Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

_^CCORDING to Abraham Goodside, operator of the Strand Theatre here, a 900-seat theatre is being remodeled by Saul Hayes, who operates the Strand at Boothbay Harbor, and will be ready for opening some time in June. The house is to be used entirely for stock company productions. A new marquee, new carpets and new seats are being installed at the Lincoln Theatre, Damariscotta. J. Harold Stevens, Paramount branch manager, attended the Adolph Zukor dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria, March 29. Shortly after landing in New York March 23 at the end of a honeymoon trip to Europe, Newell Kurson of the Graphic circuit left for Middlebury , Vt., where he was to have opened the Middlebury Theatre on March 27. The Kursons are making their home in Bangor. Unless something unforeseen happens, theatre interests are confident the luxury tax bill, now in committee, will be tabled shortly. The Community Theatre at Liberty, Me., will be opened about April 10. Clarence Millett, operator of the State Theatre at Bridgton, reports “Swing High, Swing Low” played to the highest gross on March 22 and 23 of any picture since “One in a Million.” Sam Kimball, who operates the Limerick Theatre at Limerick, opened the Odd Fellows Hall at West Buxton last week and plans to open the Springvale Theatre at Springvale, Me., about April 5. Kimball was in at the Paramount exchange this week making bookings. Aroostook county exhibitors will be indirectly affected by a bill signed by Gov. Lewis O. Barrows levying a tax of one per cent per barrel on potatoes, the proceeds to be used to advertise and stabilize the industry. The county is expected to produce a $37,400,000 crop this year. The marquee at the State Theatre here is to be repaired soon. Jerry Govan of the Boston M. & P. office accompanied A. J. Moreau, M. & P. branch manager, on a booking trip around the district this week. CYL-CHAMPLIN FINDS ART EXPORT MARKET Boston — Katharine Hepburn sold a painting by Charles William Cyl-Champlin, RKO Theatres display artist here, to a brewery in Norway. Or, at least, her head sold it. Or is this becoming too complicated? Charles William Cyl-Champlin, also known as Cyl, recently made a pastel head of Miss Hepburn for a lobby display. The work was eventually reproduced in a trade art magazine, a copy of which somehow found its way into the hands of a Scandinavian brewery head. This gentleman was impressed by Cyl’s work and wrote to Boston to inquire if the RKO brush-andpaint mug would make a trademark for his product and for how much. Cyl wrote back how much and said if it were agreeable, yes. The trademark shows a drayman carrying two boxes of beer. Cyl explained that Norwegian beer cases resemble those milkbottle containers American milkmen use to awaken customers early in the morning. He promised that if some sample cases were forthcoming from Europe, he would assemble a film party to awaken some milkmen. PLANS PROGRESS FOR ALLIED MEET New Haven — Plans are in full swing for the Allied eastern regional conference to be held at the Hotel Garde, New Haven, Monday, April 5. Among the visitors expected are Abram F. Myers, Sidney Samuelson, Nathan Yamins, A. Steffes, and several others prominent in organization affairs. The committee in charge of arrangements for the session and entertainment of delegates consists of Martin Keleher, Dr. J. B. Fishman, Joseph A. Davis, Ralph Pasho and Maurice Shulman. Five UA Reissues New Haven — Connecticut Films Distributing Co. will handle the reissues of the United Artists features; “Rain,” with Joan Crawford and Walter Huston, “The Bat Whispers,” with Chester Morris and Una Merkel; “Street Scene,” with Sylvia Sidney, and “Closed Door,” with Barbara Stanwyck and Zasu Pitts. These will be released starting in May. Transfers at Warner New Haven — With the transfer of Arthur Roche, Warner salesman, to the Boston office, Michael Anderson, office manager and booker for the past five years, has been promoted to salesman of the local exchange. Angelo Lombardi moves up to office manager and booker, together with Victoria Cusanelli. Sidney Levine, former poster clerk, becomes assistant booker. The change was effective last Monday. BOSTON (Continued from preceding page) given their employes are eventually pocketed by the concessionaires and not the employes. It was accorded a favorable committee report. A nominating committee has been preparing a tentative ballot for the coming Boston Friars Club election. Irving Zussman, head of Metro Premium Co., has been in Chicago. Jean Rogers, Universal star and Boston beauty contest winner, better known here as Eleanor Lovegren, has been visiting in the Hub at 35 Vincent Ave. She starred in “Mysterious Crossing,” which recently concluded a run at the RKO, Boston. Leo Britton, independent exchange owner, was to have been in New York the first of this week. Mike Thomas, local premium and film distributor, has been ill with the grippe. Harry Asher, national head of Epilogues, Inc., returned to Boston from New York this week. Kenneth Douglass has had the repair shop of the Capitol Theatre Supply Co. shut off from the rest of the building by steel grating. Visitors have inadvertently retarded work which has been at nearcapacity this year, he explains. Fred Walters, Universal publicist, was in the Hub last week, conferring with Jack Granara at the RKO publicity offices. CAL WILSON UPPED Boston — Cal Wilson has been appointed manager of the Capitol Theatre in Middlebury, Vt. He was formerly chief-of-service at Keith’s Memorial here. Louise Hayes, a Wheaton College student, spent the Easter holidays with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Saul Hayes of Boothbay Harbor. Hayes operates the Strand at Boothbay. Russell Mack ran a triple-feature bill (Continued on page 20) CADILLAC — LA SALLE OLDSMOBILE LEO CUMMINGS Connected with one of the largest firms in New England. S. I. McNEILLY CO. LON 0321 LON 5848 lllllllllillllllllllllllllllllllilllllllllllllli ^ THE FILM OF THE HOUR! ^ “HUNDREDS DEAD IN NEW LONDON SCHOOL DISASTER" Danger Threatens New England High Schools Book “HIGH SCHOOL GIRL” Clergy and Civic Groups Applaud this Timely Censorprool Revelation of Pitfalls of Puppy Love. BAY STATE FILM COMPANY 50 Melrose Street DEVonshire 7843 BOSTON 16 BOXOFFICE April 3, 1937.