Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1944)

November 18, 1944 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 17 is recovering from pneumonia. Hard-to-get matches are ■ being passed out by the Republic exchange as part of the promotion campaign for "BraziL" Lt. Al Fecke, son of Al Fecke, well-known film salesman, has become an army "ace." Singlehanded he shot down enough Jap planes to save two crippled x\merican battleships from being sunk. Thyra Brown has been promoted to secretary to the RKO division manager, replacing Mildred Burns, resigned. Bertha Levine, RKO, has been promoted to contract clerk. ' Harold Harris, Universal shipper, has enlisted in the navy. Mrs. George Gootner was temporarily employed at RKO assisting Don Prince and Harry Reevies with the "Master Race" campaign. SAN ANTONIO Showshoppers in the Alamo City recently included Rubin Frels and son, Rubin, Jr., Frels Circuit, Victoria; Harry N. Britten, Pharr ; Manuel Womble, La Feria ; Mr. and Mrs. George A. Likens, Abilene ; B. M. Silvas, Carrizo Springs ; Gustav Lavenant, Dilley ; J. E. Chamoun, West Tampa, Fla. ; Ray Jennings, Hondo, and Dave Smason, Karnes City. Beverly W. Spillman, Sr., San Antonio theatre architect, has returned from a business trip to Washington, D. C. H. W. Kier, producer of commercial movies, is back from a combined business and pleasure trip to Ohio. The new bookkeeper at the Clasa-Mohme, Inc., is Mrs. Maria Luisa Lowry whose husband, Lieut. Rudolph Davila, Jr., is piloting a Superfortress in the New Guineas. MONTREAL Leo Choquette who operates a number of theatres throughout the Province, has taken over the Royal in Montreal, formerly owned by the Brezan brothers. Always in my Heart (Tu Es Toujours dans mbn Coeur) dubbed in French, is proving successful beyond expectations at the Orpheum. Henry Nathanson and T. J. Gould, Prexy and G. M. respectively of Regal Films, visited the local branch with new distributors the main topic. Jules Laine of the Garson-Laine circuit visited the city recently. Just keeping tab. United Artists advises that "Since You Went .\way" has broken all attendance records at the Empire Theatre, in Old Quebec. It opens at Loew's here on November 17. MGM's "Dragon TRAVELING DIANA. Diana Lynn, Paramount star, seen on one of the stops of her tour in connection with showings of "Our Hearts Were Young and Gay," in which she co-stars. The shot above shows Diana with Lester Kreiger (left), assistant zone manager, and Ted Schlanger, zone manager of Warner Bros. Theatres, Philadelphia, and wa? taken at a luncheon in connection with the premiere of "Our Hearts Were Young and Gay" in the City of Brotherly Love. Seed," which moves on, lived up to advance notices and had the critics waxing eloquent. During National Education Week the Provincial Association of Protestant Teachers arranged for the showing of educational trailers throughout the city. Irving Sourkes of Monogram has returned from a trip to Three Rivers, Shawinigan and Grand'mere. Reports that they're doing a landofifice business in that section and that there is talk of building numerous houses when restrictive measures are lifted. I. H. Allen of Ealing British Productions is in town "mother henning" "Thunder Rock," which started at the Princess on the 10th. Best wishes for a speedy recovery are fluttering to "Penny," daughter of George Ganetakos, G.M. of United Amusements. Penny recently underwent an appendectomy. Jerry Chernof¥, manager of Producers Releasing Corporation, back from a trip to the Maritimes, reports that everything there is hunkydory. W. Elman, manager, Columbia, is back from a recent trip to the Eastern Townships. A. W. Perry, General Sales Manager of Empire Universal Films, came down from Toronto last week for a short visit to the local office. "Babe" Coval, local Office Manager of Warner Brothers is a regular blood-donor. It is said that some of the boys along "Film Row" usually try to extract what's left after the Red Cross is through. The Monetary Times November issue article entitled The Moving Picture Industry, dwells at length on what they claim is a so-called strangle-hold that U. S. moguls have on the industry in Canada. Ernie Roberts who handles publicity for Associated Screen News has returned from a business jaunt through Eastern Ontario. W. Lester, operating the Empire and Cartier theatres at the Citadel seems to have the happy faculty of turning second run productions into box-office attractions. Torhmy Dowdiggin, J-'aramount's branch manager here, has returned from a trip to the home office in Toronto. All factions of the industry here, report overwhelming success in their 7th Victory Loan campaign. PITTSBURGH One day recently the Pennsylvania Enterprises, Inc., new booking combine in this territory, headed by "Buck" Stoner, James Alexander and George Purcell, hosted the entire personnel of the various film exchanges at dinner, after which they were invited to inspect the new quarters of this organization and to hear about its get-up and how it will function. The Harris Amusement Company and 20th Century-Fox gave a cocktail party for the press a few days ago in honor of Perry Como, local boy, who appears in the forthcoming 20th Century-Fox picture, "Something for the Boys," who was present at this afifair. On November 3rd this picture was exhibited at the J. P. Harris Theatre as a bond premiere show. Ned Depinet was the chief speaker at the Sixth War Loan luncheon held by the WAG in the William Penn Hotel recently, which was attended by exhibitors and representatives of the film distribution business from hundreds of miles around. The family of Pvt. Albert Sippel, employed at the Republic exchange here before entering the service, has just received word that he was wounded recently in the South Pacific zone. Several months ago his brother, Lt. Norman Sippel, was wounded in Belgium. CINCINNATI Funeral services were held this week for Ben L. Heidingsfeld, 76, widely known for legal work in behalf of motion picture interests. Mr. Heidingsfeld was president of the United Theatre Co. in addition to being president of the People's Theatre Company, Louisville, Kentucky; Gifts, Inc.; Ellaness Theatre Company, Dale Realty Co., Daco Theatre Company, Boyd Theatre Company and vice-president of Fordland, Inc., Cohill Theatre Company and Clover Theatre Company. He was also director of DeVue Theatres, Inc., RKO Midwest Corporation and the First National Bank. Louis Wiethe, who operates a chain of suburban theatres, is providing the purchaser's receipts for the Girl Scout Annual Cookie Sale with the compliments of the Bond, Westwood, Andalus, Jackson, and Roselawn theatres. On leaving the Albee Theatre after seeing "The Climax" last Saturday night, Mrs. Vera Rice, 1234 Dewey Avenue, discovered that her coat had been badly slashed. She said someone in the seat behind her had done the slashing. Mrs. Rice said she recalled that several times she had felt a tug at her neck while Boris KarlofT pressed the lance against the throat of his victim in the picture but had attributed this to reaction from the gripping scenes in the film. Evelyn Wasson, 20th-Fox, vacationing to be with her husband who is home on furlough. Charles C. Rader, RKO field representative is here working with Buck Waltrup on the "Master Race'' campaign. "Song of Bernadette" will have its first suburban showing at the Paramount Theatre beginning November 28 at $1.10 top. 20th-Fox exchange offices are being streamlined. Manager Leavit Bugie's quarters, now completed, are larger and quite swanky. Thelma Hafer is the new box-office clerk at {Continued on Page 20) HAIL NEW CHIEF. H. L. Ripps, branch manager of Loew's, Albany, who was recently elected Chief Barker of Variety Club Tent No. 9, receives congratulations from his fellow Barkers. Shown in photo, left to right are: Joseph Shure, crew member; Harry Lament, second assistant Chief Barker; George Jeffrey, crew member; C. J. Latta, outgoing Chief Barker; Ben Goffstein, crew member; Chas. A. Smakwitz, first assistant Chief Barker; Nate Winig, crew member; Richard 0. Hayes, Secretary; J. P. Faughnan, Treasurer; Joseph Miller, crew member.