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BOSTON
TJen Rogers, former manager and film salesman
in this territory, has established
offices at 462 Statler Bldg. for distribution
of Dominant Pictures, a series of Warner
Bros, combination hits. His new number is
Hancocic 6-4930. Prints for Connecticut are
handled by the New Haven Film Service;
for the other five New England states by
Film Exchange Transfer Co.
An art policy for every other Wednesday
has been established at Lockwood & Gordon's
Playhouse, Scituate, where Alex Francis-Smith
is manager. As extracui-ricular activity,
"Smithy" took 20 local Boy Scouts
on a tour of the theatre. The project was
so successful that he received requests from
neighboring towns to duplicate the tour.
Maurice "Fishy" Green of Middlesex
Amusement Co. and his wife are in Hollywood,
Fla., for six weeks . his return
from Cincinnati, where he attended Allied's
drive-in convention with several other exhibitors
from New England, Edward W. Lider,
president of Independent Exhibitors of New
England and general manager of Yamins
Theatres, was congratulated by friends on
his election as secretary of National Allied.
Larry Wallace, head of concessions for E. M.
Loew drive-ins, has been engaged by the
owners of the Town House restaurant as
manager. This attractive eating spot in the
heart of the theatrical and business districts,
was closed by fire in November 1954. It has
been completely redecorated and refurnished
by the owners, E. M. Loew and Michael
Redstone. The contractor was Julius J. Conviser,
brother of Ben Conviser, head of concessions
for American Theatres Corp. Interior
decorating was handled by the Bostton
firm of Larkin and Glassman. When
the drive-in season begins, Wallace will return
to his regular position with the Loew
circuit. No replacement for him at the Town
House has been named as yet.
"Private Censorship in Movies and TV" was
discussed Fi'iday (8), in the first Harvard
Law School Forum's series of discussions for
1957. Speakers were Godfrey Schmidt, professor
of law at Fordham University and
president of AWARE, and Patrick Murphy
Malin. executive director of the American
Civil Liberties Union. The moderator was
Prof, Benjamin Kaplan.
Personnel at the RKO exchange placed at
date of writing were: Bill Cuddy, office manager,
to U-I: Vera Palady, Cuddy's secretary,
to Welch Candy Co.; Harry Smith,
booker, to the Adams Theatre, Dorchester,
as manager for owner Al Loiu'ie; Beth Donnelly,
booker's stenographer, to Affiliated
Theatres Corp.; June Talisman, stenographer,
to Columbia Pictures; Isabel Mc-
Grath, booker's stenographer, to the Ai-my
Quartermaster Corps in Natick; Janet Tobin,
biller, to Spencer Sales Corp. Already
announced were the placements of Joe Longo,
publicist, to U-I to assist Bucky Harris
on a temporary basis and Jean Stuhl, receptionist,
to United Artists.
Bob McDonough, former Paramount shipper,
was back as an assistant booker after
four years in the Air Force . Prouty,
well known theatre manager here and now
. . . Mr. and Mrs.
at the State Theatre, Toledo, announced the
birth of his son David
George Neagle, Met Theatre, Lisbon Falls,
Me., are the parents of a son, Thomas, their
fourth child, born at Central Maine Hospital
After successful surgery at the same
. . .
hospital, Jim Pollard, owner of the Community
in Auburn, Me., was back on the
Lucien DesCouteaux, Rex Theatre,
job . . .
Manchester, N. H., made one of his rare
visits to the district when he took in the
Sportsmen's show.
Bill Kumins, Warners manager, announced
that the local branch won first place in
one of the divisions of the recently completed
Roy Haines Drive. There was general rejoicing
at the news and more elation when
the bonus checks arrived. Ralph lannuzzi,
district manager, deserves orchids of all
kinds, as all four of his branches placed
first in the four different prize divisions
for a 100 per cent record.
VERMONT
Wolus Jones, head cartoonist for the Walt
Disney studios, made a personal appearance
at Grant's store in Burlington on the
afternoon of February 2. Children, especially
. . . The
invited to the event, were asked to participate
in a "Cinderella" coloring contest
judiciary committee of the State Senate has
thrown its weight behind a rewritten bill
aimed at reducing juvenile vandalism by
holding parents legally responsible for damage
done by their minor children. The committee
reduced the size of the fine that could
be imposed under the proposed law from the
original $500 to $300. The measure is sponsored
by Senator Crawford of Orleans County.
Two Theatremen Named
To Civic Service Posts
NEW HAVEN—Two theatre executives here
were named to
important community service
positions last week.
Louis A. Brown, director of advertising and
publicity for Loew's Poli-New England Theatres,
was elected to a two-year term as a
director of the retail division of the Chamber
of Commerce. He is believed to be the
first theatreman ever to be chosen for this
post.
James M. Totman, assistant zone manager
of Stanley Warner Theatres, was named
chairman of the membership committee at
the New Haven YMCA. An active Y member,
Totman headed the highly successful annual
membership drive last fall.
New Haven U-I Leads East
In Charles Feldman Drive
NEW HAVEN—The U-I exchange here is
currently in first place in the eastern division
in the company's seventh annual
Charles L. Feldman Drive. Nationally, the
branch stands fifth among 32 U-I exchanges.
Manager Alec S.chimel won the drive's
"Man of the Week" award, the third time
he has achieved this honor since 1955. He
received a handsome scroll and a portable
television set.
Standings and awards are based on the
percentage increase in billing quotas.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
"Twice recently the Rochester Courier recalled
earlier days of motion picture
theatres in the area. In a feature story Eben
Smith pointed out that the fu-st motion picture
ad for the old Gem theatre, in the
Hartigan block in Rochester, appeared in December
1907. "We are showing three reels,
3,000 feet of film," the ad read. "These pictures
do not hurt the eyes, as they are projected
from one of the best machines made.
On account of the long show we are obliged
to give only two performances an evening.
Matinee every afternoon at 3." In a "25
Years Ago" column, the Courier reported:
"What is believed to be an innovation in
moving picture houses in northern New England
is the installation of sound transmission
equipment in the Capitol Theatre in
Concord. * • * A full row of seats in the balcony
was wired for earphones and arrangements
were made to supply the instruments
to hard-of-hearing patrons."
The Manchester town board has passed a
curfew ordinance which will keep children
under 16 off the streets after 10 p.m. The
ordinance, which had strong backing from
the police department, will go into effect
after it has been published for two successive
weeks.
BRIDGEPORT
IWrildred Papp, assistant manager at the
. . .
Beverly, was out of the hospital following
surgery The Sunday Post is now
spotting its theatrical pages ahead of television
Manager Michael J.
and radio . . .
Carroll of the American was sending postcards
from Mexico . Warner sneaked
"Top Secret Affair" . . . Jerome Conboy,
projectionist at Loew's Majestic, is a year
older.
Benjamin Ehrllich, artist for Loew's theati'es
here, is learning to play the electric
organ . the run of "Oklahoma!"
at Loew's Majestic, Manager Harry A. Rose
offered free admission to anyone arriving at
the theatre in an auto bearing Oklahoma
license plates . . . Manager Matt Saunders
of Loew's Poll planted a coloring contest in
the Post for "The Wings of Eagles."
First Theatre Bomb Scare
Experienced in Holyoke
HOLYOKE. MASS.—More than 1,000 patrons
filed out of the Victory Theatre Sunday
evening (3) when authorities cleared
the building following a bomb tip to police.
Manager AI Page, with assistance of police
and firemen, opened the exits after a stage
announcement had advised patrons of the
situation. The building was cleared in a few
moments. Search of the theatre failed to
find a bomb.
This was the fom'th hoax here this year,
previous ones having been in the city hall
and two high schools.
Florida Vacation for Perakos
HARTFORD—Peter Perakos sr.. president,
and John Perakos, assistant general manager,
Perakos Theatre Associates, are vacationing
at Clearwater, Fla.
I
NE-4 BOXOFFICE February 16, 1957