Boxoffice-December.20.1952

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BOSTON
•Phe Firestone Cc. of Pall River took over
the Durfee Theatre for a Christinas party
for children of employes, with a progiam of
cartoons, donations of candy, nuts and gifts.
The party was to be divided into two parts
Saturday (20i in order to accommodate 5,000
children. The first showing was to be at
10:30 and the second at noon. On the .same
morning, the CIO of Fall River was to give
a Christmas party at the Empire Theatre for
children of union members. Both companies
have been entertaining in this manner for the
last ten years Also in Fall River, Yamins
Theatres is having an employes Christmas
party at the Eagle restaurant December 23 at
11 p. m.
Herman and Julian Rifkin and George
Roberts, officers of the Rifkin circuit, entertained
three managers for luncheon at the
Towne House, bringing them to Boston to
explain a new dish deal which has been
made. The managers are Ann Noret, Strand,
Springfield; James Altree. Jefferson, Springfield,
and Al Desautels, Majestic, Holyoke.
Middlesex Amusement Co. will give a
Christmas party for its employes and families
in the lobby of the Granada Theatre, Maiden,
December 23 after the theatre is closed to
the public. There will be a buffet supper,
music and dancing . the first time
in seven years there will be a midnight stage
show at the Empire, Fall River, on New Year's
eve with variety acts booked by Bill Canning.
The admission price will be $2.50 per person.
Bob McNulty, Warwick, Marblehead, is back
on the job after a serious operation which
hospitalized him for several weeks. He was
IMAGES. SOUND SERVICE CORP.
"The Best Value In Sound Service"
Honcock 6-7984 445 Statler Building
Boston, Massachusetts
AN OPEN LETTER TO ALL SHOWMEN .
in the district for a short visit, looking fit
and rested . . . Nathan Yamins. prominent
Allied official, left for his winter home in
Palm Beach, Fla, where he will spend the
Christmas holidays with his family, not returning
until mid-January. He was unable
to attend the Independent Exhibitors annual
convention December 6.
Drive-In Ass'n Plans
Billboard Campaign
BOSTON—More than 40 members of the
Drive-In Theatre Ass'n of New England, a
subsidiary of Independent Exhibitors, Inc., of
New England, met in a special room during
the annual convention of the New England
Allied unit. In an effort to have a more
active participating group in the drive-in association,
it was decided to hold meetings
once a month during the year.
The next meeting was set for Januai-y 27 at
offices of Independent Exhibitors to elect a
board of directors entirely separate from the
officers of the parent association. Tlie nominating
committee, consisting of Ted Rosenblatt,
James Guarino, Ray Feeley and Ned
Eisner, was appointed to draw up the slate.
Plans for a large-scale billboard advertising
campaign, using 24-sheets throughout
the five New England states, were also discussed,
with the possibility of using spot announcements
over radio and TV stations on
current programs during the actual drive-in
season. These matters will be fully aired at
the January 27 meeting. Julian Rifkin and
Ted Rosenblatt were co-chairmen of the
drive-in meeting.
Usher Beaten in Hamilton
TORONTO—Ronald Henderson, 18-yearold
usher of the Delta at Hamilton, owned
by J. L. Hunter of Toronto, was the victim
of a vicious attack by three thugs Saturday
night when he tried to eject them from the
theatre because of misconduct. Henderson
was beaten so badly that he required treatment
at the Hamilton General hospital for
gashes, bruises and shock.
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REMEMBER THE GOOD OLD DAYS?
R. M. SAVINI
Back in early 1933, we started Astor on the big reissue road which
resulted in a great success for us and our franchise distributors. As
a result, the rei.s.sue was born and other Independents followed suit
tabbing Astor, the "Father of the Reissue."
A great part of this success stemmed from the good old showmanship
days! . . . How many of you showmen remember the thrill it was to
plan a small exploitation campaign and be rewarded with above
normal busine.s.s—and the cost of this campaign—practically nil compared
to the grosses. Believe me, we are not preaching, but bringing
back fond memories of days gone by that can very well be again.
Back in those days, copy like—"Back BY POPULAR REQUEST .
HUNDREDS OF PATRONS DEMANDED THE RETURN OF THIS
GREAT MOTION PICTURE"—and backed by a little honest showman.ship,
ALWAYS scored top results at your boxoffice! IT CAN
HAPPEN AGAIN—AGAIN and AGAIN. Good motion pictures, like
good stage plays, are worth repeating over and over again, especially when you can
snare a big reissue at a fair rental leaving a larger profit,
Mtvxv CljngtmasJ
BAY STATt—36-38 Melrose St.—Boston
CONNECTICUT FILMS—12« Meodow St.—Now Hovcn
sincerely,
R. M. Savini, President
ASTOR PICTURES CORP.
130 West 46th *St., N. Y, C.
lENE Convention Notes
BOSTON—Lewis Webber and Harold Pea
body, partners in the Borderland Drive-Ii
Houlton, Me., traveled more than 600 mile
to attend the convention at the Sheraton
Plaza hotel. Others who came from long dis
tances were Charles Brooks, circuit owne
from the Presque Isle area, and Mr. and Mr.
Joseph Cronan, Guilford, Me., in the Moose;
head lake region.
Claude Lee. director of sales for Motio
Pictiu'e Advertising Service, stepped in a
I
master of ceremonies at the banquet at th
last moment ^nd turned in a creditable per
formance. His stories of the south in hi
charming North Carolina accent were particu
larly amusing. He introduced the head tabl
guests in a breezy style and set the tempo fo
an interesting and entertaining evening.
* * *
Arthm- Lockwood, co-chairman of the 195
Jimmy fund drive who was at the head tabli
announced that the final results of the drivi
as yet incomplete, will in all probability equi
or perhaps exceed the $359,000 raised in 195
"And this in a year in which theatre busines
was behind that of last year, makes it all th
more remarkable," he said. "We could nc
have reached these figures had it not been fc
the cooperation of every theatre and drive-i
owner and manager in this area." he addec
As co-chairman he maintained that his chif
inspiration came from Bill Koster, executiv
director of the Variety Club of New Englam
who was seated in the audience and wh
acknowledged the applause with a bow.
* * *
Norman Glassman, president of
Independ
ent Exhibitors, who was co-chairman of th
convention, read a list of the year's achieve
ments of the organization, placing the cred:
directly at the feet of Ray Feeley, executiv
secretary who has traveled many thousand
of miles in the interest of the unit.
At the afternoon open forum, a radio-cloa
was donated by Kenneth Douglass of Capita
Theatre Supply and was won by Josep
Levine of Embassy Pictures and the Rouiu
Hill Drive-In, Springfield.
Eugene Boragine of the Saco Drive-In, San
Me., and Tom Foley jr. of the Bowdol
Drive-In, Brunswick, Me., came in for the ds
for their first theatre convention.
Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Morin, who bull
the Mid Haven Drive-In, New Haven, Vt'
this year, reported a successful first season
Seated at the Redstone table at the banqw
were Mr. and Mrs. Michael Redstone, thKl
son Edward and their new daught«r-in-l8«
Another bride of less than a year was MM
Bruce Glassman, who attended with her hU£
band and her mother-in-law, Mrs. Norm*
Glassman. Rose Kay, secretary to Norraai
Glassman, was also at the table.
• • •
Roy Hammell, Gull Tlieatre, Winthrop. Me
drove down for the day as did G. Albert Ro;
Orpheum. New Bedford: John Pirani, managt
of the Somerset Drive-In; Louis Vuona. West
erly. R. I., Drive-In; Peter Marrone, Stui'
bridge Drive-In: Ned Eisner and Bob Ata
mian, Quaker Drive-In, Uxbridge: Josep
Stanzler, Boro Drive-In, North Attleboro: Jc
Rapalus, Majestic, Easthampton: Jc
Mathieu, Keene, N. H., Drivc-In; Donal
Sweenie, Nashoba Drive-In, West Actor
Herbert Brown, Victoria, Greenfield; th
Cohen brothers, Ritz, Lewlston. Me., and man
others.
">.|: •II,
!00 BOXOFFICE :: December 20, ISBi"
'n 50^Cj