Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

Allied Goal (Continued from page 70) that the state itself would finance a complete trip through the U. S. supreme court, if necessary to prove its constitutionality. (2) The bill passed the house in Wisconsin the other day by an overwhelming majority, and favorable action in the senate was hoped for and reported probable in the very near future. (3) In several other states divorce bills had passed the houses by such big majorities that even though they were allowed to die in the senate the general legislative consideration seems to be pretty much in favor. (4) The current trend of federal legislation highly favors the passage of that type of laws. Then that Milwaukee assembly heard A1 Steffes’ very unexpected proposition of sitting down with the distributors at this time and asking if they wanted to beg for a little mercy before the divorce campaign continues. And right there is where the Milwaukee proceedings took a peculiar turn. Into Secret Huddle At the Thursday afternoon session, shortly after Sidney Samuelson’s eloquent presentation of the annual grievances against distribution, during which the body took a couple of good-sized nips at the producers, especially Paramount and Columbia, for what they thought to be improper practices regarding the non-delivery of promised films, the assembled press was “bounced” in favor of an executive (nice word for secret) session during which Steffes was to discuss the divorce measure “without the gloves.” Why the press was canned nobody knows, because most of the boys would have little trouble finding out what took place. Reports are that in his discussion Steffes did not present any too hopeful a picture of what might be accomplished over the country generally against producer-owned houses. Yet, on Friday morning the same Steffes rose to his very ample feet and proposed that a truce be called while the committee approach the producers and distributors with the idea of holding a series of conferences to see if the affiliated owners wanted to call it quits and turn their houses over to independents, or something, before the lawmakers, at the behest of Allied, tell them they must. Myers Has His Joke Incidentally, Abram P. Myers had his own little joke on the subject of affiliated houses, when he said there were more affiliated exhibitors present right there than there were at the MPTOA convention in Miami. After letting everybody look around a while the commissioner explained himself by saying that he considered every theatre owner a partner of every distributor, “but a very unwilling partner.” Anyway, the Friday meeting did not take any too kindly an attitude to Brother Al’s suggestion, for, although they gave the defense committee discretion to arrange the conferences, they insisted that the divorce business be continued while such confrences were taking place. The main point of it all, however, is that in the divorce measures Allied seems to have found something in which to sink its collective teeth, and with the little success already gained will undoubtedly militate in that direction for some time to come. Great States Chain Adding More Units Chicago — Addition of the complete situation in Pekin and the new house in Kewanee in recent days has further strengthened the Great States circuit in Illinois. After a number of months of dickering, as well as bickering, among several factions in Pekin, manufacturing center just nine miles out of Peoria, Great States has taken over the operation of all three of the existing theatres there and also the vacant property at the corner of Capitol and Margaret Sts. on which a fourth house has long been proposed. Most important of these is the 1,300-seat Pekin Theatre, long owned and operated by Walter Fluegel, who also holds title to the entire business corner. Some months ago L. J. Bennett, who has the Rialto Theatre in Pekin, entered into a deal with local business men for the erection of a new house. The deal went through a number of various setups until eventually Great States came into the picture and gained control of the property, but rather than build on it, overtures were made to Fluegel at the same time that another circuit was also dickering for the Pekin Theatre. The deal finally wound up with Great States leasing Fluegel’s house, and also the smaller Empire Theatre, owned by him, also Bennett’s Rialto, as well as continuing control of the vacant lot, and on June 1 the Illinois downstate Publix unit took over the operation of all of Pekin’s theatre enterprises. The Kewanee house is the one being built by Harold Baker there and under lease to Ed Solig, who came here recently from a former position as booker for Fox West Coast Theatres at Los Angeles. Great States have taken over Solig’s lease, and will supervise the balance of the construction of the 500-seater, which is expected to be ready for opening about July 4. This will give the circuit a second house in the town, the other being the Peerless. Opera Sets Record St. Louis — The Municipal Opera Association which will open its 19th consecutive season of outdoor musical presentations at the Municipal Theatre in Forest Park the night of June 4 reported that up to June 1 the season orders had totaled $100,629, an all-time record for the organization. The old record set in 1935 was $95,000 for advance reservations. Ben Lass Moves St. Louis — Ben Lass, distributor for Price Theatre Premiums, and for Adcaster Service, Inc., here and in the surrounding territory, has moved his office to 3327 Lindell Ave., on Filmrow. Lass recently resigned as representative for National Screen Accessories to establish the Ben Lass Agency. Convention Delegates (Continued from page 70) dianapolis; V. U. Young, Palace, Gary. Prom Wisconsin: C. S. Baker, Grand Natl.; E. T. Bode, Natl. Seating; A. P. Brighton, Natl Theatre Supply; Arnold and M. H. Brumm, Ritz; P. F. Camp, Universal Film Exchange; A. Chapman, U. A. Corp.; Merrill DeVine, Violet Theatre; Bert, Earl W. and Frank Fisher, Almo and Times Theatres; George Fischer, Mil. & Natl. Theatre; Jack Frackman, Republic Pictures; E. W. Gavin, Universal Film Exchange; Joe Goetz, Bank Night; Fred J. Hanke, Lyric; William Haiman, Peerless; Fred Ireland, Alexander Film; George and Paul, jr. Langheinrich, Burleigh Theatre; E. Langmack, Colonial; Sam Levinsohn, National Seeding Co.; W. D. Lorenzo, Universal Theatre Premium; H. E. Lurie, Monogram Midwest Films; E. P. Maertz, Zenith Theatre; B. J. Miller, Film Board Trade; Edward W. Moore, Green Games Attractions; Sam Ozonoff; J. F. Pastor, Radio Theatre; L. Patz, Grand National; Ben P. Poblocki, Electrolite Signs; N. Provencher. United Artists; R. Rosenblatt, Grand National; O. J. Ruby, Columbia Pictures; Paul Sadzeck, Universal Pictures; William Scharun, Universal Premium; J. B. Schuyler, Natl. Supply Co.; J. H. Silliman, Avalon; Ray A. Smith, Theatre Equipment; Ed B. Spiers, RKO; C. W. Trampe, Film Service; Richard Von Zakobiel, Roxy; Herb Washburn, Nat’l Screen; Julius Wasinerski, Midget; G. Wood, Grand Natl.; E. Zimmerman, Rainbow, all of Milwaukee. From outstate Wisconsin: H. J. Altschwager, Rudalt Theatre, Columbus; R. J. Baldwin, Rosa, Wauwatosa; A. C. Bergholtz. West Bend, West Bend; Jimmy Boden, Grand, S. Milwaukee; Prank Borchert, Door, Sturgeon Bay; E. H. Brechler, Fenway, Fenimore; B. E. Bristol, Rio Appleton, Appleton; Fred Brown, Plymouth, Plymouth; Len Brown, Main Street, Racine; W. P. Copeland, Allan Theatre, Jefferson; A. P. Desormeaux, Majestic, Madison; J. E. Draginis, Classic, Waupun; Harry W. Ellis, Orpheum, Darlington; James Esterl, Rex, Park Falls; L. E. and R. E. Fox, Fox Theatre, Marion; Charles Guelson, Badger, Stoughton; R. S. Guiterman, Manitowoc Theatre Co., Manitowoc; George Hannon, Grand Theatre, Green Bay; J. G. Hey wood. Gem, New Richmond; P. M. Kadow, Mikado Theatre, Manitowoc; O. V. Kelly, Badger Theatre, Reedsburg; P. L. Koppelberger, La Crosse Theatre Co., La Crosse; O. Larson, Lyric, Peshtigo; A. I. Latts, Royal Theatre Co., Ashland; A. L. Merritt, Oconto, Oconto; M. M. Miller, May, Mayville; P. W. Palmer, Rialto, Edgerton; George Panka, Metro, Prairie du Chien; Henry Ringling and C. L. Roser, Ringling Theatre, Baraboo; S. P. Schernick, Elite, Appleton; Thomas E. Smith, Sun Theatre, Brodhead; W. S. Smith, Orpheum, Menomonie; John Steenerot, Chilton Theatre, Chilton; Emil Stopenbach, Allan Theatre, Jefferson; A. Suszycki, Gail Theatre, Mauston; W. R. Vincent, Nicolet, West De Pere; W. J. Wagner, Garden, So. Milwaukee. WAGE BILL LOST Jefferson City, Mo. — Lost for this session of the legislature is a bill which would set up minimum wages and hours for women and children. A quorum failed to show up for the senate retrenchment and reform committee’s final consideration. BOXOFFICE :; June 5, 1937. 73