The Exhibitor (1950)

news or mi: Boston Crosstown Elia Kazan, director, 20th CenturyFox’s “Panic in the Streets,” was to meet the press prior to the world pre¬ miere at the Astor. A1 Goldman, Joe Cifre, supervised the removal of all motion picture equipment at the Murphy General Hospital when the unit was deactivated. Morris Goldman, chief projectionist Loew’s State, and vice-president, Local 182, was touring New England. . . . George Garrett, owner, Alton Drive-In, Alton, N H., opened his 350-car drive-in. Complete Ballantyne equipment was in¬ stalled by Independent Theatre Supply Company headed by Ed Hosmer. Bill Powell, recently manager, Park¬ way Drive-In, Springfield, Mass., has accepted a position as a district manager with the Phil Smith Midwest Theatre Corporation. He will supervise certain of the drive-ins in the middle west oper¬ ated by the Philip Smith organization. Previous to his association with the Parkway Drive-In, Powell was a dis¬ trict manager for Western Massachu¬ setts theatres, managed the Paramount, Springfield, was manager, Strand, Port¬ land, Me., district advertising manager, Maine district, and district publicist, Springfield district, old Maine and New Hampshire Theatres Corporation. Film District Floyd Fitzsimmons, in from Albany, replaces Ken Prickett, MGM, recently resigned. Fitzsimmons, with MGM seven years as a field press representative, held diversified positions in the industry, prior to joining MGM. He managed in New York City, and, prior to entering the industry, worked for the King Fea¬ ture Syndicate. Fitzsimmons is married, with one son, and his family will remain in Albany until he finds a Boston apart¬ ment. The district was shocked to heat of the untimely death of Dick Flora, owner, Rudy, Caribou, Me. Robert Merrill Zietz, son of Harry Zietz, Zietz Circuit, was married at the Temple Chbai Shalom, Brookline, Mass., on June 27 to Betty Joslyn Rosengard, Beverly Hills, Cal. A reception followed at the Hotel Somerset. . . . Myer Miller, RKO shipper is recuperating following a series of ooerations at the New Eng¬ land Hospital. Friends can send their get-well wishes to him at 12 McLellan Street, Dorchester, Mass. Lew Breyer, veteran New England industryite expanded his office facilities to include a complete booking and buy¬ ing service for independent theatre owners. EXHIBITOR Trade Again Helps The "Jimmy Fund" Boston — Complete industry coopera¬ tion was apparent last fortnight at the kickoff luncheon meeting at the Bradford Roof, emceed by Variety Club Chief Barker Louis Gordon. Addressing the more than 150 circuit heads, theatre owners, and film exchange representatives, Gordon, on behalf of Variety Club said, “It is time to get ex¬ cited about the “Jimmy Fund” again. We are confronted with a challenge, to carry on and surpass our past good work.” First speaker was Dr. Lendon Snedeker, assistant administrator, Children’s Medical Center, representing Dr. Sidney Farber, research leader of the medical center. Dr. Snedeker based his speech on the theme of a report to the “angels” of the Children’s Medical Center, and broke it down into the treatment of over 550 children for cancer and leukemia and the construction of the new building. Second speaker was J. Wells Farley, president. Children’s Medical Center, whose speech was one of thanks and gratitude. He spoke of the original offer of $40,000 from the Club to the Chil¬ dren’s Medical Center, refused with the request that Variety Club use this sum as a nucleus with which to build a still Congratulations go to Ronald Baumberg, house manager, Metropolitan, on the birth of his second child, the first son, born on June 24 at Beth Israel Hos¬ pital. . . . Dot Scanlong, longtime RKO employee, was tendered a reception at the home of her daughter in honor of her 25th wedding anniversary. She re¬ ceived $150 in silver dollars, in addition to many other gifts. Seen booking with Carl Goldman, Af¬ filiated, was Joe Braunstein, Merrimac Drive-In, Nashua, N. H. . . . John Diehl, chief projectionist, Scollay Square, was vacationing in Scituate, Mass. . . . A1 Rieth, formerly the projectionist at ATC’s screening room, is now at the Memorial, having returned from his re¬ cent vacation. . . . Anne Svetkay is the new PBX operator, replacing Helene Young, United Artists. . . . Avon Atkin, owner-manager, Blue Moon Drive-In, St. ( Continued on next page ) Jim McCarthy, right, manager, Strand, Hartford, Conn., recently received second prize in the contest fo~ Winers’ “The Hasty Heart,” conducted bv Warner The¬ atres, from district head H. L. Needles. NT-1 greater sum, from which the “Jimmy Fund” was born. Following Farley, Sam Pinanski, pres¬ ident, TOA, and head, American Thea¬ tres Corporation, pledged the all-out support of his circuit, and expressed his conviction that cancer could and would be cured. “We are going to have a new hospital, and I hope that by the time the second story is built, cancer will be cured.” Fourth speaker, John Quinn, general manager, Boston Braves, pledged the whole-hearted cooperation of the Braves as in past years, and said he considered it a privilege to be associated with the Variety Club. Ed Fay, co-chairman with Meyer Stanzler for Rhode Island, pledged sup¬ port. Martin J. Mullin, president, Chil¬ dren’s Cancer Research Foundation, and co-chairman, 1950 drive, with Louis Pe~ rini. president, Boston Braves, traced the history of the “Jimmy Fund,’’ and an¬ nounced that $350,000 had already been raised, and that this year’s drive should surpass last year’s. Also seated at the head table, in additicn to the speakers, were William Ken¬ nedy, vice-president, Union National Bank, Watertown, Mass.; Bob Martineau, Narragansett Brewing Company; Thomas McMahon, Atlantic Refining Company; William H. Sullivan, director of public relations, Boston Braves; Bob Webb, Chevrolet Motors; Milton G. Davis, Atlantic Refining Company; John • E. Finneran, Chevrolet Motors; Calvin Favorite, Atlantic Refining Company; T es Bendsley, president, Independent Exhibitors, and co-chairman, “Jimmy Fund,” eastern Massachusetts; Max Melincoff, Warner Theatres, and cochairman, Eastern Massachusetts; Rob¬ ert M. Sternburg, chairman, Greater Boston; C. T. Russell, Sr., chairman, Maine; Frank Vennett, chairman, Ver¬ mont; William Koster, executive secre¬ tary, Variety Club; Max Levenson, Second Assistant Chief Barker, Variety Club; Lloyd Bridgham, chairman, New Hampshire, and William C. Scanlong, trustee and representative IATSE. Following the luncheon, Harry Brown¬ ing, advertising manager, New England Theatres, Mullin, and Koster left for meetings in New Hampshire and Maine. A group met with Lloyd Bridgham and the New Hampshire state committee at the Rockingham Hotel, Portsmouth, N. H. Later, they met with Connie Rus¬ sell and Governor Paine, Maine. A ten¬ tative meeting is set for July 13 with the Connecticut group, and at a later date in Rhode Island. Browning advised that more than $1,300 has already been collected from activities in Framingham and Charles¬ town, Mass., and that any other similar funds, even in advance of the scheduled campaign, can be sent to him at his office at 60 Scolly Square. He further an¬ nounced that balls and containers are being shipped out, and it is not too early to send in for material. Any of last year’s balls, in various theatres, may be sent back to Boston for reconditioning. Fine is preparing a script and trailer for theatre use, to be made in H~llyo 1 Tim 1950 drive starts officiary in September. July 12, 1950 NFW ENGLAND