Boxoffice-August.08.1953

Kantu 

/V/9uon. 

Mctu/ie ynM

: 

"MY COMPETITOR IS 

LUCKY TO GET LILr" 

says 

M. A. Lightman, President of 

Malco Theatres, in an unsolicited 

letter to M-G-M. Mr. Lightman 

writes 

GIVE THIS LIHLE 

GIRL A GREAT 

BIG HAND! 

Few motion pictures enjoy such a long run as 

M-G-M's enchanting Technicolor Musical 

which is the champ of New York as it is across 

the nation! 

22nd Week in New York 

Uth Week in Kansas City 

10th Week in Portland 

7th Week in 

Chicago 

5th Week in Buffalo 

4th Week in Houston 

3rd Week in Cincinnati, 

Seattle and Oakland 

15 Weeks in Los Angeles 

7 Weeks in Philadelphia 

5 Weeks in Washington, D. C. 

4 Weeks in Boston, Frisco 

"LILI", 

Patrons come again and again to visit 

the lonely girl, poignant and appealing, who 

finds a haven and love with a traveling carnival. 

^Ônce in a great while a motion picture theatre 

owner sees a picture which he thinks is so wonderful 

that he wants to tell the world about it, 

even though liis competitor will have the privilege 

of showing it! Well that happened to me 

the other night when 1 attended a private 

screening of 'LILT. Never before have 1 had 

the pleasure of seeing a more beautiful, tender, 

glorious picture! My only regret is that we cannot 

show it in our Malco Theatres. This is a 

MUST picture. It will bring joy and happiness 

to all people of all ages from four to eighty-four. 

This testimony is unsolicited. It is my pride in 

being identified with an industry which can 

give such joy and happiness to millions of 

people that prompts me to make this 

statement." 

(signed) 

M. A. LIGHTMAN 

Nofetoadmen 

Use the caricatures. 

They stana 

out on the page-

. imaginable." 

i 

— 

have 

I WILL PROMOTE 

TILL WITH A 

'^ BIG CAMPAIGN" 

column 

ination for her make-believing in 

^d Sullivan in nationally syndicated 

'Lili'." 

12 TIPS 

TO MAKE 

"LILI" A 

states Fred J. Schwartz, 

DILLY! 

ii\^ President of Century 

Circuit, Inc., N. Y. Says 

^^ Mr. Schwartz: 

2. The caricature ads (similar to 

It looks 

drawings 

like it may on 

be months before 'LILI' is 

this spread I 

proved successful. They are 

available to us since it will soon be rounding 

available in supplement to pressbook. Start teaser 

out half a year 

ads at least 

at 

ten 

its first run 

days in 

on 

advance. 

Broadway and 

continues 3. 

strong. Our 

Follow same designs 

theatres 

on house front 

will place 

displays 

a big 

as on ads. 

promotion campaign behind 'LILI' because we 

4. The trailer is a great .selling 

know 

medium. 

from Run it 

the experience of other engagements 

two weeks in advance. 

it pays off. This industry needs pictures with 

5. Try to "circus up" theatre opening night, if 

the wonderful quahties of 'LILI'. It is warm, 

possible with small portable carousel or other 

rides. 

human, romantic, 

Balloons 

a 

imprinted 

thoroughly 

with "LILI" are available 

for use in quantity in lobby, tied to marquee, 

entertaining 

Technicolor musical that is truly a credit to the 

etc. See pressbook. 

entii-e industry. We consider it a privilege to 

get this attraction and urge every fellowshowman 

coming to 

is 

to 

(imprint 

book it and 

theatre name)"" 

get 

or 

behind it." 

"Keep 

your eye on 'LILI' " are very effective. They are 

available at National Screen Service. 

{signed) FRED J. SCHWARTZ 

7. TV has proven most effective in selling 

"LILI". It lends itself to this medium; copy 

should be simple, heart -warming type. TV slide 

is available. Where there is no TV," radio will do 

as well. 

8. Very effective photographic blow-ups of 

NATIONWIDE ACCLAIM! 

Leslie Caron as "LILI" are available in various 

sizes. Use them for window displays, in theatre 

lobby, etc.. See pressbook. 

9. C,et the younger folks interested by planting 

the coloring contest as illustrated in the 

"One of the most ingratiating motion pictures 

pressbook. 

—Newsweek 

10. Go after your music shops and disc jockeys 

"Something rare 

with the catchy tune, "Hi-Lili-Hi-Lo". Available 

in musicals, gay, imaginative 

on M-O-M records. 

and heart -warming." —The Saturday Review 

11. Take advantage of the many tie-up stills 

illustrated in pressbook. Also for lobby display, 

"A beguihng film, full of infectious tunes and 

11 X 14 full-color scene stills available 

National Screen Service. 

through 

dances." 

—Parents' Magazine 

12. Give "LILI" the send-off it merits. As the 

"Picture Of The Month." 

— Seventeen, Parents' and American Magazines 

manager, put your personal guarantee on this 

attraction. You won't go wrong and your patrons 

will thank you for urging them to see it. 

"Leslie Caron rates an Academy Award nom- 

^ "A total delight." — Life Magazine 

1. Tie-in with a favorite local enteri)ri.se, Boys' 

club, local charity or other po[)ular movement to 

sponsor a showing the night before regular opening. 

Local newspaper or prominent radio or TV 

personality is helpful to hypo the tie-up. This 

creates long-range publicity. 

6. Do an advance "teaser" posting campaign. 

One-sheets, black and white, with copy: ""LILI' 

M-G-M presents in Color by Technicolor 'LILI" starring 

Leslie Caron • Mel Ferrer • Jean Pierre Aumont • with 

Zsa Zsa Gabor • Kurt Kasznar • Screen Play by Helen 

Deutsch • Based On a Story by Paul Gallico • Directed 

by Charles Walters • Produced by Edwin H. Knopf

LABOR DAY il 

ALL ITS THRILLS THRILLINGLY 

HEIGHTENED BY 

WarnerPhonic 

Sound 

THIS 

PICTURE ALSO CAN 

BE EXHIBITED 

ON WIDE OR 

GIANT SCREENS

lirRACTION I 

)i 

PREVIEW REACTION: 

TERRIFIC! TERRIFIC! 

TERRIFIC! 

ISLAND IN THE SKY' 

IS A STORY 

IN ATHOUSAND 

F'-oM 

WARNER BROS/

I 

THE CROWDS ARE CHEERING 

"THE KIP FROM lEFT FIELD" 

This great exploitation picture is getting 

big-league grosses in Detroit, Cleveland 

Pittsburgh, Indianapolis . . . everywhen 

in its first engagements! R^ 

20th Century-Fox 

presents 

^"= Ifid woM iêft Field 

starring 

with Billy Chapin 

Produced by 

• Lloyd Bridges •. Ray Collins 

Directed by 

LEONARD GOLDSTEIN • HARMON JONES 

Written by JACK SHER 

car rn£VnessBOOK{ 

Put all the great selling 

angles to work for you 

\^ 

THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE d£0)CENTURY-FOX BUSINESSI

1 

Toronto: 

1 I 

::ll^:î 

' 

: 

;ii\ 

I 

— 

^/e Tkê offAe 7/Mictn Tic/n ye //idâlû/ 

THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY 

Published in Nine Sectional Editions 

BEN SHLYEN 

Editor-in-Chief and Publisher 

IXINALD M. MERSEREAU. .Associate 

Publisher & General Manager 

JAMES M. JERAULD 

Editor 

NATHAN COHEN. .Executive Editor 

JESSE SHLYEN. .. .MonoQing Editor 

IVAN SPEAR Western Editor 

I. L. THATCHER. .Equipment Editor 

JOHN G. TINSLEY. Advertising Mgr. 

Published Every Soturdoy by 

ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS 

Publication Offices: 8'J5 Vtui Brunt Blvd.. 

Kansa.s City 24. .Mo. Nuthaii Cohen, Exocutlve 

Editor; Jrase Shiyeii, Miinaiiinc Editor; 

.Morris Sohlnaman. Business .Manager. 

1. L, ThalcluT. Editor The .Modern Theatre 

Sictlun. Tiliphone Cllestnui 7777. 

Editorial Offices; 9 Rockereller IMaza, Ne\i 

York .\,V. Donald M. Mersereau, 

-JO. 

Associate I'libllsher & General Manager; 

John U. Tliisley, Advertising Manager; 

James M. Jerauld. Editor; Chester Friedman, 

J. Editor Showmandlser Section; A. 

Slui-ker. Equliiment Adiertlslng. Telephone 

niliimlius 5-6370. 

Central Offices; Editorial—920 No. Michigan 

.\\e., nilcago 11, 111.. Frances B. 

(.-lira- irh'iilione Sl'perior 7-3072. Adverllsin;— 

:i,5 t'îl Wacker Drive, Chicago 1, 

Kuiiii: Hutchison and E. E. Yeck, 

ill. 

Ti-l.phuni' A.Ndover 3-3042. 

Western Offices; Editorial and Film Advertising—C4U4 

llolijwood Blvd.. Hollyvrood 

28, Calif. Ivan Spear, manager. Telephone 

Hollywood 5-1186. 

Non-KIlm Advert ising—672 

Equipment and 

S. LaFayette 

Park Place, Los Angeles. Calif. Bob Wettileln, 

manager. Telephone Dtnkirk 8-2286. 

Washington Office: Al Goldsmith. 1365 

National Press Kldg. Phone Metropolitan 

a-Onill. Sara Vonng. 415 Third St.. N.W. 

The .MDliKIlN niBATKB Section is Ini( 

iii'il Hi 'i' flist issue of each month. 

, 

Section is included In 

: "i each month. 

A:t' 

. J Walter Ave.. : I J. S. Connect. 

Blimiiiiili.im: The Neus. Eddie Badger. 

Boslon: Frances W. H.irdlnt. Lib 2-9305. 

Ch.irlotie: 300 W. 3rd St.. HIchard E. 

Easoii. 

Cluclnnall: 4029 Heading. Lillian Uzarui 

Cleveland: Elsie Loeb, Falrmouut 1-0046. 

Dallas: 2008A Jackson. Frank Bradley. 

Denier: 1645 Ufayette. Jack Hose. 

TA 8517. 

Des Moines: Uegister-Trlbinie. I!ii.« Schnch. 

Delrolt: Fox Theatre Bidg.. H. F. Hem. 

Indlaiuiiiulls: Houte 8, Box 770. Howard 

M. liiidoaiix. GA 3;i39. 

ticmiihls: 707 Spring St.. Null Adams. 

' 

lllnneapulls: 2123 Fremont. So.. Les Hees. 

N«>t lliivcn: Ncvj Haven Heglstcr. Walter 

Dndnr. 

Neit Orleans: Frances Jordan. NIP. States. 

Ukla. City: 821 NE 2:ird. I'olly lYlndle. 

Ilmalia: 1111 51sl St.. Iiviiii; ll.iker. 

IMiilad.liilila: 5:!n3 link-. Nnnnali Sllignn. 

PIIMiiiiJi: l;. K. Kliiij:,!!. ,niiil.. 5Ui Jeanu'liill 

12809. 

iiille. WllkliHliiirg, dm 

I'nrthind. Ore. : .Vrnoid .Marks. Oregon 

Jnlirnal. 

81. I.iiuls: 5149 Rosa. David Barrett. 

Ball laike City: Deseret News. il. Pearson. 

Ban Anionio: 326 San Pedro. B3-92S0. 

Ivetner. S. Texas editor. 

I'Aiii FnuH-lsco: Gall LIpniin. 25 Tajlor St.. 

Ordvvay 3-4812. Advertising: Jerry Noward 

Bldg.. 209 Post St.. 

Yllkon 0-2522. 

nitle: 1303 Campus Pkvvy.. Dare Ballard 

In 

Canada 

[ 

Calgary: The Herald. .Myron Laka. 

1: 464 Si. Francis Xarler St.. 

10. Itoy Carmichaei. 

St. John: 116 Prince Edward. W. McNulty 

1675 Bayview Ave.. H.U. 2. 

York Mills, lint.. W. Gladlsh. 

1 Vancouver: Lvric Theatre Bldg.. Jack Droy. 

.jVllinlprg: 282 Hiipeit.sland. Ben Sommcrs. 

(»."''"' *""' Bureau of Circulations 

fjBilered as Second Class matter at Post 

[Orrice. Kansas City. Mo. Sectional Edition. 

F $3.00 

|au G U S T 

Vol 63 

: National Edition. $7.50. 

19 5 3 

No. 15 

D. 

THE DOOR IS 

UK coiulusioiis «if llu- S-tiatc small 

husiiicss coinmiltee. based on its hearings of 

iliarfies of unfair trade practices in the motion 

1 I 

picture industry, may l)e summed u|) as follows: 

Inlra-iiiduslry condilions can he improved by 

the establishment of a voluntary system 

of arbitration and l2l stricter and more vigilant 

enfoiTema\eii ten 

million dollars per year; on the average al>out 

.?.50() yearly per theatre. The wa\ to accomplish 

this is to replace the heavy metal film 

cases, now in use. with lighter-weight containers, 

suggests Claude Ezell. head of a drive-in theatre 

circuit, who made these findings through a 

survey into the film transportation problem. 

I .Since this report was made, express rales have 

gone up 1.5 per cent.) 

Mr. Ezell points out that the way ft>r this 

changeover to be made by distributors is now 

cleared by the almost complete abolition of inflammable 

film stock, which had required the 

"fireproof" film cans, in use since ihe beginning 

days of the industry. He maki-s the practical 

suggestion that the hea\ y metal innlainers be 

replaced as they outlive their us'

6 

'^liilacfi: 

PRESIDENTIAL A/O' 

TO REPEAL; 

CAN'T AFFORD LOSS OF REVENUE 

Would Be Unfair to Single 

Out One Industry for 

Relief, He Declares 

WASHINGTON — Pi-esident Eisenhower 

on Thursday 1 1 disapproved the bill ending 

the federal tax on movie admissions. 

Despite months of film industry appeals 

to Congress and government agencies, the 

President still insisted, as he announced 

turning down the measure, that the industry 

had not contended the tax was a 

cause of its distress. 

TO RECOMMEND A CUT 

There was hope tossed in with the bad news, 

however. The President promised to recommend 

"a reduction" in the tax when Congress 

comes back into session in January. 

Pi-esident Eisenhower gave two reasons lor 

disapproving the bill. "We cannot afford the 

loss of revenue," and "it is unfair to single 

out one industry for relief at this time." The 

presidential action was unusual in that it was 

neither a veto nor a pocket veto. A veto can 

be delivered only when Congress is in session 

to receive a veto message. A pocket veto 

occurs only when a bill is left unsigned, with 

no statement. The President's me.ssage was 

not termed a veto message, but a "memorandum 

of disapproval." The text follows: 

"I am withholding my approval of H.R. 157, 

entitled, 'To provide that the tax on admissions 

shall not apply to moving picture admissions.' 

My reasons for taking this position 

are that we cannot afford the loss of revenue 

involved and that it is unfair to single out 

one industry for relief at this time. 

"In my message to the Congress of May 20, 

I said: 'Tax receipts will apparently fall considerably 

.short of our necessary expenditures 

during the next fiscal year. In view of this 

fact, I have come to the conclusion that no 

reduction in tax rates should become effective 

during this calendar year.' 

OPPOSED BY TREASURY 

"In accordance with this policy, the Treasury 

Department advised the chairmen of the 

House Committee on Ways and Means and 

the Senate Committee on Finance of its opposition 

to this bill. 

"Because of the need for revenue, I recommended 

an extension of the excess profits tax 

for six months and the extension has now 

been made. Tax relief for one industry now 

would be inconsistent with that action. 

"It is estimated that the repeal of the admissions 

tax on motion picture performances, 

which has been on the book.s at the present 

rate .since April 1, 1944, would result in a 

gro.ss loss of revenue of $200 million. After 

allowing for a resulting increase in corporation 

income taxes, the net loss is estimated 

to be between $100 million and $120 million 

a year. 

"It is not contended by the industry that 

the present scale of admi.ssion prices which 

reflects the 20 per cent tax is responsible for 

the existing distre.ss situation in the industry. 

Indeed, the Industry apparently expects in 

many cases to maintain the present price to 

No Halt in Tax Campaign^ 

COMPO Leaders Vow 

Washington—The industry will continue its 

tight for repeal of the admissions tax. Nor 

will it be satisfied with President Eisenhower's 

statement that there might be a 

possible reduction in the tax next year. The 

President in his memorandum of disapproval 

said he would recommend a reduction of the 

tax in his proposals for a modified system 

of excise taxes. 

This was the gist of a statement issued 

Thursday by COMPO leaders, who were 

active in the tax campaign. 

After such a gallant and extraordinary fight 

that brought the industry within sight of 

victory, COMPO leaders indicated that they 

are not going to take anything for granted. 

Col. H. A. Cole, Pat McGee, Sam Pinanski, 

Trueman Rembusch and Robert W. Coyne, 

who have been in Washington these past 

few weeks, directing the industry's efforts for 

repeal, are expected in New York early next 

week, and with Al Lichtman, one of the 

triumvirate who head COMPO, will map 

future plans. 

"We are disappointed," stated Col. H. A. 

Cole, Pat McGee and Robert W. Coyne, "but 

we are far from being defeated. We realize 

the problems that President Eisenhower has 

had to face in considering relief for our 

industry. We regret that he has not viewed 

the matter differently. His very statement 

itself indicates that he realizes relief is necessary. 

We know that repeal of tlie 20 per cent 

admissions tax is vital for continuance of tlie 

industry and we are not going to give up 

the fight until this relief shall be had." 

The committee, which remained in Washington 

for a conference following the announcement 

of the decision, stated further: 

"We do not believe the complete implications 

consumers even though the tax is repealed. 

"There is distress in large, but not all, segments 

of the industry. The basic causes of the 

industry's distress, however, arise from new 

forms of competition." 

"A strong case al.so can be made for tax 

relief in other industries which are subject 

to high excise taxes, including other forms 

of entertainment subject to the admi.ssions 

tax. If relief is to be given to motion picture 

theatres at this time it would not be fair 

to refuse relief to the.se other industries. If 

widespread relief were given, however, the 

loss in revenue would be very large. 

"As I said in my message of May 20, 'The 

wide variety of existing excise rates makes 

little economic .sen.se and leads to improper 

discrimination between industries and among 

consumers. Specific proposals for a modified 

of this defeat at the eleventh hour are fully 

realized even by those of us close to the 

situation. This follows an uphill struggle for 

more than one year in which the industry 

members, exhibitors, distributors and production 

functioned as a team under the 

COMPO banner. There were many junctures 

at which defeat was predicted as certain and 

where the opinion was universal that success 

during this term of Congress was unattainable. 

"The fight waged by exhibitors was inspiring. 

It is a tremendous victory, a tribute 

to unity and it is a thrilling testimonial to 

the power that still resides in the House and 

in the hands of the folks at home to rectify 

wrongs through Congress." 

The committee had the warmest of praise 

for the state and congressional committees 

and for the Congress who assisted in an 

uphill fight and who earned the "lasting 

gratitude of the industry." Col. H. A. Cole of 

the tax committee stated: 'Tt is our pledge to 

repay our friends in Congress, who did their 

utmost to win our case by continuing this 

fight. Every industry with a problem should 

take comfort from our experience." 

Sam Pinanski and Trueman Rembusch, 

speaking for the COMPO governing board, 

stated: "Our pride is great today. We have 

lost the battle and our hearts arc sick for 

theatremen and industry members who sorely 

needed this relief, but I hope they will take 

courage. I hope the tax committee will stay 

in existence as presently manned and will 

urge exhibitors to keep their marquees bright 

for although we have lost this battle the war 

against discrimination has just begun. This 

has been an amazing demonstration that we 

can win and we will win." 

system of excise taxation will be included in 

the recommendations for tax revision that 

will be submitted to the Congress next January.' 

"The Ti-easury analysis has already progressed 

to the point where I can .say I will 

include a recommendation for a reduction in 

the admisisons tax in my proposals for a 

modified system of excise taxation. Action 

could be taken by the Congress early in 1954 

and relief could be given at that time. 

"It is for these reasons that I cannot give 

my approval to the repeal of the tax on admi.ssions 

to motion picture performances. The 

country cannot afford a loss of revenue at 

this time. Furthermore, it would not be fair 

and would be discriminatory to give relief 

under a single excise tax and then only to 

one of the industries subject to that tax" 

BOXOFTICE :: August 8, 1953 

'%s a,-, 

a lo: 

r. 

'JOFTlc:

SEE NEED FOR BIGGER U.S. STAFF 

TO HANDLE TRADE COMPLAINTS 

But Industry Arbitration 

Would Ease Load, Says 

Senate Committee 

Text of "Conclusions' on Page 10 

WASHINGTON—The -vitality and prosperity 

of the independent motion picture 

" 

exhibitors "is the key to the welfare of 

the entire industry," the Senate small business 

committee declared Tuesday i4i in its 

report on the committee study of the problems 

of- this group. 

LITTLE CHANGE IN FINAL DRAFT 

Tlie final report differed little from the 

preliminary draft reported in this publication 

last week, but it was significantly more gentle, 

although no le.ss critical, in its fault-finding 

with National Allied and its board chairman 

and general counsel, Abram P. Myers. In a 

number of instances the final version omitted 

specific reference to the a.ssociation and 

Myers by name, and in general toned down 

the sharpness of the language in the original 

draft. 

The committee inserted two last-minute 

additions to the principal recommendations 

endorsing early activation of an industry 

arbitration system, and calling on the antitrust 

division of the Justice Department for 

stricter and more vigilant enforcement of the 

industry consent decrees. 

First, the committee stated, repeal of the 

federal 20 per cent admission tax "is a 

prudent and necessary step to aid a distressed 

industry." 

Second, the committee recommended that 

"serious study should be given to the complaint 

of the antitrust division that it lacks 

adequate personnel to handle the problems 

before it. 

"We are of the opinion that this matter 

should have the attention of the appropriate 

appropriations committees of the Congress." 

CONFIDENT ON ARBITRATION 

Nevertheless, the report adds, "the committee 

feels that the development of a 

satisfactory arbitration plan would relieve 

considerably the burden of the antitrust 

division." 

The report also added strong disagreement 

with the position of the Justice Department, 

as expressed by .'ome of its testimony, that 

the advent of television and other economic 

factors are as much to blame for the plight 

of the exhibitors as the lack of firm enforcement 

measures. 

"The exhibitors have complained that the 

judgments are being violated and. if in fact 

they are. it is difficult to understand how 

television enters into the picture." 

FHirthermore. the report brushes aside 

rather brusquely the Department's explanation 

for not instituting court action where 

there were alleged violations of the consent 

decrees except those pertaining to divestiture. 

Another point of deep concern to the committee, 

according to the report, was that "by 

the terms of the consent judgments only the 

Ceased fo be 'Objective, 

Says Myers of Senator 

WASHINGTON—Abram P. Myers, neneral 

counsel of Allied States Ass'n, has charged 

that Senator Andrew 

Schoeppel, chairman of 

the Senate's small business 

committee, "somewhere 

along the way 

ceased to be objective 

and became a partisan 

in connection" with 

the drafting of committee's 

findings on 

arbitration negotiations. 

Myers sent a statement 

on the committee's 

Abram F. Myers 

report to the 

various Allied affiliates and the tradepress 

to answer personal criticism against him contained 

in the original draft of the report. 

He said he would await receipt of the 

full report before analyzing it for the information 

of members, but he wanted to 

comment immediately on a "very disagreeable 

feature" of the committee's report. 

On this, 

he said: 

"The feature I wish to comment on now 

is the extraordinary and wholly unwarranted 

criticism of Allied States Ass'n and 

myself in connection with the arbitration 

negotiations last year. 

"The published excerpts criticize Allied for 

breaking off the negotiations and impute 

bad faith to me for the part I played in the 

matter. How such a conclusion could be 

reached in view of the fully docun.ented 

supplemental statement which I submitted to 

the committee, and other information in its 

files, is beyond comprehension. 

"A protest lodged with Senator Schoeppel, 

the committee chairman, shows that somewhere 

along the way he ceased to be objective 

and became a pajtisan in connection with 

this detail of tlie draft. He responded In 

violent terms denying any purpose to criticize 

•the thousands of exhibitor members of Allied 

States Ass'n' and laying all blame on 'one or 

two intransigent individuals.' Although no 

threat of any kind was contained in the 

parties thereto, namely the government or 

protest Senator Schoeppel t>uw III to add. 

self-rlghteously, that 'no amount of pressure 

or Intimidation from any .source will aJlec; 

its (the report's I contents' 

"I will go no further now than to point 

out that my printed report to Allled'.s arbitration 

committee, dated Nov. 10. 1952. analyzed 

the distributors' draft of arbitration plan 

fully and objectively and the essential fairne.ss 

of the report was never challenged. It 

did not even contain any recommendntlon In 

regard to the draft. Instead It offered five 

alternative courses for the committee's con- 

.sideration. the first of which was Approve 

the distributor's draft and authorize AUIed's 

officers to sign it.' 

"The report concluded as follows: 

The negotiating committee will meet In 

Chicago in advance of the session at 

which arbitration will be considered in 

order to formulate recommendations to 

the board. 

"The board considered the subject at great 

length before concluding, unanimously, to 

reject the draft. I was charged with the 

duty of presenting that action to the national 

convention which opened in Chicago on the 

following day. In doing so I made the 'plus 

and minus' speech In which I fully ar.d fairly 

explained the plan to the assembled exhibitors. 

The convention ratified the board's 

action without a dissenting vote. 

"I do not mean to imply that I disagreed 

with the action of the board or of the convention. 

I approved of the action taken and 

the reasons are fully set forth In my supplemental 

statement to the committee, which Ls 

contained in the record. 1 merely want to 

point out the salient facts which were In 

the committee's possession and available to 

Chairman Schoeppel when he sent hLs telegram 

trying to pin responsibility for the 

breakdown of the arbitration proceedings on 

'one or two intransigent IndividuaLs.' 

"Pending a thorough analy.sis of the official 

report I would like to volunteer my appreciation 

of the committee's endorsement of the 

Mason bill as 'a prudent and necessary step 

to aid a distressed industry.'" 

the defendants, may petition the court to 

amend the judgments. Independent exhibitors 

who were not parties to the major litigation 

have no voice in any court action to 

amend the decrees." Their only recourse, it 

points out. is a plea to the Justice Department 

to step In and enforce the decree In 

instances where noncompliance is charged. 

"Accordingly, this responsibility of the antitrust 

division to safeguard the interests of 

the exhibitors must be discharged scrupulously. 

The division ought never to lase sight 

of the fact that it Is essentially a pro.secuting 

arm of the federal government, and in those 

cases where a violation of a decree Is rea,sonably 

apparent and good cause exists for legal 

action It has a duty to perform its primary 

functions." 

Although the committee phrased its criticism 

of Myers and Allied more tactfully and 

diplomatically In the final report than In Its 

(Continued on page 11) 

1 

BOXOFTICE :: August 8, 1953

TOA Is Willing to Resume 

Arbitration Negotiations 

Alfred Starr, president, says organization 

wants to do everything possible to better industry 

relations, in commenting on Senate 

report m-ging arbitration. 

Korean Relief Collections 

At the $750,000 Mark 

With theatre participation about one-third 

complete, it is estimated that final total will 

reach $2,000,000, Dr. Milton Eisenhower, 

chairman, announced: COMPO is sponsoring. 

* 

Exchange Employes Unions 

Close Most Wage Pacts 

Locals in all except five key cities acquire 

new contracts with distributors, calling for a 

straight $4 increase: negotiations continue in 

New York, Boston, Pittsburgh, Buffalo and 

New Haven. 

• 

"Duffy's Tavern" is Set 

Three Years 

On TV for 

Matthew Fox, Motion Pictures for Television, 

Inc. board chairman, closes deal for 

30 half-hour productions to be hold on local 

and regional basis: now setting up sales 

exchanges across U.S. 

* 

Film Shipments to Israel 

To Be Resumed Soon 

Compromise on import duties readied by 

Motion Picture Export Ass'n solves difficulties: 

distributors had halted shipments 

when Israel boosted import i-ates. 

• 

Salesmen Agree to Extend 

Contract to September 30 

Colosseum of Motion Picture Salesmen and 

distributors to keep present wage pact while 

negotiations for new contract are under 

way; salesmen asking 15 per cent wage hike. 

• 

Doug Helgeson to Be Cinerama 

Manager for Chicago Run 

Former Warner and Loew's theatres executive 

to take over helm at Eitel's Palace for 

duration of the run; Chicago reservations 

running into next year. 

• 

L.A., Detroit. New Haven 

Win Republic Drive 

Sale.s forces at exchanges win $25,000 in 

prizes in drive held January 1 to June 30: 

L.A. team is first, according to C. Bruce 

Newberry, director of sales. 

Premiere of 

* 

CinemaScope 

On International Scale 

When "Tlie Robe" opens September 16 at 

New York's Roxy, leading film figures from 

many foreign countries will come here a-s 

guests of Spyros P. Skouras. 

Texf o/ 'Conclusions 

In Senate Report: 

WASHINGTON—The text of the '•conclusions" 

section of the report of the Senate 

small busi7iess committee follows: 

Independent motion-picture exhibitors operate 

considerably more than half of all the 

theatres in the United States. They bring in 

the great bulk of the domestic revenues of 

the motion-picture industry. Their vitality 

and prosperity is the key to the welfare of 

the entire industry. It is apparent from the 

record that the independent exhibitors have 

many grievances against the distributors. 

The major question before the committee was 

how best to meet these grievances in order 

to stem the tide of failures among independents 

and to bring better order to the industry. 

TWO COURSES SUGGESTED 

On the basis of the entire record two 

courses suggest themselves as the best means 

for achieving these objectives. The first is 

a voluntary system of arbitration within 

the motion-picture industry. The second is 

a more forceful and more vigilant policy on 

the part of the Antitrust Division of the 

Department of Justice in assuring compliance 

with the decrees resulting from the 

extensive litigation against the major motionpicture 

companies. 

Arbitration is not a panacea but it would 

provide an inexpensive and expeditious means 

for settling many of the exhibitors' complaints 

relating to trade practices in the 

distribution of motion-picture film. Such 

matters as clearances and runs, prereleases 

and competitive bidding would lend themselves 

readily to arbitration. The record 

indicates that these constitute the great bulk 

of the complaints registered by exhibitors. 

The so-called August 17 draft of the industrywide 

arbitration plan, which was under 

study in 1952, impresses the committee as 

being a sound starting point for resumption 

of negotiations on arbitration. The face that 

the best minds of all the major segments of 

the industry could agree on such a document 

gives hope of eventual acceptance of 

such a plan. 

BREAK AS 'UNFORTUNATE' 

The committee regards as unfortunate the 

course of action taken by a spokesman for 

the largest exhibitor organization in summarily 

breaking off arbitration negotiations 

shortly after the October 21 arbitration draft 

was submitted for exhibitor consideration. 

His contention that no arbitration plan would 

be acceptable in the absence of an agreement 

to also arbitrate film rentals, after all 

parties had agreed during the August conferences 

that a film rental provision was 

unworkable, is arbitrary and unrealistic, in 

light of all the facts on the record. The 

sub.sequent rejection was "an astounding performance" 

in the opinion of the other negotiators 

and obviously raised in their minds a 

question of whether there had been good 

faith in the first instance. 

The committee is equally critical of the 

distributors' representatives in unilaterally 

proceeding to incorporate changes of substance 

into the provisions of the August 21 

arbitration draft. They should have reasonably 

anticipated that such action would 

gravely affect the notable progress which 

had been made toward an effective arbitration 

system. 

This committee does not believe that film 

rentals should be the subject of arbitration. 

The distributor of a motion picture is entitled 

to receive the best possible price for his 

product and the exhibitor cannot dictate the 

price he will pay. It is evident that exhibitors 

would never agree to make whole a 

producer or distributor who lost money on 

a picture. Conversely, neither should a distributor 

be required to insure a profit to every 

exhibitor. The law of supply and demand 

should govern, to the maximum possible 

extent consistent with the antitrust laws. 

It is clear to the members of the committee, 

however, that the overwhelming 

majority of the nation's exhibitors would 

welcome the adoption of any arbitration plan 

as an important step forward. To the extent 

that it would cover issues other than film 

rentals it would provide a means of eo.uitably 

settling a major share of the differences 

which beset the industry. The record shows 

that the action of a spokesman of one of the 

large exhibitor organizations, whether intentional 

or not, in closing the door on arbitration, 

constituted an imprudent sacrifice of 

the best interests of his members and all 

exhibitors. 

FAVOR ARBITRATION PLAN 

It is the considered judgment of the committee 

that an arbitration system can and 

should be speedily brought into being. The 

industry, both exhibitors and distributors, 

have able leaders whose record of performance 

in the past augurs well for the future. 

The prosperity of this great industry rests 

upon their willingness to sit down together 

and work out their problems in good faith 

and with prudence and common sense. The 

committee sincerely hopes and strongly recommends 

that responsible representatives of 

exhibitor organizations will take the initiative 

in promptly reopening arbitration negotiations. 

The record of the committee's hearings on 

the problem of independent motion-picture 

exhibitors is replete with complaints aimed 

directly at the Antitrust Division of the 

Department of Justice. It is quite clear that 

the performance of the Division has left 

much to be desired. After winning one of 

tiie greatest victories in the history of 

antitrust litigation the Department of Justice 

appears to have been resting on its 

laurels in the last few years. Several exhibitor 

witnesses testified that when they took 

their problems to the Antitrust Division 

they received little consideration. In some 

instances they testified their complaints were 

never acknowledged. 

In other instances they received assurances 

of action but they alleged the action was 

never accomplished. 

Spokesmen for the Department of Justice 

who appeared before the committee admitted 

tacitly that they are ill-equipped to discharge 

their responsibilities under the court 

decrees. They alluded to the heavy volume 

10 BOXOFnCE :: August 8, 1953 

\%l

of complaints from exhibitors and at the same 

time admitted that they were understaffed. 

The committee believes that serious study 

.should be given to the toniplaint of the 

Antitrust Division, that it lacks adequate 

personnel to handle the problems before it. 

We are of the opinion that this matter should 

have the attention of the appropriate 

appropriations committee of the Congress. 

However, the committee feels that the development 

of a satisfactory arbitration plan 

would relieve considerably the burden of 

the Antitrust Division. 

LOOKED FOR EASIEST WAY 

A careful review of reports received from 

the Antitrust Division makes it appear that 

personnel of that office attempt to discharge 

many of their responsibilities by the easiest 

available means, frequently by correspondence 

and conferences with distributors complained 

against. The difficulty with this approach 

is that the Division may accept whatever 

concessions the distributors will make but is 

reluctant to pursue a complaint on its merits. 

The result is that the exhibitor gets only that 

• 

relief which the distributor is willing to 

grant and must enter into private litigation 

if he is not satisfied. 

The Antitrust Division might well give more 

careful consideration to exhibitor complaints 

and should be more alert in enforcing the 

decrees and the antitrust laws. This is not to 

suggest that the Division should file an antitrust 

action every time an exhibitor complains. 

Litigation in and of itself is no cure 

for the ills that plague the motion-picture 

industry. The committee does feel, however, 

that the adoption of a more vigilant policy by 

the Antitrust Division would restore the confidence 

of many exhibitors in tliat office and 

would consequently result in fewer private 

suits in the motion-picture industry. 

There is still another factor which weighs 

heavily on the motion-picture industry and 

contributes to its difficulties. This is the 

burden of the federal 20 per cent tax on 

theatre admissions. Exhibitor witnesses testified 

that in their opinion the most important 

single immediate step that could be taken to 

aid them would be the remission of this 

onerous burden. The committee noted with 

satisfaction during the course of its investigation 

that the problem was receiving the 

consideration of the Congress and that prior 

to the submission of this report the two 

Houses had passed legislation designed to 

eliminate this special excise tax. The committee 

believes that this is a prudent and 

necessary step to aid a distressed industry. 

SEE NO EASY SOLUTION 

The business of producing, distributing, and 

exhibiting motion pictures is an extremely 

complex operation. The motion-picture industry's 

problems are as complex as its 

organization. They do not lend themselves to 

easy solution. The committee was impressed 

by the fact that virtually every problem that 

came to its attention during its extensive 

hearings disclosed merit on both sides. 

It is apparent to the committee that 

arbitration arid the Antitrust Division can 

lead the way out of many of the difficulties 

confronting independent motion-picture exhibitors 

today. The committee has no power 

to impose an arbitration system upon the 

industry. It can only hope that the spirit 

of responsibility and urgency which motivated 

prudent industry representatives to undertake 

negotiations on arbitration In 1952 

will again move the same parties to the same 

MGM Calls World Meet 

On Upcoming Releases 

NEW YORK MGM'.s dome.stic and international 

sales executives from all over the 

world will be invited to the studio In September 

to see ten fall and winter releases, 

according to Dore Schary. studio head, following 

his coast conferences with Loew's, Inc.. 

and MGM executives. 

Decision to arrange a .series of "Se« for 

Yourself" showings at the California meeting 

was decided after Charles Reagan, domestic 

distribution chief, and Arthur M. Loew, 

vice-president of Loew's International, saw 

•Mogambo," "Take the High Ground," "The 

Long, Long Trailer," "Torch Song," "Easy to 

Love," "Fort Bravo," "All the Brothers Were 

Valiant." "Saadia." "Rhap.ody" and "Kiss Me, 

Kate," the first musical to be produced in 

3-D. "Fort Bravo" is the first filmed in 

MGM's own wide-screen process. In addition, 

the sales heads will see sequences in 

Cinemascope from "Knights of the Round 

Table" and "Rose Marie," both still in production. 

All of the pictures are in Technicolor, 

Ansco or Eastman color. 

Following these coast showings, special 

"See for Yourself" trade previews will be 

set up in approximately 100 cities in order 

that exhibitors may see for themselves what 

the MGM executives consider "one of the 

most important single groups of potential 

boxoffice hits ever ready for distribution at 

one 

time." 

It was agreed that the sales group could 

step in 1953. With respect to the Antitrust 

Division, the committee has high hopes thai 

the new leadership in that office will bring 

to it a fresh approach to problems relating 

to the motion-picture industry. That office 

bears heavy responsibilities. Only the most 

meticulous attention to its trust will suffice 

in the discharge of those responsibilities. 

Small Business Report 

(Continued from page 9i 

draft version, the text leaves no doubt that 

it holds the leaders of that a.ssociation primarily 

responsible for the breakdown of the 

arbitration negotiations last fall. 

"The record shows that the action of a 

spokesman of one of the large exhibitor 

organizations, whether intentional or not. in 

closing the door on arbitration, constituted an 

imprudent sacrifice of the best Interests of 

his members and all exhibitors. 

"It is the considered judgment of the committee 

that an arbitration system can and 

should be speedily brought Into being. The 

industry, both exhibitors and distributors, 

have able leaders whose record of performance 

in the past augurs well for the future. 

The prosperity of this great industry rests 

upon their willingness to sit down together 

and work out their problems in good faith 

and with prudence and common sense. 

"The committee sincerely hopes and 

strongly recommends that responsible repre- 

.sentatives of exhibitor organizations will take 

the initiative in promptly reopening arbitration 

hearings." 

better evaluate the lineup in a "See for 

Yourself" hales meeting, arcordlnt; to 8ch»ry. 

"They abo will see for l):' :. tremendous 

.strides made by M' 

.uds in 

stereophonic .sound, wide-;.' D developmenUs, 

advancemcnLs '.^luth luivc been 

used to full advantage In enhancing the sales 

appeal of these films, while at the stune 

time assuring their being adaptable by any 

exhibitor regardless of the sire of hLs screen 

or theatre." 

Since all MGM pictures will be filmed In 

wide-screen with stereophonic sound, the 

company heads believe It Is Important that 

every member of the .sales organization be 

completely familiar with the various media 

and latest innovalioas. Showings for the 

sales organiaztion will be scheduled at .special 

theatre previews and on MGM's Stage 

16. installed with the latest in stereophonic 

sound and projection equipment and widescreen. 

Reagan and Howard DIetz, vice-president 

in charge of advertising and pubhclty, returned 

to New York over the August 1 weekend 

to start arrangements for bringing the 

sales heads to the studio and to put Into 

effect a program of national advertising, promotion 

and exploitation campaigns formulated 

at the coast meetings. Nicholas M. 

Schenck. president of Loew's. Inc . and 

Charles Moskowitz, treasurer, left the studio 

for New York Augiist 4. 

Stereosound Installation 

Costs Are Cut by Altec 

NEW YORK— Altec Service Corp. reduced 

prices August 1 on stereophonic sound Installations 

as a result of increasing sales and 

experienced gained In the production of 

apparatus. 

The new minimum for smaller houses is 

$375, compared with $600! and the new maximum 

is $750 compared with $900. 

L. D. Netter Jr.. general sales manager, 

said the company was passing along to exhibitors 

the benefits of the company's experiences 

following the investment of considerable 

capital several months ago. The 

engineering staff has been able to cut the 

time involved in InstallatlOD. 

Research and corrective procedure had enabled 

the company to eliminate "bugs" from 

installations, he said. Each major unit of 

stereophonic Installations will be priced separately, 

he said, and this should benefit the 

small theatre owners. 

Four new branch managers and 19 new 

field representatives have been added to 

the Altec staff as a result of the Increasing 

demand for stereophonic sound Installations. 

These are in addition to 50 field 

engineers recently named. 

D. P. Callahan Named 

NEW YORK— E. H Rowley, president of 

United Rowley Theatres of Texas, who Is 

in New York with Mrs. Rowley, announced 

that, effective August 1. D. P. Callahan became 

general film buyer for the circuit. 

He has been with the circuit 17 years. 

BOXOFnCE :: August 8, 1953 11

\ 

t 

IN HONOR OF OUR BELOVED 

FOUNDER'S GOLDEN JUBILEE, 

YOU JRE INVITED TO.. 

FOR PARAMOUNT WEEK SEPT. 6-12 

puim zusoR 

V GOLDEN ^^ 

J? JUBILEE^ 

î SALUTE, r 

DEC. 5 

World Premiere Engagement 

Radio City Music Hall 

GREGORY PECK 

AUDREY HEPBURN 

in 

William Wyler's 

ROMAN 

HOUDAY 

4 th 

U 

i 

L 

Timeliest drama of our time. 

Filmed on the spot in Korea. 

HAL WALUS' 

CEASE 

FIRE 

IN 3-D 

Stereophonic Sound 

THOSE 

REDHEADS 

FROM 

SEATTLE 

IN 3-D 

Color by TECHNICOLOR 

starring 

Rhonda Fleming • Gene Barry 

Agnes Moorehead • Teresa Brewer 

Guy Mitchell • The Bell Sisters 


GINGER ROGERS 

WILLIAM HOLDER 

PAUL DOUGLAS. 

in ! li 

FOREVER i 

FEMALE i 

With JAMES GLEASON C 

and Introducing 

PAT CROWLEY 

Ail In Addition To Current Hits Like: SANGA i, 

I

CO 

with Paramount's greatest 

Titration of big profit 

attractions 

SEPTEMBER 

OCTOBER 

OCTOBER 

jagemtn 

Trade - shows clocked more 

laughs than any picture 

they've made. 

First engagement, Atlantic 

City, sensational. Next on 

Broadway at the Mayfair. 

"Greatest ot tlic great ncwpix, 

and one of all-time greats." 

—llollyxioJ K/portrr 

in 

DEAN 

MARTIN ' JERRY 

LEWIS 

THE 

CADDY 

Co-starring DONNA REED 


THE WAR 

OF THE 

WORLDS 


For Panoramic Screens 


BING CROSBY 

CLAUDE DAUPHIN 

in 

A Perlberg-Seaton Production 

LITTLE 

DOY LOST 

BOB HOPE 

.||. TONY MARTIN 

^" 

ARLENEDAHL 

nSEMARY CLOONEY 

|i 

HERE 

COME THE 

GIRLS 


JOAN FONTAINE 

JACK PALANCE 

CORINNE CALVET 

in 

FUGHT TO 

TANGIER 

IN 3-D 



America's favorite cartoon 

character— in the biggest 

novelty short entertainment 

in years ! Another 

proof that there is no 

substitute for 

Paramount Shorts 

IDINI • SHANE • STALA^T ARROWHEAD

4 1 when 

. . . and 

OK CINERAMA DEAL, BUT MAKE 

IT NONEXCLUSIVE AFTER 5 YRS. 

Under Dof J Regulations, 

Processes Must Then Be 

Thrown Open to All 

WASHINGTON—The Stanley Warner- 

Cinerama merger has received Justice Department 

approval, but only with sweeping 

and stringent restrictions, it was revealed 

on Tuesday 1 the Justice Department 

released the petition filed by Stanley 

Warner. 

The petition was released here, although it 

was filed with the New York Statutory Court. 

TO HOLD HEARING AUGUST 12 

A Justice Department official said that 

Judge Augustus N. Hand, a member of the 

three-man court, would hold a hearing on 

the petition at his summer home in Elizabethtown. 

N.Y.. on August 12, with the unusual 

procedure explained by the fact that the 

merger contract provides for an August 19 

deadline. 

Stanley Warner and Cinerama agreed to 

the restrictions imposed by Justice as a condition 

to approval. Even with the many 

limitations. Department approval was given 

only because development of the new method 

was believed to be in the public interest and 

the merger would provide the financial backing 

needed, according to a high Justice 

source. 

Under the government conditions, the merger 

would be allowed to stand only until the 

end of 1958, the company could acquire no 

more than 24 theatres in the U.S. for Cinerama 

exhibition and it could produce no more 

than 15 Cinerama films in addition to "This 

is Cinerama." 

Negotiations began on June 2 and involved 

placing production, distribution and exhibition 

in one integrated company. 

Tlie petition tells the court, "the Department 

was concerned with the integration 

phase of the transaction. 

"It was pointed out to the Department 

that under the Warner consent judgment 

there is no specific restriction on the right 

of your producer to produce conventional 

motion pictures, and that the Cinerama process 

was a new art, unknown to the parties 

and to the public at the time of the consent 

judgment. . ." 

AKIN TO LEGITIMATE STAGE 

The petition went on to describe Cinerama 

as "more akin to a legitimate stage presentation 

than motion pictures and certainly 

there were no restrictions on petitioner's producing 

and presenting legitimate stage attractions." 

Stanley Warner described integration as 

"es.sential to the success of the Cinerama 

process," because no producer would risk 

spending the money required to make a 

Cinerama film without assurance of sufficient 

equipped theatres, while no exhibitor would 

rLsk the large sums of money needed to 

equip without assurance of a continuous flow 

of Cinerama motion pictures. 

The company said it "also advised the 

U-l Will Place 13 Films 

In Release Rest of '53 

HOLLYWOOD—Thirteen major features, 

ten of them in Technicolor and two in 3-D 

will be released by Universal-International 

during the remainder of 1953, according to 

Charles J. Feldman, U-I's general sales manager. 

The program represents virtually all 

categories—adventure, drama, comedy, musical, 

mystery and western. 

All are suitable for wide-screen projection 

and many of them have stereophonic sound 

tracks. All will be backed with heavy promotional 

and advertising campaigns, personal 

appearance tours and gala premieres in various 

parts of the country. 

Heading the list of releases is "Thunder 

Bay," adventure story which was filmed in 

Technicolor with James Stewart, Joanne Dru, 

Gilbert Roland and Dan Duryea. 

Special emphasis will be placed on the 

company's two 3-D productions. The first of 

these, "Wings of the Hawk," also is in Technicolor 

and stars Van Heflin and Julia 

Adams. "The Glass Web," a mystery melodrama, 

stars Edward G. Robinson, John 

Forsythe, Marcia Henderson and Kathleen 

Hughes. 

The month-by-month release schedule is as 

follows: 

AUGUST—"Thunder Bay"; "The Man From 

Department that because of the very limited 

number of theatres in which a Cinerama 

picture can be exhibited, your petitioner 

contemplated the production of standard 

motion picture versions of each of the Cinerama 

pictures to be produced as a protection 

also for the purpose of ultimately 

making available such standard versions to 

conventional motion picture theatres." 

Stanley Warner also told the court "the 

Department stated that it would have no 

objection to the production of standard 

motion picture versions under these circumstances, 

provided your petitioner was enjoined 

from distributing them, and provided 

further that your petitioner would in no way 

be favored as an exhibitor in the dit-tribution 

. 

of these standard versions by others." 

Stanley Warner also said it "operated theatres 

in only a limited number of the large 

cities of the United States and to succeed 

in this venture it would have to acquire theatres 

in other important cities of the country 

where it pre.scntly is not operating; that 

by acquiring theatres for the exhibition of 

Cinerama pictures your petitioner would 

thereby release to exhibitors of conventional 

motion pictures whatever product had 

formerly been exhibited at the theatre acquired 

. . for Cinerama. ." 

. 

Describing some of the most important 

of the Justice restrictions, the petition told 

the Court: 

the Alamo," in Technicolor with Glenn Ford 

and Julia Adams starred; "Abbott and Costello 

Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," costarring 

Boris Karloff with the comedy team. 

SEPTEMBER—Three Technicolor pictures, 

"Wings of the Hawk"; "The Stand at Apache 

River," starring Stephen McNally, Julia 

Adams and Hugh Marlowe; "The Golden 

Blade." starring Rock Hudson and Piper 

Laurie. 

OCTOBER — "The All American," starring 

Tony Curtis and Lori Nelson; "East of 

Sumatra." Technicolor film starring Jeff 

Chandler, Marilyn Maxwell, Anthony Quinn 

and Suzan Ball. 

NOVEMBER—"The Glass Web"; "Back to 

God's Country," in Technicolor and starring 

Rock Hudson, Marcia Henderson and Steve 

Cochran; "The Veils of Bagdad," Technicolor 

picture starring Victor Mature and Marl 

Blanchard. 

DECEMBER — "Tumbleweed," 

Technicolor 

picture starring Audie Murphy, Lori Nelson 

and Chill Wills; "Walking My Baby Back 

Home," Technicolor musical starring Donald 

O'Connor and Janet Leigh, which is destined 

to be the big holiday picture. 

"The Department took the position that it 

would only permit integration and exchisivity 

for a limited period, namely until December 

31, 1958, in order to create an incentive upon 

the part of your petitioner to commit its 

financial and manpower resources to develop 

this process, that after December 31, 1958, 

your petitioner would be confined to exhibition 

and after December 31. 1960, would 

be prohibited from distributing Cinerama 

pictiu-es produced by it and "This Is Cinerama" 

. . . and that any theatre which 

petitioner was permitted to acquire prior to 

December 31. 1958, for the exhibition of Cinerama 

pictures would be limited to the exhibition 

of Cinerama pictures and not conventional 

motion pictures. 

"Tlie Department also took the position 

that after December 31, 1958, the terminal 

date of exclusivity, the proce.ss in all its 

phases, i.e., production and exhibition, should • 

be thrown open to everybody. 

"To that end the Department insisted that 

Cinerama, Inc., be required to consent to an 

order requiring it after December 31, 1958 

to grant on reasonable and non-discriminatory 

terms compulsory production and exhibition 

sub-licenses and lea.se of equipment 

neces,sary therefor to all applicants. 

"The Department also sought and received 

assurances that these compulsory sub-licenses 

would grant rights in the Cinerama process 

at its then most advanced stage." 

14 BOXOrnCE 

: 

: August 8. 1953

:,rte," 

t 

:lie 

ol 

SETTING THE HOTTEST 

BOXOFFICE PACE 

INJHE BUSINESS! 

"Moon is Blue" is outgrossing "High 

and Cos- 

' 

toleiy 

teair,, 

[Joon", "African Queen", 

pittUE, 

coost-to-coast, 

at Apachi 

Et, Jij 

" staniii! 

"East 

Tin? Jell 

m QiiMi 

HOUSTON METROPOLITAN-WACO-WACO THEATRE-AS IN ALL 

id itarmj 

OTHER INTERSTATE 

I 

THEATRES IN TEXAS 

and St(R I 

RECORD-BREAKING BUSINESS. SAN FRANCISCO UNITED ARTISTS - 6TH SENSATIONAL WEEK CHICAGO 

WOODS-SOCK IN ITS 6TH WEEK. LOS ANGELES-RIALTO AND FOUR STAR-BROKE EVERY HOUSE RECORD, IN 

rectaicolo! I 

,ori Nelso! I 

ITS 5TH WEEK. NEW YORK -VICTORIA AND SUTTON -4TH SMASH WEEK DENVER -ALADDIN -3RD GREAT 

Baby Bail I 

WEEK AND STILL SMASHING ALL RECORDS. WASHINGTON. D. C. PLAYHOUSE AND DUPONT-TERRIFIC IN ITS 

3RD WEEK. CONNECTICUT -STANLEY WARNER THEATRES REPORT OUTSTANDING GROSSES. CHARLESTON. W. VA. 

escliiiWl -KEARSE-TOPPING ALL OTHERS. 

1 

IDeceo 

entive i 

(OUffllit 

stoW 

er !1, 1» 

(dto 

m «

DEVELOPS NEW-TYPE DRIVE-IN THEATRE 

Individual Screens, Serviced by Single Projector, Basis of Missourian's Process 

URBANA. MO.—Tom Smith, local theatre 

operator, has invented a new type of drivein 

which provides every carload of customers 

with a private screen. Moreover, he accomplishes 

this with the use of only one projector 

and his own .secret device for distributing 

it to the numerous screens. He calls 

his place the Multiscope Drive-In and his 

present rough working model accommodates 

only 42 cars, so he has to turn customers 

away. However, he is only using 270 feet 

of the circle, while the use of the full cii-cle 

600 feet in diameter would allow space for 

150 or 200 cars. 

The theatre is laid out like a wagon wheel, 

320 feet in diameter, with the projection 

booth in the center. Each parked car faces 

the "hub" and a 30x40-inch plastic screen. 

The projection is against the rear of this 

screen. The unique theatre project opened 

on Sunday. July 26, and has been operating 

to capacity since. 

DRAWING MANY IN THE TRADE 

Exhibitors and others in the industry are 

coming to see and appraise Smith's unusual 

concept of what a small drive-in theatre can 

be. Urbana is a little town of about 350 down 

in the Missouri hills, about 40 miles north 

of Springfield, but its local inventor seems 

to have discovered something new that can 

be absorbed by the motion picture industry. 

With producers and exhibitors now groping 

among multiple 3-D and wide-screen 

methods, one more new angle can hardly 

start a revolution. 

Here's how the Multiscope operates: Cars 

are arranged around the perimeter of a circle, 

closely facing the screens. Prom the semidugout 

projection booth the beams are sent 

at eye-level to the screens and the picture 

is viewed at eye-level from each car. Pictures 

in front of the neighboring cars on 

either side are so dim and vague as to offer 

no distraction. Every car stall is a private, 

front-row seat, each as desirable as any other. 

THEATRE OPERATOR 21 YEARS 

The inventor, Tom Smith, is only 37 years 

old but has been a theatre operator 21 years, 

starting at Humansville, Mo. He and his 

brother, Bob Smith, sales engineer for the 

Kansas City branch of National Theatre 

Supply Co., have owned the conventional 

Dallas Theatre at Urbana for foiu" years. 

Tom gives Bob credit for weekend assistance 

with much of the thinking as well as the 

work, but Bob disclaims any appreciable help. 

He says Tom did it all. 

Tom, who has always been an advocate 

of rear-projection mot new, of cour.se) got 

the idea for his drive-in about two years ago, 

and for six months prior to starting the 

actual construction, he and his brother 

sketched and experimented to perfect the 

Multi.scope principle. Most of the actual 

construction was done by Tom himself. The 

.screen structure and buildings are of native 

oak lumber in that vicinity. Much of the 

working equipment in the projection dugout 

is handmade from the same wood. 

"You could say it's rather crude." Tom 

admits, "but there l.s no denying that the 

16 

This is tlie pilot theatre built by Tom Smith to demonstrate his new idea in drive-in 

theatres. Screens are laid out like a wagon wheel. A single projector, located in a semidugout 

style projection booth, shoots individual beams to the plastic screens in a rearprojection 

technique involving a secret optical mechanism. The pilot theatre has 42 

screens and utilizes 270 feet of the circle, but the size can be increased to accommodate 

150 to 200 cars. 

result is comparable with the best of frontprojection, 

indoors and out." 

Each 30x40-inch plastic .screen is surrounded 

by a wide black masking area recessed 

in an outer frame of wood. The inventer 

claims there is no distortion of picture 

at all and that by film industry standards 

the screens are properly sized for best 

viewing at the distance where the car's front 

seat comes alongside the speaker post. 

How he can run a film through one projector 

and put an identical image on any 

desired number of screens is the one thing 

about the theatre that Smith will not discuss, 

and his method is fully protected by patent 

applications. He does say that there is a 

separate optical system for each screen, involving 

a lens and a reflective surface. These 

lOM S:\HTII 

must be in precise alignment for a specific 

screen, but once set, it is permanent. All of 

the optical apparatus he shaped and 

positioned himself. 

"Motion picture engineers told me I was 

wasting my time; said it couldn't be done. 

I almost believed it several times. In fact, 

I made four different optical setups until 

I found the one that would work," Smith said. 

LISTS THE ADVANTAGES 

The principal advantages he claims for his 

system, besides the picture quality, include 

the short throw (requiring only a moderate 

amount of power and light), the elimination 

of ramping and screen tower costs, structural 

simplicity, and an equally good view for every 

patron. He also claims that the smaller 

towns, such as this one, and remote rural 

areas can be served with top-quality film 

presentations this way, and the investment 

will be within the means of the small-town 

theatre owner. He cannot, however, set an 

estimate as yet on the cost because his model 

was built by himself by hand. 

Smith has ah-eady been asked by another 

exhibitor to build a similar drive-in, but 

does not plan to put It on the market that 

way. Right now he considers his own drivein 

just a working model on which he wants 

to do a lot of improving and experimenting. 

He is not in the building business, he says, 

and after 30 days of operation without shutdowns 

or trouble due to possible technical 

faults (and so far the claim is made that it 

has worked 100 per cent), a deal will most 

likely be made for the construction and 

equipment to be handled through regular 

channels. 

"This theatre is too small to make money," 

he explained. "There are a number of things 

I must w'ork out better to perfect it and 

get smoother operating conditions. I don't 

think we'll make a million dollars out of this 

brain-child, but I do think w-e've got something 

here." 

BOXOFFICE :: August 8. 1953 

i 

i

I 

A 

STATEMENT 

From Republic Pictures Corporation 

M.. 

In order that there should be no mystery about Republic's policy in 

the "New Era Of 

Screen Dimensions" and no confusion in determining aspect ratios in connection with the 

production or projection of Republic product, we wish to bring these simple facts to all 

exhibitors: 

/. REPUBLIC'S new pictures are being [)holographed so that they can be projected 

on either wide-screen or the conventional style screen. 

2. REPUBLIC has adopted the 1.66 to 1 aspect ratio so that its new product can be 

projected on wide-screen with aspect ratios from the conventional size of 1.33 to 

1 up to wide-screen ratios of 1.85 to 1. Theatres will find that they can choose one 

set of wide-angle projection lenses which can project aspect ratios of 1.66 to 1 up 

to 1.85 to 1, and merely change the projection aperture for the different 

aspect ratios. 

3. REPUBLIC, in changing to a 1.66 to 1 aspect ratio, has not altered the actual 

picture frame from the conventional size but has composed its subject matter in 

production so that artists' heads and important subject matter within the picture 

frame will not be cut off when screened with the new wide-screen apertures. 

4. REPUBLIC pictures can be projected on any wide-screen with a special wideangle 

lens, a change in projection aperture to the proper aspect ratio, and more 

light for projection. This is true of any wide-screen method and information 

regarding the type of lens, projection apertures, and added light needed can be 

obtained from regular theatre service organizations. 

5. REPUBLIC pictures can be projected by any theatre equippied with wide screen 

for CinemaScope with the right projection lens and the correct projection 

aperture aspect ratio. However, Republic pictures cannot be projected through a 

CinemaScope projection lens since this lens is a companion lens to the Cinema- 

Scope camera lens used in production. 

6. REPUBLIC pictures now available for wide-screen exhibition are: 

1. FAIR WIND TO JAVA 

2. CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS 

3. THE SUN SHINES BRIGHT 

4. WOMAN THEY ALMOST LYNCHED 

5.SANANT0NE 

6. A PERILOUS JOURNEY 

7. THE LADY WANTS MINK 

8. RIDE THE MAN DOWN 

9. THUNDERBIRDS 

10. OLD OVERLAND TRAIL 

11. IRON MOUNTAIN TRAIL 

12. SWEETHEARTS ON PARADE 

13. CHAMP FOR A DAY 

14. SEA OF LOST SHIPS

Wide-Screen, Standard 

For All Republic Films 

NEW YORK — Republic has decided to 

photograph all its pictures so that they can 

be projected on either wide screens or conventional 

screens in aspect ratios running 

from 1.33 to 1 up to 1.85 to 1, Herbert Yates, 

president, announced this week. 

A statement issued by Yates reads: 

"In order that there should be no mystery 

about Republic's policy in the 'New Era of 

Screen Dimensions' and no confusion in 

determining aspect ratios in connection with 

the production or projection of Republic 

product, we wish to bring these simple facts 

to all exhibitors: 

"1. Republic's new pictures are being photographed 

so that they can be projected on 

either wide-screen or the conventional style 

screen. 

"2. Republic has adopted the 1.66 to 1 aspect 

ratio so that its new product can be projected 

on wide-screen with aspect ratios from 

the conventional size of 1.33 to 1 up to widescreen 

ratios of 1.85 to 1. Theatres will find 

that they can choose one set of wide-angle 

projection lenses which can project aspect 

ratios of 1.65 to 1 up to 1.85 to 1, and merely 

change the projection aperture for the different 

aspects ratios. 

"3. Republic, in changing to 1.66 to 1 aspect 

ratio, has not altered the actual picture frame 

from the conventional size but has composed 

its subject matter in production so that 

artists' heads and important subject matter 

within the picture frame will not be cut off 

when screened with the new wide-screen 

apertures. 

"4. Repubhc pictures can be projected on 

any wide screen with a special wide-angle 

lens, a change in projection aperture to the 

proper aspect ratio, and more light for projection. 

This is true of any wide-screen 

method and information regarding the type 

of lens, projection apertures, and added light 

needed can be obtained from regular theatre 

service organizations. 

"5. Republic pictures can be projected by 

any theatre equipped with wide screen for 

Cinemascope with the right projection lens 

and the correct projection aperture aspect 

ratio. However, Republic pictures cannot be 

projected through a Cinemascope projection 

lens since this lens is a companion lens to the 

Cinemascope camera lens used in production. 

"Pictures now available for wide-screen 

exhibition are: 'Fair Wind to Java,' 'City 

That Never Sleeps," 'The Sun Shines Bright,' 

'Woman They Almost Lynched,' 'San Antone,' 

'A Perilous Journey,' "The Lady Wants Mink,' 

'Ride the Man Down' 'Thunderbirds,' 'Old 

Overland Trail,' 'Iron Mountain Trail,' 

'Sweethearts on Parade,' 'Champ for a Day' 

and 'Sea of Lost Ships.' " 

Kill Tax Exemption 

For Overseas Work 

WASHINGTON—Tax advantages for film 

stars and others who earn high wages working 

overseas and remaining out of the U.S. 

for 17 out of 18 consecutive months were repealed 

by Congress on Monday (3), the last 

day of the current session. 

The House had originally killed the exemption 

outright, but the Senate provided for an 

exemption of earnings up to $20,000 per 

year. The House accepted the Senate version. 

SIGNS I'EPSI-COLA CHARITY AWARD—Jack Beresin, inU-rnational chief barker 

of Variety Clubs, is shown signing his name to Pepsi-Cola Charity Award which went 

to the Milwaukee and Houston tents this year for their humanitarian programs. At 

the left is Alan Finley, national theatre sales manager of the Pepsi-Cola Co., and at 

the right is Charles O'Reilly, chairman of the board of the ABC Co. The Houston 

tent was named for the charity award for its work with the Boys Club of Houston 

while the Milwaukee tent was cited for its activities in support of the Heart Center 

of the Marquette university medical school. The Pcpsi-Cola award was announced 

at the international convention In Mexico City several months ago. 

In the Newsreels 

Movietone News, No. 63: Signing of truce at 

Ponmunjom; East Germans mob West Berlin to get 

U.S. food; eight Czechs crash Iron Curtain in homemade 

tank; Senator Knowland reviews first session of 

83rd Congress; swimmers open channel season; kayak 

racers get dunking. 

News of the Doy, No. 297: Historic films of Korea 

truce drama; U.S. food lures Red Germany's hungry 

hordes; Senator Knowland reports on Congress; equestrian 

diving thriller; crashes Iron Curtain; jet crackup. 

Poramount News, No. 100: Actual signing of 

Korean truce; o report on the 83rd Congress; Hollywood 

night cMmox Scout jamboree. 

Universal News, No. 478: First films of Korean 

armistice; U.S. food orrives for East Berliners; floods; 

refugees; Senator Knowland loads records of Congress; 

jolting jubilee jamboree. 

Warner Pothe News, No. 102: Truce is signed; East 

Berliners jam U.S. zone for free food; Senator Knowland 

reviews work of 83rd Congress; carrier pilot 

cheats death as war ends; Fort Worth, Tex., hails 

favorite son, Ben Hogan; Ted Williams doffs khaki, 

dons Red Sox duds. 

• 

Movietone News, No. 64: U.S. pays final tribute to 

Senator Taft; POW exchange to start on silent front; 

jungle war in Indo-Chino; General Noguib meets 

press; San Francisco hails General Clark; Mr. Muscles 

has his odmirers; new high-diving woman chomp. 

News of the Day, No. 298: Prisoner trade begins 

in Koreo; nation mourns Senator Taft; anti-Red drive 

in Indo-Chino; conflagration in Madrid; Peron cordial 

to UN "goodwill" envoy; Son Francisco hails 

Clark; new woman diving champ. 

Paramount News, No. 101: New diving queen; Robert 

Taft obituary; final tribute in Washington to 

Robert Taft; Milton Eisenhower in Argentina; first 

days of truce in Korea; Alpine oeriol acrobotics. 

Universal News, No. 488: Rites for Taft; Korean 

guns still speed fulfillment of truce conditions; Milton 

Eisenhower; Venetian blind plane; egg-beater square 

dance. 

Warner Pothe News, No. 103: Taft dead; Taft 

services; truce in Korea; B-50 survivor; Argentina- 

Milton Eisenhower; Tennessee— "So This Is Love"; 

AAU diving. 

• 

American Newsreel, No. 578: George Washington 

Carver national monument dedicated at Diomond, 

Mo.; ground breaking for Concord Baptist church in 

Brooklyn; 12-year-old typing wonder at Philaaelphia's 

William Penn Business Institute; Irvin, Thompson 

shine as Giants slam Cubs. 

• 

Telenews Digest, No. 31 B: Truce signed in Korea; 

Dr. Eisenhower ends tour; Japan celebrates Perry 

landing; young styles for autumn; Williams returns to 

Red Sox; mammoth reception for Hogan in Fort 

Worth; Dizzy Dean, Al Simmons into the hall of fome. 

Telenews Digest, No. 32A: French score in air, sea 

land war; nation honors Senator Taft; East Germons 

get U.S. food; Dr. Eisenhower meets Peron; British 

roundup Mau-Mau suspects; high-wire ocrobots defy 

death. 

RKO Theatres Earnings 

More Than Doubled 

NEW YORK—Net profit of 

RKO Theatres 

Corp. for the first six montlis of this year was 

$417,602.32, more than double the net for 

the same period in 1952 when the total was 

$174,802.99. 

These figui'es are after taxes and all other 

charges (including profit of $19,323.45 on sale 

of capital assets, before taxes). 

The net for the second quarter this year 

was $92,240.54, after taxes and all other 


of capital assets, before taxes). Tlie consohdated 

net for the same quarter in 1952 

was $36,935.60. after taxes and all other 


of capital assets, before taxes). 

The profit from operations for the sixmonth 

period, before various charges such 

as depreciation, dividends, interest and taxes, 

was $1,649,003.56. an increase over the same 

period last year of $471,992.03. During the 

second quarter the profit from operations 

before deductions was $607,307.71, compared 

with $470,950.94, an increase of $136,456.77. 

There were 3,764,913 shares of common 

stock outstanding July 4, 1953 (excluding 150,- 

000 shares held by the corporation), and 3,- 

914,913 shares outstanding June 28, 1952. 

,.j(i)saP' 

. 

18 BOXOFFICE :: August 8, 1953

LIa £ Magazine repoi 

outstripping every other movie in town, 

including two Z-Ds^'^ (And at Advanced Admissions!) 

Q\ The LYCEUM, 

(booked 2 w 

' 

Interstates KIRBVr ^ 

(booked 4 days -^WSyiB 

Wilby-Kincey's CENTER, 

(booked 3 days - 

FLASH! 

MINNESOTA 

GARRICK, 

played 8 days) 

AMUSEMENT CO.'s 

PULUTH 

A SMASH HIT! 

ADDRESS ALL INQUIRIES 

ENGAGEMENTS directly fo Cresson E. Smith, Gen 

Manager. • LOUIS de ROCHEMONT Associates, 3 

Slr««t, New York 36, N. Y. - Telephone JUds. 

nUnti by LOUIS deROCHfMCNT A..^ 

FTroducef Strewploy by AlUN SlOASt câ 

Physical Distribution by NATIONAL SCREEN SERVICE Exchanges

29 

. The 

%e« ^^ Sv^*tt^ 

COM?0 Acts Fast 

THE suspenseful wait for F>i'esident Eisenhower 

to act on the Mason ticket tax 

bill uncovered a gap in the industry public 

relations which was quickly plugged by 

Robert Coyne and other COMPO representatives 

waiting in Washington in something 

bordering on a nervous state. 

Editorials in the New York Times, Herald-Tribune, 

Post and other scattered cities 

called for a veto in the first few days after 

pa.ssage by the Senate. Some smart aleck 

columnists began asserting that exhibitors 

had promised to cut ticket prices by the 

amount of the tax and others declared that 

patrons had been asked to write to congressmen 

to this effect. 

If the editorials had continued and the 

misstatements left unchallenged, a veto 

would have been a certainty in a matter 

of a day or two. 

Coyne, Col. H. A. Cole, Pat McGee, Trueman 

Rembusch and others quickly called a 

press conference in which they laid all the 

facts on the table. The results were amazing. 

All the Hearst papers carried unbiased 

articles explaining the situation and the 

wire services sent out plain statements of 

fact in which the plight of the industi-y was 

reviewed. Mlm writers in the dailies took up 

the matter, led by Alton Cook of 

the New 

York World-Telegram, a Scripps-Howard 

paper, and Bosley Crowther followed Sunday 

1 2) in the New York Times, as did 

movie page editors in other cities. This 

cleared the air immeasurably. 

It also was a useful precedent for future 

use on any industi-y problem requiring a 

good press. The lay press was largely overlooked 

during the progress of the campaign. 

If it had been made as familiar with 

the details as was the trade press and all 

members of Congress during the months 

of hard work, support, or at least a friendly 

neutrality, might have been widespread. 

Everybody agreed the campaign had 

been remarkable. 

Dual 3-D Bills 

gROADWAY had its first 3-D dual bill 

at 

Loew's State Wednesday 1 1 program 

included "Ajena" and a preview of 

"The Stranger Wore a Gun." It was only 

a one-day combination, but it was a real 

workout for the Polaroid wearers. 

Apparently they stood it without feeling 

eyestrain. There were no complaints. Even 

so, that's a long time to see double. 

What's Wrong? 

pHE rea.soning behind the telegram sent to 

President Eisenhower by the League of 

New York Theatres asking a veto of the 

Mason ticket tax removal bill because it 

did not include legitimate theatres is completely 

mystifying to the film industry. 

All the league members knew when the 

campaign started; they were free to join in 

the campaign; they had the example of the 

Metropolitan Opera and symphony orchestras 

which secured exemption many months 

before. 

Were they asleep at the switch? And If 

-By JAMES M. JERAULD 

they were, why couldn't they wait for the 

general revision of taxes scheduled at the 

session of Congress for the next fiscal year? 

What did they expect to gain by throwing 

a roadblock ahead of a movement that had 

required a tremendous feat of organization, 

months of strenuous labor? 

Republic for Wide Screens 

JÊPUBLIC Pictures, holdout against 3-D 

and wide screen in recent months, has 

decided to film its pictures in a 1.66 to 1 

ratio so that they will be available either 

for standard screens or wide screens up to 

1.85 to 1 without cutting off the heads of 

players. 

This will be done by comEwsing the pictures 

with wide angle lenses in mind while 

they are being made. It's a comparatively 

simple operation. Exhibitors can choose 

their own ratios by changing the apertures 

of their projectors. 

At the same time the announcement 

helps relieve the product worries of those 

exhibitors who have been delaying decisions 

on new installations. 

Exploitation 

2'HE Central New York Bottlers Ass'n ran 

into a hot weather shortage of bottles 

and took its problem to the manager of the 

Stanley Theatre in Utica with the results 

that they soon reached an agreement 

whereby the bottlers agreed to back a truck 

in front of the theatre and pay the usual 

five-cent return fee for certain types of 

bottles. 

The truckman handed out 30-cent tickets 

to each boy and girl who delivered six bottles. 

Those who had more than six received 

money to buy popcorn and candy for three 

successive Saturdays. 

A mother here and there may have wondered 

where the bottles had gone when she 

started for the grocery or the delicatessen, 

but the bottlers and the theatre manager 

were happy. 

Frisking the Boys 

pROM Boston comes word that Al Lourie, 

owner of the Adams Theatre, Dorchester, 

has almost eliminated seat cutting 

by boys by making them deliver knives, 

scissors, torpedoes, cap pistols and other 

things at the door where they are checked. 

The boys stopped bringing them. 

Variations of this stunt have been tried 

before elsewhere. One operator who discovered 

seat cutting became particularly 

prevalent after Christmas had a sign with 

a western figure at one end saying: "Park 

your guns here. Mister." 

The youngsters didn't object. Each boy 

signed his name on a paper bag and the 

others looked over his shoulder while he 

dumped his odd assortment of belongings 

into the bag which was closed by stapling. 

It required the services of two ushers, but 

saved money on repairs. 

Three or four weekends of this sort of 

thing usually eliminates seat-cutting for 

months afterwards. 

Golden Laurel Award 

To Alexander Korda 

NEW YORK—Sir Alexander Korda will receive 

the 1953 Golden Laurel trophy, presented 

each year by David O. Selznick to the 

SIR ALEXANDER KORDA 

Eui'opean film maker selected by an American 

jury for "his work through the years 

in contributing, via the motion picture, to 

international goodwill and to mutual understanding 

between the peoples of the free 

and democratic world." 

The Korda award will be the first of the 

Golden Laurel trophies, although it is part 

of the fourth annual Golden and Silver 

Laurel awards program, which will be presented 

this year at the seventh International 

Film Festival at Edinburgh August 30. The 

American jury selected Korda for the honor 

by secret ballot, conducted under the dii-ection 

of the Film Library of the Museum of 

Modern Art in New York. 

The Golden Laurel trophy will become the 

permanent possession of the recipient each 

year. Winthrop W. Aldrich, American ambassador 

to the Court of St. James, will present 

the trophy to Korda. Sir Alexander is known 

for his productions of "The Private Life of 

Henry VIII," "The Thief of Bagdad," "Jungle 

Book," "Elephant Boy," "Catherine the 

Great," "Drums." "Four Feathers," "Lady 

Hamilton" and "The Scarlet Pimpernel." 

William Goetz Leaves 

U-I Production Post 

HOLLYWOOD—William Goetz has relinquished 

his post as head of production at 

Universal-International but will remain at 

the studio until the expiration of his contract 

on Nov. 12 to wind up unfinished production 

duties. Edward Muhl, vice-president 

in charge of production, will assume his new 

duties immediately. Arrangement whereby 

Goetz was to relinquish his post as production 

head on Aug. 1 was agreed upon during the 

recent executive conferences that brought 

forth the announcement of his departure 

from the company. 

At the same time it was announced that 

Leo Spitz' retirement as executive liead of 

production at the studios became effective 

August 1. 

20 BOXOmCE :: August 8, 1953

THE AMERICAN PUBLIC CHOOSES 

ASCAP 

MUSIC 

More than 50 million people are reported to 

have heard Mary Martin and Ethel 

Merman sing 

a cavalcade of American songs on the great 

"Ford 50th Anniversary Show. " Critics and 

public alike agreed that this act was the high 

spot of the show. Their medley of songs, all 

written by ASCAP members, were rated as an 

all-time Hit Parade. 

As a result of many requests, ASCAP now 

is offering complimentary a listing of hit tunes 

which America has 

sung and played throughout 

the past 35 years and which are available under 

on ASCAP license. It is the Society's sincere 

hope that this booklet will serve as a ready 

reference source of program material for television 

and radio broadcasters, advertising 

agencies, theatre exhibitors, and all 

those 

engaged in entertaining the American public. 

Although this listing contains only a very 

small portion of the Society's vast repertory, 

we believe that it should make it possible for 

those in the entertainment field to discover 

more ways in which their ASCAP license can 

help them to make greater profits. 

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF 

COMPOSERS, AUTHORS AND PUBLISHERS 

575 MADISON AVENUE. NEW YORK 22, N. V.

A SURVEY SHOWS 

Even If Viewers Are Uncomfortable 

Most Patrons Come Back for 3-D 

NEW YORK—One of the big jobs in the 

exhibition of 3-D motion pictures is the development 

of more comfortable and satisfactory 

polarized viewers. 

This is apparent in the results obtained in 

a survey just completed by Certified Reports, 

Inc for a major client. The study showed 

ihat more than half of the moviegoers interviewed 

found their viewers uncomfortable. 

Yet despite this discomfort, an overwhelming 

majority said they would return for additional 

3-D pictures. 

BASED ON FOUR FEATURES 

In effect, the moviegoers said they liked 

3-D pictures so well that they would keep 

coming back to see them in spite of viewer 

discomfort. These patrons had attended 

showings of "Bwana Devil." "House of Wax," 

••Fort Ti" and "Man in the Dark." Jack H. 

Levin, president of Certified Reports, Inc., 

said the survey was conducted in first run 

theatres in the east, south, midwest and west. 

It utilized personal interviews at the theatres, 

questionaires distributed at the theatres 

and metering of spontaneous remarks by patrons 

in auditoriums and lobbies. 

Findings were based on replies and remarks 

of 10,576 patrons, 15 years of age and over. 

Of 5,984 persons who specifically were asked 

about their viewers, 58.2 per cent reported discomfort 

and 41.8 per cent said the viewers 

gave them no trouble at all. Broken down 

into age groups, the survey showed that 

heaviest opposition to the glasses came from 

the 20 to 35 age group and the least opposition 

from the 15 to 20 and over 70 groups. 

Of the 5,984 interviewed, 82.2 per cent said 

the wearing of glasses would not keep them 

from seeing future 3-D pictures. 

Certified Reports also asked question.s about 

the price of 3-D pictures. A total of 50.8 

per cent said they would not be willing to 

pay a few cents more to see 3-D movies 

than they would for 2-D pictures; 48.3 per 

cent said they would pay a few cents more. 

WOULD FAY A LITTLE MORE 

A significant point in this line of questioning 

was that 31.4 per cent of those interviewed 

said even though their viewers were 

uncomfortable they would be willing to pay 

a few cents more for 3-D pictures. There 

also were tho.se who said though their glasses 

were comfortable they would not pay more to 

see a 3-D pictures than a 2-D feature, 13.3 

per cent reporting along this line. A total 

of 26.6 per cent also said they were interested 

22 

Chicago Bans the Reuse 

Of Sterilized Viewers 

Chicago—The Chicago board of health 

has banned the reuse of 3-D viewers in 

the city's theatres. 

Dr. Herman Bundeson, head of the 

health board, told exhibitors that a spot 

check of 15 theatres showed that some 

glasses reissued were contaminated, and 

might be causing eye infections. 

Dr. Timothy King, the department's 

saniUry officer, said there was serious 

question as to the effectiveness of the 

sanitization method used on the glasses. 

Checks showed bacteria present on some 

spectacles cleaned with ozone. 

Dr. Bundeson said further that several 

physicians complained that they had 

been treating eye infections supposedly 

caused by 3-D glasses which had been reissued 

by theatres. 

A spokesman for Balaban & Katz said 

that viewers used in the circuit's theatres 

are sterilized after use. 

This is beUeved to be the first instance 

in which the reuse of viewers after they 

have been steriUzed has been questioned 

by pubUc officials. The general practice 

around the country has been to discard 

the cardboard viewers or to allow patrons 

to take them home. 

ing only those utterances which dealt with 

the effect of 3-D rather than reaction to 

the film story or the acting. There was an 

overwhelmingly favorable response for 3-D. 

Of 4,592 metered spontaneous remarks, 81.3 

per cent were classified as favorable and 18.7 

per cent as unfavorable. Women had more 

favorable comments on 3-D than men— 8 to 1 

foff women and i'i to 1 for men. 

With the advent of the combination 3-D, 

wide screen and stereophonic sound, there 

appears to be room for a new study. 

Bell & Howell Demonstrates 

16mm Anamorphic Lens 

NEW YORK—The Bell & Howell Co. gave 

a demonstration of a new 16mm projector 

using stereophonic sound and an anamorphic 

wide screen lens Thursday (30). The lens. 

C. H. Percy, president, stated, can be used 

in seeing more three-dimensional pictures, both for pliotography and projection. 

but not at more money. 

Percy .said the system was patterned after 

Levin .said that a spot check also was made the 20th century-Fox 35mm Cinemascope 

in a number of the cities to find out whether system and had been adopted as the most 

patrons would be willing to pay for a permanent-type 

viewer at a cost under $1.50 

practicable method of standardization. 

for private use. While these statistics were 

Statler Orders TV Sets 

not included in the over-all survey, indications 

were that there is a potential market NEW YORK—More than 3,800 television 

for this kind of viewer. 

receivers are being installed in Statler Hotels 

General reactions to 3-D were good all In New York, Boston and Hartford by Allan 

through the sections of the country surveyed. B. DuMont Laboratories, Inc. The sets have 

Surveyors metered spontaneous remarks made 17-inch screens and will carry five-station 

by patrons in auditoriums and lobbies, clock- AM and FM radio reception. 

Popcorn Show Theme 

Keyed lo Theatres 

CHICAGO—When the annual popcorn show 

is held here October 11-14, the motion 

picture theatre and its place in the sale 

of confections will play an important role 

in merchandising discussions. 

Although the show is sponsored by the 

National Ass'n of Popcorn Manufacturers, 

the program wiU spotlight the film industry's 

role in that business. Concession stand 

management, popcorn, ice cream and beverage 

sales and drive-in theatre refreshments 

will have their place on the agenda, 

according to Bert Nathan, head of Theatre 

Popcorn Vending Corp. of Brooklyn, the program 

chairman. 

The meetings will be held at the Conrad 

Hilton hotel. Among the subjects already 

Uned up for discussion are: What to Do to 

Increase Popcorn Sales, Is Candy the Backbone 

of our Concession Business?, How Can 

Our Ice Cream Sales Be Increased?. Are 

We Looking for Trouble in Trying to Sell 

Hot Dogs in Indoor Theatre Lobbies?. Getting 

the Most Out of Our Drive-In Concessions, 

Concession Trailers, Restaurant Knowledge 

Helps in Drive-ins, Premiums Will Help 

Your Concession Sales, Coin-Operated vs. 

Manually-Operated Vending Machines. 

"Although this is primarily a popcorn convention," 

Nathan said, "we are going to talk 

about all types of confections. Popcorn is 

very important to theatres and concessionaires 

but so are other food items sold at 

a concession stand. I invite every concession 

manager in the United States and Canada 

to attend because the information to be 

gained at these programs will be priceless." 

Assisting Nathan with the program are: 

Von Myers, Wometco Theatres, Miami; Louis Wesson 

Video Independent Theotres, Oklohomo C.ty; Herb 

- Hohn United Poromount, New York; Not Buchman, 

American Ttieotre Supply Co., Boston; Barry Allen 

Premier Operating Co., Toronto; Spiro J. Popos, Keno 

Horry Bot>vick Florioo Stote 

Forn^lv Dnve-ln, Chicago; 

ThTaUes^ JockônvilleT James Loeb Walter Reode 

Theatres Asbury Pork; Jock Forr, Forr A^^sement 

Co , 

Houston; jihn Flonn.gon ond J. J_ F''^9'^bo"' 

ir Theatre Confections, Toronto; Monny Frisch, Rondorce 

, 

Amuserênt Corp Brooklyn; 

Con?ec^,on cTb?net Corp., Newark; 

Sheldon 

Harold 

Smerling, 

Newman, 

Century Theatres, New York; Leon Levmson American 

Theatres Corp., Boston; Abe Bloom, Bolaban 8. Kotz 

Thealfes, Chrcogo; Chorles L. O'Reilly ABC Vend,n9 

Coro New York; Mane Frye, Tri-States Theatre 

Des Mo.nes; Lee Koken, RKO Theatres New 

Corp.; 

Arthur Preston, York- Wesmos Candy CorT>., Springfield,' 

Mass.; Thomas Toronto; 

Moron Odeon Ttieotres, 

James Hoover, Martin Theotres, Columbus 

Go 

and Morty Marks, Jefferson Amusement Co., Beaumont, 

Tex. 

New Wide-Screen Frame 

Announced by Mitchell 

HARTSELLE, ALA.—Hubert Mitchell Industries 

here has announced a new frame 

for wide-angle screens for use in both small 

and large theatres. The frame, according to 

the firm, will be made so that it can be 

permanently attached to the floor or can 

be made portable by the use of casters. The 

frame will not contain bolts. 

Mitchell Industries says that the most 

attractive feature of the new frame is the 

price range, which, it says, will be in reach 

of the small theatre operators. 

Confirm Eric Johnston 

WASHINGTON— Eric A. Johnston. MPAA 

president, on Friday (31) was given Senate 

confirmation as chairman of the International 

Development Advisory Board. 

BOXOFnCE 

:: August 8, 1953

Executive 

National Screen Council Picks 

IHiGM's '£///' 

for July Award 

"Llll," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's t>olgnant story of a homele.s.s girl who Ilnds happlneiw 

in the almost make-believe world of a carnival puppet show, has been selected (or the 

July Blue Ribbon Award of the National Screen Council. The council, which comprLscs 

motion picture and radio screen critics, representatives of film councils and civic leaden 

throughout the country, found it the top picture of the month which combines the best 

qualities of wholesome family entertainment and all-around motion picture merit 

It Is the eighty-first feature film produced 

by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to win a Blue 

Ribbon Award since the BOXOFPICE 

awards were first made 21 years ago. 

The picture has caught on In virtually 

every situation, and it ha-s been one of the 

most held-over films of the year. It has had 

exceptional runs in the key cities, where 

civic organizations, women's groups and 

others Interested in helping promote better 

films have assisted in the promotional campaigns. 

Managers playing the picture have 

agreed that they have had few pictures 

recently In which word-of-mouth played 

such an important part in building long 

runs. In Kansas City, for example, "Lill" Is 

in its 12th week at the Kimo Theatre and Is 

still doing 130 per cent. As the big push on 

advertising and exploitation came in the 

first week. It is apparent that favorable 

word-of-mouth publicity Is keeping grosses 

at a high level. This has been the experience 

In many other key cities. 

Based on business at key situations, the 

picture currently is doing 167 per cent which 

puts it up high on the list of 1953 pictures 

playing at regular prices. It did 205 in its 

first week in Philadelphia. 175 In Los Angeles 

and Minneapolis, 170 in Chicago where 

it Is now In its eighth week at the Ziegfeld 

Theatre, and 160 in Boston where a two-day 

visit by the star. Leslie Caron, helped gro.sses 

at the Astor Theatre. 

It has been a critic's picture as well as a 

favorite of the average moviegoers and, apparently, 

posse.sses that rare quality of being 

able to satisfy both the so-called di.scrimlnatlng 

patron as well Mr. Average Movie 

Fan. 

Robert Murphy, film critic of the Minneapolis 

Star-Tribune called it "the most 

enchanting picture of the year." Howard 

Peswson of the Salt Lake City Deseret News 

said it was "one of the finest pictures ever 

made" and Herb Rau of the Miami Daily 

News commented: "Wonderful!" Leonard 

Clairmont, who represents the SwedLsh press 

in Hollywood, called it "A picture with a 

soul—one of the finest In years" 

The film got praise from other .sources, 

too. Mrs. Edna R. Carroll, chairman of the 

Pennsylvania censor board, characterized it 

as "charming, delightful, unforgettable" and 

Mrs. Dean Gray Edwards, national motion 

picture chairman of the General Federation 

of Women's Clubs, thought the film with 

"its charming puppets is ideal entertainment 

for old and young alike." 

"Lili" has several names to sell, as well 

as story. In addition to Miss Caron, the 

cast Includes Mel Ferrer, Zsa Zsa Gabor and 

Jean Pierre Aumont. Director Charles Walters 

has given an almost falry-llke quality 

to the film. In which the star plays a young 

gamin who joins a French carnival group, 

falls hopelessly In love with the magician 

who looks upon her as Just another conquest, 

and finds her real happiness eventually In 

the man who manipulates the puppet 

strings. It has family entertainment attractiveness, 

two ballet sequences to take advantage 

of the current Interest in this form 

of the art, and a wistful tenderness which 

gives a special quality all of its own. 

LCSLie CANON. MOMCLLM CHARyt*. flllOS 

rcfucc with carnivai. ûrrtTtCD T*our( 

ONt Of tWU UhtA¥ itUUtSLLS ill int riL« 

SHOWING MISS CARON'S TALENT AS DANCE* 

Lili Daurier 

Leslie Caron 

Paul Berthalet 

Mel Ferrer 

Afarc Jean Pierre Aumont 

Rosalie _ Zsa Zsa Gabor 

Jacquot Kurt Kasznar 

The Cast 

Peach Lips 

Amanda Blake 

Proprietor Alex Gerry 

M. Corvier JIalph Dunke 

Af. Tonit Wilton Graff 

M. Erique Oeorce Baxter 

ZSA ZSA CASOR INTRODUCES PULCHRITUDE 

IN HER ROLE AS A MAGICIANS ASSISTANT 

'^ ' 

Producer Dore Schary 

Producer 

Edwin H. Knopf 

Director 

Charles Walters 

Screenplay by 

Helen Deutsch 

Based on story by 

Paul Galuco 

Music by 

Bronislau Kapbr 

Choreography 

Charles Walters 

assisted by 

Dorothy Jarnac 

Director of Photography. ...Robert Planck 

Technicolor 

Art 

Consultants 

Henri Jaffa, Robert Browbr 

Directors 

Cedric Gibbons, Paul Groesse 

Production Staff 

Film Editor 

Assistant: 

Recording Supervisor 

Set 

Ferris Webster 

Al Jennings 

Doitglas Shearer 

Decorations 

Edwin B. Willis. Arthur Krams 

Special Effects Warren Newcombe 

Puppets Created by 

PAtn, E. Walton. Michael O'Rodkke 

Costumes by Mary Anne Nyberc 

Hair styles by .Sydney GtnLAROrr 

Make-up William Tuttle 

W 

Diis Avnrd is given each month by the National Screen Council on the basii of outiland.n, iicrit 

and suitability tor family entertainment. Council membership comprises motion picture editors, ndio 

film commentators, and representatives of better film councils, ci.ic and educit.cnal organnalions.

. . Wanda 

. . Producer-Writer 

. . Off 

. . MGM 

. . Norman 

. . One 

'iôUcfcwîd êônt 

Michael Curtiz to Direct 

The Egyptian' ior Fox 

Here and there in Cinemania: Aside from 

his multi-picture megging ticket at Paramount, 

Michael Curtiz has been inked by 

20th Century-Fox to direct "The Egyptian," 

which will be personally produced by Darryl 

F. Zanuck. Curtiz first will handle "White 

Christmas," at Paramount, which rolls next 

month . 

Ivan Tors arranged 

for filming his upcoming independent, 

"Space Station, U.S.A.." in Milton Gunzburg's 

Natural Vision 3-D process. Scripted by Curt 

Siodmak, the space opera rolls late this 

month . Allied Artists' "Dragonfly Squadron," 

a 

. . 

John Champion production, will be 

megged by Lesley Selander, with John Hodiak 

in the male lead. It's a 3-D entry. 

Paramount Adds Bogart 

To 'Sabrina Fair' Cast 

Marking his first appearance on the lot, 

Humphrey Bogart was tagged by Paramount 

to co-star with William Holden and Audrey 

. 

Hepburn in Producer-Director Billy Wilder's 

upcoming "Sabrina Pair" . 

set Van 

Johnson to portray a Korean war aviator in 

"Panther Squadron 8" . . . Cast as a half- 

Irish. half-Indian gal in RKO Radio's 

"Rangers of the North" was Betta St. John 

Hendrix was signed to enact 

the leading femme role opposite Richard 

Conte in "House in the Sea," a 3-D melodrama 

Republic booked 

at Allied Artists . . . Barton MacLane for a character part in 

Lined up to support Guy 

"Jubilee Trail" . . . 

Madison in "Rear Guard" at Warners were 

Joan Weldon, the romantic interest, and 

James Whitmore, as a hard-bitten cavalry 

Robert Douglas will portray a 

.sergeant . . . 

Canadian Northwest Mounted Police commander 

in Universal-International's "Saskatchewan," 

starring Alan Ladd and Shelley 

Winters to Germany went Walter 

OH' ON .SAKAKI—Getting Into the 

spirit of the upcoming South African 

24 

junket to film "Duel in the Jungle" are 

(from left) the producer, Tony Owen; 

Jeanne ("rain and Dana Andrews, who 

have the starring roles; and George 

Marshall, the director. The picture, being 

made by Moulin Productions in a.ssociation 

with .Associated British, will begin 

shooting in Johannesburg early in September. 

By 

IVAN SPEAR 

Abel to join the cast of 20th Century-Fox's 

"Night People," being filmed on location there 

with Gregory Peck. Broderick Crawford and 

Rita Gam as the topliners. 

Production Executive Duties 

ReaUgned at 20th-Fox 

A realignment of executive duties at 20th 

Century-Fox has been worked out by Darryl 

F. Zanuck, vice-president in charge of production, 

following the recent resignation and 

retirement of Fred Metzler as treasurer and 

studio manager. 

Sid Rogell, now acting as production manager, 

will take over the studio management 

post, with additional managerial control over 

post-production departments—such as sound, 

re-recording, music, film editing, laboratory 

and labor relations. 

Raymond A. Klune returns to the post of 

executive production manager, which he held 

before becoming a producer. In the interim 

during which he was manufacturing films, 

Klune turned out seven features. 

Another personnel shift found Jack Dodd, 

former controller, becoming studio treasurer. 

Scrivener Activity Evinces 

Upswing in Production 

Wallowing in the doldrums for the past 

several months, the employment index among 

film scriveners picked up noticeably, indicative 

of an unmistakably optimistic attitude 

as concerns an impending upswing in production. 

Among new writing assignments: 

Valentine Davies checked in at Paramount 

to prepare a screenplay of "The Bridges of 

Toko-Ri," from the James Michener story 

of the Korean war . . Harry Essex is developing 

. 

"The Electric Man," a science-fiction 

opus, for Universal-International, adapted 

from an Essex original, "The Man-Made 

Monster," first filmed by Universal in 1938 

. . . Teddi Sherman is doing a scripting job 

on "Branded Woman," a western, out at 

MGM Productions, the independent 

. 

unit headed by Harold Hecht and 

actor Burt Lancaster, booked EU^nest Lehman 

to whip up "The Killing Frost," in which 

Lancaster will star for United Artists release 

. . . Frederick Bri.sson, of Independent 

Artists, tagged Ken Englund to develop an 

untitled original which the lA unit will lens 

for distribution by RKO Radio. 

Only Three Stories Bought; 

Universal Acquires T'wo 

Lethargic is the adjective best used to 

describe the condition of the literary market 

during last week, only three sales having been 

recorded, and two of them being accounted for 

by Universal-International. That company, 

with an eagle eye on the publishing 

field, picked up the film rights to a pair 

of published tomes, "Blow for a Landing," by 

Ben Lucien Burman, and "Foxfire," by Anya 

Seton. The former is a Mississippi river story, 

authored by the writer who penned "Steamboat 

'Round the Bend," which was one of the 

most successful of the late Will Rogers' star- 

Patent Infringement Suit 

Is 

Filed Against Disney 

Walt Disney Productions and the company's 

heads, Walt and Roy Disney, found 

themselves named as defendants in a 

$10,000,000 federal district court action 

filed here on behalf of Vincent I. 'Whitman, 

an inventor, by Julian Martin. The 

action charges that the Disney corporation 

has infringed on a patent secured in 

1937 by Whitman for an "excised photographic 

plate system of composite motion 

picture photography." 

Specifically, the suit alleges that the 

process, which assertedly gives a depth 

of perception effect, was first appropriated 

by Disney in the making of "Snow 

White and the Seven Dwarfs" and has 

since been used in other cartoon features. 

Martin, acting as 'Whitman's representative, 

intimated that "several other" major 

companies also have infringed on the 

patent and that, consequently, there may 

be additional lawsuits. 

In addition to representing Whitman 

in the action. Martin is treasurer of Tri- 

Vislonal T. V. Commercials, Inc., a New 

York firm, which has the exclusive franchise 

to make short advertising film subjects 

for video employing the Whitman 

system. Martin, in filing the $10,000,000 

suit against Disney, warned that should 

Disney and/or other companies which it 

is alleged have pirated the process release 

any of their theatrical material to TV, it 

would be in violation of the Tri-Visional 

company's exclusive rights and would very 

probably spark further legal action. 

Parenthetically. Martin avowed that 

inventor Whitman has "the real answer" 

to a one-camera, one-projector 3-D process. 

The complaint against Disney seeks an 

injunction restraining the defendants 

from further infringement or violation of 

Whitman's patent and triple damagesafter 

an accounting—based on profits derived 

from the pictures in which the system 

allegedly was used. 

ring vehicles. "Blow for a Landing" won the 

Southern Authors' prize as "the most distinguished 

southern book" in 1938. and its 

principal character. Willow Joe, has since 

been featured in Saturday Evening Post 

stories by Burman. It will be produced for 

the screen by Aaron Rosenberg from a screen 

treatment by Peg Fenwick . . . "Foxfire." also 

assigned to Rosenberg to produce— in Technicolor-will 

co-star Jvine AUyson and Jeff 

Chandler, with lensing to begin in January. 

It's a romantic drama about a New York 

society girl who marries a mining engineer 

who is part Indian, and their adventures in a 

small Arizona mining town . of Jack 

London's yarns. "Star Rover." was purchased 

by Herbert Klein, who plans to produce and 

direct it independently, partly in Hollywood 

and partly on location in Europe. A screenplay 

will be penned by William Kozlenko 

from Klein's adaptation. Described as a 

"romance of reincarnation." the story covers 

three periods in time. Klein, parenthetically, 

last directed another London yarn. "The 

Fighter." for Producer Alex Gottlieb. 

BOXOmCE 

:: August 8. 195S

" 

- 

Para. Branch Workers 

Get 58 Drive Awards 

NEW YORK Fifty-cight biancli i-n.i)l()y(- 

of Paramount have been named to receive 

Schwalberg Merit awards for their work 

during the 1952 "Greater Confidence Parade," 

which wa-s inaugurated three years ago by 

A. W. Schwalberg. 

Schwalberg is president of Paramount 

Film Distributing Corp. 

The awards are made annually to employe.'^ 

who do not share in drive prizes, but display 

individual effort above their norma! duties. 

A total of $5,000 will be shared by the winners, 

who include bookers, cashiers, secretaries, 

stenographers, clerks, salesmen and 

others. 

The winners are: Lillian M. Ahern, Cincinnati: 

Edna A. Ahlers, Denver: John H. 

Andrews. Omaha: Edward C. Bradley, Boston: 

Tom W. Bridge, Dallas: Charles A. Caligiuri, 

Des Moines: Ray J. Carter, Memphis: Tillie 

M. Chalk, Denver: Helen Choma, Cleveland: 

Wendell P. Clement, Boston: Herbert 

D. Cohen, central division: Lester Coleman, 

western division: Edmund C. DeBerry, Buffalo: 

Al Pitter. eastern-southern division: 

E. G. Fitzgibbon, Chicago. 

Also, Marion C. Francioni, New Orleans: 

John R. Galser jr., Buffalo: Ralph T. Garman, 

Philadelphia: Newell S. Garrett, Memphis: 

Henry Germaine, New Haven: Sarah 

Goldberg, Chicago: David D. Gonda, Detroit: 

Donald R. Hicks, Des Moines: Thomas L. 

Henrich, south-central division; Walter Hoffman, 

Seattle; Eugene L. Jones, Salt Lake 

City: Mathew p. Judge, Philadelphia: John 

E. Kane, Philadelphia, and Hilda L. Ketterer. 

St. Louis. 

Carl E. Lind, Salt Lake City: Thomas W. 

Luce jr.. Dallas: Bonita K. Lynch. Minneapolis; 

Margaret McKinnon. New Haven; 

Anthony J. Mercuric. Buffalo: W. Sebe Miller, 

Dallas; John G. Moore, Boston; Howard A. 

Nicholson, Memphis; Mary V. Osborne, Dallas; 

Jack E. Perley, New York; Linford B. 

Pitts, Omaha; Max H. Price, Charlotte; Dorothy 

J. Robinson. Indianapolis; Conrad P. 

Rose, Salt Lake City; S. Ben Rucker, Oklahoma 

City. 

Frank V. Rule, Dallas; Myron E. Sattler, 

New York; John J. Serfustino, Buffalo; Ulrik 

P. Smith, Philadelphia: J. Harry Swonson, 

Salt Lake City; Alfred R. Taylor, Los Angeles; 

Lawrence D. Terrell, Atlanta: Louise 

M. Vinson, Cincinnati: John Vos, Denver; 

Robert E. Weber, mideast division; Irving 

Werthamer, Milwaukee; Mike Weiss, Philadelphia; 

Ida H. Wolf, Pittsburgh, and B. Mae 

Woltz, Los Angeles. 

.\ circuit miinager (lefll longralulates an indrpeiident 

exchange of public relatlon.s In paid advrrtisInK spacr. 

mprtltiir in 

The Neighborly Approach to Competition 

Here's one way to build goodwill for 

local theatres, as demonstrated by the 

managers of competing theatres in Marshall. 

Mo. When the Mary Lou Theatre 

booked in the first 3-D feature in the town. 

Steve Souttar, manager of the competing 

Pox Auditorium Theatre of the Pox Midwest 

Amusement Co. circuit, placed a twocolurrm 

advertisement in the local paper 

complimenting his competitor for booking 

in the picture. He also took the occasion to 

boost motion pictures in general. The next 

day. J. Leo Hayob. manager of the Mary 

Lou. took a two-column ad to say thanks. 

Both ads were placed atop the regular display 

space of the theatres—to give the big 

play on the page to the personal note. 

This policy of friendly comp)etition has 

paid off handsomely in Mai'shall. "Our 

policy has been to work together in the Interest 

of our business." says Hayob. "to 

exhibit this spirit to our patrons and keep 

people coming to the movies. I believe we 

have accomplished this to some measure of 

success." 

Souttar and Hayob In the past have participated 

in periodic cooperative promotions 

such as giveaways. Hometowners appreciate 

the neighborly .spirit of competitors 

working together and think of their theatre 

men a.s part and parcel of the community. 

Polaroid Points Out Name 

Is Registered Trade Mark 

NEW YORK—Only producU of PoUroid 

Corp. are entitled to use the name, .says a 

formal statement sent out by the corporation. 

No other make of viewer can properly be 

called Polaroid viewers, it slates. 

" 'Polaroid.' " the statement goes on, "U the 

registered trade mark of Polaroid Corp. and 

identifies all of its products, e.g.. sungla-sses, 

cameras, film, camera filters, etc.; It is 

always capitalized. Standing alone, the word 

Polaroid la correctly used only as a contraction 

of Polaroid Corp. Its correct trade 

mark use is as a proper adjective, as Polaroid 

cameras. Polaroid sunglasses, etc. There is no 

such thing as a 'Polaroid' or 'a piece of 

Polaroid.' 

,ccff? 

"WE ARE PROUD THAT WARNER BROS., PIONEERS IN MOTION PICTURE PRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT FOR OVER 

THREE DECADES, HAVE CHOSEN VISTARAMA LENSES TO MAKE WARNERSUPERSCOPE A REALITY.' c.n o.di.,. Pm 

Viitarama is now available 'o the industry on a practical basis

! 

LETTERS 

Industry Needs More Creative Programming. Creative Selling 

TO BOXOFFICE: 

All branches of the motion picture industry 

should read "CBS Steals the Show"—a feature 

story in the July edition of Fortune 

magazine. 

Why? 

Because here is the story of showmanship 

applied to an entertainment medium we know 

as radio and television It is the story of 

smart showmanship, plus salesmanship, that 

has built the Columbia Broadcasting System 

into the No. 1 network, program-wise, both 

in radio and television. 

Just listen to those institutional announcements 

during a station break; "There are 

110,000,000 radio sets in the nation—MOST 

are tuned to the CBS radio network!" 

USED CREATIVE PROGRAMMING 

Anyone familiar with the Columbia Broadcasting 

System will note that it is an aggressive 

organization. It has jumped to No. 1 position 

in radio and television, first, by concentrating 

on "creative programming," and second, 

by developing a "creative organization." 

This same showmanship, plus sales-sense 

formulas can work throughout the motion 

picture industry. 

The motion picture industry, and this includes 

the local exhibitor, has failed to sell 

itself to the public under present day competitive 

conditions. 

This industry was built on showmanship 

and salesmanship to a mass market! 

Now, how has the motion picture industry 

failed to sell itself? 

To cite an example, public relations! One 

of the worst competitors of the motion picture 

industry today is the current crop of 

harmful publicity in the nation's magazines 

and newspapers written by amateur "movie 

experts." These "movie experts" repeat over 

and over again the demise of the motion picture 

theatre due to the advent of home television. 

The public, it is apparent, has accepted 

these stories as authoritative opinion. 

FAIL TO COUNTER PUBLICITY 

The motion picture industry fails to 

counter this very harmful publicity. 

It is a known fact that the mass market is 

fluid in buying any product or service. It 

swings like a pendulum as to what the 

Joneses are buying. If the latest publicity 

says the Joneses are not buying movie tickets, 

well, the mass market follows suit. 

Public relations most certainly is a selling 

tool of any industry! 

With all due re.spect to radio and television 

programming services, offered to the public 

free of charge, the calibre of entertainment 

is substandard. It DOES NOT measure up 

to the calibre of entertainment presented in 

the nation's theatres, 

In radio and in television most programs 

are of a repetitious nature. And repetition 

brings on boredom! This is the area where 

the motion picture theatre can provide a 

service. 

Within the theatre, creative programming 

has been presented for a number of years. 

We Just have to look at such recent productions 

as: "Quo Vadls." "The Greatest Show 

26 

on Earth," "The Band Wagon," "Million Dollar 

Mermaid," and the soon-to-be-released 

wide-screen production, "The Robe." 

About the only change in creative programming 

within the theatre would be the newsreel. 

The newsreel has got to go after new 

methods of story treatment, lean more 

toward the documentary type of presentation. 

A sort of filmed version of Newsweek magazine. 

But, not of the "March of Time" 

method of presentation of a few years ago. 

Just conUnue the present departments of 

news coverage. Change the story treatment in 

each department. And on big news stories, 

add color. The recently released documentary, 

"A Queen Is Crowned," points the way 

for future newsreel coverage of a big event. 

Television offered the public the "scoop" 

type of coronation news coverage. The motion 

picture theatre, unaware of the tremendous 

boxoffice returns, offered the coronation 

event in more or less unhurried form. 

Creative programming embraces technical 

developments within the theatre. The advent 

of three-dimension, wide screen and stereophonic 

sound proves once more that only in 

the moUon picture theatre can an audience 

really feel a sense of participation in the 

entertainment offered. It is well to remember 

that this sense of participation is one of the 

motives for a person buying a movie ticket. 

Three-dimension, wide screen, "flat" pictures 

and stereophonic sound have their 

limitations in presenting a story or musical 

comedy. Under the circumstances, the industry 

should adopt all methods of projection. 

It is agreed in this commentary that creative 

programming IS present with the motion 

picture industry. 

But, what about a creative organization at 

the point of sale? 

They Just Wanted to See 

The Pretty Pictures 

HOUSTON, TEX.—George Fuermann, 

in his column in the Houston Post, reports 

this story: 

The other night, when the Trail 

Drive-In Theatre was showing "Man in 

the Dark," a 3-D movie, a middle-aged 

couple came into the office of Jack Farr, 

the owner, to ask where they could get 

three-dimensional glasses when they 

bought their tickets, but the man said 

they didn't want any tickets. 

"Been seeing your movies for months," 

the man said, explaining that they lived 

in a group of apartments behind the 

theatre. "We just look out one of our 

windows, but we can't make head or tail 

of these 3-D movies without some 

glasses." 

The startled Farr sold them .some 3-D 

specs for 10 cents a pair but couldn't 

help asking if they enjoyed seeing movies 

from 3,000 feet away. 

"Oh. yes," the man said. "We don't 

care anything about the sound. We just 

like to watch the pictures." 

The answer is there is very little creative 

organization at the point of sale 

The exhibitor will invest money in building 

a beautiful four- wall theatre, and that's all! 

He commits grand larceny on his pocketbook 

by accepting substandard administrative-sales 

personnel. 

On the other hand, the retaU store, or the 

manufacturer, will build four walls, and go 

further to assure continuous profit. They 

seek out top talent administrative -sales 

personnel. 

NEED CONSTANT SELLING 

The exhibitor is under the impression that 

his product and service does not need constant 

selling. Many within the industry agree 

this is the wrong conclusion. The exhibitor 

will find, more so today, that, in the tight 

competition for the entertainment dollar and 

leisure time of the public, he has got to 

create a local selling organization. And Uke 

his brother businessman in manufacturing, 

retail and service types of business, he will 

have to offer long-term association to attract 

high-calibre personnel. 

Creative selling also embraces the physical 

plant of the local theatre. With the advancement 

of new projection and sound methods, 

the theatre must go through a renovation 

change. The installation of new seats, a coat 

of paint, curtains, drapes, et cetera are selling 

tools! 

Showmanship, or creative selling, if you 

will, has five main objectives: 1) Attract 

attention; 2) Arouse interest; 3) Create desire; 

4) Inspire confidence; and 5) Induce 

action. 

In summary, the only advantage the radio 

and television broadcasting industry has over 

the motion picture industry is aggre.ssiveness 

and showmanship. 

The motion picture industry needs to drop 

the property of inertia and re-adopt the property 

of aggressive salesmanship, plus showmanship. 

Perhaps in the future, instead of reading 

"CBS Steals the Show," the feature article in 

the public press will be about the motion picture 

industry. With a headUne reading: "The 

Movies Steal the Mass Audience Away From 

Television." With a byline reading: "... via 

comfortable theatres, new technical developments, 

good management, high standard of 

entertainment, plus showmanship!" 

The potential is present for the large and 

small theatre operator. People are sitting at 

home waiting for the rebirth of the motion 

picture theatre! 

CHARLES BRINKWORTH 

Theatre Publicist, 

Providence, R.I. 

Harry Thomas. N. P. Jacobs 

Form a Distributorship 

LOS ANGELES—Formation of a new distribution 

company. Atlas Pictures Company, 

has been announced by Harry Thomas and 

N. P. "Red" Jacobs, veteran distribution 

executives. The outfit has acquired "Man of 

Conflict," produced and directed by Hal R. 

Makelim. and starring Edward Ai-nold. John 

Agar and Susan Morrow, as its first release 

for national distribution. 

Officers of the new set-up list Thomas, 

president, Sam Nathanson. vice-president, 

and Jacobs, secretary-treasurer. 

Thomas plans to call a meeting of regional 

distributors in Kansas City around August 20. 

BOXOFFICE :: August 8, 1953

BAROMETER 

This chart records the performance of currcnf ottrochons in the opening week of their tint runs in 

BOXOFFICE 

the 20 key cities checked. Pictures with fewer than five engagements are not listed As new runs 

arc reported, ratings are odded ond overages revised Computation is in terms of percentage in 

relation to normal grosses as determined by the theotre monogers With 100 per cent as 

'normal," the figures show the gross rating obove or below thot mark 

mm

Theatre Construction, Openings, Sales and Leases 

CONSTRUCTION: 

Arvodo, Colo.—A 520-car drive-in will be built here 

by Homer Ellrson and four associates. 

Beuloh, Mich.—Eugene H. Fernette, who opened 

the Night-Sky Drive-ln, will be associated with on 

Illinois circuit in starting two Michigan drive-ins this 

fall. One will be between Fife Lake end Manton; 

the other near Interlochen on U.S. 31. Both will 

accommodate 350 cars each. 

Colorado Springs, Colo.—A building permit has been 

issued to Westland Theatres for a $100,000 drive-in on 

highway 24, east of town. 

Colorado Springs, Colo.— Peter Nachtrab of Nachtrab. 

Inc., has county approval for a two-screen 

drive-in on North Nevada ovenue. 

Concordia, Kos.—Alex Shniderman, operator of the 

Strond Theotre ond a 300-car drive-in a mile and a 

holf north, has a new site two miles south on Highwoy 

81 for a 225-car drive-in. 

Denver City, Tex.— J. C. Capps has increased the 

copaCHty of the Mustang Drive-ln by 50 cors. 

Fallon, Neb.—Borney Fritz ond Walt Whitaker plan 

to complete a new drive-in six miles west on 

Highwoy 95 for early August opening. 

Fort Madison, Alto.—Boyle Theatres is building a 

450-seat indoor theater at Viking and a 350-seater 

ot Dayslond, Alfa. 

Gashlond, Mo.—M. S. Heath and son Marvin have 

bought a site a mile north on Highway 1 69 for o 

dnve-in. They own the Plaza in Liberty. 

Granite City, III.—Construction has storted on on 

800-car dnve-in on State Route 111, three miles 

north, for 

Liberty, 

Komm 

Mo.—A 

circuit of 

new 1 ,000-car 

St. Louis. 

drive-in is under 

construction on Highway 0, southwest of town. 

1 

Shultz & Bryan of Kansas City are owners. 

Modison, Wis.—Construction has started on a 300- 

car drive-in on Highway W near Burlington. 

Marion, Ky.—Construction has started on a 250-car 

U.S. 60, drive-in on about a mile and a half from 

this city by B. G. Moore ond Dr. J. J. Rosenthal of 

Princeton. 

Melville, Sosk.—The Starlight Theatre Co., represented 

by Hugo Vassos, is building a drive-in here, 

capocity 400 cars . . . Another drive-in is being 

built by Jock Zaitzor of the Roxy and the Princess. 

Mertdcn, Conn.—Approval has been given by zoning 

officials for construction of a 700-car drive-in here. 

Promoters ore Nick Kunaris and Paul Tolis, owners 

of the Newington Theatre in Newington and Meriden 

in Meriden, respectively. 

New Castle, Del.—A 1,000-car drive-in for Seifel 

and Lezorre has been contracted for. Leon Einhorn 

of Albany, N.Y. is designer. 

New Westminster, B.C.—A 700-car drive-in is to 

be erected by Les Young, former Odeon supervisor, 

neor here, in Surrey township. 

Paris, Ark.—A site for a 500-cor drive-in has been 

purchased by K. Lee Williams circuit. It is to be 

completed this summer. 

Phoenix, Ariz.—A new theatre to be colled the 

Canterbury House is to be constructed by Louis 

Loithold as an art house. 

Princeton, 111.—Bailey Enterprises of Princeton ond 

the Alger Theatre of LoSolle ore partners in a 

400-car drive-in being constructed in Alexander Park. 

Rockville, Md.—The Berger & Golden circuit is to 

build on 850-car drive-in here, near the capital. 

St. Louis, Mo.—Construction is reported as planned 

for a drive-in just south of the city workhouse here. 

The 700-car drive-in will be operoted by clients of 

9100 SUnSET BLUD. 

HOLLYWOOD 46 CALIF. 

PHONE CRestview 1-6000 

John A. Wolf, Clayton real estate man. 

Santa Ano, Calif.— Reconstruction and modernization 

of the Broadway Theatre, gutted by fire in 

1952, costing about $200,000, is planned by Broadway 

Improvement Co. 

Silver City, N.M.—Construction of o 300-car drivein 

has been started by Mr. ond Mrs. H. D. Mc- 

Cloughen on Highway 250, to be named the Silver. 

Somcrville, Tenn.—The Foir Theatre, destroyed by 

fire, IS to be rebuilt by owner N. B. Fair. 

Springerville, Ariz.— Long's Theatres of Safford 

plan to build a 300-car dnve-in. 

Tabcr, Alto.—Doug Miller has begun construction 

of o 300-car drive-in here. 

Weyburn, SosK.—The city council has approved 

a site for a drive-in near here by Phil Bodnoff. 

Winnipeg, Mon.— Rothstein Theatres, operating the 

Roxy and York theatres in Horkton, plan to build a 

multiple business unit, including a 500-seot theotre. 

OPENINGS: 

Alamosa, Colo.—Mr. ond Mrs. Herb Gumper hove 

opened their new Roundup Drive-ln north of La Jaro 

on the La Jara highway. 

Aldergrove, B.C.—The 400-cor drive-in here is 

opening soon. 

Anno, III.—The Rodgers Drive-ln near the eastern 

city limits has been opened by Rodgers Theatres, 

Cairo, 111. 

Atwood, Kos.—A July opening is set for 1he new 

250-car drive-in on Highway 36 by Dan Skolout, Dr. 

E. L. Warta and Arden Holthus. 

Boring, Me.—The new drive-in between Calais and 

Goodlond wos to be opened about August 1 by C. K. 

Chapman of Princeton, Mo. 

Barksdole, Tex.—Don Bryson and Mrs. Earleen 

Weathers opened the 208-car Don Juan Dnve-ln 

north of town on U.S. 55. 

Bellefonte, Pa.—The Plaza Theatre has been completely 

modernized and renovated and opened recently. 

Bethlehem, N.H.—Charles Handy opened h'.z Midway 

Drive-ln in July. 

Beuloh, Mich.— D. O. Gregory and L. O. Griffin 

opened their Cherry Bowl Drive-ln between here 

on U.S. 31 recently. 

Boulder, Colo.—The Holiday Drive-ln he: beon 

and Honor 

opened on an 1 8-acre site in the city by Wilbur 

Williams and Claude Grave. 

Bridger, Mont.—The new 500-car Rim Rock Crivo- 

In here was opened by Ken Brown. 

Bristow, Oklo.—The new 300-car Pirate Drivc-tn 

here has opened. It is owned by Henry Simpson, who 

operates the Walmur and Princess theatres. 

Butler, Mo.—The new 300-car Sky-Vue Drive-In 

has been opened by Chef Borg of Fort Scott, Kas. 

Colgory, Alto.—The 700-car drive-in near here, 

built by Western Drive-ln Theatres here, has opened. 

Cameron, Mo.—Silvers and Stafford opened tho 

new Potio Drive-ln on Highway 36 here. 

Coney, Kas.—C. R. Gregg and son Joe have open-^d 

the new 300-cor Coney Va:iey Drive-tn a mile cast 

of town on Highway 166. 

Chamberlain, S.D.—E. C. Sorenson, manager of 'he 

State Theatre, recently opened the new Western 

Drive-ln. 

Cherokee, Ala.—H. 

opened th2 Mary 

Drive-ln here. 

Chewoloh, Wosh.—The Autovue Drive-ln between 

Colville and Kettle Falls, owned by Max Hadfield of 

Colville, was opened recently. 

Creston, Iowa—The Skylork Drive-ln was opened 

by Commonwealth Theatres, Inc., of Kansas City- 

Deer Pork, Wash.—The new 250-car Deer Drive-ln 

on Highway 395 has been opened by co-owners Wayne 

Mockey and Lola Engle. 

Denver, Colo.—The 1 ,000-car Valley Drive-In was 

opened southwest of the city, with plons to operate 

the year oround. 

De Soto, Mo.—The Sky Vue Drive-ln near here, 

owned by W. A. "Bill" Collins, was opened in mid-July. 

Dillsburg, Po.—The new Hoar's Drive-ln, two miles 

north, has been opened. 

Dover, Del.—The new Kent Drive-ln on Highway 13, 

south of town, IS open this summer. 

Drumheller, Alto.— J. Feldman's 1 ,000-car Sunset 

Drive-In at Edmonton and his 300-car dnve-in at 

Drumheller, Alta., were opened recently. 

Duboch, La.—O. Tontenot has reopened his Joy 

Theatre ond renamed it the Gem. 

East Hampton, Conn.—The Morkoff circuit planned 

Q July opening of the new Portlond Dnvc-ln. 

Eldoro, W. Vo.— T. G. Reynolds of Fairmont is 

building a drive-in at Eldora Park on Route 73, with 

more than 300-car capacity. 

Endcrby, B.C.—The 350-car drive-in has been 

opened here, about eight miles out on the Salmon 

REWINDERS EXTENSION BLOCKS 

Clomped or Bolted Types 

FOR 3-D 24-lNCH REELS 

For cither clamped or bolted 

15-inch rcwindcrs 

cular and Price On Request 

AREA MACHINERY 

749-753 Hicks St Brooklyn 31, N.Y. 

Arm highway, os a community project, with Pat 

Farmer os president. 

Fort Atkinson, Wis.—The Highway 18 Drive-In, 

550-car, opened with Robert Boier as manager. 

Forino, III.—The new Forma Drive-ln on Route 37 

was opened w.th Paul E. Woods as manager. It is 

owned by Helluni and McNelly & Woods, Louisville, 

Fort Kent, Mc.—A drive-in is expected to open here 

III. 

about August 1, by Charles Brooks of Presque Isle 

and Ashland, Me. 

Fresno, Cali*.—The new 1, 500-car new Starlite 

Dnve-ln, a twin project, was opened by the Robert 

L. Lippert in.eresrs. 

Grocevillj, F.o.— Ed and C. M. Spears hove opened 

o 150-cor drive-. n on Highway 2. 

Hovona, II!.— The Havana Dnve-ln opened here on 

Route 78, souih of the city on the Mantanzo 

Beach area, 

Hebron, Ind.—The Y&W Monogement Corp. opened 

its new dr.ve-in on Rout© 53, costing about 

$300,000. 

Hill City, Kos.—Mr. and Mrs. John Welty have 

opened the new Riverside Drive-ln a half mile south 

of here. 

Indianapolis, Ind.—The Lafayette Rood Outdoor 

Theotre, 1 ,000-car situation on Highway 52 near 

here, hos been opened by the Cantor Amusement 

Co., which also owns the Shodeland Drive-ln and 

several local neighborhood houses. 

Jomestown, Ky.—A. V. Luttrell is manager of the 

newly opened Lake Trail Drive-In on Highway 35, 

between Russell Springs and Jamestown. 

Kansas City, Mo.—The 1 ,000-car Leowood Dnve-ln, 

a Dickinson operation on the State lines, south of 

this city, opened recently. It has o patio space 

for 250. Dickinsons are at Mission, Kas. 

Kaukauno, Wis.—The 1 ,000-car Tower Dnve-ln was 

opened on Highway 41 , between here and Little 

Chute. 

Knoxville, lowo—The 425-cor Frontier Drive-ln just 

across o bridge on Highway 92 west of town, was 

opened by the Kerr circuit. 

Largo, Flo.—The new Indian Rocks Dnve-ln has 

been opened by Mrs. Sarah L. Higginbothom. 

Lebanon, Mo.—Clifford H. Hough of Lebanon has 

opened his new drive-in at Camdenton, Mo. 

Louisville, Alo.—Frank Pierce opened the new 

Barbour Drive-ln between here and Clio. 

Mechonlcsvi Is, Vo.—The 200-car Glen Drive-ln here 

has bsen opened by Bob Johnson. 

Milford, Del.—The 500-car Super 113 Drive-ln, 

owned ty Koyton Amusement interests of Weston, Pa., 

and Franklin, Pa., has been opened. 

Mouiit Pleasant, Iowa—The new Ridge Drive-In near 

hore was opened by L. L. Dickson. 

Kew Haven, Conn.—The 950-car Center Dnve-ln, 

owned by Ted Jacocks and Robert Schwortz, opened 

r.;cenMy. 

Ke*ton, ir.—C. B. Simmons of Cisne planned on 

August 1 opened of the 300-car drive-in on Route 

33 between here and Oblong. 

Kiogoro Foils, Ont.—The new 500-car Hollywood 

Dnve-ln on Kolar road at Woodbine, here, is opening 

under management of M. Bohojski. 

Oconomowoc, Wis.—The first drive-in here, 600 

cars, opened on Highway 16, by the LaBelle Theaue 

Co. 

Celwsin, lowo—Central States Theatre Corp. opened 

the Oelwein Dnve-ln. 

Oskalooso, Iowa—The Frontier 425-car Drive-ln on 

Highway 92, west of Knoxville, a Kerr situation, 

opened rcccnti/. 

P.attcvi le, V>is —The new 350-car Drive-ln was 

opened by John O'Connor, who has two indoor houses. 

Plymouth, Ind.—The new Tri-Way Drive-ln opened 

on H.giwoy 31 , four miles east of town. 

Port Arthur, Tex.—A new drive-in, the Tex, is 

being CDnstructcd in suburban Port Arthur by Howard 

L. Arthur, Robcr; M. Rogers and Jack Wolder, all of 

Tyler, Early open.ng is planned. 

Portsmcu^h, Chio—Sunset Drive-ln was opened recently 

by WiJ.am Goldcamp. 

SALES AND LEASES: 

Dallas, Tex.—John Jennings bought the Polsco and 

the Mustong Cr.ve-ln theatres from W, E. Guest in 

Grapevine, Tex. 

Doytona Beach, Fla.—F. T. Altig jr. has bought on 

interest in the Doytona Theatres. 

Denver, Colo.— Atlas Theatres has sold its interests 

in the Kar-Vu Cr.ve-ln to partner Elden Menog, who 

owns the Star in Fort Lupton. 

Gainesville, Fla.—The Gainesville Drive-ln has been 

sold by Tom Camels to Les Sipes, who owns the 

Lauderdale Dri\o-in. 

Glendora, Calif.—Joe Pokorny has sold his Glendoro 

Theotre to W. E. Blunt. 

Greeley, Neb.— Everett Keyes of Grond Island hos 

purchased the Idylhour Theatre from E. I. Bartak 

Hammond, Lo.—Garland Thornhtll has purchased 

the Mitchell Dr.vc-ln from J. T. Mitchell. 

Humboldt, Neb.—Mr. and Mrs. Myron Bright purchased 

the P.azo Theatre from Mr. and Mrs, D. L. 

Frank. 

Bayshoro, N.Y — Prudential Ployhouses and Operating 

Co. ocqjirjd the 900-car Fifth Avenue Boyshore 

Drive-In at boyshore, L.I., from Michael Redstone of 

Boston, which was built lost year. 

Palo Alto, Calif.—G. N. Spivey is having the 

Palo Alto Dr.vc-ln extensively remodeled and is 

infitolltng 3-D. Ho ond Verne Schwin purchased 

E. 

the Studio Dnvo-ln at Son Mateo from Guy Meek. 

Somerset, Ky.—Ben W. Johnson of Ashlond purchoscd 

the Fomily Dnve-ln from Raymond L. 

t\;w irds. 

Thomosvillc, N.C.—A new corporation has purchoscd 

the Starlight Drive-ln neor Kernersville from 

Claude Preddy and associates of Pinnacle. S. T. 

Stoker is one of the associates. 

28 BOXOFFICE :: August 8. 1953 

•V:

— 

CHESTER FRIEDMAN 

EDITOR 

HUGH E. FRAZE 

Associate Ediio 

ZES1B3 

Uke Ârrts 

More and more of our friends are 

taking: up painting as a hobby. The 

number of prominent people who 

paint to relax their nerves and ease 

the daily tension of their lives, and 

the increasing number of people on 

Main street who are painting, give 

rise to a thought for a good theatre 

promotion. 

How about inviting local Rembrandts 

to exploit their handiwork 

at the theatre? The local art supply 

shop could sponsor the exhibit by 

putting up prizes and underwriting 

an ad campaign. 

.\n exhibit would probably lead ii 

to human interest stories of the kind 

that makes good news copy, hence 

the press can be counted on for support. 

It shouldn't be difficult to get 

competent judges, and who knows 

a theatre manager might help to uncover 

some unsung master, besides 

again spotlighting the theatre as a 

community hub. 

"Ballyhoo," a house organ prepared, 

edited and distributed by Dan 

Krendel to managers in his Toronto 

B district brings us the final tabulation 

and winners of the six-month 

||: 

Famous Players Canadian exp'.oitation 

contest which has supplied B! 

readers of this section with many 

interesting and profitable promotions, 

dating back to January 1933. 

Winners in the two-group competition 

are Bob Harvey, North B.iy 

showman par excellence, and Leonard 

Gouin, the Peterboro pron;otion 

flash. Runnersup wcrj Ar: 

Cauley of Peterboro and Truemin 

Walters of Oshawa. Krendel added 

an additional winner to each group 

—Bill Burke of Brantford and Earl 

Schandrett of Woodstock. 

We have already extended oi;r 

congratulations to the Famous 

Players showmen by this column. .AH 

of the boys did a marvelous job, inspired 

largely by the tireless and 

enthusiastic Krendel. 

This is by way of letting all the 

FPC managers know that we shall 

be looking forward to getting their 

excellent campaigns right along into 

the future. Their ideas make up an 

important contribution to the .\mcrioan 

techniques of winning more patrons 

for the boxoffice. 

— Chester Friedman ^ 

BOXOmCE Showmandiser :: Aug. 8. 1953 

i& 

Three Repeaters on July List To 

Get BOXOFFICE Citations 

E. L. FARRIES 

HENRY 

BOWERS 

MARTY WUCHER 

CHARLES TIERNEY 

Three previous Honor Roll randiclat

Chicken Chase Means 

Free Sunday Dinners 

To increase his patronage with a onenight 

business stimulant, Merton Lemcke, 

manager of the Hillcrest Drive-In, StatesviUe. 

N.C.. advertised free chicken dinners 

would be available. 

The catch was that patrons had to 

scramble for their free dinners. At the 

designated hour, ten live chickens were 

turned loose in the play area. It was 

"first get 'em, then you c'n eat 'em." The 

losers had more fun and just watching the 

proceedings was an enjoyable interlude. 

Lemcke reports that "balloon showers" 

are popular with small-fry customers. 

About 100 balloons are released from the 

screen tower with prizes attached to some 

of them. Lucky youngsters come away 

with promoted gifts and theatre passes or 

coupons valid for refreshments at the concession 

stand. 

Chain Stores Tie-in 

For 'Three Loves' 

Two important tieups helped to promote 

the opening of "Story of Three Loves" at the 

Monroe Theatre in Chicago. The promotions 

were arranged by J. Jovan, owner-manager 

of the Monroe, and MGM exploiteers. 

Eight ToffenetU restaurants in the city 

featured a refreshing summer salad recommended 

by the stars of the picture. The 

stores advertised the salad extensively as an 

important factor in maintaining a slim figure 

and included full theatre announcements. 

Sixteen Three Sisters stores featured 

posters of the feminine stars wearing "Three 

Loves" hosiery and advertised that free theatre 

tickets would be given to every customer 

making a purchase of hosiery. 

Outdoor posters and posters on buses and 

elevated trains supported the usual newspaper 

and theatre advertising. 

Safety Promotion Aids 

Motorists and 'Trouble' 

Murray Spector, manager of the Teaneck 

(N J ) Theatre worked out a beneficial tieup 

as part of his promotion effort for "Trouble 

Along the Way." 

He had the Automobile A.ss'n of New Jer.sey 

exhibit a portable traffic clinic in the theatre 

lobby a week prior to opening of the picture. 

With the police in attendance to give voluntary 

tests to drivers, the story and a photo 

made the local papers under the headline; 

"Teaneck Theatre Joins In Safety Drive." 

Pull credit for the picture was included in the 

story explaining the title tieup. 

Fathers Get Cigars 

W. S. Samuels, manager of the Lamar Theatre, 

Beaumont. Tex., promoted free cigars 

for every male patron who attended the show 

on Fathers day. In a special four-page herald 

distributed to advertise the giveaway and the 

Fathers day .screen attraction, Samuels reprinted 

the classic "letter from a son to his 

dead father." Part of the layout was devoted 

to plugging coming films at the Lamar. 

30 

Three-Way Promolion 

Plus Store Display 

Spotlights 'Arena' 

Frank Manente, manager of the Valentine, 

Toledo, developed an unusual three-way tieup 

as part of his campaign for "Arena." 

The Willys Overland dealer and the distributor 

of Saran Wrap, a kitchen utility, co 

operated on the promotion. The former had 

three new cars, almost completely wrapped 

with Saran, tour the city. Attractive models 

rode in each car. Banners were displayed 

with copy reading: "Tops in 3-D—Aero 

Willys, Saran Wrap and 'Arena' at the Valentine, 

etc." One car was parked in front 

of the theatre where curious crowds collected 

almost continuously. 

Two weeks before opening, all theatre 

employes wore fluorescent badges and the 

lobby was decorated with setpieces and pennants. 

During the playdates, the entire front 

i was decorated with pennants and satin banners. 

A 3-D View Master with scenes from 

the picture was exhibited in the lobby and 

out front. 

The Toledo Hungarian News sponsored a 

coloring contest on "Arena," and the Union 

Leader ran a coloring contest for three weeks 

prior to opening. This publicity was squared 

with theatre passes, offered as prizes. 

Bond's store in downtown Toledo featured a 

full window flash centering around a 3-D 

sale with pictorial art and theatre plugs. 

One of the featured players in the picture, 

Polly Bergan, made personal appearances in 

conjunction with the opening. Manente arranged 

for her to be interviewed by all 

critics and columnists and on important radio 

and TV shows. The star also appeared at 

the sesquicentennial show at the Toledo 

amphitheatre, the picture and theatre dates 

getting a solid plug. 

Displays Go Outside 

Leslie Sprinkle, manager of the Lyric, Elkin, 

N.C., built several attractive display pieces 

for ''The Mississippi Gambler." After being 

used in the lobby, the sections were erected 

to compose a flash front, with stills a prominent 

part of the flash. 

Bond storn m downtown Toledo was tied in 

for smart window promolion to exploit "Arena" 

at the Valentine Theatre. 

— 174 — 

Old Style Showmanship 

Is Still Productive 

C. L. McFarUng, manager of the 

Orpheum Theatre, Sioux City, Iowa, has 

a nice tieup with the management of 

the local auditorium. 

Between attractions at the large 

assembly hall, McFarling keeps the 

three-sheet boards, owned by the auditorium, 

covered with theatre advertising. 

The boards are located at the entrance 

to the free parking lot and on 

all main highways leading to the city. 

The auditorium is thus saved the expense 

of blanking the billboards, while 

the theatre gets prime locations that 

cost nothing except for the three-sheeU 

which advertise coming and current 

features. 

Tieups on Joe Young 

In Four Key Cities 

Demonstrating the type of local cooperation 

that can be obtained in conjunction with the 

re-relea.se of "Mighty Joe Young," RKO exploiteers 

set up citywide tieups in Cleveland, 

Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Detroit. Major 

food and drug chains were tied in on the 

campaign in support of saturation television 

spots in each of the four cities. 

In Cleveland. Fisher Bros., operatmg 107 

supermarkets in the area, distributed free 

jungle masks and cutout villages, and advertised 

the giveaway in eveiT store through 

their own radio. TV and newspaper advertising. 

Full credits for the local theatre dates 

were included in each instance. 

In Detroit the campaign was co-sponsored 

by 75 supermarkets in the Big Bear chain. 

The Dow drugstores, more than 60 of which 

operate in and around Cincinnati, were tied 

in for that area, while the White baking company 

in Dayton bannered hundreds of their 

service trucks and distributed cutouts in more 

than 70.000 homes receiving daily deliveries. 

In Indianapolis the campaign wa^ carried 

on by the Maplehurst ice cream company 

through confectionery stands and the posting 

of 120 milk trucks with signs. Almost 50.000 

consumers of milk received cutout masks with 

their morning deliveries. 

The RKO Radio television promotions were 

used on an around-the-clock schedule over 

WFMB-TV. Columbus. 

Over 250 theatres opened day-and-date 

bookings in the four exchange areas on July 

15 with local theatremen and RKO field men 

collaborating on the campaign under the direction 

of Merv Houser, eastern du-ector of 

advertising and publicity, and Dave Cantor, 

director of exploitation. 

Paints 'Titanic' Sign 

Olin Law.'on, manager of the Martin, 

Andalusia, Ala., painted a 20-foot banner on 

which he pasted the large litho cutout of the 

S S Titanic. Tlie banner was displayed under 

the theatre marquee in advance and through 

the current engagement. Law.son devised a 

novel program cover on "Titanic" showing a 

newsgirl holding the front page of a newspaper 

with a banner "Extra" headline. 

BOXOrnCE Showmandiser :: Aug. 8. 1953 

I

THE ART OF LOBBY MERCHANDISING 

At left, dramatic use oi litho 

cutouts made these displays 

real eye-catchers for Russ 

Bovim, manager of Loow's. St. 

Louis, and helped to pre-sell 

"Dangerous When Wet." 

In cooperation with newspapers, the public library 

and two museums. "Shane" was heralded at the 

Michigan, Detroit, with this display depicting "Great 

Events of Motion Picture History." Eighty stills from 

20 outstanding feotures are included in exhibit 

arranged by Manager lack Sage. 

At left, employes of the 

Fresno (Calif.) Theatre, 

dressed in period costumes 

furnished by Manager Paul 

Brown, pose before setpiece 

made from litho poster cutouts 

on "The Desert Song." 

K^û^^ 

Street ballyhoo, right, exploits 

"Fort Ti" for Manager 

R. W. Rhodes at Colonial, 

Akron. A four-uni! lobby 

display, window cards and 

special displays in windows 

presold the playdatos.

. . . See 

— 

SCHINE MEN HAMMER AWAY 

TO BUILD SUMMER BUSINESS 

Among the many activities engaged in 

recently by enterprising Schine theatremen 

was a Hollywood premiere 

staged by Manager 

Jake Wfber at 

the Liberty in Herkimer. 

N.Y. The event 

was sponsored by the 

local high school alumni 

association, and its 

share of the proceeds 

was donated to the 

i_ , ^ Damon Runyon cancer 

El 

fund. 

Weber has often tied 

Jack Mitchell in with the Herkimer 

playground commission 

on various promotions. The latest was a 

big-brother-and-sister contest held at the 

theatre, with brothers registering their little 

sisters as contestants for prizes on the basis 

of neatness, cuteness, beauty, talent, etc. 

Several of the boys were busy with 

"Salome." At the Auburn (N.Y.) Theatre, 

Manager Jack Mitchell made a fine tieup 

with the local Chrysler dealer, resulting in 

a three-column by seven-inch newspaper coop 

ad and a convertible out on the streets 

with signs tieing in the new Chrysler and the 

picture. The car was entered in the armed 

forces parade on Saturday night before playdate, 

the huge signs giving the picture a 

swell plug. 

Mitchell promoted a local florist for 

"Salome" roses which were presented to the 

first 50 women on opening day. and got a 

neighborhood soda fountain to feature a 

"seven veils" sundae. Tie-in copy was used on 

signs and menus. 

SERMONS TOUCH ON FILM 

Lewis Thompson, manager of the Holland 

in Bellefontaine, Ohio, contacted several local 

clergymen and got them to build their sermons 

around some of the Biblical events 

depicted in the film, coincident with the picture 

playdates. At a popular Saturday night 

dance, Thompson offered theatre passes to 

two couples chosen for the most graceful 

dancing, netting repetitive free plugs for 

"Salome" throughout the evening. 

At the Strand in Carthage. N.Y., Manager 

Tim Valanos, by a lucky coincidence, got up 

an unu.sual window ballyhoo for "Hans 

Christian Ander.sen." One of the theatre 

ushers, who bears a striking resemblance to 

Danny Kaye, was outfitted in a costume 

similar to the one worn by "Hans" in the 

film and sat in the store window surrounded 

by five kids, telling them tales. This stunt 

attracted crowds continuously and just to 

make sure they would know what it was 

about, signs in the window drew attention 

to the film title and theatre dates. 

Valanos conducted a contest in cooperation 

with a local .shoe repairman, hooked up 

with the national tieup on O'SuUivan's heels. 

The repair shop window was filled with contest 

material, all prominently announcing 

the picture booking, and lots of shoes. The 

gimmick, "Just gue.ss the age of the rebuilt 

.shoes in our window," drew 250 entries, and 

the ten closest guessers received free passes 

32 

to see "Hans Christian Andersen." 

Down in Kentucky, at the Margie Grand 

in Harlan, Manager Tom Williams made use 

of a window in the theatre building and filled 

it with potted plants promoted from a local 

florist. With this were several cutouts of 

Danny Kaye as "Hans Christian Andersen" 

regaling children with tales and the tie-in 

line, "Flowers Tell a Story." An indirect lighting 

effect was achieved with bulbs behind the 

plants, making a very attractive window. Theatre 

copy and playdate signs were handy to 

the view, and a credit card for the florist 

.squared the deal. 

CANDY WINDOWS ON 'HANS' 

Several good window displays were set, one 

with a sweet shop which had a one-sheet 

pasted in the window and cutouts from the 

pressbook arranged around it to form a story. 

The drugstore windows tied in candy 

"You've never tasted candy like this and 

you've never seen a picture like this"—and 

the Cumberland music company devoted its 

whole front window to the picture with an 

attractive display of sheet music and records. 

Still another window featuring Bostonian 

shoes in a men's wear shop tied in 

copy .such as. "Wear the Best . . . See the Best 

'Hans Christian Andersen' at, etc." 

A week in advance of opening, Williams announced 

a homemade-doll contest on the 

screen, inviting girls to make dolls and submit 

them to the theatre. All children in the 

family of the first and second winners received 

free passes to see the picture, and 

everybody seemed to have a lot of fun with 

this stunt. 

Williams made a short talk on the picture 

at six high schools, giving student coupons 

to the teachers for distribution, and finally 

put out a street ballyhoo of a fellow on stilts 

costumed as "Hans," using the "nine feet tall" 

copy. 

Lacking an Admiral TV or appliance dealer 

in town and deprived of the advantage of 

these national tieups on "Peter Pan," Ray 

Jeanotte, manager of the Auditorium in 

Perry. N.Y., turned to music store tieups to 

exploit the picture. A full window display of 

records at a popular .shop and two good windows 

on Main street had prominent signs for 

picture and playdate. 

LINES UP 115 STORES 

Jeanotte planted signs and counter cards 

at leading grocers, tied in with Peter Pan 

peanut butter and other products. The coloring 

contest wa-s u.sed with great success, inserted 

in jumbo heralds and distributed to 

all schools in the area. The .schools al.so cooperated 

with public address announcements 

and bulletin board displays. 

Duane Marks, manager of the Strand, Seneca 

Falls, N. Y., lined up a record number of 

115 store windows for displays on "Peter Pan," 

leaving no one in doubt as to the playdates. 

He sold the back page of a herald to a local 

merchant and arranged for "Peter Pan" sundaes 

in restaurants and soda fountains. 

Marks, too, got very good results with the 

coloring contest. Two schools had the youngsters 

color them in class, and the winning 

— 176 — 

entries were displayed on a 40x60 in front of 

the theatre. 

Joe McCann, manager of the Wicomico, 

Salisbury, Md., has a deal with the local paper 

giving him free space for a weekly contest. 

This can be either a 

"word" gimmick with 

contestants filling in 

blanks, a name-thestar 

contest or a coloring 

mat. This free 

space is in addition to 

the regular readers 

and scene mats which 

the paper has been 

running regularly, and 

all the deal involves on 

Ray LaBounty McCann's part is a 

small card in the lobby reading. "Have you entered 

our contest in the Salisbury Advertiser 

this week? Get your copy today. Win free 

passes to see, etc." 

When "Code Two" played the Ben Ali in 

Lexington, Ky., Don Hopkins, assistant manager, 

did a neat job of selling the local Harley 

Davidson motorcycle service on a tieup. The 

owner ran a two-column by four-inch newspaper 

co-op ad for four days and sent out 

over 400 cards to his Riders club members 

suggesting they attend the theatre in a body 

on motorcycles. Opening day found 100 members 

wheeling through town with signs. 

"We're on Our Way to See 'Code Two,' " finally 

parking in front of the theatre in a 

space reserved for the purpose. The boys 

created quite a stir, and they were all cash 

customers. 

AD BY DRUGSTORE 

Ray LaBounty. manager of the Avalon, 

Easton. Md.. tied up with a neighborhood 

drugstore for an interesting stunt to promote 

"By the Light of the Silvery Moon." The .store 

ran an ad in the local paper, every copy of 

which was sprayed with a new French perfume, 

called Spring Flowers. The ad read, 

"Do you imagine you are smelling spring 

flowers? Well, you are right. You do. You are 

smelling the newest rage in perfume. It's 

Spring Flowers, now on sale at, etc. And to 

really complete that gay, romantic, spring 

feeling, see 'By the Light of the Silvery Moon' 

at, etc." 

Among the circuit .showmen bu.sy with various 

promotions was Larry Hyatt at the Liberty, 

Cumberland, Md., who enlisted fine cooperation 

from the local radio station for 

"The Blue Gardenia." All the programs u.sed 

the title song whenever possible, with accompanying 

plugs for the playdates. 

Many of the Schine managers take an active 

part in community affairs, as witness Bob 

Anthony, manager of the State in Cortland, 

N.Y. Anthony is on committees for the local 

Elks club and the Exchange club, and finds 

that it pays off in innumerable ways. 

Looking ahead, some of the boys have 

things planned for late summer and early fall 

—such events a.s a 4-H fashion show at the 

Liberty in Herkimer, a benefit at the Ashland 

(Ohioi Theatre with the local college Boosters, 

and a benefit at the Avalon in Easton, 

sponsored by local Girl Scouts. 

BOXOmCE Showmandiser :: Aug. 8. 1953 

; 

j

i 

iiti 

« 

WBCll PBle 

ao I* 

Sid Kleper, manager of the College. New 

Haven. Conn., hit the jackpot with news 

stories that gave "The Story of Three Lom>' 

a strong lift when he persuaded Farh \ 

picture. 

Radio station WELI sponsored a contest 

tied in with the picture offering guest theatre 

tickets to listeners submitting the longest 

list of song titles with the word "love." Station 

WAVZ plugged the playdates via disk 

jockey tieups. 

Bumper strips were used on the Black and 

Star Press Inierview 

est 

Yields Extra Space 

For Three Loves' 

Granger, star of the film, to attend a .spicial 

press interview. Granger was appeai-ing at a 

local stock theatre. The newsmen hopped on 

the interview, with resulting breaks for the 

frs 

iljon !c 

readfR 

;iliich 

s te. 

White taxi fleet and on cars owned by theatre 

th, sii 

employes. Restaurants and hotel dining 

rooms used place mats imprinted with picture 

copy and theatre dates. 

you enitertH: 

Large heart cutouts in the theatre lobby, 

with the title standing out on the cards, 

caught the eye of patrons entering and leaving 

the theatre, two weeks before opening. 

Kleper also displayed a six-sheet cutout which 

was mounted against a colorful background 

m ft and embellished with stiUs. 

Popcorn Queen Contest 

aW! Aids Concession Sales 

Betty Williams, manager of the Village. 

Columbus. Ga.. believes in merchandising her 

aitJ 

concession stand, particularly when it serves 

to boost theatre admissions. 

Mrs. Williams recently staged a popcorn 

Tie 

festival, selecting a "popcorn queen" from 

nine local girls w'ho entered the contest. 

Every patron who purchased a bag of popcorn 

was entitled to ten votes for their favorite. 

Contestants appeared on the theatre stage 

the night the winner was announced, each 

dressed in novel costumes made from popcorn 

bags. The queen received a diamond 

ring promoted from a jeweler, and each girl 

received a gold compact for participating. 

Film 

Contest Awakens Husbands 

To 'Dream Wife' Qualities 

DofcuH*v**ORCflMWlFE' 

ENTER OUR 

MF4M W/n 

CQ/VTESTNOW/ 

GIRLS 

«H0 fPltND 

tfUSMKOOOWNTOWy 

Richiud Enipt-y. manager ol the Granada. 

Duluth, Minn., divided his exploitation campaign 

for "Dream Wife" into three separate 

promotion facets, each of which contributed 

to the advance publicity for the picture. 

Radio station WEBC co-sponsored a 

"Dream Wife" contest. Prizes were awarded 

for the most "constructive, destructive or instructive" 

letters received from husbands on 

how the ever lovin' spou-'C treats the male 

half of the marital team. A cash award of 

$50 went to the writer of the best letter, while 

a florist and a photographer provided gifts 

for runners-up. Theatre passes also were 

awarded as consolation prizes. The awards 

were made to the wives, although the husbands 

had to submit the letters. WEBC used 

a total of 14 free spot announcements on the 

contest a week prior to the picture's opening. 

The local Chevrolet dealer was tied in on 

a ballyhoo which created wide attention. An 

open convertible occupied by two theatre employes 

dressed as bride and groom toured the 

city. Old shoes and tin cans were attached 

to the rear of the car, and signs on both sides 

read, "Just married? See 'Dream Wife' at 

the Granada Theatre . . . and for the dream 

car of your life, drive the new Chevrolet." 

This stunt was worked for two days prior 

to opening and throughout the current engagement 

ol the picture. 

A "Dream Wife" cooking .school wai the 

third big tleup, under the sponsorship of 

the Minnesota Power & Light Co. This was 

a one-afternoon demonstration on the stage 

of the Granada and was promoted via saturation 

announcements during the evening 

news broadcast over station WEBC .spon.sorcd 

by the utility company. The .show was announced 

a full week in advance. Patrons who 

attended the cooking school were served coffee 

and cookies promoted from neighborhood 

stores. 

Empey used an attractive flash front constructed 

from 24-sheet cutouts for ballyhoo. 

For "Young Bess," which recently played 

the Granada, Empey obtained the original 

sketches of costumes iLsed in filming the 

production and arranged for an exhibit In 

the window of a downtown department store 

with credit signs for picture and playdates. 

The store ran an ad announcing the exhibit. 

The marine recruiting division helped exploit 

"South Sea Woman." A Jeep baiuiered 

with posters and two 40x60s was driven 

around the city and a display of weapons was 

placed In the lobby a week prior to opening. 

A uniformed marine was on duty to demonstrate 

the equipment and furnish Information 

regarding it. , 

Bin; 

do,W«< 

eriiW' 

I'- 

ett.A 

iniiCi 

su* 

sis. 

state '".'^ 

js«i 

1 111 

jab. »»'' 

e«ar>' 

fte 

W 

».^ 

) 

Doubles for Monroe Vie 

In Contest at Detroit 

Dillon Ki-epps, manager of the United Artists 

Theatre in Detroit, conducted a search 

for a local girl resembling Marilyn Monroe 

to promote "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." 

Eligibles were invited to submit photographs 

in bathing suits, and the winner was 

selected to act as official hostess on opening 

night of the picture, which was given a 

Hollywood premiere-type sendoff. 

The winning contestant received a diamond 

wristwatch, donated by a Detroit jeweler. 

Yodellers Compete 

A Gene Autry yodelling contest, promoted 

by Brookie LeWitt, manager of the Arch 

Street, New Britain, Conn., attracted a capacity 

crowd of youngsters to a recent Saturday 

matinee. Prizes for the best yodellers 

and free soft drinks to the first 100 kids who 

made the boxoffice line were added inducements. 

Disk on 'Caesar' 

Scheduled to go on sale the latter part ol 

July, MGM Records will release a disk presenting 

highlights from "Julius Caesar." The 

records represents a permanent souvenir of 

some of the film's fine acting, sketches, and 

the music score, with Producer John Houseman 

acting as narrator. Available In two 

speeds, the record will be supported by a 

merchandising campaign through hundreds of 

record dealers. 

Umbrella Girls for 'Paris' 

Trueman Walters, umiiagcr of the Regent 

Theatre, Oshawa. Out., had three attractive 

usherets stroll through the downtown streets 

carrying oversize umbrellas lettered with 

sales copy for "April in Paris." A jeweler 

was promoted for a full window display, and 

the Daily Times-Gazette gave the picture a 

center spread layout on the community page. 

Museum Stills Exploit 

'Shane' at Michigan 

Jack Sage, manager of the Michigan In 

Detroit, promoted an attractive lobby exhibit 

to sell his engagement of "Shane." 

Sage borrowed 84 stills and photos from 

the Museum of Modern Art which depicted 

the history of motion pictures back to "The 

Great Train Robbery." The exhibit .served to 

show the progress of motion picture prt.

. . Free 

Vigilantes Add Color and Flash 

To Tucson Ballyhoo for 'Arena 

Citizens of Tucson, Ariz., had an opportunity 

to recapture some of the thrills of an 

earlier era when a Wells Fargo stagecoach, 

surrounded by a group of mounted vigilantes, 

picked up the film print of "Ai'ena" at the 

air field and delivered it to the Fox Theatre. 

The cavalcade swept down the main streets, 

with the vigilantes firing their guns in true 

western fashion. The stunt was arranged 

with the approval of city officials and was 

covered by the local press. 

The local campaign got under way a week 

before opening when the Tucson rodeo committee 

and prominent citizens attended a 

press preview of the picture. The Chamber 

of Commerce, the Junior Chamber of Commerce, 

and the Vigilantes of La Fiesta de Los 

Vaqueros pledged their support in publicizing 

the playdates following the screening. 

Many of the merchants tied in with the 

Provocative Contest 

Boosts Thursday' 

J. J. Joiiies, manager of the Martin, Lafayette, 

Ala., created interest in "It Happens 

Every Thursday" by way of a contest he 

worked through a series of ads in the local 

newspaper. 

The ads, spotted on several pages, announced: 

"In a majority of small cities 'It 

Happens Every Thursday' but in Lafayette it 

happens every Wednesday . theatre 

tickets to the Martin Theatre will be awarded 

these who send us the correct solution of this 

riddle." 

Many readers submitted answers varying 

from "the stores close on Wednesday" to 

"everybody goes fishing." About a dozen 

offered the correct answer which was that the 

newspaper, a weekly, has a Wednesday publication 

date. 

The editor of the paper came through with 

some nice plugs as a follow-up to the contest, 

including a front-page box story. 

34 

picture by advertising, "Our low prices leap 

at you when you shop, like the bucking horses 

and steers in 'Arena,' etc." Many of the 

rodeo stars who appear in the film gave the 

merchants and the press an opportune tie-in. 

Columnists and the newspapers generally 

went all-out with personal stories about Arthur 

Loew, the Tucson boy turned actor. 

The Beech-Nut company furnished thousands 

of sample sticks of gum which were distributed 

in envelopes imprinted with copy, 

"Cowboys in 'Aiena' chew Beech-Nut gum 

to calm their nerves, etc." 

Special 3-D lobby displays and a flash front 

helped to exploit the playdates, and radio 

spots on all local stations brought the engagement 

to the attention of home audiences. 

Station KOPO interviewed the guests following 

the preview screening, giving the picture 

an excellent buildup. 

Animated Ship Display 

Exploits 'Titanic' 

William Rast, manager of the Palace Tlieatre, 

McAllen, Tex., built an attractive animated 

display which helped to pre-sell 

"Titanic" in the theatre lobby two weeks 

before opening. 

Sheets of cellophane paper streamers were 

used as a backdrop for a 24-sheet cutout of 

the ship. The ship-cutout was then attached 

to a small motor that gave the ship a rolling 

motion. Effective use of lighting was made 

to add to the realism of the setpiece. 

Window Plugs 'Bess' 

Bob Cox, Schine zone manager for Kentucky, 

promoted an unusual window display 

to exploit "Young Bess" at the Kentucky in 

Lexington. A prominent downtown furniture 

store cleared its main show window and exhibited 

a replica of the coronation chair, the 

crown and .scepter and a dignified announcement 

card for the theatre. 

— 178 — 

Posters, Paste, Plus 

Initiative Add Up 

To Nice Display 

Charles Tierney, manager of the Biltmore, 

Weston, Ont., reports that it is surprising 

what a theatreman can do with a poster, a 

pair of scisf-ors, some paste, Scotch tape, 

watercolors and a brush. "You don't even 

have to be an artist," writes Tierney, and to 

back up his contention, forwards a photo of 

a beautiful display which did much to sell 

"A Queen Is Crowned." 

Tierney used a six-sheet which he pasted 

to the mirror behind the concession bar. In 

the center of this he placed a blowup of 

Queen Elizabeth. One-sheets at both sides of 

the display and a number of stills completed 

the flash. 

Tierney recently introduced a telephone 

stunt which encourages theatre patrons to 

stay abreast of coming film offerings at the 

Biltmore. Each day he selects four phone 

numbers from the directory, calls these numbers, 

and asks the persons answering if they 

can name the feature film currently showing 

at the theatre. Those answering correctly 

receive a guest ticket for two. 

The offer is advertised through a poster 

in the lobby and by personal announcements 

Tierney makes over the house public address 

system. 

Draftees Participate 

In 'Glory' Ceremony 

Carl Ferazza. manager of the Tw'in Drive- 

In, Cincinnati, tied in with the local draft 

board to gain extra newspaper publicity heralding 

the opening of "The Glory Brigade." 

Ferazza arranged to have 44 inductees from 

the local area re-enact the swearing-in ceremonies 

at the drive-in in commemoration of 

the third anniversary of the Korean war. 

The promotion started with a street parade 

from induction headquarters to the theatre 

and was highlighted by a potato-peeling contest 

among the draftees. Following presentation 

of the prizes and special gifts, the 

draftees were driven to the railroad station 

by a motor caravan, bannered with goodwishes 

plugs for "The Glory Brigade." 

Sidewalk Collections 

Aid Fund 'Dream Wife' 

The Cerebral Palsy Foundation is t.lie beneficiary 

of a special promotion being worked 

at the Rivoli in New York, under the direction 

of Manager Monty Salmon. The stunt is tied 

in with "Dream Wife." 

A stand has been installed outside the 

theatre, with numerous bottles displayed in 

rows. Each bottle is labelled after a desirable 

domestic attribute, and passersby are invited 

to cast their votes, via token coins, for the 

quality they deem best in a "dream wife." 

STREAM LINER MINIATURE TRAIN 

STEEL AND ALUMINUM CONSTRUCTION 

Th* en* pi«c« of playground oquipmtnl ol which 

childron will novvr tiro. 

lOWER IN PRICE THAN ANY 

ON THE MARKET. 

DRIVEIN THEATRE MFG. CO. CflfflEH 

BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Aug. 8, 1953

Tax Veto Heavy Blow 

In Pittsburgh Area 

PITTSBUHGH—Theatre owners went a little 

wacky Thursday when President Elsenhower 

vetoed conbressional action to ban the 

20 per cent federal amusement tax. Most 

exhibitors, however, had felt that he would 

do so to be consistent with his policy of not 

giving up any revenue at this lime. AH had 

hoped for this much needed tax relief, and 

they were very disappointed when the veto 

was announced on television and radio. Many 

theatre managers immediately discontinued 

collections for the American-Korean relief 

fund, and stated in effect that in the future, 

if they can keep in business, they will not 

cooperate in such drives. Others announced 

determinations to "go into politics" via the 

screen, saying that in the future they will 

withhold or furnish free screen time to 

politicians, whichever is friendly toward the 

industry, and will go further and exploit government 

payrolls, appropriations and handouts 

here and abroad. 

After being defeated several weeks ago in 

the campaign to eliminate Pennsylvania political 

subdivision amusement taxes. Keystone 

state exhibitors were angry, but looked forward 

to Congress for elimination of the federal 

amusement tax. The Waterhouse- 

Andrews bill was killed by Rep. James Lovett 

of Trafford, Westmoreland county, ard some 

higher-ups. Exhibitors will not forget the 

"sneak" attack, nor will Pittsburgh members 

of the industry forget the actions of 

Mayor David Lawrence who brought pressure 

which eliminated the city of Pittsburgh 

from provisions of the measure which would 

have prohibited local communities from imposing 

amusement taxes on motion picture 

theatres. 

Much bitterness was evident in interviews 

with exhibitors. They say that the failure of 

their efforts in both the local and federal 

amusement tax campaigns is just too much 

for them to take. Some foresaw the closing 

of more theatres. 

19 Industry Leaders at 

Last-Minute Appeal 

WASHINGTON—Nineteen industry representatives 

comprised the delegation which 

made a last-minute appeal to Secretary 

Humphrey of the Ti-easury department to 

support repeal of the admissions tax. 

It was while the delegation was at the 

Treasury that President Eisenhower issued 

his memorandum of disapproval, killing hopes 

"Foxfire," a novel by Anya Seton. has been 

scheduled for Technicolor filming as an 

Aaron Rosenberg production for Universal. 

.FIBILEE .SHOWS SrCCKSS— I'îr.imoiint |„ ..i l 

, 

s|,..«s ..I Ihr 

Delaware Theatre in Albany and the .Arcadia in riiiLid. Iphi.. >hnnn .limw. lop 

panel, at the PhiLadelphia event, left to rifiht: Kd Fienblat. I'aramount salesman; 

Frank Blum, Mort Brodskv, Abe Sahlosky. Nat*- Sablosky. Paramount .Manager llrik 

Smith. Sandy Gottlieb, George Kcistcr. Jack Gillespie. Lower panel, at the .Albany 

showing: E. S. Van Olinda, drama critic. Times Tnion; .Saul I'llman. Kabian Theatres; 

Dan Houlihan. Paramount .Albany manager; Leonard Rosenthal. I'pNUte Theatre* 

general manager; George Lynch, Schine circuit head buyer, and Donald Schine. 

vice-president of the Schine circuit. 

Skouras and Rhoden Add 

Nat'l Theatres Shares 

WASHINGTON—Charles P. Skouras bought 

3.800 shares of National Theatres common 

stock and Peter Colefax acquired 100 shares 

of the same stock, according to an SEC 

report issued Wednesday (5i. covering the 

period from June 11 through July 10. The 

Skouras holdings now total 34.610 shares 

and Colefax owns 1.500 shares. 

Elmer C. Rhoden. who owns 16.800 shares 

of the same stock in his own name, added 

1.000 shares for a total of 4.400 in the Garden 

City Investment Co. Rhoden's Boot Hill 

Investment Co. holds 1.325 shares. 

Robert E. Kintner bought 200 shares of 

American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres 

common for a total of 3.000 shares. 

Barney Balaban sold 1,500 shares of Paramount 

Pictures common and retains 26,500 

shares. 

for repeal. 

At the Ti-easury at the time were: Eric 

Johnston and Kenneth Clark of the Motion 

Picture Ass'n 

Ray Ayery Made 

of America, Spyros P. Skouras 

Contact 

and Tony Muto of 20th Century-Fox, Nicholas Man for SW in Pittsburgh 

Schenck and Oscar Doob of Loews, Inc.. Jack 

NEW YORK—Ray C. Aycry h.i- b. , :. ]..i.n< ti 

Cohn of Columbia, Barney Balaban and Paul 

contact manager for Stanley W,ir:i' i Thr.itres 

with headquarters In Pm.^tiiirLli Hi 

Raibourn of Paramount. Theodore Black of 

Republic, Edward Morey of Monogram, Leonard 

Goldenson of American Broadcasting- 

has already taken over his new job. The appointment 

was made by M. A. Silver, zone 

Paramount Theatres. S. H. Fabian of Stanley 

manager. 

Warner Corp.. Sol Schwartz of RKO Theatres, 

and Robert Coyne, Sam Pinanski, True- 

Ayery joined Warner Bros. In the New York 

office 20 year.-; ago after his graduation from 

man Rembusch. H. A. Cole and Albert Sindlinger 

of the Council of Motion Picture 

Fordham university. In 1946 he was named 

contact manager in Oklahoma City. For several 

years he has been a field supervisor. 

Organizations. 

Mrs. Ayery will join her husband September 

1. with their children Elizabeth Ann and Robert, 

who are students at the University of 

Maryland. They will live at Mt. Lebanon, Pa. 

Bert Reisman, RKO, Dies 

Suddenly in South Africa 

NEW YORK—Bert ReLsman. RKO sales 

representative in Johannesburg. South Africa, 

died Friday (31 > of a heart attack. He was 

57. Reisman had l>een with RKO ind other 

film companies for 30 years. He was a 

brother of Phil ReLsman. former RKO vicepresident 

in charge of foreign distribution. 

Born in St. Paul. Reisman started selling 

films for an independent distributor in 1922. 

He worked for Famous Players-Lasky. later 

Paramount, in Minneapolis, Des Moines, 

Omaha, Kansas City and Milwaukee Later 

he went to Pathe In the Los Angeles branch 

and was assigned to Berlin for a time. 

He joined RKO in 1934 and served in Cuba 

for three years. In 1938 he was transferred to 

Peru. Later he worked for another company 

in Brazil, but returned to RKO in 1916 and 

was sent to Venezuela. He began service in 

South Africa in 1946. 

Burial will be in New York at a date to 

be announced later. 

Beverly, Cardinal in Deal 

NEW YORK—Beverly Pictures has closed a 

deal with Harry Popkln's Cardinal Piclure.s 

for reissue of a package of the latter's features 

In the United States and Canada. The 

films were originally distributed by United 

Artists. The first two of the group will be 

"My Dear Secretary." starring Kirk Douglas 

and Laraine Day. and "Impact." with Brian 

Donlevy and Ella Raines. Prints, trailers 

and new accessories will be delivered to the 

company's 24 franchise holders. 

1 

BOXOFTICE :: August 8. 1953 

N 

35

. . Dan 

. . 

. . Spencer 

; 

B R O A D W Ay 

Joseph H. Moskowitz, 20th-Pox vice-president, 

left August 3 for studio conferences with 

Darryl F. Zanuck . . . Nat Levy, RKO northsouth 

division manager, was in Pittsburgli and 

Detroit . S. Terrell, publicity manager 

for MGM, left to confer with studio executives 

and look at the fall and winter product 

. . . Seymour Schussel, IFE Releasing Corp. 

eastern division manager and assistant to 

Bernard Jacon, vice-president in charge of 

sales, got back to the home office after a 

three-day visit to Boston to meet with New 

Morey Goldstein, 

England exhibitors . . . 

Allied Artists vice-president and general 

sales manager, retui'ned from studio conferences 

with Steve Broidy, president, and 

Walter Mirisch, executive producer. 

Howard Dietz, MGM vice-president, returned 

from a Hollywood visit to see new 

pictures and map out promotional plans for 

fall and winter releases . . . J. R. Grainger, 

president of RKO, got back following a series 

of Hollywood meetings with the board of directors 

and C. J. Tevlin, vice-president in 

charge of the studio, concerning forthcoming 

product . . . P. T. Dana, Universal eastern 

sales manager, returned from Pittsburgh . 

Al Fitter, assistant to Hugh Owen, Paramount 

division manager, was in Buffalo briefly . . . 

E. M. Saunders, assistant sales manager at 

MGM, was touring New England on a vacation. 

Anne Baxter, who has just completed her 

starring role in the King Bros, film, "The 

Carnival Story," in Munich, returned by plane 

to begin rehearsals for "John Brown's Body," 

in which she will star with Tyrone Power and 

Raymond Massey for a stage tour . . . J. C. 

Flippen, who is in the cast of "The Carnival 

Story," and wife returned on the He de 

France. Eve Arden, TV and screen star, and 

her husband Dudley B. West were also 

aboard. 

Donna Reed, who is starred with Burt 

Lancaster in "From Here to Eternity," arrived 

recently to begin a publicity tour in connection 

with the opening of the Columbia 

picture at the Capitol Theatre August 5 . . . 

Marcia Henderson, Universal-International 

contract player, left for Boston recently to 

start a 12-city personal appearance tour to 

promote "Thunder Bay" . Tracy, 

MGM star of "The Actress," is back in New 

York after a quick visit to the coast . . . 

Charlotte Austin, young 20th Century-Fox actress, 

planed to Hollywood July 29 following 

promotional appearances for the Cinemascope 

picture, "How to Marry a Millionaire." 

British Film Repertory 

Will Open at 55th St. 

NEW YORK—The 55th Street Playhouse, 

foreign film art house, will hold the first 

repertory of British films in America, starting 

August 3. Forty-eight features will be 

shown during the nine-week period ending 

September 28, according to Martin Lewis, 

owner of the theatre. 

British Information Services has cooperated 

with the management in planning a panel 

discussion on the theme, "The Impact of the 

British Film on the American Audience," in 

which members of the British and American 

press will participate on the opening night. 

Several British film classics, including "Night 

Mail." "Family Portrait" and "The Open 

Window," will be shown in place of the regular 

features on this opening night. 

"The Lavender Hill Mob," starring Alec 

Guinness, and "Tight Little Island" will be 

the regular opening features and "The Man 

in the White Suit," also starring Guinness, 

and "The Browning Version," starring 

Michael Redgrave, will follow August 6. Other 

leading British features to be shown during 

August will be: "Quartet," "Kind Hearts and 

Coronets," "Odd Man Out," "Seven Days to 

Noon," "The Tales of Hoffman," "The 

Mikado" and "Pygmalion." 

Support Hospital Campaign 

NEW YORK—Edward E. Sullivan, publicity 

manager of 20th-Fox, has been appointed 

chaii-man for the amusement division 

in the annual maintenance fund appeal of 

the Roosevelt hospital. Amusement quota is 

$5,000; supporters include 20th-Fox, Warner 

Bros., Loew's, Inc., Universal, BMI, Samuel 

S. Schubert Foundation and George Abbott 

Enterprises. 

COMPO to Issue 

Detailed Tax Report 

WASHINGTON—A detailed analysis of 

President Eisenhower's memorandum of disapproval 

in which he killed hopes of repealing 

the admissions tax will be issued by the 

Council of Motion Picture Organizations, it 

was announced Thursday (6). 

Robert Coyne, special counsel for COMPO, 

commenting on the presidential action said, 

briefly 

"I repeat what I stated to the President 

and to the Secretary of the Treasury, I think 

the Treasury was wrong. I think the Congress 

was right. Our gratitude to the Congress 

for doing the unpopular thing is watered 

down in no measure by our regret that the 

persuasion that moved both houses of Congress 

and won favorable action by the toughest 

congressional committees, failed to move the 

Secretary of the Ti-easury. In the lasi hour 

of defeat our feelings toward our supporters 

in Congress and to our thousands of supporters 

in and out of the industry, are very warm 

indeed." 

Pat McGee, co-chairman of the tax committee, 

reached at his home in Denver, stated: 

"I can only echo the sentiments voiced by my 

co-workers in Washington. I am proud that 

I was associated with the effort. We should 

hold no bitterness. We have the satisfaction 

of knowing that we—and by wê I mean every 

industryite who pitched in, and that is almost 

across the board—fought the good fight." 

Phil Hodes of RKO Honored 

At a Farewell Luncheon 

NEW YORK—About 250 exhibitors and 

representatives of the RKO home office and 

exchange attended a testimonial luncheon 

for Branch Manager Phil Hodes at the 

Astor hotel Tuesday (4i. Hodes is retiring 

after 30 years with RKO and will live in 

Highland Park, Chicago, where a married son 

and daughter reside. 

Harold Klein of the J. J. Theatres was 

chairman of the New York exhibitors group 

which made the arrangements. Samuel Rinzler 

spoke and made a presentation to Hodes. 

Other speakers included James R. Grainger, 

Charles Boasberg, Walter Branson, Edmund 

Walton and Len Gruenberg. 

Hodes joined RKO in 1921 and became 

branch manager in 1944. 

r> V ^»i 

' 

/""^ 

Stewart's Mother Dies 

INDIANA, PA. — Mrs. Elizabeth Ruth 

Stewart, 78, mother of James Stewart, died 

Sunday (2) in Indiana Hospital after a 

heart attack. Stewart and his sisters, Mrs. 

Virginia Tiranoff of New York and Mrs. Mary 

Perry of Erwinna, Pa., were at the bedside. 

Mrs. Stewart was the daughter of the late 

S. M. Jackson, one-time state treasurer of 

Pennsylvania and founder of the Apollo 

Steel Co. and Apollo Trust Co. 

A WARNI.I! rn\\ WOW—Jules Lapidus, Warner Bros, eastern and Canadian 

division .sales manager, liad his eastern district exchanfie heads in New York recently 

for a general sales tonference. Shown above are, left to right, seated: Bernaid K. 

Goodman, supervisor of exchanges; I. F. Dolid; Lapidus: Norman Ayers, eastern 

district manager, and Robert Smelt/.er, Washington. Standing: Charles Bailey, 

assistant to Norman Moray; Ben Bache, Washington; Max Birnbaum. New Haven; 

Ray Smith. Albany; Ralph lannuzzi, Boston; Nat Marcus, Buffalo; Robert A. McOuire, 

auditor, and Ben Abner, New York. 

Mrs. Maurice Maurer Dead 

NEW YORK—Mrs. Adelaide Maurer, 46, 

wife of Maurice Maurer, who operates the 

Aslor and Victoria theatres for the City 

Entertainment Corp., was found dead of gas 

poisoning in the kitchen of their apartment 

at 333 West 56th St., Tuesday ()4. Police said 

she had tieen ill for three months. 

36 BOXOFFICE :: August 8, 1953

— 

— 

—— 

— 

— 

DISNEY STAR IN NEW YORK—Richard 

Todd, left, star of Walt Disney's liveaction 

features, "The Sword and the 

Rose" and the forthcoming "Rob Roy," 

chats with Monty Salmon, managing 

director of the Rivoli Theatre, at a 

luncheon given by RKO executives in 

Todd's honor at the 21 Club. "The Sword 

and the Rose" will open at the Rivoli in 

late August. 

'Duffy's Tavern' Set 

On TV for 3 Years 

NEW YORK—Matthew Fo.\. chaii-man of 

the board of Motion Pictures for Television. 

Inc., has clcsed a three-year productiondistribution 

deal with Ed Gardner, star of 

"Duffy's Tavern." by which 39 half-hour subjects 

will be produced per year at a cost of 

$45,000 per subject. A total of $5,265,000 is 

involved. 

The films will be produced at the Hal 

Roach Studios in Hollywood and will be 

made in both Eastman Color and black-andwhite. 

The program will be sold only on a 

local and regional market basis—a new policy 

for a major television property. Fox points 

out that for the first time a local or regional 

advertiser will be able to identify his product 

with a well known program with continuity 

over a period of years. 

In addition. Fox calls it a forerunner of a 

new plan whereby his company's focus of 

television sales and advertising will be shifted 

from a national sales basis to "syndication 

saJes—under which costly major properties 

will be available to local and regional television 

markets for purchase by local advertisers. 

We believe that the future of the television 

industry lies in the hands of the local 

station operator." 

Nine distribution-sales exchanges w'ill be 

established in the near future. Fox said. Exchanges 

are already located in New York, 

Boston. Detroit, Chicago. Dallas and Los 

Angeles. Selling and servicing of television 

films will follow the pattern of the present 

exchange systems of major motion picture 

companies. 

Margaret Buell Wilder is penning Albert J. 

Cohen's production, "A Day Called Tomorrow," 

for Universal release. 

:Jj BOXOFTICE :: August 8. 1953 

Band Wagon,' 'Blondes' Lead B'way 

Field for 3rd Week; Wife Is Good 

NEW YORK—For the third .successive week, 

two holdovers. "The Band WuKon." In It.s 

fourth week at the Radio city Music Hall, and 

"Getitlcmcn Prefer Blondes," In Its third at 

the Roxy. led the Broadway first run field 

, 

(Average is 100) 

Asfor—Stalog 17 (Paro), 5th wk 1 25 

Baronet Volcano (UAl, 2nd wk 100 

Beekman The Long Memory (Astor) 110 

Julius Cocsor (MGM), 9th wk. of two-aday 

no 

Bootti 

Capitol—Ride, Voquero! (MGM), 3rd wk 95 

Criterion Second Chance (RKO), 3-D, 2nd wk....n5 

Fine Arts—Fanfan the Tulip (Lop), 13th wk 100 

55th St — British Film Festival, revivals 105 

Globe— Sea Devils 'RKO) 105 

Holidoy— Houdini Pora), 5th wk 110 

Little Carnegie So Little Time (MocDonold) 110 

Loews Stote The Stronger Wore a Gun (Col), 

3-D lis 

Mayfoir—Scored Stiff Pora). 5th wk 110 

Normondie It Started in Paradise (Astor), 2nd 

wk 100 

Palace—Gun Belt (UA), plus vaudeville 105 

Paramount The Chorge at Feather River (W6), 

3-D, plus stage show, 3rd wk 

Paris— The Seven Deadly Sins (Arlon), 

110 

wk...l05 

Radio City Music Hall 

12th 

The Band Wagon (MCaM), 

plus stoge show, 4th wk 1 45 

Rivoh Dream Wife (MGM) 125 

Roxy Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (20lh-Fox), plus 

ice stage show, 3rd wk 135 

Sutton—The Moon Is Blue (UA), 4th wk 1 25 

Trans-Lux 52nd Lili MGM), 2l5t wk 105 

Trans-Lux 60th—The Sea Around Us (RKO), 4th 

wk 120 

Trans-Lux 72nd— Counselor-of-Low (U-l), revival. ,125 

Vicforio—The Moon Is Blue (UA), 3rd wk 

Cinerama 

120 

Wornor This Is Cincromo), movcover, 

8th wk. of two-a .toy 145 

World— Rome, 11 O'clock Times), 13fh wk 98 

'Lili' Still Leading 

In 3rd Baltimore Week 

BALTIMORE — Holdovers dominated the 

Baltimore boxoffice scene last week, with 

business generally no better than fair, "The 

Master of Ballantrae" led the newcomers with 

104 per cent at the Stanley, while "Lili" 

was the city's top attraction drawing 164 

per cent in its third week at the Playhouse, 

an outlying art house. "Ride, Vaquero!" and 

"Thunder Bay," on wide screens, and "Second 

Chance," screened In 3-D, won only modest 

support from the fans in second week showings. 

Century—Ride, Vaquero! (MGM), 2nd wk 94 

Hippodrome—Thunder Boy (U-l), 2nd wk 90 

Keiths— Houdini Poro), 2nd wk 98 

Little—Tight Little Island U-l), reissue 99 

Mayfoir—Take Me to Town U-l) 

»' 

New—Affair With o Stronger RKO 

Ployhoute— Llll 'MGM), 3rd wk 

Stonley —The Ma

ALBANY 

The Strand collected $154,88 the first day of 

the Aid to Korea drive. Manager Al La- 

Flamnie and Charles A. Smakwitz, Stanley 

Warner zone manager, foresaw a week's total 

of $800 to $900 if the weather were not too 

warm and business held up. Open baskets 

were used, the Strand chief believing that 

they stimulated giving. He supervised the 

John and 

collections, handled by ushers . . . 

Peter Marotta conducted a bicycle drawing 

at the Carmen Drive-In, Guilderland . . Judy 

. 

White, Leland cashier, vacationed on Long 

Island. 

"Music With the Hormel Girls" was presented 

on the stage of the Grand Thursday 

night for the benefit of area dealers. The 

troupe stayed at the Ten Eyck hotel for a 

week. The girls, smartly uniformed, helped to 

merchandise the Hormel line in supermarkets 

and groceries of the district. Manager Paul 

Wallen supervised arrangements for the 

Grand date. 

Gus Lampe, Schlne circuit executive, stopped 

at the Ten Eyck over night, en route from 

Gloversville to New York and a meeting with 

Pi-esident J. Myer Schine. Lampe has recently 

been spending much of his time on Schine 

hotel operations, especially the entertainment 

angle. The veteran theatreman is an 

all-around figure in the Schine organization. 

Louis W. Schine, of the Schine circuit, 

Gloversville, and wife viewed the opening 

day's races at Saratoga from the box of 

Harold Gabrilove, Variety Club member and 

president of RTA Distributors . . . The 

Knickerbocker News printed a two-column 

picture of the Rev. William A. Scully of 

Albany, coadjutor bishop of the Albany Catholic 

diocese, with James Mulvey of New York 

City, president of Samuel Goldwyn Production, 

holding salmon they had caught while 

fishing on the Ballynahinch river near Connemara. 

County Galway, in Ireland. 

The Strand trumpeted a "First Again in 

Albany" for its new "Gigantic Lenticular Miracle 

Mirror Screen—Covering Entire Stage!" 

Copy for the Wednesday opening of "Thunder 

Bay" and "Take Me to Town" explained 

that the wide screen had just been installed; 

that the theatre now had the "Latest Stage 

and Projection Equipment. Panoramic in 

Scope! Nothing Ever Like It Before. Be 

Amazed!" . . . Barbara Ruick was here Monday 

for a press-radio-televi.sion luncheon, and 

broadcasts and a videocast on behalf of 

"The Band Wagon." 

Dates of the openings of the Aid to Korea 

audience collections varied in this area, with 

some houses beginning collections Sunday 

and others waiting until Wednesday and 

Ut 

CHICAGO l327S.Wabas 

NCWYORK 630 Ninth Av 

That Get You BEST 

RESULTS and Always 

Arrive ON TIME Is 

What You Get From 

FILMACK 

Thursday. Afternoon and evening collections 

by ushers were planned in a number of 

houses. Industry leaders hoped for substantial 

collections, but would not attempt to predict 

totals until patron reaction was observed. 

"Martin Luther," produced in Germany and 

prereleased in a half-dozen U.S. cities, probably 

will be shown this fall under a church 

tieup at the Ritz here, the Lincoln in Troy 

and the Avon in Utica, according to Stanley 

Warner Zone Manager Charles A. Smakwitz. 

The film has not been booked, but the Albany 

Federation of Churches asked Smakwitz in 

June to obtain a print and arrange a screening 

for Protestant clergymen. The matter was 

deferred at the time. 

Jim Benton's beautiful new Grand Union 

motel at the south edge of Saratoga features 

60 rooms, a television lounge, a motor court 

and a parking area. Three one-story brick 

buildings, reportedly costing $300,000, provide 

a U-shaped effect. The motel stands less than 

one-half mile from Benton's Congress Theatre 

and is about five blocks below Walter 

Reade jr.'s Community Court, another motel. 

Reade operates the Community Theatre several 

blocks north of the Congress. Benton 

and Reade interests are pooled in theatre 

operations there. Benton took the name of 

his motel from the famed Grand Union hotel, 

which stood across the street from the Congress 

for many years until it was demolished. 

Air conditionin§r and a strong double bill 

paid off in torrid weather for the Strand 

and Manager Al LaFlamme. The Strand, 

playing "White Witch Doctor" and "Powder 

River," had capacity audiences several evenings 

as the city sizzled in 90-to 100-degree 

weather. Many of the customers, LaFlamme 

said, rested on the lounges in the cool mezzanine. 

Irving Sherman Transfers 

To Columbia International 

NEW YORK—Irving Sherman, personnel 

director and office manager for Columbia 

Pictures for the past 21 months, has been 

transferred to an executive post witli Columbia 

Pictures International. Herbert L. 

Smith, director of purchases, took on Sherman's 

former posts as additional duties starting 

July 31. 

Three additional changes were made as a 

result of these two executive changes. Jack 

Kerness has been named assistant manager 

of the purchasing department with Fred Izzo, 

who was promoted to a similar position when 

Smith became head of the department in 

October 1952. Gloria Weinstock has been 

named to the newly created post of assistant 

manager of the personnel department. 

Sherman has been with Columbia for 24 

years, serving as assistant manager of exchange 

operations before taking the personnel 

job. Smith joined Columbia in 1935. 

Melvin S. Bates Dies 

LUMBERPORT. W. VA. -Melvin Sellman 

Bates, 51, suffered a fatal heart attack July 

30 while sitting on his front porch. He owned 

and managed the Port Theatre here. Survivn\K 

are his wife Katherine and son Lt. Rich- 

:ii(l J. Bates, who was en route from Korea. 

V. R. McFaul Outlines 

Wide-Screen Usage 

BUFFALO—The six-story chasm of the 

Shea's Buffalo backstage area has been 

thronged for a month now by workmen constructing 

the frame to hold the theatre's new 

screen, a concave dish 65x35 feet in area. The 

screen now is in place. The 65 feet account, 

horizontally, for all the space within the 

proscenium arch, which is the widest proscenium 

arch in this part of the country. 

The frame, most spectacular feature of the 

project, weighs 9,500 pounds, and handling 

the top section of the screen it supports is 

such a formidable job that a catwalk is required, 

resembling a cantilever bridge. Vincent 

R. McFaul, general manager of Shea 

Theatres, says this structure and its screen 

must be hoisted to the roof when another 

stage show plays the Buffalo. 

"This is an all-purpose mirror for our 

films," McFaul said. "We will use it for existing 

films, three-dimensional shows and the 

wide-angle projection that is coming. 

"The screen, of course, is the receiving end 

only of the system we have installed. It is 

only a part of the new photographic and projection 

method conceived by Henri Chretien, 

a French inventor, and engineered for practical 

use by 20th-Fox. 

"The key to the system is an anamorphic 

lens which makes it possible to compress 

wide-angle scenes, twice as wide as their 

height, on 35mm film. This compre.ssion or 

distortion is eliminated or compensated by the 

complementary projection lens which can 

unfurl the picture to a width of 65 feet in the 

Buffalo. The new screen is two and one-half 

times the area of the previous one. 

"Our stereophonic .sound innovation is 

probably as important as the optical advance." 

McFaul said. "Additional speakers behind 

the screen plus the use of three sound 

tracks, allow dialog—all sound—to emanate 

from its true source on the screen. 

"In other words, it has the directional 

reality of our conversation. Of course, it has 

increased depth and range because its scope 

is tripled. 

"This installation has cost us $50,000, or 

about that," McFaul said. "So far, technical 

advances and investments have always ultimately 

improved motion pictures and increased 

their appeal. We've got to believe that 

when we improve we progress." 

Tape Recording Made 

For Jehovah's Witnesses 

NEW YORK—What is believed to be the 

biggest single tape recording duplication ever 

made was completed July 31 by Roger Brown, 

Inc., headed by Charle- E. Rynd, for Jehovah's 

Witnesses. Tliis group took over Yankee 

Stadium for a week with more than 175,000 

present. 

The recordings included 11 different twohour 

programs. The duplication order was 

for 10,769 copies. The recorders were kept 

running 24 hours a day for eight days, turning 

out an average of 65 copies an hour. Ten 

thousand reels of sound tape were sent from 

St. Paul by the Minnesota Mining and Mfg. 

Co. The master tape was nm through at a 

speed of 30 inches per second to duplicate In 

eight minutes a two-hour dual track tape 

recorded at 3.75 inches per second. These 

were taken over by the Watch Tower Society 

for distribution. 

38 BOXOFFICE :: Augiist 8, 1953

. . Branch 

. . Art 

. . Sara 

. . . Salesman 

. . . Norville 

. . Sam 

. . Max 

. . Agnes 

. . Gertrude 

. . Dan 

. . Mrs. 

. . Max 

. . 

. . 

. . 

- 

I 

WASHINGTON 

•The Variety Club of Washinyloii gave the 

Ailington-Fairfax Heart Ass'n a 16mm projector 

and icreen to be used in an educational 

program throughout northern Virginia. At 

the presentation were Victor J. Orsinger, 

chief barker of the Variety Club: Wade Pearson, 

board of governors: Mrs. Anna Van 

Sickler, program chairman of the Arlington- 

Fairfax Heart Ass'n, and H. H. Coiner, president 

of the Arlington-Fairfax Heart Ass'n 

Alvin Q. Ehrlich, second assistant chief barker 

of Tent 11, held a meeting of radio, television 

and advertising agency people to work on the 

Variety Club's annual Welfare awards drive. 

The meeting was held in the Variety clubrooms 

July 29 . . . Jack Fruchtman, first assistant 

chief barker of Tent 11 and chairman 

of the dinner dance committee, held a preliminary 

meeting in the clubrooms July 30 to 

go over plans for the November dance at the 

Statler hotel . . . Happy birthday to George 

Crouch. Paul Rich, August 8: Sam Gilder, 

L. Gardner Moore, Charles Demma, August 

9: Arthur Stoloff, August 10; John Chevalier, 

A. E. Lichtman, August 11: Hugo Johnson. 

Joieph Morgan, August 13: Walter Trimby. 

August 14. 

Rudolph Berger, southern division manager 

for MGM. is in Charlotte, N.C., pinchhitting 

for Branch Manager Jack ReVille, 

who has been hospitalized and ailing for 

some time. Berger also found time to run 

over to the Jacksonville, Fla., exchange to 

pay a visit. Berger was on his vacation when 

he found it necessary to go to Charlotte to 

take over for ReVille . . . "Pat" Jones, who 

has been out ill for a long time, is back at 

her desk . . . Cashiers clerk Esther Blendman 

took her first air trip over the weekend to 

fly to Chicago to attend a 60th wedding anniversary 

. . . Office Manager Joe Kronman's 

ton Bobby is the proud owner of a new set 

of golf clubs and the 11 -year-old youngster 

played his first match over the weekend. 

. 

Morris Mechanic, owner of the New Theatre, 

Baltimore, has installed a new Cinema- 

Scope screen, 50 feet wide and 25 feet high, 

together with stereophonic sound for the 

showing of "Inferno," which opened Thursday 

. Manager Joe Rosen of 20th- 

Fox went to Delaware with salesman Charlie 

Krips to visit exhibitors : . . Leona Weedon 

is vacationing Shaftel's secretary, 

Louanne Wimer, resigned . . . Assistant cashier 

Caroline Carney resigned . . . Division 

Manager Glenn Norris visited the Pittsburgh 

exchange. 

Joe Gins, Universal manager, has been 

placed in charge of the Welfare award subscriptions 

on Filmrow . Young, chairman 

of the women's committee of the Wei- 

i4" B-O NATURALS! 

WASHINGTON, D. C 

BOXOFHCE : 

fare awards drive, held a meeting of her 

team captains in the Variety clubrooms Tuesday 

evening with the following women present: 

Mrs. Joseph Gin.s. Mr.s. Milton Llpsner. 

Mrs. George Nathan. Mrs. Sam Wheeler, Mrs. 

Paul Wall. Mrs. Ai Briskman. Mr.;. LewLs 

Rubin and Miss Gertrude Flax. 

. . . Lieut. Claude 

At LIppcrt Films, cashier Jo.sephlne 

Deavers is resigning and Is being replaced by 

Caroline Carney . 

Epstein Ls vacationing 

in New York 

Hamilton, civil air patrol, flew Into town In 

his own plane to book for his Airport Drlve- 

In, Doran. Va. . Carroll is the new 

manager for the Colony Theatre, which was 

recently acquired by the K-B Amusement 

Co. from Warner Bras. 

Republic employes gave Clare Cunningham, 

cashier, a farewell luncheon on the occasion 

of her retirement from the industry . . . Jake 

Flax, manager, flew to Hollywood. The trip 

was given by the home office for the Washington 

branch coming in first place in the 

recent sales drive . Eleanor Weiner, 

southern Maryland exhibitor, came in from 

her beach home in Rehoboth Beach. Del., to 

book her circuit. 

John O'Leary, 12-year-old son of Mr. and 

Mrs. John O'Leary. 20th-Fox. has been given 

a prominent speaking part in the Onley 

Summer Playhouse production of "The Happiest 

Days of Your Life," which will run 

from August 12 through August 23. Young 

O'Leary, together with his sister Maureen, 

has already won fame as a dancer and appeared 

at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City this 

summer. 

John Turner, United Artists district manager, 

is pinch-hitting for Branch Manager 

Art Levy, who is vacationing in Nova Scotia 

Bud Rose celebrated a birthday 

. . . The new cashier is Joe DeMaio . 

Exhibitors seen on Filmrow included Tom 

Halligan, Dan Weinberg, Phil Berler, Mike 

Leventhal, Jack Levine, Irwin Cohen . 

Doug Connellee, Elk Theatre, Elkton, Md., and 

his family are vacationing in Sherwood Forest, 

Md. 

Bob Folliard, district manager, RKO, was 

in . . . Don Bransfield, booker, is vacationing 

Price is vacationing in Rehoboth 

Beach, Del. . Turner spent the 

weekend in Wilmington, Del. . . . The office 

surprised Sales Manager Al Folliard with a 

big birthday cake . . . Salesman Charlie Hurley 

has returned from his vacation in Scituate, 

Mass. 

. . . Inspector 

Universal Office Manager Stan Taylor Is 

vacationing in Massachu.setts 

Julia Grave is spending her vacation In 

Ocean City, Md. . . . Booker Bert Freedman 

is taking a vacation motor trip through Canada 

. Galanty, Columbia district manager, 

went to the home office for a series of 

meetings . Rutledge is vacationing . 

Ditto Cora Broaddus . . . Alice Sauber celebrated 

a birthday . and Minerva 

Cohen. Minerva Films, have moved Ifom 

H.vattsville. Md.. into a new apartment in 

the Dorchester House. 

Funeral services for Mrs. Helen Brylawskl. 

90. were held on Tuesday with burial at 

Washington Hebrew cemetery. Mrs. Brylawskl. 

widow of Aaron "Daddy" Brylawskl. 

early-day theatre owner, died after a short 

illness. She Is survived by her sons A. Julian 

and Fulton Brylawskl. two daughters, nine 

grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and 

one great-great-grandchild. 

TERRIFIC 

FAST-SELIING 

CONCESSION STAND ITEM 

EXHIBITORS 

ARE 

SAVING 

ON 

PERMANENT 

POLARIZED 

GLASSES! 

OWN THEM! 

RENT 

SELL 

THEM! 

PIflfllS IIIB f 

(They Never Wear Oul> 

THEM! 

STANDARD WHOLESALE PRICE LIST 

-BEST 

QUALITY 

WE CAN SAVE YOU 10% 

Write * Wire * Or Phone Today 

Jack Thomas 

HALLMARK 

Productions, Inc. 

9100 SUNSET BLVD. 

HOLLYWOOD 46. 

CALIF. 

PHONE: CRestview 1-6000 

: August 8, 1953 39

. . Gene 

. . Abe 

. . Guy 

1 

. . . Marcia 

. . . Following 

. . Merv 

. . George 

. . Other 

. . The 

. . Ned 

PITTSBURGH 

•The new Pennsylvania 1 per cent sales tax 

becomes effective September 1. At the 

same time new legislative requirements enforcing 

provisions of the so-called "tax anything 

law" of 1947 will go in force. No longer 

will municipalities be free to slap a permanent 

tax on some item covered by tax 

act 481. Taxes imposed under 481 will be 

effective for one year only unless reenacted. 

Municipalities voted 481 taxes, including 

amusement admission, wage and income, etc., 

which were designed as emergency taxes, 

but as years passed they incorporated them 

into their permanent fiscal structures. Cash 

penalties will be imposed on clerks or secret 

taries of taxing bodies failing to report levies 

to the state internal affairs department 

within 15 days. Fines ranging from $5 to $25 

plus prosecution costs can be imposed on 

offenders under the new amendments. 

Marilyn Keisler, secretary at the Moore 

Theatre Service office, had a birthday anniversary 

Wednesday, and cake and coffee 

were served . . . Bill Zeiler, manager of the 

J. P. Harris Theatre, reports that the new 

Miracle Mirror panoramic screen there will 

measure 19x50 feet and that the stage is to 

be remodeled to permit the clearing of approximately 

eight feet on each side of the 

wall-to-wall screen. 

Negotiations are under way for the J. P. 

Harris Theatre to pick up the closed circuit 

TV exhibitions of Notre Dame grid games 

and other sports events, including the upcoming 

Marciano vs. LaStarza fight . . . Bill 

Elder, manager of Loew's Penn, is vacationing 

in Connecticut, and Marty Burnett, division 

manager for Loew's theatres, is filling 

in here . Kelly returned from Europe 

to his Wilkinsburg home this week and spent 

three days here before flying to Hollywood. 

Sam Jacobson, former film .salesman who 

has been in the construction business here 

for the past 15 years, is recuperating from a 

heart atack which he suffered last April . . . 

Gov. John S. Fine came to Pittsburgh to sign 

into law the bill which creates a five-member 

authority to construct and operate a $15,000,- 

000 civic light opera and sports auditorium 

in the lower Hill district. 

Sam Navari of the de luxe Eastwood Theatre 

in Penn township has been enjoying a 

well-earned vacation at the seashore in New 

Jersey . Weiner, Allied Artists manager, 

and family leturned from a vacation in 

Boston . . . Thirty-five Monessen stores are 

cooperating with the Manos Theatre in a 

five-day beauty contest to be held in conjunction 

with the showing of "Gentlemen Prefer 

Blondes," starting August 14. "Miss Monessen" 

will be named the first day and other district 

communities will have contests in following 

days, ending with the naming of 'MLss Mon 

Valley". 

Betty and Shirley, daughters of Mr. and 

SAM FINEBERG 

TOM McCLEARY 

JIM ALEXANDER 

84 Van Broom Street 

PITTSBURGH 19, PA. 

Phone Express 10777 

Movin Art Belttr That! Evtr How's Your Equipmn 

AT RICHMOND OPENING — Jeffrey 

Hunter admires the Virginia state flag 

while Frank McCarthy, producer of 

"Sailor of the King" for 20th Century- 

Fox, and Attorney General Lindsay 

Almond jr. look on at the state capitol. 

The opening, Friday (28), was a civic 

event attended by General of the Army 

George C. Marshall and numerous state 

and federal officials. Proceeds went to 

the Sheltering Arms hospital. Richmond 

is McCarthy's home town. 

Mrs. G. B. C. Clark of the Clark Theatre 

Supply Co. at Asbury Park, were featured 

in the "Me and My Shadow" number on the 

Ted Mack amateur show on television. Clark 

was a motion picture engineer here a score 

of years ago before establishing his business 

at Asbury Park . V. Ida, McDonald 

exhibitor, is back on the job after vacationing 

in Italy . . . RKO, which discontinued tradeshowings 

of standard exhibition pictures, 

sneak-previewed its second 3-D feature, 

"Devil's Canyon," at the Warner Theatre the 

evening of August 6, this also serving as a 

tradescreening. 

Kaplans Get Court Order 

On 5th Ave. Show Lease 

NEW YORK—Samuel and Rachel Kaplan, 

owners of the Fifth Avenue Playhouse, have 

secured a show cause order in municipal 

court for possession of the theatre, which is 

being operated under lease by S&M Amusement 

Corp., headed by Sam Baker. 

The Kaplans seek to terminate the agreement 

with S&M in order to lease the house 

to Pathe Cinema, which plans to show French 

features there in the fall. S&M, represented 

by Malkan & Isacson, claim they have an 

option on the theatre and that the option 

clause in their lease was improperly executed. 

Lou Gerard Joins TV Group 

NEW YORK—Lou Gerard has been named 

director of advertising, publicity and exploitation 

of Box Office Television, Inc., theatre 

TV company recently organized. Gerard 

is a former staff member of BOXOFFICE 

and had previously worked in the publicity 

or exploitation departments of 20th Century- 

Fox, Paramount, Universal - International, 

United Artists and National Screen Service. 

To Show 'Devil's Canyon' 

NEW YORK — RKO's second 3-D film, 

"Devil's Canyon," will be shown to 500 exhibitors, 

magazine editors, newspapermen and 

radio and TV representatives Tuesday (11 

at the RKO 86th Street Theatre. August 15 

will be the national release date. 

PHILADELPHIA 

The City of Philadelphia honored author 

James A. Michener as an outstanding 

Delaware valley resident at ceremonies in 

the mayor's reception room Monday (3). City 

representative Walter M. Phillips presented 

Michener a certificate of recognition and a 

framed print of Independence Hall. "Return 

to Paradise," recent Michener best seller, 

has been made into a film which received its 

eastern premiere at the Midtown here Wednesday 

(5). 

Exhibitor Mel Fox left on a vacation in Europe 

. Griffin, new Warner star who 

plays opposite Kathryn Grayson in "So This 

Is Love," was due in town . Yaffe, 

exhibitor and partner in Y&Y Supply Co., 

recently sold his young son Stevie a bill of 

goods that he was eating ice cream when 

Stevie had to take barium for upcoming 

X-ray tests. Apparently the psychological 

warfare worked because the day after the examination, 

radiologist Samuel Adelman called 

Yaffe and told him that his son was the first 

one in history that asked for a second helping 

of barium. 

The Alden Theatre marquee recently read: 

"Rita Hayworth in Salome . . . Comfortably 

Cool." Of course, the last line referred to air 

conditioning. 

Frances Emanuel, the daughter of Mr. and 

Mrs. Edward Emanuel, became engaged to 

Sylvan M. Tobin. back from two years of 

navy service in the Pacific as a lieutenant jgi 

( 

Henderson was in town to help 

in the promotion of "Thunder Bay" . . . Ben 

Harris' American Films, reports that he Ls 

now handling the distribution of John Golder's 

Jam Handy no-charge color subject entitled 

"Tlie Gentle Touch." 

Harry Blumberg was in the hospital for a 

checkup . Evans, U-I booker, was 

on a vacation . vacationers include 

Mort Magill, UA manager; Ethel Rudick, 

20th-Fox booker; Harry Brillman. Screen 

Guild booker . . Eddie Gabriel, Capital 

. 

Films, will offer the 3-D "Robot Monster." 

Tom Ewell was in to help salute MGM's 

salute to the legitimate stage, "Main Street 

to Broadway" . new state 1 per cent 

sales and use tax will not apply to motion picture 

theatre admissions when the tax goes 

under way September 1 . . . The daughter of 

William G. Humphries, well-known Lewistown 

exhibitor, has made Bill a grandfather 

to a baby boy. 

by giving birth 

Frances Charles, HaiTisburg U-I salesman, 

was removed to the Ashland iPa.) hospital 

after he was found in a coma in a hotel room 

conferences with Jules Chapman, 

UA; Clarence Hill, 20th-Fox, and Hank 

Kaufman, Columbia, the B-7 back room 

workers union has signed for a $4 across-theboard 

increase, retroactive to December 1. 

Harry I. Waxmann, Atlantic City exhibitor, 

has accepted the chairmanship of the 1953-54 

I.srael bond drive there. Waxmann has been 

active for 30 years in welfare and philanthropic 

work. He is also chaii-man of the dinner 

being held under the auspices of the Jewish 

National fund in honor of Mayor Altman 

when he returns from Israel August 9 . . . 

Carl Herman, manager of the HoU.vwood 

Theatre in Pottsville was a patient in the 

Pottsville General hospital suffering from 

an infection of the eye. 

I 

ta;a 

ink 

40 

BOXOFnCE :: August 8, 1953 

h^..

el&J* 

B U F F ALO 

Oix first run films of a major producer had 

premiere .sho\vint;.s m Buffalo area driveins, 

starting Wednesday i5i, in an unprecedented 

booliing plan instituted by U-I, which 

has given a title to the innovation. City-wide 

Drive-In Film Festival. The festival will extend 

through August 18 in the following outdoorers; 

Buffalo, Park, Delaware, Broadway, 

Skyway Lakeshore and Niagara, Aero and 

Star. Joseph Blaufox of the U-I New York 

office calls the plan an experiment. He is 

not prepared to describe it as a trend. The 

pictures to be paired in double bills include 

"Thunder Bay," "All I Desire," "The Great 

Sioux Uprising." "Take Me to Town," "The 

Man From the Alamo" and "Abbott and Costello 

Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." 

Edward C. DeBerry has been named captain 

of the eastern and southern territories 

during the combined Zukor and Paramount 

sales drive. He recently visited New York, 

New Haven, Albany and Boston to deliver pep 

talks to the boys in the Paramount exchanges 

in those cities. He also viisted Charlotte, 

Harry Rubin head of UPT's projection 

N.C. . . . 

and sound departments, was in 

Rochester and Buffalo to supervise the installation 

of new wide screens in the Paramount 

in Kodak town and the Center in 

Buffalo. Arthur Krolick, UPT district manager, 

joined Rubin in both cities during the 

installation. 

Ma^da Gabor, the eldest of the three 

famous Gabor sisters, visited Mayor Mi'uk 

in his offices in Buffalo city hall. Magda is 

appearing at the Niagara Falls, Ont., summer 

playhouse. She said she thought the mayor 

was more handsome than his pictures, that 

Buffalo was cool and pleasant compared to 

some other cities she had visited. 

A series of Sunday morning services are 

being held throughout August in the Skyway 

Niagara Drive-In on the Niagara Falls boulevard. 

The outdoorer was offered by Manager 

William Brett to the Trinity Methodist 

church of Buffalo for the Sabbath services. 

Worshippers remain in their cars during the 

service, which will be conducted during the 

month by the Rev. Foster J. Williams. The 

Niagara has been the site of the Sunday 

morning services for several years. It is a 

great goodwill builder for the drive-in, says 

Manager Brett. 

Barbara Ruick, rising MGM star, 

on a visit 

to Rochester the other day in behalf of 

"The Band Wagon," disclosed that she had 

to take her choice between a big church 

wedding in August, when she was to marry 

Bob Horton, her leading man in "Apache 

War Smoke," or the eastern tour to promote 

the picture. "I took the tour," she said, 

"and canceled the wedding. We'll get married 

later—quick-like." Miss Ruick, with Lester 

Pollock, manager of Loew's Rochester, her 

host, met the press, radio and TV men. 

Harold N. Reid and Ted Snell have 

launched S&R Film Laboratories at 62 Niagara 

St., Buffalo, and are equipped to turn 

out trailers for theatres. Reid was in the 

trailer business in Buffalo several years ago. 

when he was associated with Barney Drees 

in a local studio. 

The Paramount, Buffalo, put on "A Night 

of Horror," featuring Dr. Chaos Friday i7) 

at midnight, selling tickets at one buck two 

Tour Poster' Rates as 

In 

Top Picture 

Thriving Albany Art Operation 

ALBANY— Patrons ol the art policy at the 

Delaware prefer single features, with .selected 

shorts: Alec Guinne.ss is their favorite star, 

and "The Four Poster" l.s the outstanding 

gras.ser in the ten month.s the policy of "fine 

pictures for di.scrimlnatlng people" ha-s been 

followed at the Stanley Warner theatre. So 

reported Manager John Brou.sscau regarding 

a survey of the situation made since the 

Warner management decided to make the big 

plunge and switch from standard neighborhood 

operation to an art one. 

Previous attempts to establish such a poUcy 

had not been too successful In Albany, although 

the Colonial, now' dark, enjoyed moderate 

good fortune with it at several different 

pwriods. 

The Delaware, a 650-seater built about 1940. 

was believed by Charles Smakwitz, 'Warner 

zone manager, and others to have the size, 

location and appointments which art customers 

favor. Events quickly proved this 

analysis to be sound. Business was good from 

the start, in comparison with Indifferent results, 

for several years, from neighborhood 

operation. Brousseau, who had piloted the 

Delaware under the standard setup, determined 

that art patrons wanted a quieter 

atmosphere. 

Accordingly, he made a regulation that 

children under 17 must be accompanied by 

adults, and adhered rigidly to it. No exceptions 

were granted. The art-film enthusiasts, 

coming distances up to 100 miles from New 

York, Ma-ssachu.setts, Vermont and Connecticut, 

welcomed the innovation. Some told 

Brousseau they had not attended motion pic- 

In one case, a woman 

tures for a long time. 

"dragged along" her husband, after a sixyear 

abstention. The couple have been regular 

attendees since. 

In another instance, a leading Schenectady 

sui-geon heard patients in the outer office 

talking about the "new art theatre." He inquired 

the location and immediately began 

making weekly vLslts. The doctor, according 

to Brousseau. brings from eight to 14 friends 

with him. He saw four screenings of "Tlie 

River," during its two-week run. The photography 

was so striking that "something newunfolded 

each time." 

A third and dramatic incident occurred 

when a lady asked Brousseau how the Dela- 

weeks in advance. Manager Edward Miller 

reports a splendid advance sale. The showwas 

widely advertised in western New York 

and nearby Canada . . . Charlie Kosco. 20th- 

Fox Buffalo manager, was all smiles when 

a full house show-ed up for his tradeshowing 

of "Sailor of the King." 

. . . Mike 

Duane Marks, manager of the Strand. 

Seneca Falls, is getting some splendid cooperation 

from his local newspaper, which 

is using lots of scene mats from the various 

Strand attractions each week 

Carr put on the Les Brown band as a 

special stage attraction at the Mancuso Theatre 

in Batavia for four performances last 

week and packed 'em in. 

When the RKO Palace in Rochester installed 

its wide screen and stereophonic sound. 

ware Wit-, k'''t(IIik .ilMiit: ; 

new .schedule 

Whf:i Bri. 

doing .'atLsfaclorlly, the 

to advi.so her If he ever needed support, having 

she represented "150 women, who ur. 

ready, if necessary, to pay twice the present 

adrnt-sslon." The .startled Brou.sscau warmly 

thanked her. 

"The art cu.stomcrs are the finest type o: 

theatregoers, but they know what they waii' 

to .see. and .speak up frankly." observed 

Brousseau. They dislike double features, aiid 

say so repeatedly. Trade may hold up well 

for one double bill, but it usually drops for 

the next single feature .show. Delaware customers 

base their objection to duals on the 

time factor, claiming they run too long aiul 

become too tiresome. Incidentally, as majiy 

as 250 telephone calls have come Into the 

Delaware on one night. Inquiring about the 

bill. 

The Stanley Warner situation, whose .scaleha.s 

been slightly higher than downtow-n flr--t 

runs, plays few- foreign-language feature.s 

The latter have drawn only fairly. Gulnnes^ 

unquestionably Ls the stronge.st marquee name. 

Brousseau said. He pulls business even on 

revivals. 

"The Four Poster" proved hugely successful 

in a three-week engagement during Lent 

Another surprise was the gross racked by 

"The Quiet Man." w-hich Brou.s.seau de.scribed 

as "the most played picture in Albany we evi-r 

booked." The Republic feature brought stead\ 

pre.ssure on the Delaware turnstile.s. despite 

the fact it had been shown for a week at the 

Palace and Grand, for an extended run at the 

Leland. a week at the Madtson. and played 

dates at the Paramount. Royal and Eagle, 

plus drive-in exhibitions. 

The Delaware is operated nights only, except 

Saturdays and Sundays, when there are 

matinees. During its tenure as an art house, 

a mailing list of 3.000 has been built up 

through lobby signatures. Recently. Brousseau 

received a letter from a man in Wyoming 

who asked that his name be removed from 

the list. He had moved from Albany to the 

west, but was thoughtful enough to write a 

note of appreciation to the theatre. "Imagine 

the lift that gave me!" exclaimed Brousseau. 

Summer grosses have been fairly good 

although the Delaware is not air conditioned 

Charles F. Horstman. RKO home office; 

Russ Northrup. RCA sound engineer, and 

Dick Carnis, .service supervisor, visited Kodak 

town to supervise the installation . . . Kenneth 

Croft, assistant house manager at Shea's 

Buffalo, has joined the armed services. 

Charles McClearj-. manager of Shea"? Kensington, 

is back on the job after a vacation 

in Baltimore BUI Shirley was in Buffalo 

to work with Eddie Meade at Shea's Buffalo 

on "Vice Squad." There was a special screening 

for the Buffalo police department vin 

squad. 

When Shea's Buffalo played "The Band 

Wagon." Eddie Meade arranged a special 

screening for disk jockeys, record dealers and 

staff members of the local Fred Astaire studios. 

Fay Mirte of MGM Records cooperated 

with Meade in putting on the event. 

BOXOFHCE :: August 8. 1953 41

Lapkin, Moss Head 

FJP Venders Group 

NEW YORK—Nat Lapkm, Fabiaii Theatres, 

and Charles B. Moss. B. S. Moss Corp., have 

been named co-chairmen of the venders committee 

of the amusement division of the Federation 

of Jewish PhUanthi-opies by Barney 

Balaban, Simon H. Fabian and Emanuel 

Frisch over-all chairmen of the industry s 

campaign on behalf of the 116 hospitals and 

social service institutions of Federation. 

Assisting Lapkin and Moss on the venders 

committee are: F:-ank Angotti, RKO Theatres; 

Charles Biegel, LoeWs-MGM; Ethel C. 

Black Universal-International; Jules Catsifl, 

Skouras Theatres; J. P. Friedhoff, Monogram; 

Milton Green, Republic; George Hornstein. J. 

Hornstein, Inc.; Stanley Kolbert. Interboro 

Circuit; Fred Lakeman, RKO Theatres; Herman 

R. Maier, Warner Bros.; Ben Perse, 

Capitol Motion Picture Supply; Leslie 

Schwartz, Century Circuit; Robert Schwartz, 

United Artists; Max Seligman, Columbia Pictures, 

and Al Streimer, Rinzler & Frisch. 

Samuel Cohen. UA, Abroad 

For Business, Pleasure 

NEW YORK—Samuel Cohen, foreign publicity 

director for United Ai'tists, began the 

celebration of a double anniversary Wednesday 

(5)—his 30th wedding anniversary and 

his 21st year with UA-by leaving for England 

on the Queen Elizabeth. It will be a 

combined business-vacation trip during which 

he will visit a number of the company offices. 

He will spend about three weeks in London 

and Paris for a survey of the publicity, advertising 

and exploitation activities, and will 

visit other countries supervised out of the 

Paris office. He is scheduled to return September 

8. 

Eastman Buys Jersey Site 

For New Processing Lab 

NEW YORK—Eastman Kodak Co. has 

purchased a ten-acre site at Fairlawn Industrial 

Park, New Jersey, as a site for a 

processing laboratory to service the metropolitan 

New York and eastern market. The 

location is on the east side of Route 208 north 

of Fairlawn avenue. 

The present processing plant is located at 

Flushing, L.I. The tentative plans call for 

a one-story building surrounded by a landscaped 

area and a parking lot. A similar plant 

is located at Palo Alto, Calif. 

A Schwartz Manuscript 

To Library of Congress 

WASHINGTON — Ai'thur Schwartz presented 

the original manuscript of "Dancing 

in the Dark," from "The Band Wagon," to 

the Library of Congress August 6. The manuscript 

was requested by the librarian, Frederick 

Stevens. The ceremony was attended 

by a number of leading TV and radio executives 

of Washington. Among other manuscripts 

in the library by American composers 

are: "Rhapsody in Blue," by Ger.shwin; "Old 

Man River," by Jerome Kern, and "Oh 

What a Beautiful Morning!" by Rogers and 

Hammerstein from "Oklahoma!" 

42 

Cinemascope to Be Placed 

In 100 Mexican Theatres 

NEW YORK—An agreement for installation 

of Cinemascope in more than 100 theatres 

in Mexico has been reached between 

Spyros P Skouras. president of 20th Century- 

Fox and Gen. Abelardo L. Rodriguez. Mexican' 

exhibitor and producer. The agreement 

also includes production of several features 

with the anamorphic lens. 

The contract was signed at the 20th-Fox 

home office in the presence of Miguel 

Bujazan. general manager for the Rodriguez 

circuit; Emanuel Silverstone, vice-president 

of the 20th-Fox International Corp., and Edward 

D. Cohen, supervisor for Central and 

South America. 

. 

Thirty-four houses are to be equipped this 

year, with the others slated during 1954 as 

more equipment becomes available. 

Russians to Enter Three 

In Venice Film Festival 

NEW YORK—Three Russian features will 

be shown at the Venice Film Festival which 

will open August 20. This will be the first 

Russian showing since 1947. Poland and 

Czechoslovakia also will he represented. 

The Russian films will be "Sadko, ine 

Return of Vassili BartniakoV and 'Rimsky- 

Korsakov." Poland will send "The Youth O 

Chopin" and the Czechoslovakian entry will 

be "The Secret of Blood." 

Entires are based on the annual production 

of a country. Those producing over 100 are 

entitled to a maximum of three. Production 

of 50 features or over entitle a country to 

enter two films. 

DeRochemont to Europe 

On 'Luther' Release 

NEW YORK—Louis DeRochemont has left 

for London to arrange for British distribution 

of "Martin Luther," the feature on the 

life of the Protestant leader which was produced 

by Louis DeRochemont Associates. The 

picture, which has been prereleased in Minnesota, 

will open in New York in the fall. 

While in London, DeRochemont will look at 

•Animal Farm," the Technicolor cartoon feature 

being prepared by Hala^ and Batchelor 

It is scheduled to be completed in Octobei 

for fall release. 

James Lees Half-Year Net 

Rises to $1,630,158.81 

NEW YORK—Net earnings of James Lees 

& Sons CO. for the first six months of the 

year after taxes were $1,630,158.81, or $1.93 per 

common share after ^"°^-^"='^,^°^„P;'^ 

fJ^J 

dividends. For the first six months of 1952 the 

net was $1,451,368.30, or $1.71 on the common 

after preferred dividends. 

President Joseph L. Eastwick said government 

orders totaled $3,500,000 during the first 

six months of 1952, but that there was no 

government business during the first six 

months of 1953. 

R. S. Leghorn to Portugal 

NEW YORK—Richard S. Leghorn, assistant 

manager of Eastman Kodak's European 

and overseas organization, also has been 

made manager of Kodak Portuguesa, Ltd. He 

left Rochester July 29 to take up residence 

in Lisbon. 

Senale Okays Budget 

For Overseas Shows 

WASHINGTON—The Senate on Thursday 

(30) passed an $80,000,000 appropriations 

measure for oversea.s information activities, 

including the motion picture program and 

the Voice of America. 

The measure goes to conference with the 

House to reach agreement on differences 

between the two versions. The House bill 

calls for only $60,000,000 for the State Department's 

international information administration 

budget in the current fiscal year. 

President Eisenhower asked for $87,900,000, 

as against the $114,500,000 requested by 

President Truman. 

The President, meanwhile, named Theodore 

C Streibert, former board chairman of the 

Mutual Broadcasting System, to succeed Dr. 

Robert L. Johnson as head of the IIA. 

Rogers, Unger to Handle 

English 'Glory at Sea' 

NEW YORK—Rogers & Unger Associates 

have acquired the distribution rights for the 

western hemisphere to "Glory at Sea,' produced 

in England and formerly hand.ed by 

Souvaine Selective Pictures . 

The picture, 

which stars Sonny Tufts, Ti'evor Howard 

Richard Attenborough and Joan Rice, had 

one New York engagement at the Beekman 

Theatre early in 1953 and has just completed 

a fU-st run at the Memorial Theatre, 

Boston. It was called "Gift Horse" m its 

British release. 

It will now be distributed nationally 

through state right franchise holders. 

MGM to Start August List 

With Skelton's 'Hero' 

NEW YORK—MGM has revised its September 

release schedule by putting 'Half a 

Hero " starring Red Skelton and Jean Hagen, 

as the first on the list instead of "The Great 

Diamond Robbery." 

••Terror On a Train," starring Glenn Ford 

and Anne Vernon, and "The Actress," starring 

Spencer Tracy, Jean Simmons and Teresa 

Wright, continue on the list. 

"Julius Caesar," now al the Booth Tneatre 

New York, will open in several key cities 

with special handling during August. 

Philco Earnings Jump 

NEW YORK—Philco Corp. sales reached a 

new high for the fir..t half of this year and 

earnings from operations were $6,900,000, 

compared with $4,289,000 the previous year for 

the same period. Sales hit a new ^cord of 

$238,522,000, or 44 per cent above the SIOJ,- 

156 000 for the fir.st six months of 1932. Sales 

for the second quarter were $109,464,000. For 

the second quarter of 1952 they were $80.- 

917.000. 

Urge More Troop Shows 

Monroe, singer who 

NEW YORK-Lucy 

recently returned from a hazardous trip to 

Korea to entertain American troops, expres.sed 

hope that prominent stage, screen 

to entertain in Korea, especially since the 

^"mIss Monroe spoke to the press at a conference 

at the use camp Shows, wh>ch sends 

performers and shows to Korea and to Europe. 

BOXOFHCE :: August 8, 1953

' 

that 

: 

nEWs AND VIEWS THE PRODUCTION CENTER 

i Hollywood Office—Suite 219 at 6404 Hollywood Blvd.: Ivan Spear. Western Manager 

Para. Will Distribute 

Martin-Lewis 'Home' 

HOLLYWOOD—Bringing to an end, temporarily 

at least, the widespread conjecture 

about the future affiliation of independent 

producer Hal Wallis, Paramount has revealed 

it will distribute the newest Martin and Lewis 

starrer, "Money From Home" in 3-D Technicolor, 

following the completion of negotiations 

with Wallis and Joseph Hazen, who produced 

the picture without release plans. 

Wallis. Hazen and Paramount have also 

entered upon negotiations for a joint venture 

in the production of a single photoplay based 

upon Vina Delmar's novel. "About Mrs. Leslie." 

which will star the Academy award winner, 

Shirley Booth, whose contract Wallis and 

Hazen hold. 

If negotiations are successfully concluded, 

the joint venture will utilize Paramount 

studio facilities, and the picture will be distributed 

by Paramount. It is contemplated 

production on the joint venture would 

commence in October. 

Services Donated by 101 

To HCC Through June 

HOLLYWOOD—Volunteer services of 101 

filmland personalities were booked last month 

by the Hollywood Coordinating Committee for 

a total of 143 appearances on 53 patriotic, 

public service and fund raising programs, it 

was revealed by George Murphy. HCC president. 

During the first seven months of this 

year 480 artists have made 1,579 appearances 

on 355 events. 

The programs have included overseas tours 

to near frontline positions and hospitals in 

Korea, to bases, camps and hospitals in this 

country, national and local charity causes 

and Armed Forces Radio Service broadcasts 

to military personnel throughout the world. 

A. J. Cohen and U-I Sued 

For $25,000 Over 'City' 

HOLLYWOOD— Charging breach of contract, 

a $25,000 damage action was filed In 

superior court against Albert J. Cohen, Universal-International 

film maker, U-I and 

Harry E. Rie.seberg, a deep-.sea diver. Involving 

the U-I release, "City Beneath the Sea." 

which Cohen produced for the company. 

The plaintiffs, agent Mark Herstein and 

his associate. Harold Cornsweet, charge that 

in 1949 Rieseberg retained them to market 

his book, "I Dive for Treasure." promising 

them 50 per cent of the sales price. Later, 

the complaint declares, Rieseberg sold the 

screen rights to Cohen, who subsequently 

made it as "City" for U-I, the action charging 

that the studio and Cohen paid Rieseberg 

$50,000. 

Herstein and Cornsweet seek 50 per cent 

of that figure, plus an accounting to determine 

a further determination of damages. 

• • • 

Hearing in superior court was scheduled 

for Wednesday i5i on the action brought by 

Lynne and Teddl Sherman, daughters of the 

late Harry Sherman, through which they 

hope to vacate the sale of 200,000 feet of film 

belonging to the estate of Sherman to Hopalong 

Cassidy, Inc. The sisters charge they 

were not served with due notice of the date 

of sale, and that It had been their Intention 

to bid on the property themselves. 

Colleciions for Korea 

In 800 Calii. Theatres 

HOLLYWOOD— More than 800 California 

theatres are participating In the Aid to 

Korea campaign, sponsored by the American- 

Korean Foundation, which got under way 

Wednesday i3) for a week. 

Charles P. Skouras. National Theatres and 

Pox West Coast president who is aUte chairman 

for the film Industry, named George 

Bow.ser, PWC general manager, to conduct 

the campaign In southern California. Roy 

Cooper, San Francisco showman. Is In charge 

of the northern California segment. 

Skoura.s pointed out that the drive Is being 

conducted at the request of President Elsenhower. 

A two-minute trailer features the 

President, who asks Americans to contribute 

$5,000,000 to purchase food, clothing and 

medical supplies for war-torn Koreans. Said 

Skouras 

"We have long adhered to the principle 

that the motion picture theatre is the servant 

of the community In which It is situated. 

We have always worked to advance the cau.se 

of the American way of life and to aid the 

underprivileged at home and abroad. The 

Korean people are In desperate need of our 

aid and, I feel certain, we Americans will 

not let them down." 

,ps,» 

str*! 

Honolulu Rate Cut 

LOS ANGELES—A new low air freight rate 

on motion picture film flown to Honolulu 

from Los Angeles or San Francisco will be 

placed in effect August 26 by United Air 

Lines, subject to approval of the Civil Aeronautics 

Boai-d, it was announced by E. L. 

Dare, manager of cargo sales. The new rate 

will be 40 cents a pound on shipments of 100 

pounds or more, which represents a 30 per 

cent reduction from the present rate. Dare 

said the reduction reflects the increasingly 

high volume of film air-freighted from California 

to the Islands. 

DRUMBE.^TEKS .-^LL—The studio publirity directors ômmi(l^p of the Ass'n 

of Motion Picture Producers honors Jean {'. Herrick. west coast head for Look 

magazine, who has Rone to New York where he will headquarter as a.ssi.stant (feneral 

manager of Cowles Magazines. Inc. Sealed, left to riifht; Dan Fowler. Stanlrv Cordon, 

Jean Herrick .and Jack Savers, Look's west coast staffers: standing, loft to richt: 

Fox Case, MPP.X: Teet Carle. Paramount, chairman of the rommiltee; Mickey Gross. 

Republic: Bill Hendricks, Warner Bros.; Sam Israel. I'-I. vice-chairman of the committee: 

Perry Lieber, RKO; Howard Stricklinj?, MGM, and Duke Wales, MPPA. 

BOXOFTICE :: August 8, 1953 43

Wednesday 

STUDIO PERSONNEUTIES 

Barnstormers 

Columbia 

DEBORAH KERR made personal appearances at the 

QptlOnS 

Capitol Theatre .n New York 

. 

°" (5) n v^îconnection 

w,th »he eastern openmg of From Heê 

Burt Lancasie 

to Eternity," in which she stars with 

and Montgomery Clift 

Independent 

DEMISE DARCEL will do a six-doy engogement Qt 

he Skywoys club, Cleveland, storting August 6. 

Blurbers 

Independent 

JEAN C HERRICK, west coast heod of Look magazine 

for the last 14 years, wos the honored guest 

'ô lu°ncheon given ^-.^V, the studio publicity direcrerrbeT;rhifd'e^parfurfo°:ê:°Yor''k".o'êsraC 

hsh headquarters as ossistont general monager of 

Cowles Magazines, Inc. 

.,..,,.,. 

The Rogers & Cowan praisery set DAVID HANNA 

as unit pub icitt on the Robert Stillmon P'oduction 

"Arnericano," which is being lensed in Brazil with 

Glenn Ford 'toplining. 

JACKSON PARKS, Warner publicist, will be chairman 

of the membership committee of the Screen 

Publicists Guild. Other committee members are MORT 

LIGHTER and MILT STEIN. SPG president WALTER 

COMPTON made the appointments. 

REAVIS WINCKLER was named KTTV director of 

public relations. 

Briefies 

Universal-International 

With Will Cowan producing and directing, lensing 

got under way on "Hawaiian Nights, a 3-D musical 

featurette, featuring Pinky Lee, Mamie Von Doren and 

Danny Stewart and His Islanders. 

Cleffers 

AlUed Artists 

EDWARD J. KAY was set by producer William F. 

Broidy as music director on "House in the Sea. 

Metro 

BRONISLAU KAPER will compose the score for 

"Miss Baker's Dozen." 

Warners 

DIMITRI TIOMKIN will be the musicol director on 

"Dial M for Murder." 

Meggers 

Paramount 

MEL EPSTEIN was signed to a 

tract as a producer. He has been 

continuously for 23 years. 

w long-term con- 

/ith the company 

United Artists 

ROBERT ALDRICH was set by Producers Harold 

Hecht and Burt Lancaster to meg "Bronco Apache. 

Allied Artists 

WANDA HENDRIX was inked as Richard Conte's 

Producer William F. Broid/s 3-D 

leodina in lady 

m^sJer^y, "House ,n the Sea," which Nathan Juron 

"' Producer John Champion booked JOHN HODIAK to 

star in "Dragonfly Squadron," Korean war droma 

which Lesley Selonder will direct. 

Metro 

VAN JOHNSON will portray a Korean war aviator 

in "Panther Squodron 8," a forthcoming He"7 German 

production in Ansco Color, to be directed by 

Andrew Morton. Other cost heodliners are Dewey 

Mortin and Keenan V/ynn. 

Signed for a key role in "Miss Baker's Dozen 

which stars Greer Gorson and R°bertRyon under 

Robert Z. Leonard's direction, ARNESS. 

*°l, .-'/^.'iJES 

The producer is John Houseman. DAVID STOLLERY, 

Broodway child star, was signed for a comedy role. 

Paramount 

Producer George Pal booked DOUGl^S FOVVLEY for 

"The Naked Jungle the Charlton 

a character role in 

Heston-Eleonor Parker vehicle, which Byron Hoskin is 

meqging. 

RKO Radio 

KATHERINE CASSIDY, model and cover girl has 

been engaged tor a spot in "The French Line, 

Technicolor musical. 

Republic 

BARTON MocLANE was set for one of the leads 

"Jubilee Trail," historical western, being produced 

and directed by Joseph Kane. 

in 

NINA VARELA, MARTIN GARRALAGA and RICH- 

ARD WEBB were added to the cost of Jubilee ' I roil. 

KEYE LUKE NANCY GATES, LEONARD STRONG 

PHILIP AHN and JESS WHITE have been signed 

for roles in "Hell's Half Acre." The picture hos 

a Honolulu location. 


JAMES MASON set for the mole lead in "The 

Barefoot Countess.' 


LEE J COBB was signed for on important role in 

the Technicolor "Yankee Posho," starring Jeff 

Chandler and Rhonda Fleming. 

MAMIE VAN DOREN, contract actress, was assigned 

a role in "Yankee Pasha." 

JAY SILVERHEELS joined the cast of 

Indion actor 

"Saskatchewan," the Technicolor outdoor drama starring 

Alan Lodd and Shelley Winters, wh.ch Rooul 

Walsh directs for Producer Aaron Rosenberg. 

KATHLEEN HUGHES was handed a new starring 

pact. 

Warners 

One of the character leads in "Rear Guord,'' the 

Guy Madison starring western being megged by 

David Butler, went to JAMES WHITMORE Also set 

for the David Weisbart production was RAY tAL. 

Tnaoed for the picture, enacting a cavalry colonel, 

waf CARL BENTON REID. HARVEY LEMBECK the 

Sugar Lips Shapiro in "Stalag 17," was signed for 

a comedy role. 

PHIL CHAMBERS wos signed for a role in the 

WarnerColor 3-D production, "The Bounty Hunter. 

Scripters 

Independent 

Producer Benedict Bogeaus signed WILLIAM KOZ- 

LENKO to develop "South Seas" as an unpcoming film 

venture. 

RKO Radio 

Independent Artists, headed by Frederick Brisson, 

booked KEN ENGLUND to pen an untitled original. 


"A Doy Called Tomorrow," an "Pco""'"9 .^'êrf J- 

Cohen production, is being penned by MARtiAKti 

BUELL WILDER. 

Story Buys 

Independent 

Film rights to a Jack London story, "Star Rover," 

were acquired by Herbert Klein, who plons to produce 

and direct from a screenplay by William Kozlenko. 


The studio has acquired film rights to "A Kiss 

Before Dying," by Ira Levin, Cosmopoliton mogozine 

novelette. 

. 


"Blow for a Landing," a novel obout Mississippi 

river steomboating by Ben Lucien Burman, was 

acquired and assigned to Aaron Rosenberg to produce. 

"Foxfire," a novel by Anya Seton, was purchased 

and scheduled for Technicolor filnning as on Aoron 

Rosenberg production. June Allyson and Jett 

Chandler hove been set as the stars. 

Technically 

Republic 

Technical assignments on "Hell's Half •'^'^''e'' include 

JOHN L. RUSSELL JR., cameraman; FRED 

ALLEN film editor; TOM CARMEN, mixer, and HER- 

BERT MENDELSON, assistant director. 

Warners 

' 

Art direction chores on "Rear Guard are being 

handled by BERT TUTTLE. WILFRED CLINE was 

assigned to photograph the picture. 

JOHN BECKMAN was set as ort director for 

"Lucky Me." 

EDWARD CARRERE was set as art director on 

"Dial M for Murder." The picture will be photographed 

by ROBERT BURKS. 

EARL BELLAMY was named assistant director on 

"A Star Is Born." Stage and screen set designer 

LEMUEL AYERS wos inked cs production designer on 

the upcoming Sid Luft production. 

Jerry Warner Will Film 

'Weekend Daddy' for TV 

HOLLYWOOD—Television rights to "Weekend 

Daddy", authored by Dane Lussier, have 

been acquii-ed for filming by Jerry Warner 

& Associates with headquarters at General 

Service studios. Lussier will supervise the 

production as well as pen the scripts for the 

series. Production starts September 15. 

Producer Hal Roach jr. has picked up Cesar 

Romero's option for the starring role m 

"Passport to Adventure," TV series Roach 

will put into production shortly. 

Frank Samuels to CBS 

HOLLYWOOD—Frank Samuels of the William 

Morris office and former local American 

Broadcasting Co. vice-president, has been 

contracted to become coast head of Columbia 

Broadcasting System TV sales, succeedmg 

King Horton. resigned. 

44 

DIVISION HIIUDLE—Barney Balaban, Paramount IM.Uir.s pr.sidcnt. tooli time 

out during his recent studio visit to meet w ith western sales executives for a discussion 

of future plans. He is seen here at tiie Los Angeles branch office with George 

A. Smith, left, western division manager; Al Taylor, branch manager, and Lester 

Coleman, assistant to Smith. 

World Premiere at Wilshire 

HOLLYWOOD — World premiere of Paramounfs 

"Little Boy Lost" will be held at 

the Fox Wilshire here September 2. Tlie Fox 

Wilshire ha.s been awarded an exclusive prerelease 

engagement, which starts the day 

following the premiere. 

BOXOrnCE 

:: August 8, 1953 

f

Average Studio Wage 

In June Up to $118 

HOLLYWOOD—According to 

the most recent 

issue of the California Statistics Bulletin, 

average earnings in motion picture production 

went up during the month of June to 

$118.19, an increase over the $107 average 

for May and ahead of the $113.68 a week 

paid in June 1952. The report reveals that 

studio workers averaged 42.4 hours a week 

at $2.79 and hour during June, as compared 

to 39.1 hours for May and 41.6 hours for 

June. 1952 

East: Morey R. Goldstein, Allied Artists 

vice-president and general sales manager, 

took off for his New York headquarters after 

conferences at the studio with Steve Broidy, 

AA president; Harold Mirisch and G. Ralph 

Branton, vice-presidents; Walter Mirisch, 

executive producer; Harold Wirthwein, 

western division sales manager and John C. 

Flinn. director of advertising and publicity. 

South: Merian C. Cooper, in charge of production 

for Cinerama, returned from San 

Francisco after parleys there with Lowell 

Thomas, president of the company, concerning 

upcoming film-making plans. 

East: James R. Grainger, president of RKO, 

concluded a series of studio conferences and 

returned to his New York headquarters. He 

plans to return here late this month. 

West: Herbert J. Yates, Republic president, 

and his executive a.ssistant. William M. Saal, 

planed in from New York, where they had 

been attending directors meeting and production, 

sales and policy meetings. 

West: Joseph H. Moskowitz, 20th-Fox vicepresident, 

w'as in from his Gotham office for 

studio powwows and a look at upcoming product. 

'Little World' in 16th Week 

LOS ANGEXES—Establishing a new long 

run record in the showcase, "The Little 

World of Don Camillo," Italian-made feature 

being distributed by IFE, is in its 16th week 

at the Vagabond Theatre, art house operated 

by Herb Rosener. It is being held over indefinitely. 

Wins Guild Scholarship 

HOLLYWOOD—Roberta Katz. 18. Manhattan 

Beach high school student, was declared 

winner of the Screen Directors Guild's first 

annual scholarship to UCLA. Chairman 

David Butler, of SDG's educational foundation, 

presented the award to Miss Katz, 

DeMille at St. 

Vincent Dinner 

HOLLYWOOD—Cecil B. DeMille was principal 

speaker at a dinner honoring Edwin 

Schallert, Los Angeles Times drama editor. 

The dinner was for St. Vincent's College 

alumni and friends. 

OLLYWOOD'S often-berated Motion 

Picture Industry Council rates a bow 

for the prompt and effective manner 

in which it expressed the film capltal'.s appreciation 

of the untiring effort* put. forth 

by friends of the trade toward repeal of the 

federal government's burdensome 20 per cent 

tax on movie theatre tickets. Such efforts, 

it need not be reminded, found the House 

of Representatives and the Senate, In rapid 

succession, approving the Mason bill, which 

provides for removal of the onerous levy. 

No sooner had the Senate pas.scd the 

hard-won legislation than MPIC's president, 

Arthur Freed, dispatched telegrams to Vice- 

President Richard Nixon and to the two 

senators from California, William Knowland 

and Thomas Kuchel. Freed lauded Nixon for 

his "deep and consistent interest in the welfare 

and progress of the motion picture Industry," 

paid tribute to Knowland for his 

"magnificent leadership" and "giant contribution," 

and praised Kuchel for his efforts 

toward wiping out "the crippling handicap 

of an unfair and out-dated tax." 

While the long, hard struggle to squash 

the business-crippling 20 per cent admission 

tax was principally that of the exhibition 

branch of the industry, which ostensibly figured 

to benefit the most thereby, its ultimate 

salubrious results must inevitably Include 

those who make and distribute motion pictures. 

MPIC's quick recognition thereof reflects 

that the organization has taken another substantial 

step toward its avowed goal, the 

improvement of Hollywood's over-all public 

relations. At the same time it is a prai.seworthy 

contribution to another highly desirable 

attainment, closer, solid-front cooperation 

and understanding between tho.'^p who 

fabricate films and the men who serve them 

to the public. 

Badly battered by British critics, comics 

Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis recently returned 

from a two-weelc booldnK at the 

Palladium in London. Thry lamented that 

the English journalists willingly partook of 

M. and L.'s alcoholic hospitality but I the 

quotes are Martin's) "didn't review our show. 

All they reviewed was how much money 

we made." 

Actor David Niven. a fellow -passenger when 

Martin and Lewis sailed baric to the U.S., 

backed them up, laboUng the British newsmen 

"too tough . . . You can't expect (food ropy 

because of a bottle of Scotch." 

Hollywood critics resent the NIvenean ultimatum 

that locally a bottle of Scotch will do 

the trick. Everybody knows that it requires 

two bottles—and it's gotta be bourbon. 

From the RKO Radio drumbeatlng bailiwick 

comes the titillating information that 

the King brothers, currently producing "The 

Carnival Story" on location In Germany for 

RKO Radio release, have completed arrangements 

with Sol Solomon, "the world's greatest 

trlclt high-dlver," who Ib acting as technical 

adviser on the picture, to make a sixmonth 

tour In connection with U S. and 

European openings. At each appearance Solomon 

will be called upon to dive "from the 

roof of the theatre Into a six-foot tank of 

water and blazing petrol." 

Shucks, that ain't nothln'. PraUe Pundit 

Perry Lleber dives Into hotter spots than 

that almost every day. 

Out at MflM, a recent ruest wa.s 11 -yearold 

Cindy .'Vnderson of Seattle, ninnrr of the 

1953 "Miss Sunbeam of .America" contest. 

The contest and trip to llolh-wood Ls part 

of a cooperative advrrtislnic deal between the 

film company and ({uality Bakers of America. 

.•% 

crumby tirup, eh wot? 

Thlngs-are-tough-all-over Intelligence from 

Teet Carle's Paramount praisers about Rosemary 

Clooney and Jose Ferrer being "probably 

the only newly married couple In Hollywood 

with two swimming pools." Before their 

recent wedding, it seems. Rosemary had 

leased a Beverly Hills manse, complete with 

pool, but she and Jose are ensconced in the 

latter's residence, also plunge-equipped 

Maybe the Motion Picture Relief Fund can 

appropriate the price of a tandem bicycle for 

the honeymooners so that they can take full 

advantage of both pools. 

It's reported by a local columnist who 

specializes In matters cinematic that Howard 

Hughes has undertaken a new project in the 

Las Vegas area—the a.vserted ronstrurllon of 

the world'* first romplctcly underitround city, 

.said to comprKc an aircraft pl.int .is well as 

homes, shops and amusement facilities for 

the workers. 

Seems like a powerful lot of expeiue and 

trouble to provide a spot to hide from minoritv 

stockholder suit.s. 

When Mercedes Crane, 22-year-oId Oklahoma 

Indian beauty and princess of that 

state's Sac and Fox tribe, was brought to 

Holl>-wood OS a guest of Warner Bros, to 

attend the company's local premiere of "The 

Charge at Feather River." she carried with 

her—according to a Warner press dispatch— 

the urgent request to Holl>"wood: 

"Please let the Indians win Just one 

movie!" 

There ore plenty of Clnemanlans who beat 

Mercedes to the plea. They've long advocated 

giving all of fllmdom back to the Indians. 

;tl* 

BOXOFnCE :: August 8, 1953 45

j 

Fresno, Calif., TV Station 

Added to AT&T Connections 

NEW YORK—With the addition of station 

KMJ-TV, Fresno, Calif., to the Bell Telephone 

System's nationwide television transmission 

facilities, programs now are available to 

136 stations in 90 cities, according to the 

Long Lines department of the American Telephone 

& Telegraph Co. and the Pacific Telephone 

& Telegraph Co. 

A new radio-relay system was recently 

placed in operation between Rttsburgh, Pa,, 

and St. Louis, Mo., and a proposed microwave 

highway is being constructed between 

Atlanta, Ga., and Jackson, Miss., which is 

scheduled to be completed early in 1954, according 

to the American Telephone & Telegraph 

Co. and the Southern Bell Telephone & 

Telegraph Co. 

Area Dates for 'Young' 

NEW YORK—RKO's rei.ssue of "Mighty 

Joe Young," which recently played te.st engagements 

at 250 theatres in the Cincinnati, 

Cleveland, Indianapolis and Detroit exchange 

areas, will get the same specialized campaign 

in other parts of the country, according to 

Charles Boasberg. general sales manager. The 

picture was given a TV spot campaign plus 

a cut-out giveaway distributed by leading 

food, drug and department chains, Boasberg 

said. 

"Mighty Joe Young" will open in the 

Kansas City area August 12, Boston and New 

England August 13. Omaha, Denver, Washington 

and Philadelphia August 19 and 

Minneapolis, St. Paul, New Orlean-s and the 

Gulf cities August 26. It has also been set 

for the metropolitan New Yoric area about the 

middle of August. 

Frank Newman Rests 

After Heart Attack 

SEATTLE—Frank Newman was reported recovering 

in a local hospital after suffering 

a mild heart attack Sunday (2i. 

Newman, president of the Evergreen Theatre 

Corp. here since 1932, will be in the hospital 

a month or more. Doctors said there was 

no cause for alarm over his condition. 

In the theatre business for 46 years, Newman 

built three theatres in Kansas City 

between 1914 and 1919. He moved here 

21 years ago. His family said his greatest 

concern was over being forced to postpone 

the observance of his 50th wedding anniversary 

on August 22. Friends from all parts 

of the nation had been invited. 

BREAKING BOXOFFICE RECORDS! 

STARTLING 

PROJECTO 

VISION 

New and Different! 

COMPLETE WITH ORIGINAL SURE-FIRE EX- 

PLOITATION THAT SPELLS BUSINESS 

TWELVE DRIVE-INS ON FRI-SAT MIDNITE SHOWS ONLY AVERAGED $2137 EACH 

NOW BOOKING-FOR DATES CONTACT 

SONNEY AMUSEMENT ENTERPRISES 

LOS ANGELES 

Dan Sonney 

1656 Cordovo St. 

Phone REinso 

SAN FRANCISCO 

Ed Sonney 

149 Hyde St. 

Phone OR 35118 

DICK C. CRANE, NATIONAL SALES REPRESEN1 ATIVE 

Rival Theatres Compete 

In Goodwill Program 

From North Central Edition 

MARSHALL, MO.—The two competmg 

local theatres. Fox Midwest's Auditorium, and 

Leo Hayob's Mary Lou, have been racking up 

tremendous business and a great amo'int of 

public goodwill through a cooperative giveaway 

stunt in which local merchants participate. 

The Auditorium and the Mary Lou recently 

staged a new Ford giveaway, the second in a 

six-month period, and had such tremendous 

success that local merchants virtually begged 

to be let in on the stunt. Where at the first 

car giveaway, at Christmastime, only 20 Marshall 

merchants participated, the most recent 

deal found some 47 merchants, virtually all of 

the local downtown businesses, in on the 

deal. 

The giveaway program started some eight 

weeks before the actual car giveaway night, 

with screen ads in the theatres for the participating 

merchants. The merchants, in turn, 

gave out tickets to customers with each $1 

purchase or $1 payment on account. These 

tickets were deposited at either of the theatres 

for the entire eight-week period. 

Then, on the night of the giveaway, Hayob 

and Steve Souttar, manager of the Auditorium, 

flipped a coin to determine on which 

stage the giveawây would be held. Thus far, 

Hayob has won both stage programs. A telephone 

hookup was made between the theatres 

and the audiences in both houses were let in 

on the stage proceedings. 

Hayob said that merchants in Marshall reported 

a 25 per cent increase in their business 

during the eight-week period, and some 

merchants recorded as much as a 50 per cent 

increase. 

Vogue Records to Record 

Songs From 3 UA Films 

NEW YORK—Vogue Records will record 

and release three of the title songs from 

three upcoming United Ai-tists releases: 

"Melba," "Volcano" and "No Escape." Song 

titles will be "The Melba Waltz," "My Heart 

Is a Volcano" and "No Escape." Tlie tie-up 

was affected by Francis Winikus, director of 

advertising and publicity of United Artists, 

and Frank L. Harper, president of Vogue 

Records. 

-IG BOXOFFICE :: August 8, 1953

. . . Herb 

. . . Formerly 

. . Before 

. . The 

. . Elmer 

- 

LOS ANGELES 

Xir II. Lullier, Fox West Coast executive, 

has been appointed to the Los Angeles 

board of fire commissioners . returning 

to his New York headquarters following 

a stay at the studio, Razz Goldstein. 

Allied Artists sales manager, was a Filmrow 

Back from a Gotham Jaunt was 

visitor . . . 

Foster Blake, U-I western division manager 

Turpie, the Manley Popcorn man, 

returned from a business trek to Denver and 

Salt Lake City. 

Other business travelers: Fred Greeiiberg, 

branch manager, and Henry Herbell, district 

manager for Warner Bros., in from the San 

Francisco district sales huddles; Herb Jack, 

representing Kroehler Mfg. Co., returned from 

Chicago and departed almost immediately for 

San Franci.sco. 

Among the vacationists: Ida Schreiber, 

SCTO secretary, returned from Arrowhead 

Springs ... At the Warner branch, Gladys 

Kamp and Phyllis Weeks returned, while 

Harvey Lithgow, office manager, took off. 

Harold Goldstein, aged 38, booker for 

Favorite Films, died after a heart attack. 

He is survived by his wife and two children 

a salesman in the B. F. Shearer 

Los Angeles office, Don Grieve has been 

promoted to the post of representative in 

Phoenix, into which job he was indoctrinated 

by Ed Budd. Los Angeles sales manager. 

Row visitors: 

Ai-nold Schaak, Ramona Theatre, 

recently returned from a Chicago vacation: 

Johnny Bannerman, booker and buyer 

for the Milton Arthur circuit in Long Beach, 

and Matt Appleman, Hastings Drive-In, 

Pasadena. 

. . . Pacific 

L. J. Kanstein of the Bee Kay Theatre, 

Tehachapi, was on the Row buying . . . Hap 

Simpson resigned as manager of the Atlantic 

Theatre, Long Beach, to be replaced by 

Barney Warwick, formerly of the Circle 

Drive-In, also in Long Beach 

Drive-Ins is taking over the operation of the 

Circle from the Sero Amusement Co. . . . 

Mose Hernandez. Royal Theatre. Guadalupe. 

was in booking and buying. 

Blair Buys Vaca Theatre 

VACAVILLE. CALIF.— William A. Blair jr. 

has purchased the Vaca Theatre here from 

Dom Isabella. Blair will continue to be 

associated with his father in the management 

of the Blair and Del Rio theatres in Cloverdale 

and the Ritz in Calistoga. 

The Vaca Theatre was built in 1924 as 

a legitimate theatre and still has complete 

stage props and scenery. It seats 700 persons. 

Young Blair is a veteran of the Korean 

war, with 18 months service in Korea and 

Japan. He was discharged June 28, 1952. 


'^Send Us RESULTS and Always 


Order! 


CHICAGO 1327S.Wabas 

NEW YORK 630 Ninth Av 

FILMACK 

Industry in Seaille 

Holds GoU Tourney 

SEATTLE About 200 Filmrow work'.rs and 

exhibitors took part in the annual Filmrow 

Golf tournament at the Rainier OoU and 

Country club here Friday (31 1. 

Mickey Foreman, son of exhibitor Bill Poreman, 

won the event and the Hamrlck trophy 

by .scoring the lowest gro.ss. Tlie men's high 

gross score and the booby prize went to 

El Keyes of Evergreen. 

In the women's division Mrs. John Hamrick 

and Ruth Kirkey of the B. F. Shearer 

office tied for women's low gross. Tommy 

Tomlinson of Republic made the shortest 

drive, while George DeWalde of B. F. Shearer 

scored with the longest drive. 

Other winners included Murry Rarlck, 

Dutch Trammel. John Hamrlck, Ron Thompson, 

Howard McGhee. ZoUie Volchok and 

Butch Leonard. 

The grand prize of the evening, a 21-Inch 

television set, was won by George Broughton 

of Port Orchard. 

SALT LAKE CITY 

nn explosion in the men's restroom at the 

Redwood Drive-In caused an investigation 

by police, but nothing was turned up to 

show who placed the home-made bomb or 

why . . . Salt Lake City theatres cooperated 

in the drive to collect funds for Korea. 

Mixed reaction to the campaign was reported 

in the area. Patrons at some theatres walked 

out when the collection was made. Other 

theatres reported cooperation was gratifying. 

Here's a good deed that deserves public 

acknowledgment: Salt Lake City Variety Tent 

38 has a project to supply recreation equipment 

for patients and visitors at the State 

Crippled Children's hospital. Club members 

are paying the salary of an attendant at the 

institution. The other week funds were pretty 

low and Dan Kostopulos went along Filmrow 

to solicit money to pay the woman's 

salary for the following month. Donations 

ranged from $1 to $100. the latter donated 

by David K. Edwards of Joseph L. Lawrence 

Theatres. 

Walt Sturgess, who at one time or another 

has been employed at Columbia. Republic. 

RKO and Lippert in Salt Lake City, died 

the other day. His wife is an inspector at 

Paramount. 

K. O. Lloyd, 20th-Fox manager, returned 

with his salesmen from a three-day meeting 

in San Francisco Warner, .shipper 

at RKO. was 111 . . . Frank Jenkins. MGM 

. 

tubthumper, was In town to aid in reception 

of Nolle Miller on behalf of "The Band 

Wagon" 

. talk of the town is the big 

business being done by "Shane" at the Centre 

and the holdover business of "Second Chance" 

at the Utah. 

July 24, anniversary of the arrival of the 

Mormon pioneers into Salt Lake valley, found 

theatres downtown opening their doors 

immediately after the parade. Big pictures 

playing included "Shane" at the Uptown. 

"Charge at Feather River" at the Utah. 

"Thunder Bay" at the Centre and "White 

Witch Doctor" at the Lyric. 

TERRIFIC 

FAST-SELLING 


EXHIBITORS 

ARE 

SAVING 

ON 

Piiiiin 

PERMANENT 

POLARIZED 

GLASSES! 

OWN THEM! 

RENT THEM! 

SELL THEM! 

m f 

They Never Wear Out' 


-BEST 

QUALITY 


Write * Wire 

Or Phone Todoy 

Jack Thomas 

HALLMARK 



HOLLYWOOD 46. 

CALIF 


BOXOFnCE :: August 8. 1953 47

—— 

— — 

—— 

— — 

— 

—— 

— 

— 

1 

Films a Bit on Naughty Side Rate 

Top Percentages in Los Angeles 

LOS ANGELES—Local railbirds who are 

wont to seek trends in the cash drawers 

of fh-st run theatres, could very easily conclude 

that film fare a bit on the naughty 

side is most attractive to southland ticket 

buyers. Twentieth-Fox's "Gentlemen Prefer 

Blondes" made its local debut to a recordchallenging 

350 per cent, while United Artists' 

much censored "The Moon Is Blue" continued 

to pack them in, recording a whopping 225 

per cent in its fifth week. Another bright 

spot was Paramount's "Stalag 17" which 

wound up its third stanza with 165 per cent. 

(Averoge Is 100) 

Chinese Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (20th-Fox). . . 

.350 

Downtown Hollywood Paramounts The Charge ot 

Feather River (WB), 3rd wk 1 50 

Egyption Loews State The Greot Sioux Uprising 

The Twonky (UA) 95 

lU-l); 

Us (RKO), 5th wk...lI5 

Moon Is Blue (UA), °dv. 

Fme Arts—The 

Four Star, 

Sea Around 

Riolto—The 

prices, 5f h wk 225 

Fox Wilshire White Witch Doctor (20th-Fox), adv. 

prices, 5th wk 55 

Howaii, Warners Downtown Ride, Vaquero! 

iMGM) 85 

Pontages Second Chance (RKO); Tarzan 

Hillstreet 

and the She-Devil (RKO), 2nd wk 150 

Ins Uptown, Loyola, Los Angeles The Kid From 

Left Field (20th-Fox), The Glory Brigade (20th- 

Fox) 95 

Palace Ritz, Vogue Thunder Bay (U-l); Lets 

Do It Again (Col) .... ...120 

Globe Twilight Women (LP); The Slasher (LP), 

2nd wk 90 

United Artists, Warners Wiltern Sea Devils (RKO); 

Below the Sahara (RKO) 90 

Warners Beverly Stalag 17 (Para), odv. 

3rd 

,165 

Wc rs Hollywood _ _ Is Cineramo (Cinerama), 

This 

Mth wk 140 

"Moon Is Blue' Paces Denver 

With 250 in Third Week 

DENVER—"The Moon Is Blue" was still 

strong in its third week at the Aladdm, and 

"Houdini" was good enough at the Denham 

to hold. Mcst other business was down. 

Aladdm—The Moon Is Blue (UA), 3rd wk 250 

Croodwoy The Story of Three Loves (MGM), 2nd 

^k^ 95 

Denham— Houdini (Para) 120 

Denver Esqjire White Witch Doctor (20th-Fox); 

Bandits of Corsica (UA) 125 

North Dnve-ln, Paramount, Valley Drive-ln- City 

of Bad Men (20th-Fox), I Was o Male War 

Bride (20th-Fox), reissue 95 

Orpheum Main Street to Broodway (MGM); Terror 

on a Train (MGM) 80 

Vogue Castle in the Air (Stratford) 80 

GOOD TASTE 

IN EVERY WAY! 

For complete information see 

B. F. SHEARER COMPANY 

48 

'Moon Is Blue' Seattle Bow 

Paces City With 200 

SEATTLE—"The Moon Is Blue," accompanied 

by a clever advertising and promotion 

campaign that whetted Seattle filmgoers' appetites, 

pulled a smash first week at the 

Music Box with a sensational 200 per cent. 

Two other films, "That Man From Tangier" 

and "Shane," also scored good grosses, with 

160 each. 

Blue Mouse Lili 

Coliseum—That 

(MGM), 

Man 

2nd 

From 

wk 

Tangier (UA); War 

110 

Paint (UA) 160 

rth Avenue-Shane (Para), 3rd wk 160 

Ride, Vaquero! (MGM); The Neanderthal 

Liberty 

Man (UA) 105 

Music Box—The Moon Is Blue (UA) 200 

Music Hall All I Desire (U-l); Crosh of Silence 

(U-l) 75 

Orpheum Thunder Boy (U-l) 80 

Paramount Inferno (20th-Fox); Eyes of the Jungle 

(LP) '00 

"Moon Is Blue' Fifth Week 

Hits 210 in 'Frisco 

SAN FRANCISCO-Theatregoers continued 

to swarm to the United Ai-tists to see "The 

Moon Is Blue," which ended its fifth week 

at that house with a 210 per cent score to 

top the city first runs. Another holdover, 

"White Witch Doctor," took second place 

honors with a soaring 165 per cent in its 

second week at the Fox, 

1 65 

1 35 

Pox White Witch Doctor (20th-Fox); Son of 

Belle Starr (AA), 2nd wk 

(Solden Gote Second Chance (RKO); Tarzon ond 

the She-Devil (RKO) 

Orpheum All I Desire (U-l); Crosh of Silence 

84 

(U-l) 

Paromount—Shone (Para), 4th wk., split with The 

Charge at Feather River (WB) 125 

United Artists The Moon Is Blue (UA), 5th wk. .210 

. 

Opening of 'The Robe' Set 

For Roxy Late in August 

NEW YORK — Final arrangements have 

been completed between 20th Century-Fox, 

National Theatres and the Roxy Theatre 

management for opening "The Robe" there 

on the Cinemascope screen late in August. 

The theatre will be refurbished in the meantime, 

Darryl F. Zanuck, vice-president in charge 

of 20th-Fox production, and a group of 

Hollywood stars will come east for the opening. 

A four-track sound system on the film 

with the picture will be used for the first time. 

The company is planning 15 CinemaScope 

productions for 1954, 

BETTER STYLING... 

BETTER DRINKS... 

BETTER REPEAT 

BUSINESS! 

Every customer you serve 

becomes a "regular." 

EVERFROST gives you 

sparkling, refreshing, 

perfectly chilled clrinksl 

CinemaScope Screening 

In Canada August 1 

NEW YORK—The first 

Canadian demonstration 

of Cinemascope will be given August 

11 at the Imperial Theatre, Toronto. Invitations 

are being sent to exhibitors from all 

parts of Canada, newspaper reporters and 

editors, equipment manufacturers and government 

officials and financial editors. 

For the demonstration, scenes will be used 

from "The Robe" and "How to Marry a Millionaire" 

and a selection of sequences, including 

special footage on the British coronation, 

panoramic views of Paris and other 

material used recently in the London and 

Paris demonstrations. 

W, C. Gehring, executive assistant general 

sales manager; Alex Harrison, home office 

representative; Arthur Silverstone, eastern 

and Canadian sales manager; Peter Myers, 

Canadian division manager, and V. J, Beattie, 

Toronto manager, will be on hand as 20th- 

Fox representatives. 

Arthur Davis Acquires 3 

French Pictures for US 

NEW YORK—Arthur Davis Releasing Organization 

has acquired three new French pictures 

for distribution in the U.S. 

They are: "Rendezvous in Paris," starring 

Michele Morgan and Jean Marais; "The Night 

Is My Kingdom," starring Jean Gabin and 

Simon Valere, which won the best performance 

award in 1951 at the Venice Film Festival, 

and "The Four Intimate Passions," starring 

Vivian Romance and Paul Frankeur. 

Albuquerque Theatres 

Undergo Renovation 

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—F rank Peloso, 

managing director of Albuquerque Theatres, 

has installed new pushback seats at the Lobo 

Ai-t Theatre here. The Lobo also has been 

equipped with new sound equipment, a new 

screen and new projection equipment. 

Meanwhile the El Rey Theatre, one of the 

Albuquerque Exhibitors operations, also underwent 

renovation, with installation of new 

seating and a new policy of first run pictures. 

Vacation Substitute 

BELLINGHAM, WASH.—M a n a g e r Bill 

Beetschen of the American Tlieatre substituted 

at the Bremerton Admiral Tlieatre 

recently during the vacation of the manager 

there. Beetschen managed the Admiral before 

coming here. Both houses are in the 

Evergreen circuit. 

Sohns Leave Kirtland 

KIRTLAND, WASH.—Local friends of Mel 

Sohns, operator of the Gatew'ay Tlieatre here 

for many years, and his wife staged a farewell 

party for the couple recently. The 

Sohns are leaving Kirtland to take up residence 

at Burien, where Sohns will manage 

another theatre. 

lo.

. . Tom 

. . The 

. . News 

. . Barney 

DENVER 

The Denver Variety Tent 37 expects the demand 

for ticket-s to the annual Denverltcs 

outing to outstrip anything in the past, and 

anyone that might want to go is urged to 

get his order in for tickets, at $10 each, at 

once. Send it to Henry Fi-iedel, ticket chairman. 

Box 1680, Denver 1, enclosing payment. 

The limit on attendance at Denverieties is 

300, but membership of the tent is more than 

350, so some will be left out, it seems The 

prize list was enhanced last w-eek with the 

receipt of an order calling for a three-day 

stay at the Flamingo club. Las Vegas, Nev. 

This gift was made possible through the 

cooperation of Ben Goffstein, past chief 

barker of Las Vegas Tent 39. Among the 

numerous other gifts are a Kaiser car, deep 

freezers, barbecue spits, etc. The day 

will open with golf, to be followed by lunch, 

then picnic activities, which w'ill include the 

annual distributor-exhibitor softball game, 

horseshoes, bridge and other activities. The 

day will wind up with the awarding of prizes 

at a dinner, to be followed by a dance. All 

this will take place August 19 at the Park 

Hill Country club, Denver. 

Fred Reed, editor of the Fox Intermountain 

Theatres house organ, the Spotlight, is 

back at work part-time, recovering from a 

two-week stay in a local hospital . . Ray 

Davis, northern district manager for Fox 

Intermountain Theatres, has also been given 

the assignment to manage the Denver city 

district. This post has been vacant for several 

weeks, since the departure of Hall Baetz 

for Seattle, where he is general manager 

for Sterling Theatres. 

Herbert Buschmann, salesman for United 

Artists in the St. Louis area, has been transferred 

to Denver, where he will cover New- 

Mexico and will live in Albuquerque. N.M. 

He succeeds Al Brandon, who quit a few 

weeks ago to open a film buying and booking 

agency . . . Vandals threw cans of tomato 

juice through the cashier's window at the 

Oriental and splashed eggs on the lobby 

doors. 

CITY of 7,500 • NEW MEXICO 

2 theatres control irrigated valley trade 

area 20.000. $1,200,000. R. R. payroU 

yearly. Nearest competition 33 miles. 

INDOOR. Extra nice 40x125 brick-tile 

606 upholstered seats. Ideal for wide 

screen. 

DRIVE-IN. Newly built on heavy U. S. 

Highway. Long history good business. 

Books open. $71,750; $26,750 down. 

Exclusive. 

ARTHUR LEAK, THEATRE SPECIALIST 

Robert Patrick, Independent film dlrtrlbutor, 

has bought the Intermountain Film Exchange 

from Dick Ivy and Gene VlUle. 

Vltale has gone to work for Patrick as a 

booker, with Ivy not having announced his 

plans 

. Bailey l.s spending much 

of his spare time riding and training the 

palomino he bought recently . . . C. E. 

Heppberger, district manager for National 

Carbon, was here calling on the trade. 

Joe Stone, branch manager for National 

Theatre Supply, is vacationing ... Joe Ashby, 

general manager for Allied Rocky Mountain 

Independent Theatres, went to Steamboat 

Springs over the weekend, Intending to get 

in some fishing, as well as to look over theatres 

In which he is a partner at Steamboat 

Springs and Oak Creek. 

Robert Ely has been added as assistant 

booker at United Artists. He is new to the 

industry . American Theatre Advertisers, 

owned by Lillian and Harry Charness, 

has opened Denver headquarters at 929 

21st 

St. 

Exhibitors seen on Filmrow included Harry 

McDonald, Torrington, Wyo.; Selma and 

George Sawaya, Trinidad; Paul Cory, Basin, 

Wyo., and William Allison, Dalhart, Tex. 

No Action Till October 19 

On Skouras Depositions 

LOS ANGELES— Final decision on whether 

Charles P. Skouras. president of National 

Theatres and Fox West Coast, must give 

depositions in two antitrust actions filed 

against the NT circuit and major distributors, 

has been postponed until next October 

19 in accordance with a federal district court 

ruling. 

A court-appointed physician confirn.ed a 

report by Skouras' own doctor that his health 

at this time would not permit him to be 

subjected to the strain of giving depositions. 

The antitrust suits involved were filed by 

Edwards Bros. Theatres and the Vogue 

Theatre. 

Tacoma Men Buy at Anacortes 

ANACORTES, WASH.— Harry Ulsh has sold 

the Island and Empire theatres here to 

Charles J. Schuler jr. and John R. Kane, 

both of Tacoma. Schuler started In the film 

industry with his father Charles sr.. who 

owned the Tacoma Park Theatre for 25 years. 

Kane formerly owned the Capitol at Tacoma 

and now operates the Riviera there. 

New Screen at Provo 

PROVO. UTAH—The Pioneer Motor-Vue 

Theatre here has installed a new screen for 

showing both two and three-dimension films, 

according to Marvin Cox, manager. 

Redecorates Glendale Theatre 

GLENDALE. ORE.—A $1,500 redecoration 

program has been completed at the Glendale 

Theatre here by R. E. Place, owner and 

manager. Redecoration included installation 

new carpets. 

of 

George Armstrong to Rotary Helm 

CORTEZ. COLO.—George Armstrong, manager 

of the Gai Theatres here, has been installed 

as tjresident of the local Rotary club. 

SAN FRANCISCO 

lirilUtrd U. BerK hits u&sunu-d maiiav'ri.il 

dutle.s of the Avon Theatre In H'^l': - 

burg. Prior to hLs Iran.sfer to Hcukluiiii.; 

Berg waa manuger of the State In Tiihirr 

He WU8 associated In a like capacity al th' 

Llt>erty In Fresno . Ournetlc ha 

Installed a new candy bar In the CryKtal 

Theatre, Salinas, which he purcha.sed from 

John Peters and Lawrence Borg. The theatre 

tran.saction wa« handled by Jack Arake- 

Uan, San Franci.sco theatre broker. 

A special stace show was seen by the boyi 

and girls attending the Sea-Vue Theatre In 

Sharp Park recently. Max's Kiddle Karnlval 

was on hand to entertain with contejUs for 

the children . . . The Aid to Korea campaign 

received a boost from the motion picture 

industry when personal appeal films were 

shown In more than 800 theatres for eight 

days. Roy Cooper of San Francisco, United 

California Theatres, was appointed to head 

the motion picture Industry drive In northern 

California. The theatre appeals were part of 

a nationwide campaign. 

Assistant Manager Harry Morgan of Loew's 

Warfield is vacationing in Seattle . . . Robort 

Strauss of "Stalag 17" was in San Francisco 

to make a per.sonal appearance at the 

opening of the film at the St. Francis . . . 

An all-out promotion on "The Band Wagon" 

opening at the Loew's Warfield is being 

executed, with radio, TV, billboards and publicity 

galore. Cyd Charisse, who stars with 

Fred Astaire in the film, appeared at the 

Bandstand show at the Emporium. 

. 

. . . Betty 

. . . Arnold 

Paramount Jubilee show held July 27 at 

the Fairmont hotel proved to be a tremendou.- 

affair. Tlieatremen were guests of the exchange 

at a screening of three Paramount 

pictures, "The Caddy," "Little Boy Lost" and 

"Roman Holiday." Guests also attended a 

luncheon in the Garden room of the Fairmont 

hotel of the Paramount exchange: 

N. Neal East, manager, returned 

from a business trip to Portland 

Merritt, cashier, is vacationing 

Lavagetto, shipper, returned from vacation 

at Lake Tahoe and Los Angeles . . Jessie 

. 

Cole, assistant cashier, returned to work 

following several months Illness. 

Moves to Everett 

EVERETT. WASH— Richard 

Goldsworthy. 

former assistant manager of the Admiral In 

Bremerton, has taken over as manager of the 

Granada under William Cooley. manager for 

Everett Theatres. 

[

. . Walter 

. . 

The 

;—7^ J n..^n',nn^ All Slales AcquKes 

PORT ANGELES, WASH.-The new Port opened near here by Mi-, and Mrs. Wilfred 

Angeles Drive-In has been opened on Highway 

101 here by Port Angeles Theatres, a indoor theatres. 

Racine and A. Combs of the Desert and Ideal 

partnership of Ed and Evar Halbert and 

John Danz. Seattle. The drive-ni construction 

was started two years ago, but site dif- 

Drive-ln has been opened by Bill and Gladys 

PARMA IDA.—The new Parma Motor-Vue 

ficulties and access to the highway delayed Dobbs with a car capacity of 350. 

the start of actual work until February of 

this year The project cost about $100,000. COOS BAY, ORE.-The new Bay Drive-In 

Manager of the theatre is Gene Manaznares 

who for the last ten years has managed 

in Eastside, 600-car capacity outdoorer. has 

three 'fox Intermountain theatres in Denver 

been opened by Stanley and Foster McSwam. 

The drive-in is equipped to accommodate 347 

FALLON. NEV.—Barney Fritz planned to 

cars and can eventually handle 1,000. 

SALEM, ORE.-Opening of the new South 

Salem Drive-In attracted a capacity crowd 

recently. Earl "Pete" Jones, city manager of 

Forman Theatres, said. The new drive-in has 

a capacity of 450 cars and is managed by 

Frank Schulz. 

BELLINGHAM, WASH. - The 500 - car 

Moonlite Movies, owned by Arnold Larson 

and Larry Gillette, has been opened near 

here This is the second drive-in for Larson 

and Gillette. Larson opened the Motor-Vu 

on Highway 99 five years ago with Gillette 3 

father as a partner. After completing navy 

service, the younger Gillette became Larson's 

partner. 

DALLAS, ORE.—Don Wernle, president of 

the Creek Corp., has opened the new Dallas 

Motor-Vue Drive-In on Fir Villa road just 

south of the Dallas-Salem highway. The 

Motor-Vue is the second theatre to be opened 

by the creek Corp. this summer. It accommodates 

400 cars. Wernle has been m the 

theatre business for many years and was 

manager of the Majestic and Rio theatres 

here for five years when they were owned 

by Jesse Jones of Portland. 

ENTERPRISE, ORE.—The Gay Drive-In, 

under construction one mile south of town, 

scheduled to open soon for Mr. and Mrs. 

is 

A B. Stockdale. The 350-car ozoner was 

named for the Stockdales' granddaughter. 

CAVE JUNCTION, ORE.—The Frontier 

Drive-In two miles south of town has been 

opened by owners W. B. Roberts of Talent 

and Larry Musil, owners of M&R Theatres. 

which include the Ivy and the Frontier. 

BURNS, ORE.-The Sundown Drive-In, 

with accommodations for 300 cars, has been 

fAsr. f-ASTen.^.PASTesT service.' 

sfecialN 

miLERsy 

^V^ FROM ^.^ 

mDTIDn PICTURE SEimiGE Co. 

125 HYDE ST. SAN FRANCISCO (2). CALIF. 

Gerald i. Karski. .. PresidenI 

50 

open his new drive-in west of town July 31 

with "The Roper." 

SE ATTLE 

Theatre Drapery Supply of Seattle designed 

^ and installed new draperies for the newly 

remodeled D&R Theatre in Port Orchard, 

owned by Rex Thompson. A track follows the 

curvature of a new wide screen, which was 

installed with a new tubular aluminum frame. 

The drapery firm, through Modern Theatre 

Supply, also designed the new draperies, featuring 

gold masking, that were installed m 

the Dishman Theatre at Dishman, Wash. The 

house is owned by Al Baker and Keith Beckwith 

In this installation, the whole front 

was similarly remodeled with a new wide 

screen, with a picture size increased to a 

34-foot width. 

Curtis Edwards, Paramount News cameraman 

took some advance newsreel shots of 

Slo-Mo, Seattle's record-breaking and Gold 

Cup hydroplane, in anticipation of the Gold 

Cup race Sunday (9i. President Eisenhower, 

who flew in Monday evening (3) to make a 

speech before the governor's conference, was 

accompanied by Paramount newsreel cameramen 

from Washington. 

ZoUie Volchok, Northwest Releasing Corp., 

returned from his trip to Glacier National 

park where he visited Producer Irwin Allen, 

Director Lou King and film players Victor 

Mature, Piper Laurie, William Bendix and 

Vincent Price. He visited the location as a 

guest of Mature Hoffman, Paramount 

publicity head, was in Oregon working 

. 

on promotion for "Shane." 

Sammy Siegel, Columbia exploiteer, was 

in Oregon, as was Allen Wieder, who 

went into its fourth at 

nue with continued high grosses William 

Thedford of the Evergreen chain is 

. . . 

driving a new car back from Detroit and 

will visit his wife's family at McKinney, Tex., 

al-ô 

was working on "The Band Wagon." "Shane" 

week the Fifth Ave- 

en route. 

Jerry Davis, operator of the Rio in Brewster, 

was on the Row, along with Corbin Ball, 

who came in from Ephrata Deer 

. 

Park owned by Mrs. Lu Ella Mackey, is 

closed but the drive-in at Deer Park is still 

open . . . After concluding the sale of their 

theatres in Anacortes, Mr. and Mrs. Harry 

Ulsh returned to California to reside ... Mr. 

and Mrs. Harry Newman, former owners 

of theatres in Lynden, returned from a trip 

to Arizona. 

DALLAS — E. L. Williamson, secretarytreasurer 

of All States Theatres, announced 

the Durchase by his company, effective 

August 1, of the Key City Drive-In at 

Abilene from Maurice S. Cole. 

Acquisition of the airer by All States is a 

step in the $1,600,000 expansion program announced 

by Tom Griffing, president, last 

February. Since that time, the Company has 

completed and placed in operation the Duke 

City Drive-ln in Albuquerque, N.M., and enlarged 

its Terrace Drive-In there into a 

twin operation. All States also has purchased 

20 acres of land in Hobbs, N.M., for expansion 

there. 

All States has its headquai-ters in Abilene, 

having recently moved into a new office 

building at 1833 South Treadway Blvd. The 

company recently finished a large warehouse, 

which was started in the fall of last year. 

Ted Lewis of Dallas does the buying and 

booking for the circuit. 

Officers of the company are President 

Griffing. C. C. Wolfe, vice-president; James 

Griffing! vice-president: Williamson, and 

Margaret Malone, assistant secretary-treasurer. 

Golden Bough in Carmel 

To Have Birthday Soon 

CARMEL. CALIF. - Tlie Golden Bough 

Theatre here soon will celebrate its 30th anniversary 

as a theatre and as an important 

pai-t of this community's cultural Ufe. The 

first Golden Bough Playhouse was planned 

and built by Edward G. Kuster in 1923, and m 

the vears between 1923 and the destruction of 

the house by fii'e in 1935, more than 800 actors 

appeai-ed on its stage. 

Meantime, in 1929. Kuster purchased the 

old Abalone League Playhouse and continued 

to produce and direct live drama, while leasing 

the Golden Bough for presentation ol 

motion pictures. 

On May 21, 1949, just two days after the 

anniversary of the first fire, the Monte Verde 

Street Bough burned to the ground. This time 

the community rallied around the man who 

had given so much time and energy to bringing 

entertainment to the community. A corporation 

was formed with Edward Kuster as 

managing director. The new Golden Bough 

seating 299 in its main theatre and 112 in its 

player'^s circle on the lower level, was built at 

a cost of $108,000. The opening was held October 

24, 1952. with a showing of the film, 

"Rhubarb." 

Auburn City Council 

Lowers Admissions Tax 

AUBURN, WASH.-The city council here 

has reduced the local admissions tax from 

5 per cent to 3 per cent in action upon a 

plea by theatre owner Henry MuUendore that 

the tax ordinance be repealed. 

Council members, terming the tax discriminatory 

in that it was collected only from 

business enterprises, also voted to enforce 

provisions of the tax law calling for collection 

of the tax from civic and fraternal organizations. 

BOXOFFICE :: August 8, 1953 

5P8i:

'Job Night' Promotion 

Held Illegal Lottery 

SPRINGFIELD. ILL. - Illmoi.s Altonuy 

General Latham Castle frowns on a new theatre 

trade-buildins gimmick known as "job 

night." A DeWitt county theatre has been 

using the promotion. 

In an opinion written at reque.st of Harry 

Stevens, state's attorney of DeWitt coimty. 

Castle described the "job night" plan as falling 

within the category of "bank night" which 

was ruled an illegal lottery by the state 

supreme court in 1936. 

Stevens described the "job night" procedure 

in seeking legal advice from the attorney 

general's office. He said that a theatre patron 

files an application for a job as goodwill ambassador 

for the theatre along with an admission 

ticket. 

The "job applicant" whose ticket is drawn 

from a box is accorded the "job" if accepted 

within three minutes. The "new employe" is 

paid a fixed sum of money for signing a "contract" 

in which he agrees to promote the 

theatre. 

Castle said the theatre's choice of the 

"employe" is not arrived at in the "customary 

manner of selecting an employe." The purchase 

of the admission ticket constitutes the 

consideration. The attorney general added 

that the "employe could be of unsound mind, 

but undoubtedly still would receive the money 

offered by the theatre, the receipt depending 

entirely on chance." 

Kansas City Board Turns 

Thumbs Down on 'Moon' 

KANSAS City— "The Moon Is Blue" i.s still 

having censorship trouble here. It wa,s originally 

passed by Mr.s. Lora B. Williams, city 

"reviewer" mot censor), with a couple of deletions. 

The producer has been unwilling to 

accept any deletions and Mrs. Williams did 

not wish to accept the responsibility of having 

it shown without them, .so asked her review 

board to see the picture. 

According to Mrs. Walter P. Page, chairman 

of the board, the picture was rejected 

for the same reasons that any other picture is 

rejected— "because it was considered immoral 

and detrimental to the public welfare." Three 

of the members, all of whom were told to 

go home and think the matter over and then 

write in their decisions, voted a flat "no" 

against having the picture .shown. One would 

have permitted its showing with deletions. 

According to the city ordinance, the vote 

of the review board is final and the only 

way that the picture can be shown now is 

through obtaining a court order. Ralph Amacher. 

United Artists branch manager, says 

he does not know yet what further moves 

will be made for the picture's release in 

Kansas City. The action of the appeal board 

was forwarded to the New York office, with 

the understanding that instructions would 

be forthcoming from there. 

Emmett V. Martin Dies 

INDIANAPOLIS—Emmett V. Martin. 75. 

assistant manager of the Vogue Theatre, died 

Wednesday night (29> at his home. Burial 

was in Washington Park cemetery here Friday. 

He was the father of Mrs. Carl Niesse. 

JIBILKE SHOWING IN I HIC.AGO—The Surf Theatre in fhiraeo was parked 

with exhibitors and members of the press and radio indu.strips. alone with civlr and 

club leaders, for the raramounl .lubilee show recently. Shown aliovr. lop panel, left 

to ripht; Bob .Mien, sales manager lor I'aramount in ChiraKo; Saul llorowit/. Italalian 

& Katz booker; Koy Kosan, Publix Great Slates district niamicrr. .loliit; Harry 

Lustearten, B&K buyer; Jerry WinsherR. B&K booker, and .lim .MrCullnuch, Publix 

Great States district manager, Peoria. Center panel: Charles Becker, .\lanio Theatre; 

J. H. Stevens. Paramount branch manaeer; Basil Charuha.s. Montrlaire Theatre, and 

Morris Solovy, Stony Theatre, all of Chicago. Bottom panel: I.ou GnldhtTc. Paramount 

salesman: John Semadolas. Kaniova Theatre: I.ou .ûreliii. Paramount salesman: 

Dave Solovy, Stony Theatre; Morris Tillis, Goodman A Harrison circuit; SI Grelvor, 

Greivor Booking & Buying Office, all of Chicago, and George Valos, Valos rirruit, 

DeKalb. 

To Hike Carbon Prices 

KANSAS CITY— Local equipment househere 

have received letters advising them that 

there will be a slight advance in price on projector 

carbons, effective August 1. The advance 

is due to increased costs of material and 

labor, according to the notices. They also 

pointed out that the last increase was five 

years ago. 

Raise to Exchange Staffs 

CHICAGO—Sam Laiim.skt-y. business agent 

for the B- and F-45 lATSE unions, reports 

two-year contracts have been signed with 

the distributor companies, which grant a $4 

weekly raise in salaries for clerks, bookers, 

shippers, reel winders and other white collar 

workers, retroactive to December, 

Taylorville Theatres 

Effect Policy Change 

TAYLORVILLE, ILL —A policy change announced 

by William Grant, city manager for 

Frisina Amu.sement Co. adds one picture 

weekly to the .schedule of the Frisina and 

Capitol theatres in Taylorville. 

The picture .schedules for the two theatres 

are switched under the new policy. The Capitol 

will run double bills, with changes Sunday 

and Wednesday. The new Frisina .-^hedule 

calLs for single features with changes Sunday, 

Wednesday and TTiursday. 

Lakeland Theatre Opened 

NORTH WEBSTER. IND—The Lakeland 

Theatre has been opened under the management 

of Max Patterson. 

BOXOFnCE :: August 8, 1953 

51

. . 

Martin 

. . Rud 

. . 

Wally 

. . 

When 

. 

. 

. . . H. 

. . "Man 

. . Sylvan 

. . Gladys 

. 

Deborah 

CHICAGO 

T ori Nelson and Marcia Henderson were here 

^ to help with the exploitation of "All I 

Desire " U-I publicist Ben Katz piloted them 

. 

through several radio and TV interviews 

Ann Schroeder, who has been with 20th-Fox 

for -JS years, was on a vacation in Hollywood, 

her first trip there . . . Louis B. Hess, formerly 

of San Antonio, succeeded J. W. Bower as 

district manager here for Clasa-Mohme, distributors 

of Mexican films. Bower returned 

. 

to California 

. . Harry Walters of IFE says 

an English dialog version of "The Little Woild 

••House of Wax" has been played in 66 theatres 

in this area, which currently is the total 

number equipped for 3-D Heim 

. 

publicist for united Artists, has named his 

baby son, his first, Mori Mark. Heim has 

been home on a vacation Peter 

. 

Lind Hayes and his wife Mary Healy opened 

at the Chez Paree last Friday, their first 

film, "The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.," opened 

at the Surf Theatre. 

Al Kvool has re- 

.signed as zone manager 

of Stanley Warner 

Theatres, a position 

he has held since 

1951. The resignation 

becomes effective the 

latter part of August 

Kerr 

stopped here en route 

of Don CamiUo" will be ready for fall. 

to New York, where 

Jack Eekhardt, 20th-Fox, moved his family 

she will begin rehearsals 

for a Broadway Talbot, chief city electrical inspector, indi- 

into his new home in Des Plaines The 

• • 

Hegewisch (111.) Theatre has been reopened 

Al Kvool 

play. 

cated that it would not affect many amateur 

by Ted Tokarz and Lewis stopped 

film projectionists. He added that most projectors 

currently used by amateurs draw less 

. 

here briefly on their way to Columbus, Ohio Rex Allen, Republic cowboy star, will appear 

on the WLS National Barn Dance pro- 

where they will participate in the National 

than 15 amperes, and that 16mm is the largest 

film generally used. 

Caddy Ass-n golf tournament on August l(. grams to be broadcast from the state fair 

Their new film, "The Caddy," will open there in Springfield August 15. Allen and wife 

However, an equipment manufacturer s representative 

said the proposed requirement 

Bonnie will celebrate their seventh wedding 

the same day. 

anniversary August 25 and their son Chico's 

to hire professionals "might apply to many 

Stanley Warner Theatres officials. Si Fabian, 

Sam Rosen and Harry Kalmine, joined while WLS entertainers and were married in 

sixth birthday August 23. The couple met 

films shown at churches." He called it "unfair 

and umiecessary." Talbot, on the other 

Herb Wheeler and A. Halperin here and for a the WLS main studio. 

hand, cited it as a ".safety measure." He said 

three-day torn- of theatres in the midwest 

zone During July the censor board reviewed' 

99 films (582,000 feet). Five were last week With a Gray Glove," an a projector drawing more than 15 amperes. 

Milton Rackmill, U-I president, was in town most electrical circuits might be overtaxed by 

. 

classified for adults only and one was rejected 

Mrs. Shirley Peltz has been upped 

IFE production, opened at the Cinema Annex 

Minsky, owner of Minsky's Theatre, 

Fall Film Preview Set 

reported he will open another theatre in 

. . . 

to booker at Republic. 

Newark, N.J., August 21, the Adams. Minsky On Productions for TV 

Jack Hunt reports the large Oak Lawn and said his baby daughter, born July 12, has CHICAGO—A Fall Film Preview will be 

Illinois drive-ins have enjoyed the greates been named Ava Diane. 

staged by the WGN-TV sales department t« 

business in their history this summer^ Hunt 

introduce film packages available this fall 

attributed much of this success to the 3-D Johnny Desmond, who gets star billing with 

for the Chicago market. The Fall Film Preview 

which was hailed as a big success when 

films they have presented. They P'oneei'ed Les Paul and Mary Ford on the Chicago 

with 3-D on outdoor screens, starting with Theatre's new stage show, said his latest 

it was presented for the first time last year, 

. 

••Bwana Devil" Lorenz, owner of the Coral record, "I'm-A-Love-You" and "It's So 

will show capsule-length excerpts from the 

Wanee Theatre at Kewanee, was here a week 

wide variety of filmed features toeing produced 

throughout the country. Included 

making the rounds of the exchanges. 

will 

PROGRAMS 

Car.»u»9 OHE «> TWO WEEKS! 

OWE DAY SERVICE — On Requesti 

• Your Inquiries Solicited • 

Theatrical Advertising Co. 

-S,,v*no ExWbltocs tor 35 Yean" 

StM CASS AVE. DFTROrr 1, MICH. 

Phone: WO. 1-2158 

CHAIRS REBUILT IN 

YOUR THEATRE 

By Experts in Their Field 

Write ior Quotations 

Chicago Used Chair Mart 

823 So. State St. Chicago 5 

52 

Nice to Be to Your Neighbor," has been released 

. "Life Begins Tomorrow" opened 

at the Hyde Park Theatre ... The Darb 

Theatre at Manteno, 111., an Anderson circuit 

house, is closed for the summer. 

Louis Lipstone, who left Balaban & Katz to 

become musical director at the Paramount 

studio in Hollywood, was here visiting his ailing 

mother Goldfinger's Telenews 

. 

Theatre, credited with highly diverafied film 

fare, opened with another new phase Fi-iday. 

Booked for a week were "South of the 

Sahara," a Technicolor geographical film, and 

•The Big Frame," murder mystery "Mr. 

. . . 

Potts Goes to Moscow" moved to the Carnegie 

following four weeks of outstanding 

success at the Surf. 

Ann Konnel, who writes background music 

for motion pictures in Hollywood, spent three 

days here in behalf of "Main Street to Broadway," 

which opened at the Monroe Theatre. 

Mis.s Ronnel, who wrote the musical .'core for 

the film was escorted by Norman Pyle, MGM 

publicist, as she appeared for interviews on 

local radio and television programs Abe 

. . . 

Fisher resigned August 3 as manager at Republic 

and was succeeded by Herbert A. 

Kaufman 

Hill of Columbus was 

. 

spending a two-week vacation m Marion, 

Ohio Sam Kaplan of Lippert Pictures was 

on a three-week vacation in Los Angeles and 

San Francisco. 

. . . 

Mrs Marion Sokey, employed at 20th-Fox 

,n Omaha six years, has been transferred here 

M. M. Gottlieb, district manager for U-I, 

returned from a Canadian fishing trip 

New Chicago Law Worries 

Amateur Film Makers 

CHICAGO—A proposed city law requiring 

the services of professional operators "in certain 

circumstances" presents cause for worry 

to amateur film makers. The proposal, incorporated 

in a revised electrical code introduced 

in the city council, calls for professionals 

to operate any film projectors using 

more than 15 amperes of electricity and 

showing larger than 16mm film. Home film 

industry spokesmen and some aldermen said 

many inquiries have come from amateur film 

makers as to whether they will be atlected. 

Meanwhile, Alderman Robert Merriam 

stated he will procure a clarification of the 

provision when the proposed electrical code 

comes up for council consideration. D. J. 

be drama, mystery, romance, sports, news, 

quiz and panel shows. 

wr-M TV 

Ted Weber, sales manager of WGN-lv, 

said more than 100 producers and distributors 

of film packages have been invited to 

send in samples of their film packages for 

the showing. Most of the programs, he said 

haven't been previously exhibited in this 

market Weber said the purpose of the 

screenings is to show clients and agency 

representatives the wide range of features 

available for sponsorship. 

1 

Log Structures Carry Out 

Frontier Theme at Airer 

BETHANY, MO.-The new Frontier Dnvein, 

opened here recently by E. W. Kerr 

Theatres, represents the old frontier of the 

west in more than name. In appeai-ance also 

the theatre carries out its name, with all 

structures built of lodge pole pine in the manner 

of old-time stockades in the Indian days. 

A J Messer, general contractor for the 

Frontier, said that he drove nearly 2,000 miles 

in Missouri and Arkansas this spring to find 

logs suitable for such construction, but without 

success, unable to locate a "^r 

c'f 

^°";;^f^ 

Messer finally obtained the logs of odge pole 

pine in northern Colorado. Actual f""-^^ logs 

form the main walls of the entrance, the boxoffice 

and the projection-concession building^ 

F F Chenowith is district manivger heie 

for Kerr Theatres, which also operates the 

Noll and Roxy here and the Rigney. Albany. 

BOXOFFICE 

:: August 8, 1953 .

- 

I 

1 

Durwood Will Erect 

2nd Jeff City A'lrer 

KANSAS CITY—Plans for the construction 

of a 500-car drive-in at Jefferson City have 

been announced here by Stanley Durwood, 

general manager of the Durwood Theatre 

circuit. A large tract of land has been purchased 

from Roy Scheperle and construction 

will begin at once. The opening is planned 

for early in 1954. 

Elaborate plans call for a wide screen to 

accommodate pictures in the aspect ratio of 

2.55 to 1 and 3-D pictures. Emphasis also will 

be placed on a completely equipped playground 

and a cafeteria-style concession stand. 

now so widely accepted. 

Durwood Theatres also operates the Skylark 

Drive-In north of Jefferson City and there 

another drive-in, the Highway-50 of which 

is 

Hub Miller is manager, west of town. The 

new Durwood airer will be just outside the city 

limits on the east of the capital city. 

GRANITE CITY, ILL.—The Illinois secretary 

of state at Springfield has issued articles 

of incorporation to the Samuel Komm Theatres, 

with a capitalization of S65.900, to 

own and operate a drive-in which the Komm 

family is building on State Route 111 and 

U.S. 66 three miles north of town. Articles of 

incorporation also were issued to the Carol 

Realty Investment Co., with a capital of 

$63,600 w^hich will own the ground occupied 

by the drive-in. 

The two firms are registered as Missouri 

corporations, with their principal Illinois 

offices at 204 West Main Street. Collinsville, 

111., the location of the Miners Theatre, owned 

for many years by the Komm family. 

S. Louis Jablonow. Clayton, Mo., is listed 

as president of Sam Komm Tlieatres: Millard 

Komm, University City, Mo. as secretary, and 

Sue Patterson, Collinsville, as the registered 

agent. Officers of the Carol Realty & Investment 

Co. are Hope Komm. Clayton, president; 

Millard Komm, secretary, and Sue 

Patterson as the registered agent. 

The Komms and Jablonow are heirs of the 

late Samuel Komm, who for 20 years leased 

and operated the Miners Theatre in Collinsville. 

The family also owns the Mounds Drive- 

In on Route 40 between East St. Louis and 

Collinsville, and several theatres in St. Louis 

and St. Louis county. 

ST LOUIS—Ray Parker, mayor of Brentwood: 

his brother Norman C. Parker, an attorney, 

and others associated in the operation 

of the Parker's Skyline Drive-In in St. 

Louis county, have obtained a building permit 

for construction of a 700-car drive-in 

near 4300 South Broadway. 

The construction permit estimated the 

cost at only $20,000 and gave Ray Parker as 

the owner and builder. 

The proposed drive-in will be the first in 

A. V. CkMlR Ser^ 'P^ 

Merchant Trailers for sure-fire 

merchant-exhibitor Satisfaction 

-PHONE or WRITE ».^J-'^*°." 

^ ®^?,° 

Independence, Mo. 

BOXOFnCE :: August 8. 1953 

the city of St. Louis. There are seven driveins 

in St. Louis county, largely patronized 

by residents of st. Louis. 

The ground occupied by Parker's Skyline 

Drive-In opposite Lambert-St. Louis municipal 

airport has been condemned to make way 

for a relocation of Natural Bridge road In 

connection with an expansion program for 

the big airport. This may be the last sca.son 

for this drive-in. 

NEWTON. ILL—C. D. Simmons of CIsne. 

111., has announced that his new drive-in on 

Route 33 between here and Oblong, 111., and 

accommodating about 300 cars will have its 

grand opening August 11. He has been in St. 

Louis booking pictures for the drive-in. 

BATESVILLE. IND.—John Jackson Jr. has 

started construction on a new drive-in south 

of his residence on Highway 229. The theatre 

will have a capacity of 312 cars and 

opening is slated for September. 

Hugh Gardner of Neosho 

Dies Following Stroke 

NEOSHO, MO.—Funeral services were held 

here Monday (3) for Hugh Gardner, owner 

of the Orpheum and Bandbox theatres and 

the Edgewood Drive-In. Gardner died Saturday 

(1) afternoon at St. John's hospital in 

Tulsa after suffering a stroke that morning. 

Gardner was one of the early theatre operators, 

having purchased one when he moved 

t« Neosho about 33 years ago from Holdenville, 

Okla. He was born in Gainesville, Tex., 

and was 66 years old. a member of the Episcopal 

church and of the Rotary club. His 

wife and two daughters survive, also a 

nephew, Ed Harris, who has been managing 

Gardner's theatres for some time. 

Gardner had not been in active management 

of the theatres since 1936. Harris operated 

the theatres from 1936 to 1941 and then 

resumed the management again in 1950 after 

spending several years in California. 

Crash in Front of Drive-In 

Causes $35,000 Lawsuit 

BELLE\^LLE. ILL.— A S3.S.000 pi'r.ôiuil 

injury damage suit recently was filed in the 

circuit court here by Glenn Conley against 

the Jablonow-Komm Theatres, Inc., operator 

of the Mounds Drive-In on U.S. 40 between 

E^st St. Louis and Collinsville. and Jo.seph 

Kobylinski. an automobile owner. In his petition 

Conley alleged that his automobile and 

Kobylinski's machine coUided in front of the 

drive-in theatre on June 17. 1952, and that as 

a result of the collision he received serious 

personal injuries. He further charged that 

the collision resulted from negligence on the 

part of the drive-in management. 

Resume Management at Lyndon 

LYNDON, KAS.— Ml-, and Mrs. Gib Crocker 

have resumed management of the Rialto 

Theatre here. For the past several months 

it has been run by Mr. and Mrs. Bob Crawford, 

who have returned to Tecumseh. 

TERRIFIC 

FAST-SELIING 


EXHIBITORS 

ARE 

SAVING 

ON 

i 

PERMANENT 

POLARIZED 

USSES! 

OWN THEM! 

RENT 

SELL 

THEM! 

PBIillS (III I 

( They Nocr Wear OuV 

STANDARD WHOLESALE PRICE 

-BEST QUALITY 


THEM! 

Write Wire Or Phone Today 

LIST 

Jack Thomas 

HALLMARK 



HOLLYWOOD 46. 

CALIF. 


S3

. . Bruce 

. . M. 

. 

. . 

Commonwealth's 

. . Mrs. 

. 

. 

KANSAS CITY 

TJoward Kinser, 20th-Fox salesman for the 

" Wichita territory since 1936, except for 

the two years he was in the army, completed 

25 year/ with his company on July 12. He 

has spent his whole show business career 

with that one company, starting as assistant 

booker in Dallas in 1928. He was transferred 

to Oklahoma City as head booker and office 

manager in November of 1931, and went on 

the road as a salesman there in the tprmg 

of 1933 After three years, he was transferred 

to the Kansas City area, in which he has 

completed his quarter century of service. 

Howard makes his home at Newton, Kas. 

(38 feet) which was tailor-made for the house. 

It is a Walker all-purpose screen, the only 

seamless one in Kansas City, Harold says . . 

KMTA visitors reported the past week include 

Ken Winkelmeyer, Casino at Boonville, Mo.; 

Lauren Turner, Independence Associated 

Theatres, Independence, Mo.; Virgil Harbison, 

Tarkio at Tarkio, Mo.; Melbourne Sparks, 

new owner of Center Theatre at Oakley, Kas.; 

Doc Cook, Tivoli Theatre and Dude Ranch 

Drive-In, Maryville, Mo.; Marty Landau, 

Liberty at Horton, Kas 

from two weeks at Sun Valley with a nice 

tan and no ski injuries. There wasn't any 

snow except on the peaks, but she ice-skated 

and swam. 

Joe Neger, manager at 20th-Fox, and Chick 

Evens, exploiteer, have returned from the district 

meeting of branch managers held Friday 

(311 at the Raddison hotel in Minneapolis 

. . . Vern Skorey, sales manager, drove 

up and spent a week's vacation with his family 

in Minneapolis and left the car for their 

use in moving to Kansas City in a few weeks 

Louis Patz returned Monday i3i from 

Land O' Lakes, Wis. On the way back, he 

and Mrs. Patz stopped in to see their son 

Danny at a summer camp near Heyward. 

Bfff' 

liiiits, 

JjECtier 

jlte 

Amone the theatre closings since the first 

Bill Gaddoni, manager at MGM, is vacationing 

at Lake Okoboji . . . 

of the year which have recently come to the 

Shirley Taylor, 

Harold Lyon, manager of Paramount Theatre, 

opened Thursday with a new wide screen at Wamego, Kas.; the Parnell at Parnell, Mo.; 

attention of the KMTA office are the Mayer 

switchboard operator, is back after a siege 

the Maitland at Maitland, Mo.; the De Luxe 

with the mumps ... Don Davis, district 

at Hardtner, Kas., and the Latham at Latham, 

manager for RCA Radio Corp., came back 

from Denver and then headed for Memphis 

Kas. 

and Little Rock ... At National Screen Service 

Annaline Balke is flashing a solitaire 

CRETORS POPCORN MACHINES 

Bob Collier, manager of the ClaCo Drlve-In 

now under construction for Consolidated in 'the billing department . . . 

Ahce Miller, 

L & L POPCORN CO. Agencies on No. 10 off 69, announced booker at NSS, is spending two weeks in 

Monday (3) on the Row that they have set Portland, Ore. 

116 West 18th St. Konsoj Cihr, Mo. 

the opening date as September 3 George 

. . . 

Dale Danielson's Dream Theatre at Russell, 

1 Moore has a new tower for his Ski-Vue 

Kas., has one of the new screens with 

Drive-In at Plainville, Kas. S. Heath 

. 

metallic facing for showing 3-D pictures 

. 

. . 

and son Marvin have started construction of 

a drive-in a mile north of Gashland. Mo., on Among the new air conditioning units reported 

in the territory is one for the Barlow 

Highway 169. It will have a capacity of 500 

at Bird City, Kas., owned by L. D. Barlow . 

cars at the start, with plans for increased 

E M. Block's Civic at Sabetha, Kas.. i= another 

house which has started showing 3-D 

space as needed. 

STAGE EQUIPME NT COMPANY 

The Midway Theatre at Hill City, Kas., has movies. Instead of raising admissions, he is 

llllLHI IILUILIIII. begun operating Saturdays and Sundays, with charging 15 cents tor the plastic Polaroid 

drive-in on 

a Sunday matinee. It is run by Mr. and Mrs 

. 

viewers 

John Welty Waugh, manager of U S 281 between Hoisington and Great Bend 

. 

the Ben Bolt and Ritz theatres at Chillicothe, wiu not be completed this year, according to 

MO resigned July 26 to return to Gallup, Lloyd Morris, division manager The local 

N.M., where he has a job with an automo.ive labor shortage, necessitating the use of Commonwealth 

employes, was the major cause of 

company. 

!>H ôuA SvuMX SiMca 1S99 

the delay. 

G M "Doc" Deen, United Artists salesman 

STEBBINS THEATRE Equipment Co. 

for southern Kansas, and wife returned after 

On exhibit at RKO is an old theatre page 

a two-week vacation in New York. The Deens of the Kansas City Star for Jan. 23. 1933. The 

make their home in Perry, Okla. ... B. IX price at Loew's Midland is listed as 25 cents. 

r r^fWTV^ ^xV Douglass, RCA Service Co. field engineer with The Madrid and several other now-clo:ed 

headquarters in Des Moines, visited the district 

office National Theatre Supply Co. 

houses were open then, and among the stars 

still going strong were Bill Powell. George 

Satisfaction — . . . has sold new rectifiers and lamps to the Brent and Loretta Young. 

Always 

Roxy Theatre at Warsaw, Mo. -Pauline 

. . 

Finton Jones was on the Row Monday «3> 

MISSOURI 

Kreger boxoffice statement clerk at MGM, 

after a trip to Colby. Stockton. Phillipsburg. 

has resigned after ten years w-ith the company 

to be married on Thursday (30). She 

Holton. Seneca and Atchison, Kas.. and to 

THEATRE SUPPLY COMPANY 

Mccook, Neb. Eddie Golden lelt by 

. 

KWBRIEL. Manage 

will live in Oklahoma City Mary Fleming 

. . . 

plane last week for New York City to view 

one BRllimoro 3070 

secretary to Bernie Evens, exploiteer. returned 

pictures for the Vogue Theatre. Packing 

them in this week there is an Oscar 'Wi de 

comedy Among those who attended the 

. . . 

Hugh Gardner funeral in Neo.ho Monday 

(3) were J W. Shreve, Shreve Equipment Co., 

HANDY SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM 

BOXOFFICE: 

"OUR BUS/NESS /S %Q\iHD 

825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 24. Mo. 

,n i u- i, 

L i- .- nOYnmrF 52 issues per year (13 ol wtiich con- 

Pleass enter my subscription to BOXUrni-i:.. Ji i^su v 

lain The MODERN THEATRE Section). 

Phone 3-7225, Topcko 

$3.00 FOR 1 YEAR D $5.00 FOR 2 YEARS D S7.00 FOR 3 

YEARS 

THEATRE SERVICE CO., INC. 

D Remittance Enclosed D f""''-- "" 

Send Invoice 

B27 Woyne 

THEATRE 

Carpets -Door Mats 

STREET ADDRESS 

Complete Instollotion Service— Free Eitimot.l 

STATE.. 

TOWN 

R. D. MANN CARPET CO. 

928-930-932 Centrol, Victor U71, Kon,« City, M.. 

POSITION 

455 Poul Brown Bid,., Chestnut 4499. St. LouU 

NAME 

54 

BOXOFnCE :: August 8, 1953 jfcjjj^^^

. . Chet 

. . Warner 

Konsos 

I 

Count E>eStefano and Verne Babcock from 

National Theatre Supply Co. . . . George 

Gabbert, Columbia office manager, was on a 

weeks vacation. "China Venture" and "Pack 

Train" were screened Monday (3) night . 

Pat Pinnell. Columbia salesman out of 

Wichita, was on a week's vacation In Illinois. 

Bee Freeman, booker's .secretary at Allied 

Artists, is spending two weeks at Grand 

Junction, Colo. . Borg got promoted 

in this column last week to brother Russ' 

position with Warner Bros., as branch man- 

. 

ager. Blame it on the heat! ...MB. Pre.sley, 

who ha-s the New Globe at Savannah, Mo., 

and the Benney at Pattonsburg, suffered an 

accident with a ripsaw while cutting some 

bean-sticks for his two gardens. He nearly 

lost his thumb, and infection complicated the 

recovery so he was still bandaged when on the 

Row last Monday i3i Bros, 

screened "Plunder of the Sun" Wednesday 

(5) and "Island in the Sky" Thursday. No 

reviewer will dare call them down-to-earth 

dramas. 

RKO's key -town saturation bookings of 

"Mighty Joe Young" will start August 12, and 

Hap Eaton. RKO exploiteer based in St. Louis, 

was in town working out details . . . Moveabouts 

at RKO included A. L. Colitz, distric*. 

manager based in Denver, making a tour of 

the branch offices. Gib Jones, booker, was on 

a two-week vacation at home, and E.-ther 

Coldwell is spending her two weeks in Tennessee 

. . . RKO salesman Bob Ringler of 

Law'rence. Kas.. and John Wangberg, Missouri 

territory, were on the Row Friday (31). 

John Hawkins, salesman for the A. V. 

Cauger Service Co. of Springfield, Mo., caught 

a 24-pound yellow catfish recently in the 

Bryant river, about 17 miles north of where 

it runs into Norfolk lake. In fact, he and 

his brother, J. L. Hawkins of West Plains, 

caught 52 pounds of fish in two days. In a 

photograph sent in as proof of their piscatorial 

achievements, but which was too dark 

to print, the 24-pound fish comes to John's 

waist. 

Those sharply dressed out-of-town fellows 

you see on the Row are probably the Commonwealth 

managers who won steam irons in 

a recent four-week contest for results shown 

between the spring contest and the King-ofthe-Sun 

event. The 12 w'inners were Ralph 

Pullen. Waynesville, Mo.; Doug Lightner. 

Manhattan, Kas.: Ray Holmes, Garden City, 

Kas.: Elton Kuhlman, Great Bend. Ka,.: Don 

Pillotson, Holton, Kas.: Harold McCracken, 

Belleville, Kas.: Bill Lenhart. Trenton, Mo.: 

Ray Watkins, Superior, Neb.: Bill Headstream, 

Batesville, Ark.: Monroe Glenn, Fulton. 

Mo.: Clyde Bradley. Mountain Home. 

Ark.: Dewey Balls, Hoisington. Kas. 

EVERYTHING FOR THE THEATRE 

St. Louis Theatre Supply Company 

Atch Hosier 

3310 Olive Street. St. Louis 3. Mo. 

Telephone JEflerson 7974 

SELL YOUR THEATRE PRIVATELY 

Largest covfrage in U.S. No "Net" listings. 

Highest reputation for know-how 

and fair dealing. 30 years experience iniluding 

exhibition. Ask Better Business Bu- 

ml 

'eau. or our customers. Know your broker. 

ARTHUR LEAK Tlteatre Specialists 

3305 Caruth. Dallas. Tex.is 

Telephones EM 0238 • EM 7489 

CONFIDENTIAL CORRESPONDENCE INVITED 

ST. 

LOUIS 

ôm Bloomer, Belleville, pre.sldenl ol the 

MPTO, commented thus on the .suKgcstlon 

of Rotus Harvey, head of Western Theatre 

Owners, tijat a repre.scntnlive of the Department 

of Justice act as arbiter of motion picture 

industry trade disputes: The angle of 

having a Department of Justice man .serve a.s 

the arbiter in a new .system of film industry 

arbitration Is something that should be 

weighed very carefully. Our organization has 

gone on record repeatedly as favoring arbitration 

of trade disputes. We should stay out 

of the courts. The only place to get 

the funds 

to pay off the millions of dollars In antitrust 

suit judgements is the boxoffice of the 

motion picture industry. The courts costs, 

lawyers fees and those high judgments are a 

major factor in raising the cost of operating 

all theatres to excessive proportions. Court 

battles should, of course, be eliminated A 

fair system of arbitration at a minimum of 

cost is what we badly need." 

Eighty-six theatres in the St. Louis area 

began taking collections for the Aid to Korea 

campaign on Sunday (26>. Early report-s were 

that audience response was favorable and 

more generous than had been hoped for. 

The EI Capitan Drive-In at Metropolis reopened 

July U. Its screen tower was wrecked 

in a tornado on June 13. The new .screen 

tower is of concrete block construction and 

designed to withstand a wind of 120 miles 

an hour. 

The G. C. Kirn Advertising Sign Co. has 

appointed Phillip C. Hammond as general 

sales manager of its electrical sign division. 

In the advertising sign business since 1935. 

Irc formerly operated his own company at 

Dixon. 111. . . . The Rev. Nicon D. Patrinacos, 

pastor of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox church 

here, will te the principal guest of honor at 

the opening of "The Glory Brigade" at the 

St. Louis Theatre July 31. The priest appears 

in the film in the role of chaplain to the 

brigade. Greek troops who took part in the 

Korean war. The picture was shot at Ft. 

Leonard Wood. Mo. 

Chairmen of the committees for the annual 

meeting of the MPTO, met in the Variety 

Club quarters at Monday i3» . . . Robert 

Woodley. office manager for MGM here, resigned 

recently to join the traveling sales 

staff of the Knapp-Monarch Co., manufacturer 

of electrical utensils. Harry Hopkins, 

northern Illinois salesman, is temporarily 

filling in as office manager 

Al Coco, MGM booker, returned from vacation 

Monday (3) . . . MGM auditor H. W 

Gillilam was In for a couple of weeks . 

Exhibitors .seen along Filmrow included Ben 

Kramer, Ken Theatre. Granite City: Elvin 

Wieckes, Staunton: Lee Norton, Sullivan: 

Mrs. Ora Redford, Auburn, and C. D. Simmons. 

Cisne, who will open his new drive-in 

near Newton on August 11. 

Clark Is 22 Years Old 

LOUISIANA. MO Tlie Clark Tlieatre. 

owned by Russel Armentrout. observed Its 

22nd anniversary this spring. Roger Moyer. 

a son-in-law, is the active head of the 

Armentrout interest-s since the semlretirement 

of Armentrout. 

W. A. Collins Observes 

18ih Year in Industry 

DE SOTO. MO W A Bill " Colllm. ownci 

and operator of the Collliu. and the nowclascd 

De So'.o Theatre here, who recently 

opened the new Sky-Vue Drivc-In, Ik cclebrallng 

his 18th year In the local ent^rrUliiment 

field 

On the occa-slon of the drive-ln opening, 

Collins waxed enthusla.stlc about new motion 

picture terhnlques, including wide screen and 

three-dimension, and predlct«d Iha". the!>e 

new proce ses 

would mean the biggest boom 

ever to the film Industry. 

Collins, a World War I veteran, returned 

from .service abroad in 1919 and at once bc-- 

came attracted to the amasement field. H

. . . Recent 

. . Mr. 

. . The 

. . The 

. . Dale 

. . Al 

. . 

Billy Andlauer Dies; 

Long at Kansas City 

KANSAS CITY—W. A. "Billy" Andlauer. 

whose connection with the industry goes back 

to the old silent days, died at St. Joseph 

W. A. ANDLAUER 

hospital on Saturday 1 1 ) after a long illness. 

Andlauer. who had lived most of his life in 

Kansas City, was born at Lone Jack. Mo. He 

was 72 years old. 

His earliest theatre was the Bonaventure. 

and profits from it made possible the founding 

of the Andlauer & Simes Film Co. This 

was located at 928 Main St. and its activities 

included both the filming and projecting 

of pictures for churches, clubs and business 

houses. It also rented photographic 

equipment to others. Andlauer was president 

of the firm and operated alone until 

about five years ago. 

Among his theatre activities was the opening 

of the Warwick and the Benton theatres. 

During the 1920s he was associated with 

the Paramount studios, recording local sport 

and news events on film, among which were 

many of the Kansas-Missouri football games. 

He belonged to the Country Club Christian 

church and was a past president of the 

Kansas City Cooperative club. His wife Lena 

survives him. 

Us 

mssm 





CHICAGO. l327S.Waba> 

NfW YORK 630 Ninth Av 

FILMACK 

GEB^^BAR 

THEWTRE EQUIPMENT 

442 N. ILLINOIS ST., INDIANAPOLIS, IND. 

"Everything for the Theatre" 

INDIANAPOLIS 

The closed Ritz Theatre at North Vernon 

was damaged by fire early Sunday morning. 

The fire was so intense it required help from 

nearby community to extinguish tJie $35,000 

blaze. The building hou.sing the theatre belonged 

to C. C. KJinger and was leased to Albert 

Thompson, the theatre manager. Tliompson 

had closed the house several months ago 

and had rented the auditorium to a local 

church group. They were preparing the house 

for a revival meeting when the blaze destroyed 

the theatre. 

The Wayne Theatre, Fort Wayne, operated 

by the Mailers circuit, is installing 3-D 

equipment to be ready within three weeks . 

Robert Stevens, RKO office manager is vacationing 

. and Mi-s. Ben Fuller of the 

Grand and Miami, Union City, are vacationing 

at Lake James . Pal Theatre at 

Elmyra. Ky.. has closed . . . Al Richey. who 

operates the Alhambra. Knightstown, was in 

Terre Haute Wednesday on business . . . Al 

Blankenbaker is repainting and redecorating 

his Pastime Theatre in Richmond ... J. 

Wilmer Bruncoe has opened his Parkway 

Drive-In at Dawson Springs, Ky. 

. 

. 

Harry Stafford, Bradford Film Transit Co., 

is confined to the Methodist ho.spital as a 

result of a heart attack Allied Tlieatres 

of Indiana urged Hoosier exhibitors to 

show the Pi-esidential trailer and pass the 

plate for the Korean relief fund . Hendricks, 

Indiana Theatre manager, estimates 

a $25,000 gross for "Shane." which introduced 

the new panoramic screen Schuder 

is at the Circle helm while Manager Walter 

Wolverton vacations in Ohio and Michigan 

theatre closings include the Wabash, 

Terre Haute: the Knox Drive-In, Vincennes, 

and the Community, Carthage. 

This Is Cinerama' Debut 

Nets $15,000 for Camp 

CHICAGO—The "This Is Cinerama" firstnighter 

audience, which included civic, society, 

business and industry leaders, contributed 

$15,000 to the Peacock Camp for 

Crippled Children, for which the July 29 

debut was a benefit. "Dry runs," which were 

in progress for a week, resulted in what was 

called "a perfect opening." 

An authentic check showed persons from 

17 states in attendance. Among top personalities 

present for the opening were Louis B. 

Mayer, who came from Hollywood for the 

occasion; Thomas L. Perkins, chairman of 

Cinerama's executive committee, and Fred 

Waller, inventor of Cinerama. John Joseph 

said that seats are sold out for every show 

and matinee. Mayor Kennelley proclaimed 

the week of July 27 as Cinerama week. 

Woman Manages Second Airer 

ELLINWOOD, KAS.— Audrey Flynn (Mrs. 

Bill will manage the new EUinwood Drive-In 

I 

which held its grand opening Friday. July 17. 

Tlie outdoor theatre is owned by Haas-Flynn 

Theatres, Inc., which owns the Great Bend 

Drive-In, also managed by Audrey. Technicolor 

features, with three changes of program, 

were shown the first week. 

Deborah Kerr appeared at the ea.stern 

opening of Columbia's "From Here to Eternity" 

at the Capitol Theatre in New York. 

European Theatres 

Impress Al Dezel 

CHICAGO—Scrupulous theatre maintenance 

and courtesy to patrons impressed Al 

Dezel. veteran film 

distributor in this 

area, who returned 

recently from a fiveweek 

tour of Europe. 

Dezel related he 

planned to confine his 

trip to a "tourist view," 

but "after 30 years in 

the business, I found 

myself curious about 

operation.s over there." 

He visited London, 

Paris and Rome, and 

Albert Dezel cities in-between. 

European theatremen are interested in 

three-dimension, he related, as an experiment, 

but they intend to hold off until the 

experimental stage is over and 3-D films are 

perfected. 

"House and equipment preservation seems 

to be a must in old and new houses alike," 

he said. "The courtesy shown to patrons is 

outstanding. Not only do the theatre per- 

.sonnel go out of their way to be polite, but 

managers in full dress .suits and trimly uniformed 

attendants give a lot of class to all 

houses without exception. 

He said exploitation in the theatres he 

noted was the very best. 

Lobby entrance concessions are popular in 

Europe just as they are here. Dezel also noted 

that tearooms and bars are located just outside 

the theatre auditoriums, and believed 

this practice is a business stimulant. 

He found an apparent lack of interest in 

television, and believed this form of entertainment 

never would pre. ent any problems 

to the European theatre owners. 

In Rome he found the studio facilities were 

excellent while the producers' handling of 

authentic, outside settings was unexcelled. 

There is a growing trend in Paris. Dezel 

discovered, of dubbing French films into 

English, partly a result of the presence of 

American actors there, available at a reasonable 

cost for the dubbing work. 

Dezel was able to arrange an audience with 

Pope Pius in Rome, and regards this as the 

most interesting part of his trip. 

Outdoor Showmen Hunt 

Most Popular Woman 

CHICAGO—Many valuable prizes await the 

winner of a contest to determine the most 

popular woman in the outdoor show business. 

Among the awards is a two-week all-expense 

vacation in Hollywood. 

The contest is sponsored by the Showmen's 

League of America. The winner will be 

designated "Mi.ss Outdoor Show Business." 

Candidates have been nominated by leading 

amusement parks, circuses, carnivals and 

other outdoor attractions. 

Fall Opening Date Set 

CLAYTON. ILL. -The 180-seat Bijou Theatre, 

owned by Rîlph E. Graham, will reopen 

Friday. September 4. The house has been 

closed for the summer months. 

*^riii 

56 BOXOFFICE :: Augu.st 8, 1953

' 

: : : : : : 

: 

; 

. 

Maurice Druker Shifted 

To Loew's, Kansas City 

KANSAS CITY—M. B. Cullcn. Loew's Theatre 

division manager. St. Louis, ha.s been 

hero and announced the apponitmenl of 

^^^^ Maurice Druker a.. 

^^^1 

P^^H 

EH^H 

manager of Luew's 

Midland, replacing the 

late Howard Burk- 

^^H hardt. D r u ke r has 

j^^^M been with Loew's since 

^^M 1929 — 24 years — and 

*^^^^ most recently has been 

^^^m manager of Loew's 

State at 

^^^1 

Providence, 

^^^^ R.I. Previous to that 

^^^^ assignment he w a s 

H^H manager of Loow'n 

State 

Maurice Druker Tenn. 

at M e m p h i ,s 

He and Mrs. Druker are driving through 

and should arrive in time for him to takr 

charge of the theatre on Monday ilOi. Edward 

Richard, on, manager of Loew's Granada 

in Cleveland, has been acting as interim 

manager at the Midland since Burkhardfs 

death. 

Select Film Firm Opens 

Office in Downtown Area 

KANSAS CITY—A Rround floor lea,«e ha.s 

been taken by Select Motion Pictures at 1417 

Grand Ave. The company handle.^ RCA 

16mm audio-visual equipment for film 

libraries, also equipment sales and rentals for 

churches, schools, community centers and industries. 

It also offers religious, educational, training 

and entertainment films. Floyd O. Peters 

and Ruth S. Peters head the firm, which 

has occupied space at 1326A Oak St. The 

initial location was 1818 Wyandotte on Filmrow. 

Before organizing his own company, 

Peters was with Pa the. Universal, Fox and 

Paramount. He also has managed theatres in 

various locations. 

Posts to Be Removed 

PITTSFIELD, ILL. — Clark Armentrout, 

manager of the Clark Theatre, has stated 

that the theatre will be closed the week of 

August 20, at which time the big posts on 

either side of the theatre's stage will be removed. 

These posts have always obstructed 

a view of the stage from the side seats. It 

will be an expensive project to remove the 

posts, but the management decided to go 

through with it at this time for the convenience 

of the patrons. 

Olathe Theatre Robbed 

OLATHE. KAS—The Trail Theatre here 

was robbed of $394 on Sunday (2i night. 

D. B. McClure. manager of the Dickinson 

house, discovered the theft about 10 o'clock 

Monday morning. According to Ralph Shaw, 

chief of police, the thieves apparently knew 

the safe combination and had been able 

to open the office door, as there was no evidence 

of forcible means being used on either 

door. 

Renovate at Marceline 

MARCELINE, MO.—The Uptown Theatre 

here has been redecorated by Mi-, and Mrs. 

Basil L. Fogleson. who purchased the house 

last 

April. 

Loop Grosses Terrific 

Cinerama Opens to 300 

CHICAGO—Unanimous reports Ihu! ti 

W- 1.; 

KA 

' 

C ^°P *** enjoylnic "most terrific b 

V acanon /VxOVieS OerieS were backed up by sUcklnK boxofflcf 

^'^'^^ week screen presentatlon.s 

I \A/ lie I 't J wtn 

, 

IS WGll tXplOllSCj snd air conditioned thcatre.s drew in countl)- 

numbers of people who .souKhl rf'.'.'-l fr":; 

KANSAS CITY — Wlieii ii conie.s to promo- temperatures which have rema;: 

tional Oactivities. Fox Midwest ha.s a human "This Is Cinerama" at the P 

dyn;imo in il.s Uptown Theatre manager, Nick spotlight, but "Gentlemen Pri-f. : 

Sonday. Nick is one of the Oriental by no means took a back .m-.. 

those forceful person- as a favorite. "Main Street to Broadway" ;.' 

alities who carries on the Monroe, also a newcomer, was rcpon-slbl" 

a campaign with con- for stepped-up business. 

fagious energy that In- (Averogc i> 1 00) 

— ,' it'ct.s everyone who Comcoic—The Whu. Un* iife) 175 

works with him. That's Ch.cogo— l, the Jury (UA), plui iiooa t^Krn. 2nd 

'*' 

- - ^^'iy the Vacation Eitcr» Polace—ThI. I< Cin«rama 'Cineromol 300 

A — Movie program soon- E»quirc—Tonight at a:10 Contmcotol) 185 

-XVv ^^_ J I, c w Grand- 

II 

Pkturo ;Picturo). Port SInitlot (RKO) 170 

-ored by Fox. has been McV,ckcrv-D»ert Song WB Dan«*reu« WImh 

^^^%^^ B^^ 

^^^^^^K ^^H .such a success this sea- ^•' imgmi I6S 

^^^^^ ^» ^^^B ^.„„ C5„„j„.. wj Monroe—Main Street to Broodwoy VGM) .195 

^^^H Ô"' Sonday had Oncnlal—Gontlcmcn Prctcr BlonOe. 20tK-Fo>! .275 

^^^^^ ' ^ ^^^ charge of it. Rooicvcit pickup on Soulh street ;0tti-FOM); TiM 

"Nick Sonday He began by sending sto"o"L'o"o''"Rct''uVn to Porodiw ua) irvJ wk 200 

out letters to all the Surf— The S.OOO Finger, ot Or. T. Col) 195 

parochial and public .school heads. Mrs. A. J. '^"i^'"*" " ^°'"' '""" °"'" *""" '"'" ^""200 

Aubrecht, executive chairman of the paroch- Umtcd Anuts—Th« Mau aa). Fort VangMnc* 

ial PTA, and Mrs. Richard Bland, president w^d'l'-^S^ moo„ i. biu. ua). 6tt, wk. m 

of the public school PTA, were both enthus- world Ploytwuse—The $«v»n Deadly Sim (Arlon), 

iastic. However, the board of education of 

the public schools had never allowed full 

zieaTeiSÛH (MGM). 8th wk ISo 

participation before, and it was Mrs. Bland's 

, _ 

endorsement and a letter from Sonday to Earnest' Is Leader 

the board which helped to put it over. In Kaycee at 300 

"We feel it was worth the effort we put KANSAS CITY—Oscar Wilde's witty drawon 

it because the program has given Fox Mid- inp-room drama of another era. "The Imvvest 

a higher place in the community." Son- portance of Being Earnest." plea-sed Kansas 

day said in di.scussing the campaign. "We City filmgoers proportionately more than 

are giving the children good, wholesome any other offering the past week. It gros.sed 

entertainment and working right along with 300 per cent at the Vogue, and the next 

the board of education. This means we are high-.scoring picture was "LIU" In Its 12th 

also helping to fight juvenile deliquency. week at the KImo. doing 135 per cent. Ackeeping 

children off the streets, and we are cording to Ralph Gregory, booker for Dlcklncultivating 

patrons of tomorrow. This pro- son Theatres, ""Lili" will be held as long a.- 

gram can grow bigger and bigger." it does better than average business. All the 

A small printed pamphlet was .sent home other first run theatres did average or better 

with each child for the parents to read. It buslne.ss. but only the art hou.ses mentioned 

announced the "Special Summer Vacation are holding pictures over. The continued 

Movies, sponsored and approved by the Coun- heat may have helped some, although more 

cil of Parent-Teacher A.ssociation and Feder- homes here are being air conditioned 

ation of Catholic PTA." listing these theatres; Neighborhood houses report excellent patroni 

:th »k 

Uptown. Tower. Plaza. Isis. Apollo. Brook- age. 

side, Waldo (still participating as a Common- '^'"'o— till vgv 

wealth house). Benton. Vista. Rockhill. Lin- '^ ^Hairs o'JXb.V g«ii,'*mg"''''''' 

135 

''^*' 

/^ 95 

wood. Gladstone. Lincoln. Carver. s«a Mmour.— South woman iwB), no tlm« fo» 

Season tickets were sold for $1.00. entitling Po""o*"nt -*i?o'udini Poro) li§ 

the children to 12 shows. Without a season Tower uptown, Foirwoy ond Gronodo—Citf o* 

ticket, the price of each show Is 25 cents, so "r'olhTo'i.'^rc.ûr'' '*'°* " '*"* '*'"' 

' '"^loo 

the advance sale was more than satisfactory. voguc—Th« importanc* o» Being Comoit u-ii 300 

although Sonday says it is surprising how 

many 25-cent tickets are sold every week. The Heat Pares Grosses 

shows, scheduled for each Wednesday, started t_ InHianaDolis 

June 10 at 10:00 a.m.. with boxof flees opening timt->t AxrAr^r to r. ... ... 

. r, ^,% .T-. .1 .. .V, V. « . 

INDIANAPOLIS— Boxofflce grasses took a 

at 9:30. Tliey will continue through August. 

, , ., , j . . I 

sharp skid in Indianapolis last week as In- 

^—^^—^^—^-^â^ tense heat gripped the city. Business generally 

was at low ebb with "Shane" topping the 

Highland Air Pork Sold returns at lOO per cent in 8 second week at 

_ 

the Indiana. 

HIGHLAND. ILL—The Air Park Drive-In 

„. , 

, . ., Circle—Tho Kid From L«ft FioM .20th-Fox). The 

on Highway 40 near here, accommodating oiory Brigade 20ih-fox) 80 

some 400 cars, has been sold by Joseph indcono—Shane Poroi, 2nd wk 100 

Schremp and Orville Wlnet of Highland to '"^'r^%\\!sZJ""'* ""'°.''. . 

"^ '" ."" 

. 

60 

Adolph List, who has been 0F>erating a ga- Loews— pickup on South Street iioth-Fox), Home 

rage and service station at Carlyle. Lync-Th"*von'ûi.h,d iPoro), Rebel city (AA). . so 

: 

BOXOFnCE :: August 8. 1953 57

DIVIDENDS... in 

human lives 

BUSINESS EXECUTIVES! 

CHECK THESE QUESTIONS 

If you can answer "yes" to most of ttiem, 

you- and your company -are doing a needed 

O 

O 

O 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

job for the National Blood Program. 

HAVE YOU GIVEN YOUR EMPLOYEES TIME 

OFF TO MAKE BLOOD DONATIONS? 

HAS YOUR COMPANY GIVEN ANY RECOG- 

NITION TO DONORS? 

DO YOU HAVE A BLOOD DONOR HONOR 

ROLL IN YOUR COMPANY' 

HAVE YOU ARRANGED TO HAVE A BLOOD- 

MOBILE MAKE REGULAR VISITS' 

HAS YOUR MANAGEMENT ENDORSED THE 

LOCAL BLOOD DONOR PROGRAM' 

HAVE YOU INFORMED EMPLOYEES OF YOUR 

COMPANY'S PLAN OF CO-OPERATION? 

WAS THIS INFORMATION GIVEN THROUGH 

PLAN BULLETIN OR HOUSE MAGAZINE' 

HAVE YOU CONDUCTED A DONOR PLEDGE 

CAMPAIGN IN YOUR COMPANY? 

HAVE YOU SET UP A LIST OF VOLUNTEERS 

SO IHAl EFFICIENT PLANS CAN BE MADE 

FOR SCHEDULING DONORS' 

Remember, as long as a single pint of blood 

may mean the difference between life and 

America's blood bank needs more blood, now. Be a regular depositor and know 

that your dividend is saving a life of some American—somevi^here. 

It may be a soldier shot dovi^n in battle, suffering from shock. Or someone 

here at home, sick and in dire need of new blood to restore life. A mother in 

childbirth, or a child in an accident. 

America must give. America is you. Won't you call your Red Cross, Armed 

Forces or Community Blood Donor Center right now, for an appointment? 

death for any American ... the need for 

blood Is urgent! 

NATIONAL BLOOO PROGRAM 

58 BOXOFFICE :: AuKU.st 8, 1953

. . Miss 

KNOXVILLE SHOWERS TRIBUTES 

ON 7HIS IS LOVE' AND STARS 

Grace Moore Film Given 

Great Sendoff in 

Tennessee 

KNOXVILLE — Knoxville opened up the 

floodgates of welcome for the stars of "So 

This Is Love," the 

story of Tennessee's 

own Grace Moore, 

when the picture was 

given its world premiere 

at the Tennessee 

Theatre July 30. 

The featured players 

— pretty Kathryn 

Grayson, who depicted 

the late Miss Moore in 

the picture, Joan Weldon. 

Walter Abel and 

Merv Griffin — were 

Aubrey C. Couch 

swept up in a swirling 

maelstrom of activity from the very moment 

they stepped from a Delta Airlines plane 

July 28. 

The Knoxville Journal joined in a tremendous 

publicity campaign preceding the premiere 

and it seemed that all of Tennessee 

wanted to get on the bandwagon. Local, state 

and national bigwigs literally stumbled over 

each other in the rush and crush of thousands 

of avid film fans. 

Mayor D. W. Humphrey of Jellico, the opera 

.singer's home town, proclaimed July 30 "Grace 

Moore day," Commercial activities were suspended 

at noon so as many persons as possible 

might go to Knoxville for the premiere. 

Tennessee's handsome Gov. Frank Clement. 

looking like a film star hlm.sclf. took an active 

part in the proceedings and paid high 

tribute to Miss Grayson's portrayal of the 

Tennessee singer. 

Pre-premlere events included a gala Grace 

Moore ball, radio and newsreel Interviews, 

a Chamber of Commerce luncheon and dedication 

of the Grace Moore Memorial cloverleaf 

as part of the new Magnolia avenue 

trafficway. 

The planning was largely the work' of 

Aubrey C. Couch, city manager of the Wilby- 

Kincey Knoxville theatres, and David J. 

Harkness, University of Tennes.see librarian 

who has charge of the Moore museum. Many 

pictures of Miss Moore were loaned to the 

Joiu-nal to illustrate .special feature articles. 

The promotion was given terrific impetus 

by assignment of the entire proceeds ot the 

premiere events to the Grace Moore music 

scholarship fund at the University of Tennessee. 

A late tally indicated that the fund 

netted something more than $15,000. 

The Tennessee Theatre and Warner Bros, 

managements waived all share in the proceeds, 

and not even expenses of the premiere 

pubhcity or premiere showing were deducted 

from the gross. A taxicab company also transported 

patrons to the premiere—and then 

donated the entire fares to the scholarship 

fund. 

Dozens of newspaper advertisements were 

keyed to the Grace Moore-"So This Is Love" 

premiere theme. The merchants of Jellico 

were represented by a page ad in the Journal, 

and businessmen at Newport— Miss Moore's 

birthplace—also joined in a cooperative ad. 

George Dempster, mayor of Knoxville. expre.vsed 

the .sentiment his many conaUtuenta 

with "a tribute to • creat Tenneuean" In 

another ad. 

But the highest tribute of all came from 

MKs Moore's two brothers. Martin and Richard 

Moore. After .seeing the premiere Martin 

.said: "The portrayals In the picture wrrc outstanding 

. Gray.son was wonderful In 

the part and we feci that no other actress or 

singer In the world could have done a belter 

Job with the role." 

Two Wauchula Managers 

Win Floyd Chain Awards 

WAUCHULA, IXA - EriiU' Held, SUirlltt 

Drive-In manager, won the $100 award lor 

special effort in exploitation and general good 

management In the recent 13th anniversary 

celebration of Carl Floyd Theatres. The 

award was made at a banquet held In Tampa 

for all the Floyd managers. 

Marcy Melandreras. manager of the Hardee, 

captured the $50 prize for outstanding 

promotion In popcorn sales. Along with the 

numerous special awards given out at the 

banquet were quarterly bonuses. 

Thugs Crack Drive-In Saie 

RICHMOND. VA. — Safecrackers escaped 

with loot estimated at $400 In a robbery (28* 

at the office of the Bellwood Drive-In Theatre 

on the Petersburg pike, according to 

Chester County police. 

John Hodlak will star In Allied Artists' 

"Dragonfly Squadron." Korean war drama. 

DYNAFOG 1007o 

JET GENERATOR 

MIST TYPE 

APPLICATORS 

HIGH PRESSURE 

SPRAY UNITS 

KNAPSACK 

SPRAYERS 

WEED 

BURNERS 

• Surveys 

• Consultations 

• Sales-Service on 

a 1 

1 recognized 

types fogging 

and spraying 

machines, new 

and reconditioned. 

Your pest control problem can be iickeii with oi 

equipment, then the job is right, anil you ran he 

the price is right. You do not have to be a meel 

with modem portable equipment anyone (rcmi se\ 

so is all that it take.s. Motorized equipment to 1 

versatile enou{;h to Ho the ioli hct;in~ a- l..» as $1 

• Madeviêll E I ectro 

steam sprayer 

for inside 

space work. 

Made -to -order 

equipment to specifications. 

/NSfCT/C/DfS, LARVACIDES TESTED AND PROVED FORMULATIONS FOR PUBLIC 

HEALTH ENGINEERED FOR LOCAL CONDITIONS AND CUSTOM BLENDING

. . . Jack 

. . . Herber 

. . WRITE 

. . Richard 

. . Herbert 

. . . Mrs. 

. . W. 

MEMPHIS 

Darbara Cason of Memphis is the first winner 

of the midsouth talent search being 

conducted in connection with "Main Street 

to Broadway," now showing at Malco Theatre. 

Miss Cason won the contest at Malco 

with her portrayal of Sabina. the maid, in 

"The Skin of Our Teeth." As soon as possible 

after August 17 winners will come from 14 

cities in the Memphis territory to compete in 

another contest at Malco. A maximum of 

three winners will be chosen for an audition 

before New York producers in New York. 

Dates of contests in Malco theatres in cities 

in the Memphis territory are August 3, Cam- 

DRIVE-IN 

SPEAKER 

REPAIRS 

The Low Cost Way For 

In-Car Speaker Maintenance 

Aluminum Base Voice Coils 

And Moisture-Proofed Parts 

Fast Guaranteed Service 

3".4"-5" Single Cones $1.10; Double Conei $1.30 

EVANS RECONING SERVICE 

1112 Davis Ave. Des Moines, Iowa 

den. Ark., Fulton, Ky., and Jackson, Tenn.; 

August 4, Columbus, Miss.; August 10, Fayetteville. 

Fort Smith, Jonesboro and Newport, 

Ark.; August 12, Henderson, Ky., and 

Tupelo, Miss.; August 16, Owensboro, Ky., and 

August 17, McGehee, Russellville and Stuttgart, 

Ark. 

Loew's Palace here is installing a Cinema- 

Scope screen and stereophonic sound equipment. 

This is the second Memphis first run 

to acquire this 20th-Fox wide-angle process. 

Malco put in its system about a month ago. 

Manager Cecil Vogel of the Palace said as 

soon as installation was finished the Palace 

would start using the new wide, curved screen 

for conventionally filmed wide-angle shows. 

Variety held its annual picnic and swimming 

party at Rainbow swimming pool and 

recreation area August 1. G. L. Brandon was 

chairman of the entertainment committee. 

Actor Robert Strauss came to Memphis for 

personal appearances with the opening of 

"Stalag 17" August 6 at the Strand. Strauss 

plays a crude GI called Animal in the picture 

. . . Robert Wilson, owner, opened his new 

64 Drive-In at Whiteville, Tenn., August 1 

Sawyer, office manager, Malco Theatres, 

was vacationing . Levy, district 

manager, Malco, made a business trip to 

Kentucky . 

Lightman, also district 

manager at Malco, was in Jonesboro on business. 

Bill Sawyer, film payment department head 

at Malco, was back from a vacation trip to 

the ea.st . . . Elton Holland, manager, Crittenden 

Theatre, West Memphis, was vacationing 

Kohn, Malco executive, was in 

Fulton on business ... At 20th-Pox, Ann 

Grubbs resigned as stenographer and was 

replaced by Betty Winningham ... J. V. Frew, 

Atlanta, district manager for Universal, came 

to Memphis to make a business trip through 

Ai-kansas with Memphis Manager R. C. 

Settoon. 

ATTENTION 

Bill Stevens, office manager. Universal, is 

DRIVE-IN OWNERS 

SAVE SPEAKERS!! 

WITH 

IPlEAKRHTlEi 

U. S. PATENT PENDING 

A REVOLUTIONARY FORMULA FOR PRESERVING 

DRIVE-IN LOUD SPEAKER CONES 

SAVE MONEY!! 

SO EASY TO APPLY 

V/ATERPROOFS SPEAKER CONES 

POSITIVELY WILL NOT INTERFERE 

WITH OPERATION OF SPEAKER 

• DOUBLE THE LIFE OF NEW CONES 

• RESTORES THE LIFE OF OLD 

SPEAKERS 

PRESERVE THE SPEAKER 

AVOID COSTLY REPLACEMENTS BY USING SPEAKRITE! 

PRACTICAL TESTS WITH SPEAKERS IN USE HAVE PROVEN 

SPEAKRITE TO BE ALL WE CLAIM . FOR DETAILS . . 

SPEAKRITE 

PRODUCTS CO. 

P. 0. BOX 570), DREW STATION LAKE CHARLES, LA 

manager of the Filmrow Softball team which 

has won eight and lost two games this season 

H. A. Fitch. Erin, Erin; Douglas 

Pierce, Jaxon Drive-In, Jackson; Louise Mask, 

Luez, Bolivar, and M. E. Rice jr.. Rice and Rice 

Drive-In, Brownsville, were among west Tennessee 

exhibitors visiting in Memphis. 

Misissippi exhibitors in town booking included 

Mrs. Ann Nobel, Temple, Leland; John 

Carter, Whitehaven Drive-In, Grenada; Jack 

Watson, Palace, Tunica; J. F. Wofford, Eupora, 

Eupora; Paul Myers, Strand and Center, 

Lexington, and A. N. Rossi, New Roxy, 

Clarksdale. 

From Arkansas came Mr. and Mrs. U. 

Walker, 270 Drive-In, Sheridan: Gordon 

Hutchins, State, Corning; Mi', and Mrs. 

Charles Rebely, State, Stevens; Walter Lee, 

Rice at Des Arc and Gem at Heber Springs, 

and H. K. Kinney, Hays, Hughes . C. 

Kroeger, Shannon, Portageville, and Lyle 

Richmond, Richmond, Senath and CardweU, 

were in town from Missouri. 

Screen Tower Hit By Wind, 

Second Time This Year 

NEWPORT, ARK.—The screen tower of the 

Skylark Drive-In here was demolished for 

the second time this year when a recent 

windstorm struck. Damages also were suffered 

at the drive-in concession stand, the 

fence and a storage shed. Walter Morehead, 

an employe, was in the storage shed under 

the screen when the wind struck. He ran out 

as the screen started to fall. Mr. and Mrs. 

Lawrence Lancaster, owners of the theatre, 

said damages totaled about $10,000. 

Flying Saucers a Boon 

MOBILE, ALA. — "Flying saucers" descended 

on audiences at the Auto Sho Drive- 

In Theatre during the two-day celebration 

of the theatre's third aniversary. The saucers 

were sailed from the top of the concession 

stand. "Lucky" saucers contained $20 and 

$10 bills. There were a total of 350 prizes. 

Free lollipops were passed out to the kids. 

SELL 

YOUR THEATRE PRIVATELY 

Larocst coverage in U.S. No "Net" listings. 

Highest reputation for know-how 

and fair dealing. 30 years experience including 

exhibition. AsV Better Business Bureau, 

or our customers. Know your broker. 

ARTHUR LEAK Theatre Specialists 

3305 Caruth. DalLis, Texas 

Telephones EM 0238 • EM 7489 

CONFIDENTIAL CORRESPONDENCE INVITED 

INTERESTED IN

- 

1 

K. L. Williams Builds 

Fordyce, Ark., House 

FORDYCE. ARK— Construction has been 

started on a new theatre here to replace 

the old Dallas Theatre, which was destroyed 

by fire last Thanksgiving day. K. Lee Williams, 

head of K. Lee Williams Theatres, 

builder of the new house, said it should be 

completed in time for an October opening. 

Construction is under the supervision of 

Paul Marks, local manager. Plans call for 

a glass front which will provide a clear view 

of the lobby from the street. At the right 

of the lik'-floored lobby will be the glassed-in 

boxoffice and manager's office. The concession 

stand will be recessed at the rear of 

the lobby. 

At the left an open stairway will lead to 

the second floor, where there will be spacious 

lounges and restrooms. The theatre auditorium 

will seat 422 persons and a gallery for 

Negro patrons will seat 138. making the total 

capacity of the house 560 seats. 

Tlie theatre will feature a cryroom and 

will be equipped for showing three-dimension 

and wide-screen pictures. 

A unique safety feature has been designed. 

Ramps, five feet wide, will lead from each 

side to the front of the theatre and under the 

screen. Panic bars, when touched, will open 

the double doors at the foot of each inside 

ramp. On opening the doors, the patron will 

find himself on another ramp outside the 

building, leading into the alley. Williams 

Theatres intends to close the Lee Theatre and 

convert it into commercial use upon the 

opening of the Dallas. 

MARKED TREE, ARK.—The new Lepanto 

Drive-In has been opened here by owners 

Cleburne Sumpter and Dan F. Portis. The 

Lepanto, occupying a ten-acre site, will accommodate 

375 cars. 

ORANGEBURG, S.C—Work is progressing 

on the new 450-seat drive-in on Highway 21 

one mile from the city limits. The ozoner is 

being built by Sam Irvin of Darlington and 

Jack Fuller of Columbia and will be manaRed 

by Horace Gable, formerly of Darlington 

Theatres. The ozoner miII »"• i...iiwri thi- 

Azalea. 

SENECA, S.C—The new Kn.x liriv.-lii wa.s 

slated to open here Immediately after a 

construction Job c o s 1 1 n k approximately 

$80,000. The Fox will accommodate 400 cars 

and is owned by Hurry Ostccn and his 

a.ssoclates. Osteen also own.s three theatre."! 

in Anderson. 

SHERIDAN, ARK.—The new Sheridan 

Drive-In, a $25,000 installation, has been 

opened here by U. Walker, formerly of 

Amory, Mi.ss. The theatre is located one mile 

east of the city limits on the Pine Bluff highway. 

Walker also owns a drlve-ln In Mississippi. 

OAK RIDGE, TENN— The Burchfield 

Drivc-In, new open-air venture of Ed Burchfield, 

local auto dealer, has been opened 

near here with a capacity of 425 cars. 

Tuscaloosa Exhibitor 

Explains Picketing 

TUSCALOOSA. ALA—Gerald Little, one of 

the owners of the Alberta Theatre here, 

issued an open letter to the public this 

week to explain why the projectionists local 

is picketing the house. 

Little said that in the five years in which 

he and his brothers have owned the theatre 

they have employed two projectionists, one 

a man and the other a woman. Several years 

ago, the man joined the union and the local 

asked that the woman be replaced by a male 

union member. Little said. This he declined 

to do. Recently, the woman operator left 

and Richard Little, one of the partners in 

the business, was installed as the relief projectionist. 

At this point, the local asked that Richard 

Little be replaced by a union man, and 

that the theatre obtain its projectionists 

through the local office. When this was 

declined, said Gerald Little, the union started 

to picket the theatre. 

TERRIFIC 

FAST-SEllING 


EXHIBITORS 

ARE 

SAVING 

ON 

PERMANENT 

POLARIZED 

GLASSES! 

PilllS 1 

OWN THEM! 

RENT THEM! 

SELL 

(They Never Wear Out 

THEMI 

1 

Us 




CHICAGO 1337S.Wabas 

NEVI/YORK 630 Ninth Av 

FILMACK 

14" B-O NATURALS! 

BOXOFTICE :: August 8. 1953 

Air Cooling Unit Installed 

KNOXVILLE. TENN—Aubrey Couch, 

city 

manager for Wilby-Kincey Theatres, ha.s in- 

.stalled a new 150-ton air conditioning plant 

at the Tennessee Theatre, replacing a cooling 

unit installed 28 years ago. 

Open Fire Replacement 

CALICO ROCK, ARK—The Cahco Theatre, 

erected on the site of the Princess Theatre, 

which burned about a year ago, has been 

opened by owners Dewey Davenport and 

James M. Peel. 

Fire Razes Clarksdale House 

CLARKSDALE, MISS—The Delta Theatre 

here was destroyed by fire July 23. Lo.ss was 

estimated at SIOO.OOO. There was no one in 

the building at the time of the fire. Owner 

of the building, W. D. Holcomb. said It was a 

total loss, but most of the damage was covered 

by insurance. 

Set for Historical Western 

Barton MacLane will play one of the leads 

in Republic's historical western, "Jubilee 

Trail," being produced by Joseph Kane 


-BEST QUALITY 



Jack Thomas 

HALLMARK 



HOLLYWOOD 46, 

CALIF. 


61

. . . R. 

. . Roy 

. . Paramount 

. . Helen 

. . 

Mrs. 

. . Carl 

! 

JACKSONVILLE 

pari Turbeyfill, booker at Warners, spent his 

vacation getting everything in readiness 

to move into a new home in Lake Forest Hills 

C. Price. RKO manager, has bought 

a cabin cruiser to tie up in front of his new 

home on Fishweir. Connie Stanton, secretary 

to Price, returned from a vacation in Dayton 

.. . Wayne Spearing has returned to the 

Jacksonville office of the Jax Popcorn & 

Candy Co. Billy Knight will manage the 

Tampa branch Smith visited in Atlanta 

and then left for a tour of a circuit of 

. 

Georgia theatres used the 

. 

San Marco Theatre Monday (17) for its Jubilee 

screening. Out-of-town and local exhibitors 

combined to make the showing a 

success. 

Seen at the Columbia office were R. L. 

Bailey. Eagle Tlieatre. Blountstown; H. A. 

Dale.' Lake Butler; Ed Chalhub, Carefree 

Center. West Palm Beach; Harold Popel. 

Telco Theatres. West Palm Beach; Harold 

Spears. Bailey Theatres. Atlanta; Johnny 

Harrell. Martin Theatres. Atlanta; Hugh 

Martin. Columbus. Ga.. S. E. McDaniel. 

Mack's Drive-In. Marianna. Fla.; Jerry Gold 

and Louis Dobrow. Gold-Dobrow Theatres, 

Pahokee; Y. D. Carbonell. Strand and Monroe 

Theatres. Key West; A. J. Gaskins. Pwgs 

Drive-In. Monticello; Phil Sullivan. Magnoha, 

Titusville. 

Carl Patterson, office manager at Columbia 

and his wife visited the local office en 

route to Miami Wells, assistant 

. 

cashier, left on a two-week vacation in Chicago 

. . . R. J. Ingram, southern division manager, 

and Irving Wormser. from the New York 

office, visited here this week. 

Mary Smith of was married 20th-Fox. to 

William Thurman (25) . . . 

Ardie Simpson, 

biller was called to Indiana i30) due to the 

death of her grandfather Jeanne 

. 

Cavanaugh. cashier, returned from a vacation 

in St. Petersburg and New York Visitors 

. . . 

at Universal included Bill Broadman and 

wife, Playhouse. St. Petersburg; L. O. West, 

Century. Kingsland. Ga.; and John Sutton. 

Headquarters For 

3-D EQUIPMENT 

• STEREO-SILVER SCREENS 

• 25" MAGAZINES 

• ELECTRICAL INTERLOCKS 

• MECHANICAL INTERLOCKS 

• CONTINUOUS DUTY POWER EQUIPMENT 

• REELS - FILTER BLOWERS - STATIC BRUSHES 

Everything you need from 

WIL-KIN THEATRE SUPPLY, Inc. 

^^^^s. 

Atlanta, Georgia Charlotte, N. C. 

Put Pep Into Concession Sales 

with 

Vogue, Orlando Carter announced 

. 

that Ted Ai-ias is now manager of the Ribault 

Drive-In. 

Much interest was aroused at the Ribault 

Drive-In by the making of a 30-minute trailer 

there for the Fred Herman Sausage Co. Four 

cameramen took movies of the crowds at the 

concession stand during intermission. Those 

who returned and recognized themselves in 

the movie were given pas.ses by the management. 

There was a good deal of newspaper 

advertising. The trailers are playing at several 

theatres at the present time and are 

being distributed throughout Florida by the 

Fred Herman Sausage Co. Doc Hawthorn of 

Jacksonville was in charge of the filming. 

Robert Pollard, Republic salesman of 

Tampa, and Paul Harrison, RKO-Radio, 

visited Exhibitor's Service . 

Arv Rothchild 

returned i31) after spending a week in 

. . 

New York ... J. J. Polinkas, manager of the 

Beach Theatre, just had a new all-piu:pose 

32 -foot screen installed ... Bob Anderson, 

manager of the Main Street Drive-In played 

"Man in the Dark" for the first three days 

last week and "Fort Ti" the last four. Anderson 

said attendance was pretty good considering 

the storms we have been having 

daily . . . Frazier, manager of the Edgewood. 

said the theatre is 

"Arena," starting Sunday (2) was the furst 

now equipped for 3-D. 

3-D attraction. 

Lillian Parker, manager of the Brentwood, 

is more puffed up than a proud papa over her 

new accomphshment—she can flycasi ! ! 

Lillian also is pleased with the way Family 

night is going over and says it is increasing 

in popularity each week. The matinees, which 

were resumed this summer, also are doing 

well. 

Peggy Gordon, MGM dancing star, made 

two personal appearances at the Florida Theatre 

where Bob Heekin is manager. Peggy also 

visited the MGM office ... The first Sunday 

Chiu-ch Service was held (2) at the Beach 

Drive-ln Theatre. The interdenominational 

services will be conducted each Sunday 

by the Rev. John E. Hibbard. minister of the 

First Christian Church of the Beaches. The 

services will be held from the roof of the 

projection stand. Free orange juice, coffee 

and doughnuts will be served after the 

.services. 

ABC 

THEATRICAL ENTERPRISES 

ATLANTA 

JACKSONVILLE 

Phorte ALPine 7887 Phone 5-9227 

p 0. Box 1345 P.O. Box 88 

BUYING 

BOOKING 

AGENTS 

k. J (Hap) Barnes 

B. (ClitO Wilson 

Karl (Bud) Chalmon 

R. A. iRex) Norris 

A Profitable Sandwich-Easily Prepared 

62 

BARBECUE 

Pork or Beef 

"Just-Rite" Barbecue (Pork or Beef) Is 100% meot-cooked with the 

sauce in it. and comes to you ready to serve except for heating 

Sold through concession supply dealers, or direct. 

Aik for Complete Price Llit 

SOUTHERN STYLE FOODS, Inc. 

Craighead 

Street 

Be RELIANT - on BRYANT 

Dependable Products - 

18 Years One Location 

• Grl99S Scoting 

• BIgolow Carpets 

• Co-Op In-Cor Speokori 

• Do Luxe Popcorn ond 

Scosonlngs 

227 S. Church St.. Charlotte. N. C 

Best of Service 

The Bryant name 

and good reputotion 

are your 

guarontce of reel 

s atlsfoctlon. 

BRYANT 

BOXOFHCE 

:: August 8. 1953 

. 

i^

. . Daniel 

MIAMI 

T Fred Muegs, the eminent TV star. Is a 

chimpanzee of charm. He has been most 

generous with interviews during his Miami 

vacation, ha-s made personal appearances at 

theatres in the Wometco chain and been 

photographed all over the place. Probably 

his most successful pose was on the dock 

at Miami Beach, clutching a fishing pole and 

displaying tliree amberjacks. which his press 

agent says he caught. Muggs did go out on 

a fishing trip—at least there Is that much 

truth in the tall fish tale. 

Three-dimension is okay, says a Miami 

amusement editor, but do the intermissions 

have to be so long? And how about a smallsize 

polarized viewer for the kids? You 

should see the antics of some of them trying 

to manage the man-sized goggles . . . Sonja 

Henie has entered into booking amalgamation 

with "Holiday on Ice," which headquarters 

in the Miami area, in Coral Gables, to 

be exact. 

Lillian Roth, the star of many films, who 

is being enthusiastically cheei-ed along the 

comeback trail, is the headliner at Goldman's 

Clover club . . . Tlie Strand is offering 

bargain nights on Wednesdays and Thursdays—25 

cents for adults, nine cents for 

kids. Double features are shown . . . Duke 

Leonard's many friends are pretty happy over 

the news that his "Josephine, Don't Lean 

on the Bell" has been selected as theme music 

for "The Eddie Cantor Story." Leonard is 

now hast at the Promenade hotel lounge in 

Miami Beach . Taradash. who 

hometowns in Miami Beach, is said to deserve 

an Oscar for the terrific screenplay 

job he has done on "FYom Here to Eternity." 

A mild sort of rash of films with an instructional 

angle has broken out in the Miami 

area. No less than four were presented by 

various organizations during a recent week. 

The Public Library's adult education department 

is sponsoring a series entitled "Let's 

Go," to w-hich admission is free. The ninth 

in the series, called "Let's Go Ride Our 

Hobby," was shown at the main library 

building. A recent meeting of the Bay Harbor 

Islands volunteer fire department was 

highlighted by a film. "Men of Fire." "Over 

Dependency." a film about mental health, 

was shown at the Miami Community Forum 

at the F^rst Unitarian church. Members of 

the North Miami Moose lodge entertained 

other members of the order at lodge headquarters 

with a film prepared by Southern 

Bell and called "Communications for Civil 

Defense." 

B UTTER-MAT 

SERVERS 

AND 

BUTTER CUPS 

ROY SMITH 

1207 19th St. 

TAMPA 

1075 W. Adams St. 

lACKSONVILE 

Florida MPEA Discusses 

Federal Tax Repeal 

ORLANDO, Fl.A Pilvukt of the Mo.soii 

repeahng federal theatre udml.siilon.s taxes 

bill 

and the passlblllty of a presidential veto 

were di.scussed at a recent rcKlonal mt-etlnK 

of the Motion Picture Exhibitors A-s-sn of 

Florida members here. Bill C. Cumbau of 

Lcesburg, president of the as.soclatlon and 

operator of MOM Theatres In Lake. Clay. 

Sumter and Levy counties, conducted the 

meeting. 

Attending the meeting with Cumbau were 

Vernon Hunter of Orlando, city manager ol 

Florida State Theatres; C. H. Beck of Kl.s.slmmee. 

head of the Beck Theatre chain; Bob 

Doherty of Haines City, head of the Floyd 

theatres In the Ridge .section; Jim Partloe of 

Orlando, operator of the Kuhl Avenue and 

Prairie Lake drive-Ins. and Joe Llp.son of 

Orlando, operator of the Winter Park and 

Orlando drive-ins. 

Clyde Austin, 54, Dies 

TAMPA— Clyde Hugh Austin. 54. projectionist, 

died in a local hospital. He was widely 

known in theatre circles, having opened the 

Royal, first theatre in West Tampa. He has 

been with the theatre since its opening in 

1926, and was on the job until a week before 

his death. Born in Geneva, Ala., he started 

as an operator when he was 12 years old. He 

was a member of the Qks lodge In Bradenton, 

and a member of the lATSE. He is survived 

by his wife Lillie, a son and a daughter. 

Rebuild Belle Glade Ace 

BELLE GLADE. FLA.—Rebuikliiig of llie 

Ace Theatre, recently destroyed by fire, has 

been started, and Gold-Dobrow. owners, hope 

to have the new theatre in operation .soon. 

Some of the walls of the old building were 

salvaged, but otherwise it will be entirely 

rebuilt, with new .seats and new stage equipment. 

BENTON [ABD 

•>•••. c 

MONDAT . TVtftOAT 

Re«iil

Closing of Theatres 

Forecasl Over Tax 

MIAMI—According to John B. McDermott, 

political writer. Miami theatre operators had 

their fingers crossed hoping President Eisenhower 

would give the industry an urgently 

needed shot in the arm by signing into law 

a bill removing the federal tax on tickets. 

"If the industry doesn't get some relief 

from this burdensome taxation, it is going 

to force many theatres out of business," said 

George C. Hoover, district manager of Florida 

State Theatres. 

At least seven theatres have closed In 

Miami in the last few years despite huge 

population gains. Others are "holding on," 

hoping relief will be given. 

Lifting the tax probably won't mean anything 

to the individual ticket buyer. In most 

cases, the admission price will continue the 

same. What will happen, theatre owners say, 

is that they will be able to make a margin of 

profit which will permit them to stay in 

business. 

"This law won't help stars—it will help the 

little theatre operator," said Mark Chartrand, 

public relations representative for the Wometco 

chain in Miami. "It has become a life-ordeath 

issue with many operators." 

Chartrand said one Wometco neighborhood 

theatre made only $50 last year. "We kept it 

open, anyway," he said. "It gave a few people 

jobs. It didn't help us." 

He pointed out the motion picture industry 

florida's FIRST Supply House 

NOW HAS TWO CONVENIENT 

LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU 

UNITED THEATRE SUPPLY CORP 

110 Franklin St. 

Tampa, Fla. 

Phone 2-3045 

329 Weit Flagler Si 

SPECIAL TRAILERS

United Artists Schedules 

Five August Releases 

NEW YORK— United Artists will distribute 

five pictures, includiny; S. P. Eagle's "Melba." 

during August, according to William J. Heineman, 

vice-president in cliarge of distribution. 

Three are in color and one is in 3-D. 

"Melba," first Technicolor musical in the 

wide-screen and stereophonic-sound process, 

starring Patrice Munsel as Nellie Melba and 

Robert Morley, Martita Hunt, John McCallum 

and John Justin, will be released August 7. 

"Captain Scarlett," produced by Howard 

Dimsdale in Technicolor, starring Richard 

Greene with Leonora Amar, will be relea.sed 

August 12. "I. the Jury." the first of Mickey 

Spillane's best-sellers to be filmed by Victor 

Saville in 3-D, with Biff Elliott. Peggie Castle. 

Preston Foster and Margaiet Sheridan, will 

be released August 14. "The Gay Adventure," 

produced by Anatc^: de Grunewald for Renown 

Pictures, with Burgess Meredith and 

Jean-Pierre Aumont starred and Pauls Valenska 

featured, will be released August 21 and 

"War Paint," produced in Pathecolor by Howard 

W. Koch with Robert Stack, Joan Taylor 

and Charles McGraw starred, will be released 

August 28. 

"The Gay Adventure" is the new title for 

"Golden Arrow," originally scheduled for 

March release. 

Wann Initiates Court Test 

Of Sunday Closing Law 

UNION, S.C—Lee W. Wann, operator of 

the Union Drive-In Theatre here, recently 

obtained an order summoning Sheriff 

Rochelle Boyle of Union county to show 

cause before Judge Bruce Littlejohn why the 

theatre should be restrained from showing 

motion pictures on Sunday. 

The sheriff said that Wann had been to 

him several times saying that he wanted to 

open the theatre on Sundays. 

"I told him that if he did I would arrest 

him each time that he sold a ticket as it is 

contrary to state law to operate the theatre 

on Sunday," the sheriff said. 

Wann asked in his complaint that the 

court rule the sheriff cannot prohibit the 

theatre from operating on Sunday. 

Pastime Chain Improves 

Charleston, S.C, Theatres 

CHARLESTON. S.C—The Pastime Amusement 

Co., operator of local theatres, is making 

extensive improvements at several of its 

theatres here. In the Garden Theatre, a new 

projection booth has been installed, while at 

the American, new carpeting completed renovation, 

which included thorough painting. 

A wider screen is being installed at the 

Riviera and a larger screen also is set for 

the Ashley. Albert Sottile, president of the 

firm, said the Gloria Theatre would be 

equipped with stereophonic sound equipment 

and an all-purpose screen. The only local 

Pastime house which will not be concerned 

in the current improvement program is the 

Arcade. 

S&E Management Shift 

lil.SHOPVH.I.K, SC A L). liui ry ha.s btin 

named manaKcr of the Andrew.s Theatre 

here, succeeding R. c. Hitchcock, who has 

been transferred to Greer. SO. Hitchcock 

will manage the Greer Theatre for Stewart 

& Everett Theatres. 

Berry has been connected with the theatre 

industry for a number of years. Hl.s 

father built and operated the Berry Theatre 

in HartsvlUe before leasing It to Stewart 

&' Everett. 

Corban Smith to Manage 

GREER. S.C—Corban Smith, formerly of 

Charlotte, has been named new manager of 

the Greer Theatre. Smith began his career 

in the theatre industry 12 years ago, starting 

with the Crescent Amusement Co. of 

Na.'ihville. Five years ago, he joined a Charlotte 

theatre company and managed houses 

in Fayetteville and Charlotte. He succeeds 

Reginald Chesson, who resigned to accept 

a position with the Greer Tire Exchange. 

Hikes License Taxes 

ST. PETERSBURG—The city council is 

Increasing 

the occupational license tax on theatres 

and other business enterprises and expects 

to produce an estimated additional 

revenue of S16.000 for the fiscal year. Drivein 

theatre licenses will increase from $100 

to $200. 

Record Warner Week 

CHARLOTTE—The Warner Bros, officer 

here broke all records by making 2.744 shipments 

during Grover Livingston week. Credited 

for the record business were Chief Booker 

Heffner and bookers Baker Gosey. Reeves 

and Hall. Aithur Sklar is office manager. 

Kermit Ward Adds 3-D 

SUMTER. S.C—Kermit Ward, manager of 

the Sumter Theatre, has installed equipment 

for showing three-dimension pictures. 

Theatre Managers Named 

RICHMOND. VA.—Sam Pullman of the 

Grand Theatre for the last seven years, has 

been named manager of the new Glen Drive- 

In Theatre, located on the Mechanicsville 

turnpike. FYank Morgan, manager of the 

Venus Theatre, has been named manager of 

the Grand Theatre. 

HANDY 

Collect for Korean Relief 

I.AKELA.NU. KI.A The Polk. Pulacp and 

Lake lheutre.^ hiive inuuKurated a (und-rali>li:/ 

CampulKn to help spoi-d relief to the clvilliii 

population of Korcu. Whitney lAndi^y. cif. 

manaKer for Florida State Theatre.^. U ii 

charge of the promotion. 

SERVICE 

ond 

COURTESY 

for orer 20 ytatt 

VH WATCH WORD 

CONCESSION EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES 

STANDARD THEATRE SUPPLY CO. 

Complete Concession Equipment 

and Supplies 

THE QUEEN FEATURE SERVICE, INC 

I9I2';4 Morni Ave Pf>orw 3 S66& 

BIRMINGHAM 3. ALABAMA 

CHARLOTTE THEATRICAL PRINTING CO 

223 West Second Street 

Charlotte. N. C. 

Carl Lowry Frank Lowry 

BALLOONS ARE YOUR CHEAPEST AD 

for openings, onnivcrioric* 

Giveaways especially lor kiddie ploygrourvd 

Grcotcit Show on EoMh 

Somplei Fr«« 

Balloons 146 Wolton St. Arlonta, G« 

THEATRE MARQUEES 

and 

DRIVE-IN 

ATTRACTION BOARDS 

STARNES SIGN CO 

3108 S. Boulcvord Charlofft, N. C 

Plans 3-D Installation 

NAPLES. FLA.— Arnold Haynes, owner of 

the Naples Theatre, is preparing to equip the 

theatre for 3-D. Stereophonic sound equipment 

will be used, along with a slightly curved 

screen, one-third bigger than the one now 

in use.

I 

BUSY FOR WEEKS CATCHING UP 

ON CALLS FROM BOXOFFICE ADS! 

HKead this 

le^ 

"C,V:;,, 

'"sfe 

Ik 

fell 

5; We: 

I 'a nidi, 

-^ te: 

-Sim 

Reach BOXOFFICE Readers. .A Big Market! 

The service you render or the product you want to -ipll tn Rnvnccirc v.- v. 

this industry is always in demand 

' 

Exh°bitors constnnt v ! h ^ T/"'\" ''"'' ""'^ appreciated by practically 

look for something worthwhile to buy ad want to knw n Z °^ '" 1" ^°" ^^"^^ °" "^ '"^^'u^' L°' 

VO^^ prospects 

where they can get it to improve 

'^' SOUTHEAST 

the"? operaZ edition of BOXOFFICE. 

The Ees^ nw nt^'" '°"î'^ 

possible means through whi?h to reach t^heseê^hiJ^tl^î: 

^^^^^^^Z^^^X:.:^:'l^^'^^ 

66 

BOXOmCE :: August 8. 1953 

"%...

I 

BOXOFTICE 

" 

—— 

THEATRES OF TEXAS PREPARE 

FOR GONZALES FUND DRIVE 

Spencer Tracy Trailer Now 

Ready for Drive to Be 

Held Sept. 3-9 

DALLAS— 'Spencer Tracy Comes to Texas," 

the special trailer to be shown on Texas 

theatre screens in behalf of the fourth annual 

Crippled Children's fund drive sponsored by 

the Texas exhibition industry in behalf of 

the Gonzales Warm Springs Foundation, wa-s 

screened last week for campaign leaders and 

Filmrow bookers and salesmen. 

The statewide theatre collections will be 

held September 3-9. Claude C. Ezell, head of 

the Ezell & Associates drive-in circuit, and 

R. I. Payne, vice-president and general manager 

of Theatre Enterprises, Inc., are cochairmen 

for the 1953 campaign. 

VIEW TRACY TRAILER 

Ezell, Payne and members of their committee 

viewed the Spencer Ti-acy trailer in 

the screening room of the Majestic Theatre 

building. On the committee are: 

John Q. Adorns Wallace Blankenship 

Leroy Bickel Lew Bray 

Tom W. Bridge Eph Charninsk/ 

Mart Cole Bruce Collins 

H. A. Daniel Don Douglas 

William Finch Henry S. Griffing 

H. J. Griffith Henry Hall 

Korl Hoblitzella John J. Houlihan 

Phil Isley Ed Laird 

Som Landrum Claude Motley 

Louis Novy S. L. Oakley 

R. J. O'Donnell Henry Reeve 

Al Reynolds Kyle Rorex 

John H. Rowley Sol M. Sacks 

Harold Schwartz 

Mark Sheridan 

Payl Short Lynn Smith 

Preston Smith Jock Underwood 

Henry C. Vogelpohl Paul Wokefield 

Charles Weisenburg Ray Wild 

R. N. Wilkerson 

Gov. Allan Shivers is an advisory member. 

The trailer was directed by Harry W. Loud 

and produced by Frank Whitbeck at the 

MGM studio in Hollywood. The film introduces 

Donald Townsend, San Antonio polio 

victim, 4':; years old, who is receiving treatment 

at the Gonzales hospital. The trailer 

prints may be run with a normal aperture or 

wide screen up to L75 to 1. 

FREE DELIVERIES MADE 

National Screen Service will assist in distribution. 

Film shipping lines, including 

Bluebonnet Express, Dallas Film Service, 

Film Forwarding Service, Film Transfer, 

Liberty Film Lines, Morgan Express, News 

Film Service. Texas Film Service and G. A. 

White Express, will make free deliveries. 

PajTie has suggested that exhibitors arrange 

to screen the trailer for civic leaders prior to 

its opening at the theatres. He urged theatremen 

to call on Boy Scouts and other groups 

to help make audience collections immediately 

following the screening of the trailer. 

Texas COMPO showmen are sponsoring the 

campaign this year. 

The Ray Beall Advertising Service has 

arranged details of the campaign, Including 

an explanatory booklet with suggested press 

releases. 

In calling the committee meeting. Ezell 

and Payne stated in a letter: 

"For the fourth year, the motion picture 

:: August 8, 1953 

lliri- t Uude t;zcll (li'ft to richt) and R. I. Payne, co-chairmen of the fourth 

annual Texas Theatres Crippled Children's fund drive, and Lynn Smith of Gonzales 

and Preston Smith of Lubbock inspect the campalgTi booklet prepared by Kiiy Beall. 

theatres of Texas will participate in a campaign 

for funds for the foundation. 

"The good accomplished and the goodwill 

created far surpas.ses the impressive total 

collections of past drives. We have helped 

the foundation t)ecome one of the nation-, 

outstanding treatment hospitals, and we 

have identified our theatres as community 

service centers in times when our patrons 

goodwill becomes increasingly important. 

"However, it is not for fame, not for business 

reasons that we urge you to participate 

in the campaign again thLs year. It is for 

the crippled children of Texas, suffering from 

polio and other neuro-muscular diseases, who 

are in dire need of proper medical treatment. 

"Gonzales Warm Springs Foundation needs 

our support this year more than ever before. 

Funds are desperately needed for the completion 

of a building expansion program 

which will increase facilities by 40 per cent 

That expansion will mean that 40 per cent 

more Texas youngsters will receive treatment 

Ray Wild, president of the Colosseum ol 

Motion Pictures Salesmen, suggested and 

arranged for special screenings for the Filmrow 

bookers and salesmen on Friday and 

Monday, respectively. Attending the screening 

for film sale.smen were: Wild. Wayne 

Love, Stanley Wilbur, J. H. Alexander, Joe 

Beckham, Earl Weaver, Mon Whitcher, L. E. 

Harrington. H. S. Ferguson, J. L. Lyne, 

WiUiam B. Welling, R. J. Brown. C. M. 

Miller, E. C. Elder, B. T. Burnslde. E. C. 

Fitzgerald. Pete Clarke. J. L. Haynie. J. E. 

Mitchell, F. Rule, Dick Bond and W. Llllard. 

Observes Third Year 

MARSHALL. TEX.—The Fox Drive-In on 

Highway 80 near here celebrated Its third 

Anniversary recently, and Manager Ike Sanders 

gave free passes to all patrons who presented 

proof that they had been married after 

January 1 of this year. Originally the Ray 

Drive-In, the theatre name was changed to 

the Fox when Charlie Fox Johnson succeeded 

Ray Renyck as manager. Johnson, one of the 

owners of the drive-in, now is at Bunkie. 

La., where the firm operates another alrer. 

sw 

'• !•« Ill* €»l»pU4 CMItff** •! t* 

JM I TRACr \ 

' 

SpeiittiTuiai / 

^\ta4t©Tptay^ 

1953 TEXAS MITRES 

[ 

CRIPPLED CHILDREN'S FUND) 

SEPTEMBER 3-9 

/ 

tn( tiMNiu raiit iH icus nun I ciuKn iwMiinii tnir' 

.Above is a reproduction of the campaign 

booklet front cover. 

'Moon Is Blue' Figures 

At Top of Dallas List 

DALLAS—"Tlie Moon Is Blue." In the news 

periodically because of censorship troubles, 

scored the week's high percentage of 150. 

(Avcrogc li 100) 

Moiestic Th« Man From th* Alamo (U-l) 90 

Mclbo Motf Me ot tho Fair (U-l) 90 

Poloce South S

. . The 

. . . and 

. . Mexican 

SAN ANTONIO 

fJIr. and Mrs. Richard Landsman were off 

to Cleveland, Ohio, on a combined business 

and pleasure trip. Landsman is an executive 

with Statewide Drive-In Theatres 

here . Bonner school of dancing 

here presented Kidnight Frolics on the stage 

of the Olmos for the Saturday morning kiddy 

matinee. 

First-nighters at the recent premiere of 

"The Man From the Alamo" at the Majestic 

liked the guitar strumming of Jack Skiles on 

stage at the theatre. Chill Wills sold tickets 

and helped out between performances. Wills 

an old-time tent show performer and has 

is 

been in show' business for over 30 years. 

Julia Adams and Hugh O'Brian, stars of the 

U-I picture, were made honorary Texans by 

Attorney General J. B. Shepperd, who came 

here from Austin to bestow the honors on 

DRIVE-IN 

SPEAKER 

REPAIRS 

The Low Cost Way For 

In-Car Speaker Maintenance 

Aluminum Base Voice Coils 

And Moisture- Proofed Ports 

Fast Guaranteed Service 

3".4"-S" Single Cones $1.10; Double Cones $1.30 

EVANS RECONING SERVICE 

1112 Davis Ave. Des Moines, lowo 

the two players. Wills, already a native 

Texan, received a citation entithng him to 

brag on Texas to the world. 

Daniel Quinones sr., projectionist at the 

Majestic, is leaving for a vacation in California 

. . . Julie Dorsey, MGM starlet, was in 

San Antonio early in the week making a tour 

of local newspaper offices and appearing on 

radio and television stations. Miss Dorsey, 

daughter of Jimmy Dorsey, the orchestra 

leader, was born in New York and now is 

making Hollywood her home. She also posed 

for cameramen and attended press meetings. 

The ballyhoo was to herald the coming of 

"The Band Wagon" to the Majestic here the 

week of September 3. 

The Sunset Theatre, independent neighborhood 

house, now is operating on Thursday, 

Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights 

only . film stars Delores Del 

Rio and Mario "Cantinflas" Moreno flew to 

Corpus Christi from the Mexican film capital 

with a company to put on a benefit 

show for crippled children in a hosiptal. 

Patsy Rees, San Antonio stage and TV 

artist, was introduced to the audience at the 

first performance by Chill Wills during the 

recent premiere of "The Man From the 

Alamo" at the Majestic. She received a nice 

round of applause. 

Jimmy Powers, who has been actmg as 

relief manager at the Palace while Manager 

Lee Aronstein was on vacation, is soon to 

take off for California. Jimmy is still in the 

National Guard. His brother Tommy is man- 

Our New Snocone Syrup Is 

Riiher, 

Thicker, More Colorful! 

such a combination is unbeatable in 

making sales and repeat sales! These new 

Snocone Syrups are making friends all over 

the territory with their exciting colors and 

flavors. With a heavy body these taste-tingling 

syrups keep the "flash" on top, too. Order 

your supply today. 

Treot

i^ 

inspector at Clasa-Mohme. replacing Mrs. 

Kay Warren, who has moved to the west 

coast. Mrs. Elley's sister. Mrs. Hildegard 

Hatch, has been in the C-M film inspection 

department for some time. 

Fidel Koel, Azteca Film inspector for 14 

years, is vacationing in Floresville, with the 

exception of Wednesday nights when he journeys 

back to the Alamo city to attend the 

local wrestling matches, for which he has a 

season ticket . . . Near 100-degree temperatures 

did not keep eight film shoppers away 

from both film exchanges. Among the callers 

were Mr. and Mrs. Jesus DeLeon, who were 

with Pedro Gonzales of Waco; Mr. and Mi-,^. 

Jose Navarro and son. National Theatre, Taylor; 

W. D. Parker and wife, who are operating 

tent shows in Moore Store, Dimitros 

and Danevang during the present cottonpicking 

season. 

Mr. and Mrs. G. B. Dunlap (he's the Clasa- 

Mohme office manager* spent the weekend in 

Port Aransas, where they celebrated their 

wedding anniversary with friends . . . Clasa's 

"Primero Soy Mexicano," with Joaquin Pardave, 

Flor Silvestre and Luis Aguilar, clicked 

with the Alameda theatregoers last week. 

Herschel Crawford Dies 

At Home in Slaton, Tex. 

SLATON, TEX.—Herschel Crawford, local 

theatre operator until ill health forced his 

retirement in 1947, died at his home here recently. 

He had lived in Slaton since 1924. 

when he came here from Greenville. 

Crawford worked as a projectionist for the 

Oskar Korn Theatres when he attended 

Slaton high school, and later managed the 

Korn theatres while attending Texas Technological 

college. Crawford opened a theatre 

of his own at Weatherford, Okla., in 

1934, and was married in 1935 at Norman. 

Okla., to Pauline Garrigues of Slaton. 

The couple lived in Oklahoma and Kansas 

for a short time, then returned to Slaton and 

opened the State Theatre. Shortly afterward, 

in 1936, Crawford bought the Palace 

from Korn. 

Besides his wife. Crawford is survived by 

a son Tracy; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. 

John Crawford of Slaton, three sisters and 

three brothers. 

Pallbearers were Max Arrants, Roy Mack, 

Ed Haddock, Vascar Browning, Joe H. Teague 

III and Pete Pearson. 

Texas Ozoner Sold 

COLORADO CITY, TEX.—The Westerner 

Drive-In has been sold to West Texas Drivein, 

Inc.. 

by Mac Carnohan and H. R. Barker 

jr. The Westerner was built in 1951. 

Buys Drive-In Site 

NACOGDOCHES. TEX.—East Texas Theatres, 

Inc., has purchased a 13-acre site near 

here for construction of a new drive-in. 

Work is expected to begin soon. East Texas 

Theatres also operates the Main and Stone 

Fort theatres here. 

Marlin Barrow Takes Over 

JOHNSON CITY, TEX.—Marlin Barrowhas 

taken over the operation and management 

of the Jaycee Theatre here, recently 

managed by Joe Chamberlain. Barrow- also 

operates and owns the Joy Drive-In, 

BOXOFFICE :: August 8, 1953 

SEE JUBILEE TRIO—Amons the mimer.ius exlubilors wlio .itl.ndrd Ihr r«-*nt 

Paramount Jubilee .wreeninRS at the Capltan Theatre In I)alla.s werr thf ;ilMive, left 

to right: Bob Euler, general manager for Trlstato The-atri-s; I>ave Callahan, Rowley 

United Theatres; Mrs. H. B. Robb of the Robb Theatre Co.; J. H. Lutzer. Lutzer 

Theatres, and Mrs. Claude EzcU, wife of the head of Eiell & Associates. Screened 

were "The ('addy," "Little Boy Lost" and "Roman Holiday." 

Milk Bowl Officials 

Plan for 1953 Contest 

LUFKIN. TEX.—Officials of the National 

Milk bowl, annual football classic for smallfry 

elevens, are preparing for the 1953 contest, 

when 27 boys from some American city 

will get a free trip to Texas and a week of 

Texas hospitality. 

The lads will be selected by a special 

committee for the football classic, to be 

played here this year. The teams are made 

up of 100-pound or less boys in civic-sponsored 

clubs. One team will be from Texas, 

the other from out of state. 

The 1952 bowl saw- Father Flanagan's Boys 

Town guest team playing the Houston Variety 

Club smallfry. The contest was broadcast 

over 550 radio stations and on overseas outlets, 

had national press, film and TV coverage, 

and featured the appearance of U-I 

actress Gigi Perreau as Milk bow-1 queen. 

Gov. Allan Shivers proclaimed the game 

day as National Milk bowl day in Texas and 

the event was honored by the Texas house 

of representatives. The team was housed at 

the Shamrock hotel in Houston and was 

given a personally directed tour of the city by 

Mayor Roy Hofheinz. 

H. L. Hondley Appointed 

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEX.—H. L. Handley 

has taken over as manager of the Boulevard 

Drive-In here. He resigned recently from the 

police department where he had served as 

a motorcycle officer since October 1950. 

Moved to Nacogdoches 

NACOGDOCHES. TEX.—Melba Musick has 

been named assistant manager of the East 

Texas Theatres house here, according to B. J. 

Hardy, city manager. Miss Musick came here 

from Conroe. where she has been assistant 

manager for the circuit. The circuit has 

opened the Stone Fort Theatre here and has 

Installed a panoramic screen in the Main 

Theatre. 

BUFFALO COOLING 

Jefferson Amusement Co. 

Closing Dallas Office 

DALLAS—Jefferson Amusement Co. will 

close its booking office here August 24 and 

move equipment and personnel to Beaumont, 

where the circuit has headquarters. 

Sam Landrum, Jefferson executive, .said the 

booking office would be set up temporarily 

in the Tivoli Theatre building at Beaumont, 

then move into the Gaylynn Center building 

later where the circuit is establishing newheadquarters. 

Local personnel who will move to Beaumont 

are Landrum, Charles Couch, Byron 

Hammett, Debbs Hayle and E. K. Dalton. 

Irving Rust, long with Jefferson, will remain 

here in a new- connection. 

Ui 



Your Hut Arrive ON TIME Is 

"'*"' 


CHICAGO 1327 i. Wobalh 

NIW YORK 630 Ninth Ave 

FILMACK 

^'^",^^^^D^ 

EQUIPMENT 

3409 Oak Lawn, Room 107 BUFFALO ENGINEERING CO., INC. Delias, Tm. 

69

. . H. 

. . Leon 

. . Don 

. . Rex 

DALLAS 

]ârjorie Rej-nolds, daughter of Al Reynolds, 

vice-president and general manager of 

Ezell & Associates, will be married August 

22 in the Highland Park I>resbyterian church 

to Charles Edwin Prichard jr. . . . The Dallas 

Chamber of Commerce has awarded lifetime 

membership to Jack Kutner for his work 

on the membership committee. Louis Charninsky, 

manager of the Major Theatre, now 

home recovering from an illness, was the 

only other man ever to receive the lifetime 

membership award in the 79-year history 

of the organization, having signed 215 members 

in 1951. 

Salesman Elkins of Astor Pictures relays 

the following items from south Texas: Mr. 

and Mrs. Stout Jackson, circuit operators 

headquartering in Robstown, have built a. 

beautiful new penthouse to accommodate the 

Mexican film stars who frequently come in 

on circuit engagements. Their son T. J. Jackson 

jr. is a colonel in the air force. He 

now is the pilot for Dr. Milton Eisenhower 

on a tour of South America . B. Barrow 

of Johnson City, operator of the Joy Drive-In, 

has bought the Joycee Theatre there . . . Mr. 

Benecez of Weslaco is planning to build a 

drive-in at Edinburg. to be opened this fall. 

He operates a large Latin-American house 

there and a number of other places in the 

H. C. ©unter of Alice will soon 

valley . . . 

have his second drive-in open in Alice. 

Dan Lawson of Associated Popcorn Distributors 

went to Colorado on a two-week 

SELL 

YOUR THEATRE PRIVATELY 

Largest toverage in U.S. No "Net" listififls. 

Highest reputation for Itnow.how 

and fair dealing. 30 years experience including 

exhibition. Ask Better Business Bureau, 

or our customers. Know your broker. 

ARTHUR LEAK Theatre Specialists 

3305 Caruth, Dallas. Texas 

Telephones EM 023S - EM 7489 

CONFIDENTIAL C(;RRESP0NDENCE INVITED 

THE NEW DA-LITE 

vacation . Peevy left for New Mexico 

on his vacation, and George Weems is spending 

two weeks in Arizona . Van, 

former member of the Two Black Crows, returned 

from a month's vacation in Los 

Angeles. He visited the Paramount lot and 

viewed the filming of "Casanova's Big Night," 

starring Bob Hope and Joan Fontaine, and 

talked with Dale Evans, Roy Rogers and 

Hoagy Carmichael. He met Mr. and Mrs. 

Ed Gall of the Dallas Variety Club and had 

dinner with them. 

Julie Dorsey, daughter of Jimmy Dorsey, 

was here several days in behalf of MGM's 

"The Band Wagon." 

All kinds of records have been shattered 

at the Coronet Theatre by the five-week 

run of "Seven Deadly Sins," an Arlan Pictures 

release, and the end is not in sight. 

Alfred Sack, managing director, said, "The 

sixth stanza seems to be coming up." Sack 

returned from several weeks vacationing on 

The father-in-law of 

the west coast . . . 

Dorothy Shipp, Astor Pictures, died last week. 

O. K. Bourgeois, Astor, reported the showing 

at the Kaufman Pike Drive-In of "The 

Merry Maids of the Gayway" and "A Bedroom 

Fantasy" resulted in a substantial 

gross. 

Milton Lindner, National Screen Service, 

and two sisters went to Colorado on a vacation 

Mr, and Mrs. Ed Bowen, Starlite 

. . . Drive-In, spent a few days at Lake Texoma 

office manager, drove to Los Angeles 

with their son Randy . Grierson, 

RKO 

with his sister and brother-in-law . . . Mrs. 

Fred Smith, New Theatre, Rogers, returned 

from a two-month vacation in Florida. 

Cox Named Floyd Manager 

EL CAMPO, TEX.—H. C. Cox has taken 

over as new manager of the Floyd Theatre 

here, succeeding J. Yancey, who has moved 

to San Antonio. Yancey had been manager 

here since January. The Floyd is a unit 

in the Long Theatre circuit, which headquarters 

at Bay City. 

"WONDER-LITE" 

ALL-PURPOSE SCREEN 

1. For 3-D, For 2-D. For WIDE SCREEN. 

2. Has Proven Its Superiority in Theatres. 

3. Quick Deliveries. 

HERBER BROTHERS 

"Fair Treatment and Adequate Service for 25 Years" 

408 S. HABWOOD DALLAS 1, TEXAS 

All States Acquires 

Drive-In at Abilene 

DALLAS — E. L. Williamson, secretarytreasurer 

of All States Theatres, announced 

the purchase by his company, effective 

August 1, of the Key City Drive-In at 

Abilene from Maurice S. Cole. 

Acquisition of the airer by All States is a 

step in the $1,600,000 expansion program announced 

by Tom Griffing, president, last 

February. Since that time, the company has 

completed and placed in operation the Duke 

City Drive-In in Albuquerque, N.M., and enlarged 

its Terrace Drive-In there into a 

twin operation. All States also has purchased 

20 acres of land in Hobbs. N.M. for expansion 

there. 

All States has its headquarters in Abilene, 

having recently moved into a new office 

building at 1833 South Treadway Blvd. The 

company recently finished a large warehouse, 

which was started in the fall of last year. 

Ted Lewis of Dallas does the buying and 

booking for the circuit. 

Officers of the company are Pi-esident 

Griffing, C. C. Wolfe, vice-president; James 

Griffing, vice-president; Williamson, and 

Margaret Malone, assistant secretary-treasurer. 

Maico Theatres Staging 

'Broadway Talent Hunt' 

MEMPHIS—Malco Theatres has staged a 

talent hunt in connection with "Main Street 

to Broadway," with managers of local theatres 

tying up with newspapers and merchants 

in 15 towns to locate talent for Broadway 

auditions. 

Local patrons were given tryouts on the 

stages of Malco houses for two weeks. Winners 

then took part in an elimination 

contest, with the final winner to be sent to 

New York for producer auditions. 

Eugart Yorian, head of the Little Theatre 

group in Memphis, visited houses staging 

the contests to discu.ss details with district 

and house managers. Dramatic leaders and 

coaches, community leaders and others interested 

in the theatre were contacted to 

secure contestants. 

Arlan Will Distribute 

'Seven Deadly Sins' 

NEW YORK—"The Seven Deadly Sins," a 

Fi-ench and Italian film with leading stars of 

both countries, has been acquired by Arlan 

Pictures, Inc.. for distribution in the U.S. 

Michele Morgan, Vivian Romance. Gerard 

Phillpe, Isa Miranda. Henri Vidal. Francoise 

Rosay. Frank Villard, Noel-Noel and Paola 

Stoppa are starred in the picture. The directors 

are Roberto Rossellini, Claude Autant- 

Lara, Yves Allegret. Eduaxdo de Pilippo, Jean 

Dreville, Carlo Rim and Georges Lacombe. 

Westerns-Features-Serials 

Tower Pictures Co. 

HAROLD SCHWARZ 

ana S Horwcoi Si Djila.s 1, T.,xas 

Ptione 

RA-7735 

mi 

Tsitill.' 

(ft are r 

- erti te 

-= PrMj 

'ifi 

5j 

^Dalli 

70 BOXOFFICE :: August 8. 1953

- 

Big Tenl 17 Carnival 

Aug. 15 at Adolphus 

BALLAS—Variety Clubbers greeted six new 

members and heard a detailed report on the 

Boys Ranch, which the Turtle derby on 

September 5 will benefit, at the monthly 

meeting held in the clubrooms August 3. 

Chief Barker C. A. Dolsen reported Fuller 

Stevens was pulling through a serious illness. 

Nathan Brown wa-s recovering from a serious 

operation. Harold Schwartz was in the hospital 

for a checkup. S. L. Oakley wa-s back in 

Beaumont and improving and Louis Charninsky 

is now able to have visitors. 

Dolsen then told about the forthcoming 

one big night carnival August 15, instead 

of the several days as in previous years. The 

event will be on the Roof Garden of the 

Adolphus. A fine dinner, bingo and four big 

acts are on the program. Mary and Cathy 

Cole will play the dinner music while Rip 

Giersdorf and his orchestra will furnish the 

music for the floor show and dancing. 

Before introducing Al Reynolds who reported 

on the ranch activities, Dolsen urged 

all members to come out to the ranch and 

see the progress that is being made on the 

various projects. 

Reynolds reported the boys are enjoying 

the new attic fans recently installed. The new 

large broiler house will be one of the finest 

and most complete in the country and will be 

heated by ultraviolet rays instead of gas. 

The completion of the broiler houses and production 

and sales of broilers will begin to 

take a large burden off the shoulders of 

Variety. It also teaches the boys a business. 

"We are also adding twô additional .sections 

to the Mike Rice stadium at a very nominal 

cost and these will be completed for the 

coming fall football schedule," Reynolds said. 

"We will have a fine team this year." 

Dolsen added "there are 82 fine young 

men now at the ranch who are some day 

going to make great citizens." He reported 

several of the boys will be going to college 

this fall. "It is up to us Variety members to 

sell a few extra turtles within the next four 

weeks so that we can continue to do the fine 

job we have started." 

Dolsen then called upon Wallace Walthall 

to induct the new members into Tent 17. 

They are Warren Keenan, American Seating 

Co.; Bill Weaver, KLIF: Charles Meeks, Pam.s 

Advertising Co.: Jack Gwyn, who ilirects 

and produces several TV shows; George 

Storier, San Antonio, and Carter Ringlep, 

CBS. Dallas. 

Among the members in from out of town 

were Louis Novy, Austin, and Henry Reeve, 

Menard. 

Glade Drive-In Being Btiilt 

GLADWATER. TEX. — The new drive-in 

under way here for D. B. "Buck" Ferguson 

and Richard Harrell has been named the 

Glade. The ozoner will accommodate 375 cars. 

With space for expansion at a later date. 

MANLEY Inc. 

The Biggest Name in Popcorn 

Moke more money with Manley 

2013 YounI"'Pro$. 1685 BoB Womer 

Oklahomi City—17 N. Shartel. Phone 2-5893 

JBOXOFnCE :: August 8, 1953 

Tax Anything' Stands; 

Pa. Fails to Repeal 

From Eoitorn Edition 

PITTSBURGH—The 

Waterhouse Andrew.s 

bill was a dead Issue as the Pennsylvania 

legislature adjourned. 

One man, James Lovett of Trafford, Westmoreland 

coimty Democrat, killed the measure, 

which would have prohibited local amuaement 

Uxes of 10 per cent on theatre admissions 

In Penn.sylvania. He had threatened to 

add an amendment to the bill which would 

have provided also for the elimination of 

local wage and Income taxes, and the cosponsors 

had been forced to recommit the 

bill prior to Its second reading In the hou.se 

of representatives. 

Charles R. Blatt, president of Allied MPTO 

of Western Pennsylvania, and others pleaded 

with Lovett, but he was adamant and would 

not change his plan to add the amendment. 

The bin had been amended to ehminate the 

city of Pittsburgh. Mayor David Lawrence 

had urged that all of Allegheny county be 

free from the provisions of the bill, but he 

did not win this point, and only the city of 

Pittsburgh, under terms of the bill, would 

have been permitted to continue to enact 

and collect a 10 

per cent amusement, admission 

tax at motion picture theatres. 

Lovett has been in the legislature for 19 

years. Westmoreland politicians were reported 

very displeased at Lovett's action and 

there are those who immediately started a 

movement to defeat him at the polls. 

Charles R. Blatt, who has worked for more 

than a year to have the enabling act amended 

to eliminate local theatre admission taxes 

from the "tax anything not taxed by the 

state" act, had continued his efforts after 

the bill had to be returned to committee because 

of Lovett's action. From every indication 

the bill would have been enacted, except 

for the attack by Lovett. 

Recent weeks in Harrisburg were a "genuine 

mad house." A John McDowell editorial 

stated recently that "it has even gotten 

so under the golden dome on the sunny 

banks of the Susquehanna that the lobbyists 

are standing around three or four layers deep 

in both the senate and house chambers and 

an ordinary taxpayer can't even get in to sec 

them picking his pockets." 

Stereo Sound Going Into 

Esquire at Enid, Oklo. 

EOTD—Installation of stereophonic sound 

equipment is being completed in the Esquire 

Theatre. Considerable alteration had to be 

made in the stage to install the 40-foot wide 

screen, according to Paul Shipley, city manager 

for Video Theatres. 

The Kingfisher Drive-In Theatre, under the 

management of Don Abernathy, has been repainted 

and the grounds landscaped. 

The StarLite Drive-In. Shawnee, recently 

celebrated its fifth anniversary with a special 

program and admitting a car for only 50 

cents. Kiddies were treated with free candy 

bars. 

The 3-D instaUation at the Max Theatre, 

Cherokee, consisted of high Intensity lamps, 

rectifiers, a wide screen for 3-D. stereophonic 

sound and new lenses. According to 

Tom Lewis, owner, business has been satisfactory 

this summer. 

TERRIFIC 

FAST-SELLING 


EXHIBITORS 

ARE 

SAVING 

ON 

PERMANENT 

POLARIZED 

GLASSES! 

OWN THEM! 

RENT THEM! 

SELL THEM! 

MKKS \n fill! 

I 

They Never Wear Out' 


-BEST QUALITY 


Write 

Wire * Or Phone Today 

LIST 

Jack Thomas 

HALLMARK 



HOLLYWOOD 46. 

CALIF. 


70-A

EASTERN OKLAHOMA 

By ART LA MAN 

fôing after extra business despite the heat 

is Bud Patton. manager of the Ritz Theatre 

in Tulsa, who conducted an extensive 

campaign for "Thunder Bay." He erected 

a portable oil rig on the street in front of 

the Ritz and hung 24-sheets of the film on 

both sides of the rig. which got plenty of 

attention from folks in the street. Inside 

the lobby was a miniature oil display with 

some very readable booklets on oil, free for 

the taking—and we noticed that a great many 

customers stopped to look and take home a 

booklet. "Tliunder Bay" happens to be a 

natui'al for Tulsa, known as the oil capitol of 

the world, and the picture on the new Ritz 

wide screen, in our opinion, was just about 

tops for good entertainment. 

On recent visits to the Ritz, we have 

noticed a new refreshment trailer run at 

the end of show, which announces an intermission. 

It's very good, and should sell some 

extra candy and popcorn. 

Julie Dorsey, daughter of Jimmy Dorsey, 

the band leader, came to Tulsa with Kevin 

Genther in the interest of MGM's "The Band 

Wagon," which opens at the Delman Theatre 

Saturday (8i. Manager Gene Welsh arranged 

an all-out campaign for the film, 

starting with a screening for all news, radio 

and TV folk as well as the leading record 

shop people. He expected to keep the promotion 

going at full speed right up to the 

opening date. 

Almost daily the Tulsa papers are running 

stories on the new TV station which will 

open early in the fall. 

Had a fine chat with Tony Rego who was 

helping install equipment at the new Broken 

Arrow Drive-In. Tlie Regos own a theatre 

at Boynton, which Mrs. Rego runs while Tony 

holds down a booth job in Tulsa. 

While the theatre at Boynton is open only 

on Friday, Saturday and Sunday each week, 

the Regos believe in doing as much promoting 

as possible. On July 24 they staged a 

hillbilly show which pulled a very good business. 

On August 18 they have a home talent 

show set up, which will run about three hours. 

No picture will be shown and parts of the 

show will broadcast direct from the stage. 

Every now and then the Regos take their 

16mm camera and make pictures of the farmers, 

women taking care of the youngsters 

and washing clothes and of kids at play. 

Tony says their local films always fill the 

theatre. The Regos have found that extra 

work brings out extra customers. 

• MACHINE FOLD 

• ROLL, SINGLE-DUPLEX 

• RESERVED SEAT 

• BOOK STRIP 

THEATER GIFT COUPON BOOKS 

SEASON PASSES — ONE TIME C O M P S. 

^m—A-G-eu-R-Aev—^- 

SOUTHWEST TICKET & COUPON CO. 

2110 CORINTH ST. • Harwood 7185 • DALLAS, TEX. 

Earl Synder, receiver for the new Cleveland 

Drive-In, looks for a rather large crowd 

when the drive-in is sold at public auction 

August 10 at the site ... It would be well, 

we think, to give a few details of the couree 

of events which have led up to the theatre 

being placed in receivership. L. H. Earner 

Tulsa home builder, and E. C. Burleson went 

into a partnership deal whereby Earner was 

to build the drive-in and Burleson was to 

put in the equipment. After the theatre was 

opened, the partner who had invested the 

most money was to have the controlling 

interest. Earl Synder, owner of two driveins 

in Tulsa, had the contract to book pictures 

for the Cleveland. Diu-ing the first 

few weeks of the operation, Burleson sold 

HANDY SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM

. . Ona 

. . 

RESEARCH BUREAU 

for 

MODERN 

THEATRE 

PLANNERS 

AT FILMROW LUNCHEON—t hill Wills, in Texas on tour for "The Man From 

the Alamo," spoke at the July luncheon of the Women of the Motion Picture Industry, 

organization of Dallas Filmrow women, held at the Town & Country restaurant. 

Dr. Jaekson of Denton college also spoke. Left to right: Dr. Jack.son, VerlJn Osborne, 

Wills, Flo Gan and Helen Jane Hahn, the latter secretary to Col. H. A. Cole. 

ENROLLMENT FORM FOR FREE INFORMATION 

Ji 

Weekly Prizes Spur 

Tent 22 Derby Sales 

OKLAHOMA CITY—Spurred by the weekly 

prize program initiated this year. Variety 

Tent 22 barkers have become eager-beaver 

salesmen for the 12th annual Turtle derby 

which will be staged September 12 in the 

Stockyards Coliseum. Sales of "turtles," or 

tickets, totaled 1,054, or $10,054 for the first 

three weeks. This amount was not reached 

last year till five days before the big charity 

fund-raising event. 

Dave Hunt, Republic manager, has set 

$33,418 as the quota. 

Wirmers of the awards for the third week 

of the sales drive were: 

Fred Sanders, bai.ker and team captain, 

who won silverware from Rosenfield's for the 

highest percentage of team sales as compared 

to quota. 

Ralph Drewry, general manager of Tulsa 

Downtown Theatres, an electric shaver, the 

top individual salesman for the week. 

Johnny Melton, photographer, and W. H. 

Lewis, lawyer, tied for first place among new 

members, $15 each. 

Hunt reported local merchants are extending 

fine cooperation in supplying the weekly 

prizes. 

Six city radio stations plan to use the 

30-second tape-recording made by Virginia 

Mayo in behalf of the derby. The stations 

are WKY. KOMA. KTOK, KLPR, KTOW 

and KBYE. 

BOXOmCE :: August 8, 1953 

OKLAHOMA CITY 

problems of the wide-screen operation were 

discussed at the monthly session of the 

Theatre Owners of Oklahoma board of directors 

Monday (3i in Variety Tent 22 clubrooms. 

Bob Clark of Video Independent Theatres 

conducted the round-table discussion. 

Video is installing 20 wide screens in both 

small and large theatres. Attending the 

meeting were H. D. Cox, Binger, chairman. 

President Morris Loewenstein, Frank Nordean. 

Red Slocum, Bill Cleverdon. Mr.'-, Avece 

Waldron, Eddie Holt, G. N. Mickey Walker, 

Ralph Drewry, Roy R. RoUier, Mrs Opal 

Gray, Mrs. Elizabeth Tucker. Ray Hughes, 

Paul Stonum, BiU Slepka. Phil Hays, Mrs. 

L. H. Goerke and H. S. McMurry. George 

Remmetter of the Rateonics Corp., Dallas, 

was a guest at the meeting. 

The Eddie Themes and sons Tom and Gary 

went to Imperial, Kas.. for a visit. Thorne 

is city manager for Cooper Foundation Theatres 

. . . Louise O'Brien Lane, who was Miss 

Tulsa and Miss Oklahoma in 1950, went to 

Hollywood to audition for the role of Laurie 

in the forthcoming "Oklahoma!" Mrs. Lane, 

who placed fifth in the Miss America pageant 

back in 1950, is now the mother of two 

children and wife of Luther P. Lane Jr.. Tulsa. 

She has been employed at KOTV in Tulsa. 

Many scenes in "Thunder Bay." a film 

concerning tidelands off-shore drilling operations, 

were shot at the Kerr-McGee Oil Industries 

operations near Morgan City by an 

Universal-International crew, and a large 

number of the local oil company's employes 

appeared in all of the ma.ss scenes. Consequently, 

a special screening was arranged 

at the Midwest Theatre for company em- 

. 

Phil Hays. Bartlesville. is giving away three 

turtles each week at the Video-operated Hill 

Top and Belle Mead drive-ins there. They 

will be awarded each Tuesday night during 

August and until September 12, immediately ployes. 

following the regular weekly cash award 

drawing. Hays explains the tui-tle giveaway Don Tullius, Warner manager, returned 

on the back of his double calendar. The from a flying business trip to Atlanta 

winners of these drive-in turtles have an Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Drewry and daughter 

opportunity at one or more of the 33 derby of Tulsa were here on an overnight visit 

awards which total $8,575. Hays gives complete 

Monday . Loewenstein, wife of Morris, 

details on the derby and awards on Majestic owner-operator and president of 

the back of the calendar that he distributes 

to patrons. 

Theatre Owners of Oklahoma, is hobbling on 

two canes after spending a week in a wheel 

Many other state exhibitors indicate they chair. She broke a couple of bones in her left 

will give turtles chances away at their foot and will be in a cast for another couple 

theatres. 

of weeks. 

The MODERN THEATRE 

PLANNING INSTTTUTE 

825 Man Brunt Blvd 

Kansas City 24. Mo 

Gentlemen: 

Please enroll us in your RESEARCH BUREAU 

to receive inlormation regularly, at released, on 

the lollowing subjects lor Theatre Planning: 

Q Acoustics D Lighting Fixtures 

D Air Conditioning Plumbing Fixtures 

n Architectural Service Projectors 

D ••Black" Lighting 

q Projection Lamps 

D Building Material 

p Seating 

n Carpets 

G Signs and Marquees 

Coin Machines 

D Sound Equipment 

U Complete Remodeling 

D Decorating ^ Television 

D Drink Dispensers D Theatre Fronts 

n Drive-In Equipment Vending Equipment 

D Other Subjects 

Theatre 

Sealing Capacity 

Address 

City . 

State 

Signed 

Poslogepoid reply cords for your further convenience 

in obtoining informotion are provided in Tf>e MODERN 

THEATRE Section, published with the (irst issue ot 

each month. 

70-C

' 

?S?^B 

NOW--FOR THE FIRST TIME! 

The Authoritative Guide 

To Successful Drive-In 

Theatre 

Management 

lol 

•eadii 

,;.- at 

mt lol 

SD,Ka 

liePrei 

whether you already are in 

the 

drive-in theatre field 

or contemplating 

entering it, you will find 

this volume a practical aid to outdoor 

theatre design and every 

phase of physical operation. 

ONLY ' 

5*joo 

W picture 

anil; to 

lltheAl 

Mik!.\ 

:!(;( flariii 

rsejiiig l«( 

a ikould 

EStijg to [ 

MusW 

I'telall, 

'Mi csfe, 

tedll 

Hous 

GEORGE M. PETERSEN, with more then 15 yeors of 

experience in the designing, building and operation 

of drive-in theatres, is one of the best known men 

in the drive-in field. He was one of the first persons 

who had faifh in this medium of entertoinment. As 

a designer, builder and operator of drive-ins, he 

writes with authority on all phases of the outdoor 

theotre. 

•'iieseen tj 

Sattal Allied 

PARTIAL LIST OF CONTENTS- 

Finarcing the Drive-In 

Estimated Cost of Drive-Ins 

Estimated Operating Cost 

of a 700-car Drive-In 

How to Determine Capacity 

Selecting the Site 

Grading 

The Drainage Problem 

Surfacing 

Water Supply 

The Screen Tower 

Projection-Concession 

Building 

Concession Layouts 

Restroom Equipment 

Ticket Offices 

Electrical Distribution 

Attraction Boards—Marquees 

The Drive-In Fence 

Roofing and Sheet Metal 

Landscaping 

Selecting Projection and 

Sound Equipment 

Operation Suggestions 

Insurance 

Admissions Scales 

Depreciation Schedule

Here 

" 

NCA Exhibilors Urged 

To Renew Tax Fight 

MINNEAPOLIS - Independent exhibitors 

attending North Central AUied regional meetings 

at Fargo and Minot. N.D this week 

were told by Piesident Bennie Berger and 

S. D. Kane, executive counsel, that even with 

the Pi-esidenfs failure to sign the bill repealing 

the federal admission tax the fight 

for elimination of the levy will be started all 

over again and no stone will be left unturned 

to obtain the "necessary relief" when Congress 

reconvenes. 

Berger and Kane urged the exhibitors to 

"re-enlisf immediately in the new battle to 

get the tax repealed. 

Both NCA executives advised the exhibitors 

again to defer purcha,ses of 3-D and widescreen 

equipment for the present. They predicted 

there would be unification, a drop in 

equipment prices and much better deals on 

3-D pictures, which, according to Berger arc 

stai-ting to be sold flat in some territories. 

At the Allied States convention in Boston 

in October, Berger said there would be a complete 

clarification of the new filming and 

screening techniques and he felt that exhibitors 

should wait at least until after that 

meeting to place their orders for the equinment. 

^ 

Another NCA regional meeting is scheduled 

for Marshall, Minn., August 10, at the Minnesota 

cafe. 

Small House Closings 

Foreseen by Berger 

MINNEAPOLIS - Bennie Berger, North 

Central Allied president, this week predicted 

that many smaller theatres in this area would 

be "forced to toss in the towel" with President 

Eisenhower's failure to sign the bill repealing 

the 20 per cent federal admissions tax. 

Berger also pointed out that at least three 

reopenings of Twin Cities theatres awaited 

^ 

only the tax repeal. They are two St. Paul 

downtown first runs, the Strand and Tower, 

and a de luxe neighborhood, the Arion. All 

three were relinquished by the Minnesota 

Amusement Co. upon expiration of leases. 

Property owners had been planning to reopen 

the houses, but it now is doubtful as to 

whether they will carry through on those 

plans. 

Meantime, Berger also predicted further 

setbacks in theatre patronage as the Consumer 

Price Index—cost of the family "market 

basket"—and rental costs continued to 

rise. These factors, particularly rental increases 

ranging from 8 to 50 per cent, he said, 

meant further decreases in entertainment 

purcha-'ing power, at a time when exhibitions' 

condition is critical. 

Plan CinemaScope Bow 

MINNEAPOLIS— This territory will have its 

first demonstration of CinemaScope around 

August 20 if present plans materialize. Back 

from a conference in New York, M. A. Levy. 

20th-Fox division manager, announced that 

efforts now are being directed for the demonstration 

and he expects to know definitely 

within the next fortnight. 

Third Tower in a Month 

As Winds Plague Airer 

Kalston. .Ne(,.-|,„. s.,.rm-,.laKu.-,l ( .,.- 

t.T Drive-In i.s in op.ration again with 

another new screen lower-the third 

within one month. 

The first screen fell prev t« the wind 

two weeks before the drive-in opened. 

The tower was twisted out of shape a,s 

t lay on the ground Just before beinif 

hoisted into position. Then Herman 

 

film U-rrltory In recent w(-

, 

day, 

. . Mike 

— 

— 

— 

. . Harold 

• 

D E S MOINES 

•Llal King, Lippert, has returned from a vacation 

trip to California . . . M. C. Marquis, 

manager of the Star in Colfax, has been 

painting the marquee at his theatre with the 

over-all color of circus orange. A red trim 

and a white coating underneath completed 

the job. Additional improvements include the 

placing of new neon tubing on the marquee. 

The old tubing had been broken and damaged 

in several windstorms this summer and 

in the recent hailstorm. Future plans call 

for redecoration of the lobby and lounges, 

along with other necessary repairs. 

Mande Mackey, Columbia inspector, is on 

72 

First 

—From Boxoffice, 

June 27, 1953 

showing of 3-0 more than 

paid for whole installation! 

READ THIS STORY AGAIN 

Few have realized how great 

are the possibilities of Third 

Dimension, stereophonic sound 

and depth-illusion in general. 

We have been very busy with 

installations; may we serve you? 

SCREEN PAINT 

for DRIVE-IN 3D 

We offer the right product 

Minnesota exhibitor ^ô, \a town 

^^^^^ to get the best results. 

operates two conventional and on 

theatre. 

. 

independent ex- 

DRIVE-IN EQUIPMENT 

The exchanges report this 

^^p^ ^^^^ ^^^^ 

hibitor has âde no se^re 

^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ,, 

Let our engineers pick your 

^2L^^-ii^S^î him to more than^ drive-in site and help you from 

^^Si^^y^-r^^pêM. With his^?cof start to finish. We have sold 

pajJo^K^. 3:-^3!r^^-«-admits %made more drive-in equipment in 

^^^^,?:XZ X-prete^nStJs 

Iowa than any other dealer. 

Some companies sell a contract 

S/SeiJ^ê^^s'trt he wants others to 

and forget you . . . Not us! ! 

know of his good fortune. ^„ 

in this P--^-"f^ru,e an'wood-Walicfleld Cliairs 

Strone and Asiicraft Lamps and Rectifiers 

JirongWOSseson3-D 

Xiled in Small Towns 

Imperial imperial and ana Moliograph nioiioKrapii Generators 

Motiograph and Century 

Sound 

See Us Before You Buy! 

Dcs Moines Theatre Supply On. 

Phone 3-6520 

Des Moines 9, 

Iowa 

1121-23 High St. 

McGlynn's other son. Jack, who is stationed 

in Missouri, recently announced his engagement. 

her two-week vacation . . . Clifford Bayles, Kay Taylor is the new bookers clerk at 

NSS shipper, is also vacationing, as is Hazel MGM, replacing Janet Olmstead, who resigned 

to go to Washington . Sut- 

Hudson. Warner Bros Lee. United 

. 

Arti-sts district manager, was a recent visitor phin. MGM booker, has returned to his desk 

at the exchange 

. . . S. H. Klassie had the after a lengthy illness. 

wood trimming at the front of the Ren Theatre. 

Renwick. Iowa, painted. Iiistallation of 

Charles Laughlin is the new salesman for 

Universal, replacing Ralph Olson. Laughlin 

a new sign and lights has also been accomplished 

There has been much cause for 

comes to Des Moines from Sioux Palls, S.D., 

where he was associated with RKO as salesman. 

He has had several years' experience 

. . . 

celebration in the home of Gerry McGlynn. 

MOM manager. His son Gerry jr. has returned 

from Korea and obtained his discharge 

with the film business as booker and salesman 

and once worked in the studios in Hollywood. 

from the army engineer corps. He is tentatively 

planning to return to some college or 

university this fall for graduate work. The 

'Slalag 17' Is Hefly 

Twin City Newcomer 

MINNEAPOLIS—"Stalag 17" followed 

"Shane" into the Radio City Theatre and 

easily led the town with a prosperous 200 

per cent last week. There were three other 

newcomers but only one, "City of Bad Men," 

attracted attention of the fans. Pour powerful 

holdovers—"Second Chance" in a third week, 

and "Shane," "Lili" and "Houdini" in their 

second—continued at a fast pace. 

Century Moin Street to Broodwoy (MGM) 75 

Gopher— Houdini (Para), 2nd wk 100 

Lvric—Shone (Para), 2nd wk 150 

Orpheum—The 5,000 Fingers ot Dr. T. (Col) 80 

Pan—Second Chance (RKO), 3rd wl< 100 

Radio City—Stolog 17 (Para) 200 

State City of Bod Men (20til-Fox) 100 

World Lili (MGM), 2nd wk 170 

'Chance' 

Seconci Week of 

Still Draws in Omaha 

OMAHA—A holdover had it all over the 

first runs last week in a period of nearaverage 

operation. "Second Chance" drew 

well above average in its second week at the 

RKO Brandeis. i 

OmaiiQ Column South (U-l); A Perilous Journey 

(Rep) 105 

Orpheum The Desert Song (WB); The System 

(WB) 103 

RKO Brandeis Second Chonce (RKO); Born to 

the Saddle Astor), 2nd wk ( 

State—Moulin Rouge (UA), 3rd wk 

30 

95 

Town New Mexico (UA); Island of Desire (UA); 

Spoilers of the Range (Col) 100 

David City Showman Aids 

In Civic Celebration 

DAVID CITY. NEB—Pat Cooks showmanship 

talent has been a blessing to the David 

City community. The owner of the Crest 

Theatre helped make the town's recent celebration 

a success. 

The Chamber of Commerce and Jaycees 

decided to whomp up a "sound wagon" out 

of an old 1936 model car. The construction, 

labeled "Betsy." was to be used for booster 

trips for this summer's celebration and other 

Jti!s!-.: 

F:- 

BOXOFHCE :: August 8, 1953 

civic affairs. 

Pat had a big hand in making the plywood 

covering for the body. When motor trouble 

developed, Pat, with the help of a garage 

man, got it running. He spent most of his 

spare time on booster trips and Chamber 

promotions. 

Betsy's fame spread and towns sent invitations 

for a visit. David City ha-s made the 

sound wagon available to the whole county. 

Of the 328 feature films imported by Great 

Britain during the year ending March 31, 

more than 75 per cent were U.S. films.

. . Lower 

City Council Considers 

Revoking Grand License 

MINNEAPOUS—The city council litalth 

and hospital committee this week will consider 

revocation of the license of the Grand 

Theatre, lower Loop house, whose owner 

Samuel Bereer pleaded guilty in municipal 

court to showing an indecent film and was 

fined $100. 

The police morals squad raided the theatre, 

confiscated the print and arrested Berger! 

Jake Sullivan, its head, told newspapers he 

would recommend licerise revocation because 

of similar trouble with the house previously. 

The raid, he said, followed complaints, 

SuUivan testified in court that the same 

film was shown a year ago at the Pan here 

under the different title of "French Peep 

Show\" At that time, too, it was halted and 

the Pan manager was arrested and fined $100. 

nireatened license revocation, however, failed 

to materialize. 

Several years ago, the police arrested the 

owner of another lower Loop showhouse, the 

Crystal, located within a block of the Grand, 

for showing a nudist picture. In this case. too. 

a fine of $100 wa-s assessed and the city* 

council debated whether to revoke the theatre's 

license, but finally voted to give it 

another chance. 

MILWAUKEE 

Jj^l .-Meskis, manager of the Egyptian Theatre 

here, has been shifted to acting manager 

of the Warner, downtown house, during the 

convalescence of Harry "Sonny" MacDonald, 

manager of the Warner, who has been ill 

for several weeks. Anthony Uhl, former house 

manager at the Warner, is managing the 

Egyptian 

. 

Thii-d street, closed for 

11 weeks for repaving, opened Saturday (1). 

The Atlantic Theatre, located on the newly 

opened street, also is reopened and the 

Empress opened its doors again Saturday. 

The Fox Princess has remained open during 

the repaving. 

Marcia Henderson, film starlet, is appearing 

at the Riverside Theatre for the opening 

of "Thunder Bay" . . . Some 25,000 veterans 

are expected to be in town this week for 

the national convention of the Veterans of 

Foreign Wars. 

Harold Fitzgerald, president of Fox Wisconsin 

Theatres, will appear on Ned Cronin's 

Sunday show to sing the praises of the Milwaukee 

Braves ball club, which just set an 

attendance mark of 1,000,000 for 38 home 

games. Fitzgerald also revealed last week 

that if the 20 per cent ticket tax repeal is 

signed by the President there will be no cut 

In theatre admissions prices here. 

The Fox Strand will reopen in late August 

with new three-dimension equipment. First 

film to be shown will be "Arena" 

Cinerama is set to open here this fall. 

Mrs. Sadie Tandlich. mother of Karl Harte, 

home office representative for Universal, died 

recently at her home in New York. 

Greek Pictures Popular in Athens 

The popularity of films produced in Greece 

has steadily increased during the last three 

years, especially in the Athens area. 

MADISON 

gi Fabian, president, and Samuel Rosen. 

vice-president. Stanley Warner Corp.. were 

in MadLson July 29 to visit the Capitol and 

Majestic theatres, owned by the firm. With 

them were Harry Kalmlne. corporation neneral 

manager; A. D. Kvool. Milwaukee, midwest 

zone manager, and Harry Mint/, of Milwaukee. 

Wisconsin area manager. The group 

also called on civic leaders. Tlielr visit wa.s 

part of an inspection tour of the company's 

Wisconsin holdings. 

The Capitol here used its new Cinemascope 

screen for the first time Wednesday (29i with 

showings of "Shane." 

"Face of Youth." a film produced by the 

University of Wisconsin extension division's 

bureau of audio-visual instruction, has been 

awarded highest honors for 

1952 by the University 

Film Producers Ass'n. according to 

Prof. Walter A. Wittich. bureau director. 

The 30-minute, black and white sound film 

was produced in cooperation with the Wisconsin 

board of health, and deals with the 

problem of mental health. It was filmed at 

last year's University child guidance clinic. 

Dubuque State Is Sold 

To Maclay & Yiannias 

DUBUQUE. IOWA—The State Theatre 

here has been sold to the Maclay & Yiannias 

Theatre Co.. operator of the Grand. Strand 

and Avon here. The State, opened on Decoration 

day in 1938. was owned and operated 

by the Jacobson Tneatre Co. of Davenport 

and the Central States Theatre Corp. of 

Des Moines. 

James Yiannias. manager of the company, 

said the State would continue its first run 

policy and added that the house would be 

redecorated soon. Wallace Shaffer, manager 

of the Strand, has been named manager of 

the State, replacing B. L. Jacobson, who came 

here 12 years ago to manage the house. 

Drive-In at Sheboygan 

Celebrates 5th Birthday 

SHEBOYGAN. WIS.—The Stardusk Outdoor 

Theatre near here celebrated its fifth 

anniversary, with big events every night in 

the front of the 80-foot screen tower. Manager 

Jack Lightner offered free gifts to 

patrons, and held a giant bomb salute at the 

opening of the show each night. 

The Stardusk is under tlie management 

of Standard Theatres of Milwaukee, which 

also operates drive-ins in Milwaukee, Kenosha, 

Beloit and Wisconsin Rapids, as well 

as 18 indoor theatres in Oshkosh, Green Bay. 

Wisconsin Rapids, Milwaukee, Kenosha. Lake 

Geneva, Delavan, Beloit and Waukesha. 

ClAL TRAILERS 


'Said Ut RESULTS and Always 

CHICAGO 

o".V""* ^'''''® °N TIME Is 


1327S.Wab«th 

FILMACK 

TERRIFIC FAST-SEllING 


EXHIBITORS 

ARE 

SAVING 

ON 

PERMANENT 

POURIZED 

GLASSES! 

OWN THEM! 

RENT THEM! 

SELL 

(They Never Wear Out' 


-BEST QUALITY 

- 


Write * Wire 

Or Phone Todoy 

THEM! 

LIST 

Jack Thomas 

HALLAAARK 


9100 SUNSET BLVD 

HOLLYWOOD 46. 

CALIF. 


m 

BOXOFTICE : : August 8, 1953 

73

. . Lowell 

. . . make 

' 

: August 8. 1953 

: 

MINNEAPOLIS 

'There's much happiness at Paramount these 

days, what with a pair of its pictures. 

"Shane" and "Stalag 17," cutting great boxoffice 

capers simultaneously in downtown 

Minneapolis "burning 'em up." as Booking 

Manager Arnold Shartin expresses it. Tliey're 

among the biggest grossers in years and the 

results are leading to the natural conclusion 

that there can't be too much wrong with film 

exhibition that such good pictures won't 

remedy. 

Six branch managers and exploiteer Chick 

Evens attended the sales meeting called here 

by M. A. Levy, division manager, and heard 

about "The Robe" and other forthcoming product. 

As soon as Radio City theatre here has 

the equipment installed, probably in late 

August, there will be a Cinemascope demonstration 

for the territory's exhibitors. Levy 

said . . . Irving Mills. Columbia office manager, 

has resigned to enter another line of 

business. 

William Gunzelman, 20th-Fox home office 

auditor, was a visitor . . . Al Stern. RKO office 

manager, is pinch-hitting for manager 

Fay Dressell. while the latter vacations at 

Detroit Lakes. Minn. . Kaplan. Berger 

circuit buyer and booker, is back on the 

job after a fortnight vacation most of which, 

he says, was spent fishing . . . Ted Mann, 

wlio bought the much-in-the-limelight "The 

Moon Is Blue" for his local World Theatre, 

expects to acquire it for his St. Paul World, 

too. although it was attacked by Bill Dielil. St. 

Paul Honeer Press-Dispatch film editor and 

critic. The mayor and city council dropped 

their move to ban the pictui'e in St. Paul 

after witnessing it at a private screening. 

Manager Jimmy Nederlander of the legitimate 

Lyceum finally has landed an opening 

attraction. It's "Maid in the Ozarlcs" and it'll 

run for two weeks, starting August 22 . . . 

Ben Lander. 20th-Fox head booker, vacationing 

at Grand Marais. Mmn.. resort . . . 

Collections for the Northwest Variety Club 

heart hospital, an annual occurrence, must 

precede those for COMPO-sponsored Korean 

relief in the territory's theatres, as far as 

North Central Allied is concerned, rules Bennie 

Berger. NCA president, who says, however, 

"we are very .sympathetic toward aid for 

Korea." 

Perry Crosier, prominent local architect 

and designer of a large number of tlie ten'itory's 

theatres, died suddenly from a heart 

attack at the age of 62 . . . Ernie Hill, who 

has been Warner Bros, northern Minnesota 

.salesman, becomes Twin Cities' salesman, succeeding 

Casper Chouinard, who resigned to 

enter another hne of business. Don Urquharl 

has been shifted from South Dakota to northern 

Minnesota, "with Herb Blass and Frank 

Anderson assigned to his territory. 

Herbert Klein has acquired the film rights 

to the Jack London story, "Star Rover." 

£&uu*tf 

73 Glenwood A v. - MINNEAPOLIS - Bridgeporl 01 94 

Film Critic From St. Paul 

Impressed by Cinerama 

MINNEAPOLIS—The St. Paul Pioneer Pi'ess- 

Dispatch sent film editor-critic Bill Diehl 

to cover the Chicago premiere of Cinerama 

at the Palace Theatre and he made his report 

in the Sunday Dispatch in an account 

which carried an eight-column head. Diehl 

was greatly impressed. The story's subhead 

related that "premiere audience gasps, 

cheers, weeps, agrees it's stunning." The main 

head declared "I Just Saw Cinerama—And 

Oh Boy!" 

His impression was summarized by Diehl 

in his final paragraph. He wrote: 

"In the lobby, viewers can write postcards 

home about the event. A staid, gray-topped 

gentleman in front of me wrote: "I ju.st saw 

Cinerama—and oh boy!' Which sums it up." 

Also applicable is a line from Martin Luther's 

•A Mighty Fortress Is Our God' CEin Feste 

Burg'i ... on earth is not its equal." 

Previously, it had been announced that 

Diehl would view "The Moon Is Blue" in Chicago 

to learn if there had been altering of 

the print here when it was privately screened 

for the St. Paul mayor and other city council 

members who had moved to ban it before 

witnessing it. 

However, after seeing tlie picture the St. 

Paul officials decided it didn't call for any 

action on their part. So the St. Paul Dispatch 

apparently reconsidered having Diehl give it 

any furtlier attention. Diehl had attacked 

the picture and play without having seen the 

former, and it was this attack which led the 

mayor and council to sound off against it. 

Starlet Asserts Males 

Monotonous Dancers 

OMAHA— starlet Joet Robinson had a word 

for the male who's in a dancing rut when 

she stopped here recently on behalf of MGM 

to tell Nebraskans they shouldn't miss "The 

Band Wagon." The 112-pound blonde dancer 

confessed that in general men on the dance 

floor tend to be "monotonous." Slie .said: 

"Men do the fox trot and it's the same old 

step over and over again." 

She can't understand why men don't vary 

the pattern with a side step, dip or some 

other maneuver. They donit have to be 

tricky, she emphasized. She added quickly 

that she wasn't plugging dancing schools. 

"You don't have to do a 'learned' step," 

Joet declared, "but just something you feel 

up on the spot. Most girls can 

follow." 

Joet likes a rhumba but is glad to see 

jitterbugging dying, leaving in its wake a 

trail of bruised and maimed. 

Horace Powers Named 

JEFFERSON. WIS.—Horace Powers has 

been named manager of the Jefferson Theatre, 

according to Harry Karp, owner of the 

house. Karp is expected to give up management 

of tlie theatre, and will retiu'n to 

his former position as booker, buyer and 

supervisor for the E.skin Theatre Management 

Co. of Milwaukee. Powers expects to 

keep up his other business connection, distributor 

for Borden Dairy Co. in this area, 

in addition to management of the theatre. 

Buck Night Started in Airer 

WEST POINT. NEB— J. P. Lannan. manager 

of the Y-Knot Drive-In, has instituted 

a $1 per car night on Fridays. 

Package Ice Cream Sales 

Boost Concession Gross 

LYONS, NEB. — Many exhibitors in the 

area are augmenting dropping gate receipts 

by offering package ice cream to persons not 

going to the show as well as to patrons who 

want to take a package home. 

One of the most successful cases is that 

of Charles Thoene. Lyons exhibitor. He got 

his setup ready early enough this season to 

get full benefit of the long hot spell. 

Many of the stores are built so that passersby 

can make purchases without going 

tlirough the theatre, with the service available 

during the day. 

Sheldon Airer Robbed 

SHELDON. IOWA—Sheriff's men were investigating 

the theft of $26 in cash from the 

Sheldon Drive-In recently. The money was 

taken from the snack bar. Entrance was 

gained by prying the locks from the outer 

and inner doors of tlie room. Tlie sheriff 

said about S80 in small change was ignored 

by the thief. The theft was discovered at 

4:30 a.m. by a film distributing firm's deliveryman. 

Vacations in Black Hills 

GRAND ISLAND. NEB.—Tony Abramovich, 

manager of the Capitol Theatre, and his 

wife vacationed in the Black Hills recently. 

Ted Emerson of the Omaha Tri-States office 

substituted for Abramovich at the local 

theatre. 

New Manager at Coin 

COIN, IOWA—Lloyd Derrickson of Bedford 

has been named manager of the Coin Community 

Theatre, city-operated film house. 

Shows are held on Wednesday and Saturday 

nights. 

Buys Minnesota Theatre 

WHEATON. MINN.—The Gopher Theatre 

here has been bought by Jim Goggin, manager 

of the Park and Royal theatres at Park 

Rapids, Minn. 

Theatre Building Sold 

LOST NATION. IOWA—The Nation Theatre 

building on Main street here has been 

sold to Melvin Jones, who will remodel the 

building into a department store. 

Drive-In Construction 

CARROLL. IOWA—The new Carroll Drive- 

In, three miles east of town on Highway 

30, has been opened by the Pioneer Theatre 

Corp., with W. C. Arts as manager. Feature 

of the 500-car drive-in is the location of the 

concession stand on the rear ramp rather 

than in the center of the ozoner. 

BEMIDJI. MINN.—The new drive-in east 

of town on Highway 2 has been named the 

Timberlane in a contest conducted among 

local citizens. The drive-in, neai'ing completion, 

is owned by Wilfred Libel and Otto 

Burggraf. 

CARSON, N.D.—Construction has been 

started on a new theatre here for Bob Chase, 

owner. Excavation was completed recently 

and workmen have begun laying the foundation. 

74 BOXOmCE :

la p i 

.,„-ut 

Managers Reassigned 

By Detroit Chain 

DETKOIT— A general i 

of managers 

and assistants at im!!! ,, i.witown and 

suburban houses has bni. imnplcted by 

United Detroit Theatres, sparked initially 

by the organization and presidency of the 

firm, and the addition of the Northlo group 

to the local operation. 

C. E. "Obie" O'Bryan. formerly at the 

Riviera, has moved bacl: downtown to replace 

Rufus Shepherd as manager of the Palm 

State, while William Cadmus from thf Birmingham 

replaced him at the Riviera, Richard 

Siclucki filled the vacancy at the Birmingham. 

Charles Fisher moved from the Cinderella 

to the Fisher to succeed Jack Sage, and Calvin 

Collard from the Vogue to the Cinderella. 

Jennie Schoppe of the Varsity moved to the 

east side to head the Vogue, and Edna Gregory, 

acting second assistant at the Madison, 

was upped to replace her. 

Jack Cotaldo, former night assistant at 

the Palm, was upped to manager of the 

Rosedale, replacing John Drinkhouse. 

At the Michigan, ace house of the circuit, 

three newcomers, William McLaughlin, 

Helen Bourque and Vic Philipchuk, have replaced 

the entire staff of assistants—formerly 

Leora Walsh, Thomas Ryder and Don Currie. 

At the Palm, all-night first run, assistant 

Edward Pletta has left, and William Johnson 

is night assistant; Joseph Janiszewski is 

in training, and Ben Johnson, manager of 

the Ramona, has taken over Jack Sage's 

chore as relief manager. 

At the Riviera, Ray Hill and Edward Wynn 

are new assistants, succeeding Jean Walsh. 

At the Fisher, assistant Marvin Morris has 

left, and Donald Barnard, John Balb and 

T. C. Metcalf are the newcomers. 

William Lanoye is new assistant at the 

Cinderella, succeeding Claude Parker. Charles 

Wilkinson has followed James Cannon as assistant 

at the Ramona. Robert Jordan, new 

assistant at the Mel in Melvindale. completes 

the transfer. 

Albert Dezel Acquires 

Three European Films 

DETROIT— Albert Dezel, head of Dezel 

Pi-oductions, back from a month in Europe, 

has acquired three new films for distribution 

in the Chicago and Detroit territories— 

"Stolen Identity," from Ainsworth Productions, 

"Glory at Sea," from Unger and Rogers 

and "Egypt by Three," from Filmakers. 

Dezel's package trio, including "Bad 

Blonde." "Bachelor in Paris" and "College 

Capers." the latter a 3-D short, just completed 

a first run engagement at the Colonial 

Theatre. 

Clark to New Quarters 

DETROIT— Clark Theatre Service has 

moved to new larger quarters at 504 Donovan 

building, marking the expansion of the organization 

to service film buying and booking 

for 40 theatres, according to William Clark. 

New houses taken over are the Night Sky 

Drive-In, Beulah; Roxy, St. Charles; Capac, 

Capac, and Hoover, Detroit. Edward Purcell, 

formerly with Cooperative Theatres of Michigan, 

has joined the staff as booker, in addition 

to James Beck, 

Amusement Business Up 

55.6 Per Cent in Detroit 

JUBILEK SENDOFF IN OHIO — Atlendins 

(he Paramount Jubilee wrccning 

in Cleveland, top photo, left to riRht. 

standing: Frank Murphy, Loew's district 

manuRer; Charles Ilutaff. advertising 

director UTAM-WXKK. Seated: 

Os

. . . Eddie 

. . And 

. . Evelyn 

. . Bob 

Ml, . 

. . . Manny 

. . Mrs. 

. . Walter 

CLEVELAND 

XJerb Ochs, head of a circuit of Canadian 

drive-ins, reports his son Jim of the 

Marines has orders to sail for service in the 

Far East ... J. P. Curtin. Republic district 

manager, conferred with local Manager Irwin 

Pollard . Priedl of the Community 

circuit vacationed on the shores of Cape 

Cod . Mary Drews, Republic head 

booker, spent a pleasant two weeks in Maine 

Cutler is back at RKO as booker 

Fund for Lester Dowdell 

Cleveland—Industry members throughout 

this area are making voluntary contributions 

to the Lester Dowdell fund in 

appreciation of his more than 30 years 

service to the exhibitors of northern Ohio. 

Dowdell, longtime United Artists office 

manager and more recently booker at 

RKO and Warner Bros., is critically ill in 

Doctors hospital. Contributions may be 

given to the film salesmen or sent to 

Marie Roessel, V-l cashier, 2342 Payne 

Avenue. 

after an absence of several months selling 

Bernie Rubin has 

automotive parts . . . 

acquired for northern Ohio distribution the 

Astor 3-D feature, "The Robot Monster" for 

September 1 release. 

. 

Sam Fritz, manager of the Hilliard Square 

Theatre, vacationed at Niagara Falls . . . 

Vincent Aldert, Avon Lake manager, and his 

family returned from a visit in Boston . . . 

Hope Kramer Cropper, daughter of Associated 

circuit executive Abe Kramer, and her husband 

Edward sailed this week on the Isle de 

France for a six-week tour of the capitals 

of Europe Long, manager of the 

Fairview Theatre, and his family will leave 

soon on motor trip to California . . . Omar 

a 

Ranney, Press critic, will vacation in northern 

Michigan with Jack Warfel taking over until 

his return . . . Bill Skirball headed for his 

California ranch immediately after the reopening 

of the Paramount Theatre, Steubenville, 

Wednesday (5). Skirball Bros, took over 

FOR SALE 

Two-35mm. SIMPLEX projectors with type 

SH-1000 sound mechanism recently removed 

from the theatre building. Good 

working order when removed. Will accept 

highest bid. 

Inspection by appointment. 

— write — 

1700 Buhl Bldg. Detroit 26 

lli^ 

the theatre and closed it several weeks to 

redecorate it and to install 3-D and a wide 

screen. 

Jack Silverthome, Hippodrome manager, 

has vacation re.servations in Canada . . . Capt. 

Emmett Porter, whose duties have included 

inspection of the fire prevention facilities in 

the film exchanges, has been promoted to 

chief of the fire prevention bureau, succeeding 

Lt. William Rush. 

Bob Martin's close cooperation with the 

police department of Shaker Heights resulted 

in the Shaker Tlieatre manager's appointment 

as delegate to the recent three-day 

convention of the Fraternal Order of Police 

Associates held in Dayton. 

Nate Schultz's son Jay will enter the University 

of Pennsylvania this fall and his 

daughter Alyn will transfer from Wheaton 

college to Western Reserve so that the elder 

Schultzes won't rattle around in the home. 

COLUMBUS 

f^harles Sugarman and Lee Hofheimer are 

the first Franklin county drive-in operators 

to install 3-D equipment. "House of 

Wax" was shown last week at the North Hi 

Auto Theatre. Sugarman and Hofheimer have 

closed the west side neighborhood Avondale, 

one of the oldest houses in this area. 

The Ohio censor board is instelling 3-D 

equipment in its screening room in the State 

office building at a cost of $1,200. Next 

month, the board will install a wide screen, 

22x9 feet, to show wide-angle films. Present 

screen is 12x9 feet . . . Earl Wilson, nationally 

known columnist and a native of Ohio, will 

be master of ceremonies at the world premiere 

of the new Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis 

comedy, "The Caddy," at Loew's Ohio August 

17. The comedy duo will appear in person at 

the premiere. 

Ruth Bunsold, assistant manager, Loew's 

Broad, and Fi'ed Oestreicher, publicity manager, 

Loew's Ohio and Broad, are vacationing 

Pearson, MGM exploiteer, Cleveland, 

accompanied Gloria Van Deweel, of the 

cast of "Main Street to Broadway," during 

her local visit. 

Robert Wile, secretary. Independent Theatre 

Owners of Ohio, and his family are -set 

to take a vacation trip to Yellowstone National 

park . Russell A. Bovim, wife of the 

manager of Loew's State. St Louis, has been 

vacationing hare with her son Bobby. They 

were visiting her parents, Mr. and Mi's Louis 

Anast. Bovim was manager of Loew's Ohio 

here for 13 years . Miles, chief 

projectionist, Ohio cen.sor board, was named 

chairman of the Lantern Movies committee 

for the national coroners convention here. 

Harry Schreiber and Fred Oestreicher were 

members of the committee. 

H. S. Roth, Paramount, 

Dies in Cleveland 

CLEVELAND—Howard S. Roth, Paramount 

office manager and head booker, died last 

Friday morning after a heart attack. He 

had not been in the best of health during the 

past few years, but he seldom missed a day 

at the office. Last Monday (27) he attended 

the Paramount Jubilee screening of three 

of the company's outstanding new fall season 

pictures at the Fairmount Theatre. 

Survivors are his wife Elene, a brother 

Max, New York, and two sisters. 

Roth, in his early fifties, would have celebrated 

his 25th anniversary with Paramount 

next year. Born in New York, Roth served 

as a sergeant in World War I and after the 

war remained for a time with the occupation 

forces in Germany. After discharge from the 

army, his first job was with Paramount in 

New York. Briefly he joined the MGM 

organization in New York, but rejoined Paramount 

prior to 1930 when he was assigned 

to the Cleveland office, where he remained 

until death. 

Pallbearers were members of the exchange 

and included Lester Irwin, Art Young. Irwin 

Sears, Al Schwartz, John Oliver and Bill 

Andrews. 

Eliminate Drive-In Seams 

AKRON—Tlie D. A. Spiegel Co., specializing 

in commercial and industrial paint jobs, 

has developed an adhesive and special paint 

which covers heavy lines that appear on 

drive-in screens. The special method was used 

successfully at the Montrose (Ohioi Drive-In, 

owned by Lou Ratener and associates. 

Us 



Your Next Arrive ON TIME Is 


CHICAGO. 1327$.Wabaih 

NEW YORK 630 Ninth Ave 

FILMACK 

NOW 

3-D MAGIC VUERS 

Immediate 

Delivery 

Packed 2000 per Carton 

Ten Cents each 

Check with Order 

National Theatre Supply Co. 

2128 Poyne Av 

PRospcct 1-4613 

Cleveland 14, Ohio

. . Syd 

. . Mannie 

. . Alvin 

— 

—. 

. . Jack 

. . Al 

. . Joseph 

. . Walter 

. . 

- 

1 

DETROIT 

Dobert Bryson, formerly with Pioducers Re- 

. . 

leasing Corp. and one-time manager of 

the Circle Tlieatre, has returned to the film 

business as booker for Universal after some 

yeai-s in the optical field. He replaces Jack 

Hebert. who moved over to Paramount . 

Bill Flemion point,s out a misprint—it is the 

Studio, formerly the Dox, not Fox, that is the 

sole presently surviviny art film house in 

town . Bowman. UA manager, is still 

able to "share the common touch on Filmrow 

after his excursion with royalty at the 

coronation, 

Alice Simpson, sister of Charles Simpson 

of Exhibitors Service, is retiurning to the office 

staff at Allied Films in a new expansion 

move . Brown, United Artists salesman, 

ha-s returned to Buffalo to join Columbia 

there . . . Sol Krim and Neil Tailing of 

the Ki-im Theatre trekked to Stratford, Ont., 

for the Shakespearean festival, with the local 

drama critics as guests. Kiim was host to 

Alec Guinness at a cocktail party . . . Mrs. 

Mary E. Jennings, wife of George E. Jennings, 

veteran stagehand, died as result of a heart 

attack July 27. 

Vi Whiteside, mainstay of the stagehands 

office staff, is vacationing—reportedly in the 

northland . Anderson, .stagehand at 

the Fisher who has been on leave because of 

illness, is progressing very favorably, Clyde 

Adler reports . . . Sid Golos, the premium 

DETROIT DESK SPACE 

FOR RENT 

Excellent Downtown Location 

Convenient to Filmrow 

Write or Phone Boxoftice, 1009 Fox Theatre BIdg. 

Detroit 1, Mich. Phone WOodward 2-1100 

AUTO CITY CANDY CO. 

2937 St. Aubin TEmpIc 1-3350 Dcfroif 7, Mich. 

COMPLETE SUPPLIES 

FOR YOUR THEATRE CANDY DEPARTMENT 

CORN—SEASONING—SALT 

SYRUPS— CUPS— POPCORN BOXES—GUMS 

and Complete Assortment of Candy in Spociol- 

Priced Thcotre Pocks. 

ANYWHERE 

UPHOLSTERING, REPAIRING 

THEATRE SEATS 

Prompt. Rclioble Service. 15 Yeors Know-How 

SERVICE SEATING CO. 

1507 

JOHN HEIDT 

W. Kirby Detroit 8, Mich. 

Phone TYIer 7-8015 

. . . 

man, made a trip to northern MichlKan wllli 

his wife and bacy . Duffourc of the RKO 

Uptown has switched to one of the Mu.slc 

Hall booths for Cinerama, rcplacInK Prank 

Tlernan sr. . . Bruce Greenhaw of Clncruma 

. 

has bought a new ranch-type home in Beverly 

Frank 

Hills, Just west of Birmingham 

Upton, manager of the Music Hall, calls his 

operators ".scientists." 

. 

£dward RobinHin, operator at the Esquire 

Theatre in Gro'ise Polnte operated by Mike 

Chargot, has taken a leave of absence, and 

Louis Stathos is pinch-hitting for him . 

Herbert Ealand is helping his father Tom 

Ealand run the Ferndale Theatre in sublu-ban 

Ferndale Pickering, who 

u.sed to be at the Garden, now is the operator 

al the Ferndale. He succeeded Charles Mc- 

Farlane, now with the Radio City. 

Wayne Smith, manager of the Huron Theatre 

at Pontiac for Forest C. Ketzler and S. 

C. Bouford. has installed a Magnascope 

Screen, giving it a high-powered debut with 

"Moulin Rouge" on a first run basis. This 

was the picture which broke 27-year records 

at the 5,500 seat Fox in Detroit, by holding for 

six weeks . Smukler, operator at the 

Beverly, with his wife and six-month-old 

son Dwight, is doing clown bally on the 

streets for the annual police field day. It's 

their volunteer bit for the boys In blue. 

James Methner becomes the first theatre 

owner in Gladwin county to install 3-D—at 

the Gem in Beaverton. Bill Clark reports . . . 

Alice Gorham. UDT exploiteer. is back from 

a vacation in northern Michigan, tuckered 

out from the heat . J. Norris. exploitation 

chief for the Butterfield, is back 

from a vacation in his old home territory at 

Dayton and Cincinnati. 

Bert Tighe. Republic salesman, returned 

from traveling the northern territory with 

reports of good to excellent business in that 

area. Not only the resort towns, but industrial 

cities are doing well. Typical is the report 

of good business at Rogers City, mining 

and industrial city, where Tom Hawkins, 

manager of the Rogers Theatre, turned in 

encouraging boxoffice reports. 

Joseph Stoia, owner of the Circle in Dearborn, 

has been busy building additions to his 

proper.y at the show site, for a new bank and 

for a bu.sine.ss machine house . . . Dillon M. 

Dee" Krepps, managing director of the 

United Ai'tists Theatre, is back from his 

three-week vacation at Nantucket, where 

he'd really like to buy a show and settle down 

for good . . . Victor Carlson subbed in his atence. 

during which time Jean Kennedy, exploiteer. 

lined up 15 television .shows. 

Douglas Fowley has been booked for h 

character role in Paramount 's "The Naked 

Jungle," 

TERRIFIC 

FAST-SELIING 


EXHIBITORS 

ARE 

SAVING 

ON 

PERMANENT 

POLARIZED 

GLASSES! 

OWN THEM! 

RENT 

PlllfllS 11 

SELL 

(They Nercr Wear Out) 

THEM! 

THEM! 


-BEST 

QUALITY 



Jack Thomas 

HALLMARK 


RCA 

Dea'er 

You con alwoys 

depend on RCA 

ûolity. 

214 W. Montcolm 

Woodword 1-1122 

See us Now . 

. 

for 3-D Work! 

Whatever you 

need 

we can supply it, 

ERNIE FORBES 

Theatre Supply 

Detroit 1, Mich. 

L O L THEATRE CONCESSION 

INCREASED PROFITS - DECREASED WORRIES 

PERSONALIZED SUPERVISED SERVICE 

DRIVE IN AND INDOOR THEATRES 

2937 St. Aubin Detroit 7, Mich. 

Temple 13350 


HOLLYWOOD 46, 

CALIF. 


BOXOFTICE :: August 8, 1953 77

. . Mike 

. . Ditto 

. . Ben 

— 

— 

— — — 

CINCINNATI 

tJob Weber of Paramount, assistant to Howard 

Minsky, district manager, and Phil 

Isaacs, Wa.sliington manager, were in Cincinnati 

and met with the local force on 

the coming Adolph Zukor Golden Jubilee 

salute August 30-December 5. All the salesmen 

were in town for the meeting. Phil 

Isaacs is the drive captain for the mideast 

division. Louise Vinson, assistant cashier in 

the Cincinnati branch, is drive captain for 

Cincinnati. It will be her responsibility to 

spur the Cincinnati salesmen, bookers, etc., 

on to record showing in the Adolph Zukor 

sales drive. 

Harold Brown and Jack Haynes of United 

Detroit Theatres held open house at the 

Hotel Gibson last Monday for local managers 

and salesmen. United Detroit now manages 

theatres formerly under Northio Theatres 

Corp. control ... A. Woodard of Franklin, 

Pa., has taken over operation of the 

Arena, Hugheston, W.Va. 

New contract between Local F37 and distributors 

was signed Tue.sday (29) for the 

period through Nov. 30, 1954, according to 

Tony KnoUman, business agent for the front 

office union. Union representative John Fitzgerald 

made a trip to the city recently and 

conferred with the local members. The new 

contract provides for a weekly salary increase. 

Additional theatres which have equipped 

for 3-D are the Midstates Theatres houses 

in Dayton—the Dabel, Dale and Davue. Midwest 

Theatre Supply Co. handled the installations, 

which included new silver screens . . . 

Allied Artists' first 3-D picture, "The Maze," 

is giving a good account of itself in Keiths at 

Dayton and at the Palace in Columbus. 

Visitors on the Row— Me.ssrs. Carnahan and 

Hughes, Manchester; Jim Denton, Owingsville; 

Joe Marshall, Danville; Ray Young, 

South Shore, all of Kentucky; Chris Pfister, 

Troy; Gene Custer, Charleston, W.Va.; Floyd 

Price, Newark; J. W. Thomas, Oak Hill, 

W.Va.; Si Francis, Cambridge; Ray G. Law, 

Lebanon; A. N. Miles, Eminence, Ky.; Julian 

WIDE 

3-D 

SCREENS 

LENSES 

STEREOPHONIC 

SOUND 

THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO. 

106 Michigan St., N.W. 

Grand Rapids 2, Mich. J 

tol. Clendale 4-885? • Nijlili » Sundayt 3-24IS' 

HtOHwSîE 

'term 

OinSTANOlNC CRAfTS^ 

78 

go (NCINICRINO 

Silberstein, Huntington, W.Va.: Richard Humbleson, 

Winchester. 

National Theatre Supply recently furnished 

3-D equipment in these theatres: the Emery, 

Reading, owned by Charles Shaw; Mariemont, 

Mariemont, owned by William Onic. Also 

soon to be installed: Miami Western, Oxford, 

another of Onie's theatres; Belmont, Dayton, 

owned by Gus Babalis . 

Bein of 

National Screen Service is again at the JewLsh 

hospital for further medical treatment. 

Filmrow vacation rs are Betty Turner, 

booker. Paramount; Nadene McCracken, office 

managers secretary. Paramount, who is 

in Michigan; Ruth Rudin, U-I telephone operator, 

in Florida; Helen Cirin, branch manager's 

secretary, U-I, and Lucille Arnold, secretary, 

U-I, who is also in Florida . . . Sam 

Weiss, salesman for 20th-Fox, his wife Fay, 

who is president of Variety Wives, and their 

son Peter are enjoying the Florida ocean 

breezes, as are Stuart Jacobson, salesman, 

U-I, and his wife Georgia. 

Ruth Burlew, secretary. Theatre Owners 

Corp., is on vacation . Clara Zenz, 

inspector, MGM; Florence Herrmann, bookkeeper, 

MGM, who sent a card to office employes 

postmarked from Santa Claus, Ind. 

Berger, office manager, MGM, is on 

vacation. 

The Wyoming Theatre, Mullens, W.Va., has 

reopened. The former Wyoming was burned 

to the ground over a year ago, ana C. C. 

Cassinelli, owner, has built a new house on 

the site . . . Fred Helwig, Charleston, W.Va.. 

who opened the new Owens Drive-In at 

Charleston this season, has installed 3-D 

equipment in the house. It is the first drivein 

in that area to have 3-D. 

SPRINGFIELD 

n nnouncement has been made of the engagement 

of John D. Huffman, manager 

of the Regent Theatre here, to Miss Margy 

Feltis of Springfield. The wedding date is 

September 11 . . . Phil Chakeres, president of 

Chakeres Theatres, recently visited all his 

Kentucky theatres. He was accompanied by 

Gene Lutes, district manager. 

Patrons at the Majestic here remained in 

their seats as firemen extinguished a minor 

blaze beneath the stage. Firemen .said popcorn 

and floor sweepings in a tunnel beneath 

the stage had become ignited, causing smoke 

to filter through the theatre. Dama^;e was 

estimated at $10. 

Chakeres Theatres again will have a tie-in 

with merchants for promotion of the backto-school 

m.ovement for youngsters. About 15 

merchants in each theatre town participate. 

Tliey are given theatre tickets which they 

pa.ss out to their customers for a special 

show in September just before school starts. 

Promotional expenses are covered by contributions 

of $25 from each merchant, Frank 

Collins, general manager of the theatre chain, 

explained. 

The sale of permanent-type polarized 

glasses for 3-D pictures at the Regent is 

progressing "pretty good," according to Manager 

John Huffman. The glasses, with plastic 

frames, are priced at $1.75 a pair. Some 200 

pairs have been sold during the run of 

four 3-D pictures at the Regent, Huffman 

said 

'Second Chance' Hits 

175 in Cleveland 

CLEVELAND — "Shane" and "Second 

Chance" vied for top place in popular favor 

this week and both were held over a second 

week. "Shane" at the State hit a happy 130, 

while "Second Chance" jumped to a high 175 

at the Palace. Both opened very big and 

held strong every day, including matmees. 

"White Witch Doctor" did better than average 

at the Hippodrome as did "Lili" at the Stillman. 

Weather was sizzling all week and the 

air conditioned theatres lured patronage. 

(Average Is 100) 

Allen—The Kid From Left Field (20th-Fox) 85 

Hippodrome—White Witch Doctor (20th-Fox) 120 

Lower Mall A Girl in Every Room (Boker); Four 

Madames 'Baker) 90 

Ohio Vice Squad (UA), 2nd d.t. wk 115 

Palace—Second Chance (RKO) 1 75 

State—Shone (Para) ' 30 

Lili 1 Stillmon (MGM) 10 

Tower Africo Speaks (UA); Love Happy (UA), 

reissues 80 

'Outer Space' Takes Honors 

In Detroit at 175 

DETROIT— "It Came From Outer Space," 

bowing into the Palm State, took the week's 

business honors, grossing 175 per cent. Running 

a close second was "The Desert Rats" at 

the Broadway Capitol with 150. 

Adams—The Story of Three Loves (MGM), 2nd wk. 90 

Broadway Capitol The Desert Rots (20th-Fox); 

150 

The Lost Posse (Col) 

Fox—Second Chance (RKO); The Magnetic Monster 

(UA), 2nd wk ' ' 5 

Madison The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (Col).... 80 

Mictiigan—Scared Stiff (Para); The Stars Are 

Singing (Para), 3rd wk 120 

Palm State It Came From Outer Space iU-1) ... 175 

United Artists The Kid From Loft Field (20tti- 

Fox); Monsoon (UA) '00 

'Shane' Is Standout Attraction 

In Cincinnati With 200 

CINCINNATI^"Shane" at the Aibee held 

the crowds for the week and ended its first 

stanza with a neat 200 mark. The picture 

moved to the Grand for a second week. 

Other downtown houses did better than average 

business. The Palace sneak-previewed 

"Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" during the week 

and had to open the balcoiiies to accommodate 

the crowds. 

Albee—Shone (Para) 

^°° 

' 

,. . 

„ 

Capitol—The Juggler (Col); Flame of Coleutto 

^^ 

Grand—Second Chance' (RKO),' 2nd 'd. t. wk 125 

Polace—The Former Takes a Wife (20th-Fox) 135 

Springfield Food Stores 

^ 

Cooperate on 'Joe Young' 

SPRINGFIELD—A tie-in with a chain of 

local food stores helped jam the State Theatre 

during the run of "Mighty Joe Young" here. 

Oliver Nicklas, theatre manager, said it was 

standing room only during children's matinees 

on the first four days. However, adult attendance 

was not too good because, apparently, 

many recalled having seer the 

picture a few years back, Nicklas said. 

About 10,000 face masks of "Mighty Joe 

Young" were distributed to children visiting 

the stores. Also, a two-column advertisement 

about the face masks and the film was included 

in the large food advertisements inserted 

by the store chain in the daily newspapers. 

Through RKO. the picture was advertised 

on television, giving the playdates at the State 

and other area theatres. 

BOXOmCE :: August 8, 1953 

f; 

V 

r*K:,

Ray Canavan Named 

Aide to E. M. Loew 

BOSTON—Ray Canavan. who has been 

with the E. M. Loew circuit since 1940, has 

been promoted to 

executive assistant to 

E. M. Loew, president. 

He succeeds Fânlc 

Wolf, who resigned. 

Boston Dinner to Benefit 

Jimmy Fund August 17 

BOSTON—The return of Ted Williams lo 

the Boston Red Sox will be made the occa-slon 

for a benefit $100-a-plate dinner to raise 

Canavan ushered at 

money for the Jimmy Fund which support* 

the Children's Cancer Research Foundation. 

The project Is jointly sponsored by Variety 

Club of New England and the Red Sox baseball 

club. 

The dinner will be held August 17 in the 

ballroom of the Hotel Statler. 

the Scollay Square The planning committee Is headed by Tom 

Theatre under Bob Yaw-key, president of the Red Sox; Joe Cronin, 

Sternburg, worlcing his 

general manager; Martin Mullin. presi- 

way up to chief usher dent of New England Theatres; Rudy King, 

while still attending registrar of motor vehicles; Walter Brown, 

Boston university. He president of Boston Garden, and Bill Kostcr, 

interrupted liis college executive director of Variety Club. 

studies to join Chester Outstanding personalities from sports, motion 

pictures, radio and television will attend. 

Ray Canavan Stoddard in the Publix 

Theatres head office in New Yorlc. After Among the highlights will be the presentation 

some training he was sent to the Strand to Williams of the distinguished service citation 

Theatre. Holyoke, as manager. Later he 

by Dr. Sidney Farber, scientific direc- 

joined Julius Joelson, who operated a chain tor of the foundation. 

of New England theatres, where he remained 

until 1940 when he joined the E. M. Loew 

circuit. With the Loew organization he became 

successively manager, district manager 

Stanley Warner Zone Men 

and division manager before his latest promotion. 

NEW HAVEN—The annual New England 

Will Meet on August 20 

Wolf resigned to move to the west coast 

zone meeting of Stanley Warner Theatres will 

with his wife. Their two daughters now are 

be held at the Waverly inn, Cheshire, August 

living in California. The Wolfs 20. 

plan a leisurely 

drive across the country, leaving about Top officials of the Stanley Warner circuit, 

August 1 and settling in California about 

including Si Fabian, Harry Kalmine, Sam 

mid-November. Wolf has no definite plans. Rosen and Harry Goldberg, will attend. There 

He explained: 

also will be speakers from other national 

motion 

"I'm 

picture 

just going 

organizations. 

to look over the lay of the 

land, visit my daughters and 

There are 43 theatres in the 

then decide what 

New England 

zone, 

to do about a permanent 

which covers Connecticut, Massachusetts 

and eastern New York. Zone headquarters 

position." 

A farewell party was held at the E. M. 

is in New Haven, with Harry Feinstein as 

Loew office to honor Wolf and for formal 

manager. 

announcement of the promotion of Canavan. 

The customary annual awards will be presented 

at the meeting. The program will also 

More than 75 industryites attended the cocktail 

and buffet supper party Monday (27). 

include a review of product to be released 

E. M. Loew was master of ceremonies and 

diu-ing the coming season. Waverly inn, one 

introduced the speakers, among whom were: 

of the top eateries in New- England, will be 

Larry Laskey, a partner of Loew: Max Finn, 

especially decorated for the all-day event. 

general manager of the circuit: Gertrude 

Rittenberg, office manager; Phil Berler, head 

booker: Canavan; Tom Donaldson; Joe Cifre; 

Ken Douglass; Ray Feeley, Louis Richmond Bolton, Conn., Airer Bows 

and Fred Stoloff. 

HARTFORD—Bcrnie Menschell and John 

Loew presented Wolf with a $1,000 government 

Calvocoressci of Community Amusement 

bond as a farewell gift. Also as 

Corp., Hartford, 

a 

opened their $100,000 drive-in, 

gift from co-workers and friends Wolf received 

the Manchester, in suburban Bolton Wednesday 

(5) with Paramounfs "Houdini." Mens- 

a tape recorder, including a transcription of 

the speeches made prior to the presentation 

chell and Calvocoressci, who operate the Star 

by his secretary Mrs. Rita Johnson. 

in Hartford and the Plainfield in Plainfield, 

are associated with Calvocore.ssci's w-ife 

Frances in the Manchester. 

Altec-Loew's Sign 3-Year 

Sound Service Contract Connecticut Exhibitor s 

NEW YORK—Altec Service Corp. and Armistice Joy to Woe 

Loew's, Inc., have signed a service contract 

Harlford. Conn.—Huch J. C-impbell 

covering more than 100 theatres. It will run 

anxiously awaited a radio report of slirning 

of the Korean armi.stice at his West 

for three years and will include the Capitol 

and State, and all the Loew's Poll houses in 

New 

Hartford Theatre office July :6. 

England. 

When the bulletin was announced 

Stereophonic sound systems are now being Campbell interrupted the .Sunday evening 

installed in Loew houses. 

program to announce the Joyful news. 

The deal was closed by L. D. Netter jr., The following night he received word 

acting for Altec, and John Murphy and Gene from the defense department that his 23- 

Picker represented Loew's. E. O. Wilschke, year-old son Ra.vniond, a marine machine 

Altec operating manager, and William Boettcher, 

gunner, had btv'^n killed in action two 

in charge of Loew's theatre sound de- 

davs before the 

armistice. 

Boxing Committees 

Named by Tent 31 

NEW HAVEN Coiiinilttee'. for the benefit 

boxing show to be sponsored by Connecticut 

Variety Tent 31. at West Haven Municipal 

stadium Augast 24 have been announced. 

Acting Chief Barker Sam WasM-rman U 

general chairman and also chairman of the 

arrangemenUs committee State Athletic Commlsloner 

Prank D. Cerlanek. promising fuU 

cooperation to Variety, haa agreed to .serve aa 

co-chairman of the iirrangements unit, which 

al.so includes Harry Shaw, Barney PItkJn, 

Harry Feln.steln, Herman Levy. Charles Kellogg, 

sports editor of the New Haven RegLster. 

Police Chief Howard Young, Plre Chief Paul 

Heinz, Postma.st*r WlUlam Hlgglns and 

Charles Brown. 

Members of other committees are: 

Tickets—Sam Germalne. chairman; John 

Pavone, Ben Simon, Hymie Levinc, Edward 

Webber, Bob Hoffman and Ray Wylle. 

Boxoffice and ushers— Harry Germalne. 

George Webber. Fred Frants, Joseph De- 

Francesco, Morris Jacobson and Edward 

Levy. 

PubUcity—Rudy Prank, chairman; Patrick 

Goode, Lou Brown, Abe Mattes, J. H. 

Wilkiason Jr. and Frank Birmingham. 

Proceeds will go to the RegLster-Pamlly 

Service Fresh Air fund. A similar boxing 

program staged by Variety last summer 

netted over $1,000 for the fund. 

'Moon' Given 18 Day-Date 

Openings in Connecticut 

HARTFORD— UA's Moon Is Blue" opened 

day-and-date at following Connecticut situations 

: 

Independent: Capitol, Meriden; Vllle and 

Lake Drive-In, Waterbury: Pine Arts, Westport; 

Plainfield, Plainfield. 

Stanley Warner: Strand, Hartford: Sherman, 

New Haven; Warner. Torrir.gton; 

Cameo. Bristol; Capitol, An.sonla; Palace. 

Danbury; Embassy. New Britain; Warner and 

Merritt, Bridgeport; Palace, Norwich; Garde. 

New London; and State, Manchester. 

Joe Mansfield, UA field exploitation man, 

visited key situations to aid on campaigns. 

Ware, Mass., Theatre Dark; 

In Worcester Suburb 

WORCESTER — The .Mibiirban town of 

Ware was without motion pictures this week 

for the first time In many years. 

Ralph Snider of Baston, who has operated 

the community's only theatre for 23 years, 

was unable to agree on terms for a renew-al 

of his lease with Western Massachusetts Theatres 

and the house was clased. 

Snider had announced before the closing 

that he planned to build a theatre on a lot on 

West street. Ware, on which he had taken 

an option. 

Coburn Goes to Races 

NEW YORK—Charles Coburn wa.'; one of 

the featured attractions at the Monmouth 

(N.J.> racetrack Wednesday (29i. He presented 

a special trophy to the winner of the 

Charles Coburn purse. The information 

leaked out that he Is the only actor to 

appear in two films with Marilyn Monroe— 

•Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and "Monkey 

Business." 

h BOXOFnCE :: August 8, 1953 NE 79

. . . Peter 

— 

. . Sam 

. . Sara 

— 

. 

. . Nat 

. . 

. . 

— 

— 

— 

Ainsworth), 

— 

— 

BOSTON 

puneral services were held Tuesday (28) for 

Hannah Brand, a bookkeeper at the E. M. 

Loew circuit office for several years, who 

died a day earlier after a lingering illness. 

She was well known in the industry . . 

Adrian R. Jarret and his brother Hugo A. 

Jarret re-opened the rebuilt Twin Drive-In 

Theatre, in Mendon, Mass., Friday (31). 

Adrian Jarret is president of the corporation, 

Hugo is treasurer and Helen Parker is supervisor 

and consultant. 

A. E. Phifield of South Berwick, Maine, has 

. 

. . . Salesman of Universal 

closed the Park Theatre for the remainder of 

the summer season Haase, theatre 

broker, has been recovering from an auto 

accident, and now is walking with the aid of 

Ken Mayer a cane 

was hospitalized recently by a severe 

sunburn. 

Irving A. Isaacs, president of Independent 

Exhibitors, Inc., of New England called a 

directors meeting to discuss further details 

of the Allied national convention to be held 

in Boston October 3-7. Ten directors were 

present. Under the leadership of Mrs. Norman 

Glassman, wife of the general chairman 

of the convention, an active women's committee 

has been set up for entertainment of 

wives of exhibitors attending the convention. 

Sightseeing, drives to the seashore, TV shows, 

etc. are on the agenda for the distaff side. 

Arthur Howard, president of Affiliated Theatres 

Corp. spent a week's vacation golfing 

and resting at his summer place at East 

Haven, Connecticut . Ginsburg Routman, 

billing clerk at Affiliated went to the 

west coast by air for her three week's vacation 

Tegu, co-owner and manager of 

the Tegu Drive-In, Woodsville, N.H., was in 

town visiting the boys at Affiliated who handle 

his buying and booking. Also E. J. Morgan, 

Rutland, Vt., drive-in operator came to 

town to take in the Red Sox-White Sox baseball 

game and dropped in to see the Affiliated 

gang. 

Edward S. Canter, treasurer of American 

Theatres Corp. and New England area theatre 

chairman for the Korean relief committee reports 

that nearly all circuits and independents 

in this territory have pledged support 

for the Korean Foundation relief drive. Many 

New England theatres will play the trailer 

and pass out the containers August 3-7. 

More than 500 entries were received by 

Paine Furniture Co. in its "All I Desire" contest 

tieup with the Universal film, the Hilton 

hotels and the Eastern Airlines. The judges 

Herbert Anderson and Norman Hersey from 

the furniture store, John McGrail from Universal 

and Richard Hartnett from Eastern 

Airlines announced that Mrs. Roland Warde 

HIini!lI3 


u* RESULTS and Always 



CHICAGO l327S.Waba> 

NEW YORK 6J0 Ninth Av 

FILMACK 

of Hyde Park, Mass., won the week-long trip 

for two persons to San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

The contest was set up by John McGrail, U-I 

publicist, and Anderson, Paine vice-president. 

Things are humming with activity around 

the Sentry Lodge of B'nai B'rith and 

many interesting features are planned this 

season. Ben Rosenwald, as chairman of the 

membership committee, has been canvassing 

the film industry for new members and has 

been polling non-active members for more 

interest. Also planned is a series of dinner 

meetings to feature leading industry personalities 

as speakers for the Boston theatrical 

lodge. "Our 1953-54 program is shaping up 

well and we anticipate featuring industry 

leaders as guest speakers at the meetings 

which will start in the fall," said George 

Roberts, president of Sentry Lodge. 

New England disk jockeys were guests of 

the Variety Club of New England at a luncheon 

in the Jimmy Building which some visited 

for tlie first time. A tour of inspection of the 

premises followed the luncheon. Tallis were 

given by Dr. Sidney Farber, Martin J. MuUin 

and William Koster. Hy Fine was in charge 

of the affair. The disk jockeys pledged an 

immediate start on request programs for 

favorite recordings with receipts going to the 

Jimmy Fund . Ross, veteran film 

salesman who now is with Relston. Inc., theatre 

candy concessionaires, was admitted to 

Pi-att Diagnostic hospital for observation. 

PROVIDENCE 

LTearings on a second petition for a drivein 

theatre off Warwick avenue near Sandy 

Lane in nearby Warwick are expected to provide 

nearly all the fireworks at the next meeting 

of the Warwick city council. Leo T. and 

Louisa Martineau previously sought a change 

in the zoning law of the property to enable 

them to construct the theatre. Despite the 

fact the proposal wa.s unanimously rejected 

at the last session, the Martineaus will put 

up a strong fight for a reversal . . . Three of 

this city's foui' first-run houses are now 

equipped with full stage-size screens. The 

Majestic, Loew's State and RKO Albee are 

now offering the very latest in screen entertainment 

on the ultimate in large screens. 

The Strand, which not too long ago installed 

a larger-than-customary screen, may 

soon switch to the full-stage-size screen . 

Gene Moulasion, manager of the Strand, 

Syracuse, relieved Maurice Druker, Loew's 

State manager, who was vacationing . 

Chester McLean, assistant at the Strand, this 

city, is enjoying his summer vacation . . . Vii-- 

ginia Shaw, secretary to Al Siner, Strand 

manager, has returned to her office after vacationing 

at her new summer home on the 

Kickemuit river in Bristol ... A tremendous 

mcrease in newspaper advertising is being run 

in local papers by all area drive-ins. If the 

.steady increase noted thus far this season 

continues, all records for advertising will be 

smashed. 

Richard Haydn will have a top comedy role 

with Greer Garson and Robert Ryan in 

MGM's "Miss Baker's Dozen." 

'Stalag 17' Sets Pace 

With 170 in Boston 

BOSTON—"Stalag 17" at the Metropohtan 

was the standout in a first week bow, grossing 

170 per cent. It will hold over. Cooler 

weather helped and two holdovers, "White 

Witch Doctor" and "Second Chance" stayed 

at the average mark or above. 

(Average Is 100) 

Astor—The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (Col) 70 

Boston Abbott & Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and 

Mr. Hyde (U-I), Eyes of the Jungle (LP) 80 

Exeter Street—A Queen Is Crowned (U-I), 3rd wk.. 80 

Memorial Second Chance (RKO); Tarzan and the 

She-Devil (RKO), 2nd wk HO 

Metropolitan Stalag 17 (Para); Four-Sided Triangle 

(Regal) 170 

Paromount and Fenway White Witch Doctor 

(20tti-Fox); My Heart Goes Crazy (UA); 2nd wk., 100 

State and Orpheum Ride, Vaquero! (MGM), Flame 

of (Col) Calcutto 85 

Wide-Screen Bill Rates 

Top Score in Hartford 

HARTFORD—The only downtown holdover 

was "Pickup on South Street." A wide-screen 

bill at the Strand drew top trade. 

1 

1 50 

Allyn Francis Covers the Big Town (U-I); The 

Magic Box (U-I) 75 

The Stranger Wore a Gun (Col).... 120 

Loew 

E. M. 

Poll Main Street to Broadway (MGM); Affairs of 

Dobie Gillis (MGM) 105 

Palace Pickup on South Street (20th-Fox); Stolen 

Identity 2nd wk 90 

Strand Master of Ballantrae (WB); White Corridors 

(U-I); initial booking since installation of 

theatre's wide-screen facilities 

'Moon' and "Pickup' Top 

Good New Haven Week 

NEW HAVEN—Another big week was enjoyed 

by most of the downtowners "The 

Moon Is Blue" and "Pickup on South Street," 

the latter shown on a panoramic screen, drew 

big grosses to the Roger Sherman and Poll. 

College Remains to Be Seen (MGM); Moonstruck 

Melody (Rep) 70 

Paromount Houdini (Para); Fort Vengeance (AA) 95 

Pickup on South Street (20th-Fox); The Ring 

Poll 

(UA) 115 

Roger Stierman-—The Moon Is Blue (UA); Below 

the Sohara (RKO) 1 40 

NEW HAMPSHIRE !?«: 

. . Robert Lange and Donald McBrien 

The State in Manchester offered a four-hour 

show when it presented a sneak preview 

of a Paramount film in addition to the regularly 

scheduled picture, "Shane." The extra 

entertainment was provided for one night I 

1 

only . 

of Fi'anconia Films were on hand for the « 

crowning of Elaine Ruggles of New Castle 

i 

as Miss New Hampshire of 1953 at the Carousel 

ballroom in Manchester. 

The Pine Island Park Drive-In participated 

in Manchester's recent Red Tag days, an annual 

three-day merchandising event staged 

by businessmen. Tlic ozoner gave away a 

shoppers red tag which permitted the winner 

to try for a share in the $6,500 worth of prizes 

offered during the event. Other ozoners in 

the area have also been wide-awake in lining 

up special attractions. The Manchester Drive- 

In held a Jubilee night, with Gerry Kearney 

of radio station WFEA as master of ceremonies, 

and the Sky Ray Outdoor Theatre, 

five miles north of Manchester, wa-s going 

all-out with the operation of what the management 

says is "New England's best miniature 

railroad train." The Sky Ray has a park 

and playground. 

30 

BOXOFFICE 

:: August 8, 1953

. . . Jim 

. . . Vincent 

. . . Lou 

. . The 

. . The 

. . Rae 

. . The 

. . "The 

August 

. . Totman 

HARTFORD 

Toe Mansfield of UA's field exploitation staff 

was in Hartford, New Haven and smaller 

Connecticut situations on "The Moon Is Blue" 

McCarthy, Stanley Warner Strand 

manager, has been vacationing at Long Beach 

on Long Island . . . Joe Giobbi, Crown manager, 

was in New Haven on biLsiness . . . Fred 

R. Greenway is back at his New Poli Palace 

desk, following a two-week vacation with his 

wife in the Connecticut area. 

Three-dimension finally came to the drivein 

area, with Lippert's short, "A Day in the 

Country," playing day-and-date at two E. M. 

Loew drive-ins and at the independent Blue 

Hills Drive-In, Bloomfield . . . Tony Boscardine 

of the Colonial, Canaan, came up with 

a new newspaper ad slogan the other day: 

"We Show the Best—and Leave the Rest" 

Youmatz of the Torrington 

Drive-In gives away free comic books "to 

tots to totterers" . . Lou Cohen and Norm 

. 

Levinson, Loew's Poli. bannered 25 City Cab 

Co. cars for "The Band Wagon." 

Leonard Young, former house manager, 

E. M. Loew's Hartford, and brother-in-law of 

Morris Kepper, Burnside Theatre Corp., has 

been given a contract to appear next winter 

at the Monte Carlo hotel, Miami Beach. The 

singer-master of ceremonies has been appearing 

at key hotels and night clubs along the 

seaboai'd in the last several years. 

"Stalag 17," in its first Connecticut engagement 

(at the Plaza, Stanford), was held for a 

second week . Columbia zoning commission 

has approved a long-pending application 

by Benamin Hochberg and Willard B. 

Rogers for a drive-in at the junction of 

Routes 6 and 6-A. Con-struction, according to 

Hochberg, will start immediately, and the 

theatre should open next year. 

Nellie Kupchunos, sister of Heniy Kupchunos, 

managing director of the East Windsor 

Drive-In, East Windsor Hill, married Ted 

Kosinski. Hartford Times Photographer. The 

two met when the drive-in first opened several 

years ago, and Kosinki was a.ssigned to 

take opening night photos by Allen M. 

Widem. Hartford Times motion picture 

editor . . . Joe Shulman of the Shuiman Theatres, 

and Mrs. Shulman are back from a 

three-month vacation trip to Prance, Italy, 

Spain and England . . . Hai-old Nelson, Strand 

assistant, is back from vacation. 

Sperie Perakos, general manager, Perakos 

Theatres, was in Elmwood and east Hartford 

Cohen, Loew's Poli, hung large-size 

music notes from the marquee to plug "The 

Band Wagon" . Bing, Springfield, installed 

a stereoscopic screen . . . Joe Dolgin, 

Hartford Theatre circuit, was a New York 

Rube Lewis, business agent. Local 

visitor . . . 

84. was recovering after surgery 

LeRoy, Blue Hills Drive-In, was 

. . . 

in 

Milt 

New 

Haven. 

IMAGE & SOUND SERVICE CORP. 

"The Best Value In Sound Service" 

Hancock 6-7984 445 Statler Building 

Boston, Massachusetts 

MacDonald to 

British 'So Little Time' 

NEW YORK — MacDonald 

Distribute 

Enterprises, 

Ltd., has closed a deal with Associated BrUish-Pathe 

lor the U.S. rights to "So LltUe 

Time," a major Pathe picture, according to 

B. R. Schrift, president of MacDonald. 

The feature, which is being prepared for 

fall release, was directed by Compton Bennett 

and stars Marlus Goring, and Maria 

Schell. The Belgian occupation during World 

War II forms the background of the story. 

MacDonald is at 249 W. 34th St. In New 

York City. 

NEW HAVEN 

Darbara Ruick, who appears in "The Band 

Wagon," was in New Haven, Bridgeport, 

Hartford, Worcester and Springfield for press, 

radio and TV interviews. She was accompanied 

by Art Canton of the MGM publicity office. 

New York . Moon Is Blue ' is 

racking up big grosses and meeting with no 

difficulties of any kind in its first Connecticut 

appearances. 

. 

Jane Kohler of the Paramount office staff 

vacationed in Silver Sands . . . Hairy Feinstein, 

zone manager for Stanley Warner Theatres, 

and his wife vacationed in Montreal 

and Quebec . Gatto, secretary to Morris 

Rosenthal, Poli New Haven manager, was on 

vacation New Meriden Theatre, 

which seldom holds a picture for a second 

week, booked "Shane" for an extra seven 

days . . . Alec Schimel, Universal's salesman, 

was at Grossinger's on his vacation . . . John 

Hesse, Connecticut district manager for Stanley 

Warner Theatres, vacationed at Cape 

May, N.J. 

Both a Hide panoramic screen and stereophonic 

sound will be installed at the Paramount, 

New Haven, in time for the opening 

" 

of "Thunder Bay 12. The new sound 

system will have 16 speakers banked on the 

stage and 15 others scattered through the 

house. 

Harry Feinstein and Assistant Zone Manager 

Jim Totman were in New York for the 

annual two-day national meeting of Stanley 

Warner Theatres . returned to 

Manhattan a week later for an advertising 

meeting called by Harry Goldberg, advertising 

and publicity manager for the circuit . . . 

Jose Iturbi drew a near-record Pops concert 

crowd of 15,200 to the Yale bowl (28). 

"Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" was sneak previewed 

on the big panoramic screen at the 

Poli, New Haven, (27 1. The public must have 

sensed that something "big" was to be shown, 

for the brief notices resulted in a packed 

Joe Boyle, manager of the Poli. 

theatre . . . 

Norwich, was on vacation. Paul Kllngler, assistant 

at the Poli. Waterbury. subbed for 

him. 

Winners of third-quarter showmanship 

cash awards given out by Stanley Warner 

Theatres were announced this week. They are 

Irving Hillman, Roger Sherman, New Haven, 

first; Denny Rich. Cameo. Bristol, second; 

Joe Mlklos, Embassy. New Britain, third, and 

Bob Howell. Port. Newburyport. Prizes for the 

month of May went to Joe Borenstein, Strand, 

New Britain, first; Miklos. second, and Hillman, 

third. 

TERRIFIC 

FAST-SELLING 


EXHIBITORS 

ARE 

SAVING 

ON 

ramus 

PERMANENT 

POURIZED 

GLASSES! 

OWN THEM! 

RENT THEM! 

[iiB 

SELL 

(They Never Weor Oul) 

! 


-BEST QUALITY 

- 


THEM! 

Write * Wire * Or Phone Today 

LIST 

Jack Thomas 

HALLMARK 



HOLLYWOOD 46, 

CALIF. 


1 

1 

BOXOFTICE : 

: August 8, 1953 

81

. . . Marlon 

. . Joseph 

. . Victor 

. . Leo 

. . Top 

WORCESTER 

Tûrray Howard, manager of the Warner, 

spent most of his vacation here in the Worcester 

area . Allen jr., former leadman 

at the Playhouse here, visited town on 

the way back from Boston to Hollywood, 

where he's now acting in Columbia pictures 

Brando did big business gueststarring 

in "Arms and the Man" at the 

County Playhouse in Framingham. 

Barbara Ruick, MGM starlet, was scheduled 

for a personal appearance at Loew's Poll 

for "The Band Wagon," and Manager Johnny 

DiBenedetto arranged a dinner at El Morocco 

and several public appearances . . . Margaret 

O'Brien was in FYamingham this week to star 

in "Peg O'My Heart" . Lajoie is back 

at his desk at the Capitol after a fine time at 

Martha's Vineyard. 

When the Poli screened "Problem Girls," 

Manager Johnny DiBenedetto picked up a 

lot of publicity on the fact that its star Helen 

Walker is a local gal . . . "No Escape" was 

pulled from the first run Warner after only 

three days . . . Phil Loew says the screen at 

the West Boylston Drive-In is the biggest in 

New England. 

Bob Portle of the Elm Street has been subbing 

at the Springfield Poli . . . "Houdini," at 

the Capitol, drew newspaper reminiscences 

of when the famous magician used to play in 

Worcester in person . show of the 

summer stock season is "The Drunkard," 

which went into its third week at the Westboro 

Red Barn . Jory and Alexis 

Smith were in Fitchburg to star in "Bell, 

Book and Candle" at the Lake Whalom Theatre 

. . . Poli got excellent newspaper response 

to its private preview of "The Band 

Wagon." 

Area Paper Hails 

Detroit 

Advent of 3-D in Suburbs 

From Mideast Edition 

DETROIT—The advent of 3-D in subsequent 

run houses is a cause for community 

celebration, it is indicated by the Daily 

Tribune, newspaper published for north end 

Detroit suburbs. Citing the advent of the 

new medium in several houses in Royal Oak 

and Birmingham and in the neighboring 

Ryan Theatre, the editor announced in a 

front-page feature that "three-D has come 

to the suburbs, bringing a welcome boost to 

sagging attendance at movies." 

Details of the films playing currently, 

"Bwana Devil" and "House of Wax," were 

given, and some comments on the present 

change in the industry by Manager Clarence 

W. Harrison of the Royal Oak Theatre, 

including his cautious but sound comment, 

from the public relations standpoint, that 

"three-D heightens the illusion of a story, 

all right, but in the end the crowds they 

draw will depend on the stories and on the 

personalities." 

"Spotlight," a story of backstage Broadway 

by Garson Kanin, has been set for an October 

production start for Columbia release. 

UA Names Engel to Special 

Music Campaign on'Melba' 

NEW YORK—United Artists has appointed 

Lyle K. Engel, former song publisher and 

music promotion specialist, as music exploitation 

consultant for the company, and has appropriated 

$50,000 as a fund for popularizing 

the music from "Melba." 

Two songs will be the focal point of the 

promotion, "The Melba Waltz" and "Is This 

the Beginning of Love?" Engel will work 

with music publishers Bregman, Vocco, Conn, 

Inc., In attempting to duplicate the success 

of the title songs from "High Noon" and 

"Moulin Rouge," and will employ disk jockeys, 

radio and TV tie-ins, contests and printed 

promotional material. 

Eastern Lab Workers Get 

Pay Raise, Welfare Fund 

NEW YORK—Eastern film laboratory technicians 

have accepted a new contract which 

represents an increase of about H per cent, 

according to George Waugh, business agent 

of Local 702, which represented the technicians 

in negotiations. 

The actual wage increase is seven and onehalf 

per cent. In addition, the laboratories 

will contribute seven and one-half cents per 

hour per man, up to 40 hours per week, to a 

welfare fund. Employe contributions to the 

fund will be five cents per hour per man up 

to 40 hours per week. 

Producer Leonard Goldstein's newly formed 

Panoramic Pictures has signed Constance 

Smith to star in "Man in the Attic," a 20th- 

Fox release. 

which he ordered from 

an ad in BOXOFFICE n 

It happens every day! Theatre 

owners look through the 

colimins of BOXOFFICE. 

News about new equipment 

or service is read by thousands 

of BUYERS who buy from progressive 

concerns that advertise 

in BOXOFFICE. 

I 

LET 

BOXOFFICE HELP YOU TO SELL! 

82 BOXOFTICE :: August 8, 1953

. . Latest 

. Arugon 

. . Eddie 

. . "Titanic" 

. . 

— 

Panoramic Screen 

At Langley Airer 

VANCOUVKH rhr nrw Hillcrrst Drive-In 

at Langley is beiiif equipped with a 35x60- 

foot curved screen for panoramic projection. 

The tower Is all steel and Durol sheet facing 

on which an emulsion was sprayed to provide 

a seamless surface. Equipment consists 

of Gaumont-Kalee projectors with RCA sound 

and in-car .spealiers for 500 cars, in.stalled by 

Perkins Electric Co. It's the first outdoor 

theatre to be equipped with the panoramic 

screen in the Pacific northwest. It will be 

opened August 10. It will be the first drive-in 

in British Columbia to be operated by a 

woman, Mrs. Eskerstrand. 

Western Drive-In Theatres of Calgary has 

started construction of an outdoor theatre 

near Edmonton on a site which covers 165 

acres. The drive-in will have one tower with 

screens on both sides, with two projection 

booths. Tlieatre will have one entrance 

with tW'O boxoffices so that patrons will have 

a choice of attending either theatre, each 

having a different picture. Capacity of each 

will be 750 cars. 

Film Councils Continue 

Sunday Shows in Canada 

OTTAWA—Comunity Film Councils, which 

are encouraged by the National Film Board 

for the playing of its product, are following 

up the policy of conducting Sunday night 

performances in different cities of the Dominion, 

including Toronto, where the move 

brought strong objections by the Toronto projectionist's 

local and religious bodies. 

Sunday night programs are being presented 

In a city park at Kingston, Ont.. by the film 

council there. The short subjects for a recent 

show comprised "Immediate Action," "Westem 

Wheat." "The Son," "Eye Witness" and a 

cartoon, "Three Little Bruins." 

Similar Sunday presentations are being 

held weekly at Ottawa, Moose Jaw and elsewhere, 

to give the film industry officials 

something to study. 

Cutlery Giveaway Started 

At Six FPC Outdoorers 

TORONTO—Lloyd Taylor, general manager 

of Famous Players circuit of seven drive-ins, 

inaugurated a giveaway policy, starting 

August 3, in the distribution of cooking cutlery 

among women patrons. A service fee is 

charged. 

Six of the circuit's drive-ins are in Ontario, 

at Hamilton, London, Windsor, Brantford. 

Stoney Creek and Niagara Falls, most of 

them called Skyway. The seventh is the 

Skyway at Moncton, N.B. 

Shakespearean Festival 

Holds Over Another Week 

TORONTO—The success of Canada's first 

Shakespearean festival at Stratford, Ont., has 

been so marked that the series, presented in a 

theati-e-in-the-round under canvas, has been 

extended for one week to August 22 at $5 top. 

Meanwhile, exhibitors around Ontario have 

been paying special attention to pictures featuring 

Alec Guinness, the British star of the 

two productions at Stratford. 

WINNIPEG 

Jn a sprrlal effort to attract drive-ln patronx. 

the management of the Starlltc, one of the 

newest ozoners In the Winnipeg area. In^tltutcd 

a temporary policy of 35-cent ndml.sslons 

for Monday, Tuesday. Wedne.sdny and 

Thursday, with a 50-cent ndml.sslon for Fridays 

and Saturdays 

. 

recording 

star Buddy Reynolds and his Western Seven 

swing band made a stage appearance recently 

at the Pembina Drive-In . 

was 

held over by Tom Pacey at the Odeon. 

Bill Novak presented Betty Grable's latest 

picture. "The Farmer Takes a Wife," for the 

Sunday midnight show at the Capitol over 

the long weekend ... Joe Barnlckl held over 

the Valour double bill, "Tight Little I.sland" 

and "Blue Lagoon" . 

dl.scrlmlnating 

picture for the elite at the Osborne Cinema 

is "The Guardsman," starring Alfred Lunt 

and Lynn Pontanne . 

Newman 

brought back "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" to 

the Met at regular admissions. 

Corinne Calvet will arrive here Tue.sday (lit 

to help officiate at the opening of the new 

stadium. When Alan Ladd was approached to 

officiate at this opening, he declined, no 

doubt keeping in mind that his personal 

appearance could Interfere with the succe.ss of 

one of his pictures on a theatre's .screen, 

since Ladd participates percentagewise now 

from most of his vehicles. Winnipeg exhibitors 

say . . . "if Hollywood ha.s to send a .'^^tar 

. 

. . . 

to this area, why not help the industry that 

made her a star?" . . . Having installed 3-D 

as well as a wide screen, the Biiou's first 3-D 

picture was Columbia's "Man In the Dark." 

Very effective advertising proclaimed 

"Regular admission prices . . . Fir.'^t time 

.shown in Winnipeg on a wide screen" 

Bob Hurwitz was the first exhibitor to show 

3-D on a Sunday midnight show. 

.^Llthoui^h the authorities have not .specifically 

named theatres, the public has been 

strongly warned not to frequent public places 

due to the severe polio epidemic here. Consequently. 

Saturdav matinee attendance In 

most houses has been evcentlonallv low and 

general attendance al.so is down It has been 

suggested by various members that the Indusfry 

again take up the cudeel against davlleht 

saving time, on the preml.se that It Is well 

recognized that overexhaustlon among children 

is frequentiv the cause of lowered resistance 

to polio, and the chief cause of overexhaustion 

here Is daylight .saving time. 

Mothers find It Impossible to force their children 

to come into the house to eo to .sleep 

earlv when the sun shines until almost 10 

o'clock. It Is very .simple to realize that with 

standard time children would eo to sleep an 

hour earlier, be less exhausted and therefore 

be less prone to polio. It has been pointed 

out that polio |s verv heavy In WInnlnee. 

where daylight saving time exists, but that 

cases from the province are romparativelv 

light in proportion. The rest of Manitoba Is 

on standard time. 

Because of polio, most neighborhood houses 

didn't run a holiday matinee Monday (3> 

since few kiddies are attending shows . . . The 

local film industry chose its bathing beauty 

queen of the year at the recent annual picnic. 

Iris Felkowsky, Norlhmain Drlve-In, was 

chosen queen. 

'Band Wagon' Scores 

125 in Toronto Bow 

'I'

- 

. . Manager 

. . Lionel 

. . 

"Titanic" 

. . 

TERRIFIC 

FAST-SELIING 


EXHIBITORS 

ARE 

SAVING 

ON PERMANENT 

POLARIZED 

GLASSES! 

OWN THEM! 

RENT THEM! 

SELL THEM! 

(They Never Wear Out) 


-BEST QUALITY 


Write * Wire * Or Plione Today 

LIST 

Jack Thomas 

HALLMARK 


84 


HOLLYWOOD 46, 

CALIF. 


TORONTO 

TJnits of Bloom & Fine Theatres, under the 

supervision of William A. Summerville jr.. 

had a bu.sy three day.s with extra juvenile 

matmees last Saturday and on Civic holiday, 

and the midnight shows late Sunday. Giving 

extra shows were the York. Bellevue. Beaver, 

Vaughan, Century. Lansdowne, Carlton and 

Prince of Wales . and Bob Lester 

of the Studio played the Italian "11 Brigante 

Musolino" at a midnight show on the midsummer 

holiday. 

The Brampton Drive-In, 23 miles from 

here, ran a display advertisement in the Toronto 

Daily Star to promote its Buck night 

July 31, featuring a dollar-a-carload admission 

. . While playing "The Desert Song." 

. 

Manager Don Edwards of the Nortown swung 

in "Texas Trail" as the replacement attraction 

for juveniles last Saturday afternoon. 

Two employes of the Royal Alexander, now 

undergoing an overhaul, have created an 

endurance record. Jack Koster and Rube 

Elliott have been there since the theatre 

opened in August 1907 . . . An air conditioning 

system has been installed in the Cinema. 

Hamilton's art film theatre managed by J. 

Hubbard . Ed Lamoureux of the 

Palace at Windsor shot the works for the 

week starting July 27 on the screen and stage. 

The bill compri-sed the 3-D "Ai-ena," three flat 

short subjects, and Jayzee, hypnotist, in a 

stage act, at 75 cents top. 

Manager Sam Hebscher of the Palace at 

Hamilton featured Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong's 

orchestra this week with "Code Two" 

on the screen . . . Ai'thur Milligan. a former 

president of the Toronto projectionists union, 

has resigned as business agent of Local 173, 

his successor being Pat Ti'avers who previously 

held the job. 

. . . 

London, Ont., had a battle of the 3-D. 

Manager Pi'ed Jackson of Loew's presented 

"Arena," with an extra Sunday midnight 

showing, while Manager Al Ford had "Fort 

Ti" at the Odeon. plus the 3-D Stooges 

Win Barron, promotion manager for Paramount, 

knows something about beauty contests. 

He was a judge for the Miss Toronto 

competition staged at the annual police 

games. Later his lovely 18-year-old daughter 

Gay took third prize in the Miss Canada 

contest at Burlington Beach. 

District Manager Dan Krendel of FPC announced 

that Bob Harvey of the Capitol. 

North Bay. took first prize in the showmanship 

contest limited to his group of 17 theatres. 

Second was Art Cauley. Paramount, 

Peterboro. Similar awards went in another 

contest .section to Len Gouin, Capitol, Peterboro, 

and Ti-ueman Walters, with the Regent 

at Oshawa. 

Toronto filmtrade leaders were tickled 

when word was received that Mayor A. J. 

Mason of Springhill, N.S., prominent in the 

Canadian industry, sailed w-ith his two daughters 

and nephew from Liscomb port on the 

last leg of a voyage in their new yacht Gwenman. 

It had been mis.sing for six days in an 

Atlantic coast storm. Tlie sea had calmed 

when Mason went aboard. 

In comparison with the year 1951, when 427 

imported films were reviewed in Australia, 

only 390 were reviewed in 1952. 

Ganetakos and Salamis 

Receive Greek Medals 

MONTREAL—George Ganetakos and B. C. 

Salamis. prominent exliibitors here, were 

awarded valuable service medals of the 

Greek Red Cross at a formal reception held 

at the Greek embassy in Ottawa recently. The 

medals were accompanied by diplomas signed 

by King Paul I of Greece, honorary president 

of the Greek Red Cross. 

Raul Bibica-Rosetti, Greek ambassador to 

Canada, presented the medals on behalf of 

the king to the theatremen and several other 

Canadians. 

Ganetakos and Salamis received the grand 

gold cross of the Order of Phoenix from 

King Paul in 1950. 

OTTAWA 

The Snows of Kilimanjaro" returned at 

regular prices to the FPC Capitol, a 2,500- 

seater. It previously played at $1 top at the 

1.100-seat Regent, managed by Bill CuUum . 

Returning from a visit in Hollywood with his 

daughter, whose husband is J. Scott, an 

a.ssistant director at the RKO .studio, R.P.J. 

Mortished of Dublin, Erie, escaped serious 

injuries in the Morrisburg, Ont.. collision of a 

bus with an unlighted truck. The bus was 

thrown into the St. Lawrence river. Despite 

shock, Mortished managed to free himself 

from the highway coach which was in 20 

feet of water. 

Before going on vacation in western Ontario, 

Pi-ed Leavens of the Elmdale had a 

nice week of business with an extra vocal 

attraction, the Four- Lads, who are graduates 

of St. Michael's college, Toronto. "Desert 

Legion" was on the screen . 

recently 

had a good run at the Odeon. w^here 

Manager Jim Chalmers is vacationing. Local 

fans were somewhat siu-prised w^hen Bob 

Maynard, owner of the Francais, brought out 

the" French feature with the same title. On 

this bill was "Garde Moi Ma Femme" (Take 

Care of My WomanK 

EverKlhing (or Top Prolils— 

POPCORN MACHINES 

AUTOMATIC CANDY VENDERS 

5 • All Nahcn.iUr Advcit.r.ed Brands 

POPCORN 

^,' JA Pft, r:>p(x-j Cotn — Pop^rn Warmers 

SERflCf 

^:^3S^, 

CONFECTIONS. lIMIini 

SUPER 

nm 

POPCORN COMPMtf 

EXTRA REVENUE 

AT NO EXTRA COST 

With 

SCREEN BROADCASTS 

"The Cream Of The Crop" 

Write 

ADFILMS 

77 York St. Toronto 

BOXOmCE 

LIMITED 

:: August 8, 1953

TED 

I 

M 

•fijmi^m 

Tf/iWff mffrAOfiotc 7ff£mmv 

X QUBBN IS CROWJSTKD 


J. ARTHUR RANK FILM DISTRIBUTORS (CANADA) LTD. 

0[ 

WIRE,PHONE OR WRITE

. . . Ken 

. . Sam 

. . Haskell 

. . On 

. . . Dan 

. . Ray 

MONTREAL 

pobert Giles of the advertising department 

of United Amusement Corp. journeyed to 

Stratford, Ont., to attend the Shakespearean 

festival, and was introduced to Alex Guinness, 

the star. Giles witnessed two plays, 

"Richard ni" and "All's Well That 

Ends Well," and found the performances 

United Amusement executives 

"thrilling" . . . 

and friends participated in the Ro.semere 

Golf club tournament . Joffe. artist at 

Montreal Poster Exchange, spent a week at 

the Jewish General hospital, but has recovered 

and returned to work . Masters, 

general district manager for Warner 

Bros., and Ralph Foster, head of the new 

16mm department, both from Toronto, visited 

the local Warner office. 

Del Buckley, salesman for RKO, has resigned 

to join Columbia as office manager in 

Minneapolis. Mrs. Buckley, who was on the 

office staff of RKO here, is spending a fortnight's 

holiday at St. John, N.B., after which 

she will join her hasband in his new location 

Hatton, owner of the Huntington 

Theatre, Huntington, Que., who is also circulation 

manager of the Montreal Monitor, 

was the hero of a motor chase after thieves 

snatched the Monitor's $4,400 composing 

room payroll . . . Eloi Cormier, salesman for 

International Film Distributors, is on a business 

trip in the maritimes . . . Samuel Joseph 

Kingwell, 78, drummer for 45 years in the 

orchestras of a number of Montreal theatre's, 

died. 

Jo Oupcher, manager of International Film 

Distributors, announces in the Augu-st issue 

of his monthly bulletin, Entre-Nous, that the 

Montreal office soon will distribute four 

Technicolor pictures—the French version of 

"Drums," "Thief of Bagdad," "Jungle Book" 

and "Pour Feathers" . . . Mrs. Thelma Henderson, 

billing clerk at Paramount, has resigned 

to move to Toronto . holiday 

are Vera Jolley, Paramount stenographer, who 

is visiting Quebec City, Pierrette Dequoy, 

booker stenographer at 20th-Fox; Patricia 

Billing, Columbia stenographer, at Old Orchard; 

Binkie Hill, secretary to Sam Kunitsky. 

United Artists; Fernand Bourdon, art 

department, United Amusement Corp,, at He 

d'Orleans, Que., with his wife and child, and 

Leon Gelfenstein, assistant booker at Warner 

Bros., who has gone to Paris, Prance, to 

spend his holiday with his father. 

The Cinema de Paris, a Compagnie France 

theatre, on St. Catherine street west, which 

has been closed for .several weeks, has undergone 

a beauty treatment. The floor of the orchestra 

and balcony has been rebuilt, the 

walls decorated and the lobby remodeled. 

Glass doors and the latest sliding seats complete 

what is virtually a brand new theatre. 

The opening picture was "Millionnaire d'un 

Jour," starring Gaby Morlay . . . Montrealers, 

who motored in the thousands to Maine in 

the closing weeks of July when factories 

close for the annual vacation, provided the 

bulk of the patronage of drive-in theatres, 

which do not exist in Quebec province. As 

"Moulin Rouge," which it is claimed was 

severely censored by Quebec authorities, was 

the principal program, many Montrealers 

made a point of comparing the version shown 

in the United Slates with that offered in their 

hometown theatres. 

86 

Oayety Theatre, known for many years 

under that name, has been renamed the Radio 

City . . . Consolidated Theatres directors have 

declared a dividend of 13 cents per share, 

Canadian funds, on the class A common stock, 

payable September 1, to shareholders of record 

August 3 . . . Nine-year-old Jimmy Hume 

of Regina, who plays a trombone and can 

ride a horse, has been given the role of farm 

boy in the new National Film Board production, 

"Musician in the Family," which has 

been entered in the Edinburgh Film festival 

. . . Tlie J. Arthur Rank Technicolor film of 

the coronation, "A Queen Is Crowned," is 

being given a return showing at Quebec in 

the Cambrai. 

VANCOUVER 

'\TictoT Tombe, former Saskatchewan theatreman, 

is the new assistant manager 

at the Capitol, replacing Paul Mojeski, who 

resigned to join a local beauty supply firm . . . 

Sydney Chatton, a former Filmrow employe 

who now is a TV producer in New York was 

here on a vacation . . . Marge Brewer, Odeon 

Hastings secretary, was ill . . . Harold Warren, 

FPC partner in Port Alberni, conferred with 

circuit officials. He has installed 3-D in his 

Capitol Theatre. 

"House of Wax" has been racking up top 

grosses in FPC houses in the interior . . 

. 

Confection sales reach their peak during the 

showing of action pictures, a checkup with 

British Columbia theatremen shows. Musicals 

and dramatic films do not stimulate concession 

sales . . . Washington Thorn of the Steva 

at Steveston in the Fraser Valley is the first 

independent exhibitor to install 3-D equipment 

in this province. No drive-in theatres 

are so equipped to date. 

The staff of the Odeon Paradise gave a 

party for Former Manager Al Mitchell, who 

was promoted to supervisor of three theatres 

in the New Westminster district . . . Warner 

Manager Earl Dalgleish vacationed at his 

summer home at Gibson, upcoast from here 

Sutherland, an Odeon district manager, 

is convalescing at home after a stay in 

the hospital with a heart ailment. 

Two drive-in theatres near here are getting 

around the Lord's Day act by taking a silver 

collection at the gate and giving the proceeds 

to help build a swimming pool. The indoor 

theatremen have nothing to say on the subject 

of Sunday shows. They will undertake 

them if the pubhc decides it wants them but 

it won't encourage any change . . . Three film 

stars stopped here on the way to Jasper Park 

—Marilyn Monroe, Robert Mitchum and Rory 

Calhoun—with a 20th-Fox production crew, 

the airport was jammed with film fans 

waiting to see them. 

The federal election will be held August 10, 

but the candidates are appearing to as few as 

six persons at their meetings . Gehrman 

of the Strand floor staff is a new sub- 

.scriber to BOXOPFICE. 

Coming from and going on vacatiorLs: 

Jimmy Adams of the Fraser; Anne Thomp- 

.son. Park; Dave Borland and Stewart Widdifield. 

Dominion; Dick Letts and Irma Miotto. 

Strand; Orville Burell, Plaza; Bob Hardy. 

Dunbar; Ernie Stiuer, Odeon in West Vancouver; 

Raub Elliott, Odeon in Mission; Pat 

Babiuk, Odeon district office; Ivan Ackery, 

Orpheum; Cecil Neville, Famous Players 

booker; Gwen Coombes, Warner Bros.; FVancis 

Coombes, JARO, and Bill Warke, Columbia. 

MARITIMES 

Ceats at the Capitol Theatre, Fredericton, 

N.B., are being covered with plastic as 

part of a renovation program, which includes 

improvement of the restrooms, installation of 

new fixtures and redecorating. W. O. Fenety, 

owner of the Capitol who also owns and 

operates the Gaiety in FYedericton, is planning 

a Cinemascope .showing. Fenety's son 

Bill jr. is his a.ssistant . . . After using the 

Palace Theatre building in the north end of 

St. John for four weeks for a religious revival 

meeting, the Pentecostal Assemblies have arranged 

to purchase the building. The Palace 

was replaced as a theatre some time ago by 

the F&H Regent. Since then it has been 

used as a dance hall, for meetings and 

auctions. The Palace was operated for films 

by the late Thomas J. O'Rourke, originally of 

St. John, who also had the Gaiety theatres 

at Minto and Fairville, N.B. 

Peter Leger of Bathurst, N.B., owner and 

manager of the Capitol, has remodeled the 

theatre stage and has installed new Ughting 

and stage accessories. He also installed a 

new concessions stand and replaced projection 

and sound equipment. Leger succeeded his 

late father as owner of the Capitol, which 

originally was named the Opera House. The 

younger Leger has been identified with the 

theatre for more than 35 years, in addition 

to mining holdings near here, some of which 

he recently sold. Mining activity near 

Bathurst has increased considerably in the 

last year. 

L. D. Naufts, owner of the Ideal, Canso, 

N.S., is starting operating each night, except 

Sunday, at 8:15. He offers two matinees each 

week—Tuesdays at 4 p.m. and Saturdays at 

3. The Ideal was acquired by Naufts in 1948 

from Carter & White. In 1952, the projection 

and sound were revamped with the 

installation of 35mm equipment. Prior to taking 

over the Ideal, the Naufts had operated 

a circuit of one-nighters on the mainland of 

Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island. The 

circuit was known as the Elite and included 

Port Hood, Arichat and St. Peter's, all on 

Cape Breton. On display in the Ideal projection 

booth, Naufts has one of the oldest 

projection machines in existence. The Naufts 

plan a face-lifting of the theatre, slated for 

completion by early winter. 

When "Francis Goes to the Races" was 

shown at the Russell, Glace Bay, N.S., the 

short subject "Canadian Force in Korea" 

drew nearly as much attention as the feature. 

The short subject placed accent on Glace Bay 

and Lieut. J. P. MacLean of that city, who 

has been on duty in Korea for some time. 

Weiner & Green operate the Russell . . . 

Local exhibitors are complaining that the 

St. John Exhibition A.ss'n is promoting wideopen 

betting at weekly harness races operated 

by the a.ssociation. 

'Moulin' to Three Houses 

TORONTO—"Moulin Rouge" secured another 

lease on life in its transfer to three 

Odeon units, the Danforth, Fairlawn and 

Humber, after its long run at the Hyland. 

All in a row, this attraction has played five 

weeks at the ace Odeon, eight weeks at the 

Hyland and now a 14th week at the neighborhood 

trio, without a break. 

'Hr 

lib I 

thBJ 

liipaS 

|»'!Ilt 

»fota. 

BOXOmCE :: August 

11 

8, 1953 Im. 

in

Para)—Dean 

: 

' 

" 

— 

— 

OXOf FICf f B D D ii J J] //^ U J D P 

ai, W 

it, 

ins 

[** 

Itsia* 

tiiep 

iwittJi 

thei* 

.slaieilads''"' 

f.S-S.''' 

it * 

::ilit' 

The EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY ABOUT PICTURES 

ALLIED ARTISTS 

Roar of the Crowd lAAi—Howard Duff, 

Helene Stanley. Dave Willock. Here is a picture 

that can't be beat. We played it to a 

packed house on Saturday night, doubled 

Irtth "Safari Drums." I can't really say which 

the latest product from Allied Artists is 

the best because all of it is top rate. One thing 

I can say about the climax to this picture 

that it is excellent. Some of my patrons said 

that they were glad to see a different ending 

to this film because in so many motion pictures, 

the main character has to win and be 

the big hero. Wish we had more good ones 

lUke this. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Hot!— 

Jerry B. WaJden. Crest Theatre, Seagoville, 

rex. Small-town and rural patronage. 

^^ Short Grass (AA)—Rod Cameron, Cathy 

Downs, Johnny Mack Brown. This would 

aave been a superwestern if it had been in 

»lor. Rod Cameron is fast becoming a very 

aopular action star. Should have played it 

weekend though it is not strong enough to 

lold up a Sunday date. Played Sun., Mon., 

rues. Weather: Warm. — Norman Merkel. 

rime Theatre, Albert City, Iowa. Small-town 

md rural patronage. 

COLUMBIA 

Ambush at Tomahawk Gap (Col)—John 

aodiak, John Derek, David Brian. This one 

3as a tJtle like a Durango Kid western, but 

lon't be fooled. It is strictly a big-time, outloor 

action epic and has everything our paxons 

want in an outdoor movie—acting, 

Urection, color—and all are good. Comments 

sere very good and business was above averse. 

Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Hot.— 

Joyd Hutchins, Center Theatre, Kensott. Ark. 

iural patronage. 

Last of the Comanches (Col) —Broderick 

Jrawford. Barbara Hale, Lloyd Bridges. A 

well western in Technicolor. I played it Fri., 

Sat. but it was good enough for Sunday. I 

oade some money, too. Weather: Good.— 

M. Freiburger, Dewey Theatre, Dewey, 

Jkla. Small-town patronage. 

Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder (Col) — 

'rankie Laine. Billy Daniels, Charlotte Aus- 

In. Here's an outstanding little musical with 

he kind of story that entertains small-town 

udiences, once you get them in. Teenagers 

3ve Prankie and the old folks fight shy of 

ilm, but the "gal and the guy" have a story 

hat lets them steal the show so everyone 

oes home happy. Doubled w-ith "Captain 

Irate" for a satisfying progi-am and average 

usiness for these low-farm-price times. 

'layed Fri., Sat. Weather: Hot.—Bob Walker, 

rintah Theatre, Pruita, Colo. Small-town and 

ural patronage. 

METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER 

Clown, The (MGM) — Red Skelton, "Rmthy 

Con.sidine, Jane Greer. Hop* the rest of 

3U MGM employes are being taken better 

ire of than I am. I worked for the company 

n this one. Ran a .screening on it some time 

ack and after the comments I had been 

ucking my "medicine" for a long time but 

nally had to give this a date. Business 

as better than I expected but after paying 

iGM, NSS, advertising and film haul, there 

as nothing left for all the other expenses. 

OXOFnCE BookinGuide :: August 8, 1953 

It's a wonderful show but—one time Skelton 

clicks and twice he misses. If I could figure 

the clicks I'd be money ahead. Played Sun . 

Mon. Weather: Hot.—Bob Walker, Uintah 

Theatre, Pruita, Colo. Small-town and rural 

patronage. 

Sky F-ull of Moon (MGM)—Carleton Carpenter, 

Jan Sterling. Keenan Wynn. This is 

a good little rodeo story which did average 

business. It should have done better on Fri.. 

Sat., but it lacks star power. Better play It 

on Bank Night. Weather: Good.—E. M. Freiburger, 

Dewey Theatre, Dewey, Okla. SmaUtown 

patronage. 

Sombrero (MGM)—Ricardo Montalban, 

Pier Angeli, Vittorio Gassman. This is an 

excellent motion picture with everything in 

it to make it a good picture. There is some 

really good music and comedy. "Vou can either 

bill it as a top musical, top comedy, or top 

drama. The acting is very good but with 

such a weak title as it had, I was afraid it 

wouldn't draw very well here. To my surprise, 

it drew about as well as the awardwinning 

"High Noon." I wish that Hollywood 

would let some of us exhibitors title their 

pictures, and maybe we wouldn't have so 

many flops! Played Sun., Mon. Weather: 

Nice.—Jerry B. Walden, Crest Theatre, Seagoville, 

Tex. Small-town and rural patronage. 

Naked Spur, The (MGM)—James Stewart, 

Janet Leigh, Robert Ryan. Enjoyed by all. 

Good small-town drama with beautiful color 

background. Filmed 50 miles from here so it 

drew 165 per cent. Played Thurs., FYi., Sat.— 

George R. Armstrong, Gai Theatres, Cortez, 

Colo. Small-town and rural patronage. 

Pat and Mike i 

MGM)— Spencer Tracy, Ka- 

Klein Asks Fair Deal 

For 'Limelight' 

TIMELIGHT (U A)—Charles Chaplin. 

Claire Bloom. Sydney Chaplin. Not 

lone ago I wTote about the terrific reception 

"City Lishts" got here. Well, old 

Charhe has done it again. How brilliant 

can any one man be? The storj- is excellent, 

the acting of both stars leaves 

nothing to be desired, the music is perfect. 

Come on, you .Vmericans, try and 

recognize true artists in your midst, regardless 

of what you may think of them 

in private life! "Limelight" deserves full 

houses in any situation it might play. The 

only two faults I can find were the time 

element—it might have been cut a little 

and the rental charged me. The final 

scene of this wonderful movie left us all 

limp from laughter. 

There are so few outstanding movies 

made today that it is surely sacrilege to 

try to keep this one off the market! It 

ju.st .strikes me—is there perhaps jealousy 

among other producers at Charlie's success 

all these years? Give them hell, 

Charlie—and continue making your wonderful 

motion pictures. Played Wed.. 

Thurs.. Fri., Sat. Weather: Fine.—Dave 

S. Klein, .\stra Theatre, Kitwe-Nkana, 

Northern Rhodesia, .Africa. Mining, business, 

government patronage. 

iharine Hepburn, Aide Ray. Advene "exhlb 

reports had me leary of thLs one but it turm-': 

out okay. Customers liked it and said so. Tit: 

brought them In. Played Prl., Sat y . 

Weather: Hot—95 dcKrccs. — Frai.;-: 

Maje.stic Theatre, Eureka. Mont Sn 

and rural patronage. 

PARAMOUNT 

Flaming Feather, 'Puru' Sterling H.iy

— 

irlneit * 

The EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY 

^Continued from preceding page) 

wasn't worth the tab. Played Fri., Sat. 

Weather: Sultry.—Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre, 

Prulta, Colo. Small-town and rural patronage. 

Tokyo File 212 (RKO)—Florence Marley, 

Robert Peyton, Kat.suhaiko Haida. Strange, 

one movie like "Limelight" can be so wonderful, 

and then a stinker like this one pops up. 

If you are really stuck for playing time, whip 

this in quickly and whip it out again—your 

customers might not notice it. Played Wed., 

Thurs. Weather: Fine. Cold—Dave S. Klein, 

Astra Tlieatre, Kitwe-Nkana, Northern Rhode.sia, 

Africa. Mining, business, government 

patronage. 

REPUBLIC 

Toughest Man in Arizona (Rep) —Vaughn 

Mom-oe, Joan Leslie, Edgar Buchanan. You've 

got to be a lot tougher than V. Momoe to 

get any business on this one. Didn't like it. 

Played Tues., Wed. Weather: O.K. -Frank 

Sabin, Majestic Theatre, Eureka, Mont. Smalltown 


20TH CENTURY-FOX 

I Don't Care Girl, The (20th-Fo.x)—Mitzi 

Gaynor, David Wayne, Oscar Levant. A nice 

musical in Technicolor but we have played 

a lot better than Mitzi. This will get by if 

everyone has not left town on vacation. 

Played Wed., Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather: Very 

warm.—Harold BeU, Opera House Theatre, 

Coaticock, Que. Small-town and rural patronage. 

My Wife's Best Friend (20th-Fox)—Anne 

Baxter, Macdonald Carey, Catherine McLeod. 

No boxoffice names to lure them in for this 

weak-kneed comedy. New star, Casey Adams, 

got what few laughs there were in this. 

Anne Baxter had better stick to the dramatic 

stuff. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: 

Hot.—Norman Merkel, Time Theatre, Albert 

City, Iowa. Small-town and rural patronage. 

Tobacco Road (20th-Fox)—Reissue. Charley 

Grapewin. Marjorie Rambeau, Gene Tierney. 

Brought this back for the third time to S.R.O. 

Need I say more? Played Tues.—J. C. Balkcom. 

Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. Small-town 


me before it was over. Some haven't stopped 

yet. The customers told me, "You knew the 

fireworks would draw and you got rid of this 

stinker on a sure bet." I know my fellow 

exhibitors realize that "What Price Glory" 

is a swell title for the Fourth and I ran it 

in the silent days and did well with it. But 

the nonsensical ravings of two rum-soaked 

army officers made neither rhyme, reason 

nor sense. This one will be hard to live down. 

—J. Bye Coverston, Big Sombrero Drive-In 

Theatre, Sulpher Springs, Ark. Small-town 


With a Song in My Heart (20th-Fox)— 

Susan Hayward, Rory Calhoun, David Wayne. 

This is truly a wonderful picture. I saw it at 

a city theatre and then at ours. I think it is 

more of a city picture as I noticed that the 

reaction of the audience was qUite different. 

In the large theatre you could hear a pin drop 

but in ours people were restless. I don't think 

they truly appreciated what they were seeing, 

which is a shame. I do not like to recommend 

it for small situations. However, I surely hate 

to see an exhibitor pass it up. It drew well so 

I can't complain in that respect. Played Sun., 

Mon. Weather: Cold.—Marcella Smith, Vinton 

Theatre, McArthur, Ohio. Small-town 


UNITED ARTISTS 

Rough Shoot (UA)—Joel McCrea, Evelyn 

Keyes, Herbert Lom. Not a bad British-made 

picture at all. Tlie title kept many away as 

they thought it was a western. If you 

advertise it as a thriller and (as I did) the 

Merkel Agrees With Lite 

On Universal Product 

\X7illie and Joe Back at tlie Front (U-I) 

—Tom Ewell, Harvey Lembeck, Mari 

Blanchard. This comedy drew very well 

for us. Lots of laughs and plenty of 

satisfied patrons. Guess Life magazine was 

right when it said Universal pictures have 

"universal appeal." Played Fri., Sat. 

Weather: Hot.—Norman Merkel, Time 

Theatre, Albert City, Iowa. Small-town 


Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Small-town and rural 

patronage. 

Here Come the Nelsons (U-D—Ozzie and 

Harriet Nelson, Barbara Lawrence. A natural 

for our situation. Everyone enjoyed it. Hope 

they make one a year so movie fans can just 

relax and see what could happen in their 

homes. Above average business. Played Wed., 

Thm-s. Weather: Very Cool.—John C. Coffrin 

jr., HomesteaD Drive-In Theatre, North 

Montpelier, Vt. Small-town and noral patron' 

age. 

>Ussissippi Gambler, The (U-D—Tyrone 

Power, Piper Laurie, Julia Adams. Agree with 

other exhibitors that this is one of the bettej 'f-"'* 

shows of 1953. Tyrone Power gave a masterful 

performance. Played Sun., Mon.—J. C. Balk-i 

com. Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. Small-tov 


Redhead From Wyoming, The (U-D- 

Maureen O'Hara, Alex Nicol. Robert Strauss, 

Comment bad. Another built up western. 

Business below normal. Played Wed., Thurs, 

Weather: Hot and clear.—Richard Barr, Up- ^f„|)si 

town Theatre. Victoria, Texas. Small-town 

us, u,, 

family patronage. 

Sally and Saint Anne (U-D—Ann Blyth, 

Edmund Gwenn, John Mclntire. The na— "^ 

of this picture gave a good many people tl 

idea that it was a Catholic one—therefoi 

our business was poor. However, it was vei 

entertaining. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather] 

Nice.—Tom Hetherington, Gopher Thea' 

Wheaton, Minn. Small-town and rural pi 

tronage. 

Scarlet Angel (U-D-Yvonne DeCarlo, Rock 

Hudson, Richard Derming. Another Technicolor 

action entertainment from Universa 

Should please your patrons although they will 

forget this type of entertainment the nex' 

day. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Mild.—K. R. 

Corkum, Cross Theatre, New Ross, Nova^pioiti! 

Scotia. Small rural community patronage. 

Take Me to Town (U-D—Ann Sherida 

it'K 

m 

SterUng Hayden, Philip Reed. Had the bestBfe(Mp. 

trailer ever made. It paid off in extra business, 

too—125 per cent. Very pleasing picture 

with the three yellow-haired kids and 

their parson father. That is not to mentio|| 

the cute flaming redhead. Played Thurs., Fri, 

Sat. — Ben Spainhour, Twilight TheatrCj 

Greensburg, Kas. Small-town and rural patronage. 

sequel to "Manhunt" you'll bring them in 

Viva Zapata! (20th-Fox)—Way off the and they won't be disappointed. Only drawback 

was Evelyn Keyes—she looked awful in Untamed Frontier (U-D—Joseph Cotteili 

beaten path. Story of Mexican insurrectionists 

with no dull moments. I was afraid they this picture and many people remarked about Shelley Winters, Scott Brady. Good plot, 

wouldn't like it—but they did. Played Fri., it. I am sure it was a case of poor makeup superwestern in color, plus topnotch staZB 

Sat., Sun. Weather: O.K.—Frank Sabin, as Miss Keyes is good-looking enough for il guess they are—anyway it kept up the mid 

Majestic Theatre, Eureka, Mont. Small-town oiu- money any time. Don't be afraid of the week gros.ses). All comments were good. It 


British star names—they give admirable performances. 

Played Fi-i., Sat. Weather: Cold. This is fine for the small towns. Played Wed» 

there were any bad ones, I didn't hear thent 

Wait 'Til the Sun Shines, Nellie (20th-Fox) —Dave S. Klein, Astra Theatre, Kitwe-Nkana, Thurs. Weather: R.ainy.—I. Roche, VernoU 

—David Wayne, Jean Peters, Hugh Marlowe. Northern Rhodesia, Africa. Mining, business, 

government patronage. 

patronage. 

Theatre, Vernon, Fla. Small-town and rur^ 

This should be a small-town natural but a 

poor start on Sunday didn't give it a chance 

for a good Monday to get it up into the hit 

class at our ticket .stile. A UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL 

WARNER BROS. 

third day might 

have made the difference. Even my continual Against All Flags (U-D—Errol Flynn, Maureen 

O'Hara, Anthony Quinn. This one Thomas, Doris Day, Frank Lovejoy. Good pic- 

I'll See You in My Dreams aVB)—Danny 

harping that this was not a musical, people 

still kept coming out of the theatre evidencing started out with three strikes against it. ture for the family trade but it should 

their surprise that it really wasn't. Here's the Pirate shows have flopped for me this year. have been made in color. Did average business—nothing 

out of the ordinary. Company 

kind of a story you'll be proud to show. This However, this was a very good feature and 

ca.st. while not too well known here, endeared pleased the few who were present. Played wants too high an allocation on thi.^ one. 

themselves with Pruita-ites. Played Sun., Sun., Mon. Weather: Warm.—Ralph Raspa, Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Fair and warm. 

Mon. Weather: Nice.—Bob Walker, Uintah State Theatre, Rivesville, W.Va. Rural patronage. 

Theatre. Cortez. Colo. Small-town and rural 

—George R. Aimstrong, Arroyo Drive-In 

Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Small-town and rural 

IKitronage. 

patronage. 

Bright Victory (U-I) — Arthur Kennedy, 

What Price Glory (20th-Fox)—James Cagney, 

Dan Dailey, Corinne Calvet. How any this one, don't let it go begging as there aren't Cochran, Ray Teal, Bob Steele. This Is a 

Peggy Dow. Julia Adams. If you haven't used Lion and the Horse, The (WB)—Steve 

.salesman can look an exhibitor in the face enough like it any more. This is solid family fine little family picture for those who like, 

after betraying his confidence and .selling entertainment. The trailer is excess expense horses and the out-of-doors. Comments were 

him so many feet of monumental tripe is and will hurt more than it will help. I took to all good. Business was off about 1:2 per cent 

above and beyond me. We played this on the stage after I ran it and did the plugging from recent averages. Played Mon., Tues. 

the Foiu-th of July with fireworks and con.sequcntly 

drew a crowd of overflow capacity, and on the problem change, too. Played Wed., Theatre, Coldwater, Miss. Small-town and 

in person. It carried Its share of the load Weather: Warm, rain.—N. D. Patterson, Tate 

each and every one of whom was beefing at Thurs. Weather: Hot.—Bob Walker, Uintah rural patronage. 

«!«,. 

^^H 

BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: August 8,

..5 

,n Intcrprsrivs onalytii of lay and trodeproi reviews. The plui ond minui tigni Indicote degroo of 

itrit only; audience clossificotion is not rated. Listings cover current reviews, brought up o dote regularly, 

hh doparlmcnt serves also as on ALPflABETICAL INDEX to feoture releases Numeral preceding title 

I Picture Guide Review poge number. For listings by company. In the order of release see Feature Cliort. m\m 

Very Good; + Good; — Foir; - Poor; - Very Poor. In the summory ' 

mim 

is rated as 2 pluses, - os 2 minuses. 

i " 

I 

8 t -A\ 

Si 

6i Abbott and Ccitcilo Go to Mars 

(77) Comedy U-l 4- 4-53 + 

:9 Abbot! and Costello Med Captain 

Kidd (70) Comedy WB U-29-S2 + 

99 Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll 

and Mr. Hyde (78) Comedy U-l 

28AboBi| Frair.e. The (6*;) Drama RKO 

:„.l[)el^(SBi| Leaguer (70) Comiôy-Drama MGM

REVIEW DIGEST Very Good; + Good; — Fair; — Poor; = Very Poor. In the summary *' is rated as 2 pluses, — as 2 

ffi zee > iZ zoc a.E 

5+&- 

3+4-

Very Good; 

• Good; 

' 

Foir, Very Poor. In the summary t^ > lotcd ot 2 plutci. at 2 REVIEW DIGEST 

11; 

1 I f

KJmuml 

. 

. 

. 

1 

' 

. . D 

1 

. 

. 

1 

11 2) . M 

. 

. 

. 

., 

' 

f P;)riJi]£ fiiliiilT 

Feature productions by company in order 

time is in parentheses. Type of story is 

Comedy; (D) Drama; (AD) Adventurc-Drai 

crn; (SW) Superwestern. Releose numbei 

O denotes color photography. For review ( 

>r release. Number in squore is national release date. Running 

indicated by letters ond combinations thereof as follows: (C] 

na; (CD) Comedy-Droma; (F) Fontasy; (M) Musicol; (W) Westfollows: 

U denotes BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon Award Winner, 

Digest. ates and Picture Guide poge numbers, see Review 

1 

ALLIED ARTISTS 

ijj Bombo and the Jungle Girl 

(70) 

I 

Jiilinii.v Sluiliild. kari-n Sllar|K', Wallti 

Moverick (71) W. .5322 

Wild Bill Elliolt. I'liyUls Coales, M. llcaley 

3% QHiawoIha (80) D. .5202 

Vimrni hxl-iirds. Vtelte Uiieay, K. Larseii 

Slot of Tcxos, The (68) W. .5332 

W.HIW .Morri-. UM Vallin. Jacli Iârscii 

Fangs of the Arctic (63) D. .5222 

Ivirliy Crmit, Clilnook. Loma Hansen 

S Torpedo Alley (84) D. .5308 

Mart Slums. Dorothy Malonc, B. Williams 

:«; Tongier Incident (77) D. .5316 

Cvori;i' Brini. Miiii Aldon, Dorolliy Patrick 

S Jolopy (62) C. .5318 

Uo Gortiy. Iliinlz Hall, Bernard Gorcey 

S OKonsos Pacific (73) D . . 5302 

Stirllni! Ilaydin. &e Miller, B. MacLanc 

3] White Lightning (61) AD. .5326 

Stanley flenienls, Barbara Bestar, S. Brodie 

?2 Homcsteoders, The (62) W. .5323 

Willi Bill r:iiott. Ilobert Louery, J. Seay 

S Ofort Vcngeonce (76) D. .5303 

.lami- C'raii:. Iliia Moreno. Keiih Larson 

531 Marksman, The (61) D. .5333 

1 \Va\ne M.irns. IDena Verdiigo, Stanford JoUey 

=J 19 Troll Blazers (63) W. .5329 

q; .\:,-i }[.i.r T . Itichard Tyler, Jim Flowers 

5-, 26 Cow Country (82) W..5310 

(I lirlen, Helen Wcstcott 

< 

! 

m Rebel City (62) D . . 5324 

Wild Bill Elliott, Marjorlc Lord, Robert Kent 

Si Loose in London (62) C. .5319 

Leo Corriv. Iliinl/ ll.ill. Bernard Gorcey 

W ORoor of the Crowd (71) D. .531 

llouard Duff. Ilelcnc Stanley, Harry Shannon 

33 Murder Without Tears (64). . . .D. .5328 

Craig Steiens, Joyce Holdcn, Eddie Norrls 

Safari Drums (71) D..5314 

J 'i . SI;, (field, B.irbara Bestar, D. Kennedy 

C Son of Belle Storr (70) D. .5309 

K-ili I.ir-.ii. I"eci:ie Ca.stle, Dona Drake 

ii Northern Potrol (63) D. .5330 

KIrliy Cranl. Claudia Drake, Chinook 

gJMaza, The (80) D. .3101 

HIchard Carlson, Veronica Hurst, K. Emery 

(Three-dlmenliyon. Natural Vbilon) 

XTopcko ( .) ,.W..5325 

Wild Hill Klllott. rhyllls Coales, D. Crockett 

g ©Affair in Monte Corlo (90). . .D. .5307 

Merle llliiron. Itichard Todd, Leo Gei:n 

?4 Clipped Wingi (. .) C. .5320 

L Corcey, lluntz Hall. June Vincent 

ig Mexican Quest (..) D. .5317 

Gtvmc Brent, Hillary Brooke, Karen Bharpe 

COLUMBIA g jg 

Eight Iron Men (80) D. .515 

Biinar Ciille.niu, .\rlhur .Marvin 

Franz. Lee 

Strange Fascination (80) D. .505 

lliiKii ll.ias. Cli'o .Moore. .Mona Barrle 

Heppy Time, The (94) C. .506 

Charles Bluer. Lnuis Joilrdan, Marsha Hunt 

Invasion, U.S.A. (74) D..513 

Gerald .Mohr, Peggie Castle, Dan O'Herlihy 

Four Poster, The (103) CD. .519 

lti\ Ihi-iiMin. Lili Palmer 

OPathfinder, The (78) D. .516 

il.diKi .Mmmoracry, Helena Carter, B. Lester 

Winning of the West (57) W. .571 

Giiie .Vutry, Champion, Smiley Burnette 

Member of the Wedding, The 

(91) D..52I 

Elhel Wateis. .lulie Harris, B. DeWUde 

©Prince of Pirotes (80) D . . 524 

.liihn lim'k. Barbara Rush, Carla Balenda 

Five Angles on Murder (88) D . . 543 

Ji -.n Kinl, Hirk Bogarde, Susan Shaw 

©All Ashore (80) M.. 534 

Savage Mutiny (73) D. .539 

On Top of Old Smoky (59) W . . 572 

©Soiome (103) D. .545 

Hila llajnorth. Stcviart Granger, C. Laughton 

. 535 

©Let's Do It Again (95) MC .533 

l!,iv Jan. W.m.iu. Millalld. Aldo Ray 

©Flame of Calcutta (70) D. .549 

Di'ii-r iJ.iieil. Patric Kjlowles 

Last Posse, The (73) D . 

Crawford, John Derek, Wanda Hendrix 

Briideriek 

Pock Train (57) W. .575 

Gene Aiiiry. Gull Davis, Burnette 

Smiley 

LiPPERT 

Ig Gambler and the Lady (71). . . D. .5204 

Dane Clark. Naomi Chance. Kathleen Byron 

S I'll Get You (79) D 5206 

George Raft, Sally Evans 

Gray, Clifford 

©Last of the Comanches (85). .SW. .51 

Brodirick Crawford, Barbara Hale, L. Bridges 

Target Hong Kong (66) D. .517 51 Tall Texan, The (84) D.. 5207 

Itichird lienniiia. Nancy Gates, Richard Loo 

Lloyd Bridges, Lee J. Cobb, Marie Windsor 

I 

Perils of the Jungle (63) D 

Clyde Realty, Phyllis Coates, S. Farra 

St] ©Great Jesse James Raid (. .) D. .5221 

Willaid Parker. Barbara Pajlon, Tom Neal 

Spacewoys (76) D. . 

Howard Duff. Rva Barlok 

Mission Over Korea (86) D. .536 

Ji.hii llnitiil. .Iiihu liir.k. Totter 

Audrey 

Volley of Head Hunters i67) . . . 608 

Conquest 

D 

Jiiliiiin Wii-MiijIliT. 

©5,000 

Cliii -iiir Larson. S, Rlleh 

Fingers of Dr. T. (89).. F. 604 

l.liiil ivi.i llajes. Maiy lle.ily. Hans Conrled 

©Cruisin' Down the River (81). M. .606 

Dlek lliymis. Auilny T.MIer, Billy Daniels 

©Stranger Wore a Gun (81 ) . .SW. .605 

(Tlree-dlroension) 

a ©Sins of Jexebel ( . . ) D 

Goddard, George Nader 

Paillette 

M-G-M 

i? Sky Full of Moon (75) D. .31 

Carleton Carpenter, Jan Sterling, Kecaan Win 

|g ©Million Dollar Mermaid (115). .M. .31 

Esther Williams, Victor Maliire, W. PldgMB 

[U Above and Beyond (122) D..3I 

Robert T.iylor, Eleanor Parker, J. WItitmon 

m Clown, The (92) C. .31 

Red Skellon, Jane Greer, Km Conîdine 

51 Desperate Search (73) D. .31 

Hiivv.ir,! Keel, Jane Greer. Keenan Wynn 

?! Bod and the Beautiful, The 

(118) D..5I, 

l.ana Turner. Kirk Douglas, Dick PoffeU g 

A ©Naked Spur, The (91) 

D., 

J.imes Sleu.irl, Robert Itjan. Janet Leigh 

ll Rogue's March (83) 

D 

Peter Lawfiird, Richard Greene, Janice 

@ ©Ivonhoe (107) 

D 

Hubert Taylur, Ellzabetli Taylor, J. Tom 

) Jeopardy (69) 

Ba liira Stanwyck. Barry Sulliii 

S Battle Circus (90) 

All.vson, 

y Confidentially Connie (71) 

Wjim 

C..3Z 

Hiimplirey Bujart, June K. 

Van JiibiiMm, Jam-i Uigh. Louis Calhtm 

IB ©I Love Melvin (77) M..32: 

liiinald (I'Cunnur. Debbie Rejiiulds. Una 

Si Girl Who Had Everything, The 

(69) ., D..3B. 

Elizabeth Taylor, William Povrell. F. 

. . 521 

1 1 

; .33' 

; (71) .33' 

m Sombrero (103) 

M 

Ricardo Muntalban. Pier Angeli, 

m ©Small Town Girl (93) (Spi'Oial prerelease) 

Mon in the Dork (70) D..547 

Jane I'uwell. Farley Grtmger, MlUer 

Yronne Di 

M; 

.\nn 

Kilm 1 HBiini. Audrey I'otter, T. DeCorsia 

) White Goddess (73) D . . 5224 53 Bright Road (68) D. 

Gloss Wall, The (80) D. .541 

©Joci< McColl, Desperado (76). .W. .537 

Sally Forrest, Ifcilph .Meeker, 

One Girl's Confession (74) W. .528 

Problem Girls (70) D . . 526 

Crlii.-. -.Iim,l(in) 

Jon Hall, R. Montgomery, M. MeClure 

Dnrothy Dandridge, Robert Horton. A. 

a Code Two (69) 

Keenan Wynn 

D 

©Fort Ti (73) AD. .546 

er Let Me 60 (93) 

D. .32' 

[T] Bod Blonde (80) D 

George .Miuitgomery, Joan Vohs, Irving Bacon 

Barbara Payton. Tony Wright, Frederick Valk 

c Gable. R. Haydn 

Getie Titrniv. 

(Three-dimenLson, Natural Vision) 

©Ambush at Tomohowk Gap 

a Bachelor in Poris (83) D. .5213 

of the Hunted (79) D. .331 

Dennis Price, Anne Vernon, Auer 

iri" Gas-man. Pully Bereen, SullUaB 

Mischa B. 

(73) W..522 

ains to Be Seen (89) CD. .33 

Ji.hii Unit, Brian 

.\il.\snti. \".i(i Johnson. Calhern 

Hodiak, David Louis .lulin 

©Serpent of the Nile (81) D. .538 

Company (67) C. .33: 

HI Uniiiiis. William Liiiullgan, R. Burr 

W. .574 m Slosher, The (75) D . 

ird Kill, I'hUv Bergen, Nina Foch 

lung Bess (112) 

D..33 

. 521 8 

Goldtown Ghost Riders (59) . . . . 

Gtiif Aiiliy. Smiley Burnette. Gall Davis 

James Kenney. Joan Collins, Robert Ayres 

.irt Granger. Jean Simmons. .D. Kerr 

Slight Cose of Lorceny (71) D. Juggler, The (86) D. .520 ,1] ©Johnny, the Giont Killer (70). .F. .5205 

Mickey Ruoney, Eddie Bracken, Ersklne 

©Arena W. 

Paul Feature 

M. Kirk liniislas. Mllly Vitale, 

©Siren of Bagdad (72) 

Stewart 

D. .541 

.\nimated Cartoon 

E Ghost Ship (69) D. .5228 

Medina, Hans Paul lliiuiiil. Patricia 

49th Man, The (73) 

Conrled 

D . . 529 

Hazel Court, Dermot Walsh, Hugh Burden 

Gig Young, Polly Bergen, Jean Hagei 

3 Twilight Women (89) D. .5217 (Three-dimension, Melrnusion) 

I 

John Ireland. Itichard DennUlg. S. Dalbert 

Freda Jackson, Rene Ray. L. Maxwell 

©Story of Three Loves, The 

(122) D..39) 

Kirk Douglas. I'ier Aneeli. James Mason 

j ©Scandal at Scourie (90) CD. 

j Dream Wife (98) C. 

a Dangerous When Wet (97) M. 

Esther Williams. Jack Carson, D. Darcel 

51 ©Lili (81) C 

Leslie Caron. Mel Ferrer. J. P. Aumont 

m ©Ride, Vaquero! (91) D. , 

Robert Taylor, Ava Gardner. Howard Keel 

:Wl0Mi 

IWrJkf 

jKillto 

i: hi 

MiStl 

itttth; 

SJ Moin Street to Broadway (102)..D. 

TaUulah Baiikbeail. Ktb.l and Barr; 

l.ii iiiel 

i3 ©Bond Wogon, The 

; . 

Kr.al A-taire. C.iil Chiii-s.. Jack Buch.anan ^_ 

a Affairs of Oobie Gillis i 74 ) C. . 3* 

Debbie K.ul.ibK. llul.ln V.ii: I! 

m Big Leaguer v70) 

INlek 

CD. .34; 

"^teV," 

Edward G. Kobhisoii. Vera-Kllen. J. Rlclurdl 

gÔLotin Lovers (104) M. .344 

Lana Turner, Jolm Lund, Ricardo Monlalbn 

IS Holf a Hero (75) C, 

Red Skelton, Jean Hagen, auu-lrs Dingle 

^W,T1 

«Wioi 

9« Slade I .) D . 

Ml v Si'^mv. Iloriilhy Malune. B. .MacLane 

j Terror on o Train (72) D. . 

Glenn Ford. Anne Vernon 

! Actress, The ( . . ) D . 

Spencer Tracy, Jean Simmun^. Teresa Wright 

•ir ORoyol African Rifles (. .) D. . 

l/.iiK II.Duard. Veronica llur»t. U. Gl enn 

Bowery Bloodhounds C. 

Jnir. II 1.1 11, l,.„ (iorccy, Hunl« Hall 

Deputy Marshal W. .5334 

Wa)n.' M.ptil.. VIrginlii Grey, Myron Hcaley 

OFIghtcr Attack D . 

RterllTie Ihoilen, Joy Page, J. Carrol N'alsh 

Jennifer D . . 

Idi l.Mt.lno. Howard Duff 

Tabloid D. .5327 

Hiiiiii) II mints, Gloria Henry, Myron llealey 

Vigilantes Terror W. . 

Wild Bill Klllult, Mary Eaien Kay, Bob llray 

_ 

Big Heot, The D. . 

Glivin hiiMl. Gloria Grnhamc, Robert Burton 

©Big Jump, The D. . 

Ijiilil, Alaii Sii..iii S'epheris. Leo Genn 

OCcInc Mutiny, The D. . 

Kie.l M iMniiiv. Iliimiihrey Johnson 

Bogarl. V. 

©Drums of TohitI (3-D) D. . 

Palii Miilliu. Dennis O'Keefe, Sullivan 

li K. L. 

From If ore to Eternity .D. . 

Mull ;..mity nin. Burl D. Kerr 

Unca.sler. 

©Gun Fury (3-D) SW. . 

link lldil llaynes 

i.i;, ll.,iiiia lUvd. Uoberln 

Moin Event i3-D) D. . 

Il.»t.ili'k Cniviford. Ilolieria llaynes 

f" Misi Sadie Thompson (3-D)...D.. 

l:ii , ll.i Hilh, Aldii Bay. J.i«e I'.-ur 

©Prisoners of the Caibah D. . 

lilnii.i i,i.iii,inie. rvs.v Rumeru, TurlLin Bey 

C Slovt* of Babylon D. . 

I: ' 

I I " ' l.liiiti llirlll.in. Teriv Kllliiirn 

Iron Mask, The D. 

Doiiulas Fairbanks 

Man From Cairo 

D 

Genri:e Hall 

Project Moon Bose D. 

Ford 

©All the Brothers Were Valiant AD. . 

Kubni lul.... SI in Granger. .\nn Blytli 

©Easy to Love M. . 

Esilii'i William-. Johnson 

Tom .Martin. Van 

©Give a Girl a Break M. . 

.Miriie tiiid Cower Champion. Ih'bble Hej-noi* 

Julius Coesor D. . 

Mai lull lliandu. James Mason. UiuU Callierl 

©Kiss Me, Kote (3-D) M. . 

Kalbryil Grayvul Howard Keel. Ann Miller 

©Long, Long Trailer, The C. 

Lucille Ball, Desl Arnati. Marjorie .Mtdn 

OMogombo D. 

Clark Gable, Ava Gardner. Grace Kelly 

©Saadio 

D 

Cornel Wilde. .Mel Ferrer 

©Toke the High Ground 0. 

Ulehard WIdmark. Elaine .Stewart, Karl T 

©Torch Son^- D. 

I..aii (ra.'f.ihl. Mirbael Wllîiii:. Gig "

C. 

I 

. 

. 

. 

I 

No 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

Dan Dalley, .Kniie Bancroft, BiUy Cliapin . 

. 

FEATURE 

CHART 

PARAMOUr-iT 

RKO RADIO 

REPUBLIC 

20TH CENTURY FOX 

. jStort and Stripes Forever 

ORood to Boll (91) MC. .5209 

lllni: (in.hv. I:hI> IIuii«, Dorothy L:immir 

OTropie Zone (94) D..521I 

li.iii.ilil lirn^jri. K>trm.i. Ithonila Flemlnii 

Thunder in the East (98) D. .5210 

Alan Uaild, Prliorali Kerr, Charles Buyer 

It \>OHan> Chrislion Andersen 

(lib) M. .351 

Danny (va>i-, Jeanmniie. Tarley (iranîr 

fi (QBIackbeord, The Pirote (98). .AD. .307 

ItolHTt X.uiini. Linda Darnell. \V. BendU 

id the Lion (98).TTcb77368 

Virlu .Ml It. .Ne\ilon 

WAC (87) C. .371 

IIo.iIIikI l:>i..r;l. Paul Diiilgliu!, M. Wilson 

Time for Flowers (83) CO. .313 

VIveca Llndfors, Paul Chrlsliaa, L. Stossel 

.1, ©Rid* lh« Man Down (90) W. .5202 

Brian Diinleiy, Ula llalnei, ForrM Tucker 

I .J'

I nine 

'. 

MO. 

. 

18 

llniis 

.SW. 

. 

. 

. 

9 

i.ii, 

. 

. 

41 

. 

D 

FEATURE 

CHART 

UNITED ARTISTS 

OBobes in Bagdad (79) CD. .1191 

r;iiiiriU' ilmnianl. Gypsy Rose Let, J. Boles 

OMonsoon ,79) 

D..1190 

ItsiiU Tbit-s, (jL'orge Nader, Diana Douglas 

' 

Breakina the Sound Borrier 

(115) D..1I92 

Ralph liichar(l.

. 

' 

' 

. 

' 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

' 

. 4-24-53 

Short tubjoctt, listed by eowpony. In order of relcoie RunnU« •.« . .. 

r.l.o>.. ..cond .he do.o ol rcvlo. In BOXOFFICE S.mbol h » . 

•running tima tollowi titia Vi*** i. >i 

'"' 

n I 

01JflilTiJ 

IJlJ/JiiJ 

l'Sl.l)..Ju_ 

i....D.r' 

Columbia 

Prod. No Tillt Rel D.ilt RMing RWd 

ANIMAL CAVALCADE 

5651 Chimp. Ant 

S6S2Junolc Monarch! (10). 

5653 Grtyhouni/ C.iptrj (10) 

ALL-STAR COMEDIES 

5413 Strop. Look ind Listen 

11-20.52 + 11-15 

12953 ± 3-21 

7.3053 

(ISi'i) 12-11-52 i: 2- 7 

5414 Spies Guys . 

4.53 5-16 

,ind (16). 4- -1 

5415 He Popped His Pistol 

(16) 5-14-53 

S416Lo.e$ -* ~ 

A Poppin' (16) 6-11-53 

ASSORTED FAVORITES 

(Reissues) 

5422 Dance. Ounce. Oance 

(IS'/j) 11-13-52 

5423 Kiss and Wake Up (18) 1- 1.53 

5424 Gum Shoes (21) 2-19-53 

5425 Woo. Wool (16) 3.12-SS 

.. 

5426 Calling All Fibbers 

4-17-53 -(- 6- « 

TRUE LIFE ADVENTURES 

(Tethnicolor) 

32.901 Bur Country (33) 22052 H 1-17 

20th 

Century-Fox 

Oct -52 4 U-22 

^'^^'^^ 

5856 Mi'cl?y Rooney-lThen "^ 

and ^ ^ 

S857Ha'':°Haf^^?i,„o|,Wood- '•'"•''« "•" 

Paramount 

5858 Hollywood's Great 

Comedians (91/2) . . . 

5859 Hollywood's Pair of Jacks 

-.„ (IOI/2) 

5860 Out West in Hollywood 

(10) 

5-14-53 -)- 6-27 

6-18-53 

(10) 11-14-52 + 12 13 

Kîl t\'!?'c'' °" ""'. •'•" 12-26-52 4 1-31 

KI2.4 High School Hl-Jinb 

(10) 3-20-53 -»- 3-2S 

12-

. 2-10-53 

SHORTS CHART 

836S Tactories, Mines and 

Waterways (20) 5-18-53 ff 5-23 

8369 British Trade and Industry 

(21) 6-15-53 

8370Farnier-Fislierman (21).. 7-13-53 

MUSICAL FEATURETTE 

3301 XavJer Cugat and Orel). 

(15) 11-16-52 11-15 

8302 Don Cornell Sinos (15). .12- 4-52 + U-15 

8303 The Modcrnaires With Lawrence 

Welks Orch. (15) 1- 1-53 -f 11-15 

S304 Andy Russell and Delia in 

House Party (20) .... 3-12-53 + 4-11 

8305 Les Brown and Orch. in 

Crazy Frolic (10) 4- 9-53 + 4-25 

8306 Harry James and His Music 

Makers (14) 5- 7-53 

8307 Music on the Double (IS) 5-28-53 

COLOR PARADE 

8381 Fiesta Frolics (9) 6- 8-53 

8382 King of the Sky (10).. 7-13-53 

TWO-REEL SPECIALS 

8201 Out of the Earth (16) . ff 2-28 

8203 The World's Most Beautiful 

Girls (17) 2- 1-53 ft 1-17 

VARIETY NEWS 

7348 Man in the Peace Tower 

(9) 10-13-52 + 11-15 

1952-53 SEASON 

8341 Kino Winter (9) 12-22-52 

8342 Get a Horse (9) 1-26-53 +3-7 

8343 Sky Police (9) 3- 9-53 + 4-11 

8344 Deadly Drums (10) 5- 4-53 

WOODY WOODPECKER CARTUNES 

(Technicolor) 

7356 The Great WhoDood-lt 

(7) 10-26-52 + 10-18 

1952-53 SEASON 

8321 Termites From Mars (7). 12- 8-52 1-24 

8322Whals Sweepin? (6)... 1- 5-53 + 2-2S 

8323 The Dog That Cried 

Wolf (6) 3-23-53 

5324 Buccaneer Woodpecker (6) 4-20-53 +5-2 

8325 The Mouse and the Lion 

(5) 5-11-53 

8326 Operation Sawdust (6) . . 6-15-53 

8327 The Flying Turtle (6).. 6-29-53 

8328 Wrestling Wrecks (6)... 7-20-53 

9703 Tree for Two (7) 

Warner Bros. 

Prod. No. Title Rel Date Rating Rev'd 

BLUE RIBBON HIT PARADE 

(Technicolor Reissues) 

9303 A Day at the Zoo (7).. 11- 8-52 

9304 Early Worm Gets the 

Bird (7) 11-29-52 

9305 Tale of Two Mice (7).. 1-10-53 

9305 Bashful Buzzard (7) 2- 7-53 

9307 Country Mouse (7) 3-14-53 

9308 Little Dutch Plate (7) . . 4-11-53 

9309 Ain t That Ducky (7) . . 5- 2-53 

9310MiDhty Hunters (7) 6-13-53 

9311 The Fighting 6II/2 (7; . . 7-11-53 

9312 Snif (les Takes a Inp 

(7) 8- 1-53 

9313 Wacky Wild Lite (7> 8-29-53 

BUGS BUNNY SPECIALS 

(Technicolor) 

9724 Rabbit's King (7) 11-15-52 

9725 Hare Lift (7) 12-20-52 + 2-14 

9726 Forward, March Hare (7) 2-14-53 -f 2-28 

9727 Unswept Hare (7) 3-14-53 

9728 Southern Fried Rabbit 

_ '7) 5- 2-53 +7-4 

9729 Hare Trimmed (7) 6-20-53 

9230 Bully (or Bugs (7) 8- 8-53 

CLASSICS OF THE SCREEN 

9102 Oklahoma Outlaws (20) .11-22-52 

9103 Are Animals Actors? 

(20) 12-27-52 

9104 Star in the Night (20) . . 3-21-53 

9105 Plantation Melodies (20) 5-16-53 

9106 Looking at Life (20) 71853 

JOE McDOAKES COMEDIES 

9402 So Vou Want to Wear 

the Pants (10) 11- 8-52 + 12-20 

9403 So You Want to Bt a 

Musician (10) 1-10-53 + 2-28 

9405 So You Want to Learn to 

Dance (10) 3-28-53 + 6-20 

9404 So You Want a Television 

Set (10) 5- 2-53 ff 7- 4 

9406 So You Love Your Dog 

' 

! good 

— 

, 

• 

Opinions on Currenf Productions; Exploitips 

f5ilTlll{£ 

]1£'/J?nju 

(FOR STORY SYNOPSIS ON tACH PICTORI, Sf£ REVERSt SID(| 

From Here to Eternity A 

"""" 

Columbia ( ) 118 Minutes Hoi. 

When this coi;ipany acquired the lilm rights to . 

Jainea 

Jones' best-selling novel, widespread were the conjectures 

as to whether, alter elimination o( the lour-letter words and 

he daring approach to sex, enough would be lelt to make 

picture. Such doubts are resoundingly banished in 

the linished product—not only a good movie, but a great 

one. Puritanical indeed will be the critic or spectator who 

finds the lilm ollensive, due largely to brilliant scripting, 

excellent direction by Fred Zinnemann, tasteful production 

guidance by Buddy Adler and magnificent performances by 

a star-studded, marquee-magnetic cast. Considering the 

popularity of the Jones tome and the potent exploitation 

possibilities inherent in the picture, plus the inevitable 

enthusiastic word-of-mouth reaction, there is virtually no 

ceiling on the business that can be expected in all bookings. 

It will be a strong contender for honors among 1953's "bests." 

Bull Lancaster, Montgomery Cliit. Deborah Kerr, Donna 

Reed, Frank Sinatra, Philip Ober, Mickey Shaughnessy. 

The Caddy 

Comedy 

Paramount (5302) 95 Minutes Rel. Sept. '53 

Whether they are chasing gals, ghosts or golf balls, Martin 

and Lewis are dependable for a brimming measure of laughs 

and, more importantly, a comparably overflowing theatre 

cash drawer. Because of the universal popularity cf their 

past performances, it is virtually impossible to make comparisons 

between them and this current vehicle. Certainly 

it will do as much, if not more, business, and it is entirely 

possible that many of their fans will consider it their all-time 

best. As to- its principal ingredients, fhey are standard 

comedy of many varieties, from slapstick to subtle, a spot 

of romance, gags, mugging and bright musical interludes. 

It should be unnecessary to inform showmen that they need 

little more by way of exploitation than the marquee magic 

of the M. and L. names, although the personal appearances 

of several golf-world luminaries rate consideration. Skillfully 

produced and directed by Paul Jones and Norman 

Taurog, respectively. 

Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Donna Reed, Barbara Bates. 

Island in the Sky 

Warner Bros. (301) 112 Minutes Rel. Sept. 5. '53 

Upon the popularity and drawing power of John Wayne 

will depend the fiscal fate of this austere drama of heroism, 

suffering and sacrifice. An adaptation of Ernest K. Gann's 

novel, the film version adheres closely to the original as to 

story, but atmospherically it misses, which probably is 

attributable to William A. Wellman's direction, under which 

performances are prone to be a bit on the hysterical side, 

although they occasionally attain moments of excellence. 

Obviously the literary source and the cast are the facets 

to highlight exploitation and they should attract profitable 

patronage to initial bookings, after which the featuie may 

encounter considerable resistance. The fact that the cast 

is entirely male will prove another handicap as concerns 

general patronage, especially as there may be those who 

will quarrel with some of the casting. A Wayne-Fellows 

production, the offering is impressively mounted. 

John Wayne, Lloyd Nolan, Walter Abel, James Amess, Andy 

Devine, Allyn Joslyn, James Lydon, Harry Carey jr. 

F 

y. 1 

ur r 

The Actress 

MGM ( 90 Minute 

ln:i'riccit.d :.'.: a::.::. or.; *.:;. cu: c: 

gimmiclc.-: 

Spencer Tracy. Joan Simmons. Teresa Wright, Anihc:. 

kins. Ian Wollo, Kay Williams. Mary Wickes. 

Plunder of the Sun 

F 

F 

"""• 

Warner Bros. (224) 80 Minutes Bel. Aug "" '" 

Filmed against the Zapotepec ruins of Mexico, this 

Fellows production stresses h-jr-i bo'led ^liv-n'-j.-'; 

assorted villainy and a mi*; . 

miscellaneous ingredients . 

ness to command unwave.- 

small amount of the pictures az 

grounds and they, along with t;, 

should not be overlooked ir. r: 

Glenn Ford's performance ; 

whileîs support is compar 

'. 

ing contribution of sloe-eyed 

most of the fans' attention ana coiiin.ent. The 

pact footage makes it adaptable to either sic-: 

another advantage. Producer Robert Fell 

authenticity and atmosphere in mounting the 

John Farrow's experienced direction, bolster-; 

-screenplay, was successfully aimed nt tempo a:. . 

Glenn Ford, Diana Lynn. Patricia Medina. Francis L. Sullivan, 

No Escape 

United Artists (5315) 76 Minutes ReL Aug. '53 

This is program fare for action spots. Based on the manhunt 

theme, it chugs along under a satisfactory itipetus 

furnished by a canny cop pinpointing his man down to the 

final chase. The action is sustained throughout and H'-- 

tributed evenly throughout a series of climaxes and 

Lew Ayers and Sonny Tufts offer the marquee name v 

and Gertrude Michael contributes an interesting b 

The title tune can be used for exploitation. Good su 

is generated in a number of scenes where Ayres i 

/ 

manages to elude a police dragnet. The lilm is suitable for 

double billing with either adult or juvenile audiences in 

mind. The script weak spots are covered by the continuous 

action and the capable direction of Charles Bennett. 

Lew Ayres, Sonny Tults, Morjorie Steele. Lewis Martin. 

Charles Cane, Gertrude Michael, Renny McAvoy. 

O.K. Nero A 

Farce 

Comedy 

IFE Releasing Corp. 88 Minutes Rel. May '53 

A broadly played slapstick farce filmed on the massive 

sets of "Quo Vadis" in the Rome studios, this accents 

sex and spectacle. The scantily clad Silvana Pampanini. 

who takes a milk bath during the action, and the riotous 

existentialist ballet ewe highly exploitable features for the 

downtown houses, but the picture is not suited to family 

spots and definitely not for the art houses, where serious 

Italian pictures are favored. The American dubbing job is 

poorly synchronized and the crude gags ore familiar to 

most American audiences. Walter Chiari and Carlo Campanini, 

playing two sailors who are knocked unconscious 

and transported to ancient Rome in their dreams, get some 

laughs by clowning about in Martin and Lewis or Abbott 

and Costello fashion. Gino Cervi, featured in many Italian 

dramatic pictures, seems embarrassed to be playing a 

burlesque version of the Emperor Nero. 

-ov' 

Walter Chiari, Carlo Campanini. Silvana Pampanini, Gino 

Cervi, Jackie Frost, Giulio Donnini, Alba Amova. 

icn. 

iittiAfliii 

Bachelor in Paris F 

'^•'''

. and 

— 

FEATURE REVIEWS Story Synopsis; Adiines for Newspaper and Programs 

THE STORY: "The Actress" (MGM) 

lean Simmons, only daughter of Spencer Tracy and Teresa 

V/right, living near Boston early in the the century, has 

burning ambitions to become an actress. However, Tracy 

a low-paid factory worker who dreams of his seafaring past 

—is a man of uncertain temper. Above all, he covels and 

values security, and plans to enroll Jean in a physical 

culture school and train her to become a teacher. Jean is 9.53 

musters up courage to tell her father that she has obtained 

an audition with a stage producer. The audition is a failure, 

but Tracy is touched by Jean's display of courage and spirit 

and her determination to make good. He reveals to her his 

own unhappy and thwarted childhood and stakes her to 

a trip to New York by giving her his most treasured possession—his 

telescope—to pawn. 

CATCHLINES: 

The Tender Years 0! a Girl With a Dream a 

Father Who Was Wise Enough to Give Her a 

. 

Chance to 

Together They Create a Filch Store of 

Prove Herself . . . 

Warmth and Laughter.

. 

(5,200 

1 e 

j 

I 

. 

experienced. 

. man. 

C.iln, 

drive- in. .Noncompetitive. Rich southwest large 

valley trade center. Immediate disposal, $127,500. 

$42,500 down. Balance long term. .May include 

"wide screen." Send references for details. Boxj 

I 

screen). 

Chicago 

I 

iATES: 15c per word, minimum SI. 50. cash with copy. Four inaertiona lor price ol three. 

CLOSING DATE: Monday noon preceding publication dale. Send copy and anawera to 

:P Box Numbers to BOXOFFICE. 825 Van Brunt Blvd.. Konaas City 24. Mo. • 

ii ! 

HELP WANTED GENERAL EQUIPMENT—NEW 

.Vuiltd: Eipcrlinced operator witli rcttfCTica. 

H L. Daniels. Palace Ttieatre, Seguln. Teias. 

Wanted; Experienced promotlon-mlnded managers 

l» experience, drive-in or conventional. Go 

.. herf Care Boxofflce, 5218. 

Experienced theatre manager. 18 years all phases 

lire »"rk. Buyine. booklnB and exploitation. 

VI :i.'.2ll, Kansas (Ity. Mo. 

•r-11. 

POPCORN MACHINES 

Popcorn machines, every possible make, at a 

rilon of their original cost. Kettles for all 

it poppers. Snourone. cotton candy machines. 

I doc steamers, French friers. 120 S Halsted. 

irigo. 111. 

THEATRICAL 

PRINTING 

Window cardi, programs, heralds Phmo-Offsel 

N. Y. 

nllng. C.ilo Sho» Prinlinc Co 

SCREEN PAINTING AND 

REDECORATING 

Interior 3-0 .ind white screen painting, also 

...In screen painting and theatre decorating. 

crenel's and estimates on request. J. R. 

ell k Sim. !I02 W. Main. Ottumua, Io»a. 

SIGNS 

Easy Way to Paint Signs. Use letter patterns. 

I>ld sloppy work and wasted time. .No expert- 

Deeded for expert work. Write for free sam- 

John Kalm. B-1329. Central Ave., Chicago 

III. 

DRIVE-IN THEATRE EQUIPMENT 

,JaVry drive-in outfits, $1,595 up. (Send for 

s). In-car speakers w/4" cones. $15.50 pahiunctlon 

box; underground cable. $65M. Time 

aients aiallable. Dept. r. S.O.S. Clncra.i Supply 

p.. AK W .-.an il St.. .\ea Y ork l!l. 

ôpcorn machines, half price. Wlentr, Uamger. 

Sno-Cone, Peanut Itoasters. Bun Warmers, 

'•pert Supply. 146 Walton St.. Atlanu. Oa. 

}rlve-in theatre speakers with straight cords, 

[45. Car-side speakers. $7.15. Replacement 

iker eonea, $1 70. Dawo Corp.. 145 N. Brie, 

edo. 

Ohio 

.Irive-in equipment. Koiled cords, RCA speakers 

p.irts Two Westinghouse copper oxide recti- 

Ks. speaker posts. Lots of miscellaneous equlplit. 

All new. unable to build. William KUgore, 

ifi 

f 

Shelley. Overland. Mo. 

!50 reconditioned in-car speakers, straight cords, 

each. Write 1' 0. Box 315. CIreenport. N.Y. 

STUDIO AND PRODUCTION 

EQUIPMENT 

urn adversity into advantage. Shoot local newss. 

T\* commercials. Make advertising tieiips 

local merchant-s. Film production equipment 

log free. Ilept. C, S.O.S. Cinema Supply Corp., 

W. 52nd St., New York 19. 

IXOFnCE :: August 8, 1953 

Everytiody's Buying 'Cm! Masonlte maitjuee letters. 

4"— :t5c: 8-—50r; 10"—flOc; 12"— 85e; 

14"— J1.25: 16-—$1.50, any color. Kit Waitncr. 

fl. .\dler. Bctellte sU-ns. Ilept. r. 8.U Cinema 

Supply Corp.. 802 W. 52nd St.. Sew York 19. 

Get set for 3-D! Interlocks. $15n; melalllr 

screen. DOc «q. ft.; 24" manazlnes. $302. porthole 

filters, $47.50 pair. Iiepl. C. SOS. Cinema 

Supply Corp . 602 W 52nrt SI . New YorV. HI 

GENERAL EQUIPMENT—USED 

DeVrys for every size theatre! Complete dual 

projeclinn and sound equipment: .Maiida. $895: 

IKW. $1.5!t5: H.I.. $l,!>!i5. Time payments available. 

Ilept. C. SOS. Cinema Supply Corp., 602 

W. 52nd St., New York 10. 

Complete booth equipment Including RCA MI- 

1040 sound. Simplex rear shutter double bearing 

projection already equipped with 3-D magazines, 

etc. Almost new. Strong high Intensity lamps. 

Hcrtncr generator, extra rectifiers. Also KCA parts 

cabinet complete with spare parts, film cabinets 

and motor rewinds. For quick s.ale. $1,800. Write 

or wire: Inlvcrsal Theatre Equipment Co.. 1878 

St.. E. 18th Cleveland 14. Ohio Phones: Sljwlor 

1-3912: FAIrmount 1-4958 

THEATRES WANTED 

Theatre, NetKaska, western Iowa, northern Kansas. 

No brokers. Over 400 seals Town 1.800 

population or over. Confidential. Experienced. L. 

J. Burkltt. Sparu. Wis 

would like to own my own theatre, hare 

$5,000 to Uivesl. Well experienced In all lines of 

theatre operation. Prefer Missouri. Iowa. Illinois, 

Indiana or Ohio. Boxofflce, 5194. 

Theatre with possibilities In middle west wanted 

to lease with option to purchase. Fourteen years 

experience In all phases. P. 0. Box 1191, Springfield. 

Mo, 

THEATRES FOR SALE 

Theatre For Sale: Selective listings In Oregon 

and Washington now available Write for list. 

Theatre Exchange Co., 5724 S.E. Monroe, Portland 

22. Ore. 

300-car drive-in. New. complete. Colorado's 

most popular summer resort. 70.000 summer tourist 

populalion. Competition Independent. Immediate 

possession. Boxofflce. 5204. 

Build double parking drlve-ln theatre under 

franchise Patent 2-.102.718, reissue 22,756. Up 

to 30% more seating capacity with Uttle additional 

cost, Loulj Josserand, 3710 Mt. Vernon, 

Houston. Tex. 

New drive-in. modem 660-seat Indoor. Nonjompelitlve 

growing city 7.500. New Mexico's 

irrigated valley. $72,500 (less than past year's 

net gross). $27,500 down Complete open records. 

Private sale. Boxottlce. 5205 

Know bargain on sight? Heirs selling below 

cost, de luxe refrigerated 700-seater. new modern 

office, 5207, 

Profitable, modern. 600 seats. (Installing wide 

One New Mexico's leading cities. $55,000 

Years profit about recover $20,000 down payment. 

City's growth 1953. 15,000. Beautifully located. 

Living quarters. Boxofflce. 520S. 

Grind theatre, 275 seats, open 11 a.m.. doing 

goixl business. Last 3 weeks' grosses. Including 

concessions. $891, $945. $985. .Made enough 

dough to retire. Investigate to your heart's content. 

$1.1.000 complete. $10,000 down Boxofflce. B199. 

Sinus condition, must change climate. Sacrificing 

two theatres, (^me and see. No reasonable of(er 

refused. C. B. Harvey. Grayson. Ky. 

Brand new drive-in theatre for sale on main 

of land. 400 speakers. 

highway. Includes 12H acres 

Only drlve-ln within 20 miles. Lccated 

In 

central Florida. Open all year round. Heiails to 

qualified buyer. Boxofflce, 5114. 

CLtBRIIlGHOUSt 

THEATRES FOR SALE—CONT'D 

Modern drtvi-tn. Year round octxn rlinate. 

Corpuv (lirhtl area 0|»n re< r* »ho»liii I52.00« 

net gruo last 12 monllu $45,500. $24,600 don. 

.No drouth. Take UrkeU till latliflnt January 

gimd ai tummrr Rntofller. 5206 

Sncral ideal situations, clilei 5.000 up. nan 

drouth arra In aotilhwest. l>rlve-ln plus Indoor, 

controlled tuviru Wide screen. 3-ll, CtnemaHcope. 

reduced ticket tax bringing period great opportunity 

Southweat'a exclusive theatre sperlaltst. 

Arthur I.eak. 3305 Caruth. Dallas. Tei 

Modern Texas drivi-in. Wonderful ocean location, 

Houth's fini-it fUhIng Twelve profitable 

months. Heavy eonstnictliin, excellent c*« . 1308 Elstaa 

III. Ave., (llcago 22. Phone ARaltage 60021 

Theatre chairs, new and used. Stnw. prajcetors. 

Lone Star Seating Co.. Bol IT34. Dallaa. 

Texas. 

BUSINESS STIMULATORS 

Bingo with more artloa. $3 50 thouaaad cards. 

Also other games. Novelty Câaiea Co.. 1434 

Bedford Ave.. Brooklyn 16. N. Y 

Comic books available as preoluma. giveaways 

at your kiddy shows. Large variety, latest oevnstand 

editions. Comics Premium Co.. 4 128, OrMnwlch 

St.. N. T C Publlcatloes for prealras 

(exclusively) since 1936. 

Bingo die-cut cards. 76 or 100 numbers. $3 56 

per M Premium Products, 339 W 44ib 8t New 

, 

York 18, N. V 

Build attendance with real Bawallaa ordilds 

Few cenu eacil. Write Flowers of Haoall. 670 

8. Lafayette Park Place. Lu Angeles 5. Calif 

Balloons art yotir cheapest ad for ovcalsp. 

anniversaries, giveaways and kiddle playground. 

Use them to decorate marquee and lobby (or 

Greatest Show on Earth Samples free. Alptae 

2644. Balloons. 146 Walton St.. AtlanU. Oa. 

Marilyn Monroe calendars! Any tbaaira or 

drlve-ln uae. can High class! Provnl Samples 

25c each. Mack Enterprises. Centralla, lU. 

Show-Dough! The sriisailonal new buslnesa getcr! 

Show-Iii.ugh actually males money for yoar 

lleairo In advance! Sbow-Dough Co . 720 Dela- 

HANDY SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM 

BOXOrnCE: 

825 Van Brunt Blvd.. Kansas City 24. Mo. 

Please enter my subscription to BOXOFFICE. 52 issues per year (13 

ol which contain The MODERN THEATRE Section). 

D S3.00 FOR 1 YEAR [I S5.00 FOR 2 YEARS C 7.00 FOR 3 YEARS 

n Remittance Enclosed [] Send Invoice 

THEATRE 

STREET ADDRESS 

TOWN 

NAME 

STATE 

POSITION

ocKetbookr 

That pain you've been getting . . . right in your POCKETBOOK , . . has been 

eaused by the epidemie of rising prices . . . that has been hitting you 

where it hurts the most. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, you've been stung 

with an increase of 133.2% in the cost of FOOD since 1939... and CLOTHING. 

RENT and other costs of living have acc«>unted for an average increase of 

98.9%. In your theatre, you've been hit pretty hard, too, by increases in 

the cost of THEATRE EVLIPMENT and SUPPLIES . . . that, according to Exhibitor's 

Digest, have averaged 90.9%, from 19'4-0 to 1952! Nowonderil hurls! 

U 

However, it will ease the pain, a little anyway, if you lake n

Boxoffice-August.08.1953

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template ?