Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

Screeno Will Appeal Detroit Restraint Writ Detroit — In a sweeping decision, Circuit Court Judge Henry G. Nicol this week declared Screeno, as it is used in Michigan, a lottery and granted a permanent injunction restraining Jake Schreiber from using the cash game in his Colonial Theatre as was sought by George W. Trendle. Attorneys for Schreiber advised Boxoffice that immediate steps for an appeal to the Michigan supreme court will be taken. Judge Nicol, in a detailed and lengthy opinion, written after oral and written arguments were presented before him, found all the elements of lottery present in Screeno. “Indirect Consideration Sufficient” Holding that even though Screeno cards were presented to people anywhere in front of the theatre whether they purchased tickets or not. Judge Nicol wrote that “an indirect consideration is sufficient, if the other elements (chance and prize) are present, to brand a game a lottery.” He wrote that though such cards were given free the fact that some persons paid admission to the theatre constituted enough to have the element of consideration active in the case. The case was brought to court by Ray Meurer of Meurer and Meurer, attorneys for Trendle, and Morris Garvet, who entered the case with Meurer. Garvet has been attorney for Ben and Lou Cohen in their long fight to oust cash giveaways from the Schreiber houses. “Element of Skill Slight” The case was originally presented to Judge Nicol on the premise of unfair competition between the Colonial Theatre and (Continued on page 19) Gerald F. Rackett, a vice-president and plant manager of Technicolor, who was recently appointed executive vice-president of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers. He takes charge of Pacific Coast activities of the organization. Howard Craven Spikes Accusations Detroit — “I want it positively known in the industry in Detroit that I am not and have not been a union organizer and that Andy Harvey, associated with me, is not a union agitator," said Howard Craven, of Exhibitors' Service, city film truck delivery company, in a statement to BOXOFFICE this week. Craven, who was first to sign up with the union to pay his men the scale, made this statement “to refute many undercurrent rumblings that I have precipitated the union activity in the film building." “After we promised H. M. Richey of Allied to raise our drivers as soon as Detroit exhibitors agreed in the raise in delivery prices we arranged, I paid my men the scale, and signed the agreement," Craven said. CONFERENCE SET FOR MINORS LAW Detroit — H. M. Richey was to meet this week with Heinrich Pickert, commissioner of police, in regard to the proposed new ordinance regarding admission of children in theatres. Meeting with them were to have been members of the Motion Picture Council of Detroit and the Youth’s Foundation. Hall for Oberlin Oberlin — A new 300-seat auditorium will be built by Oberlin College with money left to the institution by a former graduate. The auditorium will be used for presentation of dramatic plays and also for exhibition of educational motion pictures. Ground will be broken early in April. CHASE GETS IMPERIAL FRANCHISE Cincinnati— -Maurice Chase has obtained the Imperial Pictures franchise for this territory which also comprises southern Ohio and Kentucky. Chase was associated with Universal in an executive capacity for many years and more recently was Buffalo and Cincinnati manager for First Division. “IDIOT'S DELIGHT" SETS RECORD Cleveland — “Idiot’s Delight,” Pulitzer prize play co-starring Alfred Lunt and Lynne Fontanne, established a new 193637 attendance and boxoffice record at the Hanna Theatre last week, according to Manager William Blair. DETROIT J^ETROIT theatres are running trailers for the benefit to be held for the police pension fund. H. M. Richey of Allied spoke before the Women’s Review Club Wednesday at the Women’s City Club quarters on “Motion Pictures, Block Booking and Other Phases of the Industry.” John Passafiume, who has been ill, is back at his old post at the Fox Theatre as assistant to Jack Hurford. Maury Caplan of Metropolitan Motion Pictures and ex-president of the Variety Club is on the road to recovery at Henry Ford Hospital. He’ll welcome a visit from Barkers and all others in the industry. Marvin Townsend, genial Butterfield booker, is doing nicely, we are told, in his health battle at Herman Kiefer Hospital. Earl Hudson of United Detroit got a lot of “400” goodwill when he previewed “Maytime” for Grosse Pointers and Junior Leaguers last week. More than 60 employes and their friends (including wives and husbands) enjoyed the initial party at the opening of the Warner Club last week. Everything was on hand for “a good time to be had by all,” including the 3-piece orchestra. A window that “stopped ’em” this week was the one Earl Hudson rigged up in Capper and Capper’s store on Woodward Ave., featuring Bob Burns’ original “Bzooka” as a stunt for “Waikiki Wedding,” which was the Easter week attraction at the Michigan Theatre. Floyd Chrysler, M-G-M’s dynamic state salesman, was one of the 13 salesmen in the United States to win a platinum watch as an award in the recent resales and circulation drive of the company. Harold Robinson of Film Truck Service is a recent sojourner back from the land of sunshine — Florida to you. Bert Tighe, who recently resigned from RKO, is now state salesman for Universal. Bert succeeds William Sturgess who resigned. Milton Cohen arranged a screening last week for Columbia’s “I Promise to Pay,” a story of loan-sharks, to which he invited members of the prosecutor's office, the Better Business Bureau and loan company executives. Warren Slee, M-G-M exploiteer working on “The Good Earth,” took time out (Continued on page 18) HAVE YOU A MESSAGE TO TELT ? HAVE YOU A CHANGE IN POLITY ■» Have yw POLICY speeial ya« wont ta tall y a»r potron& about on the greeny Fifmock wni make four trailer FltmnCK^\ . ^.^RRIlWtO Sp*«d pluc ~ allty is r MoUo Try Us On Ypur Nsiil Order I a43 SOUTH WABASH CHICAGO. ILLINOIS 14 BOXOFFICE :: April 3, 1937.