Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1944)

December 30, 1944 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 25 Md., was promoted to sergeant recently. He is former manager of the Senate here. Paul Walker, in the exploitation division of Columbia Pictures, New York, former movie columnist for the Harrisburg Telegraph, has received word that his talented daughter. Patsy, a senior at Carnegie Tech, Pittsburgh, is leading lady in "The Taming of the Shrew." Patsy also worked at Loew's Regent during summer vacations. Friends were happy to see Spike Todoroy, former assistant manager. Colonial, back in this coun'sry after serving with the Navy overseas for about a year. DES MOINES The luka Theatre at Tama was destroyed by fire with loss estimated at $15,000. The house was owned by Wesley Mansfield who also owned the building. The projection machine was saved. The loss left Tama without a theatre. Friends at Fort Dodge received announcement of the marriage of Grace MacDonald, film actress, and Lt. Ralph Green, who formerly operated the Dodge Theatre at Fort Dodge. He enlisted in the marines over two years ago. Miss Rose M. Browder, 52, former employe in Des Moines Film Row, died in a Des Moines hospital after a short illness. She had been working at the Army storage depot at Des Moines since the war broke out. Previously she had worked with Pathe, Inc., RKO, and Universal exchanges. Pvt. Don Norton, former salesman for Warners at Des Moines, is a patient at the Schick general hospital at Clinton where he is undergoing treatment for a stomach disorder. He was rushed to the hos_pital while enroute back to his base at Fort Knox, Ky., after attending his father-in-law's funeral services. Gloria Lindquist has returned to National screen service as a biller. She left recently to be married but returned to work when her husband left for overseas. Three other NSS employes, Miriam Lingle, Burnetta Jaggers and Maurine Garrison, have resigned. Kathryn Malone has joined the MGM staff at Des Moines as booker stenographer. Jerry McGlynn, MGM salesman, lost his mother with the death in the family coming shortly before Christmas. MEMPHIS M. A. Lightman, president of the Malco Theatres, Inc., was reelected chief barker of the Variety Club for another year. Edward Williamson, branch manager of Warner Bros., was elected first assistant chief barker ; James A. Prichard, branch manager Universal Pictures, second asst. barker, and Ed Sapinsley, city manager of Malco theatres, property master, and Bailey Prichard, branch manager Monogram, dough guy. The new board of directors include : Al Avery, branch manager of RKO Pictures ; E. R. Gillett, owner of the Bristol Theatre; Herbert Kohn, general manager of Malco theatres ; Robert Bostick, branch manager National Theatre Supply Co.; Tom Kirk, MGM salesman; Tom Young, branch manager, 20th Century-Fox; and William Ramsey of Manley, Inc. Roy Acufif and his Grand Ole Opry company will play the Memphis Auditorium, under the auspices of the Variety Club Jan. 7 and 8, for the benefit of the Mothers' Milk Bank. The show will afford the members of the TriStates Motion Picture Owners entertainment during their two day meeting here. George Hay, veteran director of audience relation with Radio Station WMS, Nashville, and a former Memphian, has resigned his post, to accompany his wife to the West Coast for her health. He plans to do character parts for Columbia and Republic. He was featured several months ago in a Republic film "Hoosier Holiday." L. W. McClintock, branch manager of the GUESTS AT 'WAVES' SHOWING. Vice Admiral Herbert Fairfax Leary, DSN, Commander, Eastern Sea Frontier (left), his aide and Flag Lieutenant, Lt. Com. Richard Barthelmess, former film star (right), and Lt. (jg) Lora C. Geddes, Woman's Reserve representative in Headquarters of Eastern Sea Frontier, were guests of Paramount in New York at a special showing of "Here Come the Waves." The civilian, J. J. Donohue, Paramount's central division manager, greeted the Navy officials. Paramount exchange, has returned from California where he visited his ailing mother. J. J. Collins, Columbia branch manager, and Rachael Callis, head cashier, were on vacation this week. Miss Callis is visiting friends in Washington, while Rogers is resting at his home. M. A. Lightman, returned from Washington last week where he attended the meeting of the state chairmen of the motion picture division of the March of Dimes drive. Lightman is state chairman for Arkansas. Film Row welcomed Santa Claus last weekend with Christmas decorations and gay parties in the exchanges. INDIANAPOLIS "Winged Victory," the Army Air Forces' motion picture, was shown at the Indiana Dec. 27, with proceeds going to army charities. Management of the Indiana Theatre where the 20th-Fox film was shown, was host to 30 veterans from Billings General Hospital. Axel Pearson, 55, president of Anstead, Pearson & Schilling, Inc., owners and operators of three theatres in Connersville, Ind., died Dec. 18. He is survived by the widow, a son, one brother, a sister in Sweden and two sisters in Worcester, Mass. The annual Christmas arty of the Ritz Theatre was held Saturday, with a special screen show for the kiddies. Each tot attending the matinee received a present. Carl B. Lewis, assistant dramatic editor of the Indianapolis Star, is home on convalescent leave after having been wounded twice in France. He has been awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. At the conclusion of a 30-day leave in Indianapolis, Lt. Lewis will report to McCloskey General Hospital at Temple, Texas. Patrons of the Fountain Square Theatre were treated to a stage show Wednesday night. More than fifty neighborhood entertainers were presented in the Victory Christmas Revue, shown together with the regular double-feature screen bill. Twentieth Century-Fox salesmen are enjoying their annual two-week vacation. They will return to work Jan. 2. Frank Greenland, National Screen Service home office representative, was a business visitor at the local branch of the company. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bohn of PRC spent the holidays in Cincinnati, visiting friends and relatives. The Christmas party at the National Theatre, Louisville, Ky., was held December 20 on the stage with Harold Janecky, manager, as the host. All employes were present and enjoyed the big Christmas tree and there was an exchange of presents. Pfc. Herbert Abrams, son of Sam Abrams, PRC salesman, now in New Guinea, is on his way home for a 30-day furlough. He has been in the service 20 months in the South Pacific. Before entering the Army he was associated with the Earl Penrod Enterprises. Fire of undetermined origin early Saturday morning destroyed the interior of the two-story Messner Theatre at Attica with a loss estimated at $12,000. The flames started in the cooling system at the rear, and may have resulted from a nearby trash fire. The local fire department had the fire under control after three hours. The theatre was owned by the Carey & Alexander chain, which has headquarters at Lebanon, Ind. The loss is covered by insurance. CLEVELAND The Federal ban on racing brought repercussions here in proposed legislation against bingo. Several councilmen have expressed their opinion that they favor an ordinance banning bingo for the duration on the ground it hinders the war effort through the use of gasoline and manpower which could be diverted to better channels. Col. Harry Long, former Schine district representative with headquarters in Ashland, has joined PRC in a sales capacity. Howard Kay, manager of the Park Theatre, Painesville, reports at his recent bond auction, he sold 150 more bonds than he has seats. In the 425-seat house he sold 575 bonds. Admission was by bond purchased during the previous week either at the theatre, or at one of two banks which cooperated with the theatre auction and earmarked to the theatre all bonds purchased during the specified period. Associated Circuit officials entertained its managers at the annual Christmas dinner at the Statler Hotel. In addition to the 24 managers, William Folk, auditor, and Maurice Spinoza, booker, also attended. Ed Band, News sports editor, Judge Sam Silbert and Judge George Baer were speakers. Jerome Friedlander, attorney, was emcee. Variety Club answered an appeal from the Red Cross to help increase the number of blood donors. As a result, every theatre is running a special "appeal" trailer for one week. Sam Stecker, of Associated Theatres and Mrs. Stecker, leave Jan. 5 to spend the winter in California. They will be accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Louis Berman of Toledo. Berman is associated with Stecker in the Colony Theatre, Toledo. It's "Charlie Chan" Stern instead of Tony Stern from here on. Stern got the new name following receipt of a blow-up in color of a picture taken several years ago while on a fishing trip in Canada where everything grows wild, including his whiskers. Ben Steerman of Pittsburgh, his fishing partner, dramatized the picture as a Christmas surprise. Nat Wolf, general manager in charge of the Variety Club sponsored bond auction in the Terminal Concourse, resulted in the sale of $60,000 in E bonds. Rhoda Spira Kay, Columbia branch manager Lester Zucker's secretary, has been granted a four weeks leave of absence. She will spend it in Florida. Ray Allison, manager of the Shaker Theatre, reports that his bond auction of 35 prizes — mostly Scotch and cigarettes — netted $73,000 in war bonds. , Pvt. Guy Ellis, former Variety Theatre manager, writes he is a patient in a hospital in Belgium. He was wounded in action but gave no details. Last week was party week along Film Row. Each company devoted either part of the day or an evening to holiday festivities. MGM had a dinner at the Alpine Village. NSS entertained the members of its force with dinner at the Wade Park Manor. 20th-Fox trekked out to Schulters' Tavern for a full course dinner and exchange of gifts. RKO had open house all afternoon and as long into the evening as refreshments held out. Paramount turned the key (Continued on Page 28)