Avon Theatres. The need of better financial returns for authors and composers in the Dominion was stressed by Leslie A. Boosey of London, England, at the annual meeting in Toronto of the Composers, Authors and Publishers Association of Canada. During his North American visit, Boosey has arranged for the convention at Washington, in October of the International Confederation of Composers and Authors Societies, of which he is president. In a reorganization of the Canadian Government's National Film Board, Graham McInnis of Toronto has been promoted from Information Editor to Director of the Graphics Section where he will be in charge of the production of posters and all other advertising material. The new Information chief is Pierre Chaloult and his assistant is Mrs. Peggy Rooke of Toronto. Paul Gormley is handling theatrical information and Miss Mary Shortt is in charge of non-theatrical publicity. There has been a rush of applications for participation in the first annual coach excursion of the Canadian Picture Pioneers from Toronto to Buffalo, N. Y., which is to be held June 29-30. The program includes a dinner at the Variety Club in Buffalo, a night-club party and baseball doubleheader. Dr. .\ugustin Frigon, general manager of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., expressed the view that it would be seven or eight years before television became practical and the CBC refused to be stampeded into premature action. This probably means that television licenses, controlled by the Canadian government, will not be issued to theatres for a long time. BRIDGEPORT Matt L. Saunders, manager of Loew's Poll, has been doing double duty for three weeks while his assistant, Charles Gaudino, enjoys his vacation. Lloyd Halpert, who managed several Army theatres while he was in service, is new floor man for Manager Harry A. Rose at Loew's Majestic. Halpert is a native of Bridgeport. Jerome J. Conboy, projectionist at Loew's Majestic, has been contributing original verse to the Bridgeport Sunday Post. He has been (Continued on Page 32) New Mirrophonic Sound JOE HORNSTEIN has it! NEW THEATRES