Variety (Apr 1939)

26 VARIETY PICTURES Wednesday, April 19, 1939 Clark New Dayton City Manager For RKO; Odier Theatres-Exchanges Dayton, April 18. William A. Clark named manager of all BKO theatres in Dayton, suc- ceeding Millard M. Blaettnar, re- signed. Goodwin Sable, tor the past four years manager of the RKO State, made manager of thie Colonial, while William Weagley, assistant Co- lonial manager, promoted to State. Robert Tucker, chief of service at the Colonial, becomes assistant manager there. Changes announced by Col. A. F. Frudenfeld, Cincinnati, division manager of the RKO Midwest cor- poration. Joe Goetz, Cincinnati, sent up as temporary RKO manager here, has returned to his post as assistant to Frudenfeld. F-WC RemodcUDr . Los Angeles, April 18. Fox-West Coast is remodeling the American, Butte, and Liberty, Great Falls, Mont. Winners in the Anal week of Fox- West Coast's exploitation contest were Lew Clark, Dome theatre. Ocean Park; Morse Rabwin, Granada, Wilmington; Frank Burhans, Para- mount, Oakland. Monogram's two Pacific Coast dis- tributing organizations are sending eight representatives to the annual sales convention in Chicago, May 4-6, They are Dan Maitland, E. J. Mc- CarUiy, Ray Olmstead, Howard Stub- bins, Mel Hulling, a1 Goldstein, Cecil Fames and Gordon Allen: K. H. Wise bought S25-seat Fill- more from James Edwards. Marty. Solomon, city salesman for Columbia, shifts to Philadelphia this week. Wayne Ball arrived from Denver to take over management of loci exchange. Philip Walls, new manager of Rex, Bakersfield. recently taken over by Fox-West Coast named manager of new State, Erie, Pa., previously called the Palace. Getting new name and complete re- modeling job from owner Harvey Lnmerman. Mickey Sleisstnger, former Green- ville (Fa.) exhibitor, has landed lease < i Ritz, Rankin, for long-term period. House was run for many years by Steve Dascalos,> who re- cently lost his lease on It Fred J. Herrington, secretary of MPTO here, named to the commit- tee soonsoring a city manager form- of government for Pittsburgh and also to the advisory committee of the Allegheny County Real Estate Owners and Tax Payers League. Dean McCloskey just named man- ager of new. Castle, which will re- open in couple of weeks. House, formerly known as State, Pearl and Castle Shannon, was purchased re- cently by Dr. W. C. Frost who is modernizing it completely. Jerry Wechsler, one-time distrib- utor here, so joined M. S. Eng- land Enterprises here and will as- sist In distribution of Bank Night which England control in .this ter- ritory. Firm also owns three spe- cial' feature films, 'Cloistered,' 'Jesus of Nazareth' and 'Monastery,' on which Wechsler will concentrate. Main theatre in nearby Sharps- burg, Pa., has been closed by own- ers Harry Rschiele and Walker Bros, for extensive renovations. Op- erators expect to have it ready for reooening some time this month. Bill HoUenbaiigh, shipper in Re- public exchange, one of the win- ners in Motion Picture Art Fund's contest for German Refugees. C. E. Lilly Begalos Honse St Louis, April 18c C. E. Lilly, owner of the U City Theatre, in St Louis County, which was part of the Greenman Theatres, Inc., until Harry Greenman rejoined Fanchon & Marco as a district man- ager of the St Louis Amus. Co;, is again in possession of the house. Lilly operated , the house as the Irma but the tag was switched when Greenman .became the operating head. When Greenman returned to F&M the house was taken over by F&M but last week it was returned to Lilly. . . Royal Cowgar has obtained pos session of the Gem,- 228-seater at Richland, Mo., from Don F. Atkinson. George Wallace, Old Mines, Mo., is, reported to have successfully closed negotiations for the purchase of Riverside, 300-seater, Herculeneum, Mo., from Fred Evans. The Avalon, GIrard, ni., taken over by S. Langley. Will operate the 36P- seater six nights a week with three program changes a week, formerly operated SatOrday-Sunday oiOy. Jett Bros., Fairflield, IlL, awarded contract to build new nouse for Frank Barnes In Carmi, DL; $20,000 has been earmarked Jor the struc- ture. M. Goldberg, Irvine, Ky., buUding . new theatre In his. home town. The Gem, Beardstown, 111., oper ated by S. E. Pertle of Jersejn^lle, III., being remedied to permit the Installation of 160 more seats, thus accomodating 410 customers. Victor J. Urbane disposed of Grand, SOO-seater, Breese, III., to Bernard Tamborius. Capitol, Huntsville, Mo., complete- ly remodeled. Fox-Midwest contemplates reopen- ing Star, 700-seater, Benton, HI., pad- locked for several years. The owners of the 450-seat Strand, Fairfield, 111., mulling plan to erect another in the same town, S. £. Pirtle, Jerseyville, HI., owner of the Princess, Beardstown, 111., con- templating extensive Improvements at his house. The Gem, 340-seats, Chester, 111., sold by A. M. Beare to Oscar Turner, who with Steve Farrar is Interested In a number of houses in Southern Illinois. Jack Harris, formerly on sales stafl of National Screen Service, has be- come booker for various out of town . theatres. He added two houses in PinckneyvIUe, III, operated by Mal- colm R. Reld, to Ust of clients last week. 20tli-Fox Rejects Slate Old board of directors was re- elected at the annual stockholders' meeting of 20th-Fox held yesterday (Tuesday). Following this iheetlng the new directorate renamed the present slate of company officers for ensuing year. F-WC SPENDING $500,000 ON 3 SPOTS Flit Zone Doings Pittsburgh, April 18. General offices of Harris Amus. Co. will move first of month from Clark building headquarters, where outfit has been spotted for last five years, into town's ace hotel, the William Fenn. Harris gang will occupy an entire left wing of the third floor. William li. Brown, veteran trl- state exhibitor and operator of the Palace in nearby Tarentum, Pa., just appointed special tax investiga- tor In Pennsylvania state department of revenue at a salary of $4,200 a year. His son, William R. Brown, will take over management of Pal- ace. Martin Seed, son of Harry ^ea, WB-FN exchange manager here, Phllly Zone Moves PhUadelphia, April 18. Lou Bolander named manager of the Tioga; formerly was at Colonial, Lancaster. Shifts in the Comerford circuit lake Paul Tighe from the Roman, PIttstown, to the Penn, Wllkes- Barre; Mark Levan from Parsons to the Ron^an; Tom Carey to Orpheum; Fred Lee to Kingston; George Hor- lacher from Kingston- to the Par- sons; Joe Keams to'the Comerford; Joe Comerford from Mauch Chunk to the Peeley, Hazleton. Moe Sherman, formerly with Grand National, now managing the Capitol, Reading, on temporary ticket Horace Wright, RKO student salesman, shifted to Atlanta ex- change as a full-fledged film-peddler. Warner out-of-town managers be- ing caUed in a few at a time for Confabs with Ted Schlanger. .K. C.'s Many Changes Kansas Cif^, April 18. Elmer Rhoden, district manager for Fox Midwest, last week made series of sweeping changes of man- agers of the company's local.houses. Resignation of Stanley Chambers, Tower manager, occasioned the long string of changes. Frank Hitter his taken the reins at the Tower. Morrill Moore has taken over RItter's former charges, the Isls and Apollo, 'A' nabes. The Warwick, formerl: handled by Moore, is now under Glen Carroll who left the ROckhlll. From the Vis- to, Ralph Wallace takes the RockhiU. Owen Hitchler Is assigned to the Vista from the Llnwood, and Charles Barnes Is handling the Llnwood. Barnes' former post at the Uptown, now being fiUed by Henry Rodick. assistant manager at Tower. Paul Reinke moved from the Brookside to the Madrid, and Dale Havelone from the Madrid to Brookside. Uptown and Tower, with the Es- quire, are first runs, and others are nabes. First runs are now under di- rect supervision of Lon Cox, city manager, where formerly these three houses were under supervision of Chambers. Chambers has Just recovered from a serious attack of the flu, and his health along with other biz interests are_ figured as reasons for his resig- nation, He had been at the Tower smce It went under the Fox banner more than a year ago. a^d was for- merly manager at the TT^town, which he continued to supervise. Loew's Promotions, Transrers S. H. Melnhold of Loew's announces the following Greater New York pro- motions and transfers: Walter Mock, former assistant at Kameo, Brook jyn, now manager of Canal, N. Y., Martin Waldman, manager of Canal, moves to Burland; Edward Crawford, manager of Burland, transferred to new Olvmpla; John O'Connor, assist- ant at Astoria, moves to Kameo; Ben Newman, manager of Rio, moves to Elsmere, wbUe George Kirby, man- ager of Elsmere, goes to Rio, and chief usher Paul Swater, Prospect is promoted to assistant at Astoria. Bebnildlng Pronto - Charlotte, Ni C, AprUW. The Grove, China .Grove, de- stroyed by fire few weekq ago, will be rebuilt immediately, says Lewis Satuders, son of Mrs. Lola Sauni ders. owner and operator of the playhouse. Los Angeles, April 18. Three new theatres will be con- structed Immediately 'In California at a cost of around $340,000, and close to $160,000 has been appropriated for house remodeling In this state and In Montana, it is announced by Charles P. Skouras, operating head of Fox-West Coast Theatres.' Total outlay by circuit on new construction and Improvements will .exceed $500,- 000. New theatre construction, plans for which are now being drafted, will include house at Fresno, to cost ap< proximately $140,000; a new theatre in IjOs Angeles, built , in association with Dave Bershon, at cost of around $125,000, and one at Oildale, near Bakersfield. Cel., representing In' vestment of more than $75,000. Close to $50,000 will be spent in remodeling three circuit houses In Glendale. Circuit will rebuild Val- ley theatre. North Hollywood, and increase capacity from its present 300 to around 600, at cost of $25,000. Another $49,000 has been appropri- ated for major Improvements .to the Liberty, Great Falls ($25,000), and the American, Butte, which will be completely remodeled at cost of around $24,000,- Bernerd Saik Back, M. J. Wilson to Coast; GN Sitaation in Air Jeffrey Bernerd, managing direC' tor of Grand National Films, Ltd. of England, sails for home Friday (21), Maurice J. Wilson, co-manag' Ing director, leaves New York for the Coast on Saturday (22) to size up talent situation for company's ihiglish producing plans. Bemerd's company will continue to distribute GN product in the British Isles, if Grand National Pic- tures continues further producUon, The English distributing company has a five-year-frandilse. TAVALCADF FILM IN FINAL CUniNG Hollywood, April 18. 'Cavalcade of America,' the feature which the picture business is turn' ing out for New York World's Fair, is now In the cutting room. Preview probably will be held In about 10 days so that the picture can be shipped, east for start of its continu ous run in the U. S. Federal Build' ing In New York beginning April 30. Government has theatres in Its buildings at this fair and also at the Golden Gate exposition in San Fran' Cisco. Another 'cavalcade' feature, stressing western angles. Is being prepared for exhibition by the film business at the Coast fair. Estimated that approximately 32- 50% of the footage in 'Cavalcade of America' is new material which was shot here. Cecil B. DeMIlle is In charge of production. In addition, clips from thfrindustry's feature pic- tures containing historical scenes and episodes are being cut in to complete the running story of U. S. history, dating back to the 18th century. STORY BUYS „ HoUywood, April 18. 20th-rox purchased Rex Taylor's yarn, 'Queen Takes Queen.' Martin Mooney sold two mystery tales, 'Gangs of Chicago,' to Repub- lic, and 'Air Crazy* to Universal. 20th-Fox bought 'Breach of Disci pllne,' by Elizabeth Ligetl and Ar' thur Schaeffer. A. Edward Sutherland acquired screen rights to "The (Seneral Has a Wife,' by Capt Thomas Lellvelt Universal purchased 'Slightly Tempted,' by Max Marcin and Manny Sell. An April Fool in Paris By BiU HcUigan Did you ever see a prizefight in Paris? You sit In the front row and watch a couple of kids throwing punches that take you back to the Joe Lynch-Jack Sharkey days In the old Garden. Don't make the mistake I did of getting excited—the French take it in stride like a symphony con- cert However, I let a yell out of me at once and a dozen shooshes greeted me. It looked like there .would be some opposition to the battle in the ring as I was in no mood to stand for a. shoosh. I had just left the restaurant of Montagne and the Chateau Neuf du Pape was working, felt like a million. I was just about to let one go from the fioor when I heard a voice yeU, 'Hello BllL' I looked around and there was BUIy Seamali. BUI and I were old pals from Manhattan. I didn't know he was in town. Bill used to sit up in Reuben's delicatessen across from the Ansonla and show Arnold how to make a sandwich. He was an oasis of companionship in the Montmartre desert We forgot about the fights and went over to Ciro's and had a drink. He invited me to attend a party the following night and he went home. I went to the .Chabanais. The next night I met the gang at the apartntent of Ray Goetz.' They were giving Buddy De Sylva a farewell party at Volson's—in case you don't know about Volson's skip it Jules Glaenzer had been over there all afternoon getting, things In shape. That's the other way of saying that the grape was going to be 'just right' George Gershwin, DeSylva, Bill Seaman and the girls were drinking cocktails. We got in a couple of cabs and in five minutes we were In a private dining room that was a pip. The dinner was a masterpiece that would take Irvln Cobb's vocabulary and more. TTie pheasant would have made Diamond Jim turn over in his bronze. There was a baby grand in the room and Gershwin was playing it I had a dollar cigar in iny mouth, a drink of Napoleon brandy in my hand and a pip ou my lap. Let's see, am I leaving anything out? The Napoleon brandy was the kind Mark HeUinger would give you the Warner Bros. for. Glaenzer had heard that there was a dance marathon going on somewhere on the. outskirts and that's what he wanted to take us to. Seaman and I knew when we were well off and we wouldn't budge. We kept coming back for just one more quart Jules got sore and went out and sat in his car. He sat there a long time. The Attack on and Retreat From Moscow I don't remember when we came out, but I had a pip, I wouldn't have changed places with Lindbergh looking out of an embassy window. I had a dream on my arm and I was afraid I was going to Wake up. We headed foe a Russian bodega in the Montmartre. When we got there Buddy and I went down in the gents' powder room to freshen up a bit. DeSylva always looks like a winter in Palm Beach. He had been in the south of France for a month arid was burned as black as a blonde's heart A Russian gigolo who looked like George Raft after a hard night took one look at DeSylva and said something about 'Be it ever so painful there's no place like Harlem.' I had my hands full of lather and tried to laugh the crack oft. Buddy is a peaceful soul and said nothing. The Russian thought we were showing a little kl-yi and came out cold with an encore crack about Buddy. I hit him with a soapy right .that spilled him Into the Scott's tissue department He made a mistake; he got up too quickly. I belted him a^n. He stayed down for keeps. I was afraid reinforcements were coming so I did a retreat from Moscow that would. Jiave made Napoleon's flight look like a Brooklyn outfielder. We went upstairs and joined our party. . Some one started to sing the 'Volga Boat Song'—a Russian with a hedge. A square cutter, came over and apologized for the trouble downstairs. Would we have some vodka? We would. The gang went home but I stayed on with my fair companion. You don't get stiff with vodka—you get unconscious. I telephoned her the next day at six from the Russian Embassy. Ff.-CANADIAN NET FOR '38 AT $974J88 Toronto, April 18. Reporting considerable improve- ment during 1938, Famous Players- Canadian, at its annual meeting here, reported net profits of $974,788 after all charges, this Including provision of $48,322 for minority stockholders in subsidiary companies. This net profits figure compared with $865,731 over the previous year. Current earnings were $2.38 per common share as compared with $2.12 in the previous period. Earned surplus shows a marked gain and stands at $3,364,686, com- pared with $2,716,717 at the end of "37. Profit from the 1938 operations was $2,231,659 as compared with $2,- 184,524 -the previous year. Major charges, such as bond interest and depreciation, showed no marked variation. Working capital improved sharply. Current assets of the Na' thanson setup are $2,038,268, com' pared with current liabilities of $562,302. This leaves a working cap- ital of $1,475,966, as compared with $1,239,125 a year earlier. K-A-O's $1.75 Dlvry. Kelther-Albee-Orpheum directors declared $1.75 dividend on the pre- ferred stock last week out of operat- ing surplus, covering the quarter ending Sept 30, 1938. Divvy is pay able July 1 to stock on record June 15. Chaplin's Double Celeb Hollywood, April 18. CHiarles Chaplin last Saturday (15) celebrated his 50th birthday and the anniversary of 25-7ears-ln plcturesr Started with Mack Sennett, and a year later was 'starred. Hopping Internationally Hollywood, April 18. Hopalong Cassldy hops across the Canadian border in Harry Sherman's next Paramount production, 'Cal- gary Stampede.' Most of the picture will be made in that sector. FUming starts in June, with Bill Boyd in hli old familiar tole. NW ALUED'S MERNAL TEACr PRIOR TO CONV. Minneapolis, April 17. WlUi Bennie Berger, independent circuit operator, meeting with op- position indie exhibitors io thresh out differences arising from his pur- chase of Metro 'runs' for his Para- dise, local nabe, peace is believed to be In the offing in the ranks of Northwest Allied States. The peace would pave the way for a more harmonious Allied States' national convention, scheduled for Minne- apolis June 13-lS and is particularly deshred so that a better stage may be set for that gathering. Dissension arose in Northwest Al- lied ranks principally because Berger shows the M-G pictures at the Paradise ahead of Independent opposition houses at a lower admis- sion price, and Prez W. A. Steffes refused to do anything to stop him. Now Berger says negotiations are pending to eliminate the cause of grievance and the one man revolter,* who has been threatening to pull out of Northwest Allied and form a rival body, asserts he "wants to play balV The Northwest Allied annual con- vention, will be held the day prior to the Allied States' national meet- ing. Steffes, a member of the na- tional Allied board, says he will not accept reelection under any cir- cumstances. Boohester Allied .Rochester, N. Y., April 18. Rochester Independent theatre owners have organized a branch of Allied Theatre Owners of New York, district aiming to Include Le- Roy, Brockport and theatres as far west as Phelps and Clifton Springs. "Max "Fogel," Webster theatre," named temporary chairman, and Charles TIbbltts, secretary, TITLE CHANGES Hollywood, April 18. ■Maizle Was a Lady' is release tiUe for Metro's "Broadway to Wyoming.' 'The Spirit of Knute Rockne' is latest tag for Hie Story of Knute Rockne' at Warners. 'Music School' Is third handle for Samuel Goldwyn's Jascha Helfetz starrer.