Boxoffice-January.07.1950

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BOSTON
\xrUUam Dcitch, Rhode Island theatre op-
'^erator; Oscar Goldberg, his partner m
the Wevmouth Theatre; Arthui- Howard,
president of Affiliated Theatres, booking and
buying agency, and Joe Hochberg. head
booker for AffUiated, were seen lunching
at the Statler hotel Five acts of vaude-
. . .
heads of Italian charitable groups. Both
ville featiu-ed the program which started were arranged by Phil Engel, local 20th-Fox
December 28 at the Modem Theatre m pubUcist . . .
Charlie Heath and John Downing
of RKO celebrated birthdays on Christmas
day, but Charlie's was the more festive
Brockton.
The personal appearance of Jane Russell,
since his mother, uncle and grandmother
star of "The Outlaw" which ran into censor
were all born on that day. His father was
trouble here three years ago and has finally
born on the Fourth of July and his daughter
on Memorial day.
been passed by the city, caused quite a fluiTy
at the Logan airport when she arrived from
New York. According to an item in the Charles E. Kurtzman, northeast division
Boston Herald, all employes of the airport manager of Loew's Theatres and chairman
dropped their work to dash out to catch a
of the Suffolk county chapter of the National
Foimdation for Infantile Paralysis,
glimpse of the star. She made a personal
appearance at the RKO Boston Theatre warned that the treasui-y of the chapter is
where the picture opened.
nearly exhausted and that polio patient care
The engagement of Mary Frances Shiftman
to John Francis Sweeney of Brookline the March of Dimes campaign exceeds past
is in danger of being done away with unless
was announced by Mr. and Mrs. Irving Shiftman,
her parents. Shiftman is Rhode Island man addressed 200 volunteer workers at the
records. The drive opens January 16. Kurtz-
and western Massachusetts salesman for annual captains' luncheon of the women's
Eagle Lion. Sweeney is in the television engineering
business ... A huge new billboard
division of the chapter.
has been erected by the management of the The Independent Exhibitors of New England
will omit its membership meeting this
Beacon Hill Theatre. The sign is installed on
the old courthouse building in Scollay square. month in favor of a board luncheon session
The electrified and handpainted display car-
January 10 at the headquarters here. "H-ie
directors will appoint a nominating commit-
ries attraction announcements and is large
enough for 24-sheets.
March of Time's "A Chance to Live," deal-
SOUNDHEADS
COSTS tess^
quality . . . compare cost . .
no c'omparaMe equipment gives you
more for the money. Royal Soundmaster
Soundheads are world-famous
for superior performance and durability.
Chainless. beltless. all-gear projector
drive. Designed for use with all
projector mechanisms.
Independent Theatre
Supply Co.
28 Winchester Street.
Boston. Moss.
Ccmvlete Theatre Equipment & Supplies
76
ing with the Boys' Republic in Italy, was
screened privately for Mrs. Joseph Tomasello,
wife of Judge Tomasello, who is active in
American-Italian welfare work in this city.
Another screening was held for the Italian
consul general. Dr. Agostino G. Maraldi aird
tee to draw up a slate of officers for 1950 for
the annual lENE meeting in February. The
directors will attend the testimonial at the
Hotel Bradford that same day for Al Somerby,
who is celebrating 50 years in the show business
here.
Naomi Kaplan, secretary to Max MeUncoff
at Warner Theatres, left on a two-week
Caribbean cruise The -Warner Theatres
. . .
office has been moved to 35 Winchester street
over the National Theatre Supply Co. quarters
. . . Bill Tourney, Eagle Lion, was here
working for "G.I. Joe," which will play 31
dates in this area begiiming with the Pilgrim
Theatre January 25. All major veterans
groups are in partnership with this deal.
State commanders have assured cooperation,
many planning huge parades for the local
openings and will sell tickets, in return for
which they will receive a substantial part
of the grosses of the film. Lester Cowan,
producer of the film, is expected to address
an exhibitors luncheon.
Name Albert M. Pickus
BRIDGEPORT—Albert M. Pickus, owner
of the Stratford Theatre here, has been appointed
by Ted Gamble, national chairman
for the observance of Brotherhood week February
17-25, co-chairman for the local area.
^Special
TRAILERS
FOR FASTER SERVICE
HAncock 6-3592
mRSTER mOTIOR^PJCTUREs
%D PIEDMOnT ST. BOSTOn IE MUSS.
'Foxes' Tops Boslon
With 160 Per Cent
BOSTON — Monday after Christmas was
the strongest day registered here in months.
Strong product brought out the crowds with
all spots brightening after the pre-Christmas
Paramount and Fenway-Red River (UA):
Stafe'1Ld"oJpheui-Aibush'"(is«"GM)7' Challenge "
to Lassie (MGM) - - '^"
'Prince of Foxes' Paces Trade
At Houses in New Haven
NEW HA^VEN—Business picked up at local
first runs over the Chi-istmas holidays. The
only bill to gross better than average was
.
,
lull.
(Average Is 100)
Astor-Prince of Foxes (20th-Fox) -- 60
-,
-^_-,
Beacon HUI-Devil in the Flesh (G^^elz) 5,h wk 25
(RKOV-.-^-^-^nU
(U-I); Aicbc Boston-Undertow
Exeter Street—Tight Little
FunT
Island (U-I); G°lden^^^
Madonna (Mono) .^ , _y .,-
Majestic-Passport to Pimlico EL ^ '?
Mayflower—Pirates of Capn (EL) - ""
^
Memonal-HoUday Affair (RKO), 2nd wlc 100
Metropolitan—The Heiress (Para); Change oi
'''''
Heart (Rep) ^ --. ,-,.\
the dualing of "Prince of Poxes" and "The
Blonde Bandit" at the Loew's Poll. A pairing
of "Challenge to Lassie" and "Bells of Coronado"
at the Bijou, with five cartoons as a
hoUday feature, di-ew plenty of kiddies afternoons
but failed to attract night business.
Bijou—Challenge to Lassie (MGM); Bells of
cSl^^nf^' in the- Duit(SGM); "Alimony
-
'°
(FT ^
Loew's Poli-Prince of Foxes (20th-Fox); Bl°°de
Bandit (Rep) - --— ,
"j"
r
Paramount—Holiday Inn (Para); The Lady Eve
^^
RoJeT'she'rm"-The- Lady Takes a Sailor (WB)
The Threat (RKO)
Sharp Upturn in Grosses
At Hartford Theatres
HARTFORD—Business was good, compared
to first run boxoffice takes in recent months.
Leaders were "All the King's Men," "The
Heiress" and "On the Town."
-
Ailyn—The Heiress (Para); Hollywood Varieties of
(LP)
1950
Center—Mars Attacks the World (Filmcroft);
Rocket Ship (Filmcralt), reissues
E M Loew's—All the King's Men (Col); Mary
/U
Ryan, Detective (Col) -^ , „ - j,
Loews Poll—On the Town (MGM); Satan s Cradle
^^^
i[jfi^)
Palace—Prince of Foxes (20th-Fox); Zamba (ED'^^jj
ReS^-Pirales of' Capri (F(i)rRedDesWrV'(U'):::. 80
Strand—The Inspector General (WB) HO
Five Drive-Ins Planned
In Connecticut Areas
HARTFORD— An application by Lockwood
& Gordon Theatres fUed with the Manchester
town planning commission for authority
to build a drive-in theatre there was
denied. A public hearing was conducted by
State Police Commissioner Edward J. Hickey
on an application by Daniel Deering for
authority to build a di-ive-in theatre at Norwalk.
Conn. The hearing was Jbeld at the
state capitol, and the commissioner was expected
to reveal his decision soon.
The Stratford towra comicil and planning
boai-d has been considering possible revision
of local zoning regulations in an effort to
bar drive-m theatres from the southern Connecticut
town. Philip C. Cahill of Wethersfield
filed an application with the Stratford
town council and planning board for approval
of a drive-in theatre project there. Richard
C. Edwall of Agawam. Mass.. disclosed plains
for a 620-car capacity drive-in at South
Windsor, Conn.
BOXOFFICE January 7, 1950
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