Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1945)

SPRINGFIELD T ocal managers were speculating on the effeet of brownout regulations on patrons . . . Manager George Freeman, Poli, tied in the opening of “Music for Millions” with the personal appearance here of Jose Iturbi, star of the film, on February 9. An editorial published in the Greenfield Recorder-Gazette on the recent death of Claude Frederick, former manager of the Garden Theatre, Greenfield, said in part: “Claude Frederick, like most good showmen, lived the entertainment business with zest and appreciation.” Richard Davidson, ex-Paramount, Springfield, checks in from the Philippine Islands . . . Manager Lou Schaefer, Palace, Pittsfield, planted a winter “false front” for exploitation on “Lake Placid Serenade.” Joe Borenstein, Embassy manager, planted spots on WDRC, Hartford, to plug “To Have and Have Not” . . . Joe DiLorenzo, manager of the Plainfield, has redecorated the boxoffice. Pat McMahon, State manager, booked in reissues of “Kid From Spain” and “Dead End Kids” . . . Victor Morelli, manager of the Bristol Theatre, was dangerously ill with pneumonia at Bristol Hospital. He was in an oxygen tent at this writing. Assistant Wittke, State, Manchester, is subbing at the Bristol. Randy Mailer is the New Britain chairman for the March of Dimes drive . . . Redecorations are about completed at Jack O’Sullivan’s Garde, New London . . . J. Roger Mahan has purchased the building housing his Carrol in Waterbury for approximately $100,000. Louis N. Shaker handled the deal. Manager Jack Sanson, State, Manchester, will host members of the Police Mutual Aid Ass’n when its annual benefit concert is presented at his house February 11 . . . Jim MacNamara’s Empire in New London reopened January 21 after a six-month closedown by State Commissioner Hickey. Inspection regulations have been met . . . Pvt. Bob O'Neil, ex-Cameo, Watertown, was recently awarded a Purple Heart and an Oak Leaf Cluster after being wounded in Europe for the third time, reports Manager Nick DelRosso . . . There is a managerial opening at the Victory, New London. "Canteen" Turns in More Than 3 Weeks at Canton (From Mideast Edition) CANTON — “Hollywood Canteen” hung up a new long run record for the Ohio Theatre here when it remained for three weeks, including an extra midnight performance, and opening a day ahead of schedule. Business held up until the end, according to I. H. Solomon, manager. The picture ran during the winter’s worst weather. Majestic Theatre Building Collapses Under Snow (From Mideast Edition) MANSFIELD, OHIO— The 20-year-old Majestic Theatre Bldg, here collapsed under the weight of a foot of snow and ice. Several drivers for a taxicab company which had offices in the building escaped without injury by running into the street when they heard a rumbling noise which preceded the collapse. The house has not been in operation for some time. HEADS UA BRANCH— Ray Wylie was named United Artists branch manager at New Haven. N. HAMPSHIRE A new theatre in Whitefield has been opened under the management of George Gould, former 35mm portable show operator. The modern film house replaces a theatre which burned a couple of years ago . . . Clem Hawkins, creator of sounds heard in many talkies, was on a recent vaudeville program at the Palace in Manchester. A fine not exceeding $5 is set for violators of the new city ordinance in Manchester which prohibits smoking “in any part of an established licensed theatre where moving pictures are exhibited or other forms of entertainment conducted.” Guy Langley, New Hampshire correspondent for BOXOFFICE entered New England Deaconess Hospital in Boston January 25 to undergo a major operation. He expected to be hospitalized two weeks. Gladys Mayo, well-known Concord musician, accompanied her husband, Angel Del Busto, former member of the Goldman band, when he returned to his native Puerto Rico to give a concert at the University of Puerto Rico. The color film, “On Our Way,” was shown to highlight the launching of the United Unitarian Appeal campaign by the First Unitarian Society in Manchester. Daphne Skouras# Coat Returned by Finder (From Midwest Edition) MINNEAPOLIS— A $4,000 mink coat belonging to Daphne Skouras, daughter of Spyros Skouras, president of 20th-Fox Theatres, which was stolen from her at the Hotel Nicollet here while she was addressing a meeting, was recovered in a battered cardboard box in a realty company’s offices several miles from the hotel. The theft occurred December 29 and the coat was not recovered until January 20. Police said the box had been in the office more than two weeks after it was found in a hallway. No one opened it until January 20. Then the president of the company decided to investigate the contents. He immediately called the police. The coat had been exchanged for a cheap one in the hotel check room. BRIDGEPORT TUTanager Harry Foster of the Park City and Mrs. Foster celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary . . . Dr. Max J. Nussenfeld, Strand Amusement Co. director, is out of the army after three years and plans to resume his dental practice . . . Ernest Gracula of Bridgeport, manager of the State in Torrington, has been inducted into the navy. Nat “Sonny” Greenberg, former manager of the Park City, sends word from France that he has been promoted to corporal . . . Manager Don Felix of the Klein Memorial saw “Bloomer Girl” in New York City . . . WAVE Arlene Foster has been promoted to seaman first class at Whiting Field, Fla. . . . Manager Robert Carney of the Lyric has checked off another birthday. A new motion picture theatre is being planned for the Black Rock section as a postwar project . . . John Dynch has recovered from his recent injury and is back in the projection booth at the Lyric. The visit of Mary Pickford in the interest of the March of Dimes recalled to Manager Matt L. Saunders of Loew’s Poli that her “Tess of the Storm Country” set a silent film attendance record here that was never broken . . . Molly Rosenthal was in New Haven for a three-day stay . . . The road company of “The Merry Widow” has been booked into the Lyric for the night of February 5. Pittsburgh Carrier Cuts Delivery Service Again (From Mideast Edition) PITTSBURGH — A drastic step has been taken here in the curtailing of film carrier service. Exhibitors Service Co., the over-theroad agency for more than 30 years, found it necessary to take the new cut in order to lengthen the life of trucks and equipments. Under new operations, there will be no pickup of films at the exchanges on Wednesday and Sunday nights. On schedule under a [weekly plan, there will be five pickups for over-the-road service. There will be daily service within a radius of 40-to-45 miles of Pittsburgh. Film carriers, other than Exhibitors Service Co., are not affected by the new schedule. Several years ago a carrier system was put into operation which saved 25 per cent on mileage. This worked a hardship on distributors and to some extent on exhibitors, but the plan, which was originated here and copied elsewhere in the trade, saved 25 per cent in miles, in gasoline, equipment and manpower. Now, with an additional two-sevenths cut, a total of approximately 55 per cent is being saved. The no-pickup schedule for Wednesday and Sunday will save that much additional miles, wear-and-tear on trucks, gas and manpower, and neither distributor nor exhibitor will be better accommodated, but this new economy is another war emergency measure. Arthur H. Levy, Columbia branch manager, has served as defense transportation chairman for the motion picture industry here since before the ODT was organized. Distributors met with Exhibitors Service Co. representatives and completed the new film carriers’ rationing schedule. A Start on Theatre NAUGATUCK, CONN.— Ralph Pasho, manager of the Gem, broke ground for his 1,000seat postwar de luxe theatre. To Portray Florenz Ziegfeld William Powell is set to portray Florenz Ziegfeld in added scenes for Metro’s “Ziegfeld Follies.” 80 BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Feb. 3, 1945