Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1936)

96 MOTION PICTURE HERALD August I, 1936 CHICAGO ALLIED FIGHTS CHANCES IN CLEARANCE Members Decide Not to Buy More Product Until Present Issue Is Settled; Define Stand by WILLIAM F. CROUCH in Chicago Chicago members of Allied Theatres of Illinois decided on Tuesday not to buy any more new product until the raging contention over clearance is settled. This action precipitates a taut situation, as major distributors had planned to start city selling intensively next week. Allied expressed itself as definitely opposed to distributors' granting Balaban and Katz an extra week of clearance between the C week and first week of release, asserting that such a grant would be in violation of an agreement made years ago to the effect that no one circuit and distributors could change the clearance plan without obtaining the agreement of independent exhibitors and other circuits. Conferences have been set for next week in hope of ironing out the differences. Aaron Saperstein, head of Allied, has been authorized to start court action against Balaban and Katz over the clearance matter unless a satisfactory agreement is reached, but has said he hopes matters can be settled so that this will not be necessary. V Outstanding among the numerous changes announced in the local Paramount distribution organization is the promotion of Barney Barnard, sales manager of the Chicago office, to branch manager of the Indianapolis exchange. Eddie Fontaine is district manager. Other changes in the personnel are as follows: Otto Bolle has resigned as branch manager of the Detroit exchange to join Twentieth Century-Fox's foreign department. His place is being filled by John Howard, Indianapolis branch manager. Barnard takes Howard's Indianapolis post after 12 years in the local exchange. The Chicago sales manager's job goes to Harry Hamburg, city salesman for many years, and Harry Wirthwein, country salesman, comes into the city office while Ben Elrod, circuit booker, goes downstate in a sales capacity. A testimonial dinner was given for Bolle in Detroit last Monday night. That noon a luncheon was given in Barnard's honor at the Knickerbocker hotel here. On Friday night the Variety Club in Indianapolis paid tribute to Howard. V Excitement no end greeted the announcement that a contest to select the "Queen of the CAPA Midnite Cruise" was being launched by the members of the Chicago Amusement Publicists Association as a part of the many festivities in their voyage on the SS Roosevelt Tuesday night, August 18th. Tickets for the cruise, which will be highlighted by all sorts of entertainment, fun and frolic, are on sale at the CAPA Cruise headquarters, 908 South Wabash avenue. Each ticket allows the purchaser 1,000 votes. A $50 cash award will go to the winner of the title. Accommodations for 1,800 are available on the Great Lakes luxurv liner. V Members of Allied Theatres of Illinois are definitely opposed to the appearance of first rank film stars in radio programs, according to Aaron Saperstein, president. The independent group is so much opposed that decision may be taken within the next few weeks to do all possible towards stopping the big Hollywood radio shows, which, according to exhibitors, keep theatre patrons at home nights. Several Illinois showmen have declared that on the nights of such programs as the Lux Radio Theatre' and Hollywood Hotel there is a definite falling off in theatre attendance. This drive against the "free" radio shows "is expected to get under way early this fall. V Walter Brown, manager of the Ross Federal office, is out of the hospital after an operation and is back at his desk. He was laid up for two weeks. V Frederick Martin, local distributor for Screeno, is in the St. Francis hospital in Evanston suffering from a fractured leg. V The drafting of a new fire ordinance regarding local film handling is underway and if plans materialize a clause will be inserted to cover use of the 2,000-foot reel. If action is not forthcoming before September 1st, an appeal to the Mayor will be made in order that Chicago will not be behind other cities in adopting the larger reel. V Managers of Warner Theatres here and their assistants were the guests Monday of James Coston at his Lake Marie summer home near Antioch, 111. Prizes were given those who caught the biggest fish and played the best golf. V From the total of 1 1 new pictures reviewed under the date of July 30, the National Legion of Decency has listed six features as worthy of general patronage while the remainder were considered unobjectionable for adult classification. V Local theatre circuits now are stamping all their passes "Not Good on Bank Night." V Terry Turner is in town arranging for an appearance of the Hilton sisters at the State-Lake. Turner was one of the press agents who handled the marriage of one of the sisters at the Texas Centennial. V "Green Pastures" opens Friday at the United Artists theatre and after four weeks Warner expects to see "Anthony Adverse" go into the same house August 29th. TSTo change has been made in the recent decision of the local censor board that "Anthony Adverse" be restricted to adult attendance. From Minneapolis comes word that Dorothea Zelda Blumberg, formerly secretary to J. F. McFall of the Warner office and daughter of L. J. Blumberg, sales manager of Celebrated Film Exchange and well known here, was married recently to Merrill Lee Johnston of Pasadena and will make her home in California. V Emma Abplanalp celebrated a birthday anniversary on Monday. She was the recipient of many fine gifts. V Jack Miller with his family left last week for Macinac Island for a vacation. As no automobiles are allowed on the Island Jack took his riding horses along for transportation. V B & K has taken over and is now managing the New Main theatre in Evanston. This house, formerly operated by John Szant, will be thoroughly remodeled late this summer. It has 800 seats. Southeast Owners To Hear Leaders The annual convention and frolic of the Southeastern Theatre Owners Association is scheduled for this weekend at Jacksonville, Fla., with an attendance of 500 exhibitors from Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina. The program opens Sunday with registration at the Hotel Mayflower, headquarters for the meeting, and a deep sea fishing party for the early arrivals. At the first business session on Sunday night Mayor John Alsop, Jr., of Jacksonville will welcome the exhibitors. He will be introduced by Hugh Manning, president of the SETOA. Edward Kuykendall, president of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, will be the guest of honor and will make the principal address. O. C. Lam, a director of the MPTOA, also will speak. A buffet supper will follow the session. Monday morning the annual election of officers will be held and a golf tournament conducted at the Ponte Vedre ocean golf course. E. J. Sparks of the Sparks circuit will be host at a beach shrimp and fish fry in the evening, to be followed by a dance at the pier. Deep sea fishing and swimming will feature the program for Tuesday and that evening a banquet, dance and floor show at the hotel will close the convention. Pioneer Exhibitor Dead Mrs. Eva R. Hawes has taken over the management of the Puritan theatre, Boston, following the death of her husband, Frank A. Hawes. Mr. Hawes built the Puritan theatre 26 years ago and was one of the pioneer exhibitors of New England. Law Firm Name Changed The law firm of Sol A. Rosenblatt has been changed to Rosenblatt and Jaffe. William Jaffe entered the firm as a partner recently. European Talent Sought RKO Radio is sending Margot Gragey, head of the studio's foreign department, to Europe to scout for screen tahnt and stories.