Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1939)

JNTO Filmrow exchanges came: Carl Nil man, operator of theatres in Shelburne Falls, Mass., and Valatie, N. Y.; Allen Jones, booker for Conery circuit, Ravena; J. E. Bird of the Arlington, East Aldington, Vt.; Leonard Rosenthal of the State, Troy; Sid Dwore, operator of Cameo, Palace and Lincoln, Schenectady; Morris Silverman of the Mount Pleasant, Schenectady; Lou Bucken, Amenia exhibitor; Phil Straus, Pine Plains showman; George Thornton of the Orpheum, Saugerties, and Oipheum, Tannersville; Ernie Wolfe, Lowville operator; Irving Barker of the New Theatre, Hoosick Falls. Twentieth Century-Fox inspectresses excur sioning with 3,500 local residents for Albany Day at the World’s Fair were: Mrs. Katherine Heavenor, Doris Senecal, Elizabeth Hillis and Anne Hasbrouck . . . Harvey Newland screened final show of the season at Firemen's Hall, Windham, October 20. It is a Catskill Mountain summer situation . . . Allen Sirrine is recarpeting Empire in Port Henry. Incidentally, employment rolls show an increase in that town, shipping point for iron ore extracted from nearby mines. Republic Steel & Iron Co., is expanding operations, with the reopening of old mines and construction of a blast furnace. It is said that the latter phase of operations has beeri done in Troy. Another Irishman has been added to the Filmrow roster. He is Jimmy Coyne, student booker at Universal — so they say. Emerald Islers are numerous in local booking ranks. As can be seen from these names: Dan Houlihan, 20th Century-Fox; Bill Murray, Grand National; Ray Powers, Warner-Vitagraph; Mary Hawkins, Republic. Several of the boys double as office managers . . . George Lynch, chief buyer for the Schine circuit, is the “Quid Sod” descendant holding probably the biggest job among the bunch in the Albany territory. John Cooney, Union Square, independent first run in Pittsfield, Mass., came to Al Ausahle Bridge Co. Buys Rex in Keesville, N, Y, Albany — Ausable Bridge Co. has taken over the Rex in Keesville and will continue its operation as a picture theatre, according to Filmrow reports. Kate Prentice, niece of Charles Marshall, was running the house. The bridge company at one time owned a theatre that stood near the bridge. Keesville, northern Adirondack Mountain village, is one of the few in its population class (1,795) with two theatres. Win WB Foreign Tilt New York — Richard Reichter, Warner manager in Yugoslavia, and Jack Kamras, in charge of sales in Finland, are the winners in the company’s European exploitation contest. WB Halloween Party# Oct. 27 New York — The annual Halloween party of the Warner Club is set for October 27 at the home office. bany for preview of “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” His brother. Bill, interested in the theatre, seen on Filmrow . . . Ronnie Bush, 20th Century-Fox advertising department, was here conferring with Manager Moe Grassgreen and others on premiere of “Drums Along the Mohawk” at Palace, Albany, November 2 .. . Harry Berkson, Monogram franchise holder upstate, visited local office on trips from Buffalo. He reported business improving in Buffalo territory since infantile paralysis epidemic situation had improved and ban on theatre attendance eased. Berkson joined George Weeks, Monogram general sales manager, in a call on Schine headquarters at Gloversville . . . Charles Boasberg, RKO manager in Buffalo, accompanied Bernard Kraiize, RKO boss in Albany, to Schine headquarters in Gloversville and Kallett offices in Oneida. Paul Baron, Universal’s Atlanta manager and head of the playdate drive, huddled with Joe Engel, local chief. Campaign, which closes October 28, is on both new and old product. Standings of various Universal exchanges are published eveiy fortnight . . . A1 Marchetti, Universal booker, back at work following an attack of grippe . . . Bill Gaddoni, Metro date setter, was reported ill at his home in metropolitan area . . . Bill Kennedy, Rouses Point and Champlain exhibitor, in a Montreal hospital for treatment . . . Filmrow offered condolences to Stanley Goldberg, Columbia booker, on death of his father. Burial was in Hamilton, Ont. It was a case of sorrow mixing with joy, all Columbians having made plans to attend wedding in New York of Cashier Lou Olshen and Helen Goldstein. Virtually entire staff was present at latter Sunday ceremony. So were other Albany friends of Olshen, who received a chest of silver from fellow employes. In absence of Goldberg and Olshen, Salesman Morris Cohn acted as booker . . . Mitchell Conery, Conery circuit, on Filmrow but minus his rosy complexion, due to recent illness. Another Theatre Reported Planned in Ellenville Albany — Reported along Filmrow that a second theatre will be built in Ellenville, Catskill Mountain village of 3,280. Jimmy Spadaro operates the present house, Shadowland. It is virtually new, having been rebuilt. Rival is understood to be an exhibitor from a town served by New York exchanges. Sometime ago, Spadaro is said to have received a proposition from Walter Reade, one of whose spots is Kingston. Like Ellenville, it is in Ulster county. Asks Assessment Cut New York — William Yoost has instituted suit against the New York tax commission for a reduction of $180,000 in assessments for 1939-40 on the Regent, Royal, Superior and 34th St. Heart Attack Is Fatal Troy, N. Y. — W. R. Donnelly, 34, a projectionist, died here of a heart attack. Poses Moratorium on Government Suits New York — A plea for a more tolerant understanding of the grave issues at stake was sounded by Emil K. Ellis, film attorney, when he told members of the Motion Picture Associates the “government should call an armistice on its anti-trust suits until the European war is over to determine whether the industry can survive without foreign markets.” Such a moratorium could be achieved, Ellis declared, without the government impairing its case. “But it is important that the department of justice take the whip out of its hands and lay it down” so that distributors could give immediate attention to many clearance disputes that are pending. “The companies cannot give these disputes the attention they deserve because they are concentrating on the big anti-trust suits,” he asserted in further qualifying his proposal for an “armistice.” More than 100 members and applicants attended the session at the Hotel Astor. Jack Ellis, president, presided. He stressed the importance of securing advertisements for the organization’s souvenir journal in connection with the annual charity ball at the Astor, November 25. Pari-Mutuel Bill Threat Nets Executive Huddle New York — Seriousness of the parimutuel bill pending in Albany brought leading independent and major circuit heads together in C. C. Moskowitz’s office Thursday for a discussion of procedure. Another meeting has been called for Monday, same place. It was stated that, at the time Skouras operated in St. Louis, business dropped approximately 50 per cent when a similar bill was passed in Missouri. A representative for the Warner circuit expressed an identical view for Ohio and Walter Reade held it to be likewise for his New Jersey theatres. Attending the session, and slated to meet again, were Moskowitz and Leopold Friedman of Loew’s; Henry Walters of RKO; George Walsh of Netco; Leo Brecher, who has several houses; Sam Rinzler and Louis Frisch, Randforce circuit; George Skouras, Skouras circuit; Laurence Bolognino. Consolidated Amusements; A1 Hovel and Fred Schwartz, Century; Edward Rugoff, Rugoff & Becker; Si Fabian, Fabian circuit; Walter Reade, Reade circuit; M. Thompson, Cocalis Amusements. Einield in Monday New York — S. Charles Einfeld, director of advertising and publicity for Warner, is scheduled to arrive Monday from the coast. Jack Warner is slated to leave Friday. Metro Chicago Meet Chicago — Metro district managers meet here October 28 and 29 for a discussion of product plans, largely on “Gone With the Wind.” 24-F BOXOFnCE : : October 21, 1939