Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1945)

26 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW June 16, 1945 REGIONAL Continued tional bonds. In Cleveland, every day of the the 7th War Loan is Free Movie Day in the subsequent-run houses, so it is impossible to estimate what effect the campaign had on a specific day. The RKO Palace last week held the only downtown bond premiere staged in Cleveland. A bond auction was held in conjunction with the premiere. Both premiere and auction were sponsored by the B'nai B'rith, whose members negotiated for more than 200 articles to be auctioned, and sold the bonds for the special performance. District Manager Harry Schreiber and Palace Manager William Heiss closed the theatre at 7 p.m. and reopened at nine for a special showing of "China Sky." The 2500 people who attended the premiere were admitted only by a bond bought at the Palace, representing $300,000 in "E" bonds. The auction, in the hands of a professional, netted another $200,000, bringing the evening's sale of bonds to half a million dollars. Max J. Rosenberg of National Road Shows was in town last week to complete arrangements for the distribution through Film Classics of his "Dr. Terror's House of Horror" in the territory west of Pittsburgh. Seaman 1/C Gilbert Lefton of the Coast Guard, formerly of Academy Film Service, Inc., distributors of non-theatrical film, was home on a seven-day leave, and has returned to his base for reassignment to Manhattan Beach. NEW YORK E. K. O'Shea, MGM Eastern sales manager was in Gloversville last week. E. W. Aaron, MGM circuit sales manager is on the Coast for three weeks visiting the Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle exchanges. William F. Rodgers, MGM vice-president and general sales manager, was home ill last week with a severe cold. H. M. Richey, MGM exhibitor relations head, has had a minor operation performed on his throat. Bill Danziger, who was aid to Si Seadler at MGM on special campaigns has left the company to write at his new acquired farm in Maryland. Mildred Lewis, secretary to Howard Dietz, MGM vice-president and head of advertising, publicity and exploitation, has left the company after 19 years. She is succeeded by Marjorie Wright, formerly of Frank Whitbeck's studio stafif. William Fadiman, MGM studio story head is in New York looking over the plays. Vlademir Vetluguin, head of MGM's story GI OSCARS PRESENTATION. Jennifer Jones, recipient of the actress award, and General Kirk, surgeon general of the Army, at the presentation in Washington of the GI Oscars — soldiers' accolade to their favorite actors and actresses. The Selznick star, also an Academy Award winner, and other winners of the GI Oscars received their awards from General Kirk. board, has returned to Culver City after 10 days in New York. Nathan Golden, head of the film department at the Department of Commerce, Washington, attended the ITOA luncheon for J. Arthur Rank here last week. Hyman Rachmil, retired independent exhibitor, and a charter member of the ITOA was made a life member of that organization by Harry Brandt, president, at the J. Arthur Rank luncheon. Joe Bavasso, of the Paramount travel auditing department, is the father of an eight-pound boy, his second child. Betty Whalen, of the Paramount accountingdepartment, is back at her desk after having been hospitalized for three weeks. Jane Harrington of the Paramount Theatres accounting department, and pianist for the Paramount Male Chorus, has left the company to be a housewife. Edward C. Raftery, United Artists president, has returned to New York from Scranton where he attended his daughter's graduation. Mort Magill, UA Philadelphia branch manager, was a home office visitor last week. Dave Coplan, UA Great Britain manager, is vacationing in Ottawa. Ralph Ober of the UA publicity staff, is working on his first full-length novel. He hopes to have it published by fall. Joe Mallett, formerly of the UA advertising department, is ':n California, having resigned to join her husband who is in the Navy. Archie Mayers, executive assistant to producer Jules Levey of UA, has offered a $100 War Bond for a suitable title to replace "Trail Town." Oscar Morgan, Paramount short subject and News sales editor, was vacationing at his summer home in The Thousand Islands last week. E. T. Gomersall, Universal's assistant general sales manager was in Cincinnati, Chicago, Milwaukee and Detroit last week returning to New York on Saturday. Muriel Zola is handling promotions and tieups on PRC's "Crime, Inc.," which opens at the Rialto, June 29. She formerly was with United Artists. W. Ray Johnston, Monogram president, returned to Hollywood last week from New York. Marvin H. Schenck, Loew Eastern talent head, will serve as chairman of the producing committee for this year's Night of Stars on November 13 at Madison Square Garden. The event is on behalf of the United Jewish Appeal of Greater New York. Bill Ornstein, MGM publicist, has had four industry stories either published or accepted for publication during the past month by various magazines. Swing has published "Movies for the Theatres at War," Prairie Schooner's summer issue is carrying "Future of the Flickers," Pageant will carry "Goodbye to Shadows," in its July issue, and Swing will publish "It's a Wonderful Thing" in July. "Youth Follies of 1945" will be presented at the Manhattan Center Sept. 14 under the supervision of the 10th, 14th, 18th and 20th Precincts Coordinating Councils of the New York Police Department. Young talent will feature the entertainment with proceeds going to the youth of the precincts. Entertainment plans are under the supervision of Clarice Aronton, secretary to George J. Schaefer, board chairman of Lester Cowan Productions. A son, Bruce Lawrence, was born to Beatrice Livingston, wife of Milton Livingston, of the editorial stafif of the Motion Picture Daily last week. The Livingstons have another child, Barbara Ellen, age four. Ray Murray, Columbia publicist, was ill at home with an infected throat for three days last week. JERSEY CITY Hudson County theatres are cooperating in plans for a Seventh War Loan rally to be staged in Journal Square June 29 from 6 to 12 p.m. There will be continuous entertainment with stars of the stage, screen and radio. Speakers of local and national importance, secured through the War Activities Committee will appear and make appeals for bond purchasing. Notis A. Kommenos, North Jersey zone manager of the Skouras Circuit, chairman of the Hudson County Motion Picture Committee for the Seventh War Loan, heads the committee on arrangements. Journal Square will be closed to traffic during the show. D. F. Barreca, manager of the Orpheum, was able to substantially augment bond sales credited to his theatre by securing the services, for the third successive War Loan Drive, of Rose M. Campbell, in charge of personnel and payrolls at the Jersey City Medical Centre, to sell bonds in his lobby. The State Theatre is installing a new Simplex sound equipment system. Work has been in progress for about a week and is expected to be completed Thursday night. On Friday, the system will be given its first try-out to enable technicians to iron out any "bugs" which might develop and have it in lOO per cent working order for this week's Saturday and Sunday performances. Jack Holder, formerly assistant manager at the Stanley and later house manager at the State, is now manager of the Orient, of the Rosenblatt & Welt Circuit. Richard Wolff, electrician at the State since {Continued on Page 33) WASHINGTON HUDDLE ON PARAMOUNT CELEBRATION. Duke Clark, Paramount district manager of Dallas, Oklahoma City and Memphis exchanges, conducted one of several meetings to set details of Paramount's "Third of a Century" celebration, at the company's Washington exchange. Seen above are (seated): Eddie Fontaine, Washington manager; Clark; Earle Sweigert; (standing): Harley Davidson, Benjamin Harp, Jack Bryan, Al Benson, Herbert Thompson, Robert Grace, W. Vincent Dougherty.