Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1940)

Pins Hope for Future On Consent Decree Philadelphia— Hope that the consent decree will initiate “a new era of better understanding between the film industry and the government” was voiced by Postmaster General Frank C. Walker before the Variety Club at its sixth annual dinner in the. Bellevue-Stratford. Fifteen hundred showmen and their friends paid $10 a plate — net proceeds going to the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis— to hear Walker, head of the Comerford circuit, and other prominent film men and to enjoy a sparkling array of performers. Calling on the industry to do its part in the defense program, Walker lauded it for its past contributions to the nation’s culture. Major General Clifford R. Powell, commandant of Port Dix, told the showmen America was virtually unprepared when the international crisis broke last year, and called for greater efforts “to defend those things represented by the Golden Cross.” A Plea for Greece Spyros Skouras, president of National Theatres and head of the Greek-American Relief Ass’n, pleaded for aid for embattled Greece, “the country that has given America its heritage of freedom.” Jay Emanuel, outgoing chief barker, was presented with a pair of silver candlesticks by Dr. Leon Levy, head of Station WCAU, who is taking over the barker’s chair. Ben Bemie, who did a scintillating, wisecracking job as master of ceremonies, illustrated the spirit of the affair by turning back to the club for anti-paralysis work $500 of his $600 fee. The remaining $100 he gave to a blind newsboy at a nearby restaurant. A bit of political byplay took place when Sen. James J. Davis called for cooperation, to be followed by City Democratic Chairman John B. Kelly, who said, “We don’t want too much loyal opposition — we need cool, constructive criticism.” Senator Joseph F. Guffey of Pennsylvania and former Gov. Harold G. Hoffman of New Jersey also spoke. The club presented, through Postmaster Walker, a check for $2,000 to Dr. Alexander J. Stoddard for a therapeutic pool for paralytics in the Martin Orthopedic School, Philadelphia. The club has given the same school more than $10,000 during the year for extension of its facilities. Considerable comment was heard on the souvenir program booklet, with a cut-out figure of a barker on the cover, the most novel program ever published at the club’s affairs. Charles Goodwin was head of the — Photos by The Exhibitor At the Variety Club Dinner — Included among the industry figures attending the sixth annual dinner of the Philadelphia Variety Club in the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel were those pictured above. Single-columned at the top left are Barney Balaban, Paramount president; Spyros Skouras, president of National Theatres, and Frank C. Walker, postmaster general, interested in the Comerford circuit. Directly above, each left to right, top row: John Nolan, Comerford circuit; Walker, again; T. J. Connors, M-G-M eastern division sales manager; Abe Montague, Columbia general sales manager. Center row: Carl Leserman, assistant general sales manager for Warner; James R. Grainger, Republic president; W. G. Van Schmus, managing director of the Music Hall; Rev. Herbert W. Jones, who gave the benediction; Ned E. Depinet, RKO vice-president; William F. Rodgers, Metro general sales manager. Bottom row: William Sussman, easier?! division manager of 2Qth-Fox; Jay Emanuel, retiring chief barker; Herman Wobber, 20th-Fox general sales manager; Edgar Moss, 20th-Fox Philadelphia district manager; Ted Schlanger, War?ier theatre manager in the Philadelphia zone; Reverend Jones, again. committee that put it out. Members were Myer Adelman, Allen Benn, Leo Beresin, Harry Blumberg, Everett Callow, William J. Clark, Roger W. Clipp, Alfred J. Davis, Ben Pertel, Melvin Pox, Henry Friedman, Charles Goldfine, Norman Lewis, Oscar Neufeld, Leo Posel, Sam D. Schwartz, Dave Supowitz, Joseph Suskin and Earle W. Sweigert. Among' the promineuts seated at the head tables were Herman Wobber, 20th-Fox: William A. Scully, Universal; Carl Leserman, Vitagraph; Ned Depinet, RKO; WilHam F. Rodgers. M-G-M; Barney Balaban, Paramount; Joseph Bernhard, Warner Theatres; John Harris, president of Variety Clubs of America; Abe Montague. Columbia; Arthur Kelly, United Artists; James Grainger, Republic; Earle Sweigert, Paramount; Ted Schlanger. Warner Theatres; Steve Broidy, Monogram; Ted O’Shea, M-G-M; J. J. Unger, Paramount; Leon Netter, Paramount; Louis Krouse. lATSE. Len Goldenson, Paramount; M. A. Lichtman, MPTOA; Tom Connors, M-G-M; Harry Gold, United Artists; John Nolan, Comerford; Bill Suss man, 20th-Fox; Max Cohen, Allied of New York; Jules Levey, Universal; Edgar Moss, 20th-Fox; Sam Shane, Motion Picture Daily; Bob Whiteman. Paramount Theatre; Ed Peskay, Hal Roach organization; Joe McConville, Columbia; Max Weisfeld, Columbia; John C. Flinn. “Variety;” Red Kann, BOXOFFICE; Nat Levey, RKO; Bob Lynch. M-G-M; Federal Judge Harry Kalodner; Philadelphia Postmaster Joseph Gallagher; W. G. Van Schmus. Radio City. Frank L. McNamee, former Philadelphia branch manager for RKO, was named manager of this year’s paralysis campaign. James P. Clark, Horlacher, is chairman. The chairmen of the various committees that had a hand in putting over the dinner \vere Jack Beresin, general chairman; David E. Weshner, first vice-chairman; James P. Clark, second vicechairman; Ted Schlanger, dais committee; Charles H. Goodwin, program book; Hillary Brown, tickets; Samuel Stiefel, production; Earle W. Sweigert, reception; Everett Callow, publicity; Benjamin Fertel, dinner; Milton Rogasner, seating; William A. MacAvoy jr., electrical; E. O. Wilschke, public address and microphone; Sidney E. Samuelson, printing; Clinton Weyer, hotel and transportation; Paul Greenhalgh. out of town guests; Dr. J. Alex Ritter, physician-in-charge; Louis Krouse, public relations, and William Harrer and Abe Freeman, technical activities. BOXOFFICE ;; December 21, 1940 21