Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

COVERING MICHIGAN. OHIO, KENTUCKY, WEST VIRGINIA AND WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA BIENNIAL REFERENDUM SOUGHT Ohio Anti-Giveaway Measure Yielding Cleveland — Back from Columbus following a hearing last Wednesday by the house judiciary committee on Bill No. 348 designed to render illegal all forms of giveaways, local exhibitors were confident that the bill will never be reported out of committee. A strong delegation of Bank Night users from Cleveland, Kenton, Toledo, Youngstown and other towns of Ohio attended the hearing which was held over for a possible future date. Ernest Schwartz of Cleveland, president of the Cleveland Motion Picture Exhibitors Ass’n, pointed out to the committee that Ohio has a lottery law on the statutes that the proposed bill is only a duplication and hence entirely unnecessary, and that Bank Night, as properly conducted, is not a lottery. Schwartz further pointed out that police departments of the cities of Ohio are empowered to handle situations where Bank Night is being illegally conducted without enactment of further legislation. It is understood that Schwartz’s testimony killed whatever interest the committee might previously have had in the bill. NEW WILMERDING HOUSE PROGRESSING Pittsburgh — Rapid progress is being made on the new Wilmerding theatre occupying the Faller Bldg. The house will be known as the Wilmer Theatre and will be opened around May 15. John Jaffurs and sons, operators of the enterprise, announced this week that they had sold their Central Cafeteria, Wilkinsburg, and that they will devote all their time to the theatre at Wilmerding. Ira H. Cohn Heads Fund Drive Pittsburgh — Ira H. Cohn, 20thFox branch manager, is local chairman for the annual Will Rogers Memorial Fund drive which will be observed the week of April 30. Theatres are now being lined up to participate in the enterprise. All funds will go to the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital where the sick and needy of stage and screen are taken care of. Exhibitors who agree to observe the week by taking up a collection at the theatre will be forwarded a special all-star trailer, and a scroll with Will Rogers’ photo will be presented to the theatre. Where the exhibitor does not favor taking the collection he may participate by contributing on his own. UDTandW&WHeads Talk a Booking Tie Detroit — With George W. Trendle, president and general manager of United Detroit Theatres, Paramount subsidiary here, and Lew Wisper, of Wisper and Wetsman Theatres, both back from Florida, a brief conference was held last week on the proposed booking amalgamation of the two circuits. However, neither group would discuss what occurred. It was learned, nevertheless, that thus far the subject is merely in the early discussion stage, and that many points on both sides have to be ironed out before actual negotiations can go forward. Show Shangri-La Set . Detroit — The Shangri-La set, prepared for the Columbia film version of “Lost Horizon,” was exhibited this week here in miniature at the Detroit and Michigan Exposition held at Convention Hall. Amendment to Sunday Show Bill Allows Earlier Vote Pittsburgh — Exhibitors who operate in communities where the Sunday show issue was defeated at the polls rallied this week in support of the Sunday show amendment act, Pennsylvania house bill No. 2039, which would permit a vote on the question every two years instead of five years, as provided in the present law. Introduced by Representative McElroy through the efforts of the MPTO of W. Pa., Inc., this measure, if passed, would permit a new Sunday movie referendum at the fall election of this year. A blow was delivered to the hopes of supporters of the bill to legalize betting on horse racing when David L. Lawrence, secretary of the Commonwealth and Democratic state chairman, issued a statement flatly opposing the measure. Employes’ Rest Day Bill Signed A new bill in the house would amend the “Employment Agent Law,” by further defining the meaning of theatrical managers, exempting certain organizations from license requirements, and restricting foreign theatrical employment agencies. Introduced by Messrs. McGee and Walsh, house bill No. 2066 has been referred to the committee on judiciary special. Gov. Earle has signed the bill requiring theatres to give their employes at least one day’s rest each week. The bill was sponsored by Representative John Yourishin of Luzerne county. Signs Amateur Show Pittsburgh — Joe Feldman of the local Warner Bros, theatre circuit appeared as a guest speaker on the Wilkens Amateur Hour last Sunday, a weekly WJAS feature, offering the sponsor a proposal to present a complete unit show at the local Stanley’ Theatre for the week of June 4. The offer was accepted. Another Major Bowes unit show will open at the Stanley for the week of April 28. MIDEAST EDITION Is One of the Seven Sectional Editions in Which BOXOFFICE Is Published Weekly. The Other Six Editions Are: NEW ENGLAND, CENTRAL, MIDWEST, WESTERN, SOUTHERN, EASTERN. ELSIE LOEB, 12805 Cedar Road, .Cleveland Heights, Ohio. R. F. KLINGENSMITH, 1701 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh, Pa. EUGENE D. RICH, 2125 Cass Ave., Detroit, Mich., Phone Randolph 7978. CLARA HYDE. 127 Tremont St., Ft. Thomas, Ky., Phone Highland 1657.