Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1941)

MIEW IHI1AVIEM Divisional Managers Meet in Springfield Springfield, Mass. — The Western Massachusetts Theatres circuit held a divisional managers’ meeting last Monday in the Broadway Theatre building headquarters of the circuit. Attending were: Louis Levine, Rivoli, Chicopee; C. Fredericks, Garden, Greenfield; George Labbe, Victory, and Milton Weinstein of the Strand, Holyoke; Thomas W. Chatburn, Richmond, North Adams; Francis Faille, Paramount, Northampton; David D. Perkins, Plaza, Northampton; Eddie Dowling of the Capitol, and Francis Beaupre, Strand, Pittsfield; Louis Marcks, Strand, Westfield; Norman Prager, Palace, Westfield, and Clifford Boyd, Paramount, Brattleboro, Vt. Springfield house managers present were George W. Coleman, Arcade; Edward Smith, Paramount, and Charlie R. Smith, Broadway. Nathen E. and Samuel Goldstein presided. A Christmas party, complete with holiday bonuses for all employes, was the order of the day. Western Mass. Managers Receive Drive Awards Springfield, Mass. — Managers of 16 theatres of Western Massachusetts Theatres, Inc., were recent guests of Nathan E. Goldstein, president, at a luncheon given at the Hotel Sheraton here. Goldstein awarded prizes in the 10-week Fifth Anniversary Drive. First prize went to Edward Smith of the Paramount, Springfield; second to Charles Smith, Broadway, Springfield; third to George Laby, Victory, Holyoke; fourth to David F. Perkins, Plaza, Northampton, and fifth to Louis Marcks, Strand, Westfield. New Haven Neighborhood Houses Hold Late Shows New Haven — Although several neighborhoods had announced they would omit the late show this year, policy was changed at the 11th hour and 1941 was ushered in with three downtown and seven neighborhood shows. The Paramount was the only house downtown to run vaudeville, and seats were $1.10 all through the house. The Loew-Poli and Roger Sherman charged 50-75 cents, the latter changing prices at 6 p. m. instead of midnight, and featuring the opening of “Santa Fe Trail” right through the day. The Poli brought “Flight Command” for a single midnight performance, to be returned for a regular engagement the following week. Nabes stuck to pictures for the most part, although the Whally and Whitney featured several acts. The Dixwell booked “Reefer Madness” and “How to Take a Bath.” Other nabes open late were the Strand, Pequot, Rivoli and Forest. Premiere "First Romance" Hartford — The world premiere of Monogram’s “Her First Romance,” starring Edith Fellows, was held at the local Harris Brothers’ State last weekend. WITH several exchange Xmas parties staged at fashionable night clubs this year, Meadow Street lacked its usual preChristmas holiday aspect, and office parties were exclusive, early afternoon affairs, at United Artists, 20th-Fox, Metro, and Loew-Poli. Politeers gave the boss a gift of cash, and he distributed handsome gifts . . . National Theatre Supply had liquid refreshments and a cheery greeting for all who entered . . . Formal parties were a complete success at the Waverly Inn for Warner’s; Oakdale Tavern, Metro and Paramount; Seven Gables Inn for Columbians, and Hotel Taft, Loew-Poli staff . . . Lou Brown’s “radio” script, acted at the Poli party by Elliott Kronish, Mickey Mattes, Mrs. Lou Brown, and John McQuigan, was a hilarious hit with the 130 employes of the division and theatres present . . . Harry Shaw subbed at the drums, and Harry Rose at the bass fiddle . . . Lou Cohen was m. c. par excellence . . . Mrs. Morris Mendelsohn copped all the prizes ... At Metro party, new Manager Morey Goldstein made a speech that dubbed him a “regular fellow.” George Weber took beautiful closeups of honor guests. Wolf-Donaldson-Goldstein, and others proving conclusively that Frank Mullen forgot himself to the extent of doing the Conga. Reservations have already come in from Tom Connors of New York home office of Metro; Joseph L. Stem of New York, Maurice N. Wolf of Boston, and other executives for the farewell testimonial dinner to Thomas G. Donaldson, at the Hotel Taft, January 14. A record crowd is expected to attend to wish Donaldson well on the eve of his departure for his new Boston managership . . , Harry F. Shaw and Barney Pitkin, co-chairmen, promise the event will he outstanding . . . Charlie Lazarus, Metro booker, is treasurer . . . Maurice N. Wolf will emcee. The Lincoln closed for the duration of the Yale holiday, and manager Jean DuBarry and wife went off to New York to hit the high spots . . . Mr. and Mrs. W. J. E. Brown came in from Washington to visit with the Lou Browns for the holidays . . . Bill Reisinger, Bijou manager, recovered from the grippe just in time to surprise the folks in Dayton, Ohio, with a visit on Xmas Day. George Weber, Metro checking super, back in New Haven after working for three weeks in the New York territory . . . Jeanette Berliner, Republic booker, is sporting a handsome new two-tone gold watch, a Xmas gift from a New York boy friend . . . Mrs. Sam Rosen is recuperating at home after an operation at New Haven Hospital . . . Jim Memery, Loew-Poli artist, took Mrs. and Jimmy to Pepperill, Mass., for the holidays . . . Dave Kaufman, Loew-Poli division artist, was official photographer at his brother’s wedding in New York, Xmas Day. Harry F. Shaw, Poli “boss,” spent Xmas with his mother, Mrs. Ida Shaw, in Bridgeport . . . Mary Barone, Columbia inspectress, ill at home last week as a result of an auto accident . . . Tim O’Toole, Co lumbia manager, spent a week in Harrisburg, Pa. . . . William Benson, Universal salesman, dashed into Long Island to spend Xmas with his family, and back again Thursday morning . . . Mrs. Fred Quatrano of the Lido, Waterbury, was dismissed from the hospital in time to spend the holidays with her family . . . Andrew Sharick, wound up an exchange tour in New Haven, and hurried on to N. Y. for the Yule season . . . Come the New Year, I. J. Hoffman is probably looking forward to his annual winter vacation in Florida . . . Manager Barney Pitkin of RKO and Manager Lou Wechsler of United Artists are also contemplating early experiences of “Moon Over Miami.” Mortie Kressner of the Plaza, Stamford, reports 500 were turned away at the opening of “Thief of Bagdad” . . . Cash Quiz moves next into the Strand, Gloucester, and Strand, Skowhegan . . . When the present Bijou amateur contest series is finished, winner each week will be pitted against each other in groups of eight, four eliminated each week, until the grand finals are reached, with about 16 competing. No lack of talent or waning of interest evident. Vernon Burns conducted the Xmas Eve vaude in the absence of Manager Bill Reisinger, then on sick leave . . . Bunny LeWitt of Plainville is a double for your Columbia shipper, Sid Lax . . . The Loew-Poli ushers’ Xmas turkey raffle was won by Harold Rudnick, Claire Canavan, and Mary Innocenzi, and the boys are already counting the proceeds toward another dance . . . Sal Demano, former assistant at the Bijou, is married to Fay Morgan and living in Glens Falls. The Russell-Rubin corner piece for “ Flight Command” at the Poli throws fluorescent lighting to good advantage on a big suspended airplane cutout, surrounded by small revolving planes . . . New Year’s Eve sound truck was used by the Poli . . . Also Russell revived the popular football heralds for the New Year’s week games . . . Monk Maloney offered prizes to students at the Worcester Art Museum School for best reproductions of American painters’ sets for “The Long Voyage Home” . . . Huge “Thief of Bagdad” float brought to Bridgeport for opening of the picture, made the press with art and copy. The boys at the Bijou gave Harry Shaw a surprise when they blacked out the stage in the middle of the Amateur Show, put on the green spotlight, and produced an ape to run Boss Harry off the stage. It was all in preparation for the engagement of “The Ape.” Mike Thomasino and the boys are reminiscing rather more than usual and with unusual tenderness about the days when there was action and excitement on Meadow Street . . . Such as white-washing cars, horseplay, and a good fist fight. January 1 marked Charles Lazarus’ fifth anniversary with M-G-M. Come January 13, Edith Williams, also of the local staff, will have been with the company 11 years. BOXOFFICE :; January 4, 1941 103