The Exhibitor (Nov 1938-May 1939)

10 TERRITORIAL HIGHLIGHTS Delaware Hears News of Sunday Opening Bill Usual Secrecy Surrounds Familiar Measure Delaware theatremen last fortnight heard reports a new Sunday movie bill being introduced. The General Assembly had hardly been in session two weeks at Dover before news came out that a Sunday moving picture bill was "being whipped” into shape. The scribes who cover Dover say that Representative Henry M. Canby has the bill. Speaker Frank R. Zebly of th: House, who usually knows what is going on, says he didn’t even know who had the bill. Just who is back of the bill among the theatre interests is as much a mystery as usual. The bill, as reported in the daily press, is similar to the others introduced. It would provide that movie houses may open at 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon and continue showing programs during the evening. The story also said "there probably will be a clause providing for a referendum in cities and towns on such shows.” The Sunday Star came out with an editorial favoring the bill. WB Theatremen Resolve for 1939 Warner Brothers theatre managers were offered the following resolutions last fortnight. (Ed. Note: a bit late, but good anyhow) : To operate your theatre as if it were your own. To so conduct yourself as a manager — and a man — that when people think of a pleasant plac: to go — they will think of your theatre. To speak well always of the industry by which you live. To regard people in your theatre as in your home — receiving all persons, from patrons to the humblest employee, with courtesy, sympathy and friendliness. To spend every theatre dollar as if it came out of your own pocket. To remember alway that while profit makes a good showman, it takes the good will of the public to make a profit. “Birth” Clicks After Court Tilt The Birth of a Baby” played to good business in Hunter Perry’s Paramount, Newport News, Virginia, last fortnight opening at the same time that a petition for an injunction to restrain the showing was being denied in the Newport News Corporation Court. The judge ruled that the Richmond City Circuit Court had been designated as a tribunal to hear appeals arising from decisions of the Board of Motion Picture Censors and that that court already had reversed the decision of the censors and ordered that the producers be given a license to show the film in Virginia. Odds Three To One Arlington Gets Theatre Trio of Projects Announced For Virginia Town Arlington, Virginia, should get a new theatre, observers believe, following developments of a fortnight which saw three projects in the air for the spot. Neighborhood Theatres, Inc., Richmond organization, has announced a theatre, to seat 1000, at Glebe and Randolph Roads, with A. O. Budina as architect. Project totals $2 5 0,000, with stores, etc. John Reese, of Hillegeist Properties, is reported building a house for possible lease to Warners, with Leon Chatelain as architect. Still another house is rumored for Columbia Pike, with the owner represented by C. B. Munson and E. B. Corning as the architect. Industry in High Gear for FDR’s Celebration Hollyuood Sends Galaxy Of Stars to Washington Plans were in complete readiness this week for the most spectacular President’s Birthday Celebration in history to be held here in the Nation’s Capital January 3 0. No small amount of credit will go to the Washington theatre family, the splendid cooperation of their Hollywood cousins in making the dances, midnight shows, other events the best ever. Just to mention a few who hold key positions in the fight against infantile paralysis: Carter T. Barron, whose untiring efforts in mapping a grand program was a joy to District Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen; Nelson B. Bell, Washington Post dramatic critic, as chairman of the entertainment committee, who mad: it possible, with the help of all local exchange managers to bring to Washington a galaxy of Hollywood stars; Hardie Meakin, John J. Payette, who threw their entire staffs to work in making the arrangements for the affairs a success. Municipal, federal officials were high in their praise for the film industry for their untiring and loyal services to this great cause. Others who have helped are Prank LaPalce, J. Raymond Bell, Daniel S. Terrell, William C. Ewing, drama critics Andrew R. Kelley, Jay Carmody, Katharine Hillyer, Betty Hynes; exchange managers J. Edward Fontaine, Rudolph Berger, Samuel M., Jacob E. Flax, Nate Sauber, Fred Beiersdorf, Samuel N. Wheeler, Samuel A. Galanty, Frederick A. Rohrs, Harry F. Bachman, Harry S. Brown, Joseph Kaliski, Robert J. Folliard, George J. Gill. From Hollywood will come Errol Flynn, James Cagney, George Brent, Olivia de Havilland, Annabella, Jean Hersholt, members of the famous Hardy family. Several stars have not been announced as yet, but some famous ones are expected. Reed Elected Local 224 Head; Holtz Renamed Business Agent Thomas Reed, Loew’s Palace, was elected president of the IATSE, Local 224, for the ensuing year at a recent meeting. Reed announced plans for the coming year, which will include social affairs, a discussion on negotiations with independent theatre owners next September, the welfare of the local organization. Other officers elected were Edward Booth, Central, first vice-president (reelected) ; Gilbert Kilton, Metropolitan, former member of the executive board, second vice-president; Roy Hopkins, Tivoli, re-elected financial secretary; Fred Stevens, Metropolitan, treasurer; Frank R. Baker, Avenue Grand, re-elected recording secretary; Emil Holtz, Columbia, re-elected business agent. Executive board is composed of DeForest, L. Ormes, Tivoli; George MacConnell, Penn; the officers. Board of trustees include John Spellbring, Uptown; James Hamilton, Ambassador, both re-elected; Max Sparrough, Ambassador. During the Christmas holidays, the members of the IATSE received their pay for the benefit performances from the organization itself. The IATSE paid some $600 to the projectionists. “Ecstasy” Causes Headache "Ecstasy” which attracted 12,000 Richmond, Virginia, customers in three days, was taken off the National Theatre program last week after the State Division of Motion Picture Censorship discovered that more than one-third of the scenes had not been deleted, as ordered by the division when it reviewed the picture two years ago. Colonel Peter M. Saunders, chairman of the State Division of Motion Picture Censorship, later reported that the division was going to revise its list of inspectors. These inspectors, of whom there are quite a number throughout the State, serve without compensation, Colonel Saunders pointed out. They receive, however, inspectors’ passes which admit them to motion picture houses. In the territory "Ecstasy” has had a hectic career. At its Washington premiere, at the Belasco in May, 1936, the Hedy (LaMarr) Kiesler opera ran for a then record six weeks. During this period, the picture could, because of censor’s deletions, last but three days in Baltimore. January 25, 19)9