Boxoffice-November.17.1956

BOSTON
TA7hen Ernest Warren took over operation
of the Strand Theatre, Haverhill, he at
once installed Cinemascope lenses from
Massachusetts Theatre Supply Co. Warren
also repaired the seats, painted and refreshened
the interior, but did not have to close
the house during these alterations. Although
Affiliated Theatres does the buying and booking
for his Paramount in Needham and his
Strand in Canton, Warren is handling his
own bookings at the Haverhill theatre.
When the 20th-Fox film "Love Me Tender"
opens at the Keith Memorial Wednesday (21),
there will be a tie-in with the Randolph
(Mass.) Manufacturing Co. for the Elvis
Presley sneakers. On the first two days of
the showing, 125 pairs of sneakers will be
given each day to holders of lucky numbers.
The same giveaway stunt is set for other
theatres in the New England and New York
state area when "Love Me Tender" opens in
Albany, Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester, Portland
and Providence. Phil Engel, 20th-Fox
publicist, arranged the tie-ins.
American Theatres Corp. has leased the
concessions stands in its conventional theatres
to the ABC Vending Co. This step has
no effect upon Ben Conviser, head of maintenance
and purchasing of American Theatres
Supply Co., who continues in that capacity.
He will also supervise the theatres
under the new ABC Vending-ATC contract.
Robert McNulty, owner of the Warwick
Theatre, Marblehead, who underwent complicated
surgery at the Mary Alley Hospital
a month ago, has returned to the hospital
for further checkups. He expected to be released
soon for convalescence at his home . . .
The condition of Bill Hawkins, assistant general
manager of Capitol Theatre Supply, remained
serious. He has undergone major
Ken Porkey, Park Theatre,
surgery . . .
Worcester returned to his home in Laconia
after a gall bladder operation at Peter Bent
Brigham Hospital.
Edward Renick, UA salesman, resigned . . .
Sympathy to Prank Grabau, counterman at
Capitol Theatre Supply on the sudden death
of his wife . . . The Park Theatre, Bangor,
Me., closed some time ago by owner Connie
SAVE MOHEYj S»,«^«^;'
ON PREMUES
3 Frames
With Copy,
I
Photoi and
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Talk
IMMEDIATf
NO CONTRACTS
SHVICE!
NO RITURNS
U(« as Pravues, Advance or Cross Plugs!
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many •ircuitftl
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Bay State Amusement Enterprises, Inc.
184 Boylilon St., Room 48
Boston 16. Mut. T«l. KE 6-5255
Russell jr., has been converted into a department
store . . . Following the press screening
of the French film "Rififi," which opened at
the Beacon Hill Sunday (11), Benjamin Sack,
owner, and Manager Harry Harding invited
the press to a luncheon at the Boston Club.
This theatre is showing the original French
version of the film, planning to transfer later
to the "dubbed" version.
Emil Perodeau, assistant at the Fitchburg
Theatre in Fitchburg, died at his home during
a severe asthmatic attack. He had resigned
in April because of poor health. Formerly
superintendent of the Fitchburg Paper Co.
mills, Perodeau resigned seven years ago to
enter theatre business.
Variety Club of New England Notes: Congressman
John E. Fogarty of Rhode Island
was guest of honor at an executive committee
meeting of the Children's Cancer Research
Foundation at the Jimmy Building. Arthur
Lockwood, president, presented Fogarty with
a citation of honor for his leadership in behalf
of medical research throughout the
United States. Fogarty recently was chairman
of a House committee responsible for
appropriating 185 million dollars for medical
research in the country. In making the presentation
to Fogarty, Lockwood said in part:
"His efforts have brought better health and
happiness to children everywhere" . . . Thursday
(8) was Variety Club of New England Day
at the Narragansett race track. Judge James
Dooley, president of the park, was host to
members and their wives of the Variety Club.
Luncheon was served in the Terrace Club.
Each guest received a free daily double ticket.
Boston members were transported to the park
and back by a special Variety Club train.
NEWHAMPSHIRE
•The Manchester Union -Leader has received
a number of letters from out-of-state
readers, praising the publisher's recent warning
that local motion picture theatre advertisements
would be banned from the
state's largest daily newspaper unless they
were presented in more acceptable form.
Some of the writers of the "letters to the
editor" saw a report of the Union-Leader's
step in Catholic newspapers published in
their diocese.
Members of the Merrimack County 4-H
Club enjoyed two shows at the Capitol Theatre
in Concord when they held their annual
county roundup program in that city Saturday
(10). The young people were treated to
a program of songs, skits and talent numbers
at the theatre and later saw a film presented
there under sponsorship of the county 4-H
Leaders Ass'n.
No Shows After 48 Years
DEXTER, ME.—The Park Theatre here
closed its doors recently, leaving the town
without a motion picture house for the first
time in 48 years. The building and equipment
will be left in operating condition, according
to Manager George Hobart, so that the theatre
can be reopened in the future if circumstances
should warrant. Hobart will devote
full time to management of the Strand
Theatre In Old Town, but will continue to
make his home in Dexter, where Mrs. Hobart
operates the Pine Cone restaurant. For some
time he has been tripling as theatre manager
In Dexter, Dover-Foxcroft and Old Town.
HARTFORD
J^ay McNamara of the Allyn Theatre sneak
previewed Allied Artists' "Friendly Persuasion."
The film will have its regular bow
at the downtown house Wednesday (21)
The Ekco coppertone kitchen tool set giveaway
has started at the Palace, Middletown;
Plaza, Windsor, and Webb, Wethersfield.
The Capitol, Middletown, brought in a
three-day showing of IFE's "Madame Butterfly"
at 90 cents, with students charged 65
cents and children 35 cents . . . The Strand,
Seymour, brought in "The Hills of Ireland,''
at 65 cents top; children, 35 cents . . . Numerous
Stanley Warner houses in the territory,
playing "War and Peace," charged students
60 cents, with a student coupon printed in
newspaper ads.
The Colonial, Southington, now starts Monday
and Thursday performances at 7 p.m.
. . . The SW Capitol, Ansonia, has a kiddies
safety club on Saturdays . . . Clarence Bell,
Allied Artists, was in for regional promotion
on "Friendly Persuasion" . . . The Blue Hills
Drive-In, Bloomfield, is now starting performances
at 5 p.m. on Sundays ... An
early bird policy, with performances at 5 p.m.,
is now in effect on Saturdays and Sundays at
the Meadows Drive-In.
George E. Landers, division manager, E. M.
Loew's Theatres, reported the shuttering of
the Norwich-New London Drive-In, Mont- s
ville, for the season. The circuit's other out-
door situations in Connecticut — Hartford,
'
Farmington, Milford and Bridgeport^-continue
operations indefinitely . . . Maurice
W. Shulman has started new dinnerware
giveaways at the Rivoli and Webster here
Doug Amos, general manager, Lockwood &
Gordon Theatres, was here, looking over L&G
houses.
VERMONT
^he Fleming Museum in Burlington presented
"The Court Martial," starring
David Niven and Margaret Leighton, as the
second in its current series of English films.
The lobby of the Rialto Theatre in Waterbury
was turned over during the afternoon
of November 3 to the Altar Society of St.
Andrew's Catholic church, which held a benefit
sale there.
Boston Editor Condemns
TV 'First Run' Claims
BOSTON—In a Sunday feature article In
the local Herald, Elinor Hughes, drama and
film editor, condemned as "misleading" the
advertising of TV stations in labeling their
films as "first runs." She explained the definition
of a first run film in a theatre and
then warned readers not to be confused by
the ads on the TV pages which would lead
them to believe that they are seeing "first
run" films never before shown in theatres.
"These films are being shown on TV for
the first time, but they are not first run pictures,"
Miss Hughes wrote. In the article she
also tied in a listing of the forthcoming first
run films from major studios which will
shortly appear in theatres in this city.
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76 BOXOFFICE :
: November 17, 1956