Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1939)

Washington Unfolded At Seattle Premiere Seattle— Seattle staged a regular Hollywood premiere with bright lights, notables and all, as three Technicolor travel films dealing with Washington state were given a preview showing at the Fifth Avenue Theatre. The pictures were made by James A. FitzPatrick of M-G-M and will be released generally by that company. John Hamrick of Hamrick-Evergreen Theatres acted as host to the many notables. A special section of the theatre was reserved for them. Gov. Clarence Martin, Mayor Arthur Langlie, and Leo Weisfield of the Progress Commission were the featured guests, while Stephen F. Chadwick, past commander of the American Legion, acted as master of ceremonies. Preceding the showing, a no-host banquet was held in the Olympic Hotel honoring civic and business leaders. The whole proceedings up to the time of the showing of the travelogues, were broadcast over local radio stations. Titles of the pictures are “Natural Wonders of Washington State,” “Glimpses of Washington State,” and “Seattle — Gateway to the Northwest.” ■y^ARNER circuit executives have spotted Henry Murtagh in the Wiltern Theatre to suppy organ music on a daily schedule of half-hours for matinees and 15 minutes in the evening . . . George Diamos of the Lyric Amusement Co. has returned to Tucson, Ariz., after a booking trip here. Lining up product at local exchanges was John Ludwig, who opens his new Melvan in about two weeks. Leo Popel, former manager of the Los Angeles, will manage the house . . . Visiting local friends was Emil Alperson, veteran exhibitor and former operator of the Melrose. Ida Schreiber, secretary to ITO’s Bob Poole, celebrated a birthday . . . George Bromley and Alex Mounce have thrown their Campus open for pubic inspection, although it is not scheduled to open until the end of the month . . . Nat Smythe, decorator, is discontinuing the theatrical side of his business. Morris Borgos, Los Angeles Times “theatre guide” representative on Filmrow, hosted his brother-in-law, Irwin Tucker, on a sight-seeing tour . . . Murray Fisher, office manager for Coast Pictures, has returned from San Francisco where he conferred with Sam Nathanson on plans to open a branch exchange there. Pilmrowites are already beginning to look forward to December 11, when Guy Gunderson, United Artists salesman, tosses his annual and now traditional pre-Christmas stag. This year he’s designated it a Swedish party with food and refreshments of Scandinavian ancestry to predominate . . . Most of the Row sealed its doors November 11 in observance of Armistice Day. Bjorn Foss of Monogram’s sales staff y^ITH a ripple of fans and spicy conversation, Sally Rand breezed into town with her “star-studded revue” for a week’s run at the Orpheum and local luncheon clubs. The advertising federation, recognizing her “mastery of showmanship and promotion,” booked her for a talk, as did the Junior Chamber of Commerce on a program otherwise devoted to “Oregon Industries.” It must have been the first time the C. C. failed to give home products top billing. Sally’s talk at a breakfast club Tuesday was broadcast, in part, by a local radio station which lost contact with glamorous guest’s closing remarks due to technical difficulties, or something. Listeners regretted the interruption after hearing Sally tell of her date in Seattle with an architect and did he have plans, and her liking for the older chaps who give you what the young men promise. Arthur O. Jones, who operated the Rivoli for several years, took over the State Theatre at N. W. 21st and Hoyt last week on a five-year lease from the owners of the property, Pallay Investment Co. . . . It’s a heavy week for musical attractions. Monday night brought Janet Graham’s piano concert, Thursday the San Fran checked in after a business jaunt to Bakersfield and other points in the section . . . Jack Berman, executive of the Eastland circuit, is drawing up plans to construct a theatre in Wynverwood, new residential district in the eastern part of Los Angeles . . . Another new house is being drafted for construction at Pico Blvd. and Fairfax by Emil Umann, operator of the Regina in Beverly Hills. Ed Rowley of the Robb -Rowley circuit winged out for Dallas, Tex., after looking over the situation here for a couple of weeks . . . Seattle-bound was A1 O’Keefe, Universal’s western district manager . . . Booking visitors included Mac Sinift, Daly and Delmar theatres; Max Gardens of the Rosslyn ; George Bromley and Alex Mounce, whose new Campus Theatre opens shortly, and Ed Cunningham, former manager of the Empire. George Smith, Paramount’s western district manager, headed for Chicago to huddle with Charles Reagan, western divisional sales manager, concerning forthcoming releases and sales policies . . . In from New York after a ten-day business trip are Mike and Fanchon Marco, heads of the Fanchon & Marco enterprises . . . President Charles P. Skouras of Fox West Coast pulled out for a theatre inspection tour in the northern California area. Booking visitors : Earle Strebe, who owns houses in Palm Springs and Arrowhead; C. A. Ferry, Granada, Alhambra; Boris Posner, Arlington; Murray Hawkins, Swan circuit; Bill Swanson, Beaux Arts; Joe Sloate, Maynard . . . Mel Levinson, formerly of Metro Premium, has taken office and warehouse space on the Row and intends to enter the premium business on his own. cisco Opera ballet at the Mayfair, Friday Bidu Sayao and Saturday the opening concert of the Portland junior symphony’s IQth season. Bidu’s p. a. caUs the Brazilian soprano the “one woman diamond horseshoe,” because she is “an ardent collector” of the gems. Whimsical, no end. What? . . . Sammy Herman and his orchestra opened Wednesday in the Oak Room of the Benson Hotel with dinner dancing every night except Sunday scheduled for the winter . . . Portland’s civic theatre announced “Our Town,” 'Tlrornton Wilder’s Pultizer prize play, as its second vehicle of the season, scheduled for two performances next month. Lou Stang, popular Paramount hooker, has been out of the office for the past week with an eye affliction . . . Jack Kloepper. United Artists manager, was laid low by the flu bugs for a few days . . . R. L. Kirk of the B. F. Shearer company is back on the Row after a business and pleasure junket which took him to Chicago. He was absent two weeks . . . Johnny Harvey of Universal is visiting his parents in California, by way of a delayed vacation. Lieutenant-Governor Vic Meyers of Washington finally was granted a license, in a manner of speaking, to operate his Hollywood ballroom in Portland. The city council granted him a revocable permit for a trial period of 30 days, and promulgated a few rules and regulations for Vic’s special benefit. He may keep open until 1 a. m. Friday and Saturday nights, but must close at 11; 30 p. m. on week nights; he can serve no beer, have no tables, provide no mixers nor permit beer or stronger liquid in the building. Persons under 18 years attending dances must be accompanied by chaperons, and Vic can’t charge the chaperons. Protests received by the council all were directed against a “night club or liquor outlet” in the neighborhood. Vic claimed all he wanted was to sell soft drinks. He was permitted that, so everyone should be happy. For 30 days anyhow. Bing Crosby sent regrets to Mayor Joe Carson after the latter’s request that Bing attend the grid game November 26 between Gonzaga and Portland universities here. Seems the crooner and screen star has too many professional jobs lined up to see his Spokane alma mater perform . . . A pair of late arrivals in the baldheaded section stopped the show at the opening of “The Tamijig of the Shrew” November 9. “Christopher Sly,” doing his drunk act from a box, called a halt, and the actors on the stage, including Alfred Lunt, held everything U7itil the 7iew guests were seated, the7i gave the7n an elaborate bow before proceedmg . B. F. SHEARER COMPANY “Theatre Equipment Specialists” Heywood-Wakefield Seats Wagner Silhouette Letters Motiograph Projectors 1964 So. Vermont RO. 1145 LOS ANGELES BOXOFFICE : : November 18, 1939 39