The Exhibitor (Nov 1944-May 1945)

4b r' THE EXHIBITOR Philadelphia First-Runs (As of March 31 ) ALDINE: “A Song To Remember,” (Columbia). BOYD: “Tonight and Every Night,” (Columbia). CAPITOL: “The Town Went Wild,” (PRC). EARLE: “Dangerous Passage,” (Par¬ amount). FOX: “A Tree Grows In Brooklyn,” (20th Century-Fox). MASTBAUM: “Hotel Berlin,” (War¬ ners). STANLEY: “The Woman In the Win¬ dow,” (RKO-Intemational). STANTON: “The House of Franken¬ stein,” (U). STUDIO: “Wuthering Heights,” (Film C’assics). JERSEY LABOR BILLS REST IN COMMITTEE Trenton, N. J. — Eight labor measures opposed by Allied of New Jersey exhibi¬ tors were transferred to the Miscellaneous Business Committee of the House during the sessions of the New Jersey Legislature last fortnight. The bills affecting the industry were as follows: Assembly 64, to prohibit transportation of strike-breakers; Assembly 65, to guar¬ antee collective bargaining rights to work¬ ers; Assembly 66, a general act to fix mini¬ mum wages and hours standards; Assem¬ bly 204, to prohibit the discharge of an employe because a wage execution or garnishment has been issued against him; Assembly 215, to compel employers to re¬ port accidents or the existence of com¬ pensable occupational diseases; Assembly 205, to regulate minimum wage and hour standards of employment; Assembly 260, to make it a misdemeanor to demand or receive wage “kick-backs,” and Assembly 292, to create a New Jersey Labor Rela¬ tions Board, collective bargaining, and prohibiting unfair labor practices. Good Friday Observed Philadelphia — For the first time, nearly all center-city theatres joined in Good Fri¬ day observance this year by remaining closed that day until 2 P. M., or by clos¬ ing between noon and 2 P. M. GEORGE BALK1N, managing the S-W Stanley, Phila¬ delphia, had this attractive advance lobby display arranged recently for RKO-International's "The Woman In the Window." m\v\ \ m \m \ Philadelphia Crosstown D. Y. Bradshaw, associate producer, the March of Time, was a speaker last week at a Motion Picture Forum luncheon held at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel. He spoke on the value of the screen as a means of preventing future wars by helping re¬ educate people of the Axis nations, and fostering understanding among the nations of the world. Vine Street Clint Weyer, whose monthly blotter contributes heavily to the waste paper drive, now employs a censor to scrutinize all the material for it. This probably marks the first time that anyone connected with the blotter reads it. W. J. Burkhouse, from the state of Wash¬ ington, is now general manager for Sam Frank’s New Jersey houses. ... A baby girl, Joel, weighing eight pounds, was born to Ray and Mrs. Lipschutz, last week at Jewish Hospital. Lipschutz is manager of Jack Greenberg’s Star, Camden, N. J. . . . Easter greetings via V mail were received from Private John H. Brownall ‘somewhere in Italy.’ Mrs. M. J. Given, PRC, was mighty happy to learn last week that her son, Stanley, had been made a captain on Feb. 15, and promoted to ordnance liaison officer of the 20th Bomber Command in India. known as the Nanticoke Tribe, and branch manager William Mansell has been christ¬ ened Chief-Rain-In-Face. Clark Film had a face-lifting last week. The pastel shade green decorations are a thing of beauty, and vie with Oscar Neufeld’s secretary and Dave Rosen’s secre¬ tary for honors along those lines. Jules Rieff, auditor from the home office, was in at Columbia. . . . Nancy Sice, Co¬ lumbia bookers’ stenographer, was still out sick last week. . . . Twentieth CenturyFox projectionist Joe Lutz’s antique spe¬ cial this week is a French mantel clock. . . . Alex Stiefel was reported back from the coast, where he visited with brother Sam. . . . Ann Abramson and Esther Diamond were back at their desks at 20th CenturyFox after recent illnesses. There’s certainly a lot of Vine Streeters who have nothing to say when asked for news. . . . Jack Jaslow, Artkino’s local ambassador, has one coming up at the Studio soon, and is starting to get enthused. Ike Refowich was reported in University Hospital last week. . . . Benny (American) Harris says things in the post-war film field look good to him. . . . Leon (‘if you want to make money see me’) Behai, Capi¬ tol, said Eddie Gabriel was recuperating nicely at home. . . . The Studio’s Jack Weiss and Film Classics’ Jack Engel were both enthused last week over that “Wuthering Heights” booking. . . . National Screen Service’s Ben Stern, Oscar Libros, and several others were noted discussing war’s end at 13th and Vine last week. Edgar Moss, 20th Century-Fox district manager, was host last week to a projec¬ tion room full of children who enjoyed a special show arranged especially for the occasion. Twentieth Century-Fox held a trade screening of “Diamond Horseshoe” yes¬ terday (April 3) at the exchange. Universal is handling the WAC subject, “Watchtower Over Tomorrow,” in this ter¬ ritory. . . . The Variety Club will hold a general membership meeting on April 16. Benjamin H. Kolber, 73, National Flag and Banner Company, died last week in Jeanes Hospital following a long illness. He is survived by his wife, four daughters, and four sons. Metro projectionist Benny Glatz reported that his son, Robert, had just been pro¬ moted to water tender third class. He’s out in the Pacific. His other son, Seaman second class William, is also in the Pacific theatre, while Charles, radar third class, stationed at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, was home on leave last week. Sam Gross, 20th Century-Fox branch manager, went off to Hot Springs for sev¬ eral weeks’ vacation and rest last week. . . . Jack Engel, FC, is enthused over “Cap’n Cub,” a new Technicolor cartoon which he is distributing. . . . Miss Jeannette Berliner, whom many localites will remember, is expected to join the U booking department here. Several years ago, she was asso¬ ciated with a local independent exchange. . . . William Humphries, 20th CenturyFox sales manager, thanks one and all for their comment on his baby picture, which appeared in The Exhibitor two issues ago. Harry Dressier, 20th Century Fox booker, denies reports that he is taking vitamin pills. . . . UA branch manager Mort Magill recently attended the wedding of eastern division manager Harry Gold’s daughter at the Waldorf Astoria, New York. . . . RKO salesman Sam Lefko was a bit under the weather last week. . . . Private John Hall, former RKO shipper, is now stationed at Camp Lee, Va. . . . Miriam Schonwetter married Herbert Sharpe, hon¬ orably discharged serviceman, last week. She’s secretary to Metro bookers, and ex¬ pects to return to work after a honeymoon at Miami Beach. . . . Private Eddie O’Don¬ nell, formerly with Warners, has been transferred to the U. S. General Hospital, Camp Butner, N. C. The Warner Pow Wow got under way last week at the local exchange. It lasts from April 1 to July 27. Localites are Circuits Stanley-Warner One of the biggest billposting splurges ever undertaken on a picture in the terri¬ tory was put on for Warners’ “Hotel Ber¬ lin,” and it resulted in a record-breaking box-office sendoff for the film at the Mastbaum. Every available spot in this area was covered with Warners’ stock 24-sheets. More than 200 stands were covered, and this outdoor campaign was supplemented by a series of radio spot announcements, advance teaser ads culminating with big display ads on the day before the opening, as well as the opening day, and lobby and trailer promotion. Please turn to News of the Territory, which follows toward, the back of the book. HELP SALVATION ARMY HELP OTHERS April 4, 1945