The Exhibitor (1951)

EXHIBITOR NT-1 miws OF THl^ Boston Crosstown Falling grosses forced several subur¬ ban theatres in Greater Boston to elimi¬ nate their usual 2 p.m. matinee opening, now opening at 6 p.m. Independent Exhibitors Inc., held a supper meeting at the University Club. The meeting was informal, and dealt with “Economies Within The Field Of Exhibition.” The latest Independent Exhibitors bulletin urges exhibitors to dispose of all obsolete material immediately so that scrapmetal can be reclaimed to help al¬ leviate shortages of materials necessary to the industry. Claiming there will be a definite shortage of dry plate rectifiers, editor Feeley urges that when rectifiers and motor genei’ators become inopera¬ tive, the copper steel cores and frames should be sold back to the equipment dealers for use over again. He also warns that copper drippings will again be valuable, and should be saved for re¬ turn to smelters. Reports are that in-car speakers will not be manufactured after Aug. 1, 1951, and the bulletin urges drive-in operators to be “on the ball” to prevent speakers from being stolen. It’s suggested that each speaker should be marked so that identification and prose¬ cution will be simple. Richard Kallagher, manager, Strand, Southbridge, Mass., is running a co-op tiein with local merchants, awarding two bicycles and 10 other prizes to kids at¬ tending the theatre. The Corliss, North Woodstock, Mass., operated by Jesse Kelly, reopens on June 16 for the summer. Affiliated will handle the booking. The Balsams Hotel, Dixville Notch, N. H., plans to show motion pictures six nights a week instead of only twice weekly, last season’s policy. . . . The Whitford, Whitford, R. I., closed tem¬ porarily in order to prepare for the sum¬ mer stock season. Earl Raistanger, Mahaiwe, Great Bar¬ rington, Mass., is planning an elaborate candy and soft drink concession stand in the rear of the theatre. Costruction will be supervised by William Riseman Associates of Boston. Arthur Poirier, Palace, Rockville, Conn., reverted to the single feature pol¬ icy for the summer. Bill Newman, Bradley, Putnam, Conn., scheduled his annual Jantzen bathing beauty contest for June 22 tied in with local merchants. ... The Avon Drive-In is offering free pony and buggy rides for the moppets. Governor Paul A. Dever appointed Martin J. Mullin chairman of a commit¬ tee of State members of the industry to work with the Defense Council. Named in addition to Mullin are: Norman C. Glassman, Rialto, Lowell; Maxwell Melincoff, Warners Circuit Corporation; Harold A. Maloney, Loew’s Poll, Wor¬ cester; Harry Zeitz, State, New Bed¬ ford; Frank C. Lydon, Allied, and Harry Browning, New England Theati'es, Bos¬ ton. A meeting of the committee was held in Mullin’s office to formulate plans for the nine regional sections. Paul Levi, publicist, American Thea¬ tres, was chairman of the publicity and photography committee for the reunion of his Harvard 1926 class. Eliot Norton, The Post drama critic, is also a mem¬ ber of the class celebrating its 25th anniversary. Managers assigned by Interstate for State summer situations are: Henry “Hank” Hubbard, Hyannis, Hyannis; Richard Briggs, Cape Cinema, Dennis; Jim Donovan, Community, Osterville, and Melvin Wass, Dennis Drive-In. David Jennings had been appointed as¬ sistant manager Centre, Hyannis. Sched¬ uled openings are; Hyannis, June 14; Community, Osterville, June 15, and Cape Cinema, Dennis, June 27. Some 19-inch TV sets have been in¬ stalled in the state Quintree, Braintree, and Wareham ozoners. Operated by the Rifkin Circuit, sets are placed in the concession building. Henry “Snakeoil’’ Johnson, manager. Interstate’s Orpheum, Danielson, Conn, is confined to his home nursing an in¬ jured foot suffered when he attempted to make like “Hopalong Cassidy,” and fell off his horse. The City of Lowell, Mass., Licensing Ccmmitte has given operators of local houses permission to discontinue hiring of uniformed police officers, required under a city ordinance, on a trial basis to run from June 16-Sept. 15. Managers requested relief from this added finan¬ cial burden, and the committee agreed to the trial period providing either the manager or his assistant were on the premises at all times. The committee also insisted that children unaccompanied by adluts, be segregated as much as pos¬ sible. However, the trial can be revoked at any time. American Theatres Corporation an¬ nounced the transferring of several state managers: Howard Parker, Capi¬ tol, Arlington, to the North Reading Drive-In; Jay Concannon, Capitol, Som¬ erville, to the Capitol, .4rlington; Ste¬ phen Bresnahan, Ball Square, Somer¬ ville, to the Capitol, Somerville; J. W. McGrath, Central, Somerville, to the Ball Square, and Clayton Hazelwood, re¬ lief manager, to the Central. Frank Ser¬ gei, who opened the North Reading ozoner earlier this season, has been sent to the Bayside, Hull, Mass., a summer situation scheduled to open on June 28. Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Wari-en, Warren, Whitman, Mass., celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. Vincent Hamelin, manager. Middleboro, Middleboro, Mass., resigned to enter business for himself. He has taken over operation of Lisbon, Me. Mr. and Mrs. Walter Mitchell, planned to attend the graduation of a son, Wal¬ ter, Jr., from University of Virginia. Walter, Jr., graduated from Tufts two years ago with an AB, and he received his Master’s degree in Astronomy and Physics from Virginia. Film District Nate Levin, Monogram sales manager, is on the mend at Baker Memorial Hos¬ pital. The Variety Club installed a TVset in his hospital room. Harry Heller, longtime concessionaire and Variety Club member, retired from the business, and has taken permanent residence in Florida. . . . Ross Frisco, entertainment booker and Variety Club member, has moved the base of his op¬ erations to Hollywood. . . . Phil Smith was in the Beth Israel Hospital. . . . Daytz Theatre Enterprises Corporation is now booking Phil Sherman’s Hamil¬ ton, Waterbury, Conn. Sam Richmond, Lux, is busy setting up more playdates for “Manon,” which opened recently at the State, Lawrence, Mass. . . . James Connolly, 20th-Fox branch manager, spent a day in Provi¬ dence, R. L, recently conferring with Jack Bloom, home office. . . . American, Morton, Dorchester, Mass., closed. Fred O’Connell, Metro shipper, en¬ tered the army. Annual outing of the employees of 20th-Fox has been scheduled for June 25 at the Cliff House, North Scituate, Mass. Barbara Connolly and Pauline Valias are handling the arrangements. . . . Mike Zamins, 20th-Fox booker, reports his wife is making nice headway recuperat¬ ing at home following a short spell of hospitalization. Helen Ross replaced June Dunton, re¬ signed, at the switchobard at Affiliated. . . . The Fairlee, Fairlee, Vt., will be opei-ated this season by Dr. Abadassa, June 13, 1951 NEW ENGLAND