Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1938)

C H I C A CGI €> Vicedomini Observes Fifth Anniversary of Art ’ Theatre TONY OWENS, amusement advertising manager of the Daily News, is vacationing in Eagle River, Wis. Hazel Bradway, cashier at the BkK Garrick, writes to the gang from Honolulu, where she is currently on her trip around the world. The third annual picnic of the Pho oplay Advertising Ad Art-Film Carriers wi'l be held next Sunday afternoon at 24th and Mannheim. More than 150 are expected to attend. HERE and GONE: Harold Lloyd, here Sunday en route to New York for the opening of his picture, “Professor, Beware,” took time out to cavort about Michigan Blvd. and pose for publicity pictures perched atop some light standards. William C. Gehring, central division sales manager for 20th Century-Fox, was here this week conferring with B&K and Great States executives on the 1938-39 contracts. Roy Rogers, Republic’s new cowboy star, was through here en route to Hollywood, after personal appearances on Broadway. With him was Bill Saal, assistant to Herbert Yates. White-Way Sign has fust finished installation of a new flasher sign on the largest upright sign in the city — on the United Artists Theatre — for BkK. Said Bill Hollander after returning Monday from that fishing trip with John Balaban: “I caught the sunburn and Mr. John caught the fish.” The Ritz Brothers have been set in for a iveek’s personal appearance at the Chicago Theatre, the week of August 5, at what is reputed to be top salary for any act ever playing the Chicago . . . Which reminds us that this year Martha Raye, playing her first week at the Chicago, did only four shows a day while last year she did five and six shoivs daily to accommodate the crowds. They’re calling George Rosenthal, chief of service of the closed B&K Oriental, the “hermit of Chicago.” He’s the lone eagle around the theatre these days while it is closed . . . Jack Rose and A1 Raymer swung around the Indiana-Illinois circuit last week . . . Moe Koppelman, Universal office manager, is back from his vacation . . . Bill Galligan, Esquire manager, has gone east on his vacation. When he returns, Paul Hesse, his assistant, will take his two weeks, vacationing in Wisconsin . . . Peery Loeffler, Great States Quincy, 111., manager, is taking a trip to Alaska and back . . . Jim Luntzel is back from a ten days’ working trip at Boys Town, Father Flanagan’s home in Omaha. Jim Gregory, the honeymooning half of the Gregory Brothers circuit, who has been abroad with his wife ever since last fall, promises to be back July 23. Rip Van Winkle and Cooling Chicago — The first of a series of three ads stressing cool, comfort B&K theatres appeared this week. The ads are institutional in copy and sell airconditioning in general at the B&K theatres. They were prepared by Jimmy Savage under the direction of William K. Hollander, advertising head of the circuit. The first ad uses Rip Van Winkle as the central figure and impresses on the public that air-conditioning as new “the year I fell asleep ... 20 years ago." Haneys Enlarge Aurora, Ind. — Mr. and Mrs. Haney, operators of the Milan Theatre, which has been opened here only six weeks, plan to enlarge the seating capacity shortly to 650 seats. Both of the Haneys have been in the theatrical profession since childhood. ROADSHOW PICTURES I. FRANKLIN distributing Soviet Films All films have English Dialogue Titles 831 So. Wabash — Chicago — Phone WAB. 7G15 SIGNS MARQUEES AND MAINTENANCE Whiteway Electric Sign & Maintenance Co. Tom Flannery, President 315-17 W. Walton Street Phone DELaware 9111 SIGNS AND DISPLAYS Advertise Your Theatre Along the Highways Metal Signs — Low Prices — Free Sketch on Request See or Write Harry Blumenthal AD-ART DISPLAY STUDIOS 1243 So. Wabash — Chicago — Victory 7161 FILMROW RESTAURANTS GATEWAY GARDENS 1136-38 South Wabash — Phone WEB 0799 COCKTAIL BAR— RESTAURANT Banquets — private parties — business meetings— card patries — our private dining room is ideal. Chicago— About five years ago, Joe Vicedomini took over the management of the World-Playhouse, a small theatre on Michigan Ave., a half mile from the amusement center on Randolph St. At that time it was freely predicted that it would prove a losing venture. The first picture, “Be Mine Tonight,” with Jan Kiepura, was a hit and gave the so-called “arty” theatregoers something to talk about. Later, Vicedomini found product hard to get and he offered several English productions. All clicked. As time went on, the demand for such product on the part of the mature film fans increased. Soon the World-Playhouse became somewhat of a Chicago institution. Its “loges” became famous, their deep-cushioned, comfortable armchairs attracting a desirable clientele. Foreign film distributors sought playdates. Pictures played there for weeks: “Ecstasy,” 14 weeks, and “Mayerling,” “The Unfinished Symphony,” “Cloistered,” “The Wandering Jew,” and others, six weeks. This week Vicedomini celebrates his fifth anniversary as the operator, and a fitting climax is his offering of the trilingual “Pearls of the Crown.” TICKET REGISTER SERVICE GOLD SEAL— SIMPLEX— MODEL “H" Factory Mechanics — Genuine Parts Used Loaner Service Machines Supplied GENERAL REGISTER CORPORATION 1018 South Wabash Avenue — Chicago POSTER EXCHANGES SAVE MONEY Theatre Advertising Rental Service All Advertising From. One Source. 1, 3, 6-sheets, 11x14 photos, stills, 22x28’s, window cards, slides, inserts. Also DeLuxe Silk Screen Art Service 40x60's, 30x40's, 24x60's, 24x82 banners. 40x60 Hollywood Transparencies. No Contracts. Lowest Rental Prices. PHOTOPLAY ADVERTISING COMPANY 1243 South Wabash Ave. — CALumet 7660 THEATRICAL PRINTING A. B. C. PRINTERS, INC. We Print Everything Theatrical 1225 South Wabash — Chicago For lowest prices Call — VIC 3456 TRADE DIRECTORY 85 A HANDY GUIDE FOR THE EXHIBITOR — CHICAGO BOXOFFICE : : July 16, 1938 43