Variety (Dec 1942)

18 PICTURES Wjednesdiiyr-December 9, 1942 B'way Strand and Hoflywood's Femme Aides; Theatre-Exchange Shorts Due to loss of manpower, Zeb Epstein, managing director of both the Strand and Hollywood, Warner first-runs in New York, Is training women for managerial and other posts. Already having one assistant manager in skirts at the Strand, Marie Canavan, and a treasurer wearing lipstick at the Hollywood, Ann Breen, both of whom were for- mer cashiers at their respective the- atres, Epstein plans to spot women for the following replacements: Charles Bowers, manager of the Hollywood, whe goes into the Army next week; Edward Eytorff, assistant manager of the Strand, who reported to the N. Y. induction center yes- terday (Tuesday); Harvey Burch, assistant manager at the Hollywood, who went to Camp Dix. N. J„ Fri- day (4) and Pete Bayes, assistant to Irving Windisch, publicity-advertis- ing director of the Strand. Bayes reported at Dix Thursday (3). rt Werth'a First Femme Mgr. Fort Worth, Dec. 8. Hiis city's first woman theatre manager is Mrs. Ruth Hightower, who is in charge of the Gateway, nabe. Married to Dennis Hightower for 10 years, she learned the theatre business ^en ^e served as cashier and general assistant to him. Her husband is now manager of the Tower. Marc Femmes In Pitt Pittsburgh, Dec. 8. RKO exchange here now has its second woman booker, Mildred Ludin having been appointed to berth va- cated by Earl Friedman's withdrawal for Army service. Marion Willett was first femme in the department She joined when Jack Weltner went into khaki more than month ago. H. H. Baldensperger, veteran Sheffield exhib, has taken on a woman as an apprentice projection- ist. She is Thadia Christiansen. Ann Guzell, secretary to Fury Nathan, manager of NSS ofHce here, resigned to take a position with the PitUburgh oiTice of the WLB. Joheph Delisi, Saltsburg exhib, novy being assisted by Joseph De Maria son of his partner. Delisi's sons, Joe, Jr. and Anthony, who were both associated with him previously, are now in the Army. and Golden State Theatres, afliliated circuits, because of loss of men to the armed forces. Walter Chenoweth was transferred from manager of Metro to same ca- pacity at Alexandria, replacing Al- bert Levin, who joined Marines. El- wood Rubin is new Metro boss. Fred Curtis moved out of Strand to El Rey, taking over from Bill Crosby, another Marine recniit, and Jim Phoenix shifted from Noe to take over Strantl iffenagership. Frank Lovette checked in as Noe manager. Jack Falvey took over manager reins at Midtown when Chester Bell was sent to Visalia to be head man at the State theatre, Falvey previously managed the Vogue. More Femme* Detroit. Dec. 8. Femme theatre managers evident- ly are working out all right First chain here to experiment with the ?olicy. Associated Theatres, is con- inuing with the program. Lat^t woman to take over man- agement is Fruma Brooks, former cashier, who replaces Samuel Greis- man, who went into the Army, at the Center. In fact setup is com- pletely feminine with Mrs. Ella Ben- nett, former cashier at the Iris, named assistant manager. Denver Doln's Denver, Dec. 8. Edward L. Alperson, chairman of the war activities committee of the motion picture industry, and Nat Holt western division manager RKO theatres, addressed a luncheon meet- ing of exchange and theatre men and outlined their participation in United Nations week, starting Dec. 7. In the Denver area collections will be taken in theatres. Ross Bluck, Columbia salesman, seriously ill in Santa Fe, where he ia in a hospital following an opera- tion for ruptured appendix. He later suffered a ruptured colon. Bluck will be moved to Denver as soon as his condition permits. Walter Jancke, Pioneer, Lamar, Colo., theatre manager, to Colorado Springs In a theatre job for Westland Tlieatres. E. J. Ward, recently Jewel mana- ger, now at Cameron. C. O. Wenholz closed his 350-seat Princess, Hotchkiss, Colo. Harry Huffman, city manager for Fox, sponsoring a plan for share-the- drive planned for those with irregu- lar hours that prevent the organiza- tion of a riders' club. Huffman's plan calk for the use of two cards, one for each end of a regular trip, calling attention to the car's destina- tion, and time of departure. The cards should be placed in a car win- dow for neighbors to see. Film sales- men are using trains and buses. Eddie Loy, formerly film salesman here and later for Republic in the Butte, Mont, area, returned to Den- ver as RKO salesman. Albany Variety Elects AII>any, Dec. 8. Tent No. 9, Variety Club, covering the local exchange territory, elected 11 canvasmen. They will pick the officers to serve during 1943. From the list proposed at a luncheon gath- ering in the Ten Eyck hotel those chosen are all connected with the picture industry and are located at exchanges or olflces In Albany. They are: C. J. Latta, upstate zone man- ager for Warner Bros, houses; Joseph Shure, Fabian divisional booker; Harry Alexander, manager of 20th Century-Fox; C. A. Smakwitz, assist- ant zone manager of Warner l.hea- tres; J. J. Spandau, manager of Uni- versal; Paul S. Krumenacker, man- ager of Vitagrapb; Herman Ripps, manager of MGM; Max Friedman, chief booker in the Warner theatres zone offices; Clayton G. Eastman, manager of Paramount and Neil Hellman, independent exhibitor of Albany and Troy. This group will ballot for chief barker (a post now filled by L. R. Golding, Fabian di- visional manager), first and second assistant barkers, dough guy and ser- geant-at-anns. The members pres- ent at the luncheon named Latta and Ripps as clowns, to attend the na- tional convention of Variety Clubs, .if it be held. Bill Murray who had been booker for Monogram since Mitchell Panzer opened an independent poster ex- change in Philadelphia with Charles Lawlor, formerly employed as artist by Empire Theatre Displays Co. and Advertising Accessories, switched to 20th-Fox as assistant booker. Dan Houlihan is chief booker. Murray Is filling the spot vacated by Elmer Sichel, who took a booking position with Schine. Murray booked (or old Grand National in Albany and later in Buffalo, and also had worked for other independent exchanges. His brother, employed on the 20th Cen- tury-Fox booking staff in Bo.<;ton for some time, was several months ago promoted to salesman. Vs Chi Sales Pawwow Universil is holding a meeting of all divisions and district managers in Chicago next Friday and Satur- day. William A. Scully, U sales chief, announced plans before leav- ing Hollywood where he has been huddling with studio executives. Main purpose of meeting will be to outline lat^ product viewed on the Coast Scully, William J. Heineman. as- sistant sales chief, and Maurice Berg- man, eastern ad-publicity manager, left for Chicago yesterday (Tues- day). F. J. A. McCarthy. E. T. Gom- ersall and Fred Meyers, division managers. Tom Murray. James Jor- dan and Eddie McEvoy will attend from N. Y. Friseo Shifts ' San Francisco, Dec. B. A major iihift was made In the Uneup of managers of San Francisco ■alminc Calls Confab Harry M. Kalmine, assistant gen- eral manager of the Warner circuit and now in full charge, with Joe Bemhard on Navy duty in Washing- ton, has called a meeting of all zone managers of the chain for Friday (II).' Bemhard, though on leave of absence, may attend the sessions. In addition to numerous homeoffice theatre executives, zone managers who will attend the meeting are: James Coston. CHiicago: Nat Wolf. Cleveland; I. J. Hoffman. New Haven; Don Jacockf. Newark; C. J. Latta. Albany: Ted Schlanger. Philadelphia; Moc Silver. Piltsburgh; John J Payette. Washington; Louis J. Halper. Hollywood, and Howard Waugh, Memphis. General theatre problems, policies, the war emergency, manpower, etc., will be discussed. Ken Collins Doubling Indianapolis, Dec. 8. Ken Collins, manager of Indiana, supervising the afliliated house iKatz-DoUa), the Circle, pending other arrangements since man.iger Art Baker went into the army as first lieutenant in the Special Service Corps. Lieut. Baker, home on leave his first week end, went to the the- atre to help out. Carl Niesse. miinager of the Vogue, has thrown his parking lot open dur- ing day hours to residents of neigh- borhood beyond street car service. They leave their cars at his lot. go to town on trolleys, pick them up again on way home at night. Pvt Harry Hayes, former United Artists booker, home on furlough. Herman Black. RKO salesman, un- derwent an operation last week. Re- covering nicely at last report. B. S. Gottlieb new student sales- man at 20th-Fox office here. Hugh Owan, Paramount district manager, Hariy Goldstein, of Par home office, Oscar Morgan, Par short subjects manager, B. B. Krleslcr. Universe short wbjscts oianager, Peter Roslan, UnlvsrwJ district iDan* ager, and William B. Levr and Charles Boasbertf, BKO oSlcIaU, Vii- ited local offices Tn the past few-days. Huss Heads CIney Variety Cincinnati, Dee. 8. Frank Wes Huss, Jr., exhib, was chosen to continue as chief barker of Variety Club Tent 3 by newly elected board of trustees who held their initial meeting last week. Allan S. Moritz and Nat Kaplan are first and second assistant chief bark- ers for 1943, with Sol M. Greenberg and Pete Niland holding over as sec- retary and treasurer, respectively. Other canvasmen are Ralph Kins- ler. Bill McCluskev, Noah Schechter, Maurice White, Harry J. 'Pop' Wes- sel. Albert L. Welnstein, and these past chief barkers: Colonel Arthur Frudenfeld, William Onle and Joe Oulahan. Frudenfeld and Onie were selected as convention delegates. Officers will be seated at the in- stallation dinner in Januvy. Moritz was first and Kdpian second in the club's annual gin rummy tour- nament, finished over the weekend. BnlTB Shifts Buffalo, Dec. 8. Columbia's Buffalo branch office personnel changes include Robert Bergquist succeeding David Fried- man, Ann Engler vice Amanda Ferenholtz and the addition of Rita Bogart John Meyers has taken over the Phelps, Phelps, from David Kean. Lincoln, Rochester, formerly under management of Howard Lurle, now being operated by W. R. Moore. U. S. Army air base at Syracuse has been added to the upstate New York exhibition spots. Basil Brady, manager of the New Ariel, home convalescing from long hospital siege. Emerson Dickman of 20th-Fox Buffalo sales staff, a grandfather, a son, Emerson Dickman, III, having t>een born to Emerson Dickman, II, former Red Sox pitcher, now sta- tioned at Naval Base at Opalacka, Fla. James Ryan, owner and former operator of the Ithaca, Ithaca, and the Burg, Trumansburg, now em- ployed at the Buffalo Curtiss-Wright plant. AUaota Changes Atlanta. Dec. 8. Roy M. Avey, for the past eight years southeastern manager for Loew'.s. Inc.. will join the staff of Lucas & Jenkins Theatres on or at>out Jan. I. Edward Pentecost (or six years manager of Loew's Grand theatre here, resigned that post recently. He has not announced his plans for the future as yet, although he indicated he will remain in the theatre busi- ness in one capacity or another. His successor is Boyd Fry, former At- lanta theatre executive who started here as assistant to Carter Barron when the latter was manager of the C.ipitol theatre. Fry later handled theatres in Louisville, Ky.; Nash- ville, Tenn., and comes to Atlanta from the Metro theatre in Memphis. Jack Hodges, for years with Lucas & Jenkins Theatres in this city, who recently went with 20th-Fox as ex- ploitation representative for the Carolinas, will return to the L&J or-' ganization in the near future as the- atre manager and adverttsing direc- tor. Before joining Fox. Hodges was advertising manager and manager of the 2.000-seat Roxy here. It is ex- pected he will take over manager- ship of the Paramount one of the L&J chain, when he returns to this organization. The Paramount re- cently redecorated at a great ex- penditure to the Lucas ft Jenkins Theatres, will be reopened Christmas Day. Concry Adds Ancther One Watervliet. N. Y.. Dec. 8. Milchell Concry. of Ravcna. who runs theatres in a half do7;en small- town spots in upstate N. Y.. has added the Family, Watervliet. to his string. It is the second house In the Troy area over which Conery has assumed control In the past 18 month."!- The Cameo. Wiitertord, was the other. Baniu Oip, to mwagc 1 tfaar*. L, i: Aubr«^t, wb OuflotM from Omsha, Roievelt j« tha branch who comes to succeeds Baadcl Reads N. T. Film Board Henry Randel, Paramount manager of the N. Y. branch, was elected pres- ident of the N. Y. Film Board of Trade last week, when the new slate of officers to serve in 1943 was named. Others elected are Sam Lef- kowitJi, United Artists branch man- ager, first vice-president; Joseph J. Lee, 20th-Fox, second vice-president; Ben Abner, Loew's-Metro, treasurer; Robert J. Fannon, Republic, secre- tary; and Leo Jacobi, Vitagraph, ser- geant-at-arms. New officers will be installed in January. Present officers are: David A. Levy, Big U, president: Clarence Eiseman, Randel, vice-presidents; Ab- ner, treasurer; Fannon, secretary; Ralph Pielow, Loew's, segt.-at-arms. Baron Vice Harris at Par Irving Baron, in charge of the print book at the Paramount exchange In New York, has been promoted as booker for the upatate N. Y. territory serviced by the branch. He succeeds Nat Harris, who has gone to 20th-Fox as a salesman. Jump was by mutual consent since it meant a promotion for Harris, and Par had no seller spots open at the time. Jack EUls StUI SongwrUinf Jack Ellis, sales manager at RKO exchange. New York, who dabbles in songwriting, has turned out a new one, "That's the News From Here,' in collaboration with Stanley Adams, who did the melody. Broadway Mu- sic will publish. D.C.'s Latest Conversion Washington, Dec. 8. Sam Cummins opened the Ply- mouth theatre at 13th and H .<;treets, N.E., last week. It's in a remodeled auto salesroom. He just took the auto dealer's Plymouth electric sign and revi.-sed it to fit the theatre. Cummins al.so operates the Pix theatre in Masonic Temple, and last week opened a 2.700-seater at Newport News. Va. He formerly operated the Little theatre in Wash- ington, and secured the American rights to 'Ecstasy,' the Hedy LaMarr foreign-made pic. Adorno's Addition Hartford. Dec. B. Astor. across the river in East Hartford, reopened by Salvatore J. Adorno, Jr. House, long shuttered, has been refurbished. Adorno is member of a syndicate operating the Capitol and Palace. Middletown. Conn. Adorno will manage the hou.se. which will be a (list run. Klleoyne Upped Worcester, Dec. 8. Tom Kilcoyne, assistant manager of the Warner here, has taken over as skipper of Strand in Clinton. John Silverwatch, Strand manager, army. Mail-Order Film Continued from page 5 zero temperature came .simultane- ously with the rationing's start. Such cold invariably hurls here anyway. The actual effects ol ga.soline ra- tioning probably will not be felt or known fo rseveral weeks, perhaps, it's conceded. Reason for this is that the vast majority of motorists still running their cars filled up their tanks to the brim the day before ra- tioning started. However, it also is known that many motorists have put up their cars for the winter— many more than u.'iual—if not for the duration. Chi WB Changes Jimmy Abrosc has been made salesmanager for Warner Bros, at Ihe CThicago exchange, while a new member of the local sales staff is Bien Elroad, formerly at the com- pany's Milwaukee exchange as a salesman. Booking department at Chicago has taken on Florence Cohen. They succeed Jack Clark. Bennle Goldblatt and John Kru(/.lcr, who have gone into the Army. New East Orange Nabe East Orange. N. J., Dec. 8. Newest nabe here is the Ampere, housed in a cmiverted garage, which opened Tuesday (1), double feature policy. Managed by Joseph Ruben- stein. Warren Davis, assistant manager Proctor'.s. upped to manager Proc- tor's RKO theatre, Mt Vernon. Jack Jovans, assistant manager Capitol, Newark, into tha army Dec. 18. F. A. Bosevelt to K. C. Charlotte, N. C, Dec. 8. F. ,A. Rose.velt, branch- manager of Ro.sE Fedelral, has left Charlotte for Dawntown Milwaukee Okay Milwaukee, Dec. 8. } First in days of gasoline rationing in this area has had various reper- cussions, some of which were not anticipated. Business in downtown theatres held up amazingly well, even going ahead o( earlier weeks where the attraction warranted, so managers are o( the opinion now that when they have the picture they will do the business regardless of transportation facilities. Down- town transients will supply a large part of the customers, while people who really want to see an attraction will manage to get there somehow. In ihe neighborhoods, however, the story Is different although man- agers had expected the reverse, with people staying away from downtown houses and patronizing the houses near home. As it turned out, there was a big drop in the nabe trade, which may to some extent be ac- counted for by a sudden burst of old fashioned winter weather, with snow and below zero temperatures, but Harry Perlewitz, business man- ager of the Independent Theatre Protective Assn. of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, puts It this way: 'People have become so accus- tomed to using their cars even to go a coupla blocks that they have forgotten how to walk, and wont do 10 to go to a show. They' sim- ply are Ktuylng home during the week to save their gas ration so diey can use it to travel around on weekends.' Business In the rural communities throughout the state took the ex- pected drop; houses that depended upon surrounding areas for their business getting, a very weak play, people simply not having the gas to get into town for a picture. Too Soon IB Indpiek Too Indianapolis, Dec. 5. Gas rationing got to 'Indianapolis only a jtmip ahead of the winter's first blizzard, so the full effect of restricted driving on show business here Is still immeasured. The gen- eral Impression among theatre men Is that rationing won't be felt at its worst for a week or 10 days, as the majority of motorists started out with full tanks. They point to'the fact that downtown parking lots are still jammed as evidence that most automobiles continue in normal use. Immediate reaction Dec. 1, when rationing went into effect, was varied. Owner of one outlying nabe house, drawing a wide drive-in trade because of a large parking lot, re- ported his lowest gross in five years. But the Ballet Theatre, appearing at English's downtown, played to stand- ing room only. Sonja Henie's Holly- wood Ice Revue, which opened to record audiences topped by 12,000 Saturday night (28) noted an im- mediate drop In attendance, though the management claimed it still was good. Coliseum, five miles from downtown, is served by one street car line and is a transfer jump for th.ree-fiurths of the city. Many showmen expect rationing to intensify weekend jams and take another cut out of weekday matinees after Christmas shopping period i.s over. Hedda Hopper - contlnaed ttom page 3 s might include a Hollywood item which Fidler might have. That would give Fidler a time advantage that would be hard to contend with, as Winchell would have to keep tuned into the preceding program instead of concentrating on possible incoming flashes and getting ready for his own broadcast. Fast Few Days For Miss Hopper, last week was one of fast bookings, equally fast cancellations and general bafflement On Nov. 30 she accepted over the phone through her manager an offer to replace Winchell for a minimum of four weeks. The following day (1) .she got a wire from James Andrews, Lennen & Mitchell radio director, say-^ ing that a deal was set for her to start' Sunday, Dec. 6, and that Andrews would arrive in Hollywood Friday, Dec. 4. On Thursday (3) Miss Hop- per received a wire from Andrews stating that 'due to complications, deal for you (Hopper) to replace Winchell Sunday is off. Letter fol- lows.' Miss Hopper was unable (or the next two days, according to reports from Hollywo<>d, to get hold of any- one in L. & M.'s New York office for an explanation of the situation. What had happened was that An- drews had actually started for Holly- wood and, when he reached Chicago Wednesday (2), he was handed a message to call his N. Y. office imme- diately. He sent the message as in- structed to Miss Hopper and returned to New York. The agency in the meantime had obtained approval from the client to substitute a three- commentator combination (Baukhage, John Gunther and Robert St. John- review in this i.ssue) for Winchell. Caart Action Threat Hollywood. Dec. 8. Martin Gang, counsel for Hedda Hopper, has written both Jergens and the Lennen St Mitchell agency for an explanation of what his client holds to t>e a firm offer and he is awaiting a reply before taking legal action. It is understood that the claim will be not only for last Sun- day's (6) unfulfilled broadcast, but a]so for some compromise arrange- ment up to eight weeks. Miss Hopper, who had not heard from the account or agency up 1o this afternoon (Tuesday), declares she holds a signed contract and is prepared to carry out her end o( the agreement. TITLE CHANGES Hollywood, Dec. 8. 'Haunted Ranch' Is release handle on 'Ridin' Double' at Mono),'rain. Monogram's 'Adventures of Cosmo Jones' now titled 'Cosmo Jones in 'Crime Buster'.' 'School for Saboleur.s' -nt 20lh-K"i>x changed to 'School (or Sabuiuije.'