The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

EXHIBITOR 20 NEW JERSEY Bayonne Friends of Jerry Rose, manager, Strand, who is to be married, gave him a bachelor party. . . . George Kelly, manager, Stanley, Jersey City, acted as toast master, presented Jerry with a console radio and victrola. Among those present were: Dick Hill, Tony Williams, Bob Paskow, Jack Levy, Nat Mutnick, Jack Jovans, Art Scola, Charles Carey, G. Welsh, Harold Bennett, Leto Hill, Sr., Arthur Manfredonia, Frank Holler, Dan Lee, Bob Dietch, Jerry Baker, Marty Johnson. Bergen County Plaza, Englewood, donated prizes for winners of costume contest at ball at Dwight Morrow High School, Englewood. . . . Fox, Hackensack, presented special Easter show for children with two features and extra shorts. Each child attending received free candy. — P. C. Elizabeth Strand Theatre Operating Company, owned by Walter Reade, Plainfield, has been sued for $10,000 by a woman who allegedly fell down the unlighted stairway of the Oxford, Plainfield. . . . Broad, Elizabeth, closed temporarily, was about to open under new management. . . . Manager Clement Murphy, Ritz, Elizabeth, advertises programs through means of blotters. Fort Lee Charging that the pressmen’s union at the local plant of Consolidated Film Industries, Inc., has actually become a company union, John J. Sweeny, one of the eastern agents of the American Federation of Labor, said the federation is planning an investigation of the union. Sweeney charged the present union at the plant, although affiliated with the AF of L, is part of a union setup supervised by the company. Hoboken Warner Brothers’ Hudson County theatres, Rudy Kuehn, district manager, held their annual party at the Union Club. Members and guests attended the dinner and dance and a gay time was had. Hudson County Rudy Kuehn, Warner Brothers Hudson County district manager, was honored at the recent banquet celebrating the 25th anniversary of Local 384, when he was presented with a gold membership card. Signal honor has been gained by only seven other persons. . . . Eddie Fisher, electrician, Lincoln, Union City, is to be wed soon to Miss Anne McDonald. Jersey City Palace gave away 30 bags of groceries. . . . With the arrival of spring and baseball days, Ted Meyn, organist, Loew’s Jersey City, is again looking over newspapers sports pages. . . . Notis Kamenos, manager, State, will vacation for a week. . . . Herman Starr, Skouras New Jersey executive, has returned from cruise to Cuba with the missus. — P. C. THE JOE JOEL SAYS: Among Other Things . . . Frank Gelber, formerly with the Five Boro circuit, was given a testimonial dinner by the entire staff of all the theatres in the circuit March 15. A marvelous time was had by all. . . . It is with deep regret that I announce the death of the mother of Charles Wishnew, State Film Delivery. She died March 12. I extend to the family my sincere sympathy. . . . Ben Barry, formerly with the Art, Brooklyn, is now managing the New Bergen, Tenafly, New Jersey. . . . Nat Olshan, proprietor, Les-Ray Luncheonette, Film Center Building, celebrated his 41st birthday March 15 by having a special dinner for his employees. Nat is quite a favorite with those in the film industry. Harold Klein, Cocalis circuit, and president, Bookers Association, was married March 21. He says the only booking he has done on his honeymoon was when he booked the bridal suite for Mr. and Mrs. Klein. . . . Ben Tendler, old-time New York exhibitor, who has been in Washington for the past five years, is now proprietor of the Grove, Brooklyn. He is making extensive alterations. . . . Louis Kaufman, business agent, Local 244, Operators’ Union, Newark, and Henry Oppenheimer, secretary, have returned after spending a six-weeks’ vacation in Florida. Now that they are back, Andy Ghering. assistant business agent, is going to take his vacation. ... I felt very happy when I was informed that my esteemed friend, Charles Stern, United Artists, had recovered from his illness and was now con Long Branch Mrs. Margaret Browning, manager, Reade’s Strand, created an interesting atmosphere for “A Child Is Born.” Morristoivn A fire in the Palace darkened the theatre, temporarily, at least. Neivark Through the courtesy of A. A. Adams, Paramount, Peter Vlahakes and Charles Vezos, service chiefs, lent a hand to manager Bill Phillips during the run of “GWTW.” . . . Ted Rodis, assistant manager, Paramount, spent an evening at the Hotel Edison with Curly Howard of the Three Stooges when they appeared in Newark recently. . . . Martin D’Arcy, manager, Paramount, is back at his desk. . . . Bruno Kern, publicity man, Branford, a second lieutenant in the reserves, resigned to undergo a six month’s intensive training period in the U. S. Quartermasters Corps, Fort Benning, Georgia. Central, Sam Goldman, manager, completed the construction of a brand new marquee. This is the latest of a number of improvements and alterations. . . . Bob Flex, manager, Hawthorne, is to be married. . . . Bernard R. Goodman, Warner ad sales manager and Manny Gross, New York ad sales manager, visited the local Warner office to present the first views of the new Vitagraph screen process materials. valescing at his home. Here’s hoping we may see his smiling face at the New York exchange in a very short time. . . . One of the old-time managers in the days of Mayer and Schneider died March 12. I refer to Eddie Cantor. He had been ill for quite a long time. He had been connected in the film industry for over 25 years. . . . One of the old-time poster display men known as Morris, formerly with Regal Studios, is now with the King Displays, 525 West 45th Street. Unit specializes in photographic enlargements. Irving Goldstein, well-known accountant, is now connected with A. H. Zucker, who has done work for Hornstein for a number of years. . . . Bob Ellsworth, head booker, Metro, is enjoying a two-weeks’ vacation. He would not state where he was going as he said postal cards to send to your friends take up your time and money. . . . Motion Picture Bookers Club is to be congratulated for appointing Max Fried, Warners, and Moe Rose, Metro, as their press representatives as they both have vast experience in writing columns for numerous newspapers. . . . Occupants of stores on West 44th Street, now occupied by a sporting club, have all been notified to vacate by April 15. They are finding it very hard to secure places. ... I wonder what Abe Lincoln would say if he was alive, to find himself doubled up with Shirley Temple? . . . Watch for the great surprise Merit exchange will have, in a very short time, which will interest all exhibitors and bookers. ... I paid a visit to the Rivoli, Brooklyn, and I must take my hat off to Ben Schrieber, manager, for his marvelous Easter display. The interior of the theatre resembled a flower market. . . . To my knowledge, I do not believe any theatre has a better staff of assistants than Harold Fisher, Brooklyn Paramount. Ralph Percy, assistant manager, and John Murray, treasurer, are certainly a credit for their remarkable way of working. Motion Picture Operators of Essex County, Local 244, held their annual dance. Harry Oppenheimer, chairman, arrangements committee, secured, through the courtesy of A. A. Adams, owner, Paramount, a stage show. More than 2500 persons attended. Perth Amboy Metro’s Elliot Foreman and manager Jerry Bookbinder, Majestic, conceived and used for “Gone With the Wind” a small model southern home as a box office. Union City Jerry Baker, manager, RKO Capitol, Union City, had the largest Robinson family in North Hudson as his guest at showing of “Swiss Family Robinson.” Father and Mother Robinson and all their sons and daughters attended film’s opening night showing and also were dinner guests before show in a restaurant. . . . Persons who wrote best synopsis of story of “Swiss Family Robinson” without reading the book again, were given cash awards. . . . United States, Hoboken, presented magician on stage and gave away six rabbits. . . . Stars of screen, stage and radio attended 25th anniversary celebration of Local 384 Operators Union, Union City. Representatives of theatre circuits and independent theatre owners in Hudson County were present and gifts were given charter members of local and those who have been in organization 25 years. Stage show was presented. Committee in charge included George Wedemeyer, chairman; March 27, 1940