Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1939)

.Ipril 15, 1939 SHOWMEN'S TRAD ]<. R 1-: V 1 J-. VV Page 5 ennedy's orner What interested Senalors far more than the Necly Bill at the sub-coniniittee hearing Tuesday was the published salary of Louis B. Mayer, ex-exhibitor who made good in Hollywood, and drew last year pay ehecks totaling more than all 96 Senators combined. What has been getting more play from columnists is the corking publicity idea of the Warner space-getters with that stunt about "Confessions of a Nazi Spy" and the deep, dark secrecy surrounding its filming — "even the publicity men can't see the stills" reported the latest "insider" in his column this week. Standout happenings of the town this week included the opening of Repblic's regional meeting, which started Wednesday with a burst of enthusiasm set off bj' the bang-up job of hit-making done on "Man of Conquest". Also new angles put on older events and pictures. "Snow White" with French dialogue opened with Walt Disne}' himself as one of the patrons of the Waldorf. The Criterion is bringing back "Mutmy on the Bounty", and K. Hepburn's stage hit is making her a screen star again, with a local theatre reviving a group of her films. Monogram proudly presented "Streets of New York" at a press showing Wednesday, followed by a luncheon, while Ray Johnston headed back from the Coast for a brief stay and conferences in New^ York. Paul Lazarus, Jr., took over the presidency of the AMPA Thursday — and here's wishing him the best for his term as top man of the ad get-togetherers of the town's film circles. And to conclude with a patriotic note, we'll be watching with interest that 13 weeks' Spyros Skouras drive of the National Theatres chain, which will stress the Americanism theme in newspaper, display and theatre decorations. BOfiDY SIGNS ORDER Action in RKO Reorg. Paves Way for New Company The signing of an order of settlement in the RKO reorganization by Federal Judge William Bondy, which had been expected since April 3, marked the technical emergence of RKO from 77B and the Chandler Act. Proponents of the plan, it was learned, do not want an underwriting agreement now because of market conditions. Consummation of the plan is not intended for several months by the proponents, indicating that Atlas and its allies may wait until appeals have been settled. Par. Pep Club Dance Eli Dantzig's orchestra and several outstanding acts have been lined up by Bob Weitman for the Paramount Pep Club Dance to be held April 28 at the Hotel Astor. COL TO HAVE 3 SESSIONS First Opens May 8 in Atlantic City OTHERS IN CHICAGO, L. A. Columbia's annual sales convention this year will be divided into three sessions, according to General Sales Manager Abe Montague. The meetings have been set for Atlantic City, May 8-11; Chicago, May 14-16, and Los Angeles, Ma}^ 20-22. Jack Cohn will attend the Atlantic City meeting. Montague will preside over all three sessions. Sales executives present at the Chicago and Atlantic City gatherings will be Rube Jackter, Louis Astor, Louis Weinberg and Max Weisfeldt. Nat Colin, New York division manager, Sam Galanty, Mid-East division manager, Sam Moscow, Southern division manager, will head the delegations in Atlantic City; Phil Dunas, Mid-West division manager, Carl Shalit, Centra! division manager, will be at Chicago; and Jerome Safron, Western division manager, will be at Los Angeles. In addition to home office executives and those named above, branch managers and the entire sales force in the respective territories will be present. Ark. I.T.O. To Meet April 23-24 Annual convention of the Independent Theatre Owners of Arkansas has been definitely set for Sunday and Monday, April 23-24, at the Marion Hotel, Little Rock, Ark'., it was announced this week by J. F. Norman, prexy. Griffin on Coast For SMPE Meet Herbert Griffin, vice president International Projector Corporation, is visiting West Coast Branches of the National Theatre Supply Company and will attend the Spring meeting of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers, Hollywood, California, April 17th to 21st. Anti-Censorship Meeting April 20 Producers, exhibitors and the trade press will be represented at an anti-censorship meeting to be held April 20, 8:30 p.m., at the Hotel Astor. Louis Nizer, secretary of the New York Film Board of Trade, will preside. Lee Balsly Resigns Lee Balsly, ad sales manager at 20th-Fox, resigned this week to enter the theatre business with the R. R. Allison circuit in Cresson. Pa. He will be succeeded by Ed Hollander, who will have full charge of the operations of the ad sales department. N.Y. PREVIEW MART-SEARS Opening During Fair Will Help Films SET "JUAREZ" CAMPAIGN Predicated on the belief of Grad Sears, Warners' sales head, that with the opening of the New York World's Fair, New York will become virtually a world preview market, Warners will back the $2 run of "Juarez" at the Hollywood Theatre, where it is scheduled to open April 25, with a $100,000 advertising campaign, it was announced this week by S. Charles Einfeld, director of advertising and publicity. On the angle that "times are what you make them," and in view of the critical situation abroad, it is Sears' further belief that it behooves the industry to stress the further intensive cultivation of the American field. Prestige from "Juarez" opening in time for World Fair visitors will be valuable to exhibitors everywhere, Einfeld pointed out. The picture is not scheduled for national release until some time after the New York premiere. Important Dates 1.1-17: Univel■:^al icxional iiiu'jt, ( iiictiiiiati. April 17-21: SMI'lC Spring conveiiion, l{()oscvelt Hotel, Hollywood. April 18-20: U. rcxional meet, Chicago. April 20-21 : Republic regional meet, Chicago. April 20-27 ; Will Rogcr.s National Theatre Week. April 22-24: Univer.sal regional meel, San Franei.sco. April 23-24: Ark. I.T.O. annual oiivention, Marion Hotel, Little Rock. April 25-26: Republic regional meet, San Franci.sco. April 28 ; Paramount I'cp Club Uance, Hotel Astor. May 4-6 : Monogram convention, Drake Hotel, Chicago. May 8-10: United Artists sales convention, Los Angeles. May 8-11: Columbia regional meeting, Atlantic City. May 14-16: Columbia regional meeting, Chicago. May 20-22 : Columbia regional meeting, Los Angeles. May 21-27: Silver Jubilee of Morris Joseph, Universal branch manager at New Haven, Conn. May 23-25: N. Y. Allied "World's Fair convention," Hotel Astor. June 13-15: Allied National convention, Nicollet Hotel, Minneapolis. Joseph Celebrates Jubilee May 21-27 Many exhibitors in the New Haven district plan a week of Universal features and shorts from May 21-27 in honor of Morris Joseph, U branch manager at New Haven, who will celebrate a quarter of a century of continuous service with that company.