The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

24 “awarded-’ to be the escort of any unmarried white lady on New Year’s Eve. It was provided that he take her to dinner in a car, driven by a chauffeur, at the town’s leading hotel, then for a call on the mayor, a visit to the theatre, a visit to the leading night club, with the rest of the evening — if any — to themselves. Jamestotvn Meeting of Warners Jamestown district managers was held at the Lafayette Hotel, Buffalo. . . . Managers attending were Allen B. Newhall, Palace, Winter Garden, Jamestown; Murray Lafayette, Haven, State, Olean; Edwin Yarbrough, Keeney, Elmira; Melville Conhaim, Regent, Elmira; C. L. Hollister, Babcock, Temple, Wellsville; Clifford Schaufele, Diana, Medina; Ralph Booth, Family, Lafayette, Batavia; Dalton Burgett, Capitol; Dunkirk; James Macris, Majestic, Hornell; Ray Fahrenholz, Strand, Elmira; William Leggiero, Steuben, Strand, Hornell. M. A. Silver, zone manager, and Max Friedman, booker, came from Albany for the meeting and I. Cohen of Warners’ publicity department, New York City, attended and discussed their production “A Child is Born” with ways and means of selling same. Ralph E. Crabill, district manager, spoke briefly. . . . Ralphie Crabill, son of the district manager, is collecting tropical fish. . . . Ruth Kelley, district office, and hubby, attended both the Warner exchange and Paramount exchange Christmas parties, Buffalo. A1 Newhall, Palace, and R. E. Crabill, district manager, also motored to Buffalo. . . . Virginia Calahane, Palace cashier, did a good job of decorating the Palace Christmas tree. . . . Christmas charity matinees, an annual custom, were held either Wednesday or Thursday before Christmas at all theatres in the district. . . . This activity was originated by R. E. Crabill, district manager, seven years ago and it has been an annual event in each town. Managers carrying out this activity were Holly Hollister, Babcock, Temple, Wellsville; Jim Macris, Majestic, Hornell; Ralph Booth, Family, Batavia; Ray Fahrenholz, Strand, Elmira; Murray Lafayette, Haven, Olean; Allen Newhall, Winter Garden, Jamestown; Dalton Burgett, Capitol, Dunkirk; had to forego the activity due to an outbreak of scarlet fever. . . . Eddie Grainger was in town for a conference with Bob Horning, Shea's, Jamestown. Both drove to Buffalo to meet with M. A. Silver, Warners’ Albany zone manager. . . . Ruth Kelley and hubby were guests of William Stevens, Palace projectionist, and wife for a spaghetti dinner. Kingston Local 637 elected the following officers: Thomas Little, president; Louis Short, vice-president; Kenneth Evory, secretary and treasurer; Michael Ross, business manager; John Sickler, sergeant-at-arms. . . . Jack Carroll, Altec, made his headquarters at the Governor Clinton Hotel for several days during the holiday season. Liberty Liberty now boasts of new Simplex E7 projector mechanisms and Presto Changeovers. Teddy Rosenberg, NTS handled the deal. Lynbrook Homack Construction Company, operator of the 1705-seat Lynbrook, Lynbrook, has signed with RCA Photophone for sound equipment for the house, a Century affiliate. THE EXHIBITOR Marlboro Thomas Dixon closed the State for the remainder of the winter. House will reopen in May. Neivburgh Bob Ruckdeschel, Park, leading team of the Netco Theatre League, bowlel 243 for a new circuit high single mark as his team shut out the Broadway. His record helped his team roll 684 in their third game for the high team game of the night’s session, Cameo, tied for third place with the managers, moved up to second by blanking the art department, while the managers went into a third place tie with ushers, heretofore in second place, by beating them 2-1. Jack McCann, Cameo, had 188 high single. Fred Schaefer, managers had 186 high single. R. Sharps, Ritz, had 147 high single and 396 high three as they shut out the tailend operators. One of the better scores, considering this is a beginners’ league, was 171 by A1 Pizzaro, Broadway. Teams now stand: Park won 17, lost 4; Cameo won 15, lost 6; ushers won 14, lost 7; managers won 14, lost 7; Broadway won 11, lost 10; art department won 7, lost 14; Ritz won 5, lost 16; operators won 1, lost 20. Rochester Sol Shafer, State; Lee Stern, West End; Louis Levitch, Schines city manager, and Gene Curtis, Riviera, major domoed swell Christmas party for all Schine employees December 27 at Terrace Gardens, night club. . . . Manager Lester Pollock, Loew’s, expects to get “Gone With the Wind” for road show run January 26. . . . Schine houses put on strong campaign for Westinghouse film, “Middletown Family” shown at World's Fair. . . . Some Rochester managers are doing nice bit of unsung charitable work by permitting selected list of blind and deaf persons, groups of children from orphan homes to attend shows regularly. . . . Manager Jay Golden, playing “Guliver’s Travels,” RKO Palace, made play for kid biz by 10 A. M. opening throughout the week and tie-up with D. and C. Uncle Dan’s Club for special Saturday morning show. . . . Schine employees presented swell thermos set for office to city manager Louis Levitch as Christmas gift. Charlie Freeman, Century manager, placed attractive organ standee in lobby carrying Christmas greetings to all patrons. . . . C. C. Young, Schine zone manager, was in town for conference with managers, checkup on business and promotion. . . . Les Pollock, manager, Loew’s, arranged organ novelties by Helen Ankner and stage presentation featuring Father Time for special New Year’s show at regular prices. . . . State manager Sol Shafer’s son is home from college for the holidays. . . . Gene Chiramonte, manager, Lake, is sporting a beautiful ring given him by the girl friend. . . . Gene Curtis, Riviera, giving away radio every Monday night as a boost. — D R. Syracuse “Bill” Wittneben is reported looking for a gas oven of proper size. . . . Martin Wazlohowski and Jack Kerly are asking for bids on a neon sign. . . . Lora Angier has installed a new announcing system attached to W. E. sound at the Community. . . . James Constantino was caught in act of buying silk hose by the box. . . . Wonder if the 10 o’clock shutoff on heat at the Avon is automatic? . . . Phil Rossomando is one of Jack Meaney’s customers for statues. . . . Robert Dumas is very popular since receiving the legacy. . . . George Brown suspends all operations until the whistle blows on the toy train, (as reported by Jack Karp). . . . Sam Slotnick finally had all his holiday cards mailed. . . . Altec Service will occupy second floor offices in Rivoli soon, according to George Brown, local representative. . . . Second floor of Jack Karp’s Cameo is being rebuilt to accommodate increased attendance. . . . Frank Allen, Allen, Solvay, has modernized his W. E. sound system. . . . Charles Huxford has installed new sound system at the Huxford Skaneateles. . . . Ray Pashley, Lakes, Interlaken, is keeping very busy with Allied affairs. Morris Fitzer made his annual week’s trip to New York for the holidays. . . . Wonder which of the Loew State operators is competing with Claude Linstruth for laundry work? . . . William Maxon presented Fay Woodford with his annual gift. . . . Local 9 has inaugurated a share the wealth plan by putting the boys to work, credit being due George Robertson, B. A., and Eddie Fitzgerald, president. . . . Bert Barton wonders who pushed his car in front of the hydrant? . . . Cross carbon savers are still going strong at the Paramount. . . . Boys would like to know what Fay Woodford’s New Year’s resolutions were. New phone system was installed in Kallet’s State, Fulton, by Jimmy O’Brien, manager. . . . Rivoli booth is now operating with one Simplex and one Motiograph machine. . . . Morris Fitzer, Cy Barry and Frank Suttell entertained entire staff of Empire with a Christmas party at Tubbert’s. About 45 employees and friends attended. . . . Norman Fitzer, son of Mitchell Fitzer, visited. . . . Walter Scarle’s mother was reported very sick in Florida. Robert Sardino is very handy when it comes to making leather shields. . . . There must be a handwriting expert working on ballots of Local 376 election. . . . A1 Gilbert is reported to have a beautiful box office for sale. . . . William Lundigan is one of latest purchasers of space in the program from William Maxon. . . . Rennie Coates, assistant manager, Kallet’s Regent, celebrated his wedding anniversary December 26. . . . Notice to projectionists: Two negative carbons will not work. . . . Sid Kallet was a recent visitor. . . . Jack Kerly wonders when he will receive his overtime? ... It is rumored that Royce Burgess is doubling, taking tickets on “Bingo” nights. . . . Carl Henry celebrated his wedding anniversary December 25. . . . George Doss is being blamed for the midnight show scale, according to rumor. . . . Harry Gurnes and Jack Meaney extend the season’s greetings to all members of Local 376. . . . Martin Wazlohowski was the recipient of an increase. . . . Earl Cecile was forced to take time off due to sickness. . . . Elmo Carpenter likes the navy and is wondering if Bill Doss will enlist, but Bill has taken to steeplechases. . . . Gus Lampe will need a full week off to read his holiday mail. While descending the stairway leading to the Eckel lounge on the night of October 29, Mrs. Mary Presutto, alleges in a $10,000 negligence action filed in Supreme Court that her foot caught in the stairway rug and she was thrown headlong. S. K. E. Operating Company, Ltd., operators of the theatre, is named defendant. January 3, 1940