Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1941)

J^ARRY STEARN is the new manager at the Riviera, succeeding Louis Levitch who has been shifted to the Granada, Buffalo. He also handles the advertising for local Schine houses . . . Century offered plenty of horror last week when Charley Freeman’s house had “The Mad Doctor” and “The Monster and the Girl” on the same bill . . . Front-of-the-house employes in downtown theatres have organized as an affiliate of the Stagehands’ Union. Michael Mungovan. head of the stagehands, is now mapping a drive to organize similar employes in the neighborhoods. Officers of the new union are Henry Lemeraux of the Palace, president; Edward Reynolds, Regent, vice-president; Millie Garrison, Palace, treasurer, and Mary Fink, Loew’s, secretary. Madison promoted a “Valentine Sweetheart" party and dance. Patrons saw a double feature, then went upstairs to the ballroom for dancing . . . Schine’s Madison, Monroe and Riviera have abandoned Super-Bingo . . . Construction is slated to start in four weeks on a new 1,000seat house in suburban Brighton . . . Dividends of $1.50 per share on common and preferred stock have been declared by the directors of Eastman Kodak . . . A $727,000 army cojitract for cameras has been awarded to Folmer -Gar flex . . . Jay Golden of RKO Palace staged a cocktail party at the Rochester Club for civic leaders and newspapermen in connection with the preview of “Western Union.” Carl S. Hallauer, vice-president of Bausch & Lomb, has been named a director-at-large of the National Association of Manufacturers . . . Rochester’s 209th Coast Artillery, which went on active duty last week, packed the Monroe Theatre every day — for lectures on their duties . . . Niles Bouveng, liaison officer between Eastman Kodak and associated Kodak companies in Europe, died in Stockholm, according to word received here. He helped form a motion picture company in Sweden before becoming associated with Kodak . . . All but two Schine theatres helped Scouts celebrate National Boy Scout week by featuring stage programs put on by the boys. RKO Palace, Century and Regent have adopted the “9 O’clock Plan.” One of the daily papers, in an editorial, called it “an admirable scheme arid we are for it. It ought to satisfy both those who like a lot of movie and those who prefer to see one good picture from its beginning and get home at a reasonable hour” . . . Marion B. Folsom, treasurer of Eastman Kodak, has resigned from the executive post he has held on a part-time basis with the National Defense Advisory Commission. Dr. Grenville R. Holden, Kodak economic advisor, stays on with the commission on a full-time basis. Frank W. Lovejoy, Eastman prexy, received the Civic Medal of the Rochester Museum at a dinner Wednesday night in “recognition of eminence in the field of industrial science and community leadership” . . . Inter-theatre bowling matches are being held by Schine employes . . . On the local Overcoat for Britain com mittee are Col. Oscar N. Solbert, Charles Z. Case and Charles K. Flint of Eastman Kodak, and Carl Hallauer of Bausch & Lomb . . . Alvin Leonard, assistant manager at Loew’s, has completed his secondary flight training course at the local airport, is now eligible for a commercial pilot’s license. Ed Blase, Riviera assistant, has resigned . . . Eugene Chrystal, public relations counsel for Eastman, has retired. He’s a Class E member of the executive committee of the MPPDA . . . Lester Pollock, Loew’s manager, had about $25,000 worth of orientals hanging in the lobby for “Thief of Bagdad” , . . Tax refund of $84,881 went to Eastman Kodak for income and sales refunds to the parent company mid subsidiaries . . . Lowell MacMillan, WHEC announcer , who gave up a singing career for radio work, will return to his first love when he appears as soloist with the Rochester Civic Orchestra at the Eastman . . . Mike Mungovan says there’s nothing to the rumor that stagehands will take over the Embassy . . . Clayt Cornell has left the State to go to Tupper Lake. Charter Association Albany — National Theatre Owners Ass’n, Inc., was granted authority by the secretary of state to operate as a membership corporation. Attorney M. Walter Solomon, 1441 Broadway, recorded the papers. A IL B jyjAKING the exchanges: Pete Vournakis, Strand and Liberty, Watertown; Carl Nilman, Valatie, N. Y., and Wilmington, Vt.; George Thornton, Orpheum, Saugerties; Jerry LaRocque, Fairyland, Warrensburg; Sid Dwore, Cameo and Lincoln, Schenectady; Harry Savett, Faust, Antwerp and Port Leyden; Henry Frieder and Henry Grossman. Community, Warren and Star, Hudson; Neil Heilman, Hellman circuit, Albany and Troy; Grover Woodard, Burt’s, Luzerne; Mrs. Frieda Klein, Hunter, Hunter; Morris Slotnik, Water ville and Oriskany Falls; Frank Wieting, Park, Cobleskill; Deicher & Bernstein, Palace, Schenectady. Joe Sternberg, Franjo. Boonville, is vacationing in Miami . . . Eleanor Paradies, owner of the Hollywood exchange, Buffalo, was in Albany for a day . . . Clayton Cornell, manager of Schine’s State, Tupper Lake, and former manager of the circuit’s State in Rochester, married Helen Ellison, until recently cashier of Schine’s Rialto, Rochester . . . Scott Lester, 20th Century-Fox ad sales manager, is enjoying the tropical climate of the Bahamas . . . Edward J. Wall, new Paramount exploiteer in Albany and Buffalo territories, made his first visit to the local exchange. Tom Murray, supervisor of exchange operations for Universal, stopped at the local office . . . Universal Manager Jere Spandau returned from the convention in Chicago and then hopped to Cleveland with Capital College Students Addressed by Lewin Washington — Students of Trinity College, Dumbarton College, Immaculate College and Catholic University heard Albert Lewin, producer with David L. Loew of “So Ends Our Night,” lecture at the latter school. The talk was preceded by a luncheon at the Carlton Hotel, attended by officials of the schools. The event was under the sponsorship of Father Hartke, head of the drama department at Catholic University. See Little Likelihood Loew's Will Drop Rio New York — There is little chance Loew's will drop the Rio, on upper Broadway. While the circuit is operating currently on a short term arrangement, following a long term lease, it is pointed out no extended lease can be made until the lessor makes another commitment with the landlord first. This is expected shortly. Six tor Select New York — Myron C. Fagan has left for Hollywood to produce a series of six features in association with Celebrity Productions for release through Select Attractions. Production on the initial effort, “City of Missing Girls,” will get under way immediately with release for May 1. Salesman Charles Weil and Irving Shiffman for a district sales confab . . . Mrs. Rita Fiordilino, who answers the phone in such a pleasant voice at Universal, and Mrs. Catherine Burke, cashier, recently celebrated birthdays. Paul Bimstock is in the territory selling a quiz game as well as a?i encyclopedia set feature. Max Levine, who formerly had prize fight films, is also reported drumming up a quiz game. He once operated theatres in Buffalo . . . Columbia bunch received a cheery letter from Morris Cohn, now with quartermaster’s department, 27 th Division, at Fort McClellan, Ala. After three months of physical training, Morris will drive a truck, ’tis said. Two other Albanians now in khaki are Carl Hovey, former assistant manager at the Strand, and Irving Rosenstock, formerly of the Ritz and Strand. Christopher H. Buckley, Bennington, Vt., theatre owner, and Mrs. Buckley announced the engagement of their daughter, Jane Patricia, to Arnold G. Chapman jr. of Albany. Miss Buckley teaches at Bennington College of which she is an alumnus. Her dad, a few years ago Albany’s biggest independent operator, still owns the Harmanus Bleecker Hall site, on which Fabian circuit holds a long lease . . . Knickerbocker News ran two paragraphs on Boxoffice award to “The Philadelphia Story” as outstanding film released in January. 28 BOXOFFICE :: February 22, 1941