Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1938)

m in a mi M gTAFF members of all of the Wometco houses have started planning and rehearsing the stunts and skits to be presented in competition for the Credit Union placque at that organization’s annual show, business meeting and buffet supper. The Mayfair now has possession of this placque, but will have to beat the field to retain it as all the other houses are starting their plotting extra early this year. Ted Schlosser, formerly assistant at the Biscayne Plaza, comes over to the Capitol to he Jack Fink’s assistant, while Walter Oakerson gets promoted from chief usher to assistant at the Plaza and George McLaughlin goes from the Biltmore to be assistant to E. J. McKinney at the Grove as a result of the moveups accompanying Wometco’s acquisition of the Strand. These promotions come as birthday presents for both Schlosser &nd McDonald, and also for Floyd Stubbefield, new manager of the Strand. Most recent Paramount promotion is the advancement of Paul Lee from the door of the Olympia to be head usher of the new Paramount . . . The annual Blind Bogey golf tournament was run off, according to schedule, last Wednesday, but the winner is still to be decided. The bogey drawing hasn’t been held yet. No little profitable attention was attracted by a stunt used by Al Weiss to promote “Stablemates.” He had a huge wheel, marked with the names of 25 popular race horses, set up in the Olympic lobby for passersby to spin. When the pointer stopped on “ Lady Q,” the “Stablemates” filly, the spinner was awarded an admission. Finding interest in the school for assistant managers, inaugurated at Wometco headquarters this summer, continuing unabated, it has been decided to continue these weekly sessions on a new schedule now being prepared by Sidney Meyer. Attendance at these classes is not restricted to assistant managers. Speaking of birthdays. Jack Fink celebrated his by going to a football game while Hal Kopplin lit his candles mid came back from his vacation all in the same breath ... A revival of Muni’s “Life of Emile Zola” was good boxoffice this week at the new Parkway, Aaron Courshon’s new neighborhood house down southwest on Coral Way. Beverly hills hotel and Bungaloivs A Country Club in the heart of the City. Near the various studios and surrounded by homes of the Movie Stars. Acres of Gardens, Swimming Pool, Tennis Courts, Badminton. European Plan. The rates are something of a pleasure in themselves. BEVERLY HILL S— C A L I F O R N I A Thinks Holdup Joke, Refuses Bandit San Antonio — A lone bandit walked up to the Texas Theatre ticket window, and demanded of Ruth Gallagher, cashier, the day's receipts. Thinking it was "only a joke," the cashier refused to hand over any money. Miss Gallagher later told police that theatre employes were talking earlier in the day of a previous robbery of the boxoffice and that she at first thought the man was only "kidding" her. Two men passing frightened the bandit and he fled. The culprit was described as being around 30 years old, six feet tall and weighing about 165 pounds. Likes His Sound Brownwood, Tex. — L. D. Brown, who operates the Queen and Gem in association with Texas Consolidated Theatres, claims his new sound equipment is the best sound in west Texas. Personnel of the Queen and Gem follows: The Queen — H. Clay Bradshaw, assistant manager; W. A. Pierce, chief projectionist; Blake McLean, assistant; Bertie Lee Petty, cashier; the Gem crew — Bradshaw, assistant to Brown as manager; E. M. Boone and Kenneth Hill, projectionists, and Kathryn Lathem, cashier. Add to Crescent Chain Paris, Tenn. — Crescent Amusement Co., Nashville, has purchased the Capital Theatre Bldg, and plans are being drawn for remodeling it into a motion picture house. The Capital was erected and operated by the late T. B. Walker. The purchase price is said to have been $31,000. Takes Ahoskie House Ahoskie, N. C. — Ownership and management of the Jackson Theatre has changed hands. R. C. Whitehurst, of here, took charge after purchasing the interest from former owners, operators of the Howell-Davis chain. Glen Davis of Ahoskie, was formerly co-owner and booking agent for the house. I. B. Jones Into Other Field Charlotte — J. B. Jones, for three years manager of the Carolina Theatre in Lumberton, has accepted a post with the American Credit Co., of Mullins, S. C. SERVING THE Southern Exhibitor With Satisfactory Service The Queen Feature Service, Inc. Quality Theatre Equipment & Supplies 1912% Morris Ave. Phone 3-8665 BIRMINGHAM, ALA. ^•HE Country Show Theatre, with a seating capacity of 275, opened in Maben, Miss., in October. The theatre is managed by R. H. Collins . . . The Royal Theatre at Picayune, Miss., has been taken over by the Dixie, Inc., but retains A. L. Royal as its manager . . . The Ritz at Picayune, Miss., with a seating capacity of 400, operated by W. L. Mosey and F. E. Stockstill, which closed October 15, has reopened. The Fox at Vivian, La., operated by B. F. Minshew, and the Scout at Minden, La., operated by R. Williams, have reopened . . . William Powell has a typical double in New Orleans in George Strickland. He is the new manager of a local clothing store. A short on the screen at Loew’s State recently, "Unclaimed Millions,” gave Flo Field, a writer, a sudden inspiration. She called a friend in the banking business and explained to him that many years ago she had placed some money in a bank for her son, Sidney Field. The banker checked Gulf Coast banks and learned that Flo had placed $10 in a Biloxi, Miss., bank. The interest had increased the original $10 to $18. Winners in the first elimination in M-G-M’s national “ Great Waltz” contest, which has already been at the Loew’s State here cmd gone, were Virginia Catalano, Cliff Norton, Helen Graff, Hugh C. Chalmers, Mary Venzien and Marion Clement. The contest was held in the Blue Room of the Roosevelt Hotel. Jack M. Warner, son of the Warner Bros, motion picture magnate, accompanied by his companion, Al Gordon, stopped here last week en route to Hollywood after a six-month automobile tour of Scandinavia and northern Europe. "We didn’t see much of the war scare, although an American consul in Denmark advised us to go home,” Warner said. "We didn’t take the advice, but continued our tour until we got a cable from my father telling us to come home.” Broadcasting station WDSU November 9 joined the other two major stations here in agreeing to employ only union musicians, when a contract ivas signed by Jack Uhalt, of the station and Joachim Pipitone, president of the musicians’ union, Local No. 174, of the AFL. The contract stipulates that musicinas must receive at least $25 weekly, with $40 minimum for pianists, for a work week of nine hours, one and a half hours of which must be put in daily within an eight-hour period. No Sunday work will be done by the union m.usicians. The contract which runs until Jan. 16, 1940, was to have become effective Monday, Nov. 14, 1938. Improves Bowdon Palace Bowdon, Ga. — A new front and new boxoffice are among remodeling improvements to the Palace Theatre. Lynn Lovvorn is manager. 86 BOXOFFICE :: November 19, 1938