The Exhibitor (Nov 1938-May 1939)

15 DELAWARE Dover Meeting in Dover, Delaware, last fortnight, a permanent Jewish organization was formed, with theatreman GEORGE M. SCHWARTZ, Dover, elected to be the first president of the group that is to be incorporated as the Jewish Community Center of Lower Delaware. Directors, to be appointed by Schwartz, will meet to formulate plans for a permanent meeting place in Dover as a community center and temple or a synagogue. Laurel H. E. HEFNER is the new manager, Waller, now of the Schines circuit. He recently took part in the Chamber of Commerce annual social affair, in which the Schine house gave prizes. Middletoivn M. J. MITCHELL, formerly assistant manager, Capitol Dover, has been made manager of the Everett. Mitchell had been with the Schwartz concern several years. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Washington Local Monogram office was first at the end of the first week in the W. Ray Johnston Drive. CRESSON SMITH, JR., assistant manager, Trans-Lux, son of RKO-Radio’s southern sales manager, was presented February 4 with a blueeyed, blonde daughter, weighing 7/i pounds. TED O’SHEA pays a grand tribute to genial RUDY BERGER, salesmen HARRY COHEN, FRANK SCULLY, PHIL BOBYS, JACK GOLDBERG, exploiteer CARLTON DUFFUS, office manager FRED RIPPINGALE for their sales of accessories during the past year. RALPH BERGER, his efficient outfit rate second on the national feature sales standings. Birthday greetings go to pretty HELEN SCHROTH, Metro worker. Did you see the sign of welcome to the visiting gentlemen theatre-owners from the Commonwealth that RUDY BERGER had in his front window? It was from Leo. But did you see the swell table set up for the boys upstairs? If you didn’t, where were you? Making their bow along the row last week were MARGE MANNING, DORA SHAPIRO, both at ART JACOBSON’s NSS. BETTY MORRIS, formerly with NSS, is now doing her dally job at Universal. We were sorry to learn that NATE SAUBER branch manager, Universal, is back in hospital. Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery. CLARA CUNNINGHAM, NSS, made a trip to the Big City recently for a visit with her husband. AGNES SMITH also makes her debut among the film family. Mrs. Sml th replaces RUTH NEWMAN, Monogram. CLARENCE HILL, assistant to eastern division manager, 20th Century-Fox, BILL SUSSMAN, was in town to attend the big doings at the Shoreham. Hurry and get well, SARAH YOUNG. Screened for the delight of everyone present was Metro’s "Honolulu,” UA’s “Stagecoach.” Highlighting the showing here of “Ta.lspin” was the novel way the prints of the film came to town. Sunday prior to the showing, the prints were delivered to SAM WHEELER, local manager, 20th Century-Fox, and CARTER BARRON, eastern division manager, Loew’s, at the Washington A'rport. Among the fliers were TEDDY KENYON, BETTY HUYLER GILLIES, twins GLORIA, BARBARA BREWSTER, IVA STEWART, ALICE ARMAND. SAM MELLITS, Denton, Maryland, paid the exchanges a visit. C. W. HICKS, Bridge, Baltimore, did a spot of booking. MRS. GLENN NORRIS, MRS. HARLEY DAVIDSON came up from their respective homes in Roanoke, Rural Retreat, Virginia, to attend the meeting at the Shoreham. Lee, Bluefield, Virginia, is undergoing remodeling, according to manager E. G. JACKSON, recently in town. MARGE DERMODY, "BUDDY” HALL had a very busy time when the Virginians took over the town, what with their acting as hostesses for the local exchanges to the visiting showmen. MRS. MORRIS OLETSKY, charming wife Republ c salesman, was a visitor. Members of that newly organized 20th Century-Fox social club met last week, adopted 20th Century-Fox Dynamos as its official title. Bylaws, constitution were adopted. JOE COHAN, president, explained the objectives of the organization: to mold fellowship, have social affairs occasionally. NOTES ON THE VIRGINIA MPTO Convention Orchids go to Loew’s Capitol, Warners’ Earle for supplying such excellent talent for the floor show, which was a big hit. Did anyone notice BEN PITTS, his jitterbug performance? Or pretty LORRAINE MIDDLEKAUF, DORIS PRICE, Grand National, doing the same? How about the grand tribute paid BILL CROCKETT by former president MORTON G. THALHIMER? We want to go on record now as saying that his touching words, presentation of the watch was as grand a tribute as we ever witnessed or heard. Then Crockett’s words of thanks, his speech all chocked up. He said to know you have friends was the grandest feeling in the world, and he has plenty of friends! Then lovely MADELINE CARROLL carried the thought a bit further, saying she was very touched by both Thalhimer’s, Crockett’s remarks. She applauded with gusto at the presentation. Who were the lucky boys who danced with the star, incidentally? Congressmen from Virginia were a dime a dozen. ALLAN SPARROW, former manager. Princess, here, now Loew manager in one of the Virginia spots, told about his gratitude at the time of recent appendectomy, when the boys here called him long distance to tell him to keep his chin up. SPARROW recalled his former connections with CHARLES LINKINS here. Sparrow also served as a manager of the Strand, downtown Washington. ED KUYKENDALL, national president, MPTOA, took a grand bow when introduced by CARTER BARRON. So did A. JULIAN BRYLAWSKI, who has headed the local group for nearly 15 years. Incidentally, Brylawski won a zoning appeal before the District Zoning Commission recently. Accompanying MADELINE CARROLL was EDDIE FONTAINF1, branch manager. Para mount; CARYL ODELL, New York office, Paramount. Incidentally Odell, you may remember, was a local scr.be, serving as city editor of the Washington Herald during the managing editorship of L. MONTE BELL, subsequently a famous motion picture director associated with Charles Chaplin, Metro, other major producing companies. Seated at the table with this correspondent was Fredericksburg Mayor KING, Chamber of Commerce president PARSEL. Master of ceremonies CARTER BARRON is to be congratulated for a splendid job of handling the grand occasion. Incidentally, this correspondent with his able colleague — Richmond’s STEWART TUCKER — took a bow when Emcee Barron introduced the members of the fourth estate present. Only ones present, as far as I can find out. For more than an hour the hungry, jovial members, guests milled about the beautiful lobby at the Shoreham awaiting the arrival of glamorous MADELINE CARROLL. Then she came. You never saw so many “ladies in waiting’’ in all your life. It seems every gent bolted. But did you notxe Miss Carroll’s preference? Our better half had a few minutes with the lovely Paramount star, who complained she was hungry, and why didn’t we go in to eat! It was worth waiting for, however. Manager L. GARDNER MOORE put one of the best dinners on the table we’ve seen in a spell, and we don’t mean to complain about the spouse’s menu, either. The FLAX brothers certainly are popular with the Virginia showmen. It seems they know everyone by the first names! It was a grand party, and, as Carter Barron pointed out, the film salesman lost little t:me. And while we are on the subject of the MPTO of Virginia, what two Richmond exhibitors made the trip to our lovely city for the meeting, found it very difficult to resist a certain emporium? — Charles Stofberg. MARYLAND Baltimore Coming and going around the Baltimore sector during the past fortnight included JACK LEVINE, Irvington, returning from Miami Beach with a coat of tan and MIKE LEVENTHAL, Scheck Interests, back from the same locality and other points like Cuba and Key West with tan coat likewise; JOSEPH C. GRANT, Dunbar, off for a winter sojourn in summer climes, and MR. and MRS. MILTON SCHWABER, Linden, likewise off for the Florida base to sun off a bit. WILLIAM G. MEYERS is having air conditioning installed in his Echo, DeLuxe. Park, operated by W. G. and W. I. SILVERBERG, was robbed of a safe and all contents except some papers February 4. Robbery was discovered by CATHERINE DREASCHEL, janitress. WILLIAM G. MECHANIC, brother of MORRIS A. MECHANIC, New, Centre, came to Baltimore for the opening of the latter house, February 1, from Florida, where he operates the Essex House. MORRIS A. MECHANIC, New; NORMAN CLARK and Miss DOOLING were among those from here who attended the Philly "Tailspin” party. Hagerstoivn City manager GEORGE N. PAYETTE, JR., Maryland, had a special campaign for “Jesse James” which included 200 spec'al window cards — picture of desperado and "Reward for Capture;” special heralds, a fine lobby display of old pistols and weapons used in the days of the outlaw; large silk banner over marquee. AL BALTZLEY, assistant manager, Maryland, had charge of Colonial during one week operation recently while Academy was used by amateur performers for minstrel and revue. February 15, 1939