The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

10 M. E. Comerford Left Nearly $2,000,000 Will Of Late Exhibitor Filed in Scranton Scranton, Pennsylvania — M. E. Comerford, nationally known theatre magnate, owned personal property to the value of nearly $2,000,000 at the time of his death in Miami, February 2, 1939, it was revealed last week by an inventory of the decedent’s holdings filed with the register of wills January 31. Appraisal of the estate showed a total net value of $1,739,171.32. Frank C. Walker, executor of the will, recorded the inventory which showed the estate to consist principally of holdings in some 30 theatre companies and several real estate corporations. Comerford's most valuable property was 1,000 shares of Penn Realty Company which was listed at $386,860. His next biggest holding was 3,334 shares of Meco Realty Company to the value of $376,018.99. Principal among the estate's other assets were : 1,150 shares of North Penn Theatres, $175,195.66 ; 616 2/3 shares Metropolitan Theatre Company, $126,219.33 ; 500 shares Capitol Theatre Company of Hazleton, $103,013.23 ; 333 1/3 shares Luzerne Theatre Company, $78,369.96. Additional amusement company enterprises listed among the stock holdings were : 84 shares Carbondale Theatre Company, $24,128.16; 167 shares Comerford Theatres, Inc., $72,739.38 ; 389 shares Federal Theatre Company, $45,316.39 ; 334 shares Hyde Park Amusement Company, $56,961.34 ; 84 shares Shawnee Amusement Company, $23,805.37 ; 334 shares West Side Amusement Company, $56,078 ; 25 shares Savoy Theatres Company, $30,000. The inventory listed $24,000 in cash and placed a valuation of but $150 on 150 shares of C. & C. Rea’ty Company stock and $268.75 on 268% shares of Town Hall Company, or $1 a share in each instance. "Grapes” Opens in 150 New York City — Twentieth CenturyFox will set between 100 and 150 day and date bookings on “The Grapes of Wrath’’ March 1, according to an announcement made last week by Herman Wobber, general manager of distribution. Exhibitors who get the picture for the pre-release engagements will be asked to play it as a single bill and not as a double feature because of the length of the production. Twentieth Century-Fox will put an assist advertising campaign behind the picture, but also will require the exhibitor to increase his normal advertising budget for the engagement. Cromwell Gets High Honor New York City — An award was handed John Cromwell by the National Educational Association in recognition of his work on the picture, “Abe Lincoln in Illinois,” last week. Dr. William Lewin, chairman, NEA’s Motion Picture Committee, Department of Secondary Teachers, wired the director that he was being awarded a special trophy, and also was being made a member of the educational organization’s Film Advisory Board. GN Assets Set at $60,000 New York City — Grand National Pictures’ gross assets are $60,000, an affidavit from Harry G. Fromberg, GN trustee, revealed last week. THE EXHIBITOR Call BU 8-7222 NEW YORK CITY— By calling Butterfield 8-7222, New Yorkers can find out direct from the telephone company what films are currently playing at their nabe Loew houses. The tie-up was made last week and is being promoted by the circuit and the phone company, both of whom are distributing blotters and literature. Hoover Lines Up Houses New York City — Herbert Hoover, chairman, Finnish Relief Fund, addressed last week a letter to 6,000 independent theatre owners in the United States naming February 17 and 18 as the dates for the collections to be made in theatres. All of the major theatre chains have agreed to co-operate with Hoover, and word has been received at the headquarters here from more than 4,000 independent theatre owners, accepting his invitation to participate in the drive. Major L. E. Thompson is national chairman of the motion-picture division of the drive, and Vincent G. Hart is the national director. At the same time the FRF announced a four-and-one-half-minute subject, “Finland Fights,” for use in connection with the drive. The subject was produced for the FRF by the Emerson Yorke Studio, here, and has descriptive commentary by Alois Havrilla. Besides being a quasitravelogue of the country, the subject presents such personalities as Paavo Nurmi and the Finnish Minister, Hjalamar Procope and U. S. Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau. Background music is, of course, that of Jan Sibelius. Ed Golden Hits the Road New York City — Edward A. Golden, general sales manager, Monogram, left on a coast to coast tour February 8 to visit 15 Monogram offices in connection with the company’s March for Monogram playdate drive. Golden’s schedule provides for a sales meeting in each exchange, to be attended by the personnel of the offices as well as by the sales force of neighboring exchanges not on the itinerary. Included in these releases are Bela Lugosi in “The Human Monster”; Boris Karloff in “The Fatal Hour”; Edgar Wallace’s “The Secret Four,” with Frank Lawton and Anna Lee; Jean Parker, James Dunn in “Son of the Navy,” Silver Theatre radio story featuring Martin Spellman; “The Gentleman from Arizona,” with John King and Craig Reynolds; and “East Side Kids,” with Dennis Moore and the Original East Side Kids. Gov’t Trial Set NEW YORK CITY— An order was signed last week which provides that the government equity suit against the majors begin May 1. This definitely sets the long-awaited case to begin at that time. More "GWTW” Bookings New York City — Twenty-seven additional “Gone With the Wind” engagements were announced last week by Metro. This brings the total bookings thus far scheduled to 327 in 306 cities. In 18 of these new situations the film will be shown twice daily on a reserved seat basis. Some bookings are: February 21, State, Cortland, New York; Fox, Corning, New York; Palace, Lockport, New York; February 22, Majestic, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; February 23, Strand, Berwick, Pennsylvania; Capitol, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania; February 24, Strand, Oswego, New York; February 25, Colonia, Laconia, New Hampshire; Geneva, Geneva, New York; Circle, Annapolis, Maryland; February 28, Glove, Gloversville, New York; Oneonta, Oneonta, New York; March 3, Community, Saratoga Springs, New York. In the other situations the picture will be shown three times daily with only the evening show reserved, and twice on Sunday with seats reserved at both performances. One of the bookings is February 16, Capitol, Trenton, New Jersey. Lowell "Bingo” Okay Lowell, Massachusetts — Mayor George T. Ashe last fortnight lifted the ban placed on “Bingo” when Lowell was depicted in Life Magazine as a natural “Bingopolis.” “Bingo” parties, said the mayor, was controlled by state law. He gave as his reason for continuance of “Bingo” parties the fact that the city derives $6,500 annually in rentals from the Memorial Auditorium and that hundreds of Lowell citizens have been playing the game out of town since the ban in Lowell became effective. Freeman Heads AMPP Hollywood — Y. Frank Freeman was last week elected president of the Association of Motion Picture Producers. Other officers are Eddie Mannix, first vice-president; Cliff Work, second vice-president; Fred W. Beetson, executive vice-president. Board included Harry Cohn, Samuel Goldwyn, Hal B. Roach, Joseph M. Schenck, Walter Wanger, Mannix, Jack Warner, Freeman, James L. Roosevelt, J. R. McDonough. A report was heard from Will H. Hays. SWG Acts on Neely Bill Hollywood — The Screen Publicists Guild special committee, consisting of chairman Ralph Block, John Howard Lawson, Sidney Buchanan, Wolfe Kaufman and Dore Schary last week unanimously adopted a measure of the Guild urging members to vote against the Neely Bill. Government Will Answer 5 0 New York City — The government announced last week that it will agree to answer a consolidated set of 50 interrogatories filed against it by all the majors except Columbia and UA by March 1. Schine-Altec Deal New York City — Schine circuit last week renewed service contracts with Altec for 110 theatres in New York State, Ohio, Maryland, and Kentucky. Bert Sanford negotiated for Altec. February 14, 1940