Boxoffice-January.07.1950
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. . . Ted<br />
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. . The<br />
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. . John<br />
H A R T F ORD<br />
Dill O'NeiU, 77, one of the oldest theatre<br />
doormen in this area, died after a long<br />
illness. He was at the Eastwood in recent<br />
years. Burton Evarts has replaced O'Neill as<br />
doorman there . . . Two teen-agers, charged<br />
with creating a disturbance in the Star Theatre<br />
recently, were found guilty of breach of<br />
peace in Hartford police coui-t. Police said<br />
that the two youths and several companions<br />
had caused a distm-bance. Judge Martin J.<br />
Mastyn continued the case for investigation<br />
by the probation department. Bond was set<br />
at $250 for each of the youths.<br />
Al Pickus, owiier of the Stratford Theatre<br />
and regional TOA vice-president, returned<br />
from a trip to Indiana and North Carolina<br />
Markoff of the Markoff Bros. Theatres,<br />
Colchester, left for a New Hampshire<br />
hunting trip . . . Spike Repass, baseball player<br />
and son of the late manager of the Crown<br />
Theatre, has been sold by the Baltimore<br />
Orioles club to San Antonio in the Texas<br />
Henry Boehm, advertising director<br />
league . . .<br />
of the State Theatre, and his wife ob-<br />
served their- fom-th wedding anniversary .<br />
Michael Alperin, partner in the Colonial,<br />
Southington, and Rialto in Windsor Locks,<br />
has been vacationing in the south . . . Henry<br />
J. Kochimas is the new projectionist at the<br />
Glastonbury Theatre. Joan Lampert has<br />
joined the sei-vice sUff at the Glastonbury<br />
as cashier.<br />
Sal Adorno jr., manager of the Palace in<br />
Middletown, reports the naming of Vincent<br />
Santacrose as assistant. A new $5,000 marquee<br />
has been installed at the Palace . . .<br />
Elvira Kasteraski is the new candy girl at<br />
the Crown. Sara Nelson, Crown cashier, was<br />
Ray MacNamara,<br />
a New York visitor . . .<br />
Allyn manager, went to Boston to attend a<br />
screening of ''Samson and Delilah" . . Florence<br />
.<br />
Lawler is the new candy gii'l at the<br />
Allyn. New ushers there are Martin Davis<br />
and Russell Bartholomew.<br />
Carl Halprin, manager of the Milford<br />
Drive-In, was in Florida on a vacation . . .<br />
Beth Kaplan, secretary to Al Schuman of the<br />
Hartford Theatre circuit, was plaiming to<br />
vacation in Florida in February . . . Ronald<br />
Norkowicz has been named doorman at the<br />
Rialto ... Ed Plowd, Rialto usher, resigned<br />
and has been replaced by Edward Owens .<br />
The Middletown Veterans council, consisting<br />
of all veterans oi-ganizations in that city, will<br />
sponsor a stage and screen show at the Palace<br />
The<br />
""PACKAGED"<br />
Drive-In Deal<br />
you've been wailing for<br />
on page 41<br />
Modern Theatre<br />
Theatre in Middletown January 16, with all<br />
proceeds to be used for purchases of cigarets<br />
and other gifts for hospitalized veterans.<br />
Harry Rosenblatt of MGM was a Hartford<br />
visitor . . . George Bronson, manager of the<br />
Perakos circuit's Beverly in Bridgeport, has<br />
resigned because of ill health. Earl Hannah,<br />
circuit relief manager, is filling in as temporary<br />
manager at the theatre . . . Zoning<br />
board approval has been secured by Tommy<br />
Grace, manager of the Eastwood, for expansion<br />
of its parking lot facUities. The addition<br />
will provide room for several hundred more<br />
cars at the rear of the theatre building.<br />
Harry F. Shaw, division manager, and Lou<br />
Brown, advertising-publicity manager, Loew's<br />
Poll circuit, were visitors at its houses. The<br />
two men noted with interest the new miniature<br />
stage display at the Poll featuring promotion<br />
for forthcoming bookings. The display<br />
was set up by Lou Cohen, manager, and Norman<br />
Levinson, assistant . . . Ben Rosenberg,<br />
New England Theatres district manager, was<br />
here from Boston on business.<br />
New Britain notes—The Perakos circuit's<br />
Palace, which formerly ran vaudeville with<br />
films Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, now<br />
is running stage shows only on Fridays and<br />
Saturdays . Music Box has di'opped<br />
Monday thi-ough Friday matinees . . . New<br />
candy stand and popcorn warmer have been<br />
installed at the Music Box .<br />
Christiansen,<br />
Arch Street assistant manager, observed<br />
his first wedding anniversary . . . The<br />
lobby at the Ai'ch Street has been redecorated.<br />
Ray IVIathewson, Strand projectionist, was<br />
back at work following an illness . . . Paul<br />
Mirmana is the new Strand doonnan, while<br />
new candy girls there are Jacqueline Sensome<br />
and Sarah Houhanesian . annual 'Warner<br />
Theatres New Britain Christmas party<br />
was held backstage at the Embassy . . . Stan<br />
Szandrocha, Embassy assistant manager, was<br />
at the State in Manchester, fUling in for<br />
ailing Jack A. Sanson.<br />
New Haven Boys Village<br />
Given Big Variety Party<br />
NEW HA'VEN—"Variety Tent 31 gave 15<br />
boys from Boys "Village, its heart fund project,<br />
a Christmas party long to be remembered,<br />
starting with luncheon at the Chapel street<br />
clubrooms and -winding up with a screening<br />
at the 20th-Fox Little Theatre, gifts and<br />
candy.<br />
"Wives of "Variety members assisting with<br />
home-baked cakes, coffee, preparation of<br />
gifts and hostess activities included Mrs.<br />
Harry Rosenblatt, Mrs. Ben Simon, Elaine<br />
Simon, Mrs. Lou Brown, Mrs. Harry Shaw,<br />
Mrs. Ray "WyUe, Mrs. Franklyn Ferguson and<br />
Mrs. Edward Levy. The boys were presented<br />
lumberjack shirts, cowboy hats, stockings of<br />
candy, ice cream, etc., after lunch at the clubrooms.<br />
At a special screening, Robert Elliano<br />
jr. of the Colonial, "Walnut Beach, who<br />
also is a radio entertainer, regaled the guests<br />
mth singing cowboy fare.<br />
Tentative plans are being made for an installation<br />
dinner and dance, uath vaudeville<br />
and other features about February 21.<br />
To Honor Al Somerby<br />
On 50lh Anniversary<br />
BOSTON—Rufus "Al" Somerby, owner and<br />
manager of the Old Howard Theatre will be<br />
RUFUS "AL" SOMERBY<br />
honored at a testimonial luncheon on his<br />
50th anniversary in show- business. The affair<br />
-will be held at the Hotel Bradford Tuesday<br />
(lO") and will be sponsored by Variety<br />
Club of New England. Chairman for the<br />
luncheon is Robert Sternberg, district manager<br />
for New England Theatres.<br />
"When he was 16 years old, Somerby started<br />
his career as a ticket-seller in the old Bowdoin<br />
Square Theatre in the Scollay square<br />
district. He has never left the neighborhood.<br />
After two years he was transferred to the<br />
Old Howard where he booked acts, including<br />
some of the most famous names in vaudeville.<br />
Ten years ago he purchased the theatre, which<br />
he now actively manages.<br />
Reservations for the luncheon are being accepted<br />
by Bob Sternberg. Checks should be<br />
made payable to "William S. Koster, executive<br />
director of the Variety Club of New England.<br />
Dimitri Petrou Quits Post<br />
With Community Circuit<br />
HARTFORD—Dimitri Petrou,<br />
paitner and<br />
treasm-er in the Commimity Amusement<br />
Corp. since its organization in September<br />
1948. has resigned. It is understood that<br />
Petrou has sold his holdings in the corporation<br />
to his two pai-tners, Bei-nie Menschell<br />
and John Calvocoressci, for an undisclosed<br />
amount.<br />
Petrou. who was with the Skouras circuit in<br />
New York prior to coming to Hartford, reportedly<br />
will make a new business connection<br />
in New York, with specific nature of<br />
his new work to be amiounced shortly.<br />
"With the relmquishing of the Petrou holdings<br />
in the Community Corp., Calvocoressci,<br />
secretary, also will be treasiu-er. Bernie<br />
Menschell continues as president. The Community<br />
Corp. operates the 1,800-seat Star<br />
Theatre here and the Plalnfield in Plainfield.<br />
Morris Carnovsky has joined the cast of<br />
the Kent Taylor starrer, "Western Pacific<br />
Agent," a Lippert picture.<br />
78<br />
BOXOFFICE January 7, 1950