The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

THE EXHIBITOR Thomas McCarty and A1 Schaler. Frank Mandrake is president; Fred Hopke, vicepresident; Charles May, treasurer; A1 Katz, recording secretary; Vincent Sapanor, sergeant-at-arms; Abe Boscarelli, business representative. — P. C. NEW YORK STATE Albany Owen Holmes and John Gatelee, Springfield, Massachusetts, have started to erect a 459-car open-air theatre just outside the city, opening May 15. Si Fabian was in. . . . Lieutenant Commander Larry Cowen, supervisor Fabian circuit’s Grand, Harmanus-Bleecker Hall and Leland, was snapped by a Knickerbocker news photographer in act of presenting Governor Lehman with an honorary membership in local Reserve Officers Association. . . . Albany streets were thronged with crowds trying to nab local “Raffles” as result of Andy Roy’s tie-up with morning Times-Union for five-day plug during Strand engagement of the UA flicker. Eddie Selette, Albany, is back on the job after a hospital visit due to a badly wrenched knee. . . . C. A. Smakwitz, Warner theatres district manager, is now Florida’s biggest booster, making it his hobby to sell the southern resort state to all comers, upon his return from his winter vacation. Sunday movies were authorized by a vote of 268 to 67 in the village of Ravena, in which Mitch Conery operates the Ravena, flagship of his circuit of smalltown theatres. . . . Daylight saving time was adopted in an election in the village of Delanson by a vote of 22 to 11. Binghamton Harry Van Tassel, maintenance man, Riviera, trades in his diamond ring every year. . . . James Fitzpatrick, Riviera, is resting comfortably at home following his operation. . . . Ditto Laura Getter, cashier, Symphony. . . . Ray, son of Dave Cohen, is following his Dad and older brother in physical appearance. . . . Marie Lake, cashier, Strand, is getting all ready for the coming date. . . . Charlie Sumberg and Jake Ruppenthal, sign artist, put out some neat lobby displays for the theatre’s Easter attractions. . . . Buddy Kornblite wore a green hat Saint Patrick’s Day. Marian Hillsinger, main office, Strand, confined to a hospital bed, is greatly missed by all theatre folks who visit the main office. . . . Tommy Manifan, manager, Strand, had a three-hour reunion with an old pal recently at the American Legion, when he was supposed to be bowling with the managers’ team. . . . Jerry Burke, manager Star, has been nicknamed “two-gun Burke.” . . . Tom Cary, Riviera, promoted free newspaper art for “Pinocchio.” — F. D. R. Buffalo Bob Murphy, Chief Barker, Variety Club, and its heart committee extends thanks and appreciation to Murray Whiteman and Ben Kernan for the successful Saint Pats night dance at the Broadway Auditorium where 2600 people swang and swayed to the antics of Cab Calloway. Net proceeds were for the benefit of the charitable activities of the club. Film row was well represented. . . . Ken Robinson, local Paramount branch manager, tells us recent screenings of their technicolor pro 21 Our Mr. Mentlik Goes College With "JOHNNY APOLLO” Dear Chief: This is gonna be a short letter on accounta us college guys usually limit our missives to a “Dear Mom and Pop: Howzabout adding a few bucks to my allowance?” and call it a day. You can’t accuse me of making all my letters brief, but the other night was spent in the company of several dozen college newspaper editors, and, being very susceptible to things of that sort, I just upped and began feeling like a campus cowboy. The event was a sneak preview of 20th Century-Fox’s “Johnny Apollo,” to which Charley McCarthy invited a mess of the aforementioned embryo scriveners and us time (?) -hardened (?) trade press babies. The evening started off fairly early in Earl Wingart’s suite at the St. Moritz (headquarters for the bookworms) where we imbibed heavily of Coca-Cola and icewater (s’help me, boss). Then came a delicious meal at the hostelry’s Terrace Room. Photographer Jimmy Sileo and assistant, Henry, were climbing ladders and tripping shutters all over the jernt. After the horde of hungry wolves put away the food, we climbed into brand new cars and started a procession northward to Ossining, the home of Sing Sing and the setting for the sneak. Ossining, Bill Chambliss informs me, was chosen as the second best bet seeing as how the prison officials didn’t think it advisable to show their guests a picture featuring a jail break even though it fizzled in the breaking. The seven huge cars rolled up in front of Skouras’ Victoria (the lobby was decorated with a ham display) much to the bewilderment of the townsfolk. They must have thought either of two things: (1) It was one helluva funeral, or (2) Sing Sing was receiving some added population. The picture was shown and the patrons rushed home to fill out their preview comment cards. I gabbed a while with manager Harry Knoblauch who told me that “Johnny Apollo” was the first prison picture he had played in ages. It seems as if the Ossining natives, being so close to Warden “Warner” Lawes’ cozy clubhouse, just won’t accept them. However, the reaction was pretty much on the enthusiastic side. Lest I forget, chief, Knoblauch, a former Philadelphian, wants to be remembered to Jay Emanuel. So back into the limousines we went. On the way back to New York town, we stopped off in Tarrytown for a bit of refreshment. Seated at the bar in the hundred-year old inn was Bob Goldblatt, operator of Tarrytown’s Music Hall. Goldblatt, in a few off-the-record remarks, wasn’t too complimentary concerning some of the films he’s been playing recently. As we were going out, he reminded us to give his regards to Fox’s Bill Sussman who used to book for him. And then back to Noo Yawk for some shuteye. If I forgot to thank McCarthy, Wingart, Kahn, Rodney Bush, Chambliss, and the rest of the 20th Century-Fox boys, it was merely an oversight. They won their varsity letters. “Rah-Rah!!!” Love and kisses, LEW MENTLIK, Your New York Correspondent. (Wisconsin ’36) ductions, “Dr. Cyclops,” and “Typhoon,” were very well attended by exhibitors. . . . Response from exhibitors on Paramount’s Robinson drive, starting May 5 and ending May 18 has been fine. . . . Mrs. Harold Jonasson, wife of Advertising Accessories manager, has joined the film colony. . . . Bill Rosenow, chief booker, Paramount, has been hitting the hiways eastward. . . . Allie and Lydia Behling, Buffalo exhibitors, in Florida, are surprised at the many filmites in and around Miami from western New York. . . . Frank Leonard is busy selling memberships in the Taxpayers League. . . . Marvin Atlas, Capitol, Niagara Falls, is accepting bids for the remodeling of front of theatre and marquee. . . . Charlie Boasberg’s local office is still on the top rung in the Ned Depinet RKO drive. That was a fine party at Lancaster. Thanks are extended to Menno (Williamsville) Dykstra. . . . Irving Price, Aurora, East Aurora, has returned after a vacation in the Bahamas. . . . Boys along film row are getting the golf urge. . . . George Hanny, Jr., Capitol, Maxine, was seen at the local Marine Mart Show. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Frank Smith entertained at a cocktail party in honor of the Behlings, who operate the Ellen Terry and Sylvia, Buffalo, upon their arrival in Florida. . . . Local film folks are glad to see Spencer Balser, Basil brothers circuit booker, back on the job again. ... It is rumored that plans are being made for a 900-seat house on the present site of the Masque. . . . George Biehler, Palace, Hamburg, has returned from Florida and is confined at present with a cold. . . . Syd Lehmans, United Artists, postcarded from Florida It is rumored George Rosing, Roosevelt, gave up bowling, so that he can get an earlier start Monday nights. . . . Spotted along Buffalo’s film row, after his return from Florida vacation, Ralph Blouvet, Leroy, Brockport. . . . Frank Tate, Wilson, reports business improving. . . . Exhibitors-in-town booking were Richard DeTota, Ray Pashley, Bill Tischkoff, Howard Lurie, Sam Slotnick, Morris Slotnick. Ed Miller, Shea organization tells us he’s declaring himself out of the Shea golf club tourneys this year, but we understand he’s really getting in some secret practice. . . . Floyd Scott, United Artists publicity representative, after completing his work on “Of Mice and Men,” remained in Buffalo to work on “Rebecca,” Shea’s Buffalo. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Bill (Shea publicity) Brereton, are counting the days till they can move back to their Summer home. . . . Manny Woronov, Metro, is trying to determine Emmie Dickman’s secret of perennial youth. . . . Vincent R. McFaul, general manager, Shea circuit, never misses! — This time he booked “Three Cheers For the Irish” Saint Pat’s Day. . . . Alice McCarthy, Shea office staff, was off on a week-end jaunt to Honeoye Falls to celebrate the first birthday of her twin nephews. . . . Deepest sympathy to John Magner, assistant manager, Shea’s Hippodrome on the sudden passing of his father. . . . Condolences go to William Scully, general sales manager, Universal, and to his brother John, branch manager, Universal, upon their recent bereavement. Film row was sorry to learn of the death of their mother March 14. . . . Local manager Charlie Boasberg made a flying trip to New York to confer with A. W. Smith, March 27, 1940