Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

Wagner Sign Patents Upheld by Court Chicago — An opinion sustaining three patents relating to silhouette signs manufactured by Wagner Sign Service, Inc., of Chicago, has been handed down by Judge Barnes in federal court here. The opinion was delivered simultaneously in four suits. Three of the suits involved Wagner Sign Service, Inc., and Adler Sign Letter Co., and the latter’s manufacturing affiliate, Ben Adler Signs, Inc. The fourth suit was between Wagner and the Patio Theatre Co. of Chicago. The suit has been pending for many months. Judge Barnes’ decision validated the Wagner patent No. 2,048,040, which was applied for February 16, 1934, and which Wagner claimed was the fundamental patent covering present-day theatre signs of the silhouette type. The Wagner patent was held to be infringed by both the lug letter signs and the notched-letter signs which the Adler companies have made and sold during recent years. The Adler patent No. 2,156,257 (said to have been originally applied for April 24, 1936) , directed to a structural detail called the “removable frame,” was held to cover only some of the signs heretofore made and sold by the Wagner company. The Gamer and Auer patent No. 2,119,430, (originally applied for March 12, 1937) , directed to a structural detail called the “3-in-l” unit, was held to cover only some of the signs heretofore made and sold by the Adler companies. The Garner and Auer patent is owned by Wagner. The Patio Theatre Co. was held to have infringed both of the Wagner patents. The Adler companies withdrew their previously pressed claim that Wagner had infringed on the Frank patent owned by the Adler companies. Selma Hackman President Of Film Industry Club Chicago — Officers of the Women’s Film Industry Club of Chicago, named at the recent election, include: Selma Hackman, 20th Century-Fox, president; Beth Morganstern, Allied, vicepresident; Ila El wood, M-G-M, secretary; and Mildred Jedlicka, Essaness, treasurer. Chairwomen of the various committees are: Myrtle Collins, Exhibitors’ Ass’n, bylaws; Bea Blumenthal, AdArt Displays, membership; Florence Lipschitz, RKO, welfare; Goldie Davidson, B&K, publicity; Dorothy Palowsky, Goodman & Harrison, entertainment; and Marge Brown, Monogram, good-cheer. " Feelers " on Racing Chicago — Sports writers on Chicago newspapers covering racing activities have been putting out “feelers” in their columns as to whether Chicago would welcome twilight racing on Windy City tracks. Chicago Filmrow Clubs Ready for Wit Contest Chicago — The long-awaited battle of wits between picked teams of the Bookers’ Club and the Women’s Film Industry Club of Chicago will be held next Tuesday night, at the Congress Hotel. Special attraction of the evening will be the appearance of Dr. I. Q., the Mars Candy Co. radio feature, who has been heard the last several Monday nights from the stage of the Chicago Theatre. Dr. I. Q., who is Lew Valentine, will offer ten “guest questions” to the contestants, with Milky Way candy bars going to the winners. The Bookers’ Club team for the quiz contest, which will be conducted by Dick Sachsel, includes Howard DeTamble, 20th Century-Fox; Jack Wohl and Max Facter, Great States; A1 Raymer, Indiana-Illinois Theatres; Harry Mandell, Ted Levy and George Benson, Warner Brothers exchange; Joe Fitzgerald and Charles Pierson, Paramount, and Frank Nardi, Republic. Chicago Council Has Praise for " Juarez " Chicago — Listed among the “adults-andyoung-adults” group of the Better Films Council of Chicago listing for May is Warner’s “Juarez,” with the added notation that it is a “must-see” picture. The family group includes: “The Hardys Ride High,” M-G-M; “The Lady’s From Kentucky,” Para.; “The Return of the Cisco Kid” and “Rose of Washington Square,” 20th-Fox; and “Sorority House,” RKO-Radio. The adult and young adult listing: “Almost a Gentleman,” RKO; “Calling Dr. Kildare,” M-G-M; “First Offenders” and “Let Us Live,” Columbia; “Inside Story,” 20th-Fox; “Juarez,” Warner; and “Life and Loves of Beethoven.” The adult groupi includes: “Big Town Czar,” Univ. ; “Streets of New York,” Monogram: and “New Horizons,” Amkino. The summer meeting of the council was held Friday afternoon at the University of Chicago. Fourth Anniversary for The Beverly, Chicago Chicago — The Warner Beverly is entering its fifth year of operation. In celebrating its fourth anniversary, Jerry McWhorter, assistant manager, who was in charge of the house with Manager Ted Turrell away on his honeymoon, presented patrons with a souvenir program. McWhorter sold all advertising to cover costs of publishing. The pamphlet included data on the staff of the theatre, a history of the house and its architecture, together with data on the pictures shown during the anniversary week. Goldberg to Indianapolis Indianapolis — Joe Goldberg, formerly with the Big Feature Rights Exchanges in Cincinnati, now is in the Indianapolis office. Distribution Personnel An Experienced One Chicago — Distribution oldtimers in this area have a mark to shoot at in the justpublished Metro figures of the number of years of service some of the company’s representatives have rolled up. Below are the record boys: 21 years — Walter E. Banford, Chicago manager. 19 years — Sam Shurman, Milwaukee manager. 18 years — Frank P. Ishmael, Chicago, salesman. 17 years — Wade W. Willman, Indianapolis manager. 14 years — Herbert A. Wagner, Indianapolis, salesman; John L. Kelley, Chicago, salesman; A. Jack Shumow, Chicago, salesman. 13 years — Ted L. Mendelssohn, Chicago, salesman; George F. Reilly, St. Louis, salesman. 12 years — David E. Ross, Milwaukee, salesman; John X. Quinn, St. Louis, manager. 11 years — Edward J. Lipson, Milwaukee, salesman; Herbert J. Bennin, St. Louis, salesman. The Inculcation of False Ideals, Danger in Films Milwaukee — The danger of motion pictures is not in the stimulation of crime but in the inculcation of false ideals in the child, Dr. Katharine Taylor of the state department of mental hygiene, said in an address before the Milwaukee County Better Films Council. “Because the movies stimulate emotions and make a lasting impression, they have become one of the most important educational institutions,” Dr. Taylor said. “If these emotions are not directed into constructive channels, tragedy results.” Mothers, clubwomen and community leaders can do their part to make motion pictures a constructive rather than a destructive force, Dr. Taylor said, by developing the child’s critical judgment and by helping the youngster to interpret what he sees in a true to life fashion. “Mothers should try to see the same films their children see,” she said. “They should discuss the movies with their children, emphasizing the things that are good and discounting the things that are harmful. Positive criticism will produce best results.” Catholic Actors' Guild Organized in Chicago Chicago — The Cathedral Guild of Catholic Actors has been organized here in the Cathedral Assembly Hall. This is the first Catholic actors’ group ever organized in Chicago and is intended to include all Catholic men and women of the screen, stage, radio and musical professions in Chicago. BOXOFFICE :: June 17, 1939 49