Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

Less Than 5% Incur Censor's Deletions Boston — Less than five per cent of 261 motion pictures reviewed up to this week by the Massachusetts department of public safety incurred eliminations. But 12 films have been snipped within recent weeks by the Bay State bureau of Sunday censorship. “Orage” incurred the most eliminations as measured by the censors’ reports. Cuts in this Tri National Films, Inc., release were: “Dialogue, ‘How long ago? Six days ago’; ‘ — eight days ago you had a fine car — ,’ in part 4. Dialogue, ‘Palace Hotel . . . Palace Hotel! Hurry;’ ‘Wait for me upstairs — ;’ ‘ — but to whom are you going . . . Valentie or William’?; ‘I might go — ,’ to and including, ‘ — for an hour;’ in part 2. Dialogue, ‘ — were you so sure I’d come back;’ ‘Go and pack your things’.” Imperial’s “This’ll Make You Whistle” and Kinopol’s “Faithful River” ran second and third. Cuts in the former were: “Scenes showing girl in lingerie, in part 3. Scene showing Sir Sebastian minus trousers, in part 4. Scene showing girls in lingerie, in part 7. Scenes showing girl in unconventional movements in Rhumba; dialogue, ‘Stop! Better change your plan — ,’ to and including, ‘ — you’ll never get your man — .’ ” Deletions in “Faithful River” were: “All scenes showing Mija in Prince’s bedroom, in part 7. Dialogue, ‘Keep your name clean — ’, to and including, ‘I’ll never leave you;’ ‘I also am about to become a mother,’ to and including, ‘Does he know about it;’ ‘Yes, Joseph — ,’ to and including, ‘ — but I can not become your wife’.” Monogram’s “Wanted By Scotland Yard” was relieved of the dialogue: “To hell with it all . . . What the hell do you think you’re doing? . . . Drive like hell . . Clipped from Cameo’s “Edge of the World” was the dialogue, “Damn ... Is this true? (to and including) Poor wee lassie . . . Damn . . . Damn.” One “My God” and two “damn’s” were lifted from “North Sea.” The English superimposed title, “Oh! My God . . was ordered out of “I’m Innocent.” A scene showing nude children in the first reel of “The Crisis” also failed to get past Massachusetts scrutiny. " Wages of Sin” Accorded Day and Date Showing Boston — An innovation for exploitation pictures, within modern years at least, was evident in the day-and-date showing of “Wages of Sin” at the Beacon and Globe theatres. Charles Brent, who controls New England distribution rights on the feature, supervised publicity for the showings. House records, approached at the Globe, fell at the Beacon. Readying “Cyclone" Hollywood — Universal’s “Arizona Cyclone” is being scripted by Sherman Lowe for Producer Ben Pivar. (Continued from page 65) where another Segal feature, “Spy for Napoleon,” recently closed. The Capitol Theatre Supply Co. has been equipping the Joe Burchini-Bob Cobe open air theatre in Salisbury. The house was to have opened this week. The American Federation of Actors held their fifth annual dinner and ball Monday evening at the Touraine. Myron Shapiro, Yi-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. David Shapiro of the Wholesome Film Service, is to be confirmed soon. The occasion calls for open house at the film veteran’s residence at 144 Sutherland Road in Brighton. Bert Lazarus, premium man, is back from a flying trip to Washington. He proceeded Hub-ward leisurely, stopping over at the World’s Fair. Julian Rifkin, general manager of the Rifkin circuit, has been attending the world’s Fair . . . Alic Tanzman of Wholesome Film will make it a four-day holiday weekend at the Grover Whalen spectacle . . . Due to go to New York is Mark Jeffrey, formerly head of the New England Film Exchange. Ben Domingo has held over “Alexander Graham Bell” and “Return of the Cisco Kid” at Keith’s Memorial. This house generally brings in a new second feature. Stanley Sumner, prominent member of the MPTOA, has booked “Ballerina” for the University Theatre in Cambridge. Nate Haase, Metro Premium manager in Detroit, planned last week to pay a brief visit to Boston. Rose Chalifoux of the Metropolitan will take in both the San Francisco and New York World’s Fairs during August. Charles Tumblin, late “Jeeter” of “Tobacco Road,” was featured this week on the RKO Boston stage, together with Virginia Lee Lathrop, and the “Pied Pipers” who have been in such films as “Honolulu” and “Alexander’s Ragtime Band.” Phil De Petro, manager of the Jamaica Theatre, is to wed in June. The Fenway marquee was extensively renovated last week. Major Patrick F. Healey, Commander of the Theatrical Post of American Legion, is heading a membership drive which is aimed toward a quota of 200 members. Last year the film district aggregation exceeded its total paid-up membership of the year before. AIR CONDITIONING? Nothing Better — Nothing Cheaper Than Well Water ROBINSON ARTESIAN WELL CO., INC. LYNNFIELD CENTER, MASS. Tel. Lynnfield Center 123 Five Years' Service Nets Shaw a Fete By GERTRUDE PEARSON New Haven — Five years may feel like a long time to Harry Shaw, but it felt like a party to the boys along the Loew-Poli circuit who haven’t minded calling him “boss.” So the 15 managers of the division, their wives, and a few of the division staff members arranged an intimate surprise dinner party at Ceriano’s last week, with the Harry F. Shaws and Mrs. Ida Shaw, mother of Harry, as guests of honor. There were no speeches or formal bouquets. By the sumptuous dinner and the genuine spirit of friendliness which permeated the evening, the boys meant to convey their congratulations on the fifth anniversary of Harry’s appointment to the post of division manager at New Haven, and their wishes for many more mutually satisfactory and successful years. The division has found its manager exacting, persistently hammering his slogan, “Loew-Poli division must lead,” plugging exploitation, demanding new ideas, new stunts, insisting every house look its best, and generally keeping his men on their toes. On the other hand, it has found him genial, friendly and entirely human. It’s a combination which has brought Harry Shaw and the Loew-Poli division great success and a name for progressiveness and fine morale in these past five years since Loew’s came into the territory. Prior to that Harry “made good” as manager of Loew’s State, Syracuse, Loew’s State, Cleveland, and in L. K. Sidney’s production department at the home office, and by 1940 he will have piled up ten years with Loew’s. Before that it was vaudeville which interested him. “I don’t know of any place in my experience in the show business that I’ve enjoyed as much as New England,” says Harry. “Generally, New England has a wealth of scenic beauty, and its people are most agreeable and hospitable. On top of that, I have a great staff of men, both conscientious and ambitious, — as fine a lot of showmen as I’ve seen. Under the circumstances, it’s a, pleasure for me to walk into my office every morning.” By the many testimonials which bedeck Harry Shaw’s walls, by the fifth anniversary party, and many previous ones, the division means to reply, “It’s been a pleasure to> see you too, Mr. Shaw.” ★ ★ ★ ★ HI YO Silver! Republic's “LONE RANGER RIDES AGAIN” Get in the saddle with imTi HERALDS SEND FOR 24-HOUR SAMPLES 9 SERVICE FOUR-STAR PROGRAM CO. 40 Winchester St. — Boston — HUB. 1055 BOXOFFICE :: May 20, 1939 67