Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

WASHINGTON J£ING GEORGE and Queen Elizabeth established a precedent in visiting the nation’s capital. However, their presence was timely with the presentation of Universal’s English-made “Mikado” at Keith’s. Immediately after their entourage passed the downtown area a thousand admissions were recorded, establishing a new house record. Hardie Meakin is looking forward to a three-week engagement, despite the current heat wave . . . The Sunday afternoon train to Roanoke was labeled the “film special” with the following branch managers heading for the Virginia MPTO convention in that city: M-G-M’s “Rudy” Berger, 20th-Fox’s Sam Wheeler, Universal’s B. Bernard Kreisler, UA’s Fred Rohrs, Republic’s Sam and Jake Flax. Tom Keene, western star, made a personal visit to the local Monogram exchange . . . R. Wilson, Monogram’s home office sales representative, is visiting the territory with Branch Manager Harry Bachman . . . “Betty” Dempsey, M-G-M, was surprised with a shower and luncheon by her associates on her coming marriage June 24. Nellie Schroth of the same exchange was tendered a farewell party prior to her resignation June 19 . . . Mary Principe, Warner, has returned to her duties after a recent hospitalization . . . Sylvia and Danny Rosenthal, Columbia, have chosen New York for their vacation . . . Mona Pollock has joined the 20 th-Fox staff as secretary to Ad Sales Manager Al Miller . . . Oscar Blumenthal, Universal office manager, celebrated a birthday June 7 . . . Mrs. Blumenthal presented him with a wallet containing a goodly sum, rather than the customary lucky penny . . . Russell Anderson, U. S. Film, is spending a ten-day vacation in Worcester, Mass. Dorothy Norman has joined the GN staff, replacing Lorraine Middlekauf . . . S. Meek, Warner, has returned from a Pittsburgh vacation . . . Earl Jones, formerly of the Arcade, Salisbury, has acquired the Bethany Theatre, Bethany Beach, Del. . . . Don McCann, Columbia, has returned from his vacation sporting a nifty tan . . . Mrs. Rose Zuckerman has returned to the Metro exchange for the summer . . . Paul Wall, M-G-M contract department, has returned to the exchange after a three-month absence in the field . . . Harrold Weinberger, former Metro office manager, has been assigned to “Northwest Passage” as assistant director, and is on location in Lewiston, Ida. . . . “Chick” Wingfield, Columbia salesman, reports tremendous grosses on the eastern shore on “Angels Have Wings” . . . Washington’s Variety Club will hold its annual golf tournament August 25 at Congressional Country Club. Hunter Perry, Dominion theatres, Virginia, although continually contacting the managers of his numerous theatres, recently conferred with Universal’s B. Bernard Kreisler and Horlacher’s Ralph Binns in Charlottesville. The heat of the day suggested mint juleps, yet the trio were content sipping soft drinks . . . Catherine Willis of the Hunter Perry staff will cruise to South America on her vacation . . . Mrs. Adeline Evans will take in the New York fair . . . John J. Payette and Frank La Falce, Warner theatres, journeyed to New York . . . Leo Schimel, Warner theatres, is vacationing in New York . . . “Bill” Ewing, Warner Theatres, covered the circuit in behalf of the feature “Juarez.” In conjunction with an exploitation campaign on “Angels Have Wings” Warner launched a model airplane contest and window tieups with the local air and travel agencies. In addition the Neptune Room named a cocktail the “Angel Wing.” Mary Horner, Warner theatres, postcards a “swellegant” time in Bermuda . . . “Bill” Ewing is heading for the mountains on his vacation . . . Joe Young, Universal’s ace salesman, is a sub-rosa member of the Maryland censor board, and takes in all first-run features . . . Mrs. Frank Scully, wife of Metro’s Frank Scully, is en route to Maine by motor for the summer season . . . Matt Donahue, Metro, is visiting here. 1TOA Starts New Attack Against Film Players (Continued from page 30-C) to coast complain of bad business, when constant finger-pointing is leveled at Hollywood, when fan magazines inflate the silly prattle of high-priced stars into pages of pseudo-scandal, when the business end of the industry is making serious plans for the future, when radio is a serious rival to films — when all these things are confronting us, it means that a house cleaning is in order and that it’s time for our stars to take an active interest in their bread and butter and help to get at the root of the trouble. Instead of depreciating their boxoffice value by appearing in poor material on the radio and keeping the movie public away from theatres, our stars should be making personal appearance tours, letting the public see them — not just listen to them. They should be showing off their glamour and beauty — not trying to project it over the air. As an example of what we mean, we point to the good-will engendered by the recent Warner stunt in Dodge City, the Paramount celebration in Omaha and the 20th Century-Fox event in Springfield. “Our stars aren't Trilbys. They aren’t puppets. They aren’t automatons. They aren’t hunks of clay. They eat and breathe and — we hope — they think. They are in the movie-making business. If they have ideas, let them speak out. The industry has a responsibility to its stars and we think it lives up to responsibility pretty darn well. The stars also owe the industry plenty, but outside of performing their assigned duties — and that many times grudgingly — their interest is limited to getting their options lifted and determining the size of their names on the marquees.” Sears Sneaks In A Plug Minneapolis — "I think the code is the greatest advance in the industry since Warner Bros, introduced sound." said Gradwell L. Sears from the Allied convention rostrum. Then, as a sort of an aside but also through the public address system, “Gotta get a little plug in here." B U IF IF A IL O ^^ITH exhibitors and distributors here from Albany, Binghamton, Syracuse, Rochester, Niagara Falls, Jamestown and Cattaraugus, and Lou Weinberg of Columbia’s New York offices on hand to represent the company, the Variety Club of Buffalo gave a farewell stag dinner to Joe Miller, Columbia branch manager, just transferred to Albany. Sydney Samson of 20th Century-Fox was toastmaster. Syd Lehman of United Artists was chairman of arrangements and also presented a completely equipped golf bag and clubs to the guest of honor. There were talks by A. C. Hayman of Buffalo and Niagara Falls: William H. Cadoret of Rochester; T. J. Walsh, Comerford district manager in Binghamton; Mr. Weinberg, Jake Lavene of the Academy, past chief barker of Tent No. 7; Frank X. Schwab, former mayor of Buffalo and now in the exhibition field: Phil Fox, Miller’s successor, and more than 50 telegrams of good wishes ... A highlight was a huge telephone set, designed to emphasize and play on Joe’s long habit of using telephones wherever he might see them. Incidentally, an ornate standard-size set was presented to him before he received the golf clubs. Nicholas J. Basil, vice-president and general manager of the Basil Bros.’ Theatres, has gone to Chicago in connection with determination of a policy for the Century, which Nikitas Dipson and the Basils will take over August 1. Complete reseating the house is first on the lessees’ program. There are hints that a vaudefilm program may be offered. Mrs. Jacob Lavene, wife of the Academy’s owner and vice-president of the Barkerettes, show-women’s organization, is reported recovering slowly from a long illness . . . Reuben Farber, owner of the Commodore, East Side community theatre, is in Buffalo General Hospital . . . J. R. Levee has gone to Syracuse, joining Universal’s sales staff. Alperson Sues Hammons , Educational and GN New York — Edward L. Alperson has filed a $135,644 suit in the federal court against E. W. Hammons, Educational and Grand National, charging breach of contract. Alperson, former president, and later general sales manager of GN, claims he was employed by the company on a fiveyear contract starting Oct. 1, 1938, at a salary of $1,000 weekly plus 14,000 shares of common stock, payable in quarterly payments during the first year. He was also to receive as much additional stock as Hammons, his action states. He claims the company breached the agreement on Jan. 21, 1939, by failing to pay him, and continued to refuse payment until he resigned February 18. Since his contract could be terminated at the end of any given year by six months’ notice, he is asking $35,525, plus 10,000 shares of stock from GN. From Hammons and Educational he seeks $100,000 damages for alleged failure to deliver the promised pictures to GN, thus causing the company to breach his contract. BOXOFFICE :: June 17, 1939 30-E