Boxoffice - Feb. 17, 2014

: February
\
i
Laurie Launches a
Brokerage Firm
Toronto—After an association of 30
years with the film exhibition and exchange
business in the Dominion, A. J.
"Archie" Laurie lias organized his own enterprise,
Laurie Theatres, Ltd., with offices
in the Film Exchange Bldg., following his
resignation as assistant general sales manager
of Empire-Universal Films, with
which company he had been identified
since its inception six years ago.
Laurie made his start as manager of the
Vitascope, Montreal, in 1910 after which
he managed the Canada. Moulin Rouge
and Midway theatres in that city, then
joining N. L. Nathanson in Paramount
Theatres, Toronto, the forerunner of Famous
Players Canadian Corp. He was
with the Strand, Ottawa: Alhambra, Toronto;
Regent, Oshawa: Algoma, Sault Ste.
Marie: Lyric, Kitchener, and Pantages, Toronto,
after which he became identified
with film distribution joining L. Ernest
Ouimet in Specialty Film Import, pioneer
Canadian distributor for Pathe, and going
to Regal Films when the latter acquired
the Ouimet interests. For a period. Laurie
was Montreal branch manager for Canadian
Educational Films which was absorbed
by Empire.
Laurie Theatres will engage in theatre
brokerage and as a film booking and general
service bureau with one department
devoted to the handling of premiums.
Laurie recently spent several weeks in
Florida for a rest and toured a number
of American cities to arrange for the
handling of various agencies.
CAILCGIARY
QLAIRE APPEL, who made an airplane
trip of the Dominion from Halifax to
Vancouver to arrange exploitation for
"GWTW" at Canadian key cities, struck
enow clouds after leaving Winnipeg and
the plane detoured to Edmonton. He arrived
in Calgai-y traveling by bus, causing
a delay of one day. On his return from the
coast, Appel picked up his daughter, Mrs,
Nat Taylor, and her young son, who accompanied
him on his return flight east.
Mrs. Taylor is the wife of the local RKO
manager.
Maurice Colhourne, loho gave the theatre
in Canada such a blast in the N. Y.
Times, would have been envious of the
near-capacity house draivn by Ruth Draper.
A one-woman show xvith no sets, props
or supporting cast, this American actress
got an enthusiastic reception at $2 top. the
same scale that brought a thin house to
Colbourne here, two weeks earlier.
J. B. Baron of the Grand went to Winnipeg
to complete arrangements for renovating
and equipping the Walker in the
Manitoba capital, which he has leased
from the Peg city council.
Bunny Goldin of the Kinema is on leave
of absence. He is spending a iveek in Winnipeg,
and Jack Cooperband comes from
his house in British Columbia to pinch-hit
at the westend suburban house.
Two days delay in arrival of reserved
seat tickets from Toronto whetted the appetite
of fans for the premiere of "Gone
With the Wind."
Troops Entertained
Toronto—One of the gala events of
the season for troops in training at Exhibition
Camp here was the entertainment
in the Music Hall organized by Jack
Arthur, district manager of Famous Players
and an outstanding Canadian producer
for many years. The program, under
the title of "House of Variety," was
heard over the coast-to-coast network of
Ski Sport a Film Subject
Montreal—A locally made motion picture
is being presented at the Princess this
week where the Canadian Pacific Railways'
"Ski-Time in the Laurentians," is
being shown. The film was produced by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. and was
the Associated Screen News and directed
by John R. McDougall.
featured by this method in barracks across
the Dominion.
WillMM II
THE METROPOLITAN is to present "The
Democratic Way," a film which originally
was made to be presented to King
George VI on his visit here last year. The
film goes back to the year 1914 and includes
shots of holders of war medals and
veterans on parade. Don Gauld has effected
a tieup with the Independent Order
of Daughters of the Empire which will net
him visits from various veterans' organizations
in the city.
Harold Bishop reports a strong advance
seat sale at the Capitol for his showing
next week of "Gone With the Wind."
Formulation of some definite policy at
the Playhouse seems still to be in the
making. While the house has been showing
oldtimers for the past few weeks, this
week's feature is a first run, "School for
Husbands." Quizz shows and contests are
PEG
rounding out the bill.
"Balalaika." at the Capitol, luas tied up
by Harold Bishop through the medium of
letters to the Women's Music Club and
advertisements in Fred M. Gee's popular
Celebrity Series program in which Nelson
Eddy, star of the film, is soo7i to make
a personal appearance.
H. Sabblut lias been honorably discharged
from His Majesty's forces and now
is with Grand National in Winnipeg . . .
H. A. Bercovich of the Rex, Regina. is in
the city.
Troop Pictures Hypo
Newsreel Interest
Regina, Sask.—Newsreels have become
mighty vital to all theatres in Saskatchewan
within the past two months. The
more recent issues have shown plenty of
pictures of the Canadian troops "somewhere
in Great Britain" and, as almost
every hamlet, town and city now has units
well sprinkled with their men, audiences
hopefully throng every showing in the
chance of seeing father, son or boy friend
"over there."
Added interest on the part of everyone is
whipped up by the weekly radio broadcasts
from Britain through cooperation of the
British Broadcasting Company and Canadian
Broadcasting Corp. Many theatres,
even in the cities that previously got along
well without newsreels, have had to add
them now. The major theatres, as a result,
have taken to using airmail in getting
prints as fast as possible. Almost any
time someone recognizes the pictured personality
or group shown it means a line or
two in the local paper when some proud
parent or friend phones the editor.
V lie TO KM A
HLAN BROWN, director, and Richard
Maedler and William C. Zubiller, cameraman,
all representatives of "March of
Time" spent a few days here filming the
part that Victoria is playing in Canada's
war effort from the standpoint of naval,
military and air organizations.
"The Great Victor Herbert" and the
J
March of Time special. "Can Stalin Help, I
Hitler." ivas held over for three days at
the Capitol.
"Assassin of Youth" which showed at the
huana cigarettes, received the hearty en-|
dorsement of women's clubs and educa-. i
tional groups in Victoria, many of which
attended the picture in groups.
The "Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo" icas
met with great enthusiasm when it played'
at the Royal Victoria (F-P) Theatre. The
fact that Ian Gibson, one of the main
'.
dancers was a local boy until joining thel
group caused much interest and gained^
considerable -publicity in local newspapers
[
"British Intelligence," which showed at
the Dominion, was a topical picture foi
Victoria, due to the large number of soldiers,
sailors, and members of the air force
which are stationed in and around the city
"Torpedo Raider" loas held over at thi.
F. H. Kershaw and Mrs. Kershaw have Plaza due to the large crowds that were
returned from their holiday trip . . . Dave demanding to see the picture which showet
Copelan, Columbia general manager, is a British cruisers fighting tvith a Germar
visitor here , . . J. B. Barron of Calgary, battleship in South American loaters. Tlu
who recently negotiated a lease for the picture had a particular appeal to th<
reopening of the Walker, is in Winnipeg. British and Canadian sailors in the city.
Ruth Draper in her character sketch^
was well received at the Royal Victoria
After completing her show, Ruth Drape
turned over the proceeds to the Red Cros,
Society.
74 BOXOFFICE :
17, 194'