Boxoffice-January.10.1948

Warner Product Lineup 

. . . Page 8 

UA Gets *Arch of Triumph' 

. . . Page 10 

Showmandiser Index in This Issue

^lÎigai/Jiyindl^gap i 

WEATHER FORECAST: Good Box-Office Weather For M-G-M Exhibi 

EDITORIAL 

This is Leap Year. A time for 

proposals. We propose that there 

be a re-birth of showmanship in 

1948. The kind that made film business 

famous. Lusty, two-fisted, noisy 

and imaginative showmanship. Let's 

take off the dress suits and get back 

into overalls. This is a business for 

the masses. Together we won their 

attention with circus methods. Let's 

do it again. M-G-M has a flock of 

strong audience attractions ready 

for your audiences. And our Studio 

has just announced the start of an 

even greater program of Big Productions. 

The combination of fine 

entertainment and sock showmanship 

is unbeatable! Let's go! 

SHORT POEM 

M-GM's Great 

In '48 

^' 

SHORT PARAGRAPH 

M-G-M Tom & Jerry Cartoons in Technicolor 

(Fred Quimby, Producer) tops in 

Boxoffice Barometer and Showmen'sTrade 

Review Leaders polls. Pete Smith "liveaction" 

Specialties tops in STR poll and 

for 5th consecutive year tops in Fame 

(Quigley Magazine) vote. 

M-G-M STARS WELCOME 

YEAR TO NATION'S BOX-OFFICI^ 

Good News," "Green Dolphin Street," 

"(i^ 

Timberlane," "Killer McCoy" Big Everywheii 

HELP 

police: 

It 

wiis "Good News" 

for everyone but the 

cops at Radio City 

Music Hall who had 

to handle the crowds 

stretching 

block' 

around the 

There is rejoicing at M-G-M 

box-offices. Never in the long 

career of Leo the Lion has he 

started a New Year with such an 

array of solid audience attractions. 

"Good New^s" splashed 

its Technicolor joy from Radio 

City Music Hall across the nation 

in hundreds of theatres. 

Business was terrific wîth holdovers 

all over. "Cass Timberlane" 

in its first few^ dates revealed 

its class with top receipts 

and "Green Dolphin Street" 

continues to pack them in everywhere. 

"Killer McCoy" a new 

entry is already showing champ 

form. And now watch "High 

Wall's" high grosses at its 

Capitol, N,Y. World Premiere. 

Happy M-G-M Year to you! 

MICKEY ROONEY PETER LAWFORD JUNE ALLYSON

: best 

iTE ^P !* 

WALLACE BEERY'S 

ALIAS A GENTLEMAN" 

lus TOM DRAKE, DOROTHY PATRICK and BIG CAST 

ALBANY—Mon. 2/2—8 P.M. 

20th-Fox Screen Room, 1052 Broodway 

ATLANTA Mon. 2/2—10 A.M. 

20lh-Fox Screen Room, 197 Wollon St., N.W. 

JoTOOF-THEWEEK FROM HIGH WALL 

^ped, terrified but still fighting are Robert Taylor and 

I 

arey Totter in the above scene from M-G-M s thrdl-o- 

'r^n/'"Hieh Wall." Packed audiences at the Capitol, N.Y 

^xld Premiere agree with critics like Archer Winsten of 

T,eN. Y. Post who said: '"There have been no recent murder 

lyteries with a higher suspense level." 

aw month 

"OSS Timberlane", having had an initial 

lisilcess at the Radio City Music Hall, 

Hv York, will now be playing in the 

\ ttetres of the country which present 

M pictures. 

I'jther words, the leading theatres of 

11 country. 

Lion has something to roar about 

bis new link in the chain of Sinclair 

of American life. 

3 the best picture tliat has been made 

I a Sinclair Lewis book. Indeed, it is 

picture that has been made on 

at ever-provocative subject of ronnce 

that turns into marriage . . . 

and 

Hi'' 

Hrriage that turns back to romance. 

i«ncer Tracy, the actors' actor, tl 

'lople's actor, gives a most sensitive 

performance as lonely Cass who found 

himself through a chance meeting with 

Jinny from the other side of town. 

Needless to say, Lana Turner plays the 

chance meeting. And plays it in a 

manner that merits serious consideration 

of her as a great actress. 

• * * * 

Jinny finds certain distractions in her 

new life among the upper crust. And 

Zachary Scott as the distraction is 

excellently cast. 

* • * * 

Indeed, the entire film is a credit to all 

concerned— the director, George Sidney, 

the producer. Arthur Hornblow, Jr., 

and the over-all entrepreneur, Metro- 

Goldwvn-Mayer. 

• • * * 

Through novelization, 

serialization and reprint 

17.000,000 readers are 

familiar with the story 

of "Cass Timberlane". 

The circulation of the 

film will be wide-spread, 

its popularity unquestioned. 

• * • • 

Honorable mentions to Tom Drake, 

Mary Astor, Albert Dekker in the fine 

cast, to Donald Ogden Stewart (for the 

screen play) and Sonya Levien (who 

collaborated with Mr. Stewart on the 

adaptation of the novel). 

It will suit you to a "T" 

Tracy .Turner.TimberlanL- 

,llOINI'$ IKOAI^ C@IL.yMINl AlHlINIIlVimAI^^ 

\e celebrate the 100th issue of the famed national magazitie 

olumn. M-G-M's celebrated column appears 

^^^J^'^^'^l'^ 

peferred positions up front in leading magazines. The latest 

«,^ ^« "race Timberlane" is shown above. 

BOSTON—Mon. 2/2—10 A.M. 

M-GM Screen Room, 46 Church Street 

BUffALO—Mon. 2/2—2:30 P.M. 

20th-Fox Screen Room, 290 Franklin Street 

CHARLOTTE—Mon. 2/2-1:30 P.M. 

20th-Fox Screen Room, 308 South Church Street 

CHICAGO—Mon. 2/2—2 P.M. 

H. C. Igel's Screen Room, 1301 South Wabash Ave. 

CINCINNATI—Mon. 2/2—8 P.M. 

RKO Screen Room, 16 East Sixth Street 

CLEVELAND—Mon. 2/2—1 P.M. 

20th-Fox Screen Room, 2219 Payne Avenue 

DALLAS—Mon. 2/2—2:30 P.M. 

20lh-Fox Screen Room, 1803 Wood Street 

DENVER—Mon. 2/2—1:30 P.M. 

Paramount Screen Room, 2100 Stout Street 

DES MOINES—Mon. 2/2—1 P.M. 

20th-Fox Screen Room, 1300 High Street 

DETROIT—Mon. 2/2—1:30 P.M. 

Max Blumenthal's Screen Room, 2310 Cass Ave, 

INDIANAPOLIS—Mon. 2/2—2 P.M. 

20th-Fox Screen Room, 326 North Illinois Street 

KANSAS CITV-Mon. 2/2-1:30 P.M. 

20th-Fox Screen Room, 1720 WyandcHe St. 

LOS ANGELES—Mon. 2/2—2 P.M. 

20th-Fox Screen Room, 2019 So. Vermont Ave. 

MEMPHIS—Mon. 2/2—10 A.M. 

20th-Fox Screen Room, 151 Vance Avenue 

MILWAUKEE—Mon. 2/2—1:30 P.M. 

Worner Screen Room, 212 W. Wisconsin Ave. 

MINNEAPOLIS—Mon. 2/2—2 P.M. 

20lh-Fox Screen Room, 1015 Currie Avenue 

NEW HAVEN—Mon. 2/2—2 P.M. 

20th-Fox Screen Room, 40 Whiting Street 

NEW ORLEANS—Mon. 2/2—1:30 P.M. 

20lh-Fox Screen Room, 200 South Liberty St. 

NEW YORK-NEW JERSEY-Mon. 2/2-2:30 P.M. 

M-G-M Screen Room, 630 Ninth Avenue 

OKLAHOMA CITY-Mon. 2/2-1 P M. 

20th-Fox Screen Room, 10 North lee Street 

OMAHA-Mon. 2/2-1:30 P.M. 

20lh-Fox Screen Room, 1502 Davenport St. 

PHILADELPHIA—Mon. 2/2-11 A.M. 

M-G-M Screen Room, 1233 Summer Street 

PITTSBURGH-Mon. 2/2-2 P.M 

M-G-M Screen Room, 1623 Blvd. ol Allies 

PORTLAND-Mon. 2/2-2 P.M. 

B. F, Shearer Screen Room, 1947 N.W. Kearney St. 

ST. LOUIS—Mon. 2/2—1 P.M. 

S'Renco Art Theatre, 3143 Olive Street 

SALT LAKE CITY-Mon. 2/2-1 P.M. 

20th-Fox Screen Room, 216 East First Street, So. 

SAN FRANCISCO—Mon. 2/2—1:30 P.M. 

201h-Fox Screen Room, 245 Hyde Street 

SEATTLE—Mon. 2/2—1 P.M. 

Jewel Box Preview Theatre, 2318 Second Av.nu. 

WASHINGTON-Toes. 2/3-1 P.M. 

Mtb-Fox Screen Room, 932 New Jersey, N.W.

THE NEW YEAR 

BRINGS THE 

WAim

^he First 

Issue of 1948 shows you 

bow new a Newsreel can be! 

m 

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lê 

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ducW 

waKe 

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m A\^^^^Z.rmm^^'^

THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY 

PUBLISHLD IN 

NINE SECTIONAL EDITIONS 

BEN SHLYEN 

Editor-in-Chief and Publisher 

JAMES M. JERAULD Editor 

NATHAN COHEN Associate Editor 

JESSE SHLYEN Managing Editor 

IVAN SPEAR 

Western Editor 

HARRY TOLER Equipment Editor 

I. 

RAYMOND LEVY General Manager 

Published Every Saturday by 

ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS 

Editorial Oificos: 9 Rockefeller Plaza, New York 20 

N. Y.; Raymond Levy, General Manager; James M 

Jerauld, Editor; Chester Friedman, Editor Showmandiser 

Section; A. J. Slocker, Eastern Representative 

Telephone Columbus 5-6370, 5-6371, 5-6372 

Cable address: 'BOXOFnCE, New York." 

Central Offices: 3 South Michigan Blvd., Chicago 

4, 111 J. H-arry Voler, Editor Modern Theatre Section, 

Telephone WAbash 4575. 

Western Offices: 6404 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 

28, Calif. Ivan Spear, Manager. Telephone GLadstone 

1186. 

Washington Offices: 302-303 International BIdg., 1319 

F St., N. W. Lee L. Garling, Manager. Telephone 

NAtional 3482. Filmrow: 932 New Jersey, N. W. Sara 

London Offices: 136 Wordour St., John Sullivan, Manager. 

Telephone Gerrard 3934-5-6. 

Publication Offices: 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 

1, Mo. Nathan Cohen, Associate Editor; Jesse Shlyen, 

Managing Editor; Morris Schlozman, Business Manager. 

Telephone CHestnut 7777-78. 

Other Publications: BOXOFFICE BAROMETER, 

published section November as a of BOXOFFICE; 

in 

THE MODERN THEATRE, pubUshed monthly as a 

section of BOXOFFICE. 

ALBANY—21-23 Walter Ave., M. Berrigan. 

ATLANTA-163 Walton, N. W., P. H. Savin. 

BALTIMORE—Uptown Theatre, A. J. Wolf. 

BIRMINGHAM—The News, Eddie Badger. 

BOSTON—Frances W. Harding, 20 Piedmont St., Lib. 

9184. Home: Com. 4700. 

BUFFALO— 157 Audubon Drive, Snyder, Jim Schroder. 

CHARLOTTE-216 W. 4th, Pauline Griffith. 

CHICAGO-332 S. Michigan Blvd., Jonas Perlberg, 

WAbash 4575, 

CINCINNATI— 1634 Central Parkway, Lillian Seltzer. 

CLEVELAND—2568 Overlook Road, Cleveland Heights, 

Elsie Loeb, Fairmount 0046. 

DENVER— 1645 Lafayette, Jack Rose, TA 8517. 

DES MOINES—Register & Tribune Bldg., Russ Schoch. 

DETROIT— 1009 Fox Theatre Blvd., H. F. Reves. 

Telephones: RA 1100; Night, UN-4-02I9. 

HARRISBURG, PA—The Telegraph, Lois Fegan. 

INDIANAPOLIS—Rt. 8, Box 770, Howard M. Rudeaux. 

LITTLE ROCK—2100 S. Harrison, Mary Mann. 

MlAMl-66 S. Hibiscus Island, Mrs. Manton E. Harwood, 

2952 Merrick Rd,, Elizabeth Sudlow. 

MEMPHIS—707 Spring St., Null Adams, Tel. 48-5462. 

MILWAUKEE—529 N. 13th S't. James R. Gahagan. 

Phone MA. 0297, 

MlNNEAPOLIS-29 Washington Ave. So., Les Rees. 

NEW HAVEN-42 Church St., Gertrude Lander. 

NEWARK, N. J.—207 Sumner, Sara Carleton. 

NEW ORLEANS—218 So. Liberty St., Mrs. Jack Auslet. 

Telephone MA 5812. 

OKLAHOMA CITY-I25 NW 15th St., Polly Trindle. 

OMAHA—Omaha World-Herald Bldg., Lou Gerdes. 

PHILADELPHIA—4901 Spruce St., Apt. I02a, M. 

J. 

Makler, GRanite 2-3866. 

PITTSBURGH—86 Van Braam St., R. F. Klingensmith. 

RICHMOND-Westhampton Theatre, Sam Pulliam. 

ST. LOUIS—5149 Rosa Ave., David F. Barrett, Flanders 

3727. 

SALT LAKE CITY-Deseret News, Howard Pearson. 

SAN ANTONIO-333 Blum St., L. J. B. Ketner. 

SAN FRANCISCO-25 Taylor St., Gail Lipman, 

ORdway 3-4812. 

SEATTLE—928 N. 84th St., Willard Elsey. 

TOLEDO^1330 Willys Pkwy., Anna Kline. 

IN CANADA 

CALGARY—The Albertan, Wm. Campbell. 

-MONTREAL—4330 Wilson Ave., N. D. G., Roy Carmichael. 

Walnut 5519. 

ST, JOHN— 116 Prince Edward St,, Wm. J. McNulty. 

TORONTO—242 Milwood, Milton Galbraith. 

VANCOUVER—411 Lyric Theatre Bldg., Jack Droy. 

VICTORIA—933 Island Highway, Alec Merriman. 

WINNIPEG—The Tribune, Ben Lepkin. 

Member Audit Bureau of CiRCutAiiONS 

THE 

OXOFFICE 

FIGHT CONTINUES 

(_^ÂRLY in November the Committee : 

Economic Development recommended that excise taxes 

,• 

dropped only on communications and transportation. It wi 

thereby indicated that the federal ticket taxes would be i- 

tained. Last Wednesday President Truman told Congress, a.l 

the nation, about his program, which did not include speci' 

recommendation that would offer exhibitors any hope for a c; 

in the admissions tax. In the Knutson tax-cutting propos 

\vhich is expected to come before the House of Represent 

fives momentarily, the admissions tax also seems to have bei 

"included out." However, at least one other congressman h 

said that he would advocate a cut in this tax to ten per cei' 

the prewar rate. 

So this matter continues in the state of flux in which 

has dwelt since VJ-Day. And the expectancy that six montj 

later—which was two years ago—the tax would be cut in tv 

still is just an expectancy. But, while the prospect does n 

at the moment seem bright, the industry should not relax i 

efforts to bring about the tax reduction it was "promisee 

when the added impost was made. 

B 

? 

In that regard the TOA directors, meeting at Chicago r 

cently, decided upon a realistic approach to tax and olh* 

legislative matters. Instead of concentrating on solons in Wasl 

ington through "top layer" exhibitor executives, the TOA pr< 

posed a "grass roots" handling of the situation. Exhibilo 

in the field will be expected to contact their congressme 

and senators, either on their home grounds or at the legislator 

desks in Washington. 

This has been advocated many times in the past. Bu 

evidently, the recommendation has not been carried forwar 

by sufficient numbers to make the proper impress. With a 

election coming up, congressmen and senators will be mor 

inclined to listen. And, if only half of the 16,500 exhibitors i 

the U.S. get their legislators' ears, they are bound to sit up an 

take notice. And, as a "reserve," a lot of letter-^writing pc 

trons could proye mighty helpful. 

The Color Picture 

With a half dozen or more color processes now havim 

reached varying stages of perfection, and with simplificatioi 

of the photographing of color film and expansion of laboratory 

Entered as Second Class matter at Post Office, Kansas City, Mo. 

Sectional Edition, $2.00 per year; National Edition. $7.50 

Vol. 52 No. 10 

JANUARY 10, 1948

I 

I 

There 

puUeSc^nU 

Carolina Exhibitors to Meet 

In Charlotte. February 1-3 

Hermany Levy, TOA counsel, will lead in 

discussion of Ascap, 16mm film regulation, advanced 

admission pictures, as well as reviewing 

industry cases now before the courts. 

frilities, there is talk that color films soon will displace black 

cid white films entirely. Competition has reduced color prociction 

costs to the point where it becomes feasible for films 

hdgeted at far less than the multimillion dollar epics to be 

rade in color at comparatively slight extra cost. But, even 

(ough the extra cost were finally to be completely dissolved, 

lis doubtful that all product will one day, even in the far 

Iture, be all color. 

is no denying that color has served as an extra 

(traction and enhanced the drawing power of many recent 

\xns. For some it has done a better job than for others. For 

ijOny it has caused such patron comments as, "not much of a 

ipr/, but the color alone was worthwhile." But once color 

iscomes commonplace, once it loses the contrasting value 

at black and white films give it, that extra measure of eyeppeal 

and patron-attraction also will be lost. 

High costs in the past have kept the color process out of 

*any a picture that would have looked better in color. The 

*wer costs now possible will increase the use of color in the 

Iture. But the good story will continue to have drawing 

ower, regardless of its photographic process. In fact, if color 

teis become so abundant as some predict, black and white 

1ms may have that "extra measure" of attraction, by sheer 

sntrast, which color films now possess. 

Ds Speaking of color, the novelty of its use in part of the 

In' 

hirrent Warner Pathe newsreel is a showmanly move. With 

es tU else in that release in black and white, it will be outstandisk 

(ig in its entertainment worth and in its appeal to audiences. 

Midwest Theatre Business 

Zooms as New Year Opens 

After pre-holiday slump, exhibitors in Chicago, 

Minneapolis, Detroit and Omaha are 

surprised at quick rebound at the boxoffice; 

good product brings long lines back. 

Allied Ascap Insurance Plan 

Wins Approval in Pittsburgh 

More than 100 exhibitors reported to have 

accepted principle of the Miles proposal to 

protect theatre owners in fight on increased 

license fee following meeting of Allied 

MPTO of western Pennsylvania. 

* 

Technicolor Files Answer 

In Antitrust Action 

Dr. Kalmus denies conspiracy to control 

color; declares "there is plenty of room for 

more than one process" and company respects 

of other laboratories. 

Universal Cuts Dividends 

To Conserve Its Assets 

Quarterly dividend is sliced from 50 cents 

to 25 cents because of present unsettled state 

of world business; statement says company in 

strong financial position. 

-K 

General Cinema Finance 

Headed by John Davis 

J. Arthur Rank's aide is elected managing 

director of financing company recently taken 

over by Odeon Theatres, Ltd.; Raiik heads 

the board. 

on I 

And speaking of newsreels, they would be far more inter- 

1 >sting if first run theatre managers would not show such a 

ei ifeneral tendency to edit out all but football shots in football 

ito 

leason or racing shots in racing season. A sequence of straight 

"F- lews interest would be a refreshing novelty. About the only 

"! ime many people can see an entire newsreel—as it is put 

ogether by competent newsmen—is at a third or fourth-run 

leighborhood theatre. 

\JL^ /OOuLoi^^ 

Seven Top 20th-Fox Films 

For January-February 

Irf accelerating schedule, company offers 

"Gentleman's Agreement," "Daisy Kenyon," 

"Forever Amber," "Captain From Castile," 

"An Ideal Husband," "Calling Northside 

777" and "You Were Meant for Me." 

Rank to Produce Films 

On Interfaith Needs 

British leader calls meeting of film executives 

to create commission for purpose of 

making pictures to promote better understanding. 

* 

Filippo del Giudice Says 

He Is Here on His Own 

British independent producer denies he 

will negotiate for his government on the 75 

per cent tax matter; promoting his own film 

barter system in American visit.

, 

j 

' 

to reduce operating costs still further. Most 

of the pictures now being produced will not 

be released until after the close of our 

present fiscal year. 

( 

"As a result of the decrease in gross in- 

come, as well as increased picture costs, the 

net profit of the company in the first quar- 

j 

' 

WARNERS PLANS 37 FEATURES, 

WITH n FROM INDEPENDENTS 

Studios to Place a Dozen 

Before the Cameras in 

First Quarter of '48 

NEW YORK—Warners has set production 

plans for 37 features, including 12 

films to be made by Cagney Productions, 

Transatlantic Pictures Corp. of England, 

Michael Curtiz Productions and United 

States Pictures. Twelve films are scheduled 

to go before the cameras during the first 

quarter of 1948, according to Jack L. Warner, 

vice-president. 

Warner also listed 12 features recently 

completed and ready for release in 1948. 

In addition to two Cagney films still to be 

produced, Warners will release Cagney's recently 

completed "Time of Your Life." This 

is the first time this film has been mentioned 

in a Warner release. The distribution 

statement is attributed to William Cagney. 

United Ai-tists has started legal action 

against Cagney Productions on the grounds 

that the film came under a UA-Cagney 

release deal. 

FIRST 12 ARE SCHEDULED 

The first 12 pictm-es to be shot will be 

the following: 

"Key Largo," starring Humphi-ey Bogart, 

Edward G. Robinson, Lauren Bacall, Lionel 

Barrymore and Claire Ti-evor. John Huston 

will direct and Jerry Wald will be the producer. 

"Rope," to be produced in Technicolor by 

Transatlantic Pictm-es with James Stewart 

as the star and Alfred Hitchcock as the director. 

"The '49ers," to be produced and directed 

by Michael Curtiz in Technicolor. 

"Until Pi'oven Guilty," starring Joan Crawford 

and to be produced by Jerry Wald. 

"Autumn Crocus," starring Viveca Lindfors 

and to be produced by Henry Blanke. 

"The Fountainhead," also to be produced 

by Blanke. 

"Ethan Prome," Edith Wharton's classic 

novel, starring Bette Davis. 

"The Story of Seabiscuit," to be produced 

by William Jacobs and to be directed by 

David Butler. 

"The Turquoise," starring Errol Plymi, 

Claude Rains and Dorothy Malone. 

"Copper Hill," starring Gary Cooper. 

"Girl From Jones Beach," starring Demiis 

Morgan, Jack Carson and Janis Paige. 

"June Bride," starring Bette Davis. 

TO BE PRODUCED LATER 

The following pictures will be produced 

later in the year: 

"Under Capricorn," to be produced by 

Transatlantic Pictures in England with Alfred 

Hitchcock as the director and Ingrid 

Bergman as the star. It will be filmed in 

Technicolor. The film will be distributed 

here and abroad by Warners. 

"The Stray Lamb" and "A Lion Is in the 

Streets" will be produced by William Cagney, 

with James Cagney starring in both pictures. 

"Forever and Always" will be produced by 

Curtiz with Jack Carson and Doris Day as 

stars. It will be filmed in Technicolor. 

"The Long Way Home," starring Lilli 

Palmer and Sam Wanamaker, "Eheam 

WB Profit for 1947 Rises 

But Big Dip Is Forecast 

NEW YORK—Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., 

and subsidiary companies report a consolidated 

net profit of $22,094,000 for the fiscal 

year ending Aug. 31, 1947. This was an m- 

crease of $2,670,000 over the previous fiscal 

year. 

The 1947 net was equivalent to $3.02 for 

each of the 7,295,000 outstanding shares of 

common after deducting the shares held in 

the treasury. 

The annual meeting of stockholders is to 

be held February 17. At that time the board 

of directors will propose that 107,180 common 

shares in the treasm-y be cancelled and the 

capital of the corporation be reduced accordingly. 

The shares were acquired at a 

cost of $1,632,743.28. If this proposal is approved, 

the capital stock will be reduced by 

$535,900 and the capital surplus will be reduced 

by $1,096,843.28. 

During the 1947 fiscal year film rentals, 

theatre admissions and sales totaled $164,- 

643,000. an increase of $6,030,000 over the 

previous year. Profits before charges, before 

provision for taxes, provision for contingent 

liabilities and elimination of equity 

in undistributed earnings were $39,509,000, 

an increase of $35,000 over 1946. 

FOREIGN MART UNCERTAINTIES 

Because of the uncertainties of the foreign 

market the company eliminated from the net 

profit for the year the sum of $1,615,000 and 

charged $2,147,000 to surplus. This represented 

earnings accumulated but undistributed 

in prior years. 

On Aug. 31, 1947, the funded and other 

long term debt of the company and its domestic 

subsidiaries amounted to $21,592,000, 

a reduction of $3,100,000. 

The report shows that Warners paid 

$4,000,000 in cash for Pathe News. 

A review is given of the status of the government's 

antitrust suit and it is stated that 

there has been an increase in the number 

of private antitrust suits against the company. 

A breakdown of the year's business by 

quarterly periods shows that in the quarter 

Street," "Distant Drums," "The Apple Orchard" 

and "Sister Act" will be produced by 

U.S. Pictures. 

After the above films have been completed, 

production will begin on the following: 

"The Two Worlds of Johnny Truro," 

starring Bette Davis. 

"The Return of a Soldier," to be directed 

by Henry Blanke. 

"The Story of Will Rogers," starring Will 

Rogers jr. 

"The Gay Nineties," to be produced by 

Curtiz, with Jack Carson, Doris Day and 

S. Z. Sakall as stars. 

"One Last Fling." 

"Montana," to be filmed in Technicolor 

with Ronald Reagan as the star. 

"When Old New York Was Young," 

ending Nov. 30, 1946, the profit before deducting 

federal taxes and other expenses 

was $11,603,000, an increase of $2,786,000 over! 

the same quarter in the previous year; fori 

the quarter ending March 1, 1947, the total 

was $10,810,000, an increase of $972,000; for 

the quarter ending May 31, 1947, $8,621,000, 

a decrease of $2,573,000; for the quarter ending 

Aug. 31, 1947. $8,475,000, a decrease of' 

$1,150,000. 

CITE CURRENT HIGH ! 

COSTS 

The report concludes as follows: 

"The pictm-es now being released, as well 

as most of the pictures to be released dur- 

] 

ing the balance of this year, were produced' 

at a high cost and during a period when 

the company looked forward to favorable 

worldwide revenues. With the decline in domestic 

and foreign receipts, and the unexpectedly 

severe restrictions imposed by foreign 

governments, your company has effected 

many economies and is 

' 

endeavoring 

ter this year, which ended Nov. 29, 1947, is 

estimated to be approximately half the profit 

for the corresponding quarter last year." 

Court of Appeals Upholds 

$375,000 Goldman Award 

PHILADELPHIA—The $375,000 triple damage 

award won by William Goldman Theatres, 

Inc., in an antitrust suit against Warner 

Bros, and other distributors has been 

upheld by the third U.S. circuit court of 

appeals. 

Goldman won the award Dec. 19, 1946. He 

claimed that his Erlanger Theatre has been 

unable to get pictures in competition with 

Warner Bros, who, he charged, were in a 

conspiracy with other distributors. 

starring Dennis Morgan, Jack Carson, Lois 

Maxwell and Dorothy Malone. 

A film based on the life of Eddie Cantor. 

"Cleopatra Arms," to star Dennis Morgan 

and Lauren Bacall. 

"Bright Leaf." 

"Colt .45," to star Errol Flynn. 

"One Sunday Afternoon," to be produced 

in Technicolor by Jerry Wald with Etennis 

Morgan and Janis Paige. 

"Silver Lining," to be filmed in Technicolor 

with June Haver as the star. 

"John Loves Mary," with Ronald Reagan, 

Jack Carson, Wayne Morris, Patricia Neal 

and Edward Arnold. 

"Happy Times," a Teclmicolor musical 

with Danny Kaye. 

"Flamingo Road," to star Ann Sheridan. 

BOXOFFICE :: January 10, 1948

I 

I 

not 

^ 

i 

ie! 

BRITISH SITUATION IS 

GRAVE; 

THEATRES FACE A SHUTDOWN 

Supply of New Releases 

Drops to 10 Features 

For Next Two Months 

BULLETIN 

Lond.Gn (By cable) —At a press conference 

Friday (9) Sir Henry French, reporting 

on his American visit, declared, 

"Leaders of the American industry believe 

our government action is due to prejudice 

against American films and say our film 

critics have been carrying on a campaign 

airainst them. I found no one ready to 

accept the position that this country canafford 

to continue paying United 

States $68,000,000 yearly. 

"The response always was that if there 

are to be cuts they should not be imposed 

on films and I am convinced that we 

cannot run the risk of unrestricted dollars 

expenditure for films. We dare not 

go on spending and trust to luck that we 

can pay it back some time in the future." 

LONDON—England now faces a virtual 

collapse of its film industry, both in exhibition 

and production, and many of the 

country's 4.500 theatres may soon be forced 

to close their doors because product is not 

available. This pessimistic view was taken 

here this week by W. R, Fuller, general 

secretary of the Cinematograph Exhibitors 

Ass'n. 

It was a disheartening week here for the 

film industry. First, it was officially denied 

that Eric Johnston. MPA president, would 

come here to discuss alleviation of the controversial 

75 per cent tax. Then came Fuller's 

fateful warning on the condition of exhibition. 

Prom one som-ce came word that there are 

but ten new American films left for release 

in the next two months. Theatres in Lon- 

Three of 'Cited 10' Sue 

Studios for 3 Million 

HOLLYWOOD— Suits seeking a total of 

more than $3,000,000 in damages were 

filed in superior court against Metro, 

20th-Fox and RKO Radio, respectively, 

by Lester Cole, Ring Lardner jr. and Edward 

Dmytryk, three of the so-called 

"unfriendly ten" witnesses indicted for 

alleged contempt of Congress following 

recent Thomas un-American activities 

committee hearings. The thi-ee were suspended 

by their respective studio employers. 

Cole's suit challenges his Meti-o suspension, 

asks declaratory relief and an 

injunction restoring his contract. Lardner 

seeks $1,382,500 in damages from 

20th-Fox, charging loss of salary, screen 

fame and personal humiliation. Dmytryk 

seeks $1,783,425 of RKO Radio, claiming 

loss of salary, anguish and loss of artistic 

reputation. 

It was also reported Dalton Ti-umbo 

and Adrian Scott, also cited among the 

"unfriendly ten," would shortly file similar 

charges against Metro and RKO 

Radio, 

respectively. 

Thomas Promises More 

In Hollywood Probe 

WASHINGTON—The next phase of the 

investigation of alleged Hollywood communism 

will go into the background of 

"many more top-salaried figures," Congressman 

J. Parnell Thomas, chairman 

of the mi-Amerlcan activities committee, 

declared in a radio address Wednesday (7). 

"The investigation of Hollywood is far 

from over," he said. "It is sheer folly to 

permit the Communists and their fellow 

travelers to remain in strategic positions 

in such a powerful medium of propaganda, 

education and entertainment as the 

movies which draw 85,000,000 spectators 

in the U.S. each week." 

He gave no clue, however, as to when 

or where the inquiry would be resumed. 

No Choice, Except to Continue Policy 

On Films for Britain, Says Johnston 

NEW YORK—Preliminary discussions with 

the British on the 75 per cent tax problem 

have failed to make any progress, Eric Johnston, 

MPA president, said late in the week, 

don's west end already are playing reissues 

to keep open. 

and negotiations are now at a standstill. 

REQUIRES QUICK ACTION 

"The present British position." Johnston 

"affords no basis for detailed negotiations 

Unless something is done immediately to said, 

break the impasse in the tax situation, Fuller 

to work out a satisfactory arrangement 

to replace this prohibitive tax. However, we 

declared, there is danger of "the whole trade 

prepared as we always have been, to negotiate 

are at any time with the British govern- 

going bust, including the production side." 

He said that cm-tailed production at the 

studios already has created considerable unemployment. 

ment on tax alternatives. 

is "It to impossible operate in Britain under 

It has hit independents parment 

the harsh terms of the tax, as the facts 

ticularly, and it is because so many of the 

independent producers are dropping out of 

the picture that "there no use 

on our revenues from that country clearly 

demonstrate. 

talking 

is 

"Even before the Dalton 75 per cent tax 

about British films filling the gap: we think 

we 

was imposed, five out of every six dollars 

will be lucky to get as many as we have 

taken in at British boxoffices for American 

been getting." British exhibitors need between 

were Britain as British 

films being kept in 

400 and 450 pictures a year and 

and British profits. 

English studios have provided from 40 to 50 

of this number. 

taxes, British wages, 

"In other words, the maximum amount possible 

to return to the United States was only 

Meanwhile the British government is still 

17 cents out of every dollar. But out of this 

production and operational costs 

waiting for American producers to lead it 

17 cents, 

out of the complications which the 75 per cent 

tax and the resulting ban on film shipments 

had to be paid. 

cut the 17 cents 

The 75 per cent tax would 

to four cents, out of which 

have caused. Sir Stafford Cripps says film production and operational costs would have 

remittances to the U.S. cannot exceed $20,- to come, leaving a net deficit to the industry. 

000,000 a year. 

"Moreover, the tax imposes other onerous 

What the American industry will say to burdens. It requires the companies to put 

that is not known yet. 

up with the government as taxes threefourths 

in the week 

of the estimated revenues when a 

Early it was reported that 

picture is imported and before it is shown. 

Filippo del Giudice, acting for J. Arthirr 

Rank, was on his way to the U.S. with a This requirement to pay millions of dollars 

proposal that films be put on a barter basis, in taxes in advance of earnings would add 

with one American film being sent to England 

substantially to our cost of operations. 

for each British film being sent over "We have offered, as evidence of our de- 

here and no remittances in either direction. sire to aid British people in their struggle 

BOXOFFICE 

for recovery, to leave a substantial part of 

our revenues there. This has been our position 

from the first. It is our position now. 

"The British government, as a result of the 

discussions in London, has given us no choice 

except to continue our policy of withholding 

shipment of pictures to Great Britain until 

an alternative to the confiscatory tax is 

worked out. On behalf of members of the 

export association, I now reaffirm this policy." 

Iowa-Nebraska Allied Calls 

For Boycott of 'Senator' 

DES MOINES—The board of the Allied 

ITO of Iowa and Nebraska this week adopted 

a resolution attacking U-I's new feature "The 

Senator Was Indiscreet" and urged its members 

not to book the film on the grounds that 

the film was "a reflection on the integrity of 

every duly elected representative of the 

American people" and therefore could be 

u.sed "as vicious propaganda by subversive 

elements." 

The action got an immediate response from 

the producer, Nunnally Johnson. He declared: 

"If these exhibitors have actually seen the 

picture, which I greatly doubt, this is the 

beginning of that censorship by fear and 

intimidation which the Thomas committee 

will have imposed upon the movies." 

Gene Fowler, the associate producer, also 

answered. He said: "Although this picture 

was intended as pure entertainment and in 

no wise to reflect upon Congress as a body, it 

might well serve to remind the voters to beware 

of the occasional unfit candidate who 

seeks to slip into office."

: 

Enterprise to Deliver 

'Arch' to United Artists 

HOLLYWOOD—The question of who will 

distribute the Enterprise production. "Arch 

of Triumph," has been settled. It will be 

sold through United Artists, as originally 

scheduled. Decision to deliver the negative 

of the much-discussed top budget picture 

for domestic distribution to UA was reached 

this week in a series of meetings with Gradwell 

Sears. United Artists president. 

Under the special selling plan devised by 

Sears for the film, the UA president himself 

will personally supervise all sales and marketing, 

and a special division will be created 

to concentrate on the picture exclusively. 

The picture, produced by Enterprise at a 

$5,000,000, cost of stars Ingrid Bergman, 

Charles Boyer and Charles Laughton. 

TO WORK OUT DETAILS 

Complete details regarding distribution 

plans will be announced at a special sales 

convention which Sears will conduct shortly 

in New York. Sears is to meet with George 

J. Schaefer, distributor chief for Enterprise, 

regarding the details prior to the eastern 

conference. 

An extra $400,000 is to be tossed into the 

pot for national advertising, bringing the 

total expenditure for advertising the picture 

to the million dollar mark. 

Sears also revealed that Enterprise will 

Eugene Manlove Rhode's saga, "They 

deliver 

Passed This Way," to United Artists. This 

picture stars Joel McCrea, Frances Dee, 

Charles Bickford and Joseph Calleia; plus 

the Screen Plays production, "So This Is New 

York." which introduces the radio comedian, 

Henry Morgan, to motion pictures. 

LAUDS UA CAMPAIGN 

That difficulties between the two companies 

had been peaceably smoothed over was 

fully indicated at the annual Enterprise 

planning sessions held here last week. Schaefer, 

addressing the meetings, paid high compliment 

to United Artists for the manner in 

which the company handled "Body and Soul." 

UA, he said, is "the bulwark of independent 

production and there is evei-y reason to 

have great confidence in the future of the 

company." 

At the same time, it was revealed that 

while Enterprise has promised to deliver additional 

pictures on a nonexclusive basis to 

United Artists, the company also is free to 

negotiate a new distribution deal and to make 

pictures for delivery elsewhere. The Enterprise 

statement said it always wants at least 

a part of its product on the United Artists 

schedule. Foreign distribution of films named 

is handled by Loew's International. 

Lou Ansell Will Produce 

Film Classics Series 

NEW YORK—Lou Ansell, producer of 

"Women in the Night," and William Rowland, 

director of the film, will make a series 

of exploitation pictures for Film Classics release. 

Film Classics opened "Women in the 

Night" at the Gotham Theatre here Saturday 

(10). 

Ansell, who operates eight theatres in St. 

Louis, believes that producers should consider 

the exploitation possibilities of a picture 

before making it. His second production, 

"Medal of Honor," taken from congressional 

records of honor medal winners, has 

been in the planning stage for several months 

and will go into production in mid-March. 

Law at This Theatre: 

'Check Your Guns' 

DETROIT—The sign reading "Check 

Your Guns Here," is not just atmosphere 

when the Courtesy Theatre presents 

its Saturday afternoon program 

of westerns. Young fans are frisked for 

weapons as they enter. 

Joseph Skacall jr., owner of the 

house, started frisking a few of the 

boys after one of them had fired a cap 

pistol during the show. He didn't want 

the practice repeated. 

Soon every youngster coming to the 

theatre insisted on being frisked. 

Everyone gladly lined up to be checked 

for concealed weapons. This was extra 

drama, and the western fans couldn't 

get enough of it. Not only did they 

insist on being frisked, but they demanded 

that the weapons taken from 

them be put on open display. 

Skacall puts them on top the candy 

case. The display is a center of attraction 

during the Saturday shows. 

It's a proud lad who can produce a 

weapon finer and bigger than that of 

any other. 

In frisking the boys, Skacall also has 

found a few rocks, and promptly confiscated 

them, thereby preventing possible 

damage to the .screen from the 

embryo vandals. 

Schmidt Takes Over 

Columbia Ad Post 

NEW YORK—Benjamin H. Serkowich has 

resigned as director of advertising, publicity 

and exploitation of 

Columbia Pictures. He 

will be replaced Februai-y 

15 by Arthur A. 

Schmidt, Hollywood 

advertising counsel. 

j^ Serkowich has been 

* 

advertising and publicity 

chief of Columbia 

since January 1946. 

Dm-ing the preceding 

ten years he had been 

publicity director of 

the Capitol Theatre. 

^^ ^^m 

Schmidt was special 

Arthur A. Schmidt assistant to Harry 

Cohn, president of Columbia, 

in 1945. He was a naval commander 

during the recent war. In 1942 he was director 

of Ampa. A one time he was advertising 

and publicity director for Paramount- 

Michigan theatres, and was a publicity representative 

for Loew's. 

Columbia Votes Dividend 

NEW YORK—Columbia Pictures Corp. has 

voted a quarterly dividend of $1.06 '4 per 

share on the $4.25 cumulative preferred stock 

payable Feb. 14, 1948, to stockholders of record 

Jan. 31, 1948. The annual meeting of 

stockholders will be held March 9 for stockholders 

of record Feb. 2, 1948. 

Four Amicus Curiae 

Briefs Are Accepted 

WASHINGTON—The supreme court has J 

accepted four amicus curiae briefs in the 

government antitrust suit against the majors 

1 

from the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of 

America, Allied States Ass'n, the SIMPP and 

the Conference of Independent Exhibitor 

Ass'ns. 

The high court, however, refused to permit 

the MPTOA to argue the case orally. 

While the MPTOA has merged with the ATA 

to form the Theatre Owners of America, 

it has retained its identity in order to enter 

into the antitrust appeal. 

The supreme court has permitted the 

American Theatres Ass'n and the Confederacy 

of Southern Ass'ns to intervene in the 

case. Both have been granted time for oral 

arguments. The appeal hearing will open 

February 9. 

The MPTOA protests competitive bidding 

in its amicus curiae brief. Both the SIMPP 

and CIEA urge complete theatre divorcement. 

The SIMPP brief was accepted by the court 

over the objections of the five theatre owning 

defendants. Last week they filed a brief 

asking the court not to accept the SIMPP 

document. 

Republic Puts Trucolor 

On the Open Market 

HOLLYWOOD—Impetus was added to 

the 

ever-increasing competition in the color 

processing field through disclosure by Herbert 

J. Yates, president of Republic and Consolidated 

Film Industries, that Trucolor— 

heretofore utilized exclusively by RepubUc— 

has now gone on the open market and is 

available for use by any and all companies. 

Yates said a $3,000,000 expansion program 

is to be undertaken through which Trucolor 

facilities will be established throughout the 

world. Plans call for the construction of 

laboratories in Latin America, France, Italy, 

the Philippines and China. 

The Republic head man, who has frequently 

predicted all films will eventually be made 

in color, said that since the introduction of 

Trucolor In certain Republic product two 

years ago, grosses on the tinted entries have 

risen consistently. 

Portland Exchange Leads 

In Depinet Sales Drive 

NEW YORK—Richard Lange, Portland RKO 

exchange manager, took the lead in the second 

week of the 1948 Depinet Drive. The 

western district, headed by J. M. Maclntyre. 

also had two other exchanges well up in the 

running. Seattle and Los Angeles were in 

second and third places, respectively. Canada, 

with L. M. Devaney as manager, was the 

leading district. Walter E. Branson, western 

division manager and co-captain of the drive 

with Charles Boasberg, north-south division 

manager, continued to hold top position. 

First Crestview Picture 

For Eagle Lion Release 

NEW YORK—"Rampage," first picture 

produced by the newly organized Crestview 

Pi'oductions, will be released by Eagle Lion. 

Matthew Rapf and Jen-y Briskin, heads of 

Crestview, are the sons of Harry Rapf and 

Samuel J. Briskin. Bess, equine star of 

MGM's "Gallant Bess." and Cameron 

Mitchell and Audrey Long have the leading 

roles in the Cinecolor production. 

10 BOXOFFICE :: January 10. 1948

: 

annual 

t 

to 

' 

Skouras 

— 

$200,000 NCCJ Goal 

Gels Industry Okay 

NEW YORK—The motion picture 

division 

Df the campaign committee of the National 

Conference of Christians and Jews will be 

asked to raise $200,000 this year. National 

Brotherhood week has been set for February 

22-29. 

General plans for the collection campaign 

in the industry and observance of brotherhood 

week were discussed Tuesday i6i at a 

luncheon in the Waldorf-Astoria. 

Spyros P. Skouras. 20th-Fox president, is 

chairman of the motion picture division. 

WilMI. Hays is chairman of the special gifts 

ômmittee. J. Robert Rubin is chairman of 

,'the amusements division, and David Weinstock 

is chairman of the campaign comjnlttee. 

Instead of having a special film subject 

made up this year as in the past, there will 

be several of them. Each newsreel will produce 

one, the purpose being to provide a 

varied form of film appeal that will not be 

seen several times by the same persons. 

Heads of all the newsreels were present at 

the luncheon. 

presided at the limcheon and 

'praised tradepapers for their support of past 

campaigns. Di-. Everett R. Clinchy, president 

of the NCCJ, who has spent ten weeks 

abroad expanding the work of the organization, 

told the luncheon guests that anti- 

Semitism is not now an organized movement 

in Europe and that there seems to be no 

danger of its revival. 

Truman Pledges Aid 

To Dimes Campaign 

NEW YORK—Basil O'Connor, president 

of the National Foundation for Infantile 

Paralysis, has received from President Truman 

a pledge of full cooperation in the 

campaign for funds from January 15 

January 30. 

The President will broadcast an appeal for 

funds the night of January 30. which was 

the birthday of Franklin D. Roosevelt. 

In his letter, the President pointed out the 

increasing cost of treatment, the increase 

in number of victims, and the need for carrying 

the job through to a finish. The goal 

for this year's campaign is $30,000,000. 

Large Screen 

Television 

Goes Into LA. Theatre 

LOS ANGELES—First west coast utilization 

of television as a supplementary 

attraction in a motion picture theatre 

was slated to be undertaken at the Pantages 

Theatre here January 10 with the 

installation of a Colonial receiver in the 

foyer. Rodney Pantages, operator of the 

house, made arrangements for setting up 

the video set, which will be a regular 

Saturday matinee feature, presenting the 

feature race at Santa Anita, nearby racetrack, 

as transmitted by Station KTLA. 

After the racing season other video programs 

will be screened. 

The equipment uses a large screen 

eight by ten feet—but It was decided to 

install the set in the foyer and not In 

the house itself because the latter procedure 

would necessitate interrupting the 

regular film program In order to flash 

the video presentation on the theatre 

screen. 

Should the experiment prove successful, 

another television set may be installed m 

the Pantages' day-date downtown partner, 

the Hlllstreet. 

Churches Win a Jov/n 

To Kill Only Film Theatre 

Sioux Center, Iowa—This farming community 

of 1,700 persons may be without 

its lone motion picture theatre on April 1 

as a result of a bitter campaign waged by 

the ministerial association against the 

showing of films in the town. 

The showdown came this week, in a 

special election. Both sides hauled every 

possible eligible voter to the polls. The 

proposal to continue licensing of the 

theatre was defeated 488 to iil. Although 

the vote is not binding on the town council, 

it does serve as an unofficial directive 

when the councilmen meet on April 1 to 

consider the licensing matter. 

All churches in this community with 

the exception of one, follow the Calvinist 

doctrine. The residents are mostly Reformed 

Dutch. They have been opposed 

to motion pictures for years. Ten years 

ago a private effort to establish a theatre 

was defeated. Last summer, after 

many of the young men had returned 

from the war and established their 

American Legion post, they decided they 

Schine Scion Begins 

Building a Circuit 

ALBANY—Letterheads of the Darnell Theatre 

Co., the new operating setup being managed 

by Elmer Lux of Buffalo, lists as president 

of the company Donald Schine. son of 

Louis W. Schine. vice-president and general 

manager of the far-flung Sclilne circuit. 

Lux, who was recently elected a member 

of the city council In Buffalo, resigned several 

weeks ago as RKO exchange manager 

in that territory. 

The Darnell company has already acquired 

five houses In Kentucky, in an area where 

the Schine circuit also Is strong, and this 

week took over the Rlalto In Massena, N. Y., 

opposition house to the Schine circuit's Massena. 

The house was operated for years by 

the late Frank Kuras. It Is an 800-seater 

that plays Columbia, Republic, Monogram 

and Eagle Lion product first nm. 

In Kentucky, the Darnell interests have 

acquired houses in Corbin, Pikevllle. Benham. 

Cumberland and Whitesburg. The company 

is said to be negotiating for other 

theatres In upstate New York and elsewhere. 

The home office is in Buffalo. 

In the company's letterheads, young 

Schine Is listed as president and Lux as 

vice-president and general manager. Schine 

was graduated last June from Yale university. 

Soviets No Longer Able 

To Sit and Admire Gable 

MOSCOW—Both the production and display 

of portraits of American film stars have 

been banned In the Soviet Union. The announcement 

characterizing the displays as 

"trashy" indicated that barber shops and 

beauty parlors particularly were most prone 

to displaying pictures of American stars. 

Clark Gable's name was the only one used 

In the announcement, so It Is assumed that 

his picture was most frequently displayed. 

The directive came from the Union of Artists 

and Co-Ops. 

Fight 

would like to continue seeing the motion 

pictures which they had viewed in service 

theatres all through the world. 

With Httle capital to finance a theatre, 

they leased the town hall for the 

showing of pictures six nights a week, 

named it Legion Theatre. The veterans 

set up a censorship body, to preview 

films, gradually began learning a few 

tricks about buying and booking and in 

the last few months had been turning 

in a profit. 

As the veterans' project progressed, the 

church group began preparing for battle. 

In paid advertisements, the opponents declared. 

"The theatre is definitely opposed 

to the cause of Christ and our spiritual 

welfare." The town has never had a 

battle such as that waged by both sides. 

Everybody in the neighborhood voted. 

Now the veterans are waiting for the 

April 1 council meeting to learn whether 

their effort to bring film entertainment 

to Sioux Center is doomed to failure or 

success. 

North Central Allied 

Votes to Shun MPF 

MINNEAPOLIS — Directors of North 

Central Allied, meeting here this week, disapproved 

the Motion Picture Foundation and 

voted not to participate In it. President Bennle 

Berger charged MPF is a producer-distributor 

controlled setup. 

This Is the first vote on record against the 

Foundation by a major exhibitor organization. 

MP Foundation Surprised 

At Veto by Allied 

NEW YORK—The decision of 

North Central 

Allied directors not to participate In the 

Motion Picture Foundation has come as a 

surprise, according to a Foundation representative 

here. He said disapproval by the 

Minneapolis exhibitor group apparently is 

due to the fact that the NCA is not clear 

on the alms of the foundation. 

The MPF Intends to give the Minneapolis 

Allied group a full explanation of Its purposes. 

The foundation representative expressed 

confidence that the Allied group 

would reconsider its objection to supporting 

the MPF. 

North Central Allied dli-ectors was the 

only regional group to disapprove the foundation. 

Jack Klrsch, president of Allied States 

Ass'n, Is national secretary of the foimdatlon. 

To date only two exchange areas have not 

been organized by the MPF, Cleveland and 

Oklahoma City. The Minneapolis area was 

organized some time ago with William Elson 

as national trustee. Harold Field as chairman 

and LeRoy Miller as vice-chairman. An area 

committee of 26 also was selected. 

Warner Pathe Reel Starts 

Weekly Canadian Edition 

NEW YORK—The Warner Pathe newsreel 

is going to issue a weekly Canadian edition 

to be called Warner Pathe Canadian News. 

The first issue came out January 9. 

BOXOFFICE :: January 10. 1948 11

HERE'S THE NATIONJFIDE CONFIRMATION JRMATION 

OF M. P. DJILTS DECLARATION: 

j^ 

A- 

'^df^ 

Tops 

Road To Utopia 

»- in CHATTANOOGA 

*^ in OMAHA 

in 

^ in 

MIAMI 

JACKSONVILLE 

EVERYWHERE HOLIDAY RECORDS JRE 

Paramount 

Tops The 1946 Holiday 

Record-Br8al(er"Blu8SI(ie 

»^ in LOS ANGELES 

"^ in HOUSTON 

"^ in HARTFORD 

»^ inKNOXVILLE 

•^ in ST. PETERSBURG 

"WHERE THERE'S LIFE" sets all-time Christmas Day high at New York Paramount 

"UNCONQUERED" 15% over "Blue Skies" 1946 Christmas record at Brooklyn Paramount

Variety's "Road" Map 

Starts With 

•^ "COLOSSAL" -CINCINNATI 

•^ "SOCK" - KANSAS CITY 

•^ "LOFTY" - ST. LOUIS 

Louella Parsons' Citation 

In 

Jan. Cosmopolitan 

^^ "My favorite comedy of the 

year. How any 'Road' picture 

can top it I can't imagine."

- 

| 

STUDIOS BEGIN '48 CAUTIOUSLY, 

SEND 35 FILMS BEFORE CAMERAS 

HOLLYWOOD—That the film colony and 

those in charge of its celluloid output are 

viewing the new year with considerable 

is trepidation demonstrated in concrete, albeit 

pessimistic, fashion by a survey of production 

plans among major and independent 

producers for the first month of 1948. Faced 

with the necessity of slashing costs wherever 

possible and confronted with the task of 

cutting corners without sacrificing quality, 

the general trend is toward fewer pictures, 

shorter shooting schedules and reduced overhead 

wherever possible—a policy apparently 

adopted as the only logical means of combating 

shrinkage in foreign revenues and a domestic 

boxoffice situation that is none too 

healthy. 

January got under way with that eye-on 

the-purse-strings outlook already well established. 

In the month's early days a tally 

revealed only 35 properties slated for camera 

work during the period, a decrease of seven 

under projected starters in January 1947, an^l 

28 pictures under last year's all-time busiest 

month, May, when 63 subjects were lined up 

awaiting the green signal. 

Of the 35, 30 were brand-new entries, the 

remaining quintet having been carried over 

from the latter days of 1947—when, for one 

reason or another, they failed to get onto the 

sound stages. The outlook for the current 

period, by studios—and subject to change.s 

during the month—looks like this: 

Columbia 

Normally one of the most active of film 

factories, this studio went into a sliunp by 

_ charting only three 

starters—two of them 

can-led over from 

December 1947, the 

other a new entry. 

The newcomer, still 

uncast in the month's 

early days, is "Superman," 

a serial to be 

turned out by the Sam 

Katzman production 

unit, with Spencer 

Bennett ticketed to direct. 

A 15-chapter affair, 

it brings to celluloid 

Sam Katzman 

for the first time 

the comic-strip heroics 

of the popular pen-and-ink character. On 

the holdover "Let's Fall in Love," 

list is 

tentative title for a musical comedy which 

has Irving Starr as producer and Douglas 

Sirk set to direct. The quartet of topliners 

includes Dorothy Lamour, Lee Bowman, Jeffrey 

Lynn and Janis Carter. Bowman is cast 

as a Hollywood producer who sponsors the 

career of Lynn, a director, but becomes his 

rival for the affections of Miss Lamour, an 

ex-carnival queen. Also carried over from 

1947 was "Wild Fury," an outdoor opus with 

Preston Foster and William Bishop in the 

leads. Phil Karlson directs the Ted Richmond 

production, which concerns two men 

and a woman who lead a pair of prize horses, 

of pure Aztec strain, out of the Mexican 

wilderness to refuge in the U.S. 

Eagle Lion 

With two pictures rushed into production 

during the final days of 1947 and another one 

waiting at the starting gate for filming this 

month, the EL lot is in pretty fair shape as 

it goes into 1948. Late December starters 

were "The Cobra Strikes" and "Assigned to 

MGM Sparing No Expense 

On 'Three Musketeers' 

Down through the years of motion picture 

history since D. W. Griffith and 

other indus try 

pioneers heaped 

on spectacle and 

action with a 

lavish hand, 

swashbuck ling 

cloak - and - dagger 

dramas have 

been staple fare 

audiences 

for 

around the world. 

That formula has 

proven successful 

time and time 

again, which makes 

„ , ., „ it apparent that 

Pandro S. Herman j^^.^\ ^^^^^j^^ 

its production assets and a healthy chunk 

of its bankroll on a near-sure thing in 

the manufacture of a new film version 

of the Alexandre Dumas action classic, 

"The Three Musketeers." 

One of the late Doug Fairbanks sr.'s 

great successes, "The Three Musketeers" 

in its new treatment will feature virtually 

everybody on Leo's contract list with the 

possible exception of Lassie and Margaret 

O'Brien. So far set are Lana Turner. 

Gene Kelly, June Allyson, Van Heflin. 

Keenan Wynn, Sydney Greenstreet and 

Reginald Owen, with several important 

roles yet to be filled. The action transpires 

in 17th century France and is rampant 

with political and romantic intrigue such 

as characterized that era of pomp and 

royalty. 

The Pandro S. Herman production is to 

be directed by George Sidney. 

Danger," while "The Spiritualist" was slated 

to get under way early in January. Toplining 

"The Cobra Strikes" are Sheila Ryan, Leslie 

Brooks and Richard Fraser, with Charles 

"Chuck" Riesner megglng for Producer 

David Stephenson. A mystery melodrama, it 

has to do with a series of killings in which a 

new murder weapon—the "hypospray"—is employed. 

The yarn was suggested by the development 

of such an instrument for use in administering 

hypodermics. "Assigned to 

Danger" marks the screen return of Gene 

Raymond after a lengthy absence. His costar 

is Noreen Nash and the picture is being 

produced by Eugene Ling, with Bud Boetticher 

directing. Raymond portrays a New 

York detective-lieutenant delegated the task 

of rounding up a gang of robbers and mjirderers—which 

chore he completes, of course, 

but only after encountering hazards and romance. 

"The Spiritualist," to star Turhan 

Bey, is a Ben Stoloff production, to be piloted 

by Bernard Vorhaus. Bey is cast as a clever 

and conscienceless man who becomes rich by 

duping wealthy women who believe in his 

pretended occult knowledge. 

Metro-Gold'wyn-Mayer 

Even in this era of production austerity, 

the Mighty Leo can be relied upon to bob up 

pretty regularly with a lavishly-mounted, 

star-studded opus. January proves no exception, 

smce a start this month is plannei 

for "The Three Musketeers," an expensively 

charted version of the Alexandre Dumas ad-: 

venture classic, which—in view of its cast] 

production accoutrements and other elementi| 

—looms as the most impressive entry to bigiven 

the starting gun by any studio during 

the period. It is described fully elsewhere oi 1 

this page. Also set for a start this montl: 

is "A Southern Yankee," costume comedy tc' 

star Red Skelton, which will be produced bj' 

Paul Jones and directed by S. Sylvan Simon 

, 

A burlesque version of the usual Civil Wat 

story, it casts Skelton as a not-too-brilliani] 

young man who finds himself—to his ultimate 

embarrassment—holding down the job 

of spy for both the Union and Confederate 

forces. A holdover from its original November 

starting date is "Julia Misbehaves," to 

co-star Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon. 

Jack Conway directs the Everett Riskin production, 

which casts Miss Garson as a hoydenish 

London entertainer who marries into 

a stuffy, aristocratic British family. 

Monogram 

Setting a rapid tempo, this company lists 

four offerings for production during the 

month, three of them of the "series" variety 

and the other an "exploitation" film. In the 

sagebrush category is "Melody Range," outdoor 

timefilm starring Jimmy Wakely and 

his comedy sidekick "Cannonball" Baker. To 

be produced by Louis Gray, it remained without 

a director early in the period. From Producer 

Jan Grippo comes another entry in the 

Bowery Boys series, yclept "Finders 

Keepers" and featuring, as usual. Leo Gorcey 

and Huntz Hall. William Beaudine is the 

director. Jackie Cooper and Jackie Coogan 

will be paired again in "Kilroy on Deck," a 

sequel to "Kilroy Was Here," which Sid Luft 

produces. Based on "Kilroy's" experiences 

in the U.S. merchant marine, the comedy 

listed no director in the month's early days. 

Being readied by Producer Jeffrey Bernerd 

was "Stage Struck," new handle for an exploitation 

entry previously titled "Where Are 

Your Daughters?" Cast topline is Elyse Knox 

and William Nigh is slated to direct. The 

story line has to do with adolescent delinquency 

and the reasons therefor. 

Paramount 

With five subjects— all new entries—slated 

to go into woric during the period, this studio 

emerges as the busiest film plant in town. 

Three of the properties will come from the 

company itself while Hal Wallis, sharecropping 

independent, accounts for one and the 

Pine-Thomas miit will contribute the fifth. 

The Wallis opus, "Sorry, Wrong Number." 

will co-star Bm-t Lancaster, Barbara Stanwyck 

and Ann Richards, and is to be directed 

by Anatole Litvak. It is based on a 

mystery drama first presented over the radio 

on the Suspense thrill show, and was written 

by Lucille Fletcher. Pine and Thomas 

will light the fuse under "Dynamite." action 

melodrama about the men who handle demolition 

jobs on big construction projects. 

With William Berke directing, the cast includes 

WiUiam Gargan. Mary Beth Hughes 

and Richard Travis. Producer Richard Malbaum 

will gun "Abigail, Dear Heart," with 

Mitchell Leisen holding the directorial reins. 

Co-starring Claude Rains, Wanda Hendrlx 

and Macdonald Carey, it is a modern drama 

wherein Miss Hendrix, married to Rains, 

feels the lack of true companionship until 

14 


'- 

— 

he meets a younger man—Carey—who pos- 

.esses the qualities for which she has been 

i;earching. Title role in another January 

iitarter, "The Great Gatsby," will be filled by 

Man Ladd. Also a Maibaum production, it 

( ivUl be piloted by John Farrow and is based 

m the widely-read F. Scott Fitzgerald novel 

,-the story of a man's unsuccessful struggle 

' 

gain prominence in the jazz-mad society of 

•he early 1920s, through the lavish display of 

.lis wealth and material possessions. Veronica 

Lake and Mary Hatcher will be co-stan-ed 

m "It's Always Spring," a Daniel Dare pro- 

Suction, which tells of the foibles of a former 

Confederate army officer and his struggles 

to raise three lovely daughters on a 

meager income. Directorial reins will be 

bandied by William Russell. 

Republic 

Supplementing a late December starter. 

two more properties—both in the western 

category—were slated for camera work dui-- 

ing 1948's first month at this valley plant. 

One, "The Timber Ti-ail." is fourth in the 

Trucolor sagebrush series starring Monte 

Hale. It has Lynne Roberts as his leading 

lady and musical interludes to be supplied by 

Poy Willing and his Riders of the Purple 

Sage. Phil Ford directs for Producer Mel 

Tucker. William Elliott will face the cameras 

in an untitled opus to be produced and directed 

by Joe Kane, and which is described 

as something of a sequel to the last Elliott 

starrer. "The Fabulous Texan." As did that 

entry, the new one will concern the Texas 

Rangers and their activities shortly after 

the Civil War. Already in work is "Recoil," 

featuring William Wright and Janet Martin, 

:with Stephen Auer and George Blair as the 

iproducer and director, respectively. Wright 

.portrays a district attorney who finds the 

person he has been prosecuting is innocent. 

Thereupon he resigns his post to take over 

for the defense. 

RKO Radio 

This Gower Street celluloid emporium managed 

to escape a blank month by penciling 

in one starter, although in January's early 

days it was coasting along without a cast. 

To be produced by Herman Mankiewicz and 

directed by Nicholas Ray, it is titled "Mortgage 

on Life" and is based on a story by 'Vicki 

Baum. The protagonists are a booking agent 

for musical talent, a girl singer who is his 

client, and another thrush whom they encounter 

while on tour. The second girl becomes 

the agents protegee and almost breaks 

up his romance with his client before everything 

is satisfactorily settled. 

Selznick Releasing Organization 

If all goes as planned during the early 

days of 1948, the latter part of January will 

see cameras begin to grind on a new David 

O. Selznick opus, a vehicle which has enjoyed 

some measure of popularity for the 

past several hundred years as a tragic love 

story. It is "Romeo and Juliet," the celebrated 

Shakespearean drama, and is to be accorded 

Technicolor treatment in this new screen 

version. The lovers will be portrayed by 

Louis Jourdan and Jennifer Jones, but early 

in the month no director had been assigned. 

An earlier film treatment, it will be recalled, 

was manufactui-ed by Metro in 1937 with 

Norma Shearer, Leslie Howard and John 

Barrymore as the co-stars. 

20th Century-Fox 

The interval between Christmas and New 

Year's saw two entries, both of the highbudget 

variety, go onto the sound stages at 

the Westwood studio, with another and as 

yet untitled vehicle, to star Tyrone Power, 

destined for camera work later in the month. 

Up and Down the Mountains on a Film Cycle 

Since it rarely takes more than two ers in the Austrian Alps. Like "Matterhorn," 

it will be filmed in Ansco color and 

films on one subject to constitute a cycle 

in Hollywood, the new year may easily see to get under way in April on location at 

the growth of a widespread variety of pictures 

devoted to one of the world's most 

hazardous occupations — mountain-climbing. 

is 

Timberline Lodge. Ore. Max Trell is doing 

the screenplay and Allen will direct. 

RKO Radio, incidentally, has another 

mountain-climbing yarn— "White Tower,'" 

based on a novel by James Ramsey UUman. 

Instigators of the trend, if it so develops, 

are Pi'oducers Irving Allen and 

Production preparations have been 

James S. Burkett, who hang their hats at temporarily sidetracked on this one. however, 

Monogram. With a short subject, "Climbing 

since it had been under the wing of 

Producer-Director Edward Dmytryk, one 

the Matterhorn," now in release, the Allen-Burkett team has announced plans of the so-called "unfriendly" witnesses at 

to turn out a feature-length entry, "White 

Devils." based on the exploits of ski-patrol- 

the Red hearings in Washington, who was 

lopped from the studio pay roll. 

Already in work is "The Chair for Martin 

Rome," a melodrama with sociological implications, 

co-starring Victor Mature and 

Richard Conti. It is the story of two Italians 

brought up in the same slum district In a 

U.S. metropolis. One, Conti, turns killer, and 

the other. Mature, becomes a policeman 

whose ultimate duty is to capture his erstwhile 

boyhood companion and send him to 

the chair. Sol Siegel is producing and Robert 

Siodmak is the director. Jeanne Crain, William 

Holden and Edmund Gwenn are costarred 

in "Apartment for Peggy," a WiUiam 

Perlberg production being directed by George 

Seaton. Holden and Miss Crain play a war 

veteran and his bride, who have difficulty in 

getting settled after the war, and Gwenn is a 

kindly teacher of philosophy who helps them 

solve their problems. The upcoming Power 

starrer, which Henry Koster will direct for 

Producer Fred Kohlmar. is described as a 

romantic fantasy. Power, journeying to Ireland, 

encounters a leprechaun, fabled in Irish 

folklore, who follows him back to America, 

interferes with his love life and business 

career, and finally persuades him to return 

to Erin to man-y a colleen. 

Screen Guild 

Producers who manufactiu-e celluloid for 

distribution by this company drew a blank 

for the third successive month. In preparation, 

but probably not to be sent before the 

cameras until February, is "Kazan," a dog 

story, to be made under the banner of Bali 

Pi-oductions, headed by Robert L. Lippert 

I also a Screen Guild executive) and Maury 

M. Nunes. 

United Artists 

With Producer Samuel Bischoff gunning 

two high-budgeted entries and Edward 

Golden accounting for another, it appears 

that the long dry spell through which UA has 

been passing, productionwise, for the past 

several months has ended—temporarily, at 

least. Of the Bischoff duo one, a holdover 

from December, is "Outpost Morocco," a 

George Raft stan-er to be produced almost 

entirely on location in French North Africa. 

A story of the Foreign Legion, it is being directed 

by Richard Rossen. Also from Bischoff 

comes "Pitfall." co-starring Dick Powell 

and Lizabeth Scott, with Andre De Toth 

megging. The melodrama affords Powell 

another opportunity to portray a hard-bitten 

hero, with Miss Scott as his sultry romantic 

interest. On top from the Golden unit is 

"Texas, Heaven and Brooklyn," adapted from 

Barry Benefield's story, "Eddie and the 

Archangel Mike." A fantasy, it concerns a 

Texas newspaperman who receives a small 

Inheritance and, along with it, the personal 

chaperonage of the Ai'changel Michael—who 

sees to It that the newshawk meets the right 

girl and disposes of his money in approved 

fashion. Guy Madi.son and Diana Lynn have 

the romantic leads and William Castle is the 

director. 

Universal-International 

A trio of properties has been set for camera 

work at tills valley lot during January 

considerable of an increase over 1947's final 

month, wherein only one pictui-e got onto the 

sound stages. Shooting on location in Florida 

is "Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid," a comedy 

fantasy about a shy gentleman (William 

Powell) who engages in an unwilling romance 

with a mermaid (Ann Blyth). Other roles 

in the Nunnally Johnson production are 

by Irene Hervey and Andrea King, with 

filled 

Irving Pichel in the director's chair. Robert 

Montgomery has the title role in "The Saxon 

Charm," film version of the Frederic Wakeman 

novel, to be produced by Joseph Sistrom 

and directed by Claude Blnyon. Montgomery 

portrays an erratic but fascinating Broadway 

producer who tries to dominate and control 

a budding author who has tui-ned out a successful 

play. Susan Hayward and John Payne 

have the other topllnes. The third entry, 

"The Judge's Wife," co-stars Fredric March 

and Florence Eldredge in a modern drama, 

with the Marches again playing husband 

and wife, as they did in the just-completed 

"Another Part of the Forest" for the same 

company. Michael Gordon is set to direct 

the Jerry Bresler production, in which Edmond 

O'Brien has a top featured spot. 

Warner Bros. 

Two new entries and a carryover from 

December constitute the scheduled January 

output for the Burbank film factory. The 

subject of considerable industry interest is 

one of the newcomers, "The Rope," the first 

of two properties to be made for Warners 

release by Transatlantic Pictures, headed by 

Director Alfred Hitchcock and Sidney Bernstein. 

While the subject matter of the James 

Stewart starrer has not been revealed, there 

has been much discussion of Hitchcock's 

avowed intention of shooting it in ten days— 

by far the shortest schedule undertaken for 

a so-called "A" entry in many years and. 

to date, the ultimate in the new Hollywood 

policy of holding down costs. It is Hitchcock's 

plan to rehearse his players thoroughly so 

that once cameras begin to grind there will 

be an absolute minimum of blown-lines and 

retakes. Producer Jerry Wald will account 

for the other two starters, "John Loves Mary" 

and "One Sunday Afternoon." The former 

co-stars Ronald Reagan. Jack Carson, Pat 

Neal and Dennis Morgan and is based upon 

a Broadway play by Norman Krasna, concerning 

a returned soldier's romance with 

the daughter of a U.S. senator. David Butler 

is the director. The other Wald entry Is a 

musical version of a stage hit by James 

Hagen and will co-star Eleanor Parker and 

Janis Paige. Holding the directorial reins 

is 

Raoul Walsh. 

BOXOFFICE :: January 10, 1948 15

I 

ALL SLEEK 

ALL MIXED UP IN A S 

i 

TOM BIA^^JANIS 

COLUMBIA PICTURES p««"» i 

CARTi 

ADELE JERGENS • GLENDA FARREj 

STEVEN GERAY • TOM POWEI 

An S. SYLVAN SIMON Production 

• 

F.^nTrreVÊ'DSri...-. • Produced and directed by S. SYLVAN SIM

v 

INGE CASE OF MURDER!

n 

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'' 

! duction 

I 

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, 

closed 

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'^' 

Disney's 1947 Report: 

Company's Top Year 

HOLLYWOOD—Walt Disney Pi'oductions' 

gross income for the fiscal year ending September 

27, 1947, was the highest in company 

',:. history, totalling $6,619,912, it was disclosed 

In the annual report just issued to stockholders 

and employes. In 1946 the gross was 

$4,097,700. 

/ Net profit for 1947 was $307,075, or 4.6 per 

cent of the gross, and representing a dividend 

of 43 cents a share on $652,840 shares of out- 

A 

u 

I standing common stock. In the fiscal year of 

1946 the net wâs $199,602. or 4.9 per cent of 

I the gross and equal to a dividend of 26 cents. 

i 

DUE TO TWO TOP FILMS 

Disney officials said a substantial part of 

^ the increase was attributable to heavy re- 

" ceipts from the distribution by RKO Radio 

of two feature films, "Make Mine Music" and 

"Song of the South." No income was received 

in the 1947 fiscal year from "Fun and Fancy 

l" Free," which was not released until Septemj. 

ber 27 of that year. 

Delivery of 20 shorts to RKO Radio, as compared 

to 11 in 1946, resulted in an increase 

of $419,381 in income from those subjects. 

Dividends were resumed during 1947 on 

18,580 shares of outstanding 6 per cent preferred 

stock. On November 13, 1947, the board 

of directors declared a quarterly dividend of 

37'2 cents a share, payable Jan. 1, 1948, to 

stockholders of record Dec. 13, 1947. 

In his yearly message to stockholders and 

employes, Walt Disney discussed the "worldwide 

monetary crisis" which developed la'.e 

in 1947, and declared the company "fortimately 

is bulwarked in a measure against 

- this situation by having a well planned pro- 

schedule carrying through 1950 . . . 

- We have an opportunity to turn a critical 

;• situation into one of advantage to ourselves 

by creating the highest caliber entertainment 

; at an economical cost." 

Disney expects to complete and release by 

midsummer "Melody Time." substantially an 

all-cartoon picture, and will have "So Dear 

to My Heart," primarily a live-action feature, 

in release by Christmas. It is also planning 

to release 18 new shorts during the year and 

this month is reissuing "Bambi." 

MAY SELL FOREIGN RIGHTS 

Roy O. Disney, company president, disin 

the report that current obstacles to 

"business as usual" in many foreign countries 

" ' 

had led Disney officials to examine new 

methods of marketing its pictures abroad as 

a possible replacement for its current policy 

of distributing on a percentage basis through 

RKO Radio. One likely solution, he said, 

"seems to be to sell outright to distributors 

in foreign countries, for an immediate dollar 

consideration, the right to distribute our prodin 

a given territory for a fixed period of 

years." Such a change in policy, he added, 

probably will offset the loss of foreign income 

"to a considerable extent." 

Canada Abolishes Tax 

On Excess Film Profits 

OTTAWA—The start of the New Year 

the occasion for abolishment of the 

profits tax on theatre and film companies 

by the Dominion government, the 1947 rate 

for this levy having been 15 per cent. Imposed 

in 1941 to absorb the war profits of 

corporations to help government financing of 

the conflict, the initial tax took all excess 

profits but it had been successively reduced 

in recent years. 

One of the very few remaining war measures 

is the 20 per cent excise tax on theatre 

grosses which exhibitors are asking to have 

abolished. In recent mon hs the theatres 

have replaced the term "amusement tax" by 

"war tax" in advertising admission scales 

to impress patrons it is a war impost. 

BOXOFnCE : 

TCâ^dcft^fyfi 

J^S CONGRESS RECONVENES for the 

balance of its session, it is faced with 

an agenda of needed legislation of great significance 

to the motion picture industry, but 

little of which directly affects films. 

The President's message, calling for long 

range foreign relief will dominate everything 

else and have the greatest effect on the deliberations 

of Congress on o:her legislation. 

Most industry officials and newspapermen 

here when polled on the probable accomplishments 

of this coming session replied as follows: 

Tax cut? Yes. Pi'ice controls and 

wage controls? No. Taft-Hartley amendments? 

No. Marshall plan? Yes, but modified. 

Cost of living? Same. Economy? Talk, 

but no action. Reciprocal trade? Extended 

but modified. Overseas information program? 

Yes. 

THE FEDERAL TRADE Commission has 

released a stipulation agreed to by the distributors 

of a motion pictiu-e called "The 

Burning Question" which discontinues certain 

representations made of the film. The 

distributors are: Harry G. Silverman, Harold 

Schwartz, and Lillian BuUard, all of Dallas, 

Tex. 

In connection with the leasing or distribution 

of the film, they agree to stop representing, 

or placing in the hands of others a means 

of representing, that it is based on authentic 

data obtained from the files of the bureau of 

narcotics, Ti-easury department: that it was 

filmed thi-ough the cooperation of the bureau 

of narcotics or any governmental agency: or 

that it is sponsored or endorsed by the bureau 

or by Parent-Teacher associations. 

FTC PRACTICES are going to be placed on 

the block with the new session of Congress. 

Rep. Joseph P. O'Hara (R. Minn.i has introduced 

a bill to revamp FTC procedm-es. 

The bill comes up before the interstate and 

foreign commerce committee. 

The bill provides for the commission to 

continue to issue complaints, but would no 

longer issue cease and desist orders. Instead 

the commission would have to prosecute its 

cases in the courts like the food and drug administration. 

Criticism by O'Hara is that the commission 

now operates as prosecutor, judge and a jury, 

"a combination of functions which imposes 

upon the commission a responsibiUty that 

is 

taxes the capacity of human nature." It 

indicated the commission is preparing to 

the O'Hara bill. 

battle 

MARTIN POPPER, comisel for the ten 

Hollywood film figures facing trial for contempt 

of Congress, this week filed a second 

motion asking that the defendants be arraigned 

on the day of the trial instead of on 

a prior date. Reason is to forego the necessity 

of the ten making two trips from the west 

coast instead of one. A similar motion was 

recently denied by District Court Justice 

David A. Pine. 

A LOT OF PEOPLE would give much to 

know ahead of time the supreme court decisions 

in the many industry cases which are 

coming before it. These decisions are probably 

the best kept secrets our government 

has. The reason for keeping them secret 

lies in a court rule that no decision may 

be announced until it is printed and distributed. 

Anyone can well realize the effect 

such information leaks would have beforehand. 

Cases going either for or against certain 

defendant corporations have greatly 

shaken the stock market quotations for those 

corporations. 

The initial printing of supreme court de- 

^cfKint 

By LEE GARLING 

cisions is one of the least known printing 

operations in the government. Behind a 

plain door on the ground floor of the court 

building, four government printing office 

employes carry on the tradition of secrecy 

followed for 75 years by a private Washington 

printing company. 

Advance information on court decisions has 

leaked out several times, to the advantage of 

speculators, but it has not been the fault of 

printers, according to Charles E. Cropley, 

clerk of the court. 

IN SYRIA AND LEBANON, U.S. pictures 

are popular with motion-picture audiences 

and preferred above all others. However, the 

market is of necessity restricted by the low 

purchasing power of the people and the small 

number of theatres in operation. 

U.S. films, according to the Commerce department 

film consultant, especially comedies, 

are popular despite the fact that the dialog 

is not understood by the broad masses of the 

population. Films produced in Arabic 

countries are well liked because of the 

language. 

No quota or contingent regulations are in 

force wloich might restrict the importation of 

U.S. products and none is being considered, 

but the same problem of "a lack of dollars 

for remittances" is hampering the Syrian 

economy and some regulation may become 

necessary. 

IN PORTUGAL, a system of controls affecting 

all branches of the motion picture industry 

was introduced and passed and is 

described as Decree-Law No. 36-062. The 

law is designed to protect and encourage the 

national industry of that country. 

Subsidies are offered to the film producers 

by the government, under the new law; a 

tax on each program licensed for exhibition; 

a guarantee of exhibition time and contract 

preference for Portuguese films. 

No quotas have been established to limit 

exhibition of foreign films, says the Commerce 

department spokesman. The adoption of 

quota or contingent measures does not appear 

necessary or likely in view of the adequate 

protection now offered to Portuguese films. 

There are no restrictions on imports; controls 

begin at the point of distribution. 

ANOTHER POSTPONEMENT has been 

granted by the FCC in the Paramount-Du- 

Mont television fracas. The hearing has now 

been moved to March 1, and at that time the 

commission will determine whether Paramount 

controls Allen B. DuMont Laboratories 

and certain affiliates of Paramount. . 

Paramount partners have filed applications 

for five television stations, but Paramount 

is contending that it does not control these 

partners. Regulations permit only five stations 

to one company, and the commission 

says that granting of the five applications 

would give Paramount a total of nine, alleging 

that the DuMont applications involved 

are actually Paramount controlled. 

U-I's Foreign Division 

Opens 20-Week Drive 

NEW YORK — Universal-International 

Films, Inc., the foreign branch of U-I, will 

start a 20-week worldwide anniversary sales 

drive on January 11 in honor of Alfred E. 

Daff, vice-president and foreign sales supervisor. 

Ben Cohn, home office executive, will 

be drive captain and there will be a series 

of prizes. Daff has been with the company 

28 years. 

: January 10, 1948 19

Starring 

Jûrin^ 1948 the bi^êst liûJ 

to be made by tne bi^êst H^ni^' 

CAPTAIN 

FROM CASTILE 

TECHNICOLOR 

GENTLEMAN'S 

AGREEMENT 

CALL 

NORTHSIDE 777 

YOU WERE 

MEANT FOR ME 

DEEP 

WATERS 

SUMMER 

LIGHTNING 

TECHNICOLOR 

BALLAD OF 

FURNACE, 

f* 

IT 

I 

Setting Enduring noxottice Recoras in Its Prvmiern DuteM 

Darryl F. Zanuck presents "CAPTAIN FROM CASTILE" . Color by TECHNICOLOR 

ij 

TYRONE POWER with JEAN PETERS, CESAR ROMERO, JOHN SUTTON, LEE J. COBB, Antonio 

Moreno, Thomas Gomez, Alan Mowbray, Barbara Lawrence, George Zucco, Roy Roberts, 

Marc Lawrence . Directed by HENRY KING . Produced by LAMAR TROTTI . Screen Play 

by Lamor Trotti • From the Novel by Samuel Shetlobarger 

/7u- A/o.s( .\crhun,eJ Picture in History I 

Darryl F. Zanuck presents GREGORY PECK, DOROTHY McGUIRE, JOHN GARFIELD in Louro Z. 

Hobson's "GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT" with Celeste Holm, Anne Revere, June Havoc, 

Albert Dekker, Jane WyatI, Dean Stockwell, Sam Jaffe • Produced by DARRYL F. ZANUCK 

Screen Play by MOSS HART . Directed by ELIA KAZAN 

It Beats With A Pulse That Be Oun , 

JAMES STEWART in "CALL NORTHSIDE 777" with RICHARD CONTE, LEE J. COBB, HELEN 

WALKER and Betty Garde, Kasia Orzazewski, Joanne de Bergh, Howard Smith, Moroni Olsen, 

John Mclntire, Paul Harvey • Directed by HENRY HATHAWAY . Produced by OnO LANG 

Screen Play by Jerome Cady and Jay Dratler • Adaptation by Leonard Hoffman 

Quentin Reynolds • Based on Articles by James P. McGuire 

VVm- Lo.c. S„ng.. Lû.uluvr of TluU Wonderful I I.,, l>-r Ac! ) 

JEANNE CRAIN, DAN DAILEY in "YOU WERE MEANT FOR ME" with OSCAR LEVANT, \ 

BARBARA LAWRENCE, Selena Royle, Percy Kilbride, Herbert Anderson • Directed by 

LLOYD BACON . Produced by FRED KOHLMAR . Original Screen Play by Elick Moll and i 

Vale 

Sweeping Human rLniotinns to the floodtidc! 

DANA ANDREWS, JEAN PETERS in "DEEP WATERS" with CESAR ROMERO, ANNE REVERE, 

DEAN STOCKWELL, Ed Begley • Directed by HENRY KING . Produced by SAMUEL G. ENGEL 

Screen Play by Richard Murphy . 

Based on the Novel "Spoonhandle" by Ruth Moore 

Druma Strikes Youth Lilie A Sudden Summer Suum ! 

JUNE HAVER in "SUMMER LIGHTNING" . Color by TECHNICOLOR . With LON McCALUSTER 

and WAITER BRENNAN, ANNE REVERE, NATALIE WOOD, Robert Karnes, Henry Hull, Tom 

Tully . Directed by F. HUGH HERBERT • Produced by WALTER MOROSCO • Screen Play 

by F. Hugh Herbert • From a Novel by George Agnev> Chamberlain 

Written in Fury and Flames. ..It Blaxes Across Ihe Screet 

"BALLAD OF FURNACE CREEK" starring VICTOR MATURE with COLEEN GRAY, GLENN LANGAN, 

REGINALD GARDINER, Albert Dekker, Fred Clark, Charles Kemper, Robert Warwick, George 

Clevelond, Roy Roberts, Frank Orth, Willard Robertson . Directed by BRUCE HUMBERSTONE 

Produced by FRED KOHLMAR • Written by Charles G. Booth • Additional Dialogue by 

Winston Miller • Suggested by a Story by David Garth 

j

tKe industry will continue 

JtKe industry 5)^^^"*"''y-P**^* 

• 

the 

SITTING 

PRETTY 

)'„,/// He Siltins Prvlty Witli ll^>^ I lilorinus Cimfly Romance 1 

ROBERT YOUNG, MAUREEN OHARA, CLIFTON WEBB in "SITTING PRETTY" with RICHARD 

HAYDN, LOUISE ALBRITTON, Randy Stuart, Ed Begley, Larry Olsen, John Russell, Betty Ann Lynn 

Directed by WALTER LANG 

Herbert 

• Produced by SAMUEL G. ENGEL • Screen Ploy by F. Hugh 

. Based on a Novel by Gwen Davenport 

THE IRON 

CURTAIN 

]REEN GRASS 

W WYOMING 

TECHNICOLOR 

. REGARDS 

i 

THE 

SNAKE PIT 

GIVE MY 

TO 

BROADWAY 

! TECHNICOLOR 

^ 

^J^ 

^ 

The Story Behind The Headlines Of Tcomorrow: 

DANA ANDREWS, GENE TIERNEY in THE IRON CURTAIN" with June Havoc, Nicholas Joy, 

Edward From, Dennis Hoey, Frederic Tozere, Eric Noonan • Directed by WILLIAM A. 

WELLMAN 

• Produced by SOL SIEGEL 

A/.iiv O'Hhih .s Great New Adventure ofthe Great jVew VV^.-.sf / 

Mary O'Hara's "GREEN GRASS OF WYOMING" • Color by TECHNICOLOR • Starring 

PEGGY CUMMINS, CHARLES COBURN, ROBERT ARTHUR with Lloyd Nolan, BuH Ives, 

Geraldine Wall . Directed by LOUIS KING • Produced by ROBERT BASSLER • Screen Ploy 

by Martin Berkeley 

• Based on the Novel by Mary O'Haro 

The Most Challenging Role A Woman Ever Played! 

Darryl F. Zanuck presents OLIVIA de HAVILLAND in "THE SNAKE PIT" • Also starring MARK 

STEVENS and LEO GENN with Celeste Holm, Glenn Longan and Helen Craig, Leif Er.ckson, 

Beulah Bondi 

Lee Patrick, Howard Freeman, Katherine Locke, Natalie Schafer, Fronk Conroy, 

Ruth Donnelly, Minna Gombell 

• Directed by ANATOLE LITVAK . Produced by ANATOLE 

LITVAK and ROBERT BASSLER . Screen Play by Frank Partes and Millen Brand • Based on 

the Novel by Mary Jane Word 

You Aint Seen Nothin' Yet. Folks I 

' 

'- Al Johan 

DAN DAILEY in "GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROADWAY" . Color by TECHNICOLOR • With 

CHARLES WINNINGER. NANCY GUILD, CHARLIE RUGGLES, FAY BAINTER, Borbara Lawrence, 

Jane Nigh, Charles Russell. Sig Rumon, Howard Freeman, Herbert Anderson . Directed by 

LLOYD BACON . Produced by WALTER MOROSCO • Screen Play by Samuel Hoffenste.n 

and Elizabeth Reinhardt 

Story by John Klempner 

I 

T 

I 

THE WALLS 

OF JERICHO 

/our GvcHt Sinrs In .. I urcmosl liesl Seller! 

LINDA DARNELL, CORNEL WILDE, ANNE BAXTER, KIRK DOUGLAS in "THE WALLS OF JERICHO" 

with ANN DVORAK, Morjorie Rambeau, Henry Hull, Colleen Townsend, Barton Maclone, 

Griff Barnett, William Tracy • Directed by JOHN M. STAHL . Produced by LAMAR TROTTI 

Screen Play by Lamar Trotti • 1 

Novel by Pou 

THAT LADY 

IN ERMINE 

The Screen No. 1 Fiemini neBosofflceSlaratlhrGre.t^ 

in "THAT LADY IN ERMINE" • Color by TECHNI- 

BETTY GRABLE, DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS, Jr. 

COLOR 

• With Cesar Romero, W, 

Campbell, Whit Bissel • Produced 

Iter Abel, Reginald Gardiner, Harry Davenport, Virginia 

and Directed by ERNST LUBITSCH • Lyrics and Music by 

Leo Robin and Frederick Holl.

. . . Stephen 

. . Warners 

. . Charles 

— 

. . 

. . . RKO 

. . . Wanda 

. . David 

. . Monogram's 

. . Borrowed 

. . 

. . 

—— 

i 

'i¥oUtêwMd ^cîont 

UA Secures World Rights 

To Peskay's "Angry God' 

Newsworthy on several counts is the 

disclosure that United Artists has secured 

world distribution 

% rights to "The Angry 

God," seven-reel feature 

filmed entirely in 

Mexico. Not only is 

the picture the first to 

be turned out by a new 

independent unit 

J Carlysle Productions, 

headed by Edward J. 

.1 Peskay—but it is also 

j the first time that any 

'^ color process other 

than Technicolor has 

been displayed in a UA 

Edward J. Peskay release. 

"The Angry God" was photographed in 

16mm Kodachrome and is to be blown up to 

35mm, the release prints to be processed in 

Fullcolor. This is a three-color tint developed 

under the supervision of L. S. Trimble. The 

Peskay film, which has an all-Mexican cast, 

deals with the legend of the volcano Popocatepetl. 

It has been dubbed in English, 

Portuguese and Spanish. 

Two New Independent Units: 

Olympic and Transocean 

There were two other additions to the 

mushrooming field of independents during 

the period. 

C. J. Tevlin resigned as executive vicepresident 

of Benedict Bogeaus Productions 

to incorporate Olympic Productions, with 

Tevlin as president and Lewis E. Pennish as 

secretary-treasui-er. The company's initialer, 

for which a major release is being negotiated, 

will be "Front Door to Heaven," from an 

original by Aben Kandel. Tevlin will remain 

as a director of General Service studios. 

The other newcomer is Transocean Pictures, 

incorporated by Steve Sekely as president 

and Eric Morawsky and Louis Viior as 

vice-presidents. The company will first 

make "Fascination," based upon a story by 

Guy de Maupassant, with Sekely directing. 

No release has been arranged. 

Bryan Foy's Touch Added 

To The Composite Face' 

As his first personally-produced ven'ure 

since becoming production chief at Eagle 

Lion, Bryan Foy is readying "The Case of 

the Composite Face." a murder yarn, for an 

early start. Crane Wilbur is doing the screenplay 

... At the same studio the directorial 

reins on "The Blank Wall," Walter ganger's 

first for the company, were handed Anthony 

Mann . signed Henry Koster to 

direct "Happy Times," Danny Kaye's initaler 

under a recently-set long-term contract 

Ames will produce RKO Radio's 

"The Boy With Green Hair," to be made in 

Technicolor with Pat O'Brien in one of the 

starring roles . . . "Doctors on Horseback," 

next Wallace Beery starrer a" Metro, will be 

produced by Gottfried Reinhardt from a story 

by Robert Thoeren . 

Barton has 

been assigned to pilot the new Abbott and 

Costello comedy, "The Brain of Frankenstein," 

at Universal-International. I, is Barton's 

fifth assignment to an A&C opus . 

On the U-I lot Robert Plorey was set to direct 

"Rogues' Regiment," Foreign Legion entry 

By 

IVAN SPEAR 

which Robert Buckner is producing . 

Over at Columbia Phil Karlson was signed 

lo pilot "Wild Fury" . 

new 

Jimmy Wakely galloper, "Melody Range," is 

being megged by Lambert Hillyer. 

Only Two Story Purchases 

Acquired in Past Week 

Activity in the literary market dropped to 

an unpromising low point in the early days 

of the new year, with only two story proper- 

being acquired for production. 

ties 

To Eronel Productions, new independent 

headed by Alan H. Posner, Walter Compton 

and Sam X. Abarbanel, went "The Argyle 

Album," an original screenplay by Cyril Endfield, 

who has also been signed to direct. 

Eronel has secured a Film Classics release 

for the suspense drama and is headquartering 

at General Service studios. 

Republic acquired Hal Long's original, 

"Romance of the Gaucho," and handed it 

to Edmund Grainger to produce as a John 

Carroll starrer. 

More Mexican-Made Films 

On RKO's '48 Schedule 

RKO Radio's brass is actively implementing 

the "Good Neighbor" policy this year to 

an extent even more enthusiastic than in 

1947. Important organizational strategy is 

being mapped toward increasing the number 

of pictures to be made in Mexico in conjunction 

with the Churubusco Studios there— 

partly owned by the company. Special 

branches are to be added to several departments 

at the Gower Street film plant, to deal 

exclusively with Mexican filming assignments. 

These include expansions in the 

casting, talent and location departments, as 

well as others. Last year RKO Radio released 

and/or produced several films, incuding 

"The Fugitive," "Mystery in Mexico" 

and "The Pearl," all of which were photographed 

below the border. 

Andrea King Joins Cast 

Of Paramount Feature 

One of the co-starring roles in Paramount's 

"Abigail, Dear Heart," was handed Andrea 

King, who joins a cast which includes Wanda 

Hendrix, Claude Rains and Macdonald Carey 

Radio signed Tim Holt to a new 

one-year ticket through which he will appear 

in features as well as his western output . 

Ian Keith augments the cast of MGM's "The 

Three Musketeers" . Street draws a 

top featured role in the Charles K. Feldman 

group-Marshall Grant production, "Moonrise," 

out at Republic . from 

Samuel Goldwyn, Cathy O'Donnell goes into 

"The Spiritualist," Turban Bey starrer being 

filmed by Eagle Lion . . . Columbia assigned 

Adele Jergens to one of the leads in -ffs 

Dorothy Lamour musical, "Let's Fall in Love" 

McKay will appear opposite Leo 

Gorcey in Monogram's "Backfire" . . . John 

Rodney, stage and screen player, was set for 

a topline in "Key Largo," the Bogart-Bacall 

opus at Warners. 

Somebody out Universal-International way 

has a statis ical mind. A tally of the company's 

picture-making roster unearthed the 

information that the studio began its 1948 

activities with a total of 17 production uni's, 

eight directors, four writer-producers, two 

producer-directors and a writer-director all 

on the active list—a new high mark. 

Record Total of Players 

For Paramount in 1947 

Even though production activity durring 

1947 dipped somewhat under previous 

years, there was plenty of work lor 

featured and supporting players at at 

least one studio. Paramount, which totted 

up and discovered it used nearly 1,700 

such mummers during the 12 months 

exclusive of bit, atmosphere and extra 

players—and constituting a peak figure 

for the past three years. 

The largest number of Thespics with 

speaking roles appeared in "The Big 

Clock,' which had 106; "Hazard," with 

98; "Sealed Verdict," with 96; "The Long 

Gray Line," which employed 86; and "A 

Foreign Affair. " with 82 to date and still 

in production. 

David Lewis Leaves Post 

At Enterprise Studio 

After turning out two pictures for the company— 

"Arch of Triumph" and "The Other 

Love"—David Lewis has checked out of his 

producer's berth at Enterprise and will announce 

a new affiliation shortly. He had been 

with the studio since its inception . . . Ross 

Lederman has severed his connection as a 

Columbia director to join Roy Del Ruth's unit 

in a production capacity. Del Ruth is now 

readying "The Babe Ruth Story" for Monogram-Allied 

Artists . . . Gil Kurland has returned 

to Universal-International as a imit 

production manager. He had been signed by 

Mark Hellinger Productions, but Hellinger's 

recent death terminated the contract. 

Big Economy Size Script 

Used for *Salem Frigate' 

More and more in these days of economyhysteria 

the production moguls are turningtoward 

exhaustive prefilming preparations in 

order to cut camera schedules to the absolute 

minimum. In line with this trend Maxwell 

Shane, whose Geffen-Shane Pi-oductions 

is readying "The Salem Frigate" for Universal-International 

release, has turned over 

to U-I's production department a 115-page 

treatment of the script. The usual treatment 

averages 30 to 40 pages. Shane's adaptation, 

however, contains every location, backgroimd, 

set, special effects shot and technical data 

a complete blueprint which, studio officials 

estimate, will save weeks of preparation and 

a good many dollars. 

Hedy Lamarr to Add Life 

To 'Let's Live a Little' 

For its initial film, "Let's Live a Little," 

United California Productions has ticketed 

Hedy Lamarr to co-star with Robert Cummings. 

The independent unit is headed by 

Cummings, Philip Yordan and Eugene Frenke, 

and is negotiating a major release . . . Adrian 

Booth, Joseph Schildkraut, Bruce Cabot and 

Andy Devine draw supporting roles in Republic's 

current untitled William Elliott 

starrer. 

Columbia Drops Four 

In a Studio Shakeup 

A shakeup in two Columbia departments 

found Stephen Goosson vacating his post as 

head of the art direction unit and Ralph 

Black departing as chief of the location depar' 

ment, with unit art directors Charles 

McArthur and Leslie Thomas also going off 

payroll. Goosson is succeeded by his former 

aide, Richard Pearl, with Harold Fisher taking 

over the spot vacated by Black. 

22 

BOXOFFICE :: January 10. 1948

' 

'^' 

'' 

] 

in 

Co-Op Advertising Plan 

To Be Continued by EL 

DALLAS—Eagle Lion wUl continue to expand 

its policy of sharing advertising and 

promotion costs, dollar for dollar, with all 

theatres over normal house budgets on the 

company's major releases, according to Max 

E. Youngstein, director of advertising, pub- 

licity and exploitation. Addressing the regional 

sales meeting January 3-4, Youngstein 

renewed the company's pledge not to cut 

budgets but to augment and increase all sums 

' allocated for promotion to any amount suitable 

for any individual engagement. 

Harold S. Dunn, assistant general sales 

manager, and Frank Soule, in charge of 

" 

''- 

branch operations, also addressed the meeting. 

Herman Beiersdorf, recently promoted 

^ to western sales manager, and sales and 

'executive personnel from the New Orleans, 

Memphis, Oklahoma City, Atlanta, Charlotte 

and Dallas branches attended the two-day 

meet. 

EL Released 56 Features 

In 1st Operating Year 

NEW YORK— Eagle Lion released a total 

of 56 features during its first year of operation, 

according to A. W. Schwalberg, vicepresident 

and general sales manager. 

The release chart for 1947 shows that 43 

black-and-white features, including one 

musical and 19 westerns, were produced in 

Hollywood. Four J. Arthur Rank films were 

produced in England and one was produced 

Canada. Two color films, "Red Stallion" 

and "The Return of Rin Tin Tin," were also 

produced in Hollywood. Six reissues of Edward 

Small "Screen Masterpieces" were also 

on the 1947 schedule. 

For 1948, EL has 11 features completed and 

ready for release out of its planned schedule 

of 60. In addition, four will go before the 

cameras during January and ten are ready 

for final script treatments. 

The 11 features completed include the following 

eight Hollywood productions: "T-Men," 

"Adventures of Casanova," "The Man from 

Texas," "Prelude to Night." "Corkscrew 

Alley," "Mickey," "Northwest Stampede" and 

"The Noose Hangs High." Three British productions 

made by J. Arthur Rank, "The 

Smugglers," "The October Man" and "Take 

My Life," are also ready for release. 

'Frank Capra Jr.' Takes 

Vancouver for a Ride 

Vancouver—The local press and a number 

of well-known citizens were taken for 

a ride by one "Frank Capra jr.," who arrived 

in town to inform all who would 

listen that his "father" was planning to 

produce a million dollar color film in 

Vancouver. Such a project would require, 

he said, the employment of hundreds of 

local residents. The picture itself was to 

be known as "Raw Hide" and would depict 

the pioneer days of Canada. 

The film project was heralded by one 

of the newspapers in 108-point type, 

spread across five columns of the front 

page. The next day, the press considerably 

chagrined, admitted the hoax. 

Someone had thought of calling Hollywood, 

and had learned that Producer 

Frank Capra's son was 11 years old and 

had never been in Vancouver. 

When reporters cornered the impostor 

with this and other facts, he merely 

shrugged his shoulders, uttered something 

about "Hollywood jealousy ' and departed 

posthaste through the hotel revolving 

doors. He hasn't been seen since. 

EOXOFFICE :: January 10, 

[OST commentators on matters cinematic, 

be they of either the trade or 

public press, were loud in their acclaim 

of the recent action by the Motion Picture 

Ass'n to voluntarily tighten the provisions 

of the production code. The move was 

almost universally heralded as a sizable, rightdirection 

step in the industry's growing and 

sincere desire to police itself and to improve 

its over-all public relations. 

Contrarily minded, 'William H. Mooring 

brands the new provisions as misleading and 

inadequate. Mooring, motion picture editor 

of the Tidings, official organ of the Los 

Angeles archdiocese of the Roman Cathohc 

church, does his editorializing with at least 

one jaundiced eye cocked upon the Catholic 

Legion of Decency—and for obvious reasons. 

He indicts the new provisions on several 

counts, directing the major part of such indictments 

at Eric Johnston, MPA president. 

One of his bleats is predicated upon the fact 

that "the day after Johnston announced the 

new rules, daily press advertisements blazed 

out with catchlines for a new crime picture" 

which apparently were not in keeping with 

the day-old new provisions. Even Editor 

Mooring should realize that such ads are 

prepared days, sometimes weeks, in advance 

of their appearance. To have changed them 

on the day following the Johnston announcement 

and long before official notification 

thereon was received by advertising departments 

would have called for something of a 

miracle. 

Even though 20th Century-Fox acceded to 

pressure from the CLOD and made certain 

changes in the picture—thereby winning it 

a raise in legion rating from "condemned" 

to "objectionable in part" — "Forever Amber" 

apparently continues to be a favorite 

whipping girl. Opines Mooring, using that 

picture to demand the moon, " 'Amber' proved 

that what is needed is an amendment to 

the code which will categorically forbid any 

film producer to purchase and film a book, 

play or any other story material, the nature, 

incidents or characters of which have resulted 

in its pubhc presentation and acceptance 

as a work that is 'salacious, indecent, 

obscene, profane or vulgar.' " 

Such an amendment, while too ludicrous 

to warrant much serious attention, would 

eliminate a good half of producers' current 

sources of literary material, and at the same 

time would place film-makers in the untenable 

position of acting as censors of literature 

and the stage. 

The Roman Catholic hierarchy, the CLOD 

and some of their laymen stooges played active 

parts in the initial drafting of the production 

code, thereby, in the opinion of many, 

getting away with censorship murder. Paying 

some heed to the hackneyed philosophy aijout 

the last straw and the camel's vertebrae, they 

had best content themselves with censoring 

what comes out of the productional hopper, 

and not try to control what goes into it. 

Finding a place, along with "Amber." on 

the legion's "objectionable in part" list are 

two others of 20th Century-Fox's current offerings, 

and, parenthetically, two of the best 

pictures to come out of that studio in many 

seasons. They are "Gentleman's Agreement." 

adjudged partially objectionable because it 

"accepts divorce," and "Daisy Kenyon," comparably 

damned because it "treats marriage 

lightly, accepts divorce." 

Those ratings lead to the assumption that. 

under such a crackpot amendment to the 

code as Mooring suggests, neither of the 

books from which the two pictures were made 

could have been purchased by a studio. And 

despite the fact that both were best-sellers 

and found their ways to the shelves of the 

public libraries of this democratic land. 

Exceptionally typical of how arbitrarily 

and blindly the CLOD sticks to its phobia 

against divorce in motion pictures is its rating 

of "Agreement." That Dan-yl P. Zanuck production 

has been accorded a precedential 

amount of critical and public praise, not only 

as a triumphant demonstration of picturemaking 

at its best, but for its convincing and 

intelligent plea for tolerance. 

It might be expected that, resultantly, a 

minority group, one just as needful of tolerance 

and understanding as any other, would 

in this instance permit the picture's undeniable 

excellence and its important message 

to outweigh dogmatic trivia concerning what 

is taboo for the screen. 

Never let it be said that the magi of production 

aren't doing their level best to help 

in alleviating the housing shortage. Walter 

Wanger's Diana Productions made "The 

Secret Beyond the Door" and RKO Radio has 

one in work, yclept "The Window." 

The clothing shortage—if any—is being 

lessened through 20th-Fox's production of 

"That Lady in Ermine" and could be further 

assuaged should Frank Ross ever get around 

to making "The Robe." 

Howard Strickling's rover boys reveal, 

"Marking his first trip outside the Los 

Angeles city limits since he arrived in Hollywood 

two years ago, Clinton Sundberg and 

his wife will drive to San Francisco tomorrow." 

Since when has San Francisco been outside 

the L. A. city limits? 

NECK OUT DEPT. 

(Lou Smith Division) 

"Greg McClure, who runs a physical culture 

school between acting jobs in such pictures 

as Columbia's 'Lulu Belle,' has invented and 

patented a combination rubber and plastic 

device which automatically stretches a person's 

neck muscles. Greg claims that the device 

can cure a stiff neck in two hours." 

Even George Brown's? 

> 

John Joseph and his Universal-International 

welkin-ticklers deny—but not too 

emphatically—that the New York blizzard 

was staged as a publicity stunt for U-I's upcoming 

"The Great Snow." 

Names-Is-Names fans will be interested in 

learning that one Herman Light works in the 

electrical department at Enterprise studio. 

French Film Workers Hold 

Anti-U.S. Demonstration 

PARIS—A Communist -inspired demonstration 

by approximately 1,000 French film industry 

workers against American films was 

held Sunday (4). Actors, photographers and 

technicians paraded past theatres showing 

Hollywood pictures with signs demanding protection 

for the domestic film industry. 

The demonstrators passed by theatres 

showing "Hellzapoppin." "Cloak and Dagger," 

"San Antonio," "Dumbo" and "Lady Eve." The 

demonstration ended in a fight among the 

marchers, autograph seekers and anti-Communists. 

The recent large scale layoffs of French 

industry workers was said to have been responsible 

for the demonstration. Production 

costs in France are prohibitive.

: 

— 

Survey Shows Video 

Lacking in Appeal 

NEW YORK—Television set owners in the 

metropolitan area, in Philadelphia and in 

Chicago don't like the programs they are now 

receiving and prefer a pay-as-you-see system 

that will provide them with first run films 

Broadway plays and other expensive form.- 

of entertainment, according to a survey made 

by the LaSalle Extension university of Chicago. 

The idea for the survey was presented by 

the Zeni'h Radio Corp. which last summer 

announced it had a system called Phonovision 

by means of which cu.stomers could 

pay for their television service. 

According to William Bethke, general educational 

director of LaSalle Extension university, 

his investigators contacted 9,341 set 

owners in New York. Philadelphia and Chicago 

and nearby areas and found out the 

following 

Only 45 per cent of set owners are satisfied 

with current programs. 

In Connecticut 40 per cent liked them; 42 

per cent in New York, 51 per cent in New 

Jersey, 52 per cent in Chicago, and 43 per cent 

in Philadelphia. 

Sixty-two per cent said they would be willing 

to pay for service. 

At Hygienic Productions Convention^ 

'Gentleman's Agreement' 

Receives 19 Citations 

NEW YORK — "Gentleman's Agreement" 

i20th-Fox), produced by Darryl F. Zanuck, 

has received a total of 19 film citations to 

date. All the citations were made while the 

film was being shown at two theatres in the 

U.S., the Mayfair in New York and the Apollo, 

Chicago. It since has opened in Los Angeles, 

Miami and Pittsburgh. 

Among the citations are the listing by the 

New York Film Critics as the best picture of 

1947, top rating by the National Board of 

Review, the Parents' magazine medal award, 

a listing as one of the ten best films by Time 

magazine and the National Board of Review, 

selection as the best picture of the month by 

CosmopoUtan, Movieland and Liberty magazines, 

and special mention in Screenland and 

Silver Screen magazines. 

"Agreement" placed in the "ten best" film 

selections of three New York -newspapers, the 

Times, Daily News and World Telegram. The 

Morning Telegraph called it the best picture 

of the year. Dorothy Kilgallen and Earl Wilson 

honored the picture in their syndicated 

columns. "Agreement" also led a radio poll 

in New York conducted by WCBS. 

Exhibitor of 'Mom and Dad' 

Wins Victory in Court 

NEW ORLEANS—Judge Fred W. Oser, of 

district court here, held this week that the 

Louisiana law forbidding exhibition of indecent 

pictures was unconstitutional on the 

grounds that it failed to define an offense. 

As a result, two years to the day he was 

arrested, Ted Kraft, manager of the Star 

Theatre here, won a court victory to prove he 

was within his legal rights to exhibit the 

Hygienic Production, "Mom and Dad." 

Kraft was arrested January 6, 1946 as he 

was preparing to open an engagement of the 

picture at the theatre. His case was then 

taken up by the producers who hired top 

legal talent in New Orleans to fight the arrest. 

Kroger Babb, co-producer of the picture, and 

the company's legal representative, Charles R. 

Kirk, also were here to participate in the 

court hearing. 

The case against Kraft was pushed locally 

by representatives of the Catholic Legion of 

Decency. 

A number of leading film industry figuies joined Hjgienic Pioductions when it 

held Its annual convention in Los Angeles recently. Altogether more than 250 employes 

of the organization, from 33 countries, made the trip to the convention city in 

three chartered 28-passenger DC-3 Viking airliners and on 49 scheduled flights of 

other lines. Scenes at the convention are shown in the accompanying photos. 

TOP. left to right: Owners and co-producers of "Mom and Dad," Kroger Babb 

and J. S. Jos.sev; Steve Broidv, president of Monogram and Allied Artists, making 

the opening convention talk, and welcoming the Hygienic group; and W. Ray Johnston, 

chairman of the board of Monogram, who is with Walter F. Heer, Columbus, 

head of a large printing company. 

CENTER, left to right: Charles Meade, Fort Worth, Tex., the company's personnel 

director, who walked off with a $6,000 bonus, all-time record; J. T. Woodruff, 

Atlanta, who finished as the company's ace lecturer; Bob Hicks Page, Los Angeles, 

who led the salesmen's division with a bonus of $5,175; and Jack Armstrong, manager 

of the Paradise Theatre. Vancouver, who was awarded the $500 AU-American 

showmanship prize for pulling 56,000 patrons to see "Morn and Dad." 

BOTTOM, left to right: Louis King, 20th-Fox producer-director, with Virginia 

Vann, of the "Mom and Dad" cast; Mrs. Marge Smith, Hygienic's "original" employe, 

with the luggage set presented to her. She has resigned for a new home and husband; 

and Sam Burkett, independent producer of the Charlie Chan series, with Arthur 

Aronson, president of the Hollywood Advertising Co. 

National Board of Review 

Selects MGM. U-I Films 

NEW YORK—"High Wall" iMGMi and "A 

Woman's Vengeance" (Universal-International) 

have been given selected features 

rating by the National Board of Review in 

the weekly guide to selected pictures. Short 

subjects given special mention are: "Community 

Sing No. 4" and "Screen Snapshots 

Off the Air" (Col) and "Pluto's Blue Note." 

"Pluto's Fledgling." "Soups On" and "Whistle 

in the Night" (RKO). 

Bernhard Will Inspect 

Film Classics Studio 

NEW YORK—Joseph Bernhard. president 

of Film Classics. Inc., left for Hollywood 

January 5 to inspect his company's portion of 

the newly-constructed Nassour Studio and to 

confer with independent producers on future 

Film Classics product. The company plans 

to distribute at least 14 new pictures during 

1948, with more than half of these in Cinecolor. 

Four pictures set for national release 

in January are: "Women in the Night," "For 

You I Die," "Discovei-y" and "Furia." 

24 


MOTION PICS 

iaiiailaaiMl I 

'd\k 

loiporl 

km Sof^ 

ouid Facili 

' 

'A Double Life " 

Vri'a^ 

oa 

Lid 

Aâi 

[Universal-International-Kanin] 

Distinguished Entertainment 

THE 

Hollywood, Dec. 23 

GREATEST performance in Ronald Colman's long career 

would be in itself enough to carry this Michael Kanin production 

to impressive grosses, but is not required to do so, since production, 

direction, script, and matching performances by Signe Hasso, 

Edmund O'Brien, Shellev Winters, Ray Collins. Philip Loeb and supportmg 

plavers round out a powerful, fascinating, innately theatrical 

attraction which is sure to make its mark in any market. Strictly adult 

in subject and treatment, it is at once a character study, a literary work 

and a melodrama, and. in the aggregate, distinguished entertainment. 

Colman portrays a famous stage actor, beloved by some who know 

him and despised bv others, who co-stars in "Othello" with Miss Hasso 

from whom he has been divorced for two years but with whorii he is 

in love He concentrates on his characterization so profoundly that his 

own personality and conduct become indistinguishable by him from those 

to the insanely jealous Shakespearean nobleman who slays his wife in the play. 

His suspicion that Miss Hasso is in love with the play's press agent. O Brien. 

leads him to the point of murdering her. but his own personality intervenes 

to the extent of diverting his murderous impulse to another girl with whom 

he has had a secret affair. When, by interesting complications and developments, 

the crime is traced to him and he is about to be arrested in midperformance, 

he makes Othello's onstage suicide his own real one. 

The script by Ruth Gordon and producer Kanin is an extremely well 

balanced and effective presentation of cause and effect, and George Cukor s 

stiU 

Y 

em I'l .>; 

ex;anadi 

ts in it^ 

the i 

rch :{i. 

anni 

seal 

masterly direction makes every scene and sentence of dialogue count importantly 

in the sum total. . 

Scenes from Shakespeare's "Othello" figure vitally and substantially in 

the film, but do not shunt the picture into the "arty" classification. By no 

means for children, the film is a quality job in every respect and a fine cinema 

experience for adults. 

. 

Running time, 103 minutes. Adult audience classification. Release date not 

William R. Weaver 

5gj

President Sees, Praises 

Paramount '47 Review 

WASHINGTON—President and Mrs. Ti-uman 

and a group of 150, including household 

guests and members of the White House offical 

staff and employes, saw Paramount's 

newsreel feature, "1947, Year of Division," 

New Year's eve. The President authorized a 

quote as follows: "A very fine presentation 

of why the Marshall Plan is necessary as a 

step toward world peace." 

Astor Gets 'Li'l Abner' 

NEW YORK—Astor Pictures Corp. will reissue 

"Li'l Abner," originally released by RKO 

in 1940, as a special in 1948, according to R. 

M. Savini, president. Astor has scheduled 

tieups with newspapers serviced by the United 

Press, thi-ough which 400 newspapers are now 

receiving the Al Capp comic strip of the same 

name, and has ordered a new line of accessories 

on the picture. 

-r.

CHESTER FRIEDMAN 

EDITOR 

HUGH E. FRAZE 

Associate Editor 

DOXOfFIC,? 

SECTION 

PRACTICAL IDEAS FOR SELLING SEATS BY PRACTICAL SHOWMEN 

\yn îte 

On May 3, 1947, the new enlarged 

Showmandiser section made its bow 

in BOXOFFICE. Two innovations 

in motion picture trade publications 

were introduced in the enlarged 

format. 

This column has already made 

mention of the impetus and encouragement 

the BOXOFFICE 

Bonus has given to exhibitors in the 

exchange of promotion ideas which 

contribute so much to the merchandising 

of the theatre and its attractions. 

The second innovation was the 

Index, by means of which the subscriber 

quickly can check on proved 

showmandising methods of other exhibitors 

in all types of communities 

and put these ideas to work locally. 

Since last May, successful campaigns 

and ideas of many theatremen 

have been reported in the 

Showmandiser section. Campaigns 

covering almost 250 feature and 

short subjects have been catalogued 

by page number and indexed. A 

cross index lists almost 400 showmandising 

ideas in every phase of 

advertising, publicity, exploitation 

and institutional selling. 

The complete 1947 Index appears 

in this issue. It is a key which will 

nnlock the wealth of knowledge accnmulated 

during the past year for 

the ambitious go-getting exhibitor. 

Theatremen frequently have described 

the need for an up-to-date 

exploitation manual, a glossary and 

reference book for the unskilled or 

inexperienced and a refresher for 

the veteran showman. 

The current issue, plainly marked 

for detachment. Is the opening section 

of the 1948 BOXOFFICE Exploitation 

Manual. The Index will 

appear at regular intervals for your 

convenience. 

Harry McWilliams, Columbia exploitation 

manager, called recently 

to tell us that Alice Gorham of 

United Detroit Theatres has dispensed 

with the customary title of 

"director of advertising, nublicity 

and exploitation." On her office door 

appears the simple but significant 

legend, "director of ticket sales." 

QUeite^ ^MedmoH 

'Smoke Eaters' Fire Imagination 

Of Augusta Theatre Patrons 

With full cooperation from the Augusta 

fire department and a strong buildup by 

newspaper and radio stations in the city. 

P. E. McCoy, manager of the Imperial, Augusta, 

Ga., was able to provide patrons with 

some added diversion and entertainment 

which widely publicized the short subject, 

"Smoke Eaters." 

During the engagement of this short, the 

fire department demonstrated the use of a 

life net at the theatre each night at 9 

o'clock, by having a fireman leap into the 

net from a high staging over the theatre 

proscenium. The fire chief acted as master 

of ceremonies, describing the details, explaining 

the right and wrong way to leap, 

and lecturing the audience on how to handle 

themselves in such an emergency. All fire 

apparatus in the city carried large banners 

announcing the short on exhibition at the 

Imperial and taking credit as sponsor of 

the film. 

Both the press and radio commentators 

m-ged readers and listeners to attend the 

Imperial to witness the demonstration. Mc- 

Coy screened "Smoke Eaters" prior to the 

regular showing for members of the fire department, 

radio and press, at which time the 

fire chief announced his full support of the 

film. 

Twice dally, both in advance and during 

the pictiu-e's four-day run, the fire department 

held a street parade, the banners serving 

to inform the public that "Smoke Eaters" 

was on exhibition at the Imperial. 

—339— 

During the engagement, a pumper truck 

was stationed in front of the theatre at all 

times except when actually needed in an 

emergency. Firemen gave information on the 

truck's operation to passersby.

CHRISTMAS 

ATMOSPHERE 

Throughout the nation, the festive holiday 

season was apparent in the activities 

of theatremen to publicize their programs 

and spread goodwill. At right, an 

eye-filling display arranged in the foyer 

of the Paramount Theatre, Portland, Ore. 

Manager Frank Pratt promoted a loan 

of the exhibit from a decorating supply 

company. A color wheel and spotlight 

gave the display a dazzling effect. The 

girls are usherettes outfitted to exploit a 

Gay Nineties revue which Pratt presented 

on the stage. 

Left: Caravan of five 

jeeps driven by 

Santas through greater 

New York area 

helped spread news 

of Loews Theatres' 

holiday shows. Gift 

packages carried 

copy and slogan. The 

motorized device invaded 

all New York 

boroughs. Long Island 

and Westches- 

At right: 

Santa ballyhoo 

carries notice 

that he handles 

everyone's affairs, in 

eluding "Her Husband's 

Affairs," and 

a plug for the State 

Theatre in Providence. 

I. G. SamoTtano, 

manager oJ the 

State, used this method 

to exploit current 

showing. 

Astor Theatre front in New York was given animation through 

real Christmas foliage which helped convey the spirit of the 

season and picture atmosphere to passersby. 

28 

Holiday front devised by Bert Detwiler, manager of the Manos, Ellwood 

City, Pa., had grained door panels, gay pine clusters and overhead board 

conveying greetings from the stall. 

—340— BOXOFnCE Sho«miandiser :: Jan. 10, 1948

i: A 

" 

Patrons Sample Cola 

In Lobby in Run of 

'Green Dolphin' 

highlight of Manager Bill Reisinger's 

bampaign on "Green Dolphin Street" at 

Loew's in Dayton was a tieup with the Royal 

:)rown Cola Co. in which patrons of Loew's 

vere invited to taste-test the beverage at the 

[heatre. A booth was set up in the lobby and 

free drinks were dispensed by attractive atendants 

during the run of the picture. 

The beverage company ran a two-column 

I 

kewspaper advertisement daily publicizing 

,he free drinks and using a cut of the star 

of the film, with prominent credits. They 

also bannered all delivery trucks within the 

irea and plugged the picture on their regular 

•adio time. Blowups of Lana Turner endorsng 

Crown Cola were distributed to all dealers 

oughout the area. 

Reisinger capitalized on the Journal 

all-star high school football poll. 

Id's 

annual feature of that newspaper. He 

tended an invitation to the sports editor 

introduce the 22 boys elected to the first 

md second teams from Loew's stage, at which 

,ime the newspaper awarded them gold and 

lilver watch charms. 

Lou Tschudi, sports director of WING, 

nade a 15-minute broadcast of the presentaion 

from the stage. The newspaper men- 

:ioned all Loew's in stories leading up to 

he poll in which readers did the balloting. 

Three Jersey Theatres 

loin in Weekly Guide 

When Frank Hyland, manager of the Palace 

Orange, N. J., introduced the Suburban 

Movie and Shopping News of the Oranges, 

last month he put into effect an idea that 

he has cherished since he was with the Wellmont 

Theatre in Montclair, N. J. 

The guide, a weekly, is edited by Hyland 

id contains eight pages made up of notices 

of current and coming screen attractions, 

writeups on the films and advertisements 

solicited from local merchants. The publication 

is sponsored by the Palace and the Pix 

Newsreel theatres in Orange, and the Beacon, 

East Orange. To date 12,000 copies a week 

have been distributed in the three theatres. 

Hyland says the guide offers an opportunity 

to give the public more information about the 

current plays than is offered on the theatre 

programs. After the holiday season he expects 

to double the size and add a syndicated 

column by Shelia Graham. 

So far the Palace has distributed the circular 

in the lobby, but the other theatres 

have mailed copies to patrons. 

Bob Hynes of St. Joseph 

Pushes 'Amber' on Radio 

strong emphasis on radio advertising featured 

the campaign for "Forever Amber" put Banks Lyons, manager of the Ideal in Corsicana, 

Tex., put on a special campaign to 

on by Bob Hynes, manager of the Missouri in 

St. Joseph, Mo. 

exploit the short subject, "Tex Williams and 

Over 100 spots were used over local outlets His Western Caravan," which helped to increase 

theatre business by 70 per cent, ac- 

up through the second day of the engagement. 

Record albums were planted with disk cording to his report. 

jockeys, who read descriptive matter of the 

Beginning a week in advance, Lyons used 

music score and plugged the attraction for 

a special trailer, bought radio spot time, displayed 

a 30x40 easel with art in the lobby, 

five consecutive days prior to opening. 

j 

' Hynes set up book displays and picture 

planted feature publicity with the Corsicana 

accessories with theatre playdates in three 

dailies and out-of-town weeklies, and tied 

book shops, arranged a counter tieup with 

in 

"Amber" perfumes and promoted an "Amber" with the local music shop for a display 

sundae with the Katz drug store outlets in 

built around Wilhams' records. 

the city. 

The music store footed half the printing 

Teaser newspaper ads and publicity stories bin for a herald prepared by Lyons, copies 

in local and rural papers rounded out the of which were distributed to patrons in advance 

of campaign. 

opening. 

BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Jan. 10, 1948 

Mechanical Display Rings Bell 

For 'Bachelor 

A mechanical display built at the Capitol 

Theatre in Vancouver, B. C, for "The 

Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer" was instrumental 

in creating the excellent advance 

and current publicity for the attraction. 

The display was built in the theatre art 

shop by Bill BaiUie from an idea by Manager 

Charlie Doctor. The upper part of a 

six-sheet cutout of Cary Grant was animated 

so that his finger pressed against a 

button wired to a door-chime bell. Intermittently, 

as the figure rocked, the action 

set off the chimes. Copy read: "When Cary 

Grant rings that doorbell, laughs will ring 

out from coast to coast." 

The device was so realistic and amusing 

that it drew attention for two weeks prior 

to opening and was placed adjacent to the 

boxoffice dming the run. 

When curiosity prompted someone to steal 

the finger from the display of Grant, Doctor 

decided to leave the missing digit off the 

display and ran the following ad in the personal 

columns of the Vancouver Province 

and the Sun: "Have You Eleven Fingers? 

—Would the party who Ufted the finger off 

Cary Grant in front of the Capitol Theatre 

Sells Short Ups Gross 

—341— 

and Bobby-Soxer 

please return same to the theatre manager 

and receive a reward of two guest tickets to 

see 'The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer.' 

The finger was not returned but the ad 

did create much humorous comment and 

numerous inquiries from patrons. 

Pi-ior to opening, Doctor staged a preview 

for 150 hairdressers and cosmetic saleswomen 

who provided excellent word-of-mouth boosters 

for the show. 

Leaders of the Teen Town organization 

were informed that a special student ticket 

was available for juveniles. Through this 

group. Doctor obtained notices on school 

bulletins and periodicals. 

Radio announcements were used profusely 

and newspapers were generous with free 

publicity breaks. Hudson's Bay and many of 

the leading stores in Vancouver tied up for 

attractive window displays featuring merchandise 

for bachelors and bobby-soxers, with 

prominent theatre plugs. 

For street ballyhoo. Doctor promoted a 

jeep and had an eye-catching display built 

around the vehicle. This was used for a full 

week on the streets before the city license 

inspector forced its withdrawal. 

Scatters Earrings About 

In a Teaser Campaign 

Earrings worth a pass when dehvered to 

the boxoffice were scattered on the streets 

and in stores and cafes of Lenoir, N. C, by 

Manager Earl Myers of the Center as a 

teaser for "Golden Earrings." At very small 

cost, he purchased two dozen earrings from 

odd lots at the dime store. To each one he 

attached a 2'2x4:!i tag reading, "Finder, 

please return to the Center Theatre boxoffice 

and receive a free pass to see 'Golden Earrings,' 

starring Marlene Dietrich-Ray Milland. 

Late show Saturday night, also showing Monday 

and Tuesday." Copy was on both sides 

of the tag. When an earring was brought in, 

it was taken out and dropped somewhere 

else. 

29

: 

. . "But 

' 

Paramount's 'Where There's Lih 

Wins December Blue Ribbon Awaru 

By VELMA WEST SYKES 

y^HERE There's Life," the Paramount comedy which talces the public's natural curr 

| 

interest in foreign comitries leven mythical onesi and their rulers for a joyride, is 

winner of the December BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon Award. The idea of disk- jockey l| 

Hope as the rightful heir to the throne of Barovia. and attempts of the beautiful woir 

general of its army, Signe Hasso, to be the Jeanne d'Arc to place him there, are amus 

even before Hope's familiar antics begin. All the intrigue and counterplots which mi 

ace the newly-discovered crown prince, as Fascists try to assassinate him, are but grist 

the mill which turns out Hope gags with international trimmings. 

, 

This is the third Blue Ribbon winner for Bob Hope, and since Bing Crosby has fi'J 

Blue Ribbon pictures to his credit. Bob should now feel he is closing in on his sere 

archenemy. For Signe Hasso this is the fourth Plaque to her credit and William Bene 

can now boast of two. Paramount's score of Blue Ribbon winners in 1947 is two, "Welcoi 

Stranger" winning the August Award. Producer Paul Jones has only one other and this 

Director Sidney Lanfield's first. «i 

The selection of "Where There's Life" by 

the National Screen Council for this BOX- 

OFFICE honor emphasizes the interest in 

comedies as entertainment fare during a 

time when newspaper headlines are seriously 

concerned with postwar problems and international 

headaches. The boxoffice score of 

this winning film, taken from key city first 

run reports, is now 129 per cent. In the 

Review Digest Guide, it has been given an 

8-plus and 1 -minus rating. 

Review and Comments 

The picture was reviewed in the October 

11 issue of BOXOFFICE, with the reviewer 

commenting 

"The story pits villainous foreign ministers 

and a black-hooded secret society against 

the frightened Hope and a lady general who 

wants to make him king of Barovia. Additional 

comedy is supplied by Hope's jilted 

fiancee and her four brothers on the police 

force. Hope gives his customary engaging 

portrayal which even includes a derisive comment 

about Crosby. William Bendix adds 

some laughs." 

Among the ballot comments which came 

in is one which contradicts what has been 

said by others who prefer Hope teamed up 

with Crosby, and that is the one by Brooks 

Bicknell of the Alva (Okla.) Courier who 

writes: "Hope is best by himself." 

"Bob Hope always brings a laugh—something 

which we all want," comments Mrs. 

. 

Ferd Lucas, Greencastle, Indiana Indorse J 

of Photoplays good!" is the w'l 

Mary Ruth of WORL, Boston, expresses ' 

Whereas Pauline Voris of Kansas Oil 

Missouri Writers' Guild, explains: "We a 

grateful for those whose entertainment c, 

always be depended upon to be wholeson 

for the family." 

Exhibitors who have yet to play this BU 

Ribbon winner will find it a help to ac 

vertise the honor conferred on it by ti 

National Screen Council, as small town ar 

neighborhood theatres cater largely to tl 

family trade. It will also be of interest 

is publicity given the fact that some of tl 

settings were assembled from furni.shiiv. 

bought by the studio from the auction 

the contents of the old Vanderbilt man.siot 

The "Barovian" consulate was once tlpaneled 

study in the historic American mi 

lionaire abode, and the old Vanderbilt ball 

room became a hall in the "Barovian" pa: 

ace, done in cream and gold. 

While the plot cannot be taken senoii-sl} 

it has enough mysteiy and drama in it t 

act as a foil for Bob's clowning. The ide 

of the secret Fascist organization calle 

"Mordia" allows for dramatic juggling of th 

plot into position for Hope's gags, both orig 

inal and routine. 

For whole family entertainment, theatre 

have here a happy recipe which should .sen 

everyone away smiling—and leave the exhibi 

tor doing the same. 

The Cast 

I 

Michael Valentine 

Katrina Grimovitch 

Victor O Brien 

Krivoc. 

Hazel O'Brien 

Bob Hope Paul Stertoriiis George ZucciJ 

Signe Hasso Minister of War Grubitch Dennis Hoe')I 

„, „ Mr. Herbert Jones John AlexandeiP 

William Bendix „. ,,.-.. ^ -.i , ,, ,, 

Finance Minister Zavitch... .Victor Varcon 

George Coulouris Albert Miller Vitali- 

Joseph 

....Vera Marshe Joe Snyder Harry Von Zeu 

Production Staff 

Produced by 

Paul Jones 

Directed by Sidney Lanfield 

Screen Play by 

Allen Boretz and 

Melville Shavelson 

Based on a Story by....Melville Shavelson 

Director of Photography 

Charles B. Lang jr.. A.S.C. 

Art Direction 

Hans Dreier 

Earl Hedrick Makeup Supervision 

Special Photographic Effects 

Sound Recording by 

Gordon Jennings, A.S.C. 

Process Photography 

Farciot Edouart, A.S,C 

Set Decoration Sam Comer 

Syd Moore' 

Music Direction Irvin Talboi 

Costumes 

Edith Head 

Edited by 

Archie Marshek 

Men's Wardrobe 

Gile Steele 

Wally Westmore 

Hugo Grenzbach 

John Cope 

y This Award is given each month by the National Screen Council on the basis of outstanding mi 

and suitability for family entertainment. Council membership comprises motion picture editors, ra 

film commentators, and representatives of better film councils, civic and educational organizati(

mt3 /^t K// rc/c//^^û.. 

toFxp/oct r% 

pictures/ 

kt It to d2too4t iôun 

i(rx-0{|ic£ Take ... on. 

?e amount's latest Bob Hope Rib-Tickler 

"Where There's Life" 

ihe Ribbon 

^vird Winner 

)i December 

"mnmr of the BOX OFF/CE 

Blue Ribbon Award... Selected 

by the NATIONAL SCREEN 

COUNCIL... comprised of 

242 Motion Picture Editors of 

Newspapers ar\d Magazines... 

„.ond betore 

th.Feotufe' 

il 

30 Radio Commcntotors... 170 

Clubioomen and representatioes 

of social, civic. Religious 

and Educational Organizations... 

as the BEST PICTURE 

OF THE MONTH for 

Whole Family/" 

the 

>cler by "O- 

BRA-2 

$loo 

I 

nnTionni 

K_J pfuzeBaar Of memousmr 

Order 

SERVICE 

trom your nearest NSS Exchange!

, 

Cycle Speedsters Supply Diversion 

And Thrills for Cardiff Patrons 

Interests Merchants 

In Christmas Nights 

To Build Goodwill 

When Fred Leavens was moved up frc, 

^ 

assistant manager of the Centre Theatre ^ 

London, Ont., to manger of the Family 

Toronto recently, he faced the difficult ta 

of getting merchant cooperation from buj 

nessmen with whom he was not acquaints 

Undeterred, Leavens approached the me 

chants and sold them on the idea of presen' 

An unusual and exciting spectacle was pi-esented 

at the Empire Theatre in Cardiff, 

Wales, by Manager A. J. Brown in support 

of the regular film program which drew 

capacity audiences to the theatre for a full 

week and provided novelty entertainment 

for those who attended. 

The presentation, which was called Cycle 

Roller racing, was actually a series of contests 

for cyclists who competed for valuable 

cups donated by Gaumont-British Pictures 

Corp., and leading cycle dealers in Cardiff. 

Brown enlisted the support of the Cardiff 

Cycling Clubs Ass'n and the national weekly 

magazine, Cycling, which provided all the 

necessary equipment. Competitors, both men 

and women, were members of cycling clubs 

from all parts of South Wales, and officials 

were provided by the National Cyclists union. 

Between the races. Brown injected comedy 

relief by appearing on stage riding a 

Best Player Chosen 

ToSeirWestPoinl' 

The award of a trophy to the best player 

in the annual football game between two 

local high schools was arranged by Sadie 

Conti, manager of the Oxford in Plainfield, 

N. J., to spark his promotion for "Spirit of 

West Point." 

Sable sent letters to both schools advising 

them of the award and posted notices on the 

school bulletin boards. He asked the Courier 

News sports editor and the coaches of the 

Plainfield and Westfield football teams to 

act as judges, and the winner, a Westfield 

halfback, was presented the trophy from 

the stage a few nights later. 

The Courier News, ordinarily not partial 

to theatre news, came through with a total of 

26 Inches of photogi-aphs and stories on the 

event. 

We/comes 'Sfranger' 

A baby derby helped exploit "Welcoiie 

Stranger" at Century's Bliss in Sunnyside, 

N. Y. Manager Charlie CaJl promoted a baby 

carriage and a bassinet which were offered 

to the parents of the first child born during 

the run of "Welcome Stranger" at the Bliss. 

in the main window of Burton's, tailors. 

As an indication of how much the audience 

appreciated the show. Brown received a large 

number of letters praising the exhibition 

and requesting a return engagement. 

Old Phonograph Proves 

Cynosure for 'Father' 

Two unusual window displays were arranged 

by John Divney, manager of the 

Maine in Portland for "Life With Father." 

The Music Mart placed an Edison Amberola, 

a talking machine dated 1890 with cylinder 

records, as a centerpiece in the window and 

surrounded it with scene stills and sheet 

music from the film production. The museum 

piece, exhibited one week in advance, drew 

plenty of attention to the picture. 

A jewelry shop used an entire window for 

an enlargement of the two stars in "Life With 

Father," around which was an attractive 

display of old-fashioned costume jewelry. 

Cards tied in the date of the store's founding 

with the date era of the picture. 

Reading Four-Foot 'Amber' 

Stops Traffic in Kingston 

An usher carrying a four-foot book of "Forever 

Amber" around Kingston, N. Y., stopping 

to "read" at busy corners, attracted 

plenty of attention to the booking at the 

Broadway Theatre for Manager Betty Riseley. 

Two full pages of co-op ads were obtained 

in the Kingston Leader as well as spot 

announcements on the local radio station. A 

false front was specially built for the sevenday 

showing. 

ing two gift nights just before Christmas i; 

return for free advertising and the promii' 

of goodwill from neighborhood residents, i; 

New Talent Nights Series 

Started at Elberton, Ga. 

The second series of Miss Personality nights 

which proved highly successful at the Elbert, 

Elberton, Ga., has been started by Man- 

ager Lat Heard. The stage presentation offers 

talented musicians, dancers and singers 

an opportunity to compete on the Elbert 

stage every Thursday night, which is normally 

a slow business night. 

The contest is sponsored by 15 Elberton 

merchants who contribute towards prize 

money and advertising expenses. Each week 

the winning contestant is selected by popular 

applause after they had been "nominated" 

through balloting of theatre patrons. The 

winner is presented the following Thursday 

as Miss Personality, modeling dresses, jewelry, 

etc. 

The value of weekly prizes runs over $150. 

The local radio station broadcasts the show 

and cooperating merchants advertise the 

program in window displays. 

Five-Hour Kiddy Program 

Given Day Before Xmas 

To offset the slump expected the day before 

Christmas, Louis Liss, manager of the 

Fortway Theatre in Brooklyn, booked a reissue 

program of "Leave Her to Heaven" and 

"Jungle Book" and staged a holiday party 

for children. 

Six cartoons rounded out the show which 

ran five hours. A tieup with a riding academy 

provided toys for every boy and girl who attended. 

The show was publicized through a 

traUer. lobby 40x60 and circulars distributed 

at neighborhood schools. 

32 -344— BOXOFHCE Showmcmdiser :: Jan. 10, 1948

'•i 

i-,. 

; 

Miss 

' 

On 

ils 

II 

Mitchum, Fight Films 

Sell 'Out of Past' 

In San Francisco 

Supported by the Louis-Walcott fight pictures 

and the personal appearance of Rob- 

"Out of the Past" had its 

ert 

initial 

Mitchum. 

showing at the RKO Golden Gate 

Theatre in San Francisco. 

Helen Wabbe, publicity director for the 

Golden Gate, arranged a series of radio interviews 

for the star which reached listeners 

ner KSAN, KNBC, KLOK, KSFO, KGO and 

KYA. Mitchum also appeared at the Elks' 

and Boys' clubs and was mass interviewed 

backstage by journalism and photography 

students. 

his arrival in San Francisco, Mitchum 

was greeted by representatives of the Charm 

and Modeling school and accepted a statue 

as the "actor model" of all local models. 

This stunt broke every local newspaper, as 

did many of his other appearances during 

his engagement. Tlie picture was played up 

in all publicity with theatre mention. 

Wabbe tied up with the Chronicle to 

run an opinion poll based on the public's 

reaction to the Louis-'Walcott fight. The poll 

was conducted in the lobby and netted a full 

column review in the Chronicle as well as 

foUowup stories on the result of the poll, 

which brought many extra admissions to the 

theatre. 

Free plugs were obtained through loud 

"; 

speaker announcements at wrestling matches 

at the Auditorium before capacity audiences 

of sports fans. Featured stories on the news 

': 

and sports pages of all the dailies kept in- 

.; 

' 

' 

terest high and reflected in boxoffice at- 

tendance. 

Rakes Farmers Toward 

His 'Wild Harvest' Date 

Successful operation of the small 440-seal 

Howard Theatre in Monon, Ind., a rural 

community, compels Manager Oral Ledbetter 

to make sure he gets full returns from his 

advertising money. 

For "Wild Harvest," a natural for any 

farming area, he reports, the weekly newspaper 

ad was supplemented by classified 

announcements scattered through the section 

which read: "For Sale—Tickets to sec 

Wild Harvest,' etc." Ledbetter also landed 

two separate stories plugging the picture. 

A harvest-time farm set was erected in 

the window of department store with 

a 

blowups of Alan Ladd and Dorothy Lamour 

and theatre and picture playdates. Window 

cards were placed in strategic locations and 

the Howard staff wore lapel banners announcing 

the opening ten days in advance. 

Football Rally and Award 

Sparks "Spirit" Opening 

A football rally and special sports events 

on the stage of the Strand Theatre, Freehold, 

N. J., was arranged by Manager John 

Balmer to exploit "Spirit of West Point." 

Balmer conducted a contest to select tlie 

football player who most typified the "Spirit 

of Freehold High," offering a gold engraved 

trophy and tickets to a professional 

football game as the prize. The tickets were 

promoted. 

The contest was climaxed with a rally at 

the Strand attended by members of the local 

team and cheer leaders. The Freeport Transcript 

covered the story with daily announcements 

and photographs. The theatre was 

decorated with pennants to boost the picture's 

current run. 

LIQUID SEASONING 

costs you 

-0.333 

per bag of 

popcorn! 

-Because 

it's 

liquid . . . needs 

no pre-heating 

. . . pours readily 

. . . and measures accurately! 

Simonin of Philadelphia 

COLUMBIA PICTURES 

ANNOUNCES THAT PRINTS OF THE FOLLOWING PICTURES 

ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN OUR EXCHANGES FOR SCREENING 

THE uiomnn 

FRom TnnciER 

with 

ADELE JERGENS- STEPHEN DUNNE 

MICHAEL DUANE • DENIS GREEN 

Original screenplay by Irwin Franklyn 

Directed by HAROLD DANIELS • Produced by MARTIN MOONEY 

Charles STARRETT- Smiley BURNETTE 

PHANTOM VALLEY 

with 

VIRGINIA HUNTER 

OZIE WATERS AND HIS COLORADO RANGERS 

Original screenplay by J. 

Benton Cheney 

Directed by RAY NAZARRO . Produced by COLBERT CLARK 

GLAMOUR GIRL 

featuring 

GENE KRUPA AND HIS ORCHESTRA 

Virginia Grey • Michael Duane • Jimmy Lloyd • Jack Leonard 

SUSAN REED AND HER ZITHER 

Screenplay by M. Coates Webster and Lee Gold 

Directed by ARTHUR DREIFUSS . Produced by SAM KATZMAN 

MARY LOU 

with 

Robert Lowery 

Abigail Adams 

• Joan Barton 

• 

Glenda Farrell 

• Frank Jenks 

and featuring 

FRANKIE CARLE AND HIS 

Original screenplay by M. Coates Webster 

PIANO 

Directed by ARTHUR DREIFUSS • Produced by SAM KATZMAN 

BOXOFTICE Showmandiaer ;: Jan. 10, 1948 —345— 33

: AGENT 

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ELLIOT FORBES.. 'n f.»««-o« .he 

DELIO BOLIO, r...... H„i.n, c„i. 

the Uni.e'sily ol Meiico. Me.ico Cit, 

JESSE OWENS, ...u, 

WMO BUNS yOUR THEATRE ? 

WMO PA/;S /OUR BlUS f 

VVtlO 8U>S WUB TICKETS? 

/l/ZracM" 

e^^"'^ 

4^^ 

&yS 

FOR A 53rd 

WEEK'S PROFIT 

America^ Greatest Midni0ht 5pook5hovy W/m^/^^m/ffS' 

(JHNtllNE 100% ALL ^PANI5H WNIT 

All Sub-Titles • Medical Dialoguejji 

^^JSMf 

with Spanish Lecturer and Two N 

Trailer • Accessories • Paper • Mats • Window Cards 

COMPLETE ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN IN SPANISH 

(This unit will come to U. S. 

direct from Mexico City) 

BOB HICKS PAGE, 

^00/i^M>i 

lYGIENIC PRODUCTIONS, 

US. 3P/IWS//-U/V/r70C/^ 0P£W^&Af/I^C//7srgc£iP/IS0 

Presents Special Shov\ 

For Board of Trade's 

Silver Anniversary 

Tying in with the silver jubilee celebrati 

of the Port Richmond, N. Y., Board of Trai 

Spencer Bregoff, manager of Fabian's Pi 

ace there, booked a special program aim 

at emphasizing the progress made in moti 

pictures during the last 25 years. 

Bregoff showed "Tillie's Punctured R 

mance," a newsreel of 25-year vintage, ol 

time comedy shorts and song reels to hig 

light the old era, with "Stairway to Heave 

as the main feature, representing mode 

film production. 

The Board of Trade sponsored an o 

photo contest, with pictures exhibited at tl 

Palace. Three weeks in advance, each 

the merchants announced the contest 

daily newspaper ads, netting it more thi 

60 free announcements through this meth( 

alone. Merchant awards for winners 

presented from the Palace stage by the 

ough president of Richmond on opening nigl 

of the special program. Publicity o 

contest included a page one story in tl 

local daily. 

Bregoff used trailers at both the Palai 

and the affiliated Ritz Theatre. Sever. 

40x60s with stills were used in the lobby an 

out front. Giant heads of Charlie Chapli 

were placed on all door panels, and an usht 

dressed as Chaplin, with signs announcin 

the show, distributed heralds. A 25-year-ol 

Ford with signs was driven through sui 

rounding communities and parked in fror 

of the theatre during peak hours. 

The theatre staff was outfitted in Kej 

stone cop uniforms which they wore in ad 

vance and during the engagement. Bregol| / 

* 

promoted 10,000 four-page heralds whic 

were distributed on the streets and used a, 

stuffers by merchants. Three-sheet posteil 

were sniped throughout the area, and durini 

the current showing the entire theatre fron' 

was decorated with flag streamers promote* 

from the Coast Guard. 

The merchants paid almost the entire cos 

of the campaign, leaving the theatre witi 

less than $10 as its share of the over-al 

expense. 

Books Bobbysox Prevue 

As Pre-Xmas Stimulant 

A Bobbysox Pi-evue proved to be an effective 

business booster for Dwight Seymour 

manager of the Arbor Theatre, Nebrasks 

City, Neb. 

Seymour booked a two-hour program oi 

short subjects featuring the band leader; 

most popular with the youngsters, and presented 

a special show following the regular 

evening performance two days prior tc 

Christmas. A portable radio was promoted 

from the Western Auto store as a giveaway 

to the person holding the lucky door number 

at the Pi-evue. 

Seymour publicized the show through a 

lobby display, trailer and handbills which 

were circularized in Nebraska City and eight 

.surrounding communities. 

Distributes Grid Tickets ( 

As Novelty Circular 

Ted Mimson, manager of the Bradley. Columbus, 

Ga., distributed 2,000 cards printed 

tc resemble football game tickets to high 

to school students exploit "Spirit of West 

Point." Handbills were placed under car 

windshield wipers at the stadium parking lot. 

-346— BOXOFFICE Showmandiser Jan. 10, 1948

A THOUGHT OR TWO FROM HYGIENIC CORNER 

AgenI Floyd Lewis (lelt), Hygienic's lirst 

road employe and with the firm since its inception, 

explains "Why 1948 will be better" to 

his bossman, Kroger Babb. Hygienic is shoot-

Peffley incorporated the statement in . 

— 

^ 

Promotes Demonstration of Combine 

In Racine City Square on "Harvesf 

Fremont, Ohio, Mayor 

Schools, Libraries 

Aid 'Unconquered' 

Close cooperation with schools, libraric 

and the mayor of Fremont. Ohio, nettej^ 

strong publicity for Manager Dick Pefflei 

in his promotion of "Unconquered" at th 

Paramount. 

The mayor proclaimed "Unconquered 

week concurrently with the picture's engage 

ment. Newspapers picked up the story ani 

Knowing that Massey-Harris wheat combines 

were used in the filming of "Wild 

Harvest," Manager Stanley Gere utilized the 

information to get additional publicity for 

that attraction at the Rialto Theatre in 

Racine, Wis. 

Gere tied up with the Massey-Harris Co. 

locally, obtaining a self-propelling combine 

which was bannered appropriately and paraded 

through the main streets attended by 

a police escort. The combine, still carrying 

Wedding, 'Monterey' 

Make CoOp Combo 

Tying in with the Youngsters shop in 

Tampa, Pla., Elmer Hecht. manager of the 

Park, promoted a cooperative ad on "The 

Pirates of Monterey" and the exhibition of 

"The Royal Wedding" featurette. The ad. 

which broke on opening day, was paid for 

exclusively by the cooperating merchant. 

Hecht reports that in keeping with his policy 

of giving the merchant full value in all cooperative 

ventures, he gave the Youngsters 

shop a screen credit. 

The ad ran in the Morning Ti'ibune, three 

columns wide and the full depth of the page. 

The upper half of the space was devoted 

to a scene cut from the film with the catchline: 

"Treasure land, ahoy! You'll see a real 

treasure land of entertainment in the Park 

attractions, and a treasure land of children's 

furniture and toys, etc., etc." 

Another tieup was scored with Maas Bros., 

prominent department store, which featured 

a duplicate of the Princess Elizabeth wedding 

gown in its main window. A card announced 

the Park film attractions. 

Quick Work Is Performed 

On Films of Big Fight 

On December 11, with only one day's notice, 

the Louis-Walcott fight pictures were 

booked into the Malco Theatre, Hot Springs, 

leaving Manager Clyde Smith little time to 

publicize the attraction. Displaying ingenuity 

36 

the banners announcing the playdates, was 

then placed on exhibition in the city square 

in front of the Rialto. 

As part of the tieup, Massey-Harris provided 

large cutout displays which were placed 

in hotels, restaurants, banks and store windows. 

The cutouts carried the theatre imprint. 

One-sheet posters were placed on 12 

bulletin boards at the Massey-Harris factory. 

Gere built a special theatre front 

using many scene stills. 

and speed, Smith incorporated a regular wire 

service picture of the fight into his ad the 

next morning, building it up with copy and 

catchlines on the controversial angles of the 

sporting event. 

A phone call to the sports editor of the 

Sentinel Record was sufficient to rate an 

excellent publicity story in the sports section. 

At Fort Smith, Remmel Young, manager 

of the Joie, under similar circumstances, 

used an outstanding newspaper ad plus a 

standard cut on opening day. The theatre's 

delivery truck was bannered on both sides 

and used to ballyhoo the fight pictures during 

the current engagement. 

Boyd Sparrow Receives 

Excellent Aid on 'Body' 

A screening of "Body and Soul" arranged 

ten days prior to opening by Boyd Sparrow, 

manager of Loew's, Indianapolis, wasjittended 

by sports wi'iters, critics and disk 

jockeys, which resulted in fine cooperation 

from all. 

Disk jockeys featured song hits from the 

picture. Easy Gwynn, WIBC jockey, held 

a seven-day contest offering theatre tickets 

to listeners who guessed the band and vocalist 

heard in recordings on the.se broadcasts. 

The Indiana News Co. tied in with a Pocket 

Book edition of "Body and Soul," placing 

11x14 cards on all newsstands. Eight window 

displays were scored in leading shops throughout 

the city and 5,000 teaser cards were distributed 

at high school football games prior 

to opening. 

—348— 

scroll which was run on the editorial page a 

a paid advertisement. 

In the school paper, an ad was run in th( 

form of a misspelled word contest. The firs 

two students submitting the correct list wen 

given theatre passes at the school office. Ter 

sets of study charts were given to school 

principals who assured they would be placecj 

in study classes and that teachers woulc 

discuss them with the students. 

Brochures and still displays were placed 

in libraries, and study charts were taped tc' 

bulletin boards to facilitate reading. "Keep' 

America Unconquered" buttons were distributed 

at an American Legion party. 

A strong attention-getter in the lobby \va.s 

a large easel on which were displayed 25 

action stills from the film. Crowds collected 

in front of this when the theatre was open. 

Peffley overcame the reluctance of mer-', 

chants to turn over their valuable window; 

space prior to the holidays, landing six: 

colorful exhibits built around accessories and! 

photographs. Eight other merchants and' 

several stores displayed interior signs. 

Teaser newspaper ads, radio announcements 

and display ads and readers in suburban and 

rural newspapers also were used. 

Plugs in 20.000 Homes 

"^ 

At Cost of 100 Tickets 

Dee Fuller, manager of the Criterion in 

Oklahoma City, has arranged a lucky number 

deal with the Oklahoma Operating Co.. 

which is composed of several large laundries. 

The Criterion gets publicity in approximately 

200,000 homes weekly in return for 100 tickets, 

which are given to the laundries for awarding 

to lucky patrons. 

The laundries place numbered inserts in 

every outgoing bundle, then give the tickets 

to the lucky number holders. 

The task of selling "Slave Girl" at the Mission, 

Santa Barbara, Calif., was made less 

arduous for Manager Reg Streeter when he 

discovered that one of his usherettes bears a 

resemblance to Yvonne De Carlo who is costarred. 

Streeter rigged up this simple lobby 

display with the usherette as a live model; 

she in turn attracted considerable attention 

to the feature. 

BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Jan. 10, 1948 

r

. GREEN 

' 

SHOWMANDISER INDEX 

Listing feature and short subject promotion and a cross-indetc of exploitation and 

institutional ideas by page nvimbers appearing bottom center of the Showmandiser 

pages each week. This index covers all issues. May 3-January 1, inclusive. 

FEATURE AND SHORT SUBJECT 

DIRECTORY 

DVENTURE ISLAND 

DVENTURESS 

.LEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND 54. 60 

ACHELOR AND BOBBY-SOXER 30, 191. 192. 

206, 228, 240, 248, 299, 309 

EAST WITH FIVE FINGERS 76, 84. 182. 240 

lEDELIA 10, 26, 46, 69, 92, 96, 97. 152. 216 

EGINNING OR END 31. 82, 92, 187, 203, 263. 292 

ELLS OF ST. MARYS , 95. 302 

ELLS OF SAN ANGELO 151. 198. 232 

lEST YEAHS OF OUR LIVES 10. 21, 44, 64. 

112, 149, 170. 188, 197, 212, 252 

IIG SLEEP 

21. 206 

LACK BEAUTY 

108 

ILACK GOLD 

146, 169. 187. 220, 231, 280. 290 

ILACK NARCISSUS 

(LAZE OF NOON 53 

ILUE SKIES 

lOB, SON OF BATTLE 

lODY AND SOUL 

294, 295, 299, 302, 310, 316 

iOOMEHANG 

57. 78, 91, 100 

lOOM TOWN 

(RINGING UP FATHER 

IROTHEHS 

JRUTE FORCE 132 140, 168, 188. 189. 222. 246. 

320, 325, 326 

iUCK PRIVATES COME HOME 45, 68. 112 

:alcutta 

;alendaii girl 

CALIFORNIA 

:armen 

:AHNEGIE HALL 

6. 46. 81. 94. 113. 195 

3. 41. 142 

13. 31. 54. 82, 116 

90. 152 

177. 198. 201, 210, 219, 243, 

278. 282, 288, 291. 292, 313 

:arnival in costa rica 54, 104 

:HEYENNE 46, 52, 92, 105. 108, 109, 126. 152. 203 

:hild of divorce 52. 70 

kCHHISTMAS EVE 295 

I30MEDY CARNIVAL 198. 222. 233 

':0PACABANA 78, 100. 112. 130 

:0RPSE CAME C.O.D. 143. 213 

COURAGE OF LASSIE 73. 95 

CROSSnRE 171. 176, 216, 233. 244. 248. 249, 263, 

310, 316 

:RY wolf 189. 204 

CYNTHIA 90, 126. 154, 180. 197, 206, 210, 215. 

229. 244. 249, 259. 294 

DARK PASSAGE 279 

DEAD of NIGHT 91 

DEAD RECKONING 7. 47. 77. 100. 116. 143. 156. 208 

DEAR RUTH 57. 122, 157. 178. 183. 184. 189. 

200. 206. 207, 213, 215. 280. 313 

FURY 

223, 228 

DEVIL ON WHEELS 

173. 219, 240. 332 

DISCOVERY 

252 

DISHONORED LADY 

67. 92. 105. 108, HI. 143 

DOWN TO EARTH 

217. 232. 233. 248, 260. 

266. 280. 321 

DUEL IN THE SUN 1. 2. 18. 30. 62. 69. 87. 9< 

96, 97, 100. 106. 110, 116. 123. 127. 166. 19 

IeASY COME. EASY GO 31.6^ 

EGG AND 1 3. 6. 11. 36. 37, 40, 54, 69, 77. 10! 

127. 142. 157. 162. 186, 187. 252. 256. 260 

FABULOUS DORSEYS 

44. 45. 120. 142. 166, 

169. 192. 206. 229 

FABULOUS TEXAN 

287. 325 

FANTASIA 

300. 320 

FARMER- S DAUGHTER 

70. 76. 

114, 128. 147. 15,'. 189. 222 

HESTA 140. 144. 145. 152. 158. 169. 184. 188. 219 

FOREVER AMBER 229. 237. 249. 252. 257. 258. 

268, 276, 316 

FOXES OF HARROW 

309 

FRAMED 

108, 

FUN AND FANCY FREE 

244, 249, 

GALLANT BESS 113. 130 

GANGSTER 296 

GHOST AND MRS. MUIR HI. 113 

GINGER 71 

GONE WITH THE WIND 185. 207, 215. 240. 290, 

294, 310 

GREAT EXPECTATIONS 30, 77, 108, 136. 160. 190. 252 

GREAT WALTZ 73. 116, 131, 162, 206. 300 

^ GREEN DOLPHIN STREET 279. 297, 312, 321, 325 

> GREEN FOR DANGER 171 

PASTURES ... 96 

^ GUILT OF lANET AMES 64, 101 

GUNHGHTEBS 150, 190, 285, J12 

. 

I 

. . 

HEAVEN ONLY KNOWS 194, 240 

HER HUSBAND S AFFAIRS 289 

HIGH BARBAREE 30, 87, 101 

HOMESTRETCH 6, 57. 78, 92, 131, 144. 184, 208, 248 

HONEYMOON 104, 137. 173. 240. 256. 261 

HUCKSTERS 142. 144. 148. 

172, 177. 183, 188, 195. 156. 168, 

HUMORESQUE 

203. 211, 296 

60,88,114 

WONDER WHO'S KISSING HER NOW 

156, 174. 177. 180. 190. 197. 236. 274, 299 

IMPERFECT LADY 2, 76. 77 

HAD YOU 275. 290, 306 

IT TO BE 

HAPPENED ON FIFTH AVENUE 

HAPPENED IN BROOKLYN 10, IT 31, 37, 60, 114, 122 

IT 

105, 114, 130, 134. 149, 172, 200, 215, 268, 280 

lOKE, SON 10, 13, 21, 37. 131 

IT'S A 

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE 3. 10. 28. 41 

68. 81, 100, 101, 113, 127, 158, 168. 169. 176. 186. 

lACK ARMSTRONG (serial) 76 

JESSE JAMES 154. 271 

JESSE JAMES RIDES AGAIN (serial) 143 

JOHNNY O'CLOCK 95. 97, 108. 152, 174 

JOLSON STORY 36, 45. 50. 52. 

64. 67. 87. 92. 95. 96. 97, 123. 141. 170. 188. 203 

KID FROM BROOKLYN 192 

KILLERS 100 

KING'S JESTER 280 

KISS OF DEATH 231 

KIT CARSON 130 

LADIES' MAN 

LADY IN THE LAKE 

2, 26. 170. 184 

LAST OF MOHICANS 

130. 192 

LATE GEORGE APLEY 

31, 67. 92, 110 

LIFE WITH FATHER 

127. 167. 

171. 195. 207. 208. 213, 215, 219, 237. 245. 252, 

259, 266, 272, 294 

LIVING IN A BIG WAY 174,176 

LOCKET 36, 45. 149. 163 

LONG NIGHT 183. 184. 231 

LOST MOMENT 289. 300. 306 

LOVE AND LEARN 105 

LOVE LAUGHS AT ANDY HARDY 13. 64. 113, 136 

LOVES OF JOANNA GODDEN 294. 297 

LURED 192. 228 

MACOMBER AFFAIR 2, 30, 36, 40, 92, 111, 130. 173 

MAGIC BOW 72. 94 

MAGIC TOWN 254. 317 

MAGNIFICENT DOLL 91. 110 

MAN WITHIN 183 

MARGIE 60, 96 

MERTON OF THE MOVIES 284 

MIGHTY McGUHK 3. 5. 68 

MILDRED PIERCE 128 

MIRACLE ON 34th STREET 45, 67, 79, 100, 120, 135, 

152, 160, 168, 173, 178, 183, 184, 201. 215. 229, 233, 

267, 282 

MONSIEUR VERDOUX 289 

MOTHER WORE TIGHTS 171. 212. 223, 228. 233. 325 

MY BROTHER TALKS TO HORSES 137. 166. 204. 278 

MY FAVORITE BRUNETTE 

31. 51, 111, 112, 163, 180, 233 

NEW ORLEANS 2. 100, 180, 197. 254, 266 

NEW TRAINS FOR OLD (M.O.T.) 169 

NIGHT IN CASABLANCA 198 

NIGHTMARE ALLEY 245, 298 

NOBODY LIVES FOREVER 21 

NORA PRENTISS 31, 53, 91, 152, 186 

NORTHWEST OUTPOST 306 

ODD MAN OUT 6, 13, 94, 120, 152, 237 

ON APPROVAL 39 

ONE MILLION B. C, 154 

OTHER LOVE 

OUT OF THE BLUE 

OVERLANDERS 91 

PASSPORT TO NOWHERE (short) 126 

PERFECT MARRIAGE 57, 150, 154, 201, 207 

PERILS OF PAULINE 89, 90, 100, 112, 

128, 142, 152, 163, 170, 177, 182, 187, 212, 213, 233. 

317 

PITTSBURGH 308 

PLAINSMAN 

POSSESSED 

26, 133, 246. 295 

PRIDE OF THE MARINES 

PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF BEL AMI 

PURSUED 

RAMROD 

36. 97. 116. 187. 231 

RAZOR'S EDGE 

RED HOUSE 9. 94. 139. 197 

RED STALLION 168, 194, 197. 203. 222, 229. 

237. 248, 255, 261, 275, 276, 298, 303, 317 

REMEMBER THE DAY 101 

REPEAT PERFORMANCE 45, 52, 116, 122, 131, 

177, 189, 207, 219. 288, 294 

RETURN OF RIN TIN TIN 310 

RIDE THE PINK HORSE 244, 248, 317 

72

DIRECTORY OF GENERAL EXPLOITATION IDEAS 

AFTER SCHOOL SHOW 80 

AIR CONDITIONING 78. 178 

Calendar Girl 

36. 52. 91. 100, 222. 233 

AIRPLANES 177. 182. 184 

AMATEUR SHOW 5. 101, 269, 313, 325 

ANNIVERSARY 56, 76, 137. 174, 249, 

BABY DERBY 

BALLYHOOS— 

Ambulance 

Balloon 

256 

Classified 

Costume 

Doubles 

EggTolo 

Feller an 

Fiddlers 

Ad 

13, 300, 303. 306 

Float 4 

308. 313 

Foreign Legii 

Hayivagon 

Jeep""^ 

Live Fox 

Marine Corps 

Models 

Motor Scooter 

Motorized Banc 

Parachutist 

Pickets 

Placards 

Pony Cart 

Radio 

Raffles 

Railway Expres 

Road Markers 

Sailboat 

Santa Clous 

Sky Dancers 

Sound Truck 

Stage Coach 

Sliltwalker 

Talking Horse 

Tallyho Coach 

Telescope 

Trac 

108, 143, 187, 197, 229 

47, 121. 184, 249 

Lobby 

Lovely Legs 

Marble Shooting 

Married Couples 

Memory 

Men's Beauty 

Miss Cheyenne 

Miss Good Egg 

Miss Heaven 

Misspelled Word 

Model Plane 

Model Ships 

Newspaper < 

Peanut Guessing 

120. 163. 203 

Pet 

Pet Photo 

Photo 

Photo Search 

Pie Eating 

Pistol Shooting 

Popularity 

Radio 

80. 100. 105. 108. 142. V, 

186, 197, 237. 310, 312 

Raffles 11. 

Recipe 

Red Head 

Resemblance 

Reviewers 

School Coloring 

Scrambled Letters 

Slogan 

Song 106 

Spelling Bee 

Star Identifying 

84, 325 

170, 198, 203, 210, 259. 269, 

312. 313. 315 

Time Guessing 95. 97. 127. 149. 174. 

COOKING SCHOOL SESSION 

82, 113. 122. 128, 131. 144, 156. 178 

Tug-ol-War 168 

Umbrella 56 

Walking Book 152. 279 

Walking House 94 

Others: 

IS, 46, 47, 97. 105. 140. 148. 154, 189. 

197, 201, 203, 207, 212. 231, 279. 282. 

289, 296, 302, 308. 313, 326, 328 

BANNERS 112, 128. 289. 308, 321, 328 

BATTLE OF THE BANDS 266 

BATTLE OF THE COWBOYS 40, 255. 285 

BENEFIT SHOWS 109. 111. 126. 130. 

137. 292 

BLOCK PARTY 141 

53 

CO-OP ADS 41. 44. 62. 87. 91. 101. 

112. 113. 114. 116. 128. 136. 144. 

149. 158. 162. 167. 1G8. 169. 177. 

183. 192, 195. 200. 203. 210. 232. 

252. 264. 270. 271. 282. 287, 291. 

DIRECTIONAL SIGNS 

. . 

. 

DISPLAY ADS 5. 6. 

57. 64. 78. 81, 162. 

113. 117. 127. 

171. 191. 197, 219, 244, 245, 267. 

284. 320, 326 

British Films 39. 91 

Calendar 110 

Patron Endorsement 90 

Space Conserving >62 

Teasers 79. 139. 142. 157. 252 

DOOR KNOB HANGERS 152 

BONUS WINNERS 74. 109, 147, 19G, 230, 

BOOKMARKS 

BOY SCOUTS 

BRITISH FILM FESTIVAL 

BUMPER STRIPS 

CALENDAR ADVERTISING 

CANCER DRIVE 

CANNED GOODS MATINEE 130. 

ENGLISH FILMS 91. 126. 154 

EX-GI NIGHT 108 

FASHION SHO 

176. 228. 237, 

FATHER AND SON NIGHT 

FATHER'S DAY 

FIRE PREVENTION 

FLAG DAY 

FLYING SAUCERS 

15. 125. 174. 182. 184

I 

Sunday 

I School 

I 

may 

I 

played 

' 

Prom 

I 

i Throughout 

I 

failures 

I downs 

; by 

' 

and 

' 

I 

i. The 

' 

because 

|, 

1 tomers 

! verting 

' 

to 

I 

i 

' 

with 

) 

back to coal. Where trucks were able 

negotiate the slippery roads, fuel tanks 

were refilled by the Monday or Tuesday 

following the second storm, 

some exhibitors went ahead 

their plans to reconvert back to coal. 

They had retained their coal firing ap- 

as well as a supply of coal in their 

j 

paratus 

{ 

bins. 

' 

I 

There 

I 

I 

NEW 

. 

dinary 

. 

counted 

. 

traffic 

'• 

, 

weight 

' 

' 

Nevertheless 

' 

Ice-coated 

'storms Bring Ruin 

ITo Holiday Trade 

YORK—Two storms within six days 

left eastern exhibitors singing the blues as 

I 

1948 came into being. It was an extraorcombination 

of circumstances that 

practically wrecked grosses in what is usually 

upon as one of the best weeks of 

year. 

the 

I 

The first big snow did its most extensive 

damage in the New York City area, vhere 

came to a complete standstill. The 

second storm piled snow high in parts of 

Pennsylvania and northern New York and, 

like the first its one, did greatest damage 

in the New York metropolitan area, which 

includes northern New Jersey, most of the 

counties in New York south of Albany, Long 

Island and parts of Connecticut. A rain 

which froze as it fell brought fantastic results. 

Power lines were either broken by 

falling tree branches or collapsed under a 

of ice. 

Literally hundreds of communities served 

by overhead cross-country power lines were 

left without electricity. In some communities 

power companies were able to maintain 

service in downtown areas where wires are 

located under groimd, but outlying sections 

of the same ice-encrusted communities were 

dark. 

GREAT DROP IN GROSSES 

Dozens of theatres were closed and hundreds 

of thousands of customers "who couldn't 

drive automobiles or walk on the glazed 

streets stayed home. 

Losses in grosses in New York City alone 

were estimated close to three-quarters of a 

million dollars. Grosses were down both 

Thursday and Friday (January 1 and 2i, but 

picked up Saturday and began to surge back 

in spite of warnings that another 

storm was on the way. It did not arrive. 

vacations took place during the 

storm period and subsequent run houses 

expect to reap benefits on the pictures 

by first runs during the blockade. 

Washington south the weather was 

pleasant and theatre business outstanding. 

the New York area power 

were widespread but theatres were 

relatively fortunate in this respect. Shuti 

due to lack of power were reported 

Skouras Theatres in Port Washington 

Manhassett, L. I., and by Century Theatres 

in Huntington and New Hyde Park, 

L. I. Prudential reported that the Playhouse 

Theatre, Bedford Village, N. Y., failed to 

open Friday, due to "manpower failure." 

operators were unable to reach the house 

of blocked roads. 

FUEL SHORTAGE ACUTE 

roads not only kept away cusand 

slowed up print deliveries, taut 

; also contributed toward the fuel shortage. 

Many theatres had less than a week's supply 

of fuel oil in their tanks, and in some situations 

operators were thinking of recon- 

It was therefore possible to sliift back 

to coal heating in about six hours. 

Exhibitors along with home owners had to 

put up with fuel profiteering. The situation 

was so bad in New York City that Mayor 

William O'Dwyer ordered an investigation 

of price gouging. 

were no reports of shutdowns due 

to print shortages. The delivery companies 

and exhibitors used their ingenuity in getting 

prints from the exchanges to the 

DeweyAsksAct Increasing 

Local Tax Power Be Kept 

theatres. Trucks, taxis, private automobiles 

and railroads were employed. 

At the worst, there were some delays, but 

the shows went on. 

The shows went on, but the customers 

stayed away in droves. Independents and 

affiliates agreed that business was bad to 

terrible. 

Western Electric Ready 

When Sleet Storm Hit 

NEW YORK— Western Electric Co. placed 

its manufacturing and distribution units on 

a triple-shift basis to handle the emergency 

requirements of the Bell System during the 

sleet storm. 

Equipment needed to repair broken telephone 

wires and damaged installations ran 

into the carloads. Regional offices supplied 

863,000 pounds of wire, 15 tons of friction 

tape, and 34,000,000 feet of rubber-covered 

drop wire to storm-stricken areas. 

TOA Meet Hit by Storm; 

Election Is Deferred 

ALBANY—Snow and bad roads cut attendance 

Monday afternoon to ten at a meeting 

of the Theatre Owners of the Albany exchange 

Area in the Riverview room of the 

Ten Eyck hotel. Due to this, it was decided 

to delay the election of three additional directors 

until a later date. The first of several 

regional meetings—suggested by Director 

Harry Savett—is expected to be held in Utica 

January 14. At these confabs, the message of 

TOA will be spread and exhibitors will be 

enrolled. The present pledge membership is 

approximately 65, according to Temporary 

Chairman Harry Lament. 

RCA Promotes J. C. Harden 

CAMDEN, N. J.—John C. Marden, who 

joined RCA Victor 11 years ago as salesman, 

has been named vice-president and general 

sales manager of RCA Victor Distributing 

Corp., distributor of RCA products in Chicago, 

Detroit and Kansas City territories. 

Marden formerly was sales promotion manager 

for the home instrument department. 

ALBANY—Gov. Thomas E. Dewey, in his 

message to the legislature at its opening session 

Wednesday, urged retention of the special 

local tax program enacted last year, extending 

authority to smaller cities and counties 

to levy taxes for general purposes as well 

as for education. The optional levies include 

an amusement tax up to 5 per cent, although 

no county or larger city has yet voted such 

a one. 

Erie county (Buffalo) has a 1 per cent 

sales tax, which is so unpopular that it was 

a factor in the Democratic upsurge which saw 

Elmer Lux, former RKO manager there, 

to elected the council. Syracuse will levy a 

sales tax beginning March 1. 

Governor Dewey pointed out the New York 

City administration had recommended use 

"the its of special taxes in program to meet 

increased costs, and had requested permission 

for 

additional taxing powers. He re- 

ported that a number of counties had asked 

that permissive taxes be permitted for general 

purposes, at option of the county. In 

recommending "careful consideration of these 

and all other amendments which may be 

proposed to make the program work better 

and to correct any omissions that have been 

observed," Dewey urged the "permission and 

optional character of all these taxes be preserved." 

Theatre interests may fight the extension 

of the special taxes to cities of less than 

100,000 population. At present, cities vrith 

100,000 or more population may levy the 

elect so. 

taxes counties not do to if 

Governor Dewey announced that no increase 

would be recommended in state taxes. 

He came out for continuation of the state's 

standby residential rent control, which would 

become operative if and when the federal 

government relinquished control. The governor 

likewise recommended that New York 

City's control of commercial rents be extended 

by state statute for another year. 

^;^bY Into Strand Bldg. 

ALBANY — Radio station WABY is remodeling 

the second and third floors of the 

Strand Theatre Bldg., at a cost of $15,000, for 

its offices and studios. The Adirondack 

Broadcasting Co., owner of the station, was 

taken over November 5 by the Gannett newspaper 

interests. 

AT HAVANA PREMIERE—The above executives attended the opening of the new 

Warner Theatre in Havana. Cuba, on December 23. Left to right: Wolfe Cohen, vicepresident 

of Warner Bros. Pictures International Corp.; Harry Kalmine vice-president 

of Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.; Pete Colli, supervisor of Warners Bros. Latin America, 

and Luis Augusto Mestre, president of Radiocentro. The new theatre is a V!"**** 

Radiocentro. a miniature Radio City built in the heart of Havana. The president of 

Cuba and other high officials of the government were present at the premiere. 


. . . Abe 

. . Harold 

. . Also 

. . 

. . 

. . . Joseph 

. . . Members 

1 

Along New York's Film 

By WALTER WALDMAN 

TOM DiLORENZO, former operator of the 

New Paltz Theatre, New Paltz, N. Y., and 

manager of the Strand. Suffern, is now managing 

the Malverne Theatre, Malverne. L. I. 

DiLorenzo went to the Malverne shortly after 

Charles Moss bought the house from Charles 

Kenny. The theatre was built last year . 

Herman Stern is expected to complete negotiations 

soon with A. Tomasino for the 

Raymond Theatre. City Island, N. Y. Tomasino 

will remain in the exhibition field as 

operator of the Biltmore, Harrison, N. Y. 

Levy is discussing terms for the sale 

of his Washington Theatre, Manhattan, to 

the Ojelick Theatre Co., which now operates 

the Park West, also in Manhattan. 

Dave Nolan, formerly with the Walter 

Reade Theatres in Asbury Park, is managing 

the Park, Caldwell, N. J. . . . Two Filmrow 

veterans were dropped during the past week 

from the Warner Bros, sales department. 

They are Joe Vergesslich. shorts subjects 

salesman, and Harry Dekker, who handled 

the Brooklyn territory. Both men have been 

in the business for more than 30 years. 

traveled by train, bus and cab. When the 

NSS men and Royster finally met, they 

hardly had enough energy left to talk 

business. 

Katzoff missed the sleet storm the following 

week. He was in Baltimore at the time. 

But Lou Weinzman, supervisor of NSS service 

department, was at the office last Saturday 

and Sunday taking care of accessory 

shipments to storm-bound theatres. 

"Voice of Theatre Speakers" 

JOE HORNSTEIN has them! 

Row 

Harry Zeitels, former RKO salesman, is 

now selling films for Mayer-Burstyn, Inc. 

Burstyn, president of the company, 

is scheduled to leave soon for Europe 

. . . Motion Picture Associates will hold its 

first board of directors meeting of the New 

Vear January 14 at the office of Fred J. 

Schwartz, vice-president of Century Theatres 

will discuss finances and plans 

for the annual dinner and dance to be held 

next May. 

Recent visitors to the UA exchange have 

been Phil Lewis of the Spring Valley Theatre, 

Spring Valley. N. Y.; Jerome Kridel 

of the Palace, Orange: Nat Harris of the 

Island circuit; Bernie Brooks of the Fabian 

chain, and Jack Harris of Walter Reade 

Theatres. 

Loew's Union Wage Case 

Will Be Handled by AAA 

NEW YORK—The American Arbitration 

Ass'n will hand down a decision in the wage 

increase dispute between Screen Office and 

Professional Employes Local 109. UOPWA, 

Sam Hart is breaking in as a Warner 

booker. As soon as he has learned the ropes 

he will be assigned to the Charlotte exchange 

. . . Irving Rothenberg, WB sales- 

January 17. The arbitration board which met 

CIO, and Loew's, Inc.. some time after 

man, has returned from Florida where he January 2 ruled that both parties must submit 

briefs in writing by January 17, after 

spent his two-week vacation . back 

from Florida is William Sussman of the which the board will consider evidence in the 

Sussman circuit, Pleasantville, N. Y. . case. 

Han-y Sheer of the Rialto, Ridgefield Park, Members of the board in the SOPEG-Loew's 

N. J., paid his first visit to Filmrow January 5 case are Sidney Wolff for the AAA; Albert 

in nearly two months. He had been ill for Shepard, Book and Magazine guild, for the 

six weeks . . . Sam Lefkowitz, WB district union, and Dean John T. Madden, Loew's 

manager, was out several days because of personnel director, for the company. Leonard 

illness . . . Another name on the sick list B. Boudin is the union counsel and Burton 

was that of Harry Brenner of the National K. Zorn represents management. 

Screen Service shipping department. Brenner 

was ill with a throat infection. 

Involved in the hearings January 2 were 

Sidney Young, president, SOPEG; Otto Langer, 

secretary-treasurer, and Paul Lubov, administrative 

secretary, as well as two members 

It's a girl for Larry and Mrs. Morris. The 

father is a film buyer for Charles Moss. The of the Loew's employes negotiating committee. 

baby was born January 7 at Doctors hospital 

. . . Al Mendelson, New Jersey booker United Artists wage dispute will be held 

A second and final hearing in the SOPEGfor 

20th-Fox, is on jury duty. His assistant, January 17. RKO hearings are scheduled for 

Lillian Blumberg, is taking over while he's January 14-16; Republic hearings will be 

away . . . Henry Brown, Lakewood, N. J., held January 26-20; Paramount hearings will 

exhibitor, visited Filmrow last Monday. 

be held starting February 2; 20th-Fox hearings, 

February 9 and 13, and National Screen 

Service, February 16-20. 

Stories of the recent record snowfall and 

the New Year's day sleet storm are still being 

circulated. Dave Dubin of the Strand, North 

Tarrytown, spent the afternoon of December 

26 and the night of the 26th and 27th in the 

railroad station waiting for the Poughkeepsie 

train to take him home . Bennett, 

NSS branch manager, and Joe Katzoff, upstate 

and New Jer.sey salesman, were busy 

of world business Universal Pictures Co. has 

all day December 30 trying to get together 

cut its quarterly dividend from 50 cents to 

with Harry Royster, Paramount Theatres 

25 cents. It is payable January 31 to stockholders 

of record at the close of business 

district manager, in Middletown, N. Y. They 

January 19. 

"The company is in strong financial ^ndition 

with a ratio of current and working 

Universal Cuts Dividend 

To Conserve Its Assets 

NEW YORK—For the purpose of conserving 

assets in the present unsettled state 

assets to current liabilities of eight to one," 

a statement declared. 

"The company is maintaining its full quota 

of production with 25 top quality pictures 

scheduled to be produced during the coming 

year. It has already effected substantial 

reduction in cost of its product and in 

operating cost without loss of efficiency or 

reduction of quality. 

"The company now has available for release, 

or in the final editing stages, 15 new 

pictures which preview tests indicate have 

strong boxoffice appeal. 

Arthur Mayer Takes 

MP Associates Post 

NEW YORK—Arthur Mayer, managing di 

rector of the Rialto Theatre, was installed a 

president of the Motion Picture Associates a 

the annual luncheon at the Hotel Astor Jan 

uary 5. Other officers installed: Morris Sanders, 

first vice-president: Bob Fannon, secom 

vice-president; Harold Klein, secretary; Sau 

Trauner, treasurer, and David Burkan 

sergeant at arms. 

WiUiam F. Rodgers, vice-president and general 

manager of MGM, who was principai 

speaker, paid tribute both to Mayer and ttl 

Fred J. Schwartz, the outgoing president, anci 

made a plea for increased membership foi, 

MPA as "a recognized agency through whicl:; 

any of our own can receive help." Rodgers 

aic, 

said that the organization administered 

to 57 persons in the industry dui-ing 1947. 

Sam Rinzler, president of Randforce 

Amusement Corp., introduced Schwartz as 

one "who has brought prestige and distinction 

to Motion Picture Associates" and increased 

its membership as well as its fund 

during his two years as president. Schwartz 

.said that the MPA gave approximately $7,500 

tor relief cases in 1947 and also contributed 

.52.500 to the Will Rogers Foundation. Rodgers 

gave Schwartz a leather traveling case, on 

behalf of MPA, in appreciation of his services 

to the organization. Mayer stressed the fact 

that the film industry has never failed to 

respond to an appeal for a worthy cause. A 

color short, "A Day at Camp Moodna," showed 

the Motion Picture Associates' siunmer program 

for underprivileged children. 

Over 250 attended the Hotel Astor luncheon. 

In addition to Rodgers, Rinzler, Mayer and 

Schwartz, others on the dais were; William J. 

Heineman. Robert Mochrie, Gus Eyssell, A. 

W. Schwalberg, Dave Weinstock, Francis S. 

Harmon, Joseph R. Vogel, Si Fabian, George 

Skouras, James Mulvey, John J. O'Connor, 

Edward Rugoff and William White. 

Screen Publicists Guild 

Installs New Officers 

NEW YORK—Jeff Livmgston. U-I publicist, 

was installed as president of the Screen 

Publicists Guild. Others installed: Paul Kamey, 

MGM, first vice-president; Edward 

Aaronoff, WB, second vice-president: Frances 

Simon, Paramount, secretary, and Richard 

Lederer, Columbia, treasurer. 

Cherry Balaban Engaged 

NEW YORK—Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Balaban 

have announced the engagement of their 

daughter Cherry to Harold Robins, son of 

Mr. and Mrs. Nathan A. Robins of New York 

and Spring Valley. The couple will be married 

in the early spring. Miss Balaban, who 

Honor Kodak Chemists 

NEW YORK—Dr. Thomas H. James and 

Dr. Gertrude Kornfeld of the Kodak Research 

served overseas with the USO as an entertainer 

and has written a number of popular 

songs, is associated with her father, executive 

director of the Roxy Theatre. 

Laboratories have been elected to fellowships 

in the New York Academy of Sciences. Election 

was in recognition for their research in 

photographic chemistry. 

Geison is U-I Publicist 

NEW YORK—Sam Geison. formerly with 

the Columbia publicity department, has joined 

U-I as column and syndicate contact. He resigned 

from Columbia last November after 

working six years in the publicity department. 

BOXOFHCE :: January 10. 1948

. 

tion 

"Sorry, 

I sibilities 

, and 

. . . H. 

. . . Ben 

. . William 

. . Max 

i 

I • 

BROADWAJL New Year's Sleet Kills 

for 20th-Fox. returned to New York 

Thwsday from Toronto and Chicago. While 

in Toronto, Smith was host at a party for 

Arthur Silverstone, newly appointed Canadian 

division sales manager . E. Youngstein, 

director of advertising, publicity and 

exploitation for Eagle Lion, returned from a 

sales meeting in Dallas, and conferences in 

Chicago with William Hollander, advertising, 

publicity and exploitation head for Balaban 

& Katz. 

Albert Margolies, public relations head for 

the Alfred Hitchcock-Sidney Bernstein enterprises, 

is on the coast for conferences on 

"Rope," to be released by Warner Bros. . . . 

Norman Stuart, dialog director for Columbia's 

••The Eternal Melody," has returned to the 

coast to prepare for his next assignment, 

Wrong Number," at Paramount. 

( Miles Sherover, head of Sherover Enterprises, 

is in South America to look over posof 

opening distributing outlets there 

and outright sales of independent product 

reissues . . Jules Lapidus, eastern and 

. 

Canadian division sales manager for Warner 

Bros., was in Cleveland, Indianapolis and 

Sam Shain, director of exhibitor 

and public relations for the distribudepartment 

of 20th-Fox, attended the 

United Theatre Owners of Illinois convention 

Thursday and Friday (8, 9i at Springfield, 

III. 

William F. Rodgers, MGM vice-president 

and general sales manager, left for a vacation 

in Florida . . . Reeve O. Strock, chief recording 

engineer for the Westrex Corp., left for 

the coast for conferences with officials of 

Western Electric on sound equipment. Before 

returning in late January, he will visit 

the Fonda division of the Solar Aircraft Corp. 

at San Diego. 

Carol Brandt, head of MGM editorial activities, 

and Olin H. Clark, story editor, went 

to the coast for a two-week conference with 

studio executives . . . Joel Bezahler, assistant 

to William F. Rodgers; Jay Eisenberg and 

Ben Melniker have returned from Chicago 

M. Richey of MGM and Leon J. Bamberger 

of RKO attended the convention of 

the United Theatre Owners of Illinois January 

8-9. 

Ben Goetz, MGM production chief in England, 

is coming for a visit to the Culver City 

studios . . . Mel Heymann of the MGM publicity 

department is back from a vacation 

in Miami . R. Ferguson, MGM exploitation 

head, returned from Ogunquit, Me. 

Kalmenson, vice-president and general 

sales manager for Warner Bros., was in 

Chicago several days. 

Maurice N. Wolf, assistant to H. M. Richey, 

has 50 speaking engagements lined up from 

now until the middle of March in Tennessee, 

Aalabama, Louisiana and Florida . . . Manny 

Reiner flew to London en route to Sydney, 

Australia, which will be headquarters for the 

SRO sales organizations he will establish in 

that country and in New Zealand. He will 

return to Mexico City in about two months 

to resume his regular duties in charge of 

Latin and South American sales for the company. 

N.Y. Holiday Grosses 

NEW YORK—A sleet storm New Year's 

day killed what little chance first run exhibitors 

had of recovering from the paralyzing 

effects of the record-breaking snowstorm 

December 26. The traditionally strong 

Christmas week grosses just never had a 

chance to materialize. All during Christmas 

week school children on vacation either were 

busy helping their parents dig out snowbound 

homes and automobiles, or were engaged 

in winter sports at local parks and 

on snow covered streets. New Year's day the 

sleet made streets all but impassable, and in 

the suburbs, caused wires to snap. Tlie local 

citizens were then too busy trying to get their 

electric power and telephone service restored 

to bother about going to the shows. 

There were, however, enough persons out 

of the 12,500,000 in the metropolitan area to 

help fill the Mayfair Theatre, where "Gentleman's 

Agreement" was in its eighth week; 

the Paramount, which offered "Where There's 

Life"; the Music Hall, which held "Good 

News" for a fifth and final week, and the 

Criterion, which offered "The Senator Was 

Indiscreet." 

(Average Is 100) 

Astor—The Bishop's Wife (RKO), 4th wk 

Capitol—High Wall (MGM), plus stage show, 

Znd wk 

Criterion—The Senator Was Indiscreet (U-I), 

2nd wk 

Globe—Body and Soul (UA), 9th wk 

Golden—Mourning Becomes Electro (RKO), 

7th wk 

These, and the several other theatres that 

did above average business, owed their good 

luck to the fact that the New York subway 

system was able to function normally despite 

the weather. Most lines lead to Times Square 

and the trains were crowded New Year's eve 

and the following Saturday with cash customers. 

8th 

3—Tycoon (RKO), 2nd wk 

Paramount—Where There's Life (Para), plus 

stdge show, 2nd wk 

Radio City Music Hai;-Good News (MGM), ph 

stage show, 5th '.-.; 

Rialto—Panic (Tricoi;:- 

Rivoli—Captain From Castile : x),2ndwk.. 

Roxy—Daisy Kenyon stage shov 

2nd wk. 

Strand—My Wild Irish Rose ,'. 

Victoria—The Fugitive int. 

Warner—The Voice of the Tu 

Winter Garden—The Exile ( 

.100 

Business Back in Groove 

At Philadelphia A Houses 

PHILADELPHIA—The weather was good, 

the films were good, and the deluxers really 

packed in crowds last week. Bowing in with 

the new year were "Fun and Fancy Free" and 

••Road to Rio." with the rest being holdovers 

from Christmas week, but still packing a 

wallop. Prices for the New Year's eve shows 

varied—$1.30 at the Fox and Goldman, $1.15 

at Stanley-Warner houses, the Pix and 

Arcadia, and Keith's and the Karlton charging 

their regular fees. Due to the press of 

holiday trade, figures for New Year's week 

were not available at the time of this writing. 

Film listings are for New Year's week, but 

figures given are for the previous week. 

Aldine—Unconquered (Para), 2nd wk 200 

Arcadia—Fun and Fancy Free (RKO) No estimate 

Boyd—Swordsman (Col), 2nd wk 170 

Earle—Killer McCoy (MGM), 2nd wk 175 

fox—Captain From Castile (20th-Fox), 2nd wk 220 

Goldman—Good News (MGM), 2nd wk 165 

Karlton—The Exile (U-I), 2nd wk 135 

Keiths—This Time for Keeps (MGM), 

2nd run 

No estimate 

Mastbaum—My Wild Irish Rose (WB), 2nd wk 230 

Pix—Jolson Story (Col) No estimate 

Stanley-Hoad to Hio (Para) No estimate 

Stanton-Intrigue (UA), 3rd wk 160 

'Road to Rio' Top Grosser 

As Buffalo Figures Climb 

BUFFALO—Product improved after Christmas 

and it paid off. Ice storms or not, 

grosses climbed at all houses. "Road to Rio" 

led at the Great Lakes. "Cass Timberlane" 

at the Buffalo and "Tycoon" at the 20th 

Century were strong. 

Buffalo—Cass Timberlane (MGM) 114 

Greal Lakes—Road to Rio (Para) 124 

Hippodrome—My Wild Irish Hose (WB), 

Lafayette-The Swordsman (' 

vieve (Col) 

Teck—Killer McCoy (MGM), 

(Mono), moveover 

20th Century—Tycoon (RKO) 

Siritzky International 

Gets 4th Foreign House 

NEW YORK—Siritzky International Pictures 

has taken a ten-year lease on the former 

ABC Radio Theatre on 58th street as a 

showcase for French films Siritzky owns or 

distributes. "Fanny," the Marcel Pagnol picture 

starring the late Raimu and Pierre 

Fresnay, will open the theatre January 28. 

A new name for the house will be selected 

later. 

The theatre, which seats 595, originally was 

known as the John Golden, and the stage 

production of Eugene O'Neill's "Strange Interlude" 

played there. Later, it was renamed 

the Pilmart and housed "Grand Illusion," 

"Mayerling" and other Fi-ench films. When 

ABC acquired the theatre two years ago, 

the radio network spent over $100,000 in making 

it acoustically perfect. The Siritzkys are 

making additional alterations and installing 

modern Western Electric sound equipment 

and new marquee and foyer arrangements. 

Siritzky International owns three theatres, 

the Ambassador in New York, the Majestic 

in Brooklyn and the Old South in Boston. 

Mendel on FC Sales Trip 

NEW YORK—Max Mendel, in charge of 

sales for Film Classics of the Americas, subsidiary 

of Film Classics, Inc., left January 

7 for a business trip to Mexico and South 

Amercia, 

HERE'S MORE SELLING PUNCH 

Paul White, arrived here from Paris to confer 

with Neil F. Agnew, SRO president, on 

current releases. Mrs. White accompanied 

him. 

EL Film Set for Broadway 

NEW YORK—"Open Secret," Marathon 

Pictures production released by Eagle Lion, 

will open at the Gotham January 15. 

. . . Mr. 

. . Ruth 

. . Rosalie 

. . Mrs. 

. . Fred 

. . Sue 

. . . Charley 

. . . Jerry 

. . 20th-Fox 

. . Manager 

. . Did 

. . The 

. . Head 

. . 

. . 

. . . New 

. . Cashier 

. . Belated 

. . Jerry 

. . Jeanette 

WASHINGTON 

THE IDEAL THEATRE CHAIRS 

JOE HORNSTEIN has them 

Sympathy is extended to Paramoimt's 

Catherine Vagnoni in the recent death of 

her father . . . Lillian Lee and hubby went 

up to New York for the New Year's weel 

end and while there attended a Fred Alle 

broadcast . birthday greetini 

to Ida Green. Paramount cashier . . . Mai 

Tack Safer, Monogram manager, received guests . . . Frank LaFalce commuted between Nathan was in charge of arrangements i 

' birthday congratulations on January 9 . . . 

Washington and South Orange, N. J., dui-ing a turkey supper given by B'nai B'rith s 

Salesman Sam Liggett was on a two-weelc the Christmas and New Year's holidays Walter Reed hospital. Variety Club Barb 

. 

trip through the Clinch valley. 

His secretary. Helen Palty, spent the holidays 

with her family in Buffalo. 

Eagle Lion. Fred Rohrs' secretary. Florenc 

Ed Talbert donated five turkeys ... A 

Local F13 held a dinner dance at the Continental 

hotel Monday night, installing new Jake Flax, Republic manager, entertained illness . . . Mildred Braugh is the nei 

Garden, has returned after several day; 

officers. William Bennett, business agent of 20th-Fox executive, Herndon Edmond, who clerk typist . . . Willie Benick visited Mans 

the stagehands' local, presided. The committee 

on arrangements: James Collins, Sally visit friends in Baltimore and Washington 

flew in from Chicago with Mrs. Edmond to field. Ohio, during the holiday period. 

Zeoli, George KeUy and Ida Barezofsky. 

. . . Regina Lust, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. United Artists District Manager Mar 

Branch and office managers and their wives Ben Lust, has returned to Holy Cross academy 

. District Manager Glenn to Washington . Price's secretarji 

Silver is moving his office from Philadelphi; 

were guests among whom were Mr. and Mrs. 

Jerry Adams. Mr. and Mrs. Joe Kronman. Norris visited the Philiadelphia and Pittsburgh 

exchanges . Gordon Contees end . Peggy Bodle is in Sible; 

Jean Drill, went to Pittsburgh for the week 

Mr. and Mrs. Bandel, Mr. and Mrs. John 

O'Leary, Jack Safer and William Nesbit. are moving from Baltimore to Washington. hospital where she underwent an emergene; 

appendectomy . Samaniego o 

The Salesmen's club held its monthly George Clanton, Daw. Tappahannock. 'Va., Monogram had a birthday December 29 . . 

luncheon Monday with Hi Bettinger presiding. 

Vice-presidents are James Velde and nock-Essex County Chamber of Commerce with a heavy cold for the past several days' 

has been elected secretary of the Tappahan- 

Cashier Leona Gasser has been suffering 

Elbert Grover, and the secretary-treasurer 

Hurley, RKO salesman, won but refused to stay home . . . 20th-Fo3! 

is David Rosenthal. 

the $1,000 prize in a Cumberland church. booker Sara Yotmg and son Dick went Uj 

The money will make a down payment on a 

John Walker, New York to visit relatives 

for the last six years on Long 

salesman 

for Warners, has resigned 

Island 

house, Charley and his wife say . . . The but 

to go 

had to spend 

into the 

two days at the McAlpii 

John O'Learys entertained friends at their 

insurance business in Richmond hotel 

. . . Mrs. 

because of the storm. 

lovely home in Silver Springs, Md.. last Saturday 

night . you know that the W. Vincent Dougherty has been appointee 

Bertha Gordon, Newport News, visited her 

daughter, Mrs. Carlin Wasserman, in Arlington 

while son Leonard visited Filmrow to son, is managing the Glebe Theatre in Arling- 

newly formed Variety Club's women's com- 

Washington Senators pitcher. Walter Master- 

by Chief Barker Frank Boucher to head thf 

book and buy product. 

ton, 'Va.? 

mittee for 1948 with Mrs. Ned Bord and 

Frank Falls, Craver & Falls circuit, is confined 

to the Maryland General hospital in assumed A luncheon is scheduled on January 12 

Harry 

Mrs. Mary Nathan serving as co-chairmen 

Cohen, formerly with MGM, has 

the managership 

wher 

of the Washington 

Baltimore suffering from a heart ailment 

plans for the Kay Film 

new committee will be formulated. 

exchange. Jack E-skridge will assist 

him 

and Mrs. Olmsted Knox and son 

There was a big turnout January 5 

in sales . . . Mr. and Mrs. John 

Jay visited relatives in Atlanta during the Bailey 

for the 

will book 

annual induction of officers in the 

and buy for the Hughesville, 

Md., 

holidays . Noyes celebrated her 

Congressional room in the Willard hotel 

Theatre. 

birthday recently . . . Edith Lawrence, former 

inspector at 20th-Fox, visited the ex- 

Warner Theatres: John J. Payette at- 

DeJager. co-owner New Theatre. Leonard- 

members of Tent No. 11 are Fredi 

change with her lovely little daughter. tended a zone managers meeting in New town. Md.; Erwin A. Lesser, secretary, Little 

York and George Crouch and Louis Ribnitzki 

took in a buyers and bookers meet- 

Sidney Lust Theatres; Robert Harlow Brient, 

Carnegie; Thomas Mudd jr., buyer-booker, 

Paramount salesman Harley Davidson was 

in town . . . UA District Manager Mark Silver 

and 

ing .. . Evart Hoar, Warner usher, was married 

December 21 . . . Helen McGrath. re- 

vice-president, Elmer H. Brient & Sons, Inc. 

his secretary, Myrtle Michalson 

have moved back to the local exchange from ceptionist, spent three weeks in Miami 

Philadelphia . . . Office Manager Margaret Beach . Fred MacMillan was 

Stant is pinch-hitting in the cashier's department 

. Ritz, Paramount, re- 

party for underprivileged children . 

10 Per Cent Tax Talked 

host at the Warner to the Salvation Army's 

signed to await the birth of a baby. 

By Norristown Council 

Helene Palty of advertising and pubhcity 

Sympathy to Columbia inspector 

spent a holiday 

Elsie 

week in Buffalo . . . Lawrence 

NORRISTOWN, PA.—A 10 per cent tax on 

Balderson whose brother died . . . "Spud" 

Snoots, manager all 

of the Sheridan, was 

amusements was discussed by the coimcil 

Queary was in town . . . Ditto Denver Aleshire commended for his handling 

at 

of the 

the 

ORT, 

year-end meeting at city hall December 

30, and steps were taken to have the 

from Luray, Va. . . . 20th-Fox field representative 

Lou 30. 

proposed ordinance advertised, as required 

Jewish organization benefit show December 

Lichtenstein was in making a 

by law. 

routine checkup . Rohrs was host at 

Esther Wheeler and Sara 

a screening of "T-Men" 

Young celebrated 

birthdays Christmas 

at the Little Theatre 

in Baltimore. 

Although no action could be taken on the 

day . . . Mrs. proposed amusement tax. solons agreed that 

Ben Lust entertained her sisters. Helen and it was in order, citing examples of other 

All motion picture equipment was destroyed 

by fire at the marine corps base depot eve open house party. Assisting her was amusement events held within the borough 

Ella Klein of New York, at a New Year's boroughs in the area which levy taxes on 

of supplies in Norfolk . . . Kay Ellen, daughter 

of Jack Fmchtman, is laid up with mans were stranded in New York when they including motion pictures, sporting events 

her daughter Regina . . . The Ira Sichel- 

limits. The tax would be on all amusements, 

chicken pox . Joe Cohan was abed went there to visit Mr. and Mrs. Jack and public dances. 

with the flu . . . Ditto Hazel McCarthy, Sichelman, 20th-Fox home office executive. 

Solicitor Russell J. BrowTiback was authorized 

to prepare an advertisement of the 

Metro. 

Booker Anne Griffin of 20th-Fox spent 

M. Crawford, Gem Theatre, is ill . . . Bob the holidays with her mother and sisters proposed ordinance to be publi-shed before 

Bertchy writes from the Bejo Theatre, in Minneapolis . . . Jake Flax celebrated definite action can be taken. 

Mathews, 'Va., he has recovered but Mrs. his birthday December 27. Charles Grimes, 

Bertchy now is ill in a hospital. 

Warner Theatres, also celebrated the same 

day. The Little Theatre's Vic Orsinger received 

happy returns on the 30th . . . Frank 

Warner Theatres: Pat Jones, WB advertising 

and publicity iMrs. Thomas Jeanre- 

Falls, Craver-Falls circuit, is still in the 

Expect Ruling January 14 

naudi is resigning' to await a baby . . . 'Virginia 

Green of the contact department mar- 

Falls suffered a heart attack several moiiths CHICAGO—Following completion of con- 

Virginia Baptist hospital in Lynchburg, 

In Action Against Petrillo 

Va. 

"" 

ried Charles Summers during the holidays ago. 

cluding arguments. Federal Judge Walter J. 

and honeymooned in Roanoke . Robey 

La Buy last weekend took under advisement 

returned after a two-week Eddie Phillips, 

illness. 

Warner Bros, office manager, 

was surprised with a birthday cake and Petrillo. president of the American Federation 

the government's case against James C. 

The annual party for tenants of the Warner 

Bldg. was held December 31 in the man- 

New Year's day birthday . inspec- 

Lea act. A decision will be handed down 

desk fovmtain pen set in celebration of his of Musicians, for alleged violations of the 

agers room on the .seventh floor. Jonas Bernheimer, 

building superintendent, ladled out going an operation for high blood pressure from the strike of three AFM music librarians 

tor Louise Stark has returned after under- 

January 14. The three-day trial resulted 

25 gallons of eggnog and greeted about 350 

Murphy, 20th-Fox salesman, was at Chicago's radio station WAAF. called by 

down with a sore wrist, which had to be Petrillo May 28, 1946. when the station refused 

to comply with his demand that it 

put in a cast. Doctor diagnoses it as a 

break which was improperly set at one time. double its staff of union librarians. Petrillo 

was charged with violating that part of the 

Lea act which prohibits unions from attempting 

to force broadcasters to hire more help 

than needed. 

BOXOFTICE :: January 10, 1948

I the 

1 

show 

' 

: Bad 

' 

; The 

. . The 

. . Employes 

lALTIMORE 

he Broadway Theatre held its annual 

Christmas kiddy party, sponsored by the 

roadway and Vicinity Business Ass'n., last 

eek In addition to a free show, each 

jungster received a gift . . . USO ended its 

-tivities December 31 in Baltimore, as elsehere 

in the country . four service 

ubs operated here during the war are now 

osed. The new camp shows outfit that is 

jntinuing will not include Baltimore. All 

eterans hospitals in this area will be served 

by local organizations and show people. 

Ben Burman, local outdoor advertising man, 

led suddenly at his home ... I. Makover, 

wner of the New Albert, won fifth prize in 

he Eagle Lion nationwide contest for the 

est exploitation campaigns on "Repeat Perormance." 

Makover received $100 . . . Edward 

Vyatt. Wyatt Motion Picture Service, was in 

Son Secours hospital for an appendicitis 

.peration ... Sid Zins, Columbia advance 

nan, was in on "The Swordsman" . . . Sym- 

)athy to Irene Doering, Town cashier, whose 

.Tandfather died last week . 

of 

he Town. Hippodrome and Little theatres 

njoyed themselves at New Year's eve parties 

it both the Hippodrome and Town. 

William K. Saxton, Loew city manager, 

entertained at a New Year's eve party in his 

iffice at the Century. Everyone enjoyed some 

3f the famous Canadian smoked ham sent 

Bill by film star Cameron Mitchell, from 

Saskatoon, Canada. Besides the employes of 

the three theatres, Centur>', Valencia and 

Parkway, the party included local newspaper 

men and heads of various radio stations. 

Radio Theatre has renovated the 

. . lounges Joe Walderman, Park and Monroe 

theatres, gave a cocktail party New Year's 

. 

eve for friends . . . Induction of newly elected 

officers of Variety Tent 19 took place Tuesday 

6. I. evening, January Robert Bouck of 

the secret service gave an illustrated lecture 

on counterfeiters, illustrating various bogus 

plates, how to determine bad money and 

other interesting 

items. 

Rose and Harry 'Welch worked out a 

•nice campaign on "Monsieur Verdoux" at the 

Mayfair. They posted the suburbs with 24- 

sheets, screened the picture for critics, had 

various clothing and florist window tieups, 

used the telephone and sent 5.000 postal cards 

throughout the city . . . New Glen Theatre 

in Glen Burnie held a free holiday kiddy 

for 1,000 youngsters. Each child received 

a box of candy in addition to seeing a 

western and five cartoons . . . Wilbur Brizenfiine, 

Schwaber circuit, spent New Year's in 

Atlantic City and Philadelphia. 

The Apex Theatre entertained 586 boys of 

Eastern District Boys club at a free holiday 

show. Each boy received a gift donated 

by the Variety Club. 

Jose Iturbi presented a concert January 8 

at Lyric, to be followed by Ezio Plnza on the 

13th . . . Thomas Mitchell opens at Ford's 

in a new show, "An Inspector Calls," on the 

13th . . . The Little had a special screening 

of new Eagle Lion picture, "T-Men," January 

7. It was attended by critics, police officers 

and local dignitaries. 

Saturday night doings at the Variety Club: 

NEW MIRROPHONIC SOUND 

JOE HORNSTEIN, Inc. 

630 Ninlh Ave., New York City

. . Fred 

. . John 

. . Other 

. . . Paramount 

. . "My 

. . 

. . 

ALBANY 

Toe Jarvis, operator of the Delmar in Del- 

' mar, was reported on Filmrow to have 

undergone the amputation of a leg recently. 

He had been troubled with it for a long time 

and was in an Albany hospital attempting 

a cure last year. 

Jimmy Moore, Warner salesman for two 

years and a booker for the company for ten 

years before the war, fell victim of the 

economy drive this week. He was the fourth 

salesman lopped from the exchange payrolls 

here since the retrenchment program started. 

RKO, Universal and Eagle Lion each dropped 

one man and Metro's staff was reduced from 

four to three when one of the salesman 

shifted to another company. Just before the 

war, Moore had been promoted from booker 

here to salesman for Warner Bros, in western 

Massachusetts and Vermont, working out of 

Boston. He entered service from this city 

and served with distinction in the European 

theatre, being twice awarded the purple 

heart. His discharge leaves George Goldberg 

as the only Warners salesman in the territory. 

John Sharpe has resigned as representative 

for Price Premium Co. of New York. He has 

been covering theatres in the territory from 

Poughkeepsie to Buffalo for nine months. He 

formerly worked for 20th-Fox in Boston and 

Milwaukee . Sliter, 20th-Fox salesman, 

will leave February 1 to take the baths 

at Hot Springs, Ark. Sliter got delivery this 

week on a new Studebaker, which replaces 

one badly damaged last November when a 

truck sideswiped him near Lake Placid. 

John Francisco of St. Johnsville visited 

Filmrow this week with John Fitzsimmons 

and Al Pedro of the Town Hall, Fonda. 

Francisco is taking a short-term lease on 

the converted Town Hall, only motion picture 

house in Fonda . exhibitors on 

the Row included Morris Slotnick and Harry 

Savett, circuit operators, and Johnny Gardner 

of the Colony in Schenectady ... Ed 

Wall, Paramount exploiteer, was in the territory 

pushing the company's special newsreel, 

"1947—A Year of Division," which highlights 

news of the past year. 

Schuyler Beattie, SRO representative, 

hopped to Utica . . . Jack Bulwinkle, Colmnbia 

manager, closed for the "27 group" with 

William Benton for his house in Saratoga and 

Plattsburg . E. Day of Albany won a 

tenor contest staged by Manager Al La- 

Flamme of the Strand and Jerry Atkin, Warner 

Theatres exploiteer, to promote "My 

Wild Irish Rose" at the Strand. Day begins 

a series of fom- radio appearances over 

WOKO January 12 and also will be sent by 

Warner Theatres to New York to appear on 

the Arthur Godfrey talent show. 

J. Dewey Lederer, new director of maintenance, 

purchasing and construction for 

the Schine circuit, is a graduate of the school 

of engineering at Yale university. He was 

assistant to Guy Selmser for ten years before 

moving up on his boss's retirement . . . John 

Firlik reports that all trucks of the Firlik 

Film Delivery Service got through without 

stalling despite a 20-inch snowfall. 

Lou Sherman, factory representative for 

Wagner letters, went to Gloversville with 

Jack McGrath of Albany Theatre Supply Co. 

to introduce new eight-inch plastic letters 

to the Schine circuit. The new size letters 

are being used at the Glove Theatre, which 

Gullstan Wilton Theatre Carpet 

JOE HORNSTEIN has it! 

heretofore has had them in lO-and-17-inch 

sizes . . . Charles Orr of the Fair Haven Theatre, 

Fair Haven, Vt., conferred here with 

McGrath on installations at the Town Hall 

in Schaghticoke, where he plans to introduce 

35mm pictures January 15 . . . McGrath reports 

he made a chair installation for Fred 

Deyo at the New Theatre in Altona. 

Ed Ruff, Paramount manager, is another 

new-car driver. He has a Buick . . . Ruff and 

Jack Bulwinkle, Columbia manager, now accupy 

apartments in Dutch village. Bulwinkle 

had been searching for a house more than a 

yeaj- and Ruff had been on the hunt almost 

that long. Mrs. Bulwinkle has come in from 

Rochester to join her husband and Mrs. Ruff 

has moved here from Boston. 

Gene Vogel, U-I manager, won second prize, 

the booking staff took fourth place honors 

and the sales staff finished fifth in the recent 

Nate Blumberg-J. Arthur Rank Better Business 

drive . . . Nate Dickman, Monogram 

manager, his booker. Bob Adler, and secretary, 

Mi-s. Ethel Klein, split second-prize 

money of $759 in the Monogram campaign 

finished the recent 13-week 

35th Year of Showmanship campaign with 

the biggest business record in the history of 

the local exchange, according to Manager 

Eddie Ruff. He said "Road to Rio" is doing 

sensational business in the territory. 

Patrons of the University of Pennsylvania 

Mask and Wig club's production, "Juleo and 

Romiet," at the Grand included Arthur J. 

Newman, manager of Republic, and Mrs. 

Newman; Alton Mendelson, Variety member, 

and Mrs. Mendelson; George O. Williams, 

managing editor of the Times-Union, also 

a Variety member, and Mrs. Williams; A. J. 

McDonald, general manager of the Knockerbocker 

News, and Mi's. McDonald; and Jerry 

Atkin, Warner Theatres ad-publicity man. 

Dr. Herman J. Diekman jr., son-in-law of 

the Oscar Perrins, served as chairman of the 

arrangements committee and his wife aided 

in sale of tickets. 

Mrs. Mary Lourania is the new candy stand 

cashier at the Ritz. Her husband George is 

manager of Hellman's Palace in Troy 

The Strand staff offers Carmen 

. 

Cudemo, 

their new candy girl, as the prettiest attendant 

in town . Wild Irish Rose" 

established a Warner house record during 

the first four days of its run at the Paramoimt 

in Glens Falls. It beat a previous 

Warner feature figure. 

INCORPORATIONS 

Film Classics of the Americas, Inc.; a motion 

picture business: Joseph Bernhard, Eugene 

Arnstein and Sinclair Hatch. 

World Video, Inc.; to produce and broadcast 

radio and television shows; incorporators, 

John Steinbeck, Robert Caps and fillip 

Reisman. 

East Islip Amusement Corp.; To furnish 

amusement in town of Islip; Louis Zimmerman, 

Maurice Goldberg and Alexander 

Teitler. 

Columbus Film Distributors, Inc.; To deal 

in motion pictures; Benjamin Aslin, Sara 

Kaye and Lillie Brodsky. 

Atlantic Court Theatres, Inc.; Conduct motion 

picture business in Kings county, Ralph 

Losso, Boris Bekeris and Etta Pomerantz. 

Racketeers' Income 

Data Is Requested 

WASHINGTON—A house resolution aski 

that the Treasury department furnish the i 

penditures in the executive departments co: 

mittee, of which Clare Hoffman is cha 

man, with income tax information on t 

four members of the Hollywood extorti 

gang recently paroled, was introduced on t 

floor of the house and adopted this week. 

Income tax information on any and 

persons interested in granting the parole u 

also asked in the resolution. 

Also included in the resolution are reque; 

asking the Justice department and the F; 

to turn over to the committee all reccr 

bearing on the recent parole of the four e 

convicts. 

Buffalo Houses Promote 

Orphans' Party, Shows 

BUFPALO—Harold C. Murphy and Franc 

Kennedy, managers of Basil's Strand ar 

Colvin theatres, respectively, combined the 

talents for promotion of free films and gif 

for an orphanage and for free shows for chi 

dren in their neighborhoods. 

Both managers contacted merchants ar 

promoted money and gifts. These wei 

pooled and used for distribution to orphai, 

at the Immaculate Heart of Mary orphanag| 

Each child received the gift it had requester 

in a letter to Santa Claus. 

| 

The free shows at the Colvin and Stranl 

included a western, comedies and cartoon' 

Both were held in the morning and wei 

covered by the dailies. 

HARRISBURG 

'Detiring Mayor Howard E. Millilien, in a 

llth-hour blast before leaving the offic 

he held for two terms, scored the city counc; 

for planning the amusement tax to raise 

needed $117,000 tor the city. Because Milli 

ken's term of office expired January 5 and th 

council knew of his opposition the city father 

postponed action on the measure until aftc 

the new mayor took over, Milliken chargec; 

He said taxes on motion pictures, sports, anc 

the like were not necessary with proper man 

agement of city funds and with floating loan 

for city projects instead of the practice o 

using regular revenues. When the levy wa| 

first discussed representatives of the 13 cit;! 

theatres went in a body to protest to thi, 

council, but were given no satisfaction. 

Mark Rubinsky, manager of the Rubinsk; 

chain, reports Gilbert S. Wolfe, former Ru 

binsky manager, has taken over the Lyric 

Newmanstown. He has renamed it the Joy 

and has made improvements. 

John Sites, former student assistant al 

Loew's Regent, and recently manager of th^ 

Lemoyne, has been named manager of the 

Elton in Steelton, where Robert H. Miller 

veteran manager, resigned. Both the Lemoyne 

and Elton are owned by Harry Chertcoff. A 

second story is being erected over the Lemoyne, 

to be utilized by the new West Shore 

radio station, WCMB. Construction is expected 

to be completed in time for .spring 

occupancy and opening. 

Dick Spong, former film editor of the 

Evenmg News and now journalism professor 

at Michigan State imiversity, called on local 

friends dm-ing his holiday vacation here . 

Manager Gerry Wollaston, State and W & 

V area manager, was chairman of the Exchange 

club committee which planned two 

Christmas parties for Harrisburg Boys' club. 


I 

'' 

I 

I Hayes 

A 

' 

in 

[ 

the 

' 

the 

' 

help 

I 

' 

News 

. . . Eleanor 

. . Edmund 

. . 

. . 

I 

)ick Hayes Resigns 

To Run Own Hotel 

ALBANY—Dick Hayes, Paramount saleslaii 

in the Albany territory for 21 years, 

as resigned, 15, effective January to take 

ver operation of the Grand Union hotel in 

Mpper Lake. Hayes will be given a fare- 

.-ell dinner in February by the Variety Club, 

f which he is a former officer. 

that Hayes, oldest salesinan here in 

i joint of continuous service for one company, 

f.'i vas leaving the motion picture industry 

ame as a surprise to Filmrow. He had been 

onsidered an inseparable part of picture 

istribution here. 

I am glad to be entering a field where I 

vill be my own boss and make my own de- 

Hsions." lie said. "Naturally, I am sorry to 

eave a business in which I have won many 

riends and have had such happy associitions, 

but think the change is for the 

I 

. . 

jest." 

native of Canada, Hayes started with 

Paramount in the ad sales department at New 

Vork in 1925. After a short time there he 

ft-as 

transferred to Toronto in the same line, 

then shifted to Albany where he was a 

oooker for six months prior to his advancement 

to salesman. Recently he has been 

Paramounfs only salesman here. 

is married and the father of a girl, 

Joan. 

Schine Hotels Engineer 

Is Former Altec Man 

ALBANY— Bill Graham, the man who directs 

construction in the nine large Schine 

'hotels and who has supervised the remodeling 

of the Ten Eyck in Albany at a cost 

well in excess of $500,000, had a theatre 

.background with Altec Service. 

Graham, a graduate in engineering from 

'Union college, Schenectady, was assigned by 

'Altec to work with the Schine circuit in the 

early 1930s. He had headquarters in Gloversville, 

from which he covered the many Schine 

houses. During part of this affiliation 

Graham had charge of remodeling several 

Schine theatres. 

Later he joined the General Electric Co. 

at its research laboratories in Schenectady. 

During the war he served as a lieutenant 

the navy. Upon discharge from service 

he was made director of construction for 

Schine hotels. 

"It's little a different assignment than 

theatre end, hotels being more inclusive, 

but basically the problem is the same—gathering 

the materials and hiring the skilled 

' 

to do the work," commented Graham. 

NEWARK 

- 

\X7hile rhumba lessons given by the Arthur 

"'' 

Murray dance studio in the mezzanine 

at Loew's State do not directly benefit the 

theatre, they help perpetrate the slogan, 

"Always something going on at LoeWs" . 

The theatre participated in the East Side high 

school's amateur show by awarding the 

Esther Williams cup to the winner and "Unfinished 

Dance" record albums to runnersup. 

Daniel A. Basile, owner of the Rex at Irving 

ton, returned from Miami in time for the 

holidays. David Boxer, manager of the theatre, 

instituted a new policy for Irvington by 

playing three first run features on the New 

Year's eve bill. Boxer did his own booking 

Kelly is the new cashier at the 

Rex . and Merrill Feldman, sons 

of Lucian Feldman, owner and manager of 

the Strand, spent the holidays with their 

parents in Newark. Both boys are students at 

Syracuse university. 

During the worst blizzard on record for 

Newark the Adams and Newsreel theatres 

were among the downtown buildings that 

kept their doors open for refugees. Business 

was almost at a standstill at some of the theatres, 

due to blocking of roads. Many buses 

could not make full trips . . . Frank Damis, 

zone manager for Warner Bros., entertained 

Warner managers and their wives at a party 

at Mayfair farms. Prior to the party Damis 

was presented with a refrigerated bar as a 

gift from the managers. 

The Boiler Beverage radio quiz show held 

on the stage at RKO Proctor's went over so 

well that an electrical transcription was made 

and the show was rebroadcast over station 

WAAT. Fifteen hundred dollars was given 

in prizes . . . The Capitol is running an extensive 

campaign for its all-thrill jungle 

repeat showing of "Elephant Boy" and 

"Sanders of the River," opening January 14. 

The campaign includes large ads in newspapers, 

special front and lobby displays . . . 

The Paramount did a record business on the 

day of the storm. 

Marilyn Maxwell; the Three Suns: Bobby 

Sherwood: Alan Carney, Hollywood comedian: 

Sondra Barrett, dancer, and Arnold Press 

of the pit orchestra were guests of A. A. 

Adams at a New Year's eve party at the 

Adams Theatre. Stagehands, projectionists 

and members of the house staff were also 

guests ... A. A. Adams and Mrs. Adams are 

to leave on Januaiy 16 for Fort Lauderdale, 

Fla. . . . The first 200 patrons attending the 

Adams New Year's morning were given one 

of Frankie Laine's personally autographed 

Mercury recordings of the song hit, "Two 

Loves Have I." 

features for children used as additional attractions 

at Saturday matinees in 1948 . . . 

Playing up the musical selections of Brahms 

and Schumann featured in "The Song of 

Love," the Hawthorne arranged tieins with 

Griffith Piano Co. in downtown Newark and 

with neighborhood music shops, using stills 

of Katharine Hepburn and Robert Walker. 

attempted holdup at 

Hippodrome Cashier Foils 

Try at Boxoffice Robbery 

BUFFALO—A woman cashier balked an 

the Hippodrome boxoffice 

about 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon. Later, 

a suspect was arrested a short distance from 

the theatre. 

The cashier, Mrs. Rose Norton, told police 

a man thrust his hand under the wicket and 

demanded money. Mrs. Norton stepped on 

an alarm button and picked up the telephone 

to summon help as the man stood there staring 

at her. Then, he turned and fled. Ushers 

responding to the alarm searched, but were 

unable to find him. 

A few minutes later, WiUiam E. Burns, 

former policeman and now serving as special 

attendant at Shea theatres, arrived in response 

to the alarm. Mrs. Norton gave Burns 

a description of the man. Burns located a 

man fitting the description nearby and had 

to subdue him to arrest him. 

The man, held without charge, told police, 

"I only looked at her and she looked at me. 

She got scared and so did I, so I ran." Police 

said they found a pair of pliers and a steel 

file in the suspect's pockets. 

Doorman Is Santa's Helper 

WILMINGTON, DEL.—Credit for one of 

the largest, single-collections in this year's 

drive for the Toy for Every Child fund, which 

was sponsored by the motion picture theatres 

of this city, went to John B. Cavender, an 

employe of the Queen Theatre. Cavender 

personally collected $500 in nickels and dimes 

at the door of the Queen. He takes a personal 

interest in the yearly toy drive and likes to 

consider himself a "Santa's Helper" in this 

effort. 

Mundt Bill Favored 

WASHINGTON—The Mundt bill 

providing 

for a foreign information program, including 

motion picture documentary films, was "reported 

out" favorably from the senate foreign 

relations committee this week. It was 

Frank Hyland, manager of the Palace in indicated that the bill would get priority 

Eastman Promotes Eight, Orange, is editor of the Movie and Shopping hearing on the floor of both houses, due to 

Guide of the Oranges, given free to patrons endorsement by the Republican policy committee. 

It is believed here that passage of 

Including John Newbury 

at and 

the Palace, the Pix Newsreel, Orange, 

ROCHESTER, N. Y.—Eastman Kodak Co. the Beacon in East Orange. The guide carries 

the bill is certain. 

reviews of 

has begun the year with eight executive 

personnel changes. 

and a syndicated column. 

John P. Newbury has been appointed general 

manager of the Eastman Gelatine Young sophisticates will attend a "cocktail 

Kiddy Show on Stage 

Corp., 

Peabody, Mass. He had been assistant manager 

party" for children, run in conjunction with ALBANY — Fabian's Grand and station 

the Saturday matinee for children at the WOKO presented "Teen Time" from the 

new current and coming attractions 

since the plant became part of Eastman 

Kodak in 1930, and had been head of the 

Hawthorne Theatre January 17. Joseph Geller, 

manager, arranged a tiein with a milk 

stage of the Grand Saturday morning. The 

show featured dancers and singers from the 

gelatine and glue divisions of the Crystal 

gelatine plant of the American Glue Co. when 

company, which will supply free milk in Oscar and Gertrude Hallenbeck studios. 

cartons bearing the name of the company. Manager Milt Shosberg arranged the tieup. 

the gelatine division was taken over by Kodak. 

Sample cookies complete the bill of fare. Heralds 

in the form of bookmarks will be passed last summer in cooperation with the Hallen- 

Warners' Strand staged two kiddy shows 

At the Kodak Park Works, Rochester, the 

following have been named plant superintendents: 

out at schools in the vicinity announcing the becks. 

Richard L. Clark, cine processing 

department; James P. Culhane, film planning 

and record department: Wesley T. Hanson 

jr., color process development: Floyd L. 

event. 

H. Andrew Garfola, formerly connected with 

the Ritz in Jersey City, is new assistant at 

District MPTO to TOA 

The theatre did very well WASHINGTON—Affiliation with the Theatre 

Hertle, film testing department: Lewis H. Owners of America by the District of 

the Regent . . . 

McGlashan, sensitized paper packing department: 

Gordon L. Waasdorp, baryta december 

31, playing to a crowded house . 

with its New Year's matinee for children De- 

Columbia MPTO was announced this week 

partment, and Loe S. Wilder, film testing Quite a number of Warner houses will continue 

the National Film Library's selected TOA 

by Julian Brylawski, who will be the district 

department. 

representative. 

BOXOFFICE :: January 10, 1948 45

J 

Loyal Haight to Para Candy Post 

NEW YORK—Loyal Haight has been named 

dh'ector of candy sales of Paramount Theatres 

Service Corp. by Leonard H. Goldenson, 

vice-president of Paramount Pictures. He 

succeeds Max Schosberg. who will become 

Loyal Haight 

Max Schosberg 

Rank Units on Location 

On Three Continents 

LONDON— J. Arthur Rank has started his 

announced production expansion for 1948 by 

sending five companies to locations on three 

continents. 

Jean Simmons is on her way to Suva, in the 

Fiji Island group, by way of Australia to play 

the lead in the Launder-Gilliat production 

of "Blue Lagoon." Donald Houston, latest 

Rank "find," has left San Francisco to fly 

across the Pacific to join the "Lagoon" 

troupe. 

Jane Barrett recently flew from San Francisco 

to Australia where she will play the lead 

opposite Chips Rafferty in the Australianmade 

"Eureka Stockade." John Mills, who 

recently returned from location in Norway 

with "Scott of the Antarctic," has left with 

another Rank company to location in Nairobi, 

Africa, to start work in "Trek." 

The company of "Sleeping Car to Venice," 

headed by Greta Gynt and Stewart Granger, 

was temporarily stranded in Paris until the 

strike-bound F*i-ench railway system could 

run a special train to the location site in 

Italy. The company of "The Passionate 

Friends," headed by Ann Todd is on location 

in southern France. The cast and crew of 

"Warning to Wantons" is on location in 

Estoril, Portugal. 

'Power Behind Nation' 

Set for Bond Drives 

NEW YORK—The Treasury department 

has ordered 450 16mm prints of "The Power 

Behind the Nation," the Warner Bros, documentary 

made for the MPA, to use during 

1948 in savings bond drives. The short will 

be distributed by the government after it 

has played out its regular 35mm commercial 

bookings. Theatre rentals have been earmarked 

for the Damon Runyon Memorial 

Fund for Cancer Research, Inc. 

U-I Claims Record Number 

Screen and Radio Names 

HOLLYWOOD—With seven stars and three 

directors making their initial screen appearances 

on the lot during 1947, Universal-International 

claims the greatest number of stage 

consultant and adviser to the department 

which he founded 20 years ago. 

Haight started with the United Detroit 

Theatres Corp., a Paramount affiliate, in 

1934, and eventually became general purchasing 

agent and director of candy and popcorn 

purchasing and merchandising for the 

Detroit Theatre Corp. He joined the New 

York Paramount office in November 1946. in 

the candy sales division. 

Schosberg was guest of honor at a luncheon 

in the Yacht room of the Hotel Astor Friday, 

January 2. 

Those present were: Barney Balaban, 

Adolph Zukor, Leonard H. Goldenson, Edward 

L. Hyman, Austin C. Keough, Louis 

Phillips, Loyal Haight, Leon Netter, Joe 

Dietch, Walter Gross, Monty Gowthorpe, 

Fred Mohrhar::t, Max Fellerman, Bob Powers, 

Arthur Israel. Henry Anderson, Sidney L. 

Markley, S. J. Seligman, Robert M. Weitman, 

Clement Crystal, George Weltner, Abe Piatt 

and Fannie Elman Cepus, Paramount Pictures: 

John Balaban and Walter Immerman, 

Balaban & Katz: Earl J. Hudson, United 

Detroit Theatre Corp.: Henry Royster, Paramount 

Pictures Theatre Corp., Poughkeepsie, 

N. Y.: Martin J. Mullin, M. & P. Theatres: 

William K. Jenkins, Georgia Theatre Co.: 

Eugene Schosberg, United Scale Co.; Milton 

Schosberg, Grand Theatre, Albany: Raymond 

J. Showe, Theatre Candy Co., and M. J. Gallagher, 

Hershey Chocolate Corp. 

and radio celebrities ever to make their film 

debuts at any studio in one year. 

Broadway stage meggers receiving their 

film baptisms included George S. Kaufman, 

with "The Senator Was Indiscreet," Michael 

Gordon, with "The Web" and "Another Part 

of the Forest," and Martin Gabel, with "The 

Lost Moment." 

Making their screen bows were stage luminaries 

including Lew Parker, m "Are You 

With It?": Albert Sharpe, "Up in Central 

Park": Louisa Horton, "All My Sons"; Arleen 

Francis, of stage and radio, in the same film; 

Jan Peerce, opera star, "Something in the 

Wind": Tom Pedi and Anne Sargent, "The 

Naked City": and radio players including 

Howard Duff, House Jameson, Ted De Corsia 

and Hester Sondergaard. 

Goldstein Leaves RKO. 

Drop East Studio Post 

NEW YORK—Jack Goldstein, RKO eastern 

studio representative for the past two years, 

has left the organization. His department 

will be abandoned and his specialized duties 

will be divided up among the various branches 

of the RKO New York office. Goldstein was 

channeled into his RKO post by the late 

Charles Koerner, then head of RKO production 

in Hollywood, who brought him to RKO 

from his former position as advertising and 

publicity director of the David O. Selznick 

Enterprises. The new studio regime, headed 

by Dore Schary, continued Goldstein in his 

post until general intraorganizational economics 

made it necessary to eliminate the 

department. 

Warners Sets 6 Features 

For Release in England" 

NEW YORK—Warner Bros, has scheduled 

six features for release in England during the 

first four months of 1948. All will open at the 

Warner Theatre in London. The features are: 

"Possessed," starring Joan Crawford and 

"Brighton Rock," a British-Pathe production, 

January 12: "Each Dawn I Die," re-release 

starring James Cagney and George Raft, 

February 2; "The Unfaithful," starring Ann 

Sheridan, February 23; "Cry Wolf," starring 

Errol Flynn and Barbara Stanwyck, March 

15, and "Idol of Paris," a British production, 

April 5. 

FCC Okays Doubling 

Of Coaxial Cables 

WASHINGTON—The FCC has appro\ 

the 1948 program of the American Te 

phone & Telegraph Co. to build 11 n 

coaxial cables for television broadcasting 

an estimated cost of $93,000,000. The ATi 

plans to lay 7,000 miles of coaxial cal 

during 1948 and 1949 in addition to the 7,( 

miles now in operation or under constn 

tion. 

The 1948 program approved by the P( 

calls for two additional circuits on the Ni' 

York- Washington cable, two between Nii 

York and Albany, two between Philadelpl:' 

and Chicago, two between Chicago and il 

Louis, and two between Washington ail 

Charlotte. In addition, the FCC okay' 

plans for a cable between San Jose and L 

Angeles to be built by the Pacific Telepho;' 

& Telegraph Co.. a subsidiary of the AT& 

The AT&T has issued a statement e 

plaining that television network facilities ai 

most likely to be needed along the rout] 

listed. The new circuits will be availabj 

f; 

long distance television circuits and 

training personnel. The company has mac 

its existing coaxial cables available for e: 

perimental and training work. 

MGM Starts News Folder 

For Picture Editors 

NEW YORK—MGM has started a ne^ 

folder about the company's pictures ar 

personalities which will be sent to motic 

picture editors by Herb Crooker, publicii 

manager. The new- publication, called M-C 

Movie Memo, is the outgrowth of a twici 

monthly newsletter, which has been sent oil 

by Loew's Theatres to film editors for ttj 

past two years. 

According to Crooker, the M-G-Mov' 

Memo will serve as a suggestion springboai 

for movie columns and as an exchange ( 

ideas, which will be passed on whether the 

concern MGM pictures or not. The first issue, 

which wâs sent out December 19, cor 

tains "Behind the Bylines," a closeup (' 

Betty French, Akron Beacon-Journal; i 

"Only Human" column from the N.Y. Daili 

Mirror, which tells of the troubles of tk; 

chief cleaning woman at the Capitol The' 

atre, and the Studio Roundup, written t 

Barrett Kiesling of the MGM lot. 

MGM Holds 3-Day Meet 

Of Field Auditors in N. Y. 

NEW YORK—Charles K. Stern, Loew 

assistant treasurer, and Alan F. Cumming: 

in charge of exchange operations and main 

tenance, conducted an MGM field auditor 

meeting at the Hotel Astor January 6-8. Wil 

liam F. Rodgers, vice-president and genera 

sales manager, spoke on general distributioi 

and exchange operation problems. Home of 

fice executives and personnel attended a get 

together luncheon on the final day of th 

meeting. Attending were Harold Postmar 

assistant to Cummings: John J. Ash, Charle 

Bell, Oliver C. Broughton, Carl Gentzel, Wil 

lard Gillilan, Arthur Sklar. Edward Ursche) 

Harry A. Simons and Charles Fogle. 

i 

Arthur Link in New Post j 

NEW YORK—Western Electric Co. ha,' 

named Arthur C. Link manager of organization 

planning, a new division of the company. 

Link will report to T. K. Stevenson 

vice-president of finance, and he will maki 

continuing studies of fundamental plani 

for industrial organization and their application 

to the company's business. 

BOXOFFICE Jar 10. 194)

I 

I 

tempt 

' 

the 

' 

' 

, 

rector, 

. Alvah 

1 pected 

1 vote 

, a 

HOLLYWOOD 

News 

PRODUCTION 

iHnllvirnnri Office— Suite 219 at 6404 HollVtnood Blvd.: Ivan Spear, Western Manager) 

CENTER 

Cited Ten Go East, 

: Face Arraignment 

HOLLYWOOD—Developments along three 

major fronts served to bring again into tlie 

limelight the question of alleged Communist 

. : activities in films and the industry's plans 

:( for inaugurating a "unity" campaign through 

stepped-up drive to improve its press and 

public relations: 

1. The so-called "unfriendly ten" film colony 

witnesses accused of contempt of Conj 

gress left for Washington, accompanied by 

K Attorney Robert W. Kenny, and were slated 

i to be arraigned there, at which time a date 

for trial was to be set. 

SAG TO VOTE ON ISSUE 

2. The Screen Writers Guild called a general 

membership meeting for January 13 to 

upon a resolution which would require 

the organization to fight for the reinstatement 

of three writers suspended by the 

studios when they refused to testify before 

the Thomas committee. The resolution, as 

approved recently by the SWG's executive 

committee, also opposes any producer "blacklist" 

of writers because of social or pohtical 

beliefs, and calls upon the Guild to support 

"by any legal means" the discharged 

scriveners if and when they bring civil action 

against the studios involved. 

3. Eric Johnston, MPA president, was exin 

momentarily from Spokane, Wash., 

to meet with the producers executive committee, 

of which Louis B. Mayer is chairman, 

and which was appoint.ed to draft the 

I so-called "unity" campaign. 

The "unfriendly ten" were indicted on concharges 

following their refusal to tell 

house un-American activities committee 

whether they are or ever have been Communists. 

They are John Howard Lawson. Ring 

Lardner jr., Samuel Ornitz, Lester Cole. 

Bessie, Dalton Trumbo and Albert 

Maltz, all writers; Edward Dmytryk, diand 

Adrian Scott and Herbert Biberman, 

producers. 

Kenny's plea that arraignment be postponed 

until the trial date was denied by 

Federal Judge David A. Pine in Washington. 

BATTLE SEEMS IMMINENT 

A battle over passage of the SWG's resolution 

calling for reinstatement of ousted 

scripters appeared imminent as a faction 

within the organization served notice it would 

seek a court injunction to tie up guild funds 

should the membership approve the resolution. 

Spearheading the dissenting group are 

Allen Rivkin. Adele Buffington and Arthur 

V. Jones. They called for continued support 

of the SWG's new officers, but challenged 

the use of guild funds in defense of indi- 

I vlduals on the contention such funds "were 

paid in the form of dues and assessments." 

Informed of this action, the guild board 

reaffirmed its belief that "democratic 

processes . . . provide a sufficiently ample 

forum for settling any intraguild disputes." 

BOXOFnCE :: January 10, 1948 

Top: General Bradley presents the 

army-navy department citation to George 

Murphy, HoUywood Coordinating committee 

president, and Patty Thomas, 22- 

year-old dancer, for USO-Camp Shows. 

Center: Cesar Romero (left), Patricia 

Morison and E. J. Mannix, Metro studio 

executive, at the HCC luncheon. Bottom: 

Lawrence Beilenson, Screen Actors Guild, 

and Harry M. Warner. 

Department Heads, Others 

Are Let Out by Columbia 

HOLLYWOOD — Although Columbia's 

President Harry Cohn some weeks ago denied 

published reports that widespread pay roll 

layoffs were being contemplated by the company, 

two department heads and several 

other technical employes have been let out, it 

was admitted by studio spokesmen. 

Leaving are Stephen Goosson, head of the 

art direction unit, and Ralph Blask, chief 

of the location department. Unit art directors 

Charles McArthur and Leslie Thomas 

were also lopped from the payroll. 

Goosson is being replaced lay his former 

assistant, Richard Pearl, while Black's spot 

is inherited by Harold Fisher. Neither Goosson 

nor Black announced future plans. 

Studio officials said they had received no 

word as to whether other ax-swinging was 

contemplated. 

Army, Legion Heads 

Salute Hollywood 

HOLLYWOOD—In the distribution of kudos 

for their wartime and postwar activities, 

Hol-lywood celebrities were very much on the 

receiving end during the early days of the 

new year. 

In ceremonies sponsored and staged by the 

American Legion, 21 film figures were presented 

with Americanism awards for testifying 

as "friendly" witnesses at the recent 

Washington hearings conducted by the 

Thomas un-American activities committee 

during its probe into alleged Communist activities 

in the motion picture industry. 

At another session, attended by more than 

40 screen and radio luminaries. Gen. Omar 

Bradley, new army chief of staff, thanked 

all branches of the entertainment world for 

their efforts during and after World War 11. 

James F. O'Neil, national Legion commander, 

and James P. Bradley, commander 

of Hollywood Post 43, were in charge of the 

Legion meeting. Citations of honor went to 

Louis B. Mayer, Jack L. Warner, Sam Wood, 

Walt Disney, Leo McCarey, Robert Taylor, 

Adolphe Menjou, Morrie Ryskind, James K. 

McGuinness, Rot)ert Montgomery, Lela Rogers, 

Fred Niblo jr., Gary Cooper, Jack Moffitt, 

Ayn Rand, Ronald Reagan, Richard 

Macaulay, Roy M. Brewer, George Murphy, 

Rupert Hughes and Oliver Carlson. 

The ceremonies were broadcast nationally. 

Bradley presented a joint war-navy department 

citation to USO-Camp Shows, Inc.. 

and took occasion to commend the entertainment 

industry's action In setting up Veterans 

Hospital Camp Shows, Inc.. to provide 

professional entertainment for hospitalized 

disabled veterans. The luncheon 

meeting was under the chairmanship of 

George Murphy, president of the Hollywood 

Coordinating committee. 

Among those attending were Y. Frank 

Freeman, president of the Ass'n of Motion 

Pictiu-e Producers: Sidney Strotz. NBC vicepresident; 

Sheridan Gibney, George Stevens 

and Ronald Reagan. 

Foy to Produce Mystery 

HOLLYWOOD—Bryan Foy will turn out 

"The Case of the Composite Face," a murder 

mystery, as his first personally produced 

venture since he took over as vice-president 

in charge of production at Eagle Lion. Crane 

Wilbur is writing the screenplay. 

Tender Years' Premiere 

HOLLYWOOD—World premiere of "The 

Tender Years," Alson production for 20th- 

Fox, was held January 9 in Kansas City. 

Pi-oducer Edward L. Alperson headed east for 

the opening, which was also attended by Joe 

E. Brown, who stars In the offering.

. 

MORT 

. 

JOHNNY 

Proceeds 

' 

---i 

' 

STUDIO PERSONNEUTIES 

Barnstormers 

Columbia 

GENE AUTRY has begun the first leg of an exended 

personal appearance tour that will cover 

i d include 22 cities. He opened ?n in Dallas 

ana win wind up with a two-week engagement as 

grand marshal of the annual Fat Stock show in 

Houston from FebrucTry 1-15. 

Metro 

lEANETTE MacDONALD will leave for a threemonth 

concert tour January 13 with initial appearances 

scheduled for San Diego and San Antonio. 

'=°'"="^.«s with .,,," release of °î her latest picture. 

Three Daring Daughters " 

='°'= ^'ith 

^^SW JS'^^\'"^° Robert Taylor 

and Herbert Marshall in "High Wall," is set to make 

° Ps.rsona' appearances in 

?of,^"t^ connection with 

key city openings of the picture. The agenda calls 

lor her to appear in Kansas City, St. Louis, Dayton, 

t-olumbus, Louisville, Memphis, Atlanta and Houston. 

An eight-day persona appearance stmt at I 

State Lake Theatre Chicago is scheduled 

ESTHER WILLIAMS. Following that 

which 

gageme 

starts January 22, 

series of one-day stands over the State-Lake "cTrcuit" 

Monogram 

MACK BROWN will leave February I on a 

-week tour in Tex 

Georgia, Louisiana and the 

Universal-International 

DONALD O'CONNOR cmd his wife, OWEN CARTER, 

'''"°""' ''PP- âte 

af',l!ro';'rmaTThea,"e° 

Blurbers 

Republic 

GOODMAN supervised the world premiere 

m San Francisco (5) of "The Flame," starring John 

Carroll, Vera Ralston, Robert Paige and Broderick 

Crawford 

Theatre. 

. from the 

premiere were donated to the European aid organizaiion, 

CARE. 

Briefies 

Paramount 

A Pasadena Rose parade float < 

than 40 years, Mrs. Isabel Colet 

subject of Jerry Fairbanks' next Uni 

short. The film will include scene' 

parade as well gs details of the 

planning of floats. 

sual Occupatio 

construction 

^"5"^°" "Tropical Masquerade,' 

feot'',?.'i"if"°">,'"l= eaturette which stars Tito Guizar and Sally Raw 

linson, with Alvm Ganzer directing. 

Cleffers 

Columbia 

'',?^^g'"ound score lor 

wl!"^! "The Return of th( 

Whistler has been recorded under iho îr=,.ii, J 

MISCHA BAKALEINIKOFF The Rudolph Flothow 

production stars Mich, 

Lenore Aubert. 

HEINZ REMHOLD 1 

ded the background 

The Fuller Brush M ward Small 

starring Red Skelton and !t Blair. 

Warners 

DAVID BUTTOLPH has been sen commissioned to create 

the original musical score: Viveca Lindfors starrer, t 

Daves directed and "To for the Dennis Morgffn- 

the Victor." Delmer 

J, Wald produced. 

Loanouts 

Eagle Lion 

CATHY O'DONNELL has been borrowed from Samuel 

troldwyn for one of the too femme spots in "The 

Spiritualist, which stars Turhan Bey. Ben Stoloff 

will produce, with Bernhard Vorhaus directing 

Meggers 

Columbia 

PHIL KARLSON draws the assignme 

Ted Richmond's production, "Wild Fur 

Foster and William Bishop share top bi 

(\_y 

' 

THERE'S A GREA T DA Y COMING 

\^ FOR THE GREAT SOUTHIVEST 

. 

World Premiere Fiesta 

Weel( Starts 

In 

Albuquerque! 

TO LAUNCH PARAMOUNT'S GREA'l 

CINECOLOR SPECTACIAt-sA 

\ 

with a week of great dates/ featured by 

Hollywood star tour and civic celebrations 

to honor the Southwest's own'stirring epic in 

.M^' 

V 

mm 

Albuquerque i. . . February 2 

Houston 

• 

• • - - 

^^^''"^'"y 4 

San Antonio. ........ February 5 

Dallas 

/ 

• 

^^''''"^'y 6 

Fort Worth . . . 

./ 

February 7 

And 50 More Daês in the Southwest 

4 

(More 

I 

f 

News Next M\ek!)\

1 

I 

I 

films with increasing alarm were given addec 

food for thought when the first video pro-: 

gram in a west coast theatre on a commercia 

basis proved successful. Staged on Nevl 

Year's day at the Shrine auditorium, thi] 

broadcast was a large-screen televised cover- 

age of the Rose Bowl football game and was 

attended by some 4,000 spectators. 

j 

Projectionist Crown 

To 'Body/ Garfield 

HOLLYWOOD—Just about every kind of 

organization from Campfire Girls to Housewives 

leagues has taken a crack at picking 

Lie "year's best" in film achievements. Comes 

jDw a new entry in that year-end activity as 

Aieatre projectionists, the men who make the 

/elluloid go around, selected their list of the 

"most endurable" films and stars seen from 

their booths during 1947. 

Members of the lATSE's projectionists 

union throughout the cotmtry voted Enterprises's 

"Body and Soul," released by United 

Artists, the 1947 release they "could most 

stand to see over and over again." John 

L>arfield was named the player who best 

stood up under constant scrutiny. 

In the femme category Lana Tm-ner 

emerged the winner, with Rita Hayworth, 

Jane Russell, Joan Bennett and Maureen 

O'Hara as runnersup. 

Garfield's competitors were Clark Gable, 

Gary Cooper, Ray Milland, Bing Crosby and 

ienry Fonda. 

"Body and Soul" was followed, in the 

oootlimen's opinion, by "The Jolson Story," 

"The Hucksters," "Green Dolphin Street," 

"Boomerang," "The Egg and I" and "Crossfire." 

Harry Nord, member of lATSE Local 165, 

who conducted the poll, reported only 16 

pictures were named in all of the ballots 

received. 

AFL Studio Unions to Hold 

Two-Day Labor Institute 

HOLLY-WOOD—Labor's spotlight was focused 

on the campus of the University of 

California at Los Angeles, where more than 

300 members of AFL studio guilds and unions, 

production executives and educators were 

slated to participate in a two-day "labor institute" 

session opening January 10. First 

meeting of its kind to be held in film labor 

history, the conference was under the joint 

sponsorship of the Hollywood AFL Film 

council and UCLA's institute of industrial 

relations. 

Speakers at various sessions were to include 

Richard Walsh, lATSE president; 

Charles Boren, labor liaison executive for 

the Motion Picture Ass'n; Clarence Dykstra, 

UCLA provost; N. Peter Rathvon, president 

of RKO, and representatives of the actors, 

extras, backlot workers, electricians, lATSE 

locals and other groups. 

Oscar Nominations to Begin 

With January 16 Balloting 

HOLLYWOOD—Machinery is being prepared 

for the 20th amiual Oscar ceremonies 

to Ise staged in March by the Academy of 

Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Although 

still nearly three months away, the voting 

timetable has ah-eady been set up. 

Nomination ballots go into the mail January 

16, with polls closing January 27. Award 

nominations will be announced February 16 

and screening of nominated films will run 

from February 23 through March 7. Final 

awards ballots will be mailed March 1, with 

polls closing March 13, and the presentations 

will be made at the Shrine auditorium one 

week later, March 20. 

Labor Council Moves 

HOLLYWOOD—With cartoonists, costumers 

and publicists as the first tenants, members 

of the Council of Hollywood Guilds and 

Unions will move into their new office space 

in Cahuenga Pass January 12. The new labor 

housing project will, when completed, house 

14 or 15 groups. 

West: Jack L. Warner, vice-president and 

production chief of Warners, from New York, 

where he spent two weeks with home office 

sessions was Donald Hyde, vice-president 

of United States Picturs, sharecropper 

releasing through Warners. 

East: Donald Nelson, who is retiring February 

1 as president of the Society of Independent 

Motion Picture Producers, to 

Washington and New York for conferences 

relative to the termination of his work. 

East: Charles "Buddy" Rogers, partner of 

Mary Pickford and Ralph Cohn in Triangle 

Productions, on a nationwide exploitation 

jimket for "Sleep My Love," the unit's first 

film for United Artists release. Rogers will 

stop off in a number of key cities for discussions 

with UA distribution representatives 

and exhibitors. 

East: William Pine, partner of William 

Thomas in the independent unit releasing 

through Paramount, to Albuquerque to map 

preliminary plans for the premiere there of 

"Albuquerque" early next month. Thomas 

will join him there within the next two 

weeks. 

East: Maurice Duke, associate producer 

Monogram's "Teen-Agers" series, to New 

of 

York on a business trip. 

West: Walter Daniels, head of RKO Radio's 

production department, back to the studio 

after a three-week trip to Manhattan. 

West: Charles C. Moskowitz, vice-president 

and treasurer of Loew's, Inc., from New York 

for production huddles at Metro with Louis 

B. Mayer and other studio executives. 

West: Nunnally Johnson, U-I writer-producer, 

from Florida after two weeks of preproduction 

shooting on his new opus. "Mr. 

Peabody and the Mermaid." 

East: Jack Gross, RKO executive producer, 

to New York on a three-week business trip. 

West: Cecil Barker, aide to David O. Selznick, 

from Gotham where he huddled with 

eastern executives of the Selznick Releasing 

Organization on foreign releasing arrangements 

for "The Paradine Case." 

Mountain Climbing Film 

Will Be Made in Color 

HOLLYWOOD—"White Devils," featurelength 

film concerning moimtain climbing in 

the Austrian Alps, will be produced in Ansco 

color for Monogram-Allied Artists by Irving 

Allen and James S. Burkett. Max Trell is 

doing the script and production will get imder 

way in April on location at Tlmberline Li^ge, 

with Allen directing. 

Ore., 

Allen and Burkett recently turned out 

"Climbing the Matterhorn," short subject 

in which Ansco color made its commercial 

debut, and have just completed "16 Fathoms 

Deep," first full-length film in which that 

color process is utilized. 

loins Stellar Quartet 

Adele Jergens has joined a stellar quartet, 

including Dorothy Lamour. Jeffrey Lynn. 

Janis Carter and Lee Bowman for "Let's Fall 

in Love," a Columbia picture, produced by 

Irving Starr, with Douglas Sirk directing. 

Video of Rose Game 

On Theatre Screen 

HOLLYWOOD—Showmen who have beei 

viewing television and its competition t( 

The affair was arranged by Bert D'Orsay| 

dealer in television equipment, who utilized! 

a standard table model equipped with a' 

giant 12xl6-foot screen. The Rose Bowl pro-, 

gram was televised by Paramount's station 

KTLA, with multicamera coverage, using the 

Zoomar lens. Pi-oceeds from the demonstration 

were turned over to veterans' admini-^ 

stration officials for the purchase of video' 

equipment for army and navy hospitals. 

Jerry Fairbanks will step up his production 

of films for video use during the early 

days of the new year. Augmenting his 16mm 

television equipment, the producer has pur-j 

chased three new Mitchell cameras and: 

plans to begin work within a few days on' 

the initial chapters in two new series of 

programs. 

Treasury Orders 'Power' 

Prints for Bond Drives 

HOLLYWOOD—Use of motion pictures to 

bring the messages of governmental agencies 

before the public moved foi-ward another 

step when the treasury department placed 

an order with Warners for 450 16mm prints 

of the documentary short, "The Power Behind 

the Nation," to be utilized as a stimulant 

in savings bond drives. 

The Technicolor subject will not be distributed 

by the Ti'easury department, however, 

until its commercial bookings in the 

U.S. have been exhausted. Its exhibition is 

currently being sponsored by the Motion Picture 

Ass'n, with all proceeds going to the 

Damon Runyon Memorial Fund for Cancer 

Research. 

Court Upholds Conviction 

Of 35 CSU Members 

HOLLYWOOD—As a legal repercussion of 

the early and violent days of the current 

studio jurisdictional strike, the appellate division 

of the superior court has upheld the 

conviction of 35 Conference of Studio Unions 

pickets for violating court orders against mass 

picketing. Convictions of approximately 40 

others were reversed, however. The reversed 

decisions covered the cases of pickets accused 

of imlawful parading and blocking entrances 

at Columbia, RKO and Technicolor. 

To handle general contractual problems as 

they arise, the Society of Motion Picture Art 

Directors has set up a six-member negotiating 

committee. The group comprises Daniel 

Cathcart, Leo Kuter, Rudolph Sternad, J. 

Russell Spencer, Marvin Davis and Frank 

Durlauf. 

Solow Heads SMPE 

HOLLYWOOD—Sidney Solow, west coast 

Consolidated Film Industries general manager, 

has been elected chairman of the 

Society of Motion Picture Engineers, Pacific 

coast section, for 1948. He succeeds Wallace 

Wolfe. Other new officers include G. R. 

Grain of Western Electric, secretary-treasm-er; 

and board members P. E. Brigandy, 

RKO Radio; J. Corcoran, 20th-Fox; and Fred 

Wilson, Samuel Goldwyn. 

50 BOXOFFICE :: January 10, 1948

. 

Thomas 

. HOLLYWOOD—William 

1 

^,lTv^ 

jrst of New Year 

HOLLYWOOD—The New Year's first world 

remiere found Republic's "The Flame" makig 

its debut at the State Theatre In San 

rancisco January 5, with municipal, state 

ud armv dignitaries attending, and all pro- 

»eds going to CARE, the organization which 

applies food and textiles to the needy in 14 

uropean countries. 

In attendance were Lieut. Gov. Goodwin 

Inight of California ; Mayor Elmer G. Robinm 

of San Francisco, and Gen. Mark Clark, 

ead of the U.S. Sixth army, as well as conular 

representatives of the European nations 

eing benefited. 

Premiere ceremonies were broadcast over 

tatlon KFSO. 

"Albuquerque," turned out under the Claron 

Productions label by William Pine and 

ViUiam Thomas for Paramount release, will 

le given its world premiere in Albuquerque 

'ebruary 2, with cast members and other 

lollywood players to journey there for paricipation 

in the premiere festivities. Folowing 

the Albuquerque opening the stellar 

roup will visit Houston. San Antonio, Dallas 

ind Fort Worth, where sectional openings 

vill be held February 4, 5. 6 and 7, respecively. 

Cast of the outdoor opus includes 

Randolph Scott, Barbara Britton, George 

•Gabby" Hayes and Lon Chancy. 

Thomas to Pilot Two. Pine 

One of Paramount Series 

Thomas will pilot 

two, and William Pine is set to direct one, 

of the first block of four pictures to be 

turned out by the Pine-Thomas sharecropping 

unit for Paramount on its 1948 schedule. 

The remaining entry, "The Man Who 

Stole a Dream," will be megged by Lewis 

Foster. 

will handle directorial chores on 

"Dynamite" and "Special Agent," while Pine 

will pilot "Disaster." 

Bogeaiis Aid Organizes 

Independent Concern 

HOLLYWOOD—C. J. Tevlin has resigned as 

executive vice-president of Benedict Bogeaus 

Productions to incorporate Olympic Productions, 

independent unit. A major release is 

being negotiated for the new company's first 

projected venture, "Front Door to Heaven," 

an original by Aben Kandel. Tevlin remains 

as a director of the General Service studios. 

Secretary-treasurer of Olympic is Lewis E. 

Pennish. 

'Let's Live' Distribution 

Assigned to Eagle Lion 

HOLLYWOOD— Eagle Lion will distribute 

'Let's Live a Little," romantic comedy 

starring Hedy Lamarr and Robert Cummings, 

to be filmed by United CaUfornia 

Productions. Cummings, Eugene Frenke and 

Phihp Yordan head the independent unit. 

The picture is set to roll late this month. 

Edwin Blum wrot« the script from an original 

by Albert Cohen and Jack Harvey. 

SMPE Plans Conclave 

HOLLYWOOD — Preliminary plans are 

being drafted for the 63rd semiannual convention 

of the Society of Motion Picture 

Engineers here early this spring. W. C. Kunzmann, 

convention vice-president, checked in 

from Cleveland to discuss plans for the conclave 

with Sidney Solow, new chairman of 

the SMPE's Pacific coast section. 

ôt^ê/^ 

AT THIS TIME of the year the fUm critics 

usually publish their lists of what, in their 

estimation, are the ten best films of the year. 

The critics of the lay press are fortunately 

not concerned with the financial prospects 

of the films they mention and, in any event, 

many of them affect to despise the picture 

aimed frankly at the boxoffice. Their lists 

are revealing at least in demonstrating how 

film tastes are changing year by year. 

Stephen Watts, film critic of The Sunday 

Express which has a circulation of more than 

2,000,000, lists as his ten the following: (li 

"Open City:" (2) "Odd Man Out"; i3i "Mine 

Own Executioner": (4i "The Best Years of 

Our Lives"; i5i "Boomerang": (6i "To Live 

in Peace"; (7i "Monsieur Verdoux": (8i 

"Bachelor Knight": (9) "The October Man"; 

UO) "The Yearling." 

Stephen Watts' placing of "Monsieur- 'Verdoux" 

as seventh is interesting as Caroline 

Lejeune of the Observer, whose witty column 

appeals to a more limited but more sophisticated 

readership, made this her film of the 

year. 

How far the critics' artistic choice coincides 

with the verdict of the cash customers 

may be judged by the story on this page in 

the December 27 issue which gave the six 

biggest pictures of the year in Britain as (1 

"The Courtneys of Curzon Street": l2) "The 

Jolson Story"; (3i "Great Expectations"; (4) 

"Odd Man Out"; (5) "Frieda"; i6) "Holiday 

Camp." 

FRED FRYER, manager of the Carlton 

Theatre which is Paramount 's swankiest 

showcase, is congratulating himself for 

having Sir Alexander Korda's picture "An 

Ideal Husband" to run at a time when grosses 

are inclined to drop—the holiday season. According 

to Fryer, the picture has done the 

best business in 1947 and that was a year in 

which he played "Variety Girl" and "Duel in 

the Sun." He has a theory that the film is 

appealing to the ten million people who are 

believed to have given up the habit of going 

to the theatre, for he has noticed that many 

of his regular clients have not appeared and 

the queues are composed of strangers. Among 

his visitors since the run started have been 

King Mihai of Romania and the Duchess 

of Kent. 

When reviewing "An Ideal Husband" in this 

column November 22 your correspondent did 

not think much of the film's boxoffice 

chances. In one theatre at least he has been 

proved wrong. 

One interesting point is that Sir Alex, who 

has been championing the idea of extended 

runs, has won his fight and in some cities 

has booked the film for a minimum four-week 

run. In other spots he is hiring the house on 

a roadshow basis. 

RALPH BLACK, who owns the Coliseum, 

Derby and several other houses, is building 

a big clientele with his policy of showing unusual 

films. He claims that he can make very 

big money with British pictares if he is allowed 

first runs but that his circuit opposition 

compels him to lose many a good picture 

or play it so late that the cream has been 

skimmed. He believes that extended playing 

time is the solution to rolling up a bigger 

gross for a film but that this can only be 

given if the independent is allowed to play 

day-and-date with the circuit houses. Otherwise, 

by the time the pictiu-e gets aroimd to 

the subsequent rtm houses it is stale. 

Unlike some exhibitors he still finds that 

American pictures out-gross British on his 

small circuit but he points out that this may 

be due to the above fact—that he cannot play 

By JOHN SULLIVAN 

the British until later. His observations are 

interesting in view of the new policy adopted 

by the two Rank circuits of playing a film 

on Odeon first and following four weeks later 

with a G. B. booking or vice versa. Independent 

exhibitors are very concerned over this 

as they fear that, as usual, they will be left 

out in the cold in the struggle for product. 

THIS WEEK the Alliance group reopens its 

doors at one studio. The Southall plant will 

start work on the next William picture 

provisionally titled "William Goes to Town" 

in which the whole of the cast and most of 

the technicians who made "Just William's 

Luck" will be re-engaged. 

The Alliance group thus keeps to the promise 

made to the Board of Trade last month 

that production would start the first week In 

January. At time of writing no plans have 

been announced for the other two studios in 

the group but it is likely that Riverside will 

start work at the end of January. 

PLAYING DAY AND DATE at the Gaumont, 

Haymarket and the Marble Arch 

Pavilion is the latest Two Cities film "The 

Mark of Cain" which was produced by W. P. 

Lipscomb and directed by Brian Desmond 

Hurst from a novel by Joseph Shearing entitled 

"Airing in a Closed Carriage." 

The film is a solid, meaty melodrama which 

should ring a bell at the boxoffice. Based on 

fact, as are most of Joseph Shearing's stories, 

it tells of the jealousy of one brother for 

another and his efforts to kill him and place 

the blame on the shoulders of his brother's 

wife. The mm-derer is played by Eric Portman 

who can always be relied upon for a 

completely polished performance and the 

young wife by Sally Gray, one of England's 

loveliest stars, who, for the first time, really 

has a chance to act. The big sm-prise in the 

film was young Patrick Holt, who plays the 

murdered brother. Seen only in small roles 

so far. Holt proves in this picture that he 

can hold his own even against veterans like 

Eric Portman and looks set for big things. 

Brian Hurst's next picture will be the story 

of the escape from a prison camp of fifty 

RAF officers dming the war and the murder 

by the Nazis of the leaders of the break. 

THERE CANNOT BE a single person in the 

film trade who is not glad that Michael Balcon 

has been honored with a knighthood. 

Only recently he celebrated his twentyfifth 

year in films and a long and brilliant 

record it is. Balcon has enemies as well as 

friends for he is blunt and forthright and will 

never adopt evasive tactics when he feels 

deeply on a subject. Even his enemies will 

pay tribute to his sincerity and probably the 

most significant thing of all is that many of 

our top-line technicians would work for him 

at considerably less money, if necessary, than 

they would ask from another producer. This 

is mainly because Balcon believes in giving a 

good man his head and also because his crews 

respect his very wide knowledge of the technique 

of fUm production. 

Still, it will seem a little odd at first to 

remember that Mick is now Sir Michael. 

THE OTHER FILM industry representative 

in the New Year honors list was Jimmy Porsythe 

who receives the Order of the British 

Empire. Jimmy has been with Gaumont- 

British for thii-ty years and is responsible for 

all the big charity premieres in G-B's west 

end houses. The amount of money raised for 

charities by these premieres must by 

run into millions. 

DOXOFTICE :: January 10, 1948 51

. . . John 

'. 

EL Regional Leaders 

Meet in Los Angeles 

LOS ANGELES—A two-day regional 

sales 

meeting of Eagle Lion's western district distribution 

representatives was to be held at 

the company's studio in Hollywood January 

10. 11 with Harold Dunne, assistant general 

sales manager, presiding. Coming from New 

York to attend were Frank Soulle, distribution 

executive, and Max Youngstein, eastern 

advertising director. 

Huddles were expected to cover EL's 1948 

program of completed product and discussions 

of the company's production and release 

schedules for the next few months. 

Scheduled to participate were Herman 

Biersdorf, western sales manager; Del Goodman, 

western division chief: Sam Milner, 

western district topper; Beverly Miller, midwest 

district manager, currently vacationing 

here; and branch managers Tom Chereck of 

Los Angeles, Lloyd Katz of San Francisco. 

Ralph Amacher of Portland, 'Wallace Rucker 

of Seattle, Arthur Jolley of Salt Lake City 

and Martin Austin, Denver. 

Ames to Guide 'Green Hair' 

HOLLY-WOOD—Production reins on RKO's 

"The Boy With Green Hair" have been handed 

Stephen Ames, with the picture now slated 

to roll early next month. It will be filmed 

in Technicolor, with Pat O'Brien in one of 

the starring roles and Joseph Losey directing. 

The property originally had been assigned 

to Producer Adrian Scott, who was 

among the so-called "unfriendly" witness at 

the Thomas un-American activities committee 

hearings in Washington, and who subsequently 

was removed from the company's 

payroll. 

U-I Assigns Directors 

HOLLYWOOD — Two directional assignments 

were handed out at Universal-International. 

Charles Barton was handed the piloting 

chore on "Brain of Frankenstein," new 

Abbott and Costello comedy, to be produced by 

Robert Arthur. Director of "Rogues' Regiment," 

upcoming Robert Buckner production, 

will be Robert Florey, who is now polishing 

the script. 

SAN FRANCISCO Fox Circuit Supports 

Terry Zigmond, Paramount Theatres boss 

' man here, has a bad case of poison oak 

Ettlinger, publicist for Paramount 

Theatres, is back from a vacation in the 

southland . . . Mort Goodman, Republic exploiteer, 

was in town touting the world premiere 

of "The Flame" at the State. 

A group of Hollywood, players, including 

Ona Munson, Richard Ney and Jorja Curtright, 

take over the Geary Theatre stage the 

night of January 13 to present the play, "The 

Master's Chair" . . . The Golden Gate Theatre 

has set up a wishing well in its lobby 

soliciting contributions to the Variety Club 

fund for the support of blind babies. 

Harry Franklin, manager of the Goldberg 

Theatres, became a great grandfather last 

week . . . The annual New Year's show put on 

by local talent for the inmates of San Quentin 

prison was the 33rd annual and was presented 

as the Han-y Ettling New Year's Jubilee 

in honor of the man who started the series 

in 1914. He died last April . . . The stage production 

"Alice in Wonderland" stopped last 

week at the Stanford Theatre on its round 

of the Pox West Coast circuit. 

The Berkeley Film society, in cooperation 

with the recently established Cinema Forum 

of California College of Arts and Crafts is 

presenting a three-month series of pictures 

each Thursday and Friday evening in Oakland 

and Berkeley. "The Cabinet of Dr. 

Caligari" was presented last week in Guild 

Hall, Oakland, and the Anna Head school 

auditorium, Berkeley. 

In support of the $275,000 school bond election 

scheduled for January 25, the Park Theatre 

in Menlo Park is showing a trailer urging 

citizens to approve the issue. This cooperation 

with the public schools was arranged by 

Manager Robert Winslow and Victor Laurice, 

business manager of the operating company. 

Al Laurice Sells Houses 

SAN FRANCISCO—Al Laurice has sold his 

Menlo and Park theatres in Menlo Park and 

the Mayfield in Palo Alto to L. S. Hamm, San 

Francisco theatre operator. 

Milk Ship Campaign 

LOS ANGELES—Key executives in the ) ( 

West Coast circuit will beat the drums c 

California's Goodwill Milk ship, sponsored ; 

Gov. Earl Warren and similar in scope to 

recent Food for Friendship train which si 

plied relief to needy Europeans. 

I 

At the governor's request, Charles 

Skouras, FWC president, has instructed d 

cuit representatives in each community wbt 

the chain operates to inaugurate local ca[ 

paigns on behalf of the Milk ship, which ^t 

carry a cargo of canned and powdered mt 

to the children of France, Italy and Gree' 

FWC's Thornton Sargent and Seymc,- 

Reiser were named publicity chairmen, w;| 

Fay Reeder, the chain's advertising direct 

in San Francisco, as publicity director !i 

northern California. Dick Dickson and W. 

"Bud" LoUier are serving in executive c 

pacities. 

A California naval training ship, t 

Golden Bear, will carry the milk, starti' 

from Stockton and making stops in Oaklai 

Vallejo, San Francisco, Los Angeles and S.| 

Diego before going overseas. 

Trailer Put on Television 

To Advertise 'Fugitive' 

HOLLYWOOD—First local use of televisv 

to advertise a current film was undertaken 

Argosy Pictures, which booked time on Par 

mount's video outlet. KTLA, to run a trail 

for "The Fugitive." The trailer, running t\ 

minutes, made its appearance before ai 

after KTLA's coverage of the Rose Parai 

and Rose Bowl game at Pasadena on Ne 

Year's day. 

Arrested on 'Furia' Count 

SAN FRANCISCO—Henry Pincus, own 

of the Larkin Theatre, was released on $2i 

bail prior to his arraignment in municip 

court to face charges of showing an indecei 

picture and allowing children to see it. I 

was arrested during the showing of "Furia 

an Italian picture. Chmxh groups objecte 

to the film on gromids that it was indecen 

Pincus said the picture had been passed t 

censor boards in other states and that it wi 

not indecent. 

Embassy Gets Realart 

SALT LAKE CITY—Embassy Pictm-es hi 

been granted the Salt Lake City and Denvi 

exchange franchises for distribution of Rea 

art Pictures, according to Harry N. Kere 

manager of the local branch. A report i 

BOXOFFICE December 27 erroneously re 

ported that Realart product in the two ex 

changes would be handled by Selected Pic 

tures. 

Draft Escalon Plans 

ESCALON, CALIF.—Plans are being draw 

for a theatre to be built here by the Mantec 

Theatre Corp., headed by William Peters. 

^^C E N T U R Y" 

THE MODERN PROJECTOR 

Los Angeles Office Now Open 

1574 W. WASHINGTON BLVD. 

187 Golden Goto Ave., 

San Francisco 2. Calif. 

Phone Underbill 7571 

52 BOXOFFICE :: Januaiy 10, 19*

' 

, Mr 

, Twril (Mono), reissue, plus stage show 1 

. . . Edna 

, . Kenneth 

•*. 948 starts Off Fast; 

»P 

Rio/ 'Paradine' Big 

LOS ANGELES—Big New Year's day busiess 

gave local first runs considerable of a 

ft and started 1948 off with generally good 

akes. even though there were only four 

lewcomers the lineup. Well out in front 

to 

•as "The Road to Rio." which doubled normal 

business in spots. two Selznick's "The 

,>aradine Case." beginning an advanced-price 

' 

'ngagement, was right behind with a 175 

latiog. 


lelmont. Culver, El Rey, Million Dollar, 

'-^rheum. Vogu^T-Men (EL), Linda Be 

(EL), 27id Goid wk 125 

V Fox Palace—Gentleman s Agreement 

-Foxl, roadshow, 2nd wk 150 

-nd Vogue—The Paradine Case (SRO), 

-y—The Bishop's Wife (RKO), roadshow, 

-.id wk 140 

rhinese, Loyola, Stale, Uptown—The Captain 

From CastUe (20th-Fox), 2nd wk 14(1 

Jowntown, Hollywood Paramounts—The Road 

, lo Rio (Para) 200 

Cgvp'ian, Los Angeles, Wilshire—Good News 

! (MGM). 2nd wk 100 

, 

,*our Star—Mourning Becomes Electro (RKO) 

roadshow, 2nd wk. . 115 

•our Music Halls—Christmas Eve (UA) 140 

3uiId-A Double Lile (U-1), 2nd wk 115 

Los Angeles, Ritz, Studio City, United Artists— 

ris, 

The Senator Was Indiscreet (U-1) 140 

>anlages, 100 

H.llstreet—Tycoon (RKO), 2nd wk 

Downtown, Hollywood, Wiltem— 

-Varners 

mid Irish Hose (WB), Znd wk 125 

Only Bright Light 

'n Average Seattle Period 

SEATTLE—Twentieth-Fox's "Captain From 

Pastile" boomed into the Fifth Avenue to do 

y lusty 210 to easily top the field. Sterling's 

?alomar Theatre brought in local talent for 

ts stage to boost its program. 

3lue Mous igle Book (FC): Thunder Birds 

(20th-Fo: ;sues 84 

i"iHh Avenue— Capt( From Castile (20th-Fox) 210 

(Col: 

(Col), 2nd 

Music Box—Christmas Eve (UA) Son of Rusty 

, (Col), 2nd d t wk . 

Music Hall-Each Da 

. tfissouri (WB), reissues 

j>arfmount—The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap 

;_(U-1), The Pretender (Rep) 1 

brpheuE—Golden Earrings (Para), Gentleman 

i 

Too Palooka (Mono), 2nd wk 

Palomar— Stork Bites Man (UA) Over the Santa Fe 

flooseve't—Body and Soul 

land (Rep), 6th d, t. wk 

(UA); 

Winter Wonder 

Castile' and 'Road to Rio' 

Are Big in San Francisco 

SAN FRANCISCO—"Captain Prom Castile" 

broke the barometer at the Fox with 350 per 

cent opening and the Hope-Crosby film. 

'Road to Rio." blasted forth with 300 per 

tent for opening week. 

evil Ship 

—"^—'— - rrom L-astile 

Grj. ,ome RKO) 

plus stage show 

Guild—How Green Was M\ Va !• vi 

> 

i 

Song oi the Island (/ nl ' 

.Orpheum-The Swordsman C- Blondie s 

Anniversary (Col) 2nd j,< 

Paramount—Road to Rio (Pa'o) 

St. fromcis-Unconquered (Pa'a' 3-1 Ak 

roadshow 

State—Jezebel (WBi A Slight Case of Murder 

(WB), reissues 

•United Artists-Body 

'Jnited Norions and Wartielt 

(20th-Fox)- Roses Are Red 

hove^the 

2jf4i/^^^^^ ^°'^ 

Counl on us lor Quick Actionl | H EAl RE 

THEATRE EXCHANGE CO. 

201 Fine Arts Bldp. PortlaiH 5. Oregon 

k2 

BOXOFFICE : : January 10. 1948 

150 

DENVER 

n farewell and welcoming luncheon was held 

at the Rocky Mountain Screen club for 

one member leaving, another on leave due to 

illness, and for two new exchange managers. 

Clarence Olson. UA manager who was transferred 

to San Francisco, and Chet Bell. Paramount 

manager on leave, were given cowboy 

hats with the hatbands inscribed with autographs 

of all present, A welcome was extended 

to Kenneth MacKaig. new UA manager, 

and E, V. Maloney. Boston sales manager, 

who is subbing for Bell, Milt Hossfeld. 

president of the club, and Frank H. Ricketson, 

expressed the sentiments of the club in welcoming 

the two, wishing Olson success in 

Frisco, and voiced the belief that Chet Bell, 

who is rapidly improving in California, would 

be back on the job before 1948 was very old, 

Fred Brown, longtime film salesman, lately 

with United Artists, has resigned and accepted 

the position as buyer and booker for 

the Black Hills Amusement Co. Brown succeeded 

Fred Zekman. who has held the job 

as booker to the amusement company for 

many years . MacKaig. United 

Artists branch manager, and Mrs. MacKaig, 

entertained the office force and others at 

a cocktail party and buffet supper in their 

home in Lakewood. 

Tom Bailey, Film Classics special representative, 

went to Salt Lake City on a sales 

trip . . . Milt Hossfeld. who has been film 

buyer for Fox Intermountain Theatres for 

several years, has resigned and wUl go to 

California soon after January 23. when he will 

sever connections with the company. He will 

take an extended vacation before announcing 

his plans. 

Mary Ellen Knight, UA manager's secretary, 

has gone to San Francisco, where she 

will continue to be secretary to Clarence 

Olson, former manager here. Ruth Robertson, 

booker secretary, will be the manager's .secretary, 

and 'Virginia Jnnes. phone girl, has been 

promoted to booker's secretary . . . Sam Appleman. 

RKO salesman, and Mrs. Appleman, are 

parents of a baby girl, bom at Butte, Mont. 

Ahlers, contract clerk, and Tillie 

Chalk, office manager at Paramount, both 

were home because of illness . . . David A. 

Spencer. Raton. N. M.. is organizing a portable 

circuit for five towns in northern New Mexico 

and southern Colorado. 

The Inland Amusement Co. has been organized, 

with Don Hart as president; Louis 

Petry. vice-president, and Lou 'V. Scott, secretary-treasurer. 

The company is operating the 

La Fa. Lafayette. Colo., having bought the 

house from 'Walter Houser. 

|kE 8 

RCA Sound Systems 

Brenkert Projection Equipment 

nSAIRCo Cooling Equipment 

Blowers and Exhausters 

WESTERN SERVICE & SUPPLY. INC. 

Judge Reduces Award 

For Injuries at Theatre 

SACRAMENTO— Per.sonal injury damages 

of $100,000 awarded by a jury as a result of 

the collapse of the Hippodrome Theatre 

marquee, were reduced to $70,000 here by 

Superior Judge Peter J. Shields, subject to 

approval by the four to whom the damages 

were awarded. If the plaintiffs do not accept 

the judgment. Judge Shields said he would 

grant a new trial. The jury had awarded 

$50,000 to Raymond Potter, husband, and Mr. 

and Mrs, J, D, 'Wood, parents of the woman 

who was killed under the marquee, and another 

$50,000 to Joseph Brady, who was permanently 

crippled. Judge Shields reduced 

these awards to $40,000 for Potter and the 

Woods and $30,000 for Brady. 

FWC Starts Winter Drive; 

$40,000 in Prizes Posted 

LOS ANGELES — Under supervision of 

George Bowser, Fox West Coast general manager, 

the circuit's northern and soutkern 

California divisions launched the year's first 

showmanship campaign, the "Back to Work" 

drive. It will continue through March 23, 

with a total of $40,000 in prizes already 

posted. 

FWC's northern division is headed by Dick 

Spier, with Dick Dickson in charge of the 

southern group. 

Two special weeks have been scheduled 

division managers' week February 3. and 

George Bowser week February 25. 

Harry Hunsaker Resigns 

SAN FRANCISCO—Harry H. Hunsaker 

has resigned as local manager of Selznick 

Releasing Organization and has purchased 

the Hunsaker Motor Co. in Chico. Calif., 

from his nephew. O. W. Hunsaker jr. He will 

take over management of the motor company 

January 15. His successor at SRO has not 

been named. 

Fresno Kinema Robbery 

FRESNO. CALIF.—A bandit walked into 

the entrance of the Kinema Theatre here 

January 4, threatened Thora Kelly, the 

demanded paper money, and fled on 

cashier, 

foot with $52 at 1 o'clock in the morning. 

Doorman T. D. O'Brien pursued the man, 

but was unable to overtake him. 

lames Sandoval Visits 

BELEN. N. M.—James Sandoval, former 

assistant manager for TEI here, was a recent 

visitor among his former fellow employes. 

Empire Theatrical Consultants 

Exclusive distributors for Poblocki & Sons Predesigned 

Tlieatfes. Frents, Boxoffices, Poster 

Cases, etc. 323 to 689 seat houses. Immediate 

construction!! 

925 21st St. TAbor 4962 Denver, Colo. 

NOW 

SHOWING 

A/e» Styling, Nev Comforl and Diirabilily 

HEYWOOD-WAKEFIELD THEATRE CHAIRS 

B.F. 

SHEARER COMPANY 

Pacific Coast Dislribu 

—

Salt Lake Exchange Area Theatres 

Total 429 With 

WASHINGTON—The Salt Lake City exchange 

area has a total of 429 theatres with 

a seating capacity of 193,037. Circuit and noncircuit 

houses are almost evenly divided 

insofar as seating capacity concerned. 

is 

There are 155 circuit houses with 95,356 seats 

and 274 noncircuit houses with 97,681 seats. 

Fifteen theatres in the area are closed. 

193,037 Seats 

These have 6.829 seats. 

The Salt Lake City statistics prepared by 

the Motion Picture Ass'n were the 19th in a 

series of 31 directories now being turned out. 

Salt Lake City theatres average 845 seats 

a house. In 243 theatres in 227 towns with 

a population of 2,500 or under the average 

is 304 seats per theatre.

' 

I 

' 

' 

par 

' 

I 

"The 

I 

Loop Business Zooms, 

jSlarting Christmas 

CHICAGO—From Christmas day right 

up 

Ito and including New Year's eve. the show 

business was booming all over town. The pre- 

Christmas doldrums, worst in years, which hit 

many all-time lows, were forgotten. Waiting 

lines eager to see new stellar attractions at 

most' Loop houses, began on Christmas day 

and grew in width and length daily. "It Had 

to Be You," plus a stage show headed by the 

Ritz brothers, at the Chicago, and the Oriental 

with "Intrigue," plus an all-star show headed 

;by the Harmonicats and Pearl Bailey, brought 

'fans from all parts of town and from the 

hinterland. Other new entries, "Road to 

Rio" at the State-Lake, "The Swordsman" at 

the Garrick and "Unsuspected" at the Roosevelt 

were standouts. The RKO Palace with 

"Tycoon" and the Grand with "Out of the 

Past" had fine weeks, too. 

Holdovers picked up in a big way with "Body 

and Soul" at the Woods. "Forever Amber" at 

the Rialto and "Gentleman's Agreement" at 

the Apollo still going strong. 


(P3r.i> 135 

Rivers; >- The Secret Life of Walter Mitty 

(RKO) 125 

Strand- -Daisy Eenyon (. n-h-Fox 

, : 1 djy, 

Swordsman (Col): Her Husband's Afiairs (Col), 

2nd wk ....100 

Towne—The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap (U-I), 

2nd wk 130 

Warner—Mv Wild Irish Rose (WB); Blondie in the 

Dough (Col), 2nd wk 135 

Wisconsin—Captain From Qastile (20th-Fox) 135 

Indianapolis First Run Trade 

Moves Above Average 

INDIANAPOLIS—Attractions at local first 

run theatres drew good houses and grosses 

were well above average. "The Wistful Widow 

of Wagon Gap" headed the list at the Circle. 

Circle—The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap (U-I).., .175 

Indiana—Fun and Fancy Free (RKO) 125 

Loews-Killer McCoy (MGM) 115 

Lyric—Thunder in the Valley (20th-Fox) 100 

Tom Finan Recovers 

SPRINGFIELD—Tom Finan is 

back on his 

feet after a serious illness. The Decatur exhibitor 

was here for 

a short visit. 

Variety Club's New Year Festivity 

Reaches Peak of Gaiety at Chicago 

Who Cares Who's First 

So Long as They Come 

Fort Wayne— Cliff Milnor, Journal- 

Gazette columnist, did a recent article 

on who should precede in a theatre aisle, 

the boy or the girl. He called on Harvey 

Cocks, manager of Quimby Theatres 

here, for a comment. 

This is what he got. 

"I should worry about that?" Harvey 

asked. "I don't care if they come in sideways, 

just as long as they get seated. 

Enough of 'em, that is. If the picture's a 

turkey, the one with the most sense gets 

out first. Of course, we never book a dog, 

ourselves," 

Exhibitors of Illinois 

Zorn. Pontiac; T. D. Beninati, Pinckneyville: 

Ted Keelen, Sheffield. 

Dave Jones, Charles Murray, George Kerasotes, 

J. B. Gaichetto and Mort Berman. 

Springfield; Lee Norton, Sullivan; R, N, Hurt, 

Toluca: Robert Wixon, "Vermont: G. B. Barber, 

'Villa Grove: M. F. Bodwell. Wyoming. 

C. C. Mundo, Little Rock, Ark.: Fred Wehrenberg. 

Lou DuFour, Lester Grand and 

Edward Peters, St. Louis, and Leon J. Bamberger 

and H. M. Richey. New York. 

Hannibal Meet Postponed 

ST. LOUIS—The regional meeting of the 

Motion Picture Theatre Owners of St. Louis. 

Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois, originally 

slated for January 14 in Hannibal, has 

been postponed until Januaiy 29. The meeting 

will be held in the Mark Twain hotel. 

Decision was reached when President Fred 

Wehrenberg was advised that the finance 

committee of the Motion Picture Foundation 

is to hold a meeting in New York City 

January 14. 

CHICAGO— Variety Club's New Year's 

eve open-house party was a brilliant success. 

Over 250 members and guests attended the 

festivities in the clubrooms at the Sheraton 

hotel. Henri Elman and Irving Mack had 

charge of arrangements and did an excellent 

job. Juanita Creed, "Variety Club receptioni.st, 

handled the details, and Jonas Perlberg, 

BOXOFFICE representative, was on hand to 

emcee the shindig. 

Arnett Snell presided at the piano and 

tickled the ivories for community singing and 

dancing. Moe Wells, composer and exhibitor, 

livened things up by singing oldtime songs, 

and Freddie Mindlin came through with the 

new Jackson Park decree ditty, "Sue, Mister, 

Sue." 

Jack Rose, Jack Kirsch, Doc Banford and 

Basil Charuhas, to name only a few, were 

on hand to greet and extend a welcome to 

all. Al Simon provided several 25-pound 

roasted turkeys, which were backed up by 

huge platters of corned beef, baked ham, beef 

tongue, cheese, salads and other chewables, 

St. Louis Bill Would Bar 

Distribution of Handbills 

ST. LOUIS—The Chamber of Commerce 

supporting a bill introduced in the board 

is 

adults, UA's "Sleep My Love," Republic's 

"The Flame," and Screen Guild's "Road to 

the Big House." 

Fort Wayne Amphitheatre 

FORT WAYNE, IND.—The gift to the city 

by Helene R. Poellinger, publisher of the 

News-Sentinel, of an outdoor amphitheatre 

seating 2,500 persons was announced at year's 

end. The outdoor theatre will be located in 

Franke park, and will cost approximately 

$100,000. Construction will begin early next 

spring and completion is planned for next 

summer. Gift was possible because of curtailment 

during the war years of annual 

public services rendered by the paper. 

Agnes Moorehead Visits 

REEDSBURG. 'WIS.-Agnes Moorehead, 

Hollywood actress, spent the Christmas holidays 

here with her mother, Mrs, John H. 

Moorehead. 

BOXOFnCE :: January 10, 1948 55

. 

. 

. . 

. . . Guy 

. . George 

. . Doris 

. . Wilma 

CHICAGO 

•pie effects of the New Year's day ice and 

snow crippled business in all Loop and 

outlying houses and grosses skidded to a new 

low, both Thursday and Friday. However 

Chicago virtually was back to normal Saturday, 

having melted and dug its way clear 

of the snow and sleet storm, the worst in 

years, and streets and highways were open 

despite a six-inch snowfall. Streets were 

bumpy to slushy, but all were passable and 

theatre business was fine over the weekend. 

Things were rather quiet on Filmrow after 

one of the biggest holiday celebrations in 

years and everyone was happy with bonus 

checks and other gifts. Over the weekend 

most of the boys in' the film exchanges had 

to augment the janitor crews and help 

shovel paths through the snowdrifts so exhibitors 

could get into the offices to book. 

Film carriers reported there was no delay 

m delivery of films to outlying houses. 

Newsreel camera crews from MGM, 20th- 

Pox and Paramount were on hand at the 

Drake hotel last weekend to make shots of 

Henry A. Wallace when he made his address 

as a third party presidential candidate . 

Jack Belasco is rounding out six years as 

manage of the Woods. Incidentally, jack will 

switch from Coke to Calvert January 15 via 

the billboards and car ads . . . Ralph Stitt 

is an addition to the Filmack Trailer Co. 

advertising department. 

Herb Crane, assistant manager at the Lamar, 

Oak Park, finally has found an apartment, 

and has moved in with his bride of 

several months ... A group of local citizens 

plans to take over the old Auditorium and 

present self-supporting opera, hoping to televise 

in English. Men behind the dream include 

James Thompson, Victor Lolombo, 

James Osberg and Lawrence M. Fine. 

The Standard Theatre has been sold by 

the estate of Frederick M. Winston to Betty 

M. Walsh for $72,500. The theatre has been 

operated for many years by Bartelstein 

Brothers who will continue to operate . 

John Dromey, head booker for Great States 

who is also mayor of North Chicago, entertained 

2,000 children at the annual party 

held in his Sheridan Theatre . . . Charles 

Land, newcomer with B&K, was until recently 

road manager for Alvino Key's orchestra 

.. . Louis Udwin, former B&K assistant, 

is back pinch-hitting on the northwest side. 

WHFC, radio station of Cicero, staged its 

annual cigaret drive for wounded veterans 

of both wars. Lenny Utecht, manager of the 

Lake in Oak Park, hopped on the band 

wagon with pledges, getting additional free 

plugs for the theatre. 

It looks like the war is over for sure. Three 

B&Kers landed new apartments to pitch 

their Christmas trees in. The fortunate persons 

are Ben Feldman, UA manager; Ann Flaherty, 

Garrick cashier, and Hazel Braid, Will 

Rogers cashier. Ben topped his good fortune 

by acquiring a new car during the week 

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Premier Chain Hikes 

Prices in Evansville 

EVANSVILLE. IND. — Premier Theatres, 

local downtown and neighborhood chain, has 

inaugurated admission price increases, following 

the suit of two Loew houses here. 

Adult prices at the Grand and Carlton, 

downtown first run houses, were increased 

five cents to a 60-cent top. Children's prices 

went up two cents to 20 cents. 

At the neighborhood houses, Alhambra, 

Franklin, Columbia, Woodlawn and Marylane, 

adult prices went up one cent to an 

even 25 cents. Only exception is the neighborhood 

Washington, town's ace second run 

house, where prices always have been 30 

cents. 

Rosedale Theatre, independently operated 

by Harry Kornblum, has increased the same 

as Premier neighborhoods. 

Increased overhead and declining volume 

are cited as reasons for the hike. 

'Dad' Wittman, 57, Is Dead; 

Old St. Louis Booth Man 

ST. LOUIS — Funeral services were held 

December 31 in Maplewood for Adolph H. 

"Dad" Wittmann. 57, veteran member of 

Moving Picture Machine Operators Local 143 

lATSE. He died after being ill for severai 

months with a heart ailment, 

A son of the late Adolph Wittmann, one 

of the pioneer motion picture theatre owners 

in the northern section of St. Louis, Wittmann 

became a member of the operators 

union back in 1911. For the past 17 years 

he had been one of the projectionists at the 

Shaw Theatre, a unit of the St. Louis Amusement 

Co. 

Surviving are his wife, a daughter, his 

mother, a sister, and a brother. 

FORT WAYNE 

tiein with local 

J^ 

newspapers and merchants 

for a free Chi-istmas show for orphans, 

newsboys and other children of the city, was 

made by the Jefferson Theatre here. Claire 

"Bud" Jones, manager of the Alliance house, 

planned the party. The News-Sentinel and 

Journal-Gazette gave tickets to their carrier 

salesmen and the Dime Trust and Savings 

bank, Duesler's music house, Barth and Levy, 

Maumee Valley Coal Co., A. J. Hoffman, 

Arthur Murray School of Dance, Rosseau 

Brothers, Sanitary Diaper Service, Slick's 

laundry, Adler's cleaners, English Terrace 

restaurant, Kern's Jewelry, Klett Lumber 

and Supply and the Janitors Supply Co. gave 

tickets to children of their customers. Children 

of the three orphanages of the city 

also received tickets. Jones said it is hoped 

to make this an annual affair. Two shows 

were held, one at 8:45 a. m. and one at 

10:30 a. m. Police and firemen had extja 

"" 

personnel on hand to insure safety. 

Everett L. Grabach, assistant manager of 

the Jefferson, has returned to his job after 

being laid up with a stomach ailment . . . 

Mrs. Harvey Cocks, wife of the manager of 

the Quimby Theatres, has returned to her 

home after spending six weeks in a local 

hospital. She is reported definitely on the 

mend. 

Leonard McCurdy, who retired from active 

work in the film business several years ago, 

now is living at 2501 Webster St., Fort Wayne. 

He spent a number of years in Australia with 

American film interests. He is confined to 

his home with a serious heart ailment. 

INDIANAPOLIS 

. 

Jâx Meadows, former salesman for Universal-International 

in southern Indiana 

and northern Kentucky, has joined the sales 

organization of Eagle Lion and will cover 

the same area Deuitch is the new 

biller at National Screen Service . . . Edwin 

Brauer, Republic manager, spent the weekend 

in Cleveland, visiting relatives and old 

friends. 

Carl Kemp, Eagle Lion manager, has been 

confined to his home by a severe cold . . 

Mary Margaret Wade, cashier at National 

Screen Service, was vacationing in Miami 

Craig, manager of Columbia, was 

| 

visiting points in the south, including Tampa 

and New Orleans. 

William Pryor has been added to the personnel 

of the Ger-Bar Equipment Co. staff. 

In addition to office duties, he will serve 

as secretary to Ben Hopkins, head of the 

company . . . L. J. McGinley, sales manager 

Prestige Pictures, Is making his headquarters 

in Indianapolis while calling on 

circuit heads in the state. He is planning 

to leave after the first of the year. 

Filmrow visitors: Walter Weil, Greenfield: 

Arthur Clark. Bloomington; Bruce Kixmiller, 

Bicknell: K. Maurice, Clinton: J. 

Finneran, Rembusch circuit, Frankhn: Kenneth 

Law, Argos; HaiTy Watts. Knightstown; 

Mrs. Annette Kuebler, Jasper: K. Maiu-ice, 

Clinton: R. L. Hudson, Hudson circuit, Richmond. 

Governor Ralph E. Gates disclosed that 

Will H. Hays, one time head of the motion 

picture industry, has contributed $1,000 to 

the Save the Shades drive. The Shades is 

a virgin forest and a campaign has been in 

progress to save the tract for park purposes. 

Donations from persons interest over the 

state have spared the giant trees from the 

woodsman's axe. 

Employes at 20th-Fox were jubilant over 

news that they had won the Andy Smith 

drive. Employes will receive three weeks' 

salary as a reward. 

Leslie Brauer, son of Edwin Brauer, Republic 

manager, visited his parents over the 

Christmas holiday. He is now located in 

Chickasha, Okla. . . . Ted Hamer. salesman 

at Eagle Lion, visited his family in New 

York City over the holiday . . . Jane Lyons 

of the Republic office staff, surprised everyone 

at the Chi-istmas party by her musical 

talent. 

R. L. Harned, operator of the Empire in 

Peter Rosian, district manager of U-I, visited 

the local branch Wilson, biller 

at Universal, suffering with a sprained 

is 

The Bloom in Bloomfield, Ky., 

. . . 

operated by Roland Foster, is to open thi.s 

week. 

Edward Lebby, salesman for Film Classics, 

spent the holiday with friends at Youngstown 

. . . Paul Sanders, exhibitor at Campbellsville, 

Ky., is visiting his daughter in 

Washington . L. Landis, son of 

George T. Landis, manager of 20th-Fox, is 

spending the holidays from Notre Dame 

with his parents . . . A. M. VanDyke, sales 

manager of the 20th-Fox Chicago exchange, 

vi-sited the local branch. 

Filmrow visitors included E. H. Austin of 

the Austin in Versailles: A. J. Kalaber, 

Auditorium, Connersville: Sam Neall, Indiana. 

Kokomo: Matt Scheidler, Orpheum, 

Hartford City . . . The Switow circuit, operators 

of the Vondee and Majestic in Seymour, 

Ind.. announced the appointment of George 

E. Jaegers as city manager. 

56 


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MILWAUKEE 

H blizzard reminiscent of a similar big blow 

a year back hit town New Year's day. 

Traffic was virtually stopped as drifts piled 

high on expressways and side streets. Theatres 

were filled with holiday trade and 

some houses warned patrons to depart if 

they had great distances to travel before 

reaching home. Public transportation was 

fouled up. Automobiles were stranded in 

drifts. Many first run and neighborhood patrons 

remained in theatres till closing. By 

Friday, snow removal equipment and shovelers 

had opened streets but the going was 

slow. Naturally, the blizzard curtailed business, 

but most situations reported exceptional 

New Year's eve business. 

Mr. and Mrs. Sam Ray announced the arrival 

of a baby girl, Sherri Lee, Christmas 

day. Mrs. Ray was formerly with National 

Screen and Sam was Ogden projectionist . . . 

LeRoy Smith, MGM salesman, is searching 

for an apartment for self and wife. 

Henry Miller, former operator of the Victor, 

Hartland. was in to say hello. Now re- 

tired, he is living in the east . . . Elsie 

Seidl and Pearl Reinke of MGM spent New 

Year's eve in Elgin, 111., and reported a swell 

time . . . Wally Bennin, MGM office manager, 

jectionists changes welcomed 1948. In new 

was dow^led by flu . . Several projectionists 

posts are Eugene Anacker, Parkway: John 

Groff, Egyptian: Harlan Fulmer, Sherman: 

Arthur Wegner, Colonial: Buford Painter, 

Savoy: Kurt Liebau, Avalon: Myrl Melton, 

State: Kenneth McLay, Hollywood: A. W. 

Walters, Princess: Roy Bernier. Warner 

Screen Room: Ray Kieren, Mid-City: Raymond 

Schneider, Rainbow; Louis Arnowitz, 

Pern: Earl Borgenhagen, Allis: Robert Wittmann, 

Oakland; Harvey Black, World; James 

Trimborn, Plaza; Vernon Tobolt, 'Tosa; 

Robert Medower, Layton Park; Richard 

Polcyn, Grace and Milt Klase, swing job. 

. 

. 

Max Weisner of the Alamo and Mozart 

came thi'ough surgery at Michael Reese hospital 

in Chicago and returned home. Weisner's 

voice box was removed Nowatske, 

Vista, Mukwonago, was on the Row 

booking Lyons, Chicago, United 

Artists publicist, was in pounding his drums 

on "Intrigue," due for early Towne opening 

White, RKO cashier, was battling 

an attack of the flu and missed those holiday 

festivities on the Row . 

Fazio's 

Towne Room was the spot where many showmen 

welcomed the New Year. 

. 

. 

W. C. Fischer, Campo, Campbellsport, 

booked . same tor James Boden, Grand, 

South Milwaukee though close 

to Milwaukee, seldom calls personally at the 

exchanges Row eatery has changed 

management again. 

pûcERSF 

V5.^g«tP«°"°' 

He has new Strong, Projection 

Arc Lamps, Rectifiers and 

Reflectors in his theatre. 

Bill Exton of the Roosevelt, Kenosha, was 

held up on his proposed Florida trip by the 

blizzard . . . The MGM staff is happy about 

its new "coke" machine. Twentieth-Fox has 

one too, in case you exhibitors get dry while 

booking . Hatzi, former National 

Screen employe, is doing the town armed with 

flashgun and camera . Napintek, 

former MGM staffer, announces arrival of 

a 

baby boy. 

Walter Blaney, RKO office manager, is 

doubling as mail clerk at the office . . . R. 

Baker, RKO salesman: N. Provencher, United 

Artists salesman, and Jules Gerelick, Paramount 

salesman, attended a Colosseum of 

Motion Picture Salesmen confab in Chicago 

... Ed Johnson, Roosevelt, Milwaukee, toured 

the Row exchanging New Year's greetings 

Franz, better known here as Eddie 

Schmidt, makes his first screen appearance 

in "The Iron Curtain." Franz hit Hollywood 

after several years on Broadway. 

Dave Chapman, Columbia salesman, was 

gifted with four white sidewall tires for his 

car and buzzed the Row showing them off . . . 

Sam Miller, Rialto, Gladstone, Mich., was in 

for hellos before shoving off for a west coast 

vacation with his wife. 

SPRINGFIELD 

lyjort Berman, manager of the Orpheum. 

tried an experiment Christmas eve which 

he says turned out very well. He played 

bingo and gave away gifts which he promoted 

from various local merchants. He 

gave away such things as bicycles, 20 baskets 

of groceries, luggage, cases of Pepsi Cola 

and cash. He said his receipts more than 

justified his efforts . . . Berman was invited 

to a Christmas dinner with Gov. Dwight 

H. Green, Lieut. Governor Cross, Bishop Griffin 

and other state dignitaries. 

Govejnor and Mrs. Green's annual Christmas 

party for the youngsters of Springfield 

and vicinity was held in the state armory. 

Heretofore these parties had been held in 

the local theatres but now that the armory 

is available for public use it was decided to 

hold it there. Approximately 7.000 children 

jammed in to see the show. The governor, 

his wife and daughter sat in the audience 

with the youngsters and enjoyed the show 

as much as they did. 

A Christmas party was enjoyed by all the 

members of the Kerasotes circuit December 

23. During the day the managers held their 

monthly business meeting and the evening 

was spent at the Lake club dining and 

dancing. 


Bob Shelton Is Elected 

Circuit Vice-President 

KANSAS CITY— Robert M. "Bob" Shelton 

was elected vice-president of Commonuealth 

Amusement Corp. at a directors meeting nere 

January 5. He will act as assistant to Clarence 

A." Schultz, president, and will retain his 

I 

previous duties as film buyer. 

Called to fill the vacancy left by O. K. 

Mason, former vice-president w^ho retired recently, 

the group established a new management 

system whereby each division manager 

will be in complete charge of his territory 

and will be responsible for all profits and expenses 

therein. The title of general manager, 

also held by Mason, has been eliminated from 

the organization. 

Confirmed were the positions of L. J. Lenhart. 

who is in charge of all bookings, and of 

Francis Moore, treasurer of the circuit. Elmer 

C. Rhoden jr. remains as assistant film buyer. 

Shelton. who came to Commonwealth 15 

years ago. has been film buyer for five years. 

Before this he was manager of the Star in 

Warrensburg and later division manager. Before 

joining the organization he managed the 

Warrensburg house for the Goodnight 

brothers. 

Business at Omaha Hits 

All-Time High Marks 

OMAHA—Business generated locally hit 

an all-time high of nearly six billion dollars 

in 1947 to cap a ten-year rise. The 

barometer for business volume is the estimated 

$5,696,774,800 in checks handled by 

Omaha banks. Bank debits, or check volume, 

were 25 per cent more than 1946. Bank 

clearings were up 22 per cent. 

For the fifth straight year Omaha ranked 

second to Chicago as the largest live stock 

market in the world. This time its receipts 

were up 2.4 per cent and Omaha trailed Chicago 

less than 10 per cent. 

Minus signs were charted for only two 

of the 15 barometers the Chamber of Commerce 

uses to sum up the year. Statistically 

the story was this: 

Retail sales. $274,000,000 up 16.5 per cent: 

wholesale sales. $1,069,000,000, up 12 per cent: 

manufactm-ed goods values, $737,000,000, up 

47.4 per cent: building permits, $7,964,788. 

up 33.5 per cent: grain receipts, 110,800,000 

bu.'Jhels, up 27.6 per cent; grain shipments. 

98.600,000 bushels, up 13.5 per cent: live 

.stock receipts, 5,917.231 head, up 2.8 per 

live cent; stock shipped, 2,035.918 head, down 

9.9 per cent: water pumped, 15.000.000,000 

gallons, up 11.3 per cent; gas consumption. 

3.250,000,000. up 24 per cent. 

Forego Gift Exchange 

To Aid Needy Family 

Omaha—For years it has been a custom 

in Omaha offices to hold employe 

Christmas parties and exchange gifts. 

This year the MGM club revised the program 

slightly, and as a result felt the 

real grip of Christmas spirit. 

Instead of exchanging gifts, employes 

provided groceries for a family of six 

during Christmas week. They also 

brought in stacks of clothes and a special 

item from each employe's family larder 

to help the family in need. What's more, 

the club vowed for 1948 to keep a watching 

eye on the family and step in whenever 

help is needed. 

It was a small Christmas story that 

thrilled Omaha and gave MGM members 

"a million" in satisfaction. 

Senn Lawler Dimes Drive 

Head for Second Year 

KANSAS CITY—For the .second consecutive 

year Senn Lawler, public relations official 

of Fox Midwest, will be chairman of local 

March of Dimes drive committees, which this 

year will seek to obtain more than the $76,357 

raised in last year's campaign. Feature of the 

program for Kansas City is an all-star revue, 

headlined by Victor Moore, stage and screen 

comedian, to be held January 15 at the Music 

Hall. 

As to theatre collections this year, Lawler 

said that Fox Midwest will run the March 

of Dimes trailer but will not take up collections. 

Dickinson circuit said its policy was 

to leave the matter up to local managers. 

J. A. Becker, head of the exhibitor organization 

in nearby Independence. Mo., said that 

he would take up collections as in the past, 

Durwood Theatres stated that it would cooperate 

with decisions of the committees of 

the communities in which the chain operates. 

S. p. Batman Buys Oregon 

OREGON. MO.—Mr. and Mrs. John Brandt 

have sold the local Oregon Theatre to S. P. 

Batman. Transaction becomes effective 

February 1. 

Minneapolis Rejoices 

As Grosses Skyrocket 

MINNEAPOLIS—Tlie lightning-fast start 

which theatres got off New Year's week 

to 

is a cause for rejoicing in the local industry 

and is considered a highly favorable augury 

for the ensuing months. Grosses skyrocketed 

throughout much of the city and some of 

the downtown takings attained record-breaking 

proportions. 

"Road to Rio," at the 4,400-seat Radio City, 

skyrocketed to amazing patronage. The 

gross was the biggest for straight film in 

a 

the big theatre's hi.story. with three exceptions. 

The only other pictures that ever exceeded 

it were "Two Years Before the Mast" 

and "Blue Skies." A third picture, "Welcome 

Stranger," tied it. 

Other dowTitown theatres also made fine 

getaways. "Tycoon," at the Orpheum, drew 

tremendously. The second week of "My Wild 

Irish Rose," at the Century, was exceptionally 

big. It was pretty much the some cheerful 

story all along the main .stem. 

In the territory, too, 1948 made a most 

auspicious beginning, according to Minnesota 

Amusement Co. and other circuit executives. 

Takings soared in almost all spots. 

St. Paul theatres reported business far above 

expectations and the same was true of the 

other larger cities like Duluth, Winona and 

Rochester. 

A number of Twin City independent neighborhood 

houses ran "Duel in the Sun" for 

their midnight New Year's eve show at the 

$1.20 roadshow price, the same as was charged 

downtown. 

Theatre Office Moved 

NEW HAMPTON. IOWA—The office of the 

Firemen's Theatre here has been moved into 

new location adjacent to the theatre lobby, 

its 

in the spot formerly occupied by the Tunnell 

Optical Co. Manager Harry Herman has had 

the office completely redecorated and 

equipped. Entrance to the office may be 

made either from the street or theatre foyer. 

Farm Income Up 45 Pet. 

In Nebraska Last Year 

OMAHA—Rufus Howard, state director of 

agriculture, said that Nebraska farmers 

reaped an all-time dollar harvest in 1947 

from a yield that was only average—and that 

the outlook for 1948 appears equally good. 

The 1947 farm income was $1,250,000,000. 

nearly 45 per cent more than in 1946. Pi'oduction 

of corn and some minor crops was 

disappointing, but this was offset by a nearrecord 

wheat crop and favorable livestock 

conditions. Approximately 75 per cent of the 

Nebraska farm income is received from the 

sale of livestock and livestock products. 

New EL Office Manager 

KANSAS CITY—Frank Norris. former Warner 

salesman for northern Missouri, is the 

new office manager and head booker at Eagle 

Lion. He replaces Harlan Everett, resigned. 

BOXOFFICE :: January 10, 1948 MW 

COMMONWEALTH LUNCHEON—Clarence A. Schultz, president of Commonwealth 

Amusement Corp. of Kansas City, visited Memphis recently to introduce 

Rowites there to some of the newer members of his home office staff. Commonwealth 

has several theatres that book out of Memphis. 

At a luncheon the circuit gave for Memphis branch managers are, seated, left to 

right, Glenn Calvert of KKO; George Simpson, Film Transit; AJ KothschUd, National 

Screen Service; Bob Marchbank, Commonwealth; Tom Young, 20th-Fox; L. W. 

McClintock, Paramount; Duke Clark, Paramount district manager from Dallas; Leonard 

Shea, Eagle Lion, and Louis Ingram, MGM. ^., ^ ^ 

Standing are Nat Wvse, Republic: Ed Williams, Warner Bros.; Bailey Pntchard, 

Monogram; R. V, Reagan, RKO; Bob Kilcore, Paramount; R. M. Shelton, L. J. Lenhart 

and Schultz, Commonwealth; K. K. King of Searcy, Ark.; Earl Hartzog, WB; 

Pete Dawson, U-I; Herman Chrisman, Columbia; Buster Hammond, Film Classics, 

and T. R. Thompson, Disney representative, Kansas City. 

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Doth the exhibitor organizations in this area, 

the Kansas-Missouri Theatres Ass'n and 

Allied Independent Theatre Owners ot Kan- 

.sas and Missouri, will set up permanent offices 

on Filmrow in the near future. Allied, 

according to V. R. Stamm, secreary-treasurer, 

will announce its decision as to place 

and personnel following a meeting late this 

week. KMTA probably will malie its headquarters 

in the RCA building. Definite announcement 

regarding this shift will be made 

following a directors meeting next week. 

Earl Jameson of National Film Service was 

in Oklahoma City opening the new branch 

there. The exchange began operation January 

4 . Abend of Film Delivery was 

pretty much worn out following the siege of 

snow and sleet this area received at the tur-n 

of the year. "We were from three to eight 

hours late in some situations," he said, "but 

we didn't have a missout" . . . Doc Hartley, 

film critic of the Star, returned from a visit 

to New York. 

Walter L. Kreh, special Republic representative, 

arrived Monday to make a regular audit 

of the exchange . Golden, city salesman 

for MGM, was on the road the first 

half of the week , Miller, district 

manager for Eagle Lion, was in Salt Lake 

City on his way back from a vacation in 

California. 

Audrey Totter, star of MGM's "The High 

Wall." will make personal appearances here 

January 14, according to Howard Burkhardt 

manager of the Midland . White 

has installed new seats at the Skidmore in 

Skidmore . than 1,100 children attended 

the two free holiday shows held by 

Frank Lambader at the Dickinson Theatre in 

Olathe. Lambader said that he expected to 

put on a similar show near Easter. 

A lounge has been added to the Royal in 

Seneca. A refreshment bar is a feature of 

the addition . . . C. L. Wynn, brother of Mrs. 

T. H. Slothower, is managing the 'Valley Theatre 

in Valley Center, Kas. . . . NickKotsis 

has installed new seats at the Holden in 

Holden . Whiting closed the Lido 

in Downs for two weeks before Christmas 

in order that they and their employes might 

take a vacation. 

Harry Till of the Courter in Hamilton has 

returned to his home after a siege in the 

hospital here. Contrary to previous reports. 

Harry did not suffer a stroke. 

Prowlers Try Twice, Rob 

Rockhill Safe 'For Keeps' 

KANSAS CITY—Krueger Dillinder, manager 

of the Rockhill Theatre here, noticed 

three holes bored in an exit door of the theatre 

recently. Suspecting an attempted entrance 

of prowlers, he removed all extra 

cash from the safe and plugged up the holes 

with paper. 

Monday morning Dillinder noticed a fourth 

hole in the door. The intruders had apparently 

in.serted a wire in the hole and 

raised the latch on the door. A door leading 

to the office on the second floor had been 

drilled and removed. The $120 loot was in 

a wall safe, which the thieves forced open. 

Feature attraction at the theatre Sunday 

was "Tliis Time for Keeps." 

Minneapolis Booms; 

'Rio' Nears a Record 

MINNEAPOLIS—Opening New Year's eve, 

most attractions last week set a fast pace 

from the outset and didn't slow up appreciably 

the rest of the way. "Road to Rio" 

was far out in front with one of the biggest 

weeks in Radio City history. Excellent business 

also was chalked up by "Tycoon" and 

"My Wild Irish Rose," the latter in its second 

week. "Thunder in the Valley," "The Gangster" 

and "I Know Where I'm Going" also 

s'ood up well. 

(Average is 100) 

Ast-:- Key Witness '.C:'/ Gun Law (H'r:01 

— ll.K'ir..: 100 

Cenrirv -My Wild Irish Rose '.VT ,:, i,-.,-. 140 

- 

Gorh. Gold ].'. IQO 

Lyceu::.--Scartace !'A Sky Devils '-'A" 

RKO-Orpheum—Tycoon (RKO) 

RKO-Pan-The Gangster (Mono) 

State—Thunder in the Valley (20th-Fox).. 

World—I Know Where I'm Going (U-I).... 

New Year's Eve Storm Shuts Off 

Rousing Kansas City Figures 

KANSAS CITY—The rousing post-Chn.stmas 

week, to which exhibitors had looked , 

forward, came off with little more than a I 

loud fizzle in most houses. A snow and sleet | 

storm the day and night of New Year's eve t 

caused looks of concern by many manager.s 

when they gazed over half-fUled auditoriums 

Local 31 of the lATSE held its annual New 

Year's eve party under the direction of Felix 

Snow, business agent. Mike Cullen, Loew's 

as the old year bowed to the new. One manager 

district manager from St. Louis, flew in for 

said that the stomi killed his New 

the event. Hosts included Cyril "Dugy" Donovan 

of the Paramount; Eddie Purcell, Or- 

Weekend business following the storm pulled 

Year's eve business by about 50 per cent 

pheum, and John Hogan, F. W. Tignor and many sinking figures back to over-par and 

Eddie Maier of the Midland. 

no first nm did below average. 

Success of the week was "Captain Fnim 

Castile." which did a rousing 185 at the Fnx 

Midwest threesome. Not too far behind, with 

140, was "Good News" and "The Lone Wolf 

in London" at the Midland. "Road to Rio" 

held up well enough in its third stanza to warrant 

a fourth week at the Paramount. 

Esquire—Pittsburgh (SR), Green Hell (SR) 

Mid'land—Good News (MGM), The Lone Wolf in 

London (Col) 

Orpheum—Tycoon (RKO), 2nd wk 

PoYamount-Road to Rio (Para), 3rd wk 

Roxy—The Doctor Takes a Wile (Col) 

More Than a Secretary (Col), reissues 

Tower, Uptown, Fairway—Captain From Castile 

(20th-Fox) .. 

Year-End Omaha Slump Ends; 

All Houses Tally Over Par 

OMAHA—The year-end boxoffice slump i.s 

over and exhibitors were beaming again this 

week with all first runs beating par. 

"Road to Rio" at the Paramount easily 

sailed to the top in a town that always goes 

the limit for a Crosby picture. Even the lone 

holdover. "The Wistful Widow of Wagon 

Gap," and "Christmas Eve" at the Omaha, 

could mark up an above-average figure. Other 

first runs were about 25 per cent above 

normal, 

Omaha—The Wistful Widow ol Wagon Gap " 

(U-1); Christmas Eve (UA), 2nd wk. -110 

Orpheum—This Time for Keeps (MGM> ISO 

Pfframount—Road to Rio (I'ln: ('i 

RKG-Brond.?!^ Oul of the Pail Ii'-' 

Blondie's Anniversary 

State—The Unfinished Dance 

' 

! il.t 

Town—The Brule Man iLL,, Lei 'Em Have II 

(Astor); Ghost Town (Mono), reissues, sj-i;' 

with The Enchanted Forest (EL): The Bride Wore 

Boots (Para); Sunset Carson Rides Again (Re; 

New Winona Theatre 

WINONA. KAS.—Edward Smith is building 

a new theatre here, to have approximately 

375 seats. This is Smith's first attempt at 

show business. Complete equipment for the 

house is being furnished by Missouri Theatre 

Supply, Kansas City. 

:-- 


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ADVISORY SERVICE 

Write, wire or call for technical and practical details 

on construction of drive-in theatres. Information 

on grading, ramping, wiring, tower height, 

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Write for FREE LITERATURE 

THEATRE EQUIPMENT COMPANY 

TOLEDO 2, OHIO 

DETROIT 26, MICH. 

109 MICHIGAN ST. 

515 CHARLEVODC BLOC, 2033 PARK 

AL 

BOUDOURIS 

Manager 

Phone ADams 8511 

Phone CAdillac 4319 

January 10. 1948 61

. . . Marsh 

Students Hold Rally 

In Wichita Theatre 

WICHITA—Ted Sheehan. manager of the 

Palace Theatre, recently threw the Palace 

doors open to the students of Wichita university 

for a pep rally and showing of basketball 

films. The students were admitted to 

the rally without charge. 

More than 200 students attended the session, 

which was put on by the student council 

to generate spirit for the university's battle 

with Baylor university. Because of the musicians' 

union rules, the university band was not 

permit ed to participate in the rally but that 

failed to squelch the enthusiasm of the voung 

people. A drawing was held and the holder 

of the lucky number was awarded an all-expense 

paid trip to the Raisin bowl in Fresno, 

Calif., in which the university team participated 

January 1. 

Sheehan is an ardent sportsman and a great 

favorite among high school and imiversity 

students. For several years he has played 

baseball with the semi-pro teams in Wichita. 

While the rally was planned entirely as a 

goodwill gesture, the theatre was rewarded 

with a large crowd for the regular show. 

New Year Legs Contest 

Stirs Interest in Clarion 

CLARION, IOWA~A New Year's eve legs 

contest sponsored by the Clarion Theatre 

created considerable interest and response. 

The contest was held to select the "most 

beautiful legs in Clarion." Decision was made 

through the applause of the theatre audience. 

Number of the contestants was limited to 15 

and the age range was from 16 to 60. Contestants 

walked across the stage—the only 

part visible being the portion of the legs 

below skirt length. Three prizes totaling $100 

were awarded. 

Wichita Cashier Gets 

Honors for Courtesy 

WICHITA, KAS.—The Independent Business 

Men's Ass'n of Wichita sponsors a 

courtesy contest among employes of independent 

businesses here. Each week the committee 

makes a tour of independent stores 

and nominates the most courteous employe 

contacted during the tour. The wmner gets 

her pictiu-e in the daily papers and house 

organ of the association and also gets a S5 

prize. 

One of the recent winners was Colleen 

Schreffler, cashier at the West Theatre. To 

her $5 prize, owner O. F. Sullivan, who is 

also president of the Allied organization of 

Kansas and Missouri, added a $5 bill and 

presented her with a scroll which carried 

her picture, the Sullivan Independent Theatres 

Corp. seal, and the following poem; 

It always pays to be courteous, 

Not just to have customers repeat. 

But it's a great and glorious feeling, 

To hear the words, "Ain't she sweet?" 

It's so easy for you to be courteous. 

You are so pleasant and neat. 

After money jingles and a "Thank you," 

Customers say, "Ain't she sweet?" 

Your slogan, "Courtesy to every one." 

You can't tell who you'll meet; 

But I'll bet my bottom dollar, 

Every one says, "Ain't she sweet?" 

Com-tesy for money was not your aim. 

But permit me to make it a double treat, 

And join with others in the chorus 

And say, "Ain't she sweet?" 

From the BOXOFFICE Files 

(T-wenty Yeca-s Ago) 

•THE UPTOWN, seating 2,500, now Kansas 

City's largest neighborhood theatre, was 

opened recently. It is located at Broadway 

and Valentine Road, and is one of the most 

unique theatres in the state and one of the 

few "atmospheric" houses in the country. The 

interior is done in the Italian garden effect 

The ciu-ved ceiUng is done in blue to 

give the effect of an open sky with twinkling 

stars and clouds The opening picture 

was "The Irresistible Lover," starring Norman 

Kerry and Lois Moran. 

A half interest in 22 theatres of the Universal 

Chain Theatre Enterprises, Inc.. in 

Missouri and Kansas has been purchased by 

the Midland Theatre and Realty Co., according 

to M. B. Shanberg, managing director 

of the Midland Theatre, Kansas City. The 

deal is said to involve more than a million 

dollars. Five of the theatres are in Kan.sa.s 

City: Isis, Linwood, Apollo, Gladstone and 

Gillham. The out-of-town theatres in Ihe 

deal: Sedalia, Strand and Liberty, Sedalia. 

Mo.; Main Street, Lexington, Mo.; Degraw. 

Brookfield, Mo.; Star, Nevada, Mo.; Crane, 

Royal, Carthage, Mo.; Fourth Stieet, New 

Grand, Baby Grand, Moberly, Mo.; Lyric, 

Boonville, Mo.; Lyric, Marshall, Mo.; Royal, 

Crystal, Atchison, Kas.; El Dorado, Palace, 

Chanute, Kas. 

Ben Abrams, formerly special representative 

for Paramount in Kansas City, was a visitor 

this week. Ben is distributing a roadshow 

Wood is a new salesman for Pathe- 

DeMille covering southern Kansas. Wood 

comes to Kansas City from Oklahoma City. 

The Royal Theatre In Kansas City has 

passed into history. At one time it was the 

first downtown picture theatre in the city. 


. . Norman 

. , 

. . 

. . 

Picture Review Board DES MOINES Blank and Goldensen 

Asked in Des Moines 

DES MOINES"Des Moines needs a theatrical 

commission to review stage or screen 

performances which prompt complaints, 

Safety Commissioner Walter J. Massey told 

the city council last Monday. 

An ordinance passed Nov. 12. 1925, provided 

for such a commission. None ever was 

appointed. Mayor John MacVicar said. The 

mayor would select, with council approval, 

the thi-ee members of the body. Other council 

members gave no evidence as to whether 

they would favor the appointment of such 

a commission. 

Police ordinarily see a performance causing 

complaints and report whether they consider 

it acceptable. 

The safety commissioner said he did not 

have reference to any particular production 

or theatre. Because complaints were received, 

however, Massey continued, a commission 

should be named. 

"We should have someone to refer it to," 

he said. It should not be a police responsibility, 

he asserted, adding after the comicil 

meeting: "I question whether they, the police, 

are the proper ones to review—in other words 

—to censor a show." 

The ordinance providing for creation of 

a theatrical commission empowered the members 

to decide whether performances were 

"obscene, indecent, immoral or impm-e, and 

tend ... to debase or corrupt morals." 

The commission would report any such 

finding to authorities having the power to 

order objectionable parts discontinued and 

make arrests. 

to 

Under the ordinance, the mayor, If he 

chose, could make the commission members 

special police officers, without pay, and they 

then would have authority themselves to 

order deletions and to make arrests. 

First Theatre Building 

Opened in Inwood, Iowa 

INWOOD, IOWA—The first building ever 

erected here exclusively for the showing of 

motion pictures was opened recently. The 

new Arrow seats 276 persons and is modernistic 

in design. Owner and operator is Rollie 

Jacobsen. Construction at an estimated cost 

of $20,000, has been in continuous progress 

for nearly six months. Projectionists are 

Alvin Knutson and Herbert Bahnson. In 

addition to Jacobsen, Mrs. Jacobsen and 

their daughters, Jeannine and Joyce Ann, 

complete the theatre personnel. 

Unionization of Salesmen 

Impends in Minneapolis 

MINNEAPOLIS—With the return of four 

delegates from the conference of the Colosseum 

of Motion Picture Salesmen in Chicago, 

organization of the local exchanges' salesmen 

into a union impends. Wheels already have 

been set in motion to unionize the Reel Pellows 

club, now a social organization of film 

salesmen. The Reel Fellows club delegates 

who attended the Chicago conference were 

MUt Lipsner, president, and Warren Branton. 

Eddie Bure and Pat Halloran. 

gack on the Row licic after an ab.sence of 

two years, is Ruby Dyer Zelcher, former 

office manager for Warners. Ruby, a veteran 

of some 20 years of film office duties, is now 

workmg at RKO . 

Holt, head 

booker and office manager at Warners became 

a father of a second daughter named 

Paula Jane ... Jo Coffman, Warners, is 

back at her desk after an illness . . . Olin 

Buckles is the new porter at Warners . 

Lucille Chicilli, MGM inspector, was in 

Iowa City with her daughter who is ill in 

the University hospital. 

M. L. Dickson, Mount Pleasant; B. J. Mc- 

Carthy, former RKO manager here: Mr. an:J 

Mrs. A. M. Black of Knoxville, and Leo Wolcott 

of Eldora were visitors on the Row . 

Jim Kunath, Eagle Lion salesman expects to 

be in his new house in about a month . 

Lou Levy, Universal manager, is still doctoring 

his ear. 

Unusal wedding here on New Year's eve was 

that of midget star Marcella Porter to Bobby 

Brower, also a midget. Marcella, native of 

Des Moines, has been a professional entertainer 

seven years, and has appeared in 

many films, including "Wizard of Oz," "Here 

We Go Again," and "Thi-ee Wise Fools." Her 

husband is employed as a calculating machine 

operator in St. Louis, where the couple 

will live. 

Another star to visit here last week was 

Joe E. Brown, who appeared for two nights 

at the KRNT Radio Theatre in the stage 

production of "Harvey." 

Is Cinematographer 

Hal Mohr has been handed the cinematogripher 

assignment on "The Judge's Wife," a 

Universal production. 

Enter Broadcasting 

DES MOINES—The Tri-States Television 

and Broadcasting Co., Des Moines, last Monday 

filed articles of incorporation with the 

secretary of state. The company listed 100 

shares of no par value stock. Officers are 

A. H. Blank, Des Moines, president; L. H. 

Goldensen, Mamaroneck, N. Y., vice-president, 

and Myron N. Blank, Des Moines, secretary. 

On the same day the announcement of 

the incoi-poration was made pubUc, an advertisement 

appeared in the Des Moines 

Tribune headed as follows, "Television in 

Des Moines, Iowa?" 

The ad urged readers to send in their 

views as to whether Des Moines should have 

a television station and to state whether they 

would buy a television set if a station is 

erected. 

To all responding to the ad, the following 

was promised: 

Priority on the first television sets available, 

literature on television and two tickets 

of admission to the first television broadcast 

in Des Moines. 

Iowa AITO Directors 

Decide Ascap Course 

DES MOINES—The Iowa chapter of AITO 

held a board meeting at the Savery hotel 

Tuesday (6i to discuss the Ascap problem 

and present a recommendation to its membership. 

Among those at the meeting were 

Leo Wolcott, Eldora; Timothy Evans, executive 

secretary. Clinton, and Charles Niles. 

Anamosa. 

COMPLETELY NEW 

HORKY'S CAFE 

Bigger and Better Than Ever 

— Featuring 'Delish' Steaks 

12(tt Higli St. De3 Moines, Iowa 

"Where Filmrow Friends Gather 

Open Daily at 4 p. m 

PUTTING ON THE DOG—Mr. and Mrs. Beverly .Aliller {he is the Easle Lion district 

chief in Kansas City) held an open house Christmas eve in honor of the personal 

appearance in Kansas City of Lee Duncan and his canine star, Rin Tin Tin III. Shown 

at the party in Miller's home are, left to right, H. A. "Buss" Carroll, manager of the 

Esquire Theatre; Catherine Kyle Black, Fox Midwest district short subjects booker; 

Miller, and Louis Sutter, operator of the Castle, Princess and Regal theatres. At 

center, of course, is Rin. 

BOXOFTICE :: January 10, 1948 63

April Date Proposed 

For NCA Conclave 

MINNEAPOLIS— North Central Allied will 

hold its annual convention at the Hotel 

Nicollet here in April. At least President 

Bennie Berger will recommend that an April 

date be set. The matter will be decided at 

a board of directors meeting here next week. 

Berger also will ask the directors to decide 

upon ways and means to halt "a reversion to 

'unfair' prewar distributor advertising and 

publicity tactics." He says he refers to the 

action of Paramount in posting 2-sheets and 

utilizing mailed heralds advertising its product 

in Faribault, Minn., where 'William Glaser, 

who operates the town's only three theatres, 

has been refusing to buy the company's pictures. 

Despite Lack of Cash, 

Yule Show Goes On 

HASTINGS, NEB.— -When the 

Chamber of 

Commerce of this city found itself financially 

unable to provide the annual south central 

Nebraska kiddies free Christmas show 

towns. The program consisted of a feature, 

two cartoons and an animal specialty and 

was shown twice to accommodate the large 

crowd. 

Boone Milkmaid Contest 

Creates County Rivalry 

BOONE, IOWA—A championship milkmaid 

contest between competitors from east 

and west Boone county was the feature of 

the New Year's eve show on the stage of the 

Rialto Theatre. The contestants were well 

known Boone county farm women—Mrs. Alan 

Mougin of Woodward, representing the west, 

and Mrs. Eldon Rosene of Boone, the east. 

Two cows from the Ripley dairy farm were 

brought to the .stage for the event. 

Premiere 'Tender Years'; 

Joe E. Brown on Stage 

KANSAS CITY—"The Tender Years" 

had 

its world premiere at the Plaza Theatre here 

January 9. Highlight on the program was the 

personal appearance of Joe E, Brown, star of 

Custom Mabe 

to Your Order 

mm 

mm 

]ttm 

lISMYDESt 

SAN FRANCISCO (2) 

VARIETY OUTFITS NEEDY BOYS—Complete outfits of clothing for 14 boys, 

ranging in ag:e from seven to 11, were provided by the Variety Club of Des Moines with 

proceeds of their Christmas party. The boys were from Arlington Hall for Boys. Pictured 

here are K. C. Olson, Morris Relder, Nat Sandler, Gordon Halloran, G. Ralph 

Branton, Variety members, with Pricilla Wayne Sprague, director of Arlington Hall, 

and kneeling in the foreground, Eli Shapiro, general manager of the Des Moines store 

of Sears, Roebuck Co., who personally conducted the ou fitting tour through his store. 

the show. Admission to the performance was 

this year, the State Theatre stepped into 

75 cents and all receipts were turned over to 

the breach. 

Brown's charity fund in honor of his son who 

Usually the 

independently 

show is 

operated 

given in both the was killed during the war. Also attending 

State and the two the premiere was Edward Albertson, producer, 

Tri-State houses. The State was unable to 

accommodate the large crowd that was expected 

who came in for the opening. Brown is appearing 

in Kansas City on his second visit 

to turn out so the theatre's owners, with "Harvey," current stage offering at the 

G. H. "Bick" Downey and A. L. "Steve" Music Hall. 

Stevens made arrangements to use the 

James Moore Purchases 

2,500-seat municipal auditorium. With the 

cooperation of Bob Van Houten of Central 

Radio Service, who installed and operate,! 

Waucom, la.. Theatre 

the projection equipment, the show was put 

on Monday afternoon, December 22, playing WAUCOMA, IOWA—James Moore, a World 

to more than 4,000 yoimgsters from the surrounding 

War II veteran of Ottison, has purchased the 

trade territory and without cost tJ Waucoma Theatre from Fred Mitchell and 

the chamber. 

John Blong of St. Lucas, who have operated 

The Yellow Diamond bus lines cooperated the theatre here for the last three years. 

with the theatre by providing free roimdtrip 

Moore is staying here at the home of Mr. 

and Mrs. Fred Nehls. 

tickets from youngsters from 20 

nearby 

Selznick Office Moved 

KANSAS CITY—The Selznick Releasing 

Organization branch here has moved into the 

former Walt Disney quarters in the Poppers 

Supply Bldg. at 114 West 18th St. Manager 

of the SRO exchange is R. R. "Tommy" 

Thompson. Booker is 'Virginia Gaylord. Nan 

Mackie is secretary. 

To Reopen Plaza Soon 

APPLETON CITY. MO.—Chet Borg expects 

to open his Plaza Theatre here within the 

next ten days. Following a film fire in the 

booth about two weeks ago, the interior of 

the house has been redecorated and burnedout 

booth equipment replaced. 

THEATRE INSURANCE Spet/o/ijl 

Satisfaction — Always 

Missouri Theatre Supply Co. 

L I. KINfBRIEL. Manager 

Phone GRand 2864 

CilT 8. Mo. = 

'Tycoon' Big in Des Moines; 

Good Business Everywhere 

DES MOINES—In spite of a full schedule 

of stage presentations at the KRNT Radio 

Theatre, downtown houses here reported good 

business last week. Particularly high attendance 

was noted at the RKO Orpheum, where 

"Tycoon" and "Two Blondes and a Redhead" 

doubled average business. Manager Jerry 

Blaedoe held the program for a second week. 

Doing average business were the pictures at 

the two Tri-States houses. "Good News" and 

"The Invisible Wall" at the Paramount and 

"My Wild Irish Rose" at the Des Moines. 

"The Red Mill," musical comedy, played a 

four-day engagement at the Radio Theatre 

and Spike Jones followed with a one-night 

stand. "Harvey," starring Joe E. Brown, 

played two nights, January 5, 6. 

Des Moines—My Wild Irish Rose (WB) 100 

Orpheum—Tycoon (RKO), Two Blondes and a 

Redhead (Col) 200 

News (MGM), The Invisible 

Wall (20th-Fox 

QUALITY HYBRID 

PRODUCED FROM KANSAS 

AND INDIANA APPROVED 

VARIETIES 

EXCELLENT POPPING 

CONDITION ASSURED ON 

ALL SHIPMENTS. 

WRITE 

FOR QUOTATIONS ON 

N 

L.C.L. 

AND CARLOAD SHIPMENTS. 

F.A.MANGELSDORFSEEDCO. 

ATCHISON, KANSAS 

64 BOXOFFICE :: January 10. 1948

. . . Joe 

. . Art 

. . "Hy" 

. . Boz 

. . Bennie 

MINNEAPOLIS 

The industry's economy wave continues to 

sweep over exchanges here. Warner Bros, 

is the latest to feel it. Paring down the sales 

staff as per home office orders, the branch 

has cut loose Ben "Tlie Little Judge" Meshbesher. 

He was the youngest member in point 

of service and priority prevailed . . . Subsequent 

run exhibitors in Minneapolis and 

St. Paul have been fighting shy of advanced 

admission pictures. For their New^ Year's 

eve show, however, a number of houses offered 

a single show-ing of "Duel in the Sun" at 

$1.20, which is the same price that obtained 

for the Loop first and second runs. The business 

in the aggregate was reported as "only 

fair." 

Out-of-town exhibitors visiting Filmrow included 

John Filler. Valley City, N. D.: Art 

Johnson, Galesville. Wis., and Louis Deutsch, 

Virginia, Minn. Filler came to Minneapolis 

mainly to attend the North Central Allied 

directors' meeting . Murphy, in his 

"Show Window" column in the Star singled 

out Paramount's two-reel 1947 news summary 

as "one of the best of its kind." It played 

both Radio City and the Century theatres. 

Walter Hoffman, 20th-Fox exploiteer, had 

Joe E. Brown, appearing here in person in 

"Harvey," in tow for a luncheon visit to the 

Northwest Variety Club and for a midnight 

screening of "Tender Years," 20th-Fox picture, 

in which he stars. Off on a drumbeating 

trip to Des Moines, Omaha and Lincoln, Hoffman 

made the plane trip to the first-named 

city with Brown. 

Ben Marcus, Columbia district manager, 

was a visitor . . . "Tycoon" did terrific business 

in St. Paul as well as Minneapolis New 

Year's week . Chapman, Columbia 

branch manager, returned from Milwaukee, 

where he spent the holidays with his mother 

Loeffler, Republic branch manager, 

spent his vacation with his mother in Cleveland 

. Anderson, Warner Bros, branch 

manager, is back on the job. recovered from 

his major operation. 

In response to the appeal from Merle Potter, 

former Bennie Berger circuit manager 

and onetime picture editor here, now attached 

to the U.S. military government in Berlin, 

for old apparel for the needy, the Northwest 

Variety Club shipped nearly 5,000 garments. 

Many came from Berger's Lyric Theatre in 

Fergus Falls. Tlie theatre, with Junior 

Chamber of Commerce cooperation, had an 

"old clothes day," admitting free any person 

bringing an article of apparel. 

Martin Braverman. formerly of Independent 

Poster exchange, was named manager of 

the St. Paul Mohawk Theatre by the estate 

of the late Joe Stern . Berger and 

his associate and general manager, Ted 

Bolnick. became members of Picture Pioneers, 

national organization of 25-year showmen. 

Bolnick is just back from Hot Springs, Ark., 

where he and his wife spent a fortnight. 

State Theatre, East Grand Forks, Minn., 

admitted the public free all day and evening 

to help cancer research. Contributions from 

those attending w-ere accepted in the theatre 

lobby for the Mayo memorial for cancer research. 

All contributors were made members 

of the Non-Profit Cancer Research club. 

No decision is expected for .six months in 

the suit brought by Ascap against Bennie 

Berger and Mrs. J. Jensen, exhibitors, for 

nonpayment of theatre fees. The defendants 

are contesting Ascap's right to assess the fee 

and Judge G. H. Nordbye in federal court 

will study the briefs to be submitted durin? 

the next 40 days before rendering his decision. 

If necessary. Berger has announced, 

the fight will be carried to the U.S. supreme 

court for final adjudication. 

THEY START YOUNG!—Frances 

Campbell jr., 5-month-old daughter of 

Frances Campbell, who holds the baby, 

is wide-eyed as still another Frances, 

whose last name is Johnston, explains 

projection mechanism in the booth of the 

Osawa Theatre in Osawatomie, Kas. 

Mrs, Johnston is chief projectionist in 

that lively Sunflower state town for the 

TEI circuit, which also operates the 

Kansan there. The mother is an ex-show 

girl, having been cashier at the Booth 

in Independence, Kas,, before she married 

Jack Campbell, the mere man in the 

picture, now pilot of the Griffith houses 

in Osawatomie. 

Wins $100 Jingle Contest 

DES MOINES—Tri-States officials have 

announced the winner of the popcorn jingle 

contest, sponsored recently to advertise and 

promote their new product "kernelcorn." 

Catherine Ti-ow was named winner of the 

contest and was awarded a $100 prize. Miss 

T:-ow, a nurse in Des Moines, came to the 

United States from Scotland 17 years ago 

Upon receipt of the prize money, she announced 

that she would send $50 to an organization 

in Scotland to help the needy 

there. 

Reopens Gauntier Theatre 

KANSAS CITY, KAS.—Paul Milburger reopened 

his Gauntier Theatre here Christmas 

day. The house, closed about ten days, was 

redecorated and reconditioned. Included in 

the changes were new seats, screen, carpet 

and germicidal lamps in the auditorium, all 

from National Theatre Supply, and a newfront 

of Perma-Stone, a new marquee with 

Bevelite letters, and a new boxoffice. 

Selected Handles Realart 

KANSAS CITY — Selected Pictures exchange 

here has acquired distribution rights 

to Realart product, according to Norris Cresswell, 

manager. The exchange also handles 

Astor releases. Tom McCormick is sales representative 

for the Kansas City, Des Moines 

and Omaha territories. 

Sells Robinson Theatre 

ROBINSON, KAS.—W. D. Gerdes has sold 

the Robinson Theatre here to F. Keith Straub 

and Mr. Gilmore. 

To Direct "Fury' 

Phil Karlson has been ticketed to direct 

Ted Richmond's production. "Wild Fury," a 

Columbia picture. 

Minneapolis Is Expected 

To Reject Griffith Bid 

MINNEAPOLIS—Advance indications are 

that the city council license committee will 

act unfavorably on the application of H, D. 

Griffith to build a neighborhood theatre. 

The matter was .scheduled to come before the 

committee this week. 

Griffith has been trying for ten years to 

obtain the necessary licenses. A permil to 

build the theatre was recently granted by 

the council inadvertently, and then rescinded. 

The application then was referred to the 

license committee. In addition to a permit 

to build the showhouse, Griffith would need 

a license t

. . . Remodeling 

( an 

. . Glenn 

: 

people 

. . George 

. . Glenn 

. . Evelyn 

. . Alan 

. 

'. 

Arthur B. Leak Completes 

28 Years in Film Trade 

DALLAS—Arthur B. Leak, southwesterji 

theatre broker with offices here, will celebrate 

his completion of 28 years in theatre business 

during the next few weeks. Starting in 

1920 as a salesman for Famous Players- 

Lasky Corp.. he won the sales drive award 

for that year and soon after was made branch 

manager at Sioux Falls. S. D.. 

Further sales achievements won for Leak 

the manager's job at Minneapolis, which he 

held for several years before starting his own 

theatre circuit in the Dakotas. He located 

for a time on the Pacific coast before coming 

to Dallas about five years ago to establish 

his theatre brokerage office. 

Commenting on his experience through 

various depressions and booms. Leak said 

he has never found another business that 

could take it as well as the theatre business. 

He feels that today it .still offers more reward 

for effort expended than does any comparable 

field. Following an especially successful 

season in theatre brokerage exclusively. Leak 

said his plans for an expanded service are 

complete for the coming year. 

Nine Houses Are Equipped 

By Mo. Theatre Supply 

KANSAS CITY—Installations made recently 

by Missouri Theatre Supply include: 

New chairs for the 456-seat Strand at 

Bill Elson Takes Office 

As Variety Chief Barker 

MINNEAPOLIS—Northwest Variety Club 

members turned out in large numbers to 

honor it new chief barker. Bill Elson. and its 

other new officers and directors who will 

serve in 1948. The induction occurred at a 

dinner meeting in the clubrooms. John A. 

Branton, retiring chief barker, was acclaimed 

for his efficient conduct of the club's affairs 

the past year. 

Other officers inducted were Ted Bolnick 

and Joe Loeffler, first and second assistant 

chief barkers; Abe Kaplan, treasurer, and 

M. P. Halloran, secretary. 

In addition to the officers, the board of 

directors comprise A. 'W. Anderson. William 

Volk, Ben Fi-iedman, Charles Rubenstein, E. 

A. Lee and Ben Blotcky. Branton has been 

named national canvasman and Elson and 

Kaplan delegates to the national convention 

in Florida. 

Mort Ives to Des Moines 

OMAHA—Mort Ives, office manager for 

Columbia here, has been appointed salesman 

out of the Des Moines exchange. His successor 

here will be Arnold Shartin, now 

a.ssistant booker at Des Moines. The change 

is effective January 23. Fred Aliano, head 

shipper, who is leaving the business, will be 

succeeded by Ray Strong. 

OMAHA 

Tyjrs. E. G. Gannon, wife of the exhibitor 

at Schuyler, paid her first visit to the 

Omaha Filmrow with her husband . . . William 

Groth, who sold his theatre at Charter 

Oak, Iowa, to Eugene Bohnker, is moving 

Gene Schmidt has 

to the 

opened 

west 

the 

coast 

new 

. . . 

Home Theatre at Tripp, 

S. D. It seats 400 and will offer competition 

to the town's other theatre. 

Frank Hollingsworth, Beatrice exhibitor, 

is away trying to keep up with his string of 

horses which run the major tracks . . . 

Jimmy Redmond, city manager for Ti-i-States 

Theatres at Falls City, Neb., was in town 

for a day Bortoff, treasurer at 

is the Orpheum Theatre, accompanying his 

parents on a move to California. His successor 

will be Fred Teller, who has been 

Ted Emerson with Tri-States Theatres 

assisting 

McKenzie's 

publicity here . 

Star opened at Lyons, Neb., during the week. 

The Omaha exchange won the Warner 

prairie district short subjects drive. This 

brought $200 or a console radio to each staff 

member. For salesmen there also was a $50 

bond or portable radio. And Leon Mendelson, 

salesman who finished second in the western 

division, received an extra $200 bond. 

G. Ralph Branton, Tii-States Theatres 

general manager from Des Moines, spent a inally slated for the newly created Omaha 

Sharon Springs. Kas. The house is owned by 

day in the city . . . One Filmrow gent says post, joins the branch here, under Kriedberg. 

George L. Barton. 

he is through with the poultry business except 

when he has to sell "The Egg and I" buyer-manager of the Independent Theatre 

instead. Chouinard recently resigned as 

Complete new booth equipment for Chet 

Borg's burned-out booth in Appleton City, 

of Quality Theatre Supply's 

new quarters one door west at last is was United Artists city salesman here. Dynes 

Associates pool and prior to that associatimi 

Mo 

ṘCA sound and projection equipment for 

Bob Gorham's Liberty Theatre 

imder way. Until completed Quality will continue 

to share space with Film Cla.ssics. sales staff. 

was formerly a member of the local RKO 

in Horton, 

Kas. 

Seven-hundred and thirty new chairs for William Miskell, Tii-States Theatres district 

manager, announced the following road- 

Variety Well in the Black, 

the new Dream Theatre Dale Danielson is 

building in Russell. The former Dream was show bookings for the Omaha Theatre: 

burned out several weeks ago. 

"Lady Windemere's Fan." March 9: "I Remember 

Mamma," March 24, and "Song of MINNEAPOLIS—Finances of the North- 

John Branton Reports 

Brenkert mechanisms and KoUmorgen 

Super Snap-Lite lenses for T. A. Spurgeon's Norway," May 26 . . . De-spite denials, rumors west Variety .Club are sound and the organization 

has a substantial cash balance, retiring 

Moderne at Stanberry, Mo. 

continue to make the rounds that an Omaha 

RCA sound and projection equipment for 

string of theatres shortly will be sold. Chief Barker John Branton reported at the 

the Maywood at Maywood, operated by J. C. 

dinner meeting at which the 1948 officers 

Becker and his son-in-law Loren Turner. Visitors along Filmrow: Frank Good, Red and directors were inducted. Branton thanked 

Sound equipment for the Fox Miller in Oak, Iowa: Henry Saggau, Denison, Iowa: members for their support. Newly elected 

Wichita and for Fox houses in Frankfort and C. J. Kramer, Stanton: John Preston, Humphi-ey; 

Oliver Snyder. Osceola; G. V. Flem- 

support and cooperation of all member.s u^ 

chief barker Bill Elson asked for the comi)le:e 

Belleville, 111. 

ing, Lynch: Fred Miller, Broken Bow; William 

Groth and Eugene Bohnker. Charter projects, including the raising of additional 

enable the club to carry out its philanthmpK 

Oak, Iowa: Harold Qualsett. Tekamah. and funds for its University of Minnesota heart 

Martin Fetch. Macedonia, Iowa. 

hospital. 

The Cody, municipal owned theatre at 

Cody, Neb., has been opened. The new house 

seats 375 . . . Mrs. John Wliite and her two 

sons returned to Omaha with Mr. and Mrs. 

Carl White, her husband's parents. Quality 

Theatre Supply owners, from Little Rock, 

where the Whites spent the holidays. 

With the arrival of the New 'ifear, Jake 

Rachman, local drama critic, announced his 

"worsts" of 1947. Among them were these 

of interest to the film business: The seatkicker, 

that nuisance who keeps bumping 

and tapping theatre chairs with his foot 

(he drew No. 1 billing): popcorn chaa«ers 

old peeve 

i who bring children 

to the late shows. 

Jack Kenfro, RKO manager, was presented 

a rifle by employes at their party at the 

Atlrletic club. Explanation was that Jack 

now lives outside the city and would need 

the rifle to keep away the coyotes . . . Warner 

employes held their Christmas party 

Monday night . Billing, Marion, 

S. D., exhibitor, was busy during the holidays 

running a grocery store as well as his 

theatre. 

J. J. Shinback, assistant division manager 

for RKO Theatres with headquarters in 

Chicago, was in for several days . . . Ralph 

Aver of the Cooper Foundation, Lincoln, 

stopped off here en route home from a New 

York trip . . . Mr. and Mrs. I. M. Weiner 

spent Christmas in Denver. He is a U-I 

salesman. 

Arnold Johnson, Onawa, Iowa, exhibitor, 

was down with the flu Monday . . . Anita 

Bruno. MGM secretary, spent Christmas at 

. 

. . 

Pender MacMuller, 20th-Fo\ 

. 

booking department, was at Humphrey for 

her Christmas McDonald, architect 

for the memorial and for ?3 

Joslyn 

years on the Community Playhouse board of 

directors, died here . RKO-Brandeis employes 

held their Clu-istmas party Monday 

night. Gifts and bonuses were distributed 

. Paul Fine went to Chicago to represent 

the salesmen at the Colosseum conventin i 

Dick Dynes Will Cover 

Omaha for Selznick 

MINNEAPOLIS—Richard "Dick" Dynes, 

who has been covering the Dakotas for Selznick 

Releasing Organization's branch here, 

will be the company's Omaha representative 

out of Des Moines. His transfer was announced 

by Conrad Kriedberg, local branch 

manager. Casper Chouinard, who was orig- 

Remodel Store Building 

For Sioux City Theatre 

SIOUX CITY. IOWA—The Uptown Th - 

atre Corp., headed by Albert M. Seff. hi> 

awarded a contract for the remodeling of a 

commercial building at 27th and Pierce street 

into a 700-seat theatre to the Holtze Construction 

Co. The theatre will be one .stor\. 

93x33 feet, with a basement under part i 

the structure. The remodeling will cost upwards 

of $40,000, it has been estimated. 

TELL US YOUR IDEA! 

WE'LL WRITE THE COPY 

FREE FOR YOUR

100 Theatres Signed 

In Anti-Ascap Tilt 

PITTSBURGH—Owners of more than 100 

independent theatres of the area have voluntarily 

determined to fight Ascap's proposed 

increase in royalty fee, an increase 

which amounts to 300 per cent and more, 

through the Miles plan being pursued by 

national Allied. 

Members of Allied MPTO of Western Pennsylvania 

met on Pilmrow to discuss the situation 

and hear reports of the national Allied 

plan. Morris M. Finkel, president, opened 

the meeting and the discussion was turned 

over to M. A. Rosenberg, member of the national 

Allied executive committee. Fred A. 

Beedle, local organization's vice-president, 

participated for the first time as the group's 

newly named board chairman. 

Members said the increased fees asked by 

Ascap were "away out of line" and urged that 

the situation be relieved. They declared that 

they would sign no new contracts with Ascap 

and stated that if exhibitors "crawled" by 

accepting the new increased items, they would 

be called upon again to meet further increased 

demands in royalty. 

Allied exhibitors, if necessary, will fight 

Ascap through both litigation and legislation, 

the officers stated. 

Altec Team Still Leads 

Nightingale Pin Loop 

DETROIT—Altec Sound Service still led 

the Nightingale Club Bowling league. Team 

standings: 

Won 

Lost 

Altec Sound Service 29 15 

National Theatre Supply 23 21 

McArthur Theatre Equip. 23 21 

Ernie Forbes Theatre Supply 23 21 

Projectionist Local 199 23 21 

Brenkert Projectors 20 24 

National Carbon Co. 19 25 

Lorenzen's Flower Shop 16 28 

Alex Schreiber Buys 

In North Hollywood 

NORTH HOLLYWOOD—A site at Victory 

and Laurel Canyon boulevards here has 

been purchased by Alex Schreiber, circuit 

operator of Detroit, who is completing plans 

to erect a 2.000-seat showcase. Schreiber 

plans to build other theatres southern 

in 

California. 

Raps Haste on Tax Bills 

PITTSBURGH—In an editorial January 4, 

the Pittsburgh Press said. "Without going into 

details regarding the various suits against the 

city's new taxes, it is clear that they have 

developed out of two important faults—the 

hasty manner in which they were imposed 

and the duplication of existing or proposed 

taxes. The taxes obviously were not based 

on any scientific study, but were chosen for 

apparent ease of collection." 

Veteran Projectionist Dies 

CLE'VT;LAND—Hyman O. Friedland. for 

many years a projectionist in local theatres. 

died last week of a heart attack. He had 

just returned home after the New Year show 

at the Alhambra when he was fatally stricken. 

A Clevelander. Friedland was a member of 

Lake Erie Consistory and of the Shrine in 

Miami, Fla. Surviving are his mother, Mrs. 

Ida Friedland. and a sister. Amelia Friedland. 

Large Attendance at Akron 

Theatre Managers' Party 

AKRON—The Akron theatre managers' annual 

Christmas party held last Monday in 

the Mayflower hotel, 

was one of the association's 

most successful affairs, with 175 industry 

members, city officials and industry 

friends present. Max Federhar, president, 

was the official host, with Frank Hensen 

taking the spotlight as master of ceremonies. 

Hoy L. Russell of the Russell Theatre, 

Millersburg, was the guest speaker. Miller, 

an attorney as well as an exhibitor, made 

a talk on municipal amusement taxes and 

told how, by presenting facts on theatre operations 

and emphasizing the theatre's role 

in the community, he influenced the Millersburg 

council members to rescind an amusement 

tax bill. 

In addition to Akron industry members, 

there were also a number of Cleveland industry 

members who attended. They included 

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Sogg, MGM; Mr. and 

Mrs. Edwin R. Bergman, Screen Classics; Saul 

Frifield and Aaron Wayne, Paramount; P. L. 

Tanner and Arthur Marchand, Film Transit 

Co., and Bill Gross, Columbia. 

Samuels Transferred 

To Manley's in Dallas 

MEMPHIS—W. S. Samuels, salesman for 

the Manley popcorn people, was transferred 

January 5 from William H. Ramsey's Memphis 

office to the Dallas branch, where he 

w-ill work w-ith Manager P. A. Warner. Samuels 

has been with Manley since 1945, traveling 

North and South Carolina and part of 

Georgia during his first year with the company 

and working Tennessee, Kentucky and 

part of West 'Virginia out of the Memphis 

branch since July 1946. His transfer to Dallas 

takes him back home, for he is a native 

Texan. Before joining Manley, Samuels managed 

theatres in Texas and Tennessee and 

was piloting one of the Malco houses here 

when he joined the popcorn company. 

Switch in Foreign Films 

From Italian to German 

DETROIT—The Art Theatre, east side 

neighborhood house which has been operated 

by Nick Forest with a policy of Italian films 

for the past year, has reopened with a new 

foreign language policy, stressing German 

pictures. They are the first German films 

to be shown in Detroit since the war. In 

prewar days the house operated on an all- 

German policy, under different management, 

under the name of the Adlon. 

Nora Rusco. formerly of the Belle Theatre, 

has been named manager of the house 

under the new policy. She will replace Richard 

Schneider. 

Present bookings call for two straight 

weeks of German films. This will be followed 

by about two months of German bookings to 

run four days a week. If available, plans 

also call for the booking of Italian films 

the other three days. 

for 

E. J. Hiehle Bruised 

ZANESVILLE, OHIO— E. J. Hiehle. manager 

of the Weller. and Mrs. Hiehle were 

injured when they skidded and went into a 

ditch on State route 77 near Gaysport. They 

received treatment at Good Samaritan hospital. 

Zanesville. 

Gerald Shea Sells Rex 

RI'VESVILLE. W. 'VA.—The Rex here has 

been acquired by Harry Dunbar. Transfer 

from Gerald Shea is dated for February 1. 

Louisville Proposes 

Local Ticket Tax 

LOUIS'VILLE—The Kentucky Ass'n of 

Theatre Owners is preparing to fight a proposal 

of the mayor's legislative committee 

for an act which would permit cities to impose 

a tax on amusements in lieu of the 

state tax. 

The mayor's committee estimates that 

Louisville could raise from $300,000 to $400,000 

annually in this manner. 

"Such a measure is extremely dangerous," 

said a statement for KATO, "for it will pave 

the way to a situation whereby the admission 

taxes will be maintained forever." 

Meanwhile, the association also is fighting 

admission taxes on a national scale. Letters 

have been written to all of the state's U.S. 

senators and representatives urging passage 

of Congressman John Dingell's bill which 

would repeal the federal 20 per cent ticket 

tax. The congressmen also were requested to 

go to the theatre nearest them during the 

holidays to see the newsreels containing pictures 

of Dingell and his plea for tax repeal. 

Letters were also written to exhibitors who 

had theatres in the towns where the senators 

and congressmen reside so that passes 

and invitations to attend the theatre were 

issued to the entire Kentucky delegation to 

Washington. 

In further stress of the matter, KATO requested 

all members to "please act upon the 

advice of Ted Gamble and wire, write, telephone, 

or go personally to see all Kentucky 

senators and congressmen and any more 

that you might know who have any influence, 

about Congressman Dingell's bill, House Bill 

No. 4708, and please write to him congratulating 

him upon its introduction." 

Morning Fire Destroys 

Traverse City Theatre 

DETROIT—The Lyric Theatre at 

Traverse 

City was destroyed by fire Saturday morning, 

January 3. Fire started about 6 a. m. 

back stage. The house was part of the 

famous old Fitzpatrick and McElroy circuit 

and was taken over by Butterfield Theatres 

in September 1927. The structure was owned 

by Mobile-Graphic Co. of Benton Harbor. 

Butterfield operates the Tra-Bay and 

Michigan Theatres in Benton Harbor. 

Bordonaro Heads 444 

NEW KENSINGTON, PA.—Incumbent officers 

of the New Kensington-Tarentum and 

vicinity lATSE Local 444 have been reelected 

as follows: Philip "Blacky" Bordonaro, 

president; Walter Austin, vice-president; 

Joseph J. McClosky, business agent; 

F. P. McCoy, secretary; C. Wolfe, treasurer; 

J. Mickelic. H. Wolfe and B. WosacWo, trustees; 

and J. Kaduk. Clyde Johnson, B. F. 

Zamparini and J. S. Milbum. executive board 

members. Bordonaro also is president of the 

new Allegheny Kiski Valley Central Labor 

union. 

NEW KENSINGTON. PA.—Theatrical Mutual 

Ass'n announces the election of these 

officers; J. J. McClosky, president: Walter 

Austin, vice-president; F. P. McCoy, secretary; 

Joseph Mickelic, treasurer; B. F. Zamparini. 

financial secretary; Philip Bordonaro, 

chairman of the board of trustees; J. Kaduk 

and J. S. Milburn. trustees. J. M. Phillips 

was appointed manager and chief steward. 

A. Haracznak was elected auditor. Social 

quarters at 929 Fourth avenue here are newly 

remodeled. 

Rodne'y for Featured Role 

John Rodney, New York stage actor, has 

been booked for a featured role in Warners' 

"Key Largo." 

BOXOFFICE January 10, 1948 

67

— 

Magazine Subscriptions 

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DETROIT 

J. NAZAR. 1009 Fox Bldg. 

Detroit 1, Mich. RA 1100 

Distributors 

for tho State o) 

Michigan 

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lOS Michigan St., N. W., Grand Rapids 2. Mich. 

EXmBITORS — PARE FREE AT 

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MOTIOORAPH SERVICE 

Phone: CAdillac 5524 

TheatrfSign and Marquee Maintenance 

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ERNIE 

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214 W. Montcalm 

Detroit 1. Mich. 

Phone CAdillac 1122 

LONG SIGN CO. 

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840 W. Baltimore, Detroit — TR 1-9477 

Looking For Film Row Contacts? 

Office or desk space available. 

Telephone — secretarial service — 

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Box lOOS 

1009 Fox Bldg., Detroit 1, Mich.

. . . Harold 

. . John 

. . William 

. . Secretary 

. . Charles 

— 

feather party, especially the theatrical post 

committee . . . O. B. Martin, operator at the 

Astor, has joined the Nightingales. That 

makes 98 of them . F. H. Akijis 

advises there will be three booster teams in 

the ABC bowling tournament. 

UDT notes: August Sermo, formerly at the 

Palms-State, has moved up to assistant at 

the United Artists, replacing Donald Breen 

. . . Rufus Shepherd has moved in as manager 

of the Broadway-Capitol, replacing 

James Easson, who moves out to Grosse 

Pointe to take over the Woods, now readying 

for opening . Pitt is new second 

assistant at the Capitol, replacing George 

Markey and Leonard Busch . . . Markey takes 

the same post at the Riviera, replacing Genevieve 

Reid. 

Gerald Smart, who took his training at 

the Riviera, is new second assistant at the 

Madison, replacing John Peterson . . . Richai-d 

Lassman is new second assistant at the 

Cinderella, replacing John Sullivan . . . Alfred 

G. Parker moved from the Cinderella 

to become assistant at the Vogue and Alger, 

replacing Charles Dwyer . Shafer, 

manager of the Norwest, took over at the 

Varsity, replacing Forest Mountz . . . Charles 

Whitaker, former assistant at the Rosedale, 

was promoted to manager at the Norwest 

Lenhoff is new assistant at the 

Rosedale . Lehtinen Is taking managerial 

training at the Palms-State. 

Uhrichsville State Opened 

After Fire of Year Ago 

UHRICHSVILLE. OHIO—The new State 

Theatre, replacing the one which was completely 

destroyed by fire almost a year ago. 

tlu-ew open its doors to the public Christmas 

day. The Evening Chronicle got out a special 

section devoted entirely to a description of the 

theatre, architectural credits, and personal 

rave remarks by city officials who had a 

preview of the building. The paper also carried 

three full pages of cooperative advertising 

by local merchants and materials companies. 

Charles C. Coleman of Cleveland was the 

architect. The theatre front is strictly modern 

in design, using construction glass in 

peach and blue. Brilliance is the keynote 

of the marquee, which uses hundreds of bulbs 

to make the theatre the brightest spot in 

town. 

In the lobby are concession stands with 

a modern bar serving soft drinks, candy and 

popcorn. The auditorium has fireproof construction 

and decorations, featuring black 

light reflecting on tapestry panels and floral 

paintings on either side of the screen. A 

S35.000 air conditioning and heating system, 

RCA sound projectors, and International 

chairs by Oliver Theatre Supply Co. of Cleveland 

are other features. 

Urban R. Anderson, general manager, was 

in chai-ge during the entire building period. 

His assistants are: William Robinson, house 

manager; Helen McClure, secretary; Nina 

Shaffer, cashier; James Sullivan, chief o: 

sei-vice; Raymond Cox. chief projectionist 

Rodney Kaltenbaugh. assistant projectionist 

Don Mallernee, assistant projectionist: Frank 

Bone, doorman; Joseph Falcone, maintenance; 

John H. Van Fossen, artist and sign 

painter: J. W. Calhoon, house physician. 

"Where There's Life" was the opening attraction. 

Theatres Improve Sound 

DETROIT— F. C. Dickely, district manager 

of Altec Service Corp., reports the following 

installations Theatre, 

in Michigan: Callier 

Belding. H. C. Callier, Motiograph M 611 

Dual; Melody, Inkster, Simplex B30-4X; 

Wexford, Mantion, Douglas Gregory, Motiograph 

20 watt. 

Gets Second Screen Role 

Betty Garde, Broadway actress, has drawn 

her second screen role in 20th-Fox's "The 

Chair for Martin Rome." 

PERYL'S 

COSTUMES 

UNIFORMS lor Entire Thealro Stall. 

Special Costumes for All Occasions. Acis and 

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Phone; — TCmple • J-3948 

, Mich. 

fUSH 

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Phone: TYI«r 7-8015 

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FILM EXCHANGE DRUGS 

The Showmen 's Drug Store 

Drugs Cosmetic! .. PrucripUoi 

Personal Service irom Two Showmen 

MAX BERHBAUM JACK GALLAGHEB 

Pharmacist 

Manager 

Phone CLiiioid 1527, CLifiord 3694 


. . Loew's 

. . . Joe 

. . Norman 

. . The 

. . John 

. . 

il 

TOLEDO 

Oleet storm on New Year's day, which darkened 

honies in all sections of the city, 

also hit attendance in local theatres. None 

of the film houses in the downtown area 

suffered from power failures, but all took a 

licking at the boxoffice. 

Jack Phillips of the Telegraph Drive-In 

is motoring to Hollywood where he'll spend 

two months vacationing . Valentine 

had a Christmas Cartoon Jamboree at 8:30 

a. m. December 30 . . . The State Theatre, 

neighborhood house operated by the Carl 

Schwyn circuit of Bowling Green, has booked 

an evening concert by Carmen Cavallaro and 

his orchestra for March 5. 

Seitz Interests to Build 

Drive-In at Sandusky 

SANDUSKY—Construction of a drive-in 

theatre, east of Sandusky on routes 2 and 

6 has been announced by the Seitz interests 

of Sandusky, who operate the State, Plaza, 

and Sandusky theatres. The drive-in will 

have capacity of 500 cars, and will be located 

on a 1.500-acre tract, with 600-foot frontage 

on the Cleveland-Toledo highway. 

II 

^r$ 

IDOTIOn PICTURE SERVIHCB. 

m!i'j.ia

. . . Joseph 

. The 

. . Arnold 

. . Ruth 

. . 

. . 

. . Jack 

. . Charles 

. . Jane 

. . Hugh 

Fourth of Firsl Runs 

Were Reissue Films 

PITTSBURGH—More than a fourth of the 

product which played on downtown screens 

Here's 

during 1947 was of the reissue variety. 

the box score: 

Theatre New Reissue 

Stanley 34 8 

Penn 38 2 

Ritz 5 12 

Warner 31 2 

Harris 35 

Senator 35 29 

Fulton 25 2 

Barry 84 20 

; Cinema* 3 40 

Also played ten first foreign films. 

Longest run of the year was enjoyed by 

The Best Years of Om- Lives," which showed 

for nine and a half weeks at advanced admissions. 

Running eight weeks each were "Henry 

V," which was roadshown, and "The Jolson 

Story." Runs of six weeks were enjoyed by 

"Duel in the Sun." an advanced price picture, 

and "Miracle on 34th Street" and "The 

Razor's Edge." Two other advanced price pictures. 

"Life Wi.h Father" and "Unconquered," 

ran for five weeks, as did "The Secret Life 

of Walter Mitty." Four-week stands were enjoyed 

by "Tili the Clouds Roll By," "Notorious" 

and "The Yearling." 

"The Outlaw" broke the house record at 

the Fulton after one week but was forced 

off the screen by pressure of the Catholic 

Legion of Decency and other organizations. 

The all-time champ of champs, "Gone With 

the Wind," returned for the fourth time and 

received three weeks of playing time to excellent 

business. 

Loew's Penn and the Stanley presented double 

features, unusual for these deluxers; also 

they filled in with reissues. The Ri.z, formerly 

a Warner moveover house, became a 

Loew's moveover unit. 

"The Jolson Story" was the first picture 

ever to be accorded a fifth week in the J. P. 

Harris. 

Cecil B. DeMille's "Unconquered" had its 

world premiere in Loew's Penn. 

Liberty in Akron to Start 

Art Policy in February 

AKRON, OHIO—Tire Liberty, neighborhood 

house on West Market street, will 

inaugurate a policy of first run "prestige" 

films, starting in February. Liberty owners, 

represented by Edward J. Rabb, decided on 

the new policy as a result of response to 

previous foreign films played by the Liberty. 

The Tivoli "played a series of foreign pictures 

a few summers ago. but did not do too 

well with them. The Allen here reported 

successful runs of "Open City" and "Henry 

v." The latter two also were successes at the 

Liberty. "Carnegie Hall" played at the Liberty 

early in December and drew capacity houses 

for each night of the full week in was shown. 

Other foreign films which fared well there 

were the British "Brief Encounter" and "Notorious 

Gentleman," and the Italian "Open 

City." 

As a sort of preview of its new policy, the 

Liberty December 28 opened a four-day run 

of two Australian pictures, "Bush Christmas" 

and "The Overlanders." 

MacDonald on Tour 

Leaving soon on a concert tour which coincides 

with the release of her latest picture, 

"Three Daring Daughters," a Metro production, 

Jeanette MacDonald will make initial 

personal appearances in San Diego and San 

Antonio. 

BOXOFHCE :: January 10, 1948 

CINCINNATI 

pobert "Red" Straus, professional golfer who 

heads the city recreational commission, 

expects to have his new Carmargo Theatre 

on Miami road. Madeira, open in January. 

It is the only house in the Indian Hill, Kenwood 

and Madeira sections, and is of colonial 

architecture, which conforms with the atmosphere 

of the area. The architect was 

Earl C. Henn. Midwest Theatre Supply Co 

furnished the interior equipment. The theatre 

will seat 500, and will contain a snack 

bar and crying room. 

Louis Winkelman, 67, treasurer of the Gayety 

Theatre since 1937 and well known in the 

show world in this area, died last week. A 

native of Milwaukee, he was one of the producers 

of the stage hit, "The Time, the Place 

and the Girl," and was vice-president of the 

treasurers and ticket sellers union. He leaves 

two sons, Louis jr. of Hollywood, and Walter 

of Lincoln, Neb., and a brother in Milwaukee. 

Bob McNabb, 20th-Fox sales manager, and 

his wife and child visited his family in Baton 

Rouge, La. . . . Irvin Good visited his home 

in Buffalo, and Jack Kaufman, with his wife 

and baby, traveled to Boston to spend the 

holidays with Jack's and Mickey's families 

Rosen, manager, spent Christmas 

in Chicago. 

Tom Johns is the new owner of the Sterling 

in Pataskala, which formerly was operated 

by Harold Stegemiller. Johns' home is in 

Columbus . sisters and brothers of 

Terry Stenger, secretary of Film Classics, had 

a family reunion during the Christmas holidays, 

with eight of the ten brothers and sisters 

and 22 nieces and nephews present. 

Terry's sister and brother-in-law from Oklahoma 

City also traveled here for the occasion. 

Sophie Rokosi Mason, biller at Universal, 

is resigning to await the stork . . . "Whispering" 

William Blum, Columbus salesman for 

U-I, is vacationing in Miami Beach . 

Charlie Schroeder, Warner West Virginia 

salesman, has a new Pontiac . . . Eulious 

Brewster, former manager of the Lemiox in 

Springfield for Charles Yocum, has bought 

the house and will operate it for himself. 

Ferd Midelburg of Logan, W. 'Va., and 

brother of Charles Midelbiu-g, Charleston, is 

seriously ill in Miami Beach. Charles hastened 

his departure for his summer home in order 

to be near his brother. 

Sam Gorrell of Cleveland, who has houses 

in Tipp City and Bradford, paid one of his 

infrequent visits to local exchanges . . . Frank 

McQuaid of the Mecca in Huntington. W. Va.. 

suffered a broken hip from a fall down the 

stairs in his home and is hospitalized at St. 

Marys hospital there . 

Skelly of 

Xenia made the roimds of the exchanges last 

Monday, as did David Prey of Felicity. 

Midwest Theatre Supply has installed new 

International chairs in the Ohio in Norwood 

for Willis Vance. The same company also 

furnished 1,000 new chairs in the auditorium 

of the Portsmouth high school . . . Jack 

Kaufman, 20th-Fox salesman, will be the Columbus 

representative for the company . 

Manny Naegel, 20th-Fox salesman, will renew 

old acquaintances when he covers the state 

of Kentucky . . . Fred Strief. oldtime film 

man. has returned to Cincinnati from Glendale. 

Calif., where he managed a house for 

the Smith circuit. 

The Cincinnati delegation to the national 

convention of the Colosseum of Motion Picture 

Salesmen of America, in Chicago, included 

Gene Tunick. RKO; John Eifert. Warners; 

Ross WiUiams. United Artists, and 

Pete Niland, Columbia . 

Mixich, 

secretary to J. B. Neff, 20th-Fox head booker. 

will be married February 7 to Harry Cawein. 

The wedding will take place at the Church 

of the Resurrection in Price Hill. 

Irv Sochin, manager at Universal, gave a 

party for branch personnel recently in the 

branch quarters . R. Steele has 

assumed operation of the Black Star school, 

Alva, Ky.. which house formerly was owned 

by O. J. Roaden, but which has been closed 

for some time. 

Marvin Arent, head of the Schine office 

here, took a belated vacation in the east, and 

spent New Year's with his brother in Washington 

. Frisch, local exhibitor, is 

buying film for the Goodale Theatre in Columbus, 

which is owned by H. J. Saunders. 

. 

. 

The Westland Theatre in Portsmouth, 

which recently was reopened by C. A. Metro, 

again has been closed MacKenzie, 

field representative for RKO, is sporting a 

new Oldsmobile Chris, file clerk at 

20th-Fox, spent the New Year's weekend in 

Philadelphia with Mrs. Cora MoUitieri, formerly 

with the local Fox branch. 

Local U-I bookers participated in a nice 

bonus recently, presented in connection with 

the Blumberg-Rank booking drive . . . The 

wife of Bill Burns, former Columbia salesman, 

has been confined in a hospital with 

pneumonia. She is now on the road to recovery 

. . . Don Galvin, Warner booker, is hospitalized 

at the Good Samaritan hospital. 

He apparently is suffering from an ulcer 

condition. 

Kaspar Monahan Names 

His Ten Best of 1947 

PITTSBURGH—Kaspar Monahan, Press 

critic, thought it was a bad year, but nevertheless 

has named the following as the ten 

best films of 1947: 

"The Best Years of Our Lives." "The 

Farmer's Daughter," "The Jolson Story." 

"Miracle on 34th Street," "Odd Man Out." 

"Crossfire." "The Yearling." "Great Expectations," 

"Brief Encounter" and "Ride the 

Pink Horse." Monahan's second ten are 

"Boomerang," "Late George Apley." "Secret 

Life of Walter Mitty," "Bachelor and the 

Bobby-Soxer," "13 Rue Madeleine," "Life 

With Father," "Kiss of Death." "Body and 

Soul." "Dark Mirror" and "Stairway to 

Heaven." 

"As for the worst ten of the year, well 

it's there are so many candidates, anybody's 

guess as which floperoos should be accorded 

the cheese-plated Oscars," he said. "Offhand 

I'll name these as potent contenders: 'Her 

Husband's Affairs.' 'Out of the Blue.' 'Out 

of the Past,' 'The Lost Moment,' 'Desert 

Fury," 'Duel in the Sun,' 'The Exile,' 'That 

Breiman Girl.' 'Magic Town.' 'Desire Me,' 

'Undercurrent.' That's 11, but when you get 

to naming puny pictui-es it's hard to stop." 

YOU'LL 

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' 

Review of 1947 in Cleveland Territory 

CLEVELAND—Review of 1947 in the Cleveland 

exchange area: 

JANUARY 

Mark Goodman returned from Pittsburgh 

as PRO branch manager . Mall 

remodeled for opening of "Henry V" . . . Max 

Federhar, president, Akron Theatre Managers 

Ass'n, said Akron theatres had worst holiday 

business on record ... Ed Graves re-elected 

president of F5 ... J. S. Jossey and Ki-cger 

Babb establish headquarters for Hygienic 

Productions in Wilmington. 

Sid Cohen resigned from Cooperative Theatres 

of Ohio to join Intermountain Theatres 

in Salt Lake City . . . Charles Deckman left 

for Mexico with a "Mom and Dad" unit . . . 

Associated circuit took over the Erie. Lion 

and Madi-id theatres, Port Clinton . . . Cecil 

Ryder celebrated 30th anniversary as Loew 

Theatre chief of service . . . George Devine 

returned from honeymoon . voted 

to make MOD collections, with M. B. Horwitz 

and J. D. Kalafat as chairmen. 

Hal Shreffler of the Castamba Theatre, 

Shelby, a candidate for mayor ... I. J. 

Schmertz, 20th-Fox. and Jerry Steel, Apollo 

Theatre, Oberlin, off to Florida . . . Pastime 

Theatre, Barberton, converted into a store 

room . Theatre, Edgerton, opened 

. . . Saul Korman, Detroit, bought the Sunbeam 

Theatre, Cleveland . Sandler 

formed Drive-In Theatre Equipment Co. to 

manufacture Auto Voice speakers. 

FEBRUARY 

Ernest Schwartz elected president of 

CMPEA for 14tli consecutive time . . . Bert 

. 

. 

. 

. 

Stearn suffered heart attack en route from 

Pittsburgh to Cleveland Noltemeyer 

joined Co-Op booking force . . . Leonard 

Greenberger welcomed a daughter into 

his family . . . Ray Wallace of Alliance celebrated 

40th year in picture business 

S. P. Gorrel and Leonard Mishkind opened 

new Orr Theatre, Orville , . . Clem Pope, 

longtime RKO theatre official, died. 

Howard Burkhardt transferred from Loew's 

State to Loew's Midland, Kansas City . 

"Henry 

Lower 

V" concluded a six-week run 

. . 

at 

Bert Schoonmaker 

Mall at $2.50 top . . . 

and wife attended Mardi Gras and 

then on to Mexico Weiss becomes 

Film Classics branch manager. 

MARCH 

Akron exhibitors cancelled "Abie's Irish 

Rose" on account of prote.sts by religious 

Maureen O'Hara here to boost 

groups . . . 

Cleveland independent 

Greek benefit drive . . . 

theatres collected $20,862 for the 

MOD . Bathory resigned from RKO 

publicity to join local advertising firm 

Wade Carr, Manley, Inc., injured and wife 

killed in auto accident near Cincinnati . . . 

Iver Grann, RCA engineer, died of selfinflicted 

wounds . . . R. D. Stone, Idol Theatre, 

Lodi, filed arbitration case seeking 

clearance adjustments involving Ashland. 

Case settled by consent award . . . Angela 

Lansbury here to plug "Bel Ami." 

Al Kolitz promoted to RKO district manager. 

Rocky Mountain district . . . Julius 

Lamm celebrated 15th anniversary as manager 

Warners' Uptown . Club 

agreed to sponsor a boys' summer camp for 

delinquents . . . Leo Jones buys Upper 

Theatre, Upper Sandusky . . . Hall Shreffler 

withdrew candidacy for mayor in Shelby 

Theatre, Akron, opened by Ed 

Raab . bought large Euclid avenue 

home for $60,000 as clubhouse . . . Max 

Federhar, president Akron Tlieatre Managers 

Ass'n, celebrated 25th wedding anniversary 

. . . Leo Dwyer, Celina exhibitor, died. 

APRIL 

Blizzard with 65-mile gale crippled transportation 

and darkened houses . . Meyer 

Fine and associates bought 

. 

Fenway Hall 

hotel George Erdmann, secretary for 

. . . 

CMPEA for 21 years, died . . . Wadsworth 

Amusement Co. filed arbitration suit 

. . Ti-i-State 

seeking clearance changes 

time. 

MAY 

Eagle Lion premieres "Repeat Performance" 

in Zanesville . . . Charles Bullock, president 

and executive committee chairman Local 160, 

lATSE, died . . . Vogue, first to be built in 

Cleveland since war, opened . . . Rudy Norton 

bought Chief and Princess theatres, Wauseon 

. . . Abe Ludacer replaced Ted Tescliner 

as manager of Loew's Valentine, Toledo 

. . . Exhibitors reported business down 

at least 15 per cent . . . Max Weinstein, 

owner of the Ritz Theatre, died. 

JUNE 

"Best Years of Our Lives" broke local run 

record, playing equivalent of 14 weeks . . . 

R. D. Stone, Idol Theatre, Lodi, settled arbitration 

suit by consent award . . . Martin 

Polster of Community circuit married . 

Lester Zucker succeeded Max Cohen as U-I 

branch manager. 

Ohio passed bill putting amusement tax 

up to municipalities . 

Clinton The- 

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NAME 

STATE 

POSITION 

atre. Port Clinton, opened by Associated 

circuit . . . Ted Barker replaced Ed Fisher 

as Loew Theatre publicity director ... 

Warner-Skirball pool affecting Ohio and 

Madison theatres, Mansfield, dissolved. 

. 

. 

JULY 

Harry Schreiber, RKO city manager, transferred 

to Columbus Schwartz, 

president. CMPEA, also named secretary . . . 

Orr Theatre, Orrville, lost suit to abolish i i 

clearance between Orrville and Massillon 

. 

. 

long illness . 

Nate Schultz elected Variety Club chief'"' 

barker Theatre opened in Akron 

Theatre, Barberton, opened . 

Max Mink appointed RKO Palace manager. 

Orr Theatre, Orrville, appealed local decision 

. Variety golf tournament resumed 

. . 

after war period convention at 

Cedar Point 

. 

G. Smith re-elected 

president of ITO for 18th time . Edna 

B. Russell, wife of Hoy Russell, owner of 

Russell Theatre, Millersburg, succumbed to 

Norman Levin, Republicbranch 

. . 

manager, stricken while attendnig 

ITO convention. 

AUGUST 

Chick Taylor left Associated circuit - 

manage drive-ins for National Drive-In Tli - 

atres Co. . Lefkowich became Vnriety 

golf champion . 

Essick became 

father of twin boys, second set of doubles 

in the family . Polcar. one of 

earliest Cleveland theatre owners, died at 

age of 87. 

SEPTEMBER 

Heat hurt theatre business . and 

Bill Skirball to London on "Birth of a Baby" 

business . Bros, opened new Yorktown 

Tlieatre . . . Edwin R. Bergman appointed 

Screen Guild branch manager . 

. 

. 

. 

Norman Levin granted extended leave of 

absence J. Houlihan over as Republic 

manager dm-ing his absence. 

Polio epidemic in Akron hurt business 

Cleveland council passed 3 per cent amusement 

tax with pass-on clause . . Driveins 

in Cleveland territory number 35 . 

Andy W. Smith jr. offered 21-day availability 

for selected subsequents. 

OCTOBER 

Harry Horwitz, manager and part owiur 

of Astor Theatre, Cleveland, died following 

an operation Delis, Canton, and 

Wanirr 

. 

Barbara Kay married 

houses. Vogue, Uptown, Variety, accepted 

Smith's 21-day clearance deal . . Business 

. 

reached fall peak ... Ed Ramsey carried 

out threat to close Plymouth Theatre when 

council passed amusement tax. 

James Gregory, Slaelby exhibitor, 71, died 

. . . Victor Wellman, lATSE business manager, 

and Elsie Berg married . . . Urbanskys 

establish Reel Film Service ... Ed Ramsey 

and Plymouth council came to terms and 

Ramsey reopened theatre . . . Sanford Gottlieb 

named manager of new Film Classics 

excliange . . . Millersburg. Ohio, repealed 

amusement tax after Hoy Russell, Russell 

Theatre, presented hardships entailed . 

Cecil B. DeMille in Cleveland for "Unconquered" 

opening . . . F. Arthur Simon transferred 

from RKO office in Rio to Mexico 

City . . . Warners offered 21-day availabilil v 

deals . . . Marvin Samuelson elected Warner 

club president. 

NOVEMBER 

Leo J. Callinan, 70, organizer of Akron 

Tlieatre Owners Ass'n, died in Charleston 

Stutz organized reissue circuit 

under Broder plan . Korman. Detroit, 

bought Sunbeam Tlieatre . . . Franl^ 

Gross, first independent to take the 21-(iay 

availability deal . . . Lana Turner in town 

72 BOXOFFICE :: January 10,

: James 

. Lebanon 

' 

Gross 

. years 

- 

of 

, 

business 

,' 

-Rudy 

' and 

, 

of 

'< 

to exploit "Green Dolphin Street" . . . 

. . . Reissue 

. . Complete 

: January 

. . Sam 

. . Fairview, 

. . Saul 

. . Lester 

. . 

' 

. . . Dave 

Charles Burris, Telenews manager, announced 

plan to install television . . . Louis 

and Eddie Jolinson form Film Distributors 

of Cleveland Silverman, 

. 

former partner with D. W. Britton in Ricz Are Big in Cleveland 

and Tiffin Theatres, Tiffin, died in Los CLEVELAND—"Captain From Castile," in 

'Angeles. 

Daylight 

erendum . 

the first week of a two-week engagement at 

saving time won in local ref- 

the RKO Palace, opened Christmas day to 

. George Davis, Wellsville, named capacity business and played to packed performances 

. 

city service director . William E. Falk. 

all week, both matinees and eve- 

nings. A good four-act vaudeville and a 

;Associated circuit accountant, died . . . S. A. 

bill 

Gerson, 61, stricken with heart attack in 

tremendously popular picture shot business 

Los Angeles . Reichbloom, East up to a high 155. This includes both Christmas 

Liverpool theatre owner, moved to Cleveland 

and New Year's. At the State, 

circuit broke up. 

"Road to Rio" with a night-before-Chri.stmas 

Milton A. Mooney, Co-Op head, named Variety 

opening, and not including New Year's, also 

chief barker built by kept the turnstiles clicking, with a good 160 

Associated, opened. Ed Wise, manager . 

per cent rating. "Tycoon" at the RKO Allen 

Nortons announce a son. 

also made an excellent holiday showing with 

DECEMBER 

140 per cent. Others got by on an average 

I j 

Orr Theatre, Orrville, on appeal, won same 

-score. Weather was cold but clear. General 

downtown theatre attendance was better than 

i 

availability as Massillon Irwin it usually is during Christmas week, but 

led all Paramount salesmen in national sales neighborhood houses reported it worse than 

. . . drive Virginia Mayo here to address previous years. 

Eugene Bailey, 76, vet- 

clubs . . . women's (RKO) .iMlen—Tycoon 

Hippodrome—Always Together (WB) 

140 

ICQ 

Lake—The Gangster (Allied), 2nd wk 130 

Lower Mall—My Father's House (lewish Inll) ICO 

eran film salesman and exhibitor, died. 

LOUISVILLE 

•The initial issue of a weekly amusement 

: and show guide. Falls City Showtime, is 

scheduled to make its appearance some 

time in- January. It will be edited by Phil 

Levine . theatre sound and projection 

equipment has been purchased by 

St. Joseph's Infirmary. The equipment will 

be used for the benefit of nurses and the 

staff of the hospital as well as inmates. Purchase 

was made through the Falls City Theatre 

Equipment Co. 

Hall has succeeded D. D. Query as 

owner of the recently constructed McRoberts 

Theatre, McRoberts, Ky. ... In town 

after an absence of approximately three 

was J. B. Dale of the Clay Amusement 

Co., Celina, Tenn. Other visitors were E. T. 

Denton, Owingsville: Elmer Hohen, New 

Washington, Ind.: M. H. Sparks, Edmonton; 

C. O. Humston, Lawrencebm-g; Mr. and Mrs. 

C. K. Arnold, Bardstown; Otto Marcum, 

Junction; Clyde Marshall, Columbia: 

Erwin W. Rau, Leitchfield; Gene Lutes. 

Frankfort; Leonard Bale, Shelbyville, and 

Mr. and Mrs. Robertson, Springfield. 

A. H. Reeves has resigned as manager of 

the Arista Theatre, Lebanon, Ky., to follow 

another line of work in Lebanon. O. D. 

Hopper, owner, has taken over the manager- 

.~hip and will devote full time to his enterprise 

. . . Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Robertson 

the Majestic, Springfield, attended the 

'- Sugar Bowl game in New Orleans New Year's 

day in the company of their son Robert and 

- their daughter and son-in-law. 

In keeping with policy, all the first run 

•heatres offered midnight shows New Year's 

eve. To get the new programs in for the 

special shows, programs started on Wednesday, 

a day ahead of the usual schedule. 

New programs included "Road to Rio" at the 

Rialto, "Good News" and "The Devil Ship" 

at Loew's; "The Wistful Widow of Wagon 

Gap" and "Frieda" at the National, and 

Out of the Blue" and "The Return of Rin 

Tin Tin" at the Strand. The Scoop returned 

The Outlaw" on a single bill. The Airway, 

suburban house, brought back "Duel in 

a 

the Sun" as a midnight attraction at tilted 

1 

prices. 

J Harold Janecke has sold his part interest 

*";! in the National and Grand theatres here 

' 

is going to devote full time to his candy 

. . . The marriage of Lucille Borders 

of Richmond and Russell J. Morga 

' 

the Shelby Theatre. Louisville, took place 

in Richmond on New Year's eve. 

'Castile/ 'Road lo Rio' 

BOXOFnCE : 

10, 1948 

Ohio—Merton of the Movies (MOM), Znd wk 100 

Palace—Captain From Castile (ZOth-Fox), plus 

stage show . 

15b 

'Road to Rio' Remains 

Cincinnati Favorite 

CINCINNATI—Although in its second week 

at the Palace, "Road to Rio" again topped 

the list of attractions, reaching a 200 mark. 

"Tycoon," the Albee anniversary atlraction, 

also made a good showing, with 160. "Pirates 

of Monterey." at Keith's, did 150. Most of 

the attractions remained in the city for additional 

runs. 

Albee—Tycoon (RKO) 160 

Capitol—Good News (MGM) 2nd wk 120 

Grand-Killer McCoy (MGM) 130 

Keith's—Pirates oi Monterey (HI) 150 

Lyric—The Man in the Iron Mask A Ge 

Afte 

.00 

Valley 

Harris Productions Makes 

Auto Parts Ass'n Film 

DETROIT—Harris Productions, newly incorporated 

commercial production firm in 

Detroit, headed by Paul J. Harris, has completed 

its first film for the National Automotive 

Parts Ass'n. It thus broke into the 

profitable automotive market, which for years 

has been a major factor in commercial film 

production in Detroit. HaiTis formerly 

headed his own firm in Chicago, and for the 

past three years has been with Tradeways, 

Inc., of New York. The picture, which will 

be used for training automotive parts salesmen 

is in 16mm Kodachrome and stars Guy 

Kibbee, Jed Prouty, Ian Keith and James 

Doody. 

Ideal Franchise to St. Clair 

BECKLEY. W. VA.—A. I. St. Clair of Beckley 

has been appointed West Virginia representative 

for Ideal 16mm Sound Pictures 

Corp., handling both 16mm films and equipment. 

OLIVER THEATRE 

SUPPLY CO., INC. 

M. H. FHITCHLE 

Manager 

23rd and Payn* ATsnue 

Phone: PHospecl 6934 

CLEVELAND 

CLEVELAND 

Mew Year's eve downtown business was better 

than anticipated. Last year attendance 

was good for the early evening show but 

dropped for the midnight show. This year all 

downtown runs report better than average 

attendance at the late show. The RKO Palace 

was the only one v;ith a stage show downtown. 

In the neighborhoods, stage attractions 

were confined to the Knickerbocker, 

managed by Gertrude Tracy, and the Shore, 

managed by Frank Co.st. Both Miss Tracy 

and Cost reported good business. 

Abe Kramer of Associated circuit and Mrs. 

Kramer returned this week from Florida, 

ahead of their time schedule, because of business 

demands. They plan to complete their 

vacation on the west coast . . . Sam Stecker, 

another Associated official, and his wife left 

last week to spend the winter in California 

Palfreyman of Motion Picture 

Ass'n was in town, but not on official visit. 

He came to visit relatives on a purely social 

basis. Another important visitor last week 

was Janice Carter. Just in from Rome, Italy, 

where she made a picture, she spent Christmas 

day with her parents before making 

tracks for Hollywood to start in a new picture 

for Warner Bros. 

Hilbert Horwitz has been appointed manager 

of the Cleveland office of Interstate Popcorn 

Co. by its president, Irving Zussman. 

Horwitz was previously with Berlo Vending 

Co. . . . Jack Share, who bought the Cedar 

and Quincy theatres from Frank Gross a year 

ago, has sold them to Irving Gross. Before 

making a decision as to future plans, he will 

take time out for a vacation. 

Cleveland friends of Jack Lefton, veteran 

local film man who moved to California after 

his retirement a year ago, were shocked to 

hear of his death last week. Lefton, formerly 

with Republic and PRC, died after an 

illness of less than two weeks. Burial was 

in Los Angeles. He is survived by his wife 

and three sons, Milton of Los Angeles: Godfrey 

of Indianapolis, and Ernest of Cleveland. 

Also two brothers, Albert, a Cleveland attorney, 

and Nat L., former Republic and PRC 

franchise owner, now retired and living in 

Venice, Fla. 

êadon 3 

Lji*eetlnaA 

^ UNIVERSAL 

CHEMICAL COMPANY 

Sanitation Maintenance 

Manufacturers 

2230-40 East Ninth Street 

Cleveland, 15, Ohio 

S. M. SCHOEN

. . Sympathy 

. . Mrs. 

PITTSBURGH 

Uilda Lissmann, Filmrow's No. 1 girl in 

point of service, who has been Warners 

office manager for a number of years, has 

returned to booking duties, the post of office 

manager having been discontinued. Katharine 

Wunderlich of Warners booking department 

resigned and joined Paramount 

as a stenographer . . . Jean Paullet of the 

MGM office has been vacationing. 

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Trozzo have spent 

$13,000 in renovating the Central, Herminie. 

They purchased the Covi from Rudy Covi 

last spring, changed the theatre name to 

the Central, and have been busy since then 

with reseating, remodeling, installing new 

drapes, redecorations, fixtures and equipment 

. to Lew Hepinger, Clarion 

exhibitor, on the loss of his sister who died 

January 1. Hepinger's Orpheum closed immediately 

and was to reopen this week. 

The Bellview at Creighton, Glassmere, Pa., 

operated by Leo Argioletti, has been transferred 

to former proprietor Leo Baczansky 

. . . Philip Herrington and son Fred, 17, son 

and grandson of the Fred J. Herringtons, 

sustained head injuries and a broken leg, 

respectively, in an auto collision January 1. 

Phil's wife escaped with bruises . . . Ray 

Gorman, 62, employed at the downtown Warner, 

fell 12 feet from a ladder while at work 

in front of the theatre and was taken to 

Mercy hospital suffering scalp lacerations 

and a possible hip fracture. 

Bill Walker, Crafton exhibitor, was taken 

down with gout during the holidays, but he 

was able to be up and around last weekend 

. . . C. C. Kellenberg, 20th-Fox's local sales 

manager, was taken to Shadyside hospital 

when he suffered a lung hemorrhage. He 

is recuperating satisfactorily . . . Chartiers, 

Crafton, is installing new rest rooms. 

A daughter was born December 27 to Mr. 

and Mrs. George Saittis. Sheraden and 

Crafton Heights exhibitors. Baby hadn't been 

expected for several weeks and Mrs. Sattis 

was visting in Vandergrift when she put in 

a hur-ry call to the hospital. Papa didn't 

know about the birth of his daughter until 

several hours later . . . Pete DeFazio, former 

Warner salesman here, now this company's 

Baltimore representative, spent the holidays 

here . . . The Columbia in Kittanning, managed 

by Charles V. Dery, has been extensively 

renovated and modernized. 

Catherine Del Tondo is the new boxoffice 

clerk at RKO, succeeding Mary Dorsey, resigned 

Martha Guthrie, former 

. 

Grove City theatre owner, who was ill in a 

Meadville hospital, is recuperating in a 

nursing home in Linesville . . . E. M. Stuve, 

retired Paramount representative, extended 

Jim Alexander 

Sam Fineberg \ 

1705 Blvd. of the Allies^.; 

PITTSBURGH 19, PA. l 

Phone ATIantic G158 «' 

Weber

; 

watch 

i 

1 BOXOrnCE 

'' 

ii 

flf 

Plan Benefit Show 

For Injured Athlete 

HARTFORD—A benefit show is slated for 

January 17 at the Bushnell Memorial for 

Stavros Demopoulos, 19-year-old Orlando, 

Fla., athlete who dislocated his spinal column 

on opening play of the Ti'inity-Wesleyan 

freshman football game in Hartford 

November 3. 

Henry L. Needles, district manager for 

Warner Theatres and president of the Hartford 

Theatre Managers Ass'n, is chairman 

of the committee seeking entertainers for 

the benefit performance. Committee members 

are Jim McCarthy, Warner Strand managers: 

Frank Morin, Regal manager; Walter 

B. Lloyd, AUyn; Sam Harris. State: Lou 

Cohen. Loew's Poll: Fred R. Greenway, Palace, 

and George E. Landers, divi-sion manager 

for E. M. Loews Theatres. 

The committee is looking for talented entertainers 

to contribute their services free 

for the injured athlete. Bill Mortensen, managing 

director of the Bushnell Memorial, said 

use of the hall will be given free for the 

show. 

A three-man board of trustees to handle 

the funds raised by the benefit will be set up. 

Cigaret Starts Small Fire 

In Colchester Theatre 

HARTFORD—The first theatre fire in this 

area in a number of years occurred last week 

at the Colchester Theatre, Colchester, when 

a lighted cigaret left on an ash tray set fire 

to papers and records in the office. 

Ted Markoff, one of the brothers operating 

the motion picture house, had left his office 

for a few minutes and returned to find the 

upper hallway full of smoke. He went into 

his office and tossed out a window the burning 

records and a wastebasket full of paper 

which had ignited. A curtain in the window 

also blazed up and Ted ripped it oft, throwing 

it outdoors. Other damage included a 

scorched desk and a hole burned in a rug. 

City Theatre in Brockton 

Sold to Boston Interests 

BROCKTON, MASS.—The Main Street 

Realty Corp., made up of Boston theatre 

Interests, has taken over three parcels of 

land here, one of which includes the City 

Theatre. Sale was made by the City Realty 

Co., owner of the land since 1945. Price is 

rsported near $140,000. 

Morris Pouzzner, Boston exhibitor, will 

operate the house. The new owners plan to 

immediately with extensive renovations 

start 

and alterations on the city. The east wall 

will be extended 25 feet, the interior will 

be completely done over and an entire new 

front on Main street will be erected. 

Warner Employes Guests 

Of Lawrence Managers 

LAWRENCE, MASS.—Employes of the four 

Warner houses here were given a Christmas 

party by the managers. The party began after 

the close of the theatres and continued until 

the small hours of morning. Five cooperating 

managers were: Joseph P. Liss, John H. 

Melincoff. Guido Leminello, Max Silverand 

James McCarthy. About 64 employes 

enjoyed the refreshments and dancing. 

Dover Cashier Dies 

Bay State Solons Offer 

Censor, Antibias Bills 

3.000 Youngsters Attend 

Hartford Mayor's Party 

HARTFORD— Over 3,000 youngsters attendthe 

annual mayor's party at the State Theatre 

December 30. It was the 28th annual 

affair of its kind. The motion pictures, consisting 

of a western, cartoons and comedies, 

were donated by Henry L. Needles, Hartford 

district manager for Warner Theatres. At 

the same time the south end Bottoms Up 

club sponsored a party at the Shulman 

Webster. 

'Bishop's Wife' Bests 

Severe Boston Gale 

BOSTON—A severe stoim the day after 

Christmas cut off suburbanites from building 

up grosses in the tradition after Christmas. 

However, "The Bishop's Wife" at the Astor 

opened to full house over the weekend and 

at the Boston "Captain From Castile" was a 

good draw. At the Kenmore. which played 

"Shoe Shine" first run, a house record for 

attendance and grosses was broken the Sunday 

following Christmas. 

{Average Is 100) 

Astor—The Bishop's Wife (RKO) 200 

Boston—Captain From Castile (20th-Fox), 

plus stage show 130 

Exeter Street—Bush Christmas (U-I); 

Miracle on 34th Street (20lh-Fox), 2nd run .100 

Kenmore—Shoe Shine (Lopert) 200 

Memorial—Magic Town (RKO); High Tide (Mono). 

2nd wk 

90 

Metropolitan—My Wild Irish Rose :. •! 

The Chinese Ring (Mono) 

Paramount and Fenway—Out of the Pa; 

Linda Be Good (EL), moveov.,r 

State and Orpheum-Killer McCoy lMG^ 

.130 

DOVER, N. H—Eleanor M. Dandeneau, 

35, for the last 12 years employed as a cashier 

at the Strand, died December 24. She was -Under Colorado Skies (Rep), plus 

^'J 

a native and lifelong resident of Dover. st! nd—My Wild Irish Rose (WB), 2nd wk 22b 

BOSTON—Bills setting up a state censor 

board and an antidiscrimination code have 

been introduced in the state legislature and 

will soon come up for committee hearings. 

Thomas Scanlan and Jeremiah Brennan of 

Boston and Daniel Sullivan of Lowell have 

Introduced hou.se bill No. 632, calling for establishment 

of a board of censors to consist 

of six members appointed by the governor. 

Of the six members, one would represent 

theatres or night clubs, another the American 

Guild of Variety Artists, a third the theatrical 

booking agents, and the other three 

would be a Roman Catholic priest, a Protestant 

minister and a Jewish rabbi. 

They would have control over motion pictures, 

floor shows, radio programs, stage 

shows and all other types of entertainment 

offered the public. The board would issue 

permits for all entertainments and could 

deny permits for those shows they considered 

immoral or tending to corrupt morals. 

Members would serve terms of one to six 

years, without pay. 

The bill was been assigned to the state 

administrative committee. 

Gabriel F. Piermonte of Boston has introduced 

house bill No. 189 providing for 

penalties for wrongful refusal of admission 

to or ejection from places of public entertainment 

or amusement of any person on 

account of race or religion. It would not 

necessarily nullify the manager's right to 

eject or refuse admission to a person of 

known objectionable habits. 

The bill provides for penalties of $100 to 

$500 fine or imprisonment. 

The committee on legal affairs will have 

jurisdiction on the measure. 

Maurice Wolf Addresses 

Springfield Lions Club 

C,,^ l.r . 

„^ J e„i „„„ SPRINGFIELD—Maurice N. 'Wolf, assistant 

Strong Weekend Salvages ^^ ^ê director of public relations of LoeWs, 

Poor Christmas Week inc., was guest speaker at a recent meeting 

NEW HAVEN—In spite of a record snow- of the Springfield Lions club. He spoke on 

storm, which practically paralyzed travel and "Motion Pictures Are My Business." 

transportation December 26, and a generally wolf said the motion picture industry has 

poor Christmas business, good weekend busi- a total capital investment of $2,750,000,000, 

ness pushed grosses up to respectable levels, of which $132,000,000, or 5.1 per cent, is in- 

"Daisy Kenyon" and "Roses Are Red" moved vested in Hollywood. Out of 200,000 persons 

from the Loew Poll to the College for a sec- engaged in the industry, only 31,000 are in 

ond week. "My Wild Irish Rose" held over Hollywood. A total of 80 per cent of the 

an extra week at the Roger Sherman. Most employes and $2,500,000,000 of the capital 

houses held shows 7 fresh investment can be found in 20,000 theatres 

New Year's eve. 

' 

The College rang up a rec- jn ii,000 cities and towns across the country, 

ord Sunday business for that house. Detail it is a local business, he said, because 65 

for the week ended December 31: per cent of every dollar taken in at the box 

Bijou—Thunder in the Valle;^ i20th-Fox); Two office remains with the theatre for local 

C

. . The 

. . Mildred 

. . The 

. . Eugene 

. . Not 

. . . New 

. . . Muriel 

. . Dorothy 

. . Strand 

. . The 

. . 

. . 

. . . Herbie 

. . The 

. . Harry 

. . New 

. . The 

. . January 

, 

j 

NEW HAVEN 

âve Kramer of Columbia left by car for 

Hot Springs, Va., as his boss, Tim 

O'Toole, returned to his desk from a simny 

Fort Lauderdale vacation . . . Ted Fleischer 

of Interstate made his annual visit to Filmrow 

during the holiday season. Irwin Wheeler 

of Associated Pi-udential Theatres was another 

rare visitor . . . Bill Canelli, RKO 

salesman, spent his time off at home playing 

grandpa. 

. 

Herman Ripps, MGM district manager, is 

back in Albany after several days in New 

Haven . 20th-Fox family was mighty 

pleased with their high "in the money" 

standing in the Andy Smith drive . . Joel 

. 

Levy of Loew's home office made his annual 

New Year's trip to New Haven to 

Ted 

celebrate with the Harry Shaws 

Markoff of the circuit of the 

. . . 

same name 

bagged a deer during a recent hunting trip 

in New Brunswick Jacobson, 

son of Morris, of the Strand Amusement, 

spent his vacation from Ohio Wesleyan in 

Bridgeport . . . Joe Mansfield of Co-6p Advertising 

was in from Boston on "Out of 

the Blue" . Bill Kumlns, Warner Bros, 

salesman 

. 

in 

. 

Boston, visited with his New 

Haven gin rummy friends. 

Billy Sirica of the Lido, Waterbury, was 

sworn in January 1 as city clerk of Waterbury 

. Goldberg of Eagle Lion 

was out with bronchitis . . . Bill Worstell, 

husband of Mary of MGM, was on the sick 

list following an operation . . . Ray Flynn has 

been promoted to chief of staff at the Loew 

Poll, New Haven, following resignation of 

W. Harvey . . . Shirley Brown, wife of Lou 

Brown, Loew Poll publicity chief, was a victim 

of a bad spill on the ice. 

Howard Richardson jr., a senior at Gushing 

academy, Fitchburg, spent his Christmas 

vacation with his parents in Bristol . . . 

Rose Rumanoff Garland, with Universal for 

many years, will leave January 24 to join her 

husband in New York . . . Paul Tolls and 

Paul Purdy of Newington brought gay candy 

canes to the girls along Filmi'ow. 

Bob Kaufmann, 20th-Fox explolteer, speni 

Christmas with his family in New York, and 

Jim VanHorn, salesman, joined the folks in 

Washington, where his familiar jeep will be 

replaced by a new 1947 Ford . . . Charlotte 

Maguigan Zitser, secretary to Harry Shaw, 

spent Christmas with the Zitsers In Lee, 

Mass. 

pilot's license . . . 

Best wishes to John Gendernalic, Paramount 

operator, ill at home. Frank Romano 

replaces him in the booth . content 

with piloting a sailboat, Bill Hutchins of National 

Theatre Supply now boasts an air 

Earl Morin was a holiday 

visitor. 

Rumors are flying that David Willig has 

cleared that space in North Haven next to 

the Log Cabin for a new drive-in, scheduled 

to open in the spring . . . Harry Shaw has 

purchased new gasoline snow plows for the 

theatres . Globe, Bridgeport, has a new 

front. 

Colds continue to lay low Fllmrow people 

here. Sal Popolizio, 20th-Fox booker, is one 

TiWJnTTarVFrn 

CANDY CO. 

62 COMMERCE ST..NEW HAVEN. CONN. 

of the latest to be put out of action . . . 

Morris Mendlesohn, Loew Poll attorney, also 

was confined to bed with the grippe . 

Mrs. Margaret Cross, relief cashier at the 

Strand, Willimantic, is now full-time . . . 

Ed O'Neil, general supervisor of the Markoff 

Theatres, is an ardent fan at games at Holy 

Cross, his alma mater . . . Carin Johns, 

manager of the Strand, Willimantic, was 

recently married. 

Willimantic, is reseating . . . 

, 

. 

. 

Big doings at the Black Rock, Bridgeport, 

where Jack Schwartz is redecorating the 

entire interior under the eye of Bil-Art studios, 

and revamping lobby, installing glass 

front, new doors and frames . Strand, 

The new Astor, 

Bridgeport, now plays second run. It formerly 

was third run . Amusement 

has bought new Crestwood carpet for the 

Rialto, Hippodrome and Strand from National 

Theatre Supply Co. . . Mayfair, 

Bridgeport, plays Polish pictures at 60 cents 

admission every month or so with success 

Haven put on extra trolleys for 

late service from downtown celebration spots 

Silverman Berman, former 20th- 

Foxite, was in from Bridgeport for a visit. 

RKO spent a few days filming the Town 

Hall and a picturesque house in Newtown 

for "Mr. Blanding Builds a Dream House." 

The picture will be released by Selznick 

Congratulations to the Leo Bonoffs, whose 

daughter Rhoda was married to Roger Clifford 

Lehman of New Haven December 28 at 

New Haven Medical Ass'n Bldg. The pair 

are honeymooning in Bermuda . . Congratulations 

also to Freda Svirsky. active in 

New Haven entertainment and radio, who 

won a television set in a contest sponsored 

by St. Joseph's church, Bronx. 

Loew Poli Manager Morris Rosenthal and 

staff are out for the national prize on "Good 

News." They had special displays at Temple 

Music and other central windows and special 

radio tieups. The girl who fainted in the 

theatre and got a Register story was a plant. 

FALL RIVER 

JJobert Zeitz, brother of Manager Carl Zeitz 

of the Academy and a student at the University 

of Georgia, was the guest of Carl and 

of his parents in New Bedford during the 

holidays . Lapointe has resigned 

from the Academy staff . . . The Academy 

is planning an elaborate promotion campaign 

for the world premiere of "A Woman's 

Vengeance." 

Stormy weather, coupled with holiday activities, 

cut down theatre attendance during 

Christmas and New Year's weeks. Snow and 

ice-covered highways kept the large suburban 

attendance, especially at night, at a low ebb 

during the two-week period. Minor improvement 

was noticed last week. 

"Quail Pointers," a short starring Ariel 

Chief, Ariel Belle and Lexington Comet, 

pointers owned by Mrs. Hazel Robertshaw, 

Durfee cashier, and trained by her husband 

Walter, was shown for one week recently 

at the Durfee. The RKO release was mê 

at the Sandy Hollow game preserve in Galesferry, 

Conn. . . . Anthony Rapoza, an employe 

of the Strand, recently lost some 

clothing and a pen and pencil set to a thief 

who forced his way into a closet of the 

theatre. 

Beautification of the Capitol, a Yamins 

house, is under way. The organ loft has been 

removed and new decorations are being applied 

to walls and ceilings . . . The Academy 

staff has extended its condolences to projectionist 

James Cobm-n on the recent death 

of his sister . . . Sheila Williams of New 

York was the holiday guest of Manager and 

Mrs. Carl Zeitz of the Academy. 

HARTFORD 

Irene Moquin, the Palace cashier, is out of 

the hospital . . . Tom Carey of Carey Theatrical 

Promotions was in Brattleboro, 'Vt., 

on a theatre kiddy show deal . . . Erwin 

Needles, son of the Warner district mani 

ager, has been promoted from radio director 

j 

to account executive at Gross advertising 

| 

agency here. 

Al Lessow of the Ralace stopped off In 

Waterbury to say hello to Ed Fitzpatrick ot 

the Poli and Paul Klinger of the Strand . . . 

Jerry Blumenthal has joined the staff of 

downtown vaudefilmer, the State, as an assistant 

to Ted Harris . Strand ushers 

are Robert Nyborg, Tony Cassanti, Ken Galipo 

and Frank Punt . new Hartford 

directory shows the area has 308.000 residents 

. . . Lou Cohen broke into the Courant 

with a front page magazine section spread 

. . . Frank Ramsey dropped the Warner 

district office a note from Los Angeles. 

Dean Barrett will leave this month for 

San Francisco. The former Rialto manager 

has been east on a visit . . . Russ Blake, Poli 

projectionist, is noting his 27th year at the 

house . . . Will Graff, former Hartford newsman, 

recently finished a role in U-I's "Another 

Part of the Forest." 

Dick Cyr is a new usher, replacing Joe 

Cusito at the Palace. New Britain . . . The 

annual intertheatre party of the Strand and 

Embassy, Warner houses in New Britain, 

was to be held January 9 on the Embas.sys 

mezzanine floor, with Joe Miklos of Embas.sy 

. . and Joe Borenstein in charge Russell 

Sykes is a new Embassy usher, 

. 

replacing 

Ed Minnie . Music Box, New Britain, 

started a new dish deal January 7, Frank 

Smulski, partner, announced. 

The candy section of the New Britain 

Palace has been redecorated 

K. Richardson jr., son of 

. 

the 

. . Howard 

State, New 

Britain, manager-booker, has returned tu 

Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Ma.s.s ,. 

following a vacation in Connecticut. H. K. si 

drove his son back up north. 

Theatremen report a steady rise in candy 

prices. Very few independent locations in 

this area are still getting five cents for bars, 

the majority charging six and seven cent.s 

Quick, son of the Carberry, Bristol, 

projectionist, has gone to work for Soutliern 

New England Telephone Co. . . , Election j 

of officers of Local 301, lATSE, will be held j 

in February . Grischuk of Local j 

301 has been running 16mm films at a New 

Britain housing project Friday nights, under 

sponsorship of New Britain park department. 

Frank Smulski and his brother-in-law 

Jachimowski, partners in the Music Box, 

L. 

New Britain, are doing their own buying 

and booking for the 850-seater . . John 

. 

D'Amato of the New Britain Palace vacationed 

around home . 5 is starting 

date for extensive lobby renovations u 

the Strand in Thompsonville, according to 

Sperie Perakos of Perakos Theatres. 

The four Perakos theatres, the Eastwood, 

East Hartford: Palace, New Britain; State, i 

Jewett City, and Strand, Thompsonville, prej 

sented New Year's eve matinees for young- I 

sters. They featui-ed a western, cartoons and 

| 

comedies during the day. switching at night 

to New Year's eve shows for adults. 

William Dozicr, associate producer for U-I, 

and his wife, actress Joan Fontaine, spent 

the holidays in nearby Suffield. They were 

slated to leave New Year's day for Los 

New series of stage attractions 

Angeles . . . 

featuring Al Monty, former Connecticut 

theatre manager, will start at the Merldt-n 

Loew's Poli January 24. Monty recently concluded 

an 11-week stay at the same house. 


. . Manager 

^ 

35 Theatres Ordered 

To Remove Hazards 

HARTFORD—Orders for abatement of 

hazardous and poor housekeeping conditions 

were issued to 35 theatres as the result of 

Inspections made during November by the 

state police department, according to Herman 

M. Levy, executive secretary of the 

Motion Picture Tlieatre Owners of Connecticut. 

State police inspected 325 theatres of which 

176 were class A, 101 class B and 48 class C. 

Six theatres were found to have fire extinguishers 

which had not been refilled 

within a year; six were found with torn and 

hazardous carpeting, 15 with loose ajid faulty 

seats, four with entrance and exit doors 

which did not open properly, seven with 

courtways which were obstructed or in hazardous 

condition, two with defective electrical 

outlets, seven with poor housekeeping conditions 

in the projection room, 12 with poor 

housekeeping conditions in the boiler room 

and one with poor housekeeping in general. 

PORTLAND 

Diehard Gorrle, projectionist at the Star, is 

expected back .soon after an extensive illness 

. . . LawTence Therriault of the service 

staff is also on the mend, following an attack 

of flu . . . Barbara Sawyer, Maine Theatre, 

is ill. 

Manager Frank Clements is back at the 

Capitol after matiaging the Strand in New- 

Bedford, Mass., for a month and the Civic 

in Portsmouth, N. H., for two weeks. Donald 

Jalotta filled in while Clements was away. 

Clements attended the Christmas party in 

the E. M. Loew office, Boston, at which 

bonuses were distributed. 

Manager Frank Stone of the Portland started 

the new year with a dish deal. The beverage 

set will be continued on Wednesday 

. . . High school boys in appropriately marked, 

collegiate looking slickers roamed the streets 

during holidays announcing the opening of 

"Good News" at the State. Plugs were made 

over WCSH's Swing Circle and WGAN's 560 

club. Autographed albums of June Allyson 

and Peter Lawford recordings were distributed 

. . . The Stat€ entertained several 

hundred children from orphanages at a 

Christmas party. Lionel electric trains were 

given aw-ay and there was a special program 

by the Three Arts dance studio. Manager 

Ralph L. Tully reports that hohday business 

shows an increase over this time last year. 

Dana Nevers, assistant to Ai'thur Goldstein 

at the Strand, was ill with the flu . . . 

•Body and Soul" at the Strand, "Captain 

From Castile" at the Empire, and "Road to 

Rio" at the State were midnight specials 

. . . The Strand's Hunt room has a new 

floor. 

Latchis Fetes Children 

BRATTLEBORO, VT. — More than 1,000 

Brattleboro children were guests at the annual 

free Christmas party held at the Latchis 

Theatre here. A two-hour motion picture program 

was topped off with gifts of candy to 

all children. The program was sponsored by 

Spero D. Latchis, owner of the theatre. 

Merchants Plan Show 

HARTFORD—Merchants will sponsor a 

show for imderprivileged children at the 

Loew's Poll January 17, Manager Lou Cohen 

reports. Harry Foster Welch, portraying 

Popeye, will in the proceedings. 

.star 

WATERBURY 

T eavenworth high school's city championship 

football team was honored at a theatre 

party in the Tower during the run of "The 

Spirit of West Point." The film was further 

promoted through a tiein with the army recruiting 

station, which had large displays in 

the lobby of the Tower and In a nearby store, 

and which played the beams of au-plane 

searchlights through the sky. John Cluney, 

WBRY sports commentator, was master of 

ceremonies at the party for the boys, and 

J. Fi-ancis Boland, director of sports for the 

Waterbury high schools, presented the Harry 

Michael's trophy to the .squad. 

The Park in Thomaston and merchants of 

the town sponsored a Christmas party for 

children at the theatre. Goldie's orchestra 

entertained between films. A member of the 

orchestra, dressed as Santa Claus, dispensed 

candy to all present. The Park was gaily 

decorated for the holiday . . . Projectionist 

and wife Leo Ryan .spent a week in New 

Vork recently, staying with relatives in 

Brooklyn . Bob Schwartz announces 

that the Park has signed a contract 

for RCA .sound maintenance service. 

Bill Sirica, manager of the Lido, reports 

that new seats are being installed in the 

balcony of his house. 

To Four Changes a Week 

HARTFORD— Frank Smulski, partner in 

the Music Box Theatre, New Britain, reported 

last week that the 800-seat film house 

has gone on a four changes per week policy, 

with new product on Sunday, Monday, 

Wednesday and Friday. 

"o ivUCENSE 

VJt*^^6t PROUD- 

BOXOFTICE :: January 10, 1948 77

. . . Joan 

. . Cash 

. . The 

. . Fay 

. . 

. . . Sam 

. . . The 

. . . The 

. . Manager 

. . Edward 

. . Sunday 

. . 

. . 

J 

BOSTON 

Manager Bill Horan, Warners, his wife 

and daughter Patricia left the day after 

Christmas for a vacation in New Orleans, 

where they took in the Sugar Bowl football 

MoykdeAf POPCORN 

MACHINES 

Fops \oT all showmen! 

Ask the theatre that has one! 

SAM 

HORENSTEIN 

Genuine Manley Supplies 

Offlc. and Showroom . . US Church Si 

"cock 6-7419 

B--'- 

"RUST TULIP' 

* BOX OFFICE BAIT! 

* AUDIENCE ATTRACTION! 

* PROHT PLENTY! 

. 

game on New Year's day. They were expected 

to return this week Shenberg 

of the 20th-Fox office announced her 

engagement to Morton Lieberman of Newton. 

gernard Stewart, manager of B&Q's Astor 

Lieberman is associated with his brother 

Fred in ownership of the newly decorated 

Theatre, was injured in a taxi accident 

while being driven to work. The car skidded, Astor Theatre, operated by the 

curb and careened the 

B&Q circuit. 

hit a across street 

Fay 

is resigning her position at Fox 

to the other side. Stewart received a nasty 

gash across his head and a hemorrhage of 

some time in January and an early wedding 

is planned. The couple will make their home 

the right eye when he was pushed against 

in Newton Centre where they have purchased 

the meter. He was allowed to go home after 

treatment at a local doctor's office. 

a new home. She is a niece of Louis B. 

Mayer, MGM production head. 

A private showing of "Gentleman's Agreement" 

was given by 20th-Fox at the Esquire 

Theatre December 29 for over 900 guests 

representing 25 civic organizations, state and 

city officials, Charles Luckman of Lever 

Bros.; former Mayor John Hynes and other 

prominent citizens. The picture was received 

enthusiastically by a crowd which turned 

out in spite of the coldest night of the 

year. Boston will be the sixth city to view 

"Gentleman's Agreement," where it will play 

the Keith-Memorial Theatre following the 

run of "Tycoon." 

Joe Mansfieldo EL publicist, is in the midst 

of the campaign on "T-Men" which 

opens at the Paramount and Fenway January 

15. He is arranging for special showings 

for local heads of the Treasury department 

Gunn, Stanley Farrington's secretary 

at Republic, has announced her engagement 

to Henry Doyle of Cambridge . 

Jerry Govan of M&P Theatres is in the Beth 

Israel hospital recuperating from an emergency 

appendectomy. 

NEWHAMPSHIRE 

Manchester theatres heralded the approach 

of 1948 with midnight shows. At 

Strand, "My Wild Irish Rose" was on 

the 

the screen and all seats were 85 cents. The 

State had a special stage revue. "Cheyenne" 

and "Hard-Boiled Mahoney" were at the 

Empire. A big four-day vaudeville program 

headlining Paul Gray, latest singing discovery 

of 20th-Fox, started New 'Year's day at 

the Palace. The Rex had two New Year's 

eve shows with admission boosted to $1.25. 

In Concord, the Capitol had a midnight show 

featuring RKO vaudeville and a first run 

picture. 

Eleanor Dandeneau, 35, cashiei at the 

Strand in Dover for the last 12 years, died 

in Wentworth hospital after a short illness. 

Fellow employes attended the funeral at St. 

Jo.'êph's church . Scenic in Rochester 

was used December 30 for the awarding of 

.sweaters and gold footballs to lettermen 

of the gridiron team at Spaulding high school. 

The ceremony was held between the first and 

second shows . nights are a Tuesday 

attraction at the Star in Newmarket. 

WORCESTER 

n bout 50 employes of the E. M. Loew theatres 

here enjoyed a holiday party at 

Eien Gardens, in charge of the four 

the 

managers: Phil Loew of the Family, Nate 

Goldberg of the Plymouth, Herb Asher of 

the Olympia and Lawson Daniels of the 

Royal ... Ed Kelleher is back on the job 

at Loew's Poll after convalescing from an 

operation. 

Joseph IVIathieu, owner of the Capitol In 

Winchendon, gave the yoimgsters of the town 

a treat with a free morning performance . 

The Cummings in Fitchburg presented free 

candy to children . Selette is the 

new manager of the Modern in Marlboro . 

Vaughn Monroe's orchestra, headlining a 

show at the Auditorium, drew a fair crowd. 

Bob Portle, manager of the Elm Street. 

reports an amusing incident backstage. Wluii 

Pansy the Horse arrived for a stage show 

the two men who comprise the "animal" 

found an employe had arranged a stall and 

oats . John Matthews of the 

Warner held over "My Wild Irish Rose." 

An article appeared in the Sunday Telegram 

in which Harold Maloney, manauei 

of Loew's Poll, discussed how a manager can 

guess how the week's business is going to 

be from the type of audience that attends 

Danny 

the first day's performances . . . 

Duggan h?s discovered that his home at 27 

William St. is the oldest on the street. 

The Modern in Marlboro has started giveaways 

of record players and recordings each 

week ... An automobile operated by Jack 

Hauser, stage manager of Loew's Poll, struck 

a 17-year-old girl, causing right leg injuries 

Wasserman booked Charlotte Greenwood 

in "I Remember Mama" for the Auditorium 

February 13. 

Don Fagerquist, formerly of the Plymouth, 

has rejoined Gene Krupa's orche.stra on toui 

Rialto was among the members of 

the Millbury Street Merchants Ass'n that 

formally opposed making the street one way 

Prospect in Whitinsville now is being 

booked by Affiliated Theatres Corp. 

Raymond Mangaudis, manager of the 

Champ in Spencer, cooperated with several 

of the town's civic groups in arranging a 

series of Saturday afternoon shows designed 

especially for children afternoon 

and night 

. 

vaudeville shows are returning 

to the Auditorium, with Duke Ellington's 

band headhning the first and Ray 

Eberle's orchestra and Ella Fitzgerald, the 

second. 

Theatres of the city struggled through the 

second severe snowstorm within a week, with 

most houses reporting only a handful of customers. 

Curiously, Manager Leo Lajoie of 

the Capitol said he had a good-sized attendance, 

mostly men, at the height of the 

storm, although twice he announced from 

the stage the severity of the snowfall. 

Stocked With All 

Necessary Repair 

and Replacement 

Parts for Any 

Sound System. 

dn^ 

Now 

with 

Expanding 

Additional 

personnel to cover 

a Larger Service 

Area. 

from 

CAMEO SCREEN ATTRACTIONS, INC. 

50 Melrose St. Boston, Mass. 

Samuel J. Davidson. Pres. 

"Ash any 

exhibitor using 

our service" 

HAROLD DAVroSON 

Businn 16. Massachusetts 

Many theatres 

under our 

maintenance 

BOXOFFICE ;: January 10,

• -n 

Jefferson Co. Increases Charles Freeman Replaces Guthrie 

Use of Radio Time 

DALLAS— Jefferson Amusement Co. is increasing 

its radio time in all of its more im- 

As Dough Guy of Oklahoma Variety 

portant situations since that medium of promotion 

is really getting the job done, said 

a spokesman in that organization. It has 

become a necessary thing, now that pictures 

must actually be sold to potential customers, 

and radio has proved to be a most versatile 

way to do it, he said. 

One day last week this reporter was fumbling 

witli his radio and ran into some talk 

aboiit Danny Kay and "The Secret Life of 

Walter Mitty." The radio man told bits of 

Danny's private life and film career and 

described some of the highlights in the picture. 

This writer thought that people listening 

would want to see the picture from these 

suggestions, if they hadn't already made up 

their minds to see it. The announcer said it 

was station KG\rL in Greenville and that the 

picture was playing in Sullivan & Moore's 

Texas Theatre there. This is a partnership 

affiliate of the Jefferson circuit. 

There was music both from the picture and 

numbers by popular recording artists. The 

local announcer's time in talking about the 

management and current attractions in the 

three local theatres was, in this reporter's 

opinion, very compelling. The program was 

called Movie Revue by Sullivan & Moore 

Theatres, and for the most part was made up 

of the RKO transcription designed solely for 

local radio time. 

Except for Interstate circuit in the four 

key cities, Texas theatres have been slow in 

developing their radio advertising. 'With newstations 

springing up all over the state i:-- 

towTis from 8,000 up, it is probable that this 

medium will be more widely used within 

coming months. 

Rowley. Griffith and Brown 

Buy Texas Radio Station 

DALLAS—Further evidence that theatre 

interests in this state are branching out into 

radio is contained in a news dispatch from 

Wichita Falls reporting that the FCC has 

approved sale of radio station KWFT and 

its affiliate FM station to Kenyon Brown of 

Wichita Falls, E. H. Rowley of Dallas and 

H. J. Griffith of Dallas and Los Angeles. 

Purchase price was $690,000. Wichita Broadcasters 

are assigning their licenses over to 

KWFT, Inc., which is being organized by the 

three new owners. Rowley is president of 

Robb & Rowley-United Theatres, Griffith is 

president of Theatre Enterprises, and Brown 

is a Wichita Falls businessman. 

Chas. Weisenburg Begins 

Drive-In Near Amarillo 

AMARILLO—Charles WeLsenburg of Dallas 

has started construction of a new drivein 

theatre several miles from the city on the 

Canyon highway. The cost will be $75,000. 

He owns and operates the Gay and Grand 

in Tulia in the Texas panhandle and the 

Sylvia in Seagoville, 20 miles southeast of 

Dallas. He is a son-in-law of Hollis Boren 

of the Palace, Ritz and Texas theatres in 

Memphis. 

Father of Ed Greggs Dies 

WALNUT RIDGE, ARK.—Funeral services 

were held here December 21 for W. C. Greggs, 

67, father of Eddie Greggs of Republic Plc- 

'ures exchange, Oklahoma City. Greggs had 

ill for many years. Also surviving him 

a half-brother, Sam Brunk, Paramount 

alesman. Mr. and Mrs. Brunk and Ed Greggs 

attended the .services. 

January 10 1948 

Marines Occupy Loew's 

During Run of 'Diary' 

HOUSTON—The marines took over Loew's 

State for the run of "Guadalcanal Diary," 

the motion picture tribute to the marine':; 

Lieut. Charles Levy and Homer Me- 

Callon, standing in front of Loew's State, 

Houston. 

first engagement in World War II. Homer 

McCallon is manager of the State. 

Shown with "The Purple Heart," another 

patriotic picture, "Diary," brought back 

by request, was one of the highlights 

in the recruiting drive for 1,000 Houston men 

for the 14th infantry battalion. Marine Corps 

Reserves. 

A color guard of marines was on duty tmtil 

the last show of the week, and two 12-inch 

signal blinkers in front of Loew's were 

flashed after dark to attract attention to 

the theatre. Also out in front was a display 

of Japanese trophies taken at Guadalcanal, 

including sabers, rifles, bayonets, canteens, 

helmets, caps and antiaircraft shells. Another 

display inside the lobby included photostatic 

copies of the Japanese surrender signed 

on the Missouri Sept. 2, 1945 and an imposing 

array of machine guns, mortars and 

a bazooka used by the battalion. The walls 

were covered with pictures commemorating 

various campaigns of the marines. 

Also present and almost stealing the show 

was an English bulldog, mascot of the 14th 

battalion. 

C. V. Schmidt, Bud Waldron 

Buy Texas Theatres 

DALLAS—C. 'V. Schmidt has purchased the 

Cedar in Cedar Hill from Bill Shaw. 

Bud Waldron of Oklahoma has purchased 

the Elk in Italy from Ted Waggoner. 

Both deals were handled by Joe Joseph, 

local theatre broker. 

Rebuild in Brownsville 

BROWNSVILLE, TEX.—Dismantling of 

the Rio here is under way. The first building 

erected in the valley specifically for a 

theatre, the Rio will be completely rebuilt. 

According to a spokesman for the Leon circuit, 

owners of the Rio, only the walls of 

the old building will be used. The new theatre 

will be completed early in the spring 

and will be renamed the Grande. 

sw 

OKLAHOMA CITY—C. R. Guthrie, who 

recently was re-elected dough guy of the 

Variety Club, resigned from that office because 

he "lacked the time to devote to the 

office." At a meeting January 1 the board 

of directors accepted his resignation and 

elected in his place Charles Freeman, general 

manager of the Criterion and Regal 

Theatre circuit. Freeman also replaces Guthrie 

on the board. 

Preliminary plans were made at the meeting 

for a $10,000 fimd-raising campaign for 

the heart fund. The campaign will include 

the giveaway of a popcorn machine donated 

by P. A. "Bob" Warner, Manley company 

manager in Dallas. 

Associate memberships were granted to 19 

men by the board, and honorary memberships 

were given to former Gov. Robert S. 

Keir and Gov. Roy J. Turner. Carl Scott 

Screen Guild and Donald Goerke, Canton 

uf 

exhibitor, became full members. 

New associate members include ten projectionists, 

none of whom will pay dues, who 

woik the screenings put on by the club for 

shutins at hospitals, orphanages and other 

The ten are Hy Berling, Charles 

institutions. 

Hall, Everett Mahaney, Gordon Wortham, 

Haiold Wortham and Howard Wortham, all 

of Oklahoma City, and W. H. Bassett, H. H. 

Hinze, C. A. Burton and J. W. Murphy, all 

of Tulsa. Howard Wortham is chairman of 

the screening committee. 

Other new associate members are Saul 

Davis. Frank Fonvielle, L. W. Kolfoy, D. H. 

Rowland and Dudley Taylor, all of Oklahoma 

City: Bill Likins of the Flying L ranch 

near Davis: Neal Sullivan. Newkirk; Ray 

Fellows, Tulsa, and J. F. Inglis, New York. 

A picture of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, 

who were married January 1 at Likins' ranch 

and who have been frequent visitors to the 

club here, will be added to Variety's art 

gallery. H. R. Falls, chief barker, took the 

to couple the Variety Club Health Center 

last Sunday and had them photographed 

standing in front of the building. This photo 

will be hung in the club rooms, along with 

pictures of other stars who have visited 

the club. 

Falls was host to Rogers and Miss Evans 

at the club Saturday night, and Sunday, 

after church services, they were taken to 

the 20th-Fox screening room by Dave Hunt, 

Republic branch manager, for screenings of 

"SUppy McGee," Miss Evans' new starring 

picture, and "The Gay Ranchero," Rogers' 

new film. 

Variety Club Officers 

Installed at Dallas 

DALLAS—Officers and dii-ectors for 1948 

of the Variety Club of Texas were inducted 

Monday night in the clubrooms by William 

McCraw, Variety International executive director. 

The new officers: Juhus Schepps, 

chief barker: Fred Hoenscheidt, first assistant: 

P. E. Wilson, second assistant: Harold 

Schwarz, dough guy: Duke Clark, property 

master, and Buddy Harris, Sam Landrum, 

John Rowley, Phil Longdon, Heywood Simmons 

and John Paul Goodwin, members of 

the crew. 

All except two served on the board during 

the past year. Schepps is co-owner of the 

Dallas baseball club and a leading business 

figure. Eight others are well known local 

film and theatre men. Simmons. Paramount 

manager is a director for the first time. 

Goodwin is president of the Steele advertising 

agency in Houston. He recently was elected 

chief of barker the Houston tent and automatically 

becomes a director of the parent 

organization. 

79

d 

Variefy Tenfs Add to Philanthropies SHREVEPORT 

Two Variety Club tents presented substantial 

checks to philanthropic causes in 

the south in recent weeks. In the left 

photo George Hoover, surrounded by the 

beaming faces of youngsters of the National 

Children's Cardiac Home in Miami, 

hands over a check for S10,700 to Dick 

Berenson of the home. Hoover, general 

manager of Paramount Enterprises, Miami, 

and chief barker of the Variety Club 

there, was accompanied by Dick Sachsel, 

second assistant chief barker. The check 

represented the money raised at the Miami 

premiere of "Variety Girl." The cardiac 

home is Tent 33's current philanthropy. 

The other photo depicts the presentation 

of a total of $100,000 to the Southwestern 

Medical Foundation in Dallas. 

Tom C. Gooch, left, publisher of the 

Daily Times-Herald and Texas chairman 

of the Damon Runyon Cancer Fund, Inc., 

hands Dr. E. H. Cary, second from left, 

president of the Southwestern Medical 

Foundation, a copy of the 850,000 check 

from the fund. Simultaneously Julius 

Schepps, chief barker of the Variety Club 

of Texas, handed Cary an agreement 

that his club would match the Runyon 

check. R. J. O'Donnell, vice-president 

and general manager of Interstate circuit, 

who was instrumental in getting 

Walter Winchell, originator of the Runyon 

fund interested in local cancer research 

efforts, 

looks on. 

r* J. Hubley, former manager of the Dixie in 

Ruston. where he was prominently connected 

with the junior chamber of commerce, 

and was a former president of the Lions club, 

is now connected with the Broadmoor Theatre 

in the Broadmoor section of this city. 

Hubley was connected with the Dixie Amusement 

circuit for about 15 years . . . Eddie 

Tiffin resigned his position as manager of 

the Don Theatre January 1 and is now associated 

with the Equitable Life Assurance 

Co. Tiffin was manager of the Don in Alexandria 

at the outbreak of the war. After 

service overseas until 1945, he again became 

manager of the Don in Alexandria and held 

this post until 1947. He was made manager of 

the Don here when it was opened last June. 

Don Iverson, a visitor from Michigan, 

thought he was back home when he looked 

up and saw the Don Theatre sign here. He 

lost no time in making his acquaintance with 

officials of the Don and was escorted throu-h 

the playhouse by Eddie Tiffin, manam i 

Iverson said that he operated a Don Thcune 

in Michigan and was very much impres-. 

with the local house . . . Mrs. Hilda T;iH. 

manager of the Strand, was one of nine \v

( 

»rci^ 

' 

to honor the Southwest's own'stirring epic in / » I* 

, 

'.^ 

Albuquerque ///... February 2 

Houston ///• l^sbruary 4 

San Antonio /• 

• • February 5 

Dallas /•• February 6 

Fort Wortb ....//. February 7 

And 50 More D^tes in the Southwest 

(More News Next Uêek!) 

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. on 

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. . . The 

NEW ORLEANS 

January 2, the first wurk day in 1948, found 

the film colony back to normalcy after 

the holiday tempo, which was chmaxed by 

the Sugar Bowl football game New Year's 

day. Many people connected with the trade 

poured in by plane, automobile and train. 

Out of the seething crowd stepped Keene 

Duncan, who in past years was a western 

villain" but who is now a hero in his own 

western series under the banner of Universal. 

Besides taking in the game, he appeared on 

the stage at the Strand Theatre Wednesday. 

Others we got sight of were M. J. Colquhoun, 

district manager of Republic from Dallas; 

Dick Owens, publicity director of Eagle Lion; 

Leonard Shaw, branch manager of Eagle 

Lion in Memphis; E. L. O'Neal, former U-I 

manager here, now of Atlanta; Babe Cohen, 

branch manager of Monogram Southern, Atlanta; 

and from among the exhibitors, Mr. 

and Mrs. Bill Jenkins of the Paige circuit, 

DeRidder, La.; Fox Johnson, Pollack, La.; 

P, E. Morris. Indianola, Miss.; C. H. and C. 

B. King, Mobile, Ala.; Max Connett (his 

Honor, the Mayor i Newton, Miss.; Abe 

Barrenson, Tower and Hollywood theatres, 

J. Gretna, La.; C. Keller. Eunice, La.; Nick 

Lamantia, Bogalousa, La.; Al Morgan of the 

McLyndon circuit. Union Springs, Ala.; J. 

O'Quinn of Kaplan, La.; and R. W. Goodman, 

RCA engineer from Lake Charles, La. 

Freddie Goodrow jr. returned to Lafayette, 

La., where h.^ is attending Southwestern university, 

after spending the holidays with his 

family . . . Miss Molzon, whose father operates 

theatres in Labadievllle, La., and Norco, La., 

and Neal Robinson, who operates theatres in 

Pensacola and Crestview, Fla., were callers 

Filmrow. 

John Lester, in his column "Lagniappe," 

says that the Joy Theatre marquee on Canal 

street is the largest of its kind in the south 

Goodman. Atlanta. Paramount 

News photographer, and Theador Saizis, 

Birmingham, Pathe News photographer, 

covered the Sugar Bowl game. 

Harold Blanchard, manager of the Joy Theatre 

in Napoleonville, La., accompanied by 

his daughter Barbara and son Donald, paid 

a visit to H. J. Bellam of the Altec Theatre 

Service . . . Mr. and Mi-s. P. J. Eichhorn and 

baby daughter Nola of Richmond, Va., are 

visiting Mrs. Eichhorn's parents the Schaeffers 

of Schaeffer Film Delivery Service . . . 

G. Y. Yarrell of the Manley popcorn company 

returned home for the holidays. 

Sam Stockton of Memphis, one of the 

veterans of the film industry, now retired, 

is back for his annual visit with his cronies 

Lee Hong Theatre in Louisa. M\ss.. 

has been closed . . . Joe Bluestone, formi-rly 

with Universal, is now with Eagle Lion as 

Mississippi representative. 

Pre-New Year's visitors on the Row were 

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Levy. Thibodaux, La.; 

Milton Guidry, Lafayette, La.; John -Waterall, 

Mount Vernon, Ala. . . . Lillie Mae 

Blanchet of Dixie Films spent New Year's 

day in Mobile, visiting relatives . . . Willis 

Houck of the Joy Theatre circuit entertained 

a group of friends from Magnolia, Ark., at 

Mike and Mary's on New Year's eve. 

Mr. and Mrs. Gaston Dureau returned from 

a two-week sojourn in Central and South 

America. Gaston is sporting a beautiful tan 

. . . Visitors a fortnight ago and with little 

fanfare were Mr. and Mrs. Bert Wheeler. 

He is the comic of stage and screen. They 

were here for a rest. 

THEATRE SEAT INSTALLATION 

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Johnnie Boutwell 

Temple. Toxaa 

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K^ Wcarner 

(Divisional Manager) 

302 S. Harwood St. Dallas, Texas Central 7536 

BOXOFHCE :: January 10, 1948 

Jmihs&Ddurg! 

ASIOR WCTURK COMPANY 

J^^X^. 

SH

DALLAS 

JJichard White, son of Forrest White, owner 

of Ind-Ex Booking Service, has gone to 

work in that office. He is a 1947 aeronautical 

engineering graduate of A&M college and 

worked here briefly for a construction firm. 

Richard now believes showbusiness will be 

his life work. He is father of a 3-monthold 

baby girl. 

This correspondent went the other day to 

see Chick Turner, who has been ill at his 

REMODELINGDECORATING 

LUPE ROMERO 

tza LcRaT*n« DALLAS 4, TEX. 


Your Deal Handled Personally 



Arthur Leak 


3422 Kinmore Dallas IQ, Texas 

Phone 13-2026 

IVesterns-Features-Serials 

Tower Pictures Co 

HAROLD SCHWAKZ 

3021/1 S. Haiwood St. 

DALLAS I, TEXAS 

home for a couple of years, and found him 

wisecracking and in the same good humor 

he has had all his life. Chick was booker for 

the Jack Adams film exchange for several 

years before he was stricken. His home is at 

6024 Palo Pinto Street in east Dallas. He 

sends his regards to his many friends and 

would like to see more of them. 

P. K. Johnston, head of the Interstate circuit 

booking department, spent the holidays 

in Boston and New Haven with his son and 

grandson. P. K. jr. is a student at Yale. The 

father makes this trip about twice a year to 

rest up from his heavy schedule and to get 

some relief from a neuritic condition in his 

right arm . . . Mj-s. Ruth Likens, owner and 

operator of the Broadway Theatre in Abilene, 

drove in for a quick booking trip. She 

operated the Grand while the war was going 

on but dismantled that house last year. 

C. M. Anding of the Haltom Theatre at 

Haltom City, on the northeastern outskirts 

of Fort Worth, was here to book and pick up 

supplies. He said business was off but not 

any worse with him than it has been with 

others in his section of the state. 

William "BlU" Mick, salesman for National 

Screen Service, had to forego his trip to 

Arizona for a few days because of an accident. 

He was going down the steps at NSS when he 

slipped and fell into the front plate glass 

window, shattering it and cutting his arm in 

several places. Doctors at Dallas Medical 

and Surgical clinic fixed him up. Mick has a 

mild form of arthritis on account of which 

he spends part time in Tucson. 

P. V. "Posey" Williams, longtime owner 

and operator of the Roxy Theatre in Munday, 

took a well earned 

v e c a ti o n recently, 

dividing time on 

ground and in the air, 

the best time he has 

had in his life, he says. 

His son Jack is now a 

major in the army air 

corps, but at that time 

was flying Howard 

Hughes' jet plane, the 

XF-11, around Los 

Angeles. Posey watched 

Jack cruise along in 

it at 400 mph. Just 

as all exhibitors like to 

P. V. WiUiams 

see stage shows in 

another theatre, Posey saw the Sophie Tucker 

and Ken Mun-ay shows, went to Earl Carroll's 

and saw some good football games. He 

went to Los Angeles with Jack in a plane but 

returned home in Jack's car. He stopped at 

Griffith's Last Frontier hotel in Las Vegas 

but didn't win. He visited his old friend, 

Burt King, former Texas showman who is 

running a mot^l there, and he visited the 

Flamingo, which he said was quite a showplace. 

Posey recently opened a second theatre, 

the Roy, which does fair when he runs 

Mexican pictures. He rigged up some equipment 

from Herber Bros, and got the house 

going for roving agricultural workers who 

come from the southwest and Mexico. 

Variety Club's New Year's party was packed 

with more than 500 revelers. Coaches Bob 

Higgins of the Penn State eleven and Matty 

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BOXOFTICE :: January 10,

. . Audie 

. . 

Bell of the Mustangs made their hopeful 

predictions to the crowd and over the radio 

about the Cotton bowl outcome. Gov. James 

H. Duff of Pennsylvania and Lieut Gov. Allen 

Shivers of Texas exchanged diplomatic 

greetings on behalf of their respective states 

and both recognized the value of humanity 

of the Variety International. Chief Barker 

William O'Donnell enumerated the various 

forms of charity the club practiced during the 

year and gave an outline of next year's expanded 

program. Ray Beall was in charge of 

most arrangements. Raymond Willie looked 

after the decorations, booking of Blue Barron's 

band and the floor show and Louis 

Charninsky was head doorman. 

Dorothy Malone and Martha Hyer. Warner 

and RKO starlets, were here from the 

coast spending Christmas with their parents, 

and saw each other at various social functions. 

Both went to SMU . Murphy and 

Wanda Hendrix, who were here for the holidays 

festivities, are back in Hollywood working 

at separate studios in new pictiu-es. Their 

engagement to be married was made known 

here, friends said. 

Interstate circuit announced exclusive 

showing of the Highland Park-Brackenridge 

state championship football picture in the 

downtown Majestic and in the neighborhood 

Village, Lakewood, Esquire, Wilshire. Varsity 

und Inwood theatres. 

EL 

PASO 

TSomance and Revenge," a Syrian language 

picture, played at the Yandell Theatre 

and the house was a sellout at $1.50 a seat. 

Many of the local Syrian colony have never 

seen an American picture. E. M. Garrett, 

manager, said foreign language films may 

become regular features at the Yandell . 

Tom Kirk, district manager of Republic Pictures, 

flew in from Dallas to join Mr. and 

Mrs. Ted Malone here. Malone is a Republic 

executive, too. They were visitors to Juarez 

and Zaragosa while in El Paso. 

Pedro Armendariz, one of Mexico's best 

known film heros, made four personal appearances 

at the Plaza Theatre January 9 

in conjunction with the showing of John 

Ford's "The Fugitive." The picture was made 

in Mexico and was expected to draw record 

crowds from El Paso's Latin-American 

citizens . . . John Paxton, Interstate manager, 

reported the annual canned goods matinee 

for El Paso's orphans was a super success. 

Several truck loads of food were sent to the 

needy fanrilies during the holidays. The 

matinee was held at the Plaza. 

Gilbert Roland, "Cisco Kid" of "Robin Hood 

of Monterey," thrilled theatregoers at the 

Crawford when he appeared unexpectedly 

on the stage during showing of the picture. 

Roland, a guest of Manager Bill White, signed 

autograph books for his happy fans . . . Bill 

Bohling, manager of the Pershing Theatre, 

just couldn't resist it—he marqueed "Betty 

Grable in 'Mother Wore Tights' Also Shorts." 

Chuckling patrons called the newspapers and 

Mr. Bohling found a two-column cut of his 

marquee in the next day's news. 

" 

United fheatres 

S E 11 V I ( E « O K P O R .\ T I O > 

308 S. Harwood St. Dallas, Tex. 

IS 

YOUR THEATRE FOR SALE? 

We Have Buyers With Cash 

"JOE" JOSEPH 

THEATRES 

Let "Joe" Sell 

Your Show 

Theatres bought—sold—equipped—fire 

inventories—consultant and equipment. 

1003 Galloway St. Dallas, Tex. 

Phone Yale 2-78S0 

1327 S. Wabash, Chicogo 5 


. . . Glorie 

. . George 

. . 

OKLAHOMA CITY 

^r. and Mrs. W. J. Moore of Fairfax have 

returned from a three-week visit with 

their son Bill and his family in Las Vegas, 

Nev. ... A large number of state towns held 

kiddy Christmas shows for children of the 

community, either on their own or through 

cooperative tieups with newspapers, civic 

clubs or chambers of commerce . . . Funeral 

services for Albert Byrne, father of Raymond 

L. Byrne, projectionist at the Blaine in Henryetta, 

were held December 27 in Henryetta. 

Elmer Adams jr., manager of the Griffith- 

Hornbeck Theatre in Shawnee, had the Elk 

City football squad, the coach and other 

athletic officials, numbering 40 in as 

all, 

guests recently when the group was in Shawnee 

for the class B state championship playoff 

with Dewey. Johnny Jones of the Ritz 

entertained the Dewey squad and officials. 

Fram Cushing comes the news that Lonnie 

Edwards, projectionist at the Paramount, and 

his wife have a new boy, born December 27 

Roland, Dunkin cashier, and 

Wilma Jean Cleveland, Paramount, cashier, 

tied there for first place in the Christmas 

gift book sales contest. 

Hi Martin, Universal branch manager, has 

a new De Soto auto . Friedel, 20th- 

Pox salesman, is driving a new Pontiac . 

Both acquired their vehicles during the holidays 

. . . Despite the wintry blast on New 

0nntt of j^rebention 

Keep your theatre saie and prevent costly 

equipment breakdowns by having regular 

check-ups by Oklahoma Theatre 

Supply's 

trained fix-it men. That small missing part 

may mean not only lost performances, but 

destruction of valuable property, too. 

A complete supply of all those small essentials 

. . . plus all the latest models of 

nationally advertised apparatus to improve 

your theatre . . . available here now! 

Year's eve, about 50 members of Variety 

turned up at the club to celebrate the new 

year . . . Joe Noble of the Cove Theatre in 

Tulsa was In town this week. 

Pat McGee of Denver was in town on business 

. . . Helen Meyers, Paramount cashier, 

and Mary Nell Wilson, maintenance clerk 

for Paramount, were off from work with colds 

. . . C. L. Lance of Ringling was on the 

Row Monday . . . Others in town included 

J. S. Worley of Shanxrock, Tex.; Waite Kerr, 

Sulphur; C. E. Truitt, Lone Wolf; H. T. 

Burns, Apache; Leroy and Wesley Hodges, 

Anadarko; Mr. and Mrs. Earl Raines, Fort 

Cobb; Morris DeFord, Anadarko; Bob Walker, 

Broken Arrow, and R. V. McGinnis of the 

Cozy, 

Tulsa. 

M. D. Brazee of Warner Theatres spent 

a couple of days in Memphis on business. 

Al Pickens Is Appointed 

Theatres Service Booker 

DALLAS—Appointment of Al Pickens as 

booker for United Theatres Service Corp. 

was announced by 

John L. Franconi, 

president. Pickens 

gained his industi-y 

experience working for 

the Phil Isley circuit 

in Tulsa and other 

Oklahoma points and 

came to Dallas with 

Isley in 1940. Between 

1940 and 1942 he was 

engaged in building 

Isley theatres in Texas 

and later served as 

circuit general man- 

Al Pickens ager. United Theatres 

Service Corp. is a booking and buying 

organization. 

OKLflHOmn THEflfRE SUPPLV 

J. EUDON PEEI 

Telephone 7-8691 

628 West Grand Avenue 

Oklahoma City 2, Oklahoma 


Your Deal Handled Personally 



Arthur Leak 


3422 Kinmore Dallas 10, Texas 

Phone T3-2026 

Johnny Hardin 

saves you money on 

DRIVE-IN theatre equipment 

LESTER DOLLISON'S new drive-in theatre at the three-college town of 

Denton is being Hardin equipped. The industry knows Dollison as a 

top showman and shrewd business man. He gets the big drive-in capacity 

sound and projection equipment for less money by buying from 

Johnny Hardin. 

Hardin theatre Supply^ Co. 

c5ill 

Kinds of 

'theatre Equipment 

714 SOUTH HAMPTON 

Tarts for all 

crakes Projectors 

DALLAS, TEXAS 

GRIGGS 

EQUIPMENT 

COMPANY 

reports that 

/'.Q^^ 

their No. 16 

MBW chair 

with full padded 

face and 

metal back 

and new improved 

end standards is leading 

all of their sales. 

Delivery is still very good ai^d 

a wide selection of color and 

materials is now available. 

Call - Wire - Write 

GRIGGS fQUIPdlfHT CO. 

Belton, Texas 

BOXOFFICE ;: Januarj

. . Mrs. 

. . Manager 

Florida State Opens 

Palace in Tampa 

TAMPA—Climaxing a year-long remodeling 

project of its downto\\Ti theatres, Florida 

State Theatres held a grand opening Christmas 

day of the completely changed and air 

conditioned Palace Theatre. The new Palace 

is located on the site of the old Victory 

Theatre, but only the walls and roof of the 

Victory were utilized in the construction of 

the Palace. 

The interior of the theatre has been finished 

in hamionizing combinations of wine, 

coral and gold. The 1,300 new pushback 

chairs are upholstered in deep aqua and 

maroon. 

One of the outstanding decorative features 

is its huge and elaborate grand drape, designed 

by architects Kemp, Bunch and Jackson 

of Jacksonville and installed by the KnoxviUe 

Scenic Studios of Knoxville, Tenn. It 

was designed to aid acoustics as well as 

decorate the auditorium and is one of the 

largest ever installed in the southeast. Approximately 

200 feet from end to end, the 

drape will reach from the ceiling to within a 

few feet of the floor. 

A completely automatic air conditioning 

plant has been installed. The system is so 

delicately designed as to regulate a mere 

one-fourth degree in temperature. 

A new marquee illuminated by neon and 

colored lights graces the entrance to the 

theatre. is In the lobby a large refreshment 

bar. 

Edgar Smith, former manager of the Victory, 

has been named manager of the new 

Palace. 

BIRMINGHAM 

n R. Gar>'. Woodlaw^l manager for Waters 

" and Mrs. Gary entertained members of 

the theatre staff with a chicken supper and 

party at their home during the holidays. 

The employes had drawn names and exchanged 

gifts. Guests present were Mr. and 

Mrs. Charles Gaston and daughter Betty; 

Ella Williams. Cecil Rollins. Louise Dunaway, 

Clifford Andrews, Willie Mercer and Robert 

Marcus. 

C. W. Wade jr. of the Wadesonian Theatres 

at Clanton. Ala., paid one of his infrequent 

visits. He was accompanied by Mrs. 

Wade. Both are aviation enthusiasts and 

have pilot's licenses. They also have a son 

and daughter who fly . . . Lillian Lauricella, 

bookkeeper for Waters Theatre Co., spent a 

week in Detroit, where she attended a wedding 

. Martha Snowden, Melba 

cashier, has been off duty because of illness. 

James Willard of Strong Electric Corp., 

Toledo, visited members of his family here 

during the holidays . . . Leonard Allen, Paramount, 

was here to arrange the showing of 

"Unconquered." which opens January 23 at 

roadshow prices. He also was working on 

"Road to Rio," which opened January 8 at 

the Alabama . 

Fred McCallum 

of the Strand is opening the year with 

a new policy, which is slated to get some 

first run A pictures. "Merton of the Movies," 

leading off the parade, opened January 1. 

Others to follow will include "The Aj-nelo 

Affair," "The Unsuspected" and Deep Valley." 

Mack Lewis, city manager in Bessemer for 

Wilby-Kincey, was presented with a past 

president's pin when he retired recently as 

head of the Bessemer Kiwanis club . . . "My 

Wild Irish Rose" was the only film to rate 

a second downtown week during New Year's 

week. It moved to the Lyric after a session 

at the Alabama. 

Exhibitors of Carolinas 

To Gather February 13 

]. Don Alexander's Yacht 

Sails Up Mississippi 

J. Don .AlexaiuU-r. lenter, and VV. G. 

Kirkscey, left, and \V. G. Parr aboard 

Two Smiles II. 

MEMPHIS—When J. Don Alexander, Colorado 

Springs, president of Alexander Film 

visited here a few days recently he came 

Co., 

by yacht. The 60-foot Diesel-powered boat 

came up the Mississippi river from New 

Orleans. 

to his yacht. 

The yacht is equipped to sleep ten persons. 

It has ship-to-shore communications 

system and features a blue and white color 

scheme. Alexander, now 62 but looking much 

younger, has seen his idea for screen advertising 

grow from an idea to a business 

which now has 9,000 theatres under contract 

and 150 representatives scattered over the 

nation. 

He came here to confer with W. G. Kirkscey, 

assistant to the president, and W. G. 

Farr, his Memphis representatives. 

$3,000 Fire Hits Colored 

Theatre in Belle Glade 

BELLE GLADE, FLA.—Bailey Bros., owner 

of the new South Bay Negro theatre, estimates 

that fire which broke out in the projection 

room caused a loss of approximately 

,$3,000. 

The fire broke out about 10 p. m., ]ust as 

the second show was drawing to a close, and 

was caused by a broken film. The projection 

room and equipment are practically a total 

loss. The ceiling of the theatre was damaged 

and 18 seats were burned. 

The building is new and this is the second 

disaster which has struck it. It was practically 

demolished when the September hurricane 

struck it just as it w-as ready for occupancy. 

CHARLOTTE—Members of the Theatre 

Owners of North and South Carolina are 

being urged by Ben L. Strozier, president, and 

Mrs. Walter Griffith, secretary, to make their 

reservations at Hot«l Charlotte here for the 

36th annual convention February 1-3. 

"The finest and most important business 

program we have ever had is being arranged," 

states a recently issued bulletin. "Special 

events are being planned for the wives of 

exhibitors, so be sure to bring the missus 

along." 

Nationally known exhibitor leaders will discuss 

the Ascap rate increases, 16mm commercial 

film competition, advanced admission 

pictures, taxation and adverse legislation, 

public relations and other problems. 

Herman Levy, general counsel for Theatre 

Owners of America, wiU report on important 

industry cases now before the supreme court, 

cases which may cause major changes in industry 

methods. 

T. A. Little and Walter Griffith are general 

chairmen of the convention. 

Changeover Permit 

Is Revoked by City 

BIRMINGHAM—Plans to convert the Birmingham 

Theatre into a house exclusively for 

Negroes suffered a setback recently when the 

city commission revoked a permit for the 

conversion work. 

H. E. Hagood, city building inspector, issued 

the permit, which specified alterations to 

cost $4,000, on December 6. The following 

Monday the commission met in emergency 

session to consider the matter. 

A group of Third avenue business men and 

property owners appeared at the regular commission 

meeting the next day to protest, but 

left when informed the permit had been 

canceled. 

Abe H. Borisky is operator of the theatre. 

Harry W. Roberts, manager, declined to comment 

on the commission's action. 

Commission President Cooper Green said 

he hoped that the theatre management would 

defer action until an adequate hearing could 

be held. He asserted that if they were dissatisfied 

with revocation of the permit, they 

had recourse to the courts. 

Building Inspector Hagood said that plans 

for the conversion of the theatre called for 

enlarging of the entrance on 17th street and 

use of the present main entrance on 17th for 

an exit only. 

City Commissioner J. W. Morgan said that 

a request for such a changeover had been 

denied two years ago. 

The Birmingham, a double-featute house, 

now seats Negroes in the first and second 

balconies only. 

Volunteer Fireman Killed 

At Weldon Theatre Blaze 

WELDON, N. C—Everett Carr, 30-year-old 

volunteer fireman, was killed by a falling 

the that gutted the 

wall while 

Levon 

fighting 

Theatre here 

fire 

Christmas day. Two 

other volunteer firemen, who were standing 

on the marquee with Carr when the front 

wall collapsed, were badly hurt but are recovering. 

The Levon, smaller of the two 

theatres here, was operated by A. P. Sams 

under the management of Roy Champion. 

jr., 

The house was preparing to open for the day 

when the fire was seen coming from the stage 

oy the theatre projectionist. 

BOXOFnCE :: January 10. 1948 BE 

87

. . Dyess 

. . Leonard 

MEMPHIS 

•The Hyde Park Theatre, new 500-seat Negro 

neighborhood house on Chelsea avenue, 

scheduled its formal opening for Saturday 

(10). The all-new one-story building is 

owned by A. W. and Central Blackwell and 

Harry L. Walton . Theatre, Dyess, 

Ark., was struck by lightning December 31 

and" burned to the ground, according to word 

reaching Filmrow. O. J. Lee, owner, who 

told of the loss to friends on the Row, said 

he planned to rebuild. The Dyess, a new 415- 

seat house, was opened in November. 

L. H. Andrews, former office manager at 

Universal here, later office manager for his 

company in Dallas and now an auditor out 

of the home office in New York, is working 

at the local exchange . Shea, 

Eagle Lion manager, was in Dallas to attend 

a branch managers' meeting . . . Barbara, 

daughter of Manager and Mrs. Clifford Wallace 

of Kay Film Exchange, flew back to 

Nashville to resume her studies at Ward- 

Belmont college after spending her holidays 

here. 

The Baxter in Mountain Home. Ark., operated 

by Commonwealth Amusement Corp., 

reports a good start since its recenting open- 

Tri-State Theatre Service & Supply 

318 South Second Street 

MEMPHIS 3. TENN. 

EQUIPMENT — SUPPLIES 

REPAIRS 

1913 — Thirty-Four — 1947 

Years 

of 

Satisfactory Service 

THE QUEEN FEATURE SERVICE, Inc. 

Quality Theatre Eiiulpment & Supjilies 

19121/j Morris Avenue 

Birmingham 3. Alabama 

. . . 

The Mason, a 400-seat house at 

ing . . 

Mason, 

. 

Tenn., was opened to the public 

January 4. Amelia Ellis, Munford, is manager 

T. O. Baldridge, free-lance publicity 

man and director in the Variety Club, 

was in Louisville for United Artists on "Sleep, 

My Love." The picture will open at Loew's 

in Louisville January 15. 

Frank Carter, salesman at Warner Bros., 

and Mrs. Carter are on a trip to Tucson . . . 

Babe Rounsaville, Eagle Lion salesman, and 

Mrs. Rounsaville, are in New York on a 

visit ... A New Year's eve party was held 

at Variety Club. 

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Haven of the Haven 

circuit in Forrest City, Ark., were in during 

the holidays on a business and pleasure trip. 

Mr. and Mrs. B. P. Jackson, Ruleville, Miss., 

were here, too. Steve Stein. Jackson, Tenn.; 

W. C. Kroeger, Portageville, Mo.; and Sunshine 

Daugherty, West Helena, Ark., were 

among other exhibitors in Memphis. 

Manager Joe Simon at the Ritz amiounces 

the resignation of Tom Ragan as doorman 

and the engagement of Frank Moore as his 

successor . . . Shirley Youth, assistant cashier 

at 20th-Fox, is to spend the weekend at Oxford, 

Miss. Miss Youth plans to resign February 

1 to enter college at Oxford. 

Midsouth exhibitors visiting the Row included 

J. C. Mohrstadt, Missouri at Hayti. 

Palmer and Campbell; J. C. Singleton, Tyro, 

Tyronza; Whyte Beford, Marion, Hamilton; 

Jack Rhodes, Crittenden, West Memphis; 

Paul Myers, Velinda. McCrory; W. R. Lee, 

Gem at Heber Springs, Star at Star City, 

Tuckerman at Tuckerman and Rice at Des 

Arc. 

Also Burris Smith, Imperial and Diane at 

Pocahontas; Roy BoUick, Kaiser, Kaiser; 

Mrs. Ann Hutchins. New at Peach Orchard, 

and Riceland at Knobel; Gordon Hutchins. 

State and Dixie at Corning; Moses Sliman, 

Lux, Luxora; C. A. Gilliland, Cooter, Cooter; 

Clifford Nix, Swifton at Swifton and Independent 

at Newport; J. K. Jameson, Ritz, 

Bald Knob, and Don Landers, Radio, Harrisburg. 

dale: Louise Mask, Luez, Bolivar; C. R. 

Kreig, Fourche, Perry ville; Cliff Peck, Gem, 

Covington; Herman Odom, Odom, Durant, 

and Aubrey Webb, Webb, Ripley. 

Fred Ford, RKO publicity man, was in 

after a business trip to New Orleans and 

Dallas . . . H. H. Lewis, shipping clerk. National 

Theatre Supply, spent the holidays in ; 

Warrington, Ga. . . . Mr. and Mrs. M. A. 

Lightman jr. are back from a trip to St. I 

Louis where they attended the wedding of 

Mrs. Lightman's brother. 

R. L. Bostick, manager of National Theatre 

Supply, and Mrs. Bostick attended the Cotton 

Bowl game in Dallas. 

Mrs. Nunnally Johnson, who was Doris 

Bowdon of Memphis before she became a film 

actress and subsequently the producer's wife, 

visited briefly last weekend while en route 

home from a visit to her husband's home in 

Florence, Ala. . . . Paramount's 19-minute 

"The Year of Division," a newsreel special 

reviewing the highlights of 1947, attracted 

considerable comment at a screening last Saturday 

at Paramount's screening room. 

Double feature sign on marquee at the 

Royal in Memphis: "Perfect Marriage"; "I 

Was Faithful." 

It's a combination of good business and 

good pictures, with perhaps a little good 

weather thrown in, say theatremen at downtown 

first runs. Anyway, they are happy 

about it. For the first time in many years 

all four major downtown theatres simultaneously 

have pictures held over for a second 

week. At Loew's Palace it is "Daisy Kenyon"; 

at Loew's State, "Good News"; at Malco, 

"Road to Rio." and at Warner, "My Wild 

Irish Rose." 

Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Lightman sr. will leave 

January 15 for a ten-day ocean voyage with 

Mr. and Mrs. Dave Garretson, New Orleans. 

They will visit Honduras and Cuba. Mr. and 

Mrs. Garretson are parents of Mrs Richard 

Lightman, wife of the son of the Lightmans. 

Joy Johnson, Memphis radio singer, has 

been invited to Hollywood for an MGM screen 

test by Roddy McDowall. They met recently 

when both were on the same stage show in 

Newark, N. J. . . . Kiddy matinees, now being 

given each Saturday at the Rosemary, Airways 

and Peabody, went in for double features 

this week. Westerns were featured, too. The 

Better Films council sponsors the shows. 

Christopher Lynch, Irish tenor, has been 

booked for Ellis Auditorium January 14 . . . 

Gene Autry was scheduled for January 10, 11. 

^^ 

"^"^ 

FILMACK'S 

SPECIAL 

TRAILERS 

Filmock • 1327 S. Wabash • Chicago 5 

BOXOFFICE ;: January 10, 1948

I 

. . Mel 

. . Mrs. 

. . 

. . 

. . 

Itl 

II* 

I 

i 

ATLANTA Meiselman to Build Sixth Theatre 

The 

first television permit for Georgia was 

received by station WGST here. Managing 

Director James E. Bailey announced 

construction of the transmitter will begin 

immediately, with completion expected in 

six or eight months. The project will cost 

between $500,000 and $750,000. 

The first luncheon meeting of the New- 

Year was held in Variety clubrooms. Major 

Kirkman spoke on the activities at the Bankhead 

project. Dr. Felton Williams on the 

work at the Mountain View camp for girls, 

and Dr. T. K. Peters concerning the Boys 

Estate. 

. 

. 

"Dusty" Rhodes, booker for Georgia Theatres, 

presided with great exuberance at his 

Christmas party held at the Fox Theatre 

Fred Coleman, the suburban theatrical 

owner, is back from a Caribbean cruise 

L. J. Duncan, the West Point, Ga., theatre 

owner, was in with a tender throat since 

. . 

the recent removal of his tonsils J. E. 

McLeory, Monogram's Charlo'te sales representative, 

has entered the Crawford Long 

hospital for an operation. He expects to be 

there about six weeks. 

A. L. Stout, Monogram's Charlotte sales 

representative, spent the holidays in Georgia 

. . Visitors: J. R. Johnson of the Gay, 

Greensboro, Fla., and R. L. Louvorn, Palace, 

Bowdon, Ga. 

" 

News from Georgia Theatres: "Mac Mc- 

Coy, Augusta, won the Spotlight award "in 

recognition of outstanding achievement attained 

by initiative and energetic showmanship 

in the selling of 'Red Stallion.' " Another 

award went to Aubrey Penny of Waycross, 

Ga.. for his work in selling "Welcome 

Stranger." 

Bob Steele, the western film star, is playing 

to good business over the circuit . . . 

Mr. 

and Mrs. Herman Hatton of Macon are the 

parents of a baby girl, Linda Jane . . . John 

Harrison of Waycross has been elected district 

chaii-man of the Satilla district of the 

Boy Scouts . . . Savannah employes enjoyed 

a party given in the penthouse of the De- 

Sota hotel. 

. 

Al Santo of Conger & Santo tent shows 

in several years was here the first time 

Grady Simmons of Phoenix, Ariz., visited 

his aunt, Mrs. Marian Hadley of Monogram 

William K. Richardson of As' or was off to 

visit accounts in Alabama with Jimmy Bello, 

newly appointed salesman Bernice 

Wadswôrth, secretary to 

. 

Arthur C. Bromberg 

of Monogram, was back at her desk 

after a spell of illness. 

. 

Mrs. Katie Haywood has returned to work 

at Screen Guild after a honeymoon spent at 

her home in Barnesville . . . Mr. and Mrs. 

Wallace Smith of the Gem in Barnesville 

were in Atlanta Brown of the Peachtree 

Art Theatre, opened his recent kiddy 

matinee with "Peck's Bad Boy." He said it 

was the biggest kiddy show in the history of 

the theatre. 

Sam Marino, producer of the Carolina 

Newsreels, has opened local headquarters at 

the office of the Strickland Film Co. and will 

start producing a Georgia newsreel . 

Victor A. Lambert, staff cameraman for All- 

American News in Chicago, was here over the 

holidays. Lambert, one of the old boys from 

the local Filmrow, formerly was with Strickland 

Film Co. 

The Fox Theatre will have its most impressive 

stage show March 12 when the Sammy 

Kaye orchestra will appear with Dr. I. Q. 

Tommy Read, city manager for Atlanta Enterprises, 

said the Dr. I. Q. show would open 

here in February and continue each Monday 

for six weeks. 

CHARLOTTE— Plans for construction of 

his seventh theatre in Charlotte have been 

announced by H. B. Meiselman. He said a 

$170,000 building, which will include a 600-seat 

theatre and eight stores, will be built on 

Selwyn avenue at the intersection of Brandywine 

avenue. 

Meiselman now operates the Manor and 

previously had announced plans for five other 

new theatres. 

Construction of the stores will start soon 

after plans are drawn next month, but work 

on the theatre building wiU have to await 

government approval, Meiselman said. Plans 

are being drawn by Charles Connelly, Charlotte 

architect. The development wOl be a 

one-story affair, in a "rambling ranch house" 

style of architecture. 

The theatre entrance will be at one end of 

the store section and the auditorium will run 

along behind the stores, Meiselman said. The 

theatre will be known as the Colony Club. 

Meiselman now operates the Manor and 

has announced he will build two large uptown 

theatres, the Radio City and the Fox, both 

m the 500 block on Tyron street. He also will 

build the Center on East Morehead street, the 

Thrift on Tuckaseege road, and the Ritz, a 

Negro theatre, on South McDowell street. The 

Thrift and Center will be part of shopping 

center developments. Work has been started 

on the Center development. 

Meiselman said he would defer construction 

of the uptown theatres until the neighborhood 

houses are built. Construction of the 

six new theatres will complete his expansion 

in Charlotte, he said. 

Repairs Senath Theatre 

SENATH. MO.—Lyle Richmond, owner, has 

closed his Missouri Theatre a few days for 

redecorating and repairs. 

^^^g^t PROUD! 

He has new Strong Prbjectiorf 

Arc Lamps, Rectifiers and 

Reflectors in his theatre. 


i 

erty involved, and also had failed in prom- 1 

. . Lee 

. . Film 

1 

( 

j 

i 

i 

. 

Perfect Popping 

Profits 

in each sack of 

II 

r 

' 

State Theatre Sale 

Off in Montgomery 

of the State Theatre to Harry Shugart has 

been voided by Judge Eugene Carter in equity 

court. Shugart had contended that Moffitt 

i 

had failed to comply with the alleged war- 

; 

ranties of title and serviceability on the propj 

J 

Manley's 

Hybrid 

Supreme 

Popcorn 

Come in to see us. 

1. C. (Curt) Shreve 

Southeastern District Manager 

102 Cain St., N. W. cypress 5116 Atlanta 3, Ga. 

uIrmcahe 

EXPRESS 

JOUN WAYNE 

SERIALS 

NEW acceIsories 

SUiRLEY GREY 

ASTOR PICTURES CO. OF GA., INC. 

It 

163 Walton St. 

Ready for Dating Feb. 1, '48 

Pays to Advertise in BOXOFFICE 

Atlanta, Ga. 

ises to have the theatre in operating condii 

tion by a certain date. 

Moffitt refused to break, the ' 

agreement, 

according to Shugart. Moffitt, on the other : 

hand, maintained that Shugart had refused 

, 

an offer to rescind the contract. 

All property, with exception of a popcorn 

machine, was returned to Moffitt, who was i 

ordered to return all but $100 of $3,600 paid 

to him by Shugart. According to the decree, 

the $100 represented a month's rent to which 

Moffitt was entitled. No damages were 

awarded to Shugart. Court costs were divided 

between the two parties. 

MIAMI 

Mew Year's eve celebrations at Paramount 

theatres took the form of midnight first 

run showings at six theatres, with the 

Olympia adding its stage offering. Tickets 

were on sale in advance. Wometco presented 

midnight shows at ten theatres. 

The Nine Frenchmen, appearing here in a 

club, are signed to do two pictures in July 

for the Paris Vox films . . . Cross and Dunn, 

now here, will do a series of six shorts for 

Warners in June . Donohue, swim 

instructor at a local hotel, used to play swimming 

parts for Paramount . veterans 

Mitzi Green and Rudy Vallee are playing 

at a local club. Mitzi's husband, newest film 

find, Joseph Pevney ("Body and Soul"i, came 

down to visit her. 

The Embassy, Claughton circuit house 

which opened December 29, is under the general 

managership of A. W. Corbett and Bill 

Behne. It is now fuUy complete, even to 

thick carpets on the floor ... To help publicize 

"Gentleman's Agreement," opening at 

Wometco theatres New Year's eve, a New 

Year's day race at Gulfstream Park was 

named "Gentleman's Agreement" purse. In 

giving his okay, Jimmy Donn, track president, 

told Sonny Shepherd, managing director of 

the Miami and the Lincoln, "I wish we had 

a gentleman's agreement up here." The remark 

was appreciated locally since Gulfstream 

has been having disagreements about 

the size of its purses. 

"The Bishop's \Vife" will begin a roadshow 

engagement January 14 at the Colony, a 

Paramount house at Miami Beach. 

Phillip Turnipseed 

CARPET LAYING CONTRACTOR 

If you want it done right, let us sew and lay it tight 

COLLEGE PARK, GEORGIA 

(in subu Atlanta) 

ii^YACS 

°FOR GREATER LISTENING PLEASURE 

DIXIE THEATRE SERVICE & SUPPLY CO. 

Albany, Georgia "Serving the South" 


Recording Ban to Hit 

Canadian Fans, Too 

MONTREAL—Canadians will be almost as 

greatly affected by the ban of the American 

Federation of Musicians on the further 

manufacture of recordings as will the U.S. 

Comparatively few master disks, from which 

records are cut, are made in Canada, the 

disks being mostly imported from the U.S. 

The Canadian recording industry is, broadly, 

confined to local radio programs, French 

Canadian folk music, and a few purely Canadian 

orchestras and musicians. These in sales 

volume fall far behind popular music by 

U.S. bands. 

As far as possible, recording studios are 

working overtime to pile up a backlog of 

ilocal radio programs. One major .studio has 

just completed recording a program which 

runs until the end of April, another has 

completed a year's music recordings in the 

past month. 

Although it is an offense under the copyright 

act, most Canadian radio stations have 

in the past paid little attention to the prohibition 

against playing records on the air. 

Much of the French Canadian folk-song 

and national music is recorded by nonunion 

musicians, and as Union Leader James C. 

Mary Pickford to Attend 

Ottawa Benefit Premiere 

HOLLYWOOD—Setting in motion a 

Petrillo is unable to replace these, he will 

not, according to a Montreal recording man. 

pay much attention to them. Petrillo, according 

to this authority, has left the door 

open for one or two other minor "infrac- 

Uons" of his ruling. For instance, to places 

where there are no telephone wires, such 

Newfoimdland and parts of northern Que- 

, it will still be permissible to record the 

ograms in Montreal and ship them to radio 

itations in these places for rebroadcast. 

U.S. companies have built up a backlog 

timated at a year's supply of popular music 

id a stockpile of classical music large 

ough to last two or three years. 

worldwide 

drive for $100,000,000 to further the work 

of the United Nations Appeal for Children, 

Mary Pickford will be guest of honor at 

ceremonies to be staged in Ottawa, Canada, 

January 12, at which her new production, 

"Sleep My Love," will be given its world pre- 

Renaissance Gets Okay 

On Imports for Studio 

MONTREAL—J. A. DeSeve, president of 

Renaissance Films, announced government 

authorities have granted permission for 

Renaissance to complete its first studio 

project with the importation of technical 

equipment from the U.S. and Great Britain. 

DeSeve said the studio in Montreal would 

start active production in March. 

Odeon Chief Cites Value 

Of Voluntary Rationing 

TORONTO—The Canadian film industry 

found itself in a more fortunate position than 

at any other time when the Dominion recently 

imposed restrictions on imports from 

'he U.S., thanks to expansion in the British 

motion picture industry, particularly in equipment 

manufacture. J. Earl Lawson, president 

of Odeon Theatres of Canada, asserted in a 

year-end statement. 

"The position of the motion picture industry 

in Canada, at a time when purchases 

from the United States must be curtailed, is 

more fortunate than it would have been at 

J. EARL LAWSON 

any previous period," he said. "Until 1945, 

virtually all the entertainment which Canadian 

cinemas offered, came from the United 

States and had therefore to be paid for with 

U.S. dollars. Now, the British film is already 

established in the Canadian market and can 

take an increasing share of theatre playing 

time. This not only companies 

miere. Receipts from the showing will constitute 

applies to 

the first returns for the global drive. 

Miss Pickford will be the guest of the Canadian 

such as Odeon, which has a direct British 

connection, but to all Canadian theatres. 

Appeal for Children and the Cana- 

Based on the British ability to supply, the 

dian Council for Reconstruction, and will be same situation applies also, from 1948 on, 

on hand for official receptions to be tendered 

to theatre equipment. 

her by Gov. -Gen. Viscount and Lady Alexander 

and by Premier MacKenzie King. CANADIAN FACTORIES EXPAND 

"Sleep My Love," made for United Artists 

"As the expansion of the film industry 

release by Miss Pickford, Charles "Buddy" 

proceeds, the less specialized types of theatre 

Rogers and Ralph Cohn, stars Don Ameche, 

equipment and furnishings can be provided 

Claudette Colbert and Robert Cummings. The 

from purely Canadian soiuxes and the present 

situation 

premiere will be held at the Elgin Theatre, 

Ottawa January may have the effect of stimulating 

12. 

The 

Canadian production in a number of 

campaign is designed to provide funds 

lines." 

for the reconstruction of schools and educational 

Pointing to the steadily increasing theatre 

facilities in war-torn countries and to 

make up nutritional deficiencies in ravaged 

attendance and the necessity for better theatres, 

Lawson declared: "To meet fully this 

areas. 

public demand as it now exists would require 

a major program of new construction and 

modernization across the Dominion much 

larger than is either practical or possible 

under present conditions. The film industry 

in Canada, as a whole and by individual 

companies, is largely readjusting its plans 

to present necessities, including shortages of 

both materials and of U.S. dollars. In this 

case, the restrictions under which this industry 

must operate in the immediate future 

can be volimtary and self-imposed to a considerable 

extent." The failure of any industry 

to govern itself voluntarily so as to bring 

about an equitable distribution of available 

product in times of scarcity to all outlets of 

that industry necessarily brings governmental 

regulations and arbitral tribimals to control 

certain phases of that industry." 

Lawson drew attention to the fact that 

two years ago the Canadian film industry itself 

assumed the initiative to re-examine 

building methods and materials, with the 

result that much of the critical materials and 

equipment required for home building was 

eliminated in theatre construction. Likewise, 

there had been an increase in the use of 

Canadian-made equipment and furnishings 

and in the number of Canadian manufacturers 

selling to the theatre business. In one 

instance, the Odeon circuit alone was taking 

the entire output of one Canadian factory. 

BRITISH EARNINGS HIGH 

Lawson said the earnings of British films 

in Canada had set an all-time record in 

1947, while an entirely new phase had been 

initiated last year in the first important purchases 

and installations of British theatre 

equipment. He predicted that this trend 

would increase in both fields in 1948, although 

the rate of advance would depend in large 

measure on the ability of Canadian circuits 

to carry through their expansion programs. 

The Canadian film industry was keeping 

up, in part at least, the process of modernization 

in its consideration of theatre television, 

he said. 

"Late in 1947, one development of less immediate 

but potentially high long-range importance 

began to receive film industry attention," 

he related. "This was television. 

Again, Britain appears to have taken a leading 

position since cinema-television had been 

installed in some theatres there just prior 

to the outbreak of war. Not only has the 

television industry in Britain advanced to 

the point at which introduction of largescreen 

television in theatres is planned and 

manufacture of equipment begun, but the 

output of such equipment shortly will reach 

the point at which exports to Canada could 

be made if and when cinema -television became 

possible here." 

Odeon in British Columbia 

Shifts Several Managers 

VANCOUVER—Earl Hayter, Odeon British 

Columbia supei-visor, has announced the 

following managerial switches: 

Al Jenkins moved to the Plaza, trading 

jobs with A. Mitchell who took over managership 

of the Odeon, Hastings. 

Jack Armstrong of the Paradise promoted 

to manage the Odeon, Trail, succeeding 

Elliott Brown, who was brought to Vancouver 

to a house not yet designated. 

Al Narvey of the Lonsdale, North Vancouver, 

changed positions with Bob Matherson 

of the Cambie. Vancouver. 

Herb Campbell, formerly with Famous 

Players, appointed manager of the Oak Bay 

Theatre at Victoria, replacing Douglas Redgrave, 

who resigned recently. 

Other managerial shifts will be annoimced 

soon with the opening of two Odeon theatres 

at West Vancouver and Victoria. 

Character Role to Ingram 

Rex Ingram has been ticketed for a character 

role in "Moonrise." the Dane Clark starrer 

which Frank Borzage is directing for Republic. 

BOXOFFICE :: January 10, 1948 K 95

. . . Consolidated 

— 

, 

n 

" 

Leaders of Winnipeg Film Pioneers 

Vancouver Business 

Best Since August 

VANCOUVER—The first 

run theatres here 

got some of that Christmas turkey, too, this 

year, and downtown exhibitors were singing, 

"happy days are here again." The holiday 

Executives of the Winnipeg; division of Canadian Picture Pioneers includes the 

above: Front row. left to right, J. M. Rice, past president: C. Havsom, president; S 

Swartz, immediate past president; N. Rothstein. vice-president. Back row H A 

Bishop, co-chairman of membership committee; J. H. Huber, secretary-treasurer- 

A. Levj% membership co-chairman; J. McPherson, director; L. C. Straw, entertainment; 

J. Swartz, director. Two other directors. M. Thriller and J. Biggerstaffe, were 

when 

absent 

the picture was taken. 

Generators Inslalled 

To Meet Hydro Cut 

ST, JOHN— Several maritimes exhibitors 

have acquired diesel electric generating plants 

because of the continued shortage of current 

from hydro services. Current being rationed 

at some spots, the blackouts are lieeping people 

off the streets and put a severe crimp in 

retail store sales as well as theatre attendance 

in the pre-Christmas weeks. The Grand 

Lake coal power station in New Brunswick 

is to be shuttered for repairs and overhauling 

and this suspension will mar theatre 

operations within the transmission radius, 

which is about 36 miles and includes Fredericton. 

Veto Auxiliary Power 

For Ontario Theatres 

TORONTO — Many theatres in Ontario 

have turned thumbs down on the offered 

sale of diesel auxiliary lighting systems for 

building fronts during the present blackout 

imposed by the Ontario Hydro-Electric 

Power commission because of an electricity 

shortage. Exhibitors take the view that public 

opinion would be against them if they 

illuminated theatre fronts during the restrictions, 

even with a privately-owned power 

plant. In any event, the theatres have been 

allowed to use very limited lighting under 

the marquees as a safety precaution during 

performance hours. 

Winnipeg Items 

Prior to leaving Ottawa to take over management 

of the Savoy in Hamilton, Sam 

Hebscher of the Nola cleaned up his lengthy 

and successful series of Saturday children's 

matinees by awarding two bicycles 

as safety 

prizes. They had been provided by district 

merchants. Police officials also took part In 

the ceremony. 

Lou Consky has opened his 382-seat theatre 

in Fenelon Falls. Ont., the first to be 

established in that village. He has had a 

theatre in Haliburton for quite a few years 

. . It's now "Alderman" when you are addressing 

John Nelson, veteran manager of 

the Capitol in North Bay. He was elected 

to the city council in the recent elections. 

MONTREAL 

n 

ew Year's festivities in Montreal and Quebec 

province continued until Twelfth 

night (6), and as a result little business was 

done on Filmi-ow with operators of French 

language theatres. The breathing spell gave 

distributors a chance to catch up on work 

thrown behind by the Christmas rush. 

Uncertainty about whether the night clubs 

would be permitted to serve liquor New 

Year's eve turned out to the advantage of 

the motion picture theatres. Many who had 

mtended to patronize the night haunts compromised 

for a visit to the theatre and a 

party at home where they could be certain 

that the festivities would not be interrupted 

by the liquor commission's Special 

curfew. 

programs were, as usual, given by the 

theatres. 

Juveniles, who are prohibited imder Quebec 

law from attending motion picture theatres, 

were able to attend the Kent and view the 

picture of the royal wedding. Hundreds of 

children had their first experience of motion 

pictures during the several weeks that the 

showing of this picture continued. The Canadian 

film industry is anxious to be included 

in the Motion Picture Foundation, whose 

organization was recently completed in New 

York. 

A blind organist, Ronnie Matthews, is 

playing the organ at the Empress nightly 

Theatres gave a party to 

its employes on the stage at His Majesty's 

and served lunch to the accompaniment of 

dance music. Later, vaudeville numbers were 

given. The local favorite. Billy Monroe, presided 

at the piano, and Alph Goulet was 

master of 

ceremonies. 

First edition of Eye Witness, a monthly 

magazine issued by the National Film Board, 

outlines ten-minute features to be shown to 

service clubs and fraternal organizations. 

The first number dealt with the sending 

of Canadian milk to Europe, the position 

of Port Churchill in the Canadian grain 

trade, seed growing at Grand Forks, B. C, 

and commercial tuna-fishing in Nova Scotia. 

Title Is 'Backfire' 

The final title for Monogram's "Finders 

Keepers" is "Backfire." 

trade boosted grosses just enough to make it 

the best all-around week since August at the 

local deluxers. 

"Fun and Fancy Free" was the leader at 

the Capitol. At the Paradise "Christmas Eve" 

and a western also were healthy. "Nicholas 

Nickleby" gave the Vogue a better-thanaverage 

week. 

Capilol—Fun and Fancy Free tBK

. . Tom 

ST. JOHN 

C*eoTgt E. Fulton of Truro, N. S., who oper- 

*^ ates the Capitol in nearby Oxford, plans 

to shift from 16mm to 35mm In the spring 

and to malce some improvements in projection 

and sound. In addition to the theatre. 

Fulton has been operating a 16nim sales, 

servicing and rental business. He started that 

15 years ago and has been specializing in 

catering to schools, churches and such organizations 

through much of Nova Scotia and 

is 

a pioneer in the jackrabbit lineup. 

G. Eric Golding, who was named secretary 

of the St. John branch of the Fish and 

Game Ass'n. has been booker for MGM for 

many years. He has directed the annual fishing 

and hunting film program presented at 

the Capitol, St. John, as a midnight show 

each February ... A subdivision of the 

Catholic Women's league at St. Thomas 

Aquinas church. Halifax, submitted to the 

provincial censors a protest at "suggestive 

tjTJes" of pictures being allowed on the screen 

in Nova Scotia. 

. . 

At the annual meeting of the St. John 

Tuberculosis Ass'n. F. Gordon Spencer was 

named first vice-president and his father, 

Fred G. Spencer, to the directorate . The 

number of theatres using stage acts to hypo 

boxoffice returns during the preyule weeks, 

appeared to be larger than since before the 

war. Chiefly used were touring western 

troupes of three to seven people, some from 

over the border and others, semipros, from 

the maritimes. 

, 

The United Mine Workers on Cape Breton 

Island are campaigning for beer taverns and 

a brewery O'Rourke. owner-manager 

of the Gaiety. Minto. N. B.. reports that the 

only stockholders in the Gaiety, Fairville, 

N. B., recently enlarged and remodeled, are 

Les Sprague, manager, and himself. O'Rourke 

operated the Fairville Gaiety for many years 

on his own. and dit.o for the Palace in St. 

John. 

OTTAWA 

Hn important event of the winter theatrical 

season here wâs the celebration of the 

tenth anniversary of the Somerset, an independent 

house operated by H. Berlin and 

managed by Len McGuire. The latter has 

been in charge since his discharge from the 

Canadian merchant marine three years ago. 

Featuring the anniversary, for which the attraction 

was "Sinbad the Sailor," was a full 

combination page in the Citizen, carrying 

the complimentary advertisements of 21 merchants 

and other business establishments. 

Mary Pickford is scheduled to visit here 

January 12 for the opening of her feature, 

'Sleep My Love," at the Elgin Theatre and 

Anne. She will be a special guest of the 

Canadian section of the United Nations 

Educational. Scientific and Cultural Organization, 

under whose auspices the picture is 

being presented. Also scheduled to attend 

are Charles Chaplin, Canadian di-strict manager, 

and Charles Lazarus of New York, repre.senting 

United Artists. 

.A recent impressive exploitation tieup was 

effected with the A. J. Freiman department 

store by Heniy Marshall, manager of the 

Regent, for "Life With Father." Five large 

show windows contained displays of oldfashioned 

furniture and furnishings in appropriate 

settings, all of which referred to 

the picture. 

Exhibitors Promise to Pass 

Tax Saving On to Public 

TORONTO—A further step in the organized 

campaign of Canadian exhibitors against 

the Dominion government's war excise tax 

of 20 per cent on theatre grosses has been 

the .

. . Proprietors 

. . William 

. . Sam 

. . Because 

. . Bert 

. . Odeon 

. . 

TORONTO 

The annual meeting of the Canadian Picture 

Pioneers will be held here January 22. in 

the King Edward hotel, with business sessions 

during the morning and afternoon and 

a dinner party at night . Risewick, 

an executive of Shelly Films, Ltd.. in Long 

Branch, has resigned as president of the 

Canadian Kennel club after leading the national 

dog fanciers' organization for seven 

years. 

The Kino, local foreign language theatre, 

has had a two-week run of the Soviet release, 

"Russian Ballerina" for its Canadian 

premiere . of recognized theatres 

here were startled when a series of presentations 

of an all-Polish show was announced 

for local downtown halls, four in 

number. The feature was "Queen of the 

Suburb," to which was added a group of 

Polish shorts including "Paderewski Plays." 

The 44th anniversary of the London, Ont., 

lATSE local was observed at a dinner to which 

local managers were invited. New officers 

were installed during the evening. President 

is J. E. C. Saunders, who has succeeded 

Newton Wallis. The secretary-treasurer is 

Cliff Mills of St. Thomas ... An innovation 

at the newly opened Odeon at Peterboro is a 

ticket counter inside the lobby in place of 

a ca.shier's kiosk or window wicket. The entire 

foyer is visible from the street through 

the plate glass front. 

Manager Mel JoUey attracted juvenile patronage 

to the Marks at Oshawa by adding 

four cartoons to the matinee program each 

day for a whole week. Monday he started off 

with a small gift to each child . . . The Imperial 

at Sarina. Ont.. had an effective program 

variation in presenting an all-western 

and cartoon show for a Saturday morning 

performance. 

Theatregoers had the choice of two Shakespeare 

features, with "A Midsiunmer Night's 

Dream" playing its second week at the International 

Cinema and the Royal Alexandra 

providing a return engagement of "Henry V" 

at roadshow prices for one week between 

stage-company engagements. Next picture to 

play the International Cinema is the British 

film, "The Raider," which is being released 

in the Dominion by Astral Films. 

In behalf of the Canadian Picture Pioneers, 

the Hamilton Theatre Managers Ass'n 

unveiled a memorial stone over the last resting 

place of William Melody, veteran showman 

of Hamilton and other cities, in the 

Holy Sepulchre cemetery in Hamilton. Immediate 

members of his family attended the sincere 

and moving ritual . . . William Dineen of 

the Tivoli has been elected president of the 

Toronto Theatrical Stage Employes union, of 

which he has been a member for 30 years. 

Major Overhaul Job 

For Haliax Garrick 

HALIFAX, N. S.—The Odeon circuit's Garrick, 

has been closed for extensive remodeling 

and enlargement. It will reopen with 

a new lobby, front, boxoffice, air conditioning, 

seats and rest room, stage curtains 

controlled from the projection booth and 

new projection and sound equipment. The 

new front will be a duplicate of that at the 

Odeon Casino. 

Accommodations for smoking will prevail 

in the new rest rooms. Tliere will be a new 

and large marquee with neon sign. Facilities 

will be provided for selling candy, popcorn, 

ice cream and soft drinks. The new 

rest room will be on the Argyle Street side 

of the building, where a store which 

had been rented has been taken over for 

this purpose. 

Toronto Welcomes 

New 20th-Fox Head 

TORONTO— Arthur Silverstone, new general 

manager of 20th-Fox Corp. of Canada. 

was formally welcomed at a luncheon at the 

Royal York hotel attended by chief executives 

of the local film and theatre companies. 

He succeeds Sydney Samson, who had occupied 

the post since the death five years 

ago of W. J. O'Loghlin. Samson retired in 

December because of his health and went to 

Arizona to remain indefinitely. Samson also 

resigned as chairman of the motion picture 

section of the Toronto Board of Trade. He 

formerly was of the Buffalo 20th-Fox exchange. 

Silverstone, a native of New York, was 

with United Artists in England until 1939, 

when he returned t.o become a home office 

executive of that company. 

Arrangements for the welcoming luncheon 

were made by Samuel Glasier, public relations 

director of Canadian Fox. 

CALGARY 

The west end Plaza Theatre was the scene 

of a stabbing affray. Mrs. Dorothy 

Viviers, an usherette, received a deep, fourinch 

slash on her neck from a knife. Ushers 

and cashiers attended the wounded employe 

at once, letting the attacker go. A member 

of the audience gave first aid until the 

ambulance arrived. The affair was so quietly 

handled that few patrons were aware of 

the incident and there was no commotion. 

Three blocks away police arrested the usherette's 

husband. George Viviers of Edmonton. 

He had been separated from his wife 

who came here from Edmonton to work. 

The downtown Strand opened its first 

candy bar in the entrance lobby last week. 

Built in modernistic design with natural 

wood finish and chrome trim, its attractive 

appearance .should be an aid to candy sales. 

This is the third candy bar established in 

downtown houses, new bars having been 

erected also in the Capitol and the Palace 

in the last year. All thi'ee theatres are 

units of the Famous Players circuit. There 

is little likelihood the Grand will house a 

candy bar soon, says Exhibitor J. B. Barron. 

"I -sell pictures, not candy." 

Prairie exhibitors greeted with satisfaction 

the announcement by William Guss, western 

manager of Metro, that "Green Dolphin 

Street" will not be roadshown. Tlie picture 

will be included in the regular 1947-48 contract 

and will not be sold as a special. 

William Kelly of Paramount also states that 

Cecil B. DeMille's "Unconquered" will not 

be roadshown in the west or in Canada. 

Both announcements should heai-ten city 

and country exhibitors who foresaw some 

of the best pictures being placed beyond 

their reach this year. -^ 

The Metro staff party ushering in Christmas 

is becoming a tradition on Filmrow 

since the advent of BUI Guss. It now seems 

to mean open house for the exchange building 

and the press, with all heartily welcomed. 

Len Pamell of the Parnell circuit in the 

Crow's Nest Pass district was in town last 

week. He had been visiting relatives in 

Ponoka, accompanied by his wife. He spent 

but a short time here, being anxious to 

reach home ahead of any snowstorm. And 

it does snow down there, often reaching a 

height of ten feet. 

VANCOUVER 

gob McEwan, owner of the Star, is a grand 

father. His daughter Agnes, former], 

with Empire-Universal, gave birth to „ 

daughter recently . . . Clyde Gllmour, local 

newspaperman and magazine writer, has concluded 

the first six broadcasts in a new 

series billed as CBC Movie Critic. 

CBC 

This is 

the first time has ever carried film 

reviews of other than a perfunctory nature. 

Broadcasts are heard each Wednesday over 

the CBC's Pacific and Mountain networks. 

The Odeon Theatre in Ladysmith is the 

only theatre on Vancouver Island to have 

a popcoi'n machine ac- 

'''^'* 

^ I Both Famous Play- 

^^^ Odeon circuits 

«, P j held Christmas cock- 

. I I 

I tail parties for their 

managers. film ex- 

r 

I 

I change personnel, and 

the press, prior to the 

K 

I 

M^H^ festive season . . . 

^^^H Roadshow pictures are 

^^^H still behind the eight 

^^^^H 

ball in British Columbia 

reopened 

Norman Reay 

the Marpole 

last week. The spot 

had been closed for a 

complete overhaul. Increased .seating capacity, 

new front and flash neon 

a 

sign, new rest rooms and reseating are features. 

Frank Marshall returns as house manager 

. . . George Mansel. formerly with the 

Lyric, is now head doorman at the new 

Cinema International where Mary Brunt of 

the Orpheum is head usherette. 

Charlie Doctor, manager of the Capitol, 

was successful in making plenty of topnotch 

tieups for his Christmas "Fun and 

Fancy Free" . Karby of Regina, Saskatchewan, 

oldtimer in prairie show business, 

opened his new Rex Theatre at Rivers, Man. 

The spot was erected at a cost of $30,000, seat.s 

365 and will operate on a six-day policy. 

The Karby circuit operates nine theatres in 

Saskatchewan and Manitoba. 

Holiday engagements: Doug Isman of International 

Pictures to Rose Innacone 

of Warners; Rhoda Bradley, Orpheum cashier, 

to Walter Hellison, and Mary Sansum 

of Columbia to Bill Foulis of Vancouver . 

Mary Crompton, formerly with the Orpheum. 

is now head cashier at the International 

Cinema, the new downtown Famous Player 

unit which opened Christmas day. 

The city council of Ladner, Praser Valley 

town, has issued permits for the construction 

of two theatres there. At present Le,-. 

Toffey runs the Community Hall, a 300- 

seater, two days weekly. Wednesday and Saturday 

nights . of the backing up 

of product through lengthy runs, Odeon circuit 

has added two first run theatres here, 

the Lux and Park, making a total of six first 

run houses. 

Capt. William Dauphinee of New Westminster, 

B. C, and father of Percy Dauphinee 

of the Dominion here, died in his 83rd year 

. . . Phillis Dixon of the Hanson 16mm exchange 

went to Winnipeg where her mother 

is seriously ill. Mrs. Dixon formerly was with 

General Films at Regina . Whyte 

has opened his new 300-seat Hamiota Theatre 

at Hamiota, Man., as competition for the 

250-seat Orange Hall Theatre operated by 

Dick Woods. 

Jack Aceman, manager of the State, was 

in Los Angeles over the holidays with his 

wife. They attended the Rose Bowl football 

game. 


ICE BAROMETER • EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY 

{£ CHART • REVIEW DIGEST • SHORTS CHART 

REVIEWS • FEATURE REVIEWS • EXPLOITIPS BookinGuide 

BOXOFFICE 

FIRST RUN REPORTS 

This chart shows the records made by 

pictures in five or more oi the 21 key cities 

checked. As new runs are reported, ratings 

ore added and averages revised. 

BAROMETER 

TOP HIT OF THE WEEK 

Captain From Castile— 

San Francisco 350 

Seattle 210 

Denver 200 

Los Angeles 200

A 

EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY 

ABOUT 

PICTURES 

Just as the Barometer page shows first run reports on current pictures, this 

department is devoted for the most part to reports on subsequent runs, made by 

exhibitors themselves. A one-star contributor is new, two stars mean the exhibitor 

has been writing in for six months or longer, and a three-star contributor 

is a regular of one year or more, luho receives a token of our appreciation. All 

exhibitors welcome. 

COLUMBIA 

— 

Girl of the Limberlost (Col)—Dorinda Clifton, 

James Bell, Ruth Nelson. They liked this 

but wished Columbia had stuck to the book 

more than they did. Doubled with "Song of 

the Prairie" to average attendance. Played 

Saturday. Weather: Cold.—J. E. Rougeau, 

Club Theatre, Seven Sisters Falls, Man. Small 

town and rural patronage. * * 

Mr. District Attorney (Col)—Dennis O'Keefe, 

Adolphe Menjou, Marguerite Chapman. A 

well-made picture expertly handled by 

Adolphe Menjou aSi Dennis O'Keefe. Too 

bad that "crime-busting" pictures do consistently 

bad business for me. Played Tues., 

Wed. Weather: Cold, some snow.—Carl E. 

Pehlman, Rio Theatre, Edinburg, 111. Rural and 

small town patronage. * * 

Shadowed (Col)—Anita Louise, Lloyd Corrigan, 

Michael Duane. Not as good as expected, 

the same as business. Double-billed 

with a reissued western, which slackens business 

a little. Anita Louise deserves better 

roles. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Fair.—Ralph 

Raspa, State Theatre Rivesville, W, Va. Rural 

patronage. * * * 

So Dark the Night (Col)— Steven Geray, 

Micheline Cheirel, Eugene Borden. 

really mixed the people's minds 

This one 

up—when 

they left the theatre half of them didn't know 

who was the murderer. The detective traced 

the crimes down and at last he found out that 

he was doing all the killing. This should be 

used on a double bill but don't let it stand 

alone. Played Saturday. Weather: Fine. 

George MacKenzie, York Theatre, Hantsport, 

N. S. Small town patronage. 

* 

Swing the Western Way (Col)—Jack Leonard, 

Mary Dugan, Thurston Hall. This extra 

is 

good, according to those that could come to 

see it. The roads icy and snowbound in the 

country, so did only about 50 per cent on this 

one on that account. The Hoosier Hotshots 

are getting better all the time and they don't 

seem to tire of them, either. The film was 

extra good and the sound perfect. Played 

Wednesday. Weather: Cold and snowing. 

W. H. Swan, Auditorium Theatre, Roscoe, S. D. 

* * Rural patronage. * 

EAGLE LION 

It's a Joke, Son (EL)—Kenny Delmar, Una 

Merkel, June Lockhart. The joke was the 

results we got at the boxoffice. didn't take 

It 

in enough to find after the day's receipts were 

turned in. Another "Radio Deal" that failed. 

Played Wednesday. Weather: Okay.—D. W. 

Trisko, Ritz Theatre, Jerome, Ariz. Mining 

patronage. * * 

Last of the Mohicans (EL)—Reissue. Randolph 

Scott, Binnie Barnes. This is good and 

many went out well satisfied. ' 

few (and 

there usually are some) said: "Did not like 

it." They want more !un, not history, so that's 

it. Played Sat., Sun. Weather: Cold and 

clear.—W. H. Swan, Auditorium Theatre, Roscoe, 

S. D.—Rural patronage. * * * 

West to Glory (EL)—Eddie Dean, Roscoe 

Ates, Dolores Castle. This series is starting 

to slip— it needs more action, comedy, and a 

bigger cast. It's a fair western with a different 

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

Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. 

Rural patronage. * * * 

Wild Country (EL)—Eddie Dean, Roscoe 

Ates, Peggy Wynne. We feel we must have 

an outdoor picture—a western for our farm 

trade every week, and this seemed most satisfactory. 

Ployed Fri., Sat. Weather: Snow.— 

Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. 

Small town patronage. * * * 

Wild Horse Phantom (EL)—Buster Crabbe. 

An old western. The ones that came liked it, 

but it rained, so too many didn't get in. Bad 

roads. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Rain.— 

James E. Davis, Rialto Theatre, Bennington, 

Okla. Rural and small town patronage. * * 

METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER 

Boom Town (MGM)—Reissue. 

Clark Gable 

Spencer Tracy, Claudette Colbert. This created 

a boxoffice boom for a far above average 

Sun., Mon. business. If reissues are necessary, 

pictures of this caliber are the ones 

to be reissued. This is Gable as we remember 

him, and I believe it calls for another 

Gable picture, such as "Too Hot to Handle." 

Remember? Weather: Cold.—Carl E. Pehlman, 

Rio Theatre, Edinburg, 111. Rural and small 

town patronage. • * 

Boom Town (MGM)—Reissue. Clark Gable, 

Spencer Tracy, Claudette Colbert. If they 

could only make pictures like this one these 

days and not charge $1.20, exhibitors wouldn't 

have so many gray hairs. Everyone enjoyed 

this very much. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. 

Weather: Fair.—James E. Davis, Rialto Theatre, 

Bennington, Okla. Rural and small town 

patronage. * 

Boys' Ranch (MGM)—Jackie "Butch" Jenkins, 

Skippy Homeier, Dorothy Patrick. Here 

is one we played a little late, but it did the 

business anyway. For a small town, you can't 

beat this one. Weather: Fair.—Orin J. Sears, 

Apache Theatre, EUda, N. M. Small town 

and rural patronage. * ' 

_ 

High Barbaree (MGM)—Van Johnson, June 

Allyson, Thomas Mitchell. A superb performance 

by Van Johnson—an excellent story 

that pleased everyone. Played Sunday.^ 

James C. Balkcom jr.. Gray Theatre, Gray, 

Ga. Small town patronage. * * 

vSIt Happened in Brooklyn (MGM)—Frank 

Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson, Jimmy Durante. 

Had a lot of conflicting reports on this and 

ended by deciding it was a pretty good picture. 

Kathryn Grayson's singing was a pleasure 

to hear and Billy Roy's concert delivery 

on the piano was exceptionally good. Peter 

Lawlord and Jimmy Durante stole the show. 

Above average attendance. Played Wednesday. 

Weather: Fair.—J. E. Rogeau, Club Theatre, 

Seven Sisters Falls, Man. Small town and 

rural patronage. * * 

Little Mr. Jim (MGM)—Jackie "Butch" Jenkins, 

James Craig, Frances Gifford. In spite 

/. Lupine and J. Wakely 

Liked in Canadian Town 

INTRODUCING one of our new contributors, 

S. N. Holmberg, manager of the 

Sturgis Theatre at Sturgis, Sask., who 

wTites in: 

"I am a new subscriber to BOXOFFICE 

and find it really interesting. Please Include 

me in your guidance of small town 

exhibitors. 

"We just played 'Deep Valley' (WB) a 

while ago and it went over very well. 

Everyone commented on Ida Lupino's acting, 

saying she should have the Academy 

Award for it. 

"This is just a small town of 500, and 

when Jimmy Wakely plays here it is a 

packed theatre regardless of the weather." 

» 

Gray Makes Apologies 

To Abbott & Costello 

BUCK PRIVATES COME HOME (U-1) 

—Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Joan Fulton. 

Finally got to play Abott and Costello on 

Sunday and it packed the house. Their 

pictures have always flopped but this one 

with a Sunday date made a big hit. I 

apologize to Abbott and Costello for saying 

they were my worst attraction. I 

now say: "Hurry back, boys."—James C. 

Balkcom jr.. Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. 


of extremely bad weather I did nearly avei 

age business with "Butch" Jenkins pullim 

them in. This is a natural for the smalle" 

towns. Butch is a top-ranking star in thest 

parts, so let's have more from him. Playec 

Wed., Thurs. Weather: Rainy and cold.— 

I. Roche, Vernon Theatre, Vernon, Fla. Smd 

town and rural patronage. 

' 

Sea of Grass, The (MGM)—Spencer Tracy 

Katharine Hepburn, Robert Walker. Believe i 

or not, this is one of the top pictures tha 

failed to do any good at the boxoffice. It wok 

perhaps too "hifalutin" for our type patronage. 

The picture itself was very good 

was enjoyed by the few who did see it. Playec 

Sun., Mon. Weather: Good.— R. V. Dinkle one 

W. W. LeMaster, Midway Theatre, Midway. 

Ky. Rural and small town patronage. 

Sea of Grass, The (MGM)—Spencer Tracy 

Katharine Hepburn, Robert Walker. Good 

performances by Tracy and Heepburn in 

outdoor drama which did above aver 

business here. Use on your best pla 

time. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Fa 

Wayne Stebbins, Saranac Theatre, Sara 

Mich. Small town patronage. 

Show-Off, The (MGM)—Red Skelton, 

ilyn Maxwell, Marjorie Main. Everyone lik 

Red Skelton and this was a good picture 

did only fair business. I guess we can bla 

it on the weather. Played Tues., We 

Weather: Cold and stormy.—Orin J. Sea 

Apache Theatre, Elida, N, M. Small tOTii 

and rural patronage. 

Undercover Maisie (MGM)—Ann SotheiJ 

Barry Nelson, Mark Daniels. These Mai! 

shows have all been good. This was rig 

in with the rest of them. Played Tues., We 

Weather: Cold.—Otto W. Chapek, Annex Th| 

atre, Anamoose, N. D. Rural and small tov 

patronage. 

MONOGRAM 

Hard-Boiled Mahoney (Mono)—Leo Gore 

Huntz Hall, Patti Brill. This is a good pictu 

We played it with a fight picture and eve 

body ate it up. Our manager said it 

the best audience reaction in so: 

Played Mon., Tues. Weather: Cold.—Harlaii 

Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. Small 

town patronage. 

Kilroy Was Here (Mono)—Jackie Cooper, 

Jackie Coogan, Wanda McKay. Played on a 

double bill with satisfactory results. A little 

more comedy would have made it an extra 

hit. Played Fri., Sat.—James C. Balkcom jr., 

Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. Small town patronage. 

* * * 

Land of the Lawless (Mono)—Johnny Mack 

Brown, Raymond Hatton, Christine Mclntire. 

This was better than the average Johnny 

Mack Brown western. He was shooting and 

fighting all the way through this one and 

that's what they like, but business was below 

average. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Cold.- 

James E. Davis, Rialto Theatre, Bennington, 

Okla. Rural and small town patronage. * * 

Louisiana (Mono)—Jimmie Davis, Margaret 

Lindsay, John Gallaudet. Everybody liked 

this picture here, so it must be good. I think 

it is one of the best pictures of the year, 

with better than average draw.—L. Brazil jr., 

New Theatre, Bearden, Ark. Small town patronage. 

* • 

Violence (Mono)—Nancy Coleman, Michael 

BOXOFHCE BookinGuide :: Jan. 10, 1948

— 

Emory Parnell. Monogram played me 

a sucker on this one. It isn't worth more 

ordinary B features and I gave top 

tal. It has little to offer in the way of 

tainment. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: 

,—Rahl and Hanson, California Theatre, 

an, Calif. Small town and rural paage. 

* * 

PARAMOUNT 

icae of Noon (Para)—Anne Baxter, William 

Aden, Sonny Tufts. This is a nice program 

,re that went over okay. Played Mon., 

Wed. Weather: Cold.—Harland Ran- 

Joy Theatre, Bothwell, Ont. Small town 

onage. • • 

^Danger Street (Para)—Jane Withers, Robn 

Lowery, Elaine Riley. Just another crime 

bow without any boxoffice appeal. Played 

fanday. Weather: Okay.—D. W. Trisko, Ritz 

neatre, Jerome, Ariz. Mining patronage. * * 

uger Street (Para)—Jane Withers, Rob- 

Lowery, Bill Edwards. A fair programmer 

bought right for the other half of a 

ekend double bill. The picture was okay 

the spot, with no comments either way, 

"agin." Played Fri., Sat. Weather: 

-Mayme P, Musselman, Roach Theatre, 

aln, Kas. Small town patronage. » • 

Come, Easy Go (Para)—Barry Fitzild, 

Diana Lynn, Sonny Tufts. This is okay 

the weather was against us (I miss Flor- 

|l). You lucky exhibitors down south won't 

have funds to travel this year. Played 

IS 

Sat. Weather: Cold.—Harland Rankin, 

Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. General patronaperiect 

Lady (Para)—Ray Milland, Teresa 

fright, Sir Cedric Hardwicke. They should 

have dropped this in the English channel. 

These English pictures are no go here and 

I wouldn't walk across the street for one 

myself. Milland will be a dead duck if they 

continue to put him in this type of picture. 

Played Tues., Wed. Weather: Cold.—Otto W. 

Chapek, Annex Theatre, Anamoose, N. D. 

Rural and small town patronage. » • 

Perfect Marriage. The (Para) — Loretta 

Young, David Niven, Eddie Albert. Not a 

perfect picture, by any means. A big letdown 

after seeing Loretta Young in "The 

Farmer's Daughter." I should have made this 

•he top half of a double bill. Played Wednes- 

"T/. Weather: Good.—Lloyd Lafond, Rimrk 

Theatre, Winnett, Mont. Small town and 

rural patronage. 

Suddenly It's Spring (Para)—Paulette God- 

; 

dard, Fred MacMurray, Macdonald Carey. 

This picture drew, due no doubt to its star 

oppeal. It is very silly and the plot is practically' 

nil. Macdonald Carey saved the picture 

from being a complete flop. Played 

Thursday. Weather: Cold.—Marcella Smith, 

Vinton Theatre, McArthur, Ohio. Small town 


Variety Girl (Para)—Mary Hatcher, Olga 

San Juan, DeForest Kelley. best 

One of the 

all-star pictures ever made. My patrons want 

to hear Alan Ladd sing again. His number 

with Dorothy Lamour stole the show. Played 

Wed., Thurs.—James C. Balkcom jr., Gray Theatre, 

Gray, Ga. Small town patronage. * * 

RKO RADIO 

Code of the West (RKO)—James Warren, 

Debra Alden, John Laurenz. This is what they 

like—lots of good old shooting with the 

villain getting his just dues. Business good. 

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

Harland Rankin, Joy Theatre, Bothwell, Ont. 

General patronage. » * * 

Fun and Fancy Free (RKO)—Edgar Bergen, 

Dinah Shore, Charlie McCarthy. Very good 

for the kids but adults didn't seem to care 

for it. Not very nice weather to judge the 

drawing power, but we had plenty of seats left 

for any late comers. Nice color and a novelty 

that is worth the time on midweek. Played 

Tues. through Thurs. Weather: Cold and 

^ 

snowing.—Mayme P. Musselman, Roach Theatre, 

Liftcoln, Kas. Small town oatronage. * * * 

Honeymoon (RKO)—Shirley Temple, Franchot 

Tone, Guy Madison. A weak story that 

played to fair business here. It was Temple's 

first picture here in years. Played 'Wed., 

Thurs. Weather: Good.—E. J. Petersen, Cozy 

Theatre, Jeffers, Minn. Rural and small town 

patronage. 

• 

Nevada (RKO)—Robert Mitchum, Anne Jeffreys. 

This is another Zone Grey's westerns 

with Robert Mitchum in the leading role. We 

had good crowds to see this and the probable 

reason for it was that Robert Mitchum was 

a great hit in "Pursued." This should be put 

on a double bill but we put three shorts on 

and they pleased the patrons. Played Fri., 

Weather: Fine.—George MacKenzie, York 

Sat. 

Theatre, Hantsport, N. S. Small town patronage. 

* 

HiU-Rail (RKO)—Pat O'Brien, Walter Slezak, 

Anne Jeffreys. The average melodrama which 

played to average business on Fri., Sat. It is 

nothing to brag about, but it got by.—E. M. 

Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. 


Sinbad the Sailor (RKO)—Douglas Fairbanks 

jr., Maureen O'Hara, Walter Slezak. 

This picture didn't go over so big. However, 

a Christmas party by the Legion helped. The 

weather and the bad roads hurt business. 

Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather: Cold and 

snow.—Harland Rankin, Erie Theatre, Wheatley, 

Ont. General patronage. * * * 

Sinbad the Sailor (RKO)—Douglas Fairbanks 

jr., Maureen O'Hara, Walter Slezak. 

This picture was enjoyed by young and old 

alike. Comments were good. Special mentiqn 

was made of the color. Played Saturday. 

Weather: Clear and cold.—J. E. Rougeau, Club 

Steady Customer Gripes 

About Advanced Prices 

THE following letter was received by 

Theo Routt of the Long Theatres, Inc. 

of Dallas, from the manager in Palacios, 

Tex., and forwarded to BOXOFFICE to 

show public reaction to roadshow prices: 

'In the course of the last three weeks, 

at some one of your theatres I have seen 

'Dear Ruth,' 'Cynthia,' and "Life With 

Father.' Let me thank you here for giving 

me the opportunity of enjoying these 

entertainments. 

"As an organization which has been 

furnishing high class entertainment for 

many years, can you honestly say of the 

three mentioned productions that any 

one is worth three times the admission 

that either of the other two is worth? 

All three were excellently written, cast 

and produced—the kind of entertainment 

audiences enjoy and from which they receive 

a real pickup. 

'T. T. Barnum told us that one was 

born every minute—we ate it up. Tex 

Guinan welcomed ns with 'Hello, sucker.' 

We patted her on the back. 

"Not so the movie industry. At a time 

when many influences are trying to halt 

inflation, when the radio is requesting aid 

for the March of Dimes, help for the 

stricken in Europe, assistance for the 

Good Fellows program (all worthy appeals), 

the industry decides: 'Let's get our 

cut of this easy money. With people all 

over the country waiting to see the movie 

version of one of the widest-known plays, 

with little plugging necessary, we can 

take our customers for a ride—they will 

pay anything to see Xife With Father.' 

"Cheap, cheap, cheap! 

"Little things like this so persistently 

recurring, definitely affect the sympathies 

of all—Americans, Africans, Asiatics, and 

Arabians, when difficulties such as Palestine 

arise."—A. C. Morris, Box 643, 

Palacios, Tex. (Still a Steady Customer.) 

Theatre, Seven Sisters Falls, Man. Small town 

and rural patronage. * * 

WSong of the South (RKO)—Ruth Warrick, 

Bobby Driscoll, James Baskett. A fine picture 

that appealed to all classes and types of patrons. 

The color is beautiful and the sound 

was good. However, it had played everywhere 

within a radius of 50 miles and it rained 

the second night, so I played to average business. 

You still can't go wrong on this one. 

Played Sun., Mon. Weather: One good, one 

bad.— I. Roche, Vernon Theatre, Vernon, Fla. 

Small town and rural 

patronage. 

REPUBLIC 

Affairs of Geraldine (Rep)—Jane Withers, 

James Lydon, Raymond Walburn. This is a 

good little show for a double bill. Jane Withers 

is dead here as far as business draw is 

concerned. Played Sunday. Weather: Okay. 

—D. W. Trisko, Ritz Theatre, Jerome, Ariz. 

Mining patronage. * * 

Along the Oregon Trail (Rep)—Monte Hale, 

Adrian Booth, Clayton Moore. A very good 

western with exceptionally good color. Trucolor 

seems as if it gets better in each picture 

Republic puts out. The kids ate this picture 

up, with all the Indians and plenty of gunfighting, 

romance and comedy from Max Terhune, 

and "Elmer." Played with "Conquest 

of Cheyenne," on Fri., Sat. Weather: Cold. 

R. V. Dinkle and W. W. LeMaster, Midway 

Theatre, Midway, Ky. Rural and small town 


Bells of San Angelo (Rep)—Roy Rogers, Dale 

Evans, Andy Devine. Good western, fair 

color, that didn't draw as well as the others 

but weather and the Christmas slump are 

cutting in right now. Some nice music and 

songs, with a lot of action, shooting and fighting, 

that will wake the boys up and make 

them shuffle their cowboy boots. Played Fri., 

Sat. Weather: Cold.—Mayme P. Musselman, 

Roach Theatre, Lincoln, Kas. Small town patronage. 

* * * 

Santa Fe Oprising (Rep)—Allan Lane, Bobby 

Blake, Martha Wentworth. This is the first of 

the Red Ryder series I've played without William 

Elliott. This Ryder series has always 

been as good at the boxoffice as Roy Rogers, 

but this time it was below average. Played 

Fri., Sat.—James C. Balkcom jr.. Gray Theatre, 

Gray, Ga. Small town patronage. * * * 

Utah (Rep)—Roy Rogers, Dale Evans. Rogers 

always draw's here, but this one darned-near 

set a house record, excluding Sunday. Plenty 

in it to please Rogers' fans and plenty otherwise. 

Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Good.—E. J. 

Petersen, Cozy Theatre, Jeffers, Minn. Rural 

* 

and small town patronage. 

20th CENTURY-FOX 

Alexander's Ragtime Band (20th-Fox)—Reissue. 

Tyrone Power, Alice Faye, Don Ameche. 

Here is a mighty good picture that did 'way 

below average business for us. The few who 

saw it said it was swell. Played Fri., Sat. 

Weather: Cold.—Orin J. Sears, Apache Theatre, 

Elida, N. M. Small town and rural patronage. 

* * 

I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (20th-Fox) 

June Haver, Mark Stevens, Martha Stewart. 

About the best but we hit an ice storm that 

stopped everything for about a week, so we 

will have to return it some time to see how 

the picture draws with a decent break in 

weather. Very nice color and the few whc 

saw the picture were loud in their praise. 

Played Tues. through Thurs.—Mayme P. Musselman, 

Roach Theatre, Lincoln, Kas. Small 

town patronage. * * * 

Margie (20th-Fox)—Jeanne Grain, Glenn 

Langan, Lynn Bari. This is a good comedy 

and nice Technicolor but didn't take at the 

boxoffice. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Cold. 

—Rahl and Hanson, California Theatre, Kerman, 

Calif. Small town and rural patronage. 

Mother Wore Tights (20th-Fox)—Betty Gra- 

(Continued on page 14) 

* 

-BOXOFnCE BookinGuide :: Jan. 10, 1948

1 CMtt 

I 

i 

FEATURE CHART 

f" ly. B^V 

release date. Production number is at right. Number in parentheses is running tim o, 

furnished by home office of distributor; checkup with local exchanges is recommei )i 

R—is review date. PG—is Picture Guide page number. Symbol U indicates BOXOF ;e 

Blue Ribbon Award Winner. Symbol O indicates color photography. 

MARCH 15 

(66) W«tem 745 (64) Drimi SP72 

|§ 

RANGE BEYOND 

THE BLUE 

UNTAMED FURY 

B—Apr. 6—Pa-808 

B—Mar. 15—PO-802 

^ 

(1*0) Drima 103 

ADVENTURESS 

B—Mm. IB—PQ-8tl 

MARCH 22 

^ 

p-(?4l—dJSTTD (71) DriDi £14 

FALL GUY 

THE GUILTY 

Penn 

Bonita GrinTlllt 

Teala Lorlnc 

Don Castle 

Robert Annstrong 

John Lltel 

B—Uir. 22—F0-8M 

(70) Dri04 0.4 (B7) Western 864 

DAUGHTER 

|7] 

WEST OF DODGE CITY 

MILLIE'S 

R—Mar. 8—PO-798 R—Mar. 29—PG-808 

(95) My«-Dr 833 

JOHNNY O'CLOCK 

Dick PoweU 

Evelyn Keyes 

B—Jan. 18—P0-T81 

^ 

|i| (88) Eom-COB 4608 

SUDDENLY IT'S 

SPRING 

Paulette Goddard 

Fred MacMurray 

Macdonald Carey 

Arleen Whelan 

R—Feb. IB—Pa-789 

^ 

MARCH 29 

(79) Outdr-Dr 809 

KING OF THE WILD 

HORSES 

B—Mar. 22—P0-8M 

1^ (71) Drama 104 

LOST HONEYMOON 

Franchot Tone 

R—Mar. 15—PG-8»1 

^ 

(94) Wertero i 

LAST OF THE 

MOHICANS 

(2^ (58) Western 676 

TRAILING DANGER 

Johnny Mack BrowD 

Raymond Hatton 

Peggy Wynn« 

^ 

(73) Drama 4620 

SEVEN WERE SAVED 

Richnrd Denning 

Catherine Craig 

Russell Hayden 

R—Mar. 1—Pa-795 

APRIL 5 

nr] (641 Drama 715 

THREE ON A TICKET 

Hugh Beaumont 

Cheryl Walker 

Paul Bryar 

Ralph Dunn 

B—Apr. 12—PO-808 

[T| (103) Musical 718 

yiT HAPPENED IN 

BROOKLYN 

Frank Bhiatra 

Jimmy Durante 

Kathryn Grayson 

Peter Lawford 

[5] (65) Western 68 

SIX GUN SERENADE 

Jimmy Wakely 

Lee "Lasses" White 

m (87) Comedy 4609 

MY FAVORITE 

BRUNETTE 

Bob Hope 

Dorothy Lam our 

Peter Lorre 

Lon Chaney 

R—Feb. 22—PG-791 

.Arthur Lake 

Larry Slmms 

R—Mar. 8— PO-798 

g 

(«1) Wegtem 746 

WEST TO GLOBY 

Eddie Dun 

B—May 3—P0-8ie 

g 

(62) Mystery 707 

PHILO VANCE'S 

GAMBLE 

R—May 3—PG-816 

[u] (92) Drama 719 

LITTLE MR. JIM 

Butch Jenkins 

Craig 

Frances Gifford 

R—June 16—Pa-7J» 

(72) Drama 615 

IH] 

VIOLENCE 

.Nancy Coleman 

.Michael O'Shea 

R—Apr. 19—PG-812 

Rosalind Russell 

Melvyn Douglas 

Sid Caesar 

R—Mar. 8—PO-T98 

[19] (63) Drama 702 

THE BIG FIX 

James Brovm-Shella Ryan 

R—May 12—PG-817 

Allied Artists 

iij] (115) Comedy AAl 

IT HAPPENED ON 

FIFTH AVENUE 

Don DeFore 

Hiirdlng 

Victor Moore 

R—Feb. 8—PQ-788 

Pine-Thomas Prod. 

|8] (72) Drama 4621 

FEAR IN THE NIGHT 

Paul Kelly 

Kay Scott 

DePorest Kelley 

.Ann Doran 

R—Mar. 1—PG-795 

(82) Drama 834 

FRAMED 

Glenn Ford-Jants Carter 

R_Mar. 8—PG-798 

^ 

(55) Western 867 

LAW OF THE CANYON 

Starrett-Burnette 

26] (38-39) Wester 

SIX BRONCO 

BUCKAROO REISSUES 

4 Kith Buster Crabbe 

and Fuzzy St. John 

2 with Tm O'Brieo a 

Jim NewUl 

p] (123) Drama 720 [2] (911 Dra. C 

SEA OF GRASS HIGH BARBARI 

Spencer Tracy 

Van Johnson 

Katharine Hepburn June Allyson 

Robert Walker 

Claude Jarman j 

.Melvyn Douglas 

Thomas Mitchell 

R—Feb. 16—PO-790 R—Mar. 16—PO 1 

^ (59) Western 

LAND OF THE LAWLESS 

lohnny Mack Brown 

Raymond Hatton 

Chrlstln* Mclntyrr 

j^ (97) Drama 4610 

MPERFECT LADY 

Ray Milland 

Teresa Wright 

S'irginia Field 

Sir Cedrlc Hardwickt 

R—Mar 16—PO-802 

MAY 

[T] (69) Dra 

FOR THE LOV 1 

RUSTY 

Ted 

fom 

DonaltlsoD 

Powers 

[i] (73) Dram f. 

QUEEN OF THE «( 

Charles Blckford 

Irene Blck 

[2] (81) Dram 

BLAZE OF NOOi 

Anne Baxter 

William Holden 

Sonny Tufts 

Wtlllam Bendli 

Sterling Hayden 

(971 Com-Dr 716 

tSTHE FARMER'S 

DAUGHTER 

Lorelta Young 

Joseph Cotten 

Ethel Barrymore 

R—Feb. 22—PO-792 


TRAIL STREET 

Randolph Scott 

Robert Byan 

Anne Jeffreys 

B—Mar. 1—PO-704 

Group 4 


CODE OF THE WEST 

Warren 

Debra Alden 

Mar S—PO-799 

Group 5 

(72) Adventure 7 

fARZAN AND THE 

HUNTRESS 

ohnny WeissmuUer 

Brenda Joyce 

lohn Sheffield 

R—Mar. 29—PG-806 

Group 5 

(89) Crirae.ly 7', 

A LIKELY STOR 

Barbara Hale 

Bill WlUJams 

R—Apr. 19—PG-j 

_ 

(60) Wertem HC07 

RUSTLER'S VALLEY 

am Bo;d 

George 

Hayes 

(90) Muilcal 610 

(58) Outdoor 664 

(T| jT] (71) West-Mus 683 

III 

TWILIGHT ON THE HOMESTEADERS OF 

HIT PARADE OF 1947 

GRANDE 

PARADISE VALLEY 

Eddie Albert 

RIO 

Constance Moore 

Gene 

Lane 

R—May 3—PQ-818 

Allan 

R—Apr. 26—PG-813 

Autry 

Adele Mara 

Holloway 

[l] (71) Com-Dr 611 

Sterlhig 

R—Apr. 19—PG-811 YANKEE FAKIR 

R—Apr. 12—PO-810 

[a] (74) Outdr-Dr 4614 

BELLS OF SAN 

FERNANDO 

Donald Woods 

Gloria Warren 

B—Apr. 5—PG-807 

i|l (78) Mus-West 64; 

3BELLS OF SAN 

ANGELO 

(toy Rogers-Dale Evans 

May 31—PG-824 

ra (70) Outdr-Dr 4613 

BUFFALO BILL RIDES 

AGAIN 

Richard 

Jennifer 

R—Apr. 

Arlen 

Holt 

5—PQ-807 

24] (66) Drama 612 

SPOILERS OF THE 

ORTH 

Paul Kelly 

Booth 

Adrian 

Evelyn Ankers 

R—May 12—PO-817 

26] (71) Western HC09 

PARTNERS OF THE 

PLAINS 

VllUam Boyd 

Harvey (nark 


[3] (65) Horror-Dl 

©SCARED TO Dl 

Joyce Compton 

Douglas Fowley 

(66) Drama 71 

BACKLASH 

)eun Rogers 

Richard Travll 

Larry Blake 

Jobn Eadredge 

Leonard Strong 

R—Mar. 29—PG-805 

(96) Musical 710 

3CARNIVAL IN COSTA 

RICA 

Dick Haymes 

Vera-Ellen 

Cesar Romero 

Celeste Holm 

R—Mar. 20—PG-806 

89) Drama 71 

THE LATE GEORGE 

APLEY 

Ronald Colman 

Peggy Cummins 

Vanessa Brovvn 

Richard Haydn 

Ch.irles 

Feb. 

Russell 

8—PG-788 

(76) Drama 7 

N OEMETRIO, 

LONDON 

Walter Fitzgerald 

Mervyn Johns 

Ralph Michael 

Robert Beatty 

harlea Victor 

R—Apr. 5—PO-808 

(93) Comedy 

FUN ON A WEEKEND 

Eddie Bracken 

Prlscllla Lane 

B—June 14—PG-830 

^ (89) Drami 

THE MACOMBER 

AFFAIR 

Gregory Peck 

Joan Bennett 

Robert Preston 

R—Jan. 25—PG-I84 

|28| (69) Western 

UNEXPECTED GUEST 

WUliam Boyd 

R— Dec. 14—PO-772 

s] (98) Musical 

EW ORLEANS 

rturo de Cordova 

Dorothy Patrick 

R—May 3— PG-816 

[2] (94) Outdr-Dr 

RAMROD 

Joel McCrea 

Veronica Lake 

Don DeFore 

Donald Crisp 

R—Mar. 1—PQ-ri 

(103) Drama 609 

SMASH-UP 

Lee Bovtman 

Susan Uayward 

Marsha Hunt 

Eddie Albert 

Carl Esmond 

R_Feb. 16—PG-r89 

(103) Drama 611 

©STAIRWAY TO 

HEAVEN 

David Nlven-Klm Hunte 

R—Dec. 21—PO-77S 

(94) Outdoor Drama 

DESTRY RIDES AGAIN 

Dletrlch-Slewart 

(70) West-Dr 610 

©MICHIGAN KID 

Jon Hall 

Victor McLaglen 

^ 

(84) Coo-Dr 616 

THAT WAY WITH 

WOMEN 

Dane (Hark 

Martha 

Sydney 

R—Feb. 

Vlckers 

Greenstreet 

22—PG-791 

(75) Comedy Sl2 

BUCK PRIVATES 

COME HOME 

Bud Abbott 

Lou Costello 

Pom Brown 

Joan Fulton 

B—Mar. 16—PG-802 

(73) Comedy 2793 

YOU CANT CHEAT AN 

HONEST MAN 

W. C. Fields 

Edgar Bergen 

Charlie McCartliy 

2] (97) Drama 

TALLION ROAD 

Ronald Reagan 

Alerls Smith 

Zacbary Scott 

R—Mar. 29—PO-8 

(78) Drama 2794 

STOLE A MILLION 

(ieorge 

Claire 

Victor 

Raft 

Trevor 

Jory 

|2S] (109) Drama 618 

THE SEA HAWK 

Errol Flynn-Claude Ratas 

(87) Drama 619 

gU 

(HE SEA WOLF 

Edward Q. Robinson 

Ida Luplno-John Garfield 

(88) Drama 

TIME OUT OF "" 

Phyllis Calvert 

Robert Hutton 

Ella Raines 

B—Mar. 22—PG-gt 

LOVE AND LEARN 

lack Carson 

Robert Huttiiii 

^Hartha VicltiTs 

Janls Paige 

R—Mar. 29—PG-«( 

C/] (98) Drami 

< CHEERS FOR * 

BISHOP 

Martha 

Scott 

(72) Comedy Reissue 

FLYING DEUCES 

(60) West Reissue 

GHOST TOWN 

Harry Carey 

(57) i-l)r 

(70) Com (New Rel) 

IT PAYS TO BE FUNNY 

Bob Hope 

Milton Berle 

Bert Lakr 

(89) Belssne 

JIMMY STEPS OUT 

Jimmy 

Stewart 

(67) Mus (New Rel) 

REET. PETITE AND 

GONE 

Louis Jordan 

June Richmond 

(67) Musical Reissue 

ROAD TO HOLLYWOOD 

Bhig Crosby 

R—Mar. 1—P0-T9S 

(100) Drama Reissue 

SCARFACE 

Paul Muni 

George Raft 

(86) Mus-Dr Belssur 

SECOND CHORUS 

Paulette Goddard 

Fred Astalre 

(55) M-Dr (New Rel) 

STAIRWAY FOR A STAR 

Cornel WUde 

(68) O'd-Dr (New Bell 

WHITE STALLION 

Eddie 

Dean 

BOXOFHCE BookinGuide :: Jan. 10, 1948

' 

NTER 

1 

^- 

rMAY 10 

FWestnn 752 

>EU 

U 

CHECK RUNNING TIME WITH LOCAL EXCHANGES 

^ 

MAY 17 


BULLDOG DRUMMOND 

AT BAY 

Hon Kandell 

Anita Louise 

Vti O'Moore 

I!— May la—PG-818 

Sutbero 

Barry Nelson 

8—June 7—PO-826 

Reissues 

MAY 24 

|2i) (111) Drama 733 

CORSICAN BROTHERS 

Douglas Falrbanki Jr. 

Aklm Tamlroff 

|4| (60) Drama 716 

TOO MANY WINNERS 

K—JuneT— PO-828 

g 

MAY 31 


m 

THE abrth 

BerCTdT 

(83) Comedy ReUsue 

THE GHOST GOES 

WEST 

Bobert Donat 


HENRY THE EIGHTH 

Charles Laugbton 

Bobert Donat 

Marl* Oberon 


THE MAN WHO COULD 

WORK MIRACLES 

Boland Young 

Joan Gardner 

(78) Mystery 

THE PATIENT 

VANISHES 

B—May 31—PO-828 

THE RETURN OF THE 

SCARLET PIMPERNEL 

Barry 

Barnes 


SCARLET PIMPERNEL 

Merle 

Leslie 

Oberon 

Howard 


THAT HAMILTON 

WOMAN 

Vivien Leigh 

Laurence Ollrter 


THINGS TO COME 

Baymond Massey 

Margaretta Scott

I 

I 

MUTINY 

I 

I 

FEATURE CHART 


JULY 5 

g (56) Western : 

STRANGER FROM 

PONCA CITY 

liarles Starrett 

Smiley Burnette 

Virginia Hunter 

It—July 5—Pa-835 

JULY 12 JULY 19 

[Jo] (68) Drama 803 (87) Drama 

KEEPER OF THE BEES ©GUNFIGHTERS 

.Micliael Duane 

Itandoluh Scott 

Gloria Henry 

Barbara Brltton 

Harry Davenport 

R-July 6—PO-835 

JULY 26 

AUGUST 2 

AUGUST 9 

g (77) Drama S37 [7] (69) 

©LAST OF THE THE SON OF RUSTY 

Ted Donalds 

Stephen Dunne 

Michael O'Shea 

Ann Doran 

Evelyn Ankers R—Aug. 16—PG-848 

R—Aug. 2—PG- 

AUGUST 16 

[h] (55) Western 

RIDERS OF THE 

LONE STAR 

Charles Starrett 

Smiley Burnette 

Virginia Hunter 

AUGuji 

@ (67) Mus-^ 

SMOKY RIVE*' 

SERENADE 

Hoosier HotshoB 

Paul CampI " 

Ruth Terry 

R—Aug. 

[i| (64) Comedy 711 

GAS HOUSE KIDS GO 

WEST 

Chill Williams 

Gas House Kids 

William Wright 

R—July 26—PG-841 

|6] (58) Western 754 

GHOST TOWN RENE- 

GADES 

Al "Lash" LaKue 

Al "Fuzzy" St. John 

Jennifer Holt 

" 

Aug. 9—PG-845 

^ 

(81) Drama 1 

RED STALLION 

Robert Paige 

Noreen Nash 

—July 26—PO-841 

g (63) 

GAS HO1ISE 

I 

HOLLYWOOI a/ood} 

Carl "Alfalfa' alfa"! 

Benny Bartlett 

1 

Itlcardo Montalban 

Mary Astor 

Cyd Charlsse 

It—June 14—PQ-830 

g 

Reprint 

(103) Musical 723 

THE GREAT WALTZ 

Luise Ralner 

Fernand Gravet 

(115) Drama T, 

THE HUCKSTERS 

Clark Gable 

Deborah Kerr 

Keenan Wynn 

Sydney Greenstreet 

R—June 28—PG-843 

(106) Drama 7 

ROMANCE OF ROSY 

RIDGE 

Van Johnson 

Janet Leigh 

>r| (70) Drama 

IDILLINGEB 

!nce Tierney 

flT) (83) Drama 

IN THE BIG 

HOUSE 

ICIiarles 

Bickfnrd 

[T| (96) Com-Dr 4615 

©PERILS OF PAULINE 

Belly Hutton 

John Lund 

William Demarest 

It—May 24—PG-822 

(i9] (68) Comedy 62 

KILROY WAS HERE 

lackle Cooper 

Jackie Coogan 

Wanda McKay 

It—July 5—PC-835 

lis] (95) Comedy 4616 

DEAR RUTH 

loan Caulfield 

William Holden 

Edward Arnold 

BUly De Wolfe 

R—May 31—PC-824 

(42) Docum 

] 

THUNDERBOLT 

mes Stewart 

H 

(63) Drama 4624 

COVER BIG TOWN 

Philip Reed 

Hillary Brooke 

Robert Lowery 

R—Mar. 1—PG-795 

(106) Drama TS (95) Drama 4617 

^WELCOME STRANGER giiESERT FURY 

g (67) M 

JUNGLE 

Blng Crosby 

FLIGHT 

Lizabeth Scott 

Robert Lowery 

Barry titzgerald 

^,„^„ „„ji„|, 

Anil Savage 

Joan Caulfield 

Burt Lancaster 

!—April 26—PG-814 

-PG-844 

Group 6 

(73) Dri 

DESPERATE 

Steve Brodie 

Audrey Long 

I!—May 17- 

(5S) 

U—July 

Westei 

12—PG-837 

[3] (71) Drama 6 

Group 6 

" (60) Drama 

DICK TRACY'S 

DILEMMA 

ilalph Byrd 

Ivay Christopher 

Ian Keith 

May 24—PC- 

(l|] (75) Western 

©SPRINGTIME IN THE 

SIERRAS 

Roy Rogers-Jane Frazee 

' 

iig. 2—PG-843 

fiH (71) Western 681 

NHOOD OF TEXA; 

R—Sept. 13—PG-855 

Group 6 

(60) Western T: 

THUNDER MOUNTAII 

Tim Holt 

Martha Hyer 

Richard Martin 

R—May 24—PO 822 

^ (67) Dran 

BLACKMAIL 

William Marshall 

Adele Mara 

R—Aug. 16— P' 

Group 6 

(95) Mys-Dr 72 

THEY WON'T BELILV 

ME 

Robert Young 

Susan Hayward 

Rita Johnson 

R—May 17—PG-820 

(84) Outd'r-Dr 618 

WYOMING 

Vera Ralston 

William Elliott 

John Carroll 

R—Aug. 2—PG-843 

(80) D 

RIFF-RAFF 

Group 1 


UNDER THE TONTO 


(jI 

MARSHAL OF CRIPPLE 

CREEK 

Ian Lane-Bobby Bla 

R—Aug. 23—PO-849 

69) Drama 620 

THE PRETENDER 

ug. 

30—rG-85 

SEVEN KEYS TO 

BALDPATE 

Phillip Terry 

Trevor 

R—June 7—PI 

Jenkins 

a Blake 

in 3—PQ-888 

Reissue 

ll^ (65) Western HC12 

BAR 20 JUSTICE 

(40) Mys-Com 4618 

CASE OF THE BABY 

SITTER 

Tom Neal 

Allen Jenkins 

Pamela Blake 

[2] (71) Com-Dr 4702 

KILLER DILL 

Stuart Erwln 

Anne Gwynne 

Prank Albertson 

R—May 17—PG-819 

(99) Drama 72 

MEET ME AT DAWN 

William Byt,he 

Hazel Court 

Margaret 

(76) Drama 722 

THE CRIMSON KEY 

Kent Taylor 

Doris Howling 

"! Hoey 

Louise Dirrie 

R—July 12—PO-838 

(104) Musical 723 

WONDER WHO'S 

©I 

KISSING HER NOV 

June Haver 

Mark Stevens 

Martha Stewart 

Reginald Gardiner 

21—PG-832 

" 

;me 

(l9| (96) Drama 

THE OTHER LOVE 

Barbara Stanwyck 

Darld NIven 

)r 12—PG-810 

HsI (60) Western 

HOPPY'S HOLIDAY 

William Boyd 

Andy Clyde 

- "ay 24—PO-821 

:i33) Musical 

CARNEGIE HALL 

William Prince 

Marsha Hunt 

Concert stars 

R—Mar. 8—PG-797 

(98) Drama 62 

BRUTE FORCE 

Burt 

Lancaster 

Rûne 2» -PO-833 

©SLAVE GIRL 

Yvonne De Carlo 

George Brent 

July 26—PQ-842 

(5] (109) Drama 6 

THE UNFAITHFUL 

Ann Sheridan 

Zachary Scott 

l.,'w Ayrcs 

I!—May 31—PO-834 

|26] (108) Drama ( 

POSSESSED 

Joan Crawford 

Van Hen in 

Raymond Massey 

Oernldlne Brooks 


Reissues 

[9] (81) Drama 626 

MARKED WOMAN 

Belte Davls-H. Bngart 

[?] (87) Dnima 627 

DUST BE MY DESTINY 

John Garfield ^ 

[ie] (84) Drama 61 

CRY WOLF 

Errol Flynn 

Barbara Stanwyck 

Geraldlne Brooks 

R—July 12—Pn-837 

(140) Drama 

©DUEL IN THE SUN 

Jennifer Jones 

Gregory Peck 

Joseph Gotten 

Lionel Barrymore 

R—Jan. 11—PG-780 

(80) Melodrama 

Four Cont. 

MURDER IN REVERSE 

R—Jan. 4—PG-778 

Eng. Films 

MAN FROM MOROCCO 

R—Jan. 4— PO-778 

(40) Doc-Dr 

Eng. Films 

DIARY FOR TIMOTHY 

R—Jan. 18-PG-782 

(110) Drama 

Prestige 

THIS HAPPY BREED 

R— Apr. 19—PG-811 

(83) Myst Dr 

Devonshire 

GREEN COCKATOO 

John Mills 

R—Aug. 9—PG-846 

(48) Drama 

Bell Pict. Corp. 

GIRL ON THE CANAL 

R—Nov. 

29—PG-877 

(68) Docum Dr 

(61) Docum Dr 

Eng, Films 

CHILDREN ON TRIAL 

R—Nov, 29—PO-S78 

BOXOFHCE BookinGuide :: Jan. 10. 1948

jGUST 30 

fMystery 7 

KNCE'S 

MISSION 


SEPTEMBER 

|T] (65) Myslery 821 

BULLDOG DRUMMOND 

STRIKES BACK 

Hon Handell 

Gloria Henry 

li—Aug. 2:1— PO-850 

[e] (ST) Mystery 8C 

THE ARNELO AFFAI 

.lohn Ilodlak 

(Jeorge Murphy 

h'rances GIfford 

li—Feb. 15—PG-790 

SEPTEMBER 13 SEPTEMBER 20ISEPTEMBER 27 

[l|j (86) Comedy 801 

SONG OF THE THIN 

MAN 

William Powell 

Keenan 

It—Aug. 

Wynn 

2—PG-844 

g 

OCTOBER 4 

(93) Com-Myjt B02 

GREEN FOR DANGER 

S.iJIy (Jrey-lYemr Huwsi 

II— Aug. 16- ril-S48 

[U (118) Drama 802 

©UNFINISHED DANCE 

Margaret O'Brien 

Cyd Charlsse 

Karln Bootb 

R—Aug. 9— PO-84 

FEATURE CHART 

OCTOBER 11 

frudy Marshall 

Immy Lloyd 

I—Sept. 6— Pll 864 

u] (8t) Drani 106 

CARAVAN 

It— Sept. 

6— lM)-85: 

fi] (53) W««taul Kelly 

1— Aug. 23—PO-85* 

Ts] (73) Comedy 4702 

JOE PALOOKA IN THE 

KNOCKOUT 

loc KIrkwood )r 

"Ilyse Knoi 

'-eon Errol 

It—Aug. 

SO—Pn 8B1 

Group 1 

(95) Comeilv 

U'BACHELOR AND 

BOBBY-SOXER 

Cary Grant 

Loy 

Special 

(97) 

THE LONG NIGHT 

Henry Fonda 

Barbara Bel Gedrtes 

Vincent 

R—June 

Price 

7—PG-826 

Special 

(105) Comedy 851 

^©SECRET LIFE OF 

WALTER MITTY 

n—July 

lb— I'G-840 

SpKial 

(73) Corneas t 

aFUN AND FANCY 

FREE 

Sdgar Bergen 

OInah Shore 

i.uana Patten 

TIGHTS 

Betty Grable 

Dan Dailey 

[5] (102) Drama 

LURED 

lleorge Sanders 

Lucille Ball 

Charles Coburn 

It—July 19—PG-839 

[8] (59) Drama 62 

EXPOSED 

\rtele Mara 

ioliert Scott 

t—Sept. 20— PR-S57 

Reissues 

P (55) Drama 

RACKETEERS 

in Foster 

n Douglas 

|I3] (74) Drama S-2 

CALL IT MURDER 

phrey Bogart 

ard Wliort 

(99) 

OF 

-Aug. 

Dnnlevy 

DEATH 

16—PG-847 

|T2| (93) Comedy 

'EAVEN ONLY 

KNOWS 

Uobert Cummlngs 

Brian Donlevy 

Mariorie lievnnlds 

R—Aug. 2—PG-843 

725 

^ (90) Drama 

DRIFTWOOD 

[tilth Warrick 

Waller Brennan 

Dean Jagger 

R—Nov. 15—PG-: 

^ 

Herald 

(Negro) 

(69) Muii-Com X- 

BOY, WHAT A GIRL! 

Tim Moore 

Id Smith 

Sheila Giiyse 

Duke William 

R—Feb. 15—PG-790 

Reissue 

Reissue 

(90 (118) Drama 727 

Drama 

HOW GRFEN WAS M SWAMP WATER 

VALLEY 

Walter 

Pidgeon 

(62) Drai 726 

[T] (89) We»tern 751 

THE WILD FRONTIER 

.^llan "Rocky" Lane 

Eddie Waller 

m (119) Drama 72 

FOXES OF HARROW 

Hex Harrison 

Maureen O'Hara 

Iticbard Haydn 

Victor McLaglen 

Vanessa Brown 

ept. 27—PG-8B9 

(89) Comedy 

MAD WEDNESDAY 

Harold Lloyd 

Frances Ramsden 

R—Feb. 32—PO-792 

n] (78) Dram. 4704 

THE BURNING CROSS 

Hank Daniels 

Vb-glnla Patton 

Power-Darnell 

_ 

(1»8) Drama 741 

IRUMS ALONG THE 

MOHAWK 

laudette Colbert 

123) Comedy 

MONSIEUR VERDOUX 

barles Chaplin 

lartha Raye 

Âpr 2fi— P0-81» 

[le] (75) Outd-r Mus 648 

©ON THE OLD SPAN- 

ISH TRAIL 

Roy Rogers 

Praiee 

And^ Devlne 

—Nov. 1—PO-870 

^ 

i 

(Neuro) 

(79) Majleal X-: 

SEPIA CINDERELLA 

Billy Daniels 

Tondalayo 

Ruble Blakey 

R—Aug. 9—PQ-84B 

If 

(73) Drama 732 

INVISIBLE WALL 

;t. 16—Pn-86B 

II] (111) Drama 730 

NIGHTMARE ALLEY 

le Power 

Blondell 

R—Oct. 18—po-ses 

(90) Drama 

RISTMAS EVE 

Oeorge Ratt 

ieorge Brent 

loan Blondell 

(andolpk Rcoti 

I—Nov. 8—P(l KT 

79) Drama 622 

SINGAPORE 

M.rMiirray 

98) Drama 

FRIEDA 

David Farrar 

Glynis Johns 

Flora Robson 

Aug. 30—PG-852 

101) Drama 

RIDE THE PINK HORSE 

t Montgomery 

Wanda HendrLl 

R—Sept. 20—PO-857 

(78) Comedy 

WISTFUL WIDOW OF 

WAGON GAP 

\bbott & Coslplln 

Marjorle Main 

udrey Young 

—Oct. 4—Pn-862 

(!04) Drama 701 

U] 

DEEP VALLEY 

Ida Ltipino 

Dane Clark 

Wayne Morris 

\UE. 2—PG-843 

|B] (118) Comedy 702 

©LIFE WITH FATHER 

m Powell 

Elizabeth Taylor 

Fdmund Gwenn 

ZaSu Pitts 

ig. 23—PG-SSn 

|i^ (106) Drama 703 

DARK PASSAGE 

Humphrey Bogart 

Lauren Bacall 

Bruce Bennett 

Agnes Moorehead 

Tom D' Andrea 

Sept. 6—PG-854 

T| (71) Drama 70' 

IAD MEN OF MISSOUR 

). Morgan-J. Wyman 

(84) Drama 70! 

J] 

:ACH dawn I DIE 

Cagney-Raft 

n) (lOS) Drama 706 

"HE UNSUSPECTED 

oan Cauirield 

laude Ralnp 

\udrey Totter 

Hurd H.atrieirt 

Sept. 20— PO-giss 

l)g 

(89) Fant-Com 

Vog Film 

FRANCIS THE FIRST 

R—Jan. 25—PG-784 

(112) Melodrama 

Azteca 

Rnnerfilm 

BEFORE HIM ALL 

ROME TREMBLED 

R—Mar. .S—PG-SOO 

(87) Mus-Com 

CAGE OF 

NIGHTINGALES 

R_Mar. 8— PG-800 

(85) Drama 

A.F.E. 

ANGEL AND SINNER 

It—Mar. S— PG.800 

(95) Drama 

Oxford 

TORMENT 

R—May 10—P0-S18 

(90) Comedy 

nistin'Tulshed 

HER FIRST AFFAIR 

R—Mav l.î-PG-801 

(110) Opera-Com 

Excelsior 

BARBER OF SEVILLE 

QUEEN'S 

R—M.iy 

NECKLACE 

31—PG-829 

(90) Drama 

Film Riu'hls Int'l 

TWO ANONYMOUS 

LETTERS 


(91) Drama 

Superfllm 

THE LITTLE MARTYR 

R_,Iune 7—PG-S2S 

(68) Documentary 

Artklno 

NUREMBERG TRIALS 

R—June 7—PO-827 

(95) Drama 

THE BELLMAN 

R—June 7—P0-8JT

I 

BOXOFnCE BookinGuide :: Jan. 10, 1948 

FEATURE CHART 

OCTOBER 25 

(101) Musical 93( 

SlDOWN TO tAHTh 

li. Bayworth-L. 

«— A"c 

Parks 

8— PO-844 


|3J 

3WEET GENEVIEVE 

lean Porter 

Jlmm; Lydoo 

8—Sept 20—P0-8BS 

^ 

(71) Drama I 

BURY ME DEAD 

Mark Danleli 

B—Oct 11—PO-8fl4 

^ 

(80) W«t«B I 

BLACK HILLS 

Eddie Dean 

Cloud" 

"Wlilte 

NOVEMBER 1 

Q] (77) Western 9S1 (80) Comedy 9; 

HEK 

LAST ROUNDUP 

HUSBANuS 

AFFAIRS 

lient Auttj 

L. BaU-F. Tone 

Champloo" 

R—Julv 26—P0K41 

lean Heather 

B—Oct. 11—PO-86S [6] (70) Musical 9] 

IWO BLONDES AND 

A REDHEAD 

R—Dec. 27—PG-885 

[T] (67) Oufdr-Dr 

RETURN OF RIN Tl 

NOVEMBER 8 I NOVEMBER 15 

g 

(11») Drama T. 

MAN IN THE IRON 

MASK 

[U (76) 7' Dram 

GENTLEMAN AFTER 

DARK 

g[ (68) Mystery 917 

LuNE WOLF II 

LONDON 

Gerald 

Nancy 

Mohr 

Sauodert 

5§ (8») IJTSI 8 

WHISPERING CITY 

.Mary Anderson 

B—Nof. 22—PO-876 


NOVEMBER 22 (NOVEMBER 29 DECEMBERS I 

^ 

(81) Dram* I 

LOVE FROM A 

STRANGER 

R—Nof. 

16—PG-873 

.Mlcbtllne 

Chelrel 

Si even Geray 

R— llec 1.3— PG-881 

ID (68) Wester* BS2 

SHADOW VALLEY 

EiJdie Dean 

R— Dec. 6—PG-880 

(OS) Comedy 931 

HAD TO BE YOU 

R—Oct. 

25—PG-867 

DEClembI 

[n] (02) Dragg 

LtviL SHIP 

[y) (58) 

CHEYENNE 

OVER 

Lash LaRue 

"t^ 

^ (66) Dram ( 

PRAIRIE EXPRESS 

Jobnn; Mack Brows 

Virginia Belmont 

Baymond Hatton 

_ (91) Di 

DESIRE ME 

Oreer Oanon 

B—Sept. 

27—P0-g6t 

[T] (88) 1 4703 S 

(««) Df* 

LOUISIANA 

KING OF THE 

Got. Jlmmle DaiU BANDITS 

Margaret Lindsay 

QUbert Boland 

B—Aug. 16—PG-847 Angela Greene 

ClirlJ-Pln Martin 

^ 

(06) DriBi 4703 

GOLDEN EARRIIGS 

Bay MUland 

Marlene Dletrlck 

B—Aug. 86—PO-862 

^ (164) 

©THIS TIN 

Jimmy Durante 

Laurlti Melcblor 

Johnny Johnston 

B—Oct. 4—PO-861 

(66) Com-Dr S2 

BOWERY BUCKAROOS 

Gorcey-Bowery Boys 

Allied Artists 

(86) Drama AA3 

THE GANGSTER 

BeliU-B. 

R—Oct. 

Sulllran 

4—PO-8e2 

Slgne Hasso 

William Bendlx 

B^«ct. 11—PO-SM 

d] (163) Dram* 

KILLER McCOY 

Mickey Booney 

Brian Donlery 

[6] (68) Drama 626 

THE CHINESE RING 

Koland Winters 

Lnul-iP Currle 

Dec. 20—PG-884 

[e] (69) Dram* 470S 

BIG TOWN AFTER 

DARK 

Philip Reed 

7 Brooke 

0?. 22—PO-875 

Special 

(103) Comedy 8i 

MAGIC TOWN 

James Stewart 

Jane Wyman 

B—An*. 

80—PQ-8B1 

Special 

Comedy B 

(80) 

MAN ABOUT TOWN 

Maurice Chetaller 

Francois 

Marcelle 

B—Oct. 

Perler 

Deriien 

25—PO-SflT 

Group 2 

(104) Drama 

W/ELL 

REMEMBERED 

(104) Drama 8 

THE FUGITIVE 

Henry Fonda 

Dolores Del Bio 

R—Not. 15—Pa-8r4 

OUT OF THE PAST 

lobert Mltchum 

ane Greer 

R—Not. 22—PO-876 

(CO) Western 

PAINTED DESERT. 

[g] (96) Dram* £24 

THE FABULOUS TEXAN 

William Elliott 

John Carroll 

Catherine McLeod 

Albert Dekker 

B—Not. 16—PO-STS 

§4] (97) Drama 

-•- FLAME 

CarroU 

Vera Ralstoa 

Robert Paige 

Broderick Crawford 

|T| (72) Outd'r-Mus 644 

OGAY RANCHERO 

Roy Rogers 

Tito Guizar 

R—Jan. 10—PC-889 

^ (71) Uyi-Dr 470 

DRAGNET 

Henry WlleoioB 

Mary Brian 

Virilnls Dale 

Oouglan Dumbrllle 

R-^nly IJ—Pa-»8I 

|] (TI) Weetera HC13 

THE FRONTIERSMAN 

WUllam Boyd 

Gabby Hayes 

WUllam Boyd 

Gabby Hayes 


^ (42) Outd'r-Dr 

WHERE THE NOR* 

BEGINS 

Special 

g (140) Drama 733 

OFOREVER AMBER 

Linda Darnell 

Cornel WUde 

RIcbard Greene 

Oorge Sanders 

R—Oct. 18—Pa-868 

(103) Drama 7 

THUNDER IN THE 

VALLEY 

Lon McCalllster 

Edmund Gwenn 

Peggy Ann Gamer 

" "me 14—PO-830 

(99) Drama 7 

DAISY KENYON 

loan Oawterd 

Dana Andrews 

Benry rood* 

Ruth Warrick 

B—Nov. 29—PG-878 

(67) M'd 

ROSES ARE RED 

Don Castle 

Peggy Knudsen 

Patricia Knight 

R_NoT. «—PG-sn 

104) Dram* 

BODY AND SOUL 

John Garfield 

LUli Palmer 

B—Auc 16—PO-848 

(80) Drama-Doc 

THE ROOSEVELT 

STORY 

R—July 11—PQ-Sir 

(90) Drama 

NTRIGUE 

George Raft 

iiinp H«To


FEATtJRE CHART 

feCEMBER 20 

^DllS 

>(NIVERSARV 

DECEMBER 27 JANUARY 3 

JANUARY 10 

JANUARY 17 

[le] (07) Jluslcai 

GLAMOUR GIRL 

rgmtii Grty 

JANUARY 24 

|23] ( ) MUS 

MARY LOU 

JANUARY 31 

FEBRUARY 7 

|j> 

RlnK 

J. DM. J7- 

-Dm. 6—PC-879 

(QTHE SWORDSMAN 

Lîriy I'arks 

R—Oct. 2S—PG-867 

knda Farrell 

rankle Carle 

.) WtsterD 

MAN FROM TEXAS 

(66) Drama { 

Li'NOA BE GOOD 

M^rle WUson 

Kl>s« Knoi 

John Hubbard 

B—Not. 1—P(^869 

|J] (55) Western 853 

CHECK YOUR GUNS HE SMUGGLERS 

ICddie Dean 

Michael U«d£rave 

Kent 

Richard Attenborough 

^ 


OGOOO NEWS 

June AUyson 

Uwford 

Joui McCracten 

R—Dm. e—PO-8T9 

^ 

(119) Drama f 

CASS TIMBERLANE 

ncer Tracy 

Zacbary Scott 

* 

No>. 8—PG-872 

(98) Drama 814 

WINTER COMES 

ter Pldêon 

lieborah Kerr 

,\nt;ela L;insbury 

li— Dee. 27—PO-885 

(99) Drama 

HIGH WALL 

: Taylor 

Audrey Totier 

Herbert Sl.'irsball 

!C. 2(^—Pa-883 

c (g8) WmtOT 

S TALK 

j

838 Criinton Ki-y (76l 20-fox li^-ij r- 

861 OIck Tracy Meets Gruesome (65) RKO 10- 4-47 -f- 

REVIEW DIGEST 

I 

and Alphabetical Picture Guide Index 

U 

850 Adventure Island (67) Para 8-23-47 

815 Adventures of Don Coyote (65) 5- 3-47 

UA.. 

855 Along the Oreoon Trail (64) Rep..^ 9-13-47 

884 Always Together (78) WB 12-20-47 

790 Arnelo Affair. The (87) UEtt 2-15-47 

:t 

± 

± 7-1- 3- 

6-1-3- 

± ± 5-1- 2- 

± 6-f 4- 

± ± 7-1- 3- 

826 Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (95) 

RKO 6- 7-47 ft 

881 Bandits of Dark Canyon (59) Rep.. .12-13-47 + 

(68) 814 Ban)o RKO 26-47 ± 

769 Best Years of (lur Lives. Tlie (172) 

RKO 12- 7-46 H 

872 Beware of Pily (102) U-l 11-8-47 -f 

791 Big Town (60) Para 2-22-47 ± 

875 Bia Town After Dark (69) Para 11-22-47 ± 

887 Bill and Coo (16) Rep 1-3-47 + 

875 Bishops Wile. The (109) RKO. .. .11-22-47 ff 

833 Black Gold (91) Allied Artists... 6-28-47 + 

838 Black Narcissus (91) U-l 7-12-47 -t- 

847 Blackmail (67) Rep 8-16-47 it 

797 Blaze of Noon (91) Para 3-8-37 ± 

864 Blond Saiaoe (62) EL .-in.li-47 •' 

S59Blondie in the Dough (69) Col 9-27-47 ± 

885 Blondio's Anniversary (67) Col 12-27-47 ± 

848 Body and Soul (104) UA 8-16-47 -H- 

822 Border Feud (55) EL 5-24-47 ± 

814 Born to Kill (92) RKO 4-26-47 ± 

Bowery Buckaroos (66) Mono 

833 Brute Force (98) U-l 6-28-47 -f 

873 Buckaroo From Powder River (55) 

± 

Col 11-15-47 

807 Buffalo Bill Rides Again (66) SG. 4- 5-47 — 

Bulltloo at (70) Col. 818 Druminond Bay 5-10-47 * 

850 Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back (65) 

Col 8-23-47 ± 

842Burnino Cross, The (77) SG 7-26-47 -f 

877 Bush Christmas (76) U-l 11-29-47 + 

Bush Pilot (60) SG 

864 Bury tile Dead (66) EL 10-11-47 + 

C 

± 

811 Calcutta (S3) Para 4-19-47 

880 Captain Boycott (..) U-l 12-6-47 -f- 

880 Captain From Castile (141) 20-Fox 12- 6-47 4+ 

816 Captive Heart. The (87) U-l 5- 3-47 ± 

853 Caravan (84) EL 9-6-47 + 

797 Carnegie Hall (136) UA 3- 8-47 ± 

Case of the Baby Sitter (40) SG 

872 Cass rimberlane (119) MGW 11-8-47 ff 

877 Check Your Guns (55) £L 11-29-47 + 

+ 

4-* .4 - 

- 3-1-4- 

3+ 2- 

H 11+ 

i: 4+4- 

± 7+ 7^ 

± 5+ 5- 

± 8+ 1- 

813Cheyc.ine (100) WB 4-26-47 ++ 

886 Cheyenne Takes Over (58) EL 12-27-47 + 

884 Chinese Ring, The (67) Mono 12-20-47 =t 

872 Christmas Eve (90) UA 11-8-47 -f 

Coof 01 the Saonle (52) Mono 

831 Copacabana (91) UA 6-21-47 + 

855 Corpse Came C.O.D., The (78) Col... 9-13-47 ± 

881 Crime Doctor's Gamble, The (66) Col 12-13-47 =t 

837 Lry woll {6i) VVB IxiHl a 

819 Cynthia (98) MGM 5-17-47 H 

D 

878 Daisy Kenyon (99) 20-Fox 11-29-47 W 

796 Danger Street (66) Para 3- 1.47 :t 

793 Dangerous Venture (59) UA 3-1-47 ± 

884 Dangerous Years (62) 20-Fox 12-20-47 + 

809 Osrx Delusion (9U) MGM 4-1^-47 -|- 

854 Dark Passage (106) WB 9-6-47 -)- 

724 Dear Ruth (95) Para 5-31-47 + 

i43 Deep Valley (106) MfB 8- 2-47 -H- 

B44 Desert Fury (95) Para. 8-2-47 + 

860 Desire Me (91) MGM.- 9-27-47 -(- 

820Desperate (73) RKO 5-17-47 -|- 

879 Devil Ship (62) Col 12-6-47 ± 

822 Dick Tracy's Dilemma (60) RKO... 5-24-47 +f 

813 Dishonored Lady (85) UA 4-26-47 + 

887 Double Life. A (103) U-l 1- 3-48 + 

to Earth (101) Col 8- 2-47 ++ 

B380ragnet (71) SG 7-12-47 ± 

874 Driftwood (90) Rep 11-15-47 ± 

780 Duel In the Sun (140) SRO 1-11-47 H 

E 

SO8 Egg and I. The (1081 U-l 4- 5-47 H 

H71 Fsran, M. Neve- (104) WfB 11-8-47 + 

S68 Exile, The (92) U-1 10-25-47 -f

» Biterpretanve analysis ol opinions deducted from the language oJ 

-«' lay 

id trade press reviews. The plus and minus signs indicate the degree 

favor or disfavor of the review. This department serves also as an 

.PHABETICAL INDEX to feature releases. Numeral preceding title is 

:ture Guide Review page number. In parentheses after title is running 

ll Miss Broadway (69) Col...

1 

j 

SHORTS CHART 

) 

Short subjects, listed by Company, in order of releosa. Running time folio 

title. First date is National release, second the date of review in BOXOFFICE. 

Symbol between dates is rating from the BOXOFFICE review: ++ Very Good, 

+ Good, — Fair, — Poor, = Very Poor. O Indicates color photography. 1 

Columbia 

Metro-GoldwYn-Mayer 

Paramount 

RKO Radio 

'Prod. No. Title Rcl. Date Ratino Rtv'd. Prod. No. Title Rel. Date Rating Rn'd. Prod. No. Title Rel. Date Rating Re«'d. Prod. No. Title Rel. Date I 

ALL-STAR COMEDIES 

FITZPATRICK TRAVELTALES GEORGE PAL PUPPETOONS 

DISNEY CARTOONS 

8427 Training for Troubll 

(Technicolor) 

(Schilling & Lane) 

(Technicolor) 

U6-2 Tubby the Tuba (10) 7-U 

(Technicolor) 

(I51/2) 7-3 ± 7-19 

U6-3 Date With Duke (8).... 10-31 -H- U- 1 64.116 Rescue Dog (7) 3-21 ++1 

* 

8407 Hold That Lion (Stoooes) 

T-812 Callmg on Costa Rica 

U6-4 Rhapsody in Wood (9).. 12-19 + 12-13 64.117 Straight Shooters (6).. 4-18 ' 

(16!/2) 7-17 + 8-30 

(10) 3-5 -I- 3-29 

64.118 Sleepy Time Donald (7) 5- 9 

1947-48 SEASON 

T-813 Around the World 

GRANTLAND RICE SPORTLIGHTS 74.101 Figaro and in 

Frankie (7) 5-30 

9401 Brideless Groom (Stooges) 

California (9) 5-17 ± 7-5 R6- 9 Making the Varsity (10) 6-13 

74.102 Clown of the Jungle (7) 6-20 

' 

(18) 9-11 ± 10-18 

R6-10 Diamond Gals (10) 7-18 ± 8-2 74.103 Donald's Dilemma (7) . 7-11 

T-814 On the Shores of Nova 

U 

9431 Rolling Down to Reno 

Scotia (S) 6-28 ff 

(Von Zcll) (17) 9- 4 ± 7-5 


74.104 Crazy With the Heat (7) 8- 1 

10-18 

R7- 1 Riding the Waves (10) 10- 3 + 11-15 74.105 Bootle Beetle (7) 8-22 

9432 Hectic Honeymoon (Holloway) 

T-S15 Glimpses of New 

R7- 2 Running the Hounds 

74.106 Wide Open Spaces (7).. 9-12 

(17) 9-18 -f 11-8 

Scotland (9) 8-30 

(U) 10-31 + 12-13 74.107 Mickey's Delayed Date 

9421 Wedding Belle (Schilling 


R7- 3 Five Fathoms of Fun ( 

t, Lane) (17) 10- 9 -f U-29 

)ll-23 

(7) 10- 3 -f 

. . 

R7- 4 Stop, Look and Guess 'Em 

74.108 Foul Hunting (7) 10-31 -1- 

9402 Sing a Song of Six Pants T-911 Visiting Virginia (9)... 11-29 

_ ^_ ^ 

+ 1-3 

( .) 

,, ,„ 

12- 5 

74.109 Mail Dog (7) 11-4 , 

-f 

(Stooges) (17) 10-30 ± U-29 T-912 Cradle of a Nation (..) 12-13 + 1-3 R7- 5 Hobbies of Champions 


9422 Should Husbands Marry? 

, , „ „ 

(--) -16 

84.701 Hawaiian Holiday (reissue) 

(H. Herbert) (..).. 11-13 12-27 

-f- (7) 10-17 

9433 Wife to Spare (A. Clyde) 

LITTLE LULU 

74.110 Cnip an' Dale (7)....U-28 

(16) 11-20 ± 12-20 

+f 

(Technicolor) 

GOLD MEDAL REPRINTS 

84.702 Clock Cleaners (reissue) 

9403 All Gummed Uo . „ _._ ,- ,« 

06-1 Loose in the Caboose (8) 5-23 -H- 5-10 

(7) 12-12 

(Stoooes) (IB) 12-11 ± 12-20 

D6-2 Cad and Caddie (8) . . . . 7-18 ± 8-2 74.111 Pluto's Blue Note (7) 12-26 4+ 

9434 Wedlock Deadlock (De Rita) 

D6-3 A Bout With a Trout (8). 10- 10 ++ 11- 1 74.112 They're Off (7) 1-30 

(16) 12-18 

W-921 Goldilocks and the Three 

D6-4 Super Lulu (7) 11-21 -f 11-15 74.113 The Big Wash (7).-.- 2-28 

9435 Radio Romeo (Von Zell) 

Bears (11) 11-22 1-3 D6-5The Baby Sitter (7) 11-28 

(17'/2) 12-25 

W-922The Fishing Bear (S).. 12-20 ± 

+ 12-13 

1-3 D6-6D00 Show Off (--) 1-30 

EDGAR KENNEDY COMEDH 

9404 Shivering Sherlocks (Stoooes) 

(17) 1-8 

MUSICAL PARADES 

73.402 00 Or Diet (18) 2-10 ± 

9436 Man or Mouse (Holloway) 

(Technicolor) 

73.403 Social Terrors (18).... 4-11 

MINIATURES 

(18) 1-15 

FF6-2 ChampajDe (or Two (20) 6-13 + 6-21 73.404 Heading for Trouble 

9423 Silly BHMe (Billie Burke) 

M-783 Mosical Masterpieces 

FF6-3 Smooth Sailing (20)... 8- 8 -f 6-21 

(15) 6-20 (10) 4-20 4+ * t FF6-4 Paris In the Spring (19) 9-26 + 9-20 73.405 Host to a Ghost (18) . . 7-18 FF6-5 Midnight Serenade (18) 11-21 

COLOR FAVORITES 

± U- 1 73.406 Television Turmoil (18) 8-15 ± 

M-784 Bikini—The Atom Island 

FF6-e Jingle Jangle Jingle 


( Re-relea

20th Century-Fox 

Pi. No. Title Rel. Date Rating Rev'd. 

DRIBBLE PUSS PARADE 

IS. 

Fisherman'! Nightmare (8) 5- 2 + 2-22 

i 1947-48 SEASON 

|L Album of Animals (8)..U-21 2 9-27 

MOVIETONE NEWS 

MARCH OF TIME 

Un».6 Germany— Handle 

Witk Care (18) 1-24 

ttj 7 Fashion Means 

im (18) 2-21 

U, No. I The Teachers' Crisis 

(16) 3-21 

U, No. 9 Storm 0»er Britain 

(18) 4-18 

c 10 The Russians Nobody 

(19) 5-16 

m: (18) 

11 Your Doctors— 

(19) 6-13 

12 New Trains 

OldT (18) 7-11 

Cj! UNO. 13 Turkey's 100 Bin Ion 

iity,) 8- - 


K No. 1 Is Everybody 

Listenlngt (18) 9- 

14, No. 2 T- Men In Action 

(18) 10-3 4+ 10-U 

.14, No. 3 End of an Empire 

(18) 10-31 + 

L4, No. 4 Public Relations . . . 

Tliis Means Yogi (17) . .11-28 ++ 

L4, No. 5 The Presidential 

Yur (..) 12-26 

MOVIETONE ADVENTURES 

Rtyalty of the Range (9) 3- 7 + 

i^Tlie Cape of Good Hope 

(8) 

eZululand (8) 6-6 

:ib:reGardens of the Sea (8) 6-20 

^lARomance of the Fjords 

(8) 6-27 

3;> Harvest of the Sea (9).. 7- 4 


tl'.The 3 R's Go Modern (9) 11- 7 

JELOHoliday in South Africa 

r (8) 8-22 

. 

Bl Horizons of Tomorrow (8) 9-12 

BiOHome of the Danes (8) 10-17 

il ©Jungle Closeups (S).... 12-12 

1-25 

2-22 

3-22 

4-19 

5-17 

6-14 

7-19 

8- 2 

8-30 

U- 1 

U-29

— 

, 

SHORTS REVIEWS OpMoas 00 the Current Short Subjects- 

1947, The Year of Division 

Paramount (Newsreei Feature) 20 Minutes 

Very good. This year-end issue of Paramount 

News is a "must" for patrons interested 

in world conditions and a camera view of the 

year just closed. It not only covers the news 

highlights of 1947 but also recapitulates -the 

significant political and sociological developments 

thaf have ensued from attempts to 

establish world peace. Part deals with the, 

I 

Texas City disaster, the Palestine partition, the' 

Washington hearings with Howard Hughes 

and the communistic film writers and the 

longer fashions. Parts II and III deal with the 

east-west split, the State department's dealing 

with the Kremlin and the attempts of the 

UN to secure peace. The commentary by Max 

Klein is narrated by George Putnam, Maurice 

Joyce and Frank Gallop. 

Bagpipe Lassies 

Paramount (Unusual Occupations) 11 Minutes 

Fair. The selection of unusual occupations 

is ordinary dnd the Magnacolor photography 

has a washed-out appearance. The subjects 

chosen include a girl who makes tiny dolls 

out of peanuts, another who makes- baskets 

and hats out of palm fronds and a movie 

cowboy who teaches sightless war veterans 

to become expert riders. Best subject is an 

^0-year-old bagpipe maker who plays while 

Scottish lassies dance the Highland Fling. 

Dog Show-Oif 

Paramount (Little Lulu Cartoon) 7 Minutes 

Good. The obstreperous Little Lulu, with 

Exhibitor Has His Say 

(Continued from page 3) 

ble, Dan Dailey, Mona Freeman. This picture 

has absolutely everything—magnificent color, 

Betty Grable, who was never lovelier, Dan 

Dailey, who is a top star—and boy, is he entertaining! 

A picture every member of the 

family will enjoy over and over. It sure did 

the business here. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. 

Weather: Reasonably good.—Ken Gorham, 

Town Hall Theatre, Middlebury, Vt. College 

and rural patronage. * * * 

UNITED ARTISTS 

Copacabana (UA)—Groucho Marx, Carmen 

Miranda, Steve Cochran. The poorest weekend 

we have had in many a day. Hope we 

don't have to see Carmen Miranda again for 

a long, long time. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: 

Cold.—Marcella Smith, Vinton Theatre, Mc- 

Arthur, Ohio. Small town patronage. * * * 

Duke of West Point (UA)—Reissue. Louis 

Hayward, Joan Fontaine. Played it on Thanksgiving, 

but business was off—no advertisement. 

The film was body cut up, but it was 

a swell show. Several patrons came in expecting 

to see Blanchard and Davis. Weather: 

Rain.—Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, 

W. Va. Rural patronage. * * * 

Fabulous Dorsey, The (UA)—Tommy Dorsey, 

Jimmy Dorsey, Janet Blair. This was a story 

of those two famous Dorsey brothers but to 

me it was just another flop at the boxolfice. 

The music was good but the acting, was not 

up to standard. These brothers are good musicians, 

but not actors and never will be. 

Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Fair.—George 

MacKenzie, York Theatre, Hantsport, N. S. 

Small town patronage. * 

New Orleans (UA)—Arturo de Cordova, 

Dorothy Patrick, Irene Rich. This is a very 

good show and why it didn't bring in more 

cash customers is beyond me. It must be 

her inevitable lollipop, helps one of her little 

boy friends get his mutt in the dog show. She 

has the dog impersonate several different 

Va. Rural patronage. * * * 

pedigreed pooches but the judges always find 

out and throw them put. She finally pulls a 

fox hunt hoax and gets rid of all the other 

dog entries. 

The Circus Comes to Clown 

Paramount (Screen Song) 7 Minutes feet; 

Very good. A novel and amusing cartoon 

for football title. 

News of the Day, No. 234: 

in the new Polacolor process. The colors are 

bright and distinct, closest to Technicolor in 

perfection. The popular ballad, "The Daring 

Young Man on the Flying Trapeze," is used 

as the theme for circus antics which include ence. 

a full repertoire of daring acts. For the finish, 

the bouncing ball helps the audience to 

join in the singing of the lyrics, always a Division. 

with most patrons. 

favorite 

Jingle Jangle Jingle 

Paramount (Musical Parade) 19 Minutes 

Good. The Page Cavanaugh Trio, instrumentalists 

Warner Pathe News, No. 39: 

who have become famous in the nightclub field, have been neatly worked into 

the plot of this musical featurette in Technicolor. 

Cavanaugh, a mild-mannered, inoffensive 

type, plays a similar character, an easterner 

Philadelphia; Cards top Eagles. 

pressed into service to play at a dude ranch run by attractive Margaret Field. The 

boys sing and play the title tune and "I'm 

an Old Cowhand" and "Walking My Baby 

Back Home" in smooth fashion. Miss Field 

sings "That's Not the Knot." 

the year. 

lack of star value. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: 

Good.—Terry Axley, New Theatre, England, 

Ark. Rural and small town patronage. * * * out; 

Davis, Tucker in the news again. 

UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL 

Egg and I, The (U-I)—Claudette Colbert, 

Fred MacMurray, Marjorie Main. It's a natural 

in smaller towns. They came (and how 

they came!), they laughed, and had a swell 

time—and on the wqy out, told me they really 

display new fashion at 

enjoyed it. Their pleasure was mine, too. 

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

C. W. Ritenour, Milford Theatre, Milford, 111. 


Smosh-Up (U-I)—Susan Hayward, Lee Bowman, 

year. 

Marsha Hunt. Everyone liked this. It 

has a very good story. No need to worry because 

this feature won't let you down. Played 

Sun., Mon.—C. M. Garrett, Yandell Theatre, 

El Paso, Tex. Family patronage. * * 

This is 

Something in the Wind (U-I)—Deanna Durbin, 

Donald O'Connor, John Dall. Universal 

is getting bigger. A good show. Play it. 

Carey O. Fairbanks, Island Theatre, Sicily 

Island, La. Small town patronage. 

* 

AVARNER BROS. 

^ 

Cheyenne (WB)—Dennis Morgan, Jane Wyman, 

Janis Paige. Another western with a 

good cast, and a good enough picture if you 

can buy it at the right price. Certainly it is 

in the lower allocation group as far as boxoffice 

is concerned. Good for Fri., Sat. here 

but we played it Sun., Mon. Weather: Cold — 

C. W. Ritenour, Milford Theatre, Milford, 111. 


Dark Passage (WB)—Humphrey Bogart, 

Lauren Bacall, Bruce Bennett. My Bogart fans 

Schnorkel shown; colonies gain voice in 

are finding it hard to be pleased by his recent 

pictures—"they just ain't what they used to 

be." And neither is business when I play 

him. Give him a good role—he needs boosting. 

Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Good. 

Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, W. 

Movietone Nevws, No. 36: Heaviest 

storm in the history of New York City; Wq 

lace will run for President on the third partj 

ticket; $1,000,000 warehouse fire in PhiladelJ 

phia; Friendship train in Paris—Drew Pear-I 

son decorated; navy test jet engine fighte 

plane; this is no place for men with cold 

Chicago Cards beat Philadelphia Eagle^ 

First films of Newl 

Wallace bolts; 

York's greatest snowstorm; 

fashions in Miami; Cardinals win pro championship; 

Margaret Truman's press confer- 

Paramount News, No. 37: 1947 Year of 

Universal News, No. 104: New York paralyzed 

by record-breaking snowstorm; navy 

carrier based jet fighter plane tested; Margaret 

Truman meets ladies of the press; Cards 

win pro-grid title at Chicago; Bobby Riggs 

defeats Jack Kramer in pro-tennis debut in 

New York City. ' 

Record snow 

smothers New York; Admiral Nimitz takes it 

easy; Paris hails Friendship Food; Margaret 

Truman meets the press; Riggs beats Kramer; 

Feller is White House pup; $1,000,000 fire in 

Movietone News, No. 37: Highlights of sports. 

News of fhe Day, No. 235: Sports review of 

Paramount News, No. 38: New York digs 

Miss Truman meets the press; silver jubilee; 

Maharajah of Jaipur honored; Blanchard, 

Universal News, No. 105: Jap war leaders 

await crimes trial; oriental jubilee celebrated 

amid splendor of India; Miami train wreck; 

French honor film executive; Spanish models 

Barcelona; 12 puppies 

in record litter; midget car demonstrated at 

Los Angeles; UCLA v/ins basketball battle in 

New York. 

Warner Pathe News, No. 40: Review of the 

Time, the Place and the Girl, The (WB)— 

Dennis Morgan, Jack Carson, Janis Paige. 

a lovely musical worthy of any screen. 

Play it and go out and sell it. If they like 

musicals, this is it. Played Mon., Tues., 

Wed. Weather: Cold.—Harland Rankin, Erie 

Theatre, Wheatley, Ont. Small town patronage. 

* * • 

Time, the Place and the Girl, The (WB)— 

Dennis Morgan, Jack Carson, Janis Paige. 

Fine-great. This one is a dandy. Jack Carson 

and Dennis Morgan are very popular 

here and their story was a dinger. "For a 

Telenews Digest, No. 3S: German submarine 

new 

"French Union"; deposed emperor seeks return 

to throne; peasants cart wheat to capital 

city; musicians rebuild hall to give concertkids 

thrill to novel arrival of airborne Santa; 

Rugby. 

14 BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: Jan. 10, 1:

\: k 

bpinions on Current Productions; Exploitips for Selling to the Public 

FEATURE REVIEWS 

Treasure of the Sierra Madre F """" 

Warner Bros. (- 126 Minutes Rel. Jan. 24, '48 

Secret Beyond the Door 

Univ-Inl'l ( ) 98 Minutes Rel. 

F 

Humphrey Bogart is at his best in this grim, unrelenting 

adventure drama which winds a tortuous way through more 

than two hours of footage. Totally devoid of romance, the 

picture must depend on Bogart's draw, plus that of Walter 

Huston and Tim Holt. Both Huston, who gives a performance 

of Academy award stature as a grizzly prospector, and his 

son, John Huston, who directed his own screenplay in downto-earth, 

intensely realistic fashion, deserve the highest 

praise. However, the picture would benefit by judicious 

cutting. The intense heat, thirst and near starvation suffered 

by the three main characters may prove wearisome to 

some women patrons. Males will best appreciate this "red 

meat" fare. Two down-and-out Americans team up with an 

old-time prospector in an ill-fated gold-hunting expedition in 

mountainous Mexican country. Magnificent photography. 

Humphrey Bogart, Walter Huston, Tim Holt, Bruce Bennett, 

Barton MacLane, Bobby Blake, Alfonso Bedoya. 

Six-Gun Law 

F 

""'"" 

Columbia (9G2) 54 Minutes Rel. Jan. 9, '48 

This Durango Kid series has succumbed to singing, which 

has become a part of the "hoss opry" technique, but as yet 

there's no kissing. Romantic flutters are kept distinctly on 

the comic side or in the background of fast action led by 

Charles Starrett, with Smiley Burnette fumbling and blundering 

along. In addition to Smiley's singing antics. Curly 

Clements and his Rodeo Rangers give out with the kind of 

music known in parts of the country as hoedown. Oh, yes, 

there's a plot, too—something about a popular young rancher, 

played by Starrett, being framed into thinking he has killed 

the sheriff and having the old frontier town's political boss 

make him take over that job and wink at law-breaking. He 

outsmarts the old villain though—with help of a U.S. marshal 

and the Durango Kid. Directed by Ray Nazarro. 

Charles Starrett, Smiley Burnette, Nancy Saunders, Paul 

Campbell, Hugh Prosser, George Chesebro, Billy Dix. 

|„„^ 

Alternately fascinating and boring is this effort at creating 

a suspenseful chiller through still another cinematic 

venture into the field of psychiatry. The picture is impressively 

caparisoned but the story somehow fails to jell. Whenever 

it engenders situations which give promise that something 

thrilling is about to happen, it dips into the psychiatric 

pot, which Hollywood keeps simmering on the front burner, 

and at those points the story thread wears thin. Joan Bennett's 

performance highlights the proceedings and her lush 

wardrobe will go a long way toward redeeming the offering 

in the eye of the femme fans. Opposite her is Michael 

Redgrave, the picture's mental problem child, who was confronted 

with a difficult role and failed to transcend the difficulties. 

In the top spot, it will need strong support to make 

a generally satisfactory program. Fritz Lang directed. 

Joan Bennett, Michael Redgrave, Anne Revere, Barbara 

O'Neil, Natalie Schafer, Anabel Shaw, Rosa Rey. 

The Gay Ranchero F '^^„ 

Republic (644) 72 Minutes Rel. Dec. 1, '47 

That combination of Roy Rogers and Trucolor which has 

proven a very satisfying exhibition and entertainment entree 

is served this time with a Spanish sauce. The addition of 

such spicy condiment does little, however, to improve the 

dish, nor is its delectability enhanced by a garnishment of 

comedy in which corn is the dominant ingredient. In over-all 

flavor, therefore, the offering rates somewhere below the 

average established by predecessors in this season's series. 

But with Rogers' drawing power, augmented by a characteristically 

strong supporting cast, the feature undoubtedly 

will draw as well as the others. Dyed-in-the-wool western 

fans will be entirely satisfied, what's more, because there is 

plenty of action, albeit some of it, and the situations in which 

is projected, departs rather sharply from standard fare. 

Tito Guizar sings well. Directed by William Witney. 

Roy Rogers, Tito 

Guizar, Jane Frazee, Andy Devine, Estelita 

Rodriguez, George Meeker, Sons of the Pioneers. 

Shakuntala 

7 Drama 

With Music 

1^ 

hJ La Symphonie Fantastique F J.IZL 

Mayer-Burstyn 

75 Minutes 

Rel. Dec. 25, '47 

A. F. Films, Inc. 85 Minutes Rel. 

This picture has curiosity value. It is the first film produced 

in India scheduled to be released here commercially. 

Dyed-in-the-wool foreign language fans and patrons of experimental 

films will probably be tolerant enough to accept 

the picture and its many faults. The English titles are inadequate 

for the flood of Hindustani dialog. From Ihe technical 

point of view the picture compares favorably with many 

European films—evidence that equipment is up-to-date. But 

camera technique, story treatment and acting are years behind 

the times. By western standards they seem hokey 

and hammy. The film is a costume piece, telling of a 

legendary love affair that took place nearly 2,000 years ago. 

It is an Indian variation of the Cinderella theme set in lush 

jungle surroundings. Plenty of mournful oriental music and 

posture dancing. V. Shantaram directed. 

A depressing account of an unhappy composer's life, this 

French-made film has only a fine musical score to recommend 

it to American audiences. The title composition and "Damnation 

of Faust," both played in entirety by the Orchestra du 

Conservatoire de Paris, make it suitable for art theatres 

where music-lovers abound. Elsewhere, it has little or no 

value. The period settings and costumes are elaborate, but 

the photography is ordinary and even the sound track is not 

always clear. Jean-Louis Barraull has a lean and hungry 

look throughout, first as a hysterical, revolution-minded 

youth, then as a temperamental lover, finally as an embittered 

old man. Barrault is rarely convincing, but Jules 

Berry and Renee Saint Cyr contribute fine portrayals. Filled 

with tearful partings and tragic deaths. Directed by Christian- 

Jaque. A. F. Films is at 1600 Broadway, New York. 

Jayashree, Chandra Mohan, Nimbalkar, Zohra, Shantarin, 

Jean-Louis Barrault, Renee Saint-Cyr, Bernard Blier, Lisa 

Vidya, Raja Pundit. 

Delamare, Jules Berry, Gilbert Gil. 

Cavalleria Rusticana 

Volpone 

A 

Comedy 

Superiilm Dist. Corp. 91 Minutes Rel. 

Sirilsky 

105 Minutes 

Rel. Dec. '47 

Based on the story by Verga instead of the popular Mascagni 

opera of the same name, ihis tragic Italian-made film 

has nothing to offer American patrons. The title will be a 

drawing card in art theatres, but patrons will be disappointed 

to find that none of the glorious opera arias are sung during 

the film. This should be relegated to Italian theatres. In the 

picture's favor are the splendid camera shots of the countryside 

and Italian village squares and a few pleasant Sicilian 

folk tunes, little else. The story is intensely dramatic and 

most of the acting heavy-handed. The single exception is 

Bella Starace Saihati, who gives a warm and convincing 

portrayal of the hero's worried old mother. A returning soldier 

finds his sweetheart married to another man. Despite 

this, she breaks up his romance with a village girl. Amleto 

Palermi directed. Superfil^^4s at 52 Vanderbilt Ave., N. Y. C. 

^^1^. 

t,) 

Exhibitors accustomed to playing French-language pictures 

in college towns have three high-brow selling angles in this 

film. Two of the players, Louis Jouvet and the late Harry 

Baur, were outstanding prewar actors in France. Baur was 

killed in a German concentration camp. The story is based 

on a play by Ben Jonson, Elizabethan playwright, who rates 

along with Shakespeare in college courses. It has considerable 

production value in the form of gorgeous Renaissance 

costumes. The 105-minute running time makes it difficult to 

put the film on the second half of a dual bill. In neighborhood 

areas- where there are large French-speaking populations it 

might go over as the top feature. For those who understand 

the language it abounds with earthy humor. The film could 

stand cutting. Maurice Tourneur directed at slow pace. 

Isa Pola, Leonard Cortese, Doris Duranti, Carlo Ninchi, Luigi 

Harry Baur, Louis Jouvet, Fernand Ledoux, Marion Dorian, 

Almirante, Bella Starce Saihati. 

Charles DuUin, Jean Temerson, Alexandre Rignault.

. . . Smokin' 

. . Sweet 

. . The 

. . The 

. . And 

. . Jouvet and Baur Are Great . . . One 

. . You 

. . He 

. . That 

. With 

. . . Hard-Riding Spills . . . The 

. . . An 

EXPLOITIPS Suggestions for Selling; Adlines for Newspaper and Prograa 

— 

SELLING ANGLES: "Secret Beyond the Door" 

For lobby display construct a shadow-box eflect containing 

a door with a keyhole. Behind the door plant stills 

from the picture. Placard the setup: "Look through the 

keyhole for a hint about 'The Secret Beyond the Door.' " 

The psychiatric angles in the plot suggest a special showing 

for 

doctors, nurses and others connected with the 

medical profession. Joan Bennett is considered one of the 

screen's best-dressed women. Plant stills of her with local 

dress shops. 

CATCHLINES: 

She Faced a Lifetime Ahead . . . 'With a Man She Knew 

yVas Dangerous . . . It's a Sensation of Suspense . . . The 

Thrill-Shattering Story of a 'Woman and a Man . . . 

'Who 

Lived in Different Worlds But Were Tied Together by Reckless, 

Desperate Love. 

It's Like Nothing in This World . . . You've Ever Thrilled 

to Before . . . The Story of a Woman's Fear . Became 

Living Terror ... A Soul 'Writhing in Torment . . . 

Helpless to Resist Disaster. 

SELLING ANGLES: "Treasure of the Sierra Madre" 

Concentrate the selling campaign on Humphrey Bogart, 

who plays a dirty, unshaven character, and Walter Huston, 

whose garrulous characterization is outstanding. Ploy down 

the absence of love interest but use photos of Tim Holt and 

Bruce Bennett, both young and romantic-looking. Make tieups 

with jewelry shops for window copy reading: "Men Gave 

Their Lives for Gold in 'Treasure of the Sierra Madre' but 

You Can Buy Gold Jewelry Here ort Reasonable Prices." 

CATCHLINES: 

Bogart at His Best in a Hard-Bitten, Straight-Shooting Portrayal 

... An Old-Time Prospector Outwits and Outlives 

Two Hardy Young Adventurers . . . The Lure of Gold Again 

Proves Man's Undoing . . . Action and Adventure in the 

Wild Mexican Hill Country. 

Bogart Without Bacall But With Breath-Taking 'Drama and 

Fast Action . . . Fate Plays a Trick on Three Gold-Hungry 

Adventurers . . . The Sierra Madre Gives Up Her Gold But 

the Elements Bring It Back. 

SELLING ANGLES: "The Gay Ranchero" SELLING ANGLES: "Six-Gun Law" 

The title suggests you stage a "fiesta" for the kids at a 

matinee showing, wherein they dress up in Spanish costumes. 

Make tieups with dealers in real estate along the lines: 

"You too can be a 'Gay Ranchero.' Let us show you our 

stock of little homes in the country." Make the usual tieups 

with music stores and radio stations on Roy Rogers, Bob 

Nolan, Tito Guizar and the Sons of the Pioneers. Stuff throwsheets 

into western pulp magazines. Stencil sidewalks with 

"hoofprints." 

CATCHLINES: 

Hot Diggety . West's Jumping With Action and 

Adventure . Tunes Are a-Strummin' . . . Thrills Are 

a-Hummin' ... As Roy Rogers Swings Back Into the Saddle 

Again ... At His All-Time Best. 

Roy Rogers Goes a-Gunnin' . . . For New Highs in Thnii 

Packed Sagebrush Entertainment . . . With Brawlin' Fists 

Guns . . . Poundin' Hoofs . Action All 

the Way , . . There's All the Joy of the West 

. Roy 

at His Best . . . Ridin' High 'Neath a 'yVestern Sky. 

Snipe western magazines on newsstands in your locality 

with stickers giving well in advance the playdate of the show. 

Have a cowboy matinee, distributing prizes to children 

dressed up in cowboy outfits for the occasion. Have a lobby 

gun display, asking local residents and m-seums to exhibit 

out-of-date firing pieces. Be sure cards giving credit are 

prominent on the display and protect the exhibit from thefts. 

CATCHLINES: 

Durango's Deadly on the Draw—Smiley Kills You With a 

Tune . . . Going Great Guns With Action and Song . . . This 

Is a BuUets-'n'-Ballad Barrage . . . Red-Blooded Action 

Laugh-Studded Tunes. 

Cheer Your Cowboy Champs in "Six-Gun Law" . . . The 

Law They Take in Their Own Hands . . . Tune-Peppered Thrills 

West's No. 1 Comic With Its 

No. 1 Mystery Rider, 

SELLING ANGLES: "La Symphooie Fantastique" SELLING ANGLES: "Shakuntala" 

As the life of Hector Berlioz, one of France's most famous 

composers, whose music is played in the picture by the 

Orchestra du Conservatoire de Paris, this will appeal mainly 

to music-lovers. Make tieups with music shops for window 

displays of recordings of Berlioz's "Symphonie Fantastique," 

"Damnation of Faust" and "Le Requiem." Mention other 

films based on composers' lives such as "Song to Remember" 

(Chopin), "Song of Love" (Schumcmn) and "Song of My 

Heart" (Tchaikovsky). 

CATCHLINES: 

His Glorious Music Brought Joy to Others but Only Unhappiness 

to His Loved Ones . Tempestuous and Exciting 

Life of One of France's Greatest Composers ... He Turned 

Down Tenderness and Devotion for More Selfish Love. 

His "Symphonie Fantastique" Brought Him Fame but His 

Opera, "Cellini," was Scorned by Critics and Public Alike 

. . . His Sorrow Increased His Genius, His Music Grew Out 

of an Unhappy and Passionate Life. 

Art house and foreign-language exhibitors should play 

^ 

up the film as the first Indian production to be shown here. 

Use a three-fold sales approach: (1) aimed at patrons who 

like unusual or different films "students of cinema art"; (2) 

aimed at music lovers who may want to hear oriental music; 

(3) students of oriental dancing and acting techniques. Cultural 

clubs and local United Nations associations may be induced 

to promote the picture, 

CATCHLINES: 

For the First Time in Your Community, a Film from India 

Artful Blend of the Mystery and Beauty of Distant 

India ... A Beautiful Legend of Ancient Love . . . An 

Unusual Screen Experience. 

A Picture for Discriminating Audiences . . . Out of India 

Comes This Great Screen Triumph ... A Tender Love Story 

of a Courageous Woman . . . She Gambled and Won a 

Kingdom. 

SELLING ANGLES: "Volpon SELLING ANQfrES: "Cavalleria Rusticana" 

Regular foreign-language patrons will be attracted by the 

names of Harry Baur and Louis Jouvet. Play up the fact that 

this is one of Baur's last films before his death. Advertise 

in college newspapers to reach students studying Ben Jon- 

Bon's original drama, "Volpone." You also will reach ?"rench 

students and those taking acting courses, who will want to 

see the lop players. Local women's clubs should be contacted. 

CATCHLINES: 

A Masterpiece of French Film Making ... A Delightful 

Comedy . of the Last 

Films Made by Harry Baur ... A Famous Play, Now an 

Excellent Picture. 

The Story of a Man Who Could Buy Everything With 

Money, But Everything! . Had Wine, 'Women, and 

Women . Will See a 'Venice Never Described in 

History Books ... A 'Venice oi Dashing Scoundrels and 

Dazzling Women. 

Except for the title, which is the same as the popular 

Mascagni opera, this has no selling angles for American 

patrons. And even the Italian opera lovers, who are legion, 

will be disappointed to learn that none of the lovely Mascagni 

music is played or sung during the action. Mention that the 

songs are from Sicilian folklore and use pictures of Doris 

Duranti and Isa Pola, the feminine leads, who are popular 

in Italy. 

CATCHLINES: 

The Great Sicilian Love Story Brought to the Screen for the 

First Time ... A Beautiful Woman With a Cruel Heart Who 

Knew That the Flame of an Old Love Never Dies . . . "Cavalleria 

Rusticana," the Story That Has Thrilled Millions of 

Opera Lovers. 

A Rustic Cavalier 'Who Was Torn Between Two Women, 

a New Love and an Old Flame . . . Glorious Sicilian Folk 

Tunes Heard Against a Background of Italy's Seacoast and 

Mountains.

" 

I 

'' 

j| 

ll 

ffJUlT 

' 

i' 

i 

ri'l 

Industry's Market for Purchase or Sale of Equipment, Theatres, Service 

Ads 10c Per Word, Payable in AdvonCB. Minimum 11.00. DiaploY Rales on Request. • 

rENERAL EQUIPMENT—USED 

jjerevttader stts. $6.95; Simplex K.S. mechjiijn 

$S»5; Simpk-s BB mechanisms, $125, uitt 

e .liulters, $la5; Century, late .Muliunraph ui 

Siaiiilex. $;i9S; soundbeads. $2:^.50 up 

tr^ $i).U5 up; Sound projectors. aSmm, 

,1 up; 16mm $149.60 up; I'A systems 

„, u- $44.75. Send for bargain catalog S.0.8. 

ijai Supply Corp., 449 W. 42nd St.. .Neo 

Jo 18; 

avy Duty blotters, ball-bearing equipped, 

16 K) ctm to 50,000 ctm. Air nâshers. all 

lb Hydraulic driies, tuo and four speed motors 

UKWntrols. Immediate deiiiery. Dealers wanted. 

Nanal Engineering and Mtg. Co., 619 Wyanlot 

St.. Kangas City. Mo. 

Ik Here! Strong .Mogul lampbouses, rebuilt, 

"fi 

|4: p«ir; Super-Simplex mechanisms, perfectly 

ai ttbl, $525; Simplex rear shutter mechanisms. 

•k. toiproot gears, rebuUt. $340: Powers. $114.60; 

rott LD-30 rectifiers, like new, tubes, $106 

ul2 unit Automaticket machines, rebuilt, $210; 

Ool S«al 2 unit, $167.60. What do you need? 

Ed luCinema Supply. 469 46th St., New York 

3- I9.. .Many theatres 

sale. 

investigating. Coiitaci 

Joseph, 1U03 Galloway. Phone Y 

). Iiallas. Texas. 

air conditioning. Very 

Financial statement available qualified prospects. 

Dellghtiul central Texas university town. 62,000. 

Very easily operated. No union. $25,000. Arthur 

Leak, 3422 Kinmore, lialk Tex. 

600 Heywood upholstered seats. Finest booth. 

Latest stadium t>pe fireproof building included. 

Long low lease second show 376 seats. Railroad 

division tottn 3.000 near Oklahoma City. Nearest 

opposition 29 miles. Highly profitable, big 

potentials. Completely protected substantial investment. 

$78,000. Arthur Leak, Theatres Exclusively, 

3422 Kinmore, Dallas. Texas. 

Only theatre beautiful towi 

-76 .._,... ._. 

owners say $1,500 

potential. $33,000. 

monthly profit now. Huge 

Half down. Arthur Leak, Theatres Exclusively, 

3422 Kinmore. Dallas, Tex. 

Near Dallas, 1.500 population, 500 cushion 

upholstered seats. Simplex. Strong intermediate 

lamps. Royal Soundmasler, good equipment. 

all 

Three brick buildings, cafe and warehouse on lease. 

All for $40,000. Buying larger situation, need 

money. Call M-3355. Dallas, Tex. 

Growing towTi over 1,000. Theatre rebuilt 3 

years ago following tire. 326 seats, well equipped. 

Restrooms. Farming territory. Owned 10 years. 

$35,000 takes all. Will finance one-third. Pay 

out 3 \fars. Clemon Norcrn^s. Cordell. Oklahoma. 

For Sale: 650-seat downtown theatre in 

city of 85,000. Will take $05,000, all casi 

handle. Contact Boxoffice, A-2936, 825 

Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 1. Mo. 

One of finest modern theatres Ir 

plete investigation offered qualif 

Current annual profits approximately $1,000 

weekly. First run product, all the majors. Our 

exclusive listing requires personal inter\iew and 

financial references prior inspection. $175,000. 

Approximately 60% cash down. Arthur Leak. 

Theatres Exclusively, 3422 Kinmore, Dallas, 

Texas. 

Texas Panhandle suburban including good building. 

Excellent territory. Hlness. $37,500. 

Arthur Leak. 3422 Kinmore. Dallas. Tex^ 

Nearly new suburban. Best city Arkansas. 

Good profits now. Excellent chance improve. Fine 

equipment, $19,500. Terras. Arthur Leak, 3422 

Kinmore, Dallas, Tex. 

Northeast Oklahoma. Fine suburban town. Best 

equipment, seats. Brilliant neon front. Near fine 

city. New developments, modern housing available. 

Only theatre. Takes $25,000 to handle. 

Sell building or lease. No shoppers. Direct sale, 

appointment only. Write Boxoffice. A-2937, 825 

Van Brunt Blvd.. Kansas City 1, Mo. 

North Florida theatre with real estate. 4 

cushioned seats. Building and equipment in exc 

lent condition. Parking lot. Nice white on 

munity. Price $65,000 with $51,000 cash. Ha 

Elmore, Jr., Realtor, 942 Edgewood Ave., JackM 

ville, 

Fla. 

Health seekers opportunity. New suburban^ in 

ir\s, stiong highs, Ballantyne. 350 cushion 

at- &i-~lly operated. $19,500, terms. Arthur 

Only theair 

Builduig and 

Nebraska. If 

A-2942. 825 1 

ond run major products, sealing 850. 

tr.ide area 500.000. Long lease, 

Bo.xoffice. A-2941, 825 Van Brunt 

City 1. Mo, 

For Sale: to be moved, comiil.li' :f 00 seal theatre 

at bargain, must be out by Febrtlary 1. In 

operation until January 1. R. F. Curtis, Meridian, 

Tex. , 

500-seat colored theatre in one of Texas' largest 

cities. Simplex, Ballantyne sound, making plenty 

money. Located in center of 8.000 colored home 

owners. Property included. $47,500. "Joe" 

Joseph, 1003 Galloway. Phone Yale 2-7650, 

Dallas, 

Tex. 

Near Dallas. Money maker. Simplex, BCA, 

Irong hi-l.imps. $12,500. "Joe" Joseph. 1003 

'.illoway. Phone Yale 2-7050, Dallas, Tex. 

THEATRES FOR SALE (Conl.) 

CLfflRlOG 

West Texas county seal town. Population 900. 

Largo trade area. $13,600. "Joe" Joseph, 1003 

Galloway. Phone Yale 2-765 0. Da llas, Tex. 

Central Texas small loun, Rear'shutler Simplex, 

RCA sound, hi-inlcnslty lamps. Has been closed 

about thirty days, Goud GI theatrcman can 

$1,500 I balai 

THEATRE SEATING 

Several thousand used upholstered opera chain 

on hand. We are headquarters for the cream of 

the used chair crop. We pick the lots that we 

think you will like. We furnish proper slope and 

sections desired to fit your tlieatre. Our many 

years experience in the seating business Is your 

guarantee. Write for exact photo and price. We 

have parts for all makes of chairs. Also, leatherette 

36x26 In. all colors, 66c ea. Good quality. 

Chicago Uused Chair Mart. 829 So. State St., 

Chicago 5. 111. 

Theatre Chairs, 3,000 used spring 

part full upholstered back and part Insert panel 

back with spring edge and box spring eushloni. 

1,000 veneer chairs, 800 good backs, 500 spring 

cushions and hinges. Write for prices and photographs. 

Immediate delivery; advise how many jou 

need. We export chairs anywhere. Jesse Cole, 2566 

McClellan Ave., Valley 2.3446. Detroit. Mich. 

Artificial leather: all colors, 60 in. wide at 

$1.25 per yd. Samples on request. Commercialleather. 

116 Merrimac St., Boston, Mass. 

Seat covers, cushion cotton, springs, aisle pads, 

complete cushion units fabricated to your requirements. 

Fred's Theatre Service. Vina. Ala. 

Parts for all chairs. Send sample for quotation. 

Fensln Sealing Co.. 62 E. 13th St.. Chicago 6. 

Patch-Q.Seat cement. Patching doth, solvent, 

etc. Fensin Seathig Co., 62 E. 13th St.. Chl- 

1,600 streamlined spring cushioned full upholstered 

modern theatre chairs, like new. Reasonable 

delivery. Jesse Cole, 2665 McCldlan 

Valley 23445, Detroit, Mich. 

Lost Lease: 800 American padded back and 

cushions, sloped floor. All seats recently upholstered. 

$2.50 ea. George White, 146 Hunter Ave., 

Albany. N. Y. 

Recent demand for our guaranteed low priced 

chairs compels us to require 7-10 day delivery on 

future orders (except emergencies). Cooperation 

on your part allows proper selection of your requirements 

at $2 to $3.50 per chair. Write today. 

Jack McGrath. 1046 Broadway. Albany. N. Y. 

Artificial leather: 60 in. wide, all colors, $1.25 

per yd. Samples on request. Jack McGrath. 1046 

Broadway. Albany. N. Y. 

Special! 800 chairs, full upholstered backs and 

spring cushion bottoms. Complete with chair 

covers, center and end standards. Excellent condition. 

Just removed from Loew's Ohio Theatre in 

Cleveland. All or part, $4.25 each, for quick sale. 

Worth much more. Immediate delivery. Also, 

2,500 chairs, % in. veneer backs with leatherette 

panel inserts and spring cushion bottoms, taken 

from Lnett's Theatre, Canton. Like new. $4.50 

e,i ,ill or part. .\11 prices F.O.B. Cleveland. 

Ciill or urite Universal Theatre Equipment Co,, 

1,S7S E, ISth St. Phones: SI'perlor 3912 or 

FAirmount UKS. rirveland, IHiin 

1.200 Am 

cushions, 

Reasonable 

HELP WANTED 

alning booth equip 

theatre manager. New England first run 

Kxcellent salaiv. References required, 

fully. Box 131. Boxoffice. 9 Itockefellei 

New York City, 

POSITIONS WANTED 

Veteran-Theatre Manager. 29. Eager, young, llvevlre, 

reliable. Ten years experience. Best of 

eferences. Box 2933. 825 Van Brunt Blvd.. Kan- 

HOUSf 

THLATRES WANTED 

Sell Your Theatre Privately. Confidential correspondence 

Invited. References. Arthur Leak, 

Thealres Exclusively, 3422 Kinmore, Dallas, Tex. 

Is your theatre lor sale? Our cash buyers are 

waiting. We get quick results. WUI give you a 

prompt estimate of your present theatre value. 

Write us today. "Joe" Joseph, 1003 Galloway. 

Phone Vale 3-7660. Dallas. Texas. 

Reliable, young veteran now In other bustaess 

wants theatre lease, with option to buy, or opportunity 

to purchase theatre on terms. Have $4,000 

cash. Wilfred Bmard, Hasty Tasty Cafe, 112 So 

Broadway. Crookston. Minn. 

Wanted: Small town profitable theatre over 

1,500 population. $10,000 cash down. Prefer 

lease. Full details in first letter. Boxoffice, 

A-2927. 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City Mo. 1. 

Two veterans have cash for profitable theatre 

in small Texas town. Prefer south or ea.st Texas. 

Others considered. Pay out two and one half 

years, Donald .M. Teer, Box 351, Granger, Texas. 

$35,000 cash purchase really 

Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, 

down payment? cone. 

Strictly 

A-2943, 825 Van 

Brunt 

"1 siiick dry goods and variety 

in payment on good theatr,e. 

Lewis Venabie, Reed. Okla. 

REAL ESTATE 

You may have to wait, but here's a real fortune. 

Best offer. Selluig improved business property 

200 by 125 ft. ft. in exclusive Chicago 

neighborhood. Included plans and specifications 

for medical center, six retail stores, 32 bowling 

alleys. 1.000-seat theatre. Minimum, $22,000. 

References required. Ow-ner. Tony Sheftic, Jr., 

14501 Sherman Ave., Posen. Phone: 111. Blue 

Island 3032, 

POPCORN MACHINES 

Burch—Manley—Cretors— Advances—All electric 

French fry types. Karmelkorn Equipment. 120 

i. Halstead. Chicago 6, III. 

Rebuilt Popcorn Machines for sale. Ifully guarinteed. 

Price trom $160. Consolidated Cnhfeclions. 

1314 8, Wabash. Chicago 5, 111. 

machines. Sliver Stars, Super Stars, Corn Cribs 

Old machines taken In trade. Blevins Pupcorn Co.. 

Nashville. Tenn. 

Bargain prices in used and completely reconditioned 

popcorn machines. Blevins Popcorn Co., 

Nashville. Tenn, 

Manley popcorn machines. Mauley's "Hl-Pop" 

popcorn and supplies warehoused in St. Louis. 

For finest in machines and supplies, see or write 

R. D. Von Englen, 3138 Olive St.. St. Louis 3. 

Star popcorn macliine. small floor model, clean, 

$110. Burch Gold Standard, perfect, $225. Lyric 

Theatre, Flatonia. Tex. 

POPCORN SUPPLIES 

Home 01 Rush Hour popcorn and popcorn 

plies. Send for price Fist. Prunty Seed & 

lin Co., 620 N. 2nd St.. Louis 2. Mo. 

St. 

.ililisbed 1874. 

3ec Hive for '48 is the best ever! Blevins not 

> cites you best popcorn but saves you money 

all seasoning, bags, boxes, etc. Blevins Pop- 

Nashville, Tenn. 

Popcorn: Highest popping volume, secure your 

supply novi! The Ohio Popcorn Co., Inc., Green- 

BUY! SELL! TRADE! 

FIND HELP OR POSITION 

Through 

BOXOFFICE 

Classified Advertising 

lOc A WORD 

4 insertions for the price of 3 

i 

icfOFFICE :: January 10. 1948

Claude 

I 

(Wflt^ Vooii..^. 

PARENTS' MAGAZINE 1947 Award from Phil Wlllcox, 

Director of Motion Picture Relations for the magazine. 

Advertise 

your new releases 

to America's biggest 

motion picture audience 

in 

For her delightful performance in "Miracle on 34th Street", as tht 

little girl who didn't quite believe in Santa Claus, 

Natalie Wood receives the coveted Annual Award from 

PARENTS' MAGAZINE. 

Previous winners were: 

. 1946 Jarman, Jr. 1942 Diana 

1945 Peggy Ann Garner 1941 Roddy McD 

1944 Elizabeth Taylor 1940 Virginia W< 

1943 Margaret O'Brien 1939 Mickey R 

PARENTS' MAGAZINE'S authoritative motion 

picture reviews are read by more than 1,150,000 

young families with children. 

?mm. 

Parents' Magazine 

52 Vanderbilt Ave., New York 

Atlanta 

Boston 

Chicago 

Los Angeles 

San Francisco

Boxoffice-January.10.1948

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