Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

Four New Theatres in Metropolitan Area JJOWARD DIETZ has climaxed a series of spectacular signs featuring M-G-M pictures on Broadway with the current one atop the Astor for “Captains Courageous.” A masterpiece of mechanical ingenuity, the display is an authentic reproduction of a 40-foot Gloucester schooner, complete with canvas sails, rope rigging and sprays of real water fore and aft. Ripple machines and sail blowers provide the necessary motive power. Mart Blumenstock sails May 13 for California. He’ll stop off at the Panama Canal for a little publicity background for Warner’s forthcoming production of that name . . . Joe Weil has gone to Los Angeles in advance of Universal’s sales meeting there May 17 .. . Herbert T. Kalmus, Techni color president, sails May 16 for London aboard the Europa . . . Herynan Robbins and George Dembow are back from the coast. The fine reception accorded “A Star Is Born” here prompted Lowell Calvert, eastern representative for Selznick International, to throw a luncheon for a number of United Artists executives. A. W. Smith jr., Arthur W. Kelly, Harry Gold, L. Jack Schlaifer, Harry D. Buckley, Charles Stern and Monroe Greenthal participated. With the ailers: Clifford Ross, son of Harry Ross, head of Ross Federal Checking Service, is doing nicely following an appendectomy at New Rochelle Hospital . . . George Baldsoji has quit the hospital after six weeks and is recuperating at his home in Bayside, L. I. . . . Al Rosen, manager of Loew’s State on Broadway , is back on the job after two weeks of illness . . . Eddie Dowden, in charge of Loew's Brooklyn publicity, is expected to leave St. Mary’s Hospital next loeek. After a rest period at ho?ne he’s going in for bigger and better parades. Contributions to science note, or the art of assault and battery as practiced on the east side: With his hand in his pocket and a demand for money on his lips, a man accosted Martin Viedy, manager of the Modern Theatre at 1441 Third Ave. Viedy, who acts as quickly as he sees, snatched a broom, swung it in a widening arc. The accoster forgot to duck, settled slowly to the sidewalk and with acute pain and a sharp sense of dismay, passed out. Chalk one up for Mr. Viedy. Sidney R. Kent is back from Europe . . . Nicholas M. Schenck from Miami . . . Y. Frank Freeman is due from Dallas early next week . . . B. S. Moss, Broadway theatre operator, is on his way around Europe looking at the latest in television . . . Charles Curran of Donahue & Coe has returned from Hollywood publicity conferences with Walter Wanger . . . David Bernstein and Col. E. A. Schiller of Loew’s are back from the south . . . Joe Unger, too . . . George Gerhard and Ed Holland of RKO are on an advance campaign tour of key cities on “Toast of New York.” Trust Walter Wanger to make his backgrounds authentic. This week spots in Manhattan usually pointed out to sightseers are being caught on Technicolor film (Continued on next page) P. T. SHERIDAN IS PROMOTED BY ERPI New York — P. T. Sheridan, newlynamed operating manager for Erpi, succeeds G. L. Carrington who has been named commercial relations manager. Sheridan, who is directly responsible for all Western Electric installations and servicing activities in the U. S., retains his general duties as equipment manager in his new position. P. T. Sheridan Before joining Erpi in 1927 Sheridan was connected with Bell Telephone laboratories. URGES FULL PAYMENT TO ROXY CREDITORS New York — Urging a minor amendment in Roxy reorganization plan which would provide that creditors be paid in full instead of a 50 per cent settlement, the special master in the revamp hearings recommended the plan for federal court approval. No provision for stockholders is made as no equity exists for them. He valued the Roxy at $7,211,329. Final court hearing is expected May 21. New York — Plans for the most ambitious schedule of new theatre construction here since last fall were announced this week, calling for the erection of four houses in the metropolitan area. In each instance the projects are sponsored by independent operators. RKO’s expansion program also gained impetus with the acquisition of three theatres in Yonkers and a site reported to have been purchased in Jackson Heights, L. I. 21-Year Lease The property at 323 Sixth Ave., Manhattan, has been leased for 21 years to the Luxor-Bleecker Amusement Co. and will be improved with a 600-seat house. When completed in the fall it will be called the Waverly. H. Ravitz, who operates the Luxor on Bleecker St., and Edward R. Fiencke are the interested principals. Randforce has announced plans for a new house at Church Ave. and 17th St., Brooklyn, to seat 1,000. The circuit now operates exclusively in Brooklyn, and recently entered into a profit-sharing arrangement with RKO in the Republic and Lefferts. Plans for a 600-seat house at Great Neck, L. I., have been filed by the Middle Neck Holding Corp. of New York. Construction is to start at once and a deal is understood under way for an independent operator to take over. Dave Rosenzweig and associates have acquired the property on the northeast corner of Queens Blvd. and 43rd St., Long (Continued on page 16) A typical group of Monogram men who atteiided the organization’s fifth annual convention last week in Chicago. Reading from left to right, front row: Steve Broidy, Harry Rainer, Sani. Rosen, William Porter, Norton V. Ritchey, and Louis S. Lifton Back row. standing, are: Roy Springer. O. Henry Briggs, President W. Ray Johnston, W. E. Osborne, William Onie, Henri Elman, John Maugham , Claude Hite. Sidney Kulick. Herschel Stuart, J. P. Friedhof, Cecil Fames, Harry Spann. William Mathis, Edward Golden, Ben Welansky, Joe Felder, L. Britton, and Harry Scott. BOXOFFICE May 15, 1937, 13