Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1941)

§ HE A T T IL IE ^*HIS city is being bombarded with radio talks and outdoor advertising calling attention to the forthcoming election for mayor of Seattle. The field has now dwindled down to a mere 14. A few of the group have political background, but the rest are newcomers. One candidate is employing the showmanship of placing pretty girls on downtown street corners handing out cards. Only thing wrong with this gag was that the merchants got peeved because their doorways and corners are cluttered with cards. Betting among the “know-alls” favor a dark-horse, that is, as far as publicity is concerned, but the I'ace will be nip and tuck. Show business is happy that the two strongest candidates have been close to it for years. Due to the welcome given concert artists in this town, and what a welcome they receive, many have made hookings for the next few weeks. First will be Rachmaninoff, followed by Lawrence Tibbett, Kirsten Flagstad, Dorothy Maynor, Alec Templeton, Marian Anderson, Zino Francescatti, Arthur Rubenstein and other bookings still coming in . . . An oldtimer came to town last week, but he is of the sporting world. None other than Tommy Burns, former heavyweight champ. Tommy will reminiscence across a bar, having been granted membership in the bartenders union here . . . Technicolor pictures of Washington showing fishing and lumber industries, have been shown in 15,000 theatres and to 15,000,000 people, it is reported by Charles Larabee, chairman of the state progress commission. Four reels of the pictures were previewed by the senate and house in Olympia this week. Biggest gathering of the week was for the one-day visit of Jimmy Grainger, general sales manager for Republic. Jimmy arrived by plane, was rushed to the Washington Athletic Club to be greeted by 30 some odd exhibitors and friends. Party was hosted by J. T. Sheffield, president of Republic of the Northwest, while Eddie Walton did the greeting. Reporters and photographers from all papers were on hand. Among those at the luncheon were John Danz, Frank Newman sr., Fred Mercy sr. and jr., J. von Herberg, Leroy V. Johnson, Bill Forman, A1 Rosenberg, Frank Christie, Jack Rosenberg, B. F. Shearer, Clarence Innis, E. Blaine, Tommy Tomlinson, Joe Cooper, Paul Mcllhinney, A1 Baker, Ed Halberg, Sid Dean, Lee Kirby, Jack Sampson, Paul Bangasser, Dick Hays, Gil Brown, Fred Carter and Doug Welsh. George Giroux, field representative for Technicolor Motion Picture Corp., on the Row from Hollywood . . . Morrie Segel back from the east of the mountain trip . . . Howard Taylor in from Sequin and plenty busy . . . Jimmy Ewing in from Auburn and toting a transformer . . . Visitor this week is Charles Coburn, noted character actor. He came to give the talent at the University the once-over . . . Word from Chicago and the Universal sales meet tells that Gordon Craddock has been named assistant to Bill Heineman. This is the same Craddock of the “ Tillie ” fame of Portland. Good luck to you Gordon. H. H. Hull will succeed him as bra?ich manager of the Indianapolis office. Bill Shartin, head of the local Warner branch, is back in the hospital but not from the last complaint. This time Bill got a sore foot and blood poison set in the leg. Nothing to report as yet . . . Howard Stubbins, president of Monogram of California, after spending several days here with Bill Duggan jr., local manager, has left for Portland and way points . . . Henry Kaufman, manager of Metro exchange operations, also off for Portland after doing his chores in the local exchange. Kaufman is from the New York office . . . Jack Burk and Louie Goldsmith of RKO back from the Spokane and way points . . . Rachael Caraco and June Pritchard lunching on the Row. ’Member June for many years with Metro? Word from Denver that Jimmy Morrison, branch manager for Fox, is coming along nicely after that flu attack . . . Ray Grombacher visiting the Row from Portland; also Ollie Hartman from Grand Coulee. Ollie looks great following an illness . . . Sue Perunko over from Tacoma for the Valentine Party . . . Don Glover and wife along with the Washington State basketball team getting a real kick out of the double bills . . . Sid and Mrs. Dean enjoying the whole evening . . . Prize winning double features, “Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga” and “I’m Still Alive;” “She Couldn’t Say No” and “He Stayed for Breakfast’ and loads of others . . . One sheets will be left hanging in the club quarters and titles changed each week. Best suggested title will be given a special award ... If you belong to a local service club, this is not a bad idea for some ID) IE N J^ICK RICKETSON, manager of the Fox Intermountain theatres, has made the following managerial changes: Sterling Way has been moved from the Lotus and Orpheum at Sheridan, Wyo., to the Boulder at Boulder, Colo.; Charles Morehead moves from the America at Ft. Collins, Colo., to the Sheridan position: Harry Ashton, formerly at the Boulder, is now manager of the America at Ft. Collins; Don Smith, acting manager at the Boulder, Boulder, goes to Cheyenne to assist Fred Glass; L. C. Snyder, formerly owner of the State, Ft. Collins, has gone to work for Fox as manager of the Lyric there. Bob Dane, former assistant manager at the Ogden Theatre here, has been signed by 20 th Century-Fox as a stock player. Dane was urged to take a screen test by Tyrone Power, when Power was in Denver last summer on vacation . . . The Denver Theatre is getting new lighting in its vertical sign together with a new front. And a new uniform for their seven-foot doorman. Bernie Hynes, manager, says it costs almost as much to outfit him as it does the rest of the staff. Buzz Briggs, manager of the State Theatre, in company with Dan Lehrburger, a Goodslein Brings Case To Denver Arbiter Denver — The first case to come before the Denver arbitration board is one in which the Jos. J. Goodstein Enterprises, Inc., are seeking relief under Sec. XXII, Sub. 9. He claims that his Longmont Theatre at Longmont, Colo., is at a disadvantage in buying product in competition with the Fox Longmont in the same town. Goodstein claims that seven companies, three of them signers of the decree, refuse to sell him films, leaving him only the product of RKO, Vitagraph and Republic. Tire three decree-signing companies against whom the complaint is filed are 20th Century-Fox, Loew’s (M-G-M) and Paramount. Also named as refusing to sell him product are Universal, Columbia, United Artists and Monogram. The Fox Longmont, named in the complaint, is operated by Fox Intermountain, while Goodstein operates the Longmont Theatre. thing different if you are on the entertainment committee. The eighth annual theatre conference under the direction of the University of Washington division of drama has officially opened. Over 200 delegates are on hand. Milton Lewis, talent scout for Paramount, is guest of honor . . . Mr. and Mrs. Ed Davis, brother-in-law and sister of Alys Johnson, who have been visiting here for a few days, off to their home in Helena, Mont. . . . With the slogan “Our Symphony Marches On,” the Seattle Symphony will soon hold its annual sustaining fund campaign. Goal this season is $30,000. V IE R former theatreman, and Dr. Arthur Clark, have gone to Phoenix, Ariz., for a short vacation . . . Duke W. Dunbar, for years formerly secretary of the Denver film board of trade, has been appointed an assistant attorney general, and now makes his headquarters at the state capital. Ralph W. Abbott of the Jam Handy Productions in Denver for a week from his Los Angeles headquarters. He is making his headquarters at their Denver representative— the Monogram exchange. Lon T. Fidler writes from California, where he is vacationing, that anyone who envies him his vacation should take a look at the pictures he sent his secretary and office manager, Miss Rose Agren. They show the results of the heavy “dew” — one where an automobile is half covered by flood waters. Fred Footman of the Peak and Chief theatres, Colorado Sprmgs, was seen on the Row dating films and buying supplies . . . The Palace Theatre, grind house on Curtis Street, is shining with a new redecorating job along with new leather upholstered seats, and a complete overhauling of booth equipment. 36 BOXOFFICE :: February 22, 1941