Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

Sextet From Detroit — — Photo by Candid Illustrators Detroiters at the Columbia regional convention in Chicago, are, left to right: Herb Schilds, Ray Cloud, Clark Baker, District Manager Carl Shalit, George McCoy and Clair Townsend. HD) IE T R C) II T JOHN STOIA, owner of the Midway, Cir^ cle and Alden theatres, and John Tatu, owner of the Casino and Nortown, have returned from a trip to Europe. Stoia took his car with him and sold it over there. Tatu, since his return, has been sporting a new red Dodge sedan. Joseph Miskinis, partner with Stoia, is driving a new Lincoln-Zephyr. R. P. (Dick) Leahy, owner of the Washington in Bay City, after attending the Variety Club luncheon, went on to Washington and the chamber of commerce convention. R. E. Harvey, research salesman for the Detroit branch of Ross Federal Service, is on a business trip to New York ... In the Ross Federal "Gold Rush Drive,” the local branch is in fourth place at the end of the first week. George Whitney’s Parquet Floor Co. is installing carpeting in Butterfield’s new Gladmer at Lansing and the new house at Flint, as well as in Barney Kilbride’s Alhambra here. Sam Ackerman, owner of the East Side, visited the Paramount and M-G-M studios in Hollywood and is now en route to the San Francisco Fair. He will return home about June 1. Douglas Brosey, owner of the Amsterdam, is the father of an eight-pound boy, his second. Name is William. Brosey is redecorating the front of the house to celebrate the occasion, with T. J. Jagmin doing the fob. Abe Schiller, Detroit booker, has been commuting by plane between Detroit, New York and Chicago, producing shows . . . Sol Berns and wife are taking advantage of the summer lull. They leave June 1 on a five-week trip to Hollywood, San Francisco and the Fair. Alex Schreiber discloses Associated Theatres has taken over an interest in the 1, 500-seat Nortown being erected at Flint . . . Those heavy doors on the front of the Palms-State Theatre Bldg, have been removed. Pearl Sprott has added quite a library to her office equipment at Allied . . . Earl Hudson, UDT publicity chief, left Saturday for two weeks of the N. Y. Fair. Fred C. Dickely and Edwin C. Shriver, both of Altec, were in Cincinnati . . . Wilmanager, Elmer Zuehlke, postcard about Ham A. Cassidy, circuit owner, and his the big fish they’re catching in Florida. Victor Jeckel, manager of Cassidy’s Strand at Alma, was a local visitor . . . Emil H. Beck is busy promoting the special train to the Holland Tulip Festival and a lake ride on the Huron for June 4. Alterations are in progress at the Seville, operated by James Bukiwale and Severina Danswski. Wisper & Wetsman are planning a new theatre in Dearborn, west side suburb, where they now operate the Calvin . . . Offices of Alexander Film Co. in the Fox Theatre Bldg, are closed. Joanna de Tuscan, ex-Detroit fencer and actress, teamed with her husband, Bela de Tuscan, in the musical revue, “These Foolish Things,” which has had over 400 performances at the Palladium in London, is now the world’s feminine champion professional fencer. She won the title in London, her brother, William Deutsch, informs. Herbert Rawlinson, here hunting talent for RKO, reveals he was once flat broke as a youngster in this very town . . . Jack Broder’s little 200-seat Rainbow is having an air conditioning system installed. Louis Schlussel, owner of the Farnum, Hamtramck, threatened by an armed bandit Monday, before the house opened, stalled until Manager Joseph Urban called the police. An officer shot the bandit dead on the spot . . . Mort Grass and Joe Reich had dinner at the Statler. Max Heine of Detroit and Dallas is spending a few weeks here before returning to the southland . . . William Schuttenhelm has been busy installing new drapes and other equipment in his Globe. Bob Mork is doing the job. The secret of George W . Trendle’s valuable and unknown “old master” in the Michigan Theatre lobby is disclosed by art expert W. R. Valentiner. It’s the portrait of an old lady by Pietro Belloto. Jack Lord is changing the name of Libby Theatrical Costumers to Authentique Costumers . . . Otto G. Lindemeyer, Detroit fire marshal, was to leave on a week’s furlough. L. C. Becker, American Seating manager, is looking forward to lots of activity in his line, with all the new theatre construction planned upstate . . . E. D. Ainslie, Armstrong insulation manager, was busy entertaining home office guests. Modem Talking Picture Service is preparing to show films in summer resort towns without theatres, Manager N. D. Reiss reports. Charles N. Agree, theatrical architect, is busy on Wisper & Wetsman’s new Harper Theatre . . . Norman Terry, formerly with Jam Handy, has been added to the scripting staff of Brobuck, Inc. Jack C. Coffey is being transferred to Wilmington, Del., by Jam Handy. It’s a promotion to the executive contact staff . . . Dave Newman and Charley Perry were the early birds of the Thursday Gang, closely followed by Bill Hurlbut and his "shadow,” Harlan Starr. James Pooler, Free Press film editor, has a friend, Little Lemuel, who discloses the secrets of juvenile film audiences like this: “Give me love and romance every time. Love affairs keep my folks softened up, and then they aren’t looking at movie kids, like Little Mr. Bartholomew, which expect me to be like.” Lester Coleman, Paramount auditor, left for New York after a week’s stay here . . . Elwood Dwyer, Paramount shipping clerk, is now in front of a booking desk. Jack Ryder, Paramount salesman, is two strikes ahead for the company’s L. A. convention the end of this month, with two swanky new suits. Susan Brown of Paramount’s booking department denies she will be married this summer, despite her announced engagement. She confides Bea Mattingly, Jack Howard’s secretary, may be the summer bride instead. Eddie Murphy is keeping so busy covering the pathways of Michigan for Mutual that his friends never get a chance to see him any more . . . George Raft was a Michigan visitor, coming to Holland for the Tulip Festival. Harris Named Arena Head Pittsburgh — John H. Harris has been elected president of the newly organized Arena Managers’ Ass’n. 58 BOXOFFICE :: May 20, 1939