Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

PIHIIIIILA»1E1LP1HUIA ^^ITH the arrival of the balmy days the filmites have all returned to their local stamping grounds — that is, all but that gay blade, Dave Milgrim, who is still unaccounted for. That “Prince of Vine Street,” Jim Clark, has been appointed a member of the new Civil Service Commission. It is reported that Jim will resign his other public office, as member of the Delaware River Bridge Commission. Union organizers are very active on the street these days with reports of scores of exchange employes having been signed up — but the whole thing is sub rosa — with union officials refusing to confirm any activity . . . Lillian Gimbel of GB has returned from a fortnight’s stay in New York ... A little birdie tells us that Grand National’s Frances Axler is engaged. The Variety Club had a big night last Saturday, what with Benny-the-Bum’s show, Jackie Green, et al., and the beauteous Rose Veronica Coyle, who was “Miss America” at last year’s Atlantic City Beauty Pageant . . . The Club also had a preview of “Waikiki Wedding” at the clubhouse on Sunday night. Allen Berm and the missus spent a busman’s holiday Friday night attending the show at the Walnut St. Theatre . . . Tom Lark, Horlacher’s cashier, has left the hospital . . . The boys are rallying around “Whitey,” the traffic cop at 13th and Vine, who is scheduled to be transferred due to the erection of a traffic light there. “Whitey” has been on the corner so long he’s part of the scenery . . . Why not see “Commissioner” Clark? Delite Sales (Little Gussie) gets three letters a day from her new boy friend . . . Warner has finally succumbed to the lure of the games. It is reported that the 60th St. Imperial and the Kent Theatre, Kensington, will start game nights around the first of May. South Philadelphia’s new house. The Savoia, is being readied for an opening May 1 . . . “Two Wise Girls,” Republic’s newest picture, will open at the Locust at the close of the showing of “The Good Earth” . . . Lew Lehr, Movietorie’s own comedian, will be master of ceremonies at the twentieth anniversary dinner being tendered Fox’s Edgar Moss at the Warwick Hotel on April 19. A survey of the greater Philadelphia territory shows that 11 houses are showing double features full time, while 168 hoirses have twin-bills on occasions . . . Philly newspapermen are throwing their annual Guild Gayeties at the Penn A. C. on May 5 . . . Ben Klebanoff has been named distributor for Bogatin’s new “Book Theatre Club” premiums. UNIVERSAL CLUB ANNUAL FROLIC New York — The Universal Club held its annual show and dance Thursday night. Herman Stern and Joe Weil were active in the entertainment committee. Andy Sharick is president of the club. Ed Kuykendall to Tour Across Country New York — The first nation-wide drive by MPTOA to obtain trade practice concessions in behalf of the lb-point program will take President Ed Kuykendall across the country to confer with nine leaders of affiliated units. Exhibitor groups will be tapped to determine procedure to accomplish objectives. The first address will be at a Tri-States Exhibitor Association meeting in Memphis, April 18, followed by Minneapolis, Chicago, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Denver, Oklahoma City and Dallas. LEVINE MAY JOIN METRO PRODUCTION New York — Nat Levine, who recently resigned as head of Republic production, is considering a production berth with M-G-M in which he will make “B” product, it is understood. Levine was scheduled to sail April 10 for Europe, to remain eight or ten weeks. He said he would not make a decision on any plans until his return from abroad. Transfer "Horizon" Philadelphia — Columbia’s “Lost Horizon” will be transferred to the Erlanger Theatre from the Chestnut Street Opera House on April 11, to make room for the opening of the play, “Boy Meets Girl,” at the latter theatre. The picture has had a run of six weeks at the Chestnut. PHILLY LINCOLN DARK Philadelphia — The Lincoln Theatre, operated by the Lombard Amusement Co., has closed for the season. Tax Blow Aimed at Capital Citij Washington — Congressman Ross A. Collins, Mississippi Democrat, has introduced a measure which would cost local theatre owners two per cent of their gross receipts or admission charges and which in the same breath would make it impossible for operators to increase the price of admissions to offset the tax increase. The bill has been referred to the committee on the District of Columbia, and if passed becomes effective July 1. 20TH-FOX OFFICIALS TO EUROPEAN MEET New York — Sidney R. Kent, president of 20th Century-Fox; Joseph M. Schenck, chairman of the board; Walter Hutchinson, foreign manager; Truman H. Talley, Movietone News general manager, and Ben Miggins, European sales manager, will sail for Europe within two weeks to attend the European convention of the company in Paris April 28 to May 1. Col. Jason Joy, director of the public relations of the 20th Century-Fox studios, who will represent Darryl F. Zanuck, production chief, and Leslie Whalen, foreign publicity manager, sailed from New York this week to attend to preliminaries. Game Offers Books Philadelphia — A new premium game, designed to circumvent any legal barriers, opened at William Goldman’s 56th Street Theatre, Thursday night. It is called Book Night and was developed by Robert F. Bogatin, a local attorney. In Picture and the Flesh! From left to right — The portrait of Adolph Zukor presented him by the exhibitors of Greater New York at the recent testimonial dinner, Mr. Zukor and Nikol Schattenstein, the artist. BOXOFFICE :: April 10, 1937, 27