The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

24 Zanuck’s production of John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath” arrived in New York to attend the world premiere of the picture at the Rivoli. Darryl F. Zanuck’s production of “The Grapes of Wrath” had its first presentation in a theatre January 23 when an audience of 600, composed of newspaper, magazine and trade paper representatives and invited guests saw a preview of the picture at the Normandie prior to its first public showing at the Rivoli. Darryl Zanuck returned to the Coast after conferences. ... So did Harry Brand. United Artists A1 Margolis came back from Coast conferences. Universal Arrivals last week included Nate J. Blumberg, J. Cheever Cowdin, William A. Scully, Joseph Seidelman. Warners Norman Moray arrives on the Coast February 12. . . . Ruth Weisberg, secretary to Mort Blumenstock, hopped to Florida. . . . Henry Herbel arrived from the Coast. NEW JERSEY Asbury Park “Gone With the Wind” opens at the THE EXHIBITOR Mayfair February 9 for the first showing along the North Jersey Coast. Bergen County Englewood, Englewood, is holding one of the most successful “Bank Nights” of any theatre in the county. . . . Queen Anne, Bogota, and Park Lane, Palisades Park, have started “Book Nights.” . . . “Pop” Stahl, manager of Palace, Bergenheld, vacationed in Florida. . . . Amateur contests have been started at the Palace, Bergenheld, and are being held each Friday night with cash awards for the winners. — P. C. Hackensack Jack Maher, Oritani, tied up with the Bergen Evening Record to sponsor a cooking school at the theatre. Irvington Castle lobby has been redecorated by Artcraft. Damask panneling was installed. Jersey City Embassy, Bayonne, gave away steel cutlery . . . Ritz, Jersey City, is having old time films one night weekly. . . . Plaza, Bayonne, is holding “Book Night” weekly. Fun Club held session at matinee at which Our Mister Joe Joel COMMENTS ON 4 4 T H STREET Fine Arts Producing and Distributing Corporation opened an exchange in the Film Center Building, 630 Ninth Avenue. Manager is Dick Perry; booker, Marvin Mirisch. . . . Harold Garfield, Schine circuit’s Ohio district manager, was a visitor to the Film Center. . . . Isabel L e v e 1 1 , wife of Frank, 20th Century Fox, has returned home after a very serious operation at the Rockaway Beach Hospital. She wishes to extend her sincere thanks to her many friends for their kind wishes. . . . Ben Levine, booking department, United Artists, has lost his bay window. The doctor told him he would have to lose 30 pounds. He has at the present time lost 18 pounds, and has 12 to go. I think the exhibitors could worry him to lose the excess. A1 Gordon Reid, Fabian circuit, is going to take a vacation at Miami Beach; so, salesmen and managers of the different exchanges, remember he is going there for a rest. . . . Sam, who has run the freight elevator for many years in the Film Center Building, and beloved by all who come in contact with him, is seriously ill at the Saint Clair Hospital. Here’s hoping his recovery will be speedy. . . . Irving Sher is now managing the Endicot circuit’s 16th Street. . . . Bob Borodkin, who operates the Stanley, Seventh Avenue, in conjunction with Howard Helle berg, operator, Roxy, Martinsburg, Pennsylvania, has taken a long lease on the Mount Pleasant, Schenectady, New York, and it will be in operation in a short time. Sol Title certainly has a marvelous collection of pictures of exhibitors and others who were in the motion picture industry many years ago. . . . Many thanks to my friend, Robert Jennings, who is at Palm Beach, Florida, for the wonderful interest he has taken in the New York State edition of The Exhibitor. . . . Bookers of the different exchanges and circuits have started an association and I am positive it will be a great success; for the members, both male and female, are, in my estimation, motion-picture employees of the highest calibre. They all have my best wishes. All the employees formerly employed at Grand National, film room, have been placed in positions in different exchanges, thanks to the employees union. ... Joe Hornstein, I am sorry to state, is home suffering with a very severe cold. Hurry up, Joe, and get better for you are certainly missed in the Film Center. . . . Dave Rosengarten, Times Pictures, who is in Florida for his health, certainly has no cause to worry about the exchange in his absence. His partner, Moe Kerman, is on the job morning, noon, and night, and the exchange seems to be doing a very big business. . . . Dave Snaper, well known New Jersey exhibitor, who was in a hospital for a short time, is back on the job. He was certainly missed by some of the boys. ... I wonder why Mike Mario, Venice, always has to have a precious stone with him all the time. I refer to a Ruby. . . . Charles A. Goldreyer, for many years, one of New York’s best known independent exhibitors, has become affiliated with Filmland Press, Theatre Printers, Inc., with offices at 358 East 44th Street. The plant now specializes in offset printing at 636 Eleventh Avenue. He certainly deserves the assistance of all with whom he has done business. third feature was shown, games played and toys distributed. . . . Opera House, Bayonne, giving away dishes to ladies weekly, also holding weekly “Book Nights” and presenting “Lucky” at which cash awards are given. Theatre held special show for children at which comic books were given away and three features and six cartoons were presented. Kearny Sheldon Mandell, manager for Maury Stahl, has been transferred from the Regent to the Rex, East Rutherford. Leonard Workman, formerly, Rex, replaces him at the Regent. Long Branch A huge animated set piece exploiting ' Gulliver’s Travels” decorated the foyer of Reade’s Paramount during the showing of the picture. It was designed for use in the Asbury Park and Long Branch theatres and executed by Herb Crover, director, Reade’s art shop. A counter was reserved in one of the local shops for the selling of books, games, and puzzles in connection with this picture. Montclair Milton Brenner, manager, Wellmont, is tickled pink with the reconditioning of his theatre. Renovations gave him a new box office, marquee, lobby frame and carpeting. Netvark Kent, Mount Prospect Avenue, is operating under the management of Stanley Sobolson. . . . Cele Breitner, Warners booking department, returned after two weeks in Miami Beach. . . . John A. Flaherty, Warner contact head, recovered from a severe attack of laryngitis. . . . Harry Goldberg, Warner theatres ad chief, attended a meeting of Warners Jersey first run managers to discuss the Neely Bill. . . . Lou Kaufman, head, operators local, is vacationing in Florida. His duties have been taken over by Harry Oppenheimer, Loew’s. . . . Loew’s, under Bill Philips, started “GWTW” January 25. . . . Saul Cohen, Warners contact staff, is engaged to marry Miss Ruth Coleman, daughter of the booth operator, Roosevelt. . . . Sue Travisano, Warners purchasing department, is leaving for Florida for an extended vacation and rest. Mayor Ellenstein’s Finnish Relief drive was nobly supported by 30 local theatres to the tune of $456.81. . . . Collections were made with a short trailer presenting a brief appeal on the screen. . . . Theatres participating in the drive were the Branford, Capitol, Ritz, Central, Station, Congress, Broad, West End, Lyric, Little, Embassy, Kent, Regent, Globe, Mayfair, Stanley, Tivoli, Treat, Park, Astor, Luxor, Cameo, Rialto, Roosevelt, Paramount, Rivoli, Essex, Avon, Savoy, Hawthorne. Local Warner office won the first quarter competition in the interzone Joseph Bernhard contest, in which all Warner theatres participated. John A. Flaherty, Warner contact head, has been appointed to the Essex County Grand Jury, the same body that outlawed “Bingo” in Essex County recently. . . . Adam Adams, Paramount, is wintering in Florida. Pat Kinney and Cecil Kirkpatrick, cashiers, Regent, are both recuperating from recent operations. . . . Frank Henderson, Warner public relations coun January 31, 1940