Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1930)

58 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD April 5, 1950 Mary Lewis, star of the musical comedy stage, the concert stage arul Metropolitan Opera, is noiv entering upon her “ fourth ” career as star in Pathe short singing features. Miss Lewis was returning from the Pathe Hollywood studios enroute to New York, where she is playing a few engagements with the Metropolitan Opera. Upon completion of the Opera engagements Miss Lewis ivill journey back to the Pathe studios to make several shorts. With her is James Little of the Herald-World staff. w CHICAGO PERSONALITIES Henri Ellman Gets on The Desk to Say: WE are presenting this week none other than Ima Nut, famous bootlegger and furniture polish manufacturer. * * * I passed through the office of Nat Blumberg and Jack Hess, the two gentlemen recently promoted by R K O, and you should have seen the display of flowers with which the boys were congratulated. I thought Blumberg and Hess were starting a floral shop. Henrl E,1“an * * * Do any of you recall meeting Louie Goulden, exhibitor of Indianapolis. Well, you should have seen Louie with his new outfit last week. Spats, cane, derby, etc. And the best of it, Louie never was bothered by snowballs when he walked down the streets. * * * About ten minutes after I was talking with Max Balaban someone phoned Max and immediately he set off for New York, without suit case or nothing. This guy’s a sonuvagun when it comes to speed. * * * I’m going to New York to attend the World Premiere of our picture “Journey’s End.” Will give you the lowdown next week. Merry Xmas. Henri. By JOE FISHER THAT caption by the late Clare Briggs that “it may be comedy to some but it’s tragedy to me"’ might well be written across the top of the box office page at Chicago’s theatres for the three days of the worst spring blizzard the town ever has known. With thousands of workers stranded downtown, the Loop houses did a landoffice business. But the outlying theatre with 1,200 seats that had exactly four patrons for one night’s performances had plenty of company in the experience of other neighborhood houses. CANE manager sent his entire audience '^'home in one taxicab. Most of the smaller houses were forced to close down. The Piccadilly, operated by the Schoenstadts, had very few patrons Tuesday night and an usher could have counted them without losing a breath. The Siddner was closed one night and the New Home two nights. The Famous reported $18 in receipts Tuesday, while the Calo and the Armitage played to 150 patrons each. The Milda theatre, however, reported extraordinary attendance, considering the transportation tieup. The Milda was playing Universal’s “Phantom of the Opera.” Film exchanges were open, but about as active as King Tut’s mausoleum. Many of the employes made hotels their homes for the time being, though several branches closed at 3 o’clock so that the Vikings among the personnel could attempt the long trek to their firesides. Exhibitors let the phone operators help them do their hooking. C. H. Otto, manager of the Film Chauffeurs and Carriers Union, said deliveries were made in Chicago with few mishaps hut to out-of-town theatres it was something else again. * * * Larry Dey is here from Hollywood to represent the Fowler Studios in Chicago and vicinity. The companv makes films for advertising purposes. These are given to exhibitors free of charge. The Fowler organization hires a film star to make a short act in which the product of the advertiser is used. For instance, if the Packard motor car wanted to advertise its product, a star goes on “location” in a Packard to do his stuff. sjc Jk Columbia exchange burst forth this week with announcement of its Tenth Anniversary, to be celebrated throughout April. There was all the air of a circus ground or amusement park. Countless banners and balloons were scattered about the exchange. Phil Dunas, district manager, and C. C. Wallace, branch manager, have the entire Columbia crew on their toes getting extra playdates for the Anniversary. Red Johnson was seen chasing a taxi, apparently in an effort to get playdates in a hurry. * * * The Illinois Independent Theatre Owners had three representatives at a meeting of leaders of the Allied group, opening in New York last Monday. Aaron Saperstein, president of Independent organization, Joe Pastor and Ed Brunell were on deck from Chicago. The big topic before at the meeting was voluntary arbitration. Abram F. Myers, president of Allied States, had with him H. M. Richey of Detroit, and A1 Steffes of Minneapolis. * * * Reports along the Row this week are to the effect that Balaban & Katz are considering theatre sites at 63rd and Union avenues, and Devon and Milwaukee avenue. * * * A theatre owner, who boasted of 12 theatres under his wing last year, held a meeting of his present employes in Henry Morgen’s telephone booth last Friday. H= * * Oscar Florine, acq salesman for RCA Photophone, returned from a successful trip through Michigan. * * * Max Slott will have quarters in the new Warner Brothers exchange which is being erected at Thirteenth and Wabash avenue. * * * A special meeting of district managers of Tiffany was called by Oscar Hanson, general sales manager, in Detroit Sunday. L. A. Young and Grant Cook, executives, were to represent the home office. Henri Ellman, who is local district manager when not busy with his Column, sent himself to the convention to get copy for his Deskisms. sk Tiffany’s “High Treason” received a colorful premiere at the Castle theatre, among the guests being Edith McCormick, Alderman Jacob Avery, Judge Harry B. Miller, Judge Lindsay, Hazel Flynn, Rob Reel and Texas Guinan. * * * Death called Mrs. Cresson E. Smith, wife of United Artists’ district manager in Chicago. Mrs. Smith died in New York where she recently went for treatment. Burial services were held in Donora, Pa., her home town, Tuesday, April 1.