The Exhibitor (1955)

MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR NT-1 jfKWS OF THIS Boston Crosstown “Variety Club Day” at the Suffolk Downs race track was a most enjoyable affair, with more than 100 exhibitor mem¬ bers attending the luncheon and races as guests of Judge John Pappas. The Judge named the feature race the “Variety Club Race” with the owner of the winning horse presented a trophy from second assistant Chief barker Michael Redstone. All guests were given a free daily double ticket. Cocktails and luncheon were served in the Paddock Club. . . . The largest screening of the week was held at the Fenway when Buena Vista presented Walt Disney’s “Lady And The Tramp” and “Switzerland” to the trade and invited guests. Herbert Schaefer, Buena Vista manager, greeted guests at the door. The film opens in July at the Keith Memorial. U-I’s science-fiction film, “This Island Earth,” is to have a strong radio and television exploitation campaign. Rex Rea¬ son, starring in the film, came to town for air appearances and to meet the press for interviews. Johnnie McGrail, U-I pub¬ licist, arranged a luncheon at the Ritz Carlton to introduce the star to the local critics and film editors. McGrail executed a nice tie-in with the film and the Supreme Markets in their four stores in metropolitan Boston. Each store will give away a $25 Planetarium, as well as three plastic space ships and a number of courtesy tickets to the Memorial, to lucky number holders in the four stores. In return, the Supreme Markets are taking 180 lines of film advertising in four in¬ sertions in the Boston Globe and othei large ads plugging the film in three dis¬ trict newspapers. The film opens June 15 at the Keith Memorial. Following this opening, McGrail leaves for Bridgeport, Hartford, and New Haven to exploit the film in those cities. Officials of Stanley Warner ..Theatres have closed the Waldorf, Lynn, Mass., for the summer, with manager William Hart subbing at the Warner, Lynn, as assistant manager, until the Waldorf re¬ opens in the fall. . . . Norman Glassman, Lowell, Mass., exhibitor, has returned from Miami Beach, Fla., with Mrs. Glassman, who spent the winter months there. . . . Don Falco paid a visit to the district for the first time since his recent illness. Looking tanned and rested, he expects to be back on the job as salesman for Capitol Theatre Supply after July 4. Owner Benjamin Sack has closed the Saxon, Fitchburg, Mass., for June while the theatre undergoes refreshening. Manager Frank Boyle is concentrating all his activities on the Fitchburg in the same city. . . . One of his first evenings out of the house since his recent hospital¬ ization found Bill Sullivan, Maine and New Hamphire head booker, at a drivein watching the show from the comfort of the family car. From all reports, he Gasper G. Urban, former salesman, was recently promoted to the post of branch manager of the Paramount Boston exchange. enjoyed the experience immensely. His condition is so improved that he expects to be back at his office in July for parttime appearances, at any rate. Another industryite on the recent sick list is Edward Canter, American Theatres, who is also greatly improved and is expected back on the job in a few weeks. Redstone Drive-In Theatres have started construction on a new huge drivein to be built in East Rutherford, N. J., marking the 10th drive-in in the circuit and the second in New Jersey. Their Newark Drive-In opened its gates on June 9 with Michael Redstone, president, and his son, Edward, vice-president, in attendance. The new East Rutherford ozoner was designed by William Riseman Associates, Boston. The actual work will be done by local contractors. The opening is scheduled for Labor Day. Joseph E. Levine, Embassy Pictures, is distributing “Sins Of Pompeii,” which is to have its American premiere in this territory. Bought in Europe by Terry Turner, General Teleradio, Inc., and Tom O’Neil, president, Mutual BroadcastingCompany, the film is to have the full radio and television exploitation treatment accorded other of the Turner films which have been presented in this section. Levine invited a group of film buyers and bookers to his office to see the TV and theatre trailers which have been made up from scenes from the film. George Kraska, Em¬ bassy, is already working on the exploita¬ tion and will contact theatre managers on the publicity. Lyman O. Seley, division manager. Manley, Inc., announced the following pro Arthur Stein was recently promoted to district manager, Levine-Yanofsky DriveIns, operating four in Massachusetts, with a home office in Boston. motions in his staff. Irving Dunn, former theatreman, who has had the New York and New Jersey territory, has been appointed territorial manager, Philadel¬ phia area, which includes Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and a portion of New York state. He has purchased a new home in a Philadelphia suburb for his family. Harold J. Mulcahey is replacing him as salesman, New York City area. John Stone, who had the Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont states, is now territorial manager for all six New England states. Ed Courtney has been named his assistant. Sam Horenstein, who was Manley manager here for many years, has returned to the company, cover¬ ing the New England section, and will be a general goodwill ambassador for Manley all over the country. C. Edwin Compton has taken over the Altec service in the Worchester, Mass., area, effective June 6, replacing the late Phil Gruen, it has been announced by “Red” Pierce, Altec district manager here. Worthington “Buster” Holt, who has been with the Lockwood and Gordon Cir¬ cuit since 1939, has resigned as manager, Portland Drive-In, Scarborough, Maine. He will open the new Den-Rock Drive-In, North Andover, Mass., on July 3 for the Shay brothers and will continue as man¬ aging director. This new theatre is being booked by Daytz Theatre Enterprises. He is being replaced in Scarborough by Harry Johnson, who moves over from the circuit’s Winslow, Maine, Drive-In. Robert Duffy has been placed at the Winslow. The first thing Rex Reason did when he arrived for his first visit was to take in the art festival in the Public Garden. A native Californian, the young actor featured in U-I’s “This Island Earth,” is six feet, 3-and-a-half inches tall, and wired ahead for a special bed at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. He also has completed for U-I, where he has a seven-year contract, a film called “Kiss Of Fire,” in which he is starred with Jack Palance. He has made two films before but they were under the screen name of Bart Roberts, which the studio gave him because his own name, which happens to be Rex Reason, sounded, according to U-I, too theatrical. But by dint of persuasion he was at last able to work under his christened name. He was in town for two days under the guidance of Johnnie McGrail, U-I pub¬ licist, for radio and television appearances, and to meet the press at a luncheon in the Ritz. David Score closed the Yarmouth, Yar¬ mouth, Me., permanently. This is the house he took over last February when the lease to Marshall Carleton had ex¬ pired. Carleton is now in the real estate business in that area. ... A daughter, third child and second girl, was born to Mr. and Mrs. John W. Fecke, Cheshire, Conn., making A1 Fecke, UA salesman, a grandfather again. Gasper G. Urban, new branch man¬ ager, Paramount, is a native of Lynn, and now lives in Swampscott. He joined the company in 1949 as a shipper, and worked his way up through the bookingdepartment to office booking manager. He was with the Marine Corps for 17 months, returning to Boston as a sales June 15, 1955 NEW ENGLAND