Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1942)

4 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, February 26, 194J Theatre Changes L.A. Grosses Off Following 'Raid' Alarm (Continued from page 1) studio workers arrived at work sleepyeyed but in the main punctually. The studios, prepared for just such an emergency, reported no disturbance to the night's routine except the late arrival ot some air-raid wardens. B. V. Sturdivant, chairman of the Los Angeles Theatre Defense Bureau, stated: "Nothing which happened last night creates any problems we have not foreseen." The Bureau membership at a meeting last night approved a series of 10 instructional trailers which will be made available to theatres in this area at cost by National Screen Service. Designed to inform the public on the procedure to follow in emergencies, the trailers will have a cartoon background and feature the slogan, "Your Theatre Is Your Haven of Concrete and Steel." Weather Reports Ban Hits Studios (Continued from page 1) time restrictions on the use of the radio. Last week, conditions seemed favorable for outdoor location work. Republic sent its "Sunset on the Trail" company to a distant location and ran into a heavy rainstorm there. The next day, the process was repeated, and a heavy fog blew in from the sea. Friday was a beautiful day for outdoor work. • Saturday, it rained heavily. One of the results of the restrictions on weather information may be the revision of western scripts, in order to supply the characters with action that takes place principally indoors or on the companies' already built outdoor western street sets, which are on their back lots. Largest location company to be sent out since the start of the war is Universal's "Lady in a Jam," and that is encamped near Phoenix, Ariz. Arizona officials and citizens are undertaking a drive to have the industry move into its state, but no dislocation appears possible. However, the state may attract western location jaunts. RCAF 'Clouds' Trip Question Dropped (Continued from page 1) monies there and as a matter of reciprocity. He said the company which made the picture dealing with Canadian civilian and military flying had spent more than §1,000,000 on the undertaking. He suggested the question raised by the New Democracy leader, J. H. Blackmore, be dropped. Missouri Exhibitor Dies JOPLIN, Mo., Feb. 25. — Ensley Barbour, 52, theatre operator in this area many years, died near here today. Services will be held in Springfield. Mo., Friday. Burial will be in Prague, Okla. Circuit Men Are Shifted Indianapolis, Feb. 25. — Claude Allison, who has been manager of the Emerson of the Cantor Circuit here, will become assistant to Dudley Williston, owner of the Walker, Park and Lido, here, as well as several other Negro houses in Louisville, Ky. George Lewis, now assistant manager of the Oriental of the Olson circuit, is to become manager of the Emerson. Reopen Theatre in Frisco San Francisco, Feb. 25. — The Tower Theatre, formerly the Majestic, has been opened in the Mission district after expenditure of $50,000 by the Nasser Brothers for remodelling. Fred Wade has been named manager. Renovates Conn. Theatre Willimantic, Conn., Feb. 25. — ■ Steven Panora plans to renovate the Strand, 640-seat house here, planning a new marquee and recovered seats. Remodel House in Iowa Davenport, la., Feb. 25. — The Liberty Theatre here has reopened after having been completely renovated. Hugh Mack is the manager. Named Theatre Manager Arcade, N. Y., Feb. 25. — Virginia Blakely has been promoted from chief ticket seller to manager of the Arcade Theatre here, succeeding John C. Hartley, who lias enlisted in the Coast Guard. See Toronto Signs Hit in Power Lack Toronto, Feb. 25. — Restrictions on illuminated signs and the lighting of outdoor advertising generally for the Toronto district have been threatened several times for blackout and other reasons, all without definite action, but it now appears that limitations will be prescribed because of a shortage of 300,000 horsepower in the industrial area. Because of the growing need for current for war production, Chairman Thomas Hogg of the Ontario HydroElectric Commission has officially announced that a partial ban will be imposed within a few weeks. The new regulations will eliminate the illumination of all advertising signs, all window display lighting and the use of electric air and water heaters. Similar restrictions enforced in Ottawa for a permanent blackout were lifted after many protests — but the electricity shortage has been classed as another matter. Max Goosmann Dies; With Snaper Houses (Continued from page 1) tury-Fox. From 1923 to 1926 he was disbursement manager in the 20th Century-Fox foreign department. He was with Nu-Art Films in a sales capacity in 1938 and 1939 prior to joining the Snaper circuit. Goosmann was born in Bremen, Germany, and attended high school and college in Hanover. He leaves a son and a daughter. Woman Manages Theatre Buffalo, Feb. 25. — Dorothy Moore has been named manager of Dipson's Amherst Theatre, succeeding John Finley, who has enlisted in the Marine Corps. Miss Moore previously was secretary to Andrew Gibson, general manager of the Dipson circuit. Open Mississippi House Gulfport, Miss., Feb. 25. — The new American Legion theatre has opened here. Ed Ortte is manager. Reopens New Orleans House New Orleans, Feb. 25. — The Cinema Theatre, formerly the Casino, has reopened following complete renovation and redecoration and an enlargement of the seating capacity to 1,100. Two California Houses Bought Colusa, Cal., Feb. 25. — George M. Barnes has purchased the Williams Theatre. In a second Colusa County transfer, Francis Hassler purchased the Arbuckle Theatre from Benjamin Burke, who moved to Oakland. Raises Balcony Price Rochester, Feb. 25. — Loew's Rechester has increased its balcony admission price from 30 to 33 cents after 5 P.M. Drops Midweek Shows Victor, la., Feb. 15. — Joseph Fauver, owner of the Strand here, has closed his house for midweek shows and will be open on Saturday and Sunday nights only until the warm weather. Seeks Writ to Halt Operator Picketing Scranton, Pa., Feb. 25. — A hearing on an action for a preliminary injunction against operators' Local 329, will be held in the Lackawanna County Court. The action was started by Wallace Prestwood, president, Frestwood Speed Photo Service, Inc., to restrain officers and members of Local 329 from picketing the firm's establishment or otherwise interfering with its business. Prestwood contends he entered into an oral contract with the union by which the union agreed to permit Prestwood's own employes to present exhibitions of certain types of motion pictures. Loew Clerical Staffs Designate CIO Unit (Continued from page 1) la ted because mail ballots from absentee employes had not arrived. John J. Stanley, secretary-treasurer of the United Office & Professional Workers of America, the parent union, who conducted the drive for SOPEG, said that steps to open negotiations would be taken immediately. Aiding Raid Wardens Philadelphia, Feb. 25. — Cecil Felt, operator of the Bluebird Theatre, is giving a special midnight show next Saturday to raise funds for equipment for the air-raid wardens in the immediate neighborhood. Free Tickets For Servicesj Are Proposed (Continued from page 1) tive delegation from circuit and smal exhibitors of that city. Hammer told Motion Picm| Daily : "It certainly is not my irrV to embarrass the theatre industry. B is my further intention to confer wit exhibitors in an effort to find a work1 able solution." Many letters received by the Bui falo legislative members emphasize' that theatres should no more be ed pected to provide their services with out charge than restaurants, cafes o other such enterprises, Others, point ing out that exhibitors already ar participating in more patriotic effort than most comparable small busines men, said that the provisions of th proposed bill might force many thea tres in the state to close. Assemblyman Stephen Jarema ha already introduced a resolution en bodying a request that theatres adm: service men free, but designed to appl only on slow days. N. J. House Appeal Award on Clear anc (Continued from page 1) declared reasonable by the arbitral and was not altered. The complainant had also sougll reduction in the clearance of thos houses over the Liberty. Smalley Complaint Heard in Albany Albany, Feb. 25. — Hearing of tl clearance complaint of Smalley Th< atres was begun here today, contii ued into the night and will be r< sumed tomorrow. The circuit seel a reduction of the 14 days held h Schine's Colonia, Norwich, N. Y over Smalley's Sidney. Joser Rosch, former N. Y. Supreme Cou [ justice, is the arbitrator. Talk Sales Policy At Republic Mee (Continued from page 1) Republic Productions, is present fro the Coast. In addition to franchi holders and branch managers, hon office executives present inclui Grover C. Schaefer, Morris Goodma Walter Titus, Charles Reed Jonc Harry Marcus, J. J. O'Connell, Borus and A. L. Pindat. A. W. Perry, general manager Empire Universal Films, Ltd., and 1 O. Painter, Republic Canadian sal; manager, are also attending. T meeting will end today with a lunc eon at the Athletic Club. Join RKO Pathe News Donald and Robert Jacques, sons I Stanley Jacques, RKO branch ma ager in Cincinnati, have been trail ferred from the RKO studio to po: tions with RKO Pathe News here. Buy Supply Company St. Louis, Feb. 25. — Cooperati Sound Service and Supply Co., m here, has been purchased by Sow Systems of St. Louis.