Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1947)

R. L. Gregory Retires; Odeon Buys Houses TORONTO — R. L. Gregory, an exhibitor for some 35 years, has announced his retirement and his Gregory Theatres at Oakville, Acton and Georgetown, have been acquired by Sam Fingold’s National Theatre Services, Toronto, a subsidiary of Odeon Theatres of Canada. The deal, effective September 15, includes a site in Oakville on which a 750seat theatre is to be started next month. B&Q Remodeling Is Started On Old Tremont in Boston From New England Edition BOSTON — Remodeling the Tremont Theatre downtown has started with William Riseman Associates, architects, having completed the first stage of the renovating. The B&Q circuit took over the theatre some months ago and will change the name to the Astor. When completed it will be a class house in policy as well as design, seating 973 in the orchestra and 410 in the balcony. The present second balcony in this historic legitimate theatre has been removed, along with the huge stage, so that the auditorium will extend directly to the screen. A new lighting system will be used around the auditorium. With the original boxoffice to be maintained on Tremont street, the exceptionally long and narrow entrance lobby will be decorated to give the illusion of spaciousness by the generous use of mirrors and other materials. The large foyer will have a huge candy counter made of blond oak, to be constructed inside the building. The carpeting has been woven especially for this job and its design also will be carried out in the lounges. Additional space has been provided for the powder rooms and men's lounges. Work on the theatre is progressing but the project will not be completed until fall. The reopening is expected to take place in early November. Auditorium Proposition In Canton Voted Down From Mideast Edition CANTON, OHIO — An eight-year-long civic campaign for a new municipal auditorium was defeated at a special election here when Voters by nearly two-to-one margin turned down a proposed $2,850,000 bond issue for the project. The plans called for a large auditorium seating 6,000, a smaller theatre and an assembly room. The basement was to have been an exhibition hall. The old auditorium for public gatherings was closed in 1940. The defeat came as a surprise, because the project had been indorsed by the postwar planning council, civic and labor groups, and most of the city’s industrial, business, labor and civic leaders. Offers Theft-Proof Cable For In-a-Car Speakers From Mideast Edition CLE'VELAND — An allegedly theft-proof cable for in-car speakers at Drive-In Theatres has been perfected by the Drive-In Theatre Equipment Co. of Cleveland. David Sandler, president, says that his new patented cable will resist any knife blade and cannot be cut by the ordinary type of pliers. The cable, he asserts, has a tensile strength of 2,500 pounds: sufficient to turn a car over before it tears loose. Drive-in operators report theft of in-car speakers as their greatest casualty. ST. JOHN Operators of 16mm shows have been finding business good at villages favored by summer residents and tourists. In some instances an individual operator plays two villages the same night, drawing from 200 to 400 at each show. The shows, practically all single bills, plus several shorts, last about 90 minutes. Les Sprague, projectionist at the Empire, is manager and part owner of the Gaiety in suburban Fairville, where he operates at night and Saturday afternoons . . . Monte Chase, veteran projectionist at the St. John Capitol, may not be able to leave the hospital for some time. Add another to the large list of touring carnivals providing opposition for maritime theatres. The Frank Elliott Shows, wrecked by Camp Debert, N. S., soldiers about four years ago, while at Truro, N. S., have returned to the road. The tent show outfit has 12 concessions. “Jimmy Stewart doesn’t have to act, for he’s a regular guy,” says Syd Wyman, manager of the Yarmouth Community. Stewart and Wyman met when Wyman, a squadron leader in the air force, was doing liaison duty at a U.S. army base in the British Isles. Stewart was colonel in command of the base at the time. Wyman has received from Stewart a letter hoping “It’s A Wonderful Life,” pulled well at the Community. For the past decade, Franklin & Herschorn allowed the St. John Theatre Guild, an amateur stage group, to use the Palace, exfilm house in the north end, at $100 per year. It was found that private lessons in dramatics, dancing, elocution, etc., had been given by 'individuals for fees. The theatre chain has accordingly ended the contract. 'Gone With the Wind' Strong in Toronto TORONTO — After an absence of seven years, “Gone With the Wind” returned to Toronto at Loew’s. Playing at the regular admission scale, the picture drew lines of waiting patrons and looked good for a long run. “Welcome Stranger” held for a second week at Shea’s. Other holdovers were ‘“Variety Girl” at the Imperial and “I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now” at the Tivoli and Eglinton. (Average is 100) Capitol and Victoria — The Sea Hawk (WB); The Sea Wolf (WB), reissues 95 Eglinton and Tivoli — I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (20th-Fox), 2nd wk 90 Imperial — Variety Girl (Para), 2'nd wk 95 Loew's — Gone With the Wind (MGM), reissues.. ..145 Shea's — VVelcome Stranger (Para), 2nd wk 110 Uptown — Brute Force (U-I) 100 Calgary Shows Bounce; 'Pauline' Top Picture CALGARY — The fall season got off to a good start, although there were a couple of unaccountably weak days last week. Each of the first runs had either good marquee names or story draw, so that all started off well. With fine fall weather prevailing, outdoor activities still provide strong rivalry to theatremen. Capitol — Perils of Pauline (Para) Very good G-ond — Ramrod (UA) Good P:lace — Romance of Rosy Ridge (MGM) Good Based on lames Boys' Lives Republic has acquired “The 'Vanishing Express,” a story based on an incident in the lives of Frank and Jesse James. Banker Puls in Plug For Montreal Center MONTREAL — Work on the proposed civic center behind Central station should be started without delay, T. Taggart Smyth, general manager of the Montreal City and District Savings bank, declared in an address under the auspices of the City Improvement league and the Municipal Service bureau. Motion picture theatres will be included in the center. Smyth commended the site as being the most logical to be found and said it was essential that it be situated near hotels and retail stores, railway and bus stations. Regarding cost, he held that while it would be greater now than in 1939, when it was near the realization stage, money is more plentiful now and there are brighter prospects of revenue. “The center should be considered not as an expenditure to be recouped by taxation but as a self-liquidating venture which will bring a profit to every citizen in Montreal as well as to the municipality itself,” he said. Smyth insisted the center would serve as a nucleus of an over-all plan to promote the tourist industry in Montreal and incidentally the country’s export trade. Astral Gets French Films OTTAWA — Ross McLean, government film commissioner, announced that Astral Films will distribute the National Film board French-language series “'Vigie” in addition to the “En Avant Canada” series which is the French equivalent of the long-established Canada Carries On group. 2700 Used Theatre Chairs, upholstered backs, spring cushions, $3 each f.o.b. Rochester, N. Y. contact — Jack McGrath, 1046 Broadway, 5-5055 Albany, N. Y. SPECIAL SALE for a limited time only Glidden Mezzotone Protein Wall Finish Dries in 30 Minutes. Sound quality of surface unchanged. Economical Choice of Pastel Colors. BOOTH HLM SERVICE. LTD. Day or Night Dial M4530 803 Sixth Street West Calgary, Alla. FOR SALE: THEATRE CHAIRS W* now hara a vary large stock of excellent reconditioned (as new) Theatre ChoirB Quantities up to 1200 of a kind IMMEDIATE DELIVERY NOW ^ New all-steel construction spring edge, hiohest quality theatre chairs available. 7500 yards of Imported carpet direct from England and Scotland Inquiries Respectfully Solicited LA SALLE RECREATIONS LTD. (Theatre Seating and Carpet DivLion) S. A. LECHTZIER, Pres. 945 Granville St. Vancouver. B. C. BOXOFFICE :: September 13, 1947 139