Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1940)

Landis-Warner Agree On Operating Tieup Philadelphia — One of the two Warner houses in Vineland is to close, and the remaining house will be operated on a “mutual basis” with the independent Landis, under the out-of-court settlement of the Landis’ anti-trust suit, it is learned on good authority. Under this arrangement, said to be unprecedented in theatre history, the Landis and the Warner house will be operated as if under one management, it is understood. The Warner house presumably will do the buying for both. Product will be allocated to the two houses according to what appears to be the best arrangement for total gross. The combined grosses, Boxoffice’s informant says, will be divided equally between the two houses week by week. The legal fees of State Senator Harry Shapiro, attorney for the plaintiff Landis, are to be paid by Warner, it is understood. Philadelphia IATSE Picks Convention Delegates Philadelphia — Delegates from the IATSE locals here to the Louisville convention are: Local 307 — Harry J. Abbott, vice-president; A. B. Freeman, and Abbot Oliver, executive board members, and Horace Johns, business agent. Local 418 (Camden) — Alex Fell, president;, Walter Hoffman, vice-president, and William Friedman and Henry Singer, executive board members. District 4 of the “B” locals — Solis Derfler, vice-president B-100, Philadelphia; Ted Tolley, president B-ll, Pittsburgh, and John Kennedy, business agent B-ll. More Delegates Albany — Jim Farrell, assistant chief of service at Fabian’s Palace and business agent of Local B-44, is one of two delegates from the tenth District (Buffalo to New York) attending the national convention of IATSE which opens Monday in Louisville. Henry Harris of the Stage Hands’ union, is its delegate from Albany. Lapidus Heads District; Dana to Pittsburgh New York — Jules Lapidus, who has been Universal’s Pittsburgh branch manager, has been promoted to eastern district manager. Pete Dana, who was Kansas City district manager and later special representative, replaces Lapidus in Pittsburgh. Lapidus takes over the post held by A. J. Herman, now Boston branch manager. Second UA Board Meet "Routine;" Third Is Due New York — UA’s second adjourned board meeting took up “routine” matters, according to a spokesman, and it was decided to hold a third and concluding session early in the week. Mary Pickford, who came from the coast for the meetings, remains in the east. P1HI1I1ILA\B]IE1LIWHIIIIA J ^ 20-GUN salute to Elmer Hollander, who gets a week at the President Hotel, Atlantic City, as winner of Warner Brothers Manager’s Week competition. His campaign on “One Million B. C.” enabled him to beat the field in boosting his gross for the week above the same week last year . . . Jack Minsky, Frankford, was credited with second place . . . George Ickes’ Fox, Duncannon, was damaged by fire . . . George P. Aarons and Lewen Pizor, UMPTO, came back from Washington only to hop to the capitol again in their efforts against the Neely bill . . . Sid Stanley, Fays, is reported to have been signed by Ray Fabiani to handle an ice skating rink at the old Phillies Ball Park. Bill Bethel, retiring Columbia salesman, was honored by fellow staff members at a Club Bali dinner . . . The Watson, Watsontown, opened May 29; Dorney Park, Allentown, May 30; Central Park, Allentown, May 31 . . . Two parks near Sunbury will be running film this summer, the Rolling Green Park and Island Park . . . Filmites mourned the passing of George Lamaze, managing director of the Warwick, well known to many shoivmen . . . Anna Jacobs, Horlacher switchboard expert, and James Scollin, driver, were given a surprise party at Palumbo’s to celebrate their coming marriage. The new Italian restaurant on Vine Street has been robbed twice, the drug store at 13th and Vine and the UMPTO office broken into, all within a few weeks . . . Seen at the Dr. Leonard Rosen-Eleanor Thalheimer wedding, which was combined with the 25th wedding anniversary of Papa and Mama Rosen: Mr. and Mrs. Harry H. Thomas, Monogram division manager; Mr. and Mrs. Myer Adelman, New Jersey Messenger; Ted Minsky, Warner; Mr. and Mrs. Martin B. Ellis, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Frank, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Rovner, Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Sherman, Mr. and Mrs. William Z. Porter, Mollie Ellman, Mae Finlayson and other great and near-great . . . The Porters, incidentally, marked their own wedding anniversary — 14th — on May 30. Blanche Sherman, secretary of Max Gillis. Republic, is planning a walk to the altar June 16 . . . The RKO’ers who went off to the New York convention were District Manager Nat Levy, Branch Manager Frank McNamee, Office Manager Charles Zagrans, and Salesmen Ely Epstein, Harry Tyson, Sam Lefko, Mike Shulman, J. J. McFadden . . . Sid Mesibov, Warner advertising wizard, is exhibiting rings under his eyes to mark the coming of a little bundle of Mesibov named Judy to the formerly quiet menage . . . The Vine Street Subpoena Commerce Aide For All-Industry Suit New York — The department of justice has issued a subpoena on Frank R. Wilson, assistant director of public relations of the department of commerce, to appear and testify at the trial of the all-industry suit. projection room marks its sixth anniversary this month, and still going strong. The Paramount boys report they’re right up among the leaders in the competition with six other eastern exchanges for boosting business. Local drive is in honor of Earle Sweigert, branch manager, who’s getting back from the convention on the coast with Ulrik Smith, sales manager, and George Beattie, salesman . . . The Paramount office has a new water cooler . . . Jack Holman, Harrisburg, salesman, is touring the territory, rounding up unbooked product . . . Maybelle Bond, Sweigert’s secretary, is getting over a strenuous week selling poppies. She’s one of the most active American Legion members in the business. Funny situation in Tamaqua. J. V. Schreck's Majestic is on daylight saving time, L. J. Chamberlain’s Victoria on standard time. Similar confusion exists throughout the coal region, where most municipal offices and schools are on daylight, while the chief industries — mining, railroading — keep to standard. Theatremen in many cases are splitting the difference and going on “half time,” in an attempt to please both sides . . . Harold Brason is the new manager at the Lindley. F. Montgomery, Collingswood, was lucky enough to get the schools to declare a half-holiday for a special showing of “Scarlet Pimpernel” . . . Jay King, Yorktown, is helping the local American Legion Post raise money for an iron lung . . . Lew Black, Warner, Wilmington, tried his house out on a marionette show the other day, says it made a smash hit . . . Bert Leighton, Grand, Lancaster, drew an editorial in the local sheet with his “Edison, the Man” . . . Eddie Wolf, Wynne, courted the lady patrons en masse by handing out 100 roses to the first comers one day. Showmen, reporters and old-time actors and actresses sat down at Bookbinder’s to a sumptuous dinner which reproduced the feed Diamond Jim Brady gave at the same place for Lillian Russell in 1905. Power Goirraud, radio's Night Owl, was toastmaster. A girl dressed as Lillian played hostess. The stunt was arranged for the opening of “Lillian Russell” at the Stanley by the Warner publicity staff. Unanimous verdict: They sure had stomachs in them days. BOXOFFICE :: June 1, 1940 24-C