The Exhibitor (Jun-Oct 1939)

24 THE EXHIBITOR hundreds to a Saturday morning dough¬ nut-dunking contest. Roxbury Bill O’Toole, Ideal (E. M. Loew), has acquaintances all colored with envy. Bill saves those furniture-store installments by making his own furniture. Springfield Engagement was announced this week of Sophie Chehowsky, candy counter girl, Loew’s Poli, to Bronislaus Szczebak. . . . Business done at the Bijou with “Mr. Smith” is good enough to warrant a third week, owner A1 Anders reports. . . . Mor¬ ris Stein, who operated the drive-in out¬ door theatre at Riverside park, subur¬ ban Agawam, this summer, has taken over the managership of the Winchester Am¬ usement Company’s Garden. Which re¬ sults in a sigh of relief for Carl Jamroga, who has been doing double duty, man¬ aging the larger Phillips and the Garden. . . . Max Resnick is at Loew’s Poli with a crew of men doing extensive redecor¬ ating work. ... At the E. M. Loew Court Square, Don Barhydt has watched com¬ pletion of the laying of a rich-red Alex¬ ander Smith carpet in the balcony. . . . Hoot Gibson with his wonder horse will make a one-day personal appearance at Western Massachusetts, North Adams house. If the reception there is favor¬ able, it is entirely possible that the Gold¬ stein brothers will book Gibson in at other houses. . . . Liberty is beginning a crockery giveaway. Andy Sette, Warners Capitol, managed “Elizabeth and Essex” displays in the municipal library and the city’s high schools this week. That and a liberal program of newspaper plugging should enable the super-super technicolor piece to do the business it deserves, Sette be¬ lieves. . . . To New Haven to discuss the new product ahead went manager George E. Freeman, Loew’s Poli. With him went Mrs. Freeman. ... For months, now, Don Barhydt, Court Square, has been ribbed by the theatrical fraternity about his motorized jalopy which broke down in Maine early in the summer, and has been resting there waiting for parts. Finally, Don organized an expedition and went up to bring the hack back. One of the parts was a clutch assembly, but the mechanic put it in backside to, and the car will go only backwards. With the result that it’s still in Maine and Don is still walk¬ ing, away from the horselaughs as fast as he can. . . . Milton Weinstein, formerly assistant, Goldstein Broadway, has been named manager, Plaza, Northampton, suc¬ ceeding A1 Cormier, resigned. . . . Plan¬ ning for the Marx Brothers’ “At the Cir¬ cus” Freeman will have a circus front for Loew’s Poli. Weymouth Weymouth Drive-In is now on a week¬ end schedule, being open on Friday, Sat¬ urday and Sundays only as long as weather permits. Its nearest competitors, Eddie Murphy’s Auto Drive-In, Raynham, is now open only Saturday and Sunday nights, and E. M. Loew’s Drive-In, at the Providence city line, is on its regular nightly schedule. W hitinsville Robert Wenner’s Star made a hit on the Saturday previous to Hallowe’en by dis¬ tributing masks free to all children attend¬ ing matinee. Williamstown A survey taking Princeton and Williams as typical “large” and “small” eastern col¬ leges by Cue, a magazine, shows that the average Williams man spends at least three nights a week in the movies while the Princetonian visits the cinema but once in seven days. Winchester George Roland Carter, manager, Win¬ chester, receives many favorable com¬ ments on his editorials in his theatre pub¬ lication, Reel News. Manager Carter takes an active part in numerous community activities. One of his ideas during the past Summer proved of real benefit. He gave free guest tickets each week to the boys and girls of the community for excellent deportment at the Community Center. Woburn Warners’ Strand, Russell W. Barrett, manager, has reopened following many improvements. Strand now has new and more comfortable seats, new RCA sound system, new cooling and ventilating sys¬ tem, new carpeting throughout, new screen, new and modernistic rest rooms, new marquee, new streamlined lobby and accessory frames, new Neon cove light¬ ing surrounding proscenium and new lighting effects on walls, new indirect lighting, new box office, new cold drinking fountains. Worcester Harold H. Maloney, manager, Loew’s Poli, conducted a midnight preview of “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” with candi¬ dates at coming city election special guests. . . . Supreme Court has reaffirmed a verdict of $600 originaly awarded Ruth Harrison, Worcester, and taken away from her by Superior Court judge, who ordered verdict for defendants, Poli New England Theatres, Incorporated. . . . Elmer R Dan¬ iels, manager, M. and P. Capitol, ex¬ ploited the fact that Bill Osmanski, former Holy Cross star, was in his newsreel as member of Chicago Bears. . . . Mary Sweeney, cashier, Loew-Poli Plaza, has returned after vacation of three months in Ireland. Rob Portle, manager, Plaza, set up a miniature lighted marquee in his lobby modeled after an outdoor one, used to ballyhoo coming attractions. . . . Ralph McGowan, manager, Fi'anchon-Marco Plymouth, can’t wait until he plays “Babes in Arms” — his brother Jack wrote the screen play. . . . Bill Hebert, former Wor¬ cester newspaperman, has moved from press department of Selznick-International in Hollywood to Metro to handle exploi¬ tation on opening of “Gone With the Wind” in Atlanta. RHODE ISLAND Newport After extensive renovations are made to the Casino, Hyman Pastman, Charlestown, Massachusetts, will open it about Decem¬ ber 1 as a movie house. Renovations in¬ clude a modern heating system and cool¬ ing and ventilating plant for the Summer. Provision is included in the lease for use of the Casino for legitimate plays in the Summer. . . . Alec Hurwitz who has been filling in at the M. and P. Strand here dur¬ ing vacation period, has returned to Brockton, Massachusetts, where he is assistant manager at the Brockton. Providence What was probably the first broadcast in history of an apple-bobbing contest was carried on WPRO’s street broadcast from the lobby of Loew’s State on Hallowe’en. Despite the torrential rain, the stunt at¬ tracted a great deal of attention. In addi¬ tion to the apple dunkers, other contest¬ ants ate doughnuts dangling from strings. Winners of both events got passes. Ed Pearson acted as announcer and station shared credit for the stunt with Loew’s State. . . . Arthur Goldstein went to Boston on booking on “South Riding.” . . . Archi¬ tects from Rhode Island School of Design were studying the projection booth at the RKO-Albee. . . . John Hutson and Robert J. Cayer were added to the Avon house staff as doormen. VERMONT Middlebury Kenneth Gorham, manager, Town Hall, is recovering from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Montpelier Formal opening of the new Capitol, which replaced the Playhouse destroyed by fire April 1, was held November 2. Ralph S. Gilbert is the manager. THE HOUSEKEEPER’S DAUGHTER. Hal Roach’s production for UA release includes Joan Bennett, Adolphe Menjou, John Hubbard, William Gargan and others. November 8 , 1939