Boxoffice-October.27.1951

. . . Maureen
. . . United
. . Madge
. . Leroy
.
!
WORCESTER
IJy coincidence, pictures of two theatre managers
appeared simultaneously in the
Familiar Faces series of the Sunday Telegram:
namely. Bill Brown of the Park and
Greendale and George Heeley of the Marlboro
Mrs. Penny Duncan,
in that city . . . "Mrs. America of 1951." was in town for the
Home and Food show at the Auditorium.
Taking stock on the visit of the film stars
for Movietime U.S.A., co-chairmen Leo Lajoie
and Johnny DiBenedetto were well pleased
with the way everything went off. Dorothy
Lamour, Debra Paget, Margaret Sheridan,
Tom Breen, Alfred Hitchcock and the rest
made an excellent impression all around. The
visit garnered much newspaper space, a couple
of editorials and one article extolhng the
benefits of the observance.
. . .
. . . Worcester's
The Strand in Clinton made a tieup with
the Clinton Daily Item in a picture contest
The Hudson in that town has discontinued
weekday matinees
Rita Johnson has been cast for "The Left
Hand of God" at RKO . . . When Loew's Poll
screened "Angels in the Outfield," acting
manager John DiBenedetto discovered Donna
Corcoran, the little gal featured, is the daughter
of a former Milford man and made the
papers with it.
Frankle Laine played a one-nighter at the
Auditorium, drawing a fine 3,300 persons.
With him was his wife, the former Nan
Grey of films, and the couple posed for
newspaper shots . . . Jack Kenney, old-time
Worcester vaudeville and friend of Bob
Portle of the Loew-Poli Elm Street, observed
his 80th birthday with a family party.
Payments in Sterling
Payments on contracts for U.S. films received
from Egypt are made in sterling, Egyptian
exporters being required to obtain necessary
foreign exchange.
Irving Loshin Reopens
Theatre at Devon, Conn.
DEVON, CONN.—When Irving F. Lashin
recently took over the Devon, a 289-seat rural
house, he found that neighborhood kids had
virtually ruined the seats, screen and other
parts of the theatre. He reconditioned and
reopened the house, which has been dark
much of the summer, on October 18, with a
plea for kiddy cooperation, offering a free
show of "Two Weeks With Love" to all teenagers.
He urged model behavior in return.
Regular opening of the theatre followed
October 19, featuring "Show Boat."
Lakeport to Isaac Deep;
Mrs. Cease at Unity, Me.
BOSTON—The Lakeport, N. H., theatre has
been sold again. Isaac Deep bought the situation
from Mrs. E. Cease.
Mrs. Cease has taken over operation of the
Unity Theatre at Unity, Me., which has been
closed for some time.
Kennedy Services Held
BOSTON—A solemn requiem mass was
sung Monday (15 1 at the Gate of Heaven
Roman Catholic church for John Joseph Kennedy,
RKO Far Eastern division manager,
who died of a heart attack October 11 at the
age of 52. Kennedy is survived by his parents,
P. J. and Mrs. Kennedy of Boston,
four brothers and two sisters, all of Boston.
Lucy Asher Hayes Dead
BOSTON—The death of Mrs. Lucy Asher
Hayes was reported here recently. Filmrow
extended sympathy to her husband and Saul
Hayes, manager for 36 years of the Strand
Theatre at Boothbay Harbor, Me. Mrs. Hayes
was the sister of the late Harry Asher, veteran
distributor in this area who lost his life
in the Cocoanut Grove tragedy.
ANNUAL INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS
DINNER
and
DANCE
LT. A. VERNON MACAULAY POST 270
at the Latin Quarter
November 12
Eastern States exposition in the Coliseum
drew a 2,500 crowd for personal appearance
of Movietime stars, including Dorothy Lamour,
Alfred Hitchcock, Debra Paget, Margaret
Sheridan, Oscar Brodney, Tom Breen and
Bill Grady. In charge of arrangements was
Dick Stephens, loaned by Columbia for this
New England tour. Andy Sette and Para-
BRIDGEPORT
I
Fred H. Russell, stage and screen editor!
of the Post and Telegram for the past If'
years, has added the radio and television editorship
to his chores. BOXOFFICE correspondent
here for 18 years, Russell will be
honored at a testimonial dinner at the Candlelite
restaurant November 8. Manager Matt
L. Saunders of Loew's Poli and Manager
Harry A. Rose of Loew's Majestic are cochairmen
for the dinner.
SPRINGFIELD
"The Broadway, dark all summer for remodeling,
will enter the legitimate field this
fall with the world premiere of Clare Boothe
Luce's "Child of the Morning," November
16, 17. Former child star Margaret O'Brien
heads the cast. Elihu Glass, owner-operator
of the Majestic in West Springfield, is handling
arrangements.
At the Art Theatre: Ralph Carrenza, manager,
is leaving for Warner Bros. Capitol at
Everett. Herbit Rothschild, Warners' assistant
in Worcester, will replace him, with the Capitol's
Andy Sette overseeing both houses . . .
"The Prince of Peace" was previewed for local
clergy and city officials . . . Mrs. Opie Brown,
cashier, was confined to her home by illness
Higgins is on her annual fortnight's
vacation . James Butman, assistant,
is now in defense work. Dave Sherman, head
usher at the Capitol, is new assistant.
Actor Wendell Corey, former Springfield
man, was awarded degree of Legion of Honor
by Springfield chapter. Order of DeMolay
Fund-Red Cross rally at the
mount's Ed Smith were in charge of the
Springfield program. A dinner for press and
Tack Schwartz, owner-manager of the Wes
End, celebrated a birth anniversary . .
Jerome Conboy, projectionist at Loew's Ma'
jestic, was in Willimantic for the marriag
of his son James to Marian Kilburn . . . Th.
first theatre in this area to install large
screen television will probably be in Ne^^
Haven . Blake, cashier at Loew'.'j
Poll, is honeymooning in Florida
Art Cinema held "Torment" and "Passionelle>
for an extra week.
Raymond Gilbert is now projectionist at thtl
American and his father Ernest is projection- i
ist at Loew's Majestic . Nickersorj
has shifted from Loew's Majestic to Loew's
Poli projection booth.
rally.
m
$5.00 per ticket.
Reservations,
Abe Barry, Columbia
St. Allans, Vt., Weldon Sold
ST. ALLANS, VT.—The Weldon Theatre
here ha-s been sold to Mrs. Peter Handy in a j
transaction handled by Frank's Real Estate of I
Burlington, Vt.
90 BOXOFFICE :
: October 27, 1951