Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

^HE opening of “The Good Earth” at the College was literally high hat, with the governor, the mayor and a good part of the remainder of the audience in full dress. Mrs. Walsh, mother-in-law of Pearl Buck, was among the first-nighters, many of whom took part in the lobby broadcast over WELI. Ben Cohen’s ad in the classified section inquiring for a pair of buffaloes brought forth such a deluge of the animals that for a while Ben was buffaloed. Phil Sherman, in charge of the Imperial office here for the past few months, is now reported to he Connecticut representative for Monogram. There has been no talk of establishing an office. Morris Weber remains at the Imperial office here. With new seats, floor, carpet, booth and interior decorations, the 700-seat Lawrence emerges entirely atti’active and modern, outstanding in neighborhoods, along with several others remodeled these past months in New Haven. Malcarni’s Essex Square has a new veiitilating system. Nathan Lamport opened the new 350seat Glastonbury Theatre on Saturday. Having exhausted his supply of sons and sons-in-law over the suburban circuit, Lamport reports he will manage the house himself. Rumors that Fred Quutrano of the Lido, Waterbury, is dickering for a theatre out of the state . . . John Patterson, former manager of Poli chain under Fox, is now at the Mt. Eden Theatre in the Bronx . . . Abe Mattes, working on the advertising for local issues of the Loew Moviegoer in Boston and Providence by July. An interesting bit of community theatre cooperation was evidenced recently when in an open letter to citizens of Westport, appearing in the Westporter, a committee of prominent artists and writers urged a guarantee of support for “Carnival in Flanders” which it desired shown at George Comden’s Fine Arts Theatre, and for pictures shown there in general. En route to the Plaza, Worcester, opening, Harry Shaw and Erie Wright sidetracked a bit over the weekend at Narragansett. Town Topics, successful local talent I’evue at the College, will be brought back for a week in June . . . The balcony of the Globe, Bridgeport, closed for some time, has been opened to the public. “Ecstasy,” much-discussed “sex” film, has its first hooking in this area at the Lincoln Theatre, starting May 11. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Gibbs were among the weekenders in New York. “Hit Parade” opened to excellent business, klieg lights, orchestra in lobby, daffodils to the ladies, and the mayor, at the Majestic, Bridgeport. Jack Brassil, of the Poli staff, missed the weekly Elks Bingo night for the first time when his mother passed away last week — and his name was called for the $100 door prize. Flood P. A/s at Flood Stories Wheeling, W. Va. — Last January George Teufel, theatre manager here, booked “Captain Calamity” (GN), and two days later the flood waters of the Ohio stood five feet deep in his theatre. This week he booked GB’s “River of Unrest” and the flood was his only customer — several feet deep. BOSTON (Continued from page 59) turned from a bit of a voyage on the Spanish Main. Myron Glickman has darkened the Crown in West Springfield . . . Morris Sharaf, Coolidge Corner and Brookline theatre operator, is said to have sold his interest in Pemberton Inn, Hantasket spot . . . S. A. Kimball has closed Pike Memorial Hall in Cornish, Marne. John Concannon has been appointed manager of the Bayside in Hull by M. and P. Theatres Corp. He was formerly assistant at the Egyptian in suburban Boston. Ben Domingo, manager of the RKO Boston, states that the first-run theatre which has gone off vaudeville will probably not resume the film and flesh policy until fall. The house is to be renovated. J. J. Donahue has been shifted from the post of manager at the Criterion in Roxbury to a similar position at the Central Square in Cambridge. Mrs. A. Couture of the Strand in Fitchburg was in the district last week. She is planning to remodel and reseat the balcony of the theatre. Herman Ashan is now booking in the M-G-M Boston exchange, working under Booking Manager Charles Repec. He was recently with the Washington office. Mrs. G. L. Emmons, who operates the 400-seat Bijou in Morrisville, Vermont, was in the district last week. Her son, Edward Emmons who operates the 375-seat Lyric in nearby Waterbury, accompanied her. Roadshow plans are being laid for “The Good Earth” in Nashua and Manchester, N. H. Three horses galloping down Church Street at one time last Saturday recalled to some the days when a livery stable was located on the site where United Artists now stands. A bar room was situated across the street at that time. Monogram men here are planning to attend the company convention in Chicago on May 5. Ben Welansky, Steve Broidy, Leo C. Britton and Phil Sherman are among those planning. Nora Kelly, secretary to Manager Edward X. Callahan of 20th-Fox, has returned from a fortnight at Virginia Beach, near Norfolk, Va. PKOVIIDIIEMCIE THOUGH daylight saving time and the coming of ideal spring weather that jams every highway with automobiles isn’t enough to worry about, Narragansett Race Track opened May 1 to give Rhode Island theatremen further headaches. Opening day’s crowd estimated between 35,000 and 40,000 and mutuel betting windows totaled $706,830 during the day. And maybe you don’t call that opposition. But there’s a ray of sunshine for all that. Providence’s “Big Five” first-run theatres on the same day. May 1, upped their admission scales five cents per ticket, to a top price in most cases of 50 cents for evenings. This puts admissions hack closer to where they belong and in the first 24 hours the new scale was in effect no strong protests had been registered by a single patron at the boxoffices. Shea’s Paramount, Newport, has added five acts of vaudeville to its Sunday night programs, starting May 2. This makes two Newport houses using vaudeville Sundays, E. M. Loew’s Colonial having adopted the policy several months ago. The Pippett Players, summer stock troupe holding forth at the Barn Theatre in Cumberland Hill, not only are the first summer stock to get in operation in the nation hut achieved further distinction this week by switching their opening nights from Mondays to Tuesday; giving Sunday performance instead of Monday. Sunday movies are not new in Rhode Island, but Sunday “legitimate” attractions have never been done before. Community Theatre, Wakefield, received so much favorable comment on the Saturday morning kids’ show given during its anniversary week that a similar matinee was given May 1, with free candy for every youngster attending. Thornton’s Theatre, West Warwick, has just completed installation of new seats which are expected to add to the Pawtucket Valley theatre’s popularity. Theatre has also just inaugurated a Wednesday night silver-service giveaway. Don Desmond, chief of staff at Loew’s State, back in town again after a nine-day relief shift as assistant manager at the State in Boston. Joe Boyle, regular assistant manager at that house, went over to the Orpheum, Boston, during Desmond’s trick on his job. SUMMER POLICY SETS HARVEY IN DANBURY Torrincton, Conn. — ^With the shifting of the Alhambra, reopened early this year, to a weekend policy, for the summer months, George Harvey, manager, goes back to the Empress, Danbury, and John Scanlan, who manages the Warner, Torrington, will also take charge of the Alhambra. Eugene Brassil, formerly transferred to Danbury, is back at the Roger Sherman, New Haven, as assistant, for the time being. 62 BOXOFFICE :: May 8, 1937.