Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

lO IE T K O M T BILL ELLIOTT and his aid, Cyril Vorndan, have been having a big time changing fronts practically every day, with the remodeling of the front of the State Theatre. When finished, the State will have a marquee twice as long as before Woodward Ave. was widened. Sandy Sandelman is now city salesman for M-G-M, switching posts with Jack Morgan, who is now selling out in the state. Among out-state exhibitors in the various exchanges this week: O. A. D. Baldwin, Bridgman; Bob and Fred Pennell, Decatur; Ray Branch, Hastings; Wesley Thiel, Pigeon; J. C. Peck, Fenton; Elmer Wood, Edmore, and Gene German!, Monroe. George Ranshaw, manager, and Cassius Smith, his assistant, won first prize in the Adolph Zukor Silver Jubilee contest for United Detroit Theatre managers, which ended this week, after 90 days. Second money went to Hy Bloom, manager of the Rosedale, with Ms assistant, Gordon Johnson, and Morgan Creedon, Alger manager, splitting third prize money. We’re glad to be able to write that the first reports of Bill Bishop’s serious illness again are refuted by later word from Oklahoma City where he is now resting that he will be able to return to Detroit this week. Howard Pierce had a knockout of a Swiss Iceland set for the appearance of the Ice Follies at the Michigan last week. Myer Colman, formerly salesman here with Universal Pictures, and now in the service department of National Screen Service in Atlanta, was a local visitor this week. Plenty of exhibitors attended the opening of the new exchange quarters of Monogram Pictures on Monday. S. K. Decker and Jack Saxe took care of the official duties of hosts in excellent fashion. Eddie Carrier, assistant to William Ferguson, M-G-M exploitation head, was a local visitor this week. NTSCo Reports Sales Cleveland— -L. F. Walters, manager of the local office of National Theatre Supply, announces contracts for equipment closed with the following: Harry Lashinsky for his new theatre in Caldwell, O., chairs, projectors, amplifiers, lamps, carpets, lighting fixtures and booth equipment: Ohio Theatre, Barnesville, ( a new house) entire equipment; Beach Cliff, Rocky River, mechanisms, stands, lamps, rectifiers and miscellaneous equipment. ARNOLD BUSY IN W. VA. Pittsburgh— Max Arnold, former Pittsburgh and Morgantown exhibitor, is roadshowing “Call Me Co-Ed” in West Virginia. Bob Smeltzer (left), midAtlantic district manager for Warner Bros., with headquarters in Washington, who has been named to assume supervision over the central district, succeeding Benj. Kalmenson, who has been promoted to the position of eastern district manager. Smeltzer is pictured here smiling his appreciation upon receiving a bonus check as second prize in the district manager awards of the Sears drive. The donor is Gradwell L. Sears, general sales manager for Warner Bros. (Cosmo-Sileo Photo). Cleveland Tent Gives Orphans Free Show Cleveland — The local Variety Club staged the first of its semi-weekly free motion picture shows for shut-ins at St. Joseph’s Orphan Asylum on May 19. This was not only the first time that a picture show had ever been presented at the institution, but it also marked the first time some of the children had ever seen a motion picture. The free shows, sponsored by the Variety Club with the cooperation of distributors and motion picture operators were made possible by the Variety Club Charity Drive which netted a sum sufficient to buy portable projection machines and other necessary equipment. The drive was made under the direction of M. B. Horwitz, president, and Harry H. Goldstein, drive chairman. UDT Re-Names House Detroit — The name of the State Theatre, downtown first-run house of the United Detroit circuit, will be changed this week to the Palms Theatre. A new marquee is being constructed. PITTSBURGH CASINO CLOSING Pittsburgh — Casino Theatre, the city’s only burlesque house, closes for the summer following the final performance May 22. George Jaffe is operator. piinnrsBUKCiM ^PENINGS of two new theatres last were attended by many Filmrowites. The Miami, Springdale, officially inaugurated Monday evening, proved to be one of the finest small-town theatres in the territory. Mr. Elmer Dattola, operator, took a bow from the stage, while his wife, Mrs. Victoria Dattola, who is responsible for many of the construction ideas, saw to it that all film and theatre friends were provided with fine refreshments. Assisting at the theatre are three sons and a daughter—Louis, assistant manager; Elmer jr., in charge of the ushers; Joe, 10 years of age, who distributed novelties and souvenirs, and Miss Aurora Dattola, cashier. Picketing of the Hew Granada, Harry Hendel and Nathan Rosen’s new Center avenue house in Pittsburgh’s hill district, marked this gala opening. The patronage is mostly colored and a few Negroes resented the fact that a Negro cashier was not on duty. Of the house staff, other than projectionists and the veteran city exhibitors themselves, 20 Negro employes and two white employes were in evidence. The New Granada made no bones about its announcement that it is “Pittsburgh’s Most Beautiful Theatre,” as this message was spelled out on the giant marquee. A daughter was born last week to the Gus Davis’ and the staff member of the Warner booking department was celebrating the occasion. His wife is the former Mary Cooke of the circuit’s contact department. Ken Hoel will fill the advertising post at the Harris circuit office during the absence of George D. Tyson, who has been granted leave of absence so that he may again direct the Atlantic City beauty contest and jubilee. John Goring, manager of the local Fulton, plans to keep the house in operation throughout the summer. In the past this theatre always closed during the warm months. Joe Mercer, operator of the Lincoln Theatre, Warwood, W. Va., a veteran exhibitor in this territory, will depart on June 11 for a two-week vacation in Michigan, to be spent with his father. During his absence, the theatre will be in charge of his son, Loran. Johnny Harris’ Duquesne Garden will be opened May 28 with a complete new floor as the largest roller rink in the state. Hazel Drukker will exploit UA’s “Woman Chases Man” in this territory. One of the better Bank Night stories is told by Tom Fordham, Erie district manager for Warner Bros., who declares it actually happened. It seems that a certain theatre’s feature picture on Bank Night was “I Promise to Pay,” but there was no winner present, thus infuriating some disappointed patrons who insisted the stunt was a “gyp” game. Edward A. Golden, Monogram sales manager, and Bill Onie, Cincinnati mana( Continued on page 57) BOXOrnCE :: May 22, 1937, 55