Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1940)

PDC Officials Report That Circuits Book " Outsider " Cleveland — Producers Distributing Corp., formerly known as Big Feature Rights Exchanges, announces “The Outsider” has been booked by all major theatre circuits in the territory including Loew’s, Warner’s, Schine and Shea. It opens here at the Circle, May 30. Bernard Rubin of PDC announces “I Take This Oath,” with Gordon Jones and Joyce Compton, is completed, and that “Hold That Woman,” with James Dunn and Frances Gifford, is now in production. Anna Neagle to Cleveland With "Irene" Three Days Cleveland — Cleveland has been selected as the only northern Ohio city on the personal appearance tour of Anna Neagle. She will appear on the stage of Warner’s Hippodrome for three days during the showing of “Irene,” starting June 15. Herbert Wilcox, director, will accompany the star who is scheduled to make the Statler Hotel her local headquarters. Harry Reiner of the RKO publicity department has been assigned the task of making up Miss Neagle’s social program. 5 Doth Fire Destroys Two Reels of "Swanee River" Youngstown — Two reels of “Swanee River” were destroyed, with a $300 loss, when fire broke out in the projection room of the Roxy at nearby Canfield. Volunteer firemen quickly put out the blaze, which was confined to the concrete walled booth. William Hasbrouck, the projectionist, said the picture was about half run when it caught fire. Aided by technicians, Hasbrouck repaired the machines and the program resumed after a four-hour delay. Gilhula Is City Manager For Shea in Ashtabula Cambridge, Ohio — Dan J. Gilhula, manager of the State and Ohio theatres here, has been named manager of four Shea houses at Ashtabula. He assumes his new post June 2. Gilhula came here as manager of the Court and Ohio theatres and during his regime the State was built. He managed the local Shea houses for seven years and his assignment to Ashtabula is a promotion. 30-Car Drive-In Near Youngstown Opened Youngstown — Youngstown district’s first drive-in theatre, the Gordon, is now operating. It is located just north of the city limits and can accommodate approximately 300 cars. The operator is Gordon W. Vail. New programs on Wednesday and Sunday start at 9 p. m. (Continued from page 102) "Primrose Path” did very well in its local engagements, with the expanded announcement that the picture has been a boxoffice hit all through the territory . . . Nat Holt, RKO Great Lakes division manager, has booked Orrin Tucker into the Palace for the week of June 8. While the Palace policy over the summer will be straight pictures. Holt plans to spot in stage shows occasionally. Hank Harold, onetime ad artist in Cleveland for Warner Bros., is now advertising artist for the Chakeres circuit with headquarters in Springfield . . . Nat L. Lefton, Variety Club chief barker, announced May 27 as the date for the final Monday Night stag of the season . . . Rudy Norton, Republic salesman, is back in circulation after a six-week battle with an ulcer of the eye. He is wearing a “Floyd Gibbons’’ for the time being, but says that even with one eye he isn’t missing anything . . . Anne Vickers, secretary to M-G-M’s branch manager, Frank Drew, entertained the girls of the exchange with a dinner at her home last week. Hope Kramer, daughter of Abe Kramer of Associated circuit, who recently announced her engagement to Jack Guren of Cleveland and Akron, will be married on May 26. They will honeymoon in Hawaii . . . “The Outsider,” PDC production booked to play the Warner, Loew, Schine and Shea circuits in this territory, makes its Cleveland debut at the Circle, May 30. It is also bought for the Highland, Akron; Falls, Cuyahoga Falls, and in Cleveland for John Urbansky’s Lorain-Fulton, Jennings and Rialto theatres. Associated circuit has made a shift of managers. Bert Diener, recently returned from a year’s vacation in California, succeeds Ben Stahl as manager of the Liberty. M. M. Blaettner goes from the Jewel to the Heights and Jimmy Schrake takes over at the Jewel . . . Over at the Paul Gusdanovic circuit, A1 Ochs has resigned as manager of the LaSalle to manage the Olympia. Victor Sheldon becomes manager of the LaSalle . . . Fred Schram has closed his Milan Theatre for the summer and is now associated with Victor Schram in a theatre promotion plan. Variety Club’s first Father-Son evening was a big success. Over 100 attended the dinner and Eddie Johnson and Louis Gross, in charge of the evening, presented each son with a Bob Feller autographed baseball. Rollie Hemsley, as guest of honor, added his John Hancock to the balls much to the delight of the sons. Bruce Gregg, son of Republic’s publicity director, Al Gregg, and not quite three years old, was the youngest guest present, with Leo Jones’ Dickey a close runner-up. The Variety Club’s grand opening did not come off as per schedule. Reason was that the job of redecorating its enlarged quarters was not completed. So the big day has been postponed until June 1, according to Chief Barker Nat Lefton and the house committee chairman, Frank Drew. George Young, manager of the Roxy, ivhich went to a straight film policy for the summer last week with “Goose Step,” Ohio’s name for “Hitler — Beast of Berlin,” as the opening attraction, held the picture over a second week. This will be followed by “Club de Femmes.” Whether foreign pictures will become the order of the day during the summer depends upon Mr. and Mrs. Paying Public. George W. Erdmann, secretary of the Cleveland Motion Picture Exhibitors Ass’n, says that the proposed city curfew law, designating the ages at which children will not be permitted in places of amusement, is not by any means a dead issue. The bill is sleeping but it might wake up any time and Erdmann urges exhibitors to keep on the lookout for any activity in its behalf. Gertrude Welsh and Mae Gibbon, both of the Universal secretarial staff, were called home on account of the death of their fathers . . . Dorothy Goodman, whose husband, Mort Goodman, is with Warner’s on the coast, is here with their two-yearold son visiting her parents. Harry Barlow and H. C. Waggoner finally got their St. Clairsville Theatre at St. Clairsville open. Delayed deliveries postponed their originally announced opening date. Nate Schultz will not build that 700-seat de luxe theatre in Barberton after all. Instead of extending his Barberton interests, Schultz is bowing out of the Barberton picture, having sold his Pastime there to M. Makinson who now owns and operates all of the Barberton houses. The property Schultz bought for theatre purposes will be used for a business block. Bert Diener, formerly with the Associated circuit, has returned from an 11month vacation on the west coast . . . George Hanpert, Columbia auditor, was an exchange visitor . . . J. A. Beidler of Toledo, who has been ill for several weeks, is much improved, according to his son, J. A. jr„ who was in town last week . . . Sorry to report Bert Botzum, veteran Akron-Canton theatre owner, is still confined to his bed ivith a heart attack. John Thomas Heirs Sell Newark, O. — One of the largest real estate deals in several years was negotiated here when Attorney Max Norpell, acting for an agent, purchased the Grand Theatre building in South Park Place from the owners who are heirs of the late John B. Thomas. Piccolo to Hiland Helm Ft. Thomas, Ky. — Ray Piccolo has replaced the late Lawrence Holthous as manager of the Hiland here. Piccolo formerly was manager of the Royal at Cincinnati. 104 BOXOFFICE :: May 25, 1940