Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1940)

Q F. LESSING, formerly manager here for Ben Judell, has entered the independent picture field on his own. His exchange will be called Variety Pictures and temporary quarters are at 3215 Olive St. He is away to a nice start, since the St. Louis will play his “Sky Devils” and “Scarface” first run the week of August 1. Those houses in southern Illinois and eastern Missouri that cut prices to avoid the new defense tax are experiencing a decidedly unfavorable reaction from the public. The cut hasn’t helped attendance and some of the regular customers have quit coming because of the unpatriotic move. Barney Rosenthal, formerly with Republic, is visiting relatives in Waterloo, la. He has not yet announced his future plans. Recently he and Nat Steinberg, his partner, sold their interests in the local exchange to Republic. Nat is continuing as manager. Steinberg recently was commissioned by Gov. Lloyd C. Stark to judge boxing and wrestling bouts conducted under the auspices of the Missouri Athletic Commission. Michael J. Griffin, shipping clerk for Republic, has been made an honorary inspector for the commission. Exhibitors Supply Co. has just about put the finishing touches to its new quarters at 3234 Olive St. Ray Colvin, head of the company, is being congratulated on the job. The enlarged store has a ^1-foot front and a depth of some 60 feet. A feature is a fine drapery display, with stage settings and also facilities for projecting film. O. L. Turner jr. of Chester, 111., and Paul Reynolds of Harrisburg, 111., were seen along the Row . . . Bob Taylor, Monogram manager, accompanied by Mrs. Taylor is enjoying a two-week vacation at Nisswa, Minn. Fishing is fine in that sector, according to reports. So Bob and the missus are probably enjoying themselves. Lester Levy is traveling for Monogram out of the St. Louis office while the booking work is being taken over by Ralph J. Heft, who recently resigned as an RKO booker. Melva Reese of the Monogram office staff goes on her two-week vacation this weekend. “Points west” is her destination. Perhaps the picture cards will tell exactly where. George Karsch, head of the Lead Belt Amusement Co. of southern Missouri, was another recent visitor to the Row. Also Harry Tanner of Vandalia, III., and J. Garrett of the Garrett, West Plains, Mo. The Rex, Gondola, 111., opened for business, July 17. National Theatre Supply is to install fluorescent carpeting in the Seville, Owensboro, Ky., operated by Leo Moffitt. This is the first installation of this new carpet to be ordered in this territory. The house has 900 seats. Sammy Kaye and his “Swing and Sway” orchestra opened an engagement at Fanchon & Marco’s Missouri, July 26. They came here from an extended engagement at the Hotel Commodore, New York. Mrs. Helen Dolores Edmunds, daughter of State Senator Louis J. Menges who formerly operated several theatres in East St. Louis, III., was granted a divorce from John Edmunds, former St. Louis and East St. Louis radio announcer, by City Judge William F. Borders in the East St. Louis city court. Mrs. Edmunds charged desertion. Mrs. Edmunds was also awarded custody of their two-year-old son, Louis John. James Barton, star of stage and screen, heads an all-star cast of singers, comedians and dancers in the first St. Louis presentation of “Knickerbocker Holiday” at the Municipal Theatre in Forest Park. The week’s engagement opened July 22. A number of Fanchon & Marco executives are on vacation. Harry C. Arthur jr., ranking executive, is winding up a rest period at his Camelot Farm in Shrub Oak, N. Y.; Les Kaufman, exploiteer extraordinary, has gone fishing with lots of new reels, rod and line. Harry Crawford, Ambassador manager, is visiting home folk at Fond du Lac, Wis., and Marion Plessner of the advertising staff is on his quarter-acre ranch near Glendale, Mo. Horse Racing in Chicago To Get Showman s Touch Chicago — Prank Cambria, one of the first of B&K’s art and production directors back in the early 1920’s, is here planning to put showmanship into horse racing. Cambria has been retained by the operators of Washington Park racetrack to stage an open house presentation of the first Derby horse race ever run in Chicago. This will be held on the Simday previous to the revival of the American Derby at Washington Park. Since leaving Chicago to go with Publix Theatres when Sam Katz went with Publix, Cambria has been in the east. Futurama Film Suggestion Nets Pearlman Bonus Chicago — Irving Pearlman, assistant to Jim Booth at Essaness, went to the World’s Fair in New York last summer and was so impressed with the General Motors Futurama that he suggested to Jam Handy Pictures that they make a picture about it. This week Pearlman was $25 richer for that suggestion. Don Widlund of Jam Handy gave him a check for the suggestion, which was made into a two-reel Technicolor subject on the F\iturama. The subject will be ready about August 1 for exhibitors. "Manager s Previews" an Elisburg Innovation Chicago — Herb Elisburg, manager of the Studio, has a new name for sneak previews. He calls them “special manager’s previews.” Catering to a special “first nighters’ movie circle” group, which he has inaugurated for every Monday night at the Studio, Elisburg plans to present sneakpreviews occasionally. The first of these was held when he ran Republic’s “Scatterbrain,” following the regular showing of RKO’s “Beyond Tomorrow.” Federal Judge Studies Briefs on Bioii Case Chicago — Supplementary briefs in the William Bioff case have been filed before Federal Judge William Holly, and the jurist has taken the case under advisement. Defense attorneys contend that a federal court can overrule the local court’s decision confining Bioff for six months on a pandering charge, while the state’s attorney’s office says that the federal court has no jurisdiction. Bioff, meanwhile, is serving the sentence. Fox Kent Drive Brings Levy, Gehring, Ferri Chicago — Moe Levy, Kent drive leader for 20th-Fox, Bill Gehring midwest district manager, and Roger Ferri, editor of The Dynamo, the Fox house organ, were here for the opening meeting in the new Kent drive. All of the local exchange employes gathered to hear them speak. Golfers From Wabash Street — A Chicago Filmrow foursome on a recent round. Left to right, with their scores: Ray Goldstein, Olympic and Lake Short theatres, 92; Harold Loeb, 20th-Fox salesman, 96; Marvin Lowenthal, White Palace and Homan, 82; Sam Halper, Metro and Irving, 92. 36 BOXOFFICE :: July 27, 1940