Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1940)

Talk Summer Schedules And Contest Plans Gloversville, N. Y. — Summer operating schedules and plans for the “Schine Showmen’s Merit Contest” headlined the two-day meeting of the circuit’s district and division managers. J. Myer and Louis W. Schine were the principal speakers. Prizes for the contest which runs from April 28 to May 3, according to Harold L. Sliter, executive assistant, total $1,100 in addition to 26 prizes of one week’s salary. E. Douglas Leishman, personnel director, also spoke. Division managers present were: Louis Lazar, Ohio and Kentucky; Frank M. Boucher, Maryland and Delaware, and Clint Young, western New York state. The district managers attending: Pat McGee, central Ohio; William Selman, western Ohio; Lew Hensler, Kentucky; William Tubbert, northern New York; Harry Goldsmith, western New York; Jerry Fowler, Chenango Valley; Sidney Holland, Mohawk Valley; Bud Silverman, Rochester, and Dave Britton, city manager, Tiffin, O. Warner Managers' Drive From April 27 to May 4 Philadelphia — The Warner Theatres’ eighth annual managers week drive will run from April 27 to May 4, Warner officials announce. During the week managers try to boost grosses on the basis of their personal popularity. Managers showing the greatest comparative increase will be awarded prizes. "Dark Command" Set lor Eastern First Run Trio Baltimore — “Dark Command” will play first run at the Stanley. Washington — The Earle has booked “Dark Command” first run here. New York — “Dark Command” goes into the Roxy sometime in May. New 20th-Fox Exchange Up in Albany Soon Albany — A new 20th Century-Fox exchange building will be constructed here shortly. The company’s real estate and construction department is working on the lease with all plans and specifications already outlined. New branch offices are also going up in Cincinnati, Indianapolis and St. Louis. Appellate Limits "Birth" Run to Private Groups Albany — Ban on “Birth of a Baby” was upheld for the second time within a year by the court of appeals. The court held the film could be exhibited in private showing to scientific groups. Willig in Schenectady Schenectady — Dave Willig has taken over the Rivoli, Schenectady. John Gardner was former lessee. (t "Rebecca" Heads lor $475,000 Gross Take New York — Final take for “Rebecca," which concludes its five-week run at the Music Hall Wednesday, is expected to hit $475,000. Only other picture to have so long a run at the Radio City Music Hall is “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" which amassed $530,000 for its stay. ^ V Ponder Course on Order To Open Philly Records Philadelphia — The Landis, Vineland, case against Stanley-Warner and the major distributors continued at a stalemate last week, as the defendants conferred over what action to take on U. S. District Judge William H. Kirkpatrick’s order compelling them to open books dealing with all Philadelphia contracts. Judge Kirkpatrick so ruled when the matter was referred to him by Examiner David Bachman, who was appointed to supervise examination of the books by attorneys for the Landis. Whether the defendants appeal his ruling or not, the case will come up for trial before Judge Kirkpatrick May 6. He granted preliminary injunction in behalf of the plaintiffs at a preliminary trial, but was overruled by the U. S. circuit court. Bausch & Lomb Profit Rochester — Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. last week revealed a net profit of $420,668 for the quarter ending March 31. Net profit for the 1939 March quarter amounted to $273,568. J]D WILLIAMS, Maryland censor board clerk, is another fellow reported about to take the fatal step. But, as Mac Weinberg, manager of the Little, points out after our last issue, there’s many a slip twixt the report and the step . . . Returned from the Variety convention in Dallas are: J. L. Rome, Eddie Jacobs, Bill Meyers, Eddie Sherwood, Joe Grant, Bernie Seaman, Morris Shapiro and William Hicks . . . Bill Hicks has renovated the Hamden’s front and lobby . . . May 1 will be known as the “West Coast Jamboree” at the Variety Club. A big time is planned for all who attend, says Morris Oletsky, Republic salesman, who is chairman of the arrangements committee which includes Barry Goldman, Regent; Frank Hahn, Horlacher; Lawrence Schanberger, Keith’s; Alan Kahn, Pennington; Bill Meyers, Deluxe: and Lou Youkelle, Capitol Printing. Sam Diamond, Fox salesman, attended the company convention in Chicago . . . Joe Young, Universal salesman, is ready for his company’s convention in Atlantic City . . . Report that the Irvington will remodel its marquee . . . Bill Hick’s Westport will open in a few weeks. Final touches are being made on the house now . . . Joe Grant has new booth equipment for his Dunbar ... Ed Martin, Republic, who has been ill the past ten weeks, is back on the job and in good shape . . . Sam Soltz, Howard, has completely recovered from his Washington Salesmen in First Open Luncheon Washington — The local Salesman’s Club held its first open luncheon at Harvey’s Restaurant, April 22, with branch managers of all exchanges and local exhibitors as honored guests. Dr. W. P. Herbst, an exhibitor for the past 30 years in this territory, spoke briefly on the development of motion pictures. During the luncheon, “Vince” Daugherty, president, announced the club’s donation of $50 to the Will Rogers Memorial Fund. Among those present were: Paramount’s Eddie Fontaine, branch manager; “Vince” Daugherty, Harley Davidson, Herbert C. Thompson, Jack Bryan; Universal’s Bernie Kreisler, branch manager; Sam Tabor, Walter Davis; UA’s Fred Rohrs, branch manager; Dick Harrity, Fred Sandy; Metro’s Rudy Berger, branch manager; Phil Bobys, Jack Goldberg, Harry Cohen, Frank Scully; Columbia’s “Chick” Wingfield, Ben Caplon, Joe Walsh, Owen Weems; RKO’s A1 Folliard, Olmsted Knox, Elbert Gover, Harry Kahn; Republic’s Sam and Jake Flax; Warner’s Jerry Price, Gordon Contee, Sterling Wilson; 20th-Fox’s Sam Wheeler, branch manager; Jerry Murphy, Freddie Klein, Glenn Norris; Monogram’s Harry Brown, branch manager; NSS’s George Nathan, Milton Smith; Trio-Preferred’s George Gill, branch manager. Exhibitors in attendance: Sidney Lust, chief barker of local Variety; Dr. Herbst, Mr. Messina, Lou Bernheimer, Frank Storti and Buck Stover. Bullalo Leads RKO in Drive's Twelfth Week Buffalo — Charles Boasberg’s branch has taken the lead in the 12th week of the RKO Ned E. Depinet Drive. New York is in second place and New Haven in third. The northeastern district of which Drive Captain Herb MacIntyre is manager leads the districts. illness and is back at his desk at the Howard. Joe Walderman’s baby was operated on last Sunday and is doing very well. He runs the Monroe . . . Joe Fields, Rivoli, has turned his palatial home into a “California ranch.” It would make a perfect movie set . . . C. Spellman, Roxy, has invented a new cleaner for eye glasses and lenses . . . And Earl Jackson, Boulevard, has invented a device to make changeovers easier . . . Gordon Contee, Warner salesman, is driving a new De Soto . . . Our sympathy to Leon Zeller, whose father died recently .. . Bernie Klein, former exhibitor, is planning on opening a theatre in Pimlico around September 15. “ Ecstasy ” is still going strong at Harry Meyerberger’s Lexway . . . Ernie Wood flew film to the Eastern Shore last week. He says that, in addition to two autos and an airplane, he is thinking of getting a submarine to deliver the stuff . . . Cliff Jarrett, assistant manager at the Hippodrome, postponed his leaving till May 1 . . . Irving Martin, publicist for StanleyWarner, arranged a tieup with the NewsPost on a fiction list test for “It All Came True.” Passes and cash prizes will be awarded the winners . . . Max Cluster, Cluster, is much improved from his recent illness. BOXOFFICE April 27, 1940 42-C