Showmen's Trade Review (Jan-Mar 1945)

lanuary 13, 1945 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 47 Charles Rich, Warner district manager, was a visitor in the city during the week. The Paramount Pep Club, will elect its new officers Monday night for 1945. "Hollywood Canteen" is playing extended runs in Louisville, Ky., and Evansville, running into its third week and going strong. R. R. Nichols is the new manager at the Capital and Eastern theatres in Ft. Wayne. He succeeded K. E. Simmons, who is leaving for Los Angeles. Nichols was formerly in the industry in Parson, Kansas. Exhibitors booking pictures on Film Row ; Bob Hudson, Richmond ; D. J. Abbott, Crothersville; D. D. Lee, Montezuma, and Joe Schilling, Connersville. L. J. MoGinley, of Universal, spent the week in Louisville, Ky., and the Southern territory on business. Fred Dolle of Louisville, Ky., and Harry Katz of New York, are scheduled for a visit here the coming week. A large turnout is assured for the Variety Club party to be given in honor of Larry Shubnell Jan. 12, who has gone to Franklin to join the Rembusch Enterprises. Gordon Schuman, head booker at RKO, and Max Meadow, Universal sales representative for the Southern territory, and their wives were a foursome Jan. 5, celebrating Mrs. Meadow's birthday. HARRISBURG One of the highlights of the holiday season was the annual party given for more than 300 orphans in the area by E. Girard Wollaston, manager of the State Theatre, and Franklin Moore, manager of the Penn Harris, an event which had its origin in 1926 by its founder, the late C. Floyd Hopkins, for many years Wilmer and Vincent area manager. Wollaston and Moore arranged for a movie at the State, followed by a luncheon and entertainment at the Penn-Harris. The "Rio Rascals," the children's Saturday afternoon show of the Rio, provided additional entertainment. Holdovers in town are "Frenchman's Creek" at the Colonial ; "Hollywood Canteen" at the State; and in its third week, "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" at Loew's Regent. The kiddies' matinee each Saturday at the Rio is attracting more attention of youngsters and their parents, as Henry L Marshal, master of ceremonies, continues to expand the entertainment with local talent. Another change in management personnel was announced at the Senate, where William C. Gerst resigned to return to Philadelphia to be near his father, who is ailing, and Cal Lieberman, formerly manager of the Rajah, Reading, COLOR HEAD, PRODUCER CONFER. Dr. Herbert T. Kalmus (I), president and general manager of Technicolor Motion Picture Corp., is shown above in conference with Walt Disney at Technicolor's New York offices over the latter's new Technicolor feature, "The Three Caballeros," an RKO Radio release. took over the work here. Gerst was manager for one year after Bob Sidman left for the Army. Late Christmas mail received by those in the industry included notes from Cpl. Ray Laucks, in Hawaii, former manager of Newmanstown, and Pfc. Harry Lee Jones, in F'rance, formerly employed at the Lyric, Williamstowii. PORTLAND Pacific Northwest film salesmen present for their first meeting this year at the Seattle Film Club included : Joe Warren, Harry Landstrom, MGM ; Morrie Segal, Jack O'Bryan, George Mitchell, United Artists; Buck Scale, Columbia; Ray Ackles, 20th-Fox ; Paul Mcllhenny, Republic ; Max Hadfield, Paramount ; Ernie Piro, Universal. Zollie Volchok, Paramount manager here, has been inducted into the Army. ■ With increased efforts on the part of industry representatives and theatre men, Multnomah County, Ore., exceeded its quota in the 6th War Loan by $17,577,859. A special parade heralded the Seattle premiere of "Winged Victory" prior to its initial showing at the Paramount and Music Hall. The Family Theatre in Helena, Mont., sustained a $1000 loss when flames from a torch set fire to its frame work. George Smith, western division sales manager, and Del Goodman, western district manager of Paramount, were in conference with Branch Manager Herbert Kaufman in Seattle. Victor Mature and a company put on "Stars and Spars" at the Paramount Theatre, Portland. This is the first naval unit revue in this area. Jimmy Trope, operating the Broadway Theatre at Skagway, Alaska, arrived in Seattle for the Winter. Mel Huling, western district manager for Monogram, conferred with Ralph Abbott in Seattle. Mr. and Mrs. Selom Burns proudly announce the arrival of a son. SAN ANTONIO William "Bill" O'Donnell, of the TexasConsolidated Theatres, was a visitor to the Row here en route to Brownwood. Another visitor was Aviation Cadet Ignacio Torres, Jr., whose father manages the National Theatre. While holiday business was off at all of the first-runs, due to Christmas shopping, most of the theatres were back to normal after New Year's Day. While closing the ticket window of the Joy Theatre last week, Mike Midgett was forced to yield a small sum of money to a hold-up man at the point of a gun. Arrivals and departures: Pvt. Pete Ramirez and Mrs. Ramirez off to California for a sojourn ; Mrs. Nelly Teeters, managing director and owner of the Joy Theatre, has returned from a visit to Oklahoma; Miss Nan Lee Blackburn leaves for Hawaii for a Government job, and Ann Brown, Negro singer, is bound for Hollywood for a role in pictures. Thomas Howell, manager for Texas-Consolidated Theatres in the lower valley, and Mrs. Howell announced the birth of a daughter, Helen Patricia. David F. Perdue, former Griffith manager, has purchased and is now operating the Royal Theatre in Archer City, Texas. ST. LOUIS G. Carey, doing business at the Stadium Theatre in Caruthersville, Mo., has filed an arbitration complaint that Loew's has refused to furnish for some run, and alleging that Paramount, Warners, 20th-Fox and RKO are granting unreasonable clearance to the competing Gem and Rodgers theatres. The petition requests that the clearance for the Stadium be based on the territorial release dates for the various films and also that Loew's be directed to furnish some run. This is the second time that the owners of the Stadium have filed a complaint against Loew's, their prior petition being filed in June, 1942 ; but the case was dismissed before it went to hearing. In the unreasonable clearance complaint of A. D. Magarian doing business at the Gaty Theatre in East St. Louis, 111., against Loew's, Paramount, 20th-Fox, Warners and RKO, an intervening petition has been filed by PublixGreat States, operators of the firstrun Majestic Theatre. The Gaty case is docketed for hearing before AAA Arbiter Wilbur Jones, a St. Louis attorney, Jan. 18. The 300-seat Red Bud Theatre, Red Bud, 111. (pop. 1000), managed by Mr. and Mrs. C. T. Duisinberre, making two changes weekly, reports selling 533 war bonds during the 6th War Loan, totaling $76,125. Most of the town's quota was sold through the theatre which to date has sold $310,079 in war bonds. PRC has moved into its new quarters at 3334 Olive Street. Andy Dietz, all pepped up about the new office, got away to a nice start by closing a deal with Sol Banks for the first block of Film Classics to run in his Gem Theatre in Fulton, Mo., and the Liberty, Vandalia, Mo. Bernard McCarthy, United Artists manager, has returned from a two weeks' vacation spent with relatives in Los Angeles. An extensive exploitation campaign has been arranged for Columbia's "A Song to Remember" which is scheduled to open its local run at {Continued on Next Page) OPENING GUN IN 1945 NED DEPINET DRIVE IN BOSTON. Gathered In Boston recently to get the 1945 Ned Depinet Drive off to a flying start were (l-r) Barney Pitkin, RKO Radio branch manager at New Haven; Ross Cropper, RKO branch manager, Boston; Nat Levy, RKO eastern division sales manager; John Shephard III, chairman of the board and general manager of the Yankee Network; Robert Folliard, RKO eastern district manager and drive captain; Gus Schaefer, RKO northeastern district manager; Elmer Lux, RKO branch manager, Buffalo; Max Westebbe, RKO branch manager, Albany.