Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

MARY YOUNG READIES SUMMER SEASON SHOW Boston — Mary Young, famous theatrical star back in New England from Hollywood, is preparing to open the summer season at her Centerville Theatre on Cape Cod. She has played opposite such stars as William Powell and Warren William. E. E. Clive, Irving Pichel, and Donald Meek were in her Boston companies in the past. Scouts of M-G-M, Warner, and 20th Century-Pox are particularly interested in Miss Young’s forthcoming summer productions, it is reported on good authority. Jane Barnes, who has recently appeared with M-G-M, has returned here from the coast to play in several of Mary Young’s plays. Carlisle Moore jr., who has been in a number of films, will be in the cast of several of his late father’s plays. Hobart Bosworth is among the film figures that may come to Centerville to play with Miss Young. CROWD AT PREMIERE OF "GIRL SAID NO" Boston — World premiere of “The Girl Said No’’ was staged last Tuesday evening by Grand National in Boston at the Shubert Theatre. The Gilbert and Sullivan operetta was viewed by a number of society and educational leaders in the Hub, with Edward Finney and John Brown covering the weighty exploitation campaign of the show. BOSTON (Continued from page 111) change owner with new offices on Melrose St., reports a sale of two new features to the Warner circuit in New England. The roadshow engagement of “Lost Horizon’’ at the Community in Wellesley has been extended by Les Bendslev, managing the house during his father’s absence abroad. A similar booking has been opened at the Apollo in Nantasket. Joseph Barron, operator of the Warren Theatre in Warren and the Strand in West Warren, and Mrs. Barron have returned from an automobile trip throughout Maine, New Hampshire and New York. Irving Zussman, head of Metro Premium Co., was in Chicago last week. Al Anders, accompanied by Mrs. Anders, was in Boston Friday of last week, negotiating for contracts. Jack Rice, National Screen Service booker, tentatively plans to go to Goff Falls, N. H., when his vacation begins July 3. Clarence Robbins has opened the Busbards Bay Theatre in Buzzards Bay, Mass. A special meeting of the Independent Exhibitors, Inc., may be called within the next few days because of the national Allied contention with Paramount. The regular meeting of the organization is scheduled for July 13. BRUCES IN VIENNA Couple on Grand Tour at High Speed Boston — Rudolph Bruce, who has gone continental with one bride and $12,000 prize money received as a result of winning a cartoon contest conducted by a local newspaper, reports to Boxoffice via postcard the progress of his world tour. The former M-G-M checker married Miss Elizabeth O’Neil, co-winner in the competition, in New York a few Fridays ago. “Opened the summer season in Norway with a blizzard,’’ wrote Bruce on the back of a postcard depicting what appears to be the Scandinavian idea of a bar. “We have been traveling at a fast rate for a month now, so thought we would report. After landing in Antwerp, went to Brussels and up the Rhine from Cologne to Heidelberg and Munich. Then touching several cities to week in Berlin and Hamburg. From Lubeck to Copenhagen.” “Met Mr. and Mrs. Bendslev there and had a swell time.” The operator of the Community in Wellesley and his wife have been sojourning in Norway. The secretary of Allied in New England plans to return to this country some time in July. “Then Gothenberg to Oslo,” continues Bruce’s narrative. “Managed to survive blizzard and now in Bergen. Leaving for England and Scotland tomorrow.” The card was dated June 2. “Expect to be in Paris after June 15, then Vienna. Write us either place care of American Express. Regards to the gang.” Lavine Resumes Boston — Phillip Lavine returned to his duties as general manager of the Phil Smith circuit this week. He had been critically ill for several weeks. M.&P. Asks 'Jimmy' to Outing June 26 Boston— The M. and P. Theatres Corp. has scheduled an outing in Marblehead for its office force this week Saturday. William Spragg, district manager, gave the affair a human interest note with a letter sent to James Powers, little shoe shine boy who services many of the circuit’s members at 60 Scollay Square. The letter, mimeographed and distributed among potential attendants, gave an outline of events in a novel vein. It read: "Have ya got a date Saturday. June 2G. Jimmy?” ^ „ “If you liave, break it. or, better still, bring her along with you. Because you’re going to our riutiiig at the Fox and Hounds Hotel m Marblehead as a special guest of the entire M & P office force. And boy. are ya going to have a time! “Didja ever go swimming in a clear blue sea where the waves seemed to climb right up your back and slide down again and the water was so cool and refreshing and good? Didja ever he on your back on pearly white sands and let the sun turn those freckles into a tan that would make the colored fellers Viack in Fast Boston jealous. Didja ever eat until you wislied you had worn your big brother’s pants and truck to a swell orchestra and be entertained by all those muggs whose shoes you’ve been shining' all year? “liidja, Jimmy?” Well you’re going to. And what's more, you re going to' forget the old shoeshine box. Leave it home or park it in the elevator or toss it m the alley. Everybody rates a day off and this is your “Start going to bed early, Jim. Get plenty of rest. You’re just a little guy and it’s going to be a big day. Take our word for it.” It was signed, “The Gang.” I. A. Downing Upped Boston — J. A. Downing, RKO booker here, has been promoted to home office representative by Jules Levy, general sales manager for the company. Along with the promotion, made at RKO’s sales conference in Los Angeles last week, came recognition of new hundred per cent salesmen. They were as follows: F. G. Ross, H. F. Goldstein, M. Manes, W. H. Gardiner and C. L. Divizia, Boston: H. Zeitels, N. H. IT’S ON miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiilllllllilllllllllllllllH “THE SHOW IS ON” lllllmllllllllllllllllllfi? THANKS TO COMI RUSH WORK THAT IS RELIABLE SERVICE EQUIPMENT — ENGINEERING Projection A Speciality THEATRE SERVICE & SUPPLY CO. 112 Arlington Street — Liberty 0356 — BOSTON Factory Method Repair Shop BOXOFFICE : : June 26, 1937. 113