Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1941)

pEARL LEVY, having decided to devote full time to house-wifely duties, was given a farewell luncheon by fellow Warner employes at the Congress. Pearl, an assistant cashier, has been with Warner for 15 years . . . Irving Schlank, district manager for UA, reports he has sold “The Great Dictator” for popular -priced runs to B&K and Publix-Great States. The Chaplin film will be shown at the B&K Roosevelt. Jack Benny will be in Chicago to appear on the “Show of Shows” at the Civic Opera House . . . Following are the Chicago chairmen of the amusement di VAN VECHTEN VEEDER vision of the Greek War Relief Ass’n: John Balaban, Jack Kirsch, Hal Halperin, Jules J. Rubens, James Coston, John L. Manta, Van A. Nomikos, Harry A. Reckas, S. J. Gregory and Michael Todd. Abe Fischer, now branch manager for Producers Releasing Corp. here, will join the sales staff of UA on Monday, according to Bennie Eisenberg, UA branch manager. Fischer will be the south-side salesman . . . Morris Heilman is covering suburban and country territory for UA . . . Felix A. Jenkins, secretary and general attorney for 20th Century-Fox, who represented the company at the recent arbitration hearing, conferred with Branch Manager Clyde Eckhardt, before returning to New York. Bob Montgomery, “Fantasia” publicist, says that children are now admitted for half-price to all performances. An extra performance starting at 10:40 Saturday mornings has been added to the regular schedule . . . Employes at the CapitolMonogram exchange are busy on the annual “Our Gang” Drive honoring Henri Elman. Ott O'Toole, M-G-M booker, has returned from his California vacation . . . Another returning vacationer is Sally Gold, assistant cashier at the same exchange who acquired a nice coat of Florida tan . . . Bill Bishop, M-G-M exploiteer, met Edward Arnold, Maureen O’Sullivan and Judy Garland, when they came through town the past week eastward bound. Arnold disclosed that he has signed a twoyear contract with M-G-M. Miss O'Sullivan had her 20-month-old son, Michael, with her on the trip. Roy Hanson, manager of the Vogue, East Chicago, plans on leaving the Indiana-llli7iois circuit, April 19. Roy plans on entering the insurance business in Goshen, Hid. . . . Felix Mendelssohn reports that the Windsor, owned by Harry and Elmer Balaban, and the Midwest, Schoenstadt house, will soon start the Constance Bennett Cosmetics deal. The Midwest is scheduled to start April 16 and 17 . . . “Duke” Hickey is back at his desk following a recent siege of intestinal flu. Duke plans on returning to the NSS New York office shortly. Eddie Haferkamp, who has been covering the Indiana and Illinois territory for National Screen for the past three years, will join the Paramount sales staff in Milwaukee on Monday . . . Joe Katzoff, former NSS salesman in New York, is now working out of Chicago . . . Monroe Rubinger, WB exploiteer, says that the first week’s business of "Meet John Doe” at the Mary Anderson, Louisville, broke the house record. Alex Halperin, WB Theatres booker, has returned from his Florida vacation . . . Fred Bartow, Paramount exploiteer, planted a “ Lady Eve” contest in the Herald-American. The picture, with Allan Jones on the stage, is currently doing big business at the Chicago . . . Jack Kirsch, Illinois Allied prexy, is expected back from his Florida vacation Monday. Universal branch manager, Mannie Gottlieb, had a trade showing of Deanna Durbin’s “Nice Girl?” at the Palace Monday night. The preview was given as part of the regular show . . . Edward R. Budd, with the Guercio-Barthel Co. in Chicago and Indianapolis for the past three years, has joined National Theatre Supply Co. as salesman in the Chicago area . . . Leo Vames, manager of the Lincoln, Van Nomikos house, is a recent draftee. Jack Lieberthal, salesman for Joe Goldberg, says he wouldn’t be surprised if Uncle Sam calls him any day now. Jack is a seco?id lieute7iant in the Field Artillery Reserve Corps . . . Bra7ich Ma7iager Ben7iie Eisenberg says the local UA exchange is in fourth place in the Arthur W . Kelly sales drive which will e7id April 19 . . . Al Dezel reports the sale of the twin-bill, “Virgm Bride” and “School for Husba7ids,” to the e7itire Publix-Great States circuit. Marion Shields, bookkeeper with National Theatre Supply, has returned to work following a week spent at the Chicago Memorial Hospital because of a sinus infection . . . Eric Branton, German refugee who recently came to this country from Cuba, is now working for the Midwest Film Exchange . . . The local RKO exchange is conducting a sales drive from April 5 to 11 in honor of District Manager Walter Bramson. — Wide World — Blank & Stoller GEORGE W. ALGER ALBERT W. PUTNAM They'll Hear the Ken Appeal — The three members of the motion picture arbitration appeals board who will decide the industry’s first appeal from the decision of a local tribunal in operation under the co7isent decree. The case probably will be the appeal of the Ken Theatre, Chicago, from a ruluig by Arbitrator Charles P. Mega7i dismissing the complaint 071 the ground it involved run and not clearance. Essaness Notes: Red Edmson is the new manager at the Devon succeeding Red Morris who has been transferred to the Biograph. R. Levine, Biograph ma7iager, has received his questio7i7iaire from the local draft board, and may be called in April . . . Arthur Steagel, manager of the Irving, who has bee7i seriously ill for the past two months, has returned to work . . . The Vogue, North-Center and Julian, are all being remodeled. 88 BOXOFFICE :: March 29, 1941