Boxoffice - Feb. 17, 2014

. . Wedding
: February
T S. HODDETT has been appointed manager
of the Community, Kapuskasing,
Ont., in the absence of H. J. Sweatman,
who has become manager of Beaver House
of London, England, the recreational center
for Canadian troops. Sweatman was
appointed to this position for the duration
of the war.
With "Gone With the Wind" playing an
extended run at Loew's. features ichich
would ordinarily play that theatre under
the M-G-M franchise have been transferred
to the Uptown, ace Toronto house
of the Famous Players chain. "Balalaika"
was held over at the Uptoum and is being
followed there by "/ Take This Woman,"
according to announcement by Manager
Fred Trebilcock.
Al Sedgwick, manager of the Belsize,
Toronto, has retired as president of the
Mount Pleasant Business Men's Ass'n but
continues as a committee chairman. Annual
reports showed a highly successful
year under the direction of Sedgwick.
. .
George Oulahan, formerly with Empire-Universal,
has become Ontario branch
manager of Sterling Film Distributors.
Ltd., Toronto, handling l^nim product .
Intimation is forthcoming that, because
of the war, there will be 7io national managers'
conference this year of Famous
Players Canadian Corp. Regional meetings
will probably he held during the coming
summer.
"Blue Bird" looms as the special attraction
among Canadian theatres for Easter
Week, following the restricting observance
of Lent. A number of theatres
are understood to be making a strenuous
bid for the production.
The house record for the Eglinton, Toronto,
has been broken ivith the lengthy
run of "A Girl Must Live" which has already
occupied a period of seven weeks,
compared with six and one-half weeks for
"The Lady Vanishes" last year, and Manager
Bob Eves is all smiles.
Manager Bill Trudell featured London's
annual winter fair in the lobby and foyer
of the Capitol during the past week, the
exhibits including automobile, wallpaper,
washing machine, radio, motorcycle, furniture,
motor boat and other displays, with
prize-winning coupons being distributed
from a booth. Film attractions during the
week included "The Amazing Mr. Williams,"
"The Roaring Twenties" and the
documentary feature, "The Warning."
Trudell secured cooperative pages in the
local newspapers.
Harvey Hunt, booker at Famous Players
head office, is the latest to have a siege
of sickness but is now back at his desk—
giving the managers what they want iJi
the way of features.
Sam Firestone, owner of the Esquire and
Aster theatres. Toronto, actually declared
that he was waiting until the weather became
warmer before he takes his annual
trip to Florida. Jake Smith, veteran proprietor
of the Revue and Tecumseh theatres,
Toronto, will team up with him for
the trip, it is expected. Sam XJlster, owner
ir o 1 T o
of the Embassy, has also developed a severe
case of Florida Fever and plans to
leave shortly.
A. W. Perry has recovered from his illness
and is back at his post as general
manager of Empire-Universal Films, Ltd.
This company booked the Joe Louis-Arturo
Godoy fight film for Canada, which
proved to be one of the most colorful pictures
of this type.
Abe Rappaport, owner of the Hollywood,
Campbellford, was missing from Toronto
fUm offices for several weeks and it was
ascertained that he had been snowbound
bells rang the other day for
Joe Merino of the Pickford, Toronto.
Hoivard Eager, one of the Hagers of
Hagersville, ivas a business caller at a
number of the exchanges in Toronto. An
exhibitor loho had not been seen in some
time was M. T. Craig of the Majestic,
Dresden, and the Palace at Ridgetown.
R. T. Stewart, veteran head of the Lyric,
Hamilton, appeared on the scene during
a stormy stretch and helped the film salesmen
from getting lonely.
C. B. Howard of Sherbrooke has been
appointed a member of the Canadian
Senate which means he will adorn the
Upper Chamber for life. He is in the
theatre business, along with other interests.
He treasures a fountain pen which
he loaned to the British Monarchs during
the Royal Tour last spring, the official
gold-mounted pens having been left
devoid of ink.
J. Frank Willis loas appointed official
Canadian observer with the March of Time
unit luhich has been preparing a release
on Canada's war effort to be ready late
in March.
The Ontario government is seeking cooperation
of theatres in encouraging tourist
trade from the United States this year,
J^ENT has laid its heavy hand on theatres
of Quebec province, few of which
escape its depressing influence on attendance.
Lenten fare, nevertheless, is attractive.
"Gone With the Wind" is announced
for Loew's at increased prices, following
"The Light That Failed." The Palace has
"His Girl Friday:" the Capitol, "Destry
Rides Again:" the Princess, "British Intelligence,"
and the Orpheum, "Slightly
Honorable"—its second week.
The consul for France and the British
trade commissioner were amongst invited
guests who attended a preview of "France
Is Ready" at His Majesty's— A Mexican
film, "The Wave." was shown in Y. M. H. A.
Auditorium, arid a Yiddish film, "Mirele
Efros." at the Mount Royal Theatre.
Whereas only a dozen cinemas were open
in the French capital a few weeks ago, it
is reported here that Paris now has 85
motion picture theatres open, as well as
45 cabarets and music halls.
particularly in view of the fact that there
will be no amusement tax to bother the
visitors.
After a two-week, run of "Of Mice and
Men," Manager Lloyd Mills of the Elgin,
Ottaiva, temporarily changed the policy of
the house to double bills starting with
"Blondie Brings Up Baby" and "Those
High Grey Walls."
Moise Oysher, featured in the Jewish
musical film, "Overture to Glory," which,
has been having a special run at the
College Playhouse, Toronto, is a wellknown
Canadian cantor.
Manager Vern Hudson of the Avalon,
Ottawa, still finds it impossible to give
away $500 in cash, this is the Foto-Nite
prise which has been dangling for a number
of weeks. For the last prise stunt night
Hudson added four acts of vaudeville.
Typical of war days are the features and
shorts which have been playing Ottawa.
Simultaneously the Imperial had "Double
Crime in the Maginot Line:" the Regent
offered "The Warning," British propaganda
film, and the Elgin added the March
of Time release, "Republic of Finland."
Incidentally, Manager Bob Maynard of the
Cartier cancelled his screen program for
one whole evening to play a vaudeville
show.
The Bedford Park Businessmen's Ass'n
filled the Bedford in north Toronto for
a midnight show, supervised by Manager
W. G. Hunt, when more than 200 prizes,
donated by local merchants, were distributed
among lucky ticket holders.
A crowded meeting of the Toronto Amateur
Movie Club witnessed the screening
of a film of the scuttling of the Graf Spee
which had been secured through T. E
Bowman, an official of the Ontario government.
Several scenic shorts were alsc
shown.
Hoyland Bettinger, industrialist, ivhc
abandoned manufacturing to follow hi;\
hobby of color cinematography, exhibitec
here a color film of Mayan Life in Guatemala
and another taken in Quebec provvince
showing Gaspe seabirds and ivilc
flowers.
Larry Stephens, manager of the Snowdon
Theatre of the United Amusemen
chain, was host to members of Snowdoi
Businessmen's Ass'n at a midnight oys
ter
party in the theatre.
Theatre interest is attached to the re
cent wedding of Winifred Gertrude Dris\
coll to Reginald H. Balfour. The bride i
a daughter of George F. Driscoll, man;
years manager of His Majesty's Theatre
and later vice-president and managinc
director of Trans-Canada Theatres. Ltd'
which purchased the interests of the lat
Ambrose Small.
W. J. Singleton, general sales manage
of Associated Screen News, has retm-nei
from a business trip to New York,
72 BOXOFFICE :
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