Boxoffice-February.18.1950

. . Bob
. . For
Charles C, Perry Dies;
Variety Chief Barker
DETROIT—Charles C. Perry, 60. chief
barker of the Variety Club of Michigan, died
from a heart attack at his home in Belle
River, Ont., across the river from Detroit.
Seventeen years ago he came here to open
long-closed Adams Theatre as a first run
tlie
house for Harry and Elmer Balaban.
Perry started witli the Orpheum in Minne-
CHARLES C. PERRY
days after Perry's death, but gave no indication
of appointment of his successor. The
Adams will remain temporarily, at least,
under direction of Manager Norman Meyers
and the Downtown under Aj-thur MacCoU.
Publicity and advertising for both houses remains
with Mrs. Doris Moss Pearl.
184 Pennsylvania Units
Use Tax-Anything Levy
HARRISBtTRG—The bureau of municipal
affairs of the Pennsylvania internal affairs
department says the 1947 local tax-anything
law is "workable and practicable" and predicts
that it is here to stay. The announcement
says that the law, amended by the
1949 legislature, is "actually not unpopular"
with taxpayers and seems satisfactory to
muiiicipal units of government. Also, says
the announcement, the law "probably has not
led to extravagances, except in isolated instances."
Latest checkup on amusement taxes, usually
totaling 10 per cent, shows that 184 Pennsylvania
political subdivisions are collecting
the levy; 106 of the municipalities being
cities and boroughs, the others being townships
and school districts. Mechanical
amusement devices taxes are imposed in 93
municipalities, 22 of which are cities and
boroughs. Other "tax-anything" imposts include
income and wage taxes, used in 184
local units: per capita tax, used by 288 units;
mercantile tax, used by 39 units; deed transfer
tax. used by 29 local taxing bodies, and
severance taxes, used by 181 units.
apolis as treasurer, a post he held for several
years. He was also an actor in a repertory
Order your taxation trailers today!
company at one time. Subsequently, he went
with Fox West Coast circuit as district manager
and later was with the theatre division
of Paramount in charge of houses in Toledo,
Ohio, Rochester, N. Y., and elsewhere. Tohn Huffman, manager of the Regent, has
He developed the Adams into a recognized won the grand award in the year-long
major house after it had lost public support Manager of the Month contest sponsored by
through being dark. He had a reputation for Regent-State. Huffman nosed out the managers
of the other four theatres in the cir-
showmanship—marked in his record of 15
weeks in 1947 for "The Jolson Story," which cuit. He will receive, along with cash prizes,
ran two weeks day-and-date at the Downtown
Theatre with his Adams booking, and ners in the contest were announced monthly
an extra two-week vacation with pay. Win-
set one of the three alltime top records for throughout the year. Points were given for
Detroit in length of run.
the best increase in gross business over the
About four years ago, when the Balabans same period the previous year, the best exploitation
and the best theatre in regards
took over the Downtown, Perry became managing
director of this first run house as well. to cleanliness and personnel. Woodrow
For part of this period, the Downtown offered
the only consistent vaudeville policy in ond, while Oliver Nicklas, manager of the
Owens, manager of the Majestic, came in sec-
Detroit.
State, was third.
During the first World War, Perry was in
charge Arthur "Art" Longbralie,
of theatres in various army camps
famed showman
in
this country.
formerly with the
About
Gus Sun Shows,
ten years ago he
back in
served
the days of vaudeville,
as chief barker
has resigned as
of Variety Club, and
manager
of
in this
capacity
the
was
Prances Theatre in Mechanicsburg,
a Chakeres
host to the national convention
house. Taking
in
over is Billy
Detroit in 1939. In returning to the
Clifford, former manager of the
office last month,
Chakeres
he became the first man
Ti-ail in Morehead. Ky. Longbrake
in the
was forced
history of Variety here to be recalled
to quit because of ill health . Baker,
to this post after completing a full term of
assistant manager of Chakeres Murphy at
office, a proof of the respect accorded him
Wilmington, is serving temporarily as manager
of the Markay at Jackson, Ohio, during
by his fellow-showmen.
He is survived by his wife Ethel and his
the absence of Harry Wilson
mother, now
who is ill. Wil-
97, who is well known on Filmrow
from her many visits here. The elder
.son recently underwent major surgery in a
Columbus hospital.
Mrs. Perry flew here for the funeral, although
recovering from severe injuries received
in an auto crash only two weeks earlier. on the stage of the Fairbanks during a special
Boy Scout council ceremonies were held
Burial was in Joplin. Mo.
program for children in connection w-ith
Harry and Elmer Balaban, owners of the National Boy Scout week. Besides the scout
Adams and Downtown, were here for a few ceremonies, Manager George Bauer showed
Bingo Tax Net at Akron
Passes Theatre Take
AKRON—Bingo is making large inroads into
theatre attendance in this area, with the
city's 3 per cent tax on the gross of bingo
operators in 1949 amounting to $72,702. This
raised the total city amusement tax collection
to an alltime high of $169,176. Since the
bingo tax went into effect in September 1948,
the city has collected $100,312.
The figures mean that bingo players have
poured nearly $3,400,000 into the tills of bingo
operators, and the game qualifies easily as
the city's outstanding paid recreation.
The 1949 tax paid by the theatres was
$72,541, a decrease of $8,434 from 1948. The
sports tax also decreased, totaling $10,416, a
drop of $2,130 from the preceding year.
Several applications are on file with the
city from persons and groups wanting to
open bingo parlors, but Mayor Charles SIusser
ordered no more permits issued, because
the city is already saturated with bingo
parlors.
SPRINGFIELD
Former Exhibitor Feted
WTLLOUGHBY. OHIO—Cecil B. Todd, a
former mayor and former owner of the
Hiawatha Theatre in that city, was honored
by his friends and neighbors at a dinner
recently. He ended his 16-year tenure as
mayor by declining to run for the office at
the last election.
Kevin O'Morrison will play the featured
lead in "The All-Star Game."
the double bill "Wolf Hunters" and "The Hidden
Room" . the showing of "Silver
River" Manager Harry Elliott at the Ohio
held a coloring contest. Patrons colored an
ad running in the local newspaper and the
ten best entries received tickets to the show.
The entries were displayed on a large board
in the theatre lobby.
3Iichael H. Chakeres, manager of the Regent-State,
has returned from a week's visit
in New York City where he conferred with
Warner officials , , , Al Glaubinger of Cincinnati,
manager for Eagle Lion films, was
in to see Chakeres officials.
Helping to promote the Roy Rogers Great
Western Roundup, to be held at the Regent.
State and Majestic on George Washington's
birthday, a school holiday, the two children
in each theatre judged wearing the best cowboy
outfit will receive as a gift a complete
Roy Rogers cowboy suit. Later, the two winners
from each theatre will compete for the
grand prize, a bicycle plus a trophy cup bearing
the winner's name. Each child attending
the show at the three theatres will receive
a lucky Roy Rogers pocketpiece, a photo
of the film cowboy and membership in the
Roy Rogers club.
Ted Rose, sound service technician for
Chakeres, spent a few days visiting theatres
in Frankfort, Winchester and Morehead. Ky,
. . . For the showing of "Slattery's Hurricane,"
Harry Elliott, manager of the Ohio, decorated
his lobby with regular hurricane pennants
used by the coast guard.
84 BOXOFFICE ;: February 18, 1950