The Exhibitor (Jun-Oct 1939)

% Connecticut Senate Gives Okay to “Bingo” Measure Now Needs House Approval “Confessions” Causes Stir in Clinton, Mass. Picture Finally Pulled Because of Gross The Connecticut Senate adopted last week a bill legalizing "Bingo,” a game long banned in the State by Superior Court and police authorities. The measure now goes to the House of Representatives where it is threatened with opposition. The measure, differing from the ori¬ ginal proposal turned down by the com¬ mittee in the first weeks of the session, called for a modified form of "local op¬ tion” before "Bingo” could be conducted in any town or city. Five per cent of the people would first have to petition for the game, and approval then be given by a majority vote of the governing body of the municipality. Local sanction thus given the game would have to be renewed annually. Instead of limiting the game in non-commercial organizations as was originally proposed, the measure would permit its operation by anyone under permits from the police authority of the town. Fees for the licenses would range from $1. for 5 0 seats to $2 50. for halls with 75 0 seats. Cash prizes would be for¬ bidden, and a $2 5 0 maximum set for merchandise awards. The "Bingo” issue was aired at a public hearing before the committee voted its original unfavorable report and proponents then pictured it as an "innocent family pastime” in con¬ trast to the claims of opponents that it was a "kindergarten for gambling.” Conn. Racing Balked Again The Connecticut General Assembly’s finance committee reverted backward last week when it cancelled a favorable report on a measure legalizing pari-mut¬ uel betting on horses and dog racing at the close of a legislative session. Com¬ mittee, with four members absent and Senate Chairman T. Howard Roberts not voting, decided to reconsider the racing bill by slight margin, reversing the stand taken recently when a favorable report on the measure was approved by a close ballot. First attempt to ban "Confessions of a Nazi Spy” from a Massachusetts theatre occurred in Clinton May 9 when the Turn Verein of that town petitioned the Selectmen to prohibit public showings. Film was scheduled for four days at the Warner Strand. Selectmen washed their hands of affair by pointing out that they have no power to censor motion pictures. However, they contacted Boston officials of the Massa¬ chusetts Amusement Company, and were informed that one-day’s notice was too short to replace the picture and that con¬ siderable money had been spent in adver¬ tising for 10 days previous. Clinton has larger percentage of resi¬ dents with German blood than any other community in Central Massachusetts. Turn Verein has membership of 400. Picture was withdrawn after two days of a scheduled four day engagement, be¬ cause business was off. Getschal in New Haven Budd Getschal, well known trade pub¬ licist, last week made his headquarters in New Haven for his "Movie Cash” idea. He will handle the promotion for the New England area and has already closed with the Nate Yamins circuit. Jennings’ Passing Mourned Death of Richard A. Jennings, 42, chief engineer at RKO Keith, Boston, last week was mourned. Military and Masonic funeral services were held for him. He leaves a widow and two child¬ ren. Loew Case Under Advisement Judge Louis Pinanski in Suffolk Su¬ perior Court last fortnight took the case under advisement following a further hearing regarding the injunction by E. M. Loew against stagehands and operators in certain towns in which he operates. Frank Reel was attorney for Local 182, with Benjamin Levin acting for Loew. Safety Control Bill Defeated for One Year Other Mass. Measures Checked A legislative survey of Massachusetts bills affecting the industry last week in¬ dicated that Bill S241, to accompany petition of Fred S. Ferris for legislation to require installation of safety control device on cinematographs or similar appa¬ ratus to eliminate fire hazards, has been, at least for this year, conclusively de¬ feated. While it can be brought back in ’41, S241 is, for the present, dead. Labor bills and bills on taxation are still pending, until question of the bud¬ get is unwrinkled. Propaganda Films Slipping It appeared this week that propaganda films have done so poorly in Worcester, Massachusetts, that theatre men venture it will be difficult to book them there in the future. "Crisis,” scheduled to play the Loew-Poli Plaza for a week, did so badly that it was yanked after three days. Blockade” also did badly earlier in the season. Warner, showing "Con¬ fessions of a Nazi Spy,” made changes in its sales . New Haven Exchange Folk Meet Employees of New Haven exchanges, Local B-41, will meet May 26 to nomin¬ ate officers for the June election and to award the $2 5 prize In a recent drive. Kathryn Fitzgerald is president of the union, with Bill Nutile chairman of the drive. Localites to Allied Meeting Called together by Eastern Regional Vice-President Frank Lydon, eastern heads of Allied units will meet May 23 in New York City, with Arthur Howard, gen¬ eral manager, Independent Exhibitors, Inc. attending. Trade problems will be discussed. M-R Case Recessed The Morse-Rothenburg anti-trust case, which has been setting a record in Boston for length of time during hearings, was recessed last week until May 15 in the United States District Court. Bridgeport Gets Columbians Columbians, home office organization of Columbia, will hold its annual picnic and outing at Pinebrook, near Bridgeport, Connecticut, May 29, it was announced last week. May 17, 1939 N. H.