Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1940)

Harry Rackin Purchases Rival Booking Outlit QJ.EORGE DE WAIDE of Paramount and Rico Tully, Ross Federal Service branch manager, in a characteristic huddle over their amateur camera activities, brings to mind that the theatre gang is attaining the front rank among Oregon hobbyists. Austin Graham Dodge, Myrtle Point exhibitor, was bitten by the movie bug on his amateur side and acquired an 8mm camera and projector. Howard Mapes has a new 16mm sound projector and outfit for his personal use . . . George Roy of the State at Eugene is occupied with a new speed boat . . . Bill Thrall of Junction City has a miniature electric railway, reported to be the work of his own hands, including the making of the engine and the installation of the motor . . . M. H. Ritter jr. of Florence turned to the great outdoors, and has completed the landscaping of his lakefront lot. Speaking of Florence, a tieup with schools and music clubs there put a run of ‘‘The Mikado” over with a bang. It’s an idea for other up-state houses in small communities . . . At Roseburg, S. G. Mendenhall and Don Radabaugh are busy on the remodeling of the Rose . . . Bill McKevitt of Newport is contemplating a new front for the Lincoln at Taft. According to word from Tillamook and McMinnville, Saturday matinees have proved very successful there during the past year and, in addition, tended to increase Saturday night grosses and bring goodwill from merchants when tieups with stores were involved. Openings at 11 a. m. and at 2 p. m. were equally successful. The appeal is largely to children, rural visitors and others with weekend leisure. Funeral services were held Monday for Eric Paulson, 50, operator of the Crest, who succumbed suddenly from a heart attack. His widow and a daughter survive. Before coming to Portland, he had operated a theatre in Juneau, Alaska . . . Herb Cass, Dave Wilson and Howard Le Due of National Advertising Accessories are working day and night rearranging the new poster setup, which embraces Paramount and RKO accessories . . . Denny Hull of North Bend finally won out in a bout with the flu which had him down for two weeks. Listing some high spots of the week — efficiency: Bill McCurdy handling the reserved seat sale for “Gone With the Wind;” art: George de Waide’s coppertoned minicam shot of the carved front of an oriental chest; enthusiasm: the B. F. Shearer staff setting up a new Brenkert BX-80 projector. Broadway theatre personnel claimed another record for ‘‘Gone With the Wind” when, as tickets for its third week went on sale, not an emphatic derogatory remark had been heard from those attending, despite the picture’s length. Extension of the original two-week run was assured Sunday, when crowds seeking unreserved matinee seats stretched nearly three blocks from the Broadway’s boxoffice . . . Miss Audrey Heelan is back at the 20 th Century-Fox exchange after being out nearly a month because of illness; Mil dred Johns, ill for the past two weeks, is expected in any day now. Donald Marye, executive director of the Portland Civic, was state chairman in charge of observance of National Drama week, and presented a packed calendar. Drama students partied Sunday night in the Civic Theatre workshop to open the week. The Oregon State Theatre and the Portland Extension center co-operated in staging “Wurzel Flummery” at the Franklin high school auditorium. Four performances of the Civic Theatre’s Blue Room comedy, “Squaring the Circle,” ended the program Friday and Saturday nights. Los Angeles — Harry Rackin 's Exhibitor’s Service, booking outfit, has purchased the interest of Sam Blowitz in Western States Theatre Service. J. L. Stephens, Blowitz’ associate, has joined Rackin’s organization, which now is handling bookings for 42 independent houses in the territory. To Third Chore Hollywood — Third production chore for Howard Benedict at RKO is “The Saint Takes Over.” Jack Hively directs. BARCLAY W. ARDELL BRANCH SUPERVISOR EXPANDS NOW ANNOUNCES OPENING O F BRANCH OFFICE IN SEATTLE 2419 Second Avenue To effect closer Exhibitor relations in the Northwest and Rocky Mountain Areas BOXOFFICE : : February 10, 1940 39