The Film Daily (1936)

THE !2 j^S OAILV Wednesday, Dec. 16, 1936 New House, Fire-Swept, To be Rebuilt at Once Omaha — The Western Theater Supply Co. announces rebuilding operations will start immediately on Harry Schiller's Grand theater, which was destroyed by fire Dec. 8 as finishing touches were being put on it for a Christmas opening. The 850-seat house, being built at a cost of $85,000, replaces Schiller's 450-seat Grand. The Western Theater Supply has charge of installation of equipment and building operations. The blaze was caused when timbers were overheated by a fire pot being used to dry plaster. All equipment, except final decorations and the seats, had been installed. Insurance covered the loss. Equity Reminds Members of Television Jurisdiction In the current issue of its official magazine, the Actors' Equity Ass'n., reminds members that it has jurisdiction over the field of television. The magazine reprints a resolution adopted by the Equity Council on Sept. 29, 1931, which provides that "no member of the association shall appear or contract to appear in television, or upon any program broadcast by television, unless all persons participating in any presentation as actors, are members of Actor's Equity Association, except by special premission of the Council." DETROIT Recent additions to Detroit Variety Club membership include "Doc" A. Eiscman, Flint; James Sharkey, Bob Fisher, Lee Timby, Max Kerner, and Sid Chapman, of Detroit. A special keno party is being staged by the club. S. K. Decker, head of Excellent Pictures, has returned from a month's stay in Hollywood. Local show business has continued to show returns that are encouraging new investment. Wisper and Wetsman Circuit, now operating 10 houses, are planning to start construction of a new house at Harper and Chalmers Aves. in March. Julius Baumstark has transferred the Empire Theater, West Side house, to Eddie Pascoe, who is building up a small local circuit. Walter Morgan, who recently reopened the Crescent Theater, closed seven years, has sold it to Eric Clark, shipping clerk for Fox Exchange. New figures around the Film Exchange include: Hilda Weiss, National Theater Supply Co.; Grace Hoffman, Grand National Exchange; and Dorothy Sillis, United Artists. J. Ray Moore has closed the projection service which he formerly operated in the Book Building. Another service company closed is the Motion Picture Service Co., specializing in theater repair work, and operated by Vic Gretzinger. NEWS of the DAY Cincinnati — Bob Passwater, has reopened the Passwater theater at Mt. Sterling, after complete reconstruction occasioned by a fire. Rickeyville, Pa. — James Retter is reopening the Roxy Theater here late this month. Retter, an exhibitor in California, Pa., reports that he will also have an interest in the new Hollywood theater which is now under construction in that town. Aspinwall, Pa. — The Aspin Theater, formerly operated by Sidney Pink, has been acquired by Dave Leff, operator of the Metropolitan Theater in Pittsburgh. The house will be renamed Morgan Theater and will reopen Christmas Day. Durban, W. Va. — R. B. Summerson has acquired the Durban Theater. Hartford, W. Va.— Charles Anderson, president of the Alpine Theater Circuit, opened a new house here. Baltimore — Lenox Theaters Corp., has been incorporated by Edward R. Young, Charles F. Obrecht and John M. Baumann, Baltimore, to operate theaters, etc. It has authorized capital stock of $100,000. Denver — Two houses recently reopened by Fox are the Plaza, 540 seats, in Las Vegas, N. M., and the America, 582 seats, at Sterling, Colo. Fox is exclusive in both towns. Denver — The two new exchanges being built here by J. T. Sheffield will be ready for occupation in early 1937. Fox and G-B will move into the larger building and Grand National and Sheffield-Republic will occupy the other. CLEVELAND John Knopf will take over management of the Royal Theater, Oak Harbor, Jan. 1. Knopf owns the building and has previously leased the house. "Romeo and Juliet" is booked for road show engagements at the Utopia Theater, Painesville and at the Ohio Theater, Lorain. These are the first bookings following the recent M-G-M announcement that the picture will be road shown throughout the territory. R. H. White, who operates the Diana Theater at Grafton has recently acquired from Sol and Dave Schumann the Ritts Theater, Rittman. J. E. McCrea of Peerless Lamp Mfg. Co. is recovering from a serious operation at St. Vincent's Hospital. Joseph Simon is opening the Palm Theater, Toledo, which has been closed all season. Paul Gusdanovic, local circuit owner, is out again after a 10 day tussle with the Flu. The local Columbia boys and girls will hold a Christmas party at the Alpine Village on Dec. 18. Charity Shows In 23 Houses Kansas City, Mo. — Twenty-three independent neighborhood theaters will play special charity matinees this Saturday admission to which will be in the form of canned food to be donated to the Salvation Army. Films are being donated by local distributors and operators are donating their time. The committee handling arrangements for the charitable effort is headed by Arthur Cole, Paramount office manager and Emanuel Rolsky, president of the local ITOA. MIDWEST Ernest Grundman has purchased the interest of his partner, John L. Zoz, in the Cook Theater at Cook, Neb. Ted Siler, former manager of the Dickinson Theater at Lawrence, Kan. has accepted a position with the Grand National in Los Angeles. The Johnson Theater at Carrollton, Mo., closed for repairs, will reopen as the "Uptown". J. R. McKinley, has opened a new $50,000 800-seat theater at International Falls, Minn., to replace a house recently destroyed by fire. V. W. Smith has purchased the Empress Theater at Akron, la., from Allen Banks. F. L. McCurdy is the new skipper of the Lyric Theater, Pierson, la. J. P. Perry has taken charge of the State Theater at Mason City, la. Lowell Seelig has purchased a theater at De Soto, Kans. Dan S. Foley has opened the Mida Theater at Sweet Springs, Mo. Frank Hollingsworth is rebuilding his Rialto Theater, recently damaged by fire at Beatrice, Nebr. Glenn Van Wey is the new manager of the Rialto Theater at Arnold, Nebr. Ben Dingham is completing a new theater at Hanover, Kans. Pittsburgh Actors Organize Pittsburgh — More than 200 local actors organized as the Entertainers Association of Pittsburgh during a meeting held at Mildred Leo's Studios here on Sunday. New organization is independent of the A. F. of A. Its purpose, according to the temporary chairmen Billie Connolly and Nora Lewis, is to improve working conditions for the performers and curb independent booking. United Detroit Theaters Shifting House Managers Detroit — United Detroit Theaters through president George W. Trendle, announces a wholesale shift of managers, effective this week: Morgan Creedon, former Madison manager, takes over the Alger Theater; Joe Busic moves from Alger to Varsity, latest unit of the circuit, succeeding Russell Chapman, who resigned to go into business for himself. Myron Van Buren, formerly with Butterfield Circuit, has been promoted from assistant to manager of the Madison Theater. Don Kuhn, formerly manager of the Northwest, has returned downtown as assistant I manager of the State, while Fred I Perry, late of the staff of the Madison, was given Kuhn's post at the Northwest. Jenkins Heads Union Youngstown, O. — David J. Jenkins is the new president and business agent of Youngstown Local 35, International Association of Stage Employes. Other officers are: N. J. Lehn, vice president; William Simon, corresponding secretary; Charles Sager, financial secretary; and John J. Tinney, treasurer. Installation on Jan. 5 will be attended by George E. Browne, Washington, D. C, international president. Harry Lustig, western representative for Warner Bros, for many years, was a onetime member. 4 Warner Houses Get RCA RCA High Fidelity sound equipment is to be installed in four more Warner Bros, theaters, swelling the list of Warner theaters so equipped in the past few months to 38, thus far. The new contracts call for replacement of the old sound in the Astor, at Reading, Pa.; the Grange and the Colney, in Philadelphia; and the Sherman, at Chillicothe, O. BOSTON The annual Christmas Party will be held in the M-G-M offices on Dec. 22, according to Branch Manager Maurice N. Wolf. Dominic Tuturo, formerly of Worcester, is planning to build a theater in Milbury, Mass. Tuturo is exhibiting in the Town Hall at present. Rudolph Bruce, Film Daily correspondent, and Arthur K. Howard, business manager of Independent Exhibitors, won silver cups at the annual member and guest contract bridge tournament of the Harvard Club of Boston. Ruth Berman is back in the M-G-M office after an extended leave of absence. Roy E. Heffner, bank night director for New England and president of Specialty Pictures, Inc., is vacationing in Oklahoma. Matty Simons, salesman for Twentieth Century-Fox, will be married next Sunday.