The Exhibitor (Jun-Oct 1943)

Cummings, manager, Warner, has moved into his new home, a Cape Cod cottage, near the Lynnfield line. New Bedford With the OPA inspectors in the vicinity checking up on pleasure driving, on the first real hot week end of the season, business dropped off to a marked degree. . . . Barney Zeitz returned home after a four weeks’ stay in the hospital. . . . Wil¬ fred Robidoux, projectionist, Capitol, is now lA in the draft. . . . Joseph Boucher is the new chief of staff at the Capitol. . . . Mrs. Mary Anderson, State staff, is watch¬ ing for the mailman. Hubby Lieutenant James Anderson is back at sea after a 10-day furlough at home. . . . Manny Vital is having garden trouble. Somebody told him the reason that his cucumbers do not grow is that he planted the seeds upside down. Newburyport Shows at Paul Wenzel’s Strand are now getting first-night reviews by Anne Laur¬ ence Dodge, Daily News staff. . . . Ned Brown, correspondent for The Exhibitor, is now on city desk of the Daily News, having moved from a branch office in Amesbury. Palmer Thomas Edmonds, 73, for several years employed at the Palmer until his retire¬ ment two years ago, died in the Wing Memorial Hospital. Pittsfield Kameo has been sold by Morse and Rothenberg to E. M. Loew interests. Springfield Edward Harrison, district manager, E. M. Loew’s circuit, has been nominated second vice-president of the local Lions Club. Nomination is tantamount to elec¬ tion. . . . One of the penny arcades here has closed. . . . Raymond G. Moreau, brother of Harold J. Moreau, former man¬ ager, Strand, has been listed by the Navy Department as “presumably dead.” John D. Donoghue, theatre editor, Daily News, is back at his desk after a week’s vacation. . . . John C. Lynch, assistant city editor. Republican, and former Exhib¬ itor correspondent, middle-aisled it. . . . Local newspaper critics have been taking potshots at war films, saying they are not what the public wants. . . . Ed Harrison, district manager, E. M. Loew’s circuit, re¬ ceived word that his son, Robert E. Harri¬ son, has been promoted to first lieutenant in the marine corps flying section, Cabaniss Field, Corpus Christi, Tex. Acting Mayor J. Albin Anderson, Jr., said last week that he is not ready at present to state whether he is ready to recommend that the city expend as much as $150,000 to transform the Municipal Auditorium into a theatre in competition with houses here. He said the proceedings to date have been to secure all the facts pertaining to the proposal so that a deci¬ sion may later be made. He called at¬ tention to the requirements of the state authorities for changes in the exits in the interest of public safety and the necessity for redecorating the interior of the build¬ ings, these items representing about $50,000 of the entire cost. The city council voted to appropriate $300 for the use of the Auditorium commission. It then proceeded to find out for what it was spending the money. Councilman J. Albert Greenaway, THi EXHIBITOR member of the commission, gained the floor soon after the meeting began, and invited the councilmen to confer with the commission on plans for remodeling the Auditorium. This conference was to be held before the lower board acted on the order. The council voted to recess, and meet with the commission. 'There was some delay and sponsors of the $300 order grew impatient. President Charles E Field, Common Council, suddenly called for a vote on the order, and it was passed unanimously. A few minutes later, the councilmen adjourned to hear the report of the commission. D. H. Pickering, engi¬ neer, Capitol Theatre Supply Company, estimated “conservatively” that it would cost about $150,000 to install complete the¬ atrical equipment, enlarge the stage, and remodel the Auditorium in general. He pointed out that $45,000 of this was to meet safety requirements which would have to be done anyway, and that $25,000 was for redecoration. Pickering opined that Springfield, as a metropolitan area, would support an up-to-date Auditorium provided that it was properly managed. He suggested a full-time manager who would be responsible for a booking board. He said that returns of $50,000 a year could be expected from a fully-equipped Auditorium that could house operas, con¬ certs, theatrical productions, musical com¬ edies, ballets, conventions, and other big events. Taunton Kiwanis Club is working on plans to promote a copper drive in co-operation with the War Activities Committee of which Arthur W. Pinkham, manager, Park, is chairman for this district. Local houses, Strand, Alec H. Hurwitz, manager; Grand, Joseph M. Rosa, managers; State, Melvin J. Druker, manager; Casino, George S. Hayhow, manager; and Park, will hold a series of copper matinees, at which time admission will be given to those bringing one-half pound, or more, of copper or brass. All proceeds received from the sale of the copper and brass will revert to the treasury of the club for the Children’s Fund. Julius Conviser, contractor and builder, and John Loftus, Standard 'Theatre Sup¬ ply Corporation, are in charge of the re¬ painting of the exterior fronts of the Park NTS and the Strand. . . . Harold Lancaster, new manager, Falmouth, Falmouth, and Mrs. Lancaster were visitors at the Park. . . . Grace Southern and Mildred J. McCon¬ nell are additions to the Park staff. . . . Tom O’Donnell, Park, class editor of the Tauntonian, Taunton High School paper, expects a scholarship at Harvard Univers¬ ity. . . . Three of the fairer sex of the Park, Mildred Viera, Ruth Rozenas, and Geraldine Burton, are members of the high school graduating class. . . . William E. Spragg, M. and P. district manager, visited the Park. Worcester Although the ban on pleasure driving has scared off most of the summer stock companies, two will attempt a regular sea¬ son in this section, and a third will try two performances weekly. Guy Palmerton will present dramatic stock at the Little, from Tuesday through Saturday, then moving the company to the Whalom, Fitchburg, for two performances on Sun¬ days. Whalom has been a full week stand in the past. . . . Bob Daggett will operate the Red Bam, Westboro, 11 miles from Worcester, on the Boston turnpike. He aims at daily performances right through the summer. The stock companies at Framingham Center and at Westboro Town Hall are definitely closed. Thomas F. Edmonds, formerly of the Palmer and Strand, Palmer, died last fort¬ night after a brief illness. . . . Additions to the Warner staff included James McNeilly, George Tirello, William Munroe, Clayton Deso, and Sherwin Johnson. . . . With mar¬ quees now allowed to be illuminated up to 9.30 nights despite the dimout, the Main Stem looks like old times. In the new tax figures issued by the Leominster assessors, the McEvoy Amuse¬ ment Company is listed for $8165. . . . Elmer R. Daniels, manager, Capitol, is on the civic committee planning for post-war employment. . . . Out of 10 full-time em¬ ployes of the Warner, eight have Victory gardens. The Cumings, Fitchburg, started a new giveaway. . . . Manager Alec Davis, Ply¬ mouth, goes on vacation on July 17. . . . Tom Kivlan has been appointed student VICKI FAUST, Bridgeport, Conn., who appears in Hunt Stromberg’s UA release, “Lady Of Burlesque,” was given quite a buildup recently when she made a personal appear¬ ance at Loew’s Poll there. Shown at a dinner given in her honor are, left to rigid, Ma.rtin Starr, UA radio department; Gary Faust, her brother; Lou Wechsler, UA New Haven branch manager; Vicki Faust; her sister, Dorothy Faust; (back row) Matt Saun¬ ders. manager, Loew’s Poli Bridgeport; A1 Faust, Bridgeport newspaperman; and Lou Brown, Loew-Poli publicity director. June 30, 1943