The Exhibitor (Jun-Oct 1939)

19 BOSTON Crosstoivn Back from the unique society public appearance at the Detroit preview of “Dis¬ puted Passage” came Harry Browning, M. and P. publicity director. There was plenty to show in the way of paper pub¬ licity. Society debs Beverly Pratt, Betty Lovejoy, Lucy Cochrane and the rest al¬ ways make the news. . . . Relieving Mary Milward, manager, Irving Isaacs’ Telepix, during her illness was Miss Victoria Kopaczynski. . . . Harry Aaronson, manager, Rialto, Casino, Scollay Square, was re¬ ported recently by this correspondent as “Mayor of Scollay Square.” Since then he’s been receiving postcards by the doz¬ ens from strange parts of the globe, ad¬ dressed to the “Mayor.” Most of the cards come from the World’s Fair. . . . This week’s bon mot by Meyer Marcus, M. and P. exploiteer: “Repercussions of the recent New England earthquake — just another big shakeup in the film district.” Helen Eager, Boston Traveler dramatic critic, gave a birthday party for Alfred Winston, Translux publicity director. . . . Saturday previews to the Wednesday open¬ ing, a special preview of “Mill on the Floss” was held at the Fine Arts by George Kraska. . . . Standard’s “Lost on the Western Front” has been booked by RKO-Boston. . . . Among interesting ads exploiting “All Quiet on the Western Front,” Trans-Lux, was one with sig cut prominently in center of ad, unusual de¬ parture. They were designed by Translux artist-doorman Bill Finlay. John Clein, producer, Standard’s “Mill on the Floss,” visited and entertained members of the press at an afternoon cocktail party. He returned to New York for the final cutting of his all-colored pic¬ ture “Keep Punching,” featuring Henry Armstrong. This is Clein’s second Negro film. Clein entertained critics with many interesting ancedotes. He discovered Ger¬ aldine Fitzgerald in Dublin. Clein is an Americanized Viennese who still retains a pleasant accent. He has to his credit such films as “Nine Days a Queen,” “Ever¬ green,” associate producership of “Al¬ giers.” He hopes to produce “Adam Bede,” from its original New England set¬ ting. . . . “Mill on the Floss” had its Un¬ ited States premiere at the Fine Arts. Joe Rosen, Standard Theatre Supply technician, returned from a vacation too early to attend Society Motion Picture Engineers’ convention in New York City. Mary Quinlan, RKO switchboard, is en¬ gaged to be married. John Loftus, Standard Theatre Supply toured Connecticut. George Markell, Hudson, was a visitor. Standard Theatre Supply has installed a November 1, 1939 new oil burner in Warren, Roxbury, lamps in Regent, Norfolk Downs, Jovial Phil Berler, E. M. Loew chief booker, shook hands with Tom Bailey, 20th Century-Fox district manager, as they consummated a product deal. “Judge” Harold Eskin, circuit owner, formerly with Warners Boston exchange, was a visitor. On fishing trip to New Brunswick went Charlie Brent, Nipmuc Park, Brad Angier. Ralph E. Paxton, 31, mechanic, is being held in $2,000 bail on a charge of sending an extortion letter containing a demand for $2,500 to Jack C. Goodwin, manager, Metropolitan, and threatening a panic at the movie house if the money was not paid. He was arraigned before United States Commissioner Howard W. Robbins, and then in Federal Court. Bill Murphy, Imperial general manager, flew to New York. He reports that the double horror show, which originated with his exchange, has caught on in New York. ... If there is a real card game called “Klabiosch” (free rendition), this cor¬ respondent would like to know it — and how to spell it. . . . Mario’s, district eatery, and Joanne Koster, that establishment, had an accident. Dick Sears, Universal newsreel, com¬ pares wartime photography with that of today. Dick was First Lieutenant of the Signal Corps at the front. Most of his work was done with the signal corps on land, but he was apprenticed to wartime photography with the air corps. Action photos were shot at the front, sent to Paris by courier. A Paris laboratory, with al¬ most 400 men hard at work, was kept busy processing the photos. Jeanne Segal, recently working for Gene Keenan, publicity department. Re¬ public, thence temporarily stationed with Morse-Rothenberg, is now a member of staff of United Artists. . . . October 31, Warner exchange held its annual Hallow¬ e’en costume party in the new, clubrooms. Ida Rubin was chairman, Florence Rose assistant. In the district were Lee Rhodenizer, Strand, Rockland; George Gebow, Park Square, South Berwick, Maine. . . Ex¬ hibitor’s condolences are extended to Vera Palady, RKO, secretary to booker Dave Grover, on the death of her father. . . . Visiting: Mike Bruno, Tilton, New Hamp¬ shire. . . . Mario’s own Mario Marselli en¬ tertained friends at his home. Occasion was first wedding anniversary, and Mario and Mrs. Marselli received RKO’s Charley Heath, Bill Cuddy, and wives; Charley Repec and Mat Donahue, Metro; Mr. and Mrs. Perutsi. Lucien Descotteau, Manchester, New Hampshire, visited with Mrs. Descotteau. . . . John Loftus, Standard Theatre Supply traveled the Maine district. . . . John Mac¬ Intyre, RKO, traveled to New Haven. . . . Standard Theatre Supply installed new lighting effects in Warren, Roxbury; Com¬ munity, North Attleboro. . . . Seen at the Harvard-Penn game were Joe Saunders, Standard Theatre Supply; Leo Levinson, Standard Candy; Marthe Norton. . . . Kenneth and Sam Kurson, Graphic cir¬ cuit, son and father, toured Vermont. . . . A. J. Picard, Star, Natick, Rhode Island, visited the district with his son. Small Star, closed for the summer, reopened after Labor Day with new cushioned seats. Picard finds business adequate along with the Picard Sign Company. . . . Leo Kalfin, Mattapan, was seen around the dis¬ trict. . . . Winchester Street football team is challenging all comers. Composed of men from Four Star Printing, Deckers Film Transfer and Nesti’s, team is light but accomplished. Benny Green, well known theatre man, has been confined to the hospital. . . . THE EXHIBITOR Planning for Ushers Union Local B4 din¬ ner dance, joint meeting was held Thurs¬ day, October 26, at Hotel Touraine. Com¬ mittee, headed by Tom Foley, Loew’s State, announces that tickets are $1 per couple, are on sale at 116 Broadway, Wal¬ ter Nolan in charge. Will Bradley’s or¬ chestra will be featured, Roseland Ball¬ room location, November 3 the day. Ush¬ ers dance committee were featured with picture and news space on front page of Backbay Leader. Roy Heffner, Bank Night and Specialty Pictures, returned from a hunting trip with George Ryan, attorney, Albert Borrelli, Specialty. Trip was for a fortnight, and the hunters stalked wild north Maine woods in Heffner’s trailer. Ryan and Borrelli bagged partridge, but Heffner re¬ turned with a bear, which will become a standing ashtray for Heffner’s trophy room. . . . Visiting Boston was Louis Olshen, Columbia’s Albany exchange, brother of Boston’s Columbia’s Harry Olshen. Special occasion of visit is Louis’ honeymoon. He was married October 15 in New York. Entire Albany exchange attended wedding, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Louis Astor, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Sachs, home office. Some 400 attended, and Al¬ bany newspapers wrote up the event in style. John Cooney, Union Square, Pittsfield, visited the district. . . . H. R. Harmon, assistant branch manager, Agfa Ansco Corporation, Binghamton, New York, vis¬ ited his uncle, Charley Heath, RKO. . . . “Torpedoed,” now released by Roy Heff¬ ner’s Specialty Pictures, has battle scenes featuring HMS Royal Oak, loaned by British government to producers — Film Alliance. In the film is a sequence of the Royal Oak sinking. When this same ship was actualy torpedoed and sunk by a Ger¬ man submarine recently, newsreel men shot their only pictures of the disaster directly from a screening of “Torpedoed.” Film has been booked here by Warners’ Capitol, Springfield, Broadway, Lawrence, and by Interstate circuit. Another film distributed by Heffner is “Bombs Over London” perhaps liable to authentic sig¬ nificance all too soon. . . . Harry Asher has first print of Producers Pictures’ “Tor¬ ture Ship” from a Jack London story. He is also releasing “Hitler, Beast of Berlin.” Nate Goldstein, circuit head, visited the district. So also did E. C. Moody, of Proc¬ ter and Stone, Vermont. . . . Monogram screened “Mutiny in the Big House” for Father Michael Ahern, S.J. In the film Charles Bickford takes role of prison chaplain. Father Ahern wholeheartedly approved the film. . . . Sieg Horowitz, 20th Century-Fox booker received a pleasant note from Mrs. Withers, mother of Jane Withers, after starlet’s recent visit at Food Fair. The Witherses had visited Boston exchange, renewed acquaintance with Sieg and colleagues. Graphic Circuit Lloyd Heilman, Regal, Franklin, is on vacation. Interstate Circuit Rena Brisgal has been vacationing to the World’s Fair. Loetv’s Circuit Exceptional was the Proclamation by Mayor Maurice J. Tobin for the observ¬ ance of Music Week in conjunction with showing of “Dancing Co-Ed,” “They Shall Have Music” at Loew’s State and Orpheum. In addition, publicity director Joe DiPesa, assisted by Joe and A1 Longo, had a campaign with newspaper serials, breaks in roto, a substantial beauty shop co-op n. E.