Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1940)

May 4, 1940 SHOWMEN'S T RADE REVIEW Page 7 GOLDBERG'S 25th YEAR Lee L. Goldberg, president of Big Feature Rights Corporation, which has independent exchanges in Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Cleveland, will celebrate his 25th year in the industry nexf June. He started in Louisville as manager for B. F. Keith and then opened a small exchange in Louisville. Later he handled a number of theatres which were later bought by Warner Bros, and he, too, joined the circuit in an executive capacity. He resigned a few years ago to devote himself to his exchanges. Louisville Greets "My Favorite Wife" World Premiere There Is A Homecoming For Its Star "My Favorite Wife," Irene Dunne's latest RKO picture, in whicli she is co-starred with Cary Grant, opened in Louisville on Thursday night of this week. The Derby city was chosen, not only because of the fact that the Derby is being run there this week, but also because Irene Dunne came from Louisville and this is a "homecoming" celebration. Manager J. J. Musselman of the Rialto arranged for all the Hollywood trimmings for the premiere. Among those who attended were President George J. Schaefer, Ned E. Depinet, vice-president, and S. Barret McCormick, director of advertising and publicity, from the RKO home office. Sam and Bella Spewack, co-authors of the screenplay also attended. From the coast came Gene Fowler, David Butler, well known director, Hal Roach, Perry Lieber, head of the RKO studio publicity forces, Miss Dunne's husband, Dr. Francis Griffin and Margaret Ettinger. "Our Town" Premiere Will Be Held in Boston Boston — World premiere of Sol Lesser's "Our Town," based on Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer Prize Play, will be held here May 23, when it will open simultaneously at Loew's State and Orpheum Theatres. Celebrities, notables and motion picture critics will be in attendance, it was said. Oregon ITO Names Miller Executive Secretary Portland, Ore.— O. J. Miller, formerly owner of the Chaldran Theatre, has been named executive secretary of Independent Theatre Owners of Oregon, and has opened offices for the organization at 1923 N.W. Kearney St. Affiliated with the Pacific Coast Conference of Independent Theatre Owners, the new organization now has 42 members representing 86 theatres. Detroit V. C. Charity Hop Detroit — A charity benefit dance at the Naval Armory May 17 is planned by the Detroit Variety Club. Appeal Upholds WagnerPatents Sign Service Wins Against Adier on Changeable Signs The U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit ruled in favor of Wagner Sign Service, Inc., in a decision handed down April 2Sth on an appeal by Adler Sign Letter Co., from a decision of the District Court of the U. S. involving patents relating to changeable letter silhouette signs. The appeals court found the Wagner patent valid and infringed by the Adler companies and Patio Theatre Co., an Adler sign user joined with the manufacturer in the infringement action brought by Wagner. Decision of the high court, summarized, is to the following effect : That Wagner patent No. 2,048,840, is valid and that patent is infringed by those Adler signs which comprise letters of the notched flanged type. That Adler patent No. 2,038,978 which Adler claimed infringed by Wagner signs, is invalid. That the lug letter signs, formerly featured by the Adler companies, do not infringe Wagner's patent. In an announcement issued by Erwin Wagner, president of Wagner Sign Service, it was stated that the decision of the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals means, according to custom, that the Adler companies and Patio Theatre Co. will be enjoined from further infringement of the Wagner patent and will be required to account to Wagner for past infringements of such patent. Slot Machine Films Target of Ind. ATO Indianapolis — Declaring that nickel-in-the-slot movies "are definitely a threat to the established motion picture theatre owners," directors of Associated Theatre Owners of Indiana have adopted a resolution "irrevocably" opposing any producer of motion pictures entering into the production of any film for the automatic projection field. Producers are called on by the Board's resolutions to give their "vigorous support" in stamping out "this evil." Expect Large Gathering At National Allied Meet More than 2,000 independent theatre owners and their families from 21 states are expected to attend the 11th annual national convention of the Allied States Association of Motion Picture Exhibitors, and Equipment Dealers' Exposition, scheduled to be held here June 19-21 at the Morrison Hotel, according to an announcement this week by Jack Kirsch, president of Allied of Illinois, and convention chairman. From present indications, this year's gathering bids fair to be the most successful national convention in the history of Allied, Kirsch declared. MPTO of W. Pa. Now Okays AA Casanave and Dembow Talks To Group Change Their Minds The MPTO of Western Pennsylvania has rescinded its opposition to Advertising Accessories through a letter written by Fred J. Herrington, secretary to Charles L. Casanave, vice-president and general manager of Advertising Accessories. The exhibitor organization at its last meeting had opposed the practise of having all film advertising and accessories distributed through one company. Casanave and George Dembow, sales manager of Advertising Accessories, attended a recent meeting of the MPTO of Western Pennsylvania and explained that the company was doing no more than the poster exchanges in the territory had done for some time or that National Screen Service, National Screen Accessories and American Display had done for many years — offering a complete service from all companies. They further pointed out that wherever they had taken over a poster exchange they had retained the manpower. "Your very thorough explanation has placed quite a different light on the matter, and we feel now that if you sincerely carry out the promises made, the concentration of this advertising will not work the hardship which we originally felt it would," said Herrington in his letter. Important Dates May 8-10: Pacific Coast Conference convention, Los Angeles. May 6-7: MGM Regional Sales Meeting, St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco. May 11: Universal Regional Sales Meeting, Ambassador Hotel, Atlantic City. May 12-14: National Film Carriers annual convention, Park Central Hotel, New York. May 12-14: United Artists Regional Sales Meeting, New York. Mav 13-14: MGM Regional Sales Meeting, Drake Hotel, Chicago. May 17-18: MGM Regional Sales Meeting, Astor Hotel, New York City. May 17-19: United Artists Regional Sales Meeting, Chicago. May 18: Universal Regional Sales Meeting, Drake Hotel. Chicago. May 20-21: MGM Regional Sales Meeting, Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D. C. May 24-26: Paramount Annual Sales Convention, Los Angeles. May 27-30: RKO Radio international sales convention, Waldorf-Astoria, New York. June 9-11: North and South Carolina Theatre Owners Ass'n summer convention. Ocean Forest Hotel, Myrtle Beach, S. C. June 10: Warner Bros. Annual Sales Convention, Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D. C. June 19-21: National Allied convention, Morrison Hotel, Chicago. June 24: MPTO of Va. midsummer convention, Chamberlin Hotel, Old Point Comfort. Wisconsin Parent-Teachers Congress Favors Neely Bill Fond du Lac, Wis, — A resolution advocating passage of the Neely anti-block booking bill was adopted by the Wisconsin Congress of Parents and Teachers at its annual convention here. Nat'l Theatre Mgrs. Ass'n Chicago — Plans are under way here for a national organization of theatre managers, it is reported, although details are not yet available.