Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1939)

Lichtman Takes Top Honors in New Suit Does Not Skouras' 10 Week Campaign Involve Loew Board New York — Fred Lichtman, manager of the Lafayette, Suffern, came out on top in the 10-week Skouras drive just ended. He not only took first for the New Jersey division headed by Herman Starr, but also led all other managers in the circuit of 60 theatres. All told there were 153 prizes given away. Harry Fuchs, manager of the Fox, Hackensack, rated second in the Jersey division; Bob Goodfriend, Rockland, Nyack, third; Fred Wieber, Tivoli, Jersey City, fourth, and A1 Unger, Capitol, Jersey City, fifth. Walter Melvin, manager of the Valentine, Bronx, ran away with his division with Jack Bokser of the Crotona, second. Tom Saris, manager of the Merrick, Jamaica, L. I., came in first in the Long Island division, which was third. Dick Carneghi of the Roosevelt, Flushing, was second, and Paul Laube, Manhasset, Manhasset, third. There were 70 awards made for best ideas during the campaign. First mention went to Tommy Robinson of the Forest Hills, Forest Hills, L. I., who originated the title “10 o’clock Club” for Saturday morning shows for kiddies. Second was Majors Have to December 1 To Answer Government New York — Major company attorneys have been given until December 1 to answer the government’s interrogatories, but it is a foregone conclusion another postponement will be taken, the next most likely being the final one. William P. Farnsworth, newly appointed assistant to Paul Williams, already is active in the case and next week will leave for Washington with questions submitted by UA on the government. At the Washington meeting, department of justice heads will decide which interrogatories to answer. It is hinted in some quarters distributors may seek a six-month delay before answering the interrogatories. However, all companies have not figured out how long it will take them to get the information required. Until then, it is stated, no definite time limit or schedule can be ascertained. But, it is expected this information will be ready by December 1. Williams returned to Washington, Thursday night and gave reporters something to think about when he stated “the motion picture business is damned complex.” Attorneys for the defendants have been trying to show him for months how complex the industry and its operations are. Apparently Williams has come to the conclusion there is something to it, after all. It is understood Williams has also revised some of his interrogatories so that there is no doubt as to meanings. Revive Six John Waynes New York — Warner is reviving six westerns with John Wayne and produced by Leon Schlesinger several years ago. Tom Bums of the Apollo, Jersey City, with a football quiz gag which received the cooperation of Lincoln and another high school in the city. A “jelopy” idea by Jay Enders, Hempstead, Hempstead, was good for third place. He had a contest on for the oldest car with a prize to the winner. A Cinderella contest rated fourth for Adolph Caruso of the Corona, Corona, with the girl whose foot fit a slipper receiving a pair of shoes. George Nichols of the Liberty, Elizabeth, scored first in the service drive. Harold Janecky of the Academy of Music tallied second; Notis Komenos, State, Jersey City, third; A1 Unger, Capitol, Jersey City, fourth; Joe Salmon, Riverside, Manhattan, fifth. Following the drive, Enders has been promoted from the Hempstead to house manager of the Academy of Music under Janecky. Moses Benjamin Esserman, who comes from Alabama, has been named manager of the Hempstead. Joseph Samarco, assistant manager of the Academy of Music, is now managing the Carlton, upper Manhattan. Benjamin Ostrow has rejoined the circuit as manager of the 77th St. He recently recovered from a protracted illness. Metro Chicago Sales Meet Will Map "Wind" Policy New York — A discussion of “Gone With the Wind” sales policy will highlight M-G-M’s mid-season sales meeting that is called for November 25-26 at the Drake Hotel in Chicago. William F. Rodgers, general sales manager, will head the delegation of home office executives and the approximately 40 branch and district managers who will attend. Allied Session Set New York — Allied of New Jersey is set to meet at the Hotel Astor, November 28, in a “routine” session. Brandt Tour Seen on New Nat'l Unit New York — Harry Brandt's tour to 13 cities in the interests of common exhibitor problems is seen by local prognosticators as the first tangible effort on part of the ITOA head to formulate a third national exhibitor organization. It is pointed out Brandt has often been outspoken in what he describes as the “need'' for an organization entirely removed from the influence of national Allied and the MPTOA, neither of which he claims has the genuine interests of the small operator at heart. Brandt's trip will take him to Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, Minneapolis, Des Moines, Omaha, Denver, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Dallas and New Orleans. New York — Having had their suit against Loew’s dismissed last June because of diversity of citizenship, Norman Wolf and Manes Fuld have filed another action against A. T. & T., Western Electric, Erpi, Chase National Bank, Chase Securities, Halsey Stuart, and Dillon, Read & Co. The theory of the action is that the defendants A. T. & T., Dillon, Read and others, through their financial power, got Loew’s to take out a recording license from Erpi and also buy apparatus from Western Electric at prices in excess of what could have been gotten elsewhere. The suit seeks to have A. T. & T. and others return to Loew’s alleged overpayments. No claim is made against Loew’s or its directors, evidently because of the decision handed down late last year by Supreme Court Justice Louis A. Valente upholding the management in a previous stockholders action. Loew's Asks If Must Reply To Suit in Wilmington Wilmington, Del. — Counsel for Loew’s, Inc., main corporate defendant in suits filed in court of chancery and U. S. district court here last winter by Arnold Herrman, New York stockholder, on charges of fraud and conspiracy in formation and promotion of 20th Century-Fox, filed plea in court of chancery here asking whether it should make answer to that suit. Loew’s, named defendant along with officers and directors of the company, alleges that the relief sought in Herrman’s action had been effectively disposed of in a consolidated action filed in the supreme court of New York for the special term. Part III, and heard in December, 1938. A final decree dismissing the complainant in that action was handed down by the New York supreme court on March 31, 1939, or about a month after Herrman’s action had been filed here, the plea contends. Herrman charged that Loew’s, through its officers and directors, formed and promoted 20th Century-Fox to the detriment of Loew’s stockholders. Hear UA Arguments Seeking Dismissal of Folly Suit New York — Arguments were heard Friday on UA’s motion to dismiss the Folly suit in Brooklyn against the company. Federal Judge Bondy heard the arguments with Ben Pepper representing the distributor. UA Completes Deal With B&K and Great States Chicago — With Jack Schlaifer, western sales manager, and Irving Schlenk, branch manager, representing United Artists, the distributor this week finally completed a deal with B&K and Great States for UA product for 1939-40. John Balaban handled details for the circuit. BOXOFFICE November 18, 1939 19