Boxoffice - Feb. 17, 2014

Georgian Motii for the
Strand in Pawtucket
Boston—Modernized Georgian is the
new motif of the Strand in Pawtucket.
M&P Rhode Island house. William Riseman
and Alex Lercari, Boston theatre decorators,
combined shades of fawn with
gold and Queen Anne blue in the lobby of
the house.
The foyer has been covered with rich
damasks in red, gold and accents of burgundy.
Georgian patterns in rust and
gold are used in the damask covering of
the auditorium. The house remained open
during the job.
Poll Theatres, Inc., Seeks
Assessment Reduction
Bridgeport — The Poll New England
Theatres, Inc., has petitioned the local
board of relief for a reduction of $233,460
in the assessed valuation of their property
here. Included are the Loew-Poli. Majestic,
Lyric, Globe and the site of the old
Plaza with a total assessed value of
$2,204,815.
Television Show
-A Farnsworth television show
was held here last week, Tuesday through
Thursday, at the Jordan Marsh Co. A
special show was put on one morning for
pupils of the Horace Mann School for
the Deaf, emphasizing the lip-reading potentialities
of the innovation. Public turnout
was heavy.
Prize to Goldstein
Boston—Harry Goldstein, manager of
the Morton in Dorchester, won the $50
first prize in the joint M-G-M—M&P exploitation
contest for "On Borrowed Time."
Ralph Tully, manager of the Central in
Biddeford, Me., ran a close second.
Sponsor Talent Search
Danbury, Conn.—The Palace will present
a weekly Wednesday Radio Talent
Search under the auspices of the Associated
Sound Co. of Danbury. The program
will be rebroadcast on WICC, Fridays.
Feb. 20 Date Set
Boston—The next meeting of the Indeisendent
Exhibitors, Inc., originally scheduled
for February 13, will be held at 20
Shawmut St. headquarters on February 20.
The IMl Nights
Abridged
Worcester, Mass.—The world's champion
motion picture fan. in all probability,
is 14-year-old Victor WasseU. When
found after a two weeks absence, police
said the youngster admitted to
spending one week in one theatre, and
the other week in another. They said
that he slept in the theatres at night,
eating borrowed candy, intermingled
with a supply of water.
Poesy Plugs Party
Boston—The film district turned out
last week Saturday for the Boston Friar's
Club valentine party at The Commons,
and Max Melincoff, local district manager
for Warner Theatres, turned on fountain
pen and poetic instincts. Wrote Melincoff,
with more reportorial craft than poetry:
"Listen, you guys
With ants in your pants.
You've been yelling for a party.
Now here's your chance!
"It's a Valentine Party
For Friends, Sweethearts and Wives.
Bring 'em along for the
Time of their lives!
"A program's been arranged
That's gonna be fine,
And the fun will commence
Exactly at nine.
"You'll see Old Time Movies
Of yars and yars ago.
With a piano player and drummer
Who know how to play the show.
"Then there's a prize Question Bee
Like you hear on the radio.
And we'll have a chance to learn
Just how much you know.
"And after that there's dancing
With Art Rubin and Crew,
He'll teach you the La Conga
And other dances, too.
"There'll be plenty of food
And you can eat all you're able,
A variety of delicious eats
Will be served at a buffet table.
$3.00 a couple is dirt cheap;
To that you will agree.
So, come on, boys, let's get together.
For one big Jamboree!
Loew's Opens Meriden
Poli for "GWTW" Run
Meriden, Conn. — Loew's, Inc. have
Breaks House Records
Bridgeport—All house records were shattered
at the Warner by "The Fighting
69th," with Sunday being the biggest individual
day in the theatre's history.
Resumed Thursday Openings
Hartford—Loew-Poli here has gone
back to a Thursday opening day for new
films, after having observed Fridays for
the same event for quite some time. Management
said that the move was for "an
indefinite time."
Bradbury Foote to Metro
Hollywood—Bradbury Foote has joined
Metro's writing department. He will
work under Producer John Considine jr.
High Requiem Mass Held
For Late Harry Decker
Boston — Harry Decker was buried
Saturday at 9:00 a. m. with a solemn high
mass of requiem at St. Agnes' Church in
Ai-lington Center.
Decker, 53 years old, was in the Boston
film limelight for 35 years. He owned the
Film Exchange Transfer Co., was a member
of the Boston Friar's Club, and was the
oldest member of the National Rim Carriers
Ass'n.
He is survived by his widow, a daughter,
and a son, the latter a student at
College High.
Shoe Production
Up
Boston—Theatremen were heartened
by the report that New England shoe
production showed a 4 per cent increase
in 1939. A minor chord was struck, however,
by the fact that national production
was up 7 per cent over 1938. On the
other hand, Massachusetts led all shoe
cities in 1939 by producing 80,124,164 pairs,
more than 8,000,000 above the figure of
New York, second city on the list.
Levine Forms Firm
Boston—The Northeastern Film Co. has
been formed here by Sam Levine, formerly
of Grand National. Levine announces he
has New England distribution right to
"Special Inspector," "Murder in the News"
and "Death Goes North." Offices are;
opposite National Screen Service on Mel-,
rose St.
John E. Hoban
Claremont, N. H.—John E. Hoban, 72,
who operated a film theatre in Barre, Vt.,
|
for many years until his retirement in
1923, died February 5 in Claremont General
Hospital.
Cerio Suffers Fall
Bridgeport—Albert Cerio, scenic artist i
at the Lyric, sustained a rupture when he i
opened the 1,022-seat Poli for the holdover fell from a ladder back stage. An emergency
operation was necessary to save his
of "Gone With the Wind." The house has
been dark for the past two years, Loew's hfe.
operating the Loew-Poli Palace continuously.
After completion of the holdover, the
Big Take by Ice Follies
theatre will be closed again. Nat Rubin,
New Haven—Biggest engagement in the
Poli, New Haven assistant, will assist Joe
amusement field in this state was the Ice
Samartaro during the holdover.
Follies at the 4,500-seat Arena last week,
which is reported to have taken $55,000
in eight evenings and two matinees. The
Follies featured Roy Shipstad, Bess Ehrhardt
and others.
LaGuardia Advises
What Hub Missed
Boston—Film men sympathized when
Mayor LaGuardia gave solace to Mayor
Tobin of Boston at the recent Clover
Club dinner. "Mayor Tobin," said La-
Guardia, "you don't know what you
missed by not having a World's Fair
in Boston. If you think you're broke
now, just try one."
BOXOFFICE : : February 17, 1940