The Exhibitor (1953)

EXHIBITOR NT-1 JVEWS OF THE Boston Crosstown “Moulin Rouge” is set for a Feb. 26 opening at Loew’s Orpheum. Loew’s State, which ordinarily plays day-anddate with the Orpheum, will bring back “Ivanhoe.” A schedule set for Zsa Zsa Gabor in connection with “Moulin Rouge” had to be postponed because she flew to Italy to visit her ill husband. Samuel Pinanski, president, American Theatres Corporation, was laid up at home with a cold, and was out of his office for nearly a week. Martin J. Mullin, presi¬ dent, New England Theatres, was laid up at the same time with a bad cold. The Brattle, Cambridge, Mass., for many years a legitimate theatre, re¬ novated for films, reopened with a new policy of foreign films, starting with “The Captain From Kopenick.” Cyrus Harvey, Jr., and Bryant Haliday are the new owners and managers handling their own buying and booking. A new projection booth was necessary, and the new owners put in rear projection equipment, installed by Massachusetts Theatre Supply, the first in New England with the exception of a summer situation in the Mount Washington Hotel, Bretton Woods, N. H. The theatre has been re¬ seated. To introduce the new policy, Harvey and Haliday threw a press party, when the guests inspected the renovations and new decorations. Bob Holland has been signed by the Redstone Drive-In Theatres for a man¬ agerial position when the season starts. He is the son of Eddie Holland, city editor, The Boston Record, and has done promotional work for Metro under Floyd Fitzsimmons, New England publicist. Henry Kamuda, Grand, Indian Orchard, Me., made one of his rare visits to town, . . . Russell Martin building a new drive-in in Cornish, Me., after selling his Sanford, Me., Drive-In to E. M. Loew, was in with Mrs. Martin. . . . Another visitor was Lucien B. Phillips, at the Weymouth, Weymouth, Me., for the past 10 years. Irving Ludwig, Walt Disney Produc¬ tions, arrived for the opening of “Peter Pan” at the Keith Memorial, and will visit other key cities in advance of the film. E. M. Loevc, New England exhibitor, has been elected a member of the board and vice-president, Les Hafner and Com¬ pany, which has rights to the Mark Hellinger story properties. Film District Mori Krushner, head of national ex¬ ploitation, United Artists, was being taken around town by Joe Mansfield UA publicist, and introduced to newspaper Banner Attendance At IE One-Day Meet Boston — Approximately 50 members were present at the annual luncheon meet¬ ing and election of officers of Independent Exhibitors, Inc., New England Allied unit, at the Town House. Ray Feeley, executive secretary, read his annual report. Eddie Comi, head, Massachusetts Thea¬ tre Equipment Company, spoke on thirddimension, saying that “exhibitors should have in readiness a complete survey on the physical properties of their theatres, in the event they are considering equip¬ ping any of the various new systems of projection. These surveys should be made by qualified and unbiased engineers so that the changeover can be made quickly, efficiently, and at a minimum of expense.” Norman C. Glassman, out-going presi¬ dent, spoke on the National Allied con¬ vention to be held at the Sheraton Plaza Hotel from Oct. 3-7, He was recently appointed general chairman. Irving A. Isaacs, new president, addressed the group following the elec¬ tion. He first praised the accomplish¬ ments of the out-going administration, and then said, “Sound added a new stimulant which gave us a great boost. Theatre TV and third-dimension won’t give it the same kind of boost because the great attraction in our business is the program, not the system by which it is presented.” He further added that the wise showman should cash in on the three-dimensional opportunities, but he must make certain that he can recapture his investment plus a profit in a reason¬ ably short time. Before the luncheon, a meeting of the Drive-In Theatre Association of New England was called by Ted Rosenblatt, president. Among the business brought up was further discussions on the plan for cooperative highway billboard adver¬ tising on the heavily traveled main routes. The committee appointed on this matter, Edward Redstone, Julian Rifkin, and Donald Sweenie, made plans for a concentrative get-together with Ray Feeley, executive secretary, to work out the details. editors, feature writers, and drama editors on forthcoming UA product, particularly “Moulin Rouge.” Eddie Klein, head, Bay State Films, was vacationing in Miami, Fla., but his salesman, Louis Josephs, was forced to a hospital with a bad cold while he was basking in the sun. Marked Sanitary Products is moving to 183 Commercial Street, Malden, Mass., where it will continue to service theatres, hospitals, schools and allied fields with its extensive lines of janitor supplies. The company has reorganized, and a new corporation has been formed, ButcherMarkell Sales Company of Malden. Phil Marked, a well-known and beloved figure on Film Row, has been in the industry 35 years, the first man in New England to specialize in cleaning suppdes for thea¬ tres. He and his son, Joseph Marked, New England Bowling Theatrical Bowling League Third Week’s Bowling1 (Second Half) STANDINGS Won Lost United Artists 3 All Stars . . . . 5 Harry’s Snack Bar . 6 Affiliated . 6 MGM . 7 Independents .. 9 All Stars . Harry’s Snack Bar . 1 Independents , . 1 United Artists . . ... 2 MGM . Affiliated . ... 2 High single: J. Freeman — 131. High team single: MGM — 514. High three single: J. Free man — 334. High team three: MGM — 1446. INDIVIDUAL AVERAGES J. Freeman , . .. 106.0 Rahilly . 90.8 Jennings . . , . Feinstein . 90.7 J. Young .... Trainor . 89.5 Bradley ..... Asdot . 89 4 Owens . 88 8 Segal . Hill . 87 8 Sandler . Hy Young . 86ffi Prager . 85 2 Burlone . McCarthy . 84 ] 1 Gates . Pugh . 83.6 Farrington . . . . . 92.5 Glazier . 82.4 Smith . 81 5 Serra . L. Freeman . . . 81.3 Field . Cohan . 78.2 Rowe . . 72.6 Alternates Kapitt . McDonough .... 84.3 associated with him for the past five years, are officers in the new corporation with Charles Butcher, also an officer in Butcher Polish Company, maker of waxes and polish for ad uses. March 1 is the date set for the Markells to move to Malden. Francis Mason entered the air force, and resigned his shipper’s position at Warners. He is replaced by Stanley Trask, formerly a counter man at Harry’s Snack Bar. New Haven Crosstown When it looked like the Davey vs. Gavillan bout would interfere with patronage, the three “W” houses adver¬ tised TV showings in their lobbies. Boy Scouts and Explorers of the Quinnipiac Council attended a Camp Sequassen rally at Loew Pod College, through cooperation of division manager Harry F. Shaw and manager Sidney Kleper. . . . Morris Rosenthal, manager, Loew’s Pod, and managing editor Roger A. Connolly, The Register, arranged for a special showing of “Hans Cristian Andersen” for orphanages at Loew’s Pod. . . . For “Thunderbirds,” a New Haven unit of the National Guard manned the recruiting booth in Jim Darby’s Para¬ mount. . . . Walt Griffith, formerly with Poli and now in Charlotte, received story in The News of that city. His wife has been secretary, Theatre Owners of North and South Carolina, over 24 years. . . . Irving Hillman, Roger Sherman, for “The Jazz Singer,” received music store tieup and window arrangements on the album. . . . The Register gave an editorial on MGM’s “The Hoaxsters.” . . . The Loew Poli College had new Peerless Magnarc arc lamps, sold by National Theatre Supply, installed. Henry Cleveland, superintendent, Loew’s Poli building, won first prize in oils and second prize in overall art com¬ petition at the 105th Boston Poultry Show. February 25, 1953 NEW ENGLAND