Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1929)

66 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD October 19, 1929 CHICAGO PERSONALITIES By JOE FISHER PHIL DUNAS is back on the home grounds as the new branch manager of Columbia in Chicago. Phil, as many of you remember, started his film career in Chicago 17 years ago. He succeeds Fred Knispel, who has been transferred to the Columbia's St. Louis office. Dunas is a very young fellow, in spite of a fairly long service in the industry. He started his film career when 17, his first position being with VLSE. After odd and end jobs around Chicago he was appointed branch manager of Universal and later transferred to New York. In 1927 he was a member of the Chicago office of LTnited Artists exchange. He also had been on First National's sales staff. J'M tickled to death to come back to my and director of publicity, paid a visit i < _ old stamping grounds and more so because I can be with Columbia, Cecil Maberry and the rest of the gang," Dunas said. "The outlook for Columbia is as bright as a crystal, and all that remains to say is that I'll be with them heart and soul." Cecil Maberry, Western sales manager, also had a word to say: "I am glad to have Phil with us and I know he will give satisfactory service." Knispel came to Columbia after serving five years as district representative for Pathe and P D C. He became Columbia branch manager in September, 1928. * * * Henri Ellman, Tiffany-Stahl manager, is on a tour of the district. He spent last week in Minneapolis. * * * Irving Mandel announces that Security's first all-talking picture will be ready for release next month. Security will release the following Westerns in the Illinois and Indiana territories : 8 Bob Steeles, 8 Tom Tylers, 8 Bob Custers and 8 Yakima Canutts. * * * Frank Nardi, genius booker at Security, is moaning these days because he hasn't his moaning saxophone. Someone stole the instrument last week, and besides being worth $250 it was Frank's little pal. * * * J. Murray Anderson, Publix stageshow producer, passed through Chicago en route to Universal City, where he is to make Paul Whiteman's "King of Jazz Revue." * $ $ A farewell party was tendered last week to Frank Schaeffer, former owner of the Crystal theatre. Frank is leaving the film business but down the Row and elsewhere they're all hoping he'll be back in a short time. Frank has made hundreds of friends. The party, given at the Congress hotel, was attended by Jack Miller, George Miller, Cecil Maberry, Felix Mendelssohn, Eddie Grossman, Henri Ellman, Ben Judell, Clyde Eckhardt, C. Wilson, Jimmy Coston, Leo Salkin, Harold Wise, Oscar Florene, Vernon Lynch, Tack Rose, Louis Reinheimer and Bill Brumberg. Among the gif':s was a huge diamond pin. Felix Mendelssohn was the toastmaster. Tack Miller, Clyde Eckhardt and others gave talks. Eddie Grossman, manager of United Artists, predicted last week that the largest crowd ever to attend a preview would be present at the showing of Gloria Swanson's "Trespasser" at the United Artists theatre. All tickets had been distributed as this issue cavorted to press. * # ^ Fred J. Dolle, president of the Fourth Avenue Amusement Company, Louisville, and George A. Sine, assistant general manager HeraldWorld office last week. They were accompanied by James J. Redding, head of the theatre properties development company of that name. 'The Louisvillians managed to find a bit of time to view the World Series efforts of the cublet charges of their fellowtownsman Joe McCarthy. ^ ^ # Jed Kiley, formerly Chicago newspaper man, recently signed by Carl Laemmle to a three-year contract to write dialog, was back in the old haunts for a minute last week. Kiley worked for Chicago newspapers for 12 years. * * * Walter Hylan, Universal's act booker, recovered from the first defeats of the Cubs — and then ! Charlie Lowenberg, Universal publicity man, put over a record-breaking campaign on Universal's "Broadway" at the Alhambra, Milwaukee, over whose destinies Fred Meyer presides. Meyer wired that the campaign helped break all records. James Cruze's "Great Gabbo," Sono ArtWorld Wide release, will open soon at a Loop theatre. E. W. Hammons, president of Educational Pictures, was in Chicago for a day. Dave Dubin writes Bill Brumberg that he is hitting on all six and hopes to find spare time in a few weeks to answer his friends' letters. *. * * Jack Barry is now selling film for Ben Judell. Jack is handling the entire Chicago territory. ^ ♦ Toe Pastor and Ludwig Seigel have gone to Los Angeles for a 10-day vacation. * * * Tack Miller's Plaisance theatre had a gala sound opening last week. Jack's father, O. H. Miller, came all the way from Buffalo, New York, to attend the sound premiere. Jack has RCA installed. His feature opening was "Thunderbolt." Emil Stern took over his new duties this week with the Greater Chicago Theatre Circuit, formerly the Essaness. The circuit opened the Gold theatre last week with Western Electric sound. * # * Harry Lorch spent last week in Minneapolis with Jim Mclntyre, manager of the Pathe exchange. % % 5-C Tom North, Van Beuren representative, made a trip through Iowa last week. On his return to Chicago, North entertained Grant A great group of Educational and World Wide personnels and salesmen gathered in Chicago recently to attend a meeting called hy Joseph Skirboll. Pictured here are: Paul de Auto, World Wide manager, Milwaukee, Sam Weisman, Educational manager, Milwaukee; Bill Brumberg, Chicago manager, and Al Hoffman, Chicago salesman. (Herald-World photo.) land Rice during the latter's stay for the two first games of the World Series. Miss Esther Abrams is the attractive little "hello" girl who answers the calls now at the Educational-World Wide office. She swore to be a faithful reader of the HeraldWorld. This makes the office 100 per cent. * * * Stanley Bergerman, a son-in-law of Carl, made a hurried trip to Chicago last week to visit his mother, who was ill. Universal announces that "Broadway" will soon open in a downtown theatre. The sign painters are busy in the WorldWide office this week changing the World Wide signs to Sono ArtWorld Wide. * * * Jimmy Coston's office has been completely redecorated and spic and span it is. During the World Series the Coston office was equipped with a radio, and many an exhibitor and exchange man forgot all about films — for the moment — during the broadcasts. s|e a|s afe The World Series had the Row nearly coocoo last week. All film exchanges declared a lunch period from 12 :30 until the games were over. Herb Washburn installed a portable set in his office and worked while he listened. Clyde Eckhardt's office also had a portable set. Gene Cour's squad was at its own listening post. * * * Electrical Research Products, Inc., manufacturer of Western Electric sound equipment, moved its sales and service offices from 128 North Wells street to the Standard Oil Building. * * * Ben Berve, manager of the Majestic at Rochelle, let it be known that he was in town last week. Ben says Chicago is getting so small that there's no use in trying to keep it a secret any longer when he walks into town. * * * The Prairie and Elston theatres have installed Powers Cinephone sound equipment. These are the first houses in the city to be wired with the Powers device. Saperstein Brothers has taken over the Calo theatre at 5040 N. Clark street from Brunhild and Young.