The Exhibitor (Jun-Oct 1939)

20 ad. The “Dancing Co-Ed” selected from Boston University was presented a trophy by Pauline Chellis, aesthetic dancing in¬ structress at schools and colleges through¬ out city. WORL’s 920 club was tied in with Artie Shaw recordings. R. H. White, Jordan Marsh had window displays feat¬ uring “They Shall Have Music.” Box office from the above; then what better to fol¬ low than exploitation on the natural “Babes in Arms.” A teaser campaign pre¬ ceded showing; serial in Boston Globe; full-page in the Post; Mickey Rooney jit¬ terbug contest in Boston American; and music stores tied-in with imprinted music wrappers. In advance of “The Real Glory” at Loew’s State and Orpheum full-page ad was planted by Joe DiPesa in Sunday Advertiser. . . . Joe DiPesa, at last report was scheduled to visit New York for the first time in several years. Driving up, Joe expected to visit home office, make the rounds of theatres, comparing notes with fellow publicists. Joe looked for¬ ward to the trip as a pleasant change since his long illness. Loew’s in Boston looks forward to pos¬ sible Thanksgiving showing of Marx Bros. “Day at the Circus,” and a series of crazy Marxian (not Karl) publicity stunts. . . . H. M. Addison, Loew’s district manager, returned from a visit to Toronto, Canada, and London, Ontario theatres. Canada is really “at war” he reports — drilling through the streets, and wartime passes to get about. Manager Addison, one notices, becomes more youthful constantly, influence perhaps of Rochester suits. . . . Publicity director Joe Di Pesa and assist¬ ants Longo are laying foundations for Boston’s Rooney-Garland fan club. E. M. Loeiv Circuit National, Boston, has installed Brenkert Enarc lamps, by Capitol Theatre Supply Company. M. and P. Circuit Nick Hernkind, accounting, has been in the hospital under observation for appen¬ dicitis. . . . Phil Seletsky, booking depart¬ ment, became the father of a baby girl. Neighbors of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Browning surprised Mrs. Browning with a birthday party, on occasion of her 50th birthday. Phil Smith Circuit Phil Smith returned from Detroit and Cleveland open-airers, reporting that weather is still sufficiently clement. The¬ atres won’t close yet. RKO-Keith’s Circuit Jack Granara and Red King are ac¬ complished equestrians. . . . A1 Margolies, flew here to be host at an informal cock¬ tail party for press and film men. Party was in connection with Keith Memorial showing of “Intermezzo.” Besides the critics from newspapers, John Dervin and Joe Longo were present. . . . Tom O’Con¬ nor, home office, was in town for two days to confer with Harry McDonald. A retrospect campaign of Eddie Can¬ tor’s recent visit to RKO Boston, when the patrons lined the street. Jack Granara, assisted by Joe Ehrlich, with Vic Knight, Cantor’s own press gent, had a full pro¬ gram. For example: In addition to fire engine reception at station, already re¬ ported with photos, to luncheons and the “Five Daughters” exploitation (almost 75 daughter sets packed the backstage to be interviewed) — in addition to such like, Jack and cohorts had Eddie visit Mayor, to be presented a formal invitation to Christmas Fund Luncheon of Volunteers THE EXHIBITOR of America. This netted three-column in Globe, as well as photos of the luncheon itself in all the papers. Three hundred and fifty special three-sheets were prepared and posted in Boston and suburbs, space donated, all 10 days in advance. A spe¬ cial radio campaign was prepared for the star. NEW HAVEN Crosstotvn Jack Brassil’s story telling got him a publicity bit in the Elm City Clarion. . . . Special discount tie-up on “Jamaica Inn” brought a promotional bit for Lou Schaef¬ er’s Paramount with a local bookstore. . . . Caricature standees of Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland in the lobby of Loew’s Poli proved a good “bally” for “Babes in Arms.” . . . Nat Rubin has quite a hard time getting a fellow to sleep all night in front of his box office in exploiting “Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever,” but at last he got a chap. . . . Bill Elder had a neat display in lobby for “Demon Barber of Fleet Street” and “Return of the Frog” with a barber chair and weird set-up. . . . John Hesse puts on a special “Spook Show” Hallowe’en. Folks along the Church Street “stem” are asking Nat Rubin what’s the name of his new “thoroughbred.” ... In a special contest on the air for the “Babes in Arms” program, six winners of the Mickey Rooney-Judy Garland reception committee places were to be interviewed by L.P’s Nat Rubin. . . . Lou Schaefer and his Paramount staff did okay in the promotion of “What a Life.” . . . Ye Old Time Arena show featured real batch of “old timers” in “Curse of Drink,” with Blanche Sweet; “Hearts and Flowers.” with Theda Bara, Wallace Reid: Lon Chaney in “Phantom of the Opera”; Charlie Chaplin in “The Adventurer.” and Jack Dempsey in “For Fame and Fortune.” . . . Bob Munzner, new at Loew-Poli College, is winning many new friends in New Haven, as assistant to manager Sam Badamo. Howard bowling team continues to turn in some fine bowling scores in their league competition. . . . Capitalizing on the inter¬ est in football scores, manager Bob Rus¬ sell, Nat Rubin and Jack Brassil made up a novel circular on the “Babes in Arms” with a listing of four football games on one side of the sheet. People were asked to fill in the estimated scores of each game and send to Loew’s Poli. Contestants with the nearest scores to the game results, were to receive guest tickets to theatre. . . . Serialized story of “Babes in Arms” was planted for Loew’s Poli. ... In town: Gilbert Josephson, to look over details at Lincoln. M endow Street In hospital for observation: Katherine Sullivan, genial United Artists secretary. . . . Early risers will find that the reason why Rundbaken Engravers are so trim is due to the many competitive golf rounds run-off at the municipal golf course. 6. .30 A. M. is the usual time for Harry Rund¬ baken, Rudy Schmidt and others to gather. Dave Kaufman, Loew Poli art specialist, has joined the fellows from time to time. . . . To New York recently: Columbia’s Tim O’Toole. . . . Sam Hadleman, Bridge¬ port Capitol manager, his wife and daugh¬ ter, recently visited in Washington. . . . The Bridgeport Rialto defeated a team from the State, Torrington, and the Bridgeport Strand bowlers beat the Park City aggregation. At the Yale-Army game: Bob Long, Ben Wolf, Mike Simons. Three Metro home office girls were also out. . . . Meadow Street folks are still kidding about Earl Wright’s Meriden auto experience. . . . Also at the Yale-Army game: Tony Massella, assistant manager, Bridgeport Globe. . . . Altec Service Corporation installed the new sound equipment at the Bridgeport West End While in New York recently Charles Lazarus stopped into Metro home office, saw the Fair, and visited with folks. . . . Frank Mullen, likeable Metro office man¬ ager, took ill and went home recently. . . . Oakdale Tavern, site of the New Haven Metro Victory Dinner, was to be nicely decorated with special banners and deco¬ rations when the Metro crowd celebrated. Among those expected to attend from outof-town were to be Mike Simons, Maurice Wolf, Jack Byrne. . . . Charles Lach is again back in New Haven, connected with Ross Federal service. Co-incidental: Ralph Civitello did a nice job with the Silver Dollar Jack Pot Quiz displays, prizes from Peter Paul Com¬ pany. . . . Cal Kazangian, president, Peter Paul, was Ralph’s boss in the old Garden, New Haven, about 22 years ago. . . . Meadow Street visitor: Charles Vogle, Metro exchange maintenance manager, who left for Boston. . . . Celebrating their wedding anniversary in New York, both the Bob Russells and Jack Halprins had a happy time. ... A Film Center bowling league could be formed, the nucleus be¬ ing the abundance of sportsmen and sportswomen in the various offices. Among those who were at the YaleArmy game was Nick Del Rossi, who also had the Mrs. with him. ... In from Bos¬ ton to see Barney Pitkin and RKO, Herb McIntyre. . . . Deep River opened its doors October 22. . . . Ben Simon’s 20th CenturyFox accessories department is “real hot.” . . . Mike Tomasino gave the people from the Jewish Home for the Aged a special screening of a Jewish picture, “The Sing¬ ing Blacksmith.” Mike played this film for several days at his Victory. Jane Carter is a new addition to the staff at Progressive Premiums. . . . Meadow Street’s special war correspondents: Leo Schapiro and Max Tabachman. . . . Dor¬ othy Kanoff is the busy girl in Lou Phil¬ lip’s Modern Theatre Supply. . . . Gradu¬ ally M. Cascioli’s new Forest is taking shape, and is beginning to look classy. . . . Emil Feldberg added the Lily, Plainfield, to his National Screen list. . . . Connecticut Films reports that “Torpedoed” has been getting quite a play in territory. Harry Blume’s Plaza was scheduled to try something new, a special late show, for four nights, after his last regular pro¬ gram. . . . Ralph Civitello’s Connecticut Theatre Supply has been turning out some swell work. . . . Max Tabachman’s Rivoli again is being serviced. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Albert F. Smith gave a special benefit show October 24-25 at their Milford Col¬ onial. ... To New York recently: Tim O’Toole, Columbia. . . . Those post cards which Charlie Lazarus sent to boys at Metro office, while on vacation, certainly had clever notations. . . . Ralph Thomas is assisting Ralph Civitello at his Devon. Roy Phelps in writing back to New Hav¬ eners from Khatmandu. Nepal, intimated that he might be home for Christmas. . . . Mutual Display was to install new silver frames with red trim in Waterbury Capi¬ tol while gold frames with black trim are the new displays set for the Glastonbury, Glastonbury. Loew-Poli Circuit To Bridgeport: Harry F. Shaw. . . . Five act vaudeville started one-night stand set¬ up at Palace, Meriden; Poli, Waterbury. . . . Opening day for programs in Hart¬ ford are now Thursdays, to Thanksgiving Day, with Poli and Palace following this November 1, 1939