Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

^ IIE A T ¥ IIL IE Los Angeles Emploges Seek lATSE Charter J^AROLD SHEFFIELD, who for the past few years has been the manager of the Butte branch for Sheffield Republic Pictures, has been transferred to the Portland office in the same capacity. Change was brought about by the resignation of Cecil Fames who is going into partnership with another organization. J. T. Sheffield is president of Republic in the northwest and has offices in Seattle, Portland, Denver, Salt Lake and Butte. In the issue of May 1 this column told of the Winter Garden Theatre going to remodel. In that article ownership was credited to Joe Danz. This should have read John Danz, who is president of the Sterling chain of 18 houses. However the Winter Garden has reopened with all its new trimmings making it one of the coziest of downtown houses. Glenn Haviland has resigned as booker with the Evergreen Theatres to accept a berth with the Paramount exchange in Portland. He will cover part of Oregon as salesman. Before he left for Portland, Prank Christy, head booker for Evergreen, gave a banquet to which he invited all bookers on Filmrow. A beautiful travel trunk was presented to Glenn from the Evergreen outfit and the Northwest Film Club, where the banquet was held. Also at this gathering Eddie Lawler was introduced. He will succeed Haviland. Those attending were Lou Goldsmith, RKO; Bill Eagle, Grand National; L. C. “Tommy” Tomlinson, Republic; Bill Kostenbader, Columbia; Guy Maxey, Warner Bros.; Harold Hardin, United Artists; Don Hiatt, M-G-M; Max Hadfield, Paramount; Grant Lovegren, 20th Century-Fox, and L. A. Samuelson of Universal. Hiatt, Hadfield and Lovegren are assistant bookers and represented their respective companies owing to sickness and attendance at conventions of the bookers. The Northwest Film Club gave a special steak dinner for its members a few days ago, then held a special meeting. It was voted to keep the same entertainment committee for they have been doing a wonderful job. Plans are being made for the amiual golf tourname7it to be followed about a month later with the usual Filmrow picnic. A1 Goldstein, who handles Principal Pictui’es in Seattle and Portland, wires from Los Angeles that he will handle Monogram in the northwest. Many m this town, especially those m the show business, were saddened by the word that Harry L. Cort had died suddenly in New York. Cort was born in Seattle, a son of the late John Cort, producer and theatre owner, and was in business with his father after his graduation from school. He was 44 years old. A new agreement between the Sterling Chain Theatres Inc. and the Motion Picture Operators Union, Local 154, affecting 18 theatres, has been announced in effect. Richard Crist, president of the union, said the agreement provided wage increases of from 10 to 40 per cent for the operators. Martin Steffin of the Rex Theatre m (Continued on page 51) Bob White Acquires Yaeger in Portland Portland — Bob White, well-known theatre impresario, operatmg his ace house under his own name, the Thirteenth Avenue, announces the addition of the Yaeger Theatre to his chain. Extensive repairs will be made in this house to stimulate business in that section. WARNER MOVES FIVE MANAGERIAL POSTS Los Angeles — Lou Halper, division manager for Warner theatres, has announced managerial shifts affecting four theatres in this area. Bill Hendricks, from the circuit’s Memphis district, has been transferred to the Pacific Coast to take over the management of the Granada, Santa Barbara, replacing Vic Rosen, who goes to Warner’s Beverly Hills Theatre. Harry Schlinker, formerly at the Beverly Hills, assumes control at the San Pedro, with Earl Cook, formerly at the San Pedro, going to the Huntington Park in place of J. Hale Cavanaugh, resigned. Dick Pritchard, former Fox West Coast manager, will manage the Warner Mission, Santa Barbara, when that house opens later in the summer. Warner Men Meet New York — Six western exchanges sent 21 delegates to the Warner annual sales convention held May 10-13 at the WaldorfAstoria here. Those who attended include District Manager N. H. Brower, headquartering in Los Angeles; Branch Manager N. H. Brower, headquartering in Los Angeles; Branch Manager W. E. Callaway, Salesmen D. P. Webster, J. K, Burden, J. N. Howland, A. S. Bailey, also of Los Angeles; Branch Manager Charles H. Muehlman. Salesmen W. C. Wheeler, A1 Grubstick, S. E. MacDonald from San Francisco; Branch Manager V. Stewart, Salesmen M. F. Keller, C. M. Craig from Portland; Branch Manager A1 Oxtoby, Sales man C. W. Young from Seattle; Branch Manager William F. Gordon, Salesmen M. H. Gustaveson, Keith M. Pack from Salt Lake City, and Branch Manager E. A. Bell, Salesmen W. A. Haefliger, R. P. Jamison from Denver. BURLESQUE FOLDS San Francisco — The local burlesquepictures situation has been radically altered by the unexpected closing of the Rainbow Revue troupe at the Davies Theatre on Market St. Los Angeles — The second step in the drive by Los Angeles Filmrow back office workers to affiliate with the lATSE and secure a union wage scale and a 40 hour week was taken last week at a secret meeting, when a petition for a class “B” charter was signed by over 100 persons representing all but one of the exchanges on the Row. There were no petitioners from 20th Century-Fox. Enthusiastic Support Although the lATSE representative, scheduled to appear, was unable to attend because of studio strike activities, the assembly was enthusiastic in its support of the planned demands for wage increases and a 40-hour week. Details of the wage and hour demands were left unsettled. Next step in the unionization program is to have the petition approved by the lATSE council in Washington, D. C., a step which is now under way. When the results of the council’s checkup are available, a second meeting will be called, officers and a board of directors will be appointed and formal demands for wage increases and the 40-hour week will be prepared for presentation to the exchanges. “Have Little to Fear” Those attending were told that they would have little to fear in the way of strikes or walkouts, as the group was not being formed for the purpose of jacking wages up beyond a normal level, but merely to get Los Angeles Filmrow workers on a wage scale equal to that in force in other exchange centers. MAP THREE-WEEK RUN FOR PLAY FESTIVAL Denver — The sixth annual play festival in the 59-year-old opera house at Central City, Colo., is to be run three weeks this year, beginning July 17. Plans are getting well under way, what with the signing of several contracts, and appointments made. Richard Aldrich will produce the show, Ibsen’s “Doll House,” with Ruth Gordon, signed as star. The male lead has not been signed. Jed Harris will stage the show, and sets and costumes will be handled by Donald Oenslager, who did the same job for “You Can’t Take it With You.” Caroline Bancroft, socialite and writer, will handle the publicity gratis. Justin W. Brierly, Denver high school teacher, will handle the business manager job. THEATRE SEATS UPHOLSTERED Repairing a Specialty C. RIEGER ORdway 5898 112 HYDE STREET SAN FRANCISCO BOXOFFICE :: May 15, 1937, 49