Showmen's Trade Review (Jul-Sep 1945)

32 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVI E W September 29, 1945 REGIONAL Continued late July, is on his feet again, and was downtown visiting the office. His arm is still in a sling. Master Sergeant Al Blumberg, former manager of the Midway, is back in this country after several years service overseas. A winner of the Silver Star and the Croix de Guerre, Blumberg is at Indiantown Gap, awaiting his discharge. Charlie Goldfine, owner of the Alden, is trying to get started in the candy business in this territory, and if present plans go through, will be in full swing shortly. Everett C. Callow of Warner Theatres has his hands full these days, with his assistant, Irving Blumberg, loaned to the New York War Activities Committee for two weeks to work on the press book for the Victory Loan Drive. Dave Cooper, who had been in the Army for over four years, this week took up his old spot as Warner salesman in the Scranton territory. Captain Joe Fineberg and Captain William Lavin of the U. S. Army Public Relations office, who were busy working with theatres on the "True Glory" caravan, received their discharges this week. When the speaker for the Motion Picture Forum's monthly meeting had to cancel at the last minute, the chairman called Milt Young of Columbia. Milt told the women what to expect from motion pictures in the coming season, especially from Columbia. He wound up by reading Alexander Knox's "World and Apple Pie" editorial from ''Over 21." The newspaper strike in Reading has all the managers scrambling for ways of bringing their pictures to the public's notice. The town's weeklies came in for heavy advertising, as did both the town's radio stations. No settlement seemed in sight at the last checkup. Bucky Harris, RKO's exploiteer, has been getting the miseries from his gallbladder. Harry Weiner, Columbia division manager, back from New York with all his salesmen where they attended meetings last week, is having trouble getting used to his new bi-focals. Ted Schlanger, Warner zone manager, was confined to his home last week with a heavy cold. All their friends in the industry are extending best wishes to Harry and Ben Blumberg. who are opening their own equipment company as Blumberg Brothers. Harry and Ben were manager and assistant manager of the National Theatre Supply Compay since 1926. The brothers will handle RCA sound, Brenkert projectors and lamps, and a full line of theatre accessories and supplies. Earle W. Sweigert attended the Rudy Berger MG'M testimonial in Washington. Charles Rophel, assistant at the Earle, has moved over as assistant at the Stanton. Stanley Smithers, Warner short subject booker, is back from his vacation. Al Schwartz of Columbia, had to take his mother to the hospital. Bill Healy, United Artists press agent, in town for the engagement of "The Great John L," was on a radio program with Powers Gouraud, WCAU's show reviewer. Charles Steinberg of Mort Blumenstock's department, was a visitor at the Warner Theatre office last week, Ferd Fortunate, Universal booker, received a beautiful gift from his co-workers on his 25th anniversary recently. RKO's Division Manager Nat Levy, was in town for a series of conferences. Bill Sage, Roxy, Northampton, has been honorably discharged from the Navy. CLEVELAND After a 7-day drought, brought about by the operators' strike, movie fans are again free to seek their favorite entertainment. Agreement was reached between representatives of the union and the Cleveland Motion Picture Exhibitors Association in time for the reopening of the 73 theatres affected on Friday. By the terms of the new four-year contract, retroactive to September L 1944, there will continue to be two men in a booth, operators will get two weeks' vacation with pay, and starting with September 1, 1946, there will be an annual 2^ per cent pay increase. Operators also gained elimination of the weekly one-hour free time when shows run over 11 p.m. Conceded to the theatre owners, however, is the IS-minute free daily "preparation" time and pro-rata pay for time over 40 hours per week. The union had asked time and a half for overtime. All Ohio theatre owners have been advised by P. J. Wood, ITO secretary, to pay the 3 per cent "sales" or "use" tax on coming-attraction trailers. This matter has been a subject of controversy between the tax commissioner and legal representatives of ITO for several months, result of which is that the tax commissioner concluded that the transactions involving the transfers of these trailers are subject to tax. Wood states in a bulletin to ITO members, that his organization has been able to induce the commissioner to waive the 15 per cent penalty included in the assessment covering the tax on these trailers, but where the assessments include "sales" or "use" tax due on other transactions, the penalty will not be waived. Bernard Kaufman, 23, husband of Esty and son-in-law of I. J. Schmertz, 20th-Fox branch manager, died suddenly last week at Mount Sinai Hospital following a brain operation. Ruth Jacobs has packed away her Wave uniform and is back as assistant manager at Warners' Columbia, Portsmouth. Tommy Baird, former employe of the Oliver Theatre Supply Company, is reportedly en route home from the ETO, where he received a special citation for action beyond the line of duty. Corp. George Fraser, one-time manager of the Palace, Lorain, is home on a 30-day furlough after having served through the Battle of the Bulge with the 4th Division of the Third Army. At the end of his furlough, he reports to Camp Butner, N. C. A. M. Goodman was formally installed as commander of Variety Post 313 and George Kendis was installed as treasurer, at ceremonies attended by 200 members and guests in the ballroom of the Carter Hotel last Friday. Goodman is a member of the local United Artists sales force and Kendis is office manager for National Screen Service. Among the guests were Gov. Frank J. Lausche, Mayor Thomas Burke, Bob Feller, Lou Boudreau, Bill Duggan, president of the Amateur Baseball Assn., 25 convalescent combat soldiers from Crile Hospital and the junior baseball team sponsored by the Post. Film men attending the installation ceremony included: UA Branch Manager Morrison Orr, MGM Branch Manager Jack Sogg, Universal Branch Manager Joe Krenitz ; NSS Branch Manager Nat Barach, PRC Branch Manager Edwin R. Bergman, Paramount Office Manager Howard Roth and Theatre Owner Abe Schwartz. Otto Braeunig, RKO office manager, has been talking about a vacation for three years. Last week he made it a reality, when he and Mrs. Braeunig drove to New York for about two weeks. George Bressler, Paramount cashier, is back from a New York vacation trip. While there, he accidentally ran into Coast Guardsman Gilbert Lefton of Academy Film Service. BOSTON New England theatre owners and operators have been encouraged by a picture of postwar prosperity issued by J. A. Krug, WPB chairman, la.st week. He quoted leading industrialists as predicting a nationwide manufacturing boom would be underway by next June and that it would exceed the trend in the base periods of 1939 and 1940 by 87 per cent. Al Daytz, Warner sales manager, was best man at the marriage of his brother Mickey to Ruth Glass. The wedding took place at the Bancroft Sheraton Hotel, Worcester, Alass. Everybody in downtown Boston has seen the horse-drawn cart which is part of the exploitation for "A Bell for Adano." Warners' Hal Cummings has returned after a vacation. The E. M. Loews were seen together at the opening of the Copacabana Review in the Copley Plaza's Oval Room. New England Theatres Inc., is seeking permission to erect a commercial television station. A special screening of "Orders from Tokyo" was held this week to benefit the drive to aid the Philippine War Relief and the National War Fund campaign. Larry Herman, formerly a booker with the Snider Circuit, returned last week after being overseas. He was wounded twice in the Italian campaign. .\ clearance complaint has been filed against five majors by the Fryberg, Fryberg, Maine. The house, which plays films 30 days after the Majestic, Conway, N. H., claims such clearance is unfair and requests a reduction or elimination of the clearance. Louis Stern, theatre owner, now living in a floorless tent, says it is rather damp and that he has no lights on Okinawa. Marty Glazer, WEST COAST TESTIMONIAL DRIVE MEETING. Principals in the Tom Connors Testimonial Drive meetmg in San Francisco are shown in the photo above. Seen here (1. to r.) seated: George M. Ballentine; Herman Webber, 20th-Fox Western sales manager; Connors, vice-president in charge of distribution; W. C. Gehring, Central sales manager, and Charles L. Walker. Standing: Eddy Yarbrough, Clyde Blasius, Morris Caplan, Arthur Abeles, Clyde W. Eckhardt, Morris Sudmin, Frank Drew, Buck Stoner and Charles F. Powers.