Showmen's Trade Review (1945)

October 20, 1945 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 51 Kramer, visited Washington. MGM's Kathryn Nelson and Princella Jones celebrated birthdays in October. "Orders from Tokyo," Warner short, exposing Japanese atrocities in Manila, has been forwarded to Gen. MacArthur in Tokyo to be used as evidence in the trials against the Japanese war lords. The print was presented to Col. Stephen Mellnick, Army liaison officer, by Brig. Gen. Carlos P. Romulo, resident commissioner of the Philippines to the U. S. Philippines War Relief Inc. of the U. S., shares in the proceeds of "Orders from Tokyo." 20th Century-Fox's C. E. Peppiatt and Harry Michalson, visited Richmond. Elmer Sedin, RKO home office representative from Charlotte, was a visitor at the local exchange. On Film Row's sick list: Shirley Wright, Universal biller; Josephine Grasso, Universal cashier; Rose Frank, MGM booker's secretary; Catherine Murphy, MGM booker. Esther Katznell, RKO, has just returned to her duties, after an illness as has MGM's Mrs. Josephine Byrnes, inspectress. With 87 years of combined service to their credit, Charles E. McGowan, Louis F. Ribnitzki, Thelma Peacock, Fred D. McMillan and Dorothy Kolinsky, veteran employes of Warners in the Washington zone, celebrate anniversaries this month of joining the organization. McGowan, contact manager, has 27 years to his credit; Ribnitzki, head booker and assistant film buyer, 17 years ; Miss Peacock, cashier at the Ambassador, IS years; McMillan, manager of the Earle, 15 years j Miss Kolinsky, 13 years. ST. LOUIS A fire of undetermined origin has destroyed the 500-seat nine-year-old Strand at Fairfield, 111., owned by the Pitner and Barnes interests. Mrs. Harry L. Pitner, assistant manager of the theatre, said that the loss was covered by insurance. It was valued at $50,000. Harry C. Arthur, Jr., president and general manager of Fanchon & Marco, recently named regional chairman for the Victory Loan Campaign in the central area, which includes Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma, presided at a meeting of all the WAC chairmen in his area at the Coronado Hotel last week. Louis K. Ansell of the Ansell Brothers Circuit has been named exhibitor co-chairman for the St. Louis and Eastern Missouri territory, with Fred Wehrenberg, head of the Fred Wehrenberg Circuit, and Martin Burnett, manager of Loew's State and Orpheum, publicity chairman for the St. Louis and Eastern Missouri territory. Bernard McCarthy, branch manager for United Artists, will be distributor chairman. Construction is proceeding at a steady pace on the new 800-seat theatre being erected in Lansing, 111., by Kalafat Brothers of Cleveland, and it will be ready for opening at an early date. The structure will also include stores on either side of the entrance to the theatre, the name of which is to be selected through a prize contest. Si Freedman, formerly working out of Philadelphia, is the new 20th-Fox exploitation man for St. Louis and Kansas City, with headquarters in Kansas City. A new theatre will be Chadwick, Ill.'s memorial to its fighting men of World War II. Residents of the community have already pledged $10,000 for the enterprise. Construction will get underway at an early date. Alfred H. Schmidt has assumed his duties as manager of the Avon, Breeze, 111. A site for a new theatre to be erected in Genesee, 111., in the near future, has been purchased by Marchesi Bros., Amboy, 111., who operate a number of houses in northern Illinois. It is understood here they have also purchased ground for new theatres in Freeport and Lockport, 111. Lt. Justus Garard, U. S. Navy, is rejoining (Continued on Page 52) Connors Office Buzzes with Drive Activity The office suite occupied by Tom Connors at New York headquarters of 20th CenturyFox is the scene of greater activity these days than perhaps at any time since the head of distribution for the company took over his duties 'there. The reason is a rush of conferences, planning sessions and business-get-togethers with his fellow executives as events gain momentum in the Tom Connors Drive which has become an industry event due to the enthusiasm generated by 20th-Fox sales forces and exhibitor customers of the company. Photos above give a few candid slants on what goes on in the Connors offices these days. At top, Connors and Joseph Moskowitz are both happy over acquisition by the company of film rights to the stage play, "The Late George Apley," and Thomas B. Costain's "The Black Rose." Second from top, Wm. Kupper and A. J. Balaban plan with Connors for opening at the Roxy, New York, of "And Then There Were None." Next, Edmund Reek, head of Movietone News, and Connors confer on matters concerning newsreel production and sales. Immediately above, John Wood, of March of Time; Charles Schlaifer, Kupper and W. C. Michel in a get-together with Connors on the handling to be given the new MOT featurette, "American Beauty."