Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1947)

VANCOUVER Equipment business is booming in British Columbia and Alberta. Many spots are installing new projectors, lamps and sound systems: Other theatres are waiting for new seats to arrive from eastern Canada. These are still in short supply . . . Crime and horror subjects have been eliminated from Saturday matinees in most area theatres. Exhibitors are stressing suitable films for the youngsters. This action was the result of an active campaign by the Vancouver council of PTAs. The Park, inaugurating a new series of previews, got off to a good start with a capacity audience viewing “Stairway to Heaven.” Film men predict this new weekly feature will be a success at this ace suburban house. Admission is 60 cents . . . The newsprint shortage has hit the amusement business here, the shortage has become so acute that the Vancouver Sun has eliminated theatre advertising completely on Tuesdays. A limit of 700 lines a day has been placed on advertising for any one theatre. Other B. C. newspapers have also cut space. Elmer Smith, veteran projectionist at the Broadway, died here at 62 . . . Connie Brown, formerly of the Lux Theatre, is now secretary to A1 Mitchell at the uptown Plaza. Bob Millman jr. is another new addition to the Plaza staff. Two New Theatres Opened in Hull, Ont. HULL, ONT. — This city celebrated the opening of two new theatres in one week. Mayor Raymond Brunet and civic officials took part in the ceremonies inaugurating the Figaro at 185 Laval St. and the Montcalm on St. Joseph boulevard. Each Cinema seats approximately 500. Ernest Dufour, owner of the Figaro, had offered to donate to the nearby Catholic church building fund' the gross proceeds of the opening night performance, but the priest declined to accept the gift, as a protest against the construction of a theatre in the neighborhood. The Montcalm, in another suburban section of Hull, is being operated by the Wright ville Amusement Co., of which the prime mover is Louis Bisson, former ferry command pilot and operator of a bus transportation system. Bisson donated the receipts for the opening night to the benevolent fund of the Ottawa-Hull Richelieu club and the money was formally accepted by Dr. Paul Cote in behalf of that club. Hull now has four theatres for a population of 35,000, the original houses being the Cartier, a unit of Famous Players Canadian Corp., and the Laurier which is operated by Donat Paquin. The latter has also the Francais and the Victoria in Ottawa, across the river. George Altman, manager of Hygienic Productions, and Norman Clavir of Artkino have left Vancouver for their Toronto headquarters . . . “Open City” roadshowed at the Lyric to capacity business . . . Owen Bird of Columbia circuit, with headquarters at Golden, B. C., who plays five towns with 16mm, reports that business is tops in the Rocky mountain spots. Sam McLemon, who operates the two theatres at White Horse, Y. T., was in town on his annual booking visit . . . Another visitor is Dan McLellon of the Barbara Theatre, Britannia Beach, B. C. A. C. Blain, president of Cranbrook Theatres, who operate Cranbrook and Kimberly in the Crows Nest Pass district, is holidaying at Radium Hot Springs. His son Norman is manager of the Star Cranbrook and Donald is in charge of the Orpheum Kimberly. Ben Murgatroyd, former Odeon Theatre manager at Trail, B. C., is now in partnership with a former projectionist at the Modern Electric store, Cranbrook. Nina Smith, Monogram secretary, married Alvin Graham and is honeymooning in Alaska . . . Judy Kennedy of the Plaza Theatre married Bill Wallace of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Eva Reid of 20thFox will be married to Arthur Bolster in June . . . J. Arthur Rank, British film magnate, will visit Vancouver in May. He will stop off here on his way to Hollywood to meet his daughter. It is definitely reported he is not coming here with any plan for a British Columbia Hollywood, as was at one time suggested. Bill Forward, B. C. manager of General Theatre Supplies, is laid up with a wrenched back . . . Everyman’s Theatre, a repertory company which boasts as an objective “to retain and exploit Canadian talent,” and whose leading men double as scene-shifters, will present three plays here April 21-24. Talent is drawn principally from the four western Canada provinces and all but two members of a company of 13 have had no previous opportunity of indulging in other than amateur efforts. W. J. Risewick Will Head Shelly Laboratories TORONTO — Leon Shelly of Toronto, formerly of Vancouver, has appointed William J. Risewick as general manager of the laboratory division of Shelly Films, Ltd., Toronto, which has had a studio at Long Branch since the war. Risewick, who resigned as general manager of Film Laboratories of Canada here, will have charge of the printing of films for Canadian distributors. He has been identified with the film industry in the U.S. and Canada since 1917, having been associated with the Lyman H. Howe Co. from 1917 to 1931, after which he was in charge of laboratory work for Burton Holmes in Chicago several years. Risewick is a member of the Canadian Picture Pioneers and has been president of the Canadian Kennel club for seven years. In addition to being rated as an authority on dogs, he is interested in show horses, being a director of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse society. In his capacity as a dog and horse fancier, Bill is a prominent member of committees associated with the Canadian National exhibition, which is being revived this year at Toronto, and the Winter fair. Late Change in Price Voids Million Ducats Toronto — Admission price changes are not always effected smoothly. Recently all arrangements had been completed for a special film engagement (not in Toronto) when a change in the admission scale was decided upon. Then it was discovered that a large quantity of tickets had already been printed in readiness for the opening. The supply, said to be close to a million tickets, had to be destroyed and an entirely new lot printed in a hurry. But, after a big opening week, the picture looks as if it will run until summer. OTTAWA •J*he structures of two new suburban theatres have been completed and finishing coats are about to be applied. One is the west end house which is being built by Zumar Bros, and the other is the Lynden which is being constructed in the eastern section by Casey Swedlove, whose lease of the Little Theatre is expiring. The Little, a former church, is the property of the Ottawa Drama league. The Eastview in Eastview, Ont., owned by Terry Lewis, was closed for two days in observance of Catholic Holy days ... A visitor was Stu Gillespie, once manager of the Elgin here and now with Audio Films, Ltd., Toronto. While here he took moving pictures of Barbara Ann Scott, world figure-skating champion. Tom Bowyers, manager of the Movie club division of Odeon, conferred with F. Gallup, new manager of the Avalon, on Saturday morning programs for juveniles. The Avalon club is once more hitting a good stride . . . Friends in Ottawa are awaiting further word from Suzanne Cloutier, daughter of Edmond Cloutier, government official, regarding a Hollywood report that she has been assigned an important role in a picture to be produced by Darryl F. Zanuck. After staging a special midnight show with a film program devoted exclusively to sport pictures, Manager T. R. Tubman of the Capitol put on a midnight performance April 11 for the many local skiers, the proceeds to be devoted to a fund for the sending of a team to the Olympic games in Switzerland next February. Bing Crosby is reported to be one film star who will attend the Marian Catholic congress here in June. It is expected to bring many thousands of worshippers to the capital city . . . The FPC Cartier in Hull had a busy week with special screen attractions in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the theatre. Theatre Bandits Caught 90 Minutes After Holdup ST. JOHN — Two men who held up the Capitol at Fredericton were apprehended in a stolen car when they were about 15 minutes out of St. John, only 90 minutes after the holdup, which netted them $134. One of the duo flashed a pistol on Mrs. Kay Burtt, cashier, who was figuring her statement for the night, and demanded the money. She passed the receipts through an iron grill, and the holdup man then rushed to the curb, where a car driven by his companion was standing. The getaway car was quickly apprehended by police who were given a flash on the robbery. FPC and Odeon Building Port Arthur Theatres PORT ARTHUR — This city will soon have two new theatres. Both Famous Players and Odeon have been granted permits. FPC’s new house will cost $100,000; Odeon’s $150,000. Thus Port Arthur, now an FPC situation, soon will have Odeon opposition, and Odeon also will oppose FPC in Fort William, where a 1,000-seat de luxe house will be erected. To Build at Bella Coola BELLA COOLA, B. C. — William Risk will erect a new theatre in this northern British Columbia town. 108 BOXOFFICE :: April 19, 1947