The Exhibitor (May-Oct 1945)

4a \ m v\v% \ New York City Crosstown The Shea Enterprises acquired the Lawlor, Greenfield, Mass., and the Colonial, Nashua, N. H., so E. C. Granger, general manager, went on an inspection tour. . . . Shea Enterprises’ Jack Shay, booker, left on an extended vacation. Arthur Rapf recently returned from the coast. . . . Laurence Robicjek, Earl, Bronx, was on his vacation. . . . Another J. J. Cir¬ cuit manager, Louis Giannazzi, Casino, Bronx, also was on vacation. Stanley Kolbert, general manager, was vacationing, too. . . . Jack Gelber, booker, Interboro Theatres, was also on a vacation. Century Circuit: Bernice Fried, secre¬ tary to Sam Goodman, was vacationing at Green Mansions. . . . Mike Segal, publicity head, is back from his rest. . . . Estella Denby, secretary to Norbet Kellman, was on her vacation. . . . The new addition of Century’s Home Front News came off the press, and it is full of humor, gossip, other things that make perfect reading for Cen¬ tury employes in the service. Harry Arebs, formerly MGM press book editor, was recently discharged from the services, last week rejoined the company. First Lieutenant James O’Shea, Air Corps, son of E. K. ‘Ted’ O’Shea, eastern sales manager for MGM, has been pro¬ moted to a captain, it was announced last week. He is stationed at Bowman Field, Louisville, Ky. Skouras Sidelights: Mae Baranco and Notis Komnenos, district managers, are on their vacations. . . . The 77th Street is now completely decorated and renovated. . . . Harry Zapf, home office, is spending a month on Cape Cod. . . . Celia Gardner, secretary to William White, was on her vacation. . . . On vacation also were the following: Mrs. Zella Wilson, Square; Mrs. C. Corneille, Englewood; Mrs. Dorothy Olney, Bronxville; Julian Olney, Scarsdale; Paul Laube, Park Plaza; Miss Mil¬ dred Fitzgibbons, Roosevelt; A1 Unger, Fulton; Mrs. Gertrude Blake, Victory, Bayside, L. I.; H. Gans, Steinway, and Elton Lewis, Rockland. Century Circuit employes were thrilled at the story of Lieutenant (j.g.) Alvin E. Levenson, Brooklyn, who fell 1,200 to 1,500 feet into the Pacific without his parachute opening after he jumped from his Navy Helldiver fighter when it. collided with another plane. Picked up three hours later by a Navy patrol craft, he insisted on flying again within a month so he would not lose his nerve if grounded too long, and last month made two attacks on Tokyo and Muroran during which his plane was hit by enemy fire both times, but returned safely to his ship. Levenson, before enter Local Industry Joins With Rest Of Nation In Celebrating Victory Of Allied Armies New York — A happy, grateful industry last week joined with the rest of the world in celebrating the downfall of Japan and the end of World War II. All branches of the business happily participated in the two-day holiday proclaimed by President Harry S. Truman, and gave thanks individually and in history had ended. Theatres, which played to light audi¬ ences on the night of Aug. 14 when the news was first heard, received the benefit of the holiday. As far as could be learned, all stayed open, although on the night that the news was first made public, some clos¬ ings followed to protect property. The local exchange world also made two days of it, although skeleton forces were on hand to take care of emergency business. In short, this was something to celebrate, and business had to come second. In the Albany and Buffalo areas, it was much the same story. Everyone wanted to celebrate a glorious victory. NJ Outing Plans Set New York — Complete plans for the August outing of the Allied Theatre Own¬ ers of New Jersey, Inc., at the West End Casino, West End, N. J., on Aug. 29 were made public last fortnight. For the subscription price of $10, the following will be given: 1 P. M. — Luncheon. 3 P. M. — Diving and swimming exhibi¬ tion under the direction of Vic De Phillipo. 7 P. M. — Dinner. 9 P. M. — Dancing to the romantic rhythm of Val Olman’s Orchestra, and featuring Miss Bea Kalnus as mistress of ceremonies. Altec Deals Revealed New York — Bert Sanford, New York district manager, last fortnight closed a deal with Haredsu Corporation for Altec Service in the Inwood, Forest Hills, L. I., and renewal service contracts with the Paramount and Royal, Albany; Fifth Avenue Palace, Troy, and Embassy, New¬ ark. Buffalo Variety Golfs Buffalo — The annual golf tourney of the Variety Club will be held on Aug. 27 at the Lancaster Country Club, Lancaster. Schedule calls for golf, prizes, and a dinner dance. collectively that the most terrific struggle LOCAL 306 MEETS ON STRIKE QUESTION New York — Local 306 met last week to discuss a plan of strategy which may in¬ clude possible strike developments. Rea¬ son for the session was reported dissatis¬ faction with the negotiations in progress between the local and the film companies. New contracts covering home office pro¬ jections and those at. studios, exchanges, and circuits are included. Two resolutions addressed to IATSE President Richard Walsh were passed by the members. One asked that the “no strike” pledge be recalled, while the sec¬ ond requested that Local 306 President Herman Gelber be given permission to call a meeting which would vote on a strike if no contract is set by Sept. 1. If an agreement is not obtained by then, the membership voted for a one-week va¬ cation for all men working in Broadway deluxe and semi-deluxe houses, major cir¬ cuit neighborhood houses, and at home offices, exchanges, and local studios, with Sept. 1-8 as the week. Men in the other neighborhood houses would get the week of Sept. 8-15. Another resolution said that all vaca¬ tion relief work should be assigned from the top of the list, with no requests for vacation work by regulars being honored. The union decided to “absolutely abol¬ ish” the right of the circuits to request a desired projectionist. This action was assertedly taken when the employers refused to accept a compromise proposal permit¬ ting them to turn down any projectionist from the union’s unemployment list should he prove to be satisfactory after a week’s trial, with the privilege of making as many rejections as they chose. A second meeting with circuit heads in the office of Major Leslie Thompson of RKO was expected to be held. ing the armed forces, worked at Century’s College. RKO Theatres in the metropolitan area will mark the return of happier days by observing RKO’s Victory Parade of Hits during the month of September. This line up of screen features will be backed by RKO showmanship and exploitation. Local mayors, Borough presidents, Chamber of Commerce, merchants’ associations, schools, and other organizations have been invited to cooperate in a month of special activ¬ ity emphasizing the beginning of a new era of good will. Charles Schlaifer, assistant director, 20th Century-Fox’s publicity-advertising-ex¬ ploitation, left for the company’s west coast studios last week to discuss the new season’s product and advertising plans with Spyros Skouras, president, now on the THE EXHIBITOR coast; Joseph M. Schenck, executive head of production; Darryl F. Zanuck, vicepresident in charge of production, and Harry Brand, studio publicity director. Schlaifer was accompanied by his aides, Christy Wilbert, advertising manager, and Louis Shanfield, art director. V-J Day’s announcement was the signal for a local display on Broadway celebrating the event by Wondersign that covers the entire eight-story front of the RKO Palace. First put in operation last June, it was ready for the big occasion. For the past sev¬ eral days, since the atomic bomb dropped on Japan, and prefigured the end of the war, the technicians worked day and night on the elaborate paintings and letterings for the V-J Day display. E. O. Wilschke, assistant to the vicepresident of Altec Service Corporation, N.Y.9. August 22, 1945