Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1939)

BROADWAY (Continued from page 23) Warner, Max and William Goldberg, Gilbert Josephson, Martin Lewis, Matty Radin, Irving Barry, Karl MacDonald and Mary Rose Carneghi. Loew’s foreign department was saddened by the news that Willy Mosinger, manager for Bulgaria, had passed away . . . Joe Schenck and Zorina, who are now on the coast, left New York the same day but Schenck took the plane and Zorina the 2bth Century. The dancing star is scheduled for 20th-Fox’s “I Was aii Adventuress” . . . Doc Bishop, 20th-Fox’s foreign publicity studio contact, is m town vacationing and taking in the hockey games with Les Whelan . . . Barbara Stanivyck and Robert Taylor also were on hand to witness the opening of the hockey season at the Garden . . . Epicurean note: Get Grace Warner, secretary to Herman Wobber, to tell you her recipe for that frankfurter stew which has her friends gaspmg. Thomas Patrick Mulrooney is undecided whether it will be a Pontiac or a Dodge . . . Norm Elson is now general manager of sales and distribution for Film Alliance. For the last six years, Elson has been general manager for the Brand Theatres . . . O. K. Swann is the new Detroit branch manager for Ross Federal Service . . . Charles Buckley, FWC counsel and coast football authority, rates UCLA’s two colored backs, Kenny Washington and Jack Robinson, as the best in the country. Also, thinks the Uclans have a good chance to knock over USC. Lep Friedman and the missus are going to Boston for the Thanksgiving holidays . . . Robert Taylor visited the Loew home office the other day. On the eighth floor. Gilmour Program Head For GE Television Unit Schenectady — John G. T. Gilmour, widely known in the trade as originator of “Excursions in Science” series and as a producer of industrial films for General Electric Co., now is program manager of W2XB. This is GE’s new television station in the Helderberg Mountains which will be placed in regular operation next month. Chester H. Lang, manager of publicity and advertising, announced Gilmour’s transfer from the motion picture department, which he had supervised for eight years. Charles R. Brown, of the market research section, takes Gilmour’s place in the motion picture department. W. T. Cook will have charge of scenario work for both pictures and television programs. Odium Not Interested Jersey City — Floyd B. Odium, president of Atlas Coi’p., states he is not interested in financing independent production. This, despite Mayor LaGuardia’s efforts to revive production in the east on a large scale. one of the girls dashed out and kissed him. There was a lot of signatures on photographs but hardly the experience of his visit last time when one of the girls on the third floor fainted after kissing the star . . . George W. Weeks has recovered from a cold which has kept him away from his desk several days . . . Charles W. Trampe of the Monogram Milwaukee exchange and son, Ray. were home office visitors. Ditto for William Onie of Cincmnati . . . Arthur Lee says Baird television will be ready here in about another month since the company is undergoing a change of parts and will not use all of the British-made equipment . . . Hal Hode was guest speaker at the dinner given by Engineering Women’s Club Thursday night . . „ Dorothy Kennedy’s sister has been compelled to continue her rest in New Jersey before reporting for aetive duty as “hello” girl at the local RKO exchange. Eddie McEvoy, RKO district manager, continues to maintain his Westchester home, although his headquarters are in Cleveland. He said it’s too much to move 17 rooms of furniture to Ohio, particularly when one of his daughters writes for the Macy chain of newspapers . . . A1 Rosen, manager of the State, is still undergoing treatment for his eyes . . . W. Ray Johnston was attracted by the war headlines the other day, bought a paper and ambled down Broadway reading the story without bumping into anyone . . . Rube Jackter was planning to visit Detroit on business, but when he foimd his customers in town on a social tour he managed to talk about the things he wanted to, thereby eliminating the trip . . . A1 Lichtman has been planning to come on from the coast for several months now and one of these days probably will make it. Rules Gardner Lost Schenectady Lease Albany — The appellate division, by a 3-2 vote, reversed a supreme court decision favorable to John W. Gardner as lessee of the Colony, one of three Schenectady houses under his management. The higher court ruled that he had lost his lease. Gardner now is said to face a $20,000 action brought by Albany owners of the theatre. 'The Heilmans will get the Schenectady Theatre, it is reported on Filmrow. In fact, they plan to move into another location, too, if Row gossip is correct. The Heilman circuit now operates the Royal and Paramount, Albany, and Palace, Troy. Gardner had a lease on the Colony for five years ending Oct. 1, 1938, and an option for a second period of the same length provided the owners did not sell. The owners claimed they sold the place and Gardner refused to vacate. The owners brought a supreme court action against him, but it was dismissed. The appellate division reversed the lower court findings. Sees Concessions as Neely Bill "Bribes" Philadelphia — Concessions being offered by distributors to exhibitors are “probably merely articles of appeasement” designed to weaken support for passage of the Neely Bill, according to a statement issued by Prank Lydon, regional vicepresident of Allied States. His statement, which was not an expression of his own views but rather of opinions voiced by other delegates, was issued following a regional meeting of Eastern Allied units at the local headquarters of Allied of Eastern Pennsylvania. Lydon’s statement added that it is “too early” yet to determine the value of concessions offered so far. In addition, it cautioned unit officials not to become too involved in matters of litigation and legislation, to the detriment of ordinary services to exhibitor members. The meeting, which lasted five hours, was attended by representatives of units in New England, District of Columbia, New Jersey, Maryland and eastern and western Pennsylvania. PHILADELPHIA (Continued from page 24-B) Users over distribution of Camel cigarette trailers, according to reports. Apparently both are handling Camel stuff, and Alexander claims previous contraets with exhibitors who now are signing up with M. P. A. There’s talk of an injunetion . . . Hal Seideiiberg, Fox, got himself a barrelfull of plugs over WDAS for “First Love” by running a letter eontest on “Why Deanna is considered the typical American girl” . . . Metro is offering prizes of $100, $75, $50 and $25 for the best campaigns on Garbo’s “Ninotchka” to local independents. Separate prizes also for the Warner and Comerford circuits. Flesh shows are banned on Sundays, but the Fays will have them two Sundays in a row this month — as benefits. A city permit is required . . . The second benefit, November 26, is for the family of the late Clem Rizzo, equipment dealer known to everybody in the trade . . . Roy Robbins, Karlton, got English and history teachers in dozens of schools all over town to recommend the short, “The Monroe Doctrine” . . . Joe Murdock, Stanley, Camden, pulled off the boldest stunt in months, when he placed a motorfloat advertising “Thunder Afloat” at the tail-end of the Armistice Day parade. To the thousands lining the route, the float seemed part of the parade. Sid Poppay, Majestic and Strand, Gettysburg, is making friends among the numerous kid clubs by running special nights for them, during which their own stars are given a chanee to strut their stuff on stage . . . OV Two-Gun Gus Miriani, Princess, Camden, is giving away popguns to the kids, promoted from Kresge’s . . . Dick Kirsh’s shop window displays for the Thanksgiving show at the Aldine, Wilmington, have gone over so well, he has sold a raft of tickets in advance. 24-D BOXOFFICE :: November 18, 1939