The Exhibitor (Nov 1941-May 1942)

8 O’Donnell MC’s DeMille Affair New York — R. J. O’Donnell, general manager, Interstate circuit, and one of the founders of the Variety Club of Dallas, will act as toastmaster at the special AMPA luncheon tomorrow (March 26), honoring Cecil B. DeMille on his 30th anniversary in the industry. This special luncheon, at the WaldorfAstoria Hotel, will be attended by home office executives, officials from leading the¬ atre circuits, and celebrities from stage, screen, radio, and financial circles. New York — Following the world pre¬ miere “Reap the Wild Wind,” and the simultaneous opening of the new Para¬ mount Hollywood, Cecil B. DeMille last week entrained to attend the eastern open¬ ing of his film at the Radio City Music Hall on March 26, and to be feted by Paramount’s eastern execs in honor of his 30th anniversary as a picture maker. De¬ Mille arrived accompanied by Lou Harris, associate producer; Ted Bonnet, Para¬ mount publicity department; his secretary, Gladys Rosson, and others. New York — Cocktail party honoring Cecil B. DeMille, scheduled to have been held at the Waldorf-Astoria on March 22, was postponed last week end until March 25 in respect to the memory of the late Sidney R Kent. Conn. Ascap Suits Up New Haven, Conn. — It was announced last week that April 23 has been set as hearing date of two copyright infringement suits brought by Gene Buck, president, ASCAP, and various publishing com¬ panies in U. S. District Court here against Harry L. Lavietes, operator, Pequot, New Haven, Conn., and E. M. Loew, Hartford, Conn. Damages of $750 on three counts are asked from Loew, and $500 on two counts from Pequot. While the Loew case is regarded as an ASCAP test in the state on collection of license fees from motion picture exhibitors, the Pequot case involves a question of fact. Lavietes claims that he had loaned his theatre gratis to his son for his own benefit. Loew's Adds One Waterbury, Conn. — It was learned last week that Loew’s, Inc., will take over the operation of the Strand here at the end of the month, when the current Warner lease expires. House will be operated as a second-run in conjunction with the LoewPoli first run. Warners will continue to operate the State first run. Loew’s thereby increases its New Haven division to 16 houses. WB Gives 441 New York — Following a check-up last week, Warner Brothers announced that exclusive of actors and other studio per¬ sonnel, the company had given 441 em¬ ployees to the armed forces. Number is expected to pass the 500 mark before the month is over. Seventy-five from the local scene alone have already reported for war service. THE EXHIBITOR SPG Picketing Off NEW YORK— Picketing by the Screen Publicists Guild on Paramount and 20th Century-Fox product here and in Hollywood was halted last weekend at the request of James FitzPatrick, United States Conciliation Service, assigned to the matter by the War Labor Board. Leaflets continued to be distributed at specified hours last weekend. Court Upholds Two Convictions New York— The U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals last week affirmed the convictions cf Joseph M. Schenck, former chairman of the board, 20th Century-Fox Film Cor¬ poration, and Joseph H. Moskowitz, asso¬ ciate, on income tax evasion charges. Opinion, written by Judge Thomas W. Swan, said that “after examining the lengthy record, we are satisfied that the case was fairly tried.” Schenck was sentenced last April to three years in Federal prison, and fined $20,000. Moskowitz was fined $10,000, and sentenced to one year and a day impris¬ onment. Philly Managers Organize Philadelphia — Organization of a local theatre managers’ association was pro¬ posed at a meeting of independents at the Broadwood Hotel on March 19. It was suggested and resolved that the benevolent association be organized for the following express purposes: Inter¬ change of ideas for selling pictures for the betterment of business, benefit fund, sick¬ ness benefit, and group insurance. A general meeting will be held on March 30 at 11.30 P. M. "Jungle Book" In 200 Spots New York — According to word from Carl Leserman, general sales manager, United Artists, last week, an unprecedented num¬ ber of day-and-date bookings during Easter Week for Alexander Korda’s Tech¬ nicolor production of Rudyard Kipling’s “Jungle Book” has been recorded on the company’s books. Picture will be seen in approximately 200 cities during the holi¬ days. “The Tip-Off” Gives Dope on Grosses. Leon-Eatman Philadelphia — The trade learned last week end that Joe Leon, Universal sales¬ man, had married Miss Frances Eatman on March 20. Affiliated Adds Another PHILADELPHIA— It was learned last weekend that the Affiliated cir¬ cuit, local independent organization, had added another theatre to its grow¬ ing list, with the Orpheum, Reading, Pa., its latest acquisition. Flood Damages Warner Theatres Batavia, N. Y. — Warners’ New Family and Lafayette were closed five days last week when flood waters, the worst in local history, entered the cellars and main floors of both houses, inundating auditoriums, orchestra pits, seats, heating plants, elec¬ trical units, and other vital pieces of main¬ tenance equipment. Damage done neces¬ sitated the complete rehabilitation and partial replacement of flooring, carpets, and seats in the Lafayette, and furnaces, fans, generators, transformers, and switches in both houses. Herman Maier, New York City; J. A. Wotton, Albany, N. Y., zone engineer; R. E. Crabill, Buffalo district manager, and Joe Florio, Buffalo district engineer, made special trips to Batavia to assist manager R. H. B. Booth in the re¬ quired reconstruction. Virtually the whole southwestern half of Batavia remained inundated for two days with practically every building in the entire business section, as well as several hundred homes, including manager Booth’s, struck by the torrent. Comings and Goings New York — Among the comings and goings reported last week were the fol¬ lowing: Jean Muir, Warner player, arrived from the coast; Jack Graf, football star, came to town in connection with the opening of Warners’ “The Male Animal,” Strand; Bert Lahr, Metro player, left for the coast; Mitchell Rawson, eastern publicity man¬ ager, Warners, left for a two weeks’ stay at the studios; Roy Haines, Warners’ east¬ ern and Canadian sales manager, re¬ turned from conferences in New England; Alfred Hitchcock, who directed “Saboteur” for Universal, was expected in; Ralph L. McCoy, Warners’ southern and midwestern sales chief, left for a trip; Kay Kyser, RKO player, arrived for conferences. Jersey Sets Meet Plans New York — Jersey Allied president Harry H. Lowenstein appointed Lee New¬ bury, Irving Dollinger, and George Gold as the convention committee for the 23rd annual convention and eastern regional round table conference of exhibitors in war time to be held in Atlantic City in June, 1942. Next regular meeting will be held in Newark, N. J., on March 26, at 1 P. M., to be followed in the evening by a spring get-together and steak dinner with branch managers attending. Cancel Rosenberg Dinner Pittsburgh, Pa. — It was announced last week that at the urgent request of M. A. Rosenberg, president, national Allied, and the AMPTO of Western Pennsylvania, the testimonial dinner planned in his honor, and scheduled for the William Penn Hotel on April 12, has been called off. Bergin to Paramount Philadelphia — It was reported this week that John J. Bergin, 20th Century-Fox booker, would join the local Paramount exchange as a salesman about April 1. March 25, 1942