The Exhibitor (Nov 1948-Feb 1949)

NT-2 THE EXHIBITOR Dave Yaffe, Y and Y Popcorn Supply, was in Baltimore, Md., on business last week. . . . John Colder, special representa¬ tive, Jam Handy Films, was back in town for the holidays. He makes his headquar¬ ters with American Films. Doug Beck, RKO exploiteer, was busy handling the “Joan Of Arc” campaign from his office in the exchange. . . . United Artists’ salesman Frank Hamerman is taking lessons on the glockenspiel. Harry Brodsky, 64, uncle of Dave Brod¬ sky. and a well-known theatre d-ecorator in the area for 35 years, died last week at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Hyman N. Hecht. Besides Mrs. Hecht, he is survived by his wife, another daughter, Mrs. Albert Halbkram, and two sons, five grandchil¬ dren, and two sisters. Funeral services were held at Jacob Rosen funeral parlor, with burial in Montefiore Cemetery. Circuits Stanley-Warner Lee Kline, manager, Orpheum, received a very strange letter in the mail last week which contained three dimes carefully wrapped in cardboard with a notation that the 30 cents was an overage in change received at the theatre. This is the first time that either the manager or the district manager, Steve Barutio, can ever remember such a thing happening. Jimmy Ricci moved back to Atlantic City for the holiday week to manage the Virginia. . . . Eva Dracup, the key punch operator, must have certainly had a good reason to go to St. Petersburg, Fla., over Christmas because the entire trip, includ¬ ing train travel time, was only four days. Freida Anmuth, booking department, left the company to really go at her house¬ keeping in earnest. . . . TTie engagement of Cecelia De Pierri, contact office, and Chris Leone, bookkeeping office, was an¬ nounced at the Christmas party, which puts the office right in the middle as Kid Cupid. Elmer Brandecker, the elevator opera¬ tor, left the company. . . . Since Barney Cohen, Princess, started to play “Paisan,” he doesn’t get home from a day’s work until the following morning, since the feature doesn’t break until 12.30 a. m. . . . Gil Segal, insurance department, has been home for the past days nursing a cold and a general case of the miseries. Delaware Milford Schine’s Milford inaugurated its new policy of Saturday vaudeville on Christ¬ mas Day. Al Reh, manager, S-W Mastbaum, recently had this attractive inner lobby display for Warners' Technicolor feature "The Adventures Of Don Juan", starring Errol Flynn. The art work was done by the company's sign shop. Wilmington Bob Kelly, news director, WDEL, re¬ signed, and went to Washington as execu¬ tive secretary to U. S. Senator-elect J. Allen Frear, Jr. . . . Eugene Kane, S-W Arcadia, is the father of a baby girl. . . . Lee Levy, manager, S-W Arcaffia, visited in New York City. . . . Howard W. Rouke, Jr., projectionist, S-W Savoy, went hunt¬ ing for wild ducks. . . . Richard V. Kirsh, manager, S-W Queen, asked The Exhibi¬ tor to convey greetings to the trade. Ace staffers had a Christmas party at the home of Benjamin Shindler, manager, after the boxoffice closed on Dec. 22. . . . Nello Nai, Park, had the outdoor tree at manager A. Joseph DeFiore’s home blaz¬ ing with Christmas lights. . . . The Park remained closed on Christmas Eve. . . . John O. Hopkins, Jr., National, reported parents were leaving their children at the theatre while doing Christmas shopping. . . . Many managers said they were in the same situation as William Leute, man¬ ager, Edge Moor, who reported during the week before Christmas that the theatre was all decorated, and there weren’t many patrons there to see it. . . . Mrs. Elsie Tompkins, Crest, Woodcrest, said that the pre-Christmas party held by Sylvan Shaivitz, manager at the Hob Tea Room was the “nicest one we’ve had.” — Henry L. Sholly. Pennsylvania Birdsboro Nat Silver, manager. Diamond, was co¬ host with the Lions Club of Birdsboro to 388 children at a Christmas party in the theatre. A program of comics and cartoons was screened, and every child received a gift. TRADE SCREENINGS Warners (230 N. 13th) Jan. 24, 2.30, “John Loves Mary.” Warners (230 N. 13th) Jan. 17, 2.30, “Flaxy Martin.” RKO (250 N. 13th) Jan. 11, 10.30, “En¬ chantment.” RKO (250 N. 13th) Jan. 18, 10.30, “Tarzan’s Fountain Of Youth.” Coaldale The 250-seat theatre here, owned by P. A. Magazzu, Hazleton, was burned to the ground by a blaze causing $40,000 loss. Two dwellings adjoining were partially destroyed. The cause of the fire has not been determined. One of the houses, owned by Magazzu and occupied by John Emerick and family, was on one side of the theatre, the other, owned by James M. Donahue, Coaddale postmaster, on the other side. Donahue’s property was dam¬ aged to the extent of $5,000 or more. The Magazzu dwelling was not badly damaged. Loss on the theatre was estimated by Magazzu as $30,000 to $35,000, the building having been completely renovated only six months ago. Four fire companies fought the blaze in subzero weather, and eight firemen were treated for frostbite and chills, four going to a hospital. Coaldale men leaving the American Legion Hall near the theatre discovered the blaze in the theatre, closed for the night. The theatre was the first operated by Magazzu, who now controls a string of houses. Harrisburg Manager Sam Gilman’s promotion cam¬ paign for “Hills Of Home,” Loew’s Regent, was highlighted by the awarding of a pedigreed collie puppy and a six-month supply of Red Heart dog food. In addi¬ tion to this stunt, the theatre distributed When Charles Goodwin, Quality Premium Distributors, was in Miami recently, he took a group of pictures to show what happened to hard working exhibitors after they have been in business for a number of years. It so happened that most of them were engaged in building new homes or standing in front of their old ones. Noted are, left to right, Mr. and Mrs. Herb Elliott supervising the construc¬ tion of their home on Davis Island; Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Effinger on the steps of their residence in Miami; David Barrist and his family and a rear view of their cottage; Jacob Fox's nearly-completed home In Bal Harbor, Miami Beach, being inspected by Mrs. Fox and Mrs. Goodwin, and Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin on their new lot. The Philadelphia contingent wishes its friends a Happy New Year. January 5, 1949