The Exhibitor (Nov 1938-May 1939)

Sam Galanty Heads Rogers Week Drive April 20 Period Designated By Committee Sam Galanty, Columbia district manager, is the chairman for the Will Rogers National Theatre Week in this zone, it was announced last week. Serving on the zone chairman’s committee will be the branch managers of all the other distributing companies. Committee will also include representatives of circuits, leading independent exhibitors, executives of the local Variety Club, newspaper editors, trade paper representatives. Exhibitors will be classified in two categories; to run an all-star short subject, which will be furnished to them gratis, and take audience collect ons; or to make contributions based on theatre capacities. Proceeds from this year’s campaign will be devoted to the maintenance of the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital, Saranac Lake, New York; its kindred philanthropies, maintained for the needy of stage and screen; and for the aid of local institutions, specializing in the care of handicapped children. In connection with the aid to handicapped children, $50,000 has already been appropriated by the Will Rogers Memorial Commission, for allocation to local chapters of the Infantile Paralysis Foundation. A further $50,000 has been earmarked by the Will Rogers Memorial Commission, to aid in the national work of the Infantile Paralysis Foundation. This additional sum will be made available following this year's observance of Will Rogers National Theatre Week. Metro Has $50 Contest Rudolph Berger, resident manager; Carlton Duffus, publicity representative in the Washington territory for Metro, announced recently there will be $50 in cash prizes to the manager who turns in the best campaign and the best comparative grosses on "Honolulu.” Campaigns, with necessary tear sheets, should go direct to either Berger or Duffus. Money offered is only for those theatres served by the Washington exchange. Graver Building New House J. Harry Gruver, Glen, Glenburnie, Maryland, has purchased the property and site at Second Avenue and Crane Highway in the heart of the business district to use as a site for a theatre to seat 1000, it was announced last week Theatre will be the first run, with the Glen second. Censorship Dill Pops lip in Delaware Measure Would Delegate Power to Juvenile Courts With March 4 set as a deadline for new legislation offering, Delaware theatre managers, already faced with a Sunday movie bill and a dangerous anti-trailer measure, learned that a censorship bill was introduced February 21 by Representative Fred W. Pepper (Republican) Milton. The new bill would give the judges of the juvenile courts of the state authority to pass on all films about which there may be question. The bill would prohibit the showing of any film which in the opinion of such courts, is obscene, indecent, immoral, antireligious, or which might otherwise debase or corrupt the morals of youth. The film could be neither sold, leased or exhibited, it is said, under the proposal, which also provides fines from $2 5 to $100. The new bill would also limit previews to five minutes, it is said. Birthday Balls Gross May Top 1938 Total Receipts Climb Past $3 0,000 Mark Receipts for this year’s President Birthday events are expected to exceed the $44,3 00 brought in last year from the balls, theatre parties, sporting events, it was indicated this week. Carter T. Barron, eastern division manager, Loew’s; Harry Lohmeyer, district manager, Warner theatres, brought in checks to District Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen totalling $4,751.26, taken in at the midnight show at the Earle, Capitol. A check for $3,3 54.27, receipts from the midnight show at the Capitol, was presented Commissioner Hazen by Barron; a check for $1,396.99, receipts from the show at the Earle, was presented to the commissioner by Lohmeyer. Total receipts at present, not including "The March of Dimes,” is $30,916.36. Kreisler, New U Chief Launches Big Campaign Former Paramount Salesman Acting Manager B. Bernard Kreisler, former Paramount salesman, more recently with Universal in Boston, last fortnight named acting branch manager for the Washington Universal office by A. J. Herman, district manager, has already started a big drive for business. Kreisler is filling in at the Universal exchange during the illness of branch manager Nate Sauber. Greeted by his many friends in the territory, Kreisler is to make a tour of the entire circuit to renew his contacts, other friendships. While at Paramount Kreisler was the Eastern Shore representative. News of Kreisler’s return to his former homestead was received with much pleasure among exhibitors. Recently returned from Hollywood, where he met many of the Universal stars, Kreisler, is now in a splendid position to bring in the contracts, sales based on his actual knowl dge of the forthcoming product. Flerman leaves this week for a Caribbean cruise with William P. Kelly, branch manager, Boston. Exchange Drives Report Progress Film exchanges settled into the steady pace of their respective drives here last week, as word came through that in many instances the Washington exchanges were ahead of quotas, other exchanges. At RKO-Radio, branch manager Robert J. Folliard said the drive "is really on,” "knocking ’em dead with ’Gunga Din’.” At Universal, where the new acting branch manager B. Bernard Kreisler last week took office, a new spur was injected to bring in dates. The Personal Achievement Campaign at Columbus is reported going over. Arthur A. Jacobson made elaborate plans for his Opportunity Month beginning shortly. Paramount boys are said to be bringing plenty of dates and bookings for branch manager J. Edward Fontaine. While at Republic, the Flax brothers reported "all’s well.” Independents’ March Releases Independent productions set for release during March included the following: MONOGRAM — The Mystery of Mr. Wong; Sky Pirate; Undercover Agent; Streets of New York; Rollin’ Westward; Trigger Smith. PREFERRED— Outlaw Paradise. REPUBLIC— Forged Passport; Woman Doctor; Street of Missing Men; Undercover Woman; Rocky Mountain Range; Lone Star Bullets; Rovin’ Tumbleweeds. March 1, 19)9 NAT