Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1939)

THE Falls City Theatre Equipment Co. installed projection-room equipment and seats for the new Gray Theatre at Grayson, Ky., owned by the Gray Theatre Corp., which is headed by W. R. Schaefer and William J. Sample . . . Sound equipment has been overhauled at A. R. Breeder’s Midway Theatre at Midway, Ky. The Lyric at Beattyville, Ky., is sporting new carpeting. The manager there is M. C. Hughes. The Palace Theatre at Sebree, Ky., formerly oumed by Ras Bivins, who operated that house and one at Calhoun, Ky., has been reopened by C. B. Seale. Bivins found it a bit too difficult to commute . . . The local Palace, 07ie of three Louisville Negro theatres owned by the Williston interests, has been ordered to come downIt is situated in an area marked for a government slum-clearance project. “Double-A” Daugherty, film critic for the Louisville Times, displayed a picture of his first-born, two months old, to an associate who remarked that the infant had the keen eye of a critic and that no picture’s reputation would be safe in her hands when she grew up. “Nixie,” replied Daddy Daugherty. “I’ve had her inoculated with ground-up films. She’ll never go to see one as long as she lives.” It’s a boy at the F. Shirley Wilcoxes — born June 25. Wilcox is manager of the Grand and Indiana theatres at New Albany, Louisville’s Hoosier neighbor across the Ohio. It’s their second child, and second son . . . The Switows’ Riviera at Anderson, Ind., is getting a new air-conditioning system . . . The boxoffice depression is still with the Row in Louisville, although there has been some pickup over the situation as it stood two weeks ago. Beginning July 3, the Row will have to compete with summer opera. Six shows are billed for Louisville’s new outdoor showhouse, Iroquois Amphitheatre, the last one going on August 12 ... A new air-washing system has been installed at the Alhambra Theatre at Rockport, Ind., managed by H. L. Hargis. The Towers Theatre, Louisville, of the Fourth Avenue Amusement Co. chain, has some new lobby flooring. After the town’s famous “tower tree,” a real tree growing out of a steeple, Walt Easley, owner of a theatre building at Greensburg, Ind., plans to name the place the Tree Theatre. Paul Lindley, operator of the Orleans Theatre at Orleans, Ind., is going in for improvements — a new marquee, new front and renovation inside . . . A new lOO-seat theatre is scheduled for erection at Huntingburg, Ind., at an estimated cost of $30,000. Outfits Fair Exhibits Allentown, Pa. — Forty-eight units, comprising steel curtain tracks and automatic curtain machines, were installed at exhibits at the New York World’s Fair by Automatic Devices Co. Dannenberg's Condition Is Reported as 'Fair Cleveland — The condition of Sidney Dannenberg, in charge of Warner publicity in this zone, who is at Glenville Hospital where he was taken after being found at his home with self-inflicted slashes on both wrists, on Monday morning was reported as “fair.” Dannenberg has been in poor health since last fall when he suffered a nervous breakdown. New Fight Films Pittsburgh — An unusual fight picture attraction is expected in the title meeting of Joe Louis and Tony Galento, which will be distributed in the local territory by Irving Dietz and George B. Josack. The former was in New York to witness the event and was expected to return here before the end of the week. Dietz and Josack have handled all fight pictures here for a number of years. Improvements at Palace Lancaster, Ohio — The Palace here has installed new equipment at a cost of $2,500. Among improvements were mechanical additions to the cooling system. "Bookies" for Prindle Hollywood — “The Day the Bookies Wept,” next Joe Penner comedy for RKO, will be whipped into screen form by Don Prindle. CINCINNATI (Continued from page 49) River. According to Columbia’s Charles Palmer, all exhibitors and film folk are invited to drop in for a weekend. Col. Arthur Frudenfeld, general manager RKO Theatres, is vacationing in California. Followiiig their recent busmess meeting. Queen City Variety Club announced an attractive calendar of entertainments for members and friends. The annual club picnic has been set for July with Harris Dudelson, UA manager, chairman. RKO Theatres’ Joe Goetz is chairman of the annual golf tournament, tentatively set for August 15, and Harry Hartman, chairman for the wrestling and boxvig exhibition for the belief it of St. Mary’s Milk Fund, in September. Explicit dates will be forthcoming in Boxoffice. Mrs. Nina Sisson resigned from M-G-M personnel to marry M-G-M’s H. J. Sheeran, city salesman and former office manager, culminating an office romance. Mrs. Sisson, who was secretary to W. J. Devaney, is being replaced by Estelle Schilferth. J. E. Watson, M-G-M exploiteer, left for a 1,150 mile trek in the wilds of Canada, on a fishing expedition near Kenora. Poster Lane was here from Williamsburg, Ky. Also Rupert McNeely, Baltimore, Ohio; H. Cannon, Hurricane, W. Va., and Paul Russel, Somerset . . . E. C. “Si” Stewart announces excellent sales on Grand National’s new product. JN THIS day of double features it is interesting to note that the Ohio’s opening day with latest “Tarzan” picture played to largest matinee crowd in over a year. And the week was better than anything since September. The Ohio is only a single bill house in Columbus. That was a generous move on part of RKO in doubling up so as to take care of the closed Majestic’s employes . . . Martin G. Smith, Toledo, president of the Ohio ITO, was in town for P. J. Wood jr.’s marriage. The Olentangy, the Piccadilly under Bill Chesbrough management, has been closed for extensive alterations, and will reopen late in the month. The house is the latest addition to the Virgil Jackson-John Murphy chain of neighborhoods. With the opening of the new house three promotions are in order for managers: Leonard Ellis of the Uptown staff goes to the Goodale; Rollie Flemen, Goodale manager, moves to the Wilmar, and Arch McCleese, Wilmar manager, takes over the Olentangy. Bert Stern, UA division manager, and Harris Dudelson, manager of Cineinnati exchange, were business visitors last week. Jim Hendle, formerly UA salesman out of Toledo, is now in this territory. He replaces George Jefferies, now with Universal in Albany, N. Y. . . . Congratulations to John and Marian Frye (he’s the RKO treasurer) who are celebrating four years of married life . . . C. Harry Schreiber, local RKO chief, was a visitor on Cincinnati’s Filmrow the first of the week. A1 Sugarman, RKO Radio salesman in the territory, has just returned from the New York convention . . . Tom Emerson’s Mountaineers of motion picture fame played July 1-2 at Knickerbocker . . . The local RKO ball team travels to Cleveland, Sunday, for an encounter with the lake city RKO nine, and we will give you odds on the lakeside boys! . . . Ralph McCombbs, formerly of The Citizen dramatic staff, will join the Philadelphia orchestra as p. a. on August 15 . . . Mrs. E. Caplane, mother of the Palace’s assistant manager, spent the week in town — her first trip to the Capitol City. Quote us: “She’s O. K.l” John Hardgrove, Loew’s Ohio assistant manager, will swing through Loew’s, Inc., western division (Pittsburgh to Kansas City) for te7i weeks this summer as relief ma7iager in the scattered situations. He is now at Loew’s Broad here while Clinton George Wander, manager, honeymooris in New York and eiivirons. “Will" to Hanline Hollywood — “Where There’s a Will” will be scripted for Warner by Matu’ice Hanline. \ BOOKING SERVICE f I For All Michigan Exhibitors | Experienced Dependable Reasonable J EMIL H. BECK | . 919 Fox Bids:. — CH. 1890— Detroit k I Make this your Detroit Headquarters I BOXOFFICE :: July 1, 1939 53