Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1943)

October 23, n^43 S H O W MEN'S TRADE REVIEW 35 help is Tom Ernfrcd, in person, changing the marquee signs at the Curran Theatre. The management of the Warfield Theatre, a Fox-West Coast downtown lirst-run plus vaudeville, designated a "Wac Day" in cooperation with the corps in their drive to obtain recruits. "Women at \^'ar" in Technicolor was screened and Governor Earl Warren urged all women to see it. At 9 p.m. a special ceremony was held which included music bv the Fifty-third Infantrv Band. VANCOUVER Ted Watkiss of the Uptown Theatre, Sylvan Lake, Alberta, is here on a holiday. Sylvan Lake is a Summer resort between Calgary and Edmonton. Ted had a good Summer season and operates the year round. The dim-out regulations were modified last week in the Pacific area. Restrictions were lifted in the business section to provide outdoor illumination in the interest of public safety. The ban still continues on lighting of billboards, window displays, and theatre signs. Theatres, however, were able to increase lights in lobbys but marquees will continue restricted, at least in British Columbia. Lee and Gordon Brevverton, who control three theatres in Southern Alberta — the Raymond, Cardston, and McGrath — have now taken over bowling alleys at Lethbridge, where there is a large military camp and air force base. Sam Bannister, who now operates the Victory Theatre in Mission, was a Film Row visitor. Sam is doing very well in this fruit section of British Columbia, 45 miles East of Vancouver. Arrangements were completed this week for diversion of a substantial percentage of the rentals of Canadian bookings on "This Is the Army" to the Canadian Army show and recreation fund, while a further percentage will go from Canadian rentals to the U. S. Army Fund. Romeo Rinaldi opened his Rio Theatre, East Trail, again after being closed for five weeks. His equipment had been damaged by vandals. Theatre managers in and around Vancouver are talking of organizing a managers' union which would include the house stafi^s. Now that the Government has lifted wage freezing regulations, the circuit managers believe they are entitled to a hike with the present business boom. Only in the talking stage as yet. Mabel Grant, who has been with Empire Universal here in Vancouver 13 years, will take over as booker when Dave Soutar leaves for the Navy around Nov. 1st. Fox will also have to look around for a booker to replace Bob Cringan who also will be in the Navy at Ottawa after Oct. 28. Bob is at present making his final road-trip. Jimmy Patterson of Fox back from a trip to Vancouver Island. WASHINGTON After several months of retirement, Sam Wheeler is once again active on Film Row. He's taken out a franchise from Screen Classics, New York, and as the Wheeler Film Co. will distribute re-issues, independent productions and perhaps a few foreign films for Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia and part of West Virginia. Sam, local Variety Club chief barker, was manager here for 20th-Fox until last Spring. He's beginning operations with seven Selznick re-issues — including "A Star Is Born" and "Nothing Sacred" — 52 Hal Roach two-reel comedies, four Hal Roach features starring Laurel and Hardy and a feature length film on China titled "Ravaged Earth." The boys along the Row who don't know it should be warned. It's true that Marion Stonebreaker, new hello-girl at Paramount, appears to have that certain something, but along with it she has a husband in camp. Another new gal at Paramount is Betty Dawson, in the contract de partment. New at Fox are Virginia and Betty Mansfield. Also at Fox, Mary Jane McNamara, new E-40 clerk, replaces Marion Bowen, now assistant biller replacing Norma Caughorn, resigned. Sara Young, head booker, has a new recruit in the person of Ann Griffin, who has been named booker. Sara's erstwhile secretary, Alice Filson, replaces Miss Griffin as head of the contract department. Fox Manager C. E. Peppiatt and Glen Norris, salesman, were trekking through the Clinch Valley of Virginia this week, perhaps running into PRC Salesman Bill Smith, who was covering the same territory. Fred Sandy and Ira Sichelman spent the week in Norfolk for PRC, doubtless preparing for the Nov. 22 release of "Harvest Melody." Columbia Division Manager Barney Galanty got back to his desk here last week-end after a week in Cleveland, only to leave Tuesday to check on affairs in Pittsburgh. Auditors were in from New York at Columbia and United Artists — Jules Riess and George Cramer, respectively. Monogram Manager Harry Brown is mighty proud of his son-in-law these days, since he was promoted by the Army. It's now Captain Yale Cohen. The Variety Club womenfolk who've been operating the servicemen's ticket booth here for the past few months were luncheon guests of the club last Friday. Harry Anger presided, with Co-chairman Esther Wheeler and Tacie Davis, who has replaced Louise Solomon, explaining the women's activities. The club was the scene of a reception Tuesday afternoon for Frank Boucher, general manager of the Kogod-Burka circuit here in Washington. Frank was married at noon. The club has also just made a gift of $1,000 to the National Homeopathic Hospital here, and will doubtless raise a good deal more soon for some other worthy cause by means of a football game between two service teams.