Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1944)

16 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW November 18, 1944 PORTLAND Oregon State amusement tax receipts for three-months period ending September 30th, totaled $230,000. Sgt. Mort Endert, well known on Seattle film row sends regards from France to friends here. "Going My Way" is playing its tenth big week at Music Box, Portland. Ed Urschel, traveling auditor for MGM visitmz Portland and Seattle exchanges. Lester N. Johnson and associates announce plans for a new theatre in Spokane, Wash., at Garland and Monroe Streets. It will be named Garland Theatre. H. W. (Nick) Pierong, well-known theatre manager of Spokane, and pioneer exhibitor, is the Republican candidate for state representative. Two hundred Washington, Idaho and Alaska exhibitors attended the 6th War Loan bond meeting, presided over by L. O. Lukan, Seattle. Mel Hulling, Western district manager for Monogram, visiting Walter Wessling, Portland, and Ralph Abbett, Seattle. Veteran theatre manager John Hamrick, King County chairman of the theatre division 6th War Loan Drive called special meeting. Ben Shearer, John Danz, Vete Stewart, Carl Mahne, Vic Gauntlett, Guy Navarre, Bill Duggan, Jack Sampson and Joe Cooper were in attendance. Lieut. Bill Stoeber, U. S. Navy, writing to Film Row friends from Puerto Rico. Howard D. McBride, honorably discharged from the U. S. Army, is back at his theatres in Spokane. Del Goodman, Western district manager for Paramount, visiting Portland and Seattle exchanges. Bob Cleveland, has resigned as booker for Universal, Seattle. Sammy Siegel, leaving Pacific Northwest to assist Mike Newman, Columbia in L.A. CHICAGO First in Chicago to use the new three-cent stamps commemorating the 50th Anniversary of motion pictures was Allied Theatres of Illinois. The stamps were affixed to the mailing to 150 Allied theatres of a bulletin on the 6th War Loan. Bulletin was signed by Jack Kirsch, president of the association, and a national cochairman of the loan drive. Arbitrator William McSwain, who heard attorneys in the Colony Theatre, McHenry, 111., case for clearance and some run, has given fifteen days for replies by the defendants, the five major companies who are signatories to the consent decree. The award, it is expected, will be made on or about January 13. The million dollar anti-trust suit against B & K and five distributor companies filed by the former Thalia theatre owners, will go into Federal Judge William Holly's court on November 20. Arthur Schoenstadt, chairman of the War Community Fund reports $520,000 collected from amusement and sporting divisions. This exceeds quota by 25 per cent. "Since You Went Away" is breaking records at the B & K State Lake. Tremendous receipts for the first three weeks, and it looks like an eight-week run for the Selznick picture. Irving Mack, of Filmack ; Republic District Manager F. Baker, and Eddie Burnell, chairman of the house committee of the local Variety Club, will represent the Chicago Tent at the REGIONAL NEWS INDEX Bosfon 16 Charlotte 20 Chicago 16 Cincinnati 17 Cleveland 20 Dallas 24 Des Moines 21 Harrlsburg 21 Indlanapoljs 21 Memphis 20 Montreal : . . 17 Omaha 20 Ottawa 20 Palm Springs 16 Philadelphia 24 Pittsburgh 17 Portland 16 San Antonio 17 St. Louis 24 Vancouver 21 Washington 24 national meeting in Washington. Johnny Jones, another delegate, will not be able to attend — he is on the West Coast. J. B. Cooley of Queen Features Service Co., Birmingham, a visitor at the Wenzel Projector Co., offices here. Ray Colvin, St. Louis equipment dealer and head of the Independent Dealers' Association, was a business visitor in Chicago last week. Tom Gillian, 20th-Fox manager, reports his son. Captain Tommy Gillian, was awarded a bronze star by General Patton for bravery in the Marne River crossing. Leo T. Norville, attorney, has been selected as arbitrator for the Marchessi Bros., Geneso, 111., case against MGM, Paramount, RKO, LeClaire and Illinois Theatres, Majestic and Strand theatres. East Moline, 111. Tri-States Theatre Corp., has filed an intervention in the case which has been set for hearing on January 9, 1945. Sid Blumenstock and Jules Fields of the 20thFox horhe office exploitation department are due here Nov. 18 for meeting of field men in connection with the "Winged Victory" campaign in this territory. Sergeant Eddie Seguin of the Army Special Services and former B & K publicity expert, in town from New Orleans on furlough. Lieutenant Stanley Levine, head of Stanley Theatre Equipment, in Chicago on leave from Norfolk Naval hospital. Rud Lohrenz, UA district manager, reports that Elmer Donnelly, salesman, has been named manager of the company's Indianapolis branch, succeeding Richard Frank, who resigned to enter another field. Jay Stern, former Detroit manager for Ross Federal Service, named Chicago manager, succeeding O. M. Young, who has transferred to Los Angeles. Fred Bartow, former Paramount publicity man, who suffered a paralytic stroke last year is slowly recovering, his many friends are glad to learn. H. G. Costello, managing director of the Oriental, has returned from a booking trip to New York. The Oriental will continue to feature name bands in stage shows. Fred Joyce, 20th-Fox publicity man, has returned from Detroit, where "ne set arrangements for the opening, November 24, of "Something for the Boys" at the Detroit Fox Theatre. The premiere there will tie in with the 6th War Loan. PALM SPRINGS Seen about town... Peter Lorre, who looks the same off screen as on. Paulette Goddard and Burgess Meredith at Fulton's swank new Men's Shop in the Oasis Hotel. Gloria de Haven and John Payne dining at Chi Chi's.. . .Looked like a night in Hollywood with John Wayne at another table. ... Paul Henreid at a third. .. .Jesse Lasky at a fourth. Jennifer Jones due in town this week. ...Fay Bainter, who has a home here, leaving for Hollywood to play "Marie Dressier." Recuperating here in Palm Springs and basking in the sunshine. . .Ward Bond. Mr. and Mrs. Darryl Zanuck shopping at the Palm Spring Drug store. Prince David Mdivani and his glamorous wife Blue Room dining. . .ditto Frank Morgan. Causing heads to turn as they walked across the Desert Inn lawn toward Bullock's. . .the Fred Aliens. Chatting with friends at the Saddle Bar X . . . Sgt. Desi Arnaz. His dynamic ex-wife, redhaired Lucille Ball, was also a Village visitor this week. Villager Paul Lukas proving himself as downto-earth as the next one as he stopped by Manuel's to pick up his cleaning. Eddie and Ida Cantor stopping for a "hello" with friends on Palm Canyon Drive. The Bill Powells, Warner Baxter and Ricardo Cortez entertaining friends at the exclusive night clubs. The J. Darsey Lloyds observing their twelfth wedding anniversary at The Dunes. All of which makes it appear that the winter season at America's Desert Resort is coming into full swing. BOSTON Approval by the War Labor Board of a 10 per cent wage increase for members of the Film Exchange Office Workers' Union has been announced. Increase will affect employes of Warners, Paramount, United Artists, 20th Century-Fox and Universal exchanges and is retroactive to Dec. 1, 1943. New officers of the Cinema Club of Boston have been elected as follows : Nate Omerman, president ; Tom Fermoyle, vice-president ; Hi Young, secretary ; and Frank Wolfe, treasurer. Cyril A'IcGerigle, Sam Berg and Harry Smith were appointed to the executive committee. New members elected were : Seth Field, booker. Graphic circuit; Irving Mendlesohn, United Artists' office manager, and Jack Hill, RKO booker. Sixth War Loan bonds will be bought by the club. Capt. Fred Husson, theatre owner, who was formerly stationed in Belgium, is now in England. Elinor Rose, Metro booker, celebrating her second anniversary. Jim Winn, United Artists' district manager, is in Buffalo on company business. He will stop in New Haven on his return trip. Ensign Norton Wolf, son of Maurice Wolf, and his bride, Beverly London, are honeymooning. Ruth Cummings, Metro booker, has returned from a Connecticut vacation. The United Artists office is being remodeled to make more room for salesmen, bookers and other employes. Ida Kessler is new assistant to the bookkeeper at United Artists, replacing Edna Perolman who