Showmen's Trade Review (Jan-Mar 1947)

38 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, January 4, 1947 REGIONAL NEWSREEL Warner Short Based On Walt Whitman Poem Walt Whitman's classic poem, "I Hear America Calling," will be produced by Gordon Hollingshead as a Warner Bros, featurette combining photography, music and literature to capture the spirit of the American way of life. Two-reeler will have an original symphonic background composed by Franz Waxman, Warner composer-conductor, whose last assignment was the Joan Crawford-John Garfield starrer, "Humoresque." Pictorial background will be obtained by cameramen who will be sent to noted landmarks and beauty spots throughout the country. Hollingshead also is working on a series of shorts dealing with the United States in geographical sections. The first subject in this group, "Cradle of the Republic," depicting the New England States, has just been completed. Tessas Highway Dept. Sponsors Texas Premiere The Texas Highway Department, under the supervision of William B. Alderman, special assistant to the highway commissioner, is sponsoring the special Texas premiere of "The Westerner," a Film Classics' release with ceremonies which started at the annual convention of the American Association of State Highway Officials at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles last week. A complete album of stills from the motion picture, bound in Texas leather, will then repose in the original "law office of Judge Roy Bean" now in the custody of the Texas Highway Department. John Franconi, branch head of Film Classics is representing the company at the presentation following a special showing of the film to prominent exhibitors and state officials prior to general release in Texas. Selling Manual Issued On Warner Cartoons A special reference manual has been prepared by Warner Bros.' short subjects publicity department to enable exhibitors to promote the company's Bugs Bunny, Merrie Melody and Looney Tune cartoons. Included in the book's contents are publicity stories, a humorous "backstage" interview with Bugs Bunny, national merchandising tieups, tips on exploitation and reproductions of several available mats. An introductory message to exhibitors urges that, when playing the cartoons, "you should apply the same showmanship principles that you use on feature productions," and then points out that "in this book you'll find many helpful methods and suggestions for making Warner Bros. Cartoons do a real job of building your house's reputation for balanced programs and the best in supplementary entertainment." Does It in Halves If Jack Cantrell, manager of Interstate's* 25th Street Theatre, Waco, Texas, did half as much business as ordinarily on a recent program, it's because he devoted half his newspaper advertising space and half the marquee to the short subjects. Now It's the In-Laws "I Love My Brother-in-Law — But" is the newest edition to the Pete Smith Specialty series at MGM. (Continued from Page 34) town, Brooklyn, during his vacation. George Tawson, 20th-Fox salesman, and wife, spent Christmas in ivansas City. J. J. Rodriguez, owner of the Mexico, vacationing in Texas. Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Roberts, Ft. Morgan, Colo., theatre folks, and two sons, are spending the holidays in Chicago. Miss Mary Gardner, National Theatre Supply secretary, is holidaying in Kansas City. Cinema Amusement Company has reopened the Vogue after extensive remodeling and redecorating. It reopened with two first-runs, "Journey Together" and "Colorado Serenade," day-and-date with the Broadway. Thieves stole one of the two heavy vases from in front of the State. Out of town theatre folks seen on film row included John Greve, Minturn, Colo.; Mr. and Mrs. Earl Campbell, Trenton, Neb.; Earl Berens, Hugo, Colo. ; Mitchell Kelloff, Aguilar, Colo., and Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Gates, Johnstown, Colo. LOS ANGELES Lloyd "Stony" Goad, Screen Guild booker, has set up a new photo lab in Sidney Pink's Mayan Theatre, with Bill Cummings as partner in a photography business. Joe Blumenfeld, of Blumenfeld Theatres, was down from San Francisco ; while Norma Muhlman, Music Hall's Cliff Giesseman's secretary, reversed the procedure by going to 'Frisco to see her family. Congratulations on two scores to Rollie Gunderson. He has been made a full booker at United Artists and just returned from a honeymoon, after marrying the former Katherine Marsh. Sammy Siegel succeeded Mike Newman as director of exploitation for the western division of Columbia. Mike, a veteran of many years with the company, has formed "Mike Newman & Associates," an advertising agency. Siegel formerly assisted Mike, working the northern territory. Nate Krevitz, who served as a civilian with the Marines in public relations, is Sammy's new assistant. Monogram's Jim Schiller, exploitation representative, was in New Orleans, arranging for cowboy star Jimmy Wakely's personal appearance tour. Moz Buries, branch manager of the Portland Monogram exchange, paid the local film row a visit. Ailing at home with a bad cold was MGM's "Sheriff" Jack Valpey. Glad to see popular Bob Beretta, John P. Filbert's aide-de-camp, back at work, following a siege of sickness that had him in the hospital. Praise Pr of eef leftist District Fire Chief Frank Judkins this week lauded Projectionist Howell Parker for his presence of mind in bringing a booth fire under control at the Pic Theatre, a neighborhood house in Kansas City. The fire broke out Christmas day and destroyed two reels of film before Parker got it under control with the assistance of Exhibitor Herman H. La Vine who rushed to the booth at the first alarm. About 100 patrons were in the theatre when the fire broke out. Seen on film row were Al Keough and his sister, Mrs. Frank Kemp, with her husband, all of the Keough Circuit of San Diego; and Ed Penn, LaHabra and Brea. Bob Ableson revealed that his Film Classics office will have 22 Alexander Korda productions ready for release shortly, having just bought them. Chester Bostwick, manager of the Vista Theatre, was injured by a hit-and-run driver, and is now in the Veterans Hospital at Sawtelle, attempting to recuperate. Earl Stein, RKO salesman, returned from a vacation in San Francisco, where he went after recovering from a three-week pneumonia setback. Ezra E. Stern is defending William E. Coxe, owner of the Forum Theatre in Barstow, against percentage fraud suits filed by Paramount, 20th Century-Fox and Loew's. On Dec. 26, Stern filed motions for a bill of particulars, claiming that these motions were needed because of the "vagueness and generality of the charges." Coxe is being accused of reporting false gross receipts on pictures played on percentage from the plaintiff concerns. Federal Judge Pierson Hall will hear the motions on Jan. 13. Stern, at that time, will contend that the charges are unfounded, unjustified and untrue. He has also filed motions, which will be heard then, to strike certain material from the complaints on the grounds of being "impertinent and scandalous." CHARLOTTE Jay Schrader, head of Charlotte Poster Exchange, announced recently that his company has been appointed southeastern representatives of the Filmack Trailer Corporation in the distribution of its new feature trailers. The Poster Exchange has already commenced taking contracts. Schrader also announced that deliveries will commence around the first of April. Margie Thomas, Metro booker who has been connected with that company for many years, has resigned. She and her husband plan to operate a restaurant in Conway, S. C. Mike Klein, Universal auditor, has gone to St. Louis after working in the Charlotte branch for a number of months. The father of Lois Summers, MGM contract clerk, died last week. On Friday, Dec. 27 Exhibitor's Service held its annual Booker's Christmas party in the Variety Club rooms at the Hotel Charlotte. Attending were the bookers from all the film exchanges in the city as well as a few specially invited guests. J. S. McDaniel opened his new Evon Theatre in Dallas, N. C, on Jan. 1. The theatre seats 550. The opening was attended by several of the Film Row people. The opening attraction was "The Showoff." Seen along the Row : — Pete Lassiter, Conway, N. C. ; Lyle Wilson, Roanoke Rapids, N. C. ; Earlis Gillespie, West End, High Point, N. C. ; J. D. Holland, Lyman, S. C. ; Tom Fleming, York, S. C. ; J. L. King and Beth Railey, Bethune, S. C. ; Charlie Myers, Rich Square, N. C; Pete Howell, Smithfield, N. C. Lee Little, operator of the Camden and Haiglar theatres in Camden, S. C, has just gotten back to his desk after an illness of several weeks. W. G. Driver, salesman for Screen-Guild, left the Hospital after a 75-day stay.