Boxoffice-January.22.1955

. . Story 

JARUAKT LL, 1733 

are finding the workshop approach to their merchandising problems a stimulating experience, 

re ore more then 250 theatremen who attended the MGM ticket selling workshop in 

it week, one of the series the company is staging throughout the country. They heard experts 

operations discuss problems of smalltown and metropolitan theatres . 

on Page 28. 

Report From the Field: 

SELLING THE 

ART THEATRE 

Page 18

{ 

'Celt 

WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY 

RELEASE OF 

';fVPITER'S DARLIN 

ALL OVER THE NATION 

M-G-M's GIANT 

CinemaScopE 

COLOR MUSICAL! 

With Cast of Thousands 

sfarring 

ESTHER WILLIAMS 

HOWARD KEEL 

MARGE and 

GOWER 

CHAMPION 

GEORGE SANDERS 

w/fh RICHARD HAYDN • WILLIAM DEMAREST 

Screen Play by 

Based on the Play "Road to Rome" by 

DOROTHY KINGSLEY 

Songs: 

ROBERT E. SHERWOOD • BURTON LANE and HAROLD ADAMSON 

Choreography by HERMES PAN • Photographed In EASTMAN COLOR 

Directed by GEORGE SIDNEY • Produced by GEORGE WELLS 

A-^-^ 

l±=rrr=:^ 

p 

Just

, Visits 

î^ 

NEVER BEFORE! 

A thrilling romance in spectacular splendor 

and a wealth of singing glory! 

Watch! 

Hannibal's Army crossing the Alps with his 

elephant cavalry! 

Watch! 

The scheming Beauty who tricks The Barbarian 

on the march to conquer Rome! 

Watch! 

Handsome statues come to life in the amazing 

underwater dance spectacle! 

Watch! 

Dance of the Painted Elephants! 

Watch! 

Clash of armies at the gates of Rome! 

: ABOUT 

ÊTRATION! 

>arling" Ready For Washington's Birthday! 

198,703,553 READERSHIP 

jazines, in fan magazines and in the national Sunday Supplcan 

Weekly, This Week, Parade, Pictorial Review. 

NWIDE TV REACHES 50,370,000 

.21-f-----^ 

THE Best-seller the 

BECOMES AN ATTRACTION TC 

First Engagement 

Paramount, NEW YORK * Paramount Downtown, LOS ANGELES * Egyptian, HOLLYWOOD * State Lake, CHICAGO * Randc 

Warner, MEMPHIS * Allen, CLEVELAND * Majestic, SAN ANTONIO * Plaza. EL PASO * St. Johns, JACKSONVILLI 

Majestic, DALLAS • Radio City, MINNEAPOLIS * Paramount, ST. PAUL * Paramount, KANSAS CITY * St. Louis, ST. LOU 

SKI' 

heartt 

i 

M^TT 

WarnerColor 

• 

Stereophonic Sor 

STARRING 

VAN ALDO MONA 

HEFLINUAyFREEIM

I 

DN'T PUT DOWN 

THE GREATEST! 

m' 

MWm 

^ 

The 

scorchingly 

personal 

story 

T 

BALTIMORE * Met. & Ambassador, WASHINGTON, D.C.* Fox California, SAN DIEGO 

* Gable, CORAL GABLES * Center, BUFFALO * Metropolitan, BOSTON 

,NAPOLIS * New Fox, PORTLAND, ORE.* Paramount, SEAHLE * Strand, Albany 

of 

loves 

and 

longings 

when 

the' 

battle 

is 

far! 

away. 

SCREEN PLAY 8V 

OND TAB DOROTHY ANNE LEONM.URIS 

§Ey[IUmER-MA[ON[-FRANCISJMlt

RICHARD TODD * 

JEAN PETERS 

PRODUCED BY DIRECTED BY SCREEN PLAY BY 

SAMUEL G. ENGEL- HENRY KOSTER 

• 

COLOR BY 

De Luxe 

ELEANORE GRIFFIN 

celebra 

with 20th

— 

7i(j^ o^t^y/l(>fwn7^t€t(4^^ Vftdi/At^ 

pKqUq Generates 

AAerchandi sing 

Hl'^ ciilliusiasin eiigcndered by the 

lirsl "MGM Ticket Soiling W (irksho])" ineetings 

is continuing to grow with each succeeding such 

e\ent. In Denver last week, for instance, ahoul 

2.')() theatre owners and managers were in attendance— 

""liie 

largest turnout of theatre owners e\cr 

in the history of this exchange point," to put it 

as dill I'at McGee. who was one of the particil)ants, 

along with hi- ox\ri managerial crew and 

the virtual complete representation of all of the 

circuits in the territory. Individual theatre 

operators, too. from the smallest of towns, also 

were present, giving evidence of the widespread 

interest in iinj)roving the merchandising of pictures 

and the theatre throughout the ranks of 

exhihilion. 

Mr. McGee made this further comment: "For 

two days we ha\(> had one of the most exciting 

ex|)eriences in the history of the Rockv Mountain 

distrihution area . . . this was one of the most 

foruard steps ever taken by a film company." 

Another well-known Coloradan, Bob Walker 

of the Uintah Theatre in the little town of Fruita, 

was equally laudatory in his comment on the 

Woikslujp. In a letter to BoxoFFicE, he says. 

\l(;\l conducted a meeting (hat put all the national 

conventions Fve attended to shame. There 

was a spirit there Fve never seen at an exhibitor 

shindig. The "Friendly Company' demonstrated 

the real spirit of brotherhood, too, as they 

weren't there to sell pictures for themselves, but 

to help sell tickets for everyone's productions. I 

Irfl Denver thoroughly convinced that, if I could 

sit down with my bitlercst enemy and we'd meet 

with open minds, there wouldn't be anything 

that couldn't be settled." 

Frequently through the years, this observer 

has admonished exhibitors to place greater accent 

on selling the instituiion of the motion 

picture, as well as the specific picture. If thenis 

such a thing as a cure-all for the industry's 

ills, it abides in a conlinuing flow of profit-producing 

i)atronage. That isn't attained by just 

wishing for it. One has to go out and get it; then 

dci the right things in the right way to retain 

and increase it. 

Ill taking on a function wherebv it is helping 

exhibitors to help themselves, .M(wM is rendering 

a ser\ice that should prove of great value to 

the industry as a whole. And, along with the 

Motion Picture Theatre Celebration which MGM 

also is sponsoring, the awakened and stimulated 

showmanship should aicomplish much in keeping 

the |iublic motion |)icture and theatre-conscious 

for main months to conu". 

Product 

l'rcidu( t 

Dissipation 

dissipation goes on despite exhibitors' 

protests of a shortage of product — qualitx product, 

that is. In a midwestern city last week. 

"Drumbeat," starring Alan Ladd showed simultaneously 

in eight neighborhood houses; a couple 

of nights later, it went into six later runs; at the 

same time two other Alan Ladd features were 

playing in the neighborhoods. So the public was 

offered a choice of Alan Ladd. Competing TV, 

with three channels, gave the public a far greater 

selectivity, whether or not the quality was good. 

Still another wasteful booking jjractice took 

place in the same city when, this week, "White 

Christmas," which had been rolling u]) record 

grosses in its first runs was doubled in multiple 

bookings with another Technicolor musical, 

"Athena." Both pictures boast big star casts and 

their entertainment ratings are high. Granting 

that the double-hills may be essential to the particular 

houses involved, it would seem the better 

booking judgment to have inmbined each, sej)- 

arately. with another and altogether different 

type of j)icture. 

In discussing this sort of thing with several 

exhibitors, we have been told that such booking 

is not always of their making—that they are 

"forced" into it by distributors. If lhe\ did not 

book these pictures on their availability, said 

the exhibitors, they would lose out or upset their 

entire booking schedule. So what? Maybe that 

would bring an end to the ridiculous situation! 

So long as things like this continue, so long will 

there be peaks and valleys in theatre grosses 

and the steady patronage so much desired and 

needed— by distribution, as well as exhibition 

will be unattained. 

• • 

Public Relations Builder 

Exhibitors are reaping a harvest of goodwill, 

along with excellent support from a variety of 

civic and other organizations for their showings 

of '"This Is Your Army," the .54-minute documentary 

which COMPO is sponsoring in cooperation 

with the government. In Kansas ('ity, 

for instance, two large defense plants called attention 

of the showing at Loew's Midland to 

their employes through si)ecial bulletins and 

house organs. At the same time they publicized 

the regular feature on the theatre's ])rogram. 

In Savannah, Ga., the showing at the Avon 

Theatre was given the sponsorshij) of ihe Chamber 

of Commerce and support from nearb\ military 

camps. Press, radio and television cooperation 

spread the word, favorable to the film, the 

theatre and the industry in general. 

Filmed in Technicolor by Fox Movietone 

News. "This Is Your Army'' is a production of 

high (piality. It is entertaining, as well as informali\e. 

and will add to patrons' enjoyment 

of any program. Every theatre should show it, 

not only as a patriotic duty, but as a public 

service. 

^sJ^C^v^ 

/04lJL/i.nA^

— 

$150,000 

OKAYED 

Exhibitor Group to Seek 

Contributions on Basis 

Of COMPO Dues Plan 

NEW YORK—Methods of safeguarding 

the industry from a successful campaign 

by manufacturers of "certain television devices" 

to obtain government approval of 

subscription TV was adopted Wednesday 

1 19 1 at a meeting of the Joint Committee 

on Toll TV at the Hotel Sheraton Astor. 

A tentative budget of $150,000 for its 

own campaign was approved. 

The money will be sought through invitation 

to exhibitors to contribute on the same 

basis they pay dues to the Council of Motion 

Picture Organizations. 

TO EMPLOY P. R. COUNSEL 

A public relations counsel will be employed 

"to combat the propaganda of the protagonists 

of toll TV." 

Expert legal counsel will be retained to 

represent the committee in the pending action 

involving toll TV before the Federal Communications 

Commission. 

Expert engineering service and advice will 

be sought. 

A Washington office will be established in 

case the matter becomes a legislative issue. 

Trueman T. Rembusch of National Allied 

and Alfred Starr of Theatre Owners of America, 

joint chairmen of the committee, issued 

the following statement, through Herman 

Levy, general counsel of Theatre Owners of 

America and a member of the committee: 

"The inherent fallacies in the arguments 

being made by sponsors of toll TV must be 

exposed. And theatre owners must affirmatively 

and logically present their positions. 

They must refuse to be put on the defensive. 

The public must be informed that toll TV is 

economically unsound, detrimental to free 

TV and would create a government-sponsored 

monopoly." 

To finance its work, the committee decided 

to ask exhibitors to remit to Philip Harling, 

trea-surer, an amount equal to that they gave 

to COMPO last year in the form of dues. 

Harling's address is 1585 Broadway. New York 

36, N. Y. Starr, Rembusch and Harling were 

named trustees of the fund. 

BREAKDOWN OF DUES 

The COMPO scale folows: 

Four-wall theatres to 500 seats—$7.50 annually. 

To 750 seats—$11.25. To 1,000 seats— 

$18.75. To 2,500 seats—$37.50. Larger theatres—$75. 

Drive-ins to 300 cars—$7.50. To 500 cars 

$11.25. To 600 cars—$18.75. Larger drive-ins— 

$37.50. 

Earlier, representatives of the committee 

had a-sked financial assistance of COMPO, 

but because of its diverse membership that 

was not forthcoming. 

The committee stressed there was need for 

counter action because propaganda for toll 

TV "had already reached a high peak." 

Abram F. Myers, National Allied general 

counsel, read the statement, which continued 

as follows: 

"It is urgent that all exhibitors are called 

CAMPAIGN CHES'i 

FOR TOLL TV FIGt 

Hits at Effort to Place 

TV on Exhibitor Side 

CHICAGO—In a letter released this week, 

Comdr. E. F. McDonald jr., president of 

Zenith Radio Corp., charged Hal Fellows, 

president of the National Ass'n of Radio and 

Television Broadcasters, with opposing the 

interests of broadcasters and attempting to 

align the broadcasters' association with motion 

picture theatres in an effort to scuttle 

or delay subscription television. 

McDonald referred to a January 4 letter 

sent by Fellows to Chairman McConnaughey 

of the Federal Communications Commission 

which, he said, asked "the Commission to 

follow a course of action that would delay 

as long as possible giving the broadcast industry 

access to a whole new field of competition 

for the boxoffice audience." 

McDonald further charged that Fellows had 

not only WTitten to the Commission without 

the knowledge or consent of NARTB members, 

but that he had failed to tell the Commission 

he was expressing his personal opinions 

and not those of his membership. 

The Fellows' letter, McDonald said, expressed 

the same view as a recent petition 

filed by film theatre interests. He contended 

theatre opposition to subscription television 

on to send in their contributions at the 

earliest possible time. Details of today's program 

will be given them directly by mail or 

through their regional associations soon. 

Representatives of several exhibitor organizations 

have pledged the best efforts of those 

groups in urging support of the program." 

The committee did not disclose its reasons 

for fast action except to say that the propaganda 

of proponents of toll TV had gotten hot 

and that it was faced with an FCC hearing 

and possibly congressional action. They met 

at a time when the common stock of Skiatron, 

one of the three toll TV systems, was rising 

on the market. The other systems are that 

being promoted by Zenith and Telemeter, the 

latter partly owned by Paramount. 

Allied was also represented by Wilbur 

Snaper and Julius Gordon and TOA by Ralph 

McClanahan. Metropolitan Motion Picture 

Tlieatres A.ss'n was represented by D. John 

Phillips and Sol Strausberg, Independent Theatre 

Owners Ass'n by William Namenson and 

Southern California Theatre Owners Ass'n by 

James Arthur. 

Ament Elected Chairman 

Of Newsreel Committee 

NEW YORK—Walter C. Ament, vicepresident 

of Warner Pathe News, has been 

made chairman for 1955 of the newsreel committee 

of the Motion Picture Ass'n of 

America. He succeeds Tliomas Mead, editor 

of Universal Newsreel, who held the post two 

years and was commended by the committee. 

stemmed from fear that it would 

broadcaster a boxoffice to compete wi 

events not now available on televisioi 

tres on first run movies and othi 

form. 

"If the theatre owners have any va 

for this fear," McDonald said, "t 

broadcasting industry has everything 

that the theatres would lose. I find 

to understand how you can appear 

up your organization in the same c 

theatre exhibitors." 

McDonald stated that many broadca 

anxious to have subscription televisio 

lished at the earliest possible mom 

cause their continued existence in TV 

upon its early adoption. Others, 

anxious to get into TV, are held 

knowledge that they could not mal 

without the supplementary income 

scription TV. 

"You are not speaking for these 

broadcasters," McDonald said, "nor 

speaking for the 30-odd TV static 

have already turned in their tickets a 

off the air, or for the hundred p 

have surrendered their construction f 

Senate Unit Investigat 

Radio, TV Monopoly 

WASHINGTON—"Monopoly 

praci 

radio and television" form the subject 

for a Senate probe which Sen. Ha 

Kilgore (D., W. Va.i on Friday (1 

is "proceeding well." 

According to Kilgore. Howard L. C 

long active in the radio and TV fie 

been "tentatively" hii'ed as direct< 

radio-TV subcommittee of the Sena! 

ciary Committee. Chernoff has been c 

ing preliminary studies which might 1 

full-scale investigation. 

Meanwhile, an entirely separate in 

tion is under way in the Senate Co 

Committee, which is looking into the ( 

of whether the FCC should regulate n 

as is now done with individual statio 

Kilgore is the new chairman of the 

Judiciary Committee. He said on Frid 

he is undecided about whether to assi 

chairmanship of the radio-TV subcoD 

Whether subscription television 

breed monopoly in the field is one of t 

jects under consideration, Chernoff n 

TV Sets Near 33,000,000 

NEW YORK—Television sets in use 

U. S. at the end of 1954 totaled 32 

compared with 26.973.000 sets in 1953, 

ing to Hugh M. Seville jr., director 

search and planning of the National 

casting Co. A total of 33,500,000 sets h 

predicted for 1955, he said. 

8 BOXOFFICE January

I theatres 

$30 Million 

8iK, Majors 

00 antitrust suit 

Balaban & Katz 

lies by one of Chi- 

Essaness Theatres 

ne of the biggest 

de against the film 

r affiliated circuit 

and the largest of 

• been started in 

Lson Park Theatre 

in the immediate 

^saness suit is an 

and the majors 

circuit of A prodan, 

attorney for 

had taken several 

isitions to support 

scheduled to come 

. Campbell of fed- 

in the 

the Loop's Woods 

Latz has approxi- 

C'hicago. 

oduction 

ead at 66 

Daniel J. 

Lord, S.J., 

1 Code for the mo- 

1929. died Saturday 

a year. He was 66 

lad been a frequent 

es dealing with reg 

"King of Kings," 

e which has guided 

iducers for 25 years, 

ther Lord developed 

ntertainment world, 

on Chicago's South 

rs old. but his plans 

e were halted when 

?nior. It was then 

influence of Claude 

ers at St. Ignatius 

to enter the priestlit 

school here and 

most all of his life, 

shed what he called 

ure Attendance," In 

for avoiding annoyo 

go to movie theafilm. 

Tax Ruling 

fheatres 

imount Gulf Thet 

in the Mississippi 

! discrimination in 

won a finding that 

; Mississippi legislainatory. 

e legislature was a 

.11 theatres operated 

for chains of ten 

ly 5 per cent tax. 

;s. having been adorder, 

brought suit 

; the discrimination 

ionable and in vio- 

3f the 14th amendof 

the U. S. 

Allied Gives Priority 

To Toll TV Discussion 

ST. LOUIS—One of the most important 

industry problems to come up for discussion 

at the second annual drive-in convention of 

National Allied at the Chase Hotel here February 

8-10 will be toll television. 

"Toll TV," said A. B. "Jeff" Jefferis, general 

convention chairman, who operates the 

Jefferis Theatre and the Pine Hill Drive-In 

at Piedmont, Mo., and is president of Midcentral 

Allied Independent Theatre Owners, 

"represents the greatest threat that has ever 

faced the motion picture exhibitor in the history 

of the business. It is regrettable that 

very little interest has been shown among 

the exhibitors as a whole about this hazard 

that may well put them out of business, but 

this seeming lack of interest probably stems 

from lack of information and study of the 

subject. 

CALLS IT CRITICAL SITUATION 

"It behooves every exhibitor to exert the 

same effort to fight this critical situation 

as he did when he made the struggle for the 

elimination of the federal admission taxes." 

A report on toll TV will be made Tuesday 

at the opening of the convention by Trueman 

T. Rembusch of Indiana, past president of 

National Allied and a member of its board 

of directors and caravan committee. He has 

made a very thorough study of toll TV and 

has appeared numerous times in many capacities 

befoi-e the FCC. 

Several thousand drive-in theatre owners 

throughout the country were requested by 

Jefferis to mail in to him the problems they 

would like to have discussed at the convention. 

The program provides for a film clinic the 

afternoon of February 8. Tlie mornings are 

to be kept open for guided tours of the exhibits 

that will be a distinct feature of the 

drive-in gathering. The booths will be on 

the first floor adjacent to the Chase Club 

and the Lido Club. 

"These replies of the drive-in theatre owners," 

Jefferis said, "will be the guiding factor 

in the final arrangements of the program for 

the three-day gathering, and will enable us 

to select the proper speakers and moderators 

to handle the problems that are pertinent 

to the owners of the outdoor theatres. This, 

of course, will assure the utmast interest 

in the program from start to finish." 

TO HOLD FILM CLINICS 

As indicated there will be the film clinics, 

which have become a very important part of 

everj- convention staged by the National 

Allied. The clinics w-ill be divided into two 

groups, one for the owners of small drive-in 

theatres and the other for larger situations. 

Special stress will be laid on the operation 

of drive-in concessions and the vending of 

merchandise. Other discussions planned include 

promotion and publicity, exploitation 

and advertising; playgrounds, then- equipment, 

supervision and location: service to 

facilitate the movement of traffic into and 

out of the drive-in, and any other subject 

that may be suggested by those attending. 

Every available space in the exhibition 

halls will be utilized to house the large equipment 

show and trade exposition. A number 

of new products for use by drive-in theatres 

will be on di.splay. Jefferis pointed out. He 

said the di.splays will include everything from 

fireworks to ferrLs wheels. In fact, a very 

interesting display will be a Miracle Whirl 

ferrLs wheel, 16 feet high, on the outside of 

the Chase Hotel, near the swimming pool. 

It is planned to make this ferris wheel available 

for free rides to children from the 

Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children and 

the Children's Hospital. 

Directors of National Allied will meet Monday 

(7 1, the day before the drive-in convention 

gets under way. Jefferis and his wife 

Maud have w'orked out a program for the 

women, including a party with some .^-urprise 

features, a brunch, luncheons and tours of 

the interesting parts of St. Louis. 

Predicts Arbitration 

Ready by September 

NEW YORK—A prediction that the industry's 

arbitration system would be in operation 

about September was made by Al Lichtman. 

director of sales for 20th Century-Fox, 

at a special press conference Friday 1 21) 

. He 

said the committee drafting the arbitration 

plan was to work over the weekend and 

would have the complete draft ready by early 

February. 

A date then will be set for the arbitration 

committee representing both distribution and 

exhibition, with a full dress industry conference 

to follow after the Department of Justice 

and court approve the draft. He made 

"the rough guess" that arbitration would be 

effective by September. 

He was loath to disclose details, but did 

say that the cost of operation has been 

estimated at about $150,000 a year, to be 

shared 50-50 by distribution and exhibition. 

Elsewhere it was learned that there would be 

a year's trial of the plan. 

Lichtman took up the matter of industry 

differences. He said any belief that there is 

a distinct cleavage in the industry is "downright 

stupid." He said Allied started "this 

thing" some time ago when its committee interviewed 

company executives here. He repeated 

a previous statement that arbitration 

should have priority over his proposal 

for an industry round table. 

He also pointed out that the Senate Small 

Busine.ss Committee favored arbitration and 

that the Committee had criticized Allied for 

having killed earlier negotiations. 

Branton and Martin Made 

Brotherhood Chairmen 

NEW YORK—G. Ralph Branton. Allied 

Artists vice-president, has become HoUyw'ood 

chairman of the Brotherhood drive for 1955 

and Edwin D. Martin, president of Martin 

Theatres, has become regional chairman for 

North and South Carolina and Florida, it 

has been reported by John H. Harris, national 

chairman of the amusements division of the 

National Conference. The week will be observed 

February 20-27 under the slogan of 

"One nation under God." 

!2. 1955 9

; 

'PuUc^caU 

Worldwide Exhibitor Unit 

Is Still a Possibility 

Alfred Starr, TOA executive, says he has 

checked idea with John Davis of Rank organization 

in Britain, but that progress is 

slow; Herman Levy, TOA counsel, to talk 

with European exhibitors this summer. 

• 

Complete National Theatres 

Divestiture During Week 

E. C. Rhoden, president, on eastern visit 

with F. H. Ricketson jr., vice-president, says 

last seven houses have been disposed of; 

reports no new move for government permission 

to finance production. 

• 

President Permits Filming 

Of His Press Conference 

Eiseniiower becomes first in office to yield 

to pleas of newsreels and television for 

coverage; press secretary checks reels before 

release: public sees on TV Wednesday (19); 

in theatres two days later. 

• 

Walter Futter Organizes 

British Vidascope Co. 

Nat Miller heads fii-m that will handle 

his anamorphic lenses in United Kingdom, 

where 350 already have been installed; reports 

3.000 installations in U. S.; now delivering 

in South America and Australia. 

• 

Film Censors of Six States 

Planning Future Course 

Representatives from New York, Ohio, 

Kansas, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Vu-ginia 

gather at Richmond at invitation of Mrs. 

L. C. Whitehead, Virginia censor. 

• 

Memphis Censor Board 

Bans 'Black Tuesday' 

United Artists picture, starring Edward G. 

Robinson, not liked by Chairman Lloyd T. 

Binford, who said, "it is the rawest thing 

I've ever seen." 

• 

Tri-Dim 3-D System Ready 

To Start Production 

Robert Gump, chairman, and Bradley 

Schaeffer, counsel, announced thi.s week that 

the company is to be incorporated within 30 

days; system does not require glasses. 

• 

Howard M. Feigley. 67. Dies; 

Veteran Toledo Exhibitor 

Known as dean of Toledo theatre owners, 

suffered a heart attack; was manager of 

the Rivoli Theatre for 33 years; also managed 

the adjoining Palace and was supervising 

manager of the Pantheon. 

• 

Republic in Tu Manchu' 

TV, Radio Picture Deal 

Company closes S4,000,000 contract with 

Sax Rohmer. author, for rights; production 

of 78 half-hour TV shows will start in two 

months; three film features planned for international 

release. 

loe^'s Inc., 

7954 Nei 

Increased 50 Per Cent 

NEW YORK—Loew's, Inc., 50th anniversary 

report, including theatre subsidiaries, shows 

a net profit of $6,577,311 for the fiscal year 

ended Aug. 31, 1954, an increase of $2,196,707 

(50 per cent) over the $4,380,603 reported for 

the 1953 fiscal year. The 1954 net was equivalent 

to $1.28 per share on the common, compared 

with 85 cents per share for the preceding 

year. 

An interim financial statement sent to 

stockholders with the annual report shows 

that for 12 weeks ended Nov. 25, 1954, the 

net of Loew's and all subsidiaries amounted 

to $1,521,349 after all taxes and charges subject 

to year-end adjustment. This is equivalent 

to 30 cents per share, compared with 

$1,133,893, or 22 cents per share, for the 

same period of the preceding year. 

Profit before taxes for the 1954 fiscal year 

was $12,643,840, compared with $6,435,504 in 

the previous year. Operating revenues were 

$183,142,486, compared with $177,558,874 in 

I he previous year. 

The August 31 balance sheet showed an increase 

of $13,354,123 in cash and government 

securities compared with a year earlier. Inventories 

were $66,043,465, compared with 

$79,728,467. Tlie company's funded debt was 

Columbia in Two-Day Meet 

On 'Gray Line' Promotion 

NEW YORK—Columbia home office executives 

and division managers, with General 

Sales Manager A. Montague presiding, started 

a two-day meeting Thursday (20) at the 

Savoy Plaza Hotel for the purpose of discussing 

promotion and sales plans for "The 

Long Gray Line." 

The Fi'iday session was devoted to a presentation 

of the advei-tising and publicity plans 

by Paul N. Lazarus jr.. vice-president. The 

film will open at RKO Keith's and at the 

Capitol, New York, February 10. 

Home office executives, in addition to 

Montague and Lazarus, who attended were; 

Rube Jackter, assistant general sales manager; 

Louis Aster, George Josephs and Vincent Borelii, sales 

executives; Maurice Grad, short subject sales manager; 

Howard LeSieur, director of advertising, publicity 

and exploitotion; Joseph Freiberg, monager of 

sales accounting; Seth Roisler, manager of the contract 

department; William (joodman, assistant to 

Astor; Daniel Rothenberg, assistant to Borelii, and 

Nat Goldblatt, assistant to Freiberg. 

The delegation from the field included 

Not Cohn, New York; Sam Galanty, mideast; Carl 

Shalit, central; Ben Marcus, midwest; I. H. Rogovin, 

New England; Jack Underwood, southwest; R. K. 

Ingram, southeast; L. E. Tillman, northwest; Woyne 

Ball, Southern California and Rocky mountains, oil 

division managers, and Ben Lourie, Chicago branch 

manager, and Harvey Hornick, Canadian sales manager. 

United Artists Theatres 

To Pay Off Bank Loans 

NEW YORK—United Artists Theatre circuit 

will issue 400,121 shares of common stock 

to pay off loans of $5,200,000 made to Todd- 

AO to get the new process under way. If the 

stock is issued at $17 or $18 as expected it 

will use the leftover funds for corporate purposes. 

reduced by $2,710,000 and a current ba 

of $4,500,000 was paid off. 

Thirteen pictures are completed oi 

final stages of editing. 

A note to the financial statemen 

that Louis B. Mayej- received S2.60i 

satisfaction and cancellation of his 

rights and all obligations under his 

nated employment contract less ap 

adjusted tax saving of $1,404,000 whii 

be amortized over a five-year period 

with the 1956 fiscal year. 

Another note states that tlie emp, 

of J. Robert Rubin, former vice-presid 

counsel, was terminated August 31. 

entitled to receive 5.1 per cent of 

distribution profits from further dist 

after the termination, of the pictur 

duced from April 7, 1924, to the date ol 

nation of employment, and 5.1 per 

the value of any stories of such pictu; 

duced from April 7, 1924, and ir 

Dec. 31, 1938, which might be re-used 

after termination of his employmen 

sequent to Aug. 31, 1954, the compa: 

Rubin $1,200,000 in satisfaction and c; 

tion of all obligations of the com; 

make these residual payments in futui 

Court Grants Two-Yea: 

Extension to Loew's 

NEW YORK—Loew's, Inc., has been 

a two-year extension to Feb. 6, 1957, 

tribution of stock in the new theati 

pany organized as a result of the 

decree. The purpose is to permit th 

pany to work out a division of the i 

refinancing, between the distribution a 

atre companies. 

The extension was granted by U. S 

Henry W. Goddard after the compa 

stated that it could not work out a 

at present and get financing subst 

similar to that now in effect. If a ni 

is evolved in less than two years, it 

put into effect. 

Johnston Ready to Lea' 

On Near Eastern Missic 

NEW YORK~Enc Johnston, 

presii 

the Motion Picture Ass'n of America, is 

uled to fly Sunday (23) to the Near 

: 

special ambassador of President Eise 

in connection with power development 

Jordan River valley. 

Johnston planned to go fh'st to Isri 

then visit the Ai'ab countries. He 

away about a month, returning in I 

attend the February 28-March 3 Intercan 

Conference at New Orleans. 

Dr. Goldsmith Re-Elect« 

NEW YORK—Dr. Alfred N. Goldsn: 

been re-elected board chairman of tJ 

tional Film Council. The organizati( 

meet February 24 at the Dehnonico H 

install 

officers. 

10 BOXOFFICE :: January-

I 

Left) 

M's ir'r^'A 

f*; 

ION 

URE 

\TRE 

N AT THE MOVIES'." 

50 

ORK 

rHER! 

Ime of the year to 

box-office. It's as 

v'e can both make 

advantage of the 

with a dynamic 

ort. With M-G-M's 

PICTURE THEATRE 

ou will 

IS 

have great 

to tie-in with your 

convince the public 

ORE FUN AT THE 

how to 

do it! 

How To Put On A 

Theatre Celebration 

In Your City! 

With banners flying, colorful lobby 

displays, arresting Special Trailer, 

editorials and "salutes" — with doublebarrelled 

showmanship, M-G-M's 1955 

Motion Picture Theatre Celebration will 

spark the movie-goers of your town. A 

Celebration can be staged individually 

or in cooperation with other theatres. 

, "' possible in, ProvKje t 

, 

Hty.- ' ^"

SEE "WARD MARSH STORY" 

In the press book is a story of the histi 

movies in Cleveland. This is a good e: 

how a local history of the movies, stai 

the very first film theatre, can be made 

esting newspaper feature in your tow 

every place has a comparable local sto 

FREE ACCESSORIES! 

1. FREE KITS 

Containing 1-sheet, over- the-wircst reamer, stickers, 

buttons, "How To Sell" booklet, press book and 

other items. 

2. SPECIAL TRAILER 

M-G-M Stars pay tribute to your theatre. Scenes 

from many pictures. 

3. COLORFUL 40 X 60 POSTER 

Eye-catcher for your lobby. 

4. RADIO PLATTER 

15 minutes running time. Comprising highlight 

commentary on the "Celebration." 

5. FREE 24-SHEETS 

Center display is a "Celebration" announcement. 

Nine titles are spread around it in simulated 

marquee effects. 

6. PRESS BOOK 

Ads, publicity and exploitation suggestions. 

7. "HOW TO SELL" BOOKLET 

Handy pocket-.size compendium of promotions 

for "Celebration." 

8. GIANT 40 X 80 LOBBY STANDEE 

For first run theatres in larger cities. 

EASY TO GET A "SPONSOR" 

IT'S 

You will find it easy to get your Chamber of 

Commerce, Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions or other 

civic organization to propose the "Salute" and 

assume leadership and sponsorship for this 

tribute to the local movie theatre. 

NEWSPAPER, TV, RADIO COVERAGE 

Having arranged for your "sponsor," provide 

news story for the press, TV, radio, etc. (Sample 

story in Press Book). 

GET THE PRESS BOOK 

Ask yom- M-G-M Branch for the Celebration 

Press Book and the handy pocket-size "How To 

Sell" Booklet. Read them carefully. Everything 

is covered in detail in them. 

LUNCHEONS TO HONOR THEATRES 

The regular luncheons of your civic clubs can be 

turned into "Salute" affairs honoring exhibitors. 

(Speech data in Press Book). 

MAKE UP SPECIAL MATERIAL 

While M-G-M is providing complel 

accessories, many exhibitors will w: 

special locally produced items— special 

trailer, window and pole cards, etc. ( 

Book for copy suggestions). 

OPENING NIGHT CEREMONIE 

Plan a gala occasion with lights, lo 

special guests. 

NEWSPAPER COOPERATION 

Seek editorial comment based on C( 

angle. Contact advertising manager t 

cooperative page with stores under a C 

headline. This would include display ( 

and coming attractions. 

SCHOOL TIE-UPS 

Because of community importance, j 

from high school publications; arrange ; 

radio or TV for general movie discussior 

on Celebration attractions. Request c( 

of teachers, use of bulletin boards; t 

important local sports events where a 

score-card or leaflets may be used. 

LOBBY IDEAS 

Make up lobby panel with star heads 

tion: "Send Your Greetings To The S 

Here and Share in M-G-M's 1955 Moti( 

Theatre Celebration." List your pi 

extra side panel and indicate that sign; 

be sent to studio. 

DRESS UP FRONT 

Give theatre festive air by "flying" 

pennants up from marquee. Give your 

gay, inviting appearance for your C( 

MERCHANDISING OPPORTUNI 

January White Sales. February Furnit 

Washington's Birthday, Lincoln's Bill 

Patrick's Day, Easter— all of these oc( 

the period of M-G-M's Celebration. T 

them for store events, windows, co-op

"JUPITER S DARLING" (IT THE DECK 

so many spectacular pre-sell- 

>lebration pictures nationally 

lewspapers, radio, TV. 

ballyhoos below. These prony 

places as possible. Their 

•y box-office in the nation. 

ig" — Big Washington's 

Lion will have elephant 

fie ad campaign. Full 

mday Supplements i99 

lip!; Pictorial Review, 

y. This Week, Parade, 

lumn in national magane 

ads. Ksther Williams 

Sullivan's "Toast of the 

Murrow's "Person To 

^- -^'-. M-G-M's 1955 MOTION PICTURE 

"fZ^ ' 

THEATRE CELEBRATION 

rWi^^SiJ-J.-S^'.-.,. r/joe* ,um ji,u .,i the oMusr 

'INTERRUPTED MELODV 

"THE GLASS SLIPPER" 

9 

Slipper" and the Cinder- 

llmrnufo lor no nmiiy ymni nuii n 

iiermd'Upuii iiiwwer in 

Itroiuw fur > nuiiiy ytnn ll 

»i(lrH ihff nuaii.«iiiilyl.iiiKh 

wlici> lltry ivnlnl lo, 

.FORWARD 

Ucctiuw lliry luivr uiuctfulily niaili' 

(Iimiim-Iv •iii-n. of (nninmiiily nclivily for 

graveling (iun Collection 

s To Cro.ss." Taylor in 

jllivan's "Toast of the 

\Vt3\aK "u\^^^t"y (iml'd'hulniu'urii rîrr lif.-. M-CM »1ir«> ll 

Willi a cnln olTrfinK tA loine ne* aiul iin|K>rlunl tiulion iiicluns. 

Now. MOHLTIIAS hVKIl. YWU J-L VlKU- TIIERr-i iUIKK mS AT TIIK U< 

i-M make-up expert to 

pted Melody." 

jel of fortune and girls 

ml." 

ial kid shows in conjuncdays 

or a special Saturday 

tores pay for the tickets; 

.ted. 

lALUTE 

angle you can approach 

) promote the Celebration 

s a musical, and there are 

M's Celebration releases, 

le. Other suggestions in 

M-G-M's Gala Cele- 

POST Advertising 

bration to the millions, the full-page, 

full-color ad above will appear in 

The Saturday Evening Post, Feb. 19th with 20 

million 

readership. Just part of M-G-M's constant 

"Celebration" advertising including 

M-G-M's Column in national magazines (readership 

93 million!). See box (top left) 

'Let's 

Celebrate 

Together!" 

\ \ 

for more. 

ith M-G-M's Celebration 

record stores, windows, 

36, playdate information. 

PRESS BOOK 

i the surface. The Press 

Fo Sell" booklet contain 

s, plus ads and publicity 

'Salute" campaign and

' 

A WEALTH OF PRODI 

FOR EVERY THEATR 

Ask your M-G-M Branch! Start Your Ce/efc 

M-G-M's CELEBRATION RELEASES! 

"BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK" (January) 

Cinemascope -Color} starring Spencer Tracy • I|pbert 

I 

Ryan • co-starring Anne Francis 

• Dean Jagger • Walter 

Brennan • • 

John Ericson Ernest Borgnine • Lee Marvin 

Russell Collins 

"HIT THE DECK" (Marc/,) 

' 

"GREEN FIRE" {January) 

"INTERRUPTED MELODY 

{CinemaScope-Color)- starring Stewart Granger- Grace 

Kelly Paul Douglas • • co-starring John Ericson • with 

Murvyn Vye 

' 

"MANY RIVERS TO CROSS (fehruary) 

{Cinemascope -Color) • starring Robert Taylor Eleanor 

• 

Parker • with Victor McLaglen 

• Russ Tamblyn • Jeff 

• 

Richards James Arness 

"JUPITER'S DARLING" (February) 

• 

(CinemaScope-Color) starring Esther Williams- Howard 

Keel Marge and Gower Champion - • George Sanders 

with Richard Haydn William Demarest • 

"THE PRODIGAL"fDofe fo be Announced) . 

Edmund Purdom 

Walter Hampden Taina Elg • 

(CinemaScope — Color) . starring Jane Powell . 

Martin. Debbie Reynolds. Walter Pidgeon .Vic D; 

Gene Raymond . Ann Miller . Russ Tamblyn . witl 

Armen .J. Carrol Naish .Richard Anderson .Jane D 

(MarcM 

(CinemaScope— Color) • starring Glenn Ford . E 

Parker . with Roger Moore . Cecil Kellaway 

"THE GLASS SLIPPER" {April) 

(Color) • starring Leslie Caron . Michael Wilding 

Keenan Wynn . Estelle Winwood . Elsa Lane 

Barry Jones 

"BEDEVILLED" {April) 

(CinemaScope— Colon . starring Anne Baxter . 

Forrest • with Simone Renant . Maurice 1 

Robert Christopher . Joseph Tomelty and Victor Fi 

iCinemaScope-Color) .starring Lana Turner 

Audrey Dalton - James Mitchell • NeviUe Brand 

• Louis Calliern 

- with 

- Francis L. Sullivan • Joseph Wiseman • Sandra Descher 

AND THESE CURRENT PRODUCTIONS! 

"BETRAYED" (Co/or. 

starring Clark Gable . Lana Turner . Victor Mature . co-starring 

Louis Calhern 

"ROGUE COP" 

starring Robert Taylor 

Steve Forrest . Anne Francis 

"RR\G ADOOW\CinemaScope— Color) 

. Janet Leigh . George Raft • co-starring 

starring Gene Kelly • Van Johnson . Cyd Charisse . with Elaine 

Stewart . Barry Jones . Albert Sharpe 

"THE LAST TIME I SAW PARIS" (Technicolor) 

starring Elizabeth Taylor . Van Johnson . Walter Pidgeon 

Donna Reed . with Eva Gabor . Kurt Kasznar 

"BEAU BRUMMELL" (Color) 

starring Stewart Granger • Elizabeth Taylor • Peter Ustinov 

with Robert Morley 

"ATHENA", Co/or. 

starring Jane Powell • Edmund Purdom . Debbie Reynolc 

Damone • Louis Calhern . with Linda Christian . Evelyn 

Ray Collins 

"CREST OF THE WAVE" 

starring Gene Kelly • with John Justin 

Richards 

"DEEP IN 

MY HEART" (0,/ori 

Bernard Lee 

starring Jose Ferrer . Merle Oberon . Helen Traubel . am 

Stars: Walter Pidgeon . Paul Henreid . Rosemary ( 

Gene & Fred Kelly . Jane Powell • Vic Damone . Anr 

Cyd Charisse . Howard Keel . Tony Martin with Doe 

Tamara Toumanova . Paul Stewart Isobel Elsom • 

Olvis . James Mitchell 

AND THESE BIG FUTURE M-G-M ATTRACTIONS 

"MOONFLEET" (CmemaScope-Color) 

starring Stewart Granger George Sanders . Joan Greenwood 

Viveca Lindfors • with Jon Whiteley . Melville Cooper 

"IT'S ALWAYS FAIR WEATHER" (CmemaScope-Co/or) 

starring Gene Kelly • Dan Dailey • Cyd Charisse • Dolores Gray 

Michael Kidd 

"BLACKBOARD JUNGLE" starring Glenn Ford • Anne 

Francis • Louis Calhern • Margaret Hayes 

"THE KING'S THIEF" iCuwmoScope-Color) 

starring Ann Blyth . Edmund Purdom . David Niven . George 

Sanders • with Roger Moore 

"THE SCARLET COAT" ^CinemaScopc-Color) 

starring Cornel Wilde . Michael Wilding . George Sanders 

Francis . with Robert Douglas . John Mclntire • and 

DriscoU 

"THE MARAUDERS" (Color) 

starring Dan Duryea • Jeff Richards . Keenan Wynn . 

Lewis 

"LOVE ME OR LEAVE tAF\CincmaScope-Color) 

starring Doris Day • James Cagney . Cameron Mitchell 

Robert Keith • Tom TuUy . Harry Bellaver 

! 

»,.. < 

4^ ^ 

J^?\^'^ 

#*^^\ 

-1Â-**\'J-, 

Ure s/

, New 

; Walter 

. Frankfort, 

: Ernest 

jsTOA 

ir'55 

— 

» committees for 

a have been named 

it. Two new comand 

insurance 

the November conive 

been named for 

g information and 

it branches of exlen 

named to head 

1 work closely with 

lents are as follows: 

jership—George G. 

L. Morris, 

Portland, Ore. 

Des Moines: Elmer 

iski, Boston: Pat 

Fabian, New York: 

Julian 

Brylawski, 

ilation—Robert E. 

I 

Kincey, 

Charlotte, 

o. 

Braunagel. 

on, Atlanta, 

Little 

•r, Nashville: R. B. 

ie.s—Henry 

R. Kennedy. Chi- 

York: Abe 

Anderin, 

Brooklyn: B. S. 

accessories—Joseph 

1 E. Pope, Kansas 

-.St, N. J. 

Keller, 

Paducah, 

tlanta. 

Ky.: 

G. Stel- 

-Herman 

M. Levy, 

e Supply 

3ting 

jns for 1955 were 

5S meeting January 

; Supply salesmen 

jresident and cen- 

•esided. Important 

William E. Green, 

3: Buffalo—V. G. 

r. R. George: Cinager: 

E. C. Novak, 

?. A. Barthel and 

-F. J. Masek, man- 

R. P. miman: Denager. 

and E. P. 

N. Peterson, manand 

J. W. Aspley: 

Tis, manager, and 

cGuire and C. C. 

rV Unit 

Vanger has joined 

., as a consultant 

of directors. 

Stanley Warner Earnings 

Doubled First Quarter 

WILMINGTON, DEL.— S. 

H. Fabian, president 

of Stanley Warner Corp.. told stockholders 

at their annual meeting last week that 

the profit for the first quarter of the current 

fiscal year was more than double that 

for the same period of the previous year. 

Tlie net after all charges was $1,110,100. 

equivalent to 50 cents per share on the 2,212,- 

900 shares of common outstanding after deducting 

the stock held in the treasury. This 

compares with a net of $523,100 for the 

corresponding quarter of 1953, which was 

equivalent to 21 cents per .share on the common 

then outstanding. 

The gross income for the first quarter was 

$23,320,400. For the previous first quarter the 

gross was $13,794,100. The figures for the 

quarter ending Nov. 27. 1954, included the 

operations of the International Latex Corp. 

This company was acquired April 30, 1954. 

Fabian said Stanley Warner had completed 

its theatre divestiture progxam. 

The Stanley Warner Corp. board of directors 

Monday (17) voted a dividend of 25 

cents a share on the common stock, payable 

February 25 to stockholders of record February 

4. 

Immediately after the opening of "Cinerama 

Holiday" at the Warner Theatre, New York, 

Fabian said, similar openings will take place 

in Detroit, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and St. 

Louis. 

Openings in Tokyo, Syria and Bangkok of 

"This Is have been so Cinerama" successful, 

Fabian said, that it is evident the Cinerama 

era had been started. 

A total of 1,833,853 shares, or approximately 

84 per cent of the common stock, was represented 

at the meeting either in person or by 

proxy. The amendment to the certificate of 

incorporation providing for two classes of directors, 

each class of which is elected for two 

years, with the terms of each class expiring 

JOINS REPUBLIC—Edmund C. Grahiger 

(left), new sales manager in charge 

of circuit operations for Republic Pictures, 

chats with Richard W. Altschuler, 

vice-president and director of worldwide 

sales. Grainger was recently affiliated 

with KKO Theatres in charge of film 

buying and hooking. Before that he was 

president of Shea Enterprises and for 

many years was eastern sales manager for 

20th Century-Fox. 

on alternate years, was approved by 1,702,512 

shares against 13,674. 

Fabian, Samuel Rosen and David Baii'd 

were re-elected as directors for a period of 

two years. 

All officers of the Stanley Warner Corp. 

were re-elected by the board of directors at 

a meeting held Monday (17). They are: 

President, Simon H. Fabian: executive vicepresident, 

Samuel Rosen: chairman of the 

finance committee. David G. Baird: vicepresident 

and general manager. Harry M. 

Kalmine: vice-president. Nathaniel Lapkin: 

vice-president and treasurer. W. Stewart Mc- 

Donald: secretary. David Fogelson: controller. 

Frank J. Kiernan: assistant treasurer, James 

M. Brennan: assistant secretary. Miles H. 

Alben. 

End of Ohio Censorship 

Saves $20,000 Monthly 

COLUMBUS—Cessation of censorship in 

Ohio is saving the film indu.stry $20,000 per 

month in censor fees, declared Robert Wile, 

secretary of the Independent Theatre Owners 

of Ohio, in a letter addressed to all film company 

heads. 

Wile's statement came on the heels of an 

announcement by Dr. Clyde K. Miller, head 

of the state's division of audio-visual education, 

that he will seek an appropriation from 

the legislature in order to continue the work 

of the division, curtailed by lack of funds. 

The division has been supported by fees 

received by the censorship of films. Miller 

said his department has received no funds 

since December 6 and that a reserve fund 

will be exhausted by April 1. "If we don't 

get an emergency appropriation, we're out 

of business," said Miller. 

Wile said that Miller's request for an appropriation 

from the state's general fund 

should be granted. "However," added Wile, 

"there is no reason why the film industry 

.should be taxed to support the department." 

Wile, in his letter to film company presidents, 

said that in the last fiscal year $240,000 

was collected in censor fees. "While it is 

difficult to forecast what a legislature will 

do," he added, "I think it is safe to say that 

at the very worst, even if a new censorship 

bill should be passed, that the fees will be cut 

by $200,000 per year. When the committee 

hearings on new censorship bills start, your 

cooperation will be sought to obtain the very 

best witnesses to testify. We will appreciate 

your help." 

Wide Screen Forcing 

Remake of Trailers 

CHICAGO—Cinemascope and wide screens 

have caused an upheaval in the trailer making 

business, says Irving Mack, head of 

Filmack Trailer Co. All the libraries of stock 

institutional trailers are on standard film 

for the standard screen ratio. 

Thousands of these are now being remade 

for giant screens. Filmack is reshooting its 

entire stock of institutional trailers. In the 

future, he says, all trailers will be available 

in both standard and wide-screen ratios. 

1955 15

— 

400 Honor Schmerl 

At Cleveland Even 

CLEVELAND—More than 400 

me 

all branches of the industry froa 

SIGNS LONG-TERM PACT WITH WARNERS—Elia Kazan has signed a longterm 

contract to produce and direct a series of important productions for Warner Bros, 

for whom he has just completed direction of "East of Eden." Kazan is second from 

left. Warner Bros, executives in the photograph are (1. to r.) : Ben Kalmenson, vicepresident 

in charge of distribution; Jacli L. Warner, executive producer, and Mort 

Blumenstocl

D NEWS ABOUT 

-Ms BAD DAY AT 

:K ROCKl 

PRESS-TIME FLASH! 

NIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE" FIRST 

s[ KINGSTON, N.Y.! 

• 

/EN BRIDES" FIRST 2 

DAYS IN EL PASO, 

fERRIFIC FIRST 4 DAYS, SECOND ONLY 

AMBO"! 

• 

TOPS "SEVEN BRIDES" AND ALL THE 

ORTH GREAT! 

"LONG, LONG TRAILER"! 

AZINE IS 

SAN ANTONIO TOPS 

• 

RIGHT: "Starts M-G-M off on the New 

:s best footage forward. Spencer Tracy at his best." 

^ iti (."int-miiScope SI'KNCEK TRACY 

• ROBKKT HYAN in "BAD DAY AT BLACK 

-mn Aniif FnuiL-is • D«an JaggiT 

• WalUT BriTnian Jolin Krioson • Ernest Borgnine • Lee 

I t'olliris S(Teen Play by Millard Kaufman Adaptation • • l)y Don McC.uire • Based on a Story 

Hn • Photographed in Eastman (ôlor • Directed by John Sturges • Produced by Dore Schary

'«b' \^l\l 9 fXVXirf fflL r ILbL^> 

Art House Fare Winning 

Audiences in Miami 

Non-Pro As Well As Commercial Theatres Draw 

By KITTY HARWOOD 

MIAMI—A growing awareness that there 

is a very definite market here for the "art" 

or "special interest" film is being evidenced 

by a trend in a number 

of local theatres. 

Wometco has pioneered 

this field for 

about six years, main- 

/if^^^B""*"" ^^ taining the Mayfair 

Art Theatre and continuing 

an "art" policy 

nearly exclusively. 

Claughton, at the 

present time, is doing 

experimenting 

some 

with this medium. 

Shortage of good 

Walter Klements Hollywood product and 

extremely high film rental is given as one of 

the reasons that has set the cii'cuit thinking 

along these lines. 

Florida State Theatres have devoted most 

of their efforts so far to the Coral Theatre, 

booking their art films there because of the 

type of patron this particular theatre draws, 

and also because of its location near the 

University of Mianu. 

The Roosevelt Theatre in Miami Beach, 

now under independent management, after 

trying out all sorts of Hollywood pictures and 

failing to score at the boxoffice, began an 

art policy and so far is doing a remarkably 

good business. 

The Milenoff Ballet Theatre in Coral 

Gables presents about 12 evenings of art 

pictures from January to the middle of June. 

"The Film Society," a group of members 

of the University of Miami's Lowe Gallery. 

has a limited membership and shows films 

"outstanding in movie history," including 

foreign made films. 

Claughton has just concluded at a downtown 

house a successful run of "Sensualita," 

an Italian film, and this has been followed 

with "Caesar and Cleopatra," a J. Arthur 

Rank production. Other foreign-made films 

have been booked into other of the circuit's 

houses. Just which theatre will be selected 

for the regular showing of such pictures will 

be decided after experiment, says Don Tilzer, 

Claughton publicist. "We feel we must learn 

MILENOFF CONCERT

; to 

cture was a great 

itably stayed much 

jer Martin Caplan 

in not holding it 

was moved in, and 

leen doing capacity 

Vliracle in Milan" 

lays, "we are drawneighborhoods 

and 

lialeah and Miami 

i the difference in 

ni picture drew an 

ixicab trade. People 

e lobby which they 

jd "never seen beir 

has drawn from 

many who never 

atre in their lives 

AGO 

knows more about 

m anyone here (or 

;er) is Walter A. 

;iously called "Art" 

Mayfair Art Theits 

present policy, 

metco organization 

mt urbane gentler 

the years a clien- 

Vlayfair even from 

.dly gives the beneothers 

interested, 

great wish to see 

le set up where art 

lear certain infors. 

preferably with 

distributor. Somefilms, 

their subject 

!d. availability, cost 

Duld be exchanged 

ncerned. Ideas, to. 

it. Klements thinks, 

s exchange of ideas 

11 down promotion 

business. He sends 

various civic orreads: 

"E>ear Club 

!ased to have your 

1 make an appointee 

as I have a plan 

for clubs and orrk." 

bring the desired 

les his plan, which 

iking to run a cerlength 

of time, given 

a week or more 

age of the admisthe 

club. Perrn 

would be 50 per 

s. a less percentage 

ays has suggestion 

n the lobby and he 

re" of his audience, 

'rench. Greek. Ital- 

Chinese. Japanese. 

:otch films. What 

the regular Friday 

view. 

it costs him about 

pictures, including 

e carefully observes 

showing, noting realk 

out. grow restfrom 

his own obdecides 

whether or 

FAMOUS MOVIE mSTS 

OUTSTANEING FILM CLAOSICS 

Itiiel ot Bajhaaa 

Anna 

Cbrlstio 

Uorocco 

Bnderworlil 

Tliln 

Uan 

Big farade | 

MllWMKEt PUBUC MUSEUM 

"Sv'r^r-rrS-.vîi:: 

The Milwaukee Museum has a film 

service, which not only attracts large 

crowds to Museum movie performances 

(as publicized above) but last year had 

65.000 bookings by schools and organizations. 

That there is an audience for 

the special interest film is attested by the 

fact that the Museum has three trucks 

which operate full time to deliver pictures 

twice a week to schools, colleges 

and social centers in the city. 

not to book the picture. He does not by any 

manner of means always book the film after 

these screenings, but he gets back his investment 

in the added patronage the extra 

picture brings in. 

The Mayfair is always available for various 

civic and club usages. The theatre is fortunate 

in having a very large inside lobby. 

Chairs and a TV set are handy, and small 

game tables with checkers set up are around 

one side. There is nearly always an art exhibit 

on the walls. A local art critic passes 

on exhibits before they are accepted, and 

thus the Mayfair is usually pubUcized in the 

art section of the Sunday newspapers. There 

have been about 150 exhibits shown, the 

average is one every two weeks. Aside from 

the advantage to the theatre, Klements is 

pleased with the knowledge that any number 

of capable artists have had a showing which 

otherwise they might not have achieved. 

For a very small fee covering costs, Klements 

will run off an afternoon (he opens 

evenings except Saturdays and Sundays) 

showing of some educational or special film 

for schools or other groups. 

A success that surprised him, as much as 

anybody, happened during the run of "Hamlet," 

first art film to play the Mayfair and 

booked for 35 days. Klements called on the 

head of the English department of the foremost 

Negro school, volunteering to put the 

picture in a Negro theatre for a children's 

matinee if a sufficient number of children 

could be assured at the required price of a 

dollar. The morning of the showing the 

school had three people doing nothing but 

smoothing out dollar bills that had been 

crumpled in childish fingers. T\vo thousand 

children had to be stuffed somehow into 

the theatre, and the waiting line was so 

long that Klements had to get a parade 

permit from the city and a police escort. 

Children sat tw'o in a .seat and crowded 

the aisles. Anyone who did not wish to be 

crowded was offered his money back, but 

none took advantage of the offer. 

Seeing the interest, the same theatre 

made an attempt to show the picture at a 

regular performance, but the attempt was 

a failure. Klements cites this as one example 

of how the theatre manager must 

pick his own audience when he attempts 

to show art pictures. 

IDEAL LOCATION FOR THEATRE 

Location of the Mayfair, away from the 

business section, is ideal for the showing of 

foreign art films. Klements believes. It was 

a friend of Sidney Meyer, co-owner of 

Wometco, who first suggested that the 

Mayfair was ideally situated by size, appearance 

and location for becoming an art 

house. The theatre seats about 425. 

Klements never goes in for ballyhoo advertising, 

but keeps his as dignified as possible. 

The ad is the tip-off. he says. The 

Mayfair ads are alw-ays hand drawn. Occasionally 

films get a review, and Klements 

gets other mentions from time to time. 

The fact that he always wears a dinner 

jacket at night is good for a columnLst's 

line once in a while. Most often pointed 

out is the wording on the marquee, 

"Miami's Most Unique Theatre." They keep 

calling Klements down for his bad grammar 

which he wouldn't change for anything: 

it gets too many free plugs. 

Files at the Mayfair are stuffed with unsolicited 

letters from patrons. One from the 

president of the Musicians' Club of America 

commends Klements on the showing 

of "La Traviata," saying that such showings 

increase "the love and appreciation 

of fine music and fine drama." 

One patron took upon herself the task 

of writing to the principals of all M'ami 

schools, calling attention to the kmd of 

pictures which can be seen at this house. 

The letter went into detail, telling of the 

availability of matinee showings for school 

groups, and pointing out the asset such a 

theatre Ls to the community and particularly 

to young people who are thus given a 

chance to see and hear operas and other 

productions of the world's classics. 

CHANGED A PATRON'S OUTLOOK 

One man wrote in to say the Mayfair 

had changed his whole outlook on the 

movies, and he even found it a pleasure 

to wait In the lobby for a seat and be 

served coffee "by a charming young 

woman." 

A minister wrote to "express my appreciation 

for the exceptionally high class pictures 

at the Mayfair." Requests for various 

pictures are received. 

One of the nicest compliments Klements 

received was from a librarian who. having 

seen "Bolero" and heard excerpts from a 

poem read, took the trouble to type out 

the whole three-page poem by Countee Cullen 

and mall it In. Klements had some 

copies made and then ran a little slide on 

the screen to say that any who cared for 

a copy please leave word. 3.000 requests 

were received. 

'Sorcerer's Apprentice' for 20th-Fox 

HOLLYWOOD—"The Sorcerer's Apprentice." 

a musical short in Cinemascope, produced 

and directed in Germany by Michael 

Powell, has been secured for distribution by 

20th Century-Fox. A ballet taken from a 

poem by Goethe, it features members of the 

state opera of Hamburg. 

2. 1955 19

NOW FROM PARi 

THAT HAS EYERYTHII 

TOP STARS ... "Every performance a standout. Holden le 

conviction — March delivers sock portrayal — Grace Kelly is war 

sympathetic — Mickey Rooney enacts a smash performance. A 

tinguished piece of picture making." 

—VAR, 

FAMED STORY. . 

."Long awaited screen version of Micher 

best-selling novel indicates top-column popularity and pr 

All-out cooperation was extended by the Navy's air arm." 

—BOXOF 

HUMAN DRAMA . . ."Perlberg and Seaton are producing pictures 

new style. Following 'The Country Girl,* they have come up ^ 

another love story grounded in the actualities of human relatic 

-FILM D 

MAGNETIC TITLE . . ."Provocative title — four powerful na 

—terrific entertainment! A cinch to open big — and sell itsel 

it 

runs via praiseful comments of pleased audiences." 

-M. P. HEI 

STRONG SHOWMANSHIP. . ."strikes high level of showmanship 

assures hefty returns in all situations. Hard-hitting melodramatic 

rich in human emotions." 

—DAILY VAR 

THE BRIDO] 

tIAMES A- 

MICHElVERlS 

HOLDER 

starring 

^mWTLLIAJM 

KELL 

e^RACE 

With 

ROBERT STRAUSS • CHARLES McGRAW • KEIKO AWAJI • WILLIAM PER

-int nuiuKt 

! 

VERY BOXOFFICE 

U I . . . "Will have strong impact on audiences and 

boxoffice grosses. Excellent!" 

-SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 

ISHED PRODUCTION . . . «Just about perfect. All 

ice qualities a picture needs!" 

-HOLLYWOOD REPORTER 

)KO-RI 

>I1IC 

cc^lc^r by 

TECHIVICOLOR 

j^ têrlbery-Se€Mt€^wr 

mfilCKEY 

iCH 

• 

MARK ROBSON VALENTINE DAVIES • • From the Novel by James A. Mich, nor 

ROOIVEY 

Directed by 

Screenplay by

: 

MGM to Release Nine 

January Through April 

NEW YORK — During the first three 

months of the 1955 Motion F>icture Celebration 

MGM will release eight productions and 

will have a ninth scheduled for special handling. 

All except one are in Cinemascope and 

Eastman Color. 

Releases are to be coordinated with the 

current Ticket Selling Workshops and local 

newspaper advertising and promotion will be 

used to enable exhibitors to get the best 

results in connection with their efforts in 

behalf of the celebration. An elaborate pressbook 

has been sent out for their use. 

The release schedule follows: 

January 7— "Bad Day at Black Rock" 

(CinemaScope-Eastman Color) , a Dore Schary 

production, directed by John Sturges, with 

Spencer Tracy, Robert Ryan, Anne Francis, 

Dean Jagger, Walter Brennan, John Ericson, 

Ernest Borgnine, Lee Marvin, Russell 

Collins and Walter Sande. 

January 21— "Green Fire" (CinemaScope- 

Eastman Color) , 

produced by Armand Deutsch 

and directed by Andrew Marton, with Stewart 

Granger, Grace Kelly, Paul Douglas, John 

Ericson, Murvyn Vye, Jose Torvay and Robert 

Tafur. 

February 4— "Many Rivers to Cross" (CinemaScope-Eastman 

Color), prcxiuced by Jack 

Cummings and directed by Roy Rowland, with 

Robert Taylor, Eleanor Parker, Victor Mc- 

Laglen, Russ Tamblyn, Jeff Richards, James 

Arness, Alan Hale jr., John Hudson, Rhys 

Williams, Josephine Hutchinson, Sig Ruman, 

Rosemary DeCamp and Russell Johnson. 

February 18— "Jupiter's Darling" (Cinema- 

Scope-Eastman Color), produced by George 

WeUs and directed by George Sidney, with 

Esther Williams, Howard Keel, Marge and 

Gower Champion, George Sanders, Richard 

Haydn and William Demarest. 

March 4— "Hit the Deck" (CinemaScope- 

Eastman Color), produced by J(3e Pasternak 

and directed by Roy Rowland, with Jane 

Powell, Tony Martin, Debbie Reynolds, Walter 

Pidgeon, Vic Damone, Gene Raymond. Ann 

Miller, Russ Tamblyn, Kay Armen, J. Carrol 

Ellis. 

April 8— "Glass Slipper" (Eastman Color), 

produced by Edwin H. Knopf and directed by 

Charles Walters, with Leslie Caron, Michael 

Wilding, Keenan Wynn, Estelle Winwood, 

Elsa Lanchester, Barry Jones, Amanda Blake 

Naish, Richard Anderson and Jane Darwell. 

March 25— "Interrupted Melody" (Cinema- 

Scope-Eastman Color), produced by Jack 

Cummings and directed by Curtis Bernhardt, 

with Gleim Ford, Eleanor Parker, Roger 

Moore, Cecil Kellaway, Peter Leeds and Evelyn 

and the Ballet de Paris. 

April 22— "Bedevilled" (CinemaScope-Eastman 

Color), made in France and originally 

titled "Boulevard in Paris," produced by 

Henry Berman and directed by Mitchell Leisen, 

with Anne Baxter, Steve Forrest, Simone 

Renant, Maurice Teynac, Robert Christopher, 

Joseph Tomelty and Victor FYancen. 

Special handling is to be given "The 

Pi-odigal" (Cinemascope - Eastman Color), 

produced by Charles Schnee and directed by 

Richard Thorpe, with Lana Turner, Edmund 

Purdom, Louis Calhern, Audrey Dalton, 

James Mitchell, Neville Brand, Walter Hampden, 

Taina Elg, Frances L. Sullivan, Joseph 

Wiseman, Sandra Descher, Cecil Kellaway, 

John Debner, Henry Danniell and Philip 

Tonge. 

Radio Gains As Seller of Films, 

Says Universal Ad Executive 

OKLAHOMA CITY—^The increasing importance 

of radio as a selling agency for motion 

pictures was explained by Jeff Livingston, 

eastern advertising manager of Universal, 

to the partners and managers of Video 

Independent Theatres, Inc., at their annual 

meeting at the Skirvin Hotel Wednesday (19). 

His subject was "The Changing Patterns of 

Motion Picture Advertising and Publicity." 

Livingston advised the theatre operators 

not to overlook the importance of car radios, 

especially when planning their motion picture 

ad campaigns. He pointed to the importance 

of the disk jockey in the radio selling field 

for motion pictures and the large percentage 

of teenagers which comprised the radio 

listening audience. Universal's appraisal, he 

observed, was reflected in the fact that last 

year it spent 20 times as much money for 

cooperative radio advertising as it did in 

1950, year before television's impact was 

really felt. 

Emphasizing that Universal's advertising 

approach to the problem of getting people 

into the theatres is a constantly changing 

one, Livingston stated that the increase in 

national magazine circulation during the past 

year indicated that many people were turning 

to magazines when they ceased w'atching 

their television sets. With this in mind and 

having met with initial success in this field 

of advertising U-I had become the second 

largest user of national magazine advertising 

space during the past year. 

Although there wêre 32,000,000 TV sets in 

the United States as of December 1954, as 

against 26.500,000 sets in December 1953, business 

in the motion picture industry was generally 

better in 1954, Livingston pointed out. 

Livingston said that while it w-as true that 

the national economy had improved, during 

1954 the motion picture industry need not 

have derived its full .share of the increase 

or even the proportion that it did if it had 

not been able to win a lot of people away 

from their television and into the theatre 

through aggressive selling. He stressed that 

he did not believe that the millinery business 

showed any particular improvement and for 

that matter neither did the steel, or coal or 

the auto businesses show improvement. 

^^"S 

BOSTON—Funeral services were 

..1 

Maurice N. Wolf, 75, at Temple Sinai 

line, on January 20. A 

retired public relations 

representative for 

MGM, Wolf died at r 

Baker Memorial Hospital 

after a brief illness. 

Born in Texas, Wolf 

came to Boston 30 

years ago and was 

branch manager at 

MGM for many years. 

Later he was given the 

post of public relations 

Maurice N 

representative for the 

company. He traveled throughout tl 

try, addressiiig various civic groups 

ganizations on the motion picture 

A noted speaker, he had appeared a 

of ceremonies on several occasion 

he was always a delight with his c 

and ability to hold an audience. H 

from active duty a year ago. 

Wolf was a charter member of thi 

Club of New England and its first f 

During his residence in Boston he aid 

charity endeavors, both in and ou 

industry. 

Survivors are his wife, Elizabett 

son, Norton, of New York and tw( 

children. 

F. W. DuVall Dies; 

Treasurer of MPAA 

NEW YORK—Frederick W. DuVa 

urer of the Motion Picture Ass'n of 

and also of th 

Picture Expo 

died Monday 

Frederick W. DuVall 

Mountainside 

Montclair, N. 

heart conditi 

an illness ol 

weeks. He wi 

Funeral sen 

held at 10 a.n 

day from th' 

Brown Funer 

56 Park St., I 

and burial 

Fantinekill < 

"The loss of Fred DuVall will be I 

Ellenville, N. Y. 

DuVall was a World War I vet< 

had been with the Motion Picture 

more than 25 years. He first act( 

accountant and in 1941 was elected 

treasurer. He became treasurer in 1 

Eric Johnston, MPAA president, i 

following statement 

and grievously by his colleagues. 

"The entu-e motion picture ia 

indebted to him for his long years ol 

faithful and able service. He was 

to the mdustry's interests. 

"The tribute that those who ki 

DuVall personally will always pa; 

their abiding affection and lastini 

for him. His passing has create( 

among us which is a monument t( 

character and unusual competence 

always be easy to remember Fred Di 

impossible to forget him." 

22 

BOXOFFICE 

Januai

--Klff/' 

scon 

BRADY 

RAYMOND 

MATZ • BURR 

Produced and Directed by KURT NEUMMN who gave you "CARNIVAL STORY" 

Screenplay by Felix LueUkendorl and Kurl Neumann 

A CORONA FILMS Production 

FILMED FOR 

WIDE SCREEN! 

WILD RAIDERS OF THE TROPIC SEAS! 

costarring MARI ALDON with GEORGE COULOURIS • PETER ILLING . ALEC MANGO 

Executive Producer MICHAEL CARRERAS • Producer MICKEY DELAMAR • Directed by TERENCE FISHER 

Screenplay by RICHARD LANDAU From the novel by Jon Manchip Wtiite 

A HAMMER PRODUCTION 

^\VW^^^ 

low FROM YOUR NEAREST LIPPERT BRANCH 

BUFFALO 

WASHINGTON, D. C. PHILADELPHIA PITTSBURGH 

LIESER FILM DISTRIBUTIIvlG 

CO., INC. 

505 Pearl St. 

LIPPERT PICTURES EXCHANGE SCREEN GUILD PRODUCTIONS SCREEN GUILD PRODUCTIONS 

INC. OF PHILADELPHIA OF PITTSBURGH, INC. 

1013 New Jersey Ave., N. W. 1315 V,ne St. 415 Van Braam St.

. . Republic 

Redbook 

. . U-I 

^MfdMMd êîont 

3.812 Personals in 1954 

Made by Performers 

Film personalities set a new record in 1954 

by making 3.812 personal appearances for 

patriotic and public service enterprises on 

both a national and community basis, it was 

revealed in the just-issued ninth annual report 

of the Hollywood Coordinating Committee. 

Issued by George Murphy. HCC president, 

the roundup disclosed that 476 performers 

made gratis appearances on 555 single 

or continuing events— 188 of the troupers 

having been members of HCC units sent to 

entertain servicemen in the U. S. and abroad. 

Highlight of the military entertainment 

program was the Christmas-New Year's 

overseas mission which took 64 players to 

installations in 

Alaska, Europe, the Far East 

Command. North Africa and the Northeast 

Air Command. During the year another four 

units, totaling 26 names, toured the Far 

East Command for periods of from two to 

five weeks, concentrating primarily on isolated 

stations and hospitals where other types 

of entertainment were at a minimum. 

Six HCC troupes, comprising 39 performers, 

visited army, navy, marine and air force 

bases, while military and veterans' hospitals 

were covered by 11 tours numbering 59 personalities. 

Through transcriptions, tape recordings and 

personal appearances, the HCC also aided in 

fund-raising drives of the Amei'ican Cancer 

Society, Red Cross, Infantile Paralysis, Salvation 

Army, National Tuberculosis Ass'n, Community 

chest. United Defense Fund, Variety 

Clubs, Boy and Girl Scouts, Cerebral Palsy, 

CARE and United Jewish Appeal. Since operations 

began in 1946. the HCC has booked 

2,858 performers on 6,058 events. 

Literary Activity Booms; 

20th-Fox Leads Buys 

Sparked by the acquisition of three properties 

by 20th Century-Fox, the story market 

enjoyed a burst of activity that resulted in its 

emergence from the doldrums in which it has 

been wallowing ever since 1955 got under way. 

Added to the Westwood studio's stockpile 

Superscope Branches for 

England and Japan 

To meet the demand for their Superscope 

anamorphic lenses, the price of 

which was rather drastically cut early 

this month. Joseph and Irving Tu.shin- 

.sky are planning to establish branch factories 

in England and Japan to supplement 

the output of their domestic plant, 

which is turning out the devices for the 

U. S., Mexican and Canadian markets. 

Negotiations for the Nipponese unit are 

under way with Tadayoshi Asao and 

Motomu Ohno of Shochiku, Ltd., of 

Tokyo, while the Tushinskys are also 

applying to the British board of trade for 

concessions regarding remittance of funds 

so that they can construct a Superscope 

plant in London. 

By 

IVAN SPEAR 

were •'Anastasia," based on the Broadway 

play by Guy Bolton and Marcelle Maurette: 

"The Day the Century Ended," an upcoming 

novel by Francis Irby Gwaltney, and an untitled 

biography of the song-writing team of 

Buddy DeSylva, Lew Brown and Ray Henderson. 

No casting or productional assignments 

on "Anastasia" have as yet been made; 

"Century" was placed on producer Buddy 

Adler's docket for development as the story 

of an army infantry company in the Pacific 

during World War II: the DeSylva-Brown- 

Henderson opus is being scripted by Hem-y 

and Phoebe Ephron and will be produced by 

the former. 

Other purchases found MGM acquiring 

screen rights to "Protection for a Tough 

Racket," a Harper's magazine sketch by 

Cordelia Baird Gross, which will be produced 

by Heni-y Berman, while independent producer-director 

Vincent Sherman picked up 

"Two Came by Sea," a novel by William 

Stone, which Sherman plans to make this 

summer on location in Tahiti, background 

of the tome. 

Mitzi Gaynor Joins Cast 

Of 'Anything Goes' 

Among casting notes of interest vi'as the 

inking of Mitzi Gaynor to join Bing Crosby. 

Donald O'Connor and Jeanmaire in Paramount's 

musical extravaganza. "Anything 

Goes" . . . Another stellar femme personality. 

Shelley Winters, is moving her makeup kit 

to Warners to co-star with Jack Palance in 

"The Jagged Edge" . built up the 

featured cast of "All That Heaven Allows." 

which stars Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson, 

by adding Ilka Chase. Gloria Talbot and 

Charles Drake to the roster . . Pi-oducer 

. 

Lindsley Parsons booked Frank Lovejoy for 

the top male role in "Dark Venture," being 

made for Allied Artists ... A swashbuckling 

. . . Dick 

role in 20th Century-Fox's "Sir Walter 

Raleigh" went to Dan O'Herlihy 

York will team with Aldo Ray in "The Gentle 

Wolfhound." which Columbia will shoot on 

location in Japan . signed Richard 

Carlson and Virginia Grey for leads in 

"San Antonio de Bexar," historical western in 

Ti-ucolor. 

David Weisbart Receives 

Extended Warners Pact 

Short takes from the sound stages; Marking 

the start of his fifth year as a producer 

and his 19th with the studio, David Weisbart 

has been given a new contract at Warners. 

He currently has the prison drama. "I Died 

a Thousand Times." before the cameras . . . 

Awards department ; magazine's 

presentation of its 16th annual kudos for film 

achievement, honoring 1954's "bests" in celluloid, 

will be staged Thursday (27 1 on Lux 

Video Theatre, while Photoplay will present 

its yearly awards at a formal dinner February 

10 at the Beverly Hills Hotel, with 

Dick Powell as master of ceremonies . . .Another 

deserter to television is Sam Marx, who 

amicably settled his contract as a Universal- 

International producer to become a production 

executive with Desilu. the TV organization 

headed by Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball. 

Mitchum and Monrc 

Replaced in Roles 

It comes in mighty iiandy to hs 

actor among the partner.s in an ind( 

ent unit, as Batjac Pi-oductions il 

by John Wayne and Robert F( 

found out when it had to find a re 

ment. but pronto, for Robert Mi 

in "Bloody Alley," on which lensii 

just begun, for Warner release, i 

Francisco. 

Mitchum ankled the male lead 

action drama after what were eupl 

tically described as "differences of 

ion" with megaphonist William A. 

man. After a delay of only a day 

Wayne and Fellows put their hea 

gether and decided that, since Ws 

between pictures at the. momei 

might as well step in and take o\ 

Mitchum role. 

Meantime another major casting 

was occasioned by the failure of \ 

Monroe to report to 20th Centu 

for her next .scheduled vehicle. Ni 

Johnson's "How to Be Very, Very 

lar." Miss Monroe, apparently not 

lar at all with that company'.? bi 

recent weeks, was suspended and i 

replaced in the romantic come 

Sheree North, another curvaceoi 

whom the studio has been keepini 

or less under wraps—possibly in ar 

tion of just such a contingency. 

Herman Hoffman Promote 

To Producer at MGM 

After four years as assistant to Dori 

MGM studio head. Herman Hoffman 

upped to full-fledged producer sts 

handed "The Bar Sinister," from a 

Richard Harding Davis, as his firs 

ment. The script is being penned 

Michael Hayes . . . Another new pre 

the MGM docket is "The Frank Wea 

a film biography of the late Worli 

hero, who later became a screenwi 

among whose credits are many scr 

duced by the self-same MGM. TlK 

play by William Wister Haines will 

duced by Charles Schnee. 

Edward Fabian Acquires 

Interest in Waxman 

In line with the new trend toward 

between exhibitors and film produci 

Edward Fabian, circuit executive an 

Si Fabian, head of the Stanley Warn 

has acquired a financial interest in 

Pictures Corp.. headed by Philip A. "^ 

On the company's slate, for a Mai 

is "Pistolero." outdoor action di-anii 

Jack Palance. which David Miller w 

It's for United Artists release. 

Albert J. 

Cohen to Make 

'Motel' for Universal 

A "Grand Hot«l" of the motel in 

how Universal-International descr 

latest addition to its production 

. 

"Motel," to be produced by Albert 

from a script by Ray Buffum. Pres< 

call for most of the lensing to be 

location at a California motor-ii 

camera work to begin late this summi 

24 BOXOFFICE Januar

. 

All Sales on a Direct Factory to Exhibitor Basis ... IMMEDIATE DELIVERY! 

Our appreciation to NATIONAL SCREEN SERVICE for relinquishing its exclusive distribution 

rights. This gesture and world-wide acceptance of the Superscope lens permit 

this new price. 

Howard Hughes' 

JANE RUSSELL 

starring film 

"UNDERWATER!" 

which co-stars 

GILBERT ROLAND • RICHARD EGAN 

and LOR! NELSON 

An RKO Radio Production 

GARY COOPER -BURT LANCASTER 

starring film 

"VERA CRUZ" 

which co-stars 

DENISE DARCEL 

• CESAR ROMERO 

A Hecht-Loncosler Production 

For United Artists release 

Projection of these great pictures is, in our opinion, best with the Superscope lens— 

but for the benefit of any exhibitor who has already purchased Cinemascope equipment, 

Superscope prints are compatible with all onamorphic lenses. 

All sales F.O.B. Los Angeles. Enclose $100 for each pair of SUPERSCOPE lenses 

ordered — the bolonce C.O.D. Specify shipping instructions, Railway Express, Air Express 

or Air Freight. 

address 

780 NORTH GOWER STREET

LETTERS 

An Appeal to Exhibitors' Hearts 

TO BOXOFFICE: 

We are writing you in regard to a matter 

very close to our hearts, as we believe through 

the medium of your pages of BOXOFFICE. 

you can present the matter to the many 

warmhearted readers of your fine magazine 

and maybe they, in turn, will want to do 

.something about the following true "hard 

luck" story of one of our exhibitors as they 

have done so wonderfully in the past. We 

remember once after a fire, they helped the 

owner rebuild his theatre and start into 

business again. 

Our story is this: The wife of Max Patter- 

.son. exhibitor at the North Webster Tlieatre. 

North Webster. Ind., has been very ill and in 

the hospital at Fort Wayne since early October. 

She has had two major operations so 

far and has had special nurses and doctors 

for these past three months. At the present 

time she shows slight improvement but, if 

she recovers, it will be months before she 

will be able to go home and care for four 

small children who are all under school age. 

Max had to close the theatre, as his wife 

was his assistant and since she has been ill, 

he has been driving daily to Fort Wayne to 

visit her. 

This young couple, besides paying for a 

home they hoped some day to have for their 

very own, were trying to buy the theatre 

and had operated it for the past year and a 

half. Now. instead of these dreams for this 

fine young couple, there remains nothing but 

a huge debt. Several weeks ago a statement 

from the hospital for their bill alone was 

$2,200. What it will be by the time Mrs. 

Patterson is dismissed would scare anyone. 

Then there will be the costs of the operations 

and the doctors' fees. 

Since Max will be unable to meet further 

payments on his home, he will lose that also. 

In order for these young people to have any 

encouragement and hope to continue on, we 

would like to start a Max Patterson Fund and 

are asking you to help us by presenting 

their story to the exhibitors who read your 

magazine. Any contributions they wish to give 

may be sent direct to Max Patterson, 1028 E. 

Fort Wayne, Warsaw, Ind. 

Max hopes to open the North Webster Theatre 

this spring, if his wife continues to improve 

so we know any help the motion picture 

industry may extend to him will be 

greatly appreciated. 

JAMES AND CELIA DURHAM 

Former Owners, 

Lakeland Theatre, 

North Webster, Ind. 

Newspaper Boosts Its Town's Theatre 

TO BEN SHLYEN: 

I was much impressed with your editorial 

in the January 8 BOXOFFICE concerning 

"the fine press the motion picture are now 

receiving." I read it with considerable interest, 

but with personal misgivings about my 

own community in the matter. 

Imagine my surprise when I opened our 

small weekly that same day to find a frontpage 

editorial on our theatre, and a frontpage 

story about our playdates on "Julius 

Cae.sar." I am enclosing a portion of the page 

mentioned which may be of interest to you. 

My husband and I operate two very small 

theatres in two very small towns in drouthstricken 

southwest Oklahoma. It should be 

heartening to owners of larger theatres to 

know that we are still in business—and even 

occasionally able to help pay the preacher! 

Ritz Theatre 

Eldorado, Okla. 

MRS. BILL CLEVERDON 

Ed. Note: The editorial referred to in the 

foregoing letter is in keeping with newspaper 

attention being given to the importance of 

theatres to their communities. It follows: 

"I want to recommend that if at all possible 

you go to see the showing of 'Julius Caesar' 

at the Ritz Theatre either Sunday. Monday 

or Tuesday. For two reasons— 1) it is a fine 

movie, and 2i just to show the Cleverdons 

that we of Eldorado are grateful to them for 

giving us a show in a small town like this 

that far exceeds many in much larger towns. 

They always have the finest and best movies 

available any place. 

"Did you ever stop to think what Eldorado 

would be like if it weren't for the Cleverdons? 

Maybe you should take time to add up and 

see what they mean to the town. Support 

the Ritz Theatre with your attendance in 

order that we can be assured of continued 

showings like 'Julius Caesar.' You owe it to 

Eldorado—^to your youth to attend the Ritz 

Theatre regularly!" 

Walker Gets Thrill Out of M6M Workshop 

TO BEN SHLYEN: 

I started to get into bed tonight then told 

Melba I had to get up and write you a 

thank you once more! 

We came over to the MGM Workshop and 

it was so wonderful I'll never forget MGM 

all. 

for the fine thing they did in arranging it 

This is the kind of thing I kept clamoring 

for and I think all of us learned a lot. Anyone 

who didn't, either wasn't here to learn 

or already knew too much. 

This is the biggest gathering of showmen 

I've ever seen in this state; 258 of them this 

afternoon from Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming 

and Nebraska. Mike Simons was terrific; 

the exhibitors they brought in were all 

showmen and knew whereofJhey spoke. They 

must have spent a lot of dough on this, for 

it was an excellent luncheon, they gave some 

nice prizes and all of us received a ball-point 

pen. 

Whenever I attend one of these meetings 

I wish I could have you and your wife with 

Melba and me, so you could realize the power 

of BOXOFFICE and the thing you did for 

us. It amazes me, the comments they make 

and the way you've made us known to all of 

them at these gatherings. 

Melba and I slipped off from the crowds 

this evening and had a quiet dinner by our- 

.selves and reminisced over the wonderful 

things that have happened to us since I 

filled out that first Exhibitor Has His Say 

report nearly ten years ago. At that time, 

l.irobably, you could count the folks in the 

show world who had heard of Pruita on your 

fingers. Today, I wi.sh you could have heard 

the things Mr. Simons said about me and 

Fruita after the meeting. If I were as 

honest as I should be I would have told him 

there was a little guy in Kansas C 

deserved the applause he was giving 

I just couldn't resist the temptation 

in 

glory. 

We've been accorded so many wi 

courtesies by exhibitors and show 

we've journeyed around the country, 

sometimes doesn't seem real—but 

fun and I love it! 

Today we had the nicest thing of all 

and I couldn't sleep until I thanked I 

who made all of this happen. Mr. Sin 

MOM want me to appear at one 

workshops next month. 

So we'll have another grand ex] 

meet a lot of swell show folks aw 

trip, all because you made me faiii 

be forever indebted to you and yc 

and I hope I can repay you some 

the things you've made possible fo 

know there are a jillion better shown 

I they should have picked, but I'l: 

darnedest not to let you or Simons 

Because you built up the Walkei 

over so many years, other editors ar 

writing me for stuff. For years I 

them, but at conventions and mee 

meet some of them and their men ai 

be nice guys and write me. So finall; 

down and sent them stuff, too. I 1 

didn't offend you and I want you 

that we know it's Ben Shlyen an 

OFFICE who have made most of th 

derful things happen for us. 

Hope you'll forgive this letter, my 

and the rest, but tonight I feel so 

so elated and so grateful I had to 

what was in my heart. 

Thanks again to you and all of yo 

Uintah Theatre 

Fruita, Colo. 

BOB W) 

Seven of 1 1 Films Rat( 

For Family Audiences 

NEW YORK—Family ratings i 

an unusual number of films in the 

1 listing of joint estimates compile 

Film Estimate Board of National ( 

tions. They total seven, compared 

adult-young people and three adult 

The family films are: "Black Shie 

worth" (U-Ii, "So This Is Parii 

"Three Ring Circus" (Para), "Ti 

Store" (Rep>, "Trouble in the Gle 

"West of Zanzibar" (U-I) and a 

tary, "Quest for a Lost City" (RKO 

The single adiflt -young people 

"Destry" (U-I). 

The adult films are: "The Other 

i20th-Fox). "The Affairs of Messali 

and "The White Orchid" (UA). 

The issue also reported that a cl 

ence "reacted with delight" to "Bis 

of Falworth." 

Filmack Signs Contra 

With Three More Uni< 

CHICAGO—Filmack Trailer Co. 1 

contracts with three more industJ 

according to Irving Mack, preside 

are the Screen Actors Guild. Motii 

Cartoonists and Motion Picture I 

Technicians, which includes all 

Filmack laboratories which devel 

edit and inspect films. The techr 

ceived a ten per cent raise, retr 

Sept. 1. 1954. Eight unions are n 

.sented at Filmack, 

26 

BOXOFFICE 

JanuB

! 

R 

MOST PROFITABLE 

ES FOR '55... 

FEBRUARY 8-9-10 

ONE and ONLY National Convention for 

DRIVE-IN THEATRES! 

• PRODUCT SURVEY — TRADE PRACTICES 

• FILM CLINICS FOR LARGE & SMALL DRIVE-INS 

• GIGANTIC EQUIPMENT SHOW 

• CLINIC FOR CONCESSION OPERATION 

• REPORT ON E. D. C. 

• SPECIAL PARTIES FOR THE LADIES 

• MOST UNUSUAL NIGHT CLUB PARTY 

• FILM STARS — ENTERTAINMENT 

This Is YOUR Drive-in Convention 

BRING 

ALONG YOUR PROBLEMS 

Write, Wire or Phone Your Reservation NOW to: 

nONAL ALLIED DRIVE-IN THEATRE 

ASSOCIATION CONVENTION 

HASE ST. LOUIS 8, MO. 

22, 1955 27

— 

Exhibitors Find Workshop Appro 

To Problems Stimulating Experiei 

(iiiMriior Kd Johnson iil < ()l(>ra signs 

an executive statement proclaiming January 

as "Go to the Movies Month" as 

Emery Austin, MGM's exploitation director 

(right) and actor John Ericson look 

on. 

DENVER—If belter evidence was necessary 

to show that exhibitors are eager to get together 

to swap promotional ideas and to join 

with topflight theatremen in discussing better 

merchandisirig of motion pictures, it came 

here last week when Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 

staged what it considers the best of its ticket 

selling workshops so far. 

More than 250 theatremen, some of them 

traveling as far as 500 miles to get here, 

attended the .session. J. R. Smith of the 

Chief Theatre in Steamboat Springs, Colo., 

characterized it as "one of the most profitable 

days spent in 25 years in show business," 

and Sam Peinstein of Denver's Samai Thea- 

Taking out a moment for refreshments at the Denver workshop: Left to right 

Al Reynolds, Dallas; Charles Bourdelais, Coca-Cola's concessions and entertainment 

chief; William Crowe, Denver, Coca-Cola concessions executive; L. J. Williams, Union, 

Mo.; actor George Murphy; Ray Smith, New York; Mike Simons, MGM customer relations 

director. 

tre said the workshops should becom 

nual event "if only to remind e 

that they are part of a great busines 

Mike Simons, MGM's director of i 

relations, who has been setting up tl 

shops, says he has run into the fori 

hibitors apparently want. He picks 

in the various phases of theatre op 

and has them come in to discuss 

they run their theatres. Exhibitori 

ently are convinced this is just v 

boxoffice doctor ordered, because 

everyone who attended the Denver v 

requested copies of the talks or othe 

material being supplied by MGM. 

Al Reynolds, general manager of 

' 

Drive-In Circuit of Texas, was here 

on his highly successful drive-in o 

From Union. Mo.. iPop. 2,900 > ear 

Bill" Williams to talk about .small-i 

ploitation. Simons talked about pul 

tions projects on the Main Street leve 

Austin, who directs MGM's exploital 

gram, discussed exploitation idea 

other talks on theatre promotions wi 

by Ray Smith of the Jamestown An 

Co. of New York state; Jack Foster, 

the Rocky Mountain News; George 

the actor who is now doing public 

for MGM; John S. Allen, the ei 

southwest division manager, and 

Friedel. Denver's branch manager. 

The day following the workshop, th 

tors staged a luncheon for state le 

with Murphy as the toastmast.er. 

.Attending from Black Hills Amusement Co., L to R: Gale 

Poland, Ray E. David, Richard Klein, Ted Jastorff, Herb Hunt, Loren 

Morri.son, James Griffing and Don Hammer. Black Hills Amusement 

Co. operates in South Dakota. Nebra.ska and Wyoming. 

From Westland Theatre Corp.: Derald Hart, G. E. Baggs, 

Campbell, Luther Strong, architect Dietz Lusk, Larry Sti 

H. G. Leeper; (standing) Claude Newell, M. E. Lofgren, J. C. 

Kelly Crawford. Westland operates in Colorado. 

Fox-Intermountain delegates: (front table) Ralph Batschelet, 

Gus Ibold, Rhuben Stroh, Ross Wooldridge, Les Ncwkirk, Harvey 

Gallagher, Robert Nelson; (center) Bill Hastings, H. A. Goodridge, 

Jack Fleming, Bob Sweeten, Jo Ann Sherman, Daviette Hamlett. 

Paul Bowman, Vincel Fallansbee, John Dcnman, Keith May: (table 

3) Nino Pipitone, Bill Low, Harry Wilhelm, Si Sanders, Bill .Agren, 

Paul Lyday; (back) Mike Cramer, Ray Davis, Harold Rice, Owen 

West. 

Wolfberg Theatres: (Table 1) Tom Smiley, L. J. Albert! 

Ruth Wolfberg, Jennings Hooks, .\lva Traxler, Allen Verno 

Roberts, Jack Wodell, Mel IMedaro: (table 2) R. G. Smith, 

Lotito, Michell Kelloff, Anne Kelloff, Edna Mae Kelloff, 

Kelloff; (table 3) Ray Briggs, Frank Burdick. Wolfberg 1 

operates within the Denver metropolitan area, including tl 

run Broadway Theatre. The circuit was one of more than i 

in the Denver exchange area with personnel at 

the workshoi 

28 BOXOFFICE January

, division 

. Ohio: 

' 

!ooper Foundation 

two days in Den- 

)roniotion foi- the 

ilating interest in 

d public relationsurnout 

of exhibinge 

area. As for 

1, "This is one of 

T taken by a film 

;ooperation we got 

in full swing. 

On 

11 attend a session 

luary 27 at Mem- 

5sions will include 

manager 

).. Midwest Drive- 

D. Anderson, operin 

North Wilkesmore 

than a dozen 

chedule includes; 

February 22, De- 

March 3, 

Dalla,s: April 12, 

April 26, Jacksonay 

4, Minneapolis; 

yrtle Beach, S. C; 

B 13, Santa Fe. 

-D Film 

4arch 

al - International's 

than a year, "Re- 

.1 receive a formal 

er part of March, 

nce-president and 

lere will be terrimmediately 

afteropinion 

audiences 

:. "Revenge" went 

go. following the 

he Black Lagoon." 

) play the picture 

^raised 

>women 

immending Paraas 

a pictui-e "not 

sent out by Mrs. 

irman of motion 

ouncil of Women 

affiliates. 

5 writes ; "In these 

•moil we are inlat 

makes people 

lie cause of such 

clearly and effecin 

the filming of 

iss, "The Country 

leasing 

jbruary 

.sts will put three 

i&se in February, 

dstein, vice-presilager. 

ng Cornel Wilde, 

vy and Jean Waliry 

13; "Dial 116." 

Ceith Larsen and 

;ased February 20 

t," starring Paul 

yton, will be re- 

IFE Planning to Open 

Six More Branches 

NEW YORK—IFE Relea.sing Corp. will open 

new district offices in Detroit, Cincinnati, 

New Orleans, Charlotte, Kansas City and 

Portland, Ore., giving it 16 district offices in 

34 exchange areas, Bernard Jacon. vicepresident 

in charge of sales and distribution, 

said Tuesday (18). 

The first 

week in February the company will 

take over the entire 14th floor (iT liie Paramount 

building ai 1501 Broadway, which 

Fabian Theatres is leaving' to occupy space 

in the Warnev Theatre buikhng on Broadway, 

where Stanley Warner Co: p. iS located. IFE 

will take on additional personnel. 

JACON VISITING CITIES 

Jacon reported on the expanded program 

on his return from a six-week survey of 

business conditions in key cities. He left 

the next day to visit others. He has covered 

the entire U. S. since Dec. 13, 1954, and is now 

revisiting some cities. He reported exhibitors 

in an optimistic frame of mind, paying more 

attention to showmanship and spending more 

time in training young men for positions in 

the business. He also said that the IFE 

publicity campaigns are well liked. 

Jacon attributed the expansion to the 

business done by "Aida," "Bread, Love and 

Dreams," and "Theodora, Slave Empress." 

Big grosses are expected from coming pictures. 

Those he identified as "The Wayward 

Wife," starring Gina Lollobrigida; 

"Green Magic," a color documentary filmed 

in South America, and "Love in the City," a 

"unique" film telling five different stories 

of a related subject. 

He said "Aida" will be playing in 39 theatres 

by Easter and that the IFE objective for 

it is 6.500,000 theatregoers. It is expected to 

go within two years to very small situations, 

in some instances playing in college auditoriums. 

Present plans call for its reissue still 

later, as it is considered not a dated film. 

"Bread, Love and Dreams," he said, should 

be liquidated faster than any film in the 

past having subtitles, with at least 3,000 playdates 

expected. The RKO Theatre circuit 

will begin playing it in March. Prints have 

been ordered in the aspect ratio of 1.75 to 1. 

It is now in 1.33 to 1. 

FILM RELEASES SET 

"The Wayward Wife," soon to be screened, 

will present Lollobrigida in her first English 

stan-ing film. It is set for Easter release. 

"Theodora" has had a .successful saturation 

opening in Texas and will start one in California 

February 3, then go to the circuits 

sometime in March and go into general relea.se 

a month later. 

Thirteen IFE films will have been released 

by August counting the current releases. 

Others will be "Too Young to Love." "Husband 

for Anna." "Neopolitan Carousel," 

"Attila," "Senso" and "Maddalena." 

Jacon predicted that this year, the third of 

IFE operations, busine.ss picture and moneywise, 

will double that of 1954. 

Asked about company policy regarding toll 

TV, he said he was too busy to think about 

anything else but the theatre business. As to 

negotiations for the handling of French pictures, 

he .said they were still proceeding. He 

also said IFE wa.s willing and had the organization 

to distribute American product, and 

that he had heard that some exhibitor groups 

may approach it with a proposition. 

The .sales organization setup now is: 

man- 

Eastern division—Seymour Schussel. 

ager and assistant to Jacon. New York—Phil 

Levine. Washington and Philadelphia 

Arthur Levy. Charlotte—Dave Williams. 

Boston. Albany and New Haven—Al Herman. 

Buffalo and Pitt,sburgh—Dave Leff . Cleveland 

—Mark Goldman. Detroit— to be announced. 

Cincinnati and Indianapolis—Murray Baker. 

Atlanta and Jacksonville—John Jarvis. New 

Orleans—to be announced. 

Central division—Glenn Fannin, manager. 

Dallas, Oklahoma City and Memphis—to be 

announced. St. Louis—Robert Jacobson. Chicago, 

Milwaukee and Minneapolis—^Sam 

Chernoff. Kansas City, Denver, Des Moines 

and Omaha—to be announced. 

Western division—Alex Cooperman, manager. 

Los Angeles—Jerome Sheftel. San 

Francisco, Salt Lake City and Hawaii—John 

Nercesian. Portland. Seattle and Alaska—to 

be announced. 

Offices will be established in all the cities 

mentioned. The first one in a grouping will 

be the headquarters of the manager. 

Zorgniotti Is Honored 

By Italian Industry 

ROME—Eugene R. Zorgniotti, American 

representative of Italian Films Export, was 

honored Monday ( 17 1 with the award of a 

Knight of the Italian Republic Order of Merit. 

He received it from Nicolo De PiiTO, director 

of the Italian Bureau of Entertainment, for 

his work in behalf of the Italian film industry. 

He lives in New York. 

CALENDAR Of EVENTS 

JANUARY 

—

Out Next 

A Goldmine of Production Data 

The film industry's most complete and practical booking and buying guide is now 

being readied for mailing to all BOXOFFICE subscribers as a second section of the 

January 29, 1955 issue. 

Long established as the most authoritative and useful reference source on production 

information, BOXOFFICE BAROMETER is relied upon by virtually every 

exhibitor for the record of grosses and ratings at the boxoffice of films exhibited 

during the past season. No other source is so complete in detailing essential data 

on released pictures, their stars, directors and producers — as well as on forthcoming 

feature productions. 

Contents include: The All-American Screen Favorites Poll — Features and Shorts 

Indexes of 1953-54 — Picture Grosses — Outstanding Hits— Production Trends — 

Advance data on films in production or completed — Alphabetical Index and Review 

Digest of all 1953-54 Feature Releases — Many other service features of practical 

use-value designed to help attain top showmanship and boxoffice profits in 1955. 

THE GREATEST PLUS VALUE IN THE INDUSTRY 

30 BOXOFFICE 

:: Januai

— 

a Honors Pioneers and Dedicates Nickelodeon 

s 

and Celebrities Attend Dinner Given by Motion Picture Associates 

laxy of Hollywooci 

us film executives 

Philadelphia Tues- 

Ti industry event 

a of the old-fashiner 

of the modern 

amin Franklin Inven 

by the Motion 

Bellevue Stratford 

stry pioneers. The 

.m. in the mayor's 

id ended close to 

e banquet, 

onated by William 

cuit executive, fol- 

Jd by 450 guests in 

's giant statue in 

/ening banquet at- 

) persons honored 

irly official of the 

ho opened the first 

eet in 1905; Benja- 

Atlantic Theatres, 

r of P. A. Powers: 

Theatres, who detion 

i 

of New Jersey, 

one of the early 

blished an open air 

., in 1906. 

I 

='hiladelphla, which 

uding that of being 

In the morning, 

er M. Phillips proon 

Picture Pioneer 

business halted for 

Jtaries, clerks and 

into the reception 

rities, who included 

s Laughton, Joan 

sa Lanchester, Rita 

Goldman bustled 

rs and Phillips was 

nnett for the pho- 

:amera,s. Miss Wilof 

the Naval Aviansacola, 

Pla., while 

h." 

autos, several modfour-horse 

tallyho 

in the chilly wind 

Shown here is ;he setting in the grand ballroom of the Bellevue Stratford Hotel 

for the Pioneers banquet given by the Motion Picture Associates. 

to the Franklin Institute for the nickelodeon 

dedication. Only John Ericson and his wife 

Milly Coury were brave enough to drive in 

the open 1910 Winton car. 

Laughton. who was the first figure in the 

entertainment field to be honored by the 

131-year-old Franklin Institute, which provides 

a forum for the exchange and public 

dissemination of new knowledge, received a 

life membership and also was awarded a gold 

medallion in recognition of the actor-director's 

contribution to the field of public education 

through the medium of motion pictures 

by S. WjTnan Rolph, president of the Franklin 

Institute. 

George Murphy, MGM's goodwill ambassador, 

spoke briefly on the motion picture industry's 

role in public life and also introduced 

George Sidney, MGM director of "Jupiter's 

Darling"; Paul Gregory, stage producer and 

producer of "The Night of the Hunter," 

which Laughton directed for United Artists; 

Rouben Mamoulian, stage-screen director, 

and Carmel Myers (Mrs. A. W. Schwalberg), 

who was a star of the silent films, although 

much more recent than nickelodeon days, as 

well as Miss Williams and the other stars. 

Others who attended the luncheon included: 

Schwalberg, Jerry Pickman, Arthur B. Krim, 

William J. 

Heineman, Max E. Youngstein, Al 

Lichtman, Robert Benjamin. Ben Gage, husband 

of M:ss Williams, Pete Martin, Martin 

Moskowitz. Dan S. Terrell, Mrs. Charles E. 

Lewis and other tradepress representatives. 

Two "Keystone Kops" circulated among the 

guests. 

Jessel was toastmaster at the banquet at 

the Bellevue Stratford and gave out with 

his customary witticisms in introducing the 

main speaker, Charles S. Thomas, Secretary 

of the Navy, and Goldman, Laughton and 

Murphy, who also spoke. Others who lauded 

the four Philadelphia theatremen for their 

"pioneering efforts in this now great industry" 

were Sam Diamond, president of Motion 

Picture Associates, and Al Lichtman, cochairman 

of Council of Motion Picture Organizations. 

others on the dais included; Harry Kalmine, Sol 

A. Schwartz, Morey Goldstein, Jock Beresin, Frank 

Ricketson, Som Rosen, Elmer Rhoden, Nat Levy, 

William C. Gehnng, Richard F. Walsh, Si Fobian, A. 

Montague, William Perlberg and George Seaton, as 

well OS Krim, Youngstein, Schwalberg, Benjamin, 

Mamoulian, Sidney, Heineman and Pickman, who 

oLo wcic Qt the luncheon. 

rs honored are shown with VVilexe

Reade Ends Drive-In Suit ?^J",'=! 

ên Exhii 

And Plans Completion 

NEW YORK—Walter Reade jr. Tuesday 

(18) simultaneously accepted a "substantial" 

settlement of his suit to acquire six 

New Jersey drive-ins and announced plans 

to build a drive-in near one of the theatres 

involved in the suit. 

The court action brought by the circuit 

president was against William Scully, James 

Thompson, operating head of Eastern Drivein 

Theatres, and Monroe E. Stein, attorney. 

He charged they had breached a contract for 

the sale of the drive-ins to him. It was settled 

after trial had proceeded for one day in the 

superior court in Newark. The settlement 

permits the defendants to convey the theatres 

to other persons. 

Reade then said he had acquired property 

in Wayne Township in Passaic County on 

Route 46 near the intersection of Route 23 

for the erection of the first twin-screen 

drive-in in the east. It is within 300 yards 

of the Totowa Drive-In, one of the theatres 

involved in the suit. The capacity will be 

1,400 cars. Work will proceed at once from 

plans made by Leon Elinhorn, theatre architect. 

There will be in-car heaters for all-year 

operation, giant screens at either end of the 

property with a central projection booth 

which can present the same or different films 

en the screens and a special tower erected 

under the supervision of the Bell System for 

reception of microwave relay for theatre TV 

presentations. Each side of the drive-in will 

accommodate 700 cars. 

The area will be landscaped like a large 

park, with trees and a duck pond and probably 

an animal zoo in one of the playgrounds. 

Walter Reade Theatres operates seven 

drive-ins, is building another in Absecon near 

Atlantic City and 40 conventional theatres 

in New Jersey and New York, including the 

de luxe Baronet Theatre in New York City. 

The company also has wide restaurant, catering 

and real estate interests and operates 

television station WRTV on channel 58 in 

Asbury Park, N. J. 

Reade Dedicates Theatre 

Remodeled for $250,000 

KINGSTON, N. Y.—The former Broadway 

Theatre here, remodeled by Walter Reade 

Theatres at a cost of $250,000, was dedicated 

as the Community Theatre Friday (14). The 

renovations included a new Colonial-type 

front and a virtually complete rebuilding 

within, accomplished in six months without 

closing the theatre and making it one of 

the most modern in the nation. Walter 

Reade jr., circuit president, said he considered 

it the showcase of his organization. 

The pictm-e was "Bad Day at Black Rock." 

Reade obtained it a month before general 

release by arrangement directly with Nichols 

M. Schenck, MGM president; Charles M. 

Reagan, general sales manager, and Mike 

Simons, customer relations director. 

MGM joined in the ceremonies by tieing in 

the dedication with its series of 1955 motion 

picture theatre celebrations. Mayor Frederick 

H. Stang proclaimed January 15 to 

February 14 "Go to the Movies Month." John 

and Mrs. Ei-icson came on from the coast to 

attend the dedication after a Denver stopover, 

and Simons came east for it. Ampng the 

state officials attending were Senator Arthur 

Wicks and Assemblyman Kenneth L. Wilson. 

Harry Harris Takes Lease 

On Alpine Theatre, NYC 

NEW YORK—Harry A. Harris, who operates 

a circuit of theatres in the New York 

area, has taken a long-term lease on the 

Alpine Theatre, Broadway and Dyckman 

street, from Warren Johnson, w-ho represents 

Muriel J. Berlin. 

Harris plans to completely rehabilitate the 

800-seat theatre, including reseating and the 

installation of CinemaScope. Berk and Krumgold, 

theatre realty specialists, negotiated the 

deal. 

SKOlIK.'Vb KtC KIVES SCROLL— Spyros P. Skouras, president of 20th Century- 

Fox, accepts from .Meyer Baranco (third from left) a special scroll from Skouras Theatres 

commenioratins the first anniversary of CinemaScope. Looking on are managers 

of Skouras Theatres in Queens and Nassau counties. Left to right: Ted .\llen, Rivoli, 

Hempstead; John Endrcss, Calderone, Hempstead; Baranco and Skouras; Ted Rodis. 

Astoria Theatre; Max Cooper, Cove Theatre, Glen Cove, and FYank DiOennaro, Merrick 

Theatre, Jamaica. 

In Schine Trial 

BUFFALO — The 

government 

drawn ten exhibits and withheld 

; 

intended exhibits in the Schini 

criminal-contempt trial to avoid 

: 

the stand two witnesses it had sub 

testify about them. One of the n 

veloped. was a Schine attorney. 

The exhibits were mostly letters 

government had planned to use 

its charge that Schine Chain The 

discouraged pui'chases of theatres 

had ordered it to dispose of. 

Government attorney Joseph E. 

decided not to use the exhibits wl 

Judge John Knight supported d 

torney Frank G. Raichle's conte 

they should not be received in ev 

less the witnesses, participants ii 

respondence, were put on the sta 

Withdrawn were letters and co] 

ters between Lewis H. Ruslande 

attorney, and Schine Chain The 

regarding purchase of Schine the 

erty for a client of Ruslander. Wit 

communications between Schine i 

Alaimo, a Rochester attorney r( 

a real estate broker who had a c' 

ested in buying Schine theatre pre 

McDowell said he had just 1 

Alaimo's arrival here, "that he 

Schine in Rochester." and had rel 

Raichle asserted that Ruslander 

here two days w-aiting to testify as 

Now I understand he has been es 

the government offers the docume 

witness was called we could eli( 

information from him." 

Government w-itnesses included 

Jeffen', Lockport attorney, and 

Maitland P. Smith of Wilson, wlconcerning 

their unsuccessful effc 

the Rialto Theatre in Lockport for 

for $100,000. 

Letters indicating that Schine o 

fused a $1,500,000 offer for nine 

Rochester were introduced by the i 

Thursday in the trial. An appra 

testified that he had valued the ] 

$1,035,000. 

Atlas Increases Hold 

Of RKO Pictures Corj 

NEW YORK—Atlas Corp. pure 

other 115.000 shares of RKO Pict 

during December. Ît is believed 

brings the total controlled by Flo 

lum. Atlas president, and his as; 

to about 1,315,000 shares. 

At last reports, Howard Hugl 

1.262,000 shares, with about 500,00( 

per cent, in the hands of the p 

stock is seUing now for about T- 

point since the heavy buying 

December. 

So far as known, there have beei 

negotiations between Hughes and 

control of RKO Pictures. Unless 

an agi-eement. it is probable that 

on control will go over to the am 

holders meeting in June. 

Moss on Broadway Ass'n Boa 

NEW YORK—Charles B. Moss 

director of the Criterion Theatre 

Moss Theatres, has been elected a 

the board of directors of the Broac 

Inc., for a 

term of three years. 

32 BOXOFFICE Janu

^ 

/Announcing 

Ballantyne *H' Series 

Quality • plus • Economy 

^^ 

EACH 

To meet the needs of drive-in operators who want a low cost quality 

speaker, Ballant)ne introduces its new "H" Series in-a-car speakers. 

Speaker is housed in a sturdy sand cast aluminum case finished in 

two-tone gray enamel. Single cone speaker is of excellent quality and 

the entire unit is weather-treated to give long service and protection. 

Available with straight cord or koiled cord at slightly higher price. 

igie-Cone 

ty single-cone, 

speaker unit, 

me case as "A" 

nished in tough 

lamel. 

"A" Series Double-Cone 

Paten(ed Ballantyne double-cone speakers 

are unique in the drive-in field. Two 

concs,one superimposed over the other, 

offers you the most faithful, undistorted 

sound anywhere. Finish is an appealing 

blue and white two-tone effect. Both 

undercoat and finish coat are baked 

enamel. Simplicity of maintenance is a 

big feature. Case opens easily — drop 

in a new cone, right at the post. 

"Q" Series Double-Cone 

The same unexcelled Double-Cone 

speaker unit as the "A". Has rich, longlasting 

hammerloid gray enamel fiiiish 

baked on to give permanent protection. 

ALL SPEAKERS AND JUNCTION BOXES AVAILABLE IN SETS 

(2 SPEAKERS — 1 JUNCTION BOX) 

i 

UBLE-CONE 

io Downlight 

lo Downlight 

Downlight 

lownlighl 

HAMMERtOlO GRAY DOUBtE-CONE 

0X90 Straight Cord—No Downlight 

0X91 Koiled Cord — No Downlight 

0X92 Straight Cord — Downlight 

0X93 Koiled Cord — Downlight 

HAMMERLOID GRAY SINGLE-CONE 

E90 Stroight Cord — No Downlight 

E91 Koiled Cord — No Downlight 

E92 Straight Cord — Downlight 

E93 Koiled Cord — Downlight 

TWO TONEGRAY SINGLE-CONE 

H90 Straight Cord — No Downlight 

H91 Koiled Cord — No Downlight 

H92 Straight Cord — Downlight 

H93 Koiled Cord — Downlight 

k s o n 

St 

^Ballantiine(jmw(imi^ 

Omaha, Nebraska 

s Inc. 

id St. 

w York 

Perkins Theatre Supply Co. 

505 Pearl St. 

Buffalo, New York 

Veterans Electrical Construction & 

Service Co., Inc. 

Randolph At Third 

Elkins, West Virginia 

2. 1955 33

— 

— 

— 

—— 

— 

— 

— 

— — 

— 

UA) 

'Country Girl' and '20,000 Leagues Bingo Legalizatio 

Still Big as New Films Are Mild 

NEW YORK—With the two most important 

new films, "Prince of Players" and "Theodora, 

Slave-Empress," showing just average first 

week grosses, the Broadway first run leaders 

were the holdovers of "The Country Girl," 

still smash in its fifth week at the Criterion; 

"20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," in its fourth 

big week at the Astor. and "Vera Cruz," in 

its fourth good week at the Capitol. 

"The Green Scarf" had an excellent gross 

at the weekly-change Palace and "The 

Beachcomber" was strong in its opening week 

at the Normandie. Both of these are British 

films. Also exceptionally strong was "Romeo 

and Juliet." in its fourth week at the Sutton. 

Most of the other holdovers were down as 

the weather became colder. Among them 

were "Deep in My Heart," in its sixth and 

final week at the Radio City Music Hall; 

"There's No Business Like Show Business," 

in its fifth week at the Roxy. and "The Silver 

Chalice," in its fourth and final week at the 

Paramount. The fourth and final week of 

"Green Fire" at the Mayfair was way off. 

Art house films that held up well included 

"Aida." in its tenth week at the Little Carnegie; 

"The Game of Love," in its fifth big 

week at the Baronet; "Gate of Hell," in its 

fifth strong week at the Guild, and "Animal 

Farm." in its third week at the Paris. 

The new pictures at the Radio City Music 

Hall and the Paramount were "The Bridges 

at Toko-Ri" and "Young at Heart." "The 

Americano" and "West of Zanzibar" also 

opened. 

(Average Is 100) 

. . 

Astor 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (BV), 

4fh wk '50 

Baronet The Game of Love (Times), 5th wk. . . . 1 1 5 

Capitol Vera Crui !UA1, 4th wk 130 

Criterion The Country Girl (Para), 5th wk 160 

Fifth Avenue Hall of Fame Silent Classics 

(Ass'd Artists), 4th wk 105 

55th Street Golden Age of Cinema Festival 

(Brandon), 5th wk 110 

Fine Arts The Detective (Col), 11th wk 110 

Globe Theodora, Slave-Empress (IFE) 110 

Guild Gote of Hell Harrison), 5th wk 130 

Little Carnegie Aida (IFE), 10th wk 120 

Loew's Stote Three Ring Circus (Poro), 4th wk.. .120 

Moyfair Green Fire (MGM), 4th wk 95 

Normandie The Beachcomber (UA) 1 25 

Palace—The Green Scarf (Ass'd Artists), plus 

vaudeville 1 20 

Paramount The Silver Cholice (WB), 4 days of 

4th wk 110 

Pans Animoi Form (de Rochemont), 3rd wk. . 1 1 5 

Plozo The Belles of St. Trinian's (Ass'd Artists), 

4th wk 105 

HERE'S YOUR CHANCE 

to get in the 

BIG MONEY 

a screen game, 

i 

HOLLYWOOD fakes top 

honors. 

As a box-office attraction, 

it is without equal. It has 

been a favorite with theatre goers for 

over 15 years. Write today for complete details. 

Be sure to give seating or car capacity. 

HOLLYWOOD AMUSEMENT CO. 

831 South )Mabo«h Avenue • Chicago 5, llllnolt 

Rodio City Music Hall Deep in My Heort (MGM), 

plus stage show, 6th wk 110 

Rivoli Prince of Players (20th-Fox) 110 

Roxy There's No Business Like Show Business 

(20th-Fox), 5th wk 115 

Sutton Romeo and Juliet UA), 4th wk 140 

Trans-Lux 52nd Tonight's the Night (AA), 

4th wk 110 

Trans-Lux 60th—Return runs of previous Trans-Lux 

films, 2nd wk 1 00 

Victorio A Star is Born (WB), I 4th wk 120 

Warner—This Is Cineroma (Cinerama), 84th wk. 

of two-a-day 135 

World Sunderin :Meodow), 4th wk 95 

Warmly Welcomes 

Buffalo 

"So This Is Paris' 

BUFFALO—"So This Is Paris" led the boxoffice 

parade in Buffalo, ringing up a splendid 

145 with an attraction that was given 

a hangup advance campaign. "There's No 

Business Like Show Business" ended a fourth 

week with a 115 and it was a very profitable 

run at the Shea flagship. "Young at Heart" 

held up well in its second stanza, registering 

110. "The Silver Chalice" in three days of 

a fourth week in the Center also did well. 

Shea's Teck folded after three days with a 

couple of reissues and will now undergo a 

remodeling process preparatory to the coming 

of "Cinerama" late in February. 

Buffalo There's No Business Like Show Business 

(20th-Fox), 4th wk 115 

Center The Silver Chalice (WB), 3 days of 

4th wk 105 

Century 20,000 Leagues Under the Sec 

(Buena Visto), 4th wk 125 

Cinema Bread, Love and Dreams (IFE), 4th wk..I10 

Lafayette So This Is Paris (U-l) 145 

Paramount Young at Heart (WB), 2nd wk. .1)0 

Baltimore's Long Runs 

Slow Boxoffices 

BALTIMORE—Grosses were somewhat below 

usual in Baltimore, probably because so 

many of the fii'st runs are holdovers from 

Christmas week. Two of these fourth-week 

holdovers which continued fairly strong were 

"20,000 Leagues" and "Three Ring Circus." 

"Mr. Hulot's Holiday," a newcomer, was the 

top attraction for the week with 120 per cent. 

Century—So This Is Paris (U-l) 100 

Fi'm Centre The Detective (Col), 4th wk 90 

HipDodrorre 20,000 Leagues Under the Seo 

(Buena Vistol, 4th wk 110 

Keiths Three Ring Circus (Para), 4th wk 100 

Little Aida (IFE), 4th wk 80 

Moyfair Destry (U-l), 2nd wk 1 00 

New Desiree (20th-Fox>, 4th wk 90 

Ployhouse Mr. Hulot's Holiday (GBD) 120 

Stan'ey Young of Heart ;WB) 110 

Town There's No Business Like Show Business 

(20th-Fox), 4th wk 95 

Pittsburgh Grosses 

Show Improvem.ent 

PITTSBURGH—Relatively high percentages 

for Pittsburgh are being reported after many 

months of below average figures. "Three Ring 

Circus" reported a very healthy 160 in its 

first stanza and is being held. "The Barefoot 

Contessa" was also high with 150 and 

it too holds. Holdovers fell below previous 

weeks though "Show Business" maintained 

an above average boxoffice. 

Fulton Cormen Jones (20th-Fox), 3rd wk 70 

Harris There's No Business Like Show Business 

(20th-Fox), 3rd wk 110 

i 

Penn The Borctoot Contesso 150 

Stanley—Three Ring Circus (Poro) 160 

Worncr—This Is Cinerama (Cinerama), 58th wk.,140 

'Black Rock' Opens Feb. 1 

NEW YORK—"Bad Day at Black Rock," 

MGM suspeiise thriller starring Spencer 

Tracy and Robert Ryan, will open February 

1 at the Rivoli Theatre. 

Meets Opposition 

NEW YORK—Opposition to a 

bill to remove penalties from bin 

veloping. Senator Arthur H. Wick 

lican from Kingston, has charged 

bill would circumvent the constiti 

weaken the governmental structi 

The Rev. Horace W. B. Donega: 

tant Episcopal bishop of New 'V 

churches under his jurisdiction \ 

allow the game to be played on thei 

regardless of legislative action. 

Senator Wicks contends the only 

can be authorized is through a coi 

amendment which would require f 

two successive sessions of the legisl 

then approval by voters at a geners 

This w'ould set back final action i 

Before election, the Democrat; 

campaign pledge in favor of bin 

proposed to pass a law removing 

and then submit the matter to a re 

The Republicans declared thera 

favor of withholding any action i 

a referendum. 

The Lord's Day Alliance of tl 

States, at its 66th annual meeting 

Collegiate Church early in the wee: 

resolutions opposing legalization of 

Exhibitor groups are watching th 

closely, but have not decided wl 

they will take until further moves 

in the legislature. 

NY Controller Explai 

Compensating Use Tc 

NEW YORK—The local 3 per cen 

sating use tax, w'hich became apt 

film last September, is imposed oi 

of raw stock film and that of 

processing, according to Morris W 

special city controller. The city sti 

the tax even though the distribute 

it is delivered still uses his own lab( 

When negatives or positives ar 

into the city, each is subject to ta: 

less of the extent of the subsequ* 

each of said original negatives, 

negatives or fine-grain positives." 

The tax is computed on the raw 

of the film plus the cost of laborat 

opment of each of the original neg 

positives brought into the city. The 

cost of the film is the price that 

"for the quantity of film brought in 

as if unexposed." The cost of labo: 

velopment is the compensation p 

outside laboratory. 

Writer to Attend Ope 

NEW YORK—Hans Ruesch, forr 

pion racing driver in Europe and 

the story on which the 20th-Fox 

Racers" is based. Is in town for tl 

of the picture at the Roxy Thea 

(28). The feature stars Kirk Doui 

Darvi. Gilbert Roland, Cesar Ro; 

J. Cobb and Kary Jurado. 

Benefit for Travelers 

NEW YORK—The premiere of 

Holiday" February 8 at the Warm 

will be a benefit in honor of the 

niversary of the Travelers Aid 

New York. Mrs. Donald S. Stralem 

Clifford Michel are co-chairmen. 

34 BOXOFFICE Janui

. Charles 

\N Ay J. Robert Rubin Receives an Award 

head, 

At 1955 Brotherhood Dinner in NY 

HHB^Vi 

mount studio 

if conferences with 

Oscar A. Morgan, 

of short subjects. 

tures, left for New 

conferences with 

I Vision Visits Norpresident 

of Para- 

.ed to South Africa 

; of ''White Christiuropean 

production 

int, sailed for Engtwo 

weeks of home 

\ustin, exploitation 

om a studio visit. 

GM's "Many Rivers 

loUywood Saturday 

; of the Town on 

t. Esther Williams. 

5 Darling," headed 

with her husband, 

es, who is featured 

t Moon." bowed out 

;o Hollywood for a 

lount's "The Girl 

Russell . . Richard 

. 

starred with Jane 

began a round of 

views in New York 

Radio City Music 

t returned to her 

. . Jacqueline Mid- 

Brody. United Artontact. 

has become 

attorney of Syray 

of the 20th-Fox 

las announced her 

;sler of New York 

)n of Robert Sherer 

and booker for 

larried in April to 

aica. L. I. 

"Gentlemen Marry 

Rudy Vallee, Scott 

returned to Americture 

in Paris and 

xompanied by her 

nd their four chilthe 

same boat on 

ramount producer- 

3ck were on. while 

Brady and Miss 

ica. Hitchcock will 

'o Catch a Thief" 

:ice executives . , . 

)m an around-the- 

Cinerama feature, 

'orld." He and his 

December 17. 

tKO domestic sales 

C. Moskmt 

and treasurer, 

ist visit . . Mort 

. 

3. vice-president in 

1 p\iblicity. planed 

r ten days of home 

lucer. and his wife 

two-week business 

The Body Snatch- 

1 sales manager for 

Bginald Wilson, in 

company in that 

jM sales manager, 

me office visit . . . 

ia where he spent

. . Al 

. . Albany 

ALBANY 

Tvyrel Berman, general manager of Tristate 

Automatic Candy Corp., inspected its area 

stands with Manager George H. Schenck. 

Berman was here from Buffalo to attend the 

testimonial dinner for Charles A. Smakwitz 

. . . Ralph Ripps, MGM salesman, is driving 

a new white-shade sedan with whitewall 

tires . . . Clayton Pantages, 20th-Fox salesman, 

was in Boston with Manager Nat Rosen 

and salesman John Wilhelm for a district 

meeting . . . Eddie Wendt, "president and 

business agent of projectionists Local 324, has 

been confined to his home with an attack of 

bursitis. 

Alfin V. Iselin has been appointed chairman 

of the motion picture industry's annual 

local drive for the March of Dimes. Operator 

of the Auto-Vision at East Greenbush, he 

successfully headed last year's effort. A group 

of volunteer workers will staff collection centers 

in lobbies. Donations from theatre workers 

and distribution employes will also be 

solicited. Irwin UUman of Fabian Theatres 

is in charge of the former; Norman Weitman, 

U-I manager of the latter. 

Nine Smalley houses which have joined 

Upstate Tlieatres mutual membership buying 

and booking agency here, are located in 

Cooperstown, Fort Plain, Johnston, Sidney, 

Walton, E>elhi, Stamford, Norwich and Dolgeville. 

The Upstate group was organized in 

1942. Leonard L. Rosenthal, son of a pioneer 

Troy exhibitor, is counsel and adviser on 

film buying. Mary Flynn is chief booker. 

Joseph Marisola, who recently took over the 

Warren in Wan-ensburg, is another new member 

and is installing ClnemaScope. 

Sally Allen, State Teachers College student, 

is serving a.s part time assistant to Irene 

Econome, the Fabian division office aide to 

Saul J. Ullman . area lovers of 

Italian pictures had a feast with Harold 

Strassman's showing of "Melody of Love" 

and "Fugitive in Trieste," while the Delaware 

presented "Bread, Love and Dreams" . . . Lou 

Rapp ananged a lobby display of Boy Scout 

insignia and presented 25 Schenectady youngsters, 

who attended last summer's Scoutarama 

in California, on the stage of the 

State there the night "National Jamboree" 

opened . Swett, new Ritz manager, is 

the father of five children. 

Projectionists Local 324 gave Charles A. 

Smakwitz, former Stanley Warner zone manager 

in Albany and new zone manager in 

Newark, N. J., a one-suit traveling bag. 

Claude V. Watkins, chief projectionist at the 

Strand, said that Smakwitz had been very 

fair with the operators during his tenure as 

Albany zone manager. 

Jerry Slass, engineering supervisor of driveins 

for the Berlo Vending Co., made two recent 

visits here, one to discuss the cafeteriayou 

CAN ALWAYS DEPEND ON 

FOR THE BEST 

SPECIAL 

style construction under way at Alan Iselin's 

Auto-Vision, East Greenbush, with architect 

Leon Einhorn; the other, to talk about the 

same type work being done at the Mohawk 

Drive-In. Colonic, with Fred Haas, construction 

engineer for Fabian Theatres. Both jobs 

are being carried forward during the winter. 

Reviving its "Kings for a Day" progi'ams, 

the Variety Club had "King" Jack Goldberg 

entertain "Queen" Catherine Shay, his secretary, 

at the Monday night dinner. Harold 

Gabrilove and George Green are to be honored 

on the 24th, when, a Tent 9 bulletin 

stated, "Harold will carry George from one 

side of Green street to the other—watch big 

business labor with this one." On January 

31, Ray Smith and Warner Bros, will host 

Gary Rodgers, his secretary. 

Many Attend Testimonial 

For Charles Smakwitz 

ALBANY—Guests at the testimonial dimier 

given at the Sheraton-Ten Eyck Hotel to 

Charles A. Smakwitz, promoted from Albany 

zone manager to Newark, N. J., zone chief 

by Stanley Warner Theatres included George 

Hoover, Variety International chief barker, 

and S. H. Fabian, Samuel Rosen, Harry Kalmine, 

Stewart McDonald, Harry Goldberg, 

Prank Marshall, Herman Maier. Bernard 

Rosenweig, Nate Fellman, James Brennan and 

Miles Alban, all of the Stanley Warner home 

office. Also: 

Harry Feinstein 

James Totman 

Joseph Liss 

James Bracken 

Larry Lapidus 

Cy O'Toole 

M. A. Silver 

Ed L. Fabian 

Louis R. Golding 

Bernord Brooks 

Saul J. Ullman 

William With 

Stanton Patterson 

Guy A. Graves 

Phill Rapp 

Lou Rapp 

Dick Murphy 

George See 

George Lourino 

Irwin Ullman 

Abraham Fabian 

Al LaFlomme 

Oscor J. Perrin 

John Brouseau 

Alfred Swett 

Jack Swartout 

Sid Summers 

Andy Roy 

Leo Drexler 

Jim Faughnon 

Frank Damis 

J. Damis 

Louis W. Schine 

George Lynch 

Bernard Diamond 

Seymour Morris 

Seymour 

Si 

William Kraemer 

Robert Johnson 

James Benton 

Frank Williams 

Frank Weiting 

Sylvan Leff 

Poul V. Wallen 

Jim Blackburn 

Eddie Wendt 

Claude Watkins 

George Schenck 

Jack Hamilton 

Ken Forrar 

Sydney Urbach 

Lewis A. Sumberg 

Joe Miller 

Alan Iselin 

Leonard Rosenthal 

Hugh Owen 

John Moore 

Harry Rogovin 

Herman L. Ripps 

Ed Hinchyand 

Arthur Greenblott 

Moe Grassgreen 

Norman Moray 

Jules Lapidus 

Normon Ayers 

Sid Kulick 

Maurice Miller 

Ben Perse 

Senator F. G. Moritt 

Jock Mundstuk 

Ed DeBerry 

Stanley Kositsky 

Myron Gross 

Mel Berman 

Dan Houlihan 

Norman Jackter 

Jock Goldberg 

Ray Smith 

Nate Dickman 

Norman Weitman 

Arthur Newman 

Max Westabbe 

Note Rosen 

Al Marchetti 

Milton Levins 

John Bylancik 

Adolph Edmons 

Jock McGrath 

Leon Einhorn 

Francis Downey 

Ray Towers 

Bob Adler 

Rolph Ripps 

Ben Becker 

Philip Schuyler 

Charles W. Ryan 

Eddie Perrone 

Roymond Kinley 

Aaron Winig 

Nate Winig 

Leonard Berns 

Gene Tepper 

George Chelius 

A. J. Milstein 

George Green 

Henry Seiden 

Morns Simon 

Arthur Green 

William Wennor 

Loew's Record Broken 

NEW YORK—Columbia's "On the Waterfront" 

broke Loew's Theatres Saturday and 

Sunday attendance records January 15, 16. 

surpassing the previous alltime champion, 

"From Here to Eternity," according to Loew's 

executives. The picture, its star. Marlon 

Brando, and the director, Elia Kazan, won 

top honors in the recent New York Film 

Critics awards. 

BUFFALO 

fêorge Eby, International second 

chief barker, installed the 195; 

of Variety Tent 7 at a dinner-dan 

Hotel Statler. Billy Keaton, past chi 

acted as master of ceremonies. Ne' 

installed are W. E. J. Martin, chie 

Marvin Jacobs, first assistant: Mar 

second assistant; Myron Gross, trea; 

V. Spencer Balser, secretary. Gross v 

man of the arrangements committs 

installation ceremonies. New dire 

stalled are David Cheskin, Ben Ku! 

old Bennett, Robert Boasberg, Leon 

Carl Bell. 

The Shea circuit will bow out of t 

tion of the Lackawanna (N.Y.i The 

Buffalo Februai-y 8 when the Shea 

pii-es. The operation then will be t 

by Harris Williams, brother of O: 

built the theatre. Shea has opei 

house about 15 years. 

Richard T. Kemper, Dipson Thea 

manager and resident manager of t 

ger. was installed as vice-commodc 

Buffalo Yacht Club at special cerei 

the club. Yachting is Kemper's hi 

Bill Brereton, Ba.sil Theatres ad-f 

tied up with Burnham's appliance i 

contest on "So This Is Paris," whic 

winners such prizes as a round trij 

for two, a radio, a record album of 

from the picture and guest ticke 

the film at Basil's Lafayette. B 

used a page ad on the contest in 

Buffalo News-Tribune. 

Irving Fried Group Bi 

Shea's Kensington Blc 

BUFFALO — Shea's Kensington 

building, at the southeast corner of 

ton and Bailey, has been sold by Sh 

sington Realty Corp. to Bailey-K( 

Inc., in which Irving F^'ied. vice-pn 

the Tristate Automatic Candy Cori 

falo is the principal. Vincent R. 

general manager for the Shea Tl 

Buffalo and Niagara Palls, and Mr. 

Albert H. Kreitner are the principi 

corporation which sold the buildini 

The selling price reportedly wa 

$350,000. The property has 167 feet 

age on Bailey avenue, 100 feet on K 

and 132 feet on Davidson street. B' 

1,300-seat theatre, tenants include 

of the Marine Trust Co.. a restaur 

shop, confectionery, bakery, an au 

firm and several offices. 

The structure was built in 1926 

Harold C. Bickford, Toronto-born hi 

Boer war and World War I, who 

wealthy Buffalo real estate brok 

1939, when it was bought by the Sh 

sington Realty from the Marine Ti" 

was known as the Bickford buildii 

Cinerama to Shea's T 

Last Week in Februar 

BUFFALO — "This Is Cinerama" 

in Shea's Teck the week of February 

necessary technical work is com] 

schedule. The conversion at a cost 

$50,000 will begin at once, according 

Isaacs of New York, national direct 

Cinerama Corp. The policy for the 1 

will be reserved at a top of $2.40 to $ 

theatre currently seats 1.263. 

36 BOXOFFICE Januai

. . Henry 

men! Folk 

is Lunch 

in 600 representa- 

,vorld attended the 

Awards luncheon 

tel Sheraton Astor 

rticipation of the 

; current campaign 

ish 

30,000. 

incheon 

Philanthropies. 

chau'man. 

irman and Joseph 

of the amusement 

d the program with 

Rabbi Bernard Birnple 

delivered the 

to Gi-ace Kelly of 

leason of television, 

ary Martin of the 

lie recording indusle 

music world and 

VIcCormack for her 

Seed." Janet Leigh 

d in her absence, 

ibutes were Salim 

Joseph Willen, exho 

was the guest 

, 

general chah-man 

Brandt, and Oscar 

hairman. 

SpjTos P. Skouras, 

ier, exhibition com- 

•atories: Abe Dickalt 

Fi'amer, broadrving 

Caesar, Carl 

Ier, recording comers; 

Nat Lefkowitz, 

nerstein, legitimate 

ticket brokers, and 

= publications. 

USE 

lublicity 

man with 

elated with Visual 

ently to make ararkin, 

manager of 

in connection w'ith 

id Beck know each 

;atre days back in 

Theatre, oldest art 

ed to a new policy. 

k Burich. It is now 

.n hour of cartoons, 

'nts till 2 p.m. and 

le playing art films, 

sed during the day, 

Sunday. 

is on a half-andity 

of "There's No 

less" resulted in its 

rst week run at the 

; art film .schedule 

Dreams." according 

5 . . . Loew's State 

stars of the screen 

;e show "Three for 

iS 

CLEANER 

other cleaner because it 

rome. 

Ssldby 

istcrn Theatre Supply and 

Ben Lust Tlicatre Supply 

DAMV PANY 

PATASKALA, 

OHIO 

BALTIMORE 

. 

M.A. Silver Honored 

f^piTators lATSE Local 181 elected Louis 

Sieber president. Others named include 

Charles Grauling, Charles Dodson and William 

MacKenzie, first, .second and third vicepresidents, 

respectively; Tliomas P. Finn sr., 

. . . Lai-ry Hyatt, 

.secretary-treasurer; Calvert Silverblatt, recording 

secretary, and Maurice Rushworth, 

business agent. ChaU-man of the board of 

trustees is Harry Gentile 

manager of the Little, was host to several of 

his former co-workers from the Schine circuit 

over the weekend . . . Due to a heavy 

cold, Leon Back, president of the Maryland 

Allied, was unable to preside at the last meeting. 

Vice-President Jack Whittle substituted. 

Whittle, the previous evening, had been installed 

as new chief barker of the Baltimore 

Variety Club, succeeding Rodney Collier, manager 

of the Stanley. 

Dom DeLauney, owner of the Carroll, Westminster, 

was in town for the Allied meeting, 

as was Bob Gruver jr., owner of the New 

Glen, who came up from Glenburnie . . . Sam 

Temple of the Durkee circuit has gone to 

Florida for a vacation . . . John Manuel, who 

operates the Belau- Drive-In at Churchill, 

was in visiting friends . . . Wilbert Brizendine, 

vice-president of Schwaber Theatres, is 

chairman of the Variety March of Dimes 

campaign. His wife Rose was installed as 

president of the Variety Guild, auxiliary of 

the local tent. 

C. Elmer Nolle sr. and his son C. Elmer jr. 

flew to Florida for a vacation . . . Manager 

George Hendricks of the Mayfair was closing 

the theatre on Saturday night when a patron, 

who remained in the seat, was found to have 

Fred Perry, 

died from a heart attack . . . 

owner of the Edgemere, has revived dish 

giveaways to increase midweek attendance . . 

Rob Rappaport of the Town and Hippodrome 

spent the weekend in Atlantic City with his 

grandparents . Miller has resigned 

as assistant manager of the Mayfair . . . Ray 

Ti-umbler. Jack Fruchtman Theatres general 

manager, returned to duty after recovering 

from the grippe . . Evelyn Dobbs has resigned 

. 

as cashier after eight yeai-s at the 

New to devote her time to being a housewife. 

Mungello Bros. Start 

Burgettstown Airer 

BURGETTSTOWN, PA.—A 500-car capacity 

drive-in will be constructed at Slovan, 

a few miles from here on Route 18, by 

brothers Tony and Don Mungello, ownersoperators 

of the local Mary Ann Theatre. 

Twenty acres of land were purchased for 

the project. 

Mary Ann Construction Co., owned by the 

local exhibitors, will be the general contractor. 

Grading w-as to start this week. A 40x80 

foot fabricated screen will be installed by 

the Moore Medals Co. of Greensburg. 

The Mungello brothers were born in the 

exhibition here, their late mother and father, 

Mary Ann and Ralph Mungello, having 

established a theatre here many years ago. 

The brothers operate real estate projects 

and are in the electric installation and general 

contracting business. They had expected 

to enter into the drive-in field several 

years ago but a .suitable site In the 

area could not be obtained at that time. 

By Piltsburgh Group 

PITTSBURGH—M. A. Silver, Pittsburgh 

zone manager for Stanley Warner Theatres, 

has been named by the Junior Chamber of 

Commerce for its an- 

,„n_ nual Man-of-the-Year 

'"'^^ 

Award. This is the first 

time in 15 years the 

^K chamber has named a 

r1^ ^^ d^riliH. 

representative of the 

film industry for its 

achievement honor. 

Silver was nominated 

for bringing Cin- 

.^^^—-——^^ erama to the Warner 

/ /5w5^î!B 

Theatre during 1954, 

I 1 4* ''-

. . Mary 

. . M. 

. . Local 

PITTSBURGH 

pete DeFazio, former Warner Bros, salesman suggestions by the "experts" is a 10 per cent 

here, returned to Filmrow as a Paramount 

representative from Indianapolis where nually $10,000,000. Restoration of the soft 

state amusement tax, estimated to yield an- 

he had been with Paramount for a year and dnnk tax would bring in $14,000,000 and a tax 

a half. A brother of Sam DeFazio, manager on pari-mutuel betting would net $20,000,000. 

of the Harris South Hills theatre here, Pete Pennsylvania's 1 per cent general sales tax 

was assigned the main line and the Erie area expires August 31 and the new Democratic 

sales block. Paramount had operated with administration has promised to let it die. 

only two salesmen. Bob Caskey and Harold 

Henderson, for a number of months since 

Harris circuit here now is physically operating 

George Skouras-United Artists' Penn 

Bob Ruskin was knocked off the payroll . . . 

Alden Phelps, Waterford outdoor theatre Theatre, formerly Loew's Penn, with Bill 

owner and Erie County Democratic chairman, Zeilor, manager of the J. P. Harris Theatre, 

and wife were in HaiTisburg this week supervising. Fi-ank Arena, Penn manager for 

to 

five 

attend the inaugural ceremonies of Gov. 

months, retm-ned this week to Cleveland 

George M. 

and Loew's Ohio Theatre. Fred Kunkle remains 

assistant manager of the Penn . . . 

Leader. 

Leona Ecker was to resume duties at the Gable Theatre, Sharon, pulled out of the 

Warner exchange Monday after an absence Hanna booking combine . Civitarese 

of several months recuperating from an operation. 

She is the sister of I. Elmer Ecker, January 29. The old Nemo Theatre, Pit- 

is closing the Strand Theatre, Pitcairn, on 

new chief barker of Variety Tent 1 . . . cairn, was turned into a furniture store several 

years ago by Max Arnold, who had been 

Newt Williams, National Theatre Supply manager, 

was back on the job after licking a the operator of the Nemo. 

severe cold which settled in his back . . . 

John H. Harris jr., 19, awaiting entry into Local showman John H. Harris will have 

the ai-my, is serving as a member of the staff three ice shows hitting the arenas next season. 

In addition to "Ice Capades" and "Ice 

at his father's The Gardens arena . . . The 

M. A. Silvers are vacationing in West Palm Cycles," the new one will be known as "Ice 

Beach. 

Capades National Company" . A. Silver. 

Stanley Warner zone manager, has been cited 

Altoona impressionist Arthur Blake will 

as one of a dozen top citizens by the Junior 

premiere his new one-man show, "See the Chamber of Commerce for the 15th annual 

Stars," at the Mishler in Altoona the week Man of the Year awards, to be presented at a 

of February 14, for the American Cancer 

dinner Januai-y 31 in the William Penn Hotel. 

Society . . . Harold V. Cohen, Post-Gazette 

drama critic who was named by the Screen Clarence, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Farkas. 

Directors Guild as film critic of the year and Johnstown exhibitors, and Catherine Kolar 

who will be honored in Hollywood February were married January 15 in the St. Rochus 

13, will be feted here February 2 by Variety Catholic Church. Cambria City. The bridegroom 

is employed at the Lyric in Johnstown. 

Tent 1 at a banquet in the William Penn 

Hotel. In charge are I. Elmer Ecker, chief 

barker; Harold Lund, WDTV iKDKA-TVi 

general manager, chairman: Abe Weiner. 

Steam and Hanna Merging 

Allied Artists, treasurer. 

Their Booking Agencies 

The Leona Theatre, Homestead, was not 

PITTSBURGH—Bert M. Stearn of Cooperative 

Theatre Service and Louis E. Hanna 

damaged when a $50,000 fire raged through 

two adjoining stores early last Saturday (15) 

of Hanna Theatre Service report the merging 

. . . Harold D. Cohen, manager of the recently 

opened Center Theatre, Lewistown, 

of their two booking agencies. Stearn told exhibitor 

accounts that the merger is completed 

presented professional wrestling on the spacious 

stage there Monday evening (17) . . . 

and Hanna said that attorneys are reviewing 

final details. The unification would total 

Lower admission prices than those for the 

135 accounts, representing indoor and outdoor 

theatres in western Pennsylvania and 

first and current Cinerama production were 

announced for "Cinerama Holiday," opening 

West Virginia. 

February 16 at the Warner Theatre here. 

Evening top will be $2.40 as compared to the Under the discussed plan, the Hanna office 

current $2.65; Saturday and Sunday matinees would be abandoned and merged with the 

will be $2 as compared to the present $2.40. 

Co-op headquarters at 1701 Blvd. of the 

Allies, where Co-op holds a three-year unexpired 

lease. The unification probably would 

Directors of the Catherine Variety Fund, 

Inc., were guests at the Wednesday weekly eliminate a booker or two and several clerks. 

luncheon of the Variety Club. The Stanley Actual operations as to supervision and management 

have not as yet been defined. 

Warner gang hosted the January 21 Family 

night at the clubrooms . . . Pennsylvania 

governor's special tax study committee has 

offered ten "outs" in the commonwealth's 

Ellis Bros. Add Drive-In 

muddled financial problem. Among the ten 

CLARKSBURG, W. VA.—Tlie Ellis brothers, 

owners and operators of the Ellis Drive-In 

on Bridgeport pike here, have purchased the 

Sunset Drive-In at nearby Meadowbrook from 

SAM FINEBERG Alex Silay and Steve Medve jr. Joe Feeney. 

TOM McCLEARY Ellis projectionist and booker, will license for 

JIM ALEXANDER the Sunset, formerly handled by Gray Bajker. 

Silay and Medve own and operate a drive-in 

84 Van Braam Street theatre at Philippi in the Clarksburg area and 

PITTSBURGH 19, PA. they have indoor theatres in W'estern Pennsylvania. 

Both the Ellis and Sunset have 

Phone EXpress 1-0777 

Movies Are Belter Than Ever - How's Your EQuipmenl? been operating the year around. 

Blatt Bros. Renov 

Somerset Governo 

SOMERSET, PA.—Tlie Blatt B 

ernor Theatre here has been reno 

redecorated, the first redecorating 

house was opened in 1938. The w< 

Vincent Scatena Studios of Pitts 

eludes interior repainting, new wall 

glass standee rail and new carpe 

Governor is equipped for stereopho 

Cinemascope and other new film p 

Other Blatt circuit theatres whii 

full stereophonic sound are units 

ville and Corry. Fi-ank E. Lewis of 

circuit office at Pittsburgh report 

other Blatt units in western Pennsj 

booking optical Cinemascope prir 

theatres at Albion, Girard, Smet 

Youngsville, and these houses will b 

for such exhibitions within the 

months. Recent CS openings were : 

in Mercer, Roaring Spring and Per 

Bernard Burns has resigned a; 

of the Rex Theatre. Corry. to ente 

sery and landscaping business. H 

Regis, manager of the Blatt circui 

theatres at Erie, has stepped into 

spot. 

Verne McCartney has been name 

of the Liberty in Mercer, succee 

Bello who rasigned to manage the : 

atre, Blairsville, which was taken i 

January 1 by his father Tommy Be 

Saul I. Perilman. veteran Pittsb 

booker and salesman. 

Ray Allison Retires 

ALTOONA. PA.—The Rivoli at 1 

Baker boulevards has been leased 

Perilman and associates from Rj 

who is retiring and mo\'ing to Flor 

man and Tlromas Bello sr., Nanty C 

manager for the Blatt Bros, circui 

the lease for the Penn Theatre, Bla 

January 1 from the Lipsie brothei 

and John, who are withdrawing fn 

tion and who will retain their i 

business at Blairsville. Perilman, 

Bros, film salesman, is reported ! 

his north area sales post and he 

his home in Altoona. 

WEST VIRGI 

TVAr. and >Irs. Charles E. Warner 

the Skyline Drive-In near CU 

Mr. and Mrs. Sam Caputo, left for 

in Georgia and Florida . e 

dictated the billing for "Three Ri 

at the Court Theatre in Wheeling 

said: Wheeling's Joanne Dru, Sti 

Dean Martin and Jerrj- Lewis . 

and Mary Price (he is the Clark 

jectionist) have adopted a 6-year 

Anas Bros. Ohio Valley Drive-I: 

bee. has extended wings to its con 

building, widening its screen size 

80 feet . , . The Strand Theatre. W 

has installed Cinemascope . . . 

Elli 

Clarksburg, has remodeled and e 

conce.ssion building, including the 1 

of new equipment and fixtures . . . 

structure screen at the Grafton 

Grafton, has been doubled in wid 

showing of Cinemascope. The smi 

front of the screen will be boarded 

playground will be opened near tl 

38 

BOXOFTICE 

Janui

.bTAIN .ViaOR SAVIli£«

. resident. 

in 

'atrons 

Cage 

of the Granada 

n., came up with 

promoting recent 

e 

promotion men. 

a 

mention for his 

ng of Pear." The 

behind the glassed 

ranee so that the 

I't put their hands 

ittempt to pet the 

rtained crowds in 

;r. 

Seven Brothei-s" 

marriage license 

seven brides-to-be 

plus two theatre 

ed at the bureau 

y, and because of 

stations and the 

otice. Considerable 

:he street bally— 

ed by tractor with 

)oys seated on top 

cordion. 

songs from the 

i one station used 

two different prostation 

ran two 

\ith Empey offers 

for one of their 

e lobby he framed 

"SBFSB" reviews 

ines. 

the Waterfront." 

er of the local TV 

irmer fighters who 

film. Another TV 

?nt clips from the 

iio contest was arnbled 

words using 

lo with first prize 

mnersup receiving 

at the time of 

Colonel 

army, who played 

Terry, was first in 

npey arranged for 

TV programs. A 

ith photo broke in 

radio newscasters 

jranada's "Brigaparticipation 

in a 

PERFECT MAN CONTEST STIRS INTEREST 

OF YOUNG FOLK IN ATHENA' OPENING 

5,000 Heralds Distributed in High Schools, 

YMCA and Jewish Center in New Haven 

Numerous sources in New Haven were 

utilized for the opening of "Athena" at 

Loew's College Theatre. Manager Sid 

Kleper obtained the cooperation of the public 

high school, the YMCA and Jewi-sh 

Community Center for a Perfect Man contest 

on the theatre's staê. Five thousand 

heralds were distributed to junior and senior 

high schools and information was 

planted in local newspapers. A photo of 

Kleper with Debbie Reynolds appeared in 

the Sunday edition. 

Newspapers were also approached to run 

a coloring contest and a cartoon caption 

contest. 

The local Lincoln dealer ran photos of 

Debbie Reynolds behind the wheel in their 

fashion show luncheon given by a local department 

store at an exclusive club. During 

intermission, costumes from the film 

were modeled and Empey himself appeared 

in kilts carrying a bagpipe! The orchestra 

played Scottish music and announcer 

plugged the playdate. Simultaneous with 

opening day, the newspaper broke with a 

picture of "Bonnie" Empey and the "Brigadoon" 

model. Disk jockeys played songs 

from the film with credits. 

Brochure on Tar Country' 

A folding brochure has been mailed to 

exhibitors countrywide by Universal-International 

calling attention to star James 

Stewart's new characterization in "The Far 

Country," soon to be released. 

Basketball Show 

Is Timely Event 

Most showmen take advantage of holidays 

and other occasions to put on special 

shows to attract some extra revenue. 

In addition to these usual promotions, 

Majiager Bill Cooley of the Everett 

(Wash.) Theatre conducts several goodwill 

affairs throughout the year tied in 

with the local schools and whatCA'er sport 

happens to be in season. Youngsters jam 

the theatre each fall for the football 

rally and Cooley's now hard at work 

planning a basketball rally show and 

jamboree. 

Other sporting activities such as baseball, 

swimming and hockey could be the 

inspiration for school-theatre promotions. 

Cheer leaders performing on the stage, 

a concert by the .school band and the introduction 

of the team being honored are 

guaranteed to provide enough entertainment. 

If the group being honored has 

won any sort of rhampion.ship, civic 

authorities would gladly join in the general 

celebration. 

Jan. 22, 1955 

25 — 

ads, and the latest Lincoln model was used 

for a bally. A florist displayed a front window 

of 100 roses on opening day, featuring 

the "Athena" rose. One of the busiest 

soda fountains promoted an "Athena" 

chocolate soda and a bakery spotlighted a 

special cake still. Five and dime stores 

plugged Debbie Reynolds and Jane Powell 

paper dolls, and a beauty salon set up a 

window display, as well as a co-op ad in 

the newspaper showing one of the feminine 

stars. 

Disk jockeys broadcasted hit tunes, window 

and counter displays drew attention 

records and sheet music, and sidewalks 

to 

were stenciled. 

Kiwanis Charity Drive 

Proves Good Tieup 

Bob Harvey, manager of the Capitol 

Theatre in North Bay, Ont., talked the 

local Kiwanis Club into using the copy 

line, "Make it a 'High and Mighty' bid," in 

its newspaper ads for its annual auction 

as part of the campaign on the Warner 

Bros, release. Harvey set up a booth in the 

theatre lobby advertising the charity affair 

and the Kiwanians recorded patrons comments 

on the film for rebroadcast over 

CFCH. 

A local laundry used co-op newspaper 

ads and carried posters plugging the film's 

playdates on their delivery trucks. Two 

thousand shirt bags and 1.000 garment 

bags were stamped with copy and a co-op 

laundry display was spotted in the foyer. 

All usherettes wore stewardess' caps and 

a small replica of the popular phonograph 

record as a lapel pin. Other small records 

with picture credits were distributed 

around town while larger copies were placed 

on lamp posts and in window displays. 

One of the theatre staff walked around 

on stilts, selling the "High and Mighty" 

message on the tall poles, and distributed 

imprinted balloons to small fry as he made 

his way along the street. In addition the 

North Bay News Service truck carried one 

sheets, while others were spotted on street 

construction barricades. The local radio 

station also gave credits whenever the recording 

was played. 

G. C. Williams Wins Again 

The 1954 Associated British Cinemas 

award for the champion manager of the 

Kent and Sussex area in England was won 

by Manager G. C. Williams of the Regent 

Cinema. Chatham. The local newspaper 

ran a photo and a story on Williams, who 

has won the award three times.

— 

UNDERWATER! FISH VIEW BIT CHILLY 

WHALE OF A PUBLICITY FEAT 

BUT IT'S 

TWA, Radio, TV Get in 

on Premiere of Superscope Film 

In Depths of Silver Springs, Near Ocala, Fla. 

Spectators sitting on benches obout ten feet beneath the surface of Silver Springs near Ocala, Flo., 

view a premiere showing of "Underwater!" The picture was projected on a screen in the clear water of 

the famed spring. The turtle was a ringer, attracted by the lights. 

By J. 

OCALA, FLA.—RKO Radio staged the 

M. JERAULD 

< 10 ) 

for 

first submarine premiere of a picture at 

nearby Silver Springs Monday 

about 200 newspaper and magazine correspondents 

and a couple of turtles that were 

fascinated by the motion pictures and 

swam into the scene to find out what was 

going on. The film was Howard Hughes' 

Superscope Technicolor picture, "Underwater!" 

Among the subaqueous spectators wearing 

a plastic mask and an oxygen tank were 

Jane Russell and Richard Egan. They had 

an "usherwet" who directed the underwater 

spectators to their places. There also was 

an exit sign pointing upwards. 

The guests who preferred to keep dry 

looked through the glass sides of what 

they call submarine photo boats. In these 

the spectator goes down a short flight of 

stairs and looks out at the fish and the 

.screen and hopes those who are wearing 

oxygen tanks and masks are not freezing 

to death. 

The Silver Springs guides say the water 

which comes up out of the limestone at the 

rate of 801 millions of gallons of water per 

day and is 72 degrees the year round, has 

been bubbling up for a million years or so. 

Nobody questioned the age of the spring, 

but when Jane Russell came up with a 

trail of oxygen bubbles she was shivering 

like a leaf in a wind. Some of the others 

who had been brushing small fish away 

on 

from their glass masks also were a bit 

the shaky side. 

i 

Up to that moment about 10 p.m.i we 

had always thought fish slept at night. 

Some of the spectators moved their feet, 

on which there were long rubber flippers, 

from time to time, and this stirred up the 

limestone powder and fogged the picture, 

but nobody minded. It had been shown 

during the afternoon at an Ocala theatre. 

One girl who didn't like oxygen had a 

pipe about four feet long—like a submarine 

snorkel—but it had one bad fault. When 

she went too deep, water came in the 

pipe and she had to come up for air and 

blow the water out of the pipe like a miniature 

whale. 

Believe it or not, all the players in the 

picture, except Richard Egan, had had 

previous experience with oxygen tanks. 

They use them in some of the Hollywood 

swimming pools. Any drive-in equipped 

with a pool could stage an underwater 

premiere as a promotion stunt. The patrons 

equipped with a pipe like the Ocala 

girl's could have a drink of Coca Cola under 

the surface. This idea is offered free for 

BoxoFFicE readers. But the water temperature 

should be above 72 degrees. Ask 

Jane Russell if you don't believe us. 

The screen was made of a plastic material 

that had been painted with aluminum 

dust to make it more reflective. It w-as 

laced to a metal frame and lowered and 

tied to a boat. It measured 15x30 feet 

a Superscope. There were no sei 

ought to be great for drive-ins. 

The projection machine was loi 

feet from the screen in a glass wa] 

jection booth suspended below a b( 

Peculiar thing about underwatei 

tion. The water decreases the imai 

30 per cent. The Tushinsky brothe 

mind. They were both there. 

A sound man standing on the 

one of the glass-bottomed boats 

to the sound track. Archer Winstc 

New York Post said he could hei 

under the water, but he didn't s 

kind. It may have been snapping t 

About 30 per cent of the pici 

made off Kona, Haw-aii. Harry T 

the producer, told some of the cor 

ents at Ocala that he had to make 

the scenes by "trial and error." Tl 

not many errors, because shar 

around Hawaii. At Silver Springs 

no sharks, but an occasional alliga 

parently alligators didn't care 

movies. They stayed away. 

TWA furnished four super Cons 

for the trip—two from California 

from New York. Those from N 

were taken from one of the inte 

routes. They had chaud and frc 

and secours exits, and food. A Us 

on the downward trip include( 

cocktails, soup, filet mignon wi 

tables, salad, dessert, cheese and 

fruit and a bottle of champagne 

guest. 

All guests received rubber fli] 

their feet, glass diving masks, wrls 

usable under water, fountain pen; 

ing notes ten feet down, and other 

photographers had about all tl 

carry in addition to their cameras 

They had plenty to photograpl 

ing great blue herons, pink fl 

raccoons and deer, and fish th 

leap out of the water for a piece 

The macaws were less sociable. 

The planes landed at Jacksor 

buses took the voyagers to Silvei 

Ponce de Leon who look 

Was it 

springs providing long life? 

Hist 

to have overlooked Silver Spr 

missed that one. Anyway, they di 

oxygen tanks in those days. 

Every paper in Florida carried 

about the trip. Life magazine 

page, and the Orlando radio st 

the goings-on on the air by wire 

scene of the action. 

Perfect Couple Cont< 

For Hartford 'Athena 

Hartford. Conn.'s, "Most Per 

and Female" was sought aftei 

Cohen of Loew's Poll in that 

come-on for "Athena." Newspapi 

ran: "Female charm and male i 

featured aplenty in the film. 1 

the Most Perfect titles, all you J 

is submit a photo, preferably an 

5x7. to Loew's Poll." Pictures ol 

ners were reproduced in the Her 

ners and their companions were 

Jimmy Teris at his Empire i 

after which they were guests of 

to see "Athena," of course! 

— 26 — BOXOFFICE Showmandiser

; Papers 

lallyhoo 

nious stunt con- 

Y, local U-I mannewspaper 

story 

a film company's 

is. 

led with the usual 

s announcing the 

?r's Dozen sales 

April 30. featuring 

It out two of his 

id Robert Helmeraccompanied 

He 

all of the circuits 

e the trio passed 

;hnuts. 

sent its photoga 

Amusement Co. 

in action and gave 

tory spread in a 

1 Branton, MAC 

was in the photo 

salesmen. 

Extends 

(agues' 

opening 

the local 

id mentioning the 

agues Under the 

ise, N. Y. Manager 

the no-cost deal 

ng their names 

uld receive tickets 

;s selling the film, 

enerated with the 

e opening. Sorkin 

lobby and on the 

ivspaper and call- 

)00 Leagues Under 

published on the 

Edition 

edition of Eleanor 

)ook. "Prince of 

by W. W. Norton 

conjunction with 

se of the Cinema 

Edwin Booth biogpromotional 

camby 

Norton linking 

publication of the 

ig full credits and 

back covers. The 

outlets are being 

ully in the meri. 

Lobby 

ntinues 

s. in cooperation 

on. keeps alive a 

le Olympia Theaof 

the faot that 

. I/Ong a familiar 

an on the Street 

bo conducted by 

pas.ses to various 

•ard for being inver 

lacks an audiheatre 

and radio 

- 

Showman Attracts Tourists to His Town 

And Theatre by Vacation Area Guide 

Uncle Ike's 

Post Office l^:t' 

EsUblished 1895 

Homestead-1893 

open to the public 

•ill nMrv«l al (he ijAiQi/it trt««»uim W' if 

c tke Coma in sad ctut wilh th« only 

Shepherd of the Hills 

[The erichanted country of 

Harold Bell Wrights novel. 

k* 

^' 

t«* 

Page 1 

2 

son DftlNKS 

9 Q U V E N 1 K 

5 

SHEPHERD OFTHE HILLS 

Old Matts Cabin 

Memorial Museum 

coLLicrnONS oj famous ozarkias^ 

Sh

. . and 

Saw 

— 

and 

BOXOFFICE 

Wild horses couldn't keep pint-size "cowboys" 

in Norwich, Conn., from attending 

the children's matinee at the Palace Theatre. 

Not only were Roy Rogers and Gene 

Autry films to be shown but their own 

not-so-violent "Battle of the Cowboys" was 

to be staged in the seating section. The 

Opens Theatre Early 

On Cartoon Days 

There's a plus value to publicity that 

is unsolicited so it's little wonder Kay 

Leveque was pleased when he read the 

following editorial in the Ilion, N. Y., 

Sentinel, an excellent example of goodwill 

as well as an idea that can be used 

in other situations. 

"We'd like to give Ray Leveque, manager 

of Schine's Capitol Theatre in Ilion 

a pat on the back for opening the door 

of the theatre an hour earlier on cartoon-show 

days. It gets the kids in off 

the streets. In the old days the line would 

wind around the block, the children 

would be half frozen . a quarter 

of them wouldn't even get in the theatre 

until the show was well along." 

latter, an idea of Manager Phil Allaire's, 

was announced via his newspaper theatre 

ad and posed this challenge: 

"Gene's Pans sit on the left, 

Roy's Fans sit on the right, 

Undecided sit in the middle. 

We'll count noses to see 

Which one is the Champ!" 

Tony Masella, manager of the Palace in 

Meriden, Conn., believes there's strength 

in numbers and joined forces with other 

local businessmen in a full-page newspaper 

ad offering a $25 savings bond to the 

stork's first New Year's bundle. 

A weekend ad recently used by Mike 

Adorno, assistant general manager of the 

M&D Theatres, Middletown, Conn., called 

readers' attention to the costly productions 

being produced by Hollywood. Copy read: 

"Six and a half million! That's the actual 

production value of the movies at your 

Middletown theatres right now ! Every cent 

spent to make your weekend movie holiday 

a success! Relax from shopping this 

weekend, take the family to the movies!" 

With absolutely no cost involved. Manager 

Toby Ross of the Pox Theatre, Corning, 

N. Y., built up his annual New Year's 

kiddy show into quite a production by 

collaborating with a local dance teacher 

who had just opened her studio. She agreed 

to put on a stage show with about 25 children, 

to act as MC and furnish the pianist, 

gratis. And the local radio station agreed 

to furnish publicity free. This, combined 

with the screen program of 15 cartoons 

and a Three Stooge comedy, resulted in 

heavy boxoffice traffic. 

Dale Tysinger, Shea's manager at Ash- 

NUGGETS 

tabula, Ohio, used Indian head pennies to 

promote his playdate of "Sitting Bull." 

Each of the first 500 persons seeing the 

film were presented with one of the rare 

coins. The only catch to the stunt was 

the cost of the coppers. Tysinger was unable 

to obtain any Indian heads in Ashtabula 

or nearby Cleveland and was forced 

to turn to a New York collector who supplied 

the coins for ten cents each. 

Public relations ideas pay off, so find 

Irving and Etavid Jacobson, operators of 

the Palace in Torrington and the Bristol in 

Bristol, Conn. Newspaper ads and lobby 

displays asked small fry patrons to register 

their birth dates at the boxoffice. During 

Saturday matinees nearest the actual date, 

surprise birthday gifts are offered children 

called up on the stage. The event is proclaimed 

in newspaper ads as: "Two-and-a- 

Half Hours of Wholesome Screen Pun 

Safe and Supervised!" Parents have voiced 

their thanks for the promotion. 

Prank Lynch, manager of the Salem 

Playhouse, Naugatuck. Conn., had three 

local high school students decorate the 

plate-glass entrance doors with water color 

portraits of various cartoon characters featured 

in a recent kiddy show. The "artists" 

were placed on the theatre payroll for the 

duration of the work period. 

The effect of having Bing Crosby paged 

in downtown Hartford (Conn.> hotel lobbies 

in conjunction with the showing of 

"White Christmas" was so successful that 

Ray McNamara of the Allyn Theatre repeated 

the gag for "Three Ring Circus" 

with a "double ringer call for Dean Martin 

and Jerry Lewis. The page wore a 

" 

movie poster on his back while walking 

slowly through the lobbies. 

Shirley Lewis, producer of the Caico Pet Exchonge 

progrom telecast over KGO-TV, lets two 

youthful contestants hold two of the prize 

poodles offered in the "Lost Time I Paris" 

competition arranged by Bill Blake of the 

Golden Gate Theotre, Son Francisco, Calif. 

What's Exploital 

In the Magazine 

Good Housekeeping recommt 

following movies in its February 

j 

the whole family, "The Bridges 

Ri" and "Underwater!" and fo 

' 

"East of Eden the "Violent 

Ten pages of story arid picti 

UA's "The Barefoot Contessa" a 

Ava Gardner are spotlighted 

February issue of Pageant. 

It's definitely a four-bell (belle 

en the Januai-y 9 issue of Parade, 

day Picture magazine. Pour U-] 

Allison Hayes, Myrna Hansen, W 

day and Kathleen Case are show 

ing the latest 1955 bathing suits 

i 

photo by David P. Pi-eston. Othe 

suit pictures and a descriptive a 

featured inside. 

Jesse Zunser in 

the January 

of Cue reports on UA's "Blacl 

day" by saying that it's all Rol 

shoio as he "sriarls, siieers and 

his way through his role in as tei 

a fashion as he ever did in 

Caesar.' " 

A full-color portrait of Ava Ga 

pears on the cover of Look for j£ 

with other portraits on inside page 

trate a special article, "What Is 

peal?" Photos ef Gina Lollobrigii 

beth Taylor. Silvana Mangan( 

Leigh, Marlene Dietrich and Gre 

are also pictured with early day f 

Another story features Tom Ev 

trayal of the role he created in tl 

way stage hit, in 20th-Pox's "T 

Year Itch." Marilyn Monroe. 'N. 

Chapman and Roxanne are pi 

scenes from the film which accon 

three-page article. 

Life in its current issue de 

page and a half to a photograi 

port of the undencater pren, 

Hoivard Hughes' "Underwater!' 

ver Springs. Fla. 

The first installment of the 

story on Greta Garbo. which i 

pear in three parts, starts in tl 

under the heading "The Great 

* 

illustrated profusely with seen 

the star's early life and film 

ances. 

The December issue of Esquirf 

a larger-than-page size color p 

Janis Paige, who is selected as 

Lady Pair. Miss Paige is current! 

in "The Pajama Game." 

Acis on Last of "Quiet Man' 

Playing "The Quiet Man" foi 

time. Manager Mike Adorno of 

Theatres in Middletown, Conn., h 

newspaper advertising: "Sure'ti 

will be a great day for the Ir 

portant notice: 'The Quiet Man 

withdrawn from release and we 

ing it for the last time anywhe 

midstate area." 

— 28 BOXOFFICE Showmandiser Ja

. station 

• 

increase 

:pertly 

I 

Cities 

hi' 

io promotion plus 

ppearance tour of 

star Yvonne Deling 

of "Tonight's 

City and Paraineapolis 

and St. 

Miss DeCarlo, Eve 

Amusement Corp. 

Artists 

publicist, 

3n campaign over 

Bcial transcription 

disk jockey plug- 

;w for air personf 

the film was ar- 

!red tickets to this 

lys tape-recorded 

preview and used 

ling opening. 

WTCN 

hree local couples 

ing anniversaries 

winners met Miss 

k'ersation was recasts. 

The three 

)re attending the 

anniversary cake 

lobby. 

arlo's arrival and 

ing her visit were 

nd reports of her 

red at an open 

of Minnesota, atmd 

students. The 

at a fashion show 

department store 

by the St. Paul 

a she appeared at 

Fashion Show be- 

3. 

i the openings at 

iewed patrons for 

ipolis Star ran a 

color the day of 

toured the city in 

1 clips of this trip 

during her visit 

TV stations. The 

Showmen 

Stunts 

rica is the prize 

a national showlibitors 

sponsored 

ith the .\merican 

izibar." J. .Arthur 

licolor production 

frica. This is the 

compete on equal 

size of their thee 

is June I, 1953, 

>e judged entirely 

ideas 

developed. 

c. by mail, a vaiterial 

to help in 

Manager Dole Tysinger arranged this street disploy 

near the cashier's booth ot Shea's Theatre in Ashtabula, 

Ohio, in on effort to win the right to world 

premiere "The Silver Chalice" through the sale 

of the greatest number of Christmas Seals. 

local papers gave enthusiastic coverage via 

stories and art breaks. In a final surprise 

visit. Miss DeCarlo appeared before 

an audience of 3,000 attending the finals 

ot a local company's month-long talent 

search. 

The advance lobby display at the Radio 

City Theatre focused attention on a tiu'ntable 

slide machine, illuminated with 12 

scenes from the picture. 

Theatre Helps Maintain 

School Safety Patrols 

Cecil McGlohon, manager of the Avon 

Theatre in Savannah, Ga., is stimulating 

interest of both the pubUc and the youngsters 

in the Savannah and Chatham 

county school safety patrols, and winning 

praise for himself and the theatre. Two 

months ago he arranged to offer a free 

monthly show to members of the school 

safety patrols. 

Newspapers and the local TV station 

have joined in publicizing the showings in 

the 1,380-seat Avon. Lt. Robert Funk, 

safety officer of the police department, reports 

the free shows have renewed interest 

of the youngsters in the patrols and 

helped him in his efforts to enlist the 

young members. 

Dance Named for Feature 

Arthur Murray studios will introduce a 

new dance, the Americano, in conjunction 

with local playdates of RKO's Technicolor 

South American adventure "The Americano." 

Etetailed instructions on how to 

teach the dance have been distributed to 

Arthur Murray Studios throughout the 

country. Piomotion material, including; 

photographs of scenes from the picture 

and its stars, are being plastered on studio 

walls, and studios are being asked to cooperate 

with local theatres showing the 

film. 

Jan. 22. 1955 — 29 — 

Friendly Edilor Tells 

Of Belter Pictures 

And Techniques 

Proof of good newspaper relationship 

between Manager W. J. Straub of the 

Paramount Theatre and the Post-Star In 

Glens Falls, N. Y., is seen in the newspaper's 

recent second-page, long feature 

article on the national increase in theatre 

attendance and the reasons behind it. Local 

theatres were cited as having a 20 per 

cent increase (over the national 18) and 

Straub is quoted as saying: "'We had to 

increase our staff by 25 per cent in order 

to handle additional patronage." 

Later the installation of new reflectors at 

the Paramount Theatre was given newspaper 

mention with Straub stating they 

the brilliancy of the projected 

picture threefold, and coupled with all new 

equipment the picture's screen quality is 

equaled only by the leading theatres of 

the country." 

PTA Asks Second Series 

Of Children's Programs 

The PTA members of Highland Park, 

Mich., were so pleased with the first cooperative 

series of Children's Movie programs 

given in the fall at the 6-Mile Uptown 

Theatre that they asked Manager 

Louis Lutz to arrange a second new series. 

Lutz had 5,500 mimeographed heralds 

distributed to children in the public and 

parochial schools and obtained two columns 

ot front-page publicity in the local paper. 

In the theatre he put up a 40x60 lobby 

poster, front case cards, and ran a special 

trailer. Tickets for the special Saturday 

matinees, featuring two full-length films 

plus cartoons, w'ere sold at the boxoffice 

I 

series of nine at $1 or singles at 25 cents i . 

Police protection was provided at the theatre's 

crosswalks before and after the show. 

Song for 'Cattle Queen' 

The theme music from "Cattle Queen 

of Montana" (RKOi is the basis for the 

song "Montana," which will be released 

shortly by the Bob Nolen Music Co., Inc. 

Credits will be prominently displayed on 

the title sheet. Coral Records has recorded 

the song, performed by the Sons of the 

Pioneers, and the disk will also carry picture 

and star credits. 

GOOD SPEAKERS 

are Drive-ln Theatre 

Insurance 

Be safe and be ready 

Don't get caught short with bad speakers 

when opening day comes around. 

ORDER TODAY! 

Predated orders will mean delivery far ahead of 

opening day. 

DRIVEIN THEATRE MFG. CO. 'S'„*Tc», *'«!'."

60X0FFICE 

BAROMEl 

This chart records the performonce of current ottractions in the opening week of their first ri 

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

are reported, ratings ore added and overages revised Computation is in terms of percentc 

relotion to normal grosses os determined by the theatre mnnogers With 100 per cent as "noi 

the figures show the gross rating above or below fhat mark 

^S 

'^Htmî^^m^^M

OLLYWOOD 

VIEWS OF THE PRODUCTION CENTER 

Hollywood Office— Suite 219 at 6404 Hollvwood Blvd.: Ivan Spear, Western Manager/ 

lepublic 

remiere 

with 

theatre and 

prints for the iipere 

of Republic's 

md Roxy theatres 

publicity director, 

[ont. The picture, 

starring Sterling 

David Brian, will 

ommunity Februbookings 

throughuced 

and directed 

William Perlberg- 

"The Bridges at 

le Paramount stus 

screenings were 

officials. Parentgroups, 

navy and 

ift industries, TV 

disk jockeys, cole 

writers. 

lemy Oscars, U-I 

r Story." starring 

Hyson, and "Mag- 

Jane Wyman and 

.'eek pre-Academy 

eginning Wednes- 

Theatre in Hollyfor 

Screen Actors 

;rs to be admitted 

n prices prevailed 

Blaustein producwill 

have its world 

;he Roxy in New 

glas, Bella Darvi 

magged by Henry 

ns 

Eden 

chuck has resigned 

irden of Eden Disileasing 

a nudistas 

established new 

tudios to prepare 

for independent 

Lction Unit 

rd-Seelig Producby 

Attorney Max 

ublicist and scennned 

on it,s initial 

1 original by Seelig 

les smog problem. 

Samuel Fuller Is Facing 

Busy 1955 Schedule 

HOLLYWOOD—An active schedule is 

in the 

cards for writer-director-producer Samuel 

Fuller (right), following the completion of his 

SAMUEL FULLER 

next megging assignment. 20th Century-Fox's 

"Hou.se of Bamboo," which will be lensed on 

location in Tokyo as a Buddy Adler production. 

After that chore. Fuller will trek to 

London to pilot Romulus Films' "The Story 

of Esther Costello." 

This out of the way. he'll produce, script 

and direct, under his own independent banner. 

"The Big Red One." a story of the First 

infantry division in World War II, with which 

outfit Fuller served as a rifleman. 

"The Big Red One" is planned for filming 

in Cinemascope and Technicolor, and a percentage 

of the profits therefrom wiU go into 

a fund to be established to aid needy veterans 

of the famed combat unit. Releasing arrangements 

haven't as yet been set. Also on 

Fuller's independent slate is a historical 

western, "Run of the Arrow." which 20th- 

Fox will distribute. 

F\iller is shown here being presented with 

the Bronze Lion of St. Mark by Dr. Massimo 

Cassili d'Ai-agona. Italian con.sul in Los Angeles, 

which the filmmaker won for his direction 

of 20th-Fox's "Pickup on South Street," 

only Hollywood picture to win an award at 

last year's Film Festival in Venice. 

Gen. Weylond in Holly^vood 

HOLLYWOOD—Gen. Otto P. Weyland. 

chief of the U. S. Tactical Air Command, arlived 

to appear in an introductory scene for 

Warner Bros.' "The McConnell Story." which 

stars Alan Ladd as Capt. Joseph McConnell. 

triple jet ace. The Henry Blanke production 

in Cinemascope, co-starring June AUyson. 

was directed by Gordon Douglas. 

Alliance Blasts WGA 

For Red Issue Vote 

HOLLYWOOD—Until the newly formed 

Writers Guild of America. West, has "rid it-self 

of its Communi-st element." Hollywood employers 

were urged to withhold therefrom 

"any recognition or cooperation not required 

by law" in an outspoken statement prepared 

and issued by the Motion Picture Alliance, 

militant anti-Red industry group. 

Signed by Roy M. Brewer, MPA president, 

and scenarist Borden Chase, chairman of its 

executive committee, the broadside obviously 

was prompted by WGA's recent failure, by 

three votes, to adopt an anti-Communist constitutional 

amendment. That failure, said 

the MPA. is "setting the stage for another 

Red invasion of Hollywood." It urged WGA 

to "recognize its responsibility to its loyal 

American members, to the motion picture 

guilds and unions which have taken clear 

positions against the enemies of freedom, to 

our industry and to our country, by expelling 

and forever barring anyone who puts 

loyalty to a foreign ideology before loyalty 

to the United States of America." 

Replying to the MPA attack, the WGA in 

a statement to its membership said the 

charges were a "grave disservice" to the 

industry by imputing that responsible producers 

may be hiring scriveners with known 

Communist leanings. It stressed that WGA 

membership is based entirely on employment, 

and that if Communists are now being admitted 

it is only because producing organizations 

are giving them jobs. 

Gunther Lessing Quits 

MP Alliance Post 

HOLLYWOOD—As a corollary to the 

current feud between the Motion Picture 

Alliance and Writers Guild of America, 

West. Gunther Lessing has resigned as 

a member of the MPA's executive committee, 

it was di.sclosed by Roy M. Brewer, 

MPA president. Lessing. however, is remaining 

as an MPA member, it was said. 

Brewer declared Lessing's resignation was 

submitted in a letter to him declaring 

that Lessing is unwilling to be "exposed 

to liability by virtue of impulsive actions," 

and that he did not want to become involved 

in controversies in which he W'as 

not thoroughly familiar with the facts on 

both sides. 

Lessing. general counsel for Walt Disney 

F*roductions, is board chairman of 

the Society of Independent Motion Picture 

Pi'oducers. 

1955 39

in "Rebel Without a Cause" was DENN 

Starring James Dean, the David Weisborl 

will be megged by Nicholas Ray. 

Scripters 

Columbia 

"Block jack Ketchum, Desperodo," upcor 

Morgan starrer to be produced by Sam I 

being penned by SAMUEL NEWMAN. 

Independent 

Theodora Productions, headed by Co 

signed HORTON FOOTE, Broadway playrig; 

"Storm Feor," based on the novel by Clii 

NEW OFFICERS—Elected by the general membership of the American Cinema 

Editors to head the org:anization for 1955 are, seated, left to right: Fred Berger, reelected 

treasurer; Richard Cahoon, president, succeeding William B. Murphy, and George 

Amy, renamed vice-president. Not shown is Eda Warren, retained in office as secretary. 

Standing, from left, are board members Roland Gross, William Hornbeck, Alma 

Macrorie, Thomas Reilly aJid Aaron Stell. Other board members, not in photo, are John 

Dunning and Richard Wray. 

STUDIO PERSONNELITIES 

Barnstormers 

Columbia 

DIANNE FOSTER, who stars with Glenn Ford, Barbara 

Stanwyck and Edward G. Robinson in "The 

Violent Men," opened a three-week personal appearance 

tour in Denver, with other stops including Minneopolis, 

Memphis, Milwaukee, Ctetroit, Toledo, Indianapolis, 

Columbus, Akron, Syracuse, New Haven 

and Rochester. 

Blurbers 

Independent 

JOHN DEL VALLE has been named west coast 

monager for Mayer and O'Brien, Inc., public relations 

Clefiers 

Paramount 

ALEX NORTH will compose the background score 

for the Hal Wallis production, "The Rose Tattoo." 

JACK BROOKS and HARRY 

Producer Hoi Wallis set 

WARREN to write the score for "Artists and Models." 

Meggers 

AHied Artists 

"Spy Catchers," next in the Bowery Boys series, 

will be directed by EDWARD BERNDS for producer 

Ben Schwalb. 

Columbia 

Stage director JOSHUA LOGAN was Ticketed to 

pilot "Picnic," upcoming film version of the play by 

Williom Inge, currently being scripted by Daniel 

Toradosh. 

Replacing William Dieterle, who has o conflicting 

commitment, OTTO PREMINGER was signed to direct 

"Joseph and His Brethren," Biblical drama storring 

Rita Hayworth, which will be produced by Jerry Wold. 

Metro-Goldwryn-Mayer 

Forced to withdraw because of illness, Hugo Fregonese 

hos been replaced as director of "The King's 

Thief" by ROBERT Z. LEONARD. The Edwin H. Knopf 

production stars Edmund Purdom, Ann Btyth and 

David Niven. 

Options 

Allied Artists 

Producer Lindsley Parsons signed FRANK LOVE- 

JOY to star in "Dork Venture," action dromo being 

megged by Harold Schuster. FORREST TUCKER will 

enact the heavy lead. 

Columbia 

Added to the cost of Copa Productions' "The 

Calico Pony" were JEAN WILLES end STEVE RAINES. 

In CinemaScope and Technicolor, the feature is being 

directed by George Sherman. Also ticketed were 

RICHARD WEBB, JEFF DONNELL and NANCY KULP. 

The stars are Van Hef lin, Joanne Woodword ond 

Phil Corey. The megophonist Is George Sherman. 

JAMES BELL drew a supporting role in the Sam 

Katzmon production, "Jail Bait," which stars Tommy 

Cook and Sue England under the direction of Fred 

F. Sears. Cast as the principal heavy was TOMMY 

COOK. 

Paramount 

Cast OS one of the male leads in "The Mavericks," 

outdoor action drama to be produced by Irving 

Asher, was JOHN FORSYTHE. The vehicle will roll 

early in the spring with Michael Curtiz megging. 

WILLIAM PRINCE, New York stage and TV actor, 

was signed for a role in producer Pat Duggan's 

Technicolor- Vista Vision musical, "The Vagabond 

King," which is being directed by Michoel Curtiz 

With Kathryn Grayson ond Oreste Kirkop in the leads. 

MITZI GAYNOR joined Bing Crosby, Donald O'Connor 

and Jeanmaire in the topline cast of "Anything 

Goes," the musicol extravaganza in Technicolor and 

VistoVision, which has Robert Emmett Dolan as the 

producer and Robert Lewis as the director. 

Republic 

ANDY CLYDE and SKIP HOMEIER were signed for 

supporting spots in "Man From Texas." 

RICHARD CARLSON was set for a starring role in 

"San Antonio de Bexar." VIRGINIA GREY was inked 

for a key role in the historical drama to be produced 

and directed by Frank Lloyd, for which Anno 

Mario Alberghetti was previously set. 

United Artists 

Inked to star with Ralph Meeker and Maria English 

in Bel-Air Productions' "Desert Sands" was JOHN 

SMITH. With Les Selonder directing, the feature will 

roll next month. Aubrey Schenck and Howard W. 

Koch are the producers. 

Producer Edward Small booked PETER GRAVES for 

the cost of "The Brass Ring," crime dramo starring 

Farley Granger and Anthony Quinn, which was 

scripted and will be directed by Maxwell Shane. 

Universal-International 

GLORIA TALBOT has been set as a replacement 

for Colleen Miller in the J one Wy man-Rock Hudson 

starrer, "All That Heoven Allows," Miss Miller having 

been granted permission to withdraw to prepare for 

her forthcoming marriage. The film is being directed 

by Douglas Sirk and produced in Technicolor by Ross 

Hunter. Added to the cost were CHARLES DRAKE 

and DAVID JANSSEN. 

Set for a character lead in "The Private War of 

Major Benson" was WILLIAM DEMAREST. 

JOHN MclNTlRE drew a major role with Anne 

Baxter, Jeff Chandler and Rory Calhoun in "The 

Spoilers," new version of the action novel by Rex 

Beach, being megged by Jesse Htbbs for producer 

Ross Hunter. 

Warner Bros. 

Inked to a term contract and handed a topline 

Story Buys 

Independent 

"Two Come by Seo," o novel by Wil 

was purchosed by producer-director Vincei 

who plans to film it this summer in T 

ground of the story. 

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayei 

Originally onnounced as hoving been si 

mount, "Protection for a Tough Rocket," 

article by Cordelio Boird Gross, has ir 

purchosed by MGM, for which studio if 

duced by Henry Berman. 

20th Century-Fox 

Film rights were acquired to "Anostosic 

way ploy by Marcelle Maurette and Guy 

Film rights were acquired to the untitle 

of songwriters Buddy DeSylva, Lew Brov 

Henderson, and the property has been 

Henry Ephron to produce. Ephron on 

Phoebe, also will prepare the screenpio 

With Buddy Adier- named to produce 

the Century Ended," an upcoming novel 

Irby Gwaltney, was purchased. It deals » 

infantry company in the Pacific during W 

Technically 

20th Century-Fox 

Handed o new term controct, CHARLEJ 

was assigned the lensin§ chores on "A 

dored Thing." 


RALPH BLACK was signed as product 

for Edward Small's "The Brass Ring." 

Warner Bros. 

EDWARD CARRERE was set 

Jagged Edge." 

Title 

as art dire 

Changes 

RKO Radio 

"Seven Bad Men" ;NaT Holt Productio 

AT DAWN. 

SDG Selects Harold 

i 

As Critic of the Year 

HOLLYWOOD—Because his revii 

the past year were "the most perc 

conducive to the betterment of m 

tares," Harold V. Cohen, motion pic 

of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazett«, 

named recipient of the Screen 

Guild's annual critics' award, it wa 

by George Sidney. SDG president, 

be presented the kudos at an awa 

to be held here February 13. 

Rrst annual award, made last 

: 

to Bosley Crowther, film critic ol 

York Times. 

Vance King Named I 

Of Nassour Publicity 

HOLLYWOOD—New publicity d 

Nassour Studios, headed by Williai 

ward Nassour, is Vance King, vet< 

paperman and publicist. King's fir 

to beat the drums on behalf of " 

of Hollow Mountain," a science-fid 

stai-ring Guy Madison and Patrici 

which is being directed by Edwai 

on location in Mexico City for Vi 

40 BOXOFFICE Janui

, of 

temiere 

Prison 

rid press premiere 

tion. "Unchained." 

I at the California 

hino, Calif., minie 

the feature was 

ited by Warners. 

, football great and 

acted a.s master of 

:enyon J. Scudder, 

1 guiding guests on 

e agenda also innment 

by the prisittend, 

in addition 

flncroft. Pat Blake, 

mte, Donald Crisp, 

ia Grey, Gonzales- 

Jerry Paris. Paula 

;t. 

Dk. "Prisoners Ai'e 

written, produced 

I 

Surplus 

Meeting 

reen Actors Guild 

as of last October 

I 

intelligence report 

t annual meeting, 

to SAG members 

of the negotiating 

d suggestions for 

ys with producers 

ns get under way 

ment. The present 

d SAG has already 

demand additional 

ond runs of filmed 

i Screen Composers 

nternational flavor 

olph Deutsch, SCA 

directors that 

;n invited to join 

I des Compositeurs, 

itions are presently 

ssociate will be put 

;utsch said, adding 

prime purposes is 

y in international 

Shoots 

ories 

ling along Video 

., Republic's video 

Burrows" and "Milt 

Stories of the Cenmer 

title-roles Don 

Picerni. Franklin 

,rd J. White is the 

isident of TV Spots. 

: to executive as- 

•ia's telefilm unit, 

Suell Wilder as head 

s booked for a dra- 

Shot." an entry in 

itre series, produced 

lecast over CBS-TV. 

fOT SINCE the heyday of Gypsy Rose 

Lee has an actress shown such a propensity 

toward discarding as that currently 

being manifested by Marilyn Monroe. 

The difference is that Gypsy rose (no pun) 

to fame and fortune by shedding wearing 

apparel, while Miss Monroe apparently is 

trying for some sort of record in getting rid 

of husbands, agents, attorneys, -studios and 

contractual obligations. 

Both the trade and general press have been 

so over-weighted with the sometimes-annoying 

detaUs of the blonde trouper's most recent 

brush with 20th Century-Fox. et al, that 

fiu'ther chi'onicling thereof is unnecessary. 

In the average controversy over compensation 

between a studio and a mummer—no 

matter how liberally the latter is being paid— 

the sympathies of Hollywood and the general 

public lie with the actor or actress. That's 

because of natural human reaction to side 

with the underdog. It is doubted, however, 

that such is the case in the 20th-Pox-Mom-oe 

imbroglio. 

True, there's no denying that the curvaceous 

Marilyn, through her jet-propelled 

ascent to top popularity, has been a valuable 

property and has made pesos aplenty for 

the Westwood film plant. But certainly a 

portion of her success story must be credited 

to her being cast in pictures which best 

showcased her distinctive talents; to a smart, 

intensive buildup accorded her by the studio 

publicity department and, probably, to shrewd 

handling by the agent and legal counsel she 

is now undertaking to reject. 

So it is entirely conceivable that she is overplaying 

her hand and will make the painful 

discovery—as have other ranking femme stars 

before her—that the descent from popularity's 

pinnacle can be even more rapid than 

the climb thereto. 

One ironical note in the Fox-Monroe imbroglio: 

Had problem-child Marilyn returned 

to the Westwood fold, her next assignment 

was to have been the topline in "How to Be 

Very, Very Popular." .\s is, the part lias now 

been assigned to Sheree North—so the boys 

in the gallery aren't going to be cheated out 

of their curves. 

Simultaneous news developments revealed 

that the same 20th Century-Fox was active 

on another controversial front, the one concerning 

television's invasion of motion picture's 

domain. A terse announcement from 

the film plant notified that its Western avenue 

lot. which in recent years has been used 

only to accommodate overflow production 

from the Westwood headquarters, is soon to 

be converted to telefilm manufacture. An 

auxiliary 20th-Fox organization to make TV 

product is in the process of formation, it was 

said, and, consequently, several offers from 

television syndicates to purchase the Western 

avenue property have been turned down. 

With studied nonchalance. Fox spokesmen 

undertook to minimize the importance and or 

significance of the development. Nonetheless. 

when an outfit so prominent in motion picture 

production devotes a part of its facilities 

to video—regardless of on what basis— it can 

be considered a sizable forward step for TV. 

From Teet Carle's gleaners of the news 

fields, a press-stopping tidbit averring that 

Alan Ladd was informed that Mr. and Mrs. 

C. E. David of Artesian, S. D., were "so impressed 

by his portrayal in the title role of 

Paramount's 'Shane' that they have given 

that name to a male addition to their family." 

How lucky the newcomer male is that his 

parents weren't impressed by "Rasputin" or 

"Ninotchka." 

During this open-season on awards, a sorry 

bag indeed was brought in by Bill Hendricks' 

Burbankian blurbers. who record that a magazine 

called Poetry Digest has given its "On 

Cue Award of Achievement" for 1954 to Judy 

Garland and James Mason for their performances 

in Warners' "A Star Is Born." 

Which should at least be a contender for 

the season's last gasp in kudos. 

Among other things, the sovereign state of 

Kansas is famous for its corn. That some of 

that commodity can easily rub off is indicated 

by a venture undertaken by Johnny Flinn's 

Allied Artists publicists in an effort to attract 

attention to and space for the launching of 

the studio's "Wichita"—Kansas, that is. The 

AA adjective-agitators would have a breathless 

world give credence to the information 

that while the "Wichita" company was on 

location for three days in Modesto, Calif., 

that community switched its name to Wichita, 

and that while Mayor L. A. Donnell of 

Wichita, Kas., was concurrently visiting 

Modesto, his home city in Kansas, Wichita, 

changed its cognomen to Modesto. Is everybody 

thoroughly confused? 

Despite this merry monicker-manipulation, 

it's an odds-on bet that should Jovial Johnny 

mail a copy of the release descriptive thereof 

to Wichita, it would be delivered in Kansas, 

where it should be completely at home—come 

next August. 

At hand, and bearing the we're-not-tooconfident 

caption, "Top Bullfighter May Act 

in King Bros. Film." is a still .showing Luis 

Miguel Gonxailez Lucas Dominguin, "one of 

Spain's foremost bullfighters." who's being 

considered for a role in the Kings' next for 

RKO release. "The Boy and the Bull." In the 

photograph, Don Luis is flanked on one side 

by Frank and on the other by Maurie of the 

Brudern King. 

After this huddle there is no bull that the 

renowned toreador cannot confidently face 

One day's handouts from Republic's ravery 

grouped three items on one page, each of 

which trio made reference to "gorgeous Trucolor." 

Apparently Milt "Gorgeous" Watt is getting 

into a "gorgeous" rut. 

2, 1955 41

. . Columbia's 

. . Ede 

. . HaiTy 

. . Dave 

START MORE FUN DRIVE—Burtus Bishop, midwest sales director, and George 

Hickey, west coast sales manager, conducted a kickoff session for the MGM There's 

More Fun at the Movies campaign at the San Francisco exchange. Standing, left to 

right, are Howard Harper, Stewart Engfreston and Sid Schuster, salesmen; Bishop, 

the regional campaign captain; Hickey; Ray Haberland and Harry Hargreaves, bookers; 

Bill Blake, publicist in northern California, and John Coyne, assistant to local Manager 

Sam Gardner. Seated are Lila Goodin, office manager; Gardner, and Kay Hackett, 

head booker. 

LOS 

Oherrill C. Corwin, head of Metropohtan 

Theatres has been elected president of 

Temple Israel of Hollywood, succeeding Steve 

Broidy, president of 

Allied Artists, who becomes 

chairman of the 

board of trustees. The 

congregation of 1,500 

has a heavy film industry 

membership. 

Heading the nominating 

committee for the 

. V '^^^^ executive terms 

^Ki^ 

||^\:. ^T^' 

W 

^^^^ Irving Briskln of 

~ 

'^ ' 

Columbia . Cutrow, 

executive secretary 

in the George 

Sherrill C. Corwin Skouras-Dick Dickson 

offices at the United Artists circuit, resigned. 

effective February 1. She will disclose her 

new affiliation at that time. 

Vic Walker's Surf Theatre in Huntington 

Beach, managed by Sam Terry, is undergoing 

a complete refurbishing, including installation 

of a Cinemascope screen, new seats and 

a paint job in and out . 

newlocal 

branch manager, Harold Green, checked 

ANGELES 

the Paramount branch . Rose, former 

Fox West Coast district manager, and Henry 

Pines have taken over the operation of the 

Uptown in Pasadena from FWC . . . They 

were "nice kids and good customers," in Milt 

Smith's book, so the operator of the Santa 

Paula Drive-In in Santa Paula picked up the 

dinner check in hosting 19 inductees—that 

community's entire quota—before they left 

in to take over his duties. Lucille Moore is 

functioning as his secretary, while John 

Laley has been added to the office staff as a 

booker and Madeleine Wallace is the new 

secretary to Fred Wise, office manager. 

Services were held for Jay Haas, 70, who for 

many years was an exploitation specialist with 

YOU CAN ALWAYS DEPEND ON 

FOR THE BEST 

SPECIAL 

jifjniiK 

tor service with the armed forces. 

. . . Visitors from 

Huddling with Charles Kranz of Realart 

was Jack Harris, who heads Exploitation Productions 

in Philadelphia 

San Francisco included Arthur Ungar, the 

popcorn man. and Sherry Sai-ber of Triple 

S Supply . Zuma is the new manager 

of the Garfield in Alhambra, a unit in the 

Vinnicof circuit. 

Dave Bershon, pioneer southland showman 

who operates the Leimert Theatre in Los 

Angeles, received a scroll of appreciation and 

friendship from his industry friends at a 

luncheon given on his 65th birthday. Presenting 

the scroll was Jack Y. Herman of the 

Eastland circuit. 

'New Orleans' Will Have 

Debut at Mardi Gras 

HOLLYWOOD—"New Orleans Uncensored," 

waterfront drama produced by Sam Katzman 

for Columbia, will be world-premiered February 

21 in New Orleans, where most of it was 

filmed, the opening coinciding with the 

launching of that city's famed Mardi Gras. 

Arthur FYanz and Beverly Garland, stars of 

the picture, will make personal appearances 

and more than 250 longshoremen and union 

officials will be guests at the event. 

Award Dinner Postponed 

HOLLYWOOD—Its annual Golden Globe 

Award dinner, originally scheduled for 

Wednesday (19 1, was indefinitely postponed 

by the Hollywood Foreign Correspondents 

Ass'n. 

Warner Approves Pla 

For 'Animal World' 

HOLLYWOOD—Final productioi 

have been approved by Jack L. Wa 

"The Animal World." which it 

' 

nounced several months ago would 

duced for Warner Bros, release by In 

It is set for lensing in Technicolor a 

screen and will trace the historj 

earth's living things. 

A special unit headed by Willis O'B 

Harryhausen and cameraman Haro 

man will shoot prehistoric scenes r 

the dinosaur era, while Allen and hi< 

ion associate have checked out for > 

to begin location work in the Mi 

Natural History. 

Allen won an Academy Award in 

"The Sea Around Us," another docu 

which was released by RKO. 

All-Year Solicitation 

Being Considered by F 

HOLLYWOOD—Because there a 

fluctuations in studio employment 1 

casioned by global production acti 

other factors, a year-around .solici 

the Permanent Charities Committee 

consideration, it was disclosed 1 

Toomey, PCC president, and Ral] 

chairman of its 1955 fund raising c 

Reporting that subscriptions to c 

reached a total of 20,662 pledges fc 

225, which is 83.21 per cent of the 

goal. Toomey and Clare said overses 

"enormously complicates" the task 

tation. Further, they declared, hiu 

members of unions and guilds maj 

of fluctuating employment, be idle d 

PCC's once-a-year campaign. 

Elmer Rhoden Will H 

Hospital Fund Dinner 

HOLLYWOOD—Elmer C. Rhode 

dent of National Theatres, will fu 

chairman of the special fund for 

Denver hospital and sanatorium's 

tarian of the Year dinner, a SlOO-a 

fair to be held March 20 at the Be\ 

Hotel. Dinner chairman is Don 

Paramount executive producer. 

Danny Kaye will receive this year's 

recognition of his humanitarian war 

bassador-at-large" for the United 

International Children's Educations 

will be presented by Eleanor Ro 

past winner. 

To Make Film in Boml 

HOLLY'WOOD—Vinod Pathak. pi 

Indo-American Films, checked in 

plete arrangements whereby Rogei 

independent filmmaker, will produc 

rect a picture in Bombay. Pathak w 

and furnish one Hindu star, whili 

will supply tw-o American players. 

To 20th-Fox Docket 

HOLLYWOOD—"Seven Cities of 

action drama to be filmed in M 

been added to the 20th-Fox dockf 

Webb will direct and co-produce 

wife. Barbara McLean, a film editc 

the leads are Michael Rennie. Cani 

chell, Richard Egan and Rita Mor 

42 

BOXOFFICE :: Janus

, 

Salinas: 

: Vern 

. . 

U- 

s 

Bring 

[les 

who is making a 

?ns. attachable to 

;ction of any type 

esulting from four 

3E exceeded all exmed 

the lens the 

ide to its quality 

At the rate orders 

ts soon to have his 

md in most of the 

JCISCO 

atre at Bass Lake, 

be handled by the 

agency . . . The 

merly operated by 

I be converted into 

ie is the new asreplacing 

Dorothy 

Mike Hogan. War- 

)wn for a few days 

amount Theatres, 

es headquarters to 

sad Earl Long . 

r for Griggs Seatveek. 

r at Warner Bros., 

recuperating from 

iller. Allied Ai'tists 

from Los Angeles 

Night" and "The 

Hulling, AA, and 

rheatres, attended 

ach Golf Tourna- 

Paramount salesd 

is using a cane 

i Amusement Co.. 

ive-in there. Cenistalled 

by Walter 

Theatre, Oakland, 

5 conference with 

Reports are that 

ead together with 

n to Oakland will 

. . Visitors on the 

hens, Dixon Thea- 

Valley Drive-In, 

Rio Theatre, Rich- 

1 Theatre. Sonora; 

Drive-In; Barney 

William 

uisun; Tony Enea, 

1 Sal and Johnny 

in Oakland. 

installing Cinema- 

Theatre . . . The 

int Fund Theatre 

iling Cinemascope 

f Kalbhenn. Westhandling 

the inhit 

plenty of snow 

rheatre. King City. 

oking and buying. 

H. Garcia. Castro- 

Paddack. 

Hanford; Mason 

and his Saratoga 

koff. Ritz Theatre, 

Winters Theatre, 

ith his wife, Cali- 

— 

— 

—— 

— — 

'20,000 Leagues Dominafes LA Scene 

Despite Strong Debut of Vera Cruz 

LOS ANGELES—Opening very strong at 

200 per cent, "Vera Cruz" nevertheless was 

relegated to show position behind the phenomenal 

"20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," 

which hit 250 per cent in its fourth stanza. 

Another substantial opener, at 150 per cent, 

was "Green Fire." 


Chinese There's No Business Like Show Business 

(20th-Fox), 4fh wk I 50 

Egyptran Deep in My Heart (MGM), 4th wk 80 

El Rey—Romeo ond Juliet (UA), 4th wk 75 

Fine Arts The Boretoot Contessa (UA), 11 th wk. . 80 

Four Star The Detective ;Col), 4th wk 150 

Fox Wilshirc 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea 

(Buena Vista), 4th wk 250 

Howaii, State Green Fire (MGM), plus. State only, 

Port of Hell (AA) 1 50 

Hillstreet, Pantoges The Silver Chalice (WB), 

4th wk 

90 

Hollywood Poramount Sign of the Pogon (U-l), 

4th wk 

90 

Orpheum, Hollywood, Warners Wiltern The 

Violent Men (Col); The Bamboo Prison (Col), 

2nd wk 

90 


I Married o Savage (SR); French 

Peep Show (Sonney) 

90 

Vogue, Los Angeles, Ritz So This Is Paris (U-l); 

The Yellow Mountain (U-l) 

100 

Warners Beverly The Country Girl (Para), 

4th wk 160 

Warners Downtown, Fox, Loyola, Uptown Vero 

Cruz (UA) 200 

Warners Hollywood This Is Cineromo (Cinerama), 

90th wk 

no 

'20,000 Leagues' Strong 

In Seattle Windup 

SEATTLE — "20,000 Leagues Under the 

Sea" wound up a four-week run at the Paramount 

with a strong 150. Also fiimhing fourweek 

runs were "There's No Business Like 

Show Business," which chalked up a healthy 

125 at the Fifth Avenue, and "Sign of the 

Pagan," paired with "Four Guns to the Border," 

which pulled a good 120 at the Blue 

Mouse. The Alec Guinness comedy, "The Detective," 

grossed a strong 135 in its first 

week at the Music Box. 

Blue Mouse Sign of the Pogon (U-l); Four Guns 

to the Border (U-l), 4th wk 

.120 

Coliseum The Violent Men (Col) 

.130 

Fifth Avenue There's No Business Like Show 

Business (20th-Fox), 4th wk 125 

Music Box— The Detective (Col) '35 

Music Hall ^Deep in My Heart (MGM), 2nd wk. . 

.130 

Orpheum So This Is Paris (U-l); The Yellow 

Mountain l ) "5 

1 

Poramount 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (BV), 

4th wk 150 

"Show Business' in Fourth Week 

Remained Top Denver Draw 

DENVER — "There'.s No Business Like Show 

Business" proved to be the big draw here 

in its fourth week with 190 and stayed for a 

fifth stanza. "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" 

should have stayed four full weeks, but firm 

bookings prevented, so it got only three days 

on the fourth. "Athena" was strong at the 

Paramount and was also held. 

Aladdin Trouble in the Glen (Rep); Go, Man, Go! 

(UA) 90 

Centre There's No Business Like Show Business 

(20th-Fox), 4th wk 190 

Denham Block Tuesday (UA) 1 20 

Denver 20,000 Leagues Under the Seo (Buena 

Vista), 3 days of 4th wk 110 

Esquire Earrings of Madame De (Arlan) 40 

Orpheum Deep in My Heart (MGM), 3rd wk 85 

Paromount Athena (MGM) 1 40 

"Cruz' 

Tops Frisco 

With High 200 

SAN FRANCISCO—In a week where there 

was only one opening attraction here, the 

United Artists paced the first run houses with 

a high 200 per cent for "Vera Cruz" in its 

third highly successful week. In its first 

week, "Young at Heart" opened with 150 at 

the Paramount, while the third week of 

— 

— 

—— 

— 

— 

"20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" at the Golden 

Gate shared second place honors with a similar 

gross. 

Fox—There's No Business Like Show Business 

(20th-Fox), 3rd wk )00 

Golden Gate 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea 

(Buena Vista), 3rd wk 

Paramount Young at Heart (WB); The 

150 

Cowboy 

(LP) 150 

St. 100 

Artists 

200 

Worfield Deep in My Heort (MGM), 2nd wk...l10 

Froncis—The Silver Chalice 

United 

Vera Cruz (UA), 

(WB), 

3rd 

3rd wk 

wk 

'Pagan' a Big Opener 

At Portland 

PORTLAND—"Sign of the Pagan" held the 

spotlight here with a score of 250 per cent. 

Broadway Green Fire (MGM) 200 

Fox—There's No Business Like Show Business 

(20th-Fox), 4th wk 90 

Guild The Detective (Col) 200 

Liberty Sign of the Pagan (U-l) 250 

Paromount Reap the Wild Wind (Para), reissue. .125 

Orpheum 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (BV), 

4th wk 110 

Delay on Airer Permit 

Near Fullerton, Calif. 

FULLERTON. CALIF.—Action has been 

delayed temporarily on a permit to erect a 

drive-in theatre here after protests against 

the installation were lodged with county 

supervisors by the Fullerton Union High 

School district board of trustees and nearby 

property owners. The proposed ozoner, a unit 

in the Pacific Drive-In chain, would accommodate 

1,400 cars. 

The school board expressed concern over 

noises, lights, traffic, drainage and other 

problems since the drive-in would be located 

near a proposed new high school. 

The county planning commission previously 

recommended approval of the theatre, which 

would have a 90xll0-foot screen. 

Attends MGM Workshop 

FRUITA, CALIF.—Bob and Melba 

Walker 

of the Uintah Theatre attended the MGM 

Ticket Selling Workshop recently held in 

Denver, presided over by Mike Simons, 

MGM director of public relations, and actor 

George Murphy. The Walkers recently installed 

Cinemascope with Mirrophonic sound. 

zÂST. i;fMST£^.7ff?A5T£Sr SERViCe I 

/ÔRDER«ettex 

/SPECIAL 

k|RilILER5 

FROM 

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

Gerald L. Karski.... President 

Only Theatre in Northwest County Seat 

Town pop. over 3.000; County over 30.000. Widf 

screen, excellent equip, and seats. Poured concrete 

bido. with rentals. One owner many years. High 

grosses and low film costs. $15,000 down will handle. 

THEATRE EXCHANGE, Bkr. 

5724 S. E. Monroe St. Portland 22, Ore. 

Phones Ev. 1-7100 — 1-1606 

i 

I. 1955 43

. . Earle 

' 

, 

Cinerama Observes 

First Year in Frisco 

SAN FRANCISCO—•This Is Cinerama" 

marked its first year at the Orpheum Theatre 

here with a gala celebration Thursday January 

13. A luncheon, sponsored by the San 

Francisco Chamber of Commerce, was attended 

by 300 prominent guests. Thomas J. 

Mellon, president of the chamber, was luncheon 

chairman; Dion Holm, city attorney, 

spoke, and Paul Speegle was toastmaster. 

Mellon paid tribute to Cinerama for its "contributions 

in the educational as well as entertainment 

field" and Holm, representing the 

mayor, asserted the film has added to the 

city's prestige as an entertainment center and 

has attracted business to the city. 

In the evening at the theatre visitors were 

greeted by Pat Fournival, "Miss Cinerama," 

and two "This Is Cinerama" stars, Anne 

Haynes and Betty Skelton. Edmund G. 

Brown, state attorney general, cut the huge 

anniversary cake prepared for the occasion. 

San Francisco's Caledonian pipe band provided 

the music. Guests included Lester B. 

Isaac, national director of exhibition for 

Cinerama, and W. J. Mcllwain, western division 

manager. Jackson Miller is manager of 

the Orpheum. 

PORTLAND 

•pxhibitors, members of the press and leaders 

in lumber circles here attended a preview 

Monday afternoon (17) at the 21st Avenue 

Theatre of Republic's "Timberjack," which 

will be world-premiered in Missoula February 

4. Herbert Yates, Vera Ralston. Adolphe 

Menjou and other members of the cast 

stopped over in Portland en route to Montana 

last summer where the picture was 

filmed. Francis Bateman, western division 

manager of Republic, was here to confer with 

Jack Partin on product. Bateman was in 

Missoula making plans for the premiere showing 

of the film. 

Don Prince, RKO publicity department executive, 

was here working on plans for "Underwater!" 

the Jane Russell starrer which 

has been booked by the Broadway for a 

February showing. Taking a page from the 

Florida premiere of the film. Prince is planning 

on getting local reviewers to "review" 

the film underwater . Keate was 

in working on "Vera Cruz." A special screening 

was scheduled for Thur.sday (20* at B. F. 

Shearer screening room. A Miss Exquisite 

Form contest will be launched to herald the 

UA western. 

Earle Keat, United Artists exploiteer, was 

in town working on "Vera Cruz." Promotion 

plans include a contest to be staged by the 

Liberty Theatre with the local winner to receive 

a round trip air passage to Mexico City 

for two, including a week's stay at the Del 

Pi-ado Hotel there. 

SELL YOUR THEATRE PRIVATELY 

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

Highest reputation for Icnow-how 

and fair dealing. 30 years experience \" 

eluding exhibition. Ask Better Business B 

reau, or our customers. Know your hrol*ii 

ARTHUR LEAK Theotre Specialists 

3305 Carulh. Dallas. Texas 

Telephones EM 0238 - EM 7JS9 

CONFIDENTIAL CORRESPONDENCE INVITED 

Registrations at Denver MGM Worksh 

DENVER—Nearly 250 attended the MGM 

Ticket Selling Workshop here last week. The 

registration list follows: 

(Fl—Fox Intermountain) 

Agren, Williom, Fl, Denver. 

Albertini, L. J., Wolfberg Theatres, Denver. 

Allen, Everett, Rialto, Casper, Wyo. 

Allen Russell, Totoh, Farmington, N. M. 

Allison, Bill, Parker Theotres, Dolharf, Tex. 

Allmeyer, Poul, Mines, Idaho Springs. 

Anderson, Paul, Grand, Rocky Ford. 

Anglim, Paul, Fl, Denver. 

Archer, A. P., Civic Theatres, Denver. 

Ashby, Joe, Chief, Steamboot Springs. 

Aydelotte, Fronk, Aggie, Fort Collins. 

Boggs, G. E., Westlond Theotres, Colorodo Springs. 

Bailey', Tom, Lipperf Pictures, Denver. 

Barnes, Frank, Elite, Crawford, Neb. 

Bortusch, Otto, Oriental, Denver. 

Batschelet, Ralph, Webber, Denver. 

Better, Clarence, Buyer-Booker, Denver. 

Beaver, Roy, Vogue Art, Denver. 

Beers, Don, Santa Fe, Santo Fe. 

Beezley, Neil, Midway, Burlington. 

Bentz, Norman, Riolto, Cosper. 

Boering, Lloyd, Lamor, Lomar. 

Boner, H. L., Star, Guernsey, Wyo. 

Boston, W. C, Midwest Amusement, Scottsbluft. 

Bowman, Paul, Isis, Victor. 

Boyd, Foy, Golden, Golden. 

Briggs, Roy, Tower, Denver. 

Broun, Bud, Stor Vu Drive-ln, Longmont. 

Brown, Fred, Block Hills Amusement, Denver. 

Brown, H. E., Regent, Shoshoni, Wyo. 

Brownell, Irving, Star, Sutherland, Neb. 

Bruno, Jock, Main, Pueblo. 

Burdick, Frank, Avon, Moorcroft, Wyo. 

Campbell, G. L., Rialto, Hoxtun, Colo. 

Campbell, Howard, Westlond Theatres, Colorado 

Springs. 

Campbell, Ross, Orpheum, Sheridan, Wyo. 

Condo, C. L., Cando, Westclifts. 

Carter, William, Santa Fe, Denver, 

Chancellor, Bernie, El Rio, Truth or Consequences, 

Chorness, Mrs. H., American Theatre Adv., Denver. 

Chism, Ken, Mines, Idaho Springs, Colo. 

Clark, Robert, Gibraltor Enterprises, Denver. 

Clinebell, Frank, Alexander Film Co., Colorado 

Springs. 

Cockrill, Mrs. Vera, Denhom, Denver. 

Cornwall, Dan, Glen, Glenwood Springs. 

Cory, Paul, Wigwam, Bosin, Wyo. 

Crawford, Kelly, Allen circuit, Farmington, N. M. 

Creamer, John, Holiday, Denver. 

Cunyus, Harold, Roxy, Denver. 

Corter, Bob, Plains, Sidney, Neb. 

David, Ray, Pace, Chodron, Neb. 

Davis, Dave, Atlas Corp., Denver. 

Dovis, Ray, Fl, Denver. 

DeBold Verne, Midwest Amusement, Scottsbluft. 

Neb. 

Dekker, Joe, Civic Theatres, Denver. 

Denmon, John, Denver, Denver. 

DiBenedetti, Von, El Raton, Raton, N. M. 

DiFiore, Vincent, Cooper Foundation, Denver. 

Dunevitz, Sam, Park, Denver. 

Dunlap, Otis, Tower, Denver. 

Eastman, N. L., Panhandle Corp., Kimball, Neb. 

Eldridge, Paul, Cooper Foundation, Denver. 

Evans, Merf, Lakewood, Lakewood. 

Follonsbee, Mrs. V., Isis, Victor. 

Feinstein, Sam, Lincoln, Limon. 

Feitz, Leiand, Alexander Film Co., Colorado Springs. 

Fitzgerald, William, Denhom, Denver. 

Fitzsimmons, Margaret, Gibraltar, Denver. 

Fleming, Jock, Centre, Denver. 

Freeman, Charles, Ute, Colorado Springs. 

Gallagher, Harvey, Bluebird, Denver. 

Gillhom, Donald, Plains, Sidney. 

Gilmour, Chorles, Gibraltar, Denver. 

Goldstein, Art, World, Denver. 

Goodridge, H. A., Fl, Denver. 

Graves, Cloude, Flotirons, Boulder. 

Graves, Russell, Westwood, Denver. 

Greenlee, Charles, Silverhill, Oshkosh, Neb. 

Greve, Lloyd, Eagle, Eagle. 

Griffing, James, All States Theatres, Albuquerque. 

Grube, George, Horber, Oklohoma City. 

Guild, Russell, Colorodo, Pueblo. 

Gwin, E. Merle, Zorn, Benkelmon, Neb. 

Hall, Fred, Variety, Akron, Colo. 

Homlett, Doviette, Fl, Denver. 

Hammer, Don, Lee Theatres, Denver. 

Hordm, H. E., Civic, Denver. 

Hort, E. D., Westlond Theatres, Colorodo Springs, 

Hastings, William, Orpheum, Denver. 

Hoyno, Joe, Rialto, Denver. 

Heil, Phil, Volley, Fowler. 

Hilton, Bob, Empire, Affilioted, Colby, Kas. 

Hodge, George, Gothic, Englewood. 

Hoig, I. E., Stuart, Lincoln,. Neb. 

Hooks, Jennings, Wolfberg, Denver. 

Hopper, Frank, Uptown, Pueblo. 

Hunt, Herb, Rapid Drive-In, Rapid City, S. D. 

Ibold, Gus, Comet, Denver. 

Ibold, Walt, Comet, Denver. 

Jackson, Doyle, West, Craig, Colo. 

Jostorff, Ted, Dakota, Sturgis, S. D. 

Jensen, Lorry, Trail, Colorado Springs. 

Jones, Dwight, Federal, Denver. 

Kelloff, Anne, Pine, Monosso. 

Kelloff, Edno Mae, Ute, Aguilor, 

Kelloff, George, Ute, Aguilor. 

Kelloff, Mitchell, Pine, Monosso, Colo. 

Kirk, A. L., Grant, Gront, Neb, 

Kelly, E. J., Chief, Pueblo. 

Klein, Richard, Block Hills Amuse., Rapic 

Knight, T. E,, Knight Theatres, Riverton 

Knox, Elsie, Knox, Durango. 

Knox, Ted, Theatre Service Supply, Den\ 

Koonces, Orlond, Rialto, Alomoso. 

Kroll, Charles, Lincoln, Lincoln, Neb. 

Knill, Fred, Gibraltor, Denver. 

Loney, Pete, Riolto, Cosper. 

Leeper, H. G,, Chief, Colorado Springs. 

Leonard, Gordon, Criterion, Oklohomo C 

Lewis, Edna, Peerless, Holyoke, Colo. 

Lofgren, M. E,, Chief, Greeley. 

Lotito, Robert, Denhom, Denver, 

Low, Williom, Ogden, Denver. 

Lowrey, Lorry, Hippodrome, Julesburg, 

Lusk, Deitz, Theotre Architecs, Colorod( 

Lydoy, Paul, Fl, Denver. 

Mock, Irving, Filmock, Chicogo. 

Mogor, Erna, Pastime, Pine Bluffs, Wj 

Martin, Mert, Unique, Gunnison. 

Mortinez, Seby, Fox, Wolsenburg. 

May, Keith, Fox, Aurora. 

Moyne, Donald, Lake Drive-ln, Pueblo. 

McCormick, George, McCormick, Canon 

McCormick, Harold, McCormick, Conon 

McGee, Pot, Cooper, Denver. 

McLaughlin, C E,,Ritz, Los Animos, 

Medoro, Mel, Wolfberg, Denver, 

Medley, Tom, Block Hills, Denver. 

Meier, Dorothy, Wyoming, Lusk, Wyo. 

Meier, Melvin, Wyoming, Lusk. 

Menogh, Elden, Big Top, Fort Lupton. 

Mitchell, William E., Ritz, Denver. 

Monson, Don, Ute, Rifle. 

Morrison, Loren, Elks, Ropid City, S. I 

Mosemon, Leonard, Plains, Sidney, Neb 

Murphy, Tom, El Raton, Roton, N. M. 

Myers, Lyie, Yuma, Yumo. 

Nelson, Robert, Fox, Leodville. 

Newkirk, Les, Fox, Boulder. 

Ostenburg, W. H. jr.. Ill, Midwest 

Scottsbluft. 

Pocheco, Norman, Atlas Corp., Denver 

Porker, J. C, Mission, Dolhort, Tex. 

Peterson, Jomes, Vogue, Littleton. 

Petry, Albert, Liberty, Pogoso Springs. 

Phillips, Don, Empire and Affiliated, C 

Phihpson, M. H., Corrol Drive-ln, Hud 

Pike, Alberta, Vogue Art, Denver. 

Pipitone, Nino, Esquire, Denver. 

Poland, Gale, Gem, Hill City, S. D. 

Powell, J, K., Wroy, Wroy, 

Pyle, Gene, Lyric, Choppell, Neb. 

Ribble, Tom, Star Drive-In, Albuquerq 

Rice, Harold, Fl, Denver. 

Ricketson, Rick, Fl, Denver. 

Rider, Frank, Choteou, Wounefo, Neb. 

Roberts, E. Frank, Cooper, Denver. 

Roberts, John, Wolfberg, Denver. 

Romano, Ann, Rex, Louisville. 

Romano, Cormen, Rex, Louisville. 

Rothmon, Paul, Lee Theatres, Denver. 

Rudick, Moe, Gila, Silver City, N, M, 

Senders, Si., Fl, Denver. 

Sowoyo, John, Strand, Trinidad. 

Schofluetzel, John, Sterling, Greeley. 

Schmidt, Dorronce, Trail, Bridgeport, 

Semon, Lionel, Pueblo Drive-ln, PuebU 

Sherman, Jo Anne, Fl, Denver. 

Shire, Charles, Nebrosko, Lincoln. 

Simon, Bill, Princess, Del Norte. 

Smiley, Tom, Wolfberg, Denver. 

Smith, J. R., Chief, Steamboat Spring! 

Smith, Les, Fl, Longmont. 

Smith, Richard, Mayan, Denver. 

Spohn, Bob, Booker, Denver. 

Specht, Eddie, Solido, Solido. 

Spiilone, Fronk, Flotirons, Boulder. 

Stonger, R, L., Evans Drive-In, Denver 

Starsmore, Lorry, Westlond, Colorodo 

Steele, Billie, McCook Drive-ln, McCool 

Stevens, Louis, Pastime, Pine Bluffs, V 

Stroh, Rhuben, Nuggett, Telluride. 

Strong, Luther, Mesa, Grond Junctior 

Stuever, Charlotte, Rialto, Denver. 

Tagert, William, Skylite, DeJto, Colo. 

Thomoson, Dovid, Rainbow, Cope, Col 

Thorne, Ed, Cooper, Oklahoma City. 

Troxler, Alva, Wolfberg, Denver. 

Troylor, Harvey, Cooper, Grand Juncti 

Vondeventer, William, Lokeshore, Der 

Vernon, Allen, Wolfberg, Denver, 

VIeck, Joe, Fox, LoJunto. 

Walker, Bob, Uintoh, Fruita. 

Watson, Bob, Logan, Sterling. 

West, Owen, West, Rock Springs. 

Wilhelm, Horry, Tabor, Denver, 

AA 

BOXOFFICE 

:: Janu

Exhibitors Study Ticket Selling at Workshop 

bitors and film folk registered for the MOM Ticket Selling Workshop at Denver. Sitting at the table in left 

Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Boner, Irving Mack, M. E. Lofgren and Edward Kelly. Right photo: Norman Bentz, Everett 

id Feitz, Frank t'lineball. (Second table) Pete Laney, VV. H. Ostenberg III, Charles Gilmour, W. C. Boston, Vern 

(Unidentified), Don Cornwall and Sam Wormus. 

aul .Anderson. Phillip lleil. 

o) Don Beers. Bob Walker, .Vrt (ioldstein, Frank .Aydelotte, Ross Campbell, Paul Cory, Nate Eastman. (Second 

el, Chuck Kroll. George Grube, Ed Thorne, Jack Bruno, Ike Hoig. (Third table) Frank Hopper. Larry Jensen, 

hire, Charles Freeman, Frank Roberts. In right photo may be seen (front table) Dorrance Schmidt, Fay Boyd, 

specht, Esmond Hardin, Frank Barnes. (Second table) Charles Greenlee, Mert Martin, George Hodge, William 

:, Dave Davis. 

ow only) are Harold Brown, Don Wayne, Lionel Semon, Mrs. Edna Lewis, John Sawaya ajid Al Petry. Right 

oe Dekker, Dwight L. Jones, John W. Creamer, William Vandeventer, Otto Bartusch, and (back row) Wilbur 

TS. Ted Knox and Mrs. Melvin Meier. 

m 

ncncscm 

son, Sam Dunevitz, J. C. Parker, Kelly (raw ford. Bill Tagert, Ku^sell .Allen. Right photo shows Leonard Mose- 

Don Gillham. 

eceding page) 

Boulder, 

nver. 

3erg, Denver, 

r, N. M. 

3, Denver, 

nd. 

y- 

, Julesburg. 

, Julesburg. 

ns and Emery Austin, 

I Reynolds, Dollas; Mr. 

rge Murphy, Hollywood; 

Francisco; Bill Williams, 

Ivon Fuldauer, Chicago; 

Allan Wieder, Seattle; 

imith, Sheo circuit, and 

Frank Jenlcins, Jerry 

de Newell, Floyd Brethjnver. 

DENVER^More than 250 attended the 

MGM Work-shop held here last week. There 

were more exhibitors in Denver for the affair 

than were ever here for any event in the 

pa-st. Emery Austin, executive from the New 

York home office, the principal .speaker, went 

into many phases of ticket selling. 

While the Workshop was in progress Gov. 

Ed Johnson proclaimed January as "Go to the 

Movies Month." 

The day after the Workshop Colorado 

COMPO gave a luncheon for members of 

the state legislature, just starting theii- annual 

session. About 400 attended this affair, which 

was addressed by George Murphy. Hollywood 

goodwill ambassador, who told the legislators 

and theatre owners some of the bright sides 

of life in Hollywood, and of the efforts of the 

filmmakers, distributors and theatremen to 

give people good entertainment. The luncheon 

is an annual affair. 

After the luncheon a half-hour business 

session was held by COMPO. and Pat McGee, 

president of the Rocky Mountain unit, and 

Sam Feinstein told of reasons why theatremen 

should support COMPO, with dues set at 

five cents a seat. McGee told of COMPO 

efforts in tax and other matters, while Feinstein 

pointed out why exhibitors should join. 

The two days wound up with a dinner 

dance given by Variety Tent 37, with about 

260 attending. 

All of the meetings were held at the 

Cosmopolitan Hotel. 

!2. 1955 45

. . The 

. . Twentieth-Fox 

SALT LAKE CITY 

^he face of Salt Lake City area theatres has 

undergone quite a change in recent 

months. The latest to install Cinemascope is 

the Rialto, one of the downtown area's storied 

showhouses. Nearly all second runs in the 

city area also have Cinemascope. 

Jack Swonson's brother Kayo has resigned 

his position at National Screen to join Jack 

in his theatre enterprises. Jack took over 

the Colony several weeks ago and turned it 

into a three-picture house which has been 

coining money on popcorn and candy as well 

as pictures. Just recently Jack took over the 

State. 

Tania Karol has been named manager of 

the World Playhouse and Tower Theatre, 

operated by an organization headed by George 

Hatch, Sid Cohen and Irving Gillman. Miss 

Karol succeeds P. A. Speckart, who resigned 

to devote more time to the Golden Rule 

Club, a safety organization, and other pursuits 

. . . Mr. and Mrs. Don V. Tibbs have returned 

from Hawaii, where they visited with 

their daughter and son-in-law over the 

Christmas holidays. 

Eugene Jelesnik, genial man about Filmrow, 

has resumed his television program. Video 

Fi-olics ... A new drive-in will open late 

next summer in the south part of Salt Lake 

County, and another is expected to open in 

the southeast section . . . Anne FYancis, only 

feminine player in "Bad Day at Black Rock," 

was here on a tour on behalf of the film, 

which was playing at the Uptown. 

R. M. Beber, motion picture owner and 

operator, has been named a vice-president of 

the Bank of St. George. This southern Utah 

community was the site last summer for the 

production of "The Conqueror," Howard 

Hughes $6,000,000 picture starring John Wayne 

and Su.san Hayward ... A group from Republic 

Pictures has been in St. George the 

past three weeks to film "The Man From 

Texas," starring John Payne and Mona 

Freeman. 

Edward Redmond Dies 

SAN JOSE—Edward Redmond, West Coast 

theatrical figure, died here recently. He was 

in the theatrical business for many years 

and ran the old Novelty Theatre in Fresno 

about 1910. Redmond operated stock companies 

up and down the coa.st, after coming 

to California from New York in the 1890s. 

Small Fire at Fresno 

FRESNO— A fire started in the Azteca 

Theatre when woodwork was ignited by an 

overheated floor furnace. Although there 

were patrons in the theatre at the time, 

there was no disorder and firemen quickly 

put out the flames. Damage was estimated 

to be around $100. 

WE CAN SELL YOUR THEATRE 

SUBURBAN 

HOMES CO. 

THEATRE SALES DIVISION 

CALL- IRV BOWRON -WRITf 

Ph. PR. 4-327S 

274S-S.E. S2nd 

KE 1374 

Pertland 66, Of*. 

COLORADO PROCLAMATION— Gov. 

Edwin Johnson of Colorado signs a proclamation 

saluting exhibitors of the state 

and declaring January "Go to the Movies 

Month." John Ericson, star of "Bad Day 

at Black Rock" (center) and Emery Austin, 

MGM exploitation head, look on. 

DENVER 

pdward J. Mapel, city councilman the past 

12 years and owner of the Gem and Colorado, 

will run again for the city council. 

Mapel has been president of the council 

twice . . Ray Davis, retiring chief barker 

. 

of Variety Tent 37, was given a portable 

television set at the club's winter ball in 

appreciation of his efforts in keeping things 

going while the club was without quarters, 

having been burned out early last year. The 

club hopes to move into new quarters at the 

Cosmopolitan Hotel in May. 

Nebraskans Harold OLson, Sidney, and Kenneth 

Swartz, Red Cloud, are building a 400- 

Tent 37 

car drive-in at Florence, Colo. . . . 

gave the University of Denver speech and 

hearing clinic $1,000 to be used in the purchase 

of equipment . . . Richard Klein, general 

manager of the Black Hills Amusement 

Co., Rapid City, S. D., was in for the MGM 

Ticket Selling Workshop and brought with 

him managers of the circuit's several theatres 

in South Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming. 

Pat McGee, Cooper Foundation general 

manager, arranged for his theatre managers 

and their wives to be in for the MGM Workshop 

and the other events of the two-day 

affair. The group held two business meetings 

of their own and the ladies were entertained 

by Mrs. McGee at her home with a bi-unch 

... A car prowler broke into the car of 

William Sombar, United Artists salesman, 

and got away with clothing and other merchandise 

. . . Herb Buschmann. UA salesman 

headquartering in Albuquerque, was in for 

conferences with Manager M. R. Austin. 

. 

Marvin Goldfarb, Buena Vista district 

supervisor, went to Salt Lake City on business 

100,000th ticket to "20,000 

Leagues Under the Sea" was sold at the close 

of the third week of the film at the Denver 

• . . C. U. Yaeger, Atlas Theatres president, 

went to California for tltree months 

Going to San Fi-ancisco 

. . . 

for a 20th-Fox sales 

meeting were Manager V. J. Dugan and salesmen 

George Tawson, Paul Snoddy and Dick 

Fiilham. 

SEATTLE 

T oren Sackrider has been added to 

ling advertising staff. He wa 

circuit's Palomar and the Northgat 

Fitzhugh. who has been the assista 

in the Sterling office, has taken over 

ment of the Roosevelt Theatre, s 

. . . Darrel 

John Hammond who joined the U. 

ber of Commerce 

Sau; 

taken over the buying and bookin 

Cameo in Tacoma, foi-merly handlec 

Smith . 

Mana 

Burk. office manager Jim Brooks i 

men Glen Haviland and Mike Pc 

tended the sales meeting at the Cli 

FYancisco on the 17th and 18th. 

Ed Cruea, Allied Artists manager 

ing with the Seattle Council of Chu 

the Greater Seattle Gospel Crusadi 

motion of a two-reel fUm on evangi 

Graham which is to be released 

February. Tickets will be distri 

church members . . . John Rickert, U 

operations representative from N 

and Art Greenfield, local manager, a 

of the University of Southern Califo 

incidentally, Rickert, Greenfield 

Stanton, the latter office manager ai 

all lived at different times in the sai 

ment house in San Francisco. 

Lou Pressler, United Theatres, \ 

in California and Nevada . . . Fi 

Sterling vice-president, was on an 

trip south . . . Walt Thayer, booker 

Theatres, left on a two-week vacs 

to Los Angeles, Denver and Houstoi 

Walker, Allied Artists salesman, is 

Bellingham. Blaine and points nortl 

Rainier (Ore.) Theatre has install! 

Walker screen and anamorphic le 

tained from National Theatre Suppl 

Dody Heath, Seattle actress, has 

film role in "Brigadoon," which wi 

Music Hall. Miss Heath, who is a 

of the University of Washingto 

school, has played principal role 

Broadway hits, "South Pacific," 

Grows in Brooklyn," "A Girl Can," 

Men, Oh, Women!" 

'. 

Filmrow visitors included Har 

Lewiston, Ida.: Mr. and Mrs. Jei 

Rio Theatre, Brewster; Mr. and ^ 

Smith, Tonasket: Joe Rosenfield, 

Al Fernandez, Clallam Bay; And 

Olympic, Arlington, and Keith 

North Bend. 

Preliminary work on an extensiv 

eling program has been started at t 

Theatre by Hugh Becket, Seattle 

who has taken a ten-year lease on t 

house, with an option for an additi 

The Moore will replace the Metropc 

many years the center of the city's 

l 

life, and will show roadshows, reciti 

cal programs and the Seattle Sympl 

seats will be recovered and the nu 

creased from the present capacity o 

2.000. The job will be supervised b; 

Becket, head of an architectural a 

neering firm in Los Angeles. Don Bi 

impresario's brother, is here to transl 

ing board plans to reality. The reo; 

scheduled in April. 

In France i 

color does not exercise 

cant attraction to most motion picti 

tators. 

46 BOXOFFICE Januar;

Installed 

'ent4 

ur, head booker for 

cuit, was installed 

Tent 4 at a lunchthat 

marked the 

club's new headil. 

i: first assistant 

^&M district man- 

Gordon Halloran, 

ough guy, Joseph 

Jim Goldsmith. 

ically is national 

Sdward, immediate 

egate to the 1955 

Hubs International 

ew in addition to 

^. Kropp. Tommy 

in Meinardi, Tony 

,ur. 

n a suite of three 

of the Chase, conb 

by a convenient 

he Lido quarters 

luncheon sessions 

lerings. 

d Studio 

'icture 

re Production Co., 

IS here, is starting 

Hollywood cameras 

the first of three 

or entertainment 

s for 1955. 

)on, according to 

1 Niles, vice-presit, 

Chicago exhibiwill 

be showing 

grade Hollywood 

iuction.s financed 

instigated by the 

;ago home office. 

of the first films, 

racle at Santa 

ta," starring Jack 

n Superscope and 

vid Butler. 

d the old Charlie 

d, which has 122 

stages. 

!nt and sole owner 

)S, for many years 

ing commerical art 

Kling Studios here 

account executive, 

; announced. 

[uipment 

)xy Theatre, owned 

roffer, has recently 

ojection and sound 

screen has been 

lied 

shortly. 

lirthdays 

loss Scaggs. maneatre, 

is giving a 

erson whose name 

Birthday" column 

FRIENDLY DUO—Producer William 

Perlberg, left, in Chicago to promote his 

•The Bridges at Toko-Ri" and "The 

Country Girl" for Paramount, is seen 

chatting with John Balaban, head ot 

Balaban & Katz Theatres at a Chez Paree 

reception given in Perlberg's honor by 

the local Paramount branch. George 

Seaton, co-producer, and Perlberg were 

touring tlie country on behalf of the pictures. 

Sol J. 

Hankin, 72, Dies; 

Long a St. Louis Film Man 

ST. LOUIS—The funeral of Sol J. Hankin, 

retired 

theatreman, film salesman and independent 

exchange owner who died on Pi'iday 

afternoon (14), was conducted at the Rindskopf 

Chapel Monday. 

Hankin, 72, retii'ed about two yeai-s ago 

because of ill health, and in recent weeks 

has been in a nursing home. The evening 

before he died he attended an oldtimers 

gathering at the Elks Club as the guest of 

his old friends Charley Goldman and Tommy 

James, local theatre owners, and E. J. Martt, 

head of the Empress Sign Co. 

He was a native of Russia. Early in his 

career he was employed as a waiter in local 

hotels. About 1914 and 1915 he mounted 

advertising and publicity paper here for such 

companies as Mutual, Universal and World 

Wide, having offices at 622 Olive St. Not too 

long after Hankin opened his own states 

rights exchange on the second floor of the 

Empress Theatre building. Subsequently he 

opened the first Educational office in St. 

Louis. In 1928-29-30 he was district manager 

at Pittsburgh for Warner Theatres. Later he 

went to Philadelphia, and then to New York 

City. He returned to St. Louis and from 1939 

to 1950 he was on the sales staff of Universal 

Pictures under Manager Harry Hynes. Later 

he joined Allied Artists-Monogram under 

Manager Maurice Schweitzer. 

Kanfox Realty Corp. Buys 

Burford Theatre Building 

ARKANSAS CITY, KAS.—Richard Brous, 

president of Fox Midwe.st Amusement Corp., 

has announced the purchase by the Kanfox 

Realty Corp. of the Burford building here, 

containing the Burford Theatre and a number 

of stores. Fox Midwest has operated the 

Burford for about 20 years on a lease. 

DeVallon Scott has been signed to prepare 

the script for Republic's "The Maverick 

Queen." 

KMTA Board Ranges 

From 16mm to Ascap 

KAN SAO Cll'^— In sp.te of the six-inch 

snow, tiie Kaiisas-Missjun Theatre Ass'n 

uoard ol da-euôrs nieei.ng Wednesday (19) 

was well attended. Most ol the members arrived 

in ume lo partake of the excellent 

buffet luncheon which office secretary Zella 

Faulkner had arranged. Following the luncheon, 

Columbia and Paramount screened product 

reels in the Pai'amount screening room. 

Members then returned to the KMT.'V office 

where President Ed Harris, Neosho, led a 

discussion of the convention March 2, 3, which 

will feature the MGM Ticket Selling Workshop 

on Tuesday, and a program on drive-in 

and conventional theatre problems on 

Wednesday, with booths of equipment displays. 

M. B. Smith heads the program committee. 

After the convention discussion, most of 

the time was given over to a "bull session" 

on problems brought up by individual exhibitors. 

Dave Dallas of the Midcentral circuit 

at Manhattan wondered how many late films 

are now being released on T'V. He explained 

he recently played "Treasure Island," then 

found out it had been unreeled on TV the 

Wednesday night before he showed it. Harris, 

who has been making a survey of the pictures 

which also are on 16mm, called attention to 

a number of catalogs which will be on file 

in the KMTA office for reference when members 

wish to check if a certain booking may 

have played in 16mm at the high school or 

other community auditorium the week before. 

Attention was called to the fact that Arnold 

Gould at Jefferson City has been made 

legislative representative to keep exhibitors 

informed on bills of interest which come before 

the Missouri legislature. For Kansas, it 

was felt Hank Doering of Garnett and a 

member of the legislature would be able to 

help them keep abreast of pertinent legislation 

proposed. 

The legal aspects of music infringement 

on Ascap and BMI were given serious attention 

since exhibitors are unable to receive 

lists of copyrighted music from the companies 

unless they buy Ascap licenses. 

Don Burnett brought up the matter of filling 

out separation cards within 24 hours 

after an employe leaves as a protection 

against his rate being increased in case the 

employe applies for unemployment compensation. 

Dallas called attention to various centennials 

planned in Kansas, one for Manhattan 

this year, and the state centennial in 1960. 

He suggested KMTA write to the centennial 

committee at Lawrence, of which Dr. Robert 

Taft is president, suggesting producers be 

urged to make more and better historical 

films. Harris requested him to draft such 

a letter. 

Virgil Harbison of Tarkio brought up again 

his belief that some exhibitor organization 

like COMPO should sponsor a national weekly 

TV program publicizing pictm-es, since TV 

has brought such good results on those pictures 

which have been advertised over it. 

Other Mi.ssourians who attended included 

Frank Weary III. Henrietta; Frank Weary sr., 

Richmond; Tom Edwards. Eldon; George 

Baker. Earl Jameson jr. and Nick Sonday, 

Kansas City; Lauren Turner, Independence. 

Kansans were Al McClure, Wichita; John 

Basham, Topeka; Calvin Strowdg, Abilene; 

BobBisagno, Augûsta; Marty Landau, Horton. 

2. 1955 47

- 

Announcing 

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To meet the needs of drive-in operators w ho want a low cost qu 

speaker, Ballant\ne introduces its new "H" Series in-a-car spea 

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two-tone gray enamel. Single cone speaker is of excellent quality 

the entire unit is weather-treated to gi\e long service and protec 

Available with straight cord or koiled cord at slightly higher 

j 

"E" Series Single-Cone 

Another high quality single-cone, 

weather treated spealcer unit. 

Mounted in the same case as "A" 

and "Q" series. Finished in tough 

hammerloid gray enamel. 


Patented Ballaniyne double-cone speak- 

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cones, one superimposed over the other, 








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AX91 Koiled Cord 

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EDW. MIKKELSEN 

4646 North Clifton Ave. 

Chicago, Mi. 

THEATRE SERVICE CO. 

827 Wayne 

Topeka, Kansas 

48 

BOXOFFICE 

:: Janua

: four 

i 

Don't 

Loop 

— 

V pictures in Loop 

esses. All maingh 

levels. "Aida" 

ncreased busine.ss 

son" and "Destry" 

losevelt. Business 

ith two reissues 

The Big Sleep." 

its opening week 

New MITO Committees 

Appointed by Kropp 

— 

195 

stage revue, 

285 

a (Cinerama), 

200 

195 

Crest of the Wave 

195 

), 4th wk 235 

MGM), 3rd wk.. .205 

The Big Sleep 

195 

ike Show Business 

245 

.190 

Destry (U-l). . . 

der the Sea (BV), 

290 

wk 165 

e (WB), 3rd wk.. .200 

5 (UA), 2nd wk.. .195 

d wk 210 

te (Burstyn), plus 

;), reissues 185 

3t 

o£ the Pagan" 

Fox houses, 

.ys. This was the 

jxcept for "Romeo 

•eek at the Kimo, 

;rage. A six-inch 

nee the latter part 

i 

t" went phffft at 

the documentary 

s Is Your Army." 

No Business Like 

rth week. "Cattle 

IS just an average 

" held up at the 

il had not picked 

.•ell as expected. 

wk,; The Promoter 

ement 115 

rd wk 160 

3ur Army 

95 

Killer Leopard 

1 00 

.ike Show Business 

110 

Streets (UA). ... 95 

th wk 75 

node—Sign of the 

(LP) at Tower and 

150 

•h wk 130 

ilates 

3 for '55 

the Variety Club 

monthly meetings 

id directors in line 

xpressed by Jack 

help encourage 

t. 

membership meetclubrooms 

in the 

[ternoon i22i. Puwill 

be held the 

lonth. while those 

:he first Friday of 

icers and directors 

ngements are now 

;ee headed by Nat 

chief barker. 

Assembled for the first meeting of the Missouri-Illinois Theatre Owners board of 

directors are, seated, from left to right: William T. Powell, Bess Schulter, Kegina 

Steinberg, Louis .\n.seU, Kenneth Hirth, Thomas James, President Lester R. Kropp, 

Joseph Ansell, Myra Stroud, Tom Bloomer, Pete Medley, Frank Hen.son and Edward 

.Arthur. Standing: Clyde Metcalf, John Meinardi, Tom N. Edwards, Spere Karides, 

Eddie Clark, William Kaimann, David Barrett and Russell Armentrout. 

ST. LOUIS—Lester R. Kropp, president of 

the Missouri-Illinois Theatre Owners, has announced 

his committee assignments for the 

year as follows; 

Legislative—Phil Nanos, Senator Edward 

V. Long, Arnold Gould and Harold Farmer. 

Convention and tradeshow—Bess Schulter. 

John Meinardi. A. D. Magarian, Louis Ansell 

and L. J. Williams. 

Lake of Ozarks joint meeting with Kansas- 

Missouri Theatre Ass'n — Tom Bloomer, 

Tommy James, William Kaimann, Harry 

Miller, Tom Edwards jr. and A. D. Magarian. 

Membership—Paul Krueger, Edward B. 

Arthur, Charles Goldman. Pete Medley. Pete 

Gloriod, Kenneth Hirth, Eddie Clark, Clyde 

Metcalfe and Robert E. Johnson. 

Board meetings—L. J. Williams. Russell 

Armentrout, Frank Plumlee, Louis Jablonow, 

Bill Griffin, Loren Cluster, Warren Pirtle. 

FYank Henson and Howard Zulauf. 

Tom Bloomer, Belleville. 111., is the MITO 

member on the TOA executive committee, 

while members on the TOA board are Lester 

R. Kropp, Tommy James and Paul Krueger. 

The board, at its meeting In the Melbourne 

Hotel, awarded honorary memberships 

to Arnold Gould. Durwood manager at Jefferson 

City, who has done such effective work 

for the industry during sessions of the general 

assembly and in his contacts with Gov. 

Phil M. Donnelly and other state officials: to 

Jim Castle and Frances Lohmeyer. both 

Paramount publicists, and to David F. Barrett. 

BOXOFTICE correspondent. 

The board recommended attendance at the 

second annual National Allied drive-in convention 

here Februai-y 8-10. The February 

board meeting will be held in the new quarters 

of the Variety Club in the Chase Hotel 

on the morning of the 8th so the MITO directors 

can take in the Allied drive-in luncheon 

se.ssion at noon in the same hotel. 

The MITO board adopted a re.

. , . Burtis 

^n BOXOFFICE Janui 

CHICAGO 

IJarry Hoag, who owned the Momence illl.i 

Theatre; Dominic Cristallo, Chicago pro- 

. . . Virginia 

jectionists union executive, and Edward 

Mayo 

P. 

Mooney died last week 

and her husband Michael O'Shea stopped here 

between planes on the way to Hollywood after 

attending the premiere of "The Silver Chalice" 

John Ericson is 

at Saranac Lake, N. Y. . . . 

due here the latter part of January for promotion 

of "Bad Day at Black Rock" and "Green 

Ericson has a role in both productions. 

Fire." 

. 

Don Hartman is expected here as a Paramount 

Stanford Kohlberg, 

office visitor . . . who has purchased the Starlite Drive-In, said 

his experiment with a small ice-skating rink 

has proved so successful that he is doubling 

its size Marlon Brando took time out for 

. 

breakfast 

. 

at the Ambassador West before 

going on to Hollywood to start rehearsals for 

"Guys and Dolls," in which he sings and 

dances for the first time . . . Bell & Howell announce 

the appointment of John P. Buchan 

as controller and John N. Latter as his 

Eissistant. 

Capacity crowds watching "There's No Business 

Like Show Business" at the Oriental 

Theatre are undaunted by workmen and 

painters working night and day to complete a 

CANDY - POPCORN 

- SEASONING - 

For Theatres and Drive-Ins 

Distributors 

LORRAINE CARBONS 

MISSION ORANGE 

of 

Send for Price List 

Freight Prepaid on $100.00 or More 

KAYLINE CANDY CO. 

1220 S. Michigan Avenue Chicago 5, III. 

redecorating job. Scaffolding, suspended by 

cables, has been up for a month. Watching 

the project with great interest are some of the 

oldtimers who have been with the Oriental 

since its auspicious opening with Paul Ash 

May 8, 1926—Louis Green and Bill Laise, the 

stagehands, and projectionists Julius Dickstein, 

Leslie Linick and Louis Herman. 

. . . 

Bernard Jacon, IFE executive, is due here 

next week to launch a new sales drive, and 

to discuss new IFE products with exhibitors 

Cleo Moore is due here in a week to 

at the Roosevelt, 

publicize "Women's Pii.son" 

in which she plays. 

Jonas Perlberg, the veteran showman just 

out of Michael Reese Hospital, wrote a note 

to the pope telling him he had exactly the 

same ailment—and was able to lick it. He 

got an immediate reply, in which the pope 

said he, too. was much better! 

Sam Kaplan, manager for Albert Dezel, 

went to New York City on business. Pi-ior to 

his departure he conferred with Robert Lippert 

on "They Were So Young" ... In Gov. 

William Stratton's "Go to the Movies in January" 

proclamation he stated the motion picture 

theatres of Illinois "represent an important 

and unique activity, not only as 

progressive enterprises, but also as a community 

New members of the 

service" . . . expanding IFE staff here are Robert Jacobson 

and Audrey Fishel. 

That 860,000 was spent developing a parking 

plan which ultimately led to downtown 

municipal garage construction, is one of the 

facts brought out in a film produced by 

Kling Film F*i-oductions for the Chicago 

Ass'n of Commerce and Industry. William 

Hollander of B&K and Otto Eitel of Eitel's 

Palace have been working with the State 

Street Council for increased parking facilities 

Bishop jr. returned from a plane 

tour of the country as captain of the 1955 

MGM Motion Picture Celebration. 

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Illinois Installations 

Get Local Coverage 

CHICAGO—Cinemascope and o 

."^creen installations continue to rec 

newspaper coverage throughout 

Among the many recent installation! 

including the papers featuring the 

izations, are: 

Wilmington Advocate—An 11-inc 

article discussed the complete mod 

of James Butcher's Mars Tlieatre, 

eluded the installation of both Gin 

and VistaVision. The Gardner 

featured the same article. 

Sycamore Republican—The $22,0C 

and V'Vision installation at J. J. M( 

State also received an 11-inch feat 

ment, with heavy emphasis place 

new RCA Dyna-Lite screen and 

track stereosound system. 

Milford Herald News—With the 

'. 

tion of Super Panatar anamorphie 

paper quoted Milford Theatre owne 

Clark as saying he is now equippe' 

in all the new wide screen techniq 

Streator Times-Pi'ess—Following 

pletion of a Cinemascope installat 

Majestic Theatre, the paper listed 

of features booked by Manager Mill 

to show with the new equipment. 

Eureka Journal—Manager Joe 

received coverage when he annoi 

installation of a wide screen in 

theatre. 

Pontiac Leader—The installation 

& Lomb lenses and a Walker : 

Cinemascope at Edward G. Zorn'i 

was reported along with a descript 

new system by Manager Gordon W 

Arsenal Is Urged to S 

'. 

This Is Your Army' 

KANSAS CITY—All personne 

Remington Arms Co. and the 

Arsenal at nearby Independence i 

by the commanding officer to sei 

Your Ai-my" at the Loew's Midlai 

City first run theatre, in conjun 

Columbia's "Phftft" during the 

January 14-20. 

Notices were posted on the bull< 

and a recommendation by N. I. 

commanding officer of the ordna 

was printed in the Lake City Trac 

house organ, for the attention c 

ployes to see the documentary ref 

army in action. 

Produced by Fox Movietone Nev 

minute .subject is spon.sored by tl 

of Motion Picture Organizations 

tributed tln-ough the local exchans 

W. Lewis, RKO manager in Kans 

the exchange area chairman. 

Loge 19 Committees 

ST. LOUIS—Wayne W. Stephen 

mount, president of Loge 19 of the 

of Motion Picture Salesmen of An 

nounced the following standing c( 

Executive, Bob Lightfoot, Hugl 

Stephenson, Jim Hill and Lou Ra 

ance, William W. Sharpe, Arthur 

p.nd Edward J. Stevens. 

Couple Buys C'Scope 

LEWISTOWN, ILL.—Mr. and 

Werbner are adding CinemaScop 

Werbner Theatre.

I March 

I 

him 

s Heads 

IS City 

)rs of the Motion 

:ansas City, Friday 

IS of Fox Midwest 

Utz of Consolidated 

isident and Ralph 

^s as second viceli 

of MGM was re- 

Hartman of Hartrenamed 

treasurer, 

dent emeritus, rend 

memorial fiuid 

m any other MPA 

etting cooperation 

of Dimes 

Stan Dur'.vood of 

Levy of National 

n, editor and pub- 

Robert Withers of 

of Commonwealth 

insurance. 

sbrates 

ersary 

s of J. W. Davis, 

y of Higginsville, 

gathered at his 

le in the Berkshire 

3l Tuesday (111 to 

celebrate his 

birthday. Davis' 

theatre was in 

len. Mo. He also 

ed a theatre in 

ler and until reyears 

operated the 

is at Higginsville. 

till owns this propwith 

his niece, 

; Pauline Lowmil- 

Consolidated 

house. 

ide memorable by 

he day. A family 

md during the afteceived 

calls from 

le high esteem in 

?nced by the numgifts 

received. 

>5. Dead 

ry E. Hoag. 65, 

Theatre, died here 

;ed the theatre for 

ed as a city coune 

time, he was also 

iales 

Service. 

Drive 

ioy Scouts council, 

gn for funds this 

rsch, president of 

;, chairman of the 

ivision in the drive 

'ear. 

Peterson 

R. E. Peterson has 

"heatre from Miles 

;aid to be new in 

INDUSTRY 

PROFILE 

Kansas City 

Ticket Printer 

Succeeded During Depression 

Without a Job in 1937, Herbert E. Doolittle 

Started Business Firm on Shoestring 

KANSAS CITY—Herbert E. Doolittle, 

manager of the Kansas City Ticket Co.. 

is a contradiction on two points. Fir.st. 

HERBERT E. 

DOOLITTLE 

he is a native Californian who migrated 

to the middlewe-st instead of vice versa, 

and second, he owes his present business 

success to the depression. 

Born in San Diego, he studied engineering 

at the University of California. 

While employed by the RCA Photophone 

Co., he was transferred from 

San Francisco to Kansas City, and represented 

the company in the middlewest 

until 1933. In his contacts on 

filmrows, he became familiar with theatres 

through traveling almost every 

state in the midwest section. 

LOSES JOB IN 

DEPRESSION 

Then came the depression of the '30s, 

and he was let out. Without a job, he 

almost by necessity decided to establish 

his own busine.ss, selling sound equipment 

and other supplies, including 

tickets. The latter he ordered out of 

Chicago. As time went on and his 

business succeeded, he became more and 

more convinced that it would be a good 

idea to establish a ticket business in 

Kan.sas City, .so in 1937 he promoted it 

on a shoestring. 

"I don't mind admitting now that 

the first year was quite a struggle." said 

Mr. Doolittle. 

The Kansas City Ticket Co., located 

at 109 West 18th St.. outgrew its two 

previous locations at 1715 Wyandotte 

and at 1819 Central. By 1950 the 

growing business was literally bursting 

at the seams and moved to its present 

strategic location, doubling its former 

facilities. It is still expanding, with 

additional presses under construction. 

MAKES MANY PRODUCTS 

Products of interest to showmen are 

roll tickets, used by theatres, circuses 

and carnivals: folded machine tickets, 

for theatre boxoffices; strip tickets, for 

kiddylands and amusement parks; gift 

coupon books, used by exhibitors for 

prizes, coupons in the books being exchangeable 

at the boxoffice for admission; 

stub-rod tickets, for drive-in theatres 

to assist in checking the gate and 

to prevent the volume of ticket sales 

from becoming public information, and 

accounting forms for theatres, doubleroll 

coupon tickets for prize drawings, 

theatre pa.sses, after-closing tickets 

and rolled ticket dispensers, reserved 

-seat tickets. 

Some nontheatrical products are also 

sold. 

On a trip to Europe last summer Mi". 

Doolittle visited ticket companies in 

England and Germany. At Stuttgart he 

saw a very interesting exhibit of different 

kinds of tickets which had been 

collected and assembled for display. 

ENCOUNTERS PROBLEMS 

"During the course of oiu" years in 

the ticket business we have encountered 

a multitude of problems involving 

tickets which our clients have presented 

to us from time to time and which we 

have worked out for the benefit of our 

customers," he commented. 

For instance, in the ordinary serially 

numbered ticket, anyone can buy a 

ticket one week and buy another the 

next week and by comparison know 

how many tickets have been sold. With 

the strip ticket, the number is on the 

stub and stays in the ca.shier's book 

while the customers' tickets are numbered 

from 1 to 10. The stub-rod 

ticket tends to prevent irregularities 

among employes, or reduces them to a 

minimum. 

Mr. Doolittle recalls an instance called 

to their attention whereby the manager 

knew tickets were being resold but 

never was able to catch the doorman 

and cashier contacting each other. 

Finally it was discovered that the 

postman was delivering the first mail 

to the doorman and the next delivery to 

the ca.shier, passing the theatre stubs 

along and acting as their go-between. 

While the bulk of the company's business 

comes from customers within a 

1,000-mile radius of Kan.sas City, it also 

serves some customers as far away as 

Canada, Mexico, the Pacific coa^t and 

the Hawaiian Islands. 

2. 1955 SO-A

. . Abbott 

. . Hall 

. 

KANSAS CITY 

IXroodie Latimer of L&L Popworn was in 

southern Kansas the past week. He says 

Commonwealth's rebuilt concession stand at 

the Woodlane Drive-In at Waynesville, Mo., 

will have a new Cretors Olympic popcorn 

machine . . L. J. Kimbriel, manager at Missouri 

. 

Theatre Supply, and wife returned from 

a vacation in Mexico. They spent seven days 

in Mexico City, taking in a bullfight and 

horse races. One bullfight was all Mrs. Kimbriel 

wanted to see. They spent three days 

in Acapulco. The three-day fi.shing trip netted 

Kimbriel a 25-pound dolphin. 

Claude E. Morris, co-distributor for "Karamoja," 

African documentary picture, was here 

a few days. Exhibitors Film Delivery is 

handling the physical distribution of the film. 

Morris was with MGM for about 15 years, at 

one time serving as exploitation and advertising 

manager for 14 states with headquarters 

in Kansas . . . Nick Sonday spent last 

week in Wichita on routine business for Consolidated 

Lou Patz. National 

Agencies . . . Screen Service division manager, returned 

from a Florida combined vacation and business 

trip. He claims he caught the biggest 

fish among those in the Herman Robbins 

party, a 30-pound mackerel. 

. . 

Harry Gaffney of Dixie Enterprises spent 

Monday in Manhattan, Kas., on business . 

Bob Herrell of United Films left on a twov.eek 

trip in Kansas . . . Marty Landau, back 

from a New York honeymoon, was on the 

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PHONE 3-7225, 

TOPEKA 

THEATRE SERVICE CO., INC. 

827 WAYNE TOPEKA. Kansas 

RELIABLE SOUND SERVICE PAYS 

Deal ers in BALLANTYNE 

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STEBBINS THEATRE Equipfflent Co. 

KANSAS CITY 8, MO- 

Satisfaction — Al^ways 

MISSOURI 

THEATRE SUPPLY COMPANY 

L. I. KIMBRIEL, Manager 

Phone Baltimore 3070 

115 W. 18lh Kansas City 8. Mo. 

Carpets — Door Mats 

Complete InstalloHon Service— Free Estimates 

R. D. MANN CARPET CO. 

928-930-932 Control, Victor 1171 , Konsos City, Mo. 

455 Poul Brown BIdg., Chestnut 4499, St. Louis 

. . . Rose Marks, 

Row With his brother Eddie, booking for their 

theatres in Horton and other Kansas spots . . 

Missouri Theatre Supply furnished the Cinemascope 

equipment for George Nescher's 

Rio at Valley Palls, Kas. 

secretary at Poppers Supply, was on a twoweek 

vacation. 

Stebbins Theatre Supply has equipped C. S. 

Schafer's Regent at Blue Rapids, Kas.. with 

a Vocalite Silverlite all-purpose screen and 

Bausch & Lomb lenses for Cinemascope. 

Bill Presley and son Earl purchased a Raytone 

Hi-Lux wide screen and wide screen lenses for 

their Globe at Savannah, Mo., and their Till 

at Hamilton . Sher, manager at 

Exhibitors Film Delivery, flew to Duluth over 

the weekend to see his father who had suffered 

a heart attack . . . Frank Dabalak of 

Parsons, Kas., who has several roadshows in 

the smaller towns in that area, was on the 

Row showing some of his magic tricks, such 

as making half dollars disappear. Most exhibitors 

find dollars disappear easily these 

days—but can't relocate them up their sleeves 

like Dabalak does. 

Robert Strauss, who has a featui-ed role 

"The Bridges at Toko-Ri," now playing at 

the Paramount, was in to appear on TV and 

radio, etc. He also appeared in the Paramount 

lobby and signed autographs. Strauss played 

The Vernon 

"Animal" in "Stalag 17" . . . 

Gelaberts have built a cottage attached to the 

concession building at their Crescent Drive-In 

at Galena, Kas., and will live there. Gelabert, 

who bought the Crescent from Paul Hardwick, 

was working at a theatre in Grandview, 

Mo., during the war and also had a theatre 

in Ottawa, Kas., years ago. 

National Theatre Supply reports the sale of 

Bausch & Lomb Cinemascope lenses for Dale 

Danielson's Dream Theatre at Russell, Kas. A 

new Walker Seamless wide screen. Panatar 

lenses and Snaplite prime lenses went to Lee 

Sproule's Roxy at Newton. Ray Robert.son is 

Sproule's manager. A new Walker screen was 

also furnished by NTS for the Fox Midwest 

screening room . . . Jay Wooten of Hutchinson, 

in town Monday, says business is not 

as good as the politicians say it is. 

Foster M. Blake, Universal western division 

manager, was at the local office . . . Jack 

Langan, branch manager, is still in the hospital 

but improving . Walsh, Warner 

division manager, conferred with Russ Borg, 

Art Pugh of Columbus. 

local manager . . . 

Kas., who has theatres there and in several 

nearby towns, is on a 30-day vacation in Arizona 

. . . Cope Forbes, RCA field supei-\-isor. 

left on a business trip through the northern 

part of his territory, including Sioux City 

and Minneapolis. 

Glen Hall and his wife, who operate the 

Hall Theatre at Cassville, Mo., have become 

the parents of a baby daughter named Susan 

LaRue. Susan is their first child after 17 

years of marriage and KMTA members saw 

to it that she was well supplied with items 

of clothing and a caniage by giving her 

daddy a shower at the fall KMTA convention. 

Experienced exhibitor fathers are 

anxious to see Glen now and hear how he is 

standing up under the three-cornered routine 

and bottle relay race ... A news story the 

past week in the Kansas City Star carries the 

information that 56 theatres obtained licenses 

in 

in Jackson County during 1954, e 

than the previous year. 

Bernle Evens, MGM exploiteer, rep 

Ai-n. ex-governor of Kansas, as one c 

official acts, urged the people of 

to join in MGM's Motion Picture 

Celebration for the first four month 

adopting the slogan, "There's Mori 

the Movies." Mayor William Kemp 

sas City also issued a proclamation : 

of the city and Gov. Phil Donnelly 

one for Missouri. Evens also repi 

Kansas City is one of the towns 

MGM will send a troop of baby ele] 

publicize "Jupiter's Darling." 

Tom Grady, master booker from I 

home office, and Willard Gillilan 

were at the local exchange. Mik 

spent a "concentrated" four and a I; 

here last Thursday setting up the p 

the KMTA committee for the Work 

sion during the convention March 

Gaddoni. manager, accompanied S 

his whirl about town, which includ 

to BOXOFFICE. Gaddoni says mj 

tres in the area are joining in MGW 

Picture Theatre Celebration and t 

ones have received as lobby dressi 

foot standees with panels for the ( 

coming attractions. Smaller thea' 

received 40x60 display panels. 

Fox Midwest is sponsoring a Mi 

week in all its houses February 19 

trict Four has done this for several 

this year the whole circuit is pick 

according to Joe Redmond, direct! 

vertising and public relations, Spei 

rations are being put up, and spe 

night and kiddy shows are planned 

Flynn's 50-S Drive-In at Emporia i: 

readying with Cinemascope for spr 

ing . . . Ml", and Mi's. Ray Musseli 

gone to Mayo's clinic at Rochesti 

for a checkup on Mrs. Musselman's 

Mrs. Hannah Tobin Dead 

ST. LOUIS—Mrs. Hannah Tobin, 

at her home here recently, owned tl 

at Waterloo, 111., which had been 

by Charles Goldman of St. Louis, 

the widow of the late James J. 1 

the mother of the late Thomas 

prominent as a film exchange mai 

salesman and later a theatre owni 

associate of the Frisina interests s 

man. She is survived by a daugh 

G. Tobin, who had managed the 

I 

Waterloo. 

PDCHT MPTI 

STAGE EQUIPMENT C0^ 

.UIILMI 

IfLUIL 

rVEJtYTHINC rOK THE STAGE • AUDtTORIU 

BOX CFriCE . 13M Cr.nd Avr . 

Hanvi 

COMPLETE LINE OF CONCE 

EQUIPMENT AND SUP 

L&L POPCORN 

Kansas C 

50-B BOXOFFICE Janua:

: 

IIS 

t Pictures was the 

en last week at the 

nan Goerlick and 

if Realart Pictures 

)n, "They Were So 

'Renco's Art Thea- 

Lided Tom Bloomer, 

and Dave Arthur, 

ii. Russell Mortento 

modernize the 

21 South Broadway 

f Belleville will inthe 

drive-ins—the 

iv in Belleville and 

Cinemascope initz 

at Van Buren, 

IS 

in Memphis, Mo., 

c manager, under- 

St. Mary's Hospital 

return home this 

Sikeston and wife 

next month in 

.na 

edding anniversary 

DP and wife Nellie 

CO, 

home! 

new factory 

Dwrooms. 

JEFFERSON 

IS 4, MO. 

PR 2-4615 

n Service 

Film Row, too. 

intend to start a Florida vacation on the 

28th, 

Howard Alperson 

the hospital after 

of 

an 

the 

illness 

F&M circuit left 

. . . MGM will 

hold its Ticket Selling Workshop here June 

6 . . . The MITO has the Filmack trailer, 

"Courtesy Is Contagious," available for members 

. . . Art Hosier of St. Louis Theatre Supply 

became a grandfather with the birth of a 

baby girl named Susan Marie to his daughter, 

Mrs. Tony Stolz, Alton. 

Exhibitors on Filmrow included most of the 

old standbys and Paul Stehman. Winchester, 

111.: Otto Ingwersen. Montgomery City; 

Catherine Beckemeyer, Ti-enton, 111.: Shelby 

Vaugh, Salem, Ky. 

Albert Smith, Nashville, 111.; Clyde Metcalf. 

Edwai-dsville ; Kenneth Hirth. Pacific, Mo. 

The "regulars" included Tom Edwards, Loren 

Cluster, Eddie Clark, Jeff Jefferis, William 

Collins, Pi-ank X. Reller, Bernard Temborius, 

Regina Steinberg, Russell Armentrout and 

Izzy Wienshienk. 

Gordon Halloran, manager at 20th-Fox, and 

salesmen Joe Feld. Arthur McManus, Bob 

Cohen and Cliff Mantle attended the division 

meeting in Kansas City . . . "Cinerama Holiday" 

will open at the Ambassador Theatre 

Pebruai-y 21, when "This Is Cinerama" will 

wind up a run of one year and ten days . . . 

F&M disclosed plans to develop 177 acres of 

ground in the suburban Overland section with 

residences and a shopping center. 

BOWLING 

KANSAS CITY—Mary Hueisen reports 

these standings for the Women's Team of the 

FUmrow Bowling League: 

Team Won Lost Team Won Lost 

Finton Jones 34 17 Manley 26 25 

Hortmon's 30 21 Foxy Five 24 27 

Central Shipping 28 23 Mode O'Day .23 28 

Heort Drive-In 26 25 101 Service. .13 38 

Opens CS at Troy, 111. 

TROY, ILL.—The Lions Theatre, owned 

and operated by Frank Mann, presented its 

new Cinemascope equipment to patrons with 

"The Robe" on Christmas Day. It ran for four 

days. 

Division Sales Staffers 

At 20th-Fox Gathering 

KANSAS CITY—Present at the sales meeting 

conducted by 20th-Fox Division Manager 

M. A. Levy Friday (14) 

at the Hotel Muehlebach 

were the following: 

From Minneapolis 

Saul Malisow, Harry 

Levy, Robert Levy, 

Dean Lutz, Warren 

Branton, Don Halloran, 

Earl Lorentz. Harold 

Lundquist and Ben 

Lander. 

Des Moines : Dave 

George Regan Gold, Larry Dunn, Dale 

Smith and Paul Back. 

Milwaukee: Jack Lorentz, George Edgerton, 

Meyer Kahn, Morrie Horowitz and Ray 

Shultz. 

St. Louis: Gordon Halloran, Art McManus, 

Joe Feld, Cliff Mantle and Bob Cohen. 

Omaha: Pat Halloran and Max McCoy. 

Kansas City: J. R. Neger, Howard Kinser, 

Ray McKitrick, Vern Skorey, John Long, 

Frank Norris and George Regan. 

Announcement was made at the meeting of 

the appointment of Regan, salesman, as 

branch manager at Omaha. 

Regan started as a shipping clerk in April 

of 1938 and became a shipper in 1939. He wa.s 

on military leave from 1942 until 1946 when 

he came back as head shipper. In March of 

1947 he became a booker and in July of 1949 

a salesman. His last territory in that line 

included southwest Missouri and southeast 

Katisas. In taking over as exchange manager 

at Omaha he replaces J. E. Scott, who recently 

died. He is 39. 

Guests at the luncheon included Richard 

Brous, president of Fox Midwest, and these 

others from the circuit: Ralph Adams, film 

buyer, and assistant Harold Hume. Guests 

from Commonw-ealth Theatres included M. B. 

Smith, director of advertising, publicity and 

public relations, Lloyd Morris, film buyer, and 

Elmer Rhoden jr., assistant to the president. 

May Resume Operation 

HIGHLAND, ILL.—Oliver Winet may resume 

operation of his 300-car Air Park Drivein 

on U. S. 40. Since July 7, 1930, the drive-in 

has been operated by Adolph P. List of 

Carlyle. 

JBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM 

onsas City 2A, Mo. 

ubscription to BOXOFFICE, 52 issues per year (13 of which con- 

EATRE Section). 

AH n $5.00 FOR 2 -yXARS D S7.00 FOR 3 YEARS 

Remittance Enclosed 

G Send Invoice 

STATE.. 

POSITION

THE DOMINANT INDUSTRY PUBUCATIC 

BOXOFFIC 

-STAYS OUT IN FRONT 

First in total net paid circulatic 

First in 

First in 

First in 

First in 

exhibition circulation 

equipment circulation 

advertising volume 

news coverage 

First in pictorial coverage 

First in 

First in 

service sections 

market coverage 

.lA*' 

• Leadership means readership! 

To every reader, each Issue of BOXOFFICE brings 

something to inform, to encourage, to help sell— 

and make business more profitable. 

50-D BOXOFFICE :: Januar

iy 1 27 1 

) Build 

a Airer 

-screen drive-in 

,11 include faciliarge-screen 

telei 

fully equipped 

ig and sending. 

:re site on Dale 

luled to start in 

complete amusejools, 

and exten- 

;ns will measure 

eh side accom- 

18 contract price 

j, one for adults 

, is $120,000. 

be of plate glass 

ters of stainless 

red by Wil-Kin 

) in.stall. 

Auto Park and 

Workshop 

sday (27) 

mber of theatre 

Ti the Memphis 

d to attend the 

ng Workshop at 

im Mike Simons 

;ived all over the 

irs plan to make 

•mphis on dates 

?nd. 

10 a.m. Luncheon 

y. The afternoon 

ting is to study 

more tickets at 

in his letter of 

J long speeches. 

le a workshop in 

sful ideas would 

by experts. 

embers 

HarrLson, local 

tres. entertained 

out-of-town visif 

the completely 

ording to Harrifrom 

the ground 

J of all wooden 

installation of a 

ent and a wide 

agers 

)ycl Theatres has 

replace Stephen 

Florida Theatre, 

rom Jacksonville, 

ith Florida State 

• 

Robbed 

dog machine, a 

ister were stolen 

Nothing else was 

10 broke into the 

Good Samaritan Awards 

To Meyer and Wolfson 

Gala Savannah Premiere 

Given 'This Is Your Army' 

SAVANNAH— With a gigantic display of 

army material from nearby Camp Stewart 

supporting a special premiere showing, complete 

with a giant searchlight and other fanfare, 

"This Is Your Army" bowed Friday 

night (14) at the Avon Theatre before an 

audience of civic leaders and officials and 

high ranking army personnel. Public information 

representatives from Camp Stewart 

aided by Avon per.sonnel headed by Manager 

Cecil McGlohon. went allout in promoting 

the documentary. The press, radio and TV 

gave more than their usual gratis spots and 

publicity. 

The Savannah Chamber of Commerce 

sponsored the premiere and supervised the 

guest list. Pi-ior to the premiere Brig. Gen. 

Richard Mayo. Camp Stewart commander, 

paid high tribute to the motion picture industry 

for aid in making the film and to 

COMPO and theatres throughout the country 

for their aid in getting the documentary 

distributed. General audience reaction to the 

55-minute subject was above average Earle 

M. Holden, resident manager of the Lucas 

and Avon theatres reported. 

St. Petersburg Unit Sold 

ST. PETERSBURG—Tlie Roxy Theatre, 

owned by State Theatres of Miami, has been 

sold to the Stahl Theatres Corp. of Tampa, 

according to A. W. Corbett, State Theatres 

secretarv. 

CS at West Palm Beach 

WEST PALM BEACH—Cinemascope 

been installed at 

the Turnpike Drive-In. 

19.55 OFFICERS—New officers of the 

Memphis Variety Club. Seated left to 

has 

riglit: Oil Brandon, first assistant chief 

barker: >I. .\. Lightman jr.. chief barker; 

and F. J. Kai.ser. se

ABC 

THEATRICAL 

JACKSONVILLE 

ENTERPRISES 

ATLANTA 

-^ SALUTES -^- 

THE PIONEERS OF 

SHOW BUSINESS 

MR. 

HUGH MARTIN 

MR. BILL CUMBAA 

M.C.M. 

LEESBURG, FLA 

Circuit 

Thanks, Fellows, We Are Grateful for the 

Confidence Placed in Us. 

HAP 

BUD 

COCOYL 

GOLDEN COCONUT OIL SEASONING 

ROY SMITH CO. 

TAMPA 

JACKSONVILLE 

JACKSONVILLE 

. . . 

Dobert K. Harris, Florida State Theatres 

concessions manager, returned from a 

week of field work in the Orlando and St. 

Petersburg areas . . . Louis J. Finske, FST 

vice-president, also was busy in the hinterland 

. . . James L. Cartwright, FST district 

supervisor from Daytona Beach, was in town 

for advertising meetings Robert Heekin. 

FST supervisor, assisted Leonard Allen, Paramount 

publicity man, and Ed Chumley, 

Paramount manager, in a special screening of 

•The Bridges at Toko-Ri" at the Naval Air 

Station. Held in advance of the opening at 

the local Florida Theatre, the invitational 

show was attended by seveial hundred naval 

persons and civic leaders. 

. . . 

Exhibitors in during the week included 

Jimmy Biddle of Jasper, vice-president of 

the Motion Picture Exhibitors of Florida; Ted 

Chapin. manager of the Daytona Theatre, 

Daytona Beach: Jim Partlow, Partlow Theatres, 

Orlando; H. A. "Red" Tedder, Howell 

Theatre, Palatka; Kay Porter, Temple Theatre, 

Perry, and E. C. Kaniaris, Beach Drivein, 

St. Augustine Thomas P. Tidwell, 

20t.h-Fox manager, announced that a total 

of 298 indoor and outdoor theatres in Florida 

and South Georgia are now equipped for 

Cinemascope. He said 87 of these are stereo- 

SERIAL! 

with 

LARRY Buster CRABBE 

NEW 

ORLEANS 

HANDY

Announcing 



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re Supply Corp.

. . 

. . . National 

. . Mrs. 

' 

CHARLOTTE 

Ocott Lett, manager at Screen Guild and sales 

manager for Howco Productions, and wife 

left for Memphis, whence they will go to 

New Orleans to board a ship for a sea trip 

to South America and back via Bermuda . 

Queen City Booking reports the Finklea 

(S. C.» Drive-In has been sold to J. H. Huggins. 

He will install a wide screen and all 

that goes with it . . . The Riverside Drive-In 

at Burnsville is being equipped with Cinema- 

Scope. 

Gilbert Faw, Thrift Road Drive-In, Char- 

SERVICE 

and 

COURTESY 

For over 20 years 

OUR WATCH WORD 

•CENTURY ^*ri'o{,°N''D' STRONG laTps 

CONCESSION EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES 

STANDARD THEATRE SUPPLY CO. 

215 E. Washington St., 

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219 So. Church St. 

CHARLOTTE, N. C. 

30 YEARS OF DEPENDABLE SHOWS 

H. G. ARENSON 

3450 SELWYN AVE., CHARLOTTE. N. C. 

Always A Pleasing Boxoffice Attraction 

135 Brevard Court, Chorlott*, N. C. 

FRANK LOWRY — JOHN WOOD 

HAZEL RESNIK 

PHONE FR. 5-7787 

lotte, gave his wife a Cadillac convertible 

for Christmas and bought a new Oldsmobile 

for himself . . . P. C. Osteen, Anderson, S. C. 

will open his new de luxe theatre about 

Charles Bergin, Colonial 

February 1 . . . 

Theatres. Valdese, was in buying and booking 

Theatre Supply reports the following 

installations: Colony, Raleigh, Simplex 

stereophonic sound; Hallsboro, Hallsboro, 

N. C. Cinemascope and wide screen. 

. . . 

Harris Theatre Sales is equipping the following 

with wide screen, anamorphic lenses, 

etc.: Cowpens at Cowpens: Ruby, Blacksburg, 

and Pamplico at Pamplico . . . Buddy Austin 

is reopening the Waxhaw, Waxhaw, N. C. 

with new screen and other new equipment 

The Easley iS.C.i Drive-In is installing 

Cinemascope. 

Bill Simpson, salesman for Kay Films, back 

fiom Charleston, reported the weather could 

get plenty cold there, too . . Dave Williams, 

. 

IFE sales manager, back from a trip which 

took in western North Carolina to Asheville, 

reported busines.s good, weather cold . . . 

Sylvester Sandy, Sandy Films, returned from 

a trip to Baltimore and Washington. 

A brick wall and tons of earth tumbled in 

an alley, blocking the loading space back of 

several film exchanges . H. G. Arenson 

returned with- her two children from West 

Palm Beach where she spent the holidays 

with her husband Jake, who is working his 

roadshows throughout Florida. 

Exhibitors on the Row buying and booking: 

O. T. Kirby, Palace, Roxboro; Ralph Cook, 

Cook, Walterboro: Jim Height, Midway, Lancaster; 

Sonny Baker, Webb, Gastonia; Jodie 

Holland, Lyman, Lyman; V. D. Lowder. Raeford 

Drive-In; Lewis Whitley, Laur-Max 

Drive-In, Laurinburg; George Whitley, North 

41 Drive-In, Fau-mont: V. L. Hill. Rialto, 

High Point; R. R. Rumley. Fox Drive-In, 

Spartanburg; Phil Wicker, Greensboro; Fred 

David. Silver Star Drive-In, BishopvUle, 

m\\\\\\ 

^êverything for the theatre except film' 

Theatremen Assi 

On Sex Crime Bill 

MIAMI—A drastic new appro; 

problem of the sex criminal, 

prevention and cure for the old w 

bution, has been worked out by 

chiefs of Dade County. 

Their plan, stemming from disci 

during past months in which theal 

took part, has been drawn into 

introduction in the state legislaturi 

Brigham, attorney heading the P 

Ass'n's child protection committee 

studied by the entire membershi] 

all-out drive is launched for pa; 

Former county solicitor RxDbert 

and John H. Wahl jr., former pres 

Dade County Bar Ass'n collaborat 

ing the bill. Chief W. T. Nortoi 

of the Police Chiefs Ass'n, said thi 

did an outstanding job in a contro 

of legislation. 

The committee ha-s gathered a i 

ord of fact and opinion in the pasi 

showing sex crimes increasing a( 

ing rate and more and more airr 

victims. 

"There was diverse opinion i 

could be done." Brigham said. " 

more stringent punishment. But 

much evidence that punishmen 

deter these criminals. Treatmer 

vention was the real need, and 

some difficult problems in prepa 

posed law. This type of criminal 

ill. but it is unlike the ancient 

sanity, that the insane person doi 

what he is doing, or realize it is 

Psychiatric testimony indicate 

criminals understand their offei 

under uncontrollable impulses, 

draft of the bill says that offen 

sent to a special center for treat 

circuit court jurisdiction, three ] 

attending and previous offenses 

consideration. 

"Sexual psychopaths" may be 

to the state hospital and releasee 

judged no longer a menace to otl 

Benjamin H. Blueste: 

Following Heart Attc 

MEMPHIS—Variety Club lost 

greatest workers with the death ( 

H. Bluestein, who, prominent 

ciixles for nearly half a century, 

with a heart attack while attend 

at the Variety Club and died s 

later at Baptist Hospital. He wa 

Last November, Tent 20 creat 

of honorary board member and 

Bluestein, At this ceremony, he w 

as "a man who is everywhere and 

friend." 

Bluestein had served as ass 

barker and was a former presi 

Shrine Luncheon Club. He ope 

Lighting Co. He had been activ 

months in helping to raise fun 

Variety Home for Convalescent 

House at Fyffe, Ala 

PYFFE. ALA.—Fire destroyed t 

atre here Saturday (8\ The thea 

to two other stores which had bei 

by fire December 10 and renov 

under way. Damage was estimatf 

by J. C. Hipp, owner of the thea 

54 BOXOFFICE Jam

, a 

. Also 

$EATS 

HART 

in drive-in theatres 

mn last week—the 

baby! I am sure 

was very surprised 

1 fathered his child, 

d drive-in theatres 

the unusual out of 

reported the Tampa 

ts first SuperScope 

lanager for Florida 

his offices are being 

g to Tampa. Roland 

int manager at the 

>alace said "There's 

Business" did a fine 

,g the year off right, 

e pictures submitted 

"Track of the Cat." 

!ing booked in many 

I. Arenson of Char- 

NS 

;en 

in was S. L. 

SOUND 

>HIC 

ION 

frames 

LENS 

LENS 

1PLETE 

4 AT ONCE 

FEATURE 

corporated 

Drive-In 

Equipment 

Phone 3-8665 

ALABAMA 

E'S YOUR CHANCE 

le 9*1 in the 

IG MONEY 

B* Sure to Play 

As a screen game, 

YWOOD takes fop 

Vs a box-office otithout 

equal. It has 

1 theatre goers for 

ay for complete deting 

or car capacity. 

USEMENT CO. 

• Chicago 5, rillnoit 

Stallings, again in the nursery business in 

Miami following a time as a drive-in operator 

in the Charlotte area. 

« « * 

Mrs. C. W. Murrell and Manager J. E. 

Hendrix have rebuilt their Lakeland Drive-In 

Theatre since the fire, and it is really beautiful 

with the black-lighted menu list on the 

back of the snack bar and extensive land- 

.scaping. 

« • * 

D. L. Hull, manager of the Starlite Drive- 

In at Plant City, was working on the grounds. 

United Theatres Supply of Tampa has installed 

a large .screen and Cinemascope 

equipment for Bill Knight of the Ruskin 

Theatre at Ruskin, including new lamps. 

The same improvements were in.stalled for 

Kent Feathers at the Kent Theatre, Immokalee, 

and for Mrs. L. C. Yeouman at the 

Regent Theatre in Crystal River. United 

Supply has moved to its new home at 206 

Memorial Hwy. in Tampa where there is 

plenty of parking space. 

My friend Dale Elleman of the East Buffalo 

Drive-In, Tampa, a colored patronage 

situation, commented that he could not do 

without BOXOFFICE Barometer, explaining 

he found it very useful. His son Phillip is 

now announcing over a radio station in 

Macon, Ga. 

George Leonard, an oldtime promotions 

man, is now in Tampa. Roy Smith of Roy 

Smith Popcorn Co. reported business was 

good. 

The West Coast Motion Picture Employes 

Credit Union is headed by Mrs. Helen Estes 

of the Tampa Theatre. Mac L. Cowart of 

Variety Equipment commented his business 

has grown tremendously during the past year. 

He now has a complete line of drive-in 

equipment. 

Jack Braunagel Accepts 

United Theatres' Post 

KANSAS CITY—Jack Braunagel, in charge 

of drive-in operations since the Commonwealth 

circuit's first drive-in, the Tristate at 

Joplin, opened in April of 1948. resigned, effective 

Saturday i22^ to go with United Theatres 

at North Little Rock, Ark., on February 1. 

R. M. Shelton, Commonwealth president, said 

Jack left with the good wishes of everyone 

in the organization. With his departure. 

Commonwealth drive-in operations total 29 

situations. 

Instead of appwinting a new drive-in manager, 

a reorganization of the company's operations 

is being effected. Formerly there 

were the five divisions, labeled Central, Western, 

Southern, City and Drive-In, consisting 

of 78 theatres. Now the divisions are being 

numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5—with the drive-ins 

part of each division's setup. 

FST Closes Orlando Unit 

ORLANDO—The Roxy Theatre, a unit 

of 

the Florida State Theatres, has been clcsed 

indefinitely. Walter Colby, the circuits 

Orlando manager, reported a .shortage of 

films was the cause of the shutdown, and 

said the Roxy would reopen when more films 

are available. 

Incorporation 

EUNICE, LA.—Liberty Amusement Co. of 

Louisiana, Inc.. has been granted a charter, 

listing capital stock of $50,000. 

Chain Theatre Levy 

Is Declared Invalid 

NEW ORLEANS—The First district court 

in Hinds County, Mississippi, has declared 

a provision of the 1952 state sales tax law 

applying to chain theatres of ten or more 

units is di-scriminatory, unreasonable and 

contrary to the Constitution. 

The verdict came in a suit by the Paramount-Gulf 

Theatres protesting imposition 

of a special tax on the larger circuits of 5 

per cent. The state's regular sales tax rate 

is 3 per cent. 

CinemaScope at Drive-In 

LAKE WORTH, FLA.—The Dixie Skydrome 

has been equipped with CinemaScope. 

the 

neatest 

trick 

ever... 

You're head and shoulders above 

'cm all when we do a seating rehabilitation 

job for you. Almost 

like wonders, we modernize upholstery, 

repair worn parts or tighten 

loose ones, replace old cushions or 

backs . . . satisfaction guaranteed 

and the cost, too! Give us your 

requirem e n t s 

and we'll give 

you the cost. 

WRITE—WIRE or PHONE 42-1658 

MANUFACTURERS 

Foam Rubber & 

Spring CUsbloas, 

back and .leat covers 

DISTRIBUTORS— 

Upholstery fabrics 

:ind general seating 

supplies 

Up to 2 years to pay on complete 

rehabilitation. 

theatre seat 

seruice co. 

160 Hermitage Avenue 

Naihville, 

Tennessee 

22. 1955 55

. . M. 

. . Mrs. 

. . . Pi-ank 

. . 

The 

. . The 

MEMPHIS 

, . . J. D. 

. . . 

lyj S. McCord, United Theatres, Little Rock, 

was in on business . W. T. Ellis, 

owner of the Ellis Theatre, Cleveland, Miss., 

was a patient at Baptist Hospital 

Shepherd jr., the Cozy, Hazen; Walter Lee, 

Gem at Heber Springs and Joy at Des Arc; 

Lawrence Landers. Landers, Batesville, and 

Don Landers, Radio, Harrisburg, were among 

From 

exhibitors visiting from Arkansas 

Mis.sissippi came Fenley Mo.ss. Ackerman at 

Ackerman, and R. B. Cox, Eureka, Batesville. 

Lyle Richmond, the Richmond. Senath, Mo., 

was in town . E. Rice jr.. Rice, Brownsville, 

and G. H. Goff, Rustic, Parsons, were 

booking from west Tennessee cities . . 

. 

W. Watson Davis, Malco manager, had several 

visitors. Ben Hill, U-I, Dallas, 

was in working on "So This Is Paris"; Matty 

VISIT OUR SHOWROOM 

SEE WHAT 

RAYMOND LOEWY.W 

CHARLES CRETORS 

HAVE DONE FOR YOUR 

POPCORN PROFITS 

BLEVINS 

POPCORN COMPANY, Inc. 

650 Murphy Ave., SW • Atlanta, Go. 

NOW with TWO convenient locations for 

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&L 

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YOUR BALLANTYNE DEALER 

1010 North Slappey Drive 95 Walton Street, N.W. 

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Albany, Georgia 

Atlanta, Georgia 

Phone: HEmlock 2-2846 Phone: WAInut 4118 

COMPLETE THEATRE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES 

Prompt, Courteous Service 'Round the Clock 

COUNTER TYPE 

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Theatre Supply, Inc. 

Neil Blount 

492 Sa. Second SI. 

Memphis, 

Tenn. 

POPCORN MACHINES 

lor small theatres, schools, stores 

j- 

Pop-A-Lot pops SB. 00 on hour $175.00 

Cretor pops SIO.OO on hour $195.00 

ATLANTA 

POPCORN SUPPLY 

146 Walton St. Atlanta, Ga. 

Bre.scia was in working on "Violent Men," 

and Jeannie Johnson was in for newspaper, 

television and radio interviews in connection 

with the opening of "Sign of the Pagan." 

She plays a pagan princess in the film. 

. 

The Broadway Drive-In, Dickson, reopened 

for weekend operations only until March 

when daily shows will start. The Broadway 

had previously clo.sed for the winter season 

The Sunset Drive-In. Paragould. Ark., 

. . . 

has been closed until spring Laco 

Drive-In, Lexington, has closed for the season. 

— 

NEW ORLEANS 

Dob Bixler, Paramount exploiteer 

from Dallas, 

arranged a screening of "The Bridges 

of Toko-Ri" for motion picture, television and 

radio folk, held at the Imperial Theatre . . . 

The winter has been mild, but light mists 

and plenty of fog have plagued outdoor exhibitors 

the past few weeks. Most of the 

drive-ins along the gulf and surrounding New 

Orleans have been forced to issue fog checks. 

Frank Olah of the Star at Albany was in a 

local hospital for treatment of a back injury 

Smith, Grand Theatre, Grand 

Isle, has moved to Bay St. Louis, Miss. . . . 

In booking were Bill Butterfield. Tech and 

Ruston Drive-In at Ruston and Lake Drive- 

In, Pascagoula; Mrs. H. Millet, Moonlight 

Drive-In, West Long Beach; Phil Salles, Star, 

Covington, and F. G. Pratt, Colonial Drive-In, 

Thibodaux. 

Memphis Holdover Week 

Led by 'Silver Chalice' 

MEMPHIS—Unusual for Memphis, all first 

runs were holdovers. "The Silver Chalice," in 

its second stanza, took top honors for the 

week with 140 per cent. All others reported 

an even 100. 

(Averoge Is 100) 

MqIco— 20,000 Leogues Under the Seo (Buena 

Vista), 3rr| wk 100 

Palace There's No Business Like Show Business 

(20th-Fox), 3rd v»k 1 00 

State Deep in My Heart (MGM), 2nd wk 100 

Strarid Three Ring Circus (Para), 3rd wk 100 

Warner The Silver Chalice (WB), 2nd wk 140 

DuMont to Await Cost Cut 

On Color Television Sets 

From Eastern Edition 

NEW YORK—The Allen B. DuMont Laboratories, 

Inc.. will hold back on manufacture 

of color television sets until manufacturing 

costs have been reduced to a point 

where they are "realistic," says William H, 

Kelley, vice-president in charge of marketing. 

Kelley says DuMont receiver sales this year 

were five per cent above 1950, the industry's 

top year, and were seven per cent over 1953, 

while the rest of the industry registered a 

gain of only three and one-third per cent. 

Remodeling Costs $8,000 

HOT SPRINGS—Mrs. Je.sse Howe has remodeled 

her Strand Theatre at an estimated 

cost of $8,000. Included in the project was 

the recarpeting of the lobby. Tlie concession 

stand was also moved and the interior 

of the theatre repainted with new indirect 

lighting added. She also announced a newpolicy 

for the house, calling for part-time 

first runs. First runs will be presented as 

singles while the double bill policy will be 

in effect when showing subsequent runs. 

ATLANTA 

Oeen on Filmrow were E. P. Clay. McI 

Theatre. McDonough: Ebb Dunci 

roll Amusements, Carrollton; L. J. 

Al-Dunn Amusements, West PoinI 

Shipp, Warm Springs Foundation, 

Springs: Mack Nation, Southport I 

Bridgeport; Bill Harris, Lake Theati 

tersville; J. E. Martin, Grand Theatre 

zuma: R. M. Kennedy, Kennedy 1 

Birmingham: Doc Fincher, Fincher 1 

Chatsworth: M. C. Brown, Dixie 

Jackson: C. A. Drake, Drake Theati 

son; Bob and Ellison Dunn, Dunn 1 

Camilla and DonaLsonville: Al Morj 

Lendon Theatres, Union Springs; Jo 

Pex Theatre, Eatonton, and Charlie i 

Simpson Theatres, Chattanooga. 

by A. Gortatowsky. have been equi 

The Albany. Liberty and the State 

and the Georgia Drive-In, Albany, 

C. 

Cinemascope . Walton Tlieatr 

operated by R. M. Kennedy, has a 

equipped for Cinemascope . . . Georgt 

Columbia manager, returned froir 

Denise Da 

through Tennessee . . . 

star, was in town in connection wi 

Cruz," which opened at the Rialto T 

Margaret Hames, wife of Bill Hame 

UA manager in Dallas, has been a 

personal secretary to Gov. Marvin 

Mrs. Hames was on Filmrow for a li 

both with Warner Bros, and UA . 

regular January WOMPI luncheon 

will be held Wednesday i26) at thi 

Club. Tlie February WOMPI projec 

the decoration and furnishing of a 

the Formwalt Girls Mission. The ai 

also presented a check to a Filmrov 

ality of many years who has been 

long time. 

flLfn 

BOOK! OfflCf 

Experience Industry — li 

Al 

Rook -Betty Whitmi 

160 Walton st. n.w. 

tel. alpine 8314 

p.o. box 1422 

atlanta, 

ga. 

y^* 

SPECIAL TRAILEI 

Quality and Service 

Serving theatres in the South for 31 

12 cents per word 

Lowest cost anyv/here 

STRICKLAND FILM CO. 

220 Pharr. Road, N. E. Atlanl 

COMPLETE LINE 

THEATRE EQUIPMENT 

CONCESSION SUPPLI 

TRI-STATE THEATRE SUPP 

320 So. Second St. MempI 

56 

BOXOFFICE 

Janua

: here 

• 

regular 

1 Bay 

! submitted 

I the 

Owner 

— 

Rubiii Fi'els, who 

picture theatre in 

.-orking eight years 

a mailman there, 

i at his home 

e recently. He was 

owner of 15 theaand 

in eight 

er cities of south 

:as. 

II Frels theatres 

houses and 

drive-ins here, 

each in El Campo 

City, and one 

h in Wharton, Go- 

I, Yorktown, Nixon, 

lOkshire and New 

of the funeral. 

;r in the indepenwas 

vice-president 

d Theatre Owners 

prominent role in 

or relief from the 

titrust suit against 

atre cu'cuits charghim 

of motion pictres. 

The S1,000,000 

Although he lost, 

at the 

the government in 

edings against dis- 

:ircuits. 

;ivic leader, and at 

aded the Victoria 

he Lions Club and 

Fine Arts Ass'n and 

\v up in Frelsburg, 

ed for his grandted 

from Germany. 

s farm and became 

V Ulm. Making his 

iited with an operrojector 

which was 

ible. The operator, 

;t, quickly accepted 

ut for $150 includpictures 

were 

ed to the machine 

nee it was powered 

Dr illumination, but 

ormance, Frels de- 

; lamp powered by 

lis motor car. 

in 1924, buying the 

East Constitution, 

rincess on the site 

leatre, and started 

towns. In 1931 he 

lich resulted in his 

ibutors and large 

t pictures in the 

man who .sold him 

The dance hall 

head on the deal 

lents. "It took me 

;tting the business 

o him," Frels comnce 

then, Frels alscious 

of the imoperations. 

irive-in business In 

jas on the Halletsife 

Marjorie; a son 

IN TV INTERVIEW—A television Interview with Albert Warner in 

Florida State's 

Beach Theatre lobby, Miami, was an opening day ceremony heralding the showing of 

'"The Silver Chalice" at the Beach, Paramount and (lables. Warner appeared for 15 

minutes over WITV. Warner commented on the tremendous audience the book had 

already presold, and he gave high praise to actor P.aul Newman, a newcomer. Left to 

right: Harry Botwick, FST's district manager; Warner; Bob Hanna, station interviewer; 

.\l Click, circuit advertising assistant; Howard Pettcngill, advertising director; 

Boh Batten, manager of the Beach Theatre. 

Rubin S.; two daughters, Marjorie Lynn 

and Mrs. Walter Suppes, and a brother C. W. 

of Yorktown. 

Pallbearers at the funeral included Sam 

Berry, National Theatre Supply; W. A. 

Strauss, Columbia: Eddie Reyna, manager, 

Frels circuit: Buddy Muske, W. S. Higgins, 

W. S. Higgins jr., Leslie Montag and J. H. 

Bankstram. 

Among the many representatives from 

Dallas Pilmrow were Ed Brinn. MOM; Mack 

Holstein, Universal: Auggie Schmitt, Houston 

Popcorn Co., and Al Mortinson and Jimmy 

MacKenzie, Southwestern Theatre Equipment. 

Col. H. A. Cole, chairman of the board 

of Allied Theatre Owners of Texas, stated 

that Allied had lost a staunch supporter in 

Rubin Frels. He added "The motion picture 

industry has lost a very valuable exhibitor, 

a man who had to fight his way and made 

it in spite of every obstacle. In addition he 

was a fine guy," 

Cleveland Critics Pick 

Best Films of the Year 

From Mideast Edition 

CLEVELAND—Two of the city's leading 

film critics, whose differences of opinion are 

aired daily in the Plain Dealer and the Press, 

came pretty close to agreement in their selections 

of the best pictures of last year. Both 

Ward Marsh of the Plain Dealer and Omar 

Ranney of the Press believe there is no such 

things as a ten-best list. In their opinion, 

there is a best in each type of picture. On 

this basis, they individually selected their 

choices in such classifications as drama, 

musical, comedy, spectacle, science-fiction, 

documentary, outdoor, melodrama and romantic 

drama. 

Among the many features that appeared 

in both lists were The Caine Mutiny, The 

Born, Seven 

High and the Mighty, A Star Is 

Brides for Seven Brothers, There's No Business 

Like Show Business, 20,000 Leagues 

Under the Sea, Rear Window, Sabrina, The 

Vanishing Prairie, Broken Lance. Executive 

Suite. Susan Slept Here, The Egyptian, 

Demetrius and the Gladiators and Magnificent 

Obsession. 

Title of Lippert Productions' "The Violent 

Land" Is now "Charge of the Rurales." 

Ascap Names Barzen Head 

Of New Orleans Office 

NEW YORK—William J. Barzen, a member 

of the radio and TV station relations division, 

ha.s been made manager of the New Orleans 

office of the American Society of Composers, 

Authors and Publishers by J. M. Collins, sales 

manager. He succeeds Philip O. Alexander, 

who has been transferred to Des Moines after 

serving in New Orleans since 1948. 

Three C'Scopes at Miami 

MIAMI—The Ace, Bunche and Ritz theatres, 

all Negro patronage houses, have been 

equipped with Cinemascope. 

Florida's FIRST Supply House 

NEW ADDRESS . 

206 MEMORIAL HIGHWAY 

TAMPA, FLORIDA 

NEW PHONE 8-5189 

NEW CONVENIENT PARKING 

for Our Customers 

Visit us at our new building 

UNITED THEATRE SUPPLY CORP. 

206 Memorial Highway 

Tampa, Florida Phone 8-5189 

Moil Address: Bc« 375, Tompo 1, Flo. 

you CAN ALWAYS DEPEND ON 

FOR THE BEST 

, 

SPECIAL 

NEW yORKl 

I, 1955 57

. . . Mel 

; 

Chauncey 

. . Carl 

' 

MIAMI 

Conny Shepherd and Al Weiss jr. are the 

general chairmen of Variety's Show of 

Shows, the annual extravaganza for the bene- 

Al Weiss jr. 

Sonny Shepherd 

fit of the showman's children's hospital here. 

Show date has been set for February 12 at 

the Miami Beach auditorium. Tickets, priced 

from $2.50 to $20, are now on sale . . . The 

Dania Drive-In stopped patrons with a marquee 

which read, "The Barefoot Contessa" 

and "The Barefoot Mailman." 

. 

Variety Tent 33 is giving a celebrity luncheon 

honoring Miami's Mayor Abe Aronovitz 

Haber, long associated with 'Wometco's 

Mii-acle Theatre in Coral Gables, has moved 

over to the Carib at Miami Beach to assist 

Tom Rayfield. Heni-y Ki-onewitz, formerly 

Rayfield's right-hand man, has been shifted 

to relief man for the circuit's three main 

houses Jamroga is the new staff 

member at the Miracle, assisting Franklin 

Maury . . . Walter Klements is happy with 

his booking of "Aida," which opened to standing 

room only. 

"Mr. Hulot's Holiday" went into its final 

week at the Roosevelt after clocking 31,000 

patrons at the boxoffice . . . Kemp Productions 

of New York plans to film "The 

Burlesque Story," co-starring Bert Lahr, 

partly Ln Florida ... It is rumored about 

town that the Olympia will open soon with a 

first run policy. 

Mark Chartrand of Wometco is said to be 

beetling his brow over a copy-cat restaurant 

that is using "most unique" in its advertising. 

This unorthodox double superlative has long 

adorned the marquee of the Mayfau- Art 

Theatre, Miami's Most Unique Theatre, and 

has become a trademark in effect, always 

good for a publicity paragraph. 

Wolf, a Baltimore theatre exhibitor, 

is a vacationer here . . . Recent visitors 

here from Hollywood were Mr. and Mrs. Jack 

Warner, Barbara Warner, Mr. and Mrs. William 

T. Orr and Richard Gully. Mrs. Orr, 

whose hasband is a top executive at Warner 

Bros., is another Warner daughter. Orr formerly 

lived in Miami Beach. Gully is a company 

representative in England. The party 

spent some time at La Coquille near Palm 

Beach. later going to Jamaica . 

Edward Ludwig and 

. . Director 

Ben Chapman are in 

Nassau filming of "Rebel Island." 

Will Produce and Direct 'Kismet' 

Arthur Freed will produce and Vincente 

Minnelli will direct "Kismet," the film version 

of the Broadway musical, to be released to 

MGM. 

58 

De Luxe Airer Started 

By Jablonow-Komm 

From Central Edition 

ST. LOUIS—Construction was scheduled to 

start this week on the $450,000 Holiday 

Dnve-In at 9900 Page Blvd., near suburban 

Overland. The project of the Jablonow- 

Komm Circuit is on a 16-acre tract. Louis 

Jablonow, general manager, said that the 

drive-in will provide ample equipment for 

entertainment, dining, patio lounging and 

supervised child play. 

Grading of the site has been completed. 

Sixteen ramps will accommodate 1,000 automobiles. 

In-a-car electric heaters will be 

provided at 500 posts so that the new drive-in 

can be operated the year around. 

All of the service buildings will be grouped 

in a park-like setting at the entrance, a departure 

from the layout of most drive-in 

theatres, where the projection booths, concession 

stand, restrooms and play areas are 

located in the interior. The contemporarystyled 

buildings are to be linked by fences, 

walks and shelter roofs. Trained attendants 

will be on hand to wipe the windshields during 

ticket purcha;sing. 

It will be possible to keep the play area 

lighted and in use during the picture program 

since it will be in back of the parked 

automobiles. 

Serving as a giant observation balcony, the 

concession stand will have glass walls along 

one side so that the patrons can continue 

watching the picture program while purchasing 

refreshment items. Special tables will 

be located near the glass wall for patrons 

wanting to dine (fried chicken and pizza i. The 

big concession stand will have four service 

counters with entrance and exit doors controlled 

by Magic Carpet electrically operated 

devices. 

Adjoining the air-conditioned concession 

building will be an inclosed patio with planted 

areas and paved terraces. Tables and chairs 

will be provided there for outdoor dining. 

The 62xl02-foot panoramic screen will be 

720 feet from the projection booth. 

Gerhardt Kramer Associates, 9640 Clayton 

Rd., architects, designed the theatre, while 

the construction contract was awarded to the 

Swan Construction Co. 

Make TV Spots for NFIP 

From Eastern Edition 

NEW YORK—RKO-Pathe, Inc., is making 

one-minute television spots for the National 

Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. The announcer 

is Peter Roberts. Six have been completed. 

They present the Benny Goodman 

trio with Goodman, Gene Kiupa and Teddy 

Wilson, the Baird puppets, John Cameron 

Swayze, news commentator; Bambi Lynn and 

Rod Alexander, dancers, and Jaye P. Morgan, 

singer. 

Opens Airer in Mexico 

From Southwest Edition 

LAREDO—The Auto Cine Serenata Dnve- 

In was recently opened by Alfonso Zuniga 

about five miles south of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. 

It is the only airer on the Mexican 

border and one of the few in the republic. 

In preparation for the last three years, the 

starting date for Jesse Lasky's modern-day 

musical, "The Big Brass Band," has been 

set for July. 

s^ 

Little Theatre Director: 

Win Hollywood Attenti 

SHREVEPORT—Margaret Mary an 

Wray Young, whose work as directors 

Little Theatre of Shreveport has at 

John Wray Young and Margaret 

Young of Shreveporfs Little Theat 

the attention of many Hollywooc 

executives, are celebrating their 251 

versary as a husband-wife team in t 

tre. The Shreveport Times has coi 

editorially on this achievement anc 

drama papers have devoted space to 

on the contributions of the Young 

theatre. 

The Youngs, who have been at t 

of the Little Theatre since 1936, 1 

productions on their record as co-W( 

the theatre—something which has 

achieved by any other husband-wife 

the American theatre. They were m 

Sioux City. Iowa, where John Wray 

first job as a theatre director. The 

includes two seasons in Sioux City, i 

the University of Iowa, six months 

directing at the Pasadena Playhou 

seasons at the Duluth Little Tlieatn 

years here in Slireveport. 

They have been so successful 

civic theatre here that the associatii 

a record 2.700 season memberships, 

something unheard of even in con 

much larger than Shreveport—and 

theatre the ultimate in success, the 

for each season before that season 1 

Among Hollj^vood executives w 

shown personal interest in the the; 

are Alex Gottlieb, the producer: Mi 

of Columbia; Ivan Kahn of 20th- 

Ben Piazza, the RKO talent scout 

number of alumni of the civic the( 

made good in films. 

Reopens Palatka, Fla., Airer 

PALATKA. FLA.—Tlie Linda Dri' 

been reopened by Adeline Gathrop 

the opening attractions was a new 

tractive modern concession stand. 

BOXOFFICE 

r 

:; Januai

. 

Freeman, 

, with 

. 

Freedman. 

. chairman, 

Tenl 17 

Itees 

lief barker of the 

rts the following 

'arden, chairman, 

in, C. A. "Pappy" 

nter, W. L. Marleyer 

Rachofsky. 

Slaughter, Edwin 

White. 

Ithall, chairman, 

Tobolowsky. 

chairnd 

Caffo. 

-John K. Hicks. 

,ns. Morty Freedmd 

L. D. "Dave" 

rman, with Duke 

1, Lester Lief and 

Don C 

Rex Van 

)'Keefe, 

chairman, with 

Ibur L. Marshall, 

Penn and Clyde 

man, with Wil- 

; G. Potts, 

rman, with W. T, 

-W. L. Marshall, 

I. Hansen, George 

pard and Tony T. 

with 

man, Jimmie Gil- 

Ernest S. Lovan, 

iers, John Rosen- 

:, chairman, with 

. Griesdorf, Alex 

3, Lee Segall and 

W. L. Marshall. 

1, Ed J. Gall. Mil- 

Reynolds, general 

sales. Caffo. James 

ill. Ben Gold, Phil 

lachof.sky, Rowley 

uction. Walter G. 

in E. Gebhard and 

chair- 

1 Rachofsky. Pub- 

'ON 

here in behalf of 

the Metropolitan. 

replaced "White 

Theatre. The lati-average 

audience 

a three-week run 

own theatre.s. 

nt of Southwestern 

he Trail Drive-In, 

ed RCA projectors 

le Plaza at Donna. 

id jr. is manager. 

,CA Dynal'te screen 

morphic projection 

eadrift installed an 

[ylux variable ana- 

2. 1955 

A CHANGE IN 

ATTITUDE 

Dallas Critic Alters Review Style 

To Match a Change in 

DALLAS — When John Rosenfield. 

Dallas Morning News amusements editor 

who rigidly controls every facet of 

JOHN ROSENFIELD 

his department's pages, including makeup 

and typography, makes a major revision 

to picture review approach, the 

first in 29 years, this is news. But of 

even more importance are his reasons 

for making a drastic change. 

The new approach calls for the end 

of lumping reviews together as reports 

on the current screen. Crediting the 

change to "something that has been 

happening to motion pictures during 

the last two years," Rosenfield views the 

modern product as competing not only 

with other pictures but with all other 

media within the broad entertainment 

field—the legitimate theatre, concert 

and musical events, television and radio. 

"Each major picture has begun to represent 

not so much a new picture as a 

highly individual piece of entertainment." 

He sees this, not as the new^spaper's 

attitude but the studio's. "Something, 

perhaps the new screen aspect ratios. 

morphic lenses . . . Amador 

Caballero of the 

Rita in Benavides plans to install an RCA 

Dynalite screen and Hylux lenses . . . 

The 

Runge m Runge is installing an RCA Sno- 

V/hite screen with Bauch & Lomb lenses. 

Loev/enstein and Brunk 

Now Are Colonels, Suh! 

OKLAHOMA CITY—Sam Brunk. Buena 

Vista salesman, and immediate past chief 

barker of Variety Tent 22, received an honorary 

colonel's commission from the outgoing 

governor, Johnston Murray, for his "service 

tj Oklahoma while a state leader in the movie 

industry." Also commissioned a colonel during 

the last week of Murray's term was MorrLs 

Loewenstein, Majestic owner. He also was 

cited for his service to Oklahoma while president 

of the Theatre Owners of Oklahoma for 

28 years until his recent resignation. This 

makes Morris a two-time Oklahoma colonel. 

Former Gov. Roy J. Turner also made him 

a 

colonel on his staff. 

sw 

Character 

perhaps the blocked European currency 

which has forced Hollywood to send 

units abroad, has affected the screen's 

character." This now existing character, 

according to Rosenfield, makes 

the term "product" no longer applicable 

to the current crop of film fare. 

"Product," he said, "belongs to an 

antebellum day when each studio set 

itself a quota of pictures, as an automobile 

factory sets itself a goal of new 

models." 

"Now the studio releases are variable," 

he wrote in a recent column. 

"They depend in part on how many pictures 

the studio wants to make or can 

acquire from independent sources. For 

the moment, the center of gravity is the 

unit producer, not the sales manager. 

The producer in direct contact with the 

picture is usually inspired to make the 

picture because he wants to. 

"There is, of course, a residue of 

machine-made films but these are not 

the important ones. Most likely they 

carry, on frail shoulders, the feature 

picture needs of Texas B hou-ses. They 

were never intended for this role but 

rather to be the tail end of a double 

feature. 

"Certainly the boxoffice results do 

not discourage the system. Key city 

grosses are the largest ever. Pictures 

are running not one week but two, 

three and four in first runs. The A 

houses, once committed immutably to 

the seven-day run and weekend change, 

are now as variable as the programs 

they show. 

"Something has gone out of our lives 

now that Hollywood is no longer the 

motion picture. There has been a great 

compensation, though, in the fact that 

the motion picture is no longer Hollywood." 

:'X.:.»:.»K 

Dallas First Run Business 

Continues at Slow Pace 

DALLAS—Business in Dallas continued at 

a relatively .slow- pace. "Bad Day at Black 

Rock" managed to reach average, while "So 

This Is Paris" was only a fair 80 per cent. 

(Averoge Is 100) 

Paloce—So This Is Paris iU-l) 80 

Moiestic— Bad Doy ot Block Roek (MGM) I.OO 

Varsity—The Dancing Years (AA), reissue 100 

Melba—This Is Cineramo (Cineramo) 100 


FOR THE BEST 

59

Vnnouncinq 


Quality • plus i^ Economy 

^^ 

EACH 

To meet the needs of dri\e-in operators who want a low cost qua 

speaker, Ballantyne introduces its new "H" Series in-a-car speak 

Speaker is housed in a sturdy sand cast aluminum case finished 


the entire unit is weather-treated to give long service and protect 

Available with straight cord or koiled cord at slightly higher pi 



weather treated speaker unit. 





Patented Ballantyne double-cone speakers 












speaker unit as the "A". Has rich, loiiglasting 





BLUE AND WHITE DOUBLE-CONE 

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1712 Jackson St 

Omaha, NebrasI 

J. H. Hardin Theatre Supply Co. 

714 South Hampton Rd. 

Dallas, Texas 

Century Theatre Supply Co. 

706 West Grand Avenue 

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 

60 

BOXOFFICE 

:; Janui

I formed 

. and 

1 16) 

Karr 

ely Tent 

Howard 

'ficer.s and crew of 

n-day (15) night at 

onal Chief Barker 

fficiated and made 

; banquet meeting 

ief barker; Paul 

lief barker: E. J. 

lief barker; Augie 

ob Bailey, property 

Conrad Brady, 

ul Goodwin. Lloyd 

Lever, Jack Lutey. 

las. Art Routzong 

Aere conducted by 

the Omaha tent. 

if 

)arker. wa£ emcee 

ipal speakers, inhtel, 

a club chap- 

W. Starke, chair- 

/ariety Boys Club. 

Jsident, also were 

ONIO 

Carlos L. Garcia 

to help 

Spanish-speaking 

the club include 

of local Mexican 

n stations. It was 

ition KCOR that 

;r officials of the 

cretary, and Mrs. 

ephine Theatre at 

. . "Sign of the 

Is Paris" into the 

slness Like Show 

>cond week at the 

's Under the Sea" 

•un at the Texas. 

ic publicity man, 

director, were re- 

•ackettville. where 

icture about the 

ntil some time in 

s booked for the 

•The Silent Raidst" 

and "Safari 

led up with a local 

A's in running a 

Winners received 

•ee passes to see 

! Aztec. 

of the Encanto 

the 16mm Mexiolia 

Park section 

n calling on local 

visitors included 

. and the Mexico, 

I 

larville, the Rio, 

Yolanda. Eagle 

Amaya. Poteet; 

Pete Fernandez, 

Don Miguel 

unfels . . . Oscar 

ed the Rex. Mis- 

San Juan, as a 

ously ran a 16mm 

EASTERN OKLAHOMA 

By ART LAMAN 

THE FINAL curtain descended for a grand 

showman in TuLsa last week. Rube Leakley, 

well known by hundreds of showfolk both 

small and great, died in his office at Convention 

Hall, which he had managed many 

years. Rube was found dead Sunday morning 

in the office where he had retired the 

night before after loaning his apartment to 

some visitors. He had helped many local 

organizations book attractions for benefits, 

and had handled every type of concert, dramatic 

and musical show which had toured 

the midwe.st in the last 25 years. 

The Hall won't seem quite the same without 

Rube Leakley there to do the welcoming. 

* * * 

Another theatre in this area was reopened 

Saturday (5). It's the Cameo in West Tulsa, 

which has been shuttered for nearly two years 

after being closed by a federal tax lien. A 

repaint job and considerable repair work 

gave the liouse a fresh appearance, while 

J. W. Mui-phy. Tulsa sound engineer, installed 

new booth equipment. Herbert G. Parker, a 

projectionist many years, and George E. 

Strange are the new owners. According to all 

reports the opening day business was good. 

In fact, this shopping area should never 

have been without a theatre. With good 

pictures and some local promotion this house 

should do okay. 

All Tulsa Etowntown Theatres units are 

cooperating with the local March of Dimes. 

Warren Patton. city manager for Downtown, 

has arranged a Dimes benefit premiere on 

the 29th at the Ritz of "Far Country, '' starring 

James Stewart and Ruth Roman. Patton 

has turned into somewhat of a stage show 

producer, having promoted a 45-minute stage 

show featuring talent from the Tulsa high 

schools. 

« * * 

Had the pleasure of working the last week 

with David Karr, city manager for Video 

Theatres in Vinita. on a campaign for the 

opening of the Round-Up Gang, our stage 

show, which opened at the Center there on 

the 20th. This fellow really believes in advertising 

and promotion. He handles and 

builds his own displays, and keeps the lobby 

well di'essed up, letting the customers get 

a good look at what's coming up. Here is a 

neat little trick that would pay off for other 

managers : clips from the Tulsa. Oklahoma 

City and other papers the ads dealing 

with special events and the promotion of pictures 

and files them away. When something 

special turns up or he wishes a special promotion 

for a film, this file is sure to give up 

.something that will help. Yes. sir! It's a 

good habit. 

• * « 

In Sapulpa we came in contact with something 

that should be of interest. The old 

Criterion there, now in the Video chain, is 

getting a facelifting and we mean a complete 

job. Bob Getter has suspended day showings 

when workmen are busy, and opens for the 

regular night progi-am. Theatre ads extend 

a daily invitation to patrons to come by and 

see what has been done to give them one of 

the best theatres in this area. To give you 

an idea how his idea works—with the 100-foot 

lobby all torn out last Wednesday night, with 

parts of the women's restroom all over the 

place—the customers packed the theatre to 

see the Round-Up Gang stage show and look 

over the new concession stand and maybe 

to make a few suggestions as to how they 

would like their theatre to look. Right now 

it looks as if the Criterion will lose very few 

play days during the remodeling program. 

* * 

In Tulsa the stage shows have been moved 

out of the Rialto Theatre, which will give 

this writer more chance to promote the 

Round-Up Gang into radio and Oklahoma 

auditoriums under local sponsorships. The 

Rialto will continue revival pictures on dual 

programs. 

The Broadway in Muskogee, recently reopened, 

will present its fu-st stage show February 

1. featuring the same acts which have 

been at the Rialto the last 16 weeks. 

This writer will take a short business trip 

the next few weeks, and will pick up some 

jottings of interest to BOXOFFICE readers. 

Managers of Video 

In Annual Session 

OKLAHOMA CITY—Jeff Livuigston. U-I 

eastern division publicity and exploitation 

manager, and Mike Simoas. MGM customer 

relations director, addressed the annual 

meeting of the partners and managers of 

Vido Independent Theatres this week 

(18. 191. 

Henry S. Griffing. president; W. T. Spears 

of Altus. board chairman; Claude Motley, 

vice-president in charge of operations; Claude 

Fulgham, vice-president in charge of management, 

and Charles R. Guthrie, secretarytreasiu'er. 

led the sessions. 

About 100 of the partners and managers attended. 

Video has theatres in about 30 Oklahoma 

towns and 11 Texas cities. 

Video al.so is in the TV business, holding 

12':: per cent of the stock in K"WTV, the 

CBS-TV outlet here. 

Twentieth Century-Fox is holding Jean 

Peters for another term. 

^^sr. rfîsren.^fFASTesT sbrvice i 

/SPECIAL 

VraAILERS 

ROM 

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

Gerald L. Karslci.... President 

rAs> POPCOR// AIA^/Sot^s: 

IF ITS CONCESSION 

SUPPLIES YOU NEED- 

WB G-OT '£M/ 

ASSOCIATED 

POPCORN DISTRIBUTORS. Inc. 

302 S Hon.ooi Rl 6U4 Dollas, Tiioj 

1955 

61

DALLAS 

TJobert Strauss, who played the part of "Aiiimal" 

in "Stalag 17," was in Dallas (18) 

and Houston a9i to publicize the February 

1 opening of "The Bridges of Toko-Ri" . . . 

Jack L. Haynie resigned at MGM and was 

succeeded by John W. Kitts, Buddy Remmie 

replaced John Kitts as head booker, while 

Albert Flores, from Universal, was added as 

booker at MGM. The auditor at MGM is 

J. V. Scully. 

Owner Muse of the Royal at Van Alysin 

and Palace at Piano was on the Row booking 

. . . Clara Sawyer, booker at RKO. visited 

in Houston over the weekend with her daughter 

and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Dell Kerby 

. . . Don Puller. Dollison Theatres. Amarillo, 

was at RKO . . . Ti-ice Taylor is the new 

employe at RKO. 

Mrs. J. D, "Jack" Walton has undergone 

surgery in the Gaston Avenue Hospital 

Betty Peterson, bookkeeper at RKO, 

. . . 

was 

SELL YOUR THEATRE PRIVATELY 

Largest coverage in U.S. No "Net" listinos. 

Highest reputation for know-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 0238 EM 74S9 

CONFIDENTIAL CORRZSPON DENCE INVITED 

See . . . FRANK MORRIS

I for 

: Theatre 

I 

1 17 

s Strong 

lyBow 

3 of ne'.vcomers 

ckade which has 

nimum during the 

three comprised 

op honors for the 

d "West of Zanzik 

for "Vera Cruz" 

and the third for 

Show Business," 

5. 

1 ou 

wk. _ 

EC Show Business 

100 

135 

(U-1) 110 

The Atomic Kid 

85 

90 

\), 4th wk 90 

A 

J. Robert Hoff as 

;nt 16 for a second 

:ers w'tll be held 

itone Hotel, with 

r George Hoover 

uy Marc J. Wolf 

le committee in 

in Gene Rich. Joe 

. . 

1 Don Romeo . 

ler, U-I manager, 

aeart fund for the 

manager 20 years, 

the contributions 

he Rehabilitation 

er Foundation has 

Scott's four 

on. Friend exhibi- 

1 leave soon on a 

J. California, Oreand 

Mrs. Marvin 

•. 

-s, announced the 

of Marie Cogswell, 

shier, has entered 

Manager Generous With 

Plug for Competition 

Shenxtndoali. Iowa—When the manager 

of one theatre advertises the picture 

playing at a competitor's house, that is 

news, and that is just what Manager 

John Newcomer of the Page Theatre did. 

Newcomer ran an ad in the local paper 

plugging "White t'hrLstmas," which was 

then being shown at the neighboring 

State. 

"It is your good fortune to have two 

good theatres in our town," he said in 

his ad. '"I heartily recommend both and 

I suggest you see 'White Christmas' at 

the State. But I also recommend my 

own picture, too." 

Woodrow Simek Joins 

Omaha Supply Firm 

OMAHA-Paul Fine, owner of Western Theatre 

Supply Co.. announced that Woodrow 

"Woody" Simek would represent the firm in 

the territory selling RCA equipment and other 

supplies. "We are fortunate in adding a 

man witli the exhibitor's point of view," said 

Fine, "and somebody who is familiar with the 

operator's problems." 

Simek grew up in the theatre business. His 

father, the late Frank Simek, was an exhibitor 

at Scotland, S. D., before entering the 

theatre business at Ashland, Neb. Young 

Simek became a.ssociated with his father and 

wlien their old building was destroyed by fire, 

he did most of the planning and work in 

rebuilding. His Circle A is considered one 

of the finest small-town situations in the 

area. 

Simek has hired Max Welsh and Harold 

Palace to work at the Circle A. Handling 

the boxoffice is Willa Rein. 

Door Theatre Reopened 

STURGEON BAY. WIS.—Tlie Door Theatre, 

completely remodeled, was reopened 

Christmas Day with "Sitting Bull." 

George Hoover to Talk 

At Northwest Dinner 

MINNEAPOLIS—Variety Tent 12 will have 

George Hoover, Variety Clubs International 

chief barker, making his first local appearance 

wlien he Will be chief speaker at the 

club's 21st annual dinner at the Hotel Nicollet 

Monday night (31i. LeRoy J. Miller, chief 

barker, reported. 

With Charlie Winchell of tlie Minnesota 

Amusement Co. in charge of aiTangements, 

tickets to the dinner, which will include a 

cocktail session, are $7.50 a person. Members 

will be permitted to bring guests. 

The club expects to have as its guests for 

the dinner a number of state, county and 

municipal officials and civic leaders, who will 

hear from Hoover the sort of philanthropic 

work that the various Variety clubs the 

world over are doing. 

Miller has urged a record attendance. 

George Regan New Mgr. 

For 20th-Fox at Omaha 

OMAHA—George Regan, who has come 

up from the ranks during 18 years with 20th- 

Fox in Kansas City, has been named manager 

of the Omaha branch. 

Regan, who took over liis position Monday 

, 

1 

started with the firm in April of 1937 

in the sliipping room. He served four years 

in the Air Corps and, after being discharged, 

went back with the firm in the booking department. 

In 1949 he was given a salesman's 

position with the company. He is a native of 

Kansas City and has worked all the time in 

that territory. 

Reopen at Monroe, Iowa 

MONROE. IOWA—The Monroe Theatre 

here is being reopened by R. P. Davis who 

said he is responding to the many requests 

he has received. Davis said the theatre is 

being reopened on a- trial basis and will continue 

in operation as long as it receives community 

support. 

to. 

the Admiral and 

Bill Miskell of 

In. is the father 

ka Supreme Court 

district court deowntown 

property 

ruled in favor of 

ner of a theatre 

vin Bard, formerly 

ibution firm. Part 

ind the litigation 

lim. 

representative of 

ral days here con- 

I. M. Weiner and 

at Crof- 

I, now is in operaprojection 

equipnt 

which had been 

emodeling 

emodeling and reer 

way at the Joy 

R. Debbaut. Inoe 

the installation 

iîsion. So far the 

th regular showing 

>ed from February 

MONEY 

Exhibiting New Wide Screen Pictures 

a^ 

AfoAe 

M O N E Y 

installing the complete equipment package of 

RCA Stereophonic Sound 

It costs you nothing to get the full story from Western Theatre Supply Co. 

and professional recommendations from RCA's technical staff of experienced 

sound and projection engineers. 

Everything in 

Theatre 

Equipment 

and 

Supplies 

WESTERN 

THEATRE SUPPLY CO. 

214 N. Firtceiilli. Om.lh;i. Ntb. Phone: Atlantic 90J6 

1955 NC 63

Announcing 


Quality * plus • Economy 

^^ 

EACH 

To meet the needs of drive-in operators who want a low cost qua 

speaker, Ballantyne introduces its new "H" Series in-a-car speak 

Speaker is housed in a sturdy sand cast aluminum case finished 


the entire unit is weather-treated to give long service and protect 

Available with straight cord or koiled cord at slightly higher pi 



weather treated speaker unit. 





Patented Ballantyne double-cone speakers 





blue and white two-tone eflfect. Both 




in a new cone, right at 



speaker unit as the "A". Has rich, loiiglasting 



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1712 Jackson St 

WpOKUl 

Omaha, NebrasI 

The Ballantyne Co. 

1712 Jackson Si 

Omaha, Nebraska 

Aveti Theatre Service 

830 Lumber Exchange Bidg. 

Minneapolis, Minn. 

Theatre Equipment & Supply Co. 

1009 North 7th St. 

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 

American Theatre Supply 

316 South Main St. 

Sioux Falls, South Dakota 

BOXOFTICE 

:: Janu

' 

not 

. . . Lenore 

. . Remo 

. . Both 

. . Harvey 

. . Harry 

. . Chuck 

Jtation 

Corp. 

WTVW was 

sold 

;orp., which pubel 

and owns radio 

irgest stockholder 

I. F. Gran, who is 

)rises, which in- 

;res and other inin 

the affirmative 

under protest, on 

rst Corp., has no 

r than the fact 

Lper. Gran's feelthe 

thought that 

Milwaukee would 

place in the sun" 

rchase came from 

made by Charles 

le radio and telerst 

Corp. 

ejected 

Dad Rights 

iiin Bergcr has 

in the road rights 

jse of the August 

likely to be 

; Crouse national 

long Los Angeles 

1 version reached 

)use. present road 

) permit another 

Berger down, 

isons why Berger 

was to be able to 

the Lyceum here, 

ft'hich is .suffering 

3f bookings in its 

NG 

owner of Co-Op 

ow's No. 1 bowler, 

ht with a record 

p Classic League, 

ilmost produced a 

of 33 years in the 

ng game with six 

s more in a row 

plit in the tenth 

266. then added a 

series was 769, his 

I. His 743 boosted 

b Drive 

goods, toys and 

egal tender at a 

3sic Theatre when 

sented his annual 

rhe entire collece 

Rotary Club for 

lilies. 

R THLATRESr 

theotrcs. 

> CLEANER 

by Abbott. National 

Ray Smith Thtatrt Sup- 

[y and other jobbers 

AMI 

OHIO 

MILWAUKEE 

T^GM's publicist Lou Orlove, together with 

division field representative Ivan Fuldauer, 

Chicago, were pumping things up at 

Green Bay. in preparation for the "Motion 

Picture Theatre Celebration," which goes into 

action on the 21st. The gigantic affair, designed 

to get the folks back into the theatregoing 

habit, with Standard Theatres' Elmer 

Brennan holding down the fort up there, apparently 

will have the cooperation of all the 

name firms in Green Bay in addition to parts 

of the surrounding territory. The results 

should prove interesting, inasmuch as Green 

Bay has long been noted for being the testing 

grounds for numerous items now going 

great on the market. The last national test 

sponsored by the Elgin Watch Co., used 

Green Bay, with every jewelry store in the 

area participating in a full week's campaign. 

Some of the establishments doubled and even 

tripled theii' net income over and above expenses 

during the event. 

Edward H. Wadewltz. 76. founder of the 

Western Printing & Lithographing Co., 

Racine, died recently. Wadewitz founded the 

firm, one of the largest in the country, with 

plants in Racine, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and 

St. Louis, and offices in New York City, 

Beverly Hills, Calif., and Atlanta. Ga. He 

was a director of Walt Disney Productions, 

and for 20 years a licensed publisher of Disney 

comic books and other items. 

Take a gander at the series of prize winning 

16mm films currently appearing at 

the public museum, no admission: Seal Lsland; 

A Is for Atom; Skippy and the Three R's; 

Rime of the Ancient Mariner: Working and 

Playing to Health: Conspiracy in Kyoto: 

Beaver Valley: Baltimore Plan: Frustrating 

Fours and Fascinating Fives: American Revolution: 

American Farmer: Martin and Gaston: 

Land of the Long Day: American Road, 

and Jewels of the Pacific Coast. Last year, 

the 

museum drew over 400,000 men women and 

children! 

Harry and Roy Aitken of Waukesha are 

back in busine.ss again. Their original "The 

Birth of a Nation" is still going strong, currently 

appearing at Wisconsin State College, 

and the Milwaukee Art Institute. Purpose 

of resurrecting the David Ward Griffith film, 

it is said, is merely to exhibit a museum 

piece that in its day was hailed as the wonder 

of the 20th century, and one of the 

cinema's greatest masterpieces. The old Davidson 

Theatre played it here when first released, 

and was sold out for weeks. In 1939, 

Mayor Don Hoan banned the picture because 

of its controversial aspects. Comes now the 

dope that the Aitkens and the Griffith and 

Dixon estates will share handsomely when 

the new version of the film is released in the 

near future. 

Gordon Hewitt, general manager of the Fox 

Wisconsin, was appointed state chairman of 

the March of Dimes theatre collections. Major 

theatres in all key cities will participate in 

the campaign. 

. . . 

. . Robert 

Fox Wisconsin parade: Harry Boe.ssel, Palace 

manager, was busy exploiting "Vera Cruz" 

with a Miss Exquisite Form contest 

Francis Bickler, Wisconsin, did a bang-up 

job in promoting the Boy Scouts Jamboree 

held at 2:30 p.m. daily during the run of 

"20.000 Leagues Under the Sea" . 

Brill, Princess, worked on a campaign for 

. 

"Woman" and "Shamed," opening February 

11 Diorio, Strand, went hog- wild 

on "Romeo and Juliet" , . . Ralph Klemz, 

Retlaw. Fond du Lac, was expecting an addition 

to the family . LaSosso, Jackson, 

has been packing 'em in with his Sunday 

Cartoonascope matinees. 

. . 

Milt Harmon, Uptown, says his house will 

make a better showing than anticipated in 

the March of Dimes collection campaign . 

"South Pacific" will return here on stage at 

the Palace for a week's engagement February 

Citation of the Week to 

28-March 5 . . . 

Miss Brunner for the outstanding job of fashioning 

a full-page co-op ad, and then following 

through by signing up each and every 

advertiser listed on the page. It was a tie-in 

with the Decca dealers in this area, pushing 

"There's No Business Like Show Business." 

Jim Champine, Palace bookkeeper, did a 

beautiful job on public relations for the theatre 

when he volunteered his services to a 

wheelchair patron emerging from the theatre 

during the recent blizzard and not a cab to 

be had! He took the woman home in his car. 

. . . 

The Miner Amusement Co. has sold its Lake 

Theatre, Chetek, to John Mowry, recent owner 

of the theatre at River Falls . . . The Bay 

Theatre. Green Bay. premiered "Bad Day at 

Black Rock" Friday (21i and "Green Fire" is 

to get a special premiere at the Orpheum Theatre, 

also in Green Bay . . . Epf Rosen, former 

MGM manager here and recently assistant 

manager at the Minneapolis office, 

has been transferred to the Des Moines 

branch for a month on special assignment 

Recent CinemaScope installations include 

the Augusta. Augusta; Rex, Beloit; Warren, 

South Wayne, and the Salem at West Salem. 

. 

. . . Rudolph Poeske has 

Ben Brown, pioneer theatre owner at 

Viroqua, left on his 13th annual vacation to 

Glendale, Calif. Sleter, owner of 

the Mondovi Theatre, Mondovi, has appointed 

Hjalmar Terland manager, as Sleter 

is moving to Columbus to represent a film ad 

company . . . C. C. Noecker's Durand Theatre, 

Durand, is just completing an extensive remodeling 

program 

closed the Marathon Theatre. Marathon. 

Johnny Mednikow, manager of National 

Screen Service, has postponed his hospital 

operation to accept an invitation from Herman 

Robbins for him and wife to spend a week 

on Robbins' yacht at Miami. Mednikow will 

enter the hospital January 31 after his return 

from Florida . Schmidt, former 

Warner Bros, booker, is now with 20th-Fox 

Pestashnick, former receptionist, 

is now contract clerk at 20th-Fox, replacing 

Arline Matter who resigned to move to California 

. Ed White, cashier, and Erma 

Momesen, contract clerk, observed birthdays 

recently. White also observed his wedding 

anniversary Christmas day. 


FOR THE BEST 

SPECIAL 

NEW YORK^ 

1955 65

ge 

. . 

novr^rrrr-ir 

. 

D E S 

MOINES 

The manager of the Paramount Theatre is 

inviting every Kelly whose name is listed 

in the Des Moines telephone directory to 

"Green Fire." Reason: A gli'l named Grace 

Kelly is the star. The invitations are only 

for the persons in who.se name the telephones 

are listed and only for Kelly spelled K-e-1-l-y. 

Invitations have been issued to the Variety 

Club 1955 inauguration ball Friday (28i at 

the Standard Club. The event will be a dinner 

dance, with dre.s.s optional. Both chicken 

and fish will be served. Reservations may be 

mailed to treasurer Lou Levy . . . .'\nother 

Variety Club project is the sponsorship of 

ticket sales for this year's Golden Gloves 

tournament with all proceeds going to the 

Easter Seal Training Center for Crippled 

Children. The tournament, which will be 

held on February 18 and 25, is spon.sored by 

radio station KRNT. 

. . 

Paul Scholer, former manager of the Chariton 

Theatre in Chariton, and wife were invited 

to be guests of new'ly elected Gov. Leo 

Hoegh at the reception and ball held in Des 

Moines. The Scholers were neighbors of the 

Hoeghs when both lived in Chariton. Tlie 

Scholers are now residents of Burlington 

Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Blank, 

. 

Tri-States 

Theatre president, left for New York 

City where they sailed Friday (21) on the 

Sam Rich, 

Coronia for a 106-day cruise . . . 

Paramount booker, has announced his engagement 

to Vivian Cave . David H. Bonine 

jr., employe of General Pictures Productions, 

GORHAM BOOKING AGENa 

REDFIELD, IOWA 

COVERING DES MOINES 

FILM EXCHANGE AREA 

BUYING AND BOOKING FOR WHAT 

YOU CAN AFFORD TO PAY 

plans a spring wedding to Twyla Miller, student 

nurse at Iowa Methodist Hospital. 

Lou Levy screened "Crazy Horse," and is 

making plans tor the statewide release in 

conjunction with the national saturation beginning 

March 17 . . . Nick and Jim Yannias 

of Dubuque were on the Row on a booking 

trip. 

A press screening of James Michener's "The 

Bridges at Toko-Ri" was held recently and 

netted a writeup by Columnist Gordon Gammack, 

who said: "I have never seen a movie 

produced with more authenticity. The numerous 

scenes showing jet operations from a 

Task Force 77 carrier off the Korean coast 

are so real that I felt that I was back for 

another visit on the carrier, Boxer. The film 

also is so real that the code for the flagship, 

Jehovah, was the one actually used by Task 

Force 77 dm'ing the fighting. Even the scenes 

in Japan are authentic, right down to the 

Showboat night club, the Japanese baths and 

the street scenes. The movie faithfully follows 

Michener's story." 

MINNEAPOLIS 

TXrith only 238 of the territory's 447 participating 

theatres reporting to date, recent 

theatre collections for the Northwest Variety 

Club's heart fund totals $19,000 and 

Chief Barker LeRoy J. Miller believes that 

the final figure will exceed that of a year 

ago by a wide margin. Also, in the four 

months ending December 31, Art Anderson, 

heart hospital chairman, received $4,253 in 

memorial donations and $800 in other gifts 

Art Anderson, Warner 

lor the hospital . . . 

Bros, district manager, was in Chicago for a 

sales conference. Myron Adcock, local manager, 

is mapping out plans for local participation 

in the drive scheduled for May in 

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DES MOINES THEATRE SUPPLY CO. 

1121-23 High St. Des Moines, Iowa 

honor of Norman Moray, Warner ] 

.'subjects sales manager for many 

Don Swartz, independent distri 

taken over for this territory the d 

of "Mr. Hulot's Holiday" . . . O. E. 

Northwest Sound Service has bee 

to install Cinemascope in the i 

Plentywood. Mont. 

Central Allied executive counsel, 

is happy because nothing affeetin 

industry has been dropped into t 

at Minnesota state legislature sessi 

He's keeping a close eye on de\ 

there, however. Incidentally, Kan 

14th con.secutive time, has been 

village counsel in suburban Goldei 

The dates for the North Cent 

annual convention here have be« 

May 2. 3. a week earlier than 

planned . . . Future possibilities i 

MGM Ticket Selling Workshop d 

NCA convention and the visit of s 

Lai-aine Day soon when her husl 

York Giants manager Leo Durochi 

one of the speakers at the annus 

dinner which Ed Schwartz of Art 

ice and Variety Club director is arri 

Abbott Swartz, back from his New ; 

tlon, reports his United Artists brar 

in second place in the third divisii 

third lap of the Robert S. Benjan 

Jack Schlaifer, UA home office sp 

ice sales representative, was in to' 

dress a sales meeting at the local 

Norman Levinson from Chicago 

pointed MGM exploiteer here t 

Harry Sears, who resigned to joi 

company in Chicago. Ivan Fuldau( 

manager who pinchhit for Sears 1 

weeks, was in town to help get 

started . . . Ted Mann, circuit o 

chairman of the NCA committee 

reach an agreement with the AFL p 

ists on terms of a tliree-year cc 

back from a New York business 

Chick Evens. 20th-Fox exploiteer, 

in town to w'ork again on the cam 

•PrLnce of Players" and "Carmen 

Heads of the University of Minnes 

cal School and Heart Hospital met \ 

Barker L. J. Miller and the club's he 

tal committee at a dinner to discus; 

ments at the institution . . . The 

"Ugetsu," scheduled for its first T 

run at the neighborhood fine arti 

here, was selected by Bob Mui-pl 

Minneapolis Sunday Ti-ibune as the 

the week and was highly praised t 

Don Alexander, Minnesota Amusi 

assistant advertising and publicity 

confined to his home by illness . . 

territory CinemaScope installation 

those at Benjamin Berger's downt 

run Gopher here and theatres at . 

Earth, Fertile, Minneota, Paynes 

Aurora, Minn.; Fargo. Wishek and V 

N. D.. and Highmore and Custer. I 

John Mowry, River Falls, has bought 

Theatre, Chetek, from the Miner Aj 

Co. of Rice Lake. Jack Gould will cc 

manage the house. 

Page of Ads on 'Eternity' 

For his showing of "Prom 

Eternity" at the Capitol in F 

Ont., Manager Len Gouin promot 

page of ads from local merchants 

"Values that can't be beaten . 

Here to 

Eternity!"

! Show 

ss' 240 

feek 

business zoomed 

!riod. "There's No 

!ss," which grossed 

week, held strong 

ting. "Three Ring 

I its second, scored 

I. Similarly "20.000 

ound up its second 

1 week of 230. 

100) 

Business 

240 

0), 3rd wk i35 

the Sea (BV), 

180 

ace 

k holdover at the 

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90 

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Show Business 

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WB), 3rd wl4 125 

iamond Wizord 

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eorl (MGM), 

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STITDIO VISITORS—RosaUnd Russell, 

starring in Independent .Vrtists' "Tlie Girl 

Rush." was hostess on the set at Paramount 

to Dale Miller of Miller's Grove 

Drive-In near Davton, Ohio, and wife. 

BOWLING 

DETROIT—Ernie Forbes Theatre Supply 

tied with Local 199 in the Nightingale Club 

Bowling League. Team standings are: 

Teom Won Lost Team Won Lost 

Ernie Forbes 30 26 Altec 271/2 ZSV, 

Local 199 30 26 Amuse. Sup. .26 30 

Not'l Carbon 29 27 NTS 25'/2 30'/j 

Individual high .scores rolled were; Roy 

Thompson 234-190-203. for a total of 627: Jack 

Cohvell 209-201. 590: Carl Mingione 192-195. 

565: Francis Light 196. 519: Nick Forest 536: 

Matt Haskin 517. and Ray Gagnon 514. 

Nightingale Notes: Some very good splits 

were made by M. Haskin with a 6-7-10. F. 

Light got the 3-6-7, R. Thompson and W. 

SwLstak made the 5-10, and E. Douville did 

the same, while Floyd Akins made the 3-10 

twice. 

O. H. Blough left for the sunny south. His 

flying companion was Max Robertson who 

winters in the south close to the Bloughs. 

Virgil Lazarus will .soon be away for the 

sunny parts also, and that means that secretary 

Floyd Akins has to look for another 

bowler to take his place. He has his eye on 

Frank Scheuer whom the Nightingales would 

like to have back with them again. 

Ray Gagnon was "awfully mad" at those 

pins as he was really knocking them down 

with that roundhouse curve of his—and that 

514 put him right on top in his division. Iris 

should have .seen Ray doing his stuff, as it 

w'as something really worth noticing. 

The Nightingales are looking forward to 

renewing their match games with the grand 

folks over in Cleveland of Local 160, and 

they'd better .start practicing, as this is just 

what the Nightingales are all doing now. 

Republic holds a three-point lead in the 

Film Bowling League. New standings are: 

Teom Won Lost Teom Won Lost 

Republic 10 2 Allied Film 5 7 

AA 7 5 RKO 4 8 

Theotrieoi 6 6 UA 4 8 

New high team scores for three games rolled 

for the season to date Include: Theatrical, 

2,471: Allied Film, 2,407; United Artists, 2.385. 

Individual high scores for three games are: 

Hogg, 618: Stlmac, 614; England, 591. 

Wayne Parsons Dies 

DETROIT—Wa>'ne Parsons, former manager 

for the Korman circuit at the Broadway 

Capitol, and afterward at the Gold Coa.st 

Theatre, died Sunday

Wellsville, Ohio, Company 

Busy Enlarging Screens 

WELLSVILLE. OHIO—Last year at this 

time tliere was considerable confusion among 

outdoor tiieatres. Whetlier to or whether not 

to install Cinemascope equipment and wide 

screens. Ttiis year, the question has been 

settled by a majority, who are going on with 

the trend and getting on the bandwagon. 

Among the most active engineers in the 

field helping the drive-ins to acquire the new 

look are Jack Vogel of Wellsville and John 

Selby of Akron. 

Vogel. an architectural engineer who has 

long .specialized in theatre construction, theatre 

remodeling and outdoor theatre requirements, 

recently announced an extensive remodeling 

program for the Dayton Drive-In. 

Sidney Lust has contracted with Vogel to erect 

a new screen tower to accommodate a 108-footwide 

screen in his Hillside Drive-In at Hillside, 

Md. In the same area, the P. H. Durkee 

Enterprises of Baltimore have engaged the 

services of Vogel to increase the width of the 

North Point Drive-In tower to 98 feet. And 

in the Pittsburgh area. Vogel is remodeling 

Norbert Stern's Harmar Drive-In at Harmarville. 

and increasing the size of the screen 

tower to prepare for a 60x90-foot screen. 

COLUMBUS 

gusiness up to five times greater than normal 

was registered by the eight local neighborhoods 

showing "The Fi-ench Line," which 

had been banned by the Ohio censor board. 

The film opened last week at the Beechwold, 

Esquii-e, Main. University, Cleve, Lane. Parsons 

and Westmont . . . Charles Sugarman 

reported continuing good business in a fourth 

week for Walt Disney's "The Vanishing 

The Palace had three big weeks 

Prairie" . . . 

with "20.000 Leagues Under the Sea" and 

Loew's Ohio and Loew's Broad played twoweek 

runs of "Deep in My Heart" and "Vera 

Cruz." 

Norman Nadel, Columbus Citizen theatre 

editor, was a member of the press party flown 

from New York to Silver Springs. Fla., for 

the underwater premiere of "Underwater!"' 

Nadel has been .seeing Broadway shows for 

the past two weeks. 

Columbus Town Meeting Sunday (23 1 

will 

feature a discussion on film censorship aired 

over WBNS radio and WBNS-TV. Speakers 

will be Dr. Clyde Hissong, former state film 

censor chief, and Senator Charles Mosher, 

Oberlin, who has just introduced a bill in 

the Ohio legislature to aboli.sh film censorship. 

SELBY „^ SCREEN TOWERS 

for Drive-In Theatres 

3 Stondord Sizes 

SELBY INDUSTRIES, INC. 

1350 Ghent Hills Rd. Akron 13, Ohio 

Montrose (through Medina, Ohio) 6-7211 

INDUSTRY 

PROFILE 

Hazel Lentz Is a Bundle of Ener 

As Toledo s Newest Executive 

TOLEDO—Hazel Lentz. a 102-pound 

bundle of energy, is the newest addition 

to Toledo's feminine theatre ex- 

HAZEL LENTZ 

ecutive.s. She is serving as Girl Friday 

to Al Boudouris. operator of the new 

$460,000 Miracle Mile Drive-In at Jackman 

and Laskey roads in West Toledo. 

Though this is her first position in 

Toledo, she is no stranger to the theatre 

industry, having been married to 

Fred Lentz, a veteran theatrem.an, for 

the past nine years. She modestly 

states that all she knows about the 

business, she learned from him. 

Mrs. Lentz was manager of a Class A 

outlet of a large variety chain in 

Ravenna. Ohio, when she became 

acquainted with her husband, who was 

manager of Schine's Theatre in that 

city, only a block away from her store. 

After a four-month courtship, they 

weie married. 

Youngstown Locals Elect 

Officers for New Term 

YOUNGSTOWN—George A. Amreihn has 

been re-elected to his fifth term as president 

and business agent of stagehands Local 70. 

Other officers are William Harris, vicepresident: 

John B. Campbell, treasurer; Jack 

Summers, secretary, and Frank Prendergast, 

sergeant at arms. 

William E, Walsh was elected president of 

the projectionists Local 388. with other officers 

being Phil Diana, vice-president: Cecil 

Cook, recording secretary: Olie J. Myers, 

.sergeant at arms, and Amreihn, financial 

secretary-treasurer and business agent. 

She kept her job for a while 

resigned in favor of motherhood. 

Lentz family now consists of two 

Fred jr.. age 8. and Stephen I 

age 5. After two years in Ravi 

Schine sent Lentz to Athens, as 

manager. In 1950 he joined the Scl 

circuit of Bowling Green. He has 

city manager of the 3.400-seat 1 

mount, and the 1,800-seat State, de 

neighborhood house, both local Scl 

houses, the last four years. 

During all this time. Hazel Lent: 

a busy homemaker, but not too bu 

pitch in and take over tempoi 

W'hen an emergency would leave 

husband without a cashier, office 

bookkeeper, candy girl or other 

This experience came in very li 

when .she decided to take over the 

of helping the Miracle Mile Dri' 

get launched. 

Some 4,000 persons were presen 

the preview opening despite cold 

and strong wînds. They marvele 

the huge screen, the beautiful ap] 

ance of the lighted speaker poles 

Eprad stereophonic speakers, and 

in-a-car heaters, an innovation in 

area. 

Being hostess to a dozen or so 

sons in a home is quite a lot diff 

than being hostess to some 4.000 g 

at a theatre opening, but Mrs. 1 

took it in stride. And the myriac 

tails and problems that arise in 

daily operation of Toledo's la 

drive-in theatre (1,800 cars) 

bother her at all—she is a wizai 

that almost impossible art—doii 

dozen things at once. She does ] 

tically everything in her post a< 

sistant to Boudouris except the 1 

ing and janitor work, supervising 

35 employes at the drive-in. 

In her spare time, she likes to 

and swim, and is an ardent speetat 

almost any sport. 

Remodels for CS and 

HINDMAN. KY.—Manager John 

reports the remodeling of the Hick 

to permit the showing of CinemaScc 

Vision and other wide screen tech 

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OWENSBORO. KY.—The Cardinal Drive- 

In will reopen March 4 with James Stout jr. 

as manager. Wilmer Blincoe at Central City 

will do the booking and buying. 

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165 North High St. 

Columbus, 

Ohio 

1955 69

. . Nat 

. . Frank 

. . James 

CLEVELAND 

Abe Kramer of 

Associated Theatres made a 

flying trip from Florida to attend the 

Izzie Schmertz 50th anniversary dinner last 

Monday (17) and also to take care of such 

minor details as income taxes . . . MoUye 

Davis. MGM cashier, returned from a twoweek 

visit in Florida with Marie 

Hentges, a former member of the family 

MGM 

Mack 

.. . Duke Hickey. U-I publicist, chaperoned 

Rita Gam on a visit here in behalf of the 

opening of "Sign of the Pagan" at the Hippodrome. 

Frank Murphy, Loew Theatres division 

manager, was called east last week by illness 

of a member of the family . Barach. 

National Screen Service manager, left for 

Miami to attend a regional managers' meeting. 

He went equipped with southern vacation 

clothes, including shorts. Local industryites 

are waiting for snapshots of him in 

the regalia . . . Leonard Gray, Paramount 

publicist, made arrangements for the George 

Seton-William Perlberg press luncheon at the 

Statler Hotel following a .screening of "The 

Country Girl" in the Paramount screen room. 

Over in Shelby, the inhabitants were upset 

because there was no white Christmas. So, 

to keep everybody happy, Hal Shreffler of the 

Castamba Theatre pulled wires and arranged 

to give the town a "White Christmas" even 

though the weatherman would not cooperate. 

The Shelby Daily Globe credited Manager 

Shreffler with civic interest in a column-long 

article which gave the holiday attraction a 

terrific boost, resulting in outstanding business. 

'No' 

at Midnight Show 

YOUNGSTOWN—The State and Palace 

theatres presented Hallmark's "She Shoulda 

Said No" at a special midnight program Saturday 

(15). 

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Barberton, Ohio, Robbery 

Nets Thieves $1,100 

BARBERTON, OHIO—Two robbers escaped 

with $1,100 in a daring noonday holdup at the 

West Theatre. The robbers appeared in the 

theatre lobby while Mrs. Mary Virant. an 

employe and stockholder in the house, was 

eating lunch in the women's lounge. Manager 

Vincent Lauter was upstairs in the office 

preparing a money sack for the bank. 

Mrs. 'Virant went into the lobby to see 

what they wanted and the men said a child 

had lost a brown cap and glove in the theatre. 

She helped them rummage through the lost 

and found articles. Finally they asked her if 

the manager might have put the cap and 

glove away somewhere. Mrs. Virant called 

Lauter and went back into the lounge. When 

she disappeared, one robber pulled out a gun 

and demanded money. Though Lauter said 

he had already gone to the bank, they forced 

him upstairs where they found the money 

neatly packed and hidden behind the door. 

They tore up one of Lauter's spare shirts and 

bound him with it, hand and foot, and took 

his shoes before locking him in. 

Despite Ad Ban 'Mom' Does 

Well in Cleveland 

CLEVELAND—"Mom and Dad," Hallmark 

Production, is playing to near-capacity crowds 

simultaneously in four local theatres, the University. 

Sun. Standard and Southern. The 

picture is being shown to women only at 

2 and 7 p.m. and to men only at 9 p.m. Admission 

at all times is $1. 

Although virtually without benefit of newspaper 

advertising or newspaper publicity the 

picture is still doing sensational business. 

When the Plain Dealer and the News refused 

to accept advertising copy, the participating 

theatres, under the direction of exploiteer 

Card Mondor, distributed 300,000 heralds via 

direct mail in one week and u.sed 18 radio 

spots a day. A title mention and theatre 

name in the theatre directory made up the 

newspaper use. During the second week of 

the run an additional 130.000 heralds were 

distributed. 

Although the Press accepted advertising 

copy the first week of the run, it notified the 

theatres it would not accept any further copy. 

Plans Irvine Airer 

IRVINE. KY.—The McClanahans (Russell 

jr., Russell sr. and Ralph) plan to open a 

drive-in on the Irvine-Richmond road between 

West Irvine and Cedar Grove by the 

Excavation has begun on the 

middle of April. 

new project. The McClanahans operate the 

Mack and Irvine theatres here but plan to 

close one of these during the .summer upon 

the completion of the new- airer. 

Robert Sokol Insists 

He's Still Alive! 

Columbus—Robert Sokol, manager of 

Loew's Broad, would like it known that 

he's still alive. Reports were current here 

and along Cincinnati Filmrow th^t he 

was the victim of a plane crash last week 

near the Cincinnati airport. His name 

was confused with Robert Sobul of Columbus, 

one of the victims. The latter was 

district manager of a jewelry firm. 

CINCINN/ 

. . 

The Royal, the oldest theatre in 

opened with Cinemascope recen 

owned by F. W. Huss jr. of Associat 

tres. The house, which was built in 

completely redecorated and a the 

screen added . Mrs. Alice Johnso; 

of Pearl Hunt, died at age of 75. 1 

is the wife of Herman Hunt, local 

and is president of the Variety aux 

Mrs. Mary Neff, mother of Jim I 

. 

. 

. . 

booker at 20th-Fox, died after a 

ness Weitzel, who has 

and buying service, has added tl 

Winfield. Boomer, and Smithers, \ 

his accounts Conli. m 

National Theatre Supply, attended 

land meeting . Mrs. Anna Weit 

mount employe and mother of Fri 

zel, was in the haspital for examin 

treatment of a kidney ailment. 

Exhibitors in the city recently 

George Lively and C. B. Hukle of 

ton; William Settos, Springfiel 

Yassenoff. Columbus; Harold Moon 

ton; Frank Mandros, Cabin Creeli 

Marvin Samuelson, Pittsburgh; Ja 

Detroit ; Louis Shor, Williamson. W 

Wolf. Cleveland; Charles WiUiam 

A. N. Miles, Eminence, Ky.; Fi-a 

Matewan. W. Va.; Harley Benne 

cothe; J. W. Thomas. Oak Hill. W 

Greathouse. Aurora. Ind.. and Mr 

R. A. Emrick. Germantown. Ohio, 

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BOXOFTICE 

Jam

I in 

, is 

remieres 

: world-premiered 

y Turner action 

•ph E. Levine of 

ed at the twin 

latres, while Uni- 

Cross," partially 

It the Keith Meacked 

by stiong 

npaigns ajid both 

territorial book- 

100 first run 

day with another 

ortly. while "Six 

playdates in New 

bitors 

on 

jr., Bryant Haliers 

and operators 

mbridge, are enof 

the business 

1 rights to James 

ivinning story "A 

shoot the picture 

Square Theatre, 

I use as a studio. 

aimed at rewUl 

be available 

star Martin Kowill 

be produced 

organ. 

s recently formed 

3ute foreign films 

;tion of "A Clerilow 

in the three 

exhibition, 

distrireview 

)n of the Strand 

Cross" at the 

room for an instate 

police offiaker 

of the U-I 

ew York, accomjred 

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:ie. 

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King, Massaor 

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tireless worker 

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— 

— 

— — 

LOOKS LIKK MONROE — Manager 

John DiBencdetto got good coverage with 

a look-alike promotion he conducted for 

"There's No Business Like Show Business" 

at the Poll Theatre. Worcester, Mass. Star 

Marilyn Monroe was selected as the model 

and the young lady bearing the closest 

resemblance was interviewed on three 

radio shows and also appeared with 

DiBcnedetto on a WWOK-TV program. 

On all occasions there were numerous 

plugs for the picture and playdate. Opening 

day the "look-alike" winner was presented 

on the stage of the theatre. 

'Pagan' Pulls Good 160 

In New Haven Debut 

NEW HAVEN—Two of the four major 

downtowners did exceptional business with 

"Sign of the Pagan" and "There's No Business 

Like Show Business." Other offerings included 

"Vera Cruz." which had such a strong 

third week it was held fer a fourth. 


College Vera Cruz !UA); Captain Kidd ond the 

Slove Girl (UA), 3rd wk 125 

Paramount Sign ot the Pagan (U-I); The Sleeping 

Tiger (Astor) 1 60 

Poll There's No Business Like Show Business 

'20fh-Fox) 140 

Roger Sherman So This Is Paris (U-I); Terror Ship 

(LP) 90 

Three Holdovers Do Well 

At Hartford 

HARTFORD—For the fii-st week in several 

months, the downtown area had three holdovers. 

Allyn Tonight's the Night (AA); Security Risk 

'AA) 

no 

Art—The Little Kidnappers (UA), 4th wk 140 

E. M Locw The Violent Men (Col); It Storted in 

Paradise ( AA), 3rd wk 1 25 

Poll Vera Crui (UA); Operation Monhunt {UA)..200 

Palace Sign of the Pagan (U-I); This Is Your 

Army lUA), 2nd wk 100 

Strand Destry (U-I); Port of Hell (LP) 105 

Theatre to Parking Lot 

BOSTON—The All.ston Theatre in Allston. 

operated by American Theatres Corp., has 

been sold to H. W. Mann, who owns the store 

property next door. The theatre, which has 

been closed for the past three years, is being 

torn down to make room for a parking lot 

which Mann will operate. 

W. H. Mortensen Named 

HARTFORD—William H. Morten.sen. managing 

director of Bushnell Memorial, has 

been named to the metropolitan district commission. 

He is a former mayor of Hartford. 

Providence Art House 

Opened by Bostonians 

PROVIDENCE—Local devotees of art, foreign 

and musical extravaganza films will 

now have their choice of two art houses. The 

opening of the Westminster Playhouse, located 

on upper Westminster street recently 

brightened the area which has been 

dark for so long. Now, completely repainted, 

refurbished and redecorated throughout, it 

will be the scene of art offerings. 

Leased for a long term period from the 

Central Real Estate Co. by Howard N. Levin, 

Frederick Rogers and Joseph Cohen, all of 

Boston, the 800-seat house is set for a long 

and pretentious run, according to the new 

operators. With the exception of Jo.seph 

Cohen, a Boston booking agent, none of the 

partners has had previous theatrical experience, 

according to Levin, who will act 

as manager. Levin was previously a department 

store buyer, and Rogers has had a 

diversified background. 

ALSO PLAYS OTHER QUALITY FILMS 

Levin pointed out that in addition to presenting 

art films, foreign and musical screenings, 

the Westminster Playhouse would al.so 

show first run .spectaculars, and would bring 

back certain classics that had appeal, especially 

some for children. These would be interspersed 

with other attractions. 

Seats that showed signs of wear were reupholstered, 

and lamps, rugs and carpets were 

replaced. With the house presenting a sparkling 

appearance, the new operators are hopeful 

for the success of their new venture. A 

single matinee with a 65-cent admission 

being charged both adults and children, and 

two evening performances with an 85-cent 

charge will be the operating policy. 

For the time being. Levin said the current 

conventional-sized screen will be utilized. 

Further replacements and innovations may be 

introduced after the new operators get their 

project under way. 

LITTLE EMPHASIS ON CONCESSIONS 

The operators do not plan any elaborate 

refreshment stand set-up at the present, instead 

they will concentrate all of their efforts 

on screen entertainment. Candy vending machines, 

and drink dispensers will be spotted 

in strategical locations. 

While Providence already boasts of an art 

house, the Avon Cinema, located in the 

swank East Side section of the city, the newest 

member to this group is more centrally 

located, just a few steps from all of the 

downtown first rims. Tlie Avon, because of 

its location, draws mostly from the East Side 

area, especially from among the thousands 

of Brown, Pembroke and Bryant college students 

and faculty. 

The Westminster Playhouse, opened early 

in the 1900's as the Modern, has had a long 

and varied history. During its early years, 

the Modern w-as recognized as one of the 

leading downtown first run houses. With the 

advent of sound, the house slipped to a second 

and third run theatre. Later, it became 

the scene of a succession of unsuccessful stock 

companies, and legitimate presentations. Because 

of the character of plays offered, the 

house was constantly in trouble with censor,ship 

authorities. 

Producer Jesse L. Lasky has inked Frank 

Sinatra for a starring role in "The Big Brass 

Band." 

1955 NE 71

Lippert Asks Fair 

REOPENING GREETING—A new marquee with black cathode lighting, new indirect 

lighting throughout the auditorium, new lounge and extensive carpeting and painting 

feature the rejuvenated Arcade Theatre in Springfield, Mass., which was reopened 

with a Christmas performance. The entire staff is shown above, gathered outside the 

theatre to bid patrons welcome. Left to right are Frank Carney, Howard Shear, Oliva 

Lattenvillc, Dorothy AUard, Joyce Carlson, Cecilia Sroka, Nathalie Haskell, Bernadette 

Tetreault, Sophie Bal, Tom Sheridan and Manager Arthur Darley. 

BOSTON 

Phe "Profit and Prestige" contest for managers 

of New England Theatres has been 

completed and all entries are in the hands 

of the judging committee. From the wealth 

of material rece"lved by the committee, the 

judges will select the top prize winners. The 

final returns will be announced in February. 

Ronald Baumberg resigned as house manager 

at the Metropolitan to accept a position 

as salesman for the Fi"uit of the Loom Co. in 

Connecticut and the fringe area of New York 

state. Ronnie started with New England 

Theatres 14 years ago as a student manager 

and worked his way up from assistant to 

house manager at the Metropolitan. He has 

always been with Max Nayor, managing 

director of the Met. Baumberg has two 

children, a daughter 12 and a son 4"^ years 

old. 

An example of a true New England conscience 

was demonstrated to Walter Heath, 

manager of the Capitol in Hillsboro, N. H., 

for Lockwood & Gordon Enterprises, when 

he opened a letter addressed to the manager. 

Inside were four $1 bills and a letter reading, 

"I am returning four dollars which I 

stole by lying about my age." Heath figured 

that the writer must have bought tickets ten 

times telling the cashier he was under 12 

years of age, as the children's prices are 20 

cents and adult admissions are 60. 

Phil Knapp who is handling the exploitation 

and promotion for "Long John Silver," 

the first film of Distributors Corp. of America, 

was in town laying the groundwork for 

the campaign. The film us due to open at the 

Keith Memorial February 22. 

Because Mrs. Betty Bloom of Dorchester 

won first prize on the national Big Payoff 

TV program by writing the winning letter 

"Why I Feel Young at Heart," Manager Max 

Nayor of the Metropolitan Theatre won a 

free trip to Bermuda for two for one week. 

Mrs. Bloom, by winning the contest sponsored 

by Warner Bros., also came off with a trip 

to Bermuda. The rules of the contest allowed 

the manager of the theatre playing "Young 

at Heart" first run to share in the duplicate 

prize. Nayor has not set the date for the 

expense-free trip. 

In Purchasing Fili 

From North Central Editiorn 

MINNEAPOLIS — Here to visi 

Swartz. local Lippert distributor, ] 

Lippert warned that exhibitors wil 

be more generous in their treatme 

dependent producers and be willir 

higher film rentals than hithertc 

don't wish to have this source of 

and twin bill features cut off. 

There just isn't enough incentive 

independent producers to turn 

films which are essential to keep: 

small-town and subsequent run tl 

business, according to Lippert. 

Exhibitors complain about the 

of pictures, but many are unwillii 

fair prices for independent prograi 

and seem adverse to giving proper e 

ment to distributors of such pr 

said. 

"Instead of trying to buy as c 

possible and to take every advan 

sible over independent distributor 

tors must reconcile themselves to 

fair in their dealings with such d 

as with the major companies," dec 

pert. "Such an attitude has helped 

the present situation and picture 

"If independent producers are 

realize a fair profit on their pictu 

just stop malcing them. In fact, 

them already have done just that 

Perakos Leases Drive 

Going Up Near Hartf 

HARTFORD—Perakos Theatre Ai 

branching out. 

Peter G. Perakos sr., presider 

seven-unit circuit headquai-tering 

New Britain, has disclosed signinf 

year lease on a drive-in now bein 

the Ames Construction Co. of Hi 

Route 6A. 

The drive-in. being readied for 

opening, will have capacity for 850 

100-foot Cinemascope screen, pa 

and ramps, as well as a four-lane 

snack bar. playground for childr 

barbecue area. 

Perakos operates the Hi-Way ar 

Bridgeport: Palace, New Britain; 

Drive-In. Plainville: Strand, Thor 

state. Jewett City: Eastwood, East 

and Elm, West Hartford. 

you CAN ALWAYS DEPEND ON 

FOR THE BEST 

SPECIAL 

IMAGE & SOUND SERVICE CORP. 

"The Best Value In Sound Service" 

Hancock 6-7984 445 Statler Building 

Boston, Massachusetts 

Two Drive-In Companies 

Formed in Connecticut 

HARTFORD—Two drive-in corporation.s 

have filed certificates of incorporation with 

the secretary of state's office here. They are: 

Summit Drive-In. Branford Hills. Branford, 

$50,000: Charles M. Lane, North Haven: Irving 

C. Jacocks jr. and T. Holmes Bracken, 

both of Branford. Jacocks is owner of the 

Branford Theatre, while Lane owns and operates 

the New Haven Drive-In. 

Meadows Family Drive-In Tlieatre. Inc.. 

Hartford: 100 shares, no par value: beginning 

business of paid-in capital. $1,000: Albert J. 

Bronstein, Bernard E. Francis and Israel 

Bergman, all of Hartford. 

Meadow.s Drivc-In will be the world's 

largest ozoner, with car capacity for 2,010. 

Both projects are in early stages of construction. 

Joe Adorno Appointc 

HARTFORD—Joseph A. Adorno 

town, former treasurer, was appoin 

state attorney general by Attorne; 

elect John J. Bracken. Judge Adorr 

former legi-slator Mansfield Sprag 

Canaan. Adorno. son of Sal Adorr 

eral manager of the M&D Theat: 

as state treasm-er for eight years 

1953. he was elected Middlesex Coi 

of probate to fill out the unexpin 

the late Judge Leonard O. Ryan. 

Levy to Discuss Toll 1 

HARTFORD—Herman M. Lev; 

counsel of TOA and executive se 

MPTO of Connecticut, will address 

ford Advertising Club on the top 

scription and toll television at 

February 8 meeting, slated for ni 

Hotel Bond. 

72 

BOXOFFICE 

Janui

Announcing 



$C60 

^1^ 

EACH 


speaker, Ballant)ne introduces its new "H" Series in-a-car speakers. 


two-tone gra\ enamel. Single cone speaker is of excellent quality and 

the entire unit is weather-treated to give long ser\ice and protection. 


]le-Cone 

single-cone, 

leaker unit, 

e case as "A" 

ished in lough 

mel. 

74 BOXOFFICE ;; Janui 

HARTFORD 

ôrman Levlnson, for the last seven years 

assistant to Lou Cohen, Loew's Poli manager, 

was the guest at a testimonial buffet 

at the Hotel Bond the other night on the 

eve of his departure for Minneapolis to be 

regional press representative for MGM. Irv 

Richland of Richland Enterprise worked with 

Cohen and other downtown theatremen in 

arranging the informal testimonial, attended 

by Connecticut showmen. Levinson had been 

with the Loew''s Poli-New England Theatres 

since 1940, starting as usher. 

Joe Mansfield of UA's exploitation department 

was in town for several days, working 

on "Vera Cruz" at L-oew's Poli and the 

Palace . . . Arnold Van Leer, Paramount, 

came through ahead of "Country Girl" and 

"The Bridges at Toko-Ri" . . . Doug Amos, 

district manager for Lockwood & Gordon 

Theatres, returned from a three-week stay 

in Puerto Rico. Bill Daugherty, manager of 

L&G Webb, Wethersfield, flew to Miami for 

a week's vacation. 

Jack O'Sullivan, manager of the L&G Danbury 

Drive-In, handled the circuit's Plaza, 

Windsor, during a southern vacation junket 

of Bill Howard ... A Hartford area man, 

already on parole in conjunction with one 

morals offense, last week was sentenced in 

sup>erior court to from two to four years in 

state prison on another charge. The accused, 

48-year-old Arthur J. West of suburban 

Manchester, pleaded guilty to a charge of 

mjury or risk of injury to children by molesting 

a 4-year-old girl in a Hai-tford theatre 

last fall. 

Jack Leitao Will Build 

503-Car Airer in Conn. 

HARTFORD—Jack Leitao, a.ssociated with 

Leitao Car Wash in East Hartford, disclosed 

plans for construction of a 503-car drive-in 

on an eight-and-a-half acre site in suburban 

Glastonbury. The proposed tract is in an 

industrial zone. 

Judge Walter F. Foley, Leitao's counsel, 

said it is planned to surround the area with 

a corrugated aluminum fence mounted on 

steel posts about ten feet high. The surface 

of the parking area would be gravelled and 

the roadway hard-surfaced. A children's play 

area would be provided on the site which will 

boast a 90x40-foot screen. 

Judge Foley said that State Police clearance 

has already been obtained, with the 

Leitao Interests filing zoning application 

with the Glastonbury Zoning Board of Appeals 

for approval. 

The project would be the first drive-in for 

Glastonbury. The town has only one film 

situation, the Glastonbiu-y Theatre, operated 

by Mrs. Francis Lampert of Hartford. 

Twentieth Century-Fox has renewed Terry 

Moore's acting ticket. 

A. G. Johnson Redecorates 

Strand at Hamden, Conn. 

NEW HAVEN—Veteran exhibitor Adolph 

G. John.son has shown his faith in the future 

of the film business by 

extensively remodeling 

his theatre, making a 

substantial sacrifice in 

.'eating capacity at the 

same time. 

Johnson, owner and 

operator of the Strand 

in suburban Hamden, 

declared film houses 

will be profitably patronized 

for many 

years to come if attractive 

facilities back 

Adolph G. Johnson up better product. 

He installed American Bodiform chairs, 

spaced 36 inches apart, cutting seating capacity 

from 700 to 546, a loss of 154 seats. 

In another phase of the renovation program, 

completed this week, new carpeting was 

installed throughout and a standee rail of 

glass erected. The rail is illuminated by 

fluorescent lights of various colors, giving a 

striking effect. The top of the rail is covered 

with Formica, trimmed with chromium. 

Colored asphalt tile was laid near vending 

machines and in restrooms, the candy booth 

redecorated and parts of the interior painted. 

The screen and projection equipment are in 

first class condition, and did not need replacement. 

The same applied to the exterior, 

Johnson said. 

The exhibitor said the new appeal of the 

Strand is expected to increase receipts sufficiently 

to warrant the loss in seating capacity. 

He said the Bodiform seats allow more 

leg room and provide "living room comfort." 

The Strand was built in 1925, and Johnson 

has been the operator since 1927. He owns the 

building, which also contains nine stores and 

two apartments. 

The Strand is one of three theatres in 

Hamden, a town of 35,000. The houses draw 

on both the local population and that of 

New Haven proper. 

Brotherhood Chairmen 

Named in New England 

BOSTON—Samuel Pinanski, New England 

exhibitor chairman for the 1955 Brotherhood 

week campaign of the National Conference of 

Christians and Jews, has named the following 

state chairmen: Richard Smith, Massachusetts; 

Ray Kiniry, Vermont: Fenton Scribner, 

New Hampshire; Connie Russell and Ralph 

Tully, Maine, and Myer Stanzler, Rhode 

Island. 

Brotherhood Week will be celebrated in 

theatres throughout the nation February 20 

through February 27. John Harris of Pittsburgh 

is national chairman for the motion 

picture industry participation. 

NEW HAV 

^hiefs of six police departments ii 

Haven area and their wives w 

of Paramount Theatre Manager J 

at a private showing of "Gangbuste 

20th-Fox screening room il8i. Pisentatives 

and Sheriff James Rec 

attended. The new drama is bein 

through Embassy Pictm-es of Bosto 

First Connecticut showings of "Tl 

at Toko-Ri" will be at the Parann 

and the Allyn, Hartford, starting 

(27) . . . Floyd Fitzsimmons of B 

Art Canton of New York, MGM 

resentatives, are spending most of 

here completing details for the worh 

of "Many Rivers to Cross," set foi 

day (26). 

The Hartford Theatre Operatini 

buying and booking done bi 

has its 

Liggett, New York. Mike Alperir 

performed this work for the fi 

chain . . . The Ice Capades will 

Arena February 7 through 13, and e 

sales indicate the show will set a m 

ance record here. 

Among imports scheduled for tY 

the city's chief art house, in the r 

are IFE's "Bread, Love and Dre 

Japan's "Gate of Hell" . . . Param( 

ager Henry Germaine, who is get 

inquiries about "The Country G 

that its general release date will b( 

of the Academy Awards night, in 

Business was extremely good at 

towners. Because "Vera Cruz" wi 

fourth week at the College, Loew 

its usual policy of switching holdi 

the 3.000-seat Poli to the College 

"There's No Business Like Show B 

the bigger house for five additi 

"Sign of the Pagan" stayed at the : 

for two extra days. 

"Flippy the Clown," of the Wa 

"Tip-Top Time" TV program, af 

the stage of the Rivoli Theatre. W 

and the Dixwell Playhouse. Han 

units of the Fishman chain, at r 

in prices . . . The W. T. Grant Co, 

double show window to promote 

premiere of "Many Rivers to Cro 

John E. Coolidge Die 

ELLSWORTH. ME. — John I 

Coolidge. 81. pioneer newsreel cam 

dead. Coolidge, who for decades ph( 

history in the making, shot virtua 

notables who visited New England 

time with the Boston office of Pi 

w'hich he joined in 1926. He is s 

his son Phil, NBC cameraman 

England. 

for 

VistaVision 

For DRIVE-INS & THEATRES with HUGE, WIDE -AREA SCREENS • CARBONS, Inc. BOONTON, f 

iot 

CinemaScope

1 amusements 

. ten-month 

I period 

f?/0 

S 

Premier 

Dent 

) 

TAX RELIEF APPEAL 

HEAVY LOSSES TO TV 

ti Ontario, where 

last yeai' and a 

faced by theatres 

the industrywide 

; to obtain relief 

tax. 

what was termed 

!vy culminated in 

liminated the tax 

its and reduced it 

>ns more than 50 

^ special Ontario 

Admissions Tax 

Thursday (13) to 

/ a subcommittee 

xecutive secretary 

tres Ass'n of On- 

IBITORS 

)ntario legislature 

mier Frost is exe 

the February 8 

laruig of an ex- 

,e provincial cabiilar 

to the U. S. 

present provincial 

50 cents and reamusement 

prices 

;sent scale, under 

) cents on admisi 

increases to 12 ^» 

id over. 

ularly the smaller 

are closing their 

formed. 

ntario have been 

other uses while 

loss due to the 

chibitors reported, 

had been put into 

e end of October 

Is on motion pic- 

; brief stated. 

ITED 

igures at 28 first 

major cities of 

on, London and 

ticket 

)ctober) had decompared 

to 1951, 

jrhood theatres in 

was 19.46 

lent run theatres 

27.29 per cent. 

sdium sized cities 

elleville, Kingston 

a loss of 19.69 per 

; more than oneter 

1951 and the 

cent. 

leatres from which 

attendance figures were tabulated amounted 

to 21 per cent. 

In Toronto, 13 theatres out of a total of 28 

have closed. Outside of Toronto 15 have 

gone dark. 

There are only tluee new theatres under 

construction in Ontario, all in areas not affected 

by TV. 

The tax relief subcommittee includes Lionel 

Lester, vice-president of MPTAO; Ben Freedman, 

president of Allied Independent Theatres; 

R. W. Bolstad, Famous Players vicepresident; 

C. R. B. Salmon, Odeon vicepresident, 

and Ben Schachax", College Theatre, 

Brantford. 

The brief was prepared from repUes to a 

questionnaU'e sent to all theatres in the 

province. 

Premier Frost did not indicate the government 

attitude on the tax relief appeal. 

JARO Expanding Services 

To Screen Ads and TV 

MONTREAL—The authoritative London 

(.England) Financial Times reports additional 

details of J. Ai'thm- Rank Organization's 

plans to coordinate its screen advertising and 

TV services. 

A new company, J. Aithui' Rank Screen 

Services, will deal with TV policy and sales 

and general policy and coordination. J. A. 

Rank is chaii'man, G. A. Holdsworth, managing 

director, and J. M. Archibald, John Davis, 

K. N. Hai-greaves, Mai-k Ostrer and K. Wincles 

are directors. Screen Audiences will become 

pui-ely a production company, arranging 

productions for TV and screen advertising, 

and making documentary and industrial 

films. 

Theatre F*ubUcity (uicluding Langford & 

Co.} will be concerned entirely with cinema 

distribution of advertising and documentary 

films. 

To facilitate Screen Services' connection 

with provincial clients, regional offices have 

been established at Birmingham, Manchester 

and Bristol, and additional offices will be 

opened at Glasgow, Leeds and London. 

The £100,000 which the J. Arthur Rank 

Organization allotted to provide equipment 

to be used for live TV purposes lias been devoted 

in pai-t to purchase of a studio camera 

chain with four cameras (from Electric & 

Musical 

I 

Industries and an outside broadcast 

unit (With three cameras) from Marconi Co. 

In its approach to TV progranxs, J. Ai-thur 

Rank Screen Services is working on the development 

of a Umited number of high quality 

live and film progi'ams. Screen Services 

will offer these shows to program contractors. 

AMPPL to Meet in Toronto 

TORONTO—President William Singleton 

reports that the annual meeting of the Ass'n 

of Motion Pictm-e Producers and Laboratories 

will be held Saturday (29i at the King 

Edward Hotel here. The chief officers are 

all of Montreal. Singleton is general manager 

of A.ssociated Screen News; Pierre Harwood, 

vice-president, is with Omega Productions, 

while the honorary secretary-treasurer 

is Gordon Sparling, ASN. 

— 

— 

— —— 

'Star Is Born' Strong 

Toronto Holdover 

TORONTO—"A Star Is Born" continued 

to set the pace in its second week at the 

Imperial in a field that included holdovers 

of holiday attractions at six other theatres. 

"Deep in My Heart" at Loew's and "There's 

No Business Like Show Business" at Shea's 

were still popular in their fourth week, and 

"The Purple Plain" had a strong third week 

at the Odeon. 


Eglinfon, University The Adventures of Hajji 

Boba (20th-Fox) 1 05 

Hyland Trouble in the Glen (JARO), 4th wk...lOO 

Imperial A Star Is Born (WB), 2nd wk 145 

Loew's Deep in My Heart (M(jM), 4th wk 105 

Nortown White Christmas (Para), 2nd wk 100 

Odeon The Purple Plain (JARO), 3rd wk 110 

bhea's There's No Business Like Show Business 

(20th-Fox), 4th wk 115 

Tivoli, Capitol The Halls ot Montezuma (20th- 

Fox), reissue. Devil's Harbor (20th-Fox) 100 

Towne The Vonishing Prairie (Bueno Vista), 

4th wk 100 

Uptown Athena (MGM) 115 

Varied Post-Holiday 

Vancouver Grosses 

VANCOUVER — Vancouver grosses ranged 

from just fair- to excellent. "The Barefoot 

Contessa," "Black Widow" and "Desiree" all 

turned in high reports in then- first week's 

bow, while "Show Business" maintained average 

in its thu-d stanza and "Belles" was good 

in its fourth. Boxoffices, otherwise, were fair. 

Capitol There's No Business Like Show Business 

(20th-Fox), 3rd wk Average 

Cinema The Bounty Hunter (WB); Gongster 

at Boy (SR) Fair 

Orpheum Desiree (20th-Fox) Very good 

Paradise Outlaw's Daughter, The (20th-Fox) . . . .Fair 

Plaza and Fraser The Beachcomber (JARO) .... Fair 

Strand Black Widow i20th-Fox) 

Excellent 

Studio The Belles of St. Trinians (IFD), 4th wk. . 

Good 

Vogue The Barefoot Contesso (UA) Very good 

OTTAWA 

The Strand in Ottawa South, closed several 

weeks ago by William Farrah, has been 

rented to radio station CKOY . . . Fred C. 

Leavens, president of Fredell Theatres which 

recently acquired thi-ee local theatres from 

Sam Fingold's circuit, has booked two touring 

stage shows into the Glebe Cinema . . . The 

FPC Capitol will present a stage show Thursday 

night (27), featuring Yma Sumac . . . 

For the engagement of "The Purple Plain" at 

the Odeon, Manager Jim Chalmers turned 

the foyer and mezzanine floor of the theatre 

into an art gallery for an exhibition by four 

local artists, the display bringing extensive 

newspaper comment. 

Don Fevereau, Toronto, has joined the 

Ottawa Valley Amusement Co., Renfrew, of 

which the general manager is Russ Simpson, 

onetime Ontario manager of Canadian Paramount. 

Fevereau resigned as booker at Paramount 

to join the circuit ... An upper portion 

of the front of the Perth Theatre building 

at Perth crashed to the street but no one 

was injured as the mishap occurred Sunday 

morning when the street was deserted. 

1955 75

. . Jacqueline 

. . Roger 

. . 

MONTREAL 

Omall-town theatres throughout Quebec 

province are steadily adopting modern 

screening equipment. One of the latest to 

install Cinemascope and stereophonic sound 

was the O'Connor Theatre at Huntingdon, 

owned by Quebec Cinema Booking and managed 

by Max Ai-senault . . . Bill Trow, president 

of the Montreal Poster Exchange and 

Quebec Cinema Booking, held a post-holiday 

dinner on Epiphany for his entire staff. 

Tom Trow, owner of the Imperial Theatre 

at Three Rivers, stopped in Montreal with his 

bride en route to Florida to complete the 

honeymoon which began at Ste. Adele in the 

Laurentians . Rickner, co-owner of 

the Alouette Theatre at L'Assumption with 

his father Raoul, is a new subscriber to BOX- 

OFFICE . Morin, head of Warner 

Bros. 16mm division, is back at the office 

after a month's illness . . . Romeo Goudreau, 

Paramount salesman, and Robert Stein, 

20th-Fox salesman, were both reported to be 

in Quebec City on business. 

J. A. DeSeve, president of Compagnie 

Fi-ance Film, in cooperation with Andre 

Roche and Eloi de Grandmont has decided 

to offer at the company's Arcade Theatre on 

St. Catherine Street East ten weeks of legitimate 

theatre. It is the intention of the group 

to bring to Montreal stage and screen actors 

from Paris. The Arcade has been redecorated 

and new seats have been installed in prepara- 

Nos Representants de Longue Francoise 

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Un service dc publicise cinemotogrophique repute 

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Will SELL FOR YOU Locally 

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For the Merchants in Your Town 

ADFILMS LIMITED 

77 York St., Toronto 

tion of the program which is scheduled to 

start Friday (28) and last till April 7. 

Art Bell, RKO head booker, had a bad 

smashup in his automobile during one of the 

city's worst storms of the year. A few minutes 

after leaving the office. Bell's automobile 

swerved out of control and hit a parked car. 

None of the occupants were any the worst 

for the accident. Miss Agathe Marchand, 

RKO cashier, suffered slight injuries on the 

head and face and Bell also suffered face cuts. 

Mrs. Electra Andrews, billing clerk, escaped 

without injuries. Bell's car, however, was 

badly damaged . . . Mrs. Debbie Gilletz, 

stenographer at Warner Bros., is in the 

Jewish General Hospital for a major operation. 

Leon Savard and Georges Marcliand, managers 

respectively of the Venus Theatre of 

Joliette and the Cinema Lachute of Lachute, 

both QCBL theatres, were in Montreal visiting 

the company offices . . . Other exhibitors 

noted in Filmrow: Phil Karibian of the Pine, 

Ste. Adele; Edouard Gauthier of the Rio, 

Sorel; Mr. Mendoza of the Salle Municipale, 

Dorval; Guy Bachand of the Rex and Premiere, 

Sherbrooke: J. Lavoie of the Alouette, 

St. Michel des Saints, and Mr. and Mi's. Guy 

Lahaie, owners of the Normandie, St. 

Eustache-sur-le-Lac. Local filmites were very 

pleased at seeing Lahaie who had been in 

the hospital for a long time but now appears 

completely recovered. 

Montreal Men's Press Club, which holds 

weekly film shows for its members, announced 

that Harold Whitehead, film critic of the 

English-language Daily Gazette, was named 

chau-man of the club's film committee . 

Museum of Fine Arts of Montreal has resumed 

its weekly evening film showings of alternate 

French and English language films . . . National 

Film Board was rapped by Montreal's 

health department. The reprimand came 

after NFB showed a film over the CBC television 

network which contravened city and 

Quebec bylaws. Superintendent of Sanitary 

Inspectors Romeo Mondello said the film depicted 

hairdressers from Maxime and Pierre 

working without white uniforms. 

The most popular types of films in France 

are detective, light romance, musical and 

historical. 

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1955 77

. . Bob 

. . Nipawin 

78 BOXOFFICE :; Janua 

. . . Several 

. . Meetings 

VANCOUVER 

•The Empress, Edmonton, was held up and 

Ted Duncan on the 

robbed of $200 . . . 

operational staff of the FPC Orpheum resigned 

and was replaced by Ray Gehrman. 

formerly of the Strand . Radis, manager 

of the UA Calgary branch, is leading in 

the Canadian section of the current UA drive 

. . . Ted Forsyth, Odeon executive, was here 

from Toronto on his semi-annual trip and 

was host to the local managers at a dinner 

held at Hotel Vancouver . Theatres 

of Regina are building a shopping center 

which will include a 1,030-seat theatre, according 

to Leonard Reinhorn, president . . . Art 

Graburn. manager of the Odeon-Plaza, reports 

that his brother Larry Graburn. former 

head of Odeon publicity in Canada who went 

to Hollywood to join Columbia Pictures, is 

now with the Buena Vista exploitation department 

there. 

. 

. . . Howard 

Members of projectionists Local 348 are 

planning to construct their own building 

downtown in the near future to cost around 

$200,000 . . Pi-ojectionists in Calgary are 

asking for a wage increase of 67 cents an 

hour in a dispute with two FPC houses, the 

Capitol and Palace. The dispute, in effect 

since last June, has now gone to an arbitration 

board. Present rates are $2.58 an hoiufor 

a 33-hour work week 

Fletcher, owner of the Kingcrest. failed in 

his bid for election as councilor in West Vancouver. 

Filmrow visitors were Lou Tisman, Chilliwack 

Drive-In; Harold Warren, operator of 

four Vancouver Island theatres in the Alberni 

district: Alex Gough, Oliver Theatre, Oliver, 

. . 

and Walter Mead of the Paramount Drive- 

In at Burnaby . Bob Rogers, student manager 

at the Vogue, resigned to join the Hudson 

Bay Co. . . . David Mills, 52, well kjiown 

In Regina theatre circles and a former FPC 

employe, died in Rockford, Mich. . . . Mike 

. . . E. H. Richards 

Karpiuk is building the first theatre at 

Creighton, a 250-seater 

is building a 150-seater at Carstairs, Alta. 

To operate on a two-day policy, it will be 

in competition to the Masonic Theatre. 

PLAY SAFE... 

NEXT TIME USE 

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467 SPADINA AVE. 

TORONTO, ONTARIO 

"Eiclmlve Camdlan Distributor For Fllmaek" 

Ten Canadian Groups 

Slarl Film Reviews 

TORONTO—According to Clare J. Appel, 

Motion Picture Industry Council chairman of 

public relations, the film industry here is 

actively cooperating with the member organizations 

of the Children's Film Library Committee 

in publishing a monthly bulletin 

evaluating current films. 

"We believe," he said, "that the proper use 

of these estimates can have a desii'able influence 

in awakening an interest in motion pictures, 

particularly among people who are a 

part of what is referred to as the lost audience." 

The January bulletin, now being distributed, 

contains reviews on six features and one short 

subject which had been privately screened 

for representatives of the organization. 

Each review contains a synopsis of story 

and appropriate comment. 

The ten organizations taking part in the 

project are: The Canadian Council of 

Churches, Canadian Council of Jewish 

V/omen. Federated Women's Institutes, Canadian 

Federation of University Women's Clubs, 

Junior League of Toronto, Canadian Girl 

Guides, Canadian Home & School and Parent- 

Teacher Ass'n, Imperial Order Daughters of 

the Empire, Big Sister Ass'n and the Canadian 

Film Institute. 

"We expect theatre managers in every town 

and city will take advantage of the opportunities 

which the monthly film estimates 

offer," Appel said. 

He has sent out a list of suggestions to all 

regional exhibitor associations and directors 

of the Canadian National Motion Picture Distributors 

Ass'n for cooperation in publicizing 

the estimates with the local community organizations 

and newspapers. 

Vista Theatre Damaged 

By Explosion; Reopens 

From Central Edition 

KANSAS CITY—A mysterious explosion 

destroyed three shops in a one-story brick 

building at 2619-21-23 Independence and 

damaged the Vista Theatre at 2617. Occupants 

of apartments above the theatre miraculously 

escaped injury, one being an infant 

over whose bed glass was sprinkled when the 

window pane was cracked by the blast. 

The 

clock at the Vista had stopped at 1:09 a.m., 

supposed to be the time of the explosion or 

explosions. Some residents in the area insist 

they heard two. The Vista and the building 

which was demolished are owned by Pox 

Midwest. No estimate of the damage is yet 

available. The theatre reopened a few days 

later. 

WINNIPEi 

The Cohen brothers have named 1 

supervisor of theii- 

Paris and Va 

tres here. Although Rubin has 

actively engaged in exhibition for sev 

he has kept his industry contacts 

While this area digs its way oi 

of the heaviest snows this winter, " 

Were Here" cards were received 1 

Wynant from Miami and Mr. and 

Besler from Hawaii. 

Visitors on Filmrow included Ma 

Empire-Universal, conferring with 

rie; Charles Chaplin, United Artis 

ring with Abe Feinstein; G. B. Bi 

Humboldt; Harold Howard, Star-L 

In, Saskatoon; Mel Dalseg, Siouj 

Ont; Rene Gabrielle. Derrick, \ 

Shibley, ReadvUle, Sask., who has i 

seater there, and Garnet Wright, 

Ont. . . . The State here premie; 

Chekov's satire. "The Anna Cross: 

Dave Robertson held "The Bare 

tessa" at the Garrick. and Tom I 

"The Purple Plain" at the Odeon 

Willis has tied in with the Eli 

machine people in an Elna (Know 

Ma'am I contest. All women atte 

Gaiety during the showing of "Dri 

be eligible, the winner receiving a 

the main prize. 

Leon Asper of the Deluxe adve 

provementvs thus: "Opening Mondi 

proudly announce the installation c 

Scope equipment with High Fidel 

at the Deluxe Theatre. NOW you c 

top Cinemascope pictures at Winni 

comfortable and orderly theatre. 1 

with our policy of offering the be; 

at the lowest prices. Cinemascope 

will be 35 cents, 30 cents and 15 i 

Theatre Poster Service manag 

James recently served as foreman 

oner's jury investigating the n 

August Flatfoot. who was found on 

lying in the snow . \ 

held between projectionists union r 

fives and the bargaining commiti 

MMPEA. Union contracts expire 

film salesmen were s 

during the recent winter storms. 

Files Percentage Suit 

From North Central Edition 

MILWAUKEE—Nick Johnson anc 

Tope, operating the Strand, Manit 

the Wisconsin and Majestic, Sheboj 

been named defendants in four t 

suits in federal court for the Easte) 

of Wisconsin. The actions were I 

20th-Fox, United Artists and RKO. 

I 

For Exceptional Results — 

ADVERTISE REGULARLY IN BOXOFFIC

. a 

: Jan. 

— 

f FICf siUUi'iinf/UiUE '"^ 

a. 

OR HAS HIS SAY ABOUT PICTURES 

'ISTS 

Elliott, Carleton 

'hese westerns are 

;r series so far as 

ayed Thurs., Fri., 

lold.—^Terry Axley, 

Ark. Small-town 

onsters, The (AA) 

Bernard Gorcey. 

'as Just not. funny, 

ney in the bank, 

nder. Played Wed., 

sr: Cold.—Harold 

;, Coaticook, Que. 

onage. 

;erllng Hayden, J. 

nis is a fair action 

r. If you can get 

• 

a double feature, 

nk, Star Theatre, 

ion 1,200. 

rass (AA;—Lloyd 

aret Sheridan. If 

bit of a critical 

gs they could have 

hat you'd wonder 

race horse, a gal, 

t 

and with a lot of 

om, the imperfecng 

seem to be a 

folks eating it up. 

the Sun" to good 

ght it was, I wish 

ist like it. Played 

3ly.—Bob Walker, 

1. Small-town and 

[A 

The (Coll—Scott 

ames Griffith. A 

Id a better draw 

ery good for small 

Ending was a dislUent 

cast of char- 

:ure. Played Sun., 

1, sleet and fog. 

Comfrey Theatre, 

d rural patronage. 

Col)—Rita Hayay. 

This is one of 

ever played. Give 

Aldo." Worth top 

eatre, St. Stephen, 

—Reissue starring 

lighty popular gal 

what the farmers 

If of the FYidayit 

with a Charles 

lette western for 

ige). Played Prl., 

oche, Vernon The- 

)wn and rural pae 

(Col)—Randolph 

Weldon ... and 

,e same old coat, 

ig from my "once- 

Gross kept us in 

;nough to get us 

Dott starrer we've 

22, 1955 

got under contract. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: 

First frost.—Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre, 

Fruita, Colo. Small-town and rural patronage. 

METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER 

Knights of the Round Table (MGM)—Robert 

Taylor, Ava Gardner, Mel Ferrer. Well, 

if you are tired of Indians, here is one that 

is about 10,000 times worse. It must hold the 

world's record in costumes and swords. Not 

much Round Table in it and, after the low 

grosses on it in my town, I may be forced 

to have a round table conference with my 

banker to get another loan. More proof, 

boys, that there is no advantage in Cinema- 

Scope. Good pictures do more business in 

plain black and white. This one was a great 

disappointment to us. Small-town and rural 

Here the Tried and True 

Formula Crops Up Again 

piCOCHET ROMANCE (U-I)—Marjorie 

Main, Chill Wills, Alfonso Bedoya. 

Drew better than average and I almost 

broke even on the engagement. Chill 

Wills was not well received. They want 

Percy Kilbride with "Ma." Give us good 

clean stories with popular stars and we 

don't need costly Cinemascope and 

gadgets. Fiayed Sun., Mon. Weather: Very 

good.—Leonard J. Liese, Rosy Theatre, 

Randolph, Neb. Small-town and rural 

patronage. 

trade. Played Mon., Tue.s. Weather: Fair.— 

O. D. Calhoun, Mars Theatre, BakersviUe, 

N. C. Small-town and rural patronage. 

Last Time I Saw Paris, The (MGM)—Van 

Johnson, Elizabeth Taylor, Donna Reed. When 

MGM named this their love story of the year, 

they meant just that. ThLs is positively the 

most emotional picture we have ever presented 

to our public. The cast is superb and the 

gorgeous color plays up the beautiful Paris 

scenes. Although being young in show business, 

I'm not so young that I can't recognize 

the qualities that make a truly great picture. 

MGM gave this one the works—wonderful 

cast, beautiful color, eye-catching scenes and 

terrific emotion. And how our patrons love 

emotion ! Our boxoff ice went way above average 

and never have our patrons been better 

satisfied. So we salute MGM on this wonderful 

motion picture. Played Sun., Mon. 

Weather: Beautiful.—Gail Coston, Candler 

Drive-In Theatre, Metter, Ga. Population 

3,000. 

Men of the Fighting Lady (MGM —Van 

Johnson, Walter Pidgeon, Louis Calhcrn. Real 

good suspense. Airplane fans will love it. 

We don't have enough alrminded people to 

get fUm rent out of it.—W. S. Funk, Star 

Theatre, St. Stephen, S. C. Population 1,200. 

Valley of the Kings (MGM i—Robert Taylor, 

Eleanor Parker, Carlos Thompson. Nice 

picture, beautifully done. Should have been 

a hit but wasn't. People aren't interested in 

ancient ruins, et cetera. Another lemon for 

us—but through no fault of the picture. 

Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Fog and cold.— 

Walt and Ida Breitling, Comfrey Theatre, 

Comfrey, Minn. Village and rural patronage. 

Washington Story (MGM)—Van Johnson, 

Patricia Neal, Louis Calhern. Since I slipped 

it by a long time ago I thought this popular 

cast might give me a little sleeper for the 

election midweek change—but nothing happened. 

Thank heavens Metro had this one 

in the bottom bracket, for my boxoffice hit 

the lowest ebb of the year. Played Wed., 

Thurs. Weather: Nice.—Bob Walker, Uintah 

Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Small-town and rural 

patronage. 

PARAMOUNT 

Cease Fire (Para)—Cast of Korean combat 

veterans. We slipped this in late, not expecting 

much. It gave us one of the best midweeks 

of the year. Boxoffice weJl above 

average. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Good 

but turned to snow.—Dave Seng, Karlstad 

Theatre, Karlstad, Minn. Small-town and 

rural patronage. 

Elephant Walk (Para)—Elizabeth Taylor, 

Dana Andrews, Peter Finch. A good movie. 

Good story and cast. You can't go wrong 

with this picture. W. S. Funk, Star Theatre. 

St. Stephen, S. C. Population 1,200. 

Jlvaro (Para)—Fernando Lamas, Rhonda 

FlemiJig, Brian Keith. Color by Technicolor. 

The most beautiful color picture that I have 

ever seen. Everyone remarked on the beauty 

of it. The story and comments wore also 

good but the take was very poor because the 

weather has at last cleared and everyone was 

busy in the fields. (Ed. note: Evidently the 

picture was played last summer.) They have 

been held up so long that they work day and 

night. Don't be afraid of this picture, it is 

all right. Played Mon., Tues. Weather: Good. 

—Fred L. Murray, Strand Theatre, Spiritwood, 

Sask. Small-town and rural patronage. 

Living It Up (Para)—Dean Martin, Jerry 

Lewis, Janet Leigh. Not up to previous 

M&L films. This company's terms are 

so brutal we can't break even. Under such 

conditions it is hard to remain optimistic. 

Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Very good.— 

Leonard J. Liese, Roxy Theatre, Randolph. 

Neb. Small-town and rural patron.-ige. 

Naked Jungle, The (Para)—Charlton Heston, 

Eleanor Parker, WUliam Conrad. What 

"Elephant Walk" shot for but missed. This 

should be enjoyed by all persons anywhere. 

Business average. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: 

One cold day.—James H. Hamilton, Pine Hill 

Drive-In Theatre, Picayune, Miss. Smalltown 

and rural patronage. 

Pony Express (Para)—Charlton Heston, 

Rhonda Fleming, Forrest Tucker. An oldie 

from Paramount. Gave it an extra day's showing 

and the action fans all showed up. Played 

Mon., Tues., Wed. Weather: O. K.—Frank 

Sabin, Majestic Theatre, Eureka, Mont. 

Small-town and rural patronage. 

Scared Stiff (Para)—Dean Martin, Jerry 

Lewis, Lizabeth Scott. Was off to the big 

city to see about taking on some new debts 

for a gadget to run percentage pictures on, 

so I missed this one. It gave us a good Halloween 

business and did much better than 

most of these have. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: 

Nice.—Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre, Fruita, 

Colo. Small-town and rural patronage. 

RKO RADIO 

Fort Apache (RKO)—Reissue. John Wayne, 

(Continued on next page) 

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The EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY 

S 

(Continued from preceding page) 

Henry Fonda, Shirley Temple. A reissue western 

that did as much business as some first 

runs. Television and crop conditions hurt so 

bad here now there isn't too much difference. 

Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Clear and 

cold.—Terry Axley, New Theatre, England. 

Ark. Small-town and rural patronage. 

Hltch-Hiker, The (RKO)—Edmond O'Brien, 

Prank Lovejoy, William Talman. This is one 

of the most suspenseful things you'll ever 

find on film. Although it's too tough for 

single bill country town fare, with a good 

western like "TaU in the Saddle" on the second 

time we still had them raving about the 

program. Gave us the best Friday-Saturday 

In ages and pleased youngsters and oldsters. 

The western should be good for a repeat 

every few years as it is stiU one of the best. 

Too bad the print wasn't tinted. Weather: 

Nice.—Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre, Pruita, 

Colo. Small-town and rural patronage. 

Susan Slept Here (RKO)—Dick Powell, 

Debbie Reynolds, Anne Francis. Small towns, 

latch on to this deUghtful comedy. You will 

be glad to stand out front when your patrons 

come out of the theatre.—W. S. Funk, Star 

Theatre, St. Stephen, S. C. Population, 1^00. 

Sword and the Rose, The (RKO)—Richard 

Todd, Glynis Johns, James Robertson Justice. 

Picked this one up and I played It and was 

I sorry I Oh, brother! One of the worst 

Sunday-Mondays I ever had. Weather: Clear 

and cold.—Terry Axley, New Theatre, England, 

Ark. Small-town and rural patronage. 

REPUBUC 

Laughing Anne (Rep)—Wendell Corey, 

Margaret Lockwood, Forrest Tucker. Should 

have left this one in the can. What a shame 

to waste good stars like Corey and Tucker on 

a thing like this. Boxoffice weU below average. 

Played Frl., Sat. Weather: Good.—Dave 

Seng, Karlstad Theatre, Karlstad, Minn. 


20th CENTURY-FOX 

Broken Lance (20th-Fox)—Spencer Tracy, 

Katy Jurado, Robert Wagner. This is very 

good and though we did only average business 

before Christmas, it deserves your best 

playing time. Excellent performances by all 

concerned. Nothing but good comments on 

this. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Cold, 

sleet and fog.—Walt and Ida Breitlhig, Comfrey 

Theatre, Comfrey, Minn. Village and 

rural patronage. 

Demetrius and the Gladiators (20th -Fox)— 

Victor Mature, Susan Hayward, Jay Robinson. 

It may be a followup of "The Robe"— 

but, believe me, here is one of the lowest 

grossers we have ever had. When is Vic 

Mature going to get out of that costume and 

emerge his old self again? This picture was 

extraordinary, it was good from every angle, 

but one thing still stands out in my mind. 

What happened to the people? They didn't 

come—and that always makes an exhibitor 

unhappy. No "mon" no "fun." And, from the 

looks of things now, if we keep playing Cinemascope, 

we won't ever have any mon or 

fun either. Played Mon., Tues. Weather: 

Fair.—O. D. Calhoun, Mars Theatre, Bakersville, 

N. C. Small-town and rural patronage. 

Inferno (20th-Pox)—Robert Ryan, Rhonda 

Fleming, William Lundigan. I read your comments 

and I passed them on, expecting big 

things of this well made thriller. The picture 

was everything you said it was but 1 guess 

the folks in my community decided I was 

the biggest liar in the country for very few 

of them visited me these two days. Quite 

possibly the inferno had burned itself out 

before Fox offered this to me. Played Pri.. 

Sat. Weather: Perfect.—Bob Walker, Uintah 

Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Small-town and rural 

patronage. 

Man in the Attic (20th-Fox)^Jack Palance, 

Constance Smith, Byron Palmer. Man, you 

stay away from this picture. It won't sell a 

ticketl—W. S. Funk, Star Theatre, St. 

Stephen, S. C. Population 1,200. 

Titanic (20th-Fox)—Clifton Webb, Barbara 

Stanwyck, Robert Wagner. Good business on 

this better than average feature. Many compliments. 

Some said the ending was too sad. 

Played Pri., Sat., Sun. Weather: O.K.—Prank 

Sabin, Majestic Theatre, Eureka, Mont. 


UNITED ARTISTS 

Apache (UA)—Burt Lancaster, Jean Peters, 

John Mclnt;re. This was no better and no 

worse than the rest of the Indian extravaganzas 

and barely made expenses. Surprise ending. 

Good color and acting but unfortunately 

they want more these days. Played FTi., Sat. 

Weather : Sleet and ice.^Walt and Ida Breitling, 

Comfrey Theatre, Comfrey, Minn. Village 


Beachhead (UA)—Tony Curtis, Frank Lovejoy, 

Mary Murphy. This is the best war 

picture on the market today. Mary Murphy 

and the superb color will sell it.—W. S. Funk, 

Star Theatre, St. Stephen, S. C. Population 

UOO. 

Scarlet Spear, The (UA)—John Bentley, 

Martha Hyer, native African tribesmen. Nice 

color but the story is weak and too farfetched. 

Many of the animal shots were good enough 

but we had seen them before—I think they 

came from "King Solomon's Mines." Comments 

were only fair and we did average 

business. Play it if you need a picture. 

Played Pri., Sat. Weather: Rainy, roads f>oor. 

—Fred L. Murray, Strand Theatre, Spiritwood, 

Sask. Small-town and rural patronage. 

Vice Squad (UA) — Edward G. Robinson, 

Paulette Goddard, K. T. Stevens. We had to 

play this on a weekend where, ordinarily, 

we would have played it on Sunday-Monday. 

A fairly good movie but, again, the rental 

charged us left no profit. Lots of action and 

a good performance by Robinson. If you buy 

it right and play it on your action evenings 

you should do well with it. Played Thurs., 

Fri., Sat. Weather: Warm.—Dave S. Klein, 

Astra Theatre, Kitwe-Nkana, Northern Rhodesia, 

Africa. Mining, government and business 

patronage. 

UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL 

Bengal Brigade (U-I)—Rock Hudson, Arlene 

Dahl, Ursula Thiess. After having this pulled 

from us two or three times, we finaUy got 

a date Christmas week. I guess this is pretty 

good for a small town. But, believe me, many 

more like this and Rock Hudson will be at 

the bottom of oiu' list for drawing power. 

Universal must be slipping—we have had 

several stinkers from them lately. Played 

Wed., Thurs. Weather: Cold.—O. D. Calhoun, 

Mars Theatre, Bakersville, N. C. Small-town 


He Has a Problem 

Mr, Anthony 

TJIGH AND THE MIGHTY, THE (WB) 

—John Wayne, Claire Trevor, Laraine 

Day. This may have been one of Warners 

low budget pictures but it did fairly well 

with us, being our second CinemaScope 

picture. Jolin Wayne did a good job but 

there was not enough "John Wayne action" 

in it to please all the fans he has 

in this town. The price we had to pay 

to get it took all the joy out of what 

little we did make on it. We have found 

that the price being asked of the small 

towns for the CinemaScope product does 

not warrant tlie installation at all. Played 

Tues., Wed., Thurs. Weather: Hot.—O. D. 

Calhoun, Mars Theatre, Bakersville, N. C. 


City Beneath the Sea (U-D—Rol 

Mala Powers, Anthony Quinn. A 

wonderful color, good acting by al] 

Business fair. This picture is not t 

worth your best playing time ar 

make you some money. Played 

Weather: Wet and roads bad.—Fre 

ray, Strand Theatre, Spiritwood, Sa 

town and rural patronage. 

Fireman, Save My Child (U-D— 

and His City Slickers, Buddy HBd 

was Just too silly, even for the i 

office below average. Played 

Weather: Good.—Dave Seng, Karls 

tre, Karlstad, Minn. Small-town 

patronage. 

Take Me to Town (U-D—Ann 

Sterling Hayden, PhiUp Reed. G 

good comments on this. One lady, w 

says she doesn't like the show, gav 

praise. Double billed with "Girl 

Everything" (MGM) to fairly gooi 

considering weather. Played Pri., 

ther: Poor.—Norman Merkel, Timi 

Albert City, Iowa. Small-town 

; 

patronage. 

Thunder Bay (U-I)—James Stews 

Dru, Dan Duryea. This one beats 

I go and do a lot of extra advert 

it up all over town, tell them Jam 

is playing in it and that it has beai 

and all that sort of thing. Then a 

turns out the first night and absc 

body shows up the second night. J 

can't understand it but it sure r 

boat somewhere and I took a 1 

Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Faij 

—I. Roche, Vernon Theatre, Ve 


Tumbleweed (U-D—Audie Mur 

Nelson, Chill Wills. Very good pictu: 

many Indians and a good story. Aud 

is fine as usual and he has a gooc 

here. Universal surely knows ho?i 

perfect color. Picture very sharp 

above average for a weekend. Playe 

Weather: Cool.—W. L. Stratton, I 

atre, Challis, Idaho. 

WARNER BROS. 

Desert Song, The (WB)— Kath 

son, Gordon MacRae, Steve Coctii 

time it's made they do a first cl 

casting and filming this tireless a 

told tale of fantasy. With a little 1 

the bank this did quite well at th( 

and if we had a disgruntled patro 

have come on a pass and been 

to squawk to me about it. Pla 

Thurs. Weather: Perfect.—Bob We 

tah Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Smallrural 

patronage. 

Dial M for Murder (WB)—Ray 

Grace Kelly, Robert Cummlngs. Ai 

show in my opinion, expertly pu 

and well acted. Had eight adults 

kids the second night—so they 

for this type of murder drama he 

Wed., Thurs. Weather: Clear an 

Roche, Vernon Theatre, Vernon, I 

town and rural patronage. 

Hondo (WB)—John Wayne, 

Page, Ward Bond. Not as good a 

but still very good and it do« 

Terms are too high for the rotten i 

ners sent me. I can't get them t< 

leaders on their prints. This pictur 

splices. Played Thurs., Pri., Sat. 

Good.—W. L. Stratton, Lyric Theat 

Idaho. Small-town and rural patrc 

: 

Lucky Me (WB)—Doris Day, Ro 

mings, Phil Silvers. This is not 

old "Tea for Two," "Lullaby of 

and "Moonlight Bay" Doris Days b 

ter than "Calamity Jane" and the 

cal I've seen in a year.—W. S. I 

Theatre, St. Stephen, S. C. Populi

ler. For listings by company, in the order of releose, sec Feature Chart. jjjLjjiii; UiuiîJi 

Good; * Fair; — Poor; = Very Poor In the summary 1; is rated 2 pluses, — as 2 minuses.

REVIEW DIGEST 

H very Good, + Good, ±Foir;- Poor, = very Poor In the summary ++ is rated 2 pluses, — as 2 minuses. 

1639GoIdtn Mistress, The (82) Drama UA 10-23-54 + + + 

Good Die Young. Tha (. ) Drama UA 

1580 Gorilla at Large (S3) Drama 

(Three-dimension) 20tli-Fox 5-8-54+ + + 

1537 Great Diamond Robbery (69) Comedy. MGM 12- 5-53+ ± 

1531 Great Gilbert and Sullivan, The (112) 

Musical UA 11-14-53 ++ ++ 

1673 Green Fire (100) Drama MGM 12-25-54+ ± 

1579 Guilt Is My Shadow (86) Drama Stratford 5- 8-54 i: 

1553 Gypsy Colt (72) Drama MGKI 1-30-54+ + ± 

± ± ± 7+4- 

H 

Half-Way td Hell (61) Documentary. . Hallmark 

Hans Christian Andersen (112) 

Musical RKO 11-29-52 H tt 

1635 Hansel and Gretel (75) Fantasy RKO 1016-54 + + 

1636 Heat Wave (70) Drama LP 10-16-54 ± 

1548 Heidi (97) Drama UA 1- 9-54 ++ ++ 

1556 Hell and High Water (103) Drama 

(Cinemascope) 20th-Fox 2-6-54++ ++ 

1586 Hell Below Zero (90) Drama Col 5-29-54+ + 

1580 Hell Raiders of the Deep (93) Drama. . I.F.E. 5- 8-54 + 

1558 Hell's Halt Acre (91) Drama Rep 2-13-54 ± ± 

1687 Hell's Outpost (90) Drama Rep 1-8-55+ ± 

1596 Her Twel»c Men (91) Comedy-Drama MGM 7- 3-54 ++ ff 

1608 High and Dry (93) Comedy U-l 8-28-54+ ++ 

1586 High and the Mighty, The (153) Drama 

(CincmaScoBe) WB 5-29-54 ff ++ 

1553 Highway Dragnet (72) Drama AA 1-30-54 ± + 

1593 His Last Twelve Hours (89) C»m-0r.. . I.F.E. 6-26-54 + 

1545 His Majesty O'Keefe (88) Drama WB 1-2-54+ ++ 

1592 Hohson's Choice (107) Comedy UA 6-19-54 ++ ++ 

1538 Hondo (83) Drama (Three-dimension) ... WB 12- 5-53 ++ ++ 

1551 Horse's Mouth. The (77) 

Comedy Mayer- Kingsley 1-23-54 + 

1606 Human Desire (90) Drama Col 8-14-54 ± 

1618 Human Jungle (82) Drama AA 9-18-54+ + 

1691 Hunters of the Deep ( . . ) Doc DCA 1-15-55 + 

Husband tor Anna, A (105) Drama I.F.E.

ad; — Fair; — Poor; — Very Po In the summary H is roted 2 pluses, — as 2 minuses. 

KtVlfcWf DiOt«^T 

s

.W. 

. 

i 

©The 

I 

Race 

. 

I 

©oStudent 

I 

©Beau 

; 

mmM fiiJiJiiT 

oZn'l rAgrrdv;XeXoma;rCD) Cimedy-Drnmo; (F) Fan.osy; (M) Musico.; (W) Western; ,SV, 

we1"rn. Releosc number tollows. !J denotes BOXOFFICE Blue R.bhon Awcrd W.nn.^,. Pho, 

e Coior; ^/ 3-D; C3 Wide Screen. For rc-iew doles ond Picture Guide poge numbers, see Review D15 

ALLIED 

a 

ARTISTS 

Forty-Ninere, The (70'/2) W. .5424 

Wild Bill Elliott. Virginia CIrey. Denver Pyle 

Bowery Boys Meet the Monsters 

IXl 

(66) C..5419 

Leo OorceF, Huntz Hall, Laura MaaoD 

! Desperado, The (81) W. .5426 

Way-ne Morria, BeTerly Garland, J. Lrdon 

Si Week ond the Wicked, The 

(72) D..5432 

Oljmli Johns, John Gregson. SImone Bllta 

O Return From the Sea (80) D. .5409 

Jan Sterling, Nerllle Brand, Bobert Artluir 

SJ Security Risk (69) D..5417 

John Ireland, Dcroth; Halone, Keltb Lareen 

g Killer Leopard (70) D..5412 

.lobnnji Sherrield, Beverl; Garland 

COLUMBIA 

^Mad Magician, The (72) D. .640 

Vincent Price, Mary Murphy, Bv» Qibor 

Mossocre Conyon (66) W..635 

Phil Carey. Audrey Totter. CharllU 

Miami Story, The (75) D. .641 

Barry Sullivan, Adele Jergens, Luther Adler 

Jungle Mon-Eoters (68) D..707 

Johnny. WcLssmuller, Karin Booth, R Btapley 

©Sorocen Blade (76) 13. .633 

Klcardo Montalbao, Betta St. John 

©Hell Below Zero (91) 

D..709 

Alan Ladd, Joan Tetzel, BaiU Bldne; 

Indiscretion of an American 

Wife (63) 

D..703 

Jenoiter Jonee. Uootgonery Clift. V. DeMca 

©Outlaw Stank>n (64) W..705 

Phil Carey. Dorothy Patrte* 

©Low vs. Billy the KM, The 

(73) W. .711 

Scott Brady, Betta St. John, Alan Hale ir. 

Pushover (88) D. .704 

Fred itacMurray, Kim Novak, Phil Carey 

LIPPERT 

Monster From the Ocean Floor 

I 

(64) D . . 5328 

/\nne KimbeU, Stuart Wade 

Cowboy (69) Doc. .5408 

Narrators: Tei Hitter. Bill Conrad, John Dehner 

O Big Chose, The (60) D. .5328 

LoQ Chancy, Glenn 1 .«ng»n 

a Paid to Kin (70) D..5326 

Dane dark, Cecil Chevrtia, P. Carpenter 

Bl River Beot (73) D. .5329 

Phyllis Kirk, John Bentley, Bobert Ayres 

i Thunder Pass (76) W. .5405 

Dane Clark, Dorothy Patrick, Andy Derine 

M-G-M 

SI ©Prisoner of War (81).. 

Ronald Reagan. Dewey Martia, 

as ©Flame and the Flesh (K 

Lana Turner, Carlo? ThompsM 

Jul ©Men of the Fighting Lot 

Van Johnson, Dewey Martin. 

Prince, The (1 

Ann Blytb, Edmund PurdoD, 

S ©Valley of the Kings (83 

Bobert Taylor, Eleanor Parke 

H] U©ciiSeven Brides for i 

Brothers (102) 

Jane Powell, Howard Keel, , 

!©Her Twelve Men (91). 

Greer Carson. Robert Ryan. 

[S Jungle Gents (64) C. .5420 

Leo Oorcer. Hunts Hall, Laurette Luca 

SSTwo Guns ond a Badge (69) . .5427 

Wayne Morris, Damlan O'Flynn, R. Barcroft 

©Black Dokotas, The (65) W. .721 

Gary Merrill. Wanda Hendrli, John Bromfleld 

©Bullet Is Woitlnfl, A (82) D..712 

Jean Siramons, Kory (Calhoun, Stephen McNaily 

Human Desire (90) D. .710 

Glenn Ford. Gloria Orafaame, B. Crawford 

Bl Terror Ship (72) D. .5330 

WlUlaa Londigan 

m silent Raiders (65) D. .5404 

Elchard Bartlett, Earle Lyon, Jeanette Bordeaui 

S Unholy Four, The (80) D. .5401 

Paulette Ooddard. William Sylvester 

S] ©Betrayed (108) 

Lana Turner, Clark Gable, 

(.^©BrigadoDn (108).. 

Gene Kelly. Van Johnson. 

[3] Human Jungle, The (82) D. .5501 

Gary Uerrlll. Jan Sterling, Paula Baymond 

On the Waterfront (108) D. .702 

Marlon Brando, Earl Maiden, l«e 1. Cobb 

©Three Hours to Kill (77) W. .720 

Dana Andrews, I>onna Reed, Diane Foster 

[S Deodly Gome, The (. .) D. .5402 

Uoyd Brieves. Flnlay Curria, Blmone Sllva 

[S Rogue Cop (92) 

Robert Taylor, George Baft, 

S Bob Mothios Story, The (80). .D. .5502 

Bob Mathlas, Diane Jergens, Ward Bond 

Brummell (107). 

Elizabeth Taylor, Stewart Gt 

a Target Earth (75) D..5503 

Virginia Grey, Elchard Denning, K. Crowley 

] Cry Vengeonce (83) O. .5504 

Mark Stevens, tlarttaa Hjer, Joan Vobi 

Affairs of Messalino, The (106). .0. 

Maria Felix, Georges Blarchal 

©Block Knight, The (85) D..719 

Alan Ladd, Patricia Medina, A. Morrall 

Connibol Attack (69) D. .718 

Johnny Weiflsmuller, Judy Walsh, David Broee 

©Fire Over Africa (84) D. .716 

Maureen O'Hara. Uacdooald Carey 

@The Siege (63). 

Special east 

.D..5323 

©Athena (96) 

Jane Poivell, Vic Damonc, 

©Lost Time I Sow Poris 

(116) 

Elizabeth Taylor. Van John! 

a Port of Hell (..) D. .5505 

Dane Clark, Carole Uatthetrs. W. Uorrls 

H ©Tonight's the Night (88) C..5506 

Yvonne De Carlo. David Nivea B. fltsgerald 

PhffH (88) 

C..715 

Judy Holllday, Jack Carson, J. Lemmcn 

©They Rode West (84) W. .717 

Robert Francis, Donna Seed, Ptdl Care; 

for Life, A (69) . . . 

Bichard Conte, Uari AldoD 

.D. .5403 

S ©Black PIrotes ( . . ) D . . 5407 

Anthony Deiter. liaa Cbauey, Bobert Garke 

m Crest of the Wove (91). 

Gene Kelly, John Justin, J 

©Deep in My Heart (13 

Jose Ferrer, Marie Oberon, 

B Bowery to Bagdad (64) C. .5421 

Leo Oorcey, Hunts Hall, Erie Blore 

51 Big Combo, The (89) D. .5508 

Cornel Wilde, Jean Wallace, Richard Conte 

Treasure of the Ruby Hills ( . . ) . W . . 

Zacbary Scott. Bart McLane, C. Uatthews 

Bamboo Prison, The (80) D. .731 

Robert Francis, Diane Foster, Brian Kdtb 

©Mosterson of Kansas (73).... W.. 

George Montgomery. Nancy (Sates, David Bmce 

©c] Violent Men, The (96) W. .735 

Glenn Ford. B. Stanwyck, EL a BoUnson 

EThey Were So Young (..) D. .5406 

ScoU Brady, Baymond Burr 

iSlhrer Stor, The (. .) W. .5411 

Edgar Buchanan, Maria Windsor, L. Chancy 

[7] ©cuBod Day at Block R< 

Spencer Tracy, Bobert Kyai 

•B ©oGreen Fire (100) 

Stewart Granger. Grace Kri 

O 

Diol 116 (. .) 

BUI Elliot. Kcltta Larsen 

. 

gj Murder Is My Boot (..) D.. 

Barbara Payton, Paul Langton. Selena Boyle 

@ African Fury Doc. . 

OAnnapolis Story, The D. . 

John Derek, Diana Lynn, Kevin McCarthy 

Big Tip Off D. . 

Richard Cnnte. Virginia Grey. Constance Bmltk 

Cose of the Red Monkey D. . 

liloh.ir(l Cunte, Rona Anderson 

High Society C. . 

Leo Gorcey. Huntz Hall, Amanda Blake 

Seven Angry Men D. . 

K.nymond Massey, Debra Paget 

©Shotgun D . 

Sterling Hayden, Y. De Carlo. Z. Scott 

©aWorrlor, The D. . 

Errol Flynn, Joanne Dm, Peter rtncfa 

©aWiehita , SW.. 

Joel McCrca. Vera Miles, Peter Graves 

©Pirotcs of Tripoli (72) D. 

Patricia Medina, Paul Henreld 

©Ten Wanted Men (80) W. H] Thunder Over Songolond (..).. AD . 

, 

Randolph Scott, Jocelyn Brando, Richard Boone Jon Hall, Ray Montgomery, Marjorle Ixinl 

Women's Prison (80) D. . 

Ida Luplno, Howard Dolf, Jan Sterling 

j Glass Tomb, The (..) D. .5409 

John Ireland 

Bondit, The (92) D. . 

Alberto Ruschel. Marisa Prade, M. Rlbelro 

©Coine Mutiny, The (125) D..701 

Humphrey Boiiart, Van Johnson. Jose Ferrer 

Detective, The (91) CD.. 

.\lec Gulnne.-!s, Join Greenwood, Peter Finch 

End of the Affoir, The D. . 

Deborah Kerr. Van Johnson, John Mills 

©Guy Thot Won the West W. . 

Dcnni.^ Morcan. Paula Raymond. B. Denning 

©cDLong Groy Line, The D . . 

Tyrone Power. Maureen O'Hara 

OaMon From Laramie, Tho....D.. 

Jitmes Stewart, Cathy O'Uonnell, Donald Crisp 

©My Sister Eileen MC. . 

Janet Leifih. Jack LemmoD, Betty Garrett 

©Prlie of Gold D. . 

Richard Wldmark. Mai ZetterUng 

©oThree for the Show M . 

Air Strike (..) 

D..5413 

Richard Denning, Gloria Jean 

Phontom of the Jungle AD. . 

Jon HiiU, Ray .Montgomery, .\nne G»>nne 

Shocktl (. .) D. .5412 

Brian Donlevy, Margla Dean, Jack Warner 

©oJupiter's Dorling (..] 

Esther Williams, Houard K 

©oMony Rivers to Cros 

Eleanor Parker, Robert Ta; 

©oBedeviled 

Anne B.«ier. Steve Forrest 

©Gloss Slipper, The... 

Leslie Caron. Mieh,iel Wildll 

©oHit the Deck 

Jane Powell. Tony .Martin. 

©interrupted Melody 

Eleanor Parker. Gl.nn Ford 

©Invitation to the Doni 

Gene Kelly. Rrllt.i, Tnra.ira 

©olt's Alwoys Foir Weo 

Gene Kelly. C)d Cliarlsse. 1 

©CDLove Me or Leave W 

Poris Day. James Cagney, 

©Moonfleot 

Stewart Granger. Vlreca UD 

©Prodigal, The • 

Lana Tinner, E

FEATURE 

CHART 

"Z d

.W. 

C 

. 

. 

i 

©Bounty 

1 

©nTrock 

. 

FEATURE 

CHART 

UNITED ARTISTS 

.Witness »o MurdM (83) D..5420 

Barbara Stuwyck. Gary MmtUI, (i. gandws 

GCoptain Kidd and the SIotc 

Girl (83) D.,54I8 

Eva Gîbof, Anlhony Dexter, Alan Uale jr. 

a ©Yellow Tomohowk, The (82). .D. .5414 

Rory Ciltioun. Peecle l^tle. Noeb Beery 

§Long Woit, The (93) D..5421 

Amhony Qulnn. Charles Cobum, Gene Enos 

©Choilenge the Wild (72) Doc. .5422 

Kraiik Or«l.nm and Pinillj 

Hobson's Cholee (107) C. . 

Charles Linglitoo, John MBli. Brmda Pe Baazle 

OO09 (85) D 

. 

. 

5423 

Kicbiird Iân, Con»tanee DoitUng, H Marshall 

©Men With a Million (90) C. . 

Grfgory I'e^ll, Jane Orltfllhs, A. B. Matthews 

©Adventures of Robinson 

Crusoe (90) D. . 

Dan OHerllhy, James Fernanilei, C. Uipee 

©Apoche (90) W. .5427 

Burl Lamarter. Jean Peters 

Lowlais Rider, The (62) W..5431 

Johnny Carpenter. Franklt Darro 

©Return to Troosure Island (75) D. .5417 

Tab Hunter, Dawn AddiBS, Jame* Seay 

©Crossed Swords (85) D..S334 

Errol riynn, Gioa lAilUbrlfida 

Diamond Wlxord, The (83) D. .5432 

Ilennb OKcefe, .Marjaret Sheridan 

Down Throe Dork Streets 

(85) D..5433 

Broderlck franford. Ruth Bonian, Martha Hjer 

Malta Story, The (103) D. .5429 

Alee Culnnea, Jack Hsukjns. Flora Robsos 

Victory ot Sao 197) Doc 

©Jesse James' Women (83). . 

.5435 

Don Barry. Peirelt Castle, Jack Beutel 

©Golden Mistress, The (82) D. .5437 

John Ajar. ilo5emaile Bowe, Klkl 

©Khyber Pofrol (71) D..5419 

Iflchaid Es.in, Dairn Addams. Patrlc Kncule? 

Suddenly (77) D. .5436 

I'rank Sinatra, Sterling Hayden, Nancy Gates 

Barefoot Contesso, The ( 1 28). D. .5440 

Humphrey Boeart, Ata Gardner. E O'Brien 

LiMIe Kidnappers, The (93) D. .5439 

Adrlcnne Corrle, J. Whitley, V. Winter 

Operation Manhunt (77) D..5441 

liorry Townes. Irja Jensen, J. Aubuchon 

©Sitting Bull (105) W..5434 

Pale Robertson, J. Carrol Nalsh 

Shield for Murder (82) D. . 

Bdmbnd OBrlen, Mart* EngJUb 

Snow Creature (70) D. .5447 

Paul Laneton. Leslie Umisoo 

Twist of Fote (89)..; D. .5446 

Ginger Rogers. Jaequts Bergerae, Herbert Loo 

©White Orchid, The (81) D, .5414 

William Lundlgan, Pesgle Castle 

©You Know What Sailors Are 

(89 ) C..5445 

©Romoo and Juliet ( 1 40) D . . 5449 

La»r«nce Ilarrey. Flora Boblsoo, 8. Sbootill 

Steel Cage, The (80) D. .5443 

Paul Kelly, M. O'BuUlrao, VT. BleHk 

Bottle Toxl (82) AD. .5502 

Sterling Ilayden. Arthur Trans, ki. Tlionipson 

©Beachcomber, Tho (82) D. .5501 

Robert Nevrtuo, OlynLs Johns, Donald 8lndiB 

Block Tuesday (80) D. .5450 

B G RoblasoD, Jean Parker, Peter Qr»» 

©Vera Crui (94) AD, .5448 

Gary Cooper, Burt Uocuter, Dcnlst Dtrcel 

Canyon Crossroods (..) W. . 

lilrhard B.i.^.'hart, Pliyllls Kirk, Kussell Collins 

Good Die Young, The (..)....D.. 

John Ireland, Gloria Grahams, L Himy 

OSoboka (. .) D. . 

liorls Karloff. Victor Jory, R. Dtiuiy 

©ciCenllenien Marry Brwwttes.M. . 

Jans Russell, Jeanne Cratn, Scott Brady 

©c^Kentucklon, The D. . 

Burt Ijuir.uttr, Klana Lynn, Uu Ucrkel 

©Liloci In the Spring M. . 

Night of the Hunter D. . 

Robert tUtcbum. Shelley Winters, LUUu Olah 

Not As o Stronger D. . 

Fiiibtrt Mitchum, Olivia de n.avUland, F. Sinatra 

Othello 

D.. 

Orson WaUes. Susanna OouUcr, fsy Comptea 

©Purple Plain, The D. .5503 

Oretory Peck, B. De Banila, ffla Mtn Tba 

©Star of Indio D. . 

Cornel Wilde. Jean Wallace, Herbert 

©Strooger on Horsebaek M. . 

Um 

Joel ileCrea, Mtroilan 

^mmartliae CD. . 

Katlurtnr Hepburn. Roeseoo Braatl, Hart Aldoo 

UHlVEgSAl-lNT L. g i° 

Fireman Sore My Child (80) C..421 

Buddy Hackptl, Hugh Brian, Adele Jertcns 

Ploygirl (85) 

D . . 420 

Shelley WbiterS: Barry Sullhan, G. Palmer 

Block Horse Canyon (82) D. .423 

Joel Mcfrea, .Marl Blanchird, Murryn Eye 

©Drums Across the Rhrer (78).SW..422 

Audie Murphy. Lisa 0»y«. Walter Breonar 

Always o Bride (83) C. .485 

Peggy Ojmrains, Terence Morian, Bonald Squire 

©Johnny Dork (85) D..424 

Tony Curtis. Piper Laurie. Ilki Chase 

Tanganyika (81) AD.. 425 

Van Heflin, Ruth Roman, Howard UuU 

Froncis Joins the WACe (95). . .C. .427 

Donald O'Coiuior, Julia Adams, £a«i Pitts 

U©Magniflcent Obsession (108).D..428 

Jane Wyman. Hock Hudson, Otto Kruger 

©oBlock Shield of Folwortti, 

The (100) 

D..430 

Tony Curtis. Janet Leigh 

©Down of Socorro (80) D. .431 

Ks.ry Calhoun, Piper Lanrle. Dartd Brian 

High ond Dry (93) C . . 486 

Paul Dongli-!, Alex MacKemle, J. Copeland 

Naked Alibi, Tho (86) D...431 

Sterltoig Hayden, Gloria Grahime, Oene Barry 

©Bengol Brigade (87) O. .434 

Roek lludsoD. Arlene Dahl, Ursula Thclsa 

©Four Guns to the Border (87). .W. .502 

i: -rv faltiDun, CoUeen UUIer, 0. Nader 

Ricochet Romonco (80) C. .504 

Marjorle Main, Chill WiUs, Rudy Vallee 

©cSIgn of the Pagan (92) D. .505 

Jerf fbandler, Jane Russell, Dan Duryea 

©Yellow Mountoin, The (78). . .W. .510 

. 

Lex Marker. Mala Powers, Howard Duff 

©Deitry (91) W. .508 

Aodls Murphy, Marl Blancbard, Lyle Bettger 

©So This Is Porls (96) MC. .507 

Tony Curtis. Corlnne Calret. One Nrlsoo 

©West of Zanzibar (83) D. .501 

Anthony Steel, Sheila Slai 

Abbott and Costello Meet the 

Keystone Cops (. .) C. . 

AhlinU and Costello, Lynn Bail 

©Far Country, The (. .) D. . 

.lames Sti'^xart. Ruth Roman, Walter Brennan 

Six Bridges to Cross (99) D . . 512 

Tony Oirtls, Julia Ad.ims. Ocrge Nader 

©oCoptoin LIghtfoot D. . 

Rock llud.ôn, Barbara Busb, Jeff kiorrow 

©oChiof Craiy Horsa SW. . 

Victor Mature. Suias Ball, John Lund 

©Foxfire D . 

Jerr Chandler. Jane Russell, Dan Duryea 

©Land of Fury D . , 

Jack Ilavrkiiw. 01)11)8 Jobne 

Mo and Po Kottia Go to Wolklkl . . 

Marjorle Main. I'erry Kllbrld*. Lorl Nelson 

OMon From Bitter Ridge, The. .W.-. 

Lc.\ Barker, Mara Corday, Stephen McNally 

©Man Without a Star D. . 

Kirk I>out:l.is. Jeanne Crain. Claire Treror 

^Revenge of the Creoture D. . 

John Agar. l>orl Nelson 

©Smoke Signal W. . 

Dana .Vndrews. Piper Laurls 

OThis Island Earth D. . 

WARN?!^ 

BROS. 

a ©Dial M for Murder (105) D..327 

Kay Milland, Grace Kelly, Robert Cummlop 

ESThem! (94) D. .328 

James IVhitmore, Joan WeldoD, Edmund Qweon 

g] UOoHigh and the Mighty, 

The (147) D. 

John Wayne, Claire Treror, Laralne Day 

329 

& U©c=iRing of Feor (93) D. .330 

Pat O'Brien. Qyde Beatty, Mickey SpUIaae 

IS ©King Richord and the 

Crusaders (113) D..331 

Virginia Mayo, Rex Harrison, Laurence Harrey 

II ©Duel in Hie Jungle (102) D. .332 

Dana Andrcv.s, Jeanne Craln, Darld Parrsr 

a ©Dragnet (90) D . . 401 

Jack Webb, Ben Alexander, Ann Rabbison 

Hunter, The (79) SW. .402 

Randolph Scott, Marie Windsor. D. Dora 

i©aDrum Beat (111) W. .404 

.\lan Ladd. Audrey Dalton, Marisa Paran 

of the Cot (102) AD. .405 

Robert Mitchum, Diana Lyim, Terssa Wright 

13 QaStar Is Born, A ( 1 54) MD . . 403 

Judy Garland, James Mason, Jack Canon 

©Young ot Heart (121) MC-D. .409 

Dorb Day, Frank Sinatra, B. Barrynere 

EHOaSBver Chalice, 'Hm (131) D. .408 

Virginia Usyo. Jack Palance. Pier Ai«eU 

@ Unchained (75) D. .412 

Chester Morris, Barbara Hale, EI107 Hlrscb 

©aBattle Cry D. 

Van UefUn, Aldo Ray, Tab Hunter 

©East of Eden . . 

Julie RarrLs. Janves Dean, {Uymoad Maaecy 

0

. 

10- 

. 8-13-54 

ah*. — Poor . = 

Very Poor. © Indicates color photogrophy. 

iiJJilJJ Ji) iJjJJJJJ J 

CASPER CARTOONS 

(Technicolor) 

B13-5 Casper Genii (7) 5-28-54+ 5-15 

++9-4 

54.101 The Social Lion (7) .. .10-15-54 11-20 

54.102 Flying Squirrel (7) ... 11-18-54 + 1-15 

6902 Push Back the Edge 

44.112 Grin and Bear It . 

(7) 

(10) . 

5-27-54 +7-5 

UPA ASSORTED 

B13-6 Puss'n Boos (7) 7-16-54 -|- 7-10 

(Technicolor) 

ij Rey'd 

B14-1 Boos and Arrows (6) . .10-15-54 + 11- 6 DISNEY MARQUEE MUSICALS 

6504 Fudgcfs Budget (7) 6-17-54 

B14-2 Boo Ribbon Winner (Technicolor Reissues) 

. 

1- 1 7501 How Now Boing Boing 

(6) 12- 3-54 

(71/2) 9- 9-54 H 

+1-8 

9-25 

44.002 Johnny Fedora and Alice 

B14-3 Hide and Shriek (7).. 1-28-55 

Blue Bonnet (S) 5-21-54 

7502 Spare That Child (..).. 1-27-55 

H 5-29 

44.003 The Martins and the 

WORLD OF SPORTS GRANTLAND RICE SPORTLIGHTS 

Coys (8) 6-18-54 

6S06 Tec Magic (9) 3-25-54 + -I- 4-17 R13-10 Bahamas to Windward 

44.004 Casey at the Bat (9) 7-16-54 +|- 7-24 

6807 Racquet Wizards (9) . . . 4-22-54 ± 5-29 

(9) 6-18-54 +9-4 44.005 Little Toot (9) S-13-54 + 9- 4 

ig Re/d 

6808 World Soccer Champions 

R13-11 Wild Pets for Play (9) 7-23-54 +8-7 44.006 Once Upon a Wintertime 

(10) 5-20-54 + 6-19 R13-12 One Hundred Unusual 

(9) 9-17-54 +f 9-11 

6S09 Diving Cavalcade (9) . . 6-24-54 

Boys (9) 8- 6-54 ++9-4 

619 

6810 Target Tricksters (9) . . . 7-29-54 ± lo-ie R14-1 Twin Riding Champs 

7801 Argentine Athletes (10) 9-10-54 

-I- 

12-11 

(10) 10- 1-54 + 10-30 

U-27 

7802 Hunting Thrills (9) . . . .10-14-54 + 12-25 

R14-2 Hot and Cold Glidei, 

7803 Skiing the Andes (10)11-11-54 

Slides and Rides (10) .10-22-54 + 11-20 

7804 Rasslin' Redskin (..). .12-23-54 

R14-3 Where Everybody Rides 

7805 Flying Mallets (10) 1-10-55 

(9) 11- 5-54 + 12-25 

R14-4 Boyhood Thrills (9) .. .12-10-54 

R14-5 Pike's Peak Arena, The 

(9) 12-24-54 

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 

HEADLINER CHAMPION 

Pro4. No. Title Rel Dad Rating Rev'd 

(Rcissuei) 

A14-1 Speaking of Animals and 

CARTOONS 

Their Families (9) 10-1-54 

(Technicolor) 

A14-2 Speaking of Animals in 

a Musical Way (8)... 10- 1-54 

W-541 Billy Boy (6) 

8-54 

A14-3 Stork Crazy (9) 10- 1-54 

W-542 Little School Mouse (6) 29-54 

W-543 

A14-4 The Lonesome Stranger 

Sleepy Time Squirrel 

(10) 10- 1-54 

(7) 

6-19-54 + 9- 4 

4-30-54 

W-544 

A14-5 Calling All Animals 

Homesteader 

+ 

Droopy 

(g> 

7-10-54 

W-545 Bird-Brain Bird 

+ 

(9) 10- 1-54 

8-14 

A14-6 Video Hounds (9) 10- 1-54 

Dog 

(7) 

31-54 4- 9-18 

W-54S Baby Butch (7) . . . 14-54 HERMAN & KATNIP 

. 

CINEMASCOPE CARTOONS 

(Technicolor) 

(Technicolor) 

P13-5 Candy Cabaret (7) . . . . 6-11-54 + 6-19 

C-631 Pet Peeve (7) 11-20-54 

P13-6 The Oily Bird (7) 7-30-54 ±8-7 

C-633 Touche Pus5y Cat (7) , .12-18-54 

P14-1 Fido Beta Kappa (7) .. 10-29-54 + 11- 6 

C-635 Southbound Duckling (7) 3-12-55 

P14-2 No Ifs, Ands or Butts 

C-637 Pup on a Picnic (7) . . 4-30-55 .... 

(6) 12-17-54 

CINEMASCOPE MUSICAL GEMS 

(Technicolor) 

PACEMAKERS 

K-573MGM Jubilee (10) 6-25-54 

K13-5 Million Dollar Playground 

K-674 Thieving Magpie. The 

(10) 5- 7-54 + 5-15 

(9) 9- 1-54 

K13-6 Touchdown Highlights 

K-675 Strauss Fantasy, The 

(10) 8-20-54 + 9-25 

(9) 10-22-54 a 9-11 K14-1 Drilling for Girls in Texas 

(9) 10- 8-54 + 10-23 

nTZPATRICK TRAVELTALKS K14-2 How to Win at the Races 

(Technicolor) 

(11) 12-17-54 

T-611 Yosemite, the Magnificent 

(9) 9-11-54 

POPEYE CARTOONS 

r-612 Grand Canyon, Pride of 

(Technicolor) 

Creation (9) 10-16-54 

E13-4 Popeye's 20th Anniversary 

(Technicolor Reprints) 

(8) 4- 2-54 +5-8 

T-613 Picturesque Patzcuaro 

E13-5 Ta.xi Turvy (6) 6- 4-54 6-19 

(9) 11-27-54 

E13-6 Bride and Gloom (6) . . 7- 2-54 + 7-10 

T-614 Glacier Park & Waterton 

E13-7 Greek Mirtholo?y (7).. 8-13-54 +8-7 

AL 

Lakes (9) 12-25-54 

E13-8 Fright to the Finish (6) 8-27-54 + 9-18 

T-615 Mexican Police on Parade 

E14-1 Private Eye Popeye 

(9) 2-12-55 

(7) 11-12-54 12-18 

T-616 Mighty Niagara (10).. 4-9-55 

E 14- 2 Gopher Spinach (6) .. .1210-54 + 1- 

9-18 GOLD E14-3 Cookin' with Gags (7) . . 1-14-55 

MEDAL REPRINTS 

(Technicolor Reissues) 

5-29 W-661 TOPPER 

Cat Fishin' (8) 10-30-54 .... 

W-662 Pari Time Pal (8) 1- 8-55 

M13-5 Three Wishes 

.... 

(10) .... 4- 9-54 ++5-8 

10.16 W-663 Cat Concerto (7) 1-22-55 

M13-6 In Darkest Florida (10) 7- 9-54 +8-7 

W-664 Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Mouse 

M14-1 The Nerve of Some People 

9-18 

(8) 2-26-55 

(10) 11-19-54 +1-8 

W-665 Salt Water Tabby (7) 

10- 9 

M14-2 Killers at Bay (10) .. .12-31-54 

. . 

PETE SMITH SPECIALTIES 

12-18 S-559 Out for Fun (10) 5- 8-54 i: 6-26 

S-550 Safe at Home (8) . . . 6-12-54 + 6-14 

Republic 

S-6S1 Camera Caught It. The 

(9) 10- 9-54 

S-652 Rouoh Riding (9) 12-11-54 

Prod. No. Title Rel Date Rating Rev'd 

S-653 Man Around the House 

(9) 1- 1-55 

SERIALS 

S-654 Keep Young (9) 2- 5-55 

5384 the African 

S-655 Sport Trix (9) 

S-656 Just What I Needed ( . 

11-20 

12 Chapters 

frl9 

5482 Ghost Riders of the West 10-11-54 

7- 

Paramount 

3 

12 Chapters 

10-16 

THIS WORLD OF OURS 

Prod. No. Title Rel Date Rating Rev'd 

12-11 

(Trucolor) 

CALLING SCOTLAND YARD 

9226 Formosa (9) 5-10-54 

(English-made) 

5385 Ireland (9) 8- 1-54 

5354 The Final Twist (27) Acr.-54 -f 4- 3 

5355 The Sable Scarf (27) Apr.-54 + 4-10 

5356 Present for a Bride (27) Apr.-54 -f 4- 3 

RKO Radio 

CARTOON CHAMPION 

(Technicolor Reissues) 

Prod. No. Title Rel 

S14-1 Were Date Rating Rev'd 

in the Honey (7). 10- 1-54 

S14-2 Butterscotch and Soda 

DISNEY CARTOONS 

(7) 10- 1-54 

(Technicolor) 

S14-3 Sudden Fried Chicken 

44.108 The Lone Chipmunks 

(7) 10- 1-54 

(7) 4- 7-54 +f 5-22 

S14-4 The Friendly Ghost (9) , 1-54 

44.109 Pigs Is Pigs (10) 5-21-54 +f 6-19 

S14-5 The Bored Cuckoo (9). 10- 1-54 

44.110 Casey Bats Again (8) 6-18-54 6-19 

5-29 S14-6 Santa's Surprise (9)... 10- 1-54 .... 44.111 Dragon Around (7) . . . 7-16-54 + 6-19 

3- 

W-632 

5-55 

4-54 

Manhunt in 

(reissue) 

+ 

ff 

Jungle 

4- 

9-18 

9-25 

7-54 

(Technicolor Cartoons) 

) 

Mice Follies 

4-16-55 

(7) . . 

15 Chapters 

(7) 11 

W-634 Farm of Tomorrow (7) 18-54 ff 11-20 H13-3 Of Mice and Menace 

W-636 Neapolitan Mouse (7) 2-54 

(7) 6-25-54 + 6-19 

W-638 The Flea Circus (7) 6-54 

W-639 Downhearted 

H 12-25 H13-4 Ship-A-Hooey (7) 8-20-54 ±9-4 

Duckling 

Hl-l-l Rail Rodents (7) 11-26-54 

13-54 

5481 Man With the Steel Whip 7-19-54 

W-640 Dixieland Droopy (8). 12 4-54 

NOVELTOONS

) 

SHORTS 

CHART 

5414 WilH« the Walrus in Arctic 

Ri>a»s (T) May-54 

5415 Gandy Gook In tke Ghost 

Town CI) (reissue) ... .May-54 .... 

5416 Terry Bears in a Howling 

Success (7) June-54 + 

5417 A Da/ in June (7) June-54 

7-17 

5418 Perciral Steuthhound in Pride 

0* the Yard (7) July- 54 + 8-14 

5419 Gandy Goose in risherman's 

Luck (7) July-54 

5420 Little Roquefort in the 

Cat's Revenje (7) Au5.-54 ± IZ-U 

5421 Ants in Your Pantry (7) Auj.-54 

The 5422 Reformed Wolf (7)..SepL-54 

5423 A Wicky Wacky Romance 

(7) (reissue) 0ct.-54 

5424 Heckle and Jeckle in Blue 

Plate Symphony (7) Nov.-54 ± 12-25 

5425 Torrid Toreador, A (7) 

(reissue) 

Dec.-54 

1730 Yankee Doodle Bms (7) 8-28-54 + 

2723 Lumber Jack Rabbit (7) 11-13-54 

2724 Baby Bugs Bunny (..). .12-18-54 

9-2S 


Prod. Mo. rrtle Rel Date Ratini Ber'd 

»A1 Tbe Royal Symphony (26) + 3-27 

Universal-International 

Prod. No. rule Rel Date Rating Rev'd 

COLOR PARADE 

1953-54 SEASON 

9383 Rollins in Style (9) . . . 4-12-54 + 5-22 

9384 Fair Today (9Vz) 5-10-54 -f 8- 7 

9385 Talent Scout (9) 6-14-54 + 7-10 

9386 Star Studded Ride (9) . . 7-19-54 -f 8- 7 

MUSICAL FEATURETTE 


9305 Rhythm and Rhyme (15) 4-23-54 — 4-10 

9306 Four Aces Sing (15) . . . 5-28-54 

9307 Corral Cuties (15) 6-21-54 + 7-17 

9308 Birth of a Band (15).. 7-26-54 -f 9- 4 

9309 College Caoers ( . . 8-16-54 

9310 Going Strong (14) 10-11-54 + 10- 9 

9311 Leave It to Harry (..).. 10-26-54 +1-5 

+ 

SPECIALS 

9202 The Hottest 50O (16) . . 6-13-54 # 6-12 

VARIETY VIEWS 


9344 Moving Through Space 

(9) 

9345 Stallions m Parade 

4-12-54 ± 5-22 

(91/2) 7-26-54 

WALTER LANTZ CARTUNES 

(Technicolor) 


9325 Under the Counter Spy 

(6) 4-10-54 + 6-12 

9326 Dig That Dofl (6) 4-12-54 + 4-10 

9327 Hay Rube

• 

Sides 

! Streets 

. and 

— 

JJJi^JJi 

Ul^JSÛJ^ 

. . They 

Ratio: Farce 

*® 

"P 

'^ 1.66-1 Comedy 

85 Minutes Rel. Ian. '55 

jp slapstick comedy, in the Abbott & 

d Lewis vein, this British-made film 

hter from American patrons, but the 

ly exploited to make up for its lack 

lis country. Margaret Rutherford, thai 

many British films, is popular with 

her name will mean little generally 

, the pint-size comic who is a British 

unknown on these shores. 

Rank pictures which Republic will relorious 

film dealing with troubles in a 

e, was one of the biggest grossing pici4. 

Exhibitors might use blowups of the 

ract lovers of down-to-earth humor, as 

two attractive feminine leads, Moira 

to catch the eyes of male patrons. The 

by Maurice Cowan and directed at 

ly Carstairs. 

bed as Britain's Mickey Rooney, gives 

portrayal 

I 

of a bumbling but wellth 

ambitions to be a window dresser. 

3t a plaintive quality in his few semi- 

Rutherford is, as always, a sure-fire 

blustering approach to improbable 

.ister and Derek Bond make a handir 

of plotters. The doings are quite 

3ant to be taken seriously, 

ito trouble when he mistakes Jerry 

t new director of London's biggest 

a fellow-clerk. Fired, he is quickly 

oi his stunts garners publicity for the 

>ly in love with Lana Morris, from the 

finally helps to foil an elaborate plot 

its annual sale. Two pleasing songs 

goret Rutherford. Derek Bond, Moira 

e, Lana Morris. Cyril Chamberlain. 

Ache—at the Funniest Comedy 

Norman Wisdom, Britain's Favorite 

et Rutherford, the Comic Dowager, in 

a 

Port oi Hell 

Ratio: Drama 

Allied Artists (5505) 

80 Minutes 

LS5-1 

HeL Doc. 5. '54 

Among those showmen who.se programming needs include 

solidly constructed middle-bracket product to supplement the 

costlier and more pretentious topsiders on dual attractions, 

this entry from producer William F. Broidy appears thoroughly 

capable of fufilling that demand. Indeed, considering that 

its cast includes two fairly substantial marquee names—those 

oi Dane Clark and Wayne Morris—and in view of its melodramatic 

and somewhat offbeat story line and locale, the 

offering can serve in many situations as the upper half of 

such double bills. 

No less than four writers pooled their efforts to. concoct the 

plot and, under the direction of Harold Schuster it sets and 

maintains a generally fast pace. Its locale is the harbor of 

the city of Los Angeles, and Broidy filmed almost all of the 

feature on location there, resulting in the accomplishment oi 

two major assets—an air of undeniable authenticity and, at 

the same time, the inclusion of considerable footage that 

should be of interest to most audiences because it reveals, in 

semidocumentary fashion, some of the modus operandi oi 

such a port. Attention-stimulating exploitation can easily be 

hinged on the above mentioned backgrounds and subject 

matter. 

An atom bomb, sealed in a cargo ship, is sent into the 

harbor by enemy forces—unspecified, but guess who? The 

plan is to detonate the bomb electronically from another 

vessel far at sea. Clark, the port warden, is an unbendirxg 

disciplinarian who has incurred the enmity of virtually everybody 

on the waterfront—including Morris, a rough-and-ready 

tugboat captain. However, when the chips are down it is 

Morris who tows the death-dealing cargo ship far enough 

away so that when the explosion does come it does no 

damage to coastal areas. 

Dane Clark. Carole Mathews, Wayne Morris. Marshall 

Thompson, Morjorie Lord. Harold Peary. Otto Waldis. 

CATCHLENES: 

Waterfront Rules Are Written by Tough Guys Like Him . . . 

To Be Broken by a Wharf Woman Like Her . Said 

He Wasn't Human . . . This Girl Knew He Was . . . Don't 

Miss This Action-Packed, Thrill-Laden I>rama. 

Fuss Over Feathers 

F 

F 

Ratio: 

Standard 

Comedy-Drama 

(Eastman Color) 

Ratio: 

"="'" 

ilance F 

75 Minutes 

1.331 

ReL - 

°'""' 

facets are the best qualifications of 

id they succeed in elevating the film 

the mediocrity to which it otherwise 

3ted by an over-diologed, limping and 

:een story. Because it was photo- 

/, the picture accords an engrossing 

etropolis, with special attention to its 

ernistic university. There is a reasonctic 

chase in which lies the feature's 

1. And performances throughout are 

lally those by Ricardo Montalban, Lee 

and moppet Jose Perez, 

er, that this trio of qualities is suffy 

the subject for anything other than 

1 dual programs. In such bookings it 

i can even be helpful in attracting 

permit topliner Montalban's name to 

dising the attraction. Considering the 

'03 confronted, director Horry Horner 

ob, and many of the technical details, 

jy Mexican craftsmen, are comparably 

3 bow the due of Raul Lavista for his 

lard Goldstein produced under the 

'ictures. 

ictims are women, is on the loose in 

stantial evidence points to Montalban, 

eing the slayer. However, his son 

advertent eye-witness to one of the 

ilone to trail the guilty man, Marvin, 

s innocence bcrving been definitely 

police track down Marvin, who has 

the fanatic is slain. 

Anne Bancroft Lee Marvin, lose 

I, Carlos Muzquiz. George Trevino. 

iture in Romantic Mexico . . . Where 

... A Murderer Who Strikes 

jf the City . . . Until His Career of 

rough the Bravery of a Little Boy. 

3 

laliMTX 

he^ 

Associated Artists 

84 Minutes Rel. 

A pleasant and mildly diverting, typically British picture, 

this will satisfy in the art houses, where John Gregson, who 

attracted attention in "Genevieve," and Niall MacGinnis, who 

played the title role in "Martin Luther," have some marquee 

draw. However, except for a suspenseful climax, it's generally 

unexciting and will have scant appeal generally. 

One of Britain's Group 3 productions (It was titled "Conflict 

of Wings" in England), the picture benefits from Eastman 

Color photography, which enhances the beauty of the Norfolk 

countryside. The story, which may seem like a great "fuss" 

to most American patrons, deals with the efforts of villagers 

to prevent their bird sanctuary from being taken over by the 

RAF as a rocket-firing range. John Eldridge's direction 

stresses the humor stemming from situations and amusing 

characterizations, rather than action. Gregson and Muriel 

Pavlow, he as a pilot,' she as a villager, take part in the 

pleasing romance. MacGinnis' blustering village leader is a 

far cry from his serious "Luther" portrayal, but it is equally 

effective. 

In peacetime England, cm RAF jet fighter squadron is sudde;ily 

ordered to convert a little island, which has been 

preserved as a bird sanctuary, to a rocket-firing range to 

train for overseas operational missions. The nea.'by villagers, 

headed by Niall MacGinnis, battle for the preservation of 

the land, but protests to the Ministry of Land and the Bird 

Watching Society fail. When the reconversion is complete, 

the squadron leader takes off, but a seagull crashes into his 

windshield and obscures his view. The villagers then decide 

to spread out around the targets so that the planes would 

not dare open fire. With the telephone line down, the planes 

approach without being aware of the villagers in line of Hre. 

Tragedy is averted at the last minute and, later, an oificial 

inquiry gives one year of grace for the island. Produced by 

Herbert Mason. Associated Artists 

New York City. 

is at 345 Madison Ave., 

John Gregson, Muriel Pavlow. Niall MacGinnis. Kieron 

Moore. Sheila Sweet, Harry Fowler, Guy Middleton. 

CATCHLINES: 

Another Delightful Comedy From Britain's Group 3 . . . The 

Great ConfiicI Between Birds of War and Birds of the Air . . . 

Niall MacGinnis, Star of "Martin Luther," Conducts Another 

Fight—for His Beloved Wild Birds.

REVIEWS 

Adiines for Newspaper and Pro 

Hello Elephant 

F 

Ratio: 

Standard 

Arlcm Pictures 78 Minutes HeL- 

Comedy-Drama 

A whimsical and engaging Italian-language film, one oi 

the lew that would be enjoyed by youngsters as well as 

adults—but, uniortunately, family audiences rarely attend 

the art houses, where the foreign tongue and subtitles will 

relegate it. Vittorio de Sica, who seems to alternate acting 

and directing, will be a marquee draw in the class spots. 

Sabu, who speaks English throughout his comparatively 

minor role of an Indian prince visiting Rome, will be remembered 

from his many Hollywood films. But it is de Sica's 

picture and he gives a memorable performance as the gentle, 

kindly underpaid schoolteacher. Maria Mercador is also excellent 

as his worried wife. 

As directed by Gianni Fronciolini for Rizzoli-de Sica Productions, 

the picture is filled with delightful comedy touches, 

among them the attempt to move a baby elephant up the 

stairs oi a Rome apartment house. Unfortunately, most of the 

photography is in such a low key that some of the night 

action will be inexplicable to audiences. 

De Sica, an underpaid elementary schoolteacher in Rome, 

has a wife and four children who are constantly in danger 

of being dispossessed because he is always behind in his 

rent. One day de Sica meets Sabu, a visiting Indian prince, 

to whom he shows the sights of Rome just before the prince 

is proclaimed king of his country. Some months later, the 

grateful Sabu sends de Sica a huge crated present containing 

a baby elephant. De Sica and his children are delighted with 

the present, but the landlord and all the other tenants complain 

about an elephant being kept in an apartment. De Sica 

is obliged to take the elephant to a convent, but the animal 

runs away and returns to the apartment house. Finally, 

de Sica sells the elephant to the zoo so he can buy shoes 

for his children and pay his debts. Every Sunday, the family 

goes to the zoo to see their former pet. Arlan is at 511 

Fifth Ave., Nev/ York City. 

Vittorio de Sica, Sabu, Maria Mercador, Nando Bruno. 

CATCHLINES: 

Sabu, the Hero of Countless Films, with de Sica, the Great 

Italian Star— v/ith Nabu, the playful Elephant ... A Miraculous, 

Unexpected Gift Which Upsets an Entire Life . 

. . 

A Fairy Story—and at the Same Time a Real Life Tale. 

1O-54 

1 

This German film with English narration relies for its 

appeal on sex and sensationalism. It is not suited for family 

audiences but can be exploited by the downtown houses in 

key cities. Though an attempt is made to show two young 

people ideally in love with each other while faced with a 

tragic predicament, the tone is morbid throughout. Use of 

flashbacks is frequent. The film has been tried out In unidentified 

cities, but when shown reviewers in New York 

several scenes had been cut, evidently to conform to state 

censorship. 

The star is Hildegarde Neff, a thoroughly competent actress 

known in the U. S. and soon to appear in a Broadway stage 

play. That may be one reason for the release of the film 

at this time. She is called on by Willy Forst, director, to 

appear in a large number of closeups and does so with 

varying success. Her name has exploitation value. Playing 

opposite her is Gustov Froehlich, and he is well cast. 

A translation of the title is "The Story of a Sinner." Marina. 

as a girl, learns about sex from the son of parents who 

adopt her. The mother goes out with men. The three of them 

are finally thrown out into the street by the father. Marina 

follows the example set by the woman who adopted her 

until she meets Alexander, an alcoholic artist. For the first 

time she pities a fellow human being, takes him to her 

apartment and rehabilitates him. Threatened with blindness, 

Alexander at first refuses an operation, then gives in to 

Marina's insistence. Money is needed so she returns to the 

streets to earn it. The operation is temporarily successful, 

Alexander becomes famous and Marina and he lead an 

idyllic life. Then blindness strikes. At his request, Marina 

gives Alexander poison. Then she takes poison herself. 

Hildegarde Neff, Gustav Froehlich. Anne Bruck, Robert 

Meyn, J. 

Wolfgang Meyn, Andreas V/oU. 

. . Life Sinner, 

CATCHLINES: 

How Could a Bad Woman Be So Good or a Good Woman 

Made Her a Then Gave Her 

Be So Bad? .

51.50, cash with copy. Four consecutive insertions ior price 

iday noon preceding publication date. Send copy an 

30X0FFICE, 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 24, Mo. 

tions, 

.Mt. 

it be 

eated 

rred. 

cieiit 

Igan. 

PPl)-. 

seaitlous 

[>eravork. 

open 

.licnl 

pic- 

exisers 

first 

'rail. 

sires 

flee. 

GENERAL EQUIPMENT—USED 

Imfrove your liijht !.„ I'in.riiaSoiiif Loiust 

pncos blr.iiii;. Simpk-.v. Brenktrt. .Moreilte 1 K\V 

.ami II. 1 arclamps. ret-Ufiers, generators. Time 

deals avail.ible. Write for details. Uept. CC. 

N w V 

k"iq'' 

'*'*' 

^'"'''' ""^ "'• '""'' ^'•• 

For sale, equipment for small theatre. Powers 

meelianisms and soinid musler, 250 chairs in 

eood condition, llonells Theatre, lloivells .Neb 

Lowest prices on anamorphles. lenses and screens! 

Contact us: Motlograpli K mechanisms, good, 

f.--i-o pair; changcovers. complete, $22 50 scf 

film cabinets. $1.50 section. What do yon need? 

Star Cinema Supply. 447 West 52nd St New 

Brenkert, Super Simplex, standard Simple's with 

rrar shuiter and Superior projectors. Complete 

RCA s-ound syslcms with S030 soundheads. ..\sheialt 

Enarc ,0 .\. and Strong IKW lamps. Enclosed 

re«inds, splicers, hand reuinds. IS" magaiines, 

2-,'! bank ticket machines and other Items 

00 nnmcrous to mention. ,\ll In e.vcellent condition. 

Write for price. Unity, f. o. Box 442 

Milwaukee. Wis. 

Pair Holmes 33mm projectors; pair Strong lamps 

and reetilMTs; complete smnid system loi 600-car 

drive-in. P. 0. Box 652. Martlnsburg, W Va 

For sale: Complete Simplex booth with speakers 

and junction boxes for 400-car drive-ln including 

";"".""""''* f""' """'K '^1°'^';- 

nnt''%fn-n'''T'l, out. $2 !)o0. Theatre Etpiipmeiit Co.. 1200 Cherry 

St.. Toledo. Ohio. 

Mighty 90s and Strong 135. Get our trade-in 

oftei before you deal for new ones. Try nonight 

Wji_sling cylindrical anamorphics on 'lO-day 

trial. $o!lu pair. Brenkert 1 KW. $1511 pair 

Simplex or Strong. $245 pair. What do you need' 

Hodge Kcimpment Co., Cincinnati 30, Ohio 

Two popcorn machines, one Silver Star, factory 

recondilione, 

, perfect. One Cretors Hollywood 

Mode 4,s like new. Used only six iiKiiilhs. Priced 

10 sell. Out of business. Boxofficc. 5747. 

Canadian exhibitor has two pairs Holmes 

projector like new. 35mm 

$500 pair. Theatre Saint Pros' 

per. Saint Prosper Comtee norcli. Que., Canada. 

LCUflRlOB HOUSf 

THEATRES FOR SALE 

432-seat theatre, five years old. e(iuipped lor 

Cinemascope. 400-car parking. 60.000 population 

within seven-mile radius. I. A. Field, Box 

602. Cortland, Ohio. 

San Francisco area, 650 seats. ClnemaScopewlde 

screen, excellent boxofficc and candy bar 

receipts. Books open. $17,500 down. J. D. 

Arakellan, Tlieatre Broker, 25 Taylor St., San 

Francisco. 

Only theatre, rich Wisconsin county scat of 

4,000. Absentee ownership forces sale. 462 

seals, exceptional confection stand. Act Now! 

No reasonable offer refused! Boxofficc, 5731. 

Oklahoma. Only drlfe-ln, growing city, liicli 

new oil. asricultural area. Large territory. First 

run. Exclusive with Ralph Erwin, Broker. Box 

Sll. 

Tulsa. 

First run art house in southwest city of 100.000, 

Immediate possession. $2,500. Bo.xofilce, 5702 

West Texas county seat progressive modern town 

of l,.SI)ll, Ni] rompetltion. .No brokers, yon save 

their charge, enough to install Cinemascope. Total 

price $25,000 with $15,000 down. Write Rialto 

Theatre. Crowell. Te.xas. 

Non-competitive, rapidly expanding north Alabama 

town 2.0110. 12 miles e:ist of lluntsvllle. 

300 seats, fine brick building. Excellent increasing 

profit. New Simplex machines, good concessions 

Will sell for 1954 gross. $15,600. Joy Theatre, 

Giirley, Ala. 

Missouri Ozarks. Modern drive-in. Progressive 

small city. In-car speakers. Large tract included. 

Inspcclion inviled. Exclusive with Balph Erwln 

Broker, Bo.x Sll. Tulsa, Okla. 

Oklahoma, Independent circuit centered another 

area has authorized me to sell modern 575-seat 

tlieatre. Full-time. Clioice product. Brick building. 

Good lease. Motiograpli. wide screen. Cinema- 

Scope. Exclusive with Ralph Erwin. Broker. Bon 

811. Tiilsa. 

Theatre for sale or rent. 600 seats, colored 

neighborhood. Brooklyn. BOXOPFICE, Box 6, 45 

Rockefeller Plaza. New York. 

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE 

"The" anamorphii: of today and tomorrow, hsihaii 

you think. Buy with confidence. Box 323 

Kxiler. .\. 11. 

Curtain control, complete, $65. Snperlite, uncnated, 

4" lenses, $35. Hoxy Tlieatre, St. Ansgar 

Iowa. 

Complete projection booth. Super Simplex heads 

Strong lamps and rectifiers. Western Electric 

sound. Universal bases. $500. Palace Theatre 

Pocahontas, V*a. 

540 Ideal slide-back chairs, like new: Manley 

popcorn marhine: steam blast coll; blower and 

motor 3011 feet, neon and transformers. Arnold 

& Sisco. B.irdslown. Ky. 

Copper oxide and selenium rectifier, 220 volt 

{ phase. More amperage for larger screens. $17.5 

10 $350. depending upon amiier;ige rciiulrerl 

George E. Wiltse. 4216 Hanover. Dallas, Te.xas. 

THEATRES WANTED 

Theatres. Oklahoma, Ark:nisas, Kansas Missouri 

Ralph Erwin, Broker. Box Sll, Tulsa, Okla. 

Individual wants to buy or lease theatre or 

ilrive-in in southwest. Exjierlenced phases 

all 

Replies confidential. Boxofficc, 5729 

Wish to lease with option to buy theatre 400 

seats or more, town 1,800 or more. Location 

Iowa. H.sconsin. .Minnesota, Illinois. Kenneth J 

Shock, Elma. Iowa. 

Seeking controlled town 7,500 minimum. Texas 

Oklahoma. Ne.v Mexico. Ample finances. Boxoffice. 

0(42. 

To rent or Ica-e with oinlon to buy by individual 

with successful e.vploilalion and promolon experience. 

Lneigetie showman, a r'al go ...-ii,., ci,,. 

details. Boxnlfice, 5743. 

THEATRE SEATING 

Chair supplies, parts fur all chairs, Fensin Scating. 

Ciiieago 5. 

GENERAL EQUIPMENT—NEW 

Masonite marquee letters. Fit Wagner Adier 

Bevelite signs: J-—35c: 8"— 51k- 10"_finc' 

l^:-î 14"-$1.25: 16"_$1.50:-17"-$l'?5 

-4 —JfoO. riept. CC. S.O.S. Cinema Supply 

Corp.. 602 W. 52nd St.. New Vork 19. 

HrghlyrecommendCinemat.lv to fellow exhibitors 

for performance, versatility, savings and 

promp delivery.- .says Nyer Theatre Circuit. Bm- 

-n'^\- S^- ^"•^- '^"''' Supply Corp.. 602 W 

o2nd St.. New York 19. 

I13X.2. -if") û.'m- Hill 

"'" "^^'""'^ 

"""J "' Lux screen, 

sacrifice for $275. cost new $450 

Bioomfleld, 

Iowa. 

DRIVE-IN THEATRE EQUIPMENT 

'""I"" 

ec'in"'^ 

"ith 

"'."J"'' 

straiglit cords. 

Jb.SO. Car-side speakers, $8.15. Replacement 

'-'' °'"° ^°"'- "5 '^^ ^'"' 

ZX OMt 

Drive-in theatre for sale, in southern New England 

near large city. 800-car capacity. Annual 

gross well over $100,000. No brokers. Write 

Boxoffce. 5744. Kan.sas City. Mo 

For sale: 300-ear drIve-in, heart of Michigan 

resort seetinn. Good producer, priced low. Write 

Box-office. 5745. 

Non-competitive Texas county. Trade area 

15,000. Beauliful drive-in, 350 cars. Pins only 

indoor theatre $18,500 clown, or will exeliange 

for similar quality income properly In southwest 

noi requiring active management. Arthur Leak. 

Specialist. 3305 Caruth, Dallas. 

For sa.e: Knox Drive-ln. Wheatland, Wyo., 265 

cars. Substantial down payment. Contact Ted 

Knox. 2054 Broadway. Denver. Colo. 

500-car drive-in. Second Largest west Texas 

county population. E.xcellenI location permanent 

four-lane federal highway. Steel muraled. neoned 

toner, wings. Excellent booth, concession equipment. 

Paved park. Current income excellent. 

Excli :iige for income property in Oklahoma considered. 

Boxofficc, 5740. 

For sale: 275-car drlve-in In Maine with living 

quarters. First run product, no competition Blind 

owner will sacrifice at $30,000. Will lake 

$10,000 down. BoxofMee. 5746. 

inr''X'" Jo"-'"- J"'"''"' 

I"'"'"' f»" 'I'fefls- 

100000. $28, »; 10.000, 

Injarger $8.95; 

situation. 2.000, $4 95 

Major Theatres. Paris Mo 

Bach change in admission price, including change 500-seat theatre. 

hi color Latest 

$3.00 

type 

extra. 

equipment. 

Double Pushback 

seals. 

numbering extra. 

F.O.B New wide screen. 

Kansas City, 

W-cst 

Mo. central Illinois 

town. 15.000 

Cash with order. Kan- 

C1?y Mo "" '"''• '"^ " '"" St.. KansSs potential. $10,000 down Good 

""''•'•'«

Boxoffice-January.22.1955

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