Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1945)

28 S H O \V M EN'S TRADE R E \^ I E W May 5, 1945 REGIONAL Continued of Dimes drive. The amount represented the collections in all theatres here which participated in the drive. A special benefit performance for the Parent Teachers Association was arranged by Claude Land, manager of the, Silver Theatre, with Abe Lichtman of Lichtman Theatres who donated the use of the Howard Theatre for the occasion. The presentation was a stage version of "The Women," by the Thespian Club. The Avalon Theatre here in conjunction with the Uptown Washington Lions Club arranged a "free movie" matinee for the benefit of the United National Clothing drive with Frank Sabotaka booking "Home in Indiana" for the occasion. Admission was five or more pounds of clothing. In preparation for its new policy of showingpremiere pictures, the Metropolitan Theatre has been given a decorative overhauling. The balcony promenade has been painted and relined with modern drapes, mirrors and fixtures. New drapes and lighting effects have been added to the stage and throughout the entire theatre. The marquee and street signs have been done over completely, new rest rooms have been installed, and a large check room has been added in the balcony. Further plans call for a renovation of the orchestra pit. DES MOINES A new 800-seat theatre with stage facilities will be constructed at Independence, la., near the site of the former Grand Theatre destroyed by fire last March. Bob Malek, a United Airlines pilot located at Chicago, has purchased a 60foot front on the Gedney bl6ck property from E. A. Boss, hotel chain operator. Boss had owned the Grand which was located in the Gedney hotel block. Malek has engaged the firm of Harrison and Weatherall, Des Moines architects, to draw plans for the theatre. Tom McCoy, manager of the Orpheum Theatre at Dubuque was about ready to close the house until summer weather arrived when the heating equipment broke down. But instead of closing he looked around and found a 26-year old steam tractor used to run threshing machines. McCoy put the steam engine in the alley back of the theatre and forced the steam into the building through a pipe and found it worked satisfactorily. The Orpheum is probably the only house in the country being heated by a threshing machine boiler. Carroll Lane, former motion picture operator and state representative from Carroll, la., has purchased the Crescent Beach Hotel and cottages on Lake Okoboji. When R. E. Brown, Neola, la., theatre exhibitor, takes a vacation, he believes in doingit right with no worries about business. He closed his theatre while taking the vacation. PORTLAND Joseph L. Lawrence and D. K. Edwards of Salt Lake City have leased the Star and Mayfair theatres in Weiser, Ida. R. G. Frisbey, former newspaperman of Salt Lake City, has been appointed manager. Charles Skouras left for Los Angeles following conferences with department heads of the Evergreen State Theatres in Seattle. Skouras was accompanied by Tom Paige, assistant, Eddie Zabel, buyer for the National Theatres, Harry Fox, treasurer and John Bertero, attorney. Ronnie Ames, Paramount exploiteer, is en route to Hollywood following a week's confinement in Spokane as a result of an attack of influenza. Howard Bell and Mrs. Bell are now operating the Pacific Poster Co., here in addition to their city Film Delivery Service. Charles Stewart, former owner of the Pacific Poster FOR SUPPORT IN DRIVE. Gov. Maurice Tobin of Massachusetts presents a March of Dimes medal to E. A. Cuddy, state chairman of the Dimes campaign for the motion picture industry. Award is in recognition of the wholehearted support rendered by the exhibitors of Massachusetts in the 1945 Dimes collections. Pictured here are (1-r) : Max Melincoff, Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp.; Joseph Brennan, Allied Theatres of Mass., Inc.; Gov. Tobin; Arthur Howard, Affiliated Theatres Corp.; and Cuddy, M & P Theatres. Co., has become co-owner of the Theatre Utility Service Co. here. Henry Heise has gone to Arizona with the hope of recovering his health. M. F. Merrick of the Rio Theatre, Portland, was a guest of Vete Stewart, Seattle manager for Warner Bros. Exhibitors booking films on Seattle Film Row included : Ben White, Poulsbo ; Bill Forman, Portland; W. B. McDonald, Olympia; Mike DeLeo, Pt. Townsend ; Clarence Baur, Bremerton; Doc Bonallie, Friday Harbor; Walter Graham, Shelton ; Walter Coy, White Center ; Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Cochrane, Snoqualmie ; Chet and Sue Nilsson, Tacoma. Guy Navarre, well known exhibitor is convalescing at his home following a recent illness. OMAHA Articles of incorporation were filed in Lincoln for a non-profit Civic Theatre Guild of Omaha giving the Community Playhouse its first major competition in 20 years. The new group plans a three-play season this summer at the Sokol Auditorium. The action was taken following the resignation of Berne Enslin, director of the Community Playhouse, who will direct the production of the new guild, headed by Max Hill. Clarence Teal, president of the Playhouse, said Enslin was leaving by "mutual agreement" after a difference of opinion as to whether the Playhouse should be "amateur" or "semi-professional." Omaha is bidding for the premiere of "Captain Eddie." Rickenbacker first worked here as a mechanic, got his initial experience as a driver of racing cars and really received the inspiration to become a plane pilot. Constance Moore, star of Republic's "Earl Carroll Vanities," comes from Sioux City, la., where her father still owns a grocery company. Lauren Bacall was in Omaha three years ago modeling for a women's apparel show. It wasn't news then, but now it is. Russell Fraser, Des Moines, new publicity chief for Tri-States Theatres, spent several days in Omaha. Ed Lurie, publicity man for Monogram, also was in this city. Accompanying him for interviews with the newspaper and radio stations was Emile Wanatka, who housed the Dillinger gang. Fritz Largen of Creighton and his father, F. C. Largen, Sr., were in Omaha for medical checkups. Largen, the son, was operated on several weeks ago and has fully recovered. E. I. Rubin, chief barker of the Omaha Variety Club, underwent an operation last week. Milton Rosenberg, former booker for Universal here, has been given an honorable discharge from the Navy. He stopped off here en route to his home in Los Angeles. Hugh Braly, Paramount district manager from Denver, spent several days in this city. Ed Cohen, Universal salesman, is on a vacation. Joe Jacobs, Columbia branch manager, spent last week inthe Des Moines territory. Ralph Hall, Paramount booker, whose father was killed recently, has returned to work after a -week's absence. Goldie Clements of Paramount is in New York on a vacation with her husband who is with the merchant marine. Paramount's office force received wage increases last Monday. With 37 towns still unreported, the Omaha territory has a $58,906 total for the Red Cross drive, compared with $48,106 last year, WAC Chairman Don V. McLucas announced last week. Distributor managers and salesmen gathered last week to plan for the 7th War Loan drive and hear reports on the regional meeting. The drive will be the center of activities for the salesmen the next two weeks. Twentieth Century-Fox office employes received a three weeks' bonus last week. Ted Emerson, Orpheum Theatre manager, and Pinky Mcllvaine, Brandeis manager, have returned from California. The Brandeis Theatre has installed a new plastic screen. HARRISBURG "A Song to Remember" was held over for the second week at the State, where Gerry Wollaston, manager, arranged an outstanding promotional campaign. Music stores of the area, the public library and two lending libraries cooperated. Ten thousand shopping lists were distributed by the self-service grocery stores of Harrisburg and vicinity; window displays, one of which featured an old piano keyboard, sheets of music, and flowers, were set up throughout the business area, and one downtown dress shop advertised "clothes to remember." Gene Plank, formerly an assistant manager at the Rio, is serving with the Army, as a Sergeant, in Oregon. j Sam Oilman's campaign for "Between Two j Women," in its second week at Loew's Regent, boomeranged right back in his lap as he got ' more than he bargained for in the promotion. He had planned to have three usherettes wear station-wagon coats, bearing on the backs pictures of Van Johnson, and when they were noticed by any of the "bobby-sox" crowd to offer the photo to the first girl who requested them providing she was wearing sox. The stunt brought out a crowd of several hundred teen-age girls to both front and stage entrances of the Regent. Oilman sent the usher || ettes to change their attire in a nearby store, I but found this was almost as bad, for the crowd I followed the trio, and nearly caused a riot. VANCOUVER Circuit officials here report that the patronage in suburban theatres is gradually showing marked improvement. The belief is shared by managers of downtown theatres who assert while there is no marked evidence of it yet, patrons are getting out of the habit of rushing to the first-runs. R. W. Carruthers of Regina has taken over the management of the Enderby Community Theatre at Enderby, B. C, from F. S. Rouleau, {Continued on Page 30)