Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

Doob, arrives in England Monday on a three-week vacation in London and Paris. The betting is five to one he will visit all the Loew theatres in those countries before coming back home . . . Douglas Fairbanks sr„ canceled his sailing on the Queen Mary, but Frederick Lonsdale didn’t . . . Herman Stern, non -theatrical head for Universal, has closed another deal to supply the company’s complete output to 80 veteran hospitals and soldiers’ homes beginning July 1 ... R. V. Keifer of the Keifer circuit in Canada was among the visitors at the RKO reception suite. He leaves in about a week for Chicago, then departs for northeastern Canada, where he lives . . . Gene Towne, discussing his new RKO deal, says “I’m going to emphasize the story and make the star fit the story, not the story the star.” That was a cheer you just heard . . . Louis Hayward and Ida Lupino arrive from the coast Monday, the trip being a belated honeymoon. Ben Kalmenson, Warner’s western and southern sales manager, is back at his desk after a three-week trip visiting branches in the west . . . Billy Brandt’s son, George, has become a partner in Radio Attractions , radio show producers in the RKO Building . . . Tom Donaldson, Metro’s New Haven branch manager, visiting Tom Connors and Grover Whalen’s exposition . . . Leo Greenfield, manager of the Borough Hall, prefers to explore new fields for his entertainment. His last trip out he wound up in Harmon, N. Y. . . . Leonard Bloom, for years in charge of RKO’s mail room, has proved so adept at photography that H. M. Richey has appointed him official lens snapper at the RKO World’s Fair Exhibitors’ Lounge . . . Homer Harmon is preparing an elaborate and “exciting” souvenir booklet telling all about the Roxy — which the Roxy will sell, not give away, to its patrons. Charlotte Sachs on Wednesday cele — Photo by Cosmo-Sileo London to Hollywood — John Hay Whitney, chairman of the board of Selznick International, is in from London and now about to reappear in Hollywood. When Whitney flies, he usually buys two tickets. The second is parking area for his legs. Mother Greets Her Oldest Son— -ph°" bv °“n ” 811 Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt was at the pier when James Roosevelt, vicepresident of Samuel Goldivyn, Inc., returned from. Europe on the Queen Mary. On the right is Roosevelt’s wife. In his arms is Kate, his youngest daughter. The other child is Sara Delano Roosevelt, the older girl. brated her 13th year with M-G-M, alternating as secretary to William F. Rodgers and E. Wallace Aarons . . . During the dismantling of the electric sign on the Astor to make room for “Goodbye, Mr. Chips,” the old sign for “Pygmalion,” by George Bernard Shaw, which featured Leslie Howard, presented some broken wordage, as follows: Howard Shaw’s Lion at Popular Prices.” It tickled Harry Brandt’s funny bone . . . Vincent McFaul of Shea’s, Buffalo, was a visitor with William F. Rodgers . . . Dave Levy, Metro’s New Jersey branch manager, dropped in for a “social” chat with Bernie Brooks. Before he left Brooks’ office, Dave had been sold a flock of shirts by an itinerant shirt peddler. The annual outing of the Columbian Club, comprising Columbia employes, takes place at the Pinebrook Country Club, riear Bridgeport, Conn., May 29 . . . The annual ITOA outing is set for mid-July . . . After 15 years with M-G-M, Miriam Garrison decided to spend her full time as a housewife. So the “girls” put her in the middle of a festive table at the Blue Room at the Hotel Lincoln and bade her farewell. A pair of silver candlesticks was a gift from about 20 of her friends, among whom were Rena Sachs, Amy Schiff, Anne Nilsen, Ruth Gillis, Henrietta Klein, Zelda Davis, Goldie Weltman, Gertrude Schwartz, Roberta Elston and Elizabeth Heslin. Joan Bennett canceled her sailing on the Queen Mary . . . George Weltner spent a week’s vacation on his boat Marjon, named after his two children Marjorie and John . . . Radie Harris came up with Virginia Field as guest star over her WOR radio program. Miss Field, who is now vacationing in New York, has just finished pictures for Universal and United Artists . . . Ben Judell, independent operator and producer, is at the Astor Hotel . . . Paula Greenwald, secretary to A1 Deane, took a week’s vacation in Virginia . . . Illness kept Mrs. Florence Marston, executive secretary of the Screen Actors’ Guild, at home for a few days . . . Ned E. Depinet hopes to get away for a coast visit by the end of the month . . . RKO Pathe cameramen, Larry Riley and Bert Cunningham, are tossing coins to see who doesn’t get the mountain climbing assignment for the next Sportscope which will be filmed sometime in June. Howard Dietz at “21” for a haircut . . . Harry Arthur in from St. Louis again and back there by noiv . . . H. M. Bessey, secretary-treasurer of Altec, is in Baltimore and Atlanta on a ten-day trip . . . Si Seadler's been home again. The gout . . . Oscar Doob has been patronizing the Tavern quite regularly of late. So have many other film men . . . Harry M. Warner is in the east. While passing through Chicago, he dropped in at the exchange and chatted briefly with James Coston, Henry Herbel, Tom Gilliam and Bill Brumberg and went for a one line quotation, “ I'm feeling fine and on personal business” . . . Rudy Vallee, Sally Rand, Jed Dooley and Walter J. Diggs are again members of the American Federation of Actors’ council for another four years . . . Betty Goldsmith, secretary to James Roosevelt, is back from the continent. Moe J. Siegel, Republic studio head, has taken off quite a bit of weight. He sailed Saturday for the coast. H. J. Yates is due back from Hollywood, June 1. He will be preceded by James R. Grainger by at least a week . . . Having lost the first game of the season, the M-G-M-Loew team made another try at it Saturday night at the George Washington Stadium, this time against Columbia . . . Ben Roman is mourning the loss of his oldest daughter, Mercedes Knapp, who passed away after a short illness . . . Henry Danziger of the Film Board of Trade entered the Jewish Hospital, Brooklyn, over the weekend for a (Continued on page 22-D) BOXOFFICE :: May 13, i939 19