Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

P1HIIILAIMBLPMIA piLM MEN have joined the Philadelphia movement to get visitors to the World’s Fair to stop over here and leave part of their money. Representing the industry on a city-wide committee are Ted Schlanger, Sam D. Schwartz and Abe Einstein, of Warner; Earle Sweigert, Paramount; Lewen Pizor, UMPTO; Oscar Neufeld, Horlacher’s; Si Myers, Metro, and Jay Emmanuel . . . Moe Sherman, who has just joined the Monogram sales staff, celebrated the wrong way — by getting sick . . . Sally Fisher, who was Sid Samuelson’s secretary at New Jersey Allied, has come to take her old job in the local Allied unit. The sales staff of Grand National, who were shifted off the payroll, are still waiting for the company to get organized again . . . J . H. Hoffberg Co. has made arrangements with Jack Jaslow to release five pictures in the territory . . . Charles Hurley, who joined Preferred Pictures in Washington a short time ago, has resigned, and is replaced by George Gill, former manager of Pop Corson’s Trio Film Exchange, Washington . . . The National Film Carriers are getting ready for their convention in the Park Central, New York, May 9 and 10. James P. Clark will preside. Majors and independent distributors are invited. The United Campaign drive among showmen, headed by Ted Schlanger and James P. Clark, has come to a rip-roaring finish, with collections that will eclipse last year’s . . . Sid Bloomfield, Bell, is providing swing music in the lobby for jitterbuggy patrons . . . Henry Robinson is renovating the Darby . . . Beatrice Weinstein, Metro, is reported engaged . . . Many exchange girls will be going to the Stenographer’s Ball, May 26 at the Stephen Girard. They say the men are welcome too . . . Sam Rosen, Monogram, put on a special screening of “Streets of New York,” the Jackie Cooper film, for the Crime Prevention Ass’n and police officials. Carl Krueger, Paramount advertising man, was in town visiting Earle Sweigert . . . He reported the “Union Pacific’’ ballyhoo train to arrive here May 8 will be met by radio broadcasters, socialites, a color guard and band from Pennsylvania Military Academy ( where Cecil B. DeMille was a student ) and 100,000 plain folks, more or less. A special luncheon is planned for civic leaders and the press . . . Mrs. Arthur Goldsmith will address the Century Club on “Dolls in the Movies” . . . Charles Bierbauer, Colo-nial State, Allentown, is up and around after his illness. The Main Line Sewing Circle brought 350 guests to its luncheon at Benny the Bum’s to raise money to educate German refugee children in England. Mrs. Ted Schlanger was one of the drive leaders . . . Bill Israel thought the roof of the Palace was coming down during the blizzard the other day. But it was only one of the signs over the boxoffice ... Ed Lerman has left the Affiliated circuit . . . Affiliate had its first anniversary luncheon at the Adelphia. Dave Barrist back from his quick cruise to the West Indies ... A delegation of film men will go to New York for the unveiling of a monument over the grave of Herman Whitman, former manager of the Earle, who died a year ago . . . Harry Biben’s son, Joseph, will become Bar Mitzvah April 29. Belle Baker will entertain at a reception next day . . . El Brendel is living in town . . . George Reinert, Franklin, is putting a bit of the good old democratic system into selection of pictures. Each week he reads off a list of possible Saturday matinee features from the stage, and lets the kids decide which to run by a show of haiids. Sid Stanley, Fays, has a "mystic” fortune-teller in his lobby, attracting a lot of attention as an advertising stunt . . . Charles Stiefel is back from an extended stay in New York . . . Frank McNamee, RKO was off to Lancaster on a visit . . . Descendants of the Pioneers of South Jersey Colonies will see a film of old Jersey settlers at their meeting here April 30 . . . The Showmen’s club will dine and dance at Palumbo’s this Wednesday. Allen Lewis is arranging things . . . The Narberth is now under management of Keswick Amusement Co. The Joy Theatre has had its face lifted and will be exposed to public gaze next week . . . William Smith, Washington, Washington, N. J., will take over the Casino Hall, Mt. Pocono, Pa. . . . StanleyWarner shifts take Bill Huffman from the Oxford to West Chester and Irv Blumberg from the Allegheny to the Oxford . . . The Motion Picture Forum will hear the Rev. Joseph Fort Newton and Langdon W. Post at its spring luncheon . . . The Bradley-Newman Co., new exploiteer group, has opened offices in Clark Film Bldg. Peerless Distributors, bossed by Bill Hee nan, will hereafter release through Clark Film Distributors . . . Earle Sweigert represented the Variety Club at the Showmen’s Variety Jubilee meeting in Atlantic City. The group, which picks Miss America, may do it this year at Convention Hall instead of Steel Pier . . . Bill Clark is gathering up Variety Clubbers to attend the national convention in Detroit. Harry Tarrante, Aldine, says the theatre broke a six years’ record with the first week of “Wuthering Heights” . . . J. Leonard Sessler, Mrs. James Loram, James Bagley and Dr. James C. Sigman are to address the Motion Picture Preview Study group . . . Everett Callow, Warner, is up to his ears in plans for exploiteering “Confessions of a Nazi Spy,” soon to appear at the Stanley . . . Jim Flynn is arranging a buffet luncheon of the Film Exchange Employes Union . . . The Anthony Wayne Theatre showed its awe of marital fidelity by admitting all couples married 50 years or more free to the showing of “Made for Each Other.” With Contracts for Two Amateurs — In the small shot above, Al Zimbalist, Stanley -Warner advertising and publicity head, greets Sam Sax, Vitaphone production chief, on his arrival in Philadelphia to award contracts to two winners in the Stanley -Warner amateur talent contest. Below, Sax sig7is the contracts while, left to right, looking on are Ed Schrieber, studio publicity man; Lee Stewart, casting director; Jack Steck, WFIL radio announcer; Sam Schwartz, Stanley -Warner real estate head; Ted Schlanger, S-W circuit head, and Everett Callow, advertising head. 26-F BOXOFFICE :: April 22, 1939