Exhibitors Herald World (Jul-Sep 1930)

58 EXHIBITORS HERALD -WORLD August 9, 1930 Y^ Tess of Filmville CHICAGO PERSONALITIES By JIM LITTLE PROBABLY one of the coolest spots in this man's town on a hot day is the bungalow on top of the Sherman Hotel. Four sides for the breezes to blow In from, and nothing in particular to impede them. That is where, on last Tuesday, executives and managers of R K O had a hig meeting, at the behest of Joseph Plunkett, vice president of Radio-Keith-Orpheum. Most of the party arrived Tuesday morning so that they could have a few moments in which to get comfortable before the afternoon session. AIvEONG those present were Joseph Plunkett, ■ Nate Blumberg, Major L. E. Thompson, E. M. Horoitz, J. J. Hess, Jules Levy, Charles J. Freeman, H. R. Em.ce, Dave Beehler, Charles McDonald, Lew Golding, Charles Winston, Ace Berry, Morgan Ames, Thomas Soriero, C. Vincent, C. Fernikoss, William Elson and H. Gill. * * « R. V. Anderson, better known to all his associates and the trade in general as Diamond Dick, is on a tour covering all the offices on his way to the coast. It seems to have resolved itself into something resembling a hatless endurance contest, and the reason — well, he left New York without a hat and has decided not to wear one until he returns. And he isn't a "timid soul" either. He even doesn't carry one in his hand just to show the world that he has got one. He is, by the way, but we probably don't need to mention it (but we will), sales director of the Universal Newsreel. The Temple theatre, owned by a gentleman named Bambero, is one of two owned by him now. The other is the recently acquired Lyons theatre in Lyons, Illinois. * * * Leo Salkin, formerly connected with Marks Brothers, and now manager of the Oriental theatre, left this week for a vacation, which we hope, as we do all the rest, is the best ever. ^ ^ ^ And speaking of vacations, Henri Keates also is taking a well deserved change, and during his absence, Eddie Michels will officiate at the console for a week, and then Preston Sellers will assume command. * * * The week of August 22 will see something new in the idea of stage shows on the Oriental stage. Two bands will vie with one another, which no doubt will appeal to the patrons. Incidentally, and very much so, the two bands consist of one led by Al Kvale, and the other by Harry Rose. 'T ought to be good. * * * Jack Warner rushed through the city last week on his way to New York. He certainly makes flying trips, even though he doesn't go by airplane. EXHIBITORS SHOULD KNOW— That they are buying big pictures today for less than they paid two and three years ago. That their patrons are not interested in their overhead. That it pays to advertise — box office returns do not come from a gun. That a one sheet and a set of photos stuck in the lobby means just another picture.. That a theatre with a good lobby lithograph and photo display can do a big business. That exchanges have poster departments, and they operate them at a loss. That they are still in the show business, and patrons expect to be sold. That when sound first came in, anything clicked: Today the feature picture is the attraction. That a well illuminated theatre canopy ivill attract people. Sam Gorelick jotted these down one day, pat them in a box, and here they are. Roderick Ross, who is known, probably, to every film man in Chicago, dropped in for a brief visit the other day from his home down in West Palm Beach, Florida. One of the stories he told was about one time when he entertained Harry Lauder. Things were made interesting, and quite classical when he was handed the title of Roderick Dhu, who takes one of the principal character roles in Scott's "Lady of the Lake." * * * Chicago theatre fans are having a treit this week, those attending the Oriental are because the original "boop-boop-pa-doop" girl is there in person. Helen Kane is still very popular with her public. * * * Oscar R. Hanson, general sales manager of Tiffany productions, spent some time in Chicago last week, going from here to Minneapolis. •^ ^ ^ Walter Brown is now with Western Electric, and is located over in the Standard Oil Building. We dropped in to see him the other day, for we really had heard so much about him that we felt we knew him. Not knowing Walter Brown seemed almost like a sin, so we rectified it (if that is what you do to sins) and had a most delightful chat with him. Electrical Research Products certainly picked a good man this time. We knew that before we met him, but now we're doubly sure. * * * We were walking down Michigan near Roosevelt Road the other day when something fastened itself with a great deal of determination to our coat tail, and we stopped. Of course we turned around and there stood Sam Schaeffer, with a bandage on one hand, but the hand he grabbed us with was perfectly good. We can vouch for that. And then he led us back a few doors to his new quarters at 1150 South Michigan, and they're some quarters. Of course it isn't fixed up like it will be when he gets settled, but if the way it looks now is any indication it's going to he an ideal office and showroom combined. Sam left for New York last week, to be gone about ten days. Tess Heraly When it comes to writing biographies, it is one thing to write about some other chap that you happen to know, and quite another thing to write about some beautiful lady who you rather secretly admire. But in conjuring up adjectives with which to intersperse the few paragraphs that are to come, we may have to repeat some several times, but each time the word is used, it will either have a new meaning or will strengthen those used before. Tess — do we need to attach a last name — or will we simply be informal and take unto ourselves the privilege of calling a most charming lady by her first name — was born in this man's town about — well, she says herself that it was on December 5, some time in the 20th century. Now isn't that just like a woman. You know and yet you don't, which, we suppose, is an excellent frame of mind to be in, for the curious usually live on and on, or else pop. We would say that the Windy City should be proud indeed to have been the birth place of one of its representatives, shall we say, Didos. (Perhaps you all know that Dido was at one time the very beautiful queen of the old Carthaginian state, which gave the Romans such a run for their money.) She has lived here all her life (that is, we suppose she has) during which time she managed to reach the great height of 5 feet 6 inches and the great weight of — please pardon us — all she says is plenty. Not married but — well, that is a lovely stone, and Tess seems to have a twinkle in her eye when she talks to someone, no, not everyone, but someone, over the phone. The schools of St. Xavier and Moser had her as a pupil, and in 1919 she got her first position with the Motion Picture News, and after that with the Exhibitors Association of Chicago. It's a great delight to drop into her office in the Standard Oil building. Now and then she isn't so terribly busy, and you do get a chance to talk to her, but again — she seems to be about the most popular being in the place. But we're forgetting about the biography. See? What did we tell you about writing respective biographies? Here's what Tess says in answer to question about pet peeves and favorite hobbies. "Tess, you're putting on weight." (That's the peeve.) "Betting on tips that never materialize." (That's the hobby.) And as for sports. Well, without consulting Tess we'd say it was golf, but as she lists them it's swimming, riding and golf. Favorite presidents are always difficult to choose, but Tess is treading on pretty firm ground when she says Jack Miller and all the moving nicture players are all her favorite stars. That, after all, doesn't leave much chance for an argument. (We really would like to say much more, but perhaps we'd better say it to Tess.) Exhibitors are sending in their congratulation on the first anniversary of the Chicago _ Daily News-Universal Newsreel. It was just a year ago that the Chicago Daily News and Universal entered into a partnership to produce a newsreel, which has been a great success, and has been warmly lauded by exhibitors throughout the city. May we, too, ofifer our congratulations.