The New York State Exhibitor (1933)

THE NEW YORK STATE EXHIBITOR Jan25'33 9 Heard In Heard In r l M 1 R A MGM Wins ROCHESTER Slash in Daily Apparent Advertising Supreme Court Justice Staley, of Albany, has directed a verdict of $760.14 in favor of MGM, Inc., in a Benefit and “Sign” Squawks Aplenty By Jay suit for $1,069.94, brought against the West Shore Theatres. Inc., operators. Bv F.eaitrh EVERY MANAGER’S OFFICE in town is sporting one of the NEW YORK STATE EXHIBITOR calendars. . . . And the managers say that, next to money, it’s the best thing around. . . . The new front cover has made a great hit with everybody. . . . “It’s now as good as the inside,” said one manager. A FASHION SHOW with local society girls showing the late models in gowns and other apparel, added to the regular picture, drew large business to Keeney’s 19-21. . . . Regent, using second run pictures soon after their showing at Keeney’s and the Strand, also Warner houses, is attracting crowds. . . . Midnight and early bird per¬ formances, gift shows, amateur nights and presentation of fountain pens are being used to boost business. . . . Musical revues and pictures seem to form a happy combination at the Colonial. . . . Warner Brothers houses here have cut down on newspaper adver¬ tising. BUFFALO JACK KAPLAN, United Artist, is sport¬ ing a new overcoat. . . . Dewey Schlieder, prominent man for the Film Folk in Buffalo, is trying to sell insurance to the film man¬ agers on a percentage basis. . . . Charlie Taylor, publicity director Shea Theatres, just returned after an attack of flu. . . . Bill Brereton, Charlie’s assistant, carried on. . . . Mike Shea is in Buffalo and still talking about his granddaughter Donata. . . . Harry Rosenquest, Vitagraph short subject sales man¬ ager, dropped in and spent a few days with Harry Seed. . . . Milt Kusel, Paramount dis¬ trict manager, visited recently. ... A num¬ ber of changes in personnel have just been announced by Michael Shea. . . . Edward Miller, manager, Roosevelt, goes to the Bailey. . . . Frank B. Quinlivan, manager, Bailey, replaces Carl J. Rindscen at the Ken¬ sington. . . . Rindscen has gone over as manager, Elmwood. . . . George Rosing takes over the reins at the Roosevelt. . . . George Rosenow has resigned as manager, Elmwood. BLTRGLARS broke into the Rialto Thea¬ tre, Buffalo, and made a very small haul. . . . Herbert Hoch operates the house. . . . Mabel O’Shea, wife, Ted O’Shea, manager, Buffalo M-G-M, was taken to the Buffalo General Hospital to undergo a major operation. BUSINESS IS IMPROVING!! So opines Herbert Silverberg, the local bar¬ rister for the producers. * . . Harry Swerdlove, demon premium genius, has returned to Buffalo after a highly successful cam¬ paign in Central New York. . . . Harry pre¬ sented conclusive proof that his “exclusive combination” deals are packing ’em in and has already sold the idea to some local ex¬ hibitors. . . . Without apologies to W. W. What well known film man took his hasty departure from a night club recently when the arrival of his sweetie’s husband was an¬ nounced? . . . And who, among the local M. P. T. O.’s refused to book “Kid From Spain,” because he wanted no more animal pictures? Orpheum Theatre, Kingston. The plaintiff brought suit against the theatre owners, alleging that six contracts for the first-run showing of certain pictures were violated. The defendant contended that the produc¬ ing company released the pictures to a second-run theatre before a 60-day protection period had expired. The theatre owners filed counter suits in which damages of $5,000 were sought. These claims were dismissed at the end of the case. Heard In B INGHAMTON “Mummy” Hoax and Irate Sheriff _ By Chap _ EXHIBITOR in its new dress made much of a hit here. . . . Those in Bingham¬ ton who received the new calendar issued were pleased. . . . It’s the first thing seen when visitors walk into Manager Dave Cohen’s office and Fred Perry and Jerry Burke have theirs in back of their respec¬ tive desks. . . . R. A. “Bob” Bertschay, di¬ vision manager First Division, was in town boosting “Goona-Goona.” . . . Manager Fred Perry reports that the use of local radio station as a means of ballyhoo shows box office results. ... A radio skit written by Perry and presented by four volunteer players went over big during the exhibit of “20,000 Years in Sing Sing.” BINGHAMTON POLICE prevented the showing of “China Express” in a downtown lodge hall. . . . Those in charge of the film in the city to show the picture claimed the accusation was false and stated that the pic¬ ture was to have been shown here to raise money for the Hunger Marchers. . . . Man¬ ager Fred Perry, Capitol, planned to use a mummy for display purposes for “The Mummy,” but was forced to use two. . . . He “planted” one on a farm just outside the city line and then sent numerous calls to the Sheriff’s office reporting a haunted house in that vicinity. . . . The Sheriff got the call and the mummy. . . . The best Fred Perry could do was to get out of paying the ex¬ penses of the deputies for making the run. . . . Sheriff Charley Kress kept the mummy locked in a garage and refused to release “him” for his appearance in the lobby of the Capitol Theatre the next day. ... So Perry was forced to get a substitute. . . . The “stunt” had its effect though and there was plenty of publicity. . . . One news-sheet sent a cameraman and two feature writers to the scene, but when the Manjed learned he had been “hoaxed” along with the Sheriff he re¬ fused to run the story. . . . The other sheet was “in” on the deal, so Perry and the Capitol box office did not fare badly. . . . One of the Comerford houses in nearby Johnson City offers four vaudeville acts along with its feature movies. . . . The house is the new’ Enjoy Theatre. THEATRES AND STAGE HANDS UNION are co-operating in benefit show at the Century for Ben Connolly, former stage manager, Eastman. . . . Charles Cole, stage manager, Palace, Harry Royster, dis¬ trict manager for Publix, Bert Caley, Charles Parker and Irwin Solomon are the committee in charge. . . . Manager Paul Fenyvessy, Madison, arrived to find the safe cracked, but burglars had been frightened away leaving $500 intact. . . . Lights dimmed at Loew’s Rochester as mark of respect the day of Coolidge funeral. . . . Auto Show boosts business with folks coming in from the rural communities and stopping to see a picture show. THEATREGOERS prefer music hall type of vaudeville 2 to 1, according to survey by the “Rochester Journal.” . . . Manager Solomon, Century, is trying a 15-cent matinee one day a week against regular prices of 25 in afternoon and 40 at night. . . . Lyceum Theatre listed on route of Union Theatre League. . . . Chateau is running “amateur nights.” . . . Manager Harold Raives, Regent, received 300 letters on “Sign of the Cross” film, most of them criticising the picture. . . . Hav Nash, publicity man for the Shine theatres, is run¬ ning a contest asking public to identify pic¬ tures of front view of the five theatres in the city with free tickets for the winners. . . . Helen Ankner installed permanently as organist at the Century. Ritzy Mayor Taking a leaf from the book of etiquette of the Governor of Kentucky, “Roily” Marvin, much publicized mayor of Syracuse, has surrounded himself with a brand new staff of 21 members, recruited with diligent care from the Syracuse Rialto. So far the managing directors, assistants and newspaper critics who guide the des¬ tinies of Syracuse theatres have been assigned no duties nor equipped with no uniforms, but they are each the recipient of a gleaming gold badge, identifying them by name as mem¬ bers of the mayor’s staff, City of Syracuse. ST. 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