Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1947)

Circuit Booth Men Seek Wage Boosts BOSTON — Representatives of the projectionists lATSE Local 182 and circuit executives were conferring here this week on a new contract. About 90 theatres in this area are involved. The old contract expired September 1. The union is asking a wage increase, shorter hours and extra pay for Sundays and holidays. Local 182 spokesmen reported that headway was being made in the negotiations and that a settlement was expected. In the meantime, efforts to avert a shutdown of the screening rooms of MGM, RKO, 20th-Fox, Universal and Paramount was at a standstill pending the outcome of meetings between Local 182 representatives and the circuits. t Fred Rowlands, Columbus, Opens $400,000 Center From Mideast Edition COLUMBUS — Opening of the new $400,000 Livingston Enterprises, Inc., center, including a 1,056-seat theatre, an outdoor store and a de luxe drug store, brings to five the number of theatres in the Fred A. Rowlands circuit. Others are the Main, Parsons, Columbia and Hollywood. In construction since May 1946, the center was built slowly because of desire on he part of the owners to get specified highgrade materials and equipment, many of which have been in short supply. Officers of Livingston Enterprises, Inc., include Fred A. Rowlands, president; N. J. Mulligan, vice-president, and Ray Rowlands, secretary-treasurer. These three and Dr. H. F. Sacks and Fred A. Brunner form the corporation’s board of directors. Mulligan was general contractor and architects were Alcox & Stritzel, Columbus. The Livingston, first theatre built in the southeast area of Columbus in more than three decades, is done in ultramodern style. Pylons, illuminated with cold cathode light, top the waterfall-style marquee. There is a large green neon sign bearing the theatre name. The marquee is equipped with a flasher system. Boxoffice, candy bar and popcorn machine are all set flush with the right lobby wall so that there are no obstructions in the path of patrons. Show windows for the outdoor store also are set flush with the lobby wall. The auditorium is lighted by pastel coral, green, blue and yellow indirect lighting. Kroehler pushback seats have been installed and the carpeting is in gold and maroon. Light louvers at the head of the aisles are an ultramodern touch. The house has RCA sound, Brenkert projectors, a Goldberg rewind case and air conditioning, installed by Julian Speer, Columbus. The air conditioning plant uses 52 -degree sweet water supplied at 500 gallons a minute from a 70-foot well. The whole center is air conditioned, including stores, offices and booth. The offices and booth are soundproofed. The gas-heating unit and air conditioning system are located on the second floor of the center. The 56-seat cry room, also soundproofed, has proved a popular feature. It is located on the mezzanine. Hard of hearing service also is offered Livingston patrons. Two parking lots provide space for 200 cars. P. W. Rowlands, as general manager, maintains his office in the Livingston. Prank Kelley, former alternate manager to F. A. Brunner at the Main, has been named house manager. The staff includes Mrs. Lois Jenkins, cashier; T. J. Jackson, former doorman at the RKO Grand, doorman; Jerome McDonald, alternate doorman; Mrs. Regina Bollinger and Nancy Bollinger, candy vendors. TIEUP WITH JOHNNIE— When Johnnie of Philip Morris radio fame was in Hartford, Fred Greenway, manager of Loew’s Poli Palace there, tied up with the small fellow for plugs on “The Hucksters.” Johnnie’s car was plastered with “Hucksters” cards, and Johnnie was emcee for a “Hucksters” weight competition, arranged by Greenway. Photo shows Fred with the visitor. Church Groups Leading Battle on Sunday Pictures From Eastern Edition HARRISBURG — Heading the “strenuous opposition” to Sunday motion pictures here are the Ministerial Ass’n of Greater Harrisburg and the United Council of Churches. They claim they will do everything within their power to oppose motion pictures on Sundays and to “keep the Sabbath holy.” The opposition followed immediately upon the announcement that local theatremen plan a campaign to get the local option question on the November 4 general election ballot. A registration of patrons in all theatres, to determine the feeling, was followed by an individual canvass which was begun last week by more than 60 persons. At least 5,000 names are required on the petitions which will put the question before the voting public. E. G. Wollaston, State manager, is chairman of the campaign. Boston Regains Zip; 'Father' Is Standout BOSTON — New product and favorable weather brought good business back for the holiday weekend. “Life With Father” was the standout, doing smart business in two spots, the Esquire and the Modern. At the Memorial, “The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer” held up well in its second week. “Variety Girl” at the Metropolitan had its best week in some months. A continued surprise was “Fantasia,” which entered its seventh week at the uptown Kenmore. (Average is 100) Boston — The Crimson Key (RKO), plus Louis Prima band 160 Esquire and Modern — Life With Father (WB), roadshow 265 Exeter Street — The Magic Bow (U-1); Blackout (UA), reissue 140 Kenmore — Fantasia (RKO), reissue; 6th wk 1(]0 Memorial — The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (RKO), 2nd wk 160 Metropolitan — Variety Girl (Para); lungle Flight (Para) 160 Paramount and Fenway — Desert Fury (Para); Kilroy Was Here (Mono), moveover 130 State and Orpheum — Song of the Thin Man (MGM); Last of the Redmen (Col) 150 'Variety Girl' and 'Tights' Hold Over in New Haven NEW HAVEN — Business was generally good Labor day weekend and holiday prices boosted returns for the week. The rest of the week was hot, however. Both “Variety Girl” at the Paramount and “Mother Wore Tights” at the Loew-Poli rated holdovers. The Roger Sherman cut short a dual reissue to start a new show Labor day. Detail for the week ended September 3: Bijou — Cynthia (MGM); Murder in Reverse (Four Continents) 90 College — Living in a Big Way (MGM); The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (20th-Fox), 2nd wk 90 Loew-Poli — Mother Wore Tights (20th-Fox); Blind Spot (Col) 110 Paramount — Variety Girl (Para); Danger Street (Para).- 110 Roger Sherman — Marked Woman (WB); Dust Be My Destiny (WB), reissues; 5 days 50 Hartford Has Four Holdovers; 'Brute Force' Proves Leader HARTFORD — The downtown area had four holdovers. Newcomers included “The Vigilantes Return” and “Song of the Thin Man.” Allyn — Variety Girl (Para); Jungle Flight (Para), 2nd v/k 120 E. M. Loew's — Vigilantes Return (U-I); When a Girl Is Beautiful (Col) 125 Poli — Song of the Thin Man (MGM); Murder in Reverse (20th-Fox) 120 Palace — Mother Wore Tights (20th-Fox); Blackmail (20th-Fox), 2nd v/k 130 Regal — Brute Force (U-I), 2nd wk 140 State — Newshound (Mono), plus Desi Arnaz band on sta’ge 100 Strand — Cry Wolf (WB); Gas House Kids Go West (EL), 2nd wk 130 HANDY SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM BOXOFFICE: Please enter my subscription to BOXOFFICE, 52 issues per year (13 of which contain The MODERN THEATRE Section), including the NEW BOXOFFICE PICTURE GUIDE, DATE & RECORD BOOK. □ $2.00 FOR 1 YEAR □ $3.50 FOR 2 YEARS □ $5.00 FOR 3 YEARS G Remittance Enclosed □ Send Invoice THEATRE STREET ADDRESS TOWN STATE NAME POSITION BOXOFFICE :: September 13, 1947 115