Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1949)

SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, November 5, 1949 29 REGIONAL NEWSREEL Prowlers stole an undetermined amount of change from the office of the Grandview, St. Paul neighborhood house. . . . iMike Guttman, manager of [Minnesota Amusement's Capitol at Aberdeen, S. D., has purchased the World in Aberdeen from Dave Gillman. NEW ORLEANS William A. Bryant, former 20th-Fox salesman who has been circuit sales supervisor for the South for United Artist, has returned to 20th-Fox as a salesman. . . . Vaudeville returned to New Orleans last week at the Poche Theatre, managed by Irwin Poche. In honor of the event. Mayor deLesseps S. Morrison proclaimed Vaudeville Week in the city. Vaudeville is being shown along with pictures. The Southern premiere of "Jolson Sings Again," in New Orleans at the RKO Orpheum Oct. 25 coincided with the completion of improvements to the theatre. The orchestra and two balconies were entirely reseated, newlounges, rest rooms, a new lobby, box-office front, marquee and upright signs installed. The Marquee letters are similar to those of the Radio City Music Hall in New York, City Manager John V. Dostal said. The new front is of maroon glass and stainless steel. Walls and ceilings of the lobby were refinished and indirect lighting installed. ST. LOUIS Several hundred theatre owners and exhibitors will attend the annual meeting of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of St. Louis, Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois at the Chase Hotel here Nov. 7-8. Barbara Lawrence and Audrey Totter are among the stars who will be on hand at the banquet Tuesday evening. The St. Louis Amusement Company has purchased the 1,200-seat Powhatan, Maplewood, Mo., and the adjoining Powhatan airdrome and parking facilities, which it has been operating under lease for some time. Warner Bros. Inspectress Mae Menzenwerth suffered second-degree burns when hot coffee spilledon her at her home Oct. 24. After emergency treatment at a hospital, she returned home. . . . Screen Guild Productions' Harry Gorelick left Nov. 1 on a sales trip to Indiana, southern Illinois and northwestern Kentucky. ... Fox Midwest District Manager Johnny Menardi has been sufifering from a cold. The central public library showed two pictures,' "Eskimo Hunters" and "The Loon's Necklace,":-free on Friday of this week. ... A film on television interference has been released to ' radio amateurs and television servicemen by the American Radio Relay League, Hartford, Conn. ... . W, R. Wilkerson, Jr., J. Wilkerson, A; E. and M. Hass have incorporated Fun, Inc., Kansas City, to operate amusement projects. PORTLAND F-. M. ('"Pete") Higgins is remodeling his Lake ' City Theatre, adding 30 feet to its dimensions, 300 • more seats, new furnishings and equipment , . . Oscar Chinquy of National Theatre Supply came .back from Montana for the; special opening of the 700-seat Park Theatre erected by Mrs. Wilnia Symons . • . James Anderson of Mt. -Angel opened his new 300seat theatre in-Scio,' Ore. . . . Glen Haviland, eastern Washington salesman for Warner's is making his 100th trip to Inland Empire points Book Review Matinee Something new has been added to matinee performances — a weekly book review — at Warners' Beverly in Chicago's south side. The reviews are given under the direction of Margaret Dodd Brown and the first book to be reviewed was George Howe's "Call It Treason." The Beverly is Warners' only single-feature theatre in the Chicago area. . • , John H. Hall opened his new theatre in Benton City, Wash. . . . Norman Bobrovv has joined Sterling Theatres staff as assistant to Advertising-Publicity Director Clinton McFarland . • . Ellen Nieman, efficient cashier of the Fox, Spokane, posed with a jet cutaway engine display as an assist to local recruiters . . . Mrs. Patsie Sinkey, wife of the former motion-picture photographer Chalmer D. Sinkey, of 20th-Fox, has directed and photographed "The Little Archer" short subject for movie-season and previewed it at Jewel Theatre . . . Ted O'Brien, a former assistant manager at the Palomar has been made manager of the Beacon, Seattle. Will J. Conner, general manager of John Hamrick's theatres in '1 acoma. Wash., announced the circuit had acquired the Rialto there from Mrs. H T. Moore and the Baker Investment Company. Mrs. Moore and her late husband opened the Rialto in 1919. Conner has been associated with Hamrick in Tacoma for the past 17 years. NEW HAVEN Columbia Sales Manager Lou Weinberg and members of his family were in New Haven for the Yale Dartmouth football game. . . . Paul Richrath of MGM's New York office visited here with Manager Harry Rosenblatt and also attended the Yale-Dartmouth game. : , > Tom Duane, Selznick representative in New England with Boston headquarters, was in New Haven checking accounts. Harry Germaine of the Price Premium Co., out of Boston, visited friends in New Haven. ... Charlotte Sitzer, secretary to Loew PoliN. E. Division Manager Harry Shaw, is back from Philadelphia where she attended a secretaries', meeting. . . . Mickey Daley, former Hartford, independent theatre owner, is now handling the Connecticut territory , premium sales for Zippy iGoldman of Boston. Matt Saunders, manager of the Poli, Bridgeport, is starting a series of square dance contests with local merchant as sponsor. . . .New seats are being installed in Bijou theatre, managed by Bill Brown. Lower boxes are also being removed to give more space for seats. SALT LAKE CITY The Studio Theatre announced the return of "Hamlet" at that house at increased reservedseat prices, but less than its roadshow admissions. . .. . Film ■ Classics local sales manager, Dave McElhinney, has returned from a call on Idaho exhibitors. . , . Most local first-run theatres staged gala events for their midnight Hallowe'en shows.; The Lyric offered a pre-Hallowe'en midnight show of two mystery thrillers, with an entirely different mystery, show for children on the 'Eve itself. Manager Charlies Pincus of the Utah had a Saturday morning show for the members of the Mickey Mouse Club, with prizes awarded the youngsters having the best costumes representing characters from the comic section page of the Salt Lake Tribune and Telegram, also free candy. Admission price was 14 cents for children up to 14 years of age. The dramatic department of the University of Utah is introducing the "theatre in the round" which the French producer Jacques Copeau, under the influence of the theatrical idealogist, Adolph Appiea, tried out when he used an old .warehouse for this theatre-withouta-stage. DALLAS The Heights, newest Robb and Rowley Dallas suburban, opens Friday with the showing of "The Girl From Jones Beach" . . • James Reynolds, who has been treasurer of the Melba and Tower theatres, will become manager of Interstate's suburban Wilshire, according to City Manager James O Cherry . . . R. J. O'Donnell was expected back in Dallas Sunday night from an European tour and the New York meeting of Variety. P. A. (Bob) Warner planed Oct. 30 for a 10day business trip to New York City. . . . The Texas State Fair attracted more attention and prospective buyers than ever before. The attendance during its 15 days ran over 2,000,000 paid admissions. NEW YORK Promise that if he were reelected he would amend the city building code so as to make possible construction of theatres now held back by restrictions which many consider obsolete, was made to the amusement industry last week by Mayor William O'Dwyer. The mayor made the promise at a luncheon in his honor tendered by the lATSE's District 10. Other speakers included U.S. Senatorial candidate Herbert H, Lehman; Thomas Murtha, lATSE legislative committee chairman for District 10, lATSE President Richard F. Walsh. Dais sitters were Max A. Cohen, Robert Weitman, Fred Schwartz, Major Leslie Thompson, William White, James Ssuter,Joseph Vogel, James Riley, James Brennan, Si Fabian, C. C. Moskowitz, Emanuel (Continued on Page 30) FILMACK CHICAGO 1327 S. Wabash NEW YORK 619 W. 54th St. NOW SPECIALIZING IN RBFRESHMENT SERVICE FOR 'drive-in theatres; SPORTSERVICE Corp. Jacobs bros. 703 MAIN ST. • BUFFALO, W. .Y. • WA. 2S0S