Boxoffice-January.05.1952

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PATRICE 

JAMES GLEASON 

WRITTEN BY 

MELVILLE 

SHAVELSON 

JACK ROSE 

Musical Direction 

by Ray Heindorf 

Musical Numbers 

Staged and Directed 

by LeRoy Prinz 

PRODUCED BY 

LOUIS F. 

EDELMAN 

DIRECTED BY 

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CURTIZ 

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FIGURE, 

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-WEEKJ 

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"Fa^ oft^T/lctionTîctuJie /nduAti/. 

V 

THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY 

Published in Nine Sectional Editioni 

BEN SHLYEN 

Editor-in-Chief and Publisher 

lAMES M. JERAULD _ Editor 

NATHAN COHEN... Executive Editor 

[ESSE SHLYEN Managing Editor 

IVAN SPEAR Western Editor 

I. L. THATCHER ...Equipment Editor 

lOHN G. TINSLEY..Advertising Mgr 

Published Every Saturday by 

ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS 

Editorial Ollices: 9 llocliefeller Plazs, New 

Vorli 20. N. Y. Jolm 0. Tlnsley, Advertising 

Manager; James M. Jerauld, Editsr: 

C'liester l^'rledmun. Editor Sliowmandlser 

l.oii II. Section; Ofrard, Editor Promotion 

Section; A. J. SIncker. B

NATIONAL BUSINESS ROUNDUP 

7952: THE YEAR BEGINS WITH 

EXHIBITORS IN HOPEFUL MOOD 

Business in 1951, on a national average, was 10 to 20 per cent 

under the previous year's figure. 

At the turn of the year, post-holiday grosses were running about 

the same as a year ago. 

Exhibitors agreed that product was better, and big pictures were 

doing exceptionally well. 

The general feeling nationally is that 1952 will be better than 1951. 

Television, theatremen have discovered, is not the colossal competitor 

it had been expected to be. 

NEW YORK— Any sui-vey of theatre business 

in this exchange area has to be divided 

into two parts—the business done by the 

Broadway showcases and the other large theatres 

and that done by "the little fellow." 

Each has a different story to tell. 

Without higher operating costs, including 

rentals, taxes, labor and maintenance, the 

large houses would have had a very good 

.year, according to several circuit operators. 

On the whole, business at the year's end was 

better than that of six months ago and much 

better than in 1950. A definite boxoffice 

boom was noticeable during the early, active 

stages of the Movietime U.S.A. campaign. 

Exhibitors attributed it more to an enthusiastic 

and awakened showmanship, such as 

dressing up theatres for the occasion, than to 

the impressive advertising campaign in the 

newspapers. 

CRITICAL OF 'DOOM' PROPHETS 

Circuit operators were critical of those they 

called "prophets of doom," pointing to good 

boxoffice results at their larger houses and 

the good pictures obtained, but they declined 

to release any figures, including any breakdown 

showing how their smaller houses had 

done. They said that under existing circumstances 

a lot depended on the ingenuity and 

aggressiveness of their individual theatre 

managers to attract patrons who, because of 

the high cost of living, were practicing new 

economies and putting more money in the 

bank than in years past. 

Tlie small theatres had a different story to 

tell. One small exhibitor said: "It's been a 

bad year and there is no reason to believe 

there will be any change in the new year." 

They told a .story of high rentals and overhead 

and of attempts to curtail expenses to 

the bone. Those that needed $50 to $200 income 

to break even insisted they were having 

a difficult time. They admitted that one key 

to increased business, besides good pictures, 

was showmanship, but said they didn't have 

the ready cash to do a real Job. 

There were complaints that many former 

patrons, when they sought a change from 

home life, were attending the Broadway first 

run.s in increasing numbers and passing up the 

neighborhood houses. To offset this, a number 

were waging community relationship campaigns 

.such as encouraging social and civic 

organizations to use their theatres on special 

nights. They were not finding the plan 

lucrative, but were hoping it would get neighborhood 

folk back into the habit of attending 

their neighborhood theatres. 

One of the high spots of the year locally 

was the business done by art houses. Within 

three months three new art house.? opened 

in a single area, and all have been doing exceptionally 

well. They are the Normandie 

and Little Carnegie on 57th street and 

Fine Arts on 58th street. They opened in the 

face of stiff competition offered by the 

Plaza, which has invested in a Radio Corp 

of America screen of new design; the Arcadia, 

taken over by Walter Reade Theatres and 

modernized: the Sutton, Park Avenue and 

Paris. The district is a silk stocking one. 

Predictions for 1952 were cautious. The 

head of a New Jersey circuit exploded verbally 

when asked for one. Some professed to 

see a trend of not only children but of entire 

families back to the theatres, partly as a result 

of a caged-up feeling after many evenings 

at home watching weak television shows 

with their plethora of frantic advertising, 

and partly because most if not all of their installment 

payments on television sets have 

been made. One top showman urged that 

special effort be made to supply the returnees 

with the best possible accommodations as 

well as best obtainable pictures to keep them 

from straying again. 

The showman, told that the Uttle fellows 

pleaded a lack of cash for improvements, said 

he knew that but that he saw a ray of hope 

for them. 

"The coming year," he said, "may be the 

year in which a concerted effort by the in- 

Matinee Business Drop 

Noticed in Troy, N. Y. 

TROY, N. Y.—Larry Cowen, manager 

of Proctor's Theatre here, has noticed a 

significant trend in movie attendance. 

Matinee business is dropping off. Despite 

the fact that the admission price is 

lower, women are not attending in the 

afternoon at the rate they used to, he 

says. It may be, he adds, that many of 

them are now working, to help along on 

family finances, and consequently are not 

attending the theatre. However, they 

have both the time and money to attend 

evenings or weekends, Cowen finds. 

dustry will result in lifting the excise tax or 

at least reducing it. The industry has a 

valid argument and plenty of proof, and of 

course 1952 is an election year. I personally 

think we will win. The 20 per cent top on 

tickets set in 1950 represents a big loss. If 

lifted, most theatres now struggling to exist 

could at least break even and some would 

show a small profit. Let's get busy." 

Summing it up from the exhibitor angle, 

while 1952 may see some small New York area 

theatres falling by the wayside, many of them 

should do an improved business, and if the 

federal tax is lifted or reduced, all will benefit 

and many on the borderline will be saved. 

It is hoped that Washington will .see it that 

way. 

LOS ANGELES . . . Exhibitors 

predominantly optimistic; 

Skouras sees an upswing via 

better films, showmanship. 

LOS ANGELES—Preponderantly, although 

by no means unanimously, optimistic are 

the southland's circuit and independent theatre 

operators as to the business outlook for 

the new year. 

With, of course, the expected and inevitable 

exceptions, most of this territory's showmen 

agree that motion picture patronage hit it.s 

lowest ebb in the early spring of 1951. continued 

at a lagging pace during the summer, 

and picked up—coincidentally or otherwlsewith 

the launching of the COMPO-sponsored 

Movietime U.S.A. campaign in the fall. 

At its lowest point the southland's boxoffice 

dropped an estimated 15 per cent below 

the 1950 average, but the consensus at 

year's end was that in the closing days of 

1951 theatre revenues had regained considerable 

of that loss and would continue to 

rise during 1952. 

Advanced as the primary reason for such 

optimism was the rather general feeling that 

Hollywood's production moguls are turning 

out a constantly improving flow of celluloid. 

There are many outstanding releases coming 

up, most showmen opine, and this top 

fare will again demonstrate the soundness 

of the trade's axiom that "there is nothing 

wrong with this industry that good pictures 

cannot cure." 

Further, in the opinion of several exhibitors, 

television—while it unquestionably dealt 

the boxoffice a damaging blow last yearis 

beginning to lose its punch and. unless its 

programming standards are immeasurably 

improved, will dissipate much of its threat 

during the year just getting under way. 

As spokesman for the territory's largest 

circuit. Fox West Coast, Charles P. Skouras, 

president of the chain, recently predicted an 

upswing in attendance and revenues during 

1952. Such prognostication was based 

on plans for intensified showmanship, better 

pictures, the additional money that will 

go into circulation because of increased defense 

spending, and—after the units have 

been installed—the attraction of large-screen 

theatre TV systems which are earmarked for 

placement in many FWC showcases. 

F'WC's 1951 attendance was 17 per cent 

8 BOXOFFICE January 6, 1952

under 1950. and grosses were off 14 per cent, 

with Skouras blaming home TV for most 

of the loss. 

FWC's prediction of rosier times ahead 

was echoed by M. A. Anderson, western district 

manager for RKO Theatres, who said 

business was "a little better" in the latter 

months of 1951 and forecast a steady rise 

during the current year. 

"We are going to get a better grade of 

pictures," said Anderson, who observed that 

top-quality action fare, so-called super westerns 

and romantic comedies were the top 

money earners in the theatres which he 

supervises. 

Another circuit executive, Marco Wolff of 

Fanchon & Marco, viewed musical comedies 

in color, dramas with "fine love stories" and 

fare that contains "no messages" as the 

types of screen attractions best geared to 

do boxoffice business. 

PUBLIC EVALUATING FILMS 

"The general trend in the evaluation of 

pictures by the public," Wolff declared, "would 

seem to indicate that in 1952 the better 

pictures will do better and the lesser pictures 

will do less." 

Outspoken in his belief that home TV is 

waning in popularity and that the "let's go 

to a movie" habit is proportionately regaining 

strength is Al Galston. partner of Jay 

Sutton in operating two theatres here. Galston 

predicted that in the case of children, 

particularly, the "more intelligent" parents 

will come to the realization that video viewing 

or poor-quality programs is hai-mful to 

the youngsters and that the effect on them 

is "not what the parents had hoped for" 

Theatrical product is improving, Galston 

added, and "good pictures will do good busine.ss." 

Hoviever. the market for westerns—even 

the top-budgeters— is fast becoming saturated. 

Galston declared, becau.se of the abundance 

of gallopers on TV. He cited comedies such 

as "Father of the Bride" and off-beat, sciencefiction 

dramas like "When Worlds Collide" 

as 1951 's best grossers in his operations. 

BIG ONES COMING UP 

Some of his exhibitor a.s.sociates are "discouraged 

and E>essimistic," according to Ben 

Mohi, operator of a neighborhood subsequent 

run house here, but he him.self thinks the 

prospects for 1952 are "considerably better." 

Big pictures ai-e the only ones that are doing 

any business, Mohi declared, and there are 

"a lot of good ones coming up." His records 

show, he added, that in his theatre business 

was "considerably" better in the last 

half of 1951. 

Mohi emphasized one other point in the 

battle to regain lost audiences—concentration 

on comfort and convenience to lure 

potential patrons away from fireside TV. He, 

for example, has just reseated and redecorated 

his theatre, and feels that the expenditure 

therefore will be more than Justified 

by audience .satisfaction and increased attendance. 

From Hugh Bruen. operator of three theatres 

in the neighboring community of Whittier, 

came the observation that business must 

pick up this year because "it can't get any 

worse." His .showca-ses hit bottom in the 

latter months of 1951, Bruen said, but "people 

are beginning to get away from TV" and 

he hopes that the industry "can snap out 

of it" during the new year. 

If We Worked at 

Would Be Better/ 

CLEVELAND—Leo T. Jones of Upper 

Sandusky and a director of Independent 

Theatre Owners 

of Ohio agrees that 

'r' 

business wa.s way 

down in 1951 but 

lays the blame on 

the doorstep of the 

exhibitor. "Business 

wouldn't be so 

bad if we, the exhibitors, 

worked at 

our jobs. By that 

I mean the average 

exhibitor does 

Leo T. Jones 

not sell his pictures 

to the public. 

"There is no such thing," Jones continues, 

"as pre-sold product. Every exhibitor 

has to sell every picture at the 

point of sales—that is locally." 

"Only by exerting himself in this manner 

can he make his 1952 business exceed 

the 1951 business. How to do this? 

Advertising is the most effective method. 

When the distributors maintained their 

own ad sales departments, it was up to 

the ad sales managers to sell to the ex- 

CLEVELAND ... 1951 

business 

was down, but the optimism is 

up; believe good pictures will 

draw crowds. 

CLEVELAND—While theatre owners in the 

Cleveland exchange area admit business in 

1951 was down from 20 per cent to 50 per 

cent they still maintain their faith in the 

industry. They differ as to the causes of the 

business recession, but there seems to be a 

unanimity of belief that given good entertainment 

pictures available to the public at 

regular admission prices, business will pick 

up in 1952. 

Meyer Fine, president of the Associated 

Theatres circuit, largest independent circuit 

operating here, looks at the situation practically. 

He recognizes TV as competition. "But. 

as between TV and pictures, the better entertainment 

will draw the bigger audiences. 

Give us better entertainment on theatre 

screens than TV offers on small screens, and 

we'll have the audiences back in om- theatres." 

Mne, however, is unalterably opposed 

to price boosts for special pictures. 

Abe Kramer, another A.s.sociated circuit official, 

expresses the opinion that it is physically 

impossible for Hollywood to produce 

enough top bracket pictures to fill all the 

theatres. The answer, as he .sees it. is fewer 

theatres in both first run and subsequent run 

situations. Quoting Cleveland as an example, 

he points out that there are five downtown 

first run houses. They play one change a 

week as a rule. They require a minimum of 

250 pictures. "It isn't in the cards that all 

250 of them will be boxoffice attractions. 

Therefore I think it will eventually become 

necessary to cut our theatres to fit the available 

high grade product which will continue 

to draw audiences in all situations, As 

Our Jobs Business 

Says Leo T. Jones 

hibitor the maximum types of accessories 

in order to help him sell the picture to 

the public. Now the exhibitor buys the 

minimum pieces of advertisement, on a 

penny-wise pound-foolish policy. "Furthermore," 

says Jones, "there are fewer 

types of advertising material than in the 

old days of producer-operated ad sales 

departments. Today there is too much 

similarity in advertising material. Because 

of this similarity, the public doesn't 

notice it any more. I contend that business 

can be greatly improved by extending 

and varying the direct sales approach 

of the theatre to the patron. As for TV 

I think it has its place in the entertainment 

field and the best way to meet this 

competition is to recognize it as competition, 

but to point out to the public that 

the theatre screen has more to offer than 

the small TV screen. Recently I sent a 

letter to every TV owner in our county. 

In it I praised the scientific progress 

that developed TV but asked the recipients 

to compare it with our large screen 

theatre presentations for real entertainment. 

The response was fine. Again I say. 

business is not .so bad if we work at it." 

for TV. when installation prices are within 

the reach of all theatres, we will recapture 

our lost audience." 

Howard Reif, partner in the Modern Theatre 

circuit, Cleveland, believes that entertainment 

pictures will draw better audiences 

in 1952 than in 1951. He has some reservations, 

however. "In the larger cities, the 

1,000-seat house with the best equipment, 

best furnishings, best parking facilities and 

with air conditioning will absorb the audiences 

that formerly patronized the smaller 

and older neighborhood theatres. The smaller 

towns are not confronted with this situation. 

I also anticipate longer runs in 1952. This is 

because audiences have become more discriminating. 

They want top pictures. To have 

enough of them we are now offering two 

changes weekly instead of three in our Berea. 

Willoughby. Gallon and Cleveland houses. 

What type of pictures do audiences want? 

Just entertainment pictures. It isn't a question 

of type, it's a question of entertainment 

quality." Reif concludes. 

W. N. Skirball. head of the Skirball circuit 

with theatres in Akron. New Philadelphia. 

Massillon and Toledo, believes the outlook 

for 1952 is paradoxical. "I don't know whether 

our business has hit rock bottom or not. On 

the whole, I believe it has and from now on 

it will start to improve. Theatre business 

varies in relation to employment. In Toledo 

where employment is uncertain due to layoffs 

during conversion from civilian to defense 

production, business is down. It is 

down as much as 50 per cent. In other spots 

business is holding its own. Given full employment, 

good pictures and no advance in 

admi.s.sion prices. I think the outlook for 1952 

is good." 

Joe Shagrin, Foster Theatre, Youngstown, 

(Continued on page 10) 

BOXOFFICE January 5, 1952

i 

BUSINESS ROUNDUP 

Cont. 

D of J Grants Warners 

Six-Month Extension 

Department of Justice agrees to additional 

time for disposal of theatres under the terms 

of the consent decree; original one-year deadline 

expired Wednesday (2i. 

Schine Seeking Amendment 

Of Decree on Divorcement 

Time limit for disposal of 18 theatres expired 

December 17 and dropping of another 

11 scheduled for June 30; operators seeking 

further delays by Justice department. 

Says N. Y. Court Had Right 

To Fix RKO Time Limit 

D of J brief to Supreme Court hits Howard 

Hughes' contention that no time Umit was 

fixed in the decree and this makes it possible 

for him to hold his stock indefinitely. 

RKO Theatres Stockholders 

Meeting Again Postponed 

Pi'oxy count not complete Thursday (3> ; 

expect 

to wind this up in a few more days so 

that decision on David J. Greene's battle for 

control can be reached. 

RKO Pictures Signs Deal 

With Mills Music. Inc. 

Firm gets exclusive publishing rights to 

RKO background music retroactive to 1950; 

includes Disney product and other outside 

pictures. 

Arthur Krim Will Report 

On UA Affairs Tuesday 

Calls press conference to review first year's 

accomplishments by new management; if out 

of red will take over 50 per cent of stock and 

get seven-year management contract extension. 

Admission Tax Collections 

Decline During November 

According to the Bureau of Internal Revenue 

the total was $31,084,965, compared with 

$34,370,182 for the same month of the previous 

year. 

RKO Theatres Now Installing 

Fourth RCA Theatre TV 

System going into the RKO Albee, Cincini 

nati, according to William W. Howard, vice- 

1 president; other installations are in the RKO 

Fordham, New York; Keith's, Washington, 

D. C, and Palace, Cleveland. 

British Production Bon\is 

Increases Are Scheduled 

Interim payments for second year ending 

in August to be 30 per cent for features, 75 

per cent for shorts, compared with estimated 

total payments for last year of 20 and 50 

per cent 

10 

still believes it's up to the picture to draw 

audiences. "Give us good pictures in 1952 and 

our business will be good." he says. 

Steve Vernarsky, owner of the Palace Theatre, 

Hubbard, speaks for the small town theatres 

when he says; "Our people attend the 

movies when there is a picture they think 

they'll like. TV has killed the drawing power 

of westerns for us," Vernarsky says. "Except 

for the super westerns, this type of picture 

has no drawing power. Also our people resent 

price boosts for so-called outstanding pictures. 

The past year hasn't been too bad 

for us, but I think we'll do better in 1952 

because we have adjusted our policies to new 

family habits created by TV." 

There are some exhibitors who see no ray 

of hope for better business in 1952. Among 

them is Milton Mooney, head of the Cooperative 

Theatres of Ohio. He feels that the 

outmoded, small theatres in the large towns 

will fall by the wayside. "My reason for this 

conclusion is the change in family entertainment 

habits," Mooney goes on to say. 

"Time was when Sunday evening was a big 

movie night. Now that TV puts on a series 

of big shows on Sunday evening, the smaller 

theatres playing subsequent run pictures, play 

to empty benches on Sunday evening. Sunday 

matinees are all right. But midweek 

business is no good. How many theatres 

can survive with good business confined to 

Friday, Saturday and on the Sunday matiness 

only? It doesn't look good to me." And 

M. B. Horwitz, head of the Washington circuit, 

.sees no ba.sis for improvement in 1952. 

CINCINNATI . . . The attitude 

here is. 'Give us a good picture 

and we'll do all right with it.' 

CINCINNATI—Give us a good picture and 

we'll do all right with it. That about sums 

up the attitude of exhibitors in this area 

on how business is and what they expect in 

the new year. 

The consensus here is that 1951 was approximately 

20 per cent off from the previous 

year, and 1950 was off from 1949. One prominent 

exhibitor remarked that while 1949 

was not a record year, he would be satisfied 

if business picked up and reach the 1949 

level. 

The pre-Christmas season here was brutal. 

A theatreman with a small house reported 

that where he used to take in $75 to $100 a 

night during the preholiday week, this year 

there were nights in which the gross dropped 

to $5 and $10. 

There was an upswing in business in these 

parts during August, but grosses started 

downward after Labor day, and theatremen 

are unable to explain the drop. There is 

some resentment by patrons over increased 

admission scales for top pictures, the most 

frequent criticism being that they do not feel 

they should pay an extra tariff for good 

pictures when there is no price drop for the 

poorer ones. 

H. G. Fetick, who handled the buying and 

booking for approximately a dozen theatres, 

believes the public wants fewer but better 

pictures, and that when top product is made 

available they will patronize the movie house. 

Louis Wiethe, who operates a circuit of 

theatres in the Greater Cincinnati district, 

says that weather has a greater bearing on 

attendance than in former years. In former 

years, bad weather on a Sunday dropped the 

gross 15 to 20 per cent. Nowadays, he says, 

bad weather can drop business as much as 50 

per cent. Smaller theatres, he .says, are 

finding the going tough. 

As for the kind of entertainment preferred, 

F. W. Huss jr., president of the Greater Cincinnati 

Independent Theatre Owners, expressed 

the composite view of most theatremen 

by saying that color musicals are the 

best draw. But all agree that one opinion 

is as good as another. It is just hard to figure 

out what the public will go for these days. 

NEW ORLEANS . . . The boxoffice 

has been holding its own with 

1950. but an upturn is anticipated. 

NEW ORLEANS—An optimistic business 

outlook is foreseen for the New Year by exhibitors 

here who report the last six months 

of the current year as holding its own with 

the same period in 1950 and in .some cases, 

slightly increased. 

John Dostal, manager of the RKO Orpheum 

Theatre, named as his best boxoffice attraction 

for the year "Born Yesterday." The picture 

made a record run. playing five weeks, 

the longest engagement during the four years 

of his management. 

Noting that his business had undergone 

around a 15 per cent increase, Dostal would 

make no predictions for the first six months 

of 1952. 

With the current practice of bidding for 

pictures in effect, he pointed out, independent 

houses carmot foresee what they will have 

to offer too far in advance. 

Among his best pictures for the year, he 

said, were "Alice in Wonderland" and "The 

Blue Veil." 

According to Holland M. Smith, manager 

of the Saenger Theatre, the general trend 

in picture preference is for comedy and 

musicals. 

The Saenger has done a terrific business, 

he said, on the Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin 

comedies. "That's My Boy" was a holdover 

and all of their pictures have done well. 

"On Moonlight Bay, starring Doris Day and 

Gordon McCrea, was one of their best musicals, 

Smith explained. 

Since the Saenger usually books for weekend 

openings. Smith said, musicals usually 

draw in a good house, although in his opinion, 

a well produced picture means good boxoffice. 

As an example, he cited two pictures of an 

entirely different nature. "A Place in the 

Sun," the dramatization of Theodore Dreiser's 

tragedy, and the science-fiction film, "The 

Day the Earth Stood Still." 

"The public is demanding a better product 

now and these two weU done pictures did a 

tremendous business." 

At Loew's State Theatre, "An American m 

Paris," "Show Boat" and "The Great Caruso" 

were each held over three weeks. 

Rodney Toups, manager, named as his best 

attractions, the musical, "Too Young to Kiss." 

Clark Gable's western, "Across the Wide Missouri," 

"On the Riviera." starring Danny 

Kaye, Red Skelton in "Texas Carnival." "King 

Solomon's Mines," "Royal Wedding" and 

"Father's Little Dividend." 

Although the manager feels that the public 

is surfeited with westerns, he cited the 

Gable vehicle as one of his best attractions. 

"They either need some good names or some 

very good acting by the unknowns who play 

in them." he pointed out. 

Exhibitors here display a general agreement 



•eÂ»

THECWWSWMt 

"As stirring a drama as 

you'll want to see . . . 

Oskar Werner does a 

remarkable job/'- r/mes 

''Anatole Litvak sets a 

new high in suspense." 

-Mirror •"1q\}\ 

and absorbing 

drama/'-Journa/ 

American • "Spurs Suspense 

to 

unbearable 

heights/' - World Telegram 

"Tests the tensile 

strength of your 

nerves." -Hera/d Tribune 

"Werner's 

performance 

is 

touching and 

effective." -Da/7y News 

NATIONAL MAGAZINES 

"A big production 

aimed at Academy 

Awards ...Oskar 

THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE

Werner is 

superb/'- L/fe 

'A bang-up job of 

NATIONALLY SYNDICATED 

COLUMNISTS 

movie-making... A fine 

performance by actor 

Werner."- T/me • A compelling 

movie. ..tense... 

masterful." -Loot • "One 

of the outstanding films 

of this or any other 

year. 

—Cosmopolitan 

"Truly magnificent. "- 

Safurday Review of Literature 

"Seems like the most 

important picture in 

years." -Walter Winchell 

"Hollywood makes 

many good pictures. 

Only a few of them 

are great. This is one 

of them. 

"One of the 

—Hedda Hopper 

outstanding 

films of this or any 

year. —Louella O. Parsoris 

"Here is 

motion picture 

at its best."-Aôf/on Picture 

Herald • "Eosily one of 

the outstanding films 

of the year." -F//m Daily 

"Spellbinding entertain 

me nt."-Ho//y wood 

Reporter • "Litvok's direction 

is of a rare and 

superior kind."-Alo//on 

Picture Daily 

iZOth 

CENTURY-FOX BUSINESS

BUSINESS ROUNDUP . . . Cont. 

Movietime a Help in Texas, Grosses 10% Ahead of 7950 

DALLAS—Optimism ran high locally on 

the future of theatre business in this area 

during 1952. Colonel H. A. Cole, Allied Theatre 

Owners, said that at year's end business 

showed a very good upward trend, nearly 

10 per cent over that of one year ago. 

Prospects for increased revenue in 1952, 

said Cole, are optimistic because of a new 

cooperative spirit of showmanship through 

Council of Motion Picture Organizations. 

Bill O'Donnell of Interstate Theatre said 

business is improving and predicted that better 

theatres and drive-ins will get more business 

in 1952. Movietime, said O'Donnell, has 

proved a definite stimulant and continued 

improving results can be expected with the 

continuation of the campaign. 

O'Donnell also said he felt that the speakers 

bureau was very important in revising the 

lost audience. 

C. C. Ezell and Associates drive-ins at year 

end found business unsteady, but had a 

brighter outlook due to a leveling off in 

building. With a growing population and potential 

of people who have never attended 

an open-airer, there should be a long range 

improvement. 

New Orleans . . . Cont. 

(Continued from page 10) 

in the power of a good product to bring in 

the customers. 

C. J. Montgomery sr., president of the Delta 

Theatres, Inc., which operates the Joy Theatre 

here and others in this area, phrased it as 

"the play is still the thing." 

"Pictures still make actors," said Montgomery, 

"and an unknown player can skyrocket 

to fame over night after one good 

picture." 

However, he is in general agreement that 

in times of war and stress, the public seeks 

out escape entertainment, the type, he noted, 

that will take their minds off of their own 

anxieties. 

MINNEAPOLIS . 

. . Spurt in business 

since Christmas, after a 

bad preholiday drop in receipts. 

MINNEAPOLIS—Since Christmas, business 

here and in most of the territory has taken 

an encouraging spurt. But for the several 

months prior to the yuletide period many exhibitors 

found it the worst they've ever encountered 

in all their experience, and for 

1951 as a whole, despite a summer upturn, 

the boxoffice showed a decline of from 10 to 

50 per cent over 1950. 

There is some optimism over 1952 prospects 

and a belief in a few circles that the worst 

has been seen. If, however, the worst is yet 

to come, a number of theatres, particularly 

marginal operations, will have to toss in the 

sponge, it's indicated. 

One encouraging sign in the Twin Cities, 

where the boxoffice has taken almost a knockout 

punch, is the apparent desertion by youngsters 

of television. The kiddies, seemingly 

tiring of TV, are returning to the theatres. 

The hope is that the adults eventually will 

follow suit. Children's Saturday and Sunday 

matinee trade in many instances actually is 

showing gains over the corresponding period 

a year ago and in a few cases reaching newhighs. 

The survey reveals that business has been 

off in the territory's situations untouched 

yet by television as well as in the comparatively 

small section, comprising the Twin 

Cities and the 60 to 70 miles surrounding area, 

where TV is important and serious competition. 

But it's more off in the TV area. 

Trade leaders here believe that TV is, of 

course, just one factor in the theatre attendance 

decline. The major reason for it, in their 

opinion, is economic conditions—a substantial 

drop in entertainment purchasing power due 

to high living costs and taxes. Other things 

that have contributed to loss of patronage, 

they feel, are uneven product quality—too 

many poor pictures—an "unreasonably" high 

cost of moviegoing, and continuously increasing 

night entertainment competition, such as 

baseball, etc. 

The high cost of moviegoing, they point out, 

is related to parking, streetcar fares and baby 

sitting, all of them expensive now. The Twin 

Cities streetcar fare, for example, is now 

15 cents and an increase is being sought. Auto 

gas is plenty steep and parking lot charges 

have hit a new peak, it's also pointed out. 

Drive-ins have not suffered so much as 

conventional theatres, but in this area, where 

there is little summer, their operations are 

confined to four or five months a year, and 

the past season they encountered, generally 

speaking, cold evenings and much rain to 

their operational detriment. 

Last .summer, during the period when "The 

Great Caruso" and "Show Boat" were in release 

and product generally was at a comparatively 

high quality level, the boxoffice 

downtrend was arrested and a substantial rise 

occurred. But recently, particularly in the 

Twin Cities neighborhood and suburban situations, 

such outstanding pictures as "A 

Place in the Sun," etc., have not been getting 

anywhere near merited returns for the most 

part. 

Harry B. French, president of the Minnesota 

Amusement Co., operating 55 Paramount 

theatres in the territory, says that 1951 was 

more than 15 per cent off compared to the 

previous year, with the Twin Cities the 

worst hit. But he's optimistic for 1952 and 

believes it will be a better year than 1951. 

"My optimism isn't based on wishful thinking," 

says French. "Quality product is soaring 

to a new high. More good pictures than ever 

are coming up. And there is still a large and 

profitable public for outstanding films in theatres, 

and such pictures are constantly bringing 

back a "lost" public to the showhouses. 

Also, any improvement in economic conditions 

will be reflected at the boxoffice. We 

may have our low spots in 1952, but I'm sure 

the year as a whole will show an improvement 

over 1951 which wasn't good." 

Bennie Berger, whose circuit comprises nine 

theatres and is one of the territory's largest 

independent chains, says the circuit's 1951 

gross was off about 20 per cent from the previous 

year, with non-TV situations suffering 

along with those affected by the new competition, 

but not so much. That is, houses in the 

Twin Cities belt were more than 20 per cent 

behind 1950. 

While Berger thinks the boxoffice has hit 

bottom, he stUI doesn't beheve 1952 "looks 

good" and he foresees no immediate or sharp 

upturn. He regards TV as just one of a 

number of factors responsible for the present 

situation. The fact that percentage has taken 

away from exhibitors the incentive for showmanship 

is primarily to blame for exhibition's 

present "sorry plight," in his opinion. 

Pioneer exhibitors like Jack Heywood of New 

Richmond, Wis., near enough to the Twin 

Cities to feel TV's impact, are making drastic 

moves in an effort to bolster the boxoffice. 

Heywood, for example, is admitting children 

and students free Tuesdays through Thursdays 

when accompanied by a paid adult admission. 

His Friday to Sunday business is 

off 40 per cent from what he considers normal, 

and midweek is even worse, he says. 

George Granstrom, owner of two de luxe 

St. Paul neighborhood houses, believes exhibition 

would be helped if film stars would be 

surrounded with more glamor and mystery, 

"as they used to be." He feels it gave the 

stars more sex and other appeal. He thinks 

movie attendance has been hurt by the large 

amount of publicity given to stars' private 

lives in recent years. His business is "far 

off" and "getting worse," but he's still not 

selling exhibition short, he says, and feels 

there'll always be a public for outstanding 

pictures in theatres. 

Harold Kaplan, co-owner of one of the finest 

Minneapolis suburban theatres, the St. Louis 

Park, reports business off from 25 to 30 per 

cent from the corresponding 1950 period. After 

5 p. m. on Sunday, which used to be the 

week's best day, business is negligible, probably 

due to the strong TV programs on Sunday 

evenings. 

Martin Lebedoff, owner of two Minneapolis 

neighborhood theatres, is encouraged by the 

upturn in children's patronage and the fact 

that the public is gradually being convinced 

that movies now are "better." 

DETROIT ... At their lowest levels 

in years, exhibitors hold 

firm optimistic outlook for 1952. 

DETROIT—Show business In this 

state is at abysmal levels but the immediate 

city and 

mood of leading exhibitors Is in a surprising 

number of cases mildly but firmly optimistic. 

Actual trend of business has been almost 

steadily downward since 1946 on a year to 

year basis, with grosses now down as much 

as 75 per cent from the peak. 

The overall drop in the past year has been 

considerably varied from house to house, 

with local neighborhood conditions affecting 

city and suburban houses with unusual immediacy. 

Overall drop compared to a year ago 

is 

probably not over 25 per cent, and may be 

less when the full year's figures are available. 

Reasons for the solid optimism appear to 

be that exhibitor leaders here have come to 

realize that there are signs that show business 

has hit the bottom and is showing real 

potential for improvement—as soon as conditions 

will permit it. This mood was sparked 

off by Lew Wisper, head of W&W Theatres, 

over a month ago, with the comment that 



! 

A TALE OF 

TWO TELEGRAMS 

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NEW NORMA NDIE THEATRE 

M-G-M 

JAMES MASON • AVA GARDNHR in "PANDORA AND THE FLYING DUTCHMAN"* witk Niêl Patrick 

Skeila Sim • Harold Warrencler 

Lewin • Produced hy AlLert Lewin and Josepk Kaufman 

• Mario Catre • Color by TECHNICOLOR • Written anJ Directed ty AlLert 

• (For DorUay Productiong, Inc.) • An M-G-M Picture


— 

Cont. 

— 

Despite Detroit Recession, Outstate 

Michigan Held Its Own in 795/ 

(Continued from page 14) 

product coming from the companies in the 

1952 lineups indicates films that can be sold 

to bigger audiences. This mood prevailed 

right through the Allied Theatres convention. 

Upstate business appears to be holding up 

more consistently than the average of Detroit 

houses, judging from typical independent 

exhibitors contacted. Attempts to secure 

a comment and prognosis from the Butterfield 

circuit, operating the dominant group 

of theatres in most Lower Peninsula towns 

outside of Detroit, were unsuccessful. 

Industrial reasons peculiar to this city are 

given the major blame for immediate conditions 

by a number of exhibitors, such as David 

M. Idzal, managing director of the Fox 

"I don't blame poor business so much on 

television as on layoffs, and the Insecurity of 

the people who are working. The government 

should decide whether they want them 

to make cars or bullets in our Detroit factories. 

"Nationally, I am very optimistic about the 

picture business as a whole." 

Christmas business was actually vei-y satisfactory 

to a number of medium and small 

neighborhood theatres spot checked this 

week. At the Century, for instance, there 

was a substantial pickup, as at others, despite 

an accumulation of up to 30 inches of 

snow, and heavy falls that day. Neighborhood 

shows were probably benefiting at the 

expense of nearly vacant downtown houses, 

as transportation was stalled. Upstate Christmas 

business, more dependent on patronage 

coming from a distance, was generally poor. 

BOSTON . 

. . Receipts off 15 to 

20 per cent in New England, 

with television a big factor. 

BOSTON—There is definitely an aura of 

gloom in this area about business in general 

from nearly all exhibitors, both circuit heads 

and independents. One independent exhibitor 

stated that the pre-Christmas period this 

year was the lowest ever registered in the 

29 years of his theatre's existence. Despite 

these gloomy predictions, all exhibitors believe 

that movies really are better than 

they've ever been, but it is the economic situation 

that must change for the better before 

the theatres can return to their normal 

days. Television is responsible in a big way 

they admit, but all theatres with half-empty 

houses cannot blame TV. 

Edward Canter, treasurer of American Theatres 

Corp. stated that prospects for 1952 

seem a little brighter with better product 

coming up, but that even the so-called top 

pictures have been spotty this year. Some 

of the lavish musicals and Technicolor westerns 

having been a disappointment at the 

boxoffice. He also stated that this Christmas 

week was behind that of last year, and 

that business generally has been 15 to 20 

per cent off in 1951 as compared to 1950. 

James Mahoney, general manager of Interstate 

Theatres Corp. also agrees that business 

has been off 15 to 20 per cent but he believes 

the prospects for the end of the winter of 

1952 seem brighter with the new product. 

His business has been off only about 5 per 

cent in the non-television areas. The best 

boxoffice results in his circuit of 36 houses 

have been from action and outdoor films, 

food musicals and dramas, although some 

of the latter two have proved disappointing. 

Bob McNulty. owner and operator of the 

Warwick Theatre. Marblehead, Mass., is discouraged 

about present conditions and is apprehensive 

about 1952. He believes that in 

his area of higher-class patronage television 

has been more responsible for the drop than 

any other factor. "My patrons are so used 

to watching television that they have forgotten 

how good the movies are," he said. 

"They have lost the movie-going habit." His 

best weeks in 1951 were with "The Great 

Caruso" in August and "Kon-Tiki" in September. 

BALTIMORE ... No two like 

opinions on what the new year 

may bring, but there is little 

pessimism. 

BALTIMORE—A poll of the bigger operators 

in this area reveals, as usual, no two 

like opinions on how business is or can be 

expected in the new year. A bright point 

was that while some were optimistic and a 

number were more conservative in predicting 

1952 business, none were pessimistic. The 

least optimistic opinion expressed was by an 

exhibitor who said he did not think business 

would downgrade itself. 

Taking an average of quoted percentages 

of business comparisons, it would seem that 

grosses were down about 14 per cent under 

1950—with the high at about 18 per cent and 

the low at 7 per cent. 

Downtown business is approximately 10 

per cent off the previous year's gross, and a 

good percentage of the exhibitors feel that 

the downward trend at the boxoffice has 

reached the leveling mark. Quite a few feel 

that the new year will show them holding 

their own and perhaps seeing a slight increase. 

Of course exhibitors say this is confidence 

—the fact remains that most theatremen are 

basing their week's average on what they did 

during the peak war years and the years 

immediately following. 

As to types of pictures, exhibitors were 

agreed that boxoffice value is enhanced by 

color— but as to types of pictures drawing 

best, the answers are almost as varied as 

opinions expressed. Generally, theatres are 

doing best on musicals, westerns in color and 

science-fiction films. 

Leon Back, general manager of the Rome 

circuit, said his organization was looking 

forward to better conditions in 1952. 

"We seem to be getting more children, and 

that's a good sign. Children are the backbone 

of our business," he said. 

Such a prominent exhibitor as C. Elmer 

Nolte, Durkee circuit executive, also was very 

optimistic about the prospects for the new 

year. 

"We shouldn't start writing off the exhibition 

end of the picture business. A little application 

to our job, more attention to the 

selling of pictures, plus greater attention to 

providing physical comforts for the patron 

Even Free Film Can't 

Help These Theatres 

MINNEAPOLIS—At least one major 

distributor here has been studying the 

situation with regard to a number of the 

territory's theatres which are known to 

be in desperate straits because of the 

severely depressed boxoffice the past several 

months. And it has reached the conclusion 

that film rental relief would not 

be sufficient to put these houses back on 

their feet. 

"Even if we gave some of these theatres 

their film for nothing, they still couldn't 

survive, according to our calculations," 

said an exchange manager who asked to 

have his name withheld. "Fixed costs, 

from which there is no relief, are driving 

these theatres to the wall. They include 

projectionists and other labor costs, 

building or ground rental, mortgage or 

loan carrying charges, advertising and 

taxes." 

Most of the theatres in question have 

been marginal operations even during the 

most prosperous periods, or at least they 

never have been profitable to any high 

degree, it was pointed out. 

and most exhibitors could make that extra 

dollar," he said. 

"For the first time in years we have (meaning 

most of the neighborhood theatre operators) 

increased our admission prices. Our 

prices remained stationary for so long we 

were one of the lowest priced cities in the 

country. This slight boost, while not felt 

by the patron to any extent, should be a 

great help to us in meeting mounting costs. 

Nolte feels that people have reached the 

high point in staying home and will want 

to get out more than ever. 

A check of exhibitors in the area showed 

that 90 per cent of those queried felt that 

Movietime U.S.A. and the work of the Council 

of Motion Picture Organizations had been 

beneficial to them. 

CHARLOTTE . . . Whether 1952 

business 'will be good depends 

on how the textile mills 

operate. 

CHARLOTTE, N. C—With many textile 

plants still running only a few days per 

week, Carolina theatre owners look upon 

1952 as a year of uncertain prospects. 

Although some mills are running full time, 

scores have not resumed full production. The 

heart of the Carolinas economy is the textile 

industry and the prosperity of hundreds of 

communities, large and small, depend on the 

orders the mills receive. 

There are sharp differences of opinion on 

1952 prospects. 

One theatre chain executive said business 

was 25 per cent under this time a year 

ago, and also 25 per cent under this same 

time six months ago. "We definitely are not 

optimistic," he said. "We do not look for good 

business next year." 

But another theatre official whose firm 

operates theatres in the larger communities 


16 BOXOFTICE January 5, 1952

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ll^'ue comedy ofthe year, '^ ^ê 

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*WAKE UP! HERE'S A SLEEPER!" 

Here's what Walter Winchell tells millions 

of movie-goers in his syndicated column: 

DON'T MISS THE TRADE SHOWS JAN. 16th! 

UANY 

TUNT« 

OSTON 

UFFALO 

HARLOTTE 

HICAGO 

INCINNATI 

lEVELANO 

ALLAS 

ENVER 

ES MOINES 

EIROIT 

4DIANAP0LIS 

ACKSONVILLE 

ANSAS CITY 

OS ANQEIES 

20th-Fox Screen Room


Cont. 

Charlotte 

iContinued from page 16; 

in the Carolinas said he thought 1952 would 

be a better year than 1951. 

"Next year's product looks better on paper 

than this year's did," he said, explaining his 

opinion that movie attendance would rise 

in 1952. 

This executive also said business was off 

but to a lesser degree. 

"It's off a little" he said, "maybe 5 per 

cent. I think that same figure holds good 

for this time last year and six months ago." 

SEATTLE . . . Pacific Northwest 

on par with preceding year 

and off to good start for 1952. 

SEATTLE—WiUiam Thedford, vice-president 

of Evergreen Theatres which operates 

a large circuit of theatres in the Pacific 

northwest, has a cheerful report on exhibition 

in this region. Business in 1951 was about 

on par with 1950, and the circuit is looking 

forward to similar results in the coming year. 

Thedford said 1951 started out in great 

shaps, with the first three months showing 

substantial grosses. There was a slump in the 

spring and summer months, followed by a decided 

upswing in the fall. This was a repeat 

of the 1950 business pattern. 

The new year will be much the same as 

1951, if product continues to hold up, Thedford 

believes. The big color outdoor featui-es 

have been big draws in this area. Such 

films as "Across the Wide Missouri" and 

musicals such as "Show Boat" have pulled 

well, science-fiction pictures like "When 

Worlds Collide" and "The Day the Earth 

Stood Still" were especially strong in the 

cities, he said, but he cautioned distributors 

not to overdo the cycle or the appeal will 

shortly run its course. 

ST. LOUIS ... OH here 8 to 10 

per cent in cities, with metropolitan 

area itself a spotty situation. 

ST. LOXnS—Comparison of 1951 with that 

of 1950 indicates that in the St. Louis trade 

area as a whole business was off from 8 to 

10 per cent. In some of the smaller towns the 

drop was from 25 to 40 per cent and, as 

a result, many houses closed their doors 

during 1951. Some probably never will reopen. 

It is anticipated that many small town 

theatres will be sold during 1952. Perhaps 

new owners can do better. 

In St. Louis and St. Louis county, with 

some 110 picture houses in all, the business 

picture is some what checkered. Even in the 

same circuits some houses experienced gains 

in business while others dropped. Exhibitors, 

of course, don't have the final boxoffice 

checks for 1951, so can't give definite answers 

as to the comparison of 1951 with 1950. Some 

gave the offhand view business in 1951 compared 

favorably. Others, however, said that 

business was slightly off, as a whole, while 

still others placed the drop at the boxoffice 

from 10 to 15 per cent. In some workers areas 

the decrease for 1951 as against 1950 ran as 

much as 20 to 25 per cent. 

Out in Missouri and in Southern Illinois 

the picture also is a mixed one. Special factors 

have stimulated business in some towns 

Everything s Up to Date in K. C; 

Business Running Ahead of '50 

KANSAS CITY—Consistently foul 

weather for the last two months bore the 

brunt of exhibitor complaints about business 

in this territory, but despite the vagaries 

of the weather, most area exhibitors 

this week predicted ever-increasing 

grosses for 1952. 

Elmer C. Rhoden, president of Fox 

Midwest Amusement Corp., said that first 

runs, suburban and territory houses of 

the big circuit all were reporting business 

a little ahead of this time last year. 

Rhoden said it was difficult to make a 

comparison, because of the terrible 

weather conditions, but that he believed 

1952 would see an improvement. 

J. A. Becker, president of Associated 

Theatres, owner of the Independence, Mo., 

houses, said it was difficult to generalize 

on the outlook for 1952. but basing his 

while in other communities of similar size 

other factors have caused business to slump. 

In southern Illinois the coal mining industry 

is most important. The trend in that 

industry for some years now has been toward 

the elimination of the smaller mine to concentrate 

production in the super mines—such 

as Orient Mine No. 2 near West Frankfort 

that had an explosion and fire December 21 

that killed 119 miners. That disaster will adversely 

affect motion picture attendance in 

a number of towns, since the big mine recruited 

workers from a wide area. The inroads 

of natural gas and oil have hit the coal industry 

very hard, and the adverse effects of 

this competition was manifest in many coal 

mining communities during 1951. Naturally 

their motion picture houses suffered a drop in 

business. 

In St. Louis and St. Louis county the increase 

in the number of theatres admitting 

children under 12 years free resulted in an 

increased number of persons attending the 

show in many instances although boxoffice receipts 

may have dropped. Parents that have 

stayed away from the theatres for many 

months today are attending with the kiddies. 

Concessions sales have benefited somewhat. 

MONTANA ... No 

and receipts for 

television, 

1951 run just 

about what they were the previous 

year. 

HELENA, MONT.—Theatre business in 

Montana as a general rule has fluctuated 

very little during the past year and taken 

on a percentage basis, it just about balances 

the 1950 figure. 

The fact that Montana does not have TV, 

of course eliminates that competition. 

Concerning trends, a popularity poll places 

musicals first above all other types of pictures 

with light comedies placing second. 

The Montana outlook is predominantly optimistic 

although it is quite evident that 

most exhibitors realize the necessity for 

showmanship promotion. Quoting Cid Page, 

manager of the Marlow and Antlers theatres 

here, "If we weren't optimistic we wouldn't 

be In this business. At one time movie profits 

forecast for the coming year on the results 

of 1952, he believed that business 

would show a big increase. Becker, too, 

said that weather conditions in recent 

weeks had affected business adversely, but 

that business for his theatres in 1951 

had been "very good." and that he believed 

it would grow even more this year. 

Harold Lyon, managing director of the 

Paramount Theatre, said the outlook for 

1952 is "very bright." 

"Business is starting off that way," 

said Lyon. "Product is fine and people 

are in a showgoing mood. It is my belief 

that they can be attracted more and 

more by proper advertising. I'm not afraid 

of television competition, because I believe 

that its appeal is leveling off, that it is 

losing ground here and that it is finding 

its own proper place." 

were higher than most merchants down the 

street; now they are not as high but with 

movies constantly improving and the public 

seeking escape from the worries of world 

affairs, I think the theatres will make out 

all right in 1952. 

A roundup at this time shows an increase 

in merchant-theatre tieups, cash clubs, 

kiddy programs and important guest appearances. 

This is especially true in the small 

neighborhood theatres. In the more rural districts, 

however, where there is no competition, 

exhibitors do not worry much about 

advertising or promotional activities. 

VANCOUVER . . . Downtown 

first runs have it tougher than 

suburban houses in this area. 

VANCOUVER—Business at the year's end 

shows an improvement after a slow summer 

and fall, but is down from a year ago about 

20 per cent. The hottest summer on record 

gave the indoor theatres a licking, but the 

drive-ins did the best business since they 

opened. Circuit executives are far from happy 

about future prosjjects, particularly in the 

downtown first rims. They blame it on the 

lack of space, which is a problem. On the 

other hand, suburban theatre business is on 

the up-beat. 

Pictures doing well in this zone are lightertype 

comedy, musicals and outdoor action 

pictures with Technicolor films also doing 

better than black and white, war and crime 

pictures are not proving good boxoffice. Foreign 

and art films if good do well and have 

quite a following. British pictures are also 

picking up plenty of playing time. Corn 

pictures like Ma and Pa Kettle, the Abbott 

and Costello releases and Monogram's Bowery 

Boys series are big winners in the grassroots 

section and tops in the drive-in theatres. 

Circuit and theatre heads say that overhead 

expenses are getting out of hand with 

labor costs the big cause. Projectionists in 

British Columbia are now getting $2.50 an 

hoiu-, with 35 cents per hour increase granted 

this year. Theatremen feel they are entitled 

to an increase in admissions but are holding 

off due to high cost of living. 


al 

THE 

from 

J 

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J

as Holly. Queen of the Flyers 

.WORLD PRE-RELEASE 

ENGAGEMENT 

At The 

Nation's Greatest Showplac* 

RADIO CITY 

MUSIC HALL 

as The Great Sebastian 

Cecil B.DeMiUe's 

t~ : 

as Brad, The Boss -man 

as Phyllis, the "Hula" Girl 

fl 

^^:^mst»^ 

HENRY WILCOXON 

J 

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Color by 

ECHNICOLOR 

LYLE BETTGER 

LAWRENCE TIERNEY 

EMMETT KELLY 

CUCCIOLA 

ANTOINETTE CONCELLO 

ei 

PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY CECIL B. 

DeMILLE 

Produced with the cooperation of Ringling Bros.-Barnum & Bailey Circus 

Screenplay by FREDRIC M. FRANK, BARRE LYNDON and THEODORE ST. JOHN 

Story by FREDRIC M. FRANK, THEODORE ST. JOHN and FRANK CAVETT 

"If It's a Paramount Picture, It's The Best Show in Town" 

— and this Paramount Picture is 

THE GREATEST BOXOFFICE SHOW ON EARTH ! 

^ 

4^^ ^1^ 

JAMES 

as Buttons— a Clown

- 

Academy Criticized 

For Theatre TV Ban 

FRANKLIN. IND.—Trueman Rembu.sch. 

presidents of Allied States Ass'n. sharply criticized 

the Academy of Motion Picture Arts 

and Sciences for failure to clear the annual 

Academy Awards presentation for theatre 

television in an open letter sent to Charles 

Brackett. Academy president, this week. 

"The attitude of the Academy in the matter 

of clearances for theatre television bodes 

no good for the entire industry and certainly 

can be most injurious to intra-industry relations." 

Rembusch said he could not conceive of any 

sound reason or reasons for the refusal to 

grant clearance to theatres having television 

systems. 

"If there were no retail theatre outlets exhibiting 

Hollywood's creations there would 

be no Academy of Motion Picture Arts and 

Sciences," the Allied chief said. "There would 

be no actors, actresses, producers, technicians, 

etc., to receive the awards. The theatres that 

are pioneering theatre television are opening 

up a whole new field for every segment of 

the industry. 

"Theatre television may well become the 

training ground for new faces and give substantial 

employment to the older Hollywood 

faces and technicians. The Academy by depriving 

these theatres of the opportunity of 

carrying the awards is doing a disservice to 

the the entire industry. I can tell you that 

the several thousand exhibitor members of 

Allied States Ass'n will seriously resent the 

Academy's decision in this matter unless 

there are sound reasons behind it." 

Declaring that he considered the decision 

"most arbitrary and conducive of generating 

much ill-feeling within the industry" Rembusch 

asked Brackett to come out in the open 

and let the TV exhibitors know the reasons 

for the refusal to grant clearance of the 

presentation ceremony. 

Tri-States Circuit Sells 

Eight of Its Theatres 

OMAHA—The Tri-States circuit is giving 

up eight theatres in the Iowa-Nebraska area, 

district manager William Miskell announced 

here in revealing a new lineup of per.sonnel. 

They are the Hastings, Neb.. Strand and 

Hastings Drive-In, the Grand at Grand 

Island, Neb., and the Hollywood, Victory, Iowa. 

State and Sioux City Drive-In at Sioux 

City, Iowa. 

Fred Teller, former manager of Tri-State's 

Omaha Theatre, will run both Hastings setups. 

He is vice-president of the Strand 

Amusement Co. 

At Grand Island, the Grand which Tri- 

States owned in partnership with Mrs. David 

Kaufman has been returned to Mrs. Kaufman. 

Wally Kemp, formerly Ti-i-States city 

manager at Grand Island, will manage the 

Grand as part-owner. Tony Abramovich of 

Des Moines will manage the Capitol, still 

held by Tri-States. 

The Hollywood, Victory. Iowa, State and 

drive-in at Sioux City, formerly held by Tri- 

States and the Affiliated Theatres, are now 

held solely by Affiliated, headed by Abe 

Friedman. 

Rose Bowl in a TV Snarl; 

First a Yes, Then a No 

NEW YORK—National Broadcasting Co. 

officials expressed surprise Thursday (3) over 

reports from Los Angeles that Sherill Corwm 

had shown the Rose Bowl game on the 

large television screen of the Orpheum Theatre 

to a paying audience. They said that 

as far as they knew, no theatres had it on 

television. NBC had the broadcasting rights. 

"Tliey did not get it on a line fee through 

NBC." said Stanton M. Osgood, a.ssistant to 

the director of television network operations. 

He added that there have been reports from 

time to time that theatres have taken broadcasting 

company programs on their own responsibility, 

and mentioned the Alhambra in 

Cleveland specifically as having done so for 

four years. He did not know whether these 

programs have been shown on the large theatre 

screen or in small receivers elsewhere 

in the theatre. If the practice has been current 

for four years, the latter would seem to 

be the case. 

Osgood would not say if NBC will look into 

the Orpheum presentation. He said Joseph 

McConnell, NBC president, was on the coast 

and that a decision would be up to him. 

Nathan L. Halpern, president of Theatre 

Network Television, said he had no word from 

Corwin and knew only what he read in the 

press reports from Los Angeles. He said he 

had negotiated the deal for Corwin jointly 

w'ith the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate Conference, 

NBC and Gillette and had been assured 

it was set. He said Corwin had telephoned 

him Monday there was a last minute 

mixup, that he didn't know what it was and 

that it probably meant that one of the three 

groups with whom he negotiated had changed 

its mind. An indication that that might be 

true came Monday when a telegram from 

Kenneth E. Wright of Theatre Television 

Authority of California said NBC had notified 

him there would be no theatre telecasts of 

the game "despite previous announcements 

by east coast and one west coast theatre." 

Both Halpern and NBC said they hadn't 

heard of Theatre Television Authority. 

Corwin's Rose Bowl TV 

Swells Attendance 

LOS ANGELES—Heavy New^ Year's day 

attendance was reported at Sherrill C. Corwin's 

Orpheum Theatre, only local showcase 

to boast large-screen TV equipment, when 

it presented the annual Pasadena Tournament 

of Roses parade and the Stanford 

Illinois football game direct from the Rose 

Bowl, piped in from station KNBH, the local 

NBC video outlet. 

Although the Pacific coast football conference 

and the Toiu-nament of Roses committee 

had taken action against televised showings 

of the game in theatres w'here an admission 

was chai-ged, spokesmen for Corwin said 

they had never been notified of such a ruling. 

On the other hand, it was explained, 

Corwin was given the green light by Theatre 

Network Television, of which he is a member, 

to stage the telecast. TNT is headed by Nate 

Halpern, video authority and TV consultant 

to Theatre Owners of America. 

More than 800 patrons viewed the Tournament 

of Roses parade in the morning, and 

1,200 cash customers were on hand for the 

football telecast in the afternoon. 

Kansas City Showing 

Of Game Canceled 

KANSAS CITY—The Ashland Theatre of 

the Commonwealth circuit, one of two theatres 

which had negotiated for showing of the 

Rose Bowl game, canceled out at the last 

minute when permission for the performance 

was withdrawn. The theatre had used considerable 

display space to promote the game. 

Cancellation, however, came in time for a 

last-minute notice In the press to the effect 

that the TV rights had been withdrawn. 

Definite Yardstick for Film Selling 

An Industry Need, N.J. Allied Says 

NEW YORK—There has been no progressive 

step in selling methods in years, Wilbur 

Snaper, head of New Jersey Allied, charged. 

Assignment of preferred playing time percentage 

pictures by distributors has reached 

the point, he adds, where there are not 

enough weekends to play them. In some instances 

35 per cent ha.s been demanded on 

grosses of less than $100. 

Snaper's comments were contained in a 

bulletin to members .sent out Wednesday i2). 

"Perhaps much of the bickering, friction 

and dog-eat-dog attitudes can be ehminated 

by a formula other than that u.sed at the 

present time," he wrote. "Just what it might 

be I don't know, but certainly there must 

be some straightening out of this constant 

battle which takes up so many hours on both 

sides—hours that might be devoted to constructive 

work in building up our business. 

"Perhaps there might be a different theory 

of sales or philo.sophy of buying. Exhibitors 

have gone to distributors and have requested 

an incentive sales plan— that is, at a certain 

point exhibitors will retain more of the gross 

and by this method will strive to increase the 

gro.ss on all pictures. 

"Distributors want a look at the grosses of 

their pictures. From a few' percentage pictures 

a year, distributors now allocate so 

many percentage terms that there aren't 

enough weekends in the year to play them 

off. 

"The distributor has gotten to the point 

where he believes the panacea for selling is 

to ju.st allocate picture percentage and preferred 

playing time. Saturdays and Sundays 

are not necessarily the best days of the week 

and percentage doesn't make a picture suitable 

for these days." 

BOXOFFICE January 5, 1952 21

TKCK €U(d S

The (listTibulor defendants are hereby enjoined -From granting any license in 

which minimum prices jor admiss ion to a theatre are fixed by the parties, either in 

writing . . . or in any manner or by any means.— Decree in I .S. v. Paramount et al. 

OPEN LEHER TO THE EXHIBITORS OF AMERICA 

The Supreme Court says admission prices should be "set by the exhibitors." The 

purpose of the above injunction is to prevent distributors from fixing the admission prices 

charged by the theatres. 

At the recent National Convention of Allied States Association the assembled exhibitors 

condemned current efforts to evade the injunction by the device called "pre-release." 

They urged National AlUed "to alert all exhibitors to the dangers in the enforced sales 

policies of the film companies" by means of trade paper advertising, bulletins, etc. 

The Allied Film Committee to which this duty was assigned is strongly of the opinion 

that advanced admission price pictures are dangerous, for the following reasons: 

1. Regular patrons who support the run-of-mine pictures and turkeys resent being 

penalized by upped admissions when a better-than-average picture comes along. The 

business now needs goodwill more than ever before and this cannot be gained by 

soaking the public. 

2. Exhibitors are being required to hike admissions for three current pictures and it 

is reported that another, now in the offing, will be licensed on the same basis. Unless 

this practice is checked it will spread and exhibitors will lose all control over their pricing 

policies. 

3. When an exhibitor is required to state his proposed admission prices before bidding 

or negotiating for a picture, "minimum prices for admission . . . are fixed by the 

parties." Alert prosecutors conceivably may hold such exhibitors as accessories to violations 

of the decree or as principals in prosecutions for conspiracies to raise prices. 

The Film Committee is of opinion that it is not merely the right but the duty of exhibitors 

to resist to the utmost the distributors' efforts to foist uneconomic and goodwill-destroying 

practices upon them and to expose them to charges of contempt of court and law^ 

violation. Each exhibitor must decide this question for himself. All we can do is point out 

the danger of conniving with distributors in schemes for fixing admission prices. 

ALLIED FILM COMMITTEE 

Benjamin N. Berger 

Wilbur Snaper 

Ray Branch 

Nathan Yamins 

H. A. Cole Trueman T. Rembusch (ex officio} 

BOXOFFICE :: January 5, 1952 23

Spyros Skouras Predicts 

1952 Business Upsurge 

NEW YORK—The theatre business is still 

lower than last year in areas where there is 

intense television competition, but the 1952 

theatre business should 

be good if exhibitors 

will sell their pictures 

aggressively, Spyros P. 

Skouras, president of 

20th Century-Fox, said 

in a year-end statement. 

"Prom June through 

Thanksgiving," he said, 

"we were very much 

encouraged because the 

many good pictures 

that were made avail- 

Spyros Skouras 

able to the public by 

the industry during this period resulted in a 

very heartening upsurge in our business. 

However. I regret to say that the pre-holiday 

lull this year was more pronounced than last 

year and that even Christmas day was disappointing. 

INCLEMENT WEATHER HURTS 

"A major contributing factor to this condition 

was the unusually heavy snow, ice, 

sleet and rain storms that tied up a large 

part of the country. I am happy to say that 

the Thursday after Christmas saw a very 

upward swing on Broadway, which I hope is 

being reflected at boxoffices throughout the 

country. 

"To summarize: Although we have halted 

the decline in those metropolitan areas which 

are heavily .saturated by television, business 

is still lower in those sections than last year. 

In non-television areas business was better 

up to Thanksgiving, but since then has been 

down somewhat. 

"I believe the prospects for the new year are 

good, providing the entire industry unites in a 

common effort to make them good. We must 

recognize the complete interdependence of 

production and exhibition and work together 

to bring people back to the theatres. COMPO's 

Movietime U.S.A. has done much to restimulate 

public interest, and Messrs. Ned 

Depinet, Bob O'Donnell and Arthur Mayer, 

who led this fine project, are to be highly commended. 

But this is just a beginning. 

MUST SELL EVERY PICTURE 

"Exhibitors must really settle down to selling 

motion pictures the way they once did. 

Each and every picture must be sold to the 

public by using the most ingenious and imaginative 

showmanship methods. The day when 

the exhibitor only had to open the door and 

the public poured in is gone. He must go 

out and sell his product aggressively. 

"The theatres themselves must be kept upto-date 

and attractive. They must challenge 

the home in comfort and appeal. 

"Those theatres that are situated in areas 

where parking facilities are limited or even 

non-existent have a special problem. It is 

up to the exhibitor to work out a solution 

.so that going to the theatre is made as comfortable 

as possible. 

"Too much emphasis cannot be placed on 

Judge Igoe Denies MGM 

Unlimited 'Vadis' Run 

CHICAGO—Judge Michael Igoe in Chicago 

federal district court has handed a 

blow to MGM's hope to extend the Jackson 

Park Theatre decree for an unlimited 

run of "Quo Vadis." 

The company had asked for a complete 

roadshowing of the picture with a 

clearance clause to book it into the sub 

runs later this year, after it had finished 

its first run showing in Chicago's 

Loop. 

Judge Igoe based his decision on the 

fact that "picture should be made available 

to all exhibitors." The Jackson Park 

decree prohibits a clearance setup in 

defendant theatres. Unless Metro revises 

its appeal and eliminates its clearance 

demand, the Oriental and Woods theatres 

which are not subject to the decree, seem 

likely to be only two motion picture theatres 

that can bid on "Quo Vadis." 

The Oriental is a 3,600-seat house and 

the Woods a 1,078-seater. 

booking, and this is particularly true in double 

bill territories. Programs must be presented 

that will attract maximum patronage and 

that will be capable of overcoming the competition 

of free and readily accessible television. 

"So far as production is concerned, the 

studios must strive for even higher quality, 

and provide a constant flow of the finest attractions 

that studio creative minds and ingenuity 

can devise. This calls for provocative 

and unusual subjects that will capture 

public interest and bring them out of their 

homes and into the theatre. 

"To meet the ever-changing public tastes, 

all companies must produce not only finer 

attractions but more such pictures than ever 

before and at a cost that is within today's 

boxoffice potential. The need for more pictures 

is felt especially in heavily saturated 

television areas where theatres must change 

their programs more frequently to attract 

audiences. 

"Established stars must be cast with utmost 

care to assure their retaining their boxoffice 

appeal, and new stars must be developed 

and popularized. Fresh faces and sparkling 

personalities have always been a keystone of 

our business. The studios must also find 

original methods of glamorizing and selling 

these personalities to the public. 

"In my opinion, the one single factor that 

will do more to meet the competition of home 

television will be the perfection of largescreen 

color television for theatres. We have 

devoted our time and effort to the development 

of Eidophor—a large-screen process that 

will make it possible for theatres throughout 

the country to offer the public a wonderful 

new medium of entertainment, which will 

appeal to large, new audiences. 

Paramount to Give 

Films to Skiatron 

NEW YORK — Paramount films will be 

made available for the subscriber-vision test 

which Skiatron plans in 300 homes here in 

the near future, Paul Raibourn, vice-president 

and television authority, said Monday (31). 

The company thus became the first to reply 

favorably to the request of Arthur Levey, 

Skiatron president, for a decision before January 

15. 

Twentieth Century-Fox had turned down 

the request, and United Artists, Universal- 

International and RKO Pictures said they 

hadn't reached a decision. No statements were 

forthcoming from MGM and Columbia, and 

spokesmen for the other majors said their 

top executives were on the coast and that 

decisions would be reached there. 

Raibourn said that negative action by Paramount 

could have been construed as "discriminatory" 

since the company had supplied 

films for the Phonevision test in Chicago. 

He said the same type of films would be 

supplied Skiatron, identifying them as "good" 

films but of 1948 vintage. 

Raibourn expressed surprise that Levey 

had begun seeking product before obtaining 

formal Federal Communications Commission 

approval of the test. Levey had said previously 

he had tacit approval and wanted to 

be assured of product before proposing a 

date to the FCC. Raibourn said his company's 

decision was not influenced by its 

financial interest in Telemeter, a competing 

form of pay-as-you-go home television al.so 

with a device for unscrambling cloudy images. 

WB Net Profit $9,427,000 

For Year Ended Aug. 31 

NEW YORK—Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., 

and subsidiary companies report a net profit 

of $9,427,000, after provision of $9,100,000 for 

federal income taxes and a provision of $700,- 

000 for contingent liabilities, for the year 

ending Aug. 31, 1951. This compares to a 

net profit of $10,271,000, after provision for 

$6,300,000 for federal income taxes and a 

provision of $850,000 for contingent liabilities, 

for the preceding year. 

The net profit for the year ending August 

1951 is equivalent to $1.67 per share on 

the 5.619,785 shares of common stock outstanding 

on August 31, after deducting shares 

acquired by the company. The net profit for 

last year was equivalent to $1.46 per share on 

the 6,997,300 shares of common stock then 

outstanding. 

Film rentals, theatre admissions, sales, etc., 

after eliminating inter-company transactions, 

for the year ended Aug. 31, 1951, amounted 

to $116,909,000, compared to $126,944,000 for 

last year. 

As a result of examinations by representatives 

of the Bm-eau of Internal Revenue, the 

company has adjusted its fixed asset accounts 

and related depreciation reserves at 

Sept. 1, 1950. Accordingly, the sum of $3.- 

768.000 has been restored to the asset account 

and an additional $1,000,000 has been provided 

for federal income taxes for prior 

years. This has resulted in an Increase of 

$2,768,000 in earned surplus, which sum is not 

included in the earnings for the year as 

shown above. 


SPECIAL

iM ii.jimw«gl lfl»>lim 

— 

— 

Paramount 

Presents 

"The Greatest Show on Earth" 

Color by Technicolor 

Running time, 151 minutes 

THE CREDITS: 

Produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille. Screenplay: 

Fredric M. Frank, Barre Lyndon, Theodore St. 

Joiin. Original story: Fredric M. Frank, TIneodore St. 

John, Frank Cavett. Color by Technicolor. Director 

photography: George Barnes. Costumes: Edith 

of 

Head, Dorothy Jeokins. Film editor: Anne Bauchens. 

Art directors: Hal Pereiro, Walter Tyler. Set decorators: 

Sam Comer, Ray Moyer. Technicol adviser: 

John Ringling North. Choreography: Richard Barstow. 

Associate producer: Henry Wilcoxon. Assistant director: 

Edward Salven. Musical score: Victor Young. 

Producea with the cooperation of Ringling Bros.- 

Barnum & Bailey circus. 

THE CAST: 

Betty Hutton, James Stewart, Cornel Wilde, Charlton 

Heston, Dorothy Lamour, Gloria Grahame, Henry 

Wilcoxon, Lyie Bettger, Lawrence Tierney, Emmett 

Kelly, Cucciola, Antoinette Concello, John Ringling 

North, John Ridgeley, Frank Wilcox, Julia Faye ond 

personnel of the Ringling Bros.-Barnum & Bailey 

UeMille captures the glamour, the color and the c,\citcnicul ul the circus. 

'Greatest Show on Earth' 

Lives Up to Its 

By IVAN SPEAR 

rjIFFICULT it will be for film appraisers, 

showmen and ticket buyers to resist the 

temptation of conjecturing as to whether or 

not "The Greatest Show on Earth," Producer- 

Director Cecil B. DeMille's latest epic for 

Paramount distribution, lives up to its superlative 

title. While there undoubtedly will be 

difference of thought as to how close it comes 

to attaining such fulfillment—and in this 

opinion it is gnat's-eyelash close—none will 

gainsay that it is destined to be among the 

greatest grossers on filmdom's earth. 

That financial evaluation is ine.scapable 

when consideration is given to the virtually 

limitless potential the feature has for entertaining 

fans of all ages and of every conceivable 

celluloid taste. For, in truth, the 

DeMille offering is many shows rolled into 

one, each of which, as a type, has long .since 

established its magnetism. Suffice to consider 

a trio of them: 

In the first place, the picture brings to 

the theatre patron the circus itself, a ringside 

.seat from which to view the tinsel, color, 

action-laden movement, excitement, thrills, 

laughs and chills that are afforded when 

the big top makes its annual trip to town. 

They are all there, captured in their flaming 

hues by Technicolor photography, and 

accented, each in its proper place, through 

the wizardry of DeMille's seasoned direction. 

Isolated indeed the reader—be he e.xhibitor or 

fan—who hasn't long since known that the 

Title 

movie is the story of Ringling Bros.-Barnum 

& Bailey circus, an institution as American 

as the Stars and Stripes, and one almost as 

beloved by this country's citizens. One need 

only to consider for a moment the amount 

of business enjoyed for countless years by 

this biggest of all traveling shows to realize 

what a faithful projection thereof on the 

screen will do for the theatre's cash drawer. 

Secondly, there is the story of how the 

circus operates, a behind-the-scenes chronicling 

of the lives, loves, ambitions, heartaches, 

machinations, tragedies and backbreaking 

labors of the army of men and 

women who constitute the massive machine 

that makes the big top possible. That, in 

itself, Is enough motion picture to fill to 

capacity any man's theatre. 

And, thu-d, the feature has many of the 

elements of a lushly produced filmusical— 

pulchritudinous lassies, lavish settings, laughs 

galore, catchy music, and eye-filling production 

numbers reminiscent of the bright days 

in motion picture history when cost was a 

secondary consideration in the fabrication of 

tunefilms. 

And those three principal elements "are 

only the beginning, folks," as the big top 

barkers would say. 

Knitting them together is a fast-moving 

screenplay, bursting at the seams with the 

proven elements of profitable filmmaking 

romance, villainy, action, jealousy, pathos 

and humor. Undoubtedly there will be those 

among the self-styled sophisticates who will 

opine that the yarn is on the corny side, 

which in itself is also in the DeMillean tradition—a 

tradition that has proven beyond 

argument that this kind of corn reaps a 

golden harvest in grosses. 

Perhaps it might be considered a waste 

of words to comment on the picture's spectacular 

side, inasmuch as it is a foregone 

conclusion that .sweeping spectacle is part 

and parcel of any DeMille production. Herein, 

however, the master showman surpassed even 

him.self in that department, which was made 

possible because the circus backgrounds in 

themselves furnished so much of personnel, 

pageantry, scope and color. Despite which, 

it is the staged wreck of the circus train 

which furnishes the film its high spot of 

magnitude and action. 

While the big top performers—and their 

audience.s—dominate the cast numerically, 

first thespian consideration must be given 

to the star-studded contribution thereto from 

Hollywood, an impressive aggregation of 

marquee-mighty mummers whose fan followings 

would be .sufficiently sizable to assure 

the doUars-and-cents success of a picture of 

far less magnificence. In so superlative a 

vehicle, their attraction—and, incidentally, 

their exploitation possibilities — are beyond 

calculating. Betty Hutton, in the topline and 

in an unusually exacting part, is perhaps 

de.serving of a .shade more praise than her 

fellow-luminaries, but .she is pressed for limelight 

and honors all the way by Cornel 

Wilde, Charlton Heston, Dorothy Lamour, 

Gloria Grahame and James Stewart. 

To the hundreds of technicians and creative 

artists—of both Hollywood origin and 

circus connection—from Henry Wilcoxon, 

who served as associate producer (and also 

appeared in the picture), to the lowlie.st of 

roustabouts, must be given a share of the 

credit for the picture's almost flawless technical 

and atmospheric details. 

So, in conclusion, if DeMille. Ringling 

Bros.-Barnum & Bailey, a brilliant galaxy of 

stars, Technicolor photography—given the 

benefit of the highest know-how of two leading 

divisions of the entertainment world 

do not combine to make "The Greatest Show 

on Earth," it will have to serve as such 

until someone comes up with a better combination. 

2G 

BOXOFTICE January 5, 1952

January 3, 1952 

Dear Mr. 

Exhibitor: 

I thought you might be interested in seeing first 

hand what we're doing for ô^ througli the medium 

of raxlio. 

The copy underlined on the adjacent page from one 

of my radio scripts, is heard by over 10,000,000 

people — not just one week, but every single week 

of the year. 

The recent nation Nielsen rating below, showing 

onl^ the top twenty shows, indicates our relative 

position to other radio programs — a position, 

incidentally, of vîch we're mighty proud. 

Won't you think of us the next time you book a 

"Western" *in yo^jur theatre? 

Sincerely, 

Gene Autry 

NATIONAL 

NIELSEN 

'NOW: 

SILVER CANYON 

HILLS OF UTAH 

VALLEY OF FIRE 

SOON: 

THE OLD WEST 

NIGHT STAGE TO GALVESTON 

APACHE COUNTRY

— 

Lippert Plans to Release 

22 A Features for Year 

In the Newsreels 

Movietone News, No. 1: Korean lighting goes on 

but GIs observe holiday; lire sweeps ship in Columbia 

river; 119 lose lives in mine blast; sub cheats 

Pacific ol three victims; lap store clerks strike and 

light; mine drills onto California coast; big battlewagon 

home Irom war; Paris shows you how to 

dress to ski in the snow; movie stars see gala premiere 

ol "Decision Belore Dawn." 

Paramount News, No. 38: Outstanding stories of 

1951—Kansas-Missouri flood; crime story—Kefauver 

hearings; personality of the year—Eisenhower; news 

sensation of the year—dismissal of MacArthur; global 

story ot the year-Korea. 

Universol News, No. 521: War in Korea; mine disaster 

in Illmois, blizzard hits the midwest; ship burns 

oil Oregon coast; Churchill visits Paris; French ski 

aces; football—Los Angeles Rams against Cleveland 

In the top photo, on the dais, at Lippert Pictures' first national sales convention, 

left to right, are: Al Grubstick, assistant general sales manager; Anthony Hinds, 

Exclusive Films producer; William F. Pizor. vice-president; Arthur Greenblatt, 

general sales manager: Robert L. Lippert, president; John Jones, exhibitor; Dave 

Wallerstein, general manager, B&K Theatres; Harry Lustkarten, B&K Theatres executive; 

William Hollander, advertising director, B&K Theatres. Seen in the bottom 

photo are district managers, branch managers, salesmen and bookers. 

CHICAGO—A lineup of 22 top-grade features 

will be released by Lippert Pictures in 

1952, to be backed by point-of-sale merchandising 

campaigns, Robert L. Lippert, president, 

announced at the company's first national 

convention here last week (27-29). 

Lippert revealed plans for the shift in 

policy for the company. The firm no longer 

will make pictures, but will concentrate on 

distribution of films produced by top writers, 

directors and stars who will have ownership 

in their product. 

Approximately 160 executives, division managers, 

branch managers, salesmen and bookers 

attended the meeting and heard the president 

outline plans for the company. 

Arthur Greenblatt, general sales manager, 

said that at least 25 new salesmen will be 

1952. 

added to the sales force nationally to 

strengthen the present distribution setup. The 

delegates attended screenings of four of the 

new productions—"Navajo," "For Men Only," 

"Man Bait" and "Stronghold." Plans for distribution 

and promotion of these films were 

also discussed by William M. Pizor, vice-president, 

and Marty Weiser, director of advertising 

and publicity. 

Winners of the third anniversary collection 

drive which just ended were announced and 

awarded prizes as follows: Group one, first 

place, Los Angeles, $1,250; second place, At- 

28 

lanta, $750; third place, Dallas, $500; fourth 

place, San Francisco. $375, and New York 

special award $250. In group two, first place, 

salt Lake City, $1,250; second place, Seattle, 

$750; third place, Memphis, $500; fourth place, 

Buffalo, $375. 

Republic Launches Series 

Of Product Conferences 

HOLLYWOOD—At year's end Herbert J. 

Yates, Republic president, and James R. 

Grainger, vice-president in charge of sales 

and distribution, launched a series of product 

conferences to discuss sales and promotional 

campaigns for the early months of 

Pictures involved in the discussion included 

"The Wild Blue Yonder," co-starring Wendell 

Corey. Vera Ralston and Forrest Tucker: 

"The Quiet Man." produced and directed in 

Ireland by John Ford, with John Wayne and 

Maureen O'Hara in the toplines; "Hoodlum 

Empire," an expose of racketeer syndicates; 

and "Lady Possessed," produced by and 

starring James Mason. 

Also up for analyses were "Minnesota" and 

"Song of Youth," both currently before the 

Trucolor cameras. 

Warner Paths News, No. 40: Churchill visits Eisenhower 

Ike's supporters open Washington headquarters, 

latest htms Irom Korea; Oregon— 11 die in 

ship lire; Swiss backdrop lor American lashions, 

Florida—gala premiere for "Distant Drums 

'; football-Rams 

whip Browns for pro title. 

• 

Movietone News, No. 2: Sports review of 1951: 

baseball—Giants deleat Dodgers, win pennant- 

Yanks world champs; lootball—Dick Kazmaier, most 

talked about pigskm performer of the year; goll— 

Ben Hogan wins national title, Patty Berg wins the 

Weathervane tournament; tennis—Maureen Connolly, 

16-year-old star, wins national title; track and held 

—the Rev Bob Richards clears 15-foot pole vault 

mark; boxing— Joe Walcott, new heavyweight champion 

ol the world. Ray Robinson-Turpin; horseracing 

—England's Grand National Steeplechase; winter 

sports: Tauno Luiro ol Finland- sets a new world 

ski-jump mark of 456 feet; motor-mania—national 

sportsmen stock car race water sports—Wayne Moore 

wins 400 meter free style championship, Pat Mc- 

Cormick displays lovely diving form, motorboat 

steeplechase. 

Paramount News, No, 39: Beauty and the blades 

Barbara Ann Scott makes her debut in Chicago in 

the Hollywood Ice Review ol 1952; Harold E. Stassen; 

George F. Kennan; Francis Cardinal Spellman; 

lashion with the touch of India; featherweight slugfest 

in England. 

Universal Nevirs, No, 522: 1951 in sports: baseball— 

New York Giants, basketball—Brigham Young and 

Kentucky overshadowed by story bigger than basketball 

itsell—the scandals; lootball—West Point dismissals, 

Princeton's Dick Kazmaier, hero of the 

season; horse racing— richest Kentucky Derby in history—Count 

Turl hits jackpot; boxing—rise to power 

track and field—top 

parson"—Bob Richards 

ol veteran 

man was 

lersey 

the 

loe Walcott; 

"sky-climbing 

ol Calilornia, the second man in history to top 15 

leet in the pole vault; thrills and spills-rodeo- 

Grand National—mass crackup of hot-rod racers at 

Langhome, Pa. 

Warner Paihe News, No. 41: The year in sports— 

1951 baseball—New York Giants; football-Dick 

Kazmaier's brilliant playing and John Raster's 103- 

yard Navy run against Army; goll—Ben Hogan 

young Billy Maxwell 

honors; tennis— Dick 

comes back 

grabs 

to take Masters, 

national 

while 

amateur 

Savitt wins men's singles at Wimbledon; Maureen 

Connolly takes women's singles title at Forest Hills; 

skiing— ski-jumping and downhill auto racing—Lee 

WlUard wins gruelling 500-mile Indianapolis auto 

classic—at Langhome, Pa,, speedway, a stock car 

race ends in spectacular, flaming crackup involving 

Telenews Digest. No. 52B: Korea—New Jersey's 

larewell; mine disaster; Red POWs on Koje; Alrica— 

a new nation, Libya, is founded in turbulent Near 

East; Washington— Ike's supporters open a new HQ 

lor the general; Tokyo—Cardinal Spellman arrives 

to see the GIs; New York—Rudolph Halley gets 

marriage license; football—Rams win pro title 

Telenews Digest. No. 53A: Korea—UN nursemaids 

Red captives; Israel— floods swamp immigrant camps; 

Hal-,.—lire-fighting gymnasts; New — York "first catch 

vnnr mink"- New York—new test lor tipsy; New 

York—iashi. 1952. 

Five Chicago Trust Suits 

Seek $1,890,000 Total 

CHICAGO—Five theatre owners filed antitrust 

suits, .seeking damages totaling $1,890,- 

000, against the major distributors and the 

Balaban & Katz circuit as the year ended. 

Filing suit were: Roxy Theatre, Inc., operating 

the Roxy Theatre, seeking $330,000: 

Ida Lasker, widow of Jacob Lasker, owner 

of the Bertha Theatre, $270,000; Devon 

Amusement Co., operating the Ridge Theatre, 

$360,000; Berwyn Theatre Co., owner of 

the Ritz Theatre, $450,000; Cicero Amusement 

Co., operating the Villa Theatre, $4«0,- 

000. 

BOXOFFICE 

:: January 5, 1952

arsin

. 

Ihe BATTLE AT 

APACHE PASS 

s' 

J 

the sense that. 

'*rtil*,>T 

V5 *i S'

Government Luncheon 

To Aid Enlistments 

NEW YORK—Twenty leaders of the industry 

will be invited to attend a January 18 

luncheon at the Pentagon in Washington by 

Defense Secretary Lovett at which time plans 

for industry aid in the enlistment of women 

in the armed forces will be discussed, according 

to Arthur L. Mayer, executive vice-president 

of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations. 

He said that as a result of talks 

with Anna Rosenberg, assistant defense secretary, 

and ottiers, COMPO had been chosen 

as spokesman for the industry. 

Mayer said the use of newsreels and production 

of a special short subject had been 

proposed, and that one large theatre chain 

had offered to install enlistment booths in 

the lobbies of its theatres. 

Luncheon invitations are expected to go to 

major company presidents, heads of exhibitor 

organizations and representatives of COMPO. 

The need for industry aid in stimulating 

women's enlistments came up at a meeting 

which Mayer held recently in New York with 

military men. 

Despite Cold, Denver 

Drive-In Stays Open 

DENVER—Although the move was greeted 

with skepticism when Anthony Archer and 

Joe H. Decker, owners of the Lake Shore 

Drive-In, announced that they would keep 

this Rocky mountain ozoner open this winter, 

the partners are showing to small but enthusiastic 

crowds. As word-of-mouth spreads, 

the showmen believe the winter exhibition 

outdoors will be a profitable venture, as long 

as driving weather is not too severe. 

Their "new-fangled" car heaters were 

tested in subzero Denver temperatures recently 

and, while other drive-ins were closed 

for the season, the Lake Shore entertained 

a warm and comfortable gathering. The 

electric car heater, one of the newest contributions 

to the drive-in theatre, was proved invaluable 

that night as patrons sat snug 

in their automobiles while the temperature 

plummeted to three below zero. Resembling 

an old-fashion box camera, the small heater 

carries a powerful 220-volt heating unit, 

thermostatically controlled, while a fan located 

behind the heating coils constantly 

blows warm air into the car. 

The heaters are controlled from the theatre 

projection booth, which has huge banks 

of fuses and trouble indicators to designate 

any heater which is not working properly. 

One family was noted "opening night" in 

which a two-year-old child was sleeping warm 

and comfortably in the back seat. 

Hcorold Hellman Dies 

DETROIT—Harold Hellman, 33, salesman 

for United Artists Pictiu-es, died in Mount 

Carmel Mercy hospital here December 24. 

He is survived by his wife. Shirley, and one 

daughter. Donna. Body was sent to Chicago 

for burial services. 

Hellman was formerly with other companies 

in various capacitie.s. including booker 

for Columbia in Kansas City. RKO office 

manager for Republic in Chicago, and an 

Eagle Lion salesman in Cincinnati. 

HONOHS QUO VADIS' — Daniel A. 

Poling (leftl, editor of the Christian 

Herald, presents Howard Dietz, MGM 

vice-president and director of advertising, 

publicity and exploitation, with a plaque 

honoring IVIGM's Technicolor "Quo Vadis" 

as the Picture of the Month for January 

in that publication. 

Tighter Controls 

In '52 Predicted 

WASHINGTON—"It is evident that the 

construction of motion picture theatres of all 

types, the manufacture of motion picture 

equipment, and still photographic products 

during 1952 will have to be decreased somewhat 

in comparison with 1951," Nathan D. 

Golden, National Production Authority film 

chief, predicted in a yearend statement forecasting 

"the situation will be worse before 

it gets any better." 

Golden revealed that the situation with 

respect to the three controlled metals—copper, 

aluminum and steel—looks threatening 

at least into 1953. He said that for the 

first quarter of 1952 the Defense Production 

Administration had allocated 42.9 per 

cent of copper brass mill products for the 

direct military program and 15.2 per cent 

for defense-related industries. This left 41.9 

per cent for all other needs including essential 

civilian. Golden predicted that even this 

small "all other" percentage would be revised 

downward in the second quarter. 

There will be an expansion in .steel productive 

capacity, he acknowledged, but said this 

would be of little if any benefit to civilian 

production. The increased supply will go for 

military and defense-related uses and "nonessential 

construction will be hard hit." 

Aluminum production is also being increased, 

.but it will be "some months" before 

production catches up even with essential 

demand, and meanwhile further cuts in 

allocations for civilian production are in 

prospect. 

Golden said that, since the controlled metals 

allotted to his division to be allotted in turn 

to the various photographic and motion picture 

uses were slated to be cut .sharply: he 

would have to cut less essential uses under 

his control so that the more essential would 

not be slashed as heavily. 

Small Theatres Exhibit IGmm Films 

About 3,000 of the small theatres and parish 

halls in Italy exhibit 16mm films only. 

Review Board Seeks 

New Financial Aid 

NEW YORK—Failure of four major companies 

to resume financial support of the 

National Board of Review has resulted in an 

advertising campaign for additional membership 

now being promoted through national 

publications, according to Henry Hart, executive 

director. The campaign will feature 

subscriptions to Films in Review, issued ten 

times a year and called the only publication 

regularly treating film topics seriously. It is 

now two years old, has a paid circulation of 

1,400 and newsstand sales of 800. It and 

the weekly guide to better films go to individuals 

and organizations paying a membership 

fee of $5. 

The annual budget for National Board of 

Review totals $22,0000. It has been met by 

charges to the film companies of $6.25 a reel 

for reviewing films and awarding a seal. 

Paramount, RKO, Universal-International 

and Columbia decided after a meeting last 

May of member companies of the Motion 

Picture Ass'n of America to withdraw for 

reasons of economy. It was also said at the 

time that MPAA held that the work of the 

unit duplicated its own work, particularly 

regarding issuance of its own code seal. 

Hart said he had not lost hope of an 

eventual return of the four companies to the 

fold. He decried reports of a financial emergency, 

saying there was money enough on 

hand for a year and that present indications 

were that the membership drive will succeed. 

The Saturday Review of Literature will 

carry an advertisement January 19, and others 

will follow in The Nation, New Republic 

and other magazines. If and when a select 

circulation has been built up sufficiently, advertising 

will be sought for Films in Review. 

National Board of Review was organized 

in 1909 as a protection for the industry 

against censorship. It was then known as 

the National Board of Censorship. The 

name was changed in 1919. It has always 

selected the best films for promotion through 

local groups in the country called Film Councils. 

These are community organizations 

with civic, educational and religious interests 

which combat censorship at local levels. 

Universal Shifts Three 

In Latin America Posts 

NEW YORK — Universal International 

Films, foreign distribution subsidiary of Universal 

Pictures, has made .several shifts in the 

Latin American personnel, under the jurisdiction 

of Alfred E. Daff, director of world 

sales, and Americo Aboaf, foreign sales manager. 

Cecil Marks, formerly managing director 

in Indonesia and more recently on a special 

assignment in England, has been named 

manager in Tiinidad. Robert Ferber, who 

has been Trinidad manager has been shifted 

to the post of Venezuela representative. 

James Alexander, who had been New York 

representative for Central America will assume 

a similar post in Uruguay with headquarters 

in Montevideo. 

Marion Jordan, Universal New York representative 

for Latin America, has returned 

to New York following a trip through Latin 

America, including visits to Uruguay, Brazil, 

Argentina and Montevideo. 


. . Alex 

. . Three 

. . Arthur 

— 

'iôUtfOAOod êîont 

Nominations for Oscars 

To Close January 26 

The Christmas hohdays over with for another 

year. Cinemania is now turning its attentions 

toward another favorite indoor sport 

—the distribution of kudos for celluloid 

achievements. 

Granddaddy of all such events, the Academy 

of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' 

awards ceremonie.-;. was building up a full 

head of steam in preparation for the 24th 

annual distribution of the widely touted 

Oscar statuettes. Nominations ballots are to 

be mailed out Thursday (17), with the polls 

closing Saturday (26), and screenings of 

nominated pictures will be held from February 

17 through March 9. Pinal awards ballots 

will be mailed late in February. 

The presentation event, as previously announced, 

is scheduled for March 20 at the 

RKO Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. 

Meantime the Screen Directors Guild 

handed out its final quarterly award for 1951, 

the recipient being Producer-Director George 

Stevens and his assistant director, C. C. Coleman, 

for Paramount's "A Place in the Sun." 

Leading Roles Assigned 

To Three at 20th-Fox 

Year's end casting morsels found Susan 

Hayward and Hildegard Neff set to romance 

Gregory Peck in 20th Century-Fox's "Snows 

ot Kilimanjaro." while on the same lot Tyrone 

Power will portray a Royal Canadian Mountie 

in "Pony Soldier" . Gottlieb, who is 

producing it independently and will set the 

release later, inked Lee J. Cobb to share the 

stellar honors with Richard Conte and Vanessa 

Brown in "The Fighter" . of 

By 

IVAN SPEAR 

Metro's top femmes, Lana Turner, Elizabeth 

Taylor and Eleanor Parker, drew new assignments 

as the topliners in, respectively, 

"Interrupted Melody," "The Girl Who Had 

Everything" and "Eagle on His Cap" . . . Universal-International 

signed Anthony Quinn 

as the leading heavy in its pirate drama, 

"Against All Flags" . . Hitting the loanout 

. 

trail. Grant Withers and Estelita Rodriguez 

moved from Republic to Pine-Thomas Productions 

for "Tropic Zone," P-T's next for 

Paramount. 

Walt Disney Buys Rights 

To Jules Verne Classic 

Walt Disney, who intersperses his animated 

cartoon output with live-action features and 

nature-study shorts, has added another liveaction 

entry to his docket for 1952 by acquiring 

the screen rights to Jules Verne's 

"20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." He picked 

up the rights from Sid Rogell, who had 

planned to film the story in England, but 

gave up the project to devote full time to 

TV as an executive of Jerry Fairbanks Productions. 

Disney, who will film it in Technicolor 

for RKO Radio release, plans to recruit 

marine life naturalists to handle the undersea 

photography, while scenes with human 

performers will be lensed at his studio in 

Burbank ... To Universal-International went 

"Squaw Man's Son," an original by Clee 

Woods, which will be produced by Leonard 

Goldstein. Gerald Drayson Adams is writing 

the screenplay, set in Arizona in the early 

1900s and deahng with an Apache Indian uprising 

. . . Metro acquired "Sobbin' Women," 

a short story by Stephen Vincent Benet. which 

will serve as a starring musical for Jane 

Powell, Howard Keel, Nanette Fabray and 

Don Hartman Emphasizes 

Paramount's New Faces 

To those industry executives who, in 

recent weeks, have touted new faces and 

fresh personalities 

as one of the means 

by which filmdom 

can rekindle waning 

interest in motion 

pictures add 

the name of 

Don Hartman, in 

charge of Paramount 

production. 

Hartman, in 

195rs closing days, 

stressed his studio's 

intention to continue 

its efforts to 

sS 

ml. 

Don Hartman 

develop such new thespian talent and, at 

the same time, concentrate on fresh story 

ideas to serve as showcases. He pointed 

out that during the past several months 

the company has inked such personalities 

as Audrey Hepburn, who has skyrocketed 

to fame as a Broadway actress; 

Rosemary Clooney, popular recording artist; 

and Yul Brynner, also of the Broadway 

stage. Also, Hartman said, Paramount's 

"Golden Circle" of younger contract 

players will not be neglected during 

the new year. 

The production executive also cited the 

development of creative talent on the lot, 

including the signing of several new producers, 

directors and writers. 

Added to Producer Charles 

Ann Miller . . . 

Brackett's docket at 20th Century-Fox was 

"Three Fled," a suspense drama by Morton 

Grant and John Humphreys, with Mel Dinelli 

inked to prepare the script . . Lining 

. 

up further fodder for the comedy antics of 

Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Pi'oducer Hal 

Wallis—who releases through Paramount 

picked up the film rights to 80 of the "Alexander 

Botts" stories by William Hazlett Upson, 

which have been appearing in the Saturday 

Evening Post since 1927. The yarns 

about a tractor salesman hit the screen once 

before when Joe E. Brown starred for Warners 

in "Earthworm Tractor" back in 1936. 

SANTA'S LITTLE HELPERS—While most of the U.S. spent the Christmas and 

New Year's holidays at home and fireside, nearly 80 Hollywood stars and show business 

personalities gave up those comforts to entertain and bring a measure of Yule 

cheer to Uncle Sam's GIs stationed at lonely outposts throughout the world. The 

tours were set up under auspices of the Hollywood Coordinating Committee. 

Hire are a few of the volunteers, just before they took off: (L to K) : Ray Milland, 

Virginia Hall, Joy Windsor, Gen. Charles W. Christenbcrry, chief of the U.S. army 

special services, Piper Laurie, Walter Pidgeon and Carolina Cotton. 

FitzPatrick Set to Deliver 

8 Traveltalks Next Year 

One of the indu.stry's long-term associations 

will continue for at least another year 

with the di-sclosure by Fred Quimby, head of 

MGM's short subjects department, that 

James FitzPatrick has been set to deliver eight 

Technicolor Traveltalks to Leo during the 

1952-53 season. The new deal marks Fitz- 

Patrick's 25th consecutive year with the company. 

His shorts output for 1952-53 will include 

glimpses of Barbadoes, Trinidad, South 

Africa, Ethiopia and continental Europe. 

FitzPatrick has made more than 400 travelogs 

to date for Metro release . . . Succeeding 

Dorothy DeMayo, Robert L. Lippert jr., 

son of the president of Lippert Pictures, has 

taken charge of Tele-Pictures, Inc.. the Lippert 

subsidiary which handles TV sales of old 

theatrical product . S. Bronson 

has been appointed general manager of the 

Central Casting Corp., taking over the duties 

of the late Howard Philbrick. Bronson has 

been chief casting director for the organization 

since 1941. 

32 BOXOFFICE January 5, 1952 

»a^WâUMHMIftff...WHB!!WWMW^BB!W^

Ths Bi^TBAse. of SZ/ 

VEA, 

W'X ABDUL, 

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FROM 

' 

THE MA6IC 

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BOXOFFICE 

BAROMETER 

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

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

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

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

"normal," the figures show the gross rating above or below that mark. 

^

Desfrf wi/rri3eTonigfif---po$ifive/y 

NO QUESTION, the show will go on—tonight—and every night ... go on with oil the 

blood-ond-thunder that distinguishes the new-day Western—a stellar example of work inspired 

by modern technics, equipment, and materials. 

Here, too, is a stellar example of the way the Eastman Kodak Company functions 

through the Eastman Technical Service for Motion Picture Film. 

For, in addition to aiding studio and laboratory in film selection and processing, 

representatives collaborate with exchange and theater in helping solve problems of projection—help 

check film and equipment . . . make light measurements, determine proper 

levels ... all to help assure good showings, black-and-white or color. 

To maintain this service, the Eastman Kodak Company has branches at strategic 

centers . . . invites inquiry from all members of the industry. Address: 

Motion Picture Film Department 

EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY, ROCHESTER 4, N. Y. 

East Coast Division 

342 Madison Avenu 

New Yorl( 17, N. Y. 

Midwest Division 

137 North Wabash Av 

Chicago 2, Illinois 

West Coast Division 

6706 Santo Monica Blvd. 

Hollywood 38, California 


iHWgjmiMMJBMMMIJmilMMlMlMMmWimaiWtf^^ 

Majors Trying to Settle 

'Wholesale/ Towne Says 

WASHINGTON—The six major distributors 

being sued by Milwaukee Towne Corp. 

are attempting to evade some $330,000,000 in 

potential liabilities for film industry antitrust 

violations and are, in effect, asking the 

Supreme Court for "wholesale rates because 

they have violated the antitrust laws many 

times throughout the entire U.S.," Milwaukee 

Towne charged on Tliursday (27) in a 

brief filed with the Supreme Court. 

This latest brief in a case extremely complicated 

by numerous filings and cross-filings 

is in answer to a distributor brief filed earlier. 

Milwaukee Towne appealed because the circuit 

court cut the amount of damages awarded 

by the lower court. The distributors have 

also appealed, because they feel the circuit 

court didn't slash deeply enough. 

Thomas C. McConnell, who was also the 

lawyer for the exhibitor in the Jackson Park 

case, accused the distributors of addressing 

Twelve 20th-Fox Releases 

For Meeting Discussion 

NEW YORK—The 12 features to be released 

by 20th Century-Fox during the first 

four months of 1952 will be discussed at the 

annual sales convention to be held in New 

York January 7-11, according to Al Lichtman, 

director of distribution. 

The release lineup, which will include "David 

and Bathsheba,'' which had pre-release 

engagements in every key city this fall, was 

prepared by Spyros P. Skouras. Joseph M. 

Schenck, Lichtman, Murray Silverstone and 

Charles Einfeld after recent conferences at 

the studio. 

The January releases will be: "Decision 

Before Dawn," co-produced and directed by 

Anatole Litvak, with Richard Basehart, Gary 

Merrill, Oskar Werner and Hildegarde Neff; 

"Japanese War Bride," produced by Joseph 

Bernhard with Don Taylor and Shirley 

Yamaguchi. and "The Model and the Marriage 

Broker," starring Jeanne Crain. Scott 

Brady and Thelma Ritter. 

In addition to "David and Bathsheba." in 

Technicolor, starring Gregory Peck and Su- 

,san Hayward, February releases will be: 

"Phone Call From a Stranger," with Shelley 

Winters, Michael Rennie, Gary Merrill and 

also starring Bette Davis, and "Red Skies of 

Montana," in Technicolor, with Richard 

Widmark, Constance Smith and Jeffrey Hunter. 

In March— "5 Fingers." starring James Mason, 

Dannielle Darrieux and Michael Rennie; 

"Return of the Texan," with Dale Robertson. 

Joanne Dru and Walter Brennan, and "Viva 

Zapata," starring Marlon Brando and Jean 

Peters. April releases will be: "With a Song 

in My Heart," in Technicolor, starring Susan 

Hayward, Rory Calhoun, David Wayne and 

Thelma Ritter: "Pride of St. Louis," starring 

Dan Dailey and Joanne Dru, and "Rose of 

Cimarron," an Edward L. Alperson production 

in natural color with Mala Powers, Jack 

Beutel and Bill Williams. 

36 

"a brazen appeal to this court to reverse its 

decision in the Jackson Park case." The 

brief argued that the methods used by the 

district and circuit courts in the present case 

were exactly the same as those used by the 

courts in the Goldman case in Philadelphia, 

and cited the fact that the Supreme Court 

refused a review in that case when asked on 

the same grounds. 

As to the claim of the distributors that 

damages awarded were out of line, and that 

financial results when first run was finally 

attained compared with grosses for a similar 

period when first run was withheld in order to 

arrive at a true profit, Milwaukee Towne 

argued that the distributors were asked for 

a change in "well-established rules" so they 

can avoid liability under the law. Milwaukee 

Towne further charged the distributors with 

"flagrant misstatements and "extravagant 

and utterly false assertions." 

RKO Division Sales Heads 

All Branches 

To Visit 

NEW YORK—RKO divisional sales managers 

and their a.ssistants will tour all exchanges 

under their jurisdictions beginning 

January 7, according to Robert Mochrie, vicepresident 

and general sales manager. This 

will be the second trip for the sales executives 

to exchanges since the sales meeting in 

Chicago, at which time product for the first 

half of 1952 was set and plans for the Ned 

Depinet sales drive were announced. 

Nat Levy, eastern division sales manager, 

will visit Boston, Albany, Cleveland, Pittsburgh 

and Philadelphia while his assistant, 

Dan Loventhal, will visit Boston, New Haven, 

Washington, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Buffalo 

and Detroit. 

Walter Branson, western division sales 

manager, will first visit St. Louis and then 

will visit Kansas City, Omaha, San Francisco 

and Los Angeles before returning to 

New York the end of January. His assistant, 

Harry Gittleson will visit exchanges in Seattle, 

Portland, Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago, 

Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and Sioux 

Falls before returning to New York January 

25. 

Charles Boasberg, north-south division sales 

manager, has his first meeting in Charlotte 

and then will visit, successively, Atlanta, 

Montreal, St. John and Toronto before returning 

to New York January 18. His assistant, 

Frank Mooney, left New York December 

26 for Dallas and he will start out 

January 7 for Memphis, Atlanta, New Orleans 

and Oklahoma City. 

Carl Peppercorn, Canadian district sales 

manager, wUl visit Calgary, Vancouver, 

Winnipeg and Montreal before returning to 

Toronto January 16. Sidney Kramer, short 

subjects sales manager, will visit exchanges 

in Boston, Atlanta, Washington, Pittsburgh, 

Minneapolis and Detroit. 

Plans for the Depinet drive were outlined 

at the recent national sales meeting. 

An Old Showman Advises: 

Managers Must 

Strive for That 

Personal Touch 

CLEVELAND—John F. Royal, former 

NBC vice-president and for many years 

manager of the Hippodrome and Palace 

theatres in Cleveland, is quoted by W. 

Ward Marsh in the Plain Dealer, as saying 

"the movies could do a far better 

job of selling their product to all the 

people than they do. There's a deadly 

lack of showmanship in the theatres. 

Hollywood and the home offices in New 

York do a fair job of trying to sell pictures 

and there it ends. 

"Go out to the theatres any place—in 

Cleveland and elsewhere—and what kind 

of job is being done to create and hold 

customers? The old personal contact 

between manager and patrons is gone and 

theatre business suffers." Royal is 

further quoted as attacking the long distance 

operational policies of the major 

companies. In his opinion New York 

doesn't know or care about the individual 

theatre's problems, but nevertheless 

deprives the local manager of the power 

to make decisions to overcome local 

problems. "The policy of dictating 

policies from New York is bad, too, because 

one idea that is successful in one 

town may fall flat in the next town. 

Nothing is further from the truth," continued 

Royal, "than the thought if a selling 

idea is good in one city its worth is 

universal. 

"Of course movie business is good 

again. It can never quite fail so long as 

it makes good pictures, as it is doing today, 

but it could make more money and 

win more friends if each theatre got 

back to the old brand of showmanship 

we had when the silent picture was at its 

best." 

Elaborating on Royal's comments on the 

lack of individuality in present day theatre 

operation. Marsh recalls the days 

he personally knew all the managers of 

most of the Cleveland theatres. "Of 

course I know the managers today, too. 

but none of them has been so firmly 

impressed on my mind and memory as 

those men were. 

"They came into this office. They 

fought for space and patronage. Today 

I know the district managers and the 

general press agents. 

"I am sure I knew the old 'silent' managers 

best because I still remember all 

of them very well, but for the life of me 

I am not sure who were the managers 

of most first run houses in say, the middle 

1930s. By that time individual 

showmanship had been superseded by 

mass-production showmanship. We still 

have able theatre managers, but how 

often does one of them ever have the opportunity 

of demonstrating his ability?" 

Marsh concludes. 


W. J. GERMAN, INC, is proud 

to announce that it 

has been appointed 

distributor of all 

Eastman Professional 

Motion Picture 

Films effective 

January 1, 1952. 

W. J. GERMAN, INC 

John Street 

Fort Lee, New Jersey 

Tel: LOngacre 5-5978 

Fort Lee 8-5100 

6040 North Pulaski Road 

Chicago 30, III. 

Tel: Irving 8-4064 

6700 Santa Monica Blvd. 

Hollywood 8, California 

Hillside 6131 


laiiiii iaiiMiMUMttUJViiMWiwiMimiiJiiwii i i 

What happened 

to the time? 

A lot of things are scarce these days. 

Steel. Aluminum. Machine tools. Raw 

materials. So scarce, in fact, that Uncle 

Sam has them on a priority list. 

But in American industries today, the 

scarcest commodity of all is . . . time! 

With military orders urgent, with complex 

new weapons in the making, time is 

the key word of our defense program. 

But there's one way a manufacturer can 

get a "priority" on lime. 

He can ship his parts and products via 

Air Express—the service that gets top priority 

of all commercial shipping services! 

Air Express is first off the loading platform... 

first on the planes... first to arrive 

at destinations anywhere in the 48 states! 

Whatever your business, you can profit 

from the regular use of Air Express. 

Here's why: 

IT'S FASTEST — Air Express gets top 

priority of all commercial shipping services 

— gives the fastest, most complete 

door-to-door pick-up and delivery service 

in all cities and principal towns at no 

extra cost. 

DEPENDABLE — Air Express pro- 

IT'S 

vides one-carrier responsibility all the way 

and gets a receipt upon delivery. 

IT'S PROFITABLE — Air Express service 

than you think, gives you many 

costs less 

profit-making opportunities. 

For more facts, call Air Express Division 

of Railway Express Agency. 

WfXPfffSS 

GETS THERE FIRST 

38 BOXOFFICE January 5, 19S2

: January 

CHESTER FRIEDMAN 

EDITOR. 

HUGHE. FRAZE 

Associate Editor 

SECTION 

PRACTICAL IDEAS FOR SELLING SEATS BY PRACTICAL SHOWMEN 

O 

Lûidebooh 

Each year the mail brings dozens 

of letters from newcomers to theatre 

business querying, "Where can 

I get a book on exploitation?" If 

only our other problems were as 

simple. The obvious answer is the 

Showmandiser section in BOXOF- 

FICE. 

The mechanical makeup of the 

Showmandiser section was developed 

so that each week the pages 

can be detached. 

Every three months an Index is 

compiled and carried cumulatively 

through the year, giving the subscriber 

an up-to-the-minute reference 

guide on all current film 

campaigns by picture title, plus a 

cross-index of practical ideas for increasing 

grosses and improving re- 

V lations with the public. 

This issue contains the complete 

Index for 1951. It embraces the individual 

campaigns of several thousand 

showmen in the promotion of 

more than 350 feature films and 

short subjects. By consulting these 

campaigns from his folder of Showmandiser 

sections saved through 

the year, the exhibitor can determine 

what methods were effective 

in selling these pictures in the metropolitan 

areas or in rural areas. 

By referring to the cross-index of 

exploitation ideas, he can refresh 

his memory on over 450 tried and 

proved stunts, with many times that 

number in variations or adaptations 

of the standard ideas. 

It is interesting to note that a 

majority of circuit publicity and 

advertising men refer to the Showmandiser 

and Index in preparing 

their campaigns. It is eren more 

interesting to find that most of the 

film companies are now using the 

same method in preparing their 

presabooks. A fairly large percentage 

of the distributors' suggestions in 

press sheets are lifted from the experiences 

of managers as reported 

BOXOFFICE. 

Doughnuts and Typing Contesf 

Perk up Syracuse, A/.Y., Patrons 

Free eats on the house created word-ofmouth 

publicty for "Golden Girl" when it 

played the Paramount 

^^^^Î^^^^^H The was ture. 

^^H^^^^^^^H thought up by Charles 

^^^K ^^^H Graziano, manager of 

^^^f 'tV li^!^^^! ''^^ Paramount, who 

^B I ^^1 promoted 500 dough- 

^^L| ^^H nuts, an adequate sup- 

|Vt; ^^^M ply of coffee and free 

^^ ^^^H paper cup.s from a 

^ ^^^H neighborhood lunch- 

^^ ^^^1 eonette. A table was 

^mM ggt; up on the side- 

Charles Graziano 

âlk in front of the 

theatre and the "coffee 

and" "Were served to pas.sersby by one of the 

Paramount cashiers dres.sed in frontier costume. 

Her own golden tresses fitted in with en's Ass'n. 

retarial 

the title of the picture. 

Graziano contacted the program manager 

of radio station WPBL which airs the Jack 

Benny show each week. He sold Dennis 

Day's appearance in the picture on a tieup 

basis to get 30 free spot plugs. He squared 

the deal by giving the station a credit card 

in the theatre lobby. 

BANNERS ON NEWS TRUCKS 

The Photoplay magazine feature on "Golden 

Girl" produced a tie-in with the Onondaga 

news agency for truck banners. Clark's 

music shop on busy Salina street u.sed a full 

window of records and posters advertising the 

picture, and two Main street jewelers offered 

Christmas items under the catchline, "Be a 

Golden Girl' and buy your man a gold tion WNDR to be his 

watch, gold tie clasp, etc.. for Christmas." 

Both stores displayed photos and cards 

plugging the Paramount attraction. 

Frank Hennessey, WNDR disk jockey, invited 

listeners to guess the titles of hit tunes 

from the picture and offered promoted albums 

and theatre passes to winners. Hennessey 

worked In appropriate theatre credits 

in his broadcast every day for a week in advance. 

Denny Sullivan used a mystery tune contest 

on WFBL. Earl Thomas, WNDR, 

plugged recordings from the picture, as did 

Charlie Featherstone and Ed Murphy on 

their WSYR record shows. To further plug 

the music score, Graziano hooked up a loudspeaker 

and amplifier over the theatre boxoffice 

and entertained passersby with recordings 

from the picture. 

— Chester Friedman Graziano, who had appeared in a stage 

in 

There is a saying among exhibitors 

that "there is nothing new in show 

business." That is not true. There 

always something new in the way 

is 

of promoting more business. .And 

every time there is, you can read 

about it in BOXOFFICE. 

BOXOFTICE Showmandiser 

: 

show with Dennis Day before becoming a 

manager, got Marjory Turner to do a feature 

story in the Syracuse Herald-Journal 

which .scored as extra publicity for the pic- 

He also planted special art and advance 

readers with the foreign-language newspapers, 

got plugs on the free doughnuts from 

the daily columnists and promoted co-op ads 

to support his regular newspaper campaign. 

Pinch-hitting as manager of the Eckel Theatre 

during the illness of the regular manager, 

Harry Weiner, Graziano developed a 

citywide contest among typists in the city to 

exploit "Reunion in Reno." The contest was 

held on the stage of the Eckel with most of 

the large Syracuse firms represented with 

one or more entries. Contestants were also 

recruited from employment agencies, the Sec- 

club and the Young Business Wom- 

FREE TYPEWRITER USE 

The L. C. Smith and Corona typewriter 

company provided ten machines for the contest 

without charge. An agency put up a 

cash prize and offered a good job to the 

winner. 

The daily papers gave the promotion extra 

news and picture coverage and a trophy was 

presented by the theatre to the winner. The 

contest was gagged up with comedy and 

proved of interest and amusement to the 

audience. 

Graziano worked in another deal that 

helped to create talk about the picture. He 

invited a group of high school students who 

appear each week on a forum aired by sta- 

guests on opening day. 

The following day the students used the 

theme of the picture as the topic of their 

forum, with the film getting several effective 

plugs. 

Builds 'Paris' Kiosk 

A Parisian kio.sk was displayed in the lobby 

of the State Theatre, Newark, N. J., by 

Manager Murray Scharf for "An American 

in Paris." The kiosk was backed up by large 

cutouts of the dancing stars of the film. 

Letters to Vets for Trogmen' 

Ralph Piazza, manager of the Rialto in 

Lockport, N. Y., mailed letters to members 

of all veteran organizations in behalf of "The 

Frogmen." He used a large outside display 

featuring newspaper stories from the New 

York press and magazines. 

5, 1952 39

FPC Enlists 

Theatre Personnel 

In Better Service Campaign 

ficult patrons? Have they been trained in 

their important job? No matter how beautiful 

our theatre or how outstanding our at- 

Famous Players Canadian Theatre head s at Toronto have begun an intracircuit drive 

to improve the performance for patrons. C oncentration of effort on service, courtesy 

and comfort is the keynote of the campaign, Every month the employes receive a pocketmendations 

along these lines. Provision is 

size pamphlet containing ideas and recom 

made, with blank pages, for the employes to submit their own suggestions for improvlected 

by the managers, turned over to dis- 

ing the performance. The booklets are col 

trict supervisors who in turn pass them al ong to home office executives for consumpcircuit. 

The content of the first booklet is 

tion and later dissemination throughout the 

published here for BOXOFFICE readers who are interested in improving program 

performance in their own operations. 

Service in the theatre is like a chain—if one 

hnk breaks the whole chain is useless. Here 

are some of the links which go to make up 

a chain of pleasing service to our patrons. 

THE FRONT 

The marquee and front are the "stoppers" 

—the first impression your patrons have of 

you. Are the marquee letters in good condition? 

Are your feature titles attractively 

displayed and well lighted? Are the stills and 

posters arrestingly presented so that the patron 

is interested in what you are selling? 

THE CASHIER 

She's the second important link in our 

chain, for if the cashier fails to please the 

ticket buyer, your theatre has made a bad 

impression that is difficult to erase. The 

cashier should be courteous under the most 

trying circumstances. She should be well 

groomed and should greet the patrons with 

a smile—always. 

THE DOORMAN 

The third important link in our chain. He 

should be courteous and helpful at all times. 

His uniform should be clean and well pressed. 

Patrons' first Impression of our theatre is 

formed by the treatment he receives at the 

hands of our cashiers and doormen. 

CANDY ATTENDANTS 

Now the patron is inside the lobby. Are 

the refreshment bar attendants well groomed 

and attired in neat, clean uniforms? Are the 

refreshments we have to offer attractively 

displayed? Are we carrying the lines of sweets 

most in demand? 

MANAGERS AND ASSISTANTS 

Are they on the floor to greet the patrons 

coming in and going out? Do they make 

every effort to attend to complaints and pay 

attention to the suggestions of the patrons? 

USHERS 

Another most important link in our service 

chain. Are their uniforms well-fitted and 

clean? Do they know how to meet the public 

and do they try to satisfy even the most dif- 

Library Aids 'Kon-Tiki' 

Chuck Tamme, manager of the State, Lexington, 

Ky., arranged a display for "Kon- 

Tiki" in a corner of the public library. The 

location was called "movie corner," with a 

display of fiction adventure books boosting 

film and playdates which were prominently 

exhibited. 

40 

tractions, we've made a bad impression if our 

cashiers, doormen and ushers—who are our 

direct contact with the patrons—fall in their 

jobs. 

PRESENTATION 

Our job is by no means finished when the 

patron is escorted to his seat. How's the 

show? Is the sound too loud or too low? Is 

the screen properly lighted? Are the curtain 

close-ins smooth? How's the theatre temperature? 

Is the lighting restful? Are the 

seats in good condition? Are necessary repairs 

reported promptly to the manager? Are 

circuit "leaders" regularly used ahead of 

features? We should be proud to tell our 

patrons that "this is a Famous Players 

Theatre." 

BOOTH 

Projectionists can offer us many practical 

suggestions for the improvement of our performance. 

We'd like to have them. 

RESTROOMS 

Another vital link in our chain of service. 

Are they well kept and clean at aU times? 

Are they regularly inspected? We can take 

a leaf from the book of gasoline service 

stations in the maintenance of our restrooms. 

MAINTENANCE 

How does the theatre look? Is it clean 

and inviting and well cared for? Does it need 

attention? Where? Are exit doors checked 

regularly? Are the alleys outside the exits 

clear of snow in the winter? 

BACKSTAGE 

Is all rubbish cleared away? Does any fire 

hazard exist? Are fire extinguishers in the 

booth, backstage and elsewhere in the theatre 

checked regularly? 

ADVERTISING 

Have you any suggestions for the improvement 

of newspaper advertising and exploitation? 

Your ideas in this field will be given 

careful consideration. 

PATRONS' COMMENTS 

Please pass on to us any comments of our 

patrons concerning our attractions, our presentations 

and our staffs. If we don't please 

our patrons we'll all be in some other business. 

False Front for 'Anne' 

John Hutchings, manager of the Ben Ali 

Theatre, Lexington, Ky., built a false front 

from three-sheets and stills on "Anne of the 

Indies." An usher dressed in pirate costume 

strolled the downtown streets and appeared 

at schools. Grade school teachers cooperated 

on a coloring contest, with Hutchings 

awarding passes to class winners. 

— 2 — 

Two Cars Given Away 

By Three Theatres 

And Five Stores 

Bob Bowman, manager of the Warner Theatre 

in Erie, Pa., tied up with local merchants 

to give away two new Chevrolet cars via a 

co-op promotion which helped to increase 

business for all concerned. 

Three Warner theatres in Erie and five 

merchants were involved in the tieup. The 

merchants contributed the money to buy two 

new cars and to pay for all advertising expenses. 

Coupons for the drawing were given 

to store customers with each purchase, while 

the theatres gave coupons with every adult 

admission ticket purchased. 

The cars were displayed in two of the theatre 

lobbies, backed up by 12-foot display 

boards announcing the giveaway and the 

participating merchants. The theatres credited 

the merchants in trailers giving full details 

of the giveaway. 

Participating patrons could attend any of 

the theatres on three successive days and 

register in order to insure their receiving 

the car if their number was drawn. This had 

the result of attracting capacity audiences on 

three nights instead of only the giveaway 

night. 

Each merchant displayed window signs announcing 

that free drawing tickets were 

available, and advertised it in regular newspaper 

and radio ads. 

Institutional Ccdendars 

Are Paid for by Merchants 

John Balmer, city manager for Walter 

Reade Theatre, Plainfield, N. J., distributed 

attractive calendars as a holiday gift to patrons. 

He lined up' 20 merchants, each of 

whom contributed to the printing costs. 

Theme of the advertising was places in 

Plainfield to remember in 1952. Three local 

theatres in the city had choice locations for 

advertising their phone numbers, policy, etc., 

in the center of the layout. The calendars 

were distributed to thousands of homes in 

Plainfield and the rural areas. 

Pupils Attend 'Carol' 

During Matinee Show 

The entire eighth-grade class of a neighborhood 

public school attended the opening 

day matinee of "A Christmas Carol" at the 

Capitol in Newark, Ohio. Manager Gus De- 

Pauw arranged for this with the superintendent 

of schools, and the theatre party 

was supervised by the class teacher. Dickens' 

novel, from which the film is adapted, is compulsory 

reading for eighth-grade students. 

Three-Col. Ad Heralds 

Theatre Renovation 

John d'Amato, manager of the Palace in 

New Britain, Conn., used a three-column display 

ad as an institutional plug to herald the 

reopening of the house following a complete 

renovating and refurbishing job. The advertisement 

enumerated many of the new service 

features of the theatre such as pushback 

chairs, new sound projection, etc. Copy included 

holiday greetings and listed the gala 

reopening program. 

BOXOFFICE Showmandiser January 5, 1952 

: : 

»U....^..>I.UL.iJ,mtlUIII«I.L;i«.....

" 

Halos and Animation Vetective McMohon Meets Stars 

Perk Up Lobby Art 

For 'In Paradise' 

p. A. J. Murphy, manaser of the Trocadero 

Cinema, Leicester, England, borrowed two 

large laughing masks which he used as the 

centerpiece of a lobby display to promote 

"Laughter in Paradise." Star heads cut fron 

litho posters were embellished with cutou 

halos and angelic bodies made from plain 

white paper. Pieces of cotton wool were 

placed around the figures to get the effect of 

clouds, and a liberal sprinkling of decorative 

stars added a celestial appearance to the 

completed display. 

Murphy devised another attractive setpiece 

from dancing and humorous figures 

and at the base placed two rooftops and a 

revolving world operated by a smaU concealed 

motor. Catchline across the top read, 

"For the laugh of the year, see 'Laughter in 

Paradise.' " 

On Saturday prior to playdate, a van 

equipped with a public address system toiu-ed 

the district plugging the picture and theatre 

dates. The van was covered on both sides 

and rear with posters. 

For current ballyhoo, cutouts of the stars 

were mounted and placed over the theatre 

canopy and illuminated by floodlights. According 

to Murphy, these displays gave the 

picture wide publicity with excellent results 

at the boxoffice. 

Rolling Pins Start Talk 

For 'Young Wives Tale' 

Leslie Brown, manager of the Rex Cinema, 

Leytonstone. England, used an adaptation of 

an old ballyhoo stunt to start word-of-mouth 

publicity for '"ifoung Wives' Tale." A week 

before opening, 20 rolling pins to which were 

pasted labels with appropriate tie-in copy 

were left in public places such as libraries, 

restaurants, etc. Finders were invited to 

bring the rolling pins to the theatre and exchange 

them for a free ticket to see "Young 

Wives' Tale." 

Brown displayed an eight-foot setpiece in 

the theatre lobby and made six store tieups 

for window displays. Business was above 

average during the playdates. 

Spiritual Leaders See 

'Oliver' Screening 

John Matthews, manager of the Paramount. 

Plainfield, N. J., invited school and 

church leaders to a special screening of 

"Oliver Twist" a week prior to opening. Endorsements 

by the gliests made an important 

contribution to the advance publicity among 

a considerable portion of the local population. 

Students, who receive an annual discount 

card to the theatre through their schools, 

were circularized with a brochure advertising 

the picture's regular playdates. 

Ballyhoo for 'Tanks' 

For "The Tanks Are Coming." Clint Wineholt, 

manager of the Liberty Theatre, Seattle, 

contacted army recruiting officers and arranged 

for the exhibition of a tank in front 

of the theatre. The vehicle was bannered 

and left out front with uniformed personnel 

in attendance. 

Of Baseball for St, 

A Christmas party for baseball stars arranged 

at the Stan Musial and Biggies restaurant 

in St. Louis garnered valuable sports 

page publicity for "Detective Story," which 

opened at the St. Louis Theatre on Christmas 

day. Among the baseball notables present 

were Joe Medwick, Bob Scheffing, Stan 

Musial, Marty Marion, Red Schoendienst; 

William Walshingham, St. Louis Cardinals 

vice-president, and William Durney, secretary 

of the St. Louis Browns. 

Wives and other prominent sports folk 

also were guests. 

The affair was arranged by Jim Castle, 

Paramount exploiteer, and Bob Johnson, publicity-advertising 

director for the Fanchon & 

Marco circuit, as the highlight of a visit in 

Movietime Photos Aid 

'Yellow Fin' Ballyhoo 

Photographs of Wayne Morris taken when 

he visited Milford, Del., on a goodwill tour 

for Movietime U.S.A. were utilized by Ed 

Evans, manager of the Milford, to publicized 

"Yellow Fin." Evans displayed the photos in 

the theatre lobby on a special 40x60 flanked 

by two three-sheet cutouts. The photos of 

Morris, showing him mingling with students 

of the Milford schools, proved highly interesting 

to the teenagers and their families. 

Campaign Returns Cost 

Tenfold on 'Blue Veil' 

Kenneth Wright, manager of the Beverly 

in Los Angeles, increased his boxoffice gross 

on "The Blue Veil" by more than $2,000 with 

a promotion campaign costing $240 more than 

the regular budget. 

Wright mailed personalized postal cards to 

21.000 subscribers listed in the western Los 

Angeles telephone directory. The message 

contained his personal endorsement of "The 

Blue Veil" and stressed the emotional highlights 

of the film. 

All governesses in the Beverly Hills area 

were guests of the theatre at a special advance 

showing of the picture. The invitation 

was extended through the editorial col- 

Louis Bally 

rii Louis by Horace McMahon, who stars as 

Lieutenant Monaghan in the film. 

In addition to the newspaper plugs for the 

picture, there was a 15-minute broadcast from 

the restaurant by Harry Caray, sports announcer 

who broadcasts the Cardinal games. 

Photos also were taken by the Associated 

Press, Acme Photo Service and INS. McMahon 

gave each lady an orchid corsage at the 

cocktail party preceding the dinner. 

Following the party, the guests were taken 

to the Paramount screening room in St. Louis 

for a special showing of "Detective Story." 

The photo shows McMahon giving the 

baseball stars Hollywood's version of the 

bunt. Left to right: Medwick, Scheffing, 

Musial, McMahon, Marion and Schoendienst. 

umns of the Beverly Hills Citizen. 

Wright arranged for displays advertising 

the picture in 32 women's shops in Beverly 

Hills and Westwood. He distributed 25,000 

handbills, placed 500 table-tent cards in leading 

restaurants, and created a special front 

and decorations for current ballyhoo. 

lM(K«ft»»«~'— 

Every woman who ever 

kissed will go... 

More profit with LIPPERT! 

BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :; January 5, 1952 _,3 — 

41

Action in 

Displays 

Peggy O'Neill, a British actress, and Eliot Lawrence, a band leader, 

hold the reins on a live horse in a stunt in this lobby of the Trans- 

Lux GOth Street Theatre in New York, arranged for "The Galloping 

Major" by Milton Silver, advertising and publicity chief for Souvaine 

Selective Pictures, which is releasing the British comedy. 

It's a topsy-turvy world 

anyhow^, so when lohn 

Arnold, manager of the 

Kirby Theatre, Houston, 

Tex., realized his lobby 

was too small for a 

Christmas tree, he hung 

one from the ceiling, 

then decorated it upsidedowm. 

Result was just 

as effective and provoked 

a wealth of comment 

from amused patrons. 

Herman Berlin, manager of the Laurellon 

(N. Y.) Theatre, built this attractive display 

for "Show Boat" himself. Star stills were 

mounted in colorful frames and still montage 

at top was an effective eye-catcher. 

At left, parade of frontier 

vehicles and frontiersmen 

provides an eyecatching 

street ballyhoo 

for "Fort 

" 

Defiance at 

Manager Al Plough's 

Stanton Theatre in Philadelphia. 

In Detroit, Gil Green, manager of the Michigan Theatre, selected ten 

of his tallest ushers to parade around town in Arab costume to 

exploit "Ten Tall Men." Each carried letter of the title, lined up to 

spell it out with theatre dates. 

42 — 4 — BOXOFFICE Showmandiser 

: : January 5, 1952

..._ 

: 

January 

' 

o 

SHOWMANDISER INDEX: :^ '51 

ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET 

THE INVISIBLE MAN 102, 252 

A CHRISTMAS CAROL 302 

ACE IN THE HOLE (soo "The 

Big Carnival") 

ACROSS THE WIDE 

_..„, 

MISSOURr^ 

^^^ 

ADVENTURES 

(serial) 

OF SUPERMAN 

'^ 

AIR CADET^^^ 

138. 153, 176 

^^^ ,25, 

ALICE IN WONDERLAND 

187, 194, 197, 205, 213, 215, 218, 226, 

228, 234, 238, 242, 253, 268, 270 279 

ALL ABOUT EVE 21. 37, 70 

ALL QUIET ON WESTERN FRONT 44 

ALONG THE GREAT DIVIDE 145 

AMERICAN GUERRILLA IN 

PHILIPPINES 211 

A MILUONAIRE FOR CHRISTY 278 

A PLACE IN THE SUN 220, 254. 292, 302 

AN AMERICAN IN PAKIS 

219, 242, 258, 265, 267, 277, 278, 279, 

280, 282, 288, 300, 301 

AND A VOICE SHALL BE HEARD 

'O' 

(ahorl) 

ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD 

202, 229, 233, 238, 244, 252, 259, 280 

ANNE OF THE INDIES 

^^ /, ?^S 

ANNIE GET YOUR GUN 21,28,41,240 

APACHE DRUMS 148, 222. 228 

APPOINTMENT wnH DANGER 

125A, 146, 170, 181. 182. 218 

AS YOUNG AS YOU FEEL 

179. 193. 227 

AT WAR WTTH THE 

171. 

ARMY 

27. 31. 38. 48. 55. 57. 77, 82. 87. 90. 

94. 99. 102, 125A. 202 

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE 

239, 243. 270. 285. 300 

238. 

A WOMAN WITH NO NAME 69. 76 

BEAVER VALLEY (short) 39. 46. 153 

BEDTIME FOR BONZO 55. 

64. 81. 92. 93. 102. 127. 149. 163 

ILSi ^/^ ..zzz=z^Br294r3gl 

BORN YESTERDAY 

32, 34, 45, 55, 62, 64, 66. 70. 71. 

81. 84. 88. 91. 98. 114. 128. 192. 198 

BRANDED 25. 45. 145 

BRAVE BULLS 91A. 114, 145, 146 

BREAKING POINT 110 

• 

BREAKTHROUGH 

i, •;„* ^; 

71, 82. 91 

15. 27. 33. 42, 54, 10. 

BRIDE OF GORILLA 280 

BRIGHT VICTORY ,.,512 

BROWNING VERSION 187, 210 

BULLFIGHTER AND THE LADY 179 

CAGE OF GOLD .210 

CAGED "• 34 

CALLAWAY WENT THATAWAY .271 

CALL ME MISTER 102. 118 

CAPTAIN HORATIO HORNBLOWER 189. 

197. 222. 227. 229. 244. 279. 280. 301 

CARIBOO TRAIL 285 

CASSINO TO KOREA 30, 122 

CATTLE DRIVE 297 

CAUSE FOR ALARM 52 

CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN 8 

CITY LIGHTS „„ A, 

CLOSE TO MY HEART .265, 267, 281 

CLOUDED YELLOW 103 

COME FILL THE CUP 277, 279 

COMIN' ROUND THE MOUNTAIN 

196. 209. 242 

COPPER CANYON 15. 25 

COUNTRY COP (short) 105 

COUNTY FAIR 175 

CRIMINAL LAWYER - 295 

CROSSWINDS , 252 

CRUISE SHIP (short) Ill 

CRY DANGER 128 

CYRANO DE BEHGEBAC 74. 90, 167, 172, 

177. 178. 179. 190. 191. 201. 210. 237 

DAUAS 31. 55. 75, 122 

V DAVID AND BATHSHEBA 168, 227. 244. 

J 248. 250, 252, 254, 264, 278, 296, 301 

^ DAVY CROCKETT, INDIAN SCOUT 46 

DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL 

233, 234, 245, 259, 261, 271, 272, 276, 

282, 285, 287, 292, 294. 299. 301 

DEAR BRAT 144 

DESERT FOX 237 260. 277. 295, 297 

DESTINATION MOON 18. 24. 46. 77. 99 

DETECTIVE STORY 

282. 285. 288. 296, 299 

DEVILS DOORWAY 33. 43 

DILLINGER (reissue) 94. 123, 133. 153. 

FEATURE AND SHORT SUBJECT DIRECTORY 

191 

DISC JOCKEY 223 

DISNEY REISSUES 148. 150 

DISTANT DRUMS 292 

DOUBLE CROSSBONES 172. 187. 216 

DRUMS IN DEEP SOUTH 252 

EMERGENCY WEDDING 

ENFORCER 

ETERNAL MELODY 

EVERYBODY'S DANCIN' 

EXCUSE MY DUST 

175. 176. 179. 187, 190, 

25. 62. 83 

156. 163. 170, 

191, 207, 285 

FABIOLA 

136, 

148, 161, 169. 181, 187, zio 

137, 145, 

FAT MAN 142, 151 

FATHER OF THE BRIDE 3, 28 

FATHERS LITTLE DIVIDEND 95, 

96, 110, HI, 118, 128, 130, 133, 137, 

139, 140, 144, 148, 152, 154, 157, 162, 

174, 175, 177, 195, 198, 201, 218, 241 

50 YEARS BEFORE YOUR EYES 60, 138 

FIGHTING COAST GUARD 

FIGHTING SULLIVANS 

FIRES THE ENEMY 

I6i 

FIRST LEGION 293 

FIXED BAYONETS 286 

FLESH AND BLOOD 182, 198 

FUGHT PLAN FOR FREEDOM 

(MOT) 107 

FLYING LEATHERNECKS 

204, 218, 224, 226, 228, 243, 246, 271 

FLYING MISSILE 10, 13, 91. 169 

FOLLOW THE SUN 121. 131. 

132. 136. 140, 152, 154, 173, 188. 201 

FORCE OF ARMS 215, 236. 238. 239. 286 

FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE 2. 20 

FORT DEFIANCE 270. 289. 295 

FOUR DAYS LEAVE 95 

FOUR IN A JEEP 16 . 

254 

14 HOURS 170. 204. 224 

FRANCIS GOES TO THE RACES 

176. 178. 184. 191. 

192. 212. 214, 217, 221, 228, 234. 268 

FRANKENSTEIN (series) 25. 93, 241, 246 

FROGMEN 149, 172, 200, 201, 204, 215 

FULLER BRUSH GIHL 27, 28, 149 

GAMBLING HOUSE 102, 144 

GANGSTER 123, 133, 153, 191 

GO FOR BROKEI 125A 128, 139, 146, 

148, 152, 158, 167, 168, 200, 202, 205, 

213 223> 276 

GOLDEN HORDE ::' 254. 271. 273 

GOOD TIME GIRL 10 

BEHAVE YOURSELFl 

255 

219. 226, 238. 253. 

BEST OF THE BADMEN 186 

.157, 176, 

BIG CARNIVAL 1«. 172. 214 

)BIG FIX ,84 

BIG NIGHT 296 

BIG SHOOT (short) 

,, ,c o. 

BIRD OF PARADISE 75. 76. 84, 

89, 109, 111. 121. 123. 175. 200, 237 

BITTER RICE 5, 46. 55, 86, 94, 115 

BLACKMAIL 179 

GOODBYE. MY FANCY 132. 134 

149 

GREAT CARUSO 119. 134. 136, 138. 139. 

BOXOFFICE Showmandiser 

: 

140. 143, 144, 148, 151, 152. 163. 164. 

175, 181. 182. 185, 196, 200, 232, 242. 

268. 276 

GREAT MANHUNT ,31 

GREAT MISSOURI RAID 115 

GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH 92 

GROOM WORE SPURS 61, 150 

GROUNDS FOR MARRIAGE 100 

GUNFIGHTER 38 

HALF ANGEL ;;;;-,;„ ll' 

HALLS OF MONTEZUMA 10. 36, 38. 39. 

43. 48. 50. 52, 60, 63. 67. 76. 77. 96. 

105 118 

HAPPY GO LOVELY 242. 282 

HAPPY YEARS 106 

„ 

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS ^ 258 

HARVEY 18. 21. 26. 28. 33. 34. 42. 43. 45. 

58. 61. 69. 72, 77. 86. 87. 94. 110. 112, 

HE RAN ALL THE WAY 

144. 177. 179. 195. 201, 213. 217, 258 

HERE COMES THE GROOM 

234, 239, 277, 287 

HI LONESOME ,18 

HIGHLY DANGEROUS 

, v" t, 5o 

HIGHWAY 301 4, 5, 51, 62 

HIS KIND OF WOMAN 218 

HOLLYWOOD STORY .....: 229 

HOTEL SAHARA 242 

HOUSE OF MERCY (short) -31 

HOUSE ON TELEGRAPH HILL 150 

HURRICANE ISLAND 240 

I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLE- 

SALE 

I'iS. 204. 218. 232 

1 WAS AN AMERICAN SPY 199 

I WAS A COMMUNIST FOR THE FBI 

123. 138. 139. 142. 163. 218. 286, 289 

I'D CLIMB THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN 

51, 58. 67. 69. 72. 76. 84, 94. 112, 125A. 

172, 261 

IF YOU FEEL LIKE SINGING 37, 71 

ILLEGALS '62 

IN A LONELY PLACE ^^^ 20 

INSIDE STRAIGHT 82, 93. 105, 109 

INSIDE THE WALLS OF FOLSOM 

PRISON 161. 162 

IRON MAN 234, 241. 288, 297 

ITS A BIG COUNTRY 284 

JACKPOT 3, 16, 20, 51, 69, 77, 83, 91, 93 

JIM THORPE-ALL AMERICAN 223, 

5, 1952 

229. 230. 236. 238. 254. 278. 292 

JOHNNY HOLIDAY 

JUNGLE HEADHUNTERS 166. 212. 229 

KIM 17. 20. 30. 36. 40. 41. 

44. 

50, 52. 56. 76. 78. 87. 90. 92. 94. 115. 121 

KIND LADY ,^ 176 

KING SOLOMON'S MINES 2. 3, 8. 16, 21. 

22. 30. 33. 34. 44. 52. 66. 104. 172. 185 

KISS TOMORROW GOODBYE 122 124 

KON-TIKI 131. 139, 165. 199. 248, 259 

KOREA PATROL 46. 52 

LADY PAYS OFF 293 

LADY WITH A LAMP 281. 294. 302 

LAST HOLIDAY , 84 

LAST OF THE BUCCANEERS 6, 75 

LAST OUTPOST 212 

LAUGHTER IN PARADISE 285 

LAVENDER HILL MOB 281 

LAW AND THE LADY 216. 258 

LEMON DROP KID 

81, 114, 117, 134, 176, 181, 186. 244 

LET'S DANCE 

27, 58, 61, 92 

LITTLE BIG HORN 

224, 250 

LITTLE EGYPT 

222, 232, 240. 24 244. 259. 267. 278 

LORNA DOONE 

Ut 

LOST CONTINENT 

LOUIS-SAVOLD FIGHT (TV) 

LOUISA 

22 

LOVE NEST 

285 

LULLABY OF BROADWAY 82, 94, 96 

.101. 123. 138, 154. 168 

M 

174, 176 

MA AND iPA KETTLE BACK ON THE 

FARM 88, 99, 181, 182, 190 

MACARTHUR STORY (short) 104 

MACBETH 117. 143 

MAD WEDNESDAY H- 61 

MAGIC FACE 211 

MAGNIFICENT YANKEE 

3. 9. 44. 69, 71, 78, 88, 90, 99 

MAN FROM PLANET X 

151. 166. 190. 191. 299 

MAN WHO CHEATED HIMSELF 99 

MANIACS ON WHEELS 216 

MANON „82 

MAN WITH A CLOAK 289 

MASK OF THE AVENGER 178 

MATING SEASON 60. 103. 109. 115. 118. 

157. 168 

153. 

MEET ME AFTER THE SHOW 

209. 221. 233. 237, 261, 285 

MILKMAN 

„ ^5, 

6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 20, 24, 25, 27, 37, 63, 66, 

67. 69, 71, 81, 112, 133, 182, 202. 220 

MINIVER STORY 4. 5. II. 45. 76 

MISSING MII.UONS 83 

MISSING WOMEN 106 

MISTER DRAKE'S DUCK 211, 232. 260. 

264 

MISTER 880 6, 8, 33 

MOB 253, 288, 295 

MOLLY 86 

MR, BELVEDERE RINGS THE BELL 

209, 228, 237 

MR, IMPERIUM 141, 150 

MR. MUSIC 6, 16, 18, 55, 60. 71 

MR. UNIVERSE 45 

MRS. O'MALLEY AND MR. 

MALONE 21. 76. 77. 91 

MUDLARK 15. 37. 44. 68. 169. 262 

MY BLUE HEAVEN 

MY FAVORITE SPY 

MY FORBIDDEN PAST 12 

MYSTERY SUBMARINE 

269 

236, 237 

86, 140, 

284 

NEW MEXICO 128, 154, 178 

NEXT VOICE YOU HEAR 2, 

4 20, 26, 48, 56. 58, 87, 96, 159, 190, 205 

NO HIGHWAY IN THE SKY 238 

OF MEN AND MUSIC 123, 152, 171 

ONE FOOT IN HEAVEN 268 

ONE WILD OAT 214 

ON MOONUGHT BAY 192, 195, 199, 

201, 213, 220, 228 

ON THE RIVIERA 146, 150, 

161, 182, 205, 213, 218, 249 

152, 

ONLY 

154, 

THE VALIANT 110, 162 

OPERATION PACIFIC 24, 

36, 39, 44, 48, 51, 67, 80, 103, 106 

31, 

OUTRAGE 30, 33 

OVERLAND WITH KIT CARSON 

rial) 

44, 92 

PAGAN LOVE SONG 

15, 16, 

29, 37, 38, 48, 54, 56, 91, 93, 102, 144 

PAINTING THE CLOUDS WITH 

SUNSHINE 247, 249, 269, 273 

PANCHO VILLA RETURNS 96 

PASSAGE WEST 163, 218 

PAYMENT ON DEMAND 105, 110 

PEOPLE AGAINST O'HARA 267, 273 

PEOPLE WILL TALK 222, 244, 249, 252. 

PERILS OF THE DARKEST JUNGLE 220 

PETTY GIRL 3. 26, 30, 68, 75 

PICKUP 214. 246. 249. 294. 298 

PREHISTORIC WOMEN 24. 30. 39. 42. 

61. 106. 157. 181 

PRINCE OF PEACE 60. 148. 236 

PRINCE WHO WAS A THIEF 200. 300 

PROWLER }87 

PIGMY ISLAND 174 

QUEEN FOR A DAY 125A, 137, 164, 216 

QUO VADIS 224, 2«, 263 

RAGING TIDE "3 

RATON PASS 

-ii- "», vSi 

RAWHIDE 86, 91, 174 

RED BADGE OF COURAGE 276 

RED SHOES 43. 139. 273 

RESCUE MISSION (short) 82 

RETURN OF FRANK JAMES 217 

RHUBARB 225. 241. 249, 260, 284 

RICH, YOUNG AND PRETTY 196, 199, 

200, 211, 221, 222, 232, 237, 261, 268 

RIGHT CROSS 16 

RIGOLETTO 

6J 

RIO GRANDE „18 

RIVER 

ROAR OF THE mON HORSE (serial) 285 

ROBINSON-TURPIN FIGHT (TV) 185, 220 

ROYAL WEDDING 67, 80, 90, 92, 93, 109, 

133, 143 

SALERNO BEACHHEAD 42, 57, 76, 124 

SAMSON AND DEULAH 54, 62, 93, 140 

SAND OF IWO JIMA 22, 77 68 

SANTA FE 113. 134, 170, 182 

SATURDAY'S HERO 250, 254, 2|8^ 262^ 

SAVAGE HORDE 

106 

SCARF 

'' 

SEALED CARGO 157 

SECOND WOMAN 118 

SECRET OF CONVICT LAKE _270 

SEPTEMBER AFFAIR 54, 57, 62, 105, 155, 

SEVEN DAYS TO NOON 128, 176 

SHE SHOULDA SAID NO 157 

SHOW BOAT 162, 177, 180. 186, 192, 197 

204, 215, 217, 220, 228, 243, 285, 300 

SIROCCO 179, 182, 192, 199 

SKIPALONG ROSENBLOOM 229 

SLEEPING CITY ,„„„,„ 

SMUGGLERS ISLAND 170, 2 2 

SOLDIERS THREE 109, 134, 163, 242 

SOUND OF FURY 75 

SO YOUNG, SO BAD 36 

SQUARE DANCE JUBILEE - -H 

STARS IN MY CROWN 3, 4. 46 

STATE SECRET 

„, „„' tc 

STEEL HELMET ^''„,^,8- „^^- 

56, 70, 74, 103, 125A, 152, 211, 224 

STELLA 

STORM WARNING 25, 43, 83, 133 

STRANGERS ON A TRAIN 174, 176, 178 

200. 25b 

STRICTLY DISHONORABLE 216, 229. 285 

SUBMARINE COMMAND 285 

SUGARFOOT 

JIJ 

SUICIDE ATTACK -169 

SUMMER STOCK i;'Wii 

SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET 250. 279 

SUNSET BOULEVARD 6. 8. 153 

SUN SETS AT DAWN 29. 43 

TAKE CARE OF MY LITTLE GIRL 178 

179. 187. 212. 268 

TALES OF HOFFMANN 244. 256. 260. 

TANKS ARE COMING 270,^^276,^^277, 

TARGET UNKNOWN 

45 

TARZAN (series) 

TEA FOR TWO 16, 

151, 164 

144, 145, 149, 

ÊÊ^Sr 1^121, 169, 173,213, 

2j 

TEXAS CARNIVAL 242, 249, g281 

THAT'S MY BOY 213, 216, 223, 232^ 236^ 

THEY FLY WITH THE FLEET 

(short) 

*68 

THING 132, 134, 137, 140, 146. 151, 156 

162, 164, 167, 174, 190, 215, 227. 243 

13TH LETTER 54 57, 88, 88, 158, 186 

THREE GUYS NAMED MIKE 

51 56, 61. 69, 72, 78, 80. 98, 100, 103 

THREE HUSBANDS 72, 100, 102, 130 

THREE SECRETS 8,72,135 

TIGHT LITTLE ISLAND ^ ,12 

TOKYO FILE 212 132 44, 170 

TOMAHAWK 50, 56, 65, 80, 83, 112, 127, 

TONY DRAWS A HORSE 72 

TOO YOUNG TO KISS ^ 278 

TO PLEASE A LADY 3, 8, 27, 30, 33, 

TRAIL OF ROBIN H06b''.'..'..,...-.........;,2 

TREASURE ISLAND _ 6. 10, 34 

TRIO - ' J' 

TRIPOU - - - ?5 

TWO FLAGS WEST ,15 

TWO LOST WORLDS — 176 

TWO OF A KIND 157 

(Continued on next poge) 

43

;„ 

206, 

. 3. 

TWO TICKETS TO BROADWAY 266. 

281.287,288 

TWO WEEKS WITH LOVE 57, 84, 96 

UNDEFEATED • 167 

UP FRONT 88. 89, 97. 100, 102. 112. 117. 

124 125A, 142, 150, 158, 178, 212, 224 

U.S.S. TEAKETTLE (See "You're 

in the Navy Now") 

FEATURE AND SHORT 

"^"-"^'TlS. 77, 82. 90. 91. 94 109 

111. 117, 125A. 133. 156. 192. 223. 253 

VATICAN ,. ,|5 

VENDETTA „ ^\- ^1% 

VENGEANCE VALLEY 45, 67 

. 

rAfc^flHE BIRDIE 19.^21. «, ^52. 

g 

51, 54, 60. 

ACADEMY AWARDS 

115 BILLBOARDS 

AIR CONDITIONING 177. 243 

'l'irT67. r91.^'210.°223. 226. 237 

73. 91. 181. 190 

BIRTHDAY CLUBS 

109 

*'5T5*'!'?4. 109, 115, 121, 125. 151, 167 BLIND DATE 

228. 277 

BLOCK PARTY 

^'ly'^f.'fa^ H5. 168. .90. 200, 220. 2I5 

^^°°°3','^f.43,46,51.96. .25A.204 

"'"«"^'=1^1^"?7'5^76, 179, 19. BLOTTERS 

74. ZbJ 

APRIL FOOLS DAY 

32. 280 

ART EXHIBIT 

: 

MT Dli^LAY TIPS 207 

BABY DERBY 8. 111. 137. 144. 172. Ml 

BACKTOSCHOOL SHOWS^ „„ 'Jlo 

199. 211. 215. 220. 224, 225, 233 258 

BAGS IMPRINTED 

,„, ,,, 'J^' 

BALLOONS '?' 

105, 113, 245. 272 

BALLYHOOS 

^'''5r94, 109, 115, 121, 125, 151, 167 

Ambulance 132, 167. 287 

Amphibious Duck 176, 215 

13s. iss. 210. 217 

Cowboy;;;;;;;;;;:;;.; 

Elephants „ ^^ ^ 

Floats *^' 

112. 144. 154. 167. 170. 205. 2^. 234 

Frogmen 

201, 204 

Gls 

94, 99, 100, 124, 142, 158 

Gypsy 

121 

Harem Girls 

166, 200, 222, 300 

Hawaiians 

SUBJECT 

^liy?rTllE°''X0MEN: 

DIRECTORY 

^'iso'S^S 

WHERE DANGER LIVES 

WHITE TOWER ^ ili 

WHY MEN LEAVE HOME ; 276 

WINCHESTER '73 

61. 69 

WOMAN IN QUESTION 

l"- 2^ 

GENERAL EXPLOITATION IDEAS 

_^^ 

BLUE RIBBON AWARD 185 

_^...-;.^ 

«°7?T^8f 91. 123. 146'°i63^'llf: II3 

BOXOFFICE^ HONOR ROLL^^^^g 

,33 

159. 179, 183, 195, 203, 231. 251, 275 

BOY SCOUTS « ol 

BREAKFAST SHOW 

1^2 

BROTHERHOOD WEEK 

17, 41, 44, 59, 74, 81 

^°30°''42, 77. 78. 83. 88. 110. 124. 163 

INSTITUTIONAL 

WOODEN HORSE 

^''on^'lM 

WYOMING MAIL 30, 1J9 

T.oTir3V^3"4StW.39,118 

YOUNG WIVES- TALE ^8' 

HORBOR SHOWS 3, 10, 19, 25, 97, 118, 

55 "?|'3'!T33 135 151, 241, 246, 261. 287 

DIAMOND HUNT 

DINNERWARE PREVIEW 

6 37. HOT SEAT 57 

DIRECT MAIL 

115. HYPNOTIST 

Classified 

4. 21. 

84. 91. 277 

87, 90, 121, 125A 

1 

M 

21 

99 

119 l'42"°.58!'l78r26T 277, 285, 294 ICE BLOCK S.GNS ^^134. 137. 162 

DIRECTIONAL ARROWS 

96 ,ndUCTION CEREMONIES 31. 36. 39, 48 

!;,5S I r^r- ITT- Y 47, 107 INSTITUTIONAL . „ ,,, 

DISK JOCKEY SHOWS 

^ jj ,,^ 

DISPLAY ADS 

139 

Air Conditioning 

Boys Club 

31, 91. 

88. 197 

124 

130 

. . 

276 285. 292 

249. i232.'238', 176. 202. 

9 15, 20, 22. 73. 105. 

H'lt5l°J^ 26. .03. 296 

18. 125. 154. 190. 211 

.10. 145, 240, 267 

Schools 

9, .0 

Toy Collectic 

1'=°=^' 

Tourist Booth 

257 

26, 70. 

°'7'8"83. 90. 91. 94, 96; 118, 179,' 256 jntERMISSION INTERLUDE 245 

BUMPER^STRIPS ^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ,^3 DONALD DUCK PMTY 

DOORKNOB HANGERS 

123 

1« 

CALENDAR PROGRAMS 

10, 62. 

104. 105. 106. 114. 

^'^^'ki7o; 

104, 168, 185, 281 

?n'"iir'l3'4" r4"4. 146, 154. 158. 166. 

CAMERA CLUBS 

' 

„; 10a ici 

68' 70' 

raNCFR FUND 134. 133. "'i 

73. 85 190. 197. 215. m 

190:230!-^ 

9, 20 302 

c55JS bSbDS MATINEE 10. 22 226; 2; '^'8hrm^s%ar.y^2.4,6, 248. 258. 259. 268. 279. 282 Coat Hanger Matinee 

4, 63, 91. 124. 163. 

CAPTIVE AUDIENCE "7 Cowboy Clubs 

faster IDEAS 189. 227 

,,g 

DRIVE-INS 

lUKE 16. 55. BOX 

81. 109. 268. 277 

*^ 

CHOW UNE 

CHRISTMAS 281 

^fo_,ers ....e.'S. 12; 87. 296 

fI^ l^ws;:;::;;;;;; 2. 4. 9. 19. 2^ 302 

21. 63. 82. 87. 102. 106. ZZB 

22. 110. 112. 122. 157 

ENDORSEMENTS 

FAMILY NIGHT 

^ ,7R 255 282 

FAN CLUBS 91- "8. ZSS, IXi 

FASHION SHOW 

19.' 247 

COMMUNITY CHEST 

21 

COMMUNITY RELATIONS 

117, 150. il8. 221. 232. 231. 292, 302 

CONCESSION BOOSTERS 

10. 176 FATHERS DAY 

133, 138, 156 

CONTESTS 

, 23- 

Anagrams 

FENCING EXHIBITION 1" 

^V? 282 FIGHT FILMS 

\f. """ 

FLAG DAY ^ 

55 61. 75. 78. 86. 89. 111. 

Underprivileged...^...^-..,j5 ,gg 2 

FAT BOY NIGHT !'" 

KODACHROME tImE 

LAMPPOST CARDS 42. 97. 121, 229 

;;:;;; 43, 47 

^S-15fl^fl^^23^^^S^î 

uliiul Legs 

'°°'\^Î-'S.l 250. 273. 286. 297 

lJKiFsîrthday 

,257 

Bubble Gum 

FOREIGN FILMS - " 'Tir^^^'^^^^- 

117. 137. IM. 181 

/vnimai '' ,_ 

58 

Charleston 

FRIDAY THE 13th 

^j 52, 55. 

,„ gc ov 43 

Child Photo 91, 158, 195, 2O0, 264 

Classified Ad 

58, 187, 199 5 SG 62 80 86. 93. 102, 105. 125A. ''Ttr 93 9G 122M2V. 140 149. 160 

Coloring 30 40, 66, 87, 89, 99. 135 152 161 162 168. 174. 190. 212, lli.'n'. 215 228. 259. 265. 267. 279 

urU7. 134. 187.'m5. 226, 278, 287 215: 221, 228. 242. 244. 249, 252, 280 Dimensional 

_ 

^^ jg 

...301 ^fs'^M 42. 46. 5G. 61. 75.'77,' 80; 

§°rSd ;;;zzzzzzz;;;z:;;33:,54 GIFT BOOKS 

238 i2 84 96 03, 110, 112, 137, 143 149 

202 

Diving 

GIRL SCOUTS 

159 173 178, 198, 250, 272, 279, 295 

Doughnut Dunking 

GIVEAWAYS 

97, 118, 135. 151 

.131 Horror 

118 

Appl 

Essay 

169 

118. 176 

SrcycTe 6, 87, 117. 124. 173, 211. 29B Seasonal 

Glider 

Shadow 

^"^'^ 

105 

.62, 

Birthstone 

I 

16, 86, 202, 227, 241 

India 

10, 54, °8t''^M14. llOsrimWO, 287 

G, 43, 66. 86 Other 

Candy 

216, 255, 265 LOBBY IDEAS 8, 20, 25, 40, 54, 68, 

"65, 69, 127, 175, 178, lU. 270. 289 Identity ,j 

9, 87 .„., 122, 160, 171. 173. 175, 214, 229 

^g Christmas 

leep 31. 117. 124. 151 

Jigsaw Puzzle « 

Comic Books 

103, 118. 124 LUCKY STAR„NIGHT 

,22.177.1^5 

!s^'.::;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;:::::::;;;23;-239,'266 

69. 223. 281 LUCKY WHEEL 

Lion Cubs .„ 137 Letter Writing 

Corsages 

...78, 111 

Models 69. 222 

'2"57,T6. 130. 156. 178. ""' '"' 214, 279 Dance Lessons.. 

160 

55 MAGIC MIRROR 

223 

Umerick 

'" 

DinnerWore 

131. 190 

87 MAILING LIST 

K''^' 

; ;;::;;;:;;;;;;;:'-i92; 221. 26^ 

77 Fishing Gear 

220 

Maze 

MANAGERS WEEK 

38 

Native Warriors 222. 1G6 

220 Food Baskets 

Milking 

MARCH OF DIMES 

New Car 

Milk Queen 

Hot Rod 

MARQUEEDISPLAYS^^^^ ,,^ 

21. 30, 42, 57, 71, 105, 112. 180 Miss America 

Jalopy 

,2|, 

296 

News Trucks 4, 17, 56, 89, 109, Misspelled Word 

Jewelry 

117 151 52 174, 192, 194. 271. 278 

110, 121, 123, 165, 169, 189, 263, 2G6 

103 

Mother-in-Law Masks 

... 

.234 

Pirates 6, 75, 187 Muscle Man 

Merchandise. 51, 56, 83, 195, 247 M^?J6 c'ARDf '' 42. ,61. 69. 100 268 

?oUceman 105, 123 Mystery Tune 

Orchids 

50, 125A, 133, 134 

^3''5'Tl5^°0.°5l'7i%7%2M%"l|. 

^^ 

27, 42, 149, 277 

Perfume 

'39 158 167; 191 200. 210 223^ 270 278 

;;;8. 

iTo.l'^'' 94,-l23 

Photos 

MILK BOTTLE COLLARS 12, 54,_ M, 86^ 

112. 164 

Rabbits.^;;;;::;;:;;;;;;;:;::::;;;; is. 42, 94 

Records 

Racing Coi 8, 36, 57 Photographei 

52, 128, 153. 18 Star Photos 

MOTHERS DAY 

72. 134. 140 

Television Set 

57. 242 

Raft 

Quartet 

MOVIE MONTH 

., .129 

Rocket 56 

1, 2. Toys 

Radio 

MOVIE WEEK 

.209. 

Sailo 124, 222 

a 49 55 77. 86, 111, 115. 128. Vacation 

MOVIETIME U.S.A 

_^ ;;;;;;;;;;;;; 23, 213 n4 138. 177. 93, 196, 229, 284, 299 GRADUATION 

226 — 2"37!' " 245. 248. 251. 252. 255 

Sidewalk Artist 283 

„ 

Rafffes ; 25, 75, 128. 135. 141, 299 

HALLOWEEN 

Sound Truck 36, 54, 236, 250, 287 Recipe 

Space Suit Man 33, 77, 

li^ 179 

^^ 261. 262 256. 279, 286 lM.m» 1.. 

78, 157 

NAPKINS IMPRINTED 

Resemblance "3. ''» 

VRITING ANALYSIS 54 NATIONAL babi BABY WEI 

HANDWRITING 

99, 151, 166, 191, 234, 245, 272, 282 

"". 

School Essay 

SÎi'SnAL NATIONAL KIdI'wEEK-2G. KIDS WEEK ^ 

242. 'g. 2| 

Square Dance 

Scrambled Name .' HERALDS ...l•Ir^MBT TTF.ITPS 111. 146. 

NATIONALTIEUPS U-

PROGRAMS 51.88.103. Trucks 37, 

106. 131. 157. 168. 185, 204, 248, 258 42. 45. 89, 110. 121. 123. 189. 296 

PROGRAM TIPS 289 SIGNWORK TIPS 206. 207 

„„„ „„^„„ 16MM TRAILERS 66. 67. 244 

QUIZ SHOWS SLEEPLESS MARATHON 33 

86. 89, 111. 150. 163. 281. 292. 302 

ST. PATRICK'S DAY 103 

SWEETHEART NIGHT 153 

TALENT SHOWS 33. 60. 66. 77.

Air Force Band on Stage for 'Yonder 

The Detroit premiere of "Wild Blue Yonder" 

had strong cooperation from the armed 

forces through a tieup arranged by Dillon 

Krepps, manager of the United Artists Theatre. 

Krepps set up a wishing well in the theatre 

lobby, seeking contributions from patrons for 

gifts to be sent to wounded veterans at the 

Percy Jones hospital. The collection device 

was co-sponsored by the Detroit Times, with 

the newspaper plugging the picture and the 

wishing well through advance stories and photographs. 

On opening night, the Tenth air force men 

from Selfridge Field played a concert of 

martial music in front of the theatre, then, 

in marching formation, paraded down the 

aisles of tlie theatre and onto the stage. 

Military and civilian guests of honor were 

introduced to the audience and impressive 

ceremonies were conducted on stage with 

Dale Mclntire, radio commentator, acting as 

emcee. 

Sets Third Free Show 

Clarence Cropper, manager of the Van 

Wert (Ohio) Theatre, promoted his third recent 

free kiddy show January 5. This latest 

tieup is with a local dairy which bought out 

the theatre for a Saturday matinee and distributed 

free tickets to consumers. The sponsor 

donated free chocolate for every child 

who attended the special show. 

$3,100,000 AIN'T HAY! 

Boeing Airplane Corp. 

And Civic Welcome 

HairBlue Yonder' 

Western premiere of "The Wild Blue Yonder" 

at the Orpheum Theatre, Seattle, was 

developed into a civic celebration by Manager 

Marvin Fox. By reason of the fact that 

the army's famous B-29 is built by Boeing, 

the city's largest industry, the premiere was 

co-sponsored by Greater Seattle, a powerful 

group of businessmen who annually sponsor 

the Seattle Seafair. It marked the first time 

this organization participated in an obviously 

commercial venture. 

On opening night, a complete combat crew 

of the B-29 superfortress and the 560th airforce 

band from McChord airforce base participated 

in special stage ceremonies saluting 

the Boeing air plant and the U.S. air force. 

This was widely publicized through newspaper 

and radio coverage. 

Airforce recruiting officers provided an attractive 

lobby display consisting of hitherto 

secret equipment. This included the Norden 

bombsight, a complete gun turret from a 

superfortress, and many other interesting 

mechanical gadgets. 

Co-op newspaper ads and extensive window 

promotions induced added interest in 

the playdates. 

That's the approximate amount Alexander Theatre 

Partners received for minutes of screening time during 

the year of 1951. 

And 1952 will be an even greater plus profit year for 

those enterprising showmen who screen the very finest 

. . . movie ads by Alexander. 

WANT TO SUPPLEMENT 

YOUR INCOME? 

If you call on theatres regularly 

we have PROVED REFRESHMENT SPE- 

CIALTY ITEMS AVAILABLE TO GOOD 

MEN IN SOME FILM EXCHANGE AREAS. 

WRITE P. 0. BOX 738, MILWAUKEE, 

WISCONSIN. REPLIES CONFIDENTIAL. 

COLORADO SPRINGS 

OUH MTH YEAR AS THE WORLD'S LARGEST 

PRODUCER OF SHORT MOVIE PLAYLETS 

Branch Offices: New York—Chicago—Dallas—San Francisco 

*WHY MEN LEAVE HOME' 

*ONE 100 MANY" \^ 

% 

OUR FILES ARE BURSTING 

WITH LETTERS OF PRAISE 

AND RECORD - BREAKING 

REPORTS ON THE TWO 

WINNERS! 

BOOK THEM NOW FOR THE 

BEST DEAL IN THEATRE HIS- 

TORY. CONTACT YOUR 

HALLMARK AGENT, OR 

WRITE, WIRE, PHONE .... 

^^^^^H

Exhibitors Continue 

Fight on UPT-ABC 

WASHINGTON—Five exhibitor corporations, 

four controlled by Fanchon & Marco, 

on Wednesday (2) filed a "reply to opposition 

to motion for reconsideration" with the Federal 

CommunicatiorLs Commission, another 

move in their long fight for the right to intervene 

in the forthcoming hearings on the 

proposed merger of United Paramount Theatres 

and the American Broadcasting Co. 

The exhibitor corporations, led by Partmar, 

had sought to intervene on the grounds 

that Paramount had violated antitrust laws 

and that UPT-ABC would carry the same sort 

of violation into the field of theatre television, 

thus causing injury to the exhibitors. 

FCC ruled against intervention by Partmar 

on the grounds that such intervention under 

commission rules was limited to those operating 

directly competitive facilities. 

Partmar appealed, and both the broadcast 

bureau of FCC and UPT-ABC filed briefs in 

opposition to the appeal. The Wednesday 

Partmar brief was in answer to that opposition. 

Partmar and the other exhibitors claimed 

that the opposition briefs had misrepresented 

many facts and repeated that their intervention 

"would make available to the commission 

an experience, a viewpoint, information 

and an incentive which, we respectfully 

submit, can be procured only from parties 

actually vitally affected as are petitioners." 

Sutphen Estates Denied 

WB Decree Hearing 

WASHINGTON—Sutphen Estates lost its 

last remaining chance to intervene in the 

Warner Bros, consent decree Wednesday i2i 

when the Supreme Court denied its petition 

for a rehearing. The court earlier had denied 

Sutphen's appeal for a review of the 

case, and only in exceptionally rare instances 

has the high court reversed its position 

and granted a request for rehearing. 

Sutphen is the lessor of the New York 

Strand and under the terms of its 99-year 

contract with a Warner subsidiary. Warners 

had guaranteed the lease. The consent decree 

gave the theatre to the n?w exhibition 

company formed as a result of the divorcement, 

and Sutphen then asked the New York 

statutory court to require that both new companies 

be required to guarantee the lease. 

The government opposed this request on the 

grounds that it would be contrary to the requirements 

in the decree for complete divorcement 

of exhibition and distributorproducer 

interests. The New York court held 

against Sutphen, which then appealed to the 

Supreme Court. 

UA, Paramount, Louis Nizer 

Queried in ELC Assets Suit 

NEW YORK—United Artists, Paramount 

and Louis Nizer were queried this week in an 

Eagle Lion Classics a.ssets suit by the Department 

of Justice. The D of J questioned 

the two film companies and Nizer's law firm 

on allegations that Robert Benjamin's affiliation 

with both UA and Universal tends 

to reduce competition between them. 

Trade sources estimate that the total seatinging 

capacity of theatres in Italy is about 

4,000,000. 

KrJm Says 1951 Marked 

End of Crisis for UA 

Johnston Is Optimistic 

Over 1952 Prospects 

WASHINGTON—In a year-end statement 

on film progress in 1951 Eric Johnston, 

president of the Motion Picture 

Ass'n of America, said the industry had 

turned out more fine pictures than ever 

before. 

He also said there was a "resounding 

note of confidence and optimism in the 

industry"—that gloom had been dissipated, 

and that there was "renewed respect" 

for the industry and its accomplishments 

both at home and abroad. 

Lou Kaufman Files 

$540,000 Lawsuit 

PITTSBURGH—Lou Kaufman, owner-operator 

of the Metropolitan in the Bloomfield 

district here for a number of years until a 

year ago, has entered a conspiracy antitrust 

action in federal district court, seeking triple 

damages, totaling $540,000. Practically all 

film distributing companies and affiliated 

theatres are named defendants. Excepted 

from action are independent exchanges, including 

Crown, Franklin and Screen Guild. 

Elliot Finkel, attorney for Allied MPTO here, 

represents Kaufman in the actions. 

The Metropolitan now is operated under 

lease by George Mandros. 

Preliminary Audit Shows 

1951 Profit for UA 

NEW YORK—A preliminary audit of 

United Artists accounts is said to confirm 

the generally held belief that the company 

turned in a profit under the first year of the 

new management. If this proves to be true, 

the Arthur Krim, Robert Benjamin. Matthew 

Fox, William J. Heineman. Max E. 

Youngstein and Arnold Picker group will be 

able to acquire 50 per cent of the 16,000 

shares of stock and to extend their management 

control through 1960. 

Charles Chaplin and Mary Pickford own 

8,000 shares and another 8.000 in the treasury 

was placed in escrow when the Krim group 

took over. 

Former Vitagraph Studio 

Opened for TV by NBC 

NEW YORK—The former Vitagraph studio 

in Brooklyn sold to National Broadcasting 

Co. several months ago opened a-; a television 

studio Friday ( 4). The first program was 

Tchaikovsky's opera. "Pique Dame" on Channel 

4 at 11 o'clock. The studio is believed 

to be the largest in the United States. It 

measures 85x100 feet and is larger than the 

NBC 8H studio in Radio City. 

NEW YORK—Ai-thur B. Krim, president of 

United Artists, called the nine months since 

his associates and he a.ssumed UA management 

"some of the busiest and most energetic 

in our business lives, and al.so the most satisfying. 

"The three-quarters of a year of heated 

activity which we invested," he said, "has 

brought the results for which we had hoped. So 

that as we embark on our first full calendar 

year with the company in 1952, we look forward 

with great optimi-sm to a 12-month 

which will see our 30-year-old company returning 

to a foremost place in the industry, 

rivaling and possibly surpassing its position 

in the greenest days of the so-called salad era. 

ENCOURAGEMENT OF GROUP 

"The year 1951 marked the end of the UA 

crisis. The company, with its wonderful tradition 

of outstanding independent productions, 

has been in a weakened state for several 

years. But with the agreement and encouragement 

of Mary Pickford and Charles 

Chaplin, we undertook the company management. 

By 'we' I refer to Bob Benjamin, 

Matty Fox, Bill Heineman, Max Youngstein 

and myself, with Arnold Picker joining in 

later to head up our foreign operations. 

• 

It was a gamble, of cour.se, but one which 

we approached realistically, for it was—and 

is—our belief that UA has a firm basis for 

existence and one which is necessary to the 

industry as a whole. 

"We now have the gratification of seeing 

our judgment proved accurate. In our nine 

months of management, we succeeded in releasing 

more than 40 full-length features and 

in overcoming UA's prior dearth of product 

without emergency acquisition of the Eagle 

LiOn schedule of releases. 

"As 1951 moved into its second half, we 

were able to put into release films which were 

typical of UA in bygone days and which will 

be typical again in the future. An indication 

of what is to come was given by our release 

of such outstanding pictures as 'The Well' and 

'The River,' which have been acclaimed far 

and wide by critics and audiences alike. 

SEVERAL SET FOR 1952 

"For 1952, we already have scheduled such 

eagerly-anticipated productions as John Huston's 

'The African Queen,' the romantic Techn.color 

adventure starring Humphrey Bogart 

and Katharine Hepburn: 'High Noon,' Stanley 

Kramer's first western, starring Gary 

Cooper; 'Saturday Island,' a South Seas Technicolor 

romance starring Linda Darnell; 'Another 

Man's Poison,' the Bette Davis-Gary 

Mernll-Emlyn Williams drama; 'Actors and 

Sin,' Ben Hecht's unusual duet, and many 

Oi-hers. 

Sidney Lieb Joins UA 

NEW YORK— Sidney Lieb, service manager 

of the Motion Picture Export Ass'n for 

the last four years, joined the foreign department 

of United Artists January 1. 

BOXOFFICE January 5, 1952 N 47

. . . Gene 

. . . Samuel 

. . Janet 

. . James 

. . Morris 

n>m\mim).iMVAMmmmi>mMm>ssmmKm.»^mm,,.,,mw.,mm 

B R O A D W Ay 

T izabeth Scott, Paramount star, arrived by 

air from London, where she completed a 

picture for Lippert, "Stolen Face," opposite 

Paul Heinreid . 

Leigh left for the 

coast with husband Tony Curtis, U-I star 

Kelly left for Germany, where he 

will make "The Devil Makes Three," under 

the direction of Andrew Marton . . . Herbert 

Wilcox and his wife Anna Neagle sailed for 

England after several weeks in America . . . 

Horace McMahon got back from Chicago 

and St. Louis where he made appearances 

for "Detective Story." 

Myron Saland, son of Nathan Saland, 

president of Mercury Film Laboratories, is 

engaged to Barbara Ellen Cohen, daughter 

of Mrs. Jesse Cohen. Young Saland is practicing 

law in New York . Frantz of 

Loew's International publicity department, 

mourned the death of his mother . . . Gene 

Pleshette. manager of the Brooklyn Paramount 

Theatre, is a guest lecturer at Long 

Island university on the psychological effect 

of music on movie patrons . . . Pictorial Films 

has moved its general offices from 105 East 

106th to the Paramount building. 

William Lavery is the new city manager 

for Walter Reade Theatres in Perth Amboy, 

succeeding William Saxton. resigned. He will 

manage the Majestic. Hervey Keater. former 

manager of Reade's 9W Drive-In, Kingston, 

has been shifted to manager of the Park in 

Morristown, N. J., while Al Schleicher, former 

manager of the Atlantic Drive-In, Pleasantville, 

has been shifted to the Kingston 

Theatre . . . H. L. Spero, former managing 

director of the Little Carnegie, is now operating 

Cinema 48, newly decorated art house 

on 48th street, which is cm'rently showing 

the French film, "Passion for Life." 

C. J. Feldman, Universal domestic sales 

manager, and F. J. A. McCarthy, southern 

and Canadian sales manager, went to Jacksonville, 

Miami and Nashville 

D. Burrows. Monogram and 

. . . 

Allied 

George 

Artists 

executive vice-president and treasurer, was 

in for home office conferences . . . Oscar F. 

Neu, president of Neumade Products Corp., 

has left for a vacation in Fort Myers, Fla. 

Burger, Loew's International 

sales manager, came back from a three-month 

tour of Europe to set up plans for the distribution 

of "Quo Vadis." 

Kenneth McKenna, MGM studio story 

head, returned to the coast after two weeks 

in New York seeing Broadway shows, editors 

and publishers . . . S. P. Eagle, producer of 

"The African Queen" for United Artists release, 

conferred with William J. Heineman 

and Max E. Youngstein on promotion plans 

for the national release in April . . Paul 

. 

Jones, producer of "My Favorite Spy" for 

Paramount, returned to Hollywood after two 

weeks in New York . A. Fitzpatrick, 

WHEN YOU NEED 

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'GOOD' AND f-A-S-r 

SEND rOUR ORDER TO 

FILM A C KJ 

CHICAGO, 1327 S. Wabash - NEW YORK, 630 Ninth Av. 

producer of MGM's Traveltalks, boarded the 

Caronia Saturday (5) to shoot film in South 

Africa and the Mediterranean . . . Anthony 

Mann. MGM director, came here for a threeweek 

stay. 

Andrew Marton, director of MGM's "The 

Devil Makes Three," left for Munich by plane 

to meet Richard Goldstone, producer, and 

prepare to make the picture there with Gene 

Betty Hutton, one of the 

Kelly starred . . . 

stars of "The Greatest Show on Earth." 

arrived for a round of newspaper, radio and 

magazine interviews to publicize the picture, 

which will open at the Radio City Music 

Hall in mid-January. Frank Braden, advance 

man for Ringling Bros., has been signed 

by Paramount for exploitation duties on the 

picture. 

Geraldine Brooks, co-star of the forthcoming 

United Artists film, "The Green Glove," 

left for a season of winter stock at St. Louis, 

where she will play with Gene Raymond. 

Sir Cedric Hardwicke. featured in the same 

picture, assisted in promoting the film while 

in "Don Juan in Hell" with Charles Laughton, 

Charles Boyer and Agnes Moorehead on 

Broadway. 

45 20th-Fox Field Heads 

Arrive for Sales Rally 

NEW YORK—Forty-five field heads of the 

20th Century-Fox distribution force arrived 

over the weekend to attend the annual sales 

convention at the home office starting Monday 

(7) and continuing through Friday. 

Division managers who will attend are: 

Martin Moskowitz, Empire state; Ed Callahan, 

Atlantic; Ray Moon, central; Peter 

Meyers, Canadian: Moe Levy, midwest; Harry 

Ballance. southern, and Herman Wobber, 

western. Paul Wilson and Buck Stoner, assistant 

division managers of the south and 

west, respectively, will also be present. 

Branch managers who will attend the meet 

are: 

Abe Dickstein 

Nat Rosen 

Charles Kosco 

Jim Connolly 

Ben Simon 

Sam Diamond 

Glenn Norris 

Joe Scott 

Gordon Halloran 

Fred Dodson 

John Holston 

Mark Sheridan 

Tom Young 

Bill Briant 

Marian Osborne 

Maiian Doris 

loe Rosen 

I. J- Schmertz Jimmy Dugan 

Joe Lee 

Alex Harrison 

Tom McCleaster 

Charles Powers 

Al Levy 

Kenneth Lloyd 

Bob Conn 

Jack Ericson 

Joe Neger 

Jack Burk 

Jack Lorentz 

Gerald Chernoil 

Ralph Pielow jr. 

Phil Sherman 

John Feloney, assistant to Callahan in the 

Atlantic division, and Bob McNabb, office 

manager for Cincinnati, will also be present. 

Foreign Film Critics Elect 

NEW YORK—Wladyslaw Borzecki has 

been elected president of the Foreign Language 

Pi-ess Film Critics' Circle for 1952. 

Other officers: Vice-president, Victor Shimkin 

of the Russian Daily Slovo; treasurer, 

Andrew Valucheck, editor of the Slovak Daily 

Dennik; executive secretary, Sigmund Gottlober, 

director of the American Foreign Language 

Press, executive secretary. 

Mechanical refrigeration in Italy Is limited 

to the largest theatres, using the ammonia 

gas system. 

5 Committees Named 

For Rogers Hospital 

NEW YORK—Five committees for the 

management of the Will Rogers Memorial 

hospital and for fund-raising activities have 

been named by A. Montague, new president, 

to serve during 1952. 

They are: Executive—Charles E. Lewis, 

Harry Brandt, Max A. Cohen, Tom J. Connors, 

Maurice Goldstein, John H. Harris, William 

J. Heineman, J. Robert Hoff, Al Lichtman, 

Murray Weiss, Marc Wolf and Herbert 

J. Yates: finance—Fi-ed J. Schwartz, Gus S. 

Eyssell, Charles Feldman, Leonard J. Goldenson, 

Harry Kalmine, Robert Mochrie, Samuel 

Rinzler, Herman Robbins, Samuel Rosen, 

Arthur Schwartz, Sam Switow, Morton Thalhimer, 

Joseph Vogel and Richard F. Walsh. 

Public relations—Maurice Bergman and 

Paul J. Lazarus jr., co-chairmen; George 

Dembow, William F. Rodgers and William 

White; sales managers committee—Charles 

M. Reagan, Charles Feldman. Maurice Goldstein, 

James R. Grainger, William J. Heineman, 

Ben Kalmenson. Al Lichtman, Robert 

Mochrie, A. Montague, William F. Rodgers 

and Alfred W. Schwalberg; fund raising advisory 

committee—A. Montague, chairman; 

William J. German, Charles E. Lewis, Robert 

Mochrie and Samuel Rosen. 

A special committee to revise the rules of 

eligibility for admission to the ho.spital was 

appointed. It is headed by Richard F. Walsh, 

with Herman Robbins, Arthur Schwartz and 

Joseph Vogel the other members. 

Weekly meetings of committees are to be 

held so that the work of all groups can be 

coordinated. 

William Freedman Dead; 

20th-Fox Purchasing Head 

NEW YORK—William Fi'eedman, 54, purchasing 

agent for 20th Century-Fox for the 

past 19 years, died of a heart attack January 

3. Freedman first joined the Fox Film 

Corp. in December 1915 in the poster department 

of the New York exchange. He was 

transferred to the purchasing department in 

1919 and became the head of the department 

in April 1932. He is survived by his 

wife Hattie and two daughters, Mrs. Dorothy 

Brown and Mrs. Maxine Rubin. 

Harry Britwar 

NEW YORK—Harry Britwar, 63, vicepresident 

of F>i-udential Theatres, died on the 

west coast from a heart attack December 28. 

Interment was in Ai'arat cemetery, Farmingdale, 

L. I. Britwar joined Pi-udential when 

it was formed 25 years ago and has been 

serving as consultant for the ciixuit recently. 

A son Jack, a Prudential district manager, 

survives. 

Leo Seligman 

NEW YORK—Leo Seligman, head of Mayfair 

Pictures, died January 1. He is survived 

by his wife Jeanette, two sons, a daughter 

and a brother Max, of Columbia Pictures. 

Negotiated Theatre Deal 

NEW YORK—Berk and Krumgold. theatre 

realty specialists, were the brokers in the 

recent leasing of the Liberty Theatre, Bernardsville, 

N. J., by Amelia and Arthur Reitano 

for 25 years. 


— 

4th 

— — 

Business Is on Upturn 

In Philadelphia Area 

PHILADELPHIA— Almost everyone is optimistic 

about 1952. One exhibitor complained 

that business in neighborhood houses 

is off 30 per cent from last year. He placed 

the blame for the condition on such things 

as the apathy of exhibitors and increased 

prices. Several exhibitors claimed that it 

was impossible to state specific types of pictures 

which have been big grossers, although 

it was admitted that musicals had a big year 

in 1951. 

Ted Schlanger, zone manager of Stanley- 

Warner Tlieatres, claimed that business at 

year's end was up about 10 per cent over a 

year ago. He said: "The trend is upward, 

depending on the strength of product. 

Stronger films are now in release, and this 

is helping business. Another factor which 

will work toward a better boxoffice in 1952 

is that many people are becoming tired of 

television." 

"I will admit that the day of small pictures 

is gone. People can stay home and see 

such films on their television sets. However, 

good pictures are still drawing big crowds. 

It just seems that people have become more 

discriminating." 

Two-a-Day Bijou Opening 

Set for Korda Picture 

NEW YORK—"Cry, the Beloved Country," 

the Z.oltan Korda production filmed on location 

in Africa, released in the U.S. by Lopert 

Films, will open a two-a-day, reserved-seat 

engagement at the Bijou Theatre January 23. 

"Tales of Hoffmann," also distributed by Lopert, 

recently closed a 35-week two-a-day 

run at the Bijou and is now playing continuous 

run at the Sutton. 

"Cry, the Beloved Country," which stars 

Canada Lee, is an adaptation of the Alan 

Paton novel and was also presented on 

Broadway In a musical version known as 

"Lost in the Stars." 

"Bonnie Prince Charlie," Alexander Korda 

production in Technicolor, with David Niven, 

Margaret Leighton and Finlay Currie starred, 

will open at the Trans-Lux 60th Street Sunday 

(6), following a three-week run for "The 

Galloping Major." Snader Productions is 

distributing in the U.S. 

New York Takes No. 1 Spot 

In Ned Depinet Drive 

NEW YORK—The first week of the Ned 

Depinet 1952 drive found the local exchange, 

managed by Phil Hodes, in the lead, according 

to Robert Mochrie, RKO general sales 

manager. Sioux FalLs, with Sherman Fitch, 

manager, was second: St. Louis, with Raymond 

Nolan, manager, third, and Omaha, 

managed by Max M. Rosenblatt, fourth. In 

the Canadian division, Toronto, managed by 

Jack L. Labow. was first and Montreal, 

managed by Han-y Cohen, second. 

Judy Garland Sets Record 

NEW YORK—Judy Garland was in her 12th 

week at the Palace, thus chalking up a longer 

run than the previous Palace record of ten 

holdover weeks made by Kate Smith in 1931. 

Eddie Cantor earned .second record honors 

for a nine-week run starting October 1931. 

Strong, New Films, Upped New Yea/s 

Prices Result in Big N. Y. Grosses 

NEW YORK—A wealth of 

strong pictures, 

plus the high prices for New Year's eve, gave 

most of the Broadway first runs their biggest 

grosses of the year. "I'll See You in My 

Dreams" and the annual Nativity stage pageant 

at the Radio City Music Hall again led 

all the rest, and the waiting lines which encircled 

the Music Hall continued past New 

Year's day. 

Two comedies, "My Favorite Spy" and 

"Double Dynamite," attracted holiday throngs 

to the Globe and Paramount, respectively, 

and "I Want You," "Elopement" and "Decision 

Before Dawn" had stronger second 

weeks than opening weeks at the Criterion, 

Roxy and Rivoli. "Death of a Salesman," in 

its second week at the Victoria, and "Distant 

Drums" at the Warner were also strong, and 

even "Detective Story" was very good in its 

eighth week at the Mayfair. 

"Quo Vadis," which clo.sed seven and onehalf 

weeks of continuous run at the Capitol 

and wâs followed by "Westward the Women" 

December 31, remained to fine business at 

the Astor, where the policy was switched 

from two-a-day to continuous run the same 

day. "The Lavender Hill Mob" led the art 

house field in its 11th week at the Fine Arts 

but "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman," in 

its fourth week at tlie Normandie, and "Rashomon," 

in its first week at the new Little 

Carnegie, were not far behind. 

In addition to "Westward the Women," 

only two others, "The Wild Blue Yonder" and 

"Hotel Sahara," opened just before New 

Year's. 

(Average Is 100) 

Astor—Quo Vadis (MGM), 4 days of 8th wk 125 

Bijou—Henry V (UA), 2nd wk. ot two-a-day 110 

Capitol—Quo Vadis (MGM), 8th wk. of two-a-day..ll5 

Criterion— I Want You (RKO), 2nd wk 150 

Fine Arts—The Lavender Hill Mob (U-I), llth wk...l35 

55th Street- Wonder Boy (Snader) 105 

Globe—My Favorite Spy (Para) 150 

Guild—A Christmas Carol (UA). 5th wk 110 

Loews Sta!t~Flame of Araby (U-I), 2nd wk 110 

Little Carnegie—Rashomon (RKO) 120 

Mayfair—Detective Story (Para), 8th 

Normandie — Pondora and the Flying 

wk 

Dutchman 

(MGM) , 

jramount-Double Dynamite (RKO), plus stage 

Pans—The River (UA), 16th wk. of two-a-day 105 

Park Avenue—The Clouded Yellow (Col), 7th wk...llO 

Radio City Music Hall— I'll See You in My Dreams 

(WB), plus Christmas stage show, 4th wk 175 

Rialto — Jungle Headhunlers (RKO); Jungle of 

Chang (RKO), 4th wk 105 

Rivoli—Decision Before Dawn (20th-Fox), 2nd wk...l60 

Roxy—Elopement (20th-Fox), plus Christmas stage 

show, 2nd wk - 145 

6Bth Street—Angel With the Trumpet (Snader), 

2nd wk 105 

Sutton Tales of Hoffmann (Lopert), return engagement 

125 

Trans-Lux 52nd—Man With a Cloak (MGM), 4th 

.100 

Trans-Lux 60th—The Galloping Major (Souvaine), 

3rd wk 

Trans-Lux 72nd— Caesar and Cleopatro (UA), revival, 

3rd' wk 

Victoria—Death of a Salesman (Col), 2nd wk 

Warner— Distant Drums (WB) 

Year-EntJ Business Fine 

In Buffalo Theatres 

BUFFALO-Tlie talk of the week along 

first run row was the terrific business being 

done by "Quo Vadis" at the Buffalo. "My 

Favorite Spy" at the Paramount also tacked 

up healthy grosses and was held, as wa.s 

"Quo 'Vadis." "Distant Drums" at the Center 

also attracted excellent grosses and was held. 

Weekly grosses were helped also by special 

New Year's shows. 

Buffalo—Quo Vadis (MGM) 140 

Center—DistonI Drums (WB) „ 115 

125 

Century—Double Dynamite (RKO) 115 

Cinema—An American in Paris (MGM) 95 

Lafayette—Man in the Saddle (Col) 110 

Paramount My Favorite Spy (Para) 125 

Teck—Fort Deiiance (UA); Light Touch (MGM) 

2nd wk 90 

Severe Weather Hurts 

Pittsburgh Theatres 

PITTSBURGH—Winter weather set in, 

but 

good, and theatres took their wor.st licking of 

the year. Out in the area, boxoffice reports 

were no better, regardless of attractions or 

offerings. General merchandising fell off too 

and "the Christmas rush" was hardly worth 

the effort, retailers and wholesalers moaned. 

Fulton—Reunion in Reno (U-I); The Strange Door 

(U-I) 30 

Harris—Cave of the Outlows (U-1) 40 

Penn—Quo Vadis (MGM), 4th wk.. 80 

Stanley—When Worlds CoIUde (Para) 55 

Warner Crosswinds (Para); Happy Go Lovely 

(RKO) 60 

Film Carriers Win Wage 

Increase; Strike Off 

NEW YORK—The Teamsters Local 817 

and the 14 film carrier companies have 

reached an agreement on a new wage contract, 

effective January 1, thus removing the 

threat of a strike of film delivei-y men 

throughout the metropolitan area. The new 

two-year wage contract provides for weekly 

wage increases averaging between $10 and 

$15 a week, according to Ira Meinhardt, counsel 

for the carriers. 

The strike was originally called for December 

28 and some neighborhood houses were 

late in starting their weekend shows until 

the deadline was extended until after the 

New Year by Meinhardt. A "no strike" clause 

will be included in the new pact, Meinhardt 

said. 

Columbia Seeks Listing 

Of 17,611 More Shares 

WASHINGTON — Columbia Pictures is 

seeking registration by the Securities and 

Exchange Commission of 17,611 additional 

shares of stock. It proposes to use 16,395 

for payment of a two and one-half per cent 

stock dividend. The remaining 1,216 shares 

would be held for issuance whenever outstanding 

warrants and options are exerci.sed. 

The 1,216 shares would be added to a reserve 

of 48,675 shares of common held again.st 

warrants owned by A. Montague, B. B. Kahane, 

Lester W. Roth, Irving BrLskin, Gerald 

Rackett, A. Schneider and Joseph McConville. 

'Greatest Show' Jan. 10 

NEW YORK—"The Greatest Show on 

Earth," Cecil B. DeMille's Technicolor spectacle 

released by Paramount, will open at the 

Radio City Music Hall January 10 following 

a five-w-eek run of "I'll See You in My 

Dreams" and the annual Nativity stage 

pageant. 

Canar-y Islands 104 Theatres 

The total number of 35mm motion picture 

theatres in the Canai-y Islands is 104, with 

a seating capacity of 48,694. 


. . The 

«aMtmMiL'miiiimM,i]iiwLimiain 

REPORT FROM ALBANY TERRITORY: 

Tempered Optimism on '52 Prospects 

Business Has Been Down, But Exhibitor Leaders See Upward Trend 

ALBANY—Tempered optimism on industry 

prospects for 1952 characterizes the viewpoint 

of exhibitcrs in this area. The consensus of 

the majority of those interviewed was: "It 

should be as good as 1951." 

Johnny Gardner of the Colony, Schenectady: 

Morris Klein of the Hunter Theatre and 

Mountain Drive-In in Hunter and the Hi-Way 

Drive-In in Coxsacliie. and Johnny Capano 

of the State, Troy, were guardedly optimistic. 

"Solid pictures are the prime requisite," 

Owners Ass'n, and Jack Olshansky, lawyer 

observed Gardner. "We need more of 'The 

and former part owner of the Colonial, were 

Great Caruso,' 'Show Boat' and 'Born Yesterday' 

among those who believed arbitration could 

type. Frankly, I don't see many of Saul Ullman 

Charles Smakwitz be beneficial. Olshansky said the psychological 

that class on the release schedules: certainly 

effect on the public of the many triple-dam- 

not for January and February. The Saul J. Ullman. upstate general manager age suits brought in the industry during the 

plain fact is that your picture audience today, 

for the Fabian ciixuit. said the trend has last two years is not advantageous. The fig- 

fn-st and subsequent run, comprises been upward and that he expects the upures 

demanded in such suits create the im- 

three categories—teenagers, young couples swing to continue because (1) product continues 

pression of tremendous profits, although in 

and kids. The kids are getting harder to 

to be good and i2i people seem to the settlement, a much lower amount may be 

cater to: television, with its free entertainment, 

have become tired or bored with television. accepted. 

is spoiling them. So there is a tremen- 

Charles A. Smakwitz. Warner theatres zone 

ARBITRATION IS NEEDED 

dous lost audience which we must recapture. manager, also felt that the lineup of pictures 

due in the next several months is strong 

A steady flow of good pictures is our sole 

Harry Lamont said, "Without arbitration, 

salvation in that dii'ection. 

enough to keep business on the upgrade. 

we exhibitors will go broke." He reasons that 

18 months is about the maximum deadline 

for arbitration to be effectuated if the exhibitor 

However, 

WORRY ON UPPED ADMISSIONS 

last six 

he pointed 

months of 

out 

1951 

that 

were 

grosses 

about 

for 

20 

the 

per 

is to 

"Advanced prices are the worst thing that cent below those for the same period a 

be materially aided. 

Adverse factors mentioned by the theatremen 

included rising living costs, higher taxes, 

has happened to our industry in a long time. year ago. 

And I state this despite the fact BOXOFTICE Exhibitor opinion in the outlying territory 

lighter 

reported 'David is 

and Bathsheba' hit the top divided. Harry Lament who 

take-home pay, television competition, 

mounting labor costs, higher admission 

operates a 

gross in 1951. Probably it did. but that was circuit of theatres in smaller situations, principally 

drive-ins. still believes that the ex- 

prices, sharper selectivity by the public in 

done by hiking the admission price. The total 

spending the entertainment dollar 

number of patrons, which is the most significant 

feature, dropped." 

dise his pictures will make money. "Busihibitor 

who gets out and works to merchan- 

and pressing 

parking shortages. 

Klain, son of a couple who operated a conventional 

house in Hunter for years, it." 

ness will be as good as the exhibitor makes 

Leonard L. Rosenthal, counsel for Upstate 

Theatres and a son of a pioneer Troy exhibitor: 

"Problems of 1952 will be enlarged. 

said: 

"Business will be about as good in the new 

But we must remember that in 1942 as well as 

as it was in the old year. It all depends on 

today we were confronted with outside competition, 

increased film rentals in the face 

the product, and that seems to be strong. borhoods did not do too well last year although 

Strong, fresh product is just as important in 

a modest advance in admi-ssions of declining grosses, unfair trade practices 

a drive-in as indoors. If don't get a good probably made the take a little higher than and the like. Now, as then, there is developing 

a closer relationship. If closer under- 

picture soon after release, you may as well in 1950. I gross higher with pictures a year 

wait awhile . curse of drive-ins, if old." 

standing can be corraled there will follow an 

there is such a thing, lies in the fact so many Larry Cowen, manager of Proctor's in easing of anxieties and tensions. Hopeful 

people think 'It must be an old film if it is Troy: "Business has been better for me in the signs are on the horizon of 1952 for our industry." 

playing a drive-in.' Nothing but fresh, entertaining, 

mass-appeal pictures will change that for 1950. I am of the opinion the improve- 

last six months than it was in a similar period 

attitude. 

ment will continue in the new year. How OPTIMISTIC ON DRIVE-INS 

you 

much in per cent? Perhaps 15. I can specify Joe Miller, partner in the Menands Drive- 

DRIVE-IN PRODUCT PROBLEM 

one kind of picture that has proved popular In: "I am optimistic on the prospects for 

and of which the market can absorb more, 1952 in drive-ins. I think there will be plenty 

'The Blue Veil,' It's a woman's film." 

of employment in the capital district due to 

George Seed, Fabian manager in Cohoes: expanded defense production. The public has 

"The new year will bring better grosses because 

now arrived at the stage where they are mak- 

people are relaxed." 

ing the drive-in a must on the family list." 

Dick Murphy, manager of Fabian's Plaza, Miller, who spent 30 years in the distribu- 

Schenectady: "Pictures and everything else 

"I believe the biggest boon to di'ive-ins 

would be to make product available to them 

on national release, but I doubt this will 

happen except where there is bidding. A 

crying need exists for a greater number of 

films produced in color. They have stronger 

appeal and they draw more business. If there 

a technical problem holding back the production 

is 

of color films, it should be solved at 

once. 

"The small exhibitor would benefit appreciably 

if the producer-distributors put more 

advertising behind product. I don't mean just 

a few of the big releases. The psychology of 

that is just as bad as caused by advanced 

prices on specials. It indicates that the other 

pictures are inferior. We need to have more 

money spent on advertising, and to have the 

same spread out evener by the distributors." 

Capano predicted: "Business will be about 

the same in 1952 as it was in 1951, The neigh- 

promise well. The new year should be a prosperous 

one for our industry." 

Bob Lamont, associated with his brother 

Harry, opined 1952 should be as good as 1951 

because the product looked promising and 

defense money should be in greater circulation. 

Capano named Rex Allen as a coming top 

star, but the majority of exhibitors reported 

they had noticed no great change in public 

favorites. One exhibitor commented: "It's 

the story, not the star, which counts most 

today." 

Would arbitration aid the exhibitor? Harry 

Lamont and Ullman answered emphatically 

in the affirmative. Gardner replied just as 

firmly in the negative. "Arbitration will not 

and cannot be effective," he explained. "You 

can't tell the producers-distributors how much 

to charge for theii' film. I don't think arbitration 

will work. Ultimately, these matters 

will end up in the courts." 

Lewis A. Sumberg, lawyer and executive 

director of the reactivated Albany Theatre 

tion field, chiefly as a branch manager for 

Columbia, pointed out that increased living 

costs and tax charges will not affect the 

drive-in like it does the indoor house because 

"children under 12 are admitted free to 

drive-ins ... it does not cost the parents anything 

to bring them in." 

Mrs. Mary Jarvis of the Delmar, Delmar: 

"Television is definitely competition to motion 

picture theatres in my town la suburb of 

Albany). I think that the producers have 

been making a little better product recently. 

With a steady flow of entertaining releases, 

the public will come in. Frankly, I don't see 

too much of a drop or too much improvement." 


. . Tent 

. . . The 

. . Margaret 

. . 

. . . Eddie 

. . Paramount 

ALBANY 

"Teddy Miller, younger son of Joe Miller, 

Menands Drive-In, has resumed his studies 

at the University of Buffalo school of medicine 

after spending the holidays here with his 

parents. Young Miller has two more years 

to go, plus an internship. His older brother, 

Sandy, former manager of the Menands 

Drive-In and onetime film salesman, and wife 

recently celebrated their first wedding anniversary 

. . . Oscar J. Perrin, dean of Albany 

managers, spent part of a 24-hour period, 

during the holidays, in Albany hospital, having 

an obstruction dislodged from his windpipe. 

He was forced to give up at the Ritz 

and enter the hospital after 30 hours of 

agony. The throat specialist wanted Perrin to 

remain another day, but Oscar insisted he 

must return to duty. He was at the helm less 

than an hour after his son drove him from 

the hospital. 

. 

Those working on the Variety Club Big 

Brother drive include Harold Gabrilove, Nate 

Winig, Charles A. Smakwitz, Arthur Newman, 

Al Kellert, Harry Lamont and Vedder 

Peters 9 canceled the engagement 

of the London Opera Co. in "Carmen" at 

the Strand January 8. Light ticket sale, due 

to the fact the troupe had presented the 

work in Schenectady last fall and to the 

closeness of the holiday season, was the 

reason. 

Schine circuit men are working on an amateur 

night promotion tied in with station 

WPTR here, which the Schines control . . . 

Arthur Newman, manager at Republic, area 

chairman of the motion picture scrap metal 

drive, reported "a whooping total" of 1,886 

pounds of valuable scrap were collected from 

the local exchanges in one day. A drive for 

similar collections in theatres will be 

launched January 15. 

Kirk Douglas, here for a holiday visit with 

his mother and sisters, visited Mr. and Mrs. 

Malcolm Atterbury of the Playhouse, who 

gave the Amsterdam boy his first professional 

engagement at the Takmareck Playhouse 

in Lake Pleasant. Mrs. Atterbury, 

also a native of Amsterdam, first saw Douglas 

in an amateur production there . . . Arthur 

Newman, Republic manager, has been 

named a director of the St. Anne Institute 

for Girls. Newman, long a friend of the 

Catholic institution, is believed to be the first 

of the Jewish faith appointed to the directorate. 

Two dozen Buffalo newsboys were entertained 

at luncheon and a matinee showing in 

the Cinema Theatre of "The Wizard of Oz," 

by Milton S. Harris, managing director. Ordinarily 

such an item wôuld end there. But 

there's a story back of the party. It is one of 

a series of similar affairs that Harris has 

given every year about this time for newsboys, 

no matter where he is. Milt used to be 

a newsboy a long time ago in Times Square, 

New York. One of his customers there was 

the late Oscar Hammerstein, who it seems 

liked the lad and, just 40 years ago, took 

him into his playhouse as an usher. That 

was the start of a long and varied career in 

show business. The ex-newsboy became assistant 

general manager for the Shubert circuit, 

was secretary to the late Julian Eltinge, 

toured as company manager for the Raymond 

Hitchcock, DeWolf Hopper and Al 

Jolson shows and managed .several Broadway 

houses. In recent years he has been publicity 

director for the Loew theatres in Cleveland 

and the Fox theatres in New York and 

St. Louis and UA exploiteer. 

Marty Ross Schwartz, brother of Norm 

Schwartz. Columbia salesman, and former 

broadcaster of a weekend program from the 

lobby of the Palace over WOKO, is stationed 

with the 60th infantry at Ft. Dix, N. J. . . . 

Abe Sunberg, who had been assistant general 

manager for Neil Hellman. was slated to 

take over and reopen the former Warnerowned 

Darby, Darby, Pa., on Christmas day. 

He planned to rename it the Wendy. Sunberg, 

who lives in Philadelphia, has a partner 

in the venture. The house was refurbished 

at a cost of $40,000 . . . The name 

of Mrs. Jean Conrey Burgess, head of Conrey 

Theatres, Ravena, was omitted from those 

present at the luncheon meeting reactivating 

Albany TOA. Mrs. Burgess, a temporary director, 

was seated on the dais between Gael 

Sullivan, executive director of national TOA, 

and Saul J. Ullman, upstate general manager 

for Fabian. 

Lou Hart put on a big campaign up in 

Watertown for "An American in Paris" at 

the Avon Theatre there . 

Janis, 

associate manager of the Cinema, is busy organizing 

a Student Cinema Guild to aid the 

house in promoting its many art attractions 

essay submitted by Borek Vseborsky 

of Buffalo in the national contest conducted 

by Bob Hope on "Why I Would Like to Have 

'My Favorite Spy' Previewed in My Home." 

was so good that Bob sent the essay to Arthur 

Krolick, general manager of Paramount Theatres 

in Buffalo, with the request that the 

writer be invited as his guest to see the 

comedy while it was being shown in Buffalo. 

Vseborsky, it seems, has only been in this 

country a few months, he being a Czechoslovakian 

DP. 

How important is children's patronage to a 

motion picture theatre? Two schools of 

thought, with distinct cleavages, assert themselves. 

One holds that "Kids are the adult 

customers of the future and their regular 

attendance is therefore vital in the formative 

period of life. They bring parents with them, 

too, and they contribute substantially to concession 

stand receipts." The other side argues: 

"It takes three or four children, each occupying 

a seat, to equal one adult admission. The 

youngsters annoy adult patrons and they 

interfere with adults' enjoyment of the show 

and discourage attendance. The matinees 

should be reserved for them." A veteran operator 

aptly summarized the dis.senting viewpoint 

with the truism: "A noisy nickel ruins 

a quiet buck." On one angle there is general 

agreement. Babies in arms and very small 

moppets do not belong in movie houses. 

Warners' Utica played a two-picture Polish 

bill. Utica has a large Polish population . 

Darnell Theatres Corp. of Buffalo has taken 

over the operation of its second northern New 

York house, the Pontiac in Ogdensburg. 

Charles Martina of Buffalo purchased the 

Pontiac and another Schine situation as a 

result of the divestiture ordered by the federal 

court in Buffalo. Darnell became the newoperator 

when Martina reportedly turned the 

Pontiac back. 

The average motion picture admission price 

in Denmark is the equivalent of 24 cents, 

including a 60 per cent entertainment tax. 

BUFFALO 

lyjarc Wolf, international chief barker of 

Variety Club, will be here Saturday (19) 

to install the new crew of Tent 7 at a dinner 

dance in the Park Lane. New officers are 

Dave Miller, chief barker: Max Yellen, first 

assistant; Robert Hayman, second assistant; 

Arthur Krolick. doughguy, and W. E. J. 

Martin, property master. The new canva.smen 

are Gus Basil. Wally Gluck, Billy Keaton, 

Charles Kosco, Bert Ryde and Vincent R. Mc- 

Faul. Outgoing Chief Bai-ker Murray Whiteman 

becomes a national canvasman. Wolf 

will leave Buffalo late Saturday night for 

Pittsburgh where he will install the officers of 

Tent 1 . . . Tent 7 will sponsor two big events 

in Buffalo in February, the Gene Autry show 

in Memorial auditorium on February 4 and 

a hockey game between Providence and Buffalo 

on the 20th. 

A Louis J. Rosokoff family corporation has 

purchased the Tech Theatre building at 760- 

780 Main St. The property, which hou.ses 

Shea's Teck, was purchased from the Massachusetts 

Life Insurance Co., for a sum reported 

in excess of $374,000. The purchasing 

concern is Teck Bldg., Inc. The Rosokoff 

family is among the largest individual owners 

of Main street property in Buffalo. 

Richard T. Kemper, zone manager for Dipson 

Theatres, is assisting William Dipson, 

executive vice-president, in lining up bookings 

in the Batavia office. Kemper has been in 

Batavia taking over some of the duties of 

Andy Gibson, who recently suffered a heart 

attack and who has recovered sufficiently to 

leave the hospital and recuperate in his 

home . City Manager Francis 

Anderson put on a special New Year's eve 

celebration in the Paramount in Rochester 

with a party starting at 4 p. m. and continuing 

through the midnight show. The attraction 

was "Sailor Beware!" 

Milt Harris, manager of the Buffalo Cinema, 

recently joined with Jerry Evarts, columnist 

of the Courier-Expre.ss, in inviting 100 boys 

and girls of the Immaculate Heart of Mary 

Home for Children to see "The Wizard of Oz" 

Miller of the Paramount and Walter 

Burgon of the Center put on special 

New Year's eve celebrations on Monday, starting 

at 4 p. m. and continuing through New 

Charles A. 

Year's eve midnight shows . . . 

McKernan, manager of the Seneca, has been 

elected treasurer of the South Buffalo Businessmen's 

Ass'n. 

George Jenkins has been signed as art 

director for Warner's "San Francisco Story." 

BOOK IT 

WAHOO is 

NOW!!! 

ihe world's most thrilling 

screen game. NoW being used 

successFully by hundreds oF indoor 

and outdoor theatres all over America. 

Send for complete details. Be sure 

and give seating or car capacity. 

Hollywood Amusement Co. 

831 S, Wabash Avenue, Chicago 5, III. 


. . Karel, 

. , The 

. . 

. . Mildred 

. . Glenn 

. . Beginning 

. . Elmer 

. . 

PITTSBURGH 

"The two- story home of James Jaffurs in 

Wilkinsburg was gutted by fire Thursday 

night last week (20) leaving the Glassport 

exhibitor and his family homeless. The 

blaze, which started in the dining room, ate 

through the wall and up to the roof. Mrs. 

Jaffurs and daughter Linda, 8. were the only 

ones at home, and they told police and firemen 

that they did not know how the fire began. 

Jaffurs and another daughter, Elizabeth, 

22. and Mrs. Jaffurs and Linda took up 

temporary residence with Jim's brother Alex, 

also of the Star Theatre at Glassport . . . 

Peter Barbara, who died December 21, was 

the father of Julius, local projectionist, and 

Martin Torreano. retiring president of lATSE 

Local 171. 

Practical bandits entered the Arcadia on 

East Ohio street here early last Saturday 

morning and ripped out a section of scarce 

copper piping . Inc., was incorporated 

to manufacture, purchase and distribute 

merchandise, equipment and machinery tor 

use in educational and entertainment pursuits 

. . . Sylvia Karlton, starring at Bill 

Green's through New Year's eve, is a niece 

of Jack Kalmenson, Warner manager. 

Tickets are on sale at the Gardens for the 

Gene Autry show January 29 . . . The longest 

and costliest session of the legislature in 

Pennsylvania's history adjourned December 

22. Convened last January 3. the general 

assembly killed off Gov. John S. Fine's proposed 

$5-per-$l,000 personal income tax and 

passed a substitute package program designed 

to bring in $118,000,000 in the current 

two-year period. 

Rabbi Sidney Akselrad of Detroit who has 

been here visiting his parents, the Morris 

Akselrads, former McKees Rock exhibitors, 

assumes new duties this week with the Temple 

Beth El in Berkeley, Calif. . . . Alexander 

Notopoulos, attorney, a son of the Altoona 

circuit exhibitor A. N. Notopoulos, has 

been elected to the Altoona Chamber of 

Commerce board for three-year term . . 

a . 

U-I's "Here Come the Nelsons" will be premiered 

here at the Fulton on January 16. 

The H. J. Heinz Co. of Pittsburgh sponsors 

the radio shows of Ozzie and Harriet Nelson. 

SAM FINEBERG | 

TOM McCLEARY | 

t 

84 Van Braam Street |, 

PITTSBURGH 19, PA ^'" 

Phone Express 1-0777 ' 

Movies Are Better Thjin Ever How's Your Equipment' i 

Last weekend F, D, "Dinty" Moore 

31 . . . 

and Jack Kalmenson, Warner district and 

branch manager, respectively, attended eastern 

sales meetings at Philadelphia. 

Leon Linganfelter, manager of the Manos 

at Hollidaysburg, had a free show and treats 

for 300 children from St. John's and St. 

Mary's home at Cresson. 

. 

Adelaide Bardits, bookers' stenographer at 

MGM will wed David Floor, Notre Dame 

halfback Homan of Warners 

booking department is engaged to John Zajdel 

of Braddock Easter of the 

Almeda at 

. 

Mount Morris staged a great 

Christmas treat and entertainment for the 

Anthony Latella of the Miami at 

kiddies . . . 

Springdale entertained his employes at a 

midnight Christmas party in the Bordonara 

hotel. 

Mike Manos underwent an operation at 

Miami and is now recuperating there. He 

and Mrs. Manos expect to spend the winter 

there . . . State at Aliquippa was rented one 

day to the Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp., for 

service pin award ceremonies ... A junior 

in the general science school at the University 

of Pittsburgh is Mary Fourgis, daughter 

of the pioneer exhibitor Chris Fourgis of 

the Grand at Mount Pleasant. Chris' son 

George is a freshman at Bucknell in Lewisburg 

. . . Pittsburgh's only television station, 

WDTV, operating mostly with film and 

wire programs, will extend its daily operating 

time by .several hours . January 

7, video schedules for WJAC-TV at Johnstown 

will be lengthened by 90 minutes . 

Vince Jasack, formerly of Filmrow, was a 

holiday season visitor from Charlotte, where 

he is a Warner salesman . Hasley, 

local indoor and outdoor exhibitor, made a 

good Santa when he masqueraded for a 

chm-ch party for kids. Last summer he was 

an excellent clown in costume for a street 

parade in which he exploited his exhibition 

of "Show Boat." 

Pescha Cooper, daughter of the Paul Coopers, 

Wilkins avenue, is engaged to wed Leonard 

Winograd, Rochester, Pa., theatre manager. 

Both are graduates of the University 

of Pittsburgh. He is a son of Mrs. Emil 

Melvin Mann, Paramount booker, spent the Winograd, and a nephew of Mike Winograd, 

New Year's weekend at his parent's home in veteran exhibitor here . . . Aline Phylis Rom 

Chicago . . . Moe Gould, long on Filmrow, and Stanley Jack Lange, until recently of 

would like to make a connection here as a 

Filmrow and now an insurance agent here, 

theatre manager or assistant to a theatre were married the evening of December 27 

owner ... Ed Stuve, retired local Paramount in the William Penn hotel . . . Jack Scarry, 

salesman now re.siding at Miami, recently had Filmrow booker and salesman until recently, 

a cataract removed from his right eye now is tending bar at a Braddock tavern. 

. 

Jimmy Coyne, formerly with U-I here and Thanks for Christmas greetings from Frank 

now a salesman with this company at Philadelphia, 

and his wife were injured in an auto now at Tampa, Fla.; the Paul Scrange fam- 

Slavik of the Fedo at Wheeling; Jim O'Keefe, 

accident near Carlisle . Kent at Arnold 

featured 'Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper 

ily, Bridgeport, W. Va.: Ernest A. Stern, Associated 

Drive-In Theatres; John J, Maloney, 

of the WWVA Jamboree on stage December MGM; Frank E. Lewis, Blatt Bros. Theatres; 

Jimmy Hornick, USS Oriskany C"V34; Esther 

and Lee Conrad, Meadville; Jim Hendel, 

Miami Beach; Ed Kelley, Filmrow veteran; 

Jim, Pat and Martha Ann Taylor, Bridgeport: 

Mr. and Mrs. James P. J. Kelly, Pittsburgh; 

Don George, Washington; Martha and 

Max Shulgold, Crown Film Co.; George Stern, 

Associated Drive-In Theatres; Earl R. Beckwith, 

Blatt Bros. Theatres; Mae E. Shively, 

Midstate Theatres; F. P. "Reel" McCoy, 

lATSE Tristate Ass'n; Mr. and Mrs. Al Quagliotti 

and son, Brownton, W. 'Va.; George H. 

Sallows and George P. Comuntzis, Morgantown; 

Herman Lorence, Hawthorne, Calif.; 

Mathilda Kiel, formerly with Allied MPTO; 

Woody Vosler, Marcellus, N. Y.; William 

Scott, RKO; Mary and Leo Wayne, Clairton; 

Harry E. Reiff, "the old original," and others. 

Variety Club, as usual, .staged a variety 

show at Western penitentiary on Christmas, 

thanks to the theatre guilds . . . William Olcott 

jr., son of the manager of the Mount 

Oliver Theatre, who had been hospitalized 

for a number of months as the result of an 

auto accident, is at home and is recuperating. 

. . . Ralph Ober, U-I exploiteer, 

Bert Stearn, Milt Brauman, Hymie Wheeler 

and Dave Brown attended a Lippert convention 

in Chicago 

the city . . . Official recount 

was 

in 

of the recent lATSE Local 171 election will 

H. E. Frank Biordi 

be held January 11 . . . 

of the Majestic at Ellwood City, who had 

served on city council for 16 years, finally 

was defeated for re-election. Court recount 

showed he lost by only two votes . . . The 

Star at Monessen will be reopened on January 

25 . . . Frances, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. 

George (Harris Amusements artists) Marlier, 

and Danny Shea will be married in mid-February. 

Fred Herrington Starts 

41st Year as Secretary 

PITTSBURGH—Fred J. Herrington has 

been renamed secretary of the Allied MPTO 

of Western Pennsylvania for his 41st year. 

The association recently observed its 31st 

convention, but Herrington served as secretary 

for the organization under other incorporated 

names prior to 31 years ago. Until 

recent years he was always elected by the 

membership, but now the secretary post is 

filled by the local Allied board of directors. 

He has represented independent theatre 

owners and the motion picture industry in 

many legislative battles for more than two 

score years. 

Special Student Discounts 

NEW YORK—With the booking of "The 

Red Shoes," United Artists Technicolor film, 

the Guild Theatre in Rockefeller Center began 

offering a special school ticket discount 

to groups of students accompanied by their 

teachers. The teachers will be admitted free 

during the limited engagement. 

Mannington House Set Up 

MANNINGTON, W. VA.—The Mannington 

Theatre was listed December 26 at Charleston 

as having been incorporated by Dr. C. P. 

Church, B. C. Church and Charlotte Church, 

all of Mannington. The authorized stock is 

$25,000 and the starting capital is $21,000. 

E. Jones Leases Evans Theatre 

OSAGE, W. 'VA.—The Evans Theatre here 

has been transferred by lease to E. Jones 

from Ettore Antonini. 

Complete Sound and Projection Service 

ATLAS THEATRE SUPPLY 

Gordon Gibson. Mgr. 

402 Miltcnheroer St.. GRant 1-42S1, Pittsburgh, Pa. 

MOTIOGRAPH — MIRROPHONIC 

52 

BOXOFFICE January 5, 1952 

mMmmmMvmm, 

&mim«mif^m&imwimmmmmmiiMm^m)twaimMimiMmuuwi^

who 

. . . Columbia 

. . 

E. C. Grainger Nominates 

Arthur Mayer Arbitrator 

NEW YORK— E. C. Grainger, general manager 

of Shea Enterprises until late last 

month and also former president of the organization, 

has asked that a dispute over the 

terms of his contract be submitted to arbitration 

and has nominated Arthur L. Mayer 

as his arbitrator. In the meantime he is 

not functioning as executive of the circuit. 

Republic in TV Deal 

PHILADELPHIA—Republic Pictures and 

station WPTZ have signed a contract for 

exclusive showing over the local station of 

101 westerns and 26 feature pictures never 

before seen on TV. The films will be featured 

on Frontier Playhouse, a popular series. 

Under terms of the deal, WPTZ will show 

pictures starring, among others, Johnny Mack 

Brown, Sunset Carson, Don Barry, Smiley 

Burnette, Bob Steele and Duncan Renaldo. 

Earlier this year, the station negotiated a 

similar contract with Monogram Pictures. 

Fred C. Iffert Stricken 

PITTSBURGH—Frederick C. Iffert, projectionist, 

died December 26. On the seniority 

list of Local 171 for more than 30 years, he 

had been employed for long periods at Loew's 

Penn. J. P. Harris and the Fulton. Surviving 

are his wife Henrietta, a daughter, Mrs. 

Ardella Sidehamer, and a granddaughter, 

Janice Dale. Services were conducted Satm-day 

afternoon i29) at Beinhauer mortuary. 

Richard L. Caskey 

PITTSBURGH—Richard Louis Ca.skey, 44, 

died at Suburban General hospital in Bellevue 

December 28. He had been a projectionist 

at the Enright in East Liberty for many 

years. 

Geramy Contests Loew's Contracts 

NEW YORK—Geramy Holding Corp., 

holders of a block of common stock of Loew's, 

Inc.. has filed a suit in U.S. district court 

challenging the legality of employment contracts 

with Louis B. Mayer, J. Robert Rubin 

and other officers of the company. 

ELMER H. BRIENT & SONS 

925 New Jersey N. W. 

Washington, D. C. 

We Help You Make 

Mories Better Than Erer 

PHILADELPHIA 

JJo Place for Jennifer" had its Philadelphia 

premiere at the Green Hill . . . Souvenir 

vials of water from the famous Ponce de 

Leon Fountain of Youth were given to the 

first 500 patrons at the Stanley Saturday 

(291. The souvenirs were brought here from 

Florida by Patricia Colwart, who was named 

honorary Princess Morning Star by the Silver 

Star Seminole tribe. Patricia w'ore the 

Grainger has been denied admission to his 

office by Gerald Shea who was named as 

traditional garb of the Seminoles. The Stanley 

used the promotion to gain interest in 

president last fall, he states. 

The contract dispute began early in December 

and Grainger nominated an arbitra- 

its showing of "Distant Drums." 

tor December 17 in a motion before the New 

Republican Senator-elect Malcolm Forbes 

York supreme court. The company had 

of Somerset county, N. J., says he will introduce 

a bill this month in the state legisla- 

ten days in which to reply, and a hearing 

has been set for January 10. 

ture for a referendum to legalize bingo. 

On January 9 a hearing is also scheduled Forbes' bill would permit communities to 

on a petition for an accounting filed by Dorothy 

Shea, wife of Gerald Shea and daughter by organizations such as volunteer fire de- 

license bingo games for charitable purposes 

of the late M. A. Shea. Grainger and Edward partments, veterans groups and churches. 

C. Raftery, well-known attorney, have been The Democrats have unsuccessfully introduced 

bingo referendum bills every year since 

administrators of the Maurice A. Shea trust 

since the death of Shea slightly more than 1948. 

ten years ago. 

The Paramount Decorating Co. is redecorating 

the West Shore Theatre in New Cumberland, 

Pa. . . . James Coyne, U-I salesman, 

is recovering from injuries he sustained in 

Captain Video 

an automobile accident . . . 

and his Video Rangers appeared in person 

on the Mastbaum stage in the annual Warner 

Bros. Kiddy Christmas party Friday 

morning i28i. In addition to the appearance 

of the television stai-. Chief Halftown 

and a big stageshow lasting three and a half 

hours were also ?een. 

Florence Welner, Monogram booker, is 

asking all exhibitors in the territory to book 

a "bushel and a peck" of dates for Monogram 

week February 10-16 . . . James Schwartz, 

vice-president of Y&Y Supply Co., and Ted 

Dorf, salesman, have left for a business trip 

inspector Helen Kelly is now 

Mrs. Fulginiti . . . Columbia inspector Kathryn 

Mote has resigned to go to Florida to 

care for her grandchildren, since their 

mother was killed recently. 

Four youths, who allegedly broke into the 

Lincoln Drive-In and stole nearly $1,000 

worth of merchandise, have been arrested. 

The youths, w-ho allegedly confe.ssed the theft, 

were released in the custody of their parents 

. . William Charles, head of Stanley- 

. 

Warner's sound department, was on the sick 

Hortense Shalita, Stanley-Warner 

list . . . 

publicity department, returned to work after 

being out sick . . . Fay Wolf, Ellis Shipman's 

secretary, returned from her Florida vacation. 

William Goldman, prominent independent 

exhibitor, gave a certificate of merit to Wallace 

K. Katz for 45 years of devoted service 

to Hahnemann hospital, where Katz is assistant 

registrar. Goldman is a member of 

the board of trustees at Hahnemann . 

Stanley-Warner Theatres has reported the 

sale of the Richmond. Alhambra, Imperial 

60th Street, Uptown and Imperial Second 

Street. Equipment will be removed from all 

the theatres except the Imperial Second 

Street and the Uptown. Harry Knobloch is 

the new manager of the Uptown. He has 

been away from this territory for about 20 

years. 

The Republic exchange is the first one to 

have a 100 per cent enrollment for the Red 

Cross blood bank . . . Ethel Rudick, 20th-Fox, 

was on sick leave. 

High School Runs Theatre in 

Before Xmas; Makes Fine Profit 

CENTREVILLE. MD.—Centreville high 

school students took over the Center Theatre 

again this year, from operation of the projection 

machines to arrangement of the stage 

and screen program, and realized a tidy 

profit for the school library fund and the 

theatre as well. 

The Center Theatre's second annual Movie 

week, turned the worst week in the year into 

a rousing success, financially and public relations-wise, 

according to Manager J. D. 

' 

Fernicola, originated the promotion. 

Staged the week before Christmas, the event 

was handicapped not only by the surge of 

holiday shopping but also by the worst 

weather of the year. However, the library 

fund realized $300 and Fernicola retrieved 

his operating expense plus a little additional. 

Snow' and ice stranded some of the teenage 

entertainers, but veterans were recruited 

from nearby army and air force 

camps and even members of the faculty 

filled in when necessary to uphold the theatre 

tradition that the show must go on. 

In the Movie week deal the high school 

.students operated the theatre for a week, 

arranging their own stage show, selecting the 

Week 

films, fill the service positions and sell tickets. 

Advance sale of the latter is stressed. Prizes 

are offered to students selling the most. 

This year the awards consisted of expensepaid 

trips to Washington to the top sellers. 

A student who served his apprenticeship 

during last Year's Movie week operated the 

projection machines this year. 

The stage show featured the high school 

glee club of 60 girls, tumbling acts, trios and 

other types of entertainment. Rehearsals 

were held every afternoon for the evening 

shows in order to insure smooth performances. 

The teenagers even acted as their 

own masters of ceremonies. 

School officials have assured Fernicola of 

their complete cooperation with next year's 

Movie week. 

EVERYTHING FOR YOUR CONCESSION 

CANDY—POPCORN—SEASONINGS—ETC. 

STANDARD VENDORS, Inc. 

921 E. Forr Avenue 

Baltimore 30, Maryland 


Hope 

Caribbean Managers 

Reassigned by UA 

NEW YORK—New assignments of United 

Artists managers in the Car-ibbean area 

have been made by Arnold M. Picker, vicepresident 

in charge of foreign distribution. 

Alfred Katz, manager in Puerto Rico, has 

been promoted to supervisor of the branches 

in Panama. Cuba. Colombia. Trinidad and 

Puerto Rico and will headquarter in Havana. 

Albert V. Steinhardt. Ti-inidad office head, 

has taken over in Puerto Rico and Leonard 

Pearlman, formerly with the Warner Bros. 

domestic sales staff, has assumed the Ti'inidad 

post. 

Katz is a UA foreign staff veteran, having 

been a manager for the company in 

Japan, China and Singapore. Steinhardt 

joined UA in 1945 as manager in Egypt. He 

resigned in 1948 to come to the U.S.. but rejoined 

UA two years later as Ti-inidad manager. 

Pearlman entered the industry in 1944 

as a publicity man for Universal-International 

and moved to the WB sales department 

a year later. 

Picker, recently returned from a Caribbean 

trip, said UA business there had increased 

to a considerable extent during recent months. 

He said that with 35 pictures on the 1952 

release schedule, he expected that gross revenues 

in Latin America will double in 1952. 

1951 Important to CBS TV, 

Says Van Volkenburg 

NEW YORK—'1951 has been a particularly 

important year for Columbia Broadcasting 

System television, which emerged last July as 

a separate and autonomous division of the 

Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc. This 

move reflected the enormous and speedy 

growth of television with particular and dramatic 

clarity," according to J. L. Van Volkenburg, 

president, CBS Television. 

"For most of us. the biggest event in television 

in 1951 was the linking of the two 

coasts by transcontinental cable facilities," 

Van Volkenburg said. He pointed out that the 

whole transcontinental audience can watch 

the regularly scheduled program of theii- favorite 

shows and stars both from Hollywood 

and New York. 

For 1952, more new areas will come within 

reach of television and thousands of new 

viewers will find new interest and entertainment 

from CBS television. Van Volkenburg 

predicted. 

Jules E. Brulatour Left 

Estate of $2,172,693 

NEW YORK—Jules E. Brulatour. head of 

J. E. Brulatour. Inc.. who died in October 1946. 

left a gross estate of $2,172,693 and a net 

estate of $2,121,035, according to a transfer 

tax appraisal filed December 31. Brulatour, 

Inc., distributed Eastman professional 

motion picture film until Dec. 31, 1951, when 

William E. German, Brulatour's former associate, 

formed a new company for this 

purpose. 

Brulatour's widow ( Hampton 

) former 

. 

stage and film star, receives under his will 

a life income from a vast trust fund formed 

of one-half of the residuary estate. The rest 

is divided among his children, Claude Jules 

of Indian Trail, Harrison, N. Y.; Mi-s. Yvonne 

B. Mills of Rye, N. Y., and Mi-s. Marie B. 

Cochran of Elberon. N. J. 

See Lower TV Output 

First Half of 1952 

NEW YORK—Frank M. Polsom, president 

of Radio Corp. of America, predicted that 

with a sharp increase in military deliveries 

scheduled, domestic production is expected to 

be somewhat lower than in 1951. 

"However, it is probable." he .said, "that the 

radio-television industry as a whole will produce 

between 4,000,000 and 4.500.000 television 

receivers and 9,000,000 to 10,000,000 radio sets 

and radio-phonograph combinations. 

"The limiting factor in domestic production 

will be, of course, the availability of raw materials 

and component parts. Cui'tailment of 

supplies for non-military production is expected 

to be felt most during the first half of 

1952. This condition may improve to some 

extent in the second half, as the expanded 

production of suppliers begins to reach manufacturers." 

Anna Neagle, Flora Robson 

Honored by Britain 

LONDON—Anna Neagle and Flora Robson, 

British film stars, and T. E. B. Clarke, British 

scriptwriter, were named Commanders 

of the Order of the British Empire in the 

Royal Honors list January 1. 

Miss Neagle, who is Mrs. Herbert Wilcox, 

has played in many British films released in 

the U.S., the most recent being "Odette," released 

by United Artists in 1951. Snader 

will shortly release "The Courtney Affair" 

and she has also completed "Lady With a 

Lamp." All were produced by her husband. 

Miss Robson made many pictures in Hollywood 

in the 1940s and has recently been 

seen in "Black Narcissus," "Saraband" and 

"Good Time Girl," British films. Clarke 

wrote "The Lavender Hill Mob." being released 

in the U.S. by Universal-Internationl. 

Irene Dunne, Dietrich 

On Best Dressed List 

NEW YORK—Irene Dunne and Marlene 

Dietrich are newcomers to the list of the 

world's best dressed women in the annual 

Crosby Top Popular Actor 

In Rural Film Survey 

NEW YORK—The ninth annual survey of 

rural film preferences, reported by Country 

Gentleman magazine, found Bing Crosby the 

most popular actor. It rated four Paramount 

films among the ten best of the year. They 

are "Samson and Delilah." "Here Comes the 

Groom," "A Place in the Sun" and "That's 

My Boy." 

MGM scored with "Show Boat." "The Great 

Caruso" and "Father's Little Dividend," 

Warner Bros, with "On Moonlight Bay" and 

"Lullaby of Broadway" and 20th Century- 

Fox with "David and Bathsheba." 

Mozambique Lists 

11 Film Theatres 

WASHINGTON—There are 11 motion picture 

theatres in the province of Monzambique, 

five of which are in the city of Lourenco 

Marques, according to the film section of the 

U.S. Department of Commerce. The seating 

capacity of these 11 theatres is 7.191. Average 

weekly attendance at the theatres in 

Lourenco Marques is around 15.000. Admission 

prices range from the equivalent of 44 

cents to 56 cents for Europeans and from 

18 cents to 35 cents for natives, and are generally 

within the means of the average resident 

of Lourenco Marques. It is estimated 

that total income at the boxoffice. before 

taxes, is about $275,000. 

Normally about 75 per cent of all films 

shown in Mozambique are United States 

productions. During 1950 a total of 607 feature 

films and 810 short subjects were shown 

in Mozambique. Of the 607 feature films released. 

442 or about 73 per cent of the total 

were United States films. 51 were British, 

48 Indian, 29 Italian. 10 French, 9 Portuguese, 

4 German, 3 Spanish, 3 Argentine, 3 Mexican, 

with 5 coming from other countries. 

Censorship is not considered strict and all 

feature films and short subjects reviewed by, 

the cen.sors in 1950 were passed. Any obscenity 

is strictly forbidden, and there must 

be no criticism of the Catholic church or any 

ridicule of a foreign government. Also scenes 

of violence might be censored in the public 

interest. 

On April 7. 1951, the first theatre devoted 

exclusively to entertainment for native blacks 

commenced operation. In addition to normal 

censorship all films shown to the native population 

are viewed by the Bureau of Native 

Affairs. Two films have been completely 

banned by the bureau and it is reported that 

most films are badly cut and incomplete. 

Three mobile units tour Mozambique, exhibiting 

films in clubs, schools, and other suitable 

buildings, and give open-air performances. 

Bell 

Howell Co. Elects 

Two Vice-Presidents 

CHICAGO—Bell & Howell Co., has elected 

R. L. Chyrchel vice-president in charge of 

manufacturing. Chyrchel, works manager 

poll taken by the New York Dress Institute. 

Miss Dunne is making a picture for Universal- 

International and Miss Dietrich is co-starred 

with Arthur Kennedy in "Rancho Notorious," 

which RKO will release in 1952. 

The tW'O film stars are the only 

since 1950, will continue to be responsible for 

theatrical 

all 

people on the best dressed list, others being 

the firm's manufacturing operations. E. 

L. 

the Duchess of Windsor, Princess Margaret 

Schimmel was elected assistant vice-president. 

Rose of Great Britain, Mrs. Douglas Mac- 

Chyrchel joined the firm in 1937 under 

its cooperative training program and was 

Arthur and Mrs. William Randolph Hearst jr. 

trained in departments while attending college. 

Schimmel, who came to Bell & Howell in 

1946, will be responsible for planning and development 

of special projects. 

WB Brochure for 'Drums' 

NEW YORK—A Warner Bros, 

eight-page, 

two-color brochure for "Distant Drums" is 

being distributed to educational institutions 

and civic and community groups. It features 

an article on the Everglades background by 

Carl Biemiller, associate editor of Holiday 

magazine, and presents photographic and historical 

material and action stills from the 


film.

— 

OLLYWOOD 

NEWS AND VIEWS OF THE PRODUCTION CENTER 

(HollyiDood Office—Suite 219 at 6404 Hollywood Blvd.: Ivan Spear, Western Manager) 

Senator Kefauver 

To Appear in Film 

HOLLYWOOD — Senator Estes Kefauver, 

the crime-busting solon from Tennessee, will 

appear in a sequence for Aspen Pi-oductions' 

"Captive City," filmed for United Artists release, 

and is turning over his fee for the 

chore—a percentage of the picture's profits 

to the Cordell Hull Foundation for World 

Peace. 

Director Robert Wise, partner of Mark 

Robson in the Aspen company, has just returned 

from Washington where he lensed 

the Kefauver sequence. 

Back in the film colony were Jack Benny 

and Ann Blyth, accompanied by pianist 

Tommy Chambers, after entertaining soldiers 

on Christmas eve and Christmas day at the 

Beaumont general hospital and Port Bliss in 

El Paso and the White Sands proving grounds 

in New Mexico. 

Canadian Premiere Set Up 

For 'Another Man's' 

HOLLYWOOD—In addition to openings 

in more than 100 U.S. communities on 

Wednesday (16>, United Artists' "Another 

Man's Poi.son." starring Bette Davis and Gary 

Merrill, will be given day-date Canadian 

premieres at the Northtown and University 

theatres in Toronto. The film was produced 

in England by Douglas Fairbanks jr. and 

Daniel M. Angel. 

Launching more than 150 dates in the fivestate 

territories of Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, 

Arkansas and Texas, Universal's "The 

Cimarron Kid" will be world -premiered Tuesday 

(8) at the Uptown. Tower, Fairway and 

Granada theatres in Kansas City. Audie 

Murphy and Yvette Dugay, who have the 

starring roles in the Technicolor western, 

as well as Beverly Tyler, John Hudson and 

James Best, will make personal appearances 

at the showings in Kansas City, after which 

they will appear at openings in Oklahoma 

City, Tulsa, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas 

and Fort Worth. 

"Lady Possessed." produced by and starring 

James Mason, and being distributed by 

Republic, will be given its world premiere 

Tuesday (8i at Paramount 's St. Francis Theatre 

in San Francisco. Mason co-stars in the 

drama with June Havoc. 

Costa Rica Theatres Seat 45,000 

The 93 35mm theatres in Costa Rica have 

a total seating capacity of 45,000 persons. 

East: George D. Burrows, Monogram- Allied 

Artists executive vice-president and treasurer, 

flew to New York on a two-week business 

trip. 

West: Hayes Goetz, MGM producer, 

checked in at the Culver City studio from 

London, bringing with him a print of a 

Peter Lawford starrer on which he recently 

completed filming there. 

West: Mark Evans, member of Britain's 

Associated Cine Technicians, arrived from 

London to establish an advisory bureau here 

for American filmmakers planning to produce 

abroad. 

West: Nate Spingold, Columbia vice-president 

in charge of advertising and publicity, 

and his executive assistant, Paul Lazarus, 

arrived from New York for a week of studio 

huddles with President Harry Cohn. They 

are screening new product and mapping campaigns 

thereon. 

West: Due in from New York over the 

weekend for studio conferences was Joseph 

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

studio liaison with the home office. 

East: Erwin Gelsey, Columbia's eastern 

story editor, returned to his Manhattan headquarters 

after a week of conferences at the 

studio. 

West: James E. Perkins, Paramount managing 

director for Great Britain and Ireland, 

arrived at the studio on his annual visit, 

planning a ten-day stay. Paul Jones, Paramount 

producer, returned from New York 

after a two-week vacation there with his 

family. 

Gene Autry Starts Tour 

To Include 45 Cities 

HOLLYWOOD—With an itinerary of 45 

cities to be covered in less than two months. 

Gene Autry will open a new tour with his 

western variety show in Wichita Wednesday 

1 161. The screen. TV and radio cowboy star 

will have Smiley Burnette, the Cass County 

Boys and Rufe Davis as members of his 

troupe. During the trek Autry will make two 

live CBS broadcasts on his weekly ether 

series. The tour will end late in February in 

Miami. 

WB Sam Spade Rights 

Restricted by Court 

HOLLYWOOD—A ruling 

which may have 

a far-reaching effect as concerns the acquisition 

of literary material by filmmakers 

was handed down in federal district court by 

Judge William C. Mathes, who found for 

the defendants in a case brought by Warner 

Bros, in connection with the fictional character, 

Sam Spade, as created by Dashiell 

Hammett. 

Judge Mathes ruled that Warners, in buying 

screen rights to Hammett's novel, "The 

Maltese Falcon," did not include continuing 

rights to the sole use of the Spade character 

in subsequent motion pictures or in 

other ways. Warners had named Hammett, 

the Columbia Broadcasting System, Regis 

Radio and others as defendants, charging that 

a series of Sam Spade radio programs aired 

over CBS had infringed upon the studio's 

rights to the character. It was ruled that 

Warners holds radio rights to the original 

"Falcon" but not to sequels. 

Cedars of Lebanon Drive 

Seeks $750,000 Total 

HOLL'YWOOD—Committeemen representing 

motion pictures and the radio-TV field 

huddled Wednesday (3i at the home of Joseph 

M. Schenck to map plans for launching 

a $750,000 fund-raising drive on behalf of 

Cedars of Lebanon hospital. Schenck and 

E. J. Mannix are co-chairmen of the allied 

industry campaign, to which the motion picture 

trade has pledged $185,000. 

Members of the steering committee include 

Jay Paley, L. B. Mayer, Harry Cohn, 

Bert Allenberg, Y. Frank Freeman, Harry M. 

Warner. William Goetz, Samuel Goldwyn. Sol 

Lesser. C. J. Tevlin. William Phillipson, John 

West, Ward Ingram, Harry Ackerman, Edward 

Small and George M. Thompson. 

To Film 'Incas' in Peru 

HOLL'YWOOD—To make preliminary preparations 

for filming "The Legend of the 

Incas." Mel Epstein, Paramount producer, 

and .scenarist Sydney Boehm planed out Friday 

(4) for Peru for a three-week stay. The 

subject, a new addition to Paramount's 1952 

slate, will be photographed in Technicolor 

entirely in that South American country. 

It is an outdoor adventure drama. 

Seeks Professional Magician 

Paramount is conducting a talent hunt for 

a professional magician to portray the late 

Harry Houdini in a screen biography. 

BOXOFFICE January 5, 1952 

59

STUDIO PERSONNEUTIES 

Scripters 

Barnstormers 

Republic 

FORREST TUCKER planed out to make personal 

appearances in New York, Atlanta and Birmingham 

at openings of "The Wild Blue Yonder," in which 

he has one of the starring roles. 

Cleifers 

Independent 

Producer Alex Gottlieb booked Guitarist VICENTE 

compose and play an original background 

score for "The Fighter." 

GOMEZ to 

Metro 

CONRAD SALINGER is 

RKO Radio 

scoring "The Girl in White." 

VICTOR YOUNG is writing the background score 

the Edmund Or. productio "The Korean 

Locmouts 

Paramount 

Pine-Thomas Productions borrowed ESTELITA 

RODRIGUEZ and GRANT WITHERS Irom Republic 

for supporting roles in the Rhonda Fleming vehicle, 

"Tropic Zone." 

Meggers 

Columbia 

EDWARD DMYTRYK draws still 

another ectorial 

hore at Stanley Kramer's production 

assignment to "A Sound of Hunting," upcoming 

hi: version of the Broadway play by Harry Brov/n. 

Metro 

VINCENTE MINNELLI has been selected to direct 

Producer John Houseman's "Tribute to a Badman." 

Monogram 

LEWIS COLLINS will direct the new Whip Wilson 

starring western, "Texas Marshal," which Vincent 

M. Fennelly is producing. 

Options 

Columbia 

Radio actress JEANETTE NOLAN joined the cast 

of "The Happy Time." 

Title-roler in Producer Sam Katzmon's new serial, 

"Black Hawk," is KIRK ALYN. The cliflhanger is 

being megged by Spencer Bennet. 

Independent 

lack Broder Productions cast RICHARD ROBER, 

ALLENE ROBERTS and BRUCE CABOT in "Kid Monk 

Baroni," which Harold Schuster is directing for 

Realart release. 

Metro 

Stage actor FRANK DE KOVA was cast as a 

racketeer in Producer John Houseman's "Days Before 

Lent," which stars Gig Young and Keenan Wynn 

under the direction of Gerald Mayer. Booked for 

the picture were JACK RAINE and KATHERINE WAR- 

REN. 

Inked for the James Stewart starrer, "Carbine 

Williams," was FIONA O'SHIELL. Richard Thorpe 

is megging the Armand Deutsch production. 

Set for the Robert Taylor-Eleanor Parker starrer. 

"Eagle on His Cap," v 

ducing and directing 

Melvin Frank. 

LESllE CARON and PIER ANGELI will be the titlerolers 

in "Two Girls From Bordeaux," a romantic 

comedy with music, which is being scripted by 

Isobel Lennart. Joe Pasternak will produce. 

LANA TURNER has been signed to a new longterm 

ticket, under which her first starring vehicle 

will be the Stephen Ames production, "Letter From 

the President." 

Signed to a new long-term contract, GENE KELLY 

will next star with Pier Angeli in "The Devil Makes 

Three," to be filmed in Germany as a Richard Goldstone 

production. Andrew Marton will be the 

megaphonist. 

Paramount 

MONA FREEMAN was cast opposite Dean Martin 

and Jerry Lewis in Producer Hal Walhs's "Jumping 

Jacks." The comedy is being megged by Norman 

Taurog. 

ALAN YOUNG will have the starring role in a new 

musical comedy, "Six and Seven-Eighths Park 

Avenue," which has been added to Producer Robert 

Welch's agenda. 

RKO Radio 

Inked for a character role in the Wald-Krasna 

production, "This Man Is Mine," was BURT MUSTIN. 

With Nicholas Ray directing, the .vehicle stars Robert 

Mitchum and Susan Hayward. 

Republic 

A top featured role in Producer-Direclo 

Dwan's "Song of Youth," starring Bill Shirley and 

Muriel Lawrence, went to JOHN ARCHER. Cast additions 

include ANDREW TOMBES, ROBERT NEIL, 

PERCY HELTON and JAMES DOBSON. 

20th Century-Fox 

SUSAN HAYWARD and HILDEGARDE NEFF will 

be the femme leads opposite Gregory Peck in 

"Snows of Kilimanjaro," which will be personally 

produced by Darryl F. Zanuck. Henry King will 

direct. 

Cast in "We're Not Married" were ANN STAUN- 

TON, JUNE BRIGHT and JAMES BURKE. 

GINGER ROGERS and ELSA LANCHESTER were 

handed lopline roles in "Dream Boat." 

ELSA LANCHESTER was inked for "Les Miserables," 

new film version of the Victor Hugo novel, which 

stars Michael Rennie. Lewis Milestone directs the 

Fred Kohlmar production. 

Universal-International 

ANTHONY QUINN will portray the leading heavy 

"Against All Flags," pirate drama in Technicolor 

in 

which stars Errol Flynn and Maureen O'Hara 

under direction of George Sherman. The producer 

IS Howard Christie. 

SPRING BYINGTON joined Tony Curtis and Piper 

Laurie in the cast of Producer Ted Richmond's "My 

True Love." The romantic comedy will be megged 

by Douglas Sirk. 

Warners 

Inked for "Alexander, the Big Leaguer," the baseball 

drama starring Ronald Reagan, Dons Day and 

Frank Lovejoy, were ARTHUR PAGE, TOM HENRY, 

HERB LYTTEN and FRANK McFARLAND. Cast were 

EVE MILLER and GORDON JONES. Lewis Seller 

directs the Bryan Foy production. 

VlCl RAAF, radio actress, was cast in "Man 

With a Gun," Technicolor western starring Randolph 

Scott, with GAIL ROBINSON also booked for the 

Robert Sisk production. Felix Feist is directing. 

Added to the cast were TONY CARUSO, CLANCY 

COOPER and ALBERTO MORIN. 

HANDY SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM

— 

SWG Okays Postponement 

Of Television Discussions 

HOLLYWOOD — A turn-of-the-new-year 

lull hovered over filmdom's labor front. 

One branch thereof, the Screen Writers 

Guild, agreed to a 30-day delay in one of its 

important upcoming items of business, the 

negotiation of a basic minimum contract 

covering scriveners in the TV field. The postponement 

was voted at a session of the 

SWG's television committee at the request 

of video film producers, who asked additional 

time to complete current bargaining 

huddles with other labor groups before taking 

up the SWG demands. 

Meantime the writers organization, through 

its board of directors, voted to retain the firm 

of Cleary, Strauss & Irwin to handle its 

publicity and public relations. 

Highlighted by the selection of 1951's "bestdirected" 

picture, the Screen Directors Guild 

will hold its first annual dinner-dance Sunday 

(27) at the Biltmore Bowl. More than 

1,000 members and guests are expected to attend. 

Two of the — three films to be considered for 

the kudo-s "Strangers on a Ti-ain" (Warners), 

directed by Alfred Hitchcock, and "A 

Place in the Sun" (Paramount), megged by 

George Stevens, have already been selected 

in preliminary balloting. Tlie third entry 

will be picked from among films released 

during November and December 1951. 

The winner will be chosen on the evening 

of the dinner. Last year's topper was "All 

About Eve" (20th Century-Fox i, directed by 

Joseph L. Mankiewicz. 

Stage Acts Will Precede 

'Pandora' Benefit Show 

HOLLYWOOD—A special stage show, with 

music supplied by Manny Harmon's orchestra, 

will precede the benefit premiere of MGM's 

"Pandora and the Flying Dutchman" at the 

Egyptian Theatre here January 10. Proceeds 

of the event will go to the St. Sophia cathedral 

building fund. 

"Pandora." which begins a day-date run 

the following day at the Egyptian and Loew's 

State, was written, directed and produced by 

Albert Lewin, with Ava Gardner and James 

Mason in the starring roles. 

Agents in One Office 

HOLLYWOOD—Two of 

filmdom's top talent 

agents, Stanley Bergerman and Sam 

Jaffe. have entered into a ten-year affiliation 

agreement under which they are pooling 

their office resources but are retaining 

autonomy as concerns the handling of' their 

respective clients. Paul Radin, formerly with 

the Buchanan agency in New York, has been 

appointed a vice-president in charge of video 

for Bergerman and Jaffe and was due here 

this week to begin his new duties. 

To Film 'Queen' Sequel 

HOLLYWOOD—C. S. Forester, author of 

"The African Queen," has been commis- 

_ sioned by Sam Spiegel, whose Horizon Pictures 

produced the film version thereof, to 

develop a sequel tentatively titled "The 

African King." It is being shaped as a probable 

starring vehicle for Humphrey Bogart 

and Katharine Hepburn, topliners in "Queen," 

which was directed by John Huston and is 

being distributed by United Artists. 

ACCORDING to jungle lore, nothing 

frightens a mighty elephant as much 

as does a tiny mouse; and a thorn in his 

paw can be the undoing of a ferocious lion. 

The latter bit of legend currently is being 

accorded a paralleling demonstration in the 

jungles of Hollywood. Leo—who else?—is, 

of course, the lion; and the thorn is the 

Hollywood Women's Press club. 

That organization, as everyone knows, 

stages an annual "Golden Apple" awards 

clambake, at which said gilded fruit is distributed 

to the male and female players 

deemed to have been most cooperative in 

their relationships with the press during the 

year, while "Sour Apples" are parceled out 

to the thespians of both sexes who. HWPC 

members opine, have been the most difficult 

to approach for news copy. 

Cinemania's newshens selected Esther Williams, 

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contractee, as 

1951 's most uncooperative femme star. That 

was the thorn and the roar that it brought 

forth from Leo the Lion is still re-echoing 

through the HoUyw'Ood hills. 

Indignant spokesmen for the wounded king 

of beasts dragged out some impressive statistics—and 

a few choice and interesting indictments—to 

establish how unfair was the 

naming of Mi.ss Williams for the HWPC's 

derogatory designation. Those figures and 

their accompanying charges against the distaff-side 

fourth estaters were given editorial 

coverage and support by a few male commentators 

on Hollywood and its vagaries 

brave men, they. 

press .screenings. In fact, Praise Pundit 

Boiling the Metro retort to its digital essence, 

it seems that during the past year La 

Perry booked a klieg-lighted premiere in addition 

to a preview. 

Williams "has had 52 fan magazine interviews; 

25 fan magazine pictorial layouts; 13 

fan magazine covers; 16 national magazine 'Twas the week before Christmas 

articles with pictorial layouts; six national And only a Scrooge 

magazine covers; and has had more newspaper 

interviews and art layouts than any 

Would schedule a preview 

other player in Hollywood." Further, — To keep his job as a stooge. 

it is 

claimed, she "starred in two pictures 'Texas 

Carnival' and the recently completed 'Skirts 

Ahoy'; became the mother of a new baby; Republic's Mort Goodman howled that 

toured the country to help promote her pictures; 

and still found time to visit and en- 

for singing dogs ... to select a silver-voiced 

"Director Allan Dwan will hold an audition 

tertain at 15 hospitals and military installations." 

From which it would appear that she cooperated 

with a lot of people—including her 

husband. 

Nor is the situation without its ironical 

facet. If Leo's above-listed statistics are 

correct—and there certainly is no reason to 

suspect that they are anything else—Miss 

Williams' "uncooperativeness" was the source 

of considerable eating money to many fan 

magazine writers, a number of whom belabor 

their typewriters on speculation and at space 

rates. Probably such fan magazine reporters 

are more generously represented on HWPC's 

membersliip rolls than any otlier group of 

female journalists. 

Sort of nibbling at the hand that feeds, 

Isn't it, girls? 

Came the Friday before Christmas, which 

launched the long Yuletide weekend for many 

of the film colony's celluloid appraisers, and 

Bill Blowitz, of the catch-as-catch-can Blowitz-Maskell 

praisery, staged a preview of "The 

African Queen," produced independently for 

United Artists distribution by S. P. Eagle. For 

two days prior to the unwelcome and badlytimed 

unveiling, and to add further annoyance 

to the event, it was a to.ss-up as to 

whether or not the one available print being 

flown from the east would arrive in time. 

But the brave "Queen" sailed into port 

in the nick of time, the preview was held as 

advertised and, fortunately, the picture 

provsd to be so excellent that all of the sting 

was removed from the inconvenient screening 

day and the uncertainty. 

To make everyone completely happy, however, 

the "Queen" should have arrived keelhauling 

Breezy Bill Blowitz. 

And lashed to the mast should have been 

Perry Lieber and Alex Evelove, generalissimos, 

respectively, of Warners' and RKO Radio's 

blurberies. They both selected Hollywood 

Blvd., with its mad tangle of pre-Christmas 

traffic and rubberneekers, as the locale for 

canine to portray the role of Tray in 'Song 

of Youth' . . . Approximately 40 dogs are 

scheduled to appear for the audition ..." 

Republic might have saved a lot of time 

and money by recording the singing at the 

recent Hollywood hearings conducted by the 

house committee on un-American activities. 

From Johnny Flinn, Monogram's press impresario, 

comes the advic* that the company 

has received its 1,300th request for a free 

sound-effects recording designed for exhibitor 

use in exploiting the "Bomba, the Jungle 

Boy" pictures. The platter is described by 

Flinn as carrying "a varied assortment of 

jungle animal cries and howls ..." 

It is a recording of Sandy Abrahams in a 

gin rummy game. 


Odgen Is Bright Spot In Its Area; 

TV Competition Gains at Frisco 

SALT LAKE CITY — "Business has been 

pretty bad ... we didn't get the upturn after 

Thanksgiving, and I don't know what to 

think of the new year's prospects." 

"Business has been all right in some spots 

. . . it's been up as much as 15 per cent in 

some places ... I think it will boom this 

coming year." 

These two conflicting statements are indicative 

of the different moods of showmen in 

the Salt Lake exchange area at the beginning 

of 1952. 

The bad business has been particularly 

marked for neighborhood theatres in the Salt 

Lake City area and for some rural communities 

as well as city and country regions in 

Idaho and Montana. 

Tho.se who are optimistic are showmen outside 

of television areas, although in Montana 

and Idaho, where there is no video, movie 

business in some cases is strangely off. In 

some cases considerably. 

SELLS HIS THEATRES 

One southern Utah showman reported business 

15 per cent better than 1950, but he 

showed lack of confidence in the business by 

selling his interest shortly before the end of 

the year. Another theatreman broke up a 

chain of showcases of long standing during 

the year and reaction of one of his veteran 

employes was "we're getting out while the 

getting is good." However, another veteran 

showman acquii'ed three downtown houses in 

Salt Lake City during the year. On the other 

hand, another man who has been in the business 

for years put his theatre up for sale and, 

although he had not disposed of it at year end, 

he had purchased an interest in another 

business. 

Wherever exhibitors gathered to talk in 

Salt Lake City, it was how bad business was. 

Neighborhoods weren't the only ones hit. The 

first runs were suffering, too. 

Forty miles to the north, in Ogden, where 

there is no television, business was better than 

last year. Just how much, no one would say. 

Increased military building in the area was 

responsible. 

PESSIMISTIC IN IDAHO 

Many showmen in Idaho were ready to sell 

out at a reasonable price. Some were downright 

pessimistic; others didn't think anything 

was wrong; their business was maintaining 

an even pace. 

The expected improvement in business apparently 

did not come in too many spots 

right after Thanksgiving. Certainly not to 

Salt Lake City, but some pictures picked up 

after Christmas. 

Pew showmen cared to go on a limb to 

guess on 1952. '"We'll just wait and see," they 

said. 

As to pictures that were doing business. 

"Show Boat," "Caruso," "Blue Veil," "Across 

the Wide Missouri," "Prince Who Was a 

Thief" and in general, the same ones that 

sold across the country were making money 

in Salt Lake City. The rural areas were different, 

with heavy di'ama, excepting for "Blue 

Veil," death everywhere. 

The opinions were .so varied and hedged 

that it was difficult to discover any trend 

excepting one of wonder and wait and see. 

Some neighborhood houses in Salt Lake 

City itself closed for a few days during the 

Christmas holidays. Others were on a twoa-week 

policy during the holidays. Although 

theatres outside of Salt Lake City itself have 

adopted this curtailed schedule of operations 

in the past, this is the first year that several 

in Salt Lake itself decided to shutter for 

more than one day during the holidays. Some 

subsequent run houses were reported to have 

had as few as five and six people for the 

evening on especially bad nights. 

The Capitol, Salt Lake's largest, reopened 

December 26 with Olivia DeHavilland's "Candida" 

and then went into a film policy again 

the following day after a three-week closure, 

the first of its type in the theatre's recent 

history. 

Some subsequent run theatres had cut 

prices 15 cents a penson in and around Salt 

Lake near the end of the year. Whether 

others would follow suit remained a matter 

for the future to decide. 

There were ten drive-ins in the Salt Lake 

area as the season closed. Not only were 

they and other factors cutting into attendance 

at first and subsequent run houses, 

but because of the increased number of 

ozoners. it was claimed they were hurting 

each other. Some outdoor theatres reported 

their own attendance down from the previous 

year. 

Most distributors reported overall bookings 

up, but wherever the exhibitors gathered, the 

whole cry was of how business had changed, 

mostly on the minus side. 

And as the old year waned and the new 

one neared, the discussion among showmen 

centered on business and what would happen 

to it in the months ahead. 

Frisco Business Gains 

Over Yectr-End 

SAN FRANCISCO—The business roundup 

for the year's end in this area is composed of 

various comments. Television in San Francisco 

area has become more of a problem 

and many of the neighborhood houses are 

suffering as a result of the increase in TV 

programs. Downtown first runs, when product 

is good, however, do good business despite 

the television increa.se. 

A few exhibitors are quite pessimistic about 

the future but the majority of exhibitors feel 

that business during the past several weeks 

has increased and gives promise of an optimistic 

outlook for the new year. Where 

the theatre plays to a special patronage, 

whether art or "action" houses on Market 

street, business during the past year has been 

on an average with the previous year. These 

exhibitors feel that business will maintain 

itself and are certain the outlook is bright. 

Neighborhood situations, according to several 

executives, are looking forward to a 

pickup in business. The executives state 

that this will definitely come about "if the 

distribution end doesn't destroy the possibilities." 

Various factors were indicated as 

being injurious to business, including the 

fact that the distributor "is asking 

too much money for pictures and want too 

many of them on percentage basis." Neighborhoods 

in this area don't feel the situations 

warrant an increase in theatre admissions. 

In summing up, the industry looks to the 

distributor to make a better grade product, 

make it feasible for neighborhood locations 

to book it, and then TV would have nothing 

to meet it. TV can't offset a quality product 

with named stars. All theatre situations 

want to do is have that product made available 

to them. 

Roughly, business in this area is down 

about 20 per cent. Up until several weeks 

ago the figure was set at 25 per cent. The 

outlook is optimistic and will be a reality if 

the distributor provides the product at terms 

the exhibitor can afford to meet. 

Martin-Lewis Comics 

Settle Out of Court 

HOLL'VnAfOOD — One multimillion - dollar 

breach of contract suit involving industry 

personalities was removed from the superior 

court calendar as an out-of-court settlement 

—for an undisclosed sum—was reached in 

the $10,000,000 action brought by Screen Associates, 

Inc., against the comedy team of Dean 

Martin and Jerry Lewis, Hal Wallis Productions, 

York Pictures, the Music Corp. of 

America and other defendants. The settlement 

was reported to have involved a cash 

payment and "other considerations," in return 

for which Screen Associates turns over 

its option rights to the services of the comics, 

now under contract to Wallis. 

The plaintiff company made "At War With 

the Army," starring Martin and Lewis, independently 

and sold it to Paramount for distribution. 

Its superior court action had 

charged the defendants conspired to keep 

the comedians from fulfilling their asserted 

obligations to star for Screen Associates in 

six additional pictures over a period of seven 

years. 

Its plan for cancellation of a contract to 

purchase a literary property on the grounds 

the authorship thereof was subject to litigation 

was denied Loew's, Inc., on behalf of 

Metro, in a federal district court ruling. 

Loew's had asked the court to rescind a contract 

whereby Metro acquired "Ca.se History," 

an original by Eric and Victoria Wolff, 

charging that after the manuscript had been 

purchased a third party entered a claim for 

a portion of the proceeds on the contention 

that this person had collaborated with the 

Wolffs on the story development. 

An amicus curiae brief for the defendants 

was filed by the Screen Writers Guild. 

Eddie Albert Is Signed 

For TV Variety Show 

HOLLYWOOD—Comedian Eddie Albert, 

screen, stage and radio veteran, has been 

inked to a seven-year ticket to preside over 

a five-hour daily video variety show on station 

KLAC-TV here. He steps into the niche 

vacated by the transfer of Al Jarvis from 

that telecasting outlet to KECA-TV. 

Albert, effective Monday (7) takes over 

the Hollywood on Television program, a 

marathon affair which has multiple sponsorship. 

The deal also calls for KLAC-TV 

to handle syndicated sales of Albert's TV 

productions, of which he has made approximately 

20 dealing with mental health, medicine, 

labor relations and sex education. 

A branch office of Jerry Fairbanks Productions 

has been established in Cincinnati 

with James LaMarr appointed a company 

vice-president in charge of the office. 

62 


Rolus Harvey Named 

President of ITO 

SAN FRANCISCO—Independent Theatre 

Owners officers elected by the board of directors 

for the 1952 term are: president. Rotus 

Harvey: vice-president. Homer Tegtmeier. 

and treasurer, Ben Levin. Homer Tegtmeir 

was named PCCITO trustees, with Ben 

Levin as alternate. 

The board of directors, elected by the 

membership several weeks ago. includes 

Dave Bolton. Lawrence Borg. Lee Dibble. 

Gerald Hardy. Rotus Harvey. William Helm. 

Ben Levin. Dave Richards. Ed Rowden. 

Homer Tegtmeier and Sid Weisbaum. 

Mexican Film Industry 

Fears TV Competition 

MEXICO CITY—Inroads into boxoffice receipts 

of Mexican theatres, while not yet 

apparent, are expected to manifest themselves 

in 1952 as a result of television. The 

new- medium has operated in this country for 

only a very brief span. It was inaugurated 

here earlier this year. 

However, it is planned to expand the industry 

rapidly and theatre owners and film 

producers fear the competition may have the 

same effect here that it has in the U.S. The 

film industry in this country is shaky now 

and if receipts drop off. production problems 

once more will become acute. 

The union of screen technicians and cameramen 

has gone on record as saying that it 

cannot oppose advance of human talent. 

Membership in the unions is advised to become 

skilled in the television medium to assure 

work if and when the film industry 

starts paring payrolls. 

Clyde Anderson Resigns 

KENNEWICK. WASH.—Clyde Anderson, 

former Kennewick manager of the Benton 

and Roxy theatres for the Midstate Amusement 

Co.. has joined the local Mitchell- 

Seidel real estate firm, ending a five-year 

theatre association. He was born in Pittsburg, 

Kas., and also managed theatres in 

Wallace. Idaho, and Denver before coming 

here. At one time he was advance man with 

the Ringling circus. 

Wind Hits Closed Airer 

LEBANON. ORE.—The Motor-Vu Theatre 

closed for the brief coastal winter season in 

December. Manager Tadd Nelson annoimced 

the ozoner would reopen early in the newyear. 

Soon after shuttering, a terrific local 

windstorm hit the situation and force of the 

wind ripped the large theatre sign in half, 

even jumbling the letters on the half remaining 

upright. The twisted mass, w-eighing 

several tons, was hurled to the ground. 

THEATRE /ALE/ 

Jj.d.arakelian)/^!^^ 

25 TAVLOK ST. 5AN mMCISCC 1 I 

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SAN FRANCISCO 

assistant Don Young of the Warfield Theatre 

has been called into the armed services. 

No replacement has been named as 

yet . . . Among the many local Filmrowers 

who took off over the New Year's weekend 

to attend the Rose Bowl game in Los Angeles 

were theatremen Irving Ackerman and Lawrence 

Borg. 

Leslie Jacobs, San Francisco theatre broker, 

was married recently , . . Phil Phillips, former 

division advertising and publicity director 

for Fox West Coast, was in for one day 

and visited Graham Kislingbury. San Francisco 

division director for North Coast Theatres. 

Jesse Levin, General Theatrical, is going 

around with his arm in a cast, the result of 

an injury received in an auto accident. 

Robert Hagmans Purchase 

Charles Bishop Theatres 

METALINE FALLS. WASH.— Mr. and Mrs, 

Robert Ragman, residents of lone the past 

year while associated with his father in construction 

of the Metaline Falls bridge over 

the Pend Oreille river, have purchased the 

Rita Theatre at lone and the Playhouse here 

from Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bishop. 

They planned to take active management 

after the first of the year and will build a 

new theatre for Metaline Falls as soon as 

the ban on construction of new amusement 

places is lifted by NPA. 

Sketch Artists to Vote 

HOLLYWOOD—Setting aside a recent 

election as being "inconclusive," the NLRB 

w-ill supervise a second balloting Thursday 

1 10* among set designers, sketch artists and 

affiliated crafts to determine w-hether they 

wish lATSE affiliation or "no union." In 

the first voting. 17 ballots w-ere challenged. 

67 voted for the lA and 63 chose "no union." 

To Film 'Park Row' 

HOLLYWOOD—Office and shooting space 

at General Service studios was secured by 

Samuel Fuller for the filming of "Park Row." 

newspaper drama w-hich he will produce and 

direct from his own script. Gene Evans has 

the male topline. 

THEATRE 

DRAPERIES 

AND 

STAGE 

CURTAINS 

Drive-In Building Okay 

Given to Leroy Pawley 

INDIO. CALIF.—Permission to con.struct a 

300-car drive-in adjacent to his Aladdin Theatre, 

conventional indoor house here, has 

been granted Judge Leroy Pawley, who also 

operates another indoor theatre, the Desert, 

by the Indio planning commission. 

The commission ruled, however, that Pawley 

must launch con.struction within six 

months and complete the ozoner not later 

than six months after the w-ork has begun. 

He is also required to pave the entire surface 

of the drive-in area, provide suitable 

landscaping and adhere to other regulations. 

Still under study by the Riverside county 

planning commission is an application filed 

by Michael Levinson to build a drive-in three 

miles west of here on Highway 99. 

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for 

MODERN THEATRE PLANNERS 

ENROLLMENT FORM FOR THE INFORMATION 

The MODERN THEATRE 

PLANNING INSTITUTE 

325 Van Brunt Blvd. 

Kansas City 1, Mo. 

Gentlemen: 

Please enroll us in your RESEARCH BUREAU 

to receive information regularly, as released, on 

the following subjects for Theatre Planning: 

n Acoustics 

Lighting Fixtures 

D Air Conditioning 

p Plumbing Fixtures 

n Architectural Service 

Projectors 

n "Black" Lighting 

n 

n Projection Lamps 

Building Material 

n Carpets 

n Seating 

D Coin Machines ^ Signs and Marquees 

n Complete Remodeling Sound Equipment 

n Decorating 3 Television 

n Drink Dispensers D Theatre Fronts 

D Drive-In Equipment Vending Equipment 

D Other Subjects 

Theatre 

Seating Capociiy.. 

Address .... 

City 

State 

DENVER 

pdward M. Loy, 64, film salesman in the 

Denver and Salt Lake territories from 

1918. when he was covering Montana for 

Vitagraph, until 1945. when he left RKO to 

go to Torrington, Wyo.. to manage a hotel, 

died at his Torrington home after a heart 

attack. After leaving Vitagraph, Loy was 

with Paramount and Fox. Loy was a member 

of the Torrington Chamber of Commerce, 

American Legion, Masons, Eagles, Moose, 

and was instrumental in establishing the 

Elks lodge at Torrington. He is survived by 

his wife. Verona, a son, a daughter and a 

granddaughter. Funeral services and burial 

were in Torrington. 

Archie Speak, RCA Service Engineer, 47, 

died at a McCook, Neb., hospital from a blood 

clot brought on by an auto accident. He is 

survived by his wife Jane and a daughter 

Theatre Supply has installed 

a small refrigerator in the Denver office to 

take care of cold drinks for the force . . 

. 

Herbert and Ray Johnson have opened their 

new 450-car Copper Drive-In at Silver City, 

N. Mex.. and hope to make it a year-round 

operation. 

Bruce Rippey now is managing the Delta. 

Delta. Colo. . . . Tom Smiley, general manager 

of Realart exchanges, spent a week at 

the Kansas City branch . , . Film exchange 

employes Local B-29 re-elected William 

Fenske as president. Others elected include 

Minnie Jackson, vice-president; Elmer Pinch, 

treasurer: Don Spaulding, business agent; 

Ida Schultz, secretary; Paul Kauzalrich, .sergeant 

at arms; Owen Clough, chairman of 

the board of trustees. 

Lynn Fetz, manager of the Denver Shipping 

and Inspection Bureau, says there has 

been a little delay in getting out the annual 

phone list, and that when copies are ready 

two will be mailed to every theatre in the 

Denver territory, one for the theatre manager's 

office and one for the projection booth. 

If more are wanted a card to the bureau 

will get them. 

Film office employes Local F-29 named 

John Roberts as president for the year. Other 

officers elected include Gene Vitale, vicepresident; 

Herman Ruele, treasurer; George 

Mayo, business agent and secretary pro tem, 

and Betty Moore, sergeant at arms. 

Aspen's Isis 

Repainted 

ASPEN, COLO.—James Parsons' Isis Theatre 

in this skyhigh ski resort is resplendent 

with a new makeup job. Its front has been 

repainted a sparkling white with doors and 

poster frames in rich maroon. Parsons has 

figured that his house attracts every person 

in town on an average of once a week, 

now that the former ghost tovi-n is booming 

with skiers and attendant trade. 

Most Films Draw Well 

Over Average in LA 

LOS ANGELES—Midnight shows for New 

Year's revelers contributed substantially to 

heavy first run takes as most operators reported 

upped attendance during the holiday 

period. Top hits, each attaining a 200 per 

cent score, were "The African Queen" and 

"Quo Vadis." 


Chinese, Uptovirn, Los Angeles, Loyola—The Model 

and the Marriage Broker (ZOlh-Fox), Crazy Over 

Horses (Mono) 110 

Dov.-ntown Paramount, Hov^raii My Favorite Spy 

(Para) - - 130 

Egyptian. State Westward the Women (IvIGM); 

The Unknown Man (MGM). 180 

Fme Arts—Tony Draws a Horse (Cinema Dist.), 

2nd wk 60 

Four Star, United Artists—Quo Vadis (MGM), 5th 

wk 200 

Fox Wilshire The Alricau Queen (UA), advanced 

prices 200 

Globe, Ritz, Vogue—Decision Before Down (20th- 

Fox), 2nd wk 115 

Hillstreet, Pontages—Two Tickets to Broadway 

(RKO) , wk 160 

Hollywood Paramount— I Want You (RKO), 2nd 

wk., advanced prices 130 

Warners Beverly—Death ol a Salesman (Col), 2nd 

wk. , prices 150 

Warners Downtown, Hollywood, Wiltern Distant 

Drums (V/B), 2nd wk 125 

Denver Grosses Boom 

To Well Over Average 

DENVER—Showing at advanced prices, and 

with a packed New Yeai''s eve show, "An 

American in Paris" filled the Orpheum to a 

record figure for the week. "My Favorite Spy" 

Aladdm, Tabor, Webber—Flame of Araby (U-I)^ 

Her Panelled Door (Souvaine) 110 

Broadway—Callaway Went Thataway (MGM), Znd 

wk 115 

Denham—My Favorite Spy (Para) 130 

Denver, Esquire—Elopement (ZOth-Fox),- Tales ol 

Robin Hood (LP) 125 

Orpheum— An American in Paris (MGM) 250 

Paramount-Fixed Bayonets (20th-Fox); Badman's 

Gold (UA) 135 

Rialto—Hotel Sahara (UA); King of the Bullwhip 

(Western Adventure) 85 

Seeks Income Tax Refund 

TACOMA, WASH.—Northwestern Theatrical 

Enterprises, Inc., of Seattle filed suit 

last month against Collector of Internal Revenue 

Clark Squire for the refund of $39,554.33 

in excess profits tax, which it claims was 

erroneously collected. The amount includes 

$20,250.66 paid for incoine during 1944 and 

$19,303.67 paid for 1945. 

OnHburScreeti 

ORDER -eetteomoTion 

PICTURE 

SERVICED 

125 HYDE ^* STREIT 

SAN FRANCISCO 2,CALII^ 

GERALO L 

Signed 

Postage-paid reply cards for your further convenience 

In obtaining information are provided in The MODERN 

THEATRE RED KEY SECTION (Nov. 24, 1951). 

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. . . Also 

. . Booking 

. . Back 

Patrons in Melbourne 

Line Up for Chillers 

By WILLIAM BEECHAM 

Australian Bureau Boxoffice 

PERTH, W. A.—The first midnight horror 

screening at the Melbourne Lyceum saw fans 

packed 20 deep outside the theatre. Program 

was "Glaost of Frankenstein" and "Manmade 

Monster." Traffic in tlie street was 

halted when the crowd overflowed the sidewalks. 

Four hours before the performance 

began the "House Full" signs had to be used, 

but hundreds stood in a queue hoping for a 

last-minute cancellation. A roving reporter 

from a morning newspaper got the following 

viewpoints: 

From an 11-year-old: "Gee, there ain't 

nothin' like good murder pictures. I'd rather 

see ghosts than girls any day." 

From a woman with a 14-month old 

daughter: "These .shows give me a kick. My 

husband says I'm mad, but it's my only vice." 

From a 19-year-old lad: "Ordinary pictures 

are too mushy . . . too much romance. 

Give me Dracula any day." 

If the shows continue to click in this 

manner, the management will keep them going. 

The Commonwealth Film Censorship board 

has banned the Italian film, "The Miracle," 

produced by Roberto Ro.ssellini, and has refused 

any appeal. 

For 10th Year MGM Makes 

March of Dimes Trailer 

HOLLYWOOD—For the tenth consecutive 

year, MGM has undertaken production of 

the annual short subject designed to stimulate 

interest in the Maix-h of Dimes campaign. 

With Howard Keel doing the vocalizing 

and narration, the short went before the 

cameras with Harry Loud producing and directing, 

and will be turned over to the 

National Foundation for Infantile Pai'alysis. 

The subject receives the largest simultaneous 

national showing accorded any film, hitting 

18.000 theatres during the week beginning 

January 24. upon which date the charity 

drive is slated to open. 

Six film executives ai-e committee heads 

for a Salute to Mercy benefit show to be 

staged for St. Joseph's hospital in Burbank 

on February 5. In charge of the event are 

Herbert J. Yates, Harry M. and Jack L. Warner, 

William Goetz, Walt Disney and Chai'les 

P. Skouras. 

Film, vaudeville and night club stars who 

reside in the San Fernando valley will participate 

in the .show, which will be staged 

jointly by Republic, Warners. Universal and 

the Disney studio, with the cooperation of 

Theatre Authority and the Hollywood Coordinating 

committee. Pi-oceeds will go to 

the hospital's current fund-raising campaign 

to add 100 beds to its present facilities. 

WHEN YOU NEED 



SEND YOUR OROCR TO 

riLMACK 

CHICAGO, 1327 S. Wabash • NEW YORK, 630 NinthAv. 

LOS ANGELES 

pd Barison, head of Cinema Distributors, 

took off for New York to line up new 

foreign imports for U.S. release . . . Visitors 

over the New Year's period included 

Bill David, architect for the Blumenfeld circuit 

of San Francisco, and Bert Kulick, independent 

exchange operator from New York 

in from Manhattan was Joe Felder, 

vice-president of Favorite Films, for huddles 

at the local Favorite branch . on 

the job after recuperating from a recent 

major operation is Dick McKay, booker and 

buyer for the Ai-izona-Paramount circuit, 

headquartering in Phoenix. 

Due in from Hawaii was Sherrill C. Corwin, 

head man of the Metropolitan circuit, 

who spent the Christmas holidays in that 

island paradise with his wife . . . Services 

were held December 27 in Redwood City for 

Capt. Russell M. Gibbons. 32, who managed 

tlie Redwood Theatre there for Fox West 

Coast before Pearl Harbor. Gibbons, an air 

force instructor at the time of his death, 

was killed when a jet bomber crashed in 

Virginia. He is survived by his wife, two 

cliildren, a brother and liis father. Edward 

M. Gibbons, FWC field auditor working out 

of the local office. 

National Screen's Service's western district 

personnel will gather here late this month 

for a two-day sales meeting to be conducted 

by George Dembow. NSS vice-president, 

and Burton Robbins, home office executive. 

Bernie Wolf is the western district 

manager . and buying visitors included 

Joe Markowitz, exhibitor from Encinitas, 

down San Diego way . . . Alex Cooperman 

of Lux Pictures will pull out for San 

Francisco on a business trip. 

Fire swept the roof of the Ritz in Long 

Beach, causing damage estimated at $25,000 

and forcing Owner Sam Stiefel to suspend 

operations. The theatre is managed for Stiefel 

by Guy Black. 

FWC Reopens California 

At Huntington Park 

HUNTINGTON PARK, CALIF.—With stars 

and circuit executives in attendance. Fox 

West Coa.st's remodeled and refurbished California 

Theatre here was reopened Friday 

1 211. Ceremonies included appearances by 

William Lundigan, Anne Francis, Chill Wills. 

Mona Knox, Robert Wagner, Adrian Booth. 

David Brian, William Demarest and other 

screen personalities, while others in attendance 

were Charles P. Skouras, cii-cuit president: 

George Bowser, general manager: Dick 

Dickson, southern California division chief; 

W. H. "Bud" Lollier, head of the real estate 

department, and John Klee, district manager. 

The California, a l,438-.seater, is managed 

by James P. Bradley. The remodeling program 

included new sound and projection 

equipment and alteration of the stage to 

permit both ordinary and wide-picture projection. 

The showcase is one of many in 

which the lai-ge-screen Eidophor theatre television 

sy.stem is to be installed. 

Doris Day's first song hit, "Love Me Or 

Leave Me," is included among the musical 

numbers in Warners' "I'll See You in My 

Dreams," in which she plays Mrs. Gus Kahn. 

Al Grubslick Elected 

Tent 32 Chief Barker 

SAN FRANCISCO—Variety Tent 32 elected 

officers for 1952. They are: chief barker, 

Al Grubstick: first assistant chief barker, 

Spencer Leve; .second assistant chief barker, 

Irving Ackerman; property master, Jesse 

Levin; doughguy, Robert Naify; fixer, L. S. 

Ben Hamm. The crew for 1952 consists 

of Nate Blumenfeld, H. Neal East, Tom Gilboy 

sr., George Mitchell and Darrell Pischoff. 

Westland Remodels Chief 

And Colorado in Pueblo 

PUEBLO—Two Westland circuit theatres, 

the Chief and the Colorado, are undergoing 

redecorating and the latter is also getting an 

extensive remodeling. The Chief got the 

works first, featuring black light panels in 

the side walls and new proscenium drapes. 

Workmen did the project mornings to keep 

the house open. 

The Colorado Theatre, which gets the facelifting, 

had to close December 18 but reopened 

Christmas day. A temporary boxoffice 

was set up inside the lobby during the early 

stages of work. With the reopening, the 

ticket seller, formerly in the center of the 

lobby adjacent to the sidewalk, was moved 

against the north wall of the lobby. Glass 

doors were placed at an angle across the 

front and the old doors adjacent to the 

entrance were replaced with glass. 

Storm Shutters Drive-In 

COOS BAY, ORE.—The Motor-Vu Theatre 

here was damaged along with other situations 

in a recent windstorm. Mrs. A. E. 

McDuffee, manager, was in Portland at the 

time and, upon her return, contacted the 

head of the company, William Graeper, also 

in Portland, and announced the ozoner would 

be rebuilt as soon as plans could be completed 

and workmen and materials arranged. 

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^(mcCoK ^cî^nt 

THE VETERAN TRADE CRITIC Josh 

Billings of the PCine Weekly has just published 

his yearly roundup of the biggest boxoffice 

successes of 1951 in the British market. 

As usual, his report has led to some discussion 

among exhibitors since not all of them 

have had the same experiences with individual 

films. Some claim that they did considerably 

more business with the runnersup 

than with the boxoffice champions. 

None however will quibble with his choice 

of the number one attraction for the year 

which is MGM's "The Great Caruso," There 

is no doubt at all that this one has really 

taken the biggest money of the year. Nor is 

there much question about number two which 

he has given as Paramount's "Samson and 

Delilah." In choosing these he agrees with 

the other veteran, Reg Whitley of the Daily 

Mirror, who also placed them first and second. 

But from there on his list varies considerably 

from the Daily Mirror's choice. The 

third biggest of the year according to Billings 

is the British film "Laughter in Paradise" 

and the fourth, fifth and sixth taken 

respectively by "Worm's Eye 'View," "Cinderella" 

and "Captain Horatio Hornblower, 

R.N." With the last-named there might be 

some argument again for it did not do the 

business here which was expected of it. 

The palm for the best distributor of the 

year (for excellence of product) Billings 

awards to MOM, citing as proof a list of big 

pictures which certainly make impressive 

reading. Apart from "Tlie Great Caruso" 

it includes "King Solomon's Mines." "Kim," 

"Soldiers Three," "Show Boat" and "Father's 

Little Dividend" along with six others which 

made the distributor handle a great deal of 

cash during 1951. 

Apart from "Laughter in Paradise" which 

was an Associated British Pictures Corp. 

offering and "Worm's Eye View" from Eros, 

most of the top British product of the year 

came from Genera! Film Distributors, Rank's 

By JOHN SULLIVAN 

company. This is only to be expected since 

it handles more British product than any 

other distributor. Heading their list were 

"The Lavender Hill Mob" and "White Corridors" 

which ran more or less neck-and-neck 

and which were followed closely by "Appointment 

With 'Venus," "The Browning 'Version," 

"Hotel Sahara" and "Pool of London." 

A NEW JOHN MILLS film is an event to 

the British fan and to the exhibitor since he 

has been in the top bracket of stars in this 

country for some years. His latest, "Mr. Denning 

Drives North," opened this week at the 

Leicester Square Theatre but is unlikely to 

keep exhibitors up at night counting the takings. 

It was produced and directed by Anthony 

Kimmins for London Films and co-stars 

Phyllis Calvert with Sam Wanamaker and 

Herbert Lom in 

support. 

The big fault of the picture, which is a 

competently made job, seems to lie in the 

mind of the director who was unable to decide 

whether to make a melodrama or a 

comedy and decided at the last to make both 

in the one film. For all that, it is exciting 

enough and should satisfy uncritical audiences, 

although it will be a grave disappointment 

to the art house patron in the U.S. 

Mills plays Tom Denning, the boss of an 

aircraft factory, and Phyllis Calvert his wife. 

Mills fights with Lom, who has designs on 

his young daughter and accidentally kills 

him. He throws the body into a ditch on the 

Great North Road and fakes a car accident 

to account for its presence thei-e. After this 

he waits for its discovery and becomes the 

victim of nightmares. So far the picture 

promises well but from here on, after he has 

confessed to his wife, it switches almost to 

crazy comedy as the pair of them take to the 

car and make for the spot to find just why 

the body has not been found. The body, of 

course, has gone and a tribe of gypsies is involved 

in its disappearance. A young Amer- 

RKO OFFICE IN J.\PAN OPENS—The RKO branch in Tokyo had its official 

opening January 1, according to William Schwartz, general manager (seated at the 

right). Under the direction of Leon D. Britton (seated, center), Far East supervisor, 

the staff has been organized and is functioning in offices in the Kanesaka building. 

Seated at the left is T. Ishikawa, general sales manager. The others, standing, left to 

right: Y. Nakatsuka, chief accountant; A. Iga. Kyushu branch manager; S. Ueda, 

Nagoya branch manager; H. Nakanishi. Osaka branch manager; M. Morita. publicity 

chief; K. Shima, Nagoya sales; M. Tamiwa, Tokyo sales; K. Murai, Tokyo 

chief booker. 

ican lawyer who is staying with Mills becomes 

intrigued with the mystery and starts 

investigations without knowing that Mills is 

responsible and his efforts very nearly land 

Mills in the dock. 

A little more care in preparation and a decision 

right at the start that the director was 

going to make a comedy drama might have 

lifted this to the "very good" class. As it is 

the film will get by mainly on its star appeal 

and its slick production. 

THERE WAS A nautical appearance about 

the Dorchester hotel last week when managers 

from the Cinema Managers Ass'n (the 

controlling company of Odeon and Gaumonti 

met to receive their prizes after the 

company's autumn drive. The drive had had 

a nautical theme from the start with ships 

logs to record results and the idea was continued 

at the lunch with the attendants in 

naval uniform and a replica of a gangplank 

to go aboard. There was also a bridge for 

the various winners to be photographed 

wearing peaked caps and gratified smiles. 

The drive had been based on quality and 

quantity—in other words not only the value 

of the showmanship ideas but also their effect 

on the boxoffice in terms of increased 

take. The winner of the title of champion 

showman of the combined circuits was Rupert 

Todd of the Odeon, Blackpool, with 

George Bernard of the Carlton, Norwich, 

and A. G. Crisp of the Haymarket, Norwich, 

as second and third. 

Undoubtedly the high spot of an amusing 

event was when Admiral J. Arthur Rank 

was piped aboard to present the prizes to the 

winners and, turning away from his audience 

for a moment, reappeared with a black patch 

over one eye and his arm in a sling to represent 

Admiral Lord Nelson. His act was obviously 

a surprise to John Davis who had 

difficulty in continuing his speech for laughter. 

Mountain Video Circuit 

Held Aid to Theatres 

BUTTE, MONT.—Television may come to 

the entire Rocky mountain region much 

sooner than present conditions indicate, a 

television expert from RCA told the meeting 

of Independent Theatre Owners of Montana 

at the Finlen hotel recently. R. C. Schultz, 

RCA's theatre equipment representative, with 

headquarters in San Francisco, said, "We 

don't believe that home television, when it 

reaches you, will hurt theatre television." He 

.said the theatre business is on a "solid, substantial 

basis" and that television could be expected 

to play a major role in the expansion 

of theatre business. 

"I stopped in Salt Lake City on my way to 

this meeting and talked with Frank Sawyer, 

head of the Mountain States Telephone & 

Telegraph Co. there," he said. "I asked him 

when, in his opinion, television could be expected 

on a network basis in the mountain 

area. He told me, 'If two years ago anyone 

had suggested that Denver and Salt Lake 

City would have television by now, I would 

have said they were too optimistic. Now I 

wouldn't attempt to say when TV will be networked 

in the mountain region but I would 

say it will be a lot sooner than most people 

presently believe.' 

"The advent of network TV in the mountain 

country will depend on the telephone 

people—when they will be able to supply the 

cables, etc.," said Schultz. 

6S BOXOFFICE January 5, 1952

— 

Allied Spring Confab 

Slated for March 4-6 

KANSAS CITY— Allied Independent Theatre 

Owners of Kansas and Missouri directors 

will meet here early this month to discuss 

plans for the forthcoming annual spring 

convention and national drive-in equipment 

show, currently slated for March 4-6 at the 

Continental hotel here. 

Fred Harpst, general manager for Allied 

here, said this week that date of the directors 

meeting would be set immediately. 

Meantime, Harpst and Dorothy O'Connor, 

secretary at Allied office here, were recipients 

of engraved desk pen sets, Christmas gifts 

from the Allied board. 

Charity Bingo Is Lottery 

In Ohio, Judge Rules 

COLUMBUS—Charity bingo is a lottery 

under the Ohio constitution and police have 

the power to stop such games, Franklin 

county common pleas Judge Cecil J. Randall 

has ruled in a decision of statewide 

importance. 

He found bingo a lottery and subject to 

article 14, section 6 of the Ohio constitution, 

which reads: "Lotteries and the sale of lottery 

tickets for any purpose whatsoever shall 

be prohibited in this state." The jurist dissolved 

eight temporary orders obtained earlier 

this year in common pleas coui't to prevent 

police from interfering in charity bingo 

games operated by church, veteran and hospital 

organizations. 

It may be a week or two before the ruling 

becomes final, pending action of affected organizations 

which may ask the court to reconsider 

its decision. 

Judge Randall's decision is directly opposite 

that of Judge Dana F. Reynolds of last May 

10 when the latter ruled that charity bingo 

is not illegal. In the May decision. Judge 

Reynolds said: "Where such schemes of 

chance as bingo are not operated for the 

profit of the operator or promoter, there is 

no statutory penalty or inhibition and such 

violation is therefore not in violation of the 

law." 

Judge Randall said that municipalities in 

Ohio could, under the state constitution, impose 

penalties for violations of the antilottery 

section. The state has set no penalties 

for such violations in charity lotteries. 

Archie Speak. 47, Dies; 

RCA Service Engineer 

KANSAS CITY— A. J. "Archie" Speak, 47, 

RCA field engineer working in the McCook, 

Neb., and Torrington. Wyo.. territories, died 

at his home in Torrington December 19, the 

RCA Service office here reported. 

Funeral services were held December 22. 

Speak is survived by his wife Jane and daughter 

Sandra. He had been with RCA about 

seven years. Speak had been ill for several 

months after a blood clot formed in his leg 

following a minor bump sustained in stumbling 

over cans of film. The injury developed 

into a number of other blood clots, which 

were the cause of Speak's death. 

He was replaced in the Torrington-McCook 

area by Fred H. Albert, formerly of Cheyenne, 

Wyo., who had been handling Speak's territory 

during the latter's illness. 

Empress Owners Renovate 

Old Theatre for Stock 

ST. LOUIS—The Empress Theatre at 3616 

Olive St., former vaudeville and more recently 

a motion picture house, will become a legitimate 

theatre January 8 with a resident 

cast of New York actors and visiting guest 

stars in a new play every week. Gene Raymond 

and Geraldine Brooks tee off the policy 

in "The Voice of the Turtle," while Arthur 

Treacher stars in "Clutterbuck" for the second 

play. 

The present operators of the theatre, Jo- 

.seph C. and Louis K, Ansell. are renovating 

the house. Robert E. Perry, former dli'ector 

of the Muni Opera for four years, and summer 

director now at the Gristmill Playhouse 

in Massachusetts, is returning to direct, the 

Empress owners announced. 

Midcentral Will Build 

300-Car Airer at 

Osage 

OSAGE CITY, KAS.—Midcentral Theatres, 

new owners of the local Osage, wiU 

start construction very soon of a 300-car 

drive-in between Osage City and Burlingame 

on Highway SON. It will be named the Midcity. 

Plans have been under way a month 

and construction will start by January 15, 

depending on weather conditions. An early 

spring opening is on the calendar. 

The theatre company is at present making 

plans to remodel and redecorate its Osage 

Theatre as well. 

Shelby Bourne Succeeds 

To Lawrence Management 

LAWRENCE, KAS.— Shelby Bourne, 32, a 

former theatre manager in Texas City, Tex., 

was named manager of the Patee Theatre 

here by Commonwealth City Manager J, D. 

King late last month. He is a native of 

Little Rock and has been in the theatre business 

14 years, working chiefly at houses in 

Oklahoma and Texas. 

Bourne succeeds Leon Hoofnagle, whom 

Commonwealth transferred to Baxter Springs 

recently, as reported in BOXOFFICE at the 

time. 

T. H. Sloihower Opens 

New Wichita Sunset 

WICHITA—Despite the illness of Mrs. T. H. 

Slothovver, owner with her husband of the 

Slothower Theatres in Wichita, the new 972- 

.seat Sunset Theatre made its official bow on 

Christmas day. Opening ceremonies, however, 

were postponed until Mrs. Slothower's 

recovery from a bronchial ailment which 

hospitalized her. 

Tlie theatre was opened by Slothower to 

good business on a first run policy, which, it 

is understood, will now revert to second run. 

Work had not been fniished by the time of 

opening, and remaining to be completed were 

the snack bar and other details. 

Arthur de Stefano, head of National Theatre 

Supply in Kansas City, said that equipment 

in the new Sunset included Simplex 

XL projectors, Ballantyne sound, a Walker 

Hi-Intensity screen, concessions equipment, 

an Icecreamolator, 2 X-1 Automaticket register 

and candy cases, all furnished by NTS. 

Only 'Man in Saddle' 

Holds Up in Chicago 

CHICAGO—Only Columbia's action drama, 

"Man in the Saddle," plus a stage revue 

headed by "The Jaywalkers" and holiday 

festivities in the lobby of the Chicago, gave 

the first runs a fair week. Its percentage was 

95 and that was the highest figure tallied 

anywhere in town as the snowstorm you read 

about, icy pavements and dangerous ground 

made the going tough for would-be theatregoers. 

Nearly all Loop houses did below average. 

Chicago—Man in the Saddle (Col), plus stage 

show 95 

Grand—A Streetcar Named Desire (WB), 8th wk, 85 

McVick.::.-; Slarlilt (WB); Reunion in Heno (U-I) 90 

Monroe-Happy Go Lovely (RKO); Hard, Fast 

and Beautilul (Ri:0) 85 

Oriental -Let's Maks It Legal (20lh-Fox), plus 

stage show, 2nd wk 90 

Roosevelt—Cave of Outlaws (U-I); The Strange 

Door (U-I), 2nd wk 85 

State-Lake An American in Paris (MGM), 6th wk. 85 

United Artists—The Daltons' Women (LP); Flight 

to Mars (Mono) 85 

"vVoods—Fixed Bayonets (20th-Fox), 3rd wk 85 

World Playhouse—Hills of Ireland (Dugan), 7th wk. 90 

Ziegleld—The River (UA), lOth d. I. wk Fair 

'Fixed Ba'yonets' Highest 

At 80 in Indianapolis 

INDIANAPOLIS—Grosses at first runs were 

far from good. Tlte holidays put the main 

crimp in theatregoing. However, exhibitors 

are optimistic and looked for some improvement 

after the new year. 

Circle— Close to My Heart (WB) 75 

Indiana Fixed Bayonets i20th-Fox) EG 

Keiths- Let's Matte It Legal (20th-Fox) 60 

Loews- Fort Defiance (UA), 3 days 50 

Lyric-Captain Blood (WB), reissue KO 

New Cycloramic Screens 

Are Installed by Two 

KANSAS CITY—Walter Shreve, head ol 

Shreve Theatre Supply Co. here, has installed 

new Cycloramic screens at Hugh Gardner's 

Orpheum Theatre in Neosho, Mo., and 

at KMBC-TV's new television auditorium. 

New projection equipment and lenses were 

put in at C. E. Cook's Tivoli in Maryville, Mo., 

and complete booth equipment, including arc 

lamps and sound was installed at the Cozy in 

Lockwood, Mo. 

Mrs. Ella T. Jones, Widow 

Of Theatre Pioneer, Dies 

CHICAGO—Services for Mrs. Ella T. Jones, 

73, were held here Wednesday (2). Mrs, 

Jones who died Sunday in Michael Reese 

hospital was the widow of Aaron Jones sr., 

owner and operator of Chicago's first motion 

picture theatre. Surviving are two sons, 

John J. and Aaron J., associated in the theatre 

firm, Jones, Linick & Schaffer, established 

by their father, and three sisters. 

Hartman Allstars Place 

In State Bowl Tourney 

KANSAS CITY—Ed Hartman of Motion 

Picture Booking Agency was expressing great 

pride this week at the performance of the 

girls on the Hartman Allstars bowling team. 

The team entered the state bowling tourney 

and won tenth place as a team, with a prize 

of $22. Team members won third place in 

the team high-ten and won another $7. 


. . Bernie 

. . The 

. . 

ST . 

LOUIS 

TUTaury Edgar has rejoined 20th-Fox, taking 

Loew's State manager, was listed by Bob 

Goddard In his Globe-Democrat column 

among the Snappy Dressers in Our Town. 

Also listed was Elsie Probstein of the Congress 

hotel. Her family, of course, long has 

been associated with Dhe motion picture busi- 

over the northern Illinois territory traveled 

for so many years by George Ware, recently 

retired. Edgar had been of the landed 

gentry since resigning from the 20th-Pox 

sales staff back in 1948 to operate the extensive 

agricultural holdings of his family near ness here . 

Champaign . . . Exhibitors on the Row. 

Harry Blount, Potosi; Charles Beninati. Carlyle; 

Dean Davis, West Plains; Herman Tanner, 

Vandalia; Joe Goldfarb, Alton; B. Temborius, 

Breese, and Paul Schroeder, Lebanon. 

Harry Wald, who at various times has operated 

the Garrick and Grand theatres and 

the World Playhouse here, returned from a 

business trip to Chicago . . . Russ Bovim, 

^mt^ 

6fi,euli^ 

'^^'" 

McCarthy, manager; 

Chick Scheufeler and Jack Kane of Lippert 

went to Chicago to attend the first Lippert 

national sales convention. 

Thirty-seven theatres in St. Louis and St. 

Louis county were closed on Christmas eve 

to permit their employes to be at home with 

their famihes . . . Mrs. Catherine Foy, an 

employe of the Harry & Meyer Kahan Film 

Delivery suffered a heart attack at her home 

on Christmas day and must take it easy for 

at least a week at her home. Her husband 

died on December 7 from a heart attack . 

E. J. Martt, who for many years owned and 

operated the old St. Louis Poster Co. on 

Pilmrow, has been hospitalized because of 

illness. 

Eugene Brezany, a dentist and a principal 

stockholder in the World Theatrical Enterprises, 

owner of the Quincy Drive-In at West 

Quincy, Mo., is recuperating at Cliri.stian 

hospital here after an operation. Mrs. Brezany 

was hoping that friends will learn prior 

to January 1 that there will be no "open 

house" that day at 3515 St. Louis Ave., a spot 

most of them have visited annually for at 

least the past ten New Year's . . . Jack Martin, 

valiant nimrod of the Paramount sales 

staff, bui-ned up a lot of powder making those 

cottontails, squirrels, etc., do some extra hopping 

during his Christmas season vacation. 

The Shubert opened again under a new 

pohcy, the first offering being "Bitter Rice" 

and "Two Dollar Bettor" followed (30) by 

"Renegades" and "Desperadoes." The price 

scale for adults is 30 cents to 5 p. m. and 40 

cents thereafter. On Saturday, Sunday and 

holidays the 40-cent rate becomes effective 

at 1 p. m. . World currently is showing 

Mack Enterprises "Pin-Down Girl," a 

film about women wrestlers. 

Dr. C. Oscar Johnson, a chaplain of the 

Variety Club, returned to his pulpit on Sunday 

after being in the hospital since November 

14 as the result of injuries suffered 

in an automobile collision . . . Mr. and Mrs. 

Morton S. Gottlieb have moved into theiinew 

residence at 7349 Canton Ave., University 

City. He is manager for Joe Hornstein, 

Inc., and Mrs. Gottlieb has been forced to 

reduce her office time. Frankly, she says, she 

doesn't like too much housekeeping. 

Sf,u "" 2269 F°f /^Mlnne="ta 

St. 

Pa>^l ^' 

Marc Steinberg of the Ritz in East Alton, 

will report at the Great Lakes naval training 

station January 8 for active duty in the naval 

reserve . . . Counterfeit $10 notes on the Fed- 

Tne excf^-^..^rna'cou'^ronViP '^^ *^^'^ .action 

of VO.r 

company ^° 

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eral Reserve bank of St. Louis are being circulated 

in Illinois, the Secret Service reports. 

They are of the 1934 C series and are easily 

spotted because the green Treasury seal and 

green numbers are poorly printed and of a 

darker green than genuine bills . . . Vince 

Schomaker of Mack Enterprises was in after 

a three-week tour of the south, principally 

in the New Orleans trade sector. He reports 

very good business. 

Bill York, an engineer for Typhoon Air Conditioning 

Co., Indianapolis, conferred with 

Arch Hosier of the St. Louis Tlieatre Supply 

Co. 

Plainfield Tries 4-Day 

Operation to Stay Open 

PLAINFIELD, ILL.—A last-minute switirfi 

in plans kept Plainfield from being without 

a theatre during the winter season, as it was 

last year. C. G. LeKander of the Anderson 

Theatre Circuit recently announced that instead 

of shutting down as had been planned, 

it was decided to try out a four-day-a-week 

operation of the local theatre. 

Two changes of program are now presented, 

one on a Friday-Saturday change and 

the other Sunday-Monday. No further 

changes are contemplated and the same personnel 

is being employed under Mrs. C. G. 

LeKander as manager. 

Dismiss Ballantyne Suit 

MACOMB, ILL.—The replevin suit filed by 

the Ballantyne Co., a Nebraska corporation, 

against W. W. Allen and E. J. Williams, doing 

business as the Fort Drive-In Tlieatre, was 

dismissed by agreement in December. The 

firm sued to replevin some equipment at the 

theatre, claiming it had not been paid for. 

The docket shows that the suit was dismissed 

because the cause of the action was satisfied. 

Another judgment suit against the theatre is 

still pending. 

In lATSE 50 Years 

PLYMOUTH, WIS.—Charles Bernstein, local 

stagehand who has worked behind the 

footlights for 53 years, will be given a life 

gold membership card in lATSE Local 20 of 

St. Paul at a ceremony early this month. 

Bernstein became a member of the stagehands 

union 50 years ago after serving a 

three-year apprenticeship. 

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Arnold Slusher Shifted 

To Rockport as Manager 

LINDSBORG. KAS. — Arnold F. Slasher, 

manager of the Plaza Theatre here for the 

last ten months, has been transferred to 

Rockport, Mo., as manager of the Paramount 

Theatre for Commonwealth Theatre circuit. 

Slusher came here from Superior. Neb., where 

he had managed a theatre for seven years. 

Doyle Mowrey, manager of the Plaza before 

Slusher moved here and who has been manager 

of the Tri-State Drive-In at Joplin, 

Mo., succeeded Slusher here. 

Whole Town Celebrates 

Theatre's First 

Birthday 

GREEN VALLEY, ILL.—The pubhc responded 

to the extent of a full house and 

chairs in the aisles to the invitation to attend 

the first anniversary of the Green Valley 

Theatre recently. Ossie Osborne was the 

stage attraction and was introduced by owner 

Dr. Hovde. Afterwards, the managers of the 

theatre, Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Bagur, were 

called to the stage and each responded with 

an appreciation of working for the town's 

first and only motion picture theatre. 

Theatre Ruling Set Aside 

CHIPPEWA FALLS. WIS.—Circuit Judge 

Clarence Rinehard has set aside a jury verdict 

awarding $69,369 in damages to Spencer 

Rogers for injuries suffered in a fall from a 

scafford at the Stardust Theatre near here. 

Rogers had sued the Valley Outdoor Theatre 

Co. for $100,000. claiming he was injured 

while painting a screen at the theatre. The 

suit alleged the hoist for the scafford was attached 

to an automobile and the rope snapped 

when the car was rocked after becoming 

mired. The judge upheld the contention of 

the defense that the driver was not an agent 

for the theatre company. 

Paul Amick Shifted 

SALINA. KAS.—Paul Amick. w'ho has been 

managing the Strand Theatre here, since last 

August, has been shifted back to Wichita 

as manager of the Orpheum, switching jobs 

with James "Speed" Martin, who was transferred 

here upon the resignation of Earl W. 

Hilton. Martin had managed the Wichita 

house since December 1948. 

Buy Theatre Building 

BEATRICE, NEB.—M. S. White, owner and 

manager of the Rialto Theatre here, has p\ncha.sed 

the building which houses the theatre 

from the Rialto Theatre Corp., of which 

O. W. Hansen of Omaha and H. D. Bowers 

of Tulsa, Okla., are the principal owners. 

New Displays at Independence 

INDEPENDENCE. MO, 

— The downtown 

Granada Theatre here, owned by A.ssociated 

Theatres, of which J. A. Becker is president, 

has installed new 40x60 aluminum display 

frames, both on the building front and in 

the lobby. 

Admits Family lor 80 Cents 

DAWSON. MINN.—William Svendsen is 

designating Fridays as Family night at his 

Grand Tlieatre here. An entire family is 

admitted for 80 cents. 

CHICAGO 

Tack DeWiggin, manager of the Lakeside, is 

' back on the job after an illness . . . Balaban 

& Katz circuit made a drive this year to sell 

more happiness books for holiday gifts and the 

managerial staffs will receive an extra bonus 

if they break last year's records . Efforts 

were made to sell the books in large numbers 

to industrial concerns to be given to employes 

as yule gifts . . . Attorney Alfred Teten. representing 

B&K in the Jackson Park Theatre 

case, and G. G. Gunther have returned from 

Washington conferences. 

Manta & Rose Theatres 

Sells Michigan City Lot 

MICHIGAN CITY. IND.—Bernard Greenbaum. 

Chicago contractor and real estate 

broker, has purchased a corner lot here. It 

was purchased for $80,000 after being offered 

by Manta & Hurst of East Chicago, which 

handles real estate transactions for Manta & 

Rose Theatres, owners of the Tivoli and Lido 

theatres here. 

Greenbaum said he had no statement to 

make about the disposition of the property. 

He recently bought two business corners in 

Vincennes and built a department store on 

one. The property in discussion was originally 

purchased as a site for a theatre but 

plans for the building were later abandoned. 

Brotmans Lease Avaloe 

CHICAGO—Isaac and Oscar Brotman have 

leased the Avaloe Theatre, 2811 West Diversey 

Ave., to Byron Thompson, a newcomer 

to the theatre business, effective January 1. 

The Brotmans built the theatre in 1927 and 

operated it continuously until December 31. 

Oscar Brotman, who had combined his theatre 

activities with his law practice, has submitted 

his resignation to the board of directors 

of Allied Theatres. 

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. . "Santa 

. . Lawrence 

. . TBI 

. . W. 

. . Some 

. . George 

. . W. 

. . 

Looking Back at 1951 In Kansas City 

The July Floods, Antitrust Suits, Movietime Campaign the Big Events of the Year 

KANSAS CITY—Tlie year 1951, in retrospect, 

brought the local film industry a number 

of good things, along with some bad. On 

the brighter side of the ledger was the tremendous 

success of the regional Movietime 

U.S.A. campaign. The star tour for the 

Movietime drive found nearly 1.000,000 Kansans 

and Missourians turning out to greet 

the personalities and to pay tribute to the 

industry. 

On the bad side, was the billion-dollar 

flood which hit the Missouri and Kansas 

river valley, with flood damages to theatres 

estimated in the millions, plus complete loss 

of patronage in the flooded-out areas. 

The month-by-month summary of happenings 

in the Kansas City trade territory follows 

: 

January 

Elmer Rhoden sr., president of Fox Midwest 

Amu.sement Corp., was renamed president 

of the Motion Picture Ass'n of Kansa."; 

City . major film companies asked 

for retrial of the $1,125,000 Brookside Theatre 

Corp. antitrust suit, in which W. D. 

Fulton, owner of the theatre had been 

awarded the million-dollar damages. 

"The Great Missouri Raid" made a fivecity 

midwestern premiere—at St. Louis, Wichita, 

Topeka, Jefferson City and in Kansas 

City . were hiked by Fox Midwest 

first run theatres . . . Stanley Durwood 

was named president of the local Harvard 

university club. 

February 

Russell Borg, WB manager, and Arthur 

Cole, Paramount, industry representative, 

headed the Brotherhood campaign and an 

all-industry meeting was held at the Uptown 

Rhoden sr., speaking before the 

Real Estate Board, predicted that TV fans 

would tire of the new medium and flock back 

to the theatres. 

Some 23 Commonwealth drive-in managers 

met in their annual session with drive-in 

chieftain Jack Braunagel to discuss operational 

problems for the new season . . . Harold 

Lyon, managing director, held a cerebral 

palsy benefit show at the Paramount . 

Joseph E. Garrison, U-I division manager in 

St. Louis, supervising the Kansas City branch 

and others, died. 

. . . 

N. W. Huston, Columbus, Kas., theatreman, 

retired after 35 years in the industry 

Kansas-Missouri Theatre Ass'n held its sec- 

Headed Motion 

Picture 

Association in 1951 

ELMER C. RHODEN 

ond annual drive-in meeting at the Phillips. 

Stan Durwood was chairman of the event 

which attracted 115 drive-in men. Jack 

Braunagel introduced his national drive-in 

campaign, "The Whole Family Will Enjoy 

a Drive-In Tonight." 

Bayard M. Grant was named vice-president 

of Durwood Theatres in charge of purchasing, 

real estate and concessions . . . 

Ernest J. Amoneno, 50, owner of the Aladdin 

Theatre here, was killed in an auto crash. 

March 

W. D. Fulton asked for first runs in Kansas 

City, Kas., free and clear from houses in 

Kansas City, Mo. . . . Fiesta Theatre was 

sold to Edward A. Terhune by Melvin B. 

Wilson and Harvey L. Stinson . . . Al Adler 

was relieved of full responsibility as branch 

manager for MGM. William Gaddoni transferred 

here from Omaha as MGM manager 

and Adler remained as assistant and adviser 

to Gaddoni. 

Eddie Golden, MGM city sales manager, 

resigned and opened new booking and buying 

.service . . . FMW adjusted prices in 103 theatres, 

ranging from 1-cent increases to 10- 

. cent hikes Gilbreath's Isis 

Theatre, Lucas, Kas., was gutted by fire . . . 

J. H. "Jim" States, booking and office manager. 

Paramount, resigned after 35 years in 

industry . . . Electric Theatre. Browning, 

Mo., managed by Kenneth Crooks, was destroyed 

by fire. 

J. Ward Spielman and Edward G. Henrich 

bought Andrews Theatre at Olathe from Mrs. 

S. C. Andrews and renamed it the Towne 

denied film company motion for 

new Brookside trial, awarded attorney fees 

of $150,000, plus $7,987 expenses to Brookside 

attorneys. 

Gladys Green, house manager at the Paramount, 

resigned . . . F. L. "Doc" Lowe, purchased 

Civic at Brookfield from Frank Meyers, 

who retired . . . John F. "Jack" Truitt, 

manager of Electric, Kansas City, Kas., died. 

April 

KMTA one-day spring meeting heard Gael 

Sullivan plead for unqualified support of National 

Exhibitors Theatre Television committee 

. Fe" w'orld-premiered at 

the Midland . executives, headed by 

President H. J. Griffith, held meeting in Kansas 

City. 

Nellie Young Morgan, Paramount Theatre 

employe for 16 years, retired . . . L. F. "Les" 

Durland joined Consolidated Agencies . 

Eagle Lion offices were closed in consolidation 

with United Artists. 

May 

Dickinson Operating Co. opened new Trail 

Theatre, 700 seats, at St. Joseph . . . Luke 

Pritchard, Exhibitors Film Delivery office 

manager for 22 years, resigned . D. 

Fulton took over operation of Electric in 

Kansas City, Kas. . T. Keith, UA district 

manager, moved to Dallas in revision of 

UA districts . . . Lawrence Gilbreath reopened 

Isis in Lucas, Kas. . 300 exhibitors 

attended fourth annual regional Allied convention 

and national drive-in equipment 

show. National board of Allied States Ass'n 

here the previous day and stayed over for 

the convention. Jay Wooten. Hutchinson, 

Kas., was elected Allied president, succeeding 

O. F. Sullivan, Wichita. 

Morton A. Levy, 20th-Fox manager at 

Minneapolis, was named district manager, 

succeeding E. W. Aaron, who was promoted 

to western sales manager . W. 

Summers' Royal Theatre, Unionville, de- 

William Gaddoni 

New MGM Manager 

M. A. Levy 

New Fox Dist. Chief 

Ralph Amacher 

New UA Manager 

C. E. Cook 

KMTA President 

Harold Lyon 

Movietime Chief 

Russell Borg 

Movietime Leader 

70 


. . . Dickinson 

. . . About 

. . Martin 

. . Joe 

. . Jack 

. . 20th 

. . T. 

. . G. 

— 

. . 

. . 

. . Mrs. 

. . Freak 

. . TEI 

. . Fred 

Joseph Rosenberg, Ar- chased the Falls City, Neb., Oil City Theatre 

stroyed by fire . . . 

kansas and Missouri salssman for WB, died, and Breezy Hill Drive-In. 

June 

. 

. 

. 

First runs were launched at Kansas City, 

Kas., Granada, which Joined three-house 

FMW Missouri first run lineup . -Pox 

divorcement ordered. Including some Kansas 

City houses Stone opened Mercury 

Commonwealth bought Garden 

Ad Co. . . . City. Kas., drive-in from Glen Cooper 

bought Chillicothe Ritz from 

Joe Crookshanks and C. M. Parkhurst . 

MPA of Kansas City held first "coed" party 

dinner and dance at MUburn Country club. 

Terhune & Wooten circuit formed by Ed 

Terhune and A. C. Wooten to operate ten 

theatres in Kansas City and outstate . . 

. 

T. R. Thompson resigned as Monogram manager 

and was replaced by H. L. Frost 

First under-$5,000 open-airer opened at 

Mound City, Mo., for Richard L. Sprague and 

Harold Van Winkle Allard and 

Chuck Shreve bought Giles Theatre. 

July 

Worst flood disaster in history hit the 

Missouri and Kaw river valleys, inundating 

20 theatres and damaging a dozen more in 

nearly 20 towns. Damages to industry alone 

in the millions of dollars . . . O. F. Sullivan. 

Wichita, filed duplicate antitrust suits in 

Kansas and Missouri, because of differences 

in the statutes of limitation. 

Harley Fryer, Neosho. Mo., bought the Lamar. 

Mo., Plaza Theatre and Barco Drive-In 

from A. J. Simmons. 

. . . Fox 

August 

Two antitrust suits filed asking triple damages 

of $350,000 by Nathan Zoglin, operator 

of Ritz. and Harold G. Linfield and Lester 

H. Silverman, operators of Colonial . H. 

Slothowers started construction of new Wichita 

Sunset Theatre . Ralph Amacher, San 

Francisco, shifted 

. . 

here as acting UA manager, 

during illness of William E. Truog. 

Ed D. Durwood filed $1,000,000 antitrust 

action on behalf of Roxy Theatre 

Midwest managers held 22nd annual fall convention, 

with theme: "Sell Pictures With 

Everything You've Got." 

September 

Arnold W. Slater, FWM chief electrician, 

. 

drowned in the Lake of the Ozarks . W. 

Summers opened new Royal at Unionville 

1,000 attended the Movietime 

U.S.A. kickoff meeting at the Orpheum to 

hear R. J. O'Donnell and Bill Alexander. 

Movietime area campaign was headed by 

Harold Lyon, Russell Borg, Jay Wooten. Dale 

Danielson, Arthur Cole, Jim Lewis. M. B. 

Smith and Don Walker. 

"Behave Yourself!" premiered at the Missouri 

Flood-damaged Wareham in Manhattan. 

. . . Kas.. reopened Cook pur- 

October 

. 

. 

George Summers, owner of new Royal, 

Rex Barrett, city manager 

Unionville, died . . . 

and partner with Commonwealth at Co- 

lumbia, retired . . . Movietime U.S.A. tour 

big succe.ss in speedy trip through Kansas 

and Misosuri R. M. Shelton, wife 

of Commonwealth general manager, died. 

Eddie Golden bought Vogue Theatre from 

W. D. Pulton electrical and rain 

storm dropped Tower marquee. 

November 

KMTA 33rd annual two-day convention 

held at President. Mitchell Wolfson. Miami, 

TOA president, .speaker. C. E. Cook, Maryville, 

elected president succeeding Dale Danielson, 

Russell. 

First big-screen TV installation made by 

Commonwealth at Ashland Theatre with 

closed circuit football game . Meyn 

sold flood-damaged Park in Argentine to 

Alex Schniderman . 

sold all 32 Kansas, 

Missouri and Nebraska theatres to R. E. 

"Bob" Davis, Dallas, and Louis Higdon, Roswell, 

N. Mex. New company formed. Midcentral 

Theatres, headquartering in Manhattan, 

Kas. 

William E. Truog, United Artists branch 

manager, died after long illne.ss. Ralph 

Amacher named to succeed him . . . Allied 

held annual one-day fall convention and allindustry 

Movietime U.S.A. ball. Movietime 

U.S.A. reports were made at the convention 

and awards were the seven best film .salesmen 

in the Shares of Showmanship drive. 

Elmer Rhoden .sr. returned from Europe 

with glowing reports of the Swi-ss Eidophor 

television system. 

December 

MPA of Kansas City held annual business 

meeting, elected five new directors . . . Industry 

representatives appeared before civic 

organization representatives to discuss theatre 

advertising. Senn Lawler, FMW, suggested 

establishment of local Better Films 

council. Civic organization leaders pointed 

out advertising which they considered in bad 

taste. 

. . . The 

New KMTA President C. E. Cook named 

committees for the coming year 

Tower Theatre returned to the four-house 

FMW lineup, replacing the Esquire. 

Holiday Shows Boost 

Kansas City Grosses 

KANSAS CITY—Local first runs, hypoed 

by special New Year's eve .shows, stage bills 

and other special New Year's scores in weeks. 

At the Paramount, Managing Director Harold 

Lyon set up the New Year's performance 

of "Sailor Beware!" and a midnight sneak 

preview of "Hong Kong." The Midland continued 

to break all existing records with "Quo 

Vadis." 


Ksquire—The Thiet of Bagdad (Dixie), lunglo Book 

(D.xie), reissues 75 

Kimo Fantasia (RKO), reissue 7.2,S 

Midland—Quo Vadis (MGM) 350 

Missouri—Double Dynamite (RKO); The Magic 

Carpet (Col) 150 

Paramounl—Starliit (WB). 3 days of 2nd wk.; split 

wilh Distant Drums (WB) 200 

Tower, Uptown, Fairway and Granada— Weekend 

With Father (U-I); Highly Dangerous (LP), at 

Tower and- Granada only 100 

Voque—The Lavender Hill Mob (U-I), 7th wk., .225 

Hutchinson Airer Tries 

Part-Time Winter Bills 

HUTCHINSON, KAS.—The Ayr-Vu Drive- 

In clo.sed its regular season last month and 

the following weekend launched a special 

.series of winter shows. The airer will be 

closed weekdays but present regular bills 

Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. The first 

three weekends in December were booked 

immediately and a special Christma,s .show 

was planned. Barring extremes of weather, 

the theatre planned to maintain weekend 

programs throughout the winter until its regular 

spring opening. Hutchinson's other drivein 

closed two weeks earlier. 

O. F. Sullivan Xmas Cards 

Contain Passes, Film 

WICHITA—Mr. and Mrs. O. P. Sullivan 

of Sullivan Independent Theatres here this 

year mailed out passes to any theatre, good 

after January 1. as their Christmas greeting 

to friends and members of their theatre 

clubs. 

Enclosed in the envelope with the passes 

were strips of film bearing the words "Season's 

Greetings and Best Wishes for Health, 

Happiness, F*rosperity." Sullivan Independent 

Theatres. Mr. and Mrs. O. P. Sullivan." 

• Many theatres are 

under-insured— is yours? 

Let Me Inventory Your Equipment 

So You Will Be Sure 

FINTON H. 

Ser-.ing \ou since 1918 

JONES 

Phone HA 3461 Kansas City 6, Mo. 

J. H. States E. VV. Aaron 

.A Veteran Retires Wins Promotion 

JAY WOOTEN 

New .lllied President 

STEBBINS THEATRE Equipment Co. 

r r'^fWfy^^ T'ff T^VAÂ >, 


Waukegan Majestic 

Near End of Career 

WAUKEGAN. ILL.—Tlie old Majestic Theatre, 

a landmark In the careers of some of 

the nation's top stars, may be reduced to a 

pile of bricks. Tlie city council has been asked 

to order the creaking stioicture demolished 

as a health and fire hazard. It is also said to 

constitute a threat to the adjoining King 

hotel. Mayor Coulson referred the alderman's 

request to the building inspectors. 

The former showplace has been condemned 

for years and it is now expected its demolition 

will be recommended. Among the stage 

and screen greats who got their starts at 

the Majestic were the Marx Brothers and 

Jack Benny. Believed to be more than 50 

years old now. the theatre at one time or 

another was considered "top booking" for 

vaudeville. Antiquated by the introduction 

of motion pictiu'es. the Majestic began slipping 

and today stands as only a soot-blackened 

ghost. 

Stage Shows Scheduled 

At Chicago Neighborhood 

CHICAGO—Northwest residents are now 

.seeing Polish-language stage productions at 

their neighborhood motion picture theatre, 

the Polonia. The house at 1541 W. Division 

St. expects to draw from the large Polishspeaking 

segment of the northwest side's 

population. Under the management of Stefan 

Zielinski, the Polonia Theatre will offer legitimate 

drama, revues, vaudeville and such 

shows every evening, with weekend matinees, 

and show latest newsreels on its screen at 

every performance. Programs will be changed 

twice a week. 

Tlie Polonia occupies the building which was 

formerly the Pix Theatre but which has been 

vacant for over a year. It has been completely 

remodeled in the interior, with modern 

stage equipment installed. It has a seating 

capacity of 480. Talent in the stage 

shows will be made up of professionals, many 

of them from the neighborhood. 

Percentage Actions Ended 

On Payment of Sum Asked 

SPRINGFIELD. ILL.—Percentage actions 

have been ended against Paul E. Horn, Frederick 

Ballard, Joseph Ballard and Clyde S. 

Metcalf, doing business as Ballard. Horn & 

Metcalf. upon the filing of a record that the 

defendants have paid the full amount demanded. 

Actions had been filed individually by 20th 

Century-Fox. Columbia. Paramount, RKO, 

Loew's and United Artists. The theatres involved 

were the Lux in Edwardsville, Jersey 

in Jerseyville and Illinois and Girard in Girard, 

all in Illinois. 

Great Northern Is Sold 

CHICAGO—The Great Northern office 

building and theatre and the Majestic hotel 

have been sold for $1,025,000 to Benjamin F. 

Fohrman, attorney, and Charles Kupersmith, 

dress manufacturer. The 1,400-seat Great 

Northern Theatre, one of Chicago's pioneer 

playhouses, opened in 1896. It was remodeled 

a few years ago at a reported cost of $481.- 

000. It is under lease to the Great Northern 

Amusement Corp., owned by Lee and J. J. 

Shubert. 

Chicago Premiere Starts 

St. Jude Hospital Drive 

CHICAGO — It was the beginning of a 

dream coming true and a vow being kept for 

at a salary of $50 a week, he vowed to St. 

Jude he would build a shrine if ever he became 

famous. Now he's keeping that vow. 

The entire executive staff of Balaban & 

Katz Theatres was on hand to give Thomas 

a helping hand in hLs drive to raise funds in 

his drive. Among those present were John 

Balaban. Dave Wallerstein. Harry Kustgarten. 

Bill Hollander and Charles Cottle. Jack 

Shumow and Harry Seeds of Warners' exchange, 

plus many of Chicago's show folk, 

also turned out to take part in the festivities 

which lasted over four hours. Among others 

in the audience Thursday night were Dr. and 

Mrs. Loyal Davis, J. 

Ward Thorne, the John 

Cuneos, Paul Galvin and James Hart and 

many civic leaders. 

Clifford Hough Leases 

Lyric in Newburg, Mo. 

NEWBURG, MO.—The Lyric, a 300-seater, 

Hough, owner of 

has been leased by Clifford 

the Moonlite Drive-In on Route 32 just south 

of Lebanon, Mo. The Lyric for many years 

was operated by Mildred Rauth of Rolla, 

Mo., who still has the State Theatre at Cabool 

and the Crocker at Crocker. Mo. Several 

weeks ago she sold her Ritz Theatre 

at Rolla to R. E. Carney. Hough has installed 

some new equipment, etc., in the 

Lyric. 

MARISSA, ILL.—T. D. Beninati, part 

owner of the Capitol in Pinckneyville, recently 

purchased the Gem here from Mr. and 

Mrs. Prank Finger and Mrs. Sara Degen. 

and is looking for a new name for the theatre. 

The person submitting the name finally 

selected will be given a year's free pass. 

Leonard Stanford is the manager of the theatre. 

Mrs. Degen continues as the ticket 

seller. 

John Wycoff, 42 Yrs. 

In Theatres, Resigns 

last week (26) 

TERRE HAUTE—John N. Wycoff resigned 

as manager of the Grand Theatre 

to join McCord Plastic Producers Co. 

at Newcastle. He came here in June 1919 to 

assume the duties as manager of the Swan 

and Victory theatres. He became manager of 

the Liberty and American for the Fourth 

Avenue Theatre Co. in August 1933. The 

resignation becomes effective as soon as a 

successor is named. 

In making the change, Wycoff is retiring 

from theatre business after 42 years. While 

still in high school, with T. B. Powell he 

opened the first picture show, the Dreamland, 

in Lebanon in 1909. From then until 1919, 

with the exception of one year in military 

service, he worked in theatres in Frankfort, 

Crawfordsville, Noblesville and Indianapolis. 

Chicago's favorite comedian, Danny Thomas, 

when the Balaban & Katz Chicago Tlieatre 

was jammed December 27 with an audience 

that paid more than $32,000 to see the benefit 

premiere of "I'll See You in My Dreams." 

The premiere was Thomas' cue for launching 

a $1,000,000 campaign for a building fund for 

a hospital for the poor as a shrine to St. 

Jude. He will repeat similar benefit shows 

throughout the nation until his goal is 

reached. 

The motion picture is the life story of Chicago's 

own songwriter, the late Gus Kahn. 

Present for the premiere was his widow. 

Thomas introduced her and screen star Virginia 

Mayo and many other celebrities of 

stage, screen and radio to the audience, who 

gave all an enthusiastic reception. A TV 

program was conducted by newspaper col- 

It was for Stine Theatres that he came to 

umnists Nate Gross and Irv Kupcinet. When Terre Haute in 1919, when their houses were 

Thomas was not a star and worked with at Twelve Points. Later he operated in Newcastle 

and Paris, 111. Wycoff was with Fourth 

Mark Fischer's band at Han-y Eager's 5100 

Club on Chicago's northside for four years Avenue when their houses merged with Alliance 

this year. 

Brussels, Dl., Haug to Reopen 

BRUSSELS. ILL.—The 312-seat Haug Theatre, 

owned by J. A. Haug will be reopened 

on January 4. after being dark for about a 

month. 

Fifty-two feature films were produced in 

France during the first half of 1951 at a cost 

of 3,056,000,000 francs. 

Beauty Trade Journals Plug 

'Why Men Leave Home' 

HOLLYWOOD—Hallmark's newest production, 

"Why Men Leave Home," is being promoted 

currently by leading beauty trade 

magazines throughout the country. Revealing 

intimate Hollywood make-up secrets and 

starring make-up artist Em Westmore and 

Julie Bishop, the picture is being recommended 

by beauty editors as a natural tie-in 

for beauty salons. Miss Bishop, currently featured 

in MGM's "Westward the Women." 

appears on the November cover of "The 

American Hairdresser." Professional Beautihints 

magazine for November printed a twopage 

spread on Westmore and Babb. while 

December issues of those magazines and 

others have numerous pictures and articles 

on the film. 

Jesuit Speaks on Films 

EVANSVILLE. IND.— Rev. John L. Bonn, 

S.J.. discussed the motion picture industi-y 

and censorship recently at the monthly dinner 

meeting of the Te Deum International 

in Assumption Cathedral auditorium. The 

priest spoke here earlier last year at the 

Te Deum forum. He has written three novels, 

including "Gates of Dannemora," published 

last month. He recently signed a contract 

with MGM for film rights to his latest book, 

as yet unpublished. 

Arthur Jackson Buried 

NOBLESVILLE. IND.—Funeral services for 

Arthur Jackson, who died .suddenly recently 

at his home in Tipton, were held there. Jackson 

and his wife Minnie Abbey Jackson, who 

died a few months ago, operated theatres in 

Noblesville, Tipton, Columbus and Crawfordsville 

and were well known here. He left three 

sisters. 

Closes in Mount Olive 

MOUNT OLIVE. ILL.—Joe Katz of 

Benld, 

111., recently closed the Grand Theatre here 

for an indefinite period because of poor attendance. 

72 


. . . The 

. , . George 

. . . MGM 

. . . Merle 

. . . Walter 

"working 

. . 

. . 

. . only 

KANSAS CITY 

TJtr. and Mrs. W. C. Silver, Silver, Cameron, 

Mo., were on Filmrow Friday (28) . . . 

Dave Williams, King City, also was a visitor 

C. H. Martins jr. of the Belt Drivein, 

St. Joseph, have gone to California for 

their annual winter sojourn . . . R. M. Copeland, 

head of Savereide Theatre Brokers here, 

is planning a trip to Arizona, where he will 

.spend about six weeks during the slack sea- 

.son. 

Howard Burris, store salesman for National 

Theatre Supply, went to New Orleans for the 

funeral of his father and Arthur de Stefano 

was working on the inventory . . . Alex 

Schniderman, who purchased the flooded-out 

Park in the Argentine section of Kansas City. 

Kas., from Fred Meyn some time ago, said 

that work on the theatre was slated to start 

this week. Opening of the house is scheduled 

tentatively for February 15. Schniderman 

also said that patrons of the theatre, 

who were flooded-out in the July flood, are 

beginning to return to their homes slowly. 

. 

Capt. Charley Houchen, on leave from RCA 

Service, sent holiday greetings to his old 

friends from the front lines in Korea, where 

he is stationed with the signal corps 

R. S. Murphy, RCA Service engineer in the 

Wichita territory, was to return to work this 

week after recuperating from an operation 

Haupert, Columbia auditor, was 

Homer Strowig, 

in the local branch . . . 

Abilene, was on Filmrow as was Cle Bratton 

of Council Grove, 

Dean Jones is new stenographer at Columbia, 

replacing Dolores Wade . . . Marge 

Sarpolis, secretary to Columbia Manager Tom 

Baldwin, resigned and returned to her home 

Dave Trogden, is new 

in Pennsylvania . . . 

student booker at Columbia . . . Christine 

Chase, cashier, went to Texas over the holidays 

. . . All Columbia salesmen were in the 

office last week from the territory for a sales 

meeting and to take in screenings. 

Betty Randolph, switchboard operator at 

Columbia, won the bowling league turkey 

shoot with a score of 153, while Marge Sarpolis 

and Lucille Cayou also won prizes . . . 

Bernie Evens, MGM exploiteer, was on Filmrow 

Friday (28 1 a little" despite 

the fact that he is on his annual vacation 

had a Chi-istmas party at which 

gifts from the staff were given to Manager 

Bill Gaddoni, Assistant Manager Al Adler 

and office manager Harvey Cole. 

Cliff Johnson, Bucklm, Kas., exhibitor, was 

in town attending the basketball tourney 

Faulkender has taken over operation 

of the Waterville, Kas., theatre . 

Sam Senseney was in from Moran, Kas., and 

Harley Fryer came in from Neosho, as did 

Irwin Dubinsky of Fort Madison . . . All 

MGM salesmen were in the office for the 

last two weeks . . . Irish Murray, Fox Midwest 

city manager in Wichita, is vacationing in 

Florida. 

STOUT-HEARTED MEN—Braving Kansas City's first storm of the season to 

attend MGM's screening of "Quo Vadis" at Dirkinsons Kimo Theatre recently were 

several hundred showmen and civic leaders, department store personnel and educators. 

The exhibitors left to right above are Dick Biechele of Consolidated Theatres 

and Filmrow political contact, Alex Schniderman of Concordia, Kas.; Howard Burkhardt, 

managing director of Loews Midland Theatre, Kansas City; Ralph Adams, 

film buyer for Fox Midwest Theatres; Sam .Abend of the Friendly Circuit and Exhibitors 

Film Delivery, William Silver of Cameron, Mo., and Ralph Gregory of the 

Dickinson circuit. 

will have a capacity of 300 cars, is slated to 

start soon. 

Bill Lowry, office manager for Shreve Theatre 

Supply Co., spent the Christmas holidays 

in Lawton. Okla.. with his family . . . 

"Quo 

Vadis" broke all existing records in its opening 

at the Midland here and in three days had 

grossed 50 per cent higher than the mark set 

by "Gone With the Wind." 

Host lOOF Home 

MANHATTAN. KAS.—On December 24 the 

old people and orphans of the lOOF home 

near here were guests of the Midcentral Theatres 

at a Christmas party given in the State. 

This is an annual affair sponsored by Dave 

Dallas, city maiiager. Each guest is given popcorn 

or candy in addition to seeing a free 

show. 

El Dorado Reseated 

EL DORADO, KAS.—Manager James 

MiUspaugh has completed installation of new 

seats at the El Dorado Theatre. When the 

job was finished last month, he invited the 

townspeople in to an open house on a Saturday 

morning between 10 o'clock and noon. 

The chairs are self raising and staggered. 

Sixteen Write the Songs 

"'sixteen song^wi'iters are represeiitedln the 

music for "Starlift," Warners' all-star musical. 

CRETORS POPCORN 

L & L 

MACHINES 

POPCORN CO. 

116 West 18th St. Kansas City, Mo. 

Circuit anci Radio Tieup 

Boost Comment on Films 

JACKSONVILLE—Every Friday night in 

the screening room of Florida State Theatres 

here, Roger A. Langston, Florida State advertising 

manager, and Tommy Tucker, disk 

jockey and radio personality with radio station 

WPDQ, conduct a private screening for 

60 to 70 guests. The studio theatre is known 

as Junior Duck's Theatre. Junior Duck is 

Tommy Tucker's popular creation and daily 

imitation on his radio program. 

Guests for these screenings are invited from 

various offices, stores and organizations. 

They attend the screenings and are asked 

only to fill in honest comments about the 

picture on special cards. Only advance pictures 

are screened and on his program the 

following morning Tommy Tucker converses 

with Junior Duck, expounding the virtues of 

the picture. Comment cards are often used 

for a set piece in front of the theatre carrying 

the attraction and selected comments are 

occasionally used in the newspaper ads made 

up by Langston. 

CDCn MPHDM 

STAGE 

.UIILHI 

EQUIPMENT COMPANY 

ffLUILIIH 

Satisfaction — Always 

MISSOURI 

THEATRE SUPPLY COMPANY 

I. KIMBRIEL. Manage 

Phone BAllimote 3070 

Kansas Cily 8. Mo. 

Bill Gaddoni and Woody Sherrill, branch 

manager and city salesman, respectively, of 

MGM. made a recent survey tour of theatres 

in central and southern Kansas and Wichita 

Kahler. Nu-Sho, Butler, was on 

Filmrow buying drive-in equipment for the 

new open-airer which he plans to build at 

Butler. Work on the ozoner, which probably 

Finest Hybrid POPCORN with Top Pop-Out 

in 10 Lb. Moisturcproot PLASTIC BAGS 

ACTUALLY COSTS LESS than Canned Corn 

slitjlitly more than corn in lOOlioiind sacks! 

E.1SHT to

! 

»v iiawi'iiiB II 

. . Martha 

. . 

'Some 15^000 employees 

in all branches of our 

organization are taking 

advantage of the 

Payroll Savings Plan . 

?9 

SPENCER LOVE 

Chairman of the Board, Burlington Mill?. 

''"H|«||IWWW/" 

"The Payroll Savings Plan is one of the important personnel services offered to the employees 

of our company. At the present time some 15,000 emphyees in all branches of our 

organization are taking advantage of this splendid plan for systematic savings. In times 

of national emergency this plan assists in stabilizing the economic life of the employee, 

the community and the nation." 

Last call for the 1951 Defense Bond Campaign 

While the campaign was scheduled for six weeks, 

beginning Labor Day, the accounting period will include 

all 

Payroll Savings Plan bond purchases and enrollments 

in September and October. 

If you haven't conducted a person-to-person canvass to 

put a Payroll Savings Blank in the hands of every man 

and woman in your company there is still time to join the 

thousands of companies which have added nearly a 

million employees to the Payroll Savings Plan through 

person-to-person canvasses. 

Phone, wire or write to Savings Bond Division, U. S. 

Treasury Department, Suite 700, Washington Building, 

Washington, D. C. Your State Director will give you all 

llie 

help you need— application blanks, posters, envelope 

stuffers, personal assistance. 

Give your employees an opportunity to save for their future 

and at the same time, help to maintain America's economic 

securitv — put an application blank in their hands. 

of . 

Results of a few recent person-to-person canvasses 

Firestone Tire and Robber Company (40,000 employees), 87% 

participation; Universal Atlas Cement Company, 67.8% of 

4,789 employees . Mills, 71% of 2,200 employees . 

Lit Brothers, 52% 3,600 employees . . Delta Air Lines, 65% 

of 2,100 employees; Aerojet Engineering Corporation, 78.1% 

. . . of 2,000 employees Brown-Lipe Chopin Division of General 

Motors, 87% of 1,750 employees; Fabricost Division, General 

Motors, 85% of 1,700 employees. 

Person-to-person canvasses now under way include: 

Number of 

38 Major Roilroadl 993,142 

Radio Corporation of Americo 40,000 

Owens-Illinois Glass Company 25,000 

Codahy Pocking Compony 17,000 

Paeiflt Gos ond Electric 17,000 

Willys-Overland 6.750 

Owens-Corning Fiberglos Corp 4.500 

While Motor Company 6,500 

Froehouf Trailer Company 5,700 

,The U. S. Government does not pay for this advertising. The Treasury Department 

thanks, jot their patriotic donation, ihe .Advertising Council and 

B O X O F F I C 

E 

74 


Seminoles Attend 

Naples Premiere 

NAPLES. FLA.—The Seminole Indians 

turned out in force here on Christmas day 

to see themselves for the first time in a motion 

picture. It was the "frontier premiere" 

of Warners' "Distant Drums." and most of 

this picture with its magnificent jungle 

scenery was filmed near this west coast of 

Florida resort. 

Although Gary Cooper is the advertised 

star in this adventure story of 1840. the real 

stars are the 40 or 50 Seminole Indians who 

play a prominent part. Director Raoul 

Walsh went to great pains and expense to 

obtain real Seminoles for the sake of authenticity. 

Arriving at the Naples Theatre shortly before 

noon, the Indians, men. women, and 

children, in their colorful native costumes. 

were luncheon guests of the fashionable 

Naples Beach hotel, box lunches being served 

them in one of the actual Indian huts used 

in the picture, which was set up on the sidewalk 

in front of the theatre. 

For the opening performance at 1 p. m. 

the Indians queued up in front of the boxoffice, 

exchanging Indian trinkets for admission 

tickets. No sales tax was required, as 

the Seminoles are not citizens. One husky 

brave. Charlie Jumper by name, bartered 

a live alligator, two feet long, with Arnold 

Haynes, proprietor of the theatre. Haynes 

said he was glad no rattlesnakes were offered 

for tickets. 

Two Tampa Theatres Are 

Robbed Within One Hour 

TAMPA—Two blocks from the police station, 

a robber took at gunpoint nearly $100 

from the Garden Theatre at 20th avenue and 

Nebraska avenue. As police investigated that 

robbery, another theatre holdup was reported 

at the Royal Theatre at North Howard avenue 

and Cherry street. The thief got between 

$70 and $80. 

Tlie Garden cashier, Shirley Miller, said 

the robber walked up to her cage and demanded 

that she give all her money to him. 

He placed about $95 in a brown paper bag 

and left. It was the second robbery of that 

theatre in about a month. 

About an hour later, a bandit approached 

the cashier's cage at the Royal Theatre. In 

a rough voice he told Lydia Vile. 17, to "hand 

over the money." He pulled out a gun from 

a brown paper bag, picked up about $80 in 

bills and fled, detectives reported. 

Thomas A. Branon Dies 

CHARLOTTE—Tliomas A. Branon. retired 

film man and brother of Rovy Branon, 

RKO manager here, died recently in Elberton, 

Ga. Branon organized the Eltrabrand 

Film Co. in 1919 and in association with 

Rovy and another brother. Otis, operated 

offices here, in Atlanta and New Orleans. 

He retired about eight years ago. He is survived 

by his brothers, his wife, a daughter, 

two sisters and two grandchildren. 

John Lowery Buys Third 

BENTONVILLE. ARK.—John Lowrey purchased 

the Cozy Theatre last month from 

Carl Johnson. Lowrey also owns the Park 

and Plaza theatres. 

f^- 

HART 

^> w 

BEATS 

.By HARRY HART. 

Pictured at the recent 18th birthday party celebrated by the Bryant Theatre Supply 

Co. of Charlotte are, left to right: Buck Bryant, General Manager Panny Cobb, 

Mrs. Max Bryan, Ruth Medlin, Jim Hardie and Robert Nelson. 

JJAP BARNES of ABC Theatrical Enterprises 

visited liis sister in Texas over the 

holidays. 

Charley Clark of 

Jackpot Nite made a 

hurried trip to Florida. 

Martin Theatres 

managers are canvassmg 

door to door to obtain 

new patrons. It 

is a different slant as 

on each call they present 

advertising on 

several pictures and 

allow the new patron 

to select which show he would rather see 

with the passes he is given on the manager's 

visit. A definite date is set for the passes to 

be presented so the manager can greet the 

patron personally and see to his seating in 

the theatre. 

The Riviera Theatre at Knoxville, Tenn., 

has been sold a new Cretors Hollywood popcorn 

machine by Wil-Kin salesman Jack 

Tlic li.uris I'licatrc Sales Co., organized 

at Cliarlotte, has added a salesman. 

Here pictured in the Harris office are, 

left to right, Dean House, the salesman; 

Mrs. Harris and (seated) Frank Harris. 

Hunt. He has also sold an installation to 

the Dixie Theatre at Birdstown, Tenn. 

Ted Toddy of Toddy Pictures of Atlanta 

made a business trip to Miami and other 

points in Florida. 

Jerry Mundy, who operates two drive-ins 

at Lumberton, N. C, and is a good reader of 

BOXOPFICE, was in Charlotte recently buying 

popcorn. 

C. B. and Marion Heyworth, formerly of 

Pink Hill, N. C, are at present in Hialeah, 

Fla., and he writes 

that neither of them 

is well. Their health 

was what caused them 

to sell their drive-in 

theatre. C. B. adds 

that they have not decided 

what to do about 

the theatre business 

when their health does 

improve. Joe Heyworth 

is confined to a 

government hospital 

at present. He is now 

Jerry Mundy jn the armed services. 

Nelson Towler and the staff of the local 

Lippert exchange were in Chicago for the 

Lippert convention. 

Cold, rainy weather has closed several 

drive-ins near Atlanta for the winter. They 

were remaining open but the elements hurt 

attendance too much. 

Wometco Adopts Medium 

Admission for Teensters 

WEST PALM BEACH—Effective 

December 

23, teenagers were exempt from the full 

adult admission price which they have been 

obliged to pay after reaching the age of 12. 

This new policy is 

in effect in practically all 

theatres in south Florida. The new price 

will be slightly above the present price for 

children and considerably below the adult 

admission charge. 

According to Mitchell Wolfson, president 

of the Theatre Owners of America and of 

the Wometco theatre chain, this new policy 

was made possible by a new admissions tax 

law recently adopted by Congress. 

Nearly all the motion picture projection 

equipment used in Italy is Italian made. 

BOXOFFICE :: January 5, 1952 SE 75

. . Owner 

. . Florida 

. . The 

. . 

MIAMI 

Phe wedding of Edward N. Claughton jr., 

son of the theatre chain owners, and Beverley 

Ai'mstrong. was a recent event. Edward 

Claughton sr., was his son's best man. The 

ceremony was solemnized in the Miami 

Shores Community church. The couple will 

reside in Gainesville where the bridegroom 

is attending the University of Florida law 

school. 

Negotiations are under way between the 

Miami Federation of Musicians and the Olympia 

Theatre management to resumption of 

vaudeville. No agreement has been reached 

as yet and no acts have been booked. A 

tentative date of January 16 has been set for 

the return of flash acts to the Florida State 

house . . . Earl Potter prepared for a deluge 

ABC 

THEATRICAL ENTERPRISES 

ATLANTA 

Phone ALPine 7887 

P. 0. Box 1345 

BUYING 

BOOKING 

AGENTS 

JACKSONVILLE 

Phone 5-9227 

P. 0. Box 88 

R. J. (Hop) Barnes Karl (Bud) Chalmon 

Florida's FIRST Supply House 

NOW HAS TWO CONVENIENT 

LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU 

UNITED THEATRE SUPPLY CORP. 

no Franklin Sf. 329 Weit Flogrer St. 

Tampa, Flo. 

Phone 2-3045 

MiomI, Flo. 

of kids on the pre-Christmas Saturday morning, 

when the independent Tivoli loaned its 

auditorium for the Elks annual Christmas 

party. Children were admitted free and besides 

the stage show there were eight cartoons. 

Vice-President William F. Rodgers, Loew's 

arrived for a holiday vacation . is 

in the midst of a drive-in boom. There are 

125 outdoor theatres in operation in the state, 

compared with 390 conventional houses. 

Owner E. J. Melnicker of the Coral Way 

Drive-In gave "A Christmas Carol," with 

Lionel Barrymore, as part of his Christmas 

show for Variety hospital. Admission was by 

food or cash donation . D. K. Mc- 

Comas, Tropicaire Drive-In, featured as his 

pre-Christmas Saturday special a one-hour 

Kiddy Karnival of Kartoons. There were 

Kiddyland boat and auto rides also. 

Bernstein's Little River had a Christmas 

party for youngsters, with free goodies for 

each, plus eight color cartoons . Dania 

Drive-In had a Santa's sack of toys for 

youthful patrons at a special matinee . 

Jesse Hollis Hughes, a Miami projectionist, 

has just been reunited, via telephone, with 

his mother, after a 30-year separation. F. A. 

Jollay of the Miami missing persons bureau 

effected the happy event. Hollis says he has 

seen many fantastic plots on the screen 

while he was operating in the projection 

room, but never has he seen a plot to equal 

this real life one. Hughes has been seeking 

his mother since he was 17, almost catching 

up with her on several occasions only to find 

she had moved. 

>Irs. Jack Newalk, special events chairman 

of the women's committee of Variety hospital, 

said Santa Claus appeared Christmas 

eve in the children's ward, and there was a 

large tree with suitable gifts for all. Unusual 

feature was the manufacture of "snowmen" 

by a representative of a local dairy. Snow 

was created by a snow machine. A cartoonist 

DOn'T KILL THE fllfln UJITH THE FLUTE 

A good sound system should be capable 

of reproducing the entire sound 

frequency range recorded on the film 

from the lowest 40 cycle tones of the 

bass viol to the 10,000 cycle tones of 

the flute. 

drew pictures from the children's initials. 

There was an orchestra and carol singers from 

the University of Miami, the public schools 

and Scout groups. The women's committee 

held a membership tea recently, with Mrs. 

Dan Fitch, Mrs. Rachel Boyles and Mrs. 

Harry Mildner as hostesses. The event took 

place in the Variety Club's new headquarters 

in the Pan American building. 

Gov. Fuller Warren proclaimed Saturday 

(22) as Florida Motion Picture day in honor 

of the world premiere of "Distant Drums," 

which was filmed in Florida. The film worldpremiered 

at the Matanzas Theatre in St. 

Augustine, within a stone's throw of historic 

Fort San Marco, one of the location spots 

for the production. Characterizing the premiere 

as "a milestone in the goal for which 

we are striving," Warren in his proclamation 

urged "all citizens to participate in this film 

journey into Florida's background and history." 

Hundreds of Florida residents took 

part in the filming of the picture, an adventure 

drama of the Seminole Indian war of 

the 1840s. 

The growth of television in south Florida 

is evidenced by the recent statement of 

WTVJ that the station's penetration in that 

area has climbed to 52.7 percent. Tire station 

is owned by Sidney Meyer and Mitchell 

Wolfson. WTVJ has begun construction on a 

three-story structure at the rear of its present 

facilities in downtown Miami. The new 

building marks the first step in the station's 

expansion plans, according to Wolfson, president 

of the company. The third floor of the 

new addition will house the station's machine 

shop, which will service the technical 

department. The second floor is reserved for 

a prop room and the ground floor will service 

deliveries and shipments. Plans call for 

completion of the new building by February 

1952. 

The Plaza Theatre, a large once-popular 

theatre at the southern tip of Miami Beach, 

is scheduled for a Minsky opening. This puts 

Minsky back almost next door to the historic 

"Million Dollar Pier," where the same burlesque 

once flourished as a boomtime attraction 

. . . It's a good story anyway, but 

Manager Gordon Spradley of the Lincoln 

claims that six people inquired about room 

rates the other day when the sign "Hotel 

Sahara" was bannered across the marquee. 

Richard Webb, Hollywood actor, visited here 

before going to Jacksonville for the world 

premiere of "Distant Drums," in which he is 

starred . . . Jane Froman, now vacationing 

here, has promised to return again to attend 

the world preimere of "With a Song in My 

Heart," which Wometco will unveil in January. 

filOTIOGRflPH SOUnD SySTEfUS (^(Vtcuttee 

the best balanced, most complete tonal range; life-like reproduction; delicate 

shadings of voice; musical qualities never before approached; uniform 

sound level throughout the theatre. 

1 4 models for indoor theatres from 500 to 5,000 seats and drive-ins from 200 

to over 1,000 cars — ALL built to the one same high standard of qoolity. 

WIL-KIN THEATRE SUPPLY, INC. 

Atlanta, Georgia yiu \.,IIUI Charlotte, lUI IC, North 1^ Carolina 

Eyerytbing for the theatre except film" 

M ASTOR OFFICE II EVERT FILM CEHTEII 

76 

BOXOFFICE :: January 5, 1952

. . . Merlu 

. . 

Three 

. . Findlay 

Charlotte LP Exchange 

Opened New Year's Day 

CHARLOTTE—The new year got off to a 

sprightly start on Filmrow here with the 

opening of the new Lippert Pictures film exchange— 

the 15th film exchange for this city. 

J. Sam Hinson, former Monogram manager, 

is Lippert branch manager. Aubrey L. Dale 

is booker and office manager. Dale formerly 

was with both Warner.s and MGM here. Hinson 

said he would complete naming of his 

staff within a few days. The office opened 

here January 1. 

Owners of 78 Drive-In 

Buy Jasper's Manchester 

JASPER, ALA.—The owners of the 78 

Drlve-In recently purchased the Manchester 

Drive-In, situated just north of the Jasper 

city limits, and will manage it hereafter. 

The 78 Drive-In is owned by Garve Ivey, 

John Miller and George Vines and is under 

the management of Vines. 

The Manchester Drive-In was first established 

seven miles north of Jasper on Highway 

5 and later moved to its present location 

just out of town. 

Rest Between 'Massacres' 

PALM BEACH—Mr. and Mr.s. 

Dennis Hoey 

have taken a house in Palm Beach for the 

season. He is a stage and screen actor and 

played Joab in "David and Bathsheba." Dennis 

has a reputation for "beating up" women 

and has inflicted cinema injuries on Hedy 

Lamarr, Paulette Goddard and Marlene 

Dietrich. This month he is slated to manhandle 

Maureen O'Hara in "Caribbean Gold." 

Mrs. Hoey, who writes under the name of 

Bayka Russell, plans to write a play while 

in Palm Beach. 

County Wards to Be Guests 

LAKE WORTH, FLA.—Youngsters from the 

Palm Beach County Children's Home were 

to be guests of William H. Bradley, manager 

of the Worth Theatre, at a showing of "The 

Prince of Peace." The Veterans of Foreign 

Wars have contributed the use of their 40&8 

train to bring the children to the movie. 

Code to Be Like U.S. Code 

A production code administration for motion 

pictures recently proposed in India 

would follow the lines of the Production Code 

Administration in the U.S. 

WHEN YOU NEED 



SIND YOUR ODDER TO 

riLMACK 

CHICAGO, 1327 S. Wabash 

NEW YORK, 630 NinthAv. 

MEMPHIS 

. . . 

/-"ecil Atkinson has sold his Bailey Theatre 

at Cabot, Ark., to T. C. Speer. The new 

owner will book in Memphis . 

midsouth 

Margaret 

theatres have reopened Key, owner, reopened the Jean at Clarkton, 

Mo., after it had been closed about a year 

Theatre, Clarendon, Ai-k., is open 

after being closed three weeks for repairs 

. . . H. D. Goudy, owner, has reopened his 

Joy Theatre at Blue Mountain, Miss. 

Bill Spicer, owner, will operate his 71 

Drive-In, Fort Smith. Ark., on weekends until 

spring when daily operations will resume 

C. A. Rawls. manager, announced the 

. . . 

Gem at Brownsville, Tenn.. has closed temporarily 

. . . Visiting exhibitors included C. T. 

Willis. Munford. Munford. and Amelia Ellis, 

Mason. Mason; from Tennessee. From Arkansas—John 

Lowrey and his son. Billy 

LowTey at Russellville and the Cozy. Plaza 

and Park at Bentonville: Mr. and Mrs. 

Charles Lane. Saffel. Saffel; Frank Patterson, 

City. Junction City, and Pat Fleming, 

Gail, Round Pond. From Mississippi—Bernice 

Cochran. Kim. Oakland, and Fitz Farris. 

Harlem. Cleveland. W. H. Pickens, Semo. 

Steele. Mo., was also in town. 

Winter vacations on Filmrow included R. V. 

Reagin, manager. RKO. in Florida; Tommy 

Baldridge. RKO salesman; Tom Donahue, 

Travis Carr and Robert Kilgore, Paramount 

salesmen . . . Katherine Randle, office manager, 

Lippert, visited her home in Winona, 

Miss., for the holidays . . . Pfc. Charles Arendall, 

stationed at Augusta. Ga.. visited friends 

at Paramount, where he was a shipper before 

entering the service. 

Two more drive-ins have closed for the 

winter, A. B. Garrett, owner. Starlite Drive- 

In. Union City. Tenn.. said he plans an early 

spring opening. Alton Sims. Rowley United 

Theatres, closed the Sunset Drive-In. Magnolia, 

Ark. until early spring. 

. . . Jack 

Albert Mohler, 59. motion picture projectionist 

for 40 years during which time he 

worked at practically every large theatre in 

Memphis, died after a brief illness. He had 

been with Warner Theatres for the last several 

years. Burial was at Memorial Park 

cemetery in Memphis. He was a Mason and 

member of the Church of Christ 

Tunstill, manager of Crosstown Theatre, sent 

two young men out with a handful of $1 bills 

to sell to crowds on the street for 50 cents each 

in connection with "Never Trust a Gambler." 

They had a hard time selling their dollar 

bills at half price. People were suspicious. 

But they did some good advertising for the 

picture and Tunstill was pleased with the results. 

New manager of the Memphian Theatre is 

Elton Holland. He was promoted from assistant 

manager of the Malco to manager of 

the Memphian just before Christmas. Holland 

succeeds Mrs. Sid Jolly, who has been 

acting manager of the Memphian . . . Bonnie 

McCarley, salesman, 20th-Fox, is in Guntown, 

Miss., his home town, on vacation . . . John 

D. Lowrey. owner of the Park and Plaza in 

Bentonville. Ark., has bought the Cozy there 

from Carl Johnson. He will book and buy 

in Memphis. 

S^-^ 

^C£^ 

i 

^tuOio^, INC. 

[]3jlJ'mW{]{L[L[5 

Lyle Richmond, Richmond. Senath. Mo., 

was in town . H. Moss, new owner 

of the Ackerman, Ackerman. and J. C. Bonds. 

Von. Hernando, were in town . . . 

Film exchanges 

all had Christmas parties at the 

close of the week's business and were closed 

Christmas ... All Malco theatres held Christmas 

parties for employes and friends. 

Hugh Martin Scouts Site 

CLERMONT. FLA—Hugh C. Martin sr., 

owner of the Lake Theatre and the Martin 

theatre chain, is looking for a site for a 

drive-in in the Clermont-Minneola community. 

MONARCH 

Theatre Supply, Inc. 

Neil Blount 

492 So. Second SI. 

Memphis, Tenn. 


Laroest coveraoe U.S. No "Ntt" list- 

«-how 

iiios. Hioliest reputation for 

fair dealiiid. and 30 years exiiei 

Ask Better Business Bu. 

chKliMj exhibition. 

read, or our customers. Know your broker. 

ARTHUR LEAK Theatre Specialists 

3305 Caruth. Dallas. Texas 

Telephones: EM 0238 • EM 74S9 


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Sorry — no Florida 

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p. 0. Box 461 Phone Evergreen 2240 

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831 S. Wabash Avenue, Chicago S, III. 

JAX-POP 

COCOYL 

FINEST COCONUT OIL SEASONING 

Distributed by 

JACKSONVILLE POPCORN & CANDY CO. 

329 E. Bay St. Jacksonville, Flo. 

CHARLOTTE 

pvick Eason, booker for Queen City Booking 

Service, and his wife spent Christmas with 

Mrs. Eason's parents in Virginia . . . 

Exhibitors 

Service held its annual party for bookers 

here . 

Charlotte Variety Club 

held a New Year's eve party in its Charlotte 

hotel clubrooms and followed it with a getwell 

party the next day. 

. . . 

Tom Bailey has been named assistant manager 

for MGM here. He has been connected 

with MGM for some time. The appointment 

was announced by Branch Manager Jack Re- 

Ville . . . Screen Guild employes held a holiday 

party at the Ming Tree. Branch Manager 

Scott Lett and the employes received 

gifts and a turkey dinner was served 

Barbara Brownlee, Republic stenographer, 

visited in Atlanta. 

Emery Wister, Charlotte News film editor, 

spent the weekend visiting relatives in Washington 

. . . Everett Olsen, Paramount exploiteer, 

was in New Orleans . . . Bill Woofers, 

RKO booker, spent the holidays with his wife 

and children. The Woofers will move here 

soon from Goldsboro. 

Charlotte RKO Manager Rovy Branon said 

that his exechange intends to win at least 

second place in the current Ned Depinet 

drive. Charlotte won first place in the 1951 

drive and has won third and fourth places 

in other years. Branon said that the exchange 

needs a second place to "round out 

our record." 

Install Acoustic Siding 

DUNEDIN, FLA.—New acoustic siding 

around the entire auditorium of the Palms 

Theatre was completed in time for the daily 

organ recitals of Christmas music played by 

Byron Allen, Two brief recitals were given 

each evening during Cliristmas week. According 

to Manager Edward Eckert. the 

acoustic siding will cut out all reverberations 

and enable him to drop the sound track to a 

lower volume. 

2,000 Children at Party 

WINTER HAVEN, FLA.—More than 2,000 

children participated in the second annual 

Belk-Lindsey Christmas party at Winter Haven 

and Florence Villa theatres. The youngsters 

were treated to a full hour of cartoons 

as well as a visit with Santa Glaus. All 

were given presents. Ed Kirby is manager 

of the theatres. 

Harbor Theatre Reopened 

SAFETY HARBOR, FLA.—The Harbor 

Theatre, closed for some time, reopened December 

23 for the season. The policy is for 

a program change three times a week, with 

a double feature Friday and Saturday evenings. 

Small Fry Parade Space Suits 

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA.—A weird collection 

of youngsters in space suits paraded 

down Central avenue to the Florida Theatre 

to attend children's matinee of "The Day 

the Earth Stood Still." Cartoonist Wally 

Bishop was present to select the best costume 

for first prize. A number of runner-up 

prizes were awarded. 

Seven Percentage Suits 

In Fla. Federal Court 

PENSACOLA, FLA.—Seven percentage suits 

have been filed here in the federal court for 

Florida, Separate actions were filed against 

Clinton F. Vucovich and Edward P. Ortte, 

doing business as the Independent Theatre 

Co., by Paramount, Loew's, Univei'sal-International. 

Warner Bros., 20th Century-Fox, 

RKO and Columbia. The theatres involved 

are the Pen, Belmont, Strand and Sky Chief 

in Pensacola and the Twin in Warrington. 

Fisher & Hepner of Pensacola represented 

the distributors, with Sargoy & Stein of New 

York of counsel. 

Florida Business Uptake 

Spurs Edison Reopening 

FORT MYERS, FLA.—The Edison Theatre, 

which has been clo.sed since July 1950, reopened 

December 30 with a continuous double 

feature program. The opening was handled 

by Byron Cooper, local manager for 

Florida State Theatres. 

The theatre is being reopened because 

business in general in the area is on the upgrade. 

It will operate at its former admission 

scale of nine cents for children and 35 

cents for adults. 

^^gmg^gg^j^

4 

First Run Grosses 

Up a Bit in Dallas 

DALLAS—First runs felt a slight increase 

in patronage here as the holiday rush became 

a thing of the past. Best of the week in local 

houses was "Distant Drums" at the Majestic 

with 125 per cent, followed closely by "Submarine 

Command" with 115 at the Tower. 

(.Average Is 100) 

Majeslic—DistanI Drums (WB) 125 

Melba—CollawoY Went Thotaway (MGM) 85 

Palace—Elopement (ZOth-rox) - 85 

Tower—Submaiine Command (Para) 115 

Claude Musselman Dead; 

West Texas Exhibitor 

DALLAS—Claude J. Musselman, owner of 

six west Texas theatres including the Lamar 

in Paris, died last month in Paris, Tex., his 

home. He came to Paris in 1906, was president 

of the Texas Independent Tlieatres by 

1915 and, with L. L. Dent, organized Texas 

Consolidated Theatres while living in Dallas 

in 1925 and 1926. He returned to Paris in 

1929 and became active in civic affairs. 

Born in Danvers, 111., he was graduated 

from Northwestern with degrees in pharmaceutical 

chemistry. Mu.sselman was past president 

of the Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary 

club and the Gordon Country club. 

Bruno Herber of Herber Bros, said that 

Musselman was a great friend of everyone 

on FUmrow and is well known to most of the 

showmen in Texas. His ability as a showman 

was proven on countless occasions and he always 

proved himself able to make a successful 

comeback when luck went against him. 

R. Lewis Barton Family 

Vacations on Coast 

OKLAHOMA CITY—Ml', and Mrs. R. Lewis 

Barton and son Gerald have gone to Los 

Angeles for a vacation. Barton owns and 

operates ten theatres here. While in Los 

Angeles, they saw the Rose Bowl game on 

New Year's day. They also visited friends at 

the studios in Hollywood. 

Barton left his elder son, Robert, and sonin-law, 

Harold Combs, in charge of his theatre 

while he was away. Combs now is mai^ 

ager of the Knob Hill Theatre while Mrs. 

Eunice Frantz is on a leave of absence. 

On December 23, the Bartons held their 

annual Christmas party for all employes at 

Barton's Sport Center with over 150 employes 

attending. Chi-istmas bonuses were distributed 

and the evening was ended with a 

bowling party. V. D. Johnson acted as Santa 

Claus. while Robert Barton ran 16mm pictures 

of last year's Christmas party. Mrs. 

Zelma Plato was in charge of refreshments. 

Ihe Poppinest Machine You Ever Saw!' 

Enthuses Lester Dollison, well-known 

Texas exhibitor in 

the following letter: 

"My new Cretors Popcorn mochine is not 

only attractive, quiet in operation and 

easy to take care of 

BUT 

If is the corn poppin'est outfit you ever 

Chas. E. Darden is the Cretors Distributor 

in 

the Southwest. 

Theatre Gets Publicity 

When Turkeys Visit 

FREDERICKSBURG. TEX. — Walter 

Knoche, manager of the Palace and Longhorn 

theatres, got some free publicity in the regional 

newspapers recently in a freak happening. 

It seems that nimrods who were 

beating the bushes thereabouts for wild turkey 

for their Christmas dinners should have 

stayed at home. A flock of 16 of the wild 

birds flew into Fredericksburg and roosted in 

trees and on lawns of residences in a thickly 

populated area northwest of town. 

Elton Immel, projectionist for Knoche at 

the Palace, rescued a turkey hen from his 

dog, which captured it as it fluttered, about 

his lawn. The game warden claimed the bird 

and released it in the hills. He said that no 

one bagged a gobbler, although several were 

in the flock that flew in for dinner. 

Corpus Christi Theatres 

Entertains 300 Newsboys 

CORPUS CHRISTI—Corpus Christi 

Theatres, 

Inc.. played host at the Centre Theatre 

Christmas day to about 300 newsboys, who 

had previously attended a dinner and party 

given by a local businessman. In another 

goodwill gesture, the circuit wished local 

youngsters a merry Christmas by entertaining 

them a few days before the holiday at the 

Centre, at which the kids saw musical shorts 

and cartoons. 

The Gulf Drive-In, an Ezell Pioneer theatre, 

had Santa Claus meet the first 500 children 

at the boxoffice December 21 with a 

large free gift stocking crammed with candy 

EQUIPMENT DISPLAY SALES 

DARDEN WAREHOUSE, 1509 Commertc, Houston 

OKLA. THEATRE SUPPLY CO., 629 W. G.ond, Oklo 

SOUTHEASTERN EQUIPMENT CO., 214 S. Liberty, Ne« 

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WRITE . WIRE . PHONE 

nationwide; 

trailer service 

Malba Theatre Building 

SEAT REPAIRING 

THEATRE CHAIR INSTALLATION 

EXPERIENCED WORKMEN 

"Several thousand used theatre chairs available" 

Forrest Dunlop, Jr. 

DUNLAP SEATING CO. 

200S J,ick5on— Rl 3595 Dallas. Texas 

CHAS. E. DARDEN & CO. 

• 308 S. HARWOOD 

• DALLAS, TEXAS ^ 

* p. O. BOX 2207 

PHONE RI-6134 

WAREHOUSES 

HOUSTON— 1209 Comment. 

BEAUMONT—550 Mom Slree 

LUBBOCK— 1405 A.cnoe A. 

Two Million Feet in Stock 

SPEAKER CABLE 

Without Priority 

2 Conductor No. 17 AWG Solid Copper Flat Porollel 

Construction Rodent Rcsistont Non-water Absorbent 

Jacket for Direct Ecrtti Burial O.D. .35x.20-inctl. 

Packaged 2,500 ft. on Returnable Reels or 500 ft. 

Coils. Price FOB Houston, Texas: 

$60.00 per M ft. 2500 ft. Reels 

On 500 

$40.60 

ft. Coils 

per M ft. 

Reel Deposits S5.00 each. Shipping Wt. Net 50 lbs. 

per 

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SOUTHWESTERN THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO. 

1622 Austin St., Houston, Texas, Phone CA-9906 

DISTRIBUTORS FOR ELECTRIC WIRE AND CABLE 

CO. OF HOUSTON, TEXAS 

Drive-lns! 

DRIVE-IN THEATRE PAINTING 

E. L EVANS & SONS 

THEATRE SEAT INSTALLATION 

2719 Maleur Ave. 

E. L Evans. Jr.. FE-0028 Evans, Sr.. YU-3397 

BUFFALO COOLING EQUIPMENT 

lOth FL. 2nd Unit. Same Fe BIdg BUFFALO ENGINEERING CO., INC. Dallas, Tex. 

BOXOFFICE January 5, 1952 sw 79

. . . Hugo 

. . Jaunita 

. . Earl 

Meredith, New York, and J. M. Grossman, 

Flushing, N. Y. 

Claude Ezell & Associates will hold its annual 

drive-in managers meeting at Gaido's 

Seaside resort in Galveston January 15, 16. 

Speakers on the two-day series of programs 

will include Claude C. Ezell, Lowell Russell, 

Hugo Plath, Dorothy Mealer, Eph Charninsky, 

San Antonio: Dave Young, Brownsville, and 

Al Reynolds. 

HOLIDAY CHECKS GIVEN—Representative of holiday activities on Filmrow in 

Dallas was a party for National Screen Service employes at which checks were given 

to high-ranking girls in the sales and booking department Walter A. Steadman 

contest for selling the most exploitation material. Winners, shown in front of the 

Mary Will Jackson, third prize winner; Aline Andres 

Christmas tree are, left to right: 

and Lucille Lovell, second prize winners; Hazel Panceria, first, accepting her check 

from Wallace Walthall, special home office representative, who made the informal 

presentation; Walter A. Steadman, looking on; Kathryn Sammons, Charlene Bittle 

and Mary Robiason. 

DALLAS 

IJenry Sorenson of the Modern Theatre 

Equipment Co. is busy supervising the 

final touches on his new store, now scheduled 

to open about January 10 . . . Dallas Variety 

Tent 17 will hold its annual inauguration of 

officers at the regular meeting on January 7 

at 6 p. m. in the Adolphus hotel. All members 

are urged to attend. Reports will be made on 

the New Year's eve party and committee 

chairmen will be named. 

Visitors at the Variety Club after the Cotton 

Bowl game in which Kentucky beat Texas 

Christian to a score of 20 to 7, were Charles 

and Dorothy McClendon and Eloise and Pat 

Jones of Lexington; William McCubbins and 

Babe Parelli, University of Kentucky; Allie 

Allen, Cynthiana, Ky.; Vic Bradford, Paris, 

Ky.; Joe Gilfobatech, Wichita, Kas.; Morley 

For Southern Drive-In Exhibitors only! 

FREE GASOLINE PROGRAMS 

(Texas, U.S.A. and Foreiqn Copyrights Applied For) 

Jimmy Livingston, a National Screen Service 

employe, is on the fighting front in Korea 

Plath of Claude Ezell & Associates 

drove through Waco. Austin and San 

Antonio, visiting various Ezell drive-ins on 

his way to Brownsville for the opening of 

the Star Drive-In on Christmas day after 

extensive remodeling, including new concession 

stand, restrooms and redecorated front. 

Plath returned to Dallas by way of Corpus 

Christi and Houston. 

. 

Lloyd Henrich, Paramount, recently became 

the father of a boy, Thomas Carl . . 

. 

Tom Hardeman, Moon-Glo Drive-In, Junction, 

is father of a baby boy . Weaver, 

Columbia, was promoted from booker to salesman 

Myers, former contract 

clerk, moved up to western and serial booker 

. . . Billy Hightower was made short subjects 

booker. 

Walter Penn, salesman, and for three years 

head of the Dallas Colosseum of Film Salesmen, 

left Columbia December 29. He is going 

with Tower Pictures, owned by Harold 

Schwarz. Penn is a member of Variety Tent 

17 and former director. He has an interest 

with Phil Isley in two drive-ins in Fort 

Worth, theatre interest in Decatur, Tex., with 

Theatre Enterprise, and other theatre interests 

in Chillicothe. Penn has been in show 

business in Texas and Oklahoma for 35 

years, and has been with Columbia for 20 

years. 

Bobby Bixler, Paramount, and Dan Gould, 

Interstate publicity director, staged a Hollywood-style 

premiere at the home of Mrs. 

Sylvia Davidson, Fort Worth, on "My Favorite 

Spy" as a result of her prize-winning 

letter in Bob Hope's recent nationwide contest, 

"Why I Want 'My Favorite Spy' to Be 

Premiered in My Home." 

Now, you can have good business all winter; make your slowest 

night'' one of your best nights and increase your concession sales 

with this Tested Program. We will supply you with Free Gas 

Coupons, valid for one gallon of Nationally Known Gasoline. Your 

employees are to give them away FREE with every 25c bag of popcorn 

(and/or other snack bar items.) Also, to every car owner on frigid 

nights to compensate him for the gas used in operating his heater 

during the show. Optional, one night a week there will be a drawing 

(legal-quiz) for 100, 50 and 25 gallons of gasoline. A boy in uniform, 

to clean windshields, good advertising and publicity are included. 

Your net cost is 21/2 cents per one-gallon coupon and time on your 

screen, at intermissions for a brief amusing trailer that will stimulate 

your concession business. 

•for Detaiis Wr/fe; 

TRI-STATE SERVICES 

1704 M&W Tower BIdg. Dallas 1, Texas 


Laraest coverage in U.S. No "Net" listings. 

Highest reputation for know-how 

and fair dealing. 30 years experience including 

exhibition. Ask Better Business Bu 

reau. or our customers. Know your broker. 

ARTHUR LEAK Theatre Specialists [ 

3305 Caruth. Dallas, Texas 

Teleuhoncs: EM 023S EM 7489 



. . Tom 

. . Also 

, »^ 

DALLAS FOR DEPINET—Gathered to hear the plans for the Ned Depinet drive 

and parleys on future product are these members of the RKO exchang-e in Dallas. 

Seated: Charles Boasberg, north-south division salesmanager, and Ben Y. Cammack, 

district manager. Standing are Phyllis Shrader, Jack Walton, James Sippey, Vernon 

Christian, E. K. Dalton, Donald Grierson, Sol Sachs, branch manager; Douglas Desch, 

John Howell, Kay Wild and Earle Harrington. 

OKLAHOMA CITY 

cluded. The Los Angeles and Fort Worth 

folk left January 2. Dewey is Columbia manager. 

( Continued on next page) 

t COUNTRY'^ 

PARSON 

JOHNBCAl 

All local theatremen, branch managers, 

salesmen, office managers and bookers were 

invited to a special .screening of "One Who 

Came Back" at 20th-Fox screening room Friday 

morning (28). C. A. "Dewey" Gibbs, Columbia 

manager, was in charge of the screening. 

Two were held and at both hours the 

room was filled to capacity. The two-reeler 

will be distributed free to exhibitors throughout 

the territory, starting soon after January 

1, according to Gibbs. The physical dis- 

Will * 

DOUBLE 

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STAR POPCORN MACHINES 

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"Fair Treatment and Adequate Service )or 25 Years" 

408 S. HARWOOD DALLAS 1, TEXAS 

BOXOFTICE January 5, 1952

. . . Dale 

. . When 

OKLAHOMA CITY 

rContinued from preceding page) 

tribution will be through NSS. However, all 

bookings will be solicited by salesman covering 

the territory. The Disabled American Veterans' 

short subject runs 21 minutes. 

Ollie Brownlee, who now is operating the 

Ritz here, gets 35 cents top admission and 

\^2m 

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10 cents for children. He has three changes 

a week, all double bill in the second run situation. 

The house opens at 1 p. m. on Saturday 

and Sunday and 5 p. m. on weekdays. 

Cooper Foundation operated the house at a 

higher admission and sometimes went to 65 

cents when playing day and date on first 

run product. Brownlee bought the equipment 

from CF and subleased the building 

Robertson, 20th-Fox star, was 

home for Christmas and visited on the Row. 

On Filmrow Monday (31) were Tiny Duval 

from Duncan, Layton Carter of Seminole and 

Bill LaBarthe of Pond Creek . L. 

E. Brewer of Pauls Valley was on the Row 

the previous Fi'iday, he said the Valley Theatre 

will remain closed until springtime. He 

recently purchased the conventional house 

from George Payne. Brewer said he plans 

to do some remodeling on the situation before 

opening it. Brewer now owns three 

brick-and-mortar situations and one drive-in 

at Pauls Valley. 

On the Row during the holidays was Howard 

Nicholson, Paramount branch manager 

in Memphis, who was a Paramount salesman 

here a few years back. Nicholson left here 

about four years ago to go to Dallas, where 

he was a salesman, then sales manager. He 

has been head of the Memphis exchange for 

about six months. 

Bucky Harris, exploitation man for Universal 

out of New York, has been in the city 

for a couple of weeks making arrangements 

for the January 10 opening of "The Cimarron 

Kid" in the Warner Theatre here, for which 

a Hollywood troupe will be on hand. The 

film will open January 11 in the Rialto at 

Tulsa, also with the Hollywood troupe in 

attendance. The stars will arrive in the city 

early Wednesday morning (9i. 

A dog pumped bird shot into J. A. "Smiddy" 

Smith, Columbia salesman, leaving 102 holes 

in his leg, and that's according to Smiddy's 

own personal count. The pellets went into 

his leg between the thigh and knee and 

came out around the knee, leaving it in the 

worse condition. Smiddy's story is that he 

and his hunting buddies were sitting in a 

circle resting, late in the afternoon. This 

was near Maud. Okla. He said the gun, 

with its safety on. but up, was lying on the 

ground, pointed into the circle. A dog walked 

over the gun and hit the trigger. Smiddy got 

the worst end of the deal, but one other 

man was scratched by about five or six shots, 

and a dog got about five shots in the leg. 

Smiddy received medical treatment in Maud, 

and has been at home here for a week. He 

got out for the first time Monday (31) for 

a brief visit to the Row. He plans to return 

to work January 7, if his leg continues to 

heal satisfactorily. 

About one-third of the motion picture theatre 

equipment made in Italy is available for 

export. 

• MACHINE FOLD 

• ROLL, SINGLE. DUPLEX 

• RESERVED SEAT 

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THEATER GIFT COUPON BOOKS 

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2110 CORINTH ST. • Horwood 7185 • DALLAS, TEX. 

RCA DRIVE-IN EQUIPMENT 

RCA's line of Drive-in Speakers and Junction Boxes 

is so complete there is no need for "shopping 

around." In addition to extra durable, long lasting 

finishes, there are plastic covered junction boxes 

that glow in different colors to add glamour. 

You'll find other outstanding features such as: 

ROADWAY LIGHT . . . enables patrons to see 

where they are driving on ramp areas. 

POST LIGHT . . . makes it easy for patrons to 

guide cars to correct locations. 

CONCESSION SIGNALS ... two types available. 

REALISTIC SOUND REPRODUCTION... 

with the rich tone for which RCA is famous. 

Come in and let us help you select the proper equipment 

for your drive-in, based on our wide experience 

in this particular field. 

BUILT TO TAKE IT- 

Griggs 

Chairs 

Southwestern Theatre Equipment 0@. 

IN DALLAS 

IN HOUSTON 

2010 Jackson Street 

Telephone Prospect 7-3571 

1G22 Austin 

Telephone Capitol 9906

— 

— 

Dance Jan. 13 to Aid 

Polio Center Fund 

DETROIT—A dance with floor shows and 

other entertainment will be held Sunday, 

January 13, at the Veterans Memorial building 

here as a benefit for the Sister Kenny 

Polio Center at Pontiac, Mich. 

DETROIT—Lorenzen's Flowers held a slim 

lead in the Nightingales league over the 

year-end: 

Team Won Lost Team Won Lost 

Lorenzen 29 19 Altec 21 27 

National Carbon 28 20 Local 199 21 27 

McArthur 28 20 National Supply 20 28 

Amusement Sup. 26 22 Ernie Forbes 19 29 

High scores were rolled by William Fouchey 

210-238. total 623; Roy Thompson 214. total 

568; Eddie Waddell 202; Cecil Cox 201; Fran- 

Al Ackerman of the East Side Theatre Co. 

is sponsoring the event. Tickets are $7.50 a 

couple, and all proceeds will go to the polio 

center equipment fund. 

cis 

Frank Gagen's orchestra will provide the Light 200. 

music and various local stage personalities 

will entertain. 

Tickets can be obtained by telephoning 

Ackerman at the East Side Theatre, Loraine 

7-4606. The address is 2717 Gratiot. 

Detroit Latin Product 

House on Fulltime Policy 

DETROIT—Encouraging signs of improving 

show business are indicated in one special 

segment, the foreign film field. locally. 

Confirmation that the Mexican-Spanish picture 

business is better is given by Victor 

Lopez Hererra, who has operated the Azteca 

Theatre on Michigan avenue for seven years 

and has just added Frank Strong owner of 

the nearby Brooklyn Radio shop, as a partner. 

Business has improved recently, Hererra 

said, and is now just about equal to a year 

ago, in contrast to the general year-long 

slump usually being reported. Result is that 

Hererra has switched the house from fourday 

operation Friday through Monday, to the 

full seven days. It runs on two changes of 

double bills using Spanish product exclusively. 

Roy Suckling Re-Elected 

lA 735 Business Agent 

DETROIT—Roy Suckling of the Shores 

Theatre, St. Clair Shores, was relected business 

agent of lATSE Local 735. with headquarters 

at Mount Clemens and jurisdiction 

in Macomb and parts of Oakland and St. 

Clair counties. 

Other new officers are president. Fred 

Devantier, Jewel. Mount Clemens: vice-president, 

Bert Penzien. Gratiot Drive-In; recording 

secretary. Earl Natzel, Hills, Rochester: 

financial secretary. James Kimmick, East 

Detroit, East Detroit: treasurer, George 

Konath, Roseville, Roseville, and sergeantat-arms, 

Clarence Bushart, Eastwood, East 

Detroit. 

'Asylum of Horrors' Used 

For New Year's Eve Shows 

CLEVELAND—Warner theatres in several 

spots used the shock treatment to attract patronage. 

The Palace Theatre at Lorain offered 

"Asylum of Horrors" as its special New 

Year's eve midnight attraction. Other theatres 

playing "Asylum of Horrors" were the 

Ohio. Lima. December 28; Ohio. Mansfield. 

29. and the Sherman. Chillicothe. January 4. 

In Cleveland. "A Streetcar Named Desire" 

was the New Year's eve offering at the four 

local Warner first subsequent run houses 

Colony. Vogue, Uptown and Variety. Admission 

scale in all situations for the engagement 

of the picture was pegged at $1. 

BOWLING 

Geo. Bohm Dies; Former 

Michigan Allied Leader 

DETROIT—George A. Bohm. 61. veteran 

upstate exhibitor, died December 26 at Ann 

Arbor after about two years' illness. He was 

an exhibitor at Albion for about four decades, 

operating the old Censor and, at the 

time of his death, the Albion and Bohm 

theatres there. He was at one time a director 

of Allied Theatres of Michigan. 

Bohm was also well-known as a musician 

and was clarinetist with various bands, playing 

at one time with the famed Sousa band, 

and in the band that went to Europe with 

President Wilson In 1919. 

Toledo Boothmen Host 

Theatre at Dinner 

TOLEDO—Members of the projectionists 

union, were hosts to their exhibitor employes 

at a midnight steak dinner recently in the 

Commodore Perry hotel in celebration of the 

union's 40th anniversary. Four of the charter 

members of the union—Eddie Boza. Cecil 

Nees. Carl Koch, and Belmont Holmes—recalled 

that the first contract the union signed 

with the exhibitors was one with Jim Beidler. 

of Beidler & Smith, for the old People's 

Movie Theatre, then located at Starr avenue 

and Main street in East Toledo. 

'Revitalize Allied/ Theme 

Of ATOM Jon. 5 Rally 

DETROIT—First formal gathering of the 

newly elected directors and officers of Allied 

Theatres of Michigan since the presentation 

of the Participating Partnership Percentage 

Plan, the "ATOM Plan." at the convention 

in December will be held January 5 in the 

new Variety clubrooms in the Tuller hotel. 

Opening with a luncheon, the session is 

expected to produce some important developments 

and. according to Ernest T. Conlon, 

executive secretary, "We plan to revitalize 

Allied at this meeting." 

Repeal of Tax on Tickets 

Urged in Bucyrus, Ohio 

BUCYRUS. OHIO—Repeal of this city's 3 

per cent amusement tax has been recommended 

by city council's finance committee. 

C. Victor VoUrath. finance committee chairman, 

reported the tax is "unfeasible and unenforceable" 

and recommended its abolition, 

even though the city would lose about $3,500 

a year in revenue. The city enacted the tax 

in 1947 when the state admissions tax was 

repealed. The matter will be voted upon by 

council in January. 

'Elopement's' 65 Best 

Figure for Detroit 

DETROIT— Snow, piled waisthigh as sidewalks 

were cleared in many sections, kept 

grosses down to their pre-Christmas lows. 

Downtown theatres were especially hit, even 

losing the anticipated holiday trade, which 

was less than a normal Tuesday. The Christmas 

week's highest percentage was 65. 


Adams—An American in Paris (MGM), 5th wk 55 

Cinema Manon (Discina) 45 

Fox—Elopement (20th-Fox), The Magic Carpet 

(Col) 65 

Madison—Close to My Heart (WB): The Wooden 

Horse (Snader) 50 

Michigan— Distant Drums (WB) , 60 

Palms-Slate-The Raging Tide (U-I), The Lady 

From Texas (U-I) 50 

United Artists-Callaway Went Thataway (MGM); 

Lilli Marlene (RKO) 55 

Cleveland Boxoffice Stays 

Snowbound After Storm 

CLEVELAND—The weather cleared from 

the previous week's heavy snowstorm that tied 

up traffic but the boxoffice grosses did not 

clear. "Quo Vadis" in its fifth week snapped 

back into top place from the previous week, 

when people were admonished not to brave the 

hazards of going downtown. It registered a 

good 130 per cent for the seven days and 

promi-sed to hold several weeks longer. Many 

neighborhood houses closed Christmas eve and 

did not even try to compete with Santa Claus. 

Allen—Captain Blood (WB), reissue, Slaughter 

Trail (RKO) 90 

Hippodrome—The Girl on the Bridge (20th-Fox). ... 65 

Ohio—Fixed Bayonets (20th-Fox). 2nd d. t. wk. 100 

Palace—On the Loose (RKO); Drums in the Deep 

South (RKO) 65 

State—The Ught Touch (MGM) 65 

Stillman—Quo Vadis (MGM), Sth wk 130 

Tower Missing Daughters (Col); Under Age 

(Col), reissues 70 

Cincinnati Grosses 

Hold Up Surprisingly 

CINCINNATI—Most of the attractions 

listed opened December 24 and the Palace 

on December 23, but the Capitol and Keith's 

opened earlier in the Christmas weekend. The 

grosses, although not exceptional, were far 

better than other parts of the country and 

it is expected that next week's figures will 

show a big improvement. 

Albee—Double Dynamite (RKO) 120 

Capitol-ElopemenI (2aih-Fox) 115 

Grand- Aladdin and His Lamp (Mono) 100 

Keith s—Journey Into Light (20th-Fox); I Wonder 

Who's Kissing Her Now (20th-Fox) 85 

Lyric—Hotel Sahara (UA); Chicago Calling (UA), 

5 days The Body Snatcher (RKO); Isle of the 

Dead (RKO), 3 days 90 

Palace—Ten Tall Men (Col). 8 days 150 

Plan New Kentucky Airer 

GREENVILLE. KY.—Shelby McCollum of 

Hopkinsville announced last month that he 

has purchased a tract of land from Ewell 

Teague on the new highway between Greenville 

and Central City and will start work 

on a 300-car theatre as soon as the weather 

permits. McCollum now operates a drive-in 

at Hopkin.sville and said this would be similar 

in construction to the ozoner there. 

Mrs. Linnington Dead 

DETROIT—Mrs. William Linnington died 

December 25 from a cerebral hemorrhage. 

Her husband is operator at the Deluxe Theatre 

in Utica and she was also a sister of 

Fred Devantier. operator at the Jewel Theatre 

in Mount Clemens. 

BOXOFFICE January 5. 1952 ME 83

. . On 

. . The 

. . Jean 

. . Joe 

. . Marie 

. . Abe 

CINCINNATI 

Harold Hellman, former city salesman for 

ELC. died at his home in Detroit, Mich., at 

the age of 32. He is survived by his wife and 

one child. Hellman, who was transferred 

to Detroit as salesman for UA at the time 

of the UA-ELC merger, had been in poor 

health since returning from army service in 

Germany. Hellman had been a prisoner of 

war and contracted an ailment, which caused 

his death. 

boiler explosion in the theatre. The latter 

has been repaired and the theatre is open 

and operating. 

The theatre at Russell, Ky., operated by 

Bob Dinkle, was condemned, and has ceased 

operation. It may not be rebuilt. Jerry 

Knight, son of Harry Knight, Columbus, 

Ohio, has become engaged to a girl from 

Minneapolis, Minn. The Knights operate the 

Russell Theatre in Columbus . last Friday, 

Joe Rosen, manager of 20th-Fox, and 

exchange area chairman for distribution of 

the two-reel Disabled American Veterans 

subject, "One Who Came Back." held a meeting 

of all branch managers, when plans were 

BOOK IT 

WAHOjO is 

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831 S. Wabash Avenue, Chicago S, III. 

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completed for widest possible distribution of 

this subject for widest possible distribution of 

died by National Screen Service and the subject 

is furni.shed to exhibitors at no charge. 

area, reports very favorable results—4,200 

pounds of scrap metal collected from film exchanges, 

theatre supply companies and National 

Screen. This figure indicates a very 

successful drive in comparison with other 

larger exchange centers, such as Philadelphia 

and Washington. The drive was sponsored 

Johnny Redwine, exhibitor of the Sandy 

by NPA. with full cooperation by the motion 

Hook Theatre, Sandy Hook, Ky., feels that 

picture industry. 

bad luck has been pursuing him for the last 

year. His brother-in-law, whe was in the Carl Huff, who owns the Stardust Drive-In 

navy stationed at Norfolk, Va., was killed in at Monticello, Ky., has arranged to do his 

an automobile accident. Redwine's home own booking and buying since . . . The new 

burned, forcing him and his family to seek 

other quarters, and recently there was a 

drive-in at Lily, Ky., midway between London 

and Corbin, Ky., was opened recently 

by Jimmy Minnix. It is called the Ronnie 

Drive-In and has a capacity of about 300 cars. 

Minnix, who also operates the Southland 

Theatre in London, Ky., plans to keep the 

drive-in open during the winter. 

. 

Branch Manager E. M. Booth, Loew's, and 

his wife, spent the Christmas holidays with 

their daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. 

Rick Monsey, Indianapolis . . . Dolores 

Hascher, MGM. received an engagement ring 

as a Christmas present from Joe Talerrigo, 

who is now in the navy and exp>ects to be home 

in July Burke, office manager's 

secretary, U-I, had her husband home on 

furlough from Camp Pendleton for the holidays. 

June Kenney, assistant cashier, MGM, attended 

the funeral of her father-in-law, 

Joe Kenney, who died on Christmas day . . . 

Pat McHail, former shipper, U-I, who is 

serving in the army at Camp Breckenridge. 

Ky., was home on furlough and visited the 

local exchange Koeusch, shipper, 

. 

MGM, is on the sick list . . . Dorothy 

Colloch, is a new clerk at MGM. 

Mc- 

Carol Klosterman, booking department 

clerk. Paramount, received an engagement 

ring as a Christmas gift . . H. G. "Pop" 

. 

Wessell. Film Service Co., is confined to his 

bed. "Pop," who had been home ill for several 

months and then returned to his office, 

overtaxed his strength. 

LOUISVILLE 

•The Albee here soon will be equipped for TV 

'Thomas Maxedon, manager of Chakeres' 

Installation dinner and dance of the local 

programs, according to RKO Theatres officials. 

Programs will include prize fights, 

has resigned and has been replaced tempo- 

Shelby and Burley theatres in Shelbyville, 

Variety Club is scheduled for Saturday night 

(26) at the Continentale dining room Hotel 

national news events and special entertainment 

productions. William W. Howard, RKO 

at the Capitol in Frankfort. Maxedon came 

rarily by James Jenkins, assistant manager 

Netherland Plaza. The committee in charge 

of arrangements consists of Phil Fox, Alan 

Theatres vice-president, was here on the 

to Shelbyville last May from a similar position 

in Morehead, and replaced Eric Ham- 

Moritz and Art Van Gelder . Hyman 

project, as was Barton Kreuzer, general 

of Huntington, 

product manager of the RCA 

W. Va., is preparing to leave 

engineering 

mel, who resigned to enter the clothing business. 

Tom's plans for the future have not 

for an extended vacation in Florida. Hyman's 

health is greatly improved, after a bad 

products department. 

yet been announced. 

siege of illness and an operation. 

Exhibitors in town during the holidays included 

Russell Phillips of the Franklin, 

Stanley Jacques, who was chairman of the 

industry metal scrap drive in the Cincinnati 

Greensburg; A. N. Miles Eminence; Bob 

Enoch, State and Grand. Elizabethtown; 

C. K. Arnold. Arco and Melody. Bardstown; 

E. L. Ornstein, Marengo; George Lindsay, 

Brownsville; Rex Richards, State, Crouthersville. 

At Louis Arru's Twin Drive-In here, which 

is running on weekends during the winter, 

Santa Claus was on hand Sunday evening 

prior to Christmas and gave gifts to all kiddies 

Several subsequent run neighborhood 

. . . theatres ran continuous matinees on 

Christmas day . . . Phil Thompson 51, Edmonton, 

a member of a prominent Metcalfe 

county farming and banking family, died recently. 

He was owner of the Edmonton Theatre 

and was a partner in a drive-in between 

Cave City and Horse Cave. 

With the completion of extensive remodeling, 

including a new front, the Crescent The- 

J. Real Neth, Columbus, Ohio, is improved 

in health . second Depinet drive meeting 

is scheduled to be held in the local RKO was reopened with festivities on Christmas 

atre, a neighborhood subsequent run theatre, 

branch on January 16, 17, according to Stanley 

Jacques, manager. At this time the pres- 

by Morton Weinburg, who also controls the 

day. The Crescent is owned and managed 

ence at this meeting of Dan Loventhal of the Shelmar Theatre here. 

home office, and Morris Lefko, district manager, 

is anticipated . Donelson, 

cashier and booker. Screen Classics, had her Weather and Disney TV 

sister from Nashville, Tenn., visit her during Hurt Xmas Day Shows 

the holidays . . . Visitors on the Row included 

CLEVELAND—Theatre business over the 

Martin Junk, Sharonville: Goe Turlukis, 

long Christmas weekend holiday was the 

Hamilton, Ky.; J. Beaton, of Hitchins, Ky.; 

worst on record, most exhibitors agree. And 

John Thabit, Charleston. W. Va.; Charles 

Santa Claus was not the heaviest competition. 

It was the weather that kept people at 

Williams, Oxford; Walter Hannah, South 

Shore, Ky.; Joe Marshall, Danville. Ky.; 

home. Heavy snowfall, turning to sleet and 

Paul Herdman, Morrow. 

ice, with rain all day on Christmas would 

have kept folks at home even if there hadn't 

been any television. 

However, the Disney hour TV show on 

Christmas day didn't help the theatres. 

Never, theatre owners report, have there 

been so few children attending shows as this 

year on Christmas afternoon. Even though 

the weather was the greatest deterrent, most 

theatre folk here think Disney did the industry 

a great disservice with the special 

Christmas TV presentation. 

Akron Forum Cuts Prices 

AKRON—The Forum has reduced admission 

prices to 30 cents for matinees and 39 

evenings, children 16 cents at all times. 

WHEN YOU NEED 


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— 

— 

Highlights of 1951 Film Activities in Columbus Area 

By FRED OESTREICHER 

COLUMBUS—A resume of items of interest 

to the film industry here during 1951: 

January 

John W. Vogel, 88. once known as "America's 

Minstrel King" died. Samuel T. Wilson 

and Norman Nadel went show-shopping 

along Broadway. P. J. Wood said all major 

companies should use television as Columbia 

did with clips from "Born Yesterday" on 

the Kate Smith TV show. Vincent Edwards, 

former Ohio State swimmer, was here for 

the world premiere at the Grand of "Mr. 

Universe." in which he plays title role. 

Ohio drive-ins and conventional theatres 

expected to oppose a proposal in Ohio legislature 

to permit townships to levy amusement 

tax. Debbie Reynolds and Carleton 

Carpenter headlined first stage show at 

Loew's Ohio since fall of 1935. 

February 

Heavy snow and subzero weather reduced 

business. "The Mudlark" was at the World. 

Harry Young, former Universal salesman, 

died. Bill to permit township trustees to levy 

a 3 per cent admission tax introduced in the 

Ohio legislature. Bills to prevent theatres 

from showing exclusive telecasts of athletic 

contests introduced in the house. Son born 

to Mr. and Mrs. Jack Pickens. He's assistant 

manager at Loew's Broad. 

Amusement ad rate in Columbus Citizen 

increased to 23'- cents a line. "Cyrano de 

Bergerac" in road show engagement at 

World. 

March 

Downtown first runs upped weeknight admissions 

to 70 cents. Harry Young, U-I film 

salesman for many years, died at 58. 

Ohio Drive-in Theatres Ass'n planned aggressive 

campaign to defeat township trustees' 

proposed 3 per cent admissions levy in 

Ohio legislature. Al Boudouris, Elyria, elected 

president of association. 

Lee J. Hofheimer and Al Sugarman opened 

first film exchange here in 15 years, named 

Motion Picture Sales Organization. Firm has 

Realart franchise. 

National Auto Theatre, first drive-in to 

open for season. Drive-ins were upping admissions 

to 60 cents, ten cents higher than 

last season. 

April 

Cecil B. DeMille was here to testify on behalf 

of Fergu.son "right to work" bill in Ohio 

senate. Ohio cities were banning bingo. 

Twenty-two neighborhoods inaugurate 60- 

day trial of showing of main feature at 8:30 

p. m. Robert Sokol named manager of 

Loew's Broad, succeeding Carl Rogers, promoted 

to manager of Loew's. Dayton. Jesse 

Lasky was here in advance of "The Great 

Caruso." 

Midwestern booking agency houses resigned 

from ITOO. Fire damaged Victor of Miles 

circuit. Piper Laurie and Tony Curtis here 

to greet Donna Morrison, high school student, 

as part of prize in film magazine contest. 

May 

Drexel conducting six-week experiment in 

showing foreign films two nights weekly. Albert 

Friebel. new doorman at Loew's Ohio. 

Twentieth-Fox making test of 21-day clearance 

with "Bird of Paradise" and "I'd Climb 

the Highest Mountain." Harry Schreiber jr. 

to enter Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

in the fall. Gayety closed for summer. 

Bill to exempt newsreels from cen.sorship 

introduced in Ohio senate. Frank Tibbitts. 

Loew's Ohio lobby artist, died in Florida 

while on vacation. Ohio senate approved 

bill to limit admissions tax for municipalities 

to 3 per cent. 

P. J. Wood died suddenly in University hospital 

following heart attack. 

June 

Gerald W. Watson, son of J. Everett Wat- 

.son, married Elizabeth Downing. Westinghou.se 

officials announced construction of an 

$8,000,000 plant for navy jet aircraft engines 

near National Auto and West Broad driveins. 

Leo Kessel recovering after an operation. 

J. Real Neth was on the mend after an 

operation. Patti Page headlined first stage 

show at Loew's Broad in many months. 

Charles Williams appointed chief of service 

of Loew's Broad. 

John Rugg named manager of the Uptown. 

Old Trail being transformed into a bowling 

alley. Ernest Emerling was host at a critics 

luncheon. Richard Secord left his post as 

Broad assistant manager to enter West Point. 

July 

Majority of neighborhoods which tried 60- 

day experiment of starting main feature at 

8:30 have resumed former schedules. President 

Martin Smith of ITOO paid high tribute 

to late P. J. Wood in bulletin to members. 

William Copeland joins Hallmark Productions 

after nine years with Byer & Bowman 

ad agency. Walter Kessler won $100 first 

prize in U-I contest on "Up Front." William 

C. Pullin sr., owner of Linden, died after several 

months' illness. 

August 

Samuel T. Wilson declared in his Dispatch 

theatre column that better pictures are now 

being exhibited and exploitation activities of 

exhibitors have been stepped up. Third armored 

division in a meeting here presented 

a scroll to U-I for "Bright Victory." "Show 

Boat" played a total of 21 days at the Ohio 

and Broad. Disney's "Alice in Wonderland" 

and the Bunin puppet version were in town 

simultaneously at the Palace and World. 

September 

Board of directors of Independent Theatre 

Owners of Ohio met to discuss Movietime 

participation. Edmond O'Brien. Nat Holt. 

Beverly Michaels and Broderick Crawford 

were among vi.sitors. Charles Sugarman was 

appointed manager of the Kentucky at Louisville. 

Film Deliveries, Inc., was authorized 

to transport baked goods. Loew's Ohio to 

stage Metropolitan Opera production of "Die 

Fledermaus" December 17-19. Leo Yassenoff 

was awarded Sanford Lakin Memorial award 

for outstanding contributions to community 

welfare. 

Harry Schreiber and Lee Hofheimer was 

named co-chairman of the local Movietime 

committee. Pat Crowe died while attending 

a show at Palace. WTVN to build new studios 

at Harmon and Griggs avenues. 

October 

Construction started on North-Hi Drive-In 

by Al Sugarman and Lee Holfheimer. Drivein 

to be located north of Worthington. It's 

tenth open-air house in Franklin county. 

Central district parking committee urged city 

officials to construct two parking garages 

in downtown area. Earl Gratton was named 

assistant manager of Loew's Broad. Governor 

Lausche and Mayor Rhodes headed 

guests at Movietime luncheon at Athletic 

club. 

Hollywood visitors included Jeanne Crain. 

Keefe Brasselle, Geraldine Brooks, George 

Macready, Fletcher Markle and Ernest Pascal. 

Walter Miles was on a 30-day roundthe-world 

trip. Mrs. Ethel Mae London, 

former Grand and Colonial organist, died 

Richard Corum resigned as Star film ajid 

radio editor. 

November 

Advanced price attractions have been increasing. 

"A Streetcar Named Desire." "An 

American in Paris," "The River" and "Tales 

of Hoffmann" have been among those with 

upped admissions. Local Movietime committee 

cooperated with the Columbus Star's 

Queen of Trays waitress popularity contest. 

Winner will get trip to Hollywood. 

Palace announced three-day date for stage 

attraction "Kiss Me Kate" December 20-22. 

Francis L. Winel, business manager of Ritz 

and Rivoli, died. WVKO opens new daytime 

AM station. Ohio State 120-piece band made 

only downtown theatre appearance of season 

at Loew's Ohio. 

December 

H&S Theatres started admitting children 

under 12 after 6 p. m. free when accompanied 

by adults. Robert Wile will take over his 

new post January 7 as secretary of the Independent 

Theatre Owners of Ohio. He succeeds 

the late P. J. Wood. RKO Palace canceled 

its three-day stage engagement of 

"Kiss Me Kate." 

Loew's Ohio had first local appearance of 

Metropolitan Opera Co. with "Die Fledermaus." 

Fred Hartwick, Loew's Ohio projectionist, 

was the subject of a Sunday column 

by Johnny Jones in Dispatch. Hartwick will 

celebrate his 50th anniversary in the booths 

next June 30. Southern has installed a new 

upright sign, and Mrs. Lelia Steam plans to 

remodel marquee and to recarpet the theatre. 

Rabbi Simon Fine Dies 

CLEVELAND — Rabbi Simon Fine. 96. 

father of Myer Fine, president of the As.sociated 

circuit of theatres here, died Sunday. 

Survivors also include sons Sam and Jack 

and two daughters. Mrs. Charles Gottlob and 

Mrs. Ben Fain. 

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BOXOFFICE January 5. 1952 85

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DETROIT 

IJarry F. Brown, operator at the Farnum in 

in Hamtramck, took in the Rio Grande 

valley, the "forbidden" million-acre King'.s 

ranch in Texas and the length of the Mississippi 

valley on a 6,000-mile tour . . . Frank 

Sachs of Detail Production Co., makers of 

the Miller projection reel, had the factory 

freezing the day before Christmas, with the 

furnace out of order. 

Arvid Kantor, former National Screen 

manager here, sends special season's greetings 

to the Flow from New York, where he is now 

vice-president of Judson-Roberts, public relations 

Joe Lee, Fox manager, 

firm . . . hosted tradeshows of "Japanese War Bride" 

and "Fixed Bayonets" Friday afternoon . 

John David Zimmerman, future film salesman, 

made his appearance December 26. 

Father is Milton Z., branch manager of Columbia. 

Nightingale notes: Bill Fouchey is the hottest 

bowler of the year—185 average—with 

Roy Thompson coming up next with his 180 

. . . Nick Forest was one happy boy when he 

made the 6-7 split . . . Matt Haskin, a spectator 

for the first time since his operation, 

plans to be back on the alleys soon . . . Eddie 

Waddell arrived with baseball shoes to 

match the weather . Akins warns 

Paul Lasko the cowboys will be after him if 

he doesn't show up at the feedbox soon. 

Bob Tilley, former RKO booker, writes Ed 

Loye from Germany, where he is stationed 

M. Harlan Starr, wife of the Monogram 

manager, is hospitalized for a fractured 

hip following a fall ... Ed Johnson, effer- 

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. . Harry 

Clare Winnie, owner of the Dale, received 

severe lip cuts and lost a tooth two days before 

Christmas when a hoodlum in the house 

swung at him . B. Miller, Altec 

engineer, is working on the installation of 

new Simplex XL sound and projection in the 

Grosse Pointe high school and the Detroit 

Art institute, sold through NTS . 

Owen, operator at the Century, returned from 

a hunting expedition in Wisconsin with a 

ten-point buck and a red fox and did a 

guest appearance on television with them on 

his car . Mary MacDonald, manager 

of the Century, claims to be the busiest 

woman in show business. 

Season's Greetings—Don McKenzie of the 

Richard Theatre at Flint sent a sincere tribute 

to the value of friendship ... To our 

readers who sent Christmas greetings, among 

them Bill Green, Eleanor Nevin, Bill Morgan, 

Henry and Corine Lueders, Jane and Ollie 

Brooks; Waunetta, Floyd and Skipper Chrysler; 

Red Penrod family, Mr. and Mrs. Alex 

Schreiber, the whole Jack Hurford family 

your messages were most welcome—and a 

Happy New Year to all. 

CLEVELAND 

Candy Gottlieb, former local Film Classics 

manager and now head of his own buying-booking 

cooperative in Philadelphia, was 

a holiday week visitor . . . Another visitor 

was George Devive, onetime Paramount salesman 

here, then in Indianapolis in the same 

capacity and now Paramount sales manager 

in Milwaukee . is around that Bill 

Twigg has been appointed sales manager for 

Warners in Boston. Twigg was Warner city 

salesman here for a brief period, resigning to 

manage Milt Mooney's Co-op Buffalo branch. 

. 

August Ilg, owner of the Ohio Theatre at 

Lorain, braved the bad weather to put in an 

appearance on Filmrow . Goldman, 

Universal salesman in Detroit, was here for 

the holidays . . . Dick Wright of Warners 

entertained his mother and father over 

Christmas . . Leo Gottlieb, Lippert branch 

manager, attended the company's national 

sales meeting in Chicago. 

The Palace Theatre, only one equipped 

with large-screen TV, passed up the New 

Year Rose Bowl telecast. Anticipating good 

business as usual on the first day of the new 

year. Manager Mink did not even consider 

the TV presentation. 

COLUMBUS 

vescent Bay City exhibitor, was in bed for a 

week with a severe cold . . . George Bremen, 

former Dowru-iver supervisor, was visiting on 

the Row. He has no immediate plans . 

Jonas G. and Mary Fehrenbach, brother and Tôrman Nadel, theatre editor of the Columbus 

sister team, are disposing of the 180-seat Mayfair 

Citizen, is in New York on a show 

at Mayville for remodeling and use as a shopping stint, îs daily report and reviews 

Catholic church. 

will be printed in the Citizen . . . Secretary 

of Commerce Charles Sawyer and members 

of his family have been authorized to buy 

radio stations WCOL and WCOL-FM here 

for $100,000. The Sawyer family already 

owns majority stock in WING at Dayton and 

WIZE in Springfield, bought before Sawyer 

entered the cabinet. The FCC announced 

it had approved the purchase from Pixleys' 

Inc. 

Albert Blackburn has closed the Atlas (formerly 

Stan Theatre in East Liverpool for 

the time being . . . Theatre New Year stage 

shows were conspicuous this year by their 

absence. So far as it known at this time, 

the Circle Theatre, Euclid at East 101st St., 

will be the only one in town to offer live entertainment. 

Manager E. J. Stutz booked 

Ivory Joe Hunter and his variety show for a 

For 

limited engagement . Schwartz, 

fr 

Exhibitor Ass'n president, was happy to get 

back from his Christmas in Chicago. He 

was snowed in all the time he was there. 

The RKO Palace showed a special reel 

about the Columbus Boychoir, "The Singing 

Boys," with 12-year-old Chet Allen as narrator. 

Chet sang the title role in "Amahl 

and the Night Visitors," the Gian-Carlo 

Menotti opera telecast via NBC-TV Christmas 

eve . Yassenoff of Academy Theatres 

and P&Y Building Service, was awarded 

a plaque in tribute to his assistance in construction 

of the new Agudas Achim synagogue 

in Bexley. Yassenoff made the new 

building possible by constructing it at about 

half the cost of a similar structure in Dayton. 

Jesse Hughes, projectionist at the National 

Auto Theatre until a few weeks ago, found 

his mother Mrs. Maybelle Kimball after a 

30-year separation. She lives in Glendale, 

Calif., and Hughes is now living in Miami, 

Fla. His mother's cousin saw a newspaper 

clipping telling of his search for her. His 

parents separated when he was three. Son 

and mother had a reunion by telephone. 

Hughes still is a member of the Columbus 

Motion Picture Operators' union. 

Union Disputes Settled 

COVINGTON, KY.— All union difficulties 

affecting the Cox Theatre have been settled, 

Noah Schechter, manager, was notified by 

J. J. Shubert, head of the Shubert theatrical 

interests, in New York. Shubert told Schechter 

that he had given instructions "to book 

as many attractions as possible into Cincinnati." 

The Cox Theatre had been closed 

so far this season, due to the failure of the 

Shubert interests to arrive at an agreement 

with the stagehands, musicians and boxoffice 

men. 

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'Wally' Kemp Relurns 

To Grand as Partner 

GRAND ISLAND, NEB.—W. R. "Wally" 

Kemp, who came here 21 years ago as assistant 

to the late Harry E. Schiller, owner and 

manager of the Grand Theatre, has returned 

to the theatre as manager and part owner in 

association with Madeline Schiller Kaufman, 

widow of Schiller. 

Schiller resigned as manager of the MGM 

exchange in Kansas City about 25 years ago 

and took over the Grand, which he operated 

till his death in 1943. The theatre entered 

a pooling arrangement with Tri-States circuit 

in 1937. 

Since Schiller's death Kemp has served 

as city manager for Tri-States, supervising 

the Grand and Capitol theatres and the 

Grand Island Drive-In. 

Tlie shift of Kemp to partnership in the 

Grand was arranged by Mrs. Kaufman to 

take place simultaneously with the breakup 

by Tri-States of its Grand Island pooling 

setup in compliance with the Paramount 

consent decree. 

The entry of Kemp into the Grand ownership 

was a popular move. The Grand Island 

Independent published a special fourpage 

section entirely devoted to merchant 

ads congratulating Kemp and news stories 

about the theatre and the owners. From his 

start in theatre work here, Kemp has been 

a friend of the youngsters, and his interests 

expanded to all kinds of civic activities. His 

name has become synonymous with motion 

picture entertainment, the newspaper commented. 

He is a director of the Nebraska Theatre 

Ass'n, and has been a leader in the YMCA, 

Community Chest, Girl Scouts, Red Cross, 

March of Dimes and the Kiwanis club. He 

married and has a daughter Mary. 

is 

Planned in the early future for the Grand 

by Mrs. Kaufman and Kemp is an extensive 

remodeling program. 

East Lake Wants to Bid 

In Twin City 49-Day Slot 

MINNEAPOLIS — Competitive bidding is 

generally frowned upon here by independents, 

but in certain instances they're still 

asking for the privilege of engaging in It 

for runs. The latest to ask is Ralph Green, 

circuit owner, in behalf of his East Lake, 

local neighborhood hou.se, which now has 

63 days clearance. Green has requested distributors 

for the privilege of bidding competitively 

for the 49-day slot with the W. R. 

Frank circuit's Avalon, now enjoying that 

availability. 

The East Lake is located almost directly 

across the street from the Avalon. 

Recently, the independent St. Louis Park, 

seeking 28-day availability, was invited by 

some distributors to bid competitively for 

that clearance with the Minnesota Amusement 

Co.'s Uptown, located about a mile 

away. In several instances it has done so 

and been awarded the picture. Another independent 

suburban house, the Edina, suing 

major distributors because they've refused its 

demand for the 28-day slot, has declined to 

bid competitively with the Uptown. 

Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts wrote the 

.screenplay of Warners' "Come Fill the Cup" 

from a novel by Harlan Ware. 

Costly Homewood Suit 

Goes Into Final Stage 

MINNEAPOLIS—The trial of the Martin 

and S. G. Lebedoff's Homewood Theatre 

antitrust con.spiracy .suit against six major 

distributors and the Paramount circuit in 

federal district court here finally reached 

its conclusion December 25. It had started 

October 31. 

The defense coun-sel, headed by David 

Shearer, have until January 15 to submit 

motions which they announced they'll make. 

These will have to do with elimination of 

certain testimony and dismissals for certain 

of the defendants. Plaintiff's counsel Lee 

Loevenger then will have the opportunity to 

contest the motions. 

DECISION MAY BE DELAYED 

The deadline for submitting the initial 

briefs, in lieu of final statements, was set 

by Judge G. H. Nordbye at February 15. The 

counsel then will have until March 20 to 

submit reply briefs. After that the judge 

will take the case under advisement and 

study. His decision may not be forthcoming 

until late next summer. 

The Homewood is asking for an ijijunction 

to restrain the defendants from continuing 

the present 28-day clearance ability for 

neighborhood and suburban theatres. If it is 

successful, Minneapolis neighborhood and 

suburban houses would have pictures available 

for them one day after they finished 

their downtown fire runs, the same as in the 

Chicago area. 

Also sought by the Homewood is triple 

$165,000 damages, or a total of $495,000. It 

brought out evidence to sustain its allegation 

that the damages were sustained in consequence 

of the Homewood's first run in its 

particular neighborhood, 49 days, being taken 

away from it and given to the competing 

Paradise, owned by the late W. A. Steffes. 

Steffes. at that time head of the independent 

organization here, received the Homewood run 

for the Paradise. He then caused the dismissal 

of antitrust suits he had brought 

against major distributors, the Minneapolis 

Film Board of Trade and the Paramount 

circuit, alleging clearance discrimination. 

Part of the Homewood's damage was sustained, 

too. according to the plaintiff's case, 

because of alleged clearance discrimination 

in favor of Paramount circuit theatres and 

against the Homewood. 

VERY LONG TRIAIi 

The trial became the second longest of 

any resulting from exhibitor suits against 

distributors. The suit was brought in 1948 

and two years of preparation, including the 

examination of thousands of records by expert 

accountants, preceded the trial's start, contributing 

to the enormous expense involved. 

The defense had four attorneys sit in dally 

during the trial and brought witnesses from 

ea.st and west coast. There were 4,000 pages 

of testimony transcript and 600 exhibits. 

During the final days, important evidence 

revealed the existence of the Minneapolis 

Film Board of Trade, with a secretary sent 

here by the major film companies from New 

York; the board's propased clearance schedule, 

and the suits brought by Steffes to 

restrain distributors from enforcing it. The 

plaintiffs sought to show that the board was 

part of a national conspiracy by major distributors 

involving clearance and that the 

"price" paid for the Steffes suits' dismissal 

was the giving of the Homewood and Paramount 

circuit runs to his Paradise. 

The defense introduced testimony designed 

to show that the present clearance system 

is an economic necessity for distributors because 

it permits them to realize the greatest 

amount of film rental revenue and because 

of the limited number of pictures' 

prints. Branch managers of defendant companies 

also testified they took the Homewood's 

run away from it and gave it to the 

Paradise on their own initiative, and were 

influenced only by the fact that the latter 

threw off the larger film rental. 

There also was testimony purporting to 

show that the Homewood always was a marginal 

operation, productive of only small film 

rentals for distributors; that it lost money 

for the Paramount circuit the final year of 

its ownership by that chain and before it 

was sold to the Lebedoffs for some $9,000; 

that the Lebedoffs continuously minimized 

its grossing potentialities, frequently sought 

film rental adjustments, and falsified to distributors 

some of the grosses on percentage 

and flat pictures. 

Interesting testimony during the final days 

revealed that the Arion, a Paramount circuit 

house of similar cla.ssification to the Homewood 

but in a different neighborhood and 

with an earlier clearance much of the time, 

paid during the 13-year period from 1935 

to 1938 a total film rental of $221,444, or 

an average per picture of 25.08 per cent of 

the gross. Percentagewise, this was less than 

the Homewood paid, according to the plaintiff's 

figures. 

Terry E. Anderson Named 

Manager in South Omaha 

OMAHA—Terry E. Anderson, .son of Paramount 

Manager M. E. Anderson, is following 

his father's footsteps by adopting the 

film industry for a career. He recently was 

named manager of the Chief in South Omaha. 

After finishing high school in 1943 he 

worked for Paramount in the shipping room 

in Kansas City. He attended Kansas university 

after a period in the service, then went 

back to Paramount in Kansas City in the 

booking department. His father was with 

Paramount in Kansas City about 15 years. 

Young Ander.son was active in Kansas City 

Boy Scout work. 

WB Omaha Branch Shifts 

Several Staff Members 

OMAHA—A general shifting in the Warner 

Bros, office has been made with Josephine 

Maguire, former ledger clerk, now branch 

cashier. 

Jeannette Vodlcka. former contract clerk, is 

the new ledger clerk. Marian Pirrucello has 

returned to the staff after several months 

absence as contract clerk. Emma Thomas 

has been added as biller. 

BOXOFTICE :: Januai-y 5, 1952 NC 87

. . Maude 

. . Warner 

. . Universal 

. . 

D E S 

MOINES 

/"•olunibia started the new year with a freshly 

painted office. Work was under way over 

the weekend preceding the New Year's hohday, 

and completion was expected during this 

week . Mackey, Columbia inspector, 

went to the hospital for X-rays and observation 

after a two-week illness . . . Another 

Columbia inspector, Lula Putzier, is 

away from the exchange with a broken 

still 

wrist. Dorothy Solan is helping out until 

the two regulars are able to be back on 

the job. 

. 

Phyllis Charter, Paramount, spent last 

weekend in Illinoi.s . . . Bill Dippert, Republic 

booker, visited in Oskaloosa over the 

holidays, and Claudean Pi'ueh, .stenographer 

for Republic, spent part of the season with 

her family in Afton . inspector 

Catherine Volk is back after an illness of 

over a week inspector Clara 

Henkle suffered a cracked arm in a fall on 

the ice. Not realizing the extent of the damage, 

she worked for a couple of weeks before 

discovering the injury. Now she will be 

away for about ten days while her arm is in 

a splint. 

Leon Mendelson, Warner manager, has 

returned from Chicago where he attended a 

meeting of Warner managers 

Burton is a new shipping clerk 

. . . 

at 

Donald 

NSS replacing 

Gerry Howard, who resigned . . . Betty 

WHEN YOU NEED 



SEND YOUK ORDER TO 

filmack: 

CHICAGO, 1327 S. Wahaih - NEW YORK, 630 NinthAv. 

. . . 

Hemstock has returned from a business trip 

to California . . . RKO cashier Gretchen 

Kalleher is ill and has been hospitalized. She 

will be at home for some time to come . 

Donna Tomlinson and Delores Fredricks of 

20th-Fox traveled to Council Bluffs and Lake 

Mills, respectively, during the holidays 

R. L. Conn, 20th-Fox manager, is in New York 

City attending a meeting called for January 

7. 

Free Holiday Shows Given 

In Iowa Communities 

WINTHROP, IOWA—Free showings of 

"Royal Wedding" for all residents of the community 

were held December 29, 30 by the 

Winthrop Theatre management in "appreciation 

of the loyal support given the new theatre" 

since its opening several months ago. 

Meanwhile, in other Iowa towns, free holiday 

shows and parties for the personnel were 

the order of the day. 

Ritz and Grand theatre employes at Oelwein 

were guests of the management at a 

Dutch lunch and a preview of "No Highway 

in the Sky." Youngsters in Marion saw a free 

western and a series of cartoons at the 

Marion Theatre. Manager is G. E. Rathman. 

The local Lions club was the sponsor. 

The children got in first at a free holiday 

show at the Roxy in Milton, but the adults 

weren't charged, either. Kiddies under 12 

were admitted first and then others were allowed 

in until the house was full. Manager 

Bill Hill was host at the annual party for 

children at the Vista Theatre in Storm Lake. 

Treats were distributed by the Storm Lake 

Chamber of Commerce after the show. 

Bob and Mary Holdridge, owners of the 

State at Shenandoah, sponsored a free show 

for all children under 12. The children .saw 

a western feature and six cartoons. 

DON'T 

WAIT

. . Louis 

. . Art 

. . The 

. . 

. . Radio 

'Distant Drums' Tops 

Minneapolis Upturn 

MINNEAPOLIS — The holiday period 

brought happier boxoffice days. "Distant 

Drums" led the field and turned in a remarkable 

figure. It was followed by "The 

Racket," which also came through with an 

amazing amount of vitality. "Westward the 

Women" was strong, too, and "Elopement" 

fared well. In its seventh week, "An American 

in Paris" still was far up in the money. 


Century—Unknown Man (MGM) 80 

Gopher—Westward the Women (MGM) 110 

Lync—Cave of Outlaws (U-I) _ _ 85 

Radio City— Elopement (20th-Fox)- 100 

RKO Orph.?um— The Racket (RKO) 120 

RKO Pan—Aladdin and His Lamp (Mono) 90 

Stalf^Distont Drums (WB) 140 

World—An American in Paris (MGM), 7th wk 150 

Too Young to Kiss' Paces 

Omaha First Runs 

OMAHA— "Too Young to Kiss" and "The 

Red Badge of Courage" at the Orpheum was 

the only bill to beat 100 per cent. Bad 

roads and threatening weather cut down on 

travel. 

Omaha—The Tanks Are Coming (WB); Two Gals 

and o Guy (UA) 95 

Orpheum—Too Young to Kiss (MGM); The Red 

Badge of Courage (MGM) 110 

ParamounI—Elopement (20th-rox) 80 

RKO Brandeis—The Racket (RKO) 100 

State—Two Tickets to Broadway (RKO) 100 

Town—Valley of Fire (Col); Eangaioo Kid (UA); 

Father Is a Bachelor (Col) 90 

'American' Starts Third 

Minneapolis Month 

MINNEAPOLIS—The remarkable mn of 

"An American in Paris" at the World here 

is giving heart to the industry. The picture 

is now in its second month at the local sureseater 

with no hint that it yet may be near 

the end of the run. Newspaper ads this week 

called attention to the 324th performance. 

The third month starts next week. Even 

during the badly depre.ssed pre-Christmas 

period, grosses failed to sag to anywhere 

near the extent which they did generally. 

And since Christmas there has been a substantial 

upturn again. 

In the house that seats only 400, the picture 

has grossed as much as $9,000 a week at the 

advanced admissions of 65 cents to 5 p. m. 

and $1 to closing. It has broken the house 

boxoffice record by a considerable margin. 

Glenn Leonard Retains 

Partnership in TEI Sale 

AUBURN. NEB.—The business transaction 

in which Midcentral Theatres purchased the 

interest of Theatre Enterprises, Inc., in the 

State and Auburn theatres here, does not 

in any way affect the financial interest in 

the two houses held by Glenn Leonard, 

owner-manager here. Leonard's interest in 

the theatres is unique in the operation of the 

large circuit. His connection is a partnership-ownership 

with the parent organization. 

It is one of the very few such business arrangements 

of this kind in the entire company, 

similar to that existing between the 

chain and William H. Wagner with the 

Booth and Beldorf theatres in Independence, 

Kas. 

More than 3,000 miles of Florida Everglades 

were covered for Technicolor locations for 

filming Warners' "Distant Drums." 

MINNEAPOLIS 

'J'he Radio City, Lyric, RKO Orpheum and 

RKO Pan raised their New Year's eve 

admission prices from 76 cents to $1. All of 

the principal Twin Cities 

theatres gave midnight 

shows . Orlove, MGM exploiteer, 

was in from Milwaukee ... A rash 

of colds and flu attacks accounted for numerous 

Pilmrow employe absences the last day 

of the year . Anderson, Warner manager, 

got back from a weekend Chicago sales 

conference. 

Northwest Variety Club held open house 

New Year's eve . Uptown Theatre gave 

a special matinee for youngsters New Year's 

Joe Wolf is getting ready to shove 

eve , . . 

off for San Antonio, Tex., to give the onceover 

to his drive-in there . . . Reno Wilk, 

drive-in circuit operator, is back from a west 

coast visit during which he hobnobbed with 

a number of former Minneapolis film folks 

now located there, including Ben Ashe and 

Max Torodor. He'll depart soon for a part 

pleasure and part business southern trip, 

during which he'll visit with ozoner operators 

in quest of ideas for next sea.son. 

Bennie Berger and the missus are preparing 

for a Hawaiian jaunt. Bennie will fly 

back during the month to attend the meeting 

of the national Allied States board of directors, 

of which he's a member, and then will 

resume his planned lengthy vacation . . . Ted 

Mann, North Central Allied president and 

owner of the World Theatre here as well as 

other houses, including several drive-ins, Ls 

vacationing for six weeks in California . 

Bill Elson, independent circuit owner, and 

wife are departing for a California vacation. 

The Lyceum, legitimate roadshow house, 

acquired MGM's "Pandora and the Flying 

Dutchman" on competitive bids and the picture 

opens there the coming week . . . Charlie 

Weiner, independent distributor, Ls back from 

. . . 

the west coast, where he opened E.ssanjay 

Film distributing offices for "Because of Eve." 

He says the picture has been booked solid 

on the west coast for the first six months 

of 1952, with every major city covered 

January 11 has been set by Judge G. H. 

Nordbye in federal court for hearing the 

motion of David Shearer, counsel for eight 

major distributors; the Minnesota Amusement 

Co. and RKO Theatres to require the 

Edina Theatre, to give a more detailed bill 

of particulars in its $1,911,000 antitrust conspiracy 

damage suit before the defendant 

distributors, etc., are required to file their 

answer. Shearer contends that the complaint 

is not sufficiently specific. The suit arises 

from the Edina's failure to obtain 28-day 

clearance. 

During the final days of the trial of the 

Lebedoff's Homewood Theatre $500,000 damage 

suit against distributors and the Paramount 

circuit because of alleged clearance 

discrimination against it, there were several 

evening court .sessions because Federal Judge 

Nordbye wished to hasten its finish . . . "My 

Favorite Spy" was the New Year's week dayand-date 

offering at both Radio City here 

and the St. Paul Paramount. Bob Hope, Its 

star, is among the top comedian film draws 

in the Twin Cities. 

Illness prevented Vincent Price from appearing 

here in person with the rest of "The 

Cocktail Party" cast at the Lyceum, but film 

personalities Marsha Hunt and Reginald 

Denny were on hand to distinguish themselves 

by their acting. The show's management, the 

Lyceum and Harry's Cafe joined in a cocktail 

party last week for the cast and members 

of the press and radio. During the engagement 

Denny garnered considerable newspaper 

publicity . City Theatre ads now 

contain the following: "There's no parking 

problem now. Loop movie patrons can park 

their cars in the new auto park just across 

the street from Radio City Theatre." The 

three-deck ramps were just recently com- 

Condolences to Gilbert Nathanson, 

pleted . . . 

independent circuit owner, whose mother 

recently passed away. 

Foreclosure Suit Filed 

Against Garwin Owners 

GARWIN. IOWA — A foreclosure suit 

against the owners and former operators of 

the Garwin Theatre has been started in 

district court. Clifford and Mabel M. Anderson 

of Palo Alto county. Iowa, ask personal 

judgment against Jack A. and Beverly 

S. Comfort, Walter and Virginia Jenner and 

Dale Johnson for $4,745, the amount claimed 

to be owing on a note given by the Comforts, 

secured by a mortgage. In addition, they ask 

$42.17. said to have been advanced by the 

plaintiffs for payment of insurance on the 

mortgaged property, and the costs of the suit. 

The plaintiffs claim Mr. and Mrs. Comfort 

borrowed $5,500 on Aug. 1. 1946, payable in installments 

of $50 per month, with monthly 

interest of 5 per cent and 7 per cent interest 

payable semiannually after maturity. For 

security, the plaintiffs took a mortgage on 

the theatre property in Garwin and the 

equipment. 

According to the petition, the Comforts 

failed to pay any installments due or any 

interest on the note after April 4, 1950, and 

under the terms of the mortgage, the whole 

amount of the principal is now past due. 

Walter and Virginia Jenner and Dale Johnson 

are made defendants in the action because 

of their being in possession of the 

theatre and holding title to it under a warranty 

deed dated Feb. 27, 1947. Also a defendant 

is Harry H. Savereide of Black Hawk 

county, who allegedly has a mortgage on 

some of the equipment. The Andersons claim 

their mortgage is senior to Savereide's. 

The plaintiffs allege that the theatre property 

has been allowed to depreciate in value, 

and is now inadequate security for the mortgage 

debt. 

Union Pacific Sport Club 

Has Four MGM Staffers 

OMAHA—One of the most sports-minded 

branch offices in Omaha is MGM, which now 

has four members in the Union Pacific Sports 

club, including Dode Kosiut, who is a member 

of the board. Others are Tina Salerno, 

Lois Schroeder and Frank McCormick. 

Miss Kosiut is planning a trip to Denver 

on Washington's birthday for skiing activities 

in the Berthoud pa»s area. The Omaha 

Skiing club recently affiliated with the U.P. 

club. 


. . The 

. . 

. . 

OMAHA 

TJen Marcus, district manage-r, visited Joe 

Jacobs. Omaha Columbia manager . 

Don Lee, former Columbia office manager 

now a salesman in Chicago, was in Omaha 

over the New Year holiday . . . Mort Ives, 

chah-man of the Variety Club inaugural ball 

January 28, announced details for the dinner 

and dance were near completion. 

Dates of April 21, 22 have been set for the 

Iowa -Nebraska Allied convention at the Hotel 

Fontenelle . Allied board of directors 

will meet January 16 at Des Moines . 

Bill Gaddoni, former MGM manager here, 

now at Kansas City, and his family were in 

Omaha over the holidays and Gaddoni visited 

old friends on Filmrow . . . Vincent 

Flynn. MGM manager, spent the holidays 

in New York. 

. . 

A big part of the MGM staff visited home 

towns during the holidays. They included 

Frank McCormick and Jack Jorgens, to Minneapolis; 

Fred Fejfar, Mitchell and Yankton, 

S. D.; Eunice Volkmer, Geneva: Lois 

Schroeder, Wisner; Ruth Schaefer, Wakonda, 

. Lois 

S. D., and Bill Matson. Sidney 

Schroeder served as matron of honor at her 

sister's wedding in Des Moines and Tina 

Salerno of the MGM staff participated in 

the wedding of her brother Sebastian. 

Clyde Cooley. secretary of lATSE Local 

343, who plugged for Christmas eve closing 

of theatres in his column in the Unionist, 

saw his wish fulfilled as a goodly number 

closed, including the four Goldberg houses- 

Military, Avenue, Dundee and Ames— plus 

the Muse. Minne Lusa, Beacon and Center 

... A joint RKO meeting of Des Moines and 

Omaha in connection with its second drive 

will be held at Des Moines January 11, 12. 

Present will be W. E. Branson, division manager 

from New York, and A. L. Kolitz, district 

manager from Denver. 

Few exhibitors from out of town visited 

Filmrow. The list included Wayne Johnson, 

Clay Center; Mons Thompson of St. Paul, 

who is about to reopen his new theatre at 

Edgar; Ollie Schneider, Osceola; the Ben 

Juracek family of Cedar Rapids; Frank Good, 

Red Oak, Iowa, and Max Shoemaker, Tabor, 

Iowa. 

Newspaper, Booster Club 

Greet Reopened Theatre 

CAIRO. NEB.—The Cairo Theatre has been 

reopened under the management of Tom 

Ryan, who expressed himself as well pleased 

with the large crowd that attended the occasion. 

It will be operated on Saturday and 

Sunday nights, the same as before. Adult 

admissions were raised slightly. 

The Cairo Booster club welcomed the new 

management and expressed its pleasure in 

seeing the house reopened, while the newspaper, 

the Cairo Record, stated editorially 

that the town needs a theatre and, in behalf 

of its readers, wished Ryan success in his 

undertaking. 

Newest Kind of Carpet 

Laid in His Majesty's 

From Canadian Edition 

MONTREAL—When His Majesty's Theatre, 

a landmark in Montreal, was remodeled 

a short time ago the owners upheld the graciousness 

of eras past in the decor but. for 

practical reasons, sought the newest they 

could find in carpeting. All-rayon carpet 

was chosen for the lounges, the aisles and 

the grand staircases, and was custom-made 

for the theatre by Brinton-Peterboro Carpet 

Co. The choice was made after exhaustive 

tests proved that rayon carpet could take 

heavy duty traffic in its colorful stride. 

The history of this theatre is interesting, 

and provocative, too, for there are no records 

of the date of its opening, although it 

must have been a red letter day for Victorian 

Montreal. It was originally called 

Her Majesty's Theatre until it changed hands 

shortly after the turn of the century. 

It became Proctor's, a vaudeville house, and 

a few years later was resold to be called His 

Majesty's after King Edward VII or George 

V—the actual transition dates remain unknown. 

Scene of many plays, concerts and lectures, 

the playhouse on Guy street remains the 

only large legitimate theatre in the city. 

Across its well-trodden boards have walked 

some of the world's greatest artists. Oldtime 

Montrealers remember the gala occasions 

when vice-royalty sat in the flagdraped 

royal box. 

Bryan Foy will produce "Miracle of Our 

Lady of Fatima" for Warners 

Join the Widening Cirole 

Send in your reports to BOXOFFICE 

on response of patrons to pictures 

you show. Be one of the many who 

report to - 

THE EXHIBITOR HAS HIS 

SAY 

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I "Exhibitor Has His Say." 825 

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A Widely Read Weekly Feature of Special Interest 

BOXOFFICE 

Al'ways in the Forefront With the News 

BOXOFFICE :: January 5, 1952

Archbishop to Speak 'Mr. Show Business of Hartford 

Al Jimmy Ceremony fe/ec/ on Start of New Venture 

BOSTON—Although the plans for the dedication 

banquet for the new Jimmy building 

were not complete at this writing. Bill Rosier, 

executive director of the Variety Club of 

New England, announced Ford Frick, new 

baseball commissioner, and Archbishop Gushing 

of Boston will speak. Koster said the popular 

Bob O'Donnell cannot attend the banquet 

due to hospitalization. 

Others who will sit at the head table will be 

Dr. George P. Perry, dean of the Harvard 

Medical school; Marc J. Wolf, chief barker 

of Variety International; Daniel Brunton, 

president of Mayors Ass'n of Massachusetts; 

governors of the six New England states and 

Mayor John Hynes of Boston. The banquet 

will be held Monday evening, January 7, in 

the StatleV ballroom. All the major newsreel 

companies have accepted invitations to cover 

the dedication ceremonies in the afternoon 

on the grounds of the Jimmy building. 

New England TV Program 

Opens Disney Contest 

BOSTON—The first activity in the "Snow 

White and the Seven Dwarfs" promotion by 

First National Stores, the Yankee Network 

and RKO Pictures came on Christmas afternoon 

with a New England TV program immediately 

follow'ing the national Walt Disney 

TV hour. Ralph Banghart, local exploiteer 

for RKO, was able to get premium time following 

the national hookup over WNAC-TV 

for a ten-minute program, with George 

Clarke, columnist with the Daily Record here, 

and Marshall Duane, advertising director of 

First National Stores, explaining to New England 

audiences the coming "Snow White" 

contest. 

Beginning January 15, local ads will appear 

in the newspapers and on radio and TV announcing 

the necessary steps in the contest 

to choose a Snow White, a Prince Charming 

and the most popular schoolteacher, all of 

whom will visit England and be presented to 

Pi-incess Margaret Rose. The Yankee Network 

will judge the preliminaries, with the 

final winners to be selected at a huge Coronation 

ball at the Hotel Somerset February 23. 

RKO is hopeful of securing Deems Taylor to 

be the final judge and Walt Disney himself 

has been invited to attend. 

Sam Seletsky to 

Join 

Smith Management Co. 

BOSTON—Sam Seletsky has resigned as 

B&Q Associates to 

head buyer and booker of 

join Smith Management Co. in the same capacity, 

assuming his new duties on January 

7. At that time all the New England theatres 

in the Philip Smith circuit will be 

handled from the Smith headquarters at 359 

Boylston St. Seletsky became a booker in 

the early 20's shortly after his graduation 

from Suffolk law school. 

He is a member of the Mas.sachusetts Bar 

Ass'n. His first position was with the late 

Harry Asher at American Feature Films. Later 

he joined Monogram under Herman Rifkin, 

then became branch manager of Republic, 

working in New York, New Haven and Boston. 

He joined B&Q Associates when the 

circuit was founded on Aug. 1. 1944. He makes 

his home in Waban. 

"Good Luck, Mr. Show Business," was the comment of William H. Mortensen, 

managing director, Bushnell Memorial, Hartford, second from left, to Henry L. Needles, 

guest of honor at a testimonial dinner in Hartford. Also in photo are Harry F. Shaw, 

division manager, Loew's Poli-New England Theatres, and at right, Frank Murphy, 

editor and publisher of the Hartford Times. 

HARTFORD—Some 100 persons, representing 

the motion picture industry in New England, 

attended a testimonial dinner at Hotel 

Bond here for Henry L. Needles, who recently 

resigned as Hartford district manager of 

Warner Theatres, to become managing director 

of this city's new first run foreign film 

house, the 700-seat Art. 

Needles, currently marking his 50th year 

in show business, received tribute from top 

representatives of the industry and from 

civic and business leaders 

William H. Mortensen, managing director 

of the Bushnell Memorial auditorium, toastmaster, 

declared; "We're paying tribute tonight 

to a showman who has contributed 

more than his share to the countless undertakings 

in which show business has been 

asked to help. He has gone all out over the 

years to help as much as possible, and it is 

indeed fitting and proper that Hartford honor 

the dean of the city's treatremen. He is 

certainly Hartford's 'Mr. Show Business.' " 

Similar tribute was voiced by such personalities 

as Lieut. Gov. Edward N. Allen, who 

called Needles "a great guy and a fine citizen," 

and Harry F. Shaw, division manager, 

Loew's Poli-New England Theatres, who commented 

that Needles' "legion of friends 

throughout the country wish him luck and 

Godspeed in his new venture." 

The following scroll was given to the guest 

of honor: 

"For more than 30 years in the forefront 

of the entertainment field in Hartford, a 

pioneer in showmanship and presentation, a 

leader in every drive to help his fellowman, 

his city, state and nation." 

Other speakers included Bill Scanlan. international 

representative, lATSE; Ed Cuddy, division 

manager. New England circuit, and 

Ben Rosenberg, district manager. New England 

circuit. 

New Art Theatre Opened 

With The River' 

HARTFORD—Henry L. Needles, veteran 

Warner circuit division manager here who 

resigned recently, and associates opened the 

remodeled Rialto, renamed the Art, at 255 

Franklin Ave., Friday (28) with a capacity 

audience liberally sprinkled with area film 

industry, civic and political leaders. The attraction 

was "The River," at $1.20 top. 

The 700-seat Art is being managed by Mrs. 

Estelle Parker O'Toole, who served as executive 

secretary with Needles in the Warner 

Theatres division office here many years. 

More than $10,000 was spent by Needles 

and his associates, unidentified New York 

foreign film interests, in the extensive remodeling 

of the former Hartford Theatre 

circuit house. 

The service staff was garbed in attractive 

blue and red uniforms, topped by blue berets, 

with "Art Theatre" marking. 

"The River" was booked in for a week, with 

subsequent attractions to include "Dancing 

Years" and "Laughter in Paradise." 

Numerous floral bouquets were received on 

opening night from friends and former associates 

in the industry. 

The guest list included: Gov. and Mrs. 

John Lodge, Lieut. Gov. and Mrs. E. N. Allen. 

Mayor Joseph V. Cronin. City Manager Carleton 

Sharpe. Bill Mortensen of the Bu.shnell, 

A. M. Schuman, Gus Schaefer. Ernie Grecula, 

George Smith. Barney Pitkin, Joe Callahan, 

Joe Dolgin, Bert Jacocks. Cy O'Toole, 

Charlie Lowe and Jim McCarthy. 

Also Sam Harris. Bob Skinner. Bill Flanagan, 

Jim Cotoia, Angle Corradi and Joe 

Borenstein, Strand. New Britain. 

Telegraph messages were received from 

Harry F. Shaw, division manager, and Joe 

Vogel and John Murphy, Loew's Theatres: 

Ben Rosenberg, New England Theatres; Al 

Kane, Paramount, and E. X. Callahan, 20th- 

Fox. 

Numerous city political leaders were invited 

to the opening as guests of Needles. "Best 

of luck," said Mayor Cronin in a two-minute 

stage ceremony which preceded the opening. 

Import Resfricfions Withdrawn 

In June 1951. import restrictions on motion 

picture films from dollar account areas were 

withdrawn in Ceylon. 

BOXOFFICE January 5, 1952 NE 91

. . The 

. . More 

NEW HAMPSHIRE 

The Amoskeag Savings bank played host to 

the more than 2,000 members of its Hopalong 

Cassidy Savings club and children from 

all Manchester orphanages at a Hopalong 

Cassidy show at the State in that city on 

Monday morning (24) . . "Ski Champs," 

. 

featuring Zeno Colo of Italy and Dagmar 

Rom of Austria, was shown in the Concord 

City auditorium recently under auspices of 

the Concord Ski club. Proceeds were to 

benefit the U.S. winter Olympic team. 

At the year's final meeting of Mayor W. 

Frank Welch and the city council in Franklin, 

Roy Powell was appointed to contact 

the owners of the local theatre relative to 

improving their programs. The outgoing 

mayor went on record as being "disgusted 

with the type of second-rate shows which the 

theatre chain purchases to show to patrons 

here" . Colonial in Nashua was used 

by the St. George Community Players of Manchester 

for the presentation of a five-act play 

in Greek under sponsorship of the Church 

of Annunciation. 

The Manchester Drivc-In has been granted 

a permit by the city building department to 

construct an addition . than 100 children 

were treated to a Christmas turkey 

dinner by the American Legion post and later 

enjoyed a show at the Magnet Theatre. 

Theatres and other amusement establishments 

welcomed the news that the state planning 

and development commission has en- 

S. C. Swanson, Inc., New York and 

Manchester public relations firm, to publicize 

the Granite state's recreational, agricultural 

and industrial facilities. The firm 

will be paid $7,500 a year and its consultants 

will work closely with Deak Morse, information 

officer of the commission. 

The Park Theatre in Nashua was threatened 

when an adjoining three-story brick 

building housing the Bargain Outlet was destroyed 

by a fire which caused a total loss 

unofficially estimated at more than $200,000. 

Only a two-foot air space separated the theatre 

building from the store block, but firemen 

checked the spread of the flames with 

a blanket of water between the structures. 

Fifth Drive-In Theatre 

Started Near Hartford 

HARTFORD—Philip 

Maher and Peter Le- 

Roy have started construction of a 700-car 

drive-in suburban Bloomfield. The opening 

of the new ozoner will bring to five the number 

of drive-ins situated in tliis metropolitan 

area. The East Windsor, Pike, Hartford, 

Farmington being the other four. 

Sam D. Palmer Dies 

HARTFORD—Samuel Dimock Palmer, 69, 

retired newspaperman and former motion 

picture advertising and publicity director, 

died at a hospital in Danbury recently. He 

was director of advertising and publicity for 

Universal at one time and later was employed 

in the same capacity at Paramount 

studios. 

Myrna Loy and Husband 

Pick Legal Residence 

PROVIDENCE—Cinema star Myrna Loy 

and her husband, Howland Sargeant, a State 

department official will make nearby Warwick 

then- legal residence. Although they 

will vote in Warwick, they will reside in 

Washington where he is deputy assistant secretary 

for public affairs in the Department 

of State. Prom time to time Miss Loy will 

shuttle back and forth to Hollywood to make 

pictures. Miss Loy and her husband met 

with Mayor Mills in Warwick city hall recently, 

and fetchingly attired in a mink coat, 

she was surrounded by excited city employes. 

The couple had spent the holidays with Mrs. 

Motley Sargeant in New Bedford, and while 

in this area visited several friends in Providence 

and Apponaug. 

It was explained that the use of Rhode 

Island as a voting address was based on property 

owned by Sargeant in Warwipk. 

UA Sales Manager Named 

BOSTON—Kenneth G. Robinson has been 

promoted from salesman to sales manager 

at the UA exchange here. Harry Segal, manager, 

said Robinson replaces Irving Mendelson, 

who resigned to take over the branch 

managership of Lippert Films. A member of 

the class of 1921 at Syracuse university, Robinson 

has been with UA for four- years and 

was formerly with Paramount in New Haven, 

Albany, Buffalo and Boston. His home is in 

Newton. 

Smoking is forbidden in nearly all theatres 

in Italy.

" 

. . George 

. . Bonuses 

. . Thomas 

. . Some 

. . Harry 

. . John 

. . Joe 

. . 

. . 

. . 

. . Arthur 

" 

Want You' Oul Front HARTFORD New Drive-In Started 

In Boston Christmas 

BOSTON—Samuel Golclwyn's latest RKO 

release, "I Want You," was the percentage 

leader for Christmas week. It opened at 

the Aster the Saturday before to full houses, 

dropping off only on Christmas day, as did 

many others, due to the storm. Christmas 

day in this city could be called "Quo Vadis" 

day, with the opening of the feature at Loew's 

Orpheum at 9 a. m. and at Loew's State at 

11:30. Both theatres got off to slow starts 

but by 2 p. m. business was booming. Despite 

the season's first major snowstorm, the Orpheum 

was forced to stop selling tickets 

from 8 to 9 p. m., with long lines of patrons 

waiting in the snow. Although the State did 

not entirely fill up, business was considered 

very good. 


Astor— I Wont You (RKO) 190 

Beacon Hill—A Christmas Carol (UA), Oliver 

Twist (UA), 2nd 

-The C) Kid (U-I), Unknown World 

(LP) 

75 

eter Street—The Clouded Yellow (Col) 150 

Memorial—On Dangerous Ground (RKO), Leave 

to the Marines (LP) It 85 

Melropohton—The Man With a Cloak (MGM); Mr. 

Imperium (MGM) 75 

Paramount and Fenway-Crosswinds (Para); The 

Highvrayman (Mono) 80 

Slate and Orpheum—Callaway Went Thataway 

(MGM); The Light Touch (MGM), 5 days 75 

Slate and Orptieum—Quo Vadis (MGM), 2 days.. ..180 

Herbert Copelan to Cuba 

NEW HAVEN—Herbert Copelan, Warner 

Theatres New Haven zone film booker and 

buyer who was transferred to this territory 

three months ago from New York, has resigned 

to take an active part in theatre interests 

in Cuba. 

>. ALBERT DEZEL PROD., INC. 

831 So Wabash—Chicago 

2 

o Now Booking Your ^^r^ 

Territory. 

.^^*f^S^ 

Tûmerous independent houses throughout 

the territory closed the day before Christmas, 

an annual policy, with the majority opening 

with new attractions on Christmas day , 

Five downtown first runs contributed guest 

tickets to the YMCA for a Christmas morning 

gift to .servicemen. The Poll, Palace, 

Allyn, E. M, Loew's and Strand. 

The Perakos circuit has reopened the Palace 

in New Britain following extensive remodeling. 

John D'Amato is manager . 

Earl Sidney has resigned as chief of the 

service at the Colonial . F. Shaw. 

Lou Brown and Morris Mendlesohn of the 

Loew's Poll were in town . Giobbi, 

Crown manager, was on a New York trek. 

James M. Totman, assistant zone manager, 

conferred with Jim McCarthy, Strand, and 

Joe Stanwood, Regal . 1,400 Stamford 

children were guests of the Stamford 

Police Ass'n at the annual Christmas party 

in the Plaza Theatre. Every child received 

a gift . . . Two officers of Local 439, lATSE, 

New London, were in town. They were Fred 

Nowell, business agent, and Byron McClellan, 

president. Both men were projectionists at 

the ATC's Capitol in the Whaling city. 

FALL RIVER 

Hartford Business Fair 

In Poor Weather 

HARTFORD—Ti-ade wan about fair, with 

poor weather hindering downtown and .sub- 

. 

urban business to a great extent. 

Ctaff members, including Margaret Marlow, 

Allyn—My Favorite Spy (Para); Unknown World Maureen Harrington and Edna Hughes, 

offered Christmas carols and recitations at 

(LP) 110 

E M. Loew—The Bareiool Mailman (Col); The 

the Empire Theatre Christmas party at which 

Family Secret (Col) 90 

Poll— Elopement (20lh-Fox); Mr, Imperium (MGM) 80 Publicity Director William S. Canning and 

Palace— Callaway Went Thataway (MGM), Heart 

the Rockies (Rep) 

his wife were guests. John McAvoy gave 

oi 75 

Peqal— Crazy Over Horses (Mono); Spoilers oi the bonuses to the staff in behalf of Nathan Yamins 

. Dabb has resumed the 

Plains (Rep) 65 

Strand-Double Dynamite (RKO); Obsessed (U-I).. 90 

management of the Capitol, with James 

Knight going to the Durfee as a.ssistant to 

Paul Slayer were given to all 

employes of the Yamins Theatres, including 

the Durfee, Park, Capitol and Center. 

Cari Zeitz portrayed Santa Claus at the 

Academy Theatre holiday party, giving 

bonuses to all employes with the assistance 

of Manager Earl Johnson. Employes exchanged 

gifts. Present were former Academy 

employes Violet Chadwick, now in the 

air corps, and former usher John French. 

Manuel Rodriques cabled greetings from Germany. 

Director Norman Zaikind of the Strand has 

been appointed chairman in charge of the 

sports night program sporLsored by the Brown 

ilub of Fall River . Pacheco, 11. 

suffered contusions and abrasions in a fall 

from a balcony stairway at the Durfee Theatre. 

The boy fell from the top landing of 

the stairway, but could offer no details of the 

accident. He was treated at St. Anne's hospital. 

Near Burlington, Vt. 

BURLINGTON, VT.—A 400-car drive-in 

theatre is being constructed on an 11-acre 

site four miles north of Middlebury on Route 7, 

the Burlington-Rutland highway, by Mr. and 

Mrs. Edward J. Morin and Mr. and Mrs. O. F. 

Barr. The Barrs own the Malletts Bay Drive- 

In near here, which recently completed its 

third season. The Morins are new to the 

motion picture business. 

Equipment has been purchased from National 

Theatre Supply at Boston and practically 

all of it is on hand. 

The new drive-in, to be called the Mid- 

Haven, is expected to open about May 1. 

BOSTON 

'Uarold .'\rmistead, projectionist at the RKO 

Memorial, and Frank Comerford, projectionist 

at the Uptown, have been qualified as 

master service technicians by General Electric 

TV. Both are members of Local 182. 

Frank Laby, another member, collapsed at his 

home and is now recuperating at St. EUzabeth's 

Nat Purst, Monogram 

hospital . . . district manager, was in town for the Christmas 

holidays combining business and pleasure. 

He spent Christmas day with his grandchildren. 

James Connolly, manager at 20th-Fox, was 

chairman of the local metal salvage drive for 

the district, collecting the critical material 

by sending around a truck . . E. X. Calla- 

. 

han, Atlantic division manager for 20th-Fox, 

called a two-day branch managers' meeting 

in the Boston office with James Connolly, 

Boston: Sam Diamond, Philadelphia; John 

. . . Al Fowler, 

Feloney, acting manager in New Haven, and 

Glenn Morris, Washington 

well-known publicist from this area, has temporarily 

dropped from the business to open 

a women's specialty shop in his home town 

of Newburyport. It is called "The Band Box, 

which he is running with his wife Helen. 

Good luck in your new venture, Al. 

Sympathy to Harry Wasserman. district 

manager for American Theatres Corp., in the 

death of his mother, Mrs. Rebecca Wasserman, 

at the age of 96 . Lockwood 

. . . 

of Lockwood & Gordon Enterprises and his 

young son Roger flew to Florida for a week 

of sun and golf during the holidays 

Phil Engel, 20th-Fox publicist, cut his finger 

so badly while carving the Christmas turkey 

that he required hospital treatment. 

WILLIAM RISEMAN 

ASSOCIATES 

WHEN YOU NEED 


?.'GOOD' AND F-A-S-r 

SCND 

^^ 

YOVR ORDER rO 

CHICAGO, 1327 S. Wabash - NEW YORK. 630 Ninth Av. 

The Empire was the scene of the annual 

children's Christmas party .sponsored by the 

textile workers union. More than 2,000 children 

were entertained . O'Connor, 

owner-operator, gave bonuses to all employes 

of his Plaza Theatre on Christmas eve . 

Norman Zaikind was host to Strand Theatre 

employes at a dinner and party held at the 

Lamplighter. Bonuses w'ere given to employes 

bv Zaikind and his wife. 

Theatre Specialists in 

Remodeling and 

Redecorating 

162 NewbuFT Street BosU 


. 

: 

/ 

SHIPTAID WOODWODKINC RAIIROAO 

Were a//in t/)B s6ee/ix/^/ne^ 

ik^ 

PUailC 

WOIKS illCTIICAL oooos 

^tk iiL 'M^ 

îi 

FOOD PRODUCTS 

k 

pniioiiuM 

FOR EACH OF US TO GET MORE STEEL . . . AND PRODUCTS MADE OF STEEL . . . 

WE'VE GOT TO PROVIDE MORE SCRAP TO MAKE THE STEEL. 

Half the melting stock used in the 

steel mill or iron foundry consists of 

iron and steel scrap. In normal times, 

enough scrap is produced by the mills, 

foundries, railroads, fabricators and 

scrap dealers to fill the need. 

But now the mills have stepped up 

capacity to meet the greatly increased 

military and civilian demands for steel. 

And that increased capacity has outstepped 

the supply of scrap. 

That is why we are calling on plants 

in both metal-working and NON- 

METAL-WORKING industries to provide 

the needed scrap NOW. 

you have the heavy scrap 

needed to make more steel 

Enough obsolete machinery, equipment 

and parts are being carried as 

useless inventory to give a big push to 

the production of steel. Surveys have 

proved this. 

The trick is to get that old steel into 

the hands of the steel producers. 

We're putting that job up to you. 

To help maintain steel production . . 

provide more steel for the equipment 

you want . . . turn in your idle iron 

and steel to your local scrap dealer. 

What you can do to help 

maintain steel production 

1. Appoint one top official in your plant 

to take full responsibility for surveying 

the plant and getting out the scrap. 

2. Consult with your local Scrap Mobilization 

Committee about its program 

to help out in the scrap crisis. For 

chairman's name, check with your 

Chamber of Commerce, or the nearest 

Thia adcerUtement la a contribution. In the national Interest, bu 

office of the National Production Authority, 

Department of Commerce. 

3. Call in your local scrap dealer to 

help you work out a practical scrapping 

program. Non-ferrous scrap is needed, 

too. 

4. Write for free booklet, "Top Management: 

Your Program For Emergency 

Scrap Recovery", addressing Advertising 

Council, 25 W. 45 St., New 

York 19, N. Y. 

mSeRAPPy SMS 

ourns 

70PA/... 

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B O X O F F I C 

E 


i-iuiujjuiinuL ^lM^^ws^^ll^^»ww|,sAF..s^!)w^l^^^w»w^JW»Ml»l^l!ll^Ha^^

. . Lloyd 

. . An 

. . The 

Cameo Short Spots 

Highlights of 1952 

MONTREAL—The drama of a year's progress 

in Canada is portrayed in Associated 

Screen's Studios' latest Canadian Cameo 

short, "Canadian Headlines of 1951." Now 

being released throughout the country, it 

summarizes in ten minutes the tempo of life 

in this country in the last 12 months. 

Problems of defense at home and abroad 

are spotlighted, for sports fans there are 

shots of the battling for the Stanley Cup and 

the Grey Cup, signs of progress include the 

opening of the CBC's new radio building in 

Montreal, and shots of the first oil pipeline 

from the lush Alberta oil fields. One somber 

note is struck in Red Hill's abortive and 

tragic attempt to conquer Niagara Falls in a 

homemade container. And, of course, there 

are scenes of the whirlwind tour of Princess 

Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh. Reviewers 

who have seen "Canadian Headlines 

of 1951" state that Director Gordon Sparling's 

perceptive handling of action, dialog and 

background music has re.sulted in a reel that 

is jam-packed with action and a wide scope 

of subject matter. 

Sam Sternberg Buried 

TORONTO—The funeral service for Samuel 

Sternberg, widely known theatre company 

executive, was held December 24 at Holy 

Blossom temple. A large number of mourners 

testified to the esteem in which he had 

been held for many years. 

Immediate .survivors are his wife Dora, 

three daughters and a brother, Arthur of Toronto. 

The deceased started in the theatre 

business at the Aliens in Calgary in 1911. 

He moved to Toronto in 1916 and, for many 

years, he had been a head office official of 

B&F Theatres. 

'Out of Evil' Premieres 

TORONTO—'With the promotional cooperation 

of the Zionist organization, "Out of 

Evil," produced in Israel and distributed by 

Alliance Films, had an excellent start at the 

Studio on College street. The campaign was 

organized by Lionel and Bob Lester. 

More NFB Bookings 

OTTAWA—The annual report of the National 

Film Board for the 1950-51 year 

brought out that bookings into licensed theatres 

had increased from 4,471 to 5,129, distribution 

being made through Columbia Pictures 

of Canada. The li.st of theatres in foreign 

countries, which booked NFB releases, 

shrank from 14,828 to 10.512. The board turned 

out 187 films, compared with 177 in the previous 

year, and 18 NFB pictures won awards 

or prizes at international festivals. During 

the 12 months, the staff of NFB had been 

reduced from 577 to 533. 

New Product to Cardinal 

TORONTO—New product has been lined 

up for Canadian distribution by Cardinal 

Films, of which Harry J. Allen is president, 

in securing the franchise for releases of Mutual 

Productions Corp. Moe Kerman of New 

York is the president of the latter company. 

Associated with him is Jack Dietz, Hollywood 

producer. 

Popcorn Tax Explained 

By Winnipeg Oilicial 

WINNIPEG—Provincial Treasurer C. M. 

Fines this week denied charges made in 

Saskatoon that popped corn was subject to a 

3 per cent education and hospitalization tax. 

Fines told reporters of the Regina Leader 

Post that under federal regulations, the popcorn, 

which is not taxable before being 

popped, is taxable after the popping takes 

place. 

"It is then subject to the usual 10 per cent 

dominion excise tax, since the process of 

popping is presumed to be manufacturing." 

A. A. Brown, Saskatchewan liberal association 

president, caused the fu.ss by charging 

that an exhibitor friend of his was assessed 

$140 in taxes arising from his popcorn concession. 

'River' at Toronto 

TORONTO—The Towne Cinema, 

directed 

by Mrs. Yvonne Taylor, returned to the roadshow 

policy with the Canadian premiere of 

"The River." relea.sed by United Artists. The 

picture started an unlimited engagement at 

advanced prices, 35 cents to $1. At the International 

Cinema, "Laughter in Paradise" continued 

through the Christmas season for its 

13th week. 

07T A\/\/ A 

•Phe contract of VV. Arthur Irwin as government 

film commissioner will be renewed 

for a new two-year term at a salary of $15.- 

000 a year. Irwin, who directs the operations 

of the National Film Board, succeeded 

Ross McLean who went to the UNESCO in 

Because of the school holidays 

Paris . . . 

during Christmas week. Bob Maynard, owner 

of the Francais, canceled his French film 

program Thursday night but the weekly series 

will be resumed January 3 with the .showing 

of "Maitre Deforge." 

Viscount Alexander, the governor general, 

attended "Royal Journey" at the Capitol. 

The color film records the recent tour of 

Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh 

. B. Whitham. member of a 

widely known theatre family at Cornwall, 

died after an illness of two weeks in hospital. 

The son of Mr. and Mrs. A. V. Whitham, he 

had served with the RCAP in the second 

world war and was on the staff of the Capitol 

at Cornwall. Surviving, besides his parents, 

are his wife, two brothers and a sister. 

Manager Ernie Warren of the dual Elgin 

had two holdovers for a second week. "Ten 

Tall Men" was playing at the main Elgin and 

"Laughter in Paradi.se" was at the little Elgin 

... As added attraction at the Famous 

Players' Capitol in Peterboro was the concert 

appearance at the Saturday's film show 

of the crack choir of Canada Packers. Ltd. 

Manager Milt Ross of the Century had an 

appropriate attraction with the playing of 

United Artists' "A Christmas Carol" during 

the holidays . office of the organization 

for the 1952 Canadian Film Awards has 

been established at 172 Wellington St.. with 

E. R. McEwan as manager . Shawville 

Theatre at nearby Shawville was crowded 

with children for a holiday party sponsored 

by the Lions club. 

Tavorile Spy' Is Top 

Grosser in Toronto 

TORONTO—With severe winter conditions 

continuing and travel around town a problem, 

theatres found gros.ses affected even 

though popular attractions were offered for 

the holiday season. Business on Boxing 

day (26) was better than the returns on 

Christmas day. generally speaking. Top 

gros.ser was "My Favorite Spy" at the Imperial. 


Biltmorp—Rocky Mountain (WB); Prison Ship (SR). 110 

Fairlawn—Valley oi the Eagles (lARO); High! to 

Mars (Mono) 100 

Hyland~The Lavender Hill Mob (JARO), 8th wk. 85 

Imperial~My Favorite Spy (Para) 145 

LoewsÂcross the Wide Missouri (MGM) 130 

Odeon—Ivory Hunter (lAHO) 110 

Shea's—The Family Secret (Col) 95 

University, Nortown—Double Dynamite 115 

(RKO) 

Uptov/n—Weekend With Father (U-I) 120 

Victoria, Eglinton—The Wooden Horse (London); 

The Royal Journey (Col) - 130 

— 'Favorite Spy' Paces First Runs 

—At Vancouver— 10 pt 

VANCOUVER—"My Favorite Spy" at the 

Capitol, "Across the Wide Missouri" at the 

Orpheum and "Golden Horde" at the Vogue 

held up nicely in the downtown spots. 

Capitol— My Favorite Spy (Para) Good 

Cinema—Two Tickets to Broadway (RKO); 

Roadblock (RKO), 2nd d t wk Average 

Dominion- Texas Carnival (MGM), 3rd d. t. wk...Fair 

Orphpu:;;- Across the Wide Missouri (MGM) Good 

Plaza— Anne of the Indies (20th-Fox) Fair 

Stale—The Red House iCol), plus stage show.. .Good 

Strand- Elopement (ITlili Fox); Royal lourney 

Average 

(Col) 

Studio—No Highway in the Sky (20th-Fox) Fair 

Vogue—The Colden Horde (U-I) Good 

Missing Letters Contest 

TORONTO—The Vanity, a 20th Century 

Theatres unit at Windsor, put across an interesting 

contest in behalf of two subsequentrun 

features, the titles of which were used 

for the novel competition. The public was 

invited to fill in the missing letters in the 

pictures' names, with passes being offered 

for the first 50 correct replies. What appeared 

on the entry blanks was the following: 

. ..O....S....N ....I....G.... A....A....N and 

C....V....R 

....L...L 

The correct answer, of course, was "JoLson 

Sings Again" and "Cover Girl"—in case you 

didn't get it. 

Drew McKenna Dead 

TORONTO— Active for many years in the 

theatre and film business. Drew McKenna, 

67. died at his home here of coronary thrombosis. 

After as.sociation with the film distributing 

sphere, in more recent years he had 

dealt in theatrical and stage supplies and was 

the director of grandstand shows at the Canadian 

National exhibition, as well as Quebec 

pageants. 

Survivors are his wife and three sisters. 

Late Christmas Openings 

TORONTO—Practically all first run and 

key neighborhood theatres gave their staffs 

almost a half-holiday on Christmas day to 

enable employes to enjoy extra hours with 

their families. Some theatres which normally 

open at 9:30 a. m. each day did not start their 

first holiday shows until 2:45 p. m. or later. 

A number of the neighborhood theatres which 

regularly run continuous performances afternoon 

and night did not open until 5:30 p. m. 

BOXOFTICE January 5, 1952 K 95

. 

. . Ferg 

. . There 

. . Stan 

" 

M ARITIMES 

welcome at the Kent in suburban Spryfield. 

for railroad 

Compliments 

workers, their wives and children, 

many of whom live here. 

§ 

of the 

I The manager of the Kent is a retired railway 

man, 

Season 

named George Heffler. He does 

the repair and renovating work at the theatre 

and not long ago he gave the marquee 

, 

H. BERNSTEIN and the front a reconditioning. The Kent, 

Subscription 

which is in the Walker chain, is headed by 

Representative for 

Malcolm Walker, his uncle. The Kent is 

1 BOXOFFICE 

closed during the mornings and afternoons 

P, O. Box 481 — Toronto, 

I 

Ont. 

except Saturday, giving Heffler an opportunity 

to improve conditions without inter- 

Queens Hotel - - 

I 

Montreal, Que. g 

ing, which proved to be a product of the 16th 

century. It was turned over to him at a low 

price. He had it reconditioned and examined 

by an art expert, and found it was worth a 

n dvertising distribution by Columbia, 20th- hefty sum, about $2,000. It now is hanging 

Fox and RKO exchanges at St. John, covering 

in the Franklin home at Lancaster Heights. 

the maritimes, has been discontinued. 

Pre.sent indications are also that Monogram- Theatre tickets are favored by the Maritime 

Poster Exchange, St. John, as gifts not 

Eagle Lion will soon abandon the supplying 

of advertising material ... At the annual only during the Yuletide and New Year's 

meeting of the Tuberculosis Ass'n of St. John, seasons, but at other times of the year. People 

P. Gordon Spencer, vice-president of the 

who do favors for the exchange or any 

F. G. Spencer Co., was renamed president. member of the staff, are given theatre 

tickets, in either pairs or books. Manager 

Maurice Elman, sponsor of a new advertising 

Maurie Elman contends that distributing the 

supply service at St. John, known as the theatre tickets proves to exhibitors that he 

Maritime Poster Exchange, has been considering 

is buttering their bread. 

establishing a chess class for the win- 

A committee set up by several organizations 

ter. He has had a number of inquires from 

in St. John last spring to advise theatre 

people desiring instruction and coaching. 

operators on pictures suitable for children, 

He has been active as a chess player for many 

and which suspended operations for .several 

years and is one of the leaders in the chess 

months, is back in harness. Each weekend 

club at St. John. He was formerly maritime 

local advertising is bought to acquaint the 

manager for Alliance Films. 

public with the rulings of the committee. 

At the annual meeting of the Shaarei Steve Doane, chairman of the Nova Scotian 

Zedek synagogue, St. John, Joshua Lieberman. 

partner in B&L Theatres, was again tion of exhibitors a rule which calls for dis- 

censor board, has been calling to the atten- 

named president. He has long been active play of cards stipulating that an order from 

in the congregation, particularly during current 

the board labels a film as suitable only for 

expansion and improvement plans at adults. It is contended that some exhibitors 

the synagogue. 

At the Palace Theatre, in the north end of 

have not been showing the tag of the censor 

board and that others have not been displaying 

it where it can be seen easily. 

St. John, used for auction sales, Mitchell The order from the board is that the label 

Franklin, vice-president of the FrankUn & must be shown where tickets are sold, as well 

Herschorn chain and owner of the Palace, 

as in newspaper, billboard and window advertising. 

There is no clearly defined order 

dropped into the building for an inspection. 

He became interested in the sales talk of the from the board that tickets can be sold only 

auctioneer, particularly when a painting was to adults. 

submitted for attention. The canvas was 

dust-laden, .soiled and damaged. However, 

Franklin found him.self bidding for the paint- Former Railroader Heads 

Suburban Halifax House 

HALIFAX—There is a special appeal and 

ruption. 

HANDY SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM 

BOXOFFICE: 

825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 1, Mo. 

Please enter my subscription to BOXOFFICE. 52 issues per year (13 ol which con 

lain The MODERN THEATRE Section). 

D S3.00 FOR I YEAR Q $5.00 FOR 2 YEARS D S7.00 FOR 3 YEARS 

D Remittance Enclosed Send Invoice 

THEATRE 

STREET ADDRESS 

TOWN 

NAME 

POSITION 

STATE.. 

TORONTO 

The last call has gone out to all barkers of 

Toronto Tent 28 for active support for the 

most inviting of all Variety benefit performances, 

the January 10 show at the 3,343-seat 

Imperial, for which the main attraction is 

the premiere of "The Greatest Show on 

Earth" and the per-sonal appearance of Betty 

Hutton. Jack Arthur is giving the final polishing 

to his stage production and Gordon 

Lightstone is busy as ticket chairman. 

Manager W. C. Tyers of the Odeon reaped 

extra business during Christmas week with 

a cartoon show for juveniles each morning 

at 11 o'clock during the school holidays . . . 

Gordon MacRae, a Warner star, was the 

headliner for the stage bill at Murray Little's 

Casino for the week beginning December 27. 

In a history of the theatre, Ella Reynolds, 

former dramatic critic, has brought out that 

the once-famous Summers Stock Co. at Hamilton 

produced a number of players who 

later made a name for themselves in Hollywood 

and New 'York. Those mentioned included 

Walter Huston, Douglas Dumbrille, 

Harry Ingram, Alfreda Lasche and WiUiam 

Blake. 

The engagement of "Laughter in Paradise 

at the Cinema in Hamilton has been extended 

to a third week. This is a unit of 20th Century 

Theatres . was no interruption 

to performances at the Victory on Spadina 

avenue, where an early morning fire occurred 

in the basement, causing an estimated $6,000 

damage. Two maintenance men were rescued 

from the blinding smoke by firemen. 

The successor to C. J. Appel as exploitation 

director of Loew's and the Uptown in Toronto 

IS William L. Campbell, a former newspaper 

man of Guelph . Clemson and David 

Wansbrough are the partners in an enterprise 

called Northern Pictures at 370 Bloor 

St. East . Martin is the coach of the 

hockey team of Theatre Confections, Ltd., 

which has been entered in a Toronto commercial 

league. 

LaRue Oaters to Alliance 

TORONTO—Alliance Films, independent 

film exchange headed by Ray Lewis, has 

signed a contract for Canadian distribution 

of six westerns featuring Lash LaRue. the 

group comprising "The Daltons' Women," 

"Black Lash," "Frontier Phantom," "Vanishing 

Outpost," "Thundering Trail" and "King 

of the BuUwhip." Alliance Films has specialized 

to a considerable extent with Italian 

productions, including a number of operas. 

Hold 'Evil' Premiere 

TORONTO—Lionel and Bob Lester, coowners 

of the Studio, latest art center, opened 

the Canadian premiere engagement of "Out 

of Evil" for the holiday week. This picture, 

filmed in Israel, captured a grand prize at 

the International Film festival in Venice. 

'Peek-a-Boo' at Astor 

TORONTO—The Astor, operated by the 

Ulsters, was again in the art-film class with 

the first run presentation of "Mr. Peek-a- 

Boo," a film from Europe. 

There are 103 motion picture theatres in 

Ceylon with a seating capacity of approximately 

75,000. 

96 


. . Charles 

. . The 

. . Bernard 

. . . Prior 

. . . Grattan 

. . Bob 

. . Associated 

VANCOUVER 

Mew slate of officers for Local F-71 front 

office film exchange workers, include 

president, Theo Ross. JARO: vice-president. 

Bill Grant. RKO: secretary- treasurer. Alice 

Gladding, Universal; recording secretary. 

Jackie McDermott. MGM: business agent. Vi 

Yates. Empire-Universal, and Larry Strick. 

Columbia, sergeant at arms . Silver, 

sales manager of a local sound equipment 

company, reports that a revolutionary 16mm 

film projector will be on the market soon. 

The claim is that its Apollo projector, which 

weighs only 16 pounds, delivers film sound 

through the speaker in home radio sets. He 

said the secret lies in a tiny oscillator in the 

projector and that no changes in the radio 

are required. Patent~s are pending. 

A new $60,000 theatre, with a seating capacity 

of 350. will be started in January at 

Parksville on Vancouver Island. It will be 

located in the center of the town, which is 

22 miles from Nanaimo. Committee in charge 

of the project includes: Wallet Shelly, chairman: 

Stanley Johnson, secretary, and George 

Wilson, publicity. The town is now serviced 

by a 16mm circuit show weekly. The new 

theatre will play six nights weekly and show 

35mm pictures. 

Shirl Wilson, British Columbia manager for 

Perkins Electric, held an open house prior 

to Christmas. He was host to around 50 

business friends in his new quarters near 

Filmrow . . . Al Jenkins. Vogue manager, and 

Ivan Ackery, Orpheum, had successful parties 

for their staffs on Christmas eve. 

Franli Gow, Famous Players district manager 

who was hospitalized, is recuperating at 

home and is expected to return to his office 

soon . . . Eddie Zetterman. manager of the 

Columbia, New Westminster, is very ill in 

Columbia hospital . . . Bill McMillan of the 

Dominion is recuperating after a heart attack 

in a local hospital ... A local film 

critic pays his respects to the censors as 

follows: "Canada's motion picture censors 

are made up, to a large extent, of people who 

have won their jobs either as a result of political 

pull or charm of manners. Some of 

them are con.scientious, but few of them, to 

my knowledge, have any appreciable training 

for the job." 

Margaret Chapman replaced Lilian Harrison 

at RKO . Adam of the Tillicum 

Theatre at Terrace in northern British 

buy- 

Columbia was on Filmrow doing his fall 

ing and booking. He reports that business is 

very good in his section, with plenty of new 

construction under way . Lougheed 

Drive-In at Burnaby is the second outdoor 

theatre to close for the season. The FPC 

drive-in near Nanaimo closed three weeks 

ago. 

Bill McMillan of the Dominion, who was 

hospitalized for two months after a severe 

heart attack, is home but will not be able 

to return to the theatre for some time yet. 

• POSTERS • 

PUT PEP INTO SHOW BUSINESS 

Use Our Rental Service 

THEATRE POSTER EXCHANGE 

CALGARY 

Phones: 

609A 8th Ave. W. Bus. 64919— Res. 22514 

Montreal Video Station 

Delayed by Weather 

MONTREAL—The weather, which is 

being 

blamed for practically everything these days, 

is partially responsible for the fact that a 

delay has occurred in local television plans. 

Last August. Raymond Matte, of Raymond 

Matte. Ltd., contractor, .said that he had 

signed a contract with the CBC for construction 

of a one-story building to house transmitter 

equipment for the 283-foot television 

tower the CBC will erect on the mountain. 

The building was to be completed by December 

15 at a cost of $150,000. 

Matte reported recently that the laying of 

stone for the new building probably will not 

be completed before the end of January. He 

said that weather and inside changes required 

in the building were responsible. When 

the building is completed work will start on 

a TV aerial, but according to recent news reports, 

a shortage of steel may delay this. 

Thus the forecast that the first experimental 

television broadcast would take place 

about a year after the turning of the first 

sod—June 1951—now seems to have been too 

optimistic. 

MONTREAL 

"Their Christmas celebrations over, those of 

the Filmrow staffs who were not out of 

town had immediately to prepare for the New 

Year's invasion of visitors, and a succession 

of parties kept everyone in good humor and 

no doubt paved the way for pleasant business 

relations in 1952. "A Happy and Pi-osperous 

New Year" was the wish echoed by everyone 

to Christmas, Empire-Universal 

and Sovereign Films held a combined party, 

with managers Mickey Isman and Lucille 

Fillioux, host and hostess, respectively. 

. . . Gordon 

Harry Cohen, manager of RKO, received at 

the company's cocktail party December 19 

Kiely. manager of Warner Bros., 

welcomed guests December 27 

Dann, .supervisor for General Theatres (Quebec') 

wa,s host at his home for Odeon Theatre 

managers, friends and office staff at a cocktail 

. 

party Johnson, manager for J. 

Arthur Rank, greeted guests at a similar celebration 

December 18. 

.\ Christmas show to which children were 

admitted by special di.spensation of the 

Quebec provincial government, which bans 

juveniles from most motion picture exhibitions, 

was held at His Majesty's, where the 

picture shown was "The Wizard of Oz." 

starring Judy Garland. Beckman, the Canadian 

magician, was the stage attraction . . . 

In preparation for the inauguration of television 

in Canada. CBC is sending a program 

director to London to attend a special television 

course offered by the CBC television 

school. 

"L'Assasinat du Pere Noel" (The A.ssassination 

of Father Christmas) was a rather 

startling Christmas film from France, presented 

by the Cine club. It stars Louis 

Jouvet and Bernard Blier . . . The Seville 

gave a two-hour "Kiddies Carnival" on the 

stage, high spot of which was "Goldilocks" 

and her five live acrobatic bears . . . "Flying 

Skis." a six-minute short filmed in the Laurentlans, 

is being shown to .sports lovers at 

the Palace . Screen News 

filmed "Canadian Headlines of 1951" for its 

Canadian Cameo .series. 

RESEARCH BUREAU 

for 

MODERN THEATRE PLANNERS 

ENROLLMENT FORM FOR THE INFORMATION 

The MODERN THEATRE 

PLANNING INSTITUTE 


k'nnsa.'? City 1, Mo. 

Gentlemen: 

Please enroll us in your RESEARCH BUREAU 

lo receive information regularly, as released, on 

the following subjects for Theatre Planning: 

n Acoustics 

n Lighting Fixtures 

n Air Conditioning q plumbing Fixtures 

Architectural Service 

n Projectors 


Projection Lamps 

n Building Material 

n Seating 

n Carpets 

1—1 • r- n/i i." n Signs and Marquees 

U Coin Machines 

i—i ^ n 

D Complete Remodeling Sound Equipment 

D Decorating H Television 

n Drink Dispensers [H Theatre Fronts 

n Drive-In Equipment G Vending Equipment 

D Other Subjects 

Theatre 

Seating Capacity.. 

Address 

City 

State 

Signed 

Postoge-poid reply cards for your further convenience 

in obtaining information are provided in The MODERN 

THEATRE RED KEY SECTION (Nov. 24, 1951). 


. . Buy, 

kaHTORS 

.uiy^3.^95^ 

surely ^"^ -V: a^^ «ts fro"" il tiieffl- .^êr 

the *e oi*«^' to 

tê °^'' 

^ letter 

of ^ ^«**"' .fvce ads. 

mm 

;*«W!¥«*^' ...,-.*^'' 

"Complete turnover in 

Results like this ctre reported frequently by 

BOXOFFICE advertisers from everywhere. Reach 

this tremendous market — these thousands of exhibitors 

with money to spend—with YOUR advertising 

and reap similar rewards . 

trade, find help or position through . 

. . 

2 weeks" 

sell, 

BOXOFFICE CLEARING HOUSE 

Want Ads That Get BIG RESULTS at Little Cost 

98 BOXOFHCE January 5, 1952

\ 

SECTION 

r»»; 

featuring 

JUesian 

and 

on&truction 

JANUARY 5, 1952

"OtteCTimUIIII.IL I.]MI1,II1M^M>»I

there's nothing like a modern, 

well -lighted attraction board . . . 

large enough for plenty of powerful 

sales copy and enough letters to 

spell it out as you plan it— with a 

variety of sizes and colors to lend 

emphasis. 

BIG PANELS 

AND GOOD COPY 

ARE GETTING THE BUSINESS! 

There are Wagner frames for all conditions 

—letters in plastic and aluminum in the widest 

range of sizes and colors. 

Exclusive features make 

them the most favored. 

BOXOFTICE :: January 5, 1952

— 

If it's Better... You'll find it in... 

HEYWOOD- 

WAKEFIELD 

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SPONGEX 

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Here at last is a luxurious all sponge rubber rug 

cushion that costs no more tlian fiber and composition 

paddings! It's Spongex Ripple . . . modern in 

its cleanliness . . . unequalled by any other kind of 

underlay in its lasting cushioning action under rugs! 

Made entirel) of super soft sponge rubber, Spongex 

Ripple is designed with thousands of intersupporting 

arches. Air pockets under each arch as well as soft 

sponge rubber cushion each footstep. Any rug laid 

over Ripple becomes airy and luxuriously soft. 

Only brUNuLA Kir r Lt can provide all 

these advantages- 

Makes any rug luxuriously soft to walk on! • Is moth and vermin ])roof — iiuii-allergenic! 

Is clean — cannot shed any fibers or hairs about floor! • Keeps small rugs from skidding, even on smooth floors! 

• Costs no more than most fiber and composition paddings! 

Specify that your rugs and carpeting be laid over 

Spongex Ripple. Clients and patrons will thrill to the 

luxurious comfort of this amazing rug cushion. And 

Ripple's low cost will please the man who pays the bill. 

Spongex Ripple is available in weights of IS oz. and 

60 oz. per sq. yard. For free samples and further information 

about Spongex Ripple see your floor covering 

dealer, or write us today. 

THE SPONGE RUBBER PRODUCTS CO., 5 16 

Derby Place, Shelton, Conn 

SPONGEX' 


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American Bodiform Chair No. 16-001 

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Star billing for re-seating-for comfort and long service 

When you re-seat with the supreme comfort and beauty 

AMERICAN 

of American Bodiform Chairs, you'll find the customers 

coming back often! That's why so many famous theatres 

standardize on Bodiform Chairs, year after year. Installations 

remain in excellent condition after many years 

of continuous service. Write for latest color brochure. 

c^/neiica/i Smtinff G^rnfia/iy 

WORLD'S LEADER IN PUBLIC SEATING 

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Manufaclwers of Theatre, School, Church, Auditorium, Transportation, Stadium Seoting, and folding Chairs 

The MODERN THEATRE SECTION

JANUARY 5, 1952 

o n t n t 

Jewel Colors Gleam in New Showcase 8 

"Showmanship" in Theatre Building Materials 10 

Good Impressions Begin— Where? 14 

Wall Treatments to Glamorize Theatres Michael J. DeAngelis 16 

Remodeling Lops 15 Feet From Theatre Yet Creates More 

Spacious Feeling 20 

A Manual of Preventive Maintenance, Part VIII L. E. Pope 22 

Keep the Generator Clean and Properly Oiled With All the 

Electrical Connections Tight for Long, Troubie-Free 

Operation Wesley Trout 24 

Added Profits From Chewing Gum Sales Outweigh Cleaning 

Problems Incurred Nevin I. Gage 31 

Expanding Potential Market Viewed by Popcorn Men at 

Industry Convention 38 

A Manual of Drive-In Design and Operation, 

Part XVI George M. Petersen 40 

The Drive-In Question Corner 45 

DEPARTMENTS 

Projection and Sound 24 Advertising Index 44 

Refreshment Service 31 New Equipment and 

Drive-in Theatres 40 Developments 47 

Readers' Service Bureau 43 Literature 50 

ON THE COVER 

About People and Product 51 

To save weight (and cost) on towering signs or pylons, porcelain 

enamel's light weight comes in handy. Form and color present 

no problems in porcelain enamel since any shape possible in sheet 

steel can be porcelain enameled. Note the brushes, palette and simulated 

color chips— all in brilliant shades of porcelain enamel — 

on this identification sign of the Esquire Theatre Dallas. Tex. The 

entire facia, marquee and sign are of porcelain enamel in contrasting 

colors. 

w,f HILE NPA restrictions of building 

materials hove definitely curtailed 

new theatre construction, there are innumerable 

ways in which exhibitors 

may modernize their properties, achieving 

beauty and the effect of newness. 

There are a multitude of structural and 

finishing materials which are not only 

unrestricted but readily available. 

In this issue appear a number of 

articles which suggest design ideas for 

theatremen who want to create better 

acoustics and more attractive surroundings 

for their patrons. The wide uses 

of porcelain enamel, which is particularly 

effective for exterior finishes because 

of its permanent quality and 

versatility, ore told in interesting detail 

by one of the writers. Interior murals 

and decorative designs may be beautifully 

rendered in porcelain enamel, and 

the surface washed liked any other 

port of the wall. 

Another finishing material which is 

finding many applications in theatres 

is Formica. This material may be used 

fer walls, dressing table tops, back 

walls and cases for the concession. 

Decorative patterns cmd designs also 

may be formed of inlaid Formica colors. 

Acoustical plaster, fabrics, wallpaper, 

wood finishes and paint are all 

available and may be used with good 

architectural design to form ceilings 

and walls that not only add to the 

beauty of the theatre interior but improve 

its acoustics. 

Plastic coated fabric and all plastic 

sheets, which may be obtained in any 

color to blend or contrast with the rest 

of the theatre decor, ore most frequently 

used by theatres in the leatherstyled 

materials. There are solid colors, 

too, cmd new prints cmd brocade embossed 

effects which broaden the 

choice of the decorator. 

I. L THATCHEB, Managing Editor HEHBEF.T HOUSH, Sales Manager 

The MODERN THEATRE Section of BOXOFFICE is included m the first issue of each month. 

Editorial or aer.eral business correscor.dence should be oaaressed to Associated Publicalions, 

825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 1, Mo. eastern nepre_sentaiiv9: A. I. Slocier 9 Rockefellor 

• 

Plaza Now York 20 N Y Central Recresentaiives: twing Hutchison and E. E. Yeck, 35 

East Wacker Drive,' Chicago 1, Hi.: Western Representative; Bob Wettstein, 672 South 

Laioyette Park Place, Los Angeles 5, Calif.

^|[4iiiiHJî 

If] llJLi 

mi I / / 

Flagstone and two shades of green sheet metal combine in attractive architectural design. The pylon also is sheet metal. 

JEWEL COLORS GLEAM IN NEW SHOWCASE 

Good Design of This Theatre Is Enhanced by Interesting Materials 

And the Skilful Blend and Contrast of Pleasing Colors 

U.Fp in the Big Horn basin of Wyoming 

tlie town of Lovell is laying claim to 

pylon and signature sign and the decorative 

artist's palette. 

having the most magnificent motion picture 

Within the theatre the same attention 

theatre in the state. Costing nearly to color and design has been emphasized 

$250,000, the Hyart Theatre which was in the extraordinarily beautiful auditorium. 

opened recently is exceptionally beautiful 

The walls are paneled in chartreuse 

damask beneath a black-plum colored 

in architectural design and luxurious in its 

appointments. 

The theatre building is brick, with a 

front exterior of flagstone. The upper facade 

is faced with dark green sheet metal 

surrounding a crossbar treatment of pale 

green sheet metal. The background of the 

crossbars is light rose. This harmonious 

and colorful effect is continued in the 

plaster ceiling with inset lighting units and 

Anemostats. A red festoon valance decorates 

a red-striped section along the sides 

of the proscenium and the platinum plush 

main draw curtain with chartreuse side 

legs, borders and screen curtains. The 

1,000 American Bodiform spring back 

chairs in the stadium-type auditorium are 

upholstered with red plush. 

The pale rose plaster walls in the foyer 

are an effective contrast to the boldly patterned 

Alexander Smith carpeting with 

blended tones of red, gold and black. 

The concession area is located along the 

right side of the lobby, as patrons enter 

the theatre, surrounded by a tile floor. The 

blond wood concession fixtures are set off 

by a back wall of yellow painted plaster 

with a diamond pattern formed by twotoned 

orange chrome. 

A lounge, set off by flagstone walls, 

wainscot high, and made inviting with 


ustic furniture and growing plants, is located 

beneath the upper part of the seating 

area. 

One wall of the lounge is largely composed 

of mirrors, set off by wood paneling. 

Symbolic steer heads adorn the chairs, and 

plaques bearing ranch brands further kr\ 

the decor to the west. A wrought iion 

stair rail leads from the foyer down into 

the lounge. 

The projection room, which is 12x25 feet, 

is well planned, with direct light over each 

projector. Simplex sound and projection 

equipment was installed. 

Restrooms and toilet facilities are finished 

in ceramic tile throughout, and are 

attractive and easy to keep in immaculate 

condition. 

The Hyart Theatre is a first run house 

with a 5,000 population drawing radius. 

All of the 1,000 seats were filled on opening 

night. 

The theatre has an ample stage and is 

frequently used for musical concerts. 

It is particularly interesting that the 

This stadium type auditorium is frequently used for musical concerts. The walls are covered with chartreuse 

damask, and the platinum plush draw curtain is set off by chartreuse side legs, borders and 

screen curtain. The festoon valance is in red. 

The Hyart's concession stand is located in the 

lobby, and the floor area immediately surrounding 

it is covered with tile. The interesting diamond 

pattern on the back wall is formed by 

twotoned orange chrome against a yellow wall. 

owner and manager of the Hyart Theatre, 

H. D. Bischoff, created his own plans without 

the aid of an architect, and supervised 

his own construction work. Bischoff, who 

in the cattle business, as well as operating 

is 

the Armada Theatres in Lovell and 

Cowley, has an engineering background. 

He did call upon the American Seating Co. 

for a seating plan for the stadium-type 

auditorium he planned, and the National 

Theatre Supply Co. for the layout for the 

heating and air conditioning system and 

the projection booth. 

CREDITS: 

Air Conditioning: U.S. Airco 

Candy Case: Columbus Showcase 

Carpeting: Alexander Smith 

Changeable Copy Letters: Bevelite 

Lamphouses: Peerless Magnarc 

Motor Generators: Hertner 

Popcorn Machines: Manley 

Projection: Simplex 

Seating: American Bodiform 

Sound: 

Simplex 

Rewinds: Goldberg 

Holdout Equipment: Lawrence 

The inviting lounge is made more distwctive by the llagstone enclosing wall, and the rustic-type 

furniture. The opposite wall is almost entirely mirrored, with only a center section of wood paneling. 

The largest, fastest, superliner America 

has ever built, the S. S. United States, 

will have its two theatres equipped with 

American Seating Co.'s Bodiform chairs. 

The first-class theatre will have 352 special 

chairs covered in a rough-textured green 

polka dot pattern. In the 199-seat touristclass 

theatre. Kelly green gros point will be 

the covering. All fabric for these American 

Seating chairs will be flameproofed. End 

standards will be aluminum, and all chairs 

will be finished in fireproof baked enamel, 

and padded with fireproof filler. 

BOXOFFICE January 5. 1952

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTIC: 

This outer lobby and boxoffice of the Lakewood 

Theatre, Dallas, Tex., is finished entirely in 

scuff-proof porcelain enamel. The decorotiye 

treatment is 

typical of the wide yoriety of colors, 

stenciled designs and ornamentation that are 

possible with this versatile material. 

Since porcelain 

enamel is not easily marred it is excellent 

for such locations where it is subject to constant 

contact and sometimes considerable abuse. 

Maintenance is a simple matter of soap and 

water, and the colors 

are permanent. 

Showmanship' In 

Theatre Building Materials 

There Is Patron Appeal in the Natural Design and 

Decorative Characteristics of Porcelain Enamel 

I HERE IS A WELL-KNOWN booking agent 

for theatrical folk in Pittsburgh, Pa., whose 

most famous "last words" are "nothing 

takes the place of talent." To draw a simile, 

we add that in theatre building and decoration, 

"nothing takes the place of showmanship" 

in the choice of building or decorating 

materials. One of these, which is becoming 

almost a standard for at least certain 

portions of the theatre, is porcelain enamel 

in its many forms. Such general adoption of 

the material is not without reason because 

the color, texture and versatility of porcelain 

enamel truly lends itself to showmanship 

in building. Porcelain enamel also 

fills the second most important requisite 

and that is lifetime economy. 

when the towering pUasters, gjant signs, 

lighting effects, vivid colors, giant baskets 

and similar motifs began to pop up all 

across the country—showmanship, an integral 

part of selling had taken over. 

The theatre field has been running neck 

and neck with this building trend and, naturally 

so, because the theatres have always 

sold their wares through showmanship. 

Most noticeable advances in this direction 

have been some of the newer drive-in theatres 

that have taken full advantage of 

towering entrances, attractive colors, huge 

signs and ingenious designs. This is true, 

possibly because most new theatre building 

has been in the suburban areas, although 

theatre remodeling in the more urban areas 

has also turned to color and design to modernize 

in customer-attracting manner. 

With the trend toward color, texture and 

dynamic designs came porcelain enamel in 

SHOWMANSHIP IN BUILDING 

As a parallel to the theatre industry's 

trend, you can remember when the first 

supermarkets of the great grocery chains increasing amounts. Some of the reasons 

were built of plain cement or cinder block why are discussed in the following. 

in an unimaginative aircraft hangar style 

which simply housed the merchandise but ALL IN ONE—COLOR, TEXTURE, DESIGN 

offered little or nothing in the way of customer 

appeal. When the first novelty of over much of the "showmanship" of the- 

Architectural porcelain enamel has taken 

.supermarket shopping wore off with the atre building and decorating simply because 

it naturally offers all of the charac- 

customers and competitive chains started 

in the business, imagination had to be put teristics for the purpose. To begin with, 

to work by the chains to design buildings porcelain enamel is a permanent, vitrified 

which would attract customers. That is finish on sheet steel. It offers a permanent, 

fadeproof color and finish even in 

outdoor exposure; it cleans readUy with 

soap and water; it is available in a variety 

of textures; it is lightweight and, being 

bonded inseparably to steel, can be furnished 

in almost any shape to which steel 

can be formed. 

Porcelain enamel's color range is nearly 

limitless and offers all of the beautiful pastels 

and vivid solid colors that might be 

desired for any type of color effect. Better 

still, the color is stable and completely 

resistant to weathering, sun, grime and 

even polluted atmospheres such as are 

sometimes encountered in manufacturing 

locations. 

MANY TEXTURES ARE AVAILABLE 

A variety of textures are supplied in porcelain 

enamel which eliminates the onetime 

objection to that glossy "bathtub" 

shine. Modern architectural porcelain 

enamel is available in an eggshell matte 

finish in all plain colors and also a relatively 

deep ripple finish. In multicolor 

combinations, both a stippled and a mottled 

effect are regularly supplied to match 

almost any color requisite. Of course, the 

familiar high gloss finish is also generally 

available and Is very desirable in many 

applications. 

Structurally, porcelain enamel offers 

10 The MODERN THEATBE SECTION

oth a usable variety of forms and a light 

weight which recommends its use in many 

specific applications. The most common 

form of architectural porcelain enamel is 

a square or rectangular flanged panel of 

about a six to ten square foot area. This 

panel consists of a few thousandths of an 

inch of porcelain enamel bonded to all surfaces 

of a 12 to 16 gauge sheet steel panel, 

Weight per square foot is negligible which 

eliminates the need for expensive or heavy 

supporting structures. This feature alone 

makes porcelain enamel the ideal material 

for high pylons, theatre marquee facia and 

ceilings, suspended ceilings, hanging signs 

and elsewhere when weight and ease of suspension 

may be a problem. Examples of 

some of these applications may be seen in 

the accompanying illustrations. 

MATERIAL IS NOT EASILY MARRED 

Complete exterior lobbies and boxoffices 

are very frequently finished entirely in 

porcelain enamel to carry out an inviting 

color scheme and also because the outer 

lobby is subject to constant contact and 

sometimes considerable abuse by the public. 

Since porcelain enamel is highly resistant 

to scratches, it is not readily marred by 

initial-scratching vandals, and stands up 

well under the usual scuffing and handling. 

Furthermore, since porcelain enamel 

washes clean with ordinary soap and water, 

lobby maintenance is a quick and inexpensive 

job. In fact, many owners who ordinarily 

employ a window washing service 

have the same workmen maintain the porcelain 

enamel at intervals. 

The Interior lobby, which is generally 

more decorative In an esthetic sense, but 

also subject to a great deal of public contact, 

is an ideal location for porcelain 

enamel paneling. One of the illustrations 

This distinctiye inner lobby, with a dignity befitting 

the colonial decor of a Middletown, Ohio, theatre, 

is completed in two- tone porcelain enamel 

panels with bronze ornamental studs. 

shows a typical interior lobby treated in 

this way. 

Porcelain enamel also is available in various 

forms of tiles or panels which are 

Ideally adapted to the wall surfacing of 

public restrooms and corridors leading to 

toilet rooms. Once again, the mar-proof 

surface provided by porcelain enamel plus 

its color variety permit the preparation of 

beautiful toilet and restrooms that are 

proof against public carelessness and outright 

vandalism. Sanitation, too, is assured 

by this easUy cleaned, glass-like surface. 

Regular architectural panels are most frequently 

used but other forms also are now 

available. Porcelain enameled tiles, made 

to the same dimensions as other wall tiles, 

are readily available and are quickly installed 

on any flat wall surface with a 

waterproof mastic cement. A new version, 

however, is a block-shaped panel which is 

formed in the same manner as the larger 

architectural panels but measuring only 

eight Inches square. These install even 

more rapidly than the tile size and create 

fewer joints. 

Porcelain enamel also is available as 

toilet stall separators and doors and, of 

course, in porcelain enameled steel lavatories. 

It is of special importance to note 

that all steel plumbing fixtures are regularly 

supplied in acid-resisting porcelain 

enamel at no extra cost. Not that anyone 

is likely to invade your restrooms with 

acid, but the acid-resistant characteristic 

makes these fixtures stainproof and not 

subject to the rust stains that are so common 

when faucets are out of repair. 

A PORCELAIN ENAMEL SCREEN 

A brand new application for porcelain 

enamel is of interest to the drive-in theatre 

owner. This is a special porcelain 

enamel surfaced panel which Is being 

adapted to outdoor screens. In this application, 

the owner gets the advantage of 

a weatherproof screen which can be merely 

washed down at Intervals should dust 

and grime collect. The surface also is 

somewhat self -cleaning as a result of rain. 

A special eggshell surface has been developed 

which creates the slight "tooth" that 

is desired for a good screen and which 

cannot reflect unwanted highlights such as 

would result from a high gloss surface. It 

Continued on following page 

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY, PORCELAIN ENAMEL INSTITUTE 

An easily sanitized toilet room in the Lakewood Theatre, Dallas, Tex., 

is shown above. Note that the toilet stalls are porcelain enameled, 

also. The beautiful mar-proof surface Is resistant to public carelessness 

and outright vandalism which is sometimes encountered. 

This attractive powder room with walls of porcelain enamel is easily cleaned and 

maintained in its original beauty because of the permanent quality of the panels. 

It is in the Woods Theatre, Gross Point Woods, Md. Almost any type of decorative 

ornamentation can be executed in porcelain enamel. 

BOXOFTICE January 5, 1952 11

! 

FULL RUN CARBON SAVER 

in action through water jacket 

Only $9.95 fob. Salem per set of 6 Carbon Savers 

See Vour Distributor or write 

Full 

Run Carbon Saver Company 

P.O. Box 107, Salem, Oregon 

If you use the FREE postcard on page 36, write in lliis 

ad's Key Number 12-A. 

SHOWMANSHIP' IN 

MATERIALS 

Continued from preceding page 

is also of interest that porcelain enamel 

has one of the highest reflectivity ratings 

of any finishing material and produces 

high image visibility with a minimum of 

projected light. 

MOST SIGNS ARE PORCELAIN ENAMEL 

The discussion of theatre signs has been 

passed over lightly in the earlier part of 

this discussion because this is such an im- 

—a feat that would not be practical with 

any building material other than porcelain 

enamel. 

SPECIAL DECORATIVE FEATURES 

Except for the broad range of colors and 

several textures which can be supplied In 

porcelain enamel, little has been said about 

other decorative features. Designs of all 

kinds can be readily stenciled on porcelain 

enamel during its manufacture and fired on 

as indelibly as pottery decorations. Decalcomania 

transfers, such as are used on 

pottery, may also be applied and even wood 

grains can be duplicated to give the effect 

Typical murals which cart 

be rertdered in porcelain 

enamel are shown here. Designs 

such as these are 

hand painted with porcelain 

enamel on steel, then fired 

like other porcelain enamel. 

They will never fade, and 

may be washed just like 

the rest 

of the wall. 

Two Model 

1-1/3 and 

J/3 H.P. 

The most versatile and practical 

cleaner you've ever 

seen! Actually 3 cleaners in 

one for every cleaning job 

in your theatre. As a "tanktype" 

cleaner BLO-R-VAC 

vacuums big carpeted areas 

fast— picks up water, mud 

and particles. As a "handtype" 

unit it blows popcorn 

and litter to the front of 

the theatre for quick clean 

up . . . Cleans draperies, 

ledges, grills, everything 

Sprays deodorants and insecticides. 

No other cleaner 

offers so much for so little! 

Picks 

$e>d Through Leading D/sMbufors 

up wot«rl 

\ 

CONVERTS IN 

A JIFFT 

from a "tanktype" 

cleaner 

to a "handtype" 

cleanerblower 

BIDEAL INDUSTRIES, Inc. 

/fSTTtT^ 

5225 Park Avonwe, Sycamore, III. 

NAME- 

THEATRE- 

ADDRESS- 

CITY- 

-ZONE- -STATE 

portant application for the material. Electric 

sign malcers for the past thirty or forty 

years have made extensive use of porcelain 

enamel because of its high reflective 

values, brilliant, permanent colors, relatively 

light weight and ease of maintenance. 

No other material serves so well 

from these standpoints as well as offering 

ready adaptability to the desired design. 

All types of sign letters are easily formed 

in sheet steel and any shape which can 

thus be made can also be porcelain 

enameled. Color range is limitless and of 

course weathering is almost an unnecesary 

consideration. As a matter of fact, a 

number of porcelain enameled signs have 

been in service in exposed outdoor locations 

for 25 years without appreciable sign 

of deterioration. Because of this characteristic 

some states have adopted porcelain 

enamel for all highway route markers 

and directional signs. Sign-making members 

of the Porcelain Enamel Institute now 

regularly offer a ten-year guarantee on 

porcelain enamel signs. Once a porcelain 

enamel sign is erected it will serve for years 

without painting or maintenance of any 

kind except an occasional washing to remove 

surface grime. 

of wood with the permanence and durability 

of porcelain enamel. There are also 

a number of artists around the country who 

paint murals on porcelain enamel. These 

are fired just like the architectural panels 

and give hand-painted murals the everlasting 

qualities of porcelain enamel. This 

is truly a highly versatile material which 

offers an expanding world of possibilities 

to the ingenuity of the theatre industry. 

l«J »J uJ fei i '^- . 

Another factor is that many of the spectaculars 

being erected either on new theatres 

or in connection with remodeling jobs 

are being designed as an integral part of 

the building. What better could be done 

This California, 

creative 

in porcelain 

design 

enamel 

supermarket 

and 

is an 

showmanship 

by the grocery 

example 

being 

field 

of the 

expressed 

to attract 

than to finish both the building and the customers. Theatre design is paralleling this trend, 

integral sign In exactly the same material particularly for drive-ins. 

12 

The MODERN THEATRE SECTION 

WMMMMIimUilLgHa--.,.^..,,,...-.^,,. 

jt^ms^KXBs^^

. . quality 

Is your theatre carpet "old timey" too? 

BIGELOW 

Rugs - Carpets 

If your carpeting is getting along in 

years, perhaps it's time to look at it with 

fresh eyes, the way your patrons see it. 

Be honest. Is it "something out of 

the dim past" like the picture above? 

Does it give a has-been look to the whole 

establishment? If it does, it's so easy to correct this 

poor impression of your theatre. Just ask a group of 

willing-and-able carpet experts for advice. 

Bigelow's Carpet Counsel will prescribe exactly the 

carpet to fiU the bill for your theatre installation . Colors, 

patterns, weaves and prices . . . they're full of helpful 

information on them all. 

It's a free service. Just send your questions to Bigelow 

Carpet Counsel, 140 Madi-son Avenue. Your inquiry 

will receive prompt attention. 

BIGELOW Rugs and Carpets 

Beauty you con see . 

140 Madison Ave., N. Y. C. 

you con trust . . . since 1825 

BOXOrnCE :: January 5, 1962 13

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION 

GOOD 

IMPRESSIONS 

BEGIN- 

WHERE? 

Decorative Formica Offers 

Countless Design Ideas 

To Attract Patrons 

There is rarely a patron of the Alemcda Theatre, Son Antonio, Texas, who fails to stop at this 

handsomely designed candy bar. Here the beauty of Formica Realwood, for the counter front and for 

the back wall, is enhanced by colorful carpeting and the figured glass of the staircase. 

yrfrUiT: IS IT ABOUT a theatre that 

brings a person—or a couple—or a family 

—back again and again? What is it that 

makes people say about a feature, "Let's 

wait until it comes to the Emporium or the 

Bijou"? What is it that draws patrons 

away from their neighborhood theatre to 

one across town? 

Every theatre manager has asked himself 

these and other similar questions innumerable 

times, and has come up with 

a different answer each time. He has 

found out through periodic surveys that, 

among other things, the public likes a 

change of scenery, they like to go farther 

than down the street for their night out, 

they "don't like the theatre's choice of 

shows," or maybe they prefer the "atmosphere" 

of the theatre on Main street. And 

so on, ad infinitum, while the manager 

continues to massage his hair. 

ATMOSPHERE IS IMPORTANT 

If he does everything possible to bring 

his customers back for more of the same 

by scheduling the type of features they 

want, what more can he do? For one 

thing, he can do something about "atmosphere." 

He can make first impressions of 

the physical attributes of his theatre lastingly 

good ones by obliging with every possible 

service within his means. This doesn't 

necessarily indicate ankle-deep carpeting 

or free soft drinks for children under ten. 

The wise theatre manager pays close attention 

to the physical properties of his 

house. Patrons like neatness, color, luxurious 

decorations, comfort and courtesy. 

Their attitude very often is "entertain us, 

and give us the best of accessories." That 

is why management cannot put too much 

stress on detail: the lighting, the decorations, 

the seats and seating arrangement, 

the cleanliness of the restrooms. 

It 

remodeling. 

QUALITY IS ALWAYS BEST 

pays to get the best when building or 

Maintenance problems will be 

less of a headache and the theatre will 

gain in prestige and patronage, aU other 

things being equal. 

By the use of modern or contemporary 

materials, it is possible to substantiate 

any "mood" or decorative whim. These 

materials are designed to attract and 

please the eye of the patron and the pocketbook 

of management. Furnishings, for 

instance, are being installed in new and remodeled 

theatres for comfort as well as 

for durability. Decorations and appointments 

are distinctive for their uncommon 

beauty as well as for their ease of 

maintenance. Foyer, lobby, lounges—all 

are equipped for service as well as beauty. 

"Impressions," in a theatre, then, may start 

anywhere. 

A prominent role in the scheme of things 

is assumed by decorative Formica. Wherever 

decorative or highly protective surfaces 

are required, there Formica is likely 

to be found, satisfying the needs of beauty, 

utility and long-range economy. 

Formica, which is a laminated plastic, 

the results of heat, high pressure and spe- 

Impressions of a theatre begin at the ticket booth. 

This one of the Alemeda Theatre is clean and 

smart, and it "says" so. Big reason is the attractive 

Yellow Moonglo counter and wall panels, 

all of which are Formica topped. 

14 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION

cial pigments, is availeble in over 100 attractive 

colors and patterns. They range 

from modern "decorator" patterns, like 

"Fernglo," "Skylark" and "Softglo," to rich 

natural wood pattern reproductions like 

"Picwood." 

AN APPROPRIATE DUTCH DESIGN 

Taking full advantage of Formica's rainbow 

of colors, John and Drew Eberson, 

architects, created an appropriate Pennsylvania 

Dutch effect for the King Theatre, 

Lancaster, Pa., by employing several designs 

indigenous to the locality. The inlaid 

panel behind the drinking fountain, 

shown on this page is an outstanding example. 

Striking and bold colors were used 

also for the lobby doors which are paneled 

with Formica. Elsewhere the Dutch effect 

is carried out by eye-filling floor and celling 

designs. 

Of prime importance, to women espe- 

Formula for brightening up a drinking 

fountain is to use inlaid Formica in colors 

that are gay and entertaining. The 

Pennsyhanio Dutch design is particularly 

eye-filling, a unique tribute to the industrious 

and creative people of Lancaster, 

Pa., where this fountain is located in 

the King Theatre. 

The management of the Alemeda Theatre gets nothing but 

favorable comments about the ladies' lounges from feminine 

patrons. This generous-sized dressing table, finished in Gray 

Pearl Formica, is easy to keep clean and sparkling. 

cially, are comfortable, clean-looking and 

sanitary washrooms and lounges. A carelessly 

kept restroom can do more to impaii' 

a theatre's reputation than lack of 

any other patron convenience, whereas a 

little modernization in these spots goes a 

long way to insuring continued good public 

relations. 

What is 

counter and table tops in boxoffices, check 

rooms and telephone booths. 

Admittedly, Formica is a "selected short 

subject," but sometimes it is one of the 

minor added attractions—and not the 

screen feature—which creates lasting impressions 

among theatre patrons. 

more, decorative Formica is practical as 

well as versatile, giving years of clean, 

trouble-free service. And no feature will 

ever outlast the "long run" which Formica 

promises any theatre. 

FORMICA DRESSING TABLE 

Outstanding examples of what can be 

done along these lines are to be seen m 

the ladies' lounges of the Alemeda Theatre, 

San Antonio, Tex. There are two, 

somewhat similar. Strikingly unusual are 

the two large dressing tables, formed of 

low, sweeping arches with curved ends. 

The tops, edges and diefronts are covered 

with smooth, easy-to-clean Gray Pearl 

Formica. Large mirrors further enhance 

the beauty of the units, makmg the rooms 

seem many times larger than they actually 

are. 

The decorative and design possibiUties 

of Formica are practically limitless. Walls, 

tables and counters create a better impression 

and look better and more colorful for 

wearing it. Formica is also recommended 

for heavy traffic areas and applications 

where use and abuse is greatest, includmg 

entrance and foyer doors, kick and push 

plates, drinking fountain back-panels and 

The lobby and foyer doors in the Kmg Jneaxre are no problem to clean. StriKmg in appearance, 

Formica inlaid doors are in keeping with the general "Pennsylvania Dutch" decorative motif. 


^ÊSÊSBBBa 

taassiaBi^^m 


WALL TREATMENTS TO 

GLAMORIZE THEATRES 

Acoustical Materials, Rich Fabrics 

This striking wall decoration in the Belmont Theatre, Youngstown, Ohio, is painted with pastel 

And Good Design Result in 

Successful 

Decoration and Sound 

colors directly on a black background of hard plaster wall. The plaster ceiling is in powder blue, 

and the whole effect is further enhanced by a gold terrazzo floor with decorative aluminum strips. 

by MICHAEL J. DeANGELIS* 

I HE MULTITUDE of materials and 

fabrics which are available for dressing 

the walls of theatre interiors have made 

this particular field of decoration especially 

fascinating to the writer. 

In order to show how- certain architectural 

problems may be solved and what 

may be achieved by good wall treatments 

I 

will describe several of our theatre projects 

which are illustrated on these pages. 

•Michael J. DeAngelis is o registered architect 

specializing in the theatre field. His articles hove appeared 

many times in MODERN THEATRE. 

The Paramount Theatre in Rochester, 

New York presented us with a very special 

problem. In the first place it was a 

complete remodeling job, but the structural 

part of the building had to be kept unchanged. 

Most of this remodeling was 

done in a very large entrance lobby and a 

very high foyer. 

To reduce the apparent height of the 

ceiling in the inner lobby, a suspended 

ceiling of metal lath and plaster in a deep 

rose color was hung from the original high 

ceiling. There are coffers or domes of indirect 

light in this roof deck which is designed 

in a wavy pattern. The coffers 

have a silver leaf finish in pink cold cathode 

lighting strips. The side walls of the 

lobby are of figured birch Plexwood applied 

on plaster walls. An ornamental design 

in bone white and stainless steel decorates 

the upper wall. The 40x60-inch display 

frames in the lobby are formed of 

natural pickled oak and indirectly illuminated. 

An unusual refreshment stand is made 

of maroon Carrara glass with a Formica 

top. The backbar of the stand has a fleshtinted 

mirror framed with a cast plaster. 

In the Paramount Theatre, Rochester, N. Y., the architect had to deal with an extremely high ceiling, 

thus the creation of the suspended fin. The walls here are of figured birch Flexwood applied on plaster, 

and the ornamental design is a bone white and stainless steel pattern. The stairway balustrade is of 

brushed aluminum with glass spherical ornaments. 

The handsome attraction panel between the 

Paramount staircases was manufactured on the 

job and pointed in a cool powder blue. The 

sidewall treatment by the stairways is formed 

of cast plaster reeded sections, alternating with 

flesh-tinted 

mirrors. 

16 


indirectly lighted cove around the mirror. 

All the lighting used is cold cathode. 

On the stairways the balustrade is made 

of brushed aluminum railing with glass 

spherical ornaments. The sidewall treatment 

by the stairways is of cast plaster 

reeded sections alternating with flesh 

tinted mirrors. The beaded moulding between 

the points of the wall panels is 

painted in white gold paint. An attraction 

panel between the staircases was made of a 

fluted plaster that was manufactured on 

the job and painted a cool powder blue. 

The Paramount lobby slopes down to the 

theatre into a foyer that has a ceiling 

about 30 feet high. This large foyer ceiling 

has a secondary dome, also indirectly 

lighted, with an abstract lighted dome at 

the highest point of the ceiling. 

HIGH CEILING PRESENTS PROBLEM 

The element of design enters the picture 

very much in our work on the Shea Theatre, 

Ashtabula, Ohio. This auditorium 

had a very high ceiling and had to be designed 

from the acoustical angle first, decoration 

second. We tried to keep the lines 

as simple as possible on all sidewalls, and 

we combined lighting in a varied color 

combination to achieve a homogeneous array 

of colors, lighted by acoustical treatment. 

We used fabric and acoustic plaster 

to achieve the design and the acoustic 

treatment for a successful decoration and 

for good sound. 

The auditorium ceiling is painted deep 

mauve, with coves of pink cold cathode on 

a dimmer. The walls are covered with a 

deep blue velour bordered with aluminum 

paint. An oramental wall design is painted 

in bone white. There are fluted coves near 

the proscenium arch with two strips of cold 

cathode lighting each. Also each vertical 

cove has several colored cold cathode strips 

and this lighting in on a dimmer to lower 

the light intensity during the performance. 

The colored strips are red, amber, blue, 

gold, pink and white. Advire Plexwood 

Marbello paper in blue with gold vein through it was applied to hard plaster walls in this attractive inner 

lobby of the Shea Theatre, Ashtabula, Ohio. The mirror frames were custom made for the theatre of cast 

plaster The egg crate false ceiling is deep gray plaster. 

In this view of the Shea's 

outer lobby is a wall 

section near the doors of 

powder blue leatherette 

quilted with white buttons 

and aluminum strips. 

This material is plentiful 

and not expensive, 

and creates an attractive 

finish 

for walls. 

Deep blue velour covers the walls of the Shea's auditorium, and the ornamental design is painted in bone 

white. Fluted coves near the proscenium arch create a beautiful effect with colored cold cathode light. 

Advire Flexwood applied directly to hard plaster forms the wainscot walls 

applied on hard plaster forms the wainscot 

in the auditorium. 

The lobby ceiling in the Shea is about 

16 feet high and a suspended egg crate was 

hung about two feet beneath it. This false 

ceiling is deep gray Gold Bond plaster with 

the ceiling above it in rose. The illumination 

is with cold cathode strips in pink. 

Walls are covered wth Marbella paper in 

blue with a gold vein through it applied to 

hard plaster walls. Interestingly designed 

mirror frames were made of cast plaster. 

In the outer lobby a wall section near 

the doors is of powder blue leatherette 

quilted with white buttons and aluminum 

strips. This material is easily available 

and is not too expensive. The walls and 

ceiling are gray plaster, with a mural on 

one side which is lighted indirectly by a 

pink cold cathode strip from a hung stainless 

steel lighting trough. Lighting on the 

sidewalls is composed of vertical fluted 

bands in a shade of rose, and the curva- 



THEATRE WALL TREATMENTS 


tures of these walls was designed to back 

up the acoustic volume in the standee space 

behind the theatre. 

We ran into another problem with the 

Mancuso Theatre, Batavia, N. Y. For 

treatment we carried the entire width, 

which is 90 feet, in panels of light, acoustic 

plaster and cast ornament design. We 

rolled the entire ceiling and carried it to 

wainscot height on both waUs. We did not 

use any fabric in this job, we just let the 

color and structural self malie up the design 

and pattern. 

In designing the acoustical treatment we 

worked out the plan with RCA and the 

acoustical engineer, and found that the 

contour of the ceiling and shape of the 

theatre lended itself to one of the best 

acoustical treatments that we have ever 

constructed. We feel certain this was due 

7/i/s unusual rolled ceiling in the Mancuso Theatre 

was carried to wainscot height on both walls, with 

color and form creating the design. No fabrics were 

used on the walls. 

to making an analysis of the problem before 

designing. 

The color of the Mancuso ceiling is powder 

blue with the bone-white, cast plaster 

coves in a circular design with cold cathode 

lighting strips. AU of these are on a 

dimmer. Cast designs on the walls are 

bone white, as is the dado, with the color 

below a dusty rose. A white leatherette, 

padded and buttoned fabric was used on 

the raU behind the seats, with the top rail 

in a golden hue. 

In the Daniel Webster Theatre, Nashua, 

N. H., we used velom' fabric panels with a 

combination of cast plaster and mural design. 

The panels are backed with Fiberglas 

insulation to absorb any reverberation 

of sound and the entire ceiling is in acoustic 

plaster in water color. Design was very 

simply achieved as the auditorium height 

was in comparison with the width of the 

theatre. 


?ush-E9ck's Easy "^-arKJ-QUT" Coovmience 

2— Seated persons need 

not stand. A gentle 

movement of the bodyback. 

3— Relax, chair slides 

back to normal, comfortable 

position. No 

standing up. No inlience. 

Make It easy for your patrons to buy morepopcorn, 

candy, and solt drinks by installing 

modern Kroehler Push-Backs. Their 

easy "In-and-Out" feature's eliminate all inconvenience 

and embarrassment of patrons' 

visits to and from your concession stands. 

Get the complete story of the new Kroehler 

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Seats will pay off in word-of-mouth advertising 

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Please write nearest office. 

PUSH -BACK" trade-n 

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KROEHLER 


666 lake Shore Dr 

New York 16, N. Y. 

One Park Avenue 

THE WORLD'S FINEST THEATRE 

lot Angeles 7, Calif. 

2028 So. Vernon Avenue 

SEATS 

Dallas, Texas 

2023 Jackson St. 

THEATRE 

SEATS 

Canadian Theatre Cho 

40 SI. Patrick Street 

Toronto 2B, Canoda 

BOXOFFICE January 5. 1952 

19


jbove illustrates now sfecr:'^'* this was accampiisheii dv skillful modem iesiqn. 

le zicrun 

Remodeling Lops 15 

Feet from Theatre 

Yet Creates More Spacious Feeling 

Efficient Sp^ce Plannm'g Is :h'e Key 

It woru 3E SArrsAi zc T:^'~nir ixan die ranoval of 15 

feet from, i ieacre lobby would be a seriotis loss, yet asurce 

arciiiEecuiral piaaning at xiie remodeling of Che ParciienDii 

Tbeanre. Frammnnri Tnri.. actually resulced in several imponanE 

gains. 

Occasioned ay a screet; widening wiiicii was pare of a civtc 

prograrr' uiie approsimateiy SLiS.QQQ remodeling projecc recuired 

riiar the Partiiencn. wtLici: iiad fcrmerly rirced qui into ulie street 

15 feet beyond its nptgh baring buHdiDgs, be 3rmmed zaxiic ~ 

create a uniform, street widtii. 

TEiis loss Gi space, an area of 600 scniare feet was compsisated 

admirably by efficient nfarTinTg- of ±e intericr. By •£e removal 

of one stairway and zte widening at the other zc accommodate 

tne Z/ZIIQ seating capacity, a more efficient bcIdoTit area 

was created, solving a major probiem on weeitaid snowings. Tte 

elimination of one stairway also allows patrons from, 'î^ balsocy 

to spin, only at one side cif tfce J3bfay direct to tfce Qutdoors. aiim- 

TTiattPg tte cross circulation occa.5ipred by two stairways, agam 

acnieving better standee space. 

The wooffwarx In the Part-ienon s .-amoaeiefl rove- s «cunuF tenesr, finishesi 

in a a/ver stanized tone. The calim is fanned of acoustical plaster, ami 

indirect lighting is jsed. 

AN ILLUSION OF QiEATBl SIZE 

A rearranganenc of tiie restroom. fft.fT'fTTTip^. as îcwn rn the 

before and after arcfcrtectnral plana on the opposite page, also 

opened up the leneral appearance of the looby ai such a way 

that it actually looks much larser than before. This -^nsior j; 

further created by the zlass entrance as indicated i the photograph 

of the remodeled theatre. Due to the rarrawress af the 

entrance a completely open feeiii:g had to be obtained, and this 

was further developed through the use of a very rrm.'aTrt: boxoff'ce 

design. The sides of the bcsofSce are of light gray marble 

with a stainless steel front facing. The aH ilass encicsare nns 

from, the top of the tictst counter to the scffrt of the marquee 

mc is set in aiuminum frames. The bcxofSce cocr also :s 

iluminum. 

The new exterior of the theatre is of t^j^twît^ brick in a 

stack bond, with the front and the trim at the top of the fatTadf^ 

composed of granite. The identification sign and martmee are 

fabricated of porcelain gnamgr aceeL with Ad"i^pr changeable 

copy letters. 

Marble was used on the interior stair facing, wall base, and 

ca"ain pylons. The woodwork in the foyer and loony is walnut 

vateer finished in a siLver ebcnized tone. Ceilings are formed 

of acoustical piastar. J'r'r zh& lobiay flooring is vinyl piascc floor 

tile. The stair railings are conscnicted of plate ilaas wxh 

2a 

The MODEHU TEEATSE SECTIDW

etched ornamentation, and all Ughting is achieved with various 

types of indirect fixtures. 

New air conditioning equipment was instaUed for the lobbies 

and foyer, inasmuch as the original air conditioning system was 

sufficient for the auditorium but not for the lobbies. With separate 

controls, when the house is full and the load in the auditorium 

taken care of. there are times when the lobby sections 

can be completely shut down. 

The Parthenon was built in 1913, in a strategic downtown 

location, and has been operated successfully since its inception. 

The property is owned by Carl Kleihege and has 

to Warner Bros, for many years. 

been leased 

This wide stairway in the lobby replace'. t»o nsrro'er ones, and avoids cross 

circulation of traffic. Note the handsome plate glass stair railings decorated 

with an etched design Flooring is vinyl plastic tile. 

This extraordinary boxoffice adds to the open feeling 

ol the Parthenon's exterior. The sides ore of light 

gray marble and the front facing is stainless steel. 

The all-gloss enclosure extends to the soffit of the 

marquee from the top of the ticket counter. 

CREDITS 

AcousTiciL Pl.'^ster: U.S. G%"psum "Sabenight" 

Air CoNDiTioNiKG : Worthington 

Architects: Rapp and Rapp 

Boxoffice: Kawneer 

DECowinoN: Rapp and Rapp 

M-

this instollment of his manual on preventive 

IN 

maintenance tor the theatre, L. E. Pope, purchasing 

agent tor Fox Midwest Amusement Co., discusses 

the care of equipment in the theatre lobby and 

foyer. He stresses the fact that concession machines, 

such as beverage coolers, drink dispensers, ice cream 

cabinets and popcorn machines, will last longer and 

cost less for upkeep when they are cared for ot 

regular intervals. 

L. f. Pope 

CONCESSION UNITS 

PART VIII: 

MAINTENANCE OF BOXOFFICE, LOBBY. 

FOYER AND CONCESSION EQUIPMENT 

by L E. POPE 

G— Price Sign 

Have price sign clean and well 

Illuminated. Locate just above eye 

level. A neat, well illuminated 

price sign will speed up ticket sales 

and avoid many unnecessary 

questions by patrons. 

H— Boxoffice Chair 

The boxoffice chair should be an approved type of cashier's 

chair, with adjustable foot rest. It is important to have seat 

height adjusted so cashier can speak direct to patron and have 

foot rest that can be readily changed to fit cashier. The back 

of the chair should be of the posture adjustable type. 

II. LOBBY 

A— Display Cases 

Refer to Subject 20, Paragraphs 1 and 2. 

B—Guide Rails and Ropes 

See that all rails, posts and ropes are secure and safe. Wall 

and post fittings should be strong and secure to prevent pulling 

out or breaking. Provide space to hang ropes and store post or 

rails not in use. Care of the items, both in use and storage, will 

prevent excess wear and tear and extend normal life. Always 

cover guide rail or post holes, when post has been removed, with 

blank well cover to prevent accidents. 

C—Ticket Box 

Locate ticket box so as not to interfere with the patrons' entrance 

and exit. Keep in good repair and lock ticket box while 

in use. 

III. 

FOYER 

A Display Cases 

Refer to Subject 20, Paragraphs 1 and 2. 

B- -Guide Rails and Ropes 

IV. 

Refer to Subject II B. 

CONCESSIONS 

A—Candy Cases 

Keep candy case clean, well stocked. well illuminated and in 

good repair. When not in use, close doors to save refrigeration 

and keep candy clean, cool and hard. Do not stack candy so as 

to block air path thus obstructing air circulation. 

B—Case Cooler 

Little attention is given most case coolers until they fail to 

function. The life of the case cooler can be extended and upkeep 

costs reduced by spending a few minutes on it at regular intervals. 

Case coolers consist of a motor, compressor, condensing 

coil, evaporative coil, and fan. There are valves, switches and 

controls that require little attention if kept clean and adjusted. 

Once or twice each month clean the condensing and evaporating 

coils as the effectiveness of the case cooler depends on air contact 

with these coils: air does not contact the coil that is 

coated with lint, dirt and grease, and the amount of air passing 

through these coils is reduced. 

Some units have sealed motors and require no oil. Others 

are belt driven and have oil cups on the motor requiring a few 

drops of light oil about once each month. Keep belts snug so 

they will not slip. Lubricate fans, unless the motor has sealed 

bearings, about once each month. 

Be sure to pipe condensation from expansion coil to drain or 

catch in a pan and empty at regular intervals. Where air filters 

are used they should be cleaned or replaced every 60 or 90 days, 

or when filled with lint and dirt. 

Do not stack boxes or other objects where they will obstruct 

air circulation of condensing coil. Make sure case cooler electric 

service is used to protect motors and do not fuse more than 50 

per cent above total amperes of unit. 

A breaker type switch with proper size heat coil should be 

used to break circuit in case of a short or overload. This will not 

only protect your unit, but may prevent a fire and will extend 

the life of your cooler. 

C— Beverage Coolers 

Beverage coolers, wet or dry type, should be cleaned at regular 

intervals. Keep coolers closed when not in use as the stock 

will cool faster and compressor will operate less, thus extending 

its life and saving power. Keep cooler well stocked at all times to 

insure ample supply of cold drinks. Beverage coolers have a 

cooling unit to care for. Refer to Subject IV, Item B, as same care 

should be given beverage cooler as cooling unit of case coolers. 

D— Drink Dispensers 

There are many types of drink dispensers in use. The construction 

of each type differs, therefore, follow manufacturer's 


A MANUAL OF PREVENTIVE 

MAINTENANCE FOR THE THEATRE (S 

LAST LONGER WITH PROPER CARE 

instructions for care and operation. Drink dispensers, like other 

equipment, will operate with less maintenance and have an attractive, 

inviting appearance if kept clean. Most dispensers have 

a refrigeration unit that requires same care as Subject IV, Item B. 

E— Ice Cream Cabinets 

Ice cream cabinets require the same care as beverage coolers, 

except they should be defrosted at regular intervals. Defrosting 

can be accomplished by turning machine off a few hours if you 

have no frozen stock, or by removing stock and melting frost with 

hot water to expedite the defrosting before stock can melt. 

After frost and ice have melted, clean out unit and wash with 

Points to Check on a 

Beverage Cooler

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PROJECTION ARC LAMPS 

Be sure that the advertised lumen output of the lamps you buy has been measured by 

the methods approved by the Screen Brightness Committee of the SMPTE. 

Be sure that the lamps you buy maintain full light output regardless of the length of 

the positive carbon. 

Be sure that the lamps you buy have the new fully automatic arc crater positioning 

feature—that hand feeding is not necessary to maintain full screen brightness. 

The Strong Mighty "90" Is Your 

GUARANTEE 

Of Getting the Most Light Obtainable On 

ANY SCREEN OF ANY SIZE 

No Other Lamp Can Outperform It! 

THE STRONG ELECTRIC CORPORATION 

11 CITY PARK AVENUE TOIEDO 2, OHIO 


for 

— 

TROUBLE-FREE 

OPERATION 

RESEARCH 

BUREAU 

for MODERN THEATRE PLANNERS 

ENROLLMENT FORM FOR FREE INFORMATION 

The MODERN THEATRE PLANNING DJSTITaTE 1-5-52 


Kansas City 1, Mo. 

"^Bnliemen: 

Please enroll us in your RESEARCH BUREAU to receive inlormation regularly, as 

released, on the following subjects for Theatre Planning; 

D Acoustics 

Air Conditioning 

n Architectural Service 


Q Building Material 

Carpets 

n Coin Machines 

n Other Subjects 

D Complete Remodeling 

G Decorating 

D Drink Dispensers 

n Drive-In Equipment 

D Lighting Fixtures 

D Plumbing Fixtures 

n Projectors 

n Projection Lamps 

Q Seating 

Signs and Marquees 

n Sound Equipment 

Television 

n Theatre Fronts 

Q Vending Equipment 

Theatre Seating Capacity 

Address 

City 

Signed 

State 

(Owner-Manager) 

SEflTinc in THE moDERn mnnnER 

niVERSRL CHIII 

L IDEAL 

Now tor the first time a single custombuilt 

choir is ottered in 

32 DIFFERENT 

MODELS 

16 different construction combinations 

—each in either retractable or conventional 

type. 

Production economics permit 

THEGREATESTCHAIR 

VALUES IN HISTORY 

Continued ^rom poge 24 

urge every exhibitor to give careful thought 

when planning a new or remodeled projection 

room, so that it will meet all local and 

national requirements and perhaps earn a 

big saving in insurance rates when equipped 

and built right. 

A well-illuminated projection room is of 

paramount importance. General lighting 

of the entire room should be of the indirect 

type; over each projector should be a light 

I 

(with a shade threading projector, 

cleaning and oiling, etc. There should be 

light, properly shaded, over the rewind 

table and film cabinet. A drop cord of 

sufficient length should be kept on hand 

for making repairs on any of the equipment. 

Cleanliness in the projection room 

always indicates the projectionist in charge 

is a man of intelligence and has high regard 

for his w-ork. 

MAINTENANCE OF MOTOR GENERATORS 

If proper and intelligent care is given 

motor generator sets, they will give long 

and highly efficient service. The care of 

the commutator and brushes and proper 

oiling are of paramount importance. The 

commutator should be kept clean and never 

allowed to become roughened from lack of 

attention. Keep all wiring connections 

tight: brushes should fit the commutator 

correctly and be free from oil and dust 

they should be neither too hard or soft 

but be the type recommended by the manufacturer. 

Do not put too much tension on 

brushes as this will have a bad effect on 

the commutator— it will wear the brushes 

and commutator unnecessarily and cause 

sparking sometimes. Brushes should have 

just enough tension to hold them firmly 

against the commutator and make good 

contact. 

The commutator should be cleaned at 

least every week with a soft piece of cloth 

while the machine is running. If the commutator 

becomes slightly rough and needs 

smoothing down, use No. 00 sandpaper and 

hold on same while revolving. Now take 

a piece of canvas the width of the commutator 

and "brighten up" and clean the en- 

^\N 

Continued on page 28 

^'9^* Diffusing 

^V Vinyl Surface 

SUPER-LITE 

SCREEN 

Uniform Light To All Seats 

CLEARER-BRIGHTER 

LARGE SCREEN TV PICTURES AND REGULAR 

PROJECTION 

SHIPPED FOLDED OR ROLLED 

All Dealers 

VOCALITE SCREEN CORP. 

Roosevelt, N. Y., U.S.A. 

26 


BBTEk sex WFICe/ 

• Outside the theatre, light merely helps to get your patrons 

in. Inside, however, light on your screen is literally the whole 

show. It alone must fulfill the expectancy of gripping scenes 

startling close-ups. ..of color gloriously revealed in costume and 

setting — all the elements of PERFECT ILLUSION. 

BUY National PROJECTOR CARBONS. . 

The term "Salinntil" is a regiilered tmde-mark of 

I rlio,, ( arh„ic atij C.irhnn Cm/,nrj/ion 

NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY 

A Division of Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation 

30 East 42nd Street, New York 1 7, N. Y. 

District Sales Offices: Atlanta. Chicago. Dall; 

IN CANADA: National Carbon 

If yours is one of the large percentage of inadequately lighted 

indoor theatre screens, ask yourself: Are my lamps aligned and 

m proper trim.^ Electrical equipment in good working order? 

Screen reflectivity within the limits of recommended practice.' 

Remember, "National" projector carbon lighting costs less — 

and means more — than any other exhibitor expense. Don't wait 

for the box office to remind you that something is wrong. 

"National" Projector Carbon Distributors and our Lighting 

Specialists are always available to make specific recommendations 

for improving the light on your screen. 

o 

for Brighter screens 

, for bigger box office 

Kansas 

, City, New York, Pittsburgh, Sa 

.imiled. MoQireal, Toronto, Wiooipeg 

BOXOFTICE January 5, 1952 

27

. . . maximum 

— 

• roughened 

TROUBLE-FREE 

OPERATION 

'"" SIPBR SKAPUTB ""»"* 

Z^-^^' 

when you use 

siii'i:k skaimjte 

projection lenses 

Continued Irom page 26 

tire surface: next, take a stiff brush (machine 

not in operation) and brush out all 

the dust so the segments are clean. Start 

machine 'be very careful^ and take soft 

cloth and again clean entire surface of 

commutator, using .iust a little vaseline on 

a cloth. Don't drown the bearings with oil, 

and use only the lubricant recommended 

by the manufacturer. 

Bear in mind that a dirty commutator 

surface), oil or dirty brushes, 

will cause sparking and improper setting 

of brushes. The commutator may need 

turning down in a lathe by a first-class 

machine shop. If the rocker arm has been 

moved, set the arm back or forward until 

sparking quits. The wrong type of brushes 

will also cause considerable trouble. I suggest 

that you consult the manufacturer. 

the writer, or your supply dealer and be 

sure you have the right type of brushes 

and lubricant. "True" direct current can 

only be had from a generator, and with 

proper care you should have very little, if 

any, trouble. 

If you find a brush that does not fit the 

"curve" of the commutator correctly, you 

can fit it by placing a fine grade of sandpaper, 

the width of the brush and long 

enough so you can hold it on either side, 

with the sand side against the brush. Then 

Commutotor 

Yes "MOVIES ARE BEHER" and they're "BETTER THAN EVER" if you 

use Super Snaplite f/1 .9 Projection Lenses. These superb lenses 

give you maximum light, maximum sharpness, and maximum contrast 

viewing satisfaction for your patrons. 

Very Fine 

Sandpaper 

Brush 

True speed of f/1 .9 in every focal length up to 7 inches. 

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Brooklyn 11, New York yÂi^^ca/ K. 

Durability in 

GRIGGS 

CHAIRS 

Supe 

years or se 

ort-the m 

e 

occupied! 

Beauty spa 

WRITE FOR CATALOG 

GRIGGS EQUiriHE^T CO. 

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'You Gef More light 

vHh Super Snaplife" 

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MODERNIZE YOUR BOOTH 

Pay off in easy doses with the 

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BUDGET PLAN 

Choice of late type Century. Simplex, Super 

Simplex, E7 Projectors, Hi Intensity Arcs, RCA 

Rotary Stabilizer Soundheads, Hi Generators. 

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LIBERAL TRADE-IN ALLOWANCES on your 

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slowly rock commutatoi' back and forth (by 

hand, of course) until the brush has the 

right curve and fits the commutator correctly. 

This is a slow task sometimes, but 

it will give you a good brush fit and save 

the surface. This same method should be 

used when fitting new brushes to secure 

the proper curve. Be sure to clean well 

after you have finished so that no brush 

dust or sand is left on the surface or in 

the segments of the commutator. This 

would cause sparking and pitting of the 

surface. Check brush holders and see that 

the brushes work freely. If they don't fit 

right in the holders and stick, take the 

brushes out and with little emery cloth 

clean the inside until they work freely. 

Tension on all the brushes should be the 

same. An extra set of brushes should be 

kept on hand. 

All generator sets should be mounted on 

a concrete base with cork under the "feet" 

to eliminate noise. I strongly recommend 

that generators for arc lamps be installed 

in an adjacent room as this wiU keep unnecessary 

noise out of the projection room. 



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THE TROUPER HIGH INTENSITY 

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for large theatres, arenas, auditoriums, ice shows. 

THE TROUPERETTE 

INCANDESCENT 

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Adjustable, self-regulating transformer in 

base. Automatic arc control. A trim of carbons 

burns 80 minutes. 

for small theatres, hotels, night clubs, 

schools and colleges. 

Projects 6

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Theatre TV 

Demands Experience and Snecialists 

- -RCA SERVICE 

has both 

Unly from RCA Service do you 

get the experience that comes from 

instalHng and maintaining more 

theatre TV systems than any other 

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Only from RCA Service do you get 

specialists trained m the television 

laboratories and factories of the 

pioneer in theatre TV. 

4 ways RCA SERVICE can help you 

2 

3 

Survey and help solve the special 

TV application problems relating 

to your theatre. 

Supervise the installation, adjustment 

and testing of all video equipment, 

coaxial lines and antennas. 

Give instruction and technical advice 

to your projection personnel in the 

efficient operation of the equipment. 

GOLDE 

4 

Make periodic inspection checkups 

. . . furnish replacement parts and 

tubes . . . supply emergency service 

— to forestall trouble, extend equipment 

life, keep repair costs down. 

It costs so little 

And nowhere else do 

you get such specialized 

theatre TV service. 

Write for complete information. 

to protect so much 

RCA SERViCE COMPANY, INC. 

A RADIO CORPORATION ofAMERICA SUBSIDIARY 

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Tiiii; 

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AT BtrrfK THfATRf SUPPLY DlALtKS 

MANUFACTURING COMPANY 

[lent. BO. i220 .V. MADISON ST.. CHICAGO 7, ILLINOIS 

To respond to this advertisement, use postagepaid 

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EASY - TEASING • EXCITING 

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adaptable for LEGAL CASH GIVEAWAYS 

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BOOST BOXOFFICE RECEIPTS 

SAM GERTZ 

414 Wellington Ave. 


TROUBLE-FREE 

OPERATION 

Continued horn page 28 

If rectifiers are used they should also be in 

another room adjacent to the projection 

room. However, I have seen some nice installations 

with the rectifiers placed under 

or near each lamp, but this creates more 

heat in the room. The panel board 'control 

box) with ammeter and voltmeter 

should always be in the projection room, 

a practice which is generally followed now. 

Again let me emphasize, keep the generator 

clean, properly oiled and all electrical 

connections tight, and you will receive 

long service, and, in most instances, 

trouble-free operation. 

While there are sprocket pullers and pin 

ejectors on the market, I had made by a 

machine shop, many years ago, the two illustrated 

on this page. They were made 

SPtOCKET 

PUllEII 

from bronze with the exception of the 

shafts that push out the sprocket or pins; 

the knob I purchased from a local typewriter 

shop. 

As I stated above, there are sprocket 

pullers available and I am just passing 

these two ideas along to projectionists if 

they want to build their own or have a ma- 

PIN 

REMOVER 

Threaii 

chine shop do it. The measurements are 

exact and such tools are very handy when 

replacing an intermittent sprocket. While 

it is best thjit the sprocket should not fit 

so tightly that it is necessary to use a 

sprocket puller. I have found many cases 

where I was glad I had these two tools in 

order to avoid springing a shaft, which is 

very easy to do. 

Wesley Trout, an experienced projectionist 

and theatre manager, will be glad 

to answer questions and to try to solve 

problems ivhich may be troubling men in 

the booth. Address him in care of The 

Modern Theatre, 825 Van Brunt Blvd., 

Kansas City, Mo. 

CORRECTION 

In The Modern Theatre Buyers' Directory ond 

Reference Issue (distributed Nov. 24, 1951) the 

price 

ot 6mm Cali Carbon Couplers was incorrect 

in the advertisement of Cali Products Company. 

The correct price is $2.25 per hundred postpaid 

or retail from supply dealers. 

30 The MODERN THEATHE SECTION

llVliit 

ABDED INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROGRESSIVE EXHIBITORS • 

eAAM^ 

Added Profits from Chewing Gum Sales 

Outweigh Cleaning Problem Incurred 

Survey of Theatre Refreshment Sales . . . Part 5 

by NEVIN I. GAGE 

/Approximately a two-thirds majority 

of motion picture theatres in the United 

States are now selling chewing gum in their 

lobbies, according to the Theatre Refreshment 

Survey, conducted for the industry by 

BoxoFFicE and the Modern Theatre Section. 

Theatremen responsible for concession 

sales in these theatres report that because 

many patrons want to enjoy chewing gum 

while seeing the show, they will bring it 

with them if it Isn't available at the stands. 

So, in 64 per cent of all indoor houses, 

exhibitors display gum and build goodwill 

by pleasing the customers, at the same time 

making a profit from the additional concession 

sales. 

Chewing gum sales amount to a substantial 

volume for many theatres. Annual 

totals running from $1,000 to $1,500 are not 

uncommon among the big houses, although 

their average is about $800. The average 

for the industry, including theatres of all 

sizes, amounts to approximately $500 per 

theatre for those selling five-cent packages 

at the counter. This excludes the houses 

which vend gum only through penny coin 

machines. 

As to selling methods, 80 per cent of the 

theatres display and sell their chewing gum 

from the concession counter tops exclusively. 

Five per cent sell it only from vending 

machines, and 15 per cent sell it both from 

the counter and various types of gum machines. 

The well-known brands predominate 

among the kinds carried, with those which 

are best advertised leading in the placements 

mentioned. Ball gum, bubble gum 

and penny pieces are sold through penny 

vending machines by approximately 6 per 

cent of all theatres. 

The extent to which cleaning problems 

have been mastered in connection with the 

sale of all kinds of refreshments by the majority 

of reporting theatres has proved to be 

as important a revelation throughout the 

Refreshment Survey as the volume of product 

sales. Conditions and experiences, of 

course, vary among theatres, but on the 

whole the profits from concession sales 

have justified the liberal changes in policies 

which have taken place in recent years. 

The question of any increase in cleaning 

problems was explicitly probed in relation 

to selling chewing gum. Fi-ank answers 

were given, pro and con, but the typical 

statement was, "We would have the same 

problems if we didn't sell it, for they would 

Theatre Concession Sales 

r/iis report, which covers the sale of chew- 

'mg gum in theatres, the practice of permitting 

refreshments to be taken into the 

auditorium and the use of trailers to promote 

concession sales, concludes the series 

of articles based on the Survey of Theatre 

Refreshment Sales in indoor theatres conducted 

by BOXOFFICE and The MODERN 

THEATRE Sect/on 

Theatremen were given a preview of trends 

in products sold in the August 1951 issue of 

MODERN THEATRE, and subsequent issues 

carried survey reports on management and 

installation costs, popcorn, soft drinks and 

ice cream and other snack foods. 

Drive-in theatre refreshment sales will be 

discussed in the February issue of The MOD- 

ERN THEATRE Section The facts and figures 

presented will be drawn from the Survey 

of Theatre Refreshment Sales in outdoor theatres, 

conducted by BOXOFFICE and The 

MODERN THEATRE Section. 

bring it in anyway." The manager of a 

1,300-seat neighborhood house said, "You 

might as well make a profit, for you have 

to clean, regardless." 

Statistically, the combined reports 

showed that 34 per cent of all theatres selling 

chewing gum have not found their 

cleaning increased since offering it at their 

stands. Among the 66 per cent that reported 

an increase, 69 per cent said it was 

"very little" and 31 per cent indicated "very 

much." However, compared to the total 

selling gum, those who reported much increase 

amounted to only 20 per cent, while 

80 per cent of all houses selling gum declared 

they had little or no increase in 

cleaning. 

Translating these experiences in terms of 

profits, nearly nine out of every ten, or 

86 per cent of the managers of all theatres 

selling chewing gum said they considered 

the profit from gum sales more than equal 

to any additional cleaning expense. Similar 

opinions were expressed by circuit concession 

managers, several maintaining that 

the increased cleaning was very little, and 

that the profit on gum exceeds the cleaning 

cost. One suggested the practical answer 

that it was a small problem if cleaning 

was done daily. 

REFRESHMENTS PERMITTED IN AUDITORIUM 

One of the final questions in the .survey 

inquired about the policy of permitting patrons 

to take into the auditorium all refreshments 

sold by the concessions. The 

combined replies indicated that 68 per 

cent permit the practice, as they found that 

the increased sales justified the additional 

necessary cleaning. The principal products 

banned by the theatres imposing restrictions 

are soft drinks and ice cream products. 

Trailers are being used increasingly to 

stimulate refreshment sales. In response to 

the last question in the survey, the managers 

indicated that approximately 30 per 

cent of all indoor theatres precede their 

intermissions, at least part of the time, with 

a trailer promoting refreshments. The 

practice is followed by about half of the 

big houses. 

Further details on the foregoing highlights 

covering the replies to these questions 

will be found in the following para- 



CHEWING GUM SURVEY 

Table 

XXIII 

THEATRES SELLING CHEWING GUM 


/* 

graphs and in the accompanying tables 

which present the results by size and types 

of theatres. 

THEATRES SELLING CHEWING GUM 

As shown in Table XXin, chewing gum 

is sold in 64 per cent of the total theatres. 

A glance at the classifications under seating 

capacity, type and location, and ownership 

of theatres will show that 66 per cent 

of the non-circuit houses sell gum. Similar 

high percentages are likewise indicated for 

all the small theatres under 500 seats, as 

well as for the small town and downtown 

subsequent run houses. 

The fact that no more than 55 per cent 

of the largest theatres and 56 per cent of 

both the downtown first run and neighborhood 

houses are selling gum to date reflects 

the natural conservatism of the managements 

of these theatres which has been 

characteristic in their adoption of all concession 

products. Chewing gum is the latest 

to receive widespread acceptance, and heretofore 

the industry has not known that 81 

per cent of the big theatres selling gum 

and 87 per cent of the downtown first run 

houses handling it are coping with their 

cleaning problems successfully and, therefore, 

consider the profits from gum sales 

i 

worth any additional trouble, As shown 

in Table XXVI.) 

SALES AND SELLING METHODS 

The combined yearly sales for all theatres 

selling chewing gum average about 

$350 per theatre. It should be pointed out, 

however, that this includes a substantial 

number of small theatre totals from the 

sale of penny gum only. The possibilities 

even in baU gum are illustrated by the 

large-city neighborhood house of 900 seats 

that does over $700 a year on ball gum 

alone. 

The average for five-cent package sales 

amounts to approximately $500. Many small

A. L. Royal, Owner, Royal Theaters, 

operating 14 theaters in Mississippi, 

says: it^ 

consider cheyîng gum 

essential to a live concession 

business. All our theaters carry 

the popular brands." 

Yes...Chewing Gum Improves 

Your Profit Picture! 

It Pays to Display and Sell 

Your Patron^ Favorite Brands 

# People just naturally like to chew gum 

at the movies. Chewing gum freshens the 

taste after they've had a snack or treat from 

the refreshment counter— helps them relax 

and adds to their enjoyment of the theater. 

And— they buy their chewing gum where 

it's conveniently displayed for them. 

Take advantage of this fact to build extra 

profits and good will for your theater. Display 

Wrigley's Spearmint, Doublemint, 

"Juicy Fruit" and other popular, fast-selling 

brands of chewing gum in a convenient location. 

Your patrons will appreciate it, and 

you'll find it profitable. 

BOXOFTICE :: January 5, 1952 33

^MELLOS POPCORN^ 

Is the Cream of the Crop 

1. CONSISTENT, UNIFORM QUALITY 

Highest popping throughout the year. Every 

lot laboratory-tested. We test — we don't 

guess! 

2. MORE ATTRACTIVE, TASTIER, MORE 

TENDER 

Customers always come back for more once 

they have tasted its delicious flavor. 

3. ATTRACTIVE SILVER SCREEN BOXES 

Popcorn boxes available. Real sales boosters. 

4. MORE RETAIL SALES PER BAG 

Means more profits to you. Mellos Popcorn 

is worth $5 to $10 more per bag than overage 

corn because of higher popping volume. 

A trial order will convince you. 

We ore Dealers in POPCORN. PEANUTS 

and SUPPLIES 

"WHERE QUAUTY IS HIGHER THAN PRICE!' 

MELLOS PEANUT COMPANY 

Los Angeles Chicago 

637 Towne Avenue 724 W. Randolph Street 

For Better Service 

And Higher Profits 

EVERY DRIVE-IN THEATRE 

NEEDS THE 

ni irrrTrni Jk a concession on whetls. 

DUf rtl I CKIA . .Hot and cold compartmtnls. 

HOTBOXWARMER-ZHr^n^l; 

PORTO-FOUNTAIN.. '«./?'." 

Ask for descriptive literature, prices and deliyery 

THE WALKY-SERVICE CO. 

401 Schweiter BIdg. Wichita, Kani. 


Continued from page 32 

and over. It is significant that wliile 81 

per cent of these theatres reported increased 

cleaning. 52 per cent said it was 

little, and in the final analysis, profitwise, 

Table XXVI 

PROFIT COMPARED TO CLEANING 

Based on Total Theatres Sellinu Chewing Gum 

T, 

. Profit Profit 

Theatres offsets Does 

SEATING CAPACITY Cleanins Not TOTAL 

250 seats and under 94'^ b'^'r lOO'I 

251 to 500 seats 88 12 100 

501 to 1,000 seats 83 17 100 

1,001 seats and over 81 19 100 

Total indoor theatres 86% 14% 100% 

TYPE AND LOCATION 

Downtown First Run 87'. 13'. lOO'I 

Downtown Sub. Run 88 12 100 

Neighborhood Houses 73 27 100 

Small Town Theatres 89 11 100 

Total indoor theatres 86% 14% 100%. 

OWNERSHIP 

Non-Circuit Houses 88'; 12': 100'. 

Circuit Theatres 84 16 100 

Total indoor theatres 86% 14% 100%' 

81 per cent of the managers of these houses 

said they considered the profits justified 

selling chewing gum. 

ITEMS PERMITTED IN AUDITORIUM 

Cliewing gum is not one of the items 

banned from theatre auditoriums, for the 

obvious reason that it would be impossible 

to enforce. In a few cases the managements 

attempt to control carelessness of children 

by not selling gum to them. However, as 

indicated in Table XXVII, approximately 

68 per cent of the houses allow all refresh- 

Table XXVII 

ALL REFRESHMENTS 

PERMITTED IN AUDITORIUM 

Based on Total Theatres Selling Concession Products 

Theatres 

SEATING CAPACITY YES NO TOTAL 

250 seats and under 79%. 21% 100% 

251 to 500 seats 79 21 100 

501 to 1,000 seots 62 38 100 

1,001 seats and over 44 56 100 

Total of indoor theatres 68% 32%o 100'". 


Downtown First Run 57% 43% 100'^ 

Downtown Sub Run 54 46 100 



Total of indoor theatres 68% 32% 100'! 

OWNERSHIP 

Non-Circuit Houses 75% 25% 100'^ 


Total of indoor theatres 68'> Z2'"' 100'! 

Note: Soft drinks and ice cream products are the 

principal items not permitted in auditoriums by the 

above 32% ot houses. Soft drinks, however, may be 

token to seats in SSy. of theatres selling beverages. 

(See Table XVI, November 3, 1951, issue.) Ice 

cream is permitted in auditoriums by 95% of houses. 

(See December 8, 19S1, issue.) 

ments sold at their concessions to be consumed 

while patrons see the show. 

Candy apples, soft drinks and ice cream 

are the products most frequently banned 

from the auditorium. Previous survey reports 

have covered the details on the 

policies governing soft drinks and ice 

cream. It will be recalled that even with 

these products a general tolerance prevails. 

Among the houses selling ice cream products. 

95 per cent permit them to be eaten 

in the theatre seats. Among those selling 

soft drinks. 58 per cent allow patrons to 

consume them in the auditorium. 

While the trend is increasing toward permitting 

refreshments to be taken to the 


U 

1920 WYANDOTTE STREET, KANSAS CITY 8, MISSOURI 


— 

I wo Sure-Fire Money-Makers 

Sell Ice Cream and Soft Drinks On Sight—At A Sweet Profit! 

The Drincolator Corporation and The Icecreamolator Corporation 

were recently purchased by The Youngstown Welding and 

Engineering Company. Investigate their potential profits today. 

Write or Phone 

THE DRINCOLATOR CORPORATION — THE ICECREAMOLATOR CORPORATION 

Divisions 

of 

THE YOUNGSTOWN WELDING & ENGINEERING COMPANY 

3700 OAKWOOD AVENUE YOUNGSTOWN 9. OHIO 



Continued from page 34 

seats, there was no evidence in the survey 

of diminishing interest in the importance 

of maintaining good housekeeping practices. 

The compromising of old restrictions 

has focused more attention upon efficient 

cleaning methods. Yet the new policies are 

resulting in greater sales and overall 

profits. 

THEATRES USING TRAILERS 

Table XXVIU affords the opportunity of 

getting a bird's-eye view of the trend 

among theatres which are using trailers to 

help stimulate refreshment sales. Approximately 

48 per cent of the circuit houses are 

Table XXVIII 

THEATRES USING TRAILERS 

TO PROMOTE REFRESHMENTS 

Theatres Use Do 

SEATING CAPACITY 

Trailer Not TOTAL 

250 seats and under 15% 85% 100% 

251 to 500 seats 16 84 100 

501 to 1,000 seats 41 59 100 

1,001 seats and over 50 50 100 

Check the phsses of 

Popsit Plus 

Total of indoor theatres... .30% 70% 100% 


Downtown First Run 36' 64'. 100' 

Downtown Sub. Run 37 63 100 



the only popping oil with a real / 

butterlike flavor 

'§« measures more accurately /. j- -^l 

4» pours readily in all kinds y^^ 

of weather 

costs less per bag 

ss|s! 

produces fewer "duds 

>epping / 1 ^ 

"> 

*\ 

oil thai will bring more ji/ver Jf •^^ J 

t 

fo your popcorn sfand. 

Made of American Ingredients — Always Available! 

Total of Indoor theatres... .30% 70% 100% 

OWNERSHIP 

Non-Circuit Houses 16' ^ 

84'^ 100'. 


Total of indoor theatres....30% 70'"' 100% 

showing them before intermissions. This 

high percentage is consistent with the aggressive 

merchandising practices employed 

by many circuit theatres, which we have 

frequently pointed out in these survey reports. 

The big houses lead in the use of trailers, 

with 50 per cent of them putting their 

screens to work for the concession stands. 

Neighborhood theatres are next, with 48 

per cent, and medium-size houses follow 

with 41 per cent. The industry total is 30 

per cent. 

Drive-in theatre sales of refreshments, 

which were analyzed separately in the survey, 

will be covered in the February issue 

of the Modern Theatre Section. 

Made by C. F. SlmOnln'S SOHS lUC. Philo.34,Pa. 

POPPING OIL SPECIALISTS TO THE NATION 

A 13-Year Record for Popcorn 

Farmers situated in 12 midwest and 

southern states will produce 147,800 acres 

of popcorn in 1951, according to the 

July report of the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture. That's six per cent more than 

the 10-year average of 1940-49, and the 

most acreage devoted to the puffed kernels 

since 1948. 

36 


The only complele line of nalionally-adverlised 

quality syrups . . . 

for fountains, dispensers and yendincr maehines 

BOXOFFICE :: January 5, 1952 

37

: 

rwniwrniiMTiWWIIIIiill'iiUUil 

Expanding Potential Market 

Viewed by Popcorn Men 

At Industry Convention 

38 

Goes 

Consume 

Demand 

for these 

HEIDE 

Favorites 

Featured 

in LIFE, LOOK, 

SAT. EVE. POST, 

OUTDOOR ADV. 

and TELEVISION 

HENRY HEIDE, INC., new york. n. y. 

The NEW Patented SPEED-SCOOP 

Three times more efficient. Scoop and pour a 

bagful of popcorn in one single easy motion. 

Made of light, stainless aluminum. Cool hardwood 

handle. Perfectly balanced for maximum eUTiciency 

and speed. Only $2.50 at your Theatre Supply 

or Popcorn Supply Dealer. 

SPEED-SCOOP 

109 Thomlon Avenue, San FranciKo 24, Calif. 

"Popcorn sales were up in 1951 and we 

haven't even scratched the sui-face of our 

potential market"—these optimistic words 

expressed the unified feeling of the popcorn 

industry at the 1951 Popcorn Industries 

convention and exhibition, December 

4-6 at Hotel Congress in Chicago. 

Some highlights of the official program 

were 

The opening morning session, devoted to 

a panel discussion, "Correct Popping Techniques 

Mean Extra Pi-ofits." Participants, 

representatives of the major manufacturers 

of popcorn popping machinery and equipment: 

Charles J. Cretors, C. Cretors & Co. 

Chicago; S. T. Jacobson, Krispy Kist Korn 

Machine Co., Chicago, moderator; Charles 

E. Manley, Manley, Inc., Kansas City, Mo.; 

H. Eifert, Dunbar & Co., Chicago, and William 

Moran, Star Mfg. Co., St. Louis. 

HYBRID POPCORN DISCUSSED 

A second panel presentation, featured 

Dr. Oliver E. Nelson, jr., of Piu'due University, 

Lafayette, Ind., and Dr. John C. Eldredge 

of Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa, 

in a discussion of "What the Hybrid Popcorn 

Breeding Program Means to the Popcorn 

Industry." 

The opening luncheon featui-ed a charter 

member testimonial to 20 men whose vision 

and foresight in 1945 directed the 

formation of the National Association of 

Popcorn Manufacturers. Among those 

honored are: Silver Adams, Adams Popcorn 

& Nut Supply Co., Lansing, Mich.; 

Howard Davis, Better Taste Popcorn Co., 

Anderson, Ind.; Carl W. DeWeese, Dewey 

Food Products, Chicago; John J. Driscoll, 

Driscoll Food Products Co., Cincinnati, 

Ohio; W. W. Fox, Curtiss Candy Co., Chicago; 

V. P. George, Kuehmann Foods, Inc., 

Toledo, Ohio; J. L. Grieger, sr.. Famous 

Foods, Detroit, Mich.; W. T. Hawkins, Confections, 

Inc., Chicago; Clyde Hesmer, 

Evansville, Indiana; B. A. Klein, Mrs. 

Klein's, Chicago; Oliver Koeneman, Old 

Vienna Products Co., St. Louis; H. L. 

Kutzner, Old Dutch Foods, Minneapolis; 

Bernard Limond, Tasty Krisp Products Co- 

Detroit, Mich.; Henry Meltzer, Popcorn 

Service, New York City; Fred J. Meyer, Red 

Dot Foods, Madison, Wisconsin; Fred E. 

Poole, Dwight Hamlin Co., Pittsburgh; Gus 

Schreiber, Associated Foods, Chicago; 

C. H. Seyfert, Seyfert Foods, Fort Wayne, 

Indiana; Sam Shankman, Overland Candy 

Co., Chicago; Robert Yohai, King Kone 

Corporation, New York City. Charter testimonial 

certificates will be presented by 

Leonard M. Japp, Special Foods Co., Chicago, 

president of NAPM. 

During the first day the exhibition hall 

opened with 48 booth displays of new machinery, 

equipment and supplies by outstanding 

firms in the allied supply industry 

; 

including popping technique demonstrations, 

the latest developments in pop- 

The MODEBN THEATBE SECTION

corn containers, seasonings and cheese 

flavorings; moisture testing equipment and 

demonstrations; vending and packaging 

equipment; display racks; popcorn processing 

firms and soft drinks by leading parent 

franciiise firms. 

The second day of the convention, delegates 

attended a morning panel session on 

the subject, "Packaging, Merchandising 

and Selling Popcorn." Representatives of 

the major segments of tlie popcorn industry 

described their successful sales promotions. 

Participants included, THEATRE: 

Van Myers, Wometco Theatres, Miami; 

VENDING; William H. Beaudot, A.B.C. 

Popcorn Co., Chicago; COMMERCIAL 

MANUFACTURER : Oliver Koeneman, Old 

Vienna Products, St. Louis; PROCESSOR; 

J. A. McCarty, J. A. McCarty Seed Co.. 

Evansville, Ind.; RETAILER; W. C. Peters, 

Peters Popcorn Shop, Greeley. Colo. 

The Pepsi-Cola Co. was official hospitality 

host at its elaborate four booth refreshment 

center in the hall. Other exhibitors 

included; A.B.C. Popcorn Co., Arkell 

Safety Bag Co., Bagcraft Corp. of America. 

Burrows Equipment Co., Capital City Products 

Co., Cargill Inc., Chase Bag Co., C. 

Cretors & Co., Durkee Famous Foods, Fulton 

Bag & Cotton Mills, Gold Medal Products 

Co., Gordon Cartons of Michigan, The 

HumKo Co., Paul L. Karstrom Co., Krispy 

Kist Korn Machine Co., Manley Inc., Monticello 

Mfg. Corp., McCarty Seed Co., 

Orange Crush, Pepsi-Cola Co. Phenix 

Pabst-Ett Co., Premier Popcorn Co., Rex 

Paper Specialty Bag Corp., Seedburo Equipment 

Co., C. F. Simonin's Sons, Star Mfg. 

Co., Wesson Oil & Snowdrift Sales Co., Sam 

Abrams Co., Diamond Crystal-Colonial 

Salt, F&F Laboratories, Kontney Candy Co., 

Supurdisplay, Inc., American Butter Institute. 

uf(jopy&t^^^ 

Famous Nestle's Crunch 

Milk and Almond Bars 

available in both 

Sc and 10c sizes 

Mars Sponsors Broadcast 

Both Sc and 10c sizes 

packed 100 count and 24 count 

i 

A favorite of both young and old! 

Nestle's Chocolate Company, Inc., 60 Hudson Street, New York 13, N. Y. 

Together in Hollywood for the openirtg broadcast 

of "People Are Funny" were, from left, James Gallagher, 

territory manager, Mars, Inc., Los Angeles 

Art Linkletter, "People Are Funny" star, Hollywood; 

and Victor H. Gies, vice-president and director sales 

and advertising, Mars, Inc., Chicago. Mars, Inc., 

will use the radio program this season to help sell 

Milky Way and Forever Yours candy bars. 

ADLER 

CHANGEABLE LETTER DISPLAYS 

ADLER GLASS-IN-FRAME DIS- 

PLAYS — "REMOVA- PANEL" 

FRAMES — "THIRD DIMEN- 

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MINUM LETTERS. 

ADLER "SECTIONAD" LOW COST 

CHANGEABLE LETTER DISPLAYS 

WRITE FOR FREE CATALOG 

ADLER Silhouette Letter Co. 

3021a W 36th ST, CHICAGO 32, ILL. 

For 

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BOXOFFICE 

CngraTad b7 

our excluaive 

process on ludle 

to youi 

specifications. 

lamolite 

illuminated price admission signs 

Our enlarged plant facilities assure 

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Plastic Signs Engraved for the Entire Theatre 

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Edgar S. 

E82 Sixth Avraue 

Bowman 

New York 10, 


A Manual of 

Drive-ln 

Design and Operation 

SUGGESTIONS FOR OPERATING A DRIVE-IN 

by GEORGE M. PETERSEN 

(Continued from tost month) 

SUPERVISION 

Too much emphasis cannot be given the importance of supervision 

in a drive-in theatre. Tliis statement does not apply to 

the manager alone, but applies to every employe of the theatre. 

They should be trained to be constantly on the alert to observe 

everything that may be in any way detrimental to the operation 

of the theatre. 

TRAFFIC CONTROL 

Many of the suggestions given under the heading of Accident 

Pievention may be applied to this subject. Those items will not 

be repeated in this paragraph but the following items should be 

given due consideration: 

1. Get the traffic off the highway and to the ticket office. 

2. Move the traffic past the ticket office in an orderly, rapid 

and courteous manner. 

3. Park the cars on the ramps with as little confusion and 

waving of flashlights as possible. 

4. Get the cars into the exit line in an orderly and systematic 

manner. 

5. Get the exiting traffic back onto the highway with as 

little interference with the highway traffic as possible. 

As previously mentioned, it is important that a uniformed 

police officer be employed for the control of the highway traffic 

on busy thoroughfares. Accidents that occur on the highway in 

the vicinity of the drive-in theatre are extremely bad publicity 

and such accidents MUST BE PREVETNTED. 

UNDESIRABLE PATRONS 

Contrary to public opinion there are comparatively few instances 

of undesirable patrons entering a drive-in theatre. Intoxicated 

individuals should be refused a ticket and should not 

be allowed to enter the theatre area. If the intoxicated person is 

a Negro the situation sometimes becomes a bit complicated since 

the fedei-al law, and some state laws, protect Negroes beyond all 

rea.son. An intoxicated white individual may be ejected from a 

theatre without hesitancy but when an intoxicated Negro person 

is refused admittance such action becomes "discrimination." 

It is, therefore, absolutely essential that several witnesses be recorded 

who will be available to testify in court if necessary 

There is also the rare undesirable patron who insists upon 

parking on the last ramp. There can be only one reason for this 

attitude and it is advisable to refund the admission price and request 

such a patron to leave the theatre. 

Not infrequently, however, a patron will request that he be 

parked upon a certain ramp and such requests are justified as it 

is more than likely that the patron may have defective vision 

and can see best a given distance from the screen. The easiest 

way to handle this patron is by parking his car about two ramps 

in the rear of the ramp he desires to park on and then move his 

car up when that ramp is being loaded. To permit such a patron 

to park in the desired location prior to the loading of that ramp 

will often interfer with orderly parking of cars on ramps ahead. 

Operating the Concession 

I HE CONCESSION BUSINESS at drivc-in theatres has graduated 

from a pop and popcorn operation into a full-grown business from 

which important money can be made if the concession is operated 

and promoted in an intelligent manner. The exhibitor is faced 

with the problem of operating the concession either with his own 

staff or renting the concession out to a capable and experienced 

concessionaire on a percentage basis. 

Operating a concession requires considerable experience and 

attention to details. It requires an investment for equipment of 

between $3,500 and $25,000 depending upon the size of the theatre 

and the type of equipment and service that will be provided. 

Under the standard form of concession contract, the concessionaire 

provides all of his operating equipment, purchases his 

own merchandise, and employs and pays the concession personnel. 

The exhibitor furnishes the gas. electricity, water and space 

and for this he receives from 22 to 30 per cent of the gross sales. 

When the exhibitor pays the employes, the percentage due him 

naturally increases but it is a better proposition for the concessionaire 

to hu'e his own help and pay them. 

Many exhibitors who have had little or no experience with the 

concession business rent out the concession rights for one or two 

years until they become more familiar with the operation, and 

then run it themselves. Many of the larger drive-in theatre conce.ssions 

are rented out. 

Pew drive-in theatre concessions have sufficient counter space 

to meet the peak business promptly so that many of them use 

some type of vender service to fill concession orders at the cars 

and thereby relieve the congestion at the counter. There are 

several methods used for this type of vender service but the 

iO The MODERN THEATRE SECTION

smoothest operation is by the menu metliod. A menu is placed 

in the car at the ticket office and whenever the patrons desire 

food or drink from the concession, the various items are checked 

on the menu. It is then placed under the windshield wiper until 

picked up by a ramp boy. The vender has the order filled at the 

concession, returns it to the car and collects the money. 

Merchandise at the concession should always be fresh, clean 

and attractively packaged whenever possible. No warmed-over 

wieners should be served. Buns should be fresh and not steamed 

up from the day before. No unknown brands of soft drinks 

should be served unless it is some local product that has a heavy 

following. No soft drinks should be served in bottles, but 

should be poured into paper cups in full view of the customer 

if he is at the counter. If the order is carried to the car by a 

vender, the bottle should be opened and poured into the cup at 

the car. Paper trays should be provided to help customers carry 

their purchases back to the cars. The smart concessionaire also 

provides plenty of condiments and relishes such as mustard, 

catsup, horseradish, pickle chips and chopped onion. A free 

bottle warming service should be iJrovided. 

A popcorn machine of sufficient capacity to provide fresh, 

hot, well-seasoned popcorn to the customers is preferred to the 

practice of packaging the corn in the afternoon and then keeping 

it warm until sold at night. To sum it up briefly, the competent 

concessionaire realizes that the public is willing to pay 

for the best merchandise and that it will insist upon receiving 

it. He knows that the public is familiar with certain soft drinks 

because of their heavy advertising programs and he knows that 

*m^^S^'-4t 

A cafeteria itvic layout tor the concession has proved successful lor many 

exhibitors. This one at the Cross Keys Drive-In Theatre, near New Oxford, 

Pa., provides fast, efficient service. Patrons may enter a door (not shown, but 

immediately opposite the one on the right) pass through the stile and arojnd 

the counters in easy access of all items sold, pay the cashier at the opposite 

end and exit through the other door. 

while he will not make as large a profit on an individual drink 

that he will sell more drinks and make more money by selling 

brand-name soft drinks instead of unknowns. 

I am frequently asked for advice as to the various types of 

drink dispensers on the market so a few words on this subject 

may be of value. There is nothing wrong with this method of 

dispensing soft drinks. They are fast in operation and mix a 

good drink when they are not tampered with. They do not have 

the same sales appeal as do the nationally advertised drinks, but 

the chief objection to these dispensers is that tricks that can be 

done with them by an unscrupulous concession manager. This 

same remark applies to locally purchased bottled drinks where 

the concession manager can purchase a few cases of bottles on 

his own and sell his own brand of drinks before the concession 

drinks are sold. 

If you operate your own concession be sure your manager 

keeps a perpetual inventory so you can check his figures any time. 

Advertising and Exploiting 

Drive-In Theatres 

MlANY TYPES OF ADVERTISING aiid exploitation are available 

to the drive-in theatre in addition to those commonly employed 

by the conventional type of theatre. 

SLOGANS 

The drive-in theatre exhibitor should compile a list of slogans 

to be used in his publicity. He should decide upon several of 

them and then use them as punch lines in his advertising whenever 

possible. The following examples are only a few of the many 

slogans that may be used: 

"Movies Under the Stars" 

"Forget That Baby Sitter!" 

"Come As You Ai-e" 

"Smoke When You Please" 

"Eat While You Look" 

"Knit While You Sit" 

"Save While You Spend" 

"Forget Your Parking Problem' 

"Leave Your Girdle at Home" "Relax in Your Car" 

PRE-OPENING PUBLICITY 

F^-ee publicity can generally be obtained at the time the 

site is purchased, when the zoning is approved, when the construction 

contracts are awarded, at various periods during the 

construction such as when the grading, or the screen structure 

is completed, and both paid and free publicity must be had for 

the opening night. 

A large sign, at least 20 feet in length, should be erected on 

the site of the theatre conveying the message that a drive-in 

theatre is being erected on that spot and will be opened to the 

public on or about a certain date. Smaller signs may be placed 

along the highways leading to the theatre, advising the public 

as to the location of the drive-in theatre so that prospective 

patrons may check on the progress. 

About a week or ten days before the grand opening most 

exhibitors mail printed or engraved invitations to the politicians, 

clergymen, officers of various fraternal organizations and larger 

local clubs, PTA officers, principals of the various schools, 

police officers, local bankers and persons who have been helpful 

during the construction period or who can be of assistance in 

promoting business. 

A much more effective and impressive way to care for these 

invited guests is to have a special show for them the night preceding 

the opening to the public. On this special night the 

invited guests should be given free food and beverages at the 

concession but such beverages should not include beer or liquor 

as such service is sure to be objectionable to many of the guests 

and will cause them to form a negative opinion of the operation. 

Souvenirs may be given the invited guests and a sufficient 

number of these items should be available for presentation to 

the cash customers who patronize the theatre on opening night. 

Such souvenirs may range from cigars for the men. candy bars 

for women and .suckers for children, to more expensive items. 

Where the drive-in theatre is readily available to many small 

communities it is a good idea to have a road map printed on 

the back of a business card showing the best route to the theatre 

from all of the .surrounding communities. These cards should 

then be placed in or on every available automobile and truck 

in the area. Gas station attendants should be given a number 

of the cards, together with a couple of passes, so that they may 

pass them out to their customers. 

Drive-in theatre advertising may be printed or rubber stamped 

on such things as paper bags and wrapping paper and these items 

given to various merchants within the theatre area, free of charge, 

a week or ten days prior to the opening date. 

The usual advertising media are also used by the drive-in 

theatres, such as newspaper advertising, window cards, radio 

spot announcements, weekly or monthly programs mailed to the 

children, taxicab banners, menus for restaurants, bumper cards, 

truck banners, various advertising give-aways, etc. 

(CONTINUED NEXT MONTH) 


Be Safe . . . Be Sure . . . Be Smartly Saving . . . 

STANDAMIZE on DIT-MCO PRODUCTS 

Here listed ate 

eight leading 

manufacturers 

of Drive-ln Theatre 

TURER SoundjSpeokers Lig,?; wire 

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MFG. NO. I 

MFG. NO. 2 

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MFG. NO. 3 

RAMP IDENTIFICATION and DRIVEWAY FLOODLIGHT

READERS' BUREAU For 

regarding products advertised or mentioned in this issue, use 

the postage-paid reply cards below. 

NEW EQUIPMENT and DEVELOPMENTS 

Briefed from the full description starting on page 47 

LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM P-g36 

The light dimming control one or 

equipment consists of 

more miniature positioner stations controlling one or more 

motor-driven Powerstat dimmers, and Is a new development 

of the Superior Electric Co. Lights can bs dimmed, brightened 

or blended with the minimum effort of fingertip operation 

of a small hand lever. Tlie system can be adapted to 

any lighting application and histallations can be designed to 

meet the requirements of a single station application or large 

console-type control panel. A complete switchboard, with 

mastering and grand mastering arrangements, can be mounted 

in a small cabinet or table. 

POWER-DRIVEN SCYTHE P-S37 

A power-driven, portable scythe for cutthig and trimming 

grass in normally inaccessible places has been developed by 

Hoffco, Inc. Weighing only 24 pounds, the Scythette has a 

1*4 h- P- engine, is 54 inches long and is colored a metallic 

green. A convenient over-the-shouider strap makes it easy 

to carry and handle. Tlie unit requires approximately one 

gallon of gasoline for six operating hours and cuts a 20-lnch 

swath. 

WASHABLE. STAINPROOF WALL COVERING P-S3S 

Varlar stainproof, washable wall covering, which mildewproof 

is 

and nonsupporting to vermin introduced by United 

is 

Wallpaper, Inc. Ink stains, pencil and crayon marks, grease 

and oil spots and other common stains may be removed easily 

and completely without damage to the wall covering. The 

wall covering Is built up into a composite unit with a paper 

backing so that the finished stainproof product in plain tlnta, 

textures, or colored patterns containing as many as 13 separate 

colors, may be applied by the customary paper hanging methods 

without special tools, equipment or training. 

PLASnC-FINISHED PANELING P.g39 

The low-cost, prefinished authentically 

wail paneling 

reproduces the richness and warmth of fine woods, and has 

been developed for theatre Interiors by Marsh Wall Products, 

Inc. The paneling is available In fouf wood grains: blond 

mahogany, red mahogany, silver walnut and brown walnut. 

This plastic-finished panel Is quickly and easily cleaned and 

may be installed with ordinary carpentering tools. The standard 

panels are 5/32-inch thick with a maximum width of 38 

inches and a maximum length of 98 inches. They may be 

Installed directly over old walls. 

ASPHALT TILE PRESERVER P-S40 

The new-type antlslip, penetrating surface-sealing 

and 

asphalt tile preserver is presented by Multi-Clean Products, 

inc. It Is claimed that the simplified routine of the new 

preserving method saves between 15 and 20 hours of floor 

machine maintenance time a month, to say nothing the of 

saving realized in material. Dally maintenance routine 

further information 

includes sweeping and damp mopping, then polishing vith a 

rotary type floor machine. Once a week a steel wool disk 

may he employed to take out the surprisingly few scuff marks 

tliat appear on tlie hardened finish. 

PROJECTOR GEAR ASSEMBLY P-841 

The newly designed intermediate gear 

and main drive 

assembly for standard and super type projector mechanisms is 

introduced by La Vezzi Machine Works. The new unit features 

gears which revolve on stationary studs. The fL\ed studs 

are said to eliminate the troublesome leakage of oil into the 

film compartment and soundhead from theê two points. 

Longer life of the parts is claimed fur the unit through wider 

faced, stronger gears, the hardened steel intermediate gear, 

greater bearing area, larger shafts, and more efficient design. 

Costly bindups are minimized by use of oil cups lii ends 

of shafts and oil wells. 

AUTOMATIC EXIT LOCK 

P.S42 

An exit lock which keeps emergency exits legally protected 

and which may be used alone or with any type of panic 

exit device is Introduced by C. D. Walles Corp. The lock 

unit measures 4x8*^x2 Inches and Is made of bronze. Authorized 

persons can open the door by use of a key and the unit 

may be left unlocked for special purposes. It cannot be 

opened from outside. For emergency use, the exit look can 

open a door In a fraction of a second. Merely by striking 

the clapper with the hand, the thin glass Is broken, automatically 

releasing the latch, sounding an alarm and opening 

the 

door. 

CHURN BUTTER DISPENSER P-S43 

West Coast Sheet Metal Co. stainless 

Is introducing the 

steel, animated But-R-Churn, precision-made to resemble the 

old-time butter barrel, complete with automatic push-pull 

wooden handle. The unit has high visual impact which makes 

it ideal for installation In theatre lobbies and refreshment 

booths of all types. Through a stainless steel measuring valve, 

identical amounts of butter are dispensed each time the valve 

Is turned. Hot butter, maintained at proper pouring temperature 

by thermostatic controls. Is automatically stirred by 

stainless steel paddles in full view of the customers. Of 

particular interest is the construction of the drip-cup holder. 

In addition to stopping both soilage and waste, the drip-cup 

holder is so attached that the operator need not move it to 

butter 

popcorn. 

HOT DOG, BUN STEAMER P.S44 

The Dixie Hot Dog Machine theatremen by 

Is offered to 

the Farvis Mfg. Co. The visual display of the food makes the 

steamer an excellent merchandiser. The manufacturer tested 

the machine for four years before releasing it to the trade, 

and one of Its most important features is the fact that the 

bottom hot dog or bun can be served first. Buns and hot 

dogs may be steamed in four minutes and the machine can 

turn out 500 saudwiclies an hour. Buns may be kept all day 

long without becoming soggy and there is no shrinkage of tlie 

meat. The machine will hold three and one-tiaU dozen buns 

and 20 pounds of hot dogs. 

PORTABLE CEILING WASHER P-845 

The newly designed, precision-built portable wall and ceiling 

washing machine, which is said to clean up to 5,0U0 

square feet of interior painted wails or ceiling surface in an 

eight-hour day, is announced by iioss & Story Products Co. 

The maciilne employs no motive power and operates silently. 

The complete absence of splashing and dripping of waler 

makes it possible to do the work without covering up furnishings 

or equipment. 

THERMO FOOT MAT P-846 

The Thermo-Mat comfort for 

which provides warm-foot 

employes in ticket buotits or behind relYeshment counters is 

presented by the Thermo-Mat Co. The mat plugs into any 

ordinary 110-120-volt outlet and can be operated all day 

is hiexpensivcly. Temperature reached after a few moments 

of operation and remains uniform. The unit consists of a 

special metallic resistance embedded lu a reversible, ribbed 

neoprene rubber compound which is tough and long wearing, 

it is said to be sate from shock and fire hazards. 

LITERATURE 

Briefed from the description on page 50 Key 

Number 

SODA FOUNTAIN CATALOG L-1454 

The new elglu-page catalog lime-saving 

describing various 

service units tor soda fountain operators has been published 

by the Bastaln-Biessing Co. It contains descriptions of 

facilities for both refrigerated and dry storage, sen ice stands 

for appliances of all lilnds and such other conveniences as 

refrigerated hamburger dispensers and Lowerator dispensers. 

UNIFORM REFERENCE CHART L-1455 

The convenient time-saving reference offered by 

chart is 

Angelica Uniform Co. as a free service to busy uniform buyers. 

The chart cuahlcs employers to iiave an exact list of the 

measurements of each employe and is designed to fit any 

standard file drawer. 

CLEANING UNIT FOLDER L-1456 

The two-color, four-page complete 

catalog, containing 

specifications on the Suiier Kcd Streak heavy duty suction 

cleaner, is available from National Super Service Co., Inc. 

Is The Model SU a powerful unit for both wet and dry 

pickup, which with proper tool equipment can be used for 

cleaning eerything from lamp shades to boiler tubes. 

PUBLISH POPCORN CATALOG L-1457 

A catalog recently published by Dunbar & Co., commemorating 

the company's 50th anniversary, contains numerous 

illustrations of the popping machines and additional 

insiallation 

photos. 

ILLUSTRATE LIGHTING UNITS L-1458 

The Litecraft llfg. Corp. has issued the paper-bound catalog 

Illustrating the firm's line of lightmg units. Included In the 

20-page booklet is a price schedule plus specifications and 

photos of the lighting units in the company's line. 

FLOOR MACHINE FOLDER L-1459 

The six-page, two-color folder presenting the 

graphically 

Is line of floor Multi-Clean machines and attachments now 

available from Multi-Clean Products, Inc. The booklet gives 

complete specifications, operation instructions and iihistrations. 

How to Use These 

READERS' BUREAU COUPONS 

I, Fill out completely a leparate coupon 

for each New Equipment item, 

News article or Literature reference 

(above) which interests you. Likewise 

for eoch Advertising Product (reverse 

Ql 

side of this sheet) about which you 

wont more information. Put only one 

key number in each square. 

Write (.ere the lev "umbor ^l I y, I 

of tbe ,lcm thai Inlof-sls ,00 T LZjfcJ 

No.e JOHN Q. DOE 

Tb«.t..,C.,eo„ QUEEN 

„..„u, 5Ih o»d MAIN 

c.„ NEWBEFiN stotc ALA. 

The MODERN THEATRE Section o( BOXOFFICE " I' 

'•) 

2» Use the outer card to requeit on* 

to four items, both cards If requesting 

five to eight. 

3. When you hove filled out the cou 

pons for each request, detach the 

poftcard* and mail. No postage 

needed in the U.S. (Affix stamp in 

Canada.)

READERS' BUREAU 

A 

AD 

For literature on products advertised or mentioned in this issue, see other 

side of this sheet and read how to use the postcard coupons below. 

B 

n 

PRODUCTS ADVERTISED IN THIS ISSUE 

ADMISSION SIGNS 

Eduar S. Bowman 39-C 

ATTRACTION BOARDS AND LETTERS 

Adier Silhouette Letter Co 39-B 

Wagner Sign Service 3-A 

BUTTER DISPENSER for POPCORN 

Autonatic Products Co 45-B 

CANDY 

Henry Heide, Inc 3S-A 

Nestle's Chocolate Co 39-A 

CARBONS 

See Projector Carbons 

CARBON SAVERS 

Call Products Co 51-A 

Full Run Carbon Saver Co 12-A 

Payne Products Co. (Con-0-Matic) 51-C 

Phillips Electro Extensions 49-C 

CARPETS 

Bijelow-Sanford Carpet Co 13-A 

CARPET CUSHIONING 

Sponge Rubber Products Co 5- 

CONCESSION EQUIPMENT, DRIVE-IN 

Walky Service Co 34-B 

CONCESSION CONTRACTORS 

Sportscrvice Corp 34-C 

CURTAIN CONTROLS AND TRACKS 

Automatic Devices Co 24-C 

Vallen, Inc 49-D 

DISPUY FRAMES AND EASELS 

Peoples Display Frame Co 52-D 

DRINK DISPENSERS, Soft Drinks 

See Fountainettes 

DRINKS, SOFT 

Canada Dry Ginger Ale, Inc 37-A 

Coca-Cola Co 2-A 

ELECTRIC POWER GENERATORS 

D. W. Onan & Sons, Inc 49-A 

ENTRANCE & EXIT SIGNS 

DIT-MCO, Inc 42-A 

FILM REWINDERS 

GoldE Mfg. Co 30-B 

FOUNTAINETTES 

& Anderson Wagner, Inc 3S-C 

Drincolator Corp 35-A 

GUM, CHEWING 

Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co 33-A 

ICE CREAM MERCHANDISERS 

Icecreamolator Corp 35-A 

KIDDY RIDES for DRIVE-INS 

Miniature Train Co 4S-A 

LADDERS, SAFETY 

Dayton Safety Ladder Co 46-A 

LIGHTING CONTROLS. Stage & House 

Superior Electric Co 24-A 

PAINTS. Indoor & Outdoor, Screen, etc. 


POPCORN BOXES AND SACKS 

Manley, Inc 34.D 

Mellos Peanut Co 34- 

POPCORN BUTTERING DEVICE 

Automatic Products Co 45-B 

POPCORN MACHINES 

Manley, Inc 34. 

POPCORN SCOOPS 

Speed-Scoop 

Sg-B 

POPCORN SEASONING (OIL) 

Manley, Inc 34.D 

C. F. Simonin's Sons, Inc 36-A 

POPCORN AND SUPPLIES 

Manley, Inc 34-0 

Mellos Peanut Co 34.A 

POPCORN WARMERS 

Walky Service Co. 34-B 

PORTHOLE BLOWERS, PROJECTION 


POSTER FRAMES AND EASELS 

Peonies Display Frame Co 52-D 

PROJECTION ARC LAMPS 

Ashcrafl Mfg. Co 49-E 

Strong Electric Corp 25-A 

PROJECTION LENSES 

Kollmorgen Optical Corp 2S-A 

PROJECTION AND SOUND 

The Ballantyne Co 52-C 

International Projector Corp 1-BC 

PROJECTION AND SOUND SERVICE 

RCA Service Co 30-A 

PROJECTOR CARBONS 

National Carbon Co 27-A 

PROJECTOR PARTS 

LaVejzi Macliine Works 50-A 

National Theatre Supply Ig-A 

RAMP LIGHTS, DRIVE-IN 


RECTIFIERS, PROJECTION 

Strong Electric Corp 49-B 

REFRESHMENT CART, DRIVE-IN 

Walky Service Co 34-B 

REWINDERS, FILM 

GoldE Mfg. Co 30-B 

RIDES—See Kiddy Rides 

SAFETY LADDERS 

Dayton Safety Ladder Co 46-A 

SCALES, PENNY WEIGHING, FORTUNE 

Watling Mfg. Co 52-A 

SCREEN GAMES 

Sam Gertz 30-C and 50-B 

SCREEN PAINTS, Indoor & Outdoor 


SCREENS for INDOOR THEATRES 

B. F. Shearer Co 24-B 

Vocalite Screen Corp 26-B 

SCREEN TOWERS for DRIVE-INS 


SEATING, CONVENTIONAL THEATRES 

American Seating Co 6-A 

Griggs Equipment Co 2S-B 

Heywood-Wakefleld Co 4-A 

Ideal Seating Co 26-A 

Irwin Seating Co 4S-A 

Kroehler Mfg. Co. 19-A 

SIGNS, DIRECTIONAL, Etc. 

Edgar S. Bowman 39-C 


SPEAKERS, IN-CAR, for DRIVE-INS 

The Ballantyne Co 52-C 


International Projector Corp 1-BC 

SPOT LAMPS 

Strong Electric Corp. 29-A 

STAGE & HOUSE LIGHTING CONTROLS 

Superior Electric Co 24-A 

STAGE SHOWS 

Amusement Enterprises 51- 

TELEVISION, THEATRE 

RCA Serice Co., Inc 30-A 

THEATRE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES 

National Theatre Supply Ig-A 

S.O.S. Cinema Supply Corp 28-C 

THEATRE FRONTS 

Poblocki & Sons Co 50-C 

TICKET ISSUING MACHINES 

General Register Corp 4S-B 

TICKETS 

Toledo Ticket Co 52-B 

VACUUM CLEANERS 

Ideal Industries, Inc 12-B 

National Super Service Co., Inc 46-B

" 

The DRIVE-IN QUESTION CORNER 

As an adjunct to his series of articles on 

drive-in theatre design and construction Mr. 

Petersen will answer specific questions addressed 

to Drive-In Theatre Editor, the Modern 

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

Will you please advise me of the proper 

procedure for securing the NPA Order M- 

4A to construct a drive-in theatre? Is it 

necessary to secure such a permit to build 

a drive-in under 300 cars, providing you do 

not use over the restricted amounts of materials? 

In order to erect a drive-in theatre 

you must obtain authority from the 

NPA, even though your plans remain 

within the allocations permitted. This 

authority is readily obtainable from 

your regional NPA office. 

Under present NPA building regulations, 

who supplies the copper wire that runs 

from the theatre owner's property line to 

the booth, and is this additional poundage 

allowable? 

The record shows that in the majority 

of instances, the NPA has allowed 

this additional poundage. A 

service drop can be run in from the 

rear of the theatre without causing 

much interference with the sight lines 

from the cars, but this type of service 

would require considerably more copper 

for the power company construction 

than would be the case if an additional 

100 pounds of copper were allocated 

to the exhibitor. For this reason, 

the NPA will usually go along 

with the theatreman. 

In a recent article you stated that it is 

possible to construct a 325-car drive-in and 

stay within the 200-pou7id copper allotm,ent 

set by the government. As I figure it, approximately 

800 to 1,200 feet of 1/0 cable 

^depending on whether you have 110.'220 

volts or less) would be required to get 

power to the projection booth. I believe 

tliis item alone ivould exceed the 200-pound 

allotment. 

A 40-foot screen requires a booth located 

approximately 200 feet from it so 

that a total cable length of not more 

than 250 feet will be required. This 

means about 750 feet of single wire or 

approximately 150 pounds of bare copper 

wire. So far, this amount has been 

permitted on several theatres, but in 

instances where the copper has not been 

allowed it is a simple matter to bring 

the service in from the rear of the theatre 

and run it overhead to the booth. 

If the theatre is of the capacity mentioned, 

only one pole would have to be 

set within the theatre area and that 

pole would be directly in the rear of 

the booth so that it would not interfere 

with the sight lines from the cars to 

any great extent. The copper required 

to bring the service in at the rear of 

the theatre is greater than if the service 

is run underground from the screen 

structure .so that it is more economical 

on the material if the NPA approves 

your application for the additional 

poundage required. 

Recently you commented that the cost 

is prohibitive on normal operations to install 

in-car heaters. You also mention that 

only in temperate climates would heaters 

be practical. Don't you agree that heaters 

are practical for most parts of the United 

States, barring extremities of sub-zero 

weather? 

There is no question in my mind 

that the interior of an automobile can 

be heated to a comfortable temperature 

through the use of heater units, 

but I am of the opinion that it is too 

costly and too impractical to operate 

a drive-in theatre during the winter 

months in the more northern locations. 

Even though the patrons can 

heat their cars to a comfortable temperature 

they wiU still have to walk out 

In the cold to the restrooms and to the 

concession stand. These facilities must 

also be heated to afford comfort to the 

patrons and to prevent freezing of 

toilet facilities. 

Every Ounce of Copper 

Is 

Counted by NPA 

Nathan D. Golden, director, Motion Picture 

and Photographic Products Division, 

of the Department of Commerce, NPA, has 

called attention to the fact that any wiring 

required for general lighting purposes, 

signs, conce.ssion machines, heaters, etc., 

must be included in the total of 200 pounds 

of copper permitted the theatreman for 

new construction under NPA. In addition, 

any copper wire required to bring the power 

supply from the meter installed by the 

power company to the projection room, and 

any other points within the theatre, also 

has to be included. 

Highway Direction Signs 

Win Drive-In Patrons 

Drive-in theatre operators throughout 

the Hartford, Conn., territory are becoming 

more conscious of the need for more 

highway direction signs. 

"You know," commented Paul W. Amadeo, 

general manager of the Pike Drivein, 

Newington, Conn., "people still call U3 

up and ask us just where the drive-in is 

situated! This after all the years we've 

been operating and advertising." 

Amadeo said that he has been using 

direction signs on the highway near the 

drive-in with much success. "A lot of 

people tell our cashier," he said, "that 

they've noted our .sign.s on the highway." 

One of the outstanding examples of 

highway direction signs is that of the 

Sky-Vue Drive-In, Torrington, Conn., operated 

by Vincent W. Youmatz, with Paul S. 

Purdy as advertising manager. "We use 

direction signs some distance down the 

road from the drive-in," reported Purdy. 

"This means something to our patrons, for 

they tell us they simply can't go wrong 

when they see our signs." 

MINIATURE TRAINS^ EVERY LOCATION 

a«: 

/fc' '/ 

AUTOMATIC PRODUCTS 

COMPANY 

FOR COMPLETE 

DETAILS 

TEAR OUT AND 

MAIL THIS AD 

TODAYI 


DRIVE-IN THEATRES 

Here 's 

Your Biff 

DOUBLE 

FEATURE 

in Saiety 

Theatremen 

everyvrhere 

rely on Dayton Safety Ladders 

for maximum safety 

and convenience. Ideal for 

your marquees—perfect for 

those odd jobs. 

Daytons are constructed of 

tested airplane spruce and 

reinforced with rigid steel 

supports to give great 

strength and lightness of 

weight. Sizes 3 feet to 16 

feet in height (measured 

from ground to platform) 

with Standard Rubber Safety 

Shoes at no extra cost. 

Write Today for Bulletin No. A 

Dayton Safety 

Ladder 

Company 

DAYTON SAFETY LADDERS 

QUEEN FmE EXTINGUISHER 

SAFETY SUPPLIES 

2337 GILBERT AVE., CINCINNATI 6, OHIO 

In Canada—Safety Supply Company—Toronto 

Personnel Is An Important 

Key to Operation of a 

Drive-In 

Kiddyland 

f^ COMPETENT AND adaptable personnel 

In the operating organization is 

essential in management of a kiddyland, 

according to Irving Goldberg, partner in 

the Community Theatres, operating the 

Bel-Air Kiddyland at the Bel-Air Drive-In 

Theatre, Detroit, Mich., which is said to 

be the country's biggest drive-in. Experience 

here indicates there are no major 

problems in operation, if proper personnel, 

sound management principles, adequate 

equipment and basic plant are all active 

factors. 

"It is principally a question of getting 

the right people to operate each ride, 

"Goldberg said: "We try to get people who 

have children of their own, so that they 

know children and their ways, and are 

familiar with the problems of parents. One 

important rule—they are always courteous 

to the tots and to their parents." 

THESE PRINCIPLES HAVE WORKED 

Other basic principles of operation at 

the Bel-Air, some of them incorporated in 

management from the start, others reinforced 

by operating experience, include: 

1. Restrooms are always kept clean, with 

adequate and constant attention and 

maintenance. Parents feel it is safe to 

bring their children there, and parents are 

very sanitation-conscious these days. 

2. Novelties for the kiddies pay off. A 

stand sells pinwheels, big all-day suckers 

with clowns or figures on them, and other 

specialties that appeal to little folk. 

Cut This Labor Cost 

In 1952... 

Don't spend so much of your operating budget for clean 

up labor. Just one operator and a Super cleaner with the 

Super specialized theatre tool equipment can: 

# Keep your screen bright and clean and sound holes 

free of clogging dirt. 

• Quickly, easily blow out popcorn boxes, candy wrappers 

and other debris for ready disposal. 

# Remove tracked-in dirt and slush from carpets and bare 

floors, with either wet or dry cleaning. 

• Keep wall decorations, box fronts, all high places free 

of dust and dirt without dangerous scaffold or ladder 

climbing. 

Super Model PB—A quiet, 

double-duly cleaner for both 

wet and dry pick-up. 

3. Promotion that pays its own way 

should be utilized. Typically, small T-shirts 

for the children, with the name of the 

theatre on them. These can be sold at 

approximate cost, and prove popular. 

4. Pictures of the youngsters—these will 

appeal to the children and, probably even 

more, to the parents. To give a special and 

memorable pose, a stationary horse, similar 

to those on the merry-go-round, has been 

installed as a "studio prop." Lowest rates 

in town are charged—$1 for a single picture, 

or $2 for three prints. 

5. Maintenance of equipment is a paramount 

rule. Safety reasons are obvious, 

but profit makes it worth while. "If an important 

ride goes down, there is no way of 

disposing of the tickets," Goldberg comments. 

"I wouldn't want to see our roller 

coaster go out of service—there is no 

adequate substitute for the enjoyment it 

can give the youngsters." 

PARK AREA IS DESIRABLE 

6. Landscaping is being stressed more 

than ever. Original trees have been saved 

wherever possible, and others added, together 

with shrubbery. A considerable area 

has been sodded over, providing an attractive 

setting and beautifying the improvement 

of the entire project. 

7. Picnic tables have been provided for 

people who want to eat, and patrons are 

encouraged to bring their lunch; it helps 

to make the kiddies eager to come back. 

8. A small area with free play equipment 

has been provided for the tots who 

want a swing or some other simple playground 

device. The parents often provide 

the motive power and the result is a happy 

and active family group. 

Concluding, Goldberg said colorfully, 

"The kiddyland goes with a drive-in like 

pork goes with beans." 

Super Model M— For all 

general cleaning and 

blowing. Powerful, 

readily portable. 

These are only a few of the many 

things accomplished by the Heavy 

Duty Super Theatre Cleaners. 

They are easily portable, go 

everywhere, clean everything. 

Call your local supply dealer. 

He will bring a Super to your 

theatre and show you just how 

easy, economical. Super cleaning 

can be. Or write for complete 

data. 

NATIONAL SUPER SERVICE COMPANY, INC 

1941 N. 12lh St., Toledo 2, Ohio 

"Once Over Does It" 

SUPER SUCTION 

SINCE 1911 

THE DRAFT HORSE OF POWER SUCTION CLEANERS" 


EQUIPMENT €r 

DEVELOPMENTS 

J 

Lighting Control System 

Designed for Theatres 

P-836 

FOR MORE 

INFORMATION 

Projector Gear Assembly 

P-841 

Minimizes Oil Leakage 

%./î 

USE Readers' 

Bureau Coupons, page 43 

Light dimming control equipment, consisting 

of one or more miniature positioner 

stations controlling one or more motordriven 

Powerstat dimmers, is a new development 

of the Superior Electric Co. Lights 

can be dimmed, brightened or blended with 

the minimum effort of fingertip operation 

of a small hand lever. The system can be 

adapted to any lighting application and installations 

can be designed to meet the requirements 

of a single station application 

or a large console-type control panel. A 

complete switchboard, with mastering and 

grand-mastering arrangements, can be 

mounted in a small cabinet or table, with 

all controls accessible to the operator. 

Power-Driven Scythe 

For Drive-ln Use 

P-837 

A power - driven, 

portable scythe for 

cutting and trimming 

(if grass in normally 

places 

inches long and is 

colored a metallic 

.(nient over-the-shoulder 

.strap niakts it easy to carry and handle. 

The unit requires approximately one gallon 

of gasoline for six operating hours and 

cuts a 20-inch swath. 

Stainproof Wall Covering P-838 

Is Washable 

Varlar stainproof, washable wall covering 

which is mildew-proof and non-supporting 

to vermin is introduced by United 

Wallpaper, Inc. 

Plastic-Finished 

Paneling 

For Theatre Interiors 

P-839 

A low-cu.sl, prefuiished wall paneling 

which authentically reproduces the richness 

and warmth of fine woods, has been 

developed for theatre Interiors. Manufactured 

by Marsh Wall Pi-oducts. Inc., the 

paneling is available in four wood grains: 

blond mahogany, red mahogany, silver walnut, 

and brown walnut. This plastic-finished 

panel is quickly and easily cleaned 

and may be installed with ordinary carpentering 

tools. The standard panels are 

5 32-inch thick with a maximum width of 

38 inches and a maximum length of 98 

inaccessible 

inches. They may be installed directly over 

has been developed by 

old walls. 

Hoffco. Inc. Weighing 

only 24 pounds, 

the Scythette has a Asphalt Tile Preserver P-840 

1 '.)-h.p engine, is 54 Seals Floor' Surfaces 

A new-type anti-slip, penetrating and 

surface-sealing asphalt tile preserver is 

presented by Multi-Clean Pi-oducts, Inc. 

It is claimed that the simplified routine 

of the new preserving method saves between 

15 and 20 hours of floor machine 

maintenance time a month, to say nothing 

of the saving realized in material. 

Daily maintenance routine includes 

.sweeping and damp mopping, then polishing 

with a rotary type floor machine. Once 

a week a steel wool disc may be employed 

to take out the surprisingly few scuff 

marks that appear on the hardened finish. 

A newly designed intermediate and main 

drive gear assembly for standard and super 

type projector mechanisms is introduced 

by LaVezzi Machine Works. 

The new unit features gears which revolve 

on stationary studs. The fixed studs 

are said to eliminate the troublesome leakage 

of oil into the film compartment and 

soundhead from these two points. 

Longer life of the parts is claimed for 

the unit through wider faced, stronger 

gears, the hardened steel intermediate 

i 

gear, greater bearing area, larger '2-inch 

diameter) shafts, and more efficient design. 

Costly bindups are minimized by use 

of oil cups in ends of shafts and oil wells. 

Automatic Exit Lock mP-842 

For Emergency Use 

'{y 

An exit lock which keeps emergency exits 

legally protected and which may be usea 

alone or with any type of panic exit device 

is introduced by C. D. Wailes Corp. 

The lock unit measures 4x8 '2x2 inches 

and is made of bronze. Authorized persons 

can open the door by use of a key, and the 

unit may be left unlocked for special purposes. 

It cannot be opened from outside. 

For emergency use, the exit lock can 

open a door in a fraction of a .second. 

Merely by striking the clapper with the 

hand, the thin glass is broken, and this 

automatically releases the latch, sounds an 

alarm and opens the door. 


Buffer Dispenser Simulates 

Old-Fashioned Churn 

P-843 Special Features in a New 

Hot Dog and Bun Steamer 

P-844 

of the drip-cup holder. In addition to 

stopping both soilage and waste, the dripcup 

holder is so attached that the operator 

need not move it to butter popcorn. 

The Dixie Hot Dog Machine, a combination 

hot dog and bun steamer, is offered 

to theatremen by the Garvis Mfg. Co. The 

visual display of the food makes the 

steamer an excellent merchandiser. The 

manufacturer tested the machine for four 

West Coast Sheet Metal Co. is introducing 

years before releasing it to the trade, and 

a stainless steel, animated But-R- one of its most important features is the 

Churn. Pi-ecision-made to resemble the fact that the bottom hot dog or bun can 

old-time butter barrel, complete with automatic 

be served first. Buns and hot dogs may 

push-pull wooden handle, the unit be steamed, ready for serving, in four min- 

has high visual impact which makes it 

utes, and the machine can turn out 500 

ideal for installation in theatre lobbies and sandwiches an hour. Buns may be kept all 

refreshment booths of all types—wherever day long without becoming soggy and there 

popcorn is sold. 

no shrinkage of the meat. 

is 

Through a stainless steel measuring The machine will hold three and onehalf 

dozen buns and 20 pounds of hot dogs. 

valve, identical amounts of butter are dispensed 

each time the valve is turned. Hot It is made of stainless steel and is available 

butter, maintained at proper pouring temperature 

for use with gas or electricity. No 

by thermostatic controls, is automatically 

stirred by stainless steel paddles 

special wiring is required. 

in full view of the customers. 

Of particular interest is the construction 

Production of wool and blended carpets 

and rugs during the month of September 

amounted to 3,615,000 square yards, a decrease 

of 53 per cent from September 1950. 

Merrill A. Watson, president of the Carpet 

Institute, Inc. announced recently. 

COMFO 

ÎSfM"^!^*^' 

ECONOMY 

Luxurious con 

appearance and the economy 

both moderate initial cost 

and the lowest maintenance co 

on the market — all these are yours 

when you reseat with the IRWIN "COMET". 

Write for complete details. Reseating 

with this superb chair is a powerful 

means of boosting Box Receipts — an investment 

that soon pays for itself in larger profits. 

A Model For Every Type 

and Size of Operation 

ELECTRIC 

AUTOMATICKET 

for top -traffic 

installations in 

Theatres, Amusement 

Parks, Fairs, 

Race Tracks |^ 

"RAPID ACTION" 

AUTOMATICKET 

A mechanically 

driven, rock-bottom-price 

ticket 

register for smaller 

theatres 

'WS^'* 

"TRIGGER ACTION" 

AUTOMATICKET 

the world's outstanding 

performer 

among nonelectric 

ticket 

issuing machines 

all geared to maximum efficiency 

and economy ... a// carrying 

GRC's famous Uninterrupted- 

Service Guarantee 

GENERAL REGISTER CORPORATION 

43-01 Twenty-Second Street 

Long Island City 1, N. Y. 

1018 South Wabash Avenue 

Chicago 5, Illinois 

6260 Romaine Street 

Hollywood 38, Calif. 

43 


I 

Portable Washing Unit 

For Walls, Ceilings 

P-845 

Reveals New Success 

Formula: 

-#' £• \ 

l-l 

High"IQ "Makes High Receipts 

It's the "IQ" (Illusion Quotient) of the 

physical theatre that's important when 

you're trying to build patronage at your 

boxoffice. 

This was indicated recently when a trade 

survey showed that poor theatres, not poor 

films, are chiefly responsible for poor boxoffice 

receipts. 

ONAN EMERGENCY 

ELECTRIC PLANT 

You are protected against power interruption or 

restrictions on your use of electricity with an 

Onan Standby Plant. In case of power failure the 

Onan Plant takes over the entire power load 

within seconds automatically, and the show goes 

on. When power use is curtailed, just switch to 

your Onan Plant for all the current you need. 

Low in cost, simple to install. Ruggedly built 

and dependable. 1,000 to 35,000 watts A.C. 

J7396 

D. W. ONAN & SONS INC. 

Royalston Ave.. Minneapolis 5, Minn. 

TOtCU i

— 

Trouble mfh 

x 

OilLeakage? 

it necessary to stufF rags and 

^M^'* 

./^ 

— is 

other absorbent materials in the base 

of your projector to catch the excess 

oil from causing "'bloops' and 

"motorboating" in your sound? This 

annoying situation is now solved 

with the new RK-107 Conversion Kit. 

Both Main Drive Gear and Intermediate 

Gear revolve on hardened 

steel STATIONARY shafts which are 

locked in with oil-tight gaskets. 

^ ^'< 

.^.-^''C 

S 

' 

j^K 

;^ 

^' 

Shafts ore sturdy— '/z inch in diam- tion regarding this revolutionary 

— are 50% stronger. Oil reservoirs Supply Dealer or write direct for 

eter. The gears have Vi inch faces new product see your Theatre 

built in the shafts keep the oil where illustrated brochure, 

it belongs providing adequate lubrig 

y p £• ^ ^ 

cation and eliminating those former /f^^C)/^~^^^ 

costly bind-ups. For further informo- 

LAVEZZI MACHINE WORKS 

4635 WEST LAKE STREET • CHICAGO 44. ILLINOIS 

f/?Ef / 

4 1^1 

SCREEN 

GAMES OF 

MERIT FOR 

THE PRICE OF ONE 

BOOSl BOXOFFICE RECEIPTS 

SAM GERTZ 

414 Wellington Ave. 


2 

Write direct or use the FREE postcord on page 44, 

filling in this ad s Key Number, 50-B, 

50 

It's 

sfill 

^(^c/^ 

For the best in theatre front design, 

construction and attraction 

value . . . 

Marquee Pester Cases 

Box Office Signs 

Drive-in Signs and Attraction Boards 

Call or Wnt^^^^ 

^ 

The following concerns have recently 

filed copies of interesting descriptive literature 

with the Modern Theatre Information 

'Bureau. Readers who wish copies may 

obtain them promptly by usi7ig the Readers' 

Bureau postcard in this issue of The Modern 

Theatre. 

L-1454 — Anew 

eight - page catalog 

describing various 

time-saving service 

units for soda fountain 

operators has 

been published by the 

' ^"^ Bastian-Blessing Co. 

.^fl' 

joint-army-navy 

16mm 

n 

about PEOPLE / and PRODUCT 

Richard Jackson, who joined the Chase 

Candy Co. as a special representative at 

Indianapolis, has been named sales representative 

for the state of Tennessee, exclusive 

of Memphis, according to W. A. 

Yantis, president and director of sales. 

Appointment of Larry Johnson, formerly 

assistant to the merchandising manager 

of the Curtiss Candy Co. and earlier on 

the sales staff of Mars, Inc., as representative 

of the Chase Candy Co. in the state 

of Oregon, has also been announced by 

Yantis. B. C. "Bud" Quigley, veteran food 

salesman will be the Chase representative 

in the southern Illinois territory. 

Edwin C. Swenson 

Hiram Hascall, sales 

manager of D. W. 

Onan & Sons, Inc., 

has announced the 

appoint ment 

of 

George R. Burda as 

sales promotion manager 

of the firm. 

Burda. formerly 

manager of the eastern 

sales territory, 

has been associated 

with the company 

since 1942. 

Succeeding Burda 

as regional manager 

of the eastern zone is 

Edwin C. Swenson of 

the service department. 

Swenson, with 

Onan since 1941, has 

for the past several 

years conducted the 

Onan Service and 

Technical school. 

Michael Masselli, formerly manager of 

the Star Theatre, Hartford, Conn., has 

been named projectionist, Webb Playhouse, 

Wethersfield, Conn., replacing Salvatore 

Catania who has resigned to go into the 

lumber business. 

The American Seating Co.'s November 

board of directors meeting was held in the 

firm's new San Pi-ancisco building. The 

new structure, which contains showrooms 

and sales offices in addition to warehouse 

•space, was laid out and developed by Harrison 

Mosher, the company's merchandising 

manager, H. F. Robinson, west coast division 

manager, and C. D. Johnson, assistant 

manager of the San Francisco branch. 

Built of architectural concrete and reinforced 

concrete slab, it provides a total 

area of 37,664 square feet and features 

trucking terminal docks as well as railway 

siding docks. 

Bill DeVry, president and Ellis W. 

D'Arcy. chief engineer of the DeVry Corp., 

were awarded honorary fellowships in the 

Society of Motion Picture and Television 

Engineers at their 70th ssmiannual convention 

recently concluded in Hollywood, 

Calif. The awards were presented for exceptional 

achievements and contributions 

to the motion picture equipment industry, 

climaxed by the development of the DeVry 

t I 

JAN sound motion 

picture projection equipment. D'Arc\ 

was also appointed as a member of thr 

governing board of the SMPTE. 

William Bynam has been elected vicepresident 

of the Carrier Corp. Bynam was 

formerly vice-president and general sales 

manager, joining Carrier in 1930, after 

graduation from the University of Alabama. 

SAVE MORE ON CARBONS 

Polenta Pending 

CALI CARBON COUPLERS 

Let You Burn All the Carbon 

"They're Expendible" 

The most popular carbon saver. Used by more 

theatres than ALL other makes COMBINED. 

At all progressive supply houses. 

Per Hundred, postpaid: Not Packed in Mixed Sizes. 

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BOXOFFICE :: January .5, 1952 

51

Harry W. Peterson 

is the new sales manager 

of the pubhc 

seating division of 

Kroehler Mfg. Co., replacing 

Howard V. 

Williams, now sales 

manager of the company's 

case goods division. 

Peterson 

joined Kroehler in 

1938 and pioneered in 

Harry W. Peterson 

the development and 

promotion of the firm's Push-Back chair. 

"When a company is in the business of 

manufacturing fountain accessory equipment 

which makes for speedier service in 

the mass-feeding field, what's more logical 

than to apply the principles of faster and 

better service to their own customer relations," 

and that, according to F. R. Lacy, 

president of Helmco, Inc., is the reason why 

the company operates its own Beechcraft 

Bonanza, four-seat airplane. 

The plane, called "Flying Hotcup" after 

a Helmco-Lacy product, is flown about 300 

hours a year on company business by Don 

According to a 

Recent Survey 

97% 

of all Royal Soundmaster 

Soundheads and PD-50 

Amplifiers installed in 

the past 12 years are 

STILL IN OPERATION 

95% 

are still operating in 

the same theatre in 

which they were 

originally 

installed. 

Voo very rarely see Ballantyne equipment in 

classified trade paper used equipment advertisements. 

There's a Reason! 

THE BALLANTYNE 

COMPANY 

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52 

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4650 W. Fulton St. Chicago 44, III. 

Est. 1889—Telephone: Columbus 1-2772 

Coble Address: WATLINGITE, Chicago 

Don Conley and the "Flying Hotcup" 

R. Conley, assistant sales manager. This 

300 hours represents about 1,500 hours of 

travel by ground conveyance. Most of the 

flying in the Bonanza is done by Conley, 

a B-26 pilot with over 50 missions to his 

credit with the 9th air force during World 

War II. However, Col. H. E. Lacy, chairman 

of the board at Helmco and commanding 

officer of the Illinois wing, civil 

air patrol, manages to log many a flying 

hour on company business. 

Awards totaling $500 were presented by 

the Hild Floor Mfg. Co. to owners of the 

oldest floor, rug or carpet scrubbing machines 

still in regular use, as part of the 

firm's 25th anniversary celebration. Officials 

report that the search turned up interesting 

information on the life of floor 

scrubbing machines under various conditions 

of use. The information will be made 

available to any interested person. 

For TICKETS of every description 

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• 22x28 $3.00 each 

• 14x36 $3.00 each 

Send for Illustrated brochure—a complete 

line of illuminated and non-illuminated wall 

frames and poster coses. 

Peoples Display Frame Co. 

1515 Olympic Blvd. Montebello, Colif. 


— 

0XOFFICE(f}DDiiJJ]i?UJD£ 

The EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY ABOUT 

PICTURES 

An open forum in which, for the most part, exhibitors report on subsequent-run 

shorvings of pictures. One (•) denotes a new contributor; two (**) is one who 

has been reporting for six months or longer; ( • * • ) a regular who has been 

reporting for one year or more. These columns are open to all exhibitors. 

COLUMBIA 

Ilurritane Island (Coll—Jon Hall. Marie 

Windsor, Romo Vincent. Thi.s didn't do busine.s.s. 

doubled with Gene Autry. It is a fair 

picture, though. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: 

Cold.—Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, 

Ont. Small town trade. * * ' 

Mob, The (CoD—Broderick Crawford, Betty 

Buehler. Richard Kiley. This is Crawford's 

best picture since "All the King's Men," and 

it is all Crawford. If Columbia keeps this 

pace, the guy could really become boxoffice. 

Business was below average, but through no 

fault of the film—due to one of the worst 

storms in years. Play this one. We used it 

Sun., Mon. Weather: Heavy winds and rains. 

—Don Donohue, Novato Theatre, Novate, 

Calif. Small town, rural trade. * * * 

LIPPERT PRODUCTIONS 

G.I. Jane (LP)—Jean Porter. Tom Neal, 

Iris Adrian. Take it from me, this is strictly 

for Class C houses. It is a lemon if I ever 

saw one.—Fi-ank Sabin, Majestic Theatre, 

Eureka, Mont. Small town, rural trade. * * * 

Steel Helmet, The (LP»—Gene EVans, Robert 

Hutton, Steve Brodie. Another excellent 

movie from Lippert. Evans is a true, 

new find and gave an excellent performance. 

Hats off to Lippert for making movies that 

move ! One fault we found with this film (and 

our patrons agreed with usi was that Evans 

at times could not be understood, as the cigar 

in his mouth made his speech blurred—apart 

from the fact that he spoke broad American. 

The film had an exceptionally smart ending 

and those who saw the show liked it immensely. 

It played to good houses with "Samson 

and Delilah" against us. Played Sun., 

Mon. Weather: Fine.—Dave S. Klein, Astra 

Theatre, Kitwe Nkana, Northern Rhodesia, 

Africa. Business and mining trade. ' * * 

METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER 

Excuse My Dust (MOM i— Red Skelton, 

Sally Forrest. Macdonald Carey. Red is a 

comedian, yet they sell the trailer as a musical. 

Wake up, somebody! One of Red's best 

roles, this is, and a nice comedy to please 

a small town patronage. The cross-coimtry 

race Ls a riot. The holiday season kept 

our boxoffice down to normal, though. Played 

Sun., Mon. Weather: Cold.—Ken Christianson, 

Roxy Theatre, Washburn, N. D. Small 

town trade. • • 

Miniver Story, The (MGMi—Greer Garson, 

Walter Rdgeon, John Hodiak. And now the 

friendly company is becoming the problem 

company for me. How could patrons enjoy this 

picture when they couldn't understand half of 

what was said? On top of that, the story 

is poor. If you don't believe me, go ahead 

and find out like I did. Played Wed., Thurs. 

Weather: Beautiful—Bob Walker, Uintah 

Theatre, Pi-uita, Colo. Small town, rural 

trade. • • * 

Show Boat (MGMi—Ava Gardner, Howard 

Keel. Kathryn Grayson. This is an excellent 

musical show in color. It had been milked 

before I got it and did- average business, 

showing a small profit. Played Tues., Wed., 

Thurs. Weather: Good.—E. M. Freiburger, 

Dewey Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town 

trade. * * * 

MONOGRAM 

County Fair (Monoi—Rory Calhoun, Florence 

Bates, Jane Nigh. Doubled with Jungle 

Headhunters (RKOi, as we had to have something 

to bring them in and the latter would 

not even do it—even though we paid more 

for it than "County Fair." It was 24 below 

and the Christmas season, which kept the 

gross down to 75 per cent. Played Thurs., 

Fri., Sat. Weather: Cold wave.—Ken Christiansen, 


town trade. * * * 

Longhorn, The (Mono)—Wild Bill Elliott, 

Myron Healey, Phyllis Coates. You can get 

by with this one topside if you are far enough 

away from the big leaguers—otherwise, kick 

it into the cellar under a strong top feature. 

Played with "Rhubarb" (Para) to average 

business, on Fri., Sat. Weather: Cold.—Don 

Donohue. Novato Theatre, Novato, Calif. 

Small town, rural trade. * * * 

PARAMOUNT 

At War With the Army (Para)—Dean Martin, 

Jerry Lewis, Polly Bergen. This is a 

fast-moving talky comedy that is almost a 

cinch to do a lot of business in most spots, 

but in Fruita it just did slightly above average 

for the Sunday change. The price was 

fair, so I was able to come out all right. 

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

Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre, Fruita, Colo. 

Small town rural trade. * * " 

Dear Brat (Para)—Mona Freeman, Billy 

DeWolfe, Edward Ai-nold. Who made the 

trailer on tliis—a rival film company? It is 

a near-average comedy—not as good as "Deai- 

Ruth" or "Dear Wife" and does not deserve 

top rental terms, so dicker on this, as it 

is nothing extra—just average. The Review 

Digest was correct on rating this. My boxoffice 

on it W'as average. Played Sun., Mon. 

Weather 

: Fair.—Ken Christiansen, Roxy Theatre, 

Washburn, N. D. Small town trade. • * • 

Great Lover, The (Parai — Bob Hope, 

Rhonda Fleming, Roland Young. The picture 

wasn't half as bad as I had expected, 

according to other EHHS reports. In fact, 

we didn't have one unsatisfactory comment. 

Neat Little Package 

For a Double Bill 

IÊUNION IN KENO (U-I)— Mark 

Stevens, Peggy Dow, Gigi Perreau. 

Here is a neat little package to play 

with a fast comedy or action picture. .\ll 

performances are good and U-I's slick 

production angles are noticeable throughout. 

Play it. All were pleased. In fact, 

it saved my run. I played it under "Submarine 

Command" (Para). Played Fri., 

Sat. Weather: Cold.—Don Donohue, 

Novato Theatre, Novato, Calif. Small 

town trade. ' • * 

Could Use One Like This 

Every Month, He Says 

QN MOONLIGHT BAY (WB)— Doris 

Day, Gordon MacRae, Billy Gray. 

This is a very fine attraction, did a very 

nice business at the boxoffice, and every 

customer seemed to be satisfied. I could 

use one of this type every month. Played 

Wed. through Sat. Weather: Wet.—M. 

W. Mattecheck, Mack Theatre, McMinnville, 

Ore. City and rural trade. * * * 

there were no walkouts, and all our patrons 

seemed satisfied. Wednesday's business was 

good but it fell off Thursday. The receipts 

didn't warrant the additional film rental I 

had to pay for midweek playing time. I 

slipped backwards with this one.—G. P. 

Jonckewski, Lyric Theatre, Wabasso, Minn. 

Small town, rural trade. 

Mating Season, The (Para)—Gene Tierney, 

John Lund, Miriam Hopkins. This did net 

do average business but it is not the picture's 

fault. It is above the average comedy and 

pleased all that saw it.—R. S. Gibbons, Mars 

Theatre, Falkville, Ala. Small town, rural 

trade. 

Rhubarb (Para)—Ray Milland, Jan Sterling, 

Gene Lockhart. This is a very good, 

light comedy that pleased all who saw it here. 

We did slightly over average business, playing 

it immediately following the world series. 

It won't break any world records, but should 

do a nice business for anyone who plays it, 

and you are not likely to have any dissatisfied 

customers on the way out. Played Sun., 

Mon. Weather: Good.—R. L. Stanger, Windsor 

Theatre, Windsor, Cole. Rural and small 

town trade. * » . 

That's My Boy (Para)—Dean Martin, Jerry 

Lewis, Polly Bergen. This is one of the better 

comedies of the year and it drew only average. 

Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Okay. 

D. W. Trisko, Ritz Theatre, Jerome, Ariz. 

Mining trade. 

• • 

Trail of the Lonesome Pine (Para)—Reissue. 

Fred MacMurray, Sylvia Sidney, Henry 

Fonda. Movies may be getting better (and 

I think they are), but they will have to get 

pretty good to beat this oldtimer. This also 

was the opinion of my patrons, judging by the 

weight of the cashbox. Played Fri., Sat., Mon. 

Weather: Warm.—Fred L. Mun-ay, Strand 

Theatre, Spiritw'ood, Sask. Small town, rui'al 

trade. * * • 

RKO RADIO 

Best of the Badmen, The iRKO)—Robert 

Ryan, Claire Ti'cvor, Jack Buetel. Just too 

many shows with the word "Badmen" in 

them. My patrons were confused and did not 

know if they had seen it or not. It is a nice 

superwestern with an excellent cast that did 

100 per cent at the boxoffice. Played Thurs., 

Fri., Sat. Weather: Wai'm.—Ken Christiansen, 


town trade. * * * 

Blue Veil, The (RKO»—Jane Wyman, 

Charles Laughton, Jean Blendell. 

ity, this is everything that RKO 

For qual- 

advertises, 

without a doubt one of the best this year, 

putting Wyman sky-high again. As for business, 

I'm sorry to say it failed. Maybe it's 

not for small towns. Played Tues., Wed., 

Thurs. Weather: Clear but cold.—Don Dono- 

(Continued on next page) 

BOXOFFICE BookinGuide : : January 5, 1952

— 

— 

— 

The 

EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY 

(Continued from preceding page) 

hue, Novato Theatre, Novate, Calif. Small 

town trade. 

Slaughter Trail (RKO) — Brian Donlevy, 

Gig Young, Virginia Grey. There have been 

quite a few cavalry stories of late. However, 

this is the poorest one by a wide margin. It's 

too bad RKO didn't use the singer as Pox did 

with Burl Ives in "Smoky," because he is 

really good. My patrons didn't think much of 

"Slaughter Ti-ail" and you'd better play it 

under a strong top feature. Played Fri., Sat. 

Weather: Rain.—Don Donohue, Novato Theatre, 

Novato, Calif. Small town, rural trade. 

Tarzan's Perils (RKO i—Lex Barker, Virginia 

Huston, George Macready. Well, the 

kids are finally getting used to Lex Barker, 

but it is still the monkey that makes these 

pictures popular-. This one 'deals with renegade 

gun-runners, selling weapons to native 

tribes, and it has the usual amount of jungle 

atmosphere. Tarzan shows have a pretty good 

following here. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: 

Light snow.—Carl F. Neitzel, Juno Theatre, 

Juneau, Wis. Small town, rural trade. * * * 

Vendetta (RKO)—Faith Domergue, George 

Dolenz, Hillary Brooke. This is the story of 

a custom in Corsica about the oldest son 

avenging the death of his father. The cast 

was well chosen but it was a little too deep 

to go over here. Business was way below 

average. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Good. 

—D. W. Trisko, Ritz Theatre, Jerome, Ariz. 

Mining trade. * « • 

Wagonmaster (RKO)—Ben Johnson, Joanne 

Dru, Harry Carey jr. Here we go again— 

it's neither a full-blooded western nor a 

Tlie music helped to make 

super-production. 

this a "sitter-through," but in this part of 

the world, either the western must move or 

else it is not worth paying the admission 

price. Somehow or other we could not help 

noticing in this one that even the actors 

were not putting their hearts into then- work. 

Small towns, lay off. Played Fri., Sat. 

Weather: Warm.—Dave S. Klein, Astra Theatre, 

Kitwe/Nkana, Northern Rhodesia, 

Africa. Business and mining trade. * * * 

REPUBLIC 

Fighting Coast Guard (Rep)—Brian Donlevy, 

Forrest Tucker, Ella Raines. This didn't 

do business that we could write home about, 

but has lots of action. Played Wed., Thurs. 

Weather: Pair.—Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, 

Tilbury, Ont. Small town trade. * * * 

Harbor of Missing Men (Rep)—Richard 

Denning, Barbra Fuller, Steven Geray. Republic 

turns out a pretty fail- little program 

show, too. This has action, some good underwater 

shots, and a well-knit story. I doubled 

this with "California Passage" to 100 per 

cent business and favorable comment. Played 

Fri., Sat. Weather: Cold and light snow.— 

Carl F. Neitzel, Juno Theatre, Juneau, Wis. 


20th CENTURY-FOX 

American Guerilla in the Philippines (20th- 

Fox)—Tyrone Power, Micheline PreUe, Tom 

Ewell. The war angle kept many away, 

especially parents with boys in service. Those 

who came liked it. It has a good story but is 

hard to keep in sharp focus.—Frank Sabin, 

Majestic Theatre, Eureka, Mont. Small town, 

rural trade. * * ' 

As Young as You Feel (20th-Fox)—Monty 

WooUey, Thelma Ritter, David Wayne. A 

pleasant little show for a midweek spot. There 

is not enough punch to draw well, and nothing 

big. However, it was sold at fair rental, 

and while I didn't make anything, it pleased 

85 per cent attendance. It seems that if you 

don't have something superspecial, folks stay 

home with their TV sets. This one needs 

selling. Played Mon., Tues. Weather: Fair. 

Carl P. Neitzel, Juno Theatre, Juneau, Wis. 


Golden Girl (20th-Fox) — Mitzi Gaynor, 

Dale Robertson, James Barton. This is below 

Fox's usual standard for musicals and failed 

to draw. Although thoroughly enjoyed by 

those who did attend, a little draggy in spots, 

when Dennis Day takes over, things pick up. 

Played Tues., Wed., Thurs. Weather: Cold. 

—Don Donohue, Novato Theatre, Novato, 

Calif. Small town, rural trade. * * * 

Kentucliy (20th-Fox) — Reissue. Loretta 

Young, Richard Greene, Walter Brennan. Although 

a reissue, this is a mighty fine picture. 

Indeed, it seemed to be old enough so that 

few recognized it, and the younger generation 

got a chance to see how good pictures can be. 

Played Sat., Sun.—Walt Rasmussen, Star 

Theatre, Parkersburg, Iowa. Small town, rural 

trade. * * * 

GOn tlie Riviera (20th-Fox)—Damry Kaye, 

Gene Tierney, Corrine Calvet. We were almost 

normal with this, but it fell a little flat. This 

does not apply to La Calvet, though—wow! 

Played Sat., Sun.—Josef Nehring, Floodwood 

Theatre, Floodwood, Minn. Rural, small town 

trade. ' * 

People Will Talk (20th-Fox)—Gary Grant, 

Jeanne Crain, Findlay Currie. This is a good 

comedy for adults, which did fair business. 

Hurt to See This Fine 

Picture Go to Waste 

JJALLS OF MONTEZUMA (20th-Fox) — 

Richard Widmark, Walter Palance, 

Reginald Gardiner. Old Man Weather 

landed in all his fury to knock the gatetake 

for a loop on this superdrama of 

the marines. It is the finest war drama 

ever filmed, and in color, too. It really 

hurts to see such a fine picture go to 

waste. By all means play it. Played 

Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather: Blizzard. 

Ken Christianson, Roxy Theatre, Washburn, 

N. D. Small town trade. * * '* 

I broke even on the engagement. It is not 

suitable for children, as there is too much 

talk about pregnancy. Played Sun., Mon. 

Weather: Good. — E. M. Freiburger, Dewey 

Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town trade. * * * 

Sword of Monte Cristo (20th-Fox)—Paula 

Corday, George Montgomery, Berry Kroeger. 

This is a very poor production, although we 

played to good houses, and the comment was 

the same from all: Very stiff and poor acting, 

action forced, and any resemblance to 

Alexander Dumas and this film purely coincidental! 

The color was quite good, but this did 

not make up for the very poor story and even 

poorer acting. Today's $50 question is where 

did they pick up the fellow who took the 

part of the emperor? Was he perhaps related 

to the producer? If ever any film company 

needs someone to play a part like that 

again, call on me. I'll give my services gratis. 

Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Rain.—Dave S. 

Klein, Astra Theatre, Kitwe/Nkana, Northern 

Rhodesia, Africa. Business and mining trade. 

Two Flags West (20th-Fox)—Joseph Cotten, 

Linda Darnell, Jeff Chandler. This was 

well received and business held up all three 

nights. It is a nice cast and Joe Cotten is 

well liked here. Played Fri., Sat., Sun. 

Weather: Okay.—Frank Sabin, Majestic Theatre, 

Eureka, Mont. Small town, rural trade. 

UNITED ARTISTS 

Cyrano de Bergerac (UA)—Jose Ferrer, Mala 

Powers, William Prince. This is wonderful, 

without a doubt. However, it had played all 

around me many moons ago, so failed at the 

boxoffice. If you haven't played this one and 

you can work it in, you'll find it will pull a 

few strangers in. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: 

Clear and cold.—Don Donohue, Novato Theatre, 

Novato, Calif. Small town trade. ' * 

Cyrano de Bergerac (UA) — Jose Ferrer. 

Mala Powers, William Prince. This I played 

for one day only, and that was plenty for 

me! For cities and college towns etc., this 

costume drama may be okay, but business was 

only 90 per cent here—and I worked my head 

off to get that. I tied in with the high school, 

and the few "better-class" liked it, but I 

didn't get my regular patrons. Lots of long 

speeches in it. Played Sunday only. Weather: 

Cold.—Carl P. Neitzel, Juno Theatre, Juneau, 

Wis. Small town, rural trade. ' * ' 

UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL 

Apache Drums (U-I)—Stephen McNally, 

Coleen Gray, Willard Parker. Stephen Mc- 

Nally appears to be making an impression 

here. I hope they don't make him too nice. 

We did the best business in weeks with this. 

They got plenty of action and good photography 

and I was happy. Played Sat., Sun. 

Josef F. Nehring, Floodwood Theatre, Floodwood, 

Minn. Small town trade. * * 

Comin' Round the Mountain (U-I) —Bud 

Abbott, Lou Costello, Dorothy Shay. Corn, 

and not so pure, and adulterated. Really, it's 

a shame to have as strong an attraction as 

Abbott and Costello ruined or definitely hurt 

by such an idiotic picture. The crowd left 

in a rather sullen mood. Played Sat., Sun., 

Mon.—Walt Rasmussen, Star Theatre, Parkersburg, 

Iowa. Small town, rural trade. * * ' 

Desert Hawk, The (U-D—Yvonne DeCarlo, 

Richard Greene, Jackie Gleason. The color 

was all that saved this photoplay from oblivion. 

For my money, it was a flop. Played 

Tues., Wed. Weather: Okay.—Frank Sabin, 

Majestic Theatre, Eureka, Mont. Small town, 

rural trade. « • • 

Francis Goes to the Races (U-D—Donald 

O'Connor, Piper Laurie, Cecil Kellaway. This 

did 200 per cent of normal business. By the 

time the show was over, my customers and I 

just accepted the fact that Francis could talk 

and enjoyed ourselves. Played Thurs., Fri. 

Weather: Good.—Audrey Thompson, Ozark 

Amusement Co., Hardy, Ark. Rural and small 

* 

town trade. 

Outside the Wall (U-D—Richai-d Basehart, 

Marilyn Maxwell, Signe Has.so. Although 

Universal seems to have good product for 

small towns, you still have to play it on the 

proper days. This one failed miserably at the 

boxoffice for my weekend. You still have to 

give them light westerns (not supers) on weekends 

here. Thank goodness I bought this one 

right. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Cold.—G. 

P. Jonckowski, Lyric Theatre, Wabasso, Minn. 

* 

Small town, rural trade. 

WARNER BROS. 

Daughter of Rosie O'Orady, The (WB)— 

June Haver, Gordon MacRae, James Barton. 

This picture was considered tops in my situation. 

Musicals do not go over here but this 

picture stood up for three nights. It should 

be good in any situation and is a strong 

attraction at the boxoffice. Played Fri., Sat., 

Mon. Weather: Good.—Fred L. Murray, 

Strand Theatre, Spiritwood, Sask. SmaU town, 

rural trade. * * * 

Force of Arms (WB) — William Holden, 

Nancy Olson. Frank Lovejoy. This is a very 

well-made war picture that pleased extra well 

and drew average business. Played Sun., 

Mon. Weather: Okay.—D. W. Trisko, Ritz 

Theatre, Jerome, Ariz. Mining trade. * * * 

Painting the Clouds With Sunshine (WB) 

Dennis Morgan, Virginia Mayo, Lucille Norman. 

This is a waste of Warner Bros, stars 

and my money—and worst of all, of my patrons' 

entertainment time. Business was very 

poor—the picture itself is way below their 

standard for musicals. The price was my 

top flat—phooey. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: 

Clear. — Don Donohue, Novato Theatre, 

Novato, Calif. Small town, rural patrons. • * * 

BOXOFFICE BookinGuide : : January 5, 1952

: January 

An Interpretive analysis o» lay and tradepress reviews. The plus and minus signs Indicate degree of 

merit only; audience classification Is not rated. Listings cover current reviews, brought up to date regularly. 

This department serves olso as an ALPHABETICAL INDEX to feature releases. Numeral preceding titk 

li Picture Guide Review page number. For listings by company, in the order of release, see Feature Chart. 

m\m 

Djf)p>jT 

H Very Good; + Good; - fair; — Poor; = Very Poor. In the summary H is rated 2 pluses, = as 2 minuses. 

A 

1239 Abbott & Costello Meet the Invisible 

Man (S2) Comedy U-i 3-17-51 + 

Trail Abilene (64) Western Mono 

1271 According to Mrs. Hoyle (60) Drama Mono 6-23 51 =t 

1300 Across the Wide Missouri (81) Suo-West.MGM 9-22 51 + 

1301 Adventure, of C.iplain Fabian (100) Drama. Rep 9-29 

1233 Air Cadet (94) Com-Dr U-I 2-24. 

Aladdin and His Lamp (..) Drama. .. .Mono 

1224 Al Jcnninjs of Oklahoma (79) Drama Col 1-20 51 ff 

1275 Alice in Wonderland (75) Fantasy RKO 7- 7 51 + 

1256 Along the Great Divide (S8) West-Dr WB 5- 5 51 ff 

1293 American in Paris, An (115) Musical. MGM 9- 1 51 H 

1202 American Guerrilla in the Philippines 

(105) Drama 20th-Fox 11-11 50 H 

1293 Angels in the Outfield (102) Drama MGM 9- 1 

1310 Anne of the Indies (81) Drama 20th-Fox 10-20 

Another Man's Poison (89) Dram.l UA 

51 + 

51 H 

1253 Apache Drums (75) Western U-I 4-28 

1251 Appointment With Danger (90) Drama... Para 4-21 51 + 

1303 Arizona Manhunt (60) Western Rep 9-29 

As You Were (57) Comedy LP 

1267 As Young as You Feel (77) Com 20th- Fox 6- 9-51 ± 

1213 At War With the Army (93) Comedy Para 12-16-50 -f 

B 

1264 Badmen's Gold (56) Western UA 5-26- 

1300 Bannerline (87) Drama MGM 9-22 

1313 Barefoot Mailman. The (S3) Comedy Col 11- 3 

1304 Basl(ctball Fix. The (70) Drama Realart 9-29 

1223 Bedtime for Bonzo (83) Comedy U-I 1-20 51 + 

1299 Behave Yourself! (81) Comedy RKO 9-22 51 ff 

1236 Belle Le Grand (90) Drama Rep 3- 3 51 + 

1255 Best of the Badmen (84) Western RKO ; 51 + 

1258 Big Carnival, The (112) Drama Para 5-12 51 + 

(Reviewed as Ace in the Hole) 

1277 Big Gusher (68) Adv-Dr Col 7-14 51 + 

L317 Big Night. The (75) Drama UA 11-10 51 + 

1239 Bird of Paradise (100) Drama 20th-Fox 3-17- 51 + 

Blazino Bullets (51) Western Mono 

1224 Bhie Blood (72) Drama Mono 1-20 

U59 Blue-Lamp, The (84) Drama UA 6-24 

1299 Blue Veil, The (114) Drama RKO 9-22 51 H 

1279 Bonanza Town (56) Western Col 7-21 51 + 

1330 Boots Maloiie (103) Drama Col 12-22 51 + 

1206 Born Yesterday (103) Comedy Col 11-25 50 ff 

1234 Bowery Battalion (69) Comedy Mono 2-24 51 + 

1205 Branded (94) Western Para 11-25 50 + 

1257 Brave Bulls, The (108) Drama Col 5-12 51 ff 

1199 Breakthrough (91) Drama WB 11- 4 50 ± 

1317 Bride of the Gorilla (68) Drama Realart 11-10 51 + 

1281 Bright Victory (97) Drama U-I 7-2851 ff 

1322 Browning Version, The (90) Drama U-I 11-24 51 H 

1219Buckaroo Sheriff of Texas (60) Western. Rep 12-30 50 ± 

1255 Bullfighter and the Lady (87) Drama Rep 5- 5 

1330 BushwlLickers. The (73) Western ,,. Realart 12-22 

c 

+ 

1215 California Passage (90) Western Rep 12-23-50 

1320 Callaway Went Tliataway (81) Comedy.. MGM 11-17-51 + 

1310 Calling Bulldog Drummond (81) Drama.. MGM 10-20-51 + 

1217 Call of the Klondike (67) Drama Mono 12-23-50 + 

1225 Call Me Mister (95) Musical 20th-Fox 1-27-51 + 

Canyon Raiders (54) Western Mono 

1270Capt. Horatio Hornbiower (117) Act-Dr.WB 6-16-51 ++ 

(..) Captive of Billy the Kid 

1280 Casa Manana (73) Musical 

Western.. Rep 

Mono 7-21-51 — 

1280Cattle Drive (77) Western U-I 7-21-51 + 

1225 Cause for Alarm (73) Drama MGM 1-27-51 + 

1251 Cavalry Scout (78) Western Mono 4-21-51 + 

1314 Cave of Outlaws (76) Drama U-I 11- 3-51 + 

1291 Chain of Circumstance (68) Drama Col 8-25-51 ± 

1326 Chicago Calling (74) Drama U A 12- 8-51 ± 

1267 China Corsair (67) Act-Or Col 6- 9-Sl ±. 

1315 Christmas Carol. A (86) Drama UA 11- 3-51 ± 

1330 Cimarron Kid, The (84) Drama U-I 12-22-51 + 

1248 Circle of Danger (86) Drama UA 3- 7-51 i: 

1307 Close to My Heart (90) Drama WB 10-13-51 ± 

1305 Clouded Yellow, The (95) Drama Col 10- 6-51 + 

Colorado Ambush (52) Western Mono 

DOOCome Fill the Cup (113) Drama WB 9-22-51 H 

1271 Comin' Round the Mountain (77) Comedy.. U-I 6-23-Sl + 

1220 Company She Keeps, The (83) Drama RKO 12-30-50 + 

1297 Corky of Gasoline Alley (70) Comedy Col 9-15-51 + 

1218 Counterspy Meets Scotland 

Yard (67) Drama Col 12-23-50 + 

Crazy Over Horses (65) Comedy Mono 

51 ± 

51 ± 

51 + 

51 ± 

51 + 

•50 + 

51 + 

51 + 

m xir ^ 1 ii. IxccIêIzo 

+ + + + + 

+ 7+ 

± 2+3- 

4+4- 

7+3- 

± + + + 

+ 2+6- 

± ± + + + + 7+2- 

± ± + + - - 6+4- 

+ ff +f tt -H- ± 11+1- 

± ± ff ± + =t 9+4- 

H +f H ff +f H 14+ 

ff ft ft f+ 

ft ff ff +f 

tt + ff + 

± + + + 

± + ff + 

+ + 12+ 

+ ff 12+ 

± ± 10+2- 

+ 1+ 

+ + 7+2- 

+ + 8+1- 

± ± 6+5- 

± + + 

± tt ± + 

± + - + 

+ + H + 

+ ff H + 

:t + + =fc 

:i: tt + :l: 

+ tt - ± 

± * + ± 

± tt tt tt -f 

+ ± + + ff ± 8+3- 

+ + tt + + ± 8+1- 

2+4- 

6+2- 

7+3- 

5+4- 

8+1- 

9+ 

7+4- 

7+2- 

6+4- 

2+5- 

± 10+2- 

6+2- 

+ ± ± + 7+3- 

+ tt tt + 12+ 

4+3- 

+ + 4+ 

13+ 

tt tt tt tt 

+ ± - + 5+2- 

+ + + + + 7+1- 

tt tt ± + tt 11+2- 

+ + 

± + 

tt + 

+ 

tt 

-f 

tt + 

tt + 

tt tt tt tt + 12+ 

+ + 

:t tt 

- + 

± + 

=t tt 

± + 

+ 

-f + 

± tt 

+ 

- 

tt 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

± ± + * 

+ + tt tt tt tt U+1- 

+ 5+4- 

tt + tt tt tt tt 13+ 

± + tt + 7+1- 

± ± ± - 4+5- 

+ -W- tt tt + W 114- 

± ± Tt ± 5+4- 

7+3- 

9+ 

6+2- 

^3- 

8+1- 

± 1+1- 

2+5- 

+ 8+ 

* 7+3- 

± 6+2- 

frf2- 

- 6+7- 

± 5+6- 

* 7+7- 

tt + 

tt ± 

7+3- 

± 5+3- 

+ + 7+5- 

tt 7+4- 

+ + 6+1- 

± 3+2— 

9+1- 

8+5- 

6+4- 

5+3- 

± ± ± — + ± 6-1-5— 

± 1+2- 

1291 Criminal Lawyer (74) Drama Col 

OD 

8-25-51+ 

=a 

± 

> 

± 

il 

+ 

xir 

± 

(xE 

+ 

zQ 

2: 7+5— 

12S6 Crosswinds (93) Drama Para 8-11-51 tt ± tt tt =t 8+2— 

1230 Cry Danger (79) Drama RKO 2-10-51 tt + tt tt + -I- + 10+ 

1247 Cuban Fireball (78) Com-Mus Rep 4-7-51+ - it + — + 4+3— 

1294 Cyclone Fury (54) Western Col 9-1-51+ ± :t — ± 4+5— 

1204 Cyrano de Bergerac (112) Drama UA 11-18-50 tt tt tt tt tt tt tt 14+ 

D 

1276 Dakota Kid, The (60) Western Rep 7- 7-51 ± ± i: ± ± ± 6+6- 

1206 Dallas (94) Sup-West WB 11-25-50 + ± + tt tt + + 9+1- 

12S5 Danger Zone (60) Drama LP 8-11-51+ ± ± ± 4+3- 

1288 Darling, How Could You! (%> Comedy.. Para 8-18-51 ± - ± + 3+3- 

1292 David and Bathsheba (123) Drama. .20th- Fox 8-25-51 tt tt tt tt tt tt tt 14+ 

1296 Day the Earth Stood Still (92) Drama. .20-Fox 9-8-51+ tt + tt tt tt +11+ 

1253 Dear Brat (82) Comedy Para 4-28-51+ ± ± ± dz ± ± 7+6- 

1328 Death of a Salesman (113) Drama Col 12-15-51 tt tt + tt ff 9+ 

1329 Decision Before Dawn (119) Drama. .20th-Fox 12-22-51 + + + tt tt tt tt U-f 

1305 Desert Fox, The (87) Drama 20th-Fox 10- 6-51 + + * tt + tt + 9+1- 

1325 Desert of Lost Men (54) Western Rep 12-15-51 + ± ± 3+2— 

1302 Dectective Story (103) Drama Para 9-29-51+ tt tt tt tt tt tt 13+ 

1296 Disc Jockey (77) Musical Mono 9-8-51+ ± + + + ± 6+2- 

1326 Distant Drums (101) Drama WB 12- 8-51 f tf + + + ± 7+1— 

1207 Double Crossbones (75) Com-Mus U-I 12- 2-50+ — ± S: + + + 6+3- 

1220 Double Deal (65) Drama RKO 12-30-50+ ± ± + + ± 6+4- 

1319 Double Dynamite (SO) Comedy RKO 11-17-51 + ± ± ± + + + 7+3— 

1308 Drums in the Deep South (87) Drama RKO 10-13-51 d: ± it + ff + 7+3- 

E 

1312 Elephant Stampede (71) Drama Mono 10-27-51 ± it it + - 4+4- 

1318 Elopement (81) Comedy 20th.Fox 11-10-51 + ± ± + + it + 7+3- 

1226 Enforcer, The (88) Drama WB 1-27-51+ + tt tt + it + 9+1— 

1262 Excuse My Dust (82) Mus-Com MGM 5-26-51+ + tt + tt tt +10+ 

F 

1258Fabiola (96) Drama UA 5-12-51 ff ± tt - - + 6+3- 

1315 Family Secret, The (85) Drama Col 11- 3-51 it — it it — + 4+5— 

1233 Father's Little Dividend (81) Comedy. .MGM 2-24-51 tt tt tt tt tt tt tt 14+ 

1271 Father Takes the Air (61) Comedy Wono 6-23-51 it - it it it 4+5- 

1247 Fat Man, The (77) Mys-Dr U-I 4- 751 it ± + it it + + 7+5- 

1320 FBI Gill (74) Drama LP 11-17-51 - ± ± + — 3+4— 

1329 Finders Keepers (75) Comedy U-I 12-22-51— ~ ± ± ± ± 4+6— 

1255 Fighting Coast Guard (86) Drama Rep 5-5-51+ + + tt it it 8+3- 

1241 Fingerprints Don't Lie (56) Drama LP 3-17-51+ ± ± — it 4+4— 

1253 First Legion, The (86) Drama UA 4-28-51+ it + ff + + + 8+1— 

1256 Five (93) Drama Col 5-5-51+ + + ff + + + ft+ 

1323 Fixed Bayonets (92) Drama 20th- Fox 12- 1-51 + it + + + ff + 8+1— 

1322 Flame of Araby (77) Drama U-I 11-24-51 + ± + ± + + it 7+3— 

1237 Flame of Stamboul (68) Drama Col 3-10-51+ it d: ± + it it 7+5— 

1329 Flaming Feather (7S) Western Para 12-22-51 ff rt ± + + 5+2- 

1317 Flight to Mars (71) Drama Mono 11-10-51 + it it + 4+2— 

1281 Flying Leathernecks (102) Drama RKO 7-28-51+ it + ff + + + 8+1— 

1219 Flying Missile, The (92) Drama Col 12-30-50 + ± + + + + it 7+2- 

1244 Follow the Sun (90) Drama 20th-Fox 3-24-51+ ff + ff ff ff +11+ 

1245 Footlight Varieties (61) Musical RKO 3-31-51+ ± + + + ± 6+3— 

1292 Force of Arms (100) Drama WB 8-25-51 it ± ff + + ff -f 9+2— 

1209 For Heavens Sake (92) Comedy 20tb-Fox 12- 9-50 ff + + ff ff + 4. 10+ 

1314 Fort Defiance (81) Drama UA 11- 3-51 ff + ± -)_ ff + 8+1— 

1298 Fort Dodge Stampede (60) Western Rep 9-15-51— it + + 3+2- 

1242 Fort Savage Raiders (54) Western Col 3-17-51+ + + + 4+3- 

1260 Fort Worth (80) Super-West WB 5-19-51+ + + + + + + 7+4- 

1267 Four in a Jeep (97) Drama UA 6- 9-51 tt + tt it + tt 9+1- 

1238 14 Hours (91) Drama 20th-Fox 3-10-51 tt tt tt tt tt + tt 13+ 

1261 Francis Goes to the Races (88) Com U-I 5-26-51 ff ff ff ff ff i2-f- 

1212 Frenchie (80) West-Dr U-I 12- 9-50 + + ff + + + + g-f.3_ 

1270 Frogmen, The (96) Drama 20th-Fox 6-16-51 ff ff ff ff ff ff .ff i4_f. 

1279 Fugitive Lady (78) Drama Rep 7-21-51- - it + + 3+4- 

1235 Fury of the Congo (69) Act-Or Col 3- 3-51 + + + it it - + 6+S- 

G 

1220Gambling House (80) Drama RKO 12-30-50 it + ± it + + + 7+6 

1227 Gasoline Alley (77) Comedy Col 2-3-51+ + + + f- -f 7+2- 

1224 Gene Autry and the Mounties (70) West.. Col 1-20-51 + + + 4. + 5_f.i_ 

1257 Ghost Chasers (69) Comedy Mono 5-12-51+ + + + ± 5+4— 

1287 G.I. Jane (62) Comedy LP 8-18-51+ + + — 3+3— 

Girl in Every Port, A (..) Comedy RKO 

1328 Girl on the Bridge, The (77) Drama. 20th-Fox 12-15-51 + -f + + ± 5-fl— 

1246 Go (or Broke! (93) War-Dr MGM 3-31-51+ ff ff ff ff f). +12+ 

1314 Golden Girl (108) Mus-Drama 20th-Fox 11- 3-51 ff 

+ + + ff + + 9+2— 

1300 Golden Horde, The (76) Drama U-I 9-22-51 + + + + ^ 5+1— 

1248 Golden Salamander, The (96) Drama UA 4- 7-51 + + + + + + 6+3— 

1308 Gold Raiders (56) Drama UA 10-13-51 + + 2+2— 

1249 Goodbye, My Fancy (107) Comedy WB 4-14-51 + it + ff + + f- ^fl_ 

Great Adventure. The (75) Drama LP 

1252 Great Caruso. The (109) Drama MGM 4-21-51 tt tt tt tt tt tt tt 14+ 

1191 Great Manhunt. The (97) Drama Col 10- 7-50 tt + + + + ff g-f. 

(Reviewed as State Secret) 

1210 Great Missouri Raid, The (85) W«ft-Dr . . Para 12- 9-50 ff + + + + ^; 1 

g_i_i_ 

1230 Groom Wore Spurs, The (81) Comedy U-I 2-10-51 tt it it it it — ± 7+6— 

1214 Grounds (or Marriage (89) Comedy MGM 12-16-50+ + + ff + + _f_ gj. 

BOXOFFICE BooIdnGuide ; 

5, 1952

: 40 

: 

REVIEW DIGEST tt Very Good; + Good; — Fair; — Poor; — Very Poor, In the tummary -H ji rated 2 pluses, = as 2 minuses. 

£ S~ Z S i~ ^S >^ 

1261 Guy Who Came Back, The (91) Dr 2»-Fox 5-26-51+ ± ± tt + + ± »+»- 

1251Gycsy Fury (63) Duma Mono 4-21-51+ ± - - ± 3+4 

H 

1249 Half Anuer (80) Drama 20th-Fox 4-14-51+ ± ± + + ± 6+3- 

1215 Halls of Montezumi (113) War-Dr..20t)i-Fox 12-23-50 + ff H ++ +f ff H 13+ 

1269 Happy Go Lo»ely (88) Musical RKO 6-16-51+ + ++ + ++ ± ^ 9+2 

1265 Hard, Fast and Beautiful (78) Drama.. RKO 6-2-51+ ± ++ ff tt + ±10+2- 

1312 Harlem Globetrotters. The (80) Drama. . .Col 10-27-51 + + + tt + + 7+ 

1198 Har.ey (104) Comedy U-l 10-28-50 tt + tt tt tt + tt 12+ 

1303 Havana Rose (77) Drama Rep 9-29-51— — — ± — — 1+6— 

1248 Heart of the Rockies (67) Western Rep 4- 7-51 + ± + 

1267 He Ran All the Way (77) Drama UA 6-9-51+ + tt tt 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

5+1— 

tt 10+ 

1276 Here Comes the Groom (114) Rom-Com . . Para 7- 7-51 tt tt tt tt tt + 11+ 

1256 Her First Romance (73) Comedy Col 5-5-51+ ± ± ± ± ± 6+5— 

1195 He's a Cockeyed Wonder (77) Comedy Col 10-21-50 + ± ± ± + ± ± 7+5— 

1299 Highly Danjerous (81) Drama LP 9-22-51+ ± + 3+1- 

1208 Hiphway 301 (88) Drama WB 12- 2-50 =t ± + + + + + 7+3- 

1292 Highwayman, The (82) Drama Mono 8-25-51+ + ± tt + tt ± 9+2- 

1297 Hills of Utah (70) Western Col 9-15-51+ ± + — ± 4+3— 

1280 His Kind of Woman (120) Drama RKO 7-21-51+ ± + tt tt ± tt 10+2— 

1259 Hollywood Story (77) Mys-Dr U-l 5-19-51+ ± + + + ± + 7+2— 

1259 Home Town Story (61) Drama MGM 5-19-51 ± — ± — ± + 4+5— 

1320 Hoiicychile (89) Comedy Rep 11-17-51 + ± + + + 6+1— 

1319 Hong Kong (91) Drama Para 11-17-51 + ± + + + + 6+1— 

1270 Hoodlum, The (61) Drama UA 6-16-51+ — ± ± + + ± 6+4— 

1311 Hot Lead (61) Western RKO 10-27-51 ± ± ± + ± 5+4— 

1301 Hotel Sahara (87) Comedy UA 9-29-51 + + — + 3+1- 

1239 House on Telegraph Hill (93) Drama. 20th-Fox 3-17-51+ ± ± ± + ± + 7+4— 

1216 Hunt the Man Down (68) Drama RKO 12-23-50 ± + ± + + 5+2— 

1277 Hurricane Island (72) Drama Col 7-14-51 ± — + — db 4+6- 

— rt 

1244 I Can Get It for You Wholesale 

I 

(91) Drama 20th-Fox 3-24-51+ tt + tt tt + + 18+ 

1313 I Want You (102) Diams RKO 11- 3-51 jf ± + + tt tt +10+1- 

1246 1 Was an American Soy (85) Drama. .. .Mono 3-31-51 ± + d: :t ± + 6+4— 

1252 I Was a Communist for the FBI 

(84) Drama WB 4-21-51+ + tt tt tt + tt 11+ 

1223 I'd Climb the Highest Mountain 

(88) Drama 20th-Fox 1-20-51+ + tt tt tt 

1328 I'll never Forget You (90) Drama. .20th-Fox 12-15-51 + ± — + tt 

1327 I'll Sec You in My Dreams (110) Musical. WB 12-15-51 tt tt + + tt 

tt 

+ 

+ 11+ 

+ 7+2— 

+9+ 

1261 In Old Amarillo (67) Western Rep 5-26-51+ ± + ± ± ± 6+4— 

Indian Uptisinij (..) Drama Col ± 1+1- 

1237 Inside Straight (87) Drama MGM 3-10-51 ± ± ± + + ± + 7+4- 

1260 Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison 

(87) Drama WB 5-19-51 ± ± + + + ± ± 7+4— 

1246 Insurance Investigator (60) Drama Rep 3-31-51+ ± ± ± + ± 6+4— 

1276 Iron Man (82) Drama U-l 7- 7-51 tt + ± + + + + 8+1- 

1323 It's a Big Country (89) Drama MGM 12- 1-51 + + ± tt — 5+2— 

J 

Japanese War Bride (91) Drama. .20tli-Fox 

. 

1269 Jim Thorpe—All American (105) Drama. WB 6-16-51 tt tt tt tt tt tt +13+ 

1298 Joe Palooka in Triple Cross (60) Drama.. Mono 9-15-51+ ± + — 3+2— 

1294 Journey Into Light (88) Drama 20th-Fox 9- 1-51 — ± ± tt — ± ± 6+6— 

125S Jungle Headquarters (65) Travel RKO 5-12-51 + d: + tt + + + 8+1— 

1307 Jungle Manhunt (66) Drama Col 10-13-51 + — ± ± ± ± 5+5— 

1322 Jungle of Chang (67) Drama RKO 11-24-51 ± ± ± + 4+3— 

K 

1250 Katie Did It (81) Comedy U-l 4-14-51 ± ± ± + + ± 6+4- 

Kentucky Jubilee (67) Comedy LP — + 1+1— 

Kefauver Crime Investigation 

(52) News 20th-Fox + 1+ 

1310 Kid From Amarillo, The (56) Western... Col 10-20-51 + — + + ± 4+2— 

1210 Kim (113) Drama MGM 12- 9-50 tt tt + tt + tt tt 12+ 

1272 Kind Lady (78) Drama MGM 6-23-51+ + tt tt + + + 9+ 

1247Kon-Tiki (73) Ady-Dr RKO 4- 7-51 ± ± tt tt + tt tt ll+2— 

1222 Korea Patrol (57) Drama UA 1-13-51— — ± — — 1+5— 

L 

1285 Lady and the Bandit, The (79) Drama.. Col 811-51 + ± ± + + ± 6+3— 

1302 Lady From Texas (78) Drama U-l 9-29-51 + ± + ± + ± 6+3— 

1309 Lady Pays Off. The (SO) Drama U-l 10-20-51 + ± ± + + ± ± 7+4— 

Lady Possessed, A (..) Drama Rep 

1326 Lady Says No, The (82) Comedy UA 12- 8-51 + — — + — — ± 3+5— 

1250 Last Outpost, The (89) Outd'r-Drama. .Para 4-14-51+ ± ± tt ± + + 8+3- 

L312 Lavender Hill Mob. The (82) Comedy U-l 10-27-51 tt 

1278 Law and the Udy (104) Comedy MGM 7-14-51 ± 

+ 

+ ± 

tt 

+ — 

tt 

+ 

+ 

± 

8+ 

6+4— 

Lawless Cowboys (55) Western Mono 

:.'20Law of the Badlands (60) Western RKO 12-30-50 + + ± + rt 5+2— 

Leave It to the Marines (66) Comedy... LP — ± 1+2— 

Lemon Drop Kid, The (91) Comedy Para ± + 10+2— 

3-17-51 

36 Let's Go Navy (68) Comedy Mono 

tt 

8-11-51 + 

+ 

+ + 

tt 

± 

tt 

+ 

± 

± ± 7+3— 

;2 Let's Make It Legal (77) Comedy 20th-Fox 10-27-51 + + ± 4- + + 6+1— 

i 14 Lightning Guns (55) Western Col 12-16-50 + ± ± — ± ± 5+5— 

-4- + ± 7+3— 

'iOLIohtning Strikes Twice (91) Drama WB 2-10-51 ± ± + 

4. _ 

+ 

± 4+3— 

-'16 Liglit Touch, The (107) Drama MGM 11- 3-51 ± 

•1)0 Lilli Msriene (73) Drama RKO 8-18-51 ± = 

+ 

± — — — 2+7— 

S4 Lien Hunters. The (73) Drama Mono 4-28-51 + ± ± ± = 4+5— 

; 

'55 Linia Bio Horn (82) Western LP 6-2-51+ ± ^ + ^ ± 7-|-2— 

12g3Little Egypt (82) Comedy U-l 8-4-51+ + ± ± + ± ± 7+3— 

1330 Lone Star (94) Western MGM 12-22-51 tt + + + 5+ 

1238 Long Dark Hall, The (86) Drama UA 3-10-51 ± ± ± + + + 6+3— 

1307 Longhorn, The (70) Western Mono 10-13-51 + ± ± + — 4+3— 

1267 Lorna Doone (84) Rom-Com Col 5-26-51+ ± ± + tt + + 8+2- 

Adv-Dr 1281 Lost Continent. The (82) LP 7-28-51+ ± ± + 4+2- 

1307 Love Nest (84) Comedy 20th-Fox 10-13-51 + ± i rt + ± 6+4— 

1231 Lucky Nick Cain (87) Drama 20th-Fox 2-17-51+ ± + + + + ± 7+2- 

1240 Lullaby of Broadwaj (92) Musical WB 3-17-51+ ± tt + + + + 8+1— 

M 

1235 "M" (88) Drama Col 3-4-51+ ± + + + + ± 7+2- 

1243 Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm 

(80) Comedy U-l 3-24-51+ + + tt + ± ± 8+2- 

1183 Madeleine (100) Drama U-l 9- 9-50 ± ± rt + + + 6+3- 

1301 Magic Carpet. The (84) Comedy Col 9-29-51+ ± rt ± = ± 5+6- 

1291 Magic Face, The (»9) Drama Col 8-25-51 tt rt rt + + rt + 8+3- 

1205 Magnificent Yankee, The (88) Drama.. MGM 11-28-50 tt tt tt tt tt tt tt 14+ 

M.in Bait Dram.i LP 

(. .) 

1243 Man From Planet X (70) Fantasy UA 3-24-51 ± + + rt + - 5+3- 

Man From Sonora (54) Western Mono + 1+ 

1325 Man in the Saddle (87) Drama Col 12- 8-51 + + + + + + 6+ 

1215 Man Who Cheated Himself (81) Dr..20th-Fox 12-23-50 tt + rt tt + + + 9+1- 

1305 Man With a Cloak (SI) Drama MGM 10- 6-51 + rt ± + rt rt + 7+5— 

1266 Man With My Face, The (75) Mys-Dr UA 6-2-51+ rt rt + + + 6+2- 

1283 Mark of the Renegade (SI) Drama U-l 8-4-51+ rt ± + + rt — 6+4- 

1273 Mask of the Avenger (83) Drama Col 6-30-51+ rt + + + + + 7+1- 

Mask of the Dragon (53) Drama LP — rt + ± 3+3— 

1226 Mating Season, The (101) Comedy Para 1-27-50 tt tt tt tt tt + tt 13+ 

1285 Meet Me After the Show (86) Mus..20th-Fox 8-11-51 tt tt tt tt tt + + 12+ 

1283 Millionaire for Christy. A (90) Com.. 20th-Fox 8-4-51+ + + + + + rt 7+1- 

1268 Million Dollar Pursuit (60) Drama Rep 6- 9-51 ± ± rt ± rt rt 6+6— 

1235 Missing Women (60) Drama Rep 4- 3-51 rt d: ± + rt ± 6+5— 

12S7 Mister Drake's Duck (76) Comedy UA 8-18-51 ± rt -|- -f -f 5+2- 

1240 Mister Universe (79) Comedy UA 317-51+ + + + + ± + 7+1- 

1295 Mob, The (87) Drama Col 9-8-51+ + tt + rt + 7+1— 

1321 Model and the Marriage Broker, The 

(105) Comedy 20th-Fox 11-24-51 + + ± tt + 6+1— 

1208 tt Molly (83) Comedy Para 12- 2-50 tt + tt tt ± + 11+1- 

(Reviewed as The Goldbergs) 

Montana Desperado (51) Western Mono + ± ± 3+2— 

1282 Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell 

(88) Comedy 20th-Fox 7-28-51+ tt tt tt tt + tt 12+ 

1262 Mr. Imperium (87) Mus-Dr MGM 5-26-51 ± rt rt rt rt rt rt 7+7- 

1301 Mr. Peek-a-Boo (74) Comedy UA 9-29-51 + + + + + + + 7+ 

1207 Mudlark, The (99) Hist-Dr 20tb-Fox 12- 2-50 + + + + tt tt 1^10+ 

1306 My Favorite Spy (93) Comedy Para 10- 6-51 + + + tt tt + 8+ 

1245 My Forbidden Past (70) Drama RKO 3-31-51+ — ± + + ± + 6f3- 

1231 My Outlaw Brother (82) Drama UA 2-17-51 — - ± — - it 2+6— 

(Reviewed as My Brother, the Outlaw) 

1245 My True Story (67) Drama Col 3-31-51 rt ± rt + + ± 6+4- 

1212 Mystery Submarine (78) Drama U-l 12- 9-50 ± ± rt rt + tt rt 8+5— 

N 

1264 Naughty Arlette (86) Comedy UA 5-26-51 rt + ± ir - 4+4- 

1236 Navy Bound (61) Comedy Mono 3- 3-51 ± + ± + + rt 6+3— 

Nevada Badmen (58) Western Mono + — 1+1— 

1277 Never Trust a Gambler (79) Drama Col 7-14-51 ± rt ± ± - rt ± 6+7- 

1257 New Mexico (74) Drama UA 5-12-51 rt ± rt + tt H ± 9+4— 

1262 Night Into Morning (86) Drama MGM 5-26-51 tt ± + tt + ± +10+1- 

1242 Night Riders of Montana (60) Western.. Rep 3-17-51 + ± + + ± 5+1- 

1282 No Highway in the Sky (98) Drama.. 20th-Fox 7-28-51+ tt tt + + tt +10+ 

1268 No Questions Asked (81) Drama MGM 6-9-51+ + rt + + rt ± 7+5- 

Northwest Territory (61) Drama Mono 

o 

1296 Obsessed (77) Drama UA 9- 8-51 ± — ± — rt ± 4+6- 

1221 Odette (105) Drama UA 1-13-51 tt + tt tt + tt 10+ 

1211 Of Men and Music (85) Music. .. .20th-Fox 12- 9-50 + tt tt + tt tt 10+ 

1242 Oh! Susanna (90) Outd'r-Dr Rep 3-17-51+ ± di tt + rt ± B+4- 

Oklahoma Justice (56) Western Mono 

Old West, The (..) Western Col 

1254 Oliver Twist (105) Drama UA 4-28-51+ tt tt + + H 9+ 

1324 On Dangerous Ground (82) Drama RKO 12- 1-51 tt ± — ± + 5+3- 

1275 On Moonlight Bay (95) Musical WB 7- 7-51 tt tt tt + tt tt + 12+ 

1286 On the Loose (74) Drama RKO 8-11-51+ - rt + + + 5+1- 

1237 Only the Valiant (105) Hist-West WB 3-10-51 tt ± tt W tt + +11+1- 

1254 On the Riviera (89) Mus-Com 20th-Fox 4-28-51+ H tt + tt tt +11+ 

1223 Operation Disaster (100) Drama U-l 1-20-51+ + ± rt + tt 7+2- 

1221 Operation Pacific (109) Drama WB 1-13-51+ rt + tt + + + 8+1- 

1218 Operation X (79) Drama Col 12-23-50 — - = - ± 1+6- 

Outlaws of Texas (56) Western Mono ± + ± 3+2- 

1325 Overland Telegraph (6C) Western RKO 12- 8-51 + rt + + 4+1- 

P 

1216 Pagan Love Song (76) Musical MGM 12-23-50 tt ± ± + + + + 8+2- 

1243 Painted Hills. The (68) Drama MGM 3-24-51 rt rt + + — rt 5+4- 

1296 Painting the Clouds With Sunshine 

(87) Musical WB 9- 8-51 tt ± + + tt + 

1308 Pandora and the Flying Dutchman 

rt 9+2- 

(123) Drama MGM 10-13-51 rt ± ± + + ± + 7+4- 

Pals of the Golden West (6S) Western.. Rep 

BOXOFFICE BookinGuide 

: 

January 5, 1952

't Very Good; + Good; ^ Fair; — Poor; = Very Poor. In the lummary -H- it rated 2 pluses, — os 2 minuses. REVIEW DIGEST 

„i y - o ^ " ^ E 

1293 Pardon My Frciicti (81) Comedy UA 

1261 Passage West (80) Western Pira 

1234 Payment on nemafid (90) Drama RKO 

1323 Pecos River (55) Western Col 

1274 Peliing Exm ess (85) Drama Para 

1291 Peaale Against O'Hara (103) Drama MGM 

12B7 Peoiile Will Talk (110) Comedy 20th-Fox 

1279 Pickup (78) Drama Col 

1263 Pier 23 (59) Drama LP 

1288 Pistol Harvest (60) Western RKO 

1282 Place in tKe Sun. A (122) Drama Para 

1289 Pool nf Lonilon (86) Drama U-l 

1225 Prairie Roundun (53) Western Col 

1212 Prelude to Fame (78) Mus Dr U-l 

1221 Pride ol Maryland (60) Dr>ma Rep 

1266PiiMce Wlio Was a [liiet (88) Drama U-l 

1256 Prowler. The (92) Drama UA 

1318Pnr|ile Heart Diary (73) Drama Col 

Q 

12J8 Oueliec (85) Drama Para 

for 1244 Queen Day (107) Drama UA 

1320 Quo VaJis (172) Drama MGM 

R 

1309 Racket. The (90) Drama RKO 

1309 Raging Tide. The (92) Drama U-l 

1235 Raton Pass (84) Western WB 

1238 Ra*hide (86) West-Dr 20thFox 

1288 Red Badge of Courage (69) Drama MGM 

1214 Redhead and the Cowboy (82) Drama Para 

1319 Red Mountain (84) Western Para 

1302 Reunion in Reno (80) Drama U-l 

1216 Reienue Agent (72) Drama Col 

1284 Rhubarb (94) Comedy Para 

1230 Rhythm Inn (71) Musical Mono 

1276 Rich. and Pretty Young (95) Musical. MGM 

1232 Ridin' the Outlaw Trail (56) Western Col 

1299 River. The (99) Drama UA 

1284 Roadblock (73) Drama RKO 

Roaring City (57) Drama LP 

1284 Rodeo King and the SanoMta (67) West.. Rep 

Room for One More (95) Comedy WB 

1229 Rough Riders of Durango (60) Western. Rep 

1229 Royal Wedding (92) Musical MGM 

B 

1247 Saddle Legion (60) Western RKO 

1324 Sailor Beware (106) Comedy Para 

1275 St. Benny, the Dip (SO) Comedy UA 

1084 Samson and Delilah (128) Drama Para 

1254 Santa Fe (89) Western Col 

1295 Saturday's Hero (111) Drama Col 

1278 Savage Drums (70) Adv-Dr LP 

1245 Scarf, The (86) Drama UA 

1302 Sea Hornet (84) Drama Rep 

1258 Sealed Cargo (90) MysDr RKO 

1226 Second Waman, The (91) Drama UA 

1274 Secret of Convict Lake, The (83) Dr 20th-Fox 

1274 Secrets of Monte Carlo (60) Drama Rep 

1327 Sellout. The (83) Drama MGM 

1195 September Affair (104) Drama Para 

1327 Shadow in the Sliy (78) Drama MGM 

Short Grass (82) 1211 Western Mono 

1268 Show Boat (188) Musical MGM 

Sierra 1217 Passage (80) Western Mono 

1272 Silver Canyon (70) Western Col 

1306 Silver City (90) Drama Para 

1246 Silver City Bonanza (67) Western Rep 

1273 Sirocco (98) Drama Col. 

1264 Skipalong Rosenbloom (72) Comedy UA 

Sky High (60) Comedy LP 

1311 Slaughter Trail (78) Drama RKO 

1259 Smuggler's Gold (64) Adv-Dr Col 

1252 Smuggler's Island (75) Drama U-l 

Smoky Canyon ( ,.) Western Col 

1263 Snake River Desperadoes (54) Western Col 

1226 So Long at the Fair (85) Drama UA 

1316 South of Calicntc (67) Western Rep 

1243 Soldiers Three (92) Drama MGM 

1315 Son of Dr. Jekyll, The (76) Drama Col 

1229 Spoilers of the Plains (67) Western Rep 

Stagecoach Driver (52) Western Mono 

Stage to Blue River (56) Western Mono 

1218 Stage to Tucson (82) Western Col 

1313Starlifl (103) Musical WB 

Steel Fist (..) Drama Mono 

1222 Steel Helmet, The (84) Drama LP 

1271 Stop That Cab (56) Comedy LP 

Stormbound (60) Drama Rep 

Storm Over Tibet (..) Drama Col 

1214 Storm Warning (91) Drama WB 

1314 Strange Door, The (80) Drama U-l 

9 

GO XGC > iZ X(r a. E zo

~~"~"'~'**" 

I 

Fingerprints 

1 As 

! Unknown 

I 

Man 

3 

] Inside 

I 

UQGreot 

] No 

I 

©Excuse 

] 

Strictly 

j Low 

713 

5 

""MM*"""-'""'""'* 

eature productions by company in order of release. Number in 

ime is in parentheses. Type of story is indicated by letters 

:omedy; (D) Dromo; {CD) Comedy-Dromo; (F) Fontasy; (M) A 

[eleose number follows: U denotes BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon 

ophy. For review dates and Picture Guide poge numbers, see 

uare is notional rel >ase dote. Running 

combinotions thei 20* OS follows: (C) 

cal; (W) Western; iSW) Superwestern. 

lotes color photog- 

COLUMBIA g jg 

Born Yesterdoy (103) C. .344 

William Holden, Brod. Crauford 

Judy Ilolllday. 

Operotion X (79) D..333 

i;. EduMrd Ilobinson. Peggy Oimmins 

Revenue Agent (72) D. .312 

lioiiglirs Kinni'dy, .lean Onslow Steiens 

Willes, 

Counterspy Meets Scotland 

Yard (67) D. 307 

Yonk in Korea, A (73) 0..346 

Ridin- the Outlow Troil (56) W . . 364 

. 

365 

. 329 

©Al Jennings ot Olilahoma (79) D. .327 

"M" (88) O. .347 

Dnid Waiiif. llmv;irrt ll:iSilva, I.iitlier Adier 

My True Story (67) D..308 

\Vill:irii I'aitiT, Helen RIsdnn 

Walker. E. 

Flame ot Stomboul (68) D. .314 

ItH-hard ll.iMiinc, Lisa Feiraday 

Texans Never Cry (68) W. .352 

(lene .îldv, I'at Ttutlram, Mary 

Fort Savage Raiders (54) 

Caslle 

W . 

©Volentino (105) D . . 320 

Dexter, It. Eleanor I'aikir. Anlhony 

©Santo Fe (89) 

Carlson 

W. .330 

Se.itl. .lanis Carter, .lerome Cnurtland 

Itanddliili 

Fury ot the Congo (69) D . 

Sherry Mnreland 

Jolinny Weissinnller. 

Whirlwind (70) W. .354 

Qene Autry. Smiley Davis 

ISurnelle, Gall 

Brave Bulls, The (108) D. .321 

Ferrer, (Inlini 

Mel Mlrnslava, Anthony 

Her First Romance (73) C. . 358 

llnnt 

Margaret O'Brien. Allan Marlln jr.. ,1. 

©When the Rcdsltins Rode (78) W. .339 

Jon Hall, Mary Castle. James Seay 

Smuggler's Gold (64) D..315 

Cameron Milehell, Amanda B. Iteld 

Blake. C. 

Snolie River Desperadoes (54).. W.. 366 

Charles Slarrett. Smiley Bnrnelte. I). Heynolds 

©Lorna Doone (84) C. . 336 

Itandell 

Kon Barhara Hale, Itichard Greene, 

©Texos Rangers, The (74) W. .325 

(ieorge Montgomery, Gale Storm, Beery jr 

N. 

China Corsair (67) D..316 

Lisa Ferrad.iy, Ron .Ion Hall, 

Silver Canyon (70) 

Itandell 

W.355 

Gene Autry. Champion, Gall Davis 

Whistle at Eaton Falls, The (96) D. .322 

Lloyd Bridges. Dorothy GIsh. C. Carpenler 

Never Trust a Gambler (79) D..326 

Dane Clark, Cathy O'Donnell, Tom Drake 

Pickup (78) D. .357 

Beverly Michaels. Hugo Haas. Allan Nison 

Cyclone Fury (54) W. .368 

Charles Starrelt. Smiley Burnette. If. Sears 

©Ten Tall Men (97) D..413 

liuit .Iiidv Latieast.r. Lawrance, G. Roland 

©Man In the Saddle (87) D. .420 

liand.iliili Seull. Joan Leslie. ElLui Drew 

Purple Heart Diary (73) D. 421 

Kraneis Laniilunl. Tonv llomano. Lossy 

Ben 

Family Secret, The (85) D. .414 

Derek, J. Lee J. Cobb, John 

Pecos River (55) 

I.,awrance 

w 484 

Charles .Slarrett. Sniili-y Burm-tte, F. Jenks 

Boots Malone (103) D..419 

William IlohU-n, Johnny Clements 

Stewart, S. 

©Indian Uprising (. .) D. .417 

Genrce Mciitunmerv. Audrey B. P.eid 

Ung, C. 

Storm Over Tibet (87) D. .416 

Diana IIoukI.is. Healev 

M. Rex Reason, 

Old West, The (. .) W. .473 

Gene Aulrv, Gall Davis, Buttram 

Pat 

Smoky Canyon (..) W..483 

Ch«rles Slarrett. Bmlley Burnette 

LIPPERT 

a Steel Helmet, The (84) D..5006 

Gene Evans. Steve Brodie, Edwards 

James 

Don't Lie (56). . . .D. .5015 

Richard Travis, Sid Melton, Sheila Ryan 

m Mosk of the Dragon (53) D . . 501 

Richard Travis. Sid Melton, Sheila Ryan 

HStop Thot Cob (56) C..5014 

Sid Melton. Irit Adrian, Marjorle Lord 

m Donger Zone (56) D . . 5017 

Hugh Beaumont. Edward Brophj, R. Travis 

m Pier 23 (59) D..5018 

llu'jh Beaumont. Ann Savage 

g] Roaring City (57) D. .5016 

Hugh Beaumont, RIcbard Travis 

H Kentucky Jubilee (67) C..5007 

Jerry Colonna. Jean Porter. Jamm Ellison 

1 Little Big Horn (82) W. .5003 

John Ireland, Marie Windsor, Lloyd Bridges 

a Sovogc Drums (70) W . 

Sabu. I.lta Baron, Sid Melton 

. 5001 

Sirocco (98) D. .348 Hi G.I. Jane (62) C. .5012 

Humphrey Bogart. I,ee J. Cobb. Martn Tnren 

Jean Porter. Tom Nenl. Iris 

©Hurricane Island (72) D..349 a Yes Sir, Mr. Bones (53) M..5019 

Adrian 

Two of a Kind (75) D. .350 All-Star Minstrel Show 

Edmond O'Brien, LIzabeth Scott. Terry Moore 

Big Gusher (68) D. .306 

Wayne Morris, I'reston Foster. Dorothy Patrick 

Bononia Town (56) W..367 

©Mosk ot the Avenger .D. .359 

(83). . . 

John Derek, Anthony Qninn, Jody Lawrance 

H Varieties on Parode (67) M.,5020 

All-Star Revue 

Jackie Coogan. 

H Lost Continent, The (82) D. .5004 

Cesar Romero, Hillary Broolje. Chick Chandler 

] 

. 5023 

D. . 309 

Chain of Circumstance (68) . . . . 

Richard Grayson, Margaret Field, D. Fovvley 

Saturdoy's Hero (111) 

D..401 

John Derek. Donna Heed, Blaekmer 

Sidney 

Lady and the Bandit, The (79). .D. .337 

Louis Hayvvard. Patricia Medina. T. Tnlly 

©Sunny Side of the Street( 71). .M. .408 

Frankie Lalne, Billy Daniels, Terry Moore 

Magic Foce, The (89) D. .402 Leave It to the Marines (66). . C. .5005 

Luther 

Corky 

Hills 

Adler, 

of 

of Utah 

Patricia 

Gasoline 

(70) 

Knight, 

Alley 

W. L. Shirer 

(70).. D. 302 

W . . 356 

SIrt Mellon, Mara Lynn 

You Were (57) 

William Tracy. Joe Sawyer 

C . 

©Mogic Corpet, The (84) C. .410 

Ball. John Agar. Patricia Medina 

Lucille 

Criminal Lawyer (74) D. .412 ]Sky High (60) C . . 5024 

I'at O'Brien, Jane Wyatt, Jerome Cowan 

Sid Melton, Mara Lynn 

Mob, The (87) D. .407 

Brnderlok Crawford, Kiley 

Betty Buehler. R. 

1 Highly Dongerous (81) D..5029 

Five (93) D. .371 

Loekui.od. Goring 

Dane Clark. Margaret .M. William Phlpps, Susan Douglas, Barl Lee 

Jungle Manhunt (66) D. .411 

Kid From Amarillo, The (56). . . W. .488 Bruce Kellogg, Marilyn Nasii. Victor Kilian 

©Barefoot Moilman, The (83).. C. 404 

World (63) D .5101 

IC.Iiert Ciimmincs, Terrv Jloore. J. Cnurtland 

Horlem Globetrotters, The (80). C. 405 (3 FBI Girl (74) D..5002 

Thomas (Inmez, Harlem Globetrotters 

Ci'^.u Totter. George Brent 

Hiuiiero. Audrey 

Son of Dr. Jekyll, The (77) . . D . 409 

Ijiuis llavnaril. Jody Lawrance, A. ICnu.v H Superman and the Mole Men 

Valley of Fire (63) W. .353 (58) D. .5030 

Ge..rge Reeves. Phyllis Coates 

Oeiic Antrv, I'at Buttram. O.'iil Davis 

ID Great Adventure, The (75) . . . . D . . 5021 

Dennis I'rica. Jack Hanklns 

]For Man Only (..) D. .5102 

Paul Henreld, Marjaret Field 

Bait (..) D. .5103 

George Rretit. Marguerite I'hapui.iu 

M-G-M 

[E Magnificent Yankee, The (88).. O.. 116 

Louis Calhern. .\nn Harding. Eduard Franz 

an ©Vengeance Valley (82) SW . . 1 1 

Burl Lancaster, Robert Walker, Joanne Dru 

13 Cause for Alarm (73) D. .118 

Lorelta Young. Barry SuUlvan, Bruce Cowling 

Three Guys Named Mike 

I 

(90),.. C. 119 

Jane Wyman. Van Johnson. Howard Keel 

Straight (87) D..123 

Uaild Brian. Arlene Dahl, Barry Sullivan 

j U©Royal Wedding (92) M..121 

Fred Astaire, Jane Powell, Peter Lawford 

I 

UFathcr's Little Dividend (81)..C..124 

Spencer Tracy. Joan Bennett. Elizabeth Taylor 

! Soldiers Three (92) D . . 126 

Waller PIdgeon. Stewart Granger. David NIven 

Caruso, The (109) M. .127 

Mario Lanza. Ann Blyth. Dorothy Kirsten 

Si Home Town Story (41) D. .128 

Donald Crisp, Jeffrey Lynn, Marjorle Reynolds 

glGo for Brokel (93) D..129 

Van Johnson. Warner Anderson. L. Nakano 

Dishonorable (94) D. .131 

Ezio I'lnza. Janet Leigh. Millard Milehell 

i©Show Boat (108) M..135 

Kathryn Grayson. Howard Keel, Ava Gardner 

and the Lady (104) C. .136 

Greet Garson, Michael Wilding, Marjorle Main 

i 

Teresa (105) D..137 

Pier Angell, Jotin Erlcson. Patricia Collinge 

HToll Target, The (78) D. .139 

Dick Powell, Paula Raymond, Adolphe Menjou 

91 Strip, The (85) D..140 

Mickey Rooney. Sally Lewis 

Forrest. Monica 

3} People Against O'Hara (103). . D. .201 

S U 

Spencer Tracy, John Hodiak. Diana Lynn 

D. .202 

Angels in the Outfield (102) . . 

Paul Douglas, Janet Leigh, Keenan Wynn 

0OMr. Imperium (87) M..203 

Lana Turner. Ezio Pinza. Barry Sullivan 

P Red Badge of Courage (69) . . . . D. .204 

J. Audle Murphy, Bill MauldUi, Dlerkes 

Bl ©Texas Carnival (77) C. .205 

Red Skelton. Esther Williams, Howard Keel 

m Bonnerline (88) D. .206 

Sally Forrest. Lionel Barrymore. K. Brassell 

m Man With a Cloak (81) D. .207 

Baibara Stanwyck. Joseph Cotten. L. Caron 

51 ©Across the Wide Missouri (81) SW. .208 

Clark Gable, John Hodiak, M. E. Marques 

EH Unknown Man, The (88) D. .210 

Walter Pidgeon. Ann Harding. Barry Siiliiian 

H Too Young to Kiss (91 ) C . . 21 

Van Johnson. June Allyson. Gig Yoirng 

a Light Touch, The (107) D. .212 

Stewart Granger. Pier Angell. George Sarulers 

R Calling Bulldog Drummond (81) D. 21 

Walter Pidgeon, Margaret Leighton 

gilt's a Big Country (89) Doc. 21 

Ethel Birrvmore, Gary Cooper. Van Johnson 

[fr] Westward the Women (86) D. .216 

Robert Taylor, Denis,' Dnrcel. Julie Bishop 

^ ©Pandora and the Flying 

Dutchman (123) D. .217 

Ala Gardner, Jamea .Mason. Nigel Patrick 

MONOGRAM 

a Abilene Trail (64) W. .4946 

Whip Wilson, Andy Clyde, Noel Nelll 

0] Rhythm Inn (71) M..5113 

Jane Krazee. ICirby Grant. Charles Smith 

3l Vicious Years, The (81) D. .5191 

Tommy Cook, Gar Moore. Sybil Merrltt 

(D Navy Bound (61) C..5120 

Tom Neal, Regis Toomey, Wendy Waldron 

ID] Man From Sonoro (54) W..5141 

Johnny Mack Brown. Lyie Talbot. Lee Roberls 

51 Gypsy Fury (63) D..5192 

Viveca Liudfors. Christopher Kent, It. Brent 

m Lion Hunters, The (73) D. .5109 

Johnny Sheffield. Ann Todd, Morris Ankrum 

IE Canyon Raiders (54) W. .5151 

Wliiii Wilson. Fuzzy Knight. Phyllis Coates 

ili i Wos an American Spy (85). D. .AA19 

Arm Dvorak, Gene Evans. Douglas Ivennedy 

[6] Blazing Bullets (51) W. .5142 

Johiuiy Mack Brown. Lois Hall 

HI ©Cavalry Scout (78) W. .5101 

Audrey Long, Rod Cameron. Jim Davis 

S According to Mrs. Hoyle (60) . . D. . 5122 

Spring Byington. Tanls Chandler, Brett King 

U Nevada Badmen (58) W..5152 

Whip Wilson. F'uzzy Knight, Phyllis Coates 

. 1 32 

Night Into Morning (86) D. .130 EUCasa Manana (73) M. .5116 

E 

Roller! Clarke. Virginia Carnes 

Nancy Welles, R. Ray Mllland, John Hodiak, 

Questions Asked (81 ) 

Davis 

D . Father Takes the Air (61 ) . . . .C . .5126 

Barry Arlene Dahi. George Murphy. 

My Dust (82) 

Sullivan 

M..133 

Raymunil Walburn. Waiter Catlett 

m Montono Desperado (51) W. .5143 

Johnny Mack Brown. Lots Hall 

Red Skelton. Sally Forrest, Macdonald Carey 

! Kind Lady (78) D. .134 

Ethel Barrymore. Lansbury 

Maurice Evans. A. 

m Yukon Monhunt (63) D. .5123 

Kiiby Grant, Chinook, Gall Davis 

gl Stagecoach Driver (52) W..5153 

Whip Wilson 

H Let's Go Navy (68) C..5113 

Leo Gorcey, Hiintz Hall, Tom Neal 

[3 Wanted: Dead or Alive (58) . . W. . 5154 

Whip Wilson. Andy Clyde 

M Joe Polooka in Triple Cross (60) D. .5118 

Jne Kirkwood. Cathy Downs, James Glcason 

m Disc Jockey (77) M. .AA21 

Ginny Simms, Michael O'Shea. Jane Nigh 

d) Whistling Hills (58) W. .5145 

Johnny Mack Brown, Ellison 

James 

J5 Yellow Fin (74) D..S108 

W.ivne Morris. Damlan O'Flvnn 

S©The Highwayman (82) D..AA20 

Philip Friend. Wanda Hendrlx. Coburn 

C. 

gl Elephant Stompede (71) D .5110 

Johnny Sheffield. Donna Martell. Evanston 

E. 

a Lawless Cowboys (58) W. .5155 

Whit) Wilson 

El ©Flight to Mars (71) D..5103 

M.irguerlte Cliapman. Cameron Mitchell 

!II Crazy Over Horses (65) C..5114 

Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, David Gorsey 

H The Longhorn (70) W . 

. 5223 

Hill Elliott. Phvllis Coates. Mvrnn Healey 

Texos Lowmen (54) W. .5146 

.loliiiiu .Mack Bro«n. Ellison 

James 

Northwest Territory (61) D..5124 

Kiiby Grant. Chlnoolt 

H Stage to Blue River (56) W..5156 

Whip Wilson 

g] Steel Fist (. .) D..5217 

Itoddv McDowall. Kristlne Miller 

Texas Troil (. .) |u: W. 5241 

Johnny Mack Brown, James Ellison 

13 ©Aladdin and His Lamp (..).. D. . 5299 

I'.itrii'ia Medina. John Sands, liieliard Erdman

I 

©Samson 

. D. 

! 

Law 

D 

1 

PARAMOUNT 

RKO 

RADIO 

! Cry Danger (79) D..115 

Dick Puvvell, Rhonda Fleming. Richard Erdman 

REPUBLIC 

[a Spoilers of the Plains (67) W..5041 

Rov Rogers. Penny Edwards, Gordon Jones 

FEATURE 

CHART 

Redhead and the Cowboy (82) D. .5015 

C.\mn I'dril. Ilhiinda Kleming, Alan liecd 

Mating Season, The (101) C. .5016 

I 

Ccrie Ti.TMi'y. .Iiiliri l.iuid. .Milium llulikin.s 

and Delilah (128) ... O. .5010 

Vicliir Maliire. lledy Lamarr. (Iporgc Sanders 

Molly (83) C. .5011 

(llfv as Till' C.ildljcrgs) 

dirlliHk' It.rB, I'hilip Loeb 

©Quebec (85) D..5017 

.Inliii I". liarrvmori' jr.. Corlrine Calvet. Knowles 

Lemon Drop Kid, The (91) C..5018 

lioh llciiu'. Marilyn Maxnell. I.liiyd .Nolan 

of the Badlands (60) D . 

Tim Holt, Richard .Martin, Joan Dixon 

. 1 1 

Bl Payment on Demand (90) D. .171 

Bette Davis. Rarry Sullivan, Kent Taylor 

m Torzon's Peril (79) D. .172 

1-ex Barker. Virginia lluslon. Ceorge Mar ready 

.174 

[7] Saddle Legion (60) W .117 

Tim linll. Ilomthy Malone, Richard Mar tin 

B?] Footlight Varieties (61) M. .116 

Errol 

.lack I'aar. Red liulloris, l.ron 

H My Forbidden Post (70) D 

Ava Oardner. Melvyn Douglas. Mil 

Roherl 

a Missing Women (60) D . . 5025 

Peroiy Kiluards. Jaons .Millican. J. Alvln 

m Night Riders of Montana (60). .W. .5059 

Cliiibby Johnsi 

HI Silv City Bononlo (67) W. .5051 

\lliii RiA Kiidih Khsrri. Mary Ellen Kay 

Cuban Fireboll (78) MC . . 5007 

(s] 

E.I. Ilia igiH'/. Douglas 

l: U'aiTpn 

HOOh! Susonno (90) D. .5008 

l;>..l Caioiaoii, A.Irian Booth. Forrest Tucker 

S Insurance Investigator (60) . . . . D . . 5026 

Rkliar.l llenidng. Audrey Long, Hillary Brooke 

H Heart of the Rockies (67). . . . W. .5042 

Hoy Rogers. I'enny Edwards. Gordon Jones 

IB Thunder in God's Country (67). W. .5052 

Rex Allen. Mary Ellen Kay. Buddy Elwen 

Appointment With Danger (90) D..5019 

.Man l.add. .Ian SIcilinB. I'liyllls Calvnl 

©Last Outpost, The (89) D . . 5020 

llnnald Kr>'.:an. Illaaida FIrminc. I'etiT llan-.un 

m Tokyo File 212 (84) 

Florence Marlv. Itohert Teylon 

m Kon-TikI (73) 

Thor Ileyerdahl. Knot Ilangla 

m Buckaroo Sheriff of Texas (60) W. 

.Michael Chaiiln. Eilene Janssen 

^ In Old Amorillo (67) W. 

Dear Brat (82) D . . 5021 

Mun.a Freeman. Kdward Billy DeWolfe 

Aniuld. 

13] Sealed Corgo (90) 0..118 

Diiia \[iilr.u- Cliirde Rains. Caria Ualenda 

IS ©Jungle Hcodhunters (65) D..177 

I.euis Coll.iu, All Nallte Ta.st 

. 5022 

OPossage West (80) W . 

.Inhn i'a\nf. Ath.ii Wll.'lan. Dennis d'Krefe 

Big Cornivol, The (112) D . 5023 

(liev. as Aee In the llnlel 

Kirk llnntlas. .Ian Steiling, I'urter Hall 

H Hard, Fast and Beoutiful (78).. D.. 119 

Claire Trevor. Sally Forrest. Carleton Young 

. 5025 

Peking Express (85) D. .5024 

.liiseph Cditen. I'iMinne Edinund (ivvenn 

Calvet. 

Thot's My Boy (98) C. .5026 

Mean M:ir(ln. .lerry Lewis, Ilnssey 

Ruth 

©Worpoth (95) D . 

Kdmnncl Olirlen. Dean .lagger, Forrest Tucker 

Here Comes the Groom (114). C. .5101 

Bins Crdsliv, .lane Wvnian. Franelmt Tone 

Place in the Sun, A (122) D..5102 

MnnlKomerv ('lift. Elizaljetll Taylor 

Rhubarb (94) C. .5103 

Hay Milland. .Ian Sterling. Gene I.ockliarl 

ii U@Alice in Wonderland (75). . . D. .291 

(Walt Disney carlooni 

Lilli Marlene (73) D . . 203 

Usa Danlely, Hugh McDermolt. J. BIyIhe 

m Flying Leathernecks (102) D. .261 

.lohn Waviie, Unliert Ryan, Janls Carter 

Roadblock (73) D..204 

Charles Mi-liriw, .loan Dixon, Lowell Gilmore 

Pistol Horvest (60) W,.205 

Tim Unit, .l.iiri liKiiii. Richard Martin 

m His Kind of Woman (120) D. .201 

liolurt Milehum. .lane Russell. Vincent I'rice 

If] On the Loose (74) D. .202 

.loan Evans. Melvyn Dougl.as, Barl 

Lynn 

m Behave Yourself! (81) CD. .206 

Farley Granger, Shelley Winters, W. Demaresl 

©Crosswinds (93) D..5104 

.lohn ra\ne. Illinnda Fleming. Forrest Tucker 

Darling, How Could You! (96). C. .5108 

.loan Fontaine, .lohn Lund. Mona Freeman 

Detective Story (103) D. .5Tfl 

Kirk Douglas. Eleanor Parker. W. Hendiv 

Submarine Command (87) D..5107 

William llolden. Nanev Olson. W. Rendlx 

©When Worlds Collide (81). . .5106 

Richard Derr. liarhara Rush. J. lloyt 

Hot Lead (61) W. .209 

Tim Holt. Richard Martin. Joan Dixon 

©Slaughter Trail (78) W. .207 

Brian Donlevy. Virginia Grey. A, Der'ie 

30 ©Drums in the Deep South (87) . .211 

James Craig, Birluia I'aMon. G. Madison 

51 The Blue Veil (114) D. .263 

Jane Wyman. Clla rles Laughlon BInndell 

.J. 

Racket, The (90) D. .210 

R.iliert Mitrlium, Lizaheth Scott. R. Ryan 

Jungle of Chang (67) D..208 

Documentary ol Thailand 

©Two Tickets to Broadway (106) M. .264 

Janet Leigh. Tonv Martin. Eddie Bracken 

Vhlp Hand, The (81) D. .212 

i';illott Reld. Carla Balenda, Tuttle 

L. 

©Silver City (90) D..5112 

Vioiin.. li.CrIn, E.lmond R, Arlen 

O'Rrlen. 

Mv Fovorite Spy (93) C 5110 

R..li lloiw. Ileih Umarr. Sullivan 

Francis I,. 

Double Dynamite (80) C. .214 

Jane Russell. Frank Sinatra. Grnurho Mars 

On Dangerous Ground (82) D..215 

Ida l.uniro.. Rnl.crl Ryan. Ward Bond 

Overlond Telegroph (60) W..216 

Tim Holt. Gail Davis. Richard Martin 

©Hong Kong (91) D. .5109 

Roiialil Kerigan. Rhonda Rruce 

Fleming. N- 

I Want You (t02) D..251 

Dnrothv McGiilre. Dim Granger 

Andreivs. F 

©Tembo (80) Doc. . 

Il.oiarfl Hill 

Cirl in Every Port, A (. .) C. . 

Gnaicho Marx. Marie Wilson. William Bendix

. . . W. 

. . C 

.Male 

.John 

I 

-V.iliiaMf,. 

liieh.iMl 

Bisil 

-IMisllis 

FEATURE 

UNITED 

ARTISTS 

CHART 

IB They Were Not Divided (102)..D..275 

Edward llnderdovvn, lialph Clanton, H. Cherry 

m Blue Lomp, The (84) D. .016 

.I:ick Warner, .limm.v Hiinley. Dirk Bogarde 

Nauahty Arlette (86) C. .226 

rsi 

tlMy Outlaw Brother (82) D..209 

(l:iv as .Mv Brother, the Outlaw) 

ii: Second Womon, The (91) D..639 

Belsy Drake, John Sutton 

[{il)ert Ytfung. 

a Circle of Danger (86) D. .207 

liav iMillanii, Patricia Hoc, Goring 

Marius 

So' Long at the Foir (85) D..270 

gf! 

5^ Badmon's Gold (56). W..262 

m Scarf, The (86) D. .644 

ig Long Dark Hall, The (86) D. .214 

gWhen I 

Grow Up (90) D. .215 

IS Skipalong Rosenbloom (72) . 

.213 

Mav I!o5enl)looni, Max Baer. Jackie Coogan 

51 Oliver Twist 

a Man From 

(105) 

Plonet X (70) D..647 

D..216 

El Try and Get Me (92) D. .643 

Sound of I'nry) Lovejoy 

Frank (licv. as 

m First Legion, The (86) D. .648 

Charles Bover, Lyle Bettger. Carroll 

Leo G. 

Odette (105) D. .652 

Bl 

Anna Neagle, Trevor Howard, Marius Goring 

m Prowler, The (92) D. .650 

Van Heflin, Evelyn Maxwell 

Keyes, John 

m Fabiola (96) D. .651 

Mioheic Morgan, Henri Vidal, Michel Simon 

II Mon With My Face, The (75). . D .659 

Barry Nelson, Lynn .\inley, C. Matthews 

m Three Steps North (85) D. .657 

Lloyd Bridges, Lea Padovani, Fabrizi 

Aldo 

m Queen for a Day (107) D. .645 

i'hyllis Averv. Darren McGavin 

51 He Ran All the Way (77) D. .646 

Winters, Ford W. John Garlield. 

g Cyrano de 

Shelley 

Bergerac (113) D . . 660 

.lose Ferrer. Mala Powers, William Prince 

Hoodlum, The (61) D. .653 

Lawrence Ticrney, Allene Roberts, L. Golm 

S Pardon My French (81) C.1402 

Paul Henreid, Merle Oberon, P. Bonifas 

m Four in a Jeep (97) D.1139 

Viveca Lindfors. Ralph Meeker. M. Medwin 

©New Mexico (74) D. .649 

Lew Ayres, Marilyn Maxwell, Andy Devlnt. 

St. Benny, the Dip (80) C. .658 

Dick Havmes, Nina Foch. Roland Young 

|3tl Two Gals and a Guy (70) C . . 654 

Janis P aige, Robert Alda, James Gleason 

S Obsessed (77) D . 11 88 

Ger.aldine R. Culver 

Fitzgerald, David 

@Gold 

Farrar. 

Raiders (56) W.1172 

Talbot 

L. George O'Brien. Sheila Ryan. 

U Mister Drake's Duck (76) C..655 

jr., Douglas Fairbanks Yolande Donlan 

Hotel Saharo (87) D.1143 

Culver 

Ustinov. R. Yvonne DeCarlo. Peter 

m Mr. Peek-a-Boo (74) C.1146 

Joan Greenwood, Marcel Treville 

Arnold. R. 

(U Tom Brown's Schooldays (93). . .W.1148 

John Howard Davies, Robert Newton 

g] ©Fort Defiance (81 ) D . 1 147 

Dane Gark, Ben Johnson. Peter Graves 

dl Christmas Carol, A (86) D.1149 

Ala.stair Sim. Kalhleen Harrison. J. Warner 

[7] Big Night, The (75) D . 

Jolm Barrymorc Preston Loring 

jr.. Foster. J. 

a Lady Soys No, The (82) C.1150 

nan riiiilfield. D.iviil Niven. Justice 

J. R. 

(igChicogo Calling (74) D.1 152 

Ian l>urvfa. Mirv Anderson. Elliott 

R. 

|§ Another Mon's Poison (89) D . 

Bette Davi.s. Gary MerrUL B. Williams 

UNIVERSAL-INT L g |° 

©Tomahawk (82) 

SW..nO 

Van Heflin. Yvonne DeCarlo. Preston Foster 

Target Unknown (90) D..111 

Mark Stevens, Don Taylor, Joyce Holden 

Operation Disaster (100) D..n3 

Mills, John Richard Attenborough, Helen Cherry 

Bedtime for Bonzo (83) C..112 

Ronald Ke.".ean, Diana Lynn. Slezak 

Walter 

Stephen McNally. Alex Nicol, Gail Russell 

Up Front (92) C..118 

David Wayne. Tom Ewell, Marina Berti 

©Double Crossbones (75) MC..119 

Donald O'Connor. Helena Carter. Will Geer 

Ma and Pa Kettle Back 

on the Farm (80) C. .117 

Marjorie Main. Percy Kilbride. Meg Randall 

Fat Man, The (77) D. .120 

J. Scott Smart. Rock Hudson. Julie London 

Katie Did It (81) C..122 

Ann BIyth. Mark Stevens, Cecil Kellaway 

©Smuggler's Island (75) D..121 

Jeff Chandler. Evelyn Keyes. Philip Friend 

©Apache Drums (75) W..123 [U Along the Great Divide (88) . .SW. .025 

Stephen McNally. Coleen WiUard Parker Kirk Douglas. Virginia Mayo, John Agar 

Gray. 

Hollywood Story (77) D..124 

Richard Conte, Henry Hull. Julia Adams 

SI Inside the Walls of Folsom 

Prison (87) D. .026 

Iron Man (82) D. .130 

Jeff Chandler, Evelyn Keyes, Stephen McNally 

©Mark of the Renegade (81). . .D. . 129 

J. Ricardo Monlalban. Cvd Charisse, C. Naish 

©Cattle Drive (77) W..128 

.\lcCrea. Joel Dean Stockwell. Leon Ames 

©Lody From Texas (78) D..136 

Howard Duff, Mona Freeman, J. Hull 

Reunion in Reno (80) C. .135 

Mark Stevens. Peggy Dow. G. Perreail 

©Golden Horde, The (76) D. .134 

David Farrar. Ann BIyth. G. Macready 

Lady Pays Off, The (80) D. .202 

Linda Darnell. Stephen McNally, Perreau 

G. 

Raging Tide, The (94) D. .203 

Sbellev Winters, Richard Conte, Blckford 

C. 

©Cove of Outlaws (76) D. .201 

Alexis Smith, Macdonald Carey, Victor Jory 

Strange Door, The (80) D. .204 

Charles Liughton. Boris Karloff. Forrest 

S. 

Weekend With Father (83) . . .206 

Van Heflin. Patricia Ne.al, Gigi Perreau 

Bright Victory (97) D, .208 

Arlliur Keniiedv, Peggy Bryant 

Dow, Nana 

©Flome of Aroby (77) D..207 

Maureen O'llara. Jeff Chandler, Chaney 

Lon 

©Cimarron Kid, The (84) D. .213 

Audie Murphy. Beverlv T\Ier, Yvette Dugay 

Finders Keepers (75) C..211 

Tom Ewell, Julia .\daras, Evelyn Varden 

WARNER 

BROS. 

S Storm Warning (91) D..014 

Ginger Rogers, Ronald Reagan. Doris Day 

a Enforcer, The (88) D..015 

Humphrey Bogart. Zero Mostel, Ted de Corsiu 

Abbott ond Costello Meet the 

Man 

H] ©Sugarfoot 

Randolph Scott, 

(80) 

.\dele 

WD. .016 

Raymond Massey 

Invisible (82) C. .116 

Jergens. 

Bud Abbott. Lou Costello. Nancy Guild 

Groom Wore Spurs, The (81) C. .114 Ruth Roman, Richard Todd. M. McCambridge 

Joan Davis, Jiick Carson 

Ginger 

Air Cadet 

Rogers, 

(94) CD. 115 

HI Only the Valiant (105) SW. .022 

Gregory Peck. Barbara Payton, Ward Bond 

[D 

I Was a Communist for the 

FBI (83) D..023 

Frank Lovejoy. Carey 

Dorothy Hart. Phillip 

[fol Goodbye, My Fancy (107) C. .024 

Joan Crawford. Robert Y'oung. Lovejoy 

Frank 

Steve Cochran, David Brian, Philip Carey 

H Strangers on a Train (101). . . .D. .027 

Farley Granger, Ruth Roman, Robert Walker 

Francis Goes to the Races (88). .C. .125 

Donald O'Connor, Piper Laurie 

©Prince Who Was a Thief (88). D. .126 53 ©Fort Worth (80) SW. .028 

Tony Curtis, Piper Laurie. Cecil Kellaway 

R:indolph Scott, David Phyllis Thaster 

Brian. 

Comin' Round the Mountain (77) C. . 127 

Bud Abbott. Lou Costello, Dorothy Shay 

EI tJ©Captain Horoi 

(117) 

Gregory Peck. Virgin 

o 

Hornblower 

D 

Mayo. R. Beatty 

©Little Egypt (82) CD. .131 

Rhonda Fleming. Mark Nancy Guild 

Stevens. 

You Never Con Tell (78) D..132 

Dick Powell. Peggy Dow, Charles Drake 

Thunder on the Hill (84) D..133 SH Force of Arms (100) 

D..102 

Willitim Holden, Nancy Olson. Frank Lovejoy 

E Tomorrow Is Another Doy (90).. D.. 103 

Claudette Colbert. Ann BIyth, R. Douglas 

Ruth Rom.in. Steve Cochran. L Tuttle 

g3 A Streetcar Named Desire (122). D. .104 

Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando. Kim Hunter 

(U ©Painting the Clouds With 

Sunshine (87) M..105 

Dennis Morgan. Virginia Sakall 

Mayo, S. Z. 

jCome Fill the Cup (113) D..106 

James Cagney, James Gleason, Massey 

R. 

] Close to My Heart (90) D . . 107 

Ray Milland, Gene Tierney. Fay Bainter 

] Tanks Are Coming, The (90) D. .108 

Steve Cochran. Marl Aldon, Philip Carey 

0] Starlift (103) D. .109 

Doris Day. Gordon MacRae, Ruth Roman 

M I'll See You in My Dreams 

(110) M. .1 

Doris 

Room 

Day, Danny Thomas. Frank 

for One More (95) 

Lovejoy 

C. 

Gary Grant, Betsy Drake. Iris Mann 

FOREIGN FILMS gj 

AUSTRALIA 

Bitter Springs (73) 9-29-51 

(Bell) . .Chips Rafterty. Tommy Trinder 

BRITAIN 

Alice in Wonderland (80) 8-18-51 

(Souvaine) .Carol Marsh. Stephen Murray 

Another Shore (77) 3-17-51 

(IRO) .Robert Beatty. M. Lister 

Appointment With Crime (90).. 3-17-51 

(Four Continents) . .W. Hartnell, R. Beatty 

. 

, 

Blackmailed (73) 9-29-51 

(Bell) Zetterling, Dirk Bogarde 

Chance of a Lifetime (90) 2-17-51 

(Ballantine) . .Basil Bedford, B. Miles. 

Exchange Girl (83) 8-18-51 

Irit'l) . (Films .Michael Rennie, Yolande Donlan 

Galloping Major, The (82) 11-17-51 

ISouiiiiiiri Radford. Janette Scott 

Her Panelled Door (84) 9-29-51 

ISouiaiue) , Calvert, Helen Cherry 

History of Mr. Polly, The (94). .12- 1-51 

. 

(IRO) .Mills. Sally ,\nn Howes. F. Currle 

Hue and Cry (82) 1-20-51 

(Fine Arts) . . Alastair Sim, Jack Warner 

Inheritance, The (90) 3-10-51 

(Fine Arts) . .Jean Simmon?, Derrick DeMarney 

. 

Interrupted Journey (80) 10-13-51 

(Snaileii Toild, Valerie Hobson 

. . 2-17-51 

. 

Jacqueline Misbehaves (76). . 

(Ellis) .Iluth Willi.ims, Carla Lehmann 

Laughter in Paradise (97) 12-15-51 

(Stratford) Alastair Sim. Fay Compton 

. 

Maniac on Wheels (76) 7-14-51 

(Int'l) .Dirk Bogarde, Bonar Colleano 

Man in the Dinghy (83) 11-10-51 

(Snadei) . .Michael Wilding, Versois 

Odile 

No Orchids for Miss 

Blandish (95) 4-14-51 

. (Reii.mnl Jack Laltue, Travers 

Linden 

No Place for Jennifer (90) 9-15-51 

. (Stratford) .Leo Genn, Rosamund John 

. 

Rots of Tobruk (85) 7- 7-51 

. (David Brill) .Grant Taylor, Peter Finch 

Reluctant Widow, The (86) 10- 6-51 

. (Fine Arts) ..lean Kent. Guy Rolfe 

Seven Days to Noon (93).... 2-17-51 

. (Distinguished) .Barry Jones, Olive Soane 

Third Time Lucky (87) 10-28-51 

(IRO) .Glj-nls Johns. Dermot Walsh 

Tony Draws a Horse (90) 6-23-51 

. (Fine Arts) .Cecil Parker. .\nne Crawford 

Wooden Horse, The (98) 9-29-51 

. (Snader) Leo Genn, Anthony Steel 

You Can't Fool on Irishman (67) 2- 3-51 

(Bell).. Tommy Duggan, Shirl Conway 

. 

Young Scarface (80) 11-24-51 

(.\1.K,D -Itiiliaid Attenborough, Carol Marsh 

CZECHOSLOVAKIA 

©Emperor's Nightingale, The (70) 7-14-51 

(Remhr.indt) . Puppet Fantasy 

FRANCE 

Dream Ballerina (78) 8-18-51 

. .Violette Verdy, Romney Brent 

(.\FE) 

Face to the Wind (85) 7-28-51 

. (Souvaine) Pierre Larquey, Morlet 

Jane 

God Needs Men (95) 5-26-51 

(AFE) . .Pierre Fresnay, Madeleine Robinson 

Lady Panome (97) 8-18-51 

(Discina) . .Louis Jouvet. Suzy Delair 

L'Affaire (92) 2- 3-51 

(International) . .Claude Dauphin, Anne Vei 

. 

Lovers of Verona, The (90)... 8-18-51 

(Souvaine) . .Anouk Aimee, Serge Reggiani 

Manon (91) 2- 3-51 

. (Discina) .Cecile Aubrey. Michel Auclair 

Ma Pomme (Just Me) (90) 12- 1-51 

S. (Discina) .Maurice Chevalier. D^smarets 

Miquette (83) 7-28-51 

(Discina) -Louis Jouvet. Daniele Delorme 

Oh, Amelia (86) 6- 2-51 

(Lux) . .Danielle Darrieux. Jean DesaiUy 

Red Angel, The (97) 2-24-51 

(Spallcr) . .Tilda Thamer, Paul Meurisse 

Sinners, The (98) 2- 3-51 

(Lopert) . .Suzy Prim. Serge Reggiani 

Ways of Love (120) 1-13-51 

. (Burstyn) .Sylvia Bataille. Saens 

George St. 

ITALY 

Doctor, Beware (90) 2-24-51 

(Academy) .Vitlorio DeSica, A. Magnani 

. 

Medium, The (85) 9-15-51 

(Lopert) -Marie Powers. A. M. Alberghetti 

. 

Path of Hope, The (104) 11-24-51 

I 

(Lux)--Raf Vallonc. Hena Varzl. Barn 

Thrill That Kills, The (80) 8-18-51 

) (Dist -Foscn r.i.sriiptii, Jacque Sernas 

Under the Olive Tree (107) .10- 6-51 

(Iji\1 K;if \';illniif l.iiii.i llnê 

Women Without Names (93) 9-15-51 

tniieâ. Simone Simoi 

(Loi.ert) 

. 

MEXICO 

Rancho Grande (100) 5-19-51 

(Azteca) . .Jorge Negrete. Trio Calataras

10-11-51 

. 4-12-51 

. 

4-26-51 

Short subjects, listed by oompany, in order of reloose. Running tir le follows title. First dote is notional 

en dotes is rating from BOXOFFICE 

release, second the dote of review in BOXOFFICE. Symbol betw( 

review, ff Very Good. + Good. :^ Foir. —Poor. = Very Poor. © Indicates color photography. 

Columbia 

Prod. No Title Rcl. Date Ratinn Re»' 

ASSORTED COMEDIES 

3425 The Awful Sleuth (16).. 4-19-51 ±i 5- 5 

3416 Fun on the Run (16).. 5-10-51 zt 5-26 

3426 Woo Woo Blues (16)-.. 7- 2-51 + 7-21 

1951-52 SEASON 

4411 Pleasure Treasure (17) 9-10-51 

4412 She Took a Powder (16) . 

i: 11-24 

4413 Trouble in Laws (16) .. 10-11-51 + 12- 1 

4422 The Champ Steps Out 

(161 i) 11-15-51 -t- 12- 8 

4423Traidy Cat (16) 12-13-51 

CANDID MICROPHONE 

(One-Reel Specials) 

3554 Subject No. 4 (11) .... 4-12-51 -f 4-14 

3555 Subject No. 5 (IQi/j) . . 

6-14-51 ± 6-23 

3556 Subject No. 6 (10) ... S-15-51 


4551 Subject No. 1 (10).... 10- 4-51 H 11-17 

4552 Subject No. 2 (ID... 12- 6-51 ± 12-22 

CAVALCADE OF BROADWAY 

3653 Havana Madrid (10) .. 4-12-51 + 5-5 

3654 New York Alter Midnight 

(11) 6-28-51 H 7-21 

4651 The Gay Nineties (10) .11-15-51 

. 


4651 Eddie Condon's (10) .. .11-15-51 ± 12- 8 

COLOR FAVORITES 

(Technicolor Reissues) 

3608 Jilterbuo Knights (71/2) 4-15-51 -j- 

3609 Birds in Love (8) 5-17-51 rt 

3610 Air Hostess (8) 6-21-51 + 

3611 The Egg Hunt (71/,).. 7-26-51 -f 

3612 Merry Manikins (8) 8-23-51 


4601 The Horse on the 

Merry-Go-Round (7).. 9-13-51 

3602 The Shoemaker and the 

10-18-51 12-15 

Elves (S) 

4603 Lucky Pigs (7) 11-8-51 + 12-15 

4604 Holiday Land (..) 12-13-51 

COMEDY FAVORITES 

(Reissues) 

3435 General Nuisance (IS) -1-5-5 

. 

3436 Phony Cronies (le'/j) - 6-14-51 * 6-30 


4431 She's Oil Mine (171/2.. 9-20-51 -I- 10-20 

4432 Midnight Blunders (..) .11-22-51 

4433 Olaf Laughs Last (.)., 12-27-51 

lOLLY FROLICS 

(Technicolor) 

3503 Family Circus (61/2) . 

6-28-51 tt 6-23 

1951-52 

. 

SEASON 

4501 Georgie and the Dragon 

(7) 9-27-51 It 10-20 

4502 Wonder Gloves (7) 11-29-51 -f 12- 8 

4503 The Oompahs (7) + H-10 

MR. MAGOO 

(Technicolor) 

3703 Bearfaced Flatfool (7) , 

-f 5- 5 


4701 Fuddy Duddy Buddy (7). 10-18- 51 + 11-17 

4702 The Grizzly Golfer (7) .12-20-51 

SCREEN SNAPSHOTS 

3857 Hollywood Memories (9) 4-19-51 +5-5 

3858 Hollywood Awards (91/2) 5-17-51 + 6-23 

3859 Hollywood Pie Throwers 

(91/2 6-21-51 d: 7-21 

3860 The Great Director (9). 7-19-51 


4851 Hollywood at Play 

(IOI/2) 9-13-51 + 10-20 

4852 Hopalong In Hoppyland 

(91/2) 10-18-51 + 12-15 

4853 Hollywood Goes Western 

(9) 11-15-51 

4854 Hollywood on a Sunday 

Afternoon (IOI/2) ...12-20-51 

STOOGE COMEDIES 

3407 Don't Tlirow That Knife 

(16) 5- 3-51 5-26 

3408 Scrambled Brains (16).. 7- 5-51 + 7-21 


4401 Merry Mavericks (16) ... 9- 6-51 

4402 The Tooth Will Out (16) 10- 4-51 + 11-24 

4403 Hiila-La-La (16) 11- 1-51 ± 12-15 

4404 Pest Man Wins (16)... 12- 6-51 + 12-22 

TWO-REEL SPECIALS 

3440 A Day With the FBI 

(19) 7-21-51 H 5-26 

VARIETY FAVORITES 

4951 Noro Morales & Orch. 

(11) 9-20-51 ) 12-22 

4952 Dick Stabile and Orch. 

(10) 10-25-51 

4953 Randy Brooks & Orch. 

( ) 12-27-51 

WORLD OF SPORTS 

3806 Quebec Sports Holiday 

- 

(81/2) 

3807 Mr. Tennis (9) 

4-12-51 4-26-51 + 

- 

3808 Future Major Leaguers 

(11) 

3809 Sunshine Sports (10) . 

3810 Anglers Aweigh 

. 

(10) .. 7-26-51 

4803 Gymnastic Champions 

(101/2) 11-29-51 + 12- « 


4801 The Willie Hoppe Story 

(9) 9-22-51 + 10-20 

4802 Flying Skis (9) 10-25-51 ± 12- 1 

4804 Bicycle Thrills ( 12-27-51 

. . ) 

SERIALS 

3160 Roar of the Iron Horse. . 5-31-51 

15 Chapters 


3180 Mysterious Island 9-13-51 + 10-13 

4120 Captain Video 12-27-51 

15 Chapters 

+6-2 

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 

Prod. No. Title Rel. Date Rating Rev'd 

CARTOONS 

(Technicolor) 

W-243 Droopy's Good Deed (7) 5- 5-51 + 5-26 

W-245 Symphony in Slang (7) 6-16-51 + 5-26 


W-331 Slicked-Up Pop (6) 9- 8-51 ++ 10-13 

W-332 Car of Tomorrow (6) . . 9-22-51 ff 10-13 

W-333 Nitwitty Kitty (7) ... 10- 8-51 + 10-13 

W-334 Inside Cackle Corners 

(9) 11-10-51 ++ U-17 

W-335 Droopy's Double Trouble 

(7) 11-17-51 + 11-24 

FITZPATRICK TRAVELTALKS 

T-311 Glimpses of Argentina 

(..) 12- 1-51 

GOLD MEDAL REPRINTS 

(Technicolor) 

W-264 The Shooting of Oan 

McGoo (8) 4-14-51 5-12 

W-265 Gallopin' Gals (7) 6- 2-51 + 5-26 

W-266The Bodyjuard (7>... S- 4-51 


W-361 Puttin' On the Dog 

(7) 10-20-51 + 10-13 

W-362 Mouse Trouble (7) .. .12-18-51 ++ 11-24 

PEOPLE ON PARADE 

(Technicolor) 

P-213 Springtime In Netherlands 

(9) 4-21-51 dr 2 

P-214 Land of Zuider Zee (9) 4-28-51 ±6-2 

P-215 Word for the Greeks (8) 5-12-51 

P-216 Romantic Riviera (9) . . 6-23-51 

P-217 Glimpses of Morocco and 

Algiers (8) 8- 4-51 ± 10-13 

P-218 Visiting Italy (8) .... 8-25-51 ± 10-13 

PETE SMITH SPECIALTIES 

S-25B Camera Sleuth (10) . . . 4-28-51 ff 5-12 

S-259 Bandage Bait (9) 6-16-51 + 5-26 

S-260 Bargain Madness (9).. 7-14-51 


S-351 Football Thrills No. 14 

(10) 9- 1-51 +f 10-13 

S-352 That's WTiat You Think 

(9) 10-13-51 ± 11-17 

S-353 In Case You're Curious 

(8) 11-17-51 + 11-24 

TOM & JERRY CARTOONS 

(Technicolor) 

W-242 Jerry's Cousin (7) 4- 7-51 + 5-12 

W-244 Sleepy-Time Tom (7) . . 5-26-51 +6-2 

W- 246 His Mouse Friday (7) 7- 7-51 


W- 336 Cat-Napping (7) 12-8-51 

Paramount 

Prod. No. Title Rel. Date Rating Rev'd 

CASPER CARTOONS 

BlO-4 To Boo or Not to Boo 

8-51 H 6-30 

(7) 

BlO-5 Boo Scout (8) 

6- 

7-27-51 + 7-14 

810-6 Casper Comes to Clown 

(8) 8-10-51 +9-8 


Bll-1 Casper Takes a Bow Wow 

(7) 12- 7-51 

GRANTLAND RICE SPORTLIGHTS 

RlO-9 Jumping Olf Place 

(10) 5-11-51 5-19 

RlO-10 Close Decisions (10).. 5-25-51 + 7-14 

RlO-11 City of Ball Tossers 

(10) 6-22-51 + 7-21 

RlO-12 Follow the Game Trails 

(10) 7-20-51 + 7-21 


Rll-1 Allen's Animal Kingdom 

(10) 10- 5-51 + 10-20 

Rll-2 Ridin' the Rails (10). .11- 2-51 H 12- 1 

Rll-3 Fresh Water Champs 

(10) 11-16-51 

Rll-4 Water Jockey Hi-Jinks 

(10) 12- 7-51 

Rll-5 Sky-Lark in the Rockies 

(10) 12- 7-51 ± 12-22 

Xll-1 Vegetable 

KARTUNE 

Vaudeville 

(7) 11- 9-51 + 11-24 

Xll-2 Snooze Reel (7) 12-28-51 

NOVELTOONS 

(Technicolor) 

PlO-6 Hold the Lion, Please 

(7) 4-27-51 + 4-14 

PlO-7 Land at Lost Watches (9) 5- 4-51 + 5-19 

PIO-S As the Crow Lies (6). 

P10-!9Slip Us Some Redskin 

(7) 

PlO-10 Parly Smarty (8) . . . 

1-51 + 7-28 

Pll-1 Cat-Choo . . 


(7) 14-51 + 10-20 

Pll-2 Audrey the Rainm 

(8) 26-51 

9-51 

- 5-51 

- 5-51

j 

Wholesale 

: Plumber 

' 

8401 

.10-13-51 

' 

'^ 

SHORTS CHART 

, 6388 Down the River (10) . 9- 10-51 


7381 Reuben. Rcuhcn

Opinions on Current Productions; Exploitips 

mmwE i\mim 

(FOR STORY SYNOPSIS ON EACH PICTURE, SEI RIVIRSI SIDI) 

The African Queen 

United Artists (1155) 105 Minutes Bel. 

Hair-raising adventure and a strange — yet poignant—romance 

dominate the iootage of what should prove to be a 

generally popular and highly profitable feature. Its pair of 

topliners are the only humans on the screen for most of the 

picture's length, vi^hich confronted them vfHh an unusually 

difficult thespian assignment, one vrhich they accomplished 

with distinction and conviction. But for all the excellence of 

their individual and collective delineations, the stars have to 

share spectators' attention and approval with the African 

backgrounds—the film having been made there in its entirety—the 

flora and fauna of the Dark Continent, and the 

Technicolor photographic recording thereof. Based on the 

novel of the same name by C. S. Forester, a solid, believable 

script afforded Director-Writer John Huston a bench-made 

opportunity to assert his flair for action, suspense and realism. 

Ably produced by S. P. Eagle. 

Humphery Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, Robert Morley, Peter 

Bull, Theodore Bikel, Walter Gotell, Gerald Onn. 

The Las Vegas Story 

RKO Radio (- Minutes Rel. 

Rowdy, romantic Las Vegas, where everything goes—most 

especially the visiting firemen's bankrolls—furnishes background 

and authentic atmosphere for still another cops-androbbers 

thriller, which rates high among the numerous photoplays 

that have been localed at the Nevada resort city. 

Not only does the film book a winner as concerns its entertainment 

quotient, but it offers alert showmen a sterling 

setup for payoff merchandising, principal ingredients of 

which can be found in title, cast and musical interludes. The 

story is unusually well constructed and under expert direction 

by Robert Stevenson, the players—with Jane Russell and 

Victor Mature furnishing the love interest and most of the 

action—take full advantage of _the opportunity accorded 

thereby. Robert Sparks produiIV^ for Executive Producer 

Samuel Bischoif. 

^ ^ 

Jane Russell, Victor Maturc,'"^ Vincent Price, Hoagy Carmichael. 

Brad Dexter, Gordon Oliver, Jay C. Flippen. 

Another Man's Poison 

United Artists (1154) 89 Minutes Rel. Jan. 16, '52 

Bette Davis' expertness in d&linealing a determined, deadly 

doxy was prominent among the many thespian talents which 

at one time established her as the first lady of the screen, 

a pinnacle she occupied for many seasons. This engrossing 

murder yarn, filmed in England under the production aegis 

of Douglas Fairbanks jr. and Daniel M. Angel, proves that 

she has lost none of that skill. Her finely etched performance 

highlights a bevy of irnpressive interpretations in a 

feature that is praiseworthy on virtually every creative and 

technical count, and should attract appreciative ticket buyers 

in profitable numbers. It is her name—coupled with that 

of Gary Merrill's—which offers the best hook upon which 

to hang an exploitation campaign. Boasting the authenticity 

of backgrounds and atmosphere found in most British-made 

pictures, the film is suspenseful despite its leisurely pace, 

for which accomplishment Director Irving Rapper rates a bow. 

Bette Davis, Gary Merrill, Emlyn Williams, Anthony Steel, 

Barbara Murray, Reginald Beckwith, Edna Morris. 

Indian Uprising 

F 

F 

Drama 

(Supercinecolor) 

Columbia (417) — Minutes Rel. Jan. '52 

Indians The have come into their own in recent motion 

pictures, which give the redman's side of the taking over 

of America by white settlers. That most savage of Apache 

chiefs, Geronimo, is sympathetically treated here along with 

Captain Case McCloud's attempts to make and keep honorable 

treaties with him and his tribe. His capture through 

betrayal, and the machinations of belligerent gold-seekers 

in the reserva ion's hills, constitute much of the action, which 

is fast and furious, with cavalry charges and colorful Indian 

skirmishes. However, this is slowed up somewhat by Indian 

speeches (in Spanish) and their translation by the inlerpreter. 

Too many pictures of this type are being released together, 

but this is well ac.ed and has had good direction, so should 

please where this type of picture is played. The color adds to 

scenic shots. Ray Nazarro directed. 

George Montgomery, Audrey Long, Carl Benton Reid, Eugene 

Iglesais, John Baer, Joe Sawyer, Robert Dover. 

A Girl in Every Port 

F 

Comedy 

RKO Radio ( 

) 

86 Minutes Rel. Jan. 30, '52 

The following that Groucho Marx has established through 

his popular radio and video shows should in itself be sufficient 

to assure this rough-'n'-ready funfest a margin of 

profitable patronage in all of its playdates. The be-mustached 

comedian employes his characteristic, deadpan 

approach to his part herein, and it engenders enough laughs 

to make the ticket buyer feel that he has had his money's 

worth. Other members of the cast—and at least two of them, 

William Bendix and Marie Wilson, can contribute their shares 

to marquee appeal and exploitation—are comparably effective. 

While La Wilson doesn't have material best suited to 

her talents, she is the mainstay of the curvaceous femininity 

which is a substantial factor in the film's overall aura. 

Chester Erskine records a worthwhile double credit for himself 

inasmuch as he both wrote and directed the photoplay, 

which was produced by Irvrin Allan and Irving Cummings jr. 

Groucho Marx, William Bendix, Marie Wilson, Don DeFore, 

Dee Hartford, Gene Lockhart, Teddy Hart. 

Eroica 

I 

| 

Academy Productions 89 Minutes Rel. 

A biographical film on Ludwig van Beethoven with outstanding 

orchestral and piano music sequences, this German-language 

film is good fare for the art houses. Picture 

can be exploited in college towns or for musical students 

and exhibitors should play up the fact that Oskar Werner, 

who gives a fine portrayal of Beethoven's worthless nephew, 

is currently featured in the key role of 20th-Fox's "Decision 

Before Dawn." The story, which deals mainly with Jhe 

frustration and despair of the great composer's life, and his 

final struggle against deafness, is a depressing one. The 

romantic aspects of his life are sketchily shown. Ewald Balser, 

who resembles Raymond Massey, gives a vivid and 

touching portrayal of Beethoven. Music heard includes "The 

Moonlight Sonata" and "Leonora Overture." Directed by 

Walter Kolm-Veltee and Karl Hartl. Academy is at 1501 

Broadway, N. Y. C. 

Ewald Balser, Marianne Schoencuer, Oskar Werner. Dagney 

Servaes, Ivan Petrovilch, Judith Hollzmeisler. 

1332 BOXOFHCE 

F 

^^ 

siet 

ror 

Storm Over Tibet 

Columbia (416) 87 Minutes Rel. Jan. '52 

This is reminiscent oi "Lost Horizon" and parts of it really 

are documentary shots taken by the International Himalaya 

expedition which was led some years ago by Professor G. O. 

Dyhrenfurth of Switzerland. However, these have been 

skillfully integrated into the story to make an unusual film 

with mystic rather than mystery angles for its suspense. 

That the story is a little strained does not make it les? interesting, 

since everything that has come out of Tibet has been 

fantastic and on a mystic, if not superstitious, basis. The 

cast has no marquee value so exhibitors will have to depend 

on the present general interest in people of other countries 

to sell the picture. In college towns the expedition shots 

will have value, and in ordinary situations the adventure 

angles can be stressed. The picture is well done, with scenic 

beauty and natives that give it boxoffice ballast, Andrew 

Morton directed. 

Rex Reason. Diana Douglas, Myron Healy, Robert Karnes, 

Strother Martin, Harold Fong, Harold Dyrenlorth. 

Marie Du Port 

Bellon-Foulke Prod. 

F 

A 

90 Minutes Rel. 

Jean Gabin, the one-time handsome and romantic French 

star, is now definitely in the mature age-group but he still 

handles several love affairs in a colorful French-language 

drama. Gabin will still be a draw for the older patrons who 

make up the greater part of art house audiences. Marcel 

Carne, who directed "Port of Shadows," "Children of Paradise" 

and other notable French films, handles sordid details 

of love with typical French nonchalance and this fact makes 

i.f the film strictly adult fare. Carne has created the atmosf 

''" phere of a small fishing village splendidly and Henri Alekan's 

camera work deserves the highest praise. The film starts on 

a depressing note, with the funeral of an old fisherman and 

the breakup of his poor family, but the love scenes are spiced 

with a sly comic note. Blanchette Brunoy is excellent as the 

lady of easy virtue. Bellon-Foulke is at 17 E. 48th St., N. Y. C. 

Jean Gabin, Blanchette Brunoy, Carette, Nicole Courcel, 

Claude Romain, Jean Marken. 

January 5, 1952 1331

. . The 

. . . Dedicated 

. . Where 

. . Whirlpool 

. . Throw 

. . And 

— 

FEATURE REVIEWS Story Synopsis; Adiines for Newspaper and Programs 

THE STORY: 

"Anolher Man's Poison" 

THE STORY: 'The African Queen" 

Tempestuous, selfish Bette Davis kills her blackmailing 

husband but is forced to admit her crime to Gary Merrill, 

a former criminal associate of her dead mate. Merrill helps 

dispose of the body and Bette agrees to let him pose as her 

husband in their lonely home on the Yorkshire moors. Bette 

has now set her cap for Anthony Steel, who is engaged to 

Bette's secretary. But Merrill, fascinated by Bette himself, 

intervenes—and Bette decides to dispose of him, too. One 

attempt goes awry when in a car accident he tumbles into 

the lake where her husband's body lies. Merrill confronts 

her with the news that the police, dragging the lake for the 

car, will find the body; Bette kills him with poisoned liquor, 

then accidentally drinks some of the lethal potion herself. 

il + 

1 + 

During World War I German troops fire a Congo village 

and drive off the natives. The shock kills British missionary 

Robert Morley, leaving his prim, old-maid sister, 

Katharine Hepburn, alone. She is taken aboard the "African 

Queen," a broken-down river boat, by its dissolute 

skipper, Humphrey Bogart, who proposes to sit out the war 

in quiet backwaters. Hepburn, however, fired with patriotism, 

insists on a daring plan to take the boat down an unnavigated 

river to destroy a German warship guarding 

the only invasion route open to the British. Believing it an 

impossible undertaking, Bogart nevertheless allows himself 

to be cajoled into its attempt. Surmounting tremendous 

handicaps, they fulfill the mission, falling in love en route. 

CATCHLINES: 

An Unforgettable Adventure in Suspense ... as Bette 

Davis Creates a Matchless Portrait ... of a Woman Who 

Killed—Because She Was in Love. 

CATCHLINES: 

Bogart and Hepburn . . . Drifting Together Down Perilous 

African Waters . . . It's Adventure Supreme . . . and Torrid 

Romance . . . the Motion Picture Must for 1952. 

. 

THE STORY: 

"Indian Uprising" 

Captain Case McCloud (George Montgomery) and his 

cavalry troop capture the son of Apache Chief Geronimo 

(Miguel Inclan) in 1885 and through him as hostage are 

able to meet Geronimo for a powwow. They make a peace 

treaty with him regarding the Indian territory, but goldseekers 

among the whites cause trouble and bring about 

further Apache uprisings. McCloud is sympathetic with 

Geronimo's insistence that the white men stay out of his 

hills, but is court-martialed and relieved of his command 

Breaking jail to save the troop, engaged with Geronimo 

under its new commander, he brings Geronimo in, retains 

his friendship and gets a promotion. 

CATCHLINES 

The Last Days of the Apache Nation—Told in the White 

Man's Bloodl . . . Mighty Geronimo Ties the Plains to the 

Stake—and Hordes of Revenging Redmen Put Them to the 

Torch! . . . When an Apache Chief Cried to His Gods for 

Vengeance, Tribal Tomahawks, Cavalry Carbines, and a 

Blood Flood the Plains Savage Swept Rise in Hate, 

the Fall in Fury, the End in Glory. 

h. 

THE STORY: 

"The Las Vegas Story" 

Traveling to Los Angeles Vincent Price and his wife, Jane 

Russell, stop in Las Vegas although Jane—once a nightclub 

singer there—is reluctant to do so. She had been in love 

with Victor Mature, but the romance went sour. Price loses 

money recklessly at the gaming tables, while Jane encounters 

Mature and they discover their love is not dead. To 

raise more gambling funds. Price pawns a diamond necklace 

which he had given Jane; the situation is further complicated 

by the shadowing tactics employed by Brad Dexter, 

who claims to represent the company which insured the 

bauble. Price is accused of murdering the owner of the 

casino where he had lost so heavily, but Mature establishes 

that Dexter was the killer and that Price is an embezzler. 

Jane plans to di.i ^ him and marry Mature. 

CATCHLINES: ^ = ^ 

. 

Las Vegas . ^f Excitement and Glamor . . . 

Where a Giri With a Past . Meets the Man She Left Behind 

Fortunes 

. 

Are Made and Lost ... at the 

Turn of a Card. 

THE STORY: 

"Storm Over Tibet" 

Two fliers in World War II have been flying "The Hump" 

and one of them (Rex Reason) has completed his flights and 

is returning to the States. He has purloined a mask of the 

god Sindja from one of the temples on one of his excursions 

and his friend (Myron Healy) tries to make him return it. 

They quarrel and even exchange blows over it, resulting in 

the accidental cutting of Reason's wrist so he is not allowed 

to make his last flight, and Healy takes the plane over carrying 

the mask. Healy is supposed to have crashed and although 

Reason returns to the States and even marries Healy's 

widow, when the mask is mailed to him he feels he has to 

know what became of Healy, so he and his wife join an 

expedition into Tibet. There, after much hardship and soulsearching 

travail, he learns his friend's fate and makes his 

peace with Sindja. 

CATCHLINES: 

High in the Himalyas, the God Sindja Broods Over the 

Desecration of His Temple ... A Flier Who Was Not Superstitious—Until 

His Friend Crashed in His Place on Amne 

Mandu. 

THE STORY: "A Girl in Every Port" 

Navy buddies for 20 years—much of the time in the brig 

have been Groucho Marx and William Bendix. The latter, 

receiving a small inheritance, winds up as owner of Little 

Erin, a weak-ankled racehorse, purchased at auction from 

stables owned by Don DeFore. Groucho discovers the nag 

has a twin. Shamrock, and with the connivance of Marie 

Wilson, a pert carhop, switches horses. Marie and Don fall 

in love, and circumstances force Bendix and Marx to hide 

both horses .aboard their ship. Later, while smuggling the 

nags out, they overpower a pair of furtive civilians and 

lock them up. The subsequent race—with both horses 

entered, and Marx and Bendix as jockeys—is a nightmare, 

but all ends well when the gobs are decorated after the 

civilians they captured are revealed as saboteurs. 

CATCHLINES: 

The Bounding Main Was Never Like This ... As Groucho 

Marx, an Over-Ripe Sea Dog . William Bendix, Who's 

Even Dumber . the Navy for a Loss ... As Gag- 

Happy Gobs. 

THE STORY: "Marie Du Port" THE STORY: "Eroii 

Jean Gabin, wealthy cafe owner, takes . his mistress, 

Blanchefte Brunoy, to a small fishing village to attend the 

funeral of her father. Gabin becomes interested in his mistress' 

young sister, Nicole Courcel, whose fiance, Claude 

Romain, becomes jealous. The latter even throws himself in 

front of Gabin's car and, when he is taken to Cabin's room, 

Blanchette takes care of him. Later, when the sister arrives, 

she finds Romain and Blanchette having an affair. The girl 

then threatens to kill herself and Gabin decides he will marry 

Nicole. 

CATCHLINES: 

A Love Story Only the French Could Tell . . . Jean Gabin, 

Star of "Pepe Le Moko" and "Grand Illusion," in Another 

Romantic Drama of Life and Love in France . . . She Was 

Young But She Knew the Difference Between Mistress 

Mrs. ... A Daring and Delightful Romance. 

and 

As Napoleon's armies march on Vienna, Beethoven, a 

struggling composer, sees a new era of freedom for the 

masses. He begins a symphony to honor Napoleon but, 

when he learns the latter is nothing but a tyrant, he leaves 

Austria. In Hungary, he falls in love with Judith Holtzmeister, 

but she refuses to marry him and tells him that his great 

gift must be used to compose and he could not make any one 

woman happy. Beethoven then starts composing his greatest 

compositions but, when he starts losing his hearing, he refuses 

to admit it. He finally rages against God but he finally 

realizes that now he can hear music that no one else can 

produce. 

CATCHLINES: 

The Thrilling Biography of One of the World's Greatest 

Composers ... A Blending of the Magic of Music and Film 

to the Heroic Spirit of a Great Man . . . Oskar 

Werner, Star of "Decision Before Dawn," in a Great Musical 

Film.

RATES: 15c per word, minimum S1.50. cash with copy. Four insertions for price oi three. 

CLOSING DATE: Monday noon preceding publication date. Send copy and answers to 

Box Numbers to BOXOFFICE, 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 1. Mo. • 

HELP WANTED 

Projectionist wanted, man, wife combination preferred- 

Wile to work in concession. Strand Tlietrc. 

MclircBor, loua. 

Wanted: Tlieatie managers for medium size towns 

Wisconsin Write letter of qualifications to 

Boxoffice, 4539, in care of BOXOFFICE magazine. 

iTfience and salary expected. 

Manager: One experienced operating theatre in 

industrial community. Must be aggressive exploilcer. 

Cood salary and working conditions. 

Group and family insurance. Sell yourself In first 

r. Cive reason for wanting change. Letter in 

confidence. Position in Miilwest. Boxoffice, 4542. 

Drive-in manager wanted. Man to manage large 

super de luxe drive-in located in the Southeast. 

12-niunth operation. Fine opportunity for the 

right man. Send picture, information regarding 

past theatre experience, salary expected, etc.. to 

Bo.\office. 4543. 

Projectionist, general maintenance. Small town 

New Mexicti. Starting salary $45 weekly. Boxaf 

fice, 4544 

Wanted: K\iilnii,itiini, promotion, assistant m:injger. 

I'll I mil ilM iiii, midwestern town 30,000. 

All pidilm: .niiliMi Must be go-getter: best 

references, titmil li.ibiis. bondable. Heal producer 

an un ticket. Boxoffice, 4545. 

Experienced projectionist wanted for Connecticut 

theatre. Give references and salary desired. Box- 

)ftice, 4548. 

Drive-in theatre manager, metropolitan area: 

tate age, salary and experience. Boxoffice, 4551. 

Drive-in manager of ability can place himself in 

i position that will give opportunity and monetary 

eturn. Ncirtlu'rn Ohio location. Give full drive-in 

icncc .and ex|iect;incy. Write Boxoffice, 4552. 

POSITIONS WANTED 

Proiectionist, ten years experience, wants posi- 

;lon near Fort Lauderdale or Miami, Florida. 

Son-union operator, but would like to become 

ippreniiee if possible. Boxoffice, 4498. 

SIGNS 

Easy Way to Paint Signs. Use letter patterns. 

Uoid sloppy work and wasted time. No experimce 

needed for expert work. Write for free sam- 

)les. John liahn, B-1329, Central Ave., Chicago 

1, III. 

BUSINESS STIMULATORS 

Bingo with more action, $3.50 thousand cards, 

so otl:er i:ames. Novelty Games Co., 1434 

iedf.ird .\\e . Brooklyn 16, N. Y. 

Giveaway New 1951 car. No cost to theatre, 

ouns 5.000 population or over. Merchant Adertising 

tieup. Interstate Theatre Service, 1115 

Armour, Kansas City, Missouri. 

Comic books available as premiums, giveaways 

it your kiddy shows. Large variety, latest newstaiid 

"dllions. Comics Premium Co., 412B. Greenrich 

St., N. Y. C. Publications for premiums 

' isivcly) since 1939. 

GENERAL EQUIPMENT—USED 

Holmes with Mazda, Hi or low Intensity. Holmes 

16mm sell or trade for late model popper, Harold 

Owen, Seymour, Mo. 

Buy by Star! Bye Bye overhead! Simplex rear 

shutter mechanisms, rebuilt, $279.50: Hertncr 

40/80 generator, complete, rebuilt, $275; 3-unlt 

electric ticket machine, excellent, $99.50; rcwlnders, 

$5.95 set: pair Simplex-Acmes, Baby arc 

lamphouses, rebuilt and complete, $950. VNTiat do 

you need? Star Cinema Supply, 441 W. 50th St., 

New York 19, N. Y. 

Two Powers projectors, Brenkerts new arc lamps, 

KCv\ system, amplifier, speaker, complete to operate. 

Bring your truck and $750. Ilex Theatre, 

Cotulla, 

Tex. 

Save 25% to 50% and more! Trade In your 

old, wornout equipment for modern projection and 

sound. Buy on time, pay out of increased boxoffice 

receipts. Send equipment list and seating 

capacity. Dept. C, S.O.S. Cinema Supply Corp., 

602 \V. 52nd St., New York 19, N. Y. 

Two Simplex machines, complete with double 

bearing 

magazines 

movements, 

at a real 

rear 

bargain—$250 

shutters, pedestals 

per 

and 

pair. 

Boxoffice. 4540. 

For bargains, read carefully! Complete snum 

equipments or soundheads. Simplex, I'miei, .ith 

Monograph mechanisms, or maelnrn Sii|ni\ .nu 

low Intensity lamps with or wiiluhit i.eiuirrs 

Used Film len.scs, all sizes. cabuiei,. lecls 

.iii,l 

Ticket machines and coin changers. Boxoffice. 4511 

Two 

Holmes 

CLfflfildG 

HOUS{ 

Binoo die-cut cards. 75 or 100 numbers, $3.50 

ler M Premium Products, 339 W. 44th St.. New 

ork IS. N V. 

Double popcorn profits. Sell own pre-popped 

orn, club*, scliools, taverns. Establish route 

r. dispensers. Non coin. first this item 

Be 

low-n. Ifs hot! Write High Hearth Enterrises, 

551 S. Lewis, Lombard, III., or 240 

'la Buena Ventura, licdondo Beach, Calif 

Why suffer? Replace your worst night,s with big 

loxoffice receipts. In advance! Costs theatre nothmakcs 

many new patrons! Successful showacn 

will personally disclose plan in letter for $5. 

.loney buck if it doesn't produce! Charlie Poorn,. 

cin Mauch Cliiink, Pottsville, Pa. 

STUDIO AND PRODUCTION 

EQUIPMENT 

Ready Eddy editing kit uith case, $2,50; Presto 

disc recorder with playback, $275: .Artreeves 

5mm recorder outfit. $1,995: Shustek 35/16mm 

iclurc reduction printer, rebuilt, $2,995: sound 

amer.is, single system, complete Belhowell outfit, 

3,950: Auricon 16mm camera, $495: KInevox 

ft., lonoboom, extends mike 15 $69.50: IGmm 

nimatlon stand, complete, $2,250: Maurer reording 

system, $1,995: Moviola Soundpix UDS, 

!built, $1,095: Bridgamatic 16mm automatic de- 

!lop:ng machines, demonstrators, $795. Cash 

id for used studio production equipment. Trades 

iken. nepl. C. SOS Onema Supply Corp . 602 

52nd Rt New Ynrk 10 

f. 

GENERAL EQUIPMENT—NEW 

Why pay more? Tempered Masonlte marquee letrs 

available in all colors: 4" —35c: 8"— 50c: 10" 

-60c: 12"— S5c: 14"— $1.25: 16"—$1.50. Fits 

igner. Adler. Bevelite signs. Dept. C. S.O.S. 

inema Supply Corp.. 602 W. 52nd St.. New 

ork 19. 

Sell your picture and sound with flameproofed 

ingiisproofed plastic screen. 39iAc sq. ft.: beaded. 

9%c: reflectors, 20% off: coated lenses, $100 

ilr: A-25A amplifier, 25 watts w/monitor, $175: 

rasonic 2-way speaker system. $249.50. Dept. 

SOS. Cinema Supply Corp.. 602 W. 52nd St.. 

V York 19. 

OXOFFICE January 5. 1952

PROJECTION and 

SOUND SYSTEMS 

^^MANUfACtyjJED BY JNTERNATIONAl PROJECTOR CORPORATION • DISTRIBUTED BY NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY

Boxoffice-January.05.1952

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