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New Haven Filmgoers
High on 'Drum Song'
NEW HAVEN— -Flower Drum Song"
continues to roll merrily forward, its weekfto-week
pace amazingly swift.
(Average Is 100)
Crown Coreer (Pora); On the Wotcrfront
(Col), revivols
80
Lincoln The Devil's Eye (Jonus), 2nd wk 125
Loew's College One, Two Three lUA); Saintly
Sinners ;UA]
110
Poromount The George Raft Story (AA);
Twenty Plus Two (A A)
110
Roqer Sherman The Roman Spring of Mrs.
Stone (WB), 2nd wk
115
Whollev Flower Drum Song (U-l), 5th wk.. 135
Large Pack of Boston Hits
Paced by 'West Side Story'
BOSTON—Film patronage continued
at
a good clip here with mild open weather a
factor in bringing out customers. There's
been a continuous upsurge in film attendance
at local theatres since the holidays,
and exhibitors are delighted with the good
business all around. Openers fared well.
"Tender Is the Night" opened fine at the
Metropolitan! above average; "The Innocents"
was high above average in its opening
at the Pilgrim. Warner Bros, is bringing
in "A Majority of One" for opening
at the Capri on February 2. and a high
above average opening for this one is assured.
"A View From the Bridge" is headed
for the Kenmore opening February 7, with
big expectations. In the meantime, holdovers
were doing fine with "Flower Dr'um
Song" still strong and high above average
in a sixth week at the Memorial.
Astor El Cid (AAl, 7t-h wk 145
Beacon Hill—One, Two, Three (UA), 6th wk 180
Boston South Seos Adventure [Cinerama),
reissue, 2nd wk 150
Capri The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone
(WB), 6th wk 125
Fenway The Mork (Cont'l), 2nd wk 115
Gary West Side Story (UA), 13th wk 260
Kenmore Carry On, Constable (Governor),
6th wk 120
Metropolitan Tender Is the Night (20th-Fox) .
Memorial Flower Drum Song (U-l), 6th wk
Orphcum Ivonhoc iMGM), Knights of the
1 70
165
.
Round Table (MGM), reissue, 2nd wk 175
Poromount The Innocents (20th-Fox) 190
Pilgrim Too Lote Blues (Para) 160
Soxon King of Kings (MGM), 14th wk 120
State Sorcerer's Village (SR) 125
'Rocco' Stays on Even Keel
In 2nd Week at Cine Webb
HARTPORE>—"Rocco and His Brothers"
ran up 145 in its second Cine Webb week.
"The George Raft Story" went above average
as an opener in the AUyn.
.
Allyn The George Raft Story (AA); Million
Dollar Manhunt (SR)
Art Cinema Two Women (Embossy); Anatomy
110
of Love (SR), revivols
Cine Webb^Rocco and His Brothers (Astor),
100
2nd wk.
Cinerama
145
This Is Cineromo (Cinerama), 19th wk. 100
I E. M. Loew's Soil a Crooked Ship (Col);
Son of Sinbad (SR), revival, 2nd wk 90
Loew's Poloce Circus of Horrors (AlP); Horrors
of the Block Museum (AlP), return runs 85
Loew's Poll One, Two, Three (UA); Deadly
Duo lUA) 110
Rivoli The Mark (Cont'l), 5th wk 115
Strand The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone
(WB), 2nd wk 90
Mrs.
Ruth Matchis on Duty
HARTFORD—Mrs. Ruth Matchis. office
manager. Outdoor Theatres Corp. of Connecticut,
resumed her duties, following several
weeks of recuperation from illness.
Father of
Irving Hillman
NEW HAVEN—The father of Ii-ving Hillman,
Stanley Warner zone advertisingpublicity
director, died here.
BOXOFFICE February 5. 1962
Mickey Daytz Given Vacation Party
By 36 Boston Filmrow Distributors
BOSTON—A most unusual event took
place January 30. when 36 motion picture
distributors feted an exhibitor. He was
Mickey Daytz. head of Daytz Theatrical
Enterprises, a local booking and buying
combine. The event was held at Nick's
restaurant.
It all began several weeks ago when Universal
Manager E. M. Feltman and Warner
Bros. Manager Bill Kimiins both selected
the same date to invite Daytz to
lunch prior to his departure for his annual
winter vacation. Not wanting to refuse
either of his two distributor friends,
Daytz suggested that the three of them
lunch together, an idea which met with
everyone's approval.
However. Filmrow was soon buzzing with
the story that Feltman and Kumins were
Hartford Public Approves
Times' Classifying Plan
HARTFORD — First voluntary motion
picture reviewing classification plan by a
major Connecticut newspaper—instituted
six months ago by Allen M. Widem, Hartford
Times amusement editor—has met
with all-out commendation by parentteacher
groups and other opinion-makers
throughout the Times circulation area.
(The Hartford Times has largest daily circulation
between New York and Boston.)
"The response has been most gratifying,"
Widem told Boxoffice. "Significantly,
people who admitted in phone and street
conversation that they hadn't attended
film performances in many months have
revitalized their interest for varying reasons
and find the Friday 'Screen Attractions'
listing beneficial and helpful."
Widem classifies each film under one of
three headings : Family, Adults and Adults-
Mature Young People.
At the same time, he does not review
product either condemned by the Legion
of Decency or not carrying a Motion Picture
A.ss'n of America production code seal.
Two Boston Theatres May
Be in Path of Turnpike
BOSTON—Immediate start of the construction
of the westerly end of its 12-mile
toll road extension into downtown Boston
by the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority
may affect two theatres, which may be in
its path, the Kenmore. in the Kenmore
Square area, and the Capri, in the Copley
Square area.
Authority chairman William F. Callahan
said the authority will begin at once
negotiating with owners of business, Industrial
establishments and homes that will
be taken to make way for the toll road's
route.
In the meantime, the fate of four other
theatres in Boston is unknown. The Wilbur,
legit house, and the Metropolitan have
been sold to the New England Hospital
Center, and plans for the future are pending.
The Old Howard Casino. Boston's last
burlesque house, is to be torn down to make
way for a government center; also, the
Lancaster, which was an E. M. Loew house,
is to be converted, it is reported.
throwing a bon voyage party for Daytz. and
very shortly the two exchange managers
were deluged with requests from every other
distributor to join the party as a mark of
their esteem and respect for the popular
exhibitor.
The luncheon was marked by the presence
of the exchange managers from every
major and independent distributing company
located in Boston, together with a
number of their sales managers and salesmen.
It was a remarkable show of regard
between distribution and exhibition.
Daytz was lauded by Feltman and Kumins
as an exhibitor "with whom it was a
pleasure to do business" and one whose
"word was as good as gold." and was presented
with a set of luggage as a goingaway
gift.
Midwinter Promotion
Launched by ATC
BOSTON — American Theatres Corp.
opened its mid-winter promotion drive here
Monday, January 22, with a meeting at the
home office in downtown Boston, which
was attended by all ATC managers, district
managers and home office personnel.
Samuel Pinanski. president, assisted by
Edward Canter, treasm'er, presided over the
day-long session, which featured the showing
of product trailers from all major and
independent companies. Pinanski stressed
the high quality of the new product in his
remarks, and much enthusiasm and optimism
regarding the forthcoming product
was expressed by all in attendance.
Guests who attended the meeting were
exchange managers, publicity men and New
England managers from all Boston exchanges:
Meyer Feltman, Bucky Harris,
Uni\'ersal International: Tom O'Brien,
John Markle, Columbia; John Moore, Arnold
Van Leer, Paramount; William Kumins,
Floyd Pitzsimmons, Warner Bros.;
Ben BebchickJVIetro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Herb
Schaefer. John Feloney. Buena Vista Corp.;
Al Levy, Phil Engel. 20th Centm-y-Pox;
Joe Wolf, Embassy Pictures Corp.; Eddie
Ruff. Mel Saffner, Ruff Associates; Stan
Davis, Continental Pictures; Bob Hazard,
Joe Mansfield, United Artists, and Harry
Segal, Second National Pictm-es Corp.
Ben Smith Named Manager
At East Windsor Drive-In
HARTFORD—Ben Smith, acting manager
for the past several months of the
Plaza Theatre, Windsor, has been promoted
to manager of the East Windsor Drive-In
Theatre, East Windsor, effective March 1,
by Lockwood & Gordon Theatres.
Oscar Coombs, a newcomer to industry
management, will replace Smith in
Windsor.
Perakos Sales Meeting
HARTFORD—Sperie P. Perakos, general
manager of Perakos Theatre Associates,
conducted management and merchandising
meetings here with John D'Amato, Elm.
and Thomas C. Grace. Eastwood.
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