Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1940)

F-P Outing Enjoyed By Several Hundred Toronto — Several hundred headoffice employes of Famous Players Canadian CoHJ., managers of Toronto theatres, officials of various fiim exchanges, representatives of other circuits and guests enjoyed the annual picnic of the big chain at the Rouge Hills Golf Club, 17 miles east of Toronto, the extensive program winding up with a dinner and dance in the clubhouse under the direction of a committee headed by J. A. Troyer. The master of ceremonies at the banquet was J. J. Fitzgibbons, vice-president and managing director, who introduced as speakers. President N. L. Nathanson, Hon. W. D. Ross, former iieutenant-governor of Ontario, and A. E. Dyment of Barre, both of whom are company directors. An after-dinner feature was the presentation of a gold wrist watch to a headoffice official, Frank J. Justin, as a token of esteem on the occasion of his enlistment as a lieutenant in the Canadian armed forces, the appearance of Lieutenant Justin in uniform being the signal for an enthusiastic demonstration. References were made to the fact that the outing had been organized as usual to provide a happy diversion for the family of employes even though the annual managers’ convention had been cancelled this year. Winners of the numerous sport events were presented with valuable prizes at the close of the brief speeches. Tribute was paid to President Nathanson by Fitzgibbons and Hon. Mr. Ross for the manner in which he was supporting Canada’s war effort by personal service and substantial gifts and also to the fact that his son, Paul, was in line for appointment to the Canadian Militia. New Yorkers Present The gathering was graced by the presence of three film executives from New York who mingied with the crowd throughout the afternoon and evening. These were William C. Gehring of 20th Century-Fox Film Corp., and Carl Leserman and Roy Haines of Warner Bros. Pictures. Among the guests were Hon. Earl Lawson, former member of the House of Com pRENCHY NOEL, long associated with * the film industry, is now in charge of vaudeville booking at the Cave, a fancy dance and dine spot here . . . Don Gauld’s previews at the Uptown seem to have caught on and should be a permanent feature at the house during the winter. Dressing up his show in the approved fashion, Gauld has made a gala affair of the function. Last week’s preview was the fiim, “Convoy,” which was greeted with enthusiasm by a good house. Syl Gunn had a very big week with “They Drive by Night." In connection with the special holiday midnight show before Labor Day, Gunn featured a stage show including Herbie Brittain and his band . . . The Canadian goverriment’s floating of a second war loan is being promoted through the medium of film shorts which are playing at all first run houses ... At the Garrick, Sim Rost is doing well with the Columbia comedy, “He Stayed for Breakfast," which is being held over a second week . . . “The Sea J^ABOR DAY holidays had an unsettiing effect on Filmrow business, out-of-town exliibitors being conspicuous only by their absence. Staffs of the various Filmrow offices are busy, however, working on the season’s bookings. They have put holidays behind them and will not have another break imtil the Canadian Thanksgiving. Crystal Palace, which is under the direction of J. Dufort, is now giving stage shows on a larger scale, rebuilding of the enlarged stage being completed in time for a grand inaugural last week. Maurice Meerte, leader of the orchestra at the Esquire, and formerly conductor at uptown first run theatres, is receiving condolences on the death of his father, Cyrille Meerte, a native of Belgium, who died at his home in 1’ Abord a Plouffe, Que. Leslie Fenton, Hollywood director and actor, arrived by plane seeking a ship to carry him to England to join the armed forces. He is an Englishman by birth . . . Nettled by his rebuff when he tried to join the Canadian forces, Richard Greene, young English actor, has sailed for his homeland to enlist in some branch of the service. Chief cameraman of the British feature film “49th Parallel,” now being shot mons; Chairman O. J. SUverthorne of the Ontario Board of Moving Picture Censors: Roy Elmhurst of the Ontario prime minister’s department; Col. John A. Cooper, president of the Motion Picture Distributors of Canada; J. P. O’Loghiin, generai manager 20th Century-Fox Film Corp., Ltd.; L. M. Devaney, general manager RKO Distributing Corp. of Canada; Louis Rosenfeld, general manager Columbia Pictures of Canada, Ltd.; O. R. Hanson, president Empire-Universal Films, Ltd.; H. M. Masters, general manager United Artists Corp., Ltd.; A. J. Laurie, president Esquire Films, Ltd.; Harry Allen, general manager Grand National Films, Ltd.; M. A. Milligan, general manager. Paramount Film Service, Ltd.; Clair Hague, Canadian Universal; Joe Lightstone, general sales manager. Regal Films, Hawk," which was featured on the first of the sneak previews at the Uptown, is currently playing its downtown run at Harold Bishop’s Capitol. With activity very slow in the city, showmen are standing by waiting for the fall season to begin, hoping that it will bring good returns. While city exhibitors may do fairly well, indications are those in the country are going to be hard hit by the limitation imjwsed by the Canadian government on returns for the wheat crop. If the federal government sticks to its decision to limit a cash payment to only five bushels an acre, money is going to be scarce in the west and naturally luxury industries are going to be the ones who will feel the pinch most. A youngster who captivated the fans with a mind-reading act was Tom Pacey’s feature at the Beacon, where vaudeville keeps on going strong in defiance of the belief that vaude is dead. in Canada, O. Borradailie, had the satisfaction of being re-united with his French wife and his two-year-old “war guest” daughter who have arrived in Canada. After being permitted to attend the first week’s showing of a revival of Walt Disney films at the Princess, local juveniles who had missed the showing were disappointed when the theatre had to cancel the second week because authorities of the province objected to children being admitted. As they had been allowed to attend the original Disney showings it is difficult for theatre people to understand the change of attitude of the Quebec government. Associated Screen News is working under handicaps due to the absorption of members of its personnel into the military services. Eight men have just gone to camp, and as orders from government and other sources keep pouring in, extra duty falls on the remaining members of the staff . . . E. A. Thomas, publicity director for Associated Screen News, has joined the Forestry Service, a military unit, in which he holds the rank of captain. John Grant, of the 60mm library division, also is in uniform as a lieutenant in the Army Service Corps . . . ASN has a production crew in eastern Quebec, one at Halifax and three in Ontario. The Ontario crews are making pictures for the CPR, the Ontario government, and a tobacco company. Ltd.; W. A. Perry, general manager. Empire Films; James I. Foy, general manager Sovereign Film Distributors, Ltd.; Sam Bloom, Sam Fine and Sam Sternberg of B&F. Theatres, Ltd.; H. T. Long, general manager Associated Theatres, Ltd.; Juies Allen and Herb Allen of Theatre Holding Corp.; Charles F. Mavety, president Mavety Film Delivery Service. The following Ontario branch managers; J. L. Hunter, Paramount: Frank Fisher, Empire-Universal; Sam Glazer, United Artists; also, Harold Pfaff of Paramount; Barney Harris and Dewey Bioom of Regai; Harry Paynter, Walter Kennedy and Sam Brint of Empire: George Ouiiahan of Sovereign: Ray Lewis of Canadian Moving Picture Digest; W. M. Gladish of Allied Theatres and Amusement Ass’n; and one exhibitor from out-of-town, Simon Meretsky of Windsor. The office staffs of Regal, Paramount and Empire-Universal exchanges were well represented in addition to the various departments of Famous Players. The committees in charge of arrangements included: J. A. Troyer, general chairman: sports. Misses Copplestone and Wilson; Messrs. O’Neill, Brown and Evans; scorer, Howard Roach; starter, Tom Callendar; convener, W. H. Ledger; prizes. Misses Swanton, Freeman and McPherson; Messrs. Whitham and Dale; bridge. Misses Wilson and Downey; transportation, L. Geering, and golf scorer, N. Colwell. Laurie Turns in 71 to Win Dentelbeck Trophy Toronto — Archie Laurie, president of Esquire Films, Ltd., walked off as the second winner of the Dentlebeck 'Trophy, emblematic of the championship of the Famous Players golf tournament at the annual picnic of the company employes at the Rouge Hills Golf Club when he turned in a low net score of 71 after keen competition with many driving demons of the Toronto film colony in which Charlie Dentelbeck, donor of the magnificent silverware, almost captured his own cup. Dentelbeck earned the honors for the low gross when he chalked up an 81 and his WIMMIlPlECi 120 BOXOFFICE : : September 14, 1940