. . Sympathy . . Eileen and . . . Keith MONTREAL nilan Spencer, director of advertising for Confederation Amusements, has returned from a six-week visit in his native Trinidad. B.W.I. He flew both ways. The reception he experienced from his mother, whom he found in good health, and friends exceeded his fondest expectations, he said. He left Mrs. Spencer and their child to enjoy an extended holiday in Trinidad. They will return about the middle of June. The season in Trinidad has been very dry and hot. George Roy is improving his Beauceville Theatre, Beauceville East, assisted by Mrs. Roy, who does the booking. Improvements are also being made to the Canadian at Causapascal by A. Paquet, owner and citizens say it "looks 100 per cent better" . . . New chairs are being installed in the Arcade, Baie Comeau, by owner G. C. Lacroix. . . P. E. Casoni has Carl Brock of Cowanville is building a theatre in partnership with Leo Choquette, and reports construction well advanced . . . R. P. Robert has completed his new Palace at Granby . . . Dr. J. A. Guibord and his friends are proud of the new theatre he has constructed at Grand'Mere . done some "spring cleaning" on his Stella at Parent. . . . Loui Rosenbloom, of the . . . M. E. Lodge, owner of two theatres, the Town Hall in Danville and the Myra in Richmond, is going to take things easier and will turn over the Danville house to his future son-in-law Royal Alexandra, Lachine, has been carrying on a notable advertising campaign for his theatre . . . "Song of My Heart" (Allied Artists) is on first run at His Majesty's here Paul Douglas of the publicity department of Eagle Lion was here. . . . Premiere Mackenzie King told parliament he has always been in favor of the building of a national theatre, and "would like to see it done" . to Maurice Duhamel, general manager of the Auclair circuit, whose mother died Exhibitors in town: P. Senecal, the George, Ste. Therese; Charles Pacaud, St. Gregoire and Loretteville: R. Lafrance, Rialto, Quebec City, and Georges Turcotte, of the Cineam de Paris. Levis. Marcel Pellerive of the Alamo, Chateauguay, has booked several special attractions, including "The Jolson Story," in anticipation of the summer season . Brennan, booker at Warner Bros., is visting Mrs. M. C. Brais at Rawdon, Que. Mrs. Brais formerly was an accountant at Warners . . . Mrs. Jack Rohr, wife of the president of Peerless Films, has returned to Toronto after spending a holiday at Ste. Agathe . . . Bessie Herman of Quebec General Theatres is spending a week's vacation in New York. . . . Cecile Dowling, shipper at Soverign Films, was on a two-week vacation "Henry V" was shown at the Capitol, Quebec City . . . Safe driving films were exhibited to Quebec motorists . . . Fridolin's new revue will be titled "Ti-Coq" (Little Rooster i will open here May 22. Austin Willis and Joy Lafleur, Montreal film stars, have received offers from Hollywood Producer Jules Levy, formerly of Toronto, who is planning to produce a picture in Quebec province. Public in Saskatoon To Get Tax Break SASKATOON, SASK.—Theatre patrons here will get the full benefit of the 20 per cent reduction in price when the federal government drops its war excise tax. The Saskatchewan provincial government announced it did not intend to impose a provincial tax, as will be done in Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia, and by doing so indicated the field was open to municipalities. The city council here voted not to pass a local tax provided the saving is passed on to the public. Exhibitors here have pledged to pass along the full tax reduction and expressed hope that the local situation would be duplicated throughout the province. CALGARY r\ne of the few visitors reaching Filmiow last week was H. J. Stevenson, operating theatres at Lacombe and Edson. He reported "The fairly good business last winter, which fell sadly when snowbound roads kept rural patrons at home the last few weeks . Emperor Waltz" is definitely set for . . Edmonton June 17. The capital city gets early release as Bing Crosby and the oast were frequent visitors from nearby Jasper mountain resort where much of the exteriors were shot. This will be the Canadian premiere. Almost unique are flood conditions on the prairies of Alberta whose high altitudes cause flood waters and rivers to drain fast. (Calgary is 3,500 feet above sea level). All rivers in the Alberta water-sheds flow swiftly into the eastern provinces and northern waterways. Yet last week floods have isolated farms, sections of railroads and highways were imder water so that film cans were undelivered and playdates were missed. However, the worst seems to be over for three days of dry wind and sun will clear up flooded fields and roads. Planes were almost equally helpless except in rare cases. Never have the film salesmen spent so much time around the film exchanges here. With weather forecasts for the weekend dry and warm, there was going to be a grand rush of salesmen on the road again. H. G. Matthews, veteran exhibitor of London. England who came to Canada this year, has taken over as Cardinal Films manager here. He and his wife followed his son to Alberta. The lad was a member of the British air force in training at Penhold and returned to Alberta after being discharged, to marry a girl in Red Deer. Hence the local film exchange acquires a new member. Tele Station Applications Will Be Heard in Montreal MONTREAL—The board of governors of Canadian Broadcasting Corp. will hold public sessions here May 18, 19 to hear applications for permission to establish television stations in Canada, and will also discuss a proposal to abandon the ban on mentioning prices of articles .sponsored on the air. Vallee in 'M-y Dear Secretary' A top role in United Ai-tists' "My Dear Secretary" has been assigned to Rudy Vallee. TORONTO Tack Labow, who covered the Calgary- Winnipeg territory for RKO, has been promoted to the Toronto RKO sales staff ... An office romance between Al Cousins and Dorothy Eversfield of the MGM head office will culminate with their marriage June 5 Wilson, manager of the Odeon, Brampton, is also .managing the new Roxy in Brampton. Dennis Davies, assistant at the Royal in Aurora, moved over to the Roxy to aid Wilson in getting the new house under way. Lee Brooks, American industrialist who has Canadian mining and steel interests and was active in the local stock market, is arranging for the production of a motion picture in Hollywood, based on a famous bizarre Chicago crime. He is collaborating with Howard Emmett Rogers, a famous writer, in the production of the documentary feature, which will be entitled "Chicago Episode" . . May 27 . has been set for the dual Canadian premiere of United Aitists' "Arch of Triumph" at Loew's Theatre here and Loew's m London, Ont. Over 1,200 children attended the opening of the Odeon Movie club at the Pairlawn. Sparked by Manager Howard Elliott, the club, which has close to 2,000 members, is the second Odeon club in Toronto. The initial meeting featured the showing of "Bush Christmas." Added attractions were a color cartoon, a film presentation of the Odeon Movie clubs' special newspaper, and a community sing. Sid Burnett, electrical appliance dealer in north Toronto, is sponsoring the show and providing gifts, birthday cakes £nd other prizes. The Odeon clubs are under a special department headed by Tom Bowyer, who is assisted by Bob Gardner. The new Odeon Danforth was to launch its Movie club Saturday, May 15. The Famous Players Managers Ass'n joined with the managers of the B&F and 20th Century Theatres circuits in a Imicheon in the King Edward hotel last Wednesday. Len Bishop, manager of the Tivoli and president of the Famous Players group, presided. Mort Margolis. manager of the College, gave a report on the Famous Players managers project, which was the adoption of an orphaned French child. He provided informative news on conditions in Prance and held out the suggestion that the associations present might contribute to the child's care. A humorous quiz program was presented by Bishop. Employes of the various Famous Players theatre affiliates have been holding monthly social gatherings under the guidance of Steve Caren, a member of the Tivoli staff. Events take the form of hay rides, sleigh rides, bowling and most recently a roller skating party. The next event will be a trip to Buffalo May 23. Arrangements have been made for a tour of the city and a dinner and stage show at one of Buffalo's leading night clubs. Movie Club at Fairlawn TORONTO—Howard Elliott of the Fairlawn, Toronto, is the latest to join the ranks of managers in the promotion of Saturday morning movie clubs for juveniles. After an intensive organization campaign in the north end of the city Manager Elliott launched his Odeon club on May 1. 110 BOXOFFICE : : May 15, 1948
— BOXOFFICE BAROMETER • EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY FEATURE CHART • REVIEW DIGEST • SHORTS CHART SHORTS REVIEWS • FEATURE REVIEWS • EXPLOITIPS BookinGuide BOXOFFICE FIRST RUN REPORTS This chart shows the records made by key cities pictures in five or more of the 21 checked. As new runs are reported, ratings are added and averages revised. BAROMETER TOP HIT OF THE WEEK State of the Union Philadephia 210 Buffalo 190 Minneapolis 175 Computed in terms of percentage in relation to normal grosses. With 100 per cent as "normal," the figures show the percentage above or below that mark.