Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1940)

Midwest-Cooperative Suit in Third Week in Detroit Detroit — The trial of the suit of Midwest Theatres against Cooperative Theatres of Michigan went into its third week with the prospect that witnesses to be introduced for the plaintiff would require until some time next week to complete their testimony. Background of the suit was covered in last week’s issue of Boxoffice. A1 Grasgrin, manager of the Flatroc Theatre at Flat Rock, Mich., presented testimony intended to show that his house is forced to play some 60 days after what he considers its natural opposition, the Butterfield Theatres at Monroe, although, so it was said, the Butterfield management would be willing for the Flatroc to follow only seven days after Monroe. Rea DETROIT % Season's Greetings From I GEORGE KAPPS | I DECORATIVE METAL PRODUCTS CO. | ^ 15759 Wildemere Ave. .15 Phone University 1-7729 3 OtddoLIii o v^i trtr Lilly o .g I I ASSOCIATED | I THEATRES | I ^ ^ Alex Schreiber § || Harold H. Smilay § 1 William A. London % I ^ a- S Season's Greetings f ALBERT DEZEL ROADSHOWS I I ^ 2310 Cass Ave. Detroit § €}■■ MERRY CHRISTMAS K and a ^ ^ HAPPY NEW YEAPv g I SENATE — KRAMER — CRYSTAL I I Theatres BEN J. COHN p. SEASON'S GREETINGS | TO THE INDUSTRY | I SAUL KORMAN | GRANT THEATRE I I I SEASON'S GREETINGS from | I JEFFERSON PASADENA | I PRISCILLA SHERIDAN | I and OLIVER THEATRES | § Thomas D. Moule David Newman 8 a ® I GREETINGS FROM I I MORT GRASS I National Theatre Engineering Co Sound Service Engineers t 7639 Mack Ave. PLaza 4707 & We Wish Our Team Sponsors S‘ •| A MERRY CHRISTMAS and | I A HAPPY NEW YEAR | •I NIGHTINGALE CLUB | &• 8 .55 Bowling Committee ® Season's Greetings EXHIBITORS' TRUCK SERVICE COMPANY I JOSEPH A. SMITH HELEN R. MOORE I I GREETINGS | I VARIETY ENTERPRISES, INC. | I GRANADA THEATRE »: I I Season's Greetings I MAX BLUMENTHAL GREETINGS from LOBDELL MOVIE SIGN SERVICE Hand-Painted Banners for Theatrical Trade Phone: Arlington 1770 ■»as.«2»iS3iafi».SasiK8«^ I •I •I Wishing You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year NORTOWN and CASINO THEATRES John Tatu Victor Petriks i? son for the difference in protection, as presented in Grasgrin’s testimony, was that Cooperative insisted that the Flatroc be classed in the Trenton rather than Monroe territory, and thereby caused Flatroc to play after a Co-op house at Trenton. Raymond E. Moon, now manager of Mutual Theatres, who was one-time manager of Cooperative, in his first appearance on the stand, testified that Cooperative closed as a unit for all houses, although deals were negotiated individually for each member house or group, and gave evidence on some situations where independent houses could not get product at any price, although Cooperative houses were able to, according to the testimony. Recalled to the Stand, Moon confirmed previous testimony, with additional information, and made the point that no coercion or threats were used in closing Co-op deals as a unit. Continuing as a witness for the first three days of this week. Moon went extensively into the history of Cooperative, into its early organization and predecessor organizations, and into many facts of interest in the general practice of the industry. Testimony was apparently directed to inform the court of prevailing industry routine, and considerable time was taken up along this line. There were some legal discussions between counsel for both sides as to the significance of some of the testimony introduced. Toward the close of Moon’s testimony, reference was made to the “cliques” which, he said, had arisen in Cooperative, ultimately resulting in forcing him out of the organization. Cross-Examine Strukel Only other witness of the week was Frank Strukel, manager of Mrs. Max Manteuffel’s Martha Washington Theatre in Hamtramck, Mich., who is one of the defendants in the case, and was called for cross-examination by plaintiff’s counsel. Three more witnesses remained to be called by the plaintiff — William Schulte, owner of a string of houses in Detroit and upstate; Frank Stuart, personnel manager for the Midwest Theatres Circuit, and James C. Ritter, former national president of Allied and a member of Cooperative. Traific Problem Solved By a Boy Scout Troop Detroit — An ingenious solution of the traffic problem created by children’s matinees on Saturday has been found by Edward (Ideas) Jacobson, manager of the Moss circuit’s new Parkside Theatre, in a tieup with a neighborhood Boy Scout troop. About a dozen boys from the troop have been assigned to traffic duty weekly. They are provided with a white flag and a whistle to direct traffic, and, in return, the theatre invites them to see the show gratis. There is considerable competition for the assignment among members of the troop. Comedy Lead for Horton Hollywood — Edward Everett Horton will play the comedy lead in “Sunny,” Anna Neagle starrer. Herbert Wilcox will produce and direct for RKO. Air-Conditioned For Your Seasonal Comfort MAJESTIC BAR Clifford and Montcalm meeting peace for the industry “Food You’ll Remember’’ DON DRI.SCOLL, and JIMMY KING 80 BOXOFFICE :: December 21, 1940