Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

CJEYMOUR BAGATELL, booker for the Charles Morris circuit of Boston, was a Filmrow visitor in connection with a change of policy at the Colonial, Utica. The house now makes five changes weekly, plays bills two days each over weekend, and three single day shows. Harry Seed is manager . . . Walter Reade jr. stopped in Albany en route to Saratoga, where the Reade circuit has a theatre. Ward Craig, manager of Fabian’s Community Theatre, Catskill, seen along Film Alley. Ditto Bob Fox, assistant manager of Proctor’s, Troy, also a Fabian theatre . . . Others visiting exchanges included: Mrs. Antoinette McNamara of the Valatie, Valatie, and the Bay, Alexandria Bay ( the latter theatre, in the Thousand Islands region, was slated to open April 15, after a winter shutdown) ; Clarence Dopp, Strand, Johnstown; Poland, Poland; Star, Northville, and a theatre in Frankfort ; Ollie Mallory, Starr, Corinth; Ernie Wolfe, Avalon ( a modern 500 -seater in Lowville, beyo7id Utica); Al Feltman, Lincoln; Sid Dworf, Cameo, Schenectady ; Phil Baroudi, Happy Hour, North Creek; Joe Sternberg, Avon, Boonville; Harry Savett, who has resigned as maiiager of the James in Utica to devote his e?itire time to his interests in the Port, Port Leyden, Capitol in Antwerp and Strand in Vincent; Charlie Marshall, Hollywood, Ausable Forks, and the Rex in Keesville. Steve Tarbell, booker for the Smalley circuit, called on some of the exchanges. His boss, William E. Smalley, has returned from the annual vacation in Florida . . . Changes at 20th Century-Fox: Madge Rider resigned and Betty O’Hare, assistant booker, took her place. Elmer Sichel, advertising sales manager, became assistant booker. Scott Lester moved up a peg into the advertising post vacated by Sichel. Elmer (Bud) Dale, assistant shipper, is studying in the ad department . . . Still two woman bookers on the Row, Margaret Hawkins of Republic, and Mrs. Mildred Windelspecht, assistant to Abe Van Deusen in RKO. Mrs. J. J. Van Buren is booking an occasional show for the Cairo Theatre, Cairo. That is a Catskill Mountain town which gets into full swing during the summer. The many Albany friends of Eddie Hollander were tickled to learn that he had been appointed general ad sales manager of 20 th Century-Fox. Hollander was attached to the local exchange for sometime as a. s. m. He left two years ago for New York City to become eastern division superintendent of the department . . . Trouble has come in bunches for A. Gerald Leary. Ill health caused him to take a leave of absence from his post as branch manager of Universal. Then his four-year-old daughter was stricken with pneumonia. Her condition was so serious that exchangemen feared it would be necessary to postpone last week’s testimonial dinner to the popular Leary. The youngster, however, improved, and the dinner was held. Filmrow hopes that the sun will shine brighter for Leary. The Schiners, social organization of the Schine circuit, were to hold an annual dinner party at Newman’s Lake House, Saratoga, the night of April 22. A group from Filmrow planned to attend. In the past the event has been given in Gloversville, Schine headquarters. Lou Leiser, Universal salesman, transferred to the Buffalo office, and will work from Syracuse. George Jeffrey, a former United Artist employe, reported here as Leiser’s successor. We accompanied Manager Joseph Engel, Booker Al Marchetti and Salesman Tony Ryan to the Cincinnati convention . . . Filmrow sorry to hear that Nate Sauber, one time Universal manager in Albany, was hospitalized in Washington, D. C. Engagement of Lou Olshen, Columbia cashier, and Helen Goldstein of New York has been announced . . . The Capitol, Dave Rosenbaum’s Elizabethtown theatre, opened after winter shuttering. Charlie Gerard is said to have done a fine job in overhauling the Lyric Theatre, Tupper Lake Junction. Installed new seats, sound proof walls, new curtain and stage, and other improvements. Gerard is the brother of Sheriff Bill Gerard of Malone . . . Frank Wieting of the Park, Cobleskill, Morris Schulman of Vernon, Vivian Sweet of the Star, Salem, and Frank Williams, Benton booker, ankled the exchanges. Warner’s Strand held “Dodge City” over until the following Saturday. Then opened Deanna Durbin’s “Three Smart Girls Grow Up,” with “On Trial” as second feature. Warner’s, by the way, played not only “Dodge City” but supporting shorts, day and date for a week, at their Troy, in Troy, six miles from Albany . . . Abe Stone’s Eagle ran several candy matinees for children during Easter vacation week . . . Mike Kallett will open the Strand, new house in Long Lake, on Decoration Day, according to reports. He will operate on lease . . . Pete Bournakis of the Strand and Liberty, Watertown, was ill with the grippe . . . Paul Krumenacher, WarnerVitagraph manager, will move his family here from Pittsburgh. His wife will arrive May 1, and two daughters at close of school year. One is in high school and the other in college. The Krumenachers have leased a house . . . Edward Schnitzer, eastern district sales manager, visited the Warner exchange. Bill Clark of the Palace, Fort Covington, and the Coloiiial, Waddington, reported 07i Filmrow. He is not a frequent visitor ... Miss Mimiie Smith, inspectress in War7ier excha7ige, is ill . . . Rossi Bros. reope7ied their theatre in Schroo7i Lake, April 16, which had been closed about a mo7ith . . . Bill Murray, officer managerbooker for Gra7id National, did 7iot let a cold affect his courteous, frie7idly, cheery manner . . . Whe7i comment was made o?i the excellent timber of Columbia Salesma7i Jack Armm’s speakvig voice, he jestingly replied that he was a former radio a?inouncer. Exchangemen who heard George Lofink, "Charity" Pictures Get Surveillance Philadelphia — A city-wide survey of churches, clubs and fraternal organizations that are illegally running film shows, is being conducted by city police, Boxoffice has learned. The checkup, first of its kind, is being made at the request of Fire Marshal Jacob S. Clinton. “Many of these shows, which claim to be for charitable purposes, are really being conducted at least partly for profit to a few individuals,” Clinton told this publication. “Charitable means that no one benefits except the organization. “Many of these shows are being run in obvious competition with theatres. They often choose Saturday and Sunday nights, the best of the week, to compete with regularly licensed theatres. That is unfair competition, because these groups don’t pay the taxes theatres must pay, and don’t abide by the safety regulations required of theatres. “I have asked the captains of the various police districts to have their men make up a complete list of such groups. The groups will then be informed they must notify the superintendent of police and the fire marshal’s office 48 hours before the show. We will investigate, and if it is not for demonstrable charity purposes or if safety features are unsatisfactory, we will refuse a license. “If we do grant a license, we are going to see to it that a stiff fee is placed on it. In that way we hope to eliminate much of this practice, which should not exist anyway.” Luigi Borrelli Philadelphia — Luigi Borrelli, who opened the first Italian theatre in Philadelphia 40 years ago, died at his home, at the age of 82. British Censors Ban "Mamlock" London — “Professor Mamlock” has been banned by the British censor board because the theme, which deals with the Nazis, has been held too political. Fabian divisional office, announce during the first Spelling Bee broadcast from the Palace Theatre over WABY, pronounced him very good. He took an audition a few days before . . . Lofink will help the master of ceremonies each week. Twentyfive dollars prize money is distributed among the audience. Words are drawn from a hat down in the orchestra in the after part of the program and if spelled correctly over a portable microphone, the patron receives five dollars. He or she is asked to state for home listeners full name when the money is awarded. Team spellers share in another $25. The Casino, Waterford, gave “Lincoln in the White House” equal newspaper billing with “You Can’t Take It With You.” Bill played Sunday and Monday, with a Sunday matinee. 26-H BOXOFFICE :: April 22, 1939