Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1941)

Hear Van Derveer Plainl Shortly Chicago — The initial complaint filed with Clerk John F. Sullivan here on February 13 by E. F. Van Derveer, operator of the independently owned State in Morris, 111., against Loew’s, Inc., Chicago, is expected to be heard shortly. In his complaint, filed under Section 6 of the consent decree, Van Derveer claims inability to obtain second run Metro product. Indirectly affected by the complaint is the Anderson circuit with headquarters in Morris, who operate about a dozen theatres in downstate Illinois. The circuit owns the Morris and Times, competing houses to Van Derveer’s State. Morris, 111., which is a town of 6,000 located 60 miles from Chicago, has three theatres. The Morris is a 690-seat house with a 33 cents admission, the Times a 350-seat house with a 20 cents admission while the State, a 540-seat house, has a 20 cents admission. The complaint, filed personally by Van Derveer, no lawyer being involved in the proceedings, read as follows: “E. F. Van Derveer claims that Loew’s, Inc., has arbitrarily refused to license second run pictures for exhibition at the State Theatre, Morris, Illinois, despite the fact that said exhibitor can satisfy reasonable minimum standards of theatre operation and is reputable and responsible. “Van Derveer asks that the arbitrator direct Loew’s, Inc., to offer its pictures for license to him for exhibition in said theatre on a run to be designated by Loew’s, Inc., and upon terms and conditions fixed by Loew’s, Inc., which are in accordance with the consent decree.” On March 1, 16 days following the filing of the initial complaint, Loew’s, Inc., is to receive a list of arbitrators from Clerk Sullivan from which they can make their choice. It is understood they must return their selection of arbitrators immediately upon receipt of the list. William Crouch Resigns UTOI Secretaryship Springfield, III. — William F. Crouch has resigned as executive secretary of United Theatre Owners of Illinois. The association will continue under the direction of President Edward G. Zorn of Pontiac. No successor to Crouch will be named, it is reported. Crouch experienced his second car crash in fbur weeks near Bloomington. His car was demolished in a head-on collision on a slippery highway, but he escaped with cuts and bruises. The other crash occurred in the northern part of the state. Reider Strives for Shubert St. Louis — Sam Reider, veteran burlesque theatre operator, who made an unsuccessful attempt to reopen the Shubert Theatre with a girl show several weeks ago, is reported to be organizing a stock dramatic troupe. He hopes to reopen the Shubert with stock drama at an early date. ti =* Clearance Complaint Filed in Chicago Chicago — Landis and Landis, law firm, in behalf of the Ken Theatre, Chicago, filed a complaint against Paramount, 20th-Fox, and RKO on Tuesday. February 18, over clearance. The theatre claims the companies are giving clearance to Schoenstadt's Shakespeare Theatre and are not giving Ken clearance over Schoenstadt's Pix Theatre. V* ~ J-> Racing Legalization Measure Up in Wis. Madison, Wis. — Latest measure introduced in the state legislature to cause exhibitors some concern is a bill to legalize horse racing authored by Assemblyman Nicholas J. Bichler, Ozaukee. In commenting upon the measure, Bichler said: “There have been similar bills in the past which failed of passage because of the setup backing them. This time a reputable group, composed almost exclusively of Wisconsin citizens, is sponsoring the measure.” Bichler said that when racing is illegal, the people of the state send huge sums elsewhere in race horse bets. He believes that Wisconsin ought to be getting “a legal tax on that money.” The Murray daylight saving proposal has not yet been reported out of committee. Illinois Allied Unit Re-elecis Officers Chicago — All officers were re-elected at the luncheon -meeting of Illinois Allied Wednesday at the Congress Hotel, including Van Nomikos, vice-president; Richard Salkin, secretary-treasurer, and Harry Nepo, sergeant-at-arms. Jack Kirsch heads the group, he having been elected president last year for a three-year term. A regular business meeting was also on the agenda with the following subjects slated to be brought up for discussion: the consent decree, the Ascap-BMI situation and theatre-cooperation with national defense. Kirsch, when interviewed by Boxoffice prior to the meeting, said business among the Allied members the first month this year has been ahead of 1940. He attributed this, in part, to the Ascap-BMI fight but mainly due to the fact that member-theatres had a month of top-notch films to play in January. Kirsch said he was planning on leaving for Miami Beach, Fla., on Sunday to join his family currently vacationing there. Four Chicago theatres have joined Allied the past couple weeks and were expected to be represented at the February 19 meeting. Theatres, together with their owners, are: Oakley — Lester Retchin; Ken — Bennie Banowitz and John Landis; Rockne — Saul M. Meltzer, and the Louis — John Welsh. Joins "Parachute Battalion" Hollywood — Harry Carey has joined the cast of RKO’s “Parachute Battalion.” — Loop Photo Service Hollywood Duet in Windy City — Susanna Foster, 16-year-old singing star of Paramount’s “Hard-Boiled Canary,” and Dolly Loehr, W-year-old pianist who is also featured in the film, entertain a Chicago trio during the starlets’ recent visit. Directly behind the piano are: Jim Donohue, Paramount branch manager in Chicago; Geraldine Hamburg and Geraldine’s father, Harry Hamburg, Paramount sales manager in Chicago. Geraldine may be featured in the Paramount “Quiz Kids” shorts which will probably be released this fall. BOXOFFICE :: February 22, 1941 C 37