PONDERS TAFT-HARTLEY WAL

I
World
Beefsteak, Beer, HandlebarMustaches,
Feature Nostalgic 'Perils
Screening
"PERILS OF PAULINE" ALUMNAE—Actors, the director and the dance director
of the original Pearl White serial, "The Perils of Pauline," were honored guests at the
Paramount luncheon at the Hotel Astor which preceded a screening of the new Technicolor
"Perils." Seated on the dais, left to right, are Ray Walker, com|Miser of the "Poor
Pauline" song; Violet Woods, dance director; Harry Woods, actor; Donald Mackenzie,
director; Milton Berle, Sidney Blackmer, Dan Courtney and Peter Barbicr, actors.
NEW YORK— Paramounfs much publicized
trek from the A.stor Hotel to the Comet
_ Theatre, operated by
Mrs. Ruth Anson at
100 Third Ave., for a
special .screenins; if
"The Perils of Pauline"
went off on
schedule in the pouring
rain on Tuesday
(June 24 1. About 150
rci)resentallves of the
magazine, radio,
newspaper and trade
press and a group of
alumnae from the
old Pearl White serial,
"The Perils of
MRS. RUTH ANSON Pauline." turned out
for the affair.
Barney Balaban, president of the company;
Leonard H. Goldenson, president of Paramount
Theatres Service Corp., and A. H.
Blank, head of Ti-I-States Theatre Corp. and
Central States Theatre Corp., also were present.
Luncheon guests arriving at the hotel on
44th Street and Broadway saw curious crowds
staring at n lineup of ten old automobilesvintage
lOlO-lDl,"}—at the front entrance.
These cars supplied transportation from the
hotel to the theatre.
The company succeeded In recreating the
nostalgic atmosphere of the prewar era
War I. that Is). Black cardboard
Imndlebar mustaches were distributed to the
male guest* at the luncheon. A quintet of
lovely models dressed In costumes slmlllar
to lho.se worn by Betty Hutlon In Paramounfs
new "Perils" was on hand to greet
the guests. Another novel touch was the
group of men dre.s.sed In uniforms worn by
the New York police force about the turn of
the century la few years before the Pearl
White period' and a six-plece band which
played rollicking tunes all through luncheon.
Necklaces of pearls, pronounced "perils"
by the Paramount publicity department, were
presented to the feminine guests. The menu
featured beefsteak and beer.
On the dais were Ray Walker, composer of
the "Poor Pauline" song played in the original
Pearl White serial: Harry Woods, actor
in the serial; Violet Woods, dance director;
Donald Mackenzie, director of the 20-chapter
film; Sidney Blackmer, Dan Courtney,
and Peter Barbier. actors, and Milton Berle.
who played a baby in the first "Perils ' back
in 1914.
Berle commented on the red-chcckerod
cloths on the tables and the old Pearl White
serial posters tacked on the walls of the
luncheon room: "The place looks like it was
decorated by Langley Collyer." he said.
It was raining hard when the guests began
piling into the old cars. Some of the
cars were open. Others had canvas tops
which leaked.
The more daring press repre.sentatives
leaped on the open top cars. Others huddled
together in the remaining cars. If the
canvas tops didn't leak, the sides did. Several
buses also were on hand to carry the
less Intrepid guests to the screening.
The entourage weaved through traffic
down Broadway, east on 14th Street and
.south again to 12th Street and Third Ave.
Traffic policemen gaped. Little boys Jeered:
"Get a hor.se." Other bystanders frankly
were amazed. Some figured It was a publicity
stunt. Others gave up.
The traffic was heaviest through the garment
Industry district. Several cars were
hemmed In by big buses.
Once at the theatre everyone was helped
to the sidewalk. Inside the old Comet Theatre,
which played the Pearl White thriller
about 33 years ago. the guests saw a chapter
from "Exploits of Elaine." another Pearl
White serial: an old newsreel and Paramount's
new Technicolor version of "The
Perils of Pauline." Mrs. Anson was a charming
hostess.
Up N.Y. Really Tax;
Theatremen Are Hit
NEW YORK—Theatre owners in New York
City will pay higher taxes on real estate
during the 1947-48 fiscal year in all five
boroughs. The base tax rate for the city has
been Increased about 19 points over the rate
of S2.70 for the current year by the city council.
Additional imposts have been added by
the separate boroughs.
Queens property owners will pay the heaviest
real estate levy. The Queens rate has
been set at $3.06 for each $100 of assessed
valuation, compared to $2 86 during the year
just ending.
The new real estate tax rates are effective
July 1. Each year the city council is required
to set the basic tax rate by June 25.
New rates for the other boroughs are:
Manhattan— $3.01 compared to $2.86 on each
$100 of assessed valuation during 1946-47:
The Bronx— S2.98 compared to $2.79 this year:
Brooklyn—S3 01 compared to $2.82: Richmond
—$2.98 compared to $2.79.
The Queens rate is about 20 points over
the borough tax rate for the current year.
The total assessed valuation on real estate
in the five boroughs was reported by the city
council as $16,938,467,453. Charles E. Keegan
of the city council finance committee said
the city's total expense budget for the coming
fiscal year will be $1,031,961,754. Real
estate taxes will provide S489,.430.406 of this
amount.
Baltimore Harlem Theatre
Robbed by Armed Bandit
BALTIMORE—An armed bandit robbed
the Rome circuit s Harlem Theatre here of
$520 the night of June 22. The money was
the entire day's receipts. The Harlem is one
of the biggest Negro theatres in the city.
Dorothy Holton. cashier, told police she
though the man was joking when he said,
•Give me that money over there." and pointed
to the bills stacked under the counter. But
he backed up his demand with a pistol and
a threat of death. William Zell, manager,
was notified and called the police.
.MOTOR TROUBLE—The group of
special policemen at the luncheon helped
push one of the cars that developed motor
trouble. This is one of the open top
models. Milton Berle, left, and Dan
Courtney, cheered them on.
46 BOXOFFICE :: June 28, 1947