Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1938)

War Themes in Motion Pictures Defended By Newspaper Reader Boston — Motion pictures based on war themes have been blasted these past few weeks by a number of correspondents to the readers’ columns of local newspapers. One of the defenses that loomed up as a result of the foray contends that: “The motion picture is the medium of most vividly able to show the meaning of war and the fact that it isn’t all glory.” The defense of war films, which appeared in the Boston Globe and which seems to voice the opinion of a substantial portion of the reading public, goes on to aver that: “Pictures will, if used intelligently— that is, factually and not emotionally— cause the people to think more before agreeing to enter a wilful waste of materials and, more important, the best of manhood. “There can be only respect for those who risked and gave their lives fighting for the ideals they believed in. But often serious thought is required to differentiate between the true ideals which mean a better world for all and those causes which emanate from the greed of a few who expect to profit from the blood and misery of many. “Surely many of those who know what war is like would have others learn its meaning rather by means of still photographs and motion pictures than by experience. To those who suffer from such presentations the suggestion is obvious: ‘Stay away’.” At least one newspaper subscriber took advantage of the controversy not only to voice agreement with the opposition to the showing of war films, but to come out against “All the wild west shooting.” ■pHE Majestic is adding the “Dick Tracy” serial on Saturday and Sunday. The serial is first in a big downtown house in years. Harry Rose came back from Atlantic City, worked a week and then motored off to Syracuse for the final seven days of vacation. New sidewalk ban is interfering with theatre exploitation stunts. Matt Saunder’s aerial vacation bore fruit. He no sooner returned than he hired a plane and attached a trailing banner advertising “ The Crowd Roars.” Arthur Esposito is back from a trip to western New York City. Harry Shaw’s mother, who makes her home in this city, has been visiting relatives in New York City. Westport Country Playhouse is the only summer theatre in this area planning to extend its season till after Labor Day. WITH the RKO-Albee re-opening Thursday, August 18, Carlton being painted and prettied up for re-opening on the 26th and Fays scheduled to get in operation again on September 2, Providence’s fall season will soon be rolling. This week the local committee meets to lay plans for this section’s part in the national “Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment” campaign. Ken Rockwell, promoted to management of the Albee, says the house staff at that theatre will be much the same as last year on reopening. John Kane, former chief of staff, is now assistant manager; Louise Clarke and Jessie Clout are taking care of the boxoffice. Eddie Reed of the Strand, is back from his sword-fishing vacation trip off Block Island full of tall tales of how his party got three of the deep-sea denizens. And here’s the pay-off — they sold the catch for a nice little bank-roll figure; so Ed’s vacation cost him nothing. Assistant Manager Johnny Hodge of the Strand thought he’d try Block Island for his vacation but the sirens of Cape Cod lured him to that summer rendezvous after a couple of days on the Island. Price Premiums Close In New Haven Sept . I New Haven — Price Premium Co. will discontinue its New Haven office and showroom by September 1, and N. C. Wrisley, premium distributor, will occupy the former Price space. A further shift makes Richard Cohen United States Premium representative here, under Lester Tobias of Boston. Cohen will also handle Kameragraph, new lobby camera stunt, for Connecticut. Poretsky-Singer Boston — Norman Poretsky, assistant to Lila Izen at the Wholesome Film Service, Inc., and Miss Evelyn Singer plan to go off the engagement list September 4. The honeymoon itinerary is now being settled. Competitors for Freiday Two Howard Johnson restaurants will open in this vicinity in the near future. One is located on Forest Ave., Portland, within a block of Bill Freiday’s “Lighthouse,” and the other is in South Portland. Construction work is being rushed in order to gain some of the summer tourist trade which is at its peak now. BOSTON (Continued from page 116) Dorchester . . . Mary Sullivan is now secretary to Max Melincoff, local Warner Theatres district manager. Dorothy Gardiner is scheduled to return Monday from a bit of summering at Orleans . . . Elizabeth Dervin of M-G-M has been Cape Codding it. Tex Safrene, winter-time projectionist and summer operator of the Horticultural Hall in Manchester-by-the-Sea, was to have come up for examination for a transport license this week. Al McCoy, New England heavyweight champ who recently took Harry Thomas in Montreal, has been visiting here with William S. Koster, theatre-seat tycoon. McCoy is scheduled to fight Buddy Knox on August 30. There is also talk of his going to the coast for films. Irving Berlin was here last Thursday. The song writer was guest of honor at a Hotel Statler press reception. It tagged the local premiere of “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” at the Metropolitan. Rodney Bush, 20th-Fox advertising head, also made the flight. Eleanor Sabetes Murphy of the Paramount lost her father-in-law last week . . . Eleanor Donovan has returned to her desk at Republic following “ summerizing” . . . Tom O’Brien, Monogram booker, spent last weekend at Oak Bluffs. Edward Kleine of Bay State Film Co., is completing another book . . . P. Edward Comi, owner of the Theatre Service and Supply Co., was in Chicago last week . . . Katherine Healy has returned to Interstate Theatres from the usual thing . . . Don Widlund, Jam Handy representative, was in Boston last week. Max Magovski, president of the Theatrical Exchange Workers local, had charge of the distribution of some 150 tickets to the Boston Motion Picture and Allied Industry outing. The ducats went to union members gratis on a 50-50 payment split made between the local’s treasury and an unnamed philanthropist. Helen Fosdick of Republic Pictures left Monday for a New Hampshire vacation . . . Al Sulesky, projectionist at department of public safety screening room, left this week for a two weeks of golfing, swimming and fishing at Belgrade Lakes. Martin J. Mullen, M&P Theatres Corp. partner, has purchased a new home at Marshfield Hills, swanky South Shore resort . . . Sam Haase, theatre broker, took a change of scenery last week and left Cape Cod for a few days in the White Mountains. The policy change at the Drive-In in Weymouth had to do only with the program openings which now point from Wednesdays and Sundays. The house continues with single features. Wilbur Peterson, operator of the Orpheum in Somerville, has been getting a line on new product, which should make his trip to the Coast deductable from the income tax . 118 BOXOFFICE :: August 20, 1938