Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1939)

PORTIILAMIID) PUBLIC hearing on the showing of Sunday motion pictures here after July 20, when a state local option law goes into effect, will be held in city hall July 3, An order authorizing Sunday shows was tabled by the city council until that time. Since the passing of the new law there has been no evidence of opposition on the part of religious organizations, or others, to its being put into effect between July 20 and December, when the next municipal election is scheduled. Hotel managers and resort operators, especially, are unanimously in favor of Sunday shows. Maine’s light-harness racing season opens July 1 with the the first act staged at Narragansett Park. Gorham. The sixday meet, opening next Saturday, ivill be followed by a three-week engagement at the Old Orchard Beach kite track under Grand circuit sponsorship. With $70,000 in purses and 110 dashes of racing, the Old Orchard meet will be the biggest light harness meet in Marne’s history since the introduction of pari-mutuel betting. The season will extend into November. Another headache for local exhibitors is the increasing number of dine and dance places which spring up like mushrooms over night throughout the state, especially along the coast. Add to that the special excursions down Casco Bay which opened this week and will hold daily throughout the summer, plus the periodic appearances of circuses and carnivals, the first of which (Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey Circus), comes to town July 8. Tlie only compensation the summer seems to bring is the influx of tourists, which, this year is unduly slow because of cold weather. Fay Wray, Edward Everett Horton, Helen Claire, Ethel Barrymore and Walter Hampden are the film and stage bigwigs who mil make personal appearances in Maine soon. Work on the Strand Theatre’s new air conditioning system is progressing at a rapid rate and is expected to be completed and ready for use by July 1. The Strand is also to have a new marquee soon. Harry Botwick, manager of the State Theatre, is spending a two-week vacation in New Haven . . . Sam Botwick, Harry’s brother, started his temporary bachelor quarters from Monday to Friday. Rumor has it that Sam trounced the State Theatre manager unmercifully at the latter’s favorite sport — golf, during his visit here . . . Tom Feloney, Fox salesman, was a Filmrow visitor this week. Ditto Earnest Warren, formerly with WB. Returning vacationeers: Eleanor Morahan. State Tlreatre candy girl; Merrill Gear, doorman at the same theatre . . . Bernard Toothaker, usher at the State, was to have left June 26 for a two-week’s vacation on Peaks Island. Extended Run Boston — A prominent local exhibitor and the branch manager of a major exchange haven’t yet been able to get together on terms for a contract renewal. The excuse given by the distributor representative for his steadfastness is that his immediate superior won’t stand for any lower price scale. “I’ll show that district manager I don’t need your product,” the Greater Boston theatre man eventually said. “I don’t even want to talk with you for 30 days.” Last week the exhib telephoned the branch manager. “The 30 days is up,” said the exhibitor. “Yeah?” the manager asked expectantly. “Well, you’re back in the dog house for another 30 days!” Special "Chips" Showing At Donat Farm. Bethany Bethany, Conn. — Due to the illness of the star’s father, a special screening of “Goodbye, Mr. Chips,” starring Robert Donat, was held at the Donat Farm here, with newspapermen from Hartford, Bridgeport, Waterbury, Springfield, New Haven, Meriden and Worcester in attendance. Harry Shaw, Loew-Poli division manager, arranged the screening, which was good for considerable newspai>er space. How to operate motion picture theatres profitably Here is a nevy book full of HOW TO DO IT information, written by a man who believes that the first objective of theatre management is to make money. In this book he covers motion picture theatre management from A to Z, giving the best results of years of experience as a guide in establishing successful policies, building profitable business, and efficiently operating any size theatre. The Management of Motion Picture Theatres By FRANK H. RICKETSON. Jr. Get This Great Aid to Theatre President, Fox Inter-Mountain Theatres. Inc. Management! GET IT TODAY!! 375 pages, Bx9. illustrated, $3.50 Send check or money order to ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS, 4804 East Ninth Street, Kansas City, Missouri eo BOXOFFICE July 1, 1939