Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

Akron Independents Keep Availabilih] Policy Akron — The Akron Independent Motion Picture Exhibitors Ass’n met last week to discuss availability dates for subsequent run houses, with the idea of establishing availability based on admission price. Present availability is based on seating capacity. After a lengthy discussion, it was voted to maintain the present policy which provides an availability of 42 days for all houses, regardless of admission price, excepting only the ten cent houses. The opposition to this policy proposed the following availability policy; 25-cent houses, 28 days; 20-cent houses, 42 days; 15-cent houses, 56 days. This policy was sponsored by J. G. Deetjen, secretary of the association. Robert E. Menches, former president, led the opposition. Another matter of vital interest to the organization was passage of a motion to prepare and present to the law director of Akron a suitable ordinance to prevent further theatre construction. Ploenes Succeeds Menches Robert Menches, who has been president of the Akron Independent Motion Picture Exhibitors Ass’n for the past seven years, was succeeded to that office in the recent annual election of officers by A1 Ploenes, manager of the Orpheum Theatre and associate of A. P. Botzum. Other officers for the coming year are: Robert Menches, first vice-president: Charles Stalder, second vice-president, and J. G. Deetjen, secretary. Fire at Lansing Lansing, Ohio — Fires two hours apart in the Lansing Theatre’s projection room Saturday routed audiences twice and burned Raymond Shields, operator. A Detroit Guarantee Against Sitdowns Detroit — Assuming jurisdiction of the local film exchange employes’ union assertedly upon advice from lATSE headquarters, Roger Kennedy, business agent of the projectionists’ union, told more than 100 exchange workers assembled this week for a meeting that “no sitdown strikes will be tolerated” in local distributor offices. Hearing that home office operation heads will negotiate with lATSE in New York for all exchange centers having unions, the local union members voted unanimously to stand back of Kennedy and thus guarantee no sitdown strikes. D. F. Erskine remains as AFL organizer of the group, working out of Kennedy’s office. MR and Mrs. Chris Pfister of the Mayflower, Troy, motored up to Chicago this week. The Pfisters are planning to attend the international convention of Rotarians, of which Phister is a former president, and which will be held in Paris, France. Paramount’s Joe Oulahan returned via plane from a territorial jaunt, experienced a scare and was compelled to resort to his strap on a rough return voyage. Charles Behlen, popular owner of several theatres in Nicholasville, Lancaster and Stanford, is leaving with his family for an extended vacation on the west coast. Col. Arthur Frudenfeld reported several changes in managership of RKO theatres this week, when Manny Shure, pilot of the RKO Albee, resigned to manage “Easy Aces.” Joe Alexander, former manager of the Palace, teas shifted to the Albee. Irwin Bock was moved from the Capitol to manage the Palace, and Norman Lenz, Paramount’s assistant manager, took over management of the Capitol. Jim Geers was moved over from the Orpheum to take Lenz’s position as assista7it to Joe Goetz at the Paramount. Maury White announces he will close his Riverdale, recently acquired at Dayton, O., for a general overhauling and renovating, reopening the house in mid-April. White is also installing a new marquee in his popular suburban house. The Hollywood. Lee Goldberg, president of Big Features Rights Exchariges in Indianapolis, Cincmnati and Louisville, has closed with Robert Savini, head of the Atlantic Pictures Corp., for exclusive distribution m Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana of four reissues of United Artists features. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Bohn of BF Indianapolis exchange were visitors in Cincy over the weekend. Other visitors were Ben Kalmenson, Warner district manager, and Sol Bragin, Charley Albert and Jimmy Partlow of Warner theatres department: Mrs. P. Semelroth of Semelroth circuit, from Dayton: Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Binder, Rising Sun, Ind., and Lester Coleman, Paramount HO representative. W. G. Mills has reopened his Mills Theatre, W. Huntington, closed since the flood. Jim Wilson is also reopening his Riverside, at Cincy, closed since January, and W. R. Sacker is reopening the Liberty at Lawrenceberg , Ind. FINAL ACTION DUE FOR SCHREIBER-UDT Detroit — Final action on a stay of proceedings of the permanent injunction granted George W. Trendle against the use of Screeno by Jake Schreiber in his Colonial Theatre was scheduled for this week by the supreme court in Lansing. Herman S. Schmier, new attorney for Schreiber, last week obtained a temporary stay from the supreme court, thereby permitting Schreiber to continue the game. No matter what the outcome of this particular case, all other houses in the city operating Screeno may continue to do so, Charles Powell, local distributor, claimed this week. “This case affects the Colonial Theatre only,” said Powell. “All other houses using Skillful Screeno may continue to do so.” In addition to Schmier, who has entered the case for Schreiber, Sidney J. Karbel has been retained as co-counsel. Meurer and Meurer, who brought the case to court for Trendle, and Morris Garvet, who assisted them, remain as the United Detroit Theatres head’s attorneys. DETROIT (Continued from page 56) Howard Donaldson, former branch manager of Ross Checking Service, died here last week. The RKO boys were hosts at a swell luncheon this week at the Variety Club. “Ecstasy,” distributed by Excellent, continues “to pull ’em in” to the Downtown Theatre, and from present indications it may even go more than the fifth week. Jack Flynn, Metro division manager, is back from his sojourn to Florida. Romance comes in bunches at Universal. Gene Alexander, assistant booker, married his Chicago “light of his life” last week and was to be presented this week with a chest of silver from the employes . . . Elsie Burmeister, inspectress, was to have been married this week. She will find a wedding gift from the office upon her return. Frank Doioney, M-G-M resident manager, is vacationing in New York. Edmund C. Shields of Lansing, vicepresident of Butterfield Theatres, was a successful candidate for the regency of the University of Michigan at Monday’s state election. Frank Jene, Warner office manager, was confined to his home this week because of illness. Cleveland Likes "Earth" Cleveland — Metro’s “The Good Earth” opened its engagement here Sunday at the Hanna Theatre with advance sale ahead of any other recent roadshow picture. 58’ BOXOFTICE :: April 10, 1937.