The Exhibitor (Nov 1938-May 1939)

9 EVENTS SUNDAY MOVIES Glenburnie Now Has Films Seven Days J. Harry Gruver, Glen, Glenburnie, Maryland, is smiling these days since the voters approved a new law which permits Sunday movies in the Fifth District of Anne Arundel county. Sunday films were themselves no novelty inasmuch as the house had been open on the seventh day on a benefit arrangement to buy an ambulance for the American Legion. DISTRIBUTION Local Plans for Sears Drive Progress From New York last week returned Robert F. Smeltzer, Warner district manager, bearing full details of the "Sears Drive” in honor of Grad L. Sears, general sales manager for the company. The drive begins Christmas Dav, wifi end April 16, a period of 16 weeks. A total of $2 5,000 will be awarded the sales staffs. Kalishi Establishes Local "Baby” Office Joe Kaliski, well-known to Washington film folks, last fortnight opened his new offices at 203 I Street, Northwest. Harry Skirball, Cleveland, brother of Jack Skirball, who produced "Birth of a Baby,” is in Washington, will assist Kaliski in the distribution of the picture. EXHIBITION Warner Managers Shift In Two-State Move John J. Payette, general zone manager, Warner Brothers Theatres in the Washington territory, this week announced several managerial changes affecting theatres in Virginia, Maryland. Frank Shaffer has been moved from th? Virginia, Harrisonburg, to the Dixie, Staunton. E. A. Crowther, formerly, Dixie, is now manager of the Opera House, Frederick, while Waldo Chandler has been shifted from the Opera House to the Virginia, Harrisonburg. John Ramey, assistant manager, Capitol, Winchester, has been appointed manager, Strand, Staunton. Announcement of the changes was released through the district managers, Guy Wonders for the theatres in Maryland territory, Nat Glasser for those in Virginia. PEOPLE Lichtman Chief Barker In First Pop Election In the first election where the membership has voted directly for Chief Barker, A. E. ("Abe”) Lichtman, head of the 20-theatre circuit bearing his name, was November 14 named to head the Variety Club of the City of Washington for 1939, succeeding Warners’ A. Julian Brylawski. The membership elected for two-year terms on the board of governors Lichtman, Globe Amusement Company’s Joseph Makover, Loew’s Palace’s Orangelo J. Ratto, Grand National’s Harry S. Brown, Paramount’s J. Edward Fontaine, Lust Theatres’ Sidnev B. Lust. On the board also are Columbia’s Samuel A. Galantv, RKO-Keith’s Hardie Meakin, Republic’s Samuel M. Flax, Warner Theatres’ Harry E. Lohmeyer, optometrist Archie D. Engel, who were elected last year to two-year terms, as well as Warner Theatres’ John J. Payette, Metro’s Rudolph Berger, Loew’s Carter T. Barron, Brvlawski. the past chief barkers, who bring the board to the constitutional 15. Following the election, the new board went into a huddle, selected Meakin first assistant chief barker, Lust second chief barker, Brown secretary, Galanty treasurer. J. Raymond Bell, publicity-advertising chief, Loew’s Washington theatres, was renamed executive secretary. Retiring chief barker Brylawski was voted delegate to the councils of the national organization. Variety’s Fifth DinnerDance Dratvs 800 For the third successive year saluted by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the Washington Variety Club held in festive surroundings November 19 its fifth annual dinner-dance. Some 600 barkers, their "other halves,” friends participated in the festivities, under the general chairmanship of A. E. Lichtman, assisted by Samuel A. Galanty. Over the evening’s entertainment presided ball-shaped Johnny Perkins. Chief among the entertainment features — that included locally playing night-club, theatre acts — was the appearance of Jimmy Dorsey, his band of tootlers. Another highlight was the raffling of a new 1939 automobile. Details of the evening’s affairs were handled by the following, their handpicked aides; tickets, Archie D. Engel; menu Carter T. Barron; entertainment, Hardie Meakin; reception, James Blaine Fitzgerald; publicity, J. Raymond Bell; printing, Samuel N. Wheeler: program, Sidney B. Lust; seating, Harry S. Brown; decoration, Charles Schulman; talent host, Edward Plohn; reservations, transportation, Joseph Makover; finance, Rudolph Berger; with chief barker A. Julian Brylawski, ex-officio. At presstime a complete guest list was not available, but among those signifying their intention to be present were: Ashley Abendschein. Harry F. Bachman, Alan J. Bachrach, Carter T. Barron, Robert L. Baum, Nelson B. Bell, J. Raymond Bell, Rudolph Berger, Joseph Bernheimer, Fred W. Beiersdorf, Ralph E. Binns, Oscar Blumenthal, Phil Bobys, Samuel M. Boyd, A. Julian Brylawski. Robert Campbell, Milton Caplon, the Rev. John Keating Cartwright, Francis Joseph Carmody, J. William Cleveland, Harry Cohen, George A. Crouch. W. Vincent Dougherty, Clark M. Davis, William B. Dolph; Carlton C. Duff us. Archie D. Engel, Philip Ershler. William R. Fischer, James Blaine Fitzgerald, Samuel M. Flax, Jacob E. Flax, J. Edward Fontaine. Samuel A. Galanty, Carl Gentzel, George J. Gill, Robert M. Grace. Edward J. Haley, Philip Hayden, Dr. William P. Herbst, Frederick Hessick, John H. Hiser, Gordon Hittenmark, Elrie Hollingsworth. Arthur A. Jacobson, Ernest S. Johnson. Joseph Kaliski, Andrew R. Kelley, Frederick S. Kogod, William L. Keplinger. A. E. Lichtman, Ben Lust, Sidney R. Lust. Joseph Makover, Hardie Meakin, Joseph P. Morgan, H. L. McCormick. Alvin Newmeyer. Thomas A. O’Donnell, Charles H. Olive, DeForest L. Ormes. Dr. John C. Palmer, R. Wade Pearson, Walter K. Pettus. Orangelo J. Ratto, Frederick A. Rohrs. David Sadel, Charles C. Schulman, Frank Scully, Mark N. Silver, Dr. Abram Simon, Robert F. Smeltzer. Harry P. Somerville, Sol L. Sorkin, Frank Storty. Frank Taylor. Samuel N. Wheeler, Lloyd G. Wineland. ON YOUR DESK EVERY WEDNESDAY November 23, 193 8 NAT