The Exhibitor (1949)

THE EXHIBITOR NT-1 NliWS OF THK Boston Crosstown As Embassy’ s “Paisan” went into its seventh week at the Exeter, it established two records, one for the Exeter, which had never had any film longer than four weeks, and another for out-of-town showings of the picture, now in its 45th week in New York. For the moveover of “Joan Of Arc” to the Astor, members of the Army and NAvy Legion of Honor were guests of honor opening night. Jeff Sullivan, manager, Astor, reports that many schools are buying blocks of tickets in advance so that they can attend a showing in a group. The executive offices of American Theatres Corporation are now located in permanent quarters in the ATC building, 646 Washington. Street, Boston. The circuit, headed by Samuel Pinanski, has been occupying temporary office space while awaiting the re¬ modelling of its own building, which is adjacent to the flagship of the ATC, the Pilgrim. (Beg pardon, but there seemed to be a mixup in the caption accompanying the photograph showing the name of the Olympia, Boston, being changed to the Pilgrim, which appeared in the issue of Feb. 2. The beauteous damsel just happened to be around when the name was changed, and the theatre is not in Brookline, Mass., but in Boston, Thanks go to the folks who pointed out the error. It won’ t happen again. -Ed. ) Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. , was in last week for the world premiere of “The Fighting 0’ Flynn” at the RKO, Boston. Fairbanks’ trip was the first stop in a nine-city tour he is making on be¬ half of CARE and the picture. Theatremen are certain to give their cooperation when The Bay State Society for the Crippled and Handicapped, Inc., will open its fourth annual Easter Seal campaign on March 17 to raise $275,000 to meet the ever¬ growing appeals for help from persons heretofore largely neglected. Harold D, Hodgkinson and Thomas A. Pappas have been named co-chairmen for the New England Heart Association’ s campaign to finance this section’ s share of a $5,000,000 national pro¬ gram, Dr. Laurence B, Ellis of Boston, Association, president, has announced. In a joint statement, the co-chairmen urged wholehearted public support of the campaign from Feb. 7 to 28. Deletions approved last fortnight by the Bureau Of Sunday Censorship were as follows: “Cesar”, parts 1 to 14. (Deletions: English captions and accompanying French dialogue, “-who seduced you.’’, in part 4. English captions and accompanying French dialogue, “So your Marius made love to mother?”; “Wouldn’ t touch her with a barge pole.”; “Actually, my mother was the mistress of a barman...”, in part 5. English caption and accom¬ panying French dialogue, “Go see a doctor at once. Have him give you a thorough examination, and give me your underwear so I can have it disin¬ fected.”; “-they sold their wives to their friends. ”; “. . . these my old husband couldn’t give me.”; “...which lacked nothing. .. neither tears nor the taste of sin. ”, in part 9. English caption and accompanying French dialogue, "...Oh, the one I sold?”; “...I kept her for five years.”, in part 11. English caption and accom¬ panying French dialogue, “I’d be like the foreman who makes love to the boss’ wife.”, in part 14). Siritsky ....“Slightly French”, Parts 1 to 8. (Deletions: Scene showing sailor picking up girl and entering house, in part 6). Columbia. FILM DISTRICT Phil Berler, E. M. Loew' s, was recuperating at his home after a serious attack of virus pneumonia .... George Pall, Capitol, Lynn, Mass., visited friends in the district.... George Roghaar, president, New England Film Service, Inc. , Boston, returned recently from an extended business trip throughout the terri¬ tory. ...Al Rudenstein, Capitol, Bridgewater, Mass. , and Stonehara, Stoneham, Mass. , appears to be the busiest man in the district for it seems that he can constantly be seen dropping into practically every exchange and supply house along film row. The Boston branch and district of¬ fice of SRO consolidated with Eagle Lion on Feb. 5, all physical distri¬ bution of SRO plus residual sales on “The Paradine Case”, “Duel In The Sun”, and “Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House” are being handled by Eagle Lion. Circuit sales and release date situations on future SRO product will continue to be handled in this territory by Tom Duane, district mana¬ ger, who will continue to operate in this district as SRO representative, with headquarters at Eagle Lion. James E. Kennedy, Brookline, Mass., president. Theatre Quizz, Inc., was arraigned in Somerville, Mass. , Dis¬ trict Court, on charges arising out of an investigation by State Police of his activities as president of Theatre Quizz, Inc. Kennedy was brought to State police headquarters, and As¬ sistant District Attorney Sprague requested that he be held under $5000 bail, double surety. Al Swerdlove, president. Screen Guild, advised that “S. 0. S. Submarine” was held over for a second week at the Paramount and Fenway. ... Ross Cropper, branch manager, RKO, was welcomed back to the exchange after il Iness. . . . Mike Lammazzo, Park, Nashua, N. H. , dropped into RKO on his latest visit to Boston.... Ed Foulds, Central Square, Cambridge, Mass., left for an extended Florida vacation. ... Ben Rosenwald, branch manager, MGM, Boston, and Herman Ripps, assistant eastern division sales manager, attended the west coast sales convention. The regular monthly meeting of the Motion Picture operators Union, Local 182, was held at the Hotel Bradford, presided over by Joseph Nuzzulo, president. ... “Doc” Henry Gleken, chief projectionist, Pilgrim, re¬ cently returned from a television convention in New York City, and was feted by his friends at the local union quarters. Samuel Resnick, Playhouse, Andover, Mass, visited with Ray Feeley, Inde¬ pendent Exhibitors. ... Louis Score, Randolph, Randolph, Me., was in with his daughter. . . . Irving Greene, Greene Circuit, left the cold weather behind when he went on a month’ s vacation in Florida with his family. ... Leonard Richter, Star, Pascoag, R. I., made the rounds of the exchanges to tell everyone of his return from Florida. Marcella Leiberman, PBX Operator, United Artists, resigned, and left for New York, where she will take up permanent residence. . . . Dorothy Ocnof f, booking manager, Screen Guild, re¬ turned to her duties after a short illness. ... Dorothy Blumenthal, office manager. Screen Guild, is planning an 18-day cruise to South America later this month. Mrs. Lila Izen Shapiro, wife of David M. Shapiro, president. Whole¬ some Film Service, is recuperating from a major operation at the New England Sanatorium, Melrose, Mass., where she will remain for the next few weeks. Mr. and Mrs. Shapiro are widely known as motion picture pioneers in the New England area in the edu¬ cational field, and were formerly in 35mm. until 1927, at which time they entered the 16mm. educational field, to establish and maintain one of the finest libraries in New England, ser¬ vicing not only New England but the entire country. Mrs. Shapiro served as general sales manager and director. Community Motion Picture Service, during World War I and supervised the distribution of motion pictures to all army bases throughout the entire country. Many of her trainees have gone on to positions of great importance in the industry. Robert F. Egan, office manager, Manco Service and Supply, resigned for a position out of the industry. Ben Goldberg, president, SpalterInternational. was in for a conference with Joseph Levine and Joseph Wolf, Embassy. ... Congratulations go to Toni Russo, Star, St. Johnsbury, Vt. , and Mrs. Russo on the birth of their daughter, Donna Maria, on Jan. 28. The district was saddened to hear of the death of Mrs. Gloria Best, San Antonio, Tex. Mrs. Best was the daughter of Ken Prickett, MGM field representative. . . . Joan Mansfield, former assistant to Art Moger, February 16, 1949 New England