Boxoffice-Febuary.18.1956

Theatre Passes Cut
By Brockton Mayor
BROCKTON. MASS.—Theatre passes, long
a headache to theatre owners here, have been
cut to an absolute minimum by Mayor Peterson
at the request of a group of theatre
chains, including E. M. Loew, Interstate, Rifkin
and New England Theatres.
The passing out of free weekly tickets to
a political listing resulted in more than
2.000 such pass cards being issued since 1952.
the theatre groups told the mayor, with many
persons receiving them who were not entitled
to them. Councilor Wilfred Derosier, in commenting
on the mayor's action to cut off the
long list to include only the city fathers and
councilors, stated that the passing out of the
free ducats was considered a "racket" and it
cost the theatres a lot of money.
"They have been passed out as a political
largesse since 1952," he said.
The Brockton Enterprise printed the following
editorial:
"A local theatre manager, in commenting
on how business was, said sourly, 'with television
and passes hounding us, business isn't
what you'd call booming.' That was about a
year ago. And, according to Councilor Derosier,
about 2,000 theatre passes have been
printed since 1952.
"Who got those passes? They were handed
out, says Councilor Derosier, as political
favors. But all that is over now, Mayor Peterson
has announced. Free entertainment
passes which allowed those holding them to
get into movies and other entertainment in
this city have been cut to the absolute minimum.
There's no valid reason why our theatres
should have to accept passes which were
given out with a generous hand. Theatres
have to make a living just as other businesses
do.
"And there's no record of our movie theatres
not having to pay their taxes or live up
to other financial obligations.
"Councilor Derosier brought out another
interesting point;—the so-called 'censor'
passes. How many of these passes are out?
Who holds them? Just how many official
censors does this city have?"
NEWHAMPSHIRE
. . Interest
•The attendance record at the State Armory
in Manchester was believed to have been
shattered when capacity crowds flocked to
the afternoon and evening show presented by
Gene Autry and his entire troupe, February 6.
The show was sponsored by the Manchester
Lions Club for its charity fund .
in the coming showing of the film, "The
Benny Goodman Story," at the State Theatre
in Manchester, was increased by a personal
appearance by Goodman and his orchestra at
the Carousel Ballroom in that city Tuesday
(7).
. .
The Empire Theatre in Manchester has
been having a Wednesday "Chum Night,"
with one paid admission admitting two
persons . The Strand in Manchester drew
a big Saturday morning crowd of youngsters
by offering an All Walt Disney Cartoon
Carnival, with 12 color cartoons, a comedy
and true life adventure, for a 25-cent adiin-Mon
charge.
INDUSTRY
PROFILE
Bill Trambukis Is One Local Boy
Who Has Made Good in Home Town
By FRED AIKEN
PROVIDENCE — "Local Boy Makes
Good" well deservies to be the caption
of this account of
the career of William
J. "Bill" Trambukis,
manager of
Loew's State Theatre.
It is seldom, at
least around this
area, that a story
similiar to Bill's
#|
could be told. Bill
was bom, brought
up and educated lo-
I
cally. His first venture
in theatrical
Bill Trambukis business took place
back in 1940 at the old Empire, where he
secured parttime employment as an usher.
The following year he switched to the
Strand in the same capacity. In December
1941. he went to Loew's State and after
a stretch of parttime ushering he was
placed on a permanent basis.
Bill's eagerness, initiative and determination
to make a name for himself in the
theatre business soon won recognition by
the State's management and he was promoted
to chief-of-service. Early in 1944,
he was advanced to student assistant manager,
but in the fall of that year Uncle
Sam beckoned and Bill answered the call
to the colors. He served 18 months overseas
with the Navy Seabees.
Back in civiliain life by June 1946,
Trambukis returned to Loew's State. He
soon was appointed assistant manager, in
charge of advertising and publicity.
In 1949 Bill became manager of Loew's
at Syracuse, N. Y. As he gradually fitted
into civic life, his ability to organize and
carry out successful undertakings developed
rapidly. He headed the Red Cross
advertising committee, was active in the
KiwanLs Club and engaged in many charitable
and civic campaigns.
Tranferred to Harrisburg, Trambukis
sparked drives put on by Kiwanis. Elks,
and the Advertising Club. He was advertising
chairman of the famous Penn National
Horse Show and his efforts brought
contestants from all parts of the world
for this championship affair. During
Pennsylvania Week celebration, Bill was
chairman of the theatre division for six
Pennsylvania counties. In 1952. he headed
the entertainment committee for President
Eisenhower's birthday ball at Hershey.
Returning in 1954 to Providence, "the
old home town," Bill took charge at Loew's
State, site of his fulltime start in the
theatre business. He returned at a bad
time. Rowdies, ruffians and bullies were
running rampant in local theatres. Patronage
was falling off. Families were
staying away from their favorite houses
in droves. Young girls, elderly people and
refined persons of all ages were actually
afraid to visit motion-picture theatres.
Trambukis immediately set up a training
school for ushers, employed plainclothesmen,
ruled out all offtime privileges
for his staff and spent tireless hours himself
supervising the situation. Every prospective
patron was screened. Those recognized
as trouble-makers were refused admission.
Those starting trouble were instantly
ushered out.
In less than a month
after instituting his vigorous campaign,
\
Bill had rid his theatre of objectionable
j
characters. The return of family groups, |
young girls and elderly people to Tramj
bukis' house was almost instantly notice-
:
able. Not only had he
trouble at Loew's, but the examples he set
helped other downtown houses, discouraging
the hoodlums from trying to disturb
respectable citizens in other theatres. He
received hundreds of letters, phone calls
and personal congratulations for his efforts.
All the while Bill was participating in
civic and charitable projects. As publicity
director of the Junior Chamber of Commerce,
director and enthusiastic worker
for the Kiwanis, Jimmy Fund Campaigns,
Red Cross drives and March-of-Dimes
campaigns. Bill is said to be the youngest
man to occupy the important posts he has
held in local affairs.
Hurricanes and floods also have left Bill
undaunted. In the tragic 1954 hurricane
and flood, it was Bill Trambukis who, when
hearing the cries of his stagehand, Raymond
Prew, jumped fully clothed into the
waters swirling around in the basement of
Loew's State, to search for the neardrowned
employe. In total darkness,
Trambukis dragged Prew to safety, and
applied artificial respiration The manager
was credited by hospital authorities with
saving Prew's life. (This feat came to
light only when reported by hospital
authorities.)
Seeing the damage that could be
wrought by reoccurrences of hurricanes
and floods, Trambukis pioneered in Providence
in the installation of protective
measures. His building was the first in
the city to erect flood-water barriers.
As in everything he undertakes. Bill
usually sets the pattern for other businesses
in this city. A quiet, yet genial
personality, he has a remarkable ability
for overcoming fatigue and illness. During
the 1955 storms and near-hurricane blows.
Bill worked 48 to 60 hours without rest.
Stopping just long enough for a quick
shower and snack. Bill in any emergency
was seen leading the van—side-by-side
with his associates, workers and rescue
officials.
He is proud of the many showmanship
awards that decorate his office. Including
several from BOXOFFICE.
Married to a Providence girl, the former
Betty Greene, Bill has one daughter, Jane.
The old saying that "A prophet is without
honor in his own country" has been
disproved by Bill Trambukis. But it Is only
because of his ability, genius and disposition
that Bill has gained the honor of
being "A local boy who made good."
BOXOFFICE .
: February 18, 1956
93