Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1940)

Detroit Blockade Threat Pales As Duals Spring Ten Weekly Spoils of War — John Howard, right, Detroit Paramount exchange manager, shows Edgar E. Kirchner, Family Theatre manager, the trophy he bagged in Dallas as winner of the national Variety Club convention golf tournament. Committees Named tor Tent No. 5's Dance Detroit — The committee lineup for Variety Club’s Charity Dance at the Naval Armory, biggest event of the year for local Variety, is: Honorary chairman, Harold C. Robinson, Film Truck Service; executive chairman, Tom McGuire, Cooperative Theatres; arrangement chairman, William Carlson, Carlson Studios. Ticket committee — E. E. Kirchner, Family Theatre; secretary, Dave Newman, Moule and Newman circuit; treasurer, Jack Saxe, Monogram Pictures; publicity, H. F. Reves, Boxoffice. Entertainment — Sol Berne, chairman; Ray Gorrell and Dave Diamond, all of their own booking offices. Reception — Lew Wisper, W&W Theatres, chairman; Charles Perry, Adams; Earl Hudson, UDT president; Fred DeLodder sr., circuit owner; David M. Idzal, Fox, and Wade Allen, Fine Arts. Floor — Bernard L. Kilbride, circuit owner, chairman; Carl Buermele, Cooperative Theatres; Sam Barrett, Cooperative; Phil Kaplan, Theatrical Advertising; Frank Wetsman, W&W Theatres; Harris Silverberg, National Screen Service; Roger M. Kennedy, IATSE; Mac Krim and Lou Cohen, circuit operators, and J. Ollie Brooks, Butterfield circuit. Film Exchanges — Lester Sturm, 20thFox, chairman; Frank J. Downey, M-G-M; Morris Dudelson, UA; William Flemion, Excellent; J. E. Flynn, M-G-M; Edward Heiber, Universal; John Howard, Paramount; William Hurlbut, Monogram; Samuel Seplowin, Republic; Carl Shalit, Columbia, and James F. Sharkey, RKO. Dies in Florida Columbus-— Mrs. Hazelle Jennings Cullen, wife of Mike J. Cullen, Loew’s western division manager, died last Monday in Daytona Beach, Fla., after a long illness. Detroit Traffic Head Menaces Light Signs Detroit — Theatre advertising signs are threatened by a new ordinance proposed by City Traffic Engineer M, W. Cochran. The latest Cochran proposal calls for elimination of red signs that may be confused with traffic signals. It is assumed that green signs might also be similarly barred. This would apply particularly to neon signs, which have been notably close to traffic signals in color, and have been used extensively in recent theatre front work. High signs extending down the entire front of a theatre building might be exempted by their position. Early Morning Parking Ban Protested by McGuire Detroit— New city ordinance barring parking on main streets between 2:00 a. m. and 6:00 a. m. was protested before the city council by Tom McGuire, director of public relations for Cooperative Theatres of Michigan. McGuire asked for an amendment that would prevent the ordinance from interfering with all-night theatre patrons. Police have contended the no-parking rule was needed to make it possible to clean these streets, and cars of patrons attending late shows have been tagged as a result. No formal action was taken. Special AMPTO Meeting Called by Herrington Pittsburgh — From the nation’s capital this week, where the Neely anti-compulsory block booking bill was being given another public hearing, Fred J. Herrington called a special membership meeting of the AMPTO of W. Pa., Inc., for Monday afternoon, May 20, at local exhibitor headquarters. The local Allied secretary and M. A. Rosenberg, president, were in attendance at a national Allied directors’ meeting at Washington and were visiting a number of Pennsylvania congressmen in the interest of the Neely bill. Final plans for the Allied convention, at Chicago, June 19-21, will be announced at the May 20 business session here. Patrons Pay Tax Dover, Ohio — Now in effect, Shea Theatre Corp.’s Bexley and State here and the Union at nearby New Philadelphia passed along the one cent state amusement tax to patrons. Tax previously had been included in the regular 25, 30 and 35-cent admissions. By H. F. REVES Detroit — Double billing of first runs is currently releasing ten films a week in Detroit, not counting the Cinema, which plays foreign and special appeal films to a large extent. With this volume of films coming into circulation weekly, little chance for the much-discussed feature blockade is evident, although the situation is complicated by holdovers. Of the five first runs, two, the United Artists and Adams, held over both features this week — the Adams for a third week in each case— counting in one week at the Fox. Net result is that only six new films were first-runs currently. Unusual angle of the current vogue toward duals, in between stage show weeks at the Michigan and Fox, is the trend toward booking both films from the same releasing company. Of the five houses, four had pictures from the same company currently. Paramount supplied “Dr. Cyclops” and “Women Without Names” to the Palms-State, and “Buck Benny Rides Again” and “Adventure in Diamonds” to the Michigan. M-G-M booked “20 Mule Team” and “And One Was Beautiful” into the United Artists, while Universal had both “If I Had My Way” and “Ski Patrol” at the Fox. Juvenile Admission Curb Considered in Columbus Columbus, Ohio — Columbus police authorities report they plan to confer with juvenile court and school officials on the introduction of an ordinance prohibiting theatres from admitting children during school hours or at late shows unless accompanied by their parents. The move was suggested as the first step in the program to diminish juvenile crime in the city. “Our chief problem, of course, is keeping these children off city streets late at night and while school is in session,” an official said. Detectives reported that during the past several days a large number of the youths found idly roaming the streets at night give the excuse that they are just returning from picture shows. State Lottery Proposal Before Pa. Legislators Harrisburg — Representative Francis Falkenstein, Philadelphia Democrat, has again introduced into the legislature a state lottery bill. His similar bill died in committee in the 1939 session. The statewide lottery tickets would cost $1 each and pay on the basis of 5,000-to-l for every 6,250 “investors.” Falkenstein favors giving persons on relief free lottery tickets. The special “non-controversial” session of the general assembly, in its second week, was “transferring funds” to meet emergency obligations. BOXOFFICE :: May 18, 1940 ME 75