Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1941)

The Exhibitor — The Actor — Both are Joseph J. Greene : One as his patrons at the Raymond Theatre in San Diego see him in front of the house, and the other as the same patrons see him on the screen of the Raymond, portraying a role in M-G-M’s ‘‘Wild Man of Borneo.” LOS ANGELES Sure to Put Forth Marketing Effort Pasadena — Probably the one man in the United States who not only is an exhibitor, but also acts in the motion pictures he books, is Joseph J. Greene, operator of the Raymond Theatre here. Greene, a portly character player, is an old-time vaudevillian who took over the Raymond Theatre about three years ago. Recently he appeared in a production at the Pasadena Community Playhouse, at which time an RKO Radio studio scout observed his performance, and Greene was signed to appear in a two-reel Leon Errol comedy, “The Fired Man.” He has since had roles in M-G-M’s “The Wild Man of Borneo” and Paramount’s “Las Vegas Nights.” He also serves as master of ceremonies at a weekly amateur show in his theatre, which is the last-run house in the community. Prior to coming to Pasadena Greene was general manager of the Southtown Theatres, a circuit of nine houses, in Kansas City. s he a ir ir il ie (Continued from preceding page) sen-von Herberg theatres, taking a few hours off to celebrate his birthday . . . Mr. and Mrs. Bill James along with Mr. and Mrs. McHenry of Vashion Island, guests of George Blair at a preview . . . Mickey de Leo in from Port Townsend . . . M. G. Whitman of Ujiiversal back to his territory in the Spokane district after a few days here. B. F. Shearer back from his trip to Canada. He spent a couple of days in Vancouver . . . Harry Newman in from Linden . . . Ned Edris and Bill Conner in from Tacoma . . . Colonel Dow over from Bremerton . . . E. S. Olson in from Port Blakeley . . . Bernie Milligan, press agent for Kay Kyser, in town ahead of the hilarious maestro . . . Jack Goldsmith and his wife, Lil, asking information about Harry Mills. Jack announces he has found a new location and will move in the near future. For your information, Harry Mills is still in Hollywood and working for a radio station . . . Arvid M. Ahlskog qualifying as a cosmetic expert, but only on price . . . Joan Miles resigning from one “greeters” spot to take over the same duties at the Rhodes department store . . . Ted Champion being mistaken for Jack Sampson and both resenting it . . . Cliff and Mrs. Chellew of the Liberty taking time out for a preview . . . Frank Christie conducting a managers’ meeting. Al Wilson and Frank Hixon being congratulated in news colony for their excellent cocktail party to launch campaign for the ‘T941 Ice Follies.” Great gang on hand including representatives from all dailies and heads of the Civic Auditorium . . . Jim Douglas waiting to get photos from Jerry Ross. H. (BUD) LOLLIER, in charge of tax matters for Fox West Coast, pulled out for northern California on an inspection tour . . . Guest of honor at a dinner at the Cocoanut Grove was Catherine Reynolds, manager of the Rialto. She was feted by Lawrence and Sherrill Cohen, owners of the house, upon her 16th anniversary with the theatre. Miss Reynolds started out as a cashier in 1926. Alma Lang, secretary-booker at M-G-M, is at the bedside of her sister, Ina, who is in a critical condition at General Hospital after an operation. Several blood transfusions have been necessary . . . George Alderman of Constance Bennett Cosmetics is in from a business jaunt around the key cities. A. J. O’Keefe, Universal’s western district manager, is back in town after a swing around the territory . . . Murray Fisher, office manager at Producers Releasing Corp., baked that cold out during the weekend at Palm Springs and is on the job again . . . Leo Miller, booker for the Warner Theatres, checked out for Oregon, Washington, and Northern California on an inspection trip of Warner houses . . . Guy Gunderson, United Artists salesman, is again handling the annual Filmrow Relief Fund benefit dance, to be held April 18 at the Breakfast Club. Music will be supplied by Rudolf Friml and his orchestra. Business connected with theatres which they operate on the islands is taking Adolph Ramish and Lewis Rosen to Honolulu. They sailed aboard the S. S. Lurline . . . Sam Milner, Universal salesman, is down in the Arizona territory for a few days ... In for bookings: Jack Goldberg, of the Ben Bronstein circuit; Gene Berkhoff, operator of the Cinema; Jack Berman, Eastland circuit. It was only acute indigestion, not ap pendicitis as she had feared. So that emergency ambulance ride to the hospital was just a false alarm as far as Elsie Schultz, inspectress at M-G-M, was concerned . . . Daphne Card has replaced Claire Bruce at the switchboard at Columbia . . . Kenny MacKaig, United Artists salesman, has been covering the Imperial Valley territory. Bess Emanuel of Foreign Films exchange pulled out for San Francisco to establish Bay City distribution for Spin-O-Wheel, boxoffice stimulant . . . Booking : C. J. Alden, Fox, Globe, Ariz.; M. Barnett, Rex, Oakland; Earl Strebe, Palm Springs and El Plaza theatres. Palm Springs . . . Republic’s “A Man Betrayed” opened at the Orpheum as a first-run. Mike Levinson, independent distributor, has checked out for San Francisco on business . . . Katharine Wallace, who was formerly in the billing department at M-G-M, has returned to that office temporarily to pinch-hit for Sarah Sachs, who has taken a leave of absence because of poor health. Foster Blake, Universal salesman, is covering the Bakersfield territory . . . Lane Nichols, former office clerk at M-G-M and now with Uncle Sam’s draft army, was the recipient of a carton of cigarettes forwarded to him by the gang . . . Booking: Joe Sloate of the Maynard; George Diamos, Lyric Amusement Co., Tucson, Ariz.; George Harter, operator of the Arlen. Booking: Bill Kohler and Larraine Valuskis of the Valuskis in Willowbrook; E. Neharro, Alvarado, Alvarado: E. P. Molina, in from Placentia . . . Ted Goldsmith, in charge of the checker’s report at M-G-M, has left to join the army. No replacement as yet. BOXOFFICE :: March 29, 1941 H 83