Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1947)

BUFFALO ITALIANS HONOR REISMAN — Head of RKO foreign activities receives star and collar with medal in token of his appointment as a grand officer of the Imperial Order of St. George of Carinthia. Left to right — Eduardo Villasenor of RKO’s Mexican studios; Phil Reisman; Wladimir Lissim; M. Blais, first attache to the Italian embassy; Adrian Remauge, director general of the Societe Nouvelle Pathe Cinema. Additional 20th-Fox Promotions Made As Smith Winds Up Reorganization ^*he 20th Century Theatre gave honeymooners at Niagara Falls a real treat when they arranged with the Twin Coach Co. of this city for a sightseeing tour of Buffalo, after which the newlyweds attended a free showing of “Honeymoon.” Ten couples honeymooning at the Falls were picked up and brought here by bus. In the group were couples from Brooklyn, New York and Tarrytown, N. Y.; Erie, Pa.; Portland, Ore ; Phoenix, Ariz.; Auburn and Cliffside, N. J„ and from farther away, Costa Rica and Havana, Cuba. News from Columbia: Phil Fox, manager, has returned from the Chicago sales meeting . . . Bob Ferguson, assistant booker, is now commuting from his new home in Cleveland Drive . . . Speaking of new homes, Charlie Harter finally has had a sidewalk laid in front of his new abode. From SRO: Bill Rosenow reports a record gross for “Duel in the Sun” during its first four days at Shea’s Hippodrome. Local film critics, however, were not unanimous in their praise of the film. RKO: Vacations haven’t started for the office force yet, but the gang is about ready . . . Arnold Febry, office manager; Elmer F. Lux, manager, and salesmen Fran Maxwell, Jack Chinnell and E. J. Smith sr. will leave July 6 for the New York sales meeting . . . Lux, by the way, has been endorsed by the Democratic party here for councilman-atlarge. That New York meeting will also be attended by Jack Tucker and Don McGregor, exploiteers . . . The exchange party at Lux’s cottage in Canada has been set for June 21 . . . William Gehring jr. son of 20thFox’s Bill Gehring, is the new assistant shipper. He replaces Henry Wacker who has returned to Tiffin, Ohio, to go into business for himself. Good luck, Hank! . . . June Roscoe, secretary to Lux, will be married to Michael Papero June 28. Paramount: Mike Simon has returned from his honeymoon. His bride is the former Katharine Jacobson . . . Cashier Helen Huber is on vacation . . . Manager Mannie A, Brown was visited by James Eschelman and Howard Carroll, both from Rochester . . . The local exchange is preparing for the 35 years of leadership drive. $150 Radio Given Away On Drive-In's Birthday ALBANY — Giveaway of a $150 Crosley radio highlighted the observance of the first anniversary of the Fabian-Hellman Mohawk Drive-In, after .Manager Leo Rosen arranged a tieup with the Central Appliance Co. of Albany. Patrons were handed coupons for the drawing, which Rosen conducted on the roof of the projection booth. As a symbolic gesture, he asked every driver to turn on headlights. The event was publicized in all papers of the area. The seventh anniversary of the Saratoga Drive-In, another Fabian-Hellman situation, will be observed June 20. Another Crosley radio valued at $150 will be given away. The Saratoga is one of the country's pioneer automobile theatres. The management estimates that more than 500,000 cars and more than a million patrons have patronized the Saratoga, Renamed ’Love at First Sight' “Love at First Sight” is the new title for “Head Over Heels,” a Warner production. NEW YORK — Twentieth-Fox is winding up reorganization of its sales department. Andrew W. Smith jr., new general sales manager, has made additional personnel shifts and promotions. First changes in the sales setup were made two weeks ago. The new department of branch operations under Clarence A. Hill and the sales statistics research department under Morris Caplan have been organized. Hill’s department will supervise labor relations at the branches and checking matters. New promotions have been made at the Pittsburgh branch. The short subjects department under Peter Levathes now will supervise television activities in addition to domestic 16mm, Movietone News, Movietone short subjects, Terrytoons and March of Time. Levathes said his department will increase its study of the television field. No definite plans have been set for 20th-Fox entry in the field. The new branch operation department will handle the following: 1 All branch personnel excluding salesmen, exchange and district managers. 2. All leaves of absence, branch employes promotions and applications for salary inci eases. 3. All labor matters connected with branch operation. 4. All checking matters. Hill will represent 20th-Fox on the board of directors of Confidential Reports, Inc. 5. Copyrights on films. 6 All exchange buildings, leases and branch maintenance. 7. All equipment at exchanges. 8. All sales forms and systems used at the branches. 9. Branch operating costs, overtime, expenses and expense accounts. Many of these duties formerly were handled by Jack Sichelman and Moe A. Grassgreen. They now are working under Hill. Murray Schaffer, former Boston salesman, also has joined the new branch operation department He will aid Hill on checking matters. Grassgreen will handle labor matters and sales forms and systems for the branches. Sichelman will serve as executive assistant to Hill, the department head said. Another promotion at the home office is the appointment of Harry Mersay as assistant to Martin Moskowitz, executive assistant to Smith. The following appointments have been made in the new sales statistics research department under Morris Caplan: Frank Bryan is Caplan’s assistant; James Glynn is in charge of exchange statistics; John Mesa, Theresa Bauml and Gertrude Stutman have joined the department. Short subjects: George A. Roberts is contract supervisor for MOT; Davida List is supervisor of newsreel and short subject prints; Marion Murphy is 16mm film contact. Pittsburgh exchange: George Ball is salesman for zone No. 4, succeeding Charles Kosco, who was named Buffalo branch manager; Jack Ellstrom, booker, takes over Ball’s territory as a salesman; Irving Stein succeeds Ellstrom as Pittsburgh booker; Joseph Vandergrift, ad sales manager, takes over Stein’s post as booker. 400 Industryites Pay Tribute To Smith, Gehring and Moon NEW YORK — Industry leaders to the number of about 400 turned out Friday (20) at Hotel Astor to pay tribute to Andrew W. Smith jr., new general sales manager of 20thFox; William Gehring, assistant general sales manager, and Ray Moon, Atlantic division manager. Harry Brandt was toastmaster. Spyros P. Skouros was on the speakers’ dais. Ted Gamble presented a gift to Smith, Si Fabian presented one to Gehring, and Fred Schwartz presented others to Moon and Martin Moskowitz, Sam Shain, Seymour Florin, Peter Levathes and Clarence Hill. Others on the dais were A. J. Balaban, Joseph Bernhard, A. H. Blank, Charles Boas.berg, Leo Brecher, Max Cohen, Jack Cohn, Frank Damas, Irving Dollinger, Oscar Doob, Julius Joelson, Harry Kalmine, Edward Lachman, Arthur Mayer, William C. Michel, Robert Mochrie, Lucy Monroe, John J. O’Connor, E. K. “Ted” O’Shea, Walter Reade jr., Sam Rinzler, Sam Rosen, Edward Rugoff, James Sauter, Charles Schlaifer, Sol Schwartz, George Skouras, Rodney H. Smith, David Weinstock, Edwin L. Weisl, Robert M. Weitman and William White. BOXOFFICE :: June 21, 1947 50-A