Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1941)

Schwarz Starts Move For Variety Club Los Angeles — Harold Schwarz, assistant to the president of Alexander Preview Co., which recently opened branch offices here, is launching a movement for the establishment of a Variety Club in this territory. Other Variety members locally include Hugh Braley, district manager for Paramount; William Calloway, Warner branch manager, and Herb McIntyre, RKO Radio’s western district head. McIntyre holds the first life membership ever given by the Dallas tent of the organization. Schwarz is predicating his campaign for the establishment of a local branch on the position that this is the world’s film capital. j^OUIS EBERT, Madras exhibitor, was elected a member of the Jefferson county chamber of commerce for a threeyear term . . . Ben Ryland’s mother, who is confined to a hospital, is reported improving . . . Oregon PCCITO’s quarterly meeting recently took up current theatre problems . . . Spring is here in earnest. Howard Mapes is going fishing again. He says he isn’t catching any, but that he’s having a swell time trying. The Star in Portland changed hands and brought a familiar figure back into theatre circles. Jack Cave , long identified with the Third Avenue and Novelty theatres, took over at the Star with the statement that, once the picture business gets into your system it’s there for keeps . . . Al Finke, local head for Hamrick-Evergreen Theatres, has returned from Los Angeles after attending a company meeting there ■ . . Cleve Preston is recovering from the effects of overwork and is sojourning in the Portland Sanitarium for a few more days. Cleve operates the Firefly in Portland as well as the Sellwood Pharmacy across the street from the theatre. Visitors: George Roy, State, Eugene; Oscar Phelps, Venetian and Hill, Hillsboro; Carl Porter, Capitol and Elsinore, Salem; Ken Spears, Roxy, Winlock; West Johnson, Heilig and Mayflower, Eugene; Don Radabaugh, Rose and Indian, Roseburg; Mrs. Verne Ross, Ross, Toledo; Earl Baltazaar, Rainier, Rainier; Mrs. Hartman, Esta, Estacada; Tracy Poorman, Bungalow, Woodburn; Basil Bashor, Liberty, Kelso; Roy Webster, Lorin, Stevenson; E. M. McCoy, Hiway, Oakridge, and Claude Smith, Castle and Coliseum theatres, Tillamook. Mrs. Harriet Edwards is back in bed again following a few weeks of convalescence from a serious illness. “Man Hunt" Lang's Next Hollywood — Fritz Lang’s first under his new directorial pact at 20th-Fox is “Man Hunt.” •^HE Golden Gate celebrated its 19th anniversary with a stage show that was “terrific.” Carmen Miranda and her Banda Da Lau rhythm orchestra topped the bill that included Billy Gilbert, the sneezy comedian, and the dancing Hartmans. The Gate is the only theatre in town offering stage shows . . . Jerry Leon, Arch Bowles’ secretary and office majordomo at Fox West Coast, is at St. Francis Hospital for a major operation . . . This was Greek collection week at all local theatres . . . Gypsy Rose Lee has replaced Sally Rand as the opening attraction at the “Stairway to the Stars” Club . . . Warner took no chances with the premiere of the “Sea Wolf,” assigning four of their high-powered publicists to the job . . . Kay Kyser in town renewing acquaintances . . . The Paramount used Western Union for distribution of their throwaways on “The Lady Eve.” George Mann has announced April 12 as the opening day for his new Tower in Klamath Falls. The house was completely equipped, inside and out, by National Theatre Supply . . . Herb Griffin, vicepresident of International Projection Co., in town calling on accounts . . . Warner is giving its exchange a new spring outfit — repainting and redecorating throughout . . . Norman Moray, Vitaphone sales manager, spending a few days on the Row . . . Ralph Marks of the Acme leaves the Dante Hospital for home after five weeks recuperating from a recent operation . . . H. Bluechel has obtained the San Francisco franchise for the new Evans automatic popcorn machine. L. C. “Butch” Wingham, M-G-M manager, off for a two-week vacation . . . Bill Burke, home office representative, visiting local RKO exchange . . . Ground has been broken for a theatre in San Miguel . . . Richard Schmidt, army booker out of Seattle, making one of his routine booking trips to the Row. This time, however, he has almost twice as much product to obtain because of the great increase in the army theatres . . . Joe E. Brown will represent the industry at the big dinner being held March 29 for Connie Mack, baseball’s veteran manager . . . Universal sneaked “Nice Girl?” at the Orpheum . . . Nancy McPhee is the new steno at Monogram. The Golden Gate is installing three new projectors . . . Arthur Peck of Dixon went to Reno over the weekend and got himself married . . . The hotels have booked some fine orchestras to maintain the high standard of dining room music that exists in this city. Leighton Noble will follow Henry King into the Mark Hopkins, Ozzie Nelson will replace Glen Gray at the Palace, and Richard Himber’s stay has been extended at the St. Francis. Social event of the week was the marriage of Margaret Roberta McNeil to Rex Stevenson. The bride is the daughter of Robert A. McNeil, head of the Golden State circuit, and Rex has been employed as booker for the same organization since coming here a year ago from Seattle. The wedding and reception was held at Del Monte . . . The Brisbane in Brisbane will be opened in mid-April. Rane Poirier is owner-operator . . . Al Bioom, UA representative in Seattle, is visiting Roy Cooper . . . Mel Hulling off for Los Angeles and a national meeting of the Monogram franchise holders . . . Adam Schukart has joined National Theatre Supply as salesman. Ann Sheridan, George Brent, Merle Oberon arid Linda Darnell participated in “ Liberty Day for Greece ” on Tuesday. The stars appeared at Bay Meadows where a charity card helped swell the fund. In the evening, the Hollywood celebs did repeat performances at a Ball at the Civic Auditorium . . . D. J. McNerney, United Artists manager, back after an eastern jaunt . . . A sure sign of spring was Dan Tocchini, who appeared on the Row sporting a new light blue chapeau . . . O. H. Watson, formerly with UA here, visiting old friends on the Row . . . “The Great Dictator” returns to the United Artists at popular prices April 12 . . . Bill David of the Redwood Theatres can be seen flying over the city practically every Sunday. Bill flys his own plane. Mary Boland deserts the sound stages for a period and returns to the stage opening at the Curran here on April 14 in Lynn Starling’s “Meet the Wife” . . . Gerald Karski is back in his office after a trip to Salt Lake and Portland . . . Pat Patterson is back after a week in Salt Lake . . . Murray Phillips has resigned his position with Western Poster to go into the auto game. Booking: Clyde Church, American, Kingsburg ; Harry Hayaschino, Star, Stockton; Charlie Gray, Westside, Newman; Stanley Court, Court. Livingston; E. Stephanie, Isleton, Isleton. Adds City Post — Meet the newest member of the Los Angeles fire commission. He is Charles W . Koerner, west coast division manager for RKO Theatres, who was given his appointment by Mayor Fletcher Bowron. BOXOFFICE :: March 29, 1941 85