Showmen's Trade Review (Jan-Mar 1947)

SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, January 4. 1947 27 REGIONAL NEWSREEL the foundation are now being made. The television tower for WBKB station of the Balaban & Katz Circuit will likely be changed to a site owned by the circuit at the northwest corner of State and Lake Streets ; plans are still in the preliminary stage. Charles Ryan, retiring assistant district zone manager here for Warner Bros., who has resigned and is going to California for his health, was presented with a diamond-studded wrist watch by James Coston, Warner theatre zone manager, who presided at the testimonial. Warner theatre managers and personnel contributed to the purchase of the gift. Ryan was also presented with an illuminated scroll from the managers and staffs testifying to their esteem for him, earned by his many years of service and fellowship with them. Film Classics and the Dezel Agency have been signed up by Sam Lamansky, business agent for IATSE Local 45, for a 15 per cent wage increase, effective at once. TORONTO The many employes of Famous Players Canadian Corp. throughout the Dominion entered the New Year in happy mood through the distribution of bonuses which consisted of extra pay of two weeks for a large proportion of staff members. For workers on a wage basis under labor-union contracts there was also special disbursement of an extra $25 although there is no provision in such agreements for a bonus arrangement. The sequence of trade celebrations in Toronto for the holiday season came to a brilliant conclusion Dec. 28 with the holding of a cocktail party in Vanity Fair at the King Edward Hotel, the hosts for which were President J. Earl Lawson and officers of Odeon Theatres of Canada, Limited. It was an invitation function and practically all of the important people of the Canadian film industry were in attendance. Previously, Famous Players, Canadian Odeon, and other major companies all conducted staff parties either in hotels or headofnces to make the festive period one long to be remembered. An important trade development in Eastern Canada, effective Jan. 1, is the establishment of a theatre circuit company by H. C. D. Main of Toronto, with whom is associated Ben Gar Beer and Skittles Sixteen-millimeter short subjects, complete with sound, are being offered as an added attraction in a Fifteenth Street tavern at Kansas City. Probably takes the place of free lunch. son of Montreal, a veteran theatre man there. The new company is known as Main's Theatres Corp. and it will operate primarily in Ontario where Main already operates several theatres in smaller centres. Until recently Main was a partner with Sam Fingold and Ralph Dale in Theatre Amusement Company, Toronto, and at one time he was a supervisor with Canadian Odeon and held a like position with the former Hanson Theatres Corp. Fingold and Dale are now officers of National Theatre Service Limited which is linked with Odeon Theatres of Canada in the operation of a circuit of 23 theatres in Ontario. The turn in the year has brought the installation of new officers for 1947 of Famous Players Toronto Theatre Managers Association which holds a high place in the Canadian exhibition sphere. Manager Len Bishop of the Tivoli in downtown Toronto succeeds M. J. Doyle of the Runneymede as president and Manager Jay Smith of the Avenue Theatre becomes secretary in succession to Fred Trebilcock of Shea's Theatre. Other officers include : vice-president, March Mirsch, Eglinton ; treasurer, Russ McKibbin, Victoria, and directors, J. Simmons, Village, and Walt Graydon of the Parkdale. Monthly meetings are held in the King Edward Hotel, generally with a guest speaker. Henry L. Nathanson, managing director of Real Films, Toronto, Canadian distributor of MGM product for many years, is a patient in a Toronto hospital where he has been reported as very ill. He is a brother of the late N. L. Nathanson who, in succession, was president of Famous Players and Odeon Theatres of Canada. Following some months of discussion both in Toronto and New York with respect to arrangements for distribution of product in the Dominion, A. W. Perry, general manager of Empire Universal Films, was able to take two weeks for a delayed and much-needed vacation. De liberations hinged on the new set-up of J. Arthur Rank and Universal in the United States and leading to the Universal-International alliance. There has been no immediate change in the decision within the Canadian Odeon organization that no successor will be named at once to Frank H. Fisher as western division manager of the Odeon chain, Fisher having become general sales manager of Eagle-Lion Films of Canada. There is a rumor in Toronto trade circles that delay of appointment means an important personnel development in higher Odeon circles, including the naming of a general manager. That post has actually not existed with President Earl Lawson taking an active part in Odeon operations as managing director but it is believed that the circuit has reached such proportions that direction duties must be assigned to an executive assistant in the role of general manager. BUFFALO Buffalo is over celebrating a round of parties which started with Christmas and ran through to the New Year. Warner Bros, personnel made merry at the Club Como, while Paramount and MGM held forth at their respective quarters. UA kicked the roof off at the Hotel Statler. Republic celebrated in its exchange and Film Classics at the Town Casino. Universal and PRC dined at Laube's Old Spain, and later joined forces with Columbia and RKO at the 505 Film Building. Al Teschmacher of National Screen Service, again a grandfather, his son Alfred being the father of a new baby boy. ALBANY Condolences are being extended to Aaron and Nate Winig, Variety Club members, upon the sudden passing of their sister, Miss Mae Winig, of 130 Cardinal Avenue. Funeral was from the Silberg Memorial Chapel. Miss Winig was a former secretary at the Albany OPA. Visitors along the Row were very few and things were generally quiet because of the holidays. Those in were Sam Davis of Phoenicia ; Clarence Dopp of Johnstown ; H. Bernstein, C. Deitcher and J. Perlmutter of Schenectady ; Frank Wieting of Cobleskill. Bert Armm, son of former PRC branch manager, Jack Armm, is confined to the Albany Hospital with a brain concussion as the result of an automobile accident. PRC has two new employes — Anne Swent replacing Agnes Egan, secretary, recently resigned, and Arthur B. "Tex" Carter, bookkeeper-cashier, replacing Satie Richter. Bucky Harris, RKO exploitation man, went to Larchmont for the holidays ; Betty Herrick and Lee Drexler of the Warner Bros. Theaters spent their holiday at East Orange and Patterson respectively. Film salesmen vacationing last week were RKO salesmen Jack Rubach and Harold Carlock; Columbia's Si Feld and Charles Dortic ; Warner Bros.' George Goldberg and James Moore ; Republic's Dick Strewe. Bob Siegel, temporary salesman out of Albany RKO office, has been transferred to Boston. Bernie Brooks of Fabian home office spent several days in Albany. Richard Stephens, WB field man, was in (Continued on Page 28) PROJECTS 354,780,000 FEET OF FILM, GETS PIN. Conservatively estimated, Chief Projectionist Arthur P. Slater of Loew's State, Providence, R. I., has projected approximately 354,780,000 feet of film during his 18 year association with the Loew outfit. Last week, at an Employes' Christmas party held at the Dreyfus Hotel, Slater received a Service Pin for his nearly two decades of service. In the photo above are (1-r) Charles E. Kurtzman, Loew's division manager; Rhode Island's Governor John O. Pastore presenting the pin to Slater; Slater himself, and Joseph G. Samartano, manager of the State.