Showmen's Trade Review (Jan-Mar 1945)

34 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW January 20, 1945 REGIONAL Continued DENVER signed and has returned to the Paramount sales staff. Theatre owners here are waiting for more explicit instructions from Washington on the dim-out order. Commonwealth Edison officials have not received specific orders and are unable to enlighten them. K. S. Simons has retired from the Marcus Circuit in Ft. Wayne, Ind., and anticipates going to Los Angeles, where he will enter the film business. Simons is a veteran exhibitor. Ray Thompson, former manager of B and K Gateway Theatre has been awarded a citation for bravery, and was promoted to technical sergeant with the Chemical Division. Jack Rose and Alex Maiita, operating under the firm name of Manta and Rose, are established in their quarters at 600 S. Michigan Ave., and are handling the booking and management of all theatres owned or leased by IndianaIllinois Theatres, Inc., or its affiliates or subsidiaries. Announcement that Manta and Rose would take over the operating and booking of Indiana-Illinois was made by D. J. Chrissis, president of the circuit, in December. HARRISBURG One of the most interesting campaigns waged in recent weeks here was the drive for "Hollywood Canteen," which ran two weeks at the State. Under the new manager, Jerry Wollaston, the picture enjoyed "phenomenal success." The campaign started with a proclamation by Mayor Howard E. Milliken, urging the public to see the show, the proceeds of which will go to the Canteen Fund. In addition, Wollaston had 20 tieups on "Hollywood Canteen Sundaes" in city drug stores ; six music stores ; and the Esminger Photo Studio, urging pictures for those in the service. Re-issues in town were "Address Unknown." at Paxtang, "Foreign Correspondent," at the Capitol, and "Storm Over Lisbon" at the Lemoyne. "Winged Victory" opened last Wednesday with a lavish premiere. All seats were reserved. In the party of ISO were officials of all the nearby military installations and Governor and Mrs. Edward Martin. The 136th session of the Legislature swung into action Monday, after a two-week recess following the official opening. Several bills of interest to the industry are said to be in the KOGOD RECEIVES GAVEL. Pictured above at the annual installation of officers of the Washington Variety Club, held recently at the V\/illard Hotel, are John S. Allen (left), retiring chief barker, who turned over the gavel to Fred S. Kogod, leader of the Club for 1945. Other new^ officers and directors: J. E. Fontaine, first assistant chief barker; Nathan D. Golden, second assistant chief barker; Sam Galanty, treasurer; Jake Flax, secretary; Sam Wheeler, Hardie Meakin, A. E. Lichtman, Sidney Lust, Carter Barron, Rudolph Berger, Vince Dougherty, George A. Crouch, Harry Bachman and C. E. Peppiatt. making, as weil as a propjsal of a reform group called the State Federated Legislative Committee, representing 12 church and reform groups. It plans to place before the Assembly a six-point program outlawing Sunday movies "to make sure that the Christian Sabbath shall never be disgraced." Cal Lieberman, former manager of the Rajah, Reading, a member oi the Jay Emanuel stafT, came to the Senate to take over after the resignation of Bill Gerst, now in Philadelphia. Visitors in town recently were Mike Weiss, 20th-Fox ; George Fishman, Warners, and Ed Rosenbaum, Columbia. William S. Hart is the new Capitol manager. He succeeds Charles Poorman, Mark Rubinsky Circuit road manager. Uncle Sam has summoned Lewis Laucks, manager, Newmanstown. Corporal Ray Laucks, former manager of the same house, now with the Army in Hawaii, sent holiday greetings to his former associates. FILM BOARD OF TRADE OFFICERS INSTALLED. Installation of Henry Randel, New York branch manager for Paramount, as 1945 president of the New York Film Board of Trade, and other 1945 officers, was held recently at the home of Louis Nizer, attorney and executive secretary of the Board. The new officers are (l-r) Robert J. Fannon, Republic assistant sales manager, secretary; Clarence Eiseman, Warner branch manager, first vice-president; Joseph J. Felder, Monogram branch manager, second vice-president; President Randel; Ralph Pielow, MGM branch manager, outgoing president, now sergeant-at-arms; David Levy, Universal branch manager, treasurer. Harold E. Rice, Denver Paramount theatre manager, has been promoted to manager of the southern district of Fox Intermountain Theatres, according to announcement by Frank H. Ricketson, Jr., president of the company. Rice succeeds Chet E. Miller, who takes over the city managership at Sterling, Colo., for the same company. He succeeds Loanna Backes, resigned. Ralph J. Batschelet has been promoted from the managership of the Mayan, Denver, to the same post at the Paramount, and John Lindhardt, who has recently been honorably discharged from the Army Air Force, has been made manager of the Mayan. Robert L. Etter is manager of the Webber, succeeding A. C. Knowles, resigned. In his new post Rice will supervise Fox houses in New Mexico and Southern Colorado, making Denver his headquarters. Idaho Falls, Idaho, city council passed a resolution banning all New Year's Eve celebrations. Theatres were forced to cancel all extra shows. The city is about 80 per cent Mormon. Duke Dunbar, long-time secretary of the old Denver film board of trade, who has been in the attorney general's office the past two years, has been promoted to deputy attorney general of Colorado. Four bills have been introduced in the Colorado legislature to kill the obnoxious two per cent service tax bill which, among other things, applies to all admissions over 5 cents. The law, which dies June 31, is slated for immediate repeal by three of the bills. New officers and directors of the Rocky Mountain Club, elected at their annual meeting, include Robt. J. Garland, president; J. H. Ashby, 1st vice-president; A. P. Archer, 2nd vice-president ; Tom Bailey, treasurer ; Clarence Olson, secretary, and Duke Dunbar, general counsel. Directors are Wm. Agren, Mark Ailing, Joe Dekker, Henry Friedel, Ted Halmi, J. J. Morgan, Harod Rice and Frank H. Ricketson, Jr. Lt. Jock R. Chidley, son of C. H. Chidley, executive vice-president of the Rialto Theatres, Inc., Casper, Wyo., has been reported missing in action in Germany. Before joining the AAF he was employed in Casper theatres. Frank H. Ricketson Jr., president of Fox InIntermountain Theatres, has been included in a syndicate which has bought the 11-story Patterson in Denver for $850,000. JERSEY CITY Jack Holder, for many years a vaudeville headliner and recently assistant manager of the Stanley, is new house manager of Skouras' State. "Handsome Tom" Burns, former house manager of the Stanley, has been promoted to the managership of Warners' Union Theatre, Union, N. J. Headed by maaging director Arthur Manfredonia, and head cashier Miss Josie Monte Carlo, the staff of the theatre entertained Tom with a party at Louis' Restaurant Tuesday night. Frank Freudenthal, formerly relief manager for the Rosenblatt & Welt Circuit, who was at the Orpheum Sundays and Mondays,^ has taken over the management of the World Theatre, New York City. Harry Resnick, manager of the Orient, takes pride that his daughter, Mona, r6 years old, currently appeared at the Hawaiian Room, Hotel Victoria, New York City, and is spending her spare time entertaining at the Stage Door Canteen. Harold Molloy, formerly house manager of the State, is now relief manager for the Skouras Circuit in North Jersey, as personal representative for Zone manager Notis A. Komnenos. Ray Sheldon, a form show producer, is now assistant manager at the Stanley. Jack Bokser, manager of the Capitol, is justly proud of the new appearance of the lobby and (Continued on Page 36)