The Exhibitor (Jun-Nov 1941)

18 ing their son at Camp Blanding. Norman Randall, assistant, will take his annual hegira in another week. Defiant challenge to any and all the¬ atre softball teams in New England has been issued by Jerry DeLise, manager, coach and agent for the Loew-Poli team, self-proclaimed champions, who’ll meet any team anywhere. DeLise is relying on the following to keep the pennant home: Marty “Red” King, IB; Marshall Blevins, CF; Johnny DeFonza, 3B; Gene Sullivan, SF; John Caron, RF; John McHugh, C; Anthony Assunto, P; Harold Katsoff, LF; Mickey Biondo, SS; and DeLise, 2B. L-P squad was scheduled to meet the Roger Shermans after being rained out of a pre¬ vious date. Mike Piccirillo, Bijou, said after the defy was issued, he’d get a team out of his own theatre and knock the champions’ heads off with base-hits. A1 Warmingham, Jack Parrish, Ed Steile, and Bob Russell burned up 'the Yale Golf Course with those placement shots. Russell is hereby entered in The Exhibitor’s fishing contest, having caught a seven-and-one-half pound black off New London — autographed photo and af¬ fidavit on request. And that columnist on a local gazette had fun with Russell last week when he jibed about Bob for cre¬ ating a fishing tackle shortage. “Bob in¬ vited a guest along on one of his many fishing expeditions, and the guest up and went and caught himself a nine-and-onehalf pound blackfish.” Tom Manente, Bijou, is working on a display for “Blood and Sand.” . . . Con¬ gratulations go to the Bijou staff, which led the circuit for staff work in exploit¬ ation. Herb Coleman, student assistant, swangled radio time for bally on “Ziegfeld. Girl.” . . . “New York Calling” was a familiar message for Herb last week as his lovely kept the long distance wires hot. Herman Levy, executive secretary, MPTO, was due back from Hollywood. . . . Helen Lowell, Bijou, will leave shortly to settle back in married life. . . . George Smith, veteran Bijou stagehand retired, with Walter Miller replacing. Sunday night business was “terrific,” said Bob Russell, manager, Loew-Poli, after looking over the boxoffice on “A Woman’s Face.” He said the turnaway was due to the startling, full-face, scarred photos of starrer Joan Crawford in the ads which intrigued patrons. Meadow Street Pleasant surprise for Ben Simon, Earl Wright, and Sam Germain, 20th CenturyFox, was that their company’s interna¬ tional convention was shifted to Los .An¬ geles, July 16-18. Local trio will leave here July 11, and make the trek by train via Chicago and Salt Lake City. . . . John Pavone’s U office had a screening of “Tight Shoes.” Tim O’Toole, Columbia, was back from that Chicago convene. . . . Sam Rosen (Rosen Film Delivery) and the Missus are back from that southern trip. . . . Wedding bells rang for Anna Brownstein, Para¬ mount inspectress, who was wed by George Levine, New Haven. Anna was feted by the office staff. Sam Zipkin’s brother, Maurice, has been elected delegate to the National Probus Club convention by the West Haven unit. Sam himself was seen down at Woodmont catching a heavy suntan. . . . Metro Pep Club will talk about the summer out¬ ing at that July meeting. THE EXHIBITOR Starting this week and extending through July 15, 30,000 workers in the New Haven area will be given vacations from their defense jobs. . . . British fireman who attended that screening in 20th Cen¬ tury-Fox office under C. of C. auspices created quite a stir. . . . Harold Rubin, Metro Premiums, was visiting. Starting vacations are Ann Donner and Carol Bruning, 20th Century-Fox. On va¬ cation is Evelyn Mott, Warners, due back July 5; and returning vacationists are Margaret Wallinger, 20th Century-Fox; Mary Fappiano, and Leon Jakubson, Met¬ ro. .. . Margaret Wallinger made a trip to Florida with Alice Francis, UA, who also vacationed. Steve Barsansky bid the film trade, Modern Theatre Equipment Company, and a host of friends goodbye and took a job in Winchester’s. . . . Charley Farnum re¬ places. . . . Hy Levine, Interstate Film, is contacting a number of exhibitors for bookings on “231/2 Hours Leave.” Dick Cohen has set the Royal Crystalware deal in the Roxy, New Britain, and also the Washington Colonial dinnerware in the same location. Dick is also man¬ ager for Richard O'Connor, itinerant song¬ writer. . . . Barney Pitkin and Bill Cannelli were to the RKO convention at the Waldorf-Astoria, New York, last week. . . . Metro Pep Club had no activities sched¬ uled. . . . 20th Century-Fox had a private screening of “Moon Over Miami” and “Man Hunt.” . . . Bob Johnson, chip of Adolph Johnson, is due back this week¬ end from Jacksonville on a furlough from his Navy training. . . . Mickey Daley, Hartford and Plainville exhibitor, is back from a trip to Hollywood and Catalina Island. Irving Cooper, Universal accessories, was on vacation. . . . Congratulations go to Mary Calabrese on her fourth wedding anniversary and Fay Spondoni on her 10th wedding anniversary. Fay, in addition, celebrated her birthday. . . . F. T. Murray, U’s manager of branch operations, was in to the local exchange. Nat Furst, Monogram, was around the territory. His office was in second place at the last reading of the standings in Monogram’s “Spirit of Independence” drive. . . . Ben Lourie’s golf is rusting as he puts on the steam for sales contracts. . . . Sid Levine’s brother, Mike, is coming in from furlough from Camp Blanding, Fla. . . . Warner Club had no activities scheduled as yet. . . . Ed Cannelli, popular barber, film centerites, saw his son mar¬ ried. Many of the Meadow Streeters at¬ tended the ceremonies. Roger Mahan, Warners branch head, hied to Philadelphia where he visited the Vine Street folks. “Rog” still has a soft spot in his heart for the Quaker City. But he likes the Nutmeg State better. Loew-Poli Circuit Circuit, and all the trade, rejoiced in the gladsome news that Ben Cohen and his bride had landed safely at Cape Town, South Africa. One of the odd angles was that Harry Shaw, district boss, and Bob Russell, L-P, New Haven, had been argu¬ ing only the night before with a couple of practical realists “that Ben couldn’t possibly be alive after all these 26 days.” Brian Donlevy was to do a personal ap¬ pearance at the Loew-Poli, New Haven, as a plug for his picture “Billy The Kid.” . . . Fred Greenway, L-P, Hartford, has finally located an apartment, and will establish a permanent home. Bob Carney, Majestic assistant, Bridge¬ port, arranged that gag of three usherettes giving away candy kisses besides knock¬ ing off two window displays and a plug in a local around-the-town column. . . . Wally Cooper, assistant, L-P, Hartford, swung a roto break for “Blood and Sand” while Fred Greenway managed a six col¬ umn art break for the Palace, Hartford. Assistant Sidney Klepner, Palace, Hart¬ ford, talked into 300 free cigars as a giveaway for the first 300 fathers who showed up at his emporium. . . . Monk Maloney, L-P, Worcester, had WTAG and its Roving Reporter interview the the¬ atre’s staff from the lobby on their re¬ action to “the boss” as bally for “The Big Store.” . . . One of the best tieups in a long time was arranged by Max Nesvetsky, same house, who promoted a com¬ plete set of lawn umbrellas, gliders, tables, and chairs to give his mezzazine that out¬ door effect. Not stopping here, he con¬ tacted local ladies’ clubs and offered them the use of the furniture for bridge parties. Two clubs have already used the layout with more to follow. Trade’s sympathy goes to Jim Nemery, L-P artist, who lost his father. . . . Mike Picarillo, Bijou, New York, kept hitting the radio time gratis with plugs for his house, as did Herb Coleman, student as¬ sistant. . . . L-P staffers in New Haven are planning a dance on the stage of the house. Jerry DeLise and Marshall Blevins are on arrangements. . . . Vacations were due to start for Sam Badamo, College, New Haven, and Harry Rose, Globe, Bridgeport. Warner Circuit Harold Cummings, manager, Warners’ Lynn, tied up for “Meet John Doe” with the local Lynn Item in an effective ex¬ ploitation. In a dozen stores through the city men were stationed, to be ques¬ tioned by contestees, “Are you John Doe,” the ante to be $35. Excellent tie-up with the stores netted a two-page news spread for the theatre free, front page publicity, and, when the rival paper took up the same device, inversely netted the theatre more business. Joe Liss, manager, Warner, Lawrence, put on a successful campaign for Para¬ mount’s “I Wanted Wings,” tying in with local recruiting office, decorating the front with signal flags, with special dis¬ plays from Life and Look magazines, etc. A box-office minded minister placed the following ad in the newspaper: “Lawrence Unitarian Church, Jackson and Haverhill Streets; Reverend Felix D. Lion, Minister, Sermon on the Movie ‘Meet John Doe’ a modern parallel to the ministry of Jesus; 11 A. M. Everybody welcome.” Rev. Lion had been so impressed by a speech in the film that he brought a secretary to short¬ hand the scripture for his sermon. Lloyd Nordgren, resigned as manager, Premier, Newburyport, replaced by John Silverwatch, former assistant manager, Warner, Lawrence, who, in turn, is suc¬ ceeded by John Powers. . . . Joe Liss, manager, Warner, Lawrence, followed up his previous exploitation with a full-page newspaper tie-up with eight or nine beauty parlors, plugging “A Woman’s Face,” which, incidentally, is reported do¬ ing considerably more business since Metro pulled the former ads, and made up new mats. June 25, 1941