Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

IIL I M C CO 1IL N 0OMING of “Wrong Way” Corrigan to Lincoln, which rated page three in the papers, reminds that a man of the hour lasts about that long with the public . . . Wolfe Kaufman, Hollywood scenarist and writer of about six articles a year for Esquire, stopped by en route to the coast after an editorial conference in Chicago . . . Sam Clark, the Warner publicity man, was in on a flying trip introducing Monroe Rubinger, who will headquarter in Kansas City and flood amusement desks with WB blurbs. Evert Cummings, quaffing a stein of cold, looked all rested after the “ Union Pacific” experience, when seen here . . . Ralph Blank introduced M. E. McClain, the Central States district manager of Iowa, who will also take Ralph’s place in Nebraska. The McClains will emulate the Hollyivood example of George O’Briens, Sylvia Sidneys, and Dick Forans, with a baby expected in July . . . Harry Warren, here on the same junket, was busy shaking hands and wondering how big the Griffith circuit is going to be in Nebraska, when and if. Walter Johnson, the new attorney general, is just as tough on giveaways as was his predecessor in office, Dick Hunter . . . New source of opening day competition for theatres here is midget auto racing at the fairgrounds, every Friday night this summer . . . Carl Rose’s beard, the one which refused to grow above the cheekbone timberline but tufted nicely under the chin, has been razored and hung in his office as a souvenir. Vincent DeFiore, the money man with Lincoln Theatres Corp., attends to business. Never see him outside the office much . . . Tip to Nebraska show business in general : Watch for announcement of the annual roller skating bee for the amusement crowd which probably will be held some early June evening with prizes, broken bones, and other physical abuses at Capitol Beach. It’s one place exhibitors can push film salesmen and it’ll look like an accident. If Sid Rose would ever show up down here, no one would recognize him. It’s been that long . . . Then there’s the glamour boy, D. V. McLucas, who got in front of every camera UA had pointed at the recent convention. He’s a stranger, too . . . Before Boxoffice went to New York, he was told by Joe Scott to pick up matchpads from every joint en route, which was done. Joe had better come and collect because there have been some nice offers. Harold Hellerich’s wife, since he can’t spend an evening at home, spends hers at the theatre with him. Yes, they’ve only been married a short while . . . Bob Huffman is getting so good at golf he only swears half as many times as he whacks the ball, where he used to pollute the air five times for every point. AIR CONDITIONING Peterson "Freezem" Mig. & Sales Co. :i!6 Southwest Blvd. Kansas City, Mo. Ralph Blank Sells Interest in CSTI Lincoln — Ralph Blank, five per cent owner of the Central States Theatres, Inc., in Nebraska, sold his interest in the business to Ray and Myron Blank, and Harry Warren. CSTI is the brother organization to the A. H. Blank Paramount partnered Tri-States, and operates in close cooperation although not a partner with any distributor. Majority of the business, as always, is held by Harry Warren. Ralph Blank had been the district manager for CSTI in Nebraska, which job has now been added on M. E. McClain, hitherto CSTI district manager only in Iowa. The deal involves such Nebraska towns as Columbus, Norfolk, York, Kearney, Albion and Holdrege. Ralph Blank said he had no plans for the future, although there are several irons in the fire. Scottsblull Theatre Blaze Does $4,000 Damage Lincoln — Fire breaking out in the Bluffs Theatre, Scottsbluff, Neb., was the most disastrous theatre blaze in this state so far this year. Around $4,000 damage was done. Started when a film broke suddenly. Luckily, Don McCord, the operator, although trapped in the booth, was burned only slightly on the arms. Patrons did not know the theatre was afire until the firemen arrived on the scene. Rites lor Bernard DeVry Held in Kansas City Kansas City — Bernard DeVry, head of the DeVry Corp., which was organized in 1922 to manufacture moving picture projecting machines, died at Evansville, May 23. Burial was here, May 26. Bernard DeVry organized the DeVry company with his brother, Herman DeVry. Kansas City as well as Evansville has been the DeVry home. True Name Bill Idea Reaches Nebraska Lincoln — The idea of legislation to bring real names from behind professional cognomens has reached Nebraska under the impetus of propulsion by Rep. Coyne of Massachusetts. Taking no hint from the rocky course of Rep. Coyne's measure in the New England state. Sen. Dick Johnson has dropped a bill into the unicameral hopper here to make use of the true name mandatory by persons doing business in the state. Enactment would make Robert Taylor appear in Nebraska billings as Arlington Brugh, Barbara Stanwyck as Ruby Stevens. Carole Lombard as June Peters, and Claudette Colbert as Claudette Chauchoin, to name just a lew. (Continued from preceding page) scrapes he used to get involved in while attending old Des Moines U. Don’t ever let on we told you, but he was a party to luring the school’s lady killer to a house with promises of wine and women, and then scaring the poor guy to death by shooting blanks (not A. H.’s) at him in the manner of an imaginary irate husband. Even taken literally, this is still a juicy morsel: From the reports we are hearing of an impeccable’s behavior at a recent dinner party, the correct ivay to eat whipped cream is to reach over into your host’s serving with a clean right forefinger and swipe a large lick of the stuff. Ben Lass is lost somewhere in Nebraska . . . Chick Friedman’s gone in for maps of Iowa and Nebraska with thumb tacks . . . He thought he’d put a little oomph in sales, but so far all he has gained is a sore thumb . . . Claudete Colbert is Nate Sandler’s secret passion <nize taste, Nate) . . . Art Anderson is still looking for someone he can beat at ping-pong. Did you ever think of us, Art? Everybody says you’re the world’s worst, while we think we are. Somebody’s wrong . . . We noticed two things about Vitagraph this trip: Gene Melone’s pretty blue tie and Joe Ancher’s absence (he’s fresh back from California) . We’ve heard a lot about Sam Clark, Warner’s Chicago elaborator, but we’d never met him until the other evening. He has very cute curly hair, apparently an unusually sweet disposition, but alas! That awful exploiteering habit of inviting a lady to dinner and then ducking outa toivn. Oh well, we weren’t hungry anyway, Sam . . . Read this column and weep. Burton Jerrel, because you oive Dorothy a dinner . . . ‘‘Grand Illusion” was screened here. A different sort of picture. “Sweethearts” scored a big hit with the Sisters from St. Catherine’s and Mercy Hospital. We’re very grateful to both Jack Kennedy and G. Ralph Branton for making it possible. We graciously submit the following info for the edification of those who’ve been either kindly or unkindly curious, whether they be on Filmrow, in local sewing circles, employes of the R&T, or for bosses in Kaycee: No, we are not Jewish, so are denied the genius of the Jew; neither are we Catholic, so lack the devoutness of those good people. Lineage? Scotch and Irish mostly, with the Indian princess, Pocahontas, as the one ancestor to whom we can point with pride. The rest were doubtless debtors, thieves, and murderers. Religion? Nondescript, but with a liveand-let-live attitude toward our fellows which tops anything anyone has shown toward us to date. Our spare time? It’s all taken up quite legitimately and with enthusiasm by a certain young man. Our age? This is going almost too far, but we admit to age 30 and don’t think we look it, either. Now we hope this puts an end to questions because we have a short temper and a violent disposition which we try hard to control. We won’t be responsible from here on out! 86 BOXOFFICE :: May 27. 1939