The Philadelphia Exhibitor (1935)

THE PHILADELPHIA EXHIBITOR Jan 1 ’ 3 5 7 New Service Plan of Local 307 Will Save Thousands Annually for Exhibs Operator Announcement Arranged by Segall and Krouse —Means Less Charges and Added Attention — Works Successfully Elsewhere Thanks to the energetic efforts of Charles Segall, president, MPTO of Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Delaware, and the co-operation of Louis Krouse, Local 307 president, exhibitor-members of the MPTO and others through¬ out the city and adjoining area served by 307 operators will be saved thousands of dollars annually. Variety Club Sees Installation of Heads John Harris , National Leader, Inducts Officers Induction of officers of Tent No. 13, Variety Club, December 14, was a big success. At the ceremony and dinner held at the Hotel Warwick, John Harris, national head of the Variety Club group, installed Chief Barker Earle Sweigert and other officers. In attendance were Sam Schwartz, Milt Rogasner, Herb Elliott, Eddie Sherman, Eddie Corcoran, Harry Weiner, Lewen Pizor. A1 Cohen, A1 Davis, Jim Clark, Frank Buhler, Leonard Schlesinger, Earle Sweigert, John Harris, Rosy Rosenwahl, Jack Greenberg and Jay Emanuel. 100 members and wives were to attend initial meeting scheduled for the lounge of the Boyd Theatre, December 30, with the entire contin¬ gent transferring to the Warwick Hotel, where a dinner and dance, with surprise en¬ tertainment was arranged. David Supowitz and Bill Lee, architect-mem¬ bers, are supervising renovating and remodel¬ ling of the house at 1910 Rittenhouse Square, which will serve as the Variety Club head¬ quarters. A busy season is planned. A new idea, whereby Local 307 will service sound equipment operated by its men free of charge as well as having a regular booth in¬ spection monthly, is shortly to be put into prac¬ tice. The service will be without charge and will consist of two especially equipped cars which will be on hand at all hours for instant use. The two cars will contain all necessary parts and will be handled by competent men. One will be stationed mid-city, while the other will also be in a convenient locale. Segall advanced the thought to Krouse, who immediately went for it. Segall suggested the service be given to all houses using 307 men, regardless of exhibitor affiliation. Members of the MPTO and other unionoperated houses which are now paying service charges, can discontinue the service charges when that time is reached in their contracts, according to Segall, thereby saving thousands of dollars annually for theatre owners. Local 307 will provide monthly inspection, advocate changing of parts or replacements when nceessary. The emergency service of the union is also without charge. The service will aid the theatre, the operator and the public, explained Krouse. It is sched¬ uled to begin in January. Two shifts, 10 A. M. to midnight, will be available. The idea is similar to one being used in Cleve¬ land where it has been very successful for 15 years. Segall’s instant attention will be of great saving to theatremen. It is perhaps his most constructive move during his presidency of the MPTO. Big Roxy Opening Opening week’s gross at the Roxy Mastbaum was to hit the $45,000$50,000 mark, according to indications. Business was very good, with a $10,000 opening day. Mastbaum Opens With Many City, State Leaders Guests House Throws Preview for Dignitaries The Roxy-Mastbaum came to life again December 23, when an invited audience of trade, city and state leaders attended the preview performance. The theatre was jammed to the doors with the socially elect and select giving the house a great sendoff. Inaugural performance had no special cere¬ monies, with the complete show being given. It included a Christmas pageant, Parade of the Wooden Soldiers, News, Overture, Glee Club, Gomez and Winona, Miss Aimee Deloro, Ballet Moderne, Miss Lillian Morton, Roxyettes, Von Grona, Alfredo Seville and a Bolero finale. Feature was “Sweet Adeline.” Show got a generally good response from those in attendance, but from the trade angle wasn’t considered too much of flash for a Roxy introduction to Philadelphia. Presentation showed excellent taste, but lacked pace and humor. Roxy achieved some good effects with lights, instead of scenery and dancing, produc¬ tion values, etc., were all high. Criticism of the show was to the effect that it ran typically to presentation type, with noth¬ ing that would send the folks out raving. It looked as if the impressario was working on Downtown Changes Rumored Rumor mart has Keith’s Theatre re¬ opening with repeat runs after the Mastbaum; the Earle Theatre changing to a second-run and stage policy, with a drop in admissions; and eventual dropping of the Karlton when the lease expires soon. Manager Corcoran will handle Keith’s following its New Year’s Eve opening. Downtown situation also gets TransLux Theatre, which opens as newsreel and shorts citadel. Opening of the Mastbaum is ex¬ pected to have its effect on the down¬ town sector, generally. It was reported that Roxy wanted first runs for the entire territory, but after the exchanges bucked, Roxy Mastbaum will pick up shows on the nose. Other rumors have William Goldman taking old 56th Street Theatre. a limited budget, although chorus and pit band ran into many figures. House will get cream of picture crop, with Roxy probably figuring his name and type of show will pull, without star-headliners on stage. Skeptics, knowing buying habits of Philadelphia theatregoers, figure that if the patrons don't figure they are getting their money’s worth in picture or stage name, they won’t come just because the Roxy name in there. Stanley-Warner’s problem with the house is also linked with the operation of the other downtown theatres. Roxy will have to add to the army of downtown show-shoppers rather than take away from the Aldine, Boyd or Stan¬ ley if the Roxy-Mastbaum is to be successful. RCA-Victor Photophone installed sound and sound effect machines in the theatre. Roxy's gang will broadcast Saturday evenings on a commercial and Sunday afternoon over WCAU. House staff includes Charlie Griswold, house manager ; Larry Evans, Ed Barrett, assistants ; Clark Robinson, production and art, with Jimmy Morcom, assistant ; Mack Shapiro, stage man¬ ager, with Louis Ehrhardt, production and lighting, and Jim Cotillo assisting. Harry Abbott is in charge of the booth, with John Hoekenberry chief electrician. Adolph Kornspan, Leon Leonardi and Yascha Bunchuk are conductors. William Spielter is arranger, with William Powers director of Roxyettes. Vone Grona is ballet master, Leni Bouvier, premiere danseuse ; William Charles and Harry Hille, sound ; Anne Elliott, costumes ; Martha Wilchinski, publicity ; Hope Williams, secretary to Roxy, and William McGowan, treasurer. Roxy received a royal welcome in Wilming¬ ton as a guest of the Advertising Club. At a luncheon at the duPont Hotel he described his revolutionary stagecraft to eliminate scene shifting with lighting effects. He was intro¬ duced by D. Murray Metten, president of the club. Among the guests were Mayor Speer, I. B. Finkelstein, president, Chamber of Commerce ; J. R. Mulhall, district manager, Warner the¬ atres, and the following theatre managers : Dwight VanMeter, Aldine; E. I. Lewis, Queen; Earle G. Finney, Savoy ; “Lew5’ Black, Ar¬ cadia ; Morton Levine, Grand Opera House.