Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

B Cl S jyjAftCEL MEKELBUR.G, Grand National branch manager, scheduled a screening of “Exile Express” at the 20th-Fox exchange. Al Somerby, operator of the Howard Atheneum, is back from Louisville where he attended the Colonels’ dinner and the Derby. Although Colonel Somerby did not collect on the main event, he played a bangtail by the name of Shirley ( his dog’s cognomen) in a lesser run and won on the nose. George Jones, manager of Loew’s Orpheum, has been out with ptomaine disorder. Walter Kessler, assisted by Fred Greenway of Loew’s State, has been taking over. George Ryan, anti-trust lawyer, knocked off Roy E. Heffner of Bank Night at golf the other afternoon in Nashua, Nate Furst’s new weekend case was presented him at the recent Monogram convention in recognition of “outstanding salesmanship.” Newell Kurson, Boston representative of the Graphic circuit, and Mrs. Kurson were in New York last week. Les Bendslev of the Community in Wellesley plans a weekend of fly casting at Sebago . . . Roy E. Heffner jr. has been hauling in striped bass off of Marion. Roy E. Heffner sr. took a turn at the sport last weekend . . . Arthur K. Howard of Allied has planned on some deep sea angling. Steve Broidy distributed throughout the Monogram office the first prize award of $500 won here in the recent National Date Drive. I. J. Curran, Bangor salesman for M-G-M, has been ill with the grippe. Helen Morris left M-G-M last week because of matrimonial plans. Ruth Cummings took over the vacancy. Matty Riley, manager of the Palace in Cranston, R. I., has been seriously ill. Thad C. Barrows has suspended meetings of the Moving Picture Operators’ Union, Local 182, until September, following the long -established precedent. Myer Ruttenberg has moved the local Coulter Premium headquarters to newly renovated 43A Church Street. Sam Davidson of Cameo Screen Attractions has sold “Ballerina” to the E. M. Loew circuit. Fred Rush, formerly with RKO Theatres and the Graphic Theatre circuit, is now on the West Coast where he is set to line up with RKO. Harry Germaine will return to Boston and his previous position of Price Premium manager here. Max Fox of Variety, and Mrs. Fox, have that well known something. It’s a male. Francis Cronin, former M&P man now T O N manager of the Community in Dedham, is enrolling juvenile patrons for an outdoor aeroplane modeling contest at the local airport. It’s an outgrowth of a particularly successful competition which Cronin worked in conjunction with “Tailspin.” Maurice N. Wolf, M-G-M district manager, headed a New England meeting here last week Friday. Attending from New Haven were Thomas J. Donaldson, Milton Hyams, Morton L. Katz, Philip Grabitz, Charles Lazarus, Frank Mullen, and George Webber. Ben Rosenberg, resident manager of the Fenway, has promoted a parking space arrangement for that first-run house. Abner Eisenberg, assistant, assisted in negotiations. John Vaughn is now handling the southern part of Maine for the Alexander Film Co. Joe Mathieu, circuit operator, will be host to legionnaires and visiting film men at Winchendon on May 22. Golf, soft ball, and dinner and dancing at the Toy Town Tavern will be on the program. Harry Segal has taken over New England distribution of “School for Husbands.” The English film was booked last week Friday for a Boston premiere at the Trans-Lux (Continued on page 67) Connecticut Bingo Rides Victorious Hartford— Revised to forestall “discrimination” charges, yet keep out the “promoter” element, the Bingo bill suddenly emerged with the judiciary committee’s blessings and passed the senate by voiced vote without debate in record time. The house was expected to concur quickly in this favorable reception. The several bills seeking to legalize Bingo for “charitable” purposes only had previously been rejected by the judiciary committee, but pressure of the many organizations which had found Bingo profitable, forced revision and reconsideration. Under this bill, nothing would prevent theatres from running Bingo where local option could be secured, and in view of the definite doldrums exhibitors are complaining of, and the keen competition of organization games in neighborhoods, many canvassed admitted they would lose no time using this inducement. The bill provides that the governing body of each municipality legalizing the game must not only vote affirmatively to countenance its operation, but must renew its approval annually. Petition signed by five per cent of the electorate in any community starts the action. 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