Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1948)

ATTEND PREMIERE IN PHOENIX — The wild west premiere of RKO’s “Fort Apache’’ at the Palms, Phoenix, Ariz., finds left to right: Dr. and Mrs. Davis, J. Robert Rubin, vice-president of Loew’s, Inc., and Mrs. Rubin. Theatre Start Soon By James Martina DANSVILLE, N. Y. — Construction of an 800-seat theatre will start here about April 15, James Martina, manager of the Martina circuit, annoimced. The new theatre will operate in addition to the New Star, which Martina has on a long-term lease. The New Star will be remodeled, he said, and equipped with new doors, floors and a ticket booth, among other things. It is owned by the Protectives, one of the local fire companies, and is that organization’s only source of revenue. In addition to the new theatre, Martina will build a new business block to house a market basket, drug store and sporting goods store. The business block is expected to be ready by August 1 and the theatre by September 1. Michael J. DeAngelis, Rochester architect, is preparing plans for the theatre. The house will be air conditioned and equipped to handle television when it becomes available, Martina said. Treasury Drive Opening To Be Telecast From N. Y. NEW YORK — The all-star stage show, preceding the opening of “Are You With It?’’ at the Winter Garden Theatre April 14, will be televised from the stage, according to Philip M. Light, state director for New York of the Treasixry savings bonds division of the Security Loan drive. The entire show, from the arrival of celebrities in the lobby to the conclusion of the stage program of stage, screen, radio and night club entertainers, will be telecast by WARD, New York outlet of the Du Mont television network. James C. Petrillo, president of the American Federation of Musicians, has granted permission for the telecast of the first talent show with a “live” orchestra since the lifting of his ban on the use of “live” music in television. The event will serve as the opening of the drive in New York state on the eve of the national drive, which will run from April 15 to Jime 30. Admission to the Winter Garden will be by purchase of a $25, $100 or $1,000 savings bond only. Film Industry Will Join In Vincent Testimonial NEW YORK — The motion picture industry will join with the Jewish Theatrical Guild in honoring Walter Vincent, president of the Actors Fund of America, with a testimonial dinner at the Hotel Astor May 2. Eddie Cantor and S. H. Fabian will act as cochairman of the event and George Jessel will act as master of ceremonies. Vincent was formerly chairman of the board of Republic Pictures, president of the Wilmer & Vincent theatre circuit and treasurer of the MPTOA. He was actively associated with the Will Rogers Memorial and was a member of the War Activities committee, the Percy Williams Home and other film and charitable endeavors. NEWARK ■ynder the general management of James J. Thompson, the drive-in in Union opened for the season. The theatre will have a change of programs Saturdays and Sundays . . . Adolph Menjou, a recent visitor in Newark, spent almost his entire time autographing copies of his new book “It Took Nine Tailors” at Bamber’s. Phil Brito, native Newark screen player, left for Hollywood to work on his second film. He was tendered a party before he left . . . The first 100 persons arriving at the Paramount March 31 saw “T-Men” free if they detected the counterfeit bill among the others reproduced in a newspaper ad. The proposed tax on theatre admissions has some veteran city officials reminiscing about the time when local houses were permitted to remain open on Sundays, despite an ordinance forbidding it. The law was circumvented by donating a percentage of the receipts to local institutions . . . For the fourth successive Easter week, the Little Theatre presented “Fantasia,” with an additional five Disney cartoons . . . Jack Barrett has been shifted from manager of the Hudson, Kearny, to the Wellmont, Montclair. His assistant is Carl Kester . . . The Wellmont has started renovating. When completed, it is expected that the theatre will be one of the most beautiful in the district. Bernie Edelstein, former relief manager for Warner Bros., is new manager of the Hudson, Kearny ... At the conclusion of Easter week and befoi-e the opening of school Joseph Geller, manager of the Hawthorne, ran an extra Bugs Bunny show, announced two weeks in advance and with tieins with two grammar schools . . . The Congress Theatre ran an all-Italian show. Irving Dollinger, owner of the Liberty, Irvington, and the Plaza, Linden, returned from a trip to the West Indies . . . Maurice Broskie, owner of the State and Windsor, West Orange, returned from Florida . . . THE IDEAL THEATRE CHAIRS JOE HORNSTEIN has them John L. Stanek, former assistant at the Regent, Elizabeth, who has been connected with the advertising department at the Warner offices, has been transferred to the booking department. Most of the Warner office force attended the funeral services for Leonard Schlesinger of New York, president of Warner Bros. Service Corp., who was buried in Philadelphia . . . Bill Clark is back in his former post in the advertising department at Warner Bros. . . . Milton Brenner, manager of the Wellmont, Montclair, resigned, leaving no indication of future plans . . . Arnold Jordan and Arnold Michaelson have become full fledged members of the Motion Pictmes Bookers Ass’n. The Ritz and Regent, Elizabeth, ran a joint kiddy show . . . Pushback seats have been installed at the Park, Roselle Park, and in two other houses owned by the Aldon Theatres Corp . . . The Diaper Service lent a hand in exploiting “Sitting Pretty” at Proctor’s. Five thousand heralds were rolled up in diapers distributed; in private homes. Williasm B. Kasper, former assistant at the Empire and Rivoli theatres, Brooklyn, has been transferred by the Raybond circuit to the Rialto, where he replaces David Saxton . . . Sympathy is extended to Morris Hess, operator at the Rialto, in the death of his mother, and to Morris Cohn, also operator, in the death of his father. Walter Vincent BOXOFFICE : : April 10, 1948 50C