The Philadelphia Exhibitor (1935)

16 Jan 1 T 35 THE PHILADELPHIA EXHIBITOR Heard In INE STREET Training School Says Kraker R. F. Kraker, Ross Federal representative here, says that Ross Federal is the training ground for managers here. Three joined Warners, Fred J. O’Connell, Edmund Bour¬ geois, I. Henry Kahn, with James Frazer at the Unique. Kraker calls the Ross sys¬ tem the West Point of the theatre field. John Golder reports that Hollywood ex¬ change has 40 westerns for dating. This is the biggest total available on the street, he says. 1 he Maynards, Steeles, Reb Russells and others are being booked solid as well throughout the territory. Harry Goren, now a manager in Los Angeles, California, at the Mission Theatre, wants to express his best wishes for the holiday season to all his friends in the business. Sam Rosen, FD chieftain, came back from the New York convention to wish every¬ one a Merry Xmas and Happy New Year. 193 5 will be a good year for FD custom¬ ers, says Sam, and he enthuses over March of Time, as well as "H ei Tiki.” With over 90 features on his selling list, he has plenty to keep him busy. Tony Lucchese, Gold Medal, is still quite ill at his home. During his absence, William Karrer, Dan Heenan, Phil Duffy and Will Devonshire are selling Gold Medal product, with Robert Marcus comptroller. "The Marines Are Coming" got its local first run at Fay’s, and the organization expects big things from "Little Men,” the Mascot special. Everyone hopes for the boss’s speedy recovery. Harry Weisbrod has been added to the Gaumont British staff by Herb Given. He will help make city exhibitors GB conscious. A1 Davis celebrated his 38th birthday Xmas Day. The maid walked out and the I 6-lb. turkey wasn’t touched. P. S. Everyone had a good time at the restaurant, with A1 paying the bill. Arthur Grossman spent weekend in New York with his wife, celebrating their 10th anniversary, saw the town. The Harrises, Ben, Mitzie, Dotzie, Jack, Claire, Sara, celebrated Xmas, also 1 7th wedding anniversary of Ben and Sara. Some stuff. Who bit Esther Diamond where it doesn’t show. Ask for further details. Masterpiece exchange expects lot from "The Perfect Clue." The other Majesties, “Night Alarm," especially, are doing quite nicely in the city and out in the provinces, thanks to some excellent ballyhooing. Salesmen of most companies were off dur¬ ing the holiday spell, taking a vacation, some resting, others just around Vine Street. Barney Cohen, live wire manager, is his same old self. Joe Price helped the 1TM boys make Vine Street dinner-dance conscious for the Jan¬ uary 1 3 affair. Joe Kennedy, Horlacher’s, awaits the first big, real snow. Mike Segal is moving into Peerless exchange, after being in Charlie Klang’s headquar¬ ters for a spell. A dark haired employee of an exchange in the Film Centre building and a member of an intensive theatrical family are be¬ coming interested in each other. Apex Garage wishes everyone a prosperous 1935. It pledges increased service to all from an efficient staff. Pop Ford, Horlacher’s, is ill, and Moe Epstein has been substituting. Harry Weisbrod’s connection with GB was hailed by the trade. Morris Wax was ill for a spell. Joe Engel, Universal chieftain, says his office is second in national standing in the big Universal drive. Joe is enthused and also asserts that "Imitation of Life" will set new records at the Stanley, while “The Man Who Reclaimed His Head" will do nicely at the Stanton. John Golder, with the Ken Maynards under his belt, now promises exhibitors bigger and better westerns. Back from a trip to Scranton, he faces 1935 with lots of optim¬ ism. Universal’s Xmas tree was a sight. Joe Engel, U branch chief, presented em¬ ployees with gifts at the party. Joe Leon, Universal, and Joe Burke, Fox aud¬ itor, cruised over the holidays. Bill Doyle and wife vacationed in Florida. Jesse Levine spent the Xmas holidays in New York State. Herman Rubin says his youngster is a movie fiend. Among the youngsters seen on the street dur¬ ing the holiday spell were Luke Gring’s boy and Eli Epstein’s heir, both with proud dads. Sam Rosen is proud of a letter from a Mt. Carmel school head praising the March of Time and asking that the new reel be shown in the local theatre. Edgar Moss was host to A1 Boyd, Frank Buhler, Lou N. Goldsmith, Arthur A. Lee, George Weeks, Frank Gravatt, George Weilland, P. Mortimer Lewis and Paul Heenan at his home recently. New bar was unveiled. Jack Greenbreg, Is Epstein, Harry Weiner and Harry Dembow were present at the Pep Boys’ party. Anne Kraftsow was a New York visitor. Rita Kandel is now back at her Atlantic The¬ atres, Inc., office. The attorney and brunette are lunching again. Joe Sloan and guests had a nice time at the Warner party. Jack Howard Smith, Jr., is now the street’s No. I bachelor. Monte Salmon is looking south. I. Yaffe and wife, Rialto Theatre, will make it 25 wedded years soon. TRENTON John Bodley, Gayety Theatre, promoted a 4 weeks stage broadcast popularity con¬ test. Winner received gold watch and lov¬ ing cup. Votes were a cent each on ad¬ mission tickets. “Uncle Jack” tied up with merchant sponsors in the successful venture. State Theatre, O. D. Wilkinson, manager, didn’t re-open Christmas week with musi¬ cal comedy stock shows. Gayety Theatre, direction of John Bodley and Wilbur Xmas Club distributed 150 food baskets to poor. Trans-Lux Opens Trans Lux Theatre, 15th and Chest¬ nut, opened its doors day before New Year’s. House is being managed by Andy Edson, with Ralph T. Jordan, Jr., son of the prominent Keith manager and agent, booker. House will do 11 one hour shows daily, with shorts and news program changing once a week. All product will be available. Theatre, designed by Thomas W. Lamb, Inc., is modern in all respects, and corresponds to other Trans Lux houses elsewhere. House opened with a spe¬ cial Sunday night invitation perform¬ ance for civic leaders. Theatre will be operated by Trans Lux, itself, Major C. E. Thompson, president, and Percy Ferber, chairman of the board. Nineteen Years Ago in Philadelphia Case of the Franklin Film Company against the Censor Board was haled into court on a technical point as to the right to appeal. Film interests were determined to carry the case to the Supreme Court if an unfavor¬ able decision was' given. Harry Schwalbe, Electric Theatre, signed a contract for the exclusive rights for show¬ ing Triangle pictures. M. Stanley Mastbaum took over the Tulpehocken Theatre from H. M. Reis. The Frolic Theatre, 52nd and Wyalusing, was leased by several Pittsburgh exhibi¬ tors. Brodsky’s Record Harry Brodsky, well known interior deco¬ rator, was responsible for the excellence of the new Overbrook Theatre. House closed for 7 days and Brodsky com¬ pleted his work in record time. Those who have seen it have commended the manner in which he made an old house into a new one. “March of Time*’ The industry need worry no more. When “March of Time” bows in January 25, it will rank as one of the most im¬ portant developments in cinemadom in many seasons. For “March of Time” is gripping, well edited, a worthy addi¬ tion to any program. In the two-reeler previewed, origin¬ ally made as for October release, sub¬ jects were handled not only as news events but for what they really meant. Audiences looking at the chapter will not only be entertained and held spell¬ bound, but will be educated. The sub¬ ject is as worthy a piece of film making as the radio half hour is a highlight of broadcasting. Every exhibitor can assure himself that when he books “March of Time,” he is doing his audience and himself a favor. J. E.