The Exhibitor (1950)

EXHIBITOR NT3 Connecticut Hartford The Pine Drive-In, owned by Frank McWeeney, Waterbury, and Louis B. Rogow, Hartford, opened. The 1, 000-car capacity project is situated on the Wolcott-Bristol Highway, Waterbury. John Patno, assistant manager, Allyn, has launched a softball team, composed of service staff members. Theatres in the Hartford area wishing to play the team may contact Patno. . . . Joe Dolgin, general manager, Pike Drive-In, subur¬ ban Newington, resumed his duties following a long illness. Fishing trips will probably occupy a lot of sparetime work this summer. Planning jaunts are Ernie Grecula, George Smith, and Hugh Campbell, Hart¬ ford Theatre Circuit; Harry Hoff and Harry Sweet, Strand; Charlie Obert, Allyn, and Rube Lewis, Loew-Poli Palace. Hoff and Sweet will head for Nova Scotia, while the other fishermen will be content with Connecticut shore¬ line and inland waters. Tommy Grace, manager, Eastwood, East Hartford, has a permanent tie-up with drug stores and other eating places. . . . Ben Lamo, manager, Webb Play¬ house, has been tieing up with numerous merchants and businessmen in suburban Wethersfield on film promotions. The next big social event on the Hartford trade calendar will be the July marriage of Marilyn Landers, daughter of George Landers, division manager, E. M. Loew’s Theatres, and Mrs. Landers, and Dr. Benedict S. Vicas, Hartford. The event, according to Land¬ ers, is slated for the latter part of July. . . . Loretta Staron joined the Crown. . . . Sam Harris, partner, State, and Mrs. Harris arrived in Paris, France, for a six-weeks stay. . . . Donald Faccente joined the Regal. . . . New screen and improvements in the sound system and stage lighting are among renovation items under way at the State. General Dwight Eisenhower was in to participate in ground-breaking cere¬ monies for a new Terminal building at Bradley Field. The general, now presi¬ dent of Columbia University, was in as a guest of Francis Murphy, State Aero¬ nautics Commission. A reception was held, following the ceremonies, with Harry F. Shaw, Lou Brown, Lou Cohen, and Fred Greenway, Loew-Poli circuit; Henry L. Needles and Jim McCarthy, Warner Theatres, and George E. Land¬ ers, E. M. Loew Circuit, among the 250 persons in attendance. ... In West Springfield, Mass., the new 1,000-car E. M. Loew’s Riverdale Drive-In opened. The drive-in is operating under the supervision of George E. Landers. Joseph Giobbia, Crown manager, plans to vacation in New York. He has launched a new attraction on Tuesday nights. He gives away several wrist watches. . . . Maurice Shulman, Shulman Theatres, tripped to Boston. . . . Jim McCarthy, Strand manager, got more honors in Warner Circuit promotional competitions. . . . Jim Hughes, LoewPoli, and Mrs. Hughes are observing their 35th wedding anniversary. Seen at the recent press premiere of U-I’s “Winchester 73,” at the Shubert, New Haven, are, from left: Charles Simonelli, U-I executive in charge of national exploita¬ tion; Robert W. Lea, president, Johns Manville Corporation and a director, Universal Pictures and Olin Industries, of which Winchester Repeating Arms Company is a unit; John Wesley Hanes, director, Olin Industries; W. A. Scully, U-I vice-president and general sales manager; Shelley Winters; John M. Olin, president, Olin Industries; A. J. O’Keefe, assistant general sales manager, U-I; Arthur Greenfield, in rear, New Haven branch manager, U-I; George L. Dawson, Winchester Repeating Arms Company, and Philip Gerard, eastern publicity manager, U-I, all rather pleased. Maurice Greenberg, owner, Center, has extended an invitation to Hartford organizations and groups to make use of the theatre facilities for fund-raising campaigns on behalf of worthy causes. . . . Richard Landers, son of George E. Landers, division manager, E. M. Loew Circuit, was appointed to the Suffield Academy tennis team. . . . Mary Mancarelli served as Regal relief during the illness of Betty Brown. Owner Harry Post, Astor, East Hart¬ ford, reported plans were under way to present a series of dramatic plays in that 497-seat theatre. New Britain Mr. and Mrs. George LeWitt an¬ nounced the engagement of their daugh¬ ter, Edith, to Leonard R. Myers, West Hartford. Father LeWitt is a pioneer theatre operator. New Milford Negotiations were under way for sale of the 20th Century to Arthur J. Smith, Newtown. Smith is manager, Edmond Town Hall, Newtown, and has been in show business for 20 years. Application for approval of sale of the theatre, listed in the estate of the late John Panoras, has been made at New Milford Probate Court. Jackie Robinson, Brooklyn Dodgers star second baseman, was surrounded by young autograph seekers when he appeared recently in the lobby of the Pilgrim, Boston, in conjunction with the New England premiere of EL’s “The Jackie Robinson Story” in that theatre. Newington Manager Joe Vasco, Newington, was ill. General manager Paul Purdy, Kounaris-Tolis-Ulyssis Theatres, came in dur¬ ing Vasco’s illness. Meriden Anita Trehan and Geraldine Vielette joined the Meriden. . . . Paul Purdy, general manager, Kounaris-Tolis-Ulyssis Theatres, went all-out in advance pro¬ motion for “No Sad Songs for Me.” Norwich Manager Joe Boyle, Loew-Poli, pro¬ moted a full-page contest in The Norwich Bulletin as advance promotion on “Cheaper By the Dozen.” Middletown Joseph A. Adorno, son of Palace owner Sal Adorno, Sr., has been appointed treasurer, Middletown Industrial De¬ velopment Committee. Stamford The Stamford Film Council, an organi¬ zation of local residents assisting the film department of the Ferguson Library in assembling a large collection of short films for use by schools, clubs, churches, and other groups, held its first annual Film Festival at the Dolan Junior High School. More than 40 motion pictures, used as audio-visual aids by schools and adult organizations, were previewed. Wethersfield A new policy has been adopted at the Webb Playhouse, managed by Ben Lamo, the feature twice during the evening instead of once. Massachusetts Lynn Elimination contests for the “Cinder¬ ella” queen at Lynn’s centennial celebra¬ tion were held at four theatres and the SERVICING THEATRES^DRIlfE IN5 CANDY POP CORN DRINKS COMPLETE CONCESSION SUPPLIES 'tKeep iheMavietSmtt’ 107 MEADOW ST. NEW HAVEN.CTi" June 14, 1950