Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1939)

Page 6 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW RIFT DENIED BY N. Y. ALUED STR Calls the Turn Two weeks ago, in an editorial, "Chick" Lewis hinted that Max Cohen and his New York AlHed organization might not be quite as pro-AUied as the name of the organization impHed. Last week STR pubhshed a letter from Cohen in which he said, "You seem to raise the question that New York Allied's loyalty to the national organization is rather thin and, therefore, subject to criticism. Rather than create any veiled insinuations, you should have stated the facts if you have them". Your own organization has furnished them, Mr. Cohen. You have only to read the statement in your own convention program by Harry G. Kosch, attorney for the New York Allied organization, who puts them very succinctly. And as if to emphasize still further the thought, Film Daily sees " 'friction' between the national body and the local unit". "Chick's" editorial is thus justified by the representative of your own organization. And to again quote your letter, Mr. Cohen, "If we are to get anywhere in this industry and if there are forces in it working with ulterior motives, let's get them into the open regardless of where the weight may fall." And, furthermore, Mr. Cohen, you allowed Harry Brandt the floor of your Convention to attack the Association of which you are a part, which justifies the rest of the editorial. Fete Joseph on Anniversary Testimonial For Universal's New Haven Manager on 25 Years With Company New Haven, Conn. — More than one hundred exhibitor friends of Morris Joseph, manager of Universal's New Haven Exchange, together with home office executives gathered at the exchange headquarters here Tues-,, day, to celebrate his silver anni versary in service with Universal. Joseph started with Universal in 1914, selling out of the New York Exchange. Between that time and 1925, he worked in Springfield, New Haven, Cleveland and Kansas City. In 1925 he became manager of the New Haven Exchange, and has been there since. Among the home office contingent attending were: William A. Scully, general sales manager, F. J. A. McCarthy, Eastern Sales Manager and A. J. Herman. District Manager. TTie exhibitor guests included the following ; ironi New Haven: H. Lavietes, Pequot Theatre ; J. Cannon, Cannon Theatre; J. DeLucia, Dreamland Theatre, J. Hurwitz, State Theatre; A. Johnson, Strand Theatre; M. Bailey, VVhalley Theatre and M. Tomasino, Victory and Whiteway Theatres. Also the Fishman brothers, representing their circuit of seven theatres. From Bridgeport : M. Jacobson, M. Levine and M. Kaufman, representing the Strand Amusement Company ; Al Schuman, Black Rock Theatre ; S. Hadelman, Capitol Theatre ; Harold Tabackman, Bostwick Theatre ; Joe Corwekl, Liberty Theatre; Phil Schwartz, Parkway Theatre ; A. Prakas, Rivoli Theatre, and Louis Anger. From Hartford : George Landers, man ■^pager of E. M. Loew Theatres; Mike Daly, Daly Theatre ; Charles Repass Crown Theatre ; Martin Keleher, Princess Theatre; M. Lieberman, Proven Pictures; M. Shulman, Rivoli and Webster Theatres; Theodore Harris, State Theatre. From Waterbury : C. Mascoli, Alhambra Theatre ; J. Mascoli, Cameo Theatre ; N. Mascoli, Carroll and Plaza Theatres; E. Van Doren, Hamilton Theatre; William Sirica and F. Quatrano, Lido Theatre; M. Sirica, Capitol Theatre. Also attending from various cities and towns in Connecticut were : M. Cascioli, D. Blaine, J. Berens, Ted Jacocks, James Casey, A. Boscardine, J. Faith, N. Lambert, S. Lambert, J. Markoff, James Mahoney of the Inter-state Theatres Corp., William Pine and Johnny Evers, Joe DiFrancesco, William Hoyt and A. Jacocks, J. Dombe, Jr., Leo Schapiro. Also S. Rosen, A. Lockwood, Leo Bonoff, A. L. Ricci, M. Pouzzner, E. Doran, Mrs. L. Flack, Mr. and Mrs. Hess, J. Findlay, Ralph Pasho, P. Perokas, J. D. Sirica, Max Tabackman, George Lewitt, J. Kata, Irwin Wheeler, Charles Morse, A. J. Smith, H. Fontaine, M. Hadelman, J. Walsh and Ben Leo. Also J. Panoras, Al Pickus, Robert Schwartz, George Wilkinson, Joe Reed, A. F. Smith. From Warner Bros. Theatres came I. J. Hoffman, Max Hoffman, Dan Finn, Guy Barrett, B. F. Hoffman, Larry Ge rmaine. Harry Shaw, Poll, N. E. Division Manager, Matt Saunders, manager of the Poli, Bridgeport and M. Rosenthal, manager of the Majestic in Bridgeport. Harmony Stressed By Cohen and Cole at Meeting Wednesday x-VlHed of New York celebrated the first year of its existence with a three-day convention that opened Tuesday morning at the Astor Hotel, New York. Reported registration of exhibitors was about fifty. Rumors to the efliect that there was a wide rift between the New York unit and National Allied persisted throughout the first day and a half of the convention. At the open meeting Wednesday, Max A. Cohen, president, vigorously denied that there was any cleavage between Allied of New York and the National body. Col. H. A. Cole, head of Allied States, addressed the meeting — paid tribute to the growth and achievements of the year-old "baby" of the Allied organization. Col. Cole's address was a defense of his and National Allied's stand that only through legislation and litigation can the independent exhibitor hope foi relief from the evils which are charged to practices within the industry. Repeated attempts at negotiation, broken promises on the part of the distributors, he said, had failed and that when the "privileges which have become accepted as 'rights' in the industry are returned to their proper status by regulation, he and Allied will be glad to return to negotiation." After Col. Cole concluded his speech, Cohen called to the speaker's stand Harry Brandt, head of the ITOA. Brandt declared there is need for a national organization that exhibitors who are interested in protecting their own business from enemies from without (taxation, particularly) and getting the right kind of representation within the industry can join and work with for their own good. As Brandt took the stand. Col. Cole left the meeting room. He returned later. Queried after the lueeting. Cole said he did not wish to remain and enter into a debate with Brandt. Two resolutions, both re-affirming New York Allied's wish to continue negotiations based on the Trade Practice Pact were passed. Both praised National Allied and repeated the New York unit's determination to work whole-heartedly with the May 27, 1939 Possible Combination Home office executives, Canadian representatives, division managers, branch managers and salesmen from the nine Midwest exchanges present at the second of a series of three sales meetings held by Columbia Pictures Corporation at Chicago, May 14 to 16. On the dais, reading from left to right are: George Josephs, mgr. sales accounting; Maurice Crad, director sales promotion; Lou Resenfeld, general manager for Canada; Irving Moross, Columbia attorney; Rube w -f^'j^^L^ "'^'^■' ^' '^°"*^Sue, general sales manager; Jack Cohn, vice-president; Louis Astor, circuit sales; Max Weisfeldt, short subject sales supervisor; Louis Weinberg, circuit sales and Maurice Bergman, ad. and pub. director. Ann Sheridan, star of Walter Wanger's "Winter Carnival" and Monroe Greenthal, director of exploitation for United Artists, discussing plans relating to the combining of her "oomph" with his glamour, which is quite a stunt. national body — but both declared for continuance of negotiations. This difi^erence between the policy of National Allied and the New York organization, both the resolutions and the remarks of Cohen glossed over as indicative of no conflict. Abram F. Myers, general counsel of Allied States, scheduled to make an address at the Wednesday meeting, was unable to be present. The concluding session, held Tliursday, was an open forum to discuss the topic, Self Regulation. The convention concluded in a burst of the birthday spirit at the dinner, dancing and entertainment which marked the first annual banquet of Allied of New York. LEADING EXHIBS AT RKO LOUNGE Several Register There This Week On N. Y. Visits Several out-of-town exhibitors registered this week at RKO Radio's exhibitor lounge, it was announced by H. M. Richey, director of exhibitor relations. Among those signing the register were: Col. H. A. Cole, president of Allied ; E. C. Beatty, president and treasurer of the Butterfield Circuit, Detroit, Mich. ; A. K. Howard, secretary of Allied, Boston ; J. C. Caldwell, Lee Theatre, Appomattox, Va. ; John Gardner, Gardner Theatres, Schnectady, N. Y. ; Charles F. Wilson, Bijou Theatre, Troy, N. Y. ; J. Constantion, James Theatre, Syracuse ; R. P. Merriman, Franklin Theatre, Syracuse; Steve Tarbell, Smalley Theatres, Cooperstown, N. Y. ; Roy Pahley, Lake Theatres, Interlaken, N. Y. ; Samuel A. Feir, Hastings Theatre, Hastings on Hudson, N. Y, ; I. M. Rappaport, Hippodrome Theatre. Baltimore ; C. H. Olive, Atlas Theatre, Washington ; George Roy and Mrs Roy of the State Theatre, Eugene, Ore., and the Oregon State, Corvallis ; L. Tunick and Mrs. Tunick, of the Brooklyn Theatre, Baltimore, and the Hollywood, Halethorpe, Md.