Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1938)

■pHE Nolans have gone in for theatre renaming in a big way. Ambrose Nolan, son of the former Ottawa mayor, decided that “Capitol” was not distinctive for his theatre in Aylmer, 12 miles out from the Canadian Capital, where there is also a Capitol, and so it is now known as the “Pic.” Likewise, the father, Paddy J. Nolan, took down “Columbia” from his Wellington St. house and put up the original name “Nola,” which you don’t find anywhere else. Manager Joe Paul of the Elgin Theatre has established an “extra charge” for the smoking privilege to patrons who like to indulge in a puff during a performance. This is the anly theatre in Ottawa where a section is reserved for smokers and the new price schedule indicates 5 cents extra at matinees and 10 cents extra at night for smoking. William McLaughlin, veteran screen reviewer of The Journal, is boasting to all and sundry over the arrival of a second infant in the household “at my age.” Harvey Hunt, former assistant manager of the Ottawa Capitol and now booker in the Famous Players organization, has become a proud father, the arrival being his first offspring. Donat Paquin, proprietor of the Laurier Theatre, is inaugurating a series of weekly “request nights” for return engagements of the once popular feature attractions as a feeler for reissues. Members of the Canadian parliament had a moving picture show of their own in the house of commons when they viewed “Youth Marches On,” a factual film dealing with the Oxford group movement in Canada and England. The audience included Rt. Hon. W. L. M. King, Prime Minister; Rt. Hon. H. B. Bennett, leader of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition; Speaker Casgrain and other prominent members of both Senate and Commons. The Ottawa Trades and Labor Ass’n, of which the IATSE is a constituted member, is up in arms over the discovery that Civil Servants of the Dominion government are being employed on occasions by local theatre managers while members of the union are out of work. Hector Ladouceur, delegate from IATSE, moved that a deputation wait upon the Federal Minister of Mines and Resources in the matter, but it was subsequently agreed that the situation should be discussed first by the Ottawa Branch of the stage employes and operators. Not content with sponsoring the Ottawa Braves of the Canadian-American pro baseball league, Manager Don Stapleton of the Centre Theatre already is turning his attention to the Rough Riders, the Ottawa team in the Interprovincial football conference which plays its first big game of the season in Ottawa October 8 against Montreal Indians. Stapleton has done much in the past to build up a powerful team. A. J. Casselman, owner of the Piccadilly Theatre, Williamsburg , has been elected secretary-treasurer of the Williamsburg Racing Ass’n. A Crime or a Diet Montreal — What appeared to be the disclosure of an old crime caused much excitement at detective headquarters when workmen reported the finding of a bundle of human bones between the walls of the King Edward Theatre building on St. Lawrence Blvd. The report of the finding was flashed across the police radio system and two minutes later Sergeant Detective Prysky and Boileau of the local homicide squad, together with a number of radio policemen, were investigating. Numerous unsolved murders had occurred in the past in that vicinity and it was thought that the bones might be the beginning of the solution of one of them. The police even considered the possibility that it might be the skeleton of Elaine St, Pierre, Inspector Brodeau’s niece, who disappeared mysteriously more than a year ago and has not been seen since. Making their way into the theatre building, under repair at present, the detectives Publicity May Net Prescott a Theatre Ottawa — Of peculiar interest to the moving picture trade of the Dominion is Prescott, a town of 3,500 population in the Ottawa district, because it is notably the largest municipality anywhere in the country without the semblance of a theatre. Prescott is once more in the news in a prominent way because of the International celebration there on July 1 in observance of 100 years of peace along the St. Lawrence River which is the boundary between the United States and Canada and for the unveiling of a memorial bell in the restored Fort Wellington to commemorate the occasion. U. S. Legation officials, U. S. legislators, Canadian Parliamentarians and representatives from foreign countries were booked to participate in the ceremonies, the proceedings, including the playing of 14 regimental bands, being broadcast over the networks. This basking in the limelight has brought Prescott to the fore as a prospect for a muchdelayed theatre and men associated with 20th Century Theatres, Ltd., a cooperative independent theatre company in Ontario, have been on the ground to inspect possible sites. One reason why Prescott has been theatreless is that many of the local residents simply cross on the ferry to Ogdensburg, N. Y., when they want to see a show in spite of the fact that the round trip ride costs half a dollar. Role to Niven Hollywood — A leading role in Samuel Goldwyn’s “The Lady and the Cowboy” will be played by David Niven, who returned this week from Europe. and policemen were led to the room where, between the plastered walls, the bones were found. The bundle in which the bones were wrapped was hauled out and when Sergeant-Detective Prysky, who is well seasoned in homicide investigation, examined them, he shook his head and said: “Some hot dog manufacturer must have lived here at one time.” Sergeant Detective Boileau appeared mystified, but glancing a little closer he discovered, too, that the bones were that of a dog or some other animal. The bones were later removed to the provincial medico-legal laboratory and after being examined were found to include five calves’ jawbones and skulls. Medico-legal experts theorized that a former occupant of the room where the bcnos were found was probably a lover of calves’ brains, and being in the center of the city with no place to dispose of the skull bones, he simply bundled them up and dropped them in between the wall. C A IIL G A R Y pETE EGAN of the Palace Theatre here overcame any hesitation or reluctance of sport fans to see the pictures of the shortest heavyweight bout on record by advertising: “Did Louis Foul Schmeling? — See the Full Fight in Slow Motion.” The slow motion scenes proved popular. Theatre business is in the doldrums here with the belated arrival of hot weather. Unusual showery weather and occasional wet nights console the boys. A wet night fills the house and the weather gives promise of a big grain crop and good fall business on the Canadian prairies. Abe Feinstein has returned to Filmrow from the United Artists convention in Los Angeles. Frank Vaughn is also back at his desk after attending what he describes as one of the best conventions. It was the Empire-Universal, held in the Royal Alexander Hotel in Toronto. Both are getting their portfolios packed for that lengthy tour of the prairies with hopeful hearts and blank contracts. Customers From England Toronto — Two Englishwomen, Miss Barbara Stubbs and her sister, have come all the way from London, England, to spend their vacation this summer at the Circle M Ranch, near Toronto, which is owned by Charles Mavety, of the Mavety Film Delivery, this city, and is the only dude ranch in eastern Canada. These two visitors from overseas are so delighted with Circle M. Ranch they declare they will bring “all England” over with them the next time. "Room Service" Starts Hollywood — “Room Service,” new Marx Bros, comedy for RKO Radio, was to go into production this week. BOXOFFICE :: July 2, 1938 87