Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

K. C. FIRST RUN STAFFS UNIONIZE THIRTY FROM MIDWEST ATTEND 20TH-FOX MEET Los Angeles — Thirty delegates from the midwest area attended the 20th CenturyFox convention which opened here on Tuesday, as follows: Des Moines: S. J. Mayer, manager; H. Gottlieb, A. W. Riegelman, E. P. O’Neill, salesmen; Edward Canty, booker; G. F. Halloran, ad sales manager. Kansas City; W. E. Scott, district manager; G. W. Fuller, manager; W. J. Kubitzki, Joseph F. Woodward, Charles Knickerbocker, H. Kinser, salesmen; M. A. Tanner, booker; C. D. Crawford, ad sales manager. Minneapolis: M. A. Levy, district manager; J. M. Podoloff, manager; Earl Lorentz, J. S. Cohan, W. G. Mussman, Louis Cohen, N. F. Hall, Harold Lyons, salesmen; P. Lundquist, booker; William Clayson, ad sales manager. Omaha: J. E. Scott, manager; F. C. Miller, Carl Reese, H. P. Ironfield, salesmen; R. A. Wagle, booker; R. C. Buell, ad sales manager. MINNEAPOLIS' AREA COUNTS 850 HOUSES Minneapolis — More than 850 theatres now are in operation in the territory served by Minneapolis film exchanges, according to figures compiled by the branches. This is believed to be a record number. More new theatres have been built during the last year than during any similar period since the depression, a survey reveals. Their number added to the old houses has swelled the total. Only during the silent picture days were there more showhouses operating and many of these were of the store-room variety. As usual, a number of the theatres will close down for brief periods during the summer. However, there will be less houses dark this summer than customarily, it is indicated. Reopens After Fire Lincoln, Neb. — It is reported here the Humboldt, Neb., Roxy has been reopened for business after a fire which nearly overcame two men last week. Broke out in the projection booth, destroying projection equipment and doing quite a bit of damage to the booth as well as the film. Jess Johnson, theatre employe, was one of those overcome by smoke and fumes. Audience left in orderly fashion and no one was hurt. RUBEN OPENS NEW MONTEVIDO HOUSE Montevido, Minn. — Eddie Ruben’s beautiful new theatre, the Hollywood, opened this week with “Turn Off the Moon,” Paramount musical. John Cliplef, formerly with Ruben at Langdon, N. D., is the manager. O m\ A IIHII A MR and Mrs. Robert Goodall of Ogallala, Neb., sailed last week on the liner Paris for Nice, France, to attend the convention of Rotary International. Mr. Goodall is president of the Good-All Industries, dealing in theatrical equipment and enterprises. Publicity Director Louise Cotter of the Brandeis finally got away Sunday on that long -threatened trip to Los Angeles. She will he gone about three weeks, and in the meantime Assistant Manager John Quinlan has taken over both jobs. City Welfare Inspector Thomas Knapp, still functioning as Mayor Dan Butler’s one-man boai’d of censorship while hizzoner continues to mark time on the threat to revive the five-man board, this week approved a showing of “Damaged Goods” here. Knapp said, “I believe the picture should be shown. It has, in my opinion, definitely constructive educational value.” Assistant reviewer for Knapp was Dr. Floyd Kinyoun, city health commissionder. Projectionist Edward A. Crowell, 57, burned when a fire started in the projection booth of the Victoria, a neighborhood house here, is suing owner Lawrence Krasne for $50,000. Crowell charges Krasne was negligent in not having the booth built to comply with city regulations. The fire occurred Dec. 8, 1935. THREE PROMOTIONS IN WELWORTH CHAIN Devils Lake, N. D. — Three promotions in the Welworth Theatre Co. are announced by Arthur E. Ableson, manager and supervisor. John Cliplef has been transferred from the Roxy at Langdon, N. D. to Eddie Ruben’s new Hollywood Theatre at Montevideo, Minn., which opens early this month. Harold (Swede) Bartlett, former assistant manager at Devils Lake Theatre, succeeds Cliplef. Lyle Nash, serving in various capacities with the circuit, replaces Bartlett here. Candid Lensers Flock Lincoln — Latest trial at making vaude trade boom in the heat which made it wane the past month was Chuck Doty’s candid camera idea tried here at the Orpheum. Had a midnight vaude show and turned loose all the candid lensers in town, on and off stage, in the wings, the foots, dressing rooms, etc. Evolved into half the show being the shutter boys. LYRIC AT ELMORE LIGHTS UP Elmore, Minn. — The Lyric Theatre, destroyed by fire last February, has been rebuilt and reopened June 1. The owner is H. H. Sandon. 100 Employes of Five Large Houses Affiliate With LA. Kansas City — More than 100 employes of the five first runs here, the Fox Tower and Fox Uptown, RKO Mainstreet, B & K Newman, and Loew’s Midland, and of the Fox Plaza, met at Musician’s Hall, lATSE headquarters, late last week to form the Theatre Employes’ union. International affiliate. Election of officers was scheduled for June 5 at another meeting. The employes of other subsequent runs, both downtown and suburban, are being approached for membership in the new labor unit. Membership includes porters, sweepers, ushers, doormen, cashiers, etc. Exchange Managers Receive Demands Tuesday morning exchange managers here each received a formal demand on wages, hours, etc., from the newly organized Film Exchange Employes Local No. 23, over the signature of Felix Snow, representative of the lATSE, with which the labor group is affiliated. The union wants $40 a week for head shippers, $32.50 for assistant shippers, $30 for head inspectors and $25 for assistants, and $30 for poster clerks. Exceptions to these figures are the $42.50 asked for head shippers at Republic-Midwest and Paramount. The former has been paying $40 a week, the latter $37.50 — and the $35 a week asked for poster clerks at Universal. A rough estimate shows that exchanges have been paying from $22.50 to $38 for head shippers; an average of $20 a week for poster clerks, and $14.50 to $22.50 for inspectresses. In addition to wage hikes, the union sets out eight other demands, plus the request for recognition as sole bargaining agent for its members. The demands; Recognition of a shop steward. Forty-hour week, beginning: Monday, ending Saturday at 2 i>. in. Time and a half for work on Sunday or legal holidays and for all time over seven hours in any one day. < 'ontinuatlon of vacations witli pay. A member of the union will be placed as “relief” while the oth(‘r meml»er is away. Closed shop: Employment of no one hut membus of No. 23 “in good standing” in the various departments of any exchange which is controlled i)y this agreement. Di.scharge of employes for intoxication or dishon esty. The number of employes in the exchange to he “not less than the number employed June 1, 1937, and as many others as may be necessary.” Portions of a week to be paid at the rate of six days a week. * i Busine.ss representative of the union to he allowed to furnish all employes except those on weekly salaries, and to be allowed admittance to the exchange at all times. Proposals to Home Offices Exchange managers passed the proposals along to the New York offices. In return for these considerations, the union agrees “to furnish competent, experienced and reliable employes” to exchanges and will not uphold any member who is discharged for dishonesty or intoxication. To conform to the rules that exchanges make, provided “they do not conflict with (Continued on page 79) BOXOFFICE :: June 5, 1937. 77