The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

THE EXHIBITOR 23 combined employees. . . . Mrs. John Sitterly was called home to Syracuse, due to her mother’s illness. . . . Chuck Harter, Columbia office manager and booker, in trying to outsmart his wife Alice, found himself outsmarted, when he ordered a train for Christmas, and got it. . . . Flash! Bill Gibson, ad sales manager, 20th Century-Fox, was charming and natty at the Christmas party. . . . Madeline Moore, Columbia’s stenographer, left to spend the holidays with relatives at Oil City, Pennsylvania. Her holiday was turned to sadness with the passing of her aunt. . . . RKO’s Arnold Febreys expect a bundle from heaven. . . . Vincent R. McFaul, general manager. Shea theatres, could well be proud of the Christmas tree on the Buffalo mezzanine. . . . Understand Joe Schuchert wanted to visit his neighbor farmer, Diesendorf, at 3 A. M. Christmas morning, but Elmer Lux interfered. . . . Charlie Boasberg, branch manager. RKO is the recipient of delightful gifts from the members of his organization — a traveling bag, military set, and golf bag making up the staff’s appreciation. . . . Phil and Ida Fox flew to Boston to spend the holidays with their families. . . . Sonnie Lorence was home from M. I. T. Academy for the holidays and lunching with Herman and Mrs. at Laube’s Stanley Kozanowski, Rivoli, is very much perturbed over the plight of his sister, Victoria, who is stranded in Kalsh, 20 miles from Warsaw, Poland. . . George Gammel, Gammel circuit, is convalescing from his recent illness. . . . Richard Buckley, former local Metro booker, stopped in Buffalo to attend the local Christmas party. . . . United Artists, at the conclusion of the Christmas celebration, proceeded en masse to the 20th Century-Fox party and were made welcome by mine host Syd Samson. . . . RKO’s smiling Charlie Boasberg expressed extreme confidence in the forthcoming Ned Depinet Billing Drive. . . . Elmer Lux, RKO sales staff, was most enthusiastic over the screening of “Hunchback of Notre Dame." . . . John Scully, Universal branch manager, had an enjoyable Christmas week end. His son, John, Jr., was home from Cleveland and Peter from New York City, while son Edward entertained house guest from New England. . . . Columbia George Fergusons had open house. . . . Why doesn’t Jim Kelly, Strand, Cataract, smile as much as usual? . . . Dick Hayman, son of Charlie, and Harold Wackett, asistant manager, Strand, Cataract, Niagara Falls, are hiring asistants to carry their police badges around after them V. McFaul, president of Buffalo Theatre, Inc., Shea affiliate, contracted with RCA Photophone for sound equipment for two new houses now under construction, the 1205-seat Shea’s Niagara, Buffalo; the 880seat Shea’s, Lackawanna. Variety Club misses A1 Kahn, previously reported seriously ill at the General Hospital. . . . Jules Berinstein, Cornell Theatres, was among those in attendance at the Variety Club New Year’s Eve celebration. Among the guests at the 20th Century-Fox holiday celebration, were Ed Dobe and Ford Hoyt. . . . Sophie (Mussalski) Jurewicz, booker stenographer, Universal, is the proud possessor of a diamond wrist watch from husband John. . . . Syd Samson, 20th CenturyFox, has an embryo poet in his shipping room. . . . Hurray for Lorenzos! They certainly provided a personable bar tender in the person of Angy Lapertino at the 20th Century-Fox party. . . .Leona Ehrne, January 20, celebrates her 21st birthday with Warner Brothers as cashier. ... It took Jules Jasper nearly five hours to drive through the blizzard from Our Mr. Mentlik WRITES ABOUT A FILM PARTY Dear Chief: I see by the trade papers where everyone and his cousin tossed a party of some sort to usher in the holiday season. There must lave been a lotta liquid gurgling down a lotta human pipes in celebration of Christmas and the New Year as a result. When all those parties were petering out, a gent named Arthur Mayer was opening the gates to the top floor of the Fiesta Ballroom for one of the most lavish and gayest cinema shindigs of the season. His wasn't a holiday party; it was part of the festivities that went with the unveiling of the new murals appearing in the lobby of Arthur’s Times Square Rialto. You know the Rialto, chief — it’s the smallest first-run theatre on Broadway and it’s the type of house mothers want to keep their children away from. Blood and thunder policy they call it — horror, murder, mystery, and all that sort of stuff. Arthur had a mess of murals painted to illustrate that policy and the Fiesta fiesta was part of the unveiling ceremony. George Sharf, the Loew publicist, and your faithful servant left Monogram where we had just said goodbye to Harry Thomas, Joe Felder and Sol Kravitz. We arrived at the Fiesta and the first persons we say hello to are Thomas, Felder, and Kravitz. Arthur Mayer was right up at the door shaking hands with those who started to pour in. Helping him with the identification and greeting was Phil Gerard, one of the stem’s better press agents. Sharf and Mentlik walked around the Rochester to attend the UA party. . . . Abe Brandenberg was in for a short stay. . . . Lydia Behling, Ellen Terry, Syliva, lent plenty of Christmas atmosphere, when she entered the Film Building loaded down with gifts. . . . Gage Havens and Emmie Dickman helped to celebrate the night of Hayman’s party. Dorothy Gammel did double duty this yuletide in distributing her many gifts, while husband George was incapacitated. Mr. and Mrs. Pat Powers were host and hostess at a dinner party following the Diaz concert at the Plaza, New York City, with Lydia Boehling one of the guests. . . . Jerry Dipow, manager, poster department, Universal, and Ann Rockoff New York City, celebrated their engagement January 1 at a party at the Park Central. Jerry presented his fiancee with a diamond wrist watch. . . . Edith Chasin, Monogram office staff, girl with the glory smile, was very much in evidence at the recent Warner party. . . . Eleanor Paradeis, Pam-O-Film, is most enthusiastic about her latest releases. — M. G. Canandaigua Manager William J. MacFarlane, Playhouse, co-operated with Legion Auxiliary to bring holiday cheer to underprivileged residents. . . . Women of the Auxiliary turned out in uniform to man the theatre and their strong promotion did much to bring added goodwill to the theatre as a civic enterprise. immense ballroom and even went to the floor below where the management tossed in two name bands and a complete smorgasbord for a sum total of 60 cents and stay as long as you like. Back up to the top floor we went and ran head-on into Lou Pollock and his charming missus. We sat and gabbed a short while with the Pollocks and the Hank Linets, who also had as their table guest a movie gent named Sir Cedric Hardwicke. Sir Cedric, by the way, fad previously read Arthur Mayer’s personal choice of the 10 worst pictures of the year. Incidentally, all pictures played the Rialto. Columbia’s beautiful, charming and lovely Hortense Schorr, one of the town’s abler femme publicists, was seething on accounta Maurice Bergman was scheduled to meet her there promptly at 9.30 and the time was nigh on to 10.30. But Maurice finally came and all was forgiven. Some more gallavanting around and we bumped into RKO’s Colonel Thompson in a huddle with the Music Hall’s W. G. Van Schmus. The latter and Mayer, operators of the town’s largest and smallest first-runs, posed for several stills. Over in another corner were UA’s Monroe Greenthal, Lynn Farnol, and A1 Margolies, at least two of whom was seen dancing at least once with formally-garbed Elaine Barrie, the ex of one John Barrymore. Expected to see Jean Lenauer there, but the Filmarte chief was represented by his press representative, Lillian Nadel. ITOA’s Hary Brandt was one of the early arrivals and early leavers. Every one of the film critics was there and there wasn’t a one who showed any signs of boredom, a rarity in the case of most parties. Can’t remember everyone who attended, chief, but rest assured there weren’t many folk of import who didn’t come to give the gladhand to Arthur Mayer, one of the whiter guys in these parts. Remember me to the mob in Philly. Love and Kisses, LEW MENTLIK, Your New York Correspondent. Gloiersville Schine Home Office News More than 75 employees and invited guests enjoyed the annual Christmas party at the Schine home offices December 22, at which Mr. and Mrs. J. Myer Schine and Mr. and Mrs. Louis W. Schine were hosts and hostesses. From a grab bag beside a big Christmas tree gifts were drawn for those present, Miss Bertha Luss acting as mistress of ceremonies. Special gifts were presented the Messrs Schine by the employes, Sandberg’s “Life of Lincoln” going to J. M. and a set of electrical door chimes to L. W. A1 Marqusee, president, Schiners’ club, made the presentation. Special guests included Mayor and Mrs. Chauncey C. Thayer, as well as Schine and industry figures from Amsterdam, Syracuse, Albany, Rochester and Bellefontaine, Ohio. A sumptuous turkey supper was enjoyed followed by dancing. . . . George V. Lynch entertained more than a score of friends at a Christmas Eve party at his home here. Special guests included General and Mrs. Bernard W. Kearney. . . . Successful car give-away brought out record crowds to the Glove, Hipp Christmas Eve. Lou Hart, Glove manager, promoted a stunt for New Year’s that had the town talking. Lou “gave a man away” to a lucky girl. The gag was that a young, personable male, with tuxedo, bankroll furnished by the theatre, etc., was January 3, 1940