The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

an audience with F. D. R. . . . Scenes from “Mice” were enacted by Chaney and Meredith on the latter’s “Pursuit of Happiness” radio show. Republic President James R. Grainger hopped to the Virginia convention of exhibitors, and then went to Boston for a sales meeting. Universal Hank Linet went to Cleveland on company business. Leo Abrams, Universal short subjects sales manager, left last week for an extended tour of the western exchanges, and is expected to be away for not less than four weeks. Abrams will also spend a few days at the Universal City studios in conference with the short subjects producers. Morris Alin, house organ editor, hopped to Florida for a spell. Warners Bess Lebowitz, secretary to Phil Abrahams, was married recently to Albert Kaplan. Errol Flynn, William Dieterle and Miriam Hopkins arrived to spend a few weeks in town. NEW JERSEY Bergen County Oritani, Hackensack, was the scene of a cooking school conducted by a Hackensack newspaper. . . . Rialto, Ridgefield Park, started “Book Night.” . . . Gangler Brothers’ circus was presented on stage of the Queen Anne, Bogota. — P. C. Fort Lee Residents are watching with interest the efforts of Mayor F. H. LaGuardia, New York City, to induce motion picture producers to return to the East, old timers recalling the decade between 1910 and 1920 when Fort Lee was the center of the motion picture industry and their backyards appeared as “the bad lands" in many a film. ... In those days the Selznick, Universal, Paragon, Eclair and Fox studios were located in Fort Lee but today there are no motion picture studios there. . . . Now the old Paragon studios are used as a storage warehouse by William A. Brady. On the site of the old Universal studio is the film processing and printing plant of Consolidated Films, Inc., while adjacent to it is the plant of Jules Brulatour, Eastern agent for Eastman films. Jersey City Ed Rowe, Orient, is brushing up on his tricks and parlor jokes to spring at the kiddies on Saturday’s performance of the Young Fun Club. . . . Dr. Zinbad Astrologist, was held over at the Orient. Fred Weiber, Tivoli, is an ice skating enthusiast. . . . Dr. Zinbad, astrologist, appeared on the stage of the Orient. . . . Bill Goodman, State, likes his roller skating. . . . Dickinson, Ferris, Lincoln and Snyder High Schools celebrated Stephen C. Foster Appreciation Month in honor of noted composer and celebration coincided with presentation of “Swanee THE EXHIBITOR River,” State. . . . Thomas Burns, manager, Apollo, has been transferred to the Monticello, while Meyer Phillips, Monticello manager, goes to the Apollo. . . . Ted Meyn, organist, Loew’s Jersey City, introduced novachord at theatre. George Dumond, manager, Loew’s Jersey City, made arrangements for the New Jersey premiere of “Gone With the Wind” January 25 at his theatre that rivals those made for the world premiere of the film in Atlanta. . . . Jersey City permiere will have all the color of Atlanta and Hollywood with film stars present, a radio hookup over which celebrities will be asked to speak and an illumination system rivaling Broadway. Society will be out in full force and numerous theatre and cocktail parties have been arranged to precede the premiere, with the Hotel Plaza, Jersey City, planning a “Gone With the Wind” dinner with a southern menu. Journal Square store are co-operating in ballyhooing with displays and the theatre will be decorated inside and out under direction of Jack Broderick and David Friedlander. Arthur Egberts is in charge of publicity and exploitation for film with William Stillman, assistant manager, in charge of advance ticket sale; four extra treasurers engaged to take charge of advance sale. — P. C. NEW YORK STATE Albany Bill Sharpe, Paramount’s home office advertising department, was in to work out details connected with the new accessories deal with National Screen Service. . . . NSS will have local office and shipping rooms in Paramount. . . . Mrs. Kline Hunter, was on the sick list. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Myer Schine planned to leave for Florida, where they will open their Miami Beach home. . . . Louis Schine will follow them February 14. . . . Also off for Florida was Fred Mausert, State Glens Falls, with his wife. They will spend the winter in the south. Eddie Schnitzel’, Warner distribution department executive, was intown for two days, conferring with branch manager 23 Paul Krummenacker and theatre zone manager M. A. Silver, then heading for Buffalo. . . . Artie Newman, Republic, has taken up bowling. . . . Sam Rosen was a week-end visitor at Lake Placid, staying at the Marcy, which he and Si Fabian own. . . . Judy Garland was another celebrity visiting Lake Placid. . . . Dick Hayes, Paramount salesman, escaped without injury when a front tire blew out. . . . Bill Smalley’s departure for Florida has again been delayed. . . His plans now call for his leaving in February. . . . Jack Armm, Columbia, was off on a two week trip through his territory. . . . Oscar Kantor, Abbey Premiums, was seen in town. . . . Ben Smith, Pamo, was laid low with a cold. . . . Lou Golding, Fabian circuit division manager, will be heading for Havana on the Oriente. . . . Another who will pass up the charms of Florida is Warner film buyer Max Friedman, who intends spending a week in Atlantic City and another in Washington. . . . Sidney Kallett is carrying on Kallett circuit affairs while M. J. Kallett, with the missus, is spending two months (yes, you guessed it) in Florida. Formation of an Albany Naval Reserve unit was discussed by 11 members of the United States Naval Reserve Officers’ Association in their monthly meeting at the Ten Eyck Hotel. Among those active are Lieutenant-Commander Larry Cowen, Fabian circuit. Nearly $2,000 worth of reserved seats for the area premiere of “Gone With the Wind” at Fabian’s Palace were sold the first day tickets were placed on sale, according to Metro branch manager Ralph Pielow. Pielow quoted Fabian division manager Lou Golding as saying that “never in the history of theatre operation had he known of an attraction with such public interest and demand for seats.” . . . Harry Berinstein, Berinstein Brothers circuit, was in town for conferences with Ralph Pielow concerning engagement of “GWTW” in Ithica, where it is scheduled for a week’s showing at Berinstein’s State. . . . February 7 will open a 10 day engagement of “GWTW” at Fabian’s Proctor’s, Schenectady. Moe Grassgreen, 20th Century-Fox, was off on a vacation visit to Boston, while Fabian circuit’s Lou Golding received a post card from Bernie Kranze, RKO. telling of bad weather in Florida, and THE SECRET FOUR. Monogram’s release of the English production sees Francis Sullivan, Frank Lawton and others in the spy thriller, with Anna Lee as the female January 24, 1940