Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1938)

"Skill Game" Okay Up to Test Case Philadelphia — The test of the legality of the so-called “skill games” for theatres will be taken to the federal courts by David Barrist, head of the Quality Premium Co., distributors of “Gueso” and “Quizo” — both banned here by Mayor S. Davis Wilson. Barrist and other game distributors feel that they can get no favorable action by the common pleas courts, which last winter banned all games in theatres, causing a great hardship among small independent exhibitors. An appeal from this ruling is pending in the state supreme court. No action in the case is expected before the fall. Barrist plans to get a New Jersey theatre operator arrested for running the game and thus bringing the action under the head of “interstate commerce” which will enable the federal court to take jurisdiction. Meanwhile, Charles Ehrlich, distributor of “Hollywood Movie Party,” was taking steps to fight the mayor’s ban in the local courts. Both Barrist and Ehrlich maintain that their games have no element of chance and depend entirely upon the player’s skill. Philly Schools Extend Scope of Class Films Philadelphia — Public schools here will make a wide use of motion pictures under a plan being formulated by Dr. Alexander J. Stoddard, newly appointed superintendent of schools. Dr. Stoddard, who has served as head of the Denver school system for many years, declared he intended to use sound pictures — both educational and historical — in the school curriculum. Such films are now being used on a limited scale. Visual teaching methods enable students to grasp a subject more quickly and eliminates needless repetition, Dr. Stoddard said. UMPTO Meet Waits Philadelphia — The meeting of the UMPTO, scheduled for Thursday, failed to materialize. George P. Aarons, secretary, said he didn’t know when the next meeting would be called. Plenty of fireworks are scheduled when the meeting will be called due to the Pizor-Milgrim feud, an outgrowth of Pizor’s “invasion” of Dave Milgrim’s territory. Producer Is Warned Philadelphia — The Pennsylvania state board of motion picture censors issued a warning to Oscar Micheaux, producer of Negro pictures, because of alleged disregard of deletions made by the board. A sequence portraying a nude girl dancer was particularly objectionable, Miss Harriet Fye, secretary of the board, said. J ^ FAREWELL luncheon to Jules Seltzer, publicity and advertising chief of Warner Bros., was held at the Warwick Hotel on Thursday. Jules leaves the end of the month for the coast to become publicity head for the Hal Roach studios. He’ll join his two brothers in Hollywood — Frank with the Roach studio, and Walter, with M-G-M. They’re calling him “Grover Whalen” Neufeld now . . . The rotund “Mayor of Vine Street” has been made the town’s official greeter . . . He was on the gladhand committee to meet Tony Galento, the beer-barrel fighter, and Joe Burk, the Philly lad, who copped the rowing laurels in England on July 4 . . . Frank Budd, owner of the State Theatre, Shippensburg , was around town telling about his fire . . . Bill Devonshire, former salesman for Hollywood Pictures, is now selling Grand National’s Product. An epidemic of closings has hit the town . . . Dave Milgrim closed his Star and Walton for alterations . . . Fred Leopold has closed his Locust Theatre in West Philadelphia, and Dame Rumor says it may be for good . . . George Nonnamaker, who did a swell job with the exploitation of “Assassin of Youth" for Monogram, was sent to Wilmington to ballyhoo “Girl of the Limberlost” for the exchange. Jim Clark has been appointed campaign manager for the Democratic City Committee for November’s election . . . Clark Film Distributors and Horlachers Delivery Service will hold their annual picnic at Mohicon-on-the-Delaware next Sunday . . . The opening of Columbia’s new exchange has been delayed until the end of the month . . . Dr. Solomon Solis-Cohen, prominent Philadelphia physician, was guest of the Trans-Lux management in connection with the showing of the new March of Time edition dealing with management. Charlie Perry, former publicity man for United Artists, is back ballyhooing the same product . . . His first job is “Algiers,” which goes into the Boyd in a couple of weeks . . . The Earle Theatre offers Gene Autry in person on the stage this week . . . Evelyn Frechette, John Dillinger’s gun moll, is making personal appearances in the film houses in the Philly area . . . An advertising stunt for the hot weather is being planned by independents in the Philadelphia Record . . . In a box surrounded by pictures of icicles, the sheet is featuring the theatres that are air-conditioned. Four of the major exchanges — Fox, Paramount, Metro and Warner Bros. — are closing on Saturdays for the duration of the summer . . . Tom Lark, Horlachers cashier, broke his arm last week when he fell down the stairs . . . Max Miller, Bill Goldman’s press agent, is in love again, he reports . . . It’s a blonde model this time . . . Whattaman! Eire Enjoys Active Construction Boom New York — Among the col’ective items tendered by the latest trio of Metro prize winners from England worthy of note is that Eire (the Irish Free State) is enjoying a comparatively active stage in theatre construction. The men, who are now sightseeing on the coast, are Robert Gerbert, in charge of circuit sales; Arthur J. Whetter, Liverpool branch manager, and Alfred G. Neville, Dublin branch manager. They return on the Cunard White Star Liner Acquitania August 3. In the last two years, approximately 17 theatres were constructed. Gerbert reports six were opened in Dublin on Easter Sunday and there is construction now going on in the suburban spots. The Maxwell circuit, with some 450 houses in the United Kingdom, is building a new 2,500seat unit in Dublin to be opened in January, Gerbert said. The recent political and trade agreement between Eire and England, according to Neville, is bound to have a beneficial business affect in the former country. Conditions there are on the upswing and are reflected at the boxoffice, he said. In contrast to the recent bullish statements concerning television in England, the men are all inclined to believe that it “still is a novelty and of slight concern to exhibitors.” IB1 ItJ IF IF A 1IL O 'J'HE Varsity Theatre was reopened last Friday after it had been closed for the past several weeks to be redecorated. Basil Brothers, owners, went to the tune of 15 G’s to give the theatre a new face, William (Bill) Lee has been transferred from the Cleveland GB office, as booker. He succeeds Miss Dorothy Belgrade who resigned. Buffalo Theatres, Inc., is cooperating with the University of Buffalo in a new work-study plan just announced. Theatres owned by the corporation employ students as ushers. This, according to university officials, enables them to pay their entire cost of college. Runs Hughes Reissues Philadelphia — Bill Goldman’s News Theatre is capitalizing on the Howard Hughes round-the-world flight by playing the revivals of Hughes’ old films. The house just closed with “Sky Devils” and is now showing it with “Scarface.” Two Are Dimmed New York — Randforce over the weekend added two more to the dark theatre list in Brooklyn. The Alhambra and Wilson are now closed and several others are on the possibility chart. BOXOFFICE :: July 16, 1938 24-G