Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Mar 1932)

February 13. 1932 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 65 PERSONALITIES THOMAS PHELAN, well known showman of Long Branch, N. J., is the proud father of a baby boy, Robert James, born Jan. 25, '32. In honor of the occasion Thomas issued a card headed, "It's a Boy! — Depression Sez You!" Once a showman, always one. Felicitations to Mrs. Phelan, also. V JACK ROSENBERG, formerly manager of the Plaza Theatre, San Diego, Calif., has been placed in charge of the Palace Theatre, Long Beach, Calif. V B. H. SCHWARTZ and his son have reopened the Keller Theatre at Bridgeville, Del., following installation of new equipment and renovation. V HENRY LEVY, skipper of the "L" circuit of theatres, Cincinnati, Ohio, operating the suburban theatres. Forest and Nordland, is taking his annual sun baths down in Florida, and, incidentally, looking after real estate investments in that section. V ROY H. BEATTIE has been appointed manager of the Andalus Theatre, deluxe suburban house recently opened in Cincinnati, Ohio, succeeding Tom Davis. Beattie formerly managed the Palace Theatre prior to spending a year in Canada on account of health. V CHARLES MACPHERSON has purchased the Evergreen Theatre, Evergreen, Ala., from George Fuller. MacPherson hails from Brewton, Ala. V E, A. FANE is the new manager of the Rose Theatre, Sylacauga, Ala. V J. G. McPHERSON has taken over operation of the Strand Theatre at Atmore, Ala. V J. J. MUSSELLMAN, manager of the Rialto Theatre, a large RKO House in Louisville, Ky., recently announced a change of policy. Vaude will be discarded during February and will be supplanted by F. & M. acts and a sixteen piece orchestra in charge of Mark Fisher. V H. A. GILLESPIE is once again city manager for Fox theatres in Yakima, Wash., following reversion to the policy in effect prior to trying out "decentralization." He will have charge of the Capitol, Liberty and Majestic. V CHARLES COOPER has again assumed management of the Alvarado Theatre, Alvarado, Texas, succeeding W. R. Reed, who has been in charge since last August. Reed is retiring, it is said. V JEAN WILSEK has reopened the New Theatre, Holdingford, Minn. V BEN ASHE, resident manager of the Berger Amusement Co., recently announced that the Grand, a local house, would be reopened following installation of sound and other new items of equipment. V S. G. MENDENHALL, formerly manager of the Fox Theatre in P'endleton, has succeeded Robert Rhoades as manager of the Fox-Castle Theatre, Vancouver, Wash. Rhoades has returned to the Rialto Theatre, Portland, Ore. FRANK HILL, resident manager of the Liberty and Roxy Theatre, Walla Walla, Wash., recently announced a reduction of admission at both houses, following return of these theatres to Mercy ownership. V FRANK GREENWALD is the new manager of the Capitol, an Associated house in Cleveland, Ohio. V A. H. DICE has acquired the Wallace Theatre in Wooster, Ohio, from his former partner, John Palfi. V HARRY PETERSON and Frank McManaman have taken over management of the Mission Theatre, Wisconsin Dells, Wis. Joe Winninger was the former owner. V JACK ROSENFELD and an associate have taken over operation of the Lyric Theatre, Rosebank, Staten Island, N. Y. V H. P. WALLACE has replaced Seymour Morris as manager of the Capitol Theatre, Auburn, N. Y. V RAY BEALL, formerly advertising manager for Publix in Dallas, Texas, has succeeded John Read as manager of the two Publix theatres in Abilene, Tex. V FRANK SARDINO, one of the pioneer showmen of New York State, has taken over the Roxie Theatre, East Syracuse. H. M. Brown is co-owner. V DON JACOX, up-state division manager for Skouras, is located for the time being in Syracuse, N. Y., where he will work with Marshall Taylor. V CARL DURBIN has closed with Roy Huckstep for a lease on the Huckstep Theatre, Bowling Green, Mo. V MERLEN LEWIS is the new manager of the Audubon Theatre, New York City. V LEON J. BAMBERGER, with Paramount for eleven years under S. R. Kent, has joined the RKO home ofhce, where he will work under general supervision of Hy Daab on Radio-Picture exploitation. He will be given other assignments in publicity and advertising. V RAY POWELL has been named to fill Milt Schosberg's post as manager of the State Theatre, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., since the latter left to take over management of the Paramount Theatre, Glens Falls, N. Y. Powell was formerly booker at the State. V R. P. CONRAD, formerly manager of the Russell Theatre, Harrisburg, Pa., and a nephew of I. M. Engle, of the WilmerVincent theatre organization, has been chosen to manage the Capitol Theatre, same city, a house recently leased and wired. V LAURENCE BERG has taken over operation of the Del Rio and Los Banos Theatres, Los Banos, Calif. V ROBERT BEAN is acting as assistant manager of the Palace Theatre, a Warner house in Canton, Ohio, as the result of a recent change made by George Reister, Warner manager. ED JEWETT is the new manager of the motion picture theatre at White Salmon, Wash. V HAROLD MURPHY, manager of the Olympia Theatre, Olympia, Wash., following a recent inspection of the house by Robert Frost, division manager, has announced that $25,000 will be spent for reconstruction. V FLOYD MAXWELL has arrived in Spokane to take charge of Fox's new million dollar theatre, at least so says the "Spokane Press" with a large two-column photo, head and caption. Maxwell was a former newspaperman. Russell Phelan has been made floor manager and assistant. V ELIAS BERENSON, co-owner of the State Theatre, Bogalusa, La., was recently elected one of the Allied Theatre Owners of La., an independent organization of exhibitors. V JACK LILLY has made a hit with the citizens of Commerce, Texas, by reopening the Lyric Theatre. V S. E. SCHWAHN, manager of the Patee Theatre, Lawrence, Kas., was recently commended by the Ministerial Alliance for his "voluntary" action regarding discontinuance of Sunday shows. C. J. Topping, city manager for Dickinson houses, also has plans under way relative to Sunday shows at the Dickinson and Varsity Theatres. V BIRKA BINNARD, former assistant manager of the Liberty Theatre, Lewiston, Idaho, has been elected manager of the house by the directors, to succeed his father, the late I. M. Binnard. Gifford Blyton has been made service manager. V CRANFILL FOX, operator of the Crystal Theatre, Gilmer, Texas, has taken a lease on the old Rex Theatre, which he will reopen after extensive alterations. V S. L. KINTER has leased the Iris Theatre, Kerens, Texas, from L. L. Levy, operator of the house for the past two years. V CECIL CUPP has opened his new Royal Theatre, Arkadelphia, Ark. The new house is done in modernistic style and reported a pippin in every respect. V VIRGIL WEMMER and Charles Eichman have opened the Gem Theatre, Williamsburg, Kas. V BILL ADLER, assistant to Jack Hess, national director of advertising and publicity for RKO theatres, is back at his desk again following a severe attack of illness. V JACK RETLAW, newly appointed managing director of Fox-West Coast theatre interests in Medford, Ore., is a veteran of that organization. He was formerly located in Los Angeles. y LOREN WAHL is again in charge of the Grand Theatre following reversion of this house to original interests since abandonment of the H-F circuit. V A. C. ST. JOHN, of Chehalis, Wash., has been elected president of the Twin City Theatres, Inc., at a recent meeting of stockholders.