The Exhibitor (1954)

NT-4 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR maine, John Pavone, Ted Jacocks, Sam Rosen, Walter Silverman, Rudy Fraink, Sam Wasserman, R. G. Elliano, Jack Halperin, A. M. Pickus, Morris Jacob¬ son, Raymond McNamara, Herman M. Levy, Maurice Bailey, George Wilkinson, Patrick Goode, George Weber, James Darby, and Sam Germaine, treasurer. The affair is being sponsored by the Variety Club, Tent 31, and others in the industry. David and Irving Jacobson have taken over the Palace, Torrington, and Bris¬ tol, Bristol, formerly operated by the Warner Theatres interests. . . . The Circle, Manchester, is in the process of being altered into a warehouse. More than fifty motion picture people were present at a “Sid Cooper Going Away” testimonial luncheon at Kaysey’s in honor of the UA branch manager. Sam Germaine and Alex Schimel were in charge of arrangements. Henry Ger¬ maine made the “going away gift” pres¬ entation to Cooper, a clock radio. At the Warner branch, there were some lucky clover on the doors. Copy read, “Get Lucky — We Mean ‘Lucky Me,’ starring Doris Day.” Sam Rosen, Rosen Film Delivery, is back from the southland . Lew Gins¬ berg, Amalgamated Buying and Book¬ ing, returned from his southern trip. Hy Levine is representing Screen Guild. . . . Henry Germaine, Paramount branch manager, reported that “Roman Holiday” and “Stalag 17” was getting lots of repeat bookings. . . . A1 Smith, formerly at Republic and now on the police force at Woodbridge, is a mem¬ ber of the committee sponsoring the testimonial dinner to Woodbridge Police Chief Richard Ciarleglio. . . . The New Plainville Drive-In was definitely set for opening. . . . Charles Leach, formerly with a checking service in the territory and now assistant tax collector for Islip, N. Y., was a house guest of Columbia salesman Earl Wright and Mrs. Wright. E. Gasparri spent $14,000 to install the new CinemaScope and other equip¬ ment at his Win, Waterbury. . . . The Hamilton, Waterbury, installed stereo¬ phonic sound and opened with “The Robe,” day-and-date with the Win. . . . Sam Cornish, Niantic, has been busy in his restaurant next to the theatre preparing for the summer rush. . . . Sol Shiffrin has resigned as booker in the Columbia exchang-e, Albany, and planned to go to New York, where his wife has her family. Warner scheduled a trade screening of “Dial M For Murder” at the Roger Sherman on April 26. . . . George Somrna, Republic branch manager, changed his old auto for a new one. . . . The Pickwick, Greenwich, closed for renova¬ tion and installation of a new VistaVision screen. Circuits Loew Poli Division manager Harry F. Shaw re¬ turned from Panama. . . . All managers were working on “Rose Marie.” Connecticut Hartford The wide-screen installation was com¬ pleted at the Hartford Drive-In, New¬ ington, the new space measuring 43 feet high and 76 feet wide, as compared to 40 by 60. George E. Landers, E. M. Loew’s division manager, said similar screens would be installed at drive-ins at Riverdale, Milford, Farmington, and Norwich, with large screens also planned for E. M. Loew’s, Md. William Brown, city manager in Manchester for Stanley Warner, resigned. . . . William Horgan, assistant manager, Strand, resigned. Marquees at the Loew’s Poli and Palace were redecorated. . . . The Pine DriveIn completed extensive renovations, in¬ creasing car capacity to 1,400. An in¬ novation is a four-lane cafeteria-style snack bar. A milk shake and hamburger bar are a new service. Completely re¬ vamped was the sound system, including all speakers and amplifiers. In addition, the area has been completely resurfaced. Frank McQueemey is manager, with Joe Dolgin as booker. New children’s playground equip¬ ment was installed at E. M. Loew’s Hartford Drive-In, Newington. . . . Martin H. Kelleher, Princess, suffered a broken shoulder and was taken to St. Francis Hospital. Mrs. Maurice W. Shulman, wife of the Shulman Theatres executive, par¬ ticipated in the Hartford regional Girl Scout Institute. A certificate of incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State’s office for Consolidated Theatres, Inc., Stamford. Incorporators are David M. Rosen, Sydney C. Kweskin, and Julius B. Kuriansky, all of that city. Robert Dorfman, Walt Disney’s exploiteer, conferred with Ray McNamara, Allyn, on “The Living Desert.” Joe Dolgin, Pine Drive-In, and Mrs. Dolgin tripped to New York to attend a musical program featuring daughter Barbara. Meriden Lou Schaeffer has been named man¬ ager, Kounaris-Tolis Meriden. Middletown Sal Adorno, Jr., assistant general man¬ ager, M and D Theatres, launched a “Springtime Movie Parade” at the Palace and Capitol. Milford A proposal to construct a 600-car drive-in on Bridgeport Avenue was made to the Town Planning and Zoning Board. The site, formerly a golf driving range, is located a few hundred feet east of the intersection of Meadow’s End Road and Bridgeport Avenue. Wallingford George H. Wilkinson, Jr., president, MPTO of Connecticut, and owner, Wil¬ kinson and Strand, announced the sale of the Strand and land for an undisclosed sum to two Wallingford businessmen, Charles Thomas and Harold Granucci. The building may be torn down and com¬ pletely replaced with a new, modern commercial block under long range terms, the new owners disclosed. Massachusetts Lynn A protest was filed by the Lynn Real Estate Board with Mayor Arthur J. Frawley protesting the sale of land on Lynnway to E. M. Loew for his open air theatre, claiming that the gift of the land to the city 50 years ago was for harbor development purposes only. Loew leased the land for 17 years. Pittsfield Cafeteria-style food and refreshment service, inaugurated after a $10,000 building remodeling, is a new feature of the Berkshire Drive-In. Converted from a food and drink concession into an entirely new type of operation, it is located in the former concession’s quarters in the center of the 10-acre theatre plot. Louis Bondi is manager of the new food service. The drive-in was first opened in 1948. It has a capacity of 720 cars. Robert J. Sharby is manager. Salem The Empire reopened after closing a week for the installation of a wide-screen and other improvements. New Hampshire Claremont The Claremont Drive-In opened. The theatre will operate only on weekends during April. Lebanon The Lebanon Improvement Society sponsored a free Saturday morning show at the Lebanon Opera House for children under 12. Manchester The Pine Island Drive-In and the Sky Ray Drive-In opened. Milford Prices at the Latchis dropped. Eve¬ ning prices are now 45 cents for adults and 20 cents for children. Matinee prices are 30 cents for adults and 10 cents for children. Rhode Island Providence Fred W. Newcomb, secretary-treasurer, IATSE District, covering New England, died. April 21, 1954