Boxoffice-August.19.1950

Film Golf Tournameni
Is Held at New Haven
NEW HAVEN—Charles Coburn was guest
of honor at the annual Motion Picture Theatre
Owners of Connecticut Film Golf tournament
luncheon at Racebrook Country club.
Orange, Tuesday (15 1. An enthusiastic turnout
of exhibitor distributor and representatives
from all over the state, as well as
executives from Boston and New York, enjoyed
a day in the open punctuated by special
luncheon and dinner arrangements at the
clubhouse, and the final awards of prizes.
George H. Wilkinson. Wallingford exhibitor,
and Albert M. Pickus. Stratford exhibitor
nationally active in TOA, were co-chairmen;
Sam Weber of Rosen Film Delivery was
treasurer: Herman M. Levy. TOA attorney
was secretary, and Lou Brown. Loew's Poll
advertising head was in charge of publicity.
They were assisted by James Bracken of
Warner zone office; Ted Jacocks. Branford
Theatre; James Darby. Paramount Theatre;
Harry P. Shaw. Loew's Poli division head,
and Samuel Rosen of the delivery and theatre
interests. Barney Pitkin and Henry
Germaine, managers of RKO and Paramount,
respectively, were chairmen for the distributor
branch.
Variety Golf Tournament
Attracts 100 Persons
BOSTON—The Variety Club's annual golf
tournament and outing was a big success
with more than 100 members and guests present
at the Pine Brook Golf club, where
Charlton Heston, Paramount's new star, was
guest of honor.
Prizes were w'on for the longest drive by
James F. Mahoney of Interstate Theatres,
with Jay Wolf second; "Fishy" Green of
Audrey Pictures, for the nearest to pin,
and blind bogey winners were Bill Horan,
Tony Russo. Ellis Gordon. M. D. Feldman
and Joe Cohen. The low gross event was
divided into two parts, for members and
nonmembers.
For the members, Joe Mathieu was first,
with G. Sommerell second. For nonmembers,
L. Irwin was first, with Jerry Govan second.
In the low net event, for the members Herbert
Copellman was first and Abe Yarchin second.
For the nonmembers. Ben Rosenberg
was first and Jay Alberts second. The consolation
prize went to "Red" Peirce of Altec.
There also were 15 door prizes.
Bing Theatres Builds
One House, Buys Second
SPRINGFIELD. MASS. — Bing Theatres,
Inc.. of Boston, which is moving solidly into
western Massachusetts with one theatre under
way here, has purchased the Wernick in
Chicopee.
Built more than 20 years ago. the Wernick
originally cost $100,000. The sale price was
not disclo.sed. The theatre has a seating capacity
of 1.000 and there are street level
stores on the ground floor of the building,
with offices on the second floor.
Charles L. Patch, manager of the Broadway
here, and formerly manager of the Art.
has been put in charge of the new Bing
establishment.
Onve-ins Will Collect
For 1950 Jimmy Fund
BOSTON—For the first time in this territory,
audience collections will be taken in
drive-ins for the 1950 Jimmy fund drive.
The decision to take up collections among
drive-in patrons was made by the Jimmy
fund committee, with Edward Redstone
named chairman for the drive-ins.
Redstone is asking for suggestions from
drive-in owners for the best method to
make such collections. He said in a letter
to drive-in managers last week that he did
not believe it wise to try to collect when
cars enter the field, since occupants will
not have seen the Jimmy fund trailer. He
recommended that Boy Scouts take up the
collections at an intermission following showing
of the trailer.
The Jimmy fund drive starts September 1
and will run for two weeks, but drive-ins
will start their collections August 25 and
continue through September 5. Drive-in
owners said that earlier collections would
be made in the outdoorers since patronage at
the open-airers drops considerably after Labor
day.
Edward Redstone, vice-president of Redstone
Drive-ins. is the son of Michael Redstone,
owner of four drive-ins in Massachusetts
and three in New York. His New
York outdoorers also will be asked to contribute
to the Jimmy fund.
Appliance Industry Folk
Asked to Pay for Cement
BOSTON—At a meeting of New England
Variety Club associate members, those who
are not connected directly with the motion
picture industry. Associate Barker Samuel
Dane, president of Allied Appliance Co. was
so impressed with the Buck-a-Brick idea that
he is
asking 20.000 employes in the appliance
industry to pay $1 each to purchase the
cement needed to build the new research
CONNECTICUT WELCOIE—Jim Mc-
Carthy, manager, Warner Strand, Hartford,
serves Nick Cravat, left, and Burt
Lancaster, right, at Warner reception
for the two actors, held in conjunction
with Connecticut showings of "The Klamc
and the .Arrow."
building for the Children's Cancer Research
Foundation.
Members of the motion picture industry
plan to purchase one brick apiece for SI to
complete the outside of the building. With
the appliance industry working on the cement
to be used. Executive Director Bill Koster
of Variety now is looking for a third industry
to take care of the glass needed for the project.
Samuel Dane is chairman of the appliance
industry for the Jimmy fund. George
Roberts is chairman for the motion picture
industry for tne bricks.
When Jim Britt, radio sports commentator
and a trustee for the Jimmy fund drive,
heard about a group of children in Wilmington,
Mass.. who raised $150 last year for the
drive, he approached them again this year
only to discover that one of the young
members had died during the winter. As a
memorial the children had raised another
$150 which they will give to Britt for the
Jimmy fund at an afternoon baseball game
at Braves field. Britt will take the kiddies
to the Keith Memorial where they will be
guests of Ben Domingo to see "Treasure Island"
and later they will dine at the Hotel
Bradford where they will be the guests of
theatre owner Ralph Snider.
Bernie Menschell Weds;
Community Partner
HARTFORD—Bernie Menschell. partner in
the Community Amusement Corp.. Hartford
independent circuit, was married recently to
Irma Singer, local insurance company employe.
Rabbi Robert Goldberg conducted the
ceremony, with witnesses including John
Calvocoressci. partner. CAC circuit, and Phil
Gravitz. MGM New Haven manager.
Following the wedding, the couple left for
a two-week honeymoon in upstate New
York. Mr. and Mrs. Menschell will live at
60 Sumner St., Hartford.
Comedian Has Car Woes
At Danbury Drive-In
HARTFORD—Jack O'SuUivan. manager or
the Lockwood-Gordon-Rosen Danbury Drivein.
had the situation well in hand one night
when comedian Milton Berle showed up.
Berle and his wife Joyce Matthews were
at the drive-in. but no one knew it until
upon trying to start his car. Berle found
that his battery was dead.
He was taken to O'Sullivan, who took him
to a nearby garage, where he got assistance.
Church Sues Against Drive-In
SPRINGFIELI>—A suit in equity has been
filed by the Greek Catholic church here
aimed at blocking the license which has been
issued for construction of a drive-in here. The
church and residents of a veterans housing
project have opposed construction of the outdoorer.
but Mayor Daniel B. Brunton has upheld
his action granting the license and has
given no hint that he will change his mind.
BOXOFFICE :
: August 19. 1950 NE 87