Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1945)

30 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW May 5, 1945 REGIONAL Continued who has operated the house for the Board of Trade for two years. Carruthers was recently discharged from the armed forces where had charge of the motion picture service. John Grierson, head of the National Film Board of Canada, is reported to be considering a move to Washington to join the State Department in the organization of a film office for the production of official short subjects. Betty Thomson is a new addition to the 20thFojT staff. Mary Lucas follows Dorothy Scott who resigned from Empire-Universal. Something for film stars to ponder is the poll question on the Public Opinion program at the Vogue Theatre : "Do you think a ceiling should be placed on Hollywood marriages?" The answer in the affirmative was 73.8 per cent. Famous Players will erect a theatre in Ke-owna, B. C, as soon as materials are available, it was announced by Frank Gow. Fred Stone of Sovereign Films announced the release of "The Story of the Vatican," made by March of Time in 16-mm. Nat Lavant, manager of Columbia, reports that his office is doing record business on the Montague drive. Irvin Williams, after three years service in the RCAF, has joined Monogram's Winnipeg office on the sales staff. Al Davidson, manager of the Rialto Theatre, Ladysmith, is here on a delayed vacation renewing acquaintance with many friends in show business. Ernest Doctor, formerly with the Dominion Theatre, and now in the Navy, was married last week to Dede Delmarque, cashier of the Plaza Theatre. Carl Egan, son of Pete Egan, and his assistant manager at the Palace Theatre, Calgary, for the past three years, has been promoted by Famous Players, and will take over the management of the Tivoli Theatre, Winnipeg, working directly under Harold Bishop, district manager. Ernest Hayes, operator of the Pilot Mound, Manitoba, will erect a new and up-to-date theatre when materials are available. While theatre patrons watched a mystery thriller "Ministry of Fear," at the Dominion Theatre, a grimmer drama was enacted last week on the main street as three civilians trapped a bandit a few minutes after he robbed the doorman of money amounting to $360. Hundreds of spectators watched the bandit as he reached for his gun, but before his fumbling fingers could press the trigger, he was shot and killed. Ronald Sheppard, formerly of the Plaza Theatre, was among those who chased the bandit. The money was recovered. A. C. Blain, president of the Cranbrook Theatres, Ltd., operator of the Star, Cranbrook, and the Orpheum, Kimberly, in the Crow's Nest district of B. C, announced he will enlarge the Star in the near future. He purchased the adjoining property. Cornie Frieson, formerly part owner of the Abbotsford Theatre and now projectionist there, and Mrs. Frieson announced the birth of a daughter last week at the Abbotsford Hospital. LOS ANGELES The Southern California Theatre Owners Association gave an informal buffet luncheon at the Variety Club here last Tuesday (1) in honor of Paul Williams, general counsel for the organization. The luncheon served as a get-acquainted affair for Williams who recently took over the post. Before joining the SCTOA, Williams was with the Department of Justice in Washington. Mickey Gross, former RKO salesman in Denver, has been discharged from the Army and was a visitor here recently where he was entertained by his brother, Jack, and renewed acquaintances with many friends on the Row. The Monica and Melvin theatres here were acquired by Al Sandow, giving the exhibitor five theatres in the growing chain including the Savoy, Florence Mills and Bill Robinson theatres. Oscar Johnson has started building on his new theatre site at Seal Beach. Johnson formerly owned and operated the Arlington and Maynard theatres before selling them to the Vinnicof-Edwards Circuit. Allan Karf, of the Fox West-Coast Circuit in Kansas City is here on a vacation. Daryll Johnson, who until last week was manager of the Walker Theatre, Santa Ana, announced the birth of a son. Johnson was inducted in the Army April 23. Ralph W. "Buster" Thayer, manager of the Brayton Theatre, Long Beach, died April 24 of heart ailment in the Magnolia Hospital, Long Beach. His widow, Mrs. Kathryn Thayer, survives. Interment was at Forest Lawn. CINCINNATI Alan Moritz, cochairman with Maurie White, of the 7th War Loan drive, has called a meeting of all exchange managers and salesmen in this area to take place May 7. Mrs. Jack Frisch, wife of Jack Frisch who operates the Findlay and Sharonville theatres, is recovering from a recent operation. Jim McLay, Warner bpoker, is vacationing. ON HAND FOR DINNER AND TRADE SCREENING. Among the executives and trade paper representatives present at the cocktail party and dinner preceding the trade screening of William Cagney's "Blood on the Sun" one night last week were (1-r) William J. Heineman, of the Cagney Office; Barry Buchanan, advertising and publicity chief of United Artists, company releasing the picture; "Chick" Lewis, editor and publisher of Showmen's Trade Review, and Mrs. Lewis. James O'Keefe, 20th-Fox exploiteer, was host at a gathering of newspapermen and their wives following a preview of "A Royal Scandal." Warners sent out invitations for a screening of "It Happened in Springfield" to the Police Department, social workers and educators. Alice Porter, 20th-Fox, has been notified by the War Department that her fiance died of wounds received on Iwo Jima. Letters were received at the 20th-Fox exchange from William Poppe, stationed with the Air Force ground crew in England, and Tony Knohlman, former booker, now with the Army in Germany. Jack Goldman of the Goldman Circuit is a patient at the Jewish Hospital following a heart attack. Bert Rosenbaum has been added to the Columbia booking staff. Lev Bugie held a War Loan drive meeting at the 20th-Fox exchange for all employes. Exhibitors booking on the Row last week included Lloyd Rogers, Welch, W. Va. ; Mrs. Mae Taylor, Columbus, and Ray Frisz and Bill Luibel, Chakeres Circuit, Springfield. The Universal Club presented Amy Barker, a recent bride with a beautiful chime clock. Nathan Halperin, Universal, is convalescing at the Jewish Hospital following an appendicitis operation. DETROIT Because two nearby movie theatres obtained better film bookings, Nicholas George, operator of the Allen Park Theatre had to give away dishes and present vaudeville acts in order to meet the unfair competition, he charged in Federal court here. George filed an anti-trust suit against 10 Hollywood film distributors. He charged them with conspiring in their sales of exhibitors' rights to the Lincoln Park Theatre and United Detroit Mel Theatre in Melvindale. He asked damages for alleged losses resulting from the unfair competition. Attorneys for the Fox Theatre building failed to have the increased tax assessment reduced by the Common Council despite their arguments that the theatre had become obsolete and that the increased taxes encouraged an extension of the potential slum area. The assessment was increased from $1,700,600 to $2,064,800. The theatre attorneys filed an appeal. PHILADELPHIA All exchanges are scheduled to be closed next Monday, (7), to allow participation in the industry's meeting for the Seventh War Loan drive at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. Meetings were held up-state all this week as follows: May 1, Allentown ; 2nd, Wilkes-Barre ; 3rd, Pottsville ; 4th, Harrisburg ; culminating in the big meeting on Monday. Sidney Samuelson, area drive chairman, George Schwartz, distributor chairman ; Salem E. Applegate, district distributor head ; Bob Lynch, Lou Finske, Ulrik Smith, George Beattie, Al Davis, Sam Gross, Mort Magill, Harry Weiner, William Mansell, Joe Engel, Herb Given, Charles Zagrans, Albert M. Cohen, George Fishman and Mike Weiss were expected to attend all meetings. Of interest to the industry is the annual statement of City Treasurer Edgar W. Bair, Jr. for 1944, which shows that the city received $1,487,719 from amusement taxes; $5,525 for amusement licenses and $3,627 for amusement permits. Edgar Wolf, manager of the Wynn Theatre, is ailing in the Presbyterian Hospital. Al Reh, manager of the Mastbaum Theatre, celebrated a birthday this week. Frank Hammerman, Republic salesman, has resigned to become manager of the PRC exchange. Lt. Jack Harris, former manager for the Allied interests, and a son of Ben Harris of the American Film Exchange, was a Vine Street