The Exhibitor (Nov 1938-May 1939)

Center to Make Debut With a World Premiere Baltimore’s Radio City Bows February 1 Combining the thrills of a world premiere with a new theatre’s opening, Morris A. Mechanic’s 1,000-seat Center will make its private bow to the Baltimore, Maryland, big wigs tonight (February 1) with the presentation of the 20th Century-Fox production, "Tailspin.” The inaugural program launched before the public the cinema half of what will become the Monumental City’s 'radio city,” to be completed when the new studios, offices of radio station WFBR, member of the National Broadcasting Company’s basic Red Network, open in about two months Augmenting the first performance in the new North Avenue house were guest stars, the NBC orchestra, with WFBR handling the broadcast of the gala affair. The theatre, designed by Philadelphia’s Armand Carrol, is of a beautiful modernistic theme, equipped with the finest contrivances for the optical, aural, physical comfort of the patrons. The general public opening of the Center will be celebrated tomorrow (February 2), when the 20th Century-Fox production, "Kentucky,” goes in for a run. To manage the Center, Mechanic named J. L. Alderson, who took up his duties last week. Alderson stated that he wished he could have employed the entire 200 fine young men who applied for usher jobs at the new house. Sauber Welcomed Back Approach to full recovery from a recent illness by Nate Sauber, Universal branch manager here, is being welcomed by his many friends in the area, it was indicated this week. Sauber, who has been ill for some time, recently took over the reins from Paul Baron, who subbed temporarily, and expects to go on full time shortly. Fie has been coming into the exchange several hours each day. Sauber has made many friends in th; Washington area during his many years in this district. Folliard’s 25th Ties In with RKO Drive National Campaign Signal For Full Speed Celebrating also his own 2 5th anniversary in the business, RKO branch head Bob Folliard this week was proceeding rapidly with the George J. Schaefer Drive. The drive was officially under way January 28, will continue until June 2. The local office, which was among the winners in the recent drive, has pledged their utmost support to make this drive a colossal success, also to snare a part of the prize money for Folliard’s cohorts. Office manager J. Russell Hildebrand states that the company anticipates the biggest billing in its history. Recently the entire office was remodeled, a new coat of paint applied. Every employe shares with Folliard, Hildebrand, the opportunity afforded them in this drive in honor of their popular head. Brookneal House Burns The Brookneal, Brookneal, Virginia, erected years ago, was ruined by fire January 22. It was the town’s only playhouse. Dr. E. E. Branscome, Stuart, owner, has indicated it will be rebuilt at once. A few of the seats and one of the projectors may be salvaged. Loss was estimated at $25,000. Two Guilty in “Bingo” Case Case charging the Linden, Baltimore, Maryland, with operating a lottery in having "Bingo” certain nights in addition to regular performance came up before Judge Emory H. Niles in Part 1 of the Criminal Court January 2 5. Harry Silver, operating the Linden, and Frank R. Boucher, manager, were found guilty on the charge of maintaining and operating a "Bingo” game. An appeal is expected. Meanwhile, State Senator John G. Callan has introduced a bill at Annapolis ta eliminate "Bingo” from the list of prohibited forms of gambling in the state. The case involving the Royal, Baltimore, is expected to come up soon. FDR’s Birthday Party Is a Gala Celebration Stage, Screen, Radio Unite to Make Affair Memorable With much pomp, more pleasure, and the circumstance of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s 57th birthday, the eyes of stage, screen, and radio — not to mention, also, those of the U. S. body politic — were focussed on Washington, which January 30 became the center not only of government but the center, as well, of the amusement world, the dynamo in a great charitable cause. Washington, as in former years, "went to town,” providing in its theatres special shows, in its hotels special dances, all of which were peopled with sufficient celebrities of stage, screen, radio as to make the roster read like a who’s who of entertainment. Heading the Hollywood contingent were Ralph Bellamy, Errol Flynn, his wife Lila Damita, with others, including, at press time, Olivia deHavilland, James Cagney, George Brent, Jean Hersholt, Annabella, members of Metro’s famed Hardy Family, Eleanor Powell, Andrea Leeds. Chief among radio’s famous orchestras to make Washington their port of cali that evening was Eddie LeBaron’s tango-rhumba band, which played at the festivities at the Willard, later furnishing the music at the gold-plate dinner in the Carlton Hotel. Local radio stations contirbuted generously of the staffs, combining with representatives of theatres and exchanges in forming comnrttees of escort for the several major dance spots of the evening. Announcer Arch MacDonald earlier journeyed to Manassas, Virginia, to m.c. that town’s celebration. The National did its part by offering special performances of the revival of Sutton Vane’s famed "Outward Bound,” with President Roosevelt himself attending a "command” performance to mark the fourth time at a Washington theatre as the Chief Executive. During his stay in Washington, Actor Flynn rode the White House horses in the President’s Birthday Horse Show staged at Fort Myer, Virginia. The general committee, headed by District Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen, and the entertainment committee, headed The Post’s Nelson B. Bell, together with all those associated with this sixth birthday party, deserves a voluble and enthusiastic round — several rounds — indeed! — of applause. Proceeds of the evening, night, morning after’s parties will again be split, as has been the custom for several years, part to the Warm Springs (Georgia) Foundation, part to local charities. Further details of the day’s events will be recorded in the Washington column of the February 8 issue of The National Exhibitor. Globe Poster in Deal Globe Poster Company, Norman Goldstein and Daniel Fedder, last fortnight took over the American Displav Comany, through a merger in which Al Zalis and Herman Goldberg will work for the newly formed Baltimore organization. February 1, 1939 NAT