Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1940)

AMBLINGS on the Row: Russ Hendrickson has taken over the management of the Vogue, Alameda, severing his connections with the Golden State houses . . . Morris Rosenberg, representing himself and his father, has bought the Kaliski interests in the Uptown, Strand and Lorin, East Bay houses under the Golden State banner . . . Doc Henning, premium salesman de luxe, left for Seattle to get in on the Northwest’s new interest in premiums of all varieties . . . Bob Lippert is experimenting with an innovation in double features. At his Neptune in Alameda he runs the number one feature for a week while the second picture is changed in the middle of the week. He figures’ catching the people who wish to see the main attraction twice, but are reluctant to sit through the second picture again. A brand new note in San Francisco’s night life was struck this week when the Clift Hotel opened its new ultra-smart Terrace Room. The Clift’s Redwood Room has long been one of the city’s “musts” and now the hotel is catering to the pretheatre diners with the Terrace Room, which has dinner -dancing and is open from 5:30 to 10 p. m. Martha Demeter, premiere chanteuse of the Folies Bergere, is lending her charming personality to the festivities. Dan McLean, in collaboration with the Chronicle, threw open his Embassy to a houseful of kids and a few adults on Saturday, February 3. The event was the showing of the baseball film, “Play Ball, America.” Walter Mails, idol of the local fans, was the m. c. and Dan threw in an additional picture for good measure . . . Lillian Coates, formerly with Republic and Universal here, has returned from several months in Los Angeles and has joined the staff of Coast Pictures . . . A1 Shmitken, Warner head, is in Chicago to attend the branch and district managers’ meetings . . . Arthur Fukuda was to open his new house at Sanger, February 9, and the Rowites who journeyed up to help Arthur make it an event report that the new theatre is a most attractive one. The arm of the law has engulfed Nora Hunt, President head usherette. In fact, two arms, for Nora announced her engagement to a S. F. detective this week . . . Floradale Campbell is handling the switchboard at the Harvey Amusement headquarters . . . Rotus Harvey is in Los Angeles attending the Pacific Coast Conference of the ITO . . . John “Randy” Randolph, for many years a familiar figure on the Row, turned up this week to be greeted by old friends. Randy was noncommital about future plans, but intimated he would remain in this city . . . “Sidewalks of London,” the much-discussed Charles Laughton-Vivien Leigh picture, was previewed for Fox West Coast by Paramount and will play Market Street in the near future. R. C. McDonald left Paramount on February 1 to assume the position of advertising sales manager for National Screen’s new setup on ad accessories. “Me” is plenty busy getting the new quarters lined up. Universal joins on February 15 while Columbia still is undecided and 20th Fox has definitely decided not to drop its ad sales department for at least a year. The Toms sisters, Lorna and Charlotte, have left the 20 th Century office staff. Dorothea Rosenberg , just out from New York, takes over the steno duties . . . “Northwest Passage” was given a screening this week for Fox West Coast executives . . . Tom Cleary, 20 th-Fox auditor, has gone on to Salt Lake after checking the books here . . . “Blue Bird” lasted only one week as a roadshow at the St. Francis. “The Fighting 69 th” moves in after running two weeks at the Fox . . . “Gone With the Wind” has them lined up in front of the reserved boxoffice from 8 a. m. to 8 p. m. The many thousands who have visited the Golden Gate to greet Horace Heidt on his first stage appearance here in four years were given an added surprise in the form of a chance to win $100. Heidt, at each performance, drew a number which gave the person in the audience holding the corresponding number the prize. Since none of the newspapers could carry the announcement of this bit of seat selling, it came as a surprise to most people. Turns, Horace’s radio sponsor, footed the bill, $2,900 total, and received plenty of plugs in return. Visitors: Douglas Hardy, McLeod, McLeod; Edy Coffey, Santa Clara, Santa Clara; Lou Rosenberg, Tracey, San Luis Obispo; Jimmy Nishioka, Ryans, Fresno; Gerald Hardy, Hardy, Fresno; Everett Howell, Porterville; John Di Stasio, Liberty, Sacramento; Bill Peters, El Rey, Manteca; Donald Davis, RKO executive from New York. 'Grapes' Day and Date At Three L. A, Units Los Angeles — For the first time in exhibition history in this territory a film has been booked into three theatres for simultaneous runs. Fox West Coast has arranged concurrent runs for 20th Century-Fox’s “The Grapes of Wrath” at the Four Star, the State and Grauman’s Chinese, all on a continuous-performance basis. The picturization of John Steinbeck’s novel of migrant workers will make its bow February 27 at the Four Star with a gala reserved-seat opening at a $5.50 top admission scale. The next day it will begin its run at regular prices in that house, as well as in the State and Chinese. The Four Star is currently screening RKO Radio’s “Abe Lincoln in Illinois” on a two-a-day, reserved-seat basis. Chicagoan to L. A. Los Angeles — Sam Clark, formerly publicity representative for Warner in Chicago, has been named Warner publicity representative here where he will work under Henry Herbel, district manager. Fred Barto, former Metro publicist, succeeds Clark in Chicago. SALT LAKE fjAROLD CHESLER of Intermountain Theatres, Inc., was elected president of the newly organized Motion Picture Club of Salt Lake City at its first meeting at the Newhouse Hotel. C. A. Blasius was elected secretary and Joseph E. Madsen, treasurer. The club, which consists of men in the business, will meet once a month. Intent on seeing her young son and daughter, Norma Shearer paid Salt Lake City an hour’s visit en route to Sun Valley, Ida., where she went to spend a week or ten days with them enjoying winter sports before returning to Hollywood. Manager Bill Seib of the local Columbia offices will return this week accompanied by his entire sales force, as well as bookers and assistant manager, from the divisional sales meeting held in San Francisco recently. Phil Guss, manager and operator of the Intermountain Theatre Suppply Co. of this city, is expected to return from a business sojourn east, within a few days. Manager G. S. Pinnell is back from a very satisfactory jaunt into southern Utah towns . . . Major Bowes’ 1939 Prize Winners are being featured on the Roxy stage here by Manager Andy Floor. Having been absent from Salt Lake City, his native town, for some 20 years, Tori Maltese, brother of Frank Maltese, one of the founders of the old Grand, has returned to look over the possibilities of entering the radio and theatrical fields. National Theatres Holds Over Meeting Four Days Los Angeles — Unable to crowd the business agenda into a week’s discussion, the National Theatres conclave of divisional managers was extended an extra four days, beginning January 29 and winding up February 7. Climax of the affair was a visit to the 20th Century-Fox studios for luncheon, followed by a screening of ‘“Grapes of Wrath” and huddles with plant executives concerning forthcoming product. Spyros Skouras, NT president, remained on the coast for confabs with Charles Skouras, head of Fox West Coast, after other conventioneers had departed for their respective home stations. Delegates discussed the multiple operating problems confronting the circuit’s various divisions, comprising some 500 theatres, and reviewed the product lineup for the balance of the 1939-40 season. Official approval also was given a plan to institute a candy giveaway stunt by which it is reckoned grosses will be increased at least $500,000 annually. Divisional managers attending included Harold Fitzgerald, Milwaukee: E. C. Rhoden, Kansas City; Rick Ricketson, Denver; Frank Newman, Seattle; and Arch M. Bowles, San Francisco. Others on hand were Harry Cox, W. T. Powers, Edward Zabel and John Healey, of NT’s New York offices; and Dave Idzal, manager of the Skouras Fox Theatre, Detroit. 40 BOXOFFICE :: February 10, 1940