The Exhibitor (1953)

EXHIBITOR NT-1 JCKWS OF THE Boston Crosstown TV viewers were able to see some of the telecasting of the Academy Award presentations from Hollywood after first being told that a sponsor conflict would not allow any of the show to be aired here. WBZ-TV finally cleared sufficient time to take one hour of the 90-minute telecast for March 19. Channel 4 carried the final 60 minutes of the program so that the major presentations were viewed over TV even if the first-half was not. The 10:30 to 11 p.m. was held for the regular showing of “Ozzie and Harriet.” However, the entire 90-minute show emanated over WBZ direct from Holly¬ wood. Mrs. Michael Bruno, wife of the owner, Tilton, Tilton, N. H., was in Franklin Hospital recovering from surgery. . . . “Jed” Prouty, who has managed several theatres in this area, has gone to New London, Conn., to manage the Victory for owner Morris Pouzzner. Sympathy is extended to Archie Silverman, owner-operator, Strand, Providence, R. I., in the death of his brother, Charles Silverman, 74. Promotion and exploitation for driveins was the chief topic of discussion at a district meeting of Interstate Thea¬ tres Corporation, called by President Theodore Fleisher. This circuit operates four open-airers in New England which will be in full swing by mid-April. Present were James Mahoney, general manager; district managers Joe Bean, Chris Joyce, and E. G. Neumann; Ernest Fitzgerald, booker, and Neal Green, and James Godsill, both of Relston, Inc., candy and concession dealer. In connection with 20th-Fox’s “To¬ night We Sing,” Beacon Hill, April 17, Phil Engel, 20th-Fox publicist, arranged for a special screening of the film for members of the Boston Con¬ servatory of Music, music students, and for Aaron Richmond, concert managerimpressario. The Sunday papers of March 15 used three separate items and pictures of three theatremen doing their bit for various charitable and worthwhile organizations. Charles E. Kurtzman, northeastern division manager, Loew’s Theatres, has been named general chair¬ man, Mental Health Fund for Massachu¬ setts, appointed by the New York head¬ quarters. “Mental Health Week,’’ May 3-9, will be the occasion to launch the first national fund-raising campaign to combat mental illness. “No physical illness,” Kurtzman said, “causes as much damage as mental illness, yet far less is being done to combat mental ill health.” Robert Sternburg, district manager, New England Theatres, Inc., Fred R. Greenway, Loew-Poli Palace, Hartford, Conn., and his assistant, A1 l esso.v, erected this special false front for a recent engagement of a United Artists’ revival bill. has again been named production man¬ ager for the fourth annual “Celebrities Night” show to be held at the Boston Garden on April 26 for the benefit of the Jewish Memorial Hospital’s building fund. Tickets are available for the show at the Jewish Memorial Hospital, 45 Townsend Street, Roxbury, Mass. George Swartz, former theatre owner and ex¬ hibitor who is now an insurance execu¬ tive, was presented the 1953 Brother¬ hood Award at the installation of officers of Louis D. Brandeis Post, Jewish War Veterans, in Temple Mishkan Tefila School, Roxbury. Swartz was the 1953 campaign director, “The March of Dimes.” When Andrew Tegu’s new drive-in in Woodsville, N. H., is in operation in April, it will be the first drive-in in this area to have full 3-D Century booth equipment. The booth, itself, is unusual in that it has room enough for four projectors, all of Century make and installed by Massachusetts Theatre Equipment Company. There is to be a large bay window in the rear of the booth, where the spectators can observe the projectionists at work, a device to lend color and interest. The theatre is also equipped with the large six inch Diec-ast Co-op speakers, a large screen, and a fully equipped playground for kiddie attraction. The drive-in will ac¬ commodate 400 cars, and is the first open-airer of the Tegu Circuit. President Abram L. Sachar and Arthur II. Lockwood, chairman, motion picture committee, Brandeis LTniversity, met re¬ cently in Boston to discuss plans for the production of a film to tell the story of Brandeis. New England Bowling Theatrical Bowling League Seventh Week’s Bowling (Second Half) STANDINGS Harry’s Snack Affiliated . United Artists All Stars . Bar . Won . 17 15 Lost 11 11 13 L3 MGM . 15 Independents . . 21 Harry’s Snack Bar . 4 MGM . Independents . , . 0 Affiliated . United Artists . 3 All Stars . High single: J. Freeman131. High team single: MGM -523 (season’s high). High three single: J. Freeman -334 (season’s high). High team three: MGM -1450 (season’s high). INDIVIDUAL AVERAGES J . freeman . . . . . 103.0 Asdot . 90.6 Jennings . . . 99.3 Serra . 90.3 Kirchick . . . 96.7 Rahilly . 89.5 Smith . 88.7 83.7 Prager . . . 94.0 Hy Young . Farrington . . . . . 93.7 Feinstein . 88.4 J. Young . . 93.5 Glazier . 85.9 Field . . 93.2 Pugh . 84.8 Gates . . 93.0 84.7 84.0 Bradley . . 92.9 Lynde . Owens . . 92.2 L. Freeman .... 80.7 Hill . 80.4 78.4 Sandler . . 91.8 Cohan . Segal . . 91.3 Rowe . 75.0 Berlone . 91.0 McSorley . Alternates 72.8 Kapitt . . 103.0 Hoc-hberg . 84.6 Morton . . 96.6 Twig . 80.0 A Century projector with the full 3-D equipment has been on display in the lobby of the Rex, Manchester, N. H., for two weeks, and has caused consider¬ able interest. The projectors will shortly be installed in the booth of the theatre by Massachusetts Theatre Equipment as the Rex’s owner, Lucien Decouteux, has purchased all new Century booth equip¬ ment. When the Lockwood and Gordon Circuit opens its latest drive-in in Showhegan, Me., in May, it will have the latest 3-D Century booth equipment, installed by Massachusetts Theatre Equipment. This theatre will accom¬ modate 450 cars. Bruce Glassman, who operates the Lafayette, Haverhill, Mass., and the Rialto, Lowell, Mass., with his dad, Norman Glassman, signed for two years of active duty with the army reserves, reporting at Camp Devens, Mass. Philip Smith, president, Smith Man¬ agement Company, interrupted his Florida vacation to return north to over¬ see the reopenings of his circuit of driveins. His Rutherford, N. J., theatre re Bernie Goffin, manager, Crown, New Haven, received nice cooperation from the air force for the recent showing of United Artists’ “Breaking the Sound Barrier,” and arranged a window in the recruiting center and a sound truck. March 25, 1953 NEW ENGLAND