Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1929)

66 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD November 30, 1929 CHICAGO PERSONALITIES By JOE FISHER SALES drives are the order of the day, with both Universal and Educational field forces preparing heavy loads of nice, new, shiny contracts and sparkling sales talks with which to bombard the exhibitors of Chicago and environs just to start the new year right. One drive is a sort of birthday campaign; the other is a second anniversary celebration. An introductory drive is what they're calling Educational's effort, December 31 to January 31, under the leadership of Max Stahl, new manager. And Herbel Week, for Manager Henry Herbel, starts at Universal January 4. Tiffany's "Painted Faces" had a private screening last week. A few exhibitors and Tiffany executives witnessed the preview. A SPECIAL introductory sales drive will be started by Educational Pictures for Max Stahl, manager, from December 31 to January 31. Stahl is manager of the local office, having succeeded Dave Dubin, who resigned three months ago to join Publix. Special Educational shorts will be offered to exhibitors during the drive and Stahl will make special visits to the offices of Chicago theatres during the drive. Saul Goldman, Max Stahl and Percy Barr will cover the Chi M3X Stahl cago city territorywhile Harry Goldman and Joe Hartman will take care of the country. In this drive Stahl expects to become acquainted with each exhibitor in the territory. Pathe salesmen were out on the road most of last week. The bunch, headed by Tommy Greenwood, were working on a special drive. * * * The Universal exchange, celebrating the period of November 11 to January 11 in a Laemmle Happiness Drive, has honored H. M. Herbel, manager, by designating January 4 to 11 as Herbel Week in recognition of Herbel's second anniversary as manager. The office is decorated with hundreds of pennants bearing the following: "Ask Booker about January 4 to 11." The Universal gang are expecting to crash all former records in this drive. Charlie Lowenberg, director of publicity, is in charge of the drive. * * * Paul Earle, veteran Universal auditor, is in the local exchange this week making his usual audit of the branch. * * * Charles House of the Midway theatre, Rockford, 111., was a visitor on Film Row this week. House was rejoicing due to a successful campaign just put over on "Broadway." * * % It was announced this week that "Showboat" will have a down-town opening shortly. It is a Universal special. * * * A sound newsreel of the Notre DameSouthern California was flashed on the screen of the Woods theatre, Chicago, a few hours after the game. Gene Cour, genius leader of the Pathe Newsreel gang, was responsible for the fast service. Morris Salkin is no longer manager of the Vista theatre, they told us down on the Row. Saikin was a hard man to find for confirmation. "The Rising Sun of Educational." That's Harry Goldman, young booker who was named cub salesman by Max Stahl, Educational manager. Harry started with the company three years ago as poster boy. He was named booker two months ago. Now he will preach the Educational gospel in the outlying countries. * * * Frank Ishmael was seen last Friday with a turkey walking down Wabash Avenue — -yes, both were walking. But Frank was cussing the bird for all he knew how. He had a clothesline tied around its leg. Frank stated the cussing followed when the bird refused to walk with him. Anyway, he enjoyed the turkey for his Thanksgiving dinner. Lots of bi-pedaled fowl won't walk with us, either, Frank. * * * S. H. Abrams, who sold "Simba" in Milwaukee and was also at one time branch manager of FBO in Indianapolis, spent Friday of last week in Chicago. * * * Simon Simansky was confined to his home last Friday with a cold, and Jack Miller was away on a hunting trip the same day. However, Tess Heraty was at the offices of the Exhibitors Association to brighten up the place and Myrtle Collins, who had been home for 10 days with a bad cold, helped too. * * * And Oscar Florine of Walt Brown's RCA Photophone office was roaming the wide open spaces of Film Row looking for a golf course. It was only 8 above zero and he thought it an ideal afternoon for some putting practice. * * * Bill Brumberg had a case of sympathetic toothache last week. Mrs. Brumberg was quite ill because of an infected molar and the Sono Art-World Wide manager was worried for a time. * * * H. C. Young, executive of National Screen Service, went to New York on business last week. J. McPherson was in charge w-hile Young was gone. * * * Max Sloth, manager of Warner Brothers Orpheum theatre, went East last Thursday for a visit. $ $ 4t Cres Smith, district manager of United Artists, was all smiles over the big success that Gloria Swanson's. "The Trespasser" was enjoying at the United Artists theatre. Smith just returned from a business trip to theatre circuits in Milwaukee. William Benjamin, appointed RKO manager, announces the following distribution of sales personnel : Charles Miller and Mike Kahn will cover the city. Eddie Phelps and Eddie Rosecan continue to make the country territorySam Gorelick is assistant to Benjamin. Benjamin has completed his first week on the job in the Chicago office. Joe Woodward, country salesman for Pathe, is the happy dad of a baby girl who chose November 16 for her debut at the Passavant hospital, in line. W. Benjamin Congratulations are Julius Goodman, owner of the Marshall Square theatre, joined the travelers last week. Julius was in New York also. >;; * % Polka Brothers are opening a new theatre in DeKalb, 111. They also have taken back the Melrose Park in Melrose Park. The house was operated by Polka until recently, when E. W. Redzger took over the duties. Now the Polkas are operating it again. SjE %t S)S Harold Wise, genial booker for Tiffany, showed signs of prosperity last week when he took unto himself a new flivver. The car must be a fast stepper to keep up with Wise. Miss Alice Dubin has taken over the duties of hello girl at the Tiffany office. * # * Joseph I. Schnitzer, president of Radio Pictures, was in Chicago for a sales meeting. Charles E. Rosenzweig, general sales manager of RKO, also was here and spent a few days in the exchange. The Operators Union gave a Stevens hotel last Monday. ball at the The Thalia theatre is Electric sound equipment. installing Western Jeanette Eisenberg is the name of Sal Goldman's new steno at the Educational office. * * * Charles Lungren, formerly manager of Red Seal exchange, is now short subject manager for Columbia. * * * Herman Stern, formerly manager of Universal Chicago office, and now in charge of the non theatrical department for Universal with headquarters in New York, paid the Chicago boys a visit last week. "Great Gabbo" Numbers Over Radio December 2 Two songs from Sono-Art-World Wide's picture "The Great Gabbo." will be broadcast over radio station KYW between 9 and 9:30 p. m., December 2. The picture will open shortly at the Woods theatre, Chicago. Vitaphone Building to Go Up in Minneapolis (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Nov. 26.— Work on the new Vitaphone building in Minneapolis will begin this week. The new structure will be four storv high, to hold First National, Warner Bros., and Vitaphone exchanges.