Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1938)

Amusement Impost Revival Suggested Ottawa — Returning from the annual convention at Niagara Falls of the Ontario Mayors’ Ass’n, of which he is secretary-treasurer, Mayor Stanley Lewis of Ottawa reported one of the many resolutions adopted by representatives of more than 65 municipalities in the Province, was a request for the revival of the provincial amusements tax, abolished June 1, 1937. The civic authorities urged restoration of the ticket tax on its previous graduated basis, as well as a share of the gasoline tax, for securing revenue for unemployment relief, the burden of which is now shouldered by the respective municipalities following refusal of the provincial government to provide further cash grants to the cities and towns for the purpose. The municipal corporations will ask for legislation enabling them to impose a local levy on theatre admissions. The argument is advanced that amusement patrons alone are taxless, constituting a ready source of revenue to take care of substantial relief expenditures. The subject is to be taken up with Premier Hepburn and the Ontario cabinet. OTTAWA (Continued from page 147) screen, are going to have entertainment of their own for the first time in the establishment of a 40-piece military band which eventually will be stationed at the Mounted Police barracks at Rockcliffe, near Ottawa. Capt. J. T. Brown, conductor of the regimental band of the Governor-General’s Foot Guards, Ottawa, will be the director of the new band. Miss Frances Claudet, petite fancy skater of Ottawa who has been appearing with the Ice Follies at Atlantic City, is leaving the Canadian capital shortly for Hollywood ivhere she will be featured in a skating feature to be produced by M-G-M. Even though the new season is well under way, Manager Isser Singerman of the Imperial Theatre continues to experience success with the presentation of reissues. The latest revival twin-bill comprised “Imitation of Life” and “The Old Dark House.” The city council of Smiths Falls cannot decide whether or not the residents want daylight saving again next summer. The result is that the electors will vote on the issue as a referendum in the municipal elections next December, the daylight saving bylaw having been annulled by the council. Two More to "Topper" Hollywood — Yola D’Avril and George Humbert have been signed for supporting parts in Hal Roach’s “Topper Takes a Trip,” starring Constance Bennett, for UA release. :S A $ K A TCIHIIIIE W AM J^CTION has been promised by the Saskatchewan government towards halting the perigrinations of some transient motion picture operators who have not been complying with the regulations of the Cinematograph Act. Itinerants, operating largely in northern Saskatchewan, are showing pictures from town to town without a license and are charging admission. Such a practice is restricted to the use of educational pictures for which no admission can be charged. A formal complaint from Saskatchewan motion picture men has already been registered with the attorney-general’s department. Manager Otis Bowes of the Grand, Regina, found his trip to the Famous Players managers’ convention in Winnipeg quite expensive. En route home Saturday night, he was passing a farmer in a rickety jalopy when the latter suddenly swerved into Bowes’ new machine and ripped off the fender, running board, tore a tire and rim. The farmer, minus crops for years, had no money to pay any damages, he explained from his six-foot-two height. Visitors to Regina, Sask., on business within recent days included Charlie Krupp, 20th Century-Fox representative, of Winnipeg; Harry Phillett, M-G-M sales agent, and Les Plottel, RKO, also of Winnipeg. Pin ball machines were outlawed in Saskatchewan September 1, but operators planned to fight the case in the courts while continuing to operate the machines. However, the attorney-general directed every machine to be seized immediately pending the outcome of the trial suits. The result was that overnight the machines disappeared as operators hurriedly gathered them in. Theatre men say they may benefit as many a boy’s nickel has been eaten up by the machines en route to a show. Saskatoon houses may expect to benefit if a proposal initiated by the West Side Business Men’s organization should succeed in passing council. A delegation already has interviewed the city authorities asking them to make Wednesday halfholidays effective 11 months of the year instead of just in summer as at present. The year-round holiday — except at Easter and Christmas — is already in effect in Regina. Regina theatre men heaved a sigh of relief while sports fans looked mournful with news that the committee of business men seeking to obtain subscriptions towards financing installation of an artificial ice plant in the stadium, has insufficient funds yet to put ice in by October 10. That was the date set by the New York Americans hockey squad by which they must have ice for training purposes if they were to locate in Regina for their pre-season work. However, ice will probably be ready the following month and then games will start drawing patrons from the theatres. Popularity of “haymow music” is expected to draw plenty of people to the Capitol, Regina, on September 29, for the personal appearance of the WLW Barn Dance tour party from Chicago. The roadshow will also play the Moose Jaw Capitol. Theatres in Regina are taking “spot” announcements on both radio stations to plug the current “ Movies Are Your Best Entertainment” campaign. The radio stations throughout the province, in keeping with those elsewhere in Canada, are irked at the fact they are not receiving any of the $750,000 set aside in the general campaign for publicity and have shut down pretty tightly on all but paid programs or announcements. Memories of Norma. Shearer Montreal — Memories of the Norma Shearer of 20 years ago — a gay girl in her ’teens with her hair down her back, who talked constantly of the “movies” and her dream of getting into them some day, were revived for two Montrealers when Frank Ramsberger, proprietor of the International Music Store received a “thank you” telegram. He also recalled the Eckstein composition "Beautiful Thoughts,” hunted through his stock and found a few copies of the oldtime favorite with patrons of the Strand Theatre. He mailed two copies to Miss Shearer, then in New York. The Herald story had at the same time revived memories for Eckstein, Montreal’s own composer-pianist who has entertained thousands here. Billy Eckstein was a very close neighbor of Norma at the time he thrilled her with his rendition of “Beautiful Thoughts” at the Strand. He occupied the ground floor and the Shearer family the second floor of a house at the corner of Mansfield and Dorchester Sts. “We used to say ‘good morning’ to each other almost every day,” the composer recalls. “She used to go to the Strand, which was the big moving picture house on St. Catherine in those days, about twice a week.” Glad that Miss Shearer still enjoyed his “Beautiful Thoughts,” Eckstein resolved to get in touch with her. He wired her in New York. The wire, which Ramsberger received, reads: “So very nice of you to send music and Herald clipping just received. Shall always treasure it. Got wire from Billy Eckstein. Give him my kindest regards with appreciation.” “She was a most bright and attractive girl and she looked just cut out for the screen, the way she waltzed and everything,” reminisced the music store proprietor. “She was always talking of how she wanted to get into the business. She was an accomplished pianist, too.” BOXOFFICE : : September 17, 1938 149