Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

I'HE big event of the week was the reopening of the Liberty. Bombs and skyrockets burst over First Ave. Bright lights blazed under a fancy new marquee and huge bouquets of roses and daffodils almost blocked a smart new lobby. News cameras clicked. Usherettes hustled to find seats for thousands of Seattle first-nighters. There were three good reasons for all the hubbub; the reopening of one of the Pacific Coast’s best known theatres after an $80,000 modernization program; the celebration of the show shop’s silver jubilee anniversary, and the world premiere of an outstanding picture, “Only Angels Have Wings.” Claude Jensen and John G. von Herberg, veteran showmen who first opened the Liberty in 1914, were on hand to greet the guests. Likewise was Leroy V. Johnson, their general manager. Among the guests was Mike Newman, representing Columbia studios who handled the campaign for the picture premiere. Also in the opening night spotlight was Lightnin’, the cat, who was born six years ago in the theatre and has lived there ever since and is well known to Liberty fans. Lightnin’ had a brand new basket to fit the color scheme of the theatre, and he sat calmly beside a sign which read “Welcome to the New Liberty” and was signed Lightnin’. Outside, first-nighters found a new vertical neon sign, the latest in modernistic design; a brilliant neon marquee; a new island boxoffice and gleaming oak doors set off by a front of solid marble. Inside, they found the theatre lavishly decorated with blue silk damask on the walls, luxurious red carpets, new lounges, and heavy new stage drapes. And without a doubt the most important to the average fan, the new seats, the latest thing for comfort that showmen have been able to devise — air-cushioned even to the armrests. Who wouldn’t celebrate with fireworks? During the time the Liberty was closed. Ernestine Stiles, pretty cashier, had time to change her name to Mrs. Ellsworth James Webster and the newly-weds had time to take a grand honeymoon visiting the charming spots of the Northwest. Ernestine has been in the Liberty boxoffice for the past five years. We wish you all the luck in the world on your new venture and we are so glad that you will continue to brighten up the newly brightened front of the Liberty. With terrific hot weather here for this time of the year, the show houses are hollering murder. The beaches and the night spots are doing okay . . . Mike Lyons is going right ahead with the building of his new Music Hall. When he opens patrons will find the place equipped with 16mm projection machines. Mike has found that when his orchestra takes its 15-minute intermissions many of his patrons decide to leave, so to offset this he will show the small films that have been made by local talent. Ted Kemper, for the past few years booker for the U. S. Army Post theatres, has been transferred to St. Louis and a bigger territory. His spot on the coast has been filled by Richard “Dick” Smidt, who will take care of the posts in the northwest, California and Utah . . . Jack O’Laughlin, who has been covering east of the mountains for United Artists, has gone back to his regular spot in San Francisco. R. J. Cadman, formerly in Salt Lake, is here to take Jack’s place, while Tony Hartford has been moved from San Francisco to Salt Lake City. Combining business and pleasure here were Ed Alperson, former Grand National head, and Claude Ezell, Republic franchise holder in the southern states. The gentlemen arrived to establish a distributing agency for their new business-getter, “Contestnite” . . . Warren Lemmon of the Columbia exchange here is back on his job again after getting the Uptown Theatre opened with its new foreign film policy for the Danz circuit. Joe “Red” Kennedy, who has represented the Major Bowes units on the coast for years, has arrived to take over the Uptown management. Dave Ogden, formerly of the Seattle Row and the husband of Mrs. Frankie Ogden, inspectress at Warner Bros., passed away after a long illness . . . Happy to report the complete recovery of Howard McBride of Spokane. Mac was on the Row after flying in. Looked a little pale and complained of being weak, but otherwise he got around and did his stuff . . . Eddie Miller of the RCA sound sales force is passing out the well known cigars. Another daughter and the youngster has been given the moniker of Nancy Ann. This is Ed’s second girl. Congratulations to you and yours. Jimmy O’Neal damaged his car in San Francisco and the word was on the Seattle Row 24 hours later. Seems he left his car parked on a hill, but the emergency brake was not pulled tight. Car started Seek Successor for Floyd St. John Los Angeles — A successor is being sought to fill the place vacated by Floyd St. John, franchise holder for Republic Pictures here and in San Francisco, who has disposed of his interests in the distribution of that company’s product effective as of May 19. A joint statement from St. John and J. R. Grainger, president of Republic, informed of the acquisition of the former’s holdings by Republic Pictures Corp. of New York, which will operate the two exchanges under the respective management of the present office heads, Francis Bateman locally and Sid Weisbaum in the northern city. Spokesmen for Herbert Yates declared that St. John has for some time expressed a desire to retire, and arrangements for the disposition of his holdings were concluded during the recent visit of Yates and Grainger to San Francisco. Operation of the two offices by the New York corporation will be short-lived, it was predicted. to roll and ended up by kissing a fire hydrant . . . Frank Vaughan, branch manager for Universal in Vancouver, B. C., is here attending the Kiwanis convention and meeting some of the local boys. A special meeting of the members of the Northwest Film Club has been called to formulate plans for the summer and to hear reports and recommendations of the trustees. Dates for the annual golf tournament and the Filmrow picnic are expected to be set . . . Gilbert “Gil” Brown, dramatic critic of the Star, went over to Tacoma to interview Gene Raymond, husband of Jeanette MacDonald. Seems Mrs. Raymond was concluding her concert tour in Tacoma and her hubby had arrived to be with her. Gil had already said his piece about Jeanette in his columns so hubby was due for the next interview. Plans are being made here for a caravan to Vancouver, B. C., to be on hand when the King and Queen of England visit there. From all indications Seattle show business will be represented . . . J. T. Sheffield, Eddie Walton and Jack Rue are in from San Francisco and the Republic regional gathering, while A1 Goldstein and Danny Matin are back from the Monogram meeting in Chicago. Danny had a bad time on the plane flying in, for the air was pretty rough. He didn’t mind it after he found that the hostess was sick herself. Elinore Ebbly of United Artists office is nursing a sprained ankle but is still on the job . . . John Iacolucci will marry Ruth Malick, drum majorette of the University of Washington. John is a member of the famous northwest family of musicians, most of whom are working in local theatres. Frank, the oldest brother, is presenting his oum recital at the Moore Theatre next month . . . Butch Wingham writes from ’Frisco that Ira Furman, whom he relieved in the Bay City, died last week. M. L. Simons, who edits the Metro sales organ, The Distributor, is in town and visiting with Bill Parker, publicity ace for the local exchange . . . Don Beckman is getting ready to open his summer resort on the Hood Canal. Don, manager of Western Poster here, caters to the show gang during the summer at his inn and cabins . . . George Blair reports his daughter, Nancy, suffered a painful injury when she ran a nail through her hand at their summer home on Vashion Island . . . Jack Burk, innocent victim of a very bad auto wreck recently, managed to get to Filmrow via crutches and a chauffeur. Word from San Francisco tells of a Seattle gathering at the home of Roy Cooper, former general manager of Sterling Theatres here and now with Golden State in the Fair town. Present at the dinner were Neal and Truly East, formerly of Paramount here; Al and Evelyn Oxtoby, formerly of Warners; Junior arid Dorothy Mercy of the Mercy circuit, visiting the Fair; Jimmy and Sylvia O’Neal, head of the candy machine business in the Northwest; Butch Wingham, formerly of the local Metro office; Rex Stevenson, former booker for Sterling, and Ben Stevenson, former manager of the Roosevelt here. 3G BOXOFFICE :: May 20, 1939