The Exhibitor (1951)

NT-2 EXHIBITOR Ray Feeley, Independent Exhibitors, Inc., and Frank Lydon, Allied Theatres, traveled to Concord, N. H., to keep watchful eyes on proposed legislation aimed at the industry. Reports around the district are that Arthur Lockwood, toastmaster, and Hy Fine, Boston’s own ‘‘Sam Levenson,” knocked ’em dead at the testimonial din¬ ner to Herman Levy in New Haven re¬ cently. More than 200 members and friends of the Salesmen’s Club attended the annual dinner at the Latin Quarter. According to all reports, it was quite a shindig. A meeting of Giles Circuit managers, called by John S. Giles, was held. The morning session was taken up with screenings of “Up Front” and "Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man,” followed by luncheon at the Hideaway and a screening of “Target Unknown.” Later, exploitation and operational dis¬ cussions were held at the Uptown, with Alden Peterson, district manager; H. Hall and E. B. Cavanaugh, Uptown; Ralph Morris, Laconia, N. H., James Collins and Tony Bianco, Framingham, Mass., and Fred Burgess, Gardner, Mass., present. Giles plans to call similarmeetings every six weeks. New Haven Crossfown Jim Darby’s Paramount had a nice campaign for “Air Cadet.” Mayor Celentano proclaimed “Air Cadet Week,’’ and the air force recruiting office assisted with radio and TV interviews. A jet pilot air man suit was on display. Walter Wilson, Paramount assistant, was scheduled to go into the army. . . . New assistant at Jim Darby’s theatre is Lenny Edwards, formerly at the Em¬ press, South Norwalk. . . . On April Fool’s Day, Syd Kleper, College, had 100 rolls bearing bank wrappings in¬ dicating they held 50 cents in pennies dropped on central streets. Persons who picked them up found rolls containing only two cents, one penny flanking each end of small round piece of wood, which also held a slip entitling the finder to a guest admission. A “Lullaby of Broadway” album tieup with music stores was made to bally the picture at Ed Lynch’s Roger Sherman. . . . Syd Kleper and his College staff set some co-op. ads as part of the pub¬ licity campaign for “Inside Straight.” . . . Toby Baker, WELI disc-jockey, as¬ sisted the Elks in the sponsorship of a cerebral palsy fund benefit show at the Whitney. . . . Sherman Padowitz, form¬ erly at the Poli, says his brother, How¬ ard, is now working for MGM in the Indiana territory. . . . Morris Rosen¬ thal, manager, Poli, and his staff worked out some nice angles to bally “Father’s Little Dividend.” A diaper service gave one month’s free diaper service to all babies born here on opening day at the Poli. ... It was good news to hear that Mrs. Bill Brown, wife of the former Bijou manager, is recuperating satisfac¬ torily at Newington Hospital. . . . Lou Morris, former student assistant, College, has been transferred to the Bijou to be City Councilman Milton Nahum is seen bidding goodbye to student assistant Jim Doran, Loew’s Poli, Hartford, Conn., on the latter leaving for active duty with the U. S. Air Force. Doran is the first downtown theatreman called since the beginning of the Korean hostilities. assistant manager to manager Paul Klinger . . . A. J. Scalise resigned. . . . Among the recent angles set by Klinger and staff were the following: for “The Great Missouri Raid,” the staff was dressed in cowboy and cowgirl outfits in advance with appropriate banners, etc., while for “Pancho Villa Returns,” Klinger had his aides in Mexican regalia. . . . Herman Hegalwald, Bijou stagehand, returned from a vacation. Meadow Street Despite the bad weather, the Plainfield indoor house and drive-in was opened by Ed Lord. Donat Blaine, former owner, Jodoin, Baltic, is manager. Among the hardy souls who braved the storm to attend the opening were Phil Gravitz, MGM branch manager; John Riccuitti, Connecticut Films, and Charles Lane, New Haven Drive-In. The New Haven Drive-In was due to open. . . . The Post Drive-In, East Haven, reopened. ... A benefit show sponsored by the Newtown Scholarship Association was scheduled for Edmond Town Hall. . . . Carolyn Marra, a mem¬ ber of the Elite Recreation Girls team, gave the top exhibition of duckpin bowl¬ ing in a six game sweepstakes as she captured the sixth Annual Silver City Classic with a sparkling 821 pinfall. She John A. D’Amato, manger, Palace, New Britain, Conn., has been using false theatre fronts since the Perakos Circuit house launched a first-run policy. He makes them up himself at an average cost of $6. using stock three, six and 24-sheets, mounted on beaver board, cut out, and tacked on panels. This is one for 20th-Fox’s “Halls of Montezuma.” led a field of 34 entries in the two-day event, and was awarded $60. Miss Marra, Republic employee, is regarded as one of the most promising female rollers in the state. The E. M. Loew Drive-In, Berlin Pike, reopened. So did the E. M. Loew DriveIn, Montville. . . . The Lake Drive-In, Waterbury, reopening was postponed. . . . Carl Halpin, manager, E. M. Loew, Milford, returned from Florida. Hugh A. Maguire, office manager, RKO, resigned to take a position as salesman with Paramount. He was due to replace John Kane, Paramount sales¬ man, reported to go back to the Boston territory. . . . Lee Kisner, booker, RKO, was to be upped to office manager. A farewell party to Maguire and a testi¬ monial event to Miss Kisner was schedul¬ ed for Fisherman’s Nook by fellow RKOlians. . . . Jack DeWaal, RKO home office representative, was in from New York. Circuits Loew Poli Congratulations were in order to A1 Domian, Globe, Bridgeport, on the new addition, a baby boy. . . . Press and radio get togethers for “Quo Vadis” were held in Hartford, New Haven, and Springfield, Mass. Morgan Hudgins, press re¬ lations rep. for the film, was the high¬ light feature of the press luncheons. He gave statistics regarding the production and also showed slides. The get togethers were attended by press and radio, L-P managers, division manager Harry F. Shaw, and publicity director Lou Brown. . . . The “Royal Wedding ” bally was given a nice buildup by managers, with “Father’s Little Dividend” also getting nice attention. . . . Up in Meriden, Tony Masella, Palace, received plenty of news and sports page space with the donation of a trophy to the winning amateur basketball team in the Silver City. Connecticut Bloomfield Construction is to start on a new drivein project, with cost estimated in excess of $100,000. Philip W. Maher, Bloom¬ field, announced the project. Maher’s five-year temporary permit was upheld recently by the State Supreme Court of Errors. Bristol The Police Board approved a doublingup plan asked by two managers, who said that attendance had dropped sharp¬ ly, and economy was in order. The theatremen then asked about the policemen, whom they pay to keep the peace during performances, be permitted to act as doormen on the side. They noted that the plan had been tried successfully in Torrington. The policemen will do double duty if the Corporation Counsel ap¬ proves. Hartford George E. Landers, division manager, E. M. Loew’s Theatres, announced the appointment of Jim Cotoia, former man¬ ager, Art, Springfield, Mass., as man April 11, 1951