Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1939)

J^ARK DANIELS, Jesse Lasky’s advance talent scout, was in town last Monday and Tuesday interviewing local aspirants for the leading roles in the next “Gateway to Hollywood” picture for RKO . . . Walter Shivers is putting on an old fashioned Movie Week at the Walker, using the Bill Hart picture, "Tumbleweeds,” and Rudolph Valentino in “Son of the Sheik” . . . Elizabeth Copeland, film editor of the NeiDS Leader, attended the press preview of “Nurse Edith Cavell” in Washington last week. Another attempt was made to rob the East End Theatre recently, but the robbers only got a few nickels out of the candy machine. They also broke into Manager Pitts’ office but nothing was missing . . . Floyd Stawls, manager of the Carillon, has returned from vacationing in his home town of Norfolk. While he was away, Keith Caudle acted as manager. Lavalia McCanna has been appointed secretary to Harold Wood at the home office of Neighborhood Theatres. Dorothy Shrewbridge, former secretary, has been advanced as secretary to Sam Bendheim jr., general manager. This vacancy was created when Virginia Snead was married last month. Claude Wilso?i, who is mamtenance engineer of the Byrd, spent several days at Buckroe Beach as guest of his old friend, Joe West .. . Prospero Arcaro, manager of the Star Theatre in Fulton, will vacation hi New York during the World’s Series and also visit the Fair . . . Jack Tyree, who was a member of Loew’s service staff during the summer, has returned to school . . . Charles Chapman is the new usher at the Carillon, and Lucy Cogbill is the new cashier . . . Frank Tyler is a new addition to the Byrd service staff, succeeding William Booker, who entered the V . P. I. Extension School. William Wickham has joined the staff at the Brookland Theatre, succeeding Billy Pearsall, who resigned to enter the V. P. I. Extension . . . L. W. Bryan is the new projectionist at the Lee . . . The Virginia State Fair is on this week and as usual is putting a big dent in the boxoffice receipts of all theatres. Albert Grover, salesman for RKO Radio, passed through town last week . . . Charlie Hulbert, who manages the Lee, caught up on all the new pictures last week while on vacation. The stage hands and operators had one of their well-known crab feasts at Connell and Miller’s last Saturday night . . . Tom Pitts, manager of the East End and Patrick Henry theatres for the Pitts’ circuit, is planning on putting the Patrick Henry back on a full week basis, after running only Friday and Saturday during the summer months. John Doherty, projectionist at Wilmer and Vincent’s Colonial, with his wife, is visiting the New York World’s Fair this week . . . Robert Amos now is ushering at the Lee, replacing Albert Budman, who moved to Washington . . . Wade Pearson, northern district manager for Neighborhood Theatres, was a visitor ... A. Frank O’Brien, city manager of the Wilmer and Vincent theatres, visited New York . . . Elmer Humphrey and Glinden Duckworth are recent additions to the National Theatre service staff . . . Nellie Andrews has resigned as relief cashier of the Palace and Bluebird in Petersburg and is succeeded by Mrs. Bowman. Ends Summer Closedown Fort Edward, N. Y. — Lou Fisher has reopened the Bradley Opera House here, after a summer closedown. He is operating six nights a week. REVIEW FLASHES BRIVELE DER MAMEN, A (Sphinx Films)— A dramatically touching story oi the gradual disintegration of a simple Jewish family of what once was Poland. The chain of events is shown in relationship to the mother. Greenfilm of Warsaw produced. DANCING CO-ED (M-G-M)— Belated entry in the jitterbug cycle, handicapped by a sophomoric plot, this will be dependent upon a few hilarious situations. Artie Shaw and his clarinet are literally dragged into the story to attract the customers, among whom the adolescents will predominate. Lana Turner has top billing, but in a part unworthy of her talents displayed in previous appearances. Edgar Selwyn produced; S. Sylvan Simon directed. ESPIONAGE AGENT (WB)— Highly melodramatic story oi America's counter-espionage system, impressively produced and interestingly informative. Its greatest asset, timeliness, is largely discounted through a jerky screenplay and heavy-handed direction. Joel McCrea's ability is wasted in the lead and the supporting cast struggles with him to overcome the hurdles in its path. Lou Edelman produced; Lloyd Bacon directed. HERE I AM A STRANGER (20th-Fox)— A wellmounted, strongly dramatic story of a father-son relationship laid against a collegiate background which measures up as substantial entertainment certain to please on all counts. Richard Dix is outstanding in a wisely-selected thespic lineup. Harry Joe Brown associate producer; Roy Del Ruth directed. RIO (Univ) — Grim and largely pointless melodrama, this has a South American penal colony for its locale and incorporates such a quantity of dramatic cliches that the impeccable Basil Rathbone and a first-class supporting cast cannot cope with it. Patronage will probably be derived from the male trade which likes action in raw chunks. John Brahm directed. COMPLETE REVIEWS on the above pictures will appear in an early issue of BOXOFFICE. £DDIE PEROTKA invited Variety Club members to the first big party of the fall season, where a big time was had by all celebrating Eddie Sherwood’s birthday . . . Ruth Green Little is in Chicago visiting relatives . . . George Wheeler now is a salesman for Columbia in Pittsburgh . . . Joe Fields, Rivoli, has bought a large estate at Lochern, Md. An 11 o’clock preview at the Broadway of M. J. Kniejski’s timely picture, “Poland in Arms,” turned out a capacity crowd; members of the state senate, city councilmen and members of the newly formed assembly club were invited . . . Al Zalis, Globe Poster’s roving salesman, is back in town after touring New England . . . Eddie Wheeler and wife are off to the New York Fair . . . Al Vogelstein and mother are at the World’s Fair and then plan to go to Atlantic City. Martin Dixon, assistant manager at the Century, vacationed over the weekend . . . Report that Joe Schlee, Northway, is to manage the new Durkee Senate which is to open soon . . . Publicity stunt of the week was pulled by William K. Saxon, Loew’s Century, in conjunction with “Winter Carnival.” He placarded a large bus with signs saying “ride a greyhound this winter to the winter land of sports and don’t miss ‘Winter Carnival’ now at Loew’s Century.” Morton E. Baker, manager of the Time Newsreel Theatre, announced that theatre officials have buried a stainless steel time rocket in front of the theatre. Opening has been set for October 1 on the 50th anniversary of motion pictures . . . James Elliott, manager Lord Calvert, lost his grandmother recently ... A banquet was given at the Broadway for its softball team, winner of the theatre league. A trophy was presented by Howard E. J. Harding, chief censor inspector of Maryland. Motion picture interests may not have succeeded in stopping the Midget auto races at the stadium but after Mayor Jackson had received innumerable complaints from residents about the noise made he summoned the park board to consider the future policy of the stadiiun . . . Seen roving along Broadway last week: George Jacobs Goldfield, Harry Vogelstein, Balto Poster; Morris Oletsky, Republic salesman and Lou Youckelle, Capitol Printing Co. A daring holdup was staged at the Center Theatre last week at 8 o’clock at night when a lone youth slugged Manager John Anderson and escaped with about $150. Anderson nursed a lacerated right hand. Back on Full Time WiLLiAMsTowN, Mass. — The Walden Theatre is back on full time. It was open Fi'iday and Saturday during warm weather. Cal King conducts the house, located at the seat of Williams College. 40-J BOXOFnCE :: September 23, 1939