Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

Exhibitor Discovers Ballyhoo's Potency New London, Ohio — J. O. Guthrie, who operates the Karolyn Theatre, so keenly feels the important civic position that a motion picture theatre occupies in a small town, that he has taken to the boards and is giving his time and his talents without charge to the civic organization of towns in his neighborhood, to explain his position in a talk which he calls “Stimulating Business.” The motion picture theatre, he tells his Kiwanis, Rotary, Chamber of Commerce and other civic audiences, is the pivot of activity in the smaller towns. If the merchants cooperate with. the local theatre by boosting the theatre, they will benefit, in turn, by selling merchandise to the increased number of people attracted to the town. It is to the mutual benefit of both exhibitor and merchant, Guthrie explains, to emphasize the importance of the motion picture theatre as the center of small town activity. Guthrie claims that business at his Karolyn Theatre has materially benefited as a result of his talks before various groups urging support and cooperation between merchants and theatres. " Summer Prices" for Two Warner Mansfield Links Mansfield, Ohio — “Summer prices” are being put into effect immediately at the Madison and Ohio here by Warner theatre officials, but, it is understood, if the change increases patronage appreciably, the policy will be maintained indefinitely. Evening admission at the Ohio will be shaved from 42 to 30 cents, while Madison prices will range from 15-25 cents as compared to the previous scale of 25-35. READERS in civic, fraternal and social circles, including all barkers and local exchange personnel, turned out en masse for Queen City Variety’s annual charity dinner dance, held at the Netherland Plaza. Allan Moritz was general chairman and Col. Arthur Frudenfeld and Noah Schecter arranged for the entertainment which also included Mae West as guest star. Managers are once again phoning in for dates and bookings as theatres are reopening in West Virginia and Kentucky following settlement of the coal strike. Bill Miller, former operator of the Metropolitan, now the State, died this week from a heart ailment. Al Kollitz, RKO representative, is getting about with a cane, as a result of suffered a cracked ankle bone. Jack Shea, Fiber & Shea circuit, held a conference with all the circuit managers at the Netherland Plaza this week. UA’s “Wuthering Heights” opened to excellent business at the Albee. The exchange QOL. HARRY E. LONG, Loew division manager, was called to Washington, D. C„ by the death of his mother. Three sons and two daughters survive . . . Douglas George is the newest member of the Associated Theatres circuit. He came all the way from Oklahoma City to manage the Windameer Theatre, where he follows in the footsteps of Stuart Cagney, now directing the New Imperial, also an Associated house. Burt Diener, former manager of the Imperial, is on a sabbatical leave of absence of six months or more during which time he will explore California. Joe Trunk, Youngstown film impresario, made his wife his excuse for coming to Cleveland to attend a baseball game the other day . . . Republic’s district manager, Harry LaVine, has been in town on his regular tour of exchanges. Frank Gross has put the Cedar and Quincy theatres here on summer schedule. He is open five days a week. Wednesday and Saturday are the off days. Nate Schultz, Monogram franchise owner, was in Toledo spreading pep and goodwill as dished out at the recent Monogram convention . . . There’s an unconfirmed report a new picture house will be built in Shelby. Dave Miller, district manager, and Joe Kaufman, branch manager of Universal, consummated a 1939-40 product deal with J. R. Osborne and George Otto for the Dipson circuit, including the chain’s house in East Liverpool. I. J. Schmertz and Mrs. Schmertz have returned from French Lick Springs, Ind., where they went via Louisville and the Kentucky Derby. reports many requests for repeat dates already on the feature. It is reported that Maury White will take over the Capitol Theatre at Ashland. John Walter took over the Mecca, in Huntington, from Frank McQuade. Lester Rosenfeld cashed in heavily on the Derby, but on the boat returning to Cincy, dropped a substantial sum on the galloping ivories. Custer’s new Lewis Theatre at Lewisberg will open in September, according to report. They have also broken ground for a new theatre, the State, at Charleston. Elwood Jones is the new manager at RKO’s Shubert . . . Sam Oshrey, formerly booker for Grand National, has resigned to book for Warner . . . Martin McNamee is new GN booker. Metro’s John Allen is moving his wife and two children from Georgia into a new home here on Price Hill. The M-G-M exchange health chart is looking up. Gladys Nelson is coming along nicely following her operation and will soon be back at her billing job. Dorsey Brown, feature booker, has resumed his activities, being dismissed from the hospital. That leaves John Coyne still out of commission. His condition is reported as favorable. Milton Mooney, head of Cooperative Theatres of Ohio, has opened a Cincinnati office in the Film Mart Bldg. Harry Bugie is in charge, assisted by Ray Frisz, head booker. Lee Chapman was one of eight salesmen to get special mention at the Monogram sales convention for outstanding salesmanship. He was presented a fine brief case. Jack Withers, former Universal salesman, has joined the Monogram sales force. He is covering the Toledo territory where he succeeds Jack Finberg, resigned. Max Stahl arrived over the weekend to take over managemnt of the Grand National exchange. He succeds Paul Richrath, who will manage the exchange in Albany. Stahl managed the UA exchange in Cincinnati before taking a flier into exhibition. His appointment brings back to Cleveland his wife, the former Estelle Goldberg, who before her marriage was local UA office manager. Howard Roth, Variety Post commander , celebrates Memorial Day with a brand new silk flag. And for the information of the uninitiated, Roth states the flag should fly at lialfmast from sunup till noon and at full mast from noon till sundown, Harry Goldstein, Paramount district manager, and “Duke” Clark, branch manager, held a private screening of “Union Pacific” for a group of some 35 key Pennzoil men, seeing as Paramount and Pennzoil have a national exploitation tieup. Ray Allison and the Shaker Theatre celebrated their third birthdays together. Allison came to Cleveland just prior to the opening of the theatre in 1936 and has been at the helm ever since. The celebration took the form of a specially selected program of pictures. The John Urbanskys have returned from a four-week trek to California which included the Golden Gate Fair. GENE AUTRY, you are "TOPS' but EXHIBITORS DAILY Report That You Have a Close Rival in FRED SCOTT whose New Series of . 8 MUSICAL WESTERNS J WE ARE NOW BOOKING 1 Big Feature Rights Exchanges, Inc. BOXQFFICE :: May 20, 1939 59