Boxoffice-January.07.1950
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Capitol in Meriden<br />
To Add TV Lounge<br />
BOSTON—The office of William Riseman<br />
Associates is working on plaias and drawings<br />
for a complete remodeling and extension of<br />
the lounge of the Capitol Theatre in Meriden,<br />
Conn., owaied by Leo Rickey. A side-front<br />
Hearing on Shulman Case<br />
Slated for January 30<br />
HARTFORD—A second hearing on the<br />
arbitration complaint filed by the Shulman<br />
interests, operators of the Rivoli here, and<br />
the Hartford Theatre circuit, which operates<br />
the Colonial and LjTic, has been slated for<br />
January 30 following an initial inquirj- into<br />
the case. The Shulman petition asserts that<br />
product is not available to the Rivoli until<br />
seven days after it plays the Colonial and<br />
Lyric, which get it 30 days following first rim.<br />
The Shulman circuit contends that product<br />
should be available to all three houses at<br />
the same time after it has had first run here.<br />
The initial hearing was attended by Maurice<br />
Shulman of the Shulman circuit, and Al<br />
Schuman and Ernie Grecula of the Hartford<br />
Theatres chain.<br />
Joe Phillips to Columbia<br />
Publicity Field Staff<br />
HARTFORD—Joe Phillips, a legitimate<br />
theatre publicist in New York 25 years, has<br />
turned film exploitation man and has joined<br />
the Columbia Pictures field staff.<br />
Temporarily assigned to the New England<br />
territory, Phillips covered openings of "Tokyo<br />
Joe" and "Tell It to the Judge" prior to starting<br />
work on "AH the King's Men." He left<br />
Hartford for exploitation work on the latter<br />
film in Utica, Syracuse and Rochester, N. Y.<br />
Seeks Drive-In Permit<br />
HARTFORD—Plans for construction of a<br />
drive-in theatre on the Meriden-Waterbury<br />
road have been announced by James A.<br />
Holmes.<br />
Over 40 Exhibifors of New England<br />
Hear of 'Guilty of Treason<br />
BOSTON—More than 40 exhibitors and circuit<br />
heads attended a luncheon given at the<br />
Touraine hotel by Eagle Lion Films to present<br />
Edward "Doc" Golden, producer of "Guilty<br />
of Ti-eason." The film was made from the<br />
book, "As 'We Saw Russia," WTitten by members<br />
of the Overseas Pi-ess Club of America<br />
and will be released m New England in<br />
Februai-y. It tells the story of Cardinal<br />
Mindszenty.<br />
in each city or town radio coverage will start,<br />
increasing the tempo up to the opening date.<br />
HUGE DISPLAY—One of the largest<br />
and most pretentious lobby displays ever<br />
erected in a ProWdence theatre recently<br />
was viewed by the public in Loew's State.<br />
Shown above, the display heralding "On<br />
the Town." measured over 10 feet in<br />
height and was over 14 feet wide. .\<br />
special cloth, used as a background, was<br />
studded «ith thousands of sequins. .\ battery<br />
of spotlights placed in strategic positions<br />
gave an unusual lighting effect.<br />
Plans<br />
Full page newspaper space will be bought.<br />
We have unlimited funds and you have my<br />
promise that this ^v^ll be the biggest campaign<br />
in the history of the motion picture<br />
business."<br />
Head table gue.sts. besides Golden, Brandt<br />
and Schlaifer were Harry Segal, local EL<br />
manager; Bill Toumey. EL representative,<br />
and Louis Gordon, Edward Canter, Paul Levi,<br />
Henrj' Schwartzberg, Max Melincoff, Max<br />
Levenson. Stanley Rothenberg. Samuel and<br />
store will be taken over to make room for a<br />
large snack bar and refreshment area and<br />
space for an 8x10 television screen for lobby<br />
patrons. The lounge wOl be almost as large<br />
as the auditorium.<br />
The entue theatre will be air conditioned,<br />
redecorated and reseated. New restrooms and Jack Schlaifer. general sales manager for<br />
a women's parlor will be installed.<br />
EL, introduced Golden and Leon Brandt. The Newell Kurson. Herbert Copelman, Larry<br />
For the Interstate circuit, Riseman is designing<br />
former explained why he decided to make the Herman, Julian Rifkin, George Roberts, Phil<br />
new candy stands and refreshment picture and the latter told of the extensive Berler. Abner and Stanley Eilenberg, George<br />
areas at the Saybrook in Old Saybrook. Conn., exploitation campaign to be launched in the Kraska, John Glazier. Arthui- Howard. Seth<br />
and at the Scenic, Rochester, N. H., while New England ten-itory. Brandt, director of Field. James Field. Hai-old Young. Roy Burroughs.<br />
at the Bradley, Putnam, Conn., work was advertising and exijloitation for EL, asserted<br />
Ernest Israel, Bill Canning. Bill Sul-<br />
started Januarj- 3 on new lounges and refreshening<br />
that because of the natural exploitation polivan,<br />
Dick Dobbyn, Abner Pinanski, Frank<br />
throughout.<br />
tentialities resulting from attention given the McManus, Harry Wasserman. Harrj' Zeitz,<br />
For E. M. Loew, Riseman is doing over the case of Cardinal Mindszenty before the Jerry Crowley, Eddie Renick and Joe Mansfield.<br />
Strand, New Bedford, including a new front United Nations, "Guilty of Treason" will receive<br />
and marquee, repainting and lobby refurbishing.<br />
the largest publicity campaign ever at-<br />
Golden, a native Bostonlan, was greeted by<br />
The theatre will not be closed during<br />
the repairs. Also for E. M. Loew. Rise-<br />
dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York former branch manager for MGM, he later<br />
tempted in this area. He told of the kickoff many of his old friends at the luncheon. A<br />
man vnU start work on the Stand, Huntington<br />
which over 1,100 guests attended, including organized the American Feature Film Co.,<br />
avenue. Boston, on redecorating the in-<br />
publishers of newspapers and heads of major holding a distribution franchise for Universal<br />
side, painting the outside, adding a new networks with their subordinates.<br />
films, with his partner, the late Harr>' Asher.<br />
marquee and refreshing the restrooms.<br />
"The national approach to this film will Later he went to the coast and produced several<br />
independent films, including the highly<br />
Riseman aides already are at work on the be echeloned," he said. "New England will<br />
Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline, a B&Q have an array of publicity men from my staff successful "Hitler's Children." working with<br />
house, repairing the front and marquee and to help you handle this campaign. Satiu-ation his son Robert, also an assosiate in "Guilty<br />
repainting the lobbies.<br />
screenings noil be held for publishers and editors<br />
of Treason."<br />
of all local newspapers, owners and com-<br />
mentators of the radio stations, and all charitable<br />
and civic organizations. As many prints<br />
as are necessary will be rushed to this territory<br />
for a thoroughgoing piece of showmanship.<br />
Thirty days prior to the opening date<br />
Free Films Are Proposed<br />
For Welfare Recipients<br />
DETROIT—A proposal to provide free motion<br />
pictui-es to entertain the city's welfare<br />
recipients while they wait for interviews with<br />
city employes handling their cases enlivened<br />
the local rialto. Proposal was made by Mrs.<br />
Rosa Gragg. president of the City Welfare<br />
commission, who presented the view that "it<br />
just doesn't seem right" for the dole clients<br />
to have to sit around with nothing to do.<br />
Calls by the tradepress to Mrs. Gregg's office<br />
to secure details of her plan, including arrangements<br />
for supply of product and projection,<br />
were ignored.<br />
Drew Eberson Returns<br />
HARTFORD — Drew Eberson, Stamford<br />
architect, has retui-ned to Connecticut from<br />
the Canal Zone after completing the new<br />
Balboa Theatre, which is one of the largest<br />
in Central America. It was constmcted by<br />
the club division of the Panama canal operating<br />
agency.<br />
Report Branch Closing<br />
NEW HA'VEN— A. report current here is<br />
that United Artists will close its local exchange<br />
and cover this territory out of the<br />
Boston exchange. No date has been intimated,<br />
however.<br />
"Iwo lima' Screening<br />
NEW HAVEN — Jim Darby, Paramount<br />
Theatre manager, was host to marine corps<br />
recruiters from New Haven and Hartford at<br />
a luncheon and screening of "Sands of Iwo<br />
Jima."<br />
BOXOFFICE January 7, 1950 NE 75
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