Boxoffice-May.29.1948

Schine Files Answer Hold Party for Jack L Worrier Jr.
To Federal Request
WASHINGTON—The Schine Chain Theatres,
Inc., filed its answer this week to the
Department of Justice's request for "clarification"
of the May 3 opinion regarding divestiture
by Schine of some of its theatres.
The answer said the government's purpose
is not clarification of any ambiguity in the
court's opinion, "but an obvious attempt to
persuade the court to reverse itself as to the
determination which it made with respect to
Section IE of the order of divestiture of the
district court."
Some 16 theatres were acquired by the
Schine chain between 1939 and 1942, at which
time the case was called to trial. In return
for an agreement for a two-year continuance,
the Schine chain allegedly agreed to get rid
of the 16 theatres. Five are yet to be disposed.
The high tribunal's order puts all Schine
theatres on the same basis as regards divestiture.
The Justice department, objecting,
said on May 14:
"The opinion set aside the divestiture provisions
of the decree so that the district court
can make the findings necessary for an appropriate
decree and deferred consideration
of the district com-fs decision to appoint a
trustee to sell theatres as that merely implements
the divestiture provisions which
must be considered by the district court.
"We believe that this language is inconclusive
with respect to the action taken by
the district court with reference to theatres
still unsold under the consent order of May
19, 1942."
The filing of the government petition and
the Schine reply may delay for some weeks,
the handing down of a mandate by the high
tribunal to the lower court directing it to
carry out its opinion, said Justice officials.
RKO Palace May Go Dark.
Recently Went 2nd Run
NEW YORK—All unionized employes of
the Palace Theatre, formerly the showcase
for RKO first run films, have been given a
provisional notice of dismissal in case the
company decides to close the house, according
to an RKO Theatres spokesman. The
theatre switched to double-feature programs
playing day-and-date with RKO neighborhood
theatres in April and, for the past three
weeks has been playing its double bills a
RKO
week behind the neighborhood houses.
has also tried several policies, including dailychange
revivals last summer and a return
engagement of "The Farmer's Daughter," following
the Academy Award presentation to
Loretta Young. All were unsuccessful.
If the Palace closes it will be the third
major Broadway first run to go dark during
the past year. Warner Bros, recently closed
the Warner Theatre after "Winter Meeting,"
starring Bette Davis, dropped off to weak
business. United Artists, which leased the
Broadway Theatre for "Monsieur Verdoux"
In April 1947, played several other UA films
there before closing the house in December.
The theatre is now housing the Habimah
Players in a repertory of legitimate plays
in Hebrew. The Bijou, which also went dark
for three weeks following the closing of "The
October Man." reopened with "Citizen Saint,"
a Clyde Elliott production, May 27.
Home office executives were invited to
a buffet dinner and cocktail party at the
Hotel Warwich May 20 to meet Jack L.
Warner jr. and his fiancee, Barbara Richman
of New Haven. The couple is to be
married at the Hotel Pierre May 20.
Seen at the party, top photo, left to
right, were Mort Blumenstock, Harry M.
Warner, Jack jr. and Samuel Schneider.
Miss Richman's photograph appears at
right.
Mass Openings Inaugurate
Andy Smith Anniversary
NEW YORK—"Green Grass of Wyoming"
i20th-Foxi opened Tuesday (25 1 in Lancaster,
Ohio, after a week of civic festivities,
with more than 300 day-and-date openings
scheduled immediately. These openings started
the Andy Smith Anniversary Month celebration
scheduled to run until June 26.
Other openings were in Cincinnati, Cleveland,
Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia,
Washington, Denver, Salt Lake City, Seattle,
Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles
exchange areas.
Both the Palace and Broad theatres were
used for the Lancaster openings. Among
those present were Senators Taft and Bricker
of Ohio, Senator O'Mahoney of Wyoming and
Governor Herbert of Ohio. Peggy Cummins,
Charles Coburn and JVIartha Stewart also
attended.
Similar mass treatment is scheduled for
"Give My Regards to Broadway," due to open
at the RKO Memorial in Boston, June 9, with
day-and-date openings thr-oughout New England.
The following week, June 16, there will
be a 100-theatre showing of "The Street With
No Name" after an opening at the Fox Theatre,
Philadelphia. This is timed for the
national political conventions.
Warner, Para May Seek
To Dismiss Jury Verdict
BUFFALO—Warners and Paramount are
expected to ask for a reargument of their
motions to set aside a triple damage antitrust
verdict against them in a suit brought by
Bordonaro Bros. Theatres, lire, Olean, New
York. Last week Judge Harold P. Burke of
federal court set aside the jury verdict against
RKO, but rejected similar motions by Warners
and Paramount.
Warners and Paramount are the only two
remaining defendants held guilty of conspiracy
In the Bordonaro suit.
List of Guests Attending
Andy W. Smith's Dinner
NEW YORK—Guests who attended Andy
W. Smith's testimonial dinner in the Serf
room of the Waldorf-Astoria Wednesday
night (26) included the following:
A. J. Balaban, Ulric Bell, Jack Bloom, Morris Breggin,
Nat Brower, Winton Burrhus, Rodney Bush,
Chester Bahn, Morris Caplan, Frank Carroll, John
Caskey, Murray Chikofsky, William Cohen, E. H.
Collins, Richard de Rochemont, Deon De Titta, Jay
Emcfnuel, Roger Ferri, Sam Fishman, Seymour Florin,
Alan Freedman, William Freedman, James Glynn,
Abe Goodman, Moe Grassgreen, Abel Green,
Eric A. Haight, Homer Harmon, Jack Harrison,
Franklyn Irby, James M. Jerauld, H. D. Johnston,
Lem Jones, Sherwin Kane, Red Kann, Dave Katz,
Frank Kelly, Tom Kennedy, Edwin Kilroe, Morris
Kinzler, Arthur Knorr, Mel Konecoff, William J.
Kupper jr., J. H. Lang, Lew Hehr, I. Lincer. C. E.
McCartney, Eugene McEvoy, E. H. McFarland, H. J.
Mclntyre, Harry Mersay, Dan Michalove, C. F.
Minck, John Misa, Anthony Muto, David Ornstein,
Mike Pagano, Al Picoult, Joseph Pincus, Fred Pride.
Sam Rcruch, Edmund Reek, Harry Reinhardt, G. A.
Roberts, Jonas Rosenfield.
Joseph St. Clair, Murray Schaffer, Murray Scher.
PhiHp Sohneib, Joseph Seco. Sam Shain, Louis
Shanfield, Ted A. Shaw, Stirling Silliphant. R. B.
Simonson, Dan J. Smolen, Arthur Sorensen, Norman
Steinberg, Hugh Strong, Morton Sunshine, Paul
Terry, Ira Tulipan, Mo Wax, Sffm Weintraub, William
Weiss, William Werner. Christy Wilbert and
Earl Wingart.
Gulistcm Wilton Theatre Carpet
JOE HORNSTEIN has it !
BOXOFFICE :
: May
29, 1948 51