Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1939)

Hearing This Week For Ailas' Plan New York — George W. Alger, special master, told Boxoffice that hearings scheduled to be heard by him on the fairness of Atlas’ offer to underwrite the new RKO common stock will start early this week. Alger said hearings would have started last week, but the SEC was unable to appear and requested the postponement. The master also declared reports that, due to conditions in Europe, Atlas planned to withdraw its agreement were false, as far as he was concerned. One of the provisions of the underwriting was that, in the event of a European war. Atlas would retain the right to withdraw. The agreement provides for the investment company to pay $4 a share on each of the 375,000 of new common to be issued, not taken by the unsecured creditors or Rockefeller Center at that price. September 15 Deadline For RKO Claim Boosts New York — Irving Trust, RKO’s trustee, has filed notice in the federal court to all holders of unsecured allowed claims who may seek an increase under Article VI of the plan of reorganization, to file additional claims by September 15. Article VI provides that, wherever an unsecured creditor has settled part of his claim against the company, he will be entitled to interest on the full amoimt, dating from January 27, 1933. Bankrupt Report Approved And Referee Dismissed New York — Federal Judge Murray Hulbert has approved final report of Peter Olney jr., referee in bankruptcy of Orpheum Theatres and has discharged him. The company, a Missouri theatre operating corporation, filed bankruptcy in 1936, listing assets of $27,684 and liabilities of $2,115,233, Creditors will receive 1-977/1000 per cent on allowed claims. Cy Was Surprised New York — When Rosabelie Borushik, who works as a secretary at the Republic home office, took a ti’ain for Hollywood and a month’s vacation little did she envision that the incident would capture the attention of hundreds of thousands of persons. It seems that Rosabelie boarded the Santa Fe’s new train, El Capitan, in Chicago for the Los Angeles leg of her journey. On it she occupied a seat next to a stranger, a young man, one Richard C. Bergen, who was returning home after an eastern vacation. Aboard the train was a photographer for Life, recording material designed for a “spread” on the new train. Tlie lenser picked Rosabeile and Richard and his effort was soon spread across the magazine’s cover. Rosabelle’s brother, Cy, also works at the Republic home office. He told a Boxoffice reporter he was “very much surprised” to see his sister’s picture on the cover of the magazine. And this, despite advance information from his sister that a Life photographer had taken her picture, together with Richard, as “a likely looking couple.” Cy thought the picture would probably be well inside the magazine. Rosabelle’s best girl friend at the home office, Anita Levy, thinks “she’s good movie material — she’s very temperamental — that’s why she should be signed up.” Anita identified the picture when Life inquii’ed at the home office. She has a letter from Rosabelle, who has another week on the coast, in which mention is made that the Los Angeles representatives of Life have been taking Rosabeile “out.” The letter, apparently, does not touch upon the situation as regards Richard, Rosabelle’s one-time traveling companion. JVev7 Fleischer Feature New York — Max Fleischer plans to produce a second full length cartoon feature upon completion of “Gulliver’s ’Travels,” according to Paramount. Fleischer’s reading staff is said to have already begun to comb the field of fantasy for a suitable story. Theatre Handbills Counter Pickets New York — Answering TMAT pickets by circulating throwaways in the neighborhood, Meyer J. Baranco is telling his public, “I want to manage my own theatre— I want to give you the best and cleanest theatre and the finest personal service you have ever known! All I ask is to stay here in the Bronx and make a living.” Baranco on August 1 took over management of the three Moe Rosenberg houses, the Metro, Congress and Vogue, which were closed at the time. A week later, after minor alterations, the Vogue was reopened with Baranco personaUy in charge. When a delegation of the motion picture division of the TMAT approached him to install one of its men, Baranco refused, stating he was handling the house himself. Picketing was then started and was followed by the distribution of the throwaways explaining Baranco’s side of the case. “Don’t be mislead!” the caption reads. “The employes of this theatre are not on strike.” He then goes on to explain how he took over the closed house, refurbished it with all union help. He names the unions employed for the job. “Be fair! Give me a chance!” he asks. On the reverse side, the program for the week is detailed, in addition to games and giveaways on various nights. The Metro and Congress remain closed and will not be reopened until the trouble is settled, it is stated. Mark Vance Services Held in New York New York — Funeral services for Mark Vance, veteran trade paper reporter and long with Variety, were held from the Riverside Memorial Chapel Friday. A tubercular, he died at the Wiii Rogers Memorial Home at Saranac Lake on 'Tuesday. Born at Purdue, Ind., in October, 1881, Vance was editor of Showman’s World of Chicago from 1910 to 1923 and also had been identified with Zit’s and the NVA News. Honorary pallbearers at the services included Dave Ferguson, Kelcey Allen, Bide Dudley, Charles Freeman and the following, currently or at one time identified with Variety, Sid Silverman, Abel Green, Jack Pulaski, Roy Chartier, Johnny O’Connor, Bob Landry, Tom Waller and Lou Rydell. Loew Lease on New Bronx Suburban Runs 21 Years New York — Loew’s lease with Metropolitan Life Insurance for the new 2,000 seat theatre to be erected in the Park Chester development in the Bronx is for 21 years. Construction has not yet begun, but plans have been completed and indications are the house will be ready by next spring. Set Drive Sept. 3-9 New York — The annual Paramount Week drive has been set for September 3-9. Use "Normandie" for Exteriors — Yves Mirande, author and scenarist of ‘‘Paris-New York” scenes for which were shot on the westbound crossing of the Normandie, shaking hands aboard the boat with Eric Von Stroheim. This marked the first time the giant greyhound was used in production. 46 BOXOFFICE :: August 26, 1939