The Exhibitor (1951)

BH'WS OF THE Boston Crosstown A bill which would ban drive-ins with¬ in a mile of a church or school was given a hearing by the legislature’s committee on mercantile affairs. The measure was introduced by Representative Thomas T. Gray, Springfield, Mass., Republican, who said a projected drive-in in Springfield near a church would create a traffic hazard. Several representatives from the Boston area supported the proposed leg¬ islation because it would apply to a drive-in in Dorchester, licensed by form¬ er Boston Mayor Curley. Speaking on behalf of the group building the Springfield drive-in, George B. Rittenberg, at¬ torney, contended the bill was discrim¬ inatory and unconstitutional. Arrangements for a special car to carry all members of the New England Variety Club to the national convention in Philadelphia, May 9-11 have been made. It is scheduled to leave Boston on May 8, with the Boston contingent stopping at the Drake Hotel. Dr. Sydney Farber, scientific director, Children’s Cancer Research, has been given special permission to report the work accom¬ plished by Variety Club, Tent 23, by its heart research at the national conven¬ tion. Dr. Farber is an international hon¬ orary member of Variety Club, and heads the “Jimmy Fund” Clinic. Ann Giles, daughter of John S. Giles, Giles Circuit, was married to Richard O. Fischer, St. Louis. The couple plans to set up housekeeping in Richmond Heights, a St. Louis suburb. The wife of Lou Levenson, American Theatre candy department, will appear in a pageant at Beth Israel Hospital. . . . The Copley closed again. Robert Rounseville, starring in “Tales of Hoffman,’’ and a native of Attleboro, Mass., was in, and attended a luncheon for the press. . . . The Jayson, East Weymouth, Mass., is now on a twice weekly change of bills instead of three weekly. Lillian Shektell, bookkeeper, Interstate home office, has been transferred to the circuit’s concession office, Relston, Inc., Brookline, Mass. She replaces Josephine DiNardo, resigned. Following a special national TV show plugging “Bird of Paradise,” A1 Margolian, Astor publicist, and Phil Engel, 20th-Fox exploiteer, bought one-minute slides on WNAC-TV. As if exhibs haven’t enough to worry about, WNAC-TV has recently been scheduling a three-and-a-half hour pro¬ gram of motion pictures over videowaves. EXHIBITOR Congratulations are in order to Mr. and Mrs. A1 Goldman, on the birth of a son. Father is projectionist, Metropoli¬ tan, and formerly worked for Joe Cifre, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Kates also had a son. Dad’s projectionist at the Egypt¬ ian, Allston, Mass. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Bridgham, Dover, N. H., are the proud parents of a daughter. The district is still talking about the fine grosses pulled by 16mm. travelogue, “Hills of Ireland,” at the Fine Arts. The 589-seat house reputedly grossed a solid $6,900 its first week. Presided over by Interstate general manager, James F. Mahoney, and dis¬ trict managers Ernest J. Fitzgerald and Raymond Kiniry, a meeting of the circuit’s managers was held at the Hotel Coolidge, White River Junction, Vt. Present were: John L. Stillwell, Anthony A. Russo, John R. Gallagher, Carmen J. Urcuioli, Sherburne R. Graves, Walter Kiniry, Max Weisberg, and Malcolm Kenniston. At a previous meeting held by Interstate at the Hotel Bond, Hartford, Conn., on hand were the following managers: Wilbur D. Neu¬ mann, Arthur Mabey, Richard P. Kalagher, Earl B. Raifstanger, Charles G. Fish, George C. Benway, Henry A. John¬ son, Arthur Poirier, and John A. Garcin. Meetings were chairmanned by general manager Mahoney and district manager Erwin G. Neumann. H. M. Bessey, executive vice-president, Altec, was in calling on circuit heads and exhibitors. The lease of the Premiere, Lawrence, Mass., has been taken over by Adolph and John Fiore. It was formerly operated by Frank Bosketti, who continues to operate the Star. In a shuffling of American Theatre Corporation managers, Henry Kalis, formerly of the Mayflower, has been transferred to Franklin Park, Dorches NT-1 ter, Mass., Harry Goldberg, formerly of the Pilgrim, is now at the Mayflower, and Abner Pinanski has taken over the reins of the Pilgrim. Picked as a typical “hometown” the Pittsfield, Mass., State has been chosen for the New England premiere of ELC’s “When I Grow Up.” When screened for owner Ben Williams, he immediately booked it for March 31. Joe Mansfield, fieldman, journeyed to Pittsfield to aid in the exploitation. Ruth Gordon, husband Garson Kanin, director George Cukor, and a Metro cameraman spent several days scouting locations for backgrounds prior to film¬ ing “Years Ago.” They took time out for a press luncheon at the Ritz-Carleton. At the annual retreat held at Campion Hall, North Andover, Mass., members of the Motion Picture Guild elected as president, William A. Sullivan, Maine and New Hampshire Circuits, and Joseph Rahilly, Metro. Thomas O’Brien, Col¬ umbia, is the retiring president. Selectmen of Norwood, Mass., recently banned the scheduled showing of “Bitter Rice” merely on the strength of the trailer, giving the management less than 24 hours to arrange for a substitute film. Deletions announced last fortnight by the Bureau of Sunday Censorship in¬ cluded the following: “Springtime,” parts 1 to 8 (Deletions: Dialogue, “ — and avoid having to marry her.”, in part 5). Hub. Film District The Cinema Club’s 14th annual dinner party is set for May 16 at the Latin Quarter, with Danny Thomas headlining the floor show. Reservations may be made by contacting Abe Barry, Col¬ umbia. Motion Picture Salesmen s Club of New England DINNER PARTY LATIN QUARTER Sunday, April 1, 1951 Swell Dinner Still I ime to Make Your Reservations Entertainment Ask any Salesman March 28, 1951 NEW ENGLAND