Boxoffice-December.24.1949

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Philadelphia Locals
Battle for Control
PHILADELPHIA— The
lony-sinoldering
jurisdictional squabble between Local B-lOO,
lATSE. and Local 252 of Building and Service
Employes union over control of theatre porters
and cleaners soon may break into open
hostilities. Tlieatre cleaners and porters now
belong to B-100. The union has 950 members
who are employes of SW, Paramount and Fox
theatres. The union members include cashiers,
doormen, ushers, usherettes, matrons,
captains, chief of service and assistant chiefs
of service, as well as cleaners and porters.
Anthony L. Teti, president of Local 252,
contends that cleaners and porters should be
members of his union under an award of the
American Federation of Labor. Teti further
alleges that cleaners and porters are members
of the Building and Service Employes in
such other cities as New York. Chicago, St.
Louis, Pittsbui-gh and Milwaukee.
While Loretta Jacobson, president of B-100,
allowed herself to be quoted as having "no
comment," other reliable souices in the union
characterize the efforts of Local 252 as a
"raid." Last year B-100 was threatened by
an organizing di'ive by Local 50 of John L.
Lewis' United Mine Workers. However, a
National Labor Relations Board election
showed that B-100 was entitled to retain bargaining
power for its members.
William A. Reed, 80, Dies;
Pioneer Projectionist
ATLANTIC CITY—William A. Reed, 80,
one of the first motion picture projectionists
in the country, was burned to death in his
home here last Friday (16 1. It is believed
Reed attempted to put out a small fire in a
chair and was overcome. He was dead when
found by his son Joseph when the latter came
home from work.
Reed began his career in 1896, and was the
first man to work an outdoor show. That was
53 years ago in New Orleans and the affair
attracted 8,000.
Kenneth R. Edwards
NEW YORK—Kenneth R. Edwards, 54, adviser
on nontheatrical films for the Eastman
Kodak Co., died December 16 at the Algonquin
hotel after a heart attack. He lived in
Rochester, where EK makes its headquarters.
Sidney Olcott
HOLLYWOOD—Services were held December
19 for Sidney Olcott, 76, veteran silent
screen megaphonist, following which the body
was shipped to Toronto, Canada, Olcott's
birthplace, for burial.
Mrs. Schenck Aids Drive
NEW YORK—Mrs. Nicholas M. Schenck,
wife of the president of MGM, is chairman
of the auxiliary section of the New York
Infirmary building fund drive to secure donations
for a new building for the small hospital
on the lower East Side. A fund of
$1,250,000 in cash and pledges has already
been accumulated out of the $4,050,000 needed.
PHILADELPHIA
T^any exhibitors chumed that business has
dropped to a record low. Premiums, benefit
performances and double features do not
seem to command the necessary "pulling
power," they say .
Martin announced
the results of a write-in poll as to
the best films of 1948-49. "Joan of Arc"
copped first prize with "Come to the Stable"
a strong contender in second place. "Champion"
was third and "The Snake Pit" fourth.
The others in the money included "Hamlet,"
"A Letter to Three Wives." "The Red Shoes,"
"The Stratton Stoi-y," "Take Me Out to the
Ball Game," and "The Fallen Idol." Of 317
pictures which were eligible to be voted on, 102
did not chalk up even a single vote.
"Blanche Fury" opened in 12 key run
houses, including the Bandbox, Benner. City
Line Center, College. Glenside, Grand, Great
Northern, Iris, Renel, Rockland, State and
Yeadon . of Foxes" started its first
run at the Fox Saturday i24i advertised as
"Our Holiday Gift to You" . Fox previewed
"Dancing in the Dark" Tuesday (20)
. . . Stanton showed "Farewell to Arms" as a
special preview attraction Wednesday (21).
The Girard plugged it« "exclusive Philadelphia
showing" of "freaks" by asking, "Can
Siamese Twins Make Love? What is the sex
of the half-man, half-woman?" . . . The
Studio offered a triple bill of "Wild Men of
Kalahari," "Naked Man and Beast" and
HEAR TAX REPEAL BILL—Congressman
L. Gary Clemente of Ozone Park
(seated right) explains his bill to repeal
the 20 per cent luxury tax on theatre admissions,
which he will introduce when
Congress reconvenes in January, to Jamaica,
L. I., theatre managers. Sealed at
the left is Lou Grossman, manager of the
RKO Alden. Standing, left to right, are
Bernard Zelenko of Loew's Valencia; Earl
Logue, manager of the Skouras Jamaica,
and Frank DiGennaro, manager of the
Skouras Merrick.
Congressman Clemente, a Democrat,
has already been assured of the support
of Henry J. Latham, Queens Village Republican,
when the bill is introduced.
Those participating in this meeting urged
that theatre managers all over the country
write or wire their congressman to
support this bill when it comes up in
January.
"African Big Game" ... A second son was
born to Mrs. Harold Seidenberg, wife of the
general manager of the Fox . Devon
Theatre ran a pre-Christmas .show for kiddies
at which it gave away 50 prizes, free
candy, had Santa Claus make a personal appearance
and had a screen attraction of five
cartoons, a serial, and a double feature of
Laurel and Hardy in "Saps at Sea" and Victor
Mature in "1.000,000 B.C."
David E. Brodsky, film decorator, was campaign
treasurer of the successful $50,000
maintenance campaign for the downtown
Jewish Orphans home . Van Slyke,
Paramount tubthumper, came into town and
appeared on radio and television programs
searching for the "lost film audience."
The theatre building at 4408-10 Fairmount
Ave. has been sold by Max N. Carol to G. Lit.
It will be converted into a food market .
Peter Donald, who w^as playing a club date
in Atlantic City, came into town . . . Simon
Miller made a $10,000 contribution to the
Metropolitan hospital building fund. Lewen
Pizor is president of the hospital.
Glenn Norris, Washington manager, and
Ben Tolmas, former salesman, attended 20th-
Fox's Xmas party . Lukoff is a new
booking clerk at 20th-Fox . Rosen,
20th-Fox sales manager, who was sick, returned
to work . DiStanislao is a
new 20th-Fox shipping department employe
. . . Joe Vanis is a new assistant-shipper at
20th-Fox . Kelly, 20th-Fox head
booker, returned from a week in Scranton.
Paramount Decorating Co. has started to
redecorate the Overlea Theatre in Baltimore
Miller. EL publicity hawk, has gone
to Florida on his vacation. Others also off to
the warm summer climate include Republic
salesmen Joe Schaeffer. Bill Karrer and Cy
Perlsweig.
Fire destroyed Mark Rubinsky's Lyric Theatre
at New Philadelphia, six miles east of
Pottsville . . . William Goldman held a special
film preview for the 400 workers and their
famihes Thursday (22i to celebrate the completion
of the Randolph Theatre. At the official
opening Saturday (24i, Ralph Kelly, president
of the Chamber of Commerce, will present
Goldman with a certificate of commendation
for "outstanding enterprise" In
"bringing to the city and its people the highest
type of motion picture entertainment
tlii-ough the construction and operation of
the Randolph." Mayor Bernard Samuel will
cut the ribbon alter which Miss Chestnut
Street, the "most tyiJical working girl." will
be crowned.
The Y & Y Popcorn Supply Co. has been
appointed as confectionary supplier of the
Randolph Theatre .
Theatres
held a Managers' Chi-istmas party Friday (23
at Palumbo's. Attending the affair were Norman
Bailey. Tower: Allen Goodkin, Nixon;
Lou Wakshul, Frankford; Charles Carver,
Roosevelt; and representatives of the city
Vergeslich, former WB New
office . . .
York short subject head, died suddenly ... El
celebrated the holidays with a Christmas
party at the Embassy Wednesday (21). MGM
had its Christmas party Thursday (22) at
Dagenhart's. The NSS staff had a party
Friday (23i.
BOXOFTICE December 24, 1949 41