Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

Monogram Closes Deal for Boston Exchange Location JJENRY GREENBERG, head of the accessories department at Columbia, recently went in for a new line of accessories on his automobile and now has added a number of household accessories, to aid in the caring for Master Stewart Michael Greenberg, latest of all Greenberg accessories. Boston — Monogram of New England, Inc., will open offices within the next few days at 39 Church St. where Rathe was formerly located. Remodeling and modernizing activities began in the film district building last week when the deal for the spot was finally consummated. The place was recently used as a display room for National Screen Service accessories. Steve Broidy, general sales manager of the new Monogram distributing unit, declares that the offices will be opened for business about June 1, at which time a physical and sales force second to none in the local independent field will be swung into action, he says. Leo Britton With Monogram Leo C. Britton, veteran independent sales executive, has come into the Monogram fold, according to Broidy. Britton has long been prominent in this territory where he was formerly a Paramount exchange manager. Britton holds the Atlantic franchise in New England. He recently resigned as Imperial Pictures manager here. His addition to the Monogram sales force supports Broidy's statement that he is going the limit to establish the new exchange. Phil Shannon, formerly salesman for United Artists and Gaumont British in Connecticut, has also been signed to the Monogram sales force. Broidy, who resigned as city salesman for Republic Pictures Corp. of New England, to become treasurer and manager of the new distributor, is not yet ready to announce his entire setup. Ben Welansky, local chain operator and Buffalo exchange owner, is president of the local Monogram corporation. HUB CENSOR MAKES DELETIONS IN TWO Boston — Two motion pictures out of 44 were scissored by the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety in the latest list of approved films to be issued under the signature of Commissioner Paul G. Kirk. Four vaudeville acts were banned for Sunday showings, while four other were required to modify their routines. Nine other acts were approved in their original form. Two features to incure disapproval were Grand National’s “Gold Racket” and Paramount’s “King of Gamblers.” A single elimination, “You old bag ...” in the “Broken-Down Mama” number in the second reel, was required of the Grand National release. Cuts from the second picture were: “Scene showing bombing of barber shop; dialogue, “ — for a swell funeral,” in part 1. Scene showing Temple being pushed into elevator shaft, in part 4. Scene showing hideout, in part 6. Scene showing Steve falling down elevator shaft, in part 8.” Lydon Sees Heartwarming Work Boston — Fraiik C. Lydon, vicepresident of the Independent Exhibitors, Inc., which has been in disagreement with M-G-M sales policies for sometime, watched workmen hacking away at several interior walls of the local M-G-M exchange, which is being remodeled, for several minutes last week and then climbed upstairs to the office of Manager Maurice N. Wolf. Lydon offered to do the job for nothing. Rosenblatt Wins Award Hollywood — Henry Rosenblatt, of Boston, was winner from the New England area of the Metro award presented for turning in a hundred per cent record in sales during the past year. Metro Delegates Los Angeles — Attending the Metro annual sales convention here May 2 were 1.5 delegates from the New England area. They included Benjamin Bebchick, Ray J. Curran, Thomas J. Donaldson, Maurice Goldstein, Bert McKenzie, Charles Repec, Henry Rosenblatt, Maurice N. Wolf, Henry Wolper and Harry O. Worden from Boston; John P. Byrne, Milton Hyams, Charles Lazarus, Prank Mullen and E. M. Woronov from New Haven. The building at the corner of Broadway and Winchester St., in the film district, is being razed. Joe McConville, Columbia executive, was in Boston last week conferring with District Manager Tim O’Toole. Frank Borrelli of Somerville has been putting on a number of motion picture shows through Boston recently, attending to installation, projection, and bookings personally . Frank Lydon, Allied vice-president in New England, notes as a “Better Business Barometer” the fact that nine exhibitors had lunch in one of the town’s better hostelries the other noon, and eight of the nine ordered steak. Prosperity is back. Herman Rif kin is particularly interested in the progress of Ranny Weeks, Boston singer, in Hollywood; both because he is releasing the Republic pictures in which Weeks is playing, and because it was he ivho set up the lanky young man on the Coast. Edward Spellman is managing the road.showing of Columbia’s “Lost Horizon” at the Shubert. Spellman is treasurer regularly at the theatre. Angeline A. Maney, assistant publicity manager at the Metropolitan, now has 280 toy dogs in her collection. Jane Withers added three curs to the canine convention. (Continued on next page) There's a right screen and a wrong screen for every theatre auditorium. Play safe — specify DfruTE CAPITOL THEATRE SUPPLY COMPANY ^ NEW ENGLAND ORGANIZATION FOR NEW ENGLAND EXHIBITORS 28-30 PIEDMONT STREET • BOSTON. MASS. 58 BOXOFFICE :: May 8, 1937.