Boxoffice-December.02.1950

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Diakon,
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BriefBiackouiHiis
Theatres in Boston
BOSTON—A high voltage wire twistup
Sunday (19) darkened Boston and surrounding
communities from 6:22 to 7:17 p. m.
Electric company officials said the blackout
occurred when the big wires were being
shifted near Worcester, causing a terrific
overload on the main generating plant of
the Boston Edison Co. on L street in South
Boston, knocking it completely out for nearly
an hour.
In downtown Boston, about half of the
theatre patrons waited while managers
rushed around to get the emergency lights
on. Max Nayor, managing director of the
Metropohtan said: "Most of the patrons
waited for the show to start again. They
grumbled a bit, but we played records for
them. One of the records was 'Lights Out.'
It was a congenial crowd on the whole. They
milled around our huge lobby and bought
candy. In fact we were cleaned out in our
concessions department. Very few asked for
their money back."
At the Keith Memorial, where "All About
Eve" was playing, the crowd good-naturedly
waited until the damage was repaired. Some
asked for rebates and got them. The Kenmore
was able to switch on emergency battery
lights which were adequate. Theatres using
DC current direct were unaffected by the
mishap; namely, the Exeter Street the Mayflower,
the Laff-Movie, the Pilgrim, the
Trans-Lux and the Beacon Hill.
The two drive-ins still open in this area,
the Neponset and the Meadow Glen in Medford
were unaffected. At the Boston Opera
House, where 2,600 people were assembled to
take in the dress rehearsal of the Ed Sullivan
"Toast of the Town" television show,
comedian Victor Borge, featured in the show,
said "What's the matter, don't they pay their
bills here?" and everyone thought it was part
of the act till Sullivan came on the stage with
a flashlight and announced the trouble, asking
everyone to leave. Later, at 8 o'clock,
the regular Toast of the Town show went on
as scheduled with new ticket holders in the
audience. Sullivan was heard to emit a heavy
sigh: "First the threatened strike and then
the blackout. I'll never forget Boston."
Sneaks in Providence
PROVIDENCE — Maurice Druker, Loew's
State manager, has of late been giving his
Monday night patrons an extra added treat,
presenting sneak previews of forthcoming
MGM attractions. No extra tariff is asked
I but response is reported as being "just fair."
This, probably due to the fact that no advance
publicity is given to the sneak preview.
Advertising appears in the local papers only
on the day of the showing and no mention is
made of the title. This is the policy adhered
to by the Loew chain, it is reported.
/T//^^ Cl'mics to Feature
New England IE Parley
Night Club Promotions
Hurt Hartford Houses
HARTFORD—Tlieatres in this area are
becoming increasingly aware of the growth
of competition for the entertainment dollars
on the part of local night clubs. Night spots
are going allout in advertising and promotion
in an effort to draw more money into
their own registers.
Prior to the war, theatremen said, extremely
few night clubs offered floor shows
every night throughout the week. In the
postwar years, however, there has been a
change of policy by night club operators, and
numerous locations now offer entertainment
of some kind dui-ing the week, adding the
attraction of no minimum or cover charge
during the week, but returning the charge on
weekends.
Biggest drawing card is the old Town
Hall Inn, East Hartford, which presents floor
shows nightly except Sunday at $2.50 minimum.
New York floor show attractions are
being presented and the inn management is
utilizing extensive advertising and promotion.
Since inauguration of this policy, the inn has
had to double its seating capacity.
Other night clubs offering top talent, with
minimum or cover charges, are Club Ferdinando,
the Lobster, and Ryan's in Hartford;
Wright's, Plainville; Club Vasques, Middletown.
A promotional method used by night clubs
is nightly distribution of small cards asking
the patron to write down his ideas or suggestions
or even complaints concerning management,
service, etc.
Because the night clubs most closely approximate
policies of the combination motion
picture-vaudeville theatres, such houses as
the 4,200-seat State. Hartford, and 1,200-seat
Palace, New Britain, are using extensive advertising
to remind patrons that top entertainment
is available at the theatres.
British actor Michael Rennie has been
signed for a long-term contract by 20th-Fox.
BOSTON—A. Montague of Columbia and
Steve Broidy of Monogram are expected to
attend the banquet of the Independent Exhibitors
of New England's convention at the
Copley-Plaza hotel December 5. Other head
table guests will be Abram F. Myers, Arthur
Mayer, Samuel Pinanski, Arthur Lockwood,
E. M. Loew, E. Harold Stoneman, Nathan
Yamins, Mike Simons of MGM, W. L. Bendslev,
James Guarino, Arthur Howard and Phil
Smith.
Speakers at the general business meetings,
will be Larry Davee general manager of the
Century Projection Corp., who will speak on
"Projection and Sound, Today and Tomorrow";
Arthur Mayer on COMPO; Abram
Myers and Jack Edwards on "The Presentation
of Flesh in the Theatre."
The convention will start at 10:30 a. m. with
a series of film clinics, which will be followed
by a screening of "The MGM Story" at
Loew's State Theatre at 12 noon.
A cocktail hour hosted by the Lon Hacking
of Image & Sound Service, will precede the
banquet.
The Independent Exhibitors committee on
arrangements is headed by James Guarino,
assisted by Ray Feeley, business manager, W.
Leslie Bendslev, Nathan Yamins, Arthur
Howard, Leonard Goldberg, Daniel Murphy,
Walter Mitchell and Mel Safner.
Albert Pickus Named
HARTFORD — Albert M. Pickus,
regional
vice-president of Theatre Owners of America,
and owner of the Stratford Theatre, Stratford,
Conn., has been appointed civil defense
coordinator there.
Showman's Brother Dies
HARTFORD — Harry Schwartz, prominent
Connecticut attorney, and brother of Jack
Schwartz, operator of the We.st End and
Black Rock Theatres, Bridgeport, Conn., died
recently.
Paul Amadeo Marries
HARTFORD — Paul
W. Amadeo, general
manager, Pike Drive-In, Newington, and Ann
former cashier, E. M. Loew's Theatre,
Hartford, were married here November
18, then left on a New York honeymoon.
DEDICATE NE'W OFFICE—Mayor John Hynes of Boston is shown cutting the
ribbon at the dedication of Warners' new building at 131 Arlington St. in Boston.
Left to right: Herman Maier, chief purchasing agent tor Warner Bros.; local Manager
George Horan; Mayor Hynes; R. A. McGuire, chief auditor for Warner Bros.,
and Bernard Goodman, head of branch operations for the company.
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isl' BOXOFFICE :: December 2, 1950
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