Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

PORTLAND shippers, inspectresses and poster clerks have signed 100 per cent in the APL, applied for charter and scheduled a second meeting. Eddie Hudson, manager of Grand National, attended the annual convention this week in Los Angeles. Manager Harrington, formerly of the Oriental, has been transferred to Hollywood. Mike Newman is taking the key position at the Oriental. George Goldstein is on the Row again, and opening elaborate headquarters at 1208 N. W. Glisan with National Attractions, Inc. “Plenty of western,” he says. Promotions from the ranks include Glen Brogger into a new position as Oregon salesman for Paramount; ditto for Clark Craig, now on the road for Warner-First National. Foster Blake now is heading the Poster Service Corp., with headquarters here. Ed Randall, veteran exhibitor operating the Liberty Theatre at Condon, was on a dual boosting trip for both theatre and his regular mid-summer rodeo. He carried his own scenery, consisting of a red silk shirt and 10-gallon sombrero. SEATTLE (Continued from preceding page) Seattle office manager . . . Morry Segal and Ray Ackles in from Spokane . . . Lynn Peterson over from Bremerton ... Mel Hulling, coast division manager for Grand National, spending some time in the northwest . . . Loren Wahl in from Bellingham . . . Likewise Jack Rosenberg. Lloyd Thayer talking about seeing his name in a tradepaper. Well it’s in again . . . L. H. Kubley from Ketchikan, Alaska. Remember he used to have the Dream Theatre and curio shop in that town. The Rialto Theatre has been given a permit to reopen. Only stipulation is no girl show, says the city council . . . Herndon Edmond back from the Spokane trip . . . A1 Adams (not the Republic Al) but of Silverton, Ore., was a visitor for a few days . . . The Dwight Sprachers home from their eastern vacation . . . Mr. and Mrs. Bert Williams of Cashmere, and Mrs. Sam Hansen of Olympia, lunching at the Rendevous. Gus and Mrs. Gustafson back from their visit home in Minneapolis . . . Dad Abbott in from Sedro Woolley . . . Al Finklestein visiting from Portland. He is divisioji head for Evergreen in that territory . . . Gordon and Mrs. Craddock also in from Portland prior to leaving for the Universal convention . . . Al Rosenberg hopping to Spokane by plane . . . Harry Black having a lo7ig chat with Don Beckman . . . Vay Steen of the Palm Theatre doing a guy a favor by driving him to town. M-G-M Sells Over 3,000 on Four Reissues New York — Marking a new high in a trend which has been under way for some time, M-G-M has sold more than 3,000 contracts nationally on four reissues which proved sensational grossers when first released. They are “Trader Horn,” “Hell Divers,” “Naughty Marietta” and “Manhattan Melodrama.” The deal is for the four pictures, with substitutions allowed where necessary. The reissues will be delivered to exhibitors on the basis of one a month during the summer. Increase Noted in New Product Pacts New York — With the sales convention season nearing its zenith, distribution executives report an increase generally in independent and circuit contracts over the same period of last year. Smaller Companies Elated Sales executives of the smaller companies are more enthusiastic. J. J. Milstein, vice-president in charge of sales for Republic, said that deals with independent buyers are “about 25 per cent ahead of last year.” Saul Krugman, special sales representative of Grand National, declared that the new company “already has closed several hundred deals for next season’s product,” a figure considerably ahead of May, 1936, when the company was first organized. No estimate was offered by executives of United Artists, M-G-M and GB, who said that their companies have not yet generally sought new contracts. George Weeks, general manager of GB, did say, however, that he had heard reports that buying “is slower than it was a year ago.” Buying by exhibitors for the ensuing year is either slightly increased or average, according to 20th Century-Fox, Universal, Paramount, RKO Radio, Columbia and Warner Bros. “More Than Ever Before” “I find that exhibitors are doing more buying than ever before,” said Cresson Smith, RKO sales manager for the western and southern divisions. Smith’s opinion is shared by Martin Moskowitz of 20thFox who said his company has been selling the 1937-38 product for several weeks “with absolutely no complaints.” Rube Jackter, Columbia assistant sales manager, and Joseph J. Unger, eastern and southern division sales manager of Paramount, said that little selling on the new product has been attempted as the programs had not been completed and sales conventions were not scheduled until June. “Such selling as has been attempted, however, is just about average,” the former reported. “I would put our deals on 1937-38 product about 10 per cent ahead of this time last year,” said F. J. A. McCarthy, Universal’s eastern division manager. J^OTABLES of screen and stage arrived here last week after Honolulu vacations. Among them were Johnny Downs, screen juvenile: Gloria Stuart, returning to Hollywood and a new picture, and Channing Pollock, screen and stage playwright and author of the highly-successful play, “The Fool.” Filmrow visitors included Charles Feldman, of Universal’s Los Angeles office, up to say hello to the boys; Lewis Leib, operator of the Rex Theatre in Klamath Falls, Ore.; A. Panero, shopping for his newlyopened theatre in Shafter; and the ubiquitous Bob Lippert, making another one of those flying trip from the Detroit headquarters of Coulter Premiums. Irving Ackerman is currently using Bingo, premium game, in his Casino Theatre here. Joe Cane, Republic exchange booker, and Miss Margaret Harrington are to be married shortly. Arthur Unger, Boxoffice field representative, left this week for Los Angeles after a highly successful stay in San Francisco where he met many old friends and made many new ones. Helen Cohen, treasurer of the Embassy Theatre here, is now vacationing in New York. Sheffield Shifted Portland — Harold Sheffield,, connected with Sheffield Republic at Butte for several years, has been transferred to Portland headquarters as manager. Cecil Fames, formerly head of Sheffield Republic here, has been named manager of new Monogram exchange. Sneak for "Honolulu" San Francisco — “Wires Over Honolulu,” Universal, had a sneak preview at the Orpheum Theatre here last week. Manager Hal Neidas reported audience reaction favorable to the picture, which will play a regular first run engagement at the Market Street house some time next month. WPA Unit to Frisco San Francisco — “Blind Alley,” WPA roadshow originating in the Los Angeles federal theatre group, will supplant “Swing Parade,” local vaudeville offering, at the Alcazar Theatre June 5. SOUND TRAILERS FOR ALL OCCASIONS ... IN STOCK OR MADE TO YOUR ORDER Finest Quality . . . Lowest Prices Guaranteed Fast Service BLACHE' FILM LABORATORIES Turk street, San Franeiscu Calif. BOXOFnCE May 22, 1937. 41