Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1949)

26 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, October 22, 1949 REGIONAL NEWSREEL (Continued from Page 25) RKO to Fox Midwest control. Instead of any formal opening ceremonies on Wed., the circuit held a preview of the theatre and the screen attraction, "I Was a A'lale War Bride," for the mayor, city officials, industry friends and others on Tuesday night. As its first legitimate attraction the Orpheum gets Susan Peters in "The Barretts of Wimpole Street" for a week beginning Nov. 28. The play was set last week by Manager Jimmy Nixon. Until that date the Orpheum probably will show first-run films at extra fare. The Starlight Theatre committee of the Citizen Planning Council recently voted to ask that part of the 19.31 stadium and outdoor theatre bond issue of $750,000 be used in the building of the proposed Starlight Theatre in Swope Park. NEW HAVEN MGM Manager Harry Rosenblatt went to New York for home office sales conference. . . . Mort Katz, who heads booking office for Connecticut theatres, is handling Community Chest collections in downtown houses. The Capitol Theatre, iNliddletown, managed by Fred Perry, is going into a part-time vaudeville policy. . . . The stork deposited a boy at the home of College Theatre Manager Sidney Kleper and his wife. . . . Father of Lou Brown, publicity director of the Loew Poli circuit, died in Washington, D. C. WASHINGTON Election of Variety Club Tent No. 11 officers, for 1950 will take place at a luncheon on Nov. 7, in the Congressional Room of the Willard Hotel. . . . Local F-13 held its first fall business meeting on Oct. 10, with Agnes Turner of RKO presiding. . . . The Kaywood Theatre in Mt. Rainier had a free midnight stage and screen show under the sponsorship of the Mt. Rainier Fire Prevention and Safety Committee and the Sidney Lust Theatres. The Lust Theatres has moved into the new offices in the new Kass Bldg. The Washington Variety Club unanimously elected AI Jolson as show business' "Personality of the Year." Presentation of the award will be made at the 14th annual dinnerdance, Nov. 19 at the Statler. Newest addition to the downtown motion picture houses will be the remodeled Plaza at 1336 New York Ave. N.W., to be operated by Sam Roth's Valky Enterprises, which has two Washington theatres and 17 in Virginia. The Plaza will be ready early in January, and will be completely air-conditioned, and have modern seats, projection and sound equipment. The architect is William L. Drevo, and the remodeling of the building will be handled by the Tuckman-Barbee Construction Co. PHILADELPHIA Joe Minsky, former Eagle Lion district manager here and now operator of several army and navy retail stores, visited his many film row friends. . . . Thieves cracked a safe at the S-W Colonial la^t week and escaped with a reported $150. Police believe the robbers hid in the theatre at the end of the-'last show at night. . . Harry Barrist's home was robbed for the second time in 16 days. Esther Muchnick, S-W publicity office, took a lat-e vacation and spent WELCOME TO SCREENING. Mrs. Pauline Corbett, manager of the Idle Hour Theatre, Cinncinnati, is welcomed to an invitational shovsring of Paramount's "The Heiress" by Vincent Kramer of the company's Cincinnati sales forces. her time in Havana and Miami. John Colder, Jam liandy representative, returning from the Pittsburgh territory, reported the steel strike had severely affected business. . . . Rube Shapiro's Boulevard, Brookline, is being redecorated. . . . RKO Biller Cathryn Scanlon, has resigned due to ill health. Bernice Watson replaces her. The Roy Rogers Riders Club of the Pike, Claymont, has received its charter and Dick Edge, manager, was offitially designated as ranch foreman. . . . The rooms of Variety Club, Tent 13, were crowded last week during the televising of the world series. . . . The industryites here were sorry to learn of the death of Manager Art Kees of the Savar, Camden, N. J. He had been with the Varbalow Circuit for nearly 20 years. LOUISVILLE Ford Tracey, for many years manager of the Settos Ohio Theatres, has been promoted to circuit's district manager. He has left for his new offices at Evansville, Ind., and the Ohio has been taken over by his former assistant, George Kozak. . . . M. E. Stevenson is managing the Palace in Owensboro. . . . M. H. Sparks, co-owner of the Strand in Edmonton and the Veterans in Tomkinsville, is leaving for Chicago and a position with a manufacturer. He will retain his interest in both theatres, leaving them in charge of his partners, Cecile Richardson in the case of the Veterans and Phil Thompson at the Strand. Chief Engineer Willis Hopewell of the Switow Amusement Co. here has left for a three-week vacation in New Orleans. . . . Manager H. J. Newton of the Strand here has been on his vacation, too, and was relieved by Eddie Huber, purchasing agent for the operating Fourth Avenue Amusement Co. . . . John Gilhooly, who has managed the Switow Amusement Co.'s theatres in Jef¥ersonville, Ind., for about 40 Fall Drive-ins If the fine fall weather continues in the Buffalo area, there is a strong possibility that the drive-in theatres in this neck of the woods will operate into the month of November. Business at the outdoor places has been holding up unusually well, says one of the big outdoor owners. years, has left for an extended stay in Tucson, Ariz., leaving the houses under the direction of his son, Donald. , The Skyway and Parkway drive-ins ran "The Girl From Jones Beach" day-and-date and, though owned by different groups (the former by Louis Arru and the latter by John Nolan) advertised together in one large newspaper layout. . . . Lewis Baker's Star at West Point has a new screen and H. E. Curry's Todd at Elkton, new sound heads. DES MOINES The Council of Parents and Teachers at Waterloo, la., has set up a movie project in cooperation with the six Waterloo theatres with special films to be shown during the fall season. The objectives of the council are: 1) To assist parents and children in evaluating films ; 2) To present desirable pictures for children which will replace the adult films which the children might otherwise attend ; 3) To present a positive form of approach in fighting undesirable pictures for children. The council will also review coming films in its monthly publication. The Hilltop drive-in near Fort Dodge, la., was heavily damaged by a 90-mile-an-hour windstorm that blew over the screen which fell on the ticket booth. Several other under-skyers in the state were also damaged. ... The Des Moines Variety Club will hold its annual Christmas party at the Jewish community center on Dec. 12. Lou Levy and Harold McKinney are chairmen of the event. Will E. Eddy, owner of the Empress, Indianola, la., was honored with a party at the Standard Club in Des Moines in celebration of' his 25 years in the theatre business. Some 60 guests who have been associated with him during the past 25 years attended. Eddy also held open house at the Empress with continu « ous free showings during the day. CHICAGO Hank Porter, formerly with National Screen Service, has joined the sales department of Screen Guild. . . . Robert J. Longini has joined the Sarra Studios as director-cameraman. . . . Ernest Lucas, WGN-TV film editor, has been named television editor for the station. . . . W. Albright has resigned as manager of the Valencia, Chicago. . . . Bert Friedlob, producer of Mickey Rooney's "Dark Challenge," and Director Tay Garnett are here scouting locations for a new picture to be filmed here. Balaban and Katz Legal Director Morris Leonard is hoine from a medical check-up at the Mayo sanitarium. . . . Film Financier Arthur Greene, who has not recently furnished funds for film productions, is investigating several independent films now under way with the idea of suming his film financing activities. . . . Dr. George Benson of Harding College, Searcy, Ark., and a writer on film subjects, was a speaker and honor guest at the opening dinner of the Chicago Community Fund drive at the Stevens Hotel attended by 1,200. John Balaban, Will Hollander, Jack Kirsch and other film industry leaders will take part in the campaign. The local chapter of the Collisseum of Motion Picture Salesmen held a special Sunday meeting of the Variety Club rooms when new contract problems were discussed. . . . Balaban and Katz' Chicago Theatre advanced morning and afternoon prices for the Danny Kaye engagement to '98 cents with evening prices unchanged.