Canadian Film Weekly (Apr 11, 1945)

Page 6 Now With Odeon FRANK FISHER He recently became chief buyer and booker for Odeon Theatres of Canada, after resigning as assistant general manager of Empire-Universal Films. His appointment is a popular one within the trade, for Frank enjoys per sonal popularity of a high degree. He got into the business in 1926 as cashier of the Calgary office of educational and at the time the company closed its Canadian branches, in 1932, he was manager. Frank then joined the Calgary sales staff of Empire, being transferred in at the end of 1934 to the Toronto branch as booker. In the fall of 1935 he went back to Calgary as branch manager, where he remained until May, 1936. At that. time he came to Toronto again as assistant branch manager. Prior to becoming assistant general manager in 1939 he served as manager, at different times, of the Montreal and Toronto branches. There isn’t anyone who doesn’t wish him well at his new post. Canadian FILM WEEKLY Marquee Lingo Marquee short cuts to stars and titles are always interesting but must offer a challenge to the reader occasionally. The other evening one marquee offered Den Morgan and another Ger Fitzger. Sounds like a contest idea... On the Victoria street side of the Shea’s Victoria, empty these many years of the vaudeville that was its glory, is a souvenir of those gayer days there—a case two flights up which advertises “Mats. Wed. & Fri.” ... Emp.U lads partied Frank Fisher, their ex-colleague and (in some cases) boss who just shifted to Odeon. Guess he needed stimulation for that long trek across the hall... Barry Buchanan, UA ad, pub and exploitation chief, is preparing a printed panorama of show business, something that has been lacking for a long time. Interesting A clipping from the Banff Crag & Canyon says that the Lux Theatre is undergoing a “housecleaning’ and that “The many historical oil paintings, by Drummond Davis, that decorate the walls, are getting a thorough going over which will bring back their original colors.” Seems like an unusual movie house and would like to know more about it. WE 20 ALI Tyr sy ASSOCIATED ESTABLISHED 1931 FRIENDLY SERVICE maa wm SETHE BOL Sac Waite for full particulars — _ HARRY LAW, Gen. Mgr. 277 Victoria St., e TORONTO | Good Indians You could shoot a pretty fair Western in the Warners Office these days. The company’s current drive has an Indian theme, the catch-line being “Heap Big Pow Wow” and the idea “Win Wampum With Warners.” Apparently Lo, the Poor Indian, doesn’t appeal to the Warner lads. Lo is too poor. But then, he never had a chance to win wampum through Warners. The company has plenty of top product during the Pow Wow period, April Ist to July 28th, and it should be a pleasure to be scalped by such WB braves as George Altman, Joe Plottel, Frank Davis, etc. Incidentally and off to one side, George Altman nearly got scalp _ed proper the other afternoon. A few of us, along with George, were gabbing away on the curb in front of 21 Dundas Square when some dope pushed a milk bottle of the ledge of a window on the 14th floor. It hit the pavement with a terrifying plop, just missing Georgie’s scalp. He had to send his trousers to the cleaners to get rid of the milk—and other stains. Word from Mervyn Had a note from Cpl. Mervyn Goldstone, RCAF overseas. He recently saw Sam Freedman, formerly of the Circle, Toronto, and also had a chat with Dave Coplan, ex-UA boss in Canada and now top man in Britain for the company. Mervyn, formerly head booker for Esquire, was glad of the chance to swap trade chatter. He enclosed a clipping from a British paper which tells of the most unusual policy in the business, in practice at a WBire theatre. Two years ago the local council ruled that unmarried couples must not sit together but on different sides of the aisle. It was lifted for two weeks, then reimposed. Must be the House of Hitz. Loose Ends Leo Devaney had a unique ex. perience the other week. He was elected to two important industry posts one day after the other and is now president of the Canadian Picture Pioneers and the Canadian Motion Picture Distri. butors Association ... The Imperial Bank clock On the Square has apparently. thrown its hands up in despair after trying for years to get things right. Figured it was a waste of time, I guess. It’s painted over. April 11, 1945 Promoted FRANK VAUGHAN Appointed assistant general manager of Empire-Universal Films Ltd. by A. W. Perry, he succeeds Frank Fisher, who resigned to become chief buyer and booker of Odeon Theatres, following the recent resignation of Ralph Dale to enter partnership with Sam Fingold Dick Main. Price In Harry Price flew back from California to be at the bedside of his wife, the former Marion Wainright, who was critically ill. She is feeling much better now. Harry raves about the beauties of California. He managed several theatres in the Los Angeles while there and is building a home in San Bernardino . . . Steve McManus, formerly of the Elgin, Ottawa, now manager of the Mettawas Hotel, Kingsville, Ontario, lost his second Labrador dog, Trigger II, recently and has another puppy. Al Iscove of UA stopped by recently to bring him up to date on the latest industry doings . . . Eric Hatch, the air conditioning man, is back in our territory with many a tale to tell about his absence. He was doing his stuff for the USA government. In Reverse Walter Blondell, Imperial treasurer, was $20 short and found after hours of rechecking his figures that it was still in the safe, wheer he left it when he picked up the receipts for counting. “I want the combination changed,” he said to Manager Tom Daley. “Someone must have put it there.” “That’s the first time anyone wanted the combination changed because money was put in,” cracked Tom. &