Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1939)

Record Details:

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Macaulay Post Dinner-Dance Will Feature Installation Boston — The film district fall social season will open officially Wednesday with the ninth annual dinner-dance sponsored ty the Lt. Vernon A. Macaulay Post of American Legion. Featuring the affair will be the installation of Theatreman William H. McLaughlin as commander. Harry A. Aaronson, manager of the Rialto in Boston, and Alvin G. Kennedy, state figure, will be put into line for the high office by being installed, respectively, as senior vice-commander and junior vicecommander. Marcel Mekelburg, former GB district manager now handling Grand National here, is to go in as finance officer for his second year. Ralph Wormhood will be inducted as adjutant and Dr. Edward Melincoff as chaplain. The executive committee for 1939-40 will include Carl D. Goodwin. Patrick P. Healey, Kenneth Forkey, and William J. Cotty. Abraham Berk, Mekelburg and Ralph Morse's Testimony A Buying Lesson (Continued from preceding page) to the theatre did you make?” “Two.” “On the second occasion, was there anyone with you?” “Yes, sir.” “Who was with you?” “Mr. Simon.” Louis Simon, Morse & Rothenberg district manager outside of New England, testified previously in the present action. “What did you do on the occasion of your second visit to the theatre?” “Tire second day I was in Newburgh, I discussed the situation in general with Mr. Simon. We went into the theatre, and looked at some of the other theatres.” “Do you mean that you went into the other theatres?” “No. I didn’t go into them. We went to the other theatres. We did not go inside. We discussed the situation between us.” “On either of your two visits did you make any check-up on the seating capacity of the theatre?” “I believe that I testified that I counted the seats on my first visit, and noted the condition of same.” “Before you signed the lease did you form any opinion as to what policy the theatre would be operated upon?” “Yes, sir.” “And what policy did you decide upon?” “Three changes a week, double feature. This was a six-day town and didn’t operate on Sundays. When we took over the theatre there was no Sunday license, and admissions for adults were 10 cents mati Wormhood have been elected to the reservations committee for the October 25 affair. Cyril McGerigle and James Sherrin comprise the installment committee. 'The entertainment committee is made up of Robert Sternberg and Joseph Kantor. Alvin Kenney, Leon Foster and Harry Rosenblatt form the ticket committee trio. Harry Smith and Harry Aaronson, Benjamin Abrams, Albert M. Kane and Karl Poster comprise the program committee. William Erbb, Tom Bailey. Edward Cuddy, Dr. William R. Basch, George P. Milan, Dr. Nathan Fineberg, Frank J. McCarthy, Mark Burston, Dr. I. Irving Copen and William Murphy have been elected to the reception committee. Handling publicity are Harry Browning and Howard Crombie. Edward Dobkin and Dr. Edward Melincoff have charge of refreshments. Printing is in the hands of William Cotty and Isaac Kramer. Covering transportation are Walter Blank and Carl Goodwin. nees, evenings 10 cents balcony, 15 cents orchestra.” “Now, after the lease was signed did you have anything to do with getting the theatre into condition to operate?” “No, sir,” said Morse, “except as I discussed with Mr. Simon the day that I was in Newburgh with him. After that, I had nothing to do with it.” “Did you have anything to do, for example, with getting new sound equipment?” “No, sir. We usually use the same equipment in practically all of our theatres, and there was no question as to that.” “What sound was that?” “RCA.” “After signing the lease did you later visit the house?” “Yes, sir.” “How frequently did you visit it?” “Sometimes once a month, sometimes once in two months, sometimes once in A Corporation to Irk Film Salesmen Boston — A local film salesman is not as popular around the district as he might be. The latest disparagement campaign got under way last week when several dozen filmites considered lining up friends, chipping in a few bucks apiece, forming a corporation, and leasing a theatre. The idea was that the film dispenser in question would have to contact this house, whereupon he would be dispatched from one partner to another so that all would be given the individual pleasure of turning him down. six weeks, sometimes five or six times a year.” “Did you do anything in connection with supervising the operation of the theatre in any respect?” “Only in conjunction with Mr. Simon.” “What did you do in connection with him?” “Well, there was a question at one time of installing new seats, and after discussing the matter, we decided together to do same. Sometimes a question of how much advertising space might come up, which was discussed between us. Many things were discussed when I would be at Newburgh or he would be in the Boston office, or if he would telephone me, as was the case sometimes two or three times a week, general matters, routine matters were discussed regarding this theatre, as well as any other in which we were interested.” Confers With Simon “Did you have anything to do in connection with the supervision of securing product?” “No, sir, with the expection of Fox product for a certain period.” “Did you advise or have any conferences with Mr. Simon in regard to the product to be secured for the theatre?” “Yes, sir.” “Did you keep in touch with the operations of the theatre as to product used and the receipts obtained?” “Yes, sir.” “And also as to the expenses of operation of the theatre?” “Yes, sir.” “What period of time was it when you had something to do with Fox product for that theatre?” “During the 1933-34 season, I believe, I first discussed this matter with Mr. Bailey, in July or August, I believe it was.” Thomas Bailey, New England district manager for 20th-Fox, has also testified in the litigation. “When did this theatre open, Mr. Morse?” “On February 3 or 4, 1933— February 4, I believe.” Talks Started in 1933 “Now, having in mind the date of the opening of the theatre, are you able to tell us approximately when it was that you first started to talk to Mr. Bailey about securing Fox product for the theatre?” “I believe it was in the buying season of 1933-34, which would be possibly July or August. That is when I first started to talk.” “Prior to that time, did you have anything to do with the securing of Fox product for that theatre?” “No, sir.” “Where was Mr. Bailey at the time you first talked to him about the product for that house?” asked Ryan. “From January, 1933, he was in the Fox office in Boston, but the account was handled out of Albany before the time that Mr. Bailey and I discussed a deal late in 1933.” “What was your first conversation with Mr. Bailey about that?” “I was discussing a deal for our circuit with Mr. Bailey, and he brought to my (Continued on page 66) G2 BOXOFFICE : : October 21, 1939