Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1939)

M IE W HI A V IE W ^HE long-discussed testimonial to George Wilkinson, operator of the Wilkinson Theatre, Wallingford, has been tentatively scheduled for July 11 at Racebrook Country Club. A luncheon party will be followed by some friendly competition on the golf course. At an arrangements meeting, Barney Pitkin, manager of RKO, was appointed chairman, assisted by Thomas J. Donaldson, Metro manager: Ben Simon, 20th-Fox: John Pavone, Warner: Edward Ruff, Paramount: Lou Wechsler, United Artists: Morris Joseph, Universal: T. O’Toole, Columbia: Philip Sherman, Monogram: George Rabinowitz, Repu’alic: I. Levine, Grand National: Irving C. Jacocks jr. of the Branford Theatre: and Sam Rosen, Rosen Film Delivery and Lakeville and Winsted theatres. Save the day! Oscar Haiisner of New York was a Meadow St. shopper this week for the Broadbrook Theatre, which he reports he will reopen June 30. The house is owned and teas formerly operated by Lainperts of the “borscht” circuit . . . Nathan Lamport made his first visit to the film district in many a month . . . The suburban operator is still on crutches as a result of an auto accident about eight months ago . . . Joe Markov, who keeps a watchful eye on the Lamport Colchester, East Hampton and Moodus houses, is an expectant father . . . The plans are set for a 500-seat Windsor house in the center of the town, in addition to the Lamport theatre on the outskirts, the picture complicated by a Hartford exhib who also planned to build in the town. Newest and most elaborate non-theatrical in the state is Connecticut College Palmer Memorial Auditorium in New London, with 1,375 seats, equipped with new projectors and sound. Evelyn Gerstein, personal studio representative of Samuel Goldvryn, made a visit to the Loew-Poli division office on “They Shall Have Music,” coming UA release. Bob Russell arranged a WELI broadcast, and Miss Gerstein interviewed members of the press and educators. Miss Gerstein gave a New York University extension course in film appreciation here last year. Bill Canelli was one of the four salesmen to receive cash prizes and gold buttons at the RKO convention for having sold 100 per cent of their sales possibilities during 1938-39. Griswold High School, which has temporarily housed Finn’s Theatre. Jewett City, since the hurricane, will itself be closed now by Harry Barnett. The hurricane blew off the auditorium’s ventilating system, which has not beeri replaced. Meantime the new 700-seat Jewett City theatre, in the process of construction, will be ready for operation on Labor Day. The steel work of the new 700-seater in Thomaston is already complete, and Robert Schwartz also has a tentative Labor Day opening date . . . Ditto for Michael Cascioli’s new Forest Theatre, in the Ailingtown sector of West Haven. Features of the new Avon, Stamford, which contribute to the unusual impression made on all comers: Elegant simplicity of its brick and white-columned, no marquee, exterior . . . hand-pamted panels of colonial scenes in lobby and interior, faultless acoustics, brightness of interior, faithfulness to colonial detail, down to carpets, mats and white lace boxoffice and lobby curtains . . . comfortable colorful seats. The openings on June 15 and 22 were both sellouts. Tom Farrell, Metro booker down from Boston with Mrs. Farrell and Tommy jr., visited with Charlie Lazarus, New Haven Metro booker . . . Michael Simon of San Francisco paid his brother, Ben Simon, 20th-Fox manager, a short visit in New Haven. Harold Eskin, who with Mrs. Eskin, helped receive guests at the Avon opening, reports the Cameo and Arneriean, Newark, in which he is interested, are being renovated, and new interest in the Strand, Easton, and College, Bethlehem, Pa. Speculation on the street as to whether Warner’s will renew their lease of the second-run Capitol, Danbury, expiring August 1. House has been open this summer, though darkened last. 7. Hohauser, architect of the Avon, has done the Community , Hudson, houses in Brewster, Yoiikers, South Brooklyn, and New York City, but this is his first in Connecticut. Sportsmen : Bill Pine, of the Darien Theatre, has a badminton court in his back yard . . . Oscar Shanken, of the Dixwell Playhouse, is entered in the New Haven tennis competitions this year again, after beating many of the oldtimers when he arrived in New Haven last year and reaching the semi-finals . . . Shanken played on the New York University team . . . The entire Fishman Theatres offices has taken to the golf course . . . George Rabino 'J'HERE will be no more legislation affecting theatres in this state for at least two years, since the 126th session of the general court has adjourned. Next biennial session falls in 1941. Manager William J. Stanton at the Scenic in Rochester reports patrons are highly pleased until the recent $50,000 renovation there, and that business is holding its own in the face of the usual summer slump. John Trela, second assistant projectionist at the Strand in Dover, and Dennis Fogarty, sign man at the same house, have been enjoying vacations. A “Festival Ware” dish giveaway feature has been an attraction for the ladies at the Arcadia in Portsmouth. At the Colonial, also in the Port City, the fair sex has been lured by a cooking school. Paul Florenz, New York and Hollywood producer, is presenting the popular Frolics, a girl show, in its third season at Salisbury Beach. witz of Republic calls it sport to write words and music for plays . . . Bob Russell says they’re biting at Faulkner’s Island. Certificate of incorporation has been filed for The Greenwich Civic Theatre, Inc., with Walter Tupper Jones of Greenwich, Louis T. Marsh of Bedford Village, N. Y., and Winifred C. Dewey of Scarsdale. New York, as incorporators . . . The Airport Amusement Corp. of Bristol is a new one, with J. Gordon Warner, Lester A. Metz and S. Russell Mink, all of Bristol as incorporators. Fishman Tlieatres have addressed a congratulatory letter to Warner Bros, following the announcement that the latter will produce “The Bishop Who Walked With God” and a story depicting secret opponents of Nazis in modern Germany. The letter calls such pictures as “Confessions of a Nazi Spy” a strong force in the preservation of democracy here. Charles Kullman, Yale ’24, was a concert artist and celebrant during reunion week at Yale . . . Johnnie, the Philip Morris boy. was here in person and paraded until the alumni ... Ed Wynn was expected back as honorary member of the class of ’24, but failed to show up. Warner Theatre manager vacationers will all be back early in August, ahead of last year’s deadline, all vacations being concentrated in about six weeks . . . This week’s leaves include Paul Binstock, Lyric, Hartford: Jack Melinkoff, Warner, Lawrence; Bill Kelly, Modern, Lawrence; Richard Beckman, Waldorf, Lynn; J. Tobin, Premiere, Newburyport; Joe Liss, Strand, Clinton; Max Silverwatch, Strand, Waverly; Alec Davis, Capitol, Everett; Hugh Campbell, Central, Hartford; Dave Sugarman, Regal, Hartford; Jack Sanson, State, Manchester; Dennis Rich, Cameo, Bristol; Randolph Mailer, Strand, New Britain; 'Continued on page 58) William T. Soule, composer and member of one of the early Gilbert & Sullivan eompanies, has established a home in the Concord Heights section. Lionel Irwin, manager of the Palace in the Penacook section of Concord, has been putting in some strenuous golfing since the robins arrived. Arthur Dame, his assistant, pinch-hits at the theatre during Lionel’s moments in pursuit of the cherished hole-in-one. Lorenzo Gilbert is a new usher at the Star in Concord, taking the place of Johnny Nyhan . . . J. Edward Charbonne, manager of the Concord Theatre, was a Boston visitor. Painting and decorating jobs appropriate to the season have been completed at the Capitol in Concord, one of the Granite State’s finest theatres. At the Colonial in Laconia, Carl Wallace has been at the helm, while Manager Ralph Morris has been vacationing. 5B BOXOFFICE ;; July 1, 1939