The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

35 NEW YORK CITY Crosstoivn Supreme Court Justice Levy denied the application of Ben Roman for an order directing Neil F. Agnew, Paramount sales head, to testify before trial in Roman’s suit against Paramount for alleged breach of contract on distribution of two reissues, “The Spoilers,” and “Morocco” in New York and New Jersey. The judge, however, ordered Joseph Unger, Milton Kusell and Myron Satler to appear November 27. Question: How will the Strand boys manage to fit “The Private Lives of Eliza beth and Essex” plus an “In Person” show anouncement on the marquee? And even if they can, what will the nabe houses do with “T.P.L.O.E.A.E.” and another feature on their tiny marquees? . . . After a six-week stay at Martin Lewis’ 55th Street, “Rasputin” finally moved out to make room for an extended run of “Port of Shadows.” . . . Sharing the billing with President Roosevelt at the cornerstone laying ceremonies of the Roosevelt Memorial Library, Hyde Park, last week was Comerford’s Frank C. Walker, whose address was the highlight of the day. Sol Rosenblatt was among the invited guests of the historic occasion. . . . George Sherman is spending a cupla weeks with his family in New York. . . . He just completed directorial chores on the latest Gene Autry opus. . . . Harry Hick heads the corporation operating the Fair, formerly Navarre. Foreign pictures will be shown exclusively. Standard Pictures Distributing Company has appointed Arnold Van Leer and Associates as advertising, publicity and exploitation representatives. A new theatre to cost $50,000 will be built on Union Turnpike by Herman Weingarten. C. A. Sandbloom is the architect. Rialto is having its face lifted, and the interior will be completely redecorated with a series of murals designed by Nat Karson to illustrate Arthur Mayer’s blood and thunder policy. These paintings, inspired by the management’s relentless pursuit of horror, are surrealistic interpretations of a night mare at the Rialto, starring “Dracula,” “Frankenstein,” Laurel and Hardy and The Three Stooges. New murals will be unveiled Christmas day, in celebration of the fourth anniversary of the new Rialto. Visiting the Comerford New York office was Senator Tom Walker of Montana, brother of Frank C. Walker. . . . Eddie Riggs, editor, Chicago Times, was another visitor with F. C. . . . Harry Doniger’s son, Walter, had his option picked up by Metro for whom he works as a writer on the coast. . . . Arthur Mayer’s Rialto was the scene o) a kleig-light premiere when the “Flying Deuces” bowed. . . . One of the top execs of a major circuit donated a Simplex portable projection machine to Admiral Byrd’s crew for entertainment on the trip to and from the Arctic. 44th Street REPUBLIC: Jen Dennett lost her wrist watch a week or so ago and is offering a reward for its return. The timepiece is of high sentimental value. RKO: The first announcement of Jack Ellis’ week-end wedding came via Walter Winchell’s nite broadcast. Mr. and Mrs. Jack will honeymoon in Florida and Havana in about a month. 20th CENTURY-FOX: Localites held their last drive meeting, with Herman Wobber, general sales manager, and M. A. Levy, drive leader, in attendance with Harry H. Buxbaum, Joe Lee, Bill Sussman and others. . . . Harry H. Buxbaum heads the Motion Picture Exchange-Committee of the Jewish Federation Drive. UNIVERSAL: Plans for the formation of a Big U Social Club were drawn at an organization meeting. Harry Fellerman and Leo Simon are the temporary chairmen. Keep your eyes on this column for further developments. . . . Assistant booker Tom Goff was home ill. . . . Cashier Walter Bernhard brought a live turkey home for the Thanksgiving foodfest. WARNERS: Booker A1 Blumberg’s car ran into a bit of smash-up trouble. Car in wreckage and Al’s back feels awful score. . . . Columbia A1 Barabas is still trussed up in gauze. WORLD: Company, distributing “Mill On the Floss” in the local territory, was host to leading New York exhibitors at a reception following the premiere of the picture at the Astor. Among those present were Lew Fischler, Artie Wakoff, A1 Paras, Walter Reade, Jr., William and Max Goldberg, Sidney Franklin, Matty Radin, Martin Lewis, Irving Renner, Rose Deutch, A1 Suchman, Sidney Deneau, Harold Klein, Bob Finkel, Jack Birnbaum, Miss Carnegie, Rosalind Sher, Bill Davis. Brooklyn Ciro Paolillo, who has operated the 600seat Paradise, 810 Fourth Avenue for 16 years without a single shut-down, except for modernization, is making another improvement by installing RCA Photophone sound. Joe Lee, the dynamic publiciteer and exploitation head for the local Paramount, is certainly going to town these days with plenty of stunts. Leave it to Joe to keep busy — and original. CIRCUITS Century Circuit made a tie-up with a restaurant and had plenty of turkeys to give away as a result. Consolidated Mount Eden, Bronx, has re-opened. Knobel After exhibiting German films exclusively for years the Irving, Brooklyn, closed for alterations for a few days and reopened with an All-American policy. Loeiv’s Managers, assistant managers and district managers in the New York area— 200 strong — threw a Thanksgiving beefsteak dinner and dance in the Starlight Roof of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. It was strictly a “family party” for the managerial stuffs of the New York circuit, plus a few of the home office executives who are directly concerned with the theatres. Party was a tribute to the showmanship and hard work of the theatre staffs during the summer campaign to offset the hot-weather lull. President Nicholas M. Schenck, C. C. Moskowitz, Leopold Friedman, J. R. Vogel, Marvin Schenck, W. F. Rodgers, Oscar A. Doob, Eugene Picker, Harry Moskowitz, Harry Bernstein, J. T. Mills were among the home office group. But the party belonged to the theatre boys and girls. Six dazzling managers formed a Floradora Sextette — Eric Van Dyke, Edwin Burke, Nat Adelson, Robert Kilgore, Jack Fieman Sam Pearlman. Another group, wisely hiding behind thick beards, formed the Harry Karasik Ninotchka-Balalilaki Symphony Orchestra — district manager Karasik, with managers Harvey Everett, Ed Douglas, Herman Silver, Sam Rose, Wm. Downs, Richard Bosch, Sydney Kane, Joe Rubenfeld, Abe Kaplan, Martin Rosenburgh and Larry Stark. Herman Dolinsky, Loew’s Coney Island, impersonated Shirley Temple. Seymour Mayor m.c.’d a Marx Bros. “Circus Screeno.” There was a “Bank Night” dance, with real prizes. Ballroom was turned into a madhouse with a Cavalcade of Ballyhoo. A special edition of The Mirror caused a libelous sensation. The managers and their wives took screen tests with a real cameraman in charge. Leading producers presented “favors.” United Artists showered the ladies with gifts. Paramount, Metro, Republic, Columbia, and Universal remembered. Prudential Westhampton, Long Island, theatre is open Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays only. Randforce New Clinton opened over the week end. Skouras Jay Enders, now house manager of the Academy of Music, under Harold Janecky; M. B. Esserman is managing the Hempstead, Hempstead, Long Island; Ben Ostrow is back as manager of the 77th Street; Joe Samarco is handling the Carlton, in a few recent changes following the recent drive’s end. Fred Lichtman, manager, Lafayette, Suffern, won the big push, a double triumph, as he not only headed his division but also led all the other managers. Other winners were Walter Melvin, Valentine, Bronx, first in his zone, with Jack Bokser, Orotona, second. Thomas Saris, Merrick, Jamaica. Long Island, first in the Long Island division, which was third. Richard Carneghi. Roosevelt, Flushing, Long Island, was second, with Paul Laube, Manhasset. Manhasset, Long Island, third. Service drive leader was George Nichols. Liberty, Elizabeth, New Jersey, with Harold Janecky, Academy of Music, Manhattan, second. Notis Komenos, State, Jersey City, was third, with A1 Unger, Capitol, Jersey City, fourth, and Joe Salmon, Riverside, Manhattan, fifth. Idea winners included Tom Robinson, Forrest Hills, Forrest Hills, Long Island; Tom Burns, Apollo, Jersey City; Jay Enders, Hempstead, Hempstead, Long Island, and A. Caruso, Corona, Corona. November 29, 1939 THE EXHIBITOR NYS.