Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1941)

■ Developing Into a One-Day Business Boston — Stating that big weekends are all that are keeping some New England theatres out of the red, a prominent New England exhibitor said here this week that in some eastern localities, the theatre game has definitely developed into a one-day (Sunday) business. V J Theatre Management Class Hears Wassermann Boston — Harry I. Wassermann, M&P district manager, spoke on the duties of a district manager and the responsibilities of a suburban theatre manager as guest lecturer of the State University Extension course in Theatre Management being held weekly under the leadership of Arthur L. Tuohy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Wassermann, one of this section’s pioneer showmen, covered in general the main duties of his own office and then proceeded with a detailed explanation of the major duties involved in managing a neighborhood house. Setting forth those departments to which the successful suburban manager must give particular attention, Wassermann stressed: budget control, weekly staff meetings, physical house inspection, good will, special care of children, handling of complaints, exploitation, and divers community activities. Springfield Operators Fete Benjamin G. Hull Springfield, Mass. — Benjamin G. Hull of Westfield, newly elected business agent of the Motion Picture Operators Union, Local 186, was guest of honor at a party held last fortnight in the home of Owen Holmes, Garden projectionist. Guests included: Louis Williamson (Bijou), union president; Granville G. Best, Local 186’s vice-president; Arthur Payette (Arcade), secretary-treasurer; Yvan Ellia (Paramount) , and Edwin B. Webber (Broadway), members of the union’s executive board. Business Agent Hull was presented a wrist watch. A buffet luncheon was served. Plumbers Would Produce Educational Picture Manchester, N. H. — At the 11th annual convention of the New Hampshire Association of Master Plumbers here, it was voted to appropriate $50 from the association’s treasury and raise additional funds through a special committee, toward the production of a $25,000 motion picture which is planned for nation-wide screening in the interest of the plumbing industry. The board of directors was authorized to select a committee to raise New Hampshire’s share of the production costs. JI^RTHUR K. Howard, Independent Exhibitors business manager, sent the new Allied Information Department bulletin, comprising a summary of 1940-1941 contracts, to New England members this week. Harry Asher, Producers Releasing Corp. franchise owner, was in New York on business . . . Al Gould of the Majestic in Springfield was in town, conferring with Kenneth Douglass of the Capitol Theatre Supply . . . Guy Kibbee visited the RKO and Columbia exchanges . . . H. J . McKinney, local manager for National Screen Service, was in New York at a managers convention. Lou Newman, new manager at the Trans Lux in Boston, has been supervising the installation of a new marquee. Newman, together with Publicist Spencer Rudnick, gave the Trans Lux a brand new front for “Virgin Bride” and “School for Husbands.” It was a repeat booking for the latter feature. Joe Flynn of the Victoria in Lawrence was in .. . Helen Saul, formerly of Specialty Pictures, has been in Florida . . . Herbert Zidell of Imperial has left for some six weeks in Florida . . . Albert Lewin, the producer, was in town. Lloyd Bridgham, operator of the Broadway in Dover, has completed further renovations at the New Hampshire house . . . James Field, manager of the Paramount in Salem for Phil Bloomberg, is still featuring organ recitals by Arthur Martel, for years at the Metropolitan in Boston. William S. Koster, theatre seat renovation expert with offices in the Copley Square Theatre building here, recently completed rejuvenation for Louis Stern at the Modern in Marlborough . . . Harry Rose, manager of the Globe in Bridgeport, is convalescing following hospitalization. Two press parties here last week: One for Guy Kibbee at the Ritz-Carlton, the second for Stirling Hayden at T Wharf . . . Susanna Foster, starlet in the “HardBoiled Canary,” is due for a personal appearance tour here. George Rabb, now managing the Phillips in Springfield, is giving the house that feminine touch with the introduction of usherettes . . . Court Square, E. M. Loew house in Springfield, pulled in SRO crowds with a personal appearance there of Johnny Downs. John Dervin, local UA branch manager, and his sales staff are driving hard to win two-week bonuses in the present Kelly Drive . . . Jack Granara, RKO publicist, even tied in “Hudson’s Bay” with Hudson’s Bay 3x/2-Point and 4-point Blankets. These, as Granara found out, have a particularly colorful background, “the points signifying the number of beaver skins that formerly had to be put up by Indians, trappers, etc., wishing to buy the blankets from the Hudson’s Bay Company.” Dorothy Gish and Louis Calhern, film stars, set up the current record for legit runs here with twenty weeks of “Life With Father” at the Repertory. No other play this season ran longer than three weeks. Irving Dunn, formerly manager of the Tower in Lowell and later film salesman for Specialty Pictures here, is now managing the Lyric in Fitchburg . . . Phil Lowe of the Theatre Candy Company and former Carole Myers of New Rochelle, N. Y., have married. Edmund Howard, formerly assistant manager at Loew’s State in Boston, is planning a Florida stay . . . Major Patrick F. Healey, state film head, is heading south to Havana. Florence Turner of the same department also sojourning . James Sherran is taking over. Ernest Warren, Universal salesman, was hospitalized in Portland, Me., with sinus trouble ... A new motion picture house is understood to be slated for Southbridge ... A new theatre is also reportedly in the works for Bristol, Conn. . . . Frederick E. Lieberman, the circuit operator, is advertising that his new motion picture house at Uphams Corner in suburban Boston is “opening soon.” William H. McLaughlin, recent operator of the Stoneliam in Stoneham, acted as his own attorney in a court case in Woburn last week which involved a minor automobile accident . . . Work continues on two new film district buildings, one at the corner of Broadway and Winchester Streets to house National Screen Service and the other on Arlington Street to house RKO . . . National Screen announces it will now service Connecticut with accessories out of New Haven rather than out of New York. "gUCK PRIVATES,” paired with “Invisible Woman,” at RKO-Albee drew such business Saturday that Manager George French had to run an extra late show of the feature to accommodate lobby standees unable to get inside for the last regular show. Jack Simons, new manager at Loew’s State, succeeding Edward H. McBride, shifted to Boston, busy making contracts and friends around town and finding he likes Providence. Coincidence that the last program to be worked on by three of Albee’s front-of-thehouse staff due to go into the army next Monday, is “Buck Privates,” subjecting the lads to some good-natured kidding. Paramount, Newport, ran a midnight show February 21, with the entire proceeds to go to British War Relief. M&P circuit planning enlarging the Strand, Newport. Increased seating capacity reported necessitated by large numbers of men now stationed in Newport’s military establishments. Manager Al Clarke of the Majestic going in for billboard displays in advance plugging of “Strawberry Blonde.” BOXOFFICE ; : February 22, 1941 63