Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

TRUCK STRIKE TIES UP SCENERY AT DEL. Wilmington, Del. — Wilmington’s general truck strike, now in its fourth week, prevented the moving of scenery for the return engagement of “Boy Meets Girl” from the railroad station to the Shubert Playhouse last Thursday and the engagement was cancelled. A full house, more than 1,200 persons, were turned away. When the company was unable to play here its members left for Richmond, Va. After a day of conferences, Raymond J. Harris, manager, said he had been advised that the union truckers could not haul the scenery even under police escort. General Strike Called Off The general labor union strike in Wilmington which was called effective 6 a. m. Saturday morning and which, according to union officials, would “also likely shut down all theatres” in the city, was called off at noon Saturday. STAGE EMPLOYES DEAL FOR BOOST New York — Negotiations on a wage increase for members of Locals 1 and 4 of the Theatrical Protective Union. lATSE, consisting of stage employes, will continue next week with Major L. E. Thompson, chairman of the committee representing the New York theatre circuits. The unions demand restoration of the salary cuts taken two years ago when the circuits complained of reduced business. Labor representatives met with circuit spokesmen this week but failed to agree on terms. The labor committee rejected the theatres’ proposal that three increases of six per cent each be staggered over a twoyear period and this week was holding out for a flat increase of 15 per cent, retroactive to March 1. BOASBERG HEADS RKO BUFFALO EXCHANGE Buffalo — Charles Boasberg has assumed his new duties as manager of the RKO Buffalo exchange. He succeeds Tom J. Walsh, who is with the Comerford circuit. Boasberg, a native of Buffalo, was one of the leading RKO salesmen in the area. He began as a salesman in the Salt Lake City exchange, became manager there late in 1929, and shifted to the managership of the Buffalo exchange in July, last year. He has been with the company nine years. Reject One Reel Out of 5,000 Philadelphia — The Pennsylvania Censor Board rejected but one of the 5.000 reels of features, shorts and educational reels it reviewed last month, Mrs. A. Mitchell Palmer announced last week. Of the subjects viewed. 4,000 reels were features, and 1.000 educational reels and shorts. Question Validity of Game Ordinance Buffalo — A test case to determine the validity of an old ordinance, which was recently invoked and then rescinded by the police commissioner as pertaining to the playing of audience gaynes at theatres, will be started here next week, it was said by counsel for Affiliated Enterprises, Inc,, distributors of Bank Night. The police commissioner attempted to enforce the ordinance, but ordered it revoked when the question of whether it governed the giving away of prizes by chance was injected. ASSOCIATES EYE GROUP INSURANCE New York — A ten-year plan of group insurance will be submitted to the membership of the Motion Picture Associates, Inc., Joe Lee, president, said. With about 200 members now active in the organization Lee feels that each member, as well as his family and relatives, can obtain protection with the cost defrayed out of dues. Insurance up to $3,000 without medical aid and up to $5,000 with medical aid will be considered. The organization has set November 20 for its annual dinner-dance, at the Hotel Astor. Peirce loins Monogram New York — William L. Peirce has been appointed west coast publicity head for Monogram Pictures by W. Ray Johnston, president, following his resignation as assistant to Edward Finney, publicity and advertising head of Grand National here. Peirce, whose resignation will take effect April 17, returns to Hollywood after an absence of two years. Before joining Grand National he was exploitation manager for Republic under Finney. Helen Harrison, who has been handling fan magazine and out-of-town newspaper publicity for Grand National, has been named publicity manager and will take over Peirce’s duties. Plan Regular Meetings Philadelphia — The holding of discussion meetings every three months are the present plans of the National Film Carriers Ass’n. James P. Clark, Clinton K. Weyer and Oscar Neufeld returned Wednesday from New York following a meeting of the association. Helen Burgess Dies Hollywood — Helen Burgess, Paramount player, died here early Thursday morning of pneumonia at the age of 18. She appeared in “The Plainsman,” “A Doctor’s Diary,” “King of Gamblers” and “A Night of Mystery.” NEW YORK (Continued from preceding page) for all: When “Wake Up and Live” opens at the Roxy those old fenders, Winchell and Bernie, have arranged to occupy seats at the opposite ends of the same row . . . Buddy Rogers, the Olathe, Kas., boy who made good in the big city, is the star attraction along with Victor Moore and Helen Broderick on a new Sunday broadcast over the CBS network. In about a month, when Mary Pickford, his fiancee, returns from England, the wedding bells will ring. Lawrence Beatus is winding up the celebrations attending his silver anniversary with Loew’s. He started 25 years ago at the old Yorkville . . . Harry Sklarin, new manager of Skouras’ Englewood, Englewood, N. J., was on the receiving end of a testimonial dinner commemorating the appointment. Meyer Phillips of the Plaza was in charge of the affair . . . Assistant Manager Howard Hildebrandt of the Crescent in Astoria, L. I., is the proud poppa of a baby girl, named Joan Mary. It Can’t Happen Here: “The art of writing is the art of applying the seat of one's pants to the seat of a chair,” observes Sinclair Lewis, writing in the Bookman . . . Rubey Cowan, formerly loith NBC, has gone to Hollywood to handle radio contacts in the Paramount studio . . . Robert K. Goodhue has been put in charge of the literary, script and scenario department of the William Morris agency. Bob Wolff, RKO branch manager here, spent the weekend with friends at Roscoe, N. Y. Object: trout fishing and photography (amateur style) ... It rains so hard out on Long Island that patrons have asked Manager Pearse Fleming of the Cove to supply them with towels on the way in . . . A1 Wheeler, booker at the local M-G-M exchange, is vacationing with his family in Pittsburgh . . . Steve Aversa of the Capitol, Jersey City, is bouncing a new baby boy. Apparently on the theory that in union there is strength, one Harry Ames has established an office here for the distribution of a game he calls Bankeno . . . One of the most attractive Easter displays seen around here in many years was the one conceived by Jim Bruno and his staff at the Gates in Brooklyn ... Max Fried, booker at the local Warner exchange, this week celebrates his first wedding anniversary . . . Milton Blackstone is a year older. Oscar Doob handed out mimeographed orchids to Manager Grace Miles and Assistant Gene Marbo of the Lexington for a swell stunt — the erection of a large street banner at the approach to the Queensboro Bridge . . . C. C. Moskowitz is soaking up sun in Hollywood, Fla. . . . Hannah Jones, daughter of the Atlanta Constitution film critic, Ralph Jones, was in town to see the shows . . . Henry Koster, Deanna Durbin’s director, spent the week shooting typical Gotham interiors for his next film . . . Ben Serkowich’s research (Continued on page 30) 26 BOXOFnCE ;; April 10, 1937.