The Exhibitor (Jun-Oct 1939)

other day. . . . Interstate Empire, Bill Can¬ ning, manager, distributes a pocket pro¬ gram of attractions, in a tieup with a bak¬ ery. . . . Box office at the Interstate Durfee, C. P. Joyce, manager, has been all dressed up with new draperies and new paint, much to the satisfaction of the Durfee’s two attractive cashiers, Hazel Robertshaw and Peggy Cullen. Competition for Fall River movie houses: The Baptist Temple standing com¬ mittee has approved the expenditure of up to $700 for modern motion picture equipment for use of the church and its various organizations. Members must vote it at their meeting November 9. . . . Bill Canning, manager, Interstate Empire, is making good use of his loud speaker sys¬ tem to boost his vaudeville audiences. With the speaker hidden atop the Empire marquee, people in the vicinity are ad¬ vised to “Be careful crossing the street or you won’t be able to see the topnotch pro¬ gram of vaudeville at the Empire today, tomorrow and Thursday.” . . . Winter at¬ tire has appeared at the Interstate Durfee. Gloucester Arthur Murch, Northshore, is proud of his new popcorn machine and said that it will pay dividends. Haverhill Angus MacNevin, Colonial assistant, ex¬ tending the season at his summer home, Angle Pond, New Hampshire, will return to his town house. . . . Colonial started a winter policy of two weekly changes. Marquee is changed Monday and Thurs¬ day. First half will see first runs and subsequents will be shown on the second stretch. Ellis Brodie, Paramount, went to town with “The Women,” using a double truck in the daily, with co-ops. . . Frank Col¬ burn, Colonial, tied up with the American Legion for a special show for the kiddies, with broken toys or furniture as the ad¬ mission, to be fixed up for charity distri¬ bution Angus McNevins, Colonial assistant, threw a birthday party. . . . Colonial will play host to Saint James High football team at “Testimonial Night” November 20. Lawrence Manager Jack Melincoff directed The¬ atre-Amusements division of the local Community Chest drive. . . . Palace ush¬ ers’ staff additions: Jerry Lonergan, full¬ time; Pete DeMaggio, spare. . . . Sidney Weinberg has installed New RCA Photo¬ phone in the Strand. . . . Members of the Mount Saint Michael’s football team, com¬ ing here from New York for an inter¬ sectional game, were guests of manager Chris McHale, Broadway. Add expert mathematicians: Guido Luminello, assistant manager. Palace. . . . Sunday Sun cameraman is “shooting” per¬ sons on the city streets. Those whose candid photos are taken received passes, after identifying themselves, to the Capi¬ tol, owned by Jean and Joe Campopiano. . . . Fred Sweet, Palace projectionist, re¬ turned from a motor trip. Lowell It’s a girl in the families of two wellknown Lowell theatre figures October 26. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Johnnie Corbett had a daughter, the second child — and second daughter. He is assistant manager of the M. and P. Merrimack Square. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Roy Flanders also had a daughter. Flanders is the artist connected with RKO Keith’s and known throughout the city. . . . The Lowell “Big Four” stores won’t close Saturday evenings, as originally planned. They will remain open on regu¬ THE EXHIBITOR lar schedule until after Christmas. . . . Thus, the Wednesday matinees in the Lowell theatres will be as jampacked as ever because the stores will be open. Courier Citizen expressed its disapprov¬ al editorially to “Mr. Smith Goes to Wash¬ ington.” The Courier Citizen claims that both Congress and newspapermen have been grossly maligned by the movie. Tower, Earle Kimball, manager, has in¬ stalled a continuous moving marquee sign. . . . Scotty Callahan, RKO Keith’s, came back after a plane-trip to New York City, where he attended the Fordham-Pitt game. . . . RKO Keith’s is co-operating with Lowell Sun, in giving free tickets to win¬ ners in guess-who’ll-win football contest. Strand, Nate Silver, manager, is co-operat¬ ing with the Sun, also, in giving passes to winners of Jingleberry classified adver¬ tising contest. . . . Telegrams of congratu¬ lations are pouring in to Mr. and Mrs. Johnnie Corbett. Johnnie is assistant manager of the Merrimack Square. It’s a girl. Arthur Lyons, police officer, Merrimack Square M. and P. theatre, recently at¬ tended the State Police Officers’ conven¬ tion. . . . RKO Keith’s ushers donated to the Lowell Community Chest. . . . George Callahan and Anthony Potash Alves re¬ presented the local stagehands’ union at the recent banquet at the Memorial audi¬ torium observing the 50th anniversary of the Lowell Central Labor council. Millbury Bombing of the Paradise, wrecking two projection machines and booth, was ex¬ pected to close theatre for a month while work is rushed to put house in condition again. Police investigation revealed a jimmy believed to have been used to force rear door to enter theatre, badly mangled metal thought to be part of the bomb and seven feet of fuse. Morris Feldman, Winchendon, owner, and his son, Bernard Feldman, manager, have been directing the repairs. Needham Donald. Mitchell, Paramount, clicked with his child’s popularity contest and also secured civic co-operation for Fire Pre¬ vention Week. Newburyport Premier threw a Hallowe’en party for kiddies. Manager James Tobin presided. North Adams Awarding of door prizes each night marked the first anniversary week observ¬ 23 ance of the Mohawk. Manager Bernard Payne effected a tie-up with local merch¬ ants who donated the prizes. An exten¬ sive newspaper advertising campaign opened the week’s observance, highlighted by the screening of “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” . . . Francis Faille, manager, Paramount, donated passes to the members of the winning team in the anual YMCA membership campaign. . . . Vaudeville program at the Paramount October 28 had a “home town” flavor with the appear¬ ance of Henri Therrien, native of this city. . . . Manager Bernard Payne, Hohawk, is featuring “Lucky Strike” Saturday nights. North Attleboro Community is giving away five pairs of admission tickets weekly to winners in a football scoring contest being conducted by Donald O’Reilly, North Attleboro bureau manager, Attleboro Sun. Contest is being conducted in the columns of the Sun. Walter Stuart, Community, ran a special show for school kids when playing “The Wizard of Oz.” C. B. R. Northampton James Shaugnessy, manager, Academy, had a National Guard enlistment bureau set up on the grounds before the theatre for “All Quiet on the Western Front.” . . . Morris Stein, former manager, Ed Carroll’s Riverside Drive-In, now manages Cohen Brothers’ Garden also in Springfield. Peabody For “Four Feathers” at E. M. Loew’s Strand, manager Horace Maxson had a dart game in an alley beside the theatre and a coloring contest in local paper. Horace Maxson, manager E. M. Loew’s Strand, served on reception committee of tea for Helen Twelvetrees, Michael Whe¬ lan. Two were playing in Salem. Pittsfield Palace marked Hallowe’en with a com¬ bined. party and amateur night. A capac¬ ity house took part. . . . Manager A1 Fow¬ ler, Palace, is leading the Berkshire dis¬ trict of Western Massachusetts Theatres in exploitation campaign. He promoted recent Ritz Brothers release with a “head¬ less” man labeled “He Laughed His Head Off.” Taking his cue from a recently suc¬ cessful jitterbug contest held in local arm¬ ory, manager Fowler plans a similar event. . . . Manager Frank Beaupre, Strand, drew November 8, 1939 N. E.