Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1943)

BIG PICTURE October 9, 1943 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW DENVER The bond premiere held at the theatre in the Fitzsimoiis General (Army) hospital, Denver, netted more than $1,500,000 in bond sales. Si Gertz, former Egyptian manager as well as publicity director for the Civic Theatres, was made a sergeant in the Marines after finishingsecond in a large quartermaster class. A. G. Edwards, who manages the PRC exchange in Salt Lake City, is spending a couple of weeks at Denver headquarters. M. D. Smith, National Theatre Supply auditor, is spending a few days here checking things at the local branch. Claude Graves, theatre owner of Albuquerque, N. Al., arrived in Denver, and together with Joe Dekker and Tony Archer, Civic Theatre owners, went big game hunting. Fred and Mary Lind have bought the V Theatre at Palisade, Colo., from Mrs. A. P. Flatner, and immediately changed the name back to the Elberta. Mrs. Anita Davis has opened the Vida at Manitou, with the equipment formerly used by C. G. Diller in his Vida at Cripple Creek, Colo., which he recently closed. Chuck Flower, who has been managing a theatre at Estes Park. Colo., left with its closing, going to Bayard, Neb., to manage the Rex and Palm. All three are owned by his father, L. F. Flower. Sam Reed and Homer Ellison, formerly theatre and supply men, now booking for the American Red Cross, were in town. Lieut. J. B. Stone, formerly salesman for National Theatre Supply, is now across. A letter from him said he took a swim in the Mediterranean. Dick Lutz, also connected with the same firm, has completed his solo training in the Air Corps. Dick took his training at Oxnard, Calif. Ross Black has been made office manager for the local exchange of MGM. He succeeds Grange Sherwin, resigned. Seen on the row from out of town : Mrs. John Wood and Mrs. Robert Lefner, manager and assistant, of Espanola, N. M. ; Mrs. O. S. Cleveland, Newcastle, Wye, and J. C. Parker of Dalhart, Texas. DES MOINES A total of 7309 persons bought over $300,000 worth of war bonds to attend the premiere and 28-hour continuous showing of Warner Bros.' new Technicolor "Women at War" at the Des Moines Theatre. A total of 1600 persons bought $100 bonds to attend the premiere of the WAC film and the first Iowa showing of "Thank Your Lucky Stars." The others bought $25 bonds during the subsequent 24-hour run, the first time in Des Moines history a theatre has continued in operation that long. The Field interests, which recently purchased three theatres at Storm Lake, has closed one of the houses, the Tracy Theatre, and placed the equipment for sale or lease. The Tracy Theatre was purchased from Mike Tracy, who also had an interest in the Vista and Lake theatres taken over by Fields. Tracy had been serving as manager of the Tracy since its purchase. No announcement was made as to the reason for closing the third house. W. E. Hess has sold the Royal Theatre at Spirit Lake to the March Brothers, who operate theatres in Orange City and other northwestern Iowa towns. Bob Malek, who is now in the Army, has sold his interests in the Gladbrook and Independence theatres. The Humota Theatre at Humboldt has been done over with many new improvements, including a new front for the house. Bill Dippert, formerly of Universal, is reported as improving in a West Coast hospital and is expected to return to Des Moines shortly on a furlough. His wife recently returned from visiting him. New employes this week include Forest Clark at RKO, replacing Don Goldenson as assistant shipper; and Patricia Hatten as the new biller at 20th Century-Fox in place of Amy Roberts, who is now in Los Angeles. Other changes include Betty Leonard as assistant cashier at Warner Bros, and Lucille Kelly as inspectress at Columbia. The motion picture division of the Iowa Federation of Women's clubs recommended the following pictures as character education films in its monthly bulletin to members : "So Proudly We Hail," "Salute to the Marines," "Watch on the Rhine," "Behind the Rising Sun," and "Victory Through Air Power." Also listed as good escape pictures were "Let's Face It," "I Dood It," "Best Foot Forward," "Heaven Can Wait," "This Is the Army," "Thank Your Lucky Stars," "Holy Matrimony," "The Sky's the Limit," "Fired Wife," "My Kingdom for a Cook," and "Hi Diddle Diddle." Joe V. Gerbracht, president of the Ames Theatre Company of Ames, has made an outstanding gift to Iowa State College at Ames. The gift will be an annual award of $100 to be given to the student who turns in the best performance in dramatics at the school. Gerbracht is a graduate of Iowa State. Declaring it has taken the present world crisis to prove to America that the motion picture industry is a national asset, Irving E. Deer, field representative of the Motion Picture Producers and Exhibitors Association, spoke before the Dubuque Rotary Club. Deer also addressed students at the University of Dubuque and the Dubuque senior high school. His subject was Motion Pictures in a World at War. DETROIT Highlighting the week in Detroit was the annual convention of Allied Theatres of Michigan, which was conducted Tuesday and Wednesday at the Hotel Statler. Discussion of wartime problems— including juvenile delinquency, manpower, the print and fuel shortage, along with a myriad of other shortage and transportation troubles — headed the program. An open meeting was held Tuesday for general discussions, with the closed session on Wednesday. Among the speakers were M. A. Rosenberg, of Pittsburgh, national president of Allied Theatres ; Abram F. Myers, of Washington, general counsel and chairman of the board for the national group, and Ray Branch, of Hastings, Mich., president of the Michigan group. At the banquet Wednesday, Frank N. Isbey, chairman of bond drives in Michigan, was the principal speaker. The War Bond premieres of "For Whom the Bell Tolls" held at the United Artists and Wilson theatres last week helped put Detroit over the top in the drive, with each house raisingmore than a million dollars through the premieres. The "Sahara" premieres at the Fox and Adams theatres also gave the bond drive a good boost. Detroit was the kev city for the statewide premiere of RKO's "Behind the Rising Sun." Fridav, (Oct. S') with the picture showing in Detroit at the Palms-State Theatre. Annearing on the stage for the opening day was Marsfo, star of the film; James R. Young, foreign cor'-espondent and author of the book, and G-wen Dew. girl photographer who was a prisoner of the Japs. Two men attempted to hr^<\ up the Michigan Theatre in broad davliffht Wednesdav, Sept. 28. but were foiled in thp attemnt when the assistant manager, James Maloney, 19 vears old. ignored their command P"d ran to call police. The two thus-s followed Malonev into the business office on the second floor of the theatre. One pulled a pistol and said : "This is a stirkiip." When >TalonPv dashed out to summon help, the pair n^ade their escape. The Countess Rozanska, Detroit vocal coach . (Continiced on Page 22) T'** TOWN 7 . . . when this gang of radio favorites all get together in a laughter -filled, songcrowded screen show! It's a joy holiday! FaaUrlDt DALE EVANS • GEORGE BYRON EMMA DUNN . THURSTON HAIL FRANK MeDONALD, DIrsolor OriKinal Story and Screen Play by Dorrell& Stuart McGowan B«Bcd on an Idea by Edward James Assgciate Producer, ARMAND SGHAEFER Buy War Bonds and Slumps It's a REPUBLIC PICTURE