Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

MAINE COVEHINO RHOOr ISLAND. CONNECTICUT, VEBMONT. NEW HAMPSHIRE TRADE OPPOSES DRIVE-IN THEATRES Suits for Royalties Filed by Bank Night Boston— Suits were filed last Saturday against two New England theatres by Affiliated Enterprises, Inc., in the firm’s fight to battle dwindling royalty collections. Coincident with the action, Roy Heffner, New England franchise holder of the cash giveaway plan, headed west to be gone for several weeks. Heffner, before leaving, reiterated the statement that he will go the limit to receive payment on any lagging Bank Night accounts. Action was filed Saturday in the district court in Lowell against the Merrimac Amusement Co. which operates the Rialto in the same city. Norman Glassman, brother-in-law of circuit-owner Frederick E. Lieberman and formerly associated with him in the Lowell theatre situation, runs the Rialto. A second litigation, Involving William Warr, was filed in the Plymouth district court on the same day. This alleges delinquent Bank Night royalty payments in connection with the Warr Theatre in Wareham. Warr sold this house, together with the Temple in Onset, to the Julius Joelson circuit a few days ago. Papers had been previously served on the defendants by Attorney George S. Ryan, retained by Affiliated Enterprises in the New England territory. Sign Agreement Portland, Me.— The Central Labor Union announced at a meeting June 16 that the Motion Picture Operators’ Union has signed working agreements with Keith’s and the Cameo theatres here. NOVELTY HANDLES FIGHT FILMS Boston — .Novelty Pictures are distributing the Braddock-Louis fight pictures in New- England. Allied Unit Aims at Heavy Shipments New Haven — Allied Theatres of Connecticut followed up the passing of a resolution at its regular meeting with notice to all exchanges here, except United Artists and Universal, that members would refuse film shipped in cases of over three double reels. Several accidents have been reported recently in the handling of the heavier five-reel cases by booth operators, and the condition is considered a dangerous one. Exchanges are given 30 days in which to change. United Artists and Universal are not offenders in this respect and were therefore not notified. Act Against Sunday Shows in Vt. Town Boston — Court action has been taken in St. Johnsbury, Vt., against the showing of Sunday motion pictures in the community. The Star Theatre, operated by Interstate, has been running films for the past few Sundays under a charity guise which has been successful in the past in a number of New England spots which prohibit Sabbath celluloid. Warrant Against Rockingham A warrant was issued against the Rockingham Operators Corp., an Interstate subsidiary, this week after State Attorney H. Stanwood Brooks inaugurated proceedings against the concern following the receipt of a petition from six clergymen. The case was put over until this week at which time, it was said, Edward Ansin, Interstate head, would be in municipal court to answer charges that the shows violate the Sunday laws in Vermont. The American Legion has been given a cut of recent Sunday night receipts at the Star. MPTOA Unit and Circuit Heads in Boston Object Boston — Strenuous opposition against open-air theatres in New England came to the fore last week at a hearing on a permit sought by the Drive-In Theatre Corp. for construction of such a situation in Brighton. Public hearing on the matter will be called for the near future, according to Mayor Frederick Mansfield of Boston. Termed Unfair Competition The local MPTOA unit was among the group that declared the proposed theatre would be unfair competition. Joseph Brennan, representing the organizationaffiliated Allied Theatres of Massachusetts, spoke against the granting of a permit. Brennan stated that such a situation would operate only about 12 weeks a year and requires small initial investment and low overhead. Other theatres, Brennan went on, not only involve a large original investment, but pay high taxes and operate 52 weeks per year. Martin J. Muliin of the M. and P. Theatres Corp., was among those appearing against the project at the meeting in the Mayor’s office. Julius Joelson, circuit owner, declared the patrons of drive-in theatres attend more to pet than to watch the pictures. Maurice Corkery of the Cambridge Park Department and Mrs. Mabel Smith, who conducts a nearby children’s summer camp, also voiced opposition. Loew Plans Two Drive-in theatres, previously thought to be poor investment risks here because of the unreliability of New England weather, have sprung into popularity this year, largely because of the successful operation of the Weymouth Drive-In Theatre. The Drive-In Theatre Corp., seeking the Brighton site, opened the summer location last year. Projection and sound, which was engineered and installed by P. Edward Comi, of the Theatre Service and Supply Co., proved so effective that not even heavy rain and thick Cape Cod fog (Continued on page 114) NEW ENGLAND EDITION Is One of the Seven Sectional Editions in Which BOXOFPICE Is Published Weekly. The KM Other Six Editions Are: MIDEAST, CENTRAL, MIDWEST, WESTERN, SOUTHERN. EASTERN, a3T«'l/A,J BRAD ANGIER, New England Editor, 14 Piedmont St., Boston, Mass., Phone, Liberty 9305. GERTRUDE PEARSON, Suite 915, 42 Church St., New Haven, Conn. C. A. ROSSKAM, 106 Miller Ave., Providence, R. I.