Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1941)

Page 12 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW November 8, 1941 The Talk of the Tents Up and Down the Land ^artetp Club Jlote* iOHN H. HARRIS. NATIONAL CHIEF BARKER Weekly Get-Together of Filmdom's Good Fellows Tent No. 1— Pittsburgh 900 Attend Lucky Thirteenth Banquet; Many Former Barkers Attend; Dinner Given for Harry Feinstein The "Lucky Thirteenth" Banquet was a big success. More than nine hundred barkers and their friends were present. Harry Kalmine, Alike Cullen, Joe Hiller, Maurice Spitalny, Harry Feinstein, Mike Shapiro, Joe Feldman, Jimmy Totman and Dr. Beinhauer and all other members of the various committees are to be congratulated on the excellent program and entertainment they arranged. Harriett Pettit, Harry Kalmine's secretary, handled all details of the banquet and really did a grand job, entitling her to a vote of thanks. Among the former barkers of Tent No. 1 who were here for the banquet were Eddie Fontaine, Addie Klein, George Elmo, Jules Lapidus, Bert Stern and Abe Weiner, and it was like a college home-coming for them, judging from the hearty welcome. The committee wishes to extend a vote of thanks to Mort England, Mike Shapiro and Al Weiblinger on the yeoman service they performed at the club over the week-end. The new election of officers for Tent No. 1 will be held on Monday, November 10. Practically all of the barkers of Tent No. 1 will attend the bachelor dinner being tendered on November 7 to Harry Feinstein, local buyer for Warners, who is to be married to Miss Sylvia Fierst. Tent No. 3 — Cincinnati Harry Young Awaits Maria Montez; Morris Dudelson a Visitor; Gin Rummy Tourney Off to Good Start Harry Young, local Universal manager is all agog over the impending personal appearance of Universal's new star, Maria Montez. Miss Montez, who according to Young and other Universal sources, is the new Sarong Girl imported from South America, will make her Cincinnati personals on November 14 and 15 with Dayton getting the break on the following day. Morris Dudelson, the United Artists manager in Detroit, spent the week-end with his brother, Harris, who serves in the same capacity for UA in Cincinnati. Yes, they took in all the sights including the ones over the river in Kentucky. Max Stahl of Paramount Short Subjects, always a welcome visitor, dropped in. Max used to belong here but now makes his headquarters in Cleveland. The Gin Rummy Tournament got off to a big start with 32 participants. Sixteen were eliminated on Saturday and eight more on Sunday. Next Saturday and Sunday will see the playoffs with the winners decided on the last day. The committee, composed of Mike Greenberg, Alan Moritz, Andy Niedenthal, Nat Kaplan, Al Kolitz and Morris White, should be congratulated. Now with Bob Milford and his "My Sister Eileen" company out of town this scribbler as well as the entire personnel of the club should get some rest and much needed sleep. The entire cast and management spent all their waking hours, which were from after the show till late in the morning, in the clubrooms. But a good time was had by all. Arthur Frudenfeld and the scribbler have been appointed a committee of two to write a scenario for use in the promotion of the Cincinnati Boys Clubs. We are glad for the appointments but we are no Maxwell Andersons or Noel Cowards. WHEN? WHERE? WHAT? Nov. 8: Charlotte — First Annual Banquet Nov. 11-12: Columbus — RCA Victor Dance Caravan Nov. 15: Washington — Eighth Annual Dinner Dance Nov. 24: Texas — Thanksgiving Party Dec. 14: Philadelphia — Annual Banquet Dec. 15: Texas — Induction of Officers Dec. 20: Texas — Christmas Carnival Dec. 31: Texas — New Year's Celebration Tent No. 5— Detroit Alec Templeton Concert Attended by 5,000; Proceeds Go to Tent's Charities; American Seating Night Sat. Wednesday was a red letter day for Detroit. Alec Templeton, famed concert pianist, appeared under club auspices at the Masonic Temple. About 5,000 people came to see and hear him, packing the place to the point of selling standing room tickets. The event was handled by a group of live-wire club members and loyal friends, with special tributes going to Barkers Dave Idzal for the publicity — a well-planned and organized job — and Jack MacPherson for the ticket promotion — and Chief Barker Johnny Howard, efficiently in the background, and the omnipresent Ed Kirchner who, as always, did plenty of the hard work. Proceeds of the event go to swell Detroit Tent's contributions to charity activities. There is a new one brewing that we can tell about a little later — it's still a secret ! Saturday was American Seating night at Variety. Kings of the Evening were Larry Becker, Alson Whitney, and Fred Dunakin. Guests of the occasion were Anita Louise and Owen Davis, Jr., stars of the current Lafayette Theatre play. (Everybody learned about Popliteal.) Detroit sent a big contingent to Pittsburgh for the annual dinner — and still had enough left over for a lively Saturday night. Komer and Goldberg night is going to be a big event at the club — count on the Goldberg Twins to come up with some big and lively ideas. Tent No. 11— Washington Club All Set for Next Saturday's Dinner-Dance; Grade Fields Performance Highly Successful The club is all set for the big affair next Saturday, November 15, at 7:30 p.m., at the Willard Hotel. Chairman Carter Barron has made elaborate plans for the Victory dinnerdance being our 8th annual affair. Bud Abbott and Lou Costello will headline a list of stars from Hollywood and Broadway. Among those expected to be present are Universal's Bill and Mrs. Scully, Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Moss, Mr. and Mrs. William Sussman, Mr. and Mrs. James Grainger, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Conrow, Mr. and Mrs. Morton Thalheimer, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Bendheim, Mr. and Mrs. I. M. Rappaport. Ticket Chairman Sam Wheeler for the dance announces the ballroom will be filled to capacity for the gala party. However, Sam can squeeze you in yet if you decide to attend. Barker Morgan Bear will supply the music for the dinner-dance. The Grade Fields performance at Constitution Hall, sponsored by Tent 11 for the British War Relief, was very successful and the club's share of the $6500 receipts was turned over to the local relief branch. Carter Barron takes a bow on this one, too. Election of officers is slated for the luncheon meeting Monday, November 10, day before Armistice Day, at a luncheon meeting in the Willard Hotel. Carter Barron, who is first assistant chief barker, and who has held the top office once before, has declined to accept the post. Hope he can be persuaded. The new officers will be introduced by Chief Barker Hardie Meakin at the Victory Dance. Tent No. 12— Twin Cities First Party of Fall Season Draws Fine Crowd; Ray Wylie Among Visitors; Ted Galanter Also Attends Chief Barker Ben Blotcky of the Twin City Variety club got back from a New York business trip just in time to be present for the club's first party of the fall season in connection with the Minnesota-Northwestern homecoming football game. The party drew a fine crowd and was a huge success in every way, much credit going to Lowell Kaplan and Charlie Rubenstein, co-chairmen of the entertainment committee. There was dancing, favors, entertainment and a dandy breakfast. Among the out-of-town former Minneapolis barkers present for the party was the very popular Ray Wylie, former United Artists' salesman here and now working out of the St. Louis branch. Ray had his charming wife along and the couple did plenty of boasting about Raymond "Mickie" Wylie, the youngster they recently adopted and who accompanied them to Minneapolis on this brief vacation. Another out-of-town visitor present for the party was Ted Galanter, former Minneapolitan now connected with Filmack in Chicago. He came up just to see the Minnesota-Northwestern football game and attend the Variety club affair. Norman Pyle, MGM exploiteer, was a host at a party tossed by him for his "fishermen's group." Tent No. 13— Philadelphia Banquet Given Jim Clark; Large Crowd Attends Hallowe'en Party; Preparations Under Way tor Banquet The banquet given to former Barker Jim Clark in the Grand Ballroom of the BellevueStratford Hotel was an overwhelming success. The Dinner Committee, headed by Jay Emanuel, pulled a number of novel stunts which were the last word in exploitation. A large crowd of Barkers and their ladies attended the Annual Hallowe'en Party, which was held in the Club Room Saturday evening. The novel decorations and pleasing floor show added much to the enjoyment of the affair. Sunday afternoon, the Ladies' Auxiliary held* the first of their Bridge Tournaments, with a capacity crowd attending. Preparations are in full swing for the Annual Banquet, which takes place in the Grand Ballroom of the Bellevue-Stratford on Sunday, December 14th, and a general membership meeting has been called for this Wednesday night for the purpose of perfecting all plans. Tent No. 17— Texas Hallowe'en Party a Hilarious Affair; Wallace Walthall and Mrs. E. B. Coleman Win Prizes for Costumes Hallowe'en was celebrated by Tent No. 17 with a most successful party under the Chairmanship of Joseph Estes. The Roof Garden of (Continued on Page 38)