Variety (Sep 1941)

Wednefldaj, September 24,' 1941 EXPLOITATION IS Blanco Turns Over His 5 Frisco Houses; Theatre-Exchange Briefs San Francisco, Sept. 23. Five rural houses formerly oper- ated by A. Blanco have been taken over by a n^ew group known as Siin- nymount Theatres, Inc., which will also build a sixth. Houses are the Mountain View and Cinema, Moun- tain View, and the Sunny vale, Camp- bell and Los Gatos in cities of the same names. Situations will be under supervision of Bruno .Vecchi- arelli. Associated with him are J. Leslie Jacobs, theatre broker, and W. B. David who is connected with the George Mann circuit. Sixth house is to be located in Los Altos, where a site had been purchased. William Mason, former Eureka dis- trict manager, new assistant to George Mann, replacing D. P. Isa- bella, resigned recently to operate his own theatre, the Vacaville in Vacaville. Fox West Coast's California, Mar- ket street subsequent, will be com- pletely revamped and renamed the State. Work has already begun on the interior but new front and name may not materialize for several weeks due to defense priorities on materials, according to division chieftain Arch M. Bowles. Circuit's first-run Paramount, man- aged by Allan Warshauer, also get- ting new roof, floor and seats. . Seats are already on hand and work will be done over period of two weeks without interrupting operation. House will lose about 100 seats in the process to permit more leg-room between rows. WB's Sales Hyp« Managers of the Warner circuit in the Philadelphia zone will attend an annual meeting of their' group to- day (Wed.) in Philly with Joseph Bernhard, g.m. of the chain; Leonard Schlesinger, his chief aide, and Harry Goldberg, advertising director, on hand from the home onice. Bernhard will make awards in the 'Drive to Meet and Beat the Emergency' drive for the Philadel- phia zone with presentation of three automobiles to as many managers showing tlie best results. The 52- wcek drive was the idea of Ted Schlanger, zone operator for Phila- delphia. Baie Shea'a Coort St. Buffalo, Sept. 23. Shea's Court St., 40-year-old land- mark, will be razed at once and re- placed by a parking lot, according to McNaughton-Shea Realty Co., owner. For 25 years the house, un- der direction of the late Mike Shea, was one of the best known two-a- day theatres in the country. Ex- cept for sDot rentals, it has been dark most of the tiitie in the past 10 years. Jamestown, N.T,, Shifts Jamestown, N. Y., Sept. 23. Warner Bros, and Shea chains suddenly shifted personnel at both local &rst-run houses. Palace and Shea's Sunday (21). Al Newhall, city manager lor Warner houses Jiere, sent to Elmlra, succeeded by William Leggerio, formerly of HopeU. Dean Emiey remains as assistant here. Joseph Hockenberry, assistant at Shea's for nearly three years, trans- ferred to Pittsburgh house, and re- lieved here by Fred Lahmarr of Marietta, O. Hampton Back Into Fix Spartanburg, S. C, Sept. 23. Nelson Hampton, former Spartan- burg Herald-Journal promotion man- ager, wUl re-enter theatre field this lall, probably with Wilby-Kincey chain, his former employers. Carolina, Wilby-Klncey's top local house, reopened after being dark one week for improvements. R. B. Tal- bert manager. Camden (S. C.) city council has okayed local merchants' request lor removal of Sunday movies ban dur- mg huge Carolinas area army ma- neuvers Sept. 28-Nov. 30. Alfred. Lasenby, Jr, Salisbury (N. C.) Post photographer, has 30">ed Strickland Film Industries, Atlanta, for film titles work. Palmetto Theatres, Inc., operating Carolinas houses, opened first drive- m unit at Columbia, S. C. Carroll White, former assistant manager, Carolina. Spartanburg, more re- cently with Carolina, Henderson- i?' ^" named manager. Charles H. Meredith, manager. Dock St. theatre, Charleston, S. C, announces signing of George Hall as assistant manager. Succeeds Em- mett Robinson. Spartanburg theatres plunged into darkness with all houses loaded for bank nite last Thursday. Reason- local power failure. with Aekerman are Otto Grossman and Charles De Hess, who formerly operated a string of theatres in Aus- tria. Present 2,350 capacity will be cut to 2,000 to permit 37-inch spacing of rows and widening of aisles. Total of $25,000 will be spent on seats alone, all loges plus 300 super-loges for the front balcony said to be the most costly pews produced. Other alterations include removal of ramps to balcony and substitution of a grand stairway, new front, boxoffice, carpets, etc. Policy will be subse- quent run at 25c to start but house win be outfited more lavishly than a deluxe acer with a view to wan- gling a first-run policy later. New company is known as Downtown Theatres, Inc. House is not new to Aekerman. As member of the firm of Acker- man & Harris he operated the spot from the time it was first built in 1918 until 1938, save for two brief periods, during one of which Henry DufTy had stock there. Until 18 months ago, the house was owned by Bronco Billy Anderson, early screen hero. Prior to 1930, the Casino was oc- cupied largely by stock, musical comedy bnd vaudeville, finally be- ing converted to pictures 11 years ago. The snot went dark a little over a year" ago. More Schlne ShKU Rochester. N. Y., Sept. 23. Schine managers start traveling again. Harold DeGraw, Temple, Fairport, moves to Oneonta. Fran- cis (Pop) Geer switches from Lib- erty here to Fairport, and- Howard Helleberg, Riviera to Liberty. Stock- ton Leigli. one-time manager of the Regent here, transfers from Cort- land to the Riviera. Seymour Samuels, assistant manager of the Madison, goes to similar post at the State. LeRoy theatre. leased by Kallet Theatres Corp. from Ralph Blouvet, closes for-six weeks for remodeling to nearly double present size. Two adjacent buildings will be incor- porated In the new theatre. Cliff A. Schaufele, manager of the Diana. Medina, transferred to the Majestic, Hornell. To Reopen Casino, Frisco ThanksRiving- day tentatively set as reopening date for the Casino the- atre as the Downtown. Complete re- modeling, which will cost $90,000, is now under way. Deal lor the house was made by Irving C. Aekerman with the Hlbernia Bank. Associated Fox's Takeovers Denver, Sept. 23. Fox has acquired two competitive theatres in Colorado. They have bought the property and on Sept. 28 will start operating the Longmont at Longmont, Colo. "This was owned by J. 3. Goodstein and formerly was leased by Fox. Goodstein filed the first case under the consent decree in an attempt to get more pictures, but withdrew the case after three days hearing. The other is the America at Sterling, owned by Chas. Mcln- tyre, who has operated since taking back from Fox some time ago. These buys again make Fox exclusive in both these towns. Fox IntermounUin has spent about $10,000 on a remodel job including new front and seats at the Isis, Boul der, Colo. Lon T. Fidler, Monogram franchise holder, back from biz trip to Dallas. .J. T. Sheffield, Republic exchange owner, returned to his Seattle head- quarters after two weeks here. The San Luis at San Luis, Colo., now being operated by Delfino Sala- zar. The Trail. Colorado Springs, closed for remodeling. Orin Flagler, recently manager of the Longmont, Longmont, Colo., now managing the Pueblo, Pueblo. Colo. Arthur Greenblat, PRC sales man- ager, here conferring with franchise holders Joe Ashby and Bernle New- man. Bob Hope's Comedy Biog To Trailerize Pic, Radio A humorously-done book of 95 pages, written as an autobiography of Bob Hope, and being sold In drug- stores throughout the country start- ing last Thursday (18) as a promo- tion stunt for Pepsodent.Hope's radio sponsor, broke coincidentally with the release of the comedian's new- est picture, 'Nothing But the Truth." Both this one and 'Louisiana Pur- chase,' to be released later, are plugged in the book with stills from these films reproduced along with photos from Hope's album and posed material. The Pepsodent-Hope-Par exploita- tion includes an advance order for 3,000,000 copies of the book. It has been placed on sale in 85,000 drug- stores, selling at a dime. Addition- ally, 5,000 copies have been sent to wholesale drug dealers along with other matter on 'Nothing But the Truth.' Hope is calling attention to the publication of his autobiography on broadcasts last night (23), Sept. 30 and Oct. 7 from Chicago, Washington and Cleveland, respectively. TVInterton Steps Up Saskatoon, Sask., Sept. 23. Manager of the Dayligtit theatre here since 1933, W. E. 'Bill' Winter- ton has taken over managership of the Capitol, replacing the late Frank Miley. He will be city manager for the Famous Players Corp. Reginald Plumb, assistant man- ager of the Capitol, manages the Daylight now. Indigents' Home Continued from page 2; lounge and library, all connected by roofs and protected walks. Main group will be surrounded by bungalows, double for married couples and single lor unmarried. Jean Hersholt and Edward Arnold have contributed checks to pay for the double houses. Endowments for individual cottages have been turned in by Billie Burke, Osa Masscn, Ralph Morgan, Otto Kruger and his daughter, Ottilie. Officiating at ground breaking ceremonies were Arnold, Hersholt, Mary Picklord, Y. Frank Freeman, George Stevens, Sheridan Gibney and William Pereira, architect. Heavy Bafly on 'Kane In Two Non-Hearst Detroit Newspapers Detroit, Sept. 23. With advertising on 'Citizen Kane' blotted out of the Hearst newspaper here, both RKO and United Detroit Theatres are making special over- tures to the other two newspapers and reaping the benefits. Thus far, a special screening has been tossed for the newspaper staffs of the two Hearst rivals at the De- troit Film Exchange with packed attendance. The theatre, weeks in advance of the opening of the pic- ture this Friday (26), has sprinkled both accepting newspaper's with lib- eral teaser adds on 'Who Is Citizen Kane.' There's been reciprocity, with such press backing as rotogra- vure spreads, cartoons and special stories, several on Orson Welles. The Michigan, where the film will run, has stuck on a new trailer de- vice, running the first three minutes of 'Citizen Kane,' up to the death scene, and following it with dialog ballyho that the picture has been banned in 520 theatres, the mystery of the character's identity and that it will be shown 'uncut.' The voice advises the audience that 'Citizen Kane might be anyone of 21 living Americans.' Radio spot announce- ments also are being used plentifully along the same Ideas. McCarthy Gaims 2-Year Contract With 20th; Meantime Bot^ord's Set A Little Tieup? Worcester, Mass., Sept. 23. Metro's 'Wlien Ladies Meet' whose hero is a newspaperman named Jimmie Lee, got a rave blurb from a columnist in the Worcester Gazette. It was written by a news- paperman named Jimmie Lee. 'ONE FOOT IN HEAVEN' PREEMIfIWASH.Oa.2 Chartering trains and planes to carry church dignitaries, members of the press and others from New York, Hollywood and other points to Washington, Warner Bros, will hold a world premiere of 'One Foot in Heaven' at the Earle there the night of Oct. 2. Preem breaks there while atten- tion .is focused on the hearings of the Senate subcommittee investi- gating charges that pictures have been indulging In war-mongering. 'Heaven' is one of the costlier of the WB 1941-42 features and will be backed by an extensive' ad cam- paign. Charlie Einleld, now in the east on the preem, campaign, etc., will be in Washington for the open- ing. Harry Warner, on for the sub- committee hearings, will also -be there. POTTER'S VALEDICTORY Film Critic Explains How He Was Lured Into Cirenit Berth Minneapolis, Sept. 23. Explaining his departure from the Times to become general manager of the Bennie Berger circuit of in- dependent theatres, Merle Potter, veteran film critic and columnist, in his farewell column, said that Ber- ger wished to discover whether he. Potter, after writing for many years atxiut films, really knows anything about them. 'Strange thing happened to me the other day and I'm still rather be- wildered by it all,' wrote Potter. 'Bennie Berger, head of the Berger Amus. Co., called me to his office.' Said he: 'Merle, you've been writing about motion pictures now for years and years. I'm a curious fellow. I'd like to discover whether you really know anything about motion pictures. How'd you like to be gen- eral manager of the Berger cliain of theatres?' 'Naturally, I immediately had visions. I saw myself in an office with plush carpets a foot thick, lovely blonde secretaries running in and out of my office every time I pressed a buzzer, movie editors hanging on my words, advertising salesmen soliciting my business, my name in gold letters on an office door, etc. I must have mumbled my acceptance, because when my head stopped whirling, Bennie was giving me a lecture on theatre op- eration. 'So I'll be a general manager. I don't know exactly what that en- tails. Maybe I'll start out trying to placate Irate women who can't un- derstand why they can't have two seats on the aisle in Row 8, or scold- ing boys for throwing paper wads at the screen during a Robert Tay- lor-Heddy LaMarr love scene.' WB Whoops It Up For Par Pic's PhiDy Preem Philadelphia, Sept. 23. Most pretentious 'Hollywood premiere' ever staged here, was put on by Stanjey-Warner circuit for the world preem of Paramount's 'Nothing But the Truth' last Wed- nesday (17). A crowd estimated at more than 4,000 jammed a grand- stand- set up opposite the Stanley theatre,'catching the sidewalk Inter- view of film and stage notables aired by Betty Hurd, film commentator of WCAU. Heading the list of names for the opening was Bob Hope, Jerry Col- onna, Carolyn Lee, Anita Louise Honeychlle Wilder, Alvino Rey, Dania Krupska, Rosemary Lane and others. Hope was presented with a plaque from the stage by the Philadelphia. Council, American Legion, in recog- nition for his 250 benefits In 1940. A special section in the theatre was roped off for the delegates to the Allied exhibitors' convention. Charles Reed Joneses Hurt in N J. Auto Crash Charles Reed Jones, publicity di- rector for Republic at the home office and Mrs. Jones who, under the name of Evelyn Jones does freelance pub- licity in films, escaped with minor in- juries Sunday (21) when their car was in collision with another while cnroute to the Jones farm at Wash- ington, N. J. Both are in the Somerset hospital at Sommervillc, N.J. Jones with various lacerations and bruises, Mrs. Jones with a broken nose and rib, among other Injuries. Metro's Fancy House Org. Most lavish attempt by any dis- tributor to curry exhibitor goodwill in some time, has been launched by Metro. A new house-organ, 'The Lion's Roar,' specifically designed to pictbrially merchandise the Metro current program, is a 76-pagc ex- pensive and handsomely litho- graphed magazine, which will be sent to theatre owners regularly. Album of Metro stars, players and production personalities is bound in stiff covers, attractively designed for possible resemblance to Fortune Magazine, in style and size. First issue contains super-enlarged photo reproductions of players and scenes from company's important product, as well as stories, of and by the stars themselves. Howard DIetz supervises and Si Seadler U managing editor. Charles E. McCarthy's departure from 20th-Fox as director of pub- licity and advertising may entail settlement of a contract which has two more years to go. This is due. it is understood, to a clause concern- ing 'complete control' which ha deems was breached when the com- pany brought in Hal Home on spe- cial exploitation. A slxmonth salary settlement is reported to have been proposed but rejected by the ad- man. McCarthy wound up Friday (19) and immediately departed for Massa- chusetts to visit with relatives prior to making any future plans. He has no thought of retiring, he has stated. Meantime, A. M. Botsford's return to the publicity-advertising field in charge of the 20th-Fox department as McCarthy's successor, brings him back to an arm of the distribution branch which he deserted 10 years ago to go into production lor Para- mount. Called east by S. R. Kent, on re- turn ol the 20th-Fox president Irom his summer vacation, Botaford was immediately set for McCarthy's spot and took hold during the past week. He came into the company on a trial basis to see how it works out rather th?n demand a contract. Botsford leaves for the Coast Sat- urday (27) to clear up matters out there and move his family back east. He expects to return Oct. 6, and meantime states he will probably do nothing about appointing an adver- tising manager under him to take the post' which Maurice Bergman vacated last summer when Mc- Carthy first handed in his resigna- tion. Bergman will not return to the post. He confirms this, adding that he is considering some other offers, including outaide of the show busi- ness. Kent is said to have asked Bergrnan to reconsider his resigna- tion and remain until he (Kent) re- turned from vacation, same as hs asked McCarthy. Home's Deal Resignations of both McCarthy and Bergman stemmed from dissat- isfaction concerning the Home ap- pointment to handle special exploi- tation on the higher-budget produc- tions made under Darryl F. Zanuck's "own supervision.. Under the Home contract which is understood to run to June, 1942, Horne reportedfy re- ceives $1,000 a week, plus $575 in expenses. Twentieth has nine ex- ploitation men of Its own in the field. Home's first assignment was 'Belle Star,' which hasn't played New York, while second is 'Yank in R.A.F.' Third will be 'How Green Was My Valley.' Decision to turn the McCarthy post over to Botsford occurred last mid-week when the McCarthy resig- nation was permitted to stick follow- ing a huddle between him and Kent. McCarthy is said to have laid down certain rules which the company apparently could not meet in view of the commitment with Home's special ballyhooing organization. Appointment for Botsford re- sumes an association with Kent that dated back to earlier days in Par where Botsford was advertising manager in 1925. He shifted from that shortly afterward to become ad manager for Publix Theatres (Par) under Sam Katz. Stepping from there to head the eastern story de- partment in 1931. he shifted to Hol- lywood a year later as production contact for the home office. He be- came assistant to Emanuel Cohen, managing director of Par production, subsequently becoming aide to Henry Herzbrun and finally to Wil- liam E. LeBaron. He produced film for Par from 1936 through last year but has been inactive the past seven months. His last picture was 'Moon Over Burma' and when LeBaron shifted to 20th he planned taking Botsford along but couldn't fit him in. Until Botaford seta someone for the h.o. ad post formerly occupied by Bergman, Jack Thai and Frank Moneyhun will handle the details. They have been doing so since Berg- man quit. COMMEKGIAL BALLT TIEUP Ta-Kit, a new form of giveaway consisting of a bag filled with various standard products, has been installed in all Staten Island (Fabian) the- atres and three upstate WB opera- tions In Albany, Troy and CatskiU. Lobby displays have detachabl* panels so that each week's kit may be properly advertised.