Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1941)

IIL MM C €> 1L M QRVILLE Rennie (remember him?), manager of Hastings, Neb., radio station KHAS since it opened last fall as the state’s 13th broadcasting link, has resigned and is looking around for a place to settle. He was formerly city manager of TriStates Theatres in Hastings and Omaha, before radio. Reason for the resignation, it’s understood, was a row about commissions . . . News that Hymie Novitsky was fined for jaywalking was a source of amusement to Bob Livingston, whose Capitol is still being host to a policeman and his family every week (it’s gone on for 57 weeks now), because Bob used him to fix a ticket for Hymie here . . . News that Evert Cummings is a vice-president in the Greek War Relief campaign. Down Miami way are the George Monroe Srs., there for two reasons — it’s warm, and Hialeah . . . When Eddie Shafton heard that 3,000 applicants for the fobs of army hostesses were turned down because they “ misunderstood ” the qualifications, he, big man that he is, took the blame for misleading a third of them . . . So?ne guy was bragging to Sol Yeager about having a car so big he couldn’t see his radiator cap. Sol put the gent in his place by saying he couldn’t see his either, after he cracked into somebody who horseshoed his auto hood . . . Speaking of auto accidents, there’s also Dean Pohlenz, the Journal’s film editor, who had one and got booked by the police for an improper turn . . . And also, there’s Barney Oldfield, the army man, who was fust sued for $2,500 on an auto crash he had in Minnesota way last August. In case Wally Johnson wondered, nobody heard Sonja Henie asking about him . . . Alvin Hendricks used to be afraid to open his mail for fear he’d find out he was fired, and now he’s afraid to open it for fear he’ll find he’s hired — by Uncle Sam! . . . The Lincoln Theatres Corp. basketball team is getting better, and will continue to improve, Paul Anderson says, if the “Gone With the Wind” type of bookings let up. Boys were so busy ushering last week, they couldn’t get in their practice. Nobody has been able to pin marriage on Vinnie DiFiore yet, and two or three time now, his gals have had him doubled, re-doubled and vulnerable . . . Bob Huffman says Milton Berle is pretty with his new nose, but he’ll never be a romantic threat. A romancer , Bob estimates, is one who uses his mouth to gag another, not as the avenue by which a gag becomes articulate. Probably one of the loudest femme laughs you hear via the Jack Benny program each week comes from Mrs. Bob Livingston, wife of the Capitol manager, because she’s on the coast and a good friend of Phil Harris . . . Gus Arnheim, the orchestra leader, has been playing Nebraska, and amazed himself by finding it’s the birthplace of one of his most famous one-time girl singers, who went to the films as Shirley Ross . . . Joe Scott, the 20th-Century-Foxer, wondered who got those soldiers to give that 105-pound Valentine made of ice to Sonja Henie. Start a New One — F. L. (Doc) Lowe, left, and W. A. Snell, his partner, at the site for their new theatre in Lebanon, Mo. Sidewalls are starting on the 600 -seater, which is scheduled for opening the latter part of March. That gadget with the microphone complexion atop the sign is an RCA insignia, whose Don (Hi-Fi) Davis couriered the photo for Boxoffice. Grove, Kinsky Upped Following Cummings Des Moines — H. D. Grove, manager of the Fort Theatre in Rock Island, 111., this week was promoted to a Tri-States Theatres district managership following resignation of Evert Cummings. Cummings, veteran district chieftain in the Omaha area, is dropping out of the Tri-States organization to head a circuit of his own houses in the Pacific northwest. Joseph Kinsky is the new district manager in Omaha for Tri-States Theatres, succeeding Cummings. Kinsky comes to Omaha from Davenport, la., where he has been head of the eastern Iowa district for Tri-States for the past seven years. Grove takes his place, and A. G. Stolte, Tri-States third district manager, continues to head houses in the Des Moines district. Prior to joining the A. H. Blank interests, District Manager Elinsky was with the Fox Midwest circuit and during his theatre career managed several of the larger theatres in the Chicago loop area. Grove has been associated with A. H. Blank in theatre enterprises since before the first world war. He was an operator at the Casino Theatre here when Blank had an interest in that house and handled the Garden Theatre at Davenport for A. H. later. While managing the Fort at Rock Island, he has filled in for Kinsky at times when the district manager was out of the city. The first move on his program in his new position will be the transfer of TriStates district offices from the Capitol Theatre in Davenport to the Fort in Rock Island. <0> Mil A Mi A £J,OOD LUCK and farewell to Evert R. Cummings, district manager for TriStates Theatres in Omaha for a dozen years. Among his many attributes is the fact that he is one of the best dressed men in the film industry. The fellows that worked under Evert in the Omaha district are sorry to see him go, and that’s a real tribute to a boss. The only thing Cummings and Boxoffice ever disagreed on was the proper tobacco mixture for a pipe. Carl Kozlik of Alexander Film says business has been very good, in fact January was a record month. Carl lives in Omaha and has the Nebraska territory for Alexander . . . Slim Fraser, the smiling exhibitor from Havelock, Neb., was in town. Also the two cigar-smoking lads, Frank Good of Red Oak, la., and Lou Ireland of Logan, la. .. . Mike Roth is having the front of his theatre at Anita, la., repainted i?i readiness for spring business. Exhibitor Shoecraft, the new theatre owner at Walnut, la., also owns the town’s leading cafe . . . Mary Francis is wearing a pin from one of the Third Infantry lads stationed at Fort Crook. What about the army boy that went to the west coast, Mary? . . . Frank Pace, exhibitor at Malvern, la., has acquired a filling station at the north end of the town. Pace has finally found a way to get back at the film peddlers, according to our scouts. He’s going to trade gas and oil for films! Wally Johnson, the fair-haired exhibitor at Friend and Exeter, Neb., is back in these parts after a pleasant six weeks on the west coast. Wally and his girl spotted in one of the larger department stores, and in the household department, too . . . Sid McArdle, United Artists booker, wants to buy a home in the west end of Omaha. A petition against the plan probably will be presented to the city council or somebody by Frank Pavelec, Brandeis operator, and Boxoffice, who live in that section of the city. Herman Fields, Clarinda, la., was trying to eat lunch and at the same time listen to the Monogram cutups, Sol Francis and Sol Yeager . . . Bruce Holdrege, exhibitor at Shenandoah, la., has had a bad cold, but is recovering . . . Harold Stewart, former operator at Shenandoah, la., at the State, is now working at the new Our Theatre at Hawarden, la. George Blackwell , Buddy Harris in New Company Kansas City — George C. Blackwell of the Kansas City Poster Exchange and Buddy Harris of the Buddy Harris Poster Exchange in Dallas, Tex., have formed a partnership for the operation here of the Bhasco Poster Service. Blackwell will manage the company’s affairs here, while Harris will remain in charge of the Dallas firm. Organized approximately eight months ago, the Kansas City Poster Exchange has been under the joint management of Blackwell and Jim Weakley. 50 BOXOFFICE :: February 22, 1941