Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

WITH the Miss America season coming on, theatres are trying to get in on the advertising connected with choosing the beauties. Variety Club has had requests from several Philadelphia exhibitors for privilege of helping pick Miss Philadelphia. Irving Phillips, Park, Allentown, wants to pick his town’s representative . . . Among localities who went off to the Allied convention in Minneapolis were Joe Conway, Dave Milgram, Raymond Schwartz, Michael Felt, Sid Samuelson, Sally Fisher. Showmen’s Club testimonial dinner tor Ray O’Rourke, Doris, former star of the club, attracted one of the biggest crowd of notables that ever attended a Showmen’s function . . . Sitting on the dais were John B. Kelly, Democratic leader; Dr. Charles F. Nassau, Director of Health; Thomas J. Curtin, assistant U. S. attorney general; Dr. Robert C. White, city controller; Louis E. Wilgarde, the mayor’s secretary; Congressman James P. McGranery . . . Theatremen included Lewen Pizor, Allen Lewis, Milt Rogasner, Bill Clark, Jim Clark, Dave Barrist, Sam D. Schwartz. The Stanley-Warner shifts in policy in downtown houses aren’t over yet, according to reports. The Earle, which dropped vaudeville last February, may get it back in the fall . . . The Lorraine and Douglass are closing for the summer . . . Frank McNamee, RKO, back from vacation . . . Also on their way back from a vacationconvention in Hollywood are Earle Sweigert and his Paramount crew . . . Affiliated shifts place A1 Sonnenberg at the Adelphi, Charles Wagner at the Allen . ... Dave Greenberg is up to his neck in work arranging the Variety Club’s dinner dance at the Cedarbrook Country Club, June 23. Bob Sidman, Senate, Harrisburg , emphasized the music of “The Mikado’’ in advertising , proved “you don’t have to see it to enjoy it — listening is enough” by admitting 25 blind persons free. Stunt made the papers . . . Matt Rosenbluth, Colney, arranged a personal appearance of the “Golden Terror,” famous wrestler — without cost . . . Bill Wolf, Allegheny, got a tieup with a florist’s shop, got several hundred gardenias to distribute to patrons . . . Trent, Trenton, is closed down for the hot season . . . Reuben Porit, Temple, attracted attention with his nautical display, including a diving suit, at the showing of “Devil’s Playground.” John Clyde Fisher, second member appointed to the state censor board, was greeted by exhibitors and distributors at his office . . . Leo Trainor, Rialto, Allentown, arranged a wedding on the stage to exploit “Bridal Suite” . . . Bill Lafferty, Liberty, Tacony, had the Hamilton Disston Public School Band of 60 perform on the stage ... It brought out almost the entire school. Jay King, Yorktown, brought out the kid customers with a personal appearance of a band of uniformed Sioux Indians . . . Stanley-Warner chiefs figured up the results of the Manager’s Week contest, named the following as prize-winners : Al Cohen, Nixon; Al Cohn, Roosevelt; M. Gable, Boyd; Bill Israel, Palace; Marty Aninsman, Wynne; Henry Kahan, Savoia; Joe Riley, Liberty; Sol Getzow, Ogontz; J. Nirenberg , Northeastern, and R. Raelsy, Holme . . . There were also six winners in the out-of-town zone — Paul Harvey, Strand, York; Bert Leighton, Grand, Lane; L. Black, Warner, Wilmington; R. Kirsch, Aldine, Wilmington; J. M. Graver, Grove, and W. Leach, Grand, Camden. Tommy Scholl, Keystone, had a Legion parade and an amateur show to ballyhoo reopening of the theatre, closed for several weeks of redecorating . . . The Capitol, Reading, has closed temporarily in a dispute between Walter S. Finch and the projectionist and stage hand unions . . . Theatre owners of Reading are getting the jitters over a bill introduced into council placing a tax on operation of air-conditioning apparatus. The tax masquerades under the name of a “meter charge” for carrying off waste water from buildings that do not use the city’s water. Since most cooling plants there use artesian wells, they would come under the proposed tax. Several local theatres have been digging up old “courtesy trailers” or getting new ones to cope with a new menace to theatres: Ladies’ hats. To meet the male complaints, the managers are promoting a “Remove your hat” campaign. Republic Takes Over Three Franchises New York — Jack Berkowitz, president of Republic Distributing Co. of Upper New York and Republic Pictures Corp. of Michigan, has turned back his franchise for the distribution of Republic pictures in Albany, Buffalo and Detroit to the parent company. Berkowitz’ action is said to have been actuated by the pressure of other business affiliations. His franchise had been in effect four years. This leaves the parent company handling direct sales in five territories, the franchises for San Francisco and Los Angeles recently having been turned back by Floyd St. John, but is not interpreted as deviating from the company’s policy of franchise operations. Sam Seplowin will continue to manage the Detroit office, while the Albany and Buffalo sales will come under the jurisdiction of Jack Bellman, eastern district sales manager. Arthur Newman recently appointed Republic’s special representative in Albany, will probably function as branch manager there. Bernie Mills was manager for Berkowitz in Albany. Landes Succeeds Kulick New York — Irving Landes has replaced Sidney Kulick, resigned, as salesman at the local Monogram exchange. George Weeks, general sales manager, also announces Moe Sherman has joined the Philadelphia branch, succeeding Simon Perlswig, salesman, resigned. More Particulars in Suit Asked by UA New York — UA has filed a demand for a further bill of particulars in the government suit. This was indicated by Boxoffice almost a month ago. The demand, which is virtually the same as that filed by Columbia, will be heard June 20. It characterizes the particulars already furnished by the department of justice as “most sketchy and evasive,” and goes on to state the petition does not charge UA owns or ever owned theatres or that the company ever produced films. The point is made, that despite 417 pages of testimony taken in examination of UA executives, “this examination disclosed that not only has the government no evidence against UA, but on the contrary, the corporation is an independent distributing corporation in nowise concerned in the controversy which the United States is having with some of the other defendants.” Discontinuance of the action against UA is urged. Decision Reserved on Columbia Application New York — Federal Judge Clancy has reserved decision on Columbia’s application for a further bill of particulars in the government’s industry suit. Louis D. Frohlich represented Columbia and Paul Williams, the government. Four Distributors Ready to Aid Fields in Lawsuit New York — At least four distributors have expressed a desire to cooperate in the clearance dispute of Jack Fields of the Cameo, Jersey City, according to Emil K. Ellis, Fields’ attorney. Ellis says he has had conferences with representatives of Paramount, Warner, RKO and M-G-M, who answered his letter suggesting an examination of the facts, and indications are a decision will be reached shortly. Fields claims he is paying first-run rentals while being forced to follow the Fulton and Apollo, both Skouras operations, and the Orient, Rosenblatt-Welt house. Ellis declares his talks with distributors have pointed the way for a possible elimination of the clearance on the Orient and Apollo for his client. N. Y. Court Discontinues Loew's Minority Action New York — Loew’s minority stockholders’ suit, filed by Mannes Fuld and Norman Wolf, has been discontinued by the federal court, because plaintiff resides in Pennsylvania and, therefore, the local court has no jurisdiction. Hold Appeals' Opinions New York — Decision has been reserved on three appeals against RKO’s reorganization plan, indicating only one — that filed by H. Cassell and Co. — is holding water. 30-F BOXOFFICE :: June 17, 1939