The Exhibitor (Jun-Nov 1940)

8 Arrangements Ready For Red Cross Film Details Outlined By Thompson New York City — Arrangements have been completed for the special film which the industry is contributing for the American Red Cross membership cam¬ paign starting Nov. 11, it was announced this week by Major L. E. Thompson, gen¬ eral chairman, Red Cross Theatres Com¬ mittee. All production costs were contributed by Warner Brothers’ studios. Deanna Durbin’s singing of “The Rose of No Man's Land” is featured in the picture. Distribution and booking of this pic¬ ture will be undertaken by the nine dis¬ tributing companies whose branch man¬ agers have been designated as district co-ordinators for the campaign. Prints will be sent to the designated film ex¬ changes in ample time for shipment to the theatres for exhibition starting Nov. 10. Major Thompson emphasized that the second film, featuring Priscilla Lane, will be booked and supplied in each instance by the local chapter of the American Red Cross, and not by the district co¬ ordinator. Prints of this official trailer, which the theatres will show following the Durbin film, will be secured by the Red Cross chapters through their own national headquarters in Washington. Ex¬ hibitors must first contact the local Red Cross organization concerning the the¬ atre's co-operation with the enrollment of Red Cross members in the locality, arrange to secure the official Red Cross trailer from the local chapter, and then file a request with the district co-ordinator for the Deanna Durbin picture. Westfield, N. Y., House Burns Westfield, N. Y. — One woman died, and a fireman suffered injuries in a fire Oct. 10 the result of an explosion in the local Grand. Loss on the building and contents is estimated at $75,000. House had been recently rebuilt, with all new equipment. Blaze started one hour before the the¬ atre was to open for the evening. It was the worst in 20 years in the town. House will be rebuilt. Lancaster Manager Robbed Lancaster, Pa. — Donald Bonstein, man¬ ager, Fulton Opera House, was beaten and robbed by a bandit here Oct. 11, while on his way to the bank with the day’s re¬ ceipts late at night, but recovered to chase the thief and help bring him to justice. Bonstein was held up by the thug, who had a revolver, and was slug¬ ged on the head, but he called for help and then aided the chase. U Denies Charges New York City — Denial of all charges made by Samuel Posen, Universal direc¬ tor, Celia Brown, and Esther M. Tolmach was made in an answer filed by Universal last week in New York Supreme Court. Dismissal of the suit was asked with costs. THE EXHIBITOR NY MPTO Set BUFFALO, N. Y.— Statewide or¬ ganization of the MPTO of New York State, Inc., has been completed as a result of meetings held in Syracuse and Albany Oct. 8, 9 it was stated this week. Branch offices will be opened at Syracuse and Albany before the first of the year and committees in charge of the membership are now working at both points. The directorate of the New York State group will include representatives from the Buffalo, Syracuse and Albany districts and the latter cities will have executive vicepresidents who will be in charge of activities in their respective zones. Miss Marian Gueth, secretary of the organization, announced that a state convention is planned in June. Newark Anti-Trust Suit Newark, N. J. — A suit for $450,000 was reported filed in Federal District Court here Oct. 10 by Israel B. Green, counsel to Orange Theatre Corp., operator, Treat, Newark. Violations of the Sherman and Clayton acts were alleged. Corporation charged it has been denied second run and preferred films, these being furnished “favored theatres.” It stated damages it has suffered, in¬ cluding forced lowering of admission prices because of competition, total $150,000, but that under the laws it is privileged to seek recovery of three-fold the damages and cost of suit and a reason¬ able counsel fee. Named as defendants were Rayhertz Amusement Corp., David Weinstock, Ben¬ jamin Weinstock, J. Joshua Goldberg, Emanuel Hertizig, Harry Brandt, Vitagraph, Inc.; Paramount Pictures, Inc.; RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.; Big U Film Exchange, Inc.; 20th Century Fox Film Corp., United Artists Corp , Columbia Pic¬ tures Corp., and Loew’s, Inc. Defendants were directed to file answers within 20 days. ITOA Poll Ends New York City — Poll taken by the ITOA on the blocks-of-five issue ended last week with only one exhibitor favor¬ ing that method of selling, it was an¬ nounced. Margaret Ettinger Arrives New York City — Margaret Ettinger, who handles publicity and advertising for Technicolor on the coast, arrived here Oct. 14. "Ramparts” Hearing Set PHILADELPHIA — Chief Justice William I. Schaffer, State Supreme Court, last week granted a petition by the producers and distributors of “The Ramparts We Watch” to advance the hearing date on their appeal from a state board of censors ban on the “Baptism of Fire” sequence. Justice Schaffer listed argument for the week of Oct. 28, when the court will sit in Pittsburgh. Walker Guest of Honor At Philly Variety Dinner Postmaster General to Be Paid Tribute Philadelphia — Frank C. Walker, Post¬ master General of the U. S., and formerly an executive with the Coinerford circuit, will be guest of honor at the annual ban¬ quet of the local Variety Club at the Bellevue-Stratford Dec. 12, it was an¬ nounced at a meeting this week. Already 473 tickets have been sold for the affair. Thirteen members will attend the Pitts¬ burgh Variety Club dinner Oct. 20, it stated. Other highlights of the session saw applause for Ted Schlanger for his Sunday night screening handling, an ex¬ pression of regret over the passing of Barker Murray Beier, report of the golf committee that revealed a profit of $100 going to charity, announcement that the social season begins Oct. 26 with an open house, the treasurer’s report indicating that the club was strongly in the black, report of the AC committee which re¬ vealed $1000 had been received for char¬ itable purposes from the Showmen’s Variety Jubilee, commendation for Bark¬ ers Earle Sweigert and Oscar Neufeld for their AC work, report of the paralysis committee’s co-operation with the Na¬ tional Paralysis Foundation; tabling of the resignation of Charles Segall, who was forced to resign because of ill health, in¬ asmuch as he had been such a valuable member; and praise for Nat Levy, who re¬ cently co-operated in a free show for some stranded British seamen. Over 60 members were present. Nominations of officers for the new year will take place Nov. 14. RCA Execs Move Up Camden, N. J. — Seven promotions in the executive personnel of RCA Manufactur¬ ing Co., Inc., were announced last week by Robert Shannon, executive vice-presi¬ dent. They are: E. W. Ritter, former general manager of radio tube manufacturing, elected vicepresident in charge of all the company’s manufacturing and production engineer¬ ing activities; H. L. Sommerer, former manager of manufacturing, appointed as¬ sistant to Ritter. His responsibilities will cover all manufacturing activities in con¬ nection with national defense program activities. E. W. Engstrom, former direc¬ tor of general research, appointed man¬ ager of all research activities for the com¬ pany; E. E. Lewis, appointed assistant vice-president as executive head of ac¬ counts and finance. H. L. Beisswenger, I. T. Kitzmiller, and E. M. Moore, appointed assistant con¬ trollers in respective charge of budgets, taxes and insurance; works accounting and costs; and general accounting. Metro Exchange Shifts New York City — Douglas Peck this week returned to the local Metro ex¬ change as office manager, succeeding Leonard Goldgraben who was transferred to the theatre department. Peck had been in the home office up to this time. October 16, 1940