Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1938)

Operator Wanted Goldfields, Sask. — There’s an operator’s job going begging up here. Even the $45 a week offered by Nate Rothstein, owner of the new theatre just opened in this new gold mining town, can’t tempt any operator to take the job, it would seem. It can’t be the work, as the house is scheduled to operate only two hours daily for the night show. It’s the cost of living that scares the boys, and the fact that for several months a year there is no contact with the world “outside” except by radio. The winter’s supply of film has already been flown in. Rost Provides Vigorous Publicity lor "Follies" Winnipeg — Opening the fall season with unmatched vigor, Manager Sim Rost of the Garrick, has carried out a spectacular exploitation campaign for the “Goldwyn Follies.” Rost covered the city through every possible medium and tied up the picture from every possible angle. The campaign included half page two color ads in the dailies, a special Sunday broadcast of transcriptions from the film and broadcasts every night of the run of the picture from station CJRC; window displays in the stores in the downtown shopping district, including beauty shops, dress shops and music stores. An unusual idea was to throw loads of balloons, many of them containing passes, from the tops of several of the centrally located office buildings. Several thousand Charlie McCarthy postcards were handed out. The front of the marquee was decorated with balloons. The Charlie McCarthy angle was tied up with Chase & Sanborn in chain stores throughout the city. In addition, through a tieup with the Free Press and the Winnipeg Electric Co., several thousand children from various institutions in the city are attending the show as guests of the management. The film has been booked for two weeks and may run for a longer period. The picture marks the return of the single bill policy at the Garrick, which was suspended through the summer months. Beatty Orders Equipment For New Red Deer House Calgary — Morris Beatty of Red Deer was here last week ordering equipment and seats for his new theatre on which construction has started. From the screen to the front everything will be equipped in modern style. New cushioned seats, new projection equipment, screen and an air conditioning system will be installed to make it one of the best in the smaller prairie towns. Beatty & Johnston, who are building this new theatre, also own the Crescent in the same town. Hamilton Dividend Due Montreal — Hamilton United Theatres seven per cent preferred, quarterly 1V2 per cent, is payable September 30, to shareholders of record September 15. ^HEATRE attendance is rapidly improving, for though the Canada Pacific Exposition might be termed a counterattraction, it resulted in bringing large numbers of people in from all parts of the Province who took advantage of the chance to visit the theatres. The Globe Theatre is now a mere shell with no intimation, as yet, of what is to be expected when the remodeling is completed. Frank Gow, F-P district manager, is pleased with the progress made on the new Capitol at Vernon, which is keeping well ahead of schedule. W. S. Jones, in fact the whole staff of the RKO district office, are proud of the big bronze placque recording its securing second place — shared with Toronto — in the Depinet drive, and commending it for its extraordinary effort in billmg whereby it attained this envious position. This office also has first place in the Disney drive and second place in the Shorts drive. Stu Keate, popular with the exhibitors here, has returned to a desk in the Daily Province editorial rooms to take on some special work in connection with the amusement page. Fred Gest of Hamilton, Ont., is in Vancouver on a short visit to his theatre here, the Stanley, which is under the competent management of Miss Amy Scrivens. Basil Horsfal, accompanied by his wife, came over from Victoria to act as adjudicator for the band competition at the Canada Pacific Exhibition. He was a familiar figure on Filmrow while acting as district manager for Educational. Joe Archer has returned from a trip into the interior where he found prospect for fall theatre business encouraging , and the autumn scenery gorgeous. Sam Nagler spent several days on The Island. He says that, with the exception of the Cumberland and Courtney district, indications were good for the season’s business. Joe Plottel is off for a trip on The Island to attend to fall booking. Churches Are Warned Of "Bingo" Abuse Montreal — Organizers of tombolas or Church fairs who operate gambling devices on the premises will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Crown Prosecutor Olier Renaud announced in the criminal court. The prohibition extends to "Bingo" if the game is carried too far or played for too high stakes, the Prosecutor explained. "Bingo" is also illegal under the Criminal Code, but because of its popularity, it has been tolerated by the police. Just how far "too far" is, the Prosecutor did not say, but he pledged action "if the privilege is abused." Sendoff lor Taylor Montreal — Milling crowds of Vancouver B. C„ cinema fans watched Robert Taylor, Hollywood star, depart on the Canadian Pacific Steamship Princess Louise for Skagway. Hundreds stood on the deck before the ship sailed, throwing to the deck anything from shoes to scraps of wood upon which the actor could write his name and toss back into the crowd. Taylor arrived by plane, spent the day quietly in a private home and then made his unannounced departure. Somehow, however, an unusually large crowd became aware of the sailing. Northern Electrics Head. Paul Size. Making Planes Ottawa — Announcement has been made by the Dominion government that the newly-created national company for the large-scale manufacture of bombing airplanes in Canada on a centralized basis for Great Britain, will have Paul F. Size, prominent industrialist, as its president. Mr. Size also is president of the Northern Electric Co., Ltd., which is the Canadian counterpart of Western Electric in the United States, and is also identified with Dominion Sound Equipments, Ltd., which is the Canadian distributor of Motiograph projectors, Hurley screens, Neumade booth supplies, Universal reels, Busch Neokino lenses, Mazda lamps. Forest rectifiers, Celotex acoustical materials and other materials and other theatre lines as well as sound systems. The company of which Size is the head will immediately erect large airplane factories in both Quebec and Ontario for the turning out of bombers under a big war munitions contract with the British government. Current Filming Demands Delay Bartholomew Trek Hollywood — Although M-G-M was forced to set back Freddie Bartholomew’s personal appearance tour for another three weelts to allow for the completion of his current picture, “Listen Darling,” outgoing trains carried other Hollywood personages eastward on “in the flesh” treks. Appearing in Salt Lake City in connection with the “Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment” drive was Cecilia Parker, another Metro player, due to remain there for several days. Further east was Hugh Herbert, who opened a fourweek tour in Atlantic City and planned to work westward, making appearances in key cities. Freddie had been set to hit the trail September 6, but injuries incurred by Mary Astor, featured in “Listen Darling,” have caused production to be held up pending her recovery. New dates for the child star will take him to Providence October 6, Loew’s State in New York October 13, Philadelphia October 20, Pittsburgh October 27 and Detroit early in November. BOXOFFICE :: September 10, 1938 83