Showmen's Trade Review (Jul-Sep 1945)

M) S H ( ) W M li N ■ S '1^ ]< A n K K K VIEW Juc/usl 25. 1945 REGIONAL Continued to finance the project and buy and install two modern projection machines which will cost $1850. Charles Stoh, a licensed projectionist, will be the manager. Clarence Dowsley, in show business since 1912 in Winnipeg and Calgary and now at the Odeon, North Vancouver as projectionist, recently joined the Canadian Picture Pioneers. Dowsley installed most of the first sound equipment across the Prairie provinces and in British Columbia in the old sound-on-record days. OMAHA Omaha theatres did capacity business during the two-day V-J holiday here. All other business places, including liquor stores and taverns, were closed. The night of the surrender announcement, however, business was below par, as thousands crowded the streets celebrating. Betty Davis, TriStates Theatres secretary, is back from a vacation in Denver. Regina Healy, Paramount contract clerk, has returned from a visit to her brother, a doctor at St. Paul, Minn, Irene Kosuit, Paramount biller, is vacationing. Rich Hildreath, 20th-Fox auditor, is in Omaha. Donald Shane, manager of the Paramount, is vacationing at Lake Okoboji. B. C. Marcus, Kansas City Columbia district manager, spent several days her£. Barbara Gregg is the new "hello girl" at Warner Brothers. Mickey Doherty, MGM assistant shipper, is vacationing. E. I. Rubin, chief barker of the Omaha Variety Club, was at Des Moines Monday, along with branch managers for the forming of a new chapter there. Kay Stewart Proctor, daughter of Tobby Stewart, Shenandoah, la., exhibitor, spoke at the Shenandoah Kiwanis Club while home from her New York residence. The contracts between the American Legion and Local No. 70, American Federation of Musicians, to provide dance bands and stage shows at the Legion's two clubs here, will not be renewed and juke boxes will provide the music. The Legion contended the new contracts would cost it $23,660 more annually. The end of the war will result in an estimated 12 thousand persons losing their jobs in Omaha, according to War Manpower Commission estimates. Wess W. Densmore of Hollywood has been named director of the Omaha Community Playhouse. Ike Rubin, Paramount salesman, visited his brother in Chicago last week. LUMINARIES AT PREMIERE. There was a full house and a turnout of important film personages when MGM's "Ziegfeld Follies" had its premiere at the Colonial Theatre, Boston, last week. In the shot above you may observe Vincente Minnelli, Judy Garland, Howard Dietz and William F. Rodgers. Wally Kemp, Tri-States city manager at Grand Island, has returned from a fishing trip in the western part of the state. E. Kohn, Lewis, la., exhibitor, visited Film ■Row on his birthday. ! Delores Kaemper, cashier at Universal, is 'spending two weeks in Colorado. Mono Hansen, Universal secretary, has returned from a vacation at her home in Ames, Neb. The Fortieth Street Theatre presented an allSwedish film program on Saturday and Sunday. Josephine Maguire, biller at Warners, is visiting in North Platte and Des Moines. Eleanor Jensen, daughter of Joy Jensen, Antlion, la., exhibitor, has married Duwayne Wenbourn. The couple will reside at Las Vegas. Barbara Ann Miskell, daughter of Bill Miskell, Tri-States district manager, underwent an operation over the weekend. INDIANAPOLIS Now that the gasoline rationing is off, Drivein Theatres in this area report an increasing patronage. Indiana still leads all other industrial states in the nation in the payroll savings purchase of war bonds, according to Eber M. Spence, state chairman of the payroll savings division of the Indiana war finance committee. The state's average "E" series war bond sales during the last four war bond campaigns also topped those of all other industrial states. Keith's Theatre will re-open on a straight picture policy beginning August 31. There will be no vaudeville during the coming season. The only change will be a WIBC broadcast on Saturday nights from the stage. The house will be renovated and some necessary repairs will be inade. K. C. Kennedy, assistant booker at 20th-Fox i exchange, has resigned. Tildon (Til) Luckett, who operates the Dream, French Lick. Indiana, is suffering from a sprained ankle. Mrs. M. A. Woods, who operates the Best. Terre Haute, Ind., is confined to the Union Hospital, recuperating from an appendectomy. Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Fine have returned from a jaunt to Lake Wawasee, Indiana. Mrs. Ruth Johnson, billing clerk at Columbia exchange, has returned to her desk after an extended vacation. K. E. Maurice, operator of the Wabash, Clinton, Indiana, accompanied by his wife and son, were Film Row visitors. Most of the day, however, was spent buying junior's school outfit in local stores. Capt. John O. Servaas, stationed at Dallas, is spending his leave here with his wife, before leaving for Casablanca. Before entering the Air Force, he was associated with his father, John Servaas, who operates the S. and S. Theatres in Indianapolis and Indiana. Claude McKean, manager at Warners' exchange, was stalled in Chicago on Wednesday and Thursday while the celebration of V-J Day was going on. He declared it was impossible to leave his hotel and had to remain an extra day before he ventured out. On Vacation — Florence Whelan, Universal, vacationing at Lake Manitau ; Norma Geraghty, National Theatre Supply Co., visiting friends in Chicago ; Margaret Miceli, Columbia inspectress, spending her vacation at home. Film Row visitors — M. P. Prisiecki, Hobart. Hobart ; Joseph Schilling, Connersville exhibitor ; Roy Harold, Rushville ; Bob Hudson. Richmond, and Harry Van Noy, Anderson. WASHINGTON The Rotary Club of Washington sponsored a farewell party at Forest Glen for the Earle Theatre Roxyettes, in appreciation for the many hours of entertainment they have given servicemen and women. Also, in the farewell week of activities, was a party given by John J. Payette, general zone manager of Warners. The Roxyettes made their final appearance at the Earle after 8 years as a dancing line. The new policy at the Earle, of straight films and no stage shows, started August 16. Vacationers at RKO include Jeff Smith, head booker ; Anna Taylor, inspectress. and Esther Katznell, cashier. MGM's former shipper. Bill Young, was in to say hello. He is stationed at Hdq. Co. 2nd infantry Division, Camp Swift, Texas, and is a projectionist in his spare time. He now has five campaign stars and has seen service in France, Germany and Czechoslovakia. The Annual Variety Club golf tournament, a huge success, was well represented by MGM. Among those present were the John Aliens, Joe Kronmans, Jack Goldbergs, Buddy Hall, and Tom Baldridge. John Allen won a radio for top golf score and Mrs. Kronman won a carving set as a door prize. Warnerites who were recent vacationers included : Myrtle Todd, publicity dept., who returned from a week in Jacksonville. Florida : Mildred Smith Bernhardt: Helen Garoski ; Mary Davis, and Bob Reinecke. Tom Baldridge, MGM publicist, conducted a session at the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce's Jay Cee Institute in New York. Members of the National Board of Directors and state presidents from eastern states were present. U. A. FORCES MEET ON COAST. Members of the United Artists' sales staff assembled in Los Angeles at the company's west coast meet to hear an address by Edward C. Raftery, U.A. prexy. Flanking Raftery on the dais were District Manager 'W. E. Callaway and J. J. Unger, western sales manager.