Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

£]XHIBITORS missed the 5,000 Yale students, who were out of town for the spring vacation, and welcomed their return on Monday. Inspectresses in the employ of the local RKO exchange have received an increase in wages. National Theatre Supply has sold J. Dombe, who is building the Brooklawn, Bridgeport, a stage set, in addition to other equipment . . . The Riyoli, West Haven, has installed a new marquee. The Governor, the Mayor, Lou Weinberg and L. Plunkett from the New York Columbia office, not to overlook I. H. Rogovin, attended the gala New England premiere of “Lost Horizon,” roadshowing at E. M. Loew’s, Hartford, at $1.65 top . . . The College, New Haven, is next. The C. D. Burbanks of Thompson ville, in town for the first time in a year or more. Jerome Massimino is the new poster clerk at the Warner exchange office, replacing Sidney Levine, recently promoted to assistant booker. Monk Maloney, former manager of the Poll. New Haven, and now doing a good job in Worcester, took a busman’s holiday to visit the theatre here last week. Among this week’s rumors: Loew’s may reopen the Lyric, Bridgeport, late of burlesque renown, as a first run house . . . The Rialto, Windsor Locks, may drop its appeal on the recent Bank Night decision. American Seating will furnish the chairs for the new Webster Theatre, Hartford, construction of which has been started by Maurice Shulman of the Rivoli. Erie Wright, Loew-Poli publicity director, spent several days in Worcester, overseeing activity on the Plaza, to be reopened April 15, or thereabouts. The Adolph Johnsons, delayed by the illness of their son, got in 8 days of Florida sunshine, even though they missed the MPTOA convention and the Connecticutin-Miami social activities. The Clyde Hess’s of Moosup now have quintuplets . . . baby goats who get their milk regularly and amuse the film salesmen no end. John Hesse planted a full page Sunday Register feature on “History Is Made at Night.” A 15-minute electrical transcription was used on WELI the day before opening. Bob Cobe experienced the tragedy of losing his voice for several days last week. In New York on business this week: Barney Pitkin, Phil Sherman. Holidaying: Mr. and Mrs. Lou Schaefer. Business took Ben Lourie to Boston. Lou Schaefer, Harry Shaw and Ben Cohen figured prominently in the April Fool issue of the Journal-Courier. To Phil Schwartz of the Parkway, (Continued on page 54) Motiograph Sales Boston — Kenneth Douglass, Capitol Theatre Supply head, reports the following Motiograph sales within the past two weeks: Two-machine installations to Nathan Yamins for the Capitol in Fall River; Julius Meyers, Majestic, West Springfield; E. M. Loew, Court Square, Springfield; George Husson, Empire, Whitman; W. D. Lord, St. Croix Hall, Calais, Me., and Standard Theatre Equipment’s projection room, Boston. LOEW S WATERBURY BOOKS NOVELTY Meriden — “Murder in the Red Barn,” novelty picture and commentator program, went into Loew’s Poli, Waterbury, on April 7. It is also being contemplated for the Palace, Meriden, on the 16th. Leaders Confer (Continued from page 47) Managers an agreement for their consideration. “At the meeting, Mr. James F. Burke was designated as their duly authorized representative to confer with the above Committee and Management. “We earnestly hope that the Management will arrange an early date for a conference. “Hoping for a favorable reply, we are. Yours very truly ” James Burke, business manager of the Boston Moving Picture Operators Union, Local 182, was one of the organizers of the exchange workers union. He was elected business manager of the new AFL unit at a recent meeting. A joint discussion will probably be arranged with the larger distributors, it was stated by a union leader, while separate confabs will no doubt be set with other exchange executives whose problems are more singular. Grade Allen puts herself to sleep, almost, by reading a bedtime story to adopted children, while George Burns listens avidly. They’re in the nursery of the new home George gave Grade for Christmas. ^HE race among theatre folk here for spring babies ended its second lap this week with Charles Kellerman and Mrs. Kellerman leading with a four and onehalf day margin over the Harry Botwicks. A robust 8-lb. boy was born to the Kellermans March 29 at the Maine General Hospital. On April 2 at 5 p. m. a 7-pound, 6-ounce baby girl was born to the Botwicks at the same hospital. In both cases mothers and babies are doing excellently and even the fathers have themselves well under control. This makes I. Levine, district manager for GN at New Haven, a very proud grandfather. The third lap will be made sometime in July when the Lester Hughes’ of the Paramount exchange are expecting a family increase. Botwick is manager of the State Theatre; Kellerman is manager of Keith’s. Nate Press, assistant manager of the State, wants it known that exactly a year ago on April 2 his baby girl was born. Francis Gooch, manager of the Columbia Theatre at Bath, is reported ill with bronchial pneumonia. With gift awards totaling $2,500, the Better Homes Exposition pulled heavily from first run houses and subsequents alike this week. Attendance approximated 35,000. A 17-act vaudeville show featured the Keith’s bill this week. The stage show played one-a-day during its engagement. Mrs. Osa Johnson made a personal appearance at the City Hall here April 6, screening her new film, “Jungle Depths of Borneo.” Seats ranged from 50 cents to $1.50. A scarlet fever outbreak has hit Brewer, with the result that public schools have been closed until the outbreak is checked. The local Paramount exchanges is gaining in the national Adolph Zukor Jubilee Drive. It now stands ninth in advance bookings aiid eleventh in deliveries. Arthur Jack of the Acme Theatre, Kennebunk, was in for bookings this week. Abraham Goodside, owner, donated the use of the Strand Theatre to the 13 Class for a series of Sunday meetings, the last of which is to be held April 25. The 13 Class is one of the largest men’s bible study groups in the country. Temporarily at least, Manager Harlan Boucher is making Saturday opening day for the Empire programs. Paramount’s “Waikiki Wedding” opened to a near-capacity house last Thursday afernoon at the State, and to SRO at night. Maine merchants fear the result of a state sales tax but theatre men are confident the new revenue-raising measure would not affect boxoffice receipts. OFFERS TWO FOREIGN FILMS New Haven — While “the Golem” continued for a second week at the Lincoln Theatre, the Yale Foreign Film Club presented another film program in French. 52 BOXOFnCE :: April 10, 1937.