Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

for meetings with the circuit house managers are the last word. Steubenville, Ohio, dog track opens May 27 and the Ministerial Ass’n there has launched a campaign to halt Pittsburgh Promoters, Joe Tobin and Charles Wolfe, from operating. Terming the racing and gambling a “flagrant law violation and a moral and economic detriment,” the ministers have petitioned Mayor Earl D. Applegate to keep the track closed ... A handicap race at Wheeling Downs “Little Saratoga” has been named in honor of the local Variety Club for Wednesday, June 7, and it is expected that a large crowd of Barkers will attend the “horse” event, likely going to Wheeling, via special chartered bus. Ben Stahl, formerly a film exchange employe and local area theatre manager, assumed duties this week as manager of the Liberty, Cleveland. He is the younger brother of Herman, Harry and Max Stahl, all well known in the industry here . . . At the M-G-M exchange there is no little excitement in connection with the Tom Connors summer drive. Everyone connected with the local branch is happily pushing it along . . . Tire Columbia sales organization returned from the Atlantic City regional convention late last week but Sid Sugarman stayed over the weekend in Philadelphia, his old home town. Conversation centers around the names of Frank Capra, Wesley Ruggles, Howard Hawks and Frank Lloyd. Who could ask for more? A Big Golf Tournament By Detroit's Variety Detroit — Summer sport activities of the film industry here will center on the golf tournament to be sponsored by Variety Club for everyone in the trade, probably in August. Event in all likelihood will be held at Oakland Hills Country Club. The date is being arranged to allow entries of groups from other cities, with guests definitely expected from Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati. Direction of the tournament has been placed in the hands of John Howard, Paramount branch manager, who was instrumental in organizing the Indianapolis tournaments of six years ago when he was stationed there. Give $1,000 Check for A Home for Boys Detroit — Formal presentation of a check for the first $1,000 donated by the Detroit Variety Club toward the Home for Boys, recently announced in Boxoffice, was to be made this week. Action was approved on Wednesday by the board of directors. Presentation is being made to Father Harold J. Markey, actively in charge of the project. Further funds for the Home will be raised by the Detroit Tent in coming months. Continues in “Blondies" Hollywood — A new contract for continued appearances in the “Blondie” series has been handed to Arthur Lake by Columbia. Cooperative Units Renewing Pacts Detroit — Approaching expiration of contracts of all members of Cooperative Theatres of Michigan, finds 98 per cent of the membership of the booking combine already signed up for contract renewals, General Manager Carl Buermele discloses. Cooperative is now negotiating the fourth general set of contracts in its nine years of existence. Contracts are arranged on a triennial basis and existing ones expire on June 21, 1939. Only five theatres so far have failed to sign a renewal of their contracts, Buermele says. These represent three different exhibitors. However, all are expected to come in shortly. LOUISVILLE J^UFUS BLAIR of Paramount was in spreading the word for “Invitation to Happiness” . . . Mr. and Mrs. Louis Wiethe came down from Cincinnati to do some shopping at the Falls City Theatre Equipment Co. On the list were stage curtains, drapes and curtain tracks for their new place, the Kentucky, at Latonia, Ky. They operate another theatre there and one in Cincy. Several thousand Louisvillians turned out to greet “Brass Betsy” and the “ Union Pacific” party when it arrived for an overnight stay. The antique train and its load of film notables got considerable space in the news columns of the local papers. Notables aboard spoke briefly over Radio Station WHAS from the platform at Union Station. A. A. Daugherty, film critic for the Louisville Times, is as good as his word. A few days ago in his column, he said he was not sold on either the picture or the book, “Wuthering Heights,” and went on to say that if someone wanted to borrow his copy of the book, with a promise that it wouldn’t be returned, it would be on his desk. He found a taker, and lived up to his words. Mrs. Paul Sanders, owner of the Alhambra at Campbellsville, Ky., was in to see the Falls City equipment firm. New ticket apparatus was installed at the Parkland. With the settlement of the coal strike in all except a few scattered areas, most of the Kentucky theatres which shut down while the miners were idle, have reopened or will be reopened shortly. The critics have been panning 20tli Century-Fox for its Derby radiocast. Said Boyd Martin in the CourierJournal : “By that broadcast Fox made more enemies for ‘Rose of Washington Square’ than potential customers. I am sure that every listener was so fed up with hearing the title that he will have little, if any interest in the picture. According to the broadcast, ‘Rose of Washington Square’ came first; Alice Faye second; Al Jolson third, and Johnstown also ran.” Columbus Is Under Financial Strain Columbus — Theatre interests here are watching progress of the recent feud between the city administration and local “numbers” operators. With the city already far behind in their budget and with prospects of losing an estimated $300,000 yearly from the operators, indications are Columbus must pass some form of “nuisance” tax to come out in their expense account. Qualified observers place the daily take at $40,000, 10,000 families being employed by the operators. The city’s share — fines, “gifts” and contributions — amounts to nearly $1,000 daily. It is understood the city raised the ante and the operators refused to pay. Monday found the situation anything but pleasant. There have been a few minor disturbances caused by outside interests attempting to “muscle” in on a protected territory. Before the week is out — unless there is some sort of compromise— relief roles will increase by several thousand, and Columbus will be facing a financial crisis. A $10,000 Suit Against Mrs . Ida Klatt Filed Detroit — Suit for $10,000 damages has been filed by the Delray Theatre Co., Inc., against Mrs. Ida Klatt, owner of the Delray Theatre property as well as other houses. Charles P. Nathanson, attorney who filed the suit for the plaintiffs, told Boxoffice it is based upon alleged failure to deliver occupancy and possession of the house as provided under the contract. Charles Stepanauckas, now operator of the Oakland Theatre, ran the Delray for some time in 1937. Under the agreement, Nathanson claims, the Delray Theatre Co. was supposed to have possession on Oct. 1, 1937. Actual possession, he assert, was not given until several weeks later. The suit is for damages for the period during which actual possession was not given. Several attempts have been made to negotiate a settlement, Nathanson said, but all failed, he adds. Grocer Tiff May Invoke Zanesville Blue Laws Zanesville, Ohio — A fight between rival grocer organizations here over Sunday closing may result in an attempt to enforce the 82-year-old blue laws of the state. Caldwell Brown, owner of the Liberty and three other theatres, says the situation is becoming serious. Investigation of the statutes shows that theatres will be exempt in the event of enforcement. Sec. 13049 of the general code of Ohio was amended a few years ago prohibiting exhibition of shows in the forenoon on Sunday. By inference, it is assumed shows after noon are permissible. BOXOFFICE :: May 20, 1939 61