The Exhibitor (1955)

MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR NT-1 msws or mi: Boston Crosstown The “Late Cinema” art shows on Friday evenings at Interstate’s Bradley, Putnam, Conn., received national acclaim when the nationally known commentator, Gil¬ bert Seldes, mentioned the project over his radio program. Originated by Wilbur Neumann, manager, Bradley, and his bro¬ ther, Erwin Neumann, district manager-, Interstate’s Connecticut theatres, the pro¬ gram goes on at 10 p.m. with a pre¬ dominance of foreign films. The policy was started two years ago when the Neu¬ manns felt the need for a late show for the factory workers in the area who stay on the job until 8 p.m. and then are! ready for relaxation and entertainment on the eve of a non-working day. The program is operated on a mailed invita¬ tion basis only with announcements sent to a listing of over 500 patrons in an area of a radius of about 30 miles. There is no advertising in the local papers, yet these newspapers have devoted editorials and news space to the project, commend¬ ing highly the ingenuity of the manage¬ ment. Admissions are slightly higher than the regular programs, but the innovation has proven to be successful from every point of view, with emphasis on good will. Herman Rifkin has gone to the west coast with Mrs. Rifkin to take in the Allied Artists board meeting and to attend the wedding of Eleanor Broidy, daughter of AA’s president Steve Broidy. . . . Mrs. Marjorie Carter, mail girl, New England Theatres, Inc., has resigned, with Mary Mack, Cambridge, replacing her. The doors of the Bowdoin Square have been permanently closed and work started on the demolition of the property to make it into a parking lot. Built in 1875 as a stock company house, the theatre has undergone various stages of develop¬ ment and changes with vaudeville, stage shows, film and vaudeville, until 1930, when it used a picture policy playing 30 days after downtown Boston. In 1937, the thea¬ tre was purchased by Ben Williams, who operated it as a second run film show¬ case. When it is converted into a parking lot, Williams will continue to operate it. Walt Disney’s new “Davy Crockett, King Of The Wild Frontier” is booked into the Keith Memorial for a June 22 playdate, through the Buena Vista Dis¬ tribution office here. . . . John Dervin, Stratford Pictures, was in town for a few days on a selling trip, greeting his friends on Film Row. He is planning to return on June 20 to take in the Great Heart Award banquet sponsored by the Variety Club of New England. John J. Scully, Jr., has been appointed district manager for E. M. Loew Theatres, replacing Nick La vidor, who resigned to become managing director, University, Cambridge, Mass. Scully, whose family Starlets Marian Carr and Yvonne Doughty recently spread good cheer and good will for UA’s “Kiss Me Deadly” on their Boston visit to the UA exchange. They are seen with Ben Rosenthal, Strand Theatres; Harry Segal, Boston UA branch manager; and Ben Williams, independent film buyer. The girls are kissing their way from coast to coast. is well known in the industry, was asso¬ ciated with E. M. Loew in the operation of the West End Drive-In, Allentown, Pa. He is moving his wife and two chilf dren to this area where he is now house¬ hunting. E. M. Loew Theatres is reopen¬ ing the Casino, Falmouth, on June 12 and a week later is reopening the Welles Beach, Maine theatre, bowling alley, and arcade on the coast. Two drive-ins for the circuit are now under construction, both designed and engineered by Richard Rubin. One is the Candlelight, Bridgeport, Conn., and the other is in Hallendale, Fla. Both should be ready for late season openings. Terry Turner, General Teleradio, Inc., was in town huddling with Joseph Levine, Embassy Pictures, on forthcoming prod¬ uct. . . . George Roberts, treasurer, Rifkin Circuit, was elected to represent the Grand Lodge District I at the Inter¬ national B’nai B’rith triennial conven¬ tion for 1956, which will be held in Washington. . . . Roy Heffner, Goodwill Award, and Harry Germaine, Price Premi¬ um, have moved to 42 Winchester Street where they are sharing offices. They were A check for $4,300 was recently presented to Ted Williams, trustee, Children’s Can¬ cer Research Foundation, by Mrs. Michael Cristley, co-chairman with Mrs. John Crane of a fashion show sponsored by the Daughters of Penelope. Watching the presentation are William S. Koster, Vari¬ ety Club’s executive director; and Mrs. Theodore Gomatos. The Jimmy Fund is sponsored annually by the Boston Red Sox, Variety Club Tent 23, and the Chiefs of Police. formerly in the offices of Independent Exhibitors, Inc., of New England. . . . Lloyd Clark, president, Middlesex Amuse¬ ment Company, is still on crutches after his recent accident when he broke a bone in his foot. Robert J. O'Donnell, general manager, Interstate Theatres of Texas, has accepted the invitation to be toastmaster at the Variety Club of New England’s 1955 Great Heart Award banquet on June 20 when Rudolph F. King will be the recipient of the award. Officers of Variety Inter¬ national will also be present, including George Hoover, John Rowley, Edward Emanuel, George Elby, and Jack Beresin. The governors of the six New England states have also accepted the invitation of chief barker Walter A. Brown to at¬ tend. Joe Cronin and the entire roster of the Boston Red Sox, headed by Ted Williams, will be at the head table. The affair is to be held in the Imperial Ball¬ room of the Hotel Statler where a capacity crowd is expected. Boston’s own Dr. Sid¬ ney Farber will present the Great Heart Award to Rudolph F. King, treasurer, Children’s Cancer Research Foundation, who is Massachusetts Registrar of Motor Vehicles. The Boston City Council adopted a resolution which would have all theatres in the city establish bundle checking desks, and would reserve a “favorably lo¬ cated section in each theatre for the exclusive use of female patrons during and for some time after shopping hours.” When asked the reason for the proposed female segregation, the sponsor, Council¬ man William J. Foley, Jr., replied, “Women will get the idea.” He said his suggestion was among those designed to “make Boston more attractive as a place to seek entertainment.” The Cinema Club of Boston, composed of bookers and office managers of the various exchanges and circuits, held its 19th annual election of officers at the Hotel Bradford. The following were elected to serve for one year: president, William Cuddy, RKO, reelected for a second term; first vice-president, John Glazer, Western Massachusetts Theatres; second vicepresident, Phil Berler, E. M. Loew Thea¬ tres; treasurer, Max Berlone, United Art¬ ists; secretary, C. F. McGerigle, RKO. The executive committee is made up of William Romanoff, New England Thea¬ tres; William Cuddy, RKO; Richard Owens, E. M. Loew Theatres; Charles Wilson, Allied Artists; Harry Smith, RKO; Nate Oberman, MGM, and C. F. Mc¬ Gerigle, RKO. Eliminations announced by the Bureau cf Sunday Censorship included: “Angela,” parts 1 to 9 (Deletions: Cut to flash scene showing Angela’s breast exposed, in part 9). 20th-Fox. “Doctor In The House,” parts 1 to 10 (Deletions: Eliminate the word “hell,” in part 3; eliminate dialogue, “Sister Virtue nearly had a baby,” in part 5; eliminate word “hell,” in part 6). Republic. “Kiss Me Deadly,” parts 1 to 11 (Deletions: Eliminate dialogue, “Let him go to hell,” in part 10). United Artists. After numerous extensions and delays, the underground garage under Boston June 8, ID 55 NEW ENGLAND