Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1941)

Will Appeal Judgment Accorded Adornos Middletown, Conn. — An appeal to the state supreme court will be made by the S&S Theatres, Inc., et al„ and the Middletown Theatres, Inc., et al., in their $269,000 damage suit against Mr. and Mrs. Salvatore Adorno, entered by Judge Ernest C. Simpson in the Adornos’ favor. Plaintiffs in the two cases, which were tried together, charged that Adorno had concealed knowledge of a lease he had obtained on a theatre in the Middletown Enterprises combination together with an offer to buy all the theatres involved. Judge Simpson’s judgment was entered in the superior clerk’s office here last fortnight as the decision on the hearing held in November. Community Theatre Group Incorporates in Hartford Hartford — This city of 175,000 persons was one step nearer to having a community playhouse last week. The Community Theatre Building Corp. of Hartford, Inc., incorporated without capital stock, has been formed to build a non-commercial theatre in Hartford for the legit productions, according to papers filed with the Secretary of State here. If the corporation can raise $250,000 by public subscription, this city can take its place among many others which have provided non-commercial theatres. Officers of the corporation are: Cedric G. Thompson, president; Samuel Gold, treasurer; and Roswell Hawley, secretary. Loew's Dollar Club Shows Greenway High in '40 Boston — Frederick R. Green way, who this week left Loew’s State in Boston to assume managership of the Palace in Hartford, led the United States last year in securing extra business for his theatre, Loew’s Dollar Club summary reveals. Special football shows counted largely for Greenway’s jump on the field. Howard Burkhardt, manager of Loew’s Orpheum in Boston, was high in the ratings. Joseph A. DiPesa, veteran advertising manager for Loew’s in Boston, led the country in securing full-page publicity breaks. E. M. Loew Celebrates Boston — E. M. Loew, independent circuit operator who, within recent years has extended his holding beyond New England boundaries to points as far away as New Orleans and Miami, last week celebrated with a party a move into new Metropolitan Theatre Building offices. Boy Scouts Plug Film Manchester, N. H. — When “Land of Liberty’’ was shown at the State Theatre here, Daniel Webster Council, Boy Scouts of America, urged all Boy Scouts and other persons in this vicinity to attend. a a "Scattergood Baines" Bows in Montpelier Boston — The world premiere of '’Scattergood Baines," first of a proposed series built around the Clarence Budington Kelland character, was spotted at Montpelier, Vt„ last week. Guy Kibbee made a special personal appearance at the Capitol, Maine & New Hampshire Theatres Company house, for the unveiling. V Rising Business Index Keeps Trade Cheered Boston — Theatre business in New England still is far below what experts think it should be, but optimism for the near future continues to run high. Employment and payrolls have not reached such high figures in this territory for years. The continued trend was shown by the present report of the Massachusetts planning board that Bay State industries in December hit the greatest industrial activity since the fall of 1929. The Massachusetts planning board recorded the activity at 99.1 per cent, better than 10 per cent higher than December of a year ago. The biggest increase took place in new building, the total of which amounts to $26,912,000, exclusive of public works and public utilities. Industrial employment was up seven per cent compared with the previous December, electric power consumption gained 4.1 per cent, shoe production was up 9.4 per cent, and cotton textiles activity mounted 3.1 per cent. “New orders received by Massachusetts factories during the month were 44 per cent larger,” according to the Associated Industries report. “Business in 1941 will be sustained at present high levels and, in most lines, at considerably higher levels. This will probably be true in 1942,” the New England Council surmised, adding, “with the level of business activity in New England closing the year more than 10 per cent above the estimated numeral, it is apparent that in 1941 industrial production in this region will probably be larger than in any year in the past decade.” Hartford Plants Report New Employment High Hartford — On February 1 employes in 82 Hartford county plants numbered 83,600, another new high, compared with 79,936 the month before, a gain of 3,664, or 4.5 per cent, the Manufacturers Ass’n of Hartford reports. On March 1, 1933, there were but 31,707 workers employed in the same plants, it is stated here. Of the January gain, 2,789 were added at 43 Hartford plants, 586 at 27 New Britain plants, and 289 at 12 Bristol plants. The percentage gains were 5.8 per cent in Hartford to a 50,575 total, 2.8 per cent in New Britain to a 21,308 total, and 2.5 per cent in Bristol to a 11,717 total. In the eight months since June 1, 1940 (the government started awarding defense Sizeable Audiences Attracted in Boston Boston — Sizeable audiences livened Boston first-run theatres last week with “Kitty Foyle” and “The Saint in Palm Springs,” both in their record sixth week, still the main loop sensation. “This Thing Called Love,” aided by complimentary reviews and strong word-of-mouth, climbed satisfactorily at the Orpheum and State and was a holdover. “Western Union” was big at the Metropolitan. Detail for the week ending February 14; (Average is 100) Fenway — You’re the One (Para't); The Lone Wolf Keeps a Date (Col) 100 Keith’s Memorial — Kitty Foyle (RKO); The Saint in Palm Springs (RKO), 6th wk 70 Loew’s Orpheum — This Thing Called Love (Col); Nobody’s Children (Col) 155 Loew’s State — This Thing Called Love (Col) ; Nobody’s Children (Col) 150 Metropolitan — Western TJnion (20th-Fox); Case of the Black Parrot (FN) 140 Paramount — You’re the One (Para’t); The Lone Wolf Keeps a Date (Col) 105 "Kitty Foyle" a Record Breaker in Providence Providence — “Kitty Foyle,” in a sixth week at the Albee, turned in a 100-percenter gross and matched the long-run record of “Snow White.” “GWTW,” meanwhile, went into its 9th week in Providence and third week of its return booking, at the Carlton, with business continuing to surprise. Majestic’s heavy ad campaign on “Western Union” paid dividends with business up sufficiently to warrant holding film a second week. (Average is 100) Albee — Kitty Foyle (RKO); Saint in Palm Springs (RKO), 6th wk 100 Carlton — (lone With the Wind (M-G-M) 100 Fays — Golden Hoofs (20th-Fox), plus stage show 85 Majestic — Western Union (20th-Fox); Meet the Chump (Univ) 140 State — Son of Monte Cristo (UA); Phantom Submarine (Col) 125 Strand — Life With Henry (Para't); Doomed Caravan (Para't) 100 "Philadelphia Story" to Front in New Haven New Haven — “Ice Follies of 1941” at the Arena is estimated to have taken $60,000 in a week’s receipts, and undoubtedly cut into film openings and weekend business. Detail for week ended February 14: (Average is 100) College — Philadelphia Story (M-G-M); Saint in Palm Springs (RKO), 2nd wk 185 Loew-Poli — This Thing Called Love (Col); Nobody’s Children (Col) 80 Paramount — You’re the One (Para’t); San Francisco Docks (Univ) 125 Roger Sherman — Back Street (Univ); The Invisible Woman (Univ) 135 contracts to industry on June 13), employment in Hartford county has increased 18,312 or 28.1 per cent, the association reports. Since a year ago, employment has increased 20,542 or 32.6 per cent. As of February 1 employment in the county stood at 158.7 per cent of the accepted normal at the beginning of 1929, as compared with 151.8 per cent the month before and 119.7 per cent the year before. Man-hours stood at 141.2 per cent of this normal as against 133.5 per cent January 1 and 96.8 per cent February 1, 1940. 64 BOXOFFICE :: February 22, 1941