Showmen's Trade Review (Jan-Mar 1945)

52 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW January 13, 1945 REGIONAL — Continued showman keeps his audiences in stitches — not himself. Revivals have been proving popular here as elsewhere. Among the outstanding drawing cards in this respect were : "The Sign of the Cross," "The Walking Dead," ''Naughty Marietta," "Trail of the Lonesome Pine," "Wuthering Heights" and the perennial favorite, "Snow White." The National Film Board is now in full swing with its production of sing-song films for military and civilian needs. Undoubtedly the social event of the week for the local film folk was the party held for Babe Coval, former branch manager of Warner Brothers-Vitagraph, and now their representative in Trinidad and the British West Indies. There were 60 well wishers at the event. Babe was presented with an engraved wrist watch by Bill Lester, head booker of United Amusements. The committee was made up of C. S. Chaplin, United Artists, Chairman ; Hap Taylor of RKO and Tommy Dowbiggan of Paramount — all local branch managers. Wires expressing good wishes were received from J. J. Fitzgerald, president of Famous Players Canadian Corp. ; H. M. Masters, vice-president and general manager of Odeon of Canada, and Paul Nathanson, president of Odeon and Empire Universal. Confirmed was the appointment of Gratton Tiely as branch manager to replace the popular Babe. Among visitors to the city for the occasion were : Harry Harnick of Columbia, Toronto; George Champagne of Shawinnigan Falls ; Alf . Perry, Canadian general manager of Empire-Universal ; Joe Plotell of Warner Bros., Toronto; Izzie Allen of Monogram, Toronto; and Gordon Lightstone, Canadian general manager of Paramount. Part of the entertainment was supplied by Paul Cardinal of the Roxy and Starland theatres. There was a novelty presentation by Tommy Dowbiggan and a special poetry offering by Ray Lewis, publisher of Canadian Motion Picture Digest and owner of Alliance Films. DENVER Stafif Sergeant George H. McCool, son of George H. McCool, Sr., ofifice manager of the United Artists exchange, has been sent back from the European theatre of war and is now hospitalized in Fitzsimons Hospital here. He is in the process, of being medically discharged. Sgt. McCool wea-rs two Presidential Citations, one Silver Star"^ 4nd three battle stars because HONORED AT TESTIMONIAL DINNER. Emanuel Siiverstone, who relinquished his position as assistant to Western Division Manager J. J. Unger to become special representative of United Artists' foreign department, was tendered a testimonial dinner one evening last week at Toots Shor's. Shown in the picture above are (i-r) Maj. Monroe W. Greenthal, Gradwell L. Sears, Siiverstone, Bernard Kamber and Carl Les^rman. of action in the European theatre. The McCool family had their Christmas dinner Sunday, and it was a real reunion as well as a holiday festive occasion. Sgt. McCool was hospitalized in Europe three months before starting home. The March of Dimes committee of the Denver film exchanges, composed of exchange managers and headed by Earl Bell, Warner Bros, manager, held a meeting at the Fox screening room at which tentative plans were formulated for the drive. All plans will tie in 100 per cent with the national setup. United Artists staged a sneak preview of "Tomorrow the World" at the Aladdin. Film Row is still waiting to hear whether C. U. Yaeger, bank night originator and theatre owner, was able to get his horses to Caliente for the race meet before the Government clamped down on racing. Ed Bluck, former theatre owner, is at the Colorado General Hospital, where he is in a critical condition, with blood transfusions being given. One o^ his sons, Ross, is office manager for RKO at their Des Moines exchange. Doug ■ Pratt, former Columbia auditor, spent a few days in Denver visiting friends. Larry Starsmore, former manager for Westland Theatres, spent part of his furlough here. He is stationed at the Newark, N. J., Army air base. Fred ^ekman, 'booker for the Black Hills Amusement Co., has moVed his offices to 603 Danham Building. ^vi-* ' Managerial changes made in /Vti^a-U -theatres : M. H. Phillipson has been 'i|^^pf from the S^^ta Fe, Denver, to'-^fe. Rex, Brighton, Colo., succeeding: 'Q^a^ie" Welch, who left for ■ the West Coast. The Santa Fe job i^^piifji! temporarily. Charles Lacy, doorman ;ajtthe' Jeyvell, has been made manager. Mr. and Mrs. C. K. Olson (he's the United Artists manager here) have returned from a visit to Salt Lake City where they visited their daughter who is recuperating from an appendectomy. Mr. Olson visited along Film Row and renewed acquaintances. Out-of-town exhibitors booking on the Row included Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Canda of Westcliffe, Colo. ; Art Beaton and Gary Walker, Johnstown, Colo.; George McCormick, Canyon City, Colo., and "Chick" ■ Kelloff, Antonito, Colo. OTTAWA The first meeting of the Eastern Division ct the MPTA of Ontario in 1945 was held on Tuesday at the Chateau-Laurier with the new chairman, Ray Tubman, presiding. Among the matters discussed was the showing of 16-mm. films in places contrary ^t,g stipulations set by the industry. a'-li Joe Plotell, Toronto branch manager of Warner Bros., was a recent visitor to the city. Isser Singerman, manager of the Imperial, gave a personal endorsement in the form of a letter recommending his program of "Take It Or Leave It" and "The Big Noise" as the best laugh show in years. Alan Buchanan, recently discharged from the RCAF, has been appointed assistant manager to Steve McManus at the-^EIgyr*' ■ WB National Radio Campaign On 'IjO Have' to Cost $100,00^) The biggest national radio spot announcement campaign undertaken by Warner Bros, to date in launching the general release of a motion picture will get under way next week in connection with "To Have and Have Not," when the company will use leadiiig stiitions in approximately 100 key cities, with 25 broadcasts scheduled over a period of three weeks. Cost of the campaign will be approximately $100,000. . This is the first large scale national spot advertising undertaken ^y Warners, and results derived from the canipaign will guide the company in future radia activity. Loew Theatres Book 'Rainbow' Completing a 14-week run 4t the Stanley (Theatre, "The Rainbow," Soviet film released by Artkino, will be shown in several Loew tlieatres in the metropolitan area starting Jan. 13. BRING ON THAT CHRISTMAS DINNER. Annual Christmas Party of Loew's Theatre, Rochester, N. Y., held during the holiday season, proved a festive occasion for the some thirty persons attending. Here is a scene of the group, with Manager Lester Pollock seated at the head of the table. Widland Joins Thompson Agency Don Widland, associated with Jam Handy for the past nine years, has resigned to join the motion picture division of the J. Walter Thompson Co. in New York. /