Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

New York ITOA Stand Hit Bq Allied Unit Boston— The New York ITOA's recent bulletin announcement that it would be the “spearhead of a new national association” has been attacked by the local Allied headquarters as an instance of “colossal effrontery.” “Congratulate Accomplishments” “We congratulate the New York organization for whatever it may have accomplished for its own members in its own limited locality,” said a spokesman for the local unit, “but when it attempts to aid producers and distributors by trying either to disrupt or weaken the only national organization (Allied) that is really fighting for independent exhibitors’ rights and existence, it is time to call a spade a spade.” The statement charged that the ITOA action bordered on “independent treason” and advised every New England exhibitor to disregard any “ITOA publications” looking toward the formation of any new national organization. The Allied outburst is directed mainly at a recent bulletin of the ITOA which, according to the Independent Exhibitors, Inc., “endorses the Neely-Pettengill bill and casually mentions the nation-wide support accorded it. It neglects to credit Allied and the Motion Picture Research Council for all the work done on this legislation, it neglects to mention that no member or representative of ITOA appeared in Washington during the protracted senate and house hearings, and it neglects to mention that one of the staunchest opponents of the bill on the house committee last year (Congressman Peyser) came from New York City.” “Allied Brainchild” “The bulletin,” according to the local Allied affiliate, “also praises North Dakota for its work on Allied’s bill for keeping producers out of exhibition but it neglects to mention that it is Allied’s brainchild, that it has been financed by contributions from Allied exhibitors and that to the best of our knowledge the ITOA has not volunteered one red cent to the Allied-Steffes fund.” BRIDGEPORT QATHERINE PAPE, former chief of staff at the Globe, has been named assistant manager. When she was given the rating as assistant to Manager Samuel Bandamo she became the first woman to serve as assistant manager in a local theatre. Betty Healy has left the cashier’s office at the Cameo to go to work in the tax collector’s office. The second annual Easter egg hunt of the Loew-Poli Theatre was staged at Beardsley Park with nearly 1,000 children competing. Tickets to the theatre were the prizes. The Loew house boys are talking about a baseball team again. They didn’t have the time to organize last spring, but this year they’d like to find time enough to at least challejige the New Haven team. Day Tuttle and Richard Skinner have taken over the Country Playhouse at Westport. Chmaware has started at the Bostwick and silverware has made its appearance at the Parkway. At the West End feminine patrons can take their pick of any piece of glassware in stock. Pcrokas Building Thompsonville, Conn. — Peter Parokas has started excavation for the construction of his 980-seat theatre. Chairs, complete booth equipment and screen contracts have been awarded National Theatre Supply, with William Hutchins in charge. The house will be ready August 15. Lou Falk Upped Meriden — Lou Falk, manager of the Poll for more than two years, has been promoted to a New York Loew house, not yet assigned. Joseph Samartano, of the Pitkin, Brooklyn, replaces Falk as the Meriden manager. DID THIS EVER HAPPEN TO YOU? fKIS is the story of Manager Harry Botwick of the Portland, Me., State Theatre and, as the saying goes, he is stuck with it. ’Twas April Fool’s Day when a fiend in human form, his identity unknown, inserted an ad in the Evening Express. It said pigs were wanted at the State, that good grunters were desired. Pig owners were told by a harassed manager that he most emphatically had no use for pigs. Altogether it made a fine story for the paper. Perhaps it was just a coincidence that on that day Bob Burns’ pig was hogging the “Waikiki Wedding” show at the State. SRO was reported that night. MAINE LAWMAKERS WANT SALES TAX Portland, Me. — The Republican-controlled senate and house at Augusta seem bent on passing a 2 per cent general sales tax as a means of raising $4,000,000 annually. According to the Gallup poll, sentiment in Maine is about 3 to 2 against such a measure. Rather than enact a number of nuisance taxes, the state government seems determined to accept a party committee report and pass the tax law about April 15. In addition to providing for proposed appropriations for old age assistance, education equalization and other “new money” requirements, the committee said adoption of this and other recommendations by the legislature would enable the state to reduce by 31/2 mills the present 71/4 general property tax. No Sunday Advance Boston — A bill to advance the opening time of motion picture theatres on Sunday two hours, to four o’clock in the afternoon, has been defeated by a 197 to 156 tally in the New Hampshire House of Representatives. It had previously been reported favorable out of committee. Conn. Employment Up New Haven — Private placements made by the state and national employment offices of Connecticut continue to increase, according to the latest U. S. employment service reports. In Massachusetts a decline was noted for January. "Our Holy Father, Pope Pius XI, in His apostolic letter to the Bishop of Padua, on the occasion of the celebration of the Seventh Centenary of the death of St. Anthony, urged the faithful to study the life of this great disciple of St. Francis.' m Timeless — NOW BOOKING — Eternal I ^^IFE OF ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA"^ m The FIRST and ONLY Film EVER made of Life of ST. ANTHONY = Capitalize on Available Church Cooperation I BAY STATE FILM COMPANY ^ 50 MELROSE STREET DEVonshire 7843 BOSTON 50 BOXOFnCE :: April 10, 1937.