Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1940)

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ILOS ANGELES Lottery Charge Upon Bank Night Fails Salt Lake City — Theatre bank night may be a violation of the “ethics, morals and proper practices extolled in our fair trade codes,” but it is no more a violation of the Utah lottery statute than are the numerous slogan contests now in vogue, City Judge Wilford Moyle Burton ruled in Salt Lake City Thursday, Feb. 1. In a written decision in the case of the state against George Smith, doing business as the Empress Theatre, Magna, Judge Burton held the defendant not guilty of violating the lottery laws by conducting a Bank Night Nov. 4, 1939. Reviewing the case, Judge Burton said the elements of a lottery are prize, chance and consideration. The first two elements were present in this case, he said, but found there was no consideration, since it was not necessary for the holder of a winning ticket in the weekly prize drawing to be in the theatre when his number was drawn, nor was it necessary for him to buy a ticket. "Fighting 69th" Into Third Day-Date Week in L A . Los Angeles — “The Fighting 69th,” starring James Cagney and George Brent, went into its third day-date week at Warner’s Hollywood and Downtown February 7. It is the first time in almost three years that a film has been held over for more than two weeks in these houses. ■ REVIEW FLASHES • LAMBETH WALK (M-G-M)— The British have variated the long-lost-heir-who-suddenlycomes-into-millions story, added music, Lupino Lane, a blonde, and an assortment of comic nobility and blended them into a pleasant and eye-filling show. There are many laughs. SKELETON ON HORSEBACK (Michael Mindlin) — An ironic indictment of dictators and war mongers, this Czechoslovakian film is fine dramatic entertainment, telling its story with skill and feeling. It is based on a play by the late Karel Capek. Subtitles are in English by Fannie Hurst. ULTIMATUM (Hoffberg) — A French production built around the event that precipitated the last war. It packs moving drama and sympathy for its protagonists, who are made the victims of the Austro-Serbian in, cident. The action is slow, but it has the engrossing qualities of a game of chess played by experts. Eric von Stroheim starred. COMPLETE REVIEWS on the above pictures will appear in an early issue of Boxoffice. CJ A. TUASON and Rafael Lufino, who operate theatres in Manila, got a firsthand glimpse of how pictures are made when they toured the Warner studio in Burbank . . . Harry Nace, head of the Nace-Publix circuit, and his son Harry jr. have returned to Phoenix, Ariz., following a prolonged stopover and booking expedition. Lew Marin, formerly with Columbia studios as a publicist, has been assigned as RKO Radio’s exploiteer in the northwest territory and has checked out for Seattle to handle openings on “Abe Lincoln in Illinois” and “Pinocchio” . . . Charles Benesch, Chicago exhibitor, came in for a vacation. Altec Service Corp. has assigned Bob Quinn to handle sales and credit work in the New Mexico, Arizona and California territories . . . Howard Stubbins, of Olmstead-Stubbins (Monogram franchise holders) is nursing a slight illness . . . Philip Greenbaum checked in to book for his Mecca. Fox West Coast has purchased “Birth of a Champion,” the Jack Dempsey-Jess Willard fight pictures, for booking in its Southern California houses . . . Plans are underway to organize a social club comprising salesmen, office managers, bookers and other Filmrowites. Some 60 people interested in the enterprise attended a dinner at which an executive committee was appointed. Ken McKaig heads it, with other members including Mac McCarthy, John Frey, Ralph Carmichael, Bill Walsh, Ish White, Bill Wall, Harry Stern and Pat Roth. Les Savage, of Columbia’s New York sales headquarters, is spending several days at the local exchange on a swing around the western division sales offices . . . Bjorn Foss, formerly a Monogram salesman, now is selling film for Majestic, which announces it has acquired distribution rights to “Black Limelight,” starring Raymond Massey, for this territory. Al O’Keefe, Uiiiversal’s western district manager, is taking a short vacation, recuperating from a recent illness . . . The Independent Theatre Owners of So. Calif, and Ariz. held its annual midnight show February 2 at Grauman’s Chinese in Hollywood. A screening of Metro’s “Broadway Melody of 1940” plus a program of vaudeville acts, headlined the entertainment for the evening. Bob Poole, ITO executive, handled the affair. Henry Herbel, new western district manager for Warner, and W. E. Callaway, local branch manager, have checked in from Chicago, where they attended a sales parley . . . Visitors to the Row included S. A. Hammock of Victory at San Diego, and E. B. Sturdivant of the Orpheum at Yuma, Ariz. Fox West Coast is giving the marquee on its Boulevard a face-lift . . . Harry Arthur has checked in from New York for a series of conferences with his brother Milt, head of the Cabart circuit in this locality. Planning to spend about three weeks, George Dembow, general manager of National Screen Service, has checked in from New York. Conferences are scheduled with local NSS officials, as well as exchange executives. He was accompanied by Mrs. Dembow . . . Larry Kent, head booker for Fox West Coast, is vacationing at Palm Springs. Azteca Films has booked two Argentinemade features into the California Theatre— “La Vida Es XJn Tango” and “Madre Selva” . . . Palm Springs has beckoned to B. F. Shearer, head of the equipment supply firm, and John Hamrick, chieftain of Evergreen Theatres, who came down from Seattle to attend the National Theatres convention. Larry Beckner, formerly with Grand National, is now booking for Columbia . . . R. L. Haywood, business agent of Moving Picture Operators Local 150, has resigned. R. L. McDonald has been appointed to replace him temporarily. Harry Denny, Majestic film salesman, checked in from a trip through the San Diego territory . . . Henry Sonnenshine, of International Sports Films, has returned from a business trip to San Francisco . . . Bob Elder, operator of the Arlington in Arlington, has taken over the Drive-In in San Bernardino, formerly operated by Davis and Burgess. The house has been closed for about six weeks . . . Coast Pictures has moved into the offices formerly occupied by Grand National. Coast previously shared space with Premier Pictures. Manny Hoffman and Sam Greenbaum have acquired distribution rights to Revolvo, a motor-powered advertising display setup for use in theatre lobbies, and have opened offices on Filmrow . . . George Smith, Paramount’s western district manager, planed to Denver to meet Charles Reagan, western division head, with whom he will embark on a tour of the company’s western exchanges. Astor Pictures has acquired release rights to “Vengeance in the Deep” . . . Frank Shindler, RKO Radio office manager, and Miss Leslie Mahana of Beverly Hills were married February 10 and are honeymooning at an undisclosed hideaway . . . Dave Cantor has temporarily shuttered his York, near Whittier. Directs "Flowing Gold" Hollywood — Lew Seiler will direct “Flowing Gold,” a Rex Beach story, scheduled to start February 19 on the Warner lot. B. F. SHEARER COMPANY “Theatre Equipment Specialists” Heywood-Wakefield Seats Wagner Silhouette Letters Motiograph Projectors 1964 So. Vermont RO. 1145 LOS ANGELES BOXOFFICE : : February 10, 1940 41