Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1949)

SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, December 10, 1949 11 Haitirick-Ev'greeti Split Dec. 20 The Hamrick-Evergreen circuit of approximately 16 theatres in Washington and Oregon will dissolve Dec. 20 with the houses to be divided between John Hamrick and Evergreen, in which 20th Century-Fox has an interest. Fox will retain its Evergreen holdings, subject to the understanding, reached in the Government anti-trust suit that Stockholder Frank L. Newman, Sr., is merely an investor and not a potential exhibitor. Had he been found a potential exhibitor, Fox would have had to sell its holdings or gain full control of the company. Under the split, Hamrick will move his offices to Seattle, where he will take over the Orpheum, the Music Hall, the Music Box and the Blue Mouse. Evergreen, according to report, will retain the Fifth Avenue, the Paramount, the Coliseum — all in Seattle — and the Hollywood, Liberty, Mayfair, Music Box, Oriental, Orpheum, Paramount, Playhouse and Newsreel in Portland, Oregon. Allied Unit to Revise Constitution, Elects Finkel Allied Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Western Pennslyvania held its 29th annual convention at the Hotel William Penn, Pittsburgh, Dec. 5-6, decided to consider a new constitution which is to be presented to it by a committee by March 1, and reelected Morris Finkel, president. The convention discussed industry problems, with the effect of tele, vision generally and the use of large-screen television in theatres heading the agenda. Exhibitor Morris Finkel speakers included National Allied President William Ainsworth, Sidney Samuelson. U. S. Senator Francis J. Myers was the principal speaker at the banquet which closed the convention Tuesday night. Other officers elected with Finkel are VicePresident Fred Beedle, Secretary Fred J. Herrington. Treasurer Joseph Gellman. Directors are Frank Tanapolis, Mike Manos, Norman Mervis, Lee Conrad, Harry Rachille, William Fox, M. A. Rosenberg, David Habburg. The constitution committee, which will revise the constitution, consists of Finkel, Beedle, Rosenberg, Bernard 'Buchheit and Edgar Shaffer. To Ail-Condition 'A' Houses, Says Goldstein Plans are under way to install air conditioning in all "A" houses of the Western Massachusetts Theatres, Inc., President Samuel Goldstein declared in Springfield, Mass., this week as he predicted a rosy future for business. Goldstein, who acknowledged that the circuit's business has been off in recent months because of "product, and labor conditions," hastened to add that "business is always good when we have good pictures and from what 1 can see we are going to have some excellent productions for the people of this area. I see business improving as a result." Age of Miracles Eagle Lion Branch Manager Robert Richardson of Cleveland, is a stalwart character who can stand shock. He is even known to have gone through the ordeal of having an exhibitor accept the first film rental quoted without fainting. But this week he faced one for the book. It was a letter from Exhibitor E. C. Prinsen of the Palace and State in Youngstown. Exhibitor Prinsen had played "Down Memory Lane" and he wrote Manager Richardson a letter, not beefing about the picture's not being up to expectations but praising it. Prinsen declared he "had almost as much fun listening to his audience as . . . watching the picture." And his letter included a moveover booking for the State as second-run. "You know," he wrote, "we seldom use a so-called program picture second-run downtown." Paramount Plans 18 in 8 Months Paramount will enter 1950 with a production schedule of 18 pictures to go before the cameras within the first eight months of the New Year, Studio Vice-President Henry Ginsberg announced this week. The schedule, which Ginsberg terms the largest ever so far in advance by the company, does not include four pictures now in production and an inventory of 17 completed but unreleased features, which when taken together would give the company a total of 39 features available for release during 1950 and 1951. This heavy product availability, which does not necessarily mean that Paramount will increase its present releasing schedule of approximately 21 features a year, coincides with split of the producing company from the exhibiting company, which under the terms of the consent decree, takes effect Jan. 1, 1950. At that time Paramount will remain in production and distribution, and a supposedly independent new company — United Paramount Theatres — will take over operation of the theatre group under the decree provisions which will eventually limit the circuit to a maximum of approximately 600 theatres. The 18 The features which Ginsberg announced for production are: "Carrie Ames," and an adaption of the IBroadway stage play, "Detective Story" — both directed by William Wyler. "Roman Holiday," "directed by Frank Capra ; "Mr. and Mrs. Anonymous ;" A Bing Crosby musical western and another untitled Crosby ; iBob Hope in "The Big Guy;" A Leo McCarey ; "Famous;" "Montana Rides" in Technicolor with Alan Ladd ; Betty Hutton in "The Mabel NormandMack Sennett Story ;" a Billy Wilder production ; Ray Milland in "It's a Fast World ;" William 'Holden in "Union Station ;" "A Relative Stranger," produced by Charles Brackett ; Ray Milland in "Jack of Diamonds ;" "Jockey's Agent;" "The Kentuckian" and "Nightmare." Griffith Sells 47 Towns Eagle Lion Adds Schwartz Eagle Lion Distribution Vice-President William J. Heineman this week announced a deal with Jack Schwartz Productions by which the latter would produce 22 features and eight westerns for Eagle Lion distribution. Delivery to the distributor is to be made at the rate of two features a month and one western each 45 days. Griffith Theatres in 47 Oklahoma and Texas towns have been acquired by Video Independent Theatres, a new company headed by eight former Griffith employes, Griffith Vice-President W. T. Spears announced this week. The transaction was necessitated because of the retirement of President L. C. Griffith and the death of Vice-President Harry M. Lowenstein. Spears said, and has nothing to do with current Government anti-trust action against the Griffith circuit. The new company immediately installed a welfare program at no cost to the employes, which includes retirement pensions, disability and health benefits, life insurance and a profitsharing plan under which all employes who attain five years of service are eligible to share in the profits. Officers of the new company are : President Henry S. Griffing; Vice Presidents Claude O. Fulgham, Claude F. Motley ; Secretary-Treasurer Kenneth C. Blackledge; Directors William B. Turk, Paul E. Cornwell, Louise Wesson. The theatres acquired are at Ada, Altus, .\rdmore, Bartlesville, Blackwell, Chandler, Chickasha, Claremore, Clinton, Gushing, Drumright, Duncan, Elk City, El Reno, Enid, Fairfax, Frederick, Guthrie, Henryetta, Hobart, Holdenville, Hominy, Hugo, Mangum, Norman, Oklahoma City, Okmulgee, Pawhuska, Picher, Panca City, Sapulpa, Sayre, Seminole, Shawnee, Stillwater, Vinita and Wewoka — all in Oklahoma. The Texas houses are in Borger, Cleburne, Cuero, Kermit, Midland, New Braunfels, Pampa, Refugio, Wellington and Wink. Little Hope of U. S. Tax Cut Says Ohio Tax Man Chance that the federal amusement tax will be eliminated are very slim, C. Emory Glander, Ohio State Tax Commissioner told 500 mayors and city officials attending the American Municipal Association's three-day meeting in Cleveland this week. Glander told the mayors that he favored municipal admission taxes rather than federal taxes because they were able to reach transients, were free from interstate control, and not only offered stable but comparatively cheap form of collection. Drive-Ins Would Affiliate With Undei-Roofeis A separate exhibitor organization for underskyer operators is not advisable and drive-in exhibitors should join either national Allied or the Theatre Owners of America, a meeting of under-skyer owners in Kansas City last week decided. The meeting, presided over by Jack Braunagle of Commonwealth, represented approximately 75 per cent of the area's under-skyer operators. O. F. Sullivan, Kansas-Missouri Allied President, told the group that uational Allied planned a national drive-in conference and the meeting suggested any period between Jan. 15 to Feb. 15, with Kansas City or St. Louis as the location.