Boxoffice-October.27.1951

—
— —
—
—
—
Charles Darby Named
L&G District Chief
PROVIDENCE—Charles R. Darby, manager
of the Avon Cinema for six years, has
been appointed a district manager for Lockwood
& Gordon of Boston, which operates 23
theatres and seven drive-ins in New England,
including the Hope and Avon here.
Until his successor is appointed. Darby will
continue to manage the Avon, but also will
take over supervision of the Hope, the Braintree
in Braintree, Mass., the Cameo, South
Weymouth, and the Satuit Playhouse, Scituate,
Mass. Darby has been with L&G 11 years,
first as assistant manager of the Avon when
Robert Grossman was manager. Six months
later he was named manager of the Cameo
and also supervised the theatre in Braintree.
From there he went into the navy.
After three years' service he returned to the
Avon.
A native of Boston, Darby was educated
in Everett high school and took a premedical
course at Boston college. His first theatre
job was at the Paramount in Boston. Darby
distinguished himself in local theatre circles
by persistent promotions. His wide selection
of foreign films, operas and musicals built
up a wide reputation for the theatre.
Scollay Square Theatre
In $125,000 Transaction
BOSTON—A public auction of six pieces
of property in Scollay square, which housed
the Scollay Square Theatre and the sixstory
office building next door, was held last
week (161. Walter Hartstone, representing the
Realty Exchange, bought the property for
$125,000.
At one time the office building housed
the M&P Theatres circuit but has been
vacant since the splitup of the circuit into
American Theatres Corp. and New England
Theatres, both of which moved to other quarters.
The theatre itself has been closed for
some months.
It is not known what disposition will be
made of the theatre property but it is expected
that it will be converted into another
type of business. The office building will
probably be left intact as it is in excellent
condition. The entire property unit was built
in 1912. Papers will pass on the sale November
15. The assessment is $260,400 on the
land and $289,600 on the building.
New England Locales Set
For Three New Pictures
HARTFORD—New England locales will be
featured in several forthcoming Hollywood
films. Production gets under way soon at
Plymouth, Mass., on an MGM drama entitled
"Plymouth Adventure," starring Spencer
Ti-acy, Van Johnson and Nancy Johnson.
Church street in New Haven is seen in
sequence of "Love Is Better Than Ever," romantic
musical with Elizabeth Taylor and
Larry Parks. The latter portrays a theatrical
booker, with the Poll in New Haven, part
of a tryout circuit in his organiaztion. The
primary setting is New York. Hartford actress
Katharine Hepburn will star with Spencer
Tracy in "Pat and Mike," baseball comedy,
with production to precede "Plymouth Adventure"
on Tracy's schedule.
George Kraska Working
On 'The Nightingale'
BOSTON—George Kraska, who was the
first New Englander to present foreign films
to Boston audiences, is now representing "The
GEORGE KRASKA
Emperor's Nightingale" in this territory. This
Czechoslovakian film will open late this
month at the Exeter Street Theatre for its
second presentation in this country. It is
now in its 19th week at the Trans-Lux Theatre,
New York.
As part of the campaign for the Exeter
opening, Kraska has arranged a press luncheon
at the Hotel Vendome for the film critics
to introduce them to William Snyder, who
holds the American rights; "Sandy" Weiner,
national distributor, and Miss Phyllis Mc-
Ginley, well-known author of children's
stories who collaborated on the English narration
with Snyder. Boris Karloff, whose voice
is heard on the running commentary, will be
unable to attend.
"The Emperor's Nightingale" is the first
independent assignment for Ki-aska since his
resignation late this summer as managing
director of the Beacon Hill Theatre. Miss A.
Viola Berlin is managing director of the
Exeter.
After launching "The Emperor's Nightingale,"
Kraska intends to handle other foreign
productions in this territory. He is making
his headquarters at 246 Stuart St. in the
offices of Irving Farber and Eddie Ruff of
Regal Pictures, the distributors of "The Emperor's
Nightingale" in New England.
American Theatres Opens
Dorchester Morton Nov. 9
BOSTON—After complete redecorating and
refurbishing, the Morton Theatre at Dorchester
will reopen November 9. American
Theatres Corp. is putting the houes in shipshape
condition for the opening with new
Krohler pushback seats and painting and
refreshening throughout. The theatre has
been closed since last spring.
The Hamilton Theatre in Dorchester, operated
by Frank Lydon, has succumbed to bad
business and its doors were closed indefinitely.
This theatre had been running continuously
for 36 years.
Twin Bill Ties 'Earih'
In Boston Session
BOSTON—The double bill of "Texas Carnival"
and "The Red Badge of Courage" proved
a good draw and will hold over for a second
week. "Rhubarb" was also above average but
"Love Nest" was a disappointment. "The Day
the Earth Stood Still " al.so warranted a holdover.
(Average Is 100)
Aslor— People Will Talk (20th-Fox), 4lh wit 95
Beacon H.U- The River (UA), 3rd wk 120
Boston—The Day the Earth Stood Slill (20th-Fox);
Jungle Manhunt (Col) 135
Exeter Street—Mairy Ma (Snoder); The Wooden
Horse (Snaier). 2nd d. t. wlc 90
Memorial— Love Nest (20lh-Fox); Sky High (LP).,.. 80
Melropohlan—Meet Me Alter the Show (20lh-Fox);
The Basketball Fix (Reolarl) 95
Paramount and Fenv/ay Rhuharb (Para); Cage ot
Gold (Elhs) 120
Trans-Lux—Mister Droke's Duck (UA) 85
State and Orpheum Texas Carnival (MGM); The
Red Badge ot Courage (MGM) 135
"Place in Sun' Paces Hartford
With 135 in Second Week
time in months,
HARTFORD—For the first
there were more than two downtown first
run holdovers, and newcomers were also doing
well. "A Streetcar Named Desire," at
advanced prices, did impres.sively in a third
week at the Regal.
Allyn A Place in the Sun (Para); Leave It to the
Marines (LP), 2nd v/k 135
E M Loew— Little Egypt (U-I), King of the
BuUwhip (Western Adventure) 90
Poll— Let's Make It Legal (20th-Fox); Journey Into
Light (20'h-Fox) 100
Fclace Texas Carnival (MGM); Triple Cross
(Mono), 2nd wk 85
Regal—A Streetcar Named Desire (WB), 3rd wk.
of roadshow 130
Strand—Painting the Clouds With Sunshine (WB);
Gypsy Fury ( Mono) ..125
New Haven Paramount Grosses
160 on 'Place in Sun'
NEW HAVEN—The downtown Paramount
recorded its best gross in months, 160 per
cent, with "A Place in the Sun" on a double
bill with "Two Gals and a Guy" and a sneak
preview of "My Favorite Spy" thrown in.
All first runs recorded better than average
business, with second place honors going to
the advanced price run of "David and Bathsheba"
in its second week at the College.
College David and Bathsheba (20th-Fox), 2nd wk.
of roadshow - 112
Loew's Poll Saturday's Hero (Col); Sunny Side
of the Street (Col)..- 100
Paramount A Place in the Sun (Para); The Gals
and a Guy (UA) 160
Roger Sherman Painting the Clouds With Sunshine
(WB); This Is Korea (Rep) 100
Celebrate Anniversaries
At Poli in Worcester
WORCESTER. MASS.—Three anniversaries
are being celebrated at Loew's Poli this
month. The theatre is 25 years old and
Harold Maloney is observing his 15th year
as its manager and his 25th year with Loew's,
Inc. He has been in show business 35 years.
In celebration, a program was arranged for
the stage of the theatre, with three film stars
in as guests, Macdonald Carey, Joyce Mac-
Kenzie and Robert Wagner. Tliere was also
a promise that Carleton Carpenter and Debbie
Reynolds might attend.
The theatre was opened Oct. 25, 1926, by
the late S. Z. Poli, the last house he built.
Later it was operated by Fox. It is a deluxer,
seating 3.300, and one of the finest houses
physically on the Loew circuit.
BOXOFFICE :
: October 27, 1951 NE 87