Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

LOU WECHSLER, chairman of the Will Rogers memorial fund campaign, states this year’s collections in theatres add up to the best showing in some time, with better than 75 per cent of the exhibitors cooperating. Exhibitors’ arithmetic in these parts show business 33 1/3 per cent below that of last year this time, with all branches of the industry plenty worried. Nathan Lampert, “borscht” circuit head, has an option on a piece of land in Windsor, right off the main stem, ancTwill proceed to build a new 500-seater, perhaps utilizing the plans originally drawn for Wethersfield. The Lamperts operate a smaller house on the outskirts of the town. Rose Grossman has purchased the Barnum Theatre, Bridgeport building, from A. Amsel, at a recorded price of $35,000. Lou Anger’s lease of the theatre will expire in three years. R. P. Johnstone, Inc., has brought proceedings in the superior court for New Haven county against Whitney Theatre Co., Inc., claiming a foreclosure of a mortgage, originally in the amount of $7,600, on which there is a balance of $5,000, on land at 1220 Whitney Avenue, Hamden. Samuel Bailey, secretary of the Whitney Theatre Co., Inc., appears for the defendant corporation. Jack Sidney, assistant at the Loew-Poli, Bridgeport, was host to aviators, city officials and other invited guests at a special Sunday morning breakfast and preview of “Only Angels Have Wings” at the theatre. Preceding the breakfast at 9:30 a. m., Horace D. Strong, airport manager, and Dr. Joseph L. Levy, president of the Bridgeport Flying Service, received all visitors at the Mun. Airport for a tour, stunts, etc. Transportation to and from the field were provided. Columbia’s exchange manager, Tim O'Toole, and Booker Sidney Sivirsky were among the guests . . . The picture opened last week in Bridgeport, New Haven, Hartford, Stamford , Waterbury and Danbury. Jack Schwartz remains at the West End, Bridgeport, and Levine and Jacobson continue operation of the Park City in a new five-year arrangement . . . Burton Van Doren, of the Hamilton, Waterbury, is recuperating. Having moved the opening date back several times, Connecticut’s first Driveln, on the Milford Turnpike, now looks like a June opening, with considerable work on the grading still to be done . . . Sam Rosen is back from his Miami visit, with tales of the elder Rosen’s greater success in gardening than his own in tarpaulin-fishing. John D. Sirica of Thompsonville has been made a member of the Enfield Society for the Detection of Thieves and Robbers, founded in 1823. Better watch out! . . . Johnny is also chairman of the safety bicycle campaign for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, under the sponsorship of the motor vehicle department and city officials. A state trooper speaks from the theatre stage each week . . . Adolph Johnson is seriously considering a vacation in Florida, together with Mrs. Johnson. One wag says: “ Looks as though Bingo had finally got tangled up with House whiskers, which always look like curtains” Perennial billboard bill came up and went down again. Diminutive Lily Pons was officially made a “Yale woman” by ex-Governor Cross following a day of sight-seeing on the Yale campus and rendition of an aria. Harry Moskowitz of the Loew construction department and Eli Potter, assistant, visited in town . . . Nat Furst swooped down from Boston for another hurried visit . . . Congratulations to the Sam Hadelmans, both of whom are thriving after the recent arrival of Susan Miller Hadelman. Harry Shaw’s fifth anniversary dinner was a tribute to the boss and an intimate get-together for the managers and wives. Harry was the recipient of another parchment scroll, and will have to start hanging them two deep on his wall . . . Lou Cohen, of the Palace, Hartford, sang “That Old Irish Mother of Mine” ... Ed Fitzpatrick of Waterbury was a harbinger of an early summer, with collegiate white shoes ... Jim Memery sang an original parody ... To Charlotte goes the credit for fine arrangements. Local U A office is still among the leaders of the eastern district in the drive which ends next week . . . Lou Wechsler and Lewis Ginsburg are back from the coast, where as UA conventioneers they were treated to the best. The dinner at Pickfair, Mary Pickford's estate, the various studio parties, previews, night club events mid elbow-rubbing with stars, and the trip < to San Francisco are fond memo Providence Business Hits Early Slump Providence — “Call it a general pre-summer letdown,” says one first run theatre manager. “Call it a reaction to closing of Narragansett racetrack,” says another. “Call it what you please, business is still lousy,” says yet another, to which all theatre men hereabouts seem to agree. Even good product and heavy advertising campaigns are failing to bring in the expected grosses these days. And with their own figures before them to cry over, managers don’t feel much better gazing at these sums reported from Narragansett track’s 19-day meet concluded May 13: Attendance, approximately 375,000 persons. Total sum wagered at pari-mutuel windows, $7,046,514. Average daily betting total, $370,869. State’s take in taxes and fees, $246,627.68. ries now, but the VA crew is all hot about its new product. Diapers, safety pins, noisemakers, and tricks made a jolly occasion of the first annual Metro New England district meetings for bookers, office managers and checking supervisors in Boston, and did the boys like Hugo’s! Budd Getschal and Henry Freeman are closing deals in the territory on Movie Cash, a premiumcoupon idea . . . Ben Lourie’s success with two-cent bets on the horses is phenomenal, but he won’t let the bug bite . . . Earl Wright, 20th-Fox salesman, and his daughter were Sunday visitors at the World’s Fair. Capitol and Alhambra Theatres, Waterbury, have been added to a linen deal . . . Empire, New London, splurges towels with 20 cents admission . . . Adolph Johnson has sold the Rivoli, Hartford and Bostwick, Bridgeport his crystal glassware deal. Arthur L. Smith, Mayor of Newtown and operator of Edmond Town Hall, is making further improvements to his home, which already has badminton courts and a stone outdoor fireplace. Not bad for a film picnic! . . . Don Ameche is the latest notable to buy an estate in Weston . . . Walter Hutchinson, foreign distribution head for 20th-Fox, is adding a swimming pool to his Newtown cottage . . . Grace Moore, Newtown resident for the past several years, will leave this month on an European concert tour. Jack Schwartz, operator of the West End, Bridgeport, was raised to the third degree in the Bridgeport Masonic Temple, and a good time was had by all except Jack. Earl Wright of 20 th-Fox, presented a gift of a Masonic pin from Mrs. Schwartz and made a speech. Al Schuman of the Black Rock was also on hand . . . George Comden of the Fine Arts was similarly honored in Westport last week. Harry Shaw just back from a trip around the circuit to check “cool” arrangements, spring spruce-up, and attractive summer lobbies in theatres. POPCORN MEANS PROFITS BURCH POPCORN MACHINES ARE MADE ESPECIALLY FOR THEATRES SAMUEL HORENSTEIN Greaseless, Odorless, Noiseless J. I. CONROY 288 Palmer St., Box 239, 104 Elson Road — P. O. Box 54 NEW BEDFORD, MASS. WALTHAM, MASS. Massachusetts and Rhode Island Write New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Connecticut Representatives. 98 BOXOFFICE :: May 27, 1939