Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1940)

Joe Cohen Wins Low Gross Friars Prize Boston — Joe Cohen, Morris Pouzzner booker, won the low gross prize for Friars members at the organization’s film golf tournament at Kernwood Country Club last week with a score of 79. Maurice Green was second with a gross of 80. Joe Naminon came in third with a score of 84. William Canning, manager for Interstate in Fall River and former tournament winner, took an 83 this year to place second for non-members. W. Sampson of the Warner circuit captured low gross for the meet and low gross for nonmembers with a 76 tally. Ed Lebovitch came in third for non-members with an 84. George S. Ryan, anti-trust lawyer, captured a prize for being nearest to the pin on tries to the ninth hole. Ryan was put out of running for low gross scores by being caught in the rain. Joe Mathieu, circuit owner with headquarters in Winchendon, took an electric cooker for scoring the best low gross for exhibitors. Norman Ayers, Warner branch manager, was low for branch managers when he carded 90. Cecil Rudnick of National Screen Service took home a pair of golf shoes as a result of capturing the long drive contest with a biff of 245 yards. Maurice Goldstein, M-G-M city salesman who was chairman in charge of the golf tournament, has, in behalf of the Boston Friars Club, acknowledged with thanks the prizes which were contributed by such members and friends as: Capitol Theatre Supply Co., Altec Sound Service, the Film Exchange Transfer, Four Star Printing, Louis Gordon, Arthur Lockwood, Nate Goldstein, Sam Goldstein, I. J. Hoffman, Interstate Candy. Interstate Theatres, Burt Lazarus, Joe Levenson, Max Levenson, Master Motion Picture Co., Motion Picture Salesmen’s Club, Monogram Pictures, Charles Morse, Louis Rothenberg, Marty Mullin, Sam Pinanski, National Screen Service, National Theatre Supply Co. Morris Pouzzner, R. C. A., Herman Rifkin, Harry Segal, Phil Smith, Ralph Snider, Standard Theatre Supply Co., Stanley Sumner, A1 Swerdlove, Murray Weiss and Nate Yamins. Bernard Payne Fined $330 For Conducting Lottery North Adams, Mass. — Bernard Payne, manager of the Mohawk here, was fined $330 in district court for conducting a lottery. The Mohawk is an E. M. Loew house. Reopens With Duals Manchester, N. H. — The Strand here is open after being closed for improvements. With the reopening, the theatre started a double-bill policy. Ticket Sales Brisk for Boston Film Outing Boston — Several hundred tickets for the Boston Motion Picture and Allied Industry Outing have already been sold, the committee in charge has informed this publication. This year’s affair, the third annual of the sort, will be held Tuesday, August 20, at Silver Beach in Falmouth. The subscription of two dollars, according to Secretary William Cuddy of RKO, scarcely covers the cost of the meal. Film district organizations are contributing prizes to be given out at the affair. Parties begin leaving the Church St. stem of the film circle at 11 a. m. on the day of the outing. Barbershop Quartet Contest May Feature Outing Boston — One result of the Motion Picture and Allied Industry Outing to be held in Falmouth on August 20, may be the determination as to which local film organization has the best barbershop quartet. A1 Kenney, chairman of the events committee, has asked local film heads to recruit quartets from their organizations. Kenney will undertake to suggest titles to the songsters selected. Each quartet will be allowed four minutes, it is tentatively planned, no accompaniment will be played, although appropriate chords will be sounded to start the warblers off. Judges will be named later if the innovation goes through. Prizes, in addition to honor, will be conferred upon the first three teams. DiMaura, Guarino Unionize Shrewsbury Drive-In Boston — Thomas DiMaura and James Guarino have unionized the booth of the drive-in theatre in Shrewsbury. Saugus was previously unionized. Weymouth drivein, first of New England’s ozoners, continues non-union, however. In Boston, the Moving Picture Operators Union, Local 182, AFL, has signed a contract for union operators at a new house soon to be opened on Washington St. in the downtown Hub. E. M. Loew Will Open Ozoner in St. Louis Boston — E. M. Loew, owner of New England’s largest independent theatre circuit and operator of ozoners from Maine to Florida and Louisiana, will soon open a new drive-in at St. Louis. Phil Smith, also New England independent circuit owner, already operates an outdoor situation in the Missouri city. A new motion picture theatre is being put up in Lawrence. It is expected that the house will open about Labor Day. Pickus to Improve Stratford, Conn. — Albert Pickus will close his 550-seat Stratford August 15 for a ten-day period for reseating, air-conditioning, laying of a new floor and carpeting, and lining of interior with acoustone. The house will also be slightly enlarged. Lydon Enumerates Allied's Services Boston — Frank Lydon, president of the Independent Exhibitors, Inc., this week stressed the various points of service offered by the local Allied States Association affiliate to New England members in good standing. Lydon outlined 15 organizational aids which included: “Product information regarding every company; emergency changes in bookings (one call to the office will save calling two or three exchanges) ; assistance in settling contract disputes with exchanges. “Service aimed toward the elimination of overbuying or unreasonable clearance situations: legal advice from capable attorneys connected with the business; legal advice on problems involving federal law from our general counsel, A. F. Myers; service to protect you against town, municipal, city or state rules, regulations and legislation . . . advice on existing or new department rulings of federal, state and local agencies; projectionists for emergencies. “An electric cost control service which does not require you to spend one cent to save money on your electric current; a public liability insurance deal which will provide you with the cheapest rates obtainable: our window card deal will give you the best cards at the cheapest prices; service on renovation construction and supplies; cheaper oil rates; advice on current premium and game deals which are meeting with success or otherwise.” August 26 Meet Slated By Connecticut MPTO New Haven — Connecticut MPTO will meet at 12:30 p. m. Monday, August 26, at Ceriani’s Cafe Mellone, with Arthur H. Lockwood presiding. Herman M. Levy, executive secretary, and his committee will report on the fifth annual film golf tournament held August 6, and results of the survey on exhibitor opinion regarding the lowering of the tax exemption base will be given. Boston Stays Ninth Boston — Local theatremen took interest in the announcement that, according to the recently completed census, Boston has remained in ninth place, where it was in 1930, in the ranking of the big cities. Sixty years ago, Boston was the fourth largest city in the country, and even as recently as 1910 it was practically tied with St. Louis for fourth place. Metropolitan Boston, corresponding in area to most other large cities, is actually the third largest in the country, being exceeded only by New York and Chicago, respectively. Vacation in Connecticut Pittsfield, Mass. — Mr. and Mrs. William F. Shea, owners of the Tyler here, spent their vacation in Connecticut. BOXOFFICE : : August 10, 1940 NE 49