Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1939)

^MONG this town’s notable visitors this week were John Farrow, director, and his wife, Maureen O’Sullivan, en route to Hollywood, there to await Great Britain’s call for Farrow’s services in the Royal Navy. The couple returned to the film capital after a special trip to Vancouver, B. C., so Farrow could offer “his services,’’ which were readily accepted. While in Hollywood, Farrow will work on “A Bill of Divorcement” while Maureen will attend to a knitting chore . . . Lying in the rain on one of Seattle’s garbage dumps or, perhaps decorating the dingy walls of some scavenger’s shack, may be an oil painting worth $150 entitled “Along the Spanish Coast.” The painting was reported missing from the Music Box by G. M. Kelso, manager of the maintenance firm that services the theatre. A proposal to seek abolition of the operation of sound trucks in Seattle will he submitted to the city council in the near future by members of various commercial clubs. During election times some dozen trucks run wild through the downtown and residential sections causing “objectional” noises, one of the club heads stated. The trucks pay a daily license for use of the streets . . . Those who attended the Chamber of Commerce banquet this week ate potatoes alive with memories. They were given especially for the luncheo7i by Mrs. John Matson of Bend, Ore., and those who know anythmg about the Pacific Northwest and the roaring Klondike days, know that Mrs. Matson used to be Klondike Kate and ivas also one of the pioneers of pictures and shows in the far north. She is now a member of the Bend Chamber of Commerce. The Rendezvous cafe on Filmrow, hangout for all of Seattle’s show business, was one of the many places on Mr. Hitler’s mailing list for propaganda. A letter from Germany contained a pamphlet telling of the war in Poland from the German side. The only excitement the letter caused was the rush for the stamp by the philatelists. The contents were dumped ... In changing the name of the State Theatre, John Danz has given this town its first Rivoli, although that name has been in vogue in other cities for many years. Seattle has had three or four Tivolis. In fact, the present Rivoli was once a Tivoli. Murray Peck has been transferred from the Winter Garden to the Rivoli as manager and master of ceremonies for the vaudeville ' "THINK THIS OVER" If the people coming to your, or any ) average theatre, consume $5,000.00 worth of confections annually within that theatre ) as statistics show, shouldn’t that * ”$3,000.00 Profit Belong to You?" ^ It should be your’s; it belongs to you, I and you’ll get it with thanks, if you serve ^ your customers what they want. I ^TOPCORN SMITH^^ t Box 284, Seattle ◄ ◄ ◄ ◄ ◄ ◄ i i units. The house is one of the Sterling chain. L. O. Lukan of the Green Lake Theatre fondling a new watch, a gift of the membership of the MPTO of the Northwest in appreciation of his services as president of that organization for the past year. Did you know that Mrs. Lukan rode on the first street car ever used in the Green Lake district? When the district celebrated the finish of the street cars in that territory last week, Mrs. Lukan was the honored guest to take the last ride . . . The most dulcet switchboard voice in town is stilled. Its oivner, Lillian Griffey, has bee7i pro7noted fro77i the Hamrick-Evergree7i switchboard to a fob m the bookmg office ... A letter this week frorn Virgil Rogers tells that he is m Sa7i Francisco for a spell. Virg sends regards fro7n Roy Cooper and Neal East a7id also tells that Joe Dempsey, for a lo7ig time co7i7iected aroimd Seattle theatres, had a bad accident with his auto7nobile a7id was m very bad shape m the Sa7i Joaqum cou7ity hospital. Joe ran mto the Highway Bridge. Changes in the Paramount exchange find Ray Morrow in as head shipper and Gordon Waldo, from National Screen, in as assistant. The change was caused by Stan Jackson leaving for civil service work in the post office . . . Tom Grady, Metro auditor from the New York office, visiting the local exchange . . . The Wally Ruckers, Maury Saffles and the Jack Burks made up a theatre party at the LuntFontanne show at the Metropolitan . . . Dorothy Shearer hosted her sorority sisters at a special screening of the new Deanna Durbin picture . . . Jerry Safron in conference with Neal Walton of the local Columbia exchange and later joined by J. von Herberg of Jensen-von Herberg theatres . . . Charles and Mrs. Code of Nome, Alaska, down to the mainland for a few weeks and guests of their daughter. The first night in town, burglars entered the house and stole a valuable camera and a roll of film that Code had taken of a storm on the voyage from Nome . . . Word from Los Angeles that Sam Milner, former Universal salesman and now with Republic out of that territory, was held up by bandits on the Arizona highway and robbed of $50. Rumor has it that Irvmg Fey of the Fey's theatres m Re7it07i, is plan7ii7ig to build a 7iew ultra-7noder7i house there . . . Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Doose here for a te7iday visit with Ji77i Ho7ie. Mrs. Doose is the daughter of the Ho7ies. The S07i-i7i-law is a7i expert skater and m charge of the outdoor rink at Su7i Valley, Ida. . . . Vie Meyers has bee7i give7i a 30-day permit to operate a ballroom m Portland, Ore. . . . Eddie Hudso7i, ow7ier of Ge7ieral Films in Portla7id a7id Seattle, here for a couple of days, the7i to Va7icouver, B. C., for a business trip . . . George Mitchley, the Seattle 77ianager, off to Spoka7ie for a few days . . . Way7ie Christy of Premier Pictures flying to Portla7id a7id back, getting out a7i i7iju7iction agamst civic bodies and the censor board 071 07ie of his pictures . . . Hugh Brue7i m from Whittier, Cal., for a couple of weeks’ stay. He will be busy book mg for his ibth Street Theatre here . . . Leroy a7id Alys Johnso7i away for a vacatio7i trip by auto. L. J. McGinley, local head of Universal, principal speaker at a Kiwanis dinner at Lake Burien. His talk was on the original Armistice Day overseas. Pete Higgins, Bill Stober, and Mel Sohns also dinner guests at the same meeting. Mel is planning to open his new theatre at Lake Burien on Christmas Day . . . Jack McPherson, coast representative of the MacBeck company of New York, here from Los Angeles and making his headquarters with Jack Flannery of National Screen Service. Jack is introducing the novelty Santa Claus doll to the various business houses in town . . . Seven tables were in play at the first of the series of Duplicate Bridge tournaments in the Northwest Film Club quarters. John Danz and J. T. Sheffield won the highest scores. George Blair a7id his family spe7iding a weekend at their surnmer home 07i Vashio7i Isla7id . . . Bill For77ia7i back fro7n Portla7id a7id busy as a bee 07i the Row . . . Tom a7id Mrs. Shearer up fro7n Portla7id . . . Du7ica7i McPherso7i in from Maso7i City a7id askmg about wood cuts . . . Ted Wils07i leavmg his theatres m Cashmere a7id Leave7iworth long e7iough to get some buymg a7id bookmg d07ie . . . Ned Edris, who we7it with the hu7iti7ig party to Mo7ita7ia back h07ne a?id suffermg fro7n a slight case of rheu77iatism. Rest of the party still carrymg on. Visitors this week include: Mildred Bishop of Lewiston, Ida.; Cecil Gwinn from Centralia; Jay Porter from Tacoma; O. M. Durham from Mount Vernon; Johnny Smythe from Tacoma; Mrs. Abbe Thompson from Pomeroy; Gene Groesbeck from Enumclaw; the Jay Tews from North Bend; Walter Graham from Shelton; A1 O’Keefe of Universal in for a few days looking over the local situation . . . Glenn Haviland in from Spokane to be best man at the Frank Christie-Betty Pritchard wedding . . . Les Theuerkauf celebrating his birthday at home. His wife hosted Mr. and Mrs. Bill Bedgisoff, Mr. and Mrs. Don Beckman and Les Theuerkauf jr., who has just returned from California . . . Dorothy Appleby to go on, the Evergreen switchboard taking the place of Lillian Griffey, who has taken over Betty Pritchard’s spot in the booking department. French Film Premiere Los Angeles — “Whirlpool of Desire,” French feature starring Fi'ancoise Moray, will be given its American premiere at the Cinema Theatre November 20. Local distribution is being handled by Max Laemmle, who also operates two theatres — the Franklin and Glassell — in partnership with his brother Kurt. Prison Story to Metro Hollywood — Metro has purchased screen rights to “Osborne of Sing Sing,” a story by Jonathan Finn and Harold Friedman. The latter has been assigned to the script. 38 BOXOFFICE :: November 18, 1939