The Exhibitor (1950)

EXHIBITOR NT-1 NEWS OF THls Boston Crosstown Samuel Pinanski, American Theatres Corporation president, was made an honorary professor of Lowell Textile University, where he also was given the honorary degree of Master of Science, the institution’s highest honorary award. The citation for Pinanski, who recently received an honorary degree of Doctor of the Art of Oratory from Staley College, was made at the University’s annual com¬ mencement exercises in Lowell, Mass. A graduate of Lowell Textile, Pinanski has served on the board of trustees there for many years, and is chairman of the college building committee. He was cited as a “loyal alumnus, who, by his enthusi¬ astic and unselfish dedication to the task, has immeasurably improved and ad¬ vanced the prestige and welfare of his Alma Mater,” one whose “vigor, energy, and wise counsel have been of the great¬ est value in constructing a new and promising future.” A board of directors’ meeting of Inde¬ pendent Exhibitors of New England was held, presided over by President Les Bendslev. The main topic under discus¬ sion was legislation activities pertaining to the industry. Elihu Glass, owner, Majestic, West Springfield, Mass., has taken over the Bass Rock summer theatre, Gloucester, Mass., for the nine-week summer sea¬ son, using name stars from Hollywood and Broadway. Film District Ken Prickett, MGM field press repre¬ sentative for the past eight years, re¬ signed to become a district manager for the Mid-west Drive-In Theatre Circuit, Phil Smith Enterprises, with home offices in Boston. Prickett, a native Texan and former exhibitor, will be active in the mid-western area. Sympathy goes to Ted Fleisher, head booker, Interstate Theatres, on the recent death of his father in Newton, Mass. . . . James F. Mahoney, general manager, Interstate Theatres, left for the open¬ ing of Interstate’s summer situation on Cape Cod. . . . New ozoners opening were the Grandview Drive-In, Gorham, N. H., owned and operated by James Sayers, and the Yarmouth Drive-In, Yarmouth, Me., owned by Louis Packard. Complete Ballantyne equipment was in¬ stalled in both by Independent Theatre Supply Company, headed by Edward Hosmer. Warners’ head booker, Robert Levine, started the vacation exodus with two weeks on the Cape. . . . William Grady, head MGM talent department and chief casting director, visited: Reports are still coming in on the Cinema Club annual outing, hosted by E. M. Loew and Sonia Loew at the Milton estate. Activities were highlighted by a Lana Turner recently became “immor¬ talized” among the greats of the screen when she left her handprints and foot¬ prints in the forecourt of Grauman’s Chinese, Hollywood, as her husband. Bob Topping, eyed, and G. Klossner watched. chicken dinner in the evening, Mrs. Loew acting as hostess. The annual softball game between married and single men was won by the married men due to the pitching and hitting prowess of RKO booker Dick Dobbyn, Jr. Minor casualty of the day honors went to Leo Griffin, office manager, Warners, who fell off a horse in a “Tim Holt” side-saddle exhi¬ bition. Booker J. Urban, 20th-Fox, walked off with the honors and more material gains in the various games of skill enjoyed by the gathering. Louis Gordon, Chief Barker, Variety Club, Tent 23, and Bill Koster, executive director, announced a 10th anniversary moonlight cruise for all members and friends on the new Wilson Line Flagship, Boston Belle. Fun, dancing, surprises, as well as open cocktail and snack bars were promised for this gala affair. James R. Grainger, Republic execu¬ tive vice-president in charge of sales and distribution, was in, accompanied by special sales representative John P. Curtin. Jack Cummings, MGM producer, was in on a brief visit. It was a boy at the Jerry Crowleys. Dad is the Lockwood and Gordon buyer and booker, while the mother is the former Ruth Cummings, booker at MGM. . . . WHDH was to have started the co¬ operative air campaign this week on behalf of district drive-ins. With Ed Redstone leading it, the plan is being paid for by 15 drive-ins. A new air-conditioning unit combining all the latest technological advances in air-cooling has been installed at the Rialto, Roslindale, Mass., according to manager Joe Sullivan. . . . Under the heading of “Here’s Good News, Mr. Exhibitor,” RKO’s new branch manager, Hatton Taylor, let territory theatre own¬ ers know that there were several fea¬ tures available for the next three months. Taylor listed new release schedules in a way that attracted much attention. Irving Lesser, owner, Little Carnegie Playhouse, New York, was a visitor. . . . New Haven recently was the scene of festivities when U-I press premiered “Win¬ chester ’73” for representatives of the trade, press, and Olin Industries, of which Winchester Arms Company is a subsidiary. At upper left is the Hotel Taft lobby, where the premiere group registered on arrival, while at upper right is the premiere marquee vieing for attention with one across the street announcing Warners’ “Colt .45.” At lower left, at a shooting exhibition staged by world rifle champion Herb Parsons, right, are John M. Olin, president, Olin Industries, and actress Shelley Winters, while at right is a view of the large western atmosphere banquet at the Taft. June 21, 1950 NEW ENGLAND