1NATIONAL

. . . Local . . March . . Julian 'Set-Up and Quartet' Are Leaders WASHINGTON Of Broadway's Single Bill Shows NEW YORK—"The Set-Up," a hard-hitting prizefight film, and "Quartet," a sophisticated British picture, led the Broadway field and did good business despite the mild weather and the taxicab strke, both of which seriously affected legitimate theatre and night club business. "Quartet" broke the house record at the small Sutton and joined two other J. Ai-thur Rank hits. "Hamlet," which was boosted by the Academy award for the picture and Laurence Olivier, in its 27th week of two-a-day at the Park Avenue, and "The Red Shoes," which held up well in its 24th week at the Bijou. "Portrait of Jennie" had a good opening week at the Rivoli as did "I Shot Jesse James" at the Palace. Most of the others were far below average. (Avereage is 100) Astor—Knock on Any Door (Col), 6th wk 80 Bijou—The Red Shoes (EL). 24th wk. oi two-a-day 85 Capitol—Outpost in Morocco (UA), plus stage show, 2nd wk 9C Criterion—The Set-Up (RKO) HO Globe—Impact (UA), 3rd wk 75 Little Carnegie-The Quiet One (MB), Bth wk 70 Loews State Take Me Out to the Ball Game (MOM). 4th wk 90 Mayfair—Casablanca (WB), reissue, 2nd wk 90 Palace— I Shot lesse James (SG) 105 Paramount—El Paso (Para), plus stage show, - 2nd wk 80 Park Avenue—Hamlet (U-I), 27th wk. of two-a-day v;;:;v;v Radio City Music Hall—Little Women (MGM), plus stage show, 4th wk 95 Rivoli—Portrait of Jennie (SRC) - 105 Roxy—The Fan (20th-Fox), plus stage show 100 Strand—A Kiss in the Dark (WB), plus stage show. 2nd wk =0 Sutton—Quartet (EL) 120 Victoria—loan oi Arc (RKO), 21st wk 75 All Grosses Good in Buffalo, 'Pacific' High With 110 BUFFALO — It was an all-around good week here, with "Canadian Pacific" taking a slight lead at the Buffalo. "Alias Nick Beal" was good at the Great Lakes. "Johnny Belinda" and "Treasure of Sierra Madre," the two Academy awarders, pulled some more after being brought back to the Hippodrome. "Knock on Any Door" continued strong in a second week at the Lafayette. Buffalo Canadian Pacific (20th-Fox); Texas, Brooklyn and Heaven (UA) 110 Great Lakes—Alias Nick Beal (Para); My Own True Love (Para) 103 Hippodrome—Johnny Belinda (WB); Treasure of Sierra Madre (WB), 2nd run 100 Lafayette Knock on Any Door (Col): Blondie's Big Deal (Col), 2nd dl wk 100 Teck—Take Me Out to the Ball Game (MGM), 3rd dt. wk . 100 20th-century—The Set-Up (RKO): The Hunted (RKO) 1 Big Premiere Ballyhoo Gives 'Belvedere' Strong Sendoff BALTIMORE—Despite spring weather and the opening of the racing season, notwithstanding, the lure of the downtown picture theatres proved stronger and resulted in a week of good business. "Mr. Belvedere Goes to College" was world premiered here with all the attendant ballyhoo, including celebrities, executives of 20th-Fox and a champagne dinner given by Morris Mechanic, owner of the New Theatre in honor of his theatre's 20th anniversary. Century—Take Me Out to the Ball Game (MGM), 2nd wk 128 Hippodrome—Million Dollar Weekend (EL), plus stage show , 117 . New— Mr, Belvedere Goes to College (20th-Fox) .150 "Voice of Theatre Speakers" JOE HORNSTEIN has them! Mayfair—High Fury (UA) Keiths—Red Canyon (U-1) Town Poison (M-B) Stanley—Kis in the Dark (WB).. Valencia—The Search (MGM) ..101 ..114 .125 ..13C lOP 'Little Women' Hits High of 190 • As Philadelphia Grosses Soar PHILADELPHIA—Business was definitely on the upgrade this session, with figures ol 190 and 175 turned in by the Karlton and Earle, respectively. A couple of openers proved disappointing, but in general, returns were better than usual at this time of year, Aldine—Caught (MGM) 100 Arcadia—A Letter to Three Wives (20th-Fox) 130 Boyd—The Dark Past (Col) IOC Earle—The Lucky Stiff (UA), plus s'age show 175 Fox—Down to the Sea in Ships (20th-Fox), 2nd wk - 100 Goldman—The Bribe (MGM), 3rd wk 80 Karlton—Little Women (MGM) 190 Keith-Force of Evil (MGM). 2nd wk 110 Mastbaum—A Kiss in the Dark (WB) 75 Stanley—Alias Nick Beal (Para), 2nd wk 85 Stanton Untamed Breed (Col); Jungle Jim (Col) 80 Cinema Lodge Officers To Be Feted April 26 NEW YORK—Cinema Lodge of B'nai B'rith will install its new officers April 26 at the annual presidents' dinner to be held at the Hotel Astor. The officers are: Saul E. Rogers, president; Max B, Blackman of Warners, George Brandt of Brandt Theatres, Julius M. Collins of Ascap, Hal Danson of Eagle Lion, Leo Jaffe of Columbia, Hal Hodes of Columbia, Harry Friedman, Marvin Kirsch of Radio Da ly, Milton Livingston of Universal-International, Louis A. Novins of Paramount, Robert K. Shapii'o of Paramount Theatre and Al Wilde of Moe Gale Agency, vice-presidents: Jack H. Hoffberg, treasurer: Dr. Morris Senft, secretary: Isidore Grove, monitor, and Rabbis Bernard Birstein and Ralph Silverstein, chaplains. Jack H. Levin of Confidential Reports is chairman of the dinner committee. S. Arthur Glixon, the retiring president, will be honored along with Rogers. Partington Forms Company To Produce Video Shows NEW YORK—Jack Partington Television Productions, a new company for the production of live or film television shows, has been formed by Jack Partington jr., formerly director of photography for the Roxy Theatre. The late Jack Partington sr. was production director for the Roxy as well as president of Fanchon & Marco, Inc. Bids for Variety Conclave ALBANY—A preliminary bid for the 1951 convention of International 'Variety Clubs in Saratoga was broached by Jack Leahy, convention manager for the city of Saratoga and manager of the Grand Union hotel there. Leahy attended the weekly dinner of the Variety Club in the Ten Eyck hotel and outlined Saratoga's merits as a convention city. Harry Lamont, former chief barker, said that Saratoga might be a good spot if the convention were officially awarded to Albany, only 40 miles distant. T Arthur Rank's "Scott of the Antarctic" will ' be premiered April 20 at the Playhouse as i a benefit for the District of Columbia divisiosi I of the American Cancer soc ety. The British * ambassador and wife will sponsor the event. Many film dignitaries will attend. Mrs. Harry Truman has accepted the honorary vicechairmanship for the 1949 cancer drive, it was announced by Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Ass'n of America and cha rman of the American Cancer Society's board of directors, . . Ralph E. Peckham has been appointed manager of the local Kay exchange. He recently was manager for Film Classics in Atlanta and Dallas ... Sol Edwards, SRO division manager, was here several days conferring with exhibitors on "Portrait of Jennie." Bill Michalson is handling the publicity in this area . D. A. Clodfelter, Druid Theatre, Damascus, Md., was rushed to Doctor's hospital at 4 p, m. Tuesday for an appendectomy. Bob Hope and his radio troupe will appear . . . at Constitution Hall the night of April 28. On the 26th they will appear at the Mosque in Richmond . of Time Washington representative Allen Dibble is back in town after traveling all over the country for several months. Young Jeiry Dibble celebrated his 7th birthday recently Bernie Depkin, Rives Theatre, Martinsville, Va., returned from a Florida vacation. Joe Fields, former owner of the Rivoli in Baltimore, who now is living in Los Angeles, came east to visit his friend Harry Brown F13 called a meeting Monday night for the reading and discussion of the new contract. A motion was made to amend the bylaws to include $100 death benefit for each member in good standing . . . Rose Gonella. She broke U-I, is walking around on crutches. an ankle recently. The Leonard Gordons, Newport News, are parents of a baby daughter, Judith Ann. They have two other children . Gordon was in town to buy and book for the Gordon circuit . . . Kenneth Baker, Potomac Drivein, Cumberland, was a recent visitor. Gus Lynch went to Albany to attend a testimonial dinner given to his uncle George Lynch, Schine circuit booker. An addition to the Thalhimer chain is the Jefferson Tlieatre in Falls Church, Va. which will open April 14. The 818-seater is a part of the Jefferson Village development. A. O. Budina designed the house and the builder is the Jefferson Village Corp. Inside decorations were done by the Novelty Scenic Co. of New York. Harold Henderson, former SRO booker will manage the new theatre. Wade Pearson is the Arlington county city manager, assisted by Don Womack. Max Joice, Paramount, reports that H. Donald Hunter, branch manager at Port of Spain, Trinidad, and formerly a booker in Washington, visited Manager A. C. Benson here while in the States on vacation. His father is Harry Hunter, Paramount managing director in Australia and New Zealand who was Washington manager years ago . . . Head shipper Jimmy Burns was at the office last Friday, the first time he had been out of doors since January 3. 46 BOXOFHCE :: April 9, 1949

. . Only . . The . . Theatrical Reade Goes to Court In Old RKO Dispute NKW YORK—The Walter Reade interests through Long Park. Inc.. and Trenton Theatre Building Co., have filed a complaint against RKO in connection with their old management contract for the Trenton-New Brunswick Theatre Co. RKO owns 50 per cent and Long Park and Tienton Theatre Building own the remaining > 50 per cent of Trenton-New Brunswick, which operates 12 theatres. The Reade interests want an accounting of Tienton-New Brunswick earnings from Sept. 1. 1942. through March 15. 1948. the period during which RKO operated the theatres. They also want RKO to turn over all money it received while managing the theatre to Trenton-New Brunwick. The management contract had been declared illegal by the New York court of appeals. Since 1948 the Trenton-New Brunswick theatres have been managed by a board representing Reade and RKO. The RKO consent decree permits the new RKO theatre company to acquire 11 of these 12 theatres. Negotiations have been in progress for more than two years: they began long before the decree was signed last November. Neither side has been able to agree on the price. Laboratory Union to Open Contract Negotiations NEW YORK—New contract negotiations will start April 11 between representatives of 22 metropolitan New York film laboratories and the lATSE local No. 72. representing 1,750 technicians, according to John Francavilla, president of the union. Francavilla stressed the fact that no outright pay increases will be sought but the union's sixpoint new contract program will include demands for health, welfare and seciu-ity benefits, as well as a shorter work week at prevailing pay rates. Members of the Screen Publicists Guild, the CIO union, resumed picketing of Broadway first run houses April 5 following failure to break a deadlock in the union's negotiations for a wage increase from the major distributors. Film Equities to Handle Trinity Shorts for TV NEW YORK—Trinity Pictures has made a deal with Irwin Shapiro, president of Film Equities Corp.. for the latter to distribute a new series of Trinity shorts for television. The series of 13 one-reel mystery shorts, originally known as "Quiz Crimes," will be released to television stations under the title of "Man From Scotland Yard," according to Jack Rieger. president of Trinity. PHILADELPHIA lit a meeting (4t a possible strike threat was thwarted when lATSE Local 307 signed a contract affecting about 200 theatre employes. Among the conditions of the new contract secured by the union are a 7 per cent wage increase retroactive to January 1, and a two- week vacation for five-year men with those of less service getting one week. More than 1,000 employes of local film houses will cast secret ballots April 19, 20 and 21, to determine theii- collective bargaining agent, it was announced last week by the Penn-sylvania Labor Relations board. The board said the ballot would contain the names of Philadelphia Theatres Local B-lOO (AFLi. Employes Representation Committee (unaffiliated! and District 50, United Mine Workers. The workers—ushers, usherettes, cleaners, porters, cashiers and doormen—are employes of Paramount Theatres, 20th Century-Fox Theatres, Warner Theatres and the Theatres Cleaning Service. Paramount's Tower Theatre in upper Dar- . . by, .suburban subsequent-runner, ran a special show last week continuous from noon, featuring an unusual five-star attraction stage show . "Paisan," which has been attracting . throngs to the Princess since December, is getting to look like a permanent fixture in the center-city foreign film house, and is still doing terrific business Locust, neighborhood theatre which was on a foreign film policy for quite a while, has switched in the past few weeks. The theatre now is showing double-feature reissues of some of the real old-timers, and, instead of keeping a film for a run of at least a week, changes twice a week. Lou Schrader, veteran orchestra leader at the Earle Theatre, is expected to resign due to ill health. Talk is that Frankie Juele will take over . four booking agents, all independents, turned out for AGVA's special agents meeting. Dick Jones, AGVA executive, said bookers deliberately boycotted the meeting and threatened them with loss of franchise, which would mean that no AG'VA member in this territory would be permitted to work for them agents, who . staged an opposition meeting at the Bellevue-Stratford, said their meeting was held "to iron out classified telephone directory difficulties." . . Mike Weiss, company manager for "The Red Shoes" at the Translux, has been sent by Eagle Lion with the film to Charleston, Ralph S. C. Jack Helm replace.^ him here . Moyer, formerly of William Goldman's Karlton and Keith Theatres, is now manager of the St. James in Asbury Park, N. J. . . . Milt Lewis, manager of the Dante Theatre, became the proud daddy of a boy last week; the youngster was born in Mount Sinai hospital. The Casino Theatre was robbed for the 15th time last week, according to Manager Maurice Felt, who told police burglars had broken into lobby vending machines and taken about $50. Fell said the 15 robberies occured over a period of eight years, two of the burglaries this year. Israel Film Set for U.S. NEW YORK—"Dream No More," fir.st feature film to come from Israel, will be released in the U.S. by Palestine Films, Inc., April 26. The picture stars Avram Sroka, a member of the Ohel Theatre in Israel, and was written and directed by Joseph Krumgold and produced by him and Norman Lourie. "Wonder House' at Museum NEW YORK—"Wonder House," the latest This is America film by RKO-Pathe, was given a special screening Friday iBi at the American Museum of Natural History, preceded by a reception in the Portrait room. The film deals with the history and work of the museum. ATS Names Committee NEW YORK—The nominating committee of the American Television Society has been chosen as follows; Don McClure, chairman; Ralph Austrian, Edwin F. England, Donald Hyndman, Bruce Robertson, Maurice E. Strieby and Emerson Yorke. Elections are in May. CELEBRATE ANNIVERSARY—Morris Mechanic's 20th anniversary as an exhibitor was celebrated with the world premiere of 20th-Fox's "Mr. Belvedere Goes to College" at Mechanic's New Theatre in Baltimore. Seen, left to right: Mechanic, Mrs. Mechanic, Mayor D'Allessandro of Baltimore, Mrs. D'AUessandro and Dan Dailey, film star. BOXOFFICE April 9, 1949 N 46 -A !fc..