Boxoffice-Febuary.19.1955

FEBRUARY 19 1955 

Y 

ine m&to&rt htctuM 

/ TWO CIRCUITS USE TV TO SELL MOTION PICTURES 

ett, teenage program used in Denver by Fo« Intcrmountoin 

trcs, ot right, the informal movie chatter technique utilized by 

2d Rowley Theatres m Little Rock Report on Pages 32-33 

M Pott Ottic* ot Kon 

TOA ACCEPTS BID 

TO PARTICIPATE 

IN 

ROUNDTABLE

^ftt 

Wlien the Music Hall seeks an attra 

tor tne most important playing tin 

THE BIGGEST PICTURE 

FOR THE 

BIGGEST THEATRE.' 

Kussell Downing, J^lanaging 

Director of Radio Citu Miisit^ 

tne year, tne Easter noliaayS; it s( 

tne rinest entertainment tne inclustr 

orrer. 

All over tne nation too, M-C 

\ ^î /-^ /-^T .11

M-G-M presents the perfect 

entertainment for the Easter holiJaifs 

^ 

^ 

A screentul or romance, music, spectacle 

in radiant COLOR starring 

LESLIE CARON 

IICHAEL WILDING 

Willi 

ESTELLE WINWOOD 

EENAN WYNN • 

ELSA LANCHESTER BARRY JONES 

• 

Written For tko Screen ty HELEN DEUTSCH 

Ballet, ty ROLAND PETIT . Featuring BALLET Jc PARIS 

PkolotfrapKeJ in 

EASTMAN COLOR

J 

nirrrted bii 

Df 

ECK 

Sometimes 

/yoiixa n't tell 

- who's good 

and 

I 

who's bad! 

5t 

at the 

rH 

This is James Dean "^ 

hailed as "the most dynamic 

star discovery of the year" 

by LOOK magazine!

^^^^^^

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o/- t/ie "T/letion rictj4^£ //id'Ml'i// 

"YEAR OF DECISION" 

^,( )1\ many years past it has been 

the custom vi industry spokesmen at the advent 

of each New Year to hail if as "A Year of 

Decision." Perhaps 1955 is the year they had 

in mind, what with the momentous internal and 

external |irolilems thai have now reached critical 

proportions and llircalen the very existence of 

a great part of the industry. One of these is 

the age-old perennial of internal conflict over 

film rentals; the other is subscription television 

with which must he cou])led the pfissible forced 

release of 16mm film prints to television stations. 

Iti both there is vital involvement of 

theatre patronage—whether it is to shrink still 

further or whether it can and will be expanded. 

Contention over film rentals, with exhibitors 

complaining that they are too high, dates back 

to just about the beginning of the industrv. 

But never has it reached such a point of widespread 

dissatisfaction as now. While Allied 

and TOA leaders profess concern mainlv over 

the plight of the "little fellows"" in this situation, 

the "big fellows' — inde]iendent and 

affiliated, alike—are voicing deep concern. 

The common question asked is. "\^ here are 

we heading?" 

True, as always, exhibitors seek to bu^ at 

the lovvest possible cost; and distributors seek 

to get the top dollar for their film wares. 

But. sav the c\liii>itors. the demands have become 

so high, they are virtually confiscatory. 

Distributors, on the other hand, point to their 

increased costs, the improvement in quality, the 

iiig grosses in key runs, etc. And, while many 

of these demands are m°t by the exhibitors, 

thev declare they cannot keep it up and keep 

their theatres open. 

Judging from telephone calls, letters and 

personal \ isits we have had from exhibitors, 

not only from our own bailiwick, but from 

various parts of the countr\, following our 

return from Allied's St. lx)uis convention, the 

situation is quite serious. And something will 

have to be done to bring about a rational and 

reasonable solution—or else the industry is 

headed for chaos. This is not to say that the 

industrv in its entirely will suffer the conse- 

(|uences of poorly a])plied psycholog) in buyerseller 

relations, but a great and vital part of 

it is endangered. 

Doubtless there is right and wrong on both 

sides of the picture. Iiut somewhere along the 

line it can be brought into focus— as it nuisl 

lie. if this industry is to grow and prosper 

as it is cajiable of doing. 

Al!ic(l'> proposal of going to the government 

to seek legislation that will create a 

regulatory commission has been cited as a 

move made in desperation. Allied leaders have 

expressed reluctance to institute such action, 

except as a measure of last resort. These men 

the dangers inherent in the passage of such 

legislation, if it is possible, but sfime other 

things that were approached with equal doubt 

and fear came to pass. And. |)arenlhelically. 

it is from some of those develojiments that 

sprang much of the difficulty that exists today. 

The more conservative 1 OA leadt rs 

are voicing 

attitudes closely paralleling those of Allied. 

Both organizations have been eagerly looking 

toward a meeting with authoritative executives. 

preferaliK the presidents, and sales managers 

of the various distributing companies. This 

may or may not serve to fulfill the hopes envisioned. 

Still, if the meeting is held and the 

problems considered with open Tnintis and a 

predetermined willingness to give and take, the 

"decision"" the industry is looking for. may 

be arrived at. 

•The amount of time, money and eflort expended, 

both b\ exhibitors and distributors, in 

wrangling oxer film rentals is a shameful waste. 

Tliis is especially so at a time when there 

should be the greatest possible coordination of 

effort directed toward increasing theatre attendance. 

But the job cannot be properly done 

as long as the great majoritv of exhibitors are 

so tied down wilh negr)tiating. bidding and 

otherwise grappling over the buying of picturebv-pie removed. The internecine 

warfare between exhibitor and distributor 

must be slop|)ed. II lhe\ ve got lo fiiihl. let 

them join forces and fight their common 

enemies, of which there is no scarcity. Thus 

would there be conserved the strength and resources 

that will he needed to successfullv combat 

the television interests that are seeking to 

usurp ibis industry"s product supply. 

1 he best interests of the entire industr\ 

will be served by reconcilinc the differences 

between bu\er and seller. \^'hethcr this can 

he accomplished b\ means of a roundtable 

conferi'nce or conciliation or arbilralioti. makes 

lillle difference, it mav lake all three. The 

imporlanl thing is to do something—and do 

it uilhoul further d('la\. 

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TOA WILL GO TO ROUNDTABLi 

BUT WANTS ACTION, NOT TA 

Board Also Okays Draft 

Of Arbitration With 

Minor Changes 

WASHINGTON — Theatre owners of 

America wUl accept a producer-distributor 

invitation to the proposed all-industi-y 

trade practices roundtable. but declared 

that the agenda must be headed by an 

all-out discussion of the need for "exhibitor 

relief from prohibitive film rentals and 

other inequitable conditions of licensing 

films." 

The invitation was accepted at the midwinter 

meeting held here this week of the 

TOA board and executive committee. 

•BULL SESSION* IS OUT 

The resolution stated that a conference 

which does not go into these problems would 

not be a "full and wholesome conference." 

The TOA leaders said they wanted to make 

it clear that while there are a number of 

other issues to be considered, they are interested 

only in "a meaty" conference and 

not a repetitious "bull session." 

The board and executive committee also 

took the following action; 

1. Accepted in principle the draft of the 

proposed arbitration system now being developed 

in conferences with distribution representatives. 

2. Decided to meet soon with an Allied 

States Ass'n committee to discuss mutual 

problems on the exhibitor front. 

3. Voted to ask the Department of Ji'.stice 

to allow theatres affiliated with divorced 

circuits to contribute to the Exhibitors Film 

Financing Group, the organization being 

sponsored by TOA to stimulate independent 

film production. 

4. Recommended that a nationwide clinic 

be held to train anti-toll TV speakers, to 

help combat propaganda for pay-as-you-.see 

television. 

5. Decided to look into establishment of 

a research project for the film industry. 

As to arbitration, Alfred Starr said the 

board had accepted in principle the latest 

plan, .subject to those minor points needing 

clarification, which the five-man exhibitor 

committee, including TOA members Herman 

Levy, Si Fabian and Mitchell Wolfson, 

along with representatives of the Metropolitan 

Theatre Owners Association of New- 

York and the Independent Theatre Owners 

Ass'n, would present Thursday (17) at a 

meeting with their five distributor counterparts. 

NO REAL POINTS OF DIFFERENCE 

They would not disclose details of their 

recommendations in advance of this conference, 

but agreed that "there are no points 

of difference which appear to be beyond 

solution." Tliey ducked all questions regarding 

inclusion of film rentals under arbitration. 

They voiced enthusiasm, however, over the 

progress of achieving a workable system 

maHo in inint. pvhihit.nr-rti.st.ribiitnr discus- 

Want Divorced Chains 

In On Film Financing 

WASHINGTON—A TOA committee 

made up of Alfred Starr, President E. D. 

Martin, Mitchell Wolfson and Walter 

Reade met with officials of the antitrust 

division of the Justice Department on 

Tuesday, asked them to permit divorced 

exhibitor circuits to invest money in the 

EFFG, organized to promote independent 

film production. 

The committee receded from its original 

intention of aslting Justice to go 

along with its previous resolution that 

such "consent decree" companies be permitted 

to engage directly in production, 

but with continued protection against 

monopoly, on the grounds that it was 

not qualified to speak for such firms. 

The Dof J officials were requested to 

specify conditions under which such permission 

would be granted, and asked to 

reply before May 15. when the first 

stockholders' meeting of EFFG is scheduled. 

TOA spokesmen said they felt the 

matter would be given careful consideration. 

sions—a system that would prove "effective, 

inexpensive and available to all exhibitors." 

The proposed system, they said, "covers 

much more ground than the 1952 plan." 

The Exhibitors Film Financing Group w-ill 

shortly pass the million dollar mark in 

actual cash subscriptions and fu-m pledges, 

the board and executive committee was told 

by Sam Pinanski. 

The fight against toll television wa.s a 

major topic on Monday (14), on which day 

it was also revealed that a meeting between 

Allied and TOA leaders would be set within 

a few weeks, at which time common exhibitor 

problems will be discussed. 

A TOA delegation went to the Justice Department 

on Tuesday to confer with Justice 

officials on permission for divorced chains 

to contribute to the Exhibitors Film Financing 

Group. 

HOPE FOR MAY 15 MEETING 

TOA hopes that a stockholders mreting 

of EFFG can be held by May 15, and that 

a staff can be hired, with the further possibility 

that film production plans may be 

sufficiently advanced to make public. 

Already 7,500 prospectuses have been 

mailed. 7.500 more will go out. all U. S. theatre 

owners will be asked to subscribe, and 

in addition EFFG plans an immediate start 

on maiUng of subscription forms and prospectuses 

to companies in all lines allied with 

the theatre business except production and 

distribution. EFFG is registered and ready 

to go in 44 states, and subscriptions are expected 

from Canada and Mexico. 

Alfred Starr, national co-chairman of the 

Joint Committee on Toll TV and former 

TOA nresident. read a report on that subject. 

It was decided that TOA s! 

up the Joint Committee to the 1 

was predicted that industries i 

film theatres would join the fig 

as advertising agencies, televisic 

now in operation, and organizatic 

to save city downtown areas by 

"a free flow of people" to the tr< 

for 

shopping and recreation. 

The meeting approved alert 

r(x>ts" exhibitors to follow the 

propaganda" favoring pay-as-yoi 

appears in their own newspapers 

these newspapers to counteract 

ments. 

URGE GRASS ROOTS CLINIC 

It was recommended that ki 

pared by the Joint Committee : 

to these small-tow^l and neighb 

hibitors. in the words of a TOA 

a press conference, "so that our 

bership and all theatre owners ma 

and be able to expose these falla< 

levels." Also recommended was a 

clinic to train anti-toll TV spea 

Nobody at the press conference 

TOA se.ssions would discuss the 

posal for a law providing federa 

of the film industry. 

The board decided on annual 

of the Year" award, approved ] 

as the site for the annual TOA 

in October, reaffirmed TOA's 

COMPO. and endorsed solicitatii 

for the anti-toll TV fight. 

A final resolution adopted b> 

would look into the possibility 

industry research program witl 

pressing problems. President I 

directed to consult with the exl 

toll TV committee, and research 

recently organized by National I 

AB-PT with regard to organizini 

along these lines, and to report 

60 days. 

WB's Old 'Looney T 

Sold to Guild for T\ 

NEW YORK—Approximately 

and-white "Looney Tunes" car 

produced by Leon Schlesinger 

Bros, release, have been acquir( 

Films for TV distribution. T 

cartoon subjects also include 

"Buddy's Adventures" and "Bos 

among others. 

The deal, which was hand 

William MoitIs Agency, was co 

tween Rube Kaufman, presidei 

Films, and Aaron Katz and CI' 

sitting in for Guild, and Nor 

short subjects sales head of W 

sitting in with Howard Houser 

Brodax. representing Sunset Pr 

Warner Bros, subsidiary. 

New Loew's Dividei 

NEW YORK—Loew's, Inc., We 

declared a dividend of 25 cents 

the common stock, payable R 

stockholders of record March IE

)RDERS TOLL TV HEARING; 

ISES IMMEDIATE APPROVAL 

losophy 

nission 

les 

scription television 

the shelf by the 

ns Commission on 

Commission foimrguments 

on a long 

the proposed new 

idUne was set for 

«ments. In effect, 

1 arguments was a 

dio and Television's 

?diate approval of 

; PROCEEDING 

"the purpose of this 

le whether the Comts 

rules and regulaon 

stations to transdirectly 

on a subiequent 

notices, the 

:'ee categories: law, 

tie Commission will 

ceedings as may be 

including oral hear- 

; of demonstrations, 

down the questions 

nterested parties to 

ling, the FCC asks 

y to authorize and 

whether pay-asidered 

broadcasting 

ther type of service, 

he power to assign 

if use, and if legal 

amendments to the 

uld be necessary, 

"fact." come several 

IS such posers as 

an of the interferice 

. . cost to the 

. 

;, methods and orengage 

in toll TV; 

for additional rev- 

•ces . . . anticipated 

TV to increase the 

d bring the public 

le . . . roles to be 

icture industry and 

JESTIONS 

:erest" are questions 

ption TV will genfective 

use of radio 

"Safeguards to inill 

continue to reprogramming 

with- 

:ds to prevent monether 

it should be 

hours or segment 

permitted on more 

Tiunity or be limited 

ities ... be limited 

to stations in small 

tion of a subscripen 

filed by Zenith 

Anti-Toll TV Fighters 

Hail FCC Decision 

NEW YORK—The FCC decision to investigate 

subscription television has been 

applauded by Trueman T. Rembusch and 

Alfred Starr, co-chairmen of the Joint Committee 

on toll TV. They said the investigation 

"will disclose the tremendous latent opposition 

on the part of the public as TV set 

owners, the TV industry. HoUjnvood and 

other interested parties." 

"The FCC members," their statement said, 

"are to be congratulated on their democratic 

approach to a controversial and little-understood 

issue. You cannot broadcast free 

TV and toll TV simultaneously over the 

same channel. One eliminates the other." 

Rembusch and Starr stressed that their 

committee is against free airwaves, not the 

use of coaxial lines which don't require FCC 

approval. 

Skiatron Head Welcomes 

Investigation 

by FCC 

NEW YORK— "The FCC decision should be 

welcomed with relief and utmost enthusiasm 

by all who have the true interests of the 

TV industry at heart." Arthur Levey, president 

of Skiatron Electronics and Television 

Corp., said. Skiatron has filed with the FCC 

in behalf of its subscriber-vision system. 

Levey said too much time has been lost 

in discussions. 

"There is no longer any question that 

television must be given a boxoffice or suffer 

Radio and Skiatron, as well as by a number 

of UHF TV stations. Objections to immediate 

authorization, according to the FCC, "have 

been made by the National Association of 

Radio and Television Broadcasters and the 

Joint Committee on Toll TV, the latter representing 

theatre owners." 

Aside from the systems which have petitioned 

for approval of pay-as-you-see. there 

is a third method. This is Telemeter, advanced 

by International Telemeter Corp. 

Zenith asked the FCC for one of three 

actions: Immediate approval without further 

proceedings, the calUng of immediate hearings, 

or preliminary consideration of the 

matter leading to possible approval. 

Hits Gangsterism in Films 

NEW YORK—Dr. Hugh M. Flick, New 

York chief censor and considered a friend 

of the industry, said during the week there 

seemed to be too much stress in Hollywood 

on the production of films dealing with 

gangsterism. He particularly criticized films 

that played up a supposed underworld code 

and ridiculed law enforcement agencies. 

the dire consequences," he said. "It is up to 

the FCC now to look the facts in the face and 

make its own decision. I for one. have no 

doubt what it will be." 

Zenith 

Radio Head Expresses 

Delight With FCC Decision 

CHICAGO—Commdr. E. F. McDonald jr.. 

president of Zenith Radio Corp., announced 

here that in its decision to institute a rulemaking 

proceeding to consider approval of 

subscription television as a broadcast service, 

"the Federal Communications Commission 

followed one of the three alternative procedures 

suggested in the Zenith petition filed 

last November." 

McDonald said that this procedure will 

enable those interested to show the Commission 

and the American public, with a 

minimum of delay, that subscription television 

can bring right into the American 

living room "the great entertainment which 

is not now available except in the theatre 

or stadium." 

"If subscription TV is approved by the 

Commission," he stated, "it will function 

as an addition to the regular broadcasting 

service now available. It will be operated 

as a part-time service by regular TV stations 

over existing channels, and will be received 

by the public over their present television 

receivers at a cost which will be a fraction 

of today's boxoffice prices." 

Supreme Court Asked 

To Rule on Co-ops 

WASHINt; li i\ riie Supreme Court on 

Monday iHi r;ed to find that a filmbuying 

cooperative violates the antitrust 

laws when it serves theatres in both open 

and closed situations. G&P Amusement Co., 

operators of the now-closed Moreland Theatre 

in Cleveland, lost the case in the lower 

courts. 

G&P Is suing Regent Theatre, Its competition 

in Cleveland, other companies owned 

by the owners of the Regent, Co-Operative 

Theatres of Ohio, and 20th Century-Fox, 

Loew's, Warners and Universal. Co-op Theatres 

was the central booking agent for the 

theatres being sued. A Supreme Court decision 

can have wide effect on film buying 

practices through Co-ops. 

G&P charged that Co-op Theatres used 

Its closed-situation buying power as a lever 

over the four distributors to secure choice 

films for the Regent, forcing the Moreland 

to close.

'puiUc Smt4^ 

Theatre Screens May Press 

Drive Against Toll TV 

TOA board advocates production and release 

gratis ol film to educate public on local 

level; Paul MacNamara of Telemeter says 

exhibitors should plan to seek franchises for 

system instead of waging losing battle. 

* 

Joint Drafting Committee 

Meets at MPAA Quarters 

Progre.ss is reported after five-liour conference, 

presided by Ralph B. Hetzel, MPAA 

vice-president; further meetings will be held 

between representatives of exhibition and 

distribution. 

* 

Nation's Theatres Prepare 

To Back Brotherhood Week 

starting Sunday (20i 15,000 will featui'e 

special newsreel, lobby displays, fund solicitations; 

producers, distributors, supply, service 

equipment companies aiding; John Harris, 

national chairman, issues me.ssage of thanks. 

* 

N. Y. Exhibitors Win Debate 

Over Amusement Tax Return 

City controller now estimates $10,816,487 

for fiscal year, compared with earlier budget 

estimate of $16,000,000, which was bitterly 

challenged ; figures pre.sented by Harry 

Brandt, Emanuel Frisch and others proved 

accurate. 

* 

Says Classification System 

Will Replace Censorship 

That is the opinion of Dr. Hugh M. Flick, 

head of the New York state cen.sor.ship board; 

believes first state to adopt plan of judging 

films 

may be Virginia. 

* 

E. C. Rhoden Would Back 

Film Industry TV Show 

Pi-esident of National Theatres stated he 

is ready to support financially an all-out 

movement of program to sell HoUjTvood and 

its product: suggests half-hour period each 

Sunday between 5 and 6 p.m. 

* 

Deluge of Color TV Sets 

i Unlikely, Say Makers 

Only about 10,000 were made last year: 

estimate for this year ranges from a total 

of 100,000 to an optimistic 250,000; not all 

of last 

year's sets have been sold. 

• 

Eric Johnston Plans Return 

From Middle East Mission 

MPAA president due back soon as agreement 

nears on Israeli-Arab water storage 

dispute he is negotiating as personal Eisenhower 

envoy; plans final visit there later. 

• 

Drive-In Theatre Draws 

In Near-Zero Weather 

More than 200 persons attend Garden 

Auto-Torium at Ledgewood, N. J., which is 

experiencing its first winter season in a 

McGee Replies to Chai 

OnCOMPONameMisi 

NEW YORK—Pat McGee, president of the 

Rocky Mountain Council of Motion Rcture 

Organizations, has answered the Allied States 

Ass'n criticism of the use by regional organizations 

of the COMPO name. At its annual 

m.eeting last week, the Allied board recommended 

to national COMPO that state and 

legional groups be denied the use of the term 

or to undertake functions which are normally 

those handled by exhibitor associations. 

To this criticism, McGee i.ssued the following 

statement: 

"I have been asked to comment on the 

resolution passed by the Allied States board 

of directors to the effect that national 

COMPO ought not to permit the use of its 

name in connection with state organizations 

or units. 

"Inasmuch as there are only two regional 

units using the name of COMPO, Texa-s 

COMPO and Rocky Mountain COMPO, I 

must assume that these two units are the 

ones being criticized. When Texas COMPO 

was first organized, it is my belief that 

Colonel Cole, former president of Allied, was 

the motivating force. In my association with 

Colonel Cole I admired the workings of Texas 

COMPO. Consequently, when I became president 

of the Colorado Ass'n of Theatres, the 

oldest exhibitor unit of the Rocky Mountain 

region, I proposed to our board of directors 

that we broaden the basis for membership in 

order to more effectively organize our 

strength to guard against adverse legislation 

in tax, censorship and other matters. 

"The board of directors approved changing 

Exhibitors in 

Texas COMPO 'Oscar 

DALLAS—Exhibitors apparently are sold 

on the value of tieing into the Academy 

Awards. Less than two weeks after Texas 

COMPO announced it was sponsoring an 

'Oscar Race." in which movie patrons would 

try to name the winners, exhibitors in 38 

states, including 150 in Texas, had signed 

up for the promotion. Texas COMPO was 

so swamped by orders for the at-cost promotional 

package that the organization at 

midweek was forced to tmii down new 

orders. 

The campaign, which aims to sell cuiTcnt 

product and the theatre as a community 

ULstitution, began Thiu-sday (17) when participating 

theatres stai'ted running an announcement 

trailer. This trailer will be run 

until March 3 when the four-week balloting 

campaign gets under w'ay. 

Because of the instantaneous success of 

the "Oscar Race," the Texas organization 

already has amiounced that it will stage 

an even bigger Academy tiein contest in 

1956. Although details have not been worked 

out, Kyle Rorex, executive director of Texas 

COMPO, said that theatres throughout the 

country will be able to participate in the 

promotion, and that the prize list wUl include 

big-ticket merchandise, such as automobiles 

and home appliances as well as 

the name of our organization to Ro 

tain Council of Motion Picture Or{ 

and we are soliciting memberships 

ply houses, buyers and bookers of ( 

groups, film salesmen and all othe 

of the industry which formerly w 

representation because they didn't 

atres. 

"The Rocky Mountain COMPO 

a luncheon at the Cosmopolitan 

Denver on January 13, at which 

were members of the state legisi 

other elected officials, including 

Stephen MacNichols. George Murp 

guest speaker. After the lunchec 

a brief business session in whic 

membership on the part of all pres 

ing out specifically that the meml 

board of Rocky Mountain COM! 

members of both TOA and AUiei 

the exhibitors present to continue 

port of either TOA or Allied or boi 

preference dictated. 

"In all friendliness, I must emp 

fact that Rocky Mountain COMPC 

to replace any exhibitor organi; 

the fact remains that it is the 

of the largest exhibitor organizat 

Rocky Mountain area. Our single 

to defend our mutual industry i 

adverse factors. We do not expect 

tate any raids on other organiz 

any fight within our ranks. We me 

in the principle of all interested 

our industry being organized ii 

group." 

38 States Pick Up 

Promotic 

on an "0.scar Race" designed fc 

giving passes as prizes and i 

Derby" in which merchandise will 1 

winners. 

In the cunent promotion, mov 

will try and pick wimiers in six 

of the Academy Awards—best pi 

actor and actress, best supporting 

actress and best director. 

"Tlie beauty of this promotion, 

lating extra attendance," explair 

"is that patrons will come back 

in order to have extra chances ol 

The package which has been s 

hibitors at $25 includes an ann 

trailer and a 40 x 60 Day-Glo 

i 

the theatre front, a second tra 

explains the rules of the contest, 

poster to place in the lobby n( 

ballot box, and 1,000 entry bli 

ditional blanks are being sold at 

thousand. 

Praises 'Long Gray ] 

NEW YORK—Mrs. Dean Gray 

motion picture chairman of thi 

Council of Women of the U. S., 1 

members a glowing letter about

i5 

BOO KING 

CALENDAR 

lEPUBLIC 

IVCCEPTS 

rHE 

CHALLENGE. 

'O DELIVER THE BIG PICTURES 

XHIBITORS WANT... 

¥HEN EXHIBITORS NEED 

rHEM MOST... 

^ "iku^'f 

with a guarantee of consistent and regular release throughout 

1955 of the greatest number of top money productions in

My opti7nis7n for the 

future of motion pictures is 

M expressed by putting more 

money into 

expansion and 

/f ^9 

- 

^ 

production at 

Republic for 

1955, than at any time in 

the history of the company. 

HERBERT J. YATES 

TIMBERJA 

STERLING HAYDEN VERA RALSTON 

ADOLPHE MENJOU • HOAGY CARMICHAEL 

Associate Producer-Director JOE KANE TRUCOLOF 

• 

i 

k 

TEXAS LEGIONNAIRES 

STERLING ANNA MARIA J CARROLL 

HAYDEN ALBERGHETTI NAISH 

Directed by FRANK LLOYD • TRUCOLOR by Consolidated 

THE ETERNAL 

STERLING 

ALEXIS 

HAYDEN SMITH J 

Associate Producer-Director JOHN H. AU 

^*^^ 

x^M'" 

^^^ .v^ 

' 

''^^^'

M TEXAS 

• 

FREEMAN LEE J. COBB 

NE • TRUCOLOR bv Consolidated 

REBEL ISLAND 

YVONNE DE CARLO • 

Associate Producer-Director Edward Ludwig 

ZACHARY SCOTT • 

HOWARD DUFF 

TRUCOLOR by Consolidated 

6 WATCH 

R by Consolidated 

F THE YEAR . . FROM 

5HS BEST-SELLER! 

THE GUNMAN 

starnng 

RAY MILLAND 

Directed by Ray Milland • TRUCOLOR by Consolidated 

i_ 

/^ fc. 

'r'*^ 

u>.

. 

Productions listed below are but a part of the box-office pictures that will make up 

Republic's 20th year of entertainment. 

^ 

Today, more stories are in preparation or in work at the Studio than ever before 

K 

Best sellers to be produced with famous stars and top directors. 

O 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

TROUBU l„ the eiBM 

starring Margaret Lockwood, Orson Welles, and Forrest Tucker. Produced and 

directed by Herbert Wilcox In Trucolor by Consolidated. A romantic adventure by 

the author of "The Quiet Man." 

The ATOMIC KID 

Co-starring Mickey Rooney and Robert (Stalag 17) Strauss A laugh explosion 

when someone slips a "Mickey" into atomic tests. A Mickey Rooney Production, 

directed by Leslie H. Martinson. 

HEWS OUTPOST 

Rod Cameron, loan Leslie, Chill Wills. The most explosive action picture of the 

year. From the novel, "Silver Rock," by Luke Short Associate 

Producer-Director Joe Kane 

AFRICAN MANHUNT 

Danger and excitement as the hunt for a killer reaches into the untamed 

jungles of Africa. 

TROUBLE IN STORE 

With the great international comedian, Norman Wisdom, and Margaret 

Rutherford 

A real belly-laugh comedy. 

CAROLINA CANNONBALL 

Hi-jinks with the inimitable Judy Canova in another great laugh hit. 

The SQUARE RING 

Heart, sweat and tears, in a punch-packed drama of the fight game. 

DOCTOR In the HOUSE 

Universally acclaimed as the smash hit of the year, with the stars of "Genevieve." 

An irreverent story of medical students-their trials, their errors, their loves. 

A DAY to REMEMBER 

A fast-moving story of light-hearted romance. 

TIMBERJACK 

Robust adventure as wild as the north country which Is its magnificent 

setting. From the novel by Dan Cushman. 

DON JUAN'S NIGHT »' 

LOVE 

Passion and Intrigue in the romantic days of Madame Pompadour. 

The ETERNAL SEA 

The romance of the sea, the love of a woman, and the dramatic story of the 

courage of a gallant Navy hero. 

YELLOWNECK 

Rare suspense as five deserters escape from the battlefield, only to face death 

in 

the Everglades. Trucolor by Consolidated. 

SANTA fE PASSAGE 

The Dynamic story of fighting men and beautiful women, with heart-stopping 

action, thrills and romance. 

© 

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© 

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COVER THE UNDERWO 

Trigger-fast action as a priest Invades the underworld to 

brother, a big-shot racketeer. 

MAGIC FIRE 

Three women thrilled to his romantic fire, the world to hi 

the life 

and loves of Richard Wagner. 

MYSTERY of the BLACK JL 

The terror of the untamed, as men stalk the mysterious 

j 

MAN FROM TEXAS 

Roaring outdoor saga of the early frontier, from the Satu 

story that thrilled millions. 

PHANTOM RACKETEER 

Mystery and suspense of a hidden killer in a crime-ridde 

The BIG JACKPOT 

A fast moving comedy romance of a big money payoff thi 

Lady Luck and Dan Cupid. 

REBEL ISLAND 

Romance and intrigue in the lush tropical setting of the 

TEXAS LEGIONNAIRE 

The immortal story of the Alamo and the Texans' nevett 

for freedom. 

CIRCUS GIRL 

The spectacle of circus life against the exotic backgroi 

THE GUNMAN 

Academy Award-winning Ray Mllland will star in and dir< 

an original by Talbot Jennings and John Tucker Battle. I 

drama, in Trucolor by Consolidated. 

The BIG WHISPER 

Virginia Van Upp will write and produce the film versloi 

a high suspense drama of continental Intrigue 

THREE LEAVES of a SH4iM 

John Ford, the only four-time Academy Award-winning dl 

his magic touch to Ireland, setting of his boxoffice hit, ' 

The VILLAGE DOCTOR 

A warm, human-interest drama about medicine and faith 

Trucolor by Consolidated. 

ANNIE JORDAN 

The Mary Brinker Post novel has sold millions of copies, 

cast of great star names. 

The LONG WATCH 

Action and excitement aboard an old tramp steamer flyir 

From Robert F Mirvish's best-seller Filmed in Trucolor

EAD SEES GOOD PRODUCT AHEAD 

UP; 

ITER'S BUSINESS IS 

SPECTS BRIGHT: RHODEN 

inuing improvement 

jality is the factor 

marily responsible 

a heartening in- 

,se in grosses and 

imated profits durthe 

first seven 

declared on 

when the 

;ks of the new fiscal 

ir's second quarter, 

ner C. Rhoden, presnt 

of National Thees, 

esday (15 1 

;uit held its annual 

ckholders' meeting 

e. 

Voicing confidence in 

md the industry as 

; initial seven-week 

rter showed a boost 

and estimated profof 

12 per cent over 

ir. 

that the improved 

le circuit executive 

is "problematical" 

:nt to overcome the 

i fiscal year's first 

ngs were approxi- 

\ in the preceding 

long way," Rhoden 

acute shortage of 

uing the exhibition 

:n support of that 

anding" features to 

ry, March and April 

,y eight made availee 

months of 1954. 

ised flow of quality 

!d to the fact that 

ts in production and 

'pretty well standiScope, 

VistaVision 

•coming features to 

;rence are, he said, 

n a long, long time, 

the grosses of the 

iroughout the counfrom 

20th Century- 

>.s Like Show Busi- 

Man Called Peter"; 

—•'The Bridges at 

jirl" and "Strategic 

tn United Artists 

— 

irple Plain": a pair 

;;ry" and "East of 

le Long Gray Line," 

Under the Sea," 

r!" and MGM's "Hit 

ages, 

Rhoden made 

zed, however, that 

t has been made in 

•re is still a great 

xample, we recently 

Theatre. New York, 

should have played 

NT Seeking New Ways 

To Boost Earnings 

LOS ANGELES—National Theatres has 

completed divestment of 105 theatres, the 

number required under terms of the 

consent decrees—and is now ready to 

develop a program aimed at increasing 

the circuit's earning capacity, E. C. 

Rhoden, president, informed stockholders 

this week. 

Among the projects outlined were: 

1. The circuit intends to add theatres 

to its holdings. This it may do with 

court approval. Rhoden pointed to the 

fast growing ai'eas in the Rocky Mountain 

and Pacific Northwest states and 

said National Theatres must be prepared 

to furnish theatres in new localities. 

2. A diligent search is being made for 

investments in allied amusements, but 

the specific areas in which National 

Theatre.s is interested were not named 

by Rhoden. 

3. Research into advertising and promotion 

will be expanded, with special projects 

already approved for Richmond and 

Salinas, Calif, to test new policies, and 

two additional projects now being prepared 

to try new advertising approaches. 

4. Tlie circuit is negotiating for installation 

of Todd-AO equipment in key 

cities, and is hopeful that it wUl be 

able to show "Oklahoma!" first production 

made in that system, during the 

final quarter of the fiscal year. 

5. Rhoden said RCA recently demonstrated 

wide-screen color television "of 

high quality" and that 20th Century-Fox 

wUl have its new model of the Eidophor 

color TV system ready in a matter of 

months. National Theatres is prepared 

to install theatre television "whenever 

we can see a source of good entertainment." 

five—but we had no film to take its place! 

That condition exists in many of our key 

situations. Perhaps the greatest ray of hope 

lies in the fact that many new independent 

producers are launching out on Uieir own. 

Perhaps this company will have to help 

finance some of them, as it's only through 

production of more important pictures that 

the motion picture business can improve." 

NT is now in a position to embark upon a 

program of expanding its earnings as a result 

of its compliance with the government's con- 

.sent decree and its divestiture of 105 theatres, 

Rhoden declared. The program to this 

end calls for investment in additional theatres 

and allied phases of the amusement industry: 

stimulating attendance through comprehensive 

advertising and sales research and 

experimentation: liquidation of unproductive 

properties, and Introduction of new techniques 

such as the Todd-AO process, which will first 

be shown to the public when "Oklahoma!" is 

premiered in New 'Vork and Los Angeles, 

probably early in May. Rhoden reminded 

that NT has a 4 16 per cent interest in the 

profits from "Oklahoma!" and an option to 

acquire approximately 4 per cent of the stock 

of the Magna Theatre Corp. 

TV A POTENT HELP 

The circuit head reiterated his opinion that 

television, properly utilized, can be of "great 

value" in promoting and exploiting motion 

pictures, and said two research projects for 

inaugurating new TV advertising policies have 

been approved for Richmond and Salinas, 

Calif. 

Stockholders re-elected all incumbent directors—Gregson 

Bautzer, John B. Bertero, Peter 

Colefax, B. F. Giles, Earle G. Hines, Willard 

W. Keith, Alan May, Richard W. Millar, 

Rhoden, P. H. Ricketson jr. and Graham L. 

Sterling jr.. while elected as a new board 

member was George H. Heyman jr. Shareholders 

also approved, by a vote of 1,932.322 

to 54.799. a stock option plan permitting 20 

key executives to acquire NT stock at 95 

per cent of a given market price. 

Of 2,769,486 outstanding shares, 81.32 per 

cent were represented at the meeting in person 

or by proxies. 

Following the stockholders' session, the 

board re-elected all company officers, including 

Rhoden as president: Ricketson, vicepresident: 

Bertero, vice-president and counsel: 

E. P. Zabel, vice-president: May, vicepresident 

and treasurer; T. H. Sword, secretary; 

Laurence A. Peters, assistant secretary; 

Paul F. Scherer, assistant treasurer and 

assistant secretary, and A. M. Ahlskog, 

assistant treasurer. 

Stanley Kramer to Make 

UA Film in VistaVision 

NEW YORK— "The Pride and the Passion," 

Stanley Kramer's next pi-oduction for United 

Artists, will be filmed in Technicolor and 

VistaVision. the first American production 

other than a Paramount film, to be made in 

that process. 

Kramer, who has completed producing 

and directing "Not as a Stranger" for UA 

release, will leave for Europe late in April, 

to produce and direct "The Pride and the 

Passion" entirely on location in Spain. Edna 

and Edward Anhalt are writing the screenplay, 

which is based on C. S. Forrester's 

novel. "The Gun." 

'King and I' May Be Shot 

In 65mm as Well as CS 

NEW YORK — Twentieth Ccntury-Fox. 

which has been contemplating releasing a 

film in 65mm as well as in Cinemascope, 

is now studying the possibility of handling 

"The King and I," a musical, in that 

manner, but no decision has been made. 

Shooting will start on the film this year.

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20th 

CENTURY-FOX I

ALLIED'S LEGISLATIVE DRIV 

TO HAVE GRASS ROOTS TOL/i 

ST. LOUIS—When Allied gets its campaign 

rolling to win government control of 

film rentals, it will be on the same kind of a 

grass roots level as marked the successful 

effort to gain admission tax relief. 

Allied's new president, Ruben Shor, so described 

this type of campaign at the final sessions 

of the organization'.s drive-in convention 

here last week. He advised exhibitors 

to benefit from the experiences of the tax 

campaign, and stressed the necessity for 

every theatreman to personally know his 

congressman and senator. 

This personal contact is essential if Allied 

leaders are to accomplish the steps necessary 

to win relief for Allied members, he declared. 

MAY BE FORESTALLED 

Before a bill is tossed into the congressional 

hopper, however, two steps will be taken 

which may forestall the Allied campaign. 

One is an anticipated top level roundtable 

conference with distribution company presidents 

and sales managers which Al Lichtman, 

director of sales for 20th Century-Pox, has 

offered to sponsor. The other is a meeting 

to be held between committees of Theatre 

Owners of America and Allied to discuss mutual 

problems. 

Envelopments at these two meetings may 

well solve some of Allied's complaints. Lichtman 

is of the opinion that a meeting with 

company presidents, at which firm decisions 

on trade problems can be reached, will erase 

many of the basic complaints of exhibitors. 

The 20th-Fox sales director originally proposed 

a roundtable conference several montiis 

ago at a meeting of the Council of Motion 

Picture Organizations. However, the roundtable 

idea was delayed on the theory that the 

industry's arbitration system should be 

worked out first. 

AlUed criticized this delay, a criticism 

which was answered at the final convention 

session last week by William C. Gehring, 

executive assistant sales director for 20th- 

Fox. 

ARBITRATION IMPORTANT' 

"While Allied leaders regard arbitration as 

not important," he said, "there is a vast number 

of other exhibitors who do agree that 

arbitration is essential and would prove of 

great benefit to the entire fUm industry." 

Gehring predicted that a roundtable could 

be set up within the next three weeks, and 

that such problems as film rentals and clearances 

could be settled satisfactorily enough 

to sidetrack plans to seek government relief. 

He also touched on the problem of print 

shortages. He denied there was a deliberate 

attempt on the part of distributors to create 

an artificial shortage. He pointed to physical 

handicaps with respect to providing sufficient 

prints because a single print can be used only 

in 11 theatres on the average. 

Gehring said there are 11,287 theatres 

equipped for Cinemascope pictures, of which 

3,200 have stereophonic sound facilities. The 

remainder use optical sound. His company 

buys 285 prints for full sound pictures and 

195 for the optical sound versions. Each print 

SIGN CONVENTION CONTR.ACT—Leaders of four organizations, .\llied 

Ass'n, Theatre Equipment and Supply Manufacturers Ass'n, Theatre Equipment 

Ass'n and International Popcorn Ass'n, are shown signing a contract for tliei 

bined convention scheduled November 6-9 at the Morrison Hotel in Chicago, 

left to right: Fred Matthews, Motiograph, Inc., president of TESMA; Jack 

president of Allied Theatres of Chicago, and Thomas J. Sullivan, executive vic( 

dent and counsel of IPA, Chicago. Standing are Robert Hoff, Ballantyne 

i 

Co., 

director of TESMA, and A. F. Myers, National Allied counsel, Washington. 

average Cinemascope production is about 

$360,000. 

The average first run clearance is 28 days, 

he said, and Fox must stagger the second 

run dates when that period runs out. 

This creates an economic situation which is 

No Management Voice, 

But Oh That Moola! 

Washington—.\Uied may not have gone 

ahead with its plan to get exhibitors to 

buy stock in film producing companies in 

order to obtain an exhibitor voice in company 

management, but the idea paid off 

for some Allied leaders. 

When .\llied announced about a year 

ago that it intended to seek an exhibitor 

hand in distribution policies, a number of 

exhibitors having the necessary resources 

or credit acquired shares of certain of the 

major companies for the sole purpose of 

aiding in the plan. The shares of these 

companies thereafter rose steadily and 

those exhibitors, points out board chairman 

A. F. Myers in his annual report, 

"indirectly and unwittingly became the 

beneficiaries of the very conditions which 

it was the purpose of the plan to correct." 

Myers thinks the idea is still a plausible 

one, and if put into practice would be 

vindicated, but he frankly admits that 

with film company earnings zooming 

through the roof "to new and undreamed 

of heights, it would be difficult to persuade 

most stockholders to interfere with 

the management" 

difficult to deal with to the sati 

everyone in exhibition, he said. 

"We have terrific problems in 

pames," he continued, setting 1 

problems as dealing with top stars 

pictures, and the fact that the cos 

thing has gone up from automob 

glass of beer at the corner taven 

"The producers must be solvent 

to be in a position to make the tj 

tures the American public demands 

sensible man will think that 20tl 

Fox can continue to make profits 

tomers are not making money. 

"You in turn don't want to 

bankrupt film producing companii 

clared. 

He brought out that the Indus 

ting better pictures from all com 

gardless of the medium of presenta 

film industry in tlie past 23 m 

come a long way and will go fart 

next 23 months if we work toget 

ness all the way around is what w( 

said. 

President Shor in commenting or 

talk declared that the exhibitor al 

perienced the same sharp increi 

other costs as did production and d 

But when the exhibitor brings t 

meetings with distribution repr< 

they indicate they don't want to 

overhead in the theatre in fixing fi 

and grosses. Secondly, he said, he 

understand why the film companie 

to make adjustments after pictures 

rather than fixing the right price 

contract is signed. However, he p; 

to Mr. Gehring for his personal del 

pvhihitnr.q at. all levels;.

• 

be 

' 

months 

, Alida 

ofDCA 

ioard 

d of directors of 

;n was elected by 

stributors Corp. of 

mnual stockholders 

aton Astor Hotel 

will elect officers 

held shortly. 

Schwartz, president 

o wa-s instrumental 

« distribution firm. 

Charles Boasberg, 

rank Milton. Leslie 

Seider and Irving 

meeting was the 

release of several 

E>CA has 

J John Silver." the 

rring Robert Newn 

bookings in New 

as the meet while 

ritish-made feature 

Valli and 

at the Plaza Thea- 

15. A print of "I 

England by Remus 

Shelley Winters, 

ulie Harris, is ex- 

May. "Hunters of 

y's first release, is 

dian Chain 

10 Deal 

Players Canadian 

;rols and operates 

nest theatres rangto 

Victoria, has 

ition deal with 20th 

result in an estim 

rentals for the 

greement, in which 

11 exhibit 20th-Fox 

s, is the largest deal 

i-Pox 

Cinemascope 

sre worked out 'by 

;sident of Famous 

Hube Bolstead and 

leatre organization, 

or of distribution; 

tant general sales 

;, Canadian division 

th-Fox. 

u Figures 

itimate 

compiled by Sind- 

CouncU of Motion 

ve been confirmed 

I 21 months by the 

er said during the 

ested the statistics 

;ampaign to obtain 

Uef. 

;ures for the 1952 

ed on his sampling 

COMPO in 

March 

ie up of $28,000,000 

000,000 from proal 

Revenue Bureau 

ure at $51,908,000, 

timate of two years 

• 

percentage points, 

earlier 

estimates. 

Throw Out Censorship,^ 

Supreme Court Asked 

Uniform Trust Limitations 

Again Okayed by D of J 

WASHINGTON—A uniform statute of limitations 

for antitrust suits was again given 

Department of Justice approval on Wednesday 

(16). D of J endorsement was elicited 

through House judiciary subcommittee questioning 

of Stanley N. Barnes, assistant attorney 

general in charge of the antitrust division, 

Barnes was testifying on a bill to permit 

the government to recover damages in antitrust 

suits, but was diverted to the statute 

of limitations que.stion. 

The film industry has supported such a 

statute, with the producers-distributors leaning 

toward a statute of two to three years, 

with the exhibitors favoring five or six 

years, and with the bill now before the subcommittee 

calling for five years. The bill 

was introduced by Rep. Kenneth Keating 

(R., N. Y.). 

Rep. Emanuel Celler (D., N. Y.) is chairman 

of both the full judiciary committee and 

the subcommittee, and he promised later in 

the year to hold hearings exclusively on the 

statute of limitations bill. 

Barnes said the Justice Department favors 

a bill along these lines, but favors a separate 

bill rather than one tied in with the bill to 

grant the government the right to sue for 

damages in antitrust cases. 

He added that the special study group 

slated to report to D of J soon on the antitrust 

law situation also will support the 

uniform statute proposal, but he declined 

to say how long a period would be proposed. 

Hope for Clearance Plan 

With Military Theatres 

WASHINGTON—A film industry committee, 

which conferred with Defense Department 

officials on Wednesday (16) with regard 

to unfair post theatre competition, came away 

with the impression that the officials were 

in substantial agreement with an industry 

proposal on the subject. 

The industry committee asked that post 

theatres play films 14 days after competing 

private theatres, except in casas where the 

private theatre does not play a film within 

30 days of first release in its exchange area. 

Meeting with officials of the Army and 

Air Force were TOA's A. Julian Brylawski. 

Walter Reade jr., and E. D. Martin, along 

with John Adams of Texas COMPO and 

MPAA's Kenneth Clark. National Allied was 

not represented, although Abram F. Myers, 

its board chairman and general counsel, was 

present at an earlier meeting. 

The plan must be accepted by the distributors, 

it was pointed out at an A. Julian 

Brylawski press conference following the 

meeting, but no difficulty is expected from 

this quarter. The committee feels It Ls empowered 

to approve for exhibitors. Defense 

officials at the meeting will have to take 

the proposal to various other Pentagon 

officers. Another meeting has been set for 

March 3. at which time the Defense Department 

hopes final agreement can be reached. 

WASHINGTON—The Supreme Court was 

asked on Tuesday (15) to throw out film 

censorship once and for all. The American 

Civil Liberties Union and Charles Liebman, 

appealing a decision of the Illinois supreme 

court, held that previous decisions by the 

highest court "have left the law in a state 

of uncertainty." 

At actual issue is refusal of the Chicago 

police commissioner and mayor to issue a 

permit for "The Miracle." The Supreme 

Court has already tossed out a New York 

state ban on the film. The New York Board 

of Regents had termed the film sacrilegious, 

and the Supreme Court decision held that 

the term was too general and the New York 

statute too loosely drawn to be constitutional. 

Chicago authorities called "The Miracle" 

immoral and obscene. 

'URGENT NEED OF GUIDANCE" 

Pointing out that following the Supreme 

Court decisions on "The Miracle," and the 

Ohio-banned "M," the Ohio and Illinois 

Supreme Courts were "puzzled," American 

Civil Liberties and Liebman argued that 

"these decisions have left the law in a state 

of uncertainty, and supreme courts are urgently 

in need of guidance." 

The suit which followed Chicago's refusal 

to license "The Miracle" was therefore based 

on a charge that Chicago's censor.ship ordinance 

is unconstitutional, rather than on 

a defense against the immoral and obscene 

grounds for the banning. The trial court 

found that the Chicago ordinance violates 

the constitutional guarantees of free expression 

and that the licensing system of the 

ordinance is contrary to the First and Fourteenth 

amendments. The Illinois supreme 

court reversed this finding. 

The Supreme Court was told, "none of the 

cases (considered by the Supreme Court) 

has answered, because in none of them was 

the Court called upon to answer, the critical 

question: can prior censorship of motion 

pictures be squared with constitutional guarantees?" 

LICENSING SYSTEM ASSAILED 

The brief assails as unconstitutional any 

licensing system under which films are subject 

in advance to an administrator's ruling. 

Such a system, which places in an administrative 

official the power to reject motion 

pictures ignores both the constitutional restriction 

on prior restraint and the alternative 

methods of protecting social values, it 

was argued. It was also argued that the term 

"obscenity" does not provide a clear standard 

by which motion pictures can be censored. 

"The vice of a licensing system and the 

vagueness of the standards in the Chicago 

ordinance, when considered together, place 

an unconstitutional burden on those who 

seek to communicate with others. The film 

distributor must take every film to the 

police censor, and must, before showing the 

film, await the uncertain application of uncertain 

standards." 

Libelous or immoral material in publications 

can cause "serious damage," but nobody 

has suggested that a court could enjoin 

publication, the Supreme Court was told.

Paramount's Powerful Succe 

Gets Paramount's Power-Pj 

NOW FOR THE FIRST TIMEyiSTAUISION SHOWS THE TRUE GRANDE 

5 seconds to decide 

whether it's braver to 

stand and fight— or. 

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20th-Fox Makes Analysis if^'^^/'S^ 

On CinemaScope Grosses 

NEW YORK—A comparison survey made 

by 20th Century-Fox on the boxoffice performance 

of Cinemascope features and the 

company's "With a Song in My Heart," 

standard top-bracket picture released in 1952, 

shows that rental increases on six Cinema- 

Scope features against "Song" range from 

159 per cent to 192 per cent with "The Robe," 

the first and highest-grossing CS feature, 

to 56 per cent to 134 per cent without it. 

The other CinemaScope films used in the 

survey were: "How to Marry a Millionaire," 

the second CS feature released, and "River 

of No Return," "Three Coins in the Fountain," 

"Demetrius and the Gladiators" and 

"Broken Lance." The six territories used in 

the survey are: Albany, Boston, Cincinnati, 

Detroit, Philadelphia and Dallas, represent 

20.31 per cent of the national delivery and 

hold 2,122 CinemaScope possibilities or 22.38 

of the total U. S. and Canadian market. 

Twentieth Centm-y-Fox broke down the 

exchange areas into indoor theatres and 

drive-ins and then divided the indoor theatres 

into four categories. Class 1, or theatres 

paying $200 or better; Class 2, or theatres 

paying $199 to $100; Class 3, $99 to $50, and 

Class 4, or theatres paying $49 to minimum. 

Drive-ins were Class 5. 

In Class 1, where "Song" earned an aggregate 

film rental of $2,262,429, the Cinema- 

Scope features, including the top-grossing 

"The Robe," earned $5,867,475, an increase 

of 159.34 per cent and, even without "The 

Robe," the increase was 56 per cent. 

In Class 2. where "Song" earned $221,273, 

the CinemaScope features earned $499,803, 

an increase of 125.88 per cent and, even without 

"The Robe," earned an increase of 75.48 

per cent. In Class 3, where "Song" earned 

$89,745, the CinemaScope features earned 

$212,825, an increase of 137.14 per cent and, 

even without "The Robe," earned 89.56 per 

cent more. 

In Class 4, where "Song" earned $22,680, 

the increase in earnings for CinemaScope 

was the greatest—$66,283, or 192.3 per cent, 

or, even without "The Robe," 134.8 per cent. 

In Class 5, or drive-ins, where "Song" earned 

$144,085, the increase for CinemaScope pictures 

was $312,115, or an increase of 116.5 

per cent, or, even without "The Robe" an 

increase of 95.6 per cent. In this class, the 

potential for expansion of CinemaScope installations 

is greatest according to 20th-Pox. 

Supreme Court Rejects 

Lardner Case Review 

WASHINGTON — Ring Lardner jr., on 

Monday (14) met final defeat in his attempt 

to secure a court-backed reinstatement 

in his writing job with 20th Century- 

Fox. The Supreme Court refused to review 

the case, which has the effect of upholding 

an appeals court decision in favor of the 

studio. 

The film company fired La-dner, charging 

that his refusal to testify before the House 

Un-American Activities Committee tended 

to bring the film industry into disrepute. 

Lardner, in his unsuccessful appeal to the 

courts, argued interference with his constitutional 

rights. 

George Smith to Retire; 

Neal East Succeeds Him 

NEW YORK—George A. Smith, western 

sales manager for Paramount, will retire 

March 1 after 33 years with the company, 

r^ 

4ii 

George A. Smith 

^^^ 

w ^ 

Neal 

East 

according to A. W. Schwalberg, president of 

Paramount Film Distributing Corp. 

Neal East, assistant western division manager, 

has been promoted to Smith's former 

post, effective March 1. 

Smith started with Paramount in August 

1922 as exploitation representative at the 

Toronto exchange in Canada. In 1941, he 

was made western divisional sales manager. 

East, another Paramount veteran, started 

with the company in 1921. In 1924. he was 

made branch manager of the Portland, Ore., 

branch and, in 1930, wa.5 promoted to branch 

manager of Seattle. In 1938, East was promoted 

to branch manager at San Francisco, 

which post he held until August 1953, when 

he was promoted to assistant western sales 

manager. 

HEADS ISRAEL BOND DRIVE—Jack 

L. Warner (left), executive producer of 

Warner Bros., is congratulated by Norman 

Lourie, pioneer Israel film producer, 

on his acceptance of the chairmanship of 

the HolIjiTOod campaign for the Israel 

Government's Development Bonds. Harry 

M. Warner (right), president of Warners, 

will serve as a trustee of the bond drive, 

which he and his brother led off with the 

first large purchases. In addition to his 

production interests, Lourie represents 

United Artists in Israel and is associated 

with 20th Century-Fox in the operation 

of their South African theatres. 

now U6d 

jyiaKBS 

NEW YORK—With the additio 

Kerner Productions, which will 

James T. Farrell's novel, "Studs 

for release by United Artists in 195 

concluded agreements with eight f: 

organizations during the first six 

1955 which w-ill add a minimum of 

tant features to the company's roste 

coming releases. 

"Studs Lonigan" will be Lew Kei 

independent production. For the 

years vice-president in charge of 

] 

of Motion Pictures for Television, Ir 

signed contracts in New York wi 

Artists, Farrell and Vanguard Press 

lishers, and left 

for Hollywood to la 

duction activities. Farrell wrote tt 

years ago. 

The other producers and organiz; 

uring in the UA expansion program 

January 5 are Kirk Douglas and Hei 

actors; Joseph L. Mankiewicz, 

Thomas, veteran producers for P 

Crown Productions, Norman Kr 

Sabre Productions, who will use va 

ing techniques and wide-screen p 

Douglas' newly formed Bryna P 

will deliver six films, including thrf 

Douglas, "The Indian Fighter," "Vil 

ers" and "Van Gogh"; Mankiewic: 

The Pine and Thomas agreement 

Inc., will make four features, stai 

"The Story of Goya," to be filmed 

Crown Productions, headed by 

Jacks, Robert Goldstein, Spyi'os £ 

and Plato Skouras, will start ofl 

Killer Is Loose" in March, and f( 

"A Kiss Before Dying" in June. 

then- 14-year association with F 

involves a program of top-budge 

with the first two of three for : 

"Lincoln McKeever," based on the 

ing novel by Eleazar Lipsky, and " 

Have No Shadows," from the nove 

Cameron. Sabre Pi'Oductions, head 

tor M. Orsatti, Fi'ank Seltzer and 

Newman, will deliver two to U/ 

"Flight Fi-om Hong Kong," starrini 

Quinn, and "Mr. Tex," to be proi 

directed by Seltzer. 

Krasna will w-rite, produce and 

features for UA, "The Ambassador 

ter" and "Red Roses." Fonda wiU 

producing career w'ith six films fo 

the next three years and will star 

three of these. Samuel Goldwyn 

Gregory, Hecht-Lancaster, Stanle; 

Ilya Lopert, Russ-Pield and Sche 

also have upcoming UA pictures coi 

in work for 1955 and new deals witl 

expected to be finalized shortly, 

to UA. 

W. Douglas Matthew 

New Motiograph Poi 

CHICAGO — Appointment of W 

Matthews to a newly created pos 

president and general manager 

graph. Inc. was announced this i 

promotion is 

part of an internal ri 

tion to achieve better supervision 

trol of the expanding manufacturing 

of the company. The duties of 

formerly treasurer of the company, 

taken over by John J. Bullers, a 

head of the firm who will now fi 

secretary-treasurer.

laffected 

ilecast 

;elecast of the Oscar 

>ticeable effect on the 

s circuits with head- 

V disclosed. However, 

m of the selection of 

he network show bet 

theatres rely on to 

had been feared by 

rious competition. 

)od, even despite bad 

to good pictures. One 

es also .said insuffitelecast 

reduced it.s 

wide audience. They 

of the show lacked 

me monotonous. The 

ligWy critical, 

w York Times wrote: 

Saturday night's and 

heatres will have to 

t policy." Ben Gross 

it "lackadaisical and 

nd Jay Nelson Tuck 

said it was "by and 

Harriet Van Home 

1 & Sun caJled it 

ffed with free plugs." 

urnal-American said 

"funny, some foolish 

lUS." 

g-Paramount Thea- 

Loew's Theatres reall 

business." Assores 

and the Jamesorted 

business up to 

e spots veiy strong, 

d "spotty" business, 

xl in situations that 

id he wished he had 

puzzle—that when 

pot. it is just about 

Another noted that 

im of good pictures, 

ng for a while, even 

le product deteriopartly 

to the effBecoming 

pictures and 

the public that it 

he home and see 

t in color. Another 

big picture could 

for a time. Showized. 

dy Opening 

*ason 

ntal Distributing, 

Paris With Love," 

IT comedy, around 

tank Kassler, preslease 

through Con- 

ident 

Academy Nominations 

For Oscars Are Listed 

HOLLYWOOD-Precedential inasmuch as 

the television medium was employed for 

the first time to acquaint the public and 

industry with nominees for Oscars was the 

Saturday ,12) disclosure by the Academy of 

Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of the list 

of candidates for the organization's upcomuig 

27th annual distribution of achievement 

awards. Winners will be announced March 30 

at the RKO Pantages Theatre here which 

event also will be televised. Nominations 

include: 

by Sol 'c Wger"'°'"' ^°"^ Cen.ury-Fox,' produced 

0°H^Vrh ^'°2'J'°"° 

Enterprises-Worner 

O Herhhy, 

B^s 

Adventures 

Dan 

of Robinson 

Doncgers-Henry Crusoe "on Oscar 

Ehrhch poduct.on, Un't^ Art.sH 

Sui^r* MoS'To^t 

"''""-N'no Foch, 

iuite, MGM "Executive 

Koty Jurado, "Broken Lance " 20th 

Century-Fox; Eve Mane Soint, "On the Wôte'rfront " 

I that permits fi- 

Bxhibitors. Walter 

is associated with 

Sessions will tele- 

February 28 from 

e Inter-American 

Mew Orleans. The 

-?i:i°u'^jr'"'i°". Corp.-ColumbVo; Claire Trevor 

tint Wn^rn»°"R '^"^ (^'Qtify," Woync-Fellows p'oduc-' 

'°" ^"'"'"^' °'^° 

and""fê°Mfght^;.?- 

'°' "^^6 H^gh 

Best supporting actor—Lee J Tnhh "rin .t 

^^----A-cr.can 

Mald^n'oV 

Corp^ColumbPo? Korl 

-nlf^' ?a'°. ^?' °" ^^^ Waterfront"; 

On Rod 

the 

Sfeiqer 

Woferfront"; Edmond O'Brien, "The Boreôot' 

rSn".?'. '''S°;°-U""ed Artists; Tom Tully 

Come Mutiny,^ "The 

Stanley Kramer Productions-Cofumbia 

Best director—George Seoton, "The Country ' Girl 

Per berg-Seoton Productions, 

WeHman, Poromounf W lliom 

"The High A 

and the Mighty," 

Productions Woyne-F^lows 

Warner Bros.; Eho Kazan "On thj 

""--'"n-Americon 

^f^H*'2".''u 

Corp ' 

Alfred ColumbK. 

Hitchcock, "Reor Window," Patron Inc Poro^ 

mount; Billy Wilder, "Sobrina," Paramount 

' 

(writteii for the screen, ^..ûILa"^ not previously 

fnvo ^nH 

P*^""! '" 

°n 

°"y o'her medium)—"Bread 

'^'^°/"^" ,by .Ettore 

^FF R».2 

Morgodonno, Titanusnnr^ 

" P^^'liP ?n,",? r^°?- Yordon, "Broken 

"'°l'°")-- 

t°""A i°'\

' 

ALLTHEilCr/OiV THEY'VE E 

ACTION! ACTION! AND MORE 

ACTION AS OUTLAWS FIGHT 

FOR HIDDEN GOLD! BOWIE 

KNIVES FLASH! WILD HORSES 

STAMPEDE! RIOTING REDSKINS 

HIT THE WARPATH AS ALL FURY 

THUNDERS OUT OF THE WEST! 

«\. x"^ 

^ A ^f . 

I 

" 

nl 

nrioinai

D...IN ONE GREAT SERIAL! 

1

1 

Elia Kazan Winner 

Of Directors Award 

HOLLYWOOD—HU inegging stint on the 

Marlon Brando starrer, "On the Waterfront." 

won for Elia Kazan the Screen Directors 

Guild's fourth annual 

Elia Kazan 

held a formal dinnerdance 

to pay tribute 

to film pilots in both 

the theatrical and 

television fields. For 

Kazan it was the second 

honor in rapid 

succession, inasmuch 

as hLs w'ork on "Waterfront" 

also 

award for the best 

directorial achievement 

of 1954, it wa.s 

announced when the 

SDG on Sunday (13 

gained him an Academy nomination. 

The picture, a Columbia release, wâs 

produced by Sam Spiegel under the banner 

of the Horizon-American Corp. 

In the TV film category, the winner was 

Roy Kellino, for "The Answer," an entry in 

the Four Star Playhouse series. Charles 

McGuire. Kazan's assistant on "Waterfront," 

and Jack Sonntag. Kellino's assistant on "The 

Answer," were the recipients of silver medallions. 

More than 1,000 industry figures attended 

the yearly affair, held at the Biltmore Bowl 

with George Sidney, SDG president, functioning 

as master of ceremonies. A highlight of 

the evening was the presentation to Walt 

Disney of an honorary life membership in the 

Guild for his contributions to the trade. 

Also honored was Harold V. Cohen, motion 

picture editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 

who won the SDG's second annual critics' 

award for his "constructive contributions" to 

the field of film appraisal. 

Fred Zinnemann. winner of the SDG's 1953 

directorial achievement kudos for his megging 

of Columbia's "From Here to Eternity," 

accepted the 1954 award on behalf of Kazan, 

who was out of town. Also honored were: 

George Seaton, for "The Country Girl," and 

Francisco Day, his assistant. Paramount; 

Alfred Hitchcock, for "Rear Window," Paramount, 

and "Dial M for Murder," Warners, 

and Mel Dellar and Herb Coleman, his assistants; 

Billy Wilder, "Sabrina," and C. C. 

Coleman jr., his assistant. Paramount; William 

A. Wellman, "The High and the Mighty," 

and Andrew McLaglen, his assistant on the 

Wayne-Fellows production for Warners. 

Music for the evening was supplied by Les 

Brown's orchestra. The program opened with 

a welcoming address by Sidney and the rendition 

by Jeanette MacDonald of "The Star 

Spangled Banner." 

Coca-Cola Co. to Sponsor 

MGM Workshop Luncheons 

NEW YORK—The check for lunch at all 

future MGM Ticket Selling Workshops will 

he picked up by the Coca-Cola Co., Mike 

Simons, customer relations director for Metro- 

Goldwyn-Mayer, announced this week. The 

Coke people already have sponsored four of 

the luncheons, and when the workshop was 

held in Richmond, Va., last week, Charles 

Bourdelais. national theatres and entertainment 

representative of the Coca-Cola Co., said 

his company w-ould be host at all future 

luncheons. 

Staging its fourth annual dinner dance 

to honor film pilots for their achievements 

during 1954, the Screen Directors 

Guild gave an honorary Ufe membership 

in the craft to Walt Disney (seated), 

shown with the plaîue, megaphone and 

director's chair with which he was presented. 

He is being congratulated by 

George Sidney, SDG president. 

Columbia Plans to Appeal 

'Bamboo Prison' Ban 

MEMPHIS—An appeal to city officials from 

the ruling of the board of censors in banning 

Columbia's "The Bamboo Prison" from 

Memphis screens is being planned by New 

York officials of the company. 

J. Raymond Bell, head of Columbia's 

censorship department, has asked Norman J. 

Colquhoun, Memphis branch manager, for 

names of city officials to whom an appeal 

from the ban should be directed. 

Bell in a letter to Colquhoun said: 

"Of all the ridiculous decisions this board 

has ever made, this is indisputably the worst, 

and one which in my judgment leaves the 

board vulnerable." 

Last week, about 20 members of the Memphis 

Better Films Council released statements 

in which they said they had seen the banned 

film and found no basis for the ban. Several 

said they felt sure the censors had misunderstood 

the film, and Mrs. W. B. Smith, 

president of the Council, said she planned to 

take a delegation to see Mayor Tobey to protest 

the ban. 

Mrs. B. F. Edwards, speaking for the censor 

board, said it was banned Isecause it is 

"unpatriotic." 

Brotherhood Award Given 

'Assignment: Children' 

NEW YORK — "Assignment ; 

ChUdren," 

Danny Kaye picture sponsored by the United 

Nations International Children's Emergency 

Fund, has received the Brotherhood Award 

of the National Conference of Christians and 

Jews. Kaye is showai with youngsters at 

UNTCE3P health stations and hospitals in the 

far east and also does the narration. Paramount 

underwrote the cost of the film and 

will handle worldwide distribution. It had 

its first showing recently at UN headquarters 

Asks Ohio Censor 

For Under 21 Groi 

COLUMBUS—Censorship of fi 

shown to those Ohio residents u 

provided in a fourth censorship 

duced February 14 in the Ohio Hoi 

resentatives by Rep. Louis J. Scl 

Cincinnati Republican. The bill 

duced on the last day for introduct 

legislation. 

The Schneider bill uses the ident 

ards of the now-discredited Ohio 

statute. The bill says: "Only sue 

are, in the judgment and discret 

Department of Education, of a n 

cational, or amusing and harmless 

shall be passed and approved by su 

ment." A fee of $3 per 1.000-foot i 

vided, the moneys so raised to g 

state's general fund. 

Previously introduced were bill 

Andrew Putka and Reps. John J 

James P. Kilbane, Jess Yoder ar 

Whalen jr. to strengthen censor 

Charles Mosher introduced a bill 

all film censorship. 

lowra Seeks to Add Films 

To Regulatory Code 

DES MOINES—Motion pictures ! 

would be brought under Iowa law 

obscenity and indecency under a 

duced in the Iowa house last week 

member committee on safety anc 

forcement. Chester A. Scheerer iRe 

is chairman of the committee whicl 

the amendment to strengthen the li 

the showing of immoral pictures. 

Some courts have held that m( 

tures are not included in the law 

fines immoral plays, exhibitions a 

tainments, the sponsors said. Iowa 1 

." 

. . The propose 

it a misdemeanor to show "any ob 

decent, immoral or impure drama, 

hibition, show or entertainment wh 

tend to the corruption of the i 

youth or others 

ment specifically would insert t 

"moving picture" after the pres 

"show" for purposes of clarifying 

Penalty for an immoral or indecer 

a fine of not more than $1,000 or 

than a year in the county jail or 1 

Public Accommodatic 

Bill Filed in Missouri 

JEFFERSON CITY, MO.—A publ 

modations bill, which prohibits discr 

because of race, creed or color, at m 

ture theatres as well as other pub 

was introduced in the state legisU 

week. At present, virtually all tl; 

Missouri operate on a segregated 

penalty of not less than $500 or n 

$1,000 and or 90 days in jail is pr 

the bill. The legislature also rece 

ending segregation in pubUc schoo 

create a Commission on Human 

1 

foster mutual understanding anc 

among all racial, religious and ethn 

in the state. 

New Orleans Openin< 

NEW ORLEANS—Columbia 

oper 

Orleans Uncensored" Wednesday (1 

RKO Orpheum Theatre here with Sj 

man, producer, and stars Arthur F

VICTOR 

5,000 JUNGLE BEASTS ON 

A RAMPAGE OF TERROR 

... IN THE BIGGEST WILD 

ANIMAL PICTURE EVER 

FILMED IN INDIA! 

Frank Ferrin presents 

^>i 

Pnn, by 

starring 

BORIS KARLOFF 

TECHNICOLOR 

one! mtroducinq 

NINO MARCEL 

• 

with REGINALD DENNY JORY 

Produced, Written and Directed by FRANK FERRIN 

3 PRONGED TIE-UP SET WITH 

FAMED BUSTER BROWN SHOES^ 

Nation-wide store displays in 

14,000 Brown 

shoe outlets covering every exchange area in 

the United States and Canada. 

8 solid weeks of TV network plugs — reaching 

an audience of 16,000,000 each week, slanted 

for both small fry and adults — via the Buster 

Brown program, "SMILIN' ED'S GANG", which stars 

"SABAKA 

Nino Marcel, who makes his screen debut in 

Coloring contests... with 

prizes contributed jointly 

by exhibitors and Brown outlets.

Attend long Gray Line 

Openings 

'Cuddles' Sakall Is D 

Veteran Character A 

HOLLYWOOD— S. Z. "Cuddles" 

Hungarian-born character actor, 

widely beloved by film fans for 

roles, died February 12 of a hea 

Burial was conducted Tuesday 1 

15 

Lawn Memorial Park m Glendale. 

Sakair.s film.s included "Casablai 

for the Silver Lining," "The Dol 

"Lullaby of Broadway." "Yank 

Dandy." "Christma.s in Connectii 

Guys From Milwaukee." "April 

"The Devil and Mi.ss Jones" am 

Two." 

Born in Budapest. Sakall wa.s 

on stage and screen in Vienna, 

before he fled Hitler's regime ar 

the United States in 1939. 

He is survived by his wife. 

.Mrs. Dwight I). Kisenhower, honorary chairman, greets Marty Maher, played in 

the Columbia film by Tyrone Power, at the Washington affair February 9 at RKO 

Keiths Theatre. Others are, left to right: Donald Crisp, Jack Cohn, Maureen O'Hara, 

Bill 

Leslie, Robert Francis and Harry Carey jr. 

Another photo of Washington scene. Left to right: A. Montague, Abe Schneider. 

Mrs. Schneider, Bill Leslie, Rube Jackter, Jack Cohn and Robert Francis. Many 

Columbia executives attended. 

The next night the film opened in New York at the Capitol Theatre. Left to right: 

Saul Trauner, Columbia's New York branch manager; actor Bill Leslie, actress Betsy 

Palmer, Harry Romm, Columbia talent executive; actor Harry Carey jr. and Ernest 

Fmerling. Loew's advertising-publicity head. 

Columbia Six-Month Net 

Is Highest in History 

NEW YORK— Columbia Pictures showed a 

net profit of $2,823,000, after estimating federal, 

state and foreign taxes, for the sixmonth 

period ending Dec. 25, 1954. the highest 

six-month earnings in the company's history, 

according to Harry Cohn, president. The 

$3.40 earned per share of common stock is 

nl.so n 

new hieh for the corporation. 

The net profit before taxes was $5,153,000. 

a substantial gain over the similar 1953-54 

six-month period, which was $4,759,000. 

Net profit after federal, state and foreign 

taxes for that period was $1,910,000 and the 

earnings per share of common stock was 

$2.24. Earnings on stock for both years are 

based on the 794.236 shares outstanding. 

The 1953-54 period was a record year in 

which the company hit a high of over 

$80,000,000 in gross income. 

Services for Ona Munson; 

In "Gone With the Wind' 

NEW YORK—Funeral service; 

Munson. who played the part of B( 

in David O. Selznick's "Gone Witt 

in 1939, were held at the Campt 

Home February 14. 

Miss Munson. who was 49, starr 

cals and dramatic plays on Broac 

making her first picture, "Goin 

1930. Other pictures in which sY 

were: "The Shanghai Gesture" in 

Cheaters" and "Dakota" for Repu 

and "The Red House." a Unitec 

lease, in 1947. Her last stage app( 

in the all-star revival of "Firs 

the City Center in 1953. She is 

her husband, Eugene Berman, seer 

Tom Moore 

SANTA MONICA, CALIF.—Tor 

veteran actor, died February 12 c 

his home on the Uplifters ranch 

mation followed private funeral : 

Motion pictures, in which Mooi 

included "Manhandled," "A Kiss 

ella" and "Song and Dance Man.' 

ago he was on the stage with Bil 

"Life With Mother." 

Moore was bona in Ireland, h 

Matt, who lives here, and the 

Moore, once the husband of Ma 

followed him from Ireland. They 

film stars. Owen Moore died in 1! 

Merry, stage and TV actress, is 

Tom Moore. 

Four Columbia Mal« 

Start 'Gray Line' Toi 

NEW YORK—Four 

male star; 

bia's "The Long Gray Line" ha\ 

promotion tours to coincide with 

the picture. Robert Francis start 

Beach Friday 118) and was to 

there to Fort Lauderdale, West 1 

Tampa, St. Petersburg and Cha: 

Phil Carey started In Sar 

Wednesday (16). His schedule 

visits to Salt Lake City, Chicagc 

Detroit, Omaha, Seattle and Po 

He will leave soon for Japan to 

Gentle Wolfhound." 

Bill Leslie will be in Boston 

(23) and go from there to Pitts 

cago, Denver, Omaha, Des Mol 

apolis and St. Paul and Cedar Rs 

Carey jr. was in Boston Wednesc 

was to go from there to Philade: 

phis and New Orleans.

k's gM% H HOW fm UPP^Î 

THEY CALLED 

THEM BAD... 

but 

KANSAS CITY, MO. 

TOWER 

THEATRE 

UPTOWN 

THEATRE 

GRANADA 

THEATRE 

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BUFFALO, N. Y. 

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TOLEDO, OHIO 

PALACE 

THEATRE 

scon BRADY 

J,n„m.. .'a> i 

lOHNNY GUITAB' 

TOO EAGER! 

TOO INNOCENTl 

and far, far 

TOO WILLING! 

PHOENIX, ARIZ. 

SILVER DOLLAR 

DRIVE-IN 

ACRES 

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FILMED FOR 

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NOW FROM 

BUFFALO 

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505 Peorl St. 

scon BRADY JOHANNA MATZ 

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A CORONA fllMS PioducH.- 

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LETTERS 

Government Intervention Not the Answer 

TO BOXOFFICE; 

Government Intervention in our business 

and Congressional indignation towards film 

rentals is no solution to our perermial trouble. 

Thorough cooperative study by the heads 

of all the exhibitor organizations towards 

prolonging present program runs and preserving 

as much of the product as it is possible 

to help create a backlog of pictures even 

at the sacrifice of closing one day per week 

may be found to be the solution. 

It would be better for the exhibitors to 

lose money by this method for awhile because 

at the same time the distributors would be 

losing money, instead of the prevailing condition 

where the only losers are the exhibitors. 

Such a concerted move may have the 

tendency of making the distributors realize 

that the exhibitors deserve consideration 

towards making a profit and may help to 

bring about fair trading in our industry. 

THOMAS JAMES 

Comet Theatre 

St. Louis, Mo. 

Need More Exhibitor Enthusiasm 

TO BEN SHLYEN: 

Just wanted to let you know how much I 

appreciate the recc^nition in BOXOFFICE, 

and the citation in last issue. Some of the 

contortions which we go through with stem 

mainly from enthusiasm; and this mention 

in BOXOFFICE is a tremendous incentive 

to caiTy on. 

Speaking of enthusiasm, I am wondering 

when everybody in the business is going to 

catch on that this is the keynote of the 

entire industry. Showbusiness was built on 

kicks and fun. It was built and is sustained 

by people who just like what they are doing. 

Anything which defies this is poison. I have 

watched exhibitors for many years; and I 

have watched much of the top product go 

down the drain, because the exhibitor knew 

he couldn't make a dime on stiffly dictated 

terms of percentage. 

When thus business becomes just a ledger 

with people standing around scowling with 

war clubs in their hands, we are in for some 

real trouble. 

We feel extremely fortunate down here in 

the Ozarks paradise. We can always retreat 

back into the hills and live on squirrels and 

greens. 

Come on down sometime and we'll go flshin'. 

Owen Theatre, 

Branson, Mo. 

Sincerely, 

STEVE MIIiiER 

of Oldsmobiles, Jack Webb, who, incidentally, 

did a wonderful job as master of ceremonies, 

took us to the Cocoanut Grove, Giro's, Romanoff's, 

and to the NBC studio. The worst 

thing that I have ever seen on TV was 

Louella Parsons . . . She certainly did mess 

up this presentation. In fact, it was discussed 

among the people who were present in my 

friend's home. 

I am sure that the general public and 

especially those TV viewers in the smaller 

cities and towns will connect Louella Parsons 

directly with the motion picture industry 

and not the Hearst chain of newspapers. 

Another thing that I resent, and I am sure 

other exhibitors feel the same, is the fact 

that this great event of the Academy Awards 

is sponsored commercially by an automobile 

manufacturer and its dealers and not by the 

motion picture industry which makes this 

possible. I think that exhibitors should 

register a strong protest with the Academy 

of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. I believe 

that the motion picture exhibitors 

throughout the United States together with 

the crafts would be willing to contribute 

money to sponsor this event rather than 

have it used to sell automobiles. 

Nabor Theatre 

Little Rock, Ark. 

SAM B. 

KIRBY 

More Ultrascope Shorts 

Completed by Sharin 

NEW YORK—Three more Ultrascope short 

subjects in a series of six to be produced in 

Europe have been completed by Gene Sharin, 

producer for Transatlantic Productions, and 

are ready for release. Two were previously 

completed, leaving one to come. 

The three are "Arabesques," "Bullfight Today" 

and "Flamenca." The earlier films are 

"Fiesta in Seville" and "Visit to Madrid." Production 

was in Eastman Color. Narration for 

all was written by Stephen Vas and musical 

scores were composed by Jose Toledano. 

KgPBg" 1 

CALENDAR °! EVE 

FEBRUARY 

Criticizes Non-Industry Sponsorship 

TO BOXOFFICE: 

Last night I was invited over to a friend 

of mine, a public relations counsel and 

executive director of the Arkansas Automobile 

Dealers Ass'n. This gentleman lives just 

around the corner from my theatre and 

knowing that I could not go home to watch 

the Academy Award nominations on television 

invited me over to watch it with his 

wife and another couple. 

After the opening in which our highestpriced 

stars and all of Hollywood's glittering 

glamor went out of their w-ay to sell all kind.- 

SIGNS FOR THREE MOKE—Herbert 

J. Yates, Republic president (right) contracts 

with R. John Hugh, president of 

Empire Studios. Orlando. Fla., for additional 

product to be delivered in 1955- 

56 by the new company. "Yellowncck," 

its first, will open at the Astor in Orlando 

March 3 and at the State in St. Petersburg; 

March 4. Eddie Dowden jr.. Empire 

advertising-publicity director, is handling 

the campaign. The picture was made 

in the F^verglades.

iking the brave bulls beautiful 

black and ^hite, scenes like this are ^ 

trick for skilleci technicians. Basically, 

y're easy to take, easy to process. 

color, though — that's another story. Then 

h finished film is the sum total of indiuat 

color-component films, each coloranced 

and superimposed. With Eastman, 

tWs meons constant sensitometric confrol at 

both film manufacturing and processing levels. 

To co-operate in all phases of production, 

processing and distribution, Kodak maintains 

the Eastman Technical Service for Motion 

Picture Film. Branches at strategic centers. 

Inquiries invited. 

Address: Motion Picture Film Department 

EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY, Rochester 4, N.Y. 

Eosf Coast Division 

Midw»«t Divition 

Madison Ave , NY 7, N Y 1 37 N. V/abosh Ave., Chicogo 2. 

1 

W*>) Coatt Divition 

6706 Sonlo Monica Blvd , Hollywood 38, Colif. 

I 

m 

i

REPORT TO THE INDUSTRY 

TWO CIRCUITS MAKING TV PROMOTIONS PAY 

Fox Intermountain Teenage Show Experiment in Denver Appeals to Youngi 

iANY showmen, who now recognize the 

importance of television exploitation because 

0/ its tremendous visual appeal and 

large audience, are still i7i a Quandry as 

to how to best utilize this media, particularly 

from the local level. Various approaches 

and experiments have heen attempted, 

among the more successful of 

which have been the techniques developed 

by Fox Intermountain in Denver and Rowley 

United in Little Rock. A BOXOFFICE 

Industry Report on these two ventures 

follows. 

DENVER—That youth represents the largest 

segment of the movie going public, is 

axiomatic. With this in mind, the Fox Intermountain 

circuit aims its television exploitations 

in that direction and has produced 

tangible results, which circuit officials believe 

should be equally workable and profitable 

in many other cities. 

Turning to the one local TV program tailored 

particularly for teenagers, an hoiu- show 

presented each day at 4:30, Intermountain 

bought the Friday afternoon session to sell 

the younger school-going viewers on the 

weekend film attractions. The program itself, 

called "Soda Shoppe" and emceed by 

a talented young couple, Fred and Fae Taylor, 

had an established teenage following and 

seemed a natural for the Intermountain 

goal. 

DROPS SPOT ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Prior to the sponsoring of one full program 

each week, the circuit tried buying one spot 

announcement each day, but dropped this 

when the various theatre managers decided 

that the results did not warrant the cost of 

the commercials. Still convinced that the 

potential was there. Fox International next 

experimented with the full program, dropping 

the idea of promoting all nine of the organization's 

local theatres and concentrating 

strictly on the two big downtown first run 

Centre and Denver theatres. 

"The entire hour is our show," according 

A walking book ballyhoo, combined with a contest to correctly name the gir 

ing the over-sized tome, is as effective on a teenage TV show as it was as a 

stunt 20 years ago. The youngsters at the tables are relaxing with refreshme 

tween dances to songs from current musical films. 

to Paul Lyday. publicity director, "and we're 

using it to sell just as hard as we know how. 

We use gimmicks, posters, trailers and imagination 

to sell our screen program and we 

use them to sell the glamor, excitement and 

fun, which is traditionally a part of the 

motion picture industry." 

Crediting District Manager Ray Davis, 

Johnny Denham and Bob Sweeten for the 

care and effort put into the program, "We 

all rack our brains for ideas that we can 

throw into this ticket selling hopper," Lyday 

notes that they have revived ballyhoo stunts, 

gags and contests that have been in the 

business since it began. 

The participation of the youngsters themselves 

in the program is one of the gimmicks 

Visiting stars, such as Mitzi Gaynor, in town to promote "There's No Business 

Like Show Business," appear to plug films and join youngsters in the fun. Miss 

Gaynor is seen above with host and emcee Fred Taylor, standing, and a group of 

participating teenagers. 

of its success. Each Friday, the i 

host to about 50 youngsters, who 

the Soda Shoppe studio to dam 

box songs from current and comir 

being promoted. Soft drinks are , 

the teenagers have a chance to i 

contests for free tickets to the E 

Centre theatres. F:-equently, conte: 

staged for home viewers, with ] 

merchandise as prizes. 

Typical of the contests staged 

viewers was the one recently cor 

"The Silver Chalice," utilizing 

known walking book stunt and a 

Miss Silver Chalice. The idea wi 

the true name of the mystery gi 

clues given on the program. T 

of the stunt was attested to by 

mail follow-up and a tremendou 

business on the film at the Cen 

TEENAGE STAFFERS APPEAR 

Teenage staff members of the 1 

Centre often appear on the progr 

particular features in the slang 

their audience, who are easily c 

film is good when a young usher o 

says it is "super." In addition, cos 

ployes are used for walk-on gag 

a diving suit ballyhoo recently us 

mote "20,000 Leagues Under the 

program is also a must for vis 

when in town on exploitation. 

Rounding out its youth approac 

participating Intermountain thes 

one school each week for a spe 

offering students special inducerri' 

tend the theatres that night. 

Cii-cuit officials are convinced t 

effort has paid off at the boxc 

think," said Lyday, "a similiar typ 

be just as great for those in otl 

Teenage programs, it is noted an 

more and more available throi 

country and are found in most ci

; 

! 1 

Format 

Rock 

v Features 

,11 Talk 

ing the intimate apery, 

Rowley United 

;n that a conversaan 

be a truly efing 

television's vast 

at virtually no ex- 

1 called "Sneak Pree 

and style as the 

wlio show, consists 

k between Carbery 

rtichard Hogan. now 

;ss here, who concost 

as a personal 

FEATURES 

rent pictures, with 

md new techniques, 

nation that is inci- 

•spersed in the coneatures 

playing the 

icluding United cirff 

and Hot Springs, 

in viewing distance 

rv here. 

es and to take ad- 

'isual appeal, 16mm 

stills are also used, 

ied by the advertisnents 

of the various 

ently include prorest 

in the program 

t film fare. Among 

;en one with Philip 

Long Trailer," with 

1 annual Academy 

s and passes to those 

Academy selections. 

FDIENCE 

)gram, the audience 

uestion. answers to 

i to the station in 

: Springs and Pine 

ipate, with theatres 

asses. According to 

uestion, each week 

)0 and 100 letters, 

the show. "So far, 

aid, "we have had 

;ions, but in regards 

il, nothing but very 

ssive aspects of the 

nexistent cost. The 

ne time in exchange 

jlugs at three local 

lited unit in both 

uff offers the same 

iveek. In addition, 

erence on any telei 

is quite often, 

lecessary cash outof 

the show's title 

ti has not had to be 

Discussing films in the informal style and intimate approach that has helped 

make a success of "Sneak Prevue" arc James S. Carbery, left. Rowley Vnited manager 

in Little Rock, and ex-actor Richard Hogan. Having handled tiie circuit's radio program, 

Carbery was well prepared to take over the diore of the television show. 

replaced. In addition, Carbery spent $66 for 

a 16mm film viewer with attachments to 

keep up with clips and films coming from 

the distributors. However, the latter expense 

can be considered strictly for convenience 

as such viewers are standard equipment at 

most television stations. 

"The type of market in which this program 

helps best is that in which more than 

one TV station is operating," according to 

Carbery. "We found that we had very little 

trouble selling the idea when other mutual 

ideas and interests were discussed. 

"In regards to talent on the program. I 

am sure that most theatre organizations have 

someone who would be suited to handling 

this type of program. I think that it is very 

necessary that two people do the show together 

as it makes it more stimulating for 

the audience. I would suggest, as a partner, 

someone at the station who knows something 

about and is interested in movies." 

Tliis Rowley United program has been, in 

effect, actually of service to all theatres in 

the area, for in its method of exploitation 

it helps to create an added interest in pictures. 

This is also stressed in the institutional 

copy at the beginning of the program, which 

reads 

"It's time again for Sneak Prevue. a program 

featuring film scenes and comments 

about attractions that can be seen at the 

family's favorite place for economic entertainment, 

your motion picture theatre." 

And what have been the results of this 

venture? In a city with two TV stations, 

a recent poll of viewers revealed that "Sneak 

Pievue" had a reading of 7.5 as compared 

to 2.5 for the competing program. With 

this in mind, circuit officials consider they 

have been successful in keeping the word 

"movies" in the living rooms of the homes 

within this community. Combined with the 

other two cities served by the station, they 

believe they are influencing .some 300.000 

people who are potential movie patrons. 

Darryl Zanuck Goes to Europe to Set 

New CinemaScope Production Deals 

NEW YORK—Darryl P. Zanuck. who came 

on from Hollywood February 10 to attend the 

20th Century-Fox board of directors meeting 

in New York February 11. left the following 

day for a quick trip to London to confer 

with Sir Alexander Korda and Anatole 

Litvak on "Tlie Deep Blue Sea." which they 

are putting into production for 20th-Fox release. 

Zanuck also plans to finalize with Andre 

Hakim the filming plans for "The Man 

Who Never Was." both British films to be 

made in CinemaScope. Later in the week, he 

was joined in London by Spyros P. Skouras. 

20th-Fox president, and they will proceed to 

Munich to see a rough cut of "The OasLs." 

the first CinemaScope picture to be filmed 

in French and German. 

The board unanimou.sly approved Zanuck's 

plans to increase from 16 to 22 the number 

of CinemaScope productions to be made at 

the studio in 1955. The entire lineup will be 

in color. The approval will see $50,000,000 

earmarked for the 22 pictures, an increase of 

$13,000,000 over the 16-picture slate previously 

planned. The accelerated production program 

stems from requests from many exhibitors 

for more pictures to meet public demand, 

the company said. 

The board also approved the allocation of 

.several million dollars for the complete retooling 

of its Western Avenue studios in 

Hollywood to television production. The 

move sets into immediate motion plans for 

transforming the lot into a modern studio for 

the production of films. Sid Rogell. executive 

producer, will head the project to see the ten 

stages and theatre geared for TV production. 

Plan Area Drive Chairmen 

NEW YORK—The sales managers committee 

of the Motion Picture Ass'n of America 

plans to name area chairmen to supervise 

charitable campaigns in which the industry 

will 

participate.

I 

Paramount 

. . As 

. . Added 

— 

" 

ôUcfd/^Mdêfuint 

Writers Guild of America 

Lists Award Contenders 

In full swing is that season of the cinematic 

year when film artisans in virtually every 

category pause in their labors to pass out 

awards for their fellow-craftsmen's achievements. 

Among such are Hollywood's screen writers, 

who—through the newly organized Writers 

Guild of America, West—have nominated 33 

scriveners to compete in the seventh annual 

kudos sweepstakes for the best-limned American 

comedy, drama and musical, and the 

winners of which will be announced Monday 

128) at a formal dinner dance. Here, for the 

record, are the five nominees in each of the 

three divisions: 

Comedy— "It Should Happen to You" iColumbiai. 

story and screenplay by Garson 

Kanin; "Knock on Wood" iParamount-Dena 

Productions), screenplay by Norman Panama 

and Melvin Frank: "The Long, Long Trailer" 

(MGM), screenplay by Frances Goodrich and 

Albert Hackett, novel by Clinton Twiss: "Sabrina" 

(Paramount*, screenplay by Billy 

Wilder, Samuel Taylor and Ernest Lehman, 

from a play by Taylor; "Susan Slept Here" 

(RKO Radio), screenplay by Alex Gottlieb, 

from a play by Gottlieb and Steve Fisher. 

Drama — "The Barefoot Contessa" (United 

Artists-Figaro), story and screenplay by 

Joseph L. Mankiewicz: "The Country Girl" 

J, .screenplay by George Seaton. 

from a play by Clifford Odets; "Executive 

Suite" I 

MGM), screenplay by Ernest Lehman, 

from a novel by Cameron Hawley; "On the 

Waterfront" (Columbia-Horizon), story and 

screenplay by Budd Schulberg, from articles 

by Malcolm Johnson: "Rear Window" (Paramount), 

screenplay by John Michael Hayes, 

Irom a story by Cornell Woolrich. 

Musical— "Carmen Jones" (20th Century- 

Fox-Pi-eminger), screenplay by Harry Kleiner, 

book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II; 

"The Glenn Miller Story" (U-I), by Valentine 

Davies and Oscar Brodney; "Seven Brides 

for Seven Brothers" (MGM), screenplay by 

Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett and Dorothy 

Kingsley, from a story by Stephen Vincent 

Benet: "A Star Is Born" (Warner Bros.), 

screenplay by Moss Hart, ba.sed on a .script 

by Dorothy Parker, Alan Campbell and Robert 

Carson and a story by Carson and William 

A. Wellman: "There's No Business Like Show 

Business." screenplay by Phoebe and Henry 

Ephron, from a story by Lamar Ti'otti, 

Five Literary Purchases 

Recorded During Week 

. . , "The 

On the bright side wa.s the literary market 

during the period, a fairly brisk pace having 

been recorded through the sale of five properties 

to filmmakers. 

Picked up by Paramount was "The Sons of 

Katie Elder," a story of the Texas plains at 

the turn of the century, scripted by WiUiam 

H, Wright from an original by Talbot Jennings. 

To be produced by Samuel J. Briskin, 

it concerns five men in a pioneer family who, 

reunited by their mother's death, join forces 

to drive a horse herd to Colorado 

Tender Kill," an original melodrama by Peter 

B. Brooke, was acquired by Universal-Inter- 

By 

IVAN SPEAR 

national and assigned to Howard Pine to produce. 

At the same time Brooke was inked to 

develop the screenplay. Set along the Mexican 

border in the 1930s, it is the story of a 

Treasury Department agent, whose son becomes 

involved with a counterfeiting gang. 

When the agent is killed while trying to 

round up the crooks, his son avenges the 

father by exposing the gang . to 

the King Bros. Productions slate was "Dark 

Decision," a melodrama by Robert Rich 

and Merrill White , part of his forthcoming 

independent production schedule, 

actor James Mason purchased film rights to 

"Three for the Money," a novel by James 

McConnaughey. Slated for a summer start 

under the banner of Mason's Portland Pi'oductions. 

it concerns three people who seek 

the inheritance of a murdered woman . . . Also 

in the suspense category is "A Kiss Before 

Dying," a novel by Ira Levin, bought by the 

newly formed Crown Pi-oductions. in which 

Robert Jacks, Robert Goldstein, Spyros S. 

and Plato Skouras are partners. To be filmed 

in Cinemascope and color for United Artists 

release, it will follow "A Killer Is Loose" on 

the Crown schedule. Lawrence Roman is 

scripting "Kiss," which deals with the mysterious 

deaths of two sisters who are members 

of a well-to-do family. 

UN Expects $450,000 Net 

From Danny Kaye Short 

With Paramount to deduct only actual 

costs, the United Nations International Children's 

Emergency Fund may be enriched by 

as much as $450,000 through the theatrical 

distribution of "Assignment: Childi-en," 20- 

minute Technicolor featurette filmed by 

comedian Danny Kaye when he toured the 

Orient last year. Such was the prediction by 

Y. Frank Freeman. Paramount studio head, 

when the subject was given twin show-ings at 

the Marathon street studio here and at the 

UN general assembly in New York. 

A print order of 500 has been set up and 

the film will be made available everywhere 

outside the Iron Curtain. It is a pictorial 

account of the workings of the UN branch in 

aiding sick and undernourished children 

throughout the world. 

Virginia Mayo to 20th-Fox 

For Tink Tights' Role 

Short takes from the sound stages; On the 

loanout trail for fair is Virginia Mayo, Warner 

contract star. Although inactive on her 

home lot for some time, she's cuiTently before 

the cameras in a Benedict Bogeaus production 

for RKO Radio. "Black Pearls," and 

upon completion of that assignment—has 

been borrowed by 20th Century-Fox for one 

of the toplines in the Cinemascope tunefilm. 

"Pink Tights" , , . Pi-eviously associated in 

those respective capacities on MGM's "The 

Cobweb," John Houseman has been a.ssigned 

to produce and Vincente Minnelli to direct 

"Lust for Life," a biography of the French 

artist, Vincent Van Gogh, which Leo will 

make from the tome by Irving Stone . . . 

Meantime the same studio inked George 

Cukor to an exclusive long-term contract as a 

director, starting with his current assignment 

on "Bhowani Junction" . . . Via t 

route, Steve Cochran sold himself 

a script by Monty Pittman, "C 

Spring," to Republic, which will r 

mantic comedy m May. 

Henry Fonda to Produce 

Six Features for UA 

United Artists, which has been ac 

uct and projected celluloid to its ( 

lineup at a great rate in recent mo 

a deal whereby actor Henry Fonda 

six pictures, at least three to star 

UA during the next three years. 

Fonda, who recently completer 

role in Warners' screen version ol 

hit, "Mister Roberts," is formin: 

independent unit to turn out the 

features. There's been no ment 

as to what properties he has or 

acquire. 

Norman Krasna will write, pr 

direct two motion pictures for H 

ists through an agreement rea 

Arthur B. Krim, UA president. 

be "The Ambassador's Daughter 

Rose." The former will be madi 

Krasna was associated with Jen- 

Wald-Kra.sna Pi'oductions from 19 

1952. 

Jane Wyman, Van Johns 

To Co-Star in WB Film 

A new romantic team—Jane W 

Van Johnson—has been created t 

inking of the latter by Warners t( 

Miss Wyman in "Miracle in the R 

on the love story by Ben Hecht . 

Goldwyn jr. booked Jan Sterling t 

stellar honors with Robert Mitchi 

Deadly Peacemaker," young Golc 

Marshall and Robert Douglas were 

top roles with Bette Davis and Ri( 

. . . 

tialer in a series for UA release . 

in 20th Century-Fox's "Sir Walte 

Donald O'Connor's femme 1 

new "Francis" comedy at U-I, "Fr 

the Navy," will be Martha Hyer. 

Tushinsky Finds Mexico 

Anamorphic-Minded 

Mexico's film indu.stry will be so 

anamorphic groove during 1955. 

report of Joseph Tushinsky, pr 

Superscope, following his return 

ico City, where he demonstrated 

screen process, developed by hir 

brother Irving, for top-level memb 

country's filmmaking world. 

After the south-of-the-border si 

Mexican A.ss'n of Motion Picture 

and Exhibitors delegated Cesi 

Galindo and James Field to corn* 

wood later this month for further ( 

with the Tushinskys. 

Raoul Walsh Will Direct 

Clark Gable Starrer 

Raoul Walsh has been signer 

Centm-y-Pox to direct the fortheoi 

Gable stan-er, "The Tall Men," 

confii-ming at the same time the 

tions have been completed for tl 

Jane Russell from Howard Hughe 

the stellar honors with Gable ii 

torical western. It will be co-pr 

William Hawks and William Bach

, 

be 

; 

York 

\—J. K. Grainger 

O Radio Pictures, 

Helier Kodris:uez, 

Circuit, during a 

Cuba, to discuss 

erl" with leading 

; Acquitted 

jmpt Case 

udge John Knight 

;ainst Elmer F. Lux 

riminal contempt of 

lence is insufficient 

criminal contempt 

:dge 

ruled. 

1 his attorney, Wilthe 

judge rendered 

(14). Lux had been 

iment's case because 

ent of Elmart Theaesident 

and general 

atres. Inc. 

lotions to dismiss the 

ler defendants. The 

,-ay in federal court 

case Wednesday U6i 

ssal of charges perle 

were renewed and 

by Judge Knight. 

Committee 

Lcket Tax 

ate Temporary Comrs 

has recommended 

that all permissive 

continued. These 

:ity 5 per cent admise 

avoided mentioning 

ovemor Dewey asked 

s yield and soundness, 

an, said the members 

yield. The city orig- 

!r-all 

amusement tax. 

is a part, at $16,000.- 

low has reduced that 

S5.0OO.0O0. 

N. y. Times Sees Toll TV 

Issue as Most Important 

NEW YORK—The controversy over toll 

TV po.ses issues of the utmost importance as 

authorization of it "could work a revolution 

in the economics of the entire entertiiinment 

and sports world, as well as in the living 

rooms of the country," according to an editorial 

in the New . Times. The text 

follows 

"The Federal Communications Commission 

has taken a wise step in ordering the beginning 

of consideration, next May 9, of one of 

the thorniest problems ever to face this 

administrative body, the problem of toll television. 

There are obviously important questions 

of fact and of law which the FCC must 

decide, and it can reach decisions only after 

all groups involved, including the gi-eat mass 

of us who are simply called 'the public,' have 

been heard. 

"There is bitter and understandable con- 

between those who urge and those who 

flict 

oppose television transmissions which we at 

home could receive only by payment for 

specific programs. Those supporting this 

argue that the economics of television are 

such that we are doomed to an over-all level 

of mediocrity so long as television must exist 

on its present economic base, advertising. If 

we are willing to pay for specific programs, 

however, we are told, we can have brought 

into our homes the finest entertainment, 

sports and cultural events available anywhere. 

"Opposed to this view ai-e other groups, 

some of them influenced by the fact that toll 

television might well destroy many millions 

of dollars of present invested capital. But 

on a more general plane the argument is 

made that no private interests, such as those 

who propose to operate toll television, have 

the right to profit from the publicly owned 

airwaves by charging the public for receiving 

programs over these airwaves. 

"Clearly the issues involved are of the 

utmost importance for many areas of our 

cultural life. Toll television could work a 

revolution in the economics of the entire 

entertainment and sports world, as well as 

in the living rooms of the country. All of us 

should be interested in this issue, and try 

to think through our opinions on the wisdom 

or lack of wisdom of these revoluntionary 

changes that may lie ahead of us." 

Introduces Jury Trial Bill 

For N. Y. Censor Case 

ALB.\NY—state Senator Fred G. Morritt 

making Su- 

of Brooklyn has introduced a bill 

preme Court jury trials available in cases 

where the State Education Department's motion 

picture division has denied licenses. The 

measure provides that applicant must request 

the trial in lieu of a review by the regents. 

If the court or jury finds, after viewing 

film, that it is not "obscene, indecent or inhuman," 

an -order would be entered directing 

regents to issue the license. 

The measure, similar to one sponsored by 

Morritt last year, would take effect July 1. 

Morritt, who is an officer of MacDonald Pictures, 

said, "Trial should be by jury, and 

producers should have full right to present 

their side of the case to a court or jury. 

There is no other democratic or fair way to 

handle the problem." 

Johnson Flies to Paris 

NEW YORK—G. Griffith Johnson, vicepresident 

of the Motion Picture Export Ass'n, 

flew to Paris Wednesday il6i for conferences 

on a number of foreign problems, among them 

Italian efforts to develop their color printing 

busine-ss. which he will take up with 

Wolfe Cohen, president of Warner Bros. International 

to Take 

igh Court 

pellate division of the 

ted the request of the 

to take to the court 

on of the Brooklyn 

t cannot collect tax 

1 with its 5 per cent 

;y Buchsbaum, assist- 

;1, said he would file 

that he hoped for a 

of the month. 

FIRST TO "ÊF. ASSIC.NMFNT: 

( HII.DREN—At initial showing at I nited 

Naion.s of the Uannv Kavc film about the worlds children were, loft to right: Monro^ 

r" Goodnian. ;ussistant to the president of Paramount I ilm Distributing ( or,..: Hugh 

Owen Paramount distribution ovccutive: Howard Min.sky. Paramount '"'d-st dms.on 

manager Mrs. >Iinskv. Mrs. B. Rajan and daughter; Rajan. chairman of the I M^ EF 

"ecuUve board: R. .1.0'Donnell. head of Interstate Theatre> of Texa.s: Dr. 1 J. War- 

Ihlw. Paramount medical director, and K. K. «.'Shea, Paramount distr.but.on v.--..r^dent. 

Paramount is bearing all production and distribution expenses of the 20-mlnule 

film. 

It;

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

. 

'Cinerama Holiday 

and 'Gray Line 

Open Big Despite Snow and Cold 

Waiting ticket buyers extend from the Capitol Theatre boxoffice on Broadway 

along 51st street in New York on opening day of the Columbia CinemaScope picture. 

NEW YORK—Despite the handicap of 

snow and near-zero weather during most of 

their opening weeks, "Cinerama Holiday" 

broke all Warner Theatre house records for 

its first Sunday (three performances) and 

"The Long Gray Line," aided by Columbia's 

big ballyhoo, had a strong first week at the 

Capitol. 

Big first weeks were also registered by 

"Underwater!" at the Mayfair, which had 

one of Broadway's biggest film fronts, and 

"Sign of the Pagan" at Loew's State. Two 

other U-I pictures, "So This Is Paris," in a 

smash one-week engagement at the Palace, 

and "The Par Country" at the Globe, also 

did well. 

"The Country Girl," in its ninth big week 

at the Criterion, led the holdovers but another 

Paramount picture, "The Bridges at 

Toko-Ri." was down in its fourth and final 

week at the Radio City Music Hall, the house 

most affected by bad weather. Still very 

strong were "Battle Cry," in its second week 

at the Paramount, and "20,000 Leagues Under 

the Sea," in its eighth week at the Astor but 

"The Racers," also in Cinemascope, made a 

poor showing at the Roxy and stayed only 

five days of a second week. 

Leading the art house field was "Holiday 

for Henriette," in its third big week at the 

Pine Arts, and the revival of Garbo's 

"Camille," which did record business in its 

second week at the Normandie. "Romeo and 

Juliet." in its eighth week at the Sutton; 

"Gate of Hell," in its ninth week at the 

Guild, and "Aida," now the longest-run film 

in the art spots, also held up well. 

In addition to "Jupiter's Darling." which 

opened at the Music Hall, and "White 

Feather," which started at the Roxy, "Doctor 

in the House" and two other art house 

pictures opened during the week. 

(Average Is 100) 

Astor 20,000 Leogues Under the Sea 

jBuena Visto), 8th wk 130 

Baronet The Gome of Love (Times), 9th wk...llO 

Capitol The Long Gray Line (Col) 1 50 

Criterion The Country Girl (Pora), 9th wk 130 

55th Street Golden Age of Cinema (Brandon), 

9th wk 100 

Fifth Avenue Tsar to Lenin (Ind), 2nd wk 100 

Fine Arts Holiday tor Henriette (Ardee), 3rd wk..l30 

Globe The For Country (U-I) 125 

Guild Gate of Hell iHornson & Davidson), 

9th wk 115 

Little Carnegie Aida (IFE), 14th wk 110 

Loews State Sign of the Pagan (U-I) 1 30 

Moyfair Underwater! (RKO) 1 50 

Normandie Comille (MGM), revival, 2nd wk 175 

Polace So This Is Paris (U-I), plus vaudeville. . . . 125 

Paramount Battle Cry (WB), 2nd wk 150 

Pons Animal Farm (DeRochemont), 7th wk 105 

Plaza The Intruder (Ass'd Artists), 3rd wk 100 

Radio City Music Hall The Bridges at Toko-Ri 

(Para), plus stage show, 4th wk 110 

Rivoli Bod Day at Block Rock (MGM), 2nd wk...llO 

Roxy The Racers (20th-Fox), 5 days of 2nd wk..l05 

Sutton Romeo ond Juliet (UA), 8th wk 115 

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

8th wk 95 

Victono Unchained (WB), 3rd wk 90 

Warner Cineramo Holidoy (SW), 1st wk. of 

two-a-day 200 

World Mademoiselle Gobette (IFE), 2nd wk 105 

"Country Girl' Huge 300 

At Philadelphia 

PHILADELPHIA—First run business hit 

The best average was 

one of the high marks. 

scored by "The Country Gii'l" with a sensational 

300 in its second week at the Midtown. 

"Vera Cruz" opened up with a strong 180 at 

the Mastbaum, and "Cinerama" went into 

its next to the last week at the Boyd with a 

good 170. 

Deep in My Heort (MGM), 8th wk 140 

Arcadia 

Boyd This Is Cinerama (Cinerama), 91st wk 170 

Fox The Racers i20th-Fox) 100 

Goldman Underwater! (RKO) 125 

Mastbaum Vera Crul (UA) 1 80 

Midtown The Country Girt (Pare), 2nd wk 300 

Radolph The Bridges ot Toko-Ri (Para), 4th wk, . 80 

Stanley The Far Country (U-I) 110 

Stanton Women's Prison (Col); Bamboo Prison 

(Col) 70 

2nd wk 100 

Trans-Lux Camille (MGM), reissue, 

Viking The Last Time I Sow Paris (MGM), 

9th wk 

Trans-Lux World Green Fire (MGM) 

65 

235 

'Country Girl' Great 

At 280 in Buffalo 

BUFFALO—Aided by a big newspaper, 

radio and TV campaign and the several plugs 

given it in the Academy award nominations 

telecast, "The Country Girl" had a terrific 

opening at the Paramount and ended up its 

stanza and went a third in 1 

first week with a handsome 280. 1 

undoubtedly is in for a long and 

run. 

"Battle Cry" held up well 

week 

in 

Buffalo Vera Crux (UA), 2nd wk 

Center Bottle Cry (WB), 2nd wk 

Century Underwoter! iRKO) 

Cinema The Detective Col), 3rd wk... 

Lafayette Women's Prison (Col) 

Paramount The Country Girl iPara)... 

Baltimore Grosses Hold 

Up in Cold Wave 

BALTIMORE — Near-zero wea 

.some of the theatregoers at hom 

weekend, but it failed to hurt in 

such attractions as "Battle Cry 

water!" "Vera Cruz" and "The Pa; 

Century Vera Cruz (UA), 2nd wk...... 

Film Center Tonight's the Night AA), ; 

Hippodrome 20,000 Leagues Under the 

(Buena Vista), 8th wk 

Keiths Underwater! RKO) 

Little Trouble in Store Rep) 

Moyfair The For Country (U-I) 

New—The Prince of Players '20th-Fox) 

Playhouse— Mr. Hulofs Holiday (GBD), 

Town Six Bridges to Cross U-I) 

Stanley Battle Cry iWB), 2nd wk 

The Cinema Ugetsu (Horrison-Dcvidsor 

'Cinerama' to Strong 

Pittsburgh Climax 

PITTSBURGH—With "This 

approaching its 

Is 

close of an alltimi 

record engagement here, grosses a 

ner Theatre shot up. The attract 

far the week's best business g 

holdover films and two new s 

offered at other theatres. The v 

been the most severe in several 

: 

Fulton Prince of Ployers (20th-Fox).. 

Harris Beau Brummell (MGM) 

Penn Vera Crui UA), 3rd wk 

Stanley 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea 

3rd wk , 

Warner This Is Cinerama (Cinerama), 6 

Columbia's Cinema! 

Feature Set for Roxy 

NEW YORK — Columbia's C 

musical. "Three for the Show," n 

the Roxy Theatre Febnrary 24 i 

Cinemascope picture other than c 

by 20th-Fox to play that theatre 

Robe" opened in September 19 

Feather, " 20th-Fox CinemaSco] 

opened February 16, following an 

for "The Racers." "Untamed," a 

Fox Cinemascope feature, is now £ 

open at the Roxy Theatre in Ma: 

With MGM's "Jupiter's DarUi 

"The Long Gray Line" at the Caf 

at the Radio City Music Hall: 

Vista's "20,000 Leagues Under t 

the Astor; Universal-Internationa 

the Pagan" at Loew's State; Wi 

"Battle Cry" at the Pai-amount, 

"Bad Day at Black Rock" at the Ri 

way has seven first run Cinems 

tures current. 

Betty Grable, Jack Lemmon and 

Gower Champion are starred in 

"Three for the Show." 

Hindu Film to Open 

NEW -i'ORK—"Chandra." produ 

on a SLOOO.OOO budget by the Ger 

of Madrid, will have its first U. 

at the Art Cinema. Washington, 

cording to Hoffberg Pi-oductior 

distributors of the film. Al Shen 

ington publicist, has been retaine 

the publicity campaign. The 

already grossed over $9,000,000 

and Asia.

' 

of 

- 

. 

. . Anna 

'WvA Y Tent 35 Elecfs William J. German; 

?nt of Ascap, will 

coast Sunday (20) 

annual meeting at 

'ebruai-y 24. Alex C. 

; executive commit 

I. Ascap's controller, 

a-surer's report, acutting, 

Walt Disney 

for Europe February 

for dubbing "20,000 

for overseas showsxecutive 

vice-presi- 

).. has arrived from 

gements for record 

ip" songs. 

Great Heart Citation to Suzan Ball 

to Russell Holman. 

oduction manager. 

. I., for a two-week 

. 

["emple is filling in 

irt director during 

. . Marty Wolf. 

of Altec Service 

;ide Hospital. Montig 

from surgery at 

. . Margaret Black. 

president of Transr 

Schlenker, former 

ly February 5 . . . 

le special events for 

'ather of his third 

to Mrs. Brien at 

ary 12 . . Romeo 

. 

1 room at American 

Theatres, is also the 

iroduce "Cockleshell 

arrived from the 

h Trevor Howard, 

;n signed to co-star 

; Ferrer . . . Peter 

rmed Lorenzo Pro- 

At the Villa." by 

to Europe via TWA 

inancing and confer 

wTiting the screenle, 

makeup director 

16 coast for a series 

ieW'S pertaining to 

! Theatre Celebraand 

his w'ife, Mary 

ted States February 

: on United Artists' 

sttes," which he dirith 

Miss Loos. 

wide sales manager 

Wolff, managing di- 

;dom, left for HoUy- 

R. Grainger, presi- 

:ecutive assistant to 

nal director of pubflew 

to HoUjnvood 

le home office set- 

. . 

mpaign on Howard 

Bernard Jacon. 

sales for IFE. 

ice after completing 

and territories. 

Artists exploitation 

la to set up Miami 

ice promotions on 

ains" and other UA 

ynis Johns, British 

:h Danny Kaye in 

Jester." returned to 

a new film there . . 

fitly returned from 

ipleted "Gentlemen 

The star of U-l's "Chief Crazy Horse," who Is on a belated honeymoon in New 

York following an operation, receives a citation from Variety Club of New York 

from Leonard Ooldenson, president of .Anieriran Bri>adca.sting-raramount Theatres. 

Left to riglit. Charles J. Feldman, scilcs manager of I'-I; KiIiss 

Ball's actor husband, Miss Ball, Goldenson, Kdward Larhman, retiring chief barker 

of Variety Club, and Martin Leiine. luncheon chairniiin. 

NEW YORK—William J. G«rman was 

unanimously elected chief barker of Variety 

Tent 35 of New York, along with all other 

officers submitted by the nominating committee, 

at the luncheon meeting at Toots 

Schor's restaurant February 15. 

The others elected: Edward L. Fabian, first 

assistant barker; Larry Morris, second assLstant: 

Martin Levine, property master, and 

Jack Hoffberg. dough guy. Canvassmen for 

1955 will be George W. Brandt, Bernard P. 

Brooks, Emil Friedlander, Leonard Gruenberg, 

Harold J. Klein, Ira Meinhardt. Maurice 

J. Miller Charles L. Okun, Harold Rinzler, 

Jack Ro.senfeld, A. W. Schwalberg. Cy Seymour, 

Spyros P. Skouras. Solomon M. Strausberg. 

Morton Sunshine, Saul Trauner. George 

Waldman, William Westphal and Max E. 

Youngstein. 

Fabian was chief barker in 1954 and Meinhardt 

was his first assistant. 

A citation honoring Suzan Ball. U-I star 

Marry Brunettes" for United Artists release, 

left for Hollywood for a ten-day stay to make 

a Ford Theatre TV film. 

Grace Kelly, Academy award nominee for 

her performance in "The Country Girl," left 

for Chicago to hold a series of press interviews 

in conjunction with the opening at the 

United Artists Theatre February 17 . . . Robert 

Taylor, MGM star, planed to London to 

start work on "Quentin Durwood." which 

Pandro Berman will produce at the Herts 

Studios . Sten. who makes a screen 

comeback in "Soldier of Fortune," 20th-Fox 

Cinemascope film, came in from Hollywood. 

Robert F. Blumofe, vice-president of United 

Artists in charge of west coast operations, 

got back from an eight-week survey of company 

overseas operations, and flew on to 

Hollywood after conferring with UA home 

office executives. Blumofe was in London. 

Paris. Rome. Florence and Madrid . . Jerry 

. 

Pickman. Paramount advertising-publicity 

department vice-president, returned to New 

York from Hollywood. 

"Two Came By Sea" will be filmed this 

summer in Tahiti, background of the story. 

of "Chief Crazy Horse." was pre.sented her 

by Leonard Goldenson. president of American 

Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres, at 

the Variety Club luncheon for "her great 

heart that enabled her to carry on under 

circumstances that would have ended the 

career of a le.ss stalwart person." Miss Ball, 

who is in New York with her actor-hu.sband 

Richard Long to publicize "Chief Crazy 

Horse." underwent an operation in which she 

lost a leg in 1954 but she continued her 

screen career. 

In addition to Miss Ball, Long and Goldenson. 

others on the dais were Charles J. Feldman, 

general sales manager of U-I; Ed 

Fabian, who retired a,s chief barker, and Martin 

Levine, luncheon chairman. 

The Variety Club of New York plans a 

luncheon for industry members each month 

and. in May, will honor Richard F. Walsh. 

lATSE president, at the Waldorf-Astoria 

Hot«l. 

N. J. Completes Planning 

For Brotherhood Week 

NEWARK. N. J.—Plans for the participation 

of New Jersey amusement enterprises in 

National Brotherhood Week which will start 

Sunday (20i were completed at a Friday (18) 

luncheon at Es.sex House here. 

They were outlined by Spyros S. Skouras, 

Greater New York chairman: William J. 

Heineman, chairman of the distributors committee; 

S. H. Fabian of Stanley Warner Theatres; 

Dr. James M. Eagan, divisional vicepresident 

of the National Conference of 

Christians and Jews: Dave Hyatt, conference 

public relations director, and the Rev. 

Howard S. Hageman. pastor of the North 

Reformed Church of Newark. 

Members of the New Jersey committee Include 

Charles A. Smakwitz of Stanley Warner 

Theatres, chairman: Walter Reade Jr., circuit 

operator; Wilbur Snaper. president of 

New Jer.sey Allied; Maury Miller, president 

of TOA of New Jer.sey: George Gold, independent 

exhibitor: Irving DolUnger. Independent 

Theatre Service; William Phillips, 

Loew's Theatres district manager, and Frank 

J. Damis of the Eastern Drive-In Corp.

. . Schine"s 

. . Norman 

. . Schine's 

. . Phil 

ALBANY 

Albany residents experienced, an( 

atres alternately suffered fror 

benefitted by. temperatures varyi: 

degrees below zero on February 3 1 

breaking 53 above on the 10th, a 

turning to a four-inch snowfall o 

A casualty of the latter storm 

Olshansky, 83, father of Jack 

Variety Club member and former ] 

operator of the Colonial Theatre. 

Olshansky collapsed while walk; 

snow to his home and was prone 

on arrival at Albany Hospital. 

MEET THE WINNERS—Rita Gam, starred with Jeff Chandler in U-I's "Sign 

of the Pagan." talks to (left to right) Robert Coyne, executive director of COMPO; 

Richard Brandt, Trans-Lux Theatres executive; Eugene Picker, Loew's Theatres, 

and Russell Downing, president of Radio City Music Hall, at the Roxy Theatre 

party for the winners in the Journal American motion picture selection contest. 

Albany Tent to Move 

To Hotel Quarters 

ALBANY—The Variety Club will move 

into air-conditioned quarters at the Sheraton-Ten 

Eyck Hotel, probably in August, 

Chief Barker George H. Schenck announced 

Tuesday. The specific location in the hotel 

will be determined by Manager George B. 

Cheliu.s jr.. a new Variety member. 

Tent 9 is signing a five-year lease with 

a provision that permits cancellation after 

one year if it be found the financial burden 

is too heavy. 

Sixty new members are needed to .swing 

the deal, Schenck stated. They will be chiefly 

a-ssociates. Schenck estimated that 25 men 

who attended the Camp Thacher kickoff 

dinner at the Ten Eyck in November 1953 

when Gen. James A. Van Fleet headed the 

speakers, are eligible and interested in joining 

Variety. The fee for that affair included 

the initiation charge as associate members. 

Schenck praised the survey committee, 

headed by Jules Perlmutter and including 

Lewis A. Sumberg. Leo Rosen, Gene Teper 

and Jack Goldberg, for diligent and imaginative 

effort. The club, which once before occupied 

elaborate quarters in the Ten Eyck, 

has been functioning from the Clinton avenue 

site for approximately five years. 

A dinner dance honoring Perlmutter, who 

served for two consecutive terms as chief 

barker of the Albany tent, will be held at 

the Sheraton-Ten Eyck April 23. The committee 

is chairmanned by Sumberg, with 

Sylvan Leff. Aaron and Nate Winig. Jack 

Goldberg and Irwin Ullman as members. 

The crew was to meet Saturday (19) and 

arrange details. Perlmutter is a leading 

independent exhibitor. 

Filmlab Takes Long Lease 

On N.Y. Headquarters 

NEW YORK—Saul Jeffee, president of 

Movielab Film Laboratories, has taken a longterm 

lease on the present quarters at 619 

West 43rd St., will modernize them and will 

rename the building Movielab building. 

Construction is under way on three floors. 

One will be devoted to Eastman Kodak color 

processing. There also will be cutting and 

editing rooms and a screening room. 

Gamblers Seen Muscling 

In on New Jersey Bingo 

NEW YORK—Exhibitors are watching with 

interest the efforts of professional gamblers 

to muscle into New Jersey bingo games. 

Victor S. Kilkenney. executive director of the 

new state commission to supervise bingo and 

raffles, has launched an investigation. 

There is evidently a loophole in the state 

law. The professionals rent halls and then 

let them out to organizations operating the 

games. One such organization was known to 

have paid the professionals 50 per cent of 

the net take for rent. The state law says 

the rent must be "reasonable and not in 

excess of the rental ordinarily charged for 

other uses." The commission may ask for 

new legislation. 

New Theatre Party Date 

NEW YORK—The Motion Picture 

Bookers 

Club has .set the new date of Monday (21) 

for its annual theatre party, according to 

Max Fried, chairman. This year it will be 

'The Desperate Hours" at the Ethel Barrymore 

Theatre. 

AWARD TO 'RACERS'—Hans Ruesch, 

center, .author of "The Racers," the novel 

which was filmed in CinemaScope by 

20th-Fox, receives a special trophy from 

Fred Pittera, general manager of the Universal 

Travel and .Auto Sports show, 

honoring the film which opened at the 

Roxy Theatre February 4. Looking on 

is Ima Anders, who plays in the picture. 

pictures to buying and selling ban! 

. . . Pi'octor's in Schenecta(; 

Jack Keegan has switched frt 

The former Republic date-setter 

gaged in the distress-merchandi 

with his brother-in-law. They oi 

Saratoga. He sold for Paramount 

time 

sent the Ballets Espagnols, stari 

and Lusillo, the evening of Marcf 

to $3.30 . Avon, Watert 

ised two free tickets "if your na: 

' 

in our ad" . Glove in 

arranged a Friday afternoon "schc 

"Hansel and Gretel," starting at 

night the theatre had "Stars of t 

as an added stage attraction, und 

ship of the New Glove Inn. 

Fabian's Mohawk Drive-In on t 

Schenectady road will open April 

circuit's Saratoga, Albany-Sara 

April 15, area supervisor Irwin L 

Monday . Weitman, U- 

and Ethel Anameier. his secretary 

ored as "King and Queen for 

the weekly Variety Club dinner 

restaurant Monday. Charles St 

vertising manager of the Normar 

Co. and a new member of Tent 9. 

those attending. He will service £ 

ing Co. stands with ice cream th 

Manager Jack Hamilton reported 

row employes donated $225 to 

of Dimes, chairman Norman Wi 

ported. 

The last compilation of receipts 

Rogers Memorial Hospital Christ; 

showed $1,880 for the Albany exc 

trict, distributor chairman Norm 

di.sclosed. 

A six-inch snowfall blanketing j 

snarling traffic smothered theati 

for a night. Patronage rebounde 

day, Saturday . Zimme 

estate manager for Stanley Warr 

England, checked in here for a h 

Al LaFlamme. Strand manager, a 

ing for rent the former Stanley W 

offices in the theatre building, 

floor—site of a screening room 

able, as well as the second. The 

furniture was shipped to New 1 

Newark. 

. 

. . Bill O'Br 

Vic Bunze. onetime Waterford exl 

The Strand had a $1 top for "E 

which opened Wednesday (16) . . 

Palace manager, had high praisE 

Bridges at Toko-Ri" . 

night assistant at the Madison, 

under Al Swett, new manager ol 

later manager of theatres in Trc 

bany. quit as a.ssistant at the Ritz 

Swartout retired.

, who 

L. open 

. . . Murray 

. . There 

Is Named 

:h Head 

;chsler, special sales 

Arthur Rank proiversal 

for the pa-st 

ar, has been named 

inch manager lor 

liversal in Buffalo. 

:;ceeding Dave Milis 

retiring 

:er 30 years with the 

npany. 

Wechsler, who will 

irt his new- duties 

bruary 21. has been 

the industry since 

29, spending 14 years 

th Warner Bros, in 

rious executive sales 

p a c i t i e s, includin 

Cleveland and 

heatre 

r Blaze 

Y.—The 

Broadway 

lark. was virtually 

1 started at 11 a.m. 

alusha, 15. of nearloye, 

discovered the 

fire department by 

in he attempted to 

pped the youngster. 

for his exit, 

n Saratoga reported 

It job of confining 

ing. particularly in 

osion rocked it and 

V. The marquee and 

;d the firemen. T\vo 

evacuated. 

center of the his- 

1 village, is a brick 

ly. It is owned by 

ic. of which Vivian 

resident. Sweet also 

1 and the Swan in 

ligan operated the 

xtension 

counsel have been 

me in which to file 

iôurt suit by Sylvan 

ts for alleged breach 

s Town Theatre in 

t run of the Marcire 

last June 20-26. 

o sued for allegedly 

ith the contractual 

ultaneous exhibition 

in Watertown. had 

the 

15th. 

Time 

ving time would be 

n the last Sunday 

; Sunday in October 

iday by the Senate. 

Brook. Manhattan 

X companion bill in 

a law that allows 

>ds of standard and 

BUFFALO 

f7'"erania will make its bow here with a 

gala civic premiere on the evening of 

March 17 in the Teck Theatre, operated for 

many years as a link in the Shea circuit in 

Buffalo and Niagara Falls. Regular presentations 

will start on the 18th with three 

shows daily, all seats reserved. Work is 

nearing completion on the two projection 

booths being erected outside the walls of 

the theatre. Paul Swater, formerly with 

Cinerama at the Melba in Dallas, will be 

managing director of the Teck operation, and 

Bert Lapatina, manager of the house for 

several years under the Shea banner, will 

continue as house manager. Earl Hubbard, 

formerly in charge of advertising and publicity 

at the Century, is handling the same for 

Cinerama. He is now tiaveling around 

western New York lining up special parties. 

To add to a store of valued information 

about theatres and such. W. E. J. Martin, 

drama editor of the Coiuier-Bxpress, asked 

a few questions the other day on premium 

nights. Up came an.swers to the effect that 

between 2,000 and 3,000 film houses over the 

country run premium nights once or twice 

a week, mostly small-towners, sub-runs, 

drive-ins and neighborhood houses. Dishes 

head the list, with a 52-piece set given to 

customers in the course of a year. And then 

there's a gimmick, foimd usually in driveins: 

a patron gels a ticket redeemable at 

the concession stand, where he usually stops 

to buy a snack item. 

.After 15 years as a Shea circuit operation, 

the Lackawanna was returned last week to 

its owner, the Williams family. It is understood 

the theatre will continue for the time 

being, at least, as a weekend operation . . , 

Edward K. O'Shea jr., son of the vice-president 

of Paramount Pictures Distributing 

Corp.. has been named a member of the ways 

and means committee of the Buffalo Advertising 

Club. Charles B. Taylor of UPT is 

an ex-officio member of the same group as 

well as a member of the club's Ad Vents 

staff. 

. . . 

Eddie Miller, manager, reports the Paramount 

stage will offer "Birdland Stars of 

'55" for two performances on the evening 

of March 4. In the cast are Sarah Vaughan, 

Count Basie and his orchestra, the George 

Shearing quintet, the ErroU Garner Trio, 

Stan Getz and Lester Young. All seats will 

be reserved The Moviemobile, filled 

with reminders of the old movie days, which 

was assembled by the Eastman House staff 

in Rochester under the spon.sorship of Loew 

Theatres, returned home to Kodak Town last 

weekend after a tour of the midwest and 

New England and was parked in front of 

the Rochester Loew house for two days. The 

Moviemobile featured such relics as a Zoetrope, 

a picture-viewing gadget that preceded 

the movies; a Lumiere projector of 1895, an 

early EMison projector, a color camera, a 

projector unit of 1913 and a newsreel camera 

of approximately the same date, a peepshow 

mechanism called the mutoscope and many 

color transparencies and stllLs of bygone 

films. 

Cieo Moore, one of the stars of "Womens 

Prison." was here last week in behalf of the 

Barker 

Basil Lafayette attraction . . . Chief 

W. E. J. Martin of the Variety Club wagreatly 

pleased over the big turnout lasi 

Saturday night for the annual Valentine 

dance . was an interesting story 

in the Toronto press the other day outlining 

the career of James R. Nairn, director of 

advertising and publicity for Famous Players 

Canadian Corp. The interviewer asked 

Jimmy in what ways he thought film publicity 

had changed .since he joined PPC in 1930. 

to which Jim replied; "Well, for one thing. 

I think we're a little more conservative than 

we used to be. We no longer use words like 

stupendous' or 'colossal'—which are gag 

adjectives anyway. And we don't go for 

sensationalism. We have to be dramatic, 

yes, but when we're handed a campaign 

that's built solely on .sensationalism, we tone 

it down." 

Bill Brett continues to tie in with local 

organizations in Kenmore. and is gaining 

much goodwill thereby for his Kenmore 

Theatre. The latest benefit show staged by 

Bill was put on by the Knights of Columbus 

Whiteman, past chief barker 

of the Variety Club, was prominent in making 

aiTangements for the testimonial dinner 

staged last week in honor of Thomas W. 

Ryan, a former Buffalo police inspector and 

for the last eight years director of the state 

safety commission. 

Buffalo's stage comedy duo, the Watson 

sisters, who now reside at 1471 Amherst St.. 

are celebrating 50 years in show busine.ss. 

Fanny and Kitty started their theatrical 

career in 1905 in a burlesque show .staged by 

Fred Irwin, also a Buffalonian. The sisters 

at one time appeared in the Palace on 

Broadway when Lillian Russell was the headliner. 

They also were successful In musical 

comedy and in recent years have been 

featured in night clubs. They made some 

film short.s with Thelma White. 

Smalley Signs With Altec 

For More NY Theatres 

NEW YORK—The nine upstate New York 

houses of Smalley Theatres are now under 

contract to Altec Service Corp. A contract 

covering four of them has been signed by 

Mrs. Hazel S. Smalley. president, and Marty 

Wolf, Altec assistant .sales manager and J. A. 

Darrow, company field engineer. They are 

located at Delhi. Dolgeville. Stamford and 

Walton. Contracts had previously been 

signed for five others. They are at Johnstown, 

Norwich, Sidney. Cooperstown and Fort 

Plain. Altec field engineers out of Albany 

will cover the nine hou.ses. Those in Cooperstown 

and Fort Plain have Installed stereophonic 

equipment. 

Buffalo Drive-In Corp. 

ALBANY—The Twin Drive-In Theatre Co. 

has been chartered to conduct business at 

71 Seneca St.. Buffalo. The Incorporators 

are Louis Battalglia of EgeertsviUe, Anthony 

Ragusa, Buffalo, and John W, Stark, Depew. 

KINNER'S GLASS CLEANER 

Used by more thcofrcs thon ony other cleaner 

for 

GLASS and CHROME 

Sold by Notional Thcotrc Supply 

KINNER PRODUCTS COMPANY '"''owo'''''

Front row: Vali, Boyd and Seal, Richmond; Cecil L. Burroughs, Front row: L. B. Culpepper, Elizabeth City; Walter 

Thomas L. Leighton and Robert E. Buckner, Richmond; William C. Craddock; N. B. Blanchard, Ed Higgins and A, P. Alston 

Buck, Rising Sun, Md. All of the exhibitors in the second row City. Second row: C. A. Gowan, Abingdon; Dillard Bell, 

are identified in another photograph with the exception of T. E. Gap; John Bray, Norton; C. S. James, Saltville; Charle 

Wilson, at the far right, operator of the Crewe, Theatre. Crewe. Va, St. Paul; J. E. Trammell, Bristol; T. D. Field, Abingdon 

SEVENTH MGM WORKSHOP HELD IN 

RICHMC 

Attracts One of the Largest Area Exhibitor Groups in Recent Years 

Bernie Hickey, left, of the Shea circuit 

and Leonard Gordon, president of the 

VTOA. were the two local theatreraen 

featured during the session. 

RICHMOND — Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer's 

Ticket Selling Workshop recently held here at 

the Jefferson Hotel attracted one of the 

largest exhibitor gi-oups in the area in recent 

years. The clinic, which supplements talks 

with actual promotion ideas and selling aids, 

was the seventh in a series of 24 being sponsored 

by the film company. 

A variety of speakers addressed the exhibitor 

group which came from Maryland. 

Virginia and North Carolina. Major guest 

speakers included Bob and Melba Walker, 

owners of the Uintah Theatre, Fruita, Colo.; 

Bernie Hickey, publicity and advertising head 

of Shea Theatres affiliated with the Jamestown 

Amusement Co.: Al Reynold 

manager of Claude Ezell & 

Texas drive-in circuit: and Will 

commercial manager for televisi( 

WRTV in Richmond. Leonard Gon 

dent of the Virginia Theatre Ow: 

also participated with a brief tal! 

Representing the MGM Ueado: 

Mike Simons, customer relation 

and orginator of the workshop 

Emery Austin, exploitation direc 

discussed the firm's "1955 Motic 

Celebration" and the "Go to th 

campaigns. 

^ ^ ^ 

Front row, left to right: Jerome Gordon, Hampton; Bob Harris 

and Walt League, Salem; Louis Vali, Ober Boyd and Frank L. 

Seal jr., Richmond. Second row: Don Blood and Dave Garvin jr., 

Newport News; Spencer Webster, Charlottesville; M. S. Hill, Greensboro; 

Willis W. Grist jr., Lynchburg; Ellison Loth, Waynesboro; 

J. H. McClellan, Lovingston. 

Front row: Nathan Klein. Baltimore; Jack Levin, 

Sol Goodman, Purcellville ; Mrs. Mary Moorcones and 

'. 

Moorcones, Purcellville. Second row: Joe Oulahan, Glouce 

C. Cald^vell and his son John jr., Appomattox. The o 

men were not identified by the photographer. 

Front row: Ben Somma and Peter F. Stcinbach, Highland 

Springs; Miss Connie L. Fields and Ernest L. Gartner, Gaithersburg. 

Second row: Alex Radvin, Richmond; J. T. Robinson, Troy; 

Frank Wolf jr„ Weem; Jack Groh, Richmond; B. C. Talley, Bon 

.Air; W. C. Hatrick, Bethesda. Row Three: F. Aissa and Don King, 

Clinton. Md.; M. Lewis, AValdorf, Md.; H. Vogclstein, Baltimore. 

Front row: Herb Bennin, MGM manager at Wash 

Northington and J. B. Myers, Petersburg; Dan McCoy, : 

R. B. Seamster, Hopewell; Ralph May, Richmond; Al. 

Petersburg. Second row: F. Davis, D. Kamsky, Sam Bcr 

Richmond; John Kase and Percy Cummings jr„ Chariot' 

Coultler and E. A, Brown, Richmond.

: Belmont 

. . Carl 

. . Wesley 

. . The 

. . Nicholas 

. . Bea 

. . The 

. . . Margaret 

. . Many 

. . Eddie 

. . Projectionist 

LPHIA 

honor Judge Leo 

ppointed judge of 

, 5. at a luncheon 

levue-Stratford. 

acfman. 

chief barker. 

:torney and memducation. 

has been 

!ty Club for many 

legal counsel. He 

construction of the 

;apped children in 

County. 

icist: Jack Beresin, 

president, and Jay 

of the committee 

eilan, Warner Bras, 

/ision chairman for 

izabeth Marrandino. 

randmother for the 

aughter-in-law and 

f a baby girl named 

u-ris, vice-president 

Inc., returned here 

;eles to try to line 

. . Nate Milgi-am's 

and Booking Sen'- 

it the firm's new 

.. . John Daly, 

lerwent sui-gery rehome 

. . . Starting 

U celebrate Norman 

with the coinpany. 

City exhibitor who 

Hollywood theatres, 

son named Stephen 

Kleckner, Warner 

Einstein Medical 

The Savar 

n . . . 

J., broke a house 

ning day of "20.000 

." with a gross of 

«. Sandy Gottlieb's 

is now handling 

;Ieton Drive-In in 

lers of Tristate was 

e A. M. Ellis Crest 

and Rising Sun 

It last week, forced 

d with some petty 

lan delivering film 

Tlieatre, 

rtly after midnight 

nd the place filled 

Lind the screen and 

i. The fire was put 

I 

half. 

raised this year by 

e in 80 independent 

it was announced 

neral chairman of 

ard Emanuel was 

phase of the cam- 

J. . . . 

former owner of a 

iladelphia and New 

in Hospital at the 

o 1935 he operated 

David Supober 

of Variety Tent 

ion of 12 stores to 

center. The center. 

t by the late Henry 

B operator and real 

the first integrated 

shopping center in Greater Philadelphia in 

the postwar era. Members of the Pried 

family continue to operate the center. 

Stanley Warner has reopened the New 

Palace . M. Beresin, Leo Beresin's 

son. has become engaged to Connie Goldman, 

daughter of Mi-, and Mrs. Harry Goldman 

of Melrose Par-k. A fall wedding is 

planned . . . Harold 

Eskin is not going 

to operate the Bromley after April, and the 

theatre is scheduled for conversion to a 

dance hall . . . Philip Blaustein, who at 

one time owned and operated a circuit of 

theatres in Ti-enton. died at the age of 66 

. . . Allied Independent Tlieatre Owners 

of Eastern Pennsylvania and Allied Motion 

Picture Theatre Service have moved their 

offices to the Abbott Building. 201 N. Broad. 

. 

. 

. 

. . . Daniel Negley, manager of 

Elmer Hollander is now beick in this territory 

as a representative for Distributors 

Corp. of America Pormato. wife 

of District Manager Lou Pormato of Loew's 

was in Jefferson Hospital Pox 

Theatre in Bordentown has been reopened 

as the Shai-on Capone and 

Michael Fonde are now operating the Center 

in Tienlon 

the Majestic in Bridgeton, N. J., died at 

the age of 60. At one time he operated 

theatres in Columbia, Pa. 

BALTIMORE 

Mow that Jimmy Gladfather has moved up 

to manager of the Playhouse, he is 

succeeded at the Cinema by Johnny Williams, 

who was manager of the General Pulaksi 

Drive-In . John Jenkins has been 

added to the managerial staff of the Mayfair 

. . . Herbert C. Thompson of Paramoimt's 

Washington office was a visitor in Baltimore. 

Jack Fruchtman, who handles the New and 

Keiths here, made a tour of his theatres 

at Lexington Park. Incidentally, the Lexington 

Park and Leonaj-dtown theatres are 

concerned with protests by a group of 

citizens objecting to "unsightly billboards 

along Route 235." A move is afoot to have 

the highways cleared of all advertising matter 

... T. L. Harrison jr. has been named 

general manager of Lexington Park Theatres. 

Inc.. and the 235 Drive-In, at Calilornia. 

Md. . Waldorf, at Waldorf, 

Md., is trying a live-talent show featuring 

a hillbilly and a radio gang. 

. . - John Dunne, projectionist 

Lou Sieber, president of projectionists 

Local 181. is home ill . . It was an eighth 

. 

birthday celebration for the daughter of Jack 

Sidney, city manager of Loew Theatres in 

Baltimore 

at the censor board headquarters. Is vacationing 

in Plorida. 

Jay Wren Joins Viking 

PHILADELPHIA—Jay Wren, film buyer 

and city manager of AB-Paramount's Philadelphia 

theatres, has been named general 

manager and film buyer of the 'Viking, the 

city's new first-run house, and the suburban 

Locust Theatre, according to Harry Sley. 

president of the Viking Theatre Corp. 

Wren, who will assume his new duties 

March 1. entered the industry In 1932 managing 

theatres for RKO and Walter Reade 

in New York and New Jersey. He joined 

Paramount in 1942. 

WASHINGTON 

. Sandy 

. . . Aileen Railey. IPE 

jDernard Jacon, IPE vice-president, was a 

Washington visitor this week . 

Film Co. has opened a new 

. 

exchange in 

Charlotte, N. C. 

booker, celebrated a birthday on February 13 

Pryor. formerly with Wheeler 

Film Co., Ls now associated with John Rose 

Productions. 

The .lay Cordons. Gordon circuit, Newport 

News. Va.. named their new daughter Susan 

Frances . . . Mrs. Bertha Gordon is vacationing 

in Miami Beach . Martin. Joe 

Walsh Booking Service, has returned to the 

office after several days illness. He and Joe 

Walsh were Pilmrow visitors this week . . . 

The Morgan Theatre. Gi-undy, Va.. was 

partially destroyed by fire last week. Building 

will be reconstructed and should be completed 

about the middle of March. 

Ernestine Bandcl, National Screen Service 

office manager, and secretary Sandra Solomon 

are still fighting the virus . . . Pearl 

Torney, 20th Century-Pox, just completed her 

29th year on Pilmrow—six years with Educational 

Films and 23 years with 20th-Pox . . . 

Anthony Muto, Washington representative, is 

in South America . Prank 

Blake and Bob Smeltzer celebrated birthdays 

on Wednesday. 

. . . 

Sara Young spent the weekend in Brookline. 

Mass. happy returns to Angle 

Ratto. 

. 

Loew's Palace Theatre manager, who 

celebrated a birthday on Thursday . . . Messrs. 

Ulman and Howard came in from Salisbury 

to visit Pilmrow Local P-13 executive 

board held a regular monthly meeting on 

Thur.sday evening. 

Joe Brecheen, RKO branch manager, spent 

Tuesday at the Naval Aii' Station in Bainbridge. 

Md.. visiting his son who is ill . . . 

Paramount's Ann Raffo was out sick . . . 

Eileen Olivier. 20th Century-Pox, has bought 

a new home. 

Sablosky Suit Starts 

PHILADELPHIA—The Sablasky brothers" 

antitrust case against the distributors began 

in federal coiu-t here this week. The suit, 

which .seeks damages in the millions of 

dollars, al.so asks an injunction so the 

Sablosky Norristown theatres can exhibit 

motion pictures on territorial release. 

Arthur Kerns, 45, 

Dies 

PHILADELPHIA—Arthur Kerns, manager 

of the Randolph Theatre, died at the age 

of 45. He had been with William Goldman 

Theatres for 11 years, and before that was 

with Warners. 

DARING! 

George 

SANDERS 

Lucille BALL WllbUlIli c. 

Ckitielli 

«i" aniiii

. . . State 

. . Dorothea 

. . Rocco 

However, 

. . Jim 

. . Andy 

. . Ambridge 

. . State 

. . Edward 

. 

PITTSBURGH 

Drotherhood Week meetings, three of them, 

were conducted on Filmrow for sales groups 

Monday, and exhibitors were contacted for 

support this week , Alexander of 

Alexander Theatre Supply here, sent a post 

card from St. Petersburg: "Whoever invented 

loafing should have a medal. It's great. 

Albert Kane of East 

Weather swell" . . . 

Liberty has joined 20th-Fox here as a student 

booker . Serrao. Ford City indoor 

and outdoor exhibitor, is missing a front 

tooth as the result of a recent auto accident 

Theatre, Charleroi, exploited "The 

Barefoot Contessa" in a tieup with Porter's 

Jewelry store, the award on February 15 

being a $200 diamond ring. 

March 11 will mark the 25th wedding anniversary 

of Hymie and Yetta Wheeler and 

they plan a "quiet evening at home." iQuiet, 

with Hymie? i that's his direct 

quote for the week . Battiston, a 

veteran in show business here who operated 

a theatre and signed film contracts before 

he purchased his first long pants, and who 

is a leader in Democratic circles in Allegheny 

and Westmoreland counties, is returning to 

an executive post with the Pennsylvania 

Department of Revenue. He was an inspector 

for this department a number of years ago. 

This week Andy was soliciting advertisements 

for the local Allied MPTO which plans a 

convention in March. 

The Manos Theatre at Uniontown distributed 

Valentines, which when opened announced 

the "Sweetheart fo all shows," Warners' 

"Young at Heart" . area 

outdoor theatres have kept their names before 

the public in newsprint during the winter 

season by advertising support for public 

service organizations and fund drives. Last 

week the ABC, Brookside, Dependable, Green 

Garden and Kane Road Drive-In theatres 

took their "Hats Off to the Boy Scouts on 

their 45th Birthday" . . . Dr. and Mrs. Walter 

P. Spill hosted the February 18 Family night 

at the 'Variety Club . Theatre, 

Johnstown, presented fli-back paddle balls 

to each kiddy in attendance at last Saturday 

morning's cartoon show. 

Bob Folliard, RKO district manager, was 

here on business with David C. Silverman, 

manager . . . Bill Nidetch, Claysburg exhibitor, 

was in for the Dapper Dan shindig last 

weekend . Abbott, cashier at the 

Ai'cade Theatre, south side, at a police 

standup, identified Thomas Murray, 45, as 

the gunman who held up the theatre January 

29 and made off with $45. He was held on a 

charge of armed robbery despite his denials 

that he was the bespectacled gunman. 

Murray Weiss, Allied Ai-tists salesman here 

for four months, was off the payroll . . . 

Arthur Blake's one-man show premiered 

this week at the Mishler Theatre in Altoona, 

which marked the theatre's 50th year, has 

been booked in Bedford, Uniontown, Harris- 

SAM FINEBERG I 

TOM McCLEARY | 

JIM ALEXANDER | 

84 Van Broom Street 

^ 

PITTSBURGH 19, PA. | 

Phone Express 1-0777 

| 

Movies Are Better Than Ever • How's Your Equipment? ^^^: 

burg, Lewistown and other Pennsylvania 

cities before opening an European tour in 

London . "Jack" Devine. 82, retired 

playwright and actor who was employed 

by the Cowell Amusement Co. at Erie, 

died. He was a living encyclopedia of show 

business. 

The Metropolitan Theatre in the Bloomfield 

district is being converted into a store 

room . . . Izzy Segall. Granlee, Inc.. booker, 

was in from his Philadelphia office. He made 

the rounds with Sam Gould, district manager 

for the Harold S. Eskin circuit, who headquarters 

at the Strand, Greensburg . . . 

Geraldine Casale resigned at the Paramount 

Mike Manos 

exchange to await the .stork . . . 

is reported in good health again at his winter 

home in Miami Beach. His son Alex, after 

recuperating from an operation in Philadelphia, 

was back home this week. 

Marco Ranalli, who attended the St. Louis 

Allied convention la.st week, has built a new 

kiddy attraction at Ranalli's Drive-In on 

Route 8. He remodeled and rebuilt a tractortrailer 

into a train for kiddy rides. In addition 

to the engine there is a coal car and a 

third coach, total seating capacity being 20 . . 

Bill Blair, house manager of the Nixon Theatre, 

was in Cleveland for the 66th wedding 

anniversary celebration of his parents, Mr. 

and Mrs. William T. Blair sr. 

Mary Jane Hoon has withdrawn from Filmrow 

duties with the closing of the Hanna 

office, which has been merged with Co-op. 

Geraldine Bendig switches from Hanna to 

the Paramount office. Allied MPTO is expected 

to move into the former Hanna quarters 

Ann Cohen, secretary at the Associated 

. . . circuit office, vacationed, with Pat 

Logue on duty while Art, George and Ernest 

Stern attended the outdoor theatre convention 

in St. Louis . . . Sam Speranza of the 

SW circuit and Mrs. Speranza prepared to 

depart on a vacation in Miami. 

New Censor Law Would 

End Newsreels Checks 

BALTIMORE—A new motion picture censorship 

bill designed to make the Maryland 

law conform to Supreme Court rulings, has 

passed the state Senate and was expected to 

come up before the House this week for final 

action. An amendment to abolish newsreel 

censorship has been prepared by delegates 

Jerome Robinson, Lansdale G. Sasser jr. and 

Carlton R. Stickles. 

The sponsors contend not only that censorship 

of newsreels is unnecessary, but also 

that it violates the constitutional principle 

of the freedom to di.sseminate the news. 

Chairman Sydney R. Traub, of the state 

board of motion picture cen.sors, testified 

before the judiciary committee and urged 

that newsreel censorship be retained. He 

admitted that the censor board has not, 

during his term, cut any news films, and 

he could recall only two such in.stances in 

history of Maryland censoring. His major 

argument for continuing the news censorship 

was that it produced $10,000 a year in 

revenue needed to finance his board. 

Mitzi Gaynor has joined Bing Crosby, Donald 

O'Connor and Jeanmaire in the topline 

cast of Paramount's "Anything Goes." 

TENT I HONORS CKITIC- 

Tent 1 of Pittsburgh, headed 

Barker Elmer I. Ecker, spo 

testimonial dinner in the Will 

Hotel there for Harold V. Coh 

' 

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette who 

the nation's No. 1 film criti 

Screen Directors Guild. More 

friends and film industry folk 

the dinner, including Jerry 

Harry Kalmine. Lou Hanna, Bi 

Harry Hendel, B. W. Steerman. 

Greevey, Charles Blatt. Morr 

Glenn Norris, Tom McCleaste 

Greenblatt, L. E. Goldhamme 

Folliard and Abe Weiner. Cohe 

the SDG award at a dinner th 

Hollywood. In photo: Ecli 

presents plaque to Cohen, 

WiUiam Block, Post-Gazette 

looks on. 

WEST VIRGi 

niex Christy, 29-year-old Morgi 

jectionist, has invented a selfinto 

cigarets. After seven years 

mentation he has come up wit 

that is tasteless, odorless and gl 

of flaming when ignited. Tl 

doesn't smoke. A native of Unii 

Christy has named Kuni Kunef 

national sales representative fc 

Lite. 

Mr. and Mrs. James Work, Ni 

ville area indoor and outdoor ex 

turned from a vacation in Floi 

Jack Gardner, Elm Grove out

with 

10,000 SPORTS CAR CLUBMEN 

SALESMEN FOR 7HE RACERS' 

Book Stores Also Are Ready to Support 

Film on Local 

Level 

Sports car clubs throughout the United 

States and Canada will cooperate fully with 

showmen in promoting local engagements 

of 20th-Fox's Cinemascope production in 

color, "The Racers." starring Kirk Douglas, 

Bella Darvi, Gilbert Roland, Cesar 

Romero, Lee J. Cobb and Katy Jurado. The 

special edition of the book upon which the 

picture is based, the popular song taken 

from the soundtrack of the film and 

special accessories to provide saturation 

radio and TV promotion are among the 

several highly exploitable features of "The 

Racers." 

CAR CLUBS ALERTED 

Approximately 10.000 members of the 

Sports Car Club of America have been requested 

by its public relations director to 

give all possible help in local campaigns. 

The local clubs will publicize engagements 

through their mail lists; have members appear 

on radio and TV shows; be interviewed 

by newspapers to relate interesting sidelights 

on the sport and provide a sports 

car for lobby display. 

The club magazine and other literature 

will be circulated among the membership. 

Automobile showrooms can be contacted for 

poster displays. A motorcade of sports 

cars can be promoted to transport civic 

officials to the opening night. The town's 

younger set, those owning hot rods, and 

others owning vintage or ancient model 

autos, should be encouraged to display 

their machines. Have a dealer stage a 

sports car show, and if auto races are held 

in the area, be sure an entry is labeled "The 

Racers." Request permission to use snipes 

on automobile advertising within a 25- 

mile radius of town. 

5,000 STORE DISPLAYS 

The special 35-cent edition of the novel, 

"The Racers," by Hans Ruesch will receive 

thorough promotion via 5,000 window and 

store displays as part of the campaign 

planned by the publisher, Ballantine Books. 

An illustrated four-page brochure has been 

mailed to leading book distributors and retailers 

suggesting cooperative effort. Book 

wrappers bearing picture credits have been 

placed on hundreds of thousands of copies. 

Thou.sands of two-color posters with bookmotion 

picture advertising have been distributed, 

with space at the bottom for theatre 

playdates. Pi-omote books as gifts to 

newspaper critics, radio-TV commentators 

and book reviewers. 

Two free transcriptions are offered on 

the picture, the first disk consisting of five 

20-second spots, ranging from action to 

romance, with open end for playdate mention, 

and the second record for a saturation 

campaign, with three open-end spots of 

20. 30 and 60-second duration. Spfecify 

type of record and title of picture when 

ordering from: Pressbook Editor, 20th- 

F'ox, 444 West 56th St., New York. 

Two TV trailers also may be had gratis 

from the pressbook editor, a 20 and a 60- 

second spot, both clips having a frozen end 

frame for local announcements. Give the 

station call letters, date to be used and 

specify TV trailers for "The Racers" when 

ordering. Two different slides or Telops 

may be ordered from the vender. 

The theme music of the picture is a 

ballad titled, "I Belong to You," sung on 

the soundtrack by top recording star Peggy 

Lee, who also has recorded the tune for 

Decca. This number can be featured in all 

music promotion on the film via disk 

jockey cooperation, plays on store and theatre 

PA systems, in jukeboxes and store 

displays. 

Ralph Flanagan and his orchestra have 

recorded the music for RCA-Victor and 

others are scheduled. Both companies are 

planning advertising, publicity and exploitation 

pegged to theatre dates. The 

publishers of the sheet music of the tune, 

which pictures the Kirk Douglas-Bella 

Darvi clinch scene and picture credits, are 

arranging TV-radio promotion of the number 

as well as counter and window displays 

with all dealers. 

New TV Station Sponsors 

23-Cartoon Show 

An unusual tie-in recently between 

Florida State Theatres and tiie new 

WGBS-TV station resulted in a big weekend 

ad on the "Colossal Cartoon Carnival." 

Saturday morning matinee only, at 

nine FST theatres. 

The ad led off: "Hey kids! Happy day!" 

The show was heralded as a presentation 

of the new station in cooperation with 

FST. The event was ballyhooed on the 

station's screen. Tie-in was indicated by 

calling attention to channel 23 presenting 

23 cartoons for 23 cents. .All were in 

Cinemascope. No adult was admitted unless 

accompanied by a child. 

Special art was used in the threecolumn, 

11-inch ad and the results were 

even better than expe

, presentation 

. The 

the 

— 

:elte Fine 

Film 

is offering gratis to 

ite featurette highsssibilities 

of Vistaeveral 

brief but imn 

of the company's 

med in Technicolor, 

ts of the interesting 

it Presents Vistaibution 

about midprints 

to be made 

possible. 

'iewed are two proase, 

"White Christ- 

Circus," and eight 

i's 1955 schedule: 

Ti-ouble With 

f. The Seven Little 

e're No Angels. The 

j-allant. 

nany stars appear- 

Cary Grant, Grace 

)n, Jane Wyman. 

irray. Donna Reed, 

mett, Viveca Lindadvance 

trailer on 

that 

all patrons but will 

le anticipation. All 

o keep the promoid 

when they screen 

talizes 

in Life 

f 

ami Beach has her" 

aingo Theatre pub- 

Camille." The cire 

picture following 

nd series of stories 

tant manager, Ben 

as far above averid 

that the recent 

itly spurred public 

/er was used in the 

le articles. An im- 

Garbo was used. 

Back." 

lad some very nice 

;, and that the piciF 

print that shows 

m. 

le had heard about 

ever until this picthe 

screen. "She's 

List 

proach of Manager 

f paid off when he 

;o-crack" Welland. 

1 co-op newspapwr 

en" at the Capitol 

han's new allies, a 

ipliance store, ran: 

velve Men' Would 

nd this was backed 

ilugging. 

THEATRE AND RADIO AUCTION PERKS 

ATTENDANCE DURING 13 

WEEKS 

Pafrons Save Stubs From Four Houses to 

Bid on Westinghouse Appliances 

Oklahoma City's downtown theatres 

the Midwest, Criterion, Center, State, 

Harber and Warner—and station KTOW 

are conducting a 13-week radio auction 

which features $2,000 in Westinghouse appliances 

as prizes. 

The program started January 17. The 

auction is promoted each day, Monday 

through Pi-iday, on KTOW from 9:15 until 

9:30 p.m. One major prize is "sold" each 

week. 

This is the way it is played. Ticket stubs 

from downtown theatres are saved and 

each week a major Westinghouse appliance 

is offered for bidding. The stubholder 

has to mail a card to KTOW before 

midnight each Saturday to make a bid. 

stating the number of stubs saved. Each 

stub counts as one. If a person does not 

win, he keeps his stubs to bid the following 

week. If he w'ins, he must give up his stubs 

used for bidding. Stubs are verified by 

KTOW and winners are announced each 

Tuesday over KTOW at 9:15 a.m. 

Employes or families of participating 

firms are not eligible. Each prize costs 

about $100. 

The prizes have been furnished through 

courtesy of Jenkins Music Co., Al Robertson, 

Snodgrass Furniture Co. and Wilson 

Furniture Co. These firms are participating 

for credit received on screen trailers 

and in lobby and other displays. 

The final week's prize will be a laundromat 

and dryer. 

A record player and radio 

combination, a roaster, electric sweeper. 

Show Business Ad Copy 

Reads Like College Cheer 

Like a college cheer. Manager Frank 

Lynch of the Salem Playhouse "hit 'em 

again harder" in Naugatuck, Conn., by advertising 

"There's No Business Like Show 

Business" with this peppy approach: 

It Is Our Business! 

To Tell You! 

To See . . . 

S-H-O-W B-U-S-I-N-E-S--S! 

Because . . . "There's No Business 

Like Show Business" 

P-U-L-L-E-E-Z-E! Make It Your 

Business! 

It's Our Pleasure at 3:03. 6:03. 9:03! 

'Honey Babe' on Victor 

" 

"Honey Babe, tune from 'Battle 

Cry." has been waxed by the Sauter Finnegan 

orchestra for Victor Records. Another 

big name band, the Art Mooney aggregation, 

has already recorded It for MGM 

Records. 

A radio ouction, held weekly over station KTOW, is 

"serving its purpose" in stimulating boxoffice ticket 

soles in Oklahoma City's downtown theatres. Shown 

here ore some of the theatremen participating in 

the 13-wcck promotion. They are, left to right, 

Eddie Peak, KTOW's sales manager; Joe Real, Midwest 

manager; Gordon Leonard, Criterion manager, 

and Dean Davis, Center manager. 

garbage disposal are among other prizes. 

The first week a woman won with 40 

ticket stubs from the theatres. She had 

taken a Boy Scout troop to the Harber for 

some of the stubs. The second week's winner 

won with 90 tickets. This woman was 

a member of a bu.sinesswomen's group, all 

of whom helped her collect the prize. 

"It's serving its purpose," said Peak, who 

added the folks are turning out with high 

hopes of winning the jackpot. 

500 Million Folders 

Proclaim Tomato Queen 

Five hundred million folders proclaiming 

star Mary Murphy the "Tomato Glamor 

Queen of 1955" and crediting her latest 

Paramount movies. "Hell's Island" and 

"The Desperate Hours." are being Inserted 

into every box of cellophane-wrapped tomatoes 

.sold exclusively in the U. S. by the 

Produce Packing Ass'n. The unique and 

tremendous nationwide tieup revolves 

around release dates of the two films during 

the present calendar year. The estimated 

figure is based on the 10,000 per 

week average sales of these tomatoes. 

Big 'Country GirV Plug 

Twenty million clubwomen and university 

alumnae across the United States have received 

a letter from Mrs. Dean Gray Edwards, 

chairman of Motion Pictures of the 

National Council of Women, acclaiming 

Paramount's "The Country Girl" as a film 

not to be missed.

. . Best 

HOMEMADE DISPLAY OF '20,000 LEAGUES' 

SO REALISTIC THAT IT BRINGS SCREAMS 

Lifelike Squid Exhibit Constructed by Manager 

Jay Frankenbery of Uniontown, Pa. 

Units oi 5 Milila 

Organizations Aii 

'Army' al Toledo 

"This Is "ôur Army" was la 

Manager Fred C. Lentz' Paramc 

tre in Toledo with the full coot 

the ROTC from the University 

and the local branches of the 

serve, Rossford ordinance depot, 

and the National Guard. On ope 

The squid display in the lobby of the 

State Theatre in Uniontown, Pa., was so 

realistic one woman let out a scream and 

ran when she saw it. 

It was built by Jay Frankenbery. manager 

of the theatre, to promote greater interest 

in "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." 

Jay made a replica of a ten-armed squid, 

a creation of the fertile imagination of 

Jules Verne from whose book the film was 

adapted, from chicken wire and newspaper. 

The paper, after being cut into strips, 

was wrapped around the wire, pasted and 

then covered with green enamel. 

The entire display—squid, fish, underwater 

plants and sponge.s—weighed no 

more than four pounds. It took Pi-ankenbery 

about 30 hours to make it. The design 

is his alone but he was helped by 

several ushers when it came time to do 

the assembling. 

Big Top Outside Theatre 

For 'Three Ring Circus' 

For the promotion of "Three Ring Circus" 

recently shown at Sterling's suburban 

Northgate in Seattle, a circus tent was 

erected outside the theatre complete with 

sawdust floors, lights, loudspeaker system 

and circus concessions including cotton 

candy and pink lemonade. The theatre 

was decorated with red-and-white striped 

paper and 24-sheet cutouts on windows. 

The marquee reader board was ornamented 

with the figures of two trapeze artists. 

Lifesize cut outs of Dean Martin and 

It was so effective that after the film 

finished its run in Uniontown the display 

was to be taken to other Manos theatres. 

Usually children can't keep their hands 

off displays. But this one was so weird the 

kids stood back and surveyed it from a 

safe distance. Even some grownups found 

it frightening. 

"A girl was standing in the lobby the 

other day," Jay said, "and she apparently 

hadn't seen the display. I told her if she 

wasn't careful that thing behind her would 

get her. She took one look, let out a scream 

and ran out of the lobby." 

In evei-y group which inspects the display 

there has to be an expert. Jay overheard 

one say to his wife, "Don't let it 

scare you, it's only made of plastic." 

Ken Woodward, city manager for Manos 

Theatres here, said it was one of the most 

interesting exhibitions he's ever seen. 

Jerry Lewis stood in front of the theatre. 

Gale force winds and rain forced everything 

within the tent to be moved into the 

lobby where two clowns were present for a 

three-day weekend and gave away over 

3,000 balloons. 

Toy Balloons for 'Hansel' 

The National Latex Co. is manufacturing 

two types of colored rubber balloons 

imprinted with pictures of the characters 

from Hansel and Gretel," that may be 

used for theatre front decorations and general 

nromotions on the nicture. 

detachments from all were on 1 

American Legion Post band p 

30-minute program, military pi 

as doormen and ushers, two g 

searchlights scanned the skies, 

was displayed on the theatre's ; 

while exhibits of the various or{ 

liUed the lobby. 

Spot announcements heralded 

on four different radio shows. N 

appeared in the newspapers an 

bulletins and the local Legion p 

A 40-piece band from Cam] 

25th army division added dran 

to the opening of "This Is Your 

the Plaza in Englewood. N. J. 

Murray Spector arranged for the 

to play several numbers in fn 

theatre before continuing to the 

pit for a special 30-minute prof 

to showtime. Patrons felt "therf 

like a band" and applauded louc 

To show his appreciation to th 

Spector had a Salvation Ai-m 

truck at the theatre supplying 

coffee and doughnuts. 

Finds Sports Editors ] 

To Use Feature Cop^ 

John W. Godfroy. manager 

Paramount Theatre in Ashland, 

a suggestion that applies to ai 

having a sports theme or backg: 

" I find," writes Godfroy. "that 

tors not only here in Ashland bi 

spots around the country will, i 

approached, use any story that 

sports that a manager might pres 

This applies to short subjects 

ing activities as w'ell as the fea 

often means extra publicity on a 

theatre page. Godfroy had goc 

getting breaks in the sports s 

his booking of "The Bob Mathi 

Middletown Ads Stn 

Multimillion $ Look! 

Assistant General Manager of 

Theatres in Middletown, Coi 

Adorno, introduced a note of pi 

the entertainment offered at tli 

Palace and Middlesex theatres b 

this copy in a typical weekend ac 

The Multimillion $ Look 

Take the Family for a 

Wonderful 

MIDDLETOWN THEATR 

Movie Weekend . 

Screens Ever! 

D:

I 

; no 

irms Guild 

Lrt Films 

"films of fact and 

entic films, in hisore 

and other films 

presentation"—will 

;st and receive a 

lout Kansas thanks 

Dallas, Midcentral 

anhattan. Kas. 

fforts. Dallas has 

Guild, a nonprofit 

apose of wider disid 

cultural motion 

lich is made up of 

Itural leaders, will 

Tly journal to exe 

state publicizing 

e as executive dinewcomer 

to 

For the past few 

with Kansas State 

Summer Fine Arts 

past year he has 

le 

ition of the guild. 

IS Rounded 

rince' 

ction of stage star 

mbled by Montague 

tor of the Rivoli, as 

half of "F*i'ince of 

ladway showplace. 

le seen are of E. H. 

lowe. George Arliss. 

vid Warfield. Laurams. 

Otis Skinner. 

;anne Eagels. and 

.ographs of famous 

ind other memorahe 

Daniel C. Blum 

in the display. 

ilock Gets 

tie Rock 

ack Rock and Little 

vised by advertising 

James F. Thames 

'Bad Day at Black 

United theatre in 

copy. "It will be a 

3k when It's a Bad 

lay be used advantions. 

not only those 

ing in "rock." The 

id used as a throwvance. 

)n Spread 

a recent weekday 

rk World-Telegram 

?e story and picture 

I Juliet." A variety 

the national co-op 

modeled by a coed 

the NYU School of 

; "Romeo" tie-ins 

jde: wedding gowns 

i bridesmaids' ens 

and "Romeo and 

FINE BIT OF INSTITUTIONAL PUBLICITY 

RESULTS FROM CHECK ON STUB FIGURES 

E^ân Thompson, manager of the Pox 

Theatre in Hackensack. N. J., was checking 

the day's business recently and recordinii 

ticket stub figures among other things 

when he realized the half-millionth patron 

to see a Cinemascope picture since the 

installation of the large screen w'ould soon 

be a visitor to the theatre. Judging from 

past averages of admissions. Thompson 

figured the 500.000th ticket would be purchased 

on a week day night between 6 and 

7:30 p.m. A story was planted in the 

Bergen Evening Record about the forthcoming 

events with particulars of the celebration 

and listing the prizes to be given 

the lucky patron and his guest. The winner 

and friend were to be treated to a dinner 

at a local restaurant, attend the special 

show as honored guests and receive a 

number of promoted gifts. The halfmillionth 

patron arrived and Thompson 

arranged a surprise celebration at the theatre 

with the city mayor in attendance, 

acting as host at the cutting of a birthday 

cake in honor of Cinemascope's first 

birthday. Another story on the stunt with 

a photo of the cake cutting ceremony, ran 

Paper Whales on Marquee 

For Sault Ste. Marie 'Sea' 

For "The Sea Around Us." Olga Sharabura. 

manager of the Orpheum Theatre in 

Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.. suspended two 

large cutout whales from two sides of the 

marquee with suitable 

if^'^^TX 

copy. 

Strips of vitrolite 

pasted on the 

cashier's window and 

the lobby front doors 

extended an unusual 

invitation. "Ichthyolo 

g i s t s Admitted 

'Free'." which prompted 

a lot of pa.ssersby 

L 'o 

^\ //T^l 

make inquiries. 

B

. . Got 

. . Got 

' 

• 

BOXOFFICE 

»xfeiwS««>!^wS«¥o««»S!SiS^KW^ 

Simple yet effective throwaways can often 

be evolved from pressbook ads on the picture, 

especially if the figures are line 

CONS SEIZE HOSTAGES IN PRISON BREAK! 

Starting FR ID A Y (? 

^

I 

1 Biscuit 

iCo.Spread 

otion for 

Greler 

es produced a pow- 

[ansel and Gretel," 

of its Miami houses 

and Coral, 

me from the tieup 

Co., which has put 

il" cookie on the 

itributor cooperated 

y trucks, point-ofamples 

of the new 

e outfitted in the 

umes and appeared 

dio, plugging the 

res. Tommy Tient, 

er, gave two per- 

?ach of six super- 

:hain. These shows 

Tanner newspaper 

radio and TV spots, 

re set up for underyoungsters 

in hosfor 

the Jack Bell- 

Hand group, with 

:^hildren's Hospital, 

lildren's Home, the 

the Cerebral Palsy 

uncil of PTA, repps, 

attended a spe- 

"oral. after which 

producer, made a 

' 

spoke to the group 

afterward, 

•adio luncheon held 

:e Hotel, Myerberg 

ibout the problems, 

Uenge he and his 

in making the film, 

arry Botwick. Florict 

manager. Lead- 

•ongly endorsed the 

sentative press of 

rberg and picture 

ill leading Miami 

resented with the 

by Mayor Harold 

e a round of visits 

tations. The entire 

a week before the 

inued right on till 

Hansel' 

theatre passes to 

heatre lobby credit 

>uder of the Circle 

; books agency at 

te posters plugging 

300 newsstands 

5. 

looperation of sevthem 

lobby mennt 

store spotted a 

ren's dress depart- 

Co. in a 

?d 500 cards adver- 

UNDERSTANDING OF EDITORS NEEDS 

SHOWS WAY TO THEATRE PUBLICITY 

A friendly attitude existing between the 

Daily Gazette of Rocky Ford. Colo., and 

Paul Anderson, city manager for Gibraltar 

Enterprises, has resulted in numerous publicity 

dividends for the Grand and Rex 

theatres. 

Because of good cooperation in the past, 

the newspaper ran a gratis page-deep, twocolumn 

article on the colorful history of 

the Grand Theatre prior to "There's No 

Business Like Show Business." A fourcolumn 

photo of the theatre employes 

with a film poster helped to draw attention 

to the spread. 

Anderson cooperated with the Gazette's 

circulation department by giving theatre 

passes to all carriers who conducted their 

weekly paper route service without customer 

complaint. The payoff of this arrangement 

was the circulation manager's 

statement that the number of complaints 

had dropped at least half and he believed 

the passes to be the strongest motivating 

lactor to insure 100 per cent carrier service. 

An idea which brought front-page plugs 

every week to the Grand Theatre was Anderson's 

cooperation with the paper on a 

safety campaign in which he furnished 

passes to the "Safe Drivers of the Week." 

The schools tied in on this through their 

tising its cookies and the playdate. 

Bersteds Hobby Craft set up a credit card 

at Standard Grocers, exclusive outlet for 

their modeling clay. 

A co-op window display was arranged 

with the local $1 store, a music store spotlighted 

the album of "Hansel and Gretel," 

and as a final flourish theatre credit cards 

were posted on 200 trash cans throughout 

the heart of Indianapolis. 

'Green Fire' on News Trucks 

To spread the news of "Green Fire," Manager 

John DjBenedetto of Worcester, Mass., 

arranged to have four local news trucks 

carry banners two weeks in advance of his 

Loew's Poll playdate. 

Passes Out Monthly 

For Traific Obedience 

Thi.s year mark.s llie fourth year Walter 

Kordek, manager of the Newington 

(Conn.) Theatre ha-s collaborated with 

local police departnioTit offirlaLs in campai|;nin^ 

for the traffic safety of school 

children. Kordek provides free theatre 

tickets and the police award them every 

week to two children from each elementary 

school who prove most obedient to 

traffic rules during the preceding week. 

The winners are announced in the H.irtford 

newspapers and with .52 weets a year, 

this means con.stant goodwill plugging 

for Kordek's theatre and his schedule of 

attractions. 

Teenage Safety Council mystery driver who 

selected the deserving five best drivers. 

Continuous plugs also appeared through 

co-op arrangement whereby subscribers' 

ii 

names and sometimes autoists' license 

numbers were hidden in the advertisements, 

and the lucky winners received a pair of 

free theatre tickets. 

Anderson's appearing at the Lions Club 

with lifesize standees of Jane Russell and 

Mary McCarty from "The FYench Line" 

caused quite a rumpus. The photo appeared 

in the paper causing a double-take reaction 

I rem readers plus well-directed guffaws. 

Anotlier photo showed Jane Russell in a 

dance scene still from the picture and was 

captioned, "Here's That Woman," with 

copy reading, "Doing THAT dance in THAT 

picture showing at . . . etc." 

During "Stalag 17" Anderson got together 

with a local ex-serviceman who had 

been a prisoner in Stalag 

War II. 

17 during World 

This resulted in a nice human interest 

two-column spread with photo showing 

them both in front of a theatre poster. 

More public interest was aroused when Anderson 

sponsored an Executive Sweetie 

contest during the playdate of "Executive 

Suite." Contestants' pictures were run in 

the paper followed by announcement and 

picture of the winner, who received $25. 

Helicopter Banner 

Proclaims Toko-Ri' 

The U. S. Naval Air Reserve station in 

Hartford, Conn., aided Manager Ray Mc- 

Namara during the premiere of "The 

Bridges at Toko-Ri" at the Allyn Theatre 

by providing a helicopter to fly a banner 

spelling "Bridges" from the theatre to a 

downtown destination point. Newspap)er 

photographers were on hand to record the 

unique publicity stunt and landing operation 

entailed. 

An air-sea rescue display by the Naval 

Reserve also was set up in the theatre 

lobby to add a note of realism to one of 

the action scenes shown in the film. 

McNamara got good coverage from local 

newspaper critics by setting up out-oftown 

phone interviews for them with William 

Perlberg and George Seaton, producers 

of the film based on James Michener's 

war story. 

60 Girls in Contest 

Sixty beautiful bathing-suit contestants 

vied in an Exquisite Form contest in behalf 

of "Vera Cruz" at the Capitol Theatre in 

New york. The young women competed in 

the UA national $75,000 contest in which 

the grand prize winner will receive a 

SIO.OOO modeling-TV contract and Hollywood 

screen test.

BOXOFFICE 

BAROME 

This chart records the performance of current ottractions in the opening week of their firsi 

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

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

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

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

s

, live 

, Sparks 

i 

OLLYWOOD 

4D VIEWS OF THE PRODUCTION CENTER 

(Holltrwood Office—Suite 219 at 6404 Hollvwood Blvd.: Ivan Spear, Western Manager 

Slated 

/Role 

ig her debut as a 

n has been signed 

dramatic show for 

licle has not as yet 

telecast emancolor. 

Miss Garson 

ige Lady in Town." 

Mervyn LeRoy, for 

3 produced and diatre" 

TV series for 

I Gamble since the 

II began more than 

ed his post, declar- 

;uture plans shortly, 

ched as to whether 

le continued. 

signed by producers 

:us to star in "It's 

o comedy series, the 

ill Monday (21) with 

Another new series, 

scheduled by Revue 

Bennett set for the 

J to Meet 

ids: Murphy 

>d studios are exertall 

exhibitor needs 

I quality of product, 

udio public relations 

i members of groups 

imate Board of Naluncheon 

here Monivs, 

published in the 

with helping pro- 

?rtainment the publited 

new processes, 

linemaScope, with a 

is, and Walt Disney 

iges of television in 

Flalph B. Hetzel jr., 

;ion Picture Ass'n of 

?Bra, head of com- 

:k to RKO 

has rejoined 

le months ago after 

r, to supervise preprs," 

which is being 

the company's cur- 

Actors and Producers 

Agree on TV Commercials 

HOLLYWOOD—The Screen Actors Guild, 

the Film Pi-oducers Ass'n of New York and 

the Alliance of Television Film Producers announced 

in a joint statement that negotiations 

have been completed for a new collective 

bargaining agreement covering minimum 

wages and working conditions for actors, 

singers and announcers in TV film commercials. 

Joining in the parleys were representatives 

of the American A.ss'n of Advertising 

Agencies. 

The existing contract expires March 1. 

Terms will be announced later. 

« « « 

Fii-st membership in the Society of Motion 

Picture Art Directors to be granted outside 

Hollj'wood ranks was presented Adolfo 

Dominguez. consul-general of Mexico, for 

transmission to Jose Rodriguez Granadas, 

Mexican art director and head of the Sindicato 

de Ti-abajadores de la Pi-oduccion. 

• • • 

Added to the board of directors of the 

recently formed Music Directors Ass'n of 

America were composers Adolph Deutsch 

and Dimitri Tiomkin. The organization, of 

which Johnny Green is president, is carrying 

on a campaign for the elimination of 

contractual restrictions whereby the use of 

the terms "musical direction" and "musical 

director" is forbidden in screen credits and 

paid film advertising. 

Bud Abbott to Be Chairman 

Of Humanitarian Dinner 

HOLLYWOOD—Comedian Bud Abbott has 

been named chairman of the show business 

testimonial program for the upcoming annual 

Humanitarian award dinner, sponsored by the 

Denver Hospital and Sanatorium, at which 

Danny Kaye will receive the kudos for 1954. 

The event will be staged March 20 at the 

Beverly Hills Hotel with Don Hartman, Paramount 

executive producer, as general chairman. 

Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, a former award 

winner, will make the presentation to Kaye 

Stanley Kramer to 

Shoot 

The Passion' in Spain 

HOLLYWOOD — SUnley Kramer's next 

venture for United Artists will be "The 

Pride and the Passion," based on the C. S. 

Forrester novel "The Gun." dealing with 

the Napoleonic wars. Kramer, who has Just 

completed "Not As a Stranger" for UA release, 

will film "Passion" on location in 

Spain in Technicolor and VistaVislon. The 

script is being penned by Edna and Edward 

Anhalt. 

'Seven Angry Men' Set 

For Kansas Opening 

HOLLYWOOD—Osawalomie. Ka-s., where 

abolitionist John Brown engaged in his first 

major battle, will be the site of the March 30 

world premiere of Allied Ai-tists' "Seven 

Angry Men," a story of Brown and his activities 

in the pre-Civil War era. On the following 

day a fom-theatre opening in Kansas 

City. Mo., and Kansas City, Kas., will spearhead 

saturation bookings in the Missouri- 

Kansas area. 

Airangements are being made to send Raymond 

Massey, Debra Paget and Jeffrey 

Hunter, stars of the Vincent M. Femielly production, 

to Osawatomie and Kansas City for 

personal appeaiances. The feature was directed 

by Charles Marquis Warren. 

"Interrupted Melody," MGM's tunefilm 

biography of opera star Mai'jorie Lawrence, 

has been set for its world premiere—date as 

yet unset—in Australia, the diva's home. 

Starring Eleanor Paiker and Glenn Ford, 

produced by Jack Cummings and megged by 

Curtis Bernhardt, the opus will be accorded 

its domestic bookings following its Australian 

bow. 

• • * 

'Captain Lightfoot," which U-I filmed in 

Ireland in CLnemaScope and Technicolor, will 

bow Friday il8) at the McVickers Tlieatre 

\n ChicEigo. Starring Rock Hud.son, Barbara 

Rush and Jeff Morrow, the Ro.ss Hunter 

production was directed by Douglas Sirk. 

• • • 

Republic's "Timberjack." which was worldpremiered 

Friday (4i in Missoula, Mont., 

will open locally Mai'ch 2 at the Vogue 

and Orpheum theatres and seven drive-ins. 

Pioduced and directed in Trucolor by Joe 

Kane, it stars Sterling Hayden, Vera Ralston, 

David Brian and Adolphe Menjou. 

Jack Warner Will Head 

Israel Bond Campaign 

HOLLYWOOD—Named chau-man of the 

film industry campaign for bonds of the 

Israel government was Jack L. Warner, executive 

producer at Warner Bros., while Hai'ry 

M. Warner, president of the company, has 

been selected to function as a trustee for the 

drive. 

• • • 

With the campaign to be launched Tuesday 

i22i via ground-breaking ceremonies, actor 

Dennis Morgan was appointed general chairman 

of the Burbank Haspital building project. 

Also on the sponsor list are Rex Allen, 

Roy Rogers, Joan Crawford and Tex Williams.

STUDIO PERSONNELITIES 

Barnstormers 

Warner Bros. 

Making personal appearances in connection with 

the Fndoy (J 8) oc>ening of "New York Confidential" 

at the Victoria Theatre in Gotham wos ANNE BAN- 

CROFT, featured with Brodenck Crawford and Richard 

Conte in the Edward Smoll production. 

Brieiies 

Warner Bros. 

"Adventures of Alexander Selkirk," o two-reeler in 

WornerColor, has gone into work on location on the 

island of Juon Fernandez off the coost of Chile, 

with Roberto Barff in the title role and Jackson 

Winters directing. It is a story of the sailor upon 

whose life is bosed Daniel Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe." 

Cedric Francis is the producer. 

Cleffers 

Allied Artists 

signed as musical director on "Spy Chasers" was 

MARLIN SKILES. 

Music director on the William F. Broidy production, 

"Las Vegos Shokedown," is EDWARD J. KAY. 

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 

Score for "The Scarlet Coat" is being written by 

CONRAD SALINGER. 

Warner Bros. 

Musical score for "Mister Roberts" will be written 

by FRANZ WAXMAN. 

Meggers 


The William F. Broidy production, "Women's Reformatory," 

will be directed by EDWARD CAHN. 

Associote producer is Robert Nunes, 

Columbia 

WILLIAM CASTLE has been set to direct "The 

Houston Story," which producer Sam Katzman will 

lens on location in Texas. 


As his first assignment under a newly- inked contract, 

DAVID LEWIS drew the production reins on 

'Raintree County," based on a novel by Ross Franklin 

Lockridge jr. 

United Artists 

Kirk Douglos, head of Bryna Productions, tagged 

WILLIAM SCHORR to serve as ossociate producer on 

"The Indian Fighter," first in a series of six features 

to star Douglos. 

Options 


WAYNE MORRIS and PAUL PICERNI were signed 

to star with Johnny Sheffield in "Lord of the Jungle," 

which Ford Beebe is producing and directing. Set 

OS the femme lead was NANCY HALE. Joining the 

cast were HARRY LAUTER, JAMES ADAMSON, 

SMOKY WHITFIELD, JOEL FLUELLEN and JUANITA 

MOORE. 

Independent 

Veteran charocter actor REGIS TOOMEY was signed 

for a comedy role in Producer Samuel Goldwyn's 

"Guys ond Dolls," which will roll next month with 

Joseph L. Mankiewicz directing from his own screenplay, 

adapted from the Broadway stage hit. Marlon 

Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra and Vivian 

Blaine head the cost. 

Lippert Productions 

Producers Eorle Lyon and Richard Bartlett picked 

up their option on the services of actress MARGIA 

DEAN following her current assignment opposite John 

Agar in the Lyon-Bortlett entry, "The Lonesome 

Trail." 

RKO Radio 

Virginia Mayo's leading mon in the Benedict 

Bogecus production, "Black Pearls," will be LANCE 

FULLER. In Supcrscope and Technicolor, the South 

Seas romantic drama will be directed by Allan Dwan. 

DAVID FARRAR joined the topline cost. 

Republic 

"The Texas Legionnaires" were EDUARD 

Booked for 

FRANZ and ROY ROBERTS. 

GLORIA PALL was added to the cost of "The Big 

Jockpot." 

20th 

Century-Fox 

SHEREE NORTH, RICHARD EGAN and RITA 

MORENO drew the leading roles in "Woman of the 

Woods," which wilt be produced this summer by 

Samuel G. Engel. 

HERBERT MARSHALL and ROBERT DOUGLAS drew 

"Sir Walter Roleigh." Henry Koster will meg the 

costumer for Producer Charles Brackett. 


Producer Samuel Goldwyn jr. booked JAN STERLING 

to appear opposite Robert Mitchum in "The Deadly 

Peocemoker," frontier drama railing late this month 

with Richard Wilson directing. Inked for the role 

of the town marshal was HENRY HULL. 

Producer Edward Small signed FRANK MARLOWE 

and DICK RYAN for featured parts in "The Brass 

Ring," crime drama being directed by Maxwell 

Shane, with a cast headed by Farley Granger, 

Anthony Quinn ond Anne Bancroft, 

Universal-International 

Cost as a wealthy rancher in "The Rawhide Years" 

was MINOR WATSON. Starring Tony Curtis, Colleen 

Miller ond Arthur Kennedy, the Stanley Rubin production 

in Technicolor is being directed by Rudolph 

Mote. 

AUDIE MURPHY was set to portray the title role 

in "Apache Agent," based on the nonfiction tome 

by Woodworth Clum. With shooting scheduled to 

begin next month, the entry will be produced in 

Technicolor by Aaron Rosenberg. 

Warner Bros. 

Cast as a crime overlord in the Edward G. Robinson 

starrer, "Illegal," was ALBERT DEKKER. Lewis Allen 

directing the Frank Rosenberg production. Featured 

IS 

ports went to JOHN ALVIN and HERB VIGRAN. 

Character actor JAY ADLER was signed for a port. 

Added to the cost were HENRY KULKY and ELLEN 

CORBY. 

Songstress PEGGY LEE was inked by producerdirector-star 

Jock Webb for "Pete Kelly's Blues," 

which also will feature Janet Leigh and Edmond 

O'Brien. 

Handed a starring role in "The Jagged Edge" was 

LEE MARVIN. LORI NELSON will star with Jock 

Polonce and Shelley Winters in the CinemoScope 

action dromo, which Stuart Heisler is megging for 

Producer Willis Goldbeck. Video and screen actor 

BILL KENNEDY was signed for the role of a sheriff. 

VAN JOHNSON was signed to star with Jane 

Wyman in the Frank P. Rosenberg production, 

"Miracle in the Rain," which will be megged by 

Rudolph Mote. 

Emerging from several years retirement, JANE 

WITHERS was signed for a leading role in "Giant," 

filmizotion of the novel by Edna Ferber, which will 

be produced by Henry Ginsberg and George Stevens 

and directed by the latter. 

Scripters 


DANIEL B. ULLMAN is developing 

Texan," based on incidents in the life of 

"The First 

Sam Houston, 

as a starring vehicle for Joel McCreo. It will 

be lensed in CinemoScope. 

Columbia 

Producer Sam Katzman signed GEORGE SLAVIN 

and GEORGE W. GEORGE to collaborate on "The 

Uranium Story," a topicol drama deoling with the 

recent uranium strike at Moob, Utah. 

Warwick Productions signed IRWIN SHAW to 

adopt "Fire Down Below," from a novel by Max 

Cat to, which Irving Allen and A. R. Broccoli will 

produce. 


RICHARD BROOKS is penning "The Lost Hunt," a 

suspense drama adopted from a novel by Milton 

Lott. 

Paramount 

Western historian and screen writer STUART N. 

LAKE was signed by Producer Hal Wallis to develop 

"Gunfight at the OK Corral," a factuol droma bosed 

on the exploits of Wyott Eorp and Doc Holliday. 

Universal-International 

Scenarist CHARLES HOFFMAN was signed to o 

term contract. He is currently completing the screenplay 

of "The Second Greatest Sex" for the studio. 

Story Buys 

Independent 

Director Mark Robson and scenarist-playwright F. 

Hugh Herbert formed o partnership to purchose "The 

Little Hut," a stoge ploy by Andre Roussin and 

Nancy Mitford. Plans coll for the film to be made 

abroad with American and British players in the 

topline cast. Herbert will write the screenplay. 

King Bros. Productions purchosed "Dork Decision," 

an original melodrama by Robert Rich and Merrill 

White. 

Paramount 

"Sons of Katie Elder," on original by Tolbot Jennings 

with screenplay by William H. Wright, wos 

purchased and assigned to Samuel J. Briskin to produce. 

It is a story of Texas at the turn of the century. 


which Robert Jacks, Robert Goldsteir 

Skouros and Plato Skouras are portnc 

"A Kiss Before Dying," a suspense r 

Levin, and will make it in CinemaScop 

It is being scripted by Lawrence Ro 

sloted to begin comero work in Jur 

Crown's mitioler, "A Killer Is Loose." 

Universal- Intemationc 

"The Tender Kill," a melodrama by Pet 

was purchased ond placed on the produ 

of Howord Pine. Brooke will prepare th 

dealing with a counterfeiting gong along 

border. 

Technically 


Production crew on Lord of the Jun 

AUSTEN JEWELL and JOHN CHULAY, os 

tors; DAVID MILTON, art director; HARf 

cinematographer, and ALLEN K WOOC 

manager. 

Metro-Goldwyn-May* 

WILLIAM KAPLAN drew the unit mc 

on "Dianne." 

Set as unit monoger on "Forbidden 

DAVID FRIEDMAN. 

RKO Radio 

VAN NEST POLGASE was set as art 

JOHN ALTON OS cameraman on "Blacl< 

Benedict Bogecus production 

Republic 

Cinematographer JOHN RUSSELL wos 

year contract renewol. 

20th Century-Fox 

HENRY WEINBERGER will function os 

on "Sir Walter Raleigh" and "The Left 

Given a one-year contract extension i 

J. SNYDER, cameramen, who heads th( 

projection department. 


NORMAN COOK was signed as gener 

manager on Bryna Productions' "The Int 

which will star Kirk Douglas. 

Universal-Intemation 

Dance numbers in "The Rowhide Yea 

staged by LOUIS DA PRON. 

Warner Bros. 

Art director on 'Rebel Without a Co 

COLM BERT. 

Title 

Changes 


"The Man Who Was 

TOUGHEST MAN ALIVE. 

Somebody E 

Republic 

"Rebel Island" to A FOREIGN ADVEN 

20th Century-Fox 

"The Lady and the Lumberiock" to 

THE WOODS. 

Universal-Internation 

"The Navy Gets Francis" to FRANCI 

NAVY. 

Yates Adds to Indir( 

Holdings in Republic 

NEW YORK—Herbert J. Yate 

and board chairman, has bought 1 

of common stock of Republic Pici 

name of HPI. Inc., increasing inc 

ings to 26,600 shares, according 

to stock exchanges. 

Changes in corporate holdings c 

securities repMDrted to stock exc 

elude an increase by Paramount 

common shares from 17,100 to 22 

increase by Stanley Warner Corp. 

shares from 261,400 to 265,200. 

Miss West, Wyler Confer 

HOLLYWOOD—Jessamyn WesI 

"Friendly Persuasion," checked in 

of conferences with William Wylei 

to film the novel as his first vei 

his forthcoming association with 

ists. It is the story of a Quaker 

ir\tT tVip rîvil "W^r nprinri 

H

I 

" 

— 

îde-Screen 

Overseas 

joldwyn-Maycr will 

e-screen version.s of 

in the international 

, 1955, according to 

t vice-president of 

will vary with each 

B schedules vary, 

ement from Charles 

ector of MGM Piclid 

wide-screen verfeatures 

would stop 

IS later, when it is 

r exhibitors will be 

le, he said, 

this announcement, 

jitors to realize our 

sent and the even 

alue of Cinemascope 

country, the film 

;akable approval to 

ôices 

Stars 

ude to 86 Hollywood 

; performers who 

rtaining U. S. troops 

military commands 

the Department of 

Maj. Gen. John A. 

to each entertainer, 

lows and the Ass'n 

cers. 

:inment as bemg of 

th Perspecta stereohown 

overwhelming 

se theatres properly 

le showings," Spring 

will be at least one 

overseas is affected 

use of the time reay 

through to thea- 

)r anamorphic pro- 

ity.- 

uest of the White 

this year preparing 

r the annual news 

d ball, which will be 

rch 17. FHrst stars 

Liberace. 

ti 

Festival 

of an Edinburgh 

as been approved by 

ition of Film Pro- 

"ilms shown can be 

within the country 

.iota, and there will 

rnings, under regue 

date of the festival 

aVision 

lonstration and disobtaining 

a better 

istaVision and other 

and projection will 

12) meeting of the 

le Society of Motion 

igineers. The session 

It studio with Loren 

ig and recording for 

eOLLYWOOD'S always-fertile grapevine 

is heavy with rea.sons why there 

ha.s been such a marked pruning of 

Paramount's producer rosier during recent 

weeks, but inasmuch as none of the bumper 

crop of projected explanations has as yet 

transcended the rumor category, discretion 

dictates that they remain unprinted. 

First came the announcement that veteran 

filmmaker Sol C. Siegel was terminating his 

deal with the Marathon street studio, which 

morsel of news was made the more arresting 

because Siegel had not produced anything 

there. When, approximately four months ago, 

he left 20th Century-Fox—with which outfit 

he had been associated since 1948, and where 

he was responsible for a long succession of 

money-making hit pictures—Paramount was 

widely and loudly congratulated for having 

acquired his solidly established talents and 

knowhow. Resultantly, Siegel's departure 

after so brief a liaison understandably gave a 

flying start to the rumor mill. 

That time-worn bit of Cinemania machinery 

gathered momentum with the revelation 

that Pine and Thomas, assumed to be a 

fixture on the lot, were al.so transferring their 

activities elsewhere. The so-called "Dollar 

Bills" earned that collective pseudonym 

through the remarkable accomplishment of 

having manufactured, during a 14-year stay 

at Paramount, the impressive total of 77 features, 

an overwhelming percentage of which 

proved themselves staple fodder at the boxoffice. 

Recently, however, Messrs. P&T made 

known then- intention of producing hereafter 

on a picture-by-picture, rather than an 

assembly-line, basis and .shortly thereaiter 

completed an arrangement whereby forthcoming 

celluloid, for a period of years, will 

be distributed by United Artists. Still aw'aiting 

release by Paramount are four completed 

subjects, "Run for Cover," "The Par 

Horizons," "Lucy Gallant" and "Hell's Island." 

Rare indeed will be the industryite or observer 

who fails to agree that in this instance 

Paramount's loss is UA's gain—to coin a 

phrase. 

Then, although of considerably less importance—virtually 

anti-climactic, in fact—the 

information that Irving Asher, a Paramount 

producer since 1949, in which period he turned 

out five pictures—also is checking out of that 

film foundry, presumably to enter the Independent 

field. 

If Cecil B. DeMille is contemplating another 

Biblical classic to follow his in-the-works and 

loudly ballyhooed "The Ten Commandments." 

he might find material therefor right in his 

own backyard— a li'l opus that could be titled 

"Exodus." 

If nnthincr olso, it mu.st be noted that the 

film fabricators who are RoinR to produce 

they say—screen versioas of Tolstoy's "War 

and Peace" retain the best in the services 

of freelance publicists. Lou Smith beats the 

drums for Mike Todd and his AO pLin.s for 

making the picture, while .\rthur .lacobs 

fronts for David O. Selznick, a second entrant 

in the Tolstoy s-weepstakes. Now the spacesnatching 

firm of Iland.some Henry Rogers 

and Winsome Warren Cowan has been 

ticketed to sound the tocsin for a projected 

treatment of "War and Peace" which the 

Italian production team of Carlo Ponti and 

Dino de Laurenliis avers it has in the work-s. 

To confuse the press and pubhc even more, 

a three-cornered debate could be staRed, featuring 

Smith, Jacobs and K&C. Subject: 

"Resolved that someone is going to prodtice 

"War and Peace'—where, when and why?" 

So that blurber Smith can have an even 

break, the triangular discussion should be in 

English. 

Among his long and impressive list of 

clients, the same Art Jacobs lists producer 

Paul Gregory, and resultantly found it necessary 

to broadcast the intelligence that the 

latter, a stage and screen impresario, had 

cancelled all future bookings of the roving 

"The Caine Mutiny Court Martial" company. 

The reason advanced: "... strong adverse 

leaction .south of the Mason-Dixon line following 

remarks derogatory to the south attributed 

to Paul Dougla-s in a recent newspaper 

interview, and widely reprinted throughout 

the south." 

It has long been expected that the Confederacy 

would rise again—but who could 

have dreamed that a Hollywood tub-thumper 

would be the chronicler of the historical development? 

Just to prove that headline-watching 

opportunism is not a lost art in Cinemania, 

.Allied .\rtists is ru.shing preparations on 

"7th licet," based on the a.s.signnient of that 

naval arm to aid in the evacuation of the 

Tachen islands, hot-spot Formosan outpost. 

How about "Hth Fleet, " Bob 

Lippert? 

The daily prints inform that exhibitor 

Harry Milstein has sold his Torrance Theatre 

in suburban Torrance to the California bank, 

which will convert the showcase Into a modern 

branch. 

Well, that's one way of attracting money 

to today's movie houses. 

As a sequel to RKO Radio's current release, 

"X'nderwater!" Headman Howard 

Hughes has ordered full speed ahead on a 

projected sequel thereto. "Skin Divers," and 

has recalled producer Kohert Sparks to the 

studio to develop It. 

This productlonal venture tosses considerahlo 

of a challenge at Perry' Lleber and his 

KKO publicity department. How are they 

going to lop—or even parallel—the precedentially 

publicized premiere junket to Silver 

Springs. Fla.. which colorful debut is generally 

recognized as .i strong contributing 

factor to the bookings and patronage being 

enjoyed by "I'nderwaterl"? 

They have glass-bottom boats in Arapulco, 

Perry.

. . Ruth 

Eight American Features Are Named 

For Awards by British Academy 

LONDON—Eight American pictures have 

been nominated for the "best of 1954" awards 

by the British Film Academy, England's 

counterpart to Hollywood's Academy of Motion 

Picture Arts and Sciences. Nine British 

pictures were nominated, in addition to 

one each from Italy, France and Japan. 

Two awards will be named in the "best picture" 

class, one for a picture from any nation 

and the other for a British film. 

The nominees from the U. S. are: "The 

Caine Mutiny" and "On the Waterfront" 

(Col), "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" and 

"Executive Suite" (MGM), "How to Marry a 

Millionaire" (20th-Fox>. "Rear Window" 

(Para), "The Moon Is Blue" (UA) and "Riot 

in Cell Block 11" (AA). 

The British nominees are: "Carrington 

V.C." "Divided Heart," "Doctor in the House," 

"For Better, for Worse." "Hobson's Choice," 

"The Maggie." "The Purple Plain," "Romeo 

and Juliet" and "Young Lovers." Three of 

these are being distributed in the U. S. by 

United Artists, "Hobson's Choice," "Romeo 

and Juliet" and "The Purple Plain," as is 

"Adventures of Robinson Crusoe," made in 

Mexico. This gives UA a total of five pictures 

in the British voting. "Doctor in the House" 

will be distributed by Republic in the U. S. 

while "The Maggie" is being distributed in the 

U. S. by Universal under the title "High 

and Dry." Also in the running are the Japanese 

"Gate of Hell," the French "Wages of 

Fear" and the Italian "Bread, Love and 

Dreams," distributed in the U. S. by IFE. 

Candidates for the best British actress are 

Audrey Hepburn for Paramount's "Sabrina," 

Brenda de Banzie for "Hobson's Choice," 

Yvonne Mitchell for "Divided Heart" and 

Margaret Leighton and Noelle Middleton for 

"Carrington V.C." In the running for best 

British actor are: Robert Donat for "Lease 

of Life," David Niven for "Carrington V.C," 

Kenneth More for "Doctor in the House," 

Maurice Denham for "The Purple Plain" and 

Donald Wolfit for "Svengali," which will be 

distributed in the U. S. by MGM. 

For the best non-British actress: Shirley 

Booth for "About Mrs. Leslie," Judy Holliday 

for "Phffft," Grace Kelly for "Dial M for 

Murder," all of these American, and Cornell 

Borchers, German actress in "Divided Heart" 

and Gina Lollobrigida, Italian actress, in 

WE CAN SELL YOUR THEATRE 

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THEATRE SALES DIVISION 

CALL- IRV BOWRON -w«/rf 

Ph. PR. 4-3275 

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"Bread, Love and Dreams." Best non-British 

actor: Neville Brand in "Riot in Cell Block 

11." Marlon Brando in "On the Waterfront," 

Jose Ferrer in "The Caine Mutiny," Fredric 

March in "Executive Suite" and James 

Stewart in "The Glenn Miller Story," all of 

these American actors and films. 

Nominated as the most promising newcomers 

are: Maggie McNamara in "The 

Moon Is Blue" and Eva Marie Saint in "On 

the Waterfront," as well as David Kossoff in 

"Young Lovers." 

H-L in Stage Production 

HOLLYWOOD—The Hecht-Lancaster organization 

will enter the ranks of stage production 

next fall in association with Paddy 

Chayefsky, whose "Bachelor Party" is earmarked 

for Broadway. Chayefsky, w'ho 

penned the property originally for NBC-TV 

telecasting last October, also wrote "Marty," 

which H-L recently filmed for upcoming 

United Artists release. 

LOS ANGELES 

"The building' housing the Uclan Theatre in 

Westwood has been bought by Morris 

Lerhmand and Paul Raful from the estate of 

Frances Seymour Fonda, late wife of actor 

Henry Fonda. Tlie Uclan. operated on lease 

by the Dietrich and Feldstein circuit, is 

unaffected by the sale. 

Charles Kranz and Irving Levm have refurbished 

and repainted their independent 

distribution offices on the Row. Bea Kaner, 

formerly with Exhibitors Service, has joined 

the staff as head bookkeeper and salesman 

Jack Sherriff has left for Ai-izona on a 

swing around his territory. Meantime Levin, 

who is also president of Filmakers Releasing 

Organization, returned from a vacation in 

Hawaii. 

A bomb-scare hoax caused the rapid evacuation 

of 350 patrons from the Temple Theatre 

in Temple City when an anonymous 

jokester telephoned Manager Stoddard 

Gumaer that a lethal explosive was secreted 

in the film house. Gumaer promptly enlisted 

the aid of police and firemen, who couldn't 

find a trace of any such weapon, and the 

customers went back in to see the rest of the 

program . Sitton is the new secretary 

in the booking offices of Judy Poynter. 

Joe Cogan resigned as manager of the Stanley 

Warner Wiltern . . . Booking-buying visitors 

glimpsed along the Row included Roy and 

Dick Lemucchi, who operate .several theatres 

in Arvin and Bakersfield: Bert Kramer, Village. 

Coronado. and John Polls, Strand, Redondo 

Beach. 

. . . 

After 14 years in the post. Eddie Meek has 

resigned as advertising-publicity chief for 

the RKO Hillstreet and Pantages theatres 

here. He is moving over to the Walt Disney 

organization to handle public relations for 

the Disneyland amusement park near Analieim 

Harold Wirthwein. western division 

sales manager for Allied Ai-tists, returned 

from a iunket tn Albuouprnue and Denver. 

East: A. R. Broccoli and Irving 

ners in Warwick Productions, wh 

through Columbia, headed back t( 

don headquarters after conferenc 

lumbia executives here. 

West: Harold Hecht of the 

caster orgamzation returned from 

tour of London and the continent, 

V * * 

West: Director George Sidney 

from Gotham, where he scouted h 

for a film biography of pianist E( 

which he will meg for Columbia. 

* » * 

East: Henry Giiisberg. partner 

Stevens in the upcoming pre 

"Giant" for Warner release, left fc 

on business in connection with thi 

* * « 

West: Mervin Houser. assistai 

Lieber, RKO Radio advertising-p 

rector, returned from a stay of sf 

in Manhattan. 

t^ * !; 

South: Robert L. Lippert jr. pla 

Guatemala to prepare for a Mar 

ing start on a Dane Clark starn 

will produce on location there, 

companied by his assistant. Gil 

and will be followed by Louis Kii 

meg the feature for Lippert Picti 

* * * 

West : James Nicholson, preside: 

ican Releasing Corp., Samuel Z. t 

pany executive, and producer-dir 

Corman returned from a ten-day 

east and midwest, during which tV 

"Five Guns West" for ARC francl 

* * • 

We.^t: Walter Branson, global sa 

RKO Radio, and Robert S. Wolfl 

director in the United Kingdom, a 

the east for policy conferences 

R. Grainger, company president. 

* « * 

West: Robert Blumofe, United i 

president in charge of west coast 

was expected in following an eigh 

of Europe. 

* * * 

West: Milton R. Rackmil. presit 

planed in from Manhattan for 

huddles with studio executives 

forthcoming product. 

Rosenberg to Counc 

HOLLYWOOD—Succeeding Al 

who held the post for the past 

; 

P. Rosenberg has been elected c 

the Motion Picture Industry Coui 

relations committee. Rosenberg, 

Bros, producer, is the Screen 

Guild's delegate to the MPIC. 

Anne Bancroft Sign< 

HOLLYWOOD — Pinto Product 

pendent unit formed by actor Keel 

signed Anne Bancroft for the fei 

opposite Brasselle in the company' 

pct "Twin Killing."

• 

a 

. to 

. headed 

. . and 

— 

— 

— 

— 

—— 

— 

— 

! Average 

— 

— 

, 

... 

Iris Open 

ition 

Theatre on HoUy- 

$100,000 facelifts 

pened Tuesday il5i 

entury-Fox's "White 

operation boasts a 

en. adapted for con- 

3-D or VistaVision 

itest development in 

ems and projection 

' 

of 816. the Iris was 

ade. marquee, seats, 

em, boxoffice and 

I 

F. Katzky jr. 

vo Theatres 

Earner 

theatres m Santa 

re operated by the 

lave been purchased 

by Sherrill 

,'olved are the 1,700- 

900-seat California, 

y Granada Theatre 

Corwin's chain will 

rship titles and as- 

; month. 

modernizing, refur- 

; both theatres and 

e undertaken in the 

II be completely relove-seat 

loges, and 

igned to include a 

stereophonic sound 

to accommodate any 

2.55-1 will be 

erates first and subeles 

and San Franany 

years the first 

Drive-In in Santa 

y also acquired the 

heatres in Lompoc, 

Santa Barbara. 

nt 

lit 

stipulation, out-ofeen 

reached in a 

id in 1952 by Metroby 

Sherrill C. Corndants 

Loew's, Inc., 

ners, RKO Radio, 

nd Universal-Inter- 

;an, while not dis- 

;he settlement, said 

1 after Metropolitan 

ith the U. S. ninth 

reverse a verdict in 

lat had been handed 

•deral district court 

harged the defendwithhold 

first run 

n's Orpheum Theaiglas 

F^sh, manager 

has closed the airer 

winter during which 

the showing of the 

'Aida/ the Opera Film, Is 

At Los Angeles With 225 Score 

G()t)l> U.W KOK DENVER—.Anne 

Francis, featured player in MGiVI's "Bad 

Day at Black Hock," takes a few moments 

off to autograph portrait stills for 

Manager W. T. Hastings after the opening 

of the picture at the RKO Orpheum 

in Denver, Colo. 

Rainier, Ore. House Sold 

RAIOTER. ORE.— C. R. Hess, who has been 

affiliated with the Allied Artists exchange 

at Portland, has purchased the Rainier Theatre. 

Immediate plans for the house will 

include the installation of Cinemascope 

equipment. The theatre was the property of 

A. D. Dahlgreen. 

Wapato, Wash. Cuts Taxes 

WAPATO. WASH.—Following the testimony 

of theatreman Paul Volkman, the city 

council reduced the admissions tax for theatres, 

dances and sporting events from five 

to two-tenths of one per cent. 

S. McSwain Wins 1st Prize 

COOS BAY. ORE.— Stanley McSwain, manager 

of the local Egyptian Theatre, won both 

the district and circuit showmanship prizes 

awarded by the Jones Enterprises' theatre 

chain. His two brothers. Foster of North 

Bend and Baynes of Hood River, won third 

and fourth places respectively in the contest. 

Channel's Changed! All's 

Well With 6-Year-Old 

Ogdcn. I'tah — Ted Kirkmeyer, local 

theatre manager, passes on the following 

experience: 

"On a recent Saturday, at our large and 

popular kiddy show, I noticed a tug-ofwar 

between two young boys about 4 and 

6 years of age near my office door. 

"I inquired as to the trouble and was 

informed by the older brother that the 

younger brother insisted upon asking me 

to change channels ... he did not like the 

show. 

"\ few minutes later a series of cartoons 

hit the screen. The channel was 

changed . I w-is once again their 

friend." 

Top Draw 

LOS ANGELES—Apparently opera lovers 

are legion hereabouts, they having turned out 

iri sufficient quantity to turn "Aida" into the 

week's top first run draw with a solid 225 

per cent. Business otherwise was not too 

brisk, although "Battle Cry" achieved a good 

170 in its second stanza. 

Is 100) 

Chinese There's No Business Like Show Business 

(20th-Fox), 8th wk 90 

Downtown Poromount, Egyption Battle Cry (WB), 

2nd wk 170 

El Rey—Romeo ond Juliet (UA), 8th wk 50 

Fine Arts Mr. Huiot's Holidoy (Cinemo Dist.), 

3rd wk 150 

Four Stor—Aida (IFF) 225 

Fox Wilshire 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea 

(Bueno Visto) 8th wk 120 

Howoii, Stote ^Bad Doy at Block Rock MGMj.llO 

Hillstrcct, Pontoges Ten Wonted Men iCol), 

Women's Prison :Col) 100 

Fox, Ritz Six Bridges to Cross U-l); Abbott and 

Costello Meet the Keystone Kops U-l). 2nd wk. 80 

Hollywood Paramount The Bridges ot I'oko-Ri 

,Paro), 4th wk 150 

Orpheum, Hollywood Mau Mou (Manhotton); 

The Intruder (Assoc Artists) 90 

Worners Beverly The Country Girl (Paro), 

8th wk 100 

Warners Downtown, Wiltern The Americono 

(RKO); Torgef Eorth (AA), 2nd wk 90 

Warners Hollywood This Is Cinerama (Cinerama), 

94th wk 1 00 

"Green Fire' and 'Kid' 

Score 125 in Seattle 

SEATTLE—"Green Fire" paired with "The 

Atomic Kid" rated a strong 125 first 

the Music Hall, 

week at 

Blue Mouse Smoke Signal (U-l); Jungle Wilderness 

(5R), 2nd wk 100 

Music Box Trouble in the Glen (Rep), , 85 

Music Hall Green Fire MGM); The Atomic Kid 

(Rep) .125 

'Racers' in 

Fast Start 

At San Francisco 

SAN FRANCISCO—The opening week of 

'The Racers" at the Fox Theatre brought 

forth an excellent 200 per cent. 

Fox The Racers 20th-Fox); The Sleeping Tiger 

(Astor) 200 

Golden Gote Sign of the Pagan U-l), Africa 

Adventure (RKO) 125 

Loew's Worfield Bad Day at Block Rock (MGM), 

2nd wk 80 

Poramount The Bridges at Toko-Rl (Para), 

3rd wk 125 

St. Francis The Violent Men (Col); Woman's 

Prison (Col), 3rd wk 85 

United Artists Vera Cruz (UA), 7fh wk 95 

Big 250% Scored by 'Battle' 

In First Denver Week 

DENVER— "Battle Cry," showing at the 

Centre, packed the house to a holdover figure. 

Others holding included "The Bridges 

at Toko-Ri." which went into its third week 

at the Denham: "Underwater!" at the 

Orpheum, and "Big Day" at the Vogue. 

Aloddin Prince of Plovers (20th-Fox) 80 

Centre— Bottle Cry WB) 250 

Denham- The Bridges ot Teko-Rl (Para) 175 

Denver The Rocers 20th-Fox); The Other 

Womon ,20th-Fox). 2nd wk 80 

Esquire Romeo and Juliet 'UA), 3rd wk 70 

Orpheum Underwater! (RKO); Hell's Outpost 

Rep) 200 

Paramount Green Fir* (MGM); The Steel Coge 

(UA) 105 

Vogue—The Big Day (Fine Arts) 135 

'Battle 

Cry' Top 

Portland Gross 

PORTLAND— "Battle Cry" bowed in with 

180 per cent to take the top position in Portland 

during a week of generally good grosses. 

Poromount The Bridges at Toko-Rl (Para), 

2nd wk 130 

Orpheum The Racers 20th-Fox) 120 

Broadway- -Underwater! (RKO) .160 

Fox—Battle Cry WB) 1 80 

Lit)crfv— Vcro Crui UA), 3rd wk. 150 

Guild Breed, Love ond Dreams (IFE) 150

. . The 

. . Robert 

. . Johnny 

. . Jack 

. . The 

. . . Phil 

. . Willard 

. . Glen 

. . An 

. . National 

. . After 

One of West's Largest Screens SEATTLE 

SAN FRANCISCO 

permission to strike local theatres, as well as 

.several building maintenance firms, was 

sought by the labor council AFL Janitors 

Local 9 ... At Hanford. the Ritz Theatre 

seats have been donated by Fox West Coast 

officials to the five local churches. Last 

month, the Ritz was donated to the city. 

The announcement regarding the 600 seats 

was made by L. R. Hess, manager of the Fox 

there. The city council has not as yet announced 

definite plans for the use of the old 

theatre property. 

A new policy of rotating art exhibits by 

local artists was instituted by the Starlite 

Drlve-In at Sacramento, beginning with a 

show of oils by Wayne Thiebaud, Sacramento 

art instructor. The pictures are on 

display in a newly set up gallery in the 

theatre's commissary building. Manager Clayton 

Hickle said he believes it is the first time 

any local theatre has instituted regular displays 

of art ... A permit has been sought 

by Lippert Theatre, Inc., to erect a $4,000 

tower for its 'Visalia Theatre screen. 

Visitors to Filmrow recently included Howard 

Hill, Hills Drive-In, Riverdale; Bill Wagner, 

Antioch. and Al Stanford, Oaks Drive-In, 

Paso Robles . Pacini is the new 

booking clerk at Paramount . Sullivan 

is a new member of the Western 

Theatrical Equipment staff . . . Dave Peterson, 

WTE. returned from a business jaunt to the 

north . Porterville Theatre at Porterville 

opened with Cinemascope. Owned by 

Spivey & Schwin, the installation was made 

by 'WTE. Another 'WTE installation is the 

THEATRE OPPORTUNITY 

Only theatre in county seat payroll town of 5,000 population. 

Large concrete building with rentals. Seats over 700. 

Booth operator's dream. CinemaScope and ^stereophonic 

sound. $30,000 down handles real estate and all OTHERS. 

WRITE FOR LIST. 

THEATRE 

EXCHANGE CO 

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

Phones Evergreen 1-7100 — 1-1606 

i 

PORTLAND—Phil Polsky, manager 

and owner of the Amphitheatre 

and Super 99 drive-ins announced 

plans to open both airers 

soon. 

One of the West's largest motion 

pictures screens will greet patrons 

at the Amphitheatre, Polsky advises. 

In addition to the $10,000 .screen, 

which will measure 118 feet long 

by 46 feet high, Polsky has installed 

stereophonic sound equipment. 

The work was done by 

Modern Theatre Supply Co. 

The screen, now under construction, 

has 177 4x8-foot plywood 

panels on its surface. 

newly opened Palace Theatre at Elk Grove. 

The new theatre, a 400-seat house, is owned 

by Carl Amundsen. 

The suit for $5,000 damages and a request 

for a restraining order, filed earlier in the 

month by operators of the Esquire Theatre 

against the local stagehands in Stockton, has 

been dismissed. The dismissal notice makes 

note of the fact the action was taken without 

prejudice, either on the part of the 

plaintiff or defendant. Blumenfeld Enterprises 

has filed suit against the union, asking 

that the union be restained from interfering 

in the house operations and damages for delaying, 

the opening of the new theatre. 

A fashion show was held at a local department 

store in conjunction with the opening 

of "So This Is Paris" at the Golden Gate 

Theatre. The style show was covered by U-I 

newsreel and will be featured at the Telenews 

Theatre, according to Mark Ailing, manager 

of the Golden Gate . Marpole, 

National Screen Service, will return shortly 

from Miami, where he spent a few days on 

vacation . . . Jim Velde, UA western division 

manager, was in town from New York for 

conferences with Ralph Clark, district manager, 

and Frank Han-is. local manager. 

. . . 

Bob Naify, United California Theatres executive, 

returned from a European trip with 

George Skouras Al Grubstick, Lippert 

Pictures, is handling the exploitation job on 

"Garden of Eden" . . . The 'Variety auxiliary 

held its monthly dinner meeting at Grisson's 

and, following dinner, gathered at the 

home of Mrs. Harvey Kaplow for a business 

meeting on how to further their participation 

and aid of the Blind Babies, Tent 32's main 

interest. 

Johnny Parson's 4-Star Theatre is undergoing 

a remodeling job . . . Bob Lippert was 

in for a few days on one of his infrequent 

visits. He attended the Tent 32 installation 

. . . Darrell Pischoff, Theatre Art Service 

owner, is the latest to be recruited into joining 

the YMCA theatre wing . opening 

day of "Battle Cry" at the Paramount broke 

all existing house records for opening weekday 

attendance, taking in over $6,000 for 200 

per cent. The film opened Wednesday i9). 

Wash. Theatre Closed 

SUMNER. WASH. — Mike Barovic has 

closed the local Riviera Theatre because of 

lack of attendance. According to his son Don, 

the house may be reopened in the summer. 

/"•harles McGraw. a feature play< 

here in behalf of the opening Fric 

mount's 'The Bridges at Tok 

the Fifth Avenue . Thei 

is opening warehouses at Spokane 

Walla for the accommodation of 

customers . eight-piece Di.î 

band has been organized by Filmrc 

Leonard, trombone: Budd Saffle, 

Jack J. Engerman, clarinet . . . E 

son. Buena Vista, went to Portlai 

public Manager Paul McElhinm 

Spokane on bu.siness. 

Paramount, is' 

. . E. G 

. . . ZoU 

Releasing, returned fro 

. . 

director and an actor in "Violated 

. 

.Marie Reynolds, 

desk after an operation . 

prepaj-ing to install CinemaScope 

the Roxy at Morton 

Northwest 

Stanton, office manage 

booker at U-I, left for a bookers' 

Las Angeles . William Holland 

in behalf of the opening at the 

March 2 Haviland, Colos 

dent, returned from a trip to Chii 

NTS installed a new Walker sc 

Highland in Tieton . twt 

darkness, the Rivoli resumed bui 

day night (18 1. top-billing Ricki < 

six-foot, eight-inch Blonde Bomb 

ager A. L. Meakin reports that i 

are under way for Lili St. Cjt to 

.summer. 

Walter Hoffman, Paramount pi 

in Portland and southern Oregon 

Siegel, Columbia field man, was i 

City . Coghlan, Warm 

turned from Denver . . . Filmrow 

eluded Glen Nolta of the Ljti 

Blakely; E. W. John.son, Garland 

end Drive-In, Spokane: Harry Wa 

and Corbin Ball, Ephrata. 

The license committee recomn 

a provisional license be issued to 

Theatre, 140 N. 85th St. As a CO 

theatre owners would have to c 

in 1955 with requirements of tl 

building departments, whose insp 

criticized various aspects of th' 

M. M. Foster to Hon 

PORTLAND—Martin M. Fo: 

Theatre manager, and Hai-ry Gli 

Star Attractions, left for Hoi 

Waikiki Beach via Pan Americ 

Glickman is scouting for talent in 

and Foster is going along as a 

They will attend the opening 

Biltmore Hotel and expect to I 

three weeks. 

New Admissions Pol 

ASHLAND, ORE.—Manager E. 

has inaugurated a new admissioi 

the Varsity Theatre; children ui 

be admitted free of charge if a 

by an adult. 

Spokane House Upc 

SPOKANE—At a cost of ap 

$22,000, the state Theatre manag 

Schmidt, has been prepared for 

of Cinemascope. VistaVision. Sup 

the other new processes.

: their 

' 

list 

Suit 

\gain 

mother amendment 

mm antitrust suit 

jor film compames 

with the addition 

idants and asserted 

of blackUsting and 

m is that licensing' 

posed and enforced 

ture films to the ex- 

) dLsregard such reicklisted 

and boynment 

action seeks 

ibutors to release 

releases to 

ts. Recently a moiix 

exhibitor organirs; 

namely, Allied 

atre Owners Ass'n. 

ure Theatres Ass'n, 

atre Owners Ass'n, 

;e of Independent 

Council of Motion 

nspirator named in 

Theatre Owners of 

ox, Wai-ners. RKO. 

1 Gems, U-I, United 

and Pictorial Films. 

:e city 

!atre ticket cost the 

ih, youth this week, 

electrocuted while 

; marquee of the 

'ark City Monday 

a high-voltage wire 

;cording to Charles 

the boy was shovel- 

5 ticket. 

;s are drawing connonth. 

The annual 

d Wednesday with 

;ck, who celebrated 

êrsary, as honored 

gette are scheduled 

of Variety held a 

dren at the State 

toy Brewer of New 

operations for Alof 

Don V. Tibbs. 

a featured role in 

IS here tw'o days for 

i at the Lyric The- 

1 Theatre at New 

sed for the lack of 

Lindstrom, former 

nan, has been apuew 

department of 

3ol of Medicine at 

community without 

Cruz" contest con- 

, the Deseret News 

ric Theatre. Wanda 

community of ten 

from the nearest 

wrote the winning 

d Lake a Trip to 

INDUSTRY 

PROFILE 

Circuit Owner Irving C. Ackerman 

Is Lawyer Born to Show Business 

By GAIL E. LIPMAN 

The theatre has always held a strong 

fascination for Irving C. Ackerman. 

well-known San Fi-ancisco circuit 

IRVING C. 

ACKER>IAN 

owner. This fascination has translated 

it.^clf through the years into an awarene.ss 

and interest that marks him as 

one of the most respected and thoroughly 

qualified men in the industry. 

The son of Charles L. Ackerman, organizer 

of the Orpheum circuit and 

president of the old Grand Opera House 

m San Francisco in the mid 1890s, Irving 

was an inseparable companion to 

his father. Upon the latter's death in 

1909, young Ackerman, who was practicing 

law after attending Stanford 

University and Harvard law school, was 

elected to the board of directors of the 

Orpheum circuit. 

JOINS SAM HARRIS IN 1910 

In 1910, Ackerman formed a partnership 

with Sam Harris who was operating 

a vaudeville house. It was the start 

of a memorable partnership that established 

a chain of vaudeville houses, the 

Ackerman-Harris theatres, from Chicago 

to the west coast. The first venture 

of the team was in the Garrlck, 

a legitimate theatre in San Francisco's 

Fillmore district, which wa-s the heart 

of the city after the historic earthquake 

and fire. 

The old Garrlck was the first large 

theatre, a 1,500-seater, to show motion 

pictures. Most of the nickelodeons of 

that time were located in stores or uncomfortable 

makeshift locales. But the 

Garrick featured General Film Co. 

product and ran five new single-reels 

each day. The admission charge was a 

nickel. The public received this policy 

with such enthusiasm that the 16 

nickelodeons In the area were almost 

ruined. Something had to be done, and 

the competition did it by following the 

same sy.stem. Ackerman-Harris were 

forced to raise their admissions to a 

dime. 

Another first was marked up by the 

Garrick. It was the first theatre in the 

ccuiilry to use a concert organ to accompany 

the flickers. 

VAUDKVILLE AT POI'lJLAR PRICES 

Not content with their phenomenal 

success, the imaginative team foresaw 

vaudeville at popular prices for the 

masses. Together they opened a booking 

office and started taking over 

legitimate houses up and down the 

coast, converting them into vaudeville 

theatres with entertainment consisting 

cf five acts plus a feature picture at 

the unheard of admissions of 10, 20 and 

30 cents. The chain included 22 theatres 

in 1919 when the Ackerman-Harris 

team became affiliated with Marcus 

Loew. Together they built the Loew's 

Warfield in San Franci.sco and the 

Loew's State in Los Angeles. 

The years saw vaudeville pass into 

near oblivion, the rise of talking pictures 

and the dissolution of the Ackerman-Harris 

partnership with the death 

of Sam Harris. Irving Ackerman disposed 

of many of the theatres in the 

chain but retained one in San Francisco. 

In 1940 he started the acquisition 

of small theatres on Market street in 

downtown San Francisco and became 

a.ssociated with Herbert Rosener who 

owned a chain of art theatres in Los 

Angeles, Portland and Seattle. Today, 

the Ackerman-Rosener chain operates 

14 theatres. 

Ackerman's showmanship is evidenced 

in his Nob Hill and Stage Door 

theatres. The former was built in the 

Fairmont Hotel and in addition to being 

a beautifully appointed house, it was 

the first theatre to have rear view 

projection in Cinemascope. The Stage 

Door Theatre is the city's most lavish 

art house and prior to its conversion it 

was the world-famous Stage Door Canteen. 

THEATRE IS ACKERMAN'S REALM 

The world of the theatre is Irving 

Ackerman's realm. He has seen many 

changes In its face but he still recognizes 

its heart beat. The industry's 

concern today over product, he believes, 

is unfounded. "Good pictures will be 

made in proportion to the demand for 

them." 

Irving C. Ackerman, the man who 

brought Sophie Tucker to San FrancLsco 

for the first time in 1910, the great 

friend of Sid Grauman and associate 

with him in the million-dollar Grauman 

Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. Is a 

man of great charm and personal dignity 

who knows theatre, lives it and 

loves 

It.

. . . Cinemascope 

. . M. 

DENVER 

Dalph Batschelet has resigned as vice-president 

and general manager of Television 

Theatres and as manager of the Centennial 

Drive-In and the Webber to enter other business. 

Batschelet has been a manager at different 

times for Harry Huffman and later 

for Fox Intermountain Theatres. Batschelet 

also supervised the building and opening of 

the Centennial, the first twin-screen drive-in 

in this section of the country. 

Charles R. Gilmour, president and general 

manager of Gibraltar Enterprises, and his 

wife went to Hawaii for a three-week vacation. 

They made the trip by plane . . . Among 

those attending the TOA meeting in Washington 

were Pat McGee of Denver and 

Nathan Greer of Santa Fe . . . Jim Ricketts, 

Paramount manager, went to New Mexico on 

John Notman has sold the 

a sales trip . . . 

Zia Theatre at Las Lunas, N. M., to Joe Wills. 

. . William 

Mrs. M. J. Stroup has sold the Wyolin, 

Lingle, Wyo., to G. M. Kinnan . 

Fitzgerald, publicity dii'ector for the Denham, 

underwent an emergency appendectomy at 

St. Luke's Hospital and is improving nicely 

has been installed in the 

Aladdin by Fox Intermountain Theatres, the 

first film to be shown in the process there is 

"Prince of Players." 

Herb Buschmann, United Artists salesman 

covering New Mexico and headquartering in 

Albuquerque, was in to pick up his new 

Chevrolet, furnished by the company . . . Hal 

Fuller has moved the headquarters of Dimension 

Pictures from Salt Lake City to Denver, 

at 2081 Broadway. He has taken on the distribution 

of "Gangbusters." 

Robert Patrick, his wife and one of his 

daughters suffered an attack of strep throat 

. . . F. A. Bateman, division manager for 

Republic, was in calling on the circuits and 

conferring with Gene Gerbase, branch manager 

. R. Austin, United Ai-tists man- 

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ARTHUR LEAK Theotre Specialists 

3305 Caruth, Dallas. Texas 

Ttlephonei EM 0238 EM 7489 

~ CONFIDENTIAL CORRESPONDENCE INVITED 

ager, flew to Salt Lake City for conferences 

with Ralph Clark, western district manager, 

and James Velde, western sales manager. 

Theatre folk seen on Pilmrow included Dave 

Edwards, Salt Lake City; Mr. and Mrs. Fred 

Hall, Akron: C. E. McLaughlin, Las Animas: 

Merle Gwin, Benkelman; Claude Graves and 

Wilbur Williams, Boulder: J. H. Roberts, Fort 

Morgan; Cliff Butler, Albuquerque; Joe 

Novak, Pueblo: W. F. Aydelotte. Fort Collins: 

Nervin Reed, Glenrock. Wyo., and Warren 

Davis, Laramie. 

Southland Exhibitors 

Plan for Brotherhood 

LOS ANGELES—Pi-eliminary plans for participation 

by southland exhibitors in the 

forthcoming annual Brotherhood week were 

formulated Wedne.sday il6i at a mass meeting 

at Fox West Coast's Boulevard Theatre 

here. Edwin F. Zabel, FWC general manager, 

and Evert R. Cummings of the Ciunmings circuit 

in Downey have been appointed exhibitor 

co-chairmen for the area, with Morris 

Sudmin, 20th-Fox branch chief, as distributor 

chairman. 

Campaign kits are being supplied by National 

Screen Service. Brotherhood week will 

be launched Tuesday (22). 

Zabel, emphasizing the "One Nation Under 

God" theme, urged those in attendance to 

"reach and oversubscribe our industry campaign 

contribution quota." Dr. William 

Lindsay 'Voung, southern California executive 

director for the National Conference of 

Christians and Jews, stressed that the "pattern 

of living together in tenns of mutual respect, 

goodwill and cooperation" is a "vital 

condition of our survival as a civiUzation." 

Other speakers included the Rev. Leonidas 

C. Contos, dean of the St. Sophia Greek 

Orthodox Cathedral; Cummings, Sudmin, 

Sherrill C. Corwin, president of Metropolitan 

Theatres, and Jim 'Velde, repre.senting W. J. 

Heineman, national film industry chairman. 

Named general chairman of the seventh 

annual Brotherhood testimonial dinner, to 

be held March 10 at the Ambassador Hotel, 

was William Goetz, independent producer. 

Goetz, who has a distribution liaison with 

Columbia, was cited Tuesday (15) for "distinguished 

leaderslilp" for his efforts as 

chairman of last year's motion picture division 

campaign for the Cedars of Lebanon 

Hospital. Dore Schary, MGM studio head, 

presided at the function which served as the 

kickoff for this year's drive. 

HANDY

i 

, Ufopio 

— 

1 

.ircus 

iicago 

Lewis in "Three 

coffice at the Chileen 

of Montana" 

>" at the Roosevelt 

•s still going strong 

er the Sea," in its 

Lake; "Six Bridges 

eek at the Grand, 

week at the World 

Gobette" in a secdidn't 

topple from 

the week before. 

. 

100) 

!y) 185 

(Para), plus stage 

245 

no (Cmeroma), 

200 

i) 180 

l-l); Pirotes of 

Am the 

220 

Low (Col), 

170 

h-Fox), 2nd wk. 

Like Show 

175 

Business 

195 

ol), 3rd wk 155 

Dntono (RKO), 

195 

Jnder the Sea 

235 

jon (U-l), 3rd wk.. 195 

(MGM), 3rd wk.. .205 

1 

7th wk 205 

; (IFE), 2nd wk. . . .225 

Par Country" took 

lat gave promise of 

•osses despite three 

e and cold weather, 

ed strength while 

i" continued doing 

iths. its third week 

no 

1 135 

i (Para) 125 

il); Bamboo Prison 

95 

(SR) 90 

; Cry" at the Parainess, 

running the 

it week as did "The 

ee times the theawas 

held, of course, 

t, with "They Were 

a disappointment 

"Green Fire" held 

Roxy as did "The 

leum. "The Violent 

sappointing at the 

iay" was only averying 

holdovers, with 

ling until changend 

), 

wk 

8th wk 

no 

no 

ol); Three Hours to 

80 

Snow Creoture 

00 

U-l), 2nd wk 

1 

100 

300 

i wk 100 

ranada They Were 

«e (AA) 90 

3th wk 

, 

The Four 

quest repeat 100 

Mo. Burned 

!al Theatre was de- 

The building had 

months. 

The Regal 

s & Plumlee circuit. 

Allied of Illinois Adds 

Drive-In Theatre Service 

CHICAGO—Latest additions to the ranks 

of Allied organization and the buying and 

booking department, according to Jack Kirsch, 

president, are the Northside and Tivoli theatres 

in Mishawaka, Ind.: the Avon and Colfax 

theatres and the Moonlile Drive-In in 

South Bend, and the Slarlite Drive-In, 

Osceola, Ind., all of which are operated by 

Lou Cochovety. This is in line with an expansion 

program currently under way covering 

the services of both the Allied orgajiization 

and its buying and booking department 

to include drive-in theatres. 

The program of adding both conventional 

and drive-in theatres to the Allied membership 

and buying and booking department, 

Kirsch pointed out, has been in the planning 

stages ever since the organization engaged 

the services of Kermit Russell as his 

assistant film buyer, which now makes it 

possible for Allied to offer its film buying 

and booking .services to an increased number 

of theatres. 

Another recent addition includes the Mc- 

Heru-y Theatre, McHenry, 111., formally opened 

on Februaiy 9, which is owned by Lou Consago, 

who also runs the Elm Theatre in Wauconda. 

This brings to approximately 15 the 

total number of theatres which have joined 

Allied of Illinois in the past three months. 

Reopened by L. G. Weston 

ST. LOUIS—The Southway Theatre in 

the 

Lemay section was reopened Friday (18 

under the management of Lloyd G. Weston, 

who lea.sed the house from the Lau family. 

The Southway, dark for many months, was 

formerly operated under a lease by the Fred 

Wehi-enberg circuit. 

Arlee Theatre Improved 

MOUND CITY. ILL.—The Ailee, 400-seater, 

owned by Arthur G. Struck, was reopened 

February 4 after being closed for thi-ee days 

for installation of a wide panoramic screen 

by Arnold & Cufaude, 

\ .\( ATION HIGHI.KiHT—One of the 

bripht spots in the recent west roast vacation 

of Gene Walden, manager of the 

first run Koxv Theatre in Kansas City, 

was his visit to thi- >U;>I lot where ho 

watched the filminc of "Cobweb," starring 

Richard WIdmark, Charles Boyer, 

Lauren Bacall and (Woria Orahamc. 

Shown with Walden. second from the 

left, arc Widmark, Mrs. Walden and >Irs. 

Kathryn Starr, Walden's sister who resides 

in Los Angeles. 

Kansas-Missouri ITO 

Spotlight on Rentals 

KANSAS CITY— Beverly Miller, president 

of the Kansas-Missouri Allied Independent 

Theatre Owners, has announced final 

BEVERLY MILLER 

arrangements for the convention March 4 at 

the Hotel Continental. This is the day after 

the MGM Ticket Selling Workshop and will 

enable exhibitor.s who come in for that to 

stay over. 

Coffee and doughnuts will be served in 

the morning before the registration, which 

starts at 9 a.m. and the meeting wall start at 

10. There wîll be a noon luncheon and a cocktail 

party in the evening but no dinner. Rube 

Shor, new president of Allied States: Abram 

Myers, general counsel; Trueman Rembu.sch 

and Bennie Berger will speak. 

Among the discussion topics which will receive 

priority will be film rentals, terms, 

availability of prints, clearance, adjustments, 

etc. Both Miller and Fied Harpst. general 

manager of Allied ITO. expressed themselves 

bitterly about some of the terms now being 

asked for current releases. 

"More theatres are going to have to close 

and nobody in the film companies seems to 

care." Miller commented, with Harpst adding 

a fervent "Amen!" 

The program is designed as a series of 

forums on topics of interest to both indoor 

and outdoor operators. Among those to be 

covered are (1> enlarging screens. (2i new 

screen surfaces. (3) lenses—both fixed and 

variable, (4i sources of light—lamphouses and 

carbons. (5t power—generators versus rectifiers 

of different types. (6i new concession 

ideas, i7> advertising films and concession 

trailers. (8i film clinics. (9> EDO and the 

government control bill. ilOi toll TV—danger 

of It. what it can do to you and what you 

can do about it. 

There will be an election of officers following 

the meeting. Miller is serving his 

second term as president. 

Plains Theatre Sold 

PLAINS. KAS—Walter Fletcher of Meade. 

Kas.. has bought the Plains Theatre from 

Fred Harrison and will reopen it February 19. 

It is being equipped for Cinemascope.

I am 

SAM ABEND MEMORIAL FUND^ FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED I 

Sponsored by the Motion Picture Association of Greater Kansas City 

Suite 201 

ARTHUR COLE 

Chairman 

1822 Main Street 

Kansas City, 

Missouri 

C. A. SCHULTZ 

Treasurer 

Dear Friends; 

The Committee: 

Reuben Finkelstein 

W. Hardy Hendren jr. 

Earl Jomeyson sr. 

Finton H. Jones 

Senn Lawler 

James Lewis 

Elmer Rhoden sr. 

Ben Shiyen 

Alex Shnidermon 

Robert Withers 

Members of the Motion Picture Association of Greater Kansas City 

tiave a plan to perpetuate the name of Sam Abend other than in 

the memory of his host of friends. 

Sam, a self-made man, was a humanitarian, generous with time 

and money in all worthwhile projects designed to improve the status of the 

who, like himself, had lowly beginnings. 

One of his prime interests was underprivileged boys. He found 

expression for that interest m helping support the Boys Camp 

near Independence, Mo., where our Association annually sends upwards of 7 

youngsters for 

a healthy summer outing. 

The Boys Camp needs more shelters for its guests. At the Annual 

meeting last December members of the Association voted to sponsor the 

construction of one of these shelters as a memorial to Sam, the structure to 

bear a bronze plaque in his honor. 

Members of the Abend Memorial Committee believe all of 

you who knew Sam will want to have a part in this project. Those of you 

who didn't know him may consider it a privilege to contribute to such a 

worthy cause. 

Gifts, of course, are tax deductible. 

Please Return This Coupon With Your Contribution 

Sam Abend Memorial Fund 

FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED BOYS 

Suite 201 

1822 Main St. 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Sincerely yours, 

AfitU44A 

Cole 

Chairman 

Gentlemen-. 

Sam Abend. 

pleased to participote in creating a memorial honoring 

Enclosed is my contribution of $ 

Name: 

Date 

Address: 

Make Checks Poyable to C. A. Schultz, Treasurer, Som Abend Memorial Fund

, extra 

. . Barbara 

. . Other 

. . Sam 

I 

I 

530Years 

Family 

:iner family is celersaiy 

of the Plaza 

pened Feb. 12. 1925, 

ly since that time. 

operating it. 

30 years, the thearemodeled 

•s 

and re- 

the finest jobs of 

of any theatre its 

n covers the entire 

and is 12x32 feet. 

lenses with Bausch 

;es. giving a beautittends 

from wall to 

to ceiling. His custo 

Howard Kinser, 

/ill Emcee 

iUTA 

Edwai'ds. 

widely 

ir and after-dinner 

ansas-Missouri Theit 

the Continental 

5 will celebrate his 

ss in Eldon. Mo., on 

the Ozark Tlieatre 

e-In. 

MTA speakers an- 

30X0FPICE. M. B. 

will talk on publicrelations. 

He heads 

circuit. Rass Johnigelow 

Calendai- Co. 

bitor's use of calen- 

, wife of Gene Bulle 

concessions for 

at Arkansas City, 

Tian's viewpoint of 

leatres 

Race 

3x Midwest theatre,s 

;ar Race promotion. 

1 in 38 states under 

MPO. 

fer year's passes to 

cademy award winninced 

March 30 at 

the Motion Picture 

iences in HoUy^vood. 

ticket selling 

outstanding succe.s.s 

ast year by Texa-s 

Iwest director of ada.s 

distributed snipe-s 

managers for par- 

Race. He .said the 

before the Academy 

3od. 

Improves 

bert Jeans, owner of 

plans to widen the 

j.ssary lenses to show 

1 and the other mod- 

CHICAGO 

pred E. Miner, owner and pre.Mdent ui Miner 

Amusement Co.. Rice Lake and Chippewa 

Falls, Wis., announced here that new Walker 

Seamless Screens have been installed at all 

of his theatres. 

Earl Collins, head of Republic's Hollywood 

TV operations, was a visitor on Filmrow . . . 

Leo Samuels, Buena Vista president, was here 

meeting with Chicago personnel before proceeding 

to Denver for sales meetings. Accompanying 

Samuels were Jes.se Chinink of the 

New York sales department office and Card 

Walker, vice-president. Walker planned to 

go on to the company's studio in Burbank 

to begin advance work on "The Lady and the 

Tramp." 

"The Country Girl," which opened at the 

United Artists Theatre Thiu-sday il7», held 

added attraction because of the personal visit 

of Grace Kelly . Rush and Rock 

Hudson arrived here to help exploit "Captain 

Lightfoot" which opened at McVickere Theatre 

Friday il8i . Hollywood personalities 

pausing in the city for brief visits 

were Glenn Ford and Dorothy Lamour. 

. . . 

Aaron Fox, who has been associated with 

the U-I office here, is being transferred to 

Indianapolis Elizabeth Wetter, a U-I 

employe for 48 years, is enjoying a Florida 

vacation ... Ed Wolk has other Filmrow 

people envious because he is spending the 

entire winter in Mexico. 

Harry Rouda, manager of the Frolic Theatre, 

has taken a leave of ab-sence because of 

his wife's illness. John Fields of the Shore 

Theatre will take over at the Frolic until 

Rouda returns to his post . . "Filmorama 

. 

Adventure." .shown in Orche.stra Hall this 

week, is reported to be the first travel film 

exhibited here in wide-screen process and 

color. Performances have been complete 

sellouts. 

Irwin S. Joseph, general sales manager of 

Modern Film Distributors, announced the appointment 

of new franchise holders for such 

products as "Becau.se of Eve," "Street Corner" 

and "The Story of Bob and Sally." Dutch 

Konemann will cover the Denver and Salt 

Lake City areas: Otis Bollinger, St. Louis and 

Kansas City, and Gidney Talley in Dallas and 

Oklahoma City. 

Dorothy, the 3-year-old baby elephant who 

ua.s renamed Jupiter's Darling after her appearance 

in the film bearing that name, will 

be given a royal welcome when she arrives 

here Monday (28i. She will be greeted by 

Pat Hoy of the Sherman Hotel, where she 

will have a private room in the exhibition 

hall. "Jupiter's Darling" is to certain receive 

plenty of publicity before it opens at Mc- 

Vickers Theatre March 11. 

James Jovan has completed negotition.s for 

the Chicago premiere of "Romeo and Juliet" 

at the Mom-oe Theatre on Tuesday (22). The 

opening night performance will be a benefit 

show ... In January, the Chicago cen.sor 

board reviewed 107 films of which 23 were 

foreign. None were rejected and none placed 

in the "adults only" category. 

Max Roth of Capitol Films left for a Florida 

vacation. Before hLs departure he completed 

a deal to handle "Gang Busters" in 

Oscar Granquist 

the Chicago territory . . . 

of the State Theatre, Rockford. 111., was a 

Filmrow visitor . Chernoff, who heads 

IFE operations here, spent the week in Milwaukee 

prior to the opening of "Aida" there. 

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Kansas City exhibitors, who attended the 20th-Fox screening 

of "The Racers" Thursday (31 afternoon, met afterwards in the 

office of Chick Evens, exploiteer, for a cocktail party. Ways of 

selling the picture were discussed. Reading left to right are Ed 

Hartman, Booking .\gency; Joe Neger, 20th-Fox manager; Ed 

Durwood and Richard Durwood, Durwood Theatres; Wo« 

Commonwealth : Leon Robertson and Senn Lawler, Fo 

Henry S. L'ngerleider, Durwood Theatres; Richard Brou! 

west president; R. M. Shelton, Commonwealth presidi 

Smith and Lloyd Morris. Commonwealth. 

KANSAS CITY 

êne Walden, Roxy manager, enjoyed visiting 

the MGM and Warner Bros, sets 

while on a recent Hollywood visit, but said 

Mrs. Walden and his sister enjoyed especially 

going through the wardrobe department. 

Gene marveled at the thousands of lamps in 

the prop department. He was also intrigued 

by the amount of sound equipment requh-ed 

for stereophonic sound. At Warner Bro.s. they 

had lunch at the Green Room with John 

McManus. manager of the Midland here for 

about 11 years, who had pleasant memories 

of Kansas City. On the MGM set they met 

Ann Blyth and were photographed with her 

where she was making "The King's Thief," 

and then watched Vincente Minnelli directing 

"The Cobweb" and were photographed with 

Richard Widmark. Walden feels he gained 

an insight into the making of pictures that 

will help him appreciate the production angle. 

It is now Pinton H. Jones & Son. Finton 

jr. was released fi-om the Coast Guard in 

January and both he and his father are happy 

to be in business together. They specialize 

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. 

in theatre insurance Peel of 

Warner Bros, fell on the ice in the driveway 

of her home and broke a leg, so will be out 

of the office for several weeks . . . "Crazylegs" 

Hirsch was in town helping Don Walker promote 

"Unchained" Sutter said 

that he and Alex Shniderman hope to have 

their 63rd Street Drive-In ready for a May 

1 opening. However, he emphasizes that the 

opening will not coincide with a time when 

the Athletics will be playing in town. The 

corporation will be known as the E&S Theatre 

Enterprises, and wUl office at 221 West 

18th. 

Henry Sonday, head booker at Universal, 

has been promoted to salesman to replace 

Dwight Borin who resigned recently. Jack 

Langan, manager, is reported home from the 

hospital and expects to be back at the office 

in about ten days . staff at 20th-Fox 

postponed having a party during the Christmas 

holidays so now is holding one on Monday 

(21) at Holiday Hou.se Bain. 

United Artists booker, 

. 

was out sick, so Bud 

Truog was "on the books" Monday il4i . . . 

Among those who attended the Allied States 

convention in St. Louis last week were these 

from the A. V. Cauger Service. Inc.: T. R. 

Ganger, vice-president: L. R. Groves, sales 

manager: John Hawkins, Glen Boner, Jack 

Hynes and O. B. Hayes, sales representatives. 

. . Shirley Perkins is the new receptionist 

Stanley Durwood, vice-president and general 

manager of Durwood Theatres, is on 

vacation with Mrs. Durwood and the two 

older children at Bishop's Lodge in Santa Fe. 

N. M. . 

at Durwood's. She replaces Georgia 

Hendon who is now secretary for Mildred 

Harris, booker at Commonwealth. 

Louis Patz, manager of National Screen 

Service, reports that last Piiday, one of the 

coldest days of the year, the gas burners which 

heat the building "went haywii-e" and at 8 

a.m. the office temperature stood at 27 

degrees. Six servicemen got the reserve oil 

burners burning, then these backfired and 

caught the wires on fire, damaging automatic 

controls. It w'as not until 2 p.m. that 

some semblance of normal conditions prevailed 

at NSS. 

National Theatre Supply has equipped the 

new Fox Theatre at Carthage. Mo., with American 

Bodiform chairs specially cushioned with 

Latex foam rubber. NTS also furnished the 

Simplex sound and projection. Also, complete 

Cinemascope equipment has gone to the 

Goveland Theatre at Quinter, Kas. . A. 

Levy, 20th-Pox division manager, visited 

Manager Joe Neger the past week . . . Recent 

Filmrow visitors from Missoi 

Dewey Kisor. Gallatin: Loren 1 

eral, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Smith, I 

Hall, Cassville. From Kansas we: 

ander, Kiowa: Dan Blair, Smith 

Wareham, Dick Whitley and 

Midcentral at Manhattan. 

L. J. Kimbriel of Missouri Th 

left to call on Pi-ank Northrup 

by Nat Hechtman of Capitol Flai 

Kas., and J. B. Rashong at St. 

He reports a new Dyna-Lite scr 

wood's Orpheum at St. Josep 

Carnie. Allied 

' 

Artists salesman 

in the office because of a ba 

back in his territory . Som 

. . 

effects were introduced last weel 

Co. and L. H. Hasty, salesmai 

Theatre Supply. Both had lost 

and the sounds which they pr 

trying to talk alternated b 

squeaks and hoarse whispers. 

Stebbins Theatre Supply has e 

lace Bristol's Meade Theatre at 

with Super Panatar lenses, a 1 

screen, Hi-lux lenses and backi 

optical lenses. It also sold Elmer 

& Lomb anamorphic lenses f 

Theatre at Salisbury, Mo. 

The Kansas City area was wel 

at the recent national Allied Si 

convention in St. Louis. Those 

' 

from this area, many accompa 

wives, included Pi'esident Bever! 

h;s brother Herbert of Jeffersi 

Wooten. Hutchinson: Ben Adam 

Komp Jarrett, Nevada: Max I 

Gene Musgrave, Minneapolis, 

Ghosen, Sedalia: Gene Bulla: 

City; Herb Jeans, Columbia, ai 

Wichita. 

9n IfauA SvuMX SiMX /. 

STEBBINS THEATRE Eqi 

r rr r' 

KANSAS CITY 0, MO. 

Satisfaction — Alw( 

MISSOUR 

THEATRE SUPPLY COA 

L. I. KIMBRIEL. Mmag 

Phone Baltimors 3070 

115 W. 1 8th Kansas C

Station 

st Corp. 

f 

in WTVW was sold 

St Corp.. which pubntinel 

and owns radio 

le largest stockholder 

1.S L. F. Gran, who is 

iterprises. which inheatres 

and other in- 

:ed in the affirmative 

ut under protest, on 

Hearst Corp.. has no 

ather than the fact 

vspaper. Gran's feelto 

the thought that 

lip, Milwaukee would 

;r "place in the sun" 

purchase came from 

as made by Charles 

f the radio and tele- 

Hearst Corp. 

ek Joins 

^Firm 

wner of Western The- 

-inced that Woodrow 

represent the firm in 

L equipment and other 

tunate in adding a 

s point of view," said 

is familiar with the 

BOWLING 

KANSAS CITY—Mary Heueisen reports the 

following standing.s for the women's bowling 

teams of the Pilmrow Bowling League: 

Teom Won Lost 

Finfon Jones 43 20 

Hartman's 35 28 

Control Shipping 34 29 

Monley, Inc. 33 30 

Team Won Lost 

Heorf Drivc-ln 32 31 

Mode O' Doy 32 31 

Foxy Five 29 34 

101 Service .... 14 49 

Given Life Membership in Union 

FORT WAYNE Bud Bergor. who has been 

president of Local 146 for 15 years, has been 

awarded a gold card entitling him to life 

membership in the union. He is stage manager 

of the Emba.ssy Theatre. Another member 

of Local 146. Ray Hanna at the Paramount, 

also has a life membership. 

New Fox at Carthage, Mo., 

Plans Open House Mar. 5 

CARTHAGE, MO.—An open house featuring 

conducted tours and the showing at intervals 

of a 30-minute program of shorts 

will 

launch the new Fox Theatre here March 

.). There will be no admi.ssion. 

The rebuilt theatre, formerly the Tiger 

which was swept by fire several months ago, 

will open the next day for regular patronage 

with "White Christmas." 

The reopening promotion is being prepared 

by Robert Rothrock, manager, and Joe Redmond 

of Kansas City, advertising and publicity 

director of Pox Midw'est. of which the 

Fox IS a unit. 

The reopening date was moved ahead from 

February 23. 

theatre business. His 

jimek, was an exhibibefore 

entering the 

shland. Neb. Yoimg 

1 with his father and 

was destroyed by fire, 

anning and work in 

A is considered one 

I'n situations in the 

s Welsh and Harold 

Circle A. Handling 

ein. 

d Added CS 

Aâlter Buchholtz has 

e remodeling job on 

has been completely 

icenium arch removed 

gain the necessary 

:ope equipment. New 

1 balcony seats have 

cal paper, the Leader. 

tory listing its new 

; its opening date, 

nouncing the pictures 

i-eek. 

.amed 

landoah, 900-seat unit 

t 2227 South Broad- 

1 the Apache. Louis 

lager of the circuit, 

and improvements to 

fine new sign, a new 

lew carpeting, a new 

new wide screen. 

id Spring 

).—Joe Million is inat 

his Veedersburg 

•e Cinemascope when 

spring. 

* GLENN BONER 

RAILERS 

Meet Glenn Boner ... a friendly, hard 

working fellow working Central Illinois. 

You'll find he will represent your theotre 

in on honest, capable manner. Give him 

a 

fry! 

Phone Clifton 9390 

^^^J^^-^S^ 

He is soundly grounded in your problems 

. . . and represents more than 

175 different loco! dealer classifications 

to sell in your community, 

lorge or small. Look to Couger for 

merchant-exhibitor 

satisfaction. 

.lkl__ 

MOT ION PICTURE ADVERTISING for THEATRES ^ 

10922 WINNER ROAD INDEPENDENCE, MO. 

PHONE, WIRE, WRITE 

TODAY FOR COMPLETE FACTS

. . John 

. . Dave 

SMORGASBORD AFTER SCREENING—Nearly 50 exhibitors, 

who attended the area screening of Columbia's "The Long Gray 

Line" at Neosho, Mo., on Wednesday (2). were the guests of the 

Neosho Theatres afterwards at a smorgasbord at Big Spring Inn. 

In the left photo. Bill Bradfield and his wife and Mr. and Mrs. 

Virgil Narimore of the Roxy and 66 Drive-In at Carthage. Mo.. 

INDIANAPOLIS 

•pob Conn, who began his .second term as 

chief barker of Variety Tent 10 Saturday 

night, has named the following committees 

for this year: Hospital—Earl Penrod, chairman. 

Abe Gelman and Ken Dotterer. Membership—Marc 

Wolf, chairman. Jimmy Smith 

and Ted Nicholas. House—Murray Devaney. 

chairman. Bill Carroll and Dale McFarland. 

Finance—Ed Bigley. chaii'man. Russ Brentlinger, 

B. N. Peterson and Sam Kaplan. 

Heart—Herman Halberg. chairman. Rex Carr 

and Dick Lochry. Entertainment—Bob Jones, 

chairman. Sam Oshry and Ted Mendelssohn. 

Golf—Claude McKean, chairman, and Barney 

Brager. Publicity—Dale MacFarland, chairman. 

Y&W Management Corp. has completely 

remodeled the Marshall at Noi-th Manchester 

and has installed wide .screen equipment at 

the Lyric, Winchester: the Circle, Hagers- 

MONEY 

If You Hove Pots of 

J matnVoin most 

,ou con otford .o buV end n,o.n 

IZ Wind ot equipment. 

BUT 

S-T-R-E-T-C-H 

BUY 

. . . _ the only 

proleetor 

century

; Hospitnl, 

I 

; Robert 

UIS 

Present Film to Kansas Governor 

feature booker, was 

; for two days by an 

'he father-in-law of 

le.sman. died in Til- 

Bob Edele. V.\ manought 

back the news 

president of Rodgers 

5 home after underocal 

hospital. 

ig of Colosseum Lege 

Xavier room of the 

»y 

1 26 1. 

icluded Izzy Wien- 

Publix Great States. 

5ton: Leon Jarodsky. 

u- Bluff; Clyde Mei- 

Waring jr., Cobden; 

Edwards, jr., Farmredericktown; 

Louis 

foe Goldfarb, Alton; 

Wentzville; W. H. 

iTewell Lawrence and 

)exter; Doby Stout, 

A. Jefferis, 

Yedericktown; H. F. 

ink Glenn, Tamaroa; 

nd William Collins. 

sing manager of Star 

home in Brentwood 

Kii-kwood, 

dical attention and 

iker, Paris, owner of 

ere, which is under 

had made a wonle 

health condition 

many pounds. 

!cutive director, ad- 

Lions Club of Perrylen 

moved to Poplar 

a talk to the Cham- 

' 

(211. The next day 

sring of the Rotary 

on Wednesday (23i. 

ker at a joint meetotary 

clubs at Cairo. 

spend some time at 

iarch. He has also 

A Spotlight making 

ntly. It was a thi-ee- 

€ published periodiitional 

headquarters 

m. 

he Louise Theatre, 

'oods, W. R. Woods 

as 

^ 

been closed. 

CO, 

home! 

new factory 

lowrooms. 

i. JEFFERSON 

JIS 4, MO. 

PR 2-4615 

on Service 

Film Row, too. 

rUKSENTS IN.Al'Cll'H.AL FIL.M— .An industry group prfsi-nlino; (Jovernor Fred Mali 

of Kansas the color film made of his inaugural ceremonies in Topcka .lanuary 10. 

L to K, Mrs. Hall; .Arthur Cole, industry representative; I.. II. Breuninger, Fo\ .Midwest 

city manager at Topeka; George Baker. Baker Enterprises; Dave Dallas. .Midcentral. 

and Governor Hall. 

TOPEKA. KAS—Gov. Fred Hall was pre- 

.sented a print of the 16mm sound film in 

color made of his iiiaugmal ceremonies January 

10. It is the first time a motion picture 

ol the ceremonies was made in color and 

the print was a personal gift to the governor. 

The motion picture industry of Kansas, which 

sponsored the film, is considering presenting 

another print to the Kansas State Historical 

Society. 

The reel was screened in the governor's 

office, with the governor and his wife and 

several members of his staff present. A clip 

To Keep Theatre Open 

GREENFIELD, ILL.—Fear that it would 

become necessary to close the Lyric Theatre. 

428-seater. because of poor business wa> 

averted when local businessmen, meeting with 

the owners of the theatre company, perfected 

plans for continued operation of the theatre. 

Earl Dawson has been re-elected president of 

the theatre company: Byron Hill jr., vicepresident: 

Frank Greer, secretary, and Dr 

O. J. Botl, treasurer. Greer also is manager 

of the theatre. 

Odium Named Manager 

BLOOMINGTON. ILL.—G B Odium ls thi 

r.ew manager of the Castle Theatre here, 

succeeding Walter Ahrens, who managed the 

theatre for the past three years. A former 

manager and owner in Cleveland. Tenn . 

Odium has also worked for Paramount in 

New 'Vork and also managed six theatres at 

the Atomic Energy Commission development 

at Oak Ridge. 

Reopens in Perry, Mo. 

PERRY. MO —The Mark Twaui, 350-seater 

dark since about the middle of December, wa.^reopened 

this week. Mr. and Mrs. C. K. 

Paisley, owners, were in St. Louis last week 

booking. 

of the Fox Movietone newsreel of the event 

was presented at the same time and the 

goodwill gesture was approved by the Kansas- 

Missouri ITO and the Kansas-ML-^souri Theatre 

Ass'n. The Hal Parker Studios made 

both the color film of the inaugural ceremonies 

and the black and white newsreel. 

A bra.ss plate \va.s placed on the film container 

with this inscription: 

Inaucural Ceremonies Topeka, Kas.. 

January 10, 1955. Presented to Governor 

Fred Hall by the Motion Picture 

Industry of Kansas. 

The pre.sentation Monday i7» was made by 

a group including Arthur Cole, president 

emeritus of the Motion Picture Ass'n of 

Greater Kansas City: L. H. Breuninger, Pox 

Midwest city manager at Topeka: George 

Baker, Baker Enterprises; Dave Dallas, Midcentral 

Theatres, Manhattan: Gene Musgrave, 

vice-president of KMITO, and Mrs. 

Musgiave from MnineapolLs, Kas. 

PDC^T MPTCDM 

STAGE 

EQUIPMENT COMPANY 

tUIILfil 

IILUILIIII. 

rvCRTTHINC roR THC ST*0( • AUOrTOHIUM • LOBIV 

01 OFFICI l>14 Orotf A.... Il.iiw> Cily «. 

EVERYTHING FOR THE THEATRE 

St. Louis Theatre Supply Company 

Afch Holler 

33)0 Olive Srrcot, St. Louis 3, Mo. 

Tclcphono J£ 3-7974, JE 3-7975

'Gray Line 

Screened at Marshall, Mo. 

Among the 40 exhibitors and their wives who attended the area screening of 

Columbia's "The Long Gray Line" and product reel in J. Leo Hayob's Mary Lou Theatre 

were these: L to K, standing, Mrs. George Hayob and Mr. Hayob, >Iarshall; Shelby 

Armstrong. Milan; Syd Levy, National Screen Service; Walter Eisenhauer, Slater; 

W. C. Silver. Cameron; Charles Payson and Mrs. Payson, CarroUton; Basil Fogelson, 

Marceline; Mrs. Paul Fagen, Stover; Mrs. Frank Weary and Mr. Weary, Richmond; 

Hal WalUs, Alexander Film Co.; sitting. Gene Snitz, Columbia salesman; Steve Souttar, 

manager of Fox Midwest .Auditorium Theatre at Marshall; William Presley, Hamilton; 

Mrs. Jim Merchant, wife of Mary Lou manager; Frank Weary III and Mrs. Weary, 

Henrietta; Paul Fagen; Merchant and Hayob. 

MARSHALL. MO.—About 40 central Missouri 

exhibitors and other industry personnel 

and their wives gathered at the Mary Lou 

Theatre last week (9) for a screening of 

"The Long Gray Line," arranged by Gene 

Snitz. Columbia salesman in this territory, 

with the cooperation of J. Leo Hayob, manager 

of the Mary Lou. The Columbia production 

trailer of coming feature releases also 

was shown. 

"The Long Gray Line." filmed in Cinema- 

Scope and in Technicolor, was well received 

and the exhibitors had many favorable comments 

to make about it. 

At the conclusion of the screening the group 

went to the Viking Hotel dining room where 

they enjoyed a bountiful fried chicken dinner 

with all the trimmings, which was preceded 

by a cocktail party. Hayob made introductions 

after the dinner and welcomed 

the guests. Snitz spoke briefly on the current 

sales drive under way at Columbia and asked 

the exhibitors not to forget to book Columbia 

pictures during this period. 

At 4 o'clock that afternoon Snitz and Mr. 

Hayob were guests of John Hughes, news 

editor of radio station KMMO of Marshall, 

for a ten-minute interview on the activities 

of the day and a resume of highlights about 

Columbia product to be released in coming 

months. This interview was broadcast from 

the local station which is heard for a 100- 

mile area surrounding Marshall. 

Allied Drive-In Meeting Notes 

ST. LOUTS—The finest drive-in convention 

ever held anywhere was the unanimous 

opinion of the some 750 men and women 

who registered for the second annual National 

Allied drive-in convention held at the 

Chase Hotel last week (8-10). 

A couple of hundred other persons visited 

the fine trade exposition in the spacious 

lounge and adjacent rooms on the first floor 

of the hotel. 

All in all it was a great show notwithstanding 

that it moved along on a most informal 

ba,sis, sort of go as you please; that is how 

the attending drive-in owners wanted it to 

go, since they more or less wrote the entire 

program by their advance report to the 

general convention chairman A. B. Jefferis 

of Piedmont, Mo., president of Midcentral 

Allied Independent Theatre Owners. 

Jefferis. by the way. aided by Ray G. 

Colvin, St. LouLs, executive director of Theatre 

Equipment Dealers Ass'n, came up with 

some extra entertainment features at the 

banquet session Thursday night. 

Want a Girl Just Like the Girl Who Man-ied 

Dear Old Dad" in a manner that warmed 

the cockles of the heart of every oldtimer in 

attendance. Jeff also did an organ solo, "Tlie 

Poor Man's Version of the Greatest Show on 

Earth," played at 17 'j per cent of gro.ss 

against no fixed flat rental and no nasey 

checkers on hand. Colvin. by popular demand, 

gave a recitation "One a Red a'Rasa." 

George Murphy of MGM, who was emcee, 

did his usual swell job in that respect, stressing 

in his fine talk the goodwill importance 

of modern motion pictures in this troublesome 

world of ours. For instance, he told how "This 

Is Cinerama" had completely ruined the 

Communists' goodwill plans in far-off India, 

The fine case made by Mui'phy caused all 

who heard him to feel very proud they were 

associated with the film industry. 

Maureen Arthur, daughter of Dave Arthur. 

head of the booking department of Fanchon 

& Marco, won many new friends by her 

fine singing and wonderful personality. She 

is the featured singer on the Ed Wilson show 

TTX^ T'Tr n*. 

party given for them in the Park I 

: 

Club in the Chase Hotel. Chai 

buckle from the Fairmount Rote 

organist, while mu.sic was provider 

at the banquet were provided by M 

Swain's orchestra. Corsages for ( 

Kansas City. 

At noon Thursday, about 75 ' 

tended the special luncheon an 

Some 23 prizes were provided. Det 

party and other special featuri 

women at the three-day convei 

arranged by Mrs. Maud Jefferis; 

Garham. St. Louis: Mrs. Ruth 

Winchester. 111., and Mi-s. Eva Fisl 

Springs. Mo. 

While Jeff was doing his circus 

the organ his son Bob added to ( 

by impersonating a circus ba 

handles advertising and publici 

Jefferis Theatre and the Pine Hi 

at Piedmont, Mo., owned by his 

The film chnics dealt very lai-gel; 

heated statements regarding the 

of the drive-in folk with the dist 

booking pictures for their theatre 

result was the passage of a reso 

demning the alleged sales policy of 

in comiection with "White Chili 

"The Country Girl," and somewhai 

criticism of other film companies 

The forums on the physical o 

drive-in theatres came up with 

portant points: 

Drive-in screens to get the 1 

should be curved and tilted. Scr( 

be constructed and erected by sf 

that field, since the "buy the mi 

do the job yourself" policy may 

exhibitor to pay more for the finisl 

not have a guarantee from anyon 

Screen widening jobs should 1 

both ends of the original screen 1 

results, because widening on onf 

would adversely affect the ram 

ments. etc.. because the center o; 

mula would be violently disturb 

Tower construction should provi 

resistance of a minimum of 30 pou 

pressure for each square foot of 

face. 

Cheap towers are not sound ec 

the experts agreed. 

Hurdy E. Boyd Plans 

KENNETT, MO. — Hurdy E. 

operates Tommie's Drive-In nea 

announced plans for a new and 1; 

in to be located on a 16-acre tn 

owned by the Kennett Coca-Coi 

headed by Boyd. Actual constri 

start soon. His plans are to operi 

drive-in on a first run basis ani 

Drive-In as a second run. 

Dark at Mound City 

MOUND CITY. ILL—Jesse H 

of Dongola closed his 400-seat C 

here on February 4. He plans 

operation of the Rex Theatre in 

CS Into Chester, 111., Joy 

CHESTER. ILL.—Cinemascope 

has been installed in the Joy The 

Turner-Farrar circuit of Harri 

which also owns the Gem Theatn 

Roscoe A. Cook Shutters 

SHELBYVILLE. MO.—The She

lening 

m Event 

rheatre, largest ui 

's chain, reopened 

film house, witli 

1 opening;, "Aro.nid 

wspapcr cchimnist. 

int clinging to the 

the harkers-back, 

n doors. Long may 

Tent 45 of New Orleans 

Chartered by Variety 

O (^ 

to Life" was one 

hich shut its doors 

le hum of rumors 

ifarious fates from 

milding to housing 

is a first run film 

jptimistic premiere 

tion which included 

)Vitz and Albert E. 

IS new life should 

applied the opening 

ly about the future 

latre as a communat 

ceremonies held 

md on the stage, 

remiere atmosphere 

the flagship house 

i 

s. The 40 & 8 band 

at shortly before 8 

lication ceremonies 

V mterviews. In adiami's 

mayor, others 

ce Cordes of Burand 

largest departsrgan. 

Miami Cham- 

Gen. W. C. Manley, 

at Opa-Locka, and 

ead of Richard's, a 

ent store. 

)ia was opened in 

), 1954. At the time 

m's three remaining 

Bowl princess and 

ith the accompanid 

as part of the enbroadcast 

the event 

,-ing Aronovitz and 

WIOD emceed the 

as filmed by WGBS- 

IC 23. 

[n Slated 

ur, Ala. 

rshall Dnvc-In Theahas 

announced plans 

;-in south of here at 

Lways31 and 67. W.W. 

t. said that construeway 

as soon as the 

ns. He said that the 

40-acre tract, would 

iclosed playground for 

rea, and one of the 

Teens in the south. 

aylord 

—Jimmy Gaylard of 

hased the Cecil Drivelusement 

Co. He will 

ounty Drive-In. Mack 

as resident manager, 

s have been scheduled. 

Among the more than 300 persons who attended the .bartering of the new Variety 

tent were many of national proniinenee. In the picture at the left are. left to right, 

Milton Guidrv." Lafayette, La.: T. G. Solomon. .Meromb. Miss.; Kudy Vallee erooner 

and film sUir; L. MeKenna, New Orleans, and Jeff Kebstock. Golden Meadows. La. 

In the pirture on the right are. seated. Vallee and Ted Lewis, well-known orrhestra 

leader and entertainer. Standing are Uobert F. Kennon, governor of Loui.siana, and 

Chief Barker Page M. Baker. 

NEW ORLEANS—More than 300 theatremen 

attended the official pre.seniation of a 

charter to Variety Tent 45. The ceremony. 

at which George Hoover of Miami. Variety 

International chief barker, made the formal 

presentation, was held in the Jung Hotel. 

Inducted as officers were Page M. Baker, 

chief barker; Harold F. Cohen, first assistant 

chief barker; William Briant, second assistant 

chief barker; Henry G. Plitt, dough guy: Dan 

M. Brandon, property master, and Ernest 

MacKenna. press guy. Crewmen ai-e Joel 

Bluestone. William Holliday. Carl Mabry, L. C. 

Montgomery and Louis Boyer. 

Sarasota Trail Airer 

To Jack Hunt. R. Carsky 

SARASOTA. FLA.-Jack Hitnt and his sonin-law 

Ray Carsky have purchased the Trail 

Drive-In here from Hugh Thomas jr. and 

will operate it as the Airport Drive-In Amusement 

Co. 

Hunt and Carsky. with their wives, have 

operated the Cocoanut Palms restaurant on 

St. Armands Key the last three years. They 

recently sold the restaurant. 

Hunt moved here from Chicago five years 

ago. There he had been general manager for 

seven years of the Barger circuit of drive-ins. 

manager of the 1.800-car Twin Open Air 

Theatre and of the downtown Oriental Theatre. 

Carsky formerly was merchandising and 

concessions manager for Balaban & Katz 

and Great States Theatre in Chicago. In 

this capacity he is said to be the first to 

pop popcorn in a central plant on a quality 

control basis and merchandise it through 

warmers in theatre lobbies. 

The new owners plan extensive improvements 

at the Trail. 

CS for Mississippi Ozoner 

OKOLONA. NUSS—Bob Cowsert, manager 

of the 41 Drive-In. reports that the ozoner 

has been prepared for the showing of Cinema- 

Scope and the other wide-screen processes. 

Among international officers present at the 

meeting were Jack Dumcstre, Atlanta, treasurer, 

and C. A. Dolsen. Robert J. O'Donnell 

and William McCraw, all of Dallas. Honored 

guests were entertainers Rudy Vallee and Ted 

Lewis. Gov. Robert F. Kennon of the state 

of Louisiana was made the fii'st honorary 

member of Tent 45. Vic Schu-o, president of 

the city council, presented Hoover a certificate 

of honorary citizenship. Local radio announcer 

Hemy Dupre was master of ceremonies. 

Others on the program were Irwin 

F. Poche. Seymour- Weiss, the Rev. Edward 

F Murphv. SSJ. and the Rev. S. S. Clayton. 

Optimist Club Helps 

Fight Tax at Mobile 

MOBILE—Some theatres here may be 

forced to close unless the city commission 

provides some relief from the local amusement 

tax. 

Both theatre owners and union officials 

have pleaded thus far in vain for a tax reduction. 

The Chrichton Optimist Club has joined 

the fight, pointing out that theatres have 

been fighting "a long battle for patronage and 

continued existence for several years." 

The club also contended that the closing 

of a theatre has an adverse effect on surrounding 

places of business. 

The city now collects a tax amounting to 1 

cent on each 10 cents of theatre admission. 

According to the Chrichton Club, the minimum 

relief should be "to exempt the first 

60 cents of the admi.ssion and to reduce the 

tax on the remaining portion to one half." 

M. F. Welsh Sells Theatre 

FRA.N-KLINTON, LA -The Welsh Theatre, 

owned and operated by M. F. Welsh for 

several years, has been sold to E. E. Mc- 

Millan of Frankllnton and Roy L. Saxon of 

Kentwood for a reported S30.000. The theatre 

will be managed and operated by Mc- 

Millan and its name will be changed.

. . Paul 

. . Former 

1 a 

JACKSONVILLE 

Wariety's 300 Club, a special Tent 44 group 

formed to help finance the group's coiuiseling 

service for preschool blind children, 

will hold its first of six monthly dinner and 

dance sessions on Saturday night (26) at the 

Variety clubrooms in the Roosevelt Hotel. 

Chief Barker Danny Deaver and members of 

his crew were working hard to bring this 

initial venture to a successful conclusion. An 

Florida's FIRST Supply House 

NEW ADDRESS . . . 

206 MEMORIAL HIGHWAY 

TAMPA, FLORIDA 

NEW PHONE . 

. . 8-5189 

NEW CONVENIENT PARKING 

UNITED 

for 

Our Customers 

Visit us at our new building 

THEATRE SUPPLY CORP. 

206 Memorial Highway 

Tampa, Florida Phone 8-5189 

Mail Address: Box 375, Tompa 1, Fla. 

fILIll 

BOOIilOG OfflCt 

Experience — Industry Integrity 

Al Rook -Betty Whitmire 

160 Walton st. n.w. 

/^ 

tel. alpine 8314 

S*>^ >* >^ 

-

. IFE 

, Mount 

I 

. . 

OTTE Shelby, N.C., Manager Returns Wallet 

Id manager, and his 

heir South American 

5, 20th-Fox salesman, 

rom the Presbyterian 

lise was agreed upon 

rheatre management 

Jobert Shrader. manefused 

to pay a minithe 

projectionist for 

Kings when the theamrs 

in the afternoon, 

ng picketed, Shrader 

?. busine.ss agent for 

;ided to split the cost 

estion. 

g his Concord Drivears 

and putting in 

ve Williams of IFE 

s in the 20th-Fox 

ng "Theodora, Slave 

By" and "Aida" . 

;alesman. made a trip 

western North Carodest 

weather of the 

office manager, 

ffice for a few days. 

juying and booking 

iter View Drive-In. 

etto Drive-In. Hollv- 

!ht, Ritz. Newberry; 

:ax Drive-In. Laurin- 

Olive: M. V. 

linster; Sonny Baker, 

ellon. Midway Drive- 

.vood. Starlite Drive- 

'orkman. Hollywood, 

y. North 41 Drive-In, 

;n. Balman, Draper; 

saw; C. M. Bowden, 

B. Grigg, Diane 29 

ey Handles 

creening 

LA.—French B. Haririda 

State Theatres 

y director, was here 

screening of "Day of 

ilm starring Lee J. 

, 

prior to its twin 

e local Empir.^ Thea- 

;re in Sarasota. The 

d for the ministerial 

1 YMCA. and news- 

Lost in His Theatre 16 Years Ago 

SHELBY, N. C—Theatre managers boast 

of the fact that around 95 per cent of all 

articles lost in their places of busine.ss are 

returned to the original owners, reports Jack 

Kiser in the Daily Star recently. 

Hall Houpe manager of the local Rogers 

Theatre, improved this percentage a shade 

when he returned a pocketbook to its owner. 

This isn't too unusual, except the wallet was 

lost 16 years ago! 

Houpe received the pocketbook from some 

unknown patron around two months ago 

after it had been found on the floor of the 

theatre. No money w'as contained in the billfold, 

but some important personal papers, 

and three checks were among the articles. 

The name "J. D. Cooley, Waco. N. C." wa.s 

on several of the papers as well as a 1939 

driver's license. Houpe was installing a wide 

screen and Cinemascope machinery in his 

theatre at this time .so he filed the papers 

away in his desk and forgot about them. 

Two weeks later he was discussing old papers 

with a friend and remembered the pocketbook. 

He began contacting .several young people 

from the Waco area, but none of them 

could recall a "J. D. Cooley." 

Then Houpe noticed a receipt in the papers 

made out to the Cleveland county board of 

education. A call to this office revealed the 

fact that Cooley was once an agriculture 

teacher at Waco High, but left there in 

1942. The office gave Houpe the name of 

Charles Knight of Pallston as a possible 

source of information. 

Knight informed Houpe that Cooley wa.-- 

teaching in Cool Springs High School at 

Forest City. In a phone call Cooley w-as informed 

of the find and came to Shelby to 

reclaim the articles. 

Cooley stated he lost the billfold around 

Feb. 1, 1939, but couldn't remember if he had 

any money in it. Since that time Cooley 

served three years in the Navy and was in 

private business in Duncan, S. C, for five 

years before going to Forest City as head 

of the agriculture department. 

Houpe's theory on the belated finding of 

the pocketbook is this; About the time it 

was found the Rogers Theatre's seats were 

being recovered and it probably fell out of 

one of the seats during the work. A patron 

must have found the wallet, took out the 

money, and stuck the billfold behind a seat 

at the rear of the theatre. There it stayed 

until dislodged by the .seat coverers. 

Cooley is happy about the whole thing. 

One of the checks was drawn on the Waco 

gin, and a call to "Coot" Lutz. gin manager 

paid off. Lutz cashed the S50 check Saturday, 

even though the 30-day time limit had been 

exceeded by 15 years and 11 months. 

SERVICE 

and 

COURTESY 

For over 20 years 

OUR WATCH WORD 

•CENTURY AND SOUND STRONG lamps 

CONCESSION EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES 

STANDARD THEATRE SUPPLY CO. 

215 E. Washinoton St.. 

GREENSBORO, N. C. 

219 So. Church SI. 

CHARLOTTE, N. C. 

'

. 

I want 

The Word We Dreaded 

My husband and I were together when 

the phone rang. He got up to answer it 

and I held my breath as I heard his 

quiet, "Yes, Doctor?" 

Then he put the receiver down carefully. 

His face, when he turned to me, 

was gaunt and lined, but he was trying 

to smile. 

"Was it — the laboratory tests?" I 

asked. 

He nodded. "We'd better get my 

bag packed," he said gently. "They 

want me in the hospital this evening." 

We had realized for months that 

something was wrong. But the pressure 

of his business postponed action. 

"Guess I'm a little off my feed," was 

all he would say. 

It took our family physician only 

ten minutes to change that attitude. 

He made an immediate appointment 

with a specialist. And at the end of an 

anguished week we knew. The laboratory 

tests confirmed the word we 

dreaded — "Cancer." 

That was a vear ago. Modern cancer 

research saved my husband. That . . 

and the surgeon's skill, the strength of 

our faith and his own fighting heart. 

He is alive and well today. For us the 

story has had a happy ending. 

Yet it 

isn't ended. When we think of 

the thousands of other families tragically 

broken every year, we feel we 

still have work to do. Many types of 

cancer can be cured if caught in time. 

We tell our friends, "If there 

symptoms you don't understand, 

your doctor at once." And we giv: 

support the constant research of 

American Cancer Society in find 

the causes and reducing the incide 

of cancer. 

. American 

Cancer Society 

GENTLEMEN: 

to help conquer Cancer. 

D Please send me free information at 

Cancer. 

D Enclosed Is my contribution of $ 

to tlie Cancer Crusade. 

Name_ 

Strike back at CANCER . 

. . man's cnielcst enemy . . . GIVE 

@ City_ _Zone State— 

(fÂIL TO: CANCER, c your town's 

Postmaster)

: Charline 

: held 

. The 

. . Other 

1 

i 

I 

TA 

low included Frank 

Barber Di-ive-In, 

IcLendon Theatres, 

Bennett. Bennett 

h Johnson. Zebulon 

Kennedy. Kennedy 

new booking 

lUler. replacing Dot 

3 gave a luncheon 

recently . . Betty 

. 

erk. underwent an 

M t)oxoffice clerk 

two weeks in Jack- 

Tianager. is improv- 

3n at Emory Uni- 

-eleased shortly . . . 

mager. and Thelma 

I. flew to New Orof 

office managers 

Dryden, UA. and her 

love into their new 

Taylor. MGM and 

I to their ears in 

;ar Theatre, Cedar 

' J. W. Powers, is 

sbert L. Baker and 

Richland, has re- 

1 installed a wide 

Drive-In. Sylvama. 

sed . exjking 

were J. Kimidilla; 

Norris Ste- 

! agent, Savannah: 

leatre. Montevallo; 

Theatre. Forsyth: 

["heatre, Huntsville: 

leatre, Thomaston: 

leatre, Thomaston: 

re, Crossville; E. L. 

I'ington and R. L. 

>tar Theatre. Cedar 

busily redecorating 

the Formwalt Girls 

study and Sunday 

Norris Hadaway Cited 

For Civic Leadership 

BIRMINGHAM -Norri.s Hadaway, manager 

of the Alabama Theatre for the last four 

years, was a nominee for "Birmingham Man 

of the Year." 

Hadaway was nominated 

by Junior Programs, 

Inc. As a member 

of the board of 

trustees of that organization, 

he initiated a 

summer series of 

movies for school children. 

Chaii'man of the 

Birmingham Chamber 

of Commerce's "Good 

Neighbor Committee," 

Norris Hadaway Hadaway was secretary 

of the Birmingham Zoo Society, a member 

of the board of Alabama Theatre Owners, 

the Birmingham Advertising Club, and 

the Birmingham Symphony. 

Hadaway was vice-chairman of the Jeffer- 

.son county drive for the National Foundation 

for Infantile Paralysis, chairman of public 

relations for the Community Chest and public 

relations consultant for the American Red 

Cross. 

He is also progi-am chairman for the Kiwanis 

Club, a steward of the First Methodist 

Church and a member of the board of management 

of the downtown YMCA. 

Fla. Airer Entered 

OPA LOCKA, FLA—Thieves broke into the 

Tiu-npike Drive-In but Manager L. W. Riddle 

reports that nothing was missing. Three 

cabinets containing cigarets and other merchandLse 

were broken into but the thieves 

took nothing. 

CS to Florida House 

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA.—The Park Theatre, 

owned by Erwin Ross, now has new 

Cinemascope equipment. 

NOW with TWO convenient locations for 

BETTER than EVER service to you 

DIXIE 

THEATRE SERVICE 

& SUPPLY COMPANY 

YOUR BALLANTYNl DEALER 

1010 Nofth Slappey Orivi 95 Walton Street. N.W 

P. 0. Boi 771 

P. 0. Box 858 

Alb.iny. Georgia 

Atlanta. Georgia 

Phone: HEmlock 2-2846 Phone: WAInut 4118 

COMPLETE THEATRE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES 

Prompt. Courteous Service 'Round the Clock 

SNOW-CONE MACHINE HDQS. j 

Snokctlcs $75.00 up Echols $120 00 up ^ 

Polor Petos, used S150 00 up i 

Rcpoir Ports All Mochines 4 

ATLANTA POPCORN SUPPLY ] 

146 Walton St. Atlanta, Go. i 

i 

Jones is 

;r second grand- 

I'OMPI niember ;s 

Tieatre Service and 

A. C. Cowles, local 

t, passed r.'.vay reb's 

regular monthly 

Mon.iay (14 

minent advertising 

lirman cf Crusade 

y returned frorti a 

as guest speaker. 

^êverything for the theatre except film" 

jn April 1 

—An April 1 openthe 

300-car airer 

cClure near here, 

ng date was der 

and should there 

drive-in would be 

Iso owns two other 

sorgia at Cornelia 

se Looted 

;rackers looted the 

Theatre, of more 

ns is the manager.

— 

' 

'Bad Day' Has Good 

Week at Memphis 

MEMPHIS—"Bad Day at Black Rock." 

showing at Loew's State, led the first run attendance 

parade with 50 per cent above average, 

Loew's Palace was second with 25 per 

cent with "Six Bridges to Cross," 


Maico Sign of the Pogon (U-l), 2nd wk 100 

Palace Six Bridges To Cross (U-l) 125 

State Bod Day at Block Rock (MGM) 150 

Strand The Bridges ot Toko-Ri (Para), 2nd wk. .100 

Warner Tonight's the Night (AA) 100 

Georgia Drive-In Gets CS 

LA GRANGE, GA.—Manager Kelly WOliams 

reports that the LaGrange Drive-In has 

widened its screen and is now equipped for 

the showing of the new film processes. 

the 

neatest 

trick 

ever... 

You're head and shoulders above 

'cm all when we do a seating rehabilitation 

job for you. Almost 

like wonders, we modernize upholstery, 

repair worn parts or tighten 

loose ones, replace old cushions or 

satisfaction guaranteed 

backs . . . 

and the cost, too! Give us your 

requirem e n t s 

ond we'll give 

you the cost. 

WRITE—WIRE or PHONE 42-1658 

MANUFACTURERS 

Poam Rubber & 

Spring Cushions, 

back and .

. were 

, 

was 

. . . Tom 

i IS 

etary at Monarch 

Stanley Ellington 

ed April 24 at the 

I in Memphis , , . 

trict engineer, and 

In Oklahoma City 

. Piatt, manager of 

for RCA at Cam- 

A district manager 

,he\vs, president of 

visitors at 

f the Sharum Thein 

town on 

1 premiere of Wars 

staged with pomp 

il Warner Theatre, 

larine An- Reserve. 

;mcee a st-age proihe 

USMCR Sixth 

rt. Marine of the 

uiting competition 

the premiere, was 

lis wife were feted 

;d at the theatre. 

The Pella? gave a 

:he Malco Theatre. 

M'ovided the music 

singers and Man- 

!d as emcee. The 

r." Unusually good 

SOUND 

IS 

EN 

HIC 

FRAMES 

LENS 

ON LENS 

PLETE 

AT ONCE 

FEATURE 

orporated 

"ir'ne-ln 

Equipment 

Phone 3-8i6S 

ALABAMA 

)NARCir( 

tre Supply, Inc. 

Neil Blount 

So. Second St. 

cmphis, 

Tcnn. 

PRESENTATIVE 

ss Cleaner 

your own business, 

s houses. Stcody, 

con be above avcrirmotion 

to^ 

» COMPANY 

Potoskolo, Ohio 

Variety Show Raises 

$25,000 for Hospital 

MIAMI—More than S25.UUU wa.^ paid out by 

Greater Miamians to see the seventh annual 

Show of Shows put on by the local Tent 33 

of Variety. Sonny Sheperd and Al Weiss 

were co-chairmen of the affair, the most 

successful to date. 

The show was emceed by Arthur Godfrey, 

who came here from New York for the occasion. 

The Miami Beach Auditorium was 

a sellout, with nearly 3.500 persons crowded 

in. The show lasted for five hours and practically 

every performer in the area took 

part. Terry Moore came in from Palm Beach 

to appear. 

Extra money was added to the amount 

raised for the children's ho.spital here by the 

sale of candy in the auditorium lobby. Backstage 

a roast turkey was part of the snack 

provided for volunteer entertainers who took 

time away from their regular stints to appear 

in the benefit. Milton Berle interrupted 

his vacation here to take part. 

The entertainment roster had such other 

distinguished names as Tony Martin. The 

Vagabonds, Xavier Cugat, Gene Baylos, Kenny 

Youngman, Gus Van and many others. 

The production was directed by Sid Franklin. 

Opposition from night club operators, who 

said that such benefits killed night club busine.ss 

for several days before and after, caused 

the showmen considerable worry and they 

even considered calling the benefit off, said 

columnist Jack Bell, one of Variety's greatest 

boosters. However, the Show of Shows is 

the one sure way that Variety can raise a 

large chunk of money annually that will 

insure operation expenses for the hospital. 

And the hospital now is so large and does 

such important work that a great deal of 

money is essential to keep it going. 

The problem of benefits versus night clubs 

is to be restudied with the object of arriving 

at some agreement acceptable to all. 

Meanwhile, this year's Show of Shows was 

the best one yet. 

Shift by Martin Theatres 

GREEN COVE SPRINGS. FLA.—T. A. Mc- 

Dougald has assumed the management of 

the Clay and Cove Theatres, succeeding M. 

B. Argo who was transferred by the Martin 

Theatres to Eustis. McDougald has been 

with the Martin for 17 years, and comes 

here from Panama City. He and his wife 

and 11-year-old daughter will occupy the 

residence formerly occupied by the Argos. 

Honor to Exhibitor 

FLORENCE, ALA —Louis Rosenbaum. head 

of Muscle Shoals Theatres, was honored by 

the Alabama Society for Crippled Children 

and Adults at its recent annual meeting in 

Montgomery. Rosenbaum was presented the 

society's certificate of distinguished service 

in recognition of outstanding leadership and 

work performed for crippled children in the 

Tri-Cities area. 

Theatre Equipment Sold 

OZ.'VRK. ARK—T. R. Pemberton recently 

purchased the equipment of the Alius Theatre 

owned by E. B. Wacaster. He has moved 

the equipment to Bi.scoe where he plans to 

establish a theatre. 

NEW ORLEANS 

riuiS AILed President Abe Berenson, New 

. . Alberta 

Orleans: Milton Guidry, Lafayette, La.: 

T. G. Solomon, McComb. Miss., and Max 

Connett, Newton, Mi.ss.. attended the Allied 

dr^ve-in convention in St. Louis . 

Schindler resigned as head booker at Realart 

to enter the Catholic convent of Missionary 

Servants of the Holy Eucharist at Covington 

... J. J. Warren, new owner ol the Pair, 

Centreville, Miss., has nothing but praise for 

BOXOPFICE magazine. Being new in the 

motion peture business, Warren emphasized 

he obtains valuable assistance and tips from 

the magazine. 

L. MacKenna, former assistant manager at 

the Joy, now is managing the Bungalow, a 

fishing resort located on Irish Bayou just a 

The Tigei Theatre 

few miles from here . . . 

was broken into by thieves, who being dismayed 

at not being able to opien the floor 

safe, left a note saying "this safe too hard 

to open." They took $3 from a desk drawer. 

Neal Alixon of Amite will reopen the Mixon 

Drive-In February 26 ... V. Force sold the 

Avenue here to A. Green, effective the 15th 

Neeley, salesman at 20th-Fox, became 

pappy of a baby daughter last week. 

Grandpa Tom Neeley, National Theatre Supply, 

is passing out cigars . . . Frank Pasqua, 

Gonzales, La., became a father for the third 

time, this time a baby son. 

Joy Theatres sold the Joy in Melville and 

the Joy in Ringgold to Fi'eddie Houck, brother 

of Joy Houck, effective February 1 . . . Many 

exhibitors and their wives were in buying 

and book ng after attending the Variety Club 

charter banquet. They included Mi', and Mrs. 

Neil Robinson, Crestview: Mr. and Mrs. Tom 

Barrow and Jimmy Tringas. Fort Walton 

Beach, Fla.; Frank Ola, Stai', Albany, La.: 

Frank Pasqua. Gonzales, La.: Mrs. Lillian 

Lutzer, Dallas: J. J. WaiTen, Fair, Centreville. 

Miss.; A. L. Royal. Royal Theatres. Meridian: 

Jack Jackson, booker. Royal Theatres: Henry 

Fayard and C. C. Meyers, Meyers, Biloxi, 

Miss., and W. Limmroth. Giddens and Rester 

theatres. Mobile. 

Adding CinemaScope 

TAMPA—Murray Stohl, who recently purchased 

five theatres from the Claughton 

chain of Miami, is equipping them with new 

Cinemascope screens. Four of the theatres 

are located in Tampa, the Cinema, State, 

Northtown and Palma Ceia, and one is In 

St. Petersburg, the Roxy. 

320 

SPECIAL TRAILERS 

Quality and Service 

Serving thcotrcs in the South for 31 yeors. 

12 cents per word 

Lowest cost anywhere 

STRICKLAND FILM CO. 

220 Phorr. Road, N. E. Atlanta

. . Howard 

Jonesboro Ark. Airers 

Sold by Bob Lowrey 

JONESBORO. ARK—Bob Lowrey and associates 

have sold the Starlite and Skyvue 

drive-ins here to Richards-Lightman Theatres 

Corp. of Memphis, which owns and 

operates the Liberty, Palace and Strand 

here. Included in the purchase were all equipment 

and real estate, including about ten 

acres at the Starlite plus a 50-foot front on 

Highway 63 and 8 acres at the Skyvue. 

Lowrey opened the Skyvue here June 3. 1949. 

and later opened the Starlite. 

New Ford Free Picture 

Depicts 4-H Club Week 

From Mideast Edition 

DETROIT—Ti-ansformation of a sleepy, 

slow-moving farm community Into a wideawake, 

thriving midwest village through the 

stimulus of 4-H Club work is documented in 

a new color film just released. The 28- 

minute picture, titled "The Town That Came 

Back," was produced by the Ford Motor Co. 

for free nationwide distribution. 

It tells the story of how the reactivation 

of a 4-H Club revived the little community's 

almost-dead spirit. Parts in the sound-color 

film are played by the persons who participated 

in the true-life community project. 

"The Town That Came Back" was previewed 

at the National 4-H Club Congress at 

Chicago in December and in Washington before 

members of Congre.ss and officials of 

the U. S. Department of Agriculture on Boys 

and Girls Club Work, Inc. 

The film is one of a group of 29 produced 

by the Ford Motor Co. for gratis distribution 

to schools, church groups, civic organizations 

and other similar outlets throughout the 

United States. 

Films produced by Ford have won 17 

first place or grand awards in documentary 

motion picture competition in the past five 

years. 

Buys in Coosa Theatre 

WETUMPKA. ALA.—Winston Huddleston, 

former circuit solicitor here, has purchased 

the interest of the late Ed Clark in the Coosa 

Theatre from Dr. Charles Clark. The theatre 

is now owned by Huddleston and Mrs. Isabelle 

Enslen, who will improve the property. 

Huddleston, who held office longer than any 

other prosecutor in Alabama, is now a supernumerary 

solicitor for the state. 

Lowell Garmon Jr. Manager 

VALLEY HEAD, ALA.—The DeSota Theatre 

is now under the management of Lowell 

Garmon jr. 

MIAMI 

The mechanical man iman or machine?) 

after mystifying patrons at the Dixie, is 

now appearing at another of the McComas' 

airers, the Tropicaire Drive-In. Ten dollars 

cash is offered anyone who can make "it" 

laugh, and free tickets go to anyone who 

makes "it" smile. 

. . . Bill 

Howard Bernard, national sales executive 

for Reela Films, a Wometco subsidiary, became 

father of a baby daughter 

Stern joined Jack Etra and Harry Foster at 

an ocean front hotel here to shoot a motion 

picture short . Hughes was here 

coincident with the opening of "Underwater!" 

at FST first runs. 

Sig Eisenberg was named King for a Day 

at Variety Club recently. Described as "a 

carnival barker at heart," he was expected 

to turn the club into a midway, with snake 

charmers and tatooed ladies. Miami's mayor 

was to be honor guest . . . FST reports some 

25.674 persons dropped into the Olympia 

prior to its formal reopening to see the 

Movie-Rama of 1955. Admission was free and 

the showings were daytime. 

Times Film Appeals Ban 

Of Maryland Censors 

From Eostern Edition 

NEW YORK—Times Film Corp. has 

brought suit in the Baltimore city court over 

the banning by the Maryland state censorship 

board of "The Game of Love" in its 

entirety as "obscene," according to Jean Goldwurm, 

president. 

The constitutionality of the state law has 

been challenged as "a prior restraint upon 

freedom of speech and press" under the 

Maryland Declaration of Rights and the first 

and 14th amendments of the U. S. Constitution. 

It was pointed out that the Colette 

novel upon which the film is based is freely 

circulated by the Baltimore Public Library. 

The picture is playing at the Baronet Theatre 

here. 

Goldwurm said similar court action will be 

taken if his company loses an appeal over a 

ban imposed on the picture by the Pennsylvania 

state censors. 

CS for Little Rock House 

LITTLE ROCK—James S. Carbery, city 

manager for Ai-kansas Amusement Co., reports 

that the local Center Theatre has been 

equipped for the showing of Cinemascope. 

MITO Head in Florida 

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. — Lester R. 

Ki'opp, president of Missouri-Illinois Theatre 

Owners, is enjoying a mid-winter vacation 

in Fort Lauderdale. 

$350,000 Firsl Ru: 

Slated at Memphi 

MEMPHIS—A new $350,000 

fin 

tre will be built in the suburban 

Plaza shopping center on Highwi 

and Raines road by John B. Gooi 

The new theatre will be operate 

tine Cianciolo, who operates the ) 

mary and Luciann in Memphis. 

1,400 seats and be similar to the 1 

is located in Highland-Poplar .sh 

ter in East Memphis. 

"We will make Whitehaven PI, 

one of the finest in the South," sa 

The new theatre will be eqt 

Cinemascope equipment and the 1 

phonic sound system plus a gl 

cryroom and a modern childi'en's 

Giant projectors of the type us 

ins will be housed in a 25x22-foot 

powder room for and a smi 

projection room. There will 

women 

alsc 

for men. 

The exterior of the new theati 

marble and bu 

Roman travatine 

marquee will be neon-lighted 

main sign. Floors in the mair 

foyer will be carpeted. 

New Maryland Cen 

Passed by State Sen 

From Eastern Edition 

BALTIMORE—The State senat 

a bill revising powers of the Mai 

of censors. In accordance with 

cedure, the bill has been forwa 

judiciary committee of the House 

committee retiu'n a favorable r 

tion, the bill would be put up foj 

the House. 

In passing through the sen; 

committee, this bill, which delet( 

"sacrilegious" and "indecent, iixhi 

moral" from the present law 

change or revision. 

At the present time, however 

re-examined, after a formal i 

by a newsreel exhibitor. He cc 

processing of newsreels by the ( 

would require so much time it w 

from the film's timeliness. 

Collects Books for Vets 

HIALEAH. FLA.—Walton Oak 

ager of the Essex Theatre on th 

responsible for collecting more 

small pocket-size books which 

distributed to veterans hospitals 

The books were brought to th( 

patrons, in response to appea 

Oakerson. The project was spon 

Flamingo lodge of B'nai B'rith. 

For Exceptional Results — 

ADVERTISE REGULARLY IN BOXOFFI

. the 

, by 

.QW 59 

J 

Heads 

Fete 

, Phil Isley Theatres 

inted general chairanquet 

which will be 

5aker Hotel here to 

motion picture in- 

?11. president of the 

it of drive-in theail 

manager of Inter- 

Dperd. attorney genlet, 

former president 

VIcCraw, Variety Ind 

U. S. judge, will 

executives and local 

>eing invited to the 

; served at 7 p.m. 

8. 

st' 

cities 

Opens 

world premiere in 

West," galloper in 

newly formed 

3. held its first ree 

over the weekend, 

plans were James 

ent, vice-president 

loger Corman, who 

lêst" and will make 

itribution this year. 

Dallas, Port Worth, 

and Austin, with 

)ne and Touch Conbeing 

set for p.a.'s. 

here, the ARC repew 

York and Boston 

ise exchange opers 

Unit 

oops 

Adams, president of 

Composers, Authors 

inced the formation 

:as Unit, which will 

istallations starting 

n American troops. 

Paul Cunningp 

board. 

the unit which flew 

via Army Transhington, 

D. C, is 

song writer. Others 

;r, the pianist and 

composer-pianist; 

md pianist: Johnny 

sher and singer: Lou 

Bee Walker, com- 

Ascap members will 

=11, Gogi Grant and 

rv singers and re- 

3 of C Post 

Hopkins, manager of 

has been elected to 

>f the Chamber of 

is duties on Monday 

:rship banquet. 

been handed a new 

X and assigned the 

Splendored Thing." 

Georgetown. Tex.. Airer 

Stars Wild Bill Turner 

GEORGETOWN, TEX.—Wild Bill 

Turner. 

Hollywood sound effects man and frontiersman, 

who talks and dresses the part, was 

featured as a Friday-Saturday attraction 

recently at the Dusk Drive-In by August J. 

Valentine, owner-manager. 

Turner, described as Hollywood's original 

sound effects artist, and star on radio, TV, 

stage and screen, received a great buildup 

in the local papers via feature stories, photos 

and ads. Valentine and Turner left little 

undone. 

Feature articles on the elderly character 

and his hobbies filled nearly four columns 

in the local papers, including four photos, 

one of them being the shot reproduced here 

of Turner with Valentine's three daughters. 

Alice, Valerie and Ginger. Turner had his collection 

of some 115 guns, largely of the type 

used by the early day desperados. 

Alice, Valerie and Ginger Valentine are 

seen with some of the guns from the collection 

of Wild Bill Turner. They are a 9- 

inch barrel Smith & Weston single action 

army issue gun, a Winchester gold-plated 

44-40 Buffalo Bill gun and a Kentucky Daniel 

Boone gun. 

'Nation' Showed in Dallas, 

Said to Be Last Time 

DALLAS—The first motion picture epic, 

"The Birth of a Nation." was shown "for 

the last time" in E>allas at the Plaza Theatre 

last week ilO, 11) just prior to the celebration 

of Lincoln's birthday on the 12th. The death 

of Lincoln is vividly portrayed in one of the 

scenes in the picture. 

Wallace Walthall, brother of the late Henry 

B. Walthall, .star of the picture, appeared on 

the stage of the Plaza and made Lntroductory 

remarks about the picture and our southern 

heritage. 

Wallace Walthall had as his special guests 

at the theatre presidents of the Dallas chapters 

of the United Daughters of the Confedei-acy. 

This was the last showing of the 

historical film in Dallas since the film right,s 

have been purcha-sed from Harry Aitken by a 

film syndicate in Hollywood which plans to 

spend more than $8,000,000 In filming a modern 

version of this epic making story. 

Mrs. Ruth Wafford and J. T. Orr, owners 

of the Plaza Theatre, arranged a very interesting 

display of Confederacy and Civil war 

uniforms, flags and momentoes which were 

on display at the theatre prior to and during 

the engagement of the historic film. 

Installs CinemaScope 

RUNGE. TE:X.—Cinemascope has been Installed 

at the Runge Theatre here by owner 

D. W. Trisko. 

Ezell Conveniion 

Goes on Platters 

DALLAS—Transcriptions of the discussions 

engaged in at the annual convention 

of Ezell & Associates, held recently at Galveston, 

are being sent to every manager of 

the drive-In circuit as reminders of the new 

ideas brought up and the decisions reached. 

The circuit personnel gathered in Gaido's 

seashore resort the first two days in February. 

Mayor Cartwright welcomed the dr!ve-in 

men. President Claude C. Ezell gave the keynote 

talk, while Al Reynolds acted as moderator 

and emcee. 

Managers present: Mike Hopkins, Burnet, 

Austin; Glyn Morsbach. Chief. Austin; Don 

Wileman. Circle, Beaumont; Marshall Nichols. 

Charro, Star and Fiesta. Brownsville; Jeff 

Wolf. Gulf. Corpus Christi; Kenny Morris of 

the Buckner. Ray Tiojahn of the Chalk Hill 

and Billy Duckett. Northwest Highway, all 

of Dallas; Jack Veeren, Belknap, and Lee 

Lip-scomb. Jacksboro, Fort Worth; Jimmy 

Harris of the Hempstead. Wilfred Martin of 

the Irvington. and Dan Goodwin. Winkler, 

Houston: Marvin Bates, Pasadena, Pasadena; 

Edward Broussard, Surf. Port Arthur; Frank 

Whisenant of the Fredericksburg. George 

Comeaux of the Hi-Park and Jimmie Bates, 

Trail, San Antonio, and Bentley Davis, Circle, 

Waco. 

Associates Eph Charninsky. San Antonio, 

and Dave Young. Brownsville, also attended. 

There was an "idea session" similar to the 

MGM Ticket Selling Workshop to be held in 

Dallas March 9. in which each participant 

submitted an idea as money-saving on ticket 

selling. Acting as moderators were Dulan 

Russell, open forum: Dorothy Mealer. bookings; 

Hugo Plath. purchasing and maintenance; 

Conley Cox. advertising and theatre 

operations; Al Reyiiolds. concessions and 

merchandising, and Mildred Fulenwider, home 

office detail and monthly letter. 

John Browning. Interstate city manager, 

Galveston, also was a guest at several sessions. 

Ezell told all about the new equipment and 

concessions in the Jacksboro Highway 

Drive-In at Fort Worth. He urged each manager 

to attend the MGM Workshop in Dallas 

March 9. 

SELL YOUR THEATRE PRIVATELY 

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3305 Caruth. D.1II.1S. Te>as 

Telephonej EM 0238 . EM 7J89 

'^ 

CONflDENTIAL CORRESPONDENCE INVITED

. . Don 

. . Corpus 

. 

' 

' 

SAN ANTONIO 

T%onna Gray, former secretary in the UA 

office at Omaha, is taking her basic training 

with the WAF at Lackland here . . . Manager 

A. Lynn Krueger of the Majestic had a 

timely ballyhoo in his lobby during the showing 

of "Battle Cry" consisting of Marine 

equipment, including battle gear and several 

communications of the latest type, and a detachment 

of marines from the local recruiting 

office. 

Luis Perez Mesa, Mexican film star, is playing 

in south Texas theatres . Galvan, 

operator of the Pena, New Braunfels, was on 

a business trip to Mexico . . . Visiting the 

The pcfi CpfH iHaH says 

vm^ 

x( 

A Company is Known by 

the Products It Keeps! 

For QUALITY concession 

supplies . . . call us! 

POPCORN DISTRIBUTORS, Inc. 

302 S. Harwood RI-6134 Dallas, Texas 

• •• * N.Y . DAILY NEWSI 

cos ST 

CtnOjlT 

n ASTOR 01 net w everv hlmj 

exchanges to book Spanish-language pictures 

were H. Garza, H&R Drive-In and Mexico 

Theatre, Rio Grande City; Carmen Lopez, 

Encanto, Galveston, and the Mexicano, Houston; 

Frank Trevino. Ideal. Pearsall, and Joe 

Carabaza, Carabaza exchange owner, Laredo. 

IMaJiager Eugene MuUer of the Varsity 

Drive-In is featuring bargain night weekly, 

admitting a carload for $1.20 ... Ed Sullivan 

was a recent visitor from New York City . . 

Wide screens are being installed in three of 

Eddie Joseph's drive-ins at Austin—the Delwood, 

South Austin and Montopolis. Joseph 

also operates two other airers in the capital 

city . . . The Arts billed a double program of 

two American dialog releases, "Girls Marked 

Danger" and "Three Girls From Rome." 

Azteca's newest release is "Los Margaritos" 

starring Antonio Badu, Fernando Fernandez 

and LUia del VaOe. It plays the Alameda here 

Mrs. San Juanita 

the week of February 14 . . . 

Pena, 88, mother-in-law of the owner of the 

Tropico, Fremont, died there recently . . 

. 

Adelina Moranties is a new employe in the 

Azteca Film office here Christi 

police were holding a 

. 

night watchman for 

investigation of arson growing out of the fire 

which damaged the Alavon Theatre there to 

the extent of $60,000. 

Manager Tommy Powers of the Texas, and 

James Herman Sollock, owner of the Marine 

Room here, have taken over the management 

and operation of the Cathay House, exclusive 

membership downtown club . . . William 

Slaughter, district manager for Rowley United 

Theatres, Dallas, and Lewis Lile, assistant 

manager, Rowley for United at Laredo, were 

recent visitors. 

Dorothy Klrsten was here to star in "Ma- 

GET COOLING 

CHECKED NOW! 

Blowers 

Motors 

Pumps 

Air-Washers 

V-Belts 

Filters 

Mats 

Tubing, etc 

HERBER THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO. 

"Fair Treatment and Adequate Service for 25 

Years" 

408 S. HARWOOD DALLAS 1, TEXAS 

BUFFALO COOLING EQUIPMENT 

3409 Oak town. Room 107 BUFFALO ENGINEERING CO., INC Dallas, Texas 

non," sponsored by the Grand Op 

at the Municipal Auditorium Tl 

Another film star wiU be seen 

Texas presents "The Seven Year 

ruary 26-28. He is Eddie Bracke 

lowing a two-week engagement at 

tic, "Vera Cruz" was switched ( 

Texas for an extended run. 

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Caywood, 

the Palace and other theatres in 

. . 

in town booking Mexican pictures 

Quinones, projectionist at the W 

purchased a new car . Rosa de 

her company of entertainers fr 

will start a week's engagement a 

zoza February 21. 

Mr. and Mrs. Sylvan K. Barrj 

manager of the Fiesta Di-ive-Ini 

ing a Mexico City and Acapuli 

They are also visiting the Mexici 

dios to see their favorite stars at 

son . . . Grace Robertson of the L 

atre, Anton, was killed in a car 

cently. Services were held in Lit 

Azteca's "Mujeres de Teatro," w: 

on Valentine's Day at the Nation 

for a week's run. The picture ; 

Guiu, Carlos Valdez and Rosita 

Jacinto Fraga, the Azteca, Natali 

Visiting the local Mexican exc! 

Monsivais of the Monsivais Sho 

Tex. . . . Rosa De CastUla, t 

ranchera singer who had an ac 

"Contigo a la Distancia," now is 

sonal appearances in south Texai 

Lydia Mendoza, singing-guitarist, 

playing dates in valley theatres. 

Bill Slaughter, district mana 

United Theatres, Dallas, and 

assistant manager of the Rowley 

atres, Laredo, were in town rece 

Mexican pictures . . . Opening oi 

Day at the Alameda was "Los 

starring Fernando Fernandez t 

Badu. It is released by Azteca F 

MGM Adds Two Fee 

To March Release L 

NEW YORK — Metro-Goldwy: 

added "The Blackboard Jungle" 

issue of the 1945 musical, "And 

to its March release schedule an( 

rupted Melody," originally sc 

March release, back to a later 

"The Blackboard Jungle" is ii 

white and stars Glenn Ford, A 

Louis Calhern and Margaret Ha 

"Anchors Aweigh" stars Esther 

Gene Kelly. The February i 

"Jupiter's Darling," in Cinerr 

color, and "Many Rivers to Cr 

Cinemascope and color. "Hit t 

Cinemascope and color, remj 

March release list, giving the c 

releases for the two-month peri 

'Holiday' to Beiersd 

NEW YORK—GBD Internati 

ing Corp. has announced the c 

Hulot's Holiday," now is aval! 

Dallas and Oklahoma City exc 

through Herman Beiersdorf Dis 

of Dallas. 

Produces Musical Extravaga 

Robert Emmett Dolan is pr 

Robert Lewis is directing Pan 

sical extravaganza, "Anything G 

c

1 Cinerama" 

, the 

nerama 

lias 

5 at Toko-Ri" at 

at the 

:h 150 and 160 per 

dden jump in Cined 

by the fact that 

soon be pulled to 

:;inerama Holiday." 

; about average in 

100) 

erna Assoc.) 90 

-Ri (Para) ) 50 

leromo) 160 

100 

100 

100 

M- 

WACO. 

^* ' ' 

t of the Wigwam 

persons present whose names are called. Patrons 

may sign their names each time they 

attend the theatre. The promotion is for 

February. At total of 41 merchants tied in 

on the plan, with 92 prizes offered. Too, the 

OK Theatre is giving passes. Walker distributed 

a circular which gave credit to the 

merchants participating In the month-long 

promotion. 

The state tax commission reports theatres 

and tent shows collected 3.84 per cent more 

sales tax during December of 19-54 than in 

December of 1953. This service group turned 

in $29,406.57 in tax. Other amusements reported 

17.35 per cent more sales tax collections 

during the same period, on same comparative 

basis. 

Gives MOD Show 

TEX.—Eddie Fadal donated all 

l|y proceeds of a Tuesday night showing of 

I 

"Genevieve" to the local March of Dime.s 

^ 

B was distributing 

a crumpled dollar 

i 

roceeded to pin the 

was leaving in the 

er of the Tl-.eatre 

ird of directors. 

drive. 

Joshua Logan, stage director, will pilot 

Columbia's "Picnic," film version of the play 

by William Inge. 

Corpus Theatre Fire 

Is Declared Arson 

Corpus C'liristi—A speitacular blaze, 

believed to be a case of arson, destroyed 

the Avalon Theatre, located 

at the corner of Musselt and Brownlee 

streets, about midnight recently. The 

loss was estimated at S60.000. The owner, 

Arnulfo Gonzalez, had just paid S4,000 

to have the marquee repaired after a 

bomb destroyed it last October. Gonzalez 

also owns the Buccaneer Drive-In. Ralph 

Garcia, manager had closed the .Avalon, 

only a few minutes before the fire was 

reported. He said "I closed all electrical 

circuits from the outside and checked 

every room. Everything was okay." According 

to a dectective the fire "is definitely 

a case of arson." 

Purchase Untitled Biography 

Film rights have been acquired by 20th-Fox 

to the untitled biography of .songwriters 

Buddy DeSylvam, Lew Brown and Ray 

Henderson. 

i. R. Lewis Barton 

Jiolders in this TV 

Thornes celebrated 

ersary February 19. 

ire for the Cooper 

resident of TOO . 

. . 

•edding anniversary 

3 Mrs. C. A. Dewey 

bia manager, while 

.f the auxiliary of 

on 

air 

couples might head 

Variety conventionos 

Angeles May 4-7 

lers, the Dave Hunts, 

Mike Comers, 

; LeBlanc and others 

ns are that most of 

ard will be in Caliof 

the membership 

[ay 18. 

as 1.575 seats which 

jes to fill at $5 each 

al mentally retarded 

1 the Will Rogers 

w York. All proceeds 

of Columbia's "Long 

4 will be donated to 

mty-five per cent of 

the former; 25 per 

cets are at the Variety 

mt, chief barker, and 

director, in charge 

/kirk has promoted a 

•ies for his OK Thead 

each Wednesday, 

warded each week to 

...those 

RCA-GRIGGS chairs 

at 

Southwestern Theatre Equipment Co. 

2010 Jackson 

1618 Austin 

Delias, Texas 

Houston, Texas 

PRospect 3571 

CApital 9906 

for 

VistaVision 

IS&THEATRESwlth HUGE. WIDE -AREA SCREENS 

ior 

CinemaScope 

• CARBONS. Inc.BOONTON. N.J. 

61

TICKETS 

PRINTED 

ROLL 

and 

J?5?^ 

TO ORDER! 

FOLDED 

MACHINE 

SAVE $10.00 PER lOM 

ON QUANTITY ORDERS! 

First lOM $12.60 

(Each Additional lOM 2.60) 

20,000. $15.20 100,000 36.00 

30,000 17.80 

40,000 20.40 

50,000 23.00 

250,000 75.00 

500,000 140.00 

750,000 205.00 

1,000,000 $270.00 

Above prices are for regular size 

r'x2" special printed tickets with 

any form of wording on the face 

and any standard "Management 

Clause" on the back, printed on any 

one color of cardboard. Smallest 

quantity printed of any wording or 

color is 10,000. All orders must be 

in exact multiples of 10,000 to each 

price and color. Prices on orders 

for more than one theatre are based 

on quantity ordered for each theatre 

separately. Specify whether roll or 

machine tickets are wanted. 

Double 

above prices for Duplex roll tickets, 

Size 2 xZ . 

ORDER A 

6 MONTHS 

SUPPLY and 

SAVE! 

TERLING 

lALES and 

ERVICE,lnc. 

PHONE PR-3191 • 2019 JACKSON ST. • DAllAS, TEXAS 

EASTERN OKLAHOMA 

By ART LAMAN 

TUST a few days ago the Downtown Theatres 

in Tulsa was robbed of a nice bit of cash. 

The special officer who picks up the night 

receipts for deposit had left the sacks from 

three theatres in his locked car to get the 

last deposit at the Orpheum. While he was 

away the window of the car was smashed and 

the three sacks stolen. 

The cashier at the Broadway Theatre in 

Mu.skogee was held up recently by a robber 

who took only $20, saying that was all he 

needed. While walking away from the boxoffice 

he was spotted by Palmer Procter, manager, 

who had him arrested in the next block. 

The thief was a parolee from McAlester who 

said he had been unable to find work and 

was hungry. He was sent back to prison to 

finish his three-year term. 

« * « 

Over in Sand Springs, we found Bill Jones, 

city manager for the Star and Harmony 

theatres, busy on some special promotions. 

The big one, a jalopy, was being displayed 

on the street daily, attracting lots of mterest 

from the teenagers and assuring a packed 

house on giveaway night. 

Bill had a special front at the Harmony on 

Tliree Ring Circus." The cashiers looked 

right through the mouth of a mammoth 

clown head which covered the entire front 

of the boxoffice. Bill said he intends to put 

a platform at the Star so he can have a 

stage show now and then. 

* * * 

Had coffee with Gracie Moulder who recently 

retired from the theatre business in 

Sapulpa. She said she is almost lost what 

with not having anything much to do. She 

and her husband will spend much time this 

summer on theii' farm in Missouri. The farm 

has a couple of abandoned mines and the 

Moulders may look for some uranium. 

* * 

We spent the best part of a day with Red 

Slocum, co-owner with Video in EI Reno, following 

him on his theatre duties. Red has 

devoted a lot of time to the welfare and the 

development of El Reno, serving on the 

city commission. He helped bring the new 

Parkview Hospital to his city, which, fully 

equipped, cost nearly $575,000. Bob Ti-imble 

is the hospital general manager. 

While looking over the Parkview with 

Slocum, we noted the plaque at the building 

entrance. Among the names thereon appears 

"Red Slocum," and when we asked Red about 

this he admitted that Red was a nickname 

but inasmuch as he ran for city commissioner 

under that name, he wanted it that way on 

the building plaque. 

We next went to see the new Coliseum 

building which Red also helped to obtain. 

This huge building is to be used for army, 

county and city affairs. The schooLs will use 

the arena for basketball. While the building 

is of steel and cement con.struction, the ceiling 

next to the roof is of fiberglas, which has 

eliminated the echo found in most buildings 

of this kind. Red at present is preparing to 

open his di-ive-in in March, and is adding 

new attractions to the playground area, including 

a number of benches for the parents 

to sit on while the kiddies are on the playground 

devices. 

All and all with the two downtown theati-es, 

wed say that Red has a busy day every day. 

including Sunday. 

Gene McKeima, who now resit 

where he operates the Terry T 

very good results, says that the 

have been very good and have 

with a number of theatre tieups 

has several small towns in his tra 

which he pinpoints advertising, 

i 

tab on results by map markings. V 

is a very good idea—advertise but 

you are spending the money, an 

results! 

* * « 

All over Oklahoma, theatres ar 

"Go to the Movies Month," dLsp] 

ups of the proclamation made by 

new governor, Raymond Gary, 

some extra fanfare by MGM, sho 

some extra ducats dm-ing Febru 

The 66, one of the oldest driveis 

installing a wide screen. 

February 2 was benefit day at 

Theatre. A showing of "The I 

Story" was sponsored by the 1 

Chamber of Commerce for t 

athletic fimd to send the U. £ 

the Olympics in 1956. Warren ": 

made the arrangement.s. 

Bill Donaldson had a basy ( 

showing Charles McGraw arour 

eluding visits at all the radio i 

tions in T-Town. McGraw was 

help with the promotion of "Th 

Toko-Ri" at the Ritz, in which M 

the featui-ed role of Commandei 

The Roundup Gang, 15 weste 

billy troupers, will go back int< 

Theatre after an absence of four 

show is playing the Broadway 

Muskogee every Tuesday night f 

ter boys with very happy results 

tioned the stage show is pulling 

patrons. George Procter sr, rel 

after a sick spell in a Muskogee 

J. E. Stribling, theatre owner o 

Davenport, is now helping H. J 

Dallas at Griffith's ranches in ^ 

Stribling is away, his wife is runr 

at Stroud and the Gem in Dave 

fith recently was m Tulsa on I 

Remodeling of the Criterion a 

going ahead at a fast clip, bu; 

writing the theatre has not lost a 

of playing time. During the re 

Manager Bob Getter plans b 

Wednesday night stage show in 

Theatre. 

CIR4(0 

K*f>SKI 

See . . . FRANK M

Rn 

lue Law 

epeal 

1 introduced in the 

li Dakota legislature 

e state's blue law, 

nday entertainment, 

u-vey among legislaite 

books for years, 

, baseball and every 

.eluding rodeos, rope 

;gling, for which a 

)een years since the 

ist state residents do 

ise voted 51 to 21 to 

)f the measure but 

lill by a close vote, 

la tors quizzed favor 

lid legalize baseball 

three are opposed to 

:onviction carries a 

30 days in jail, 

introduced by Rep. 

nd calls for outright 

sh to have laws on 

enforced. We might 

the fact that we are 

baseball and other 

," Dana explained, 

has been mustered 

any legislators exthis 

year when inictures 

are banned 

its 

il 

Discuss 

Meeting 

;1 discussion on the 

1 and American pica 

group of young 

regular meeting of 

letter Films Council, 

lere is a demand and 

al and cultural pic- 

)f Jalal Irany from 

J University of Wisrusalem, 

who acted 

n, a Korean student 

Susan Abitbol, French 

Paris, attended Lonyears 

and is now 

ltat€; Ingebord Boetent 

five years in Rio 

iming a student at 

jment Nouri of Bagdad 

Jerry Pi-anzen, 

r, who gave a short 

buying of films, and 

Theatre manager, 

ng, the council ani 

tings: 

;ie"s Bump and The 

h. 

ing. Mr. Hulot's Hol- 

Vorld. 

Bridges at Toko-Ri. 

Jilver Chalice, Romeo 

10 Prison. Masterson 

Drchid and The Delany 

Rivers to Cross, 

he Yellow Mountain, 

and The Violent Men. 

VIS11,> Mlltlo— Whilr vacationing 

recently on the West Coast.. Irving VVcrliiamor 

(left). Paramount's manager in 

MilwauktH', visited tlie company's Hollywood 

studio, wiierr lie cliatted with mcgaphonist 

Alichael Curtix on the .set of the 

VistaVision-Tcchnicolor musical, "The 

Vagabond King." 

Milwaukee Showmen 

Plan Allied Gathering 

MILWAUKEE-Pi-esident S. J. Goldberg 

announced the appointment of Angelo Provinzano 

of the Alamo and Pix theatres, as 

general chairman, and Edward E. Jolinson 

of the Roosevelt Theatre, both of Milwaukee, 

a.s advertising chairmen of Wisconsin AUied's 

1955 spring convention to be held at the 

Schroeder Hotel here on March 28-30. 

Goldberg also announced that arrangement,s 

with Mike Simons of MGM have been 

completed for an MGM Ticket Selling Workshop 

the first day of the convention, 

March 28. 

Provinzano said the complete program of 

activities will be announced very shortly. 

"We are looking forward to a big turnout 

this spring as exhibitors are more anxious 

now than ever to learn ways and means of 

keeping their theatres healthy." he said. 

New Drive-Ins Announced 

In Minneapolis District 

MINNEAPOLIS—A trio of Minneapolis 

Theatre Supply Co. executives has started 

to build a 600-car drive-in theatre at Puma, 

S. D., which will have Cinemascope. The 

trio comprises Charles Creamer, Robert Lahti 

and Robert Lundqulst. 

At watertown, S. D., Al Pritz, owner of the 

four-wall house, is building a 500-car capacity 

outdoor theatre which al.so will be equipped 

for Cinemascope. Plans have been announced 

for another local area ozoner to boost the 

total to 11. 

It is indicated there may be as many as 

100 such outdoor theatres In operation In 

the territory when May rolls around. 

Has Legislature Job 

DES MOINES—H N Schrodt of Marshalltown, 

manager of the drive-in at the Intersection 

of Highways 30 and 14, is reading 

clerk of the Iowa Hou.se of Representatives 

now in session here. 

Small Town Editors 

Urge Thealregoing 

.MINNEAPOLIS — Newspapers in several 

.^mall Minnesota towns have expre.s.sed alarm 

over the threat of losing their only theatres, 

and have launched campaigns to rally support 

for the showhou.ses. 

The editors have stres.sed that closing of 

the film houses would be a heavy community 

loss. Such editorials have appeared during 

recent weeks at Delano. Faribault, Kenyon, 

Detroit Lakes and Waseca where exhibitors 

have been experiencing increasingly rough 

going. 

In Delano, for example, the Eagle advised 

the public that its theatre Ls on the borderline 

and urged readers to "go down and take 

in a show." 

•'After a stretch of looking at the TV 

counterpart, you'll especially marvel at the 

big .screen, as we did," the editorial continued. 

"And the colors are gorgeous. Let's 

start a little campaign to see more movies. 

If we don't, there soon may be none to see 

in Delano. The theatre means a lot, especially 

to those in business. 

"It's an a.s.set our community can't afford 

to lose. Those of us in business and those 

who have been too busy should make a special 

effort and see if we can't boost the attendance 

a little. We'll be doing our town 

il big favor if we do." 

Reminding that there was "a big void" on 

Main street when the theatre was clased temporarily 

last summer, the Kenyon Leader 

suggested that more people cultivate "the 

movie habit to prevent a permanent shuttering. 

It declared that those attending " 

the 

theatre would be convinced that the entertainment 

dollar is best spent there. 

The Waseca Journal pointed out that the 

town's theatre attracts thousands of people 

from surrounding points and that they come 

not only for the attraction, but also because 

the showhouse is clean, modem and comfortable 

— "a credit to the community." 

Three More Shuttered 

In Iowa 

DES MOINES—Three more theatre in the 

state have closed because of poor attendance, 

the Everly at Everly and the Primghar of 

Primghar, both owned by A. H. Paulson, and 

the Commet at Coggon, operated by Mr. and 

Mrs. Fay French of Central City. 

Paulson said the closing of the Primghar 

is permanent as far as he Is concerned and 

that he wished to thank the people of the 

area for their friendship over the years. He 

blamed the Inroads of television for the sharp 

drop in attendance over recent years. 

Theatres In Sanborn and Sutherland, In 

the Primghar area, have closed recently for 

similar reason. No hint as to the future of 

the Coggon theatre was given by the operators. 

ni|M^ OMI DAY SflVKI — 0« tîMrtt 

^ragrams 

Co.«fm< ONI o. TWO WttlCS' 

THEATRICAL ADVERTISING CO 

7310 CaSS AVE. • DETROIT I. MICH. 

*' *. 

WRITE FOR SAMPIIS-W0.HI58

. . Fi-ank 

. . Paul 

. . Bonnie 

. . 

OMAHA 

ISud Baughman, owner of the Ritz Theatre at 

Cambridge, has added another business 

to the town, a photographic studio and camera 

equipment company. It is operated by 

Baughman ... At Orchard, John L. Harmon, 

who has the Rex, has opened a fancy newdrug 

store . . . Janice Zanghi has joined the 

Columbia staff as typLst. 

The RKO exchange is putting in a new telephone 

system in place of the old box and 

switch type . . . Max Rosenblatt, RKO man- 

. 

ager, announced the confirmation of his son 

Gerald at Beth-Lsrael Synagogue last Fi-iday 

. . Ruth Moburg, cashier at United Artists, 

was among the latest hit by the flu bug. 

"Kenfro's Rogues Gallery" has finally made 

its appearance after months of preparation. 

Jack, owner of Theatre Booldng Service, ha^ 

placed a huge panel on one wall and already 

has nearly 50 snapshots of personalities 

among exhibitors, distributors and others in 

the film industry . Hollingsworth of 

Beatrice is back in the TBS stable for buying 

and booking for his Holly Theatre . . . Mr. 

and Mrs. Leo Juszyk announce the birth of a 

baby son named Thomas Leo. The mother 

is the former Evelyn Mackmuller, booker a 

number of years at 20th-Pox. 

Joy Eakin, secretary to George Regan, 20th- 

Fox manager, was hospitalized last week . 

Donna Nielsen, Ralph Blank's secretary at the 

Admiral and Chief theatres, is planning a 

trip home to LeMars, Iowa, which was delayed 

by the storm . Fine of Western 

Theatre Supply has installed new lenses and 

ether equipment at theatres in Verdigre, 

Stuart and Crofton, Neb., and Dunlap and 

Shtnandoah, Iowa . Kayser, Columbia 

-biller, visited Kansas City over the 

weekend and viewed Columbia's new officethere. 

. . . Clyde 

Jeanie Cutler, Columbia secretary, was a 

weekend visitor in Lincoln . . . Bettie Randolph, 

Columbia office manager, was back 

at work after a siege of the flu . . Mi', and 

. 

Mrs. Louis Skeen have moved to a home in 

Bertrand, w-here they are new exhibitors. 

They had been living at Edison 

Cooley. 20th-Fox screening room 

ist, says the time has come! He's ( 

to get his weight, now w-ell over thi 

down into the 180s. 

Wanda Radik, Manager Don McI 

retary at United Artists, was abse 

of the death of her mother-in-law, 

A. Radik sr., 69 . . . Although the 

eter boomed to a springlike 50, 

exhibitors showed up for the usu 

booking visit. Those present inclu( 

Bick Downey. Hamburg: Frank 

Dick Johnson, Red Oak: C. C. M 

lap, and Nebraskans Irvin Beck, W 

Fisher. Valley: Clem Tramp, Cro 

Schneider, Osceola: Sid Metcalf 

City, and Don Campbell, Central 

Let Western Show You the Advantages of 

RCA Stereoscope 

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EQUIPMENT 

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• Professional counsel by RCA engineers 

• Complete installation . . . costs less than you think 

• Nationally-famous RCA quality and performance 

• Proved Projection Equipment, Stereoscope Sound 

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• Year 'round parts and service facilities. 

WESTERN 

THEATRE SUPPLY CO. 

214 N. Fidcmlli. Omnhn. Nch. Phone: Atlantic 90J6 

Hundreds of theatres throughout the nation are 

building up big grosses on new wide screen pictures 

with RCA installations. Ask us to prove it. And remember, 

Western can supply you with everything 

else for the theatre, including booth and concession 

supplies, disp!oy signs, etc. 

HANDY

. former 

. He 

lies, 76 

losa 

ifford L. NUes. 76. 

m party leader, died 

(7). He had been 

and in critical cone. 

Funeral services 

rie. 

files was associated 

rand Opera House, 

to a motion picture 

of films. Later the 

Niles. He was the 

National 

;d a chain of eight 

sold the last 

in 1954. He owned 

lelwein, Monticello, 

VIechaniciville. 

y, Niles was a 1899 

ty of Michigan. At 

; father in the Niles 

: as bookkeeper, and 

ident. Also in 1905 

an Cooperage Co.. 

factory here and a 

I. From 1925 until 

le Anamosa Eureka. 

3 in 1952. he conage 

"Editorial Comiii'ector 

of the Citi- 

Anamosa until his 

in farming and the 

ne he owned several 

jartment buildings 

During the last few 

most of these. In 

manager for John 

1 successful bid for 

;rved on the state 

ind was .'^tate high- 

1 for four years. He 

Allied Independent 

and Nebra.ska. of 

;ctor and president. 

National Editorial 

lodges. Methodist 

)ng member of the 

92 to Clara Louise 

urviving besides the 

;s, of Anamosa, and 

larbett. 78, veteran 

irt ailment in Iowa 

iveek (61. Born in 

lelcher before mov- 

»rs ago. He retired 

rte Avalon Theatre, 

e east side. Besides 

5y three sons. Elias 

of Des Moines, and 

.s M. Garbett is one 

ited Theatres Corp. 

modeled 

—The local Empire 

usements Co. thealoU. 

has been comding 

to Woodrow 

5ion manager for 

of Cinemascope 

1 the improvements. 

Today's Snob Turns Nose 

Up at TV, Not Movies! 

From Eastern ttliliun 

Johnston, Pa.—Today's intellectual snob 

no longer says he never goes to the 

movies; instead he says he never turns 

on his television set. Joseph K. Freeman, 

manager of the lora! State Theatre, told 

members of tlie .Advertising Club in .Somerset 

Street Dairy Dell at its meeting this 

week. 

Freeman spoke on "The Comeback of 

the Movies." He presented statistical reports 

which showed how the pendulum 

swung the other way beginning early this 

year. 

Only the big pictures make big profits, 

Freeman said. He also told of experiments 

with theatre TV and of Ihc huge sums 

gro.ssed. 

MILWAUKEE 

II ndy Hertel and Tom Johnson of the Milwaukee 

Sentinel here have worked out an 

arrangement with Al Meskis. manager of the 

Warner Theatre, whereby the facilities of the 

theatre will be thrown open Saturday (19) 

for a soapbox derby clinic and motion picture 

party. Following a discussion of the 

rules, the drivers will enjoy some refreshments 

and a double feature of "The Far 

Country" and "The Bob Mathias Story." 

It looks like the grand finale for sure this 

lime for Charley Fox's Empress Theatre, 

which for years has slipped back and forth 

from burle.sque to movies. March 1 is reported 

as the razing date. Worst of it is. 

Fox doesn't appear able to secure another theatre 

in the immediate vicinity of the downtown 

area for another replica. 

Support to National Allied 

MINNEAPOLIS—North Central AUied directors 

unanimously support National AUied's 

decision to seek federal legislation to regulate 

film industry practices and to fight 50 per 

cent percentage. At a special meeting here 

this week, the directors vote went on record 

to support the move for Congressional action, 

and adopted a resolution disapproving the 

Disney policy of 50 per cent for all releases. 

Proclaimed in Iowa 

DES MOINES—Gov. Leo A. Hoegh has proclaimed 

February as "Go to the Movies 

Month" in Iowa. In his proclamation. Hoegh 

said Iowa's motion picture theatres "represent 

an important and unique activity, not 

only as progressive business enterprises, but 

also as a community service." 

Donna Reed in Iowa 

DENISON. IOWA—Actress Donna Reed 

spent five days here last week visiting relatives. 

While at the family home in Denl.son. 

she ob.served her 34th birthday and helped 

her grandmother obsene her 91st. The two 

birthdays were just a day apart. The grandmother. 

Mrs. Mary MuUenger, suffered a 

slight stroke recently but is reported to be 

recovering. Miss Reed's parents, Mr. and 

Mrs. W. R. MuUenger. live on a farm six 

miles southwest of here. Donna made the 

trip from California to Omaha. Neb., alone 

by plane and was met there by her brother, 

William MuUenger, who drove her to Denison. 

Hot 'Battle Cry' Pace 

In Twin Cities Cold 

MINNEAPOLIS—Even subzero temperatures 

couldn't halt "Battle Cry" which has 

taken the town by storm and given Radio 

City one of its biggest weeks in a year. Another 

newcomer. "Underwater!" also fared 

well, while a twin bill headed by "Women's 

Prison" proved a strong magnet at the RKO 

Pan. 


Gopher— Bad Day at Block Rock (MGM). 2nd wk. . 100 

Lyric—Reap the Wild Wind Paro), reissue 90 

Orpheum Underwater! RKO) 110 

Radio Cit> Bottle Cry ;WB) 225 

Pan—Women's Prison iCot), Bomboo Prison (Col)- 110 

State— -White Christmas (Pora). 2nd wk 125 

World—The Little Kidnappers (UA) 85 

Cold and Snow Grip 

Omaha Grosses 

OMAHA—The M-cniul week of "Carmen 

Jones" at the State took a .slump under the 

average mark but .so did other fir.st-run offerings 

as snow, ice and subzero temperatures 

gripped the area. 

Admiral-Chief—Abbott and Costcllo Meet the 

Keystone Kops U-l), Treasure of Ruby Hills AA) 95 

Brondois- The Violent Men 'Col), 2nd wk.. Pirates 

of Tripoli Col) 90 

Omah- The Raid (20th-Fox); The Ouflow's 

Daughter ?Oth-Fox) 85 

Orpheum Vero Crul (UA), 2nd wk 90 

State—Carmen Jones (20th-Fox) 95 

Town—Love Me Modly (RDG); Strange Tale IRDG) 95 

Students See 'Caesar' 

PERRY. IOWA—Two special matinee 

showings of "Julius Cae.sar" were held at the 

Perry Theatre here for students from surrounding 

schools. The showings were planned 

by Carl Schwanebeck. Perry Theatre manager, 

to furnish background for the students' 

history and Latin studies. 

As a screen game, 

HOLLYWOOD takes top 

honors. As o box-office attraction, 

it is without equoL It has 

been a favorite with theatre goers for 

over 15 years. Write today for complete defails. 

Be sure to give sealing or car capocity. 

HOLLYWOOD AMUSEMENT CO. 

(31 South Wobolh Av«nu« • Chicago 3, IMInolt 

GET TO YOU QUICKER 

ARE ALWAYS BETTER ! 

Sond Us Your N»«l Ordor And / jjj 

Wo Will Provo It To You. / y-fV «,, 

'N» Yllt,N.Y.

. . Edward 

. . Dwindling 

. 

. . . Mildred 

. . Lou 

. . Bob 

MINNEAPOLIS 

T"he excellent gross turned in by "Battle Cry" 

in its first week at Radio City here had 

entire local industry talking . . Academy 

the 

. 

award nominations, with "The Country Girl" 

grabbing off so many, was a great break for 

Ted Mann who had the picture set to open 

at his Minneapolis and St. Paul World this 

week. 

Because of saturation bookings elsewhere 

in the nation, "The Big Combo." latest Allied 

Artists' hit, may not be available for this 

territory for several months yet, according to 

information reaching Irving Marks, manager 

here. The same goes for another AA release, 

"Seven Angrj- Men." he has been told . . . 

Minnesota Amusement Co. has closed with 

Donald Swartz for "Mi". Hulot's Holiday" in 

a number of its situations. It'll be the first 

time that the houses will have played a foreign 

picture other than a British or one 

with dubbed in English dialog. "Mr. Hulot's 

Holiday." which has just finished seven and 

six-week record breaking runs at the Minneapolis 

Westgate and St. Paul Grandview, is a 

French film with English titles, 

the comedy is in pantomime. 

but much of 

Fay Dressell. RKO manager, who returned 

home recently from the hospital, is scheduled 

to resume his duties any day now . . . Abbott 

Swartz, United Artists manager, was on jury 

duty 

. Hyman, vice-president of 

ABC-Paramount Theatres, was here on a 

routine visit . . . Norm Levinson, MGM exploiteer, 

was busy on "Jupiter's Darling" and 

"Many Rivers to Cross," dated at the Radio 

City and Gopher . 

patronage 

has caused Larry Buck to .shutter his Cokato 

(Minn.) Theatre and to return to his home 

in St. Cloud. 

Every current Paramount release finally has 

been set in Minneapolis. The World has "The 

Country Girl." the State has "White Christmas" 

and "The Bridges at Toko-Ri," Radio 

City will play "Three Ring Circus" and the 

Lyric the reissued "Reap the Wild Wind." 

It's one of the company's most impressive 

boxoffice arrays. 

. . . Elroy 

Frank Mantzke, distributing "Reaching 

From Heaven," another Lutheran Church 

group picture, will bring it into the Lyceum, 

local stage house, for a road.show presentation 

Hy Chapman, Columbia 

March 11 . . . manager, went to Florida on a vacation . 

Charles Weiner, Buena Vista Films, 

. . 

was in 

Chicago for sales conference 

Hirsch, football hero and star of "Unchained," 

opening here at the Lyric, was here several 

days. He attended the Minnesota-Illinois 

basketball game and was heard over the national 

network televising it, appeared on TV 

and radio and was interviewed by the newspapers. 

Warner exploiteers Joe Friedman and 

Don Walker had him in tow. 

Another attempt to get the .suburban Golden 

Valley council to license a second drive-in 

theatre in the community last out by a vote 

of 4 to 3. On this occasion Walter Stepnitz 

of St. Paul wanted to make the ozoner a part 

of a proposed $400,000 amusement center . . 

Cinemascope installations in the territory 

now total 401 out of a 625 potential, according 

to M. A. Levy, 20th-Fox division manager. 

Recent installations include those at Sherburn, 

Minn., and Drayton, N. D. 

The film industry again will take an important 

part in helping to make the annual 

Brotherhood Week, starting February 24, a 

success throughout the territory. At the call 

of Saul Malisow, heading the drive in the 

territory, branch managers and film salesmen 

held a meeting to map out plans for putting 

the tolerance project over in a bigger way 

than ever. Salesmen will enlist exhibitors in 

the campaign. Theatregoers will be asked 

again to join the move to bring closer together 

the peoples of all creeds and color. 

Improvements Under Way 

DURAND, WIS.—An improvement program 

is under way at the Purand Theatre. Manager 

C. C. Noecker reports portions of the 

carpet are being replaced, the stars carpeted, 

basement floor covered with asphalt tile and 

Cinemascope equipment installed. 

DES MOIh 

n 1 

Ungerman, Universal booker 

house last Sunday for emj 

exchange. The Ungermans rei 

into their new home at 2520 M 

Holden. Universai 

tended the funeral of her fathe 

last weekend . 

a-ans 

RKO salesman and has moved t 

Lydia Schmook. 933 First Ave. 

was presented a check for $1,C 

Theatre Manager Horace Spenc< 

bank night prize winner in six 

her was recuperatini 

. 

. . 

Mable Magnusson, secretary 

spent the weekend in Perry, ] 

mother who 

surgery Levy. Univer 

spent several days in Dubuque 

Harold Sutphin, MGM, was ba 

Hospital again . The Shipsta 

"Ice Follies of 1955" is schedulec 

Veterans Memorial Auditorum 

22-27, following the boys anc 

basketball tournaments, the flo\\ 

show and the auto show . . . Ei 

in "The Seven Year Itch" is book 

Theatre for March 21 and 22. 

Thomas Named N 

Charles 

HARTLAND. WIS.—Charles 

assumed his duties as manager 

land Theatre, replacing Don Jal 

moved out of the state. Thoma; 

ant manager for the Unity cha 

mowoc. 

unusual 

bleeding 

cV\at 

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Popcorn Salt Per Cose 2.95 

No. 400 Automatic Bottom Boxes, 1% oz Per 1000 9.50 

No. 300 Automatic Bottom Boxes, 2 oz Per 1000 10.65 

Large 25c Popcorn Boxes Per 1000 18.75 

1 lb. White Popcorn Sacks Per 1000 120 

1 lb. Brown Popcorn Sacks Per 1000 1.80 

Va lb. Popcorn Sacks Per 1000 1.50 

Vi lb. Popcorn Sacks Per 1000 1.20 

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1 lb. Printed Noiseless Sacks Per 1000 3.80 

li lb. Printed Noiseless Sacks Per 1000 3.40 

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Prices Subject to Change Without Notice 

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1121-23 High St. 

Des Moines, Iowa 

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This 

Space Contributec 

BOXOFFIC

; issued 

200 

:es at Toko-Ri" at 

•oit with a good 200 

nth week holdover 

Under the Sea" at 

usty 140. Pii'st week 

)x chalked up a 130 

er double bill, "Sign 

.'s Outpost" at the 

1 90 

to Cross (U-l); 

i wk 120 

130 

er the Sea 

1 40 

i-Ri iParo) 200 

); Hell's Outpost 

120 

crs (20th-Fox); 

96 

again failed to 

of recent previous 

weather, which has 

ice, and cold, than 

135 

3awn at Socorro 

125 

;mgm) 100 

3ges to Cross" and 

ii" were the only 

to weather the bad 

ow, ice and slush, 

mg up a good 116 

ile "The Bridges at 

,n the second week 

rhey Rode West 

60 

(Col), 2nd wk 90 

:y), 2nd wk 80 

80 

(U-l) 116 

(Para), 2nd wk 120 

65 

Review 

Feet 

Kitage of films rejolice 

censor bureau 

;h 270.000 feet of 

100 feet of foreign 

1,400 feet of both 

duct. 

set of Mexican pic- 

)0 feet of Arabian 

1. 

e inspection rounds 

advertising fronts, 

fronts visited, only 

for correcvisited 

537 theatre 

ssary to issue only 

entire year. 

icil Meets 

on Picture Council 

Thursday (17i in 

guest speaker was 

lervisor of phycho- 

Cleveland public 

president of the 

;ting of the council 

LOEWS CLEVELAND HISTORY ON TV 

20 Film Stars, Symphony Orchestra 

At Gala Opening of State in 1921 

The following account of Loew's 

Theatres in Cleveland tvas presented on 

Lights, Camera. Questions program on 

TV station WXEL by Frank Murphy, 

Loeiv's Theatre division manager. 

In 1921 when the State Theatre opened, a 

gala opening was really a gala affair. The 

occasion brought to Cleveland Marcus Loew 

himself. Special attractions, in addition to 

the feature picture, were 20 movie stars and 

a symphony orchestra. 

Those were the days when glamor was at its 

high point and motion picture theatre prices 

were low. For, with all this wealth of entertainment 

the admission scale was 30 cents for 

matinees and 50 cents for evenings. And 

these prices included war taxes (World 

War I). 

STATE OPENED 34 YEARS AGO 

But to start at the beginning, the exact 

opening date of the State Theatre was Feb. 

5, 1921, just 34 years ago. The opening performance 

took place at 8 p.m. and the opening 

picture was "Polly With a Past," an MGM 

production starring Ina Claire and Ralph 

Graves. A short subject, "Neighbors," starred 

Buster Keaton. And H. Leopold Spitalny, 

with a full orchestra in the pit, rendered the 

overture to "Pinlandia." 

And the galaxy of 20 stars was headed by 

Wallace Reid. although he was not in the 

picture. Among others present were Montague 

Love. Ruth Roland, Hope Hampton, Grace 

Valentine, Creighton Hale, Will Mon-isey, 

Jules Brulatour, Alice Calhoun. Zena Keefe, 

Lillian Walker, Betty Brownell, Lucy Fox, 

Johmiy Hines and Mai-guerite Marsh. 

The 3.300-seat State was designed by 

Thomas Lamb, famous theatre architect and 

it was built by the Fleischman Construction 

Co. In its early years it was operated by a 

triumvirate of prominent local businessmen: 

Joseph Laronge. Edw£u-d Strong and Fred 

Desberg. At the time of its construction it 

was famous for having the largest lobby west 

of New York City. Only the Music Hall in 

New York had a larger lobby. 

FIVE WEEKS LONGEST SINGLE RUN 

During the 34 years of its deluxe first run 

operation, the longest run of any picture was 

five weeks. And two pictures tied for this 

distinction. They were "Going My Way," 

playing in 1944 to a total attendance of 61,333, 

and "Knights of the Round Table," which 

played to 91,609 admissions in 1953-54 at an 

admLssion scale of 90 cents, $1 and $1.50. 

In the early days stage shows were interspersed 

with its straight picture policy more 

frequently than now. In the stage show category, 

Gilda Gray holds the undisputed crown 

for adult attendance. But for children attendance, 

they almost broke the doors down when 

the Our Gang Comedy Kids appeared In person 

on the stage. Those who were there say 

the boxoffice lines extended west as far as 

the Statler Hotel and around East 17th street 

to Chester avenue in the opposite direction. 

It is to the credit of both the past and the 

present management that the State Is stUl 

one of the showplaces of the local theatre 

scene. Its long, mirrored lobby. Its beautifully 

carpeted and luxuriously furnished foyer and 

its stately grand marble staircase have the 

beauty of permanence. 

The Slate, however, was not the first Loew 

theatre built in Cleveland. This was the 

Stillman built in 1916 and opened on September 

29 of that year, on the site of the Stillman 

Hotel, Cleveland's finest hotel of that 

era. The Stillman also was designed by Lamb. 

Music was one of the big attractions at the 

Stillman as it was at all of the Loew houses 

back in 1916. Maurice Spitalny was in the 

pit conducting a 25-piece orchestra. His 

opening program featured the prolog of "11 

Pagliacci" sung by Etesire Defere of the Chicago 

Opera Co. And Cleveland's famous 

organist, James H. Rogers, played Tschaikow- 

••-ky's "Overture of 1812." The musical program 

included a well-known vocalist of that 

period, Mary Ball, who sang "My Heart Is 

Free." The feature picture was "The Chattel," 

a Vitagraph production presenting E. H. 

Sothern in his fii-st screen role. Peggy Highland, 

an English actress, played opposite him. 

And the price scale? It was 15 cents and 

25 cents balcony; 50 for orchestra and 75 

for reserved loges. 

The Stillman was opened and originally 

operated by the Stillman Investment Corp., 

headed by Edgar Hahn. leading local attorney. 

After the first year of its operation, 

Marcus Loew and Adolph Zucker came to 

Cleveland and negotiated a deal with the 

Stillman Investment Corp. to operate the 

theatre jointly. Some time later Loew bought 

cut Zukor and so. except for the first year, 

It has been continuously a Loew operation. 

LEGITIMATE HOUSE OPENS NEXT DOOR 

The Ohio Theatre, adjacent to the State, 

opened Feb. 14, 1921, as a legitimate house 

under the management of Robert McLaughlin. 

David Warfield in "The Retiirn of Peter 

Grimm" was the opening attraction. The 

premiere night policy was unique. The boxoffice 

opened Monday, February 7, one week 

in advance, with orchestra seats pegged at $10 

each. Tliereafter, and until the opening day, 

the price declined $1 each day until all 

seats were sold. On Tuesday the 15th the 

established scale prevailed. This was $3 and 

$2.50 downstairs, S2 and S1.50 for the balcony. 

Louis Rich, orchestra leader, wrote the 

"Ohio Theatre March" for the occasion. 

In 1926 the Ohio was leased as a theatre 

restaurant and operated as the Mayfair 

Casino. But in 1945 it reverted to Loew management 

as a motion pictiu-e theatre. Since 

that date, "Hamlet" holds the record run of 

ten weeks, playing to 80,290 persons in 1948. 

At the present time Arnold Gates manages 

the State, Frank Arena manages the Ohio and 

Prank Minenti manages the Stillman. 

Work Begins at Ann Arbor 

On New Butterf ield House 

DETROIT—M. F. Gowlhorpc. president of 

Buttcrfield Theatres, announced that construction 

on its new theatre at Ann Arbor 

will soon get under way. 

The new theatre, to be located at the 

present site of the old Whitney Opera House 

and Earle Hotel, will be one of the finest in 

the Butterfield group. It will have a seating 

capacity of 1.400 people and will be equipped 

for the latest technical advances in motion 

picture projection and stereophonic sound.

, . The 

RCA IN-CAR 

SPEAKERS 

NEW LAMPS 

and POWER 

EQUIPMENT 

MID-WEST THEATRE 

SUPPLY CO., INC. 

f 

1638 Central Parkway 

Cincinnati 10, Ohio 

• STRONG 

CHerry 7724 

PROJECTION 

ARC LAMPS 

THtATRt EQUIPMtNT CO. 

106 Micbigon St., N.W. ; 

Grand Rapids 2, Mich. / 

T«l. Glendale 4-8»S2«Night« t Sundoys 3-2413 , 

SELBY ô SCREEN TOWERS 

for DrWc-)n Theotres 

3 Stondord Sizes 

SELBY INDUSTRIES, INC. 

13S0 GiMnt HUrs Rd. Akron 11, Ohio 

Montrote (through Medino, OMo) 6-7211 

CLEVELAND 

prank >Iasek, National Theatre Supply man- 

installing Cinemascope equipment 

ager, is 

. . 

in four more theatres and in two high schools 

in this territory. The theatres are the Quincy, 

Cleveland: State, Bellevue; Park. Mansfield, 

and Dreamland, Lorain, The high schools are 

the Ashland High School, Ashland, and the 

Bishop Hoban High School, Akron . M, B. 

Horwitz, head of the Washington circuit, will 

leave May 22 on a 32-day vacation trip visiting 

the major European cities and in Israel. 

But before that he will make a flying trip to 

California next month when his first great 

grandchild is due to arrive. 

Republic, which recently turned over to 

State Films its shipping and inspection, will 

move to the ground floor space of the Film 

building formerly occupied by PRC and by 

Eagle Lion following expiration of its present 

lease in March . . . Ernie Sands, now branch 

manager at New York for Warners, will return 

to Cleveland March 7 to attend a testimonial 

dinner sponsored by the Salesmen's 

Club of Cleveland in honor of his promotion. 

Arrangements for the affair are in the hands 

of Mike Gould, Paramount salesman, with 

w hom Ernie shared an apartment. 

Danny Rosenthal, UA manager, is keeping 

his fingers crossed. His office is in first place 

in Group 2 of the Robert Benjamin sales 

drive with only four more weeks to go . . . 

Julius Knight of the Pindlay Drive-In, Findlay, 

was the first drive-in owner to put in 

an appearance on Filmrow . . . The girls of 

National Screen Service staged a shower in 

the office for Geneva Elwood, booker, who 

was married February 5 to Don Smith. Among 

those present was Mickey Hart Sacean, an 

NSS "graduate" who has been a homemaker 

the past two years. 

Associated Theatres has started a $100,000 

remodeling job at the Granada Theatre. Jack 

Bialosky, architect, who rebuilt the Shaker 

Theatre after it was destroyed by fire, is 

giving the Granada the full treatment . . . 

Maurice Bernstein, who seems to have a monopoly 

on writing insurance for members of 

the film industry, announces Sheldon Selman 

has become a partner and the company 

now is operating as Bernstein, Fellinger & 

Selman, Inc., from the Marshall building. 

Mary Lou Weaver, secretary to Warner 

Manager Bill Twigg received word that her 

son. Staff Sgt. Forrest Weaver of the Strategic 

Air Command, has been ordered to the 

Pacific area for a second torn- of duty . . . 

M. H. Fritchle of Oliver Tlaeatre Supply Co. is 

installing Cinemascope equipment in Frank 

Slaviks Capitol Theatre, Mount Gilead . . . 

Frank Arena, Loew's Theatres, who recently 

managed the Penn in Pittsburgh, is back in 

Cleveland at the Ohio. The Penn was recently 

acquired by John P. Harris. 

. , . 

Louis Weitz, secretary of the Cleveland Motion 

Picture Exhibitors Ass'n, was laid up a 

couple of days by a fall on the ice . . . Maurice 

Bernstein of Bernstein, Fellinger & Selman, 

Inc., an insurance company, returned from a 

\acation trip to Mexico Marshall Fine 

of Associated Theatres returned from Florida 

without the usual coat of tan. No sun . . . 

Ben L. Ogron of Ohio Theatre Supply Co. 

attended the second National Allied drive-in 

convention in St. Louis . P. L. Tanners 

Cleveland City Coi: 

For New Censor La 

CLE\^LAND—The city cour 

record by a vote of 30 to 2 in fa 

state censorship law. The measui 

unanimously recommended by 

committee of the council, was 

Bronis J. Klementowicz and Cha 

councilmen. 

The idea of the law was oppos 

entowicz on the grounds that it 

constitutional rights of free spee 

"We have one constitutional wa; 

exhibition of indecent films, Thi 

and fair trial. Censorship' is 

procedure." Carr also objected t! 

sorship was a "move away from a 

racy and free enterprise and coi 

ba.sic policies of our founding f 

Speaking in favor of the mot 

man Lawrence W. Duggab si 

"wants to protect his family froi 

vulgar entertainment" and thu 

same protection as afforded un 

mer law. Councilman Theodore 

who is in favor of censoring filn 

mented that he regretted the r( 

not apply to television programs 

A crowd of 300 persons attende 

meeting. Most of those present 

passage of the resolution as evide; 

applause upon its passage. Tli 

film industry representatives or 

pre.sent. 

Mrs. Max Williams 

Film Council Feden 

CLEVELAND—The president 

eration of Film Councils is M 

Williams of Royal Oak, Mich., s 

Max Miller as incorrectly statei 

story emanating from here re 

WUliams spoke on the need for 

cooperation between film coun 

and exhibitors. 

For ANY RATIO in 

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2128 Payne Ave. Phone: PRc 

Cleveland 14, Ohio 

BREAKING RECORDS NOW 

CLEVELAND EXCHANGE A 

lyMvwicu 

LAND OF LOST PIOPLI 

Write—Phon 

Booked here exclusively t 

CARD MOND 

Commodore Hotel, Suite 12 

1990 Ford Drive Phone: GA 

Cleveland 6, Ohio

ANNUAL CONVENTION

. . William 

. . The 

. . Walter 

. . Don 

. 

' 

DETROIT 

Ool Hurok's new color-opera film "Aida" 

opened at Sol Krim's Kj-im Theatre on 

Thursday (17 1. While here promoting the 

film. Hurok also talked with local theatremen 

on his forthcoming "Midsummer's Night 

Dream" and its successor, "Madame Butterfly" 

. . Pierre LaMarre of Cooperative 

. 

Theatres of Michigan and Bob Parsons of 

Warner Bros, are among the original organizers 

of the new Detroit Theatre Club, com- 

RESEAT OR RENOVATE 

Professional work on Seat 

Renovation 

—• factory trained 

crew. Your chairs recovered, 

using Foam Rubber or New 

Springs. Metal parts refinished 

in Baked Enamel— like 

new. Estimates onywhere. 

In Stock—7,200 Plywood Chairs— Like New 

HEYWOOD-WAKEFIELD SEATING 

QifUiLif C

I (Para) 

have 

lanza 

s at Toko-Ri" stood 

lidovers as the main 

siness exceeded exolitan 

Theatre with 

Prison" at the Pll- 

^rage, as was "Six 

100) 

i-Fox), 3rd wk 75 

t (UA), wk 7th 85 

lerama), 58th wk,. . 90 

id Dreams (IFE), 

95 

is iU-l], Killer 

no 

Toko-Ri (Para); The 

250 

Racers (20th-Fox); 

1 00 

I); Branded (Para), 

115 

'ers to Cross (MGM); 

100 

Record 

jittle Kidnappers," 

ek at the Hartford 

jped Hartford with 

ns to take all-time 

Dnnecticut's capital 

lio-Ri" rode in with 

45, to take the seci 

(Para); Trouble in 

145 

JA), 8th wk 200 

n (Col), Pirates ot 

120 

(Para); War of the 

90 

no 

Target Eorth (AA),120 

eek, 

rare occasion in thi.s 

re than two or three 

ipite another frigid 

set alltime records, 

.s" packed them in 

such numbers that 

• 

week. Downtown 

either, considering 

f 

no 

ns (IFE), 4th wk. . .120 

(MGM) 100 

(U-1) 115 

B) 80 

105 

Get Generous Patronage 

PROVIDENCE — Local theatremen and 

moviegoers report the statement by W. H, 

Rudkin, under a Springfield dateline, that 

"New England Art Film Interest Lags." which 

appeared in the January 29 issue of BOX- 

OFFICE, does not include this city. 

Two art houses are cuiTently operating 

here, Tlie Avon Cinema, located in the 

lush east side section. i,s the only one w'orth 

mentioning at the moment. The Westminster 

Playhou.se was reopened recently, but the 

Avon, because of its location, has an advantage 

over the Westminster. But the latter 

could have a brilliant future if it were 

operated properly, and now that the Lockwood-Gordon 

interests (operators of the 

Avon I 

taken over, it looks extremely 

promising. 

The Avon is located in an area that contains 

most all the wealthy homes of the city. 

Furthermore, it is adjacent to the headquarters 

and fraternity houses of Brown University, 

Bryant College, Pembroke College, 

and several ultrasmart private and finishing 

.schools. And the management has done a 

wonderful promotional job in selling the theatre 

to collegians and residents. Manager 

Nelson Wright has not overlooked a single 

promotional possibility in his drive for patronage. 

Outstanding examples are his formation 

of student clubs whereby youths receive 

reduced admission rates; his distribution 

of advertising pencils, desk blotters and 

other student essentials in dormitories and 

classrooms, and a hundred and one other 

promotions that have added patronage and 

build goodwill. 

The Avon holds the local record for the 

number of consecutive weeks a film has been 

screened. "The Red Shoes." which played 

some II weeks, has never been equalled, and 

it was replayed several times. 

Moreover, hundreds of Rhode Islanders who 

appreciate the "finer things" in life, residents 

of Woonsocket. Westerly. Newport and other 

parts of the state, have become regular customers 

of the Avon. 

For years, the Avon management has featured 

"request programs." based on the desires 

and choices of patrons. A request book Is 

kept in the lobby, and patrons are invited to 

jot down the films they would most prefer to 

see. The management periodically, and 

methodically, checks the book and wherever 

and whenever possible, the requested films 

are brought in. As this article is being 

written, "Bread, Love and Dreams" was running 

in it-s fourth capacity week. 

Tlien, there's another angle that proves that 

Rhode Islanders' interest of art films is not 

lagging. Even the small fry are being educated 

to appreciate this type of film-s, especially 

those designed for juvenile consumption. 

For a number of years, the Avon has featured 

special Saturday morning shows for 

children made up of pictures carefully selected 

by a group of educators, clergymen and 

parents. For the most part, these special 

performances have run in series of 13 weeks 

or so at reduced prices, 

F^-om reports received in the past, almost 

every series has been completely sold out, 

with turnaways being the rule rather than the 

exception when admission has been requested 

for individual shows. 

When foreign-language films are pre.sented, 

usually state and city dignitaries and clergymen 

are invited to previews, resulting in an 

influx of foreign-speaking patrons. 

If an opera, operetta or other t>T3e of musical 

is to be shown, special invitations to 

music instructors, schools, students, and the 

like are issued, and seldom are any empty 

seats to be found once the screenings get 

under way. Here again, reduced rates are 

made available to students. 

In every category where art films are concerned, 

Rhode Islanders are quick to respond. 

The recently reopened Westminster Playhouse 

has .somewhat of an advantage in Its 

central location. Whether Lockwood-Gordon 

will institute a policy at the downtown theatre 

similar to the Avon's is still a matter of 

conjecture. 

êek 

ver, "The Bridges at 

.siness at the down- 

M); This Is the 

90 

oko-Ri (Paro); 

2nd wk 130 

=ox); Devil's Harbor 

70 

of Montana (RKO); 

90 

Blast 

ment oil burner at 

Lawrence exploded 

nance (7K but there 

nterruption of the 

was limited to furof 

the heating unit, 

oward had a similar 

If ago, when an oil 

liar of an adjoining 

building. 

BOSTO.V EXHIBITORS GREET BOB— Robert Taylor. MGM star, met a (rroup of 

exhibitors at a cocktail party at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Boston, arranged by Floyd 

Fitrsimmoas and Karl Fa.sick. tuh-thumpers. Taylor's beard is for his new role In 

"Quentin Durward." which he will make in England starting late in February. His 

Boston visit w.a.s for ".Many Rivers to Cros-s" at the State and Orpheum theatres. Left 

to right: Dan Finn. Winthrop Knox jr.. .lohn (ilazier. .\rnold Eisen. .loseph LIss. 

Taylor, Benn Rosenwald. Lloyd Clark. Ben Williams, Sam Seletsky and Herbert Biggins,

. . . William 

BOSTON 

. . Phil Engel, 

. . . Dui-ing its 

John Bolduc and his son Royal, who own 

and operate the Lisbon Drive-In, Lewiston, 

Me., were in with Joseph Donohue. their manager, 

to talk with buyer and booker Joseph 

Cohen about reopening plans . 

20th-Fox tub-thumper, arranged a screening 

of "The Racers" for 30 members of the 

New England Sports Club 

sixth week at the Beacon Hill Theatre. 

"Romeo and Juliet" played to a group of 40 

teenage pupils of the Perkins Institute of the 

Bhnd in Watertown. 

Independent Exhibitors of New England, an 

Allied unit, will hold its annual meeting and 

election of officers March 1 at the Hotel 

Bradford. A highlight of the discussion w-ill 

be toll TV. This local unit is soliciting members 

and independents for funds to be sent 

to the Rembusch-Starr toll TV committee. 

Irving A. Isaacs, president of lENE, will preside. 

The Motion Picture Salesmens Club held a 

Valentine social, starting with a discussion of 

plans for the annual dinner dance and ad 

book and ending with a screening at the 

MGM screening room, with refreshments 

catered by Jack Freeman of Harry's Snack 

B^r . . . L. Traster & Sons installed its newly 

designed coffee thermos tanks at five Smith 

Management Co. drive-ins, including the 

Route 46, Saddle River, N. J.; the Manchester 

Road, Kirkwood, Mo.: the Natick, Natick; the 

Livingston, N. J., and the Route 3. Rutherford, 

N. J. 

Joseph Levinc. president of Embassy, and 

George Kraska, exploitation head, were in 

New York on business . . . Al Swerdlove, distributor 

in New England for "Long John 

Silver." gave a press party to introduce Rodney 

Taylor, a featured player in the film. 

Al Longo, Phil Knapp and Jack Saef were 

in charge of arrangements for the affair, 

which was held at the Sheraton Plaza Hotel 

C. Purcell has given up the 

lease on the Embassy Theatre, Fall River, and 

has taken over a lease on the Metropolitan 

Theatre, Providence. Norman Francoeur, who 

operates the Island Theatre. Portsmouth. R. I., 

is the new lessee of the Embassy. Both of 

the latter theatres are owned by the Yamins 

interests in Fall River. 

The Warner Bros, staff sent a basket of 

roses to both Ralph larmuzzi and Bill Kumins 

on the first day of their new positions, 

lannuzzi was recently promoted to division 

lA

, 

334 

. . 

PORT Emphasizes Independent Producers 

idcrs of Loew's Poll 

part this year in 

'. 

Barnum Festival, 

eek in July. Saund- 

f the committee to 

. "Illicit Interlude" 

Art Cinema 

Loew's Majestic and 

oying a holiday in 

has started on the 

n for the American 

leatre and Academy 

ipher Kiernan, chief 

died suddently. 

arroll of the Ameriie 

celebrated a wedliam 

M. Shirley, who 

June, was in ahead 

le looks 20 years 

nan has inaugurated 

iguage films at his 

ursdays and Fi-idays 

mager of the Klein 

md his wife Grace 

li. 

ay State 

ctions 

usetts Holiday," a 

>wing Massachusetts 

;ion, has just been 

Massachusetts' 

onist at Loew's Malay 

. . , The Robert 

)ff another year of 

is the Colonial Theord. 

) Richard Pi-eston, 

issachusetts Depart- 

halftravel 

industry, it 

;ate, from the Berkeach 

season of the 

Im are already being 

;. So far, showings 

ir New York City, 

I and Chicago and a 

ons across the counring 

to borrow the 

for showing should 

?, Director of Devel- 

Massachusetts De- 

Boylston St., 

e Film Productions, 

1 the motion picture 

igo under the superilights 

the variety of 

)leasures and locales. 

landmarks. 

lads. wTitten by Mil- 

Rawley. provide the 

Script by EkJward 

directed by David 

'wo for UA 

Role in 

Adopting Film Innovations 

BOSTON—Joseph Kaufman, producer of 

"Long John Silver," declares independent 

filmmakers now are becoming a major source 

of new screen techniques 

and personalities. 

Kaufman was here 

in behalf of the opening 

of the film this 

week (181 at the Paramount 

and Fenway 

theatres. 

"Exhibitors may now 

look to independent 

producers for new 

.screen techniques and 

personalities," 

he said. 

Joseph Kaufman .^6 can experiment 

more freely with new technical developments 

than the majors." 

He related that before he started to film 

"Long John Silver," he made a close study 

of audience reactions to existing films made 

in Cinemascope. 

"It was our feeling that there were too 

Connecticut Board 

Vetoes Stratford Airer 

BRIDGEPORT— Albert M. Pickus and 

Martin J. Ryan sr. have withdrawn a petition 

for the construction of a drive-in in 

Stratford. The withdrawal came after the 

state aeronautics commLssion had ruled that 

the location of the theatre would be a hazard 

to flying and to the patrons because of its 

proximity to the Bridgeport Municipal Airport's 

runway. Pickus is the owner of the 

Stratford Theatre. 

Another petition to operate a drive-in in 

Stratford, filed by James B. Sniffen, has been 

tabled by the planning and zoning commission. 

'Skin Diver' as Sequel 

F'om Hollv•ôod Edit. en 

HOLLYWOOD—On the planning board at 

RKO is "Skin Diver," being shaped as a sequel 

to the company's current release, 

"Underwater!" No castings or other assignments 

have as yet been made. 

HANDY 

many long-distant scenes In some of the 

Cinemascope productions. We decided to return 

to the old clo.seup and reaction techniques. 

The result is that in 'Long John 

Silver' there is a total of 880 setups with many 

closeups in addition to the strikingly effective 

long .shots made possible by Cinema- 

Scope." 

Kaufman declared it is far more imp>ortant 

to have a real .screen personality than a great 

actor so far a-s success of a picture is concerned. 

"When we have finished making a film." 

he went on, "our work is not over. We take 

great interest in selling the film to exhibitors, 

and thus to the public." 

"Long John Silver" was shot in Australia 

where Kaufman has leased a studio near 

Sydney to make at least two more films. 

DCA is distributing the film nationally with 

Al Swerdlove handling it locally. An inten- 

.-ive TV and radio campaign was arranged 

m this area. Following the Boston opening, 

there are more than 80 bookings in other key 

cities 

in the New England teiTitory. 

Incorporations 

— HARTFORD — 

Ono Hundred Nmcty-Nmc Picture Corp., Stomford; 

authorized capital, SJOO.OOO; commencing business, 

SI,000; 1,000 shores, par $100; incorporators, Dorothy 

Jocconno, Adriana Caminati, Pouline Zimmerman, 

all of New York. 

• • • 

Strond Theatre Corp., Stamford; authorized capital, 

S50,000 in 500 shares, par SI 00; commencing business, 

SI, 000; incorporotors, Frank C. Vuono, George 

Dimenstein, Florence M. Muench, all of Stamford. 

Norwich Summer Theatre, Inc., Norwich- authorized 

capital, $50,000; commencing business, $1,200; 500 

shares, $100 par; incorporators, Judd N. Whitman, 

Bruce T. Holey, William L. Brown, oil of Norwich. 

from 

ARE ALWAYS BETTER ! 

S«nd U« Your Next Ord«r And 

W» Will Prove It To You 

mms: 

GET TO YOU QUICKER 

l»7 

b.Wtkitk 

C>ku« ^ III 

(30 

Nlilk Alt. 

New Ytrk, N.Y. 

m Krasna has ent 

to produce, direct 

3r United Artists re- 

"The Ambassador's 

ned on location in 

ved by "Red Roses."

. . . Ernest 

. . "The 

. . Seats 

. . Lou 

. . . Bob 

. . Walter 

. . Warner 

PROVIDENCE 

Joseph Jarvis, owner-manager of the Gilbert 

. . . Ai'nold "Crazylegs" Hirsch, 

Stuart, Riverside neighborhood house, is 

receiving congratulations on the birth of a 

second son 

football star and actor, was a recent guest 

of Willard Mathews, manager of the Majestic. 

He made several informal appearances 

Eddie Fisher has been signed to 

. . . appear as the featured performer on the 

annual St. Vincent Assembly charity concert 

program. 

Joe Jarvis states that he is receiving scores 

of letters and telephone calls complimenting 

him on his refusal to present double-feature 

programs at the Gilbert Stuart unle.ss both 

ends of the bill are A pictures. Many people 

are coming from distant points to patronize 

Jarvis' house because of his forthright policy. 

He refuses to play B or C pictures, and so 

tells the public in his newspaper ads. 

The long-shutt«red Metropolitan recently 

reopened for a showing of "Gangbusters." 

With the largest seating capacity of any theatre 

in the city, the Met used this to explain 

their low, low prices. Current scale; Opening 

to 1 p.m. all seats 25 cents; 1 to 5 p.m., 35 

cents: 5 p.m. to closing, 50 cents. Children 

20 cents at all times. 

VVJAR-TV, local video station, will .soon 

premiere a new live show, once weekly, which 

should prove advantageous to local exhibitors. 

The format of the telecast will be based 

PUT 

OH 

mm 

together we can 

strike back 

Give to 

AMERICAN 

CANCER SOCIETY ± T® 

This Space Contributed by 

BOXOFFICE 

on local activities in the entertainment field. 

Headlined by Nancy Byers and Russ "Big 

Brother" Emery, initial plans call for the two 

New England favorites to feature current and 

forthcoming screen attractions in discussions 

and reviews; recommend good places to eat, 

night-spots, and offer suggestions for a night 

out. Emery will vocalize and a local orchestra 

will furnish background music. 

NEW HAVEN 

TV/Tore than 5,000 women were polled to pick 

the Pine-Cone dinnerware set being offered 

at the Whalley, Whitney and Westville 

theatres. Four sets were displayed in lobbies 

of each theatre, and patrons were asked to 

state their preference. The winning set, consisting 

of 68 pieces, will be distributed over 

37 weeks, for a weekly service charge of 40 

cents. The set was obtained from Globe 

Premium, Boston. 

A baby elephant from "Jupiter's Darling," 

the MGM Esther Williams musical, was 

brought to town (15) by Loew's Poll-New England 

Theatres. The 55-inch high nnimal was 

taken to the Children's Center and newspaper 

offices . . . The Anti-Defamation League of 

B'nai B'rith held a children's show at the 

Roger Sherman, with 12 business firms cooperating. 

Guy Michael, assistant manager of the 

Post Drive-In, East Haven, has been elected 

president of the Trumbull Fellowcraft Club 

here . Ice Capades" one-week stand 

at the Arena was the most successful engagement 

ever . from the closed Loew's 

Bijou, sold to a downtown bank, have been 

put in storage to be used as replacements at 

Loew's Poll. 

Audiences in the W Theatres chain liked 

the John Jay ski film short so well they 

applauded . Brown, director of advertising 

and publicity for the Poll circuit, was 

ill Hartford with Clarence Bull, dean of MGM 

photographers, for a series of lectures H6> 

Borgnine. who has an important 

role in "Bad Day at Black Rock" and the 

lead in the forthcoming "Marty," is a native 

of New Haven. 

Jack Leitao's Airer Plans 

Hit Snag in Appeal 

GLASTONBURY, CONN.—Jack Leitao's 

long-projected plans for a drive-in here hit 

into another snag when the zoning board of 

appeals' decision that the Glastonbury building 

inspector had erred in refusing to grant 

a building permit for an outdoor theatre to 

Leitao was appealed to common pleas court. 

The action, retm-nable March 8, is being 

brought by two Glastonbury men, who were 

among opponents of the Leitao project. Tire 

writ, served against the chairman of the 

appeals board, and Leitao. claims that the 

board acted "illegally, arbitrarily and in abuse 

of the discretion vested in it" in finding the 

building inspector in error. 

Honor to Chas. Laughton 

From Hollywood Edition 

HOLL'YWOOD—First show business figure 

to be so honored. Charles Laughton has been 

given a life membership in Philadelphia's 

Franklin Institute. The presentation was 

made there in connection with the opening 

HARJFOh 

peter G. Perakos sr., president, 

Perakos, assistant district man 

kos Theatre Associates, left on a 

cruise . . . The Princess Amuseme 

i 

Wethersfield has filed a certifies 

dissolution with the secretary 

office . . . George LeWitt of New 

reportedly considering erecting 

theatre in Berlin, a New Britain 

public hearing was held Wednesc 

the Berlin zoning commission on 

of Frank H. Holmes, owner of th 

authority to rezone the land. 

The Stratford planning and zc 

has rejected applications for zonin 

for drive-in projects planned by 

Pickus. national vice-president ol 

owner of the Stratford Theatre, 

Sniffen, a local resident. A towr 

prohibits the construction of a th 

out four walls and a roof, it was 

Maurello of the Star pla 

toons and billed the program as 

Scope. Attractions were in Cinem 

Abe Bernstein, UA. was in town 

in conjunction with "Black Tue 

Mrs. Fi-ed R. Greenway, wife of 

Palace manager, left for Chicag 

Vegas to visit relatives . . . Ca 

assistant manager of the Stan] 

Strand, resigned . Bro; 

Ai-t Moger was in with actor Elroj 

"unchained" . B. Llo 

past six years city manager for P: 

Theatres in Tampa, has retiree 

been in the industry for 33 ye; 

time serving as manager of the Al 

. . 

Clarence Bull, MGM studio si 

rapher. wa.s due here ahead of th 

Darling" promotion. Harry F. Sh 

manager, and Lou Brown, ad-put 

Loew's Poli-New England Theat 

out the advance promotion 

Namara, Allyn, and Abe Sinow, 

exploitation force, hosted a din 

Statler Hotel for Rodney Taylc 

player in "Long John Silver." 

Ed Lord, eastern Connectic 

owner, played a kiddy show at the 

atre, Norwich, with an admission 

Normal scale for matinee progri 

teiTitory has been around 25 cent 

Maloney. son of the late Art K 

many years manager of the down 

was here from Houston to atter 

reunion of the Bulkeley High Sell 

1934. Maloney is a merchandisin 

with a Houston department store. 

Cite Robinson-Patmc 

In Action Over Rent< 

From Eastern Edition 

NEW YORK—Whether the Ro 

man act. which bans price discrim 

be applied to motion picture terrr 

up for argument in March in 

Court of Appeals. The case will 

the Hillside Amusement Co., Hil 

against Warner Theatres, previous 

in a lower court and appealed. Tl 

that the Hillside Theatre was obi 

higher rentals than those paid 1 

tive theatres. The case is consic

I 

' 

t 

Runs 

êrage 

lonors were well di- 

"irst-runners during 

lovers at only four 

had a comparative 

000 Leagues Under 

in its second week 

100) 

Oth-Fox), 3rd wk.. . 105 

115 

er the Sea 

k ;MGM) 

125 

125 

no 

h-Fox) 120 

>x) 135 

3) 105 

E) 120 

), 2nd wk 105 

.vy increase in at- 

Sowntown theatres 

jntinued until last 

.eatres spotty busire 

"Carmen Jones," 

hird week of "The 

DX) 

Good 

Averoge 

Fair 

ings of the Wild 

Good 

(Bueno Visto) 

Good 

vivol, 2nd wk , . . .Good 

Good 

V A 

are the Ottawa Roleman, 

chief of the 

i the scope of the 

theatrical activities 

lad expanded conyet 

the number of 

lad been cut from 

pport and cooperaiblic 

libraries £ind 

theatres are prevs 

on Friday and 

le Elmdale, FYed 

!m hoe-down proppropriately 

topped 

ns." Bob Maynard 

y Barbeau, FYenchaudeville 

to go with 

Crusoe." 

nducted an extenig 

an invitation 

and medical prac- 

Child." the Danish 

le Rideau . . . After 

; engagements, the 

I its policy of coness. 

Manager Clare 

le current offering, 

classified as Adult 

ario Board of Cenwound 

up the run 

at the Little Elgin 

sed up "The Belles 

ow is in its eighth 

Cinema in Toronto 

anager Bill Cullum 

I Film Society put 

hows. The feature 

e Navigator." 

Thomas Johnston Will 

Head Publicity for NFB 

MONTREAL—Thomas L. Johnston, onetime 

director of travel publicity for Ontario and 

Manitoba and currently head of the National 

•lolin l>iierkii|) \\ . Dean Smith 

Film Board's operations in the United States, 

has been appointed chief of information and 

promotion for NFB. He replaces Stan 

Helleur, who has returned to the newspaper 

field with the Toronto Telegram. 

Replacing Johnston at NFB's offices in New 

York is John Duerkop. who was in charge of 

the board's Midwest and West Coast travel 

film distribution. Duerkop. a Canadian navy 

veteran, joined NFB in 1945 as Ontario district 

representative and has been head of the 

Chicago offices since the summer of 1952. He 

will be replaced by W. Dean Smith of the 

Halifax office. 

NFB also announced the appointment of 

Jacques R. Dansereau to officer in charge of 

prepaiing film programs for distribution to 

its circuits. 

Langston Slips to Second 

In Odeon's Contest 

TORONTO—After settmg the pace in the 

early part of Odeon's better management contest. 

Nicky Langston's Capitol Theatre at 

Hamilton, the 1954 winner, has slipped to second 

place at the halfway point. According 

to a report from the head office, the lead for 

the showmanship section is held by the 

Odeon Theatre at Victoria. B. C. The Odeon 

at Toronto, managed by Vic Nowe. was also 

reported to be showing well in the third 

place position. 

In the combined showmanship and attendance 

classification, a close race has developed. 

The leader is Sam Binder of the 

Rialto. Edmonton, but Roy McLeod of the 

Hastings. Vancouver, is breathing down hLs 

neck. W. C. Tj'ers, Hyland. Toronto, is stepping 

on their heels. 

In the confectionery division, it's a field 

day for the smaller theatres. Topping the 

lengthy list in this group is the Paradise. 

Toronto neighborhood unit, which has replaced 

the McCarthy, Belleville. Ont.. where 

Willard Pawcett presides. Third in line for 

candy turnover is Frank Lawson. manager of 

the Toronto Danforth. Fourth place is held 

by Wilf LaRose. Palace. St. Catharines. 

The latest report on the campaign, popularly 

called "Operation 26." was turned out 

by Ron Leonard, chief aide to Jim Hardlman, 

director of advertising and publicity. 

Ontario House Folds 

TORONTO — Another theatre closed to 

bring the total to 30 in Ontario since the 

introduction of television broadcasting in 

September 1952. The latest to fold Is the 

Haro at Harrow. The 360-seat house had been 

operated by W. S. Woof for several years. 

lATSE Officers Hold 

Meeting ai Hamilton 

HAMILTON—For the f nst time in a score of 

years the officers of the lATSE projectionists 

union gathered in Canada for an executive 

conference. The meeting was held here starting 

with a banquet Sunday night (13). welcoming 

Richard F. Walsh. lATSE president. 

Upwards of 200 attended the opening dinner. 

Local speakers were headed by James 

Stowe. president of the Hamilton Trades and 

Labor Council, while chief spokesman for the 

Dominion was Hugh J. Sedgwick of Hamilton, 

fifth International vice-president and top 

executive officer for Canada. Sedgwick is also 

a member of the Canadian Picture Pioneers. 

The host was Hamilton Local 303 headed 

by H. W. Usher. The chairman of the entertainment 

committee was F, E. Baldassarl, a 

charter member of the Famous Players Canadian 

25-Year Club. 

The executive meeting took place at a 

time when the lATSE scene in Canada is 

peaceful. Yet an emergency had developed 

in the radio-television field into which the 

lATSE has been drawn by the accusations of 

Timothy J. O'SuUivan at Ottawa that it was 

conniving with the Canadian Broadcasting 

Corp. to thwart the threatened strike action 

of the National Ass'n of Broadcast Employes 

and Technicians (CIOi. of which O'Sullivan 

is organizer for Canada. 

O'Sullivan charged that "the CBC's plan 

includes arrangements to recruit personnel 

outside CBC. but the worst thing in it is that 

they have a pledge of cooperation from the 

lATSE." 

At Toronto, the charge was made that a 

copy of the plan of action by the CBC in the 

event of a technicians strike had been stolen 

from an officer of the govenunent's radio- 

TV chain. O'SuUivan retorted that the document 

had been secured "legitimately." Meanwhile 

the lATSE has maintained silence during 

the arguing between the rival union and 

broadcasting corporation. 

the 

Sunday Fights Banned 

Throughout Ontario 

TORONTO—No Sunday boxing or wrestling 

will be staged in theatres of Toronto or 

any other place in the province whether municipal 

authorities sanction such shows or 

not. Toronto civic officials have been wrestling 

with the problem of granting a permit 

for fight performances on Sundays but apparently 

all in vain. 

The Ontario athletic commission announced 

here that no licenses will be Issued 

for either amateur or professional ring 

shows which are scheduled to be held on a 

Sunday. Previously. Murray Little of the 

Casino Theatre in downtown Toronto denied 

that his house would be used for Sunday 

fights despite information supplied by a promoter 

who asked for a permit. 

'Evil' at Toronto Subs 

TORONTO— Four theatres again made up 

the Famous Players' group here for the latest 

Show of the Week which featured "Garden 

of EX-il." The Beach. College, Oakwood and 

Parkdale were the theatres. The three Odeons, 

Falrlawn. Humber and Danforth. were linked 

for the playing of "Human Desire."

. . . Jack 

. . Somer 

MONTREAL 

XXJiltiam Lester, general manager of the 

United Amusement Corp., received condolences 

from all quarters on the occasion of 

the death of William Rodger, father of his 

wife. Funeral service was attended by a 

strong delegation of Filmrow executives and 

staffmen . . . The Northeast UACL popular 

Papineau Theatre has had new chairs installed. 

The 1,400 chairs were acquired and 

installed by Canadian Theatre Chairs Co. of 

Toronto. As of the first week of February, 

RKO's Sales Staff Incentive Contest was announced 

at a percentage of 96.7 with three 

more weeks to go. Harry Cohen, manager, in 

making the announcement, expressed confidence 

in obtaining the full 100 per cent quota, 

which would result in at least third position. 

Gordon Lightstone. Toronto general man- 

MR. EXHIBITOR 

I I I I 

• • • • 

We now have a library of good 40- 

second sound trailers (odfilms) for 32 

different business classifications, covering 

every type of merchant in your 

tovi^n. 

We can tie in the merchant's name, 

slogan, etc., with appropriate voice 

message and SELL this service for you 

LOCALLY and PROFITABLY in English 

or 

French. 

Our trailers run a full week in each 

theatre at every performance and we 

have enough DIFFERENT subjects to 

give a maximum 26-week program 

during the year. 

For CONSISTENT extra revenue— at no 

extra cost 

Write, wire or phone 

FRED T. 

General 

ADFILMS 

STINSON 

Manager 

77 York Street 

LIMITED 

Toronto, Ontario EMpire 8-8986 

ager of Paramount, was in conferring with 

Robert Murphy, manager. Murphy also 

pointed out that the "Bridges at Toko-Ri," 

starring Grace Kelly and William Holden, 

was getting considerable indirect publicity by 

the fact that Miss Kelly was 1954's Golden 

Cover Girl for ten major magazines in the 

past six months. 

Bob Brown of the art department of UACL 

Is getting ready for the summer season. He 

has purchased a Peterborough 16-foot ski 

and a 7-h.p. motor. The new acquisition, 

said Brown, is intended for his Beven Lake 

summer place at Weir in the Laurentians 

KroU, sales representative for Warner 

Bros., went to Quebec City. 

Exhibitors who visited Film Exchange included 

Mrs. N. Rozen of the Royal, Hudson; 

Maurice Duhamel, local owner of the Hollywood 

and Rex theatres; J. A. Dufour of the 

St. Jovite, St. Jovite, and B. Jolicoeur of the 

Opera House, Coaticook. 

Austin E. Crilly, 56, well-known projectionist, 

died recently. He had worked at the 

Cinema de Paris of Compagnie France Film 

for many years and before that at the Century 

Theatre in suburban Ville Emard. He 

is survived by eight children. 

Variety Village Will Hold 

6th Annual Graduation 

TORONTO—The stage has been set for the 

annual Variety Village graduation dinner 

which will be given by Tent No. 28 in the concert 

hall of the Royal York Hotel Thursday 

evening (24). The ceremonies will be attended 

by leading citizens of Ontario as well 

as barkers, film executives and their wives. 

The feature will be the bestowing of diplomas 

on the sixth class of students, many of 

whom will occupy wheel chairs or use 

crutches. 

Chief Barker Harry S. Mandell will be 

chairman of the function w'hich will start 

with cocktails followed by the banquet and 

later with entertainment and dancing. 

The advance ticket sale is in charge of 

George Altman and Joseph Bermac. The 

demand to date has been heavy. 

Richard Carlson has been set for one of 

the starring roles in Republic's "San Antonio 

de Bexar." 

HANDY SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM 

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Please enter my subscription to BOXOFTICE, 52 issues per year (13 of which contain 

The MODERN THEATRE Section). 

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THEATRE 

STREET ADDRESS 

TOWN 

NAME 

STATE 

POSITION 

Montreal Cardinal ] 

Cinema Legislation 

MONTREAL^The Catholic C 

ership of Montreal, headed by C 

Leger. archbishop of Montreal, 

with the importance of the mc 

industry and its worth for good c 

izing its complex problems, the i 

nounced that a diocesan legislat 

be promulgated concerning the a 

children to motion pictures. 

His Eminence said "The cinema 

tial problems to the education of 

it is to find a solution to th( 

that I have founded the Call: 

Centre." 

Referring to the subject of tl 

being studied he said "if we mi 

the welfai-e of the children certs 

prohibit their admittance to cer 

we also have the urgent duty no 

en bloc the cinema. 

"Roman Catholics must remen 

cinema, even if it presents huir 

in artistic fashion, remains su 

laws of morals and to the dire 

hierarchy. 

"Therefore all Catholic familie 

the discipline established by 

Cinema Centre of Montreal." 

Cardinal Leger referred to 

prevailing in motion picture thea 

attention to the recent police c 

homosexuals in a number o 

cheaper motion picture theatres 

He paid a compliment to thea 

however, adding that generaU; 

well observed in the archdioc( 

he knew of many theatres wl 

were being admitted despite tl 

ban. 

WINNIPE 

n dvertising e.\ecutive Don Hem 

a luncheon meeting of the 5 

tion Picture Exhibitors Ass'n, 

borough Hotel Fi-iday (18). Foi 

Henshaw ha.s been closely associ 

motion picture industry and has 

from Hollywood . . . Bill Minuk 

a Williams panoramic screen and 

Superlite lenses at the Corona. 

Co., in the process of installs 

remove 20 seats to complete th' 

Meyer Mitchel placed the fol 

the theatre page: "Wanted! 1,0 

Satiu-day matinee at the Palac 

receive a free package of Val 

Richai-d Miles. Western Thei 

manager, and Robert Hurwitz, 

manager, retunred from Toror 

Johnston broke his leg helping 

new screen at the Windsor. Joli 

up recently at an MMPEA me 

and waving a crutch in the air 

With the removal of Hector 1 

Columbia office in Calgary, a 

sonnel, reaching into Winnipej 

. . . Mike Mandell is back as boi 

national Films . Jame 

Odeon Theatres has placed ord( 

Tushinsky Superscope lenses. C 

Poster Service news is the addi 

Bryer to the customs clearanc 

. . . TPS steno Nomy Beer is c( 

home after being hospitalized.

;il to ban all over- 

for advertising pur- 

l 

1 suburban 

. . The 

. . Douglas 

. . Sydney 

. . Len 

. . Veteran 

. . LouLs 

. 

^TO 

a director of Famous 

,s retired as president 

Life Assurance Co., 

surance firm, but will 

lairman . . . General 

tstone of Canadian 

a special invitation 

(13) at the Toronto 

IS at Toko-Ri." 

ers in the Windsor 

inder the new name 

. 

res Ass'n which will 

The officers ai-e: 

ils, Tivoli. Windsor; 

ler, Vogue, Leaniingisurer 

B. J. Fi-aser. 

up recently staged a 

ildren of unemployed 

>s.sfully opposed the 

a bylaw to prohibit 

Chown, manager of 

has advised friends 

le theatre after an 

rowd turned out for 

night for Toronto's 

the auspices of the 

jers Ass'n headed by 

Mountain. The proimilton 

Palace, fea- 

Kill." Ron Leonard 

was master of cerejdeville 

show followsmpanies 

have given 

hael's Hospital camf 

with $25,000 from 

m. Two PP officers 

ent and Mrs. J. J. 

President and Mrs. 

;rsonal donations of 

1 contributions have 

Paramount. Warner 

;. 20th-Fox, each for 

Corp., 20th Century 

rheatre Confections, 

Gordon Lightstone, 

f cashier of the York, 

gunmen when she 

alarm bell and fled 

1 a few seconds. The 

Itreet Signs 

•ronto Group 

a-s been lamiched by 

• 

Toronto before 1960. 

IS not been entirely 

:ed by road commisletropolitan 

commitediate 

result was a 

participant was Don 

the Prince of Wales 

district, 

eliminated a year ago 

are of Yonge street 

I in connection with 

lada's first subway, 

itted to retain marircial 

announcements 

e expressed the view 

wild" in its plan. 

Copyright Session Busy 

With Jukebox Problems 

OTTAWA—Durmg the early stages of the 

inquiry by the Royal Commission on Copyrights 

and Patents, in session here under the 

chairmanship of Chief Justice J. L. Ilsley of 

Nova Scotia, the proceedings boiled down to 

the question of granting the privilege of collecting 

fees from jukebox operators by performing-right 

societies. 

The judicial probe into the administration 

of Canada's copyright laws brought applications 

for the right to impose fees for the use 

of music in coin machines from both the 

Composers, Authors and Publishers Ass'n of 

Canada and BMI (Canada) Ltd., the latter 

being an affiliate of Broadcast Music, Inc., 

in the United States. 

The submissions contended that the exemption 

of such machine operators under the 

present law was unfair. The BMI application 

said that the operators of the country's $35.- 

000.000-a-year jukebox business should be 

required to pay for performing rights on the 

recordings. 

CAPAC went a step farther by urging that 

a fee should also be paid by educational, 

charitable, religious or fraternal organizations. 

In the meantime, the Musical Protective 

Society of Canada, representing theatres and 

some other music users such as hotels and 

fall fairs, was ready with its brief. One argument, 

it is understood, is that a performing 

fee has aheady been paid on the music used 

in theatres which are required to pay a levy 

on a seat basis. 

The commission investigation is entirely 

separate from the session of the government's 

Copyright Appeal Board which is scheduled 

here late in February to hear applications for 

1955 performing right fees including a new 

system of charges for television stations. 

The theatres will also be represented at 

the hearing of the Copyright Appeal Board 

which makes recommendations to the government 

each year. 

ST. 

JOHN 

^harles Staples is reported plannmg installation 

of Cinemascope in his Queen Theatre 

at St. Stephen . . . The 'Valley Drive-In 

at Fredericton is installing a wide screen 

and high-powered projection lights . . Newfoundland 

. 

CS projects are under way at St. 

Patrick's Theatre. Bell Island; the Majestic 

and Regent, Corner Brook; the Globe at 

Gander: the Popular at Grand Fallas and the 

Dome at Stephenville. 

. . Mrs. Jane Mc- 

. 

Recent snowfall here totaled 27 inches . . . 

Mr. and Mis. W. O. Fermety of Fredericton 

were on a vacation in Florida . . . Harper Kent 

of Bathurst was married . 

Devitt resigned at the Warner exchange to 

await the birth of a baby mother 

of Gerry Hoyt. manager for Allied here, died 

. . . S. A. Babb and family of the F&H circuit 

left on a Florida vacation . . . Mitchell 

Franklin and family were in Miami Beach on 

their annual winter stay. 

Theatre Bandit Convicted 

TORONTO—Patrick Jennings, 55. pleaded 

guilty at Peterborough to a charge of demanding 

money from Mrs. Janet Phillips, 

cashier at the Odeon in that city, and was 

sentenced to three months in the Ontario 

Reformatory. 

VANCOUVER 

panious Players Theatre Managers Ass'n of 

British Columbia elected the following officers: 

president. Dick Letts, Strand; vicepresident. 

Wally Hopp. Cinema, and secretarytreasurer. 

Barry Freeman of the Regent, 

Burnaby. Past president was Charlie Doctor 

. . . Theatre managers, who have for years 

been protesting against the privileges granted 

carnivals, strong competition to theatres, 

were given a break when the New Westminster 

parks board banned all carnivals in that 

area, even under service club sponsorship. 

Myron McLcod, owner of two theatres in 

the Powell River district, was elected president 

of the Powell River Golf Club . , . Jimmy 

Patterson, 20th-Fox manager, is back from 

Toronto, where he attended a regional sales 

meeting . Freeman, Studio manager, 

reports that "Modern Times" has 

broken all existing records since the theatre 

opened six years ago. The Chaplin revival 

is doing more business than it did when It was 

released 19 years ago . Anderson, 37, 

lormer manager of the Vogue and Olympla 

theatres, passed away after a long illness. 

His brother-in-law is Art Graburn, manager 

of the Plaza. 

Irene Hofley, formerly of the Dominion, is 

now cashier at the Vogue, replacing Bette 

Kmliak . Keene moved from the 

Plaza to the Odeon Hastings as assistant manager, 

replacing Marge Brewer, who now Is on 

her honeymoon. Jack Ellis, former Moose 

Jaw theatre manager, succeeds Keene at the 

Plaza . Haddon has resigned as 

assistant manager at the Orpheum to enter 

another business . showman Edward 

Redmond died in California at the age 

of 82. He was former manager of the York 

in Victoria and ran his own stock company . . 

Lois Lilllco of the PARO staff will marry 

Tommy Wilson of New Westminster in June. 

Dominion Sound will have Its own 50-foot 

front building next to the new film exchange 

building this summer. It is being built by 

Jack Aceman, owner of the Avon Theatre, 

who also is building the new film center 

which is expected to open in May . . . British 

Columbia now has 34 drive-ins; Alberta, 40. 

and Saskatchewan, 37. British Columbia has 

168 indoor theatres; Alberta, 201, and Saskatchewan, 

252 ... A partnership in effect for 

28 years ended when Mike Healy sold his 

interest in the Swift Current Amu.sement Co, 

to his partner Jack Lundholm. Theatres Involved 

were the Lyric and Ea^rle in Swift 

Current. Sask., with a combined seating 

capacity of 850. 

Production of Paramount's action outdoor 

drama, "The Atovericks," will begin in the 

spring.

SLUM 

PREVENTIO^ 

1^ The BEST REMEDY 

^K 

for slipping grosses 

I M^^ is intelligent, well- 

^M^^ planned 

promotion 

^^ — based on best 

ideas, tested by practical 

showmen take it now! 

READ and 

USE the 

SHOWMANDISER Sectior 

(every week in boxoffice) 

Scores of seat-selling stunts that build 

business and keep paying patrons happy 

.... Easy to file in a ring binder. 

• ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW AND INTERESTING •

I up 

. Weather: 

— 

I 

p 

jfficeC^ D D ii J J) i/^ JJ J I) 5 i 3 

a. 

x; 

1/4 

TOR HAS His 

tTISTS 

nond O'Brien, Helen 

good picture which 

in color. Different 

ires of this type in 

in the red. Here TV 

Dreases business de- 

"big one." Played 

lather : Fair.-—Ken 

re, Washburn, N. D. 

\)—Richard Conte, 

idrix. This is a little 

icture. I thought it 

et" (the rage of the 

as many tickets. 

;, St. Stephen, S. C. 

tronage. 

AA)—Gary Merrill, 

ond. Cops and rob- 

)f the feature never 

presented. The cast 

ith names to pull 

liscredit the picture, 

-up job, as did the 

worth using, even 

f chosen, and efforts 

the picture. Played 

ither: Rain.—Nate 

;re, Ramona, Calif, 

tronage. 

(AA)—Jan Sterling, 

cette. Good enough 

I double bill. Very 

alone. Story is 

wer. Played Wed., 

;r: Cold with snow, 

use Theatre, Coatind 

rural patronage. 

BIA 

il)—Alan Ladd, Parrell. 

Alan Ladd is 

as he continues his 

rushes about from 

LS the Black Knight, 

, in a very businessivith 

the villain alat 

the moment, 

'ith nothing to give 

ness below average. 

Cold. 

Theatre, Ramona, 

ral patronage. 

1)—Alan Ladd. Parrell. 

Good picture 

not pay off here. 

1 Ladd plays a good 

ting. Played Sun., 

Ichael Chiaventone, 

lley, 111. Small-town 

;ol)—Vlpcent Price, 

!ry. If your patrons 

is. It's good, but not 

a late show.—W. S. 

itephen, S. C. Popuil)—Marlon 

Brando. 

3b. This may be a 

idered for an award 

Its tjTJe but it died 

it booked for three 

esday, and pulled it 

SAY ABOUT PICTURES 

out at the end of the second day. Tlie 

weather was good, too, but they Just wouldn't 

buy it. I would say to lay off of this one for 

small towns unless they love Brando in your 

situation.—Oral O. Ledbetter, Howard Theatre, 

Monon, Ind. Population 1,600. 

METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER 

Easy to Love (MGM>—Esther Williams, 

Van Johnson, Tony Martin. The title scared 

me to death. "Love" is taboo in a small 

town but the picture is one of Williams' best. 

The water show at the end is terrific. This 

is a good musical — period. The production 

gives you your money's worth and did as well 

as the last Williams' show. Played Sun., 

Mon.—Ken Christiansen, Roxy Theatre, 

Washburn, N. D. Population 900. 

Her Twelve Men (MGM)—Greer Garson, 

Robert Ryan, Barry Sullivan. I tied in with 

the local Eagles on an advance ticket sales 

deal on this fine family and juvenile picture 

anu was proud to exhibit it. Business was excellent 

but I had a lot of extra advertising on 

Let's Have Another 

Cup of Coffee 

gETKAYED (MG.M)—Clark Gable, Lana 

Turner, Victor Mature. We opened 

with this show on Sunday just a couple 

of hours after a speaker in church had 

announced that drinking was on the increase 

in the Philippines due to so many 

drinking scenes in American movies. In 

this particular motion picture there isn't 

a lot of drinking—but why is it there at 

all? What would be wrong with somebody 

drinking a cup of Folger's coffee or 

even Nestle's chocolate? There's an idea 

for tie-ins in this, too. MGM did okay 

with Mercury cars and Moon Trailers in 

"The Long, Long Trailer," didn't they? 

Then why not put a little advertising in 

the movies and take ten bucks off our 

film rental. Of course, it may be that the 

producers are already getting paid for 

advertising liquor. So much consumption 

of hard liquor certainly adds nothing but 

footage and that is far over-ridden by the 

hurt it does us. The show was just fair 

with business a wee bit below normal. 

Played Sun., Mon. Weather: O.K.—Ben 

Spainhour, Twilight Theatre, Greensburg, 

Kas. Population 1,500. 

the picture. I had been told in advance that 

it was really swell if you could somehow 

convince people to come and take a chance. 

So, that is where the Eagles' sponsorship 

came in. I gave them a cut at the boxoffice 

and they were happy and .so was I. Played 

Sun., Mon.. Tues.—Oral O. Ledbetter, Howard 

Theatre, Monon, Ind. Population 1.600. 

i 

Her Twelve Men MGM>—Greer Garson. 

Robert Ryan. Barry Sullivan. Tie this one 

in with your local PTA and you can't go 

wrong. Not up to usual Garson standard but 

amusing enough to be pleasant. Young Tim 

Considine should be in more pictures. He's 

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

Michael Chiaventone, Valley Theatre. Spring 

Valley, lU. Small-town and rural patronage. 

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (MGM)— 

Jane Powell, Howard Keel, Jeff Richards. In 

small towns if you will talk this movie up 

as a rough, tough hillbilly show it will do 

okay. Good color, plenty of action. If the 

"Lonesome Polecat" song had been left out 

it would have been 200 per cent better.- 

W. S. Funk, Star Theatre, St. Stephen, S. C. 

Small-town and rural patronage. 

PARAMOUNT 

About Mrs. Leslie (Para)—Shirley Booth, 

Robert Ryan, Marjie Millar. This very human 

story was presented with good taste and without 

any suggestion of indecency. I was 

amazed how the teenagers enjoyed the film 

and commented accordingly. Shirley Booth 

seemed just as real as the woman next door 

and the sincerity of Robert Ryan completed 

the feeling. I saw it twice. Your patrons 

would appreciate your playing this I am 

sure. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: 

Good.—Nate Oglesbee, Ramona Theatre, 

Ramona, Calif. Small-town and rural patronage. 

Darling, How Conid Yon (Para)—Joan 

Fontaine. John Lund, Mona Freeman. Terrible—both 

business and the picture.—Ray S. 

Hanson. Pox Theatre, Fertile, Minn. Population 

905. 

Living It Up (Para)—Dean Martin, Jerry 

Lewis, Janet Leigh. One of the best from this 

comedy team but it did only average here. 

Not enough corn for my TV fans. We made 

a few dollars but this team is waning here. 

Played Sun.. Mon., Tues. Weather: Fair.— 

Ken Christiansen, Roxy Theatre, Washburn. 

N. D. Population 900. 

Rear Window (Para)—James Stewart, 

Grace Kelly. Wendell Corey. Do your patrons 

a favor and play "Rear Window." Word-ofmouth 

should help tremendously at your boxoffice. 

Strictly a top production. Usually 

Hitchcock doesn't fare too well here, but the 

casting of James Stewart and Grace Kelly 

couldn't miss. The script was fast-moving 

and down-to-earth. There couldn't possibly 

have been any Improvement. Played Sun.. 

Mon., Tues. Weather: Fair.—Nate Ogle.sbee, 

Ramona Theatre, Ramona, Calif. Small-town 

and rural patronage. 

Sahrina (Para>—Humphrey Bogart, Audrey 

Hepburn, William Holden. What a cast—but 

it takes more than that in my town any more 

and Paramount asked for my eye teeth on the 

playoff. I'll be honest though, the story Is 

funny and those who saw it enjoyed it. I 

played it during the worst snow and ice of 

the season and that is when TV really gets 

good— if you know what I mean. I had high 

hopes for this one but I firmly believe it was 

the weather that knocked me for a loop. 

Played Sun. through Tues.—Oral O. Ledbetter, 

Howard Theatre, Monon. Ind. Population 

1.600. 

Sailor Beware (Para) —Dean Martin, Jerry 

Lewis, Corlnne Calvet. This Is perhaps one 

of the better Martin and Lewis pictures 

How these fellows got the award for comedy 

Is more than I'll ever know. They certainly 

don't go over big at this point. However, 

there are quite a few good laughs In this one 

Played Frl., Sat. Weather: Good.—Fred L. 

Murray, Strand Theatre. Splrltwood, Sask 


Those Redhead.i From Seattle (Para)— 

Rhonda Fleming, Gene Barry, Agnes Moorehead. 

This surely was a drama with music 

and not too much of either. Picture very 

(Continued on next page) 

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The EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY 

(Continued from preceding page) 

good, beautiful color and interesting story. 

Haven't heard any complaints. Business was 

a Uttle better than usual for this time of 

year. We only have about four inches of 

snow and the temperature stays around zero. 

Played Thurs.. Sat. Weather. Snowing and 

cold.—George A. Lorencz, Memorial Theatre, 

PMnnichy, Sask. Population 300. 

RKO RADIO 

RKO)—Anne Baxter, 

Carnival Story, The i 

Steve Cochran, Lyle Bettger, A good story 

of sex and excitement told with wonderful 

acting. Color good. Did normal business and 

satisfied most every one. More like this would 

keep us in business. Played Sun., Mon. 

Weather: Fair.-Ken Christianson, Roxy 

Theatre, Washburn, N. D. Population 900. 

Rob Roy, the Highland Rogue (RKO)— 

Richard Todd, Glynis Johns, James Robertson 

Justice. It's a Uve action Walt Disney, 

so yon know what to expect. Played it a fuU 

week to excellent business. Wonderful comments 

aU round from ages 6 to 60. But then, 

anything Disney does is okay with me. He 

picks his cast brilliantly, camera work and 

color are outstanding and there's always action 

in his films. If you cannot make money 

with this you have the WTong pubUc or 

something. Played Sun. through Sat. 

Weather- Fine.—Dave S. Klein, Astra Theatre, 

Kitwe-Nkana, Northern Rhodesia, Africa. 

Mining, government, business patronage. 

Susan Slept Here (RKO)—Debbie Reynolds, 

Dick Powell, Anne Francis. The best comedy 

in years. Should get an armload of the 

Oscars pictured herein. We started off weU 

with it and then a storm and too much basketball 

knocked out what would otherwise 

have been a Uttle profit to apply on this new 

fangled equipment we had to buy recently. 

You can walk right down Main street without 

fear of being shot at, the next morning 

after showing them this kind of entertainment. 

Played Sun., Mon., Tues., Wed. 

Weather: Stormy.—Paul Ricketts, Charm 

Theatre. Holyrood, Kas. Small-town and 


REPUBUC 

Colorado Sundown (Rep)—Rex Allen, Mary 

Ellen Kay, Slim Pickens. One of \he best 

from Republic in a long time, except that the 

print was full of splices. Plenty of action 

plus good comedy reUef is bound to put this 

over with the Friday-Saturday trade. Played 

Frl.. Sat. Weather: Cold.—I. Roche, Vernon 

Theatre, Vernon, Pla. Population 610. 

Fabulous Senorito, The (Rep)—Estelita, 

Robert Clarke, Marvin Kaplan. This is one 

you can do without if you have anything else 

to run. Played Wed., Thurs., FrL, Sat. 

Weather: Cold.—Harold BeU, Opera House 

Theatre, Coaticook, Que. Small-town and 


Outcast, The (Rep)—John Derek, Joan 

Evans Jim Davis. Just another western but 

okay for a double bill on a weekend showing. 

Trucolor does not compare with Technicolor 

in my estimation.—Ken Gorham, Town Hall 

Theatre, Middlebury, Vt. College town patronage. 

20lh 

CENTURY -FOX 

Appointment in Honduras (20th-Fox)— 

Glenn Ford, Ann Sheridan, Zachary Scott. 

Although this is not even a good movie, we 

did excellent business with it due most probably 

to the traUer and the title. Actually 

smaller situations should do fairly well 

with it. In situations where little attention 

is paid to good acting, first class production 

nnrt color and the emphasis is on action—this 

Black Widow (20th-Fox)—Ginger Rogers, 

Van Heflin, Gene Tierney. This is a picture 

I really enjoyed. Van Heflin was very good. 

Plenty of suspense. If it weren't for the 

Cinemascope rage Fox would have sold it 

at a middle bracket price—one day or two. 

But you know what Cinemascope means—percentage, 

top time and they are doing you a 

favor to sell you the picture. As a matter 

of fact, they haven't offered it to me.—W. S. 

Small- 

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

town and rural patronage. 

Raid, The (20th-Fox)—Van Heflin, Anne 

Bancroft, Richard Boone. Well made, interesting 

Civil War story that received considerable 

comment. Business was satisfactory. 

Also had an unsolicited school plug. Played 

Fri., Sat. Weather: Good.—Paul Ricketts, 

Charm Theatre, Holyrood, Kas. Small-town 

and rural patronage. 

Siege at Red River, The (20th-Fox)—Van 

Johnson, Joanne Dru, Richard Boone. A better 

than average action picture with some 

color photography that is nearly as good as 

Cinemascope. Good story and will hold interest. 

Business just fair. Played Fri., Sat. 

Weather: Winter.—W. L. Stratton, Lyric Theatre, 

Challts, Ida. Small-town and rural patronage. 

UNITED ARTISTS 

Africa Screams (UA)—Reissue. Okay Abbott 

and CosteUo. WiU draw A&C addicts. 

There are not many left here—except the kids. 

Played Tues. Weather: Fair.—Michael Chiaventone, 

Valley Theatre. Spring Valley, 111. 


Have You Put In Your 

Two Cents Worth? 

fPo EHHS: 

'*' 

I read the Exhibitor Has His Say with 

great interest and I wish more exhibitors 

around here would have their "say." 

Gamble Theatre 

Seward, Pa, 

LEROT I. MYERS. 

Tanganyika (U-D—Van Heflin. Ruth Roman. 

Howard Duff. Supposed to be the poor 

man's "Mogambo." We paid 10 per cent more 

for "Mogambo" and did six times the business 

and pleased them. This studio backlot production 

with painted backgrounds, poor process 

shots and everybody walking around in 

circles is really a dud. U-I, you can't get by 

on your laurels; you've got to put production 

into them or they won't go. Boxoffice 45 per 

cent. Played Thurs.. Pri.. Sat. Weather: Fan-. 

—Ken Christianson, Roxy Theatre. Washburn, 

N. D. Population 900. 

UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL 

Dawn at Socorro (U-D—Rory Calhoun, 

Piper Laurie, David Brian. This is a better 

than run-of-the-mill western. Rory Calhoun 

mentions several times that he is from the 

great state of South Carolina. I concur—that 

il is a great state!—W. S. Punk, Star Theatre. 

St. Stephen. S. C. Small-town and rural 

patronage. 

Egg and I, The (U-D—Reissue. Claudette 

Colbert. Fred MacMurray, Marjorie Main. 

Business very poor for this reissue. Our folks 

probably weren't interested In seeing it again. 

Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Cold.—Michael 

Chiaventone, VaUey Theatre, Spring Valley, 

111. Small-town and rural patronage. 

Theatre, 

tronage. 

Middlebury. Vt. College I 

Yankee Pasha (U-I) — Jeff ( 

Rhonda Fleming, Mamie Van Dorei 

are having booking troubles, don't \ 

one. This is good and is for your be' 

ing time. Color and story are fine 

girls — "wow." One of the few cost 

tures that has done business for i 

average for midweek. Cut you 

Played Tues.. Wed. Weather; F 

Christianson. Roxy Theatre, Washbi 

Population 900. 

WARNER BROS. 

High and the HUghty, The (W 

Wayne. Claire Trevor, Robert Stacl 

a real good picture but there is no : 

Warners to advance the percentaj 

guarantee. It's better to leave it 

to pay 10 per cent more for it than 

for any other good two-day featu 

Funk, Star Theatre. St. Stephen. S. 

town and rural patronage. 

His Majesty O'Keefe (WB)—Burt 

Joan Rice. Andre Morrell. 

Very goot 

plenty of action.' Lancaster fine 

This picture should please anyone, 

day since November. Monday belo 

but no fault of the picture. Played 

Weather: Cold.—W. L. Stratton. L; 

tre. Challis. Ida. Small-town and 

tronage. 

Moonlighter. The (WB)—Barbi 

wyck. Fred MacMurray. Ward B< 

yet to see a 3-D picture sold 2-E 

worth a d . waste of stars an 

was a carbon burner here. No bu 

plenty of dissatisfied customers 

Played Tues., Wed. Weather: 

Christianson. Roxy Theatre, Washl 

Population 900. 

MoonUghter, The (WB) — Barb 

wyck, Fred MacMurray, Ward B 

could have been the difference, 1 

gloom of TV colors this didn't Jell, 

circuit use this single bill on prel 

so thought I'd try it on my act! 

I hope it worked better for the c 

it did for me. It's a fair to middl 

with a good cast and should e 

customers than it did for us. Tha 

Warners put the tab down when 

have been. Would be excellent oi 

bill, but the good shorts I used 

any added business to help it c 

Fri.. Sat. Weather: Rain.—Bob W 

tah Theatre. Fruita, Colo. Small 


Riding Shotgun (WB)—Randc 

Wayne Morris. Joan Weldon. Evei 

Scott couldn't reverse the pre 

slump. Boxoffice 79 per cent. P 

Mon. Weather; Cool and clear .- 

Hamilton. Pine HIU Drive-In Thei 

une, Miss. Small-town and rural 

MISCELLANEOUS 

Duel in the Sun (Selznick)—Reii 

fer Jones. Gregory Peck. Joseph 

have played this twice already 

hunch, brought it back for the w 

tween Christmas and New Year's 

more business than some of these 

dupers. I bought it right and. if 

done in your situation. I still thi 

make some "take-home" money 

issue.—Oral O. Ledbetter. Howaj 

Monon. Ind. Population 1.600. 

Golden Coach. The (IFE)—Ann 

Duncan Lament. Paul Campbell. 

ture was bought as I thought it m 

tn nnUptrp nntrnns but no one (

I U-l 

. .20th-Fox 

.Para 

and trodepress reviews. The plus and minus signs Indicate degree of 

" A'?nL°!t„.- '"9' ""=' current reviews, brought up to date rcqularlv 

on ALPHABETICAL INDEX to feature releases. Numeral prccedmg tifui 

iber. For listings by company, in the order of release, see Feature Chart. 

Good; — Fair: Poor; - 

Very Poor 

° 1- 

., J> I 

itone Cops 

U-l 2- 

Para 5- 

UA 1- 

5-55 + ± 

1-54 + ± 

2-54 H + 

. . .20th. Fox 10-16-54 ± 

I) Drama UA 6- 5-54 4+ 

Drama Col 6-27-53 + 

ary RKO 9-25-54 + 

la 

Rep 

I.F.E. 7-31-54 + 

Para 2- 6-54 — 

U-l 6- 5-54 + 

RKO 1- 8-55 + 

e Rochemont 1-15-55 + 

jyer-Klnosley 2- 6-54 + 

UA 7- 3-54 + 

AA 4-17-54 + 

MEM 11- 6-54 H 

Rep 12-18-54 ± 

+ ± 

+ + + 

6+3- 

7+4- 

7+ 

+ - + ± - * 5+5- 

± + + ++ +4 + 10+1- 

- + - - 2+3- 

± ± + + ± + 7+J- 

± 

+ ± 

+ 

++ + 

+ ± 

+ 

+ 

+ 

ff 

+ 

+ 

++ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

H 

+ 

± 

8+ 

+ 

± S+2- 

+ 7+1- 

+ 7+ 

5+ 

+ 1*+ 

± 8+5- 

-1 7+1- 

+ 5+5- 

stern. MGM 12-18-54 + 

Col 12-26-53 ± 

Col 2-27-54 ± 

Col 12-18-54 a: 

ama UA 10- 9-54 ++ 

WB 2- 5-55 H 

la Col 2-27-54 ± 

UA 1-15-55 + 

UA 1- 1-55 + 

UA 1-30-54 + 

MGM 10- 9-54 H 

idy UA 4-17-54 ++ 

U-l 

MGM 

10-23-54 ± 

7-24-54 - 

LP 

AA 

AA 3-13-54 + 

la MGM 

Col 9-11-54 + 

I U-l 5-22-54 + 

Col 10-30-54 + 

LP 4-24-54 ± 

LP 

U-l 8- 7-54 + 

..aOth-Fox 11-27-54 - 

UA 12-25-54 + 

..20th-Fox 10-30-54 +f 

na AA 10- 9-54 + 

U-l 1- 9-54 ± 

1-23-54 + 

n WB 8-28-54 + 

) 

AA 7-17-54 * 

AA 

ma WB 1-16-54 + 

ma. I.F.E. 10-23-54 + 

ma. . 1- 1-55 H 

MGM 8-14-54 H 

8- 7-54 ff 

Col 8.21-54 - 

+ H 

± + 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ ++ 

+ 

+ ++ 

± + 

± + H 

+ + 

+ + 

+ + 

± + 

+ * 

H + 10+ 

± 5+5- 

:t + 7+5- 

+ ± fr+4- 

W :t H 13+1- 

ff 

+ 

+ + 

H + - 

H 

+ 9+ 

+ 7+3- 

4+1- 

+ 6+ 

± f+2- 

+ U+1- 

+ ^+1- 

+ * t+S- 

+ + 6+3- 

++ + + 

+ ± + 

+ + 

+ H 

+ ± ± 

+ i: 

+ ± + + ± 

- + 

± ± 7+3- 

+ ± 5+1- 

± + 7+3- 

± 4+5- 

3+6- 

7+1- 

8+ 

7+2- 

7+4- 

6+2- 

6+2- 

2+3- 

+ + 

6+ 

7+ 

++ ++ H ++ 4+ ++ 14+ 

+ »+2- 

++ H + 

11+ 

+ ± + - + + 5+3- 

. . Col

REVIEW DIGEST W very Good,- + Good,- ± Fair,- - poor; = very Poor. In fhe summary t+ is rated 2 pluses, = as 2 

xccl > 

a

. .Filmakers 

Good; — Fair; - Poor; ~ Very Poor. In the summary H is rotcd 2 pluses, — as 2 minuses. 

KtYltVw mUCt^l 

~ 

re 1 

> I b. 

•SS!Sl 

XOC ,0.3 

3E.— 

z o 

ima AA 3-27-54 ± + ± + ± + 6+3— 

..20th-Fo« 1- 8-55 -H + ++ If +f 4+ H 13+ 

..20th- Fox 4-10-54++ ++ + + ++ t| + ii+ 

..20th- Fox 6-19-54 ± ± ± + ± * * 7+6- 

9-11-54 ± + + + _:*: + 6+3— 

MGM 3-27-54 ± ± — + ± ± ± 6+6- 

UA + + 2+ 

Col 7-24-54+ ± + * ++ + ± 8+3- 

LP 12-19-53 + 

BnUry..UA 3-20-54 + + + 

- ± 3+2- 

H 5+ 

-RKO 12-25-54 + + ± ± + » 7+2- 

LP 

. .20th-Fox 

..20th- Fox 

..20th- Fox 

U-l 

Para 

Para 

Rep 

1 AA 

ama. . .UA 

MGM 

Ul 

U-l 

WB 

WB 

AA 

LP 

2- 5 

3-27 

7-24 

3-20 

7-24 54 ++ 

2-13 

1- 2 

7-17 

7- 3 54 + 

2-20 54 ++ 

10-23 54 + 

2- 6 

3-13 

7- 3 

2-13 

7-24 

. .20th-Fox 4-24 

Irama.RKO 11-28 

. .20th-Fox 5- 1 

MGM 9- 9 

UA 12-25 

isy Rep 9-25 

:ope).MGM 3- 6 

55 + 

54 ± 

54 + 

54 + 

54 ++ 

54 + 

54 ± 

54 + 

54 ± 

54 + 

54 ++ 

54 ± 

54++ + 

53 + + 

54 + ± 

54 + + 

54 + 

54 ± 

54 + 

+ 

^+ 

± 

+ 

^ 

H ++ 

++ + ++ 

± + + + 

H ++ -H -H- 

4+ ± + ++ 

± + 

+ + ++ 

+ 

+ 

+ + + 

zi: it + 

+ ± ++ 

+ + 

± ± + + 

++ 

+ 

+ 

± + 

+ tt 

1+ 

+ 9+ 

± 4+4- 

+t + 9+ 

± + 7+2- 

H H 14+ 

+ + 10+1- 

± 5+3- 

+ * 7+2- 

± 4+4- 

++ + 

H- + 

9+3- 

4+S- 

8+1- 

7+3- 

6+3- 

9+ 

5+3- 

tt tt + 10+ 

+ + + &+-1- 

5+4- 

7+1- 

++ ++++++++ 11+ 

+ + 4+5- 

+ + + 6+1- 

MGM 1- 9-54 ± ± ± + — ++ 

UA 2- 5-55 ± - - ± 

Para 8- 7-54 ++++++++++++ 

ma... RKO 3-20-54+ ± ± ± ± 

iry....lPC 4-17-54 + - 

Col 5-22-54+ ± + + + ± 

U-l 2-27-54 ± + ± + + + 

UA 3-20-54 + ± - — ± 

Para 5-22-54 + + ± ± + ± 

AA 8-21-54 - — * 

....I.F.E. 5-22-54 + ± ± ++ 

AA 

)3) 

MGM 6- 5-54 ++ + ++ + ++++ 

Rc» 10- 9-54 + ± ± + — * 

ly RKO 1-16-54 + ± ± + + ± 

Ren. 4- 6-54 ± 

UA 9-4-54+ ± ± + + ++ 

. .20th-Fox 3-20-54 ++ + ± + ++ + 

U-l 11-13-54 ++ + ++++++ ± 

LP 

lrama..WB 12-25-54 + * 

RKO 5-15-54- ± 

+ ++ 

± + 

+ 

- 

+ 

± 

LP 

ia....RKO 6-26-54+ ± ++ + ± 

UA 9-18-54 ± ++ + — * 

U-l 1-15-55+ ± + + + + 

Aitor 10-30-54 + * 

U-l 2-12-55 ± ± — + 

UA 11-20-54 ± — _ — 

»«ly.. U-l 11-20-54 + + + + ++++ 

UA 4-10-54+ *++ + + + 

Rep 2-12-55* ± 

Jiia....WB 10- 9-54 ++ ++++++++++ 

UA 10-30-54 — It — + + + 

±

I 

Desperado, 

. 

. .D. . 

. .M. . 

. 

. . . D 

I 

©aStudent 

. 

1 

mm mimE 

Feature 

E3 Seven Angry Men (90) D. .551 

ALLIED 

ARTISTS 

[6] Bowery Boys Meet the Monsters 

(66) C..5419 

Leo (jorcey, Huntz Hall. Laura Mason 

The (81) W. .5426 

Wayne Morris. Beverly Oarland. J. LydoD 

(72) D. .5432 

Ulynl5 .lobns. John Greeson. Slmone Sllva 

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

Jan Sterling. Neville Brajid. Kobert .\rthur 

\S Security Risk (69) D. .5417 

Jiilm Ireland, Dorothy Malone. Keith Larsen 

31 Weak and the Wicked, The 

to 

O 

< 

O 

> 

o 

UJ 

CO 

(-1 

LU 

o 

>- 

a: 

< 

g Killer Leopard (70) D. .5412 

Jtihriny iSIieffield, Beverly Garland 

S Jungle Gents (64) C . . 5420 

Leo Corcey, Huntz Hall. Laurette Luez 

HTwo Guns and o Bodge (69). .W. .5427 

Wayne Morris, Damian O'Flynn, R. Barcroft 

a Human Jungle, The (82) D. .5501 

CJary .Merrill. .Ian Sterling, Paula Raymond 

a Bob Mathios Story, The (80). .D. .5502 

Bol) Malhias. IJiane .lersens, Ward Bond 

J} Torget Earth (75) D. .5503 

Virginia Grey, Richard Denning, K. Crowley 

U Cry Vengeance (83) D. .5504 

.Marli Stevens, Marlha Hyer. Joan Vohs 

SI Port of Hell (80) D . . 5505 

Dane Clark, Carole Malheus. W. Morris 

M ©Tonight's the Night (88) . . . .C. .5506 

Yvonne lie Carlo, David .Nlven. B. Pltzgerald 

S) Bowery to Bagdad (64) C. .5421 

Leo Gurcey, Huntz Hall, Eric Blore 

M Treasure of the Ruby Hills (71). W. .5507 

Zachary Scott. Bart MacLane. C. Mathevis 

^ B Big Combo, The (89) D. .5508 

^ _ 

atj 

Cornel 

Dial 

Wilile, 

Red "O" 

Jejui 

(62) 

Wallace, Richard 

D 

Conte 

. . 5509 

iSill Elliot. Keith Larsen. Helene Stanley 

Of 

< 

S Murder Is My Beat (70) D..5510 

Barbara I'ayton, I'aul Langton, Selena Royle 

Raymond .Massey, Debra Paget, J. Hunter 

3 

COLUMBIA 

productions by company in order of release. Number in square is national release 

time is in parentheses. Letters ond combinations thereof indicate story type as follows: (C 

Dromo; (AD) Advcnture-Dramo; (CD) Comedy-Drama; (F) Fantasy; (M) Musical; (W) Wester 

western. Release number follows, tj denotes BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon Award Winner. 

C Color; \'' 3-D; Wide Screen. For review dates and Picture Guide poge numbers, see Revii 

Jungle Mon-Eoters (68) D. .707 

Johnny Weissmuller. Karm Booth, R. Stapley 

©Saracen Blade (76) D. .633 

Rlcardo Montalban, Betta St. John 

©Hell Below Zero (91) D..709 

.\lan Ladd. Joan Tetzel. Basil Sidney 

Indiscretion of an American 

Wife (63) D. .703 

Jennirer Jones. Montgomery Cllft, V. DeSlca 

©Outlaw Stallion (64) W. .705 

Phil Carey, Dorothy Patrick 

©Low vs. Billy the Kid, The 

(73) W..711 

Scott Brady. Betta St. John. Alan Hale jr. 

Pushover (88) D. .704 

Kreutll. Houard K 

i§ ©Her Twelve Men (9 

Greer Garson, Robert li 

EJ ©Betrayed (108) ., 

Lana Turner, Clark Gab 

^©Brigadoon (lOi 

Gene Kelly, Van Johns 

5 Rogue Cop (92) 

Robert Taylor, George R 

I^QBeou Brummell (1 

Elizalielb Taylor. Stevia 

©Athena (96) 

Jane Powell, Vic Damo 

©Lost Time I Sow F 

(116) 

Klizahetli Taylor. Van j 

m Crest of the Wove (' 

Gene Kelly. John Justir 

©Deep in My Heart 

Jose Ferrer, .Merle Obert 

3} ©Bad Day at Blocl 

Spencer Tracy, Robert R 

gS ©oGreen Fire ( 1 00) 

Stewart Granger. Grace I 

©Jupiter's Darling 

Esther Williams. Howare 

©oMony Rivers to C 

Eleanor Parker. Robert 

Blackboard Jungle, T 

Glenn Ford. Anne Franc 

QoHit the Deck (. . 

Jane Powell, Tony Mart 

. 

O 

O 

CAfricon Fury Doc. . 

OAnnopolis Story, The (8 1 ) . . . . D . . 55 1 

John Derek. Diana Lynn. Kevin McCarthy 

Big Tip Off (77) D. .5512 

Kichjrd Conte. Virginia Grey. Conslance Smith 

Cose of the Red Monkey D. . 

Richard Conle. Itona .Anderson 

Dork Venture D . . 

Fr.ink Loiejuy. Peggie Castle, Forrest Tucker 

High Society (61) C..5514 

Len (Inrcej. Huntz Hall. Amanda Blake 

Los Vegas Showdown D . 

Dennis o'Keefe. Coleen Gray, Oias. Wlnnlnger 

©Shotgun (80) D..5515 

sicrling llavden. Y. De Carlo, Z. Scott 

Sdv Chasers C. 

©Coine Mutiny, The (125) D. .701 

Humphrey Bogart. Van Jolmson. Jose Ferrer 

Cangaceiro (Bandit, The) (92).. D.. 

Albirto l^lschel. .MarLsa Prade. M. Idbelro 

End of the Affair, The D. . 

DelM)rah Kerr. Van Ji.hrison. J()hn Mills 

©Gun Thot Won the West D. . 

Dennis .Morgan. Paula liavmoiid. R. Denning 

©czMon From Laramie, The. . 

©My Sister Eileen MC. 

James Stewart. Cathy OI>onnell. Donald Crljp 

Janet Leigh. Jack I.emmon. Betty Garrett 

©Priie of Gold D. . 

Richard Wiibnark, Mai Zetlerling 

©Three for the Show (93). . 

RellV Grnltll' M.ttiTC :ttni r.,iu',>r PVi.imnUn 

! Glass Tomb, The ( . . ) 

.5409 

John Ireland 

Lonesome Trail, The (. .) W. .5416 

John Agar. Wajne .Morris, Margia Dean 

Phantom of the Jungle AD. . 

Jon Hall. Itiy .Montgomery. Anne t^vynne 

. 

©Bedeviled 

Anne Baxter, Steve Forr 

©Gloss Slipper, The. 

Leslie Caron, Michael Wi 

©olnterrupted Melod 

Eie.iiior I'.irker. Glenn F 

©Invitotion to the D< 

Gene Kelly. BelHa. Tam 

©It's Alwoys Fair W 

Gene Kelly. C\t\ Chariss( 

©CDKing's Thief, The 

.\nn Bi>tii. 1-MniuTUl Ptir( 

©Love Me or Leove 

Doris Day. James Cagney. 

©Moonflect 

Steu;irl Gr;iiii'cr Viiifj 1

RKO RADIO 1 |o 

FEATURE 

CHART

. 

. 

. 

1 

11 

i 

FEATURE 

CHART 

UNITED 

ARTISTS 

QChollenge the Wild (72) ... Doc. .5422 

HuiiK tiraium .iihl Faniili' 

Kobson's Choice il07) C. . 

Charks Laugblon. John Mills. Brenda De Banzic 

©Gog (85) 

D..5423 

KicharJ Kgan, Constance DoiHing. U. Marshall 

©Mon With a Million (90) C. . 

Uregory Peck, Jaiio Uriffithi, .\. E. Matthews 

©Adventures of Robinson 

Crusoe (90) D. . 

Pan Ollerlihy. Jamei FeraDdez, C. Lopez 

©Apoche (90) W. .5427 

Bun Lanc:isltr, Jean I'eters 

Lowless Rider, The (62) W. .5431 

Johnny Carijcnttr, Frankie Darro 

©Return to Treasure Island (75) D. .541/ 

Tab Hunter, Da»d .\ddams, James Seay 

©Crossed Swords (85) D. .5334 

Errol Klynn. Uina Lollobrielda 

Diamond Wizard, The (83) D. .5432 

Dennis U'Keefe, .Margaret Sheridan 

Down Three Dark Streets 

(85) D..5433 

Broilcrick Craiiford, Kitth Roman. .Martha Hyer 

Molto Story, The (103) D. .5429 

Guinness. Jack llaokins. Flora Robson 

.\lec 

Victory at Sea (97) Doc. 

©Jesse James' Women (83) . . . W . .5435 

Hon B,:rry, Vmx Castle. Jack Bcutel 

©Golden Mistress, The (82). . . .D. .5437 

Jcilin A;.ir. Kosemarie Bone. Kiki 

GKhyber Patrol (71) D..5419 

Egan, Uavvn .\ddams, Patric Knowles 

IticlKiril 

Suddenly (77) 

. .D. .5436 

Frank Sinatra. Sterling Hayden, Nancy Gates 

. 

Borefoot Contesso, The (128) D. .5440 

Humphrey Bogart, Ava Gardner, E. O'Brien 

1 3 Little Kidnoppers, The (93) . D. .5439 

.\drienne Corrie. J. Whitley. V. Winter 

Operation Manhunt (77) D..544I 

Uarrv Toincs. Irja Jensen. J. Aubuchon 

©aSitting Bull ( 1 05) W . . 5434 

Kale Robertson, J. Carrol Naish 

Shield for Murder (82) D . 

Edraond O'Brien, .Maria English 

Snow Creoture (70) D . . 5447 

Liii.;tun, Leslie Denlson 

I'aul 

Twist of Fate (89) D..5446 

Gin^'er Rogers. .lacnnes Bergcrac, Herbert Lom 

©White Orchid, The (81) D. .5414 

William Lundist.in. Peggie Castle 

©You Know What Sailors Are 

(89) C. .5445 

©Romeo and Juliet (140) D..5449 

Laurence Harvey, Flora Robison, S. Shentall 

Steel Coge, The (80) D. .5443 

I'aul Kelly, .M. O'SuUivan, W. Slezak 

Battle Toxi (82) AD. .5502 

Sterling Hayden, Arthur Franz, M. Thompson 

©Beochcombcr, The (82) D. .5501 

Kcilwrl .NcMton. Glynis Johns. Donald Sinden 

Block Tuesday (80) D. .5450 

E. G. Robinson, Jean Parker, Peter Graves 

©Vero Cruz (94) AD.. 5448 

Gary Cooper, Burl Lancaster, Denise Darcel 

Canyon Crossroads (..) W. . 

Richard B.iseharl. Phyllis Kirk, Russell Collins 

Good Die Young, The ( 1 00) . . . . D . . 

John Ireland. Gloria Grahame, L. Harvey 

OSoboko (81) 

D.. 

Boris Karloft. Victor Jory. B. Denny 

©oGentlcmen Morry Brunettes M. . 

Jane Russell. Jeanne Crain. Scott Brady 

©aKentucklon, The D . . 

Burt Lancastir. liiana Lynn. L'na Merkel 

©Lilacs in the Spring M.. 

Night of the flunter D. . 

Rulitrt Mitihiim. Sin. ley Winters. Uilian Gish 

Not As a Stranger D. . 

IlohiTt Mitchum. Olivia de Havilland. F. Sinatra 

Othello 

D.. 

Orson Welles. Suzanne Cloutler, Fay Comptnn 

©Purple Plain, The D. .5503 

Gret'iry Peck, B. De Banzic. Win MIn Ilia 

©Star of Indio D. 

Corntl Wilili-. .Ii.in Wallace. Herbert Lom 

©Stronger on Horseback M. . 

UNIVERSAL-INT'L. 

Block Horse Canyon (82) D. .423 

Joel Mifrea. Mari Blanchard, .Murvyn Eye 

©Drums Across the River (78).SW. .422 

Audie Murpby. Lisa Gaye, Walter Brcnnan 

Always o Bride (83) C..485 

Peggy Cummins, Terence .Morgan, Ronald Squire 

©Johnny Dork (85) D. .424 

Tony Curtis. Piper Laurie, Ilka Chase 

Tangonyiko (81) AD. .425 

Van Uellin, Ruth Roman. Honard Duff 

Francis Joins the WACs (95). . .C. .427 

Donald O'Connor. Julia Adams, Zasu Pitts 

{^©Magnificent Obsession (108).D. .428 

Jane Wyman. Rock Hudson. Otto Kruger 

©oBlock Shield of Folworth, 

The (100) D..430 

Tonv Curtis. Janet Leigh 

©Dawn at Socorro (80) D. .431 

Rory Callioun. Piper Laurie. David Brian 

High and Dry (93) .C. . .486 

Paul Douglas. .\les MacKenzie, J. Copeland 

Naked Alibi, The (86) D. .431 

Sterling Hayden, Gloria Grahame, Gene Barry 

©Bengal Brigade (87) D. .434 

Rock Hudson, .\rlene Dahl, Ursula Theiss 

©Four Guns to the Border (87). .V^'. .502 

Kory Calhuun. Colleen Miller. G. Nader 

Ricochet Romance (80) C. .504 

Marjorie Main. Chill Wills, Rudy Vallee 

©Sign of the Pogon (92) D. .505 

Jeff Chandler, Jane Russell, Dan Duryea 

©Yellow Mountain, The (78) W. .510 

Lex Marker, Mala Powers. Howard Duff 

©Destry (91) W. .508 

Audit .Murphy. .Marl Blanchard. Lyle Bettger 

©So This Is Paris (96) MC..507 

Tony Curtis. Corinne Calvet. Gene Nelson 

©West of Zonzibor (83) D. .501 

Antbony Steel. Sbeila Sim 

AbboH and Costello Meet the 

Keystone Kops (80) C..513 

Abhoit and Costello. Lynn Bar! 

©For Country, The (97) D..511 

James Stenart, Ruth Roman, Walter Brennan 

Six Bridges to Cross (99) D. .512 

Tony Curtis, Julia Adams, George Nader 

©oCoptoin Lightfoot (. .) D. . 

Rock Hud.-on. Barbara Rush. Jeff Morrow 

©Land of Fury (..) D.. 

Jack Han kins, Glynis Johns, Noel PurccU 

©Smoke Signol (89) W. .516 

Dana Andrews, Piper Laurie, William Talman 

©Ain't Misbehovin' M. 

Piper Laurie. Rory Calhoun, Jack Carson 

©ciChief Crazy Horse SW. . 

Victor Mature. Suzan Ball. John Lund 

©Foxfire D . . 

Jell Chandler, J.ine Russell, Dan Duryea 

©Lady Godivo of Coventry D. . 

.Maureen d'Hara, George Nader. V. McLlglen 

Mo and Po Kettle Go to Waikiki.C. . 

Mar-orie .Main, Percy Kilbride, Lori Nelson 

©Mon From Bitter Ridge, The. ,W. . 

Lex Barker, Mara Corday, Stephen McNally 

©Man Without o Star D. . 

Kirk liuuslas. Jeanne Crain, Claire Trevor 

>C Revenge of the Creature D. . 

John .\gar. Lori Nelson 

WARNER BROS. 

m Them! (94) D . 

James Whitmore, Joan Weldon, 

. 328 

Bdmund Gwcnn 

d &i©oHigh and the Mighty, 

The (147) D. 

John Wayne, Claire Trevor. Laraine Day 

329 

II OeoRing of Fear (93) D. .330 

Pat O'Brien. Clyde Beatty, Mickey Spillane 

[7] ©cKing Richard and the 

Crusaders (113) D. .331 

Virginia Mayo, Rex Harrison. Laurence Harvey 

g]]©Duel in the Jungle (102) D. .332 

Dana Andrews. Jeanne Grain, David Farrar 

(3 ©Dragnet (90) D. .401 

Jack Webb. Ben Alexander, Ann Robinson 

g| ©Bounty Hunter, The (79) SW. .402 

Randolph Scott, .Marie Windsor, D. Dorn 

El©[z3Drum Beat (111) W. .404 

Alan Ladd. Audrey Dalton. Marisa Pavan 

©nTrock ofthe Cat 

1 

(102) AD. .405 

Robert Mitchum. Uiiina Lynn. Teresa Wright 

[i] ©Young at Heart (117) MC-D..409 

Doris Day. Frank Sinatra. E. Barrymore 

m ©aStor Is Born, A ( 

1 54) MD . 

Judy Garland. James Mason, Jack Carson 

[I)©aSilver Cholice, The (137) D. .408 

Virginia Mayo, Jack Palance. Pier Angeli 

ii Unchained (75) D..4I2 

Chester Morris, Barbara Hale, Elroy HJrscb 

SI ©aBoHle. Cry (148) D. .41 

Van Hcflin. Aldo Hay. Tab Hunter 

H New York Confidential (87) D..413 

Brod Crawford, Anne Bancroft, Richard Conte 

©oEost of Eden D. . 

Julie Harris, James Dean, Raymond Massey 

©Helen of Troy D . 

Rossana Podesta. Jacques Sernas, C. Hardwicke 

©Land of the Phoraohs D. . 

Jack Hawkins, Dewey Martin 

©Mr. Roberts C. . 

Henry Fond.i. James Cacney, William Powell 

^McConnell Story, The D. 

Alan Ladd, June Ailyson, James Whitmore 

©Moby Dick D. . 

Gregory Peck. R. Basehart, Orson Welles 

River Changes, The D. . 

Rossana Rory. Haral .M.lresch 

©Sea Chose, The D. . 

John Wayne, Lana Turner. Tab Hunter 

MISCELLANEOUS 

AMERICAN RELEASIt 

Fast and Furious i74) 

John htland. Dorothy .Mai 

ASTOR 

DISTRIBUTORS 

Sleeping Tiger, The (8! 

.Vlexis Smith, Alexander K 

BUENA VISTA 

©Living Desert, The 

©Vonishing Prairie ^7 

©20,000 Leagues Ur 

Sea (128) 

Kirk Douglas, James Masoi 

CARROLL 

Four Ways Out (77). . 

Gina Loilohri;:ida. Renato 

©Out of This World ( 

Loai-11 Iliomas. Luueil II 

CORF 

©Hunters of the Deep 

©Long John Silver 

Itulnit NtAton, Kit Tayloi 

FILMAKERS 

Private Hell 36 (81). 

Stcu Coi'iiran, Ida Luplno 

HALLMARK 

Halfway to Hell (61). 

iNarr;ition liy Qut-ntin Reji 

OKaramojo (63) . . . . 

LF.E. 

(American Dialog) 

Aide (110) 

Supliia Lort-n, Lois Maxvi 

Breod, Love and Dreoi 

Vittoriu (if Sica. Gina Lc 

QGolden Coach, The 

I 

.\nii.i M.it-'riani. LuiniMii L 

Hell Raiders of the 

(93) 

Eleonora Kossi Drago, Pi 

Love in the City (U 

Sensuolito (74) 

Elf'imora I{o

; and 

! most 

1 only 

jrrent Productions 

— 

r tvmrt 'm\m% 

117 Minutes 

Ratio: 

2.55-1 

Rel. 

Drami 

(Cinemascope, 

WarnerColor) 

s millions have read the John Steinbeck 

imbers of other persons have heard it 

r quite got around to perusing it, perhaps 

[cet to report in a consideration of the 

s to answer the question that has been 

3 be asked by both theatremen and their 

3. That universal and entirely undersland- 

V can they make a picture out of it after 

5 sex, vice and licentiousness?" 

ade a picture out of it, a superb, gripping, 

ama that could be safely assayed as a 

even vîlhout calculating on the limitless 

ice created by the • 

above mentioned 

hen both are contemplated—the film's 

its genesis—there is no estimating 

3 in capacity, extended-run showings, 

no small importance to those who have 

Lire might be subject to censorship—the 

lins nothing that could be even slightly 

fastidious or prudish moviegoer, 

e is made to prostitution—which figured 

le original—is in impeccable good taste 

of all 

sensationalism. 

s of what many considered a salacious 

:nd magnificent motion picture is attrib- 

;ments. In the first place, the masterful 

It playwright, Paul Osborn, wisely con- 

)roximately only the last quarter of the 

5 story just before America's entry into 

the 

Trask twins were approaching their 

f them, Cal—the "bad 'un"—began to 

ler they had never known was not dead 

brothel in a neighboring city. From that 

reenplay adheres closely to 

Steinbeck's 

t, atmosphere, situations and dialog. 

:nd tastes will determine what element 

the greatest credit for the photoplay's 

-the monumental original yarn; Elia 

aountings, including CinemaScope and 

so authentically reflect the aura and 

rca and locale, and his superior piloting, 

!Ctorial touches that they defy enumera- 

)f topflight performances. Inasmuch as 

ed, per se for a portion, at least, of the 

logical thai his should be the 

eaming kudos. 

irtlingly evident—Kazan fits Steinbeck 

)ve. Realistic chronicling of life's seamy 

ecognized forte, v/hile the director has 

itact with material in that category 

Desire," for example. That commonwas 

undoubtedly a potent catalyst in 

e novel to celluloid. 

ip through the starring roles, port.-ayals 

;s, despite which keen competition for 

jspian contribution by youthful James 

I picture role—as the wayward, rebelsuch 

a standout that it will cause both. 

5 to clamor for his early and often 

Dean, Raymond Massey, Burl Ives, 

Van Fleet, Albert Delcker, Lois Smith. 

Captain Lightfoot 

p* Ratio: Adventure Drama 

'• 

2.55-1 (Cinemascope, 

... . „.,.., (Technicolor) 

Umv.-Int 1 rS14) 92 Minutes Rel. March '55 

A robust and fast-moving historical adventure lale, photographed 

in its entirely against the backgrounds of Ireland's 

picturesque castles and rolling countryside, this is by far the 

best of Universal's three CinemaScope features to date. Rock 

Hudson,' now at the peak of his boxoliice draw, is eminently 

suited in both build and brawn to play the colorful title role. 

With the popularity of the W. R Burnett novel, plus Barbara 

Rush, who was teamed with Hudson in "Magnificent Obsession" 

and who has developed into a capable actress who 

gives a spirited portrayal of an Irish rebel's daughter, as 

additional selling angles, the picture is made to order for the 

action devotees and should make a strong entry generally. 

Jeff Morrow gives a vivid performance as Captain Thunderbolt. 

Well produced by Ross Hunter and directed at a fast 

pace by Douglas Sirk, the story is built lo a stirring and 

suspenseful climax. Irving Glassberg merits special praise 

for his superb photography. 

Author Burnett prepared his own screenplay with Oscar 

Brodney. In the Ireland of more than a century ago, the 

Free Irish rebels are seething against the tyrannical English 

rule. Rock Hudson, one of a patriotic group, ambushes a 

carriage carrying an English lord and, later, he holds up a 

high steward with a bag full of rent collections. Although 

Hudson turns over the money to the Free Irish Society, he is 

a marked man and he is almost captured until a par-son, 

who hides him, reveals himself as Captain 'Thunderbolt! 

Ireland's greatest rebel. Thunderbolt takes a liking to Hudson 

and dubs him Captain Lightfoot, his second in command. He 

prepares him for his new role and then takes Hud.-on to 

Dublin, where Thunderbolt operates a gambling eolablishment 

presided over by Kathleen Ryan, who is guardian for 

his daughter, Barbara Rush. When a rival gambling house 

owner has Thunderbolt's place raided, he is wounded and 

Hudson is delegated to take command. When Thunderbolt 

is captured by the British, Hudson tries to free him and is 

himself taken prisoner and sentenced to death. But the Free 

Irish storm the prison, Hudson gains his freedom and wins 

Barbara as his bride. 

Rock Hudson, Barbara Rush, Jeff Morrow, Kathleen Ryan, 

Finlay Currie. Denis O'Dea. Goeiirey Toone. 

CATCHLINES: 

Their Love Was Like a Hungry Flame Sweeping the Wind- 

Lashed Moors of Old Ireland . . . Virile Rock Hudson, Beautiful 

Barbara Rush—Together Again in a Vibrant Drama. 

The Glass Slipper 

T? Ratio: Fantasy 

^ 1.75-1 (Eastman Color) 

MGM (522) 94 Minutes Rel. 

Industry statisticians unci v:b'>. dly could inform anyone 

sufficiently curious as to the exact number of times the 

original story of "Cinderella" has been made into a motion 

picture. None, however, would even undertake to estimate 

how many thousands of times its basic plot situation has 

furnished the foundation for other features. This pleasant 

parcel of buffoonery, ballet and ballad, while a filmization of 

the more conventional former, incorporates some of the 

facets of the multitudinous latter, which merging of proven 

modus operandi brings forth an offering whose resultant 

dual appeal should be strong assurance of praise and profits, 

a guarantee that is further underwritten by its productional, 

thespian and directorial elegance. 

At first blush, it might appear a bit superfluous to add 

touches of whimsy to a fairy tale. But that is exactly what 

is done in the cleverly-contrived screenplay by Helen Deulsch, 

who supplied also the ballet librettos and lyrics. Her 

capricious treatment of the time-honored tale manifests itself 

in situations, development and dialog. Illustrative is the 

fact that there is no fairy godmother, per se. but instead an 

addle-pated kleptomaniac—delightfully performed by Estelle 

Winwood—whose penchant for pilfering makes it possible 

for li'l Ella to attend the ball. And it is the interpolation of 

similar whimsicalities that creates logical opportunities which 

were accorded toplining Leslie Caron to display the terpsichorean 

talents that were her initial claim to lame before 

earlier screen appearances (p.-incipally "Lili") won her 

equally exalted status as an acJress. 

The same effective producer-director team, Edwin H. Knopf 

and Charles Walters, that brought "Lili" to the screen 

imprei-arioed "The Glass Slipper," a credit not to be ignored 

— :slor.g with color, cast ond theme—in evaulating and 

merchnndifing the picture. 

Leslie Caron, Michael Wilding. Keenan Wynn. Estelle 

Winwood. Elsa Lanchesler. Barry Jones, Amanda Blake. 

CATCHLINES: 

i

. . Love 

. . Two 

. . . Becomes 

. . And 

REVIEWS 

Adiines for Newspaper and P 

Timberjack ] 

Republic ( ) 94 ^4inutes 

Ratio: 

1.S5-1 

Outdoor Drama 

(Trucolor) 

Rel. Feb. 28, '55 

Although cut from a familiar pattern and containing stock 

characters, this outdoors action melodrama is ideal fare for 

the action spots and, with Sterling Hayden, Vera Ralston 

end David Brian for marquee names, will make a strong entry 

in any situation. Hoagy Carmichael and his several songs 

offer an added selling angle. 

Photographed in Trucolor in Glacier National Park and 

western Montana, with its magnificent rriountain backgrounds, 

the picture is a scenic treat and the color also 

enhances the period settings and Miss Ralston's dance-hall 

costumes. She gives a capable portrayal and sings "What 

Ev'ry Young Girl Should Know" in spirited fashion, but the 

best number is the title tune, sung mostly as background 

music. Hayden is a virile, two-fisted hero who engages in 

several realistic set-tos and Brian is adequate as the ruthless 

operator who stops at nothing to gain his ends. Adolphe 

Menjou contributes a colorful characterization while Chill 

V/ills and Jim Davis have little more than bits. Directed by 

Joe Kane. A Herbert J. Yates presentation, there is no producer 

credit. 

Sterling Hayden returns to his native Montana when he 

learns his father met with a fatal accident and he suspects 

David Brian, ruthless owner of a logging company. Hayden's 

former sweetheart, Vera Ralston, is owner and star of a 

de luxe bar frequented by the timberjocks. When Hayden 

starts to carry on his father's timberland interests, Brian has 

him brutally beaten up and later he also kills Adolphe 

Menjou, Vera's father, when the latter tips off Hayden about 

a crooked deal. Vera then openly accuses Brian of the 

murder and he also tries to kill her. Hayden rescues her 

and, in a showdown gunfight with Brian, he eme/ges victorious. 

With Hayden's timberland restored to him. Vera 

marries him and gives up her cabaret. 

Sterling Hayden, Vera Ralston. David Brian, Adolphe 

Menjou, Hoagy Carmichael, Chill Wills, Jim Davis. 

CATCHLINES: 

Lusty, Rousing, Robust Adventure . and Hate in 

the Timber Country of the Great Northwest . Men 

Loved Her, but Her Heart Was Unable to Choose . . . High 

Adventure, Rousing Action, Lusty Songs. 

Jungle Gents 

Allied Artists (5420) 

64 Minutes 

Ratio: 

1.851 

Comedy 

Rel. Sept. 5, '54 

As the title of the piece reveals, this chapter in the venerable 

saga of those rowdy roustabouts, the Bowery Boys, 

takes the lods into the wilds of darkest Africa—a situation 

which leads to the expected flow of a stream of gags and 

malapropisms in which Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall and company 

are specialists. In most respects the entry averages out 

favorably in comparison with its many predecessors, which 

is by way of saying that in those markets where the roisterous 

ragamuffins are presold favorites the picture should serve 

dependably as a supporting booking. Additionally, the title 

and backgrounds can supply ingredients for low-cost exploitation 

in situations where theatremen find it worthwhile to 

expend merchandising efforts on secondary features. 

Physical mountings as supplied by Ben Schwalb, who 

produced, are adequate, the obviously modest budget having 

been bolstered through inclusion of some stock jungle footage, 

and there is a measure of glamor in the casting of curvaceous 

Laurette Luez as a sort of feminine Tarzan who—preposterous 

as it may appear—falls in love with Hall. Edward Bernds, 

who collaborated with Elwood Ullman on the script, also 

directed in standard fashion, allowing the players plenty of 

free rein for their uninhibited style of comedy. 

When it is discovered that Huntz has a miraculous olfactory 

sense—he can smell diamonds—he and his pals proceed to 

Africa, where they are hired to find a fortune in stolen gems. 

On the safari Hall accidentally burns the treasure map. 

Lost in the jungles, the boys are rescued by Laurette, who 

leads them to the cache, and despite traps set by assorted 

villains and unfriendly natives who are also after the horde, 

wind up with the loot and head for home. 

Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Laurette Luez, Bernard Gorcey, 

Patrick O'Moore, Rudolph Anders, Harry Cording. 

kard 

iward 

.n Mc 

z5 

10 

New York Confidential F 

Ratio: 

1.S5-1 

Warner Bros. (413) 

87 Minutes 

Rel. Mar 

Although the widely read book of the same title h 

Lait and Lee Mortimer, the revelations by the Kefauver 

investigating committee and years of screaming hei 

should have conditioned the public to many of its a 

startling and sometimes frightening is this expertly coi 

semidocumentary expose of the farreaching, powerfu 

less ramifications of syndicate crime in America. Bu' 

moviegoers may be shocked and alarmed by its 

ofttimes violent contents, they nonetheless will . 

fascinating package of celluloid and should flock 

it in formidable enough numbers to assure success 

vit 

fini 

feature in all of its bookings. Its financial promise is 

assured by the occupancy of the starring spots by a 

of well established troupers whose names should 

prominently in merchandising the picture. All of themable 

direction—as well as the members of a long and 

supporting cast are to be credited with praisewort? 

formances, admirably restrained considering the soe 

lurid subject matter they delineate. 

According to the main title, the Lait-Mortimer tome 

"suggested" the movie, and obviously other facets 

theme stemmed also from factual sources. But thei 

still room for ample literary and/or dramatic license, 

structing the resultant part-fact-part-fiction screenplay 

ence Greene and Russell Rouse adroitly kept th 

situations, characterizations and dialog within beli 

bounds, seldom sacrificing motivation and reality 

sole sake of sensationalism. Their credit is made th' 

lustrous because they respectively produced and d 

the Edward Small production—sterling accomplishmc 

both counts. 

The yarn it unfolds concerns the machinations, 

international scale, of a crime syndicate of which Br 

Crawford is the leader, and how it is finally smashed 

Broderick Cravrford, Richard Conte, Marilyn Ma> 

Anne Bancroft, J. Carrol Naish, Onslow Stevens 

CATCHLINES: 

One of the Most Startling and Shocking Books of 0\. 

a Jolting Screen Expose ... Of the Intern 

Jungles of Crime . the Men Who Live by Mun 

And Worse. 

The Big Combo A ^^- 

Allied Artists (5508) 89 Minutes Rel Feb. 

Due to the marquee magnetism of its male topline 

the exploitable promise of its title, this mobster melc 

should attract customers, but it will please only tho; 

strong stomachs and a liking for screen fare with ! 

overtones. There are enough of that class of ticket 

in many situations to assure profitable patronage 

feature, if theatremen exercise good judgment as tc 

and with what the picture is booked and how it i 

chandised. 

The more sedate and demanding fans are almost 

to find the offering objectionable on two counts: In 

of the yarn's developments treating with the ] 

inability to cope with gang rule, plausibility is stra: 

the breaking point, and there is excessive and unnei 

violence and brutality, to such a degree that at t: 

becomes revolting. Despite these script excesses, th 

erally competent cast delivers individual and co 

satisfactory performances, in which accomplishment 

doubtlessly aided by the direction of Joseph Lewis. Pr 

independently by Sidney Harmon, the film is adec 

mounted and its technical details are subject to nc 

criticism. Had Philip Yordan displayed more restrai 

consistency in concocting the screenplay, the offering 

have rated much better in its ever-present category. 

Cornel Wilde, a detective lieutenant, is assigned Ic 

up the crime syndicate, headed by Richard Conte, 

costs. There are two chinks in Conte's armor: His girl 

Jean Wallace, is trying to break away from him, a 

lieutenant, Brian Donlevy, knows that Conte not onl 

murderer but has committed his (Conte's) wife to an 

to silence her about his past. When Wilde fin 

imprisoned wife the case begins to break and, de: 

blood-purge inaugurated by Conte, the gangster is t 

and arrested. 

Cornel Wilde, Richard Conte. Brian Donlevy, Jean 

lace, Robert Middlelon, Lee Van Cleef, Earl Holli 

CATCHLINES:

! intelligence 

; physique 

I 

. . 

rent Productions 

— 

mmrii nimm 

ien Jungle F 

72 Minutes 

Ratio: 

1.331 

ReL 

Adventure 

Drama 

, it's still the same ol' synthetic jungle. 

e, the same sound effects and, largely, 

e highlighted countless predecessors in 

5 venerable series treating with the 

Edgar Rice Burroughs' ape man. But 

mething has been added: Nothing less 

rzan to follow in the footsteps of such 

ny WeissmuUer and Lex Barker, 

nable assumption that, as a result of 

m, fans of the Tarzan epics and the 

them should be more interested in the 

that another one of his 

their way. He's one Gordon Scott, a 

1—and what musclesl—adequately 

to succeed Johnny and Lex. 

ig personality and is handsome enough 

is" among the femme Tarzan addicts 

)t he can act (who expects a Tarzan to 

reveal. In his debut, Scott understandscious, 

displaying a propensity toward 

= wrong places. But experience and 

Id, in time, overcome this flaw. 

r content the film boasts is, as usual, 

chimpanzee pal, in this instance Zippy, 

nored Cheta, who probably has longvale 

of tears or the simian facsimile 

supporting cast, screenplay, mountings 

[1 and technical details, they are about 

heating that the feature can expect the 

ticket buyers as has been the lot of 

jungle—hidden or otherwise. Directed 

Miles, Peter Van Eyck, Jack Elam. 

:hs, Richard Reeves, Don Beddoe. 

iga of the Mightiest Jungle Adventurer 

zan of the Apes ... In the Persori of 

x)tt . Latest and Greatest to Unders 

. . 

Packed With the Furious 

Excitement 

Paris 

F 

Ratio: 

Standard 

Comedy 

103 Minutes Rel. March '55 

stently amusing British-made comedy 

is, this has several familiar cast names 

s to attract general audiences. In addileading 

lady in Chaplin's "Limelight," 

y, who recently attracted attention in 

le Crusaders" and "Romeo and Juliet," 

id Margaret Rutherford are becoming 

their many British films. Although these 

bigger draw in the art spots, the» title 

ressed in almost any situation, 

natole dfe Grunewald and directed by 

ture deals with the weekend adventures 

s and is necessarily somewhat episodic 

en a pompous British diplomat, superbly 

a young girl who has an affair with a 

than with the other passengers, who 

nale artist and a dour young Scotsman. 

e episodes is typical and filled with 

al color. The crowded streets and siden, 

as well as the famous nightclubs, 

in club and a Montmartre spot with its 

ncers. 

1 number of British subjects arrives in 

Uastair Sim, who is there to attend a 

are pleasure-bent. Claire Bloom finds 

, 

ile-aged Frenchman, Claude Dauphin; 

elderly artist, sells one of her paintings; 

ids his entire Parisian weekend in a 

e has an affair with a handsome waiter; 

:otsman, meets a French girl and Roland 

nes bandsman, unveils a statue. Tudor 

., New York City. 

air Sim, Margaret Rutherford, Claude 

e, Laurence Harvey, Jinuny Edwards. 

Paris—From Its 

.> T^ , Tir 

Garrets 

t 1 

to 

:_ 

Its 

/^ 

Gilded 

n 

f.-i' 

Land of Fury 

Univ.-Int'l (509) 

F 

82 Minutes 

Ratio: 

1.66-1 

Adventure Drama 

(Technicolor) 

ReL March '55 

The exotic paganism of the Maori tribesmen of New 

Zealand, too little known to American audiences, and the 

bold adventurous spirit of those first English pioneers ISO 

years ago, somewhat comparable to our own movement west 

against the Indians, is excitingly and colorfully captured in 

this British-made feature, filmed on location in the lush 

scenic splendor of the Antipodes. The plot itself, spotty from 

loo many undeveloped sequences and frequently lacking 

cohesion, is principally offset by this finely photographed 

setting, print by Technicolor, and the primitive rites of the 

aborigines, portrayed by a better than average combination 

native and British cast. 

While the. cast presents a marquee weakness and will 

necessitate added exploitation effort, the leads. Jack Hawkins 

and Glynis Johns, who are familiarly known to art house 

patrons, offer saleable name-value. An unknown, however, 

worthy of some attention from the sex approach, is the 

German-Javanese Layi Raki, who performs a far more exciting 

dance, from its pagan savagery, than the well-known 

and well-publicized sequence of Jane Russell in "The French 

Line." This dance and the romance of strange savages in a 

strange land offer the best promotional potentials, the latter, 

possible travel agency tieins. 

British seaman Jack Hawkins, befriended and given some 

land by a local chief, ably played by Maori operatic singer 

Inia Te Wiata, returns as the first settler in New Zealand 

with his wife Glynis Johns to start a new life after he has 

been unjustly cashiered from service. With Noel Purcell, an 

old sailor who was discharged with Hawkins, the three clear 

the land and begin a settlement. A dalliance with Miss Raki, 

the chief's wife, and the rivalry between two tribes, results 

in the destruction of the community, but the infant son of 

the British couple lives to be brought up by the chief as a 

symbol of peace between the two races. 

A J. Arthur Rank Organization production, the feature was 

produced by George H. Brown and directed by Ken Annakin, 

with the screenplay by William Fairchild. 

lack Hawkins, Glynis Johns, Noel Purcell, Layi Raki, 

Inia Te Wicrta. 

CATCHLINES: 

They Conquered a Lost World of Exotic Splendor . . . Timeless 

and Terrible . . . Man's Last Pagan Wilderness . 

Filmed Among the Awesome Wonders of New Zealand. 

The Game of Love 

A 

Ratio: 

DrjRia 

Standard 

Times Film Corp. 

108 Minutes ReL — 

Claude Autant-Lara, the French director who made the 

daring and controversial, "Devil in the Flesh," which was 

banned in many spots, has made another film dealing with 

adolescent love which many will consider even more shocking 

than the earlier film. Ol course, it is strictly adult fare 

and has been condemned by the Catholic Legion of Decency 

as "seriously offending Christian and traditional standards 

of morality and decency.' 

However, it should be a strong entry for the art houses, 

where the French author Colette, who wrote the original 

novel, "Le Ble en Herbe," on which the film is based; the 

star, Edwige Feuillere, and Autant-Lara will all be selling 

points. 

Although the episode where a sophisticated woman gives 

a 16-year-old boy his first sex experience is handled with 

delicacy and good taste, it will cause some eyebrow lifting 

from siraight-laced patrons. The other romantic scenes 

between the boy and his 15-year-old girl friend are delightfully 

done and both Nicole Berger, a flaxen-haired young 

charmer, and Pierre-Michel Beck, as the wiry, nervous 

youngster just becoming aware of love, contribute memorable 

performances as does Miss Feuillere, as the amorous, lonesome 

matron. 

Pierre-Michel Beck and his 15-year-old playmate, Nicole 

Berger, have met every summer and act as brother and 

sister until the girl becomes quarrelsome and jealous of his 

attention to other girl visitors. Pierre-Michel meets and 

becomes fascinated by Edwige Feuillere. a handsome young 

matron who welcomes his admiration and finally has an 

affair with him—the boys first. Nicole is tormented by the 

boy's behavior but. when the woman sends him away, the 

youngsters drift into their first real love alfai.-. When the 

summer is over they bid each other goodbye, realizing that 

they are on the road to maturity A Franco-London production. 

Times is at 144 V/est 57lh St , 

New York City, 

Pierre-Michel Bock, Edwige Feuillere. Nicole Berger. 

Charles Deschomps. Renee Devillers. Louis De Funes. 

CATCHLINES:

REVIEWS 

Adiines for Newspaper and F 

SHORT SUBJECTS 

SHORTS 

(Continued) 

Siam 

Buena Vista (People and Places Featurelte) 32 Mins. 

Very good. The second of V/alt Disney's new series, 

"People and Places," is a superlative and extremely entertaining 

travel documentary, far better than any travel short 

within memory. An intimate glimpse of that fascinating 

land of heavy rain in the farmlands and glittering pageantry 

fn the capital, Bangkok, it will be a strong addition to any 

program and rates marquee billing as a second feature in 

many spots. The story is told in terms of a little family, 

father, mother and a cute 4-year-old boy, as well as a 

Siamese cat who furnishes one of the film's most amusing 

moments when he fights in the mud with a stray on the bank. 

We also see the elephants doing heavy work, the manufacture 

of the necessary umbrellas, the King of Siam on his 

royal barge and the beautiful ceremonial dances. Photographed 

in Technicolor by Herbert Knapp and directed by 

Ralph Wright. This fascinating subject will be up for next 

year's Academy awards. 

Hollywood Life 

Columbia (Screen Snapshots) 16 Mins. 

Fair. Ralph Edwards, master of ceremonies on radio and 

television, is Ralph Staub's guest master-of-ceremonies for 

another edition of this popular series, this time showing 

radio and film favorites with their families. One of the less 

interesting reels, it shows Art Linkletter, Vera Vague, Hal 

Peary and Eve Arden—certainly not top movie stars. 

Skiing the Andes 

Columbia (World of Sports) 10 Mins. 

Good. Some beautiful scenery and thrilling action shots 

are combined in an entertaining sports reel. In the colorful 

Chilean Andes mountains, it's January in July and Yankee 

lovers of winter sports journey down theTe in only hours by 

air to take advantage of this. The in-air shots of the skiiers 

ore often breath-taking. 

Man Around the House 

MGM (Pete Smith Specialty) 9 Mins. 

Good. Dave O'Brien typifies the restless man about the 

repair kit house who has a do-it-yourself but can't find anything 

to repair. Annoyed, he breaks a chair leg but in fixing 

it runs into complications getting all the legs the same length. 

He has troubles with a contrary telephone folding seat, then 

has difficulty keeping his car polished, finally wrecking it 

completely when a tree he chops down falls the wrong way. 

In a final episode, Dave literally and figuratively knocks 

himself out teaching his young son to play baseball. 

Pet Peeve 

MGM (Cinemascope Cartoon) 7 Mins. 

Good. Tom, the cat, and his natural enemy Spike, the 

dog, overhear their owners decide one pet in the house is 

enough. First 'one then the other demonstrates its value to 

the household by cleaning house, washing dishes, etc. Their 

masters alternate in their choice but finally come to the 

conclusion both animals eat too much and decide to adopt 

Jerry the mouse as the house pet. The closing scene pictures 

Jerry smiling happily while the camera reveals a well stocked 

larder back of his mouse hole in the wall. 

Southbound Duckling 

MGM (Cinemascope Cartoon) 7 Mins. 

Good. A farmyard duckling tries several ingenious ways 

of joining the flocks of wild ducks flying southward but each 

time finds his wings won't support him. He uses a balloon, 

springboard and a skyrocket and is just about to make a 

meal for Tom, the cat, when Jerry, the mouse, rescues him. 

Finally the duckling and Jerry take a plane to Miami and rest 

on the beach, happy to be rid of the cat. At that moment 

Tom pops into the scene, lowers the beach umbrella and the 

rest is left to your imagination. 

Water, Water Everywhere 

HKO (Screenliner) 8 1/2 Mins. 

Good. Conservation of the nation's water resources is the 

subject of this informative short which emphasizes the importance 

of water in determining the future of the country and 

»rd 

^rd 

|i Mt 

Flying to Fish 

20th-Fox (Cinemascope Special) 

Very good. The CinemaScope cameras take the s; 

to one of the finest spots for fishing in the world—cas 

salmon in the Piscatorian Paradise of Alaska. Thi 

gives some magnificent aerial views of this beautiful 

ness of high, snow-covered mountains and big lake, 

we watch the anglers fishing in the clear blue wat 

coming up with real whoppers—worthy of being fra 

hanging on the wall. 

Baby Buggy Bxuiny 

Warner Bros. (Bugs Bunny Cartoon) 

Good. One of the better Bugs Bunny cartoons in 

color, this deals with a foundling "baby," actually an 

bank-robber midget. It has plenty of laughs, es 

when Bugs, who has been accused of not liking i 

tries to give the midget loving baby care. The "baby 

milk and formulas and raids the icebox for beer, har 

Pests for Guests 

Warner Bros. 

(Merry Melody) 

Good. No sooner hove two gophers decided an 

chest of drawers would be a good place to store a c 

of nuts than Elmer Fudd buys the piece of furnit 

takes it home, with the two small animals still in 

the drawers. Elmer discovers his home is becomin 

['. 

storehouse and declares war on the gophers. When 

refuge in a tree in front of the house, Elmer starts s 

his ax only to end up almost buried by a mountair 

much to the gophers delight. 

Pizzicato Pussycat 

Warner Bros. 

(Merry Melody) 

Good. A mouse who wears glasses plays skillfu 

toy piano until he's discovered and trapped by th 

cat. In exchange for his life, the little mouse pro: 

perform on his small piano inside a grand piano v 

cat pretends to play the large keyboard. The lad 

house falls for the gag and arranges a big concer 

cat. In the middle of the recital the mouse breaks his 

and can't read the music. The cat is revealed a pho 

is booed off the stage. 

exciting events are wild milking with coi 

Rodeo Roundup 

Warner Bros. 

(Sports Parade) 

Good. An interest-holding short in Technicolor deal 

rodeo exploits in 

shown 

a modern western setting. Among t! 

cow 

working in teams; steer decorating, or attempting t< 

ribbon to the steer's horn without throwing the anin 

steer riding with a loose rope; wild horse racing, sti 

dogging and rodeo clowns performing dangerous 

routines. 

The Figurehad 

Louis de Rochemont (Animated puppet short) 

Very Good. A striking and imaginative animated 

subject which is ideally suited to art house showings 

on a poem by Crosby Gorstin, it has won many prizes 

In Technicolor, with unusual lighting effects, it tells t 

of a religious figurehead, which is repainted to n 

a man and placed on a sailing ship. When the shi 

a mermaid tries in vain to woo the handsome fig 

without realizing what is underneath the paint. Nan 

by Robert Beatty. De Rochemont is at 380 Madison Ai 

York City. 

Jazz Dance 

Roger Tilton 

(Musical Featurette) 

Very good. An ideal booking for the art houses, vr. 

patrons will delight in the picturization of an actual j 

sion at the Central Plaza Dance Hall in New York 

favorite haunt of jazz enthusiasts. Produced and dire 

Roger Tilton, it was recorded in one evening at the 

wich Village spot as the Central Plaza "regulars" 

knock themselves out dancing the Lindy and the Ch 

as the onlookers keep time to the "hot" music. Som 

tnri nrrmo'S in tVi*a hioforv nf irT77 rlurli Wp

I 

n SI. SO, cash with copy. Four consecutive insertions for price 

londay noon preceding publication date. Send copy and 

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

e theatre 

the ladit 

operal- 

'or inter- 

Boxnffice. 

ir. Also 

I. .\pply 

)1 Grand 

GENERAL EQUIPMENT—USED 

Reconditioneil Ncumade s.Mliiie ilim I'lililiiris 

6- 10- 12 sn'lions ,il $2: hand ieiiinds. tuml c-ondlllun. 

$i;.il5 set; Holmes L-23-N 25-«aH aroplKlers. 

sua: complete dual DeVry projectors «Aound 

excellent, $5!I5: Holmes. $550. Iiepi. CC S II s' 

Cinema Supply Corp.. 602 W. 52nd St .New 

York l!t. 

For sale: Complete line of small theatre eipilpniem. 

11)2 cushioned seals. Simplex mechanisms 

anil Sound Master. I'sed 18 months. Wrlle. Wllllam 

I'lisler. Nencastle. Xeb. 

Two nearly new 1 K\V lamps, complete ulih 

reflectors. Two 40 amp recliliers. all for $800 

Howard, 26a Third Me.. So.. Saskatoon. Canada 

II. 

Star for Savinos.' Bjenkerl BX-CO mechanisms, 

slishlly used, with chanReovers, $375 pair: .Xsherafl 

K ilo ampere lamphouses, e.\cellent. $325 pair; 

lowest prices on anamiirphlcs, lenses and screens 

Slar Cinema Supply, 447 W. 52nd St., .\e» 

\nlk lU. 

Complete booth and .screen outfit. Brenkeri 

.ionim priijecliirs. Hex sound and speakers. New In 

lm7. ne\er used. $1,850. .Also 6-B Powers projectors, 

.Mazda lamps. liC.V sound. Will sell for 

$200 repair chaige. I!. .M. .McLaughlin, ;i50fi West 

I'Ikes Peak. Co'orado Springs, Colo. 

For sale: One pah of Baiisch i- Lorob super 

Cinephor lenses. 4:25 F. 2.3 series il, $75 

Walker 15x18 screen. $25. Jacob Kosenfeld, 

Colonial Theatre. Port .Norrls. N. J. 

Good as new. used four drive-ln seasons: Two 

SlruTig niiiîil 7(1 amp lamps. $500: two .Monograph 

Kill amii lamps, $400: one Century 80-160 

rooliir generator, complete, $500. Charleston Theatre 

Suiuily. Charleston. W. Va. 

Speakers, "Voice of the Theatre" model .N-500 

Three complete units. Base, highs, network and 

baffles. Wrlle. Circle Theatre. Ashland. Neb 

.V 

Pair Holmes :i5mm projectors with stands 

speaker and 23-»att amplifier, all for $350. Wrlle 

Biixofl' ice. 57.^6. 

Bio discounts, all leading maki< anamorphlc 

anil regular lenses. WTiat do you need In new or 

used eiiulimient? Cel our proposition before you 

buy Dodge K(|uipment, 2:)24 BeechmonI Ave., 

Cincinnati :!0. (Ihin 

GENERAL EQUIPMENT—NEW 

Masonite marquee letters. Fit Wagner. Adler 

lievelite signs: 4"— 35c: 8"— 50c: 10"— 60c; 

12"—S5c; 14"— $1.25; 16"— $1.50: 17"— 

$1.75; 24"— $2.50. Dept. CC, SOS. Cinema 

Supply Corp.. 602 W 52nd St., New York 19 

Beware of inferior anamurphic lenses! Be safe 

nitli Cinematic IV adjustable for all anamorphlc 

systems. Aiallahle nn time, only $200 dnun. 

l>e|)l. CC, S.O.S. Cinema .Slîplv Ci.r|i.. Iili2 W 

52nd St. .N'ew York lit 

DRIVE-rN THEATRE EQUIPMENT 

Onve-in theatre speakers «lih siraijil cord.s, 

$li.3n. Car-side speakers. $8.15. Replacement 

-peaker cones. $2.23. Hauo Corp., 145 .\ Erie. 

Toledo, tlhiu. 

Drive-in theatre tickets. Send for .samples of our 

special primed stub rod tickets for driie-lns. 

Safe, distinctlie. easy lo check. Kansas City Tlcke' 

Co.. Dept. 10, 109 W. 18lh St.. "Film ICo»," 

Kansas City 8, Mo 

Pay $200 down. Play Cinemascope to your 

drlve-in. E^'hibitors throughout I'.S.A. acclaim 

Cinematic IV adjustable prismatic anamorphlc 

lenses the finest: Send for Information today. 

Kept. CC. SOS, Cinema Sufiph Corp . 602 W 

32nd St . .New V.irk 1 'i 

PERSONAL 

Name and address stickers. 1.000 only $2 K 

Smith. 31M W WiUnti, Clelmrne. Tex.is 

POPCORN MACHINES 

Popcorn machinu. all makes and styles. Heplacement 

kettles for all poppers. Complele repl.icement 

unit fits most machines, $185. 120 So 

IlaMed. Chicaso. Ill, 

Advance World's Fair special, $75. Crescent 

Drl\e-In, (ialena, Kns. 

POPCORN SUPPLIES 

Popcorn, popcorn seasoning and popcorn sacks 

and bojes. John B. .Mortenson k Co. 211 K 

Illinois St.. Chicago, III 

THEATRE TICKETS 

Prompt Ser»ice. Siirdal prl;;te'l 

ino.OOO. $28.75: 10.000. $8.95 

Each change in admission price, Inc; 

THEATRES FOR SALE 

n°'."'' ^"-'•'"•"'^'•"i: ill" ^.11 ililve-ln theatre, 

bum In 1953. Corapiete HCA de luxe equlilmcnt. 

Hill sell for 40';, less than cost. Boxofflee, 5750 

Construction begins February. SSO-car de luxe 

lexas Cinemascope driie-in. Ideal location. Full 

5«''c o«ner>blp. mallagemenl aialiable, $40,000 

cash, Boxiifllce. 5734. 

$45,000 gets theatre and building In Georgia. 

One- third cash, balance, one thousand per year. 

If you have that much money, aililress Boxofflee 

5)52. 

For sale in Florida. Good theatre business and 

building, $125,000. One-half cish. Financially 

responsible on.y. Ask for iiarticiilars. Boxofflee, 

For sale: 300-car outdoor theatre. .N'ew IIC\ 

equipment. Central Wisconsin resort area excellent 

ojiporlunlly. Price $52,000, terms. Write 

HhE. Inc., Waulnma, Wis 

KANSAS. .Sice small-town house, brick building. 

Simplex. One-thealre slluatlon, thriving aijrlcultural 

district. Ralph Krwin, Broker, Hov 811 

Tulsa, Okla. 

Kansas 400-car drive-in for lease or sale, easi 

terms. 60Mio structural steel lower. Simplex 

eiiulpment. Only drive-In In coiinly, 55,000 trade 

territory. Boxolflce. 5736 

DRIVE-IN, completely modern. Big loner 

Located thriving city Oklahoma. No other drlve-hi 

within 23 miles. First run product. Fully 

equipped. Clasest Inspecllon Invited, qualified 

buyers. Lovely area, recreation, oil, asricullure 

Write Ralph Erwln. Broker, Box 811, Tulsa 

For sale: hue lo other Interest, oiitstand ng 

succes.sful driie-ln, seaway area, northern Neii 

lork. Four hundred plus car capacity. folahlLshiil 

( years. A-1 condition. Owner operated concesslnn. 

Re:isiin,ihle price. Boxofflee, 5761. 

220-seat theatre for sale in Iowa. Priced right 

for (luiek sale. Would be a good money maker with 

fami y operation. Terms. Boxofflee. 5777. 

Reputed finest small town theatre mid-south' 

$13,000 down buys fine new building. 20 liin~ 

refrigeration. Best modern equliiment, Cinema- 

Scoped. Tiled-carpeted apartment. .Non-ciirnpe'ltlve 

Ihrhing town. Excellent earnings. Open records. 

Retirement. Ten years on balance. No trades/leases 

Boxofflee. 5776. 

Sis months alliance rent. Give details h.ickgrniind 

finances, working capital. Confidential. Arlhir 

Leak. 3303 Cariith. Dallas. Texas. 

For sale: .Modern drlve-In located in west 

Georgia. No competition. Small down payment 

balance In suit purchaser Absentee ownership. 

Boxoffl ee. 3 781. 

250-seat well equipped theatre. Ij)caleri In 

northern Colorado near the Tnlversllv of Colorado 

and the Rocky Mountain .National Park Rapidly 

groMlng community. Priced In sell. Boxofflee 

3782. 

Restaurant-theatre. N.W. South Carolina. Only 

theatre in city, only restaurant serving plate 

lunches Theatre opr. could he le.ised out If desired. 

Coin machines pay rent, utilities. Excellent 

eqiii'iment, all Invty, leasehold improvements 

Priced right. No 61(15. Chas. 

Walliin S t.. NW. Atlanta. Ga. 

Ford k Assoc. 87 

Theatre South Carolina. No compel. Bilahllshcd 

13 years. Can buy building In two years with rent 

anp'ying Seats 272. Profitable concession stand. 

Good family operation for low price. .No. 5074 

Chas. Ford k Assoc., 87 Walton St.. SW. Allanta, 

Ga 

Small Kentucky drive-in, 7 years old, good equip 

ment. .irea dr:iw about 70,000 on 3 acres good 

land, with 4-roiim modern home, on good highway 

two mle. from city. $21,000 or $5,000 down, 

balance over 10 years. (Inner must retire, goml 

opporliinlly for active showman. Roxofflee, 5783 

Kansas. Two small town theatres for lease. Bnlh 

In operation. Money makers If handled right 

Boxofflee. 5787, 

Showman can lease outright, $350 monthly attracllve 

niitliin buy OOOscat. Pallas, Texas, 

suburban .Modern exccpl nnrmaScope, easily Installed. 

$2,130 advance reni rcfiulred. Slate 

experience, finances. Arthur Leak, Theatre Specialist. 

3305 Canith. Dal'as 

Extra nice 350-car driit-in. Only Indoor theatre 

included. Onlv «hn». coo. 

4 insrrtions for the price of 3

Boxoffice-Febuary.19.1955

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