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I<br />
WEST<br />
——<br />
—<br />
—<br />
—<br />
— —<br />
'Lance' Is 300; Cooler<br />
Weather at Boston<br />
BOSTON—Cool weather and drizzly showers<br />
plus new product perked up business at the<br />
theatres. "Broken Lance" pulled down the<br />
best gross in several years at the Paramount<br />
and Fenway theatres. Prices were<br />
upped a dime for this feature. "Gone With<br />
the Wind" continued strong at the State and<br />
Orpheum.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Astor—The Coine Mutiny (Col), 6th wk 110<br />
Beacon Hill Man With a Million (UA), 6th wk. , . 90<br />
Boston—This Is Cinerama (Commercial),<br />
32nd wk 100<br />
Exeter Street The Holly and the Ivy (Pacemaker)<br />
Welcome the Queen (BIS) 125<br />
Memorial Magnificent Obsession (U-1), 3rd wk...llO<br />
jMetropolitan About Mrs. Leslie (Para); Paris<br />
Express<br />
Paramount and Fenway Broken Lance (20th-Fox)-<br />
Heot Wave (LP)<br />
State and Orpheum Gone With the Wind<br />
(MGM), 3rd wk<br />
Obsession' 225 Per Cent<br />
In New Haven First Week<br />
NEW HAVEN—Ths big grosser in New<br />
Haven was "Magnificent Obsession," which<br />
rolled up 225 per cent in its initial stanza at<br />
;he Paramount. "Gone With the Wind"<br />
;losed after a four-week run.<br />
ollege Gone With the Wind (MGM), 4th wk. . . 80<br />
oramount Magnificent Obsession (U-l); Pride of<br />
the Bluegrass ( AA) 225<br />
oli— Broken Lance (20th-Fox) 105<br />
(oger Sherman Susan Slept Here (RKO);<br />
Dangerous Mission (RKO) 120<br />
iartford <strong>Boxoffice</strong>s<br />
lold Averages<br />
HARTFORD — Business maintained the<br />
iiverage mark in Hartford with "Broken<br />
iance" holding down the top position at 130<br />
ler<br />
cent.<br />
llyn—About<br />
Leslii<br />
; The Fighting<br />
Pimpernel (Carrol<br />
M. Loew's— Pushi (Col); The Law vs. Billy<br />
the Kid (Col), 3r_<br />
3li Broken Lance (20th-Fox) . . .<br />
alace Magnificent Obsession (L<br />
Tomahawk (UA), 2nd wk<br />
trond—Susan Slept Here (RKO)<br />
(LP)<br />
>onates to Jimmy Fund<br />
ROXBtTRY, MASS.—Michael Redone,<br />
president of Redstone Drive-In Theaes,<br />
donated the opening night take at the<br />
w V.F.W. Drlve-In to the Jimmy fund.<br />
PROVIDENCE<br />
le Strand neared a record as "The Caine<br />
Mutiny" went into its fourth week . . .<br />
11 Trambukis, Loew's State manager, has<br />
Ided two ushers to his staff . . . Local<br />
eatremen extended condolences to Phil<br />
igel, 20th-Fox exploiteer for this area, on<br />
death of his wife in Boston . . . United<br />
ates Senator John O. Pastore and his<br />
tnily visited Bill Trambukis, an old friend<br />
)m when Pastore was governor of Rhode<br />
:and.<br />
E. M. Loew's Drive-In was the site of the<br />
w England premiere of "Three Forbidden<br />
... A sneak preview featuring<br />
even Brides for Seven Brothers" drew a<br />
eked house at Loew's State . . Surrounding<br />
ve-ins are enjoying one of the best seain<br />
years.<br />
XOFHCE : : August 21, 1954<br />
Settin'-Down Ozark Oscar<br />
'Desirabul/ Miller Says<br />
From Central Edition<br />
BRANSON, MO.—Now that the second<br />
"Ozark Oscar" has been presented to a<br />
Hollywood star, Owen Theatre Manager<br />
Steve Miller, in typical mountain style,<br />
this week came up with this description<br />
of the award:<br />
"This is the famous 'Ozark Oscar'<br />
which we'uns present to popular movie<br />
stars who come down in these parts to<br />
git hit. This here Oscar is more desirabul<br />
than the cheep variety they give out in<br />
Hollywood as there air not so many of<br />
them give out, and also this here one is<br />
differunt, as hit is settin' down.<br />
"Hit tipyfies the peepul's judgment of<br />
true actin' ability, and has no connekshun<br />
with schools or academys. Only<br />
other one we have gave out is to Forrest<br />
Tucker. He came all the way down to<br />
these here hills after hit, and got filled<br />
up with Ozark bacon and strawberrys,<br />
besides."<br />
Film Salesmen Start<br />
Scholarship Fund<br />
BOSTON—The Motion Picture Salesmen's<br />
Club has started a college scholarship fund<br />
for sons and daughters of persons in the motion<br />
picture industry in five New England<br />
states, excluding Connecticut, with a donation<br />
of $300.<br />
The eligible youths must be high school<br />
seniors or engaged in undergraduate work in<br />
an accredited college. Tlie scholarship prizes<br />
will be awai-ded to winners in an essay contest<br />
on "The influence of Motion Pictures on<br />
the American Way of Life." The essays mu.st<br />
not run more than 1,000 words each.<br />
According to plans drafted by the salesmen's<br />
club committee, the contest will start<br />
November 1 and run through Jan. 31, 1955.<br />
The committee, composed of President<br />
Maynard Sickles, Jack Grubbins, Irving<br />
"Mac" Farber, John Peckos and Arthur Gerome,<br />
expects other industry leaders will donate<br />
other scholarships.<br />
Theatre Float in Parade<br />
BROOKS, ME.—The Brooks Theatre<br />
float<br />
won second prize in a Lions club field day<br />
parade, according to Manager R. O. Hall. The<br />
float, constructed by projectionist Harold<br />
Brown, carried two concession employes<br />
dressed as Mickey and Minnie Mouse who<br />
tossed bags of popcorn to children along the<br />
parade route. The sides of the float carried<br />
the slogan, "Motion Pictures—Your Best<br />
Entertainment." Over 30 units participated<br />
in the field day to raise funds for a new<br />
community playground. Hall, who is also the<br />
Lions club president, filmed color pictures of<br />
the day's events for a local newsreel showing<br />
at the theatre the following weekend.<br />
Mrs. Florence Kane Dies<br />
NEW BRITAIN, CONN.—Mrs. Florence<br />
Kane, wife of Walter Kane, manager of the<br />
local Music Box Theatre, died at the age of<br />
48 in Milwaukee. The burial was in Milwaukee.<br />
Jimmy Drive Chiefs<br />
Confer With Lodge<br />
HARTFORD- H;iny Ffin.stcin, zone manager<br />
for Stanley-Warner Theatres, and I. J.<br />
Hoffman, Connecticut Theatres, co-chairmen<br />
of the Jimmy fund campaign, met with Gov.<br />
John Lodge to receive the official statement<br />
in support of the Children's Cancer Research<br />
Foundation.<br />
Governor Lodge declared: "Our children<br />
repre.sent our stake in the future and everything<br />
which contributes to their health and<br />
well-being warrants our constant support.<br />
"This unique appeal of the foundation affords<br />
everyone, regardless of financial status,<br />
the opportunity to contribute, since it seeks<br />
the small donations of the many.<br />
"I am glad to call again for public a.ssi.stance<br />
to this compassionate cau.se which<br />
involves boys and girls of every race, creed<br />
and color.<br />
"The work of the Children's Cancer Reseai-ch<br />
Foundation in the study, diagno.sis<br />
and treatment of cancer is most worthy of<br />
our continued support."<br />
Feinstein told the governor that some 200<br />
Connecticut theatres have pledged their full<br />
cooperation to assist the Jimmy fund drive.<br />
Norman Zalkind Adds<br />
CS to Sub Run Strand<br />
BOSTON—Norman Zalkind, owner-operator<br />
of the second run neighborhood Strand<br />
Theatre at Fall River, has added Cinema-<br />
Scope equipment with optical sound. The installation<br />
was by Capitol Theatre Supply<br />
Co. The new curved screen is 33x20 feet.<br />
It was necessary to widen the stage and<br />
remove 100 seats for the larger screen, reducing<br />
the capacity to 980.<br />
Zalkind emphasized that in adding this<br />
process for the showing of Cinemascope<br />
films, he is giving the public the best pictures<br />
in the best medium with the hope that<br />
the public will recognize that the small, independent<br />
theatre is a vital cog in the community<br />
and will support it. "If this new<br />
equipment doesn't restore my subsequent run<br />
theatre to a profitable, economic position<br />
so that I can get my investment back in a<br />
reasonable length of time, then there is<br />
little hope left for the small exhibitor," he<br />
said.<br />
Drops Censor Board Plans<br />
WORCESTER—City Manager McGrath has<br />
dropped his plan for setting up an advisory<br />
board to review- films and other public entertainment<br />
after City Solicitor Meleski informed<br />
him that such a board would have<br />
no legal standing. The city solicitor noted<br />
that the police already have the power to<br />
bring court action against anyone presenting<br />
indecent shows.<br />
John Findley Retiring<br />
MYSTIC, CONN.—John Findley, operator<br />
of the Strand Theatre and a showman for<br />
more than 25 years, is retiring. The Strand<br />
has been leased to Mary Jane Fox effective<br />
September 1. Findley, also co-owner of the<br />
Central and United theatres in Westerly,<br />
R. I., will sell his interest in these houses to<br />
his partner Morris Pouzzner.