Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

CHICAGO y^JORK of reconstruction of the Fargo ’^Theatre, Geneva, 111., which was seriously damaged by fire on Friday, March 19, is going forward rapidly and the house will reopen very soon. The building is owned by Charles Fargo and operated by the Fred Anderson circuit. The loss, which has been estimated at about $7,500 was fully covered by insurance between both of these parties. The fire originated in some unknown manner under the stage and damaged the back end of the building, almost wrecking the screen and the stage part of the sound equipment. It occurred just before the evening opening of the house. Once again the cold hand of death has struck the local film colony, this time right in the midst of the daily activity on Wabash Avenue. Louis Brill, 65, bookkeeper for the Metro Premium, 845 So. Wabash Ave., died suddenly from a heart attack last Monday afternoon while at his desk. He was the father-in-law of Joe Koppel of the Lasker circuit. And before leaving the subject of that long last sleep, it should be mentioned that many are the friends of George Feinberg who mourn his passing. Feinberg died in Miami last week following his attendance at the MPTOA convention. He was well known here for many years, and was just in the midst of installing a show room for International Seat Corp., of which he was vice-president and general sales manager. Funeral services were held in Minneapolis. S. S. Millard is again active in the local film scene and has been on the Row several times lately. Millard is building the Paris Theatre in Gary, Ind. and is installing a theatre in a store building in Lawrenceville, Ind., which also will be called the Paris. Both houses will be open in April. A1 Rule, whose “The Big Drive” is among the best remembered of the war films, is back in Chicago. A1 has opened an office on the sixth floor of 831 So. Wabash from which he will handle bookings on a reissue of “The Big Drive” and also a new war feature, “The Death Parade,” and a two-reel war subject, titled “Lest We Forget.” That theatre project of Sam Meyers between Glencoe and Hubbard Woods on the north shore is still beset with difficulties. The latest hurdle is a protest which the Hubbard Woods Improvement Association has lodged with the Glencoe zoning commission against the proposed theatre’s erection. The protest states that the erection of a theatre would “not only create a parking problem, but would also greatly increase automobile traffic on certain residential streets, that it would lead to further commercial development of adjacent property and would unquestionably occasion a serious depreciation of residential values in Hubbard Woods.” Harry Blumenthal’s Ad-Art sign studio is a busy place these days. Besides doing just about all the local theatre sign work, Harry right now has the contract to do all the signs for the National Inventor’s Convention opening at the LaSalle Hotel the latter part of this week. It’s hard to pass up this week's column without further mention of Kurley Koppelman, who came back to Universal the other day after an eastern sojourn of several years. Kurley has a sense of humor anyway, so maybe when we run out of bum items like this he will give us a good one about himself. CAPA is overlooking a sweet bet in Addie Klein. The local RCA Photophone representative is really quite a space grabber. This week comes a notation from him of another flock of installations of RCA equipment, indicating that Addie is not only a good press agent, but also that he is a good salesman . . . never overlooking the fact that he sells a mighty good product. Among the new ones Addie reports are: Park, Chicago; Grove, Chicago; Havana, Havana, 111.; Stanley, Galena, 111.; Avon, Peoria; New Beverley, Peoria; Rialto, Clinton, I.; Fenway, Fenimore, Wis.; Vogue, Kenosha, Wis.; Uptown, Racine; Venetian, Racine; Sheboygan, Sheboygan; Rialto, Mt. Wayne, Ind.; Pantheon, Vincennes, Ind. J. W. lies of Champaign, III., has leased the Puritan Theatre in West Salem, III. from Fishel Bros, and will soon open it after extensive remodeling. From dishes to glasses . . or something. That might be the title of the recent move made by Eddie Levin in transferring his activities from the premium business to the operation of a tavern. Eddie is now the proprietor of The Silver Dome at 1338 E. 47th St., where his own inimitable style of playing the piano in the approved modern manner is drawing many customers. He swings a nasty keyboard, that Eddie, and nightly may be found a number of • Continued on next page) Chains Expanding (Continued from page 13) for similar buildings. It is pointed out that B. & K., Essaness and Harry and Elmer Balaban are all three planning de luxe theatres on the near north side near upper Michigan Ave. Considerable credit is also given to the reported prospective sale of the Simansky & Miller houses, as yet unconfirmed by announcement, to either Essaness or B. & K. or a combination of both, which would most certainly give a tight circuit control to that far western suburban district where they are located. Increase Loop Power The loop situation is further pointed to as evidence of the increase in circuit power. B. & K. are set to take control of the State-Lake on April 1. They are in a management deal on McVickers with Jones, Linick & Schaeffer. This leaves only the RKO Palace outside of their domain among the loop de luxe houses. Another phase of the trend is the development of the double feature situation. The large neighborhood circuit houses, with the pick of the best pictures at their disposal and sufficient seats to accommodate a highly profitable business even on the shorter number of daily shows, are the one which are doing the business with duals, while the smaller neighborhood houses whose bookings are more completely dictated by the weekly releasing schedule, and consequently must necessarily be booked merely “as the best they can,” are taking somewhat of a licking. More Competitive Heat During the years of the depression, when the pickings were comparatively slim, the so-called ‘independent” and “circuit” operators were the best of friends, but now with the up-grade definitely established and the business of exhibiting motion pictures again an enterprise of certain profit things are more highly competitive. BE PROGRESSIVE Your Success Is Based On GOOD PROJECTION GOOD SOUND COMFORTABLE SEATS Consult the Man Who Knows Bring Your Problems To JOE GOLDBERG, INC. ^UST A^^REAT INSTITUTION 823 So. Wabash CHICAGO NSTITUTION Wabash 8593 BOXOFFICE :: April 3. 1937. 17