The Moving picture world (November 1925-December 1925)

^ Along 6xchange Row vl/l With the cMca Who Sell the 9ictures Kansas City Chicago Buffalo, N. Y. Business along Kansas City's movie row smacked of dollars this week. A. A. Renfro, Pathe salesman, was promoted to city salesman to succeed Frank Cass, who went to the West Coast as special short subjects representative. More than six Parent-Teacher associations ha\'e agreed to support "The Wizard of Oz" when it shows in their communities, according to C. E. Rhoden, manager of the Midwest Film Distributors, Inc. Leo Adler, Pathe auditor ^of the home ofBce, was checking over the Kansas City books. Ben Reingold. Omaha Fox manager, was visiting' film row friends, he being enroute to Oklahoma City to attend a sales convention. Louis Reichart, Warner Bros., branch manager, set forth for a trip to the Kansas key towns, while Jim Flynn, P. D. C. home ofHce representative, was in Kansas City on business. R. L. MacLean, P. D. C. district representative, left for St. Louis after a long stay in Kansas City. C. F. Senning, Educational bri»nch manager, hurried out to visit the Kansas key towns, but not until after he had announced that 75 per cent, of Kansas City's theatres had signed for Educational's new product. The First National Club gave a "Kid" party which was proclaimed to be a "wow," all in attendance being attired in juvenile clothes. J. E. Flynn, district manager; E. M. Saunders and Sam Burger, special representatives for Metro-Goldwyn, were Kansas City visitors. A. W. Day, Warner Bros., office manager, has announced that "from now on" there will be weekly meetings of the entire office force for the purpose of discussing all problems. R. S. Ballantyne, new Pathe district manager, was a Kansas City visitor. All Metro-Goldwyn salesmen were called in for a sales meeting and departed with "pep" in abundance. Denver The annual meeting for all salesmen, assistant managers and bookers of members of the Denver Film Board of Trade has been called for December 28. Every salesman, manager, assistant manager and booker will be present at a business meeting in the afternoon. In the evening a banquet will be held at which time further discussion will take place. Charles R. Gilmour, manager of the local branch of Warner Brothers and president of the Den\er Film Board of Trade, has been seriously ill at his home for several days. He is suffering from an acute attack of sinus trouble. R. J. Garland, local Metro-Goldwyn manager, has returned from a successful sales trip covering a period of three weeks, during which time he visited all points in Western Nebraska and Wyoming. Frank Harris, district manager for Pathe, has left for Butte, after spending two weeks with the Denver exchange. Pittsburgh Ben Sugarman, Paramount salesman, recently entertained at dinner in the Elks Club a party of film folks in honor of his third wedding anniversary. Manager Russell S. Wehrle of the First National exchange is frying his own ham and eggs these mornings, Mrs. Wehrle having gone to the old home in Bluefleld, W. Va., to spend the coming holidays. Jack' Zipp, Federated salesman, has been transferred from the West Virginia section to the northern part of Western Pennsylvania. Another Film Row romance! Mannie Steinberg and Miss Minnie Rosenberg are to be married in January. Mannie is part owner of the S. & S. Film & Supply Company and the prospective bride has been booker at this excht.i'.ge for several years. Film Row and leading exhibitors gave a testimonial dinner to John Mednikow, who resigned last week as short subject sales manager for Universal to become manager of the Chicago offices of the Associated Exhibitors at 1025 South Wabash avenue. The big feed was pulled off November 23 at the Gold Room of the Congress Hotel with 137 film men at the table. Si Greiver introduced Joe Hopp, managing director of the American Theatres circuit, as toastmaster, and then the fun began. First of all, the boys gave Johnny a fine desk set for his new headquarters and of course he told them how thankful he was to have such good friends after all these years in the film trade. P. A. Powers, chairman of the board of Associated Exhibitors, stopped off on his way west to give the assembled guests a talk. Dan Lederman. western representative, added a few kind words. Toastmaster Joe Hopp called on Joe Freidman, manager of Celebrated Players, to tell the crowd how he gave Johnny his first job. Jimmy Gillick, Pathe manager added his tribute to the others. Will Brumberg, new manager of the Universal Exchange, made a happy little talk and Henri Ellman of the Capital Film Exchange added a few more kind words. The comedy hit of the evening was the presentation to Aaron Saperstein of the Saperstein circuit of a few herrings to remind him how .'<alty he'd become. A fourteen act vaudeville bill, introduced by Joe Pastel, finished the evening and the boys all said it was ''some night." H. O. Martin has been named sales supervisor of Associated Exhibitors with headquarters in this territory. E. J. Smith, general sales manager, was in the city for the change of managers. H. C. Brolawski has been named country sales manager with the Metpo-GoldwynMayer local headquarters. Earl Pickler, Jack Lewis and M. Belford have joined the sales force of Capital Exchange on Wabash avenue. Ross Herman has succeeded to the sales position resigned recently by Will Cook on the First National sales force. Mrs. Roy Alexander, wife of the division manager of the Universal Exchange, submitted to an operation for appendicitis at the Jackson Park Hospital and is reported as recovering rapidly. A Movie Hall open to the public is being planned by the Film Board of Trade of Buffalo. Henry W. Kahn, manager of the MetroGoldwyn-Mayer office, is chairman of the arrangements committee. The event will be held in the Hotel Statler early in January. Original plans for a formal dinner dance have been dropped. H, Harris, who comes to town after much experience in the exchange end of the business, having last been associated with Pathe, has been appointed to succeed Charlie Goodwin as Rochester salesman for the Universal office. Mr. Goodwin, who had covered the Rochester territory ever since the city was established, recently was appointed branch manager. A ray of hope has appeared on the horizon for G. E. Dickman, salesman extraordinary tor the Fox exchange. It is reported that H. E. Hughes, F. B. O. sales representative, has discovered a sure cure for hair that does the disappearing act and has almost closed a deal with "Emmy" for a demonstration on his dome of the dope. Things were rather quiet along Film Row and in the industry in general the past week. Seeking the reason we found that Bill Bork, Paramount booker, was on jury duty. We hope no exhibitors were hauled before the tribunal. The First National office was visited the other day by A. W. Smith, Jr., Ned Depinet, J. H. Skirboll and Sam Spring, home office sales executives. They had a conference with Branch Manager McCarthy and the sales staff and talked over plans for putting over First National Month. The special preview of "The Red Kimona," which Richard C. Fox of Vital had planned for December 19 in the Onondaga, Syracuse, has been changed to the evening of December 12 and the place, the Turnhall. St. Louis Several changes were made among the local excliange staffs the past week. Floyd Lewis has been succeeded by Lou Thompson as district manager for Associated Exhibitors. Al Danke, manager for Warner Brothers, has resigned, being succeeded by Eddie Alperson, who comes from Omaha. Danke in turn goes to Omaha as manager for Producers Distributing. Alperson several months ago managed the local Universal office. Ted Meyers leaves as manager for Pathe to sell special features for that company. James Hawes will be the new boss here. C. L. Hickman has joined the sales staff of the new Arrow office. He formerly was with Warner Brothers. The funeral of the father of Joe Feld, assistant manager for Fox, was held on November 28. It was the second bereavement for Mr. Feld within a year, as his mother died several months ago. Nickie Goldhammer of Universal is working the key cities on "The Phantom of the Opera." Prior to hitting the road he booked St. Louis solid on this big production. Nate Sunley, head shipper for F. B. O., threw a party on Thanksgiving Day to members of the shipping staffs of local exchanges. Plates were laid for sixteen. One turkey, two ducks and two chickens were among the casualties. Bessie .Friedland of the new Columbus Theatre, was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Claude McKean of Memphis, Tenn., on Thanksgiving Day. Mr. McKean is manager of the Fox exchange in Memphis. TURN TO VAN'S STRAIGHT FROM THE SHOULDER REPORTS FOR EXPERT VALUATIONS ON PICTURES.