Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1947)

HARTFORD STAGEHANDS CELEBRATE — More than 100 persons attended a dinner in Hartford which marked the 45th anniversary of the establishment of stagehands Local 84 of IATSE. Shown here at the head table are, left to right, Richard Walsh, international president; Hy Fine, district manager for M&P Theatres, who served as toastmaster; Tom Shea, assistant to Walsh, and Ed Comminsky of the Hartford city council. WORCESTER J^lbert J. Dulmaine of the Elm Street and Mrs. Dulmaine announce the engagement of their daughter, Shirley T. Dulmaine, to James C. Gillespie jr., of this city, a naval air corps veteran . . . Nate Goldberg, manager of the Plymouth, had the parents of Rita Johnson in to see her latest, “The Michigan Kid.” Guy Palmerton has changed the date of the opening of the Playhouse to May 26 . . . The Whalom in Fitchburg may have Miriam Hopkins and Frank McHugh in this summer to make guest appearances . . . Tommy Tucker, the maestro, was in Marlboro. Edward McEvoy, Universal’s short subjects chief, who is inaugurating a series of tworeel westerns, is a former Leominster man and his family still operates the Plymouth and Rialto there . . . Mary Roche of this city has left the ingenue lead of “Sweethearts” in New York because of a strep throat. Leo Lajoie, manager of the Capitol, purchased a new bicycle for his son, who then was made unhappy by ten consecutive days of rain . . . White City park has started its regular season, playing a new circus act each week . . . Albert Hill has resumed at the Plymouth after a leave of absence due to illness. A man approached another in a restaurant recently, according to Worcester Yank, as the latter was struggling into a topcoat that had been hanging on a hook. “Are you Bob Portle?” the first inquired. “No, I’m not,” answered the other. “Well, I am and that’s my coat you’re putting on,” said Portle, manager of the Elm Street, as he took over the coat. Fred Waring’s vaudeville date at the Auditorium was no success and left everybody, including the audience, in an upset frame of mind. Playing at a $4.80 top, the band drew a skimpy crowd of 2,200 in the 3,500seater. Waring spoke sarcastically to the audience on the poor attendance and rubbed it in until the audience obviously became nettled. Name bands usually are sure-fire in Worcester but theatremen figure Waring’s $4.80 top scared ’em away. Phil Bissell has resigned as chief of service at Loew’s Poli and Angelo Pappas has been promoted to succeed him . . . Henry Sullivan of this city has completed the score for “Auld Lang Syne,” which John Murray Anderson will direct either in New York or London in the fall. Nate Goldberg of the Plymouth was interviewed by the Telegram on his recollections of Bert Fitzgibbon, the zany stage comedian . . . With the Park in Spencer having been taken over by the Champ Amusement Corp. of Worcester, the theatre’s name has been changed to the Champ . . . Harold Maloney, manager of Loew’s Poli, is a sun-lamp devotee. Mrs. Carolyn K. Staff has been re-elected president of the Better Films Council. Others named are: Mrs. Harris A. Smith, vicepresident; Mrs. Stephen P. Foster, corresponding secretary; Mrs. Eric W. Nygren, recording secretary, and Mrs. Leslie B. Philips, treasurer. The revised bylaws were accepted. Norwich Dailies Cooperate With Contest on 'Sinbad' NORWICH, CONN. — Joe Boyle, manager of the Broadway, recently worked out a contest with the Norwich dailies on “Sinbad the Sailor.” Names of a number of local residents were scattered on a classified ad page in the Norwich papers, with this note in a box near the top of the page: “Would you like to attend Loew’s Poli Broadway Theatre as the guest of the Bulletin Record? “Scattered on this page are five names and addresses taken at random from local directories. Read the page thoroughly Sunday and Monday and if you find your name and address listed, simply call at the Bulletin office, identify yourself, and receive two free tickets, good for any day this week, up to and including Wednesday.” Following were picture plugs. Topline in 'Virtuous' Van Johnson and June Allyson will topline in Metro’s “Virtuous.” 'Duel' Bow in Boston Grabs Top Position BOSTON — “Duel in the Sun” was the big news here last week as it got off to a recordbreaking first week at Loew’s State and Orpheum. Second in line is “This Happy Breed,” in its second week at the Exeter Street. With the closing of “The Best Years of Our Lives," the Esquire went dark for a few weeks for renovations. “The Farmer’s Daughter” earned a fourth week at the Memorial. (Average is 100) Boston — Smash-Up (U-l), plus stage show 160 Esquire — The Best Years of Our Lives (RKO), 20th wk 95 Exeter Street — This Happy Breed (U-I), 2nd wk 165 Majestic — The Corsican Brothers (UA); International Lady (UA), reissues 110 Memorial — The Farmer's Daughter (RKO); Banjo (RKO), 3rd wk 120 Metropolitan — The Homestretch (20th-Fox); San Demetrio, London (20th-Fox) 130 Old South — Carmen (Superfilm), 2nd wk 95 Paramount and Fenway — The Sea Wolf (WB); The Sea Hawk (WB), reissues 100 State and Orpheum — Duel in the Sun (SRO) 220 New Haven Has Poor Week; 'Duel' Below Expectations NEW HAVEN — Business was average or below in downtown and neighborhood houses last week. “Duel in the Sun,” at 90 cents and $1.25 admissions, held up on the weekend at Loew’s Poli but was under expectations otherwise. At doubled prices it rated 210 on the boxoffice barometer. The feature moved to the College for a second week where it opened big. The rodeo at the Arena, laying to from 4,000 to 5,000 customers nightly, cut deeply into theatre grosses. Detail for the week ended May 14: Bijou — The Fabulous Dorseys (UA); God's Country (SG) 90 College — Sinbad the Sailor (RKO); Dick Tracy vs. Cueball (RKO), 2nd d. t. wk 80 Loew's Poli — Duel in the Sun (SRO) 210 Paramount — Buck Privates Come Home (U-I); Shoot to Kill (SG) 90 Roger Sherman — The Locket (RKO); Code of the West (RKO) 90 'DITS' Held Over for 2nd Week At Hartford Palace Theatre HARTFORD — Holding over at the downtowns were “Duel in the Sun,” “The Guilt of Janet Ames” and “Sinbad the Sailor.” First temperatures in the 80s really hit the trade. Allyn — Blaze of Noon (Para); Fear in the Night (Para) 140 E M. Loew's — The Guilt of Janet Ames (Col); Blind Spot (Col), 2nd wk 160 Poli — Carnival in Costa Rica (20lh-Fox); The Brasher Doubloon (20th-Fox) 125 Palace — Duel in the Sun (SRO), 2nd wk 175 Regal — Sinbad the Sailor (RKO), 2nd wk 110 Strand — The Egg and I (U-I) 150 Music Box Is Rendezvous For Old Industry Friends NEW BRITAIN — One of those unscheduled "industry conferences” took place in front of the Music Box Theatre here one night last week. Bernie Levy and Lou Ginsburg of Amalgamated Theatres were talking with Les Markoski. Music Box manager, when Joe Spivak of the Connecticut Theatre Candy Co. happened to come on the scene. A little later, Nick Kounaris, partner in the Newington Theatre, happened to walk by. It seems that the Music Box is a gathering spot for old pals. The -next day, Allen M. Widem, Hartford area correspondent for BOXOFFICE, was talking with Markoski in the Music Box lobby when Joe Rader, a theatre sign artist a number of years back when Les was assistant manager at the Proven Pictures Theatre, Hartford, came by to say hello. Joe is a cigar salesman now. 98 BOXOFFICE :: May 24, 1947