Boxoffice - Feb. 17, 2014

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Boston—The
High-Speed Pictures
Boston—Photographic equipment enabling
the taking of high-speed pictures
at one-millionth of a second, were put on
public exhibition for the first time last
week. The mechanisms were invented by
Dr. Harold D. Edgerton of the Massa-
:husetts Institute of Technology where the
iisplay was housed. By the "stop motion"
technique, pictures may be taken of bulets
in motion, bubbles bursting, glass
jreaking, and so forth.
The principle of Dr. Edgerton's mechinism
is along the lines of a flash bulb
hat may be used innumerable times. Ed-
;erton invented a bulb that throws four
imes as much light as the noon-day sun,
ind synchronized it so he could take picures
at one-millionth of a second with
n ordinary camera.
The bulb is filled with xenon and crypon
gases. Charges of electricity explode
he mixture, giving spasmodic flashes of
rilliant light. Inside the bulb is another
0-watt filament which throws a continuus
light for camera focusing. Work for
lotion picture adaptation has been going
n for the past few years.
"Anema Club Members
host the Roll to 55
Boston Cinema Club, tak-
\g on seven new membere, has increased
5 enrollment to approximately 55 bookers
id office managers. The film fraternity
)w takes in all of the larger distributors,
ith the exception of Paramount.
The new members are Sam Richmond of
.e Lockwood and Gordon circuit: Julian
ifkin of the Rifkin circuit, and Eli Leatt,
Leo Griffin, Robert Levine, Edward
:'ltman, and William Kummins of
Big Real Estate Load
Boston—Local theatre owners were int;ested
in the statement by Ray Wenzlick,
ul estate counsel, to insui-ance companies
id banks in 138 cities, that Boston's real
Kate tax load per family is $297.50, the
scond highest in the country. The natnal
average. Wenzlick said, is $121.30.
Apply for Licenses
Portland—Projectionists at local theat'S
have filed applications for licenses
vth the state insurance department in
cnpliance with the new law passed by
t? last legislature.
Not All Are Hurt
iARTFORD — Congressman James A.
Sanley of New Haven enjoyed the film.
" r. Smdth Goes to Washington," and
d not take the exception to it that
scae legislators in the nation's capitol
a reported to have taken.
laurice Shulman, owner and operator
o: the local Webster, Rivoli, and Plaza
Cindsorj theatres, was in Washington
a)i heard praise for the picture, which
ni,' is playing at his houses, from the
Nmeg State congressman. "I thought it
w a very entertaining film . . . splendidly
die," declared Shanley.
BCOFFICE :: Febraary 17, 1940
'Ambiguily' in 'Wind'
Advertising Rapped
New Haven—Protest against the "ambiguity"
of current "Gone With the
Wind" advertising will be sent at once to
William Rodgers, general sales manager of
Loew's, Inc., as a result of a unanimous
vote taken at the special Allied Theatres
of Connecticut meeting at the Hotel Garde
Tuesday. The letter will point out "false
impressions created in the minds of patrons
regarding the form and admission
prices of the feature when it arrives at
subsequent run houses." Exhibitors state
they have learned from their patrons that
the newspaper advertising lines. "See it in
its entirety, exactly the same as at Atlanta
and Broadway premieres" have led
patrons to believe the film will be cut for
second run presentation.
The statement, "This production will not
be shown anywhere except at advanced
prices—at least until 1941," has also been
misinterpreted to mean that the picture
may never be shown at lower than current
prices, operators repwrt. Prevalence
of these impressions resulted in discussion
and decision to protest, and Lawrence C.
Caplan, executive secretary, was ordered
to forward the protest at once.
Joseph F. Reed, operator of Bryan
Memorial Theatre, Washington Depot, and
Bantam, Bantam, was appointed chairman
of the new grievance committee, to serve
with William Hoyt, of the Capitol, East
Haven, and Jack Schwartz, of the West
End, Bridgeport, in hearing and attempting
to conciliate grievances. It was decided
that the services of the grievance
committee should be extended to members
and non -members alike, at least for the
present, and that exhibitors should be so
notified.
Frank Lydon, regional vice-president of
Allied, and guest speaker of the afternoon,
stressed the necessity of harmony
and support within the organization and
constant cooperation with the national
body as a whole. Ai-thur K. Howard, business
agent of Independent Exhibitors,
Inc. of Boston, with whom the Connecticut
group is affiliated, spoke on the various
advantages and services attendant
upon membership in the organization. E.
Thornton Kelly, in his final report, stated
that 90 per cent of Connecticut independent
exhibitors had become members of
Allied in the recent membership campaign
conducted by him. With Kelly's transfer
to Philadelphia as eastern Allied field representative,
appointment of a new field
man in Connecticut will be considered at
the next meeting.
President A. M. Schuman announced
the following members to serve on a newly-formed
legislative committee: A. L.
Pickus, of the Stratford, Stratford: Leo
Bonoff, of the Madison and Saybrook:
Harry L. Lavietes of the Pequot, New
Haven: Martin H. Keleher. of the Princess,
Hartford: Ralph Pasho, of the Gem,
Naugatuck. and Lawrence C. Caplan, executive
secretary.
Membership and finance committees will
also be appointed at the next meeting of
the unit, scheduled for Tue.sday, February
27, at the Hotel Garde. Attendance
He Had an Answer
Portland—Even at the tender age of
ten they seem know all about cupid and
his dart. Witness the fact that a certain
little shaver on Harry Botwick's "Recess
Time" program the other morning started
a wave of titters with his answer to this
one:
"In what game is the word 'love' used in
keeping score?"
The little fellow shifted his feet, blushed
to the roots of his hair, finally stammered
:
"Postoffice."
Patent Office Anniversary
Body Adds George Barnes
Boston—George L. Barnes, vice-president
of the Heywood-Wakefield Co., is
serving on the committee in charge of the
forthcoming Boston commemoration of the
150th anniversary of the founding of the
U. S. patent office.
A feature of the gathering of New England
scientists and industrialists February
20, at the Copley Plaza, will be the presentation
of awards to various eminent living
New England inventors and technicians
who in the past 25 years have
made outstanding contributions to American
life. Those to be so honored are being
selected by a national board presided
over by Dr. Karl T. Compton, head of the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Bushell Reelects Officers
And Its Four Trustees
Hartford. Conn.—The Bushell Theatre
Co. has re-elected its officers for the ensuing
year and four trustees for five-year
terms. The officers: Charles F. T. Seaverns,
president: Howell Cheney, vice-president:
Hartford National Bank & Trust Co.,
treasurer: Alec G. Stronach, secretary.
Ti-ustees: Mrs. Robert W. Huntington,
Charles A. Goodwin, Clement Scott and
Robbins B. Stoeckel. A fifth trustee, James
H. Brewster, was reappointed by Mayor
Spellacy and the Hartford board of aldermen
for a term of five years.
Joseph Callahan Is Feted:
A Trade Member 30 Years
Boston—Joseph Callahan, manager of
the Harvard in Cambridge for the past
two decades, was feted last week at the
Hotel Somerset in honor of his 30th anniversary
in the motion picture business.
F. W. McManus, M&P Theatres Corp.
district manager, headed the committee
in
charge.
Health Fails Stone
Hillsborough. N. H.—Announcement is
made of the resignation of O. Stone as
manager of the Capitol, due to poor health.
Raymond Bruce has been named as his
successor.
Reconstruct in Lisbon
Lisbon. N. H.—The Lisbon has been imdergoing
reconstruction since its disastrous
fire of December 1.
at the meeting of many exhibitors never
before active in independent organization,
was reported.