The Exhibitor (1953)

NT-2 EXHIBITOR Meadow Street First showing of the stereo techniques shown at the Poli, Bridgeport, brought comment. . . . National Theatre Supply sold the 3-D equipment to the Poli, Bridgeport. . . . The Lord, Norwich, was installing a new Walker screen. . , . The Capitol, Meriden, also was getting a new Walker screen as were the Hamil¬ ton and Lido, Waterbury. . . . Preliminary stages of construction for the new Man¬ chester Drive-in, Bolton, were in evidence. Detective Edward Hubbell took into custody a 13-year-old Milford boy who stole a polio container from the Capitol, Milford. . . . John Melley, Klein Memorial, Bridgeport, and his wife returned from a Florida vacation. The Webb, Wethersfield, had a benefitshowing. Circuits Loew Poll The Poli, Norwich, had the stereo¬ techniques film booked in. . . . Harry Bernard, RKO exploitation department, was in Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, and Waterbury for “Peter Pan.” . . . Irving Shiffrin, RKO, was in on “Hans Christian Andersen.” . . . Division man¬ ager Harry F. Shaw, publicity director Lou Brown, MGM branch manager Phil Gravitz, Floyd Fitzsimmons, MGM ex¬ ploitation representative, and Lou Cohen, Poli, Hartford, represented the industry when “The Hoaxsters” was screened for legislature members in Hartford. . . . Wedding anniversary congratulations were in order to Bob Carney, Waterbury Poli manager, and his wife, Anne. . . . Tony Masella, Palace, Meriden, planted a color laughing clown contest with guest tickets given. Variety Clubs Tent 31, New Haven Monthly meetings are seeing a gradual increase in attendance. . . . The women’s auxiliary is expected to begin its social activity when the weekly “Family Night” plan is instituted. Connecticut Bridgeport Jim Tobin, after seven months “on the road,” has come back as manager, Warners. Pending approval of the Federal Com¬ munications Commission, Harry Liftig, owner, WSJL, the local UHF television station to be launched this summer on Channel 49 will be taken over by Matthew Fox, president, Motion Pictures for Tele¬ vision Corporation; Lewis F. Blumberg, son of U-I’s Nate J. Blumberg, and Basil Estreich, formerly with the Department of Justice and for the past eight years associated with Fox in a legal and execu¬ tive capacity. Liftig says he plans to remain a dominant figure in the opera¬ tion of WSJL, retaining a large financial interest and as a member of the board of directors. Blumberg will be in charge of all production, Estreich will become resident manager, and Fox will be chair¬ man of the board and available for advice in operations. Piper Laurie, U-I star, recently visited New Haven to aid in the campaign on “The Mississippi Gambler,” Paramount, and is here seen at a luncheon reception with, left to right, Matt Saunders, Loew’s Poli, Bridgeport, Conn.; Carl Reardon, U-I New Haven branch manager; Harry Feinstein, New England manager, Warner Theatres, and Allen Widen, The Hartford, Conn., Times. Hartford Joe Giobbi, Crown, z*an a Saturday matinee pie-eating contest. . . . Doug Amos, Lockwood-Gordon-Rosen Theatres, is back from a vacation. Members of the governor’s staff, state legislature, State Police department and the Hartford press attended a screening of “The Hoaxsters” at the Bushnell Memorial as guests of Harry F. Shaw, Loew-Poli division manager, and Lou Cohen, Loew Poli manager. William G. Howard, manager, Plaza, Windsor, reports that high school students who attend preformances at the suburban theatre on two consecutive Fridays now get free admission on the third Friday. Premium cards have been issued to all high school pupils. The cards, non-transferable, must bear the signature of the holder. Cigarettes were stolen in a break at the Star. . . . Walter T. Murphy, Capitol, New London, gave away 1,000 Valentines. . . . Mickey Daly, Blue Hills Drive-In, is home from Florida. . . . Hugh J. Camp¬ bell, Central, West Hartford, now has thi'ee sons in service, Hugh, Jr., air force; Jack, army; and Ray, marines. New Britain In an unusual action, a minor is suing another for injuries allegedly received in a local theatre accident on Feb. 3, 1952. Ray McNamara, left, Allyn, Hartford, Conn., had National Guard cooperation for the recent opening of Republic’s “Thunderbirds,” with Guard represent¬ atives delivering the print to the theatre. Linda Pinto, through her mother, Celia Tamarit, brought a $5,000 Court of Common Pleas suit against Ronald Rund, also of New Britain, on the charges that she was seriously cut about the face by falling glass in the State. According to the writ, Linda and Ronald were among a group of patrons asked to leave the theatre by the policeman on duty there because it was overcrowded. The patrons, mostly youngsters, were asked to stand behind glass doors at the entrance until there was seating room in the theatre. The writ further states that Linda obeyed the officer, but Ronald resisted, and a scuffle ensued during which the glass door was shattered. The plaintiff claimed she was cut on the face by the falling glass. Manchester The 26th annual Manchester Police Mutual Aid Association stage show was presented at the State. Torrington Albert Schleicher, formerly manager, Warner, Bridgeport, has been named manager, Palace, Torrington, replacing Robert Hills. West Hartford The Central is marking its seventh year of offering Saturday morning children’s shows. Windsor Henry Kuchunos, chief projectionist, Plaza, tripped to Florida on vacation. . . . James Vassallo, ex-Strand, Winsted, projectionist, is new boothman at the Plaza. He succeeds Dick Mahoney, now at the Webb, Wethersfield. Massachusetts Brockton Harold F. Kayes, 52, who died, was formerly manager, Capitol, Pittsfield, Mass., and the Paramount, North Adams, Mass. Holyoke James H. Baker and New England Theatres Corporation, holders on an assignment from the Western Massa¬ chusetts Theatres, Inc., extended the lease on the Strand to April 2, 1972. New seats are to be installed. Lynn The weekend policy adopted two months ago at the Modern, Lawrence, Mass., is being tried out at the Waldorf, which, after a long closing, reopened with shows on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Stephen Barbett, manager, Warner, Lawrence, is acting manager until manager Royce Beckman, local Warner, takes over. Waterbury Mrs. Julia Smith Z.oeller, manager, State, withdrew her $5,000 action against the city of New Haven. She had claimed she tripped on a defective part of a side¬ walk on College Street, New Haven, on July 26, 1950, and suffered injuries. The case was partially tried before a jury when settlement between the parties was effected, and the case taken off the docket. February 25, 1953