Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1947)

22 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, October 18, 1947 REGIONAL NEWSREEL (Continued from Page 20) managerial staff is confined with a heart attack to the Presbyterian Hospital. S. J. Gregory, back from his west coast trip, is in Indianapolis attending the fall meeting of Alliance Circuit managers. Terry Turner of RKO Theatres was here for conferences. Charles Schlaifer, 20th-Fox adpublicity chief, stopped off on business en route to the west coast. The following have been appointed to assistant theatre managerships : J. Bingemer, at the Pantheon ; Ted Duval and Bob Beaudine, at the Gateway; Gus Bjelke, at the Riviera. Leslie C. Walrath of the Uptown Theatre was elected president of the Balaban and Katz Employes Ass'n ; Carl Russell of the Gateway, Luther B. Richardson of the Southtown and William A. Studdert of the Tivoli, vice-presidents ; Sam E. Stott, treasurer ; J. F. Hanrahan, secretary. Directors elected were : George W. Thomas, WBKB ; Hector Bishop, Century ; Joseph Arlia, Tivoli ; Harry L. Odendhal, Harding; Harold Dyer, Berwyn. Charles Butwill and John Wesley of the operators' union died here recently. MILWAUKEE The Riverside Theatre in downtown Milwaukee is again featuring stage shows and name bands. Arthur P. Desormeaux, retired manager, who went to Madison, Wis., as manager of the Strand in 1918, and later bought out the Finn and Maiman interests in the house and operated it until 1927, is leaviilg Madison to make his home in Tulsa, Okla. Desormeaux managed the Capitol in Madison for a time and in 1930 took over the Majestic which he sold in 1943 to Warner Bros. In a talk before the Milwaukee County Better Films Council, Mrs. Henry Smith of Sheboygan, Wis., motion picture chairman of the Wisconsin Federation of Women's Clubs, said that the "movies are two years ahead of the people." She stated that the public should accept information as well as entertainment in films. The Fox-Wisconsin Amusement Corp., which has 27 theatres in Milwaukee, intends to make the Mirth Theatre a second-run for foreign pictures which it shows first-run at the Downer ELECTED TREASURER. Thomas F. O'Connor (left), has been elected treasurer of RKO Theatres, succeeding A. W. Dawson (right), former treasurer, director and vicepresident, resigned. In addition to his new duties, O'Connor will continue to supervise the RKO real estate and maintenance department. Theatre. The houses are about eight miles apart. Alfred Zuelke of Mayville, Wis., has been refused a permit to build a theatre at Poynette. Kenneth E. Siem is a new Eagle-Lion salesman in this territory. HARRISBURG The Colonial has arranged a Saturday morning program for high school boys and girls, called "Saturday Morning Quiz Show." Broadcast over Station WHGB, the program each week includes school pupils of one or two designated high schools, participating in a question-answer program aired over the station, for which cash prizes are offered. Visitor to former local associates was Frank Fowler, now head of a New Jersey circuit, former office manager in New York for Wilmer and Vincent. With him was R. A. Speers. Lieut, and Mrs. Jack Perrigo (she is the former Mary Ellen Hatfield), are expected home from Hawaii next month. Mrs. Perrigo is a former Wilner and Vincent secretary for many years. The grapevine whispered that "Forever Amber" had been booked into a local theatre for the last week in October, but local theatre AT $27,500 'HEART FUND' PREMIERE. There was good reason for smiles by all who worked for the success of the "Variety Girl" benefit premiere at the Paramount Downtown Theatre, Los Angeles, last week. The event was sponsored by the Los Angeles Variety Club and climaxed a series of similar benefit premieres staged throughout the country with local Variety Club Tents as sponsors. The Los Angeles premiere netted $27,500 for the "heart fund" of Tent 25. Seen above in the smiling huddles photographed at the theatre are: George Jessel, Tent 25 Chief Barker Charles P. Skouras, Eddie Cantor, William Bendix, Jerry Colonna, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour. (Story on Page 10). men requested a change in booking, believing that the film name might give more ammunition to the many opponents of Sunday movies, 'jn which citizens will vote Nov. 4. Bob Sidman, manager of the Senate, was in New York last week on business. Theatres were aiding in the Community Chest drive, with staff members making solicitations for contributions. NEW HAVEN ~" Jim Darby of the Paramount Theatre, running a special Saturday morning kids' show, with main attraction being Popeye the Sailor who later visited crippeled children's home where he entertained. Herman M. Levy, general counsel of the TOA, will speak and take part in an arbitration demonstration before the Connecticut State Bar Association and the State's Assembly of Judges at the Yale Law School in New Haven. Demonstration is being arranged by American Arbitration Association. Levy was recently named secretary of the New Haven Bar Association. Division Manager Harry F. Shaw of the Loew Poli N.E. theatres is making an inspection trip into Bridgeport and Hartford. Ditto Lou Brown, publicity chief who also covered Waterbury. New England premiere of MGM's "Green Dolphin Street," starring Lana Turner, will take place at the Loew Poli Broadway Theatre in Norwich, Conn, on or about Nov. 12, Manager Joe Boyle announced. Mrs. Morris Rosenthal, wife of Loew Poli New Haven manager, is off to Canada to visit relatives. Morton Katz, MGM salesman, sporting a new automobile. Columbia Branch Manager Tim O'Toole is attending a New York sales conference. INDIANAPOLIS "~ Senator Homer E. Capehart, was the speaker at a luncheon Thursday in the Coral Room of the Hotel Antlers. The meeting under the auspices of the Neighborhood Theatre Owners Association, was held in protest against an increase of Ascap's music license fee for theatres. F. L. Williams, former city manager of the Shine Circuit at Athens, Ohio, is the new manager at the Ritz Theatre here. Ralph Bedwell, who operates the Iris Theatre at Lyons, Ind. has sold his house to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Pierce. Harry Walsh, the Scott Theatre, Scottsburg, Ind., is the father of a 5 pound 8 ounce baby girl born at the Napper Hospital, Oct. 2. Thomas Dillon, formerly with MGM, is the new assistant booker at Columbia exchange. Morton Kramer, formerly with Columbia in Milwaukee, has been transferred to the Indianapolis exchange in the same capacity. Jesse Stucky, operator of the Princess Theatre, Cayuga, Ind. is recovering from a broken hip. Grace Wolfard, operator of the Hamilton Theatre, and A. C. Holt were married recently. Columbia Salesman Curtis Butler is retiring temporarily effective Nov. 1. The Variety Club of Indianapolis. Tent No. 10, will move into new quarters at 129j4 West New York Street, in the near future. Decorating the new quarters is about completed.