Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

QRLO “Ike” Heckler has reopened his Meyersville Theatre, following extensive remodeling, as the State . . . Nat Walken, Harris manager at Salem, Ohio, is resting following removal of his appendix . . . H. C. Coffman has opened the theatre at Bridgeport, W. Va., with the new name of the Latona . . . Mannie Golden, former local exhibitor, now is selling autos and he is helping his son, Milt, who has his own orchestra . . . Frank Barr, former assistant manager at the Menlo, Charleroi, for Leon Reichblum, is now managing the latter’s State, Wilkinsburg. Charlie Baron, M-G-M's exploitation director here, celebrated his first anniversary with the local branch last week . . . Marty Terner’s American Theatrical Valance Co. has been at work redecorating and draping M. A. Rosenberg’s Rialto, uptown, and M. Akselrad’s Regent, McKees Rocks . . . Playhouse’s 1939-40 season is dated to open October 24 . . . Mark Browar has turned his Harlem Casino into a Negro dance hall. Dave Miller, New Universal district manager, and Bert M. Stearn, UA district boss, were here on business . . . Eighty-six persons attended the Variety Club family night party last Friday which was hosted by Larry Katz, IATSE representative . . . Jimmy Balmer spent the weekend in Atlantic City after attending a hockey meeting there ... A visitor here this week is H. Rosenfeld, formerly of Vienna, Austria, who is connected with 20th-Fox and who will depart in June for South America. Harry Hendel, general chairman in charge of the recent Joseph R. Kauffman dinner, has turned over the proceeds to the Filmrow Relief Fund and the charity fund of the Variety Club, in the amounts of $25 to the first named group and $20 to the latter group. George Nelson, who retired from exhibition at Fairmont after a quarter of a century, was a visitor on the film market the other day. Reports that his other interests are keeping him busier than when he was an exhibitor, just a few weeks ago . . . J. P. Hanna, in charge of the checking department for M-G-M, was here conferring with Earle Super, local checking head . . . Pete Gorris is ailing . . . Harry Kalmine and others in the motion picture industry locally are busy these days preparing Camp O’Connell in Bradford Woods for double capacity this year for the downtown and hill youngsters. John Cooper, manager of the Strand, St. Michaels, Pa., was reported dangerously ill at an Altoona hospital at press time . . . Local newspaper critics will attend the world premiere of Henry Fonda’s “Young Mr. Lincoln” at Springfield, III., Memorial Day . . . George D. Tyson is departing from duties at the Harris office for several months to handle his annual Showmen’s Jubilee selection of Miss America in Atlantic City. Ken Hoel, as in years past, will substitute for Tyson at the latter’s brand new office . . . Jake Smith of Barnesboro is back on the job after wintering in Florida . . . Vince Josack shot a 64 at Schenley last Saturday, two-underpar. Roy Rogers, Republic’s action-singing Sunday Show "Sale" Left Unprobed Harrisburg — The charge that Sunday film legislation was "sold" in the 1935 legislature by Democratic leaders for $100,000 was one of the five most sensational probe items "hanging fire" when the Dauphin county special grand jury disbanded for an indefinite recess. The jury's five months' work developed indictments against 12 Democratic leaders on four of the matters investigated. There was no report filed on the Sunday show item and four other sensational charges originally made last year by District Attorney Carl B. Shelley. star, appeared at various spots in the territory this week . . . H. H. Baldensperger of the Utopian, Sheffield, was a Filmrow shopper this week . . . Harry Flarity and Bill Bicket are the local representatives for Alexander Preview Co., producers of short trailers. The Lutheran Church of Monongahela is sponsoring the showing of “Confessions of a Nazi Spy” at the Anton Theatre there, according to George Corcoran, manager ... A. J. and M. S. England have acquired the rights for Willis Kent’s “The Wages of Sin,” and it will open here at the Casino June 4. Fred J. Herrington departed Monday a. m., as usual, for Harrisburg where the members of the legislature are endeavoring to adjourn the session. A Play to 20th-Fox Hollywood — “City in Darkness,” a play by Gina Kaus and Ladislaus Fodor, has been purchased by 20th-Fox. Morgantown Prepares Record Testimonial Morgantown, W. Va. — Every indication points to a record testimonial for the George Sallows-George Comuntzis Silver Anniversary, which is sponsored by the ITO of W. Va., and the film sales representatives of the area. Senator Neely, Governor Holt and others in official capacities will be among those present for the affair which is scheduled for the Silver Room of the Hotel Morgan, Monday evening, June 5. A golf tournament has been arranged for that afternoon at the Morgantown Country Club which will be in charge of Leggs Hawley, director of athletics at the University of West Virginia. A second golf tournament has been arranged for the afternoon of June 6 at the Kingwood Country Club. For those who do not wish to engage in golf that afternoon, George Sallows has arranged for their entertainment at his Indian Rocks road house, I. T. Sweeney, general chairman, announces. ITO Meets at Morgantown Three floors of the hotel have been reserved for the occasion. On the afternoon of the testimonial banquet (June 5) there will be a meeting of the ITO of W. Va., which is scheduled for 3 p. m. This meeting is of major importance for the reason that the organization at that time is expected to affiliate with national Allied. Invited to address the session is M. A. Rosenberg of Pittsburgh, president of the MPTO of W. Pa., Inc., and regional vicepresident of Allied States Ass’n. Danny Davis, secretary of the ITO, announced this week that, although the testimonial is “stag,” the ladies are invited. On To Morgantown! SILVER ANNIVERSARY and TESTIMONIAL DINNER — honoring — GEORGE GEORGE SALLOWS & COMUNTZIS Sponsored by ITO of W. Va. and Film Sales Represen tatives SILVER ROOM — HOTEL MORGAN MORGANTOWN, W. VA. MONDAY EVENING, JUNE 5, 1939 — 7:30 P. M. Special meeting of ITO of W. Va. at 3 o'clock that afternoon. All independent exhibitors invited. BOXOFFICE :: May 27, 1939 89