The Exhibitor (1952)

EXHIBITOR NT-1 JfKWS OF THK Boston Crosstown March winners of the Warner Thea¬ tres managers’ New England Sweepstakes were: first prize, Andy Sette, Capitol, Springfield, Mass.; second, Jack Melincoff, Palace, Lawrence, Mass., and third, Jim Tobin, Warner, Bridgeport, Conn. Honorable mentions went to; Joe Miklos Embassy, New Britain, Conn.; Jim McCarthy, Strand, Hartford, Conn.; Joe Borenstein, Strand, New Britain, and Julia Smith, State, Waterbury, Conn. Second quarter winners were: First Division — “The Yankee Handi¬ cap”: first prize, Irving Hillman, Roger Sherman, New Haven, who was a twotime winner, having copped first prize in January and February, and second prize: Sette. Because judging was so close due to excellence, two third prizes were awarded to McCarthy and Murray Howard, Warner, Worcester, Mass.; Ben Gruber, Broadway, Lawrence, received honorable mention. Second Division — “The Rainbow Classic”; Jack Melincoff, Palace, Lawrence, and Jack Harvey, Palace, Danbury, Conn., tied for first place, and second place, a dead heat between Joe Miklos, Embassy, and Joe Borenstein, Strand, New Britain. Vic Moreli, Empress, Danbury, grabbed honorable mention. Third Division — “The Lobster Stakes”: first prize, John Petroski, Palace, Norwich, Conn., and second, Jim O’Loughlin, Port, Newburyport, Mass. Honorable mention went to: Russ Barrett, Capitol, Willimatic, Conn., and Jack Shields, Capitol, Ansonia, Conn. Fourth Division — “The Atlantic Furlong”: first prize, George Haddad, Gem, Willimantic, and second prize, Guido Luminello, Warner, Lawrence. The judges congratulated the winners on the excellence of the promotional gimmicks, which exceeeded any previous contests. Lou Costello makes a point to EXHIBI¬ TOR’S Springfield, Mass., correspondent, Harley Rudkin, while Bud Abbott and Andy Sette, Capitol, Springfield, beam approval in this informal shot taken re¬ cently in New Haven, where the comedy team was making personal appearances on hehalf of WB’s “Jack and the Beanstalk.” Highlighting the recent campaign for UA’s “The Captive City,” RKO Boston, Boston, were a striking front and men in convicts’ costume covering the downtown district of the city. Publicist Karl Fasick, for UA’s “The African Queen,” Loew’s, Boston, recently promoted an empty store, and turried it into an African exhibit, with admission free, of course. The 200,000th person who recently saw UA’s “The River” at the Beacon Hill, Boston, received tickets to a legit show and a season’s pass to the Beacon Hill from resident manager Jack Goldfein. Louis Stern resigned from the Rich¬ mond-Stern Enterprises to devote full time to the operation of Fernand’s Gift Shop, Brookline, Mass. Louis Richmond continues to conduct the theatre com¬ pany, which is now known as Louis Richmond Enterprises, and which operates the Kenmore, here; Orpheum, Somerville, Mass.; Uptown, West Lynn, Mass., and Nuttings on Charles, a ball¬ room in Waltham, Mass. Richmond also maintains an interest in four ozoners in association with E. M. Loew, the Mount Vernon, Washington, D. C. ; Governor Ritchie, Baltimore, Md.; Hartford Drive-In, Newington, Conn., and the Milford, Conn., Drive-In. The circuit is no longer connected with the Colony, Dorchester, Mass., now closed, or the Colony, Lynn, Mass. Cleo Jacove continues as office manager-secretary at the home office in the Hotel Bradford. Managerial changes announced by E. M. Loew are: E. J. O’Connell, Centre, Pawtucket, R. I., formerly at the Regal, Franklin, N. H., and Palace, Cranston, R. I.; Jay Finn, son of general manager Max Finn, at the Riverdale Drive-In, Springfield, Mass., and Nathan Gold¬ berg, transferred from the Plymouth, Worcester, Mass., to the West Boylston, Mass., Drive-In. Ed Daley will be at the Kingston Drive-In when it reopens, soon. Jack Freeman, manager, Harry’s Snack Bar, won two of the three top honors during the recently concluded Film Row Bowling League season. He racked up the highest average through¬ out the season with a slick 96.6, and won the high three with a total of 339. Tony Serra, E. M. Loew, won the high single with 134. The Kenmore team won the championship. Samuel Pinanski, president, American Theatre Corporation, was to be installed as president, Sentry Lodge, B’nai B’rith, Brookline, Mass. Martin Levine, Brandt Theatres, was slated to be guest of honor, and act as installing officer. Herman Rifkin, Monogram, was married to Mrs. Sadye Felixson, BelAir, Cal., at the home of Steve Broidy in Los Angeles. The couple will reside in Boston. Roy E. Heffner returned from a junket through the southwest, where he set up “Goodwill Awards” in Dallas, Texas, and Oklahoma City. John Franconi, a veteran distributor, will handle the account in Dallas, with Walker and Mc¬ Kenna handling Oklahoma City. . . . Clayton Pantages, who has been serving as an apprentice salesman at 20th-Fox, has been assigned to the New Haven branch as salesman. . . . Art Moger, Warner tubthumper, was escorting Mrs. Grover Cleveland Alexander, widow of the late pitcher, around the territory to publicize WB’s “The Winning Team.” . . . A1 Margolian, Astor publicist, was back in circulation following surgery at the Kenmore Hospital. . . . Miss Nancy Glaser joined Loew’s publicity staff as assistant to Karl Fasick. She May 7, 1952 NEW ENGLAND