Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1939)

CIILIIEVIIEIILAMIID) Showmen Club's Annual Roundup Called Nov, 5 JESSIE WILTSHIRE, long with Columbia Pictures and more recently with Vitagraph, left last Priday with her sister and and brother-in-law to make her home permanently in Florida. So Dorothy Orton, her assistant biller, steps into the biller’s position and Jean Wolcott, a newcomer on the Row. has been appointed assistant biller. Fred Schram, former lessee of the Lyric Theatre in Delta, now is runnmg the Empress Theatre in Whitehouse . . . Robert Smeltzer, Vitagraph district manager, was in town for several days, coming from his headquarters in Washington, D. C., to consummate local deals in cooperation with Herb Ochs, local branch manager. J. O. Guthrie of the Karolyn Theatre, New London, who recently boosted his business by presenting Dorothy Grainger, a home-town girl, on the stage, reports that the screen star has returned to Hollywood in response to a call to appear in a new picture. G. L. Carmack who hails from Findlay, has taken over the Star Theatre, Bluffton, from the owner, A. T. Worthington. Carmack also owns and operates the Carma Theatre in Bluffton. Mrs. Meyer Pine, wife of one of the heads of Associated Circuit, is at Mt. Sinai Hospital for observation with the possibility of an operation in the offing . . . George Lefko, RKO branch manager, states that “Nurse Cavell” is slated to play at the RKO Palace the last week in October. Visitors from the surrounding towns reported in goodly numbers at the various film exchanges during the week. Spotted along the Row were George Delis of Canton; Leon Velas of Bellaire; Harry Reinhart and his city manager, Ben Schwartz, of Canton; Paul Ellis of Niles; Morris Levin, N. Spayne, Bob Menches, R. E. Paulus, Ernie Lefton of Akron; Sam Reichblum of East Liverpool; Nat Walken of Salem; George Pank of Marion; Jack Hayes of DeGraf and Joe Shagrin and Joe Trunk of Youngstown. Earl Setron and Doug Smith of the Smith and Setron Printing Co., who started out making window cards and heralds for theatres, are now turning out advertising material for non-theatrical industries from coast to coast. George Manos, president of the Manos Amusement Co. with theatres in Lisbon, Toronto, Minerva, Leetonia and Columbiana, fooled Old Man Hay Fever this summer by installing air conditioning in his office. This made it possible to stay at home for the first time in many years T. B. KLAIBAN Motion Picture Screen Resurfacing Co. White and Silver Screens Guaranteed Workmanship — Reasonable Prices Satisfied Customers for Twelve Tears 604 WARD AVE., GIRARD, OHIO Phone: Girard, Ohio, 361-J . . . Perc Essick and Meyer Fine have reopened the Ohio Theatre, Galion, which was closed during the dog days. Loew’s Granada Theatre last week celebrated its 12th birthday. Manager John Newkirk celebrated by presenting a week of outstanding picture programs . . . Marvin Samuelson, manager of Warner’s Colony Theatre, reports that the public reaction to the first of a series of Book Review Matinees was most gratifying with attendance up to expectations. Bill McGrew, one of Manager Harry Henderson’s ushers over at the Lorain Fulton Theatre, was one of the top winners in the Jitterbug Jamboree held last week at the Public Auditorium. Parading the theatre aisles was his only formal training, Henderson reports. S. P. Gorrel, Republic sales manager, just back from a tour of the territory including Pittsburgh, is optimistic about business in general and the picture business in particular since counting the smoke stacks in Pittsburgh from which smoke poured forth. Ray Wallace, owner of all but one of the theatres in Alliance, is taking his daily exercise these days by promenading every day from 5 to 6 o’clock with his two-yearold son. Sidney Garfinkle has sold “Pay-Me,” new theatre game, to the Mt. Pleasant Theatre two nights a week . . . Mildred London Gurian, formerly of Cleveland and now the wife of Milton Gurian of the Monogram outfit in Cincinnati, is the mother of a son, named Stanley Louis. “Duke” Clark and Harry Goldstein were hosts last Thursday evening to some 800 guests who assembled at the Lake Theatre for a trade screening of Paramou7it’s “Seventeen” and “Disputed Passage.” Bud Somers, former manager of the Palace, Akron, and now managing Shubert’s Theatre in Cincinnati, sends regards to the boys and girls back home via Sam Gorrel of Republic . . . Harry Thompson, Schine booker, has established local headquarters in the 1900-Euclid Bldg., having moved to Cleveland from Bellefontaine . . . William N. Skirball and his right-hand man, Joe Lissauer, were in New York last week consummating product deals for the houses in their circuit. Urling and Davis, large circuit owners, have sold their house in Zeniople, Pa., to Bill Thomas of the Liberty Theatre, Lowellville . . . George Manos has done over his Minerva, Ohio theatre in the latest style and now it stacks up with the best. Lee Hendershot of the Orwell Theatre, Powell, has spent his spare time this summer, building himself a house. He had the aid of only one assistant . . . George Papas of Powhattan Point is on the sick list . . . Charles Kosco, booker for the Alpine circuit vnth headquarters in Kingwood, W. Va., was spotted in town at the Columbia exchange booking for the Steubenville and Canton, Ohio — Annual fall round-up of the Charles Seigrist Showman’s Club, which group practically all managers of local theatres are affiliated, will be held Sunday night, November 5, in the ballroom at the Hotel Belden here. The event will be in the form of a “welcome home” party for performers and showmen who will shortly wind up their outdoor season with road attractions. Program will include films of activities of club members, taken this summer by Ted Deppish, official club photographer, brief talks by guests and visiting showmen, an entertainment program of circus and vaudeville acts, and a buffet lunch. Sterling (Duke) Drukenbrod, former theatre manager, during the past season sideshow manager of the Cole Bros, circus, is president of the club, which has membership representation in a score of northeastern Ohio cities and towns. Warner Club in Canton Enjoys Annual Party Canton, Ohio — More than 25 members of Canton’s Warner Club and invited theatre executives and guests enjoyed the club’s annual party at Tam-O-Shanter, golf club near here, on October 13. The evening was spent informally, with a short program of entertainment. A social hour followed and a buffet lunch was served. Guests included the entire staff of the Ohio, Warner theatre here. Arrangements were in charge of Manager William Harwell. Salineviile houses which also belong to the circuit. George Glick, Columbia salesman, has just returned from Smithfield where George Sturgeon, theatre owner, predicts a boom due to the opening of the mines in his vicinity . . . F. H. Hathway, owner of the Struthers theatres, is suffering from headaches these days. Reason is that by widening the street 07i which 07ie of his houses is situated, the marquee extends over the street, so 7iow he doesn’t k7ioiv what to do about it. The Auto Theatre at Strassburg closes November 1 . . . Ray Wallace, Alliance Theatre owner, is starred in this year’s Columbia press book. He was a spectator in the senate chamber when the senate was in session and when Frank Capra’s cameramen took shots to be used as models for the sets in “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” Ask the man who knows and he’ll locate Exhibitor Wallace in the picture . . . Bernard Rubin of Big Feature Rights Exchanges, Inc., reports that prints of “Hitler— Beast of Berlin” and “Torture Ship,” first of the PDC pictures have arrived. W. J. Powell has sold his Lo-Net Theatre hi Welli7igt07i to Walter Steuve who operates theatres in Findlay. Frank Nola7i will manage the house . . . Powell will spe7id the whiter in Florida, as usual . . . David Fettman has been named manager of the Harbor Theatre, Ashtabula Harbor, by the new ow7ier, H. Thomas. 56 BOXOFFICE :: October 21, 1939