Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1940)

tage 20 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW October 5, 1940 The Talk of the Tents Up and Down the Land Cartel? Club incites Weekly Get-Together of Filmdom's Good Fellows JOHN H. HARRIS, NATIONAL CHIEF BARKER Tent No. 1Pittsburgh Turtle Derby a Huge Success . . . Plans Being Made for Annual Banquet . . . Critics ySffend "Rockne" Premiere. Sad news of the week was the death of Harry Kalmine's beloved mother at her home in Philadelphia. Harry and his family motored to Philadelphia for funeral services. The Turtle Derby staged Wednesday evening, September 25th at the Gardens was a huge success. A three-hour vaudeville show interspersed with the turtle heats made one of the outstanding entertainment programs of the year. The winners were : Louis Pieri ; Hollywood Theatre employes ; M. Rosenberg ; Anna Deasy; Moody & Dickinson; Kernal A. Mercur; six owners of Pitt (grand prize) ; Milton Jaffe; Kramer's Luncheon Club and E. T. Weir. The old adage of "Cast your bread upon the waters . . ." came true when money sent in by six people as contributions, was used to purchase the turtle which later became the grand winner and paid its owners $1,100 in cash. Barkers Blocke and Ferguson of Dallas Tent No. 17 came to Pittsburgh to stage the Derby, for which members of the Pittsburgh Tent extend their sincere thanks and appreciation. Barker Harry Feinstein planed to Cincinnati over the week end to close film deals there. Tony Stern and Ben Steerman, together with a group of Variety members from Film Row, headed a contingent to Columbus to see the Ohio State-Pitt football game Saturday. National Chief Barker John H. Harris and Chief Barker C. J. Latta are completing plans for the Variety Club annual banquet to be held Sunday, October 20th. They urge out-oftowners to place their reservations early. Kap Monahan of the Pittsburgh Press, Harold Cohen of the Post-Gazette and Karl Krug of the Sun-Telegraph are attending the world premiere of "Knute Rockne-All American" at South Bend, Indiana. Barker Joe Hiller back in Pittsburgh after a quick hop to New York to arrange a flock of stage dates for numerous bands for the Pittsburgh territory. Lou Gilbert and the missus attended the opening at Bill Green's of George King Monday night. This popular band leader is an old friend of Lou's. Barker Ken Hoel of Harris Amusement Company postponed his vacation and is subbing for George Zeilor, manager of the Alvm Theatre, who is vacationing. John H. Harris' son will enter Mt. Mercy this Fall for his initial schooling. Barker Dinty Moore escorting maestro Teddy King around to the local newspapers. Teddv is an old friend of Dinty's. Barker Felton Pinner, Warner Bros, ace engineer, is busy these days completing alterations for a number of Warner Bros, neighborhood theatres. The Dallas and Pittsburgh turtle champions had a special race in the Derby; the winner was "Pitt" (Pittsburgh's) thus becoming world champion galloping terrapin. fined his short and intelligent talk to the help that the exhibitor might give the industry m the matter of selling the product to the audiences. Harry Feinstein, of the Pittsburgh Tent, and the Smoky City's Warner Organization was a welcome visitor last week, as were also, Tracy Barham, the Croesus of Hamilton and environs ; Harry Silver, past exalted exhibitor and base ball fan extraordinary also of Hamilton ; John Schwalm another of the Hamiltonians and Bert Stearn, U.A. district manager who was Wanger's official guide around the large and sumptuous club rooms and the Netherland Plaza Hotel wherein they are located. Open House at the local tent during the World Series. The Tigers will be as welcome as the Reds, and quite an out of town influx is expected, especially so from Detroit. Large signs are posted in conspicuous places reading "PLEASE DO NOT ASK FOR TICKETS AS WE ARE LOOKING FOR THEM OURSELVES." Of course with the clubrooms having four baths no one need go dirty, but cots, "the hotel is fresh out of," as one might say. Speculators asking one's eye teeth for a strip of ducats, with plenty of takers. The taxis asking double fare to the ball yard and no complaints. Thousands milling for a chance to stand up to see the game at $4.40 a throw, and glad for the chance to get in. That is the great American game, and that is what Cincinnati is having for the second consecutive year. Who said they would not repeat? Roy Smith, one of the, best selling exhibitors in the country with headquarters in Huntington, W. Va., mixing with the less capable ones at 'the Wanger dinner. Ed Fisher, United Artist director of exploitation talking things over with E. V. Dinerman, exploiteer for local R.K.O. Theatres. Thanks to the makers of fates and names we were always known as just a press agent. Ed. Mayer, trade paper correspondent, newspaper reporter, advertising agent and what not in a big way has gone in for photography. Ed has the camera bulbs and everything, and was the official picture "tooker" at the Wanger affair. Who can tell but what if he improves we may yet see him in some nightery photographing the habitues. Tent No. 3 — Cincinnati Waiter Wanger Guest of Club . . . Open House During World Series . . . Ed Mayer Goes in For Photography. Walter Wanger, producer, was the guest of the Variety Club and the local United Artists offices last Friday night. Wanger con J3 a n a net PITTSBURGH October 20 Will YOU Be There? Tent No. 4— St. Louis Oct. 12 Midnight Show Looks Like Sell Out . . . Eight New Members Enrolled . . . Rosenthal Recovered. The huge midnight benefit show to be held at the Fox Theatre, Saturday, Oct. 12th, promises to be a sell-out in advance, exceeding expectations. Additional acts are being added and latest dope is that . the "ol' left hander" Joe Sanders and his boys will be one of several orchestras on the program. Tent No. 4 continues its march to enlarge its roster. At last Friday's meeting, eight new members were enrolled. Friends and variety members were shocked to learn of the death last Tuesday of Morris Rosenbloom, who succumbed to a gland ailment. The late Barker is survived by his widow and two children. Barker Rosenthal, the club is happy to report, is on the road to recovery. Barker Al Rosecan is all set for his Calif, vacation. Tent No. 5 -Detroit Tent Set for Tag Day, Oct. 75 . . . Clubrooms Open Saturday . . . F/ynn and Downey Are Made Air Admirals. Detroit Variety is set for its biggest single activity of the year— Tag Day, on October 15. Committees are all organized, and the cooperation of the entire city will be enlisted m this great project. Tom McGuire, entertainment chief, has made some big plans for the Grand Opening of the clubrooms on October 5— with a weekly Saturday night Frolic to follow throughout the winter season. Detroit will have some novelties in entertainment for the tired showman, and visiting Barkers are always welcome. Alex Schreiber of Associated Theatres is carrying on the club's charitable tradition, by being elected president of the Fresh Air Society, a unit of United Jewish Chanties. Charlie Snyder, censor, went to the Legion conclave at Boston, taking his son for his first airplane ride, with censor Joseph Kollar batting for him. . Freddie Schacler, who's doing publicity on the Club's Tag Day, will be personal rep. here for J J. Shubert, who's opening the long-dark Wilson on October 12 for a 30-week musical stock season. . William E. Dowling, Associate Barker, is Democratic nominee for prosecuting attorney The Olson Brothers are remodelling the front of the Rialto at Grayling. . . Mac Krim of the Laskv returned from Florida in time to help his Gold Hats polo team win a match. ... l t i Air Admiral is the new title won by Jack Flynn, district manager, and Frank J. Downey, local manager, both of Metro, from American Airlines— no mere "colonels" for them. . K . Tent No. 6 -Cleveland 300 attend Saturday Night Jamboree . . . Plans for Election Party and Ball . . . City's Critics Talk About Dogs. More than 300 attended the Saturday Night Jamboree under the Chairmanship of Bert Stearn Guest of honor was Ken Murray cur