Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1939)

gENATOR BURTON K. WHEELER is scheduled to be guest of honor at the Variety Club banquet, December 10 . . . Lowell Thomas is supposed to be another guest, but news reports have him down with a strep infection. Variety Clubbers are praying for speedy recovery . . . The grapevine tells about new theatres being contemplated in Camp Hill, Watsontown and Port Treverton, all in Pennsylvania . . . “Gone With the Wind” is reported definitely booked for opening at the Boyd Christmas week . . . George Nonamaker, UMPTO publicizer, won himself a big cake in a Vine Street raffle. The cake-eater. J. Howard Syyiith, another local boy making good, has been proinoted from booker to Harrisburg salesman at 2Qth-Fox . . . The filial S. R. Kent Drive meeting of the year at 20th-Fox brought to Philadelphia, Herman Wobber, general sales manager; William Sussman, eastern division manager, and Morton Levy, drive leader . . . Leo Posel’s new Tyson is scheduled to open November 21 . . . Daisy Mae and Li’l Abner, flesh impersonators of the comic stars, who are ballyhooing a charity dance for the Record, were visitors at the Shoivmen’s Club. Thirty-five local theatres, corralled by Moe Verbin, will also play host to the hillbilly couple . . .Moe reports his current four-star membership drive has netted 60 new Showmen Clubbers. Allen Lewis, Dante, had his car smashed in an accident, but escaped unscathed . . . M. Malsma is opening an office here for the Premium Promotion Syndicate, which handles books in the middle west, New England and New York. His first deal is with the Chelten . . . Sam D. Schwartz. Warner, has been reappointed by Chief Barker Jay Emmanuel as chairman of the Variety Club’s house committee — which is really a more responsible post than chief barker, according to the boys . . . Jim and Bill Clark and Oscar Neufeld will tear a herring with the Washington Variety Club at its banquet November 18. Betty Chambers, Metro cashier, who went horseback riding last weekend, fooled her co-workers by sitting down as soon as she entered the office . . . Joe Farrow, Metro office manager, is snapping at the staff since Penn got licked by Penn State gridders . . . Florence Averell has a little pig bank on her desk — souvenir of the Danish pavilion at the Fair. But she won’t tell what she’s saving her money for . . . The Film Center Lunch waitresses have blossomed out as senoritas, with carnations in their hair. Anent the complaint voiced by local independent exchanges about Clark Film Distributors’ practice of accepting films directly from New York distributors for servicing here — observers point out that Clark considers itself obliged to take any business offered it. They say pressure ought to be directed by the local independents at the New York distributors . . . Bill Woolf, Allegheny, reports he broke his house record with “Torpedoed,” heralded by a bang-up campaign. Words are flying between Alexander Film Service and Motion Picture Adver(Continued on page 24:-D) Five Amusement Firms Dissolve in New York Albany — Loew’s Lexington, Inc., Fenton Amusement Corp., and Cedric Amusement Corp., all of New York, have been dissolved. D. Schadler, 1540 Broadway, was the attorney. Empire State Theatres, Inc., with headquarters in New York, also dissolved. Edith Schaffer, 1501 Broadway, was the attorney. British Distributors, Ltd., 1150 Broadway, dissolved. . REVIEW FLASHES • CITY IN DARKNESS (20th-Fox)— One of the poorest, most wearisome and involved episodes in the veteran sleuth series, this will find it tough going everywhere but with the most confirmed Charlie Chan fans. Sidney Toler, Lynn Bari, Harold Huber. Herbert I. Leeds directed. GERONIMO (Para) — Containing the timehonored formula of soldiers and Indians, given lavish and spectacular production mounting, and treated to an engrossing screenplay with historical background, here is a field day for the action addicts. Picture deals with the marauding Apache chief who terrorized the southwest after the Civil War. The picture is dependable as a top money offering in its class. Paul H. Sloane directed. JUSTICE OF THE RANGE (Col)— The exhibitor should have little trouble in selling this Tim McCoy western to his patrons. It is entertaining and the story holds up throughout. McCoy does well in his familiar role as a peacemaker. Tim McCoy, Billie Seward, Edward LeSaint. David Selman directed. PRIVATE DETECTIVE (WB)— A compact little thriller that should help fill out a wellbalanced program. The story is that of three private sleuths who become involved in the skullduggery of a crooked lawyer and it is unfolded convincingly by a cast including Dick Foran, Jane Wyman and Maxie Rosenbloom. Noel Smith directed. ROVIN' TUMBLEWEEDS (Rep)— The public could not demand more of Gene Autry than is offered here. The story, studded with much vivid action, has Gene going from flood refugee work to Congress, effecting a general reform on conditions. George Sherman directed. TOWER OF LONDON (Univ)— Through the sheer weight of impressive pageantry and spectacle and a superior cast, headed by Basil Rathbone, this medieval melodrama contrives to transcend its story weakness and emerges as highly acceptable entertainment with more or less historical accuracy, liberally garnished with plenty of horrors. The picture portrays the murderous intrigues to which Richard III resorted to attain the English throne. Ably produced and directed by Rowland V. Lee. COMPLETE REVIEWS on the above pictures will appear in an early issue of BOXOFFICE. S-W May Quit Flesh; Say It Doesn't Pay Philadelphia — TTie possibility that Stanley-Warner may discontinue vaudeville in all local houses when the current contract with the musicians’ union expires December 1, is being discussed here. Three neighborhood houses — the Alhambra. Kent and Frankford — dropped flesh a month ago. Still using it are the Allegheny and Oxford and the downtown Earle. In addition, the Ogontz and Keystone run amateur nights, which necessitate the use of musicians. According to reports, S-W heads are considering making a clean sweep of the policy on the ground that it hasn’t been enough of a draw to justify the steep costs. Observers have heard talk about discontinuance of the policy in the neighborhoods, but the inclusion of the Earle in the reports comes as a distinct surprise. Duals About to Get Chance In Warner Philly Houses Philadelphia — Stanley-Warner’s excursion into double features is scheduled to get under way “soon in several houses,” a Warner spokesman informs Boxoffice. Reports are that the date will be December 1, and that five houses will be involved — one running duals every day, the other four twice a week. Their names could not be learned. The development is being watched with considerable anxiety by independent exhibitors. S-W spokesmen have said the policy would be introduced only in areas where the “competition from independents using double features makes the move necessary.” One possibility being seriously mentioned is that some independents might try to go Warner one better, and use triple features. However, observers commented, the recent release of a whole series of extra-long films may head off such a possibility. To Seek Time Extension In Chi. Contempt Case Chicago — Defense attorneys in the government’s criminal contempt proceedings against Barney Balaban, B&K and seven majors, were expected to seek an extension of time for their answers to the government’s brief this week. The time limit of 30 days was to be up Saturday. Robert Golding, one of the defense attorneys, said that the extension sought would be “only about a week, to clear up a few odds and ends.” Chas. Perry Now Partner At Detroit Madison Detroit — Charles Perry, for years manager of the Adams Theatre here for Harry and Elmer Balaban of Chicago, has resigned to go into a partnership with Dave Newman and Arthur Robinson on the management of the Madison Theatre, downtown continuous run house. No one has been named yet to succeed Perry. 24-B BOXOFFICE :: November 18, 1939