Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1939)

OKIILA. CClinrY "Gulliver" Premiere A IIJ 1§! T 1 W Y B. NOBLE JR., managing director of the State, off to Colorado on a business trip . . . The boys at the State are working on a promotion stunt in connection with their forthcoming playdate on “The Amazing Mr. Williams” that should set the femme fans on their ears. Stunt is to give away a man . . . yep, a man! Idea is the gent is a mysterious, handsome young fellow with a pocketfull of dough . . . every girl who attends the show gets a ticket number ... the lucky draw gets the gent . . . and she comes up on the stage to claim him. It is then he removes his mask and takes the young lady out for a round of fun and frolic at the State Theatre’s expense. The E. A. Patchens held a big chili supper and screening for the Standard gang last week. The guest list included W. B. Shuttee and wife, James Burge and Wife, Forrest Swigart and wife, Robert Busch and wife, Spence Pierce, Paul Townsend, Marvin Krisch and Auditor Smith and wife. Grover Edward Guthrie, Warner usher, got a fair idea of how he looks to other people one night last week when he saw his overcoat, suit, shirt and tie going down the street on another man. He pounced upon the 25-year-old man inside his clothes and set up such a fuss people rushed to the scene. At the station the man admitted the theft. The annual fruit and vegetable matinee for the American Legion needy was held last week at the Yale in Claremore . . . And a free kiddies show was given by C. R. McCullough at the Ritz in Hominy last week, also as a Christmas treat. New Variety Club house rule change: Every day except Saturday, the hours of the manager of the club are to be from 12 o’clock noon, to 11:00 p. m., and on Saturday, from noon until 2:00 a. m. Sunday. However, if any members should call or should be present at the club before 11:00 p. m. on week days, the manager shall remain on duty until members leave, and on Saturday, the same rule shall apply except the time extends to 2:00 a. m. B. J. McKenna, property man for the Variety Club, has notified club members of the directors’ appointment of a committee to perfect ways and means of obtaining eligible new members for the Variety Club. C. B. “Brownie” Akers is chairman with . Tom B. Reed, Walter Wortham, C. A. Gibbs and Ernest Fair as committee members. The Queen Feature Service, Inc. Quality Theatre Equipment & Supplies 1912^ Morris Ave. Phone 3-8665 BIRMINGHAM. ALA. Projectors and Sound for the Largest and Smallest Theatre Also Portable 16 and 35 mm equipment. HOLMES PROJECTOR THEATRE SUPPLY HA 7472 1820 Wyandotte St. Kansas City, Mo. Gala Social Event (Continued from page 121) simultaneous showing was held, with opening ceremonies held a half an hour earlier, an entire center block was occupied by employes of the Max Fleischer studios. Monday noon a luncheon at the Columbus hotel celebrated the completion of this $1,500,000 animated cartoon with 100 film executives, theatre managers and local dignitaries honoring Max Fleischer and Dave Fleischer whose phenomenal careers are topped with this current production, their first full-length feature. On from Hollywood were Barney Balaban, Adolph Zukor, Stanton Griffis, Neil Agnew, Oscar Morgan, R. M. Gillham, Lou Diamond, A1 Wilkie, W. E. Bradfield, (who has been in Miami working on exploitation and publicity of the feature for the past several months and who flew back to Hollywood, Monday evening), Leonard Goldenson, Leon Netter, John Kirby, and Louis B. Mayer. Among the other theatre personages attending the luncheon were Col. Eddie J. Sparks, president of the Florida-Sparks chain; S. A. Lynch, W. R. Lynch, Sam Buchwald, Sidney Meyer, Mitchell Wolfson, Austin Moon and George Hoover. Originally planned for a single theatre showing, the premiere was converted into a two-house affair a week prior to the scheduled date when the Miami Beach society editor of the Miami Herald, Helen Rich, had the inspiration which developed into the ultra social premiere at the Colony, with the Lilliput benefit ball. Besides Jessica Dragon ette and Lanny Ross, whose singing voices are heard as the romantic leads. Princess Glory and Prince David, assisting celebrities included Ted Husing as master of ceremonies: Mayor E. G. Sewell, Ben Bernie and the young giant, David Ballard, whose eight feet height made him an impressive double for that doughty sailor of legend, “Gulliver.” New House in Rock Hill For Bryant Is Begun Rock Hill, S. C. — Work has begun on a new $75,000 theatre here for R. E. Bryant. He hopes to have the 700-seater ready for operation by April 1. Bryant now operates the Capitol here. ^HE LOCAL Interstate mob tossed their annual Christmas party at the Avalon Night Club, and everyone is saying that this brawl was the best one to date. Bill Heliums, E. P. Ischy, Mose Macow, and Dick Waite comprised the committee in charge of arrangements. K. S. Mallory of the Interstate insurance department, Dallas, spent Sunday in “the Friendly City” . . . Leon Hearn of the Queen service staff took off a week from work to do a little deer hunting near Laredo. Anything goes when this lad is a-hunting, because his father is the game warden there. Business seems to be a bit off at the local Interstate houses, but it can’t last forever. State workers, with a week of holiday on their hands starting Christmas day, are juggling the question, how to finish their Christmas shopping in the brief time between getting their December salary warrants Friday, and the end of preholiday shopping Saturday night. Following a custom of years. Comptroller Sheppard will have more than $1,000,000 of fullmonth December pay warrants ready for delivery Fi’iday. Motion pictures of HYA projects at the University of Texas were shot in color by Captain Frederick B. Hyde, photographer for the government agency . . . Raymond Wood of the Varsity staff was given frontpage mention in Tlie Daily Texan, U. of T. newspaper, for having donated “one of the best collections of stamp-collectors’ magazines in Texas” to the university library. Through the cooperation of Louis Novy, city Interstate manager, all seven of his houses held toy matinees Monday from 3 until 5 o’clock, admission being a toy, which will be distributed by the Austin Junior Chamber of Commerce. Our Best Wishes for Your MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR K. LEE WILLIAMS ENTERPRISES Theatres Roadshows f Film Exchange Oklahoma City p Eb Walker Harry McKenna K. Lee Williams BOXOFnCE : : December 23, 1939 123