Variety (December 1951)

24 MCnJMBS T i fcwliy, DmomImt 2S, i951 IHtfMtlMtflfMM III II #0991##!# NEty YORK R. M. Savini, Astor Pictures prez, returned from Coast this week to observe Christmas and New Year’s with his- family. Exec had been huddling \with his western fran- chise holders. Bert Kulick, head of Bell Pic- tures, leaves for Coast today (Wed,), Harry Randel, Paramount's N. Y. district manager, elected president of the N. Y. Film Board Of Trade, succeeding Columbia’s Saul Trau-r ner, William Murphy, Republic branch manager, was named' first v.p., replacing Robert Fannon. /Other 'new officers: Louis Aller- hand, Loew’s N. J. branch head, second v.p.; Jack Safer, Mono- gram branch head, treatsurer; Abe Dickstein, 20th-Fox branch chief. Secretary; Trauner, sergeant-at- arms. Installation of new officers is set for next week. DETROIT Newly-elected officers and board members of Allied Theatres of Michigan will hold their first: reg- ular meeting at a luncheon at the Book-Cadillac hotel Jan. 9. In the course of the conclave it’s expected that a program of activities based U po n a continuance Of ‘‘Movie Theatre Time in Michigan” will be developed. John Vlachos will be Michigan Allied prez for the coming year; E. J. Pennell, veepee; Irving Belin- sky, secretary-treasurer; Alien Johnson, Michigan rep to the na- tional board; Mrs. Dolores Cassidy, Glenn Cross and Ray Branch, di- rectors at large. Other directors are Alfred Ackerman, Rene Ger- man!, Harry Rubin, Herbert Fox* Harry Hobolth, C. Beechler, Glenn Wallace, Ed Johnson, John Schuy- ler, Lew Wisper, Irving Goldberg and Elliot Cohen. Ernest T. Conlon is exec secretary. PHILADELPHIA Trans-Lux, 500-seat firstrun, re- ported to have offered $250,000 fpr “Quo Vadis”. run here.. Aurora Theatre, North Philly nabe, sold by Berio vending to a local' union for $20,000. . Industry dinner for the Deborah Sanatorium, Browns Mills, N. J., was held by Variety Club, Tent 13. Dinner honored’ Jack Beresin (Berio Vending). Chairmen were Meyer Adelman and Leo Poselv The Colosseum elected following officers here: J. J. McFadden (RKO), president; Keith GodfrCyy (Col), vice president; Joseph Schaeffer (Rep), secretary; Addle Godtschalk (RKO), treasurer, and three board members, Dick Mel- vin (U)^ Eli Ginsberg (Lippert) and Ben FeltScher (Col). MINNEAPOLIS Norman Reule, exhibitor at Me- dina, N. D„ and Mrs. Reule re- covering from traffic injuries. For example,* Art Stevens sold his St. Paul neighborhood house, the Royal, to Bob Hazleton and Marvin Mann, owners of two Min- neapolis nabe theatres, the Princess and Metro. On the other hand, the Minnesota Amus Co. still has two theatres to divorce itself from in compliance with the Paramount consent decree. It has been trying for jiearij^ two unsuccessfully months to sell the. 5th Ave. Thea- tre, La Crosse, Wis. It just has invited offers for the Strand, Minot, N. D., which it also i$ required to sell. Further curtailment of streetcar Service here is another body, blow for loop film theatres. On one neighborhood line, the Twin City Rapid Transit Co. has announced it’ll eliminate Sunday service en- tirely within 30 to 40 days. It’ll be cut drastically on another street- car line and a bus line. In a riotice to the city council, the transit company says the changes. are “justifiable economy measures,” due to the fact that Sunday patron- age, “mainly because of television,” has dwindled Substantially. Pallas Seven independent theatres here have started a hew theatre savings plan. Under the savings plan, each patron is given a stamp for every adult admission purchased, these stamps to be placed on a card fur- nished him without charge. When a patron has 20 stamps on his card, he receives a book of five free passes to the theatre. Beverly Hills; Oak Cliff nabe house operated by Rowley United group, will change its policy Jan. 6 to become an art film house. The Tower, which has been shut- tered here’ since March, is to re- open Christmas Week. House has been given a facelifting. Wallace Womack named; man- ager of new Arts Theatre, sched- uled to open in Sain Antonio Christmas week. Jack Arthur and Harold Flemlns purchased the Majestic and Ritz at Comanche from J; V. Carter, Jr, Deal also included a site for a pro- posed drive-in there. Theatres at Odessa began to re- open this week after being shut- tered due to a polio epidemic. Proposal of G. Martini, prez of Martini Theatre Enterprises, Gal- veston, to erect a new nabe house there hit a snag this week. Pro- posal to amend the zoning laws, changing them from, residential to biz, was opposed by several groups of nearby residents. A. Kyle Rorex appointed execu- tive director of Texas COMPQ Showmen, succeeding Charles E. Carden, who has returned to his post at Fort Worth with Interstate Theatres. Rorex has been loaned to the group by Col. H. A. Cole. PITTSBURGH Max Silverman temporarily managing Squirrel Hill Theatre with changeoVer of WB nabe house to first-run art policy. Les Ken- nedy, late of Center, which the cii> cult just sold, filling in for time being at Manor, Silverman’s regu< lar berth. . Ray S. Woodard, Franklin exhib, takes his seat in city council there after first of year. He was elected last November. Park Theatre, one of Johnstown’s oldest film houses, closed its doors with sale of the building: Theatre was originally known as the Gar- den. - Agnes Burns and Helen Madden named co-managers of the State in East Brady, Pa., succeeding Rus- sell M.Jones. Manos chain leased two theatres in East Palestine, O., and a- nearby .drive-in. They are the East Pales- tine and the Grand, and the Mid- way ozoner. George Pappas, Beaver Falls showman, will;man- age. the new acquisitions for Manos.. John W: Robison named man- ager of the Blair, in Hollidaysburg, Hedda Hopper’s home town. Tht Family /mot* OUTDOOR refreshment SERVICE fr«m CmiI (•CnM [ •v#r % CSetwy SPORTSf R V Cf Charles Sehnee writes why he calls Hollywood: The Idea 4 Capital of the World on Interfiling bylint piece In tha '46th Anniversary Number •f Next Week Exhib Survey Picture Grosses ST. LOUIS Toin Ewards, Farmington, Mo., and retiring prez of Theatre Own- ers of America in St. Louis', east-, erh Missouri and southern Illinois, will be honor guest at testimonial dinner to be held here Jan. 15. Tilden Dickson, owner of Hiway and Roxy, Crystal City, Mo., dis-' posed of these houses to Harry E. Miller, Restus, Mo; The Gem, Marissa, 111.; pur- chased by T. D. Beninati, of Pick- neyvllle, 111. The Starview, 500-car ozoner near Blytheville, Ark., opened last year by WaiTen Moxley, sold to a syndicate of Carbondale, 111. The Lyric, Casey/ 111., shuttered by Paul MusSer during a facelift- ing job. Hall Walsh, Prairie district man- ager for Warners, convalescing in a St. Louis hospital after a. major operation: 55 Continued frum page "24 faithful to horse, operas, despite the competition from those on the TV home screens. One unusual . feature about Washington theatre biz; -especially in raidtown, is that it was better in August than in September, for the first time in the memory of the Oldest exhibitors. And; contrary to the fall slump, JUly and August were better at the picture house boxoffjees than for the same months in 1950. In very recent mpnths, Loew’s Capitol and Warner Bros.’ Warner Theatre have quietly installed large-screen theatre TV at an in- vestment of about $20,000 per. house. Neither theatre has offered any video yet, and RKO Keith’s, which has had it for many months, has shown nothing on it recently. However, as George Crouch, WB general manager for 36 theatres in this zone, puts it: “We have to have it,” He adds: “There are now 7,300 seats for theatre tele- vision . in Washington. Will any sports eyent^be able to fill them all? We don’t know yet.'” / Happy Situation Keith’s, the RKO showcase, has the uniquely happy situation of ‘ running nearly 20% above last year at the' boxofflce. It - is the only house in this position. Jerome Baker, house manager, credits it to improved quality of the product. Like other theatres, he finds some slipping of the matinees, however. This is blamed on the fact- that there is virtually no unemploy- ment in D. Ci Ilya Lopert’s small-seat art .thea- tre, the Playhouse, caters to a highly selective audience which,; appar- ently, never knuckles Under to television. However, here as in other theatres, the quality of the product is the'answer to the busi- ness done. Recently, figures have been slightly off from the com- parable weeks of 1950. Experiment to be watched with considerable interest in D. C. is “Quo Vadis,” which opened to $1.50 top at Loew’s Palace toda^ (25). It is the highest tab this house has^ ever asked ior an at- traction and the exhibs want to see how it will make out. “American in Paris” did three fat weeks at $1 top at this same house recently. Reception by nabe.audiences to hiked prices for special attractions has been mixed. In class nabe houses,^ such as Hhe' Kogod & Burka Apex, business is very good at $1 admission for such films as “David and Bathsheba,” although the theatre’s normal top is 50c. In other nabes; however; biz was very disappointing with the upped scale, and exhibitors complained bitterly. Frank BoUcher, K-B general . manager, Continues strongly^ bull- ish on the ’ future of pictures, al though his houses have felt, the general; decline, He points''out K-B has opened two new houses in the past two years, with a third new one almost ready to Unshut- ter; while the chain has four Other sites in mind, Boucher points out that Only one small house has closed in the past couple of years; while three others have turned over from a white to a colored clientele. In view of the new openings, Boucher says there is no indication of any . real weak- ness in picture biz. Biggest trouble, he feels, i$ the difficulty independent early-run nabes have in- obtaining pix from the majors. If product continues difficult to break loose, he com ments, the only recourse for some nabes will be in the form of anti trust suits in the courts. ST. LOUIS (Continued from pags 8) marine Command” (Par) and “Capt. Fabian” (Rep), sad $7,000. / Fox (F&M) (5,000; 60*75) — “Double Dynamite” (RKO) and “Slaughter Trailer” (RKO). Opened today (Tues.). Last week, “Strange Door” (U) and “Son of Dr. JekyU” (Col), dull $9,000. Loew’s (Loew) (3,172; 50-75)— “Too Young to Kiss” (M*G) and “Tall Target” (M-G). Nice $18,000. Last week, “Quo Vadis” (M-G) (5th wk), $6,000 in'5 days. Missouri (F&M) (3,500; 60-75)^- “Elbpement” (20th) and “Make It Legal” (20th). Fine $17,000. Last week, “Rhubarb” (Par) and “New Mexico” (UA), $7,500. Pageant (St. L. Amus.) (1,000; 90) —“Pagliacci” (Indie) (2d wk). Okay $6,000 following $7,000 last week. St. Louis (F&M) (4,000; 90)— “Detective Story” (Par) and “Magic Face” (Col). Oke $10,000. Last week, not open. Shubert undie) (1,500; 30-40)— “Bitter Rice” (Indie). Fast $5,000; Last week, not open. TORONTO (Continued drom page 8) (20th). Bad $7,000 in 4 days. Last Week, “Well” (UA), $8,000, Odeon (Rank) (2,390; 50-90)— “Aladdin and Lamp” (Mono). Satis- factory $8,000. Last week, “FBI Girl” (Lip), $7,500. Uptown (Loew) (2,743; 40-80)— —“Unknown Man” (M-G). Sad $3,500. Last, week, “Light Touch” (M-G), $5,000. Victoria (FP). (1,140; 40-75)— Marta Chapdelaine” (Indie) and “Kind Hearts, Coronets” (Indie) (reissue). Poor $4,000 for 4 days. Preerti in Canada for “Maria.’- Last week, “Girl from Marshes” “(Indie) (3d wk), $4,000. Air Force Pix Continued from Wit S SEATTLE (Continued from page 0) “Northwest Territory” (Mono). Mild $8,000. LaSt week, “Blue Veil’ 2 (RKO) and “Love Nest” (20th) (3d Wk-5 days), $4,000. * Liberty (Hamrick) 41.650; 65-90) —“Top Young to Kiss-,-4M-G) and “Great Adventure” (Lip)<2d wk). Down to thin $4,000 in 4 days after good $8,200 last week. = ^ Music Box (Hamrick) (850>65-9O) —‘‘French White Cargo’^Mlridie) (2d wk). NG $2,500. Last week, $3,600. Music Hall (Hamrick) (2,282; 65- 90)—“Callaway Went . Thataway” (M-G) and “Calling Bulldog Drum- mond” (M-G). Nice $11,000. Last Week, “American Jn Paris” (M-G) (4th wk), $7;200 in 9 days. Orpheum (Hamrick)’X2,5.99; OS- 90)—“Double Dynamite” (RKO) and “Overland TelegrMpft’’.' (RKO). Big $13,000 or better. Last week, “Raging Tide” (U) and “Not Di- vided” (UA), $6,000. a ^ “ Palomar (Sterling) (1,350; 50-$l) —“The Well” (UA) (2d run) and stageshow, “follies of ’52,” locally produced. Okay $7,000. Last week, ^Time of Life” (Indie) and “Tall Target” (Indie), $2,600 at 45-70c scale. . Paramount (Evergreen) (3,049; 65-90)-~“FBI Girl” (Lip) and “Tales Robin Hood” (Lip) (2d wk). Slow $7,000'ln 11 days. Last week $7,300. - close liaison, the Air Pictorial Serv- ice has established field offices in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. The Air Force prepares its own scripts. They are either written by Air Force personnel or are farmed out to freelance civilian scribes. Occasionally, a name writer can be induced to. do a screenplay at ' Guild, minimum.. After the script has been .approved by the Air Force, it is sent to the approved bidders’ list.. When a producer has been se- lected and the script is-ready for production., an .Air * Force project officer is assigned to the film. He stays with-the pic until the pro- duction is completed. He aids In the selection of locations and cast- ing of actors, facilitates the. se- curing of military equipment and personnel, makes suggestions and in general protects Air Force In- terests and sees that the Govern- ment gets its money’s worth. Security checks on camera crews, technicians, actors and other mem- bers of, the filmmaker’s staff are occasionally necessary, depending On the nature of the film. If the film contains, classified military in- formation or if it is to be shot on a classified military location, checks are made. These security checks and inquiries-are made by the FBI. According to present plans, the .Air- Force expects to turn out 35 military training films and 12 pub? lie information films. . Films are shot in 35m arid released in both 35m and 16m. Air Pictorial limits itself to the job of making the film, the completed production .being turned over to the office of the Secretary of Defense for distribu- tion. 'Callaway* Hep$10>000, Denver ; ‘Dnijms’f 14,000 Denver,Dec. 25. . “Calloway Went ’Jhltaway” is doing fine trade at fb£: Broadway this week, and is oiffy bio holding; “I’ll Never Forget You’vlboms mild In two spots. Most biz is average or below par. Estimates for This Week . Aladdin (Fox) (i;400; 40-80) — -?-“Dnuns in’ Deep South” (RKO) fand “Hard, Fast, Beautiful” (RKO), day-date with Tabor,’Webber. Fair $5;500. Last week, “Raging Tide” (U) zind “Bachelor’s Daughters'? (Indie), $6,000. Broadway (Wolfberg) (1,500; 40- 80) — “Callaway Went Thataway’- (M-G). Fine $10,000. Last week, “Light Touch” (M-G), $4,000. Denham (Cockrill) (1,750; 40-80) —“Birth of Blues” (Par) and “Tht Virginian” (Par) (reissues). Fair $9,000. Last week, “Crosswinds” Par, $10,000. Denver (Fox) (2,525; 40-80)—“1’U Never Forget. You” (20th) and “Jesse James” (20th), day-date with Esquire. Mild $12,000, Last week, “Anne of Indies” (20th) and “St. Benny, the Dip” (UA), $15,000. Esquire (pox) (742; 40-80) — “Never Forget You” (20th) and “Jesse James” (20th), also Denver. Fair $2,000. Last ‘week “Anne of Indies” (20th) and “St. Benny, the Dip” (UA), $3,000. Orpheum (RKO) (2,600; 40-80)— “Hitler’s Children” (RKO) and “Behind Rising Sun’’ (RKO) (re- issues). Poor $5,000 in 6 days. Last week, “Mr. Imperlum” (M-G) and “Unknown Mart” (M-G), $8,000. ' Paramount (Fox) (2,200; 40-80)— “Slaughter Trail” (RKO) and “On Loose” (RKO). Fair $8,000. Last week, “Barefoot Mailman” (Col) and “Son of Dr. JekyU” (Col), same. Tabor (Fox) (1,967; 40-80) — “Drums Deep South” (RKO) and “Hard, Fast, Beautiful” (RKO), also Aladdin; Webber, Fair $5,500. Last week, . “Ranging Tide” (U) and “Bachelor’s Daughters” (Indie), $ 8,000 ■ Webber (Fox) (750; 40-80) — “Drums Deep South” (RKO) and “Hard, Fast, Beautiful” (RKO), also Aladdin, Tabor. Fair $3,000. Last week “Raging Tide” (U) and “Bach- elor's Daughters” (Indie), ditto. Ops Reelect Maynard Hollywood, Dec. 25. . Moving Picture Machine Opera- tors, Local 150, IATSE, elected John MaynardT to another one-year term as president. Other successful candidates: Franklin McBride, vicepresident; Charles Cericill, secretary; George Schaffer, business agent, and Paul Mahoney, assistant business agent. FWC’s 192G Bonus Los Angeles, Doc. 25. Fox West Coast handed out bonuses amounting to $192,000 tp employees at the annual Christmas luncheon at the Ambassador Hotel. Charles P. Skouras, president, declared that net profits Were only 8% off this year, although the gross was off 14% arid attendance off 17%. RA6IO CITY MUSIC HAIL RockiftlUr Csntsr Doris Day • Danny Thomas M rLL SEE YOU IN MV DREAMS’’ pfua THE MUSIC HAIL'S GREAT CHRISTMAS STAGE SHOW Itlffinf. mm MsnL'tmm mh nWSSMIM