The Exhibitor (1955)

MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR NT-1 WS or IHK Boston Crosstown Allied Artists day in New Eiigiaiul, with the presence of Steve Broidy, president, was a huge success. More than 180 exhibitors representing 000 theati-es in the area turned out to greet the Allied Artists officials. In his ad¬ dress, Bostonian Broidy reviewed the past histoiy of Monogram-Allied Artists, ap]) raised the present, and evaluated the future. In promising two major pi'Oductions a month from now on, plus the regular program pictures they have been making, he told of theii' futui'e produc¬ tion plans with William Wylei', Billy Wilder, and John Huston. In defending the majors who have cut down produc¬ tion because it proved to be more fi¬ nancially successful to the operation of the company whose prime responsibility is to the stockholders, he said, “If you were operating your theatres success¬ fully with 150 pictures a year, would you change you policy because suddenly 400 pictures were made available to you?” In conclusion, he urged support of his .\A production plans and asked each exhibitor, buyer and booker present to re-appraise his own total picture situa¬ tion to find a place for the forthcoming AA product. Seated at the head table with Broidy wei’e Moiey “Razz” Gold¬ stein, general sales manager; John Flinn, exploitation and advertising head ; Martin J. Mullin, president. New Eng¬ land Theatres, Inc., who was the toast¬ master; Ben Abrams, New England dis¬ trict manager; Herman Rif kin. New England franchise ho'der; Julian Rifkin, vice-president, Rifkin Theatres; John Pavone, New Haven branch man¬ ager; and Herman Mintz, Boston attoi-ney. Goldstein said, “We have had to change our national format for this meeting. Hei’e you have welcomed us as your own. We are always happy to retui'n to this city where Mr. Broidy and I were born. A telephone call came in foi me today from Walter Reade of New Jersey, who promised that his entire circuit will back the AA production plans and will back them with playdates, not just promises. We recognize the fact that the help you gave us in the past kept us in business. Now we are trying to give you top product to keep you in business.” At the conclusion of the speeches, A1 Daytz, Daytz Thea¬ tre Enterprises, representing 75 thea¬ tres in the area, pledged full support to the AA production plans. James Cagney, star. Paramount’s “Run For Covei',” was in promoting the picture. . . . Steve Broidy, president. Allied Ai'tists, took time out of his busy schedule to visit with the scientific directoi’. Dr. Sidney Farber, at Variety Club’s Jimmy F'und building. Broidy, a former Massachusetts resident, has al¬ ways bc(Mi especially intei’ested in Ihe .Jimmy Fund. William Grahan, formerly office manager and city salesman, 20th-Fox in Buffalo, is the new office manager at the company’s local exchange. The Boston Press Club is sponsoring its fifth annual dinner in the main ball¬ room of the Sheraton Plaza on April 11. The guest speaker will be Harrison E. Salisbury, author of “American in Russia,” and foreign correspondent on The New York Times. A special guest will be TV star Art Carney. The high¬ light of the evening is the presentation of the annual Amasa Howe Award for the most distinguished piece of journalism for 1954. From the office of Roy E. Heffner, Goodwill Award, comes announcement of the latest contracts sold by Sam Haase for theatres in the state, Capitol, Ever¬ ett; Uptown, West Lynn; Strand, Can¬ ton; Needham, Needham; Rialto, Wor¬ cester; Strand, Roxbury; Holyoke, Holyoke; State, Saugus; Dedham, Ded¬ ham; Coolidge, Watertown; Plaza, Rox¬ bury; Ideal, Roxbury; Olympia, Wor¬ cester; Dorchester, Dorchester; and in Rhode Island, the Olympia, Olneyville; and in Maine, the Capitol, Portland. When the Kenmore starts on April 9 with the first-run engagement of “Aida,” it will look like a new theatre. The outside has been remodeled and changed by William Riseman Associates, while inside there is a new lobby, new International seats, new carpets, and a new design throughout. A wide-screen has been added with new stage draperies. Louis Richmond, owner, is hosting a brilliant luncheon at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel on April 7 for Sol Hurok, sponsor of “Aida,” who will meet the press, mu¬ sic critics, music heads of the local col¬ leges and schools, and just music lovers. George Kraska and Frank Cronin are handling the advance campaign for the picture. Kraska is arranging the lunch¬ eon and drawing the ads, while Cronin is handling the newspapers and radio advertising. Harry Segal, branch manager, UA, was elected president. Sentry Lodge, the theatrical lodge, B’nai B’rith, at the annual election of officers. Others elected were Henri Schwartzberg, Max Tobin, and Arnold H. Dunne, vice-president ; Samuel Zitter, treasurer; Jack Bratt, fi¬ nancial secretary; Joseph H. Gross, cor¬ responding secretary; Harold Rubin, re¬ cording secretary; George Roberts, chap¬ lain; Julius Meyer, assistant chaplain; Seymour Berman, warden; Benn Rosenwald, guardian. Trustees elected were Samuel Pinanski, Louis Richmond, Ar¬ thur Lockwood, Elias M. Loew, Michael Redstone, Theodore Fleisher, Herman Rifkin, Harry 1. Wasserman, .ind Harry X. Cohen. A special sci'eening of “Blackboard Jungle,” MGM’s drama about juvenile delinquents, was held at the company screening I'oom for 40 teachers and edu¬ cators of the city’s vocational training schools, arranged by Karl Fasick and Floyd Fitzsimmons of the tub-thumping staff. R(d)(M-t E. McNulty, owner, Warwick, !Vlarblehe;iil, M.a.s.s., Iia.s b(‘en elected a Ruling Requested On Sunday Law Boston — Times Film Corporation has asked the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts to rule that the Com¬ missioner of Public Safety, Otis M. Whit¬ ney, exceeded constitutionality in ban¬ ning Sunday showings of the French film, “Game of Love,” and complained of his censorship on another film, the Swedish pictuie, “One Summer Of Hap¬ piness.” The film company has asked for a petition of certiorari to be brought against the Commonwealth to determine the validity of the authority of his actions and seeks to have him be prohibited fi'om activity in the field of censorship of motion pictures. The peti¬ tions seeks to have the court declare for distinct results that the existing Sunday licensing law is unconstitution¬ al; that the words “public entertain¬ ment” as used in the statute do not apply to motion pictures; that the Com¬ missioner has no authority to censor motion pictures prior to their showings in theatres; and that the Commissioner’s action is arbitrary. Attorney for the film company are Alfred Albert, Albert, Albert, and Tyber, and Felix Bilgrey, New York firm of Bilgrey and Levinson. No damages were asked. Times Film Corporation stated that “Game Of Love” has been banned outright for Sunday showings, while two scenes and several phrases were deleted from “One Summer Of Happiness.” “Game Of Love” won the Grand Priz du Cinema Francais in 1954, while the Swedish film “One Summer Of Happiness” won prizes at the International Film Festi¬ val, the Cannes Film Festival, and the Berlin Film Festival. trustee of the Marblehead Public Li¬ brary to serve for a three year period. A native of Maiblehead, Bob is following in his father’s footsteps. The late Thomas A. McNulty, who built the War¬ wick and operated it for many years, was active in many civic enterprises and was a trustee of the Mary Alley Hos¬ pital. Boh was chosen chairman. Blood Donors Day, and is also chairman of various committees, among them the recent Tercentenary Program. Samuel Pinanski, president, American Theatres Corporation, has returned to his desk after a month’s vacation at the Roney Plaza Hotel, Miami Beach, Fla. . . . Arthur Lockwood, treasurer. Lockwood and Gordon Entei'prises, has left for a 10 days vacation in Puerto Rico with his son Roger. Joseph E. Levine and Barnet Yanofsky have taken over the lease of the Nashoba Drive-In, Boxboro, Mass. Built in 1925, the theatre has been managed by WANTED: ASSISTANT fi/IANAGER For deluxe suburban Boston theatre. Replies strictly confidential. Write qualifications to: MRS. F. HARDING 38 Church Street, Boston April 6, 1955 NEW ENGLAND