Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1940)

A 1IL B AMY yiSITORS: Harry Savett, Greene; Leonard Kaufman, Cameo, Binghamton; Ollie Mallory, Starr, Corinth; Tom Alfieri, Community, Middlebrook; Clarence Dopp, Dopp circuit, Johnstown; Maurice Kronick, Orpheum, Amsterdam; Vivian Sweet, Star, Salem, and Greenwich, Greenwich; Sid Dwore, Cameo and Lincoln, Schenectady; Sam Davis, Phoenicia; Mrs. Inez Ferguson, Copake; Phil Baroudi, Indian Lake and North Creek; Sam Milberg, Ritz, Scotia, and Family, Watervliet; Bob Yates, Lake, Lake George; Bill Kraemer, Schine booker. With Manager Ralph Pielow and Salesman Arthur Horne, Gene Vogel and Bill Williams hack from Metro’s regional meeting in New York, it is expected the bookers and office managers will have a huddle of their own later, as last year. Incidentally, Gene Vogel is a brother of Joe Vogel, Loew executive . . . Bob Morrell, student booker and New York University man, is back at Metro. Johnny Norton, assistant M-G-M shipper, on vacation. National Theatre Supply Co. installed new projectors in Bill Barney’s Grand, Watervliet . . . Booth fire in Harvey English’s Theatre at Narrowsburg, near New York-Pennsylvania border, damaged a machine, but another was installed the following night . . . Margie Elliott is a new secretary in local Ross Federal Service office. Fred Magee of Ross production department, New York, visited Manager Ralph Unks . . . Novelty Theatre, Middleburg, closed since Mitchell Conery opened a new house there but which recently was scheduled for relighting by a Middleburg man, did not do so, according to Filmrow reports. David Hochstim, 81, father of Eddie Hochstim, Columbia salesman, died here. He established first five-and-ten store in Chatham 41 years ago. Retired since 1923, he is survived by wife and two sons . . . Dan Houlihan, 20 th Century-Fox booker, made one of longest Paul Revere’s with a print, driving on Saturday to Schine’s theatre in Malone, on Canadian border. Car mileage for round trip was 475 . . . Harold Sliter, assista?it to Schine brothers, and Purchasing Agent Selzer recently toured the chain’s northern New York houses. George Thornton’s Orpheum, Tannersville, Catskill Mountain town, has been operating two nights weekly since reopening, but goes to full time with start of vacation season. Everett Seymour, Francis Downey and Charles Debie, associates in Warner Theatres sign and art department, were among honorary bearers at the funeral of Walter J. Stur, for 15 years head of it. Others were Zone Manager Maurice A. Silver, District Manager Charles A. Smakwitz, Contact Manager James P. Faughnan. Managers Andrew M. Roy, Strand; Edward Sellete, Albany, and Alcide O. La Flamme, Madison . . . Mrs. Irving L. Liner, wife of Proctor’s Troy manager and former concert vocalist, sang at annual Hadassah Donor Dinner in Albany. Si Fabian came here to inspect ruins of Harmanus Bleecker Hall . . . Larry Cowan, manager of the Grand, was to deliver principal address at services on Yacht Club pier, following Memorial Day parade. Cowan is a lieutenant in U. S. Naval Reserve Corps . . . “Ten Nights in a Barroom,” released by B&M Pictures, in which Bernard H. Mills and Jack Berkson, former upstate Republic franchise holders, are partners, had its first showing here at Fabian’s Leland. Leland also offered women and children a free drink of root beer and of orange juice. Leonard Rosenthal’s State, Troy, is featuring Root Beer Night, Saturdays. Dave Miller, Universal district manager, visited the local exchange, Schine headquarters in Gloversville, and other circuit places in Albany territory . . . Filmrow offered condolences to Abe Van Deusen, RKO booker, on death of his mother. Two sons, a daughter and a sister survive . . . Bill Murray, booker for Grand National until that company discontinued business, is associated with new Auto Vision Theatre at East Greenbush. He is doing the publicity. Albany and Troy papers are used. No 20ih-Fox Cut in Smaller Salaries New York — Twentieth Century-Fox home office employes making $100 or less per week will not be affected by economies instituted as a result of the shrinkage of foreign revenue, Sidney R. Kent, president, stated upon his return from the coast. Replying to a question concerning the wage cut reports, Kent told Boxoffice: “We are doing everything possible to meet the situation in a manner that won’t bother the smaller people or touch salaries of $100 a week or less.” Kent said the company is doing everything possible to save money. He had no comment to make on how the situation was influencing the new season’s production schedule. His trip to the studio was termed a “routine checkup.” He first quipped that he was doing “confidential FBI work and naturally cannot divulge any inside information.” On the government’s suit which goes to trial Monday, Kent said the sooner it started the better. He expects no last-minute offer of a consent decree from Thurman Arnold. 20th-Fox Dividend New York — A second quarter dividend of 37 V2 cents per share has been declared by 20th Century-Fox on the preferred, payable June 29 to stockholders of record June 15, 1940. j^EO BERESIN, Berio Vending Company official, was a visitor from Philadelphia . . . Tom Pitts, manager, East End, and Ben Somma, manager, Henrico, booked the Four Tucker Sisters in their theatres . . . Gordon Pulliam, service staff of the Byrd, has been spending all of his time off at that cottage up on the Potomac River . . . Tom Pitts went fishing out at Bryan Park but did not have much luck. He is going to try Bowlers Wharf next time . . . Ira Avery, connected with WRVA has been writing Edith Lindeman some interesting letters from Hollywood Studios which made good reading for the film fans of the Times Dispatch. Floyd Stawls, manager of the Carillon, and Al Nowitsky, manager, National, who are registered pilots, are members of the Dawn Patrol and went on a flight with them to Fredericksburg the other Sunday . . . William Jones, manager of the Rex in Martinsville, was fined five dollars for operating his show on Sunday and appealed to the circuit court with the trial coming up in July . . . Charlottesville and Emporia are both going after the carnivals, attempting to raise the license fees or bar them from playing altogether . Dick Morien has been transferred from the Lee to the Colonial service staff, replacing William Pierce . . . Ernest Ewing, member of the service staff at the Capitol, has returned from visiting relatives in Atlanta . . . Trip Caldwell, projectionist at the Colonial, went fishing, but did not catch many . . . Bob Bertschey, manager of the Be-Jo in Mathews, has been a frequent visitor. Bob is planning extensive alterations to his theatre in the early fall . . . Jack Parrish, service staff of the Colonial, is back to earth once more since the Coquettes went back on the road. A warning has been issued to be on the lookout for counterfeit $10 bills by the Secret Service here . . . The Berio Vending Company is now operating popcorn machines and candy counters in six of the Lichtman theatres . . . Tony Muto is working on a Technicolor travelog of Virginia, for Fox Movietone, with the cooperation of the state chamber of commerce . . . Pat Leary and Harry Jarvis are in Louisville at the IATSE convention as local representatives. Lee’s manager, Charlie Hulbert, has returned from vacationing with his wife in Florida . . . Harry Crull, Monogram salesman, was here . . . Helen Boswell, cashier of the Colonial, has returned to work after being sick. During her absence, Mabel Taylor substituted . . . The building on the 5600 block on Grove which was designed for a theatre, is now housing a hardware store branch . . . William Butler is operator at the State, replacing Will Hays. Reduce Your Suprex and High Intensity CARBON WASTE 25% with the Cross Carbon Saving: Device Write for Booklet and Trial CROSS MACHINE SHOP 2918 Pennsylvania Ave. DETROIT, MICH. BOXOFFICE :: June 1, 1940 24-A