The Exhibitor (Nov 1938-May 1939)

20 NEWS OF THE TERRITORY ANDREA LEEDS, pretty star who was here for the President’s Birthday Ball, remembers her friends here with a nice thank-you note, NELSON BELL got one, so did Commissioner MELVIN C. HAZEN. ANNABELLA, 20th CenturyFox, expresses the same sentiments to the same people, in inscriptions on large autographed photographs mailed back from the Coast. It is rumored along the row that LORRAINE MIDDLEKAUF, pretty GN steno, has found the right one; although the engagement has not been officially announced, it won’t be long — now! GEORGE J. GILL, Trio manager, was in Philadelphia. Add Imperial release: ’’Smoky Trail.” WADE PEARSON will vacation in Florida. MARY FELDMAN, secretary to SAM WHEELER, was sick for a spell recently. ARMAND SCHNECK, First Division exchanges, who is now liquidating that companies’ holdings, was a visitor in Washington last week, reports that some of the picture will be handled locally by GEORGE J. GILL’S Trio. It is told along the Row that PETE ROSIAN, former GNer and Universal salesman here, now GN branch manager, New York, is married to his former booker, office manager, MAY VINCENT, Cleveland. Congrats to HARDIE MEAKIN for that splendid 10x1 5-foot enlargement of a scene from "Gunga Din.” GRACE GOLDSTEIN, RKO home office, was visiting here with a girl friend recently. MRS. HARRY BROWN is recovering from a recent operation. TOM CONNORS, JR., student, Metro, has left for Chicago to help out on the annual convention. EDDIE CARRIER, Loew’s home office, was a visitor. TOM GRADY, Metro auditor, is in town. It is reported along the Virginia way that GEORGE NATHAN, NSS, is always referred to as "Nathanson,” that his boss, ART JACOBSON, is always referred to as "Art Jacobs.” CHARLIE HURLEY, Clark Film, is as busy as six bees these days handling the films from the local independent exchanges. CAMILLA "MISS MAC” WOODSON, Monogram, has a pleasant greeting for visiting showmen. Miss Mac is well known round these parts. EARL TAYLOR, Monogram office manager, knows plenty of tales about film row. Bet he writes a book someday on this topic. Metro salesmen got a big kick out of "Fast and Loose” when it was screened recently. JOE COHAN, 20th Century-Fox office manager, has a helping hand, take it from us. He knows his films from a to izzard. While watching a screening in the projection room at 20th Century-Fox, office manager FRED RIPPINGALE, Metro, removes coat, vest to make himself comfortable. TONY MUTO writes NELSON BELL from Rio de Janeiro that he wants the boys to "rush me down a couple cases of 70-degree weather. “This morning the thermometer touched a nice 85,” Tony relates. From SIDNEY, CELIA LUST, who are on the Normandie, comes word that Celia "dances the rhumba and tango daily.” They are on their way to Rio, too. Maybe they will bump into Tony. NELSON BELL hears from MAYNARD OWEN WILLIAMS, foreign editor, National Geographic, away down in Buenos Aires. CURT SMITH, Lynwood, Grundy, hates to leave town because he feels it’s "God’s Country.” GEORGE NATHAN says VERNON CARPENTER, Haysi, Clinchco, Virginia, is another exhibitor who knows how to play checkers. DANNY WEINBERG is a hard man to find due to his chasing around from his Bedford, Virginia house to Buena Vista, Lynchburg, say the local film salesmen. They say that CHARLIE MOORE, Fries, Virginia, is a dead ringer for CHARLIE CHASE. Seen along the Row: Republic has a new sign, without the names of SAM, JAKE FLAX, as the home office wanted to standardize signs all over company. LOUISE NOONAN MILLER, Little, is well on the way to recovery from a recent auto mishap. BARRET KIESLING, Metro publicity, home office, was in recently. JOE WALDERMAN, M. COPLIN who recently acquired Joe’s Fremont, were among the visitors last week. Joe will continue to do the booking for several weeks. NATE SAUBER is up and well again. He may be held at the helm at Universal soon. FRED BEIERSDORF, Warners branch manager, relates that "Yes, My Darling Daughter” is doing top business from Norfolk to Baltimore. HENRY LEGO, Herndon, Purcellville, in town booking, relates work at the Purcellville is going along rapidly. AL FOLLIARD, RKO ace salesman, was out several days. THELMA SHENOS, RKO inspectress, was also on the sick list. ESTHER BURDETTE, Warner steno, was away sick. J. R. SKINNER, Victoria, Kenbridge, was a visitor. Happy birthday to EDITH HISLOP, RKO availability clerk. PETE WHITTINGTON, RUSS HILDEBRAND made the trip recently to BEN PITTS’ domain, sold him a lot of pictures for dear old RKO. OLMSTEAD "STEADY” KNOX, RKO salesman, we are told, has begun his dancing again. Lie’s quite a hoofer. — Charles Stofberg. MARYLAND Baltimore WILLIAM K. SAXTON, Loew's city manager in Baltimore, arranged fine start for the filmization "Pygmalion” having a reserved seat premiere performance. Regular performances started the next day. To give the start added impetus a contest was run in the Baltimore News-Post, WILLIAM M. BASKERVILLE, managing editor, to select a Baltimore girl to be "Peg Malion,” debutante for a week. Stunt went over big with the young lady meeting Governor HERBERT R. O’CONOR and everything. ABRAHAM, LOUIS COHAN, New Essex, Essex, Maryland, are to build bowling alleys in that city. J. LOUIS ROME, president, Associated, and Chief Barker, Variety Club of Baltimore, was a member of the committee which arranged the lawyers’ dinner. CHARLES HART, auditor, Scheck Theatrical Interests, is receiving congratulations on the birth of a son at the University Hospital. This makes the sixth youngster to join the Hart family. We hear LEO H. HOMAND, JAMES ELLIOTT, officials, Lord Calvert, and soon to open the Westway, have installed an art department to do this display work for the two playhouses. CARL STRAUB, display artist, has been engaged to do the work. Equipment has been installed in the Lord Calvert basement until the new Westway opens when the department will be located there. swing quiz, walking down the aisles with an audience microphone, and awarding passes to patrons who answered slang swing expressions correctly. Hagerstown Manager PAYETTE had fine campaign for "Gunga Din,” which played Maryland. Women’s Club sold 1,5 00 pasteboards at top admission prices. There were special standees, 24 sheet stands illuminated, special heralds in all Sunday newspapers distributed city and county, city bill posting and window cards. "Pygmalion” contest helped business at Maryland. Tivoli, Frederick, JACK FAHRNEY, manager, also used contest idea. — L. McW. VIRGINIA Big Stone Gap M. K. MURPHY, with houses also in Appalachia, Gates City, is getting ready for his spring gardening. Stop in, see M. K., overalls and all. Bluefield E. G. JACKSON, Lee, says that since he inaugurated the "profit-sharing” system, his business has increased considerably. Bristol You can always be assured of a pleasant chat with C. A. GOEBEL, his brother, who operate the Cameo, Columbia, reports GEORGE NATHAN, NSS territory salesman. Christiansbnr g BILL SNIDOW, Palace, is still tops in his chess, checker game. Recently he won the town tournament. Clintwood EARL ADKINS, Mountain, is the latest exhibitor to contract for NSS accessories. Harrisonbu rg In a statement made recently by local theatre operators, it was stated that it was not their intention to show Sunday movies unless the majority of the public want them, but emphasized they had no thought of desecrating the Sabbath by having Sunday movies, believing they were providing needed recreation. Statement pointed ou' that the committee representing the ministers and laymen knew of their plans to operate on February 26 and March 5 and the theatre operators were of the opinion that this was satisfactory until a definite understanding could be reached. Statement was issued by SAM ROTH, president, Valley Enterprises, Inc., and operator State, and W. W. CHANDLER, manager, Warner Brothers’ Virginia, neither of which opened for shows after protests from pulpits and by petitions. Bethesda "UNCLE” DAVID GINSBURG has shifted hi, activities from SIDNEY LUST’S Arcade, Cameo, respectively, Hyattsville, Mount Rainier, to the newer Boro which he is now managing. He has inaugurated a branch of his Kiddie Club there, already it has several hundred members. He is presenting a special Kiddie program on the stage every Saturday afternoon, ranging from juvenile talent revues to pie-eating, other contests. A series of Jitterbug contests also is being staged at the Boro, Friday nights. Swing fans from all over Washington and Montgomery County, Maryland are being attracted by the jive sessions. As a feature of his last contest, "Uncle Dave” held a Honaker E. (. BOYD, JR., Jefferson, expects to remodel his theatre very shortly. Independence Manager BAKER has taken over the Independance. Jonesville Any film salesman, who may find the local restaurants not to his liking, has only to call on ALEX OTTO, his charming wife for a swell March 15, 19)9