Showmen's Trade Review (Jan-Mar 1945)

18 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW February 24, 1945 SI DES MOINES A bill to license motion picture fneatres under the state fire marshal and provide fire regulations was killed in the house of the Iowa legislature when a motion was adopted 43 to 36 to lay the bill on the table. The action meant it would take a two-thirds vote to bring it up for consideration again. The bill had been introduced only in the house. Objectors contend the bill would give the fire marshal dictatorial powers and an attempt by labor to dictate as to w^ho could operate the projection machines, because it raised the age limit to 18 years of age. Public safety commissioner Charles Triplett of Des Moines banned the showing of the film, "Human Wreckage," after it had been exhibited ten days at the Casino Theatre in Des Moines. Triplett said juvenile officers had reported young persons 10 years and up standing in the lobby of the house. The theatre claimed that attendance had been limited to adults at all times. Triplett also said the officers had reported the film obscene and suggestive. The ban was not directed at a second picture, "Thrill of Life," also shown at the house. With some 100 theatres yet to report, total collections in the March of Dimes drive in Iowa has reached $70,000, A. H. Blank, Iowa and Nebraska chairman, announced. The collections in Des Moines amounted to $10,979. The Nebraska total was placed at $40,000, with more houses yet to report. William Feld, manager of the Republic exchange at Des Moines, has been appointed sales manager for Republic in the Chicago district. Dave Nelson, former Republic salesman in St. Louis, has taken over the managerial duties of the Des Moines exchange. Nat Steinberg, district manager, met with Feld and Nelson at Des Moines for the transfer of duties. Harry Hamburg, local Paramount exchange manager, and Bill Curry, Pearl Robbins and Ed Sandblom, salesmen, and Jim Foley, booking manager, attended the Paramount district meeting in Kansas City. Bill Brimmer, Warner Brothers salesman, had been removed from Iowa Lutheran hospital to his home to recuperate from an attack of pneumonia. He expects to return to his duties shortly. Forrest Bear, student booker at the MGM exchange, has been sworn into the Navy. CLEVELAND Charles M. Reagan, Paramount vice-president in charge of distribution, James J. Donahue, central division manager ; William Erbb, eastern division manager ; Hugh Owen, New York division manager ; Claude Lee, public relations director and Robert Gillham, head of the advertising department held a 2-day district meeting in Cleveland last week. The meeting on Wednesday was for Paramounteers only and was strictly business. The luncheon meeting on Thursday was for members of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit and Indianapolis offices and for leading exhibitors and its purpose was strictly social. Many out-of-town exhibitors attended the luncheon including Mrs. Ethel Miles who operates a chain of houses in Columbus, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Powers of the Hudson Theatre, Hudson; John Rundell, Montpelier; Ray Wallace, Alliance; C. E. Prinsen, Youngstown; Marvin Harris, manager of the Paramount, Toledo; Sam Reichblum, Columbia, East Liverpool ; Paul REGIONAL NEWS INDEX Boston 23 Charlotte 18 Chicago 23 Cincinnati 21 Columbus 20 Cleveland 18 Denver 24 Des Moines 18 Harrisburg 22 Indianapolis 24 Memphis 24 Milwaukee 23 Montreal 24 Newark 20 New York 22 Omaha 21 Palm Springs 24 Philadelphia 21 Portland 24 San Antonio 23 St. Louis 24 Vancouver 23 Washington 18 Ellis, Robins, Warren, and his soldier son just returned from overseas duty. Motion Picture Censorship was the topic of a forum discussion held Friday in the Higbee Lounge under the sponsorship of the Cleveland Motion Picture Council of which Mrs. Frank R. Anderson is president. Emanuel Gebauer, English teacher at John Hay High School, in his talk on the subject, said he opposed motion picture censorship because it is no longer necessary or wise. He favors controls only so long as they are expedient. Once the expediency has passed, control should be abolished. In his opinion, motion picture censorship has passed the period of expediency. He questions the qualifications of members of censor boards to pass on subjects of such a highly specialized nature as public health and moral well being. What training have they had in psychology, sociology, history of morals and the like?, he asked. Jack Newkirk is back in the fold after a flyer in another town. He has returned to the management of the Beach Cliff Theatre. Ed Huegle, who was pinch-hitting for him, has other plans now in, the making soon to be announced. Celebrities were the order of the day in Cleveland last week. In addition to the Paramount officials here for a district meeting, there were Jack Goldhar, United Artists district manager, Sam Galanty, Columbia district manager, and Fred A. Rohrs, PRC district manager. Dave Miller, Universal district manager, and also Red Cross distributor district chairman, will attend the Pittsburgh industry Red Cross meeting on Feb. 25. Mrs. Gussie Schumann, of the Marvel, is in Los Angeles spending a month with her son, Sol, formerly of Cleveland. Until recently he has been serving as a Red Cross field director. Two theatres in this area were put out of commission by fires and one was restored to operation through the lifting of an epidemic restriction. The Spicer in Akron and the Lyceum in Findlay suffered minor damage by fire. As soon as repairs are completed they will reopen. The Flushing at Flushing is again Operating full time, having been closed the previous two weeks because of a local scarlet fever epidemic. On Feb. 26 the Red Cross luncheon at the Statler Hotel will have N. Peter Rathvon, William Scully and Arthur Mayer as the chief speakers. It is also reported that Ned Depinet, Abe Montague and Si Fabian will be in town for the event. CHARLOTTE The new directors and officers of the Theatre Owners of North and South Carolina held their first meeting at the Hotel Charlotte last week. Reports were read and discussion of the new committee's work was outlined. A. F. Samms, Jr., of Statesville, president, presided. Other members of the board are George W. Parr of Lancaster, S. C, and Roy Rowe of Burgaw, N. C, vice-presidents; Mrs. Walter Griffith of Charlotte, secretary and treasurer; and committee chairmen Charles H. Arrington, Rocky Mount, N. C; H. R. Berry, Hartsville, S. C; H. E. Buchanan, Hendersonville ; George D. Carpenter, Valdese, N. C. ; H. H. Everett, Charlotte ; J. B. Harvey, Clover, S. C. ; E. L. Hearne, Albermarle, N. C; H. F. Kincey, Charlotte: 0. T. Kirby, Roxboro, N. C. ; T. A. Little, Charlotte; J. C. Long, Charlotte; J. F. Miller, Hickory, N. C. ; Ben L. Stozier, Rock Hill, S. C. ; and Sam Trincher, Charlotte. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lee Kerr, Jr., returned Monday from Daytona Beach, Fla., where they spent their honeymoon, and are back at their desks. Mrs. Kerr, the former Betty Lou Harrill, is a bookkeeper at Columbia, and Kerr is with Loew's shipping department. Six former members of Columbia Pictures' staff here, are now serving overseas : Sgt. William R. Jones, accessories manager; Robert I. MacNaughton, Clyde M. Settlemyre, shipper, Lt. John H. Hood, head shipper, and Frank and Washington Alexanders, colored janitors. Ensign Alice Crowell, who took a leave of absence from the Columbia exchange to join the Waves, is now in California. R. J. Ingram of Atlanta, former Columbia manager in Charlotte and now district manager, was a visitor here early this week. Cy Dillon, Republic manager in Charlotte, reports a gala three-vveeks while he was answering the summons of headquarters for a visit to Hollywood, where he spent his time getting the producer's slant on Republic pictures, watching work on the lot, and being entertained by stars Roy Rogers, "Wild Bill" Elliott, and "Sunset" Carson. Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Painter of the West End Theatre, High Point, N. C, announce the arrival of Judith Ann Painter. WASHINGTON Lou Kuzner, manager of the Apollo Theatre, Martinsburg, W. Va., has been appointed with other prominent citizens in that community to serve on the War Manpower Recruiting Committee which will act in an advisory capacity in a labor-recruiting campaign to be inaugurated shortly. The general plan is to recruit labor required in essential industry, first looking after local needs and then "must" plants elsewhere. The following new barkers were inducted into the Variety Club Feb. 5, by membership chairman Nathan D. Golden : Carleton Smith, general manager WRC ; George Wheeler, assistant manager, WRC; Fred Shawn, program manager, WRC ; Richard Harkness, news analyst and commentator, WRC; Wm. V. Courtney, theatre equipment representative, RCA; Max Youngstein, publicity director. War Finance Division; Treasury Dept. ; Kenneth Berkeley, general manager WMAL; Lee C. Beecher, district manager, U. S. Army Motion Picture Service; Irving Martin, assistant manager, Loew's Capitol Theatre ; Chapelle R. Reagan, associate chief, {Continued on Page 20)