Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1939)

^BE BLANK and Ralph Branton of TriStates circuit were in from the west for Paramount theatre conferences with Leon Netter. Which is one of the few reasons Netter has been unable to set any definite plans for a trip to the circuit’s North Carolina subsidiary . . . Charlie Einfeld was under the dentist’s knife for removal of some bothersome jaw bone tissue . . . Bernie Kranze, RKO manager in Albany, was around the Si Fabian office on a product deal . . . David Butler, director of the Kay Kyser film, was in town attending the world premiere at Rocky Mount, N. C.. Kyser’s home town. Other RKO executives who made the trip from New York were Ned E. Depinet, Cresson E. Smith and S. Barret McCormick. George J. Schaefer went directly to the function from Florida, where he was fishing following a visit to the coast studios . . . Ben Cammack, assistant export manager at RKO. sailed Saturday aboard the S. S. Santa Lucia for Panama, the first stop of his annual inspection trip that will take him to Chile, Argentina and Brazil. C. C. Pettijohn veered out of a Hays office window, observed some goings on along the window sill and remarked: “What! Bugs this time of the year?” A colleague put him straight: “No, Charlie, that’s snow” . . . Murray Silverstone plans to leave for the coast in about a week . . . Harry Rice, former UA exploiteer, is handling out of town engagements for Select's “double horror show” . . . Dave Palfreyman and Gabe Hess are delighted with the improvements at the Algonquin Hotel, which is their favorite eating place . . . Julius J. and Philip G. Epstein, screen playwrights at the Warner studios, are in tow7i looking over the Broadway shows — Metropolitan Plioto "Naw, This-a-way" — Thumbs Swingmaestro Kay Kyser as Director David Butler has a doubt. The Butlers passed through New York en route to Rocky Mount, N. C., Kyser’s home town and the site of the world premiere of his RKO starrer, “That’s Right, You’re Wrong.” — Metropolitan Photo Here Two Weeks — Is Ruth Terry, new Walter Wanger star, who has arrived in New York to participate in the advance buildup for the premiere of her first starring film, “Ladies Know Too Much.” . . . Jane Bryan is oil the scene from the coast, ready to attend the Music Hall premiere of “We Are Not Alone” . . . Tony Martm is around again, having completed a role in “Music in My Heart” . . . Barney Balaban and Abe Blank taking in a Lindy lunch together , . . Marvin Schenck, Sidney Piermont a7id Bill Moses got the dust-off fro7n Ge7ie Picker, who failed to show up for the usual inctuals . . . Kirig Vidor is here fro7n the coast. Neil F. Agnew and Charles Casanave have been having most of their lunches together in the past two weeks . . . Gregory Dickson and Rufus Blair are exploiting Paramount pictures for the next few weeks . . . Although Myer Beck said David O. Selznick was returning to New York around December 1, S-I officials say the producer will not be in town until after the Atlanta opening of “Gone With the Wind,” set for December 15 . . . And while on the subject of “Wind,” Arthur W. Kelly, close friend of Lowell Calvert, took the S-I eastern representative over the hurdles the other day when he reported Charles Chaplin’s “The Great Dictator” would open day-and-date in opposition to “Wind” in Atlanta . . . Jack Cohn has gone to the coast for a quick visit . . . M. A. Schlesinger has been seen more than ever these days, which means he has given up his pent house luncheons on 42nd St. for the winter. Lou Goldberg is doing all right with his two vaudeville roadshow troupes . . . Julius Joelson, who has leased his New England houses to M&P (Paramou7it affiliate) is well known in the local area, having sold a group of theatres to Fox Metropolitan Playhouses, now Metropolitan Playhouses, co7itrolled by UA Theatres Circuit and operated by Randforce a7id Skouras cir cuits. If you can figure that out you’re good . . . There is some talk of Nate Yamms selli7ig his theatre interests in the same area . . . Evely7i Nesbit, star of silent days, is appearmg in person at one of the store cafes i7i the Radio City area . . . Ted O’Shea has been making the upstate territory this week on behalf of M-G-M . . . It has been quite a week for parties and affairs. To get a quick checkup: Monday 7iight, the UA party at 7-11 Club for Ruth Terry; Tuesday, the Oscar Doob celebration at Fifth Ave. Restaurant, and opening of “Mill 071 the Floss” at the Astor; Wed7iesday 7iight, the Night of Stars at the Garde7i; Thursday night, the B’nai B’rith at the Edison Sun Room. Stanton Griffis was seen leaving Nate Spingold’s office. Always quick on the quip, the Paramount executive committee chairman quipped: “You can deny that Columbia is absorbing Paramount and vice versa” . . . The annual Warner Club kiddies Christmas party, to be known as “Santa Claus at the Circus,” takes place Saturday afternoon, December 16, on the stage of the Vitaphone studios in Brooklyn . . . Milton Weiss had Robert Taylor and Barbara Stanwyck in tow at the “Night of Stars” affair. Ditto Irving Windisch with Hugh Herbert . . . Ben Serkowich comes through with the current price quotations on imitators of the Marx brothers for street-walking ballyhoo purposes: “Groucho” is asking $5 per day with paint or real moustache. The same for “Chico.” “Harpo” is asking $7.50 per day with a red silk wig ... By the time you read this Jack Ellis, president of M. P. Associates and local salesman for RKO, will have married Evelyn Bassett, former John Powers model. The ceremony took — MetropoKtan Photo The Job's Done — Havmg completed his leadmg role in Colu7nbia’s “Music m My Heart,” To7iy Martm retur7is to New York accompa7iied by A7idre Kostelanetz who is featured m the roma7itic comedy. Rita Hayioorth plays opposite Martin. Joseph Sa7itley directed. 22 BOXOFFICE :: November 18, 1939