The New York State Exhibitor (1933)

10 AuglO'33 THE NEW YORK STATE EXHIBITOR NR A Support Proves Big Feature of New York Allied Annual Meeting Albany’s Abe Stone Elected President — New Jersey Head Points Out Problems Facing Exhibitors — Theatre Men Advised to Follow Code Advice regarding the effect the NRA code will have on the independent theatre owner; the problem of protection and the cost of film, and dues for the organiza¬ tion were matters discussed by Sidney Samuelson, president, New Jersey Allied Theatre Owners and vice-president of the national organization, at the second meet¬ ing: of the New York State Allied Theatre Owners at the Ten Eyck Hotel, Albany, August 2. Abram Stone, who presided at the meeting in the absence of President J. M. Beck, was later elected president, he having been vicepresident for the last year. NRA and its effect on the independent the¬ atre owner was discussed in various phases by Samuelson, who said that each owner must decide for himself just what he can do to comply with the code. “If you can follow the code, do it,” advised Safnuelson. Present advice from Washington is that the NRA says in effect, “wait a little while and see how we can work this thing out.” Samuel¬ son favored giving to Commissioner Abram F. Myers, chairman of the board of directors of the national Allied and national counsel, some authority to act for the New York organiza¬ tion in coming conferences at Washington. “Under NRA,” said Samuelson, “the indi¬ vidual is only an individual. Business is being regimented. Now you must have organization that reflects your interests and does your commands. Protection, if you let it go with¬ out protest, will finally swallow all of you,” he continued. “Protection should be based on ac¬ tual box office prices and the amount of gross business a theatre can do, which directly affects the price paid for film.” Stone followed Samuelson, the only speaker, with thanks of the organization for his advice, after which officers were elected for the com¬ ing year. In addition to Stone as president, the officers selected were Chester Didsbury, Walden, treasurer (re-elected), and Harry Thompson, acting secretary. This temporary election was made at the request of William Smalley, head, the Smalley chain. Thompson, who is booker for the Smalley chain, will hold office until the next meeting, when a perma¬ nent secretary will be chosen. A board of directors and vice-president will also be chosen at the next meeting, scheduled for September 12 in Albany. Matter of dues and their pay¬ ment was also held over until this meeting. Exhibitors who attended the meeting included: Abram Stone, Eagle Theatre, Albany; W. W. Farley, Farash Chain, Schenectady, and the Griswold, Troy; Charles F. Wilson, James J. Wilson and William F. Wilscn, Bijou, Troy; Austin Battaglia, Lansing, Troy; J. W. Gardner, American, Schenectady; Samuel Silverman, Rivoli, Schenectady; Sidney Dwore, Colony, Schenectady; Morris Silverman, Mt. Pleasant, Schenec¬ tady; F. W. Mausert, 2d, Swan, Greenwich; M. Slotnick, James, Utica; Morris Shulman and Charles C. Gor¬ don, Olympic, Utica; E. Hochstim and Sam Hochstim, Star, Hudson; Harry E. Thompson and William C. Smalley, Smalley chain, Coop erst own ; James Dittrich and Benjamin H. Dittrich, Lyric, Endicott; George King, Lyric, Binghamton; C. D. La Pointe, Crandall, Chat¬ ham; A. A. Elliot, State, Middletown, and O. S. Hathaway, Stratton, Middletown; J. Karp, Cameo, Syracuse ; Mitchell Fitzer. Rivoli, Syracuse; S. E. Samuel¬ son; Newton, N. J.; Kathryn Mattram, Model, Yonkers; Peter C. Vournaris, Strand and Liberty, Watertown; P. J. Checkary, American, Canton; V. M. Trainer, Lafayette, Suffern; Thomas Hopkinson, Valley, Spring In TH STREET Jinx On the Fox Folk .By Daniel R. Klein _ ROY HAINES is now metropolitan district manager for Warners. . . . The set-up in¬ cludes Joe Vergesslich, Harry Decker and Harry Hummel as the branch managers in New York, Brooklyn and New Jersey. . . . The Universalites went to Roton Point Park, South Norwalk, Conn., for their August 8 outing. . . . It’s a swell spot. . . . Local projectionists face a tax of $15 annually with $5 for examinations. . . . Board of Aldermen okayed the idea. COLUMBIA was host to local exhibitors at a luncheon and showing of “Lady for a Day,” first hit on the new season program. . . . I.T.O.A., the Brandt unit, is planning a boat ride up the Hudson. ARTHUR GREENBLATT is out of In¬ vincible. . . . Joe Goldberg and Walter Futter have joined Herb Ebenstein in Resolute. . . . Salesmen are exempt from the provisions of NRA. . . . The heat affected practically all exchanges. . . . With many getting off early. AT A MEETING of the T.O.C.C. and the other independents both organizations asked exception to the 35-40 scale under NRA. . . . Exhibs claimed they couldn’t stand the gaff. . . . Circuits, however, have joined the NRA banner. ... So what. JOE SCHOEN is now operating the Broad¬ way, Woodcliffe, on his own. . . . The pro¬ prietor of the Park, Highland Park, N. J., is adding another house shortly. CHARLES DORTIC has resigned as head booker for United Artists after having been a familiar figure up at the exchange for three years. . . . He is now connected with a mid¬ west theatre circuit. . . . Ben Levine has moved out of the poster department into the booking department, where he will work with Herb Richek. ... A newcomer to the film business goes into the U.A. poster room, Melvin Willing. . . . Incidentally, Ben and Herb, now working together as bookers, have been working side by side for eight years now. . . . They were in the poster department at Fox seven years ago, and when Ben left that company to join United Artists, Herb went with him. Valley; Robert Goldblatt, Music Hall. Tarrytown; Philip Eisenberg, Academy, Wappingers Falls; Chester Fennyvess.v, Strand, Rochester; Benedict C. Bordonard, Palace, Olean; Chester R. Didsbury, Didsbury, Wal¬ den; Frank V. Walsh, Park, Newburgh, and J. Dpaly, the Liberty, Liberty. Heard 44 Paid Exec Needed With New Jersey Allied functioning vigorously, and its annual meeting scheduled for Atlantic City early in September, talk among members of New York Allied, which has been marking time, is that an office with a paid secretary is needed. New Jersey Allied’s set-up is pointed to as a model. There is even a sug¬ gestion that New York merge with Jer¬ sey in headquarters work in New York City. New York Allied started off auspiciously and enrolled support in almost all sections of the State outside of the metropolis and Buffalo. THAT JINX that is going around sprain¬ ing ankles up at the Fox exchange hasn’t let up a bit. . . . First it was Harry Buxbaum, then Joe Lee and now A1 Mendelson is nurs¬ ing a twisted ankle. . . . Something ought to be done about it. . . . Al, incidentally, is quite a music lover, and this department has had many lengthy talks with him about descrip¬ tive suites and the harmonies and counter¬ point employed by Gershwin when, possibly, it should have been on the never-ending hunt for news. . . . First Division is reissuing The Costello Case,” a James Cruze produc¬ tion of several seasons back, and the film starts a Broadway run at the George M. Cohan Theatre on August 11. . . . The re¬ issue ought to do well at the box office be¬ cause of its timeliness, due to the present murder trial. ... “Love Is Like That,” an¬ other First Division release, underwent a change of title. ... It is now “Love Is Dangerous.” CASTLE FILMS have moved from the Film Center Building to the RCA Building in Rockefeller Center. . . . And to make up for that exodus, a new company has moved into 630 Ninth Avenue. . . . Snorting Events, Inc., is the outfit. . . . Harry Buxbaum is now the proud owner of a twenty-six foot Gar Wood speed boat. . . . Evelyn Lee Koch and Stewart B. Moss are handling publicity on Majestic’s Smg, Sinners, Sing.” . . . They have effected several excellent, radio tie-ups. . . . Bill Benson, First Division, just saw the first four of the company’s new season product, and he can’t wait to get out on the road. . . . Harry New¬ man, film room head, United Artists, has a silk shirt that has seen better days. . . . Myrle McKenna, switchboard custodian of the same exchange, had tragedy overtake her the other day. . . . Her prize dog, Belcher, died, and any¬ one who ever owned a dog knows that that is a very real tragedy. VACATION NOTES: Louis Kuttler and George Blendermann, Fox bookers, are both back from theirs looking fit as the proverbial fiddle, even though they were away only four days. . . . Kuttler was down in Rockaway Park, while Blendermann visited the Berkshires. . . . Ruth Bechtold, chief telephone operator for Fox, is back from her vacation, while the wires at the First Division board are all crossed, due to its presiding genius being away on hers. . . . Estelle Cusgal, Miss Scherr’s secretary at FD has returned to her desk. . . . And Eddie Jacobs, assistant to Charles Mayer at the Fox home office, is mo( Continued on Page 21)