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Two Ozoners Opened,<br />
Cost $250,000 Each<br />
BOSTON—Two 1.000-car drive-in.s, built<br />
by Michael Redstone, were opened witliin ten<br />
days of each other, the first in Dedham on<br />
August 11 and the second on August 19 on<br />
Revere boulevard, opposite the new airport.<br />
The theatres were constructed at a cost of<br />
$250,000 each. The ramps are designed so that<br />
a car may enter or leave at any time without<br />
disturbing others and 20 trained ushers are<br />
employed as parking attendants. A light<br />
lunch and snack bar is located in the center<br />
of the parking area and a bottle warming<br />
service has been established to appeal to the<br />
family trade.<br />
Rain does not materially affect the show,<br />
as the cars are equipped with in-car speakers.<br />
New England's normal outdoor theatre season<br />
is about eight months a year. These two<br />
drive-ins expect to remain open until late<br />
fall, possibly November.<br />
"The drive-in is fast becoming a permanent<br />
part of the American landscape," said Redstone.<br />
"Since the end of the war outdoor<br />
theatres have become increasingly popular.<br />
Most of the success has been due to the special<br />
attention to family trade. Parents can<br />
bring the children along to the show which<br />
eliminates the problem of the baby sitter.<br />
Cripples and shut-ins also favor this type of<br />
entertainment as a relaxing way to spend an<br />
evening. The drive-in is the latest American<br />
institution."<br />
Ozoner Request Tabled<br />
By Easthampton Board<br />
EASTHAMPTON, MASS.—The board of<br />
selectmen received a request from Walter<br />
Gratkowski and Frank R. Geryk for a permit<br />
to construct an outdoor motion pictui'e<br />
theatre on Main street here.<br />
The request was tabled pending results of<br />
investigation conducted by the selectmen<br />
and the chief of police. It is reported that<br />
the chief has been checking with other cities<br />
and towns where similar drive-ins are located<br />
to learn of their operations and to delve into<br />
the situation which arises regarding traffic<br />
and noise in connection with drive-ins.<br />
Hartford Theatre Report<br />
Unconfirmed by Realtors<br />
HARTFORD—There was a<br />
report here recently<br />
that Max Shulman & Co., local realtors,<br />
would build a 700-seat motion picture<br />
theatre on Burnside avenue in East Hartford.<br />
The report was not confirmed by company<br />
officials. Albert Shulman of the real estate<br />
concern, said: "No comment."<br />
North Haven Airer Opens<br />
NORTH HAVEN, CONN.—Dave Wilig and<br />
Charles Lane opened the New Haven Drivein,<br />
situated in North Haven August 21, with<br />
Film Classics' "The Thief of Bagdad" and<br />
Republic's "Out California Way." Charles<br />
Lane will manage the drive-in, the first in<br />
the New Haven suburbs. Policy will be three<br />
changes weekly with double feature billing.<br />
Gorde Assistant Named<br />
NEW LONDON, CONN.—John Petrowski<br />
has been appointed assistant to Nick Brickates,<br />
manager of the Warner Garde here.<br />
John Hancock Village<br />
Will Get 1.000-Seater<br />
BOSTON—Construction h;\.s started on a<br />
new 1,000-seat theatre to be ready for an early<br />
January opening in the new John Hancock<br />
village development between West Roxbury<br />
and Brooklinc. Although papers have not<br />
been signed on the theatre property, it is<br />
rumored that the lessees will be a large New<br />
England circuit. John Hancock village, a<br />
large community development designed to<br />
relieve crowded living conditions, will accommodate<br />
800 families when all the houses<br />
and apartments are ready for occupancy. It<br />
is 50 per cent occupied now. Among industi-yites<br />
who have moved their families into<br />
the development are John Peckos, 20th-Fox<br />
salesman and Ken Mayer, U-I salesman.<br />
Connecticut Variety<br />
Aids Flanagan Fund<br />
NEW HAVEN—The Variety Club of Connecticut,<br />
held one of its most enthusiastic<br />
meetings since its inception in its new quarters<br />
at 1166 Chapel St. Participation in the<br />
erection of a monument to the late Father<br />
Flanagan, founder of Boys Town, was voted<br />
upon at the special dinner meeting. The<br />
monument is being sponsored by Variety<br />
Clubs International, the organization which<br />
presented its first Humanitarian award to<br />
Father Flanagan some years ago.<br />
Barney Pitkin, chief barker, appointed a<br />
special committee headed by Hugh Maguire,<br />
RKO office manager, to proceed with furnishing<br />
the new headquarters. The committee<br />
consists of Maguire. Herman M. Levy,<br />
MPTO executive secretary: Lou Phillips,<br />
Phillips Theatre Equipment: Frank Meadow,<br />
UA manager: Sam Germaine. 20th-Fox office<br />
manager: Sam Wasserman, Wasserman<br />
Amusements: Harry Lavietes, operator of the<br />
Pequot: A. J. Mattes, Mattes Printing Co.,<br />
and Israel Levine, Screen Guild distributor.<br />
It is expected the formal opening will be<br />
held next month, after Variety's midwinter<br />
meeting in Washington September 16-18.<br />
Pitkin, Ben Simon, Bob Elliano and Lou<br />
Brown, as well as other members, plan to<br />
attend the Washington meeting, at which<br />
time Secretary of State Marshall will be<br />
presented with the 1948 Humanitarian<br />
award.<br />
Variety of Connecticut is sponsoring the<br />
Will Rogers Memorial fund campaign here,<br />
which will open officially with distribution<br />
of tickets for a giveaway. Walter Silverman,<br />
Columbia manager, is chairman for this district,<br />
assisted by an active committee of<br />
Variety members.<br />
A fire escape, uequired by law, is being<br />
installed for the new quarters and the committee<br />
reports some of the fui'nishings have<br />
already been procured.<br />
Theatre Mourns the Babe<br />
BOSTON—During the period of mourning<br />
for baseball's immortal Babe Ruth, the Keith-<br />
Memorial Theatre, where the Allied Artists<br />
picture "The Babe Ruth Story" enters its<br />
second week, used black crepe over lobby<br />
shadow boxes in the inner lobbies. The management<br />
announced that during the funeral<br />
services the theatre would remain closed, with<br />
the boxoffice not opening until 12 noon on<br />
Thursday.<br />
'Hamlet' Is Sellout<br />
Despite Picketing<br />
BOSTON- Despite pickeling by six men<br />
shortly before the recent American premiere<br />
of "Hamlet" at the Astor Theatre here, the<br />
initial showing of the British-made production<br />
starring Sir Laurence Olivier was a complete<br />
sellout and the advance sale was the<br />
largest ever reported for a motion picture in<br />
the city.<br />
Two hours before screening time for the<br />
first showing, a half dozen men representing<br />
the Sons of Liberty boycott committee of New<br />
York began parading in front of the Astor<br />
Theatre.<br />
Declaring their action to be a protest<br />
against what they termed "British Imperialism,"<br />
the six pickets carried large signs bearing<br />
such inscriptions as "British Art Can't<br />
Shield British Tyranny," "Don't Be a Party<br />
to Murder" and "Don't Buy British Goods."<br />
The pickets were led by J. J. Smertenko.<br />
who claimed that a Boston headquarters to<br />
protest contribution of American dollars to<br />
Great Britain was being organized.<br />
While the demonstration was orderly, police<br />
were called to prevent any disturbances.<br />
Many of the spectators were persons who had<br />
tickets for the premiere, and frequent comments<br />
were heard to the effect that the picketing<br />
undoubtedly was a publicity stunt. This<br />
was hotly denied, however, by the six pickets.<br />
Novel Hometown Newsreel<br />
Shown at Meredith, N. H.<br />
MEREDITH, N. H.—"Hometown News," a<br />
fibn produced by local men and featuring<br />
highlights of events in the Lr.ke Winnipesaukee<br />
area, was shown nightly at the Key<br />
Theatre here and drew praise from theatregoers<br />
and vacationists alike.<br />
Filmed and edited by Joseph Kennedy and<br />
Edward Goodwin, the newsreel included<br />
scenes of the Meredith Boy Scouts tenting<br />
overnight at the jamboree in Gilford, the first<br />
sportsmen's show in this section and the national<br />
championship motorcycle races at the<br />
Belknap recreation area in Gilford.<br />
Some of the scenes were in black and wliite,<br />
while others were in full color.<br />
'Babe Ruth Story' Shown<br />
To 2,500 Poor Children<br />
HARTFORD—A special showing of "The<br />
Babe Ruth Story" was held Wednesday (25)<br />
for 2.500 miderprivileged children at the<br />
State Theatre under the sponsorship of the<br />
West Hartford post of the Jewish War Veterans.<br />
Ted Harris, manager, appointed an advisory<br />
committee of local sports writers and<br />
commentators to handle a special preshow<br />
15-minute memorial program for the late<br />
Babe Ruth. City officials were on hand, in<br />
addition to theatremen and sportsmen.<br />
New Crown Opens<br />
NEW HAVEN—The 450-seat<br />
Crown on the<br />
main stem was opened Wednesday. August<br />
25. with "Anna Karenina." Leonard Sampson<br />
and Robert Spodick. who operate the<br />
smaller Lincoln, art and foreign film house<br />
catering to Yale patronage, will also book<br />
and manage this house.<br />
Jj»llSt<br />
lltoOXOFFICE : : August 28, 1948<br />
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75
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