Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1939)

» IE M V IE IR At the Fox Rocky Mountain Meet — Photo of the annual convention in Denver of managers aiid Denver headquarters men of the Fox IntermouJitain division, presided over by Rick Ricketson, division manager, and attended by Spyros Skouras, head of National Theatres. At the speakers’ table are, left to right. Bill Steege, manager Montana district; Harry Huffman, Denver city manager; Skouras, shaking hands with Steege; Ricketson; Fred Glass, manager Salt Lake City district; Robert Garland, southern district manager, and Ray Davis, northern district manager. J^OBERT W. SELIG, who put over the foreign film policy at the Hiawatha Theatre, has finished his job there and has been promoted to the newly-created position of exploitation manager of the Fox Intermountain division, according to an announcement by Rick Ricketson, division manager. Charles Lowen, assistant at the Tabor and formerly assistant at the Hiawatha, will manage the Hiawatha. Tom Sutton, assistant at the Hiawatha, moves to the Aladdin in the same capacity. Other Fox circuit changes in the territory include the moving of Charles Morehead, formerly at Beatrice, Neb., to Fort Collins, Colo., as city manager, succeeding Lloyd Boreing who goes to Pocatello, Ida., as assistant manager. Robert Bothwell goes from Pocatello, Ida., to Helena, Mont., as assistant manager; Otto Bartusch moves from Laramie, Wyo, to Sterling, Colo., succeeding Bob Penner, named city manager at Alliance, Neb. John Phillips transfers from Sheridan, Wyo., to Laramie, Wyo., as assistant manager. Rev. O. Martorell, San Luis, is reopening his circuit of five towns for the fall and winter. He shows with portable equipment in Capulin, San Luis, San Pedro, Ft. Garland and Chama, all in Colorado . . . Coppell Amusement Co., distributor of Mexican and Spanish films, has taken office on Filmrow at 828 21st St. Church & Co., business opportunities brokers, bid in the Palace Theatre when it was put up at auction to satisfy paper they held on the house. It’s a dime grind, and the owner, Paul Happen, had sold it several months ago, but took it back recently. C. A. Muloek is continuing as manger . . . Nat Wolfe flew to Brooklyn, N. Y., last week in an effort to see his mother before she died, but was several hours too late. Earl Collins, United Artists exchange manager, was in Deadwood, S. D., conferring with Charles Klein and John Bertolero of the Black Hills Amusement Co. . . . Charles Smith of the Clarks Poster Exchange, Oklahoma City, and Jas. Creel, Tulsa exhibitor, spent part of their vacation here . . . George Kerer of Premier exchange has taken over “Sinful Souls” for this territory. Esther Hood has moved from the National Screen Service to the job as secretary at the Grand National Exchange, succeeding Francis Stoddard, who goes to Otis & Co. Anne Rossi leaves National Screen to go to Gibralter Enterprises . . . J. H. Cooper and L. L. Dent, N. Y., and Dallas, who are competitors in theatres in several Colorado towns, were here conferring with their managers — Cooper with Louis Finske in Denver, and Dent with Larry Starsmore at Colorado Springs . . . Willis Kent was here with his film, “Mad Youth,” which was showing at the Colorado. Buy Casino From Tapscott Los Angeles — Mac Sinift and “Pilk” Pilkington have purchased the Casino Theatre from Fred Tapscott. Screen Club Outing Draws Over 300 Denver — More than 300 attended the annual picnic of the Rocky Mountain Screen Club held at Eddie Ott’s club at Evergreen, Colo., 40 miles in the moimtains, with 45 entering the golf tournament held on the Evergreen golf course nearby. More than 50 competed in the horseshoe tournament. The ladies held a bridge tournament in the afternoon. A banquet and dancing occupied the evening. The affair was the best the club has held, with the committees doing their jobs in tip-top fashion. Lon Fidler, Monogram exchange manager, copped the loving cup for first prize in the top flight of the golf tournament, with Walter and Gus Ibold, brothers, coming in second and third. Other flight winners were Bob Ryan, George Tawson and Howard Metzger. Florence Chamberlain and Mrs. Frank Roberts won first and second in the ladies’ division With more than 50 to be eliminated in the horseshoe tournament Jack Langan, Universal exchange manager, and Bill Agren, Fox city booker, fought it out for first and second, with Langan winning. Interest in this tournament was so strong that at times eight teams were going at once In the flycasting, darkhorses won first and second. A1 Kerer, of the Princess Theatre, Ogalala, Neb., won first with Claude Graves, Corobado Theatre, Albuquerque, N. M., taking second. To win these places it was necessary for them to beat such local experts as Joe Ashby, R. J. Morrison and J. J. (Jap) Morgan. In contract bridge Mrs. Zekman won first with Mrs. Fred Brown taking the consolation prize. In auction Miss Jean Spalen won first with the consolation prize going to Miss Mary Musser. It was hard work that won the ropejumping contest for Mrs. Frank Roberts, Patriotic Service of Theatre Stressed Denver — Declaring that America wants no foreign isms, Spyros Skouras, head of National Theatres Corp., praised the theatre as the most potent agency there is to instill patriotism and love of country into citizens of the U. S. Skouras was in Denver attending the opening sessions of the annual convention of the Fox Intermountain division, at which Rick Ricketson, manager, presided. Skouras spoke to the managers on the topics of better theatre management and better service to the public, attuning his talk to the theme of the convention — “How to Sell Tickets.” At the conclusion of his talk the managers presented Skouras with a combination watch and currency holder. He left after the opening day for Seattle to attend a similar meeting. The convention lasted three days, and was held at the Brown Palace Hotel. Ricketson was host to 200 at a luncheon at Cosmopolitan Hotel in honor of Skouras. District meetings were held on the closing day. The meeting was attended by about 75 managers and members of the Denver headquarters. Degner Buys Bayshore Theatre San Francisco — R. E. Degner of Winters, has bought the Bayshore Theatre from Vera Del Monte. Far East Representative Here Del Goodman, Far East representative for 20th Century-Fox, is in Hollywood for about a week. who did 114 skips. And the exhibitors won the solfball game. But no figures are available, with the scorekeeper getting tired after a few innings. BOXOFFICE August 26, 1939 H 59