Showmen's Trade Review (Jul-Sep 1945)

32 SHOWMEN'S TRADE I^'EVIEW August 25, 1945 REGIONAL Continued to St. Mary's by the death of his father-in-law, C. E. Hartman. Jack O'Rear, Colonial, filled in during his absence. The short, featuring snapshots of local men in the Merchant Marine, shown on Loew's Regent screen, was highlighted by the appearance of Oliver J. Kase, this city, of the War Shipping Administration. The picture was a tie-in with Merchant Marine recruiting. PITTSBURGH Word has been received that Byron D. ("Buck") Stoner, formerly branch manager for MGM here and later buyer for Pennsylvania Enterprises, Inc., the combine which recently became affiliated with the Cooperative Theatre Service, Inc., has joined 20th Century-Fox in Seattle, Washington, as a special sales representative. The engagement of Fred Serrao, of the Circle, New Kensington, Pa., to Aileen Roma, of Arnold, Pa., has just been announced by the bride-to-be's parents. Ken Hoel, publicist for the Harris Amusement Company, is spending his vacation on , a Canadian fishing trip. The marriage of Helen Klingensmith, of the local Republic Exchange, to Sgt. F. J. Thomas, son of the late Walter Thomas, and prior to entering service also an employe of Republic, took place on Monday, August 20. The bridegroom has just returned from 29 months overseas, having seen service in Africa and Italy. Harry Hendel, veteran exhibitor, operating the Granada in this city, is spending his vacation in Hollywood, California. Warner Theatres in this territory have designated the month of September as M. A. (Moe) Silver "Month" in honor of the zone manager, who will celebrate his 30th anniversary in the motion picture business during that month. A daughter was born to Lt. and Mrs. Steve Rodenok, Jr., of the Oaks and Lehigh theatres, Oakmont, Pa., in Shadyside Hospital here last week. Al Panza, son-in-law of the exhibitor, Elmer Dattola, has taken over the Nixon, Russelton, Pa., from S. H. Griffith. Meetings held here by independent exhibitors and Allied's National Board of Directors in the William Penn Hotel on August 21-22-23, were attended by Abram F. Myers, general counsel for Allied and board chairman and delegates from all over the country. The main topics under discussion were the consent decree and the forthcoming government's anti-trust suit. Officers of the AMPTO of Western Pennsylvania, Inc., were hosts at a dinner given the delegates and visitors at the William Penn Hotel on Wednesday evening, August 22. DES MOINES The Iowa civil air patrol is co-operating with officials for the world premiere for "State Fair" which will be held in Des Moines Aug. 29, by dropping thousands of leaflets over six Iowa towns. Two of the CAP planes will fly over Winterset, Indianola, Newton, Ames, Boone and Adel during the noon hour and will include in the leaflets some free tickets for the premiere. The exploitation committee has also worked out a plan whereby many Iowa mayors will come to Des Moines to assist in the selecting of a "Miss State Fair" queen in connection with the premiere. The mayors of at least 18 Iowa cities will select four regional winners on Wednesday preceding the premiere, and from this group Hollywood stars who will be in Des Moines for the premiere, will select the winner who will receive a $500 war bond. Judging of the finalists will be on a platform in front of the Des Moines Theatre. FRONTAL FLASH. One of the most attractive illuminated frontal displays currently on Broadway is this electric installation shown above for RKO Radio's "Pinocchio," the Walt Disney classic which is playing a re-issue engagement as a national release. Tom J. Connors, vice-president in charge of sales, and William G. Gehring, western sales manager of 20th Century-Fox, are scheduled to attend a district meeting of branch managers to be held in Des Moines Aug. 30 and 31, following the premiere of "State Fair." The premiere will be held Aug. 29 and in 65 other Iowa theatres the following day. Branch managers from Minneapolis, Omaha and Kansas City as well as Des Moines will attend the two-day meeting. Walter Ahrens has been transferred from the iRKO-Orpheum, Des Moines, to take over two theatres in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati houses are the RKO-Orpheum and the Paramount. He will be succeeded at Des Moines by Jerry Bloedow, formerly of Waterloo. Ralph Granzin, assistant manager at the RKO-Or])heum house in Des Moines, is in Chicigo recovering from an operation and is on 30-day leave. Film Classics of Iowa and Nebraska has moved its offices from High street to the Old Colony building, according to Julian King, manager. King also announced the appointment of Maxine Kaltenhauser, formerly of Universal, as secretary. Marie Slatkoske, who has been serving as secretary, will go to Kansas City in the fall to handle the new office there. PHILADELPHIA The two-day holiday last Wednesday and Thursday was observed by all the exchanges. Vine Street was deserted except for the shippers who kept the film moving right along. Business on the two days was tremendous, with almost all theatres hitting high grosses all down the line from the first to the last runs. The Boyd, Philadelphia, is closed this week for a quick paint job. Will reopen August 30 with "Rhapsody in Blue." Claire Harris, daughter of Ben Harris, American Film Exchange, was married on Monday in Atlantic City. Mrs. Edna Carroll, of the State Censor Board, was one of the witnesses. Charles Fayko, head of the Warner's art department is back from his vacation. James Ashcraft, MGM exploiteer, is vacationing this week. Maurice Gable, Warner district manager, had to interrupt his vacation to attend a district manager's meeting. Harry Weiner, Columbia's division manager, indisposed for a day, was ordered to stay at at home by his physician. Mary Wilkins, Columbia stenographer, who returned from her vacation on Monday, ran into a lot of bad luck her first day back. First she fell down in the office, and then lost her watch on the way home. Henry Rosenthal, Columbia booker, returned from his vacation as Benny Rosenberg, another booker, left on his. Dave Cooper, former Warner salesman, in the Army for almost five years, is reported on the way out and scheduled to return to Warners. DENVER Business dropped 75 per cent in first run theatres the night peace was announced, but most houses made up for some of the losses the next day. One first run theatre sold only 50 admissions between 5 and 7 P.M. on Aug. 14. Crowds stopped traffic on the principal retail street, but for the most part the celebration was orderly. More than 350 attended the annual picnic of the Rocky Mountain Screen Club at the Park Hill Country Club. The announcement of Japan's surrender came about two hours before dinner was served. Rick Ricketson and Walt Ibold tied for the top flight section of the golf tournament with a net 67 each. The exhibitor ladies won the softball game 9 to 14, while the distributors copped the men's game, 5 to 4. Edward N. Doerr, 55, operator at the Rialto, died at a Denver hospital after a six-months' illness. He is survived by his father. Funeral services and burial were in Denver. A Des Moines Variety Club Is Reorganized by Bob O'Donnell Preliminary plans for reorganizing a Variety Club in Des Moines got underway at an allday meeting attended by 200 at the Wakonda Club, with Bob O'Donnell, national president, the principal guest. O'Donnell suggested that a Des Moines club might well devote itself to the Raymond Blank Memorial Hospital. During the business session, it was decided to set up a committee composed of three exhibitors, three distributors and three film salesmen to work out final details of the organization. Exhibitors elected to the committee are: A. H. Blank, head of Tri-States Theatres ; Harry Warren of Central-States, and Stuart Peake of Indianola. Distributors chosen were Lou Levy, Jack Kennedy and Elmer Tilton. Butch DeFriend is to name the salesman committee. .A.mong the film men present were M. A. Levy, 20th-Fox district manager; Lou Patz, National Screen district manager ; Sol Francis, Monogram Omaha manager ; Hall Walsh, Warner St. Louis district manager ; Harry Lefholtz, Republic Omaha manager ; Nate Steinberg, Republic St. Louis district manager, and R. C. Liebu, Paramount Kansas City district manager. Randforce Managers Guests Of Company at Victory Fete Randforce Amusement Corp. theatre managers, assistant managers and their wives were guests of the company at a Victory Celebration in the form of a midnight dinner and dance at Hotel St. George, Brooklyn, Wednesday night. About 175 people were present to enjoy the continuous dance music, entertainment and refreshments. Among the Home Office executives and their wives who attended were Louis Frisch, Harold Rinzler, Emanuel Frisch, Erwin Gold, Jack Birnbaum, Irving Goldstein and Irving Kaplan. A long telegram of greetings was read from Sam Rinzler, who was out of town and unable to attend. It was agreed by all that the party was the finest in the history of the company and everyone present had a marvelous time.