The Exhibitor (Jun-Oct 1939)

21 BOSTON Crosstoivn Exeter, managed by Miss A. Berlin, opened for the fall season September 17. Theatre had been renovated, now has a new scales of prices. E. M. Loew’s Gayety inaugurated a midnight show every Friday night. Jim Allerton, New York producer, has been commandeering Gayety’s new burlesque. John Henes’ Apollo, Washington Street, will re-open October 8 after renovations. Apollo will play Polish films, followed by Italian films with Italian stage talent. Theatre sports a new marquee. This week’s most curious item: Harry Aaronson, Senior Vice-Commander of Macaulay Theatrical Post of the American Legion, manager of Casino, Park, both in Scollay Square, is known as “The Mayor of Scollay Square.” He’s had the role for 20 years, and has never had an oppo¬ sition party. Harry’s had letters from all over the globe addressed simply, “Mayor Scollay Square,” and they never fail to reach him. A familiar figure, standing by the boxoffice of the all-nighter Park. Harry has a multitude of friends. He governs the Square with a benign, not an iron. hand, and has a constant campaigner in “Fred the Cowboy” (you’ve seen him advertising the Silver Dollar Bar) , who rides his horse right up to the box office, and takes up his post next to the “Mayor.” The Exhibitor’s condolences are extended to Tom Donahue, former Boston salesman, now branch manager, Metro, New Haven exchange, on the death of his brother. Preview tour of “Nurse Edith Caveil, ’ with personal appearances of Anna Neagle, was extended to include Boston. One-performance screening was held at Keith’s. Manager William Hatkoff, Rialto, is in¬ jecting “Red Barry” as Saturday magnet. Columbia, Max Michaels, manager, held Amateur Night with more than 20 taking part. South Station owned by Levenson cir¬ cuit, and managed by A. Russell, played “Man In the Iron Mask;” Metro short. Stanley Jacks, assistant manager, South Station, returned from a vacation at Mount Washington, New Hampshire. Bette Davis sneaked into the South Sta¬ tion. At least, so the cashier insisted, and manager Russell called columnist George Holland, who arrived to take a picture of the young lady. She was a double. Holland got the story. Catch on, publicists? Caroline Lee, four, arrived last week. She was met at the station by Harry Browning, Paul Levy, and Marty Glaser, M. and P. pressmen, and given a lunch¬ eon in honor of her visit and her appear¬ ance in Paramount’s “Honeymoon in Bali.” Stories and art broke in the local papers. Film District Charles Asdot, Warners, is the father of a baby boy. Martin Early, former 20th Century-Fox shipper, has resigned. Harry Asher, head, Producers Distrib¬ uting, announces the arrival of new pro¬ duct for October 1. Harry Segal, on one of his infrequent visits from New York, reports that Stand¬ ard is releasing three new films this month, two next month. He has been traveling ’round the country setting up franchises for Standard “Mill on the Floss,” starring Geraldine Fitzgerald will have its American premiere at the Fine Arts. Ed Bobkin, Metro technician, mourns the death of a baby elephant which he purchased recently for the production of “Tarzan Finds a Son.” Mr. and Mrs. Fasano, Cumings, Fitch¬ burg, were visitors. So also was Henry Sperling, Manville, Rhode Island. Ben Lourie, Columbia salesman from New Haven, was in town. He is the son of famous Jake Lourie, Natoco, M. and P. Globe, Boston, played “Marihuana” for the second time during the last year. It’s one of Roy Heffner’s specialty releases. Newly being distributed by Specialty Pictures are “The Challenge,” “Second Bureau,” and “Bombs Over London.” Frank Rahilly, RKO, has returned from a honeymoon to New York and Chieago. Sol Levine, Metro, is back from an ill¬ ness. as is A1 O’Neill, Film Transfer, con¬ fined most of the summer. A1 Wheeler, Metro booker, is back from vacationing in Detroit, Pittsburgh. Sam the Simonizer, in tune with the weather, has donned a long “simonizing smock.” Marty Sheridan. Monogram publicity, is also a photographer of talents, recently photographed Governor Vanderbilt. Martha Ferris spent some time recently at Franconia Notch. Rose Guarino. Wevmouth Drive-In Cir¬ cuit, vacationed in Vermont. Ossie Tessler, Rialto. Royal, New Bed¬ ford, was in. Doris Berman, United Artists, returned from New York vacation tricked out in a nretty Fall ensemble. Imperial screened Ruth Chatterton s “Royal Divorce” at RKO. Thad Barrows, Metropolitan chief oper¬ ator, and projectionists’ union president, returned from a trip to Buffalo. In the district, he was seen with Felix Alland, well-known distributor of religious films, reminiscing of the old Pastime, a 1908 structure, on the site where Liggett’s now stands on the corner of Avery, Washing¬ ton Streets. Felix owned the house, and Thad was its first projectionist. Projection equipment then was the crank-type, ma¬ chines costing less than $200. In town were frequent visitors Joe Matthieu, Art Sharby, infrequent visitor Char¬ ley Israelson, Wells Beach-on-the-Cape. Motion Picture Salesmen’s Club sent father of John Moore, Paramount sales¬ man, a basket of flowers during recent ill¬ ness. The Exhibitor is pleased to report the elder Moore is on the mend. Paramount ad sales manager, Jack Brown, in addition to his many multi¬ farious talents, is an historian of parts, and can expatiate. Joe Rothberg, former Boston photo¬ grapher, visited Boston from his post in Quoddy, Maine. Jack Brown, Paramount ad sales, is building a new darkroom. Jack’s an ac¬ complished photographer. In the district were Charles Ruben, manager of Majestic, West Springfield: Ben Levy, Holyoke, Holyoke. Both are managers of Lieberman circuit. Norton Wolf, son of Metro’s branch manager Maurice Wolf, left Boston for his first year in Brown University. Lucien Descotteau, Manchester, is using Metro Premium giveaways. Condolences are extended to George Husson, head, Lowell circuit, on the death of his wife. A new theatre, it is rumored, is to be built in Andrews Square, South Boston. To the national Legion convention in Chicago went Major Pat Healey, A1 Ken¬ ney, and others — members of the Vernon A. MacCaulay Post. Ken Douglas, Capitol Theatre Supply, has a new dog. Joels on Circuit Fall River theatre actually will have from 13-1400 seats, to open January 1. Lockwood -Gordon Circuit A co-operative ad with Columbia on the latter’s “Golden Boy” was the half-page ad running in the Waterville Sentinel when film played State, Waterville, Maine. Manager is Laurence Libby. L-G is daily bedecked with flowers brought from Louis Gordon's Scituate gar¬ den. Lyric, Braintree, which L-G purchased from former owner Fruitman, and which has been lavishly remodelling, should be opened by November 1. Loew’s Circuit For “The Women,” Loew’s State and Orpheum, Joe DiPesa, aided by Joe, A1 Longo, went to town exploiteering. Sev¬ eral boys, dressed as ushers, picketed Loew’s Orpheum, with signs, “Unfair to Men — 135 women in one picture and no men!” A six-column co-op with Jordan Marsh was commandeered, and two win¬ dow displays. Transcriptions were heard over two radio stations, and four differ¬ ent contests were staged through WBZ, WNAC — setting a precedent on these sta¬ tions for free movie plugs. A serial was run in the Globe, fashion layouts in all papers. Best of all, however, was an eight-pa^e section in the Boston Globe completely devoted to “The Women. Victims of fickle weather were Joe Di¬ Pesa and entire staff, suffering an epi¬ demic of colds. E. M. Loew Circuit Francis Foley was in from the Royal, Worcester. Gina Cohen, sister-in-law of E. M. Loew, has left work. It’s rumored that E. M.’s to become an uncle-in-law. In town was Ray Warfield, manager. Family, Worcester. He reported an or¬ iginal stunt used during run of Charley McCarthy’s latest. Outside was an ordin¬ ary fence post, bearing a sign, “We’re two of Charley’s cousins, waiting to see." And another sign, “Please don’t lean on Charley’s cousins.” Curious passersby stopped to figure out the gag. Louis Krasnow, National, reports the return, after a couple of years lapse, of vaudeville every Wednesday night. Na¬ tional, famous as a professional tryout house, will return to its wonted station as the nation’s flesh criterion. M orse-Rothenberg Circuit Gameo, Pittsfield, has been remodelled. Marquee is modernized, lobby redecorated with new lighting throughout theatre, new carpets, projection equipment, generator. Son of Leonard Goldberg, M-R’s man¬ ager at Quincy, will be confirmed. Merle Walker, pretty blonde of four years, visited her mother, Kay Walker, pretty brunette, at the M-R headquarters. September 27, 1939 THE EXHIBITOR N. E.