Exhibitors Herald (1927)

50 EXHIBITORS HERALD December 31, 1927 CHICAGO PERSONALITIES ■ ■ By Whit — THIS being the season of greetings and well-wishes, a letter has come to my desk from two boys who left the Chicago family of the HERALD and their friends down the row to go to Los Angeles to represent this paper there. It’s from Douglas Hodges and Ray Murray and is addressed to all their Chicago friends. Here it is: “The solacing thing about writing a letter to you all is that after you have read it each of you will owe us a letter. “We should remind Si Greiver that he promised faithfully to write to the young man on the Herald who left Chicago for the Coast in June. Get your pen in hand, Si. “We have heard that Len Ullrich has become a greater eff bee oh and have since noted that company’s accomplishments. We talked to Bryant Washburn the other day about that kid brother of his who is now heading the F B O gang. Bryant agrees with us that there’s no one like Herb. Haven’t heard what Roy Alexander is doing, but will wager ten cents to a broken button he’s making lots of money wherever he is. “And has Walter Brown ever become branch manager? Put it to a vote of exhibitors and he’d probably be elected on an independent ticket. Shouldn’t wonder but what Sam Gorelick is in the bowling alley business by this time. Can anyone outbowl him? “We’ll take this paragraph to send New Year greetings to three of the row’s most popular individuals, Jerry Abrams, Marie and Pal. Now you take Clyde Eckhardt, there’s a great guy. He figured Hodges and Murray were strangers out in Hollywood and less than three months after the former left Chicago Clyde sent Paul Johnson out to join us. We wish to report, Mr. Eckhardt, that Paul has been given an iron key to the city’s gates and has been dined and wined with appropriate care. “Frank Ishmael, we hope, is still the town’s worst golfer and we hope he continues to be until we meet again, because he’s the only man on earth that we can beat on a golf course. With Rogers Park still under the care of Eddie Brichetto we figure it’s safe to leave the sidewalks out at night. “Haven’t seen Bill Sweeny’s name in the paper in the last two weeks and can’t understand what can be the matter with that Herald reporter. Can’t understand why Bill and Jack Miller don’t lock up their desks and run down to Havana for the winter months. “Does Bill Brumberg still drive the brougham? And does he still think Universal pictures are better than others? “Shouldn’t wonder if C. C. Wallace and Freddie Martin are leading the United Artists national sales campaign as of yore. And speaking of sales campaigns, we picked up a First National bulletin last week on A1 Rockett’s desk and saw R. C. Herman’s name representing Chicago. That just goes to show what association with Carl Leserman will do for a man. “Roy Johnston, expert publicist of First National, was talking about the old days this afternoon and reminded us of the time when Irving Mack was considered one of the country’s foremost theatre exploitation men. Whenever we see the word ‘security’ on a bank check or an insurance policy it reminds us of a film exchange in Chicago. And that film exchange reminds us of Irving Mandel. “There are lots of others.' Fred Aiken, Jack Sampson, Ernie Grohe and Dave Rubin; Oscar Florine, Joe Woodward and Hary Gaham; Paul Busch and Fank Flaherty; Harry Lorch and Dan Roche; Jack Howland and T. R. Gilliam; Max Schwartz and Perc Barr; Sidney Stern and Jimmie Murtaugh; Tom Mitchell and ‘Red’ Johnson. “Nobody reads anything but Exhibitors Herald out here and they are a little doubtful if there are any other trade papers. “It’s a great life for a trade paper man and he lives with the ease of King Midas. There’s very little, if any, work to do and it’s often a problem whether to spend a day horseback riding with Fred Thomson or spend it at Tia Juana with Wallace Beery. Money is nothing. “So we share with you the season s greetings, from “RAY MURRAY and “DOUGLAS HODGES.” * * * There’s fun in gathering news for this page when the job includes attending parties such as was held at F B O Saturday afternoon. Yes, sir. It was a real, bangup party, and my Christmas was made happier by it. It was a pleasure to see Ted Meyers with a small white apron stretched across his mid-section carving great slices of turkey and the pleasure was increased when you ate the sandwiches that Ted so bountifully handed out. There were cigars for the men, candy for the ladies and presents for everybody. In a short but sincere talk, Herb Washburn expressed his appreciation of the cooperation and help that has been extended him by the people of the exchange. A letter was read from Joseph Kennedy which expressed his appreciation of the work of the Chicago exchange, and a message was dispatched to him promising increased cooperation from the exchange for the coming year. And then everybody went home happy. * * * Max Stahl, Minneapolis branch manager for Educational, was a guest of Dave Dubin last Friday. * * * Ted Meyers extends New Year greetings to his old friends in Omaha and St. Louis. * * * Jay O’Connell’s Christmas was marred for him Saturday when his Chevrolet was stolen from in front of the Universal exchange. It looks as if even Santa Claus is learning tricks from Chicago’s gangsters. * * * Henry Herbel, Chicago branch manager of Universal, says that throughout the coming year he wants every exhibitor to know that his office is always open to them, and that they are always welcome. * * * Max Hyman sailed Saturday from New York for a trip around the world. His brother, Harry, accompanied him as far as New York. Max will be gone nine or ten months. For Illinois GREIVER PRODUCTIONS 83 1 SOUTH WABASH AVE., CHICAGO, ILL. For Indiana MIDWEST FILM CO. OF INDIANA 218 trimmer Bldg., IndianapoH*