Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1940)

Uctober 5, 1940 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW Page 21 rently appearing in person at Barker Nat Holt's Palace. Let it be said that "Dynamo" Stearn has never been attached to a flop. When he takes a chairmanship, he works like a Trojan to make the affair a success. Nov. 5 Election Party and Frolic will have a 50 cent admission charge which includes keno, dancing and door prizes. There will also be $1000 in sur-Prizes and if that isn't worth a half a buck, we can't imagine what is. First Assistant Chief Barker Lester Zucker off on another trip thru the territory for good old Columbia. Meyer Fine and Paul Gusdanovic still wondering what happened to the Indians . . . and now that they did lose, all the hullabaloo about World Series tickets was to no avail . . . but we. do not envy our brother Barkers in Cincinnati or Detroit . . . the pressure for tickets must be terrific. . . . Barkers Ward Marsh of the Plain Dealer, Art Spaeth of The News and Winsor French of The Press aside from being motion picture editors on their respective papers never tire of talking about dogs. . . . Spaeth and French have dachshunds, Marsh an English setter. No date set yet for the first Monday Night Stag dinner, but it won't be long now . . . news of our beautifully decorated and commodious clubrooms seems to have traveled far and wide for there is a great interest among non-theatricals on how they can join . . . the committee for that purpose will inform them. Tent No. 8— Kansas City New Members Inducted . . . Movie Ball Set For November . . . Chief Barker Changes Name of Theatre. In its first initiation ceremony in some time, Variety Club of Kansas City September 30 inducted a number of men who have been joined in the last year. Leo Finkelstein was in charge of the ceremonies, aided by Senn Lawler, Jerry Zigmond, Jack Moffitt, C. E. Gregory, Jack Gregory, R. R. Biechele, Arthur Cole, Leon Abraham, Bob Withers, Ben Marcus, Harry McClure, George Baker, and Bev Miller. Those who went through the initiation included Marty Weiser, Bill Lansburg, W. G. McKinney, G. C. Parsons, W. B. Adams, J. W. McConnell, Stanley Goldberg, Walt Talbut, William Hardman, Ed Durwood, Morton Truog, Jack Stewart, Howard Kinser, Ray Higdon, J. Ray Cook, J. H. Kelley, L. J. Kimbriel, J. H. Harris, O. O. Flake, James Winn, Cle Bratton, Collins Rile, Bill Porter, and E. S. Sutter. Sam Abend is already passing out the tickets for the Movie Ball for charity, which will be held in November. Earl Jameson, general chairman, is hunting in Colorado. Jay Means, chief barker, has changed the name of his Carrol theatre back to the Bagdad. Tent No. 10 — Indianapolis Wade Willman Feted . . . Tent Opens Season . . . Banquet for George Landes . . . Club Headquarters Altered. The Indianapolis Metro exchange gave its branch manager, Wade W. Willman, one of the nicest parties and tributes in celebrating his 18th anniversary as branch manager for Metro in Indianapolis at the Variety Club Monday, September 23rd. It was replete with surprises. Congratulatory wires poured in from all over the country — from associates, executives, stars, etc. A beautiful dinner was arranged by fellow club member, Irving Fendrick. The Indianapolis Tent officially opened its season last Saturday with a bang-up affair that jammed the club to capacity. Jean Parker and a flock of the other lovely stars appearing on the Lyric stage with George Jessel, were present to give the opening a Hollywood flash. The high-light of the evening was the introduction of Harold Lloyd's Hollywood horses. Last Monday, the club honored George Landes with a stag banquet in recognition of his especially fine work done on the annual club tournament in golf over the past several years. The Variety Club headquarters just had its face changed by adding a new ladies room and installing a Ping Pong room which will definitely lend more color and attraction to the members. Chief Barker, Marc Wolf reveals that Johnny Harris, Chief Barker for the national Variety Club and Bob O'Donnell, first assistant Chief Barker will attend a special meeting in October. George Jessel and his Hollywood stars have been making the club their headquarters while playing Indianapolis. Earl Penrod has moved into a new home . . . Jack Schwarz is visiting from California . . . Gordon Craddick unfortunately was forced to return to a dry climate out West for his health and the entire gang is rooting and hoping that he will be back real soon to stay. The participants in the local Roller Skating Derby are expected at the Variety Club this coming Saturday following the conclusion -of the derby. Fall elections for the new officers are soon to be held. Chief Barker Marc Wolf entertained one of his boys from Muncie, Indiana, recently married, Mel Grundy. Tent No. 12— Minneapolis Club Is Host to George Givot . . . Monthly Meeting Discusses Money Raising Projects . . . Ben Ashe Going fo Everett, Wash. The Twin City Variety club was host to a notable of the stage, screen and radio, George Givot, playing a Minneapolis night club engagement. George has many friends and acquaintances among the members and is renewing them here during this visit. Last Saturday football open house was a big success, drawing a large crowd and providing fun for everybody. Because of Minnesota's victory over Washington the boys and girls were in a particularly happy mood. One of the club members, Tony Stecher, is making a very considerable name for himself on the golf links. At 79 he tied to top amateur golfers in the Twin Cities Senior Golf league finales last week. "Bank Night" and "Bingo" will continue to be served up at the regular Saturday night socials, along, of course, with the numerous other entertainment features. The regular monthly meeting this week was given over principally to a discussion of several proposed shows to raise additional money for the club's charity project, the Milk Fund. Chief Barker Ben Blotcky thanked the members for the fine cooperation and support which they have given WHAT OTHERS THINK JOSEPH BERNHARD, General Manager of Warner Bros. Theatres: "As an organization for charitable work directed and financed by showmen, the Variety Clubs of America reflect great credit on the Amusement industry. Since Variety represents the humanitarian instincts of the people in the show business and since its work is unselfish, it is truly an asset to the public relations of our business." F. J. A. McCARTHY, Eastern Sales Manager Universal Pictures: "I consider Variety the most outstanding institution of its kind in America." his administration to date and asked them to buckle down to still harder work. There'll be a big farewell party this month for one of the more popular members, Ben Ashe, who is moving to Everett, Wash. Ashe formerly was general manager of the Bennie Berger independent circuit and also is an exhibitor himself. . . . Tent No. 14— Milwaukee Buck Herzog Back at Work . . . Howard Gleason a Champ Bowler . . . Olson Views Bands For Variety Movie Ball. Buck Herzog movie editor of the Milwaukee Sentinel who is a veteran member of tent No. 14 underwent a major operation recently and is now back at his desk feeling in the "pink." Barker Howard Gleason of Warner-Saxe Theatres was a stand-out at the gala Bowling Meet held Monday at Champion "Hank" Marinos Alleys. Sixty-four showmen were present and all participated in the match. Barker Ben Miller has announced that there will be open house at Variety during the Independent Theatres convention next week. Art Catlin United Artists p.a. in town telling the boys about the Chicago ban on his latest assignment "Pastor Hall." The picture opens at the Warner Milwaukee this week after local censorship board gave the O.K. signal. Barker Jack R. Keegan tossed a special preview for Curly Lambeau and the entire Green Bay Packer Team Saturday night . . . They were shown the "Knute Rockne" picture. Chief Barker Oscar Olson is viewing all top notch Band availabilities prior to the announcement of Milwaukee's Second Variety Movie Ball. L. F. Gran and his membership committee report they have hit a new hundred mark . . . which again brings up the question of larger quarters for Variety in Milwaukee. Tent No. 17Dallas Go/f Tournament Set For Oct. 14 . . . Pageant To Be Staged in Kilgore . . . Election of Officers, Dec. 2. October 14 has been set as the date for the big annual fall golf tournament. There'll be the usual open house in the club rooms on Saturday night prior to the tournament when the place will be filled to capacity from sundown to dawn. On Sunday night, there'll be the Calcutta and stag. Monday will be the golfer's day, and the affair will end Monday night at the Dallas Country Club with a banquet. Following the banquet, about two thousand dollars in prizes will be awarded the winners. Entries are now pouring in from all over the state. Things are going to be a hummin' in Kilgore about October 10-12, too. Barker L. N. Crim, who last year was acclaimed first citizen of Kilgore, is going to direct a pageant depicting the history of the city which grew from a village of 300 to a city of 15,000 in ten years, and is now one of the richest blocks of land in the world. The first Monday night in December has been set aside for election of 1941 officers and directors. The election will be held in the club rooms about eight o'clock in the evening. Barker C. L. Dees, salesman for Paramount Pictures, is the latest addition to the Roster of Tent No. 17. A swell time was had by all at Marion and Willie Underwood's Family Night party at the club rooms Friday night. The guests were amused with card games for several hours, and delicious food of every variety was served after the party. These affairs will be held every Friday night during the fall and winter months.