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

70 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD April 19, 1930 W CHICAGO PERSONALITIES By JOE FISHER On the (Film) Banks Of Wabash Wherein is continued this departments Confession Column on the folk who make Film Row what it is today and hope everyone else is as satisfied as they feel they have a right to be. Today's subject and object is Clyde Eckhardt. A NOTHER feather to lie added to the first prize honnet of Harry Lorch is L\ the award of highest honors in the Pathe Comedy Scoop drive. Lorch. -T .a. who is mid-western division sales manager, was far ahead of all district leaders. Harry Graham, formerly in the Chicago office and now manager at Indianapolis was another winner. Honors were awarded also to these branch managers: R. J. Bollantyne, Omaha; M. E. Montgomery, Minneapolis; Lou Elman, Des Moines; Harry Graham, Indianapolis; H. Gibbs, New Haven; Ray Nolan, Kansas City; James Reilly, Buffalo; L. Garvey, Albany. THE Elmo theatre is now using Western Electric equipment. if: sj: jj; Acme Sound Projection Corporation has opened offices at 33 East Wacker Drive. L. A. Boening is president. * * * Tiffany is issuing fifteen prints of “Party Girl.” The picture just closed a threeweeks run at the RIvO Woods theatre. * * * Great States has closed a contract for Tiffany’s “Mamba,”1 “Sunny Skies” and “Party Girl.” * * * When things got too hot in a film exchange last week an exhibitor threatened to crumble up an office manager. There was a 4-11 alarm for the police, but there were no casualties. What else can you expect when the mercury leaps to 90 in the first half of April? * * * Dave Dubin announced that June 1 will be the general release date for the picture “Her Unborn Child.” * * * There were only eight theatre changes in Chicago and vicinity reported by the Chicago Film Board of Trade for March. The Ada theatre, formerly operated by Rubin Peckler, was sold to Szezepan Sieja; Gage Park theatre, Chicago, from Charles Smokla to James Krai Jr.; Langley, from Louis Fichtenberg to W. N. Blue; Vista, from M. O. Wells to Ascher Brothers; Melrose Park, Melrose Park, 111.; from E. W. Retzer to Karl Rau; Morton, Morton, 111.; from Secendo to Carl Weister; Villiard, Villa Park, 111.; from Frederick Nelson to F. B. Swanson, and Bijou, Waverly, 111.; to Virden Theatre Company. Theatres closed indefinitely were: New Maywood, Maywood, 111., Morton, Morton, 111., and Apollo, Ottawa, 111. * * * An interesting feature in the Morgen restaurant is the battle between the film girls to see who/ can blow smoke the farthest. Looks like a Metro girl has the strongest lung bellows. * * * Seems that Wabash Avenue might be named after Paramount’s picture “Street of Chance.” No, we don’t mean pasteboards and clicking; cubes. Four times last Friday, we noticed, all roads lead to Wabash — and end there. An exhibitor in hunt for another exhibitor said, “I’ll take a chance and look for him down Wabash Avenue,” and he was successful. Three other times that happened while we were there. So if you’re looking for your store teeth or your wife is looking for you— Wabash is the place. Joe Paley and Mrs. Paley have left for a three-months tour of Europe. * * * Max Levy, of Exclusive Films, just returned from a trip to Hollywood. * * * Steve Bauer, president of the MPTOA of Wisconsin, and Jack O’Toole, manager of Tiffany’s Milwaukee branch, were on the Row. H* Tom Gilliam, First National salesman, left a trail of worn-out fountain pens in his territory last week. His tour brought a lot of’ signed contracts. * * * The Senate theatre, formerly the Gaiety, in Springfield, is now running on a picture-vaudeville policy. * * * Sam Schaeffer has a new process on the market. It’s called “Firmastone.” Firmastone is a sort of glue which is heated and then used to patch a hole or crack. The material is sold in two, five and ten pound packages. * * * H. O. Whelpev, formerly of Chicago Film Row, passed through Chicago last Friday en route to New York where he is to manage a theatre for Publix. * * * Maxime Hinan. attractive Postal Telegraph girl in the Standard Oil building, has been promoted to manager. Give the little girl a telegram. * * * Aaron Saperstein, Joe Pastor and Ed Brunell, three executives of the Illinois Independent Theatre Owners, returned all in smiles from the Allied meeting in New York. Which would indicate that Allied won out on the clauses it stood pat on. * * * Max Stahl went out and treated himself to a new Buick. * * * Some day we’re going to give you an interesting story about Charlie Fedels, operator of the Fashion theatre on State street. Charlie has had a colorful career. He has been operating the Fashion for 24 years. Fedels was a cornet player in the Band A Rossa orchestra at White City before entering the theatre business. * * * Irving Mack asked us for information on a coming picture. Tom North wanted to know how old a certain picture star was. Henri Ellman wanted to know who the Wampus stars were for 1929. All this information is answered in the Motion Picture Almanac, which will be published soon by the Herald-World Order your copy early. One buck to those in the film industry. AT ENTION the name of Clyde Eckhardt to XVA any individual on Chicago Film Row, and you’ll start a pleasant conversation that might take you several hours. Eckhardt is a leader of the Chicago film business and they all admire him. From the biggest to the smallest, all say Clyde is exactly all right. Just to get it all straight authority we asked from an impeccable Film Row’s bootblack authoritv what he thought. The answer was : “Mista Eckhardt? Clyde Eckhardt Thas the big man at Fox Manager Fox. Say, boy, thas what I’se goin’ to be some day.” Eckhardt was born about 47 years ago. He started his film career with Fox exchange and now rules supreme over Fox affairs in Chicago. He is married and has two sons at the ages of 19 and 21. He was president of the Chicago Film Board in 1928. Eckhardt’s favorite sports, hobbies and pastime are work — just work. He puts in his eight to ten hours a day and sometimes double that amount. He is one of the busiest managers in Chicago and always is found at his desk. Eckhardt’s latest improvement at the Fox exchange was the installing of a miniature deluxe theatre, which has been the delight of Chicago newspaper folk as well as the trade. Henri Ellman Gets on The Desk to Say: If / had the wings of an angel Over these film walls I would soar. I would fly to the nearest golf course And there I would Faithfully say, “Fore.” * * * You know it’s tough on us guys that have to sit in a hot office all day and sell film when we could be out at the 19th hole and enjoying the fresh cool air. I can imagine myself hitting the ball over the creek while the birds are chirping and the grasshoppers jumping over my feet. Hold me down before I go crazy. * * * An absent minded golf bug stopped off at Morgen’s restaurant last week and asked where the golf courses were. Morgen said he didn’t know what he was talking about. “Well,” said the half wit, “you have a sign printed out side reading, 8 courses.” * * * The following question was put up to me just this morning: Dear Henny: My wife throws peanut shells in the bed. What can I do to stop this? John Flathead. Answer: Buy her peanuts without shells. HENRI.