Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1938)

g L. OAKLEY, district manager for East Texas Theatres with headquarters in Nacogdoches, has been moved back to the circuit’s local offices in charge of purchasing. Oakley is succeeded in Nacogdoches by Donn Abshier, who has his office above the Texan Theatre. Abshier, former manager of the Texan, is replaced by S. E. Tanner, transferred from Greggton. News frovi Houstoyi reached here this week of the death of Mrs. Will Horwitz, who ivas buried there over the weekend . . . John Stewart of Kaufman, and his brother, M. S. Stewart of DeLeon, leave early next week on their annual Thanksgiving visit to their mother in their native Hattiesburg , Term. John E. Lilly of Sulphur Springs, who hasn’t been to Filmrow much since 1930, was conspicuous this week filling in booking sheets for his Sulphur Springs theatres. He hasn’t changed a bit in ten years. He’s still his distinguished self. The reason John Lilly came to town, we learn, is that his brother, Jack of Greenville, who looks after several theatre bookings, had gone on a deer hunt, red cap and all. Jack did the same thing last year, getting the limit. Col. H. A. Cole left Tuesday for Washington and New York. In New York he will continue negotiating with the discontinued on next page) KNOW What's New in Theatre Modernization SEE: An economical FRONT CURTAIN Installed SEE: A modernistic TICKET BOOTH SEE: A demonstration of the sensational CONTI-GLO PAINTS and Mercury Vapor Lights Glad to Show You and Explain 1914 MAIN ST. 2 Blocks off Film Row DALLAS Plans FREE on Remodeling Jobs Oklahoma City — One of the outstanding exhibits of the MPTOA convention here, this Kroehler Mfg. Co. display featured a theatre chair of revolutionary design. Built to retract the seat at a slight thrust of the feet, the chair permits passage between the rows without the necessity of patrons arising. “No more standing up.” “No more stepped-on toes.” Thus the display proclaimed the wares. Trade's Favorite Eating Place in Dallas May Move Dallas — Since 1921, when the first film exchange building went up on Harwood St., the corner at Jackson has been the favorite eating and refreshment emporium, not only for employes on the market, but for practically every exhibitor when they visited here. Now, 17 years later, that corner may go under lease to another line of business more directly connected with the trade. The deal is considered set, it is said, but names are withheld pending closing of the deal. In event of this change, the restaurant will move to a nearby location. Radio Audition Plano, Tex. — The Palace here staged a “radio audition” on its stage recently with full recording equipment for voice and musical talent. Prizes were awarded and records given to the winners. The results were submitted to the Dallas Entertainment Guild, of which Hyman Charninsky, former theatre musician, is a member and judge. BUFFALO COOLING EQUIPMENT 315 s. harwood BUFFALO ENGINEERING CO., INC. Dallas, Texas OKILA. CITY JjjXCEPT for a few of the boys and girls in town to do some buying this town is at present a very dead town as far as the film business is concerned, but you couldn’t tell the exchange managers that for there are some very important and very hectic rows going on over contracts for the forthcoming season. Not all of the circuits in this area have finished signing yet and a good deal of bickering is going on about contracts, particularly on the number of percentage pictures which is the present bone of contention. The result is that some of the independents in competition with circuits are getting contract breaks. Pete Crown still in town and host to T. B. Noble on one of those extra special dinners just to show him something different; Noble admits it was . . . Bob Pfotenhauer taking good care of a cold between thoughts about his wardrobe and the women in his life . . . W. B. Shuttee a very happy man-about-town with many of Standards troubles and worries now off his back . . . Morris Loewenstein tying up the loose ends from the MPTOA convention . . . Buddy Moran looking forward to the Christmas showings of model railroad equipment . . . Claude Fulgum contented in reflection about his new house in Nichols Hills . . . Ben Hill, United Artists man of much . publicity and promotion in the village to work on a handful of UA pictures including "Algiers,” "Drums,” “Young in Heart” and others . . . Coming up from Houston the squarejawed Ben got into an argument with a cow on the highway and ended up by using his vehicle as a plow in a farmer’s cornfield . . . State Theatre held a special screening for “Blondie” (Col) last Saturday night for the high school youngsters. It’s a record for the town at the State Theatre with “You Can’t Take It With You” (Col) held over for a fourth week; a new consecutive week record for the house and for the town. Grosses following completion of the third week have remained well over the 100 per cent average every week ... A jury in the court of Ben Arnold, district judge, decided that Morris Loewenstein, owner of the Majestic, was not responsible if Mrs. Ella Martin tripped and fell down the theatre steps on May 9, 1937. She had sued for $10,000 damages, charging that lighting in the balcony was defective. James Shears says the modern screen can’t touch the razzle, dazzle days of 1898 in the film business. He was the first man in America to roadshow pictures, he states, and is now writing his biography. He relates how he carried the films, as well as his cast, about in a covered wagon for one-night stands before amazed audiences. His machines were Edison Biographoscopes and Kinetoscopes. In 1905 he ended his show career and came to live in Norman, Okla., where he entered the park concession business. Four University of Oklahoma students (Continued on page 27) 84 BOXOFFICE :: November 19, 1938