Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

CLEVELAND ^LLEN D. SHAPIRO, short subject booker for Warner theatres in this zone, was among those who welcomed England’s King and Queen to the nation’s Capital . . . Harry Goldberg, director of publicity for Warner Theatres, was in town wearing his arm in a sling . . . George Lefko, who came back to Cleveland after an absence of five years to manage the RKO exchange, has been out in the territory picking up the old threads of friendship where he left off before going to Pittsburgh. Seccaium Park Showing Free Motion Pictures Galion, Ohio — Seccaium Park, near here, one of the better known central Ohio amusement centers, is offering free film shows Wednesday and Friday nights this season. Program includes a full length feature and short subjects. Seccaium is one of few Ohio amusement parks that has retained the film feature, a dozen having discontinued it when subsequent run houses dropped prices to 10 and 15 cents in districts where parks featured the free shows. September Conclave By ITO of W. Va. Parkersburg, W. Va. — Independent Theatre Owners of West Virginia will stage its first annual convention in September, R. J. Hiehle, president, states. Although the city has not been designated, it was the general understanding at the Morgantown meeting last week that Clarksburg would be selected. Myer Fine of Associated Theatres and Mrs. Fine have gone east to celebrate their 16 th wedding anniversary . They will spend a couple of weeks in Atlantic City and at other popular coast resorts. J. J. Maloney, M-G-M district manager, was in town for the preview of “Goodbye, Mr. Chips” at Loew’s State . . . Another M-G-M visitor was Robert L. Long, auditor, no relation to our Col. Harry Long of Loew’s Theatres or Bob, the M-G-M checking supervisor. Announcement is made of the marriage of Ray Essick, son of P. E. of the Scoville, Essick and Reif circuit, and Lois Parker of this city. Ray is assistant manager at the Highland in Akron. Harry Henderson, general manager of the Jennings and Lorain Fulton theatres, attributes his improved golf game to a new set of clubs . . .Joe Setron of Smith and Setron and Dave “Red” Sandler, theatre electrician, have carried their enthusiasm for fishing so far they have bought a launch and are now members of the Lakeside Yacht Club. Al Gregg, Republic’s publicity expert, is out in the territory helping exhibitors on campaigns for “Man of Conquest.” Visitors along Filmrow were rather scarce, maybe because of the heat. Among those spotted were Ray Wallace of Alliance, J. O. Guthrie of New London, Harry Reinhart of Canton, and the usual Akron regulars. Tom Mooney, son of Milton A. of Cooperative of Ohio, was graduated from Shaker High School . . . Max Stahl, Grand National branch manager, announces business is picking up. He is touting “Exile Express” and “Panama Patrol.” Roy Kendis of Exhibitors Poster Service is supervising installation of a ventilating system in the office, which should add to the comfort of the customers. Joe Kauffman, Universal branch manager, says new contract sales for the coming season are way ahead of last year at this time. “In fact,” he states, “we are 100 per cent ahead of the past season and have to date closed most of the important key spots in the territory, exclusive of Cleveland, which is always late in buying.” Evelyn Friedl, who double features as secretary to Warner’s zone manager, Nat Wolf, and as president of the Warner Club, is wearing a becoming summer haircut . . . Jane Meisel, secretary to Sid Dannenberg, Warner publicity head, is in the midst of a cruise to Bermuda. pASTE the date in your hat! Chief Barker Bennett of Tent No. 18 in Dayton, Ohio, announces the third annual stag outing of this organization at Ebbers’ Grove, June 29. Tax is one dollar for a big day, including outdoor sports, races, prizes and lunch. Orville Wood, Majestic and Dover theatres, Camden, journeyed to Washington to see the King and Queen, then went on to the Fair . . . Mrs. Bill Cain, Garden Theatre, Louisa, Ky„ is taking a leisurely cross-country tour to the west coast and the Frisco fair . . . Columbia’s Jane Rissel leaves for New York. RKO theatres magnate, Ike Libson, is in New York . . . E. M. Booth, M-G-M, attended a conference at the home office in Gotham. M-G-M’ s Robert Saunders has been promoted from the poster to the contract department . . . Ann Welling, formerly with Big Features, has joined Trailer-Made . . . Sarah Brown has resigned from Warner’s to work for Harry Bugie’s Co-Operative Booking office, and Mary Weller of Grand National is resigning to join the Warner personnel. M. J. Whitmar, RKO publicity shooter, is confined to his home with grippe . . . Republic’s Max Margolis is laid up with arthritis. Friends of Ralph Abbott of Jam Handy will be glad to know he is convalescing nicely following an operation for a facial tumor at the Mayo Clinic . . . Lee Goldberg’s son Jay will have charge of sales promotion at the Big Feature Rights office during the vacation. Lee Goldberg has purchased a five-year franchise to handle the product of Producer’s Distributing Corp., a new enterprise which will put out 60 features, including 24 western releases. Ben Judell is president of the new concern and Sig Neufeld, supervisor. The franchise covers Cleveland, Cincinnati and Indianapolis territories. RKO’s Stanley Jacques and sales force leave the week of June 17 for Westchester Country Club, Rye, N. Y., where the annual sales convention will be held . . . 20th-Fox’s Bob Laws is celebrating his 25 th wedding anniversary . Cadet Richard “Dickey” Sonz, son of Fred Sonz of Theatre Poster Supply, cov ered the territory this week with his dad. Dickey will divide his vacation between his folks in East St. Louis and a boys’ camp before returning to Ohio Military Institute in the fall. Frank Wetzel of Trailer-Made has secured distribution of “All-American Gang Busters” and announces the feature is booked solid for the month of July in Ohio. Wetzel’s franchise also covers West Virginia and Indiana. Lou Mills is redecorating his Dixie at Olive Hill, Ky. . . . Warner Shafer is opening a new theatre at Grayson, Ky. . . . George Schmidt, who recently took over the new Fayette, now has the Ohio at Celina. Sugar and Honey Bockelage, Paramount and Universal, respectively , went to Cleveland to attend the funeral of their brotherin-law . . . The Alpine circuit is moving to Kingwood, W. Va., with C. B. Kosco, former Columbia representative from Pittsburgh, in charge. The Avenue, downtown, is installing air conditioning . . . Jack Mervis, Newport, Ky., theatre manager, is leaving to join his brothers in the management of three theatres at Pittsburgh. Bank Night "Insurance" Mansfield, Ohio — A scheme offering Bank Night insurance and said to pay off on the Madison Bank Night, termed by police as an “out and out lottery,” is in operation here. Re-Sign Sylvan Simon Hollywood — S. Sylvan Simon has been signed to a new directorial contract at Metro. A DYNAMIC SENSATION Hendrik Wm. Van Loon's "THE FIGHT FOR PEACE" with MUSSOLINI HITLER FRANCO EDEN And Other International Stars. Big Feature Rights Exchanges, Inc. BOXOFFICE' :: June 17, 1939 61