Boxoffice-January.07.1950

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and has been replaced by Edward Owens .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