Showmen's Trade Review (Jul-Sep 1943)

July 24, 1943 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 37 BOSTON Miss Cleo Jacove, secretary to Louis Richmond, aide to E. M. Loew, returned this week from a vacation at Asbury Park, N. J. Hy Fine, district manager for M & P theatres, spent the greater part of last week on territorial assignments, visiting Hartford and other cities in Connecticut and in Western Massachusetts. Philip O'Brien, Framingham theatreman who formerly owned and operated the Village Hall Playhouse, has joined the Navy. Bill Horan, Warner branch manager, is a former Holy Cross athlete and on his visits to Worcester usually wanders out toward the college for a glimpse of old scenes there. Richard Huntoon of the Warren Theatre in Worcester was a Boston film row visitor. Miss Gertrude Rittenberg, office manager at the E. M. Loew offices here, is spending a vacation in the White Mountains. Henry Tobin has been named district manager for Rhode Island for the E. M. Loew circuit. Norman J. Ayers, district manager for Warners, made a hurried trip to New Haven last week. Visiting the local Warner branch on a tour of inspection is Herman Goldberg of the New York Maintenance Department. Repairs in the local building are indicated. Phil Engel, publicist, off to Providence, Fall River, New Bedford for the openings there of "Background to Danger" and "Action in the North Atlantic." Al Daytz, Maine salesman, is spending a week in the Boston office of Warners assisting Saul Edwards on deals with the local exhibitors. Jimmy Moore, salesman de luxe on Boston's film row, is spending several days in Albany with his family. John Walton, who headed the sales department of Warners for many years, has been promoted to booking department effective at once. Succeeding Walton is Charlie Light, who is in charge of the accessories department. Al Herman, now in New Haven with Vitagraph, former salesmen here for Monogram, a visitor in the district. Carleton McVarish ("Sandy" to all his friends and that includes the entire film and radio district) has been inducted into the Army and is currently stationed at Fort Devens. A few months ago Manager Frank K. Eldridge of the Capitol Theatre, Concord, N. H., currently visiting in Boston, received a visit from a former usher on leave from the U. S. Air Corp. The boy, Raymond Curtice, is now a Major in the same branch of the service and one of its youngest officers. Two days after his visit to Concord his folks received a cable from him stating that he had arrived safely in England. Last week as Eldridge was watching a short subject, "Mission Accomplished," he saw Major Curtice photographed on a bombing mission over Germany. Curtice's Mom and Dad attended every show as guests of Manager Eldridge. Frank Cronin, former RKO press agent, is now stationed at Nashville where he is a member of Uncle Sam's Army. CHARLOTTE PLAN AID TO THIRD WAR LOAN DRIVE. Spyros Skouras, Francis Harmon, Charles P. Taft, head of the division of Recreation and Welfare of the Federal Security Agency, and George J. Schaefer, at the joint committee meeting of the War Activities Committee held at the Hotel Astor in New York last w/eek. Purposes of the meeting were formulation of plans for industry participation in the Treasury Department's Third War Loan Drive and discussion of a program of war information shorts. See p. 22. Prompt repairs will be made on the State Theatre, which was seriously damaged by fire of mysterious origin at midnight last Thursday, and the theatre re-opened at an early date, possibly this week, it is stated by the manager, Bernal S. Lewis. The State is one of five Wilby-Kincey theatres located in Charlotte. J. E. Austin, city manager for the Wilby-Ivincey theatres, was on vacation at the beach when the fire occurred. The fire was the fourth of suspicious origin in these theatres within recent weeks, the others having been detected and extinguished before damage was done. Livestigation by the detective division of the police department of Charlotte is underway and suspects have been narrowed down to two. One or more arrests are expected, according to official reports. CHICAGO Ray Thompson, manager B & Iv Gateway Theatre, inducted into Army. Herbert Lyons, B & K publicity department, returns to duties after Army discharge. Dean Jones, assistant manager B & Iv Chicago Theatre, hospitalized at Wesley Memorial Hospital. John L. Manta, prominent theatre executive, headed the committee to welcome Commander Thanos Spanidas, noted Greek naval hero, held at the Morrison Hotel, July 17th. Manta is president of the Pan Hellenic Federation of America. Tom Gilliam, Jr., son of Tom Gilliam, Fox Exchange manager, promoted to First Lieutenant in Army. Has been stationed in Iceland for past sixteen months. Mrs. Tom Gilliam, wife of Tom Gilliam, Fox manager, and her son, Jimmy, have gone to Los Angeles for a month's visit with Mrs. R. C. Seery. Sam Marx, MGM executive, a Chicago visitor. The Chicago Musicians Union service flag now carries 1750 stars. Great States circuit service flag now has 150 stars, among them are two Wacs, Marion Santry, from Orpheum Theatre, Joliet, stationed at Conway, Ark., and Ethel Mertz, same thetre, at Dowd Field. Jackson Park Theatre anti-trust case against Balaban and Katz and leading film companies has been set for November 1st. Szold and Kerosotoes arbitration cases have been set July 27th at the Chicago arbitration headquarters. J. J. Rubens, Great States circuit managing director, returns from New York conferences. Jack Kirsch has returned from a business meeting in New York City. Steve Edwards, Republic special representative, goes to Milwaukee next week for the personal appearance of Roy Rogers and his horse. Trigger, at the Wisconsin Theatre, starting July 25th. F. P. Duffield and Dewey Long have been admitted to membership in Chicago Variety Club. Dave Wallerstein, B & K district manager, is spending his vacation at Cedar Lake, Wise. Al Raymer, Indiana-Illinois circuit booking manager, and his family are at Michigan City on vacation. Kenneth Blewett, manager B & K Regal Theatre, goes into the Army on August 5th. Joseph Hackworth, manager Great States circuit Grand Theatre, Alton, 111., joins the Navy. Nathan J. Gould succeeds him as manager. Richard Rodems, Great States Princess Theatre, Alton, 111,, joins Army. William Grady succeeds him. CINCINNATI F. W. Huss, Jr., president of Associated Theatres, is back at his desk after a ten-day illness. Miss Margaret Woodruff, Belpik booker and manager, spent several days in Lexington as the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Lew Hensler, district manager in Kentucky for the Schine Circuit. Mr. Hensler is also manager of the Ben Ali Theatre, Lexington. Eileen Burke, Wac, formerly with 20th Century-Fox, is now a corporal. Metro's Head Booker Mike Berger is vacationing. Ditto for Metro's Virginia Kenny. Warners' Bill Brumberg is here to stage a publicity campaign for "The Constant Nympth" which opens on the 30th. "Coney Island" has broken all house records at Keith's, Dayton. J. J. Grady left to attend the testimonial dinner for Sydney Samson, 20th Century-Fox branch manager at Buffalo, New York, at the Statler Hotel in that city. Chain heads in town this week were Jim Chakeres, Chakeres Circuit, Springfield ; Harold Raives, Schine Circuit and Schine booker for Ohio theatres. Tony Stern, Warner Theatres' head booker, was here from Cleveland on his first trip since taking up his new position. Also here was Marvin Samuelson of Warners. Cleveland. Exhibitors at the row this week were J. F. Carnahan, Beattyville and Alanchester, Kentucky ; G. C. Porter, Beckly. \\'est Virginia, and Paul HoUen, Pt. Pleasant. West \^irginia. Stanley Jacques and his local RKO sales staff {Continued on Next Page)