Boxoffice-January.07.1956

JANUARY 7, 1956 

/he TuAe &ij me m&to&ti 

Latin American countries are experiencing a boom in theatre building, and in "retooling" 

to introduce the widescreen processes and improved sound. Havana is one of the 

cities where new theatre building has been in evidence. Recently, the fifth new house, the 

Ambassador, was opened. Of interest is the auditorium, shown here. The use of brick and 

stone as wall materials and the introduction of planters along the side walls and each 

edge of the stage give warmth and informality to what could be a cold brick-faced area. 

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE EDITION 

tl S..i Ptgli tl All I

Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz James Mason 

HOW TO MAKE MONEY! 

FIRST BIG COMEDY 

OF THE NEW YEAR 

Act fast! The release date of "FOREVER DARLING" is 

February 10th and the most complete campaign ever devised, 

with brand new ticket-selling ideas, is synchronized with its 

national saturation distribution. M-G-M's previous Lucille 

Ball-Desi Arnaz success "The Long, Long Trailer" had terrific 

exploitation tie-ups that ballyhooed it into a box-office moneymaker, 

but you haven't seen anything like this. The Quaker 

Cereal tie-up alone with its "free movie ticket for junior with 

paying adult" will boom box-offices everywhere. Study the 

details that follow, get the press book with even more ammunition 

and get your share of the gravy! Preliminary promotion 

starts below. 

They can't go everywhere but they've picked key places 

where the penetration will spread the widest. Here's just their 

beginning. Starting Sunday, Jan. 29th, a 1-day appearance 

in Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and 

2 days in Jamestown, N.Y. 

JAMESTOWN WORLD PREMIERE 

Full scale World Premiere in Jamestown, N.Y., birthplace 

of Lucille Ball, on Feb. 7th. Rousing "Welcome Home!" with 

radio, newsreels, TV and wire services blanketing the nation. 

Backed by City Fathers, with entire town participating. 

PRESS PARTY ON U.S.S. CONSTITUTION 

On Feb. 9th aboard the U.S.S. Constitution in New York 

harbor, a special press party to honor Lucy-Desi in person, 

with 150 people prominent in newspaper, TV, radio, civic, 

fashion and society worlds. 

BROADWAY PREMIERE 

Following that, and on the same night, Lucy-Desi will attend 

a gala Broadway premiere of their big new comedy attraction. 

! 

: 

j 

SYNCHRONIZE YOUR PLAYDATE T( 

M-G-M's sensational and unprecedented national tie-uj 

on "Forever Darling" ("Forbidden Planet", too!) puW 

money right into your till. Every package of Quaker Oati 

or Mother's Oats, Quaker Puffed Wheat or Quakei 

Puffed Rice, Muffets Shredded Wheat and Quaker Pack: 

O-Ten will carry a free movie ticket for youngsters unde:j 

12 years old, provided he or she is accompanied by A 

paying adult. This "Free Movie" offer is the best show 

in-the-arm for business in years. Quaker Oats in i 

tremendous national advertising campaign will ua 

newspaper and magazine ads and many kinds of displa^ 

accessories for supermarkets and grocers. Its staff of 73 

merchandising men and 485 salesmen will cooperaw 

with M-G-M and theatre playdates. Following is thj 

stupendous newspaper, magazine, TV and radio penetral 

tion which covers the nation 

1. FULL PAGE LOOK AD (on sale February 7) Reader 

ship 19,500,000. 

2. SUNDAY COMICS-In 124 Sunday newspapers acros 

the nation on Feb. 12th, a 4- color ad with 100 millio] 

readership. 

3. SUNDAY SUPPLEMENTS- Family Weekly, Feb. 11 

LUCY-DESI "IN PERSON" TOUR 

issue, in 101 newspapers with 7,500,000 readership 

4. TVs "SGT. PRESTON OF THE YUKON" -Oi 

CBS-TV at 7:30 to 8:00 P. M. EST every Thursda; 

over 72 stations starting Feb. 2 and for 10 weeks j 

plug for the movie offer reaches 15 million viewers. I 

5. RADIO'S "HERE'S HOLLYWOOD" - On 50 

SOMETHING NEW 

FREE MOVIE TICKETS INSIDE 

QUAKER CEREAL PACKAGES 

Mutual radio stations from 12:05 to 12:10 P.M. daih 

EST, Mon. through Fri. from Feb. 1st through Apri 

2, an estimated 962,000 listeners in 740,000 homes 

6. EXTRA! SUNDAY COMICS— In 88 newspapers na 

tionwide March 18 a second 4-color ad with 85 millio! 

readership. 

Imagine: $400,000 Extra 

Additionally, 

Plan 

Quaker Oats has made an allocation 

$400,000 as a display allowance in a special plan t 

obtain the strongest possible dealer assistance. Deale 

materials to span America: 7,500 grocery store Spectacu 

lars, in the form of a theatre box-office. 50,000 commerci 

Stack Cards featuring the movie offer. Flash Sheets fo 

salesmen. 7,500 Spectacular Robots. 50,000 Stack Cards

1-G-M's NEW IDEA' MASS CAMPAIGN! 

000 DEPARTMENT STORES IN 

BIG NATIONAL TIE-UPS 

.MAZING TIE-UP! Join the hundreds of 

heatres whose play-dates synchronize with 

1-G-M's terrific St. Valentine's Day promotion. 

'Forever Darling" is the perfect title for it!) 

,000 department stores participate. A special 

it is available to them which incorporates your 

leatre tie-in. Imagine the benefit your box-office 

ill 

get from the following: 

SHT DRESS- MUNSINGWEAR. "Forever Darling" 

tdress and peignoir. Inspired by Lucille Ball's wardrobe. 

;ured in full color in February Harper's Bazaar. Ideal for 

mtine's Day and subsequent promotions. 

NDY- ROSEMARIE DE PARIS, INC. "Forever Darbng" 

ly. Special assortment for your Valentine's Day tie-up, 

for other play-dates. Contact: Rosemarie de Paris, Inc., 

Jew Street, East Boston 28, Massachusetts. 

ATS- BENDER & HAMBURGER CO. "Forever Darbng" 

/el 

Costume and Evening Coat. Interpreted from Lucille 

's costumes. Contact: Bender & Hamburger Co., 498 

>nth Ave., New York, N. Y. 

IDE'S MAGAZINE- BRIDE'S MAGAZINE. Offering free 

aotional material, cards and ad reproductions on "Forever 

ling" to stores who write directly. Contact: Wells Dror- 

;h, Jr., Bride's Magazine, 527 Fifth Ave., New York 17. 

JAMAS- HARWOOD MFG. CORP. "Forever Darling" 

mas for him and her. Free window display cards and newssr 

mats. Contact: Harwood Mfg. Corp., 261 Fifth Ave., 

' 

York, N. Y. 

ESSES- WESTOVER FASHIONS, INC. "Forever Darling" 

s. Contact: Westover Fashions, Inc., 1400 Broadway, New 

k 18, N. Y. 

A VICTOR RECORDS- RCA VICTOR recording by the 

s Brothers with Hugo Winterhalter & Orchestra of the 

"Forever Darling" plugged in the picture. 45 or 78 rpm. 

I 

wd No. RCA 20/47-6400. 

APERIES- WAVERLY BONDED FABRICS. 2 "Forever 

ling" patterns in Glosheen fabrics for draperies. Contact: 

rerly Bonded Fabrics, 60 West 40th St., New York, N. Y. 

>SPREADS_ MARCUS BEDSPREAD & DRAPERY CORP. 

rever Darbng" bedspread sets. Contact: Marcus Bedad 

& Drapery Corp., 261 Fifth Ave., New York 16, N. Y. 

LLS- ALEXANDER DOLLS. "Forever Darbng" bridal 

21" tall miniature of Lucille Ball dressed in wedding 

n, jewelry and bridal veil. Contact: Alexander Doll Co., 

j 

153 East 24th St., New York, N. Y. 

H TRAY-WESTCORT CO. Ceramic Ash Tray. "Forever 

ling" new-idea ash receiver. Contact: Westcort Co., 4 East 

1 St., New York 22, N. Y. 

M CHAIR- JAMESTOWN ROYAL UPHOLSTERY CORP. 

:ially designed "Forever Darling" arm chair. Contact: 

.estown Royal Upholstery Corp., Jamestown, N. Y. 

JEWELRY- LEO GLASS & CO., INC. Fashion Jewelry. 

"Forever Darbng" necklace & earring sets. Contact: Leo Glass 

& Co., Inc., 37 East 18th St., New York 3, N. Y. 

DELL COMIC BOOK- DELL PUBLISHING CO. "Forever 

Darbng" 10c comic book, on sale January 12, 

1956. 100 Dell 

sales promotion men, coast-to-coast will help with tie-in 

displays and other promotions. Contact: Deb Pubhshing Co., 

261 Fifth Ave., New York, N. Y. 

WEDDING GOWN- MURRAY HAMBURGER & CO., INC. 

"Forever Darbng" wedding gown adapted from the fabulous 

$4,000 gown worn by Lucihe Ball. Also matching cap; bridesmaids' 

gowns. Advertised in January Bride's Magazine. Contact: 

Murray Hamburger & Co., Inc., 498 Seventh Ave., New 

York, N. Y. 

M-G-M RECORDS-M-G-M RECORDS has recorded Desi 

Arnaz's rendition of the title song "Forever Darbng." Vocal 

by Desi and The Pied Pipers. Available through local 

M-G-M Records distributors. No. M-G-M 12144—78 rpm. 

No. K 12144-45 rpm. 

Other Tie-Ups: 

DODGE DEALER- DODGE CARS. New 1956 

model seen 

in the picture to be featured in street babyhoo, salesroom 

windows, other extensive promotions. 

SHEET MUSIC -LEO FEIST, INC. "Forever Darling" 

sheet music with movie-credit cover. Contact: Leo Feist, Inc., 

799 Seventh Ave., New York, N. Y. 

NATIONAL M-G-M AD SATURATION 

In addition to the countless milhons reached by the many 

tie-ups, M-G-M will blast the national and fan magazines 

with ticket-seUing ads, plus a teaser and display newspaper 

campaign geared to the Feb. 10th national release date. 

"Picture of the Month" column alone will have a readership of 

close to 50 milhon, in Good Housekeeping, True Story, 

Mc Cab's, Woman's Home Companion, Parents', Redbook 

and Seventeen. TV Guide's 9 milhon readers will be reached 

through the 38 regional editions keyed to national release 

and actual play-dates. 

^>- x 

3. 

M-G-M presents 

LUCILLE* DESI ' JAMES 

BALL- ARNAZ* MASON 

"FOREVER DARLING" 

co-storrtng 

LOUIS CALHERN 

JOHN EMERY JOHN HOYT • • NATALIE SCHAFER 

Screen Story and Screen Play by HELEN DEUTSCH 

Photographed In EASTMAN COLOR • Print by TECHNICOLOR 

Directed by Produced by Associate Producer 

ALEXANDER HALL • DESI ARNAZ • JERRY THORPE 

A Zanra Productions, Inc. Picture 

Filmed in Hollywood by Desilu 

(Available in Perspecta Stereophonic or 1-Channel Sound) 

M-G-M WEEK-FEB. 5-11 

"An M-G-M Picture on Every Screen oj the World"

SOON THE WHOLE WIDE WORL 

The fabulous filming 

of the Age of Titans, 

from the iliad' of homer 

Three Years and 

Six Million dollars 

to produce! 

All the Tumultuous 

wonders and 

Tremendous Drama 

in 

the story 

of history's 

most Famous 

Runaway Lovers! 

V 

l 

Launched 

a 

Thousand 

Ships! 

v- 3S» 

II 

PrT' 

i > 

*> 

j&i 

' - 

' 

STARRING 

WarnerColor 

ROSSANA PODESTA HEi!«JACKSERNA3pi.si

:> WILL 

KNOW ITS GREATNESS! 

PSL Knifi iiinniuinin- STANLEY BAKER-NIALL MucGINNIS 

«„»».„ n.K'.Lr 

1IC HARDWICKE- Robert douglas-nora swihburne-tqrih thatcher-JOHN TWISTanoHUGH GRAY ROBERT WISE s 

• 

SiC BV 

STEINER

For the first time in history! 

PUBLIC and CRITICS AGREE! 

the Year 

| Winner of Both Film Daily's I 

National Critics 

Poll and

7ii^c^tfa/7l(>fymr^tute/ndu&fy// 

THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY 

Published in Nine Sectional Editions 

BEN 

Editor-in-Chief 

DONALD M. 

SHLYEN 

and Publisher 

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NATHAN COHEN. .Executive Editor 

JESSE SHLYEN. .. .Manoging Editor 

HUGH FRAZE Field Edito' 

IVAN SPEAR Western Editor 

I. L. THATCHER. .Equipment Editor 

MORRIS SCHLOZMAN. Business Mgr 

Published Every Saturday by 

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Kansas City 24. Mo. Nathan Cohen. Executive 

Editor; Jesse Shlyen, Managing Editor; 

Morris Sohinzman. Business Manager: 

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Editor The .Modern Theatre Section. Telephone 

CHcstnut 1-7777. 

Editorial Offices: 45 Rockefeller Plaza. New 

York 20, N. Y. Donald M. Mersereau. 

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The MODERN THEATRE Section Is included 

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S3. 00 per year: National Edition. $7 50 


Vol. 68 No. 11 

NEW HOPE IN A NEW YEAR 

tf T IS traditional at this season of the 

)ear to look to the ensuing 12 months with hope 

that its prospects will he brighter than were the 

experiences of the year past. Accordingly, business 

leaders give out with statements of prophecy, 

most of which are optimistic. When founded on 

factual basis, not mere theory or wishful thinking, 

such statement can be encouraging, even 

lo the downhearted who have gone through a 

period of reverses. But. often, there are cases of 

distress so extreme and so seemingly beyond 

salvation, mere words of optimism, no matter 

how sincere, are meaningless. However, there 

are offsets to these low points in this industry's 

state of well-being from which there may spring, 

not merely hope, but the material means and 

methods that can be implemented to assure widespread 

business betterment. 

Much of such a prospect is wrapped around 

product supply, the inadequacy of which must 

bear the brunt of the adverse business turn experienced 

by many theatres, particularlv the 

neighborhood and small-town situations. Here 

there is genuine basis for a brighter outlook, 

what with virtually all companies announcing 

stepp?d-up production plans as a result, no doubl. 

of a realistic evaluation of the past year's experience 

with shortened production schedules, 

weighted down with cost-heavy films, too many 

of which misfired in their public appeal. The 

outlook stacks up about like so: 

What was an axiom a year ago, namely, 

that only big pictures could show a profit at 

the 

boxoffice, now seems destined to become a halfforgotten 

proverb. Some of the grosses rolled 

up by low-budget films in 1955, with "Marty' 

as an outstanding example, have jolted the bigbudget 

advocates so much, they are now revising 

their thinking and planning. 

The net results probably will be an increase 

of from 30 to 40 features for the 1956 season. 

Some of the majors are now talking about a 

total of 30 each, with additional product from 

independent producers. While the actual output 

never comes up to advance announcements, the 

mere fact that the announcements are being made 

shows which way the distribution executives' 

theories are leaning. 

The numbers of independent producers are 

increasing. 

Stars and directors like the idea of 

spreading income over a period of years, instead 

of receiving lump salan payments which 

suffer heavy tax bites. Bankers like to make loans 

to independent units with important distribution 

contracts. The tendency of the independents i~ 

to stay away from the multi-million dollar pin 

rl urt ions, because they want to limit their ii>k>. 

That, also, augurs well for exhibitors. 

Long-range production forecasts are jusl about 

as reliable as long-range weather forecasts in 

this mercurial business. But the outlook for the 

smaller exhibitors— based on the good prosper! 

of increased product output—looks better than 

it has during the past two or three years. If 

print deliveries come up to expectations, or anywhere 

near them, there will be fewer furrowed 

brows and glum looks in exhibitor ranks, in spite 

of the tidal wave of old 

films toward television. 

Producers and distributors seem to have

MINNEAPOLIS COURT UPHOLDS 

MOVEOVERS WITH CLEARANCES 

Nordbye Says Downtown 

Runs Build Exhibition Value 

For Subsequent Runs 

MINNEAPOLIS—In a decision that may 

have far-reaching repercussions, U. S. District 

Court Judge Gunnar H. Nordbye in an 

antitrust case brought by a suburban theatre 

has laid down a set of principles covering 

clearances and moveovers and has expressed 

the opinion that clearances should 

not be disturbed by the court unless conspiracy 

can be proved. 

ATTRACTIVENESS DOESN'T COUNT 

Moveovers do not damage the exhibition 

values of films for subsequents, he decided, 

and a new suburban theatre cannot take runs 

held by older downtown houses simply bee 

it is more modern and attractive. 

The Nordbye decision differed sharply from 

the famous Jackson Park decision in Chicago 

a half-dozen years ago where the court limited 

downtown first runs to two weeks and 

required permission from the court for longer 

runs. 

The plaintiffs in the local case were the 

Robbinsdale Amusement Corp.. which is controlled 

by William and Sidney Volk. They 

built the Terrace Theatre between 1949 and 

1951 at a cost of about $500,000 in Robbinsdale. 

a suburban community adjoining Minneapolis. 

It is a de luxe spot, with free parking 

facilities. 

There is a 28-day clearance in Minneapolis 

for first runs. The Volk brothers requested a 

14-day clearance for the new house in October 

1951, and on April 3, 1953, demanded 

exclusive second run, regardless of downtown 

moveovers and second runs. All the distributors 

turned down these demands. 

The Volk brothers sued for $1,000,000 triple 

damages under the antitrust laws. No damages 

were granted by the court and the case 

was dismiss-ed. The case will be appealed, attorneys 

for the Volks said. 

Defendants were Warner Bros., Universal 

Film Exchanges, 20th Century-Fox, RKO 

Radio Pictures, United Artists Corp., Paramount 

Film Distributing Corp., Minnesota 

Amusement Co., Loew's, Inc., Columbia Pictures 

Corp. and Minneapolis Theatres, Inc. 

The court pointed out that Minneapolis had 

a downtown iLoop) section that attracts 

shoppers and sightseers. 

SHOWCASES BUILD PICTURE 

"The so-called 'show case' first run exhibition 

of pictures downtown undoubtedly 

builds the pictures, not only for the suburban 

theatres, but for theatres in the surrounding 

trade area of Minneapolis as well," the court 

stated. "The first run theatres showing the 

better pictures in Minneapolis are the Radio 

City, the State, the Orpheum, and the World. 

The Lyric and Pan usually operate on first 

run. but generally have Class B or C pictures. 

These two theatres, during the period in controversy, 

also upon occasions have operated 

on pictures moved over to them from the 

Radio City, the Orpheum and the State. 

Highlights of Decision 

• Downtown first runs arc still important tor the 

success of pictures in spite of the rapid spread of 

population to the suburbs. In Minneapolis they provide 

59 per cent of the income and get 37 per cent 

of the attendance. 

• Clearances are not static. Increasing relative 

importance of suburban theatres and the growth of 

suburban centers may bring about a change in runs 

and clearances in the near future. 

9 Clearances are not illegal and no exhibitor has 

an absolute right to compel a distributor to grant 

on earlier run. 

• Moveovers are justified and add to the volue of 

important 

attractions. 

• Dismissed contention that moveovers cheapen 

a picture for subsequents. 

• Courts should hesitate to disrupt an established 

clearance system in absence of convincing proof that 

there has been conspiracy in its establishment. 

• Ruled that where a downtown run deprives a 

suburban house of patronage it is the "inevitable 

impact of a competitive industry." 

• Court recognizes Terrace Theatre, plaintiff in 

this case, is more modern and luxurious than two 

downtown houses which get moveovers, but this 

doesn't entitle it to first suburban runs, because 

these would give it exclusive first runs in its neighborhood. 

• Rules plaintiff was seeking a decree which 

would abolish in favor of the Terrace any clearance 

which is now accorded first runs. 

• Paramount decrees not relevant because that 

conspiracy existed in 1945. Decrees signed in 1948, 

and this local case has no relationship to the socalled 

Paramount conspiracy. 

• Concludes: "We are concerned with what the 

defendants are now doing and not with the period 

of the Paramount decrees." 

Moveover pictures exhibited by the Lyric 

come either from the Radio City or the State, 

while the Pan plays moveover pictures which 

come from the Orpheum. 

"Since 1948, the first run theatres in Minneapolis 

have been accorded a minimum 28- 

day clearance over all theatres. The 28-day 

clearance has applied to the Terrace, the Uptown, 

the Boulevard, the Riverview, the Hopkins, 

the St. Louis Park, the Richfield and 

the Edina Theatres. These may be designated 

as neighborhood or suburban theatres." 

It was at this point that Judge Nordbye 

stated his views on moveovers, a problem that 

has been argued by exhibitors for many years. 

He wrote: "It is generally recognized that 

first run houses which exploit pictures under 

the heavy expense of advertising and large 

overhead, and which are the source of the 

largest revenue for the distributors, are entitled 

to a reasonable clearance over second 

run theatres which are in competition with 

them. Whatever the situation may be in 

other cities, such as Los Angeles, for instance. 

where there are communities within the city 

limits with a distinct community life of their 

own, Minneapolis remains a city grown 

populous around the proverbial downtown 

Loop area. As illustration of the film rental 

paid by the first run theatres, reference may 

be made to tabulations computed on 46 of the 

better pictures whtch played first run in 

downtown theatres during the period in controversy. 

The film rental paid by downtown 

theatres on first run totalled $520,178, or 59 

per cent of the film rental paid by all theatres 

in the Metropolitan and suburban areas. 

The theatres playing these pictures 28 days 

after close of the run downtown paid film 

rental of $152,675, and from all other suburban 

and neighborhood theatres in the metropolitan 

area, the film rental was $205,725." 

TERRACE EARNINGS HIGH 

The court stated that the gross earnings of 

the Terrace and the film rentals paid exceeded 

any other suburban theatre in the 

Minneapolis area. 

In Minneapolis moveovers have been limited 

to two downtown houses. The court discussed 

this in detail without criticism and stated: 

"That an extended run of a picture in 

downtown Minneapolis, or a moveover run. 

tends to exploit and build the picture in the 

minds of the theatre-going public, not only 

in Minneapolis but in the rural areas included 

in the exchange area, seems indubitably 

clear. Radio City contains 4,000 seats 

and has a weekly expense of about $7,788. 

The Orpheum has about 2,800 seats and is 

operated at a weekly cost of about $5,500 

The State has 2,300 seats, with a weekly 

expense of about $6,150. The Pan Theatre has 

1,418 seats, with a weekly outlay of about 

$3,600. The Lyric has 1,100 seats, with a 

weekly expense of about $3,037. The Terrace 

has 1.300 seats, with a weekly expense of 

approximately $1,800. A picture playing at 

the Radio City, for instance, on first run may 

have, after the first week, certain potential 

earnings on an extended run, but due to the 

fact that that theatre will lose money if the 

weekly gross falls somewhat below $10,000. 

the exhibitor may decide to move to the Lyric 

where the weekly overhead is substantially 

lower." 

DIDN'T RESULT IN LOSSES 

The court saw no objections to the practice 

and concluded that the 28-day clearance of 

the Terrace had not caused it to lose any 

money. 

All of the distributors, with the exception 

of Loew's, Inc., recognized the system as 

"sound policy," the court pointed out, and 

there is no fixed policy on moveovers. 

"Furthermore, the fact that moveovers have 

been accorded to the Lyric and Pan does not 

establish any right on the part of the Terrace 

to a similar run," the court decided. 

"The distribution and allocation of motion 

pictures to theatres will always present a 

difficult and delicate problem. Courts should 

be hesitant to disrupt an established system 

of runs and clearances in absence of convincing 

proof that its genesis is the result 

(Continued on page 12) 

8 

BOXOFFICE 

: 

: January 

7, 1956

104 COLUMBIA FEATURES TO TV; 

PARA. SELLS SHORTS BACKLOG 

Stockholder 

Pressures 

Said to Be Important 

Factor in Decisions 

NEW YORK—Columbia Pictures will 

lease 104 features to television through its 

subsidiary, Screen Gems, and Paramount 

will release 1,600 of its 2,100 short subjects 

for use on the TV channels. 

Both deals were in the work when the 

announcement was made last week by 

RKO Radio that it had sold 740 features 

and 1,000 short subjects to C & C Super 

Corp. In addition, Columbia Broadcasting 

System is negotiating with Paul Terry for 

the large backlog of animated cartoons he 

has turned out for theatrical exhibition 

over the last several decades. 

MORE DEALS UNDER WAY 

There are reports that more deals of this 

kind will be made in the near future, not 

because the company heads are in favor of 

the plan, but because of stockholder pressures. 

Both Warner Bros, and MGM stockholders 

are scheduled to meet in February, 

and they may have something to say on the 

subject. 

Major company executives are loath to 

discuss the TV film problem, but it has been 

hinted that the American Broadcasting- 

Paramount Theatres deals with Walt Disney 

stirred general interest among the producerdistribution 

fraternity. When J. Arthur 

Rank's pictures began arriving over here in 

quantity for TV use, it was generally agreed 

that the film tide could not be held back 

much longer. 

The few exhibitor leaders who are willing 

to comment off the record point out that 

leasing of shorts is not of great importance, 

because the use of shorts in theatres has declined 

in recent years, what with longer 

features and widescreen processes. Shorts 

represent about two per cent of the gross 

income of Paramount. This also holds good 

with 20th Century-Fox, it is understood. 

This company distributes the Paul Terry 

Terrytoons, for which CBS is negotiating. 

It is reported Terry intends to produce 

more subjects directly for TV use. 

SPECULATE ON MARKET 

What effect the sudden supply of better 

quality old pictures will have on the market 

is now a subject of general speculation. 

Matthew Fox, who swung the RKO deal, 

says there will be no flooding of the market 

by him. He says he doesn't think his competitors 

will go in for this. 

Screen Gems, however, has a number of 

important features to offer along with its 

shorts and it has been predicted in financial 

circles that its gross probably will go 

from $6,000,000 for 1955 to $11,000,000 this 

year. 

Unlike RKO, Columbia is going into the 

business on an experimental basis without 

promising large blocks of pictures. Its procontinued 

on page 12) 

BOXOFFICE :: January 7, 1956 

A Spectacular in Realm of High Finance 

Hughes Pays 12 Million 

To Get Back 2 Features 

NEW YORK—In another of the spectacular 

multi-million-dollar moves he has made since 

he acquired RKO, Thomas F. O'Neil announced 

Thursday (5) that he had sold "The 

Conqueror" and "Jet Pilot" back to Howard 

Hughes for $8,000,000 cash plus an additional 

$4,000,000 to be paid out of Hughes share from 

the distribution of the films. RKO Radio will 

handle the distribution. 

Hughes produced both pictures, and the 

$8,000,000 represents the negative cost and 

the $4,000,000 the distribution and other 

expenses. 

The deal is another sequence in one of the 

fastest and most spectacular financial developments 

in the history of the film business. 

Last July 16, O'Neil announced that he 

had borrowed $25,000,000 from the Chase 

National Bank and other sources for the 

purchase of RKO Radio from Hughes. Two 

weeks ago, he announced he had sold 85 per 

cent of the RKO film backlog to C and C 

Super Corp. and Matthew Fox for $12,000,000 

cash plus $3,000,000 to be paid within the 

next two years. 

This $15,000,000 plus the $12,000,000 to be 

received from Hughes adds up to $32,000,000. 

In addition, O'Neil expects to get a substantial 

Columbia Statement 

On Sale to Television 

New York—The Columbia statement 

on its television move was as follows: 

"Columbia Pictures Corp. has authorized 

its wholly owned television subsidiary, 

Screen Gems, to release a group 

of 104 features for television showing. 

This does not constitute a sale; we will 

maintain our title to the pictures and 

to all residual rights. 

"It does, however, take cognizance of 

the changing character of our business 

and the need for all companies to remain 

fluid and flexible. As a matter of 

good business judgment, our management 

has decided it wants to study at 

first hand the potential of the television 

market as it relates to feature 

pictures which have already been reissued 

theatrically and are now dormant 

in a so-called 'backlog.' 

"This move will also provide us with 

additional working capital for the expanded 

theatrical production program 

in which we are now engaged and which 

will be further accelerated in the immediate 

future." 

cash return from 150 RKO films which 

General Teleradio Inc., his TV-radio subsidiary, 

has the right to sell to the national 

TV broadcasting chains. 

The Chase National Bank loan has now 

been reduced to $10,000,000 and RKO has 

enough cash on hand to start film production, 

with as many as 20 pictures a possibility for 

1956. The company, O'Neil said, is not far 

from "the breakeven point" at present. 

O'Neil emphasized the deal with Matthew 

Fox and the backlog films was for the purpi 

of getting a quick return of cash to get the 

film production program undt_ way, and the 

deal with Hughes was for the same purpose. 

TO SPACE OUT RELEASES 

He said the sale of "The Conqueror" and 

"Jet Pilot" back to Hughes will enable the 

company to space out the releases so tnat 

there will not be two big John Wayne films 

within six months. "Jet Pilot" is still being 

edited. Hughes, under the terms of his 

contract, must deliver it by June 1, If he 

fails to do this, RKO will not be obligated to 

distribute 

it. 

Present production plans, O'Neil said, call 

for 17 pictures this year with a production 

budget of $19,000,000. These include some 

independents with whom deals have not been 

fully completed. Some others may be added 

to bring the total to 20. 

O'Neil called the Thursday conference 

chiefly to report RKO Teleradio Pictures Inc. 

has been formed with the approval of the 

Federal Communications Commission. The 

company will act as a holding corporation for 

General Teleradio Inc. and RKO Radio Pictures 

Inc., both of which will be operated 

as divisions of the new corporation. 

Daniel O'Shea will continue as president 

of the RKO Radio division. Production will 

start this month on the first of ten features 

scheduled for production within the next six 

months. Releases of new films will come at 

the rate of one and one-half a month, it is 

planned. 

Among the first will be "The First Traveling 

Saleslady" with Ginger Rogers, "Stage 

Struck" with Jean Simmons as star, "A 

Bundle of Joy" starring Eddie Fisher and 

Debbie Reynolds. "Ride a Tiger" starring 

June Allyson and produced and directed by 

Dick Powell, and a film based on "Misty," a 

children's book, to be produced by Ralph 

Dietrich and Martin Berkeley. David O. 

Selznick will start work later in the year on 

"A Farewell to Arms," the Hemingway novel. 

Another scheduled for later in the 

tor which no cast has been chosen, is "Cash 

McCall," Cameron Hawley's best-selling book.

| 

no 

NATIONWIDE DEMONSTRATE 

Your first chance to see lor yourself: 

the images are radiantly bright and sharp 

the backgrounds are as clearly in focus 

as the foregrounds 

the illusion of depth is 

breathtaking 

distortion, no fading at extreme sides or top 

and bottom of screen 

| 

the same fine quality when viewed from any 

seat in the theatre 

NO CHANGES REQUIRED IN THE BOOTHS OF 

THEATRES EQUIPPED FOR STEREOPHONIC SOUND

MS BEGIN JANUARY 23!

. 

— 

j^Ctt&C &Cfit4' 

K. E. Anderson Is Named 

Cooper Foundation Head 

An Omaha lawyer, be will succeed Pat Mc- 

Gee who is named buyer and booker for all 

of the Cooper theatres; Anderson to manage 

Foundation's theatre companies and all subsidiaries 

• 

COMPO Will Press Tax Drive 

Despite President's Views 

Robert W. Coyne of governing committee 

says it does not believe his position, stated 

in message to Congress, against excise tax 

cuts now is inflexible if need is proved; points 

out this is election year. 

TESMA Completing Details 

Of TOA Convention Tieup 

Board to meet Tuesday 1IO1 on joint use 

with exhibitor organization of space at the 

New York Coliseum in September, expects 

to sign contract within week; may also decide 

on sites of future meetings. 

* 

TOA President Sets Plans 

For Testimony in Senate 

Myron Blank due in New York within 

week to choose committee to appear at Small 

Business Subcommittee hearings February 2; 

also will fix late February date for board 

meeting in Washington. 

• 

Deadline for 

Objections 

In 16mm Case Is Monday 

Enforcement of Judge Yankwich's decree 

was temporarily held up by filing of stipulation 

by the Department of Justice, which 

lost 

case. 

* 

Harry Browning, Glidden 

Leaving N. E. Theatres 

Former had been with circuit and its predecessor 

company. M&P Theatres, for 40 years; 

Hubert Glidden, treasurer, a 30-year veteran; 

M. J. Mullin consolidating departments. 

• 

Hartford Admission Rises 

Spread to Neighborhoods 

Move started in two downtown circuit 

houses followed by suburban houses with indications 

that operators in nearby towns will 

follow suit. 

• 

National Theatres Votes 

Quarterly Dividend 

Board of directors declares 12'. cents a 

share on outstanding stock at Thursday (5) 

meeting; dividend is payable February 2 to 

stockholders of record at the close of business 

on Thursday < 19) 

* 

Korda Will Start Producing 

For TV in U. S. This Month 

British producer to do two series in black 

and white on famous trials at rate of one 

film weekly; doesn't disclose outlet: NBC has 

shown two of his theatrical films in advance 

of general release. 

Times Editor Sees Sales to Television 

As a Virtual Scuttling' of Toll TV 

NEW YORK—The sale by RKO of its 

backlog of features to television, the acquisition 

of 1,600 shorts from Paramount and the 

recent sale of 10 David O. Selznick features 

for the TV channels is visioned as "the virtual 

scuttling of pay-as-you-see television" 

by Jack Gould, radio-TV editor of the New 

York Times. 

Writing in his Sunday (1) column, Gould 

said: 

"The favorite argument of the eager toll 

TV champions has been that the home boxoffice 

would mean new feature length pictures. 

But it is becoming obvious that, while toll 

TV has become ensnarled in all sorts of legal, 

technical and economic complications, advertising-sponsored 

TV is going to move 

ahead and satisfy the viewer's appetite for 

better film fare. As newer films reach the 

home without charge, the toll advocates are 

going to sound very forlorn urging viewers 

to pay for them. 

"Pay-as-you-see had a stronger case five 

years ago than it has today," he wrote. 

placed on RKO pictures 

The restrictions 

to the effect that none of the backlog properties 

could be shown on TV until they had 

been in theatrical release for three years 

was seen by the Times columnist as the general 

pattern to be followed in making features 

available to television stations. 

"A lag of three years presumably would 

protect a film's boxoffice appeal at a theatre, 

yet also be short enough to assure maximum 

rental fees from TV stations and advertising 

sponsors," he said. 

The long-range implication of the RKO 

deal, he felt, is that television will be receiving 

a steady stream of fresh pictures. One way 

or another, whether from Hollywood or 

abroad, television is going to obtain the pictures 

it wants; in 1956, television is big 

enough to make it worthwhile for at least 

some film producers to do business, he commented. 

Gould, however, feels that it will be a long 

time before television will be able to afford 

to play first run films. He said the chief 

practical significance of the RKO deal is its 

illustration of the interdependence, not 

rivalry, of the TV and motion picture industries. 

If the television industry is to have 

feature-length films, then the filmmakers 

must be able to recoup their production costs 

through exhibition in theatres. At present, 

television can only afford to pay for secondary 

showings, he said. 

Sales to Television 

(Continued from page 9) 

posed release of 104 features is only about 

10 per cent of those on hand. 

The CBS-Paul Terry deal was nearing a 

climax with only the final details to be 

worked out by CBS lawyers. Terry was ill at 

home. A spokesman referred all questions to 

CBS which neither confirmed nor denied reports. 

In the meantime, the CBS legal department 

filed articles of voluntary dissolution of 

Terrytoons, Inc., with the Department of 

State. They stated that the company was 

organized as Moser & Terry, Inc., in May 

1934. 

It was a clear indication that CBS had 

bought all Terrytoons assets. Tile price was 

reported to be $5,000,000. 

The Paramount grant of first option rights 

to 1,600 shorts, previously reported as in negotiation, 

was closed before the end of the 

year so that the capital gains benefits for 

1955 could be included among the earnings. 

U. M. & M. TV Corp. contracted to pay $3,- 

000,000. The company can lease the films 

for TV use anywhere in the world and can 

offer them to theatres outside the U. S. 

and Canada. 

Barney Balaban, Paramount president, 

closed the deal with A. W. Schwalberg, former 

president of Paramount Film Distributing 

Corp., who represented Charles M. Amory, 

U. M. & M. president. 

Minneapolis Suit 

(Continued from page 8) 

of conspiratorial connivance, and that it 

is unreasonable. 

"Every theatre owner would prefer to have 

an earlier exhibition date. The distributors 

no doubt are eager to obtain not only the 

best pictures, but to exploit them so as to 

obtain the greater film rental. The entire 

record is impelling that each of the distributors 

here has a bona fide belief that its first 

run releases and moveovers should be shown 

only in the Minneapolis Loop. 

"Whatever impact the first run and moveover 

competition may have on the suburban 

theatres stems from the fact that a certain 

percentage of motion picture habitues will 

not await the showing of a hit picture in a 

suburban theatre." 

After dismissing the charge that there was 

"conscious parallelism of action" in the development 

of the Minneapolis clearance and 

that this was conspiracy the court ruled there 

was no "inference of conspiracy." 

At this point the court said clearances were 

not static. 

"The increasing relative importance of 

suburban theatres and the growth of 

suburban centers may bring about a change 

in runs and clearances in the near future," 

Judge Nordbye wrote. "However, on this 

record the court should not attempt to hasten 

that change by the interjection of a premature 

experimental innovation as suggested 

by the plaintiff. But plaintiff urges that the 

distributors are blind to their own financial 

advance in refusing the Terrace a moveover 

run, and it asserts that the court should, by 

an appropriate decree, grant its demands and 

that such action would redound to the distributors' 

own good. 

"Well, even though the distributors are 

lacking in good business acumen in not 

recognizing the boxoffice advantages to them 

in according the Terrace a preferred run, this 

court in the absence of sufficient evidence 

of a conspiracy between the distributors and 

the defendant circuit exhibitors, is helpless to 

direct the former on the right path." 

Mersereau Hospitalized 

NEW YORK—Don M. Mersereau, associate 

publisher of BOXOFFICE, is in Doctors Hospital 

with a compound fracture of the right 

elbow. He slipped on the ice and fell as he 

was leaving his car at his home in Ardsley. 

12 BOXOFFICE : 

: January 7. 1956

Changes in 

Of a Minor Nature 

Arbitration 

New York—Minor changes in the 

language of the arbitration draft, recommended 

by exhibition, as well as the 

holiday season have delayed its filing 

with the Department of Justice. It is 

expected the changes will be worked out 

soon by Adolph Schimel, representing 

distribution, and Herman M. Levy, representing 

exhibition. They had previously 

said the language was being "polished," 

but had not told who had sought the 

changes. 

Allied Artists Starting 

Sales Drive Jan. 28 

HOLLYWOOD—With Arthur Greenblatt, 

Allied Artists homeoffice sales executive, as 

captain, AA will stage a 17-week "March of 

Progress" sales drive beginning Saturday 

(28) and continuing through May 24. Greenblatt 

will visit the company's 31 domestic 

exchanges for on-the-spot discussions with 

branch personnel, implementing campaign 

plans outlined by Morey R. Goldstein, vicepresident 

and general sales manager. 

Participating in prizes will be division 

chiefs L. E. Goldhammer, eastern; Nat 

Nathanson, midwest; James A. Prichard, 

southern; and Harold Wirthwein, western, 

as well as branch managers, salesmen and 

bookers. 

In additional to regular prizes, based on 

dollar-delivery during the "March of Progress" 

period, special "merit awards" will be 

distributed on the basis of all-around branch 

performances. The drive will be spearheaded 

by the mid-January national release of 

the Fred MacMurray starrer, "At Gunpoint," 

as well as subsequent distribution of "Invasion 

of the Body Snatchers," "Crime in 

the Streets," "The First Texan," "The 

Come On," "World Without End," "Thunderstorm," 

"The Four Seasons," "Mother- 

Sir!" "Screaming Eagles" and "Shack Out 

on 101." 

Five Theatremen Named 

Brotherhood Chairmen 

NEW YORK—Five leading exhibitors 

have 

been named chairmen of the industry's 

Brotherhood Drive for 1956 by William J. 

Heineman and Spyros S. Skouras, national 

co-chairmen of the drive sponsored by the 

National Conference of Christians and Jews. 

They will direct the drive in their various 

areas. 

The exhibitors are: Henry Plitt, Paramount 

Gulf Theatres, New Orleans; Ted Schlanger, 

Stanley Warner, Philadelphia; Sol Strausberg, 

Interboro Circuit, New York; David 

Wallerstein, Balaban & Katz, Chicago, and 

Ed Zabel, Fox West Coast Theatres, Los 

Angeles. They are the first to be named. 

New Technicolor Treasurer 

HOLLYWOOD—David Shattuck, treasurer 

er of Technicolor Motion Picture Corp. since 

1936, has also been named treasurer of 

Technicolor, Inc., succeeding Lester Clark, 

it was announced Wednesday (4i by Dr. Herbert 

T. Kalmus, president and general manager. 

Clark remains on the board of directors 

of both organizations. 

Senate Small Business 

Probe to Start Feb. 2 

WASHINGTON — Senate Small Business 

Committee Subcommittee hearings have 

been scheduled to start February 2 by Sen. 

John Sparkman of Alabama. Complaining 

exhibitors will be the first witnesses, to be 

followed by other exhibitor representatives 

and distributor spokesmen. Sen. Hubert R. 

Humphrey of Minnesota, chairman of the 

subcommittee, will be in charge. 

Senator Humphrey says he aims to find 

out how many of the recommendations 

made by the committee in 1953, when Sen. 

Andrew F. Schoeppel was chairman, have 

been carried out. In that report it was 

strongly recommended that an arbitration 

system be adopted. The plan was turned 

down by Allied, which supplied the complaints 

that have motivated the forthcoming 

hearings. 

DISCUSSED FOR TWO YEARS 

The plan has been under discussion, off 

and on, for the past two years. Adolph 

Schimel, counsel for the distributors, and 

Herman Levy, general counsel for Theatre 

Owners of America, are now putting the finishing 

touches on what they describe as 

"polishing" the phraseology in spots. The 

committee will get a copy of this at about 

the same time that it goes to the Department 

of Justice to see if it conflicts in any 

way with the consent decrees in the antitrust 

cases. 

Allied leaders will probably be the first 

witnesses before the Senate subcommittee. 

As in the hearings three years ago, the Allied 

complaints have been strongly pressed 

by Abram F. Myers, general counsel. 

TOA leaders have been assured they will 

be heard. In view of Senator Sparkman's 

statement, it also is expected that distributors 

will be invited to testify. 

Humphrey said he hopes some of the 

problems now facing exhibitors and distributors 

will be ironed out as a result of the 

hearings: 

"In launching this inquiry, the subcommittee 

has carefully avoided any prejudgment 

of any of the issues to be raised during 

the hearings. Moreover, the subcommittee 

does not entertain any preconceived 

notion of the ultimate facts to be established 

in the course of the hearings. The sole 

purpose will be to try to resolve problems 

which may be shown to exist between distributors 

and exhibitors, most of whom are 

small independent businessmen." 

FEDERAL OFFICIALS TO APPEAR 

In subsequent hearings, he added, federal 

officials having responsibilities in the antitrust 

field will be asked to appear. 

Members of the subcommittee, in addition 

to Senator Humphrey, are Senators John F. 

Kennedy. Massachusetts; Wayne Morse, 

Oregon; Andrew F. Schoeppel. Kansas, and 

Barry Goldwater, New Mexico. Schoeppel 

and Goldwater are Republicans. 

TOA's notification its leaders would be 

heard was made orally during the week, with 

the Senate committee telling its New York 

headquarters that a formal invitation will be 

on its way within a week or ten days. 

TOA expected to name its representatives 

at the hearing within a few days. There will 

be three or more of them. The organization 

said the Senate committee had not yet decided 

on any hearing procedure, so it was 

not known whether briefs will be filed or 

simply oral statements made. 

It was the understanding that two or three 

days will be devoted to taking exhibitor testimony, 

and that then distributor representatives 

will be heard. It was also understood 

that the committee plans to invite the attendance 

of persons who appeared before it 

three years ago. 

Independent Theatre Owners Ass'n will be 

represented by an advisory committee. A 

meeting was planned for late in the week 

after which the identity of the committee 

may be made known. No formal invitation to 

the hearing had been received, but one was 

expected momentarily. 

Metropolitan Motion Picture Theatres 

Ass'n of New York said that the matter of 

attendance had not come up at any of its 

meeting. It was also said that no invitation 

had been received. 

The Council of Motion Picture Organizations 

did not plan to be represented. It was 

pointed out that the hearings would deal with 

trade practices, and that that was outside the 

field of COMPO. 

Distribution reportedly had not begun active 

planning for the hearings, but its legal committee 

headed by Adolph Schimel of Universal-International 

was expected to do so in 

a few days. It was said an invitation to attend 

will undoubtedly be forthcoming. 

RKO to Close Branch 

In New Haven, Conn. 

NEW HAVEN—RKO will close its 

exchange 

here Friday (13), according to announcements 

December 28. 

Barney Pitkin will remain here as manager 

of sales and William Canelli will continue as 

Connecticut salesman. John DeSanctis will 

be transferred to RKO's New York office, 

where he will handle communications pertaining 

to bookings, boxoffice statements, collections 

and accounting concerning business 

in this state. He has been office manager and 

booker here. 

Duties of Morris Alderman, assistant booker, 

four young women employed as clerks and 

three employes in the shipping department 

will be terminated as of January 13. 

File $550,000 Contract 

Suit vs. Matthew Fox 

NEW YORK—A suit charging breach of 

contract has been filed in New York supreme 

court against Matthew Fox and four companies 

in which he is interested. They are: 

Reynard International Corp., Western Television 

Corp., Motion Pictures for Television, 

Inc., and MPTV Syndication Corp. Damages 

of $550,000 are claimed. 

The plaintiffs are Joseph Harris, Seymour 

Weintraub and James B. Harris. They claim 

they had contracts with Fox and his companies 

for a ten-year period at salaries totaling 

$50,000 a year. 

BOXOFFICE January 7. 1956 13

FRIDAY 

. . 

.. •• 

>

m 

YES— Friday, the 13th of January, 

1956, is the lucky day when 

everyone goes to one big nationwide 

screening — to be held 

simultaneously in theatres in 

32 exchange cities. Exhibitors, 

press and opinion-makers will all 

be there to see the only musical 

ever to rival "White Christmas." 

Invitations for "Anything Goes" 

screenings are in the mail now. 

If yours doesn't reach you soon, 

call your Paramount branch... 

for this is 

an industry festival 

no one wants to miss. 

Dazzling 

stars — opulent production — 

marvelous music — make 

"Anything Goes" the greatest 

attraction theatres have ever been 

offered for Easter playing time. 

BING CROSBY- DONALD O'CONNOl 

JEANMAIRE MITZI GAYNOR 

PHIL HARRIS in 

"ANYTHING GOES" 

In YistaYision and Color by Technicolor • Music 

and Lyrics by Cole Porter • Produced by Robert 

I'.mmett Dolan • Directed by Robert Lewis • Musical 

Numbers Staged by X'ick Castle. Jeanmaire ballet and 

"I Get A Kick Out of You" Staged by Roland Petit 

Screen Story and Screen Play by Sidney Sheldon 

From the Play by Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodchouse 

(Revised by Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse) 

New Songs by Sammy Cahn and James Van Heusen 

A Paramount Picture

7956 20th-FoX Schedule JA 

Upped to 34 Films 

NEW YORK—Twentieth Century-Fox will 

increase its 1956 production schedule to 34 

pictures at an estimated cost in excess of 

$70,000,000, states Darryl F. Zanuck, vicepresident 

in charge of production. This is 

four more than was announced in a story 

published in the December 31 issue of BOX- 

OFFICE. 

Included in the proposed schedule are two 

Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, nine 

Broadway stage hits and 14 best-selling 

novels. 

All pictures will be produced in 35mm or the 

new 55mm Cinemascope. How many of each 

there will be has not been decided. Both 

of Zanuck's personal productions, "The Man 

in the Gray Flannel Suit" and "Island In 

the Sun" will be photographed on 55mm stock. 

In addition to those previously announced, 

the year's productions will include: "Hilda 

Crane," stage play by Samson Raphaelson, 

to be produced by Herbert Bayard Swope jr., 

directed by Philip Dunne and to star Jean 

Simmons, Guy Madison and Jean Pierre 

Aumont; "The Last Wagon." an original 

story to be produced by William 

Hawks; "The Sun Also Rises," the 

Ernest Hemingway novel, the screenplay for 

which is now being prepared by Peter Viertel; 

and "Bernardine," a stage play by Mary Chase, 

author of "Harvey," to be produced by Samuel 

G. Engel. 

Buddy Adler, with seven productions on 

the schedule, leads in the number of pictures 

to be undertaken during the year. Currently 

he has "The Revolt of Mamie Stover" before 

the cameras in Hawaii. This picture, written 

by William Bradford Huie, screenplay by 

Sydney Boehm, and with Raoul Walsh directing 

is scheduled for an April release. Jane 

Russell and Richard Egan are starred. 

In the coming months, Adler also will produce 

a series of pictures adapted from hit 

Broadway plays. Among them will be "Bus 

Stop." by William Inge which Josh Logan 

will direct; "Anastasia," which Anatole Litvak 

will direct and in which Ingrid Bergman will 

star, and "A Hatful of Rain," by Michael 

Gazza, a play now on Broadway. Adler also 

will produce several pictures based on successful 

novels—"The Day the World Ended," 

by Francis Gwaltney, which John Sturges will 

direct, with Robert Wagner the star; "Solo," 

written by Stanford Whitmore; and "Heaven 

Knows Mr. Allison," novel by Charles Shaw, 

which will be a Buddy Adler-Eugene Frenke 

production starring Deborah Kerr. 

Hawkins Named to Ad Post 

Of General Precision Co. 

NEW YORK— Barry J. Hawkins has been 

made advertising manager of General Precision 

Equipment Corp., a new post. Robert 

T. Rinear, vice-president, will continue to 

supervise all advertising and public relations 

activities. 

Hawkins has been associated with the 

advertising and sales divisions of Potter 

Instrument Corp., Fairchild Camera & 

Instrument Corp. and Sittler Corp. 

GPE controls 22 subsidiaries supplying precision 

equipment for industry and defense. 

Marilyn Back With Fox; 

In a 4-Feature Deal 

HOLLYWOOD—Marilyn Monroe will 

make four pictures for 20th Century-Fox 

in the next seven years under a new 

non-exclusive contract signed with the 

Marilyn Monroe Productions, it was reported 

by Darryl F. Zanuck, 20th-Fox 

vice-president and production head, 

Wednesday (4). 

Miss Monroe will return in February to 

the studio where she starred in many of 

the company's successes. Her latest film 

was "The Seven Year Itch." 

It has been reported that she may also 

make a film for John Huston overseas. 

Helen Rose Lecture Tour 

For 'Always Tomorrow' 

NEW YORK—Helen Rose, author of "Begin 

to Live" and lecturer on marriage problems 

and family relations, will tour the key 

cities to talk before civic groups and women's 

clubs on the subject matter in Universal-International's 

"There's Always Tomorrow," 

a February release. Mrs. Rose is the 

first marriage counselor ever to tour on behalf 

of a forthcoming picture, according to 

U-I. 

Mrs. Rose, an attractive woman who resembles 

Greer Garson, left Thursday (5) to 

start her tour in Pittsburgh with Cleveland 

and surrounding cities to follow as soon as 

the U-I field exploitation sales staff sets 

opening dates on the picture. Mrs. Rose will 

also make radio-TV appearances, which will 

plug the picture, starring Joan Bennett, 

Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck, 

shortly before the theatre dates. 

Mrs. Rose, who has assisted Dr. Samuel 

Kahn, prominent psychiatrist and director 

of the Dynamic Psychological Society, for 

the past seven years, also conducts classes 

for parents in child guidance, family relations 

and public speaking at the Quaker 

Bridge School, Ossining, N. Y., and at the 

Collegiate Institute in New York City. She 

is the mother of a 17-year-old daughter and 

a nine-year-old son. 

Kintner Sees Record ABC 

Gross Billings in 1956 

NEW YORK—The American Broadcasting 

Co. increased its 1955 gross billings nearly 45 

per cent over those of 1954 and the trend will 

continue in 1956, according to Robert E. 

Kintner, president, in a year-end statement. 

He said it was a greater percentage increase 

than any other television network. 

Kintner called Walt Disney's "Mickey 

Mouse Club" the highest rated program on 

daytime television, and said that ABC-TV will 

further expand its daytime programming this 

year with "Afternoon Film Festival." 

ABC is a division of American Broadcasting-Paramount 

Theatres, of which Leonard 

H. Goldenson is president. 

Planning Record 

Foreign Campaign 

NEW YORK—Details of United Artists' 

largest foreign advertising-publicity-exploitation 

campaign will be announced in Europe 

within a few days by Max E. Youngstein, vicepresident. 

He was scheduled to leave at the 

weekend for Paris with Francis M. Winikus, 

his new executive assistant, who will remain 

in Europe. 

Youngstein said that the foreign budget is 

25 per cent higher than any such previous UA 

outlay, and that it had been decided on 

because of the increased importance of the 

foreign market. 

Youngstein, with Winikus, will confer with 

European distribution and promotion executives 

on the merchandising program while 

outlining the production program for 1956 

and plans for 1957. He will introduce Winikus 

to key foreign personnel during a three-week 

series of conferences in Paris, London, Rome, 

Madrid and Stockholm. 

Among those to attend the conferences are 

Charles Smadja, vice-president in charge of 

European production; Mo Rothman, continental 

sales manager; Montague C. Morton, 

managing director in Great Britain; Georges 

Rouvier, managing director in France; Eric 

Pleskow, manager in Germany; Kurt Unger, 

Italian representative, and George Ornstein, 

Spanish representative. 

Youngstein and Winikus also will meet with 

Ben Halpern, newly appointed manager of 

advertising, publicity and exploitation for 

Europe and the middle east. In London they 

will meet with the following producers: 

Harold Hecht and Burt Lancaster, who have 

completed "Trapeze"; Stanley Kramer, who 

will film "The Pride and the Passion" in 

Spain; Norman Krasna, who has completed 

photography for "The Ambassador's Daughter"; 

Sheldon Reynolds, who has finished 

European production of "Foreign Intrigue," 

and Robert Rossen, now editing "Alexander 

the Great." 

'Benny Goodman Story' 

To Play Capitol, N. Y. 

NEW YORK — "The Benny Goodman 

Story," Universal-International picture in 

Technicolor, starring Steve Allen and Donna 

Reed, has been booked into the Capitol, where 

it will follow "Guys and Dolls" early in 

February. 

The picture will open in Chicago at the 

Chicago Theatre February 2 and other key 

city dates are being set for the Lincoln's 

Birthday weekend. Universal-International's 

"The Glenn Miller Story" opened at the 

Capitol Theatre in February 1954 and ran 

for ten weeks. 

Jack Levy New President 

Of Stamp Collectors 

NEW YORK—Jack Levy of National Screen 

Service has been elected president of the 

Cinema Stamp Collectors. 

Leon J. Bamberger, who had been president 

for two years, became chairman of the 

executive committee. 

Other officers named were: First vicepresident, 

Milton Zucker; second vice-president, 

Sidney Weiner; third vice-president, 

Seymour Glassner: corresponding secretary, 

Bert N. Obrentz; recording secretary, James 

Harvey; treasurer, Elias Sandberg. 

16 BOXOFFICE 

: 

: 

January 

7. 1956

Ladies Program Set 

For Allied Confab 

CLEVELAND—A program of entertainment 

for ladies attending the National Allied Drivein 

Theatre Convention here February 21-23 

was outlined this week at a meeting attended 

by Mrs. Horace Adams and Mrs. Robert Wile. 

They are the wives of the president and 

executive secretary of Independent Theatre 

Owners of Ohio. 

On Tuesday, February 21, the opening day 

of the convention, the ladies will join the 

members at luncheon in the Cleveland Hotel. 

Following the luncheon, a glasstop sightseeing 

bus will be available at 2:30 p.m. for a tour 

of the city. At 7:30 p.m., buses will take the 

conventioneers and their ladies to General 

Electric's famous Nela Park for a 2-hour 

tour, with emphasis on the newest lighting 

developments. 

On Wednesday, February 22, the ladies will 

be guests of radio station WERE at 10 a.m. 

in an audience participation show conducted 

by Louise Winslow. This will be followed by 

a brunch. At 11:30 a.m., in Parlor 30 of the 

Cleveland Hotel, L. T. Bowers of Beattie 

Jewelers will present a lecture with colored 

slides on precious gems. A theatre matinee is 

scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. That 

evening, in the Cleveland Hotel ballroom, 

dinner will be served to members and their 

ladies with, as a special attraction, vaudeville 

acts especially suitable for booking in drive-in 

theatres presented by John Moore of Columbus, 

O. 

On Thursday, February 23, Higbee Co. will 

stage a style show and will present all guests 

with open charge accounts. A banquet will 

wind up the convention Thursday night. 

Approximately 500 drive-in theatre owners 

are expected to attend the convention, representing 

virtually every section of the country. 

Ohio, the host state, has 200 outdoor theatres, 

ranking fourth among the states in total 

drive-in operations. Topping that figure are 

Texas, Florida and California. 

The national Allied board will meet here 

February 19 and 20 for its annual meeting. 

In addition to passing on current matters 

before the association, and electing officers, 

the directors will work out the agenda for 

the convention. The drive-in convention 

sessions will be held the afternoons of February 

21. 22 and 23, with mornings devoted to 

the tradeshow. 

AT&T Expands TV Service 

To 34 New Stations 

NEW YORK—During 1955, network television 

service was extended to 34 additional 

stations and 29 cities, according to the Long 

Lines department of American Telephone 

and Telegraph Co. Over 70,000 channel miles 

of Bell System facilities now link 391 stations 

in 262 cities in the U. S. 

Color network television had an even 

greater expansion in 1955 with 51 stations 

and 33 cities having been equipped for color 

transmission during the year. There are now 

51.000 channel miles linking 190 stations in 

134 cities to the color network. 

In 1955, the World Series, as well as a 

number of football games, were broadcast in 

color for the first time. During the year there 

was an increase in the use of closed-circuit 

TV and, for the Marciano-Moore title bout, 

which was provided by Long Lines, 33 outlets 

in 90 cities received the fight. 

4 Patron Participation 

Promotions for Texas 

DALLAS—Four major patron participation 

projects will be promoted by Texas COMPO 

in 1956 — one each 

quarter — it was announced 

this week by 

Kyle Rorex, executive 

director. The programs 

have been created and 

designed in response to 

exhibitor requests for 

campaigns which will 

sell the industry in 

general and, at the 

same time, stimulate 

boxoffice attendance. 

Kyle Rorex The four - project 

program will be carried 

on in addition to the normal activities of the 

organization, including an extensive legislative 

program, pursuit of a reduced fire insurance 

rate for theatres and the handling of 

charity collections for the industry in Texas. 

The patron participation projects are: 

THE OSCAR RACE!—This project, tied to 

the annual Academy Awards, will be held 

January, February and March. The purpose 

of the promotion is to permit patrons to participate 

in the Academy Awards by attempting 

to pick the winners in each of six leading 

categories. To those naming the winners, 

free passes to the individual theatre are presented. 

Last year, when the promotion was 

introduced, attendance increased from 6 to 

21 per cent during the actual balloting. 

TEACHER OF THE YEAR—This is 

a campaign 

for the second quarter, and is based on 

the selection of the Teacher of the Year in 

each community, and gives the motion picture 

theatres an opportunity to pay tribute 

to hometown teachers. This campaign, according 

to Rorex, will require participation 

of all school students who will vote for their 

favorite teacher, but balloting will be limited 

to students. Ballots will be given to all patrons 

during a designated two-week period. 

A third week will be set aside for the actual 

voting, and ballots will have to be deposited 

in a theatre lobby ballot box. Each teacher 

in town will receive two passes to the theatre 

and the winning teacher will be presented 

with a season pass, with presentation to be 

made on the theatre stage. This campaign 

has been tested by the Phil Isley circuit and 

the appeal was enormous, Isley reported to 

Texas COMPO. 

DRIVE-IN THEATRE WEEK—This is a 

third-quarter promotion, with the week of 

July 1 designated as Drive-In Week, observing 

the 23d anniversary of the establishment 

of the first auto theatre. Cash awards will be 

offered to managers for the best campaigns. 

Last year, managers in more than 30 states 

participated in the campaign. 

MANAGER'S AWARD—A business stimulant, 

based on a special campaign on a picture 

selected by the theatre manager. It involves 

a personal endorsement of the picture, 

with a money back guarantee to the patron 

who is not fully satisfied with the picture. 

The idea behind this campaign, says Rorex, 

is to stimulate confidence in the motion picture 

industry and forthcoming product and is 

based on the premise of Lever Bros, which, 

for years, has unconditionally guaranteed its 

products. Promotional material will emphasize 

that the picture is a "Managers Award" 

selection. 

For this promotion, a special trailer has been 

produced to follow the regular trailer of the 

selected picture. It will point up the Manager's 

Award angle. 

For all four campaigns, Texas COMPO is 

preparing special promotional material—tintcolored 

trailers, posters, 40x60s, newspaper ad 

mats, radio-TV and press material and, in 

the case of the Oscar Race and Teacher of 

the Month promotions, the necessary ballots. 

The cost for each package will be $24.50, with 

the exception of the Manager's Award campaign, 

for which a $19.50 charge will be made. 

All of these campaigns will be available to 

exhibitors throughout the world, Rorex said, 

although they were created especially for 

Texas exhibitors. Orders may be sent to Texas 

COMPO, 2008A Jackson St., Dallas. 

'Anything Goes' Showings 

Set for Exchange Cities 

NEW YORK—Paramount will screen "Anything 

Goes" Friday (13) in theatres in all the 

exchange cities. It considers the picture, 

which stars Bing Crosby, Donald O'Connor, 

Jeanmaire and Mitzi Gaynor, one of its most 

important 1956 releases. Invitations are going 

out to exhibitors, film buyers, press representatives, 

columnists and radio and television 

commentators. 

The picture will be previewed here at Loew's 

72nd Street Theatre. Barney Balaban, president, 

will head a group of Paramount home 

office executives that will attend. 

Paramount division and branch managers 

will be hosts at all the screenings. The 

theatres are: Des Moines, Des Moines; Denham, 

Denver; Criterion, Oklahoma City; Fox, 

St. Louis; Capitol, Salt Lake City; Orpheum. 

Omaha, Saenger, New Orleans; Imperial, 

Charlotte; Florida, Jacksonville; Strand, 

Memphis; Palace, Dallas; Oak Park, Kansas 

City; Garden Hills, Atlanta; Wiltern, Los 

Angeles; Paramount, Portland; Fifth Avenue, 

Seattle; Paramount, San Francisco. 

Also, Strand, Albany; Metropolitan, Boston; 

Paramount, Buffalo; Paramount, New Haven; 

Tower, Philadelphia; Loew's Palace, Washington; 

Loew's Penn, Pittsburgh; Stillman, 

Cleveland; Albee, Cincinnati; Michigan, Detroit; 

Indiana, Indianapolis; Town, Milwaukee; 

Radio City, Minneapolis, and State-Lake, 

Chicago. 

Schoham of MGM, Cuba, 

Dies After Operation 

NEW YORK—Robert O Schoham, MGM 

manager in Cuba, did December 29 in Havana 

after an emergency operation. His wife 

Miriam, and his sister, Mrs. Dolly Goldsmith 

of London, were with him at the time. 

Schoham joined MGM in 1928 and became 

manager in Finland in 1932. Later he managed 

numerous MGM offices in Europe and 

Latin America, including Belgium, Sweden 

and Puerto Rico. 

BOXOFFICE : 

: January 7, 1956 17

Snaper Appeals Decision 

In Loews Drive-In Case 

NEW YORK—Wilbur Snaper, New Jersey 

exhibitor, has appealed the decision of Judge 

Sidney Sugarman in U. S. district court 

giving Loew's Theatres the right to build 

and operate a drive-in theatre a few miles 

from one of his theatres. 

The appeal papers were filed Thursday (5) 

in the court of appeals by Monroe E. Stein, 

his attorney. They gave two grounds for 

appealing. One was the court's denial of any 

right to appear in the case as an intervenor. 

The other was the grant of approval to 

Loew's. 

•RESTRAINT OF COMPETITION' 

Snaper, as owner of the Keyport Theatre 

Co., operator of a four-wall theatre at Keyport, 

N. J., charged there would be undue 

restraint of competition. He said he feared 

the drive-in would obtain first-run films. He 

asked that if the Loew's plea were upheld, 

the circuit be prevented from asking for or 

receiving a run better than other drive-ins 

are able to obtain. 

The case attracted attention because it 

concerned the effort of a circuit affected by 

divorcement provisions of the antitrust consent 

decree to add to its holdings. Judge 

Sugarman's first ruling was that Snaper 

could appear in the case only as a friend 

of the court. Appearing as an intervenor 

would have given him more legal standing. 

The judge then ruled that any question of 

unreasonable clearances in restraint of trade 

can be decided "if and when the projected 

theatre is in operation and it obtains a first 

run." 

The case was somewhat complicated by the 

fact that the New Jersey Amusement Corp., 

which applied to the court, is owned half and 

half by Loew's and by Norman A. August, 

son-in-law of Nathan Cohn, Columbia distribution 

executive. Snaper and Stein implied 

that the part ownership might affect the 

availability of first-run product. 

Judge Sugarman ruled that an opportunity 

for antitrust violation does not mean there 

will necessarily be one. 

Under the terms of the consent decree, 

Loew's Theatres first applied to the Department 

of Justice for approval of the drive-in 

and, with that obtained, the case went to the 

federal court. Maurice Silverman of the 

Justice Department supported Loew's in 

court. 

NATIONAL OFFICERS PRESENT 

The great interest of National Allied in 

circuit theatre acquisition was shown by the 

presence in court of some of its executives, 

including Abram F. Myers, board chairman 

and general counsel. Snaper is a former 

president of National Allied. 

Earlier, Allied had charged that the Department 

of Justice was not giving exhibitors 

sufficient advance notice of court hearings 

on circuit acquisitions. The government 

agency retorted that advance news of the 

hearings was carried in the tradepapers. 

The attorneys for Loew's were Leopold J. 

Friedman, general counsel, and S. Hazard 

Gillespie jr. of Davis, Polk, Wardwell, Sunderland 

& Kiendl. 

Big Screen Ad Year 

Predicted for 1956 

KANSAS CITY—More money will 

be spent 

for advertising in 1956 than ever before in 

the history of the country and, as a result, 

advertising on movie screens also will reach 

a new high, W. H. Hendren, president of 

United Film Service, told fieldmen attending 

the company's annual convention here this 

week. Hendren said that theatre business 

generally was solid during the last year and 

1956 will be just as good or better. 

The convention was attended by 60 fieldmen 

and their wives, including sales representatives 

of United Film's Canadian affiliate, 

Ad Films, Ltd. of Toronto. 

Hendren said the declining trend in movie 

attendance has been reversed—and the "baby 

boom" which is adding 25 babies per year for 

every 1,000 population is providing an ever 

increasing source of prospective theatre patrons. 

Elden Williams of Tacoma, Wash., was 

named top volume salesman for 1955. Other 

sales award winners were: Bert Weston, 

Wendell, Ida.; Harold Hamley, Oconomowoc, 

Wis.; George Vick, Des Moines; Forrest Martin, 

Grand Rapids, Mich.; Bob Lindstedt, 

Louisville, and Fred Magel, Cleveland. 

For achievement in the field of national 

sales—that is, sales to such corporations as 

Chrysler, Sinclair Oil, Chevrolet, etc., Larry 

Goodwin of the Detroit national office won 

the award for greatest volume of national 

sales, and Frank Carpenter of Chicago, for 

the greatest volume of film production. 

During the four-day convention, members 

of the sales staff discussed various problems 

of producing and selling advertisements 

created for the motion picture theatre screen. 

In addition, campaigns for various types of 

business establishments which would have 

an interest in placing their ads on the screens 

of neighborhood and small-town theatres 

were discussed. 

NBC Will Show 'Richard III' 

On Color TV March 10 

NEW YORK—The National Broadcasting 

Co. will televise "Richard III" in color Saturday, 

March 10, from 2 to 5 p.m. It will then 

be offered theatres. It was produced by Sir 

Laurence Olivier in association with Sir Alexander 

Korda. NBC paid $500,000 for the TV 

rights. It will be another test of the effect 

of a TV premiere of a film on later boxoffice 

returns. 

NBC's original plan was to present the film 

on an evening spot, but no sponsor was 

obtained to carry the cost of a three-hour 

show then. Time rates are lower afternooas. 

It will also be easier for NBC to fit the 

film into an afternoon time slot. 

NBC televised "The Constant Husband" 

last November. It received poor notices and 

hasn't been released to theatres. If and 

when "Richard III" is booked by theatres. 

NBC can take a maximum of $40,000 of the 

receipts under its agreement with Korda. 

IFE Plans Raising 

1956 Total to 12 

NEW YORK—IFE Releasing Corp. plans to 

distribute 12 features during the year, according 

to Seymour Poe, executive vice-president. 

Contracts have been signed for six, 

five Italian and one British, and are pending 

for three more Italian films. In addition, the 

company hopes to sign up three French films. 

Poe recently returned from a three-week 

visit to Europe, mast of it spent in Rome. He 

would not identify the three new Italian 

acquisitions because the contracts were still 

being negotiated, but said that one will be in 

Cinemascope and color, one in color and the 

third in black-and-white. 

The six previously signed up are "The Lost 

Continent," "Maddalena," "Riviera," "Madame 

Butterfly" and "The Return of Don Camillo," 

all Italian, and "Lease of Life," British. 

Poe selected the three new Italian films 

from among 31 screened for him. He found 

Italian producers optimistic about their prospects 

in the U. S. market. He said they 

believed there will be a boom resulting, in 

part, from two prestige films, "Ulysses," now 

in Paramount release, and "War and Peace," 

to be released by Paramount. 

Poe told the IFE board of directors, consisting 

of the leading Italian producers, that 

technically their product is on a par with 

that of Hollywood but that story values 

attractive to the U. S. market were lacking. 

He said the board approved his suggestion 

that a Hollywood editor be engaged to advise 

on stories in both the Idea and script stages. 

He hoped to submit a list of eligible editors to 

Rome soon and that Rome will make a 

selection within a month. The board gave 

IFE a vote of confidence, he said. 

A delegation of French producers visited 

Rome while Poe was there. He met with it 

later in Paris, described the operations of 

IFE and solicited French product. He is also 

seeking more British product and is studying 

German production. 

Three January Features 

For Release by UA 

NEW YORK—United Artists will distribute 

three features, all of them in black-andwhite, 

during January, according to William 

J. Heineman, vice-president in charge of distribution. 

They are: "The Man With the Golden 

Arm," produced and directed by Otto Preminger, 

starring Frank Sinatra, Eleanor Parker 

and Kim Novak; "Three Bad Sisters," a Bel- 

Air production produced by Howard W. 

Koch, with Maria English. Kathleen Hughes, 

Sara Shane and John Bromfield, and "Storm 

Fear," produced and directed by Cornel Wilde, 

starring himself with Jean Wallace and Dan 

Duryea. 

Sophia Loren Is Signed 

For Kramer's UA Film 

NEW YORK—Sophia Loren, Italian screen 

beauty who has been seen by American audiences 

in IFE's "Alda" and In the current "Too 

Bad She's Bad," distributed by Getz-Kingsley, 

has been signed by Stanley Kramer to play 

opposite Cary Grant and Frank Sinatra in 

"The Pride and the Passion." The picture, 

which will be distributed by United Artists, 

will be filmed in Spain in color. 


: January 

7. 1956

! 

# 

1 BEST-SELLER 

k3 

IN THE NATION 

\yi^lÂYu6UK has the most important 

motion picture property in 16 years. 

MacKINLAY KANTOR'S 

as reported in the book sections 

of the N. Y. Sunday Times 

and the N. Y. Sunday Herald- Tribune

Ted O'Shea Joins Magna; 

Owen, Deneau, Shifted 

NEW YORK—Edward K. "Ted" O'Shea 

has resigned as vice-president of Paramount 

Film Distributing Corp. to become vice-president 

and world sales manager of the Magna 

Theatres Corp., of which George P. Skouras 

is president. 

As a result of the resignation, George 

Weltner, head of Paramount worldwide sales, 

has realigned the Paramount domestic distribution 

setup. Hugh Owen, a vice-president 

and western sales manager of the distributing 

company, remains as a vice-president and has 

been made eastern sales manager. Sidney G. 

Deneau, assistant to O'Shea, has succeeded 

Owen as western sales manager. 

Weltner also named Charles Boasberg to 

the new post of supervisor of sales of Cecil 

B. DeMille's "The Ten Commandments" and 

the Ponti-de Laurentiis production of "War 

and Peace." He joined Paramount in September 

1955 as special assistant to Weltner 

and will continue to work directly under him. 

Previously he was with MGM and RKO for 

a total of 30 years. 

O'Shea will take over his new duties within 

a few weeks. He was with Paramount nine 

years. He was first associated with the 

company when it bought control of Liberty 

Pictures. Before that, he was eastern and 

southern sales manager of Loew's for many 

years. 

Skouras said that O'Shea will speed up distribution 

of "Oklahoma!" throughout the U. S. 

Barney Balaban, Paramount president, expressed 

personal and professional regret at 

O'Shea's resignation. He spoke of "many 

important contributions to Paramount's success 

and welfare" made by O'Shea, said his 

new association will be of great help to his 

new associates and that he will be given 

"even greater scope in his new venture." 

UCLA Makes Two Changes 

In Goldwyn Award Board 

HOLLYWOOD—Two changes have been 

made in the board of judges for the second 

annual Samuel Goldwyn creative writing 

award at the University of California at Los 

Angeles, according to Chancellor Raymond B. 

Allen. 

Moss Hart, Broadway playwright and president 

of the Authors League of America, has 

been named to fill the vacancy caused by the 

death of Robert E. Sherwood. George Seaton, 

new president of the Academy of Motion 

Picture Arts and Sciences, has replaced 

Charles Brackett, last year's president. 

Those continuing on the board are F. Hugh 

Herbert, national chairman of the Writers 

Guild of America, and Prof. Kenneth Macgowan. 

head of the UCLA Theatre Arts Department. 

The award is $1,000. It was established last 

year by Goldwyn as an annual incentive for 

the development of new writing talent. 

Universal Votes Dividend 

NEW YORK—The board of Universal Pictures 

Corp. has voted a quarterly dividend of 

$1.0625 a share on the 4% cumulative preferred 

stock, payable March 1 to stockholders 

of record February 15. 

E. K. O'Shea Hugh Owen 

Sidney Deneau 

Charles Boasberg 

20th-Fox Sales Force Has 

2-Day Sales Conference 

NEW YORK—A two-day sales meeting for 

the 20th Century-Fox selling executives was 

held Friday and Saturday (6, 7) at the home 

office with Al Lichtman, director of distribution, 

presiding. 

General sales policies for the amplified 

production program of 34 pictures were discussed. 

W. C. Gehring, executive assistant 

sales manager; Arthur Silverstone, assistant; 

Alex Harrison, western sales manager, and 

Glenn Norris, eastern sales manager, led the 

discussions. Spyros P. Skouras joined in 

many of the discussions. 

The first day's session covered releases for 

the new year and plans for launching Cinemascope 

55. On Saturday Charles Einfeld 

and his staff presented long range campaign 

plans for the first half of 1956. 

National Film Service 

To Meet in Cleveland 

SALT LAKE CITY—The professional buying-booking 

unit of the new National Ass'n of 

Film Service Organizations will meet at the 

Hotel Cleveland. Cleveland, February 18, 19, 

according to Sidney L. Cohen, president. 

Prospective members from exchange areas 

not represented at the first meeting three 

months ago will be invited to attend. Full 

membership meetings will probably be held 

during the year in Atlanta, Dallas, St. Louis 

and Denver, Cohen said. 

An organizing committee consisting of Bert 

Stern, Pittsburgh; Ed Doherty, Memphis, 

and J. B. Schuyler, Milwaukee, has reported 

that counsel is preparing an application for 

incorporation and that it seems certain the 

organization will be fully incorporated before 

the February meeting. 

Rank's Playdate Plea 

Taken to the Public 

NEW YORK—The J. 

Arthur Rank Organization 

has taken its oft-repeated charge that 

British pictures are not given a fair chance 

for acceptance in the American market to the 

public by inserting a full-page ad in the yearend 

business review section of the New York 

Time 

"We do not ask special favors, we are seeking 

only the opportunity to entertain you and 

to let you be the judge of whether or not we 

succeed," reads one paragraph of the ad. 

As of Wednesday (4) there were no plans 

for widening the campaign. 

Production stills from "The Cruel Sea," 

••Simba," "Genevieve" and "The Purple 

Plain" took up half the page over an eightcolumn 

wide display sentence reading "Four 

Famous British Movies Millions of Americans 

Will Never See." 

The ad charges that British films "are almost 

always shown in small 'art theatres' in 

a few big cities where they are seen by limited 

audiences," because of a belief of major 

American exhibitors that British films are not 

made for the international market. 

The accent problem also is mentioned and 

it is pointed out that Richard Burton, James 

Mason, Charles Laughton, Stewart Granger, 

Edmund Purdom, Jean Simmons, Peter Ustinov, 

Deborah Kerr, Laurence Olivier, Rex 

Harrison, Vivien Leigh, and others appear in 

American pictures without regard to accent. 

British films do not lack action, the ad 

states, and "Simba," "The Purple Plain" 

and "The Cruel Sea" are mentioned as proof 

of this contention. 

Also included is a box naming five films 

that have won — international honors "Lavender 

Hill Mob," "The Little Kidnappers," 

"Genevieve," "Romeo and Juliet" and "Hamlet." 

In the conclusion of the sales argument it 

is stated that the J. Arthur Rank Organization 

"believes that you, the American public, 

should have the opportunity of seeing the 

best in British movies at your local theatre, 

wherever it may be." 

Standardization Committee 

Meets in Belgium Jan. 21 

CHICAGO—Adolph Wertheimer, 

executive 

vice-president of Radiant Manufacturing 

Corp., manufacturers of Radiant Screens, has 

been invited to represent U. S. manufacturers 

at the International Photo and Cinema 

Manufacturers Standardization Committee 

meeting to be held in Belgium Saturday (21). 

This will be the first official meeting of the 

committee since its founding during the International 

Exposition in Paris in May of 1955. 

After flying directly to Belgium, Wertheimer 

will visit Radiant distributors in several 

European and Middle East countries. 

TOA Board Now Planning 

Meet in Late February 

NEW YORK—Theatre Owners of 

America 

has tentatively decided on a date late in 

February for the next meeting of its board of 

directors. It was unable during the week to 

fix an exact date because of difficulty in 

obtaining hotel space. The meeting will 

probably be held in Washington. TOA said 

it should be able to report an exact date and 

place within a few days. 

20 BOXOFT1CE 

: 

: January 

7. 1956

RCA President Sees 

A Prosperous Year 

NEW YORK—Most segments of 

American 

industry, including radio, television and electronics, 

will have one of their greatest years 

in 1956 as the current state of national economy 

advances to new high levels, in the 

opinion of Prank M. Folsom, president of the 

Radio Corp. of America. He gave the following 

reasons: 

Dollar volume will be added to substantially 

through customer preference for quality products. 

That trend will boost color television 

into the status of a "billion dollar baby," with 

retail sales of color sets alone perhaps accounting 

for as much as $175,000,000. 

Heavy Christmas buying seems destined to 

carry over into the first quarter of 1956. 

Manufacturers have large-scale orders on 

hand. 

New products and production techniques, 

plus competitive stimulation, will expand old 

markets and create vast new ones. 

Prospects are good for continued high-level 

employment and personal income, resulting 

in increased purchasing power. 

The nation is experiencing an expanding 

economy stimulating higher standards of living 

at virtually all levels of the population. 

Folsom said RCA's outlook in foreign markets 

continued bright after an excellent year 

of 

sales. 

Foreign Market Up: Aboaf; 

Has Hopes for Domestic 

NEW YORK—The foreign market for U. S. 

films is growing steadily but it would be unfortunate 

if it eclipsed the domestic market, 

Americo Aboaf. vice-president and general 

sales manager of Universal-International 

Films, said on his return from a six-week business 

trip to Europe. He had in mind a statement 

by Eric Johnston, president of the Motion 

Picture Ass'n of America, that foreign rentals 

may account for 50 per cent of the 1955 

earnings. 

Aboaf said the improvement in foreign business 

continued despite lessened income from 

Spain and Denmark due to difficulties in negotiating 

new trade pacts. He said there was 

a need for more development of the South 

American and far eastern markets. The number 

of Italian theatres has more than doubled 

in the last few years and the industry is 

growing rapidly in Germany, he said. 

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz 

To Attend N.Y. Opening 

NEW YORK—Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, 

stars of "Forever Darling," will attend the 

premiere of the picture February 7 at Dipson's 

Palace, Jamestown, N. Y., where Miss 

Ball was born. Arthur Canton, MGM eastern 

division press representative, and Charles 

Felleman, New York and New Jersey field 

press representative, went there during the 

week to make arrangements with city officials 

and civic organization heads. 

Starting January 27, the two stars will 

make personal appearances in Dallas. From 

there they will go to Fort Worth, Chicago, 

Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia. 

New York and Buffalo. In each city they will 

aid local Heart Fund promotion. 

The picture 

will be nationally released February 10. 

Bigger Drive-Ins Seen 

As a New Year Trend 

KANSAS CITY — The boom in drive-in 

theatre construction apparently will continue 

unabated in 1956, on the basis of reports from 

across the nation in the first week of the 

new year. The emphasis will be on the big 

operation, with 1,000-car or more capacity 

theatres a rule rather than an exception, and 

the 2,000-car project becoming more frequent. 

The development of widescreen projection, 

with projector and lamps powerful enough 

to handle a 500-foot throw, has been the 

prime factor in the emergence of outdoor 

theatres ranging up to 2,500 cars. In addition, 

many of the new drive-ins are catering to the 

dinner crowd and to those seeking multiple 

entertainment enterprises. To obtain a greater 

volume for the food business and for the 

other amusement areas, greater ramp areas 

are being provided. 

The largest project for 1956 was announced 

by Prudential Theatres Corp., a circuit operating 

55 indoor and outdoor theatres in New 

York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Joseph 

M. Seider, president, announced the acquisition 

of a 50-acre tract at Plainview, Long 

Island, as a site for a 2,200-car project. The 

theatre will open early in 1957. 

A 1,600-car drive-in was announced for 

West Paterson, N. J., by the Browerton Realty 

Co. which is headed by Jacob Levine, a 

real estate dealer, and Joseph Mangeney, veteran 

drive-in theatre exhibitor. A 30-acre 

tract has been acquired, and $500,000 will be 

spent in developing the area as a drive-in 

theatre. Work will be speeded so the theatre 

can be placed in operation this spring. 

In Ocean City, N. J., construction of a 

1,000-car drive-in will be started this month 

by Sam Frank, president of Hammonton 

Theatres, with an April opening scheduled. 

At New Haven, E. M. Loew, who built the 

country's second drive-in theatre back in the 

mid-1930s, announced construction of a 1,000- 

car theatre, costing $250,000 in that city. 

The Southwest also will get a big outdoor 

project early in the year. A 2,000-car twintower 

job will go up on a hill overlooking 

R. Lewis Barton, prominent 

Oklahoma City. 

Oklahoma exhibitor, has purchased 45 acres 

on a hill which provides a commanding view 

of the city. The work will begin immediately 

and will be finished about April 15. The Barton 

circuit now consists of nine outdoor theatres 

and seven conventional theatres. 

Minneapolis Exhibitors Look to '56 

To Bring Little Change From 1955 

MINNEAPOLIS — Although the boxoffice 

has been off in recent months, a survey indicates 

that many of this territory's independent 

exhibitors are not unduly pessimistic 

regarding 1956's outlook for exhibition. 

There is, however, considerable worry and 

concern over the fact that Hollywood is making 

available for TV "not-so-old" and "better" 

theatre pictures. 

At the same time, several leading independents 

here expressed themselves as believing 

that 1956 largely will follow the past 

12 months' pattern, "being no better or 

worse." Inasmuch as the past year's operations 

stacked up relatively well for many 

theatres this does not reflect gloom. 

But discordant notes are sounded by Ben 

Berger and W. R. Frank who look upon the 

dark side of things. 

Ted Mann, one of the territory's most successful 

circuit operators, feels that 1956 will 

equal the past year, reaching and clinging to 

the same level but not rising above the latter. 

He points out that TV "is growing stronger" 

and that the situation isn't helped by the 

fact that more and better "not so old" theatre 

pictures are being made available for video. 

The fact that Cinemascope's boxoffice impact 

has just about worn off and nothing 

is in prospect to give grosses a similar shot 

in the arm isn't favorable, either, in his 

opinion. 

"I do believe that outstanding pictures, 

like 'Guys and Dolls,' for example, will continue 

in 1956 to give excellent boxoffice performances, 

just as they did during the year 

that has ended," says Mann. "But. of course, 

it's humanly impossible for Hollywood to 

provide a continuous flow of such product." 

Martin Lebedoff, owner of a Twin Cities 

neighborhood circuit of theatres and local 

head of national Allied's emergency defense 

"watchdog" committee, thinks that "1956 will 

be no better nor no worse than 1955." 

"I still believe that we can live with TV as 

long as they don't have our merchandise," 

says Lebedoff. "However, the increasing 

tendency of Hollywood producers to turn over 

more important pictures of more recent 

vintage and to make pictures for TV is disturbing. 

A current boxoffice upturn is encouraging." 

Berger, who owns a circuit of theatres as 

well as being North Central Allied president 

and national Allied emergency defense chairman, 

says he's now more pessimistic over 

exhibition's outlook than at any other time. 

"In the first place," explains Berger, 

"Hollywood seems incapable of turning out 

enough of the sort of pictures that the public 

will go to see in theatres in sufficient numbers. 

Secondly, the really good boxoffice pictures, 

which could keep the rank and file of 

exhibitors alive, continue to be unavailable for 

the latter because of exorbitant terms. If 

this condition continues the smaller situations 

seem doomed." 

Frank, who is a Hollywood producer as 

well as owner of one of the territory's largest 

independent theatre circuits, thinks that 

"the odds created against exhibition by TV 

will continue to grow" and he's unable to 

look upon exhibition's 1956 prospects with 

any degree of cheerfulness. 

"For our theatres and for most others, the 

past December was the worst such month 

in all industry history," says Frank. "This, 

too. at a time of general prosperity. 

BOXOFFICE : 

: January 

7, 1956 21

%oMcfWMd Refwrt 

By 

IVAN SPEAR 

An Abundance of Maritime Dramas 

On Schedules for the New Year 

Brought into sharper focus through the recent 

acquisition by Copa Productions, the independent 

unit headed 

by Ted Richmond and 

actor Tyrone Power, 

of "Seven Waves 

Away" as one of the 

two features the outfit 

will produce for Columbia 

release during 

1956 is the fact that 

the new year's production 

and distribution 

schedules will be 

liberally laced with 

maritime dramas of 

Ted Richmond men who go down to 

the sea in ships. 

Based on an original screenplay by Richard 

Sale, who will also direct, "Seven Waves 

Away" casts Power as an officer who finds 

himself In command after a drifting mine 

has struck the pleasure vessel on which he 

is stationed, killing the captain. Columbia 

also has in planning stages "The Good 

Shepherd," which will star Humphrey Bogart 

as a World Wax n naval commander in a 

story bas«d on the novel by C. S. Forester, of 

"Horatio Homblower" fame, and "A Stretch 

on the River," adapted from a tome by 

Richard Blssell about diesel towboats on the 

Mississippi. Due for early release by the 

same company Is "Battle Stations," a Bryan 

Poy production dealing with the exploits of 

the U.S.S. Franklin, an aircraft carrier, in the 

Pacific during the recent global conflict. It 

stars John Lund and William Bendix. 

Over at Paramount, comedy is the dominant 

motif of the upcoming "The Birds and the 

Bees," in which TV funster George Gobel 

makes his theatrical film debut as a timid 

soul marked for bilking by card sharks aboard 

an ocean liner. The Paul Jones production 

was directed by Norman Taurog. The Marathon 

street film foundry also has "The Captain's 

Table" on Its docket for future lensing 

This one, too, stresses the humorous side of 

life on the bounding main, being based on 

a novel by Richard Gordon about a roughand-ready 

skipper of a freighter who takes 

over the captain's duties on a luxury cruise 

ship. 

On the Republic agenda, where it will be 

produced and directed by Edward Ludwig, is 

"The Long Watch," from a novel by Robert 

F. Mirvish, and which concerns an aroundthe-world 

trek by a derelict cargo ship. Out 

at 20th Century-Fox. preparations are under 

way for early-spring filming on "Boy on a 

Dolphin," a story about the search for a 

sunken ship with a cargo of antiques off the 

coast of Greece. It will be produced by Samuel 

G. Engel and megged by Henry Koster. 

As his second venture for United Artist* 

release. Samuel Goldwyn jr. is readying 

"Sharkfighters," which will relate in semidocumentary 

style the development by the 

Navy in World War II of a repellant to protect 

fliers, forced down at sea. from attack by 

man-eating sharks. 

Universal-International Is touting "Away 

All Boats." a Howard Christie production in 

VistaVision and Technicolor, as the biggestbudgeted 

venture in that studio's history. 

Starring Jeff Chandler and directed by Joseph 

Pevney. it's from the World War II novel by- 

Kenneth Dodson about naval strategy in the 

Pacific. Another U-I property is "Wind From 

Suva." a romantic drama about a schooner 

captain, which Robert Arthur will produce. 

One of the season's big ones will be 

Warners' presentation of producer-director 

John Huston's "Moby Dick," based on the 

whaling-ship classic by Herman Melville. 

Filmed in Cinemascope and WarnerColor, it 

stars Gregory Peck. Richard Basehart, Leo 

Genn and Orson Welles. Also to be released 

under the Warner banner will be "The Old 

Man and the Sea." a Leland Hayward production, 

adapted from Ernest Hemingway's 

novel, in which the stellar personality will be 

Spencer Tracy. 

Coordinating Committee 

For Personals Ends 

After chalking up an enviable public service 

record for nearly ten years, the Hollywood 

Coordinating Committee has terminated 

its activities as the official clearing house for 

free appearances of show-business personalities. 

The decision to call a halt to such 

functions, unanimously reached by the HCC 

board of directors, was disclosed by George 

Murphy, president of the organization, who 

explained that many of the needs which motivated 

formation of the committee almost 

a decade ago no longer exist. 

He pointed out that one of the major purposes 

was to provide entertainment for patients 

in military hospitals, and that the 

Korean conflict brought a need for entertainment 

both domestically and abroad, but 

that these activities "have been reduced to 

the annual Christmas tours, which do not 

require a year-round organization." 

In 1954 the HCC amended its policy to 

eliminate from its jurisdiction any connection 

with benefit performances, since this 

field was under the domain of Theatre 

Authority. 

Through the HCC. 2,906 personalities made 

24.404 free appearances for 6.449 separate 

events of a patriotic and /or public service 

nature. It received and acted upon 3.903 requests 

for talent and approved 2.198 of them. 

Stanley Richardson has been in charge of the 

HCC office since its Inception, with Irving 

Lande as his assistant. 

Producer and Star Receive 

Western Movie Award 

Short takes from the sound stages: For their 

work as star and producer-director, respectively, 

of 20th Century-Fox's "Broken Lance," 

Spencer Tracy and Edward Dmytryk are the 

winners of the annual Silver Spurs award for 

the best western movie of the year. The 

1955 tribute was voted them by the Chamber 

of Commerce of Reno ... As a plug for the 

upcoming release of "The Maverick Queen," 

starring Barbara Stanwyck, Republic gave 

songstress Joni James the nod to record the 

title song on a platter for MGM Records . . 

Sheldon Reynolds, producer-director of the 

United Artists release, "Foreign Intrigue," is 

due in from Paris in mid-January to begin a 

tour of key cities ballyhoolng the impending 

distribution of the adventure drama, a theatrical 

version of his TV series. He'll make 

155 video appearances in 18 cities. 

Second Production Is Set 

For Whitney Pictures 

C. V. Whitney Pictures, Inc., of which 

Merian C. Cooper is vice-president and executive 

producer, has 

selected "Frontier 

Frenzy." a Saturday 

Evening Post story by 

John Feese. as its second 

filmmaking venture. 

Rolling late in 

February, it follows the 

initial Whitney entry. 

"The Searchers," recently 

completed John 

Wayne starrer, which 

Warners will distribute. 

"Frenzy," on which Merian C. Cooper 

a title change is expected, 

Is being put into screenplay form by 

Frank Nugent. It concerns a S30-a-month 

sheriff in a lynch-happy frontier town who 

uses horse sense and guts to protect a gunman 

on trial for his life. 

No releasing arrangements have been made 

for the film as yet. 

Three Producers Purchase 

Yarns for UA Release 

Currently putting the finishing touches on 

"Bandido," a Robert Mltchum starrer for 

United Artists release, producer Robert L. 

Jacks bolstered his 1956 story stockpile 

through the acquisition of "Gun in the Dust," 

an original screenplay by Steve Fisher. The 

opus, a sagebrusher. also is marked for UA 

distribution . . . Likewise for UA handling 

are two other properties to which film right* 

have been secured. The Hecht-Lancaster organization 

purchased "Cry Tough." a novel 

by Irving Shulman about the New York garment 

industry, while filmmaker Robert Goldstein 

secured rights to film the life story of 

Bummy Davis, a boxer who was killed in an 

eastern holdup a decade ago. Davis is regarded 

in some circles as one of the "most 

misunderstood" fighters in ring history. 

Tale About Wild Ponies 

Added to RKO Schedule 

RKO Radio added another property to 

mushrooming 1956 docket with the disclosure 

that Ralph Dietrich and Martin Berkeley 

have been set to produce and write "Misty." 

based on the novel by Marguerite Henry, on 

which lensing is to begin next July. 

An adventure story about wild ponies living 

on tidewater islands off the coast of 

Maryland and Virginia, "Misty" will be filmed 

on location there. It deals with the annual 

migration of the animals, called Pony Penning, 

in which they cross by sea from the 

island of Assateague to the island of Chincoteague. 

Dietrich, a veteran filmmaker, has among 

his credits two 20th Century-Fox entries about 

horses. "My Friend Flicka" and its sequel. 

"Green Grass of Wyoming." 

its 


: January 

7. 1956

WITH BOXOFFICE ACTION! 

ClfrJEl\/iAScO&£ pulls 

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Produced by VINCENT M. FENNELLY • Directed by ALFRED WERKER • Story and Screenplay by DANIEL B. ULLMAN 

FROM WjW j Isr THE INDUSTRY'S NEW BOXOFFICE POWER! 

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Watch Allied Artists March of Progress Jan. 28-May 24 

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New, changing technics of production, processing and 

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LETTERS 

Some DONT S Learned From Experience 

BOXOFFICE for December 24 carried an 

article by our local newspaper editor, Charles 

Owen, entitled "Lose Your Movie House and 

You Can Kiss Your Town Goodbye"—a reprint 

from the Logan County News of December 

1. 

Now before other small-town exhibitors 

prevail upon their editors to print similar 

articles, I think they should first know the 

results of this one. The article appeared on 

Thursday, and that night business was down 

20 per cent. Many of those who came remarked 

they thought the show was closed. 

The following night our total for tickets and 

concessions was $1.70, a 28-year low, and the 

month of December is establishing a new alltime 

low by close to $300 under operating 

expenses. This very fine editorial proved the 

truth of a little gem of wisdom which recently 

appeared in Filmack's Inspiration. 

"Don't tell your troubles to others. Half of 

'em don't give a damn, and the other half are 

glad you are finally getting what you had 

coming." 

SELL ENTERTAINMENT VALUE 

It's fine to be close to your editor. It's 

good to get all the publicity and support you 

can. Never let anyone in town forget the 

economic value of your theatre to the trade 

area. BUT never try to sell anything but 

entertainment. People won't go to church 

when they know they should. They certainly 

won't attend a movie for the same reason. 

NEVER mention closing—don't mention bad 

business—don't let people know your needs 

or problems; don't seek charity and don't let 

anyone else do it for you. That's a large part 

of what's wrong to begin with. 

Most TV stations, and many TV programs, 

including our friend (?) Mr. Disney, lost 

money last year. Many TV stations are, or 

already have, closed—a much larger percentage 

than the number of theatres closing. Do 

you hear anything about it? No! Everything 

is swell and booming; they are still selling 

big new TVs like hot cakes, advertising their 

programs, and asking for more film. 

What brought the newspaper editorial 

about was the fact recent monthly grosses 

established a definite downward trend, despite 

lowered operating costs and many lowcost 

publicity schemes. The theatre was operating 

way below costs. An effort was made to 

promote a three-weeks' free show during the 

holiday shopping season, hoping to establish 

new moviegoing habits. The promotion was 

turned down by the merchants in favor of a 

two-bit giveaway. 

FULLY PREPARED 

TO CLOSE 

It was evident this was the time to close. 

November 28, all film companies were 

notified, dates and contracts were cancelled. 

Screening agreements were stopped. Even the 

concessions stock was sold. A four-page letter 

to the people of the community was prepared 

to be published in the Logan County News, 

December 1, which was to be a complete surprise. 

Another job was secured, that the 

decision could be afforded, and I was due at 

work in a town 100 miles distant at eight the 

following morning. 

The letter to the people had such a profound 

effect upon the editor that he came by 

at the last minute in an effort to keep the 

show open. When told that it had progressed 

It 

Gets Around! 

I recently sent you a classified advertisement 

asking for three weeks insertion 

of same and the first one appeared in the 

issue of December 24. I placed this advertisement 

to find Cherokee Bill, who 

makes personal appearances in theatres, 

but no one in this part of the country 

had heard of him for almost a year. 

You will be pleased to know that an 

advertisement in your publication is so 

effective that today (two days after delivery 

of the issue) I received a long 

distance call from Cherokee Bill, from 

Cumberland, K v., where he is appearing 

in the Nova Theatre. 

I thought you would like to know the 

speed with which your publication reaches 

showmen all across America, and I know 

you will be as delighted as I am. Thanking 

you, I am 

OPAL GRAY 

Esquire Theatre, 

Chickasha, Okla. 

too far, he volunteered to do all the work, pay 

December film rentals (with the aid of 

other merchants), and with the aid of a 

couple of nearby showmen, Max Fiensilber 

of Yukon and Bill Edmonston of Covington, 

was able to keep the show open. He followed 

up with his very fine editorial, which all happened 

during my absence. His actions were a 

splendid tribute to a keen understanding of 

the economic needs of the community, but 

this method was, in this case, unfortunate. 

So don't let it happen to you. 

The following week, we had an article that 

stated the show, as well as other business, 

needed more home support. But there was no 

danger of closing. This announcement was 

also made in the theatre twice. The show 

would definitely be closed, if it hadn't been 

for this editor. But can someone tell us what 

to do next month? 

Ritz Theatre, 

Crescent, Okla. 

JESS JONES 

Edward Dowden Dies; 

Long With Loew's 

NEW YORK—Edward C. Dowden. 67. 

widely known public relations director of 

Loew's Theatres, working under President 

Joseph R. Vogel, died of a heart attack 

January 1 at his home in Garden City, Long 

Island. A requiem mass was offered Thursday 

(5) at St. Gerard's Church, Hollis, L. I. 

Dowden was associated with the circuit 

for 27 years. During the 1920s he was a police 

reporter for the Brooklyn Citizen and 

later for the Standard Union in Brooklyn. 

While with the circuit, he handled publicity 

for the Metropolitan Theatre in that borough. 

For many years he was assistant to 

Oscar A. Doob and later Ernest Emerling, 

advertising-publicity director. 

In World War I he was chief deputy U. S. 

marshal and took many Brooklyn draft 

dodgers into custody. During World War n 

he was chairman of the special events committee 

of the War Activities Committee of 

the industry. He conceived the idea of the 

huge cash register and miniature Statue of 

Liberty in Times Square, where the industry 

broke all records for the sale of war 

bonds. 


: January 

7, 1956

'Mom and Dad' Appeal 

To Court on Jan. 23 

ALBANY—Slated for argument during the 

term of the appellate division opening January 

23 in Albany is the appeal of Capitol 

Enterprises, distributor of "Mom and Dad," 

from a ruling by the board of regents that 

the picture with its human birth scene is not 

licensable. 

The regents upheld the stand of Dr. Hugh 

M. Flick, then director of the State Education 

Department's motion picture division, 

that the sequence is "indecent" within the 

meaning of the education law. Dr. Flick, as 

chief censor, offered to issue a permit if the 

45-foot segment were deleted. 

Ephraim S. London, New York City attorney, 

who won "The Miracle" case against the 

regents in the U. S. Supreme Court, represents 

the appellant. The attorney general's 

office and the legal division of the education 

department are preparing a reply brief 

to that recently filed with the appellate court 

by London. 

NY Solon Would Extend 

Daylight Time 7 Months 

ALBANY—New York would have seven 

months of daylight savings time under a bill 

introduced by Senator Pliny Williamson, 

Westchester Republican, at the opening of 

the general assembly Wednesday (4) afternoon. 

The measure would advance the start of 

daylight time from the last Sunday in April 

to the last Sunday in March. 

Williamson sponsored last year's bill which 

changed the general construction law to extend 

daylight time from the last Sunday In 

September to the last Sunday in October, and 

made advanced time mandatory rather than 

optional. This proved so popular that the 

spring extension now is proposed. 

Williamson also presented a second bill 

which might affect theatres. He would make 

the third Monday of February George Washington 

Day; the second Monday of April 

would be Abraham Lincoln Day; the first 

Monday of August, Veterans Day; the last 

Monday of May, Memorial Day, and the first 

Monday of October, Columbus Day. 

Want to Buy a Hotel? 

It's Real Victorian 

New York—Lynn Farnol, well-known 

industry publicist, has a hotel to sell. 

It's the Grand Imperial (quite a name) 

at Silverton, Colo., a 60-room hostelry 

built in 1882 when the silver kings wanted 

luxury in large doses. Originally it had 

only one bath, but now there are 60 of 

them. 

In recent years many pictures have been 

made in the vicinity. 

Lynn—never at a loss for a descriptive 

phrase—says: "The Grand Imperial 

retains the Victorian elegance that producers 

have found to be so authentic." 

Maryland Allied Asks 

Film Tax Exemption 

BALTIMORE—The Allied Motion Picture 

Theatre Owners of Maryland is campaigning 

for exemption of the 2 per cent film rental 

tax which was instigated last year by the 

state legislature. The measure was included 

in a bill intended for merchandise entirely 

foreign to the motion picture business and 

referred to rental services. 

Jack L. Whittle, chairman of the legislative 

committee of the Allied group, recently 

was granted a hearing before one of the 

state committees for the purpose of presenting 

objections to the tax. At that time, he 

brought out that an amendment to a similar 

law enacted in North Carolina exempted motion 

picture film under certain conditions. 

The result of the meeting has been deferred 

until a meeting of the several tax committees 

in Annapolis is announced for some time in 

February. 

Filmack Moves NY Office 

NEW YORK — Filmack Trailer Co. has 

moved its New York office from 639 Ninth 

Ave. to 341 West 44th St., where more space 

was available. The sales and executive staffs 

are now in the new offices. The laboratory 

and studio remain in the old location. 

Catholic Ban Halts 

'Camera' Showings 

NEW YORK—The Earle Theatre in Jackson 

Heights stopped showing "I Am a Camera" 

Tuesday (.3 ) after learning that the Rev. John 

S. Boyland, pastor of St. Joan of Arc Church, 

had asked parishioners "to stay away from 

the theatre." It had been doing good business 

and had been scheduled to run through 

Saturday. 

A spokesman for the church said parishioners 

had been advised to stay away from 

the theatre "as long as it made a policy of 

showing 'condemned' pictures." The film had 

received a C, or "condemned" rating, from 

the Legion of Decency. 

Fred J. Schwartz, president of Distributors 

Corp. of America, which is releasing the film, 

said it was being shown in more than 50 

theatres in the metropolitan area. 

"While I recognize the right of the church 

to prescribe for its members what they may 

or may not see," he said, "to prevent the 

general public from seeing films of its own 

choosing, I feel, is an abridgement of a basic 

American freedom. 

'Golden Arm' Sets Records 

In Three Opening Dates 

NEW YORK—Otto Preminger's "The Man 

With the Golden Arm" has rolled up the 

biggest single week's grosses in the history 

of the Fox Beverly Theatre, Los Angeles, and 

the Woods Theatre, Chicago, in addition to 

setting a new 18-day high at the Victoria 

Theatre in New York, the only three cities 

the picture has played to date, according to 

William J. Heineman, United Artists vicepresident 

in charge of distribution. 

The picture, which is being shown without 

a code seal in the U. S., has received the 

British censor's "X" rating (meaning approved 

for adult audiences only) in England. 

Despite this, the J. Arthur Rank Odeon circuit 

has booked it for extended playing time 

at Rank's Odeon Theatre, London, starting 

January 12, followed by a moveover run 

Then it 

at the Metropole and Victoria theatres. 

will play the Odeon houses throughout 

Great Britain. 

Circuit Brings Antitrust 

Suits for $32,100,000 

NEW YORK—Five antitrust suits asking 

triple damages of $32,100,000 were filed 

Wednesday (4i in federal district court 

here by Mieczyslaw M. and Marya Konczakowski, 

operators of Konczakowski Theatres in 

Buffalo. They are based on claims of conspiracy, 

price fixing and unlawful clearances 

and runs. 

Damages of $900,000 are asked in one suit 

filed by the Grand Theatre. The defendants 

are Paramount, 20th-Fox, Warner Bros., Columbia, 

Universal-International, Loew's, United 

Artists and Buffalo Theatres. The four 

other suits were filed for the Marlowe, Regent, 

Circle and Senate theatres against the 

same defendants and American Broadcasting-Paramount 

Theatres and Buffalo Paramount 

Theatres. Each asked $7,800,000. 

Virginia Christine will play the role of 

Edward G. Robinson's wife in United Artists' 

suspense drama, being directed by Maxwel. 

Shane. 

PARAMOUNT 25-YEAR VETERANS—Barney Balaban, president, and Adolph 

the pre-Christmas induction of new mem- 

Zukor, chairman of the board, took part in 

bers into the 25-Year Club. Gold watches and scrolls were presented to the Inductees. 

Among those in the photograph are: Alexander Blau, Marion Frejmann, Katherine 

Grzbyowski, Evelyn MichaeLson, William Ramage, Charles Schierenbeck, Armand 

Cardea, Henry Doldus, Aimee Elliott, Alexander Kiralfy, Milton Kirschenberg, Edward 

T. Cassldy jr., Joseph Coleman, Anna Isokait, Hugo Johnson, Max Klein, Vincent G. 

Marion, Alfred Nielson, Olympio Pagano, Frank Sudal, Hugh J. Hester, Barbara Schwab, 

William H. Stnihs and Herbert Wissman. 

BOXOFTICE : 

: January 7, 1956 27

. . 

Big, New Films on B'way 

Attract Holiday Crowds 

NEW YORK— Important new pictures, 

two 

of them with lavish stage shows, attracted 

hordes iif holiday patrons over the long New 

year's weekend and boosted business at 

Broadway first runs to near-record highs in 

man; cases. New Year's Eve was only fairly 

good, due to the crowded streets, but both 

January 1 and 2 were tremendous. However, 

only the Broadway houses profited and many 

neighborhood spots complained that their 

patrons were "all attending downtown theatres." 

Reports from other key cities, including 

Chicago, where "Guys and Dolls," "Artists 

and Models," "The Man With the Golden 

Arm" and "I'll Cry Tomorrow" were current, 

had a big New Year's weekend; Los Angeles 

did an alltime high with the first week of 

"The Man With the Golden Arm," and Washington 

and Minneapolis reported good business 

after a "disappointing" Christmas week. 

Boston, where the old blue laws curb liquor 

or entertainment on Sundays, was satisfactory 

although not up to last season, downtown 

houses reported. "Guys and Dolls" was 

one of the pictures playing in almost every 

major city. 

Leading the field on Broadway were the 

two stage-screen houses, the Radio City 

Music Hall and the Roxy. Radio City again 

had long waiting lines outside the huge theatre, 

which reported "tremendous business" 

for "Kismet" and the annual Nativity stage 

pageant, while the Roxy did its biggest business 

of the year with the third week of "The 

Rains of Ranchipur" and the ice show on 

the stage. The Palace, only other theatre 

with film and live entertainment, also did 

exceptionally well with "The Square Jungle" 

and eight acts of vaudeville. 

The extra morning and midnight shows for 

the two two-a-day attractions, "Oklahoma!" 

in its 12th week at the Rivoli, and "Cinerama 

Holiday," in its 47th week at the Warner 

Theatre, boosted the take to a near record. 

Others pictures which were far above preceding 

weeks included: "Artists and Models," 

in its second week at the Paramount; "The 

Rose Tattoo," in its third week at the Astor; 

"The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell," in 

its second week at the Criterion, and "The 

Man With the Golden Arm," in its third week 

at the Victoria Theatre, which reported the 

best 18-day total ever registered for the house. 

Two other United Artists pictures, "The Indian 

Fighter" at the Mayfair and "Man With 

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the Gun" at Loew's State, did good, if not 

smash, business. 

In the art houses, two records were set. 

Disney's "The Littlest Outlaw," reported an 

alltime record opening week for the Trans- 

Lux 52nd Street, and the British "The Prisoner," 

took in over $50,000 for its first 24 days 

at the Plaza, both of these being small art 

theatres. 

(Average Is 100) 

Astor The Rose Tattoo (Para), 3rd wk 190 

Baronet The Naked Sea (RKO), 2nd wk 110 

d.jou— Too Bod She's Bad (Getz-Kingsley), 2nd 

wk 110 

Capitol Guys and Dolls (MGM), 9th wk 1 50 

Criterion The Court-Martial of Biliy Mitchell 

iWb), 2nd wk 1 65 

Fine Arts Diabolique (UMPO), 5th wk 170 

53th St. Dementia (Wolf-Parker), Picasso (Wolf- 

Parker), 2nd wk 1 05 

Globe uance Little Lady (Trans-Lux), 2nd wk. 110 

Guild Umberto D. (Harrison), 8th wk 140 

Little Carnegie Heidi and Peter (UA), 3rd wk...ll5 

Loew's State Man With the Gun (UA), 2nd wk. 120 

Mayfair The Indian Fighter (UA), 2nd wk 140 

Normandie It's a Dog's Life (MGM), 2nd wk. 120 

Palace The Square Jungle (U-l), plus vaudeville 140 

Paramount Arrists and Models (Para), 2nd wk. 160 

Paris Letters from My Windmill (Tohan), 3rd wk. 130 

Plaza The Prisoner (Col), 4th wk 175 

Radio City Music Hall Kismet (MGM), plus Xmas . 

stage show, 3rd wk 200 

Rivoh Oklahoma! (Todd-AO), 12th wk. of 

two-a-day 200 

Roxy The Rains of Ronchipur (20th-Fox), plus 

ice stage show, 2nd wk 200 

Sutton lne Night My Number Came Up 

(Cont), 3rd wk 1 25 

Trans-Lux 52nd St. The Littlest Outlaw 

(Buena Vista) 200 

Victoria The Man With the Golden Arm IUA), 

3rd wk 175 

Warner Cinerama Holiday (SW), 47th wk. of 

two-a-day 1 50 

World Hill 24 Doesn't Answer (Cont), 9th wk. 120 

'Dolls' and "Artists' Score 

Top Baltimore Grosses 

BALTIMORE—Business was better, and 

grosses were stronger at the downtown, first 

Of the newcomers, "The Court- 

run theatres. 

Martial of Billy Mitchell" drew large 

audiences. Of the holdovers, "Guys and Dolls" 

and "Artists and Models" did well. 

Century The Rains of Ranchipur (20th-Fox) 2nd 

wk 95 

120 

Film Centre^ Diabolique (UMPO), 2nd wk 

Hippodrome Guys ond Dolis (MGM), 2nd wk. . . . 1 75 

Little Will Any Gentleman? (UA) 80 

New—Artists and Models (Para), 2nd wk 150 

Mayfair The Spoilers (U-l) 95 

Playhouse Trouble With The Harry (Para) 110 

Stanley The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell (WB). 150 

The Cinema Simba (LP) 100 

Town The Indian Fighter (UA) 120 

'Indian Fighter' Draws 150 

To Top Pittsburgh List 

PITTSBURGH—Kirk Douglas hi "The 

Indian Fighter" created good interest with 

local fans to build a gross well above average. 

Rivalling the Douglas feature for top honors 

was "The Rains of Ranchipur" with 140 and 

"Artists and Models," in a second week, with 

125. 

Fulton The Rains of Ranchipur (20th-Fox) 140 

Harris The Second Greatest Sex (U-l) 95 

Penn The Indian Fighter (UA) 150 

Stanley Artists and Models (Para), 2nd wk 125 

Xmas Services at Theatre 

PITTSBURGH—When the Laketon Heights 

Methodist Church was badly damaged by fire 

just before Christmas, the congregation accepted 

the invitation of Rudolph Navari, 

manager of the Eastwood Theatre, to hold 

Christmas services in the theatre. 

Feature Starting Times 

In RKO Theatres' Ads 

NEW YORK—RKO Theatres added a 

complete schedule of the starting times of 

the main feature at all its New York metro- 

'BEST ACTORS YEAR' \>A 

THE GOLDEN 

TOMORROW' 

Reproduction of three-column, eightinch 

ad in New York daily newspapers. 

politan and suburban theatres to the dally 

newspaper ads, starting Wednesday (4), according 

to Harry Mandel, advertising and 

publicity director. 

The purpose of the starting time is twofold: 

to add to greater patron enjoyment of 

the main feature by being able to see it from 

the beginning and to advise people that the 

last showing of the main feature starts early 

enough for them to get home before midnight. 

"Rebel Without a Cause," which opened in 

all the circuit's houses January 4, started at 

12, 2:30, 4:45, 7:05 and 9:30, except in Westchester, 

where showings started at 1:45: 4:20, 

7:00 and 9:30. All the RKO theatres will continue 

to present late shows on Friday and 

Saturday nights. 

The Broadway first run houses and the art 

houses have long been advertising the starting 

time of their main features. 

Pittsburgh Twin-Screener 

To Have 1,800-Car Area 

PITTSBURGH — The Greater Pittsburgh 

Drive-In will have a capacity of 1,800 cars as 

soon as Joe Warren, owner, completes the 

second screen and auto parking area adjacent 

to the unit he is keeping open during 

the winter. Warren's theatre will be the largest 

twin screen drive-in in the city area. 

It will have entrances on the old Greenburg 

Pike and at the main gate. 

Fire Violations Lessen 

NEW YORK—Fire department inspectors 

by midweek had checked 178 film theatres 

and found violations in 57 of them. The 

totals are for the first 12 days of the drive, 

which is continuing but has been finding 

few violations since January 1. None were 

discovered Wednesday (4) in 20 theatres inspected. 


: January 

7. 1956

. . Larry 

. . Charles 

BROADWAY 

Births and marriages in the industry just 

before and just after New Year's: a baby 

son to Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Perskie at University 

Hospital—which made Mort Blumenstock, 

father of Mrs. Perskie, a grandfather 

for the second time. The Perskies, who have 

a daughter, Liza, two years old, named the 

son Morton Daniel . Margolin of 

the Warner home office publicity department, 

became the father of a girl named Dawn 

Janice . . . Robert Firestone, film editor at 

Transfilm, and Evelyn Diamond, animation 

artists at Famous Studios, which makes the 

Paramount cartoons, were married in New 

York January 1 . . . Mel Heymann of MGM's 

publicity department, has announced the engagement 

of his daughter Myrna Jean to 

Robert Leonard Greenhall of East Orange. 

Miss Heymann is attending Douglass College 

and Greenhall is now in the Navy. 

J. Carroll Naish has left the cast of "A 

View From the Bridge," the Broadway stage 

hit, to go to Hollywood to star with John 

Payne and Ruth Roman in Bel-Air's "Rebel 

in Town," for UA release. Eileen Heckart 

played her final performance In the same 

Broadway play January 7 to go to the coast 

to play Rocky Graziano's mother in MGM's 

"Somebody Up There Likes Me." Van Heflin, 

film star, will continue as star of "Bridge." 

Film celebrities glimpsed at the Wednesday 

opening of "The Great Sebastians," starring 

Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, included 

Marlene Dietrich, looking more glamorous 

than ever; Leonard Goldenson, Janet Gaynor, 

Mary Martin, Joyce Grenfell, Cathleen Nesbitt 

and Doro Merande . . . Kim Novak, Columbia 

star, returned to Hollywood after 

promoting "Picnic" for several weeks. Cornel 

Wilde, signed for Columbia for "Beyond 

Mombasa," arrived January 3 en route to 

Africa, where the Todon production is being 

filmed. 

Wilde replaces Aldo Ray in the lead. 

United Artists, MGM and Paramount 

executives, returning to the home offices 

after the long New Year's weekend, were delighted 

with reports on the sensational business, 

not only on Broadway but In other 

AT 

UNIVERSAL PARTY—Universal- 

International exchanges staged a series 

of parties in connection with the NBC- 

TV network show "Tonight," which was 

a salute to "The Benny Goodman Story." 

Seen here, left to right: Eli Schlanger, 

Fabian theatre zone manager at Albany; 

Norman Weitman, Albany branch manager; 

Julius Perlmutter of Perlmutter 

Theatres, and Leonard Rosenthal of Upstate 

Theatre buyers and bookers service. 

key cities, for UA's "The Man With the 

Golden Arm" and "The Indian Fighter," 

MGM's "Guys and Dolls" and "Kismet" and 

Paramount's "Artists and Models" and "The 

Rose Tattoo." The other companies had 

fewer films playing holiday dates. 

Now RKO is getting active after a long 

period of comparative inactivity with Herbert 

H. Greenblatt, western sales head, leaving 

for Chicago, first stop on a three-week trip 

to meet with exhibitors on the company's 

schedule of 13 pictures in the first four 

months of '56. John Wayne, star of RKO's 

S6.000.000 "The Conqueror," arrived from 

Hollywood the same day for a week of publicity 

and promotion activities, prior to sailing 

for Europe on the 11th to attend European 

openings of the film in Paris, Rome and 

London. 

Harold Wirthwein, Allied Artists western 

sales manager, also started a tour of branches 

to implement sales plans for "At Gunpoint." 

Cinemascope feature, and "Invasion of the 

Body Snatchers," both of which will be part 

of AA's 17-week March of Progress drive, 

which starts January 28. Wirthwein's first 

stop was Kansas City . Smadja. 

United Artists vice-president in charge of 

European production, arrived from Paris to 

talk with home office executives on the product 

program for the coming year. 

Walter Lowendahl, executive vice-president 

of Transfilm and president of the New York 

Film Producers Ass'n, left for Amsterdam, 

Holland, over the New Year's weekend . . . 

Stephen Bosustow, president of UPA, which 

makes cartoons for Columbia release, and 

Ernest Scanlon, treasurer and business manager, 

are in New York from the west coast. 

New York Board of Trade 

Names Dowling President 

NEW YORK—Robert W. Dowling, president 

of the City Investing Co. and operator of a 

number of theatres, was elected president of 

the New York Board of Trade at its 82nd 

annual meeting of directors Wednesday (4). 

He succeeds Bernard P. Day, president of 

Joseph P. Day, Inc., elected board chairman. 

Richard Kulze, an attorney, was elected secretary. 

Dowling is a director of Starrett Bros. & 

Eken, City Bank F'armers Trust Co., Home 

Insurance Co., R."H. Macy & Co., Hotel Waldorf-Astoria 

Corp., Emigrant Savings Bank, 

New York Dock Co.. Hilton Hotels International 

and Home Title Guaranty Corp. He 

is also chairman of the advisory committees 

of the New York Department of Commerce 

and Public Events, the business finance committee 

of the mayor's advisory council and 

the Manhattan borough civil defense recruiting 

office. 

Other directorships he holds are with the 

City Center, Children's Village, Regional 

Plan Ass'n, American Arbitration Ass'n and 

Boy Scouts of America. 

Variety Installation Set 

NEW YORK—Variety Club Tent No. 35 will 

install officers at a luncheon January 7 at 

Toots Shor's restaurant. William J. German, 

retiring chief barker, will be honored. Harold 

Klein, who succeeds him and 11 new canvassmen 

will be installed. 

MPAA Sales Managers Unit 

Elects Altschuler Head 

NEW YORK—Richard W. Altschuler, vicepresident 

and worldwide sales manager of 

Republic, has been elected chairman of the 

sales managers committee of the Motion Picture 

Ass'n of America. He succeeds Maurice 

Goldstein, Allied Artists general sales manager. 

He is the first chairman of the committee 

to hold a worldwide sales post. Goldstein 

was commended for his "outstanding 

service" as chairman. 

International theater seats 

give your 

patrons that "home-comfort" relaxed 

feeling that brings them back 

again and again. 

HERE'S WHY . . . 

— Longest seat backs 

—Most comfortable chair design 

—Most easily maintained seats 

— Best body-supporting spring seats 

. . . in the industry 

For complete information on International 

theater seats, write, wire or 

phone — 

in New York . . . 

"Doc" Faige or "Barney" Sholtz, 

Norpat Sales, Inc., 

113 West 42nd St., 

Phone: BRyant 9-5055 

in Baltimore . . . 

"Jack" Dauses, 

202 West Fayette St., 

Phone: BRoadway 6-5369 

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: January 

7. 1956 29

. . John 

. . The 

. . One 

. . Theresa 

. 

. Robert 

BUFFALO 

•The Erlanger In downtown Buffalo is being 

sold by the Dipson interests of Batavia. 

who have owned it for 15 years. "We are 

negotiating a sale," said William J. Dipson, 

president of the circuit. "The deal is pretty 

well along." Dipson declined to identify 

the purchaser at this time. In Buffa'o realty 

circles, however, it is reported that Rochester 

interests are negotiating for the property. 

It has an assessed value of about $251 000. The 

Erlanger was built about 28 years ago by the 

Hotel Statler Co., Inc. and leased to Al Erlanger, 

who operated a string of theatres 

throughout the country. In 1!M1 it was sold 

by the Statler to Dipson Interests. Richard 

T. Kemper, zone manager for Dipson, is 

manager of the Erlanger. 

Eddie Meade arranged his annual week of 

parties in Shea's Buffalo for orphans in a 

tieup with the Evening News, which provides 

transportation. Each child receives a box 

of candy from the theatre management. "Kismet" 

was on the screen . . . The Chez Ami. 

favorite night spot for 21 years, is closed for 

a remodeling expected to take about ten weeks 

and cost between $60,000 and $70,000. Philip 

Amigone is the owner of the Chez Ami, which 

opened in 1934 on the site of the old Hollywood 

theatre. 

Jamestown and its environs are expected to 

turn out next month to greet Lucille Ball, 

local "girl who made good." Lucille and her 

husband. Desi Arnaz, will visit the Chautauqua 

Lake city February 6, 7 for the world 

nremiere of their new picture, "Forever. 

Oarling." A 24-member committee of Jamesfown 

folk is working out details of a gala 

homecoming slated for the former Jamestown 

and Celeron schoolgirl, who scaled the 

heights of stardom in motion pictures and 

'elevision. The couple will fly from Buffalo 

hv helicopter on the 6th. The premiere will 

be held on the 7th in Dipson's Palace. 

Ruth Mitchell, sister of General Billv 

Mitchell, was here to aid in the promotion of 

"The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell," current 

at the Center. Art Moger, Warner exoloiteer, 

accompanied her . annual installation 

dinner dance of Variety Tent 7, 

will be held Sunday evening (15) at 7. The 

event is being staged in honor of W. E. J. Martin, 

retiring chief barker and the new chief. 

Elmer F. Lux, and his crew for 1956. It will 

be the third term for Lux as chief barker. He 

has just retired as president of the Buffalo 

common council . . . Carl Bell reports Perkins 

Theatre Supply Co. has completed this installation 

in the Cinema Theatre. Buffalo: 

an Altec amplifier and speaker, a Motiograph 

reproducer. Bausch & Lomb lenses and a 

Williams screen. The Cinema is presenting 

"Guys and Dolls" for a long run at advanced 

prices. 

A compromise settlement has been reached 

between the village of Perry, N. Y„ and the 

Schine Realty Corp. of Gloversville. The lat- 

. . . Billy Keaton, 

ter had protested payment of a $3,028 bill 

levied in 1954 for construction of a sidewalk 

fronting their main street property in the 

village. The Perry board voted to accept 

$1,750 in full payment 

former chief barker of the Variety Club, and 

wife have a new program on WXRA, entitled 

"The Keatons W. Sawyer, 

69. who died 

. 

December 25. was chief projectionist 

in Buffalo for the Stanley Warner 

Cinerama Corp. He was supervisor of projection 

and sound for Shea theatres for 30 

years before joining the Warner company 

last March. A native of Newport, R. I., 

Sawyer became projectionist in the old Victoria 

at 17 and later managed the theatre. 

"Cinerama Holiday" will open at the Teck 

the evening of January 31. Boris Bernard!, 

the theatre's managing director, newly arrived 

from Texas, said the premiere will be a 

March of Dimes Benefit Premiere, sponsored 

by the Greater Buffalo Advertising Club . . . 

When "This Is Cinerama" closes in the Teck 

the evening of January 29. it will have played 

600 performances to 400,000 enthusiasts. 

Sports director Stan Barron of radio station 

WKBW will speak at the men's luncheon 

in the Variety Club January 23 . . . Ruth 

F. Krauss, M. D., will address the monthly 

luncheon of the Women's League of Variety 

on Saturday (28) in the club's Delaware 

Avenue headquarters. New members of the 

Women's League are Adele Bender, Connie 

Domiano, Pauline Glaser, Fannie Goodman, 

Mildred Hecker, Lucille Panzica, Shirley 

Reuter, Gertrude Rubin, Edith Schmittman, 

Janet Serfustino, Fanny and Kitty Watson 

i vaudeville team). 

Seymour Nusbaum, manager of the Cinema 

in Rochester, had a rough time of it during 

the holidays when almost the entire house 

staff was removed through illness. Nusbaum 

and Maury P. Slotnick took over the various 

posts and kept things running. 

N. Y. Communion Breakfast 

Is Set for January 29 

NEW YORK—Catholics in the film industry 

here will hold their sixth annual 

corporate Communion and breakfast January 

29. Mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick's 

Cathedral and breakfast will follow in the 

grand ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. 

The names of speakers and stars who will be 

guests will be announced later. 

The Communion breakfast idea for the film 

industry started here six years ago and has 

been adopted in Hollywood, Canada and 

various exchange cities. 

PICK WINNERS—Buffalo industryites 

pick the lucky winners in drawing held 

in the Audience Awards contest conducted 

there for $1,000 worth of Sylvania 

TV and radio sets. Left to right, seated: 

Robert T. Murphy, manager. Century 

Theatre; Edward F. Meade, ad-pub chief. 

Shea Theatres. Standing, George H. 

Mackenna, general manager, Basil's Lafayette; 

Arthur Krolick, district manager. 

Paramount Theatres, and Charles B. Taylor, 

associate district manager. 

NEWARK 

Terry Paulmier, 52, district manager for the 

Smith Drive-In, was killed In an 

automobile accident as he was leaving the 

Rutherford Drive-In from which he was operating 

Robert Osborne, manager of the 

. . . Tlvoli, said his merchant-sponsored show on 

Christmas Eve, showing merchant trailers with 

season's greetings, was a tremendous success. 

A kiddy show was given New Year's 

Day . of the biggest Christmas seasons 

in the history of the Bellevue Theatre, 

Montclair, was seen with the showing of 

"Marty." Richard Bracken, manager, said 

that even on Christmas Eve the house was 

filled 

to capacity. 

. . . Michael Demcsak, 

At the Plaza, Madelaine Kridell, manager, 

had a new air conditioning system installed 

during the pre-Christmas shutdown . . . 

John Lawson, operator at the Ritz, went to 

Florida for a three-week vacation ... At the 

Roosevelt, the new assistant manager is 

Charles Lipton . Phillips, manager 

of the Hollywood, East Orange, said his assistant 

Dave Lorry went to Florida on a 

two-week vacation 

manager ôf the Warner, Harrison, held 

merchant-sponsored holiday shows, which 

were very successful. He also gave a New 

Year's Eve matinee for kiddies with toys and 

gifts. The Mayfair, Newark, was closed 

Christmas Eve. Murray Greene, manager, 

had open house for employes, merchants, police, 

firemen or anyone else that wanted to 

come in. 

At the Beacon in East Orange, Manager 

Thomas O'Connor held a special matinee for 

kiddies during the Christmas vacation, with 

a Hansel and Gretel show in which a new 

type of electrically controlled puppet is used. 

The show was in addition to the feature film 

... A large TV store in Belleville will sponsor 

a matinee at the Capitol for children 

on January 28 and will give slide rules and 

pencil boxes . Allison is the new 

candy girl at the Maplewood, Maplewood. 

Betty Baurer is the new relief cashier here 

. . . William Kane, manager, said the live 

shows on Sunday afternoons featuring wellknown 

artists were a definite boon to business 

at the Maplewood. Many new faces 

coming for the stage shows continued as 

regular theatre customers. 

New manager at the Ritz, Elizabeth, is 

Alfred Barilla, succeeding Clement Murphy, 

67, who died several months ago. Barilla 

started as an usher at the Branford. 

Newark. He spent three years in the Army, 

then came back to the Branford as chief 

of service. He later went to the Wellmont 

in Montclair, came back to the Branford as 

assistant manager, then went to the Union, 

Union, as manager. 

Ten-Year-Old Girl Winner 

Of 'Heidi' Contest 

NEW YORK—Ten-year-old Ellen Rose 

Gasnick of Manhattan was the winner of a 

prize of $500 in U. S. Savings Bonds in the 

"Heidi and Peter" coloring contest, sponsored 

by the New York Daily Mirror in cooperation 

with United Artists and the Little 

Carnegie Theatre. 

Runners-up received 40 Mido Swiss watches, 

six Huffman bicycles, 25 pairs of Winchester 

roller skates, 12 pairs of ice skates, five 

Yardbird railroad train sets and 500 Grosset 

& Dunlap "Heidi" books. 


: January 

7. 1956

. . . Many 

ALBANY 

BIGGEST PRESS AGENTS — United 

Artists has the "biggest" party of press 

agents on tour for "Alexander the Great." 

David Ballard, seven-foot-seven (dressed 

as Alexander) is accompanied by models. 

Bunny Wallace, left; two sisters, Anna, 

right, and Pia Roselli. Traveling with them 

to the midwest and south is UA agent 

Abe Bernstein. This is the post they 

took for the Post-Standard and the Herald-Journal 

in Syracuse where they appeared 

on radio and TV shows. 

Modern Art Museum Shows 

Old Films Series 

NEW YORK—The Museum of 

Modern Art 

started a new series of showings of old films 

January 2 to replace the "Films of Samuel 

Goldwyn," which has been postponed until 

February 13. 

The films shown January 2-8 were: "A 

Short History of Animation," with animated 

cartoons by Cohl, McCay, Fisher and Walt 

Disney. "The Passion of Joan of Arc" (1928), 

will be shown January 9-15; "Report From 

the Aleutians" (1943) and other wartime 

documentaries will be shown January 16-22; 

"Barber Shop" (1933) and "Million Dollar 

Legs" (1932), both starring W. C. Fields, 

will be shown January 23-29; Professor 

Mamlock" (1938) will be shown January 30- 

February 5 and "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" 

(1936), Columbia picture starring Gary 

Cooper, will be shown February 6-12. 

Robs Newark Branford 

NEWARK—About 10 p. m. on December 27, 

Mrs. Cecilia Barr, cashier at the Branford 

Theatre here, was arranging her receipts 

when a man pushed a note to her. Mrs. Barr. 

too busy to read notes, shoved the message 

back at the man, who then drew a small pistol 

and said, "This is a holdup! Throw me 

the money." Mrs. Barr handed three bundles 

of bills to the bandit, who then ran away with 

his loot of about $200. 

Wallis to Aid Promotion 

NEW YORK—Hal Wallis is expected to 

leave the coast later this month and aid in 

the promotion of his production, "The Rose 

Tattoo," when it opens in Philadelphia, Washington, 

Boston, Cleveland, Detroit and 

Chicago. He is also expected to come here 

to conduct screen tests for roles in four films. 

IJoliday weekend business 

reached a higher 

level, but it still did not hit the point for 

which many exhibitors hoped. "The Court- 

Martial of Billy Mitchell" attracted heavy 

crowds at the Strand in Albany on Sunday 

and Monday, and registered substantial 

grosses at the Stanley in TJtica and at a 

group of Schine houses. "Artists and Models" 

drew solidly at the Trov in Troy on Saturday, 

Sunday and Monday and held up surprisingly 

well Tuesday. It also pulled very substantial 

business at Kallet's Capitol in Rome despite 

a snowstorm. 

New Year's Eve patronage was not up to 

expectations in many houses. Watertown was 

tabbed as an exception and Schine situations 

did nicely. Several January 1 "owlers" evidenced 

a tapering of attendance from the 

mark earlier in the day. Whether New Year's 

Eve falling on Saturday was a "break" for 

theatres remained in the debatable area, but 

the Sunday-Monday holiday did bring out 

people. 

Chris Pope, 

Schine circuit booker, checked 

in Tuesday afternoon for two days of datesetting. 

His first huddle was with Republic 

Manager Arthur J. Newman. Pope now divides 

his time between the home offices in 

Gloversville, Albany and Buffalo. He comes 

here every fifth week. Pope, graduate of Ohio 

University and veteran in the Schine organization, 

enjoyed the holidays with his wife 

and their 5-year-old daughter Stephanie in 

the Glove City. 

Gus Lampe, director of entertainment and 

music for Schine Hotels, was due to arrive in 

Gloversville January 6. He headquarters at 

the Ambassador in Los Angeles. Lampe 

served for some time as an executive of the 

Schine Circuit . . . Norman Weitman, U-I 

manager, and Gene Lowe, salesman, huddled 

in Hancock January 5 with Leonard Thompson, 

general manager of Harvey English 

Theatres, and Margaret Smith, booker. The 

circuit operates six houses in the Albany district. 

Present at the Variety clubrooms in the 

Sheraton-Ten Eyck Hotel for the New 

Year's Eve celebration: Samuel Jacobs, city 

court justice-elect, and wife; Prof. Ben Becker 

and wife; former Chief Barker Jules Perlmutter 

and wife; Ken Farrar. assistant manager 

of Tristate Automatic Candy Corp., and 

wife; Al Kellert, advertising agency proprietor, 

and wife; Irwin Ullman, Fabian 

Theatres promotion supervisor, and wife; 

Elias Schlenger, Fabian division manager; 

Samuel E. Rosenblatt, former theatre owner, 

and wife (Sam and his brother Fred are 

liquidating their automobile sales business to 

concentrate on real estate activities) ; the 

Gene Tepers; Max Zuckerman and Ten Eyck 

Manager Andrew Panella. The innermost 

room, tastefully decorated, had space for 

dancing to recorded music on a Hi-Fi set 

loaned by Henry Seiden. 

Jules Perlmutter appointed Mrs. Frances 

Jeffers as manager of the State in Mechanicville 

and Harold Loomis as manager of the 

Capitol in Whitehall, when he leased the 

houses from Benton Theatres. He placed 

Vincent Fay in charge of the Royal. Albany, 

relighted January 1. under an agreement 

with Hellman Theatres. A graduate of 

Philip Schuyler High School, Fay was recommended 

to Perlmutter by Ben Becker, viceprincipal 

of the school and honorary Variety 

Club member. Fay was a Golden Gloves 

amateur boxing champion. Perlmutter, who 

reported the Royal had been refurbished, advertised 

"New low Prices. Adults, 40 cents. 

Children, 20 cents." 

The Rosendale, Ulster County situation hit 

by last October's flood, was reopened Christmas 

Day with "The Desperate Hours." New 

Foam rubber cushioned seats, new floor, new 

carpets, new screen and graduated floor were 

installed . . . "Charlie Smakwitz, who recently 

left the city, did as much for Albany as anyone 

I know," commented Forrest Willis, 

WTRY personality, in an interview with 

Joseph Yezzi, dress shop owner, new Variety 

Club member and chairman of the Chamber 

of Commerce's ticket committee for the Albany 

Eastern League baseball club. 

"The African Lion" roared into a second 

week at the Delaware, local art house. John 

Fred Sliter, retired 

Brousseau manages it . . . 

20th-Fox salesman, entered an Or- 

lando, Fla., hospital for treatment of arthritis 

and muscle spasm. He is wintering at 

Orlando with Mrs. Sliter . . . The Daily 

Report sheet from the secretary of state's office 

showed an annulment of dissolution certificate 

for Frees' Riverside Drive-In, Inc., 

314 Ford St., Ogdensburg. Free operates the 

Pontiac in that city. 

ABC Vending Co. District Manager Richard 

A. Best's Christmas gift to theatre managers 

were a large pair of scissors and a ruler in 

a leather sheath. He remembered assistants, 

too . . . George H. Schenck, manager for 

Tristate Automatic Candy Corp., has been 

re-elected fire commissioner in Colonie. 

Among those posted for Variety Club membership 

were two dentists, Melvin D. Helfich 

and Samuel Rosenstock, and John E. Donnegan, 

proprietor of Crane Inn, Dalton, Mass. 

theatres, in their advertisements for 

kiddy shows the morning or afternoon of December 

30-31, stressed the "New Year's Eve 

. . . Just Like Your Fathers and Mothers' 

Celebration" angle ... A cute card was sent 

out by Paramount Manager Dan Houlihan 

with the illustrated message. "We're no 

angels But we sure Do wish you a DIVINE 

CHRISTMAS" . . . Bill Morton, promotion 

executive for the Sheraton Corp. of America 

and onetime RKO Theatres publicist in 

Providence, R. I., remembered local friends 

with a card from Boston. 

R. D. Fairbanks Dies 

BOSTON — Robert D. Fairbanks, Altec 

Service field engineer, died Christmas day at 

his home in Wellesley Hills. Fairbanks was 

with ERPI. predecessor company of Altec. 

Recently he had been attached to the New 

York office. His wife survives. Burial was in 

Boston. 

Rites for R. A. Kreier 

NEW YORK—Funeral services for the late 

Robert A. Kreier, who was managing director 

for 20th Century-Fox in Germany, will take 

place at St. Mary's Church. Greenwich. Conn., 

Saturday morning (7) at 11 o'clock. The body 

will repose at the Frank Reilly Funeral Parlors. 

Greenwich, January 5, 6. 

BOXOFTICE 

: 

: January 

7. 1956 31

. . Mr. 

. . Industryites 

. . Manager 

. . Mrs. 

. . 

PHILADELPHIA 

Representative William J. Green jr., chairman 

of the Philadelphia Democratic organization, 

and former city chairman James 

P. Clark have urged Gov. George M. Leader 

to sponsor legislation so the State Board of 

Censors could function legally in approving 

or rejecting motion pictures. The board's 

powers were virtually stripped by a decision 

of U. S. Supreme Court in the Burstyn "Miracle" 

ca.se, and the board is now devoting almost 

all of its energies to issuing licenses 

and permits. Clark and Green discussed the 

censor board's problems with Leader at a 

luncheon at the executive mansion. The governor's 

appointments to the censor board 

have been held up by the State Senate, 

which, so far, has refused confirmation. 

. . Allen 

Eddie Gabriel celebrates his 40th anniversary 

in the motion picture business this year. 

His Capital Film Exchange is now releasing 

"Pear," starring Ingrid Bergman . 

Strulson, 20th-Fox city salesman, was in a 

New York hospital for an appendectomy . -. 

. 

Larry Mackey, manager of the Suburban 

theatre in Ardmore, is recuperating from an 

operation performed at Temple Hospital. 

Jack Harris, Screen Guild franchise holder, 

was on a two-week vacation in Jamaica with 

his family 

. and Mrs. Frank Blum announced 

the marriage of their daughter 

Joan to Lt. Sheldon Robert Lipson, Providence. 

R. I. Blum is the former owner and 

operator of the Stonehurst Theatre in Upper 

Darby, and is still the owner of the 69th 

street Theatre, which is operated by Stanley 

Warner 

. . . Filmakers, whose next release 

will be distributed through RKO, made a substantial 

settlement with both Jack Harris 

and Jack Engle. 

Perry Lessey expects to make substantial 

improvements to the Diamond Theatre, which 

has been under lease by Stanley Warner for 

15 years . . . "Man With Golden Arm" is to 

open in the Stanton on or about January 20. 

The talk is that the Stanton is adopting a 

new policy. It will continue to be an action 

house, but as one wag put it, SW wants to 

make it an "action house with art." 

The decrees entered on behalf of seven independent 

poster exchanges against National 

Screen Service have been suspended pending 

pendency of appeal by National Screen. Parties 

agreed that security need not be entered, 

and National Screen therefore will file only 

usual $250 appeal bond. Suspension is conditioned 

upon National Screen's filing prompt 

notice of appeal . 

elected by 

the Philadelphia chapter of the Infantile 

Paralysis Ass'n were Ralph Pries, Berlo 

Vending Co., and Edward Emanuel, property 

master for International Variety Clubs. 

William Faulkner's novel, "Soldiers' Pay." 

has been purchased and will be produced by 

William Fadiman for Columbia Pictures. 

JowiaM 

BOONTON, N. J. 

Jack Weltner Re-Elected 

President of Local F-ll 

PITTSBURGH—Officers of Film Exchange 

Employees Union, Local F-ll, IATSE, have 

been reelected for 1956 and 1957. The officers 

are: Jack Weltner. UA, president; Orlando 

J. "Slam" Boyle, 20th-Fox, vice-president and 

business agent; Helen Garlitz, AA, secretary: 

John Navoney, Paramount, treasurer and sergeant-at-arms. 

Trustees elected for the new term include 

A. John Mayer, MGM; Edward Macklns, 

MGM, and Vera Fisher, Columbia. Elected 

to the executive board are Anne Salina, Columbia; 

Cele Keiselbach, RKO; Margaret 

O'Connell, Paramount; Lorraine Macosky, 

WB; Joseph McCormick, RKO; Rhea Kramer 

Aaronson. 20th-Fox; Irene Ewalt, WB; Marie 

Isler, RKO, and Josephine Beck, NS. 

BALTIMORE 

prank Hornig jr., owner of the Horn, has returned 

from a visit in Pennsylvania . . . 

John Richir, publicist for the Hicks-Baker 

Theatres, spent the holiday with relatives 

in western Maryland . . . Donald G. Murray 

was dismissed from his post as inspector for 

the Maryland state censor board after being 

convicted in traffic court on a drunken driving 

charge. He was fined a total of $375 for 

traffic violations while operating a stateowned 

automobile. 

. . 

Morris Mechanic, recent purchaser of the 

Century, was host to a group of friends for 

opening night of "The Boy Friend" at Ford's 

Theatre . Isador M. Rappaport, owner of 

the Town and Hippodrome, was in New Yark 

Howard Wagonheim of the 

on business . . . 

Schwaber Theatres is reading Florida travel 

literature. 

Joseph Grant, owner of the Northwood, 

left by plane for Florida vacation . . . Owen 

a 

Schnapf, who recently severed his connection 

with the Century here and became manager 

of the Belnord, is now at the McHenry . . . 

Assistant manager Jerry Tatum of the Plaza 

at Lexington Park, sold the Variety Club 

ticket that won a patron a new Cadillac. 

Matthew Robert Rappaport has been 

named chairman of Motion Picture Theatre 

Week, January 5 to 11, in conjunction with 

the March of Dimes. The project is to be 

sponsored by the Variety Club and the Allied 

Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Maryland. 

Earl Lewis, chief barker elect of Baltimore 

Variety is a member of the advisory 

committee of the 1956 March of Dimes. 

Rappaport's committee includes Rodney Collier, 

manager of the Stanley; Leon Back, 

head of Rome Theatres; Oscar Cantor, Warner 

Bros.; Michael Rendelman, Berlo Vending; 

Aaron Seidel of the New Albert; Fred 

Schmuff, Durkee Enterprises; Jack Whittle, 

owner of the Avenue and Samuel Tabor of 

Republic Pictures. 

Large Core 

Greater Crater Area 

means 

MAXIMUM LIGHT 

Evenly Distributed 

, 

in 

WASHINGTON 

healthy and happy 

J^ 

New Year to all Washington 

area readers . . . E. T. Dormer relinquished 

his lease on the Alpine theatres 

in Romney, Berkeley Springs, Marlinton and 

Petersburg, W. Va., effective December 31 . . . 

Warner booker Frank Gormley was in 

Georgetown Hospital after suffering a heart 

attack . . . Mrs. Sam Wheeler was vacationing 

in Miami Beach . Joe Brecheen 

and staff finished second in this division 

in the annual RKO billings 

contest. 

Sympathy to the family of Mrs. Edith 

Hislop, MGM secretary, who died. Mrs. 

Hislop, who was 44, is survived by her husband 

and four sons from 12 to 20 years old 

. . . Ira Sichelman, 20th-Fox manager, attended 

a sales convention in New York . 

Mr. and Mrs. David Rosenthal (UA manager), 

returned to Cleveland after spending their vacation 

in New York and Washington. 

. . 

. . Rosalind 

Kay Spiwak and Ella Lunceford are newemployes 

at Allied Artists . . . Auditor Rennald 

Graber was at AA . AA Manager Milt 

Lipsner left for Cleveland to attend a series 

Peggy Tutt, booker's 

of sales meetings . . . 

secretary at Columbia, suffered a broken 

Sam Galanty, division manager, returned 

wrist . . . 

from a Florida vacation . 

Paramount exploiteer Mike 

Shor was ill . . . 

Weiss celebrated a birthday. 

Paramount Manager Herb Gillis moved his 

family to Washington . Pat Gray, 

secretary to UA President Arthur Krim, 

flew in from Hollywood to visit a grandson 

who was born several weeks ago . . . Exhibitors 

seen on Filmrow included Phil Berler, Tom 

Halligan, T. D. Fields, Mike Leventhal. Ed 

Seide, Jack Levine, Dan Weinberg, Joe Arganzio 

and Joe Oulahan . . . District Theatres' 

Lucille Brown entertained guests from Birmingham. 

Theatre Manager, Cashier 

Released on Probation 

BALTIMORE—Moses Shayt, manager of 

the Howard Theatre, and Anna Berger, 

cashier, both charged with admitting six 

children to the theatre during school hours, 

have been released on probation. 

The students, five girls and a boy, all under 

16, were also arrested after police had received 

complaints that the children were attending 

the theatre when they should have 

been in school. 

Alexander District Change 

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.—Alexander 

Film Co., Colorado Springs, has named 

William Goodnight as district sales manager 

of Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D. C. 

and Delaware. He succeeds Frank Wolf Jr. 

who retired last month after 19 years as a 

member of Alexander's sales staff. Goodnight 

also will continue as district manager of 

Kentucky and West Virginia. 

New York—ALBANY THEATRE SUPPLY, Albony—5-5055 

NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY, 

Albany—5-1479 

EASTERN THEATRE SUPPLY, Buffalo—Mohawk 0001 

SUN CARBON Co., New York—Circle 6-4995 

32 BOXOFFICE :: January 7. 1956

. . . Tony 

. . Mr. 

. . Tommy, 

ALDO AT PITTSBURGH—Aldo Ray, Columbia star, stopped at the Pittsburgh 

exchange during his ten-day tour of western Pennsylvania in conjunction with the 

opening of his new hit, "Three Stripes in the Sun." Left to right: Milton Young, James 

Johnson, Louis Stuler, Jack Judd, Ben Amdur, Ray, John Wincek, Frank Silverman, 

Jack Kaufman, Bob Klingensmith and Max Silverman. 

PITTSBURGH 

n P. Way, DuBois theatre owner, in a letter 

expresses "thanks to BOXOFFICE for the 

time and space used in the December 17 issue, 

concerning myself, now in my 60th year 

since leasing my first theatre Dec. 1, 1896. 

It was all very nice and I appreciate it greatly, 

you may be sure." The pioneer showman 

and gentleman extends best of New Year's 

greetings to friends in the industry . . . Construction 

of the new 20th-Fox exchange 

building is progressing and the contractor 

states that the new structure, adjoining the 

present Fox quarters, will be ready in March 

Stern, now in the premium business, 

has a new toupee . . . Bert Stern of Co-Op 

returned from vacationing in California. 

Bill Graner, Allied Artists, has been miserable 

with ulcers and gallstones kicking up. 

He has lost 35 pounds on a milk diet . . 

. 

The proposed ANTA plan for a 40-city theatre 

circuit is expected to reduce costs for touring 

stage dramatic plays and musicals. City of 

Erie is included in the plan ... A Christmas 

Day high mass was sung by the choir of St. 

Joseph's Church, Coraopolis, in the Airport 

Theatre at Greater Pittsburgh Airport . . . 

John Shelton, recently named business agent 

for the stagehands Local 3, has been recuperating 

in St. Margaret's Hospital where 

he underwent an operation. 

Gene Autry and his western show will be 

featured January 31 in the Gannon Auditorium 

Exhibitors Service Co. is 

at Erie . . . reducing service because of increased costs 

. . . Dipson's Bradford Theatre featured a 

six-hour show December 29, 10:30 a. m.- 

4:30 p. m, for 35 cents. Several merchants 

assisted in furnishing free chocolate milk and 

comic books to everyone and toys for lucky 

kiddies. Tickets were sold in advance and 

the youngsters were advised to bring a sand- 

SAM FINEBERG 

TOM McCLEARY 

JIM ALEXANDER 

84 Van Braam Street 

PITTSBURGH 19, PA. 

Phone EXpress 1-0777 

Movia Art Bttttr Than Etc • H«r"i Your Eaulpatnt? 

wich to the show . . . Cecil Mayberry, Monogram 

manager here some years ago and now 

an exhibitor and hotel proprietor at Eureka 

Springs, Ark., and his wife are recuperating 

from injuries sustained in an auto accident 

at Joplin, Mo. 

Bradford city council was busy adopting a 

1956 budget and enacting an amusement tax 

which is estimated to return $12,100 during 

the year . . . Probably half-a-dozen new drivein 

theatres are planned in this area for the 

new year . . . Mrs. C. P. Church, who accompanied 

her husband here from Mannington, 

where they operate indoor and outdoor theatres, 

is recuperating from cracked ribs suffered 

when she fell while housecleaning . . . 

Mrs. Dorothy Seaster, daughter of Jack Smith, 

former Barnesboro exhibitor for many years 

who died recently at Windsor, Mo., is a partner 

with the Dickinson circuit in the operation 

of the Windsor Theatre there. 

Gordon and Bertha Gibson, Atlas Theatre 

Supply, headed for Florida and a vacation 

for several weeks ... J. J. Shannon, manager, 

reports the reopening of the Newlife Theatre, 

Woodsfield, Ohio, in the Wheeling area . . . 

A. M. Frauenlein finally closed the West End 

Theatre here. 

. . . Lucille Ball and Desi 

Knute Boyle of Theatre Candy Co. and 

family moved into their new home in Baldwin 

borough. Last year was a record one 

for Knute and his fair dealing and enterprise 

will bring in more business in 1956 . . . Ken 

Hoel, formerly with the Harris Amusement 

Co. here for many years and in recent years 

an advertising agency representative, has 

joined Gateway Marketing Service, owned by 

Edgar E. Eaton 

Arnaz will be here February 2 to exploit their 

MGM release, "Forever Darling" . . . Guild 

Theatre, Squirrel Hill, has booked the Israel 

feature, "Hill 24 Doesn't Answer." 

. . Local 3 is 

The University of Pennsylvania Mask and 

Wig Scholarship show has come to be an important 

part of the Christmas holiday entertainment 

in Erie. Again it provided a 

grand social evening at the Warner Theatre 

there and Mrs. Alexander Manos 

look 

. 

forward to the coming summer and an 

expected visit from the stork. Alex is the 

junior executive of the three circuits which 

make up the Mike Manos theatrical enterprises, 

now serving as booker . 

planning a testimonial for Phil Doyle, who 

served as the stagehands business agent here 

for a quarter-of-a-century before his recent 

withdrawal from the post due to declining 

health . . . Abe Weiner, AA manager, attended 

the Pitt vs. Georgia Tech grid game 

in New Orleans as guest of Ray Scott, new 

Variety Tent 1 chief barker who handled the 

telecast for networks . . . Sykes Theatre, 

Sykesville, is being prepared for reopening. 

William A. V. Mack, retired veteran of the 

industry who had been with National 

Screen here for many years, writes from 839 

West Onondaga St., Syracuse 4, N. Y.: 

"Through your fine columns, please thank 

for me the scores of exhibitors and Filmrow 

folks who remembered me with cards and 

personal notes at Christmas. I don't know 

when I can personally acknowledge all of 

them as I am due for another major surgery 

right after the New Year. My best to you and 

yours, Bob." 

At this time, too, we wish to acknowledge 

New Year's greetings from Doc Wadkins, 

George Sallows, George Comuntzis, Mr. and 

Mrs. Gordon Lane, Jim Alexander, Bertha 

and Gordon Gibson, Katherine and Francis 

Thomas, Ernest and George Stern, A. P. 

Way, Mr. and Mrs. William Scott, Ed Kelley, 

Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Keily, Joe Bugala, Paul 

Scranage family, Max and Martha Shulgold, 

Mi-, and Mrs. Frank Simon, Earl R. Beckwith, 

Woody Vosler and family, Lee Conrad, Bill 

and Peg Stich, the Matthews at Motiograph, 

Rudy Navari and family, Knute Boyle, 

Charles and Dale Warner, Helen and Bud 

Thomas. 

. . 

The Byron F. Moores are vacationing at 

Miami Beach. He's the SW district manager 

The tsen (SW) Steermans aLo are on a 

. 

Miami vacation . . . Penn here will exhibit 

UA s "The Man With the Golden Arm," a nai - 

cotics picture which does not carry a production 

code seal . . . Alvin Seiler is considering 

reopening his Fox Theatre at Ligonier as an 

art house . a son of Martha and 

Chris Michael of the Rex Theatre, southside, 

stopped in Paris enroute home after vacationing 

for several months in Naples with his 

brother Frank who is in the U. S. diplomatic 

service there. 

. . . 

Sam Plutis' Olympic, Verona, after being 

dark for a number of months, was reopened 

recently under management of Bill Graner 

Herman Stahl, Oil City theatre owner, 

continues partially incapacitated in a Cleveland 

hospital after many months following 

an operation . . . Ernest Stern of the Associated 

circuit is preparing to reopen the Linden 

in Bellevue, which has been dark four 

years, as an art house, and probably with the 

name Studio Theatre . . . Increased cost of 

carbons brought more sighs from exhibitors. 

New Managers Appointed 

PITTSBURGH—Associated circuit, which 

acquired the northside Hippodrome and the 

Bellevue at Bellevue, remodeled and repaired 

these theatres prior to reopening on Christmas 

Day under the Norbert Stern banner. 

Jack Keifer, formerly with the SW circuit 

at the Enright and Rowland, has been named 

manager of the Bellevue, succeeding John 

Miller, who had been employed there under 

operation for the estate of Ike Browarsky. 

Keifer has had 14 years experience as a 

theatre manager. New manager at the Hippodrome 

is Thomas Leech, formerly with the 

SW circuit at the Victor, McKeesport. 

BOXOFFICE : 

: January 

7, 1956 33

Awdtot defiant 

IIFTER almost two years of deadlock, the 

Rank Organization has patched up its 

quarrel with 20th Century-Pox and both sides 

are moving toward a grand rapprochement in 

1956. The result is very good news indeed for 

the company that pioneered Cinemascope. 

This year 20th-Fox expects to con 

large slice of British boxoffice grosses, and 

to do this, the company is planning a trading 

strategy that is probably unique in the history 

of British cinema exhibition! It is aiming 

to serve the Rank circuit as well as the 

independent tEssoldo, Granada, etc.) fourth 

circuit with exclusive product. In short, with 

36 films available to British exhibitors, 20th- 

Fox will promise both the Rank Organization 

and the independents that neither will have 

to share the same product. Jimmy Pattinson, 

British managing director, is now offering 

guarantees of no less than 18 topflight Cinemascope 

productions to each exhibition 

group. Every subject also will be given its 

west end premiere and then will proceed to 

travel on an exclusive route throughout the 

respective circuit. The company aims to begin 

this service early this year. Meanwhile, the 

Rank organization has completed the installation 

of all-purpose screens in its main 

theatres in preparation for this flood of 

Cinemascope product. 

• * • 

Robert Clark, executive producer of Elstree 

studios, whose "Dam Busters" film was number 

one boxoffice in Great Britain last year, 

will be producing ten films in ly56. Not one 

of them will be in VistaVision or Cinema- 

Scope. Clark said, "I have no plans for 

using either ratios for my subjects. Even for 

the international market, the films that make 

the money are those with good stories and not 

because they are in Cinemascope or Vista- 

Vision." Clark, former president of the British 

Film Producers Ass'n, says he would like 

to see American distributors selecting between 

12 and 15 British films a year and 

doing a first-rate selling job with the product. 

"I am sure there is money to be made 

with British pictures in the states if only the 

renters could put more publicity and showmanship 

behind the selling of these films," 

Clark declared. 

* # • 

The Times, in a long leader analyzing the 

film industry, has taken up the proposition 

put by John Davis that the British film industry 

should undertake its own review into 

the quota act, the Film Producers Fund and 

the National Film Finance Corp. This is not 

at all pleasing to what is sometimes called the 

unofficial mouthpiece of the British government. 

Says the Times: "This chronically 

loosing industry has always worn a surprising 

air of affluence elaborating its case against 

any new review of the business. There is 

probably little new which a review could discover 

about the ways in which, for example, 

distribution methods could be changed in 

order to try to net higher earnings for films, 

or about the ways in which production costs 

can be reduced. Past inquiries have been 

fairly searching. There are new factors 

television has had, and is still having, its 

effect and the cinema has introduced new 

techniques, partly, it may be, as a response. 

Evidence on the effect of these innovations, 

outside and inside the industry, must largely 

— By 

ANTHONY GRUNER 

come from the industry, but they would 

hardly, in themselves, justify a new inquiry." 

Then comes this punchline, "The starting 

point in government policy making must 

surely be the judgment, whether for aesthetic, 

soc.ai trade or practical reasons, and it will be 

essential in the future to have a large British 

film production industry." 

The tradepress, In commenting on the 

leader, certainly takes issue with the editor, 

and the current Daily Film Renter in its own 

leader, entitled "Mischief," says "It might 

even be suggested that the leading article 

gives the greatest possible endorsement to the 

proposal outlined by Davis. If the trade itself 

can produce a dispassionate view of its needs 

and its situation in relation to the national 

interest, it might do more to silence the dangerous 

thinking expressed in the famous 

newspaper than anything which might subsequently 

come out of a Parliamentary debate. 

, , . 

The film industry received nearly six and 

a half hour of free publicity from BBC 

television in three weeks ending January 5. 

At no time in the history of the BBC and 

the film industry relations has so much television 

time been devoted to the movie business. 

Practically every film company with 

the exception of 20th Century-Fox has been 

involved in this boost to the business, and 

Fox is only holding out until it can get a 

satisfactory solution to the televising of 

Cinemascope. Meanwhile, there are signs 

that this love feast between the BBC and the 

film industry looks like continuing throughout 

1956, whether or not the trade is able to work 

out a television Code of Conduct. 

* * * 

The public's cinema tastes are changing, 

according to some of the spokesmen in the 

industry. D. J. Goodlatte, managing director 

of Associated Cinemas, says, "For 1956 our 

public wants strong drama, laughs and new 

look musicals. Love stories are out." Dick 

Hamer, booking chief for the Rank group, 

"A good laugh, an enjoyable cry or an 

authentic adventure story are now the 

vogue." Sir Alexander King says, "My patrons 

want strong pictures starring Dirk Bogarde. 

Richard Todd, Rock Hudson and Marlon 

SUTTON THEATRE OPENING— 

Michael Redgrave, center, star of "The 

Night My Number Came Up" and also 

starring on Broadway in the hit play, 

"Tiger at the Gates," chats with Clem 

Perry, left, managing director of the 

Sutton Theatre, and Frank Kassler, 

president of Continental Distributing, at 

the opening of the British picture. It 

followed the 36-week run of "Marty" at 

New York's leading east side art house. 

Brando. Among women only Grace Kelly, 

Doris Day, Ava Gardner and Marilyn Monroe 

matter boxofficewise." Only one man is not 

making any forecast, Cecil Bernstein of 

Granada, who says "How can you prophesy? 

If I could forecast the type of pictures that 

would make money I'd make a million a year." 

• • • 

The trade is getting a little apprehensive 

about the amount of television product now 

being stored in the vaults of some of the 

film renters over here. These telefilms have 

been made in some cases to publicize feature 

productions and in others as subsidiary production 

activity on the part of major'studios. 

The renters would like the exhibition industry 

to show them as ordinary product. But 

British exhibitors are not disposed at present 

to cooperate. On the other hand, the commercial 

television program contractors are 

quite interested. What is going to happen? 

Will the cream of Hollywood talent be shown 

on British television or will it be available 

for cinema exhibition? 

• • • 

News in brief: Arthur S. Abeles jr., managing 

director of Warner Bros., has been appointed 

governor of the British Film Institute. 

The BFI is an organization whose work is 

to foster and study appreciation and recognition 

of the art and techniques of the films. 

Among its many activities the Institute administers 

the National Film Archive 

(one of 

the oldest and largest film collections in the 

world, comprising some 6.000 films and 100,000 

stills) and the National Film Theatre. Abeles 

. . . George Jessel, 

. . 

is the first American to be appointed to 

this position . . Granada's television training 

. 

school opens January 16 under Guy Nottingham, 

formerly of New York ... Sir Alexander 

Korda begins production on a series of television 

films, based on famous trials, starring 

Sir Ralph Richardson 

former 20th Century-Fox producer, is planning 

to make two pictures in Britain and 

has set up his own organization in London. 

One of the subjects is a musical film based 

on the life of Edmund Kean, starring Alfred 

Drake of "Kismet" fame, as the famous 

Michael Forster has left 

British actor . . . 

London Films and joined 20th Century-Fox as 

U. S. press representative and television contact 

for the British company . The president 

of the Board of Trade has appointed H. 

Nutcombe Hume, chairman of the National 

Film Finance Corp in place of Sir John Keeling 

who has resigned because of other business 

commitments. Hume also will be chairman 

of British Lion Films, Ltd., which is a 

wholly owned subsidiary of the corporation 

Payments into the British Film Productions 

fund at . . . 

the end of November were 

£195, 175, compared with £203,889 in the same 

period during 1954 . . . Duchess of Gloucester 

will be patron of the royal world premiere 

of Howard Hughes "The Conqueror" at 

Marble Arch, Odeon on February 2 . . 

. 

Mike Frankovich, managing director and vicepresident 

of Columbia, appeared on the BBC 

in a one hour salute of Columbia last week 

. . . Sol Sheckman has acquired the new- 

Majestic, Blackburn, bringing the total 

strength of Essoldo independent circuit up 

to 186 theatres. 

WB Sets 'Miracle' Dates 

NEW YORK—Warner Bros, will trade 

show "Miracle in the Rain" February 1. It 

will be nationally distributed March 3. It 

stars Jane Wyman and Van Johnson, and 

was produced by Frank P. Rosenberg and 

directed by Rudolph Mate. 

34 

BOXOFFICE 

:: January 7, 1956

Keith Alderson (above) is Traffic Co-orJinator for Sportsvision, Inc., in Hollywood. He says 

"I'm the Sunday morning quarterback!" 

"When the final gun sounds on Saturday's football games," 

says Keith Alderson of Sportsvision films, "cameramen rush 

their film to us. 

"By Sunday morning, we've got finished prints of Pacific 

Coast Conference games into the hands of the coaches. They 

call me their 'Sunday morning quarterback' 

"But that's the easy part of the job. 

"By evening, we've edited all the games into three halfhour 

TV shows— Big Ten, PCC games, and the All American 

Game Of The Week. Out they go to 150 television stations 

for immediate showing. 

"How do we do it? 

Air Express, across the board! 

"Nobody else can meet our schedules. Yet Air Express 

saves us money! Austin, Texas, to Hollywood, for instance, 

costs $8.03 for 15 lbs. That's $1.68 less than the next lowest 

priced air service." 

CjtKt-L. A\IFt EXPRESS 

An Express 

GETS THERE rir*ST via U.S. Scheduled Airlines 

diviaiu,, of FmiL.W*\Y EXPRESS AGENCV

w\ 

520 

hk i nm 

BOXOFFICE 

BAROMETER 

This chart records the performance of current attraction] in the opening week of their first runs in 

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

are reported, ratings are added and averages revised. Computation is in terms of percentage in 

relation to normal grosses as determined by the theatre managers. With 100 per cent as "normal," 

the figures show the gross rating above or below that mark.

ALL-MEDIA CAMPAIGN STARTED 

BY 20TH-FOX FOR 

CAROUSEL' 

Special Screenings of Scenes Will Begin January 23 

The preselling campaign that has been 

initiated for "Carousel" by 20th-Fox as the 

first full-length production in its new 

Cinemascope 55mm process will surpass 

in all phases that effected for "The Robe" 

and Cinemascope two years back. This is 

the intent of the ad, publicity and exploitation 

department headed by Vice-President 

Charles Einfeld, and, to launch the 

record drive the film company has embraced 

all media—television, radio, newsreels, 

newspapers and syndicated wire 

services—planning widest possible coverage 

in each. 

IN I . S. AND CANADA 

Introducing the $5,000,000 Rodgers and 

Hammerstein musical classic starring Gordon 

MacRae, Shirley Jones. Barbara Ruick 

and Cameron Mitchell, as well as the enhanced 

Cinemascope system tailored for 

theatres of every type and size, will be a 

series of special showings of scenes from 

the film to be inaugurated January 23. 

These will be held in principal cities and 

trading areas of the U. S. and Canada. 

Audiences slated to view the film clips, 

certain to number in excess of 200.000 persons, 

will be composed of film producers, 

exhibitors, editors and representatives of 

the lay and tradepress, radio and television 

executives, educational figures, stock market 

analysts, civic, social and women's club 

leaders and important figures in many 

other walks of life. 

BIG MAGAZINE AD CAMPAIGN 

This will be the tangible, formal introduction 

to Cinemascope 55mm for many in 

the industry and for the public in general. 

However, the demonstrations will be supplemented 

by another phase of the huge 

promotional effort: a national advertising 

campaign in magazines, budgeted at several 

hundred thousand dollars, to be followed 

up by further ad expenditures in other 

major media in advance of the national 

release of "Carousel" in February. 

More than 25 top-circulation consumer 

magazines, fan magazines and Sunday 

supplements will share in the full-page 

color ad campaign during February. The 

combined circulation of these publications 

exceeds 66.310,000. Reader penetration, 

therefore, probably will reach as high as 

150,000.000—equal to the population of the 

nation. 

Still another phase of the all-out effort 

DIT-MCO DRIVE-IN SCREEN COATING 

Flat White or Reflective for 3-0 and CinemoScope 

(Block for Masking) 

Improjti your picture with the utmost in quality reproduction. 

Tested and proved and widely used. 

VOU PAY NO MORE FOR THE BEST 

DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO. TJZfSLtS? 

will be the release this month of a special 

soundtrack album by Capitol Records. The 

film score of "Carousel" will be reproduced 

on these records. Decorating the front and 

back covers will be art and copy fully 

crediting the 20th-Fox Cinemascope 55 

musical, including pictures of the stars, 

Gordon MacRae, Shirley Jones and 

Cameron Mitchell. 

Capitol will cooperate in merchandising 

of the album in a coordinated program, 

tieing in point-of-sale effort with the playdates 

of "Carousel." This, too, will be a full 

scale national push. Release of the "Carousel" 

album will be announced in musical 

trade publications, consumer newspaper ad 

insertions and mailings to disk jockeys and 

jukebox operators across the country. Record 

and department stores will receive special 

promotional material, including accessories 

for counter, window and wall displays. 

Some of the hit numbers contained in 

this exploitable album are "June Is Bustin' 

Out All Over," "This Is a Real Nice Clambake," 

"When the Children Are Asleep," 

"If I Loved You" and "What's the Use of 

Wondering." 

A program of special events, timed to 

coincide with local openings of the film, 

now is being worked out by the film company. 

Point-of-sale advertising and publicity 

will be stressed, both on national and 

local levels, backed by the widest possible 

coverage in all communications media. 

"Carousel" will receive national and international 

coverage at its gala world premiere 

at the Roxy in New York February 

16. Leading business, civic and medical 

figures and stars of the production will be 

on hand for the opening night show, to be 

held for the benefit of the New York Medical 

College. Over 6,000 persons are expected 

to attend, making the event one of the 

highlights of the current winter season in 

New York. 

Western Music Gimmicks 

Up Thursday Receipts 

By slanting Thursday nights to the western 

music fans, the Weber Theatre in Denver 

has been gratified to see recent Thursday 

evening crowds growing steadily. A 

free western recording is given to each of 

the first 25 patrons buying tickets on 

Thursday nights and the recording stars 

are on hand in the Weber lobby to autograph 

each of the giveaways and welcome 

the recipients to the theatre. 

The records are prepared by a Denver 

recording studio, using talent from KLAK. 

Lakewood, a station that plays western 

music throughout each day. The recording 

stars are regular performers on KLAK. 

well-known to the Weber customers. 

'Girl Rush' Presents ! 

Good Window Ideas 

"The Girl Rush" presented Manager Paul 

Turnbull of the Downtown in Hamilton, 

Ont., five opportunities to arrange windowdisplays. 

At a department store, he set up 

f\ 

a display with a sign reading: "What a v^ 

Doll! . . . Join 'The (Little* Girl Rush' to 

our toy department for Hamilton's finest 

selection of dolls . . . Don't miss the Vista- 

Vision hit 'The Girl Rush' starring Rosalind 

Russell, etc." An inset of Gloria DeHaven 

appeared with more "What a Doll!" copy. 

A pipe shop window featured a display 

card with an inset still of Rosalind Russell 

smoking a clay pipe and copy tieing in the 

smoking accessories and the film. 

In a record shop window, Turnbull set 

up a card which read, "The top stars on 

Decca join 'The Girl Rush' to see the Vista- 

Vision hit, etc." Gloria DeHaven's photo 

graced this window. 

Two women's wear stores under the same 

ownership cooperated with display cards 

advising passersby to "Join 'The Girl Rush' 

to etc." while at a music store five different 

sheet music covers, supplied by Paramount, 

were placed in a row, each cover 

advertising a different song from the picture. 

Photographs of the stars appeared 

on the covers, too, while cards with credits 

were placed at each end of the display. 

Animal Quiz on Herald 

Passed Out in Schools 

James B. Myers jr., manager of the Bluebird 

Theatre, Petersburg, Va., and Albert 

Bernstein, district manager for the Neighborhood 

Theatres, capitalized on the educational 

angle of Walt Disney's "The African 

Lion." With permission of the local superintendent 

of schools, Myers distributed 

1,500 heralds to Petersburg's elementary 

schools—enough so each pupil enrolled 

would have a herald for class use. 

The 12x30-inch heralds featured Walt 

Disney's African animal picture quiz. Ten 

3x4-inch photographs of animals seen in 

the Disney feature were arranged in two 

columns separated by a column of 25-word 

clues to the identity of each animal. Myers 

asked each principal to request the children 

to take their copies home and try 

the quiz on the older folks, thus assuring 

that each herald received maximum readership. 

He also asked permission to place 

window cards on the school bulletin boards, 

but this request was not granted so the 

Bluebird manager, who had ordered the 

window cards in advance, placed 25 of them 

in the downtown area. 

"Of course, we knew that Walt Disney's 

'The African Lion' had been presold very' 

nicely all over the country on his TV programs," 

said Myers. "But we decided that 

the herald animal quiz was a good way to 

bring our own playdate to the attention of 

the local public. The heralds were placed 

in the schools about four days before they 

closed for the Christmas holiday. We 

opened with 'The African Lion' Christmas 

Day. and with the kids out of school, we had 

very good business with it all week." 

o 

2 

— 2 — BOXOFFICE Showmandiser Jan. 7. 1956

AD 

A Small-Town Theatreman Rebuilds Lagging Attendance 

Value of Persistent Promotions, No Matter How Small, Stressed by David Silger 

By DAVID SILGER 

I am a manager of a small theatre in 

Manteno, 111., for the Anderson Theatre 

circuit, whose main office is in Morris, 111. 

The theatre has some 500 seats including 

a balcony of 100 capacity. We have Cinemascope 

and a 27-foot widescreen, with 

a throw of 86 feet. The town has a population 

of 1,800 plus the Manteno State 

Hospital, the second largest in the U. S. 

which has nearly 4,000 employes. We also 

have a Catholic academy, which boards 

100 or more children through the school 

season. 

This situation is like many, there are a 

lot of people but none of them are steady 

enough theatregoers. Well, the business 

started getting so bad the circuit nearly 

gave up hope of coming out of the red, 

and I do mean red. I decided to make at 

least one last attempt to bring this situation 

on top of the water again. 

The first thing, I went to see the Manteno 

Businessmen's Ass'n and arranged a conference 

to explain the difficulties I had 

been having. We hashed the matter around 

for nearly two hours. I emphasized what 

was happening in most of the little towns 

that didn't have a theatre, stressing the 

bare streets in these towns, the moving of 

trade to other towns that have places of 

recreation where the tired shoppers and 

families can get away from their TV sets. 

This stimulated the businessmen's interest. 

I also stressed the uproaring rate of vandalism 

in many small communities. 

Well, this meeting with the businessmen, 

and the spreading of the matter among the 

interested population really seemed to do 

some good. The people really began taking 

notice of their theatre and what was playing 

there, the low admission rates and the 

Community on Trial 

The accompanying article by David 

Silger describes how he has gone about 

trying to prevent closing of the Darb 

Theatre in the town of Manteno, III.. 

which he manages. He went into action 

early in November after the theatre 

started going in the red. He laid the 

situation before the local businessmen 

and the editor of the newspaper. Headlines 

announced, "Business Seeks Ways 

to Avert Darb Closing," and "Darb Theatre 

to Stay Open on Trial Basis." With 

this cooperation assured, Silger went to 

work on promotions his meager budget 

would allow. 

Manager Silger, at this writing, has 

hopes of building his business on a sound 

basis. 

large, accommodating parking lot directly 

across from the theatre entrance. 

The real break came later though. I was 

discussing the possibilities of a movie column 

in the local paper, with the editor and 

sold him on the idea. He not only published 

the article, but asked for stills and extra 

mats to use in his paper free of cost to us. 

He also interviewed me, and explained the 

whole situation of our depression at the 

Darb. 

These articles really did stimulate the interest, 

especially the movie column. This 

column reviews all the pictures at the 

Darb in advance and catches the eyes of 

many in contrast to our little four-inch 

advertising space, which no doubt is 

merely glanced over by many and missed 

entirely by others. I also received many 

letters offering help in stimulating business 

for the theatre, some from ministers 

and women's clubs here in Manteno. 

The next campaign I undertook was to 

solicit screen advertisers to strengthen the 

support of my Lucky Star Nite. This has 

become a drawing card. We sell screen 

advertising to the merchants and use the 

revenue to support the bank. The bank 

rises $25 each week until won by some 

patron, and then starts over with $25. 

I made such success at this that I obtained 

enough extra advertising to defer 

some of the theatres expense, and possibly 

will have enough to start a complete 

monthly calendar campaign, which I think 

in a small town is a very strong business 

stimulant. 

We gave a free Christmas show for the 

kids of the community December 19. The 

Manteno Businessmen Ass'n, the American 

Legion and the Rotary were co-sponsors of 

the affair. They furnished each kid with 

We 

a bag of candy worth about 30 cents. 

had a record house of over 500 kids. This 

free matinee alone gave us a lot of good 

public relations, which is very necessary, I 

have found out, in the rebuilding of our 

business. 

These are just a few of the highlights 

of my campaign to boost business in Manteno, 

and I am working on more right now. 

In these small towns you just can't stop 

exploiting new ideas—they really are fun 

if you let them be. I have found out that 

no matter how small the effort, although 

you should put forth your biggest too. 

you are rewarded in some way, and usually 

that is profit. Don't get discouraged, 

though—if your first attempts fail, remember, 

it sometimes takes a while for things 

start popping. 

to 

O 

Oriental 

Free Cokes and Car Wash 

Build Midweek Business 

Coke on the house and free car wash 

jobs are two inducements being used by 

the Mayan Theatre, Denver, to build up 

income during the slower nights of the 

week. A free Coke is offered with every 

concessions purchase worth 50 cents or 

more, 6-8 p.m. Monday evenings. 

The free car wash job is offered to every 

15th patron on Monday, Wednesday and 

Friday evening, in cooperation with a local 

car laundry, and has done much to help 

bring car-owners into the Mayan on those 

normally dull nights. 

Offers $85 Cash 

To Get Candid Criticism 

To get the customers' viewpoints of the 

Oriental Theatre, Denver, the management 

is offering a $25 first prize, $10 second 

prize and 20 prizes of $2.50 each for letters 

from patrons on the subject of "What I 

Like for Dislike) About the Oriental." 

Letters in the 30-day contest may discuss 

the type of film fare, the seats, lighting, 

refreshments or anything else of a constructive 

nature. 

Early entries have been exceedingly "candid" 

and the Oriental management is getting 

the helpful suggestions it wanted 

showing where it was succeeding and where 

it was falling down on its selling of motion 

pictures to the masses. 

Best Lists Earn Passes 

Patrons of the Rltz Theatre, Ocala, Fla.. 

were offered a chance to win passes in 

connection with the opening of the new 

Cinemascope equipment. Fans were invited 

to make a list of Cinemascope movies 

they desired to see played at the Ritz. If 

the selections are chosen, passes will be 

presented to persons sending in the list. 

Lists were mailed to the theatre office. The 

Ritz had a "Cinemascope festival" of 

double feature hits Christmas Day. 

Lady Godiva in Longies 

On Parade in Atlanta 

For "Lady Godiva," Boyd Fry. manager 

of Loew's Grand in Atlanta rounded up a 

white horse and a girl and had the two 

make the town a la Lady Godiva. But the 

girl wore long white underwear, no doubt 

due to the chilly air. 

You'll get dog-gone 

on 

WINDOW CARDS 

CALENDARS 

ERALDS 

• 

l

Sk 

owmunctiAina dfou 

QKAY; we're starting out on another 

bright New Year with 366 days of opportunity 

ahead of us in 1956. For many, 

the year that just came to a close was a 

tough, hard one. and talk of a "bright New 

Year" might fall pretty flat. But with the 

proper optimism, enthusiasm and contagious 

spirit so vital to good showmanship, 

we feel that half the battle can be won. 

The other half depends on having the 

right material to do battle with, and on 

knowing how to compensate with a showman's 

ingenuity even when the material 

is not up to snuff. In that latter regard, 

we hope to be able to help you through 

an interchange of useful ideas; but no one 

can help where the spirit is concerned. So, 

resolve to go forward in '56 armed with 

a smile and the proper enthusiasm to make 

it 

a Happy New Year! 

* 

Lingering for another moment on 

thoughts of the holiday season, we'd 

like to thank all our good friends who 

sent us notes of Christmas cheer. The 

cards and letters that came in from 

every comer of the States, Canada and 

even from across the Atlantic were 

greatly appreciated at this end. Some 

of them, in fact, were quite ingenious 

and original, using our industry as a 

subordinate theme to Christmas in a 

maimer that was in no way offensive 

to the spirit of the holidays but 

heigMened the feeling of brotherhood 

and good cheer. Again, guys, thank 

you, thank you. 

* 

Several columns back, we threw in some 

comment we had picked up concerning the 

tough time some operators near big towns 

were experiencing when the adverse wordof-mouth 

on a "stiff" simply knocked out 

any hoopla they could whip up. The implication 

that the small-towners got off 

any easier has been answered by Bob 

Walker of Walker's Uintah in Pruita, Colo. 

Bob, who contributes his top showmanship 

. . everyone 

efforts to these pages from time to time, 

there are 

writes: "Don't you believe it . . . 

no secrets in a small town . 

By LARRY GOODMAN 

knows everything about everybody and on 

pictures, Brother, how they know! When 

a good one plays in Grand Junction (ten 

miles away) the first run addicts park 

themselves at my soda fountain telling 

everyone what a great show is playing . . 

When I run a poor one six weeks, three 

months, one year or two years later, the 

same guys and gals park their fannies on 

the soda fountain stools and tell everyone 

who comes in what a stinking show I'm 

running. No sir, small towns are no different 

than big ... a turkey is a turkey no 

matter where you ship it." Well, Bob, you 

seem to be in agreement on the main point; 

you just have an extra bit of neighborhood 

run blues. 

viewpoints 

jpi 

MGM, which has been working in 

quite a few merchandising gimmicks of 

late, has come up with another plugging 

"Kismet." In a tieup with Cook 

Chocolate Co. of Chicago, special personalised 

wrappers have been arranged 

for one and five-pound packages of 

chocolates. These wrappers contain a 

scene still from the movie and have 

room for an individual's name to be 

printed in. The candy is sold in hotels, 

confectionery stores, etc., and can be 

worked into special theatre promotions. 

This, the recent cereal merchandising 

announcement and similar operations 

by MGM at fairly regular intervals help 

keep interest in movies at a high pitch. 

* 

In similar vein, it's good to learn that 

Warner Bros, has set up a 38-city personal 

appearance tour for the Lone Ranger who 

appears in his first full-length motion picture 

this month. Beginning January 11 in 

San Antonio and continuing through February 

25, the famed masked rider will 

appear on stage on the opening day of the 

film in each city on the tour. 

* 

We're glad that UA's "Marty" is winning 

awards all over the place in the 

judgings of 1955 product. We tabbed 

it as excellent, adult entertainment 

done in extremely good taste . . . and 

we would like to see more movies of 

that calibre produced. The prizes and 

citations "Marty" got ought to help 

sell it in more theatres. 

* 

Those of you in college towns or in areas 

where the high schools close out a semester 

this month might remember two things 

which can bring in extra dollars for the 

new year. First, there are graduation 

gimmicks: exercises which can be held at 

your theatre some morning, graduation 

parties, or the promotion of gift books of 

tickets as presents to the graduates. Second, 

there are welcome gimmicks: guest 

passes to incoming freshmen, special discount 

books valid during the new semester, 

parties arranged through the school. Especially 

where out-of-town youngsters enter 

a college and are looking for a friendly 

greeting, these welcome operations can 

prove highly effective. 

* 

Another we liked, for what it's worth, 

is "The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell." 

This might easily have disintegrated 

into a documentary -type or. on 

the other hand, could have been given 

the so-called "Hollywood treatment" 

that has come to be used in a derogatory 

sense; i.e., a twisting of the facts 

for the sake of glamor. But it has 

turned out to be a well-played, welldirected 

true-to-life story that stays 

with the facts within reason. Exploitation-wise, 

it's on sound footing, too. 

Top Campaign by U-I 

For 'Goodman Story' 

A campaign on the national and local 

levels that will entail expenditures of nearly 

$1,000,000 has been announced for "The 

Benny Goodman Story" by Universal-International. 

U-I rates this the top tieup effort 

ever set for a U-I picture. 

Eagle Clothes leads off the campaign 

with national advertising in magazines and 

Sunday supplements, featuring Steve Allen 

who plays the Goodman role in the film. 

The large men's clothing manufacturer is 

backing the campaign additionally with 

cooperative ads in 100 cities, ranging from 

half pages to full pages. All Eagle dealers 

will receive a special promotion kit and 

will mail out 200,000 "personal" letters 

from Steve Allen to their Eagle clothing 

customers. 

A tieup involving eight national women's 

fashion manufacturers also has been set 

up, through the offices of the S. Irene 

Johns merchandising organization in New 

York. The promotion, called "Fashions Inspired 

by the Music of the Benny Goodman 

Story," will kick off with a ten-page color 

section in the February issue of Charm 

magazine, and involves local ads and window 

displays by more than 100 leading department 

and specialty stores In the 

country. 

It also ties in KLM Royal Dutch Air 

Lines for a nationwide customer contest 

whose top prizes are four all-expense trips 

to Rome. 

Other participating concerns are Lux 

Soap, which will feature four-color ads 

showing Donna Reed in national magazines; 

H&A Selmer, Inc., manufacturer of 

Goodman's clarinet, who is running ads 

and tieing in with window displays in 5,000 

music stores, and the Webster-Chicago 

Corp., which has arranged to install and 

service Webcor Fonografs to play Goodman 

records in the lobbies of all theatres showing 

the film. 

Blood Donors Get Passes 

To See 'Court-Martial' 

A tieup with the blood donors division of 

the Red Cross was effected by Manager 

Sol L. Sorkin of RKO Keith's in Syracuse, 

N. Y., for "The Court-Martial of Billy 

Mitchell." Guest tickets were awarded to 

all blood donors at the Syracuse blood 

center December 20. Each donor received 

passes for two to see the film that afternoon. 

Sorkin arranged with radio station WFBL 

for a contest in which listeners were asked 

to send in postcards bearing titles of Gary 

Cooper pictures in answer to questions and 

clues announced on the air. 

Curiosity Draws 'Em 

Freeman Skinner of the Paramount in 

Halifax, N. S., relied upon curiosity to 

attract passersby to his special display for 

"Illegal." He placed a filing cabinet in the 

outer lobby, with the two top drawers partly 

open. Naturally, they contained stills and 

good copy for the attraction. 

— 4 — BOXOFFICE Showmandiaer Jan. 7. 1956

Live Reindeer in Visits 

To Canadian Theatres 

Santa Claus and seven reindeer delivered 

a feature film from Strathclair to Robhn, 

a direct shipment made out of sheer necessity 

and to dramatize Paragon's forthcoming 

western film express service. The 

unique promotion with real reindeer originated 

with Hugh Vassos, Melville theatreman, 

who discovered that an elderly gentleman 

living way up north in Saskatchewan, 

just a few miles south of the North 

Pole, as they jokingly tell it in "the deepfreeze," 

had cultivated seven full-grown 

tame reindeer. Vassos' obvious conclusion 

was that with an appropriate red suit, white 

beard and whiskers, and the proper harness 

and sleigh, here was a fairly accurate facsimile 

of a commodity highly desirable 

around the second and third week of December. 

Starting with the Paragon in Melville and 

repeating the process in Strathclair, Roblin 

and Rosetown, theatre managers secured 

merchant cooperation, arranged 

street parades and built ramps so Santa 

Claus and his seven reindeer could dash 

right up the aisles of the theatre and onto 

the stage. At each theatre, the children 

could troop up one by one, say hello to 

Santa, receive a bag of candy and gently 

pat the reindeer. If those children had any 

doubt whether there is a Santa Claus, the 

reindeer coming up the aisles and standing 

on the stage for wondrous eyes to see 

could only lead to one conclusion. 

With the presentation of Santa and his 

I traditional transportation, the theatres 

showed the same screen feature. Rather 

than ship the feature all the way back to 

Winnipeg from Strathclair and then to 

Robhn, Santa Claus obligingly took the can 

of film with him in the sleigh—over the 

deep snow (no doubt ordered by Vassos and 

Harris of Paragon) from Strathclair to 

Roblin, a cross-country trip that could not 

be duplicated by any other man-made 

method of transportation. 

No-Cost Promotion Trick 

Uses Pressbook Teasers 

Rod B. Hartman, manager of theatres 

at Grand Coulee and Coulee Dam, Wash., 

has developed an effective, no-cost trick 

that helps him promote his coming attractions. 

He cuts the small teaser mat illustrations 

from pressbooks of coming films and 

pastes these small illustrations on the front 

of envelopes used for local correspondence, 

including mailing of checks for the theatres' 

first-of-month statements. "This is 

as effective," says Hartman, "as the expensive 

slugs some postage machines use 

to print your personal message." 

'Dove' Patrons Sell Film 

Wally Kemp, Commonwealth manager in 

Grand Island, Neb., came up with a special 

typed preview opinion card on "Good 

Morning, Miss Dove." The card requested 

the patron to promise to tell five persons 

about the show if he really enjoyed the 

picture 

CLASSIFIED AD FOR LIVE 

LOBBY DISPLAY YIELD 

When a picture like "Tarantula" comes 

along, the good exploiteer really has himself 

a field day, thanks to the exploitation-plus 

factors available. Such was the case with 

Manager Mark Ailing and publicist Joe De- 

Victoria of the Golden Gate in San Francisco, 

Calif. Their activity in behalf of the 

film included the use of material provided 

by U-I adapted to their own needs, plus 

the practical application of some creative 

thinking along showmanship lines. 

Ailing and DeVictoria placed a classiiied 

advertisement for a live tarantula in a 

local newspaper, which first resulted in 

the newspaper's columnist picking up the 

item and giving- the film a plug. Then, 

when the ad was answered, the paper's 

advertising department used the stunt as 

the basis of a promotion for the classified 

section. This resulted in more free space, 

including a good story and photo off the 

amusements page. 

A clipping of this publicity break was 

set up above a display in the outer lobby 

of the Golden Gate. The center piece, of 

course, was the live tarantula obtained 

through the classified ad. It was placed in 

a converted fish tank with a wire netting 

over the top, and the tank was arranged 

on a stand three feet high, on whose side 

was a sign, "This Tarantula's Twin Is 100 

Feet High! See . . . 'Tarantula!' Now 

Playing." 

The tarantula, affectionately referred to 

as "Little Joe" by the manager, caused 

quite a stir in its prominent location, according 

to Ailing and DeVictoria. 

Universal purchased 17 TV spots for announcements 

of the engagement, in addition 

to which the theatre promoted two 

more spots in which a three-minute clip 

was featured. 

DeVictoria also had 5,000 mock tabloid 

TARANTULA, 

PUBLICITY 

THIS 

TARANTULAS 

TWIN 

IS 

100 FEET HIGH! 

TAR/tllN 

p asserby stops to examine "Little Joe, the 

live tarantula on display in the outer lobby of 

the Golden Gate in San Francisco for the showof 

"Tarantula" ing 

there. 

papers distributed in residential districts. 

obtained through the film company, with 

the theatres own playdate data imprinted 

on the back page. These tabloids had pictures 

of the huge tarantula chasing people 

and other scene stills from the film in 

the guise of news photos. The headline on 

page one read, "Arizona Jet Airmen Bomb 

100-foot Spider," while the back page featured 

a supposedly scientific treatise 

headed, "Will Tarantula Attack Man? 

'Yes' and 'No' Say Authorities in Survey of 

Professor Opinion." 

The theatre also played host to some 300 

carrier boys for the Chronicle, and the 

paper reciprocated with a good story and 

art break, again off the drama page. 

Two Different Kinds of Drawings' 

Add to Artists and Models' Fanfare 

Drawings figured heavily in whipping up 

interest for "Artists and Models" when it 

played the RKO Keiths in Syracuse, N. Y., 

as the holiday attraction. In fact, Manager 

Sol Sorkin used two different kinds of 

drawing tieups to boost this film which 

draws a good deal of its inspiration from 

the brush and palette. 

A tieup with the Silver Star Grocery 

Stores of the city used one type of drawing, 

selecting a lucky person's ticket from 

the stage of the theatre and giving away 

a Cadillac car to the winner. 

In all regular food page ads leading up 

to the day of the drawing, the supermarket 

chain included copy crediting the RKO 

house and plugging the film. "Come and 

see RKO Keiths Christmas program featuring 

'Artists and Models' with Martin 

and Lewis and stay for the free Cadillac 

drawing!" was the tag of the special insertion. 

In the other tieup, Sorkin arranged with 

the art department of Syracuse University 

for a contest for the best art drawings, 

and the winners were given guest tickets 

to the Christmas show. The winning drawings 

also were placed on display in a 

downtown department store window, to 

build publicity for the movie. 

Other displays were placed in seven 

music stores. 

FLAT OR CURVED 

STEEL SCREEN TOWERS 

Any ilia, any ratio aipaclally anginaarad lor your 

Drtoa-ln. Datljnad for 10 lb. wind load plin aafaty 

factor. Quick, and aaly aractta*. 

Alto Eitarulam far tarttlna, Tavara 

wkiti FOR QUOTATIONS 

DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFC. CO. t ESfS£** 

I 

BOXOFFICE Showmandiser Jan. 7. 1956 — 5

-. 

Yule Day Amusement Ads 

In Tribune to New High 

I'LL CRY TOMORROW 

SUSAN HAYWARD RtCHAfio conteeddie albertjovan fleet 

Womb Pmwiei 

b ! 

« Knsa*« ictus iMM-ieki wU'LMBO rtiefiH 


Page ad on "I'll Cry Tomorrow" which appeared 

in the Christmas Day issue of the Chicago 

Tribune. 

The changing character of holiday celebrations 

was indicated in an announcement 

by the Chicago Tribune. Amusement advertising 

hit an alltime high in the Christmas 

Day editions of the Tribune, which 

seems to show that people just don't stay 

home the way they used to over the Christmas 

holidays. More and more families seek 

entertainment outside their own homes. 

At least, that's what happened this year 

Chicago, where Christmas Day editions 

in 

of the Tribune carried over 11,000 lines of 

amusement advertising, the greatest volume 

ever to appear in a single issue. 

The record volume included full-page 

black-and-white ad heralding the world 

premiere of MGM's "I'll Cry Tomorrow" at 

the United Artists Theatre in the Loop. 

A Flattering Error! 

Bob Pfau and Neal Siebenbruner of the 

Town in Mankato, Minn., shared honors on 

cooperative ads for a full-page on "It's 

Always Fair Weather" to win a November 

citation from BOXOFFICE. The sharing 

of honors was carried a step further in the 

announcement of the award on page 380 of 

Showmandiser when Bob's name was used 

beneath Neal's picture. "In view of the 

fact that I am 52 years of age and Neal 

is 29," writes Bob, "the error is very 

flattering 

to me but not so much to Neal." 

Santa Claus in by Plane 

Santa Claus arrived in Jay, Fla., by airplane, 

and in order to keep the youngsters 

in order until he did arrive, the Santa Rosa 

Theatre opened its doors and invited everyone 

in to a free show. The Jay Lions Club 

sponsored the affair. 

THEATRE MESSAGE TO PUBLIC TELLS 

TV FANS OF SCREEN ADVANTAGES 

A public message, pointing to improvements in motion pictures and their 

importance as an entertainment along with television and other attractions, has 

been distributed throughout the Story City, Iowa, territory by L. W. Peterson, 

manager of the Story Theatre. The reader, printed on 8x11 sulphite stock, is 

one of the steps being taken by showman Peterson to combat a slump in attendance. 

It follows: 

A Serious Message From the Story Theatre 

How long has it been since you last saw a good movie? 

Arc sou lamiliar with VistaVision and CinemaScope? 

Did the Audience Participation Awards agree with your choice? 

Have you recognized the better movies the TV programs are recommending? 

Have you made it a point to take your family to sec- these recommended mo\ io.' 

Has television completed its adjustment in your home yet'.'' 

Only you, the public, can possibly know the answers to the above questions. 

We here at the Story Theatre are striving diligently hard to supply the community 

of Story City with the very best in recommended motion pictures as soon as they 

are released and become available for booking in our theatre. 

It has not been easy to combat our keenest competitor, television; but after 

careful and prolonged observation of this new and wonderful medium of communication 

we can come to only one conclusion: Those who have sacrificed 

movies to their families for a steady diet of television entertainment are really 

missing something they innocently don't realize! 

Take your family or yourself to a movie soon at the Story Theatre. We know 

you will be thoroughly entertained and will enjoy your evening out. Not only will 

it help the Story Theatre management in keeping the high caliber of good pictures 

coming, such as we have had in the past, but you will all be awakened to the fact 

that new modern movies are really not dead at all, but very good and very much 

a part of your life. They are as much a part of your life as your cup of coffee 

in the morning. 

Please accept this message as a warm and heartfelt invitation to come on back 

lo the movies! We do not intend to infer you give up television as that would be 

as ridiculous as to ask our public to quit eating. But don't forget your local Story 

Theatre and what it means to the community and what it means to you! Movies 

are good, your family is truly entitled to see them with you, and we at the Story 

Theatre recommend you give us a visit and we will try our utmost to please you. 

Families attending Friday nights are eligible for our special "Family Night" admission 

rates. Inquire about them! 

Refer to our calendars, newspaper ads and window cards distributed throughout 

the area, for a program of your choice. Get out and go — to a movie! 

We know you won't be sorry. 

STORY THEATRE MANAGEMENT 

Story City, Iowa. 

Open every evening but Wednesday. 

What's Exploitable in the Magazines 

The holiday edition of Cue magazine 

gave a flattering review and a scene 

still photo to Warner Bros.' "The 

Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell." Said 

the magazine's critic, " 'Court-Martial' 

packs a terrific wallop." 

Newsweek's yearend issue devotes two 

pages of text and a photographic portrait 

to Anna Magnani, acclaiming her for her 

performance in Paramount's "The Rose 

Tattoo." "Here is far and away Hollywood's 

performance of the year, free style, 

both sexes included," the weekly states. 

Judy Holliday, soon to appear in Columbia's 

"The Solid Gold Cadillac" is 

profiled in the December 27 issue of 

the Saturday Evening Post. The feature, 

titled "Hollywood's Blonde Surprise," 

is illustrated with three fullcolor 

photos. 

The most promising stars of 1956, according 

to Photoplay, are Joan Collins, currently 

starring as "The Girl in the Red 

Velvet Swing," and George Nader, star of 

"The Second Greatest Sex." They were 

winners of the magazine's Eighth Annual 

Choose Your Stars poll. 

Walt Disney has been named the recipient 

of the 1955 Parents' Magazine 

Award for Outstanding Service to Children, 

"in tribute for many years of devotion 

to the entertainment of youngsters 

over the world." 

— 6 — BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Jan. 7, 1956

(Hollywood Office— Suite 21V at 6404 Hollywood Blvd.: Ivan Spear, Western Manager/ 

'Gunpoint 7 

Premiere 

In 12 Spots on 11th 

HOLLYWOOD — "At Gunpoint," Allied 

Artists Cinemascope sagebrusher starring 

Fred MacMurray, Dorothy Malone and 

Walter Brennan, will open locally Wednesday 

(ID in 12 theatres, the Orpheum, Pox Hollywood, 

Picwood and El Rey and eight drive-ins. 

the Studio, Vermont, Rosecrans. Whittier, 

El Monte, Big Sky, Sepulveda and San Val. 

The film was produced by Vincent M. 

Fennelly and directed by Alfred Werker. 

* * * 

Paramount will give "Anything Goes," 

Technicolor-VistaVision musical, an invitational 

press preview Friday 1,131 at the Stanley 

Warner Wiltern with newspaper columnists, 

magazine writers, TV and radio commentators, 

stars and industry luminaries 

among the first-nighters. Among those expected 

to attend are Bing Crosby, Donald 

O'Connor, Mitzi Gaynor and Phil Harris, four 

of the five stars of the Robert Emmett 

Dolan production. Jeanmaire, also a topliner, 

is now in France. 

Directed by Robert Lewis, "Anything Goes" 

has music and lyrics by Cole Porter, with 

songs by Sam Cahn and James Van Heusen. 

Educational Theatre Ass'n 

Honors George Seaton 

HOLLYWOOD — Writer-producer-director 

George Seaton has been awarded honorary 

membership in the American Educational 

Theatre Ass'n, the presentation being made 

at the group's recent annual conference here. 

Seaton, cited for his "outstanding" work in 

films and on the stage, was given the award 

by Kenneth MacGowan, former film producer 

and scrivener, who recently retired as head 

of the UCLA department of theatre arts. 

Seaton, incumbent president of the 

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, 

is associated with William Perlberg in a 

production unit at Paramount. 

Collegiate Film Contest 

Deadline Is Reached 

HOLLYWOOD—An end-of-1955 deadline 

was set for collegiate films submitted in the 

jointly sponsored Look magazine-Screen Producer 

Guild third annual intercollegiate 

awards event, in which 152 U. S. colleges and 

universities have been invited to participate. 

The top three winners will receive gold, 

silver and bronze medallions and will appear 

on a network TV show on which the awards 

will be presented. They'll also be honored 

in the 15th annual Look motion picture 

achievement awards issue. 

THE WINNERS—Spencer Tracy, right, 

and producer-d rector Edward Dmytryk, 

reunited in the making of Paramount'* 

"The Mountain," display the Silver Spurs 

awards given them by the Reno Chamber 

of Commerce for 20th Fox's "Broken 

Lance," adjudged 1955's best western. 

18,000 Workers Signed Up 

For Charity Deductions 

HOLLYWOOD—Motion Picture Permanent 

Charities began the new year with a record 

18.000 industry workers signed up for regular 

payroll deductions under the "Fair Plan," 

it was reported by campaign chairman Walter 

Pidgeon. This represents an annual charity 

donation of an estimated $825,000. 

An interim report showed that 21,976 subscribers 

pledged $1,130,582 in the annual campaign 

which began last October. Although 

the drive officially closed in December, 

Pidgeon said a cleanup campaign will continue 

through the balance of this month, 

with a final report luncheon to be held 

Thursday (26). 

Bandits Get No Money; 

Lose Admission Price 

Los Angeles—An unsuccessful attempt 

by two gunmen to rob the Downtown 

Paramount Theatre cost them their price 

of admission. 

After buying tickets, the bandits fled 

empty-handed when they couldn't open 

a safe containing several thousand dollars 

in boxoffice receipts. 

They bound cashier Sally Mayes and 

assistant manager John Anthony with 

tape but were frustrated when Anthony 

informed them only the bank messenger 

could open the vault. The would-be 

holdup men, mingling with departing 

patrons, escaped in the crowd. Anthony 

and Miss Mayes were found 20 minutes 

later by other employes of the showcase. 

TV Writer Situation 

Under 'Good Control' 

HOLLYWOOD—Charges by two members 

of Writers Guild of America, West, that the 

organization is "ignoring" widespread speculative 

TV scrivening were met by David Dortort, 

president of WGA's television branch, 

with a statement admitting that while there 

are cases of such writing, there is no need 

for "an outburst of concern at this particular 

time," when the situation is "under better 

control than it has been for three years." 

The accusations had been leveled by Herb 

Purdum and Joel Murcott, both of WGA's 

television segment, who contended there are 

considerable speculative submissions of story 

properties to TV producers in violation of a 

WGA contract clause, and that despite formal 

protests, no WGA action has been taken. 

Dortort replied that WGA has had three 

committees attempting to work out an "equitable 

system" that would eliminate the practice," 

and that complaints are investigated 

"case by case to clean up the field." 

He pointed out that the TV field has 

"been an extremely difficult one to organize" 

because of its rapid growth and that WGA 

is "satisfied with the progress" it has made 

in the negotiation and administration of 

contracts. 

• * * 

The annual midwinter meeting of the 

executive board of the IATSE will be staged 

here beginning Monday (30) with Richard F. 

Walsh, international president, functioning 

as chairman. 

* * • 

With the addition of three filmmakers, the 

Screen Producers Guild is beginning the new 

year with a new high of 143 members. Added 

to the roster were Paul Gregory, independent 

Charles Schnee, MGM, and William Bloom. 

20th-Fox. 

Don McGuire Forms Firm 

As Independent Producer 

HOLLYWOOD—Having completed direction 

of Frank Sinatra's "Johnny Concho!" starring 

and produced by Sinatra for United Artists 

release, Don McGuire has formed his own 

independent unit to produce, write and direct 

two features, in addition to which he will 

pilot four special TV shows during the year. 

Slated to roll early in the summer as his 

first theatrical feature is "Hear Me Good." 

based on his own original about two young 

men who attempt to rig a beauty contest. 

McGuire also has been inked by NBC and 

Chevrolet to direct a one-hour Dinah Shore 

show to be aired Tuesday 17). 

BOXOFFICE : 

: January 7. 1956 35

Blurbers 

STUDIO PERSONNELITIES 

Allied Artists 

Effective January 3, JACK GARBER is joining the 

advertising-publicity department headed by John C 

Flinn. Garber comes from the Bolaban-Katz circuit 

m Chicago, where he handled advertising and 

publicity for the Roosevelt Theatre 

Cleffers 


MARLIN SKILES was booked to compose and direct 

background music for "Crashing Las Vegas." 

Meggers 

Independent 

Replocing Victor Stoloff, who bowed out of the 

assignment, H. BRUCE HUMBERSTONE has taken 

over the directorial reins on Producer Sol Lesser's 

"Tarzan and the Lost Safari," currently in work in 

London. 

Options 

Columbia 

Added to the cast of Producer Sam Kotzman's 

musical, "Rock Around the Clock," was LISA GAYE. 

Starring Johnny Johnston and Alix Talton, the rock- 

'n'-roll tunefilm is being piloted by Fred F. Sears. 

BARBARA HALE was signed to appear opposite 

Randolph Scott in "The Return of Custer," a Scott- 

Brown production to be piloted by Joseph H. Lewis 

for Producer Harry Joe Brown. 

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 

Cast with Glenn Ford, Jeanne Crain and Broderick 

Crawford in "The Fastest Gun Alive" were LEIF ERIC- 

SON, JOE SWEENEY ond FLORENZ AMES. The 

Clarence Greene production is being megged bv 

Russell Rouse. Inked for roles were NOAH BEERY 

JR., JANET LAKE, OWEN MCGIVNEY and VIRGINIA 

GREGG. 

Handed a key role in "Somebody Up There Likes 

Me" was SAL MINEO. Robert Wise is directing the 

Paul Newman starrer, a Chorles Schnee production. 

Paramount 

Contractee RICHARD SHANNON will have one of 

the leads in "The Leather Saint." 

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RETURNS — Producer-director 

Alfred Hitchcock is back 

in Hollywood after a 'round-the-world 

trip with his wife and daughter. On his 

24,000-mile trip the filmmaker screened 

his next Paramount release, "The Trouble 

With Harry," for exhibitors and the 

press. He reports to Warners to begin 

"The Wrong Man," starring Henry Fonda. 

RKO Radio 

ROBERT RYAN was cast as the male lead, an 

airplane pilot, in producer-director John Farrow's 

upcoming "Back From Eternity." KEITH ANDRES was 

booked for a topline. 

20th Century-Fox 

ANN HARDING was added to the topline cast ot 

the Darryl F. Zanuck production, "The Man in the 

Gray Flannel Suit/' which stars Gregory Peck, Jennifer 

Jones and Fredric March under the direction of 

Nunnally Johnson. 

British actor CECIL PARKER joined the cast of "23 

Paces to Baker Street," a Henry Ephron production 

being megged by Henry Hathaway, with Van Johnson 

and Vera Miles starred. 

Producer-di rector- writer Charles Martin booked 

NANCY GATES to topline with George Sanders, 

Yvonne DeCarlo and Zsa Zsa Gabor in "Death of a 

Scoundrel." 

United Artists 

Bel-Air Productions, headed by Aubrey Schenck 

and Howard W. Koch, booked JOHN PAYNE for the 

male lead and J. CARROL NAISH for a character 

topline in "Rebel in the Town," for which Ruth 

Roman previously was set. Alfred Werker will direct. 

Producer Stanley Kramer booked SOPHIA LOREN, 

Italian film star, to share the honors with Cary Grant 

and Frank Sinatra in "The Pride and the Passion," 

which will go into work in Spain next April. 

Universal-International 

Stage-screen actor EDWARD ANDREWS drew a top 

featured role in "The Gentle Web," starring Esther 

Williams and George Nader under the direction of 

Harry Keller. The producer is Gordon Kay. APRIL 

KENT, daughter of actress June Havoc, will make 

her film debut in the film. Cast as a high school 

professor was JACK ALBERTSON. 

Scripters 

20th Century-Fox 

GEORGE ZUCKERMAN is writing the screenplay for 

"The Shrinking Man," from the novel by Richard 

Matheson, which Albert Zugsmith will produce. 

At work on the script of "Boy on a Dolphin," 

which Somuel G. Engel will produce on location in 

Greece this spring, is DWIGHT TAYLOR. 

SYDNEY BOEHM is working on the screenplay of 

"Solo," based on a novel by Stanford Whitmore, for 

Producer Buddy Adler. 

Story Buys 

RKO Radio 

Screen rights were secured to "Deal o Blow," o 

CBS-TV teleploy by Robert Dozier, which will be 

filmed as "Is This Our Son?" The story of a teenager 

and his parents will be whipped into screenplay 

form by the author. 

United Artists 

"Cry Tough," a novel by Irving Shulmon, was 

purchased for filming by the Hecht-Lancoster organization. 

Technically 

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 

Cinematogropher assignments include JOSEPH 

RUTTENBERG to "Somebody Up There Likes Me" 

ond GEORGE FOLSEY to "The Fastest Gun Alive." 

Paramount 

WILLIAM MCGARRr will be the assistant director 

on '"The Leather Saint." Upped from second cameraman, 

HASKELL BOGGS drew the lensing chore. 

RKO Radio 

EMMETT EMERSON was set os assistant director 

on the John Farrow production, "Back From Eternity.' 

Cecil B. DeMille Chosen 

To Receive Citation 

HOLLYWOOD—Producer-director Cecil B. 

DeMille has been unanimously chosen by the 

executive board of the California State 

Society, Daughters of the American Colonists, 

to receive its 1956 citation for "outstanding 

service." The tribute for his "excellent motion 

picture productions" will be presented 

Wednesday (11) at Paramount by mesdames 

Henry H. Dace, national vice-president: 

French B. Harrington, national chairman 

from California; Carl C. Barley, state first 

vice-regent, and Weyman G. Prickett, state 

motion picture chairman. 

Previous winners were Walt Disney in 1955 

and the late Lionel Barrymore in 1954. 

Set Communion Breakfast 

HOLLYWOOD—Fifth annual communion 

breakfast for members of the motion picture 

industry in the Los Angeles area will be held 

February 5 at the Hollywood Palladium, preceded 

by the celebration of mass by His 

Eminence James Francis Cardinal Mclntyre 

at Blessed Sacrament Church. General chairman 

of the event is Doug Bridges of Paramount. 

The first such communion was held 

here in 1952. 

RKO Adds 'Table Rock' 

HOLLYWOOD—"Tension at Table Rock," 

a western by Frank Gruber, has been added 

to the RKO docket, with Sam Wiesenthal 

inked to produce and Charles Marquis 

Warren to direct. It will roll late in February 

from a script by Winston Miller, dealing with 

a gunfighter wrongfully accused of murdering 

his best friend. 

BOONTON, N. J. 

Large Core 


means 

MAXIMUM LIGHT 

Evenly Distributed 

. 

in Washington— B. F. SHEARER Co., Seattle— Eliot 8247 

in Calif.— B. F. SHEARER Co., San Francisco— Undcrhill 1-1816 

B. F. SHEARER Co., Los Angeles— Republic 3-1145 

in Utah—WYCOFF Co., Inc., Salt Lake City—4-1835 

WESTERN SOUND & EQUIPMENT Co., 264 East 1st South St., 

Solt Lake City, Utoh—3-9974 

in Oregon— B. F. SHEARER Co., Portland—Atwatcr 7543 

36 BOXOFTICE : 

: January 7. 1956

Tomorrow' 2nd Week 

475 in Los Angeles 

LOS ANGELES — Nothing short of 

astronomical was the first run business recorded 

in most situations here, boosted by 

capacity New Year's Eve custom. With a 

whopping 475 per cent in its second stanza, 

"I'll Cry Tomorrow" topped the field, which 

also included a 400 per cent rating for the 

seventh canto of "Oklahoma!" and a 375 per 

cent mark for the sixth week of "Guys and 

Dolls." 


Chinese The Rains of Ranchipur (20th-Fox), 3rd 

wk 140 

Downtown Paramount, Pontages, Warners Wiltern 

— The Court-Mortial of Billy Mitchell (WB), 2nd 

wk 130 

Egyptian, United Artists Oklahoma! (Magna), 7th 

wk 400 

Fine Arts The Littlest Outlaw (Buena Vista), 2nd 

wk 200 

Fox Beverly The Man With the Golden Arm 

(UA) 360 

Four Star I'll Cry Tomorrow (MGM), 2nd wk 475 

Fox Wilshire All That Heaven Allows (U-l), 2nd 

wk 130 

Hawaii, State Kismet (MGM), 2nd wk 90 

Hollywood Paramount Guys and Dolls (MGM), 6th 

wk 375 

Hillstreet, Fox, Ritz The Spoilers (U-l) 100 

Hollywood, Los Angeles, Uptown, Loyola The 

Indian Fighter (UA), 2nd wk 100 

Orpheum, Vogue Artists and Models (Para); Top 

Gun (UA), 2nd wk 160 

Warners Beverly The Rose Tattoo (Para), 3rd 

wk 190 

Warners Downtown The Last Frontier (Col); Inside 

Detroit (Col), 2nd wk 1 00 

Warners Hollywood Cinerama Holiday (Cinerama), 

7th wk 350 

'Kismet' and 'Fighter' 

Draw 200 in Frisco 

SAN FRANCISCO—Top pictures 

with top 

grosses were reported this holiday week, with 

top honors being shared by "Kismet" and 

"The Indian Fighter," both rating 200 per 

cent. 

Fox The Rains of Ranchipur (20th-Fox) 150 

Golden Gate The Second Greatest Sex (U-l) .... 1 00 

Paramount Artists and Models (Para); Apache 

Woman (ARC) 1 50 

St. Francis The Court-Mortial of Billy Mitchell 

(WB) 175 

United Artists The Indian Fighter (UA); Killer's 

Kiss (UA) 200 

Warf ield Kismet (MGM) 200 

Second Week of 'Dolls' 

Scores 300 in Denver 

DENVER—Again this week six bills, all of 

them singles, held over. Some of the second 

week films even beat the opening week. Going 

into their third weeks were "The Littlest 

Outlaw" at the Aladdin, "The Rains of 

Ranchipur" at the Centre, "Artists and 

Models" at the Denham, "The Court-Martial 

of Billy Mitchell" at the Denver and "Guys 

and Dolls" at the Orpheum. 

Aladdin The Littlest Outlaw (BV), 2nd wk 215 

Centre The Rains of Ranchipur (20th-Fox), 2nd 

wk 150 

Denham Artists and Models (Para), 2nd wk 180 

Denver The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell (WB) 

2nd wk 140 

Esquire Heidi and Peter (UA), 2nd wk 100 

Orpheum Guys ond Dolls (MGM), 2nd wk 300 

Paramount The Second Greotest Sex (U-l) 145 

Tabor—One-Woy Ticket to Hell (5R) 200 

'Guys and Dolls' Grosses 500 

In Second Portland Week 

PORTLAND—Holiday grosses over the 

Christmas-New Year's period set records in 

nearly every theatre. "Guys and Dolls" hit 

an easy 500 per cent, equaling its first week, 

the second week. 

Broadway—Guys and Dolls (MGM), 2nd wk 500 

Fox—The Rains of Ranchipur f20th-Fox), 2nd wk .250 

Guild The Man Who Loved Redheads UA) .170 

Liberty—The Indian Fighter (UA), 2nd wk 170 

Orpheum—The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell 

(WB) 300 

Paramount— Artists ond Models (Poro), 2nd wk,. .300 

Ô URPRISING no one is the storm of 

J>Sfc controversy constituting the wake of 

producer-director Otto Preminger's 

cause-celebre picture, "The Man With the 

Golden Arm." Nonetheless, there are some 

recent facets of the turbulence that invite 

comment. 

First, there was the panel discussion on the 

American Forum, an NBC network TV show, 

on Christmas Day. Emanating from Hollywood, 

the half-hour program featured Jerry 

Wald, Columbia executive producer; William 

Mooring, a newspaper correspondent, and 

Preminger, the subject at hand being the 

aforementioned "Arm," the denial thereto of 

a code seal by the Motion Picture Ass'n of 

America, and various pros and cons connected 

with the making and distribution—through 

United Artists—of the film. 

Wald, going at it hammer and tongs, 

accused Preminger of having fabricated a 

"freak" attraction which distorted and romanticized 

the ending of the Nelson Algren 

novel upon which it was based; charged that 

all of the industry's top-grossing attractions 

heretofore have been made within the framework 

of the code; said that document is a 

flexible one always capable of being amended, 

and, in general, offered vociferous defense 

of the trade's self-regulatory machinery. 

Preminger, as he has done on recent previous 

occasions, argued that, as an independent 

film fabricator who does not belong to 

the MPAA, he has no voice in code enforcement 

or in any efforts to change any clauses 

therein; that he changed the ending of "Arm" 

so as to present a definitive point of view on 

the subject of dope addiction, with which—as 

just about everybody knows by now—the picture 

treats; and, in an around-the-flank 

skirmish, reiterated accusations that the 

MPAA is itself guilty of unsavory conduct 

because of its approval of what he termed 

distasteful and misleading film advertising. 

Mooring, supporting the modus operandi of 

the Catholic Legion of Decency in rating pictures 

as to their acceptability, avowed that 

some such pre-release classification is a necessity, 

declaring that otherwise it would be 

advisable to charge patrons — after they had 

seen the movie in question "if they're satisfied"—rather 

than ask for admission in advance. 

He sided with Wald in hailing the 

code as "flexible." 

As a talented and respected member of the 

production community, Wald is assumed to b? 

a supporter of the code, just as any good 

citizen of any community is assumed to be a 

supporter of the laws thereof, regardless of his 

personal opinion of a particular one. Resultantly, 

the Columbia executive registered 

per se his pro rata protest against the Preminger 

offering at the time it was denied a 

PCA seal. For him to publicly cast additional 

stones at "Arm's" alleged sins might be considered 

a doubtful-taste demonstration of that 

ancient axiom about "who's bull is gored," 

and a disservice to the over-all public relations 

of motion pictures and their creators. 

Furthermore, Wald erred when he declared 

only code-approved celluloid has enjoyed the 

distinction of being filmdom's big revenue 

earners. Witness: The codeless "I Am a 

Camera," a DCA release, which—according to 

the careful statistics compiled by this publication—was 

in first place among top hits 

of 1955's fall quarter from September 

through November. 

As to reporter Manning, his hysterical contribution 

to the tempest implied—studiedly 

or inadvertently—that his reactions were generally 

representative of the nation's press. 

Inasmuch as Moor.ng functions as the motion 

picture editor of Tidings, official weekly newspaper 

of the Los Angeles Catholic diocese, 

his opinion is an infinitesimally insignificant 

part of countrywide fourth-estate conclusions. 

Moreover, his javelins were rendered the more 

pointless inasmuch as the CLOD—to whose 

credo and decisions he must of obvious necessity 

subscribe—was surprisingly lenient in its 

censoring — of the photoplay, according it a 

"B" "objectionable in part"—rating. 

Then came Eugene Biscailuz, veteran 

sheriff of Los Angeles County, to add his two 

centavos' worth to the free-for-all. In a 

statement supporting the MPAA and the code, 

he opined that the presentation of the narcotics 

problem in a motion picture must be 

done in such a way that it "does not excite 

or create a desire for experimentation or 

arouse a curiosity in the use of narcotic 

drugs," and said that the code "manifests an 

acceptance and recognition" of such "serious 

responsibility." Since this sprawling county 

has no film censorship or machinery, why its 

law-enforcement chief should enter the jousting 

is anybody's guess—unless it be just another 

demonstration of long -established, 

headline-seeking opportunism. 

Meanwhile, "Arm" has been shattering 

attendance records in every theatre in which 

it has opened, a fiscal feat which it probably 

will maintain throughout Its entire exhibition 

life. 

So poor, code-violating producer Preminger 

can lick his wounds all the way to the bank 

every day as he deposits the stratospheric 

profits that the photoplay is certain to 

garner. 

One of 1955's longest reaches for a line 

of type was made by Teet Carle's Paramount 

praisers with the tidbit informing that Hal 

Wallis had sent a friend a record of the 

musical score from his latest feature for that 

company, "The Rose Tattoo," but that the 

package arrived broken in the Christmas 

mails. Whereupon, when the recipient complained, 

Wallis Is alleged to have quipped. 

"But we expected 'The Rose Tattoo' to break 

records." 

Among the rare blurb handouts from the 

local headquarters of master showman 

Kroger Babb is an item revealing that Babb 

has snatched the worldwide distributorship 

for Honey automobile safety belts. 

If the automotive industry isn't sufficiently 

appreciative of the Honey, the fiery producerdistributor 

can always turn to his thousands 

of friends among exhibitors. In view of some 

of the product that is currently being released, 

they'll probably need a few belts to keep the 

customers—if any—in their seats. 

BOXOFFICE : 

: January 

7. 1956 37

. . . Sam 

. . Marvin 

. . James 

. . City 

. . Mary 

. . Meantime 

. . Georgette 

. . San 

LOS ANGELES 

. . 

Uospitalized after a slight heart attack was 

Tom Muchmore, who operates the Plaza, 

Arroyo and Canoga theatres . Back from 

Philadelphia, where he attended the funeral 

of his mother, is Ben Lichtenfeld of the Clinton 

Theatre . . . Sid Pink has reopened his 

Fontana Theatre in Fontana, which for some 

months had been leased for use as a church 

Decker, who owns the Elmira and 

Majestic in Santa Monica, headed for Las 

Vegas with friends from Detroit. 

With Mel Evidwn, manager for Favorite 

Films, as his host, a visitor from Pittsburgh 

was Art Levy, former manager for Columbia 

Irving Levin of Filmakers 

in that city . . . 

and the Kranz-Levin exchange took off for 

Ben Goldberg 

Chicago on a business trip . . . 

of Goldberg Film Delivery and Mrs. GoldvV 

^ 

'.£ 

U4GUHKA 

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you how we can help 

you keep it full ... 

Write wire or phone — 

Intermountain Theater 

Supply Co., 

264 East First South, 

Salt Lake City 1, Utah 

Phone 4-7821 

or . . . 

^ntematumaf 

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SEAT 

DIVISION OF 

UNION CITY BODY COMPANY, INC., 


berg returned from a Caribbean cruise ... In 

from Fillmore to book and buy for his Fillmore 

Theatre was Harry Ulsh. 

. . . Bert 

. . . National 

Returning from midwinter vacations were 

Harold Green, Columbia manager, and salesmen 

Al Boodman and Bill Evidon 

Pollard, United Artists sales staffer, was another 

returning vacationer 

Theatres delegated Morrie Kleinman of the 

Theatre Upholstering Co. here and a crew 

to trek to Philadelphia to do a seat renovating 

job on several NT houses there . . . Jerry 

Persell resigned as sales manager for Fred 

Stein Enterprises . . . Eddie Ashkins of the 

Yuma Drive-In in Yuma and Mrs'. Ashkins 

are on a holiday in Cuba. 

Jim Schiller, Allied Artists exploiteer, 

headed for San Francisco . AA's 

western division sales chief, Harold Wirthwein, 

planed to Kansas City for branch 

conferences with Frank Thomas. Before returning 

here, Wirthwein will visit all AA 

exchanges in his territory in connection with 

the Saturday (28) opening of the cmpany's 

17-week March of Progress Sales Drive. 

DENVER 

n Hied Rocky Mountain Independent Exhibitors 

will hold a winter directors meeting 

January 17 in the Denver headquarters. They 

will discuss resolutions passed by the national 

convention, and topics up for discussion 

include the shortage of films and the prices 

being charged. All members of the organization 

are urged to attend. 

J. M. F. Dubois, freelance newsreel cameraman, 

was one of those who received a Christmas 

greeting from President Eisenhower 

along with a print of one of Ike's paintings 

made while he was vacationing in Colorado 

last year . Goldfarb, Buena Vista 

district manager, went to Kansas City and 

St. Louis on a sales trip ... On vacation are 

Jim Ricketts, Paramount manager, and 

William Peregrine and John Thomas, salesmen. 

Dominec Linza, of Salida, has been added 

as clerk at the Paramount exchange . . . Lilly 

Bingham, Paramount booking secretary, and 

Charles Roland jr. were married . . . Jeanette 

Kavanaugh, MGM cashier, spent the holidays 

in Greeley, Neb. . Ann Hogle, secretary 

to the manager at MGM, is recovering from 

surgery she underwent two weeks ago. She is 

at St. Luke's hospital. 

Carl Mock is back from a five-weeks Mexico 

vacation . Ecker, Republic manager 

in Salt Lake City, was back in Denver for the 

holidays . councilman Ed Mapel loaned 

his Gem to the Salvation Army for a Christmas 

party with 1,200 children attending. 

Theatre folk seen on Filmrow included Mr. 

and Mrs. Fred Hall, Akron; George McCormick. 

Canon ®ity; Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Adrian, 

Fairplay, and Carman Romano, Louisville . . . 

Charles E. Greenlee has sold the Silver Hill. 

Oshkosh, Neb., to Howard and Doreen Jensen. 

Adds Story Analysts 

HOLLYWOOD—Continuing to expand its 

literary department, RKO has added two 

story analysts to the staff headed by William 

Nutt, story chief. Joining the roster 

were Phil Cooper and Chia Alcott. 

SAN FRANCISCO 

TO'orthern California's recent floods brought 

. . . 

untold desolation and damage. The reports 

coming in on the destruction disclose 

that the Marlbel Theatre in Weott, owned by 

Bob Davis, is a complete loss . . . The Sutter 

in Yuba City was under water and the Yuba 

City Drive-In had water up to within six 

inches of the roof of the concession building 

The Golden State chain's Palo Alto 

Drive-In was flooded. In Klamath, Calif., 

the Klamath Theatre was under water, with 

the building next to it collapsing and knocking 

down part of the theatre. The Kay-Von 

Drive-In at Napa reports little damage to its 

equipment but the field was completely 

flooded. 

The Park Theatre at El Sobrente has Installed 

new sound and projection equipment 

by Western Theatrical Equipment Co. The 

theatre is owned by Dick Jaha . Francisco 

supervisors voted to accept Cinemascope 

installation and an organ from the Fox West 

Coast Theatres for use at Laguna Honda 

Home as a gift. 

. . . 

. . . 

The Fox Theatre here presented a special 

prerelease showing of "The Lieutenant Wore 

Skirts." The comedy was shown all day and 

night on New Year's Eve, followed Sunday 

by the regular continued engagement of "The 

Rains of Ranchipur" . Edmundson 

resigned at the United California Theatres 

office to be married. Georgette expects 

to live in Alaska Walter Preddey was 

expected back soon from his European jaunt 

Ralph Dostal, Peerless Theatre, is leasing 

the Cinema Theatre on Market Street 

from Fox West Coast Theatres and will maintain 

the same policy temporarily . . . Harry 

Hayashino, Lincoln Theatre, Stockton, and 

the Ryan in Fresno, paid a visit to the Row. 

Another visitor was Rudy Buchanan, Lakeside 

at 

Stateline. 

. . . 

The Franklin Theatre, Olivehurst, a United 

California unit, closed on January 2 . . . The 

Five Point Drive-In closed for the winter 

January 1. The house is booked by John 

Bowles Alum Rock Drive-In, San Jose, 

booked by General Theatrical. closed 

December 27 for the winter. 

William Blair was so excited following the 

opening of his completely remodeled Mecca 

Theatre in Crescent City that he was caught 

putting sugar in his soup instead of coffee. 

The Mecca opening was a gala event and 

patrons were equally as proud as owners in 

the new widescreen. Cinemascope, stereophonic 

sound, new staging, draperies and 

seats. Blair is now recuperating after an 

operation in a San Jose Hospital. Bill jr. 

helped the recuperation along by presenting 

his father a 

new grandson, nicknamed Sport. 

Wdi^MsrW.lWL 

THE SERVICE YOU WANT 

THE SERVICE YOU GET 

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Gerald L Karski.... President. 

38 BOXOFFICE January 7, 1956

Good Holiday Crowds 

At All Loop Houses 

CHICAGO—Between balmy weather and 

the tailend of holidays, Loop theatre business 

showed substantial Improvement. Six new 

films proved strong additions to the second 

week holdovers which either maintained sound 

grosses or increased boxoffice receipts. 

"Oklahoma!" is reaping higher than expected 

business. ' "The Spoilers," opener at 

the Grand, "The Second Greatest Sex" at the 

Oriental, "The Man With the Golden Arm" 

at the Woods and "Hell on Frisco Bay" with 

"Target Zero" at the Roosevelt did excellent 

business. In fact, "The Man With the Golden 

Arm" did beyond capacity business, with lines 

forming on the street. The previous week's 

enthusiasm held for "The Littlest Outlaw" 

at the Loop, and "I'll Cry Tomorrow" at the 

United Artists. There was a good increase 

in -business at the State Lake, where "Artists 

and Models" played a second week. Another 

tremendous grosser was "Diabolique," in its 

second week at the Ziegfeld. 


Carnegie Dance Little Lody (Trans-Lux), 2nd wk. 190 

Chicago Guys and Dolls (MGM), 7th wk 250 

Cinema Guilt Is My Shadow (Stratford) 185 

Esquire I Am a Camera (DCA) 200 

Eitel's Palace Cinerama Holiday (Cinerama), 

29th wk 350 

Grand The Spoliers (U-l) 210 

Loop The Littlest Outlaw (BV), 2nd wk 255 

McVickers Oklahoma! (Magna) 275 

Monroe Quentin Durward (MGM), 2nd wk 210 

Oriental—The Second Greatest Sex (U-l) 220 

Roosevelt Hell on Frisco Boy (WB); Target Zero 

(WB) 215 

State Lake Artists and Models (Para), 2nd wk.. .250 

Surf—The Sheep Has Five Legs (UMPO), 7th wk. 195 

United Artisfs I'll Cry Tomorrow (MGM), 2nd wk. 250 

Woods The Man With the Golden Arm (UA). . . .255 

World Playhouse Lover Boy (20th-Fox) 190 

Ziegfeld Diabolique (UMPO), 2nd wk 230 

Second Week of 'Dolls' Takes 

Top Indianapolis Score 

INDIANAPOLIS — The long New Year's 

weekend found every first run theatre here 

open again and getting well on fat grosses. 

Most attractions opened New Year's Eve to 

capacity business that continued near that 

level through Sunday and Monday. "Guys and 

Dolls" in its second week at Keith's made 

the biggest splash and looked set for a long 

run. 

Circle—The Court-Mortiol of Billy Mitchell (WB).190 

Esquire I Am a Camera (DCA) 150 

Indiana Artists and Models (Para) 180 

Keiths—Guys and Dolls (MGM), 2nd wk 250 

Loew's The Indian Fighter (UA); The Naked 

Street (UA) 1 50 

Lyric The Return of Jack Slade (AA); Dig That 

Uranium (AA) 135 

'Guys and Dolls' Breaks 

Kansas City Record 

KANSAS CITY—"Guys and Dolls" broke 

the house record at the Roxy in its first 

week and it looked as if it would also break 

the second week record. 1m fact, theatre men 

here were all smiles as business over the holidays 

was better than good—it was "sensational." 

However, the strong pictures accounted 

for the record and exhibitors are 

repeating their old, oft-reiterated phrase, "If 

you've got a good picture, they'll come." 

Every picture listed here was held for another 

week, an unusual situation. 

Glen Holiday for Henrietta (Ardee), 2nd wk. 100 

Kimo The Deep Blue Sea (20th-Fox), 2nd wk...l60 

Midland The Indian Fighter fUA); Top Gun (UA) 170 

Missouri The Court-Mortiol of Billy Mitchell 

(WB); Toraet Zero (WB) 200 

Poramount—Artists and Models (Para), 2nd wk. . .200 

Roxy Guys and Dolls (MGM), 2nd wk 350 

Tower, Uptown, Fairway and Granada The Lieutenant 

Wore Skirts (20th-Fox); Bobby Ware 

Is Missing ( AA) 200 

Vogue The Adventures of Sadie (20th-Fox) 

2nd wk. of 2nd run 1 50 

CHICAGO 

Trwin S. Joseph of Modern Film Distributors 

and Essanjay Films finally got off on a 

vacation. He and his wife are touring the 

West Indies by plane . . . 10,000 children filed 

into the Avalon three different mornings to 

see films screened for their particular entertainment. 

Every Christmas season Peter 

Pisano, manager, rents the theatre to Local 

65 of the U. S. Steel Workers which sponsors 

the party for children. 

Ruth Mitchell, in town to plug the screen 

version of her late brother's life, "The Court- 

Martial of Billy Mitchell," revealed that Senator 

Alexander Wiley of Wisconsin is leading 

a campaign to have the new Air Force 

Academy named after the flying hero. As far 

back as 1923. according to Miss Mitchell, 

General Mitchell urged establishment of an 

air academy, which he called "as important 

to the future of this country's defense as 

our military and naval academies." 

The Chicago branch of the Screen Actors 

Guild notified all film producers in the area 

that the advertising agency of O'Nell, Larson 

& McMahon is on the "unfair list for failure 

to make proper payments for the production 

and use of filmed commercials." The producers' 

attention has been directed to their 

contracts with the guild, provisions of which 

may make them responsible for all talent 

payments in the event an agency fails to 

properly pay same. 

Kermit Russell and Dan Quinn took over 

ownership of the Crawford Theatre January 

1. While they plan extensive remodeling 

and modernization, business will go on as 

usual. Russell and Quinn jointly own the 

Lake Shore. 

Ira Kutock, injured recently in an automobile 

accident, is going to have to remain in 

the hospital for another month, his second. 

He is in Bethany Methodist, 5029 North 

Paulina St. . . . Danny Newman has taken 

over the Chelten Theatre. For years he 

owned the Astor, recently torn down to make 

way for a Loop synagogue. Alvin Frank, 

former manager of the Astor, will operate the 

Chelten for Newman, with double feature 

programs, changing three times a week. 

Republic Pictures here reported that a new 

$500,000 Remodeling 

For 'Oklahoma!' Run 

Chicago — Preceding the opening of 

"Oklahoma!" at the McVickers Theatre, 

$500,000 was invested in redecorating 

this 98-year-old house and equipping it 

it with technical facilities for showing 

the Todd-AO feature. Now the Mc- 

Vickers stands as the only theatre In the 

midwest equipped to show the Magmadistributed 

film. 

Under the management of John J. 

Jones and Aaron Jones Jr., the theatre 

has a distinguished tradition in show 

business. Twice the McVickers was rebuilt 

after fires, the latest time being 

in 1922 when a S2.000.000 rebuilding program 

made it one of the nation's most 

famous motion picture houses. George 

P. Skouras, president of Magna Theatre 

Corp., personally selected the McVickers 

as a showcase for "Oklahoma!" 

record was set in 1955 for short subject bookings 

and collections. Bob Lewis, booker, said 

he attributes the peak business to greatly improved 

Trucolor processing and such outstanding 

short releases as "Venezuela," which 

has been highly rated by reviewers . . . Republic's 

"A Man Alone," starring Ray Milland, 

is scheduled to go into 32 outlying 

houses in its first week of city release January 

6 . . . The Chicago Tribune advertising 

department reported an alltime high for 

amusement advertising in the December 25 

edition. There were over 12.000 lines for 

theatres against 8,000 lines of commercial 

advertising. 'Til Cry Tomorrow," one of the 

strong openers in a group of eight new films 

brightening the holiday movie menu, occupied 

a full page in the Sunday Tribune. 

When Foster M. Blake, U-I western division 

sales manager, was here for a two-day 

meeting, he revealed that 22 best-selling 

books, national magazine stories and hit stage 

productions would be brought to the screen 

by U-I in 1956. He said the majority will be 

filmed in color, with some being shot in either 

Cinemascope or VistaVision. One of the 

most important best-selling novels that U-I 

will bring to the screen will be Al Morgan's 

"The Great Man." Jose Ferrer will be the 

star and director. Another, according to 

Blake, will be "A Time to Love and a Time 

to Die," best-selling novel with a World War 

n background by Erich Maria Remarque. 

Seen visiting with friends at lunch In the 

Ambassador East Pump Room were Joan 

Crawford and her four children, bound for a 

holiday visit in Switzerland; Joseph Cotten 

and his wife, who were going east; producer 

Hal Wallis, also eastward bound; Tonv Curtis 

and Janet Leigh, who entertained with story 

bits about their new films just completed in 

Europe (She starred in "Safari" and he in 

"Trapeze''), and Rita Hayworth, who appeared 

anxious to return to Hollywood and 

who caused quite a stir as hundreds of holiday 

shoppers spied her. 

General Teleradlo executive Terry Turner, 

radio-television consultant on "The Conqueror," 

was here for a private showing of 

the picture for George Arkadis. Les Weinraub 

and others associated with WBBM-TV. Following 

the showing, Turner and the CBS 

staff members of the Chicaeo outlet discussed 

promotion plans for the midwest premiere of 

the picture, which at this point means February. 

WBBM-TV has been signed by Turner 

to carry the promotion in Chicago. 

Bettv Wendt WW Serve 

Aactin in Local F-l Post 

ST. LOUTS—Betty Wendt has been reelected 

business agent of Local F-l. representing 

the inspection and shipping departments 

of the film exchanges here. Louis 

Lavata of Allied Artists succeeds Richard 

Klages of United Artists, as president. 

Others elected; vice-president. Frank Wagner; 

financial secretary, Leona Klages; recording 

secretary, Mollie Corry; guardian and 

Norman Magna. 

guide. 

Named to the executive committee were Roy 

Stockglausner, John Joyce, Helen Stillenkothen 

and Jack Dl Matteo. Elected trustees 

were Helen Todd, Genevieve Hlrsh and Ethel 

Carson. 

BOXOFFICE : 

: January 7, 1956 43

. . John 

. . Capt. 

Mrs. Barbara Moffitt Dies 

KANSAS CITY—Mrs. Barbara Moffitt, 85, 

mother of John C. Moffitt, former film critic 

on the Kansas City Star and now critic for 

the Hollywood Reporter, died Wednesday. 

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A. V. Cauger Service Co. 

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INDEPENDENCE, MO.—Effective January 

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Service originate from their main office here. 

Shipments during the past ten years have 

been originating from the booking office in 

St. Paul, Minn. 

Deliveries in the Kansas City trade territory 

will be made for the most part by Film 

Delivery Service. R. E. Maloney, service manager, 

feels the change will give a closer and 

better booking arrangement for theatres serviced 

by the Cauger company in the midwestern 

area. Exhibitors are being urged to return 

trailer shipments promptly to the Independence 

office after each week's screening. 

The company, which distributes short 

length advertising films on a local and national 

basis In both indoor and drive-in theatres, 

has set a goal for a 25 per cent increase 

in the film ad division for 1956. Ted Cauger, 

vice-president of the company, is enthusiastic 

about sales prospects for 1956. 

Funeral Services Held 

For William Bruegging 

KANSAS CITY—Funeral services were held 

Saturday (311 here for William J. Bruegging, 

66, formerly with Paramount, who suffered 

a heart attack at his home in Plad, Mo. 

Bruegging was with Paramount for 37 years 

and headed the shipping department at the 

time of his retirement last August. 

Allied Board to Meet 

KANSAS CITY—The Kansas-Missouri Allied 

ITO will hold a meeting of the board of 

directors on Tuesday (10) at the office, 1719 

Wyandotte. According to Beverly Miller, 

president, plans will be made at that time for 

a spring convention. 

Enlarge Screen at Moberlv 

MOBERLY, MO.—Elmer Bills 

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Exhibitors were few and far between along 

Filmrow during the past short week. Included 

were Eddie Clark, Val Mercier, Ben 

Beckett, Johnny Giachetto, Mrs. Ora Redford 

and Albert Magarian . Dugan, IFE, 

has had Omaha and Des Moines added to his 

territory, which also Includes Kansas City 

and St. Louis. 

Carson W. Rodgers, president of Rodgers 

Theatres of Cairo, visited his father and 

mother, Mr. and Mrs. I. W. Rodgers, at 

Miami Beach during the Christmas holidays 

. . . Police are seeking six young ruffians 

who beat two ushers at Loew's State recently. 

Apparently it was a repeat performance. The 

youths were creating a disturbance on a stairway 

and usher Robert Lee Christner, 16, 

ordered them to leave the theatre. Instead 

of complying they attacked him. They 

ranged in age from about 16 to 18. John 

Clay Smith, 17, another usher, went to Christner's 

aid. Christner was taken to the City 

Hospital, but Smith refused medical attention. 

For the sixth straight year MITO provided 

Christmas boxes for members of the armed 

forces who couldn't be home for the holiday. 

On Tuesday (13) in the MITO headquarters 

Myra Stroud, managing secretary; Mary 

Karches, Delores Beach, Mollie LaToure, Virginia 

Herrod and a number of helpful film 

managers and salesmen worked on the preparation 

of the Christmas wrapped boxes 

that contained some homemade Christmas 

cookies sent in by the wives and daughters of 

members of MITO, a small bottle of wine, 

candy bars, and four packages of cigarets. 

Special donations for the boxes came from 

Bess Schulter, owner of the Columbia Theatre; 

Stu Tomber of Rio Syrup Co., and Edward 

Peters, Confection Cabinet. Tommy 

James, who owns the Comet, Strand, Douglass 

and West End theatres, gave the workers 

a luncheon. 

"Foreign Films Compared to Hollywood" 

is to be the theme of the January 20 meeting 

of the Better Films Council of Greater St. 

Louis. The moderator will be William H. 

Curran, midwest representative for the Foreign 

Policy Ass'n. Four international students 

are to be on the panel . J. W. 

Menke, operator of the Goldenrod showboat, 

the last of its vintage on the inland waters of 

the nation, has run into some financial difficulties. 

A suit for $3,375 was filed against 

him in the circuit court December 31 by the 

city, which claims that the amount is due 

for rental of space occupied by the boat on 

the St. Louis wharf for the period from January 

1, 1950, until December 31. 

Jack Hynes, St. Louis representative for A. 

V. Cauger Service, was in the hospital a few 

days. He is now back in the territory feeling 

fine. Glenn Boner and Obe Hayes, representatives 

in central and southern Illinois, were 

in the home office at Independence, Mo., for 

a brief visit last week. 

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: January 7, 1956

This Week 

BENNETT 

CERF 

it 

PICNIC CAPTURES THE SPIRIT AND WARMTH 

OF THE GREAT MIDWEST 

In as satisfying fashion as ever 

I've seen in 

my life." 

"There's a motion picture called 'Picnic' on 

its 

way to the nation's screens that captures 

the spirit and warmth of the great American 

mid-west in 

as satisfying fashion as ever I've 

seen in my life. This is as it should be, for 

to achieve the proper setting, 

Director Josh 

Logan who can write his own ticket in 

Hollywood 

from here in, took his superb cast to 

the exact geographical center of the U.S.A. - 

amidst the wheat fields and grain elevators 

of Hutchinson, Salina, Nickerson, Halstead 

^ ^^^ 

and Sterling, Kansas." 

in 

THE CERF BOARD 

THIS WEEK MAGAZINE 

COLUMBIA PICTURES presents 

WILLIAM HOLDEN 

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WITH 

KIM NOVAK 

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promotion for "At Gunpoint." The office 

passed up a Christmas party and had one 

on the afternoon before New Year's Eve . 

Kansas exhibitors seen on Filmrow recently 

included Marty Landau, Horton; Robert 

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Dealers in BALLANTYNE 

Strowig, Abilene; Al McCluer, Wichita; E. 

Van Hyning and Harry Hixon, Atchison; 

Hank Doering. Oarnett; John Basham, 

Topeka; Cle Bratton, Council Grove. 

Naomi Gudelski has returned as branch 

manager's secretary at Universal-International 

. . . Ralph Buhrmester, assistant manager 

of the RKO Missouri, is engaged to 

marry Connie Ronsick, employe of Hallmark 

cards here and a native of Paola, Kas. The 

wedding will be in June . . . Missouri exhibitors 

on Filmrow recently included Doc Lowe, 

Brookfield; Virgil Harbison, Tarkio; Elmer 

Bills, Salisbury; Harley Fryer, Lamar; Ed 

Harris, Neosho; Frank Weary sr., Richmond. 

Hub Miller, manager of the 50 Highway 

Drive-In at Jefferson City, and Mrs. Miller 

have gone on a southern vacation to New 

Orleans, Houston and several other points. 

Mrs. Beverly Miller, wife of the Kansas-Missouri 

Allied ITO president, and several 

women friends have left for a month's motor 

trip to Mexico City and other cities south 

of the border. Mrs. Miller will act as an unofficial 

guide, having made the trip before 

. . . Isabel Clare Bolin, granddaughter of R. 

R. Biechele, was married recently to Lester 

Bixler Jr. of Philadelphia, where the young 

couple will make their home. Mrs. Bixler 

is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. N. V. Bolin. 

Mrs. Bolin was Evelyn Biechele. The grandfather 

was too ill to attend the wedding. 

United Artists held open house Friday (23) 

from 3 to 5 p. m. . . . Fred Souttar, Fox Midwest 

district manager, is a sartorial delight 

wearing the fancy handkerchief which Joe 

Neger presented him. Kathryn Black, sec- 

. . 

retary, will have help for her Christmas bills 

—she won $50 in a Wichita football pool. 

Darrel Presnell, booker, spent the holidays 

in Wichita . Roy Hurst, booker at Warner 

Bros., is receiving congratulations for a son, 

named Scott Thomas, and also for the fact 

that he arrived December 31, just in time to 

count as an exemption. 

Local Manager Joe Neger left Thursday (5) 

to attend a 20th-Fox sales meeting in New 

York. Jack Cohan, sales manager, and wife 

spent the holidays In Minneapolis, their former 

home. Mrs. Cohan remained for a 

longer visit with relatives and friends. Vern 

Skorey, salesman, reports Mrs. Skorey's 

father died recently in Canada, and she will 

remain several weeks after his funeral to 

visit their daughter . . . The father of Lucy 

Mayhew, 20th-Fox biller, died. She is well 

known on the Row, having been with the 

company about 30 years. 

United Film Service toppers were particularly 

pleased to have a number of executives 

of the Sinclair Refining Co. as their guests 

during the company's sales convention this 

week. Sinclair is one of the big movie advertising 

accounts handled by TJFS. Among 

those attending were: James Delaney, advertising 

manager: H. F. Nelson, sales manager, 

western district; Jim Bardone, area manager 

for Nebraska; J. W. Barry, sales promotion 

manager for the western district, and Phil 

Welch, his assistant. 

INDIANAPOLIS 

TXTalter H. Well, 61, owner and operator of 

the Weil Theatre at Greenfield, died at 

his home there December 30. A graduate of 

Purdue University and a World War I veteran, 

Weil was a registered pharmacist. He 

is survived by his wife Eloise, a daughter, 

Mrs. Thomas W. McKean, and a son William. 

Chief Barker Bob Jones and his 1956 official 

family were installed by the Variety Club 

Friday night. Retiring Chief Barker Bob 

Conn was given a caddy cart . . . Del Buckley, 

office manager at Columbia, has resigned 

. . . The Cantor circuit offered five 

features, free coffee and midnight fireworks 

at the Lafayette Road Drive-In New Year's 

Eve. Forrest Songer also still is defying winter 

on weekends at his Westside Drive-In. 

Ralph Banghart. RKO publicist, was here 

arranging for personal appearances of Margaret 

O'Brien and Walter Brennan January 

13 at the Circle's state premiere of "Glory" 

. . . Alliance has named Robert L. Jackson 

manager of the Embassy at Fort Wayne, succeeding 

M. J. Kahn, who resigned. Don 

Hammer succeeds Jackson as manager of the 

circuit's Jefferson there. Hammer comes to 

Fort Wayne from Kankakee, HI. 

. . . Appointment 

Don E. LeBrun reopened the Kent at South 

Whitley December 25 after redecorating the 

Ben Fuller has installed new 

auditorium . . . 

seats in the Grand at Union City 

of a receiver to operate the Tri- 

Hi Drive-In at Auburn, owned by Mrs. Andromache 

Kalafat, has been asked in court 

action on a mechanic's lien. 

. . . Joe Bohn, Realart 

C. T. Harmeson, formerly an RCA Service 

engineer, is now working for Altec . . . Dr. M. 

Sandorf, owner of the Twin Drive-in, gave 

the Variety Club a 14-foot Christmas tree, 

with all the trimmings . & W, Affiliated, 

Cantor Amusements and the exchanges participated 

in the all-Filmrow Christmas party 

at the Variety Club 

manager, is in St. Vincent's Hospital receiving 

treatment for a heart condition . . . Mary 

Wehrling, secretary to Bob Conn, 20th-Fox 

manager, started a three-week vacation Friday. 

Conn is spearheading a Variety membership 

drive. 

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: January 

7, 1956

Tommy Tucker Band 

A Conclave Feature 

CHARLOTTE—Tommy Tucker and his 

orchestra and entertainers will be top features 

of the 43rd annual convention of the Theatre 

Owners of North and South Carolina, 

according to Howard A. Anderson of Mullins, 

S. C, president of the organization. 

The convention will open Sunday (29) with 

a social hour from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Headquarters 

will be at the Hotel Charlotte. More 

than 500 theatre owners and their wives from 

the two Carolinas are expected to attend. 

Tucker, who recently closed an engagement 

at the Statler Hotel in New York, will be 

featured at the annual banquet Monday (30) 

and will play for the dance following the 

banquet. 

Friendliness at Theatre 

Impresses a Stranger 

GREENVILLE, ALA.—Billy Johnson, field 

representative of Globe Laboratories, Memphis 

division, wrote a letter to the Chamber 

of Commerce here, praising Greenville as a 

friendly city. His letter was quoted in the 

Martin Tipster, publication of the Martin 

Circuit. 

"I am a traveling salesman and my territory 

includes most of the South. The past 

week, I spent the night in your city, and 

as the merchants were closed on Wednesday 

evening, I finished my reports early; so to 

pass the time, I decided to take in a picture. 

"The cashier greeted me with, "How are 

you this evening?' and a nice smile. I was 

stunned, but could not keep from smiling 

and saying, 'Fine, thank you.' The man who 

took the tickets said, "Thank you, I hope you 

enjoy the show.' I thanked him and decided 

I would have some popcorn. The lady at the 

confectionery stand thanked me and asked if 

there was anything else I would like. 

"The show was a bit different and I could 

not get too interested for thinking how nice 

and polite everyone had been to me. It made 

me feel like a celebrity. 

It was not altogether 

what they said, but the way they said it. 

"When I left the show, the manager greeted 

me and said, 'I hope you liked the show and 

we want you to come back.' 

"Gentlemen, it was right then that I 

decided that if ever I had a choice of picking 

a town to live in, I would choose Greenville, 

Ala. Never will I forget your town as the 

friendly town where one is appreciated. I do 

not know the manager's name or anyone at 

the show, but I felt that the least I could do 

was to write and let you know that any visitor 

that comes to Greenville and visits the show 

will never forget your town." 

His 25th Xmas Show 

OKEECHOBEE. FLA.—Gilbert Culbreth 

gave his 25th annual Christmas party for 

children at Gilbert Theatre—a one-hour 

cartoon show. Santa gave the children a bag 

of goodies and favors as they left. The party 

was from 1 :30 to 4. After that was a free 

show for older children and adults. Woodrow 

Walker is the manager. 

CS at Citronelle, Ala. 

CITRONELLE, ALA. — The Citronelle 

Theatre, equipped with Cinemascope and a 

complete new sound system, held its grand 

reopening with "River of No Return." 

No Censorship Moves 

Seen Yet in Memphis 

MEMPHIS—Memphis has been operating 

since Januray 1 without a censorship board 

for the first time since 1927, and it seems 

almost certain that this will continue 

permanently. 

Nationally known for its strict censorship 

of films and the banning of countless motion 

pictures that were unquestioned elsewhere, 

Memphis changed city administrations January 

1 and took a new look at its censors. 

Terms of the present board, Chairman 

Lloyd T. Binford, 89; Mrs. B. P. Edwards, 

Mrs. Walter L. Gray, Mrs. St. Elmo Newton ST. 

and Avery Blakeney, expired January 1. They 

were not reappointed. 

On the desk of Mayor Edmund Orgill, businessman 

and civic leader who was sworn in 

as Memphis chief executive January 2, there 

is a report from a citizens committee which 

made a study of censorship for him. 

This report, prepared by John Apperson, 

attorney and chairman of the citizens committee, 

recommends: 

1. Memphis should abolish its censorship 

board. 

2. Depend on present police powers to 

protect the public from indecent movies. 

(Present police powers were found sufficient 

by the committee.) 

If a censor board should be decided upon 

by the mayor and his city commissioners, 

despite the committee's report, the citizens 

committee recommended: 

1. Do not reappoint present board mem- 

X. 

a 

MIAMI CHIEF—Maurey L. Ashmann, 

president of the Film-Art Corp., is one 

of the most active and well-known members 

of civic and charitable organizations 

in and around Miami. H is the 

chief barker of Variety Tent 33, Miami, 

a director of Variety Children's Hospital, 

a director of the better business division, 

Miami-Dade County Chamber of Commerce, 

a member of the Miami off-street 

parking board; a southern advisory board 

member of the National Ass'n of Manufacturers 

and president of the Jewish 

Brotherhood. 

bers. CT doubt the wisdom of reappointing 

any of the old board. It has received quite 

a lot of criticism," said Chairman Apperson.) 

2. Appoint a three-membei board to reviewonly 

motion pictures lacking the Motion Picture 

Code Seal of Approval. 

3. Pay the chairman of this board $70 a 

month and the members $50. The chairman 

received $200 a month and the four board 

members $20 a month under the old setup. 

The citizens committee, also composed of 

Dr. Donald Henning, Episcopal minister; Dr. 

M. W. Latham jr., psychiatrist; John A. 

Osoinach, attorney, and Dr. Peyton Rhodes, 

president of Southwestern College, also made 

these recommendations and reported these 

facts: 

That an organization such as Better Films 

Council be encouraged to classify films with 

the aid of volunteer organizations and that 

such classifications be published in newspapers 

and in theatre advertisements. 

That only one other city—Atlanta—had a 

censor board like the one in Memphis. 

That "previous restraint censorship" such 

as Memphis has used in the past—censorship 

which restrains a movie before it is ever 

shown to the public—has been declared by 

the U. S. Supreme Court to "be un-American 

and contrary to the American conception of 

freedom." 

The citizens committee report has been referred 

to the city legal department for a study 

to see if the present ordinance has to be repealed 

in that some attorneys think the 

ordinance calls for a censorship board. 

Public Relations Firm 

Headed by Jim Trippe 

DECATUR, ALA.—Jim Trippe. theatre, 

radio and television public relations-promotion 

man here, formerly was with the Lam 

Amusement Co., Martin Theatres, Crescent 

Theatres and other well known circuits. 

Trippe now manufactures banners, bumper 

strips and date strips for theatres. In addition, 

he publishes a monthly magazine 

in cooperation with theatres, carrying a 

monthly attraction calendar, news of stars, 

theatre doings, and with a few names of 

local people who are to get free passes to 

the theatre. Trippe said theatres had found 

the news calendars of great help, since people 

keep them to read the news items. 

In addition to his other services, Trippe 

also offers an employment service for theatre 

people. He advertises each week for 

theatre help and finds people Jobs through 

his agency. Trippe's address is P. O. Box 341. 

Decatur, Ala. 

Hugh Martin Hosts Kids 

CLERMONT—Hugh Martin, owner of the 

Lake Theatre, was host to some 800 

youngsters at a free show in the theatre. The 

gala event was sponsored by the Clermont 

Retail Merchants Ass'n and aU children received 

bags of candy and fruit. 

Gigi Perreau has been given the role of 

Fredric March's daughter In 20th-Fox's "The 

Man in the Gray Flannel Suit." 

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HART BEATS 

By HARRY HART 

T LOYD PERKINS was moved from Martin's 

Etowah iTenn.) Drive-In to the Fair 

Oaks Drive-In, Marietta, Ga., after the former 

closed for the winter. 

Harris Rogers has returned to manage the 

Dublin Drive-in. 

Don Sports of the Port Theatre, Port St. 

Joe, Fla., is father of a baby daughter named 

Sandra Ann. 

The Martin circuit will build a drive-in on 

Clay street In Marietta, which will make 

three drive-ins in that town for Martin. 

Jerome Zimmerman of the Martin Drive-In 

arranged a promotion with Davison.s department 

store in which more than $3,000 in merchandise 

was given away. Several Martin and 

Thompson towns are giving away new Eshelman 

sports cars and increasing business. 

Matt Whitham of Tift Theatre, Tifton, 

again is sponsoring a 30-minute kiddy talent 

show on the stage every Saturday morning. 

The show is broadcast over radio station 

WWGS, which doesn't hurt business any. 

Martin finally has started putting in hot 

dogs in its indoor theatres and is finding it 

profitable. 

• * • 

We virtually had to wade through samples 

of Karagheusian carpeting at Wil-Kin Theatre 

Supply. It looked like Wil-Kin has the 

largest display of carpeting in the southeast. 

The Ritz at Barnesville, Ga., has been 

equipped by Wil-Kin with Cinemascope, optical 

sound and a Radiant Superama screen. 

Wil-Kin southeast personnel gathered in Atlanta 

recently for a sales session. The yearend 

sale features a lot of bargains. 

The Rose in Forsyth, Ga., has been sold 

by P. E. Shave to N. O. Hardin, who also 

owns the drive-in there. Capital Supply is 

putting in a widescreen and complete stereo 

sound system in the Rose. 

Hap Barnes of ABC Theatrical Enterprises 

was on a fishing trip in Florida. 

E. W. Hathcock of the Madison and Kirkwood 

theatres has done an outstanding job 

of remodeling at the Madison, bringing it to 

a perfection seldom found in suburban theatres. 

We sure enjoyed our visit with him. 

He's the same go-getter he always was. 

* * * 

The National Ass'n of Film Service organizations 

held its organizational meeting in 

Chicago recently. Representing the Atlanta 

area was Hap Barnes of ABC Theatrical 

Enterprises, and from the Charlotte area was 

Hugh Sykes jr. 

Reopen at Harmony, N. C. 

HARMONY, N. C—The Center Theatre. 

which burned in July 1953, has been rebuilt 

and reopened by Mrs. Claude Hager, 

owner. The theatre is equipped with a large 

screen and has an increased seating capacity. 

The house will be managed by Mrs. 

Hager's son William C, who recently returned 

from service with the Air Force, and 

it will be open six evenings per week. A late 

show will be held on Saturdays. 

Charles Lewis Chosen 

DURHAM, N. C.—Charles H. Lewis, local 

theatre manager, will head the committee 

on arrangements for the Merchants Ass'n's 

annual dinner, normally held in March. 

McElroy Buys Ninth 

Louisiana Drive-In 

SHREVEPORT, LA. — Purchase of the 

Barksdale Drive-In, on Old Highway 80 

north of Barksdale Air Force Base, by Mc- 

Elroy Theatres, Inc., was announced Monday 

(2 1 by Tom McElroy, head of the company. 

The drive-ln was purchased from 

Mrs. Lillian Lutzer, Dallas, for an undisclosed 

amount and becomes the McElroy 

circuit's ninth theatre. The new owners assumed 

immediate possession. 

The Barksdale Is one of the most complete 

drive-ins in the state and is in excellent 

condition, McElroy said. Charles Gower, who 

had been manager for the previous owner, 

has been retained. No additions or changes 

in the existing physical plant are contemplated. 

McElroy now owns the Don, Broadmoor, 

Rex, Centenary, Glenwood and Venus In 

Shreveport, and the Davis, Don and Barksdale 

in Bossier City. 

CHARLOTTE 

Dete Toomey, radio's "Hound Dog," teamed 

with Santa Claus to bring Christmas 

cheer to about 75 children at the Variety 

Club Christmas party. Brent Trexler, son of 

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Trexler, was one of the 

youngsters photographed receiving personal 

greetings from Santa Claus . . . Independent 

film salesman W. G. Driver is out of the 

hospital after undergoing surgery . . . New 

Filmrow employes include Rosemary Carnes, 

back with U-I; James Mayor Burton jr., 

RKO; Ruth Martin, Warner Bros.; Walter 

H. Peake jr., MGM; Kathryn Godwin, National 

Screen Service, and William Walker, MGM. 

Essantee Theatres of Charlotte has taken 

over operation under lease from the city of 

Abbeville, S. C, of the Abbeville Opera House. 

The theatre will be operated as a unit of 

Stewart & Everett Theatres. It formerly was 

leased to and operated by North Carolina 

Theatres. 

Essaness Dismissal Soon 

CHICAGO—Samuel Block of Johnston, 

Thompson, Raymond & Mayer, attorneys for 

Balaban & Katz, announced that documents 

for final settlement and dismissal of the 

Essaness antitrust suit have been submitted 

and reviewed during the past week. Formal 

dismissal, however, will take place after the 

return of Federal Judge William Campbell 

within another week or two. 

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: January 

7. 1956

. . . Filmrow 

. . Janice 

JACKSONVILLE 

p.xhibitors reported a sharp upward climb in 

attendance for the last week of 1955 and 

many expected good business for the next 

month and a half, or until the beginning of 

Lent. Many thousands of free-spending 

visitors flocked into town between Christmas 

and New Year's to attend a week of Gatorama 

celebrations which reached a climax at the 

Vanderbilt-Auburn football game in the 

Gator Bowl which was televised nationally 

by CBS. New Year's Eve curfew laws on 

liquor sales were a boon to the many theatres 

staging midnight shows for the on-the-town 

celebrants w ho had no other place 

f to go for 

entertainment except to homes or hotel 

rooms. 

Roy Smith staged a New Year's party for 

members of his staff at the Rainbow room of 

the Hotel George Washington. Billy Knight, 

manager of the Tampa office, was present 

personnel attended a party in 

the Buena Vista office hosted by Harvey 

Reinstein, shortly before he left to attend 

the Maryland-Oklahoma game in the Orange 

Bow at Miami ... A combined business and 

pleasure trip took Jack Wiener. MGM publicity 

man, to New York over New Year's . . . 

C. T. Jordan scheduled an office-warming 

party at the new Howco Exchange, 122 East 

Bay St. Ten distributors now have branch 

offices here to serve all of Florida and parts 

of Georgia. Five circuit booking offices are 

also located here, as well as four independent 

booking and buying agencies. 

Thomas P. Tidwell, 20th-Fox manager, was 

here briefly after vacationing in Corrigan, 

Tex. He then left for a company sales 

gathering in New York City . Claxton, 

WOMPI leader, returned from Memphis 

where she was the house guest of Lois Evans, 

WOMPI president there . . . Charlie King, Ex- 

Exhibitors here 

hibitors Service executive, visited friends in 

Atlanta over Christmas 

included J. F. 

. . . 

Ramsey and Aubrey Finley, 

Bacon Theatre, Alma, Ga.; George Trenaris, 

Dreka, DeLand, and Mrs. S. F. Summerlin, 

Edna Cox and Gleena 

Homerville, Ga. . . . 

families 

Adams spent New Year's with their 

in Lake City. 

Vivien "Bob" Greenleaf, youthful manager 

of this city's Brentwood Theatre, was the 

lucky winner of a S500 grand prize in the FST 

eight-week Candy Carnival Contest, according 

to Robert R. Harris, FST confection sales 

manager. Greenleaf's name was drawn by 

Loretta Sheil, young daughter of Ed Sheil, 

FST warehouse manager. Other local winners 

in the circuit contest were Robert Heekin, 

winning district manager, who received a gold 

Waltham wristwatch; Albert Hildreth, Arcade 

Theatre, winning theatre manager who 

also received a gold Waltham wristwatch, 

and two Arcade candy girls, who were given 

a set of silver and a luxury blanket. 

A new series of Friday night talent contests 

is being conducted on stage at the Roosevelt 

Theatre, according to Arv Rothschild, 

NTE general manager. 

. . . 

Carroll Ogburn, former Warner manager 

here who is now working in Atlanta, visited 

the local branch on company business during 

the holidays Sunny Greenwood said 

that WOMPI will stage a Valentine's Day 

dance here for the benefit of charity. 

Manager Paul Lycan Is Successful 

In Spite of Double Amputation 

TARPON SPRINGS—The Tarpon Theatre 

perhaps is the only one in the world 

which can boast it has a double amputee 

as manager. Paul Lycan walks down the 

street with a slight limp, climbs stairs, 

drives a car and leads a very normal life, 

and few people realize he wears two 

artificial legs. 

Lycan, a native of Virginia, lost his first 

limb at the joint of the knee when he 

froze his foot one cold winter. He was 

hospitalized for four agonizing pain-filled 

weeks before doctors decided the leg had 

to come off. Lycan was only 22 years old 

when this happened. He had a wife and 

tiny baby dependent on him. At first he 

was discouraged, looking forward to the 

prospect of a life-long invalidism. Paul 

Lycan's faith in his ability to overcome the 

handicap was so great, however, that he 

did overcome it and proceeded to lead a 

normal life. 

Released from the hospital, Lycan decided 

to work for the Preston Artificial 

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In Tarpon Springs he found a Job in a 

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As a hobby, Lycan decided to learn to 

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BOXOFTICE : 

: January 7, 1956 49

. . Mrs. 

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. . Sympathy 

ATLANTA 

rugene Skinner, general manager, Dixie 

Drive-In Theatres, is spending two weeks 

in Jacksonville on business. He was accompanied 

by his family . Mary 

Brocket!, booker for Crescent Amusement 

Co., Nashville. Term., retired effective January 

1. She started in the business with the 

late Tony Sudekum, founder of the company. 

She was succeeded by her son Milton Y. 

Brockett, who has been her assistant for 

several years. 

Sympathy to Alpha Fowler, operator. Empire 

Theatre, Atlanta, and Alpha and Lithia 

Springs Drive-In. Douglasville, upon the 

death of his father-in-law, J. L. Hodgson . 

The Martin-Thompson circuit is operating 

the M&T Drive-In, Canton, Ga., on Friday- 

Saturday only during the winter . . . Visiting 

Filmrow were R. L. Parham, 81 Drive-In. 

Kingsport. Tenn.; LeRoy Rollins, Rogers 

Theatre, Montgomery, Ala.; Mack Nation, 

Southport Drive-In, Bridgeport, Ala.; Tommie 

Lam, Lam Amusements, Rome, Ga.; Doc 

Fincher, Fincher Theatres, Chatsworth, Ga. 

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160 walton st. n.w. *tt£uttis 

tel. alpine 8314 sa^MS*' 

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SPECIAL TRAILERS 

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STRICKLAND FILM CO. 

220 Pharr. Road, N. E. Atlanta 

Jean Mann, secretary to Office Manager 

Allen Rainwater, Universal, spent the New 

Year's holidays with her family in Detroit 

auditor Al Newman has just 

about wound up his Atlanta chores despite 

a painfully crippled leg . . . U-I Manager Bill 

Kelly and his family spent the Chi i 

holidays with relatives in New York. 

Lynda Burnett, United Artists booker, spent 

the News Year's holidays in Daytona Beach, 

Byron Adams. United Artists manager, 

Fla. . . . 

moved into his lovely new home in Leaf- 

Attending the Sugar Bowl 

more Hills . . . 

game in New Orleans New Year's were Byron 

Adams, Bob Tarwater, Mac Grimes. They 

were met in New Orleans by Adams' brother 

Barnes of Marlin, Tex. . to Russell 

Gaus. MGM manager, in the death of 

his mother Birdie Gaus on Christmas Day. 

She had been ill a month. 

. . . June 

Jack and Phillis Frost (he's salesman at 

UA), spent New Year's Day in Montgomery, 

Ala., with relatives and attended the Sugar 

Bowl game in New Orleans . . . Laura Kenny, 

secretary to the UA manager, is the grandmother 

of a new baby girl, Cynthia Anne, 

born December 26. The baby is the daughter 

of Mr. and Mrs. M. C. Richards. Mrs. Richards 

was formerly Jean Kenny 

Roscoe, daughter of George Roscoe, Columbia 

sales manager, was married December 31 to 

Edwin Richards Rooney jr., of Winchester. 

Mass. 

Grand at Montgomery, Ala. 

To End Its Theatre Days 

MONTGOMERY, ALA.—The old Grand 

Theatre here, closed for the last 15 years, 

has been sold and will be converted for use 

as a commercial property. The theatre was 

sold by Montgomery Realty Co., owners of 

the property. The house suffered considerable 

damage in 1950 when portions of the 

roof and brick walls collapsed in a heavy 

rainstorm. 

It was opened in 1907 and for many years 

was a legitimate roadshow house. In the late 

1930's, Wilby Theatres leased the property 

for roadshow use, but only one roadshow 

could be induced to use it. It was reported 

that R. B. Wilby spent $72,000 on leases in 

attempting to revive the theatre. 

Al-Dun Co. Seeks to Lease 

Two Streets for Site 

WEST POINT, GA.—Al-Dun Amusement 

Co. is planning a 400-car drive-in here. The 

plans were made public when L. J. Duncan, 

owner of the circuit, appeared before the 

city council to request that two presently 

unused city streets be leased to him as part 

of the theatre site. The council approved the 

lease, which now goes to the Georgia General 

Assembly for approval. No opposition is expected. 

'Dolls' Memphis Bow 

Scores 300 Per Cent 

MEMPHIS—Three times average business 

was reported by Malco with the first week 

of "Guys and Dolls" to set the Memphis 

holiday first run pace. 

Two other first runs did above average. 


Malco—Guy* and Dolls (MGM) 300 

Palace— Heidi ond Peter (UA); Walt Disney's 

Christmos Jollities (RKO) 90 

State— Kismet ;MGM) 125 

Strand— Artists and Models (Para) 1 05 

Warner—The Lost Frontier (Col) 90 

Dania, Fla., State Closed 

By Florida State Co. 

DANIA, FLA.—It may be a long time until 

Dania has another Indoor theatre. The 

old State on Federal highway has been sold, 

and is being stripped of its equipment and 

furnishings. The seats were sold to a church 

in West Palm Beach. 

The State had its grand opening on Jan. 

14, 1940, with the showing of "Disputed 

Passage," but it never was a money-maker, 

according to officials of the Florida State 

Theatres. 

Dania now has two of the leading drive-in 

theatres of the county right within the city 

limits. 

Mississippi Movies Chartered 

AMORY, MISS.—Mississippi Movies, Inc., 

has been granted charter of incorporation 

listing capital stock of $10,000. 

Florida's FIRST Supply House 

NEW address . . . 

206 MEMORIAL HIGHWAY 

TAMPA, FLORIDA 

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NEW CONVENIENT PARKING 

for Our Customers 

Visit us at our new building 

UNITED THEATRE SUPPLY CORP. 

206 Memorial Highway 

Tampa, Florido Phone 8 5189 

Mail Address: Box 375, Tampa 1, Fla. 

DAVY CROCKETT BALLOONS 

Printed 

with 

Theatre Name and Date of Showing #> 

SOUTHERN BALLOON COMPANY 

146 Walton Atlanta, Georgia 

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MAXIMUM LIGHT 

in Georgio— DIXIE THEATRE SERVICE, Albany—Hemlock 2-2846 

DIXIE THEATRE SERVICE, Atlanta—Walnut 4118 

RHODES SOUND & PROJECTOR, Savannah—Sov. 3-8788 

FRED W. YOUNG, Inc., Atlanta—Alpine 2644 

Evenly Distributed t 


: January 

7. 1956

: January 

. . Alton 

. . John 

!• tl •• 

••*' 

RESEARCH BUREAU 

for 

MODERN THEATRE PLANNERS 

MEMPHIS 

p.uil Harrington, owner, has closed his Calvert 

Drive-In and reopened his Calvert 

Theatre at Calvert City, Ky . 

Sims. 

Rowley United Theatres, has closed the 

Rocket Drive-In at Magnolia, Ark., indefinitely 

Dana Stamper, owner, has closed 

. . . the Yell Theatre. Yellville, Ark. . 

Miller, 

formerly a booker at 20th-Fox in Memphis 

and now a salesman with the company 

at Houston, was in town for a visit . . . John 

Mohrstadt, formerly a Hayti, Mo., exhibitor 

and once president of Tristate Theatre Owners 

who now lives in Clearwater, Fla., was 

in Memphis on a visit. 

ENROLLMENT FORM FOR FREE INFORMATION 

The MODERN THEATRE 

PLANNING INSTITUTE 

825 Van Brunt Blvd. 

Kansas City 24, Mo. 

Gentlemen: 

1-7-56 

Please enroll us in your RESEARCH BUREAU 

to receive information regularly, as released, on 

the following subjects for Theatre Planning: 

Acoustics 

Air Conditioning 

Architectural Service 

"Black" Lighting 

Building Material 

D Carpets 

G Coin Machines 

Complete Remodeling 

Decorating 

Q Drink Dispensers 

Drive-In 

Equipment 

Other Subjects 

Theatre 

Seating Capacity. 

Address 

City 

State 

Signed 

Lighting Fixtures 

Plumbing Fixtures 

Projectors 

Projection Lamps 

n Seating 

Signs and Marquees 

Sound Equipment 

Television 

Theatre 

Fronts 

Vending Equipment 

Postage-paid reply cards for your further convenience 

in obtaining information are provided in The MODERN 

THEATRE Section, published with the first issue of 

each month. 

. . . Lyle Rich- 

Gene Higginbotham, Melody, Leachville: 

John Lowrey and his son Jack, Lowrey, Russellville; 

Lloyd Hutchins, Maxie, Trumann; 

T. P. Ray, Calico, Calico Rock, and Orris Collins, 

Capitol, Paragould, were among exhibitors 

visiting from Arkansas 

mond. Richmond, Senath, Mo., was in town. 

From Mississippi came E. S. Gullett, Benoit, 

Benoit; Leon Rountree, Holly at Holly Springs 

and Valley at Water Valley; Mrs. J. C. Noble, 

Temple, Leland; Thomas Ferris, Shelby, 

Shelby; Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Azar, Harlem and 

Lincoln at Greenville; A. N. Rossie, Harlem. 

. 

Clarksdale; Clark Shivley, Skylark Drive-In, 

Clarksdale . . Louise Mask, Luez, Bolivar; 

Guy Amis, Princess, Lexington; and Steve 

Stein, Met, Jackson, were among west Tennessee's 

visiting exhibitors. 

Empire at Montgomery 

Is Being Modernized 

MONTGOMERY, ALA.—An extensive remodeling 

and modernization program is 

under way at the Empire Theatre here. Manager 

Bicky Covey said the project will require 

five months to complete. While work 

is going on, pictures which had been booked 

into the Empire will be shown at the Charles 

Theatre. 

Drive-in Screen Repainted 

BUSHNELL, FLA.—The Sumter Drive-In 

at Bevilles Corner was closed for two days 

while the screen was being repainted with 

a new Florida product made especially for 

outdoor picture screens. Mr. and Mrs. Charlie 

Rook, owners, gave as a Christmas present 

to the people of Sumter County a free 

show December 22, 23. 

One Legion Post Decides 

To Stay Out of Films 

Savannah—At least one American 

Legion post has decided to stay out of 

show business. 

Leasing the City Auditorium, the Post 

brought in one of the 'Tassion Play" 

films during the pre-Christmas slump. 

Despite a good advertising campaign 

and plenty of free space in all the papers, 

exactly 12 customers showed up for the 

night performance. 

"Tis said the Legion went into the red 

on the project. 

Boxoffices bulge when you provide 

your patrons with comfortable, relaxing 

seats. We repair or replace 

your broken down seating . . . 

without interrupting your show for 

a moment. Results 

are so BIG 

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Ask us about it! 

Write, Wire or Phone 

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MANUFACTURERS 

foam Rubber & Sprint; 

Cushions, back and seat 

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320 So. Second St. Memphis, Tenn. 

BOXOFFICE : 

7, 1956 51

. . The 

NEW ORLEANS 

John Waterall soon will reopen his Citronelle 

Theatre, Citronelle, Ala. The theatre has 

been closed for over a year ... Ed Ortte 

closed the Hi-Way Drive-In, Bay St. Louis, 

for a short period . . . IATSE Local F57 has 

elected the following officers for 1956: Judith 

Hamner, president, Universal; Clayton Casbueque, 

vice-president, Universal; Clyde 

Daigle, business agent, Paramount; Rosalie 

Lutenbacker, secretary, RKO; Dianne Chatlain, 

treasurer. Universal. 

The Liberty, Independence, La., has been 

reopened by C. Citadine . Joy Drive-In, 

Milton, Fla., an F. T. McLendon house, has 

been closed until spring . . . Milton White, Exhibitor's 

Poster Exchange, flew to Denver, 

Colo., to spend the holidays with his soil 

and daughter-in-law. 

Mrs. Sue Hinton will close the Victory 

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. . . Mrs. Anna Guzzardo 

. 

in Loxley, Ala., for extensive repairs and 

remodeling . . . E. V. Landaice, owner of the 

Beach Drive-In, Biloxi, has reopened the 

Bayview there, which formerly was operated 

by Charles Levy 

has closed the Liberty in Indepen- 

dence, La . . Nexil Mixon has closed his 

drive-in at Amite for the winter. 

. . . Southern 

Lou Dwyer, booker at Paramount, was back 

at work after an operation 

Amusement's Bailey Theatre in VUle Platte 

has been closed for remodeling . . Sam 

. 

Ewing has closed the Auto Vue Drive-in, 

Lorman, Miss., for the winter . . . W. Illings 

of the Illings, Ocean Springs, Miss., announced 

he will operate his theatre on weekends 

only during the winter. 

MIAMI 

. . "The 

Inarch 1 is set as the shooting date for "The 

Shark Fighters" on Cuba's Isle of Pines. 

Work was postponed because of high insurance 

rates during the hurricane season . 

Old Man and the Sea" is expected to go before 

the Cuban cameras in March. 

Picking Saturday as the day when no classes 

are in session, Wometco invited members of the 

Future Teachers' Ass'n in Dade County junior 

and senior high schools and the University of 

Miami to be the guests of the circuit at a 

showing of "Good Morning, Miss Dove" . . . 

The Coral Way Drive-In booked a Saturday 

midnight additional feature. 

NOW with TWO convenient locationi for 

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Prompt, Courteous Service 'Roups' the Clock 

Coleman Theatres Is Formed 

MONTGOMERY—The Secretary of State 

has issued articles of incorporation to Coleman 

Theatres, Inc., 100 E. Las Olas Blvd., 

Fort Lauderdale. Fla. Thomas G. Coleman 

of Anniston is the statutory agent in Alabama. 

Free Saturday Shows Missed 

HAINES CITY, FLA.—The Florida Theatre, 

which has been closed, is being sadly missed, 

particularly by the youngsters. During December 

there was a free show each Saturday 

sponsored by the merchants. 

HANDY

Sale at Poplar Bluff 

POPLAR BLUFF—The Strand at 210 

Vine St., a 400-seat house, has been purchased 

by Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Dunlap 

from Charles Whittenburg, who had operated 

the theatre since last August 10. 

Whittenburg is concentrating his activities 

at the Jewell, 500-seater, which he reopened 

November 24. 

But ichy MEN over 45? 

Our doctors still don't know 

why, but if you are a man 

over 45 you are six times as 

likely to develop lung cancer 

as a man of your age twenty 

years ago. They do know, 

however, that their chances 

of saving your life could be 

about ten times greater if 

they could only detect cancer 

long before you yourself 

notice any symptom. ( Only 

1 in every 20 lung cancers is 

being cured today, largely 

because most cases progress 

too far before detected.) 

That's why we urge that you 

make a habit of having your 

chest X-rayed every six 

months, no matter how well 

you may feel. The alarming 

increase of long cancer in 

men over 45 more than justifies 

such precautions. Far 

too many men die needlessly! 

Our new film "The Warning 

Shadow" will tell you what 

every man should know 

about lung cancer. 

To find 

where and when you can see 

this film, and to get lifesaving 

facts about other 

forms of cancer, phone the 

American Cancer Society 

office 

nearest you or simply 

write to "Cancer"— in care 

of your local Post Office. 

American 

Cancer 

Society 

Through the Courtesy of 

BOXOFFICE 

f 

SANTA AT SHOWMAN'S HOME— 

Theatreman A. W. Pugh had his new 

home on II. S. 69 at Columbus, Kas., 

gaily decorated for the holidays. Santa 

and the reindeer seem to be having a 

little trouble making the traditional 

descent into the chimney. However, 

Pugh assures, Santa made it all right. 

Dime Nights Started 

As Midweek Booster 

INDIANAPOLIS—George Marks, TV personality 

who took over the Grove at Beech 

Grove in September after it had been closed 

for a year, will make Dime night a regular 

weekly feature on Wednesdays and Thursdays. 

Admission will be ten cents for 

grownups as well as for children. 

"TV is here to stay, but so are the movies," 

Marks explained. "Dime night gives 

the viewer the choice of staying home and 

seeing a movie of ancient vintage for nothing, 

or coming to the Grove and seeing a 

brand new super movie for a dime." He 

will start the program rolling with "Green 

Fire." 

It's frankly aimed, he said, "at TV addicts 

who have forgotten the thrill and 

pleasure of enjoying a movie in its proper 

environment and atmosphere." Regular admission 

prices will prevail the other nights 

of the week. 

"Everyone knows that a ten-cent admission 

price is a 'loss leader,' " Marks declared, 

"a way of acquainting people with 

your entertainment wares." 

"I don't think adults can get into any 

theatre in the U. S. for a dime, and if it 

works people will have to say it started in 

Hoosierland." 

Marks, in show business 20 years, formerly 

was personal manager for Smiley Burnette, 

Tex Ritter and Jimmy Wakely. He was associate 

producer of "Stop the Music" and 

wrote comedy sketches for Bert Parks, Phil 

Silvers and Arlene Francis. Besides operating 

the Grove, he emcees an hour hillbilly 

show every week on WLBC-TV, Muncie, and 

conducts a "Corral Club" on TV with nearly 

4,000 kiddy members. 

"My ulcers were getting ulcers In bigtime 

TV," Marks said, "and so I have taken 

to the quiet life of running a theatre and 

appearing once a week on TV, just to keep 

my trunk full of material from gathering 

dust." His wife Kay is projectionist at the 

Grove. They have four children, all movie 

fans. "And they'd better be," says Marks. 

Airer Back to Robinson 

CRESTVIEW. FLA.—Neal Robinson has 

taken over the operation of the Crestview 

Drive-In from Tom Barrow, who has now 

gone into other business. 

higher profits 

for you. 

The COmfort Of International 

Theater Seats helps 

keep them full 

Extra long backs of International's 

all-steel theater seats — longest in 

the industry — provide maximum 

support for patrons' shoulders and 

backs, and guarantee no annoyance 

from behind at the seat level. 

Maintenance is reduced, as scuffing 

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When planning your seating or re* 

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BOXOFFICE :: January 7. 1956 53

...because they went to their doctors in time 

Many thousands of Americans are being cured of 

cancer every year. More and more people are 

going to their doctors in time. That is encouraging 

But the tragic fact, our doctors tell us, is that every 

third cancer death is a needless death... twice as 

many could be saved. 

A great many cancers can be cured, but only if 

properly treated before they have begun to spread 

or "colonize" in other parts of the body. 

YOUR BEST CANCER INSURANCE is (1) to 

see your doctor every year for a thorough checkup, 

no matter how well you may feel (2 ) to see your 

doctor immediately at the first sign of any one of 

the 7 danger signals that may mean cancer. 

For a list of those life-saving warning signals and 

other facts of life about cancer, call the American 

Cancer Society office nearest you or simply write 

to "Cancer" in care of your local Post Office. 

American Cancer Society 

*^® 

Through the Courtesy of BOXOFFICE 

54 BOXOFFICE 

: 

: January 

7. 1956

crew 

Editorial on Shuttering 

Gets Public Thinking 

GROESBECK, TEX.—Sid 

Smith, operator 

of the theatres here, got front page attention 

for the theatre business when he 

shuttered the Limestone Theatre for four 

nights recently. It seems Smith called the 

editor of the local paper and told him he was 

closing the theatre on Tuesday, Wednesday, 

Thursday and Friday night. The editor took 

it to mean that the theatre henceforth would 

be open only on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. 

Then when Smith called to tell him 

it was for one week only, the editor ran the 

following front-page editorial: 

"This brings up the question of 'What's 

happened to the picture show business?' 

"It is conceivable that a disreputable showhouse 

with outmoded equipment would find 

business going down, down, down, but there 

is no argument about it, the Limestone Theatre 

is one of the nicest, best equipped shows 

that can be found anywhere. Sid Smith is 

just as popular an owner-manager as is to 

be found anywhere, but TV has hit the show 

business a blow, and it begins to look more 

and more as if the blow could well be a 

death blow. 

"What has happened to the picture show 

business has not just happened in Groesbeck. 

It has happened everywhere. In fact, 

the larger city shows felt the blow before it 

struck the smaller town theatres. 

"Weekend show business is still good in 

Groesbeck, but the show has played lately 

on several weeknights to almost an empty 

house. 

"Last year, the theatre burned in Fairfield 

and when the owner did not make a move 

to replace it, the business people began to 

feel the pinch. Saturday crowds began to 

dwindle. The business people raised the 

money and replaced the theatre. 

"Fortunately, Groesbeck's theatre is still 

here, so it looks as if the business people and 

other interested townspeople can encourage 

it to stay here by renewing an oldtime habit 

of taking the wife and family out to a good 

show every now and then." 

Smith said that he believed if more information 

of this type were passed on to the 

public, it might help the draggy show business 

situation. In Groesbeck, he added, the 

editorial and the closing seem to have gotten 

a few people thinking, since it was the first 

time they had seen the Limestone Theatre 

dark under Sid Smith's management in the 

22 years of its operation. 

City Council Aid Invited 

On Firecracker Problem 

HOUSTON—Lowell Bulpitt, president of 

the Houston Independent Theatre Ass'n. invited 

George Marquette, councilman to the 

association's meeting this week to advise 

members on the problem of combating 

the rising number of firecracker incidents in 

theatres. 

The invitation was the upshot of a Christmas 

incident at the Delman. According to 

Ernest Buffington, manager, someone put a 

lighted cigaret and a firecracker inside the 

paper towel rack in the men's washroom and 

then took off. Mark Blackman, 9, arrived at 

the wash basin and turned on the water tap 

just at the moment of the explosion. 

Fortunately the boy had turned his face to one 

.side so that the explosion struck him on the 

ear instead of directly in the eyes. For several 

days it was feared he had a broken ear drum. 

500 Members Attend Installation 

Of New Officers of Dallas Variety 

DALLAS—More than 500 Variety Tent 17 

members packed the roof garden of the Hotel 

Adolphus here for the annual installation 

meeting which .started off Variety activities 

for the New Year. Clyde Rembert, new chief 

' 

barker, announced the new advisory council, 

which represents every phase of the membership 

and which will work with the board and 

new officers. 

John Rowley made the official installation 

of the new crew, consisting of Rembei\, Jack 

Zern, Richard White, Alex Keese, Johnny 

Hicks, Jake Elder, Don Douglas, Booger Marshall, 

Meyer Rachofsky, Roy Kanter, Edwin 

Tobolowsky, Ed Gall and Ben Gold. Edwin 

Tobolowsky is first assistant chief barker; 

Roy Kanter, second assistant; W. L. Marshall, 

property master, and Meyer Rachofsky 

is dough guy. 

Kendall Way offered his personal support 

and the help of his board in handing the 

gavel to Clyde Rembert. Rembert introduced 

the new and members of the advisory 

council. 

"The presence of the following men on the 

newly formed advisory council represents 

knowledge, know-how, experience and a 

representation of every single segment of 

the industry. If any of you have anything 

on your mind which you think is not right 

about the way in which the club is run, 

please feel free to come to any member of the 

board or advisory council and tell what you 

have in mind. If you are right, the matter 

will be corrected, and if you are wrong, we 

shall tell you so. Members of the council 

are John Q. Adams, Dick Butler, James O. 

Cherry, Duke Clark, Jack Corgan, Frank 

Dowd, Claude Ezell, Freddie Hansen, Phil 

Isley, Ed McLemore, Ernest Lovan, Ronald 

Martin. William Mitchell, Charlie Meeker, 

MEET THE JESTER—R. I. 

Payne, executive 

of Frontier Theatres, left, and 

John Rowley, president of Rowley United 

Theatres, right, pose with Danny Kaye in 

Dallas, where he stopped recently on a 

national tour in behalf of "The Court 

Jester." R. J. O'Donnell presented a 

plaque to Kaye in appreciation of his 

work in behalf of the United Nations 

Children's International Fund. He dubbed 

Kaye "Master of laughter and lord 

of the open heart" in the presentation 

at the Dallas Variety Club. 

E. L. Pack, Harry Sachs, Jack Underwood and 

Charles Weisenberg." 

Rembert declared himself to the membership 

as follows: "I hold no political obligation 

whatsoever. My only interest in Variety is 

to see that this club becomes one of the 

finest in the city, and I know that it can 

be done. 

"Our club is at the crossroads. I believe in 

action as well as words, and intend to the 

best of my ability to put what I say into 

action. Your club is going to be run on a 

business-like basis, and we shall post every 

month a financial statement. 

"Your Variety Club is in a most unique 

position. It is the only one, besides the Salesmanship 

Club, which has a philanthropic 

obligation. I sincerely believe that if Variety 

does not fully appreciate this obligation, I 

personally cannot see any place for Variety 

as a social club. 

"Our objective this year will be twofold; 

first, to provide necessary funds for Variety 

Club Boys Ranch at Bedford and second, 

to build a better club for the social benefit 

of the members. 

"The present facilities of the club are not 

adequate for our future plans. The absence 

of the ladies of the club is a disappointment 

to me, but I know this will be corrected with 

the new and larger quarters. We have plans 

for good entertainment every Saturday night. 

"This club is comprised of membership 

which can accomplish anything it desires to 

undertake. I want to assure you that with the 

help of this fine board of directors, the new 

advisory council, the associate members and 

the general members, I shall leave nothing 

unturned to build the finest club in Dallas." 

Rabbi Silverman gave the invocation. Members 

were served a delicious buffet dinner. 

Rembert called upon Wallace Walthall to report 

on heart committee activities and to conduct 

the brief memorial service for members 

who died during the year. Walthall told 

members of the conditions of Louis Charninsky, 

C. W. A. McCormick, Roy Thrash, V W. 

Crisp, Jack Axelrod. Rex McCullough and 

Clyde Houston. 

Members who died during the year included 

Ray Beall, James B. Courtney, William C. 

Ellis, Jimmie Allard, Milton Spruce, Ralph 

Thorniley, Hal Norfleet, Ken Lavine, Malcom 

McLarry, Judge William McCraw, Harold 

Schwarz and Audrey Cox. 

Stores Host Townsfolk 

FAIRFIELD, IOWA—Over 2,000 persons 

crowded the Coed Theatre to see a motion 

picture as guests of the Fairfield merchants. 

R. A. Dunnuck, manager of the theatre, said 

at one time there were 150 persons waiting 

in line to get in the theatre. Each year 

several Fairfield merchants sponsor the holiday 

movie party as a method of thanking 

their customers for their patronage during 

the year. 

Passes to Older Citizens 

SELMA, ALA.—Manager Roger Butler jr. 

of the Wilby Theatre sent Christmas gift 

passes to 56 elderly people In the Selma area. 

The names were supplied by the Department 

of Pensions and Security. 

BOXOFFICE : 

: January 

7, 1956 SW 55

: January 

'55 Highlights in Dallas Film Trade 

DALLAS—A review of events ill 

motion picture industry during 1955: 

the Texas 

JANUARY 

Ray A. Beall, well-known theatre advertising 

executive, died at 55. Audie Murphy attended 

the premiere of "This Is the Army" 

in Dallas. Charles E. Darden opened concessions 

and popcorn brokerage business. Kendall 

Way installed as chief barker of Tent 

17, and Mack Howard installed as head of 

Houston Tent 34. Rowley United Circuit held 

its annual meeting for managers and partners. 

Ezell Drive-In Theatres executives and 

managers held their annual convention in 

Galveston. 

FEBRUARY 

William Lewis was named managing director 

of the Melba Cinerama Theatre. Texas 

exhibitors pledged their support in toll TV 

fight. The Imperial Theatre, a conventional 

house, was opened at Waco. "The Birth of a 

Nation" played at the Plaza for the last time 

in Dallas. Jack Swiger appointed general 

chairman of the Claude Ezell jubilee testimonial. 

MARCH 

Variety Club of Houston held gigantic 

fashion show in Shamrock Hotel for benefit 

of the Boys Club there. Claude Ezell golden 

jubilee banquet held at the Baker Hotel just 

prior to the Texas Drive-In Theatre Owners 

Ass'n convention. MGM Ticket Selling Workshop 

in Dallas attended by more than 1,000. 

Amusement Industry Credit Ass'n was formed 

by allied industries such as concessions, 

equipment, etc. 

Dan Lawson named president of Associated 

Popcorn Distributors. Testimonial dinner 

in Beaumont honored Julius Gordon, president 

of Jefferson Amusement Co. Women of 

the Motion Picture Industry held a Pioneer 

banquet honoring Leroy Bickel, Uncle Joe 

Luckett, and Johnny Hardin. 

Texas COMPO Oscar Audience poll proved 

to be a real business stimulator for the month. 

APRIL 

Variety Club of Dallas sponsored banquet 

honoring Eddie Brannick, the New York 

Giants and the Cleveland Indians. Variety 

Club golf tournament held April 2, 3. Julius 

Gordon, Jefferson Amusement, left for Europe 

to attend the meeting of Union Internationale 

de 1' Exploitation Cinematographique in Paris. 

MAY 

Rowley Theatres honored Buck Jones in its 

"May is Movie Month for Good Times Jubilee" 

promotion. Movie discount cards for teenagers 

set up by Interstate Theatres, and followed 

by others. A large delegation from 

Dallas and Houston attended the Variety International 

convention at Los Angeles. Lorena 

Cullimore, Columbia, elected president of 

the WOMPI. 

JUNE 

Edmund Mudge given a special citation 

plaque for interest in Boys Ranch at regular 

meeting of Variety Club of Dallas. Texas 

COMPO announced 22nd anniversary celebration 

of the opening of the first drive-in theatre 

to be held August 26. 

JULY 

Texas COMPO celebrated the fourth anniversary 

of its public relations efforts for the 

motion picture industry. Jimmy Stewart and 

other stars premiered "The Man From Laramie" 

in four Texas key cities. Variety Boys 

Club. Houston, passed its 5,000th membership. 

J. Wood Fain celebrated the 20th anniversary 

of his operation of theatres in Woodville 

with a ten-day celebration. Fred Putnam, 

noted theatre manager in Port Arthur, took 

a public relations position in New York. Ezell 

& Associates opened the Parkaire Drive-In in 

San Antonio. 

AUGUST 

Col. H. A. Cole presented $1,000 check to 

Sam Rayburn Memorial Library Fund. Jack 

Arthur, Stephenville exhibitor, elected a 

member of the board of directors of the 

Stephenville State Bank. Robert E. Clint 

named director of the Variety Club Boys 

Ranch at Bedford. Ezell & Associates de luxe 

drive-in theatres sold to Lone Star and 

Bordertown Theatres. Claude Ezell opened 

new office at 2009 Jackson St. Audie Murphy 

premiered "To Hell and Back" in Texas. 

SEPTEMBER 

Variety Club of Dallas held annual Turtle 

Derby at fairgrounds with travel trips as 

awards. Texas COMPO and BOXOFFICE 

magazine announced a most successful 

nationwide celebration of "The 22nd Anniversary 

of the First Drive-In Theatre." Bill 

Creagh, Trail Drive-In, Breckenridge, spoke 

before Lions Club on pay-as-you-see TV. 

WOMPI of Dallas members attended con- 

Hey- SOUTHWESTERN has 

(with its new division -STB 

Southwestern Theatre Equipment Company in Houston is at 1619 

56 BOXOFFICE 

: 

7, 1956

vention in New Orleans where Lorraine Cass 

was elected national president. 

OCTOBER 

Texas COMPO and BOXOFFICE announced 

winners in Drive-In Theatre Week promotions. 

Interstate Theatres and WOMPI's 

conducted "Jewels of the Motion Picture Industry" 

exhibit at the State Fail- of Texas 

with beneficial public relations results. Border 

and Lone Star Drive-in Theatres moved 

to new address near Industrial boulevard. 

"The Desperate Hours" given special sneak 

screening for press folk from the southwest. 

NOVEMBER 

Judge William McCraw, executive director 

of Variety International, died. A large delegation 

from Texas attended the Allied and 

equipment conventions in Chicago. Clyde 

Rembert, KRLD-TV, was elected chief barker 

of Tent 17. Chill Wills, as emcee of a Telethon 

in Amarillo, raised more than $20,000 in 

16 hours. 

DECEMBER 

Southwestern Theatre Equipment Co., 

moved from Pilmrow to 965 Slocum Blvd. 

Variety Boys Ranch Christmas party at Bedford 

was a great success. The shortage of 

good product became the main topic of conversation 

among visiting exhibitors. In spite 

of the many problems people in show business 

looked to the coming year with enthusiasm 

and spirit. This was reflected at the New 

Year's Eve party presented by Variety Club 

of Dallas which exhibitors from all over the 

state attended. 

Nunnally Johnson is megging the Darryl 

F. Zanuck production, "The Man in the Gray 

Flannel Suit," a 20th-Fox release. 

C. C. Hoover Takes Helm 

At Modern Equipment Co. 

DALLAS—Henry S. Sorenson has sold a 

controlling interest in his Modern Theatre 

Equipment Co.. effective on January 1. 

C. C. "Speed" Hoover took direct charge under 

an affiliation arrangement with Sterling 

Sales & Service. Sorenson retains an equity 

in Modern Theatre Equipment Co., and will 

serve in an advisory capacity. 

The name of Modern Theatre Equipment 

Co. will be retained, Hoover said, and there 

will be no changes in personnel. Hoover said 

that Modern Equipment is an old and honored 

name in the theatre equipment and supply 

business with a history of more than 30 

years of successful operation and that it was 

his aim to have Modern carry on in the 

same fine tradition. 

"I am certain," said Sorenson, "the new 

management will continue to furnish the 

same good service in the future as I have 

tried to in the past, and I know Speed 

Hoover has plans to amplify the service facilities 

and enlarge the inventory. I will 

still retain an equity in Modern and expect to 

maintain a keen interest in its future progress." 

Dothan Kids Attend Party 

DOTHAN, ALA.—Davis Theatres invited all 

children in the Dothan area to a free movie 

at the Martin Theatre on the day before 

Christmas. Santa Claus appeared and passed 

out free ice cream. 

Sculptor Howard Ball will make six versions 

of a bust of Joan Fontaine to be used in 

separate takes of the Warner film, "Serenade." 

ACTOR IN HOUSTON—Kirk Douglas, 

with Loew's State Theatre Manager, 

Homer McCallon and Ted Nabors from 

KTHT, during a recording session at the 

luncheon in the Normandie Club preceding 

opening of his picture, "Indian 

Fighter," at Loew's New Year's Eve. A 

new big, Texas hat was presented by Mrs. 

McCallon after a remark by Kirk that 

he should be wearing one to be a real 

Texan. 

Stop Sunday-Monday Shows 

GREEN CITY, MO.—The Odeon Theatre 

here has discontinued Sunday and Monday 

shows. Shows now are conducted on Wednesdays, 

Fridays and Saturdays with bank night 

on Wednesdays. 

Will Rip Bust to Pieces 

In the Warner picture, "Serenade," Mario 

Lanza will rip to pieces the bust of Joan 

Fontaine in a a simulated rage. 

noved into new, larger quarters 

O Wholesale Distributors) 

«vo* e SoW* 

V*Sl-* ^ "Vo 

**• 

,'H 

m -5fM -* 

eed u« der 

Including 

EE PARRISH 

who heads the 

new STEC0 

Division! 

But no change in 

©the phone num 

ber 

(PR-3571) 

or (2) Good 

// STEC0 Service 

C*_jlX^ 

Austin, phone CApitol 9906 (full concession line in Houston too!!) 

BOXOFFICE : 

: January 7, 1956 57

EASTERN OKLAHOMA 

By ART LaMAN 

\JTE JUST hate to bid goodby to 1955; we 

have Riown rather fond of the old beatup 

fellow. Many are the things that have 

happened during 1955, some good, some bad. 

Around the theatres there has been more 

hustle than any year since back in the 1940s. 

Many guys have found out that hustling can 

help a whole lot more than beefing. There 

are plenty of beefers left, of course. Maybe 

during the coming year they too will hit the 

ball with more work and less gripes. 

This writer would like to see more theatres 

trying added attractions during 1956, such as 

some good stage shows. A few theatres could 

get together on such attractions, thereby cutting 

the cost down to where they would make 

money. And they would attract more customers 

to the boxoffice who could very well 

become regulars. Other theatres that are 

not equipped to run stage shows could hustle 

up some extra business with special gimmicks. 

But some of the boys will say, "We 

just don't like gimmicks," which may be very 

true, but on the other hand they don't like 

empty seats. Yes we think that 1956 will be 

the year to go after those extra bucks with 

every device and method that can be used. 

* * • 

T-Town is over its mad Christmas rush, 

but there's a lot of whing-dings and night 

clubs hitting the highs with bands, floor 

shows and prices, plus a few headaches on 

New Year's Eve. Around the theatres there 

is a great array of fine pictures. At the 

Will Komis is "The Court-Martial of Billy 

Mitchell," a great first run with Gary 

Cooper; the Delman is playing "Rebel Without 

a Cause," which should rack up an alltime 

high of teenage patrons; the Orpheum 

The Rains of Ranchipur," and the Ritz, 

"All That Heaven Allows," plus Bob Mack at 

the organ in a presentation of fine music. 

We'd say that the way Tulsa likes this fellow 

that he could be held over for many weeks 

to come. 

The Majestic, which has been worked over 

with a new widescreen added, is enjoying a 

nice business playing double features, a policy 

that should put this fine theatre back in 

the black. 

Prices at the Rialto have been reduced to 

50 cents adults, 20 cents for the kids, which 

should help build some family trade. 

The Royal Theatre, under the piloting of 

Jimmie McKenna, was closed a few days for 

some facelifting on the inside. It reopened 

with a smash business. 

Gene Welsh of the Delman recently started 

a Saturday afternoon show for kids with approval 

of the PTA and other civic groups. 

Alex Blue, boss of the Admiral Twin Drivein, 

was back on the job feeling mighty good 

after an operation. 

Earl Snyder jr. has both his drive-ins 

closed for the winter, but he is plenty busy 

heading the entertainment committee for the 

coming Oklahoma Theatre Owners convention 

to be held in Oklahoma City February 

8, 9. You can bet that Earl will come up 

with some mighty worthwhile entertainment. 

We enjoyed the show at the Plaza Art 

Cinema, "The Bed," and we also enjoyed 

seeing those seats full of people, 

Plaza Manager Bill Donaldson has a dandy. 

Alec Guinness in "To Paris With Love." 

• • • 

Spent a bit of time with Red Slocum, 

executive director of UTOO. Red was getting 

out the weekly bulletin—one of which we 

brought along for the files. For nonmembers 

we will pass along one part of bulletin 15; 

"A man lived by the side of the road and sold hot 

dogs 

He was hard of hearing so he had no radio 

He hod trouble with his eyes so he read no newspapers 

But he sold good hot dogs 

He put up signs on the highway telling how good 

they were 

He stood by the side of the rood and cried, "Buy a 

hot dog, Mister." 

And people bought 

He increased his meat and bun orders 

He bought o bigger stove to take core of hts trade 

He got his son home from college to help him 

But then something happened . . . 

His son said, "Father, haven't you been listening to 

the radio? 

There's o depression on 

The European situation is terrible 

The Domestic situation is worse" 

Whereupon the father thought, "Well, my son's been 

to college. 

He reads the papers and he listens to the radio, 

and he ought to know" 

So the fother cut down on his meat and bun orders 

Took down his advertising signs 

And no longer bothered to stond out on the highwoy 

to sell hot dogs 

And his hot dog sales fell, almost overnight 

"You're right, son," the father said to the boy 

"We certainly are in the middle of a great depression." 

Fastest Switch In Soft Drink History 

63% more theatres now vending Pepsi than one year ago. 

And here's why Pepsi is the right choice for your theatre. 

MORE DRINKS PER GALLON 

MORE PROFIT PER DRINK 

Pepsi profit tops all nationally advertised and nationally 

available cola syrup lines. Pepsi's syrup price is 

the lowest of any nationally advertised cola—far 

lower than the nearest comparable cola. Add extra 

profits from Pepsi's extra drinks—128 drinks per 

gallon, compared with 115 for the nearest comparable 

cola. 

PEPSI IS AMERICA'S FASTEST 

GROWING COLA DRINK 

Write for full details. 

We'll be around to discuss 

this important subject with you. 

Sterling Sales & Service, Inc. 

Theatre Equipment Supplies & Service 

Phone PR-3191 • 2019 Jackson Street • Dallas, Texas 

58 

BOXOFFICE :: January 7, 1956

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Prepared especially for easy serving and convenient eating, 

ATCO CHILI SAUCE with MEAT is a favorite with drive-in 

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CHECK THESE REASONS WHY: 

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PHONE STerling 5524 • DALLAS 26, TEXAS 

BOXOFTICE :: January 7. 1956 59

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ASTOR PICTURES COMPANY 

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3409 Oak Lawn, Room 107 

COOLING 

Wt'ry fancy purple and powder blue invitations 

were sent out to Variety Club members 

by Rex Van, manager, for the first annual 

New Year's Eve party. There were 

dancing, a vaudeville floor show, Joe Scalise 

and his orchestra and a smorgasbord breakfast. 

Favors were jeweled can-openers, no 

The last Variety letter sent out carried 

less! . . . 

a facsimile of the New Year's Eve party 

Manager Van went to Dallas to 

tickets . . . 

spend Christmas with his mother. 

Number 2 VVOMPI Cinema-Scoop cover 

decoration was a Christmas greeting message 

in the form of a Christmas tree to Atlanta, 

Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Jacksonville. Memphis. 

New Orleans, Toronto and Washington 

. . . Karleen Schmitt (Mrs. Augie—Houston 

Popcorn Co. 

i is chairman of the committee 

to select a charity project to sponsor. 

It has been decided to spend at least $20 for 

clothing for one of the alone-in-the-world 

girls at Bayland Home for Girls, and to collect 

other money in a bank at meetings to 

give to the girl for spending-money. At 

Christmas a worthy and needy Mexican family 

was given a Christmas basket. Other 

members of the service committee are Laura 

Knopp (River Oaks Theatre' and Ethel Kirby 

(Bluebonnet Express.) 

. 

Morris Konstantine is the new manager of 

the Pasadena Drive-In. Morris Bates, former 

manager, is reported to have gone to 

Louisiana . . Paul Hockuli. Houston Press 

amusement editor, gave his annual Christmas 

gift to Loew's State Theatre Manager Homer 

McCallon and Interstate Theatres' Conrad 

Brady—he let each write a critique of current 

movies in 

KXYZ radio 

their theatres . . . Fred Nahas, 

executive, has just finished 

a series of 25 public appearances on behalf of 

boys' work. At the end of an evening of 

praise from Fred to Boy Scouts and from 

their leaders to him, he is reported to have 

found four hub caps missing from his car! 

Variety Club President Mack Howard has 

been named director of entertainment of the 

1956 Houston National Automobile Show by 

chairman Al Parker. It runs January 7-15 

in the Coliseum. Mack has already snagged 

Julius LaRosa, Lawrence Welk, Bill Lundigan 

and Mary Costa, The Mascots, Shep 

Fields and his "Rippling Rhythm" orchestra, 

Curly Fox and Miss Texas Ruby and their 

whole gang, Beaumont's Famous Melody 

Maids, Stan Musial, Dizzy Dean, Eddie Dyer, 

Harry Walker, Solly Hemus, Howie Pollet 

and many others . brand new 1956 

automobiles will be given away as prizes, 

plus many other valuable things. Tickets 

are $1 and can be purchased from any Variety 

Club or Variety Boys Club member, or from 

members of the Rotary Club or Little League 

Club. All proceeds will go to the 10,000 boys 

in Variety Boys Club and Rotary Little 

League. 

Homer McCallon and United Artists' Addie 

Addison were hosts at a luncheon in the Normandie 

Club Wednesday (28> in honor of 

Kirk Douglas. Kirk's new film. "The Indian 

EQUIPMENT 

BUFFALO ENGINEERING CO., INC Dallas, Texai 

Fighter," started Saturday (31) at Loew's. 

. 

Metropolitan Theatre had another sneak 

preview along with "Simba, Terror of Mau 

M;iu" Thursday night i29) at 7:45. It was 

originally scheduled for Tuesday . . The 

. 

Kirby Theatre is running "The Bed" 

The French comedy, "The Sheep Has Five 

Legs," starring Fernandel, who plays six different 

parts, opened Friday (30) at the River 

Oaks Theatre instead of Saturday, as first 

announced . Oak Drive-In ran a 

"giant three-show holiday extravaganza" 

with "Rock n Roll Revue" and "Tanga Tika" 

plus "Gorilla at Large" . Center Twin 

Drive-In celebrated New Year's Eve with a 

dusk-to-dawn moviethon, showing "14 top 

variety attractions"—seven features, seven 

cartoons and comedies. 

. . . 

Kenny Stroud, manager of the Market 

Street Drive-in, has just bought a used car 

with everything, including air conditioning. 

Kenny is a student at the University of Houston, 

where he ranks fourth in his class of 

accounting Tommie Griffith flew to 

Ardmore, Okla., recently to play nursemaid 

to her parents' children and cows while they 

took off for Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. M. A. 

Thomason, both school teachers, won an 

expense-paid trip on 4-H activities. 

Other theatres having New Year's Eve 

dusk-to-dawn shows were Interstate's South 

Main and Shepherd and Post Oak Drive-In, 

where everybody in attendance at 3 a. m. got 

free coffee and doughnuts. King Center 

Drive-In gave free coffee after midnight. 

Others with just plain "midnight" New Year's 

Eve shows were, Bellaire, Delman. Capitan, 

ftViL^FAST mimiKiURUSH 

THE SERVICE YOU WANT 

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Mil PICTURE SERVICE Co 

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

Gerald L. Karski.... President 

60 BOXOFFICE 

: 

: January 

7, 1956

. . . OST 

Uptown, Majestic, Metropolitan, River Oaks, 

Tower, Almeda, Alabama, Village, North 

Main, Fulton, Santa Rosa, Wayside, Garden 

Oaks, Eastwood and Granada. Other driveins 

with midnighters were Winkler, Pasadena, 

Irvington, Hempstead, Airline, Hi Nabor and 

Red Bluff. Nine Interstate houses had a 

New Year's kiddies show Saturday morning, 

as did the Capitan and Granada Theatres 

matinee." 

Theatre had a "mammoth kiddies 

. . 

The father of M. M. "Mitch" Lewis, Lewis 

Theatres, died recently . . . King Center 

Twin Drive-In gave a bonus with each $10 

purchase of theatre ticket books of an ounce 

bottle of imported French perfume. Jefferson 

Amusement Co.'s Julius Gordon purchased 

a supply of the perfume when he was 

in Europe last summer . . . Irving Cohn of 

Jefferson Amusement Co.. Beaumont, was in 

Houston on business . Harold Mitchamore, 

Market Street Drive-In, is reported to have 

gone hunting every day for two weeks without 

even seeing anything to shoot. Finally, 

at LaGrange, he saw a buck—shot mucho 

times—missed 

Theatre Robbery Foiled 

When Manager Injured 

ST. LOUIS—An apparent attempt to rob 

Louis Speros, manager of the Marquette Theatre, 

of the night's receipts was foiled when 

he dropped the cash box after being struck 

on the head with a hammer. The box flew 

open and the money was scattered in all 

directions. This unexpected development 

caused the would-be robber to flee from the 

scene. 

Mrs. Floy Jones, a policewoman attached to 

the juvenile division who was in the theatre 

lobby, arrested Donald R. Small, 20, as he. 

was running from the theatre. Small a few 

minutes later was identified by Speros as 

his assailant. Speros was treated at the Max 

C. Starkloff Memorial Hospital for a head 

injury. Mrs. Jones halted Small at gunpoint 

as he ran to the street. 

Family Ratings Missing 

In Joint Estimate List 

NEW YORK—No family ratings were given 

any of the 13 pictures reviewed in the December 

15 issue of joint estimates compiled 

by the Film Estimate Board of National Organizations. 

Ten were rated for adults and 

young people and three for adults. 

The ten pictures are: "The Prisoner" (Col), 

"The Road to Denver" (Rep), "The Spoilers" 

(U-I) v "The Square Jungle" (U-I), "Target 

Zero" (WB), "Top Gun" (UAi, "The Vanishing 

American" (Rep), "Hell's Horizon" 

(.Col), "A Lawless Street" (Col) and "Texas 

Lady" (RKO). 

The three adult pictures are "Lover Boy" 

(20th-Fox), "The Crooked Web" (Col) and 

"Desert Sands" (UA). 

"Three Stripes in the Sun" (Col) was recommended 

for use by teachers of English, social 

studies and home economics. 

Remodel Marfa Airer 

MARFA, TEX.—Plans are nearing completion 

for the extensive remodeling of the 

Marfa Drive-In Theatre, Manager Clifton 

Durham said here. Work will get started 

in January, he added, and is to be finished 

in time for the official spring opening. 

Throughout the winter, the airer operates 

only Saturday and Sunday nights. Remodeling 

work will include widening of the screen. 

The back of the tower will be closed in and 

many new features will be added. 

RKO Gets 'Brain Machine' 

NEW YORK—RKO Radio has acquired 

rights to "The Brain Machine" for release in 

North and South America and the Far East, 

states Walter Branson, vice-president in 

charge of distribution. It is a mystery melodrama 

produced by Alec Snowden and directed 

by Ken Hughes. Patrick Ban- 

, Elizabeth 

Allan and Maxwell Reed are starred. 

Don t 

Wait! 

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Leatherette by yard—or 

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Back and bottom slip-on covers 

made to order. 

Write for sample covers. 

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Mennen Buys 'Passport' 

From ABC Syndication 

NEW YORK—The Mennen Co. has bought 

"Passport to Danger," half-hour television 

film show starring Cesar Romero, from ABC 

Film Syndication, according to George T. 

Shupert, ABC president. 

It will be backed by a merchandising exploitation 

campaign in 30 major markets in 

which there will be direct contact through 

mailing promotion between Romero and drug 

and food store retailers, amounting to about 

50 per cent of the U. S. total. There will 

also be display newspaper advertising and 

TV announcements in each city. The "Passport" 

series was produced for TV by Hal 

Roach jr. 

Eastman Develops Method 

Of Filming TV in Color 

ROCHESTER—Eastman Kodak Co. has 

developed a speedy kinescope recording of 

color television programs. The new system 

makes it possible to record a color television 

program on special black and white film 

called lenticular film—and to retelecast the 

program in color. The film can be processed 

in an hour. 

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LUBBOCK— B & H Warehouse, Inc. 

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I -6 134 DALLAS, TEXAS 

BOXOFTICE : 

: January 7. 1956 61

. . . Senor 

. . John 

. . Pete 

. . . Midnight 

SAN ANTONIO 

. . . 

"White 

. . . Interstate has booked 

. 

"The Hi-IIo played "A Christmas Carol" In 

keeping with the holiday 

Christmas" was advertised as the picture of 

the hour at the Mission Drive-In . C. 

Ramirez. Dallas, was here visiting his folks 

over the holidays 

"Helen of Troy" for the Aztec January 26 

A. Arias of the Aztecs Film* office 

staff, was passing out cigars on Christinas 

Eve. He became father for the sixth time 

. . . San Antonio had its warmest Christmas 

Day m history. It was 90 degrees . . . Business 

at the theatres was very slack over the 

yuletide holidays Wesley Ketner, 

former actor and theatreman, now is recuperating 

at home following a 42-day stay 

in a Ideal hospital. 

Visiting the Alamo City during the holidays 

were Billy Sharp. Los Angeles; Johnny 

Floore. Helotes; Kirk Douglas, Hollywood; 

Jose Carabaza, Laredo; Jose Tavar, vaudeville 

booking agent, Monterey, Mex.: J. J. 

Ornelas jr., U. S. Marine base, San Diego, 

Calif, i his father is Azteca Films auditor 

h re) and others. 

4 insertions for the price of 3 — SAVE! 

. . . 

Azteca Films now is listed in the telephone 

directory with a no answer number for use 

at night or in case of emergencies—PE 5-2336 

The Zapata, Sinton, has closed for the 

RIGHT 

TIME 

is the RIGHT Time 

to buy, sell, trade or locate 

with 

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results at low cost. Readers are in the business — 

they have buying power. Get into this big market 

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BOXOFFICE Gets Action 

winter and will reopen next spring . . . Andres 

Huesca, popular Mexican film star and harpist 

is currently playing south Texas theatres 

under the genial guidance of Luis del Villar 

. . . Mateo Vila, of the Iris and Alice motored 

to Galveston where his wife is a patient at 

the John Sealy Hospital there. 

The Josephine screened Azteca's "Enmascarado 

de Plata" (The Silver-Masked Marvel) 

one morning recently. It is the latest Azteca 

serial release . . . Visitors to the film exchanges 

were plentiful during the latter part 

of December. Just to name a few, there were 

H. A. Daniels, Palace and Texas, Seguin; 

Amador Cabellero, the Ritz, Benavides; 

Gustave Lavenant, Haydee, Dilley; Frank 

Trevino, Ideal, Pearsall; Jacinto Fraga, 

Azteca, Natalia; Frank Fletcher, Ritz, Houston; 

Renee Benitez, Benitez Theatres, Weslaco; 

Bob Brown, Coyonosa Theatre, Coyonosa, 

and Gilbert Sanchez, manager, the 

Pena, New Braunfels, Tex. 

. . 

Kirk Douglas' first production for Bryna, 

"The Indian Fighter" opens at the Majestic 

January 18 . . . "One Step to Eternity" played 

the Arts New Year's week . The Olmos had 

"Svengali" as its New Year's Eve midnighter 

show at the Majestic December 

31 was "The Lieutenant Wore Skirts" . . . 

Clasa-Mohme and Azteca Films were closed 

over the New Year weekend holiday. 

DALLAS 

Cam H. Heath, brother of Mrs. Ernest Herber, 

Herber Theatre Equipment Co., died 

Thursday (29) at his place of business here. 

Services were held at Marrs, Munday, Quill 

Chapel Friday, and the body was sent to 

Austin for interment. He is survived by his 

wife Florence and son Samuel James . . . 

Several hundred Variety members and guests 

saw the old year out at the annual Variety 

New Year's party in the grand ballroom of 

the Adolphus Hotel . . . Seen along Filmrow 

were Sonny Martini, Galveston; Clyde 

Williams, Texas, Knox City; W. J. Chesher, 

Palace, Littlefield; Posy Williams, Roxy, 

Mundy; Jack Lilly, Palace, Commerce, and 

Mr. and Mrs. I. R. Causey, Royse, Royse City. 

Six Kentuckians Plan 

To Build Drive-in 

CYNTHIANA, KY.-A group of six Cynthiana 

men, under the name of the Bourbon 

Entertainment Co., has filed application with 

Bourbon County Clerk Ed D. Paton for a 

permit to build a drive-in theatre at the 

intersection of the Jackstown road and Highway 

68. If the application is granted, the 

theatre will be erected on an eight-acre tract 

now owned by Amos Taylor. 

Members of the company are J. L. Skidmore, 

a hardware dealer: Dr. R. T. McMurtry, 

physician; John M. Keith, attorney; Dr. H. H. 

Moody, physician; J. L. Thomson, automotive 

dealer, and Louis Marcks, manager of the 

Midway Drive-in near Cynthiana. 

Free Shows at Clarion, Iowa 

CLARION, IOWA—Two holiday events 

were scheduled at the Clarion Theatre. A free 

show for children was presented, with the 

American Legion distributing candy in the 

lobby afterwards. The annual merchants 

show was held December 21 at 1 p.m. Admission 

was by ticket only, with tickets 

available in stores sponsoring the show. 

G2 

BOXOFFICE 

: 

: January 

7, 1956

. . . Rapid 

. . Tom 

Minneapolis 'Guys' 

In Another Big Week 

MINNEAPOLIS—In its second week, "Guys 

and Dolls" was still clicking mightily here, 

outdistancing all competitors again by a 

considerable margin. Holdovers dominated 

the scene but a pair of newcomers, "Artists 

and Models" and "The Lieutenant Wore 

Skirts," were well up in the money and the 

twin bill "Tarantula" and "Running Wild" 

gave a good account of itself. It was the 

second week for "The Indian Fighter," "The 

Rains of Ranchipur" and "The Trouble With 

Harry." Holiday trade was brisk down the 

line. 


Gopher The Rains of Ranchipur (20rh-Fox), 2nd 

wk 125 

Lyric The Indian Fighter (UA), 2nd wk 140 

Orpheum Guys and Dolls (MGM), 2nd wk 250 

Pan— Running Wild (U-l); Tarantula (U-l) 115 

Radio City Artists and Models (Para) 150 

State The Lieutenant Wore Skirts (20th-Fox). ... 125 

World The Trouble With Harry (Para), 2nd wk.. .125 

MINNEAPOLIS 

•Twentieth-Fox's new 55mm screening process 

. . 

will reach Minneapolis February 6. 

The demonstration will include footage from 

"Carousel" and "The King and I" . . . Warner 

Bros, invitation screening of "The Court- 

Martial of Billy Mitchell" brought out a large 

audience of exhibitors and others at the 

neighborhood Loring Theatre . The Capitol 

at Bismarck, N. D., has installed Cinemascope, 

and been partially rebuilt and redecorated by 

Fleck & Wetzstein. 

Circuit owner Bill Volk was vacationing 

in Florida . . . Dick and Don, sons of Ralph 

Maw, MGM district manager, are bringing 

another big musical attraction to Minneapolis. 

The young impresarios have inked the famous 

Sauter-Finegan band for an appearance at 

the Lyceum January 14 . . . The Avalon held 

the Italian "The Girl From the Marshes" for 

a second week. Its large Sunday newspaper 

ads emphasized in bold type "Please, Please 

Don't! It's a Sin." 

Before his departure for a vacation in Mexico 

and Cuba, Ben Berger, North Central 

Allied president, was presented a plaque at a 

dinner in recognition of his service for Israeli 

causes. The dinner was the climax of a 

successful drive to raise $30,000 to plant 

a 20,000-tree forest in his name in 

Israel . . . Tom Burke, head of Theatre Associates, 

buying and booking group, is a member 

of the recently organized National Ass'n 

of Film Service Organizations. 

The Variety Club will install Sim Heller as 

chief barker, and other officers Tuesday 

(10) . . . Herb Blass, former Warner city salesman 

here who now is Des Moines manager, 

spent the holidays in Minneapolis . . . Jess 

McBride, Paramount manager, was in St. 

Louis, his hometown, for the holidays . . . 

After spending the holidays at home in Emerson, 

Man., Donna Stinson, secretary to Joe 

NEW FOX WISCONSIN 

HEAD—Albert 

P. Frank, recently selected by Elmer 

C. Rhoden, National Theatre president, 

to head the Fox Wisconsin division, will 

move his family to Milwaukee soon. 

Frank succeeds Gordon Hewett. 

Rosen, booking manager at Paramount, returned 

with an engagement ring. Her 

fiance is Flying Officer Bob Smith of the Canadian 

air force . . . Don Swartz of the American 

Releasing Corp. reports "The Day the 

World Ended" and "Phantom From 10,000 

Leagues" opened to big business in Milwaukee 

Earl Fainblit from Winnipeg succeeds 

. . . Larry Wilk as Allied Artists head booker. 

Wilk resigned to re-enter the University of 

20th-Fox waited until after 

Minnesota . . . 

Christmas to hold its Christmas party. 

Chick Evens was in from Milwaukee to beat 

the drum for "The Lieutenant Wore Skirts" 

City, S. D., is seeking the world 

premiere of "The Last Hunt" . . . Al Aved of 

Aved Theatre Service, buying and booking 

group, was vacationing in the South for a 

month . Burke, Theatre Associates 

topper, was holidaying in Mexico. 

Watson, Graettinger, la.. 

Bought by George Basta 

GRAETTINGER, IOWA — Sam Watson, 

owner and operator of the Watson Theatre, 

has announced the sale of the theatre equipment 

and Dairy Sweet equipment to George 

Basta of Alexandria, Minn. The new owner 

is slated to take possession March 1. Watson 

also announced that he has purchased a 240- 

acre farm from Basta and Watson will also 

take possession of the farm March 1. 

In retiring from the operation of the theatre, 

Watson said he will not retire from 

active business life but plans to maintain a 

downtown office from where he will conduct 

his various business affairs and take part In 

community and civic affairs. Watson owns 

land, houses and an apartment house here. 

Anita Theatre Reopens 

After C of C Campaign 

ANITA, IOWA—The Anita Theatre has reopened 

here after requests spearheaded by a 

vigorous endorsement of the chamber of 

commerce. The theatre had been closed for 

one week. 

Bill Proctor, owner and manager of the 

theater, said he closed the house because the 

people of the community failed to patronize 

it sufficiently. He reopened after the chamber 

of commerce and other groups offered 

to support him in promoting attendance. He 

states that the theatre is in no way subsidized, 

but that it is "a community theatre, 

and if the people want to keep it, it is up to 

the people to support it by their patronage 

and attendance." 

The Chamber of Commerce sent out letters 

over the signature of President E. D. Brocker, 

urging that people patronize the theatre, and 

recognize that a community must provide 

such a place of entertainment for its young 

people. And above all, the group urged that 

folks of this region give the local movie the 

first choice. 

The Chamber pointed out that once a 

movie house is definitely closed it is difficult 

to reopen. The prompt action here made it 

possible for the theatre to start again without 

losing momentum. 

Northwest Enters '56 

In Sound Condition 

MINNEAPOLIS—This territory enters 1956 

in sound shape. The Minneapolis Federal 

Reserve Bank reports near peak levels of 

prosperity were reached by the region in 1955. 

The Northwest's prosperity was attained in 

the face of "a troublesome price situation 

which is a strong factor in its business activity," 

the report emphasizes. 

Three major developments during the past 

12 months stand out—these are the second 

largest crop in history, record livestock marketings 

and an unusually high peak reached 

by the mines and factories. Tremendous 

demand for steel boosted iron ore shipments 

40 per cent over 1954. 

"The impressive economic record at the 

year's end would appear to have generated 

enough momentum to push the new year off 

to a strong start," the report declares. "The 

economists point out, however, that there are 

uncertainties which may slow the upward 

trends in business and commerce, among 

which are the steadily deteriorating farm 

price and farm income situation." 

Delay on Tax Charges 

DES MOINES—Arraignment of Sylvester 

R. Nothem, Remsen theatre owner, on federal 

tax evasion charges, was postponed here 

because of the defendant's health. Nothem 

faces a nine-count indictment, four of the 

counts involving alleged income tax evasions 

and five federal admission tax evasions. 

/LonnAtoz 

WSmUMBOONTON, N. J. 

Large Core 


meant 

MAXIMUM LIGHT 

in Wis—CHARLES J. BREWSTER, 1025 W. Wells St., Milwoukee, 

Wis.— Broadway 2-1917 

in Minnesota—AVED THEATRE SERVICE, Minneapolis—Moin 8963 

BOXOFFICE : 

: January 

7, 1956 NC 63

. . Mr. 

. 

Mr. 

D E S 

MOINES 

T ou Levy held two screenings of Universal 

pictures last week—"Never Say Goodbye" 

and "The Benny Goodman Story" . . . Mildred 

Davis, Universal, speint one of the holiday 

weekends in Kansas City . . . Wllma Prace, 

Universal inspectress, was on the sick list . . . 

Stanley Soderberg, Warner salesman, journeyed 

to Minneapolis to spend the weekend 

with relatives and friends . . . Bill Burke, 

RKO auditor, is working at the exchange 

here as booker while Thelma Washburn enjoys 

her Florida vacation . . . Mai Pugh, 

RKO, spent part of the holiday season in 

South Dakota with his parents. 

Phil Izaacs, Paramount district manager, 

DES 

and 

visited the exchange here recently . . 

Mrs. William Farrell, exhibitors from Scran- 

and Mrs. 

ton, made a trip to the Row . 

A. H. Blank had Mrs. David Sternberg of 

Memphis, Tenn. as a guest during the holidays. 

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Kennedy (Allied Artists) 

and daughter Jacqueline are vacationing in 

California . . . Members of Variety Club recently 

installed screens and machines for the 

screening of Cinemascope films at the Mercy 

auditorium in Mercy Hospital. Since this 

equipment has been in operation, the Sisters 

who gather from all convents in the city for 

the monthly or bimonthly showings of 

i^-sSSSSSSSSsS^ 

TO SELL YOU 

STEREOPHONIC SOUND 

HILUX and SUPERAMA 

SCREENS 

KOLLMORGEN - HILUX 

BACKUP and 

CENTURY and 

WOLLENSAK 

WIDE SCREEN 

LENSES 

PROJECTORS and 

MOTIOGRAPH 

SOUND 

HEYWOOD-WAKEFIELD 

RECLINING 

GULISTAN 

THEATRE CHAIRS 

CARPET 

MOTOR GENERATOR SETS 

MOINES THEATRE SUPPLY CO. 

1121-23 High Street Phone 3-6520 Des Moines, lowa 

specially selected films have seen and enjoyed 

such films as "The Long Gray Line," "Student 

Prince," "The Private War of Major 

Benson" and "Seven Cities of Gold." 

Next regular meeting of the women's committee 

of Variety Club will be held January 

lb at uhe Standard Club, according to chairman 

Betty Olson. Activities for the coming 

months will be announced at this meeting. 

Among the last of the Christmas parties on 

the Row here were the United Artists and 

Universal affairs. The manager's office at 

UA was attractively decorated for the event 

and Carl Olson, "Pete" Peterson and Dorothy 

Pobst were hosts. The "back room" at Universal 

was eiaDorateiy turned into a bullet 

table with roast turkey and all the trimmings, 

arid Mis. Lou Levy assisted Lou and his staff 

in entertaining guests and excnange employes 

. . . Max itosenbiau, RjvO manager, 

spent the holiday weekends in Omaha with 

his family . . . Ben Kuoby, owner of the 

local lowa Theatre, has ail the answers in 

the "Parker" murder case. If you want, any 

of them, just ask niml . . . Nate Sandler was 

quite hanusome at the holiday parties in his 

iesuve weskit of gay piaid! 

Final figures had not as yet been released, 

but it appeared tnat Variety Club will clear 

close to »

ThisWeek 

BENNETT 

CERF 

II 

PICNIC CAPTURES THE SPIRIT AND WARMTH 

OF THE GREAT MIDWEST 

in as satisfying fashion as ever 

I've seen in my life." 

"There's a motion picture called 'Picnic' on 

its 

way to the nation's screens that captures 

the spirit and warmth of the great American 

mid-west in 

as satisfying fashion as ever I've 

seen in my life. This is as it should be, for 

to achieve the proper setting, 

Director Josh 

Logan who can write his own ticket in 

Hollywood 

from here in, took his superb cast to 

the exact geographical center of the U.S.A. - 

amidst the wheat fields and grain elevators 

of Hutchinson, Salina, Nickerson, Halstead 

^ ^^^ 

and Sterling, Kansas." 

in 

THE CERF BOARD 

THIS WEEK MAGAZINE 

COLUMBIA PICTURES presents 

WILLIAM HOLDEN 

IN 

[aQcacziBs 

^^^^^* 

WITH 

KIM NOVAK 

BETTY FIELD SUSAN STRASBERG • CLIFF ROBERTSON 

AND 

CO-STARRING 

ROSALIND RUSSELL 

AS ROSEMARY 

Vnw plii bi 6*irt uDon If* PUy Picnic" ftctfueri on the flip Bi 

DANIEL TARJOASH • t, WILLIAM INGE • THEATRE GUILD. Inc ,„» JOSHUA LOGAN 

G%ZrZX£?) D.,KtM t, JOSHUA LOGAN • 

*««« t., FRED KOHLMAR 

OnemaScoPEz 

technicolor

. . Harold 

Blank Group Acquires 

Waterloo Starlite 

WATERLOO, IOWA — Mr. and Mrs. 

Stephen A. Oellerich were paid $23,500 for 

ttieir one-fourth interest in the Starlite Drivein, 

according to a deed on file in the office 

of the county recorder here. 

Deeds involved in the transaction show that 

the Starlite Drive-In Theatre Co. of Des 

Moines is now the owner of the theatre here. 

This corporation, of which Myron N. Blank 

is president, was formed to operate the Starlite 

Drive-In here. Blank is also president 

of the Central States Theatre Corp. of Des 

Moines. 

Another deed on file here shows the transfer 

of the Central States Theatre Corp. 

interest in the Starlite Drive-In of Waterloo 

to the Starlite Drive-In Theatre Co. of Des 

Moines at a consideration of $50,500. 

Theatre at Tyler Reopens 

TYLER, MINN. The Scenic Theatre, which 

had been shuttered for some time, is now 

reopened and called Bill's Theatre. William 

Jensen is the owner. The house has been 

completely refurbished. 

YOU'LL GET 

THE FINEST 

TRAILERS 

..IN THE 

SHORTEST 

TIME, FROM 

SPECIAL 

TRAILERS 

I 




FILMACK 

CHICAGO 

1327 S. WABASH 34) W. 44lh St. 

MILWAUKEE 

Toe Reynolds, manager of the Towne Theatre 

here, has been named Personality of 

the Month by the Milwaukee County Better 

Films Council. The citation, which singles 

out one personality each month, goes to the 

man or woman in the industry who in the 

opinion of the council has done the most 

toward bringing better films to the community. 

Aside from this factor, Reynolds 

has long been noted for his full houses for 

kiddy programs. As guest speaker at the 

councils recent meeting, he brought his 

audience up to date on such subjects as what 

makes a picture click with the public, how 

the council can aid a theatre manager and 

what can be done to bring about better understanding 

between the council and the industry. 

Estelle Stelnbach, Garfield Theatre manager 

and county chairman of the Mothers 

March on Polio, spoke over WISN-TV to aid 

the polio campaign. Theatres assisting included 

the Avalon, Colonial, Egyptian, Fox- 

Bay, Garfield, Modjeska, Oriental, Majestic, 

Paradise, Ritz, Tower and Uptown. 

About 50 relatives and friends of the late 

Billy Mitchell watched a special screening of 

"The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell" at the 

Warner screening room here Thursday (29). 

Manager Al Meskis, who arranged the screening, 

also met Billy's sister Ruth at the airport. 

Among those attending the screening 

were Mrs. Mitchell Mackie and Mrs. Martin 

A. Fladoes, also sisters of Billy. 

. . Jerry Luedtke 

Bob Groenert, Alhambra Theatre manager, 

was hospitalized for 22 days as a result of a 

kidney ailment. The house was shuttered for 

alterations . . . Jerry Klass, former assistant 

at the Granada, replaces Tom Knitter, who 

resigned at the Warner . 

and Bob Recker, Rio and Appleton theatre 

managers, respectively, at Appleton, seemingly 

hit the jackpot in the promotion of the 

Audience Awards Poll. Single and double 

page trucks adorned the papers up there with 

the merchants picking up the tabs. 

Murl Deusing, curator of education at the 

public museum, returned from an African 

safari where he obtained thousands of feet 

of film on wild animals. Deusing has been 

making these expeditions for years, furnishing 

Walt Disney and many others some of 

their background material . . . "Art for art's 

sake" seems to be the predominating factor 

at the Downer Theatre. Comes now an exhibition 

of oils by Marceline Skoll and a landscape 

by Ferd Wagner. The exhibitions were 

arranged by the Milwaukee chapter of 

Artists Equity Ass'n. The Downer has long 

been known as a prestige theatre and apparently 

this is another innovation in maintaining 

the policy for the patrons. 

Oconomowoc's Harold Hamley has been 

elected president of the Wisconsin Tennis 

Ass'n for the third straight year. He handles 

all the outdoor screen advertising, with the 

exception of the Victory which does not accept 

them. 

Bruce, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. F. Gran, is 

engaged to Miss Nancy Joe Schuele, Oconomowoc. 

Bruce's father owns the Gran Theatre 

Management Co., which operates many 

theatres in Wisconsin, and is part owner of 

several TV stations in Wisconsin and Illinois 

. . . Vern Touchette, formerly with Fox Wisconsin 

Amusement Corp. and now president 

of the E. Z. Paintre Co., was injured in a recent 

automobile accident. He is recuperating 

fast at his home in Elm Grove, Wis. 

Bob Mellin, salesman for Screen Guild and 

Realart Exchange, was a visitor in Milwaukee 

during the holidays before venturing out on 

the road for the new year with a line of top 

boxoffice attractions for the coming season 

. . . Andy Kenny, office manager of MGM 

exchange, is in the hospital with leukemia. 

We all wish him a speedy recovery, as he is 

missed around Filmrow . . . Angelo Provenzano 

of Highway 15 Out-Door Theatre and 

the Pix, Milwaukee, will reopen the Greendale 

soon. The theatre is refurbished, has CS 

and will operate as a de luxe theatre, using 

film day and date with the de luxe run theatres 

in and around Milwaukee. 

Western features the complete line 

Dependable, Nationally-famous 

RCA Equipment and Supplies 

• Display Signs 

• Concession Supplies 

• Seats 

from marquee to the screen 

of 

• Booth Equipment 

• Wide Screens 

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You can always depend on WESTERN for 

PARTS and SERVICE 

WESTERN 

THEATRE SUPPLY CO. 

214 Ii rillitnlli. Om.lh.l. Ntb .. Pnonc: Atlantic 90J

The 

: January 

. .240 

. .200 

18 Cleveland Bills 

200 or More in 1955 

CLEVELAND—Eighteen top boxoffice bills 

accounted for 80 weeks playing time out of 

a total of 312 weeks in the six major downtown 

first run houses last year. This is about 25 

per cent of the total playing time. 

"Country Girl" held unchallenged first 

place with a ten-week run. Paramount also 

took second place with "To Catch a Thief" 

which played eight weeks. Runners up were 

"Not As a Stranger" (UA), with a 7-week run. 

Two pictures each played five weeks; namely 

"The Seven Little Foys"

. . Jack 

. . Mary 

. . The 

. . Ruth 

. . James 

: January 

RESEAT OR RENOVATE 

Professionol work on Seot 

Renovation — factory trained 

crew. Your choirs recovered, 

using Foam Rubber or New 

Springs. Metal parts reftnished 

in Baked Enamel— like 

new. Estimates anywhere. 

In Stock— Used 

1200 plywood chairs 

6S0 full upholstered chairs 

1500 squab scot, pod back 

HEYWOOD-WAKEFIELD SEATING 

2015* GRAND MVM 

OITROIT. . MICHIGAN 

KENWOOD 1-1740 

LOU MITCHELL 

Personalized Booking Service for the 

Independent 

Exhibitor 

Specializing in Problem Theatres 

3410 Grand River Aie. Detroit 8, Mich. 

Phone TEmple 3-7715, 3-7716 

"Detroit's Theatrical Florist" 

ML Ven*tOH, Qaldeni. 

EARL BRADLEY, Florist 

(Formerly Lorenzen's) 

19800 James Couzens Hwy. Phone 

Detroit 35, Mich. BRoodway 3-4646 

L O L THEATRE CONCESSION 

INCREASED PROFITS - DECREASED WORRIES 

PERSONALIZED SUPERVISED SERVICE 

DRIVE-IN AND INDOOR THEATRES 

2937 St. Aubin Detroit 7, Mich. 

Temple 133S0 

For 

DETROIT 

"Tom McOuire, former director 

of public re- 

. . . Walter 

. . Nellie 

. 

. 

lations for Cooperative Theatres, is the 

author of an authoritative piece in Michigan 

Manufacturer on renegotiation 

Norris, Butterfield advertising director, was 

in Grand Rapids for the opening of "Guys 

and Dolls" at the Majestic Theatre . 

Arnold of National Screen Service, a past 

president of Local B25, became a grandmother 

for the second time two days after 

Christmas Zide, head of Allied 

Film Exchange, was back from an extended 

stay in Hollywood . Anne Benham of 

the RKO office staff comes from an old Detroit 

family going back into the pioneer days 

in the local picture business Lake 

Theatre at Walled Lake, operated by Bud 

Harris, was reopened January 6. 

. . Carl Mingione went 

Nightingale notes—Joe Pickering failed to 

make the grade when he left the difficult 

5-7-10 pins standing . 

into first place in his division and likewise 

won a fine turkey with his big 245 . . . Other 

turkey winners were Ben Hendricks, Joe Foresta 

and Ken Grenke. Other prizes, donated 

by Bert London, went to Jack Colwell, Edgar 

Douville, Frank Quinlan and Mel Donlon. 

Mrs. Dorothy Ackerman is planning to continue 

operation of the East Side Theatre, following 

the recent death of her husband Al, 

Bill Clark advises. Lloyd Turel sr. and 

Bernard Samuels of Clark Theatre Service 

are assisting in handling operations and 

supervision. 

. . "Big 

More Nightingale notes—Sherman Lambly 

is not talking about his last game . 

Rent — Small Private 

OFFICE OR DESK SPACE IN 

DETROIT 

Top Prestige Location. Heart of Film Row & Downtown Business Area. Convenient Parking. 

Secretarial Service Available. Reasonable. Contact BOXOFFICE, 906 Fox Bldg., Detroit 1, 

Mich. Phone WOodward 2-1100 

Everything You Need 

For CinemaScope and Wide Screen 

• Motiograph Sound Systems 

• Strong Projection Arc Lamps 

• Raytone and Radiant Screens 

• Kollmorgen and B&L Lenses 

Presentation 

• Motiograph Motor-Generators 

• Strong Rectifiers 

• Cretor and Star Popcorn 

Machines 

fca&sa* 

. . Mort 

uted locally by Allan Moritz and William 

Blum, opened at the Hyde Park Art Theatre 

here. It will open soon at the State in 

Charleston. Moritz also has distribution 

rights to "Diabolique" . Perlman, city 

salesman, Columbia, and his wife are enjoying 

a Caribbean cruise. 

The local Paramount sales force, headed by 

sales manager Stuart Jacobson, is plugging 

for a quantity of short subject dates January 

15-March 31 in honor of Manager William 

Meier . . . Milton Gurian, manager, Allied 

Artists, plans to attend the AA regional meeting 

in Cleveland at the Statler Hotel. 

Sid Cooper, district manager, United Artists, 

was in Cincinnati Thursday (29) and 

conducted a sales meeting with Manager Jack 

Finberg and the sales staff . . . Robert C. 

McNabb, manager, 20th-Fox, his wife and 

young son spent the holidays, as is their custom, 

with Mrs. McNabb's family in Baton 

Rouge, La. . . . Plans are under way by local 

Variety Club directors for the installation of 

officers dinner in the new clubrooms at 

the Metropole Hotel Saturday (21) night. 

Robert C. McNabb will be reinstalled as chief 

barker. 

CLEVELAND 

lyTarilyn, daughter of Martin and Mary 

Smith of Toledo, was married Tuesday 

(27) to Jack Born of Kalamazoo, an attorney 

now serving with the Armed Forces and 

stationed near Baltimore . . . Nate Schultz, 

head of Allied Artists, his wife, their son 

Jay, a junior at University of Pennsylvania, 

and daughter Alyn, a senior at WRU, went 

to Florida for the school vacation period . . . 

Ben L. Ogron of Ohio Theatre Supply bundled 

his family off to Florida for the two-week 

vacation. 

Abe Kramer, Associated circuit executive 

who flew in from his Florida home to attend 

the company's annual Christmas party, is 

back there. But he plans to return to Cleveland 

to attend the M. B. Horwitz testimonial 

dinner February 20, which is being arranged 

by I. J. Schmertz, Meyer Fine and Nate 

Schultz ... No date has yet been set for the 

industry's testimonial in honor of Ward 

Marsh's 40th anniversary as the Plain 

Dealer's motion picture critic. Details are 

being worked out by a committee headed by 

Frank Murphy and Jack Silverthorne . . . 

Variety Club provided more than 100 families 

with Christmas baskets provided by donations 

from members and friends. 

. . . 

January 10 is the date of the annual general 

meeting of the Cleveland Motion Picture Exhibitors 

Ass'n to elect new officers . . . "Guys 

and Dolls" is playing to SRO at all performances, 

according to the local Loew's office. 

The balcony at the Ohio, where the picture 

is playing, has been open both matinees and 

evenings Rhoda Koret, Columbia booker, 

who has been active in local play groups, is 

rehearsing for a part in a Karamu Theatre 

play . . . Bill Gross, Columbia city salesman, is 

back from Florida . . . Lou Ratener sent holiday 

greetings from St. Croix in the Virgin 

Islands where he and his family are recuperating 

from operating drive-in theatres 

during the summer. 

Sherman A. Rose will direct "The Magnificent 

Roughnecks," a Berman Cohen production, 

for Allied Artists. 

Film Highlights of 1955 in Columbus 

January 

Albert Dolder, 76, veteran stagehand, was 

seriously injured in a fall at Masonic Temple. 

Millicent Easter, former Keith's publicist, 

was hospitalized with pneumonia. Academy 

Theatres, Arlington, was turned into iceskating 

rink and academy. Charles Sugarman 

was in Miami, Fla., at the bedside of 

his ailing father Al Sugarman. Business up 

to five times normal was registered at eight 

local neighborhoods where "The French Line" 

had first run showings. Frank Marzette 

completed extensive remodeling and modernization 

of the Linden. 

February- 

Jack Dolde, former assistant manager of 

Loew's Penn, Pittsburgh, was appointed assistant 

manager of Loew's Ohio and later 

was transferred to be assistant manager at 

the Loew's drive-in in Oak Lawn, 111. Russell 

A. Bovim, Loew's western division manager 

and former Loew's Ohio manager, became a 

grandfather when his daughter Shirley became 

the mother of Pamela Ann. Cleo Moore 

was here for "Women's Prison." Albert 

Sugarman, retired theatreman, died in Miami, 

Fla. 

Jerry Shinbach, former manager of 

RKO Palace and later EKO division 

manager in Chicago, resigned the latter 

post to become head of Monarch Theatres, 

which owns the new In-Town Auto 

Theatre in suburban Whitehall, managed by 

ERNIE 

Lou Holleb. C. Harry Schreiber resigned as 

RKO city manager. Edward McGlone, manager 

of the RKO Palace, Cincinnati, was 

named to succeed Schreiber. Robert Horton 

jr., assistant manager of the RKO Albee, 

Cincinnati, was named to succeed Edward 

Force, RKO Grand manager, transferred to 

the RKO Brandeis, Omaha, Neb. 

March 

C. G. "Dutch" Littler was back in town as 

manager of Neth's Cameo after five years in 

Cincinnati. The West Fifth Avenue auto theatre 

was held up with a loss of $1,001. Alexander 

Trumbull, doorman at Loew's Ohio, died. 

Robert Francis of "The Caine Mutiny" and 

"The Long Gray Line" was in town for interviews. 

The Eastside Drive-In installed Cinemascope 

equipment. 

(Continued on following page) 

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BOXOFTICE : 

: January 7, 1956 69

Highlights of 1955 

In Columbus, Ohio 

ntinued from preceding page) 

April 

Ronald Megown was named assistant manager 

of Loew's Ohio. Mrs. Ethel Miles installed 

Cinemascope equipment at the 

Garden. Harry Schreiber returned as promotion 

manager of the new Franklin County 

Veterans Memorial. Rabbi Samuel Gup, 

former chaplain of the Columbus Variety 

Club, died. Milton Yassenoff underwent an 

operation. Martin C. Burnett was named a 

judge in Ohio State May Week parade. 

May 

Louis K. Sher and Maurice Slier, operators 

ol the Bexley. acquired the Little at Yellow- 

Springs, Ohio, and the Crescent at Louisville, 

Ky. Richard Packer, assistant manager of 

the Bexley, was named manager of the Little 

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Bill Dalton, organist some 

years ago at the Ohio, Majestic and Grand 

theatres here, returned for an engagement at 

the Tremont restaurant. Adolphe Menjou 

was in town. Marian Can and Yvonne 

Doughty of the cast of "Kiss Me Deadly" 

were here for interviews. Daytime use of 

neighborhood theatres parking lots was proposed 

in a "park and ride" plan. Lou Holleb 

opened the 1,000-car In-Town Auto Theatre 

in suburban Whitehall. 

June 

A daring daylight robber poked a gun at 

the RKO Palace cashier and escaped with 

$72. Mrs. Ethel Miles installed a 114-foot 

screen at the East Main Drive-In. John Barcroft 

was handling publicity for Miles Theatres 

and the new Franklin County Veterans 

Memorial. Richard Secord, who was a 

member of the staffs of Loew's Ohio and 

Loew's Broad before he entered West Point 

four years ago, was back for relief work 

during the summer at Loew's. He graduated 

from West Point in June. The Normandy 

Drive-In at Jacksonville, Fla., was added to 

Loew's central division of which Martin C. 

Burnett is division manager. 

July 

Charles Dillon, Albert Trott and Morgan 

Johnson received 50-year gold cards in the 

IATSE. The Ohio legislature passed a law 

to construct a 1,200-car underground garage 

at the State House over Governor Lausche's 

veto. The garage will be located in the heart 

of the downtown theatre district. Robert 

Connors was named assistant theatre, radio 

and television editor of the Columbus Dispatch, 

succeeding Dean Myers, who joined the 

radio and television publicity department of 

J. Walter Thompson in New York city. 

August 

Cary Grant was here for interviews in 

advance of "To Catch a Thief" at Loew's 

Ohio. Jackie Cooper stopped off to visit 

local friends. Lou Holleb installed playground 

equipment at the In-Town Auto Theatre. 

Manager Ed McGlone announced that first 

local showing of TNT closed-circuit TV 

fights would be held September 20 for the 

Rocky Marciano-Archie Moore heavyweight 

title fight. Walter Kessler was chosen by 

General Manager Sam Cashman of the Ohio 

State Fair to direct the youth talent show at 

the fairgrounds. 

September 

Two safecrackers failed to open the RKO 

Palace safe. "Mister Roberts" wound up a 

five-week engagement at the Palace and 

Grand. Doris Vacca, assistant manager of 

Loew's Broad, resigned. Capacity crowds 

were attracted to the Palace for the telecast 

of the Marciano-Moore fight, first such telecast 

to be shown in Columbus. Representatives 

of local theatres held the first meeting 

to plan for participation in Audience Awards. 

October 

Charles Clark, 65, operator for the Miles 

circuit, died. Betty Garrett, star of "My 

Sister Eileen," was here for interviews in 

advance of the showing at Loew's Ohio. Mrs. 

Phyllis Ann Hamilton, 34, wife of Paul 

Hamilton, local projectionist, died. James 

Corriveau, former manager of the RKO 

Grand, is now handling concessions for 

Berlo Vending Co. Danny Kaye starred in 

the stage show at RKO Palace. 

November 

Rein Rabakukk, who has been a member 

of the managerial staffs of Loew's in Boston 

and Syracuse, was named assistant manager 

of Loew's Ohio. Jarma Lewis of MGM's "The 

Tender Trap" was here for interviews. 

William Constans, 56, Palace projectionist, 

died. A much enlarged concessions counter 

was installed at Loew's Broad. Lou Holleb 

installed in-car heaters at the In-Town Auto 

Theatre. Ted Pekras closed the neighborhood 

Oak temporarily. The Audience Awards poll 

was given a rousing sendoff by the Ohio State 

band at the Iowa game in Ohio Stadium in 

a tieup arranged by Walter Kessler, local 

COMPO chairman. 

December 

Roger Garrett, former Loew's Ohio organist 

and manager of the University, now is program 

manager of TV station in Henderson, 

Ky. All downtown first runs cooperated with 

the Dispatch and Journal for Christmas 

Saturday matinee shows for children. Daniel 

Sugarman, 86, grandfather of Charles Sugarman, 

died. Claud Belknap, doorman at 

Majestic and Southern for 43 years, retired. 

Four More Houses Added 

To Clark Theatres List 

DETROIT—Marking a four-fold expansion, 

Clark Theatre Service is adding two Detroit 

area houses, catering to Negro patronage to 

its string. 

The theatres being taken over by Clark 

Service include: 

An unnamed drive-in under construction 

at Montpelier, Ohio, being built by Sharpley 

and Lo Presto Theatres of Jonesville, who 

operate the Hillsdale Drive-In at Hillsdale, 

Skyline Drive-In at Morenci, Civic Theatre 

at Jonesville and Mecca Theatre at Litchfield, 

Mich. The new house will open next spring. 

The Sylvan Theatre at Chelsea, which is 

operated by Dillon Wolverton. 

The Apollo in Detroit and the Elliot in 

River Rouge, which are being taken over by 

the Saul Korman circuit, after being for a 

short time in other hands. Both houses, 

which now cater to Negro patronage, are in 

structures owned by the Korman interests, 

according to Clark. 

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70 BOXOFFICE 

: 

: January 

7, 1956

Tafi Realty Co. Sues 

Shubert Operators 

NEW HAVEN—A $100,000 suit alleging that 

operators of the Shubert Theatre, the city's 

only legitimate theatre, have failed to live up 

to terms of their lease has been filed in 

superior court here. The charges are categorically 

denied by the defendants. 

The Taft Realty Corp., owner of the building 

housing the theatre, filed the suit. The 

plaintiffs are Yorkhaven Enterprises, doing 

business as the Shubert Theatre, the Shuberthaven 

Operating Co. and its individual members. 

Named in the latter category are Marian 

T Bailey, Lilyan Bailey, Rhea Hornstein and 

Jennie Nunes. 

The plaintiff alleges that the theatre operators 

failed to keep the premises in good repair, 

as stipulated in the contract terms, and 

that they failed to make proper payments to 

the owner corporation as required under lease 

terms. The lease calls for a base rental payment 

and a percentage of the theatre's 

income. 

The court has been asked to declare the 

present lease void. An attachment for $100,000 

on the lease-holding firms was reduced to 

$40,000 following a hearing before Superior 

Court Judge John R. Thim. 

Bertrand B. Salzman, attorney for the 

defendants, said there is no single charge 

that will "hold water," and added, "We intend 

to prove that." He cited improvements 

made since the present owners took over, including 

reconditioning of seats, new carpeting, 

a new floor back stage and other features. 

PROVIDENCE 

"The New England premiere of "The Rains of 

Ranchipur" at the Majestic ushered in the 

holiday season. Excellent film fare attracted 

generous patronage at most first runs. "Artists 

and Models" held the spotlight at the 

Strand, while "Kismet" was the Christmas 

offering at Loew's State ... A minor sleet 

storm, added to the hard-packed snow already 

on the ground, made driving hazardous, possibly 

deterring some filmgoers. 

In a scathing letter to the editor of the 

Journal-Bulletin, a club woman recently 

charged that Providence theatres were using 

"repulsive" advertisements, and that, in her 

opinion, during the recent school holidays, 

"there was not a movie showing that was 

fit for children to see." In her complaint, 

which was prominently featured in the Letters 

to the Editor on the editorial page, she berated 

local reviewers for calling "End of the 

Affair" dull, stating that "to anyone interested 

in the spiritual dimensions of the story, 

there was not a dull minute in it." In her 

one-woman campaign to stir up public interest 

in the publishing of "proper moral evaluations" 

of films in the daily press, she urged 

readers to subscribe to Legion of Decency ratings 

if local dailies failed to consider the 

moral aspects. Continuing, she claimed that 

titles of films are "misleading," singling out 

"All the Brothers Were Valiant," characterizing 

it "as the most horrible picture, in every 

respect, ever made." In reply to her attack, 

the Journal-Bulletin editor said, "It is not a 

proper function of a newspaper serving 

readers of many diverse views and persuasions 

to attempt to pass moral judgments on movies 

or any other form of art or entertainment." 

Season's Greetings Ad 

Run to Thank Patrons 

HARTFORD—Typical of the goodwill expressed 

by Hartford territory theatremen, via 

newspaper ads, was this message used by Sal 

Adorno sr., general manager, M&D Theatres, 

in paid space in the Middletown Press: 

"As general manager of your Middletown 

Theatres, I wish it were possible for me to 

wish each one of you the season's greetings 

in person. Instead, I want to take this 

opportunity to express my best wishes for 

your health, happiness and good fortune at 

this holiday season. May your holidays be 

filled with contentment and good cheer, and 

may the prayers of all of us for lasting peace 

in the world be answered. 

"I also want to take this opportunity to 

express my sincere thanks to each and everyone 

of you for your loyal patronage during 

the past year. I have known many of you 

from the time when you were children, and 

perhaps you remember when you were a child 

and I treated you like one of my own, and 

now as parents, I want to do the same for 

your children. Leading my list of New Year 

resolutions is my sincere determination to do 

everything in my power to merit your friendship 

and confidence in the months ahead. 

I'll be making a special announcement soon." 

Autry Troupe Slated 

HARTFORD—Gene Autry's first Hartford 

appearance in three years is slated for February 

7 at the 3,200-seat Bushnell Memorial 

Auditorium. 

William H. Mortensen, Bushnell managing 

director, disclosed he had completed negotiations 

for matinee and evening performances 

featuring the Autry troupe. 

Books 'Wizard' for Holiday 

HARTFORD — Arthur Alperin of the 

Colonial, Southington, Conn., booking "Wizard 

of Oz" for a matinee performance during 

school vacation week, advertised the revival 

as "the most wonderful children's picture 

ever." 

THEY REMEMBER THE CHILDREN 

—To make certain that each child in the 

hospital of the Children's Cancer Research 

Foundation, which is supported by 

the Jimmy Fund, sponsored by Variety 

Club of New England and the Boston Red 

Sox, Big Brother Bob Emery gave 170 

gifts to Miss Frances Richardson, nurse, 

in time for Christmas delivery. 

L. M. Gordon Retires 

As L&G President 

BOSTON—Louis M. Gordon, president of 

Lockwood & Gordon Enterprises and general 

manager of theatre operations, has retired 

LOUIS M. GORDON 

from active participation in the theatre business. 

However, he will retain his financial 

interest in the company and will continue 

as consultant, director and officer. A veteran 

in the theatre industry, he started his 

career with the Olympia Theatre circuit in 

1922. He is a nephew of the late Nathan H. 

Gordon, president and founder of the chain. 

In 1925, he became associated with Arthur 

H. Lockwood and in the last 30 years, he and 

Lockwood have developed the present circuit 

of 30 theatres and several outside interests. 

It has long been Gordon's desire to have 

more leisure time and upon his return from 

his vacation he will assume duties on a parttime 

basis in directing and supervising the 

nontheatrical interests and investments of 

the company. 

Douglas Amos, district manager of L&G's 

Connecticut district, has been promoted to 

general manager in charge of theatre operations 

for the entire circuit. He will assume 

his new duties upon his return from his vacation 

January 17. 

Many From New Haven Go 

To Angelo Sette Services 

NEW HAVEN—A large delegation from the 

Stanley Warner New England zone office here 

attended Springfield, Mass., funeral services 

for Angelo Sette, manager of the SW Capitol 

in that city. Sette was killed in an auto 

crash at Avon, Conn., (21) while returning 

to Springfield after visiting friends in New 

Haven. 

Mourners included Harry Feinstein, zone 

manager: James Totman, assistant zone manager: 

James Bracken, contact manager: 

Philip Zimmerman, real estate manager: 

Frank Flood of the film department, and 

Irving Hillman, manager of the SW Roger 

Sherman here, who started his career in this 

city the same time Sette did. in 1930. 

It was later announced that Gene DuBarry, 

manager of the SW Palace, Norwich, will fill 

the manager's post at the Capitol. 

BOXOFFICE : 

: January 

7, 1956 

NE 71

Highlights of Boston Events in 1955 

BOSTON—-Two important industry events 

occurred in 1955 to make the year an outstanding 

one here. First, the antiquated 

two-men-ln-a-booth regulation was amended 

by Commissioner Otis M. Whitney of the 

department of public saiety, and second, the 

discriminatory Sunday censorship law was 

itutional by the Massachusetts 

Supreme Judicial Court. 

January 

"This Is Cinerama" celebrated its first 

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anniversary when the Boston Advertising 

Club tendered a "Salute to Cinerama" luncheon 

to offic al: of the Stanley Warner Corp. 

Two world premieres were staged. "Gangbusters" 

premiered at the Paramount and 

Fenway theatres and "Six Bridges to Cross" 

bowed at the Keith Memorial. 

February 

The Brattle Theatre, Cambridge, filed an 

appeal from the ruling by the Middlesex superior 

court banning the Swedish film, "Miss 

Julie," from Sunday showings at the theatre. 

Stanley Sumner resigned as managing director 

of the University, Cambridge, after 30 

years with the house. 

March 

Edward Lider was elected president of Independent 

Exhibitors, Inc., of New England, and 

Norman Glassman was elected chairman of 

the board at the annual meeting of the local 

Allied unit. Alfred Starr addressed a large 

exhibitor group at a mass meeting on the 

subject of toll TV. James M. Connolly resigned 

as division manager of 20th-Fox to 

accept a position with John Donnelly & Sons, 

advertising firm. John Feloney, branch manager 

of 20th-Fox, resigned to join Buena 

Vista here. 

April 

Steve Broidy, president of Allied Artists, 

met old friends at a luncheon at the Hotel 

Bradford where he talked on forthcoming 

product. Harry Segal, UA manager, was 

elected president of the Sentry Lodge of 

B'nai B'rith. Al Levy was appointed manager 

of 20th-Fox, coming on from Pittsburgh. 

William T. Powell was named head of exploitation 

and publicity for Smith Management 

Co. Carl Goldman resigned from Affiliated 

Theatres Corp. to accept an appointment 

as executive secretary of Independent Exhibitors 

of New England. Otis M. Whitney, commissioner 

of public safety, amended the regulation 

governing the use of equipment in 

theatres that two men in a booth are no 

longer necessary if acetate or safety film is 

used. 

May 

Two censorship cases were heard before the 

full bench of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial 

Court, challenging the constitutionality 

of the Sunday licensing law. The cases 

involved the refusal of Sunday licenses for the 

Swedish film, "Miss Julie" at the Brattle 

Theatre, Cambridge, and the Times film, 

"Game of Love," at the Beacon Hill, Boston. 

Hollywood director John Ford was given the 

Gold Medal for 1955 by the Eire Society of 

Boston at a banquet at the Hotel Sheraton 

Plaza. Harry Worden, for 30 years with MGM 

as a salesman, resigned to retire from active 

business. Jack Brown. Paramount manager, 

died. Nathan Ross, oldest active film salesman, 

was tendered a testimonial luncheon at 

the Hotel Bradford by the Variety Club. 

June 

The Variety Club of New England sponsored 

a "new faces" luncheon for three new 

branch managers—William Kumins, Warners; 

Al Levy, 20th-Fox; Gasper Urban, Paramount. 

Samuel Pinanski, president of ATC, received 

an honorary degree of doctor of science at 

the Lowell Technological Institute. Gasper 

Urban, former office manager at Paramount, 

was promoted to branch manager. Bill 

Cuddy, office manager at RKO, was reelected 

president of the Boston Cinema Club. 

July 

Joe Liss, Stanley Warner district manager, 

was seriously injured in an auto accident on 

the Worcester turnpike. The film delivery 

truck strike was settled after a shutdown of 

two days. Robert Coyne of COMPO addressed 

a group of exhibitors at the Hotel 

Bradford on the Audience Awards poll. 

Rudolph King, registrar of motor vehicles, 

was honored at a banquet at the Hotel Statler 

for his work on the Jimmy Fund and other 

charities by the Variety Club of New England. 

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial 

Court ruled that the Sunday censorship law 

is unconstitutional and that precensorship of 

films is illegal. 

August 

Two world premieres were staged on the 

same evening, both with fanfare and street 

bands, when "Cinerama Holiday" opened at 

the Boston Theatre and "To Hell and Back" 

opened at the Keith Memorial. For the 

former, officials from the Stanley Warner 

Corp came in from New York to address 

the press at a gala dinner at the Hotel 

Statler preceding the showing. Gertrude 

Rittenberg, office manager at E. M. Loew 

Theatres, was married to Max Finn, general 

manager of the circuit. 

September 

Heavy rains and flood damage in southern 

New England caused a half a million dollars 

in losses to the theatre business. The polio 

epidemic reached its peak, taking its toll 

of theatre and drive-in business. The dread 

disease hit three industry families—Al Keene, 

Keene Advertising; Mrs. Edward Redstone, 

wife of the vice-president of Redstone Drive- 

In Theatres, and Louis Sternburg, son of 

Robert Sternburg of New England Theatres. 

October 

Independent Exhibitors of New England 

held a highly successful two-day regional 

convention at Toy Town Tavern, Winchendon, 

Mass., with national film figures present 

for discussions on industry affairs. Robert 

Coyne of COMPO came in to address the 

weekly luncheon of the Boston Advertising 

Club on the Audience Awards and other 

industry matters. Joe Liss, Stanley Warner 

district manager, left the Worcester Hospital 

to recover at home from serious injuries suffered 

in an auto accident. 

November 

Norman Glassman, Lowell exhibitor, entered 

the drive-in field by purchasing the 

Lowell Drive-In for enlargement and remodeling 

for next season's operation. Florence 

Buckley, shorts booker at E. M. Loew 

Theatres, was married to William Haverty. 

Samuel Goldwyn jr. arrived in town In advance 

of his first independent production, 

"Man With the Gun," and was introduced 

to the press by Joe Mansfield, UA publicist. 

December 

Nathan Ross, 70, former UA salesman, died 

after a short illness. Edward X. Callahan, 

former division manager at 20th-Fox, died 

at Newton-Wellesley Hospital following a 

heart attack. Moe Silver came In to address 

theatre owners on the Christmas Salute to the 

Will Rogers Memorial Hospital. Louis M. 

Gordon, president of Lockwood & Gordon 

Enterprises, announced his retirement from 

active service with the company, retaining 

his financial interest and continuing as consultant, 

director and officer. IATSE Local 

182 and police officers of division 4 tendered 

the first annual Christmas screening party 


: January 

7. 1956

. . Norm 

. . Stanley 

for needy children of the south end. Al 

Swerdlove of Federal Films settled his suit 

against Filmakers Organization of California 

in the federal district court for an undisclosed 

sum of money. The suit involved the withdrawal 

of the film, "The Bold and the Brave," 

from Swerdlove's franchise. Martin J. Mullin 

was re-elected president of Allied Theatres 

of New England. 

Connecticut Solons 

Pass Tax Increase 

HARTFORD—The anticipated amusement 

tax hike has gone through for Connecticut. 

The legislature has passed a tax-increase 

measure designed primarily to raise money 

for flood relief throughout the state. Connecticut 

was hit by two floods—in August and 

October—and the governor and political 

leaders agreed on tax increases as a major 

means of flood recovery funds. 

The amusement tax goes up 25 cents to 

$8 a day for nine months, starting February 1, 

depending on the seating capacities. Those 

with less than 500 seats will pay only 25 cents 

more daily, while those from 500 to 749 will 

pay $1 more per day. The tax is graduated 

from there to $8 for those theatres with seating 

capacity of over 2.500. 

No announcement has been made so far as 

to whether theatres will raise admission prices. 

It is believed doubtful such action will occur. 

The state expects to pick up $15,625 from the 

increase. 

HARTFORD—Bill Daugherty of Lockwood 

& Gordon Theatres has been vacationing in 

Mexico. 

HARTFORD 

IJarry Feinstein, zone manager, and James 

M. Totman. assistant zone manager. 

Stanley Warner Theatres, huddled with Jack 

Sanson, SW Strand . Levinson. 

MGM's press representative in the Minneapolis 

territory, spent some holiday time here. 

Prior to shifting to MGM, Levinson was assistant 

to Lou Cohen, Loew's Poli manager. 

Ray McNamara, Allyn, and Arnold Van 

Leer, Paramount exploitation man, were busy 

George E. 

with "Artists and Models" . . . 

Landers, Hartford division manager, E. M. 

Loew's Theatres, was in Boston conferring 

with home office executives . . . The Perakos 

circuit's State. Jewett City, brought back 

"Battleground" and "Asphalt Jungle" on a 

two-day request program . . . Park street 

merchants hosted area youngsters at a holiday 

party at the Hartford Theatre circuit's 

Lyric. 

Jason Enterprises plans to reopen the Palace, 

Torrington, later this month. The theatre 

was extensively damaged during recent 

floods. 

Al Lessow, assistant manager, Loew's Poli, 

Bridgeport, was in town on a midwinter vacation 

. . . Three Bristol merchants underwrote 

expenses of a holiday party for youngsters 

at the Stanley Warner Bristol there. 

Dennis J. Rich, theatre manager, has been 

on the sick list in recent weeks, recuperating 

from a heart attack. 

Sperie Perakos, general manager, Perakos 

Theatre Associates, met with Tom Grace, 

Eastwood, East Hartford, and Vince Capuano, 

Elm, West Hartford . Cobleigh, 48, 

formerly managing director of the Canton 

Show Shop, died of pneumonia at the Hartford 

Hospital. 

Surgery for Fred Greenway 

HARTFORD—Fred R. Greenway, Loew's 

Poli Palace manager, entered Hartford Hospital 

for surgery. 

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CHICAGO 


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38 Church Street, Boston Tel. HUbbard 2-7257 

BOXOFFICE :: January 7, 1956 73

. . Louis 

BOSTON 

n merican Theatres Corp. has reopened three 

neighborhood houses which were closed 

for the pre-Christmas period. Theatres involved 

are the Warren and Plaza in Roxbury 

and the Central, Somerville Gordon, 

. 

who has just announced his retirement 

from active participation as president of Lockwood 

& Gordon Enterprises, left January 6 

with Mrs. Gordon for a prolonged vacation in 

Varadero Beach, Cuba . . . Roy Brown reopened 

the Park. Richford, Vt., the first of 

the year for two changes a week, playing 

Sundays-Mondays and Fridays-Saturdays. 

Stanton Davis, RKO salesman, and Mrs. 

Davis have named their first child Jonathan 

Mark Davis ... Ed Pollard, who operates the 

Mexico. Mexico, Me., and the Rumford Drivein 

in Maine, is spending a short vacation in 

Florida . . . Hud Conway is closing the Gem, 

Vinal Haven, Me., for the winter . . Myer 

. 

Ruttenberg has sold his Bleuclaire dinnerware 

dish deals to Ken Forkey for his Park 

Theatre, Worcester, and to Harold Markell 

for his Eliot, Cambridge ... A welcome visitor 

to the district was Nate Levin, AA manager 

in Detroit, who came in with his family 

for the Christmas holidays. 

After the successful opening of the E. M. 

Loew Gulf Stream Drive-In in Hallandaie 

Fla., designer Dick Rubin returned to Boston 

to work on the plans for the remodeling of 

the Lowell Drive-in, Lowell, Mass., which 

Norman Glassman ha.s recently purchased for 

operation next season. 

Ukrainian Operetta 

Now Offered on Film 

TORONTO—A film production of "Hutzulka 

Ksenia," Ukrainian operetta by Yaroslaw 

Barnych. will be released soon by Orbit 

Film Corp. in the U. S. and Canada. The 

musical feature was filmed in the Shelly 

Films studios here with Ernie Kirkpatrick 

as producer and director; Lydia Prybytkiwsky, 

assistant producer, and Myron Levytsky as art 

director. 

The film will be played primarily by clubs 

and organizations made up of members of 

Ukrainian and Slavic extraction. 

Orbit Films Is headed by William Hultay, 

business executive and leader in Canadian 

educational activities. He is chairman of the 

New Pathway Publishing Co. of Winnipeg 

and of Pace Publishers, Ltd., of Toronto, 

operator of the Westmorland Hotel here and 

president of the Ukrainian National Federation. 

Barnych, a noted Ukrainian composer, composed 

the operetta shortly before the outbreak 

of the second world war. It enjoyed 

a tremendous success on the Ukrainian stage 

but was forbidden after a few productions by 

the Polish government for its so-called "antistate 

propaganda," which, in fact, was nothing 

but a few remarks by a character from the 

operetta, who is an American tourist, as to 

the way the Polish government treated the 

Ukrainian people. 

During the war, composer Barnych lost 

most of his posessions, including the operetta 

manuscript. He had to leave his country, 

and after many difficulties he eventually arrived 

in the U. S., and now resides in Lorain, 

Ohio. 

He was commissioned by the Ukrainian National 

Federation of Canada, Toronto branch, 

to recreate the original operetta as near to 

the original as possible. It was produced 

last year on the stage of the UNF auditorium 

for the first time in Canada. Right from 

the first it was a success. It has been continuously 

produced on the stage for the second 

season now, always with a packed house. 

The film production stars M. P. Tahajiw, 

Y. Pocheniuk, S. Ruschak, A. Tahajiwa, A. 

Mazurenko, S. Shpyl and others. 

A 200,000-mile good will safari, backed by 

Hultay, left Toronto recently on a sell-Canada 

around-the-world tour lasting two years. 

Known as the First Canadian Goodwill Expedition 

Around the World, its primary purpose 

is to open the door to a two-way exchange 

of cultural ideas between Canada and 

75 countries which the expedition will visit. 

The expedition is headed by Nestor d'Arr, 

Warsaw educated author and journalist and 

co-editor of a Toronto magazine. Myron 

Levytsky will paint a series of 100 on-thespot 

pictures in the countries visited while 

Lydla Prybytkiwsky will be in charge of movie 

cameras. 

Manager Is Slugged 

TORONTO—Harry Roth, well-known manager 

of the Victory on Spadlna avenue, a 

unit of 20th Century Theatres, was assaulted 

in 

the dark and empty theatre by a burglar 

whom he encountered as he walked up the 

aisle. Roth, who is 65 years of age, was rushed 

to Western General Hospital where he was 

treated for scalp wounds. The assailant escaped 

without any cash. 

Jack McNicol Is 

Grand Prize Winner 

In TCL $2,500 All-Canada Contest 

TORONTO—Jack McNicol, manager of the 

Columbia Theatre, New Westminster. B. C. 

topped 112 prize winners in the coast-to-coast 

tenth anniversary contest sponsored by Theatre 

Confections, Ltd. McNicol's grand prize 

was $325, according to the contest results 

announced by J. J. Fitzgibbons jr., TCL 

president, with $225 being for highest percentage 

of increase in sales across Canada and 

$100 for first place in the Vancouver district. 

Theatre Confections awarded $2,500 in cash 

in the contest which covered sales in the 13 

weeks from September 5 to December 3. 

Merchandise prizes from beverage, dairy and 

popcorn firms raised the total value of 

awards to $4,500. 

SECOND NATIONAL PRIZE 

A. Fitch, Empire, Kentsville, N. S., won the 

second national prize worth $275, including 

a $50 bonus from the Spencer circuit. Other 

grand prize winners announced by Fitzgibbons 

were Paul Turnbull, Downtown, Hamilton, 

third, $175; Dudley Dumond, Westwood, 

Toronto, fourth, $150; Len Fromm, Metro, 

Toronto, $100, fifth. F. C. Troy, TCL Vancouver 

manager, and B. J. McCausland, Vancouver 

district theatre supervisor, each was 

awarded $100 for having the grand prize winner 

in his territory. 

Toronto A district winners (in order 

named) : $150, Dudley Dumond, Westwood, 

Islington; $100, Len Fromm, Metro, Toronto; 

$50, Len Bishop, Shea's, Toronto; $25 each 

to Henry Marshall, Capitol, N. Toronto; 

Terry Andrews, Vogue, Port Credit; B. Johnson, 

Radio City, Toronto; Jack Cardwell, 

Beach, Toronto; Fred Fink, Astor, Toronto; 

Mrs. T. Foster, York, Toronto, and B. Murphy, 

Eastwood, Toronto. 

Toronto B district winners: $175, Paul 

Turnbull, Downtown, Hamilton; $75, Joe Paul, 

Paramount, Brantford; $50, Don Edwards, 

Tivoli, Hamilton; $25 each—N. P. Gentile, 

Empire, New Liskeard; Trueman Walters, 

Grand, Kingston; Bob Knevels, Tivoli, Windsor; 

Bob Cummings, Empire, Ansonville; Ed 

Lamoureux, Palace, Windsor; Pat Larmer, 

Cartier, Timmins; Bob Nelson, Broadway, 

Timmins; Harry Wilson, Capitol, Chatham; 

Les Mitchell, Capitol, Welland. 

IN MONTREAL DISTRICT 

In the Montreal district, A. Fitch, Empire, 

Kentville, N. S., won the $225 first prize, 

with W. Cullum, Regent, Ottawa, Ont., carrying 

off second award of $75. Other winners: 

$50, G. A. Walters, Prince Edward, Charlottetown; 

$25 each to J. Gehrke, Capitol, Charlottetown, 

P. E. I.; F. Makarios, Chateau, 

Montreal; G. M. Tipper. Capitol & Royal, 

Truro, N. S.; E. Whittle, Acadia, Wolfville, 

N. S.; E. Warren, Elgin, Ottawa; L. Conrad, 

Paramount, Sydney, N. S.; W. G. Gazeley, 

Capitol & Paramount, Campbellton; W. G. 

Fenety, Capitol, Fredericton, N. B.; R. Martino, 

Capitol, Rouyn, Que. All Spencer circuit 

managers who placed among this group 

of prize winners also received a $50 bonus. 

For the Winnipeg district, C. Bahrynowski, 

Royal Theatre. Fort William, Ont.. was top 

winner, collecting $100. Others Winnipeg 

area winners: $75, F. Sabatini, Lake, Fort 

William, Ont.; $50, G. Carson, Fort, Fort 

William, Ont.; $25 each to O. Bowes, Capitol, 

Moose Jaw, Sask.; D. McKenzie. Orpheum, 

Estevan, Sask.; E. Newman. Metropolitan, 

Winnipeg; J. Duggan, Paramount, Kenora, 

Ont.; P. Boyd, Northland, Flin Flon, Man.; 

M. Rice, Princess, Edmonton, Alta.: C. Dilley, 

Paramount, Port Arthur, Ont. 

Following McNicol's first place triumph in 

the Vancouver district, second prize of $75 

went to Will Harper, Paramount, Kelowna, 

B. C. Other winners in the Vancouver area: 

S50, Walter Bennett, Capitol, Vernon, B. C; 

$25 each to Martin Cave, Dominion, Victoria, 

B. C; Lance Webber, Capitol, Penticton, B. 

C; Jack Burdick, Stanley, Vancouver. 

The Pepsi-Cola Co. made merchandise 

awards to managers turning in the best sales 

records in the Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg 

and Vancouver districts. Winners in the Toronto 

A and B district were E. Smithies, Capitol, 

Kingston, Ont., portable radio; H. Bowes, 

Capitol, Sarnia, Ont., record player; W. Collins, 

Bellevue, Toronto, and A. Grover, Parliament, 

Toronto, picnic coolers. 

In the Montreal district, the Pepsi-Cola 

awards went to G. Gazeley, Paramount, Campbellton, 

N. B., portable radio; H. Howes, Capitol, 

Halifax, record player; F. Skinner, Paramount, 

Halifax, and M. Lynch, Paramount, 

Moncton, picnic coolers. 

The Winnipeg area Pepsi-Cola top winner 

was R. Mitcheltree, Capitol, Calgary, Alta., 

who won a portable radio. W. Wilson, Paramount, 

Edmonton, collected a record player 

for second place. Mitcheltree and Wilson also 

each won a picnic cooler for third and fourth 

prizes. In the Vancouver district, McNicol 

won both a portable radio and a picnic cooler, 

while I. Ackery, Orpheum, Vancouver, received 

a record player and picnic cooler from 

Pepsi-Cola Co. 

PRIZE FROM ORANGE CRUSH 

Orange Crush. Ltd., awarded cash for best 

sales of its product in the Toronto and Montreal 

districts. Harry Wilson, Capitol. Chatham, 

Ont., won the $50 top prize; Bob Harvey, 

Capitol, North Bay, Ont., $25; Paul 

Turnbull, Downtown, Hamilton, Ont., $15, in 

the Toronto A and B districts. Montreal winners 

for Orange Crush were F. Skinner, Paramount, 

Halifax, N. S., $50; J. Mitchell, Capitol, 

Saint John, N. B., $25; B. Markell. Palace, 

Cornwall, Ont., $15. 

Vernon's Ginger Ale offered merchandise 

prizes in the Toronto A district and Les 

Chaplin. Century, captured the first place 

award—a record player. Other winners were 

Ron Hall, Grover, mantle radio: Art Grover, 

Parliament Theatre, and Maurice Doyle. 

Runnymede, record player attachments. 

Cash awards of $500 to Montreal district 

entrants were also made by Cousin's Dairy in 

a competition based on sales of the firm's 

ice cream. Winners in the division for theatres 

selling ice cream in the aisles were: B. 

Hamelin. Passe Temps, $100; F. Makarios, 

Chateau, $75; C. A. St. Louis, Savoy, $50; J. 

Laham, Dominion, $15; C. E. Grenier, Maisonneuve, 

$10. Among theatres not selling ice 

cream in the aisles. Cousin's Dairy awards 

went to A. Blondin, York, $100; R, Howarth, 

Monkland, $75: W. O'Loghlin, Capitol. $50; 

J. Rosenberg. Palace, $15; N. Charlton, Orpheum, 

$10. Consolidated Theatres executives 

also gave a week's salary to the Capitol and 

i Continued on following page) 

BOXOFFICE : 

: January 7, 1956 E 75

i Continued 

VANCOUVER 

TVivr Smith resigned from Perkins Electric 

and joined Southern Freightways Corp. 

as traffic representative ... A $4,000 judgment 

was awarded Neon, Ltd., against Gordon 

Simmonds and R. A. Fairleigh, Vancouver, 

under a signed contract for a sign at the 

North Star Drive-In at Aldergrove, B. C, 

which did not operate for the 1955 season. 

Byran .Inv a projectionist for 20 years (last 

at the Ridge), has quit show business and 

is moving with his family to Las Vegas, 

where he will enter the slot machine business 

. . . British Columbia Fire Marshal William 

Walker has retired after 17 years in 

that post. He was in charge of the theatre 

section and inspector of projectionists . . . 

The number of school festivities, such as 

dramatics, musicals and dinners, are being 

blamed for the slump in subrun and, to 

some extent, in downtown first run business. 

These festive events, exhibitors point out, not 

only occupy the teenage group but also their 

parents and friends. 

. . Bill 

Wally Hamilton, president of Trans-Canada 

Films, reports his company, which is in TV 

production in a big way, has taken over the 

former RKO office on Filmrow for executive 

headquarters. The studio will remain on the 

lower floor of tire old Film building . 

Smith, manager at RKO, was in St. Louis for 

a sales meeting and spent the holidays with 

his family in Toronto . . . Very few British 

Columbia exhibitors are up in grosses this 

year, but operating costs continue to grow. 

Art Graburn, Paradise manager who was 

well on his way to recovery from an illness, 

is back in the hospital for an operation . . . 

Dave Borland. Dominion manager, and 

Charlie Doctor. Capitol, were cash winners 

in the recently completed Fitz-Blitz contest 

. . Bill Harrison, former Dominion Sound 

. 

service engineer, was moved from Winnipeg to 

the Vancouver office to look after the recently 

acquired Odeon theatre service work 

here, formerly handled by Perkins Electric. 

The east side Avon Theatre reopened January 

l. after being dark for two years and has 

Hid a widescreen. 

The hectic past of the east side Avon may 

now be over. The theatre has been sold to 

Midicate of Chinatown businessmen 

headed by Quon Wong, a local lawyer. The 

price was said to be around $80,000. The 

former owner was State Amusement Co. The 

Avon was built by the Pantages circuit in 

1906, became the Royal in 1911 and switched 

to movies and tab shows. It was renamed 

the State by Hymie Singer and started running 

vaudeville and burlesque until the police 

stopped the shows because of too much striptease. 

It was the Queens under W. P. Nicols, 

then back to the Avon four years ago with 

legitimate productions. After that the theatre 

was used as a bingo parlor by the Canadian 

Legion. It will now go back to a twin bill 

policy at 25 cents admission with Chinese 

Pictures on Sundays. 

One circuit head said we are not prepared 

to write off the suburban theatres at present. 

Lack of parking places in the downtown area, 

he said, is keeping people away from the 

downtown theatres, which should help the 

neighborhoods. Houses that are not clean and 

comfortable are in real danger of closing 

through lack of patrons. Up-to-date equipment 

is essential, with comfortable theatre 

seats and top projection, which are sadly 

missed here. 

Time Bomb Scare Spreads 

To Windsor, Ont., Vanity 

WINDSOR, ONT.—The Vanity, a unit of 

20th Century Theatres, was the most recent 

business to have a time bomb scare in a 

series of hoaxes in Ontario which have involved 

both airplanes in flight and structures 

on the ground. 

Windsor police rushed to the Vanity and 

the theatre was evacuated when a telephone 

warning said that a bomb was due to explode. 

A search, in which Manager E. Taylor and 

staff cooperated, revealed no trace of explosive. 

A similar incident occurred the previous 

week at the Odeon Humber in Toronto. 

Jack McNicol Wins 

TCL $2,500 Contest 

from preceding page) 

Palace attendants as bonus prizes for winning 

Cousin's Dairy awards. 

Toronto area theatres also competed for 

merchandise prizes offered by Super Puff't 

Popcorn. The six winners were Martin White, 

Odeon Parkdale, Toronto, RCA Victor clock 

radio; Bill Burke, Capitol, Brantford, Mc- 

Brine durolite cowhide two-suiter; Henry 

Marshall, Capitol, North Toronto, Danby 

Deep-Fryer; Al Easson, Oakwood, Toronto, 

Cummins 30-piece drill kit; Mike King, Nortown, 

Toronto, and George Morrell, St. Clair, 

Toronto, leather-bound travel clocks. 

Winners of prizes offered by the Harlan 

Fairbanks Co., popcorn distributors, are to 

be announced later. A week's additional salary 

to attendants whose theatres placed 

among the winners was paid by Confederation 

and United Amusements, Montreal, and the 

Consolidated Theatres, Montreal. 

r

: January 

. . Robert 

TORONTO 

The latest bulletin on Arch H. Jolley, executive 

secretary of the Motion Picture Theatre 

Ass'n of Ontario, who underwent an 

operation in St. Joseph's Hospital, Hamilton, 

December 1, is that he probably will be able 

. . . 

to return to his Toronto office Monday (9) 

With the cooperation of Manager Len 

Bishop, Shea's was the scene of a free stage 

performance of "The Nutcracker Suite" by 

the National Ballet of Canada New Year's 

Day for a large audience of underprivileged 

and handicapped children. 

A feature of the holiday season was the 

presentation of a mystery play, "The White 

Phantom," by the students of the Variety 

Village Vocational School in the school auditorium 

under the auspices of Toronto Variety 

Tent 28 . . . Frank L. Scott, manager at 

Calgary for J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors, 

has been appointed assistant to General Manager 

F. L. Vaughan at the head office. A 

member of the Canadian Picture Pioneers, 

Scott was the first manager at Calgary for 

Canadian Monogram, later JARO. Succeeding 

him in Calgary is Reginald J. Doddridge, who 

is a past president of the Alberta branch of 

the Canadian Picture Pioneers. Doddridge 

made his start in 1917 with Select Pictures. 

Both are married and have families. 

A visitor in Toronto on a return visit from 

England is Patrick MacNee, actor, who has 

appeared in a number of pictures, including 

"Battle of the River Plate" and "The Elusive 

Pimpernel." Another visitor has been Richard 

Newman, film editor of the London, Ont., 

Free Press, who spent some time looking over 

current attractions at Toronto theatres. 

The Odeon at Peterborough, Ont., celebrated 

its eighth birthday with a number of 

stunts arranged by Manager George 

Shepherd. The lobby had a large birthday 

cake, donated by the F. W. Woolworth Five 

& Ten, and Shepherd gave a year's double 

pass to the patron who guessed its weight. 

For the Saturday morning show he invited 

the juveniles to bring their parents free. 

President J. J. Fitzgibbons of Famous 

Players has put in a real plug for "The 

Desperate Hours," saying "I should like 

to tell you, without reservation, that I have 

never seen, in all my long career in showbusiness, 

a finer dramatic picture." 

C'Scope to Killarney 

KILLARNEY, ONT.—The Gaiety Theatre 

here was recently altered to permit installation 

of a widescreen. The new 24-foot 

screen is twice as wide as the old one. Cinemascope 

lenses also have been installed. 

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Area Managers Ass'n 

Planned at St. John 

ST. JOHN—All local theatremen met here 

recently to consider plans for formation of a 

St. John-Lancaster Managers Ass'n to deal 

with theatre problems of a local nature, and 

patterned on the successful Halifax Managers 

Ass'n, which now has been in operation for 

more than a year. 

Matters to be dealt with by the organization 

will include bingo, horse racing and 

television competition, and gaining major 

attention will be industry taxation levied by 

the provincial government. Efforts will bs 

made to abolish the ticket levy on admissions 

of up to 50 cents and to reduce the tax on 

admissions over 50 cents. 

It was suggested that theatres be taxed as 

retail merchants, with a turn-over tax. At 

present, exhibitors are taxed on their projection 

equipment and on a per-seat basis. It 

also was pointed out that the federal government 

has subsidized with public money the 

television industry throughout Canada, which 

so severely has affected the theatre business; 

that the tax income to the province has been 

and will be greatly lessened through decreased 

attendance, and that the province might expect 

some consideration from the federal government 

to make up this loss of revenue. 

Yearend Statement Given 

To Shareholders of FPC 

TORONTO—In his yearend statement to 

the 8,700-odd shareholders of Famous Players 

Canadian Corp., President J. J. Fitzgibbons 

declared that no bonus had been added to the 

final 1955 dividend although indications were 

that earnings for the full year would exceed 

dividend requirements. Regular disbursements 

for the 12 months totaled $1.50 a share. 

"Your directors decided it was in the 

interest of all shareholders to maintain our 

strong cash position while adjustments in 

operations are being concluded," Fitzgibbons 

continued. "These adjustments are necessary 

in order to meet the increased competition we 

are getting from television." 

Fitzgibbons announced that the television 

stations at Quebec City and Kitchener, in 

which FPC has a 50 per cent interest, "are 

both turning in satisfactory profits." 

Paul Summerville Back 

In Night Club Trio Act 

TORONTO—An engagement of two weeks 

at the Barclay Indigo Room here for the 

Three Deuces, a vocal trio, has brought a 

reunion for the well-known Sumirn rville 

theatre family. One member of the night 

club act is Paul Summerville, former Oshawa 

radio announcer, who went to England two 

years ago where the act became a hit. This is 

their first appearance in Canada. 

Paul is the son of William A. Summerville 

jr., executive of Bloom & Fine Theatres, 

Toronto, and a grandson of William sr., owner 

of several Toronto theatres and a member 

of Famous Players 25-Year Club, having become 

a partner in the circuit in 1930. An 

uncle is Don Summerville, manager of the 

Prince of Wales and now in his second year 

as a Toronto city alderman. A brother of 

Paul is Murray Summerville. house manager 

of the Famous Players Capitol at London, 

Ont. 

OTT AW A 

jWTrs. E. Salter missed winning the $4,000 

Foto-Nite award when her name was 

called at the Centre, downtown Ottawa theatre, 

by Manager Frank Gallop last week. It 

was her regular theatre night, but she had 

remained at home to look after her young 

children because her husband was a hospital 

patient following an accident at his service 

station . . . Among Christmas attractions at 

Ottawa theatres, "Sincerely Yours" hardly 

came up to expectations at the Regent and 

was followed by "The Deep Blue Sea." The 

holdovers included "Guys and Dolls" at the 

Odeon and "Good Morning, Miss Dove" at the 

Elgin. The Glebe Cinema, of which Hye 

Bessin is the proprietor, got a nice holiday 

week out of "The Kidnappers" for a repeat 

run. This picture set an Ottawa record on 

its first appearance at the Glebe. 

Morris Berlin is featuring a Ladies night 

every Thursday at his Somerset when each 

female patron receives a free gift. Top 

picture last Thursday was "The Glass Slipper" 

The Ottawa Film Society is opening its 

. . . 

1956 series of Sunday performances at the 

Famous Players Regent for the 900 members 

January 8 with the cooperation of Manager 

Bill cullum. The picture is "The Cabinet of 

Doctor Caligari," a 1919 production from 

Germany. The National Film Board is also 

resuming its series of invitation film shows 

Monday night (9) in the theatre of the 

Canadian government's National Research 

Council. 

Fred Leavens, proprietor of the Elmdale. 

put on an intensive campaign for the personal 

appearance of Anna Russell, concert comedienne, 

January 9, 10 in the Ottawa Technical 

School auditorium . 

Johnson has 

been appointed supervising editor of the 

Ottawa laboratory of Crawley Films. He has 

had 22 years in the film industry, previously 

with 20th-Fox, Gaumont-British and J. 

Arthur Rank studios. Graeme Fraser, Crawley 

vice-president, pointed out that one of 

its pictures, "Frustrating Fours and Fascinating 

Fives," a child study made for the Department 

of National Health and Welfare, 

had been named as one of the 10 most 

popular films at U. S. libraries in a survey 

by the Saturday Review. 

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BOXOFFICE : 

7, 1956 77

MONTREAL 

•Phe local Paramount office ranked first in 

. . J. H. Gagnon of northern 

the Barney Balaban Drive one week prior 

to its completion . 

Quebec's newest minister district of 

Chibougamau, opened the Chibougamau 

New Year's Day. The booming area of Chibougamau 

is just getting into full swing with 

two big copper, nickel and gold mines having 

started production. There is already a goodsized 

population in the mining camp and 

hundreds of companies are investigating the 

area. A population of 3,000 is estimated by 

the Provincial Department of Mines in the 

township of Chibougamau, which has been 

laid down to become one of Quebec's most 

important mining centers. 

Hydro-Quebec Development Co. of Forestville 

has opened a new theatre, with A. Beaulieu, 

manager of the Bienville at Bienville, appointed 

as booker . . . Gordon Lightstone, 

Toronto, general manager of Paramount, was 

here conferring with Bob Murphy of the 

Montreal office . Haskell Masters, Toronto, 

. . 

general manager of Warner Bros, and his 

wife have left for an extensive holiday at 

Acapulco, Mexico . . . Tom Dowbiggin, former 

manager at Paramount here currently 

holidaying at Fort Lauderdale, Fla., sent a 

postcard to present manager Bob Murphy. 

L. M. Bleakley, vice-president and general 

manager of Perkins Electric Co., visited Toronto 

... Jo Oupcher, district manager for 

IFD, was given a Bell & Howell Monterey 

camera by the staff . . . Jack Kroll, salesman at 

Warner Bros., and Paul Vanier, salesman 

for the same company's 16mm division, are 

away on their annual holidays . . . Jack 

Roher, president of Peerless Film, is back 

from a business trip to the maritimes. 

The St. Denis Theatre and the Alouette 

simultaneously will feature a colored fulllength 

cartoon called "Le Village Enchante" 

dealing with Canadian legends and produced 

by two young Canadians, Marcel Racicot 

and Real Racicot . . . Cinerama marked its 

first anniversary in Montreal although of- 

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Crescent, Toronto 4, Ontario. 

ficial celebrations will take place at a later 

date. Guest stars, birthday cake and other 

highlights will mark the anniversary at the 

Imperial Theatre. It was also said by the 

Cinerama people that no official word has as 

yet been said about when "Cinerama 

Holiday" will be shown here, but indications 

seem to be that it will be by next spring. 

Hertel Hotte, owner of the Commodore 

Theatre of suburban Cartierville, was a 

Filmrow visitor. 

A yearend reception was held by J. P. 

Desmarais, co-president of Cine-France 

Distribution. The cocktail party, attended by 

a full contingent of motion picture industry 

officials, press, radio and television and even 

members of the Censors Board, was held at 

the company's modern studios. 

The Papineau Theatre, a neighborhood unit 

of the United Amusement Corp., is starting 

the new year with a policy of first run films 

... The Alouette Theatre, at St. Catherine 

and Bleury streets, suffered some damage due 

to smoke irom a fire in buildings adjacent to 

it. Patrons were asked to vacate the premises 

during the fire but the next day operations 

started again. 

Eddie White, booker, and Audrew Mitchel, 

cashier at Warner Bros, spent New Year's 

weekend at New York City. Both traveled 

by plane . . . Jacqueline Morin, Warner Bros. 

16mm division, received her office colleagues 

at her home for luncheon during Christmas 

Joe Rimer, accountant at Montreal 

week . . . 

Poster Exchange, and his wife visited thendaughter 

in Chicago, then traveled to New 

York City. 

S. Harry Decker, 59, 

Film Pioneer, Dies 

MONTREAL—S. Harry Decker, 59, a charter 

member of Motion Picture Pioneers and 

salesman since 1938 for RKO Distributing 

Corp,, died during a business trip at St. 

Joseph-de-Beauce. Quebec, 250 miles northeast 

of Montreal. 

Decker started his career in 1910 at the age 

of 13. In 1920 he was appointed Montreal 

manager for Regal Films and from there went 

to St. John, N. B., in 1924 with the old FBO 

Co. He returned to Montreal in 1926 for FBO 

and was then transferred to Toronto, Winnipeg 

and Calgary, in turn, serving as manager 

in the latter two exchanges, from 1927 

to 1934 for RKO Distributing Corp. From 1934 

to 1935 he served as salesman for Canadian 

Universal Films at Toronto, coming once 

again to Montreal to take up the sales job 

with the former Regal Films. He served the 

latter company up to 1937. 

From 1937 to 1938 Mr. Decker was out of 

the film industry, working for a local oil company. 

However, he returned to RKO in the 

latter part of 1938, serving as a salesman 

with the Montreal exchange until his death. 

Decker served in World War I and was 

on the executive committee of the Canadian 

Legion. He also served as district chief air 

raid warden in Montreal during world War 

H. 

He is survived by his wife Hannah, a 

daughter Joyce and two grandchildren. 

Stars in 'Serenade' 

In addition to Mario Lanza and Joan Fontaine. 

Warners' musical drama, "Serenade," 

will star Sarita Montiel and Vincent Price. 

Toronto Grosses Up 

During Holiday Week 

TORONTO—With one exception the holiday 

attractions at key first run houses proved 

to be exciting at the boxoffice. The offerings 

at seven theatres rated holdovers. Continued 

strength was shown by "Guys and Dolls" at 

the Odeon and "Artists and Models" at the 

Imperial while pick of the new pictures this 

week was "Kismet" at Loew's. 


Eglmton, University Good Morning, Miss Dove 

(20th-Fox) 120 

Hyland Doctor ot Sea { J ARO), 2nd wk 1 20 

Imperial Artists and Models (Para), 2nd wk 145 

Loew's— Kismet (MGM) 1 60 

Nortown— Blood Alley (WB) 110 

Odeon Guys and Dolls (MGM), 2nd wk 150 

ot (30th-Fox) 

Towne The African Lion (E-U), 2nd wk 115 

Uptown—The Second Greatest Sex (U-l), 2nd wk.. .120 

Shea's—The Rains Ranchipur 145 

Vancouver Merrymakers 

Go for 'Guys and Dolls' 

VANCOUVER — The Christmas holidayweek 

gave most theatres a better than 

average business. "Guys and Dolls" topped 

the town at a $1.50 admission. "Good Morning, 

Miss Dove," "Artists and Models" and 

"The Indian Fighter" were next best. 

Copitol Sincerely Yours (WB) Fair 

Cinema A Man Alone (Rep); Headline 

Hunters (Rep) Good 

Orpheum Artists ond Models (Para) Good 

Paradise Heidi and Peter (UA) Moderate 

Plaza The Indian Fighter (UA) . Good 

Strand Good Morning, Miss Dove .Good 

(20th-Fox) . . . 

Studio The Sheep Hos Five Legs (UMPO) Foir 

Vogue Guys and Dolls (MGM) Excellent 

ST. 

JOHN 

n fter a tour of the Odeon-Garson Theatres, 

A. I. Garson, president of the company, 

and his wife left their St. John home for 

Miami Beach, Fla., where they will spend the 

winter . . . Ken Snellgrove, St. John RKO 

manager, has returned after participating in 

a two-day company conference at St. Louis, 

Mo. He went there as part of the Canadian 

managers group headed by Jack Labow, general 

manager. Ken was full of enthusiasm 

about RKO 1956 product upon his return here. 

He said he saw screenings of a number of 

pictures, including Howard Hughes $6,000,000 

extravaganza, "The Conqueror." 

Joshua Lieberman, partner of the Bernstein 

& Lieberman circuit, was re-elected president 

of the Shaarei Zadek Synagogue for the 

ninth consecutive year ... A knife-wielding 

rejected suitor who allegedly threatened his 

former girl friend in a Halifax theatre was 

arraigned in police court and was remanded 

on a charge of carrying an offensive weapon. 

Ralph McAuliffe was picked up after police 

said he had held a knife at the back of Hazel 

Cassel. According to police, McAuliffe, a rejected 

suitor of Miss Cassel's, stuck a knife 

in her ribs while attending a downtown theatre. 

She managed to push the knife away and 

screamed for help. Three sailors seated 

nearby jumped up and subdued McAuliffe 

and held him until police arrived. 

Herman Kerwin, manager of the Franklin 

& Herschorn Regent and Grand Bay Drive- 

In became a grandfather at Christmastime. 

It's Kerwin's first granddaughter. His oldest 

son Jackie, the father, is serving his fifth 

year in the Air Force and is stationed at 

Moncton, N. B. Herman's youngest child, a 

daughter, is just 20 months old. 


: January 

7, 1956

C&tUfcucfi**, • Cauu>me*it * CottceddA&iu, • AytUtd&ttaAiu. 

MOB 

JANUARY 

7. 1956 

SECTION OF BOXOFFICE 

featuring 

2), 

edian, 

and 

ton 

r\enoi/ati 

Lighting is an integral part of the 

unusual decorative treatment of the 

auditorium in the RKO Orpheum 

Theatre, Denver, which was recently 

remodeled from facade and marquee 

to the proscenium and screen. 

Note how the lighting fixture at 

the top of the grillwork simulates 

the bamboo cylinders which form 

the top decoration in the side woll 

panel. Fluorescent lighting is used 

in outline effect at the panel, and 

at the top of the auditorium woll 

and in the ceiling. The round 

downlights in 

the main ceiling can 

be controlled at will to provide any 

level of light.

50,000,000 times a day . . . 

ITS A MATTER OF PREFERENCE 

Coca-Cola is the most asked-for 

soft drink among people "on the job"* 

K.' 

^ I 

!• 

As they work, Americans drink more 

*-' 

After work, these same people fill 

Coca-Cola than all other soft drinks 

combined. 

your theatre. 

REFRESHMENT 

*1954 surveys by 

Alfred Politz Research, Inc. 

m 

SELL 

4. 

for extra 

profit 

*5« Their preference is your profit 

Of theatres handling beverages 

when you feature Coca-Cola. 

more than 3 out of 4 sell 

Coke! 

"COKE" IS A REGISTERED TRADE-MARK

On America's Main Streets 

and Main Highways 

A Fresno, California installation by 

B. F. Shearer Co., San Francisco. 

— YOU SEE MORE WAGNER 

THEATRE ATTRACTION PANELS 

THAN ANY OTHER KIND! 

That's because ttieatremen everywhere realize that a good, changeable copy board Is their 

all-Important point-of-sale business getter. 

Wagner attraction panels are available In any six*, and are readily serviceable without 

removing frames. 

You also have a wider selection of sizes and colors when you use Wagner changeable 

letters. Immovable by wind or vibration, yet easier to change. 

If you're building or remodeling, you'd better have 

the Wagner catalog. 

WAGNER 

Send the coupon now!

MANUFACTURED BY INTERNATIONAL PROJECTOR CORPORATION • DISTRIBUTED BY NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY 

SUBSIDIARIES OF GENERAL PRECISION EQUIPMENT CORPORATION 

The MODERN THEATRE SECTION

RE COMFORT 

contributes to steady, profitable patronage 

AT THE BABYLON 

RECENTLY REBUILT following 

a fire, Associated Prudential's 

Babylon Theatre on Long 

Island is completely reseated with 

Heywood-Wakefield "Encore" 

chairs. The utmost comfort is provided 

by the new Formed Rubber 

Contour Cushions. The Contour 

conforms to the occupant's body 

and has the resiliency of three 

inches of formed rubber over helical 

construction springs. 

In the competition for comfort, 

competition both from other theatres 

and from TV armchairs at 

home, Heywood's "Encore" is 

helping the Babylon maintain a 

capacity box office. Heywood- 

Wakefield seating would be a 

profitable investment in comfort 

for you, too. 

The balcony contains 300 TC 701 de luxe "Encore" 

chairs with steel coil spring backs spaced 39" back-to-back. 

The main floor contains 600 TC 700 "Encore" chairs spaced 

36" back-to-back. All chairs are upholstered in malibu twotoned 

striped velour, rose in the balcony and blue on the main floor. 

Grey and black brick, glass and white 

marble adorn the front of the rebuilt 

Babylon Theatre. Architect: Maurice 

Sornick, New York. 

.1 

HEYWOOD- 

WAKEFIELD 

>v 

HEYWOOD-WAKEFIELD COMPANY, Theatre Seating Division, Menominee, Michigan • Solej Offices: Boltimore • Chicago • New York 

BOXOFFICE : 

: January 

7, 1956 5

The heavy cost of modifying your old projectors, 

so that you can play all prints, use 

latest type arcs, and avoid film damage, is 

ample reason for purchasing new Mo tiographs 

without further delay. 

* PROJECT ALL TYPES OF PRINTS -standard, 

CinemaScope, or combination optical 

and magnetic — without interchange of 

sprockets, rollers, shoes or tracks. 

* CORRECT WORKING DISTANCE 

BETWEEN APERTURE AND MIR- 

ROR with any make or model lamp 

including the 

new, big reflector 

• MAXIMUM SCREEN ILLUMINA- 

TION. Best center to side light 

distribution. 

• AIR AND WATER COOLED GATE 

AND FILM. 

* ROCK STEADY PROJECTION. Silent operation. 

Your Motiograph dealer will gladly 

serve you. He has a liberal financing 

* r plan. plan, Write n today for Jor literature. 

literati 

Now, more than ever, your projector dollars 

go farther with long-life Motiographs. There 

are no other projectors like them. 

"SINCE I89o" 

4441 W. IAKE ST., CHICAGO 24. ILL. 

Export Division f£jrc*pf Canada): Fraxar a Homen, Ltd* 301 Cloy Street • Son Fronciico 11, California 

mrninfl lurn i n IIHflMII 


I _-«.— 


r, , 

.. .r 

•"-THi 

^ MODERN 

m TiMATR: 

o n t n t 

An Exhibitor With Novel Ideas 

Designs 

His Own Theatre Ben H. Sommers 8 

Unite Lobby and Foyer for Spacious Effect Les Rees 12 

Enlarged Foyer-Lobby Gained by Loss of 

Only Eight Seats David Miller 14 

Give Special Attention to Treating Walls With Acoustical 

Materials for Good Sound 16 

"Big Sweep" Look to Lobby Frances Clow 17 

Deductible Casualty Losses May Produce 

Tax Refunds Harold J. Ashe 20 

New Snack Bars Increase Sales One-Third Charles Boeckman Jr. 23 

Theatre Maintenance Questions and Answers Dave E. Smalley 30 

Projector Maintenance and Servicing Guide Wesley Trout 32 

No Problems With Magoptical Prints If Proper Care Is Exercised 41 

Drive-In Salute to Auto Industry Pays Off 42 

Drive-In Owner Meets Challenge When Highway Bisects Theatre. ... 44 

DEPARTMENTS: 

Refreshment Service 23 New Equipment and 

Projection and Sound 32 

Developments 48 

Literature 51 

Drive-In Theatres 42 About People and Product. 52 

ON THE COVER 

The 2,600-seat RKO Orpheum in Denver was recently remodeled 

under the direction of John J. McNamara. architect. 

Principal colors in the auditorium are sandstone, red and gold. 

W,'HEN planning a new theatre, 

or a remodeling job on an old house, 

an exhibitor may well devote some 

personal thought to what he would like 

to have before taking the project to an 

architect. Years of experience as a 

theatreman should produce some ideas 

of what patrons will 

enjoy and appreciate 

in the theatre surroundings, as 

well as in services, such as the concessions, 

an indoor boxoffice in cold climates 

and, perhaps, a checkroom. 

Thought should be given to ways in 

which the theatre may be made distinctive 

in design, particularly so in 

highly competitive areas. With this in 

mind, the opening article in this issue 

should be of special interest because 

it tells the story of a new theatre designed 

by a veteran exhibitor—a theatre 

which incorporates a number of 

unusual architectural 

features. 

Theatremen who are faced with the 

work of remodeling an existing house 

will find other articles herein of value, 

especially if they are concerned with 

opening up the front of the theatre and 

enlarging lobby and foyer space. These 

articles tell how three different theatres 

accomplished this in various ways. 

Many times, just the re-doing of the 

concessions stand will lend a bright 

new look to the theatre, as well as producing 

increased revenues. 

In some cases, where theatres are 

already modern structurally, all that 

may be needed to create new patron 

interest is a new marquee, or, perhaps, 

the relocation of the boxoffice. Other 

considerations in updating a theatre, 

of course, are new seats, new carpeting 

and fresh, attractive screen curtain 

and draperies. It goes really without 

saying, in these days of the new screen 

processes, that all booth equipment will 

be kept up to date. 

I. L. THATCHER, Managing Editor 

The MODERN THEATRE Section of BOXOFFICE is included in the first issue of each month. 

Editorial or generol business correspondence should be addressed to Associated Publications, 

825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansos City 24, Mo. Eastern Representative: A. J. Stocker, 45 Rockefeller 

Plaza, New York 20, N. Y.; Central Representatives: Ewing Hutchison and E. E. Yeck 

35 East Wacker Drive, Chicago 1, III.; Western Representative: Bob Wettstein, 672 South 

Lafayette Park Place, Los Angeles 5, Calif.

AN EXHIBITOR 

zanine floor helps to balance the view of 

the front of the theatre. 

Notable features in the interior are the 

smoking lounge on the mezzanine floor, 

located near the snack bar; a large stage 

with attached dressing rooms which will 

be used for live entertainment; sound and 

projection equipment in fully fireproof 

booths; a complete, refrigerated air-conditioning 

system; the breath-taking "movie 

mural"; the love seats; the cry room; the 

party room; the white-painted rope in the 

balustrades; the Greek comedy-tragedy 

masks as a design motif, and the general 

richness of inspired color combinations in 

drapes, walls and curtains. 

An innovation in theatre facade design is the 24-sheet frame on the upper front of the new Paragon Theatre, 

Melville, Sask., which is used to sell coming attractions. The marquee announces current attractions. 

The picture window looks out from the mezzanine coffee bar. 

By BEN H. SOMMERS 

Wnusual design features, created by 

the owner, Hugh Vassos, make the new 

Paragon Theatre, Melville, Sask., of special 

interest to exhibitors planning to build 

or remodel. 

While not an architect, Vassos is a veteran 

exhibitor who has learned what the 

public likes in the way of patron service 

and the surroundings in which it views a 

picture, as well as having some novel ideas 

of his own which he wanted incorporated 

>— -^L»_ 

1 

in his new house. He did all his own designing, 

which was approved by an architect, 

as well as painting an outstanding 

mural on an upper lounge wall. 

The $125,000 building, which cost another 

$11,000 to equip, has a new Quikbric 

front, the first time this material has been 

used in that part of western Canada. The 

50xl30-foot structure is of reinforced concrete 

pilasters and beams, with curtain 

walls of cement block. The Quikbric is 

powdered or crushed brick applied like 

plaster, with the mortar joints cut in by 

stencils. This is a fast and economical 

process, and the Roman brick stenciling, 

between the two shades of light buff used, 

gives a rich, luxurious facade to the 600- 

seat, first run house. 

Unusual in theatre-front design is the 

24-sheet frame with 12-inch neon arrows 

chasing around it, in six colors—used 

specifically for advance advertising of important 

coming attractions. This is placed 

well above the neon -blazing marquee which 

announces current attractions. The tan 

Roman brick with white checkered Roman 

brick down the sides and across the top of 

the building boldly outline the edifice. 

Bevelite backing and letters are used on 

the marquee. A 5x8-foot picture window 

of Thermopane looking out from the mez- 

Just inside the entrance to the Paragon is this 

small refreshment bar for convenience of patrons 

not wishing to go upstairs to the mezzanine coffee 

bar. An attractive stone planter, right, adds charm 

to 

the area. 

LOBBY REFRESHMENT BAR 

For the convenience of incoming patrons 

who will be seated on the ground floor 

there is a neat and small refreshment 

counter in a corner commanding the entrance 

as well as the stairway to the mezzanine. 

Patrons ascending the stairs to the mezzanine 

coffee bar are greeted with the 

vista of a 28x8-foot mural, composed of 

various famous scenes from celebrated 

movies, painted by owner Hugh Vassos on a 

rich chocolate-colored background, bordered 

in lime green, and thoroughly spotlighted 

throughout with brass cone spotlights. 

The bar serves coffee, meat sandwiches, 

pastries and cold beverages. This area is 

also designed to accommodate crowds between 

shows, thereby abating their impatience 

and making waiting a pleasure for 

the patron and a profit for the exhibitor. 

With the mezzanine lounge and the standee 

area there is room for 200 people. 

VARICOLORED SEATS 

In the auditorium there are three sections 

of different colored seats; cherry In 

the back, gold in the center and gray in 

the front; deliberately arranged in this 

fashion in order to designate the various 

priced sections when live talent is on the 

stage. Heywood-Wakefield seats were used 

throughout, with combination love seats 

interspersed among the regular seats. Special 

permission was granted for smoking in 

the loges when Vassos incorporated all the 

latest fireproof safety devices and necessities. 

A color wheel on each side of the stage 

enhances the beauty of the two sets of 

drapes in operation. The stage measures 

42x20 feet with modern, spacious dressing 

rooms underneath for live talent and concerts. 

Running from wall to wall, the front 

curtains are a lime green with a very predominant 

gold thread interlaced through 

them. The stage "legs" or curtains behind 

the main curtain are of the same material 

in a rose color. The curtain in front of 


VITH NOVEL IDEAS DESIGNS HIS OWN THEATRE 

|4 

T/ie talk of the industry is this 28x8-foot mural of important scenes from famous 

movies which was painted by owner Hugh Vassos. Background of the mural 

is chocolate colored and it is bordered in lime green. It is lighted from above 

by three brass cone spotlights. Smoking loges in the balcony are just off this 

mezzanine coffee bar. The bar offers meat sandwiches, pastries, coffee and 

cold drinks to patrons, and supplements the lobby stand. 

the screen itself is in bright cherry red. 

Both curtains are controlled from the 

booth. Ceiling of the auditorium is pink and 

cream. 

Men's and women's restrooms, located in 

the basement, are attractive and equipped 

with automatic hand dryers. There is a 

handsomely appointed powder room for the 

ladies. 

Since the opening of the Paragon, the 

reputation of its opulence, its unusual design, 

its extraordinary features, has spread 

far and wide among exhibition circles in 

western Canada, and theatre owners, operators 

and managers have made it a point to 

travel hundreds of miles from three provinces 

to drop in on owner Hugh Vassos and 

personally witness the "new look" in theatre 

design and operation. Exhibitors who 

have had problems with crying children, 

patrons who want to smoke, or eat a light 

lunch in the theatre, impatient waiting 

crowds, come daily to see the cryroom, the 

party room, the mezzanine coffee bar, the 

Continued on following page 

& 

Unusual is the heavy 

rope, pointed white, 

incorporated in the 

balustrades of this 

stairway to the mezranine 

coffee bar and 

waiting area. Greek 

comedy - 

tragedy 

masks on the wall 

are used throughout 

the theatre as a 

trademark motif. 

The wall area is 

paneled in wood. The 

theatre is luxuriously 

carpeted in all areas. 

BOXOFFICE : 

: January 7, 1956

Cut Theatre Cleaning Costs 

With Mechanized 

Equipment 

And the Right Cleaning Aids 

Love seats and singles in three color sections to designate different-priced seats tor live talent shows 

are shown here. Also visible are one of the smoking loges, upper right; the cryroom, below, and the party 

room at upper left. Lime and chocolote drapes can be drawn to enable standees to watch the show. 

EXHIBITOR DESIGNS HIS THEATRE 

Continued from preceding page 

dressing rooms, the smoking loges, the 24- 

sheet advance announcement and the numerous 

ingenious innovations conceived and 

executed by veteran exhibitor Vassos, who 

is also involved in commercial art and 

talent agent of roadshows. 

An instance of the extremities to which 

Vassos has carried the trademark motif of 

the Paragon, a stylized composite of the 

Greek theatre comedy-tragedy masks 

they appear as lighting fixtures, bas-relief 

pictures on walls, stage apron and marquee 

—is his personal wearing of matching cufflinks 

and tieclasp of similar design. 

Periodically the Paragon will feature big 

name stars of stage, radio, concert and 

vaudeville to entertain the citizens of Melville 

and vicinity, as well as consistently 

offer them the finest in screen entertainment. 

CREDITS: Air conditioning: Carrier * Carpeting: 

Harding • Changeable letters: Bevelite * Plumbing: 

Crane • Projectors: Simplex • Seating: Heywood- 

Wakefield • Sound: Altec. 

Of each dollar budgeted by a theatre for 

cleaning maintenance, 95 cents currently 

goes for labor, according to Leo J. Kelly, 

executive vice-president of National Sanitary 

Supply Ass'n, Inc. The other five cents 

are expended on soap, detergents, polishes, 

mops, brushes and mechanical cleaning 

equipment. 

The practical approach to cutting dealing 

costs, then, lies in finding ways to speed 

up theatre cleaning routines to effect savings 

on the payroll. 

Kelly points out three such ways: use 

of latest mechanized cleaning equipment, 

keeping on hand sufficient supplies of the 

right cleaning aids for the job to be done 

and careful planning of each cleaning task. 

COMPARATIVELY AT LOW COST 

In Kelly's opinion, mechanized cleaning 

equipment is still low in price compared to 

the actual savings it makes possible. 

"Today's workers," he says, "are not 

prone to work as hard as cleaning workers 

once did. With the passing of the day of 

low-priced abundant labor, the demand for 

power-driven scrubbing, polishing and vacuuming 

equipment has reached new 

heights." 

Power-driven equipment, in taking the 

drudgery out of the cleaning operation, also 

permits employment of a higher type of 

worker with the results that supervisory 

costs are lowered. 

Paster cleaning also is possible when the 

workers have the tools and supplies at 

hand required for a particular job. 

Kelly says, 

RIGHT EQUIPMENT NEEDED 

"A good supervisor sees that 

his maintenance crew has the proper tools 

to work with. Just one brush or broom 

isn't enough. A survey of the job to be 

done will show that push brooms, sweeping 

mops and brushes of various sizes will 

speed up the work and do the job better. 

Various types of cleaners and detergents 

chosen according to the type of floor and 

conditions encountered, will be found 

necessary." 

Most necessary in improving cleaning 

methods to reduce maintenance cost is 

careful planning. Kelly advises a full and 

complete survey of each cleaning operation. 

The routine can then be charted and proper 

tools and supplies assigned to the work. A 

blueprint showing a complete job analysis 

and work schedule for the maintenance 

staff can then be set up and carried out 

efficiently with aid of power-driven cleaners 

and proper cleaning supplies. 

Lime green draperies with a predominant gold thread extend from wall to wall and are controlled from 

the booth. Color wheels on each side of the stage enhance the beauty of the draperies. Note the comedytragedy 

masks used as a decoration on the base of the stage and as lighting fixture on the wall. 

Some theatres employ lanes of vending 

machines in addition to their cafeteria 

and other concessions service. These conserve 

help and money in the operation 

of the concessions. 

10 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION

Maximum comfort provided by the most 

scientifically designed and constructed 

seats and backs that "fit" your patrons, 

brings them back again and again. Extra 

long backs—longest of standard chairs in 

the industry— provide complete protection 

to the patron from behind, and supports 

his shoulders in complete comfort. Your boxoffice 

will reflect the added comfort afforded 

by International theater seats. 

Whether reseating an auditorium or searing 

a new one, maintenance is so important. 

With International theater seats, maintenance 

is reduced to a minimum. All-steel 

construction, factory assembly, completely 

standardized cushions, backs and ends, 

quickly removable seats and backs, upholstery 

without tacks or other fastenings, 

hingeless seat suspension—all add up to 

minimum maintenance and added profits. 

For complete information about the modern theater seats that make you 

money, write, wire or phone your nearest independent supply house or 

^nterrmttonaf 

âfotoMs 

DIVISION OF UNION CITY BODY COMPANY, Inc., Union City, Indiana 

BOXOFFICE : 

: January 7, 1956 11

UNITE LOBBY AND FOYER FOR SPACIOUS EFFECT 

New Glass Front Opens the Whole Area to View From Sidewalk 

And Enlarged Lobby-Foyer Provides for Expanded Concessions 

Old floor plan 

New floor 

plan. 

By LES REES 

The foyer and lobby of the Minneapolis 

Loop Gopher Theatre were opened 

up as the major improvement in the remodeling 

of the Ben Berger house. Architects 

Liebenberg & Kaplan feel that they 

have created an effect that causes the 

public passing the theatre to wish to enter 

it and look about. This is in contrast to 

what existed before: a boxed-in interior. 

Formerly, the lobby and foyer were cut 

up and unimpressive and crowded, but the 

two now are a single, spacious unit which 

appears to passersby looking into it 

through the glass, employed from floor to 

ceiling, as an enormous lounge. 

The new front is much more inviting 

than the old one, and the facade of the 

theatre is formed of granite, glass and 

aluminum. A new fluorescent attraction 

board was Installed on the marquee. 

12 

Within the foyer-lobby, there is an 

acoustical tile ceiling, walls of pegboard 

and Victrex, and vinyl tile floors. 

A shadowbox arrangement built into the 

entrance wall to eliminate the ugly individual 

poster cases formerly used makes 

for a unique effect. 

In eliminating the old lobby and foyer 

and opening up the front, the architects 

were confronted with the problem of noises 

percolating into the theatre from the street 

outside. To combat this, carpeting was 

brought out into the public area and the 

acoustical material was used on the ceiling. 

Now, the interior is quieter than it was 

before when it was boxed in. 

By eliminating the cubby holes in various 

areas in the theatre the new air conditioning 

system is employed to greater advantage, 

the architects say. 

Illumination is provided by extraordinarily 

beautiful, bursting star, Lightolier 

fixtures which are hung from the ceiling. 

Enlarging the foyer-lobby provided room 

for a greatly expanded and more elaborate 

concessions operation. 

The lineup of concessions equipment begins 

at the boxoffice at the entrance doors 

and extends the entire length of the lobbyfoyer 

wall. There are a large candy case, 

twin popcorn warmers and a self-service 

ice cream cabinet. 

Other improvements in the theatre included 

redecoration of the auditorium, new 

draperies, new International seating and 

new carpeting. Restrooms also were redecorated. 

In the projection room, new Super- 

Simplex projectors and RCA stereophonic 

sound equipment was installed. 

The 1,100-seat first run house was 

updated at a cost of approximately 

$65,000, over a period of about a year during 

which the theatre continued to operate. 


Provide for Lobby Displays 

When Planning 

Remodeling 

When planning remodeling of your theatre 

be sure to give special attention to provision 

for your lobby displays for coming 

attractions. More and more theatres are 

using display cases in Cinemascope proportions 

to promote current and coming 

features. Light and color also play an important 

part in selling pictures. According 

to M. B. Smith, publicity director of Commonwealth 

Theatres, in a recent issue of 

the Commonwealth Messenger: 

"Too many showmen neglect the power 

of the pretty spot . . . the flow of moving 

color . . . and the powerful display. It is 

here that group selling can be done in such 

sweep that people will say, 'Oh! Just look at 

all the pictures they have coming here!' 

"It is here that enthusiasm can be built 

for motion pictures in general at reasonable 

cost ... it is here that the manager can 

wave his wand and direct attention to 

that which is most important . . . continuously 

. . . every day in the week. 

. . . 

"Here it is easy to make a clean breast 

of all product and do it with proper 

emphasis. Really good showmen have been 

known to make every inch of their lobby 

and foyer sell. Good men transfer it into 

a fairyland of color. It isn't hard to do if 

you want to work at it! 

"The magic of spotlights can mean much 

as you parade your pictures and stars in 

every corner—and here long range campaigns 

can come into their own. Studios 

spend fortunes on creating paper and art, 

and striking colors, but all too little finds 

its way into the warmth of imaginative 

showmanship. 

"Does your lobby have a long-range. 

Theatre

ENLARGED FOYER-LOBBY GAINED 

BY LOSS OF ONLY EIGHT SEATS 

Area Also Increased by Moving Entrance Doors Forward 

By DAVID MILLER 

Kkmodeling of the old Rialto gives a 

third first run movie house to downtown 

Columbus, Ga., which is the business and 

social center of a metropolitan area which 

embraces several Georgia and Alabama 

counties and approximately 190,000 people. 

The Rialto dates back to the early 1920s. 

The theatre was closed for about two weeks, 

fumigated, cleaned and completely remodeled, 

brightening up the entire block 

in which it is located. In addition, a new, 

widescreen was installed to handle the 

newer films. 

"This gives us the closest thing to an 

art theatre that we have in this area," says 

E. D. Martin, co-owner of the Martin Theatre 

enterprises. 

s c 12 e e n' 

4bove is the handsome new 

"There will be a liberal sprinkling of 

facade and marquee of 

English-language foreign films, but the 

the Rialto Theatre, Columbus, 

gray-bearded tradition of cowboy movies 

SEATS 

Go., which is in- 

on Friday and Saturday at the Rialto will 

dicative of the modern not be tampered with." 

treatment given the interior 

The newly remodeled theatre occupies 

of the house in a recent a prime position on Columbus' principal 

remodeling. At bottom of business street, and the reopening was 

the page is the old front marked by the first run of a new movie, 

which dates bock to the 

accompanied by appropriate fanfare in the 

early 20's. In the sketch, 

local press and elsewhere. 

struck 

the old rear auditorium wall 

by the modern design and lavish use of 

color. Above the marquee the facade is 

ROW OF S CATS 

and the old entrance wall 

R6MOVEP 

constructed of corrugated Transite metal, 

which were removed to enlarge 

the dotted lines indicate 

Looking at the new facade, one is 

the foyer-lobby, make 

- P WAuL 

room for a new concessions 

stand. Entrance doors were 

LAPIS $ ROOM 

— 

ice. 

moved forward and the 

*2£ 

boxoffice to one side. 

dull gray with a porcelain border. The corrugations 

run diagonally from the top of 

the approximately square facade to the 

bottom, giving the effect of gray and white 

stripes. The Martin emblem—an entwined 

M and T in a circle, is superimposed in 

letters of creamy yellow supported several 

inches from the facade in the upper left. 

Prom it, a yellow bar stands out horizontally 

toward the upper right corner and 

another, vertically to about halfway to the 

lower left corner. 

At the bottom of the facade, slightly off 

center to the right, projects the attractions 

board and main sign. A roughly rectangular 

device, it bears a crest of aluminum and 

structural glass which crosses the top and 

tapers on the outward edge until it is flush 

with the sign. It is decorated with red, 

creamy yellow and green. Large, milky 

glass panels are set in the sides of the sign 

at right angles with the sidewalk for billing 

of attractions. The letters can be 

changed from inside the board, eliminating 

the necessity for a ladder. 

A narrow roof, triangular, tapers from the 

corners of the front to its widest point over 

the boxoffice, and then disappears again 

into the opposite corner. 

The entrance is recessed in the front. 

with two sets of double doors. The boxoffice 

is at the right of the recess. Display 

cases bordered with bright aluminum 

are fixed in the corners and front of the 

face of the theatre, which is covered with 

The Rialto's new concessions bar, located in the center of the rear auditorium wall faces patrons head-on 

as they approach. The inset candy case is mirror-backed and illuminated The interesting back wall 

treatment is a red wallpaper with a floating balloon design. 

14 


green structural glass with a baseboard effect 

of tan Italian marble. 

The double doors are aluminum with six 

panels each, and customers are led toward 

them by walls which lead into the recessed 

entrance at an angle. The boxoffice is set 

off by flashing of bright aluminum. 

Inside the door is a large rectangular 

room some ten feet deep and running 

almost the width of the theatre, which 

serves as foyer and lobby. The wall toward 

the auditorium is occupied by the latest 

model concessions booth, a large one with 

a lighted, mirror-backed display case in 

front and sides which slope away from the 

glass case at a 30-degree angle. The top 

of these cases serves as the counter. The 

wall to the rear of the stand is papered in 

red with a floating balloon design, and the 

ceiling is silver with recessed lights. Attractive 

shelves display refreshments on the 

walls behind the booth. 

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A FIVE-DRINK 

FOUNTAIN 

At the attendant's right is a fountain 

supplied and installed by Nehi Corp. which 

serves Royal Crown, Coca-Cola, orange, 

root beer and grape drinks. At her left 

is a Cretors popcorn machine. Installed inside 

the booth is a freezer which holds ice 

cream sandwiches, Eskimo Pies and frozen 

candies. 

The lobby-foyer is walled with combed 

plywood, painted pink with gray underbase. 

Lights are recessed in the silvered ceiling. 

At the right and left in the rear wall, upon 

entering, are doors to the auditorium. In 

addition, to the left, is the door to the 

women's restroom (the men's restroom is 

in the balcony) and to the right, the small 

office of Manager J. J. Joines. Stairs also 

lead into the balcony from the walls at 

left and right. 

In the balcony, the floor was elevated and 

remodeled to hold 132 seats, an increase 

of 12. A second entrance was built, other 

exits are two beneath the screen giving 

access to an alley 

at the rear. 

One 

There are now a total of 626 seats. 

row of eight seats was lost at the rear of 

the auditorium to increase the size of the 

lobby, and the rear wall of the lobby constructed 

that much nearer the screen. 

In the auditorium, and the balcony, new 

foam rubber seats have been installed and

When Building or Remodeling 

Give Special Attention to Treating Walls 

With Acoustical Materials for Good Sound 

Proper acoustical treatment, it should be 

needless to say, Is very necessary if good 

sound distribution is desired. Poor acoustical 

treatment of walls, ceiling and back 

stage can greatly mar perfect sound presentation 

in any theatre. With unamplified 

sound in an auditorium, some reverberation 

is very desirable to reinforce the original 

source, but some wall treatment will 

help. With amplified sound, from your 

modern theatre sound system, all necessary 

reinforcement can be amply taken care of 

by your amplifier. The desired result from 

your projected picture and speakers is to 

preserve the illusion that the sound is 

coming directly from the scene being projected 

on the screen and not from the 

speakers. Such perfect illusion may be 

secured with proper acoustical treatment. 

Each theatre auditorium usually requires 

a tailor-made job, because each situation 

always has certain problems to overcome In 

order to secure good sound reproduction. 

We are going to briefly bring out a few 

important points and suggest you always 

consult with an experienced sound conditioning 

engineer. However, we would like 

to point out here that the average theatre 

requires the following acoustical treatment 

as a "must" for good results. 

1. The basic plan generally provides for 

an equal amount of good acoustical material 

on each side wall, generally distributed 

from the ceiling to the wainscot line. 

Some auditoriums have achieved good results 

with acoustical panels on the side 

walls. The rear wall should be very carefully 

treated, do not "load" the back wall, 

but enough material should be used to 

prevent backslap of sound. Too, it is always 

a good idea to place some type of sound 

absorbent on the wall behind the picture 

screen, which will prevent speakers backslap 

through the screen openings, etc. Too 

many theatres neglect this. In some situations, 

acoustical material can be placed on 

the back of the picture screen which will 

enclose the speakers and keep the sound 

out front where it should be. 

Where acoustical material is hung on 

screen frame, or immediately in back of 

speakers, a material similar to Ozite has 

been found very good. This can also be used 

for sidepanels, but other acoustical material 

(regular acoustical "blocks") is preferred. 

There are many kinds of material that can 

be installed and finished in beautiful designs. 

Many modernized theatres, not properly 

sound conditioned, have successfully 

used long draperies, fireproofed, from the 

ceiling down almost to the floor. Hung near 

the stage or screen area, they achieved 

good results. 

2. Generally, the area under the balcony 

is not sound-treated, but the back wall 

always is properly treated in order to avoid 

wall-slap. 

Low ceilings should not be treated as 

they furnish useful reflection of sound and 

with speakers properly set, you will receive 

a more uniform sound distribution. In 

other words, the sides, rear and wall behind 

the speakers are areas that need careful 

sound conditioning in any auditorium. 

Again let us point out that complete 

"deadness" in sound in an auditorium is 

not sought—a little reverberation will not 

hurt, but it must be very little! 

Proper sound conditioning of the foyers, 

lounges and concessions stand should always 

be given careful consideration as this noise 

may get into the auditorium, which could 

be avoided with acoustical treatment. 

We do not claim to be an expert on acoustical 

problems, but we do want to point 

out that a good acoustical treatment goes 

hand-in-hand with modern sound reproduction. 

Any auditorium can be made to 

produce the desired acoustical results, 

using various kinds of well-known acoustical 

material or draperies, or a combination 

of both.—Wesley Trout. 

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In this left-hand view of the State Theatre lobby, Chicago, the concessions area, which formerly was an 

adjoining storeroom, is shown. The custom-built stand now offers all popular theatre refreshment items, including 

hot dogs and frozen custard. Formerly, there was only a small stand offering candy. Since this 

photo was taken, holdout ropes have been installed to guide the patrons from the boxoffice past the concessions 

stand. The new curved plaster ceiling, modern lighting fixtures and salt-and-pepper patterned carpet, 

which add beauty to the lobby, are worthy of note. 

By 

BIG 

SWEEP' LOOK TO LOBBY 

Doors Removed, Storeroom Added for Concessions 

FRANCES CLOW 

r rime emphasis was placed on modernization 

of the lobby and provision for a 

real concessions operation, where there had 

previously been only a candy stand, in the 

$100,000 remodeling job of the State Theatre, 

Chicago. This was accomplished 

through architectural design and decoration 

and by taking in an adjoining store 

building for the concessions area. 

The State, built in 1921, was very ornamental, 

both inside and out. As Henry 

Stevens, general manager, puts it, "The enln 

the photo of the 

State's front, at left, 

the size of space 

given to the now 

profitable refreshment 

area is indicated 

by the glass 

panes of the former 

storeroom. 

The 

Stote has a new marquee 

and name sign, 

and the tower on top 

of the building is a 

sparkling beacon that 

can be seen for miles 

around. 

In the photo 

at right, Henry Stevens, 

general manager 

for the N. S. Barger 

interests which remodeled 

the State, 

stands proudly beside 

the new boxoffice 

which is completely 

glassed from 

counter to ceiling. 

The boxoffice has a 

marble base. 

tire project was a big one; that much, we 

realized from the start. But the first item 

we put on the modernization list was the 

lobby. We wanted to give this area a 'big 

sweep' appearance . . . something inviting 

to our patrons. By eliminating a set of 

double doors and introducing modern ceiling 

lighting, we took away the ancient look 

and instead our lobby is like an entrance 

to a brand new theatre." 

The lobby wall treatment attracts patrons 

and keeps them guessing. The covering 

looks and feels like straw fiber or 

bamboo. Actually, it is a newly introduced 

product called Victrex fabric. The 

walls are all done in natural color and 

the supporting posts are covered with turquoise 

bamboo. The color combination is 

in itself effective. 

Another feature giving the lobby a new 

and modern look is the indirect lighting. 

The plaster ceiling is designed to represent 

rhythmic waves or parallel curves. 

Behind each curve, the architect's plans 

called for fluorescent lighting tubes. This 

arrangement is carried out the complete 

width of the lobby. The lobby is devoid of 

any type of furnishing, except for a huge 

peg board which holds posters telling about 

current and forthcoming attractions. 

CUSTOM-BUILT CONCESSIONS STAND 

Much effort and money were spent on 

the concessions corner. The area in which 

it is located was formerly an adjoining 

store. By eliminating the wall between 

the store and lobby, and closing it off 

toward the street side, the concessions 

facilities occupy one entire end of the 

lobby. The custom-built showcases are arranged 

in the shape of an arc or half-moon. 

The counter facing the street is 15 feet, 

while each side section measures ten feet. 

While eventual figures proved this an 

ideal location, a question or two had to be 

answered during the planning stages : would 

patrons be inclined to enter the concessions 

area if it were located to the left of the 

entrance, and would people be apt to bypass 

it if it were not located in the path of 

travel into the theatre? The hold-out ropes, 

which were installed on a trial basis at 

first, were the answer. 

The holdout ropes are lined up from 


BOXOFFICE : 

: January 

7, 1956 17

shown here. measures 

** '375 

in indoor theatres. For instance, they installed 

a rotating hot dog grill, and they extends almost all the way to the plate 

peting is a salt and pepper design, and 

introduced frozen custard in cones. The glass doors. 

custard is such a big item, Stevens advises, 

The major portion of the State Theatre's refreshment counter is It 15 /eel in front, 

and ten feet on each side. There is a good view of the ventilating system on the upper left hand side of 

this photo. This carefully designed vent is almost concealed, but it efficiently absorbs food odors. The 

custard in cones, which makes up 25 per cent of the refreshment gross, is shown in mammoth symbols. 

Also shown is the hot dog rotating grill at extreme left. Note the wide display of bars shown, which 

is but a sample of the display. 

BIG SWEEP LOOK TO LOBBY 

from counter to ceiling, is an added spark 

for a highly attractive entrance. Custombuilt, 

with a Formica-top counter, the boxoffice 


is seven feet long and four feet wide. 

the boxoffice to the door of the auditorium 

so patrons pass the concessions counter 

after they buy tickets and enter the lobby. 

The ropes are so arranged that it might 

merely appear that there is a line of demarcation 

between the patrons going in 

and those going out. Those going in must, 

of necessity, pass the concessions counter. 

Statistics show that the State is reaping 

Cinematic IV 

some of the highest cents-per-person 

concessions sales in the country. 

building, with a 2,000-seat capacity. 

State management handles the concessions 

The seating was perhaps the lesser prob- 

operation. The usual items are sold, lem. Seats were in excellent condition and 

such as candy bars, popcorn, etc. But they only a coat of paint was needed to renovate 

also sell products which are somewhat new 

them. The all new wall-to-wall car- 

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that it now averages 25 per cent of the 

total concessions gross. 

Patrons have been complimenting the 

State management about the absence of 

food odors in the lobby and theatre proper. 

This point was given consideration in the 

initial planning. A tremendous exhaust 

fan, concealed in a vented section of the 

ceiling, works so efficiently that there isn't 

a single trace of odor from food served. 

The entrance proper lends class to the 

spacious lobby. Built from scratch, the 

wide entry consists of Herculite doors made 

of three-quarter-inch plate glass. A full 

view of the lobby is permitted from the 

street. 

The new boxoffice, completely glassed 

It is nearly centered under the theatre's 

new marquee which is also ultra-modern 

and carries the latest in lighting effects. 

Even the construction experts admit that 

redecorating the auditorium was a gigantic 

task. It took a lot of planning in addition 

to the tedious work involved. Scaffolds 

had to be erected and torn down several 

times because the size of the theatre necessarily 

made it a long-term project. The 

State comprises the height of a four-story 

New carpeting laid in the lounges is a 

red floral design. Both lounges were given 

the full remodeling treatment for comfort 

and making them up-to-date. 

N. S. Barger, well known for his long 

association with show business, announced 

early last year that he would take over 

the State, located on Chicago's far south 

side in a hustling community known as 

the Roseland-Calumet area. Plans were designed 

by theatre architect Ben Stein. 

CREDITS: Air conditioning: York • Architect: 

Benjamin Stein • Carpeting: James Lees & Sons • 

Changeable letters: Wagner • Concessions equipment: 

Custard machine, Sweden; Hot dog grill, Connolly; 

Beverage dispensers, Perlick and Heat Exchangers; 

Popcorn machine, Cretors. 


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BOXOFFICE : 

: January 

7, 1956 

19

DEDUCTIBLE CASUALTY LOSSES 

MAY PRODUCE TAX REFUNDS 

Determine Extent of Such Losses Before Filing Time 

Every year a good many theatre exhibitors 

sustain casualty losses of one kind 

or another. These should be reflected in 

an income tax return to reduce the tax 

bill and, possibly, get a tax refund. An income 

tax refund cannot be had until after 

the close of the calendar or fiscal tax year. 

However, exhibitors sustaining such losses 

should not wait until tax filing time to 

determine the exact nature and extent of 

their losses for income tax purposes. 

These losses may arise from accidents, 

fire, storm, hurricane, earthquake, flood 

and similar disasters, or theft. Dramatic 

examples of casualty losses were those arising 

from last year's eastern floods. Other 

major disasters cause widespread damage 

and destruction. However, a loss also may 

stem from an isolated casualty striking one 

theatre, and prove no less costly for the 

owner. 

Delay in establishing proof of loss sustained 

may be fatal. Trusting largely to 

memory or inadequate records long after 

the event may result in either ia> undercalculating 

the loss, with a reduction in the 

possible tax saving otherwise available; 

(b) having the amount of the loss challenged 

by the Internal Revenue Service, 

and with insufficient proof to support the 

amount of the loss claimed in the income 

tax return. 

It is unwise to assume that tax counsel 

can establish the needed proof of loss at 

time of making the annual income tax return. 

While calculating the tax-deductible 

loss may best be left to tax counsel, supplying 

him with necessary records and evidence 

of loss is the responsibility of the 

theatre owner. The sooner this record is 

built the more accurate and complete it 

will be and the less chance it can be challenged 

successfully. 

The Internal Revenue Service does not 

require any one arbitrary kind of proof 

of loss. However, the proof should be as 

complete as possible, subject only to loss 

of records in the casualty. Proof may 

range from comparative before and after 

photos of the theatre to expert appraisal 

of the loss, based on the value before the 

casualty and the value after the event, 

taking into account salvage values, if any. 

The cost of making repairs will be helpful 

in supporting the loss claimed. However, 

repairs should not go beyond the 

point necessary to restore a damaged property 

to its pre-casualty condition. A casualty 

loss should not be misconstrued as an 

invitation to make capital improvements 

::6y HAROLD J. ASHE; 

or 

going beyond restoration, and with the idea 

such capital improvements can be claimed 

as part of the loss. As with capital improvement 

made under other circumstances, they 

must be charged off over their useful life 

as annual depreciation. 

WHAT IS DEDUCTIBLE? Casualty 

losses may include damage to or destruction 

of a theatre building, equipment, furnishings, 

merchandise inventory, as well as 

other items of real value in the theatre. In 

this connection, an exhibitor should not 

overlook assets, if any, outside the building 

proper, such as shrubs and other plantings, 

surface parking areas, fences, signs 

(including those along highways' and 

similar items. 

PERSONAL PROPERTY. Non-business 

casualty losses are also deductible although 

by a different formula. These include damage 

to or destruction of a residence and its 

contents, including personal effects. In 

determining losses, sentimental values are 

not permissible, only intrinsic values being 

deductible. 

INSURANCE RECOVERY. Ail losses, 

business or non-business, must be adjusted 

to reflect insurance reimbursement, if any. 

If the loss is completely reimbursed there is 

no loss and no deduction, tax-wise. If the 

insurance exceeds the loss there is a taxable 

gain, unless the destroyed property is replaced 

in conformity with rules spelled 

out in the regulations. 

QUICK TAX RELIEF. An income tax 

refund, as already pointed out, is not 

available until after year-end. However, 

an exhibitor may get some relief by amending 

his declaration of estimated income 

tax before January 15. If his loss is great 

enough to wipe out his fourth quarterly 

installment on his estimated tax, he should 

make an amended declaration for an 

amount not exceeding the total of the first 

three installments. If he expects to have 

no income tax obligations for the year, because 

of the casualty loss, he should so 

report on the amended estimate, indicating 

the amount already paid. 

CARRY BACK-CARRY FORV.'ARD. If 

the casualty loss exceeds the year's income, 

the loss can be carried back two years and, 

if necessary, be carried forward five subsequent 

years. Thus, the excess loss above 1955 

income can be carried back and be applied 

against 1953 income. This will result in a 

partial or complete refund of 1953 income 

tax, depending on whether the loss reduces, 

equals or exceeds 1953 income. 

If an excess 

still remains, it is next applied to 1954 income 

with, again, a refund on that year's 

tax. Finally, if, after the carry-back of 

the loss, there is still an excess this can 

be applied to future earnings, starting with 

1956 and extending, if necessary, through 

1960. Thus, an exhibitor sustaining a 

heavy casualty loss may get tax refunds 

as well as future tax relief as a partial 

offset to his losses. 

ACT QUICKLY AFTER YEAR-END. The 

sooner after year-end that an exhibitor 

files his 1955 income tax return the more 

quickly may he get an income tax refund 

giving him a cash assist in bearing his 

loss. 

If elimination of the fourth quarterly 

tax payment is not sufficient to adjust the 

tax obligation

.' 

m^ 

is in direct proportion to the 

efficiency of the reflector. All mirrors 

gradually deteriorate. Replace yours now with 

Strong Precision Reflectors. Types and sizes 

for use in all standard projection arc 

lamps regularly stocked for 

BOXOFFICE :: January 7, 1956 21

New beverage trend 

gives 

progressive theatre operators 

highest refreshment profits 

Read what one 

of America's 

biggest 

operators says 

about 

Pepsi -Cola.. 

sa). T°daj ' 

»ore , ,. 

depe 

kno "" on I " eVer - th 

{ 

"- a 

~< ... 

""'-"ail,- 

0m 

Wto 

' as, """-iiy., 

2. 

"" 

e ' 

NEW SNACK BARS INCREASE SALES ONE-THIRD 

Circuit Installs 

Complete Stands to Offer Greater Service 

By CHARLES BOECKMAN JR. 

#\ definite increase in sales has 

been achieved in four indoor theatres in 

Corpus Christi, Tex., following extensive 

remodeling within the past 12 months. 

These movie houses are all owned by 

Corpus Christi Theatres, Inc., and the 

remodeling is part of an over-all plan to 

provide greater service and convenience 

to patrons as well as increase the concessions 

business. While it is too early to 

tabulate exact figures, Bruce Collins jr., 

manager of the concessions department of 

Corpus Christi Theatres, Inc., estimates 

that since the program got under way, 

there has been an increase in the average 

purchase per customer of one-third in 

volume at the new snack bars. 

The theatres involved are the Centre, 

Ritz, Ayers and Melba. Work is to begin 

soon on a fifth theatre, the Tower. 

also of Formica. Collins pointed out that 

each one of the new bars has an individual 

hot water heater for ease in cleaning and 

better sanitation in maintenance. 

Wired music gives mood and atmosphere 

to the Centre's bar, a pleasing touch for 

the customer as he makes his purchase. 

This music is provided by "Muzak," a national 

concern whose Corpus Christi representative 

is radio station KEYS. Speakers 

concealed in the ceiling above the bar carry 

the continuous music down to the snack 

bar customer. 

Popcorn is still played up as the big item 

at the new snack bars. All of the stands 

are equipped with the modern Cretors popcorn 

machine which has a gas popper and 

large wells that keep the popped corn fresh 

and hot. This is a valuable feature, Collins 

pointed out, since it allows the attendant 

to pop a large supply and have it on hand 

for the between-feature intermission rushes. 

"Buttered popcorn is becoming increasingly 

popular with our customers." Collins 

added. "We use the butter machine and 

cups put out by Supurdisplay, Inc. Their 

trademark is Buttercup and this trademark 

is highlighted at all our concessions stands. 

We use sweet cream butter, a local product, 

in the butter machines." 

Coca-Cola, Dr. Pepper, root beer and 

Mission non-carbonated orange are the 

drinks served. The Corpus Christi Theatres, 

Inc., warehouse carries an average of 

60 different varieties of five-cent candy 

and 40 varieties of ten-cent candy and the 

snack bars draw on this supply for their 

most popular sellers according to their 

location and taste of customers. 

At the Centre and Ritz a cold drink 


FORMERLY EMPHASIZED POPCORN 

Heretofore there were no actual snack 

bars in these theatres. Each had a large 

popcorn machine strategically located near 

the entrance and emphasis was placed on 

the sale of popcorn. Vending machines 

placed in the theatre by a local vending 

machine operator sold five-cent candy bars 

and cold drinks. 

The management of Corpus Christi Theatres, 

Inc., decided that customers would 

be given better service and more variety 

if modern concessions departments were 

installed. Once this move was agreed upon, 

a construction company was called in and 

work was begun. 

The leading downtown theatre, the Centre, 

was first to undergo remodeling. The 

Bert Haas Construction Co. of Corpus 

Christi undertook the job. No architect 

was involved. Planning was done by the 

maintenance department, the management, 

and the construction company. 

When the Centre's new snack bar was 

completed, it became a model for the other 

bars built later, each, of course, adapted 

to the particular location in its theatre. 

The Centre's stand is in the lobby, to 

the right, just after entering. It has a 

brown Formica front and the backbar is 

The new refreshment bar at the Centre Theatre, Corpus Christi's leading downtown house, is located m 

the lobby to the right, just past the entrance doors. Note the extensive display of candy. Wired music is 

a special touch at this stand. 

BOXOFTICE :: January 7, 1956 23

NEW SNACK BARS INCREASE SALES 


vending machine is located on the mezzanine 

for the convenience of balcony patrons. 

These machines are manufactured 

by the Ser-Vit, Inc., people. The theatre 

also owns five-cent candy bar vending machines 

made by Stoner Co., which are located 

both on the mezzanine and in the 

lobby. 

"We found it more practical to continue 

selling five-cent candy bars in these machines," 

Collins explained, "because the 

nickel candies are usually purchased by 

younger children who like to take their 

time "window-shopping' before they buy, 

and they also enjoy operating the machines. 

This relieves some of the traffic congestion 

at the main snack bar especially from the 

slow buyers. Adults usually prefer the 

ten-cent bar and they move more quickly." 

POPULAR TEN-CENT BARS 

Records on candy sales at these new 

snack bars have shown Corpus Christi theatregoers 

to be partial to these ten-cent 

candy bars: Almond Joys, Mounds. Mars 

and the Hershey line. 

Second in popularity 

are Baby Ruth, Butterfinger, Pom-Pom. 

Junior Mints and Nestles Chocolate. 

In the five-cent line, Welsh Pom-Poms. 

Junior Mints. M&M, Charms and Hershey 

lead the field, with Baby Ruth, Butterfinger, 

Milky Way, salted peanuts and 

Snickers close behind. 

Receiving, storage and sending out of 

supplies is handled from a central warehouse 

in the rear of the Centre Theatre 

building. Here, in a large refrigerated room 

which is maintained at 60° temperature the 

year around, is stored popcorn, candy, oil 

and orange juice. Other supplies are kept 

in an adjacent warehouse room. 

An excellent card file system provides 

the warehouse and management with a 

continuous, day-by-day inventory. Each 

item has its own card which supplies at a 

glance, up-to-the-minute information on 

Buttered popcorn is featured ot the new concessions stand in the Melba Theatre, Corpus Christi, as well 

as at the other new stands. Open display of candies is added to the display within the refrigerated case. 

the quantity of this item in stock. It is an 

efficient method of keeping stock fresh and 

also serves as a check on how fast each 

item moves. When the card shows an item 

to be a poor seller, it is discontinued. 

There are two duplicate files, one in the 

warehouse and one in the office of Collins. 

Delivery from this central warehouse is 

made daily by panel truck to nine indoor 

theatres and two outdoor theatres, all members 

of the Corpus Christi Theatres, Inc., 

family. When a delivery is made, three 

invoices are made out, the original going 

to Collins, one copy is signed by the theatre 

manager receiving the order and the 

third copy remains in the warehouse. 

The remodeling work at the Centre was 

finished in December 1954. Snack bars 

were installed at the Melba and the Ayers 

in March, opened for business early in 

April. The Ritz underwent remodeling 

in the fall of 1955 with its new bar in 

operation around the first of last month. 

Then work began at the Tower. 

R. H. Henderson and Associates Co, Dallas, 

handled the installation of the Melba 

Bruce Collins jr., manager of the concessions de 

partment of Corpus Christi Theatres, Inc., directed 

the installation of the circuit's new stands. 

Main warehouse for Corpus Christi Theatres, Inc., is in the Centre Theatre building. Here, in a large, 

cold storage room maintained at 60 degrees the year around, are kept candy, popcorn, seasoning and orange 

juice. Other supplies are kept in an adjacent warehouse room. 


The Ayers Theatre has an attractive display window in the outside foyer. It 

is changed regularly and used to effectively advertise snack bar specialties. 

An attractive feature board on a wrought iron stand is an effective selling 

aid for the new snack bars in all the circuit's Corpus Christi theatres. 

The Ayers, located in the south part of Corpus Christi, opened its new snack 

bar in March 7955. It features built-in candy case and popcorn warmer, plus 

open displays. A mirrored backbor adds beauty and apparent depth to the 

stand. The counter facing is Formica. 

The refreshment bar at the Ritz Theatre was opened December 15. It occupies 

on alcove just to the right of the entrance in the lobby, a space which 

was formerly a storeroom. Mae Rhone, attendant, and W. P. Minnich, theatre 

manager, are behind the counter. 

and the Ayers concessions stands. The 

stand at the Ritz was installed by subcontracting. 

At the completed bars now in operation, 

several selling aids or display methods are 

note-worthy. A very attractive and effective 

"feature board" has been placed in 

the lobby of these theatres and placed to 

catch the patron's eye as he enters. This is 

a hand-lettered poster board on a wrought 

iron frame. It is changed periodically and 

it draws the customer's attention to certain 

promotion items. Collins has found it 

most effective and sales-stimulating. 

The Ayers Theatre has a display window 

in the outside foyer which lends itself well 

to concessions displays. When we visited 

this theatre, the window had a pleasing, 

eye-catching arrangement of the popular 

Buttercup popcorn. 

Now the management is looking to adding 

new items in the near future. Two of 

these probably will be ice cream and hot 

dogs which will be sold at all the theatres. 

As a whole, the new concessions bars installed 

by Corpus Christi Theatres, Inc., 

are off to a successful start. The management 

is pleased by the increase in sales 

they have created. The Corpus Christi 

moviegoers are grateful for this added 

convenience at their favorite theatres. 

Cole Into European Market 

Volume deliveries of the first ColeSpa 

automatic cup vending machines manufactured 

by Schwelm Eisenwerk Muller & 

Co. in Germany will be under way by February, 

Albert Cole, president of Cole Products 

Corp., Chicago, has announced. Cole, 

who has spent a considerable portion of 

the past year in Europe arranging the production 

tieup with Schwelm, is one of the 

pioneers of the automatic cup vending 

field in the U. S. 

Engineering and sales personnel from 

Schwelm Eisenwerk Muller & Co. are being 

trained at the Cole Products Corp. manufacturing 

plant at Mayville, Wis., and Chicago 

offices for the intensification of Cole- 

Spa sales and deliveries in Germany, 

France, Belgium, Holland and Switzerland. 

Cole machines, made in the U. S., have been 

given quantity deliveries throughout the 

past year. Sales offices have been opened 

for Cole products at Antwerp and Lausanne 

with more to follow. 

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BOXOFFICE : 

: January 

7, 1956 25

Echoes of the Recent Chicago Conventions 

Do You Sometimes Need 

2 Heads and 4 Hands? 

LET THE MANLEY 

REFRESHERETTE 

SOLVE YOUR PROBLEM 

Two of the biggest 

sellers in your 

concession are hot 

dogs and cold 

drinks — at least 

they should be if 

you can serve them 

1 

fast enough! Well, 

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ing for. One machine that does the work 

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The Refresherette occupies only 14 sq. 

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sales . . . more money. Address: Manley, 

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ft. 

Smiles were in order at this happy group posed with attendance prizes won at the I9S5 Popcorn and Concessions 

Ass'n convention in Chicago. Allied supply firms donated $2,500 worth of merchandise to reward 

those who were faithful in attendance at all sessions. Crouched at the for left is S. J. Papas, Alliance 

Amusement Corp., Chicago, general convention chairman. In the center is PCA president, Bert Nathan, 

Theatre Popcorn Vending Corp., Brooklyn, and program chairman, Lee Koken, RKO Theatres, New York City. 

On the far right is Thomas J. Sullivan, executive vice-president of PCA, Chicago. 

A unique and colorful 

booth display depicting 

a Latin American 

coffee cafe was 

a hit at the recent 

convention and exhibit 

of the National 

Automatic Merchandising 

Ass'n in Chicago. 

The booth was 

created by Tenco, 

Inc., makers of an 

instant coffee for 

vending. Tenco displayed 

a live coffee 

tree with green coffee 

growing in the 

last stage before 

ripening, 

something 

few visitors had ever 

seen. 

Plus Sales From Candy Vendor 

The NEW Patented SPEED-SCOOP 

Three times more efficient. Scoop ond pour o 

bagful of popcorn In one tingle easy motion. 

Made of light, stainless aluminum. Cool hardwood 

handle. Perfectly balanced for maximum 

efficiency and speed. Only $2.50 at your Theatre 

Supply or Popcorn Supply Dealer. 

SPEED-SCOOP 

109 Thornton Ave., San Francisco 24, Calif. 

When It Is Well Located 

The candy vending machine will produce 

additional business for theatre concessionaires, 

according to Maurice Glockner, vicepresident 

of Automatic Canteen Co. of 

America, but it should be treated as a person. 

Too often it is treated as an orphan 

and then sales are negligible. 

If the machine is strategically located, 

and given the attention required to keep 

the unit sparking clean, and it is easy to 

operate and filled with a product that is 

acceptable, theatremen will be amazed at 

the amount of increase in volume they will 

have, Glockner says, but there should be an 

ample supply of ten-cent items in the machine. 

"The candy vendor is a continuous and 

constant salesman," says Glockner. 

Winner of the grand prize for attendance at the 

PCA sessions was Mortie Marks (second from 

left) Jefferson Amusement Corp., Beaumont, Tex. 

Presenting the $1,000 RCA color TV console donated 

by Apco, Inc., was Thomas J. Sullivan, left. Also 

at the presentation were Augie J. Schmitt, Houston 

Popcorn & Supply Co., and J. Doyle Oliver, Frels' 

Theatres, Inc., Victoria, Tex. 


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ONLY DIXIE CUP OFFERS 5 SIZES! 

These colorful new Dixie Theater Design Cups 

make drinks look better and sell faster. . .in your most 

profitable sizes. Dixie offers you more sizes in 

special Theater Designs than any one else! 

ONLY DIXIE CUP OFFERS 5 COLORS! 

Use a different color for each size drink— in gay 

two-tone designs— lavender, green, red, blue, 

and brown! Speed up your service and step up your 

profits with Dixie Theater Design Cups!

New! Dixie 

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A NEW DIXIE CUP TO 

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It's a bright brown and yellow 

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These wonderful Dixie Popcorn 

Design Cups resist absorption 

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See 'em yourself! 

TEAR OUT and MAIL TODAY! 

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Please send

Sales Aids Available Free 

For Vending Machines 

The Beech-Nut Packing Co. is making 

available, without charge to customers, a 

variety of vending aids for machines selling 

VENDING AIDS 

AVAILABLE 

FROM 

BEECH-NUT 

is to change columnar space in vending 

machines to accommodate Beech-Nut items. 

Decals include toin slot indicators to be 

attached to the righthand corner of mirrors 

on candy machines, these decals bearing 

operating instructions for the machine and 

calling attention to the freshness of the 

confection on sale. Coin slot decals are 

available for machines that vend at onecent, 

five cents, for both five and ten cents. 

To stimulate candy machine sales, Beech- 

Nut provides green and white and black 

and yellow adhesive-backed stickers which 

also promote the product's freshness. The 

black and yellow stickers also aim at creating 

interest in other than immediate consumption 

by suggesting, "Why not take 

home some fresh candy bars and Beech- 

Nut gum?" 

Dummy displays of Beech-Nut products 

are provided, also, so actual goods will not 

be tied up in window displays. For display 

windows where spring clips are used, a 

dummy package with wooden block is furnished. 

This is the belief of Nat Buchman, Theatre 

Merchandising Corp., Cambridge, Mass. 

However, he believes the type of operation 

should be selected in consideration of the 

size of the drive-in theatre. 

tneCRETORS "Ambassador 

Type of aids available. 

the firm's products. These aids, including 

attractively colored decals and stickers, 

metal weights and shims, made up a featured 

easel board display at the National 

Automatic Merchandising Ass'n tradeshow. 

Purpose of 

the metal shims and weights 

Theatre Size Affects Operation 

The station-type operation of a concessions 

stand has the advantage of lower 

equipment and personnel costs, but the disadvantage 

of slower service to customers, 

lack of availability of self-service, and lack 

of buy-appeal created by the opportunity 

of putting everything out where the patron 

can see it in a cafeteria-type concessions. 

"70 Years of Progress" 

CRETORS, Popcorn Bldg., Nashville, Tenn. 

See it of Booth No. 26 T.O.A. 

FAMOUS 

MAKER... 

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Here's a top profit combination for you. . . . the famous 

Heide trade-mark plus the taste appeal of all-ways popular 

Jujyfruits. Now backed by increased television advertising 

and continuing national magazine ads, Jujyfruits 

belong on the counter of every outlet you service. Push 

them for all they're worth . . . they're worth plenty to you! 

HENRY HEIDE, incorporated 

New York 13, New York 

As nationally advertised in 

Look 

AMERICA GIRL 

Boys Life 

BOXOFTICE January 7, 1956 29

Ûeaike Mainte+vartce 

. . . Questions 

and Answers 

This regular Modern Theatre feature is conducted by Dave E. Smallcy, contributor to many 

important magazines on maintenance and editor of Better Maintenance Magazine. Questions from 

exhibitors are welcomed. Address them to Theatre Maintenance, The Modern Theatre, 825 Van 

Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 24, Mo. Enclose stamped, self-addressed envelope for personal reply. 

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• Uncloggable internal filter enables it to 

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steel container with burnished aluminum 

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Q REMOVING WHITE RINGS 

f FROM FURNITURE 

We have a very nice, highly varnished 

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there any simple way to remove these 

stains without removing and replacing the 

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the varnish film and attacked the 

shellac "filler" or sealer underneath. To 

remove the stains, dip a soft piece of cloth 

or wad of cotton in alcohol and dab the 

spot lightly until the stain fades. Do not 

use too much alcohol and do not rub. The 

idea is to let the alcohol soak through the 

varnish film to the undercoat of shellac 

which it will dissolve and restore the 

shellac's transparency. 

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SCRATCHES IN 

OAK PANELING 

We have some fine oak paneling on the 

walls of our lounge upon which somebody 

has scratched initials. Have you any suggestions 

for repairing the damage? 

H Rub out the initials with sandpaper, 

using a coarser grade at first 

and finishing 

with a fine grade. Then re-stain 

the sanded spot to match the rest of the 

panel. 

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LIQUID VS. 'JELLY' SOAP 

We have been using a liquid scrub soap 

for cleaning our asplialt tile, lobby and 

foyer. We still have a fair supply but recently 

a salesman told us soft soap or 

"jelly soap" is more economical because we 

get more soap for our money and not a lot 

of water. Which do you consider the more 

economical? 

H It is true you get more soap and less 

water with "jelly soap," though the 

cost per pound of the latter may be higher. 

If the jelly soap were always measured 

accurately and always completely dissolved 

in the scrub water before scrubbing, it 

might be more economical. However, it is 

much more trouble to measure jelly soap 

and, therefore, the quantity used each 

time is nearly always guessed at, in which 

case one can easily tand usually does) use 

more than is necessary. Also jelly soap is 

slower to dissolve in the scrub water and 

unless it is dissolved, a loss results. 

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BLEEDING RUBBER TILE 

The black and white rubber tile in our 

foyer tends to bleed, the black running into 

the white when we mop with water and a 

powdered cleaner. The floor is a year old 

but the bleeding started only a few weeks 

ago. Can you tell me the reason for the 

trouble and what I can do about it? 

H Probably because of improper cleaning 

methods the surface color pigments are 

coming out. If the powder cleaner you are 

using is a soap or very strong alkali, it may 

be the source of your trouble. Soaps and 

harsh chemicals are detrimental to rubber. 

As a remedy we suggest a good scrubbing, 

preferably with a mild alkaline detergent, 

one approved for use on rubber tile, and 

No. steel wool. Rinse well and if. after 

a few days the bleeding continues, repeat 

the scrubbing. When no more bleeding 

occurs, dry wool the floor with No. 00 

steel wool and apply two coats of good 

water wax. 


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BOXOFTICE : 

: January 7, 1956 31

PROJECTION 

AND SOUND 

Sixth of a New Series 

PROJECTOR MAINTENANCE 

AND SERVICING GUIDE 

6. Care of Simplex E-7 Mechanisms 

i 

By WESLEY TROUT 

I n the Sept. 

2, 1955, issue of Modern 

Theatre we presented 

complete 

and 

maintenance 

operation of Simplex 

model X-L mechanism. 

In this article 

we will endeavor to 

bring to your attention 

all the important 

maintenance and 

Wesley Trout 

operation requirements 

of the Simplex model E-7 mechanism. 

The adjustments, replacement of 

major units, are very easy and simple to 

make if our instructions are carefully followed. 

However, as we have pointed out in 

previous articles, when the mechanism 

needs a complete overhaul or rebuilding 

job, it should be sent in to the nearest 

branch store and they will furnish a loan 

mechanism while overhauling your 

mechanism. 

PARTS CATALOG HELPFUL 

In order to more fully get acquainted 

with all the parts in the E-7 mechanism, 

you should always keep a catalog of parts 

for this projector in the projection room. 

The numbers used in this article will be 

found in this parts catalog which the 

company will be happy to send you, if you 

do not have one. The catalog shows pictures 

of all the parts, which will help you 

when making replacement of a worn part, 

and doing servicing. 

The Simplex E-7 mechanism is built with 

extreme accuracy to do a job of perfect 

projection. It will deliver, because of advanced 

mechanical design, modern, different 

and better mechanical features, superior 

results over a longer period of time 

without replacement of parts, if properly 

lubricated and parts are replaced when 

needed. Like any other fine piece of machinery, 

it requires proper attention daily. 

Instructions presented herewith should be 

carefully followed and superb performance 

and durability will be realized. 

METHOD OF LUBRICATION 

Lubrication—First, use oil supplied by 

this company for perfect lubrication of the 

E-7 mechanism. While the projector 

mechanism is new, the pump of the automatic 

oiling system is operated about every 

two hours that the projector is actually 

running. As time goes on, the intervals, of 

course, of operating the pump are gradually 

lengthened, until, when the mechanism 

is completely broken in the automatic 

oiling system is used only once about every 

four or five hours of actual operating time, 

which is the schedule recommended by 

the manufacturer to be followed through 

the life of the projector. When the mechanism 

has been overhauled, the lubricating 

of the entire mechanism should be followed 

the same as if it were a new projector. 

Don't overlubricate either the intermittent 

or the entire mechanism but follow the 

instructions herewith presented on general 

lubrication. It will lengthen the life 

of your projector many years. 

The intermittent oil viewing ports are 

observed from time to time, and the intermittent 

reservoir is refilled as needed, 

Fig. I. This photograph shows the location of the 

reservoir of one-shot oiling system (A), Simplex E-7 

model; (B) fire shutter lift lever; (C) automatic 

fire shutter trip lever; (D) drum cover; (E) drum 

cover attaching screw, and (F) drain screw for oil 

reservoir. The oil reservoir should be filled until 

the oil level is just below the top of the viewing 

glass. Depress the pump handle, pushing it down 

a few times until the back pressure causes it to 

rise slowly when released, instead of abruptly. Remember, 

the pumping does not take place when the 

lever is pushed down, but when the spring pushes 

it back up. Hence, when it rises slowly the back 

pressure has become great enough to oppose the 

spring action, indicating that all parts served by 

the automatic system are satisfactorily oiled. Use 

only Simplex oil for lubrication, insuring better oiling 

of all bearings, shafts, etc., and longer life and 

less wearing of moving parts. 

Fig. 2. Shown here are the governor flange (A), 

(B) the governor stop collar, and (C) governor ring. 

Details about these parts will be found elsewhere in 

the article. You will note the electric changeover 

is mounted on the mechanism, in bock of the 

rear shutter housing. All the ports are very rugged 

in construction, and the shafts are extra large for 

long service. The Simplex E-7 may be expected to 

give flawless screen performance for its entire 

lifetime with only a minimum of care and adjustment, 

and it should run for many years without any 

parts replacements except sprockets, pad rollers 

and shoes, if kept properly maintained as outlined 

in this article. 

either from the drive side or the operating 

side, until the oil level rises in the oil cup 

just short of overflowing. It is best to fill 

the movement from the driving side as any 

excess oil will flow over gears and add to 

the lubrication of the gear train. But care 

should be exercised not to use too much oil 

as this is unnecessary and causes excess 

flow of oil and, in some cases, a mess of 

oil on projection room floor. A small pumptype 

oil can should be used for the intermittent 

movement lubrication. 

CAUTION—Do not fill the intermittent 

movement while the projector is in operation. 

Fill movement, for correct oil level, 

while movement is at rest. 

The Simplex company recommends a 

few drops of lubricating oil applied to each 

individual gear on the drive side of the 

projector, but lubricated only when projector 

is motionless, never oil while it is 

running. Do not clean parts or mechanism 

when projector is in operation as a rag 

might get caught in a moving part and stop 

projector suddenly and cause unnecessary 

damage. 

Removing and replacing film gate—First, 

put the gate in half-open position, by 

operating the gate-opening lever. Take off 

the knurled thumb screws at the top and 

bottom of the gate. Simply draw gate 

toward you and remove from mechanism. 

The gate is very easy to replace. 

Again operate the lever to half-open position. 

Be sure to push sliding shield in lens 

mount forward so it won't be in the way. 

Next, engage the hole in the bottom of the 

gate with the lower stud, and slip gate 


home, replacing the knurled thumb screws 

to hold gate firmly in correct position. Gate 

should be removed to clean all the components 

and gate itself. 

It is very important the gate should fit 

correctly and it may be necessary to adjust 

the gate play. Remove gate, as per 

above instructions. Now loosen the gate 

guide rod adjusting screw (B), Pig. 7, and 

release the gate guide rod adjusting screw 

, Pig. 7. Work the gate opening lever 

back and forth while adjusting gate guide 

rod adjusting screw until 

the desired friction 

is obtained; then tighten the locking 

screw and replace the gate. The gate should 

move back and forth freely but with 

enough friction so there will be no unnecessary 

gate play. 

How to remove the film trap—First remove 

spot sight box. Hold up the fire 

shutter by means of lift lever and remove 

the rear retaining screw with a thin screwdriver, 

as in B, Fig. 4. Remove the front 

retaining screw—the one indicated by the 

left forefinger in A, Fig. 4. Now lift the 

fire shutter again and draw out the trap 

toward you. Follow the same procedure 

when replacing trap, only you already have 

the spot sight box removed and it must be 

replaced after you have re-installed film 

trap. The gate should be removed when 

removing or installing film trap. See Fig. 4 

which gives you a clear picture of procedure 

on removing trap and replacing a new one, 

or other parts. 

(A work light should always 

Fig. 3. (A) One-shot oil system pump handle, (B) 

interior focusing knob, (C) exterior lens collar locking 

knob, (D) shutter adjusting slide locking screw, 

(E) air deflector slide, (F) threading lamp shield 

fastening screw, (G) long tension pad adjusting 

screw, (H) threading lamp switch, (I) exterior lens 

collar, (J) long tension pad adjusting screw lock 

nut, IK) sliding film shield, (L) interior lens collar 

locking knob and (M) exterior focusing knob. 

Owing 

to the white-enameled interior, illuminated by the 

threading lamp, and the ease with which any of 

the components can be removed, the interior can be 

easily kept clean. Cleaning, with a soft, lintless 

rag, should be done daily. All the sprockets should 

be cleaned with a stiff-bristle tooth brush every 

day. The entire mechanism should be washed and 

cleaned in the cleaning fluid we have recommended, 

in previous articles, for motion picture projectors. 

This should be done at least once every 12 months. 

Better projection will result if you give your projector 

proper maintenance. Note the size of the 

film loops— very important for proper operation of 

fire drop. 

Fig. 4. The film trap fastening screw (upper) is 

letter "A," and film trap fastening screw (lower) is 

"B," the arrows pointing to the two screws. It 

requires a thin screw driver to remove and replace 

these two screws. They should always be tightened 

firmly so the trap will be firm. 

be used so you will have sufficient light to 

do a good job when working on mechanism.) 

Pad tension adjustment—This is a very 

important adjustment in order to secure 

a rock-steady picture. The Simplex E-7 

includes provisions by which the film pad 

tension can be readily adjusted, even while 

the projector is running, to compensate for 

new, green film or worn, oily film. 

If the following instructions on setting 

the gate pad and shoe tension are carefully 

followed, a perfect projected picture can 

be secured. The upper pad: First remove 

the gate as instructed elsewhere in this 

article, and set the upper pad adjusting 

screw for very light tension—just enough 

to hold the film flat against the runners. 

Next, replace and remove the gate often 

as necessary, testing the tension until correct 

adjustment is obtained for a steady 

picture on the screen. When the desired 

tension has been obtained, be sure to 

tighten the round knurled nut for permanent 

setting. 

The intermittent sprocket shoe tension 

should be correctly adjusted. You proceed 

exactly as for the upper tension pad. The 

tension should be the same: just enough 

tension to hold the film to the base of the 

sprocket teeth. Do not use too much tension 

for either unit as it causes unnecessary 

wearing of parts. 

Restore the gate, and remove all the 

pressure at the center pad by backing off 

completely the adjusting screw (B> , Fig. 8, 

and round locking nut (D), Fig. 8, also 

shown at the side of the gate in (G> . Fig. 3, 

and Fig. 8. Run a film that you know has 

no camera jump and is steady on the 

screen for testing, and, watching the screen, 

tighten the tension by turning the external 

adjusting screw clockwise until picture is 

rock-steady. When desired adjustment has 

been obtained, lock the adjustment with 

the round knurled nut. 

There should be only sufficient tension 

to hold the picture steady on the screen, 

and avoid increasing the tension on these 

components dangerously in an impossible 

attempt to cure any camera jump. We 

know, of course, the intermittent movement 

and sprocket must be in good condition in 

order to obtain a steady picture. Undercut 

sprocket teeth will cause an unsteady 

picture; dirty sprocket teeth will cause 

picture jump. 

NOTE—When the projector is in operation, 

the external long pad adjusting screw 

compen- 

and locking nut may be used to 

sate for difference between new, green and 

old film, without having to remove the 

gate as described. All you need to do is 

back off round knurled locking nut, and 

reset adjusting screw to secure the correct 

tension, but always keep in mind to use 

the minimum tension necessary to obtain 

good projection, any excessive tension will 

shorten the life of the runners, pressure 

pads, sprocket, star and cam, and, in some 

cases with very old film, heavy tension will 

tear out sprocket holes. All these parts 

should be kept clean and free of dirt accumulation. 

Replace any of these parts 

when they show considerable wear. 

Replacing a new, or the same, lower 

sprocket drive gear and shaft—It will be 

necessary to take off the main drive gear 

as per instructions elsewhere in this article. 

At the operating side of the mechanism 

loosen the holding screw in the lower 

sprocket hub, first loosening the stripper 

plate stud in the main frame casting and 

tilt the stripper out of the way. The gear 

(G), Fig. 10, and shaft can now be drawn 

out from the driving side of the mechanism. 

Lubricate new shaft with Simplex oil 

and the gear teeth with very little white 


Fig. 5. This photograph shows how the intermittent 

movement is removed out of the Simplex E-7 

mechanism. (A) Flywheel gear fastening screw, 

(B) intermittent guide lines on case of movement, 

(C) synchronizing cam, (D) cam end play adjustment 

stud, (E) cam end play adjustment locking 

screw and (F) lower sprocket pad roller arm stud 

and fastening screw. The sprocket should be 

cleaned daily with a stiff-bristle brush; the oil 

level checked and lubricated as per instructions. 

Use only Simplex oil. 

BOXOFFICE : 

: January 7, 1956 33

PROJECTOR 

MAINTENANCE 


petroleum jelly and install in projector. 

Replacing the upper feed sprocket—It is 

necessary to remove the spot sight box, 

gate and film trap. With a short screw 

driver, reach through the hole in the upper 

sprocket shoe and remove the fastening 

screw from the upper sprocket hub. The 

gear and shaft can then be drawn out 

from the driving side. There is a thrust 

washer on the shaft, between the gear and 

the main frame, which is needed for proper 

spacing and must not be lost. The sprocket 

is lifted clear and the shaft is slid back into 

Fig. 6. In this article you will find instructions pertaining 

to removing and replacing the complete intermittent 

movement unit in the Simplex F-7. The 

two photographs, Figures 5 and 6, clearly illustrate 

the correct procedure. This photograph shows the 

intermittent retaining clamps (A). These have to be 

moved in order to pull out the movement. 

place through the hub of the new sprocket. 

Replace fastening screw in sprocket hub, 

press gear and sprocket toward each other 

to leave approximately .002 inch end play. 

Replace gate, trap and sight box. 

Caution—When replacing new drive 

gear, or other gears pertaining to shutter 

drive, shutters will have to be "timed" 

again. Shutters have to be "timed" again 

when installing a new movement. 

Replacing or removing the main drive 

gear—All the gears on the Simplex E-7 

will give years of long service, but in time, 

due to wear which causes backlash, it is 

necessary to replace any gear or gears 

that show considerable wear in order to 

obtain smooth operation from your mechanism 

(too much backlash or lost motion 

makes it hard to set shutters so there will 

be no travel ghost). To replace the main 

drive gear: Remove the lower housing 

casting on the drive side. Take out the 

collar-fastening screw in the main gear 

shaft, slip off the collar and draw the 

gear (L) , Pig. 9, toward you and out. 

Be sure to lubricate the new gear with a 

drop of Simplex oil. When installing it, 

rotate the lower feed sprocket until its 

gear meshes with the new main drive gear; 

then restore the collar, holding screw and 

housing casting. 

Replacing or removing the intermediate 

drive gear assembly—This is a simple and 

easy job if the following procedure is adhered 

to: Take off the Intermittent movement 

flywheel (A). Pig. 9, remove clamping 

screws, and the main drive gear, as per 

instructions in the above two paragraphs. 

Take out the collar-fastening screw in the 

intermediate gear shaft, slip off the collar, 

and draw the gear assembly , Pig. 9, 

toward you and out of mechanism. Lubricate 

the new assembly with a drop of Simplex 

oil on each gear. Next, in installine 

it, after meshing all gears properly, make 

sure there is no end play which will cause 

the mechanism to be noisy. See that the 

new gear or gears always align perfectly 

for smooth operation. Restore the collar 

and fastening screw, next the main drive 

gear, and the intermittent flywheel. The 

job is completed. 

NOTE—The writer has found, out in the 

field, good operating results with exceptional 

long life are being recorded with the 

use of white petroleum jelly on the gear 

teeth. Only a very small amount is needed 

for proper lubrication, and this method of 

lubrication will last longer. However, the 

gears should be thoroughly cleaned periodically 

and new lubricant used again as 

the lubricant, after a period of continued 

use, accumulates dirt and causes unnecessary 

wear of gears, and loses its lubricant 

quality. 

HOW TO REDUCE INTERMITTENT NOISE 

When the mechanism leaves the factory it 

Fig. 7. It is very important that the film gate guide 

rod should be adjusted, as per instructions, correctly 

for perfect operation. This photograph shows where 

the adjustment screws are located. (A) Film gate 

guide rod adjusting screw, (B) film gate guide rod 

adjusting screw. All the parts here should be 

cleaned daily, the gate should be removed every 

day and thoroughly cleaned, and the intermittent 

sprocket kept free of any dirt and emulsion accumulation. 

Avoid film damage by keeping all the 

shoes, tracks, pad rollers, film guide, intermittent 

tension shoes and gate shoes perfectly clean. They 

should be cleaned every day before starting the show. 

^T 

Fig. 8. The film gate and its components. To remove 

gate, put the gate in half-open position. Take 

off the knurled thumb screws at the top and bottom 

of the gate and simply draw gate toward you. 

to replace, engage the hole in bottom and top of 

gate where the screws are and replace, tightening 

the two thumb screws. 

(Al) Top tension pad adjusting 

nut retaining screw, (A2) intermittent tension 

shoe adjusting nut retaining screw. !B) long tension 

shoe adjusting screw, (Bl) top tension pad adjusting 

screw, (B2) intermittent tension shoe adjusting nut, 

(C) gate casting fastening screws, (D) long tension 

pad adjusting screw lock nut, (E) gate costing and 

(F) 

gate plate. 

is fully tested for perfect operation in the 

projection room. However, after installation 

and a period of operation has progressed, 

the intermittent may develop 

some noise; this may develop when new 

parts have been installed. To cure imperfect 

adjustment of the intermittent movement, 

one symptom of which is noise, run 

the projector with no film threaded, and 

while the machine is in operation press 

against the flywheel shaft where it protrudes 

beyond the flywheel clamp. 

Now, if the noise disappears or is reduced 

in intensity, loosen the flywheel shaft 

screws (not the clamping screws) . See shaft 

screws in (A), Pig. 5, with the instructions 

not to loosen them when removing the intermittent 

movement. You will find instructions, 

elsewhere in this article, on how 

to remove the intermittent correctly. 

Those screws (flywheel shaft screws I 

having now been loosened slightly, pull or 

pry the flywheel shaft toward you 

i toward 

the non-operating side of the mechanism) 

the smallest possible fraction of an inch, 

and again tighten down the screws. Start 

the projector again: If there is any noise 

left again press against the end of the 

Continued on page 36 


BOXOFFICE : 

: January 7. 1956 35

PROJECTOR 

MAINTENANCE 

For repeat-patronage 

MAGNETISM 

on your screen... 

Continued from poge 34 

flywheel shaft as before. If this reduces 

the intensity of the remaining noise, repeat 

the process, as per above instructions 

for reducing noise. 

NOTE—It is Important not to try to take 

out all noise at once by moving the flywheel 

shaft over a longer distance, but 

repeat the same procedure several times, 

moving the shaft very slightly each time 

until 

the noise disappears. 

If pressing on the end of the flywheel 

shaft does not reduce noise, there are several 

other procedures which, if carefully 

followed, will eliminate the noise. Of 

course, pressing on the end of the flywheel 

shaft to cure the noise should first be 

tried, and it should be followed through to 

the very limit of its usefulness, but no more. 

If there is still noise left after following 

the above procedures, take out the screw 

under the right hand oil sight of the 

movement, draining the oil into rags or 

other absorbing material, and wiping away 

carefully any oil that reaches any part 

of the mechanism. 

Loosen the four other screws in the same 

circumference, and restore, without tight- 

Continued on poge 37 

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Insist on the B&L Perfect-Picture Pair for 

today's clearest, brightest full-screen views. 

Complete line for all projectors . . . from 

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Lenses 

neighborhood theatre to largest drive-in . . . 

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and for Catalogs £-118, E-123 and 

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Fig. 9. This is the gear side of the Simplex E-7 

mechanism and presents a good picture of all the 

gears, brockets, screws holding various parts, and 

the intermittent movement. It also shows the complete 

oiling system arrangement for all the bearings. 

(A) Intermittent flywheel clamping screw, 

(B) auxiliary shaft driving gear, (C) upper sprocket 

shaft driven gear, (D) upper sprocket shaft driving 

gear, IE) (see top of arrow above F) fire shutter 

raising lever, adjusting bushing lock screw; (F) fire 

shutter raising lever adjusting bushing; (G) shutter 

gear driving gear, (H) shutter gear woodruff key, (I) 

shutter shaft gear, (J) auxiliary shoft pinion, (K) intermittent 

drive gear assembly and ID main drive 

gear. Correct procedure in parts replacement is fully 

explained in this article; the instructions should be 

carefully followed and no trouble should be encountered 

when making replacement of gears or shafts, etc. 


FOR MORE INFORMATION 

USE THE FREE RETURN CARD 

The postcard at the bottom of this page is designed to help you get more information 

on products and services advertised in this issue of The Modern Theatre Section, 

or listed in the "New Equipment and Development" and "Literature" departments. 

An alphabetical Index of Advertisers appears below; on the back of this card is a 

Condensed Index of Products. In both, FIGURES in the Key Number shown for each 

advertiser indicate the page on which the firm's advertisement appears. The postcard 

below carries numbers corresponding to the page numbers—with letters added. 

Circle the Whole Key Number, including the letter, corresponding to the page numbers 

of the advertisements on which you want more information. Then: Fill in your name, 

address, etc., in the space provided, tear out card and mail. For more information 

on listings in "New Equipment and Developments" and "Literature" departments, 

circle number corresponding to Key Numbers published with each item on opposite 

side of this card. 

ALPHABETICAL INDEX OF ADVERTISERS' KEY NUMBERS 

>HERAL VISION 

ERAMA 

KEEN 

5-screen projection results 

Adler Silhouette Letter 52b 

American Seating Co 18a 

Ballantyne Co 43a 

Bausch & Lomb Optical 36a & Back Cover 

National Excel ite 35a 

National Corbon Co 31a 

National Super Service 

30o 

National Theatre Supply 44c 

lUt 

VIS to/?- 

"'> N 

Edgar S. Bowman 43b 

Norpat Sales 51b 

Cali Products 44d 

Oglesby Equipment Co 51d 

Chrysler-Airtemp Div 1 9a 

Polmer Eng. & Development Co 47a 

Coca-Cola Co 2a 

Cretors Corp 29b 

Dixie Cup Co 27a, 28a 

Payne Products 51c 

Pepsi-Cola Co 22o 

Phillips Electro Extensions 52c 

s / / / 

Drive-In Theatre Mfg. Co 44a 

Projection Optics Co 50b 

EPRAD 

45a 

RCA (Service) 40a 

Goldberg Bros 40b 

RCA (Theatre Equipment) 

13a, 15a 

Henry Heide, Inc 29a 

Hertner Electric Co 50a 

Heywood-Wakefield Co 

5a 

International Projector Corp 4a 

International Seat Corp 11a 

Irwin Seating Co 16a 

Kneisley Electric Co 

51a 

Kollmorgen Optical Corp 

39a 

LaVezzi Machine Works 38a 

Manley, Inc 26a 

Miniature Train Co 47b 

Motiograph, Inc 6o 

Radiant Mfg. Co 37a 

Sandler Mfg. Co 

47c 

Selby Industries, Inc 46a 

S. 0. S. Cinema Supply 18b 

Sonken-Galamba Corp 

44b 

Speed Scoop 

26b 

Strong Electric Corp 

21a 

Superior Refrigerator Co 25a 

Theatre Seat Service 

49a 

Wagner Sign Service 3a 

Watling Mfg. Co 52a 

Williams Screen Co 49b 

nt of facts to all exhibitors: 

lace greater demands on the "peripheral 

rs. 

rs have developed a new wide screen that 

all-over brilliance to meet these greater 

Vision" screen has been thoroughly field 

V. is available at the same low price as 

PLEASE PRINT 

Name 

Position 

Theotre or Circuit.. 

Street 

No 

No 

Postage Stamp 

Necessary 

Jf Mailed in the 

.United States. 

ur next screen, De sure to specify 

our supplier has samples and prices. 

City 

BUSINESS 

State.. 

REPLY CARD 

First Class Permit No. 874 - Section 34.9 PL8.R - Kansas City, Mo. 

JRING CORPORATION 

osevelt Road, Chicago 8, III. 

MODERN THEATRE Section of 

Readers' Service Dept. 

January 1956 

825 Van Brunt Blvd. 

BOXOFFICE 

KANSAS CITY 24, 

MO 

37

CONDENSED INDEX OF PRODUCTS 

For repeatpatn 

MAGNE 

on your scree 

C/nemaScope f 

filmed with B& 

...depend 

PERF 

Bausch & Lomb 

Super Cinephor 

Projection 

Lenses 

Insist On th< 

today's clear 

Complete Hi 

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for Wide Sci 

SEE THE BIG. 

DEMONSTRATII 

I

: January 


Continued from page 36 

ening, the screw that was taken out. The 

double bearing arm is thus allowed to 

shift downward of its own weight. The five 

screws are then tightened, the intermittent 

re-oiled, 

and the projector run again. 

If pressing on the end of the flywheei 

shaft does not reduce noise, remove the 

drum cover ( right back drum cover iDi, 

Pig. D. Loosen the cam end play-adjustment 

locking screw , Fig 5, using ths 

framing knob to bring the screw to the 

most convenient position. Run the projector 

without film and press inward on the 

cam end play-adjusting stud iD), Fig. 5, 

until the noise disappears. Holding the 

stud in this position, stop project jr, and 

tighten down the locking screw permanently. 

MAY NEED FACTORY JOB 

If there is still serious noise in the action 

of the intermittent movement the trouble 

is beyond ordinary projection room repair 

and should be immediately sent in to the 

manufacturer for complete repair. When 

the movement needs a complete rebuilding 

job, it should be sent to the factory 

or to an authorized service station which 

is equipped with parts and tools to do a 

first-class rebuilding job. 

Replacing the intermittent sprocket 

shoe—Maintaining the correct adjustment 

and keeping this unit clean is very important. 

Replacing the shoe, take out the gate 

and remove the small screw at the center 

of the bottom spiral spring—the sprocket 

shoe tension retaining screw , Fig. 8. 

Now remove the knurled nut I the sprocket 

shoe tension adjusting nut , Fig. 8, 

and the spiral spring. Slip off the shoe and 

replace, restoring the spring, knurled nut 

and adjusting screw. Adjust the tension 

just enough to hold the film to the base 

of the sprocket teeth, any excessive tension 

is unnecessary and may cause noise if not 

properly adjusted. 

REMOVE COVER PLATE FIRST 

HOW TO REPLACE VERTICAL SHAFT ASSEMBLY 

or gears mounted thereon—You first remove 

the cover plate on the drive side of 

the mechanism. Remove the main drive 

gear by removing the screw which holds 

the retaining collar in place. Next, remove 

the intermittent movement flywheel as instructed 

elsewhere in this article. Remove 

the intermediate drive gear by removing 

the screw and collar which hold it in place 

i 

see photos showing gear and film side of 

mechanism i. Remove the clamping nut, 

lock washer and screw holding the lower 

driven gear (D> in Fig. 10 on the vertical 

shaft, and slide the gear downward and 

off the shaft. Now remove the clamping 

nut, lockwasher and screw holding auxiliary 

shaft driving gear (Bi in Fig. 9. Remove 

the clamping nut, lock washer and 

screw holding the upper sprocket driving 

gear in Fig, 9. Slide the vertical shaft 

NEW PERIPHERAL VISION 

SUPERAMA 

SCREEN 

For improved wide-screen projection 

,'~ kX 

results 

*''V S 

s -


Continued from preceding 

page 

downward until the upper sprocket driving 

gear 1D1 and the auxiliary shaft driving 

gear >B> may be removed. Now. to remove 

the vertical shaft, take off the upper mage 

zine and top cover and slide the shaft upward 

and out of mechanism. 

It is very important, and absolutely necessary, 

to be sure to retain the damping 

nut, lock washers and two steel thrust 

washers above and below the upper bearing 

and reinstall in the same positions. 

You can remove the upper sprocket 

driven gear (C) and shaft in Fig. 9 as petinstructions 

elsew here. Remove the clamping 

nut. lock washer and screw r holding 

the shutter shaft driving gear »G). Pig. 9. 

Slide the auxiliary shaft and pinion (J), 

Fit;. 9, upward until it may be removed 

easily. 

Be sure to retain the clamping nut, lock 

washer and the fiber and steel thrust 

washers above and below the upper bearing 

and again reinstall in the very same position 

for proper operation. 

NOTE—Reassembly is made in the reverse 

manner. The gears must be adjusted 

for proper mesh and also to eliminate 

shaft end play before the gear fastening 

screws are tightened. When all parts are 

properly reassembled, by following procedures 

as above outlined, you will obtain 

an exceptionally quiet-running projector. 

Procedure for replacing the upper feed 

sprocket shoe—Do not attempt to take the 

shoe off the arm on which it mounts—the 

The new wide screen presentations demand 

rock steady projection which for 

years exhibitors have been expecting 

and getting by using LaVezzi sprockets. 

In addition, the clean burr-free teeth are 

easier 

on the film— an important factor 

SPROCKETS 

OnemaScOPi? 

Conversion kits for most models of Projectors and 

Sound Reproducers — See your Theatre 

Dealer or write direct for illustrated brochure 

with the narrow perforations of the four 

stripe magnetic film. LaVezzi sprockets 

are properly engineered to resist wear 

and are hardened for that extra margin 

of usable life. For better projection ond 

peace of mind get LaVezzi and be sure! 

Equipment 

Machine Works 

LaVezzi 

4635 WEST LAKE ST. CHICAGO 44, ILL. 

supe:/?^ 

SINCE 1908 

Fig. 10. This is a very good closeup showing some 

of the important components and their location, including 

the intermittent movement flywheel and its 

clamp, the shutter drive, and the tubes which carry 

oil to the bearings. (A) Sliding sleeve guide screw, 

(B) shutter gear sliding sleeve support casting, 

(C! shutter gear sliding sleeve, !D) vertical drive 

shaft lower gear, !E) intermediate drive gear stud, 

(F) main drive geor stud and (G) lower sprocketdriven 

gear. The gears should be kept clean and 

periodically lubricated with either Simplex oil or a 

small amount of white petroleum jelly. In the field 

we have had excellent results with the petroleum 

jelly lubrication. The addition of a small amount on 

each gear once every two months seems adequate for 

any situation. The interior should be cleaned frequently 

with a clean, lintless rag. All surplus oil or 

grease should be wiped oft daily. 

entire arm must be removed from the 

mechanism. Loosen the stud on which the 

arm rides with a screwdriver and draw out 

with pliers. The arm can now be easily 

removed. 

The shoe is mounted in the arm by 

means of a shoe stud and two browned 

machine screws. One screw holds the shoe 

stud, the other holds the shoe itself. Always 

take both screws out of arm, being careful 

not to lose the washer on the shoe screw. 

The shoe and its stud will now come 

off. Slip the stud through the new shoe 

and replace it on the arm. Replace and 

tighten down the stud-holding screw, pressing 

on the stud to remove any end play. 

When this screw is tight the shoe should 

be free to rotate on its stud, but with no 

end play, of course. The shoe-locking 

screw (with its washer) is now replaced, 

but not tightened. The arm and the arm 

stud are now replaced in the mechanism, 

perfectly aligned so the shoe rides properly 

on the sprocket, and then locked firmly in 

place. 

Next, the shoe is then rotated on its own 

stud until the inner curvature of the shoe 

parallels the curve of the sprocket, and the 

shoe-holding screw is then screwed down 

tight. 

Above and a trifle left of the arm stud 

you will see a hexagonal bolt and lock nut. 

These are adjusted to leave exactly two 

thicknesses of film clearance (approxi- 


mately .015 inch) between sprocket and 

shoe, then tightened down firmly when this 

adjustment is completed. 

HOW TO CORRECTLY REPLACE LOWER 

sprocket pad roller—With a screwdriver 

loosen the lower sprocket and roller arm 

stud screw (F) , Pig. 5, and draw screw 

and stud toward you. The pad roller arm 

can then be taken out. Loosen the holding 

screw of the shaft of the roller to be removed, 

after which the shaft, with its roller, 

can be drawn out of the arm. In the new 

roller insert the shaft and then replace 

it in the arm. Allow approximately .005- 

inch play, and tighten down its shaftholding 

screw. Replace the arm in mechanism 

and restore the arm stud and holding 

screw. Press inward on screwdriver to 

remove all end play from the arm. Correct 

adjustment of these various units is very 

important and should be made as directed 

in this article for best results. 

ADJUSTING THE NUT 

You will note at the top right of the arm 

there is a hexagonal bolt and lock nut. 

Adjust these exactly the thickness of two 

films (about .015 inch) clearance between 

the sprocket and the left roller—regardless 

of which roller is changed. When adjustment 

is completed, be sure to lock the 

hexagonal nut in that adjustment. Keep 

all 

these parts clean. 

Installing new main or intermediate 

gear studs—Remove the gear first. On the 

operating side of mechanism, remove the 

self -locking, stud-retaining nut on the intermediate 

gear stud, or the film-protecting 

stud nut on the main drive gear stud, 

with a suitable wrench. The studs may be 

prevented from turning by inserting a 

straight pin punch in the oil hole on the 

lower side. The stud (E or F in Fig. 10' 

may now be easily drawn out of the driving 

side. 

Now when replacing the new or same 

stud, the cross hole at the end of the gearretaining, 

collar screw should be vertical 

and the oil grooves should always be on 

the lower half of the stud surface. Before 

replacing a gear on the stud, oil the bearing 

surface with clean Simplex oil. Always 

clean the stud thoroughly with a clean, 

lintless rag before oiling and replacing in 

mechanism. 

TIMING THE SHUTTERS 

In the case of the removal of 

the intermediate 

drive gear assembly stud, time the 

shutters again. 

NOTE— Coviplete instructions on removing 

and replacing intermittent movement 

and intermittent sprocket are furnished in 

special bulletins covering repairing of Simplex. 

Century, RCA and other makes of 

projectors. Send only 25 cents to cover 

postage and handling. 

Adjustment of automatic fire shutter— 

The fire shutter trip (C), Fig. 1, should be 

operated manually from time to time to 

make sure the shutter trips okay. 

If it does not, take out the spot sight 

box and the film trap. Remove the shutter 

lever, guard-holding screw and take off 

the shutter lever guard. When these parts 

have been removed, the components of the 

shutter mechanism can be cleaned and replaced. 

It will work freely and trip correctly. 

In case the fire shutter jams, remove the 

spot sight box. See photographs and you 

will note that just above the top of the 

fire shutter on the film trap there is a 

small stud or boss on the film trap casting. 

The top of the fire shutter, in raised position, 

should not quite touch this boss, but 

should clear it by about 1/32 inch. You 

can loosen the fire shutter raising lever, 

adjusting-bushing lock screw (E), Fig. 9, 

about one-fourth turn, no more. Do not 

take out this screw as it is unnecessary. 

Now adjust the shutter height by turning 

the fire shutter, raising lever adjusting 

bushing (F>, Fig. 9. Turning this bushing 

clockwise raises the shutter, turning it 

counter-clockwise lowers the shutter. When 

you have obtained proper adjustment, be 

sure to tighten the lock screw firmly. Readjust 

fire shutter lifting pin. The lifting 

pin, on the non-operating side of the 

mechanism, can be located by looking past 

the governor to locate the fire shutter lifting 

pin—a steel pin about one-eighth inch 

in diameter which engages the slot that 

raises the fire shutter. Lift this pin as high 

as possible, making sure it remains in slot; 

hold it in that position and retighten the 

fastening screw. It must be loosened, of 

course, to first make the adjustment, and 

then tightened down after above adjustment 

is made. 

Lens Showmanship 

~ 

From Kollmo 

the newest, fastest 

^^fe^^^^ 

projection lenses you can buy 

To give you Ihe brightest, 

clearest, sharpest, most 

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seen on your 

screen. 

For better BoxofTice, 

for better Showmanship, for better a 

around filming, try these new f/1.7 

Super Snaplites today. 

For 

more informolion 

ask your Theatre Supply 

Dealer or write for Bulletin 222. 


You get more Light 

with Super Snaplite 

• 

i;ou-a\oim;i;n 

Plan!: Northampton, Massachusetts 

/4 1 ///>/7/ | ' 

f) |» |» || 1* \ T I () V 

New York Office: / 30 CHURCH ST., NEW YORK 7, N. Y. 

BOXOFTICE : 

: January 

7, 1956 39



The projector should be run without 

film, and try to push the Ore shutter down 

by hand without using too much force tl 

you can make it drop, the above adjustment 

is still not perfectly carried out. and 

must be repeated until correct adjustment 

is secured. 

The projector should be cleaned daily 

and lubricated as per instructions. Use 

i 1. Hi. lintless rags for cleaning interior 

and exterior, and use only Simplex oil for 

perfect lubrication of all moving parts. 

Candy is seasonal. In general, chocolate 

goods sell better in the winter season. 

Each month in the MODERN THEATRE Section, 

Wesley Trout will present practical questions 

and answers pertaining to sound and projection. 

If you have a technical problem send it 

in and it will be answered here. Enclose o 

stamped, self addressed envelope tor a quick, 

personal reply. 

Your doorman 

may be a dream. 

Your usherettes 

may be starlets. 

BUT 

M 

EVERY PERFORMANCE 

STILL 

MUST BE PERFECT! 

For a perfect performance, vital operating equipment has to work 

without a single slip. The best man to keep it exactly that way is an 

expert RCA Theatre Service Engineer. He's the only man who brings to 

your house the full backing of RCA's technical resources. 

RCA SERVICE COMPANY, INC. 

A Radio Corporation of America Subsidiary 

Camden, N.J. 

During our inspection tours we have 

found many projection rooms equipped with 

insufficient size exhaust fans for the lamphouse, 

thus allowing an unnecessary 

amount of carbon dust to accumulate and 

clogging up the ventilation, causing poor 

light because of uneven burning of carbons. 

Too much carbon dust will finally, in time, 

fill up the lamphouse vents. If the exhaust 

fan is not large enough, or there is too 

long pull of air, I have installed, successfully, 

a single or double T-type auxiliary 

blower, manufactured by Drive-In Theatre 

Manufacturing Co. 

In my particular territory, I have an installation 

using high intensity lamps, 100 

amperes, in a drive-in theatre, and had 

trouble securing sufficient lift of heat and 

carbon dust with the regular exhaust blower, 

but when I installed a T-type, 180 

C.F.M. blower the trouble was immediately 

corrected. The lamphouse keeps cleaner, 

the arc mechanism cooler, the breakage of 

reflector is eliminated, and it is not necessary 

to clean the lamphouse every day. I 

have installed the same setup in several 

conventional theatres with pleasing results. 

Sufficient size of vent pipe always should 

be used so the ventilation will not be cut 

down, yet there won't be excessive pull 

of air to cause any trouble with the arc 

flame. In many situations, an auxiliary 

blower is absolutely necessary with the 

higher amperages; these blowers are not 

meant to be the entire exhaust system, but 

merely an auxiliary blower to lift the heat 

and dirt out of the lamphouse as quickly 

as possible. The cost of either single or 

T-type blowers is very reasonable. 

Sold through authorized distributors only. 

Passed by the Board of Fire 

GOLDBERG 

DENVER, COLORADO 

BEWIJVDEB 

18" 

This is it. ..a GB first 1 . Model K, in high-grade heovy 

steel, machined with precision tolerances .. .accommodates 

3,000-ft. 35 mm. reels — and smaller! Doors 

open on extra-heavy counter-balanced spring hinges. 

Control handle for starting. Finished in brown 

hammertone. Gray hammertone, on request. 

Underwriters. 

BROS. 

Revamped Line of Generators 

For Standby Power 

A completely revamped line of generators 

to supply demands for standby electric 

power plants has been brought out by 

the Wincharger Corp. Leader of the new 

line is the 10.000 watt Model V4F. equipped 

with a Wisconsin engine, capable of supplying 

24 h.p. to the generator. Winco belted 

construction permits both the engine and 

generator to operate at optimum speeds. 

Both single-phase and three-phase power 

are available in all units of the new Winco 

line. Model 10V4F can be equipped with a 

line transfer control that starts the engineyenerator 

automatically as soon as pow erline 

: 

power fails, and switches the load 

: 

power back to the power line the moment 

normal service is restored. Other new 

Winco models have 500. 1.000. 2.000. 3.500 

and 6.500 watts capacity. 


: January 

Tips on Handling the New Combination Prints 

NO PROBLEM WITH MAGOPTICAL PRINTS 

IF PROPER CARE IS EXERCISED 

By WESLEY TROUT 

I here are many exhibitors and projectionists 

concerned over the new magoptical 

prints which several leading companies 

are going to use. They are aware of the 

fact that a magnetic print can be ruined 

easily if carelessly run as an optical print 

in a mechanism not demagnetized. In other 

words, if the parts are not demagnetized it 

may cause erasure of the sound track for 

showing in a theatre equipped with stereosound. 

But this will not occur if our instructions 

are carefully followed. 

NYLON ROLLERS ARE HELPFUL 

Nylon rollers should be installed as they 

help in the demagnetizing process, of course. 

However, it should be kept in mind they 

have no effect on steel sprockets, gate 

shoes, film tracks, rotary stabilizer drum, 

or other metal parts in the path of the film, 

but they do play a very important part in 

helping to avoid track damage along with 

the complete demagnetizing process we are 

about to explain to you in the following 

paragraphs. The demagnetizing tools are 

the kind the writer has tried and found to 

be very satisfactory. Of course, there is 

other equipment on the market for doing 

this job, but I can assure you these two 

tools will do an Al job if used correctly, 

and if frequent tests are made of various 

parts with the compass to see they are still 

demagnetized. The job can be easy or 

arduous, depending on your careful study 

of this information on how to accomplish 

a good job of demagnetizing. 

This should be kept foremost in your 

mind: A magnetic recording, if subjected 

to any strong electrical field, may be partially 

or completely erased of the magnetically 

recorded desired sound. 

DEMAGNETIZING IS 

SIMPLE 

The procedure of demagnetizing projector 

parts which are magnetized during 

manufacture, and tools which are sometimes 

magnetized, is simple. This demagnetizing 

process is to remove the active 

magnetic effect of these parts and return 

them to a natural state in which they do 

not act like magnets or to reduce the magnetic 

effect to such a low value that no 

damage will be done to the magnetic sound 

tracks. 

Note—All parts, particularly pieces of 

hardened steel, in the path which are close 

to or touch the film, should be carefully 

demagnetized. There are some hardened 

stainless steel parts, such as rollers and 

drums in some magnetic and optical sound 

heads, and picture intermittent shoes which 

may be magnetized even though stainless 

steels are commonly believed to be nonmagnetic, 

but don't take any chance they 

are not magnetized, test these parts and 

demagnetize if necessary. 

A demagnetizing device can be constructed 

by using a 250-watt soldering gun. 

such as a Weller, model D550. A coil is 

made to fit on this gun as explained in our 

special article in Modern Theatre, issue of 

May 7, 1955. page 59. which covers the use 

of two demagnetizing tools. A satisfactory 

degausser can be made by winding ten 

turns of No. 14 insulated wire on a quarterinch 

rod, and a larger coil, using the same 

size wire, but no rod inside, for sprockets, 

screw drivers and small parts. You will find 

the large coil, as per our article on demagnetization 

tools, the best for all projector 

parts, and the smaller tool, like an audio 

transformer, pictured just to the right of 

the large coil, for flat parts, etc. 

DIRECTIONS FOR LARGE COIL 

The large coil is made by making seven 

closely wound turns on a l 3 4 -inch inside 

diameter of Ux'-j-inch copper bar, 

annealed prior to forming into a coil. The 

turns are insulated from each other by 

spreading slightly and daubing a good 

grade of high temperature electrical baking 

varnish between each. The coil shown is 

then laced tightly together, after the varnish 

application, with glass thread and then 

baked to harden. Don't bake it too much, 

just enough to harden this substance. Now 

the ends where the connection is made to 

the soldering gun must be closely fitted to 

get maximum of contact area. Due to low 

resistance, the coil does not get too hot. 

For the smaller demagnetizer, use 35 to 

40 turns of No. 17 (AWGi gauge hard 

drawn enameled wire on 12 laminations of 

U-shaped audio output transformer iron 

wound tightly over one wrap of paper tape. 

Each leg of the lamination is one-quarterinch 

wide with a five-sixteenth-inch approximate 

spacing between the legs of the 

U. The ends are ground to an angle of 

about 30°. The laminations are taped together 

with any good form of thin paper 

or plastic tape and a three-thirtysecondsinch 

thick brass bar is taped across the ends 

to act as a gap spacer and to provide a soft 

surface which will not scratch projector 

parts. I have found these two tools the 

most satisfactory. You can rest assured 

either one will do the job right. 

The large coil demagnetizer is best used 

for sprockets, shafts, fire-trap rollers, intermittent 

sprocket shoes, sprockets, rollers, 

screw drivers and pliers, gate assembly 

guide rollers, etc. The second one is used 

mostly on magnetic pickup heads, scanning 

drums on optical magnetic soundheads. 

Note: Be sure the demagnetizing tool is 

turned on before approaching the part to 

be treated and still energized while removing 

until a distance of not less than two 

feet. If this procedure is not followed you 

will not secure a good job of demagnetizing 

any part. The coil will not reach an excessive 

temperature to damage nylon rollers. 

Film splicers, scrapers, scissors and other 

parts coming in contact with print should 

be treated with the above demagnetizing 

tool. 

LESS FREQUENT TREATMENT 

When magnetic prints first came out, 

some engineers and projectionists felt it 

was necessary to demagnetize all parts of 

the projector once a week: after considerable 

checking and study this practice was 

reduced and the pickup head treated about 

once every four weeks, and in most situations 

only every two months. Other parts 

of the projector and sound head do not 

need this treatment, unless work has been 

done on the equipment with tools not demagnetized: 

other parts need to be demagnetized 

about every four or six months. 

Used by many engineers and projectionists, 

a compass is a good indicator of magnetic 

fields. It need be only a small unit, 

but the most sensitive is a compass with 

jeweled bearings. Parts that can be removed 

easily should be laid flat and the 

compass laid on the parts at various places: 

sprockets should be checked at several 

places along the circumference. This 

checking may seem, at first, rather complicated, 

but once you get the hang of it 

you will have no trouble. This checking 

need not be done as often as heretofore. 

TREAT FILM WITH NORMAL CARE 

The film should be treated with reasonable 

care, under common circumstances 

prevalent in any good theatre projection 

room. Rewinding should be done as with 

any other type print, and no "pulling down'' 

or "excessive'' tension should be used at 

any time. Common sense and good practice 

to avoid subjecting the magnetic tracks to 

strong electrical fields always should be 

kept in mind. Do not place film near a 

rectifier or any other piece of electrical 

equipment of this type. Keep the film in 

a well-constructed film cabinet when not in 

use, or in the film can until you are ready 

to place it in the cabinet. 

In future issues, we shall keep you posted 

on new developments and instructions on 

the new dual films, and any changes in 

equipment which may be necessary to make 

in order to secure perfect 

results. 

Peripheral Vision Screen Available 

Availability of a peripheral vision Superama 

motion picture theatre screen has 

been announced by the Radiant Manufacturing 

Corp. The purpose of the screen, 

according to the manufacturer, is to meet 

the need for all-over brilliant illumination 

of the screen as new projection systems 

place a greater emphasis on peripheral or 

outer-edge vision. The P-V Supernmn 

screen was field tested for three months in 

all parts of the nation. 

BOXOFTICE : 

7. 1956 

41

' 

' 

DRIVE-IN SALUTE TO AUTO INDUSTRY PAYS OFF 

Weekly Booklets Also Alert Public to Pictures and Promotions 

#\ n excellent public relations promotion, 

which included a special salute 

to Studebaker, largest industry in his trade 

region, paid off at the boxoffice for Roy 

O'Keefe, manager of the Niles "31" Drivein 

between South Bend. Ind., and Niles. 

Mich. 

As a result of the promotion, centered 

around recognition for the workers and the 

motor car industry which made his drivein 

possible, O'Keefe said, "Our business was 

greatly helped at the boxoffice. our public 

relations with Studebaker hit a new 

high, and just for the record, we made a 

few hundred dollars in extra revenue." 

Twenty-thousand car-owners in the 

trade region served by O'Keefe's drive-in 

were mailed copies of a 12-page program 

booklet planned, written and prepared by 

the theatre manager himself. Theme of 

the issue was the ever-increasing importance 

of the motor car in American 

life. In a well -worded foreword. O'Keefe 

wrote his dedication to the Studebaker 

plant near his theatre, and the 5&X8V&- 

inch booklet was sent to every worker of 

the big factory. 

Since O'Keefe's promotion was highly 

effective, details of his booklet planning 

might be helpful guides to any other theatre 

owner who wishes to adapt the plan for 

low-cost saturation of his own trade territory. 

Titled "Mr. and Mrs. America on 

Wheels," the booklet was made interesting 

with such features as "Your Handy Mileage 

Chart." showing mileage from Niles to 

principal cities of the U. S. Ads from one 

each of the following types of business were 

carried: drive-in cafe, motel, delivery service, 

supermarket, auto parts, auto wash 

firm, lumber yard, hobby shop, plumber 

and jeweler. Two Studebaker agencies carried 

ads, the only instance of overlapping 

or competing advertisers. 

All of these busi- 

Exhibitor's Original Layouts Utilizing Pressbook Clippings 

and Fun Toko BtataByn 

S FM5T OUTDOOR THEATRE 

AMERICA 

SUM.HOM.TUES. SEPT. d6 11 e& WEu. THRU 3AT. SEPT. e3 THRU OCT. 2 

gB 

lh*ir lo.rd on f i romp ona ploy iS» iho YES FRIENDS tkii • jwtt on* ol th* >Mie»i why THf 

bofor* 

NIIES "31 OUTDOOR THEATRE. ,i AMERICA'S FtNEST 

FM\Ly NITE 

VEbNESuflr hU6.

nesses, of course, are tied up with the 

automobile. 

O'Keefe spaced his own ads throughout 

the booklet. Just following the dedication, 

he called attention to the brick refreshment 

building located in the center of the parking 

area, "which you can reach easily by 

means of paved center aisle running 

through the theatre, and where you can 

be waited on in turn quickly!" 

In the center spread, O'Keefe devoted 

the upper half of the two pages to promoting 

coming pictures and took the lower half 

to plug with drawings and words the outstanding, 

free kiddyland at his theatre, 

including a streamlined train, a 16-horse 

merry-go-round, lawn swings and handoperated 

merry-go-rounds, as well as "reclining 

chairs for Mom and Dad, so they 

can watch their loved ones romp and play 

before the show." 

POINTS OUT DRIVE-IN 

FEATURES 

On page nine O'Keefe included a fifth of 

a page ad to point up location lighting 

within the ramp area, so patrons can find 

their cars with ease and comfort by remembering 

their post number and letter if they 

leave their cars during the show. 

Entire back page of the booklet was devoted 

to the Niles "31" Drive-in. The 

canopied entrance and twin boxoffices are 

pictured as "the gate to happiness, where 

you leave your worries behind and look 

forward to a grand evening's entertainment 

for young and old alike at 'America's Finest 

Family Recreation Center!' " 

Issue of this booklet was no flash in 

the pan promotion for O'Keefe and his staff 

at the Niles "31." Each week he assembles 

a four-page booklet, featuring handlettered 

messages and locally produced cartoons 

building up the week's attraction. Pictures 

and lettering from pressbooks also are 

clipped and arranged in original layouts 

by O'Keefe for effective pages in the popular 

little handout. The entire layout is 

then photographed and offset printed. 

Copies go to customers at the drive-in and 

to every strategic point of the trade area 

to keep people well informed as to what's 

going to happen next at O'Keefe's Niles 

"31" Drive-in. 

Candy is perishable, so do not over-order. 

For 

YOUR 

BOXOFFICE 

Engraved hf 

our exclusive 

procees on lacite 

to your 

specification*. 

LAMOLITE 

ILLUMINATED PRICE ADMISSION SIGNS 

Our enlarged plant facilities assure 

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Plastic Signs Engraved for the Entire Theatre 

Send tor Folder *Pat pend 

Edgar S. 

Bowman 

682 Sixth Avenue N.w York 10, N Y. 

Chances for 

l/vW'[ J r 

are better 

when you insist on the 

complete Ballantyne Package 

The odds go up when 

you get... 

BALLANTYNE Know-How 

Big Success in 

Drive-In Theatres comes as a result of 

careful planning. And careful planning doesn't stop 

with equipment, but covers the whole range of layouts, 

location and construction. 

That's why more and more 

operators are turning to Ballantyne, because Ballantyne 

doesn't just sell equipment. Ballantyne looks at the 

whole problem of equipping a successful drive-in. 

From Ballantyne you get cost free advice backed by 

years of experience. 

BALLANTYNE Engineering 

From Ballantyne you get the benefit of years of experience 

in 

the design of entire drive-ins, not just certain 

specialized equipment. And it's these engineers that 

you talk with when you buy Ballantyne equipment. 

BALLANTYNE Layouts 

Ballantyne provides you with layouts showing economical 

answers. Ballantyne will furnish you with layouts 

showing proper grading, exits, entrances ramps, 

wiring, building layout for projection and concession. 

Model 6 or 9 Soundhead 

Dub'l-Cone Speakers 

MX or RX Amplification 

^Balhntifne^pmôm^ 

1712 Jackson Street Omaha, Nebraska 

BOXOFFICE : 

: January 

7. 1956 43

$ 

25 

DOWN 

Balance 

S10 

Monthly 

400 DELUXE 

DRIVE-IN OWNER MEETS CHALLENGE 

WHEN HIGHWAY BISECTS THEATRE 

PENNY 

FORTUNE 

SCALE 

NOT A 

NOVELTY— 

BUT AN 

INVESTMENT 

25-75% 

PROFIT 

~—/3~vv/0£ - 

WEIGHT 165 LBS. 

W A T L I N G 

Manufacturing 

Company 

4650 W. Fulton St. Chicago 44, Illinois 

Est. 

1 889—Telephone: Columbus 1-2772 

Cable Address: WATLINCITE, Chicago 

]/ SPEAKER STANDS 

and 

GUIDE LIGHT 

POSTS 

Fabricoted to your specifications 

from new or used steel pipe or 

tubing—black 

and galvanized. 

Write—Wire—Phone 

SONKEN-GALAMBA CORP. 

2nd and Rlvervlew 

Kansas City 18, Kansas 

ATwater 9301 

This aerial Wew of the Brooks Drive-In Theatre, Brooks, 

Alto., shows how the Trans-Canada Highway (running 

horizontally in center of picture) cut the theatre acreage in two before the theatre could be built. However, 

owner Peter Umbertino went ahead with construction of the theatre on the nine acres south of the highway, 

and plans future development of the eight acres on the north for a kiddyland and picnic area. The 

lake, dark area at the top of the photo, will likely be used for boating and other water sports. 

Back in 1949, with a dream of building a 

drive-in theatre his son, Robert, would 

manage, Peter Umbertino, who operates the 

Gayety Theatre in Brooks, Alta., invested 

in 22 acres of sweeping Canadian prairie 

land two miles north of town. Before Umbertino 

could build his drive-in, the Trans- 

Canada Highway came to Brooks. It cut 

diagonally northwest across Umbertino's 

land, taking five acres for right-of-way and 

leaving him two odd shaped areas—nine 

acres south of the highway, eight north 

of it. 

Umbertino refused to give up his drive-in 

project. He drew his own plans, had them 

approved by local authorities, then with 

Robert's help proceeded to build the Brooks 

Drive-in. They hired help for excavation 

and ramp-building, as well as to put 

up the screen tower and the 60x50-foot 

screen. Umbertino, a former electrician, 

and Robert did all the wiring, however, in 

one week. This included laying 15,000 feet 

Continued on page 46 

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At all progressive supply houses. 


îafctty fan a, 

BETTER & SPEAKER? 

You don't have to cast all 

around the country for a 

good speaker! Just drop a line to your Independent 

Theatre Supply Dealer and ask for a demonstration 

of EPRAD speakers. Once you compare EPRAD 

speakers with those of any other manufacturer 

you're sold ! Their sweet sound, incomparable beauty, 

reasonable price, and lowest maintenance cost 

make them the best catch. 

HEAR THE EARLIEST AND LATEST 

TRANSCRIBED SOUND. 

IN 

Edison's early cylinder phonograph will 

be on display and demonstrated at the 

National Allied Drive-In Convention, 

Cleveland— Booths 41 and 42. 

"The Voice or the Drive-In" 

1206 CHERRY ST. TOLEDO 4, OHIO 

BOXOFTICE :: January 7. 1956 

45

EXHIBITOR MEETS CHALLENGE 

Continued from page 44 

of wiring for speakers to serve the 225-car 

drive-in. 

When the theatre opened last spring, 

Umbertino estimated the cost at $30,000. 

"Of this amount, $11,000 went for the 

screen, fencing, ground-leveling and the 

concessions building in the middle of the 

ramp area. Fifteen thousand dollars were 

invested in latest Motiograph projection 

and sound equipment, including speakers," 

he says. 

In the concessions 

building o I the 

Brooks Drive-In Theatre, 

R Umbertino, 

manager, son of the 

owner, stands at far 

left. In addition to 

the two attendants 

shown, a cook also is 

employed. A stationtype 

stand is operated 

in the 40x50- 

f o o t 

building. 

concessions 

The 40x50-foot concessions building is 

equipped with Star drink dispensers and 

popcorn machine and is staffed by three 

employes. The maple counters have Arborite 

covers. 

After a season's operation on the highway-divided 

property, Umbertino said, "The 

highway is helping business. We get some 

transient business from it, and I'm sure 

it hasn't hurt us. Our only difficulty was 

that the local authorities had us build 

wings on the screen to prevent motorists 

watching the picture while passing and 

getting themselves into trouble on the 

highway." 

Brooks, population 1,600, has responded 

in satisfactory manner during its drivein's 

first season. Umbertino expects crowds 

to grow as people in the area become 

accustomed to the outdoor operation. He 

is also dreaming of improvements on that 

eight acres across the highway. Making 

such plans especially fascinating is a small 

lake adjoining the north property, a lake 

Umbertino sees as ideal for developing for 

boating and other water sports. Beside 

the lake he plans a kiddyland and picnic 

ground to help make his drive-in the center 

of community outdoor recreation. The 

theatre area is already developing into a 

place of beauty as many of the 500 poplars 

Umbertino set out along the theatre walls 

two years ago have attained a height of 20 

feet. 

Air Conditioning Firms Merge 

Hupp Corp., air conditioning manufacturer 

which recently merged with Perfection 

Industries, Inc., is completing merger 

processes now with Typhoon Air Conditioning 

Co. Directors of both companies have 

approved the transaction. Don Petrone will 

continue as president of Typhoon, which 

will operate as a division of Hupp. Don 

Gearheart is president of the Hupp Corp. 

Among products of Typhoon's plant in 

Brooklyn are commercial packaged air conditioning 

units up to 40 tons, and Typhoon 

has announced waterless air-conditioning 

equipment up to ten tons with companion 

air handling units. Increased emphasis will 

be placed on year-round air conditioning. 

^êJufj/ ^c E . 

QUALITY 

AT LOW 

COST 


. 

Full-Page, Three-Color Ad Dr. Mees, Famed Scientist, 

Promotes New Drive-In Retires From Eastman 

re M tTflf 

mm is how rou 

CfT IMRI . . . 

GALA OPINING!!! 

OF IH6 BRAND NEW 

STARUTI ?SK?M 

WOW! 

AU 

i 

u 

'< 

nun®* an*^^^ 

SNACK BAR 

I 

,l -> - < 

Dr. Cyril J. Staud has succeeded Dr. C. E. 

K. Mees as vice-president in charge of research 

of Eastman Kodak Co. Dr. Mees. the 

internationally famous scientist who guided 

the company's research for 44 years, has 

retired and will take up permanent residence 

in Honolulu. He remains a board 

member. 

Dr. Staud, a fellow of the Society of Motion 

Picture and Television Engineers, had 

been director of Kodak Research Laboratories 

since 1947. He is widely known for 

managerial skill in organizing and inspiring 

effective research teamwork, such as 

Kodak's development of faster-speed blackand-white 

films and new materials for 

color photography. His honors include recent 

citation by the Professional Photographer's 

Ass'n for distinguished service to 

the field of professional photography. 

Dr. Mees. a pioneer of American industrial 

research, organized the company's 

Kodak Park Works in Rochester in 1912 at 

Dr. C. E. K. Mees 

invitation of George Eastman, coming here 

from his native England. In 1934 Dr. Mees 

became a fellow of the Society of Motion 

Picture Engineers and received the society's 

progress medal in 1936. Among achievements 

of laboratories under his direction 

were home movies, panchromatic films and 

processes of color photography. 

His scientific awards have been numerous, 

including progress medals from the 

Royal Photographic Society of Great 

Britain and the Photographic Society of 

America. Other important awards were the 

Janssen medal of the Societe Prancaise de 

Photographie and the John Scott medal. 

When the new Starlite Drive-In Theatre opened in 

Milwaukee last fall, owner Ben Marcus, former 

president of National Allied, took a full page in 

three colors in the local newspaper to get the theatre 

off to a good start. Readers were advised to 

"Just look for the biggest screen you've ever seen!" 

and the size was emphasized by the comment of 

the man in the moon: "Wow! It even looks big from 

up here!" Copy in the lower left describes the 

snack bar where 24 different varieties of food are 

served at the 124-foot-long cafeteria counter. Comments 

in the balloons above cars, lower right, point 

up picture clarity and clearness of sound. 

New Electric 

Hand Dryer 

An electric hand dryer for theatre washrooms, 

especially planned for versatile and 

economical operation, has been announced 

by Activeaire Devices, Inc. Known as 

Activeaire Electric Towel, Model L, the new 

device performs several other functions 

along with drying the hands. It scents and 

sterilizes the hands and room, its ultraviolet 

radiation killing airborne bacteria. 

To start it requires only the touch of a 

button and an automatic timer turns the 

machine off after 40 seconds, thus assuring 

economy of operation. The unit operates 

on a 15-ampere line. The Activeaire Electric 

Towel, Model L, is finished in baked 

white enamel and is made of 16-gauge steel 

construction throughout. The manufacturer 

claims it is designed to be practically 

tamperproof. 

A/eut HI Fidelity 

LO Cost 

IN- 

MOBILTONE car CAR SPEAKERS 

SANDLER MANUFACTURING CO. 

210S Payne Ave. TOwcr 1-9248 

Cleveland 14. Ohio 

What's the Gate Count? 

DRIVE-IN OPERATORS USING PALMER AUTO-CHECK KNOW 

EXACTLY - INSTANTLY 

MODEL C-350 CAR COUNTER 

AUTOMATIC - FOOLPROOF - WEATHERPROOF 

NOTHING TO INSTALL 

- NOTHING TO HOOK UP 

Successful ooerators find fhot this is accurote 

control which eliminates the human factor dependably, 

efficiently, and quietly. Every cor is 

mechanically checked in, and an exact check of 

the number of cars admitted is provided at all 

times. At California's Santa Anita race track, 

a 20% increase in cash receipts was immediately 

realized after installing Palmer Auto-Checks, 

Palmer Auto-Checks are in Regular use at Drive-In Theatres, Race Tracks, Traffic 

Survey Points, Parking Lots and Other Check Points. 

Write Today For Complete Details and Specifications 

PALMER ENGINEERING 

& DEVELOPMENT CO. 

2459V2 N. CHICO AVE. EL MONTE, CALIF 

STOPS THE FAMILY CROWDS 

any SIZE. ..any CAPACITY. ..any PRICE RANGE 

Attracts new customers, brings back old 

customers to your Drive-In. MT Miniature 

Trams have increased Boxoffices 

up to 33 1 

39b, concessions up to 50%! 

MT Miniature Troins are engineered to 

Big Train perfection for veers of troublefree 

service. They are the SAFEST passenger 

carrying miniature trains made. 

NOW — 5 GREAT MODELS 

FREE—The Boxoffice Building Facts and 

Illustrated Details about all the popular 

MT M.rvnture Trams. 

MINIATURE TRAIN CO. 

RENSSELAER, INDIANA 

Writ* to Dept. D 

BOXOFFICE :: January 7. 1956 47

EQUIPMENT €r 

DEVELOPMENTS 

-J 

Vacuum Cleaner for Drive-ins 

Picks Up Large and Small Trash 

P 1403 

FOR MORE 

INFORMATION 

USE Readers' 

Bureau Coupons, Page 37 

continually with whirling, swirling action. 

A Westinghouse Odorout lamp prevents 

mold or bacteria growth in the chassis and 

also acts as pilot light for the refrigeration. 

The mechanism is a combination of a 

magnet impeller and magnetic power drive, 

which eliminates direct connection with any 

moving parts in the bowl or chassis. The 

Jet Spray Cooler is designed for counter 

use, requiring a space of 15 by 17 inches. 

A machine which the manufacturers 

claim will collect 90 per cent of the trash 

from a drive-in theatre area is now being 

distributed by Mideast Sales Co. Called the 

"Litter Bug." the machine is powered by 

a Briggs Stratton 2' 2 h.p. engine. It operates 

on the vacuum principle alone, therefore 

having no brushes to stir up the gravel 

while cleaning a drive-in field. Without 

lifting gravel or stone, the "Litter Bug" will 

collect large popcorn boxes, paper cups, 

carry-out trays and paper plates, ticket 

stubs, cigaret butts, nut shells, ice cream 

sticks and wooden spoons. The "Litter 

Bug" is said to cut cleaning time in half, 

with corresponding savings in labor costs. 

Being of simple design, the cleaning machine 

requires only normal engine care. 

Rear Projection Screen Material P-1404 

For Indoor and Outdoor Theatres 

A vinyl plastic screen material for daylight 

rear projection, suitable for outdoor 

use, has been introduced by Klearcite 

Screen Co. Known as WDD, for "wide dispersion, 

dark," the material is laminated 

and embossed to produce more than 2,000 

prismatic projections per square inch. These 

projections initiate light dispersion to approximately 

a 60-degree cone, while full 

dispersion is effected by an opaline film 

.002 inch thick. So uniform are these lightdispersing 

formations that every section 

of the screen gets the same amount of light. 

The manufacturers say that over-all reproduction 

on the screen is bright, crystal 

clear and true to values of the original 

negative, black and white or color. The 

screen material is non-depolarizing and can 

be used for projection of 3-D pictures. 

Available by the square foot, the material 

is flexible, portable, flameproof and washable. 

Resistance of vinyl plastic to extremes 

of weather makes the screen suitable for 

outdoor use. 

Compact Drink 

Features Animation 

Dispenser 

P-1405 

The "Jet Spray Cooler," an electrically 

refrigerated drink dispenser with ten patentable 

features, is being introduced to the 

theatre trade by Jet Spray Corp. Outstanding 

feature is the dispenser's "jet action 

selling." Customer attention is attracted 

as a magnetic pump, set within a 

well at bottom of the clear Plexiglas bowl, 

shoots three gallons of liquid per minute 

against the clear dome in a cascade of 

sparkling, tinted highlights. This action 

display is said to draw customers to the 

dispenser and create impulse to buy. At 

the same time, the jet action keeps the 

streamlined bowl clean of unsightly pulp 

lines and "deep-mixes" pulp and liquid 

Claims made for products described editorially 

on this and other pages arc taken from the 

manufacturers' statements. 

Drain Pipe Cleaning Unit P-1406 

To Save Plumber's Bills 

Clogged theatre wastepipes up to 100 

feet long, even though they have several 

bends, can be cleared in five to ten minutes 

with a Plumber's All Purpose Flushing 

Gun, manufactured by Miller Sewer Rod 

Co. Any staff member can operate the gun, 

which triggers easily. Toilets or urinals 

clogged with popcorn boxes, paper drinking 

cups and other debris can be cleared 

with one or more shots from the gun, saving 

the theatreman the gun's price the 

first time it is used. The manufacturer 

says that the gun may be used on any 

half-inch to six-inch wastepipe including 

such common theatre pipes as sink drains, 

floor drains, hot water pipes, drinking 

fountains, septic tanks, bar and soda fountain 

drains. Obstructions of rags, scale, 

sand and grease also give away when 

struck by the hammer-like blow of water 

created by the flushing gun. The manufacturer 

claims, too, that the pipes will not 

be damaged in the unclogging action, since 

pressure created by the gun carries water 

and air forward through the line. 


: January 

Pre-Fabricated Railings 

Of Extruded Aluminum 

P-1407 

Handsomely designed anodized railings 

that are prefabricated for easy installation 

by theatre maintenance men are being 

produced by Lawrence Metal Products. 

Since the railings are made of sturdy, extruded 

aluminum, they are both weatherproof 

and rustproof. To keep them looking 

fresh and clean, only the occasional use 

of a slightly damp cloth is required. The 

railings are designed to 

be functionally effective 

and practical for either interior or 

exterior areas of the theatre where heaviest 

customer traffic occurs. At the same 

time the satin-finished, aluminated railing 

is ornamentally modern and has the important 

advantage of matching the stainless 

steel and aluminum doors of updated 

theatres. 

New Arc Striking 

Current Minimizer 

P-1408 

Development and production of "The 

Arc Striking Current Minimizer" to be used 

in connection with its line of high current 

selenium rectifiers has been announced 

by Kneisley Electric Co. All heavy duty 

selenium rectifiers provide heavy inrush 

currents at the moment of striking the arc. 

ranging from 250 to 300 per cent of full 

load current. This places a severe load 

on the selenium stack, damages the positive 

crater of the arc. and blows soot and 

fine particles into the reflector. The Arc 

Striking Current Minimizer connects across 

one blade of the lamphouse table switch, 

as shown in the schematic diagram. The 

switch is opened prior to striking the arc. 

so that the Minimizer is in series with the 

load. Immediately after striking the arc. 

and separating the carbons one-eighth inch, 

the switch is closed, shunting the Minimizer, 

and supplying full load current to 

the arc. With this arrangement, the arc is 

established at approximately 85 amperes, 

and runs at 120 amperes on a 135 ampere 

rectifier, instead of striking at 300 to 400 

amperes as generally occurs. The manufacturer 

believes this unit will add hundreds 

of hours of life to any selenium stack. 

It will be furnished as standard equip 

ment on all heavy duty units furnished by 

Kneisley. 

Cascading Fountain Animation 

In Globe-Shaped Dispenser 

P-1409 

Fountain cascading action within a 

globe-shaped polyethelene plastic bowl is 

the animation device incorporated in a 12- 

gallon capacity dispensing unit being made 

for Orange-Crush Co. and its customers. 

This animation also includes a wash-down 

bowl effect that keeps the dispenser sparkling 

clean. The cascading fountain effect 

is powered by an improved pump that is 

said to insure continuous and trouble-free 

operation. The dispenser's interest-creating 

color combination is a green anodized 

aluminum shroud combined with gold anodized 

aluminum top plate and top light 

assembly. Two lights are used to give the 

contents brilliant illumination. Polyethelene 

used in the bowl and tubing is both 

tasteless and colorless. The dispenser will 

cool from 75 to 38° in a matter of minutes, 

the manufacturers claim, while a 

simplified, fast-action faucet enables the 

operator to draw a seven-ounce drink in 

2'/2 seconds. Designed for theatre concessions 

counter use. the dispenser is 18 inches 

in diameter and 38 inches high. A sixgallon 

capacity dispenser with similar animation 

devices and decorative features is 

also being made available to Orange-Crush 

customers. 

Focal Length Slide Rule P 1410 

For the New Screen Ratios 

A "Hilux Focal Length Slide Rule" f r 

calculating the required focal length for 

the new screen ratios has been developed 

by Proejction Optics Co.. Inc. The manufacturers 

say that this rule, available 

through their company, will come up with 

the required answ-er at a moment's notice. 

FOR FAST RELIEF . . . 

Replace worn seats! 

# 

Feeling 

The 

SQUEEZE? 

Give your patrons fast relief from worn, 

uncomfortable seats and watch your attendonce 

go up, up, UP! We are specialists in theatre 

seating. We'll moke recommendations within 

your budget . . . give 

a low, low estimate, do 

the work while your show proceeds. Just shoot 

through your inquiry . . leave 

the rest to us! 

Write—Wire or Phone 

ALpine 5-8459 

MANUFACTURERS 

r'oan> Rubber k 

Spring Cushions, 

hack and seat 

covers. 

DISTRIBUTORS 

V p h o 1 s l e r y 

fabrics s n d 

general seating 

supplies. 

theatre seat 

seruiie id. 


Nashville, Tennessee 

JJ.L-PBRPOS? 

W I 

IJou Can t Suif Setter 

SCREEN 

LLIAMS 

COMPANY 

t«7» SUMMIT LAKE BLVB.. OepL 1679 AKRON, 0. 

ORIGINATORS Of AU-PIASTK t SEAMLESS PLASTIC SCREENS1 

BOXOFTICE : 

7. 1956 49

Low-Cost Projection Lens P-1411 

For Drive-Ins, Small Houses 

An easy-to-install projection lens designed 

to bring Cinemascope to drive-ins 

and small neighborhood theatres at a lowprice 

has been announced by the Bausch 

& Lomb Optical Co. Installation is merely 

a matter of screwing the new lens into the 

prime lens already in use. The lens is said 

by the manufacturer to equal the performance 

of the firm's previous model Cinema - 

Scope lenses, producing clean, clear-cut 

colors, full tonal range and edge-to-edge 

sharpness. Internal cleaning of the lens 

elements will not be necessary, as they have 

been permanently sealed against dust and 

moisture. 

Fiber-Topped Corpet Cushion P-1412 

Of Sponge Rubber Available 

An economy-priced sponge rubber carpet 

cushion designed for theatre use is now 

being produced by Hewitt-Robins, Inc. 

Known as "Tex-Top," the new product will 

complement the firm's first-line carpet 

underlay, "Kik-Kwik." The latter has an 

anti-friction top made possible by a new 

method of rubber compounding, while 

"Tex-Top's" anti-friction surface comes 

from a fiber topping. "Tex-Top'' is available 

in two gauges—three sixteenths and 

one-fourth inch. Widths are 36 and 53 

inches in 20-yard lengths. 

Chili Dog Sauce Developed 

For Drive-In Concessions 

P-1413 

Chili sauce with meat has been developed 

by Atco to meet the specific request of a 

drive-in theatre concessions manager for 

a sauce that would be tasty, wholesome and 

have four distinct characteristics. The 

operator requested that the new chili sauce 

have a heavy texture to prevent running 

and to much absorption by the bun, a 

noticeable meat content without being 

chunky, quality ingredients in spite of 

economical price and all meats must be 

U. S. government-inspected. The operator 

also requested Atco to give the sauce the 

natural flavor of genuine Mexican chili. 

All these requirements are met, according 

to the manufacturers, by Atco Chili Sauce 

with Meat—now tested in more than 250 

drive-in theatres. Testing also has revealed 

that chili dogs, made with the sauce, are 

more profitable and sell faster than plain 

frankfurters and buns. Atco Chili Sauce 

with Meat comes in two sizes: a 15-ounce 

can and the number ten economy-size can 

containing six pounds, eight ounces. A 

case consists of 24 small cans or six large 

cans. 

It's no mystery that adequate screen lighting demands an adequate 

power supply. This is especially necessary with today's wide screens, 

requiring more light over a large area. 

The Hertner HT 135/270 Transverter meets these needs and gives 

users an ample source of constant D.C. power. The generator has a 

capacity of 90 volts and is designed for continuous operation at 135 

amperes with a capacity for 270 amperes during changeover period. 

Complete installation includes Control Panel Type G and the Dualtype 

HD 100/140 Rheostat. 

For all the details of the many fine features of the HT 135 Transverter 

write for Bulletin No. 30 IB. 

Distributed by National Theatre Supply 

In Canada: General Theatre Supply Company 

In Los Angeles: Pembrex Theatre Supply Corp. 

THE HERTNER ELECTRIC COMPANY 

12690 ELMWOOD AVE. • CLEVELAND 11, OHIO 

A competent and adaptable personnel 

is essential in management of a kiddyland. 

People who have children of their own. 

know children and their ways, and are 

familiar with the problems of parents 

are good in kiddylands. An important rule 

— they must always be courteous to the 

tots and to their parents. 

BUY 

THE 

BEST! 

BUY 

HILUX 

See your Theatre Supply Dealer 

or write us directly . . . NOW 

MOTORS • MOTOR GENERATORS • GENERATOR SETS 

A SUBSIDIARY OF GENERAL PRECISION EQUIPMENT CORPORATION 

50 

PROJECTION OPTICS CO. 

ROCHESTER, NEW YORK 


The following concerns have recently 

filed copies of interesting descriptive literature 

with the Modem Theatre Information 

Bureau. Readers who wish copies may 

obtain them promptly by using the Readers' 

Bureau postcard in this issue of The Modern 

Theatre. 

L-1741—Selmix Dispensers, Inc., has 

issued a 12-page catalog picturing the firms 

carbonated beverage dispensers, fountains 

and self-contained units, carbonators and 

component parts for the bulk syrup industry. 

As part of the catalog, Selmix has included 

a price list covering 13 fountainettes 

and concession units, ice-cooled and mechanically 

refrigerated styles. Selmix dispensers 

are applicable to theatres of both 

conventional and drive-in type. 

L-1742 Big Beam Automatic emergency 

lights are described in a four-page folder 

released by the U-C Lite Mfg. Co. Installed 

in theatres, battery-operated Big Beam 

lights provide instant and automatic floodlights 

when regular lighting circuits fail. 

The manufacturer claims that the lights 

thus help prevent panics, save lives, protect 

property and assure orderly theatre 

evacuation, if necessary. The folder 

describes and pictures five Big Beam 

models and gives installation recommendations. 

L-1743—A folder prepared by Manley, 

Inc., pictures and describes the Manley 

Coliseum, a combination cold drink machine 

built into a single unit with the Manley 

popcorn machine. The unit requires 

only 14 square feet of floor space, space 

which the manufacturers say can be converted 

into 70 per cent gross profits on 

popcorn and 60 per cent on cold drinks 

sold in the theatre. 

L-1744— "Cutting Costs With Carpet," a 

detailed report of the year-long survey 

Industrial Sanitation Counselors, Inc., 

Louisville, made of actual maintenance 

costs of non-carpeted and carpeted areas 

in six famous business buildings, is now 

available. The eight-page report explains 

how the survey was conducted and gives 

charts breaking down maintenance cost of 

flooring where heavy, medium and light 

traffic conditions exist. Main conclusion 

of the test was that carpet saves 50.7 per 

cent in cleaning costs in heavy traffic 

areas annually over cost of cleaning noncarpeted 

areas. 

PROFESSIONAL SEAT 

RENOVATION 

Factory-trained crew will re-do your theatre chairs 

like new. 

SAMPLES . . . ESTIMATES ANYWHERE. 

QtfUiLtf. Zquifuneit Co. 

20356 GRAND RIVER 

DETROIT, 

MICHIGAN 

KENWOOD 3-8740

NO TICE 

NEW PRICE 

$465 

(with straight cord) 

AMBASSADOR'' 

Cast 

Aluminum 

SPEAKER 

3'/2 in. guaranteed 

weather proofed speaker 

unit. 

*4 65 each 

New Low Price for small Drive-In theatre. Guaranteed 

in every respect. Same as higher priced 

speakers. (Available with Koiled Kord for slight 

additional cost). 

The biggest and finest little speaker on the market. 

Most economical with utmost in performance and 

low maintenance cost. 

Buy DIT-MCO and You Buy the Best 

Backed by years of experience 

DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO. Sco' 

"World's Largest Manufacturer of Drive-In Theatre 

Equipment" 

505 W. 9th Street. HArrison 8007-8484, Kansas City, Mo. 

ADLER 

FOR THEATRE 

SIGNS 

THAT BUILD BIGGER 

BOXOFFICE 

LINES 

. . . Choose Adler Changeable 

Letter Display Equipment. 

Strongest frames you 

can buy— 18-8 Stainless Steel 

—completely glazed with glass 

or plastic; complete range of 

sizes in "Third Dimension" 

Plastic or Cast Aluminum 

Letters, 4", 6", 8", 10", 12", 

16". 17", 24". 

For Complete Information About Adler 

ADLER 

Letters and Frames, contact Your Distributor 

or Write for Free Catalog to: 

Silhouette Letter Co. 

11 843- A West Olympic Blvd. 

Los Angeles 64, Calif. 

PHILLIPS Corbon Savers, Sove Carbon 

Waste. Only S2.50 each and Up. 

M»d. by Phillips, Box 788, Charleston. W. Vo. 

Ask Your Theatre Supply Dealer 

about PEOPLE / and PRODUCT 

James W. Spence Donald C. Kerr 

James W. Spence, who has been with Canadian 

Kodak Co.. Ltd., 50 years, was 

elected chairman of the board, and Donald 

C. Kerr was elevated to president and general 

manager of the firm at a recent board 

meeting. 

Spence, a native of England, joined the 

company as a billing clerk. Except for infantry 

service in World War I, he has been 

with the firm continuously, becoming treasurer 

in 1942 and assistant general manager 

in 1951. Kerr, born in Chairyung. 

Korea, joined Canadian Kodak's sales department 

in 1935. shortly after being graduated 

from Stanford, where he won Phi 

Beta Kappa honors. During World War II, 

he rose to rank of lieutenant commander 

in the U. S. Navy. He had been assistant 

general manager, secre'ary and a director 

of Canadian Kodak since March 1954. 

In other action by the Canadian Kodak 

board, R. Louis Christie was elected assistant 

general manager and a director: 

D. Douglas Lauder, secretary: R. Laird B. 

Joynt. treasurer, and Kenneth Winter, controller. 

All these officers were named to 

similar positions with Canadian Kodak 

Sales, Ltd., 

a Canadian Kodak affiliate. 

Scheduled for 1957 completion, an addition 

to the Eastman Kodak Co. distribution 

center building in Rochester will bring that 

building's total area up to 21 acres. More 

than 30.000 Kodak items are now distributed 

from the center. More warehouse and 

shipping facilities will be provided in the 

addition under construction, along with offices 

for Kodak's Middle Atlantic sales 

division, advertising circulation department 

and traffic department. These units now 

have offices in downtown Rochester. 

R. K. Serfass and R. F. Lauer, new directors 

of the York Corp., have curiously 

parallel careers. Each is a graduate of 

York's student training course, holds a 

college degree in mechanical engineering, 

and has had 23 continuous years with 

York. 

Serfass served as sales engineer in the 

North Atlantic district, later as manager 

of industrial sales for the district. In 1949 

he became assistant general manager for 

the corporation and occupied that post until 

1954 when he was named general sales 

manager and made a vice-president. Lauer 

worked up through the Philadelphia and 

Pacific districts, moving to the York headquarters 

in 1951 as vice-president in charge 

of engineering and research. 

Organization of a nationwide network 

of authorized service representatives for 

Ampex audio equipment is being directed 

by Harold Van Childs, manager of the 

firm's customer service engineering department. 

Such representatives will attend a 

training course at the Ampex factory in 

Redwood City, Calif. Functioning as Ampex 

representatives, they will adjust and repair 

Ampex sound equipment free during warranty 

periods of the various units. Competitive 

rates will be charged after a* warranty 

has expired. 

Products of the Ampex instrumentation 

division will continue to be serviced 

by the instrumentation distributors, sales 

engineers and field service engineers. 

Creation of southwest and northeast 

sales regions for the U. S. Air Conditioning 

Corp., Minneapolis, has been announced by 

R. P. Kelley, general sales manager. Henry 

Rollens, for six years with Carlton-Stuart 

Corp., New York City air conditioning distributors, 

has been appointed sales manager 

for the northeast region. His territory 

comprises New England, New York, northern 

New Jersey and western Pennsylvania, 

with headquarters in New York City. 

Frank D. Klein will head the southwest 

sales region of Texas, New Mexico, Colorado. 

Oklahoma. Arkansas. Louisiana and 

Tennessee, with Dallas as headquarters. 

Klein's 15 years in the air conditioning and 

industrial refrigeration fields include service 

with the air conditioning departments 

of Frigidaire Division. General Motors 

Corp., and Westinghouse Electric Ccrp. He 

also formerly was manager of distributor 

development for the Heating & Cooling 

Division of Union Asbestos & Rubber Co. 

Carpet and rug sales of James Lees & 

Sons Co. for 1955 are estimated at $70,000,- 

000 by Horace C. Jones, treasurer, 11 per 

cent higher than 1954 sales. Capital expenditure 

of $3,200,000 in a new yarn spinning 

mill at Dahlonega. Ga.. and improvement 

of the firm's tufting operation at 

Bridgeport. Pa., brings to $25,000,000 the 

company's capital expenditures for the last 

ten years. 

Lees sales increase was in line with general 

experience of the carpet and rug industry 

for 1955. J. H. McFarland. Lees 

vice-president in charge of marketing, told 

the firm's sales conference that 1955 tufted 

broadloom carpet sales would total close 

to $150,000,000. And, McFarland stated. 

"All economic forecasts for 1956 point toward 

even greater opportunity to expand 

our market." 

NEXT MONTH: Modern Theatre's big Drive-ln 

Operation Issue! Watch for it. 


RKO)—Reissue. 

— 

OXOfflCEWfliHMiHDS 

The EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY ABOUT PICTURES 

ALLIED ARTISTS 

Big Tip Off, The (AA)—Richard Conte, 

Constance Smith, Bruce Bennett. A good 

movie. Since Thanksgiving, business has 

been dropping fast. Worst Friday-Saturday 

in years. Play up the Catholic theme if in a 

Catholic area. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: 

Cool.—Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, 

W. Va. Small-town and rural patronage. 

Jail Busters (AA)—Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, 

Barton MacLane. In my opinion, this is the 

best Bowery Boys entry to date, and my customers 

made the same comment, so guess my 

opinion is logically based. The usual Bowery 

routines, but done up in much better fashion. 

Doubled this with "The Big Combo," another 

AA entry, to make a nice rounded-out program. 

Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: 

Cold.—Robert Klinge, Uptown Theatre. Sedalia, 

Mo. Population 25,000. 

BUENA VISTA 

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (BV)—Kirk 

Douglas, James Mason, Paul Lukas. Leave 

it to Disney to put something good on the 

screen. He doesn't forget to take his "big 

cut" also. This was very well done. Adults 

and teens liked it and there is a seal for the 

kids to look at. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: 

Snow.—Michael Chiaventone, Valley Theatre, 

Spring Valley, 111. Population 5,000. 

COLUMBIA 

Bullet Is Waiting, A (Col)—Jean Simmons, 

Rory Calhoun, Stephen McNally. Color, action, 

love and all very good. Simmons very 

good. Dog in picture also good. Pleased all. 

Did about average for action change. Played 

Sat. Weather: Beautiful.—D. W. Trisko, 

Runge Theatre, Runge, Tex. Small-town and 

rural patronage. 

Law vs. Billy the Kid, The (Col)—Scott 

Brady, Betta St. John, James Griffith. A 

quickie western in color that will draw all 

the folks whose grandpa's knew the man who 

shot Billy the Kid, etc., etc. And surprisingly, 

the glorification of the deeds of New Mexico's 

No. 1 murderer will get a lot of laughs and a 

lot of compliments from more folks than 

usually come to an ordinary western. We 

doubled this with "Women's Prison" for the 

kind of program that really stirs the comments. 

So, December 9, 10 go down in the 

books as excellent, and we're off to an 

exceptional December if it holds up. Played 

Fri., Sat. Weather: Nice, chilly.—Bob Walker, 

Uintah Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Small-town 

and rural patronage. 

Man From Laramie, The (Col)—James 

Stewart, Arthur Kennedy, Donald Crisp. Thi» 

did okay by us for the Thanksgiving holiday. 

Jimmy Stewart very good, as usual, in this 

one. He's come a long way since "Harvey." 

(Ouch.) Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Fair. 

—Michael Chiaventone, Valley Theatre, Spring 

Valley, 111. Population 5,000. 

METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER 

Cobweb, The (MGM)—Richard Widmark, 

Lauren Bacall, Charles Boyer. Thought this 

would pull a "floperoo," but it made film 

rental and house expenses, which few of them 

are doing these holiday days. Will work out 

well on the Sunday-Monday change. Our 

folks liked it. Played Sun.. Mon. Weather: 

Clear and cold.—Carl W. Veseth, Villa Theatre, 

Malta, Mont. Small-town and country 

patronage. 

Glass Slipper, The (MGM)—Leslie Caron. 

Michael Wilding, Keenan Wynn. Melba, 

Bobby and I saw this first in Radio City 

Music Hall and we fell so in love with it that 

we forgot to ogle our fantastic surroundings 

for 94 minutes. It's the "charmingest" picture 

in many a day. Tots, teenagers and 

oldsters forgot to try to bother each other 

and just sat back and enjoyed the delightful 

music and the enchanting, if much-told, tale. 

With my farmers on the ropes from an early 

Patrons Loud in Praise 

Oi 'Laramie' in Kansas 

j^JAN FROM LARAMIE, THE (Col)— 

James Stewart, Arthur Kennedy, 

Donald Crisp. The story must have been 

read. Our patrons turned out and all 

were loud in their praise of this western, 

which earned an overage that we were 

happy to pay; it's been so long since we 

had that much business. A swell picture, 

priced right for us and we actually 

showed a profit. 

Roach Theatre, 

Lincoln, Kas. 

MAYME P. 

MUSSELMAN 

freeze and terrible prices, we still thrilled 

a lot more of them than I expected with 

conditions as they are. Played Wed., Thurs. 

Weather: Like spring.—Bob Walker, Uintah 

Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Small-town and rural 

patronage. 

It's a Dog's Life (Formerly "The Bar 

Sinister") iMGM)—Jeff Richards, Jarma 

Lewis, Edmund Gwenn. There wasn't a thing 

wrong with this picture, but we didn't do any 

worthwhile business on our best change and 

we tried to run the picture three days. 

A dog's 

biography and just too much talk killed it 

for our patrons, but it would be plenty good 

for Friday-Saturday is our guess. Played 

Sun., Tues. Weather: Nice.—Mayme P. 

Musselman, Roach Theatre, Lincoln, Kas. 

Small-tow n and rural patronage. 

: 

It's Always Fair Weather (MGM)—Gene 

Kelly, Dan Dailey, Cyd Charisse. A jimdandy 

of a musical but Christmas was 

definitely here, so no need to comment on 

the business this picture did for us. You can 

give this picture your best playing time during 

the normal season and you'll do all right. 

Some of the cleverest tap dance sequences 

in this picture that you have ever witnessed. 

A well-cast production. All in all, a top-rung 

musical that we unfortunately played at the 

wrong time. So, I'll eat liver for supper and 

like it. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: 

Cold. — Robert Klinge, Uptown Theatre, 

Sedalia, Mo. Population 25,000. 

Love Me or Leave Me (MGM)—Doris Day. 

James Cagney, Cameron Mitchell. Very 

good. Perhaps the heaviest part Doris Day 

has played, and she handles it very well. 

Cagney does fine as the "heel" and everyone 

went home hating him. Played Tues.. Wed., 

Thurs. Weather: Good. — Paul Ricketts. 

Charm Theatre. Holyrood. Kas. Small-town 


Marauders, The (MGM; — Dan Duryea, 

Jarma Lewis, Keenan Wynn. Overacted to 

Could have been 

the point of the ridiculous. 

a good average western, of which we need 

many, with less avid histrionics. Played 

Thurs., Fri. Weather: Winterish.—Elaine S. 

Small- 

George, Star Theatre, Heppner, Ore. 

town and rural patronage. 

PARAMOUNT 

Hell's Island (Para)—John Payne, Mary 

Murphy, Francis L. Sullivan. Business good. 

Doubled with "Conquest of Space." The picture 

of Mary Murphy on the one-sheet displays 

sex appeal and she really lives up to it. 

It has the action-sex line of a Spillane novel. 

Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Cool.—Ralph 

Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. 

Small-town and rural patronage. 

Rear Window (Para)—James Stewart, 

Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey. Cold weather 

cut the receipts. Good solid boxoffice feature. 

Jimmy Stewart always popular, but had it 

not been for Thelma Ritter, 'twould have 

been just another picture. Played Fri., Sat.. 

Sun. Weather: Cold.—Frank Sabin, Majestic 

Theatre, Eureka, Mont. Small-town and rural 

patronage. 

Run for Cover (Para)—James Cagney, 

Viveca Lindfors, John Derek. This is one of 

the best westerns to play my theatre this 

year. It failed to draw on Saturday, but was 

not the fault of the picture, story or cast. 

Just no business at this time. Played Sat. 

Weather: Good.—W. S. Funk, Star Theatre, 

St. Stephen. S. C. Small-town and rural patronage. 

Seven Little Foys, The (Para)—Bob Hope, 

Milly Vitale, George Tobias. Sure enjoyable 

entertainment. Average business. Played 

Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Okay.—Ben 

Spainhour, Twilight Theatre, Greensburg, 

Kas. Population 1,500. 

Strategic Air Command (Para> — James 

Stewart, June Allyson, Frank Lovejoy. The 

finest bit of entertainment to hit our screen 

in months. It played to the best crowd in a 

long time, but one a year can't keep us going. 

Book it. It's a natural. Played Sun., Mon. 

Weather: Fair and mild.—Joe and Mildred 

Faith, Linn Theatre, Linn, Mo. Small-town 


RKO RADIO 

i 

Gunga Din Cary Grant. 

Victor McLaglen, Douglas Fairbanks jr. 

Played this reissue to capacity houses. Another 

oldie that made everyone happy, including 

us. Highly recommended for any 

house as a reissue. Played Sun., Mon. 

Weather: Cool.—Dave S. Klein, Astra Theatre, 

Kitwe-Nkana, Northern Rhodesia. .'• 

Mining, business and government patronage. 

Rage at Dawn (RKO)—Randolph Scott, 

Forrest Tucker, Mala Powers. Randolph 

Scott's name on the marquee still means good 

boxoffice around these parts. This one is good 

in all departments and should do well on the 

Friday-Saturday bill. This has a train in it 

and will surely appeal to all youngsters from 

6 to 96. Play a Leon Errol and a cartoon with 

this for a good program. Played Fri., Sat. 

Weather: Cold. I'm in northwest Florida. 

I. Roche, Vernon Theatre, Vernon. Fla. 


(Continued on following 

page) 

BOXOFFICE BookinGuide Jan. 7. 1956

The EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY 

(Continued from preceding page) 

REPUBLIC 

Hell's Outpost (Rep)—Rod Cameron, Joan 

Leslie, John Russell. Not much in this one. 

A nice explosion at the end was about the 

only thrilling scene as far as the few who 

came were concerned. The first major snow 

fell on this playtime. So did the boxoffice. 

Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Snow.—Michael 

Chiaventone, Valley Theatre, Spring Valley, 

111. Population 5,000. 

Timberjack (Rep)—Sterling Hayden, Vera 

Ralston, David Brian. My town is a timber 

town, so I thought "Timberjack" would do 

extra business. I was wrong. It was a very 

good action picture, however, enjoyed by my 

family and me and about 50 people in two 

days. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Good.— 

W. S. Punk, Star Theatre, St. Stephen, S. C. 


CENTURY-FOX 

20th 

Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (20th-Fox)—Robert 

Wagner, Terry Moore, Gilbert Roland. 

Very interesting picture, but rather dark in 

places for Cinemascope. No business here 

because of bad weather. No complaints and 

some compliments. The picture would be 

all right under better weather conditions, but 

like all Fox pictures, priced too high. Can't 

make any money unless conditions are good. 

I would say play it if you can buy it right. 

Your patrons will be satisfied. Played Fri., 

SaK Weather: Cold; roads bad.—F. L. Murray, 

Strand Theatre, Spiritwood, Sask. Smalltown 


Egyptian, The (20th-Fox)—Jean Simmons, 

Victor Mature, Gene Tierney. For myself, I 

enjoyed it more than "The Robe." Focus was 

as close to perfect as I expect them to get it. 

It can be seen why Fox wants percentage, but 

I do not see where a small town can afford 

it. Played Wed. through Sat. Weather: Cold. 

—Harold Bell, Opera House, Coaticook, Que. 


House of Bamboo (20th-Fox)—Robert Ryan, 

Robert Stack, Shirley Yamaguchi. We had 

our turkey half-way between Thanksgiving 

and Christmas this year. Practically no business 

on a picture that was not too bad. In 

fact, the Japanese angle was quite interesting. 

I think the trailer likely kept away 

more business than it brought in. It opened 

with a costumed girl dancing, which looked 

very uninteresting. Actually, the trailer had 

as much of this scene as was in the picture 

and it was not connected with the story. 

Played Tues., Wed., Thurs. Weather: Cold- 

Paul Ricketts, Charm Theatre, Holyrood, Kas. 


How to Be Very, Very Popular (20th-Fox) 

Betty Grable, Sheree North, Bob Cummings. 

This crazy thing didn't do any business, but 

the teenagers had a ball with it. I fell for 

the very obvious toupe gag, just like the kids! 

Played Tues., Wed. Weather: Cold.—Elaine 

S. George, Star Theatre, Heppner Ore. Smalltown 


Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (20th- 

Fox)—William Holden, Jennifer Jones, Torin 

Thatcher. When will the producers learn 

that you can't do any business with the word 

"love" in the title? I understand that the 

title of the original story was "Many a 

Splendored Thing." I can't see how the 

word "love" improved it any. Here is a case 

where you can have a beautifully produced 

picture, an excellent story with a very capable 

cast and the picture just won't do average 

business. It just positively died on the vine. At 

a time when really good pictures are few and 

far between, It is a shame to see a good picture 

killed with a poor title. Producers should 

give more attention to the title they select. 

It would help the take at the boxoffice a lot. 

Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Fair and 

cold.—Marion F. Bodwell, Paramount Theatre, 

Wyoming, 111. Small-town and rural 

patronage. 

Prince of Players (20th-Fox)—Richard Burton, 

Maggie McNamara, John Derek. If any 

of you have this booked and you don't have 

a town loaded with lovers of the works of 

the "bard" of whatever the heck the name 

of the street was (I forgot), then call Fox 

and tell them to drop dead. They should be 

ashamed of themselves for letting us boys 

and girls who live In the cowboy boot country 

take the abuse we had to from our favorite 

folk. One of the smallest crowds in months 

ran over each other walking out on this. On 

scale, Fox got hurt as bad as I did, but I 

needed to make money right now, and I hate 

to have folks leaving who don't think movies 

Careful Work Nets Good 

Business in December 

TJEAP THE WILD WIND (Para)—Reissue. 

Ray Milland, Paulette Goddard, 

John Wayne. A couple of years or so ago 

when everyone was talking about closing 

for the holiday season, I got to thinking 

it would be more fun to really open up 

and make December a big month. By a 

few promotions and careful booking we've 

had some fine grosses in the toughest 

weeks of the year. Booked this oldie December 

14, 15 and with some extra ballyhoo 

and a kids tractor giveaway, I was 

pushing for Christmas Eve. We had the 

biggest midweek gross of the fall season. 

I've found the old, really good reissues 

used the two midweeks before Christmas 

seem to be just the thing to get them out 

with a bit of help from me. 

BOB WALKER 

Uintah Theatre, 

Fruita, Colo. 

are better than ever, instead of just wider. 

Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: So bad it 

couldn't even have helped a good picture. 

Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre, Fruita, Colo. 


Three Coins in the Fountain (20th -Fox)— 

Clifton Webb, Dorothy McGuire, Jean Peters. 

They don't come any better. Most delightful 

film from Fox I've seen in many months. 

Cast, story, color all out of this world, with 

the theme song to help it merrily along. If 

you have not played it, what are you waiting 

for? Played Sun. through Sat. through Tues. 

Weather: Cool.—Dave S. Klein, Astra Theatre, 

Kitwe-Nkana, Northern Rhodesia, Africa. 

Mining, government and business patronage. 


Challenge the Wild (UA)—Frank, Edna, 

George and Sheilah Graham. A true-life adventure 

in the Far North country that goes 

over well for a family-type picture. The 

photography was very good for nonprofessionals, 

and even though the story is narrated 

all the way through, it moves along 

quite briskly. One might say that Zimmie the 

dear is the star of the picture. So, for weeks 

afterwards, the neighborhood kids renamed 

their pets Zimmie. Weather: Fair.—J. D. 

Wilbanks, Wagon Wheel Drive-In, Spearman, 

Tex. Small-town and rural patronage. 

Suddenly (UA)—Frank Sinatra, Sterling 

Hayden, James Gleason. A suspenseful job 

that really holds interest to the end. Did 

about average, despite weather. First cold, 

wet norther of the season. Played Wed., 

Thurs. Weather: Cold and wet.—D. W. Trisko, 

Runge Theatre, Runge, Tex. Small-town and 


UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL 

Foxfire (U-D—Jane Russell, Jeff Chandler, 

Dan Duryea. This is an excellent actionpacked 

love story. Jane Russell tried to act in 

this one and acting comes naturally for Jeff 

Chandler and Duryea, so it's okay.—W. S. 

Funk, Star Theatre, St. Stephen, S. C. Smalltown 


Francis in the Navy (U-I)—Donald O'Connor, 

Martha Hyer, Richard Erdman. Will 

they ever get tired of that talking mule? That 

is, our patrons. I guess not. They laugh 

and roar, which makes me feel good. Even 

my furnace takes it kind of easy on a night 

like this. Everyone laughing gives off so 

much body heat that we save on the fuel 

bill, which reminds me that I must keep 

away from ice and snow pictures till summer. 

Then, those will help me save on cooling 

costs. Donald O'Connor Is tops as a double 

in this. But that talking mule steals the picture, 

as usual. You've got to hand it to 

Universal the way they make movies. When 

they mix a formula and come up with an idea 

like a talking mule or a Ma Kettle, then 

see that it makes money, they keep making 

that type picture, a lesson some of the other 

majors could take. Keep up the good work. 

Universal. Played Sun., Mon.—Mitchell 

Kelloff, Spur Theatre, La Veta, Colo. Smalltown 


Private War of Major Benson, The (U-I)— 

Charlton Heston, Julie Adams, William 

Demarest. The kids loved this one and came, 

but the adults didn't make any special effort 

to come. Charlton Heston never rings the 

bell here in anything and this was no exception. 

I wish my patrons liked him better in 

pictures, for he is pretty good. Played Sun., 

Mon. Weather: Cool.—Oral Ledbetter, Howard 

Theatre, Monon, Ind. Small-town and 


WARNER BROS. 

Crime Wave (WB)—Sterling Hayden, Gene 

Nelson, Phyllis Kirk. Cops and robbers, as 

the title would suggest. Not a bad picture of 

its type, if your patrons go for this kind of 

picture. Didn't cost too much. Didn't lose 

any money. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: 

Warm.—F. L. Murray, Strand Theatre, Spiritwood, 

Sask. Small-town and rural patronage. 

Mister Roberts (WB)—Henry Fonda, James 

Cagney, William Powell. I have already made 

my comments on this picture on our first run 

engagement. Used it as a repeat on opening 

day of Audience Awards voting and gave a 

two-for-one pass with every ballot cast on 

opening day. Picture held up nicely for a 

three-day repeat run. Comes Academy Award 

time, I do believe "Blackboard Jungle" will 

be the big one. However, this picture is well 

deserving of the Audience Awards and certainly 

deserving of your best playdate, if you 

haven't played it yet. Played Wed., Thurs., 

Fri. Weather: Cold.—Robert Klinge, Uptown 

Theatre, Sedalia, Mo. Population 25,000. 

Pete Kelly's Blues (WB)—Jack Webb, Janet 

Leigh, Edmond O'Brien. I sure was disappointed 

in this one. I had something like 

"Dragnet" business in mind for this and I 

fell so short of that that it was pitiful. There 

is nothing bad about the picture and the 

trailer was good, but for some reason they 

jfist didn't buy this one in my spot. I played 

this before the Audience Awards, and Peggy 

Lee walked off hands down with the votes 

here for the most promising new female personality 

on the strength of her job in this. 

Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Good.—Oral 

Ledbetter, Howard Theatre, Monon, Ind. 


MISCELLANEOUS 

Kentucky Rifle (Howco)—Chill Wills, Lance 

Fuller, Cathy Downs. A good picture In outdoor 

color of a scout taking rifles through 

Indian territory. Enough action to please the 

action fans. Good love story for the ladies. 

Played Fri., Sat.—L. Brazil jr., New Theatre, 

Bearden, Ark. Small-town and rural patronage. 

BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: Jan. 7, 1956

.20th-Fox 

Boxoffice 

Harrison's 

Reports 

Variety 

hmm 

Xn interpretive analysis of lay and tradepress reviews. The plus and minus signs indicate degree of 

merit only; audience classification is not rated. Listings cover current reviews, brought up to date regularly. 

This department serves also os an ALPHABETICAL INDEX to feature releases. Numeral preceding title 

is Picture Guide Review page number. For listings by company, in the order of release, see Feature Chart. 

DJBBT 

Very Good; + Good; — Fair; 

— Poor; — Very Poor 

E 

I- 

c 

Daily 

Film 

1703 Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops 

(80) Comedy U-l 2- 5-55 + 

1763 Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy 

(79) Comedy U-l 5-7-55 + 

1784 Adventures of Sadie, The 

(88) Comedy .-.20th-Fox 6- 4-55 ± 

1821 African Lion. The (73) 

Documentary Buena Vista 8-13-55 + 

1720 African Manhunt (65) Adv.. Drama Rep 2-26-55 — 

1780 Ain't Misbehavin' (81) Musical-Comedy. .. U-l 5-28-55 + 

Air Strike (67) Drama LP 

1868 All That Heaven Allows (89) Drama U-l 10-29-55 ++ 

1687 Americano. The (87) Outdoor-Drama. .. RK0 1-8-55 + 

1769 Angela (81) Drama 20th-Fox 5-21-55 + 

1692 Animal Farm (75) Satire DCA 1-15-55 + 

1733 Annapolis Story. An (81) Drama AA 3-26-55 + 

1824 Apache Ambush (67) Western Col S-13-55 it 

1857 Apache Woman (83) Western ARC 10-15-55 ± 

1875 Artists and Models (109) 

Comedy with Music Para 11-12-55 + 

1647 Athena (96) Musical MGM 11- 6-54 ff 

1891 At Gunpoint (90) Western AA 12-10-55 + 

1672 Atomic Kid. The (86) Comedy Rep 12-18-54 ± 

B 

1671 Bad Day at Black Rock (82) Drama.... MGM 12-18-54 + 

1672 Bamboo Prison (80) Drama Col 12-18-54 ± 

1702 Battle Cry (148) Drama WB 2- 5-55 ff 

1692 Battle Taxi (82) Drama UA 1-15-55 + 

1683 Beachcomber. The (82) Drama UA 1- 1-55 + 

1746 Bedevilled (83) Drama MGM 4-9-55 + 

1847 Bengazi (78) Adventure- Drama RK0 9-24-55 ± 

1898 Benny Goodman Story, The 

(125) Musical U-l 12-17-55 ff 

Betrayed Women (70) Drama AA 

1808 Big Bluff, The (70) Drama UA 7-16-55 + 

1709 Big Combo (89) Crime-Drama AA 2-19-55 ± 

1723 Big House. U.S.A. (82) Crime-Drama UA 3-5-55 + 

1845 Big Knife. The (111) Drama UA 9-24-55 + 

1759 Big Tip Off. The (77) Drama AA 4-30-55 + 

1723 Blackboard Jungle (100) Drama MGM 3- 5-55 ff 

1643 Black Knight, The (85) Costume-Drama. .Col 10-30-54 + 

Black Pirates. The (74) Drama LP 

1659 Black 13 (75) Drama 20th-Fox 11-27-54 — 

1676 Black Tuesday (80) Drama UA 12-25-54 + 

1642 Black Widow (95) Mystery-Drama. . 10-30-54 ff 

1847 Blood AUey (115) Adventure-Drama WB 9-24-55 + 

1876 Bobby Ware Is Missing (66) Drama AA 11-12-55 it 

Botlom of the Bottle (..) Drama. .20th-Fox 

1732 Bowery to Bagdad (64) Comedy AA 3-19-55 ± 

1812 Break to Freedom (88) Drama UA 7-23-55 + 

1682 Bridges at Toko-Ri, The (105) Drama... Para 1- 1-55 ff 

1799 Bring Your Smile Along (83) Musical .... Col 7- 2-55 — 

1752 Bullet for Joey. A (85) Action-Drama UA 4-16-55 ± 

C 

1652 Cannibal Attack (68) Action-Drama Col 11-13-54 + 

1731 Canyon Crossroads (83) Western Col 3-19-55 + 

1711 Captain Lightfoot (92) Adventure- Drama. . U-l 2-19-55 ff 

1635 Carmen Jones (105) Musical 20th-Fox 10-16-54 ff 

1701 Carolina Cannonball (75) Comedy Rep 2- 5-55 it 

Carousel (..) Musical Drama 20th-Fox 

1827 Case of the Red Monkey (73) Drama. AA 8-22-55 ± 

1658 Cattle Queen of Montana (88) Western RKO 11-27-54 + 

1751 Cell 2455. Death Row (77) Crime-Drama. Col 4-16-55 it 

1799 Chicago Syndicate (86) Crime-Drama. .. Col 7-2-55 + 

1719 Chief Crazy Horse (86) Adv.-Drama U-l 2-26-55 + 

1869 City of Shadows (70) Action-Drama Rep 11- 5-55 — 

1787 Cobweb. The (124) Drama MGM 6-11-55 + 

Conqueror. The ( ) Drama RKO 

1746 Conquest of Space (80) Science-Fiction. Para 4- 9-55 ff 

1846 Count Three and Pray 

(102) Outdoor-Drama Col 9-24-55 + 

1663 Country Girl, The (103) Drama Para 12- 4-54 + 

Court Jester. The ( . ) Comedy Para 

1849 Court-Martial (105) Drama Kingsley 10- 1-55 + 

1890 Court- Martial of Billy Mitchell. The 

(100) Factual-Drama WB 12-10-55 

1772 Crashout (90) Crime-Drama Filmakers 5-21-55 it 

1792 Creature With the Atom Brain (70) 

Science- Fiction Col 6-18-55 — 

1651 Crest of the Wave (91) Drama MGM 11-13-54 +

REVIEW DIGEST * Vef > Gcoj ' Go°d ' Foir; Poor; = Vcry Poor In the summary is rated 2 pluses, — as 2 minuses. 

2 I j e = ss 

« = § S 6 g S S 

a; C tr i 

- a c lain 

lg79 Headline Hunters (70) Drama Rep 11-19-55 ± 

1887 Heidi and Peter (89) Child Classic UA 12- 3-55 + 

1900 Helen of Troy (118) Drama WB 12-24-55 

1902 Hell on Frisco Bay (98) Drama WB 12-24-55 ± 

1682 Hell's Horizon (79) Action-Drama Col 11-26-55 I 

1763 Hell's Island (84) Adventure-Drama Pata 5- 7-55 + ± 

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

1775 High Society (61) Comedy AA 5-21-55 ± ± 

1888 Hill 24 Doesn t Answer 

(100) Drama Cont'l. Dis. 12- 3-55 + 

1722 Hit the Deck (112) Musical MGM 3- 5-55 + + 

1845 Hold Back Tomorrow (75) Melodrama. U-l 9-24-55 — — 

1803 House of Bamboo (102) Drama 20th-Fox 7- 9-5? 

1811 How to Be Very. Very Pooular 

(89) Comedy 

" 20th-Fox 7-23-55 H 

1691 Hunters of the Deep (64) Documentary DCA 115- 55 4 

-t 

+ 4. 

V4- 

+ 

B It 5 '.• 

5 8 

+ 

+ 

+ + 

ft 

+ 

H 

H 

r- 

s 

E 

E 

± 2+2- 

+ 5+ 

5+1- 

4)2 

• 

3)4- 

-+ 7+2- 

± 7+4— 

5+5- 

+ 5+ 

) 11 I l- 

2+5- 

i 6- 

+ 6+ 

I 

1819 I Am a Camera (95) Comedy OCA 8- 6-55 + 

1758 1 Cover the Underworld (70) Crime- Drama. Rep 4-30-55 + 

1863I Died a Thousand Times (109) Drama. WB 10-15-55 + 

1835 Illegal (88) Drama WB 9-3-55 + 

1894 I'll Cry Tomorrow (117) Drama MGM 12-17-55++ 

1900 Indian Fighter, The (88) Outdoor-Drama. .UA 12-24-55 ++ 

1892 Inside Detroit (82) Action-Drama Col 12-10-55 + 

1738 Interrupted Melody (106) 

Musical-Drama MGM 3-26-55 )+ 

Invasion of the Body Snatchers 

(80) Science-Fiction AA 

1792 It Came From Beneath the Sea (80) 

Science-Fiction Col 6-18-55 + 

1831 It's a Dog's Life (88) Comedy-Drama 

(Reviewed as "The Bar Sinister") . 

MGM 8-27-55 + 

1830 It's Always Fair Weather (102) Musical MGM 8-27-55 + 

+ 

J 

Jail Busters (61) Comedy AA 

1740 Jump Into Hell (90) Drama WB 3-26-55— 

1744 Jungle Moon Men (69) Adv.-Drama Col 4- 2-55 ± 

1698 Jupiter's Darling (95) Musical MGM 1-29-55 + 

K 

1807 Kentuckian, The (104) Adv.-Drama UA 7-16-55 + 

1848 Killer's Kiss (67) Mystery-Drama UA 9-24-55 ± 

1854 King Dinosaur (59) Science-Fiction LP 10- 8-55 ± 

King's Rhapsody (..) Musical UA 

1810 King's Thief. The (79) Costume-Drama. MGM 7-23-55 ± 

1890 Kismet (113) Musical MGM 12-10-55 ++ 

1834 Kiss of Fire (87) Outdoor-Drama U-l 9- 3-55 ± 

1755 Kiss Me Deadly (105) Mystery Drama UA 4-23-55 ±

ft Very Good; + Good; — Fair; — Poor; — Very Poor. In the summary ft is rated 2 pluses, — as 2 minuses. KfcVltlnf UlOkjl 

o

. 

l 

. 8 

. 

. 

. 

. . 

. . . W 

M. 

. 

. 

mim fiwrnrr 

Fcofurc productions by compony in order of release. Number in square Is national release date. Running 

time is in parentheses. Letters and combinations fhcrcot indicate story type as follows: (C) Comedy; (D) 

Drama; (AO) Advcnture-Dramo; (CD) Comedy-Drama; (F) Fantasy; (M) Musical; (W) Western; (SW) Superwestern. 

Release number follow*., | . 

; denotes 60XOFFICE Blue ? bbon Award Win or. Photography: 

O Color; tj 3-D; Wide Screen. For review dates and Picture Guide page numbers, s

M 

D 

D. 

C. 

. 

i ©oTexas 

Freeman, 

! 

mint;. 

D. 

. 

. 

, 

j 

Don 

W 

. D. 

. 

. 

.D. 

. . D 

.CD. 

. 51 

. 

. 

. 

FEATURE 

CHART 

PARAMOUNT 

©aHell's Islond (84) AD. .541 1 

John Payne. Mary Murphy. Francis L. Sullivan 

Mam to (94) D. .5406 

Silvana Mangano, Shelley Winters. M Kennie 

©Far Horizons, The (108) . .AD. .5412 

Charlton Heston, IP, MacMurray. Donni Reed 

t^QaSeven Little Foys, The 

(93) M. .5413 

Bub Hope. Milly Vllale. Angela Clarke 

CJOoStrotogic Air Commond 

(114) D. .5426 

James Stewart. June Allyson. Frank Lovejoy 

RK0 RADIO 

ID ©Quest for the Lost City (60). Doc. 

liana .ind Gingei Limb 

510 

a ©oSon of Sinbod (88) AD. .513 

Dale Kubeftson, Sally Forrest. Lill St. Cyr 

79 Wakombo (65) Doc. .514 

African tribe 

51 ©oPeorl of the South Pacific 

(86) 

.AD. .515 

Virginia Muyo, Dennis Morgan, David Farrar 

REPUBLIC 

® Eternal Sea, The (103) AD.. 5405 

Sterling Hayden, Alexis Smith, Dean Jagger 

51 ©Santa Fe Passage (90) W . . 5404 

John Payne. Paltn DomerEue, Rod Cameron 

Cover the Underworld (70) . . D. .5434 

I 

Sean MeClory, Joanne Jordan. Ray Mlddleton 

Juan's Night of Love (71).D. .5435 

Silvana l'ami>anini. Raf Vallone 

m City of Shadows (70) D . . 5436 

Victor McLaglen, Kathleen Crowley 

re '. Rood to Denver, The (90). .W. .5406 

John Payne. Moua Freeman, It. Mlddleton 

H Double Jeopardy (70) D..5437 

Hod Cameron, Gale Bobbins 

S) Lay That Rifle Down (71) C. .5438 

Judy Canova. Robert Lowery 

3 Green Buddha, The (64) D . . 5439 

Wayne Morris, Mary Germalne 

20TH CENTURY-FOX g ti 

Adventures of Sodie, The 

(88) C. .508-2 

Joan Collins. Kenneth More, George Cole 

Angela (81) D. .511-6 

Dennis O'Keete. Mara Lane, Rossano Brazil 

U©c=Doddy Long Legs (1 26) .M. .515-7 

Knil Astatre, Leslie Caron, Terry Moore 

©oThat Lady (100) D. .504-1 

nihil de llavliland. Gilbert Roland, D. Price 

Magnificent Matador, The 

(93) D.. 513-2 

Maureen U'llara, Anthony Qulrai, Thos. Gomel 

©Seven Yeor Itch, The (105). C. .517-3 

Marilyn Monroe, Tom Bwell. Evelyn Keyes 

©Soldier of Fortune. :96) . . . D 4-0 

. 

Clark Oablt. S Harvard. Michael Rermie 

©House of Bamboo (102) .516-5 

. 

Robert 8Uck, Robert Ryan. Shirley Tamaguchl 

©How to B« Vory, Very 

Popular (89) M.. 518-1 

Betty Orable. Robert Cummlngi. Sberee North 

Life In the Balance, A (75) . . . 506-6 

Itieardo Monta ban, Anne Bancroft. L Marvin 

©Living Swamp, Tha (33) Doc. 512-4 

©We're No Angels (103). . .CD. .5414 

Humphrey Bogart, Joan Bennett. Aldo Ray 

©oYou're Never Too Young 

(102) C. .5415 

Dean Martin. Jerry Lewis, Diana Lynn 

03 oBengazi (78) AD. .516 

Richard Conte. llichard Carlson. V McLaren 

Love Is a Mony-Splondored 

Thing (102) D.. 521-5 

Jennifer Jones. Bill Holden. Gloria Qrahame 

©Virgin Queen, The (92) D. .519-9 

Bette Ihivis. Richard Todd, Joan Collins O 

©Girl Rush, The (85) M. .5501 

. 

Rosalind Russell, Fernando Lamas 

©To Cotch o Thief 

.'. 

(97) . D. .5502 

Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, Jessie Ru\ce Landis 

©Ulysses (104) D. .5503 

Kirk Douglas. Silvana Mangano. A. Quinn 

. 

.lohn Payne, Rhonda Fleming, Ronald Reagan 

S QoTreosure of Poncho Villa, 

The (96) D. .601 

Rory Calhoun, Gilbert Roland, Shelley Winters 

11 

Divided Heart, The (89) D..5408 

Cornell Borchers, Alexander Knox. Y. Mitchell 

Headline Hunters (70) D. .5440 

Rod Cameron. Julie Bishop. Ben Cooper 

©Last Command, The (1 10). .OD. .5407 

Sterling Hayden, Anna Maria Aiberghettl 

Cross Channel (60) D. .5441 

Wayne Morris. Yvonne Furneaux 

Twinkle in God's Eye, The (74). CD. .5444 

Mickey Rooney. Coleen Gray. Hugh 'Brian 

©Man Alone, A (96) WD . . 5409 

Rsy Milland. Mary Murphy, Ward Bond 

Mystery of the Black Jungle 

(72) AD.. 5442 

Lex Barker. Jane Maxwell 

No Man's Woman (70) D . . 5445 

Marie Windsor, John Archer 

©Left Hond of God, The (87). D. .520 

Humphrey Bogart. Gene Tierney. Lee J. Cobb 

©Seven Cities of Gold (I03).D. .522-3 

Richard Ec.in. Rita Moreno, Michael Rennle 

©Tall Men, The (125) WD.. 523-1 

Clark Gable. Jane Russell. Robert Ryan 

(Prelease) 

©Girl In the Red Velvet Swing, 

The (108) D. .524-9 

Ray Milland. Joan Collins. Farley Granger 

Lover Boy (85) CD. .526-4 

Reviewed as "Lovers. Happy Lovers" 11-13-54) 

I 

Gerard Phlllpe. Valerie Hobson. Joan Greenwood 

m 

CO 

m 

TO 

O 

o 

CD 

Desperate Hours, The (112).. .5509 

Humphrey Bogart, Fredric March 

©Lucy Gallant ( 1 04) D . . 5504 

Jane Wyman. Charlton Heston. Claire Trevor 

Lady (86) D . . 603 

Claodette Colbert, Barry Sullivan 

m Vonishing American, The (90). W. 5501 

Seott Brady, Audrey Totter. Forrest Tucker 

©View From Pompey's Head, 

The (97) D .525-6 

Richard *Van. Dana Wynter. C. aUtcbell 

©Deep Blue Sea, The (99). D. .527-2 

Vivien Leigh. Kenneth More. Eric Portman 

©Good Morning, Miss Dove 

(107) D. 528-0 

Jennifer Jonei. Robert Stack 

O < 

COm 

©Artists and Models (109). .MC. .5510 

Dean Martin. Jerrj Lewis. Dorothy Malone 

{7} Naked Seo, Th« (69) Doc . . 604 

Voyage of a tuna-flshlng fleet 

Fighting Chance (70) D . . 5532 

Rod Came on. Julie London, Ben Oooper 

X ©Flame of the Islands (90). . .5502 

Yvonne he Csirin, Howard huff. Zachary Scott 

©Rains of Ranchipur, The 

(104) D. .529-8 

l.ana Turner. Richard Burton. Fred MacMurray 

ro 

m 

TO 

Rose Tattoo, The (117) CD. 5511 

Anna Magnani. Burt Lancaster, Marisa Pavan 

©Trouble With Horry, The 

(100) CD. .5508 

Edmund Gwenn. John Forsythe, M. Natwick 

©Glory ( . . ) D . . 605 

Margaret O'Brien. Walter Brennan, C. Oreenftood 

CcLieutenont Wore Skirts, The 

(..) C. 

Tom Bwell, sberee North, Rita Moreno 

©Bottom of the Bottle (..).... D . 

Van Johnson. Ruth Unman. Joseph Cotten 

. 

J> 

TO 

©Court Jester, The ( . . ) C 

Danny Kayc. Qjynla Johns, Basil Rathbone 

©oConqueror, the ( . . ) D . 

John Wayne, Susan Hayward, Pedro Armendariz 

©Carousel ( . . ) MD . 

©Mon Who Never Was, The 

Gordon MacKae. Shirley Jones C Mitchell 

(..) O.. 

Clifton WHilv. Gloria Otahame. Wm It 

73 

cr 

> 

to 

©Anything Goes M . 

Bln( Crosby. Jeanmalre, Donald O'Connor 

©Birds and the Bees, The CD. . 

i. 

e Gobel. Mlt/.i Oiynor, David Nlrai 

©Man Who Knew Too Much, 

The D. . 

James Stewart, Dorui Day. Daniel Qehn 

©Mountain, The AD. . 

Bpeneei Tracy, Robert Warner. Claire Trevor 

©Proud and Profane, Thc,..D.. 

Deborah IvVir. IVni Holden, Itielmi Hitter 

-Scarlet Hour, The D. . 

Carol Ohmart, Ton Tryon, Elaine Bu-itcJi 

©CDTen Commandments, The. . 

. 

('ha fun it-inn. v, Di Carlo, Inne Baitn 

That Certain Feeling 

. 

it le 8 G 

Br b II pi I., 

©Vagobond King, The (. .). .M. . 

Kathryn Grayson. Oreste Klrlop, Rita Morem 

Brain Machine, The D. . 

Patrick Barr. Elizabeth Allan. Maxwell Reed 

©Brave One, The D . 

. 

Michael Kay. Joi Lansing 

Cash on Delivery C . 

Shelley Winters, John ttretcson. Peggy Cummins 

©Great Day in the Morning, . 

Vlrginh Mayo, Robert suck, Kuth Koman 

©oJet Pilot (119) D. . 

John Wayne, Janet Leigh. Jay C. Flippen 

Postmark for Danger D. . 

Terry Moon. Bob Bmlty, Wm S>he.-ter 

©Slightly Scarlet D. 

Jnlin Payne, Arlene Man! 

Woy Out, The D . 

Mon, i 

Gene Nelson 

©Com© Next Spring D. . 

r ochran, Ann Bbertaan, Sonny Tufts 

Hidden Guns 

Bruce Bennett, fMehard Axlen. Faron v. 

Joguor (66) D. .5531 

Sal, ii. Barton MacLane, ChiquiU 

©Magic Fire D. . 

Yvonne l»e Carlo. Carlos Inomps-on. Rita Gam 

QoMaverick Queen, The D. . 

Barbara Stanwyck. Barry Sullivan. Scott Brady 

Secret Venture (70) D..5443 

Kent Taylor. Jane 11 

. 

Shot in the Dork, A D . 

Inlin Hud M nond Greenleaf 

Track the Man Down D . . 

Kent 1 Clarl 

When Gongland Strikes .D. . 

MaeOoradd Carey, Pal Medina, Skip Homeler 

©King ond I, The . MD.. 

Deborah Kerr. Yul Brynner. Rita Moreno 

©Mon in the Groy Flonncl 

Suit, The D. . 

On Mr] Peck, Jennltci Jones, Fmiric March 

©Mohowk W. . 

Sn.tt Rraily. Rita Gam. Neville Brand 

©Oosis D . 

Mlcbeie Morgan. Cornell Borchen 

©On the Threshold of Spocc 5F 

. 

Mi.linn. John llodlak. Virginia Lelth 

©Revolt of Momic Stover ( .. ) . D 

lattU. Riehanl Bjpui, Joan 

i 

CRoyol Bed, The . 

. 

. 

. 

-v Ratoff. Kay Kendall, Alex fl'Arcy 

iSmilcy D . 

Ilalpb Richardson. Chips Rafferty 

o 

O 

S 

CD

1 

lean 

. 

Ferrer, 

i 

D 

I Herein 

. 

! 

©Rebel 

I 

©Hell 

I 

Dam 

I 

UOoMlster 

] 

©aPete 

] 

©Court-Martial 

i 

Granville. 

i 

Podeata, 

. 

. 4 

. 

51 

' 

I 

imer, 

i 

Iglda, 

, 

Join 

. Kit 

. Georges 

I bb, 

AD 

. . . AD. 

D. 

FEATURE 

UNITED 

ARTISTS 

CHART 

I 

Kiss Mo Deadly (105) D. .5510 

.man. Albert Delta 

Robbers' Roost (82) W..5515 

II Boone 

©Tiger ond the Flame (97) .. AD. .5514 

In cast 

Top ot tho World (90) AD. .5516 

in lures, Prank 

Big Bluff, The (70) D..5519 

rtha Vlckcrs. U. Hutlon 

Seo Sholl Not Have Them, 

The (91) AD. .5520 

air. Dirk Bogarde, Anthony Steel 

OSummcrtime (99) CD. .5521 

Katharine Hepburn. Rossano Brazzl. Marl Aldon 

Break to Freedom (88) D..5512 

Jack Warner, 11. Beatly 

©Mon Who Loved Rcdhcods 

(89) C..5522 

er, John Justin, HolanrJ Culver 

Not As a Stronger (136) D. .5518 

Mltclmm. Olivia de Ha.llland, F Sinatra 

Shadow ot the Eagle (93) D. . 5523 

lie, Greta Oynt, Blnnle Barn 

©Kentuckion, The ( 1 04) D . . 5524 

Burt Lancaster, HI Dm Merkel 

Naked Street, The (84) D . . 5526 

Ihony Qulnn. Anne Bancroft 

©Desert Sonds (87) AD. .5529 

Meeker. Maria English, J. Carrol Nalsfl 

Night of the Hunter (90) D. .5527 

Robert Mltrhum. Shelley Winters. Lillian Gish 

©Gentlemen Marry Brunettes 

(99) M. .5531 

Jane Russell, Jeanne Craln, Rudy Vallee 

©Fort Yuma (79) OD. .5533 

Peter Crates, Juan Vohs, John Hudson 

Othello (92) D. .5530 

::ie Cloutier, Fay Compton 

©Sovoge Princess (101) AD. .5534 

(Filmed in India with native cast) 

Big Knife, The (111) D. .5532 

Jack Palance. Ida Luplno, Shelley Winters 

Killer's Kiss (67) D. .5525 

Frank Silvers, Jamie Smith, Irene Kane 

Man With the Gun (83) W. .5535 

Robert Mltchum. Jan Sterling. Henry Hull 

C Heidi and Peter (89) D . . 5538 

mund, Thomas Klameth 

©Top Gun (73) W . . 5536 

Sterling Hayden, Karln Booth. Win. Bishop 

5539 

Indian Fighter, The (88). .OD. .5537 

Kirk Douglas, Walter Matthau, Walter Abel 

Ghost Town 75) WD. . 

ylor. Marian Carr, John Smith 

Man With the Golden Arm, The 

(119) D. .5540 

Frank nor Parker, Kim N 

Storm Fear (88) D . 

Wallace, Dan 

. 

Duryea 

Three Bad Sisters (. .) D. . 

Maria English. John Bromfield. Sara Shane 

©Alexander the Great D. . 

Richard Burton, Claire Blnum. Fredric Hard) 

©Ambossador's Daughter, 

The 

CD.. 

Olivia de llavllland. Myrna Loy, J. Forsytbe 

©Beast of Hollow Mountain. . D. . 

Guy Madison. Patricia Medina 

C Comonche W . 

• 

Smith. Unda Crlstcl 

©oKiss Before Dying, A D. . 

a tor, Jeffrey Hunter 

©Lucky Kid, The (96) CD. . 

R " 

^Stor of India (92) D. . 

Cornel Wilde. Jean Wallace 

©Trapeze D. . 

Burt Lancaster. C. Lollobrlclda. Tony Curtis 

While the City Sleeps D. . 

. Rhonda Fleming, Geo. Sanders 

UNIVERSAL-INT L 

Cult ot the Cobro (80) D. .523 

Faltl. i. chard Long, K. Hughes 

Looters, The (87) D. .524 

mux), Jul Ir- Adams, Kav Danton 

\' Revenge of the Creature (82). SF. .521 

in I-D, prod. no. 52:1) 

John Agar, Lorl Nelson, John Bromfield 

Abbott and Costcllo Meet 

the Mummy (79) C . . 526 

Abbott & CoStCllO, Marie Win 

I 

©Man From Bitter Ridge, The 

(80) W..525 

Lei Barker. Mara Corday. Stephen McNally 

©This Island Earth (86) SF. .527 

En Reason, Faith Domergue, Jeff Morrow 

©Ain't Misbehovin' (81) MC. .529 

irii, BoT] Calhoun, Jack Carson 

©Foxfire (92) D. .528 

ndler, Jane Buasell, Du l'uryea 

©Purple Mosk, The (82) D. .530 

in rundard reratoo, prod. no. 531) 

Tuny Curtis, Colleen Miller, Angela Lansbury 

Francis in the Navy (80) C. .534 

Donald O'Connor, Martha Byer, Jim Backus 

©One Desire (94) D . . 532 

Anne Baxter. Rock Hudson. Julie Adams 

©Private War of Major Benson 

(105) CD. .533 

Charlton Heston. Julie Adams, Tim Hovey 

Female on the Beach (97) D. .536 

Joan Crawford. Jeff Chandler, Jan Sterling 

Shrike, The (88) D. .535 

' 

Ji June Allyson. Kendall Clark 

.Kiss of Fire (87) AD. .538 

Jack Palance, Barbara Rush, Martha liver 

©To Hell and Back (106). . . .D. .539 

in standard version, prod. no. 540) 

Audie Murphy, Charles Drake. M. Thompson 

Hold Bock Tomorrow (75) D. .5603 

Cleo Moore, John Agar 

©Lody Godivo (89) D..5601 

O'llara, George Nader, V. McLaglen 

©Noked Dawn, The (82) D..537 

Arthur Kennedy, Betta St. John 

Running Wild (81) D..6604 

Wm. Campbell. Mamie Van Doren, Keenan Wynn 

©Second Greatest Sex, The 

(89) M..5606 

Jeanne Craln, George Nader, Kitty Kallen 

Tarantula (80) D. .6605 

John Agar, Mara Corday. Leo C. Carroll 

©All That Heaven Allows (89). .D. .5609 

.lane Hyman, Hock Hudson, Conrad Nagel 

©Spoilers, The (84) D. .5607 

Baiter, Jeff Chandler. Rory Calhoun 

Square Jungle, The (93J D. .5608 

Tuny Curtis, Pat Crowley, Ernest Borgnine 

©Benny Goodman Story, The 

(125) M..5611 

Ulen, Donna Reed, Gene Krupa 

There's Always Tomorrow (..).D. . 

Barbara Stan 

Murray, Joan Bennett 

©Apache Agent W. . 

Audie Murphy, l'at Crowley 

©Away All Boats D. . 

r, Julie Adams, George Nader 

©Bocklash D . 

Richard Widmark. Donna Reed 

.'Congo Crossing D. . 

Mayo, Peter Lorre 

Kettles In the Ozarks C. . 

Marjorle Main, Arthur Hunnleutt. Una Merkel 

©Never Say Goodbye D. . 

r. George Sanders 

©Pillars of the Sky D. . 

handler, Dorothy Malone. Ward Bond 

©Rawhide Years, The D. . 

I irtl-. Arthur Kennedy. Colleen Miller 

ORcd Sundown W. . 

1'ilhonn, Martha nyer. Dean Jagger 

World fn My Corner D. . 

Amlie Murphy. Barbara Itush. JeJT Morrow 

WARNER BROS. 

Q Jump Into Hell (93) D..410 

Jacques Sernaa, Arnold Moss, Kurt Kau.er 

! 

©oStrongo Lady in Town ( 1 1 2) . W 

Greet Garsnn. Dana Andrews, Cameron Mitchell 

m ©oSeo Chase, The (118) D. .416 

John Wayne. Lana Turner, Tab Hunter 

Si] ©r-Toll Mon Riding (83) W..4I7 

Randolph Scott. Dorothy Malune, Peggie Castle 

[fl ©oLond of the Pharaohs (112).D..419 

Jack Hawkins, Joan Collins. Dewey Martin 

Bustors, The (101) AD . . 420 

Richard lu.ld. Michael ltcdgrart 

Roberts (123) C. .418 

Henry Fonda, James Cagney, William Powell 

Kelly's Blues (95) M . 

Jack Webb, Janet Leigh, 

. 42 

Edmond O'Brien 

S) !L ©aMcConnell Story, The 

: 

(107) D. .501 

Alan Ladd. June Allyson, James Whlitnure 

£) ©Blood Alley (115) AD.. 502 

John Wayne, Lauren Bacall, Anita Ekberg 

Illegal (90) D..503 

Edw. G. Robinson. Nina Foch, Hugh Marlowe 

Without a Couse ( 1 1 1 ) . D . . 504 

dean, Natalie Wood, Jim Backus 

SI ©! Died a Thousand Times 

(109) D..505 

Jack Palaoce. Shelley Winters, Lee Manln 

H[©Sincerely Yours (115) M. .506 

Uberace, Dorothy Malone, Joanne Dru 

i 

Target Zero (92J D . 

Richard Conte. Peggie Castle, Charles Bronson 

of Billy 

Mitchell, The (100) D. .507 

Gary Cooper, Ralph Bellamy. Chas. Blckford 

on Frisco Boy (98) D . . 509 

Alan Ladd. Joanne Dru. Edw. G. Robinson 

©Helen of Troy (118) D..510 

Jadt Bunas, C ll.irdwlckc 

As Long As You're Near Me. . . .D. 

(I. W. Fischer, Maria Schell 

©Giant D. . 

Elizabeth Taylor. James Dean, Rock Hudson 

OLone Ranger, The W. . 

Dayton Moore. Jay Sllverbeels 

Miracle in the Rain D. . 

Jane Wyman. Van Johnson. Eileen Heokart 

©Moby Dick D . 

Peck, i; Biseliari. Orson 

Our Miss Brooks C. . 

i 

u-den, Ddrj Porter, Robert Rockwell 

©Scorchers, The D.. 

in. Vera Miles, Jeffrey Hunter 

©Serenade MD. . 

M.irio Lanza, Joan Fontaine, Vincent Price 

©Seven Men From Now W. . 

Randolph Scott, Gall Russell, Lee Marrtn 

Steel Jungle, The D. . 

Wilier Abel, Bevejly Garland. Pony Lopez 

. 

1 

MISCELLANEOUS a |§ 

AMERICAN RELEASING CORP. 

QApochc Woman (83) W.. 

Taylor. Lance Fuller 

Foil ond Furious (74) AD. . 

John Ireland, Dorothy Malone, Bruce Carlisle 

©Five Guns West (78) W. . 

Malone, Paul Birch 

ASTOR 

Mostcr Plan, Tho (77) D. .Feb -55 

lhamar 

Sleeping Tiger, The (89) D. . 

Knox, D. Bog 

BUENA VISTA 

lj©Africon Lion, The (73) . Doc . .Oct. -55 

©Davy Crockett, King of the 

Wild Frontier (95) AD. . 

I r, i.ii ! .ii, 

©Lady ond the Tramp 

Basil Ruaydael 

(76) Cart. .Apr.-55 

©Littlest Outlaw, The (75) . .. Jan. -56 

Pedro Arniendiirlz, Joseph Callela 

CARROLL 

Four Woys Out (77) D. . 

Renato Baldlnl, C. Greco 

DISTRIBUTORS CORP. OF AMERICA 

1 

©Long John Silver (109) . . 

Taylor, Eric Rclman 

Hand, The (86) . Mar.-55 

D . . Stranger's . 

Am a Camera 

.Ida ValU, Trevor Howard 

(95) C. . 

Julie I! ace Harvey, Shelley Winters 

FILMAKERS 

Croshout (90) D . . Mor.-55 

Wm. Bendlx, Arthur Kennedy. B. Michaels 

Mod ot the World (71) D..Mar.-55 

He, C. O'Donnell 

LOUIS deROCHEMONT 

. . 

Greet Adventure, The (75) . . Sept. -55 

i. knden Norborg 

I.F.E. 

(American Dialog) 

©Aide (95) 

M. .Oct.-54 

Sophia Maxwell. Afro Poll 

City Stands Triol (105) D. .Apr.-55 

Silv.ina I'ampanini, Amadeo Nazzari 

©Green Magic (85) Doc. .Jun.-55 

Travel Film of Brazil 

Love in the City (90) D. May-55 

Nonprofi 

©Theodora, Slave Empress 

(88) D..Dec.-54 

Marchal 

Too Young for Love (88). . . .D. .Apr. -55 

Marin Vlady. P. M. Beck, Aldo Fabrlll 

Wayward Wife (91) 

D. ,Apr.-55 

i.ranco Intertenghl 

VISUAL DRAMA, INC. 

Gongbusters (77) D. .Mar.-55 

Myron Healy, Don C. Harvey, Sam Edwards 

REISSUES 

COLUMBIA 

Petty Girl, The (87) CD..June-55 

('ummings, Joan Caulfleld 

They All Kissed the Bride (87). . June-55 

Joan Crawford. Melvyn Douglas, Roland Young 

Walk a Crooked Mile (91). . .D. .Dec. -55 

Dennis 0'Keefe, Louis Hayward 

MGM 

Green Dolphin Street (1 41 ) . . D . .Oct.-55 

Van lleilin. Donna Keed 

Guy Nomed Joe, A (120). . ,Nov.-55 

Spencer Tracy, Irene Dunne. Van Johnson 

Philodelphia Story, The 

(112) CD..Oct.-55 

Brant, Katharine Hepburn 

D . Nov.-55 

30 Seconds Over Tokyo ( 1 38) . 

Speni I n Johnson 

PARAMOUNT 

©Reap the Wild Wind I2-J.D. Nov.-54 

John Wayne. Paulette Goddard. Ray Mllland 

RKO RADIO 

Berlin Express (86) D. .Apr.-55 

Robert Ryan. Merle (Iberon. Paul Lukas 

Big Street, The (88) D. ,Jun.-55 

Lucille 

Ball 

. 

D. .May-55 

C . May-55 

Bringing Up Boby ( 1 02) . . . . 

ine Hepburn 

Informer, The 

ii 

(91) D..Apr.-55 

Victor McLaglen, Preston Foster 

I Remember Mama (1 1 9) .. 

Irene Duj B i Bel Geddes 

20th CENTURY-FOX 

Belle Starr's Daughter (86). .W. .Mor. -55 

George Montgomery. Ruth Roman, R, Cameron 

Coll Northside 777 ( 11 ).. .. May-55 

1 D 

James Stewart. Helen Walker 

Dokoto Lil (88) W.. Mar.-55 

ornery, Marie Windsor. R. Cameron 

N ightmore Alley 111) D . . Oct.-55 

BlondaU, Coleen Gray 

Thieves' Highwoy (94) D. .Oct. -55 

. 

V. Cortesa 

Where the Sidcwolk Ends 

(95) D.. May-55 

Dana Andrews. Gene Tlerney 

WARNER BROS. 

Big Sleep. The (114) D.. Dec -54 

Humphr. ...un-en Bacall 

Saratogo Trunk (135) D.. Dec. -54 

liicrld llej^mau. Gary Cooper

6-17-55 

July-55 

Short subjects, listed by company, in order of release. Running time follows title. First is national 

release, second the dote of review in BOXOFFICE. Symbol between dates is rating from BOXOFF1CE 

review. ++ Very Good. + Good. ± Fair. — Poor. = Very Poor. Q Indicates color photography. mm 

>> fiuiw 


Prod. No. Title Rel Date Rating Rev'd 

5590 Mighty Fortress, The (31) 

POPULAR SCIENCE 

++1-1 

(Reissues) 

5551 Subject J7-5 (10) 1- 9-55 

5552 Subject J7-1 (10) 1-23-55 

5553 Subject J7-2 (10) 2- 6-55 

5554 Subject J7-3 (10) 2-20-55 

Columbia 

Prod. No. Title Rel Date Rating Rev'd 

ALL-STAR COMEDIES 

7415 Scratch-Scratch-Scratch 

(16!/2 ) 4-28-55 6-11 

7416 Nobody's Home

. . MUSICAL 

.11-24-55 

11-21-54 

I 

Report 

BsjUJUH 

.lurid 

55 

2310 Hop. Look, and Listen 

(7) 6- 4-55 

2311 Tweetie Pie (7) 6-25-55 

2312 Goofy Gophers (7) 7-23-55 

2313 What's Brewin', Bruin? 

(7) 8-20-55 

BUGS BUNNY SPECIALS 

(Technicolor) 

2726 Sahara Hare (7) 3-26-55* 4-30 

2727 Hare 8rush (7) 5-7-55+ 8-20 

2728 Rabbit Rampage (7) . 6-11-55 ff 8- 6 

2729 This Is the Life (7). . 7- 9-55 

2730 Hyde and Hare (7) 8-27-55 + 10-22 

(1955-56) 

3723 Knight- Mare Hare (7) 10- 1-55 

.(724 Roman Legion-Hare (7). 11-12-55 

CLASSICS OF THE SCREEN 

2104 When the Talkies Were Young 

(17) 3-26-55 ff 4-16 

2105 At the Stroke of Twelve 

(20) 5-28-55 

2106 Glory Around Us. The 

(20) 7- 2-55 

COLOR SPECIALS 

2008 Old Hickory (17) 4- 9-55 

2009 Festival Days ( ) 

8-13-55 

2010 Wave of the Flag (19). 5-14-55 ff 7-30 

2011 Adventures of Alexander 

Selkirk (17) 6-18-55 +8-6 

2012 Uranium Fever ( . . 

7-16-55 

JOE McDOAEES COMEDIES 

2405 So You Want to Be on a Jury 

5- 7-55 + 7-23 

(10) 

2406 So You Want to Run a 

Model Railroad (10).. 8-27-55 + 10-22 

to be a 

Vice-Piesident (10) ... 10-29-55 

3401 So You Want 

+ 12-31 

3402 So you Want to be a 

Policeman (10) 12-17-55 

MELODY MASTERS BANDS 

(Reasons) 

2804 Stan Kenton & Orch. 

(10) 2-26-55 

2806 Playgirls (10) 4-16-55 

(1955-56) 

3801 Jan Savitt & Band (10) . 

9- 3-55 

MERRIE MELODIES 

(Technicolor) 

2715 The Hole Idea (7) 4-16-55 ff 6-11 

2716 Ready, Set. Zoom (7) 4-30-55 ± 6-11 

. . 

2717 Past Performance (7) . . . 5-21-55 + 8-20 

271STweety's Circus (7) 6- 4-55 + 8-27 

2719 Lumber Jerks (7) 6-25-55 + 9-17 

2720 Double or Mutton (7).. 7-23-55 

2721Jumpin' Jupiter (7) 8- 6-55 

2722 A Kiddie's Kitty (7) . . . 8-20-55 + 11-12 

(1955-56) 

3701 Dime to Retire (9) 9-1-55 

3702 Speedy Gonzales (7) 9-17-55 

3703 Two Scents Worth (7) 

3704 Red Riding Hoodwinked 

(7) 10-29-55 

3705 Heir Conditioned (7) .. .11-26-55 

3706 Guided Muscle (7) 12-10-55 

3707 Pappy's Puppy (7) 12-17-55 

SPORTS PARADE 

2507 Riviera Revelries (10).. 5-21-55+ 7-30 

2508 Rocky Mountain Big Game 

(10) 4-23-55 

2509 Italian Holiday (10)... 7- 9-55 

2510 Aqua Queens (10) 8- 6-55 + 11-12 

(1955-56) 

3501 Picturesque Portugal (9) 

WARNER VARTTIES 

2604 Those Exciting Days (10) 3-19-55 + 5-14 

2605 Fire, Wind, Flood (9) . . 4-30-55 -ff 5-21 

2606 Some of the Greatest 

(John Barrymore) (10) 6-18-55 -ft 8- 6 

2607 Gadgets Galore (10) .... 7-30-55 

(1955-56) 

3601 An Adventure to 

Remember (9) 10- 1-55 

3602 Shark Hunting (9) 11-12-55 

3603 Faster and Faster (9) .K-13-55 

. 

WARNERCOLOR SCOPE GEMS 

3211 Journey to the Sea (18). 9- 1-55 

3220 Heart of an Empire (9) . 9- 1-55 

3222 Ski Valley (9) 9- 1-55 

3221 Springtime in Holland 

(9) 12-10-55 

WARNERCOLOR SPECIALS 

2009 Festival Days (20) ff 11-12 

(1955-56) 

3002 The Golden Tomorrow 

(17) 11- 5-55 

Title 

Independents 

Figurehead. The (10) DeRochemont 

Jazz Dance (20) Roger Tilton 

Siam (32) Buena Vista ff 

Willie, the Operatic Whale 

(19) Buena Vista 

Churchill. Man of the Century 

(21) Br. Inf. Sen 

Herman Melville's Moby Dick 

(30) Jos. Burstyn 

Thursday's Children (22) 

Br. Inf. Serv 

Britain's Choice (14) (House of 

Commons) Br. Inf. Serv 

Highland Journey (24) (Technicolor) 

Br. Inf. Serv 

Baby Long Legs (16) (World of Life 

Series) Noel Meadow 

Arabesques (9) (UltraScope) 

Transatlantic 4 

Fiesta in Seville (9) (UltraScope) 

Transatlantic + 

Rating Rev'd 

ff 2-19 

2-19 

2-19 

9- 3 

Queen's Navy. The (20) Br. Inf. Serv... + 9-17 

on Love (15) Edw. Kingsley 

Goya (20) Edward Harrison 

ff 

+ 12- 3 

12-10 

. . 

ff 

+ 

H 

+ 

+ 

+ 

8-14 

5-21 

7-23 

7-30 

9- 3 

9- 

9- 3 

FOREIGN FEATURES 

Foroign-languogo productions by native country, listed alphabetically 

by title, followed by running time. Date shown in Issue of BOXOFFICE 

in which review appearod. Nome of distributor is in parentheses. 

AUSTRALIA 

Reviewed 

Wherever She Goes (30) 10-31-53 

i 

\l K i 

AUSTRIA 

Parrt-tt. Eileen Joyce 

OMorika (81) 4-11-54 

lex-Brill). .Martini Boff, Henry Fuss 

BRITAIN 

. . 1 2-31 -55 

I 

Appointment in London (96) . 

,- 

Dinah I 

Belles of St. Trinlon's, The (90). 4-30-55 

(Assoc. Artists) 

. -Aliaialr Sim. Joyce UrcnfHI 

Chance Mooting (94) 8-27-55 

( I'aeemekrr IMlle Versola. David Knight 

Court Martial ( 1 05) 10- 1-55 

iKtnfsJryi . Niven. Margaret Lelghton 

Cure for Love, The (97) 1 1-26-55 

(Assoc Artists) . . Hubert Donat, Benee Asherson 

©Donee Little Lody (87) 12-24-55 

(Trans-Lux) . .Mai ZeUerUng, M.mdy Miller 

Edge of D+vorce (83) 7-1 7-54 

( Kingsley) . .Valerie Hobeon, Philip Friend 

Eight O'Clock Walk (87) 8-20-55 

(Assoc. A/Hats) . . R. Atlenboreugh, C O/Doonell 

Four Against Fote (84) 9-10-55 

(Assoc. Artists) . .Anna Ncagle, Michael Wilding 

Front Poge Story (95) 7-23-55 

(Assoc. Artists) . Jack Hawkins, Bra Bartok 

©Fuss Over Feathers (84) 1-29-55 

(AS30C. Artists) . .John Gregson, Muriel 1'ivlov 

Game of Danger (88) 1 1 - 5-55 

(Assoc AriLsts) . -Jack Warner, Veronica Hurst 

Glory at Seo (88) 9-1 1-54 

(Rogers & Unger) . .Trevor Howard, Sonny Tufts 

Green Scorf, The 4-23-55 

(Assoc. Artists) . M. Redgrave, A. Tedd. L. Oenn 

Heart of the Matter, The (100). 12-25-54 

(Assoc. Artists) . .Trevor Howard, Maria Schell 

Innocents In Paris (103) 2-19-55 

(Tudor) . .Claire Bloom, Alastair Sim 

Inspector CaUe, An (80) 1- 8-55 

(Assoc. Artists) . .Alas Uir Sim, Eileen Moore 

Intruder, The (84) 2-12-55 

(Assoc. Artists) . .Jack Hawkins. Dennis Price 

Midnight Episode (78) 9-1 7-55 

(Fine Arts ).. Stanley Holloway, Leslie Irvryer 

Runaway Bus, The (78) 12-11-54 

(Kramer-Hysms) . -M. Rutherford, F. Howard 

Scotch on the Rocks (77) 7-31-54 

(Kingsley) . .Bonald Squire, K. Byan, S. Bhasr 

3 Stops to Murder (76) 7-17-54 

(Astor) . .Tom Conway, Naomi Chance 

Teckman Mystery, The (90) 11-1 9-55 

(Assoc. Artists) . .Margaret Lelghton. J. Justin 

Three Cases of Murder (99) 5-21-55 

(Assoc. .Artists ).. Orson Welles, John Oregson 

©To Paris With Love (78) 4-30-55 

Continental) .. Alec Guinness, Odlle Versols 

True and the False, The (80). . 4-23-55 

(Helcne Davis) . Slgne Hasso, William Longford 

Welcome the Queen (50) 9-11-54 

(BIS) . Queen Elisabeth. Duke of Edinburgh 

©Will Any Gentleman? (84).. 11- 5-55 

(Stratford) . .George Cole. Veronica Hurst 

Woman's Angle, The (87) 9-18-54 

(Stratford) . .Cathy fyDonnell, E. Bnderdosvn 

EGYPT 

Homldo (122) 5-21-55 

(Gould). Hoda Soultao. Farld Cfaasrky 

FRANCE 

Caroline Cherte (118) 8-14-54 

(Davis). M. Carol, P. Cressoy, J. Daeqmlns 

Companions of the Night (104) 8-28-54 

(Arlsn) . .Francoise Amoul, Raymond Pellegrtn 

Daughters of Destiny (104). . . . 8-21-54 

(Arlan) . -Claudette Colbert, Mlehele Morgan 

Diary of a Country Priest (95). 7-31-54 

(Brandon).. C. Laydu. N. Maurey. A. Qulbert 

Dirty Hands (100) 12-25-54 

(MscDonsld) . -Daniel Gclln, Pierre Brasseor 

Earrings of Madam De, The 

(105) 8- 7-54 

(Arlsn).. C. Borer. D Darrlcui, V. de Sic* 

French Touch, The (84) 9-25-54 

(Times) . .Fornandel. Benee Derulers 

Game of Love, The (108) 2-1 9-55 

(Times) . .Pierre-Michel Beck, Edsrtge FeuUlere 

Hcortbreak Ridge (86) 6-11-55 

(Tudor) . .Real French troops In Korea 

Holiday for Henrietto (103)... 5-21-55 

(Ardee) Duny Robin. Michael Auclalr 

Lc Ploisir (90) 7-3 1 -54 

(Kuh- tie Darrleus. Jean Gabln 

Mr. Hulot's Holiday (85) 10-30-54 

- (GBD lnt'1) . .Jacques Tati. Nathalie Paseaud 

i 

Reviewed 

Moment of Truth (87) 6-19-54 

(Arlan) . Mlehele Morgan, Jean Qshhi 

Naked Heart (96) 5-28-55 

(Assoc. ArliiU) . .Michele Morgan. K. Moore 

Night Is My Kingdom, The (109) 8-29-53 

iI'.li 'in, sloiune Valero 

Pit of Loneliness (84) 5-15-54 

1-l.rige Feuillert, Simons Simon 

Red Inn, The ( 1 00) 9- 4-54 

naii'lrl. F. ltosay, Laid Oermaln 

Seven Deadly Sins, The (1 24) . . I I -21 -53 

lAilan) . .Mirhelr Morgan, Gerard Phllipe 

Sexette (90) 8-29-53 

(Arlan) . .Marline Carol. Frank V'DUrd 

Shcop Has Fivo Legs, The (93) ..11 -26-55 

il'Ml'tii Ferruuidel, Francoise Amoul, I M moot 

Spico of Life, The (71) 2-20-54 

(Mayer-Klngsk-y) . Bernard Bller 

GERMANY 

Angeliko (99) 1 1 -27-54 

(Brenner). Maria Schell. Dieter Borsehe 

Gropes Are Ripe, The (92) 7- 3-54 

(Caxlno) . .Gustav Knuth, CarnUla Spire 

Keepers of the Night 109). .. . 

2-20-54 

(Casino) . . Ltiise Ullrich, Hans Nielsen 

No Woy Bock (87) 7-30-55 

(Fine Arts Films). I Desny, B. Nlehaus 

Sunderin (80) 1 -22-55 

(Prod. Reps.) Hildtgarde Neff. G. Froehllea) 

GREECE 

Borefoot Botalllon (89) 6-26-54 

(Brandt) . Cost), Nlcos Fermas 

ISRAEL 

Hill 24 Doesn't Answer (100) .. 12- 3-55 

. 

(Cont'l Dis.).. Michael Wager, Hays Hartt 

IRELAND 

Spell of Ireland, The (77) 5-22-54 

(Celtic) . .Travel Feature, English dialog 

(Color) 

ITALY 

Bed, The (101) 8-13-55 

(Geti-Kingsley) . B. Todd. Dawn Addama 

Bread Love and Dreams (90) .. 1 0-23-54 

(I.F.E.). .Glna LoUobriglda. Vlttorlo de 81es 

Four Ways Out (77) 1 - 1-55 

(Carroll) . .Glna LoUobriglda. Benalto Baldlnl 

Girls Marked Danger (75) 7-17-54 

(I FBI . 

.Eleonora Bowl Drago. V. Oaaeman 

Hello Elephant (78) 1-29-55 

(Arlan). .Vlttorlo de Sica. Sabu 

. 

Vera 

His Last 12 Hours (89) 6-26-54 

(I.F.E.) . .Jean Gabln. Marlella Lott! 

Love in the City (90) 4-23-55 

(I.F E.) Rissi. Mlchaelangelo Anionics 

Moddoleno (90) 10- 8-55 

(l.F.E ). .Marts Toren, Glno Cerrl. J. 8erass 

Mademoiselle Gobette (78).... 4- 9-55 

(I.F.E ). Silvsna Pampanlni, Uilsd Parese 

Man With the Grey Gloves (102) 

(1KB).. Mario Del Monaco, Annette Bach 

My Heart Sings (99) 5- 8-54 

- ) (1 F.E -Ferrueclo Tagllartnl, Canal 

Tarantella Napoleatono (86).. 6-12-54 

(l.F.E I . .Maria Paris. Gabriele Vaeerlo 

Umberto D. (89) 12-31-55 

JAPAN 

i 

Devil's Pitchfork, The (Reviewed 

os Ano-To-Hon) (92) 5- 8-54 

(Arias) . .Akeml Neglshi, Suganuma 

©Gore of Hell (Jigokumon) (89) I- 8-55 

(Harrison 4 Davidson) Maehiko Kyo, ll»nn 

Hiroshimo (85) 7-30-55 

(Continental) . .Isunj Yamada, M. Tsuklds 

Imposter, The (89) 11 -26-55 

(Brandon) . .Utacmon Ichlkatva. Cfalkako Mltagj 

Samurai (100) 11-19-55 

(Fine Arts) . .Tosblro Mifune. Kaoru Yacburusa 

Ugotsu (96) 9-25-54 

(Harrison) , Maehiko Kyo MasayukJ Mori 

MEXICO 

This Strange Passion (82) 12-31-55 

Hiirmliilm-) . Arturo De Cordova. D. Garces 

SWEDEN 

Illicit Interlude (90) 1 2-25-54 

(Hakim) . Brltt. Alf KjeUln. B. Maureen 

One Summer of Hoppiness (92) 7-16-55 

(Times-Film) 

. 

I'lla Jacobson. Folke Sundqulst 

10 BOXOFFICE BookinGuide Jan. 7, 1956

• 

tributions 

. . Here 

. . 

I 

. . Glenn 

Opinions on Current Productions 

mim m\tm 

The Lieutenant Wore Skirts F 

20th-Fox (601-5) 101 Minutes 

Ratio: 

Comedy 

2.55-1 (CinemaScope, 

De Luxe Color) 

Rel. Jan. '56 

Slick as a tubful of fresh-churned butter is this sophisticated 

comedy, which—because of the story theme and casf 

— will inevitably find itself being compared to the same 

company's profits-snatching "The Seven Year Itch." Nor will 

the gladsome feature suffer too greatly through such comparison. 

While its laugh content may not be as explosive as 

that of its illustrious predecessor, there is enough constant 

humor—in both situations and dialog—to more than sate 

every funny bone from Maine to California; there are the 

same touches of double entendre naughtiness and, most 

importantly, there is every indication that the film is amply 

qualified to follow in the memorable fiscal footsteps of its 

forebear. 

From reliable comic Tom Ewell comes a characteristically 

finely etched performance, while the two femme toplines 

Sheree North and Rita Moreno attain a surprising new high 

in individual and collective acting ability. Trouping conby 

every member of the large supporting cast are 

of paralleling superior quality. For this excellence, a dual 

bow is rated by Frank Tashlin, who directed and collaborated—with 

Albert Beich—on the screenplay. Since Cine-' 

maScope and De Luxe color are now standard equipment on 

20th-Fox photoplays, it is perhaps redundant to report that 

they figure prominently in the lush and highly exploitable 

production mountings with which Buddy Adler endowed the 

offering. 

When Ewell, a reserve major in the air force, is notified he 

is being called back into service, his wife, Sheree, reenlists 

in the WAFs as a lieutenant. He is turned down because 

of a bad leg, and Sheree is sent to Hawaii. Fearful 

that, in such a romantic locale, she'll fall for another man. 

Ewell follows her and undertakes all sorts of ruses to obtain 

her release from duty—succeeding only when they discover 

they're going to have a baby. 

Tom Ewell, Sheree North, Rita Moreno. Rick Jason, Les 

Tremayne, Alice Reinheart, Gregory Walcott, Joan Willes. 

CATCHLINES: 

Here's the Longest Laugh Howl From Glamorous Hollywood 

to Hula-Happy Hawaii . . . It's All About a Husband 

Who Got Nervous Because His Wife Was in the Service . 

the Major Comedy Hit of the Year. 

The Lone Ranger 

Warner Bros. (511) 86 Minutes 

F 

Ratio: 

1.S5-1 

Western 

(WarnerColor) 

Rel. Feb 25, '56 

5S5-S 

Box 

33. 

than 

Launched on radio in 1932 and a fixture on television since 

1949, the famous masked -rider of the plains, his white 

stallion Silver and his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, 

unquestionably command the interest and loyalty of a wide 

segment of the nation's adventure-hungry younger set. Now, 

at long last, their particular brand of frontier derring-do 

comes to the theatrical screen in a tidy package of actionladen 

entertainment that can hardly help but ring up 

satisfying revenue records in any and all situations. The 

story and production values are such that the offering's 

appeal has been broadened to include grown-ups as well 

as the moppets, a further guarantee that its business 

prospects are bright. Additionally, exhibitors can reap 

benefits from built-in exploitation ingredients stemming from 

the title character's pre-sold popularity. 

Physically the feature is attractive. Producer Willis Goldbeck 

and director Stuart Heisler chose rugged and realistic 

location sites in southern Utah to stage much of the action, 

and the ensemble is garnished with bright WarnerColor 

photography. Heisler extracted convincing portrayals from 

the principals, among whom Clayton Moore is expectedly 

intrepid as the saddle hero who fights to bring justice to 

the west; Lyle Bettger is suitably villainous as the chief 

menace; and Bonita Granville is decorative in the only 

femme rolp. The opus is listed as a Jack Wrather production. 

Bettger, a power-hungry rancher, covets a rich silver lode 

located on an Indian reservation. To secure it, he conducts 

a campaign of killing and rustling and blames it on the 

redskins, hoping thereby to incite them to war and ultimate 

destruction. But he reckons without the Lone Ranger and 

Tonto who—on special assignment from the territorial governor—swing 

into action to expose the heavy's nefarious 

,,, K 

scheme and bring peace to the area. the « 

Clayton Moore, Jay Silverheels, Lyle Bettger, Bonita 

Granville, Perry Lopez, Robert Wilke. John Pickard. 

CATCHLINES: 

. Hi-Yo, 

West's Famous 

Silver Comes the Lone Ranger . . . The 

Masked Man Dispenses Frontier Justice . . . 

One Man Alone Stands Against a Power-Hungry Rancher's 

Campaign of Terror. 

1908 BOXOFFICE 

use. 3 

'antop 

drivem 

I' 

Ransom 

F 

Ratio: 

Drama 

1.85-1 

MGM (617) 104 Minutes Rel. Jan. '56 

The third in MGM's series of powerhouse black-and-white 

dramas dealing with current problems in a tense and gripping 

film dealing with the kidnaping of a youngster from 

a well-to-do family. Like "The Blackboard Jungle" and 

"Trial," it has a completely realistic story, occasionally 

almost too harrowing for comfort but one that holds a patron's 

interest right up to the final fadeout. Glenn Ford, whose 

superb portrayal of a harried father may win him the 

Academy Award nomination he has so long deserved, and 

Donna Reed, one of the screen's finest and most attractive 

young actresses, supply marquee value. 

Based on one of 1955's most acclaimed TV dramas, "Fearful 

Decision" (a far better title than the current one, which 

suggests a programmer), the picture has been tautly directed 

by Alex Segal and, except for a few brief scenes dealing 

with the liquidation of bank assets, it is consistently absorbing. 

Except for the opening family sequence, there are no 

lighter moments and no extraneous romantic interest. The 

kidnapers are never seen—an unusual angle. 

In addition to the sterling performances from Ford and 

Miss Reed, Leslie Nielsen, a newcomer from TV, gives an 

outstanding portrayal of a business-like newspaper re 

and Robert Keith and Richard Gaines contribute 

support. Produced by Nicholas Nayfack. 't 

Glenn Ford, young industrialist, returns home early after 

an important business conference with some wood to help 

his little son build a backyard fort. When the boy doesn't 

return from school, his mother (Donna Reed) learns that a 

nurse, presumably from the family doctor, had picked him 

up at school. The doctor confirms Ford's suspicions that the 

boy was kidnaped. The police install a tape recorder 

attached to the telephone in Ford's home while they wait 

for word from the kidnapers. After hours of waiting, the 

demand comes for $500,000. Ford begins liquidating all his 

assets until a newspaper reporter tells him that, even if 

the ransom is paid, he may not get his boy back alive. 

Ford then makes the decision not to pay the ransom and 

thus play into the kidnapers' hands. His wife and the entire 

town is aghast at a father's decision, but Ford's defiance pays 

off and the boy is returned unharmed. 

Glenn Ford, Donna Reed, Robert Keith, Leslie Nielsen, 

Alexander Scourby, Richard Gaines, Juano Hernandez. 

CATCHLLNES: 

January 7. 1956 

Was Ever a Devoted Father Faced With Such a Fearful 

Decision? . Ford As the Man Who Defied the 

Kidnapers Holding His Boy for Ransom. 

Ratio: Melodrama 

The Houston Story A Standard 

Columbia (821) 79 Minutes Rel. Feb. '56 

Action house audiences will find this melodramatic tale 

of double-crossing gangsters much to their liking. Development 

of the plot is smooth from the opening moments when 

an ambitious young crook uses the suicide of a girl to win 

an introduction to a powerful mob, to the ending when 

justice catches up with him. In between there is much 

conniving among the gangsters for money and power, many 

beatings and several murders. There are also two romances, 

one with a female member of the mob and the other with 

an innocent girl. It is a Clover Production produced by Sam 

Katzman and directed by William Castle. The players are 

well cast and perform effectively. Gene Barry is especially 

good in the lead. The names of Barbara Hale, who has 

co-starred in a number of program pictures, and Edward 

Arnold have exploitation value. Incidentally, it is odd to see 

Arnold in the role of a crook. Usually he is on the other side 

of the fence. 

Frank Duncan, a Houston oil driller, sells a crime syndicate 

on his plan to steal oil from established wells and sell it 

to foreign governments. At a night club he plays up to 

Zoe Crane, a singer, the girl friend of Gordie Shay, a 

member of the mob under its local leader, Paul Atlas. 

That gets him a beating. He perseveres and through Atlas 

meets Emile Constant, head mobster, who backs his illegal 

enterprise. In the meantime, Duncan is also using Madge, 

a waitress, to further his ends. The mobsters begin framing 

each other. One after another is shot. Constant sends two 

gunmen to murder Duncan. They learn his whereabouts 

from Zoe and then kill her. Duncan kills them in a gun 

battle as the police arrive. Madge persuades him to 

surrender. 

Gene Barry. Barbara Hale, Edward Arnold, Paul Richards, 

Jeanne Cooper, Frank Jenks. John Zaremba. 

CATCHLINES: 

Terrifying Tale of Murderous Mobsters in a Texas Oil Field 

Millions Were at Stake and Then the Gangsters Started 

. . 

Shooting . . . Gene Barry, Barbara Hale and Edward Arnold 

in a Breathless Tale of Oil Field Gangsters. 

1909

IFE Releasing Corp. 

93 Minutes 

Rel. Jan. '56 

A quiet, yet intensely moving and beautifully acted, Britishmade 

drama which should do much to restore Robert Donat 

to the prominence he had after "Goodbye, Mr. Chips was 

acclaimed in 1939. While this is sure-fire for the art houses^ 

its very human story with a religious background has much 

of the inspirational quality of "A Man Called Peter" and. 

with extra selling, including the support of religious groups, 

it should attract a much wider audience. It's fine for family 

audiences. 

Splendidly photographed in soft Eastman Color hues, the 

views of the English countryside are outstanding and, .as in 

all better British films, this is studded with notable character 

portrayals, particularly Vida Hope's surly farmer's wife, and 

Reginald Beckwith's small-town newspaper man. Matching 

Donat's sincere, gentle and soft-spoken portrayal of a country 

vicar who preaches the secret of contentment is Kay Walsh's 

fine performance of his understanding wife. The red-haired 

Adrienne Corri (remembered from "The River") and Denholm 

Elliott supply the pleasing romantic interest. Charles 

Frend's direction is excellent. Produced by Michael Balcon for 

J. 

Arthur Rank. 

Robert Donat, vicar of a small village church, has devoted 

his life to his parish but he hasn't made enough to send his 

talented pianist-daughter, Adrienne Corri, to London to study. 

Invited to preach at a nearby cathedral, Donat switches his 

sermon to appeal to the student body instead of the stuffy 

parents and headmaster. As a result, he is called a liberal 

in the tabloids. Meanwhile, Donat's wife, Kay Wajsh, "borrows" 

a sum of money entrusted to him by a dying farmer 

to send Adrienne to London. When the farmer dies, his 

grasping wife asks for an accounting of the money and 

Donat discovers his wife's act. Told by his doctor that he 

hasn't long to live, Donat decides to write newspaper sermons 

lor the tabloids in order to pay back the money. He ex- 

his wife that he is not bitter but has come to terms 

leath and, in so doing, with life. 

i to 

. . Robert 

1 

REVIEWS 

Adlines for Newspaper and Programs 

Day the World Ended F 

Ratio: 

21 

Drama 

(Superscope) 

American Releasing Corp. 80 Minutes Rel.- 

On the assumption that no situation can be too imaginative 

for the rabid science-fiction addicts—and. apparently, they 

'are legion, especially among the juvenile ticket buyers 

this rather radical approach to that category should prove 

effective as a supporting feature, the booking niche for 

which it is obviously geared. The yarn is launched on an 

arresting premise, treating with what conditions would be 

on earth alter modern civilization is completely devasta 

a series of atomic explosions. But the story soon tangents 

in several directions so as to include character analyses, 

horror-play qualities, romance and even cheesecake, which 

lacets are too numerous and too unoriginal. This wide 

variety of elements acts as a deterrent rather than an aid 

to the smooth motivation of the main thesis. 

Performances by a reasonably competent cast, and direction 

by Roger Corman—who functioned also as producer, with 

Alex Gordon serving as executive producer—are acceptable. 

Moreover, there are toplining names that can join the subject 

matter in according the offering some exploitation possibilities. 

Superscope adds its expected plus values to the 

photography and it, too, is worthy of mention in merchandis- 

;he film, 

en persons survive the above-cited holocaust. An odd 

•rnent, drawn together by chance, they include a 

gangster, an engineer, an ex-stripteaser, a prospector, a 

retired sea captain and his daughter, and a badly wounded 

victim of the blasts. Death claims several of them through 

exposure to the deadly after-effects of the explosions and 

also by means of a "humanoid" monster which stalks the 

party. Eventually only the engineer and the sea captain's 

daughter are left alive and they, having fallen in love, 

venture out together to start building a new world. 

Richard Denning, Lori Nelson. Adele Jergens. Touch 

Connors. Paul Birch. Raymond Hatton. Paul Dubov. 

CATCHLINES: 

A Creature More Horrible Than the Human Brain Can 

Visualize . . . You'll Thrill and Chill to the Story of 

Last Seven People Left on Earth . . . Here's 

Adventure About a Day That Must Never 

Blood-Tingling 

Come. 

Lease of Lite 

F 

Ratio: 

Standard 

Drama 

(Eastman Color) 

Robert Donat. Kay Walsh, Adrienne Corri. Denholm Elliott, 

Walter Fitzgerald, Vida Hope. Cyril Raymond. 

•55 +i 

-55 4 

CATCHLINES: 

In Time of Crisis, He Discovered and Preached the Secret 

of Contentment . Donat, Leading British Star, in His 

Greatest Portrayal Since "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" ... A Picture 

You Will Cherish and Long Remember. 

1910 BOXOFFICE 

j(e 

Paramount 

SHORTS REVIEWS 

VistaVision Visits Japan 

( VistaVision Special) 17 Mins. 

Good. Intimate scenes in Technicolor of a section of the 

Orient well known to many thousands of American soldiers 

during the occupation. Their picturesqueness also commends 

them to theatregoers who have never been there. 

There are ancient landmarks and shrines, the cherry trees, 

traditional dancing to Japanese music, views of family life, 

Hiroshima, a cultured pearl farm and Fujiyama. James A. Fitz- 

Patrick produced and directed. 

20th-Fox 

Desert Fantasy 

(CinemaScope Short) 8 Mins. 

Good. Strikingly beautiful scenes in color of the Sahara 

Desert, the Arab bands that traverse it on camels and an 

oasis. The story, if it can be called that, is inconsequential. 

The vanishing tribe of the Taureges and the city of Algiers 

are also shown. Because of its easy picturesque quality, 

the film would go especially well on a bill with a highly 

dramatic feature. 

The Little 

Red Hen 

20th-Fox (CinemaScope Terrytoon) 7 Mins. 

Good. Plenty of action, effective backgrounds and fine 

animation make this a short that is something above the 

average. An old fairy tale is jazzed up. The animals on 

the farm—the pig, cat, goose and all the others—with the 

exception of the hen enjoy life lazily. She works furiously 

at raising a crop of wheat and then baking bread. The 

other animals then knock each other out trying to steal it, 

but in the end the hen eats it. The moral is that when bread 

is baked, don't loaf on the job. 

Phony News Flashes 

20th-Fox (Terrytoon) 7 Mins. 

Good. A novelty consisting of gagged-up sequences on 

the lighter news of the day such as mothers-in-law, flying 

saucers, anti-noise campaigns, circuses, widescreen theatres, 

zoos and pretty girls. Most are effectively funny, as when a 

lovelorn gorilla finds his true love in the person of an 

explorer instead of a male gorilla, but some are simply silly. 

All in all, it's good entertainment. 

Univ.-Int'l 

Bunco Busters 

(Walter Lante Cartune) 6 Mins. 

Good. A cartoon satire on the "Dragnet" type of TV show, 

this amusing cartoon stars the obstreperous Woody Woodpecker. 

Woody inherits a legacy and falls easy pi 

Buzz Buzzard, a confidence man who lures him to an island 

to search for treasure. Buzz tries to fleece the canny woodpecker, 

but the latter manages to bring the bird to justice. 

The Golden Tomorrow 

Warner Bros. (WarnerColor Special) 17 Mins. 

Good. The progress of Venezuela from a humble country to 

one of the wealthiest in the world is interestingly depicted. 

The film shows how the discovery of oil proved a fair', 

mother and how the revenue from oil has been channeled 

into large irrigation projects, malaria control, fabulous roads 

and fine, modern buildings. Shown also are frolics with 

bulls in a ring and a colorful fiesta. 

Warner Bros. 

Picturesque Portugal 

(Sports Parade) 9 Mins. 

Fair. James A. FitzPatrick conducts a camera tour of Portugal, 

showing its fishing villages, places ol inspiration for 

artists and poets, local headdresses, fashionable hotels, agricultural 

development, convents and the site where children 

said they saw a heavenly vision. Students of architecture 

and those who have visited the country will find it interesting. 

Warner Bros. 

Speedy 

Gonzales 

(WarnerColor Special) 7 Mins. 

Good. Speedy Gonzales, a fast-moving mouse, tangles 

with Sylvester, the cat, and becomes a hero to the other 

Mexican mice by foiling all the cat's attempts to prevent 

him from raiding a cheese factory. No matter what Sylvester 

tries to catch Gonzales, the mouse is too fast for him. In the 

end the cat delivers all the cheese to the mice and quits 

his job as watchman. 

January 7, 1956 1907

! tutllre. 

1 

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I 

alls. 

: January 

i 

20356 

i 

1 1 

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m 

569 

I 

RATES: 15c per word, minimum $1.50, cash with copy. Four consecutive insertions for price 

of three. CLOSING DATE: Monday noon preceding publication date. Send copy and 

• answers to Box Numbers to BOXOFFTCE, 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 24, Mo. • 

HELP WANTED 

Theatre personnel, all phases opeiations. 

Register with us for better positions: Nationwide 

service. Theatres Employment, Box 341. Decatur, 

Ala. 

Salesmen, aoents make extra money sell nationally 

advertised automatic Sno-ball Sno-cone macliines 

on easy terms. Sno-Master Mfg. Co., 124 

BC-Hopkins Place, Baltimore 1, Md. 

Managers wanted by progressive New England 

circuit uf tbilty theatres. Must be aggressive 

Itb managerial experience. Write giving 

details. Boxoffice, 7019. 

Wanted aggressive drive-in manager with exploiexperience 

for established drive-in located 

in the niiilwest. Year round position. Write 

giving lull resume, slate salary requirements and 

photo with letter. Applications will be 

confidentially. Boxoffice, 7017. 

House manager ur experienced assistant that 

knows theatre operation for Richmond. Virginia 

afa An mail special delivery full qualifications, 

small photo, references, salary expected, draft 

statu- and marital details. All replies kept strictly 

confidential. Boxoffice, 7022. 

Manager, must know projection emergency, line 

lull detail and salary. Palo Theatre, Lowell, Ind. 

POSITIONS WANTED 

Projectionist wants steady position. Sober, reliable, 

references. Western states. Boxoffice, 7003. 

Manager age 41, twenty years experience small 

and huge town operation. All phases, locate anywhere. 

Boxoffice, 0097. 

Attention, Employers! Contact us for finest 

II personnel. No charge! Nationwide. Theatres 

Employment. Box 341, Decatur, Alabama. 

Versatile, capable manager, exploileer, advertiser, 

pub ieity and display man. Desires position offer- 


Manager available, tun weeks notice. Age 4S, 

experience all phases theatre management. 

[Deluding exploitation, promotion, buying and 

Excellent references. Southwest only. 

Boxnftic 7UII- 

Manager. capable, sober, honest, willing worker, 

lesires change. Married. 


Manager, experienced, qualified. Age 38. At 

P assistant general manager, small circuit. 

Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Boxoffice, 

1014 

Projectionist, 15 years experience. I'refer Simple 

ami small ritv. Aithur Toldness, Millni, 

Wi-. 

BUSINESS STIMULATORS 

Bingo, more action! J4.50.M cards. Other 

lames available, un-off screen. Novelty Games Co., 

106 llogers Ave.. Brooklyn. N. Y. 

Build attendance vvilh real Hawaiian orchid-. 

Few cms each. Write Mowers of Hawaii, 670 

8. Lafayette I'aik 1'lace. Los Angeles 5. Calif. 

Biiiiioihe cut cards. Increase your boxoffice. 

75 to 100 numbers. $4.50 per M. Best Cards. 

Premium 1'roducis. 339 West 44th St., New York 

.«;. N. y. 

Roadshow Attractions! Films and flesh. Guarantee! 

money-gel ters! State wards. Can use good 

(op place for top man! Write Jim Trippe, 

2 la' : Ferry St.. Decatur, Ala. 

Give away genuine red cedar chests! Cost low. 

boxoffice impact great! Hired from factory to 

foil Free details. Box Mil. Decatur, Ala 

GENERAL EQUIPMENT—USED 

Lenses for sale or trade. Pair Ross series II 

i 1. , J", In si II Park 

Mont. 

Hake an offer! Steroplican, pait &% lenses: 

Bin plex acme 

l: Tnlii 

GENERAL EQUIPMENT—NEW 

Best Cinemascope value! Send projection throw, 

screen size, we'll compute your requiiements. 

Cinematic IV adjustable anamorphics, $875 pair. 

Metallic seamless screens 75c sq. ft. Buy on 

time. Dept CC, S.O.S. Cinema Supply Corp.. 602 

W. 52nd St.. New York 19. 

Bargains galore! Holmes patts! Condenser lenses, 

95c; constant speed motors $12.50; shutter shafts 

$1.25: sound optical lenses $9.95; intermittent 

S24.3U; Star-sprocket assembly {10.00; EE-14070 

vertical iJrive-.sh.ift w, 5 gears, bearings $9.75: 

1000W T-20C-13 Mogul prefocus lamps $25.00 

dozen ($3.95 each). Dept. cc, S.O.S. Cinema 

Supply Corp., 002 W. 52nd St. New York 19. 

New automatic enclosed rewinds $69.50; Simplex 

Acme magazines, upper and lower combination 

$39.50. Dept. cc, S.O.S. Cinema Supply Corp., 

602 W. 52nd St., New York 19. 

Holmes projectors, amplifier, speaker, etc.. all 

new. $7jn pair; Strong 50 ampere 3 phase 

rectifiers $325 pair; Anamorphics $::45 pair; 14" 

metal reflectors $24.75; Simplex type intermittent- 

si;2 ."». Century intermittent! $89.50; 

Thousands sensational savings; What do you need? 

Star Cinema Supply. 621 West 55th St., New 

York 19. 

EQUIPMENT 

WANTED 

Steam operated popcorn or peanut machine. Bnxiffice, 

7002. 

DRIVE-IN THEATRE EQUIPMENT 

Drive- In theatre tickets. Send for samples of our 

special printed stub rod tickets for drive-ins. 

Sale, distinctive, easy to check. Kansas Citv Ticket 

Co., Dept 10. 109 W. 18lh St.. "Film Row." 

Kansas City S. Mo. 

Brighten up your drive-in. Three color flags 

with hooks, size 8Hxb'% ft., $1.45 each. Two 

color flags, size 6x3 ft. at 95c each. Samples 

$2.50. David M. Korman Co., 3791 Fullerton. 

Detroit 38. Mich 

Speaker and post covers for all weather, size 

32" long, 13" wide. $19.50 per hundred. A 

sample of four covers. $1.00. David M. Korman 

Co., 3791 Fullerton. Detroit 38. Mich. 

STUDIO AND PRODUCTION 

EQUIPMENT 

Microrecord 16/35mm automatic processing outfits, 

ilemnnstrators. $136.95; Auricon 16mm recorder. 

$295; Neumade editing tables with worklite. 

$58 value. $33.95; Moviola 35mm composit 

sound/picture. $495: Bardwell McAlister studio 

floodlites, 3 heads on rolling stand hold 12 

bulbs, $180 value. $29.50: Quadliteheads only, 

si 95; stands only $19.95: 10' title animation 

stand, motorized zoom, stopmotion. $2,500 value, 

(975 Dept. cc. S.O.S. Cinema Supple Corp.. 602 

W. 52nd St.. New York 19. 

THEATRE SEATING 

Chair supplies, parts for all chairs. Fensin Seat 

ig. Chicago 5 

Repairing and reupholstering In your theatr. 

Fensin Seating. Chicago 5. 

New spring seats for all chairs. Fensin Seating 

Chicago 5 

Patch-oseat cement, permastone anchor cement 

''ensin Seating. Chlcagn 5 

Seat coverings, sewed combination, all style 

Fensin Seating. Chicago 5. 

Plastic leatherette, all colors, send sample 

ensin Seating. Chicago 5 

Upholstery fabrics, all types, send

Now! Bausch & Lomb brings CinemaScope within 

the reach of every theatre . . . even to the smallest size and 

budget! This new lens, too, is made to B&L standards 

of optical quality. It projects clear, sharp CinemaScope 

images ... a fitting companion to the B&L CinemaScope 

Lens that set the standard for the industry. Lens cost is 

no longer an obstacle to your CinemaScope installation . . . 

so ACT TODAY! (Prices on the complete line of 

B&L standard CinemaScope Lenses remain unchanged.) 

SEE YOUR B&L DEALER... 

OR PHONE, WRITE, OR 

WIRE B&L DIRECT TODAY! 

Start your extra CinemaScope profits rolling 

in. Ask for literature and demonstration. 

Bausch & Lomb Optical Company, 73001 St. 

Paul Street. Rochester 2. N. Y. (In Canada 

General Theatre Supply. Toronto, Ont.) 

Academy Honorary Award for optical service lo the industry 

BAUSCH & LOMB A 

B

Boxoffice-January.07.1956

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