Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1948)

John J. Payette Dies After Long Illness WASHINGTON— John J. Payette, 55, general zone manager for Warner Bros, theatres in this territory, died at his home here Sunday morning after a long illness. Funeral services were held Wednesday morning at 9:15 at his home, 5126 Palisades Lane N. W., with further services at 10 a. m. at the Sacred Heart church. 16th street and Park road. During World War John J. Payette he was co-chair man for the district for the War Activities committee and was a member of the executive committee of the Civilian War Service, deputy air raid warden, and a member of the District of Columbia salvage committee. Payette first entered the film business as an usher in the Academy of Music here in 1904. At the age of 17 he was made manager of a theatre in Rhode Island. From 1911 to 1914 he was assistant manager of the General Film Co. here. In 1915 he was named manager of the Baltimore branch of the company. Between July 1918 and December 1919 he was in the army. He became assistant manager of the Metropolitan Theatre for Henry M. Crandall in 1919, and assistant general manager for the Crandall circuit a year later. He became supervisor for all Crandall theatres in 1922. When the Crandall interests were merged with the Stanley Company of America in 1925 he became general manager and held the post when Warner Bros, acquired the circuit in 1928. At that time he was made general zone manager for Warner Bros. The circuit includes 45 houses in Washington, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Payette is survived by his wife, Dorothy, daughter of the late Harry Crandall, and four children, Mrs. Charles Kemp Devereaux, John J., Robert C. and Ronald C. Payette; a brother, George N. Payette of Hagerstown, and two sisters, Mrs. George A. Degnan and Mrs. William Schwalm. Patrick A. Powers Dies; Pioneer Film Producer BUFFALO — Private funeral services for Patrick A. Powers, 78, early sound motion picture producer who died in New York July 30, were held here August 3. Interment was in Holy Cross cemetery. Limestone Hill, N. Y. In 1912, Powers and a partner formed Universal Pictures Corp. in New York from eight independent production companies. He also organized Film Booking Offices of America, now part of RKO. Through these enterprises, he introduced the “Mickey Mouse” and “Silly Symphony” animated cartoons. He also produced the “Flip the Frog” and “Willie Whopper” film series. Until a year ago. Powers was president of Celebrity Productions, Inc., which he founded in 1930. Powers is survived by his daughter, Mrs. Roscoe N. George of San Francisco, and a sister, Mrs. Mary E. Powers of Buffalo. C. R. Reagan, 56, Dies; Headed Film Council PARIS — C. R. Reagan, 56, president of the newly formed Film Council of America, died here July 31. Reagan had come here to attend the UNESCO meeting. The Film Council is a nonprofit organization promoting the use of 16mm informational, educational and documentary films by schools, churches and other groups. Reagan, who was born in California, moved to Texas in 1937 and organized the Texas Visual Education Co., now operating as Visual Education, Inc., of which he was president at his death. In 1942, he went to Washington to help organize the National Office of War Information 16mm Advisory Committee. He took part in establishing the OWI nontheatrical service of more than 300 outlets by serving as field adviser in the use of 16mm films in the Bureau of Motion Pictures of the OWI. Reagan was consultant on the film committee for Stephens college, Columbia, Mo., and was first vice-chairman of the American National Film Committee for the United Nations. In May 1947, Reagan received the annual 16mm award of the Allied Non-Theatrical Film Ass’n as the person making the greatest contribution during the year in the field of audio-visual education. He is survived by his wife, who had accompanied him to the UNESCO meeting. Funeral Rites Are Held For Alex J. Kearney NEW YORK — Funeral services were held Tuesday for Alexander James Kearney, 69, at the Blessed Sacrament church, 152 West 71st St. Burial was at Ludlow, Vt. Kearney, who was assistant general manager of the Shea circuit, died Friday, July 30, at Medical Arts hospital. Kearney had been with the Shea organization since 1901. It was a vaudeville circuit at that time and he acted as manager for a number of W'ell known performers. Later he took charge of film bookings and labor relations. His wife, Mrs. Sara B. Kearney, a brother and three sisters survive. Max Milder, British Head For Warner Bros., Dead LONDON — Max Milder, who retired last month as managing director for Warner Bros. Pictures, Ltd., in Great Britain, after holding the post for 17 years, died Sunday, August 1, at his home Netherfield House, The Heath, Weybridge, Surrey, England. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Madelaine Milder, a son, David, 16, and a daughter, Maxine, 10. Milder had been in the film business for 36 years, 30 of them with Warner Bros. He was eastern division sales manager for the company in the United States, before coming to England in 1931. Warner Check for $50,000 Sent to the Runyon Fund NEW YORK — Warner Bros, has turned over to Walter Winchell, as secretary-treasurer of the Damon Runyon Memorial fund, a check for $50,000, the profits on the tworeel Technicolor film, “Power Behind the Nation.” The film was produced by Warner Bros, and distributed with the help of the MPAA. 20th-Fox Objectors Heard on NT Stock NEW YORK — Arguments were heard Tuesday and decision was reserved by Judge Ferdinand Pecora in New York supreme court in the 20th Century-Fox stockholders’ suit which developed from the sale of 40,009 shares of Class B National Theatres stock to Charles P. Skouras and other theatre department executives. About $6,850,000 was involved in the payments to Skouras, Elmer C. Rhoden, Frank H. Ricketson and H. J. Fitzgerald. Following the filing of the suit by objecting stockholders an offer to compromise by returning $3,550,000 to 20th-Fox was worked out. This requires the approval of the court and some stockholders object to it. This was the reason for the Tuesday hearing. During the testimony it developed that Universal made an offer for the stock along with the Bank of America. Judge Samuel P. Rosenman, appearing for the 20th-Fox board, urged the court to accept the proposed settlement, as did Robert P. Patterson and Milton Pollack, representing the National Theatres executives. Counsel for some of the stockholders said the whole arrangement was “illegal,” and one declared that Skouras made a profit of $4,281,000 on the deal. 'The proposed settlement puts a limit of $360,000 on the earnings of Skouras. The Class B stock was created for sale to the National Theatres executives in 1944. Under the terms of the agreement the executives were required to submit any offer they might receive for purchase of the stock to 20th before selling. An offer was received from the Bank of America following the threejudge court antitrust decision, and the 20thFox board matched it and repurchased the stock at $22.50 per share. Night Baseball Is Gaining On Small Town Theatres MINNEAPOLIS — Night baseball is becoming a bigger headache for the small town exhibitors as more clubs install lighting systems in their ball parks or improve old ones and expand their night baseball programs to as many as four or more nights a week, local film exchanges report. Night baseball is much worse competition for the showhouses in the small towns than it is in the cities. An example cited by the trade is Delano, Minn., where there’s now night baseball four nights a week and where on a Monday night a game between Delano and the House of David grossed $600. Bernhard Gardner Dies; Was RCA Counselor NEW YORK — P\meral services for Bernhard Gardner, 73, commercial counselor for the RCA international division of the Radio Corp. of America, who died July 29, were held August 1 at the Temple Emanu-El chapel. Interment was in St. Louis. Gardner, who joined RCA in 1918 and had been associated with several of the corporation’s plants and subsidiaries in Montreal, London, Tokyo and New York, is survived by his wife, Mrs. Millie Wasserman Gardner, and two brothers. 26 BOXOFFICE :: August 7, 1948