Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

NEW HAVEN Jl^LL hands back from the Miami MPTOA convention report a great time, but hard on the bankroll. Imagine Lon Phillips’ surprise when, coming out of the Edison Hotel, Miami Beach, he saw what looked like a ticket on his car, and found that Al Robbms had driven by, recognized the car, and left a note. With attendance at 5,500 and Harry Shaw at his best as emcee, the annual Home for the Aged vaudeville show at the Arena was a grand success. A7id now auditions are in swing for the annual Town Topics revue, at the College, a fuie example of school-theatre-newspaper cooperation. About this time, film men manage to sneak in a cruise here and there . . . The Morris Nunes just returned from Nassau and Havana on the S. S. Britannic . . . B. E. Hoffman back at his desk after a short trip to Bermuda . . . George Rich of the Palace, Stamford, looking fine after a sojourn in Central America . . . The Bob Russells in to New York for a few days to do the shows and night clubs . . . Max Tabackman climaxed his Miami Beach stay by flying to Havana and back, over the weekend. This week’s sick report-. Gladys Rocks, National secretary, recuperating at home after an operation and expected at work in ten days . . . Mrs. Maxwell Hoffman, operated on for appendicitis at Grace Hospital last week . . . Ray Killoy still home with a troublesome knee . . . Hannah Ginsberg of the Warner Office, recuperating slowly at home. Edward Ruff and Henry Germaine of the Paramount office attended the Zukor dinner in New York at the Waldorf Astoria. The local office still in fourth place in the Zukor drive. Jerry Mascoli of the Cameo, Waterbury, reported to be involved in a night automobile accident in which a pedestrian was killed. Morris Joseph has to borrow Universal prints as far west as Denver these days, the bookings are coming in so fast on his twenty-third Anniversary Week. The proposed construction of a theatre in Putnam for leasing by Henry Phaneuf has been postponed until the fall. Jeanette Berliner, back from several days in Boston, where she worked on bookings, is enthusiastic about New Havens’ chances for the $1,000 prize in the Grand National drive. Construction going full blast on Ted Jacock’s new Branford 700-seat house, with three walls up already. The N. C. Wrisley quarters completely rearranged and wired to make room for new lines. Katherine Brennan of the Republic office is celebrating ten years in the busi( Continued on page 20) CONN. MPTO SLATES APRIL 6 MEETING New Haven — The Connecticut MPTO will hold a regular meeting Tuesday noon, April 6, at the HofBrau Haus, with Irving C. Jacocks jr. presiding. Edward G. Levy, executive secretary, will give a convention report, and preparations will be made for legislative hearings in Hartford on various bills of interest to theatre men A directors’ meeting was held Tuesday, March 30, in the Liberty Bldg. New Haven Film Find New Haven — Reported a real find by film talent scouts, Sally Winston, New Haven torch singer, just returned from a successful night club engagement in Bermuda, has been scheduled for a voice test in New York in the near future. Screen tests already completed are said to be unusually good. Miss Winston visited relatives in the city over Easter. Albright Talk Slated Portland, Me. — Roger Albright of New York, a representative of the MPPDA, was to be the principal speaker for the youth conference here April 3. The conference is being held under the auspices of the Youth Council of the Cumberland county branch of the YMCA. LENA SIRICA SERVICES Waterbury — Funeral services for Mrs. Lena Sirica, who operated the Lyric, later the Lido, for the past 20 years, were held last Friday. Mrs. Sirica, who was 58, died suddenly of heart failure. She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Fred Quatrano, a son William, who is a student, and a son John, in charge of several Daly theatres. Scott R. Dunlap, vice-president in charge of production for the new Monogram Pictures, who has eight features now in preparation on the announced schedule of 26 for 1937-38. PROVIDENCE HOLY WEEK was one of the best in theatre history in Rhode Island, with both first runs and neighborhood houses coming through the period better than usual. Theatres in Newport and in the Pawtucket Valley closed on Good Friday but these were only shutdowns in the state during Lent. Easter Sunday somewhat off in first run houses in this city, possibly explainable by store strike of previous Saturday, with postponed shopping on day before Easter cutting into boxoffice patronage. Edward M. Fay of Fays circuit, and Archibald Silverman and Edward L. Reed of the Strand represented Rhode Island theatre interests at the 25th anniversary dinner tendered Adolph Zukor at the Waldorf-Astoria, New York City, March 29. Empire Theatre is putting on a “Revival Week” April 10-16 with bookings based on requests turned in at the boxoffice by patrons. “Thin Man” is leading the list of films at this writing. Shea’s Theatre, Valley Fall, R. I., dark for over a year, has been taken over by Lou Frey of Boston who plans to open the house around April 1. “Pop” Stanzler, who operates houses in Wakefield and Narragansett Pier, came back last week from his winter stay on the west coast considerably improved in health. Shea’s Paramount, Newport, had Rita Goddard's dance school revue as its Easter week added feature, an annual booking. RKO-Albee is putting extra heavy advertising out on “At Home Abroad,” the condemned Shubert revue which opens for the circuit here Thursday, April 1. L. & J. Remodeling Bridgeport — Levine and Jacobson’s American Theatre is in the process of complete remodeling and enlargement. The back wall has been broken out for more space, and reseating and redecorating are being estimated, under the direction of Modern Theatre Equipment. SHOCK FATAL TO BILLY VAN Boston — Billy Van is dead. Known in real life as William Lincoln, the former stage performer died in Auburn, Me., last week at the age of 64. A shock was said to have been the direct cause of death. WATCH OUT • DON'T MISS THESE BARGAINS SECOND-HAND THEATRE CHAIRS IN GOOD CONDITION. — 2000 to Select From — See LILA IZEN Wholesome Film Service, Inc. HANcock 0155-0156 48 Melrose St. BOSTON 18 BOXOFFICE April 3. 1937.