The Exhibitor (May-Oct 1945)

4b New York City Crosstown Hugh Owen, Paramount division sales manager for the New York and southern territories, left this weekend for a business swing through his division, stopping at the Atlanta, Charlotte, and New Orleans ex¬ changes. Barney Balaban, president, Paramount Pictures, left for the coast, last week. Pur¬ pose of Balaban’s trip is a series of con¬ ferences with studio executives. J. J. Unger, United Artists western sales manager, arrived in Chicago last week to conclude circuit deals on forthcoming UA product. Victor Francen arrived over the weekend from the coast following completion of his role in “Confidential Agent” at the Warner studio. Harry Ascher, manager, Newsreel, Times Square, recently accepted a position with Hygienic Productions as a traveling man¬ ager of one of the “Mom and Dad” units now on tour. Century Circuit Clippings: Mike Segal, publicity head, called together Century’s Brooklyn and Long Island supervisors for special meetings in regard to the Victory Loan. . . . Ben Gladstone, film department, was ailing with a sore throat. . . . Visitors to the office were Lieutenant Ralph Lager, former manager, Bellrose and Plaza, L. I., and Sam Tilford, formerly with the Kingsway. . . . The Brothers sisters left for California. Lola, secretary to Mike Segal, will spend her three weeks’ vacation there, and Syd will stay there permanently, at¬ tending UCLA. One of the heaviest schedules of inter¬ views, fashion sittings, posing for photo layouts, and other activities ever set up for a star visiting here was arranged for Joan Crawford in town coincident with the world premiere showing of Warners’ “Mil¬ dred Pierce.” Alexander Hall, Columbia’s ace comedy director, arrived with Mrs. Hall last week. The couple are staying at the Hotel Am¬ bassador. Most of the industry home offices ob¬ served Columbus Day last week by declar¬ ing a holiday. Buchanan and Company, Inc., announced last week that Paul Radin will return to its staff as an account executive upon his re¬ turn from Europe, where he was chief of films for the OWI in the Balkans. Please turn to News of the Territory, which follows toward the hack of the hook. COURT RULES AGAINST SCHINE IN ANTI TRUST CASE Buffalo — The contention of the Department of Justice that Schine Chain Theatres, Inc., and its subsidiaries maintained an unlawful combination through which they “monopolized the business of operating movie houses” in violation of the Sherman Act. was upheld last fortnight by Federal Judge John Knight, who filed his opinion in the anti-trust case. The opinion directed issuance of a decree ordering “that Schine and the various affiliated Schine corporations be dissolved, realigned, or reorganised in their ow'ership and control, so that fair competition between them and other theatres be re¬ stored and hereafter maintained.” Determination of the question of re¬ organization or dissolution and the way in which one or the other will be accom¬ plished, will be left for the court to decide after further consideration with Schine officials, it was said. The suit was brought by the Govern¬ ment against Schine six years ago. Schine Men Hold Meeting Rochester — Some 50 Schine managers from this area gathered last fortnight for the first regional meeting since the war started. In from Gloversville were L. W. Schine, Lou Lazar, and Seymour Morris. Keynote of the session was emphasis on improved service and courtesy for the postwar period and better exploitation for pictures. Each manager was given a bond of $25 to $100 value, based on length of service, and plans also were announced for im¬ proved working conditions for all employes of the circuit. Among out-of-towners well known here were Meyer Gross, booker, Buffalo; Clint Young and Jerry Fowler, Geneva, and Toby Ross, Corning. Jay Golden, RKO -Paramount Comerford city manager, was a special guest at the luncheon in the Hotel Seneca. Syracuse — Louis W. Schine, Glovers¬ ville, presided over a Schine Circuit man¬ agers meeting held last week at the Hotel Syracuse. Following a luncheon, the as¬ sembly was addressed by zone manager Joe Schwartzwalder, Auburn; Major Lou Lazar, Seymour Morris, and Bill Kraemer, recently returned from Army service to head the Schine booking department. Bill Tubbert, Watertown; Walter Powers, Oswego, and city manager Harry H. Unterfort were in attendance. LaGuardia At Dinner New York — Mayor Fiorello H. La¬ Guardia will be the guest of honor at the Annual Harvest Dinner to be held by the Picture Pioneers on Nov. 28 at the Wal¬ dorf Astoria. The presence of New York’s mayor is the first step in building up the evening’s program by William Brandt, chairman, dinner committee. Upon Jack Cohn’s return from the coast, a meeting of the executive committee will be called. Doc Howe's Boy Free New York— M. D. ‘Doc’ Howe, 20th Cen¬ tury-Fox exploitation department, was the recipient last week of a telegram from General A. A. Vandergrift, Marine Corps Commandant, announcing that his son, Corporal Edward H. Howe, a prisoner of the Japs since 1941, has been liberated and is now recuperating in Guam. THE EXHIBITOR NEW JERSEY ALLIED HITS WILD' BUILDING Passaic, N. J. — Allied Theatre Owners of New Jersey at its annual convention last week set up a committee to find way" and means of combatting the threat of over-building. A substantial fund will be provided to fight the possible encroachment of un¬ needed theatres. (The Exhibitor on Sept. 12 editorially commented on the fact that it was pos¬ sible for black market money to enter the theatre building field, with many un¬ needed theatres likely to be built. — Ed.) All officers of the association were re¬ elected. Harry Lowenstein is president; Lou Gold, vice-president for Northern New Jersey; Ralph Wilkins for Southern New Jersey; Haskell Block, secretary; Dave Snaper, treasurer; Ed Lachman, as¬ sistant treasurer, and Morris Spewack, sergeant-at-arms. Two new directors were elected, Joseph Sicardi replacing Lou Gold, and Don Harwin succeeding Frank Gravatt. Si H. Fabian, trade Victory Loan leader, made a brief address, and urged the forma¬ tion of a body to continue the industry’s cooperative effort as demonstrated during the war. Glenn H. Humphrey Mourned Syracuse — The trade last week mourned the death of Glenn H. Humphrey, veteran projectionist and former business repre¬ sentative, Local 337, IATSE, who died here following a lingering illness. He was well known throughout the state as the organizer of the New York State Projectionists Association, and had served as secretary of the 10th district IA for a number of years. Funeral services were held on Oct. 11. New Theatre Projected New York — It was reported last week that Joseph P. Kennedy would build a 2,800 seat theatre in the block front pur¬ chased recently on Lexington Avenue betwesn 46th and 47th Streets. Local 306 Boycott Averted NEW YORK — The negotiating com¬ mittee of IATSE projectionists Local 306 last week voted to accept a new contract including a 15 per cent in¬ crease, subject to membership ratifica¬ tion, covering the Broadway first-runs, circuit houses, and home office and newsreel projection rooms. The settle¬ ment averted a threatened boycott of MGM and RKO product by the union men. IATSE Local 306, Skouras and Randforce later resumed negotiations for new contracts covering projection¬ ists employed by the two circuits. October 17, 1945