Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1944)

24 S H O W iA'I E N • S TRADE R E \M E W Novcuihcr 25. 1944 REGION A Leon Fronikess, PRC president, on his return to Hollywood this week. Elman will look over new product plans for the coming year at the PRC plant. Jack Kirsch has returned from his Eastern tour in connection with the 6th War Loan. A leading architect firm here reports plans for several new theatre projects on its boards for postwar building in the Chicago area as soon as materials and labor is released for such civilian work. Work on the Great States Circuit's Key Theatre, Kewanee, is progressing rapidly. The new structure replaces the theatre destroyed by fire a year ago. Mrs. Rose D'Andrea has been notified by the War Department that her son, Lieut. Joseph T. D'Andrea, 28, was killed in action in France on October 28. Lt. D'Andrea was employed by Essaness theatres as a manager before entering the service in 1941. Mr. and Mrs. Michael Engst have been notified by the War Department that their son. Pvt. John M. Engst, died in France on September 13th of severe head injuries. He was also a former Essaness employe. Henry Herbel, Western manager for W arners, stopped over here on his way to his headquarters. Legitimate theatre business here is at a peak. "Oklahoma," with a run of more than a year, has rolled up a gross of a million and a half dollars ; "Voice of the Turtle" has grossed more than $125,000 for some fifty performances ; "Kiss and Tell," running for more than a year is still breaking box-office records. Airs. George Lefko, wife of George Lefko, Warner city sales manager, is seriously ill at St. Luke's hospital. DES MOINES Postwar plans calling for construction of new theatres in Des Moines and other large Iowa cities was announced by Ralph D. Goldberg, Omaha theatre operator, in connection with forming of the World Theatres Syndicate of Council Bluffs. Corporation papers filed with the secretary of state's office, listed Goldberg as president and Gertrude Hollander, secretary, of the new company. Goldberg now operates seven Omaha theatres and his only Iowa house is at Council Bluffs. He said his postwar plans called for opening of new theatres at Davenport, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Council Bluffs and other lov^'a cities. He did not state how many houses were planned for the circuit, but said that in most cases construction of new buildings will be involved. An open house will be held on Sunday, Dec. 10 at the Raymond Blank Memorial children's hospital at Des Moines for employes and their families of Tri-States and Central States Theatre Corps. A. H. Blank, head of the two circuits, and Mrs. Blank, will receive the group. The Blanks constructed the hospital in memorial to their son. Formal dedication ceremonies have been set for Dec. 1. Howard Pollard has sold the Roxy Theatre at Armstrong to Nathan K. Thon of Austin, Minn. A special award for the best job of promoting the fifth war loan drive among theatre managers in the Tri-States circuit will go to three Omaha, Neb., managers, it was announced by A. H. Blank, head of the organization. The special prize of $50 war bonds for each, will go to Ted Emerson of the Orpheum, Dan Shane of the Paramount, and Rollin Stonebrook of the Omaha, as a joint award. Originally the prize was a $100 war bond, but because the Omaha managers combined their efforts it was given to all three. A second prize of a $25 bond was given to Georgia Shannon of the Uptown Theatre in Des Moines for promotion work. A first prize of a $100 war bond for the best sales on a per-seat basis went to Jimmy Redmond, FIRST MEDAL WINNER. Pete Magazzu, left, owner of 11 theatres In Eastern Pennsylvania, pictured as he received the first "Medal of Honor" for his participation in the 5th War Loan Drive of the industry. National Chairman Harry Brandt made the presentation as Jay Emanuel, national campaign coordinator, center, looks cn. Magazzu's theatres are located In coal mining towns with population ranges from 556 to 5000 and his biggest single theatre weekly gross Is $400, yet during the 5th War Loan he scored a total sale of $240,000 worth of "E" Bends — representing over $800 per seat. manager of the Rivoli Theatre at Falls City, Neb.; second prize to Ira Crane, manager of the Capitol at Sioux City, la., and third prize to Wallie Kemp, Capitol Theatre, Grand Island, Neb. Claiming she was permanently injured when she fell in the Paramount Theatre lobby at Cedar Rapids last Feb. 8, Rachel Wood, 64, has filed suit in district court for $15,000 against the theatre. She contended she tripped on the floor covering and fractured her left leg. Harry Pace of Pocahontas has purchased the Sumner Theatre from L. L. Wells of Tripoli. Pace formerly managed a theatre at West Union. Herbert Weise has purchased the Burt Theatre at Burt, la., from Dr. Bahne Bahnson and has taken over operation of the house. The Plaza Theatre at Dyersville has been reopened after three weeks' darkness following a fire which damaged the projection room. VANCOUVER The United Churcli of Canada at a meeting this week criticized the National Film Board for displaying "disgusting drinking scenes" in some of its pictures, and asked the board to delete all drinking scenes from its films or label them some way so that prospective users of the films would know which contained "objectionable scenes." John Grierson, commissioner of the NFB, said the only comment he had to make in the United Church resolution was that the phrase "disgusting drinking scenes" was in itself an intemperate phrase to describe the scenes in the film. The film referred to was "Ski in the Valley of the Saints," a short released by Columbia. Canada's post-war prospects for theatre construction developments are definitely clouded because of regulations and the uncertainty of government policy immediately after armistice, as found in varying statements from official quarters. The general belief, however, is that a number of important restrictions may be continued indefinitely in the stabilization program to hold down inflation. It is indicated that the central telephone information plan adopted by F-P in the East will be extended to other cities where the circuit operates theatres. Under this arrangement the atre patrons seeking information are requested to telephone a central bureau, thus relieving the shorthanded staffs. This plan is featured in advertisements in conjunction with F-P displays in local newspapers. Odeon circuit already has placed the plan in action here. The Walker Theatre, Winnipeg, will reopen in December as the latest unit of the Odeon circuit and will operate under a legitimate stage policy for touring shows. The Walker has been dark for years. Mark Jenkins of the Rex Theatre, Clairsholm, Alberta, suffered the loss of his mother this week. F-P have reopened the Empire Theatre, Edmonton. This old road-show house was used by the Kansas City Bridge Co. during construction of the Alaska Highway. The theatre was renovated as a civic auditorium for concerts and lectures. It has been a problem house for F-P for 10 years. Jimmy Davie of RKO, returned from a selling trip to the Interior of British Columbia, reports that business is not holding up to the level of a year ago. Harry Black, manager of the Capitol Theatre, Penticton, is here on a delayed vacation and will visit his daughter, a nurse at Jubilee hospital, Victoria. Pete Egan, manager of the Palace, Calgary, and well known sportsman, was made an honorary life member of the Alberta Hockey Association recently. The civilian population of Prince Rupert B-C naval base is now estimated at 11,500. The last census was 6656 in 1941. It still struggles along with one theatre, the Capitol (755 seats) and plays to capacity daily. Two new theatres are in prospect, one by F-P, but the War Control Board will not issue any construction permits until after the war. BOSTON Over 500 exhibitors, theatre owners, managers and executives from the industry in the New England area were present at the annual installation of officers of the Macaulay Post .\merican Legion held Nov. 13th at the Copley Plaza Hotel. Four Columbia pictures are playing simultaneously at three Boston theatres. "Together Again," and "Strange Affair," are at Loew's State and Orpheum; "Sergeant Mike," opened the same day at the Metropolitan and "Mr. Winkle Goes to War," opened a day later at the Translux. Arthur Jeffrey of International Pictures is in Boston for the opening of "Woman in the Window." A'lanager Ralph Roberts reports the Powers Theatre at Carabau, destroyed by fire, has been reconstructed and will reopen Christmas. The Motion Picture Salesmen's Club's annual party will be held Feb. 18 at the Mayfair Club. A reception was tendered Ensign T'orton Wolf, son of Maurice Wolf, MGM district manager, Nov. 12 at the Wolf residence. Accompanied by Mrs. Wolf he will leave for Pensacola, Fla., to report for duty Nov. 27. Mary Brahser, MGM accounting department, is vacationing in Arkansas. Edward C. Raftery, president of United Artists, was a visitor to the Boston exchange. Pvt. David Mendelson, brother of Irving Mendelson of the United Artists exchange, was wounded in action in France. He is confined at a hospital in Paris. Steve Edwards, head publicist for Republic, was a visitor to Boston to supplement the publicity campaign for Roy Rogers, now appearing in the Boston Garden. Zippie Goldman, district manager of PRC, has returned following a brief trip to New York, where he discussed sales policies and coming releases. Shirley Sitker of 20th Century-Fox is in mourning for her father who died after a long illness. (Continued on Page 26)