Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1940)

B lU IF IF A IIL O J^TTENDED grand opening of social season at Variety in company with many members of Buffalo Filmrow. The event was known as Western Night, with chili con came and small steak sandwiches making up the menu . . . Bob (Shea Booker) Murphy, chief barker, was nattily attired in cowboy regalia, reminiscent of the Dallas convention last spring . . . Phil Fox, Columbia exchange manager, remarked he didn’t wear his western costume, because the neckerchief didn’t fit . . . Stan Kozanowski, Rivoli, was a late arrival wearing a Daniel Boone outfit and brandishing a Lone Ranger pistol . . . Representing Warner Bros, exchange, was busy Ruth Rappaport, booker, and former chief barkerette . . . W. E. J. Martin, Courier-Express drama critic, was at the door selling the meal tickets — and guarding the checkroom . . . Conspicuous by her absence was Loretta Woodward of Republic exchange staff . . . Elmer Lux, RKO exchange manager, was reporteci getting a costume for the event, but never showed up. Syd Lehman of United Artists, who incidentally will shortly become a father, was the first to break the ice on the dance floor. After that there wasn’t space to walk, and you should see the locals do the La Conga . . . The final event of the party was the screening of the motion pictures taken at the national convention. Somebody jokingly remarked that Walter Dion, Great Lakes projectionist, must have cut out all pictures of the local representatives to avoid embarrassing explanations . . . Upon leaving, all were severely drenched as Buffalo had one of its worst storms in years . . . This alone was all that dampened the spirits of the partyites. If Ralph Maw, M-G-M exchange manager, is seen boarding a Kenmore-bound bus, it is because wife, Alberta, has the car. She just received her license this past week . . . Syd Samson, Fox exchange manager, fishing with A. Charles Hayman and George H. McKenna, owner and manager of the Lafayette, respectively . . . four Reopen in N, Y,: Fiith Due Sept, 27 New York — Four theatres have reopened and a fifth will again resume operation September 27. The quartet of relightings are the Playhouse, Rye; Adams, Newark; Vogue, Bronx, and Palace, Morristown. The Jefferson, Brooklyn, reopens Fi'iday. The Royal on Tenth Ave. and the Tiffany, Bronx, have resumed daily operation after being on a weekend policy during the summer. The Classic, Brooklyn, has been demolished. Among the closings are the Boardwalk, Arverne, and Edgemere, Edgemere, L. I., Fabian’s Stratton, Middletown, and Ritz, Port Jervis; Newbury’s Lorraine, Bayhead, and Grove, Point Pleasant; Cocalis’ Casino, Keansburg; Colony, Rockaway Point. The Rivoli, Rockaway Beach, shuts down October 1 for the winter. C. Clifford Reed is new operator of the Electra, Brooklyn. Vaudeville has replaced legitimate attractions at the Flatbush, Brooklyn, and the Windsor, Bronx. Close One, Turn Back Two Albany — The Kallett circuit has closed one summer situation, the Whipple, Fleischmanns, in the Catskills, and turned back two Adirondack Mountain houses, the Strand, Long Lake, and the Rex, Bolton Landing, to their owners for fall and winter operation. Speaking of the Lafayette, Leonard Sperling, doorman, has returned from his honeymoon in the Big City . . . Mickey Gervis, same theatre, has received promotion due to Tommy Licker’s resignation. Newest addition to the Shea staff is Leo J. Hagerty jr., son of Erie county’s prominent district attorney . . . Bob Demming, jovial 77ianager of Shea’s Elmwood, on the board holding an election for “Little Mayor” of Elmwood Ave. . . . Jules Pillar, Shea musician, leaving to resume teaching “sax” and clarinet to young aspirants . . . Shea's Buffalo aiid Dipsoii-Basil's 2Qth Century Theatre both usmg nickelodeons to further publicity for coming bands. Sammy Kaye and Will Osborne, respectively . . . Jim Phillips, Hippodrome junior executive, assuming lesser position at same theatre to attend college . . . Giannina Poppalardo, Shea office staff, just returned from vacation in New York . . . Stan Mittlefehldt, Shea service manager, kept busy training applicants to replace ushers returjiing to schools. Local theatre owners highly object to state amendment to be voted upon concerning the legalization of dog track racing and pari-mutuel betting . . . Bob Guenther, house manager of Basil Bros. Jefferson, is quite an actor, having played with the Orientals, and other local Little Theatre groups . . . Employes of 505 Pearl, which houses quite a few of the local exchanges, seen gazing at razing of adjacent building, to make way for the new Greyhound Bldg. . . . National Screen deserves credit for the motion picture on the Variety convention. Flo Gregory, formerly employed by Shea theatres, in town for a while, on leave from her Roller-Derby duties. Flo has also been seen 07i the Buffalo Theatre stage as state jitterbug champi07i . . . Bob Schatzel, assista7it 7na7iager of D&B Bailey, co7itemplatmg trip to hospital for alteratio7is a7id 77ii7ior repairs . . . Maurice Osterma7i, Movie Guide editor, looking for Nor7ri (Pia7iist) Wullen for his share of the prize mo7iey gar7iered m the baseball league . . . Bob Gibbo7is, ju7iior executive at the Elmwood, still gettmg his sodas at the 7iext door dispe7isary of sa??je. See "Hired Wife" a Top Grosser for Universal New York — Comparative grosses mulled over at Universal demonstrate to distribution executives there that “Hired Wife,” still largely un played around the country, is fast establishing itself as one of the best grossers in the company’s recent history. In some cases, it is matching, or has passed, several of the Durbins and "Destry Rides Again.” Based on opening figures and week runs, in varying instances, this yardstick applies to “Hired Wife” engagements in Stamford, Conn.; Baltimore, Chicago, Boston, Providence, Syracuse, New York and Cincinnati, “U” executives point out. Harry Egert Supervises Three NS Poster Units New York — Harry Egert, part owner of Progressive Poster which was sold to National Screen Accessories, now is supervising the Albany, Buffalo and New Haven branches for National Screen. His former partner, Louis Weinzimmer, is managing the local accessory branch headquartered in the Paramount exchange. A Sleadily Brighter Economic Picture Albany — Factory employment and payroll increases over the usual seasonal gains, a substantial increase in the number of incorporated companies and a steady flow of national defense orders, combine to make the general economic picture in New York state steadily brighter. Employment in factories rose 3.4 per cent and in payrolls 4.9 per cent during August, compared to the 26-year average of one per cent and two per cent, respectively, from July to August, according to Industrial Commissioner Frieda S. Miller. August marked the third consecutive month in which gains better than the usual seasonal ones had been recorded. The national defense program contributed to the improved showing in primary metal, airplane, shipbuilding, firearms and instruments industries. Commissioner Miller said. Five of New York’s seven main industrial areas reported net advances in both employment and payrolls. Jumps of 15.5 per cent in employment and 23.7 in payrolls for August, 1940, over August, 1939, were reported in the Albany-Troy-Schenectady area. Clothing and millinery industries made the greatest advances, 24 and 40 per cent in employment and payrolls, respectively. Many plants in these two lines operated with full forces “for the first time since March.” Another indication of the upward trend of business and industry in the state, was forthcoming in the announcement by Secretary of State Michael F. Walsh that the number of companies incorporated had increased 289 in the first eight months of the current year. To September 1, the number was 769 ahead. With 1,150 new concerns chartered in August, the total from January 1 was 11,343. Greater New York’s five counties contributed 1,041 of those incorporated in August. Kallett Now Supreme In Sullivan County Albany — Mike Kallett now is in control of all important situations in Sullivan county, having made a deal with Ed Scholemson for the latter’s theatres in Ellenville and Woodbourne. Some time ago Kallett closed with Jack Kaplan for the Rivoli, Fallsburg; Strand, Lock Sheldrake; and Lyceum, Woodridge. He also has a booking deal with Cohen & Kutcher for the Academy and Liberty, Liberty, and Broadway and Rialto, Monticello. Leo Justin and Morris Jacks, who are interested with Scholemson in the Ellenville house, are understood to be partners in the recent Kallett deal. Alphonse LeMay, an lATSE Organizer^ Dies in Troy Troy, N. Y. — Alphonse LeMay, one of lATSE’s organizers, died while visiting his son, William, who is sez’iously ill at his home. LeMay, serving his 13th consecutive term as financial secretary of Local 285, had in recent years been projectionist at the Lincoln. Pallbearers were: Sidney A. Sommer, Lincoln manager; Louis E. Rinn, Aiderman projectionist; Harry M. Brooks, Local 285’s president-business agent, and fellow members, Felix Mangione, George Nugent, Michael McGraw and John Ross. 18-B BOXOFFICE September 21, 1940