Boxoffice-January.07.1950

Toronto Tent Elects
New Crew for 1950
Powell Back to England
With Production Data
TORONTO—Michael Powell of
the British
producing team of Powell and Emeric Pressbuiger
returned to England after a visit here
TORONTO—Only five canvasmen were returned
to office for 1950 at the annual elections
to check on prospective production plans in
of Variety Tent 28 here, at the recent Canada. Powell made no definite announce-
meeting attended by 90 members. The meeting
ment on the outcome of his conferences but
saw the last appearance of J. J. ntzgibment
bons as chief barker, and he was accorded a
tremendous ovation for his accomplishments
during his two years In that post.
said he would confer with associates at London
and return to Toronto in a month's time.
It is understood that Powell stopped off in
Ottawa on his return journey to discuss production
Morris Stein, assistant chief barker, gave
plans with officials of the Canadian
the final report on the benefit performance government, but there was no confirmation.
in the Toronto Imperial, which showed net
revenue of $30,708 for the Variety occupational
training school for crippled boys. Stein,
chairman of the heart fund, estimated that
the school, when completed, would represent
a total investment of $400,000, all of which
Simon Meretsky, 70,
Retires at Windsor
had been raised by the club's special events WINDSOR, ONT.—Simon Meretsky, circuit
head who is retiring from business, was
and by individual donations.
The newly elected club directorate: Raymond
Allen, Premier Operating: Jack Ar-
Windsor chain at a Christmas party. In a
honored by 300 members of his Paramountthur
and R. W. Bolstad, Famous Players; farewell speech to his staff, Meretsky, now
Ernest Bushnell, Canadian Broadcasting
Corp.; J. J. Chisholm, Associated Screen
News: Dave Griesdorf, Odeon Theatres: Stan
E. Gosnell, Loew's Uptown; Ernest Rawley,
manager. Royal Alexandra; Morris Stein,
Famous Players; William Summerville jr.,
B&F Theatres, and J. W. Ziegler, Toronto
Baseball club.
downtown properties. Meretsky paid tribute
The five re-elected directors were Stein, to his wife Nellie, stating that she has been
Chisholm. Griesdorf, Rawley and Summerville.
"the sparkplug In my life." They will have
The three chaplains of the club are been married 50 years in 1951.
Rabbi A. L. Feinberg, Rev. Father G. J. Cherrier
and Rev. W. Johnston.
New officers will be chosen at the first Odeon Defers Dividend
meeting of the board. There has been considerable
LONDON—The directors of Odeon Thegibbons.
speculation as to a successor to Fitzatres
have decided to defer payment of the
In line for elevation to the chair dividend due December 31 on the 6 per cent
cumulative preference stock until accounts
is Morris Stein, first assistant chief barker.
Both he and Jack Chisholm, second assistant for the year to June 1949 are available, the
chief barker, are expected to be promoted to Financial Times reports. Odeon Associated,
higher office.
New appointments as property master and
Odeon Properties, Provincial Cinematograph
and Associated Provincial Picture Houses are
doughguy will be necessary, because these paying preference dividends on the usual
office holders were among the six who were dates.
not returned to the board.
70, disclosed that he would remain on the job
until January 15 as an adviser to his successor.
Famous Players Canadian Corp. acquired
control of the six theatres January 2.
Meretsky opened his first theatre here in
1915. Since that time his Interests have expanded
into the present chain and various
Five Calgary Houses
Open After Dispute
CALGARY—Five of the eight local theatres
here have been reopened after having been
closed several days because of a dispute between
owners and projectionists on wages
and hours. While the boothmen have returned
to work, their contracts yet remain to
be signed. Since both the theatre owners
and the projectionists have taken conciliatory
attitude, there is no doubt that verbal agreements
will be confirmed.
The five theatres closed included the Isis,
Kinema, Tivoli, Plaza and Crescent. Also involved
in the dispute but remaining open were
the Strand, Variety and Hitching Post, the
last being the new house which shows only
western films. Glen Peacock, owner of the
Isis, had declared that he would employ nonunion
projectionists if the strike were not
settled promptly. The Strand, Variety and
Hitching Post are operated by K. M. Leach,
associate of the FPC circuit. An earlier
agreement granted a 50 per cent wage Increase
and shorter hours at the three houses.
Trouble between theatre owners and projectionists
arose when the labor department
of the Alberta provincial government issued
a ruling allowing only one man in a booth
instead of two in large cities. The ruling was
made effective by small suburban houses
upon which the two-man order had been a
financial burden.
Auction of Cowboy Outfit
Boosts 'Man' in Halifax
HALIFAX—At the Garrick here.
Manager
Doug Smith went out shooting for "Fighting
Man of the Plains." Communication was
established with Randolph Scott, star of the
picture, who agreed to furnish the scarf, shirt
and belt he used in making the saddle saga,
for auctioning to the highest bidder. Receipts
from the auction were donated to a
fund providing food for poor people.
Two Showmen Play Santa
For Needy in St. John
ST. JOHN—Two maritime theatremen were
active in the Santa role during the yule season.
Mitchell Franklin, vice-president of
Franklin & Herschorn, dormed the red and
white uniform, and the whiskers and drove
his car containing big bags of toys, games,
eats, etc., to houses in St. John for distribution.
He has been doing this for some years
and is believed to be the only car piloting
Santa in the maritimes.
At Halifax, Ned Murray, manager of the
Gaiety, christened a new Santa outfit by
handing out gifts at the Kent, Spryfield,
Armview and Gaiety, all of the Walker chain.
He also officiated for the Family club at its
annual Christmas tree party for the orphaned
and deserted children at St. Joseph's
orphanage.
'Vanishes' Is Reissued
TORONTO — "The Lady Vanishes" made a
fresh start in Canada as a reissued production
with a week's engagement at the Hollywood,
key theatre of the Allen chain, where
Manager W. R. Watt reported substantial
patronage.
New Victoria af Toronto Emerges
As Art House After Renovation
TORONTO—For the third time in its colorful
career, the Victoria Theatre in the
heart of Toronto's business section had a
spectacular opening for the Canadian premiere
of "Samson and Delilah" at prices
scaled to $1.20.
The Victoria had its first opening Aug. 1,
1910, as the bigtime vaudeville center operated
by the late Jerry Shea. Many of the great
names of stage and variety halls appeared
under the two-a-day policy. In the '20s motion
pictures were combined with vaudeville
and eventually the house was closed following
the opening of the larger Shea's Hippodrome,
now Famous Players' Shea's.
During the last war, the Victoria again
was operated by Famous Players for a number
of special attractions and as a film theatre,
only to be closed last June reportedly
for conversion into a television theatre.
With a handsome new marquee, pushback
seats, smart furnishings, concert organ, new
floors and carpets and an independent lighting
generator, the Victoria has taken a new
lease on life as a class theatre for the showing
of high-quality film productions. The
prices are $1.20 for evenings, 75 cents for the
matinee and 50 cents for children, tax included.
"Samson and Delilah" is being presented
five times daily. The manager is
Russell M. McKibbin and his assistant is
William Lynch.
The opening was preceded by a special
screening of the feature for 1,200 guests.
At the premiere, TWA hostesses pinned
orchids, flown from Hawaii, on the women
guests. Premier Frost of Ontario, Mayor
McCallum of Toronto and Dr. Sidney Smith,
president of the University of Toronto, were
among the guests.
Others present included J. J. Fitzgibbon,
head of Famous Players Canadian; Earl Lawson,
president of Odeon Theatres; Nat Taylor,
booker; Herb Allen, Sam Bloom, Sam
Fine, Hy Bossln, Miss Ray Lewis, Gordon
Llghtstone, Haskell Masters, Charles Chaplin,
Arthur Silverstone and Leo Devaney.
BOXOFnCE January 7. 1950 K 99