The Exhibitor (Jun-Oct 1939)

5 Connecticut Golfers Holding Fourth Tourney Boston Cinema Picnic To Be Held August 15 Filmdom’s Summer Fete Hot Weather Highlight Boston — A group representing the film exchanges, Frairs Club, operators and exchange union and others met at RKO exchange last week to formulate plans for the combined outing to be held August 15, possibly at Seiler’s Ten Acres. Among those present were Harry Kirchgessner, Friars Club; William McLaughlin, Legion Post; Charles Repec, bookers; Jack Hill, Local B3; Harry Goldman, Charles Heath, operators union; Patrick Healey, Ken Forkey, Alvin Ken¬ ney, Harry Aaronson, Legion Post; Wil¬ liam Cuddy, several others. Appointed to committees were Mc¬ Laughlin, chairman, committee of ar¬ rangements; co-chairman, James Burke; publicity, Harry Browning; tickets and prizes, Steve Broidy. Busses will be used to transport the film folks who do not have cars, with the program calling for swimming, dancing, games, etc. Tickets will cost $2. Last years attendance exceeded 400 with more expected this year. New Britain Arguing Again New Britain, Connecticut — The local Police Commission and the Finance Board were arguing again this week, over who keeps the money the theatres pay for the use of policemen, one in each house. An annual tussle, the com¬ mission says it should get the dough, while the Finance Board puts it in the general treasury of the city as income to be used for any purpose. If supernuneraries come into use instead of the regu¬ lars, each house will be paying $5 per week less. New Haven Outing Set New Haven — The annual Film Row outing is planned for August 2 3, at the Rustic Inn, Guilford, Film Exchange Employees Local B-41 announced last week. Committees and further plans will be indicated later. Springfield Priest Wars on Open-Air Theatre Cleric Says "It Attracts Undesirable Persons ” Springfield — Father John A. O’Con¬ nell of the West Springfield Immaculate Conception Church last week opened a fight to "rid the community of an un¬ desirable tenant.” His opening gun was fired at the Mission church at Agawam Center, and the object of his fire was the open-air theatre which has been operating in Agawam for the past two seasons on the site of the now defunct Riverside park. In pointing out his reasons for attack¬ ing the enterprise, Father O’Connell said he believed it attracted "undesirable per¬ sons” from other communities to the town of Agawam. He also charged operators of the open-air theatre with "profiteering on the broken morals of the youth of this and other nearby communi¬ ties.” He asked his congregation to de¬ mand revocation of the theatre’s license. Labor Hearing Delayed Springfield — A scheduled hearing on seven protested ballots in the recent state labor board election among employees of the Western Massachusetts Theatres, Inc. was postponed last fortnight at the request of Gustave A. Gerbert, general counsel, Theatre Managers’, Agents’ and Treasurers’ union, affiliated with the American Federation of Labor. He has charged that "coercion and intimidation” was present during the balloting May 15. Hearing will now be held at a date yet to be set, but before July 10, accord¬ ing to information received here. Attorney Harry M. Ehrlich, counsel for the West¬ ern Massachusetts Theatres, Inc. charged "poor sportsmanship” against Gerber, and asked that the hearing be held as sched¬ uled, but the state labor board respected the request, announced the delay. Portland Sunday Meeting Portland, Maine — The City Council last week set July 3 as the date for a public hearing on the showing of Sunday movies here after July 20, when a state local option law on the matter becomes effective. August 1 Set As Date For Annual Affair New Haven — Theatremen of Con¬ necticut and other states are expected to attend the fourth annual golf tourna¬ ment sponsored by the MPTO of Con¬ necticut, it was indicated in the first announcement last week. August 1 has been set as the date, with the Race Brook Country Club, Orange, the spot. As usual, it is expected that film men from all parts of New England will attend. Present arrangements call for a ninehole qualifying round in the morning, luncheon, and 18 hole tournament in the afternoon, followed by dinner. Tickets will be $5, including everything. With free beer all day, a round of festivities, a swell time is expected. Ed Raffile is treasurer of the commit¬ tee, which includes Lou Anger, Leo Bonoff, Harold Eskin, B. E. Hoffman, Ted Jacocks, Adolph Johnson, Ed Levy, Art Lockwood, Sam Rosen, Harry Shaw, Max Tabachman. Conn. Bills Signed Hartford — Among the bills signed last fortnight by Governor Raymond Baldwin were H. B. No. 1664, providing for identification tags for outdoor adver¬ tising signs, to be issued by state police commissioner, and empowering him to require repair of signs; S. B. No. 907, giving state labor department supervision over construction, installation, mainten¬ ance, operation and inspection of all elevators and escalators; S. B. No. 913; extending present minimum wage act to include men as well as women and minors. Not yet received at his office, Governor Baldwin intimated, was the "Bingo” bill. Revere Games Tiff Watched Revere, Massachusetts — Theatre managers were greatly interested this week in the fight to ban Sunday "Beano” here. Judge Roscoe Walsworth and Reverend Ambrose E. Jenkins, are to appeal to Major Laurence J. Gillis to close the Sun¬ day games. Several organizations and leading citizens are backing the fight, the contention being that operation of the games is not a proper observance of the Sabbath. Goodside in Lewiston Lewiston, Maine — Abraham Goodside, former owner of the Strand, Empire, Portland, is building a new theatre here, it was reported last week on the site of the old barn. June 28, 1919 THE EXHIBITOR n. e.