Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1941)

On the Occasion of a Visit — Renewing Hollywood acquaintances on the Paramount lot while visiting the film capital, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Britwar, of Associated Playhouses, Inc., of New York City, paused to exchange the time of day with Mary Martin and Don Ameche on the “Kiss the Boys Goodbye” set. Britwar is at the left, with Mrs. Britwar standing beside Ameche. (Continued from page 23) H. Haines plans to take his vacation after those studio conferences next month. William A. Scully, Universal’s general sales manager, and Jack Bowen, New York district manager for M-G-M, are losing themselves among the palms of Coral Gables and prepared to stick it out until about March 2 . . . Among a Paramount home office contingent supposedly sunning themselves in and around Miami Beach are Barney Balaban, Austin Keough, Stanton Griffis, Leonard Goldenson, Monty Gowthorpe and Walter Gross, circuit attorney . . . Aldyth Reichenbach, Balaban’s secretary, is vacationing at Umatilla, Fla. . . . Marge Leiczer, secretary to William F. Rodgers, flew to Havanna for a holiday. She decided on the plane because she has already made the same trip via boat and car, the latter as far as Florida, of course. Joe Hornstein is Miami-bound again, this tune by car . . . Oscar Levant is back from the coast where he appeared in “Kiss the Boys Goodbye” . . . Jane Seymour has deserted the Broadway footlights for a role in “Tom, Dick and Harry” . . . Marcel Rebiere and H. Maurice Lancaster, March of Time war correspondents, are here from abroad . . . Wendy Barrie flew in from the coast in time to make the State opening engagement. Lola Lane of the Lane Sisters also is on the bill . . . Dee Lawrence has left Paramount’s coast publicity setup to do a fashion column for NEA . . . Latest reports have it the RKO deal for the contemplated second Parkchester house is colder than Wednesday’s temperature, which was cold enough . . . J. J. (“Fitz”) Fitzgibbons of Famous Players Canadian was around during the week. Leo Cohen, head of WHN’s artist bureau, has written the lyrics to “With Your Permission” and Abner Silver aided in the music. Belle Baker, appearing at the State, Benny Fields and Mark Plant have been plugging the song which has been sent out to the M-G-M studio for possible inclusion in a forthcoming attraction . . . J. S. McLeod, head of M-G-M exchange operations, has returned from St. Louis, Cincinnati and a couple of other exchanges on the decree . . . Major Leslie E. Thompson is another homecomer from Palm Beach where he spent a few weeks’ vacation . . . Harry Brandt is practically packed for his departure for Miami soon . . . Oscar Morgan is planning a tour of Paramount southern branches, the first since he took over his new post of shorts subject sales manager. Norman H. Moray, Warner short subject sales manager, is off on his annual trip to exchanges to discuss plans for ’41-42. He will be gone eight weeks and end up at the studio where he will report findings to Jack L. Warner. George Burns, Grade Allen, Fred Allen, Jack Benny, Edward Everett Horton, Martha Raye, Phyllis Brooks, Martha Sleeper, Ezra Stone and Al Jolson are among the film folk who have contributed toward the support and “financial adoption” of 73 British refugee children in England, according to the Foster Parents’ Plan for War Children . . . Headed by Harry Hershfield as master of ceremonies, an array of Broadway talent provided entertainment for the 11 th annual dinner dance of the Columbian Club of Columbia at the Waldorf-Astoria on Saturday evening . . . Leon Fromkess of PRC has closed his lineup with British Empire Films, Ltd., for Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania . . . Lucille Watson is in town from the coast where she played a role in “Model Wife” . . . Lynn Farnol, getting set on his own public relations service, has closed for the Sam Goldwyn representation in the east, thereby renewing an old association. Morey Marcus, general manager for M-G-M in Japan, is back from a Havana vacation. He says plans to return to the Orient are indefinite . . . June Keller of National Screen has left to become the bride of Louis A. Salander the middle of next month. She plans a Washington honeymoon and will live in Vermont . . . E. K. “Ted” O’Shea has returned from a brief visit of exchanges under his supervision . . . Dan Frankel, who is in business for himself, is due to return from the coast early next week . . . Grade Fields appeared on the Music Hall special midnight show Friday. It was called “Carnival for Britain” . . . Harry Gold has not appointed a successor yet to Hugh Owen, southern UA district manager . . . Hal Horne and Dick Condon were in Chicago for the opening of “Fantasia” . . . Charles Kellenberg of 20th-Fox in Pittsburgh is vacationing in Miami . . . Bob Rubin plans to leave on a vacation very shortly . . . Tyree Dillard of M-G-M’s legal department is trying to make up for the vacation he spent down home in the Carolinas with the flu. He’s quite a horseman and fisherman. Homer Harmon and most of the Roxy publicity staff are beating a luncheon path to House of Chan . . . Robert Sherwood, 29-year-old Columbia producer who has just completed “Adam Had Four Sons,” is here from the coast . . . Ditto George Marshall, who has been signed by the same company to direct “Texas” . . . Joe Shea, who had been active in publicity for the Greek War Relief Ass’n, has left to take a post in the public relations department of the motion picture division of General Motors . . . Bill Grady, M-G-M talent scout, is in town from the coast for a looksee at the new shows . . . Susanna Foster, Dolly Loehr, another young Paramount player, a school-teacher and studio representative were here long enough for Miss Foster to take part in Kate Smith’s radio show . . . Ray Middleton has signed a longterm contract with Republic and left over the weekend for a lead role in “Lady From New Orleans.” Move for Allied Unil In New York Slate Albany — Steps for setting up a New York State organization, to be affiliated with National Allied, were taken at a meeting of independent exhibitors held in the DeWitt Clinton Hotel. A committee of four, entrusted with powers to name other committees, to fix a scale of dues, etc., was selected. Named to the committee were: Abe Stone, Eagle, Albany; Leonard Rosenthal, State, Troy; Morris Goldblatt of Tarrytown, and Max Cohen, Lydo, Brooklyn. About 25 exhibitors attended the meeting. A meeting in the Buffalo territory is to be held next month. At that time, representatives from Buffalo will be added to the committee. Formation of the temporary executive committee is to be followed by a statewide convention of exhibitors within a specified period. 24 BOXOFFICE :: February 22, 1941