Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1945)

June 30. 1945 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 29 the Fox, Maplewood, Granada, West End, HiPointe, Comet, Cinderella, Powhattan, Melba, Lemay and Studio. John Eberson, motion picture theatre architect, passed through St. Louis from New York City to Dallas. Walter L. Titus, Jr., Republic's executive in charge of branch office operations, was a recent visitor. He plans to also visit Oklahoma City,' Dallas, Memphis, and Chicago before returning to New York July 2. Henry A. Linet of Universal's home office was another local visitor. Latest information from Springfield, 111., is that Gevernor Dwight Green is expected to sign the Child Labor bill recently passed by the House and Senate. The bill places rigid restrictions on the employment of children under 16 years of age. There is to be no night work after 7 p.m. for girls under 16. A certificate of incorporation has been issued to the International Theatrical and Television Corp. of Illinois. INDIANAPOLIS The premiere of "Conflict" was held at the Indiana June 26. The program was augmented by an hour stage show, "Hi Yank," presented by 45 combat veterans from Wakeman Hospital, Camp Atterbury. The house was scaled in sections according to the denomination of War Bonds purchased. Patients at Billings General Hospital, Ft. Benjamin Harrison, were entertained with a complete stage performance from the Circle by arrangement through its manager, George Pappas. Vaughn Monroe and his orchestra, Guy Kibbee, Rosemary Calvin, Ziggy Talent and the four Norton Sisters put on a show in the Red Cross recreation hall. The visit of the stage stars is part of the Circle's policy to take entertainment to patients each week. Bruce Aspley, who operates the Trigg and Plaza, Glasgow, Ky., held a bond premiere June 21, and sold $309,775 in War Bonds. Special promotion, reached all parts of the county at a heavy cost. Jigsaw puzzles, advertising in the daily papers and announcements in all public places were a part of the publicity program. The picture "Diamond Horseshoe" also helped attract the crowd. George Landis, 20th-Fo.x exchange manager, and Joe Neger, office manager, spent several days in Ft. Wayne on business. Bernie Kranze, RKO district manager, was a business visitor Wednesday and Thursday at the local exchange. Peggy Lane is the new PBX operator at 20th-Fox exchange. Jane Gibson, assistant booker at Warner Bros, is spending her vacation at Lake Wawassee. Sam Abrams, PRC exchange, visited the Great Lakes Naval station and spent several days there with his son Jerry. • Mrs. Ora Meisner, who operates the Gibson, Batesville, Ind., was a Film Row visitor during the week. J. H. Baker, operator of the Palace and Rex, Rensselaer, Ind. and Ann Holtrey, who operates the Lyric, Waterloo, Ind. also were Film Row visitors. Harry Katz, partner with the Fourth Avenue Amusement Co., Louisville, Ky. in operation of the Indiana, Circle and Lyric here, was a local visitor the past week. Sam Roberts, of the partnership which operates Keith's here, announced the probable opening date as September 7. Joe Smith, general manager of Amusement Enterprises, is spending his vacation at his Michigan farm. Variety Club, Tent No. 10, held a summer party at the club quarters, June 29. Al Blocher, head booker and buyer, Y. and W. Circuit, was a Chicago business visitor the past week. L. J. McGinley, Universal manager, was guest speaker at the Greenfield (Ind.) rotary club party on June 25. H. H. Newman, former manager of the Strand, Marshall, 111., has purchased the house from B. Curry, a member of the Affiliated Theatres' group. Max Page, of Film Classics, is making arrangements to visit New York in the near future. H. E. Curry, who operates the Palace, Elkton, Ky. has completed the new front and box-office of his house. William James Eberhardt, colored, died of a heart attack Saturday night in the Variety Club rooms. He had been connected with local show houses for more than 23 years. Manager Boyd T. Sparrow of Loew's had an unusual patron Saturday night to see "Son of Lassie." The ■ visitor was Lassie's sister, who came to see her film star relative on the screen. Mr. and Mrs. George Heliotes of the Rialto, Ft. Wayne, Ind., have returned from two months vacation in New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Mexico and California. While in Los Angeles Heliotes visited the Film Row and talked things over with Bill Marriott, Freddie Greenberg, Sam Gardner and Marty Solomon, all ex-Indianapolis boys. CLEVELAND Sponsored by the Cleveland Variety Club, the first floating bond auction on record, held last Friday aboard the S. S. Theodore Roosevelt, netted the U. S. Treasury Dept. $275,000 in E bonds. Something like 2000 people turned up for the three-hour lake ride, during the course of which 319 prizes, all donated by merchants and theatre owners were bid for. Morrison B. Orr, United Artists branch manager, and Nat Wolf, Warner zone manager, were co-chairmen in charge of arrangements. Sam Fine and his son, Abbey, both prominent in local theatre circles, have purchased the Lieber Company, in association with Herbert D. Fine, Mildred Fine and, Edward D. Wyner. Thei' have incorporated under the name of Lieber's Luggage Inc. Showagon, a motor truck transformed into a theatre, which will travel the city to offer free outdoor entertainment, is the newest threat to local theatre owners, who, for the past month have been complaining of steadily decreasing attendance. Showagon, sponsored by the press and the City Division of Recreation, will be launched on July 1. It is a self-contained unit, complete with an 18-foot square stage, a band shell, stage lighting and a public address system. Each area will be given an opportunity to supply its own entertainment. Auditions for talent are being held every Friday night on the downstairs stage of the Telenews Theatre. Floyd E. Price, owner of the Grand, Newark, and the Avalon, Marysville, and Mrs. Price, were in Cleveland last week to attend the marriage of their son, S/Sgt. Myron E. Price to Miss Nellie Margaret Sowle of Shaker Heights. Jane Meisel Simon will resign from the Warner theatre publicity staff of which she is assistant director, on August 15. Eight years ago she joined the organization as assistant to the late Sid Dannenberg. She has remained at her post all these years as assistant to Dannenberg's successor, J. Knox Strachan. Howard Spiess, former Co-operative booker, will report for active Marine duty on July 3 at the conclusion of his present furlough. He is spending it with his wife in Wauseon. Loew's Esquire, Toledo, has booked "Dr. Terror's House of Horrors," a Film Classics release, for the week of June 27. Sam Sepowlin, Republic district manager, stopped off here for a one-day visit with Branch Manager Sam P. Gorrel. Mrs. Nazera Zegiob, circuit owner in Lorain, has returned from a winter in St. Petersburg, Fla., where she went to recover from a serious illness. Ben Kalmenson, Warner general sales manager, and Jules Lapidus, Eastern division sales manager, were local visitors last week. Ben Brown, head of Warners' projection department here for 18 years, has resigned effective August 4 to devote his entire time to private theatre ownership and personal business. DES MOINES Tri-States Theatre Corp. and Central States Theatre Corp. have established a five-day week schedule for the summer months, giving employes Saturday vacations. Miss Joyce Ryan, assistant manager of the mini, Tri-States theatre at Moline, 111., was awarded two leather traveling cases for "levelheadedness" during" a recent fire next to the motion picture house. G. Ralph Branton, general manager of Tri-States, presented the traveling cases to Miss Ryan. The Strand, Clinton, has been redecorated with the front of the balcony removed, an outside fire escape installed, and a partition with arched doorways built in the foyer. The entire interior was repainted. Helen Haub, former booking clerk at the Warner exchange, was married in a church ceremony at Des Moines. Her husband is Lieut. Craig Knop. The Strand, Creston, a Commonwealth theatre, recently celebrated its quarter-century anniversary with a birthday party. Percy E. Thomas, who has been projectionist since the theatre opened, ran the machine for the birthday party while cake was served to everyone attending the show. Mrs. R. H. Spencer is managing the theatre while her husband is in the Navy. Des Moines theatres, cooperating with the .\viation Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, staged a War Bond Army glider and parachute show at the Des Moines airport which netted over $30,000 in war bond sales. The theatres operated a bond booth at the two-day show. Tri-States and Central States theatre companies and members of the 10 Des Moines houses held their first monthly Sunday morning breakfast at the Birdlarid shelter house. One of the major problems was rationing points, which the home offices contributed. Ball games featured the event. Jesse Day, district manager at Fort Dodge for Central States, put on a 3>2 hour broadcast over the local radio station to sell war bonds. HARRISBURG Seventh War Loan activities continued with renewed interest here as the present campaign drew to a close. With the completion of a series of special events, and the occupancy of the Bond House by theatre personnel the last weeks of tJie drive, the goal for Harrisburg and Dauphin county was in sight. Among the smaller houses which sponsored premieres was the Hershey Community Theatre, where Harry C. Chubb, manager, reported sales of $32,900 for the bond showing of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Bond shows were given in Newmanstown, Newville, Dallastown and Williamstown, where Mark Rubinsky operates houses, while in the Lemoyne Theatre a premiere was given June 25. Showmen's Choice From Coast to Coast 1^ 0 ' O O Q 0 O O, o ( We Never Disappoint SAME DAY SERVICE TRY US AND SEE ADV. What Are Your Needs? Joe Hornstein Has It