The Exhibitor (Jun-Nov 1944)

4a ILLNESS POSTPONES SCHINE BUFFALO TRIAL Buffalo — The Schine anti-trust trial, scheduled to resume last week, was post¬ poned because of illness of Saul Rogers, chief Schine counsel. Within the next week, Schine must file an answer to a Government request for admission of facts and a bill of particu¬ lars. The defendants must also make avail¬ able to the Government for inspection certain office notes and correspondence. Federal Judge John Knight last week signed an order permitting Willard S. McKay, attorney, the right to subpoena certain documents from the Justice De¬ partment in advance of the resumption of the Schine anti-trust trial on Sept. 26. Local 231 Contracts Extended New York — Contracts covering more than 600 white collar workers in the War¬ ner home office were extended 30 days last fortnight by Warners and Motion Picture Office Employes Union, Local 23169, AFL. Negotiations for a new contract con¬ tinued, with the company willing to con¬ tinue the provisions of the contract. The union seeks a closed shop, a five per cent length of service increase every six months, and an increase in the number of job classifications. New York — Contract discussions cov¬ ering 600 white-collar workers will be held between Warners and the Motion Pic¬ ture Office Employes Union, Local 23169, AFL, when Samuel Schneider and Joseph Bernhard return from coast sales meetings sometime this week. The Service Kit’s the Season’s Hit EVIDENCE OF THE ATTRACTION of Von Johnsoon, MGM star, is seen in this photograph of the re¬ ception hall of Photoplay Magazine's New York office, where the receptionist recently removed lip¬ stick planted on the star's photo by ardent young women fans. Far more important to the ordinary layman, however, is the box of tissues in the hand of the receptionist. BRANDT SELECTION HAILED BY TRADE Aides Appointed To Help ITOA Head New York — Enthusiastic support from area exhibitors was indicated last fort¬ night for Harry Brandt, ITOA president, who will head the industry’s effort in the Sixth War Loan. Nine outstanding independent exhibitors have accepted appointments as co-chair¬ men of the industry participation; William J. Crockett, president, Motion Picture The¬ atre Owners of Virginia; Hugh Bruen, treasurer, Pacific Coast Conference of In¬ dependent Theatre Owners; Jack Kirsch, president, Theatre Owners of Illinois; John Rugar, member, Intermountain Theatres Association; Henry Reeves, president, Texas Theatre Owners, Inc.; A1 Steffes, member Allied Theatre Owners of the Northwest; Leo Wolcott, president, Allied Independent Theatre Owners of IowaNebraska; Fred Wehrenberg, president, MPTO of St. Louis, Eastern Missouri, and Southern Illinois, and Nathan Yamins, chairman, executive committee, Indepen¬ dent Exhibitors, Inc. Brandt stated that additional apointments would be announced in the near future. Theatre Changes Revealed New York — Several theatre changes in the local area were revealed last week. The St. George, Linden, N. J., is closed down indefinitely. St. James, Asbury Park, N. J., was closed for one day recently due to a fire. New operator of the Pioneer, Brooklyn, is the Pioneer Amusement Corporation, of which Sarah Kronowitz is president, and Muriel Goldberg, secretary-treasurer. Plaza, Freeport, L. I., closed by Cen¬ tury recently, has been reopened by Gary Piccione, with Island Theatre Circuit do¬ ing the buying and booking. Island Theatre Circuit is also doing the buying and book¬ ing for the Kent and Leader, Brooklyn. World will be operated by George Schwartz, formerly of the Laffmovies. New operator of the Heights, Brooklyn, is Jeanne Ansell, operator of a pair of houses in the Bronx, who intends making it a Spanish film outlet. Keep In Touch With the Arbitra¬ tion Cases In Your Area By Consult¬ ing the Weekly Report On Progress In Your District. U Signs One Year Deal New York — Universal signed a one-year contract with the Motion Picture Office Employes Union, Local 23169, AFL, last week. The contract, retroactive to July 1, sets up 34 job classifications. Contract will be submitted to the War Labor Board. The contract provides for an eight per cent increase or for the worker to be brought up to the minimum of the classi¬ fication, and has a maintenance of mem¬ bership clause which provides the present members of the union maintain their mem¬ bership in good standing, and that new workers join after a trial period of em¬ ployment. Yew York City Crosstown Century Notes: Circuit held its semi¬ annual managers’ dinner last week at the Rivoli Restaurant, Brooklyn. This also .initiated the new goodwill and patron drive among the theatre supervisors. In attendance were home office executives, division managers, managers, and assist¬ ant managres. . . . Martin Newman, former home office manager, has been promoted to lieutenant (j.g.), and is stationed at a Naval base somewhere in the Pacific. . Lieutenant Herbert Butler, former head, statement department, at the home office’ and at present a navigator with the Ferry Command, recently wrote from India. Phillips, Nizer, Benjamin, and Krim Notes: Leon Alexandroff was off for a two weeks’ rest to the White Mountains, N. H. . . . Florence Abramson, secretary to Louis Nizer, left for Lake George last week. . . . Jerome Edwards has also been relaxing at Lake George, and was due back this week. Harry Kosiner, sales representative for Edward Small, hosted UA’s Latin-American managers last week at lunch, and in the afternoon the visitors were Small’s guests at a ball game. In the absence of Lieutenant Colonel Hal Roach, Grace Rosenfield, his eastern representative, hosted the United Artists Latin-American managers last week at a luncheon at “21.” Later, the men were guests of Archie Mayers, sales representa¬ tive, Jules Levey, at a performance of “Carmen Jones.” Discussions for a new contract between the Motion Picture Film Editors, Local 771, IATSE, and five newsreel companies opened today (Aug. 23). Monogram played host at entertainment for Henny Youngman at the Warwick Hotel last fortnight. Evadne, Inc., has purchased a plot of land on the west side of 83rd Street, 240 feet south of 37 th Avenue, Jackson Heights, Queens, L. I., for the erection of a theatre when materials are available, it was announced last week. The prop¬ erty has a 240-foot front, and is 100 feet deep. The purchasing firm was repre¬ sented in the transaction by Weisman, Celler, Quinn, Allan, and Spett. All of Lord and Taylor’s Fifth Avenue windows are devoted to a three days’ display of gowns and daytime frocks of Chinese motif, specially designed by Irene, and inspired by the costumes worn by Katharine Hepburn in “Dragon Seed.” Edward Peskay Associates last fortnight took a long term lease on the five-story building at 45 West Fifty-fourth Street for use as executive offices and living quar¬ ters. August 23, 1944 THE EXHIBITOR N.Y.S.