Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

N. SHAPIRO is resting at South Shore Inn, North East, Pa., for the next several weeks. Drop him a note . . . Virginia Alexander has joined the Republic office staff for the summer, helping her dad, “Jim’ Alexander . . . The Jules Lapiduses observed their 15th wedding anniversary . . . Jack Ellstrom, Mildred Krough, Margaret Schlereth, Rose Tognetti and Ann Golomb of the 20thPox exchange were vacationing this week, and Ira H. Cohn, manager, was in the territory on business . . . Herb Dimling, the Variety Barker, postcards from Hollywood. Mildred White, Joe Feldman’s secretary, is another Hollywood studio visitor. Colonial Theatre, Buckhannon, featured an Old Time Fiddlers’ contest as its contribution to the fourth annual Central West Virginia Strawberry Festival . . . Americanism Chairman Homer Chaillaux has promised the “ citizens ” of Boys State at Jackson’s Mill, W. Va., that motion pictures by a large Hollywood firm will be made of the 1940 camp . . . Sylvia Zeizel of the M-G-M exchange was on the sick list this week . . . Musicians and stagehands were given their two-week notice at the Stanley . . . MPTO wage committee and IATSE committee have been in session, with no official announcement of reduced summer scale, but with a general understanding that such action has been taken. Tony Vincent expects to be a grandpop by the time this issue comes to your desk . . . Local Paramount delegates to the Los Angeles convention were expected back on the job at publication date. Remodeling of the exchange will be started within a week or so and will include the installation of an air-conditioning system and an office for E. M. Stuve, dean of the Men of Paramount . . . Dick Lange is suffering with gout . . . Twenty-two Warner theatre managers joined the Variety Club Monday evening. The club will continue Saturday evening open house parties. It’s a boy at the Wenard Koughs . . . And a girl at the John Lipsies . . . Following the holdover engagement of “The Mikado,’’ the Fulton will be closed for about two months; while dark, the house will undergo repairs . . . Barry and Casino folded . . . Mort arid Art England’s “ The Wages of Sin” and the pictures of the Lou Nova vs. Max Baer fight moved into the downtown State after a profitable week at the Casino. Irving Dietz and George “B” Josack are handling the fight pictures at 1701 Blvd. of the Allies, and report that a flock of bookings have come in to the office . . . Evelyn Gerstein, here the other day exploiting “ Music School,” was formerly a film critic in Boston. Lou Marks, exchange student at the M-G-M office for several months, met with an accident while playing baseball Saturday. He’s laid up at Montefiore Hospital with a fractured leg . . . Mi-, and Mrs. Richard Marks and Joseph Feeney of the Marks Orpheum, Clarksburg, were in attendance at the wedding of Charles Francis (Pete) Wilson and Artis Lee Melhorn . . . Ike Sweeney was so successful with the Comuntzis-Sallows banquet that he says he has been petitioned to handle all future testimonials, but “with a 10 per cent cancellation clause” . . . Lou Engel, who is now handling Quality Premiums, was visited this week by Alvin Goodwin, one of the company’s distributing officials. Miss Mathilda Kiel was in charge of the MPTO office this week while Fred J. Herrington, secretary, participated in the Allied convention at Minneapolis . . . Danny Davis, Lumberport, W. Va., exhibitor and secretary of the I TO, is a third member of the industry in the local territory who is a service 40 and 8 man. Danny has many distinguished decorations, in addition to his arm tattoos. Frank Fairgraves, Erie showman, and C. C. Kellenberg of the 20 th-Fox staff, are other 40 and 8 ers . . . Prepare for a flash from Joe Feeney. He was seen in the Harrison County Court House, Clarksburg , taking out a license. And it wasn’t a dog license! Eli Goldstein may be back in exhibition sooner than you think. Having disposed of the Paramount and New McClure Theatres, north side, a few weeks ago, he admits that he is after another house. After more than 25 years, the theatre business gets in one’s blood, says Eli. He hopes to have an announcement soon . . . Bobby Coyle entertained former Gov. John K. Tener at his country estate near Charleroi. Governor Tener was once a business partner with the well -liked showman . . . Announcement is made of the engagement of Henry Sutton, manager of the WB Regent, and Miss Geraldine Leiber, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Leiber of Donora, Pa. Groom-to-be is the son of Mrs. Mildred Sutton of New York City. Orson Welles is featured at the Stanley this week with the Coon-Creek Girls who entertained the King and Queen of England at the White House. Next stage feature at the Stanley is the Blue Barron orchestra . . . Monogram exchange is distributing Walter Futter’s “Dark Sands” in the local territory. 10 Years Ago Pittsburgh y^ARNER BROS. Pictures continued acquiring theatres and ten years ago this week took an even dozen houses in the tri-state area . . . Mayor Charles H. Kline announced free shows in the city parks on Sunday evenings . . . Ace Berry, Stanley circuit boss, baffled local detectives at a screening of “The Donovan Affair.” Charles M. Johnson, exhibitor for a quarter of a century, came in from Bolivar, Pa., to purchase sound equipment . . . John Alderdice sold the South Hills Theatre, Dormont . . . Alice Ziegler threw a birthday party for Hilda Wuenschel at Jake’s . . . Popular daily WCAE radio program was Dick Powell’s “Pow-Wow Club.” MPTO petitioned distributors for a more favorable protection system. Puzzle Uncovered By Rosenleld Pittsburgh — David Rosenfeld could trace his Independent Display Co. for nearly 30 years, but all efforts to discover the founder of the business were unavailing. Then he attended the silver anniversary dinner given in honor of George P. Comuntzis and George H. Sallows at Morgantown, W. Va„ and in the biography of Sallows, printed in a 44-page souvenir program, he was startled to read Sallows was one of the founders of this company. Building and Reopenings Appearing in Ohio Cleveland — Outstate theatre activity is led by construction plans calling for new houses at New Philadelphia and Masillon, and by two reopenings set for Ironton and Georgetown. The new house proposed at New Philadelphia will be started by the Shea Theatrical Enterprises, who acquired a site several months ago, according to E. C. Grainger, general manager of the circuit. Contracts for the construction of the Masillon house will be awarded within the next week. This theatre is being built by the Skirball Bros, of Cleveland. Earl Hewitt & Son, operators of a house at Bethel, will, in a few weeks, remodel and reopen the Arcade at Georgetown on which they have taken a ten-year lease from Mrs. Ida Purdum. At Ironton, the South Side Theatre, operated very little since 1937, is to be reopened as the Roxy on June 20. The Hunter Theatre Co., of Huntington, W. Va., has acquired the house and will completely modernize it. Arthur Lyday Re-elected At Regional of IATSE Akron, Ohio — Arthur Lyday, Indianapolis, was re-elected secretary for the eighth consecutive term at the annual regional IATSE convention here. The three-day conference was attended by more than 200 delegates and guests from four states, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky. John A. Shuff, chairman of the convention committee, introduced Harland Holmden, Cleveland, third vice-president, at Sunday’s sessions. Speakers were Judge Oscar Hunsicker of common pleas court and Robert Menches of the Liberty Theatre, representing the exhibitors. GuehL Quiter Collect Pittsburgh — Francis Guehl and Peter Quiter of the local New Universal exchange have collected the rewards of winning the recent short subject contest sponsored by their company. Prepared Wheeling Plans Wheeling, W. Va. — Kenneth G. Paxton, local architect, prepared plans for the new theatre under construction here for Chris G. Velas. Brick, tile and steel building will have a balcony and two store rooms. 64 BOXOFFICE :: June 17, 1939