Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1948)

LOS ANGELES gam Wheeler, Film Classics division manager, left for San Francisco, where he will appoint a new branch manager to replace Fred Abelson, who died recently . . . Ted Jones, president and general manager of Western Amusement Co., returned from a New York business-pleasure junket . . . Recently returned from a San Diego business trip was Howard Herty, MGM exploitation chief. Filmrow travelers included Bob Quinn, Altec Service manager, to Arizona for business: Ben Peskay, Eastland Theatres, off to New York; Sally Miller, MGM booker, and her son vacationing in Gotham; Bruce Fowler, Fox West Coast district manager, and Mrs. Fowler spending their vacation in Las Vegas; Lou White, Savoy Theatre, accompanied by his family, taking a five-week motor trip to the east. George Diamos, of Tucson Amusement Co., and Bill Callahan, MGM sales manager, went into picture huddles . . . Back on the Row after a fishing trip with his son in Mexican waters was Earl Johnson, of Co-operative Theatres . . . L. A. Scott, Oklahoma City Altec engineer, was vacationing in southern California . . . Harry Cohn, RKO branch manager, was on the sick list. Members of the Colosseum of Motion Picture Salesmen of America recently held a picnic at the North Hollywood estate of George Harttmman . . . Cecil Vinnicof was host at a farewell breakfast at the Filmrow Cafe honoring Scotty Bayless, Vinnicof circuit division manager. Those attending included William Whitfield of the Eagle Theatre; Ken Howe, Regent; Scotty Risk, Central; Charles Hutchinson, Vermont; Warren Carmen, Madrid; Leon Levy, Temple; Andy Devine, Strand and Jerry Gould, American. Lloyd Ford will replace Bayless as division manager. Frank Mednick, Trojan and La Tosca Theatres, was on the sick list at Cedars of Lebanon hospital . . . Jerry Safron and Wayne Bell, of the Columbia exchange here, checked in from sales conferences in Chicago . . . Jules Needleman, home office representative for Columbia, was on the Row giving the local exchange the once over . . . Ralph Carmichael, Republic manager, was transferred to San Fi-ancisco where he will hold the same spot. Overheard along Filmrow: When Dave Robbins met Harry Vinnicof recently he said, “I hear Eisenhower is now the president of Columbia.” Retorted Harry: “What's become of Harry Cohn?” Jim Schiller, Allied Artists exploiteer, checked out for a six-week tour of midwestern cities during which he will set up openings on the King Bros. “The Dude Goes West.” There Will ALWAYS Be a MANLEY Man! W. H. TUHPIE, Western Division Manager 1914 So. Vermont, RE 7528 Los Angeles 7, Colii. Evergreen Executive Is V/ed to Texas Girl PORTLAND — Word has been received from McKinney, Tex., of the recent marriage there of William H. Thedford, district manager of Evergreen Theatres in Oregon and southern Washington, and Edna Elizabeth Purnell of McKinney. The ceremony was performed at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Julius Purnell, by the pastor of the First Methodist William H. Thedford church of McKinney. Mrs. Thedford was graduated from Hockaday Junior college and Southern Methodist university, both of Dallas. She is a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, and recently was a member of the Boyd High school faculty. Thedford came to Portland last September from Los Angeles, where he had been assistant general manager of Fox West Coast Theatres. The Thedfords returned to Portland following a honeymoon spent in Chicago, British Columbia and other points in Canada. Initial Pledge of $100,000 To Jewish Welfare Fund LOS ANGELES — Launched to a promising start, the exhibition-distribution division of the current di'ive for United Jewish welfare fund' was pledged approximately $100,000 at a kickoff meeting in the local Variety Club quarters. The division is co-chairmanned by Sherrill Corwin and O. N. Srere, with Mike Rosenberg, Gus Metzger, Dave Bershon and Harry Cohn as members. Film salesmen working the field include A1 Bowman, U-I; Alex Weissman, MGM; Jerry Purcell, Columbia; Maury Sudman, 20th Century-Fox and Maury Shipp, Warners. Areata Seating Capacity Grows With Remodeling ARCATA, CALIF. — The Areata Theatre has been reopened after a remodeling job which included increasing the seating capacity from 607 to 900. Other improvements made in the Areata include new heating and air conditioning systems, acoustical plaster and a new type lighting, and Simplex projection equipment. Manager Acts as Emcee LOS ANGELES — Murray Peck, who has been managing the Melvan for the Harry Vinnicof circuit, has been transferred to Vinnicof’s New Strand in Long Beach, where he will double as house manager and emcee for that house’s stage shows. The New Strand has been operating on a combined stagescreen policy for the past 20 years, something of a record in southland exhibition circles. New Fox Manager at Hanlord HANFORD, CALIF. — Robert H. Benton, Fox West Coast employe for 13 years, has taken over the management of the Fox Theatre here, replacing Edward Lawrence, who has returned to the management of the Hyde in Visalia. PORTLAND piood waters have receded enough to allow local waterfront industries to resume operations . . . Herbert Royster, manager of the Mayfair, has booked the Broadway musical, “Carousel” for a date next month . . . Lois Cady, secretary to Allen Burt of the Theatre Erchange Co. went on a one-week vacation. Lois Heim has taken her place . . . Frank Pratt, energetic manager of the Paramount, will be seen in the reissue, “The Fighting 69th,” which will play his house soon. Pratt worked in Hollywood several years ago and has a bit part in the film. Live Indians decorated the lobby of the Orpheum for the opening of “Port Apache.” All came to Portland for the Mount Hood Indian pageant . . . Tommy Moyer has preliminaries under way for the construction of two new theatres. One will be in Gresham and the other in Powellhurst. The Moyers will have six houses in operation when these are completed . . . The Irvington Theatre Bldg, was recently sold to Henrietta G. Quinn by C. F. Swiggert. Dave Kahn, local BOXOFFICE correspondent, moved this week to 7722 North Interstate Ave. . . . Ike Geller, one of Portland’s oldtimers in the exhibition field, is building a new house in Eastmoreland and will be a neighbor of Mrs. Ken Cockerline, also an oldtimer in the field . . . KALE changed its call letters to KOPJ . . . During the flood, KGW had to borrow the KPOJ extra transmitter, and is still using it . . . The Shriners’ club is selling tickets and handling the promotion on its baseball game for the benefit of its hospital for crippled children. Jack Matlack is in charge of the project. The Moreland Theatre is carrying on a time-honored neighborhood policy. Mrs. Ken Cockerline, the proprietor, gives all the kiddies a free “birthday” show. They never miss them. Fox Circuit Begins Work On Rawlins Opera House RAWLINS, WYO.— The Rawlins Opera house, closed for more than a quarter of a century, is due for a general facelifting before its reopening this fall as a member of the Fox Intermountain Theatre circuit. General remodeling of the old house already is under way under the supervision of J. M. McLaren, assistant construction engineer for Fox Intermountain. Plans call for modernization of the 30year-old building and complete redecoration. A new lobby and foyer area will be built and the projection room will be remodeled to accommodate the latest equipment. McLaren estimated that when the work is completed the Opera House will have a seating capacity of 500. Two Denver Exhibitors Buy Gem in Frederick FREDERICK, COLO.— The Gem Theatre here has been sold to John B. Cabot and Louis M. Williams of Denver by owners Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Davis. Both Cabot and Williams are experienced operators. Cabot formerly owned and' operated his own theatre and Williams had been with Fox Intermountain for 18 years. 66-D BOXOFFICE : : June 26, 1948