Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

JJAROLD WOOD, Neighborhood Theatres executive, was in the golf tournament at the Hermitage Club last week . . . Bernard Lichtman, son of Pete Lichtman of the circuit of the same name, and his wife have returned from their wedding trip to New York . . . The newly-organized Richmond Film Society gave their first program of Foreign films last week, called “The Inspector General” . . . Sam Gordon had a personal appearance of Cowboy Bob Baker as an added attraction at the Venus last Sunday and Monday . . . With only two more weeks to go it looks as if the State team has won the championship in the Neighborhood Theatres Duckpin League, with Byrd, Grand and Westhampton finishing up in that order. Wade Pearson, Northern district manager, Neighborhood Theatres, was in town conferring with home office officials last week. Wade just returned from vacationing in Florida . . . Charlie Yerby, assistant manager at Loew’s, has been confined to his bed with some very painful boils . . . Mrs. J. G. Mullen, mother of the manager of the Bellevue, was married to staff Lieut. George Hollowell of Langley Field, on Saturday, April 1 . . . Leroy Ford, projectionist at the Byrd, lost his mother on April 15 . . . Allen Sparrow, manager of Loew’s, invited all couples who had been married for 50 years to be his guests to see “Made for Each Other.” Harley Davidson, Paramount salesman, was in town bragging about his tonsil operation . . . Alvin Cone, Warner checker, was married in Norfolk to Miss Hamilton McKenzie of Richmond . . . Stewart Tucker took his family up to Washington to see the cherry blossoms . . . Barney Frank, Universal salesman, and his wife are very proud of their daughter, who is a professional model, and has been spending the past four months in Florida posing for various commercial advertisers. They also have a son at Columbia University on the football team . . . Loew’s put on an old-fashioned “Spook Show” last Saturday at midnight. Coming and going: Harvey Kelley, assistant manager of the Grand, with his family, visited Staunto?i last weekend . . . Ben Caplon, Columbia salesman, was in town . . . Dave Peterson, Altec engineer from Washington, was in town relieving Mervin Ullman for several days. New $12,000,000 Studio For Paramount Hollywood — When completed, the new Paramount studio will represent an investment of $12,000,000, Barney Balaban, president, said in announcing acquisition of 150 acres of track land on Pico Blvd. Work on the first unit will begin within a few months, and the layout will include 26 ultra modern sound stages. Balaban declared that no new financing is contemplated in connection with the development. • REVIEW FLASHES • CALLING DR. KILDARE (M-G-M)— Surprisingly lacking in the human qualities of its predecessor which promised so much for the series. This return engagement suffers principally because of inconsistencies and extremes in story and situations. Picture's best boxoffice bet will be the following established by the initialer. Lionel Barrymore, Lew Ayres. Lou Ostrow produced; Harold S. Bucquet directed. ing to general audiences. Cast acting second rate. Paul Muni, Bette Davis, Brian Aheme, Claude Rains and John Garfield. OUTLAWS PARADISE (Victory)— Tim McCoy fans undoubtedly will get their usual thrill in this one which drags and drags until the last reel. Plenty of gun totin' and ride 'em cowboy for the youngsters. Joan Barclay co-stars. Sam Newfield directed. FIXER DUGAN (RKO)— This drama of the circus has all the noise, ballyhoo and general color that goes with a traveling tent show, plus a minor injection of drama occasioned by the presence of little Virginia Weidler. Lee Tracy plays a role that fits like a glove. Peggy Shannon, Rita La Roy and Bradley Page support. Lew Landers directed. HEROES OF THE MARNE (Spectrum)— Earthy, tragic, foreboding and provocative is this French war drama. It treads solid ground, telling the story of undying love in a life-torn world. Each characterization is a gem. Production values are impressive. English titles are well edited. Andre Hugon directed. JUAREZ AND MAXIMILIAN (WB)— Bites off a sizeable chunk of Mexican history, but fails to shape it into digestible form. Producer-Director Miguel Torres obviously is confronted with a too ambitious canvas, which is meticulous as to detail but dreary and dull in story. Probably will prove bor RETURN OF THE CISCO KID. THE (20th-Fox) — Another chapter in the saga of O. Henry's lovable caballero. The story's emphasis is mostly on the characters with Director Herbert I. Leeds content to have the action lope along in a leisurely manner. Splendid support by Lynn Bari, Cesar Romero and Henry Hull. STREET OF MISSING MEN (Rep)— Gangster picture with sufficient action for adequate entertainment. The story has a new twist and some added human interest in little Tommy Ryan. The cast is headed by Charles Bickford and Harry Carey. Sidney Salkow directed. WANTED BY SCOTLAND YARD (Mono)— Dovetailing ever so neatly with its title, this English production turns out as a manhunt of no slim proportions. It has been scenarized with care, directed with a certain aplomb without lessening the suspense and enacted with a set of entirely satisfying performances. James Stephenson, Betty Lynne. Leslie Perrins. Norman Lee directed. COMPLETE REVIEWS on the above pictures will appear in an early issue of BOXOFFICE. Sound Recording Patent Suit Awaits Decision New York — After a trial lasting over three weeks. Federal Judge Mortimer Byers has reserved decision in the patent infringement suit brought by Virgil C. Crites against Albert A. Radtke, Leonard Day, Thomas J. Martin, the Radtke Patents Corp., United Research Corp., and Warner Bros. Suit claimed infringement of a patent for “methods of and means for optically recording and reproducing sound.” An injunction, accounting of profits and damages are sought. It is claimed by Crites that, while he was in the employment of the American Development and Operating Corp. in 1916, he employed Radtke to help him. This was with the understanding that, if the latter developed any patent during the period of his employment, it was to belong to the corporation. In 1922, after Radtke had left the employment of the corporation, he received a patent on the sound device. It is the claim of the plaintiff that this was perfected while Radtke was employed by him. Morton Van Praag Makes Ten Franchise Deals New York — Morton Van Praag, president of Nation-Wide Coupon Distributing Co., has closed franchise deals for ten territories for the movie cash coupons which are distributed by local merchants and redeemable at the boxoffice as part or full admission payment. B. Shimp is head of Nation-Wide Coupon Distributing Corp. of Illinois with Henry Merens and Jack Mednikow associated with him for handling the scheme in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, half of Missouri and part of Kentucky. Eddie Rubin heads the Minnesota company, in which Tom and Edward Burke are associated, and covering Minneapolis, Omaha and Des Moines. Beverly Miller is president of the Kansas City company and Edwin Ansin has the franchise for Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Vermont. Deals have been closed for Cleveland, Washington, D. C., and the Pacific coast, but are not yet ready to be announced. Boxoffice on March 4 exclusively announced Van Praag forming the coupon company. BOXOFFICE :: April 22, 1939 26-1