BRIDGEPORT – Loew’s Lyric, usually dark except on weekends, was opened in midweek by manager Robert Carney for the one-day showing of an all-Italian program consisting of “Fedora” and “Sorprese del Matrimonio.” Business was good.
Mike Jacobson, manager of the Mayfair on the East Side, also departed from his usual film fare to run a one-night Italian show. He screened “La Mia Canzone al Vento” and “Il Corsaro Nero” to a nice boxoffice.
(from Boxoffice magazine, May 25, 1946. It should be noted that Italian films had been kept off U.S. screens during the war years, depriving the Italian-speaking population of this entertainment.)
BRIDGEPORT – Loew’s Lyric, usually dark except on weekends, was opened in midweek by manager Robert Carney for the one-day showing of an all-Italian program consisting of “Fedora” and “Sorprese del Matrimonio.” Business was good.
Mike Jacobson, manager of the Mayfair on the East Side, also departed from his usual film fare to run a one-night Italian show. He screened “La Mia Canzone al Vento” and “Il Corsaro Nero” to a nice boxoffice.
(from Boxoffice magazine, May 25, 1946. It should be noted that Italian films had been kept off U.S. screens during the war years, depriving the Italian-speaking population of this entertainment.)
Opening of Island Theatre reported in Boxoffice magazine, August 31, 1946:
Island Theatre is Opened in Portsmouth Aug. 23
NEWPORT, R.I. – The Island Theatre, a new community project in Portsmouth, located midway between this city and Fall River, opened August 23. The new 500-seat house, equipped with the latest in projection and other equipment, is the result of the progressiveness and forethought of a Portsmouth man, Orville O. Smith, who will manage the theatre.
The Island will serve the rural community of Middletown and Tiverton, as well as Portsmouth. Construction has been in progress all summer on the house, which opened with a continuous run policy each evening with four changes a week. Provision has been made for plenty of free parking space on the theatre property on either side of the building.
“Murray Howard, manager of the Warner, converted the lobby into a railroad station and had the doormen attired as conductors for "Strangers on the Train.”
Manager of this theatre quits after protest on Italian film Bitter Rice.
Article in Boxoffice magazine, July 7, 1951: View link
[For the record, Bitter Rice is now considered a major Italian film classic and even appeared on an Italian postage stamp commemorating the films of the Italian neo-realist period after World War II.]
Boxoffice magazine, September 18, 1948, carries a piece about a Regent Theatre on Elm Street that was being demolished that year. I have not found it listed on CT. View link
(Item is in the “Worcester” section.)
Middletown Palace Opens
MIDDLETOWN, CONN. —– Salvatore Adorno has reopened the Palace Theatre here after a ten-year shutdown. He renovated the entire building, including a new marquee and lobby.
1st Anniversary. Item in Boxoffice magazine, July 29, 1950:
Poli in Norwich, Conn.,
Fetes First Milestone
HARTFORD—-Loew’s Poli Theatre in Norwich, Conn. observed its first anniversary last week with showings of “Duchess of Idaho,” starring Esther Williams. A huge birthday cake in the theatre lobby was provided by Joe Boyle, manager,.
The opening film last year was “Neptune’s Daughter,” also starring Esther Williams, and Boyle invited patrons to sign a giant post card addressed to the star and which was forwarded to her from Norwich.
From Boxoffice magazine, August 21, 1954:
“E.M. Loew’s Drive-In was the site of the New England premiere of "Three Forbidden Stories."
[This Italian film was being marketed for its frank depiction of sexual woes. It also played serious art houses in New York and elsewhere.]
Item in Boxoffice magazine, June 23, 1958:
“Stanley Warner booked Italian films into the Cameo, Bristol, and Embassy, New Britain at the regular price scale."
[For those of us interested in places of exhibition of Italian films to ethnic audiences in the U.S.]
“The Bay State Drive-In, just over the state line [Rhode Island/Massachusetts] in nearby Seekonk, recently highlighted the 12th anniversary with gift nights. Running four consecutive evenings, the anniversary featured the presentation of pearl necklaces to the first 100 feminine patrons; Elizabeth Arden perfume to the next 100 ladies; rain caps to all other females present; cigars to all men, and balloons, candy, and lollipops to the kiddies.”
[Note: this anniversary indicates that the theatre must have opened for business for the first time in 1946.]
Long run for Never on Sunday. Item in Boxoffice magazine, July 10, 1961:
“The Avon Cinema, which broke all boxoffice records when it showed "Never on Sunday” for the seventh straight week, did not quit there. It announced the movie was being carried for its eighth week."
Theatre for sale, item in Boxoffice magazine, July 10, 1961:
“The Paramount Theatre building in Newport went on the auction block July 8, when the movie house, described as fully equipped and ready to operate, was offered for sale. It has a seating capacity of 1,200. The 22,987 square-foot property also includes five income-producing stores in the building, located at 70-80 Broadway.”
Preference shown to Bijou over Metropolitan in in distributor bookings.
“Testimony on Providence Metropolitan is Taken"
Boxoffice magazine on June 10, 1939 ran this long piece on the Metropolitan Theatre, dealing with an anti-trust suit in film bookings, and preference shown to the nearby Bijou in the supplying of films by distributors. View link
“Testimony on Providence Metropolitan is Taken"
Boxoffice magazine on June 10, 1939 ran this long piece on the Metropolitan Theatre, dealing with an anti-trust suit in film bookings, and preference shown to the nearby Bijou in the supplying of films by distributors. View link
The Aetna Theatre at the Wadsworth was previously known as the Avery Memorial Theatre.
Italian Films Gross Well At Bridgeport Houses
BRIDGEPORT – Loew’s Lyric, usually dark except on weekends, was opened in midweek by manager Robert Carney for the one-day showing of an all-Italian program consisting of “Fedora” and “Sorprese del Matrimonio.” Business was good.
Mike Jacobson, manager of the Mayfair on the East Side, also departed from his usual film fare to run a one-night Italian show. He screened “La Mia Canzone al Vento” and “Il Corsaro Nero” to a nice boxoffice.
(from Boxoffice magazine, May 25, 1946. It should be noted that Italian films had been kept off U.S. screens during the war years, depriving the Italian-speaking population of this entertainment.)
Italian Films Gross Well At Bridgeport Houses
BRIDGEPORT – Loew’s Lyric, usually dark except on weekends, was opened in midweek by manager Robert Carney for the one-day showing of an all-Italian program consisting of “Fedora” and “Sorprese del Matrimonio.” Business was good.
Mike Jacobson, manager of the Mayfair on the East Side, also departed from his usual film fare to run a one-night Italian show. He screened “La Mia Canzone al Vento” and “Il Corsaro Nero” to a nice boxoffice.
(from Boxoffice magazine, May 25, 1946. It should be noted that Italian films had been kept off U.S. screens during the war years, depriving the Italian-speaking population of this entertainment.)
The Suffolk theatre re-opens after renovation. Item in Boxoffice magazine, August 31, 1946:
View link
Opening of Island Theatre reported in Boxoffice magazine, August 31, 1946:
Island Theatre is Opened in Portsmouth Aug. 23
NEWPORT, R.I. – The Island Theatre, a new community project in Portsmouth, located midway between this city and Fall River, opened August 23. The new 500-seat house, equipped with the latest in projection and other equipment, is the result of the progressiveness and forethought of a Portsmouth man, Orville O. Smith, who will manage the theatre.
The Island will serve the rural community of Middletown and Tiverton, as well as Portsmouth. Construction has been in progress all summer on the house, which opened with a continuous run policy each evening with four changes a week. Provision has been made for plenty of free parking space on the theatre property on either side of the building.
Lobby becomes train station.
“Murray Howard, manager of the Warner, converted the lobby into a railroad station and had the doormen attired as conductors for "Strangers on the Train.”
(item in Boxoffice magazine, July 7, 1951)
Manager of this theatre quits after protest on Italian film Bitter Rice.
Article in Boxoffice magazine, July 7, 1951:
View link
[For the record, Bitter Rice is now considered a major Italian film classic and even appeared on an Italian postage stamp commemorating the films of the Italian neo-realist period after World War II.]
A feature article on the Hyart in Boxoffice magazine, January 5, 1952, had several photos.
View link
This picture of the Sayville entrance appeared on the cover of the Modern Theatre section of Boxoffice magazine, March 7, 1953:
View link
This theatre appeared in a photo on the cover of Boxoffice magazine, January 3, 1953:
View link
This article on the Empress, with photos, appeared in Boxoffice magazine on January 3, 1953:
View link
Boxoffice magazine, September 18, 1948, carries a piece about a Regent Theatre on Elm Street that was being demolished that year. I have not found it listed on CT.
View link
(Item is in the “Worcester” section.)
Article, with photo, on the re-opening of the restored Strand Theatre in 1948. Boxoffice magazine, September 18, 1948:
View link
Item in Boxoffice magazine, September 18, 1948:
Middletown Palace Opens
MIDDLETOWN, CONN. —– Salvatore Adorno has reopened the Palace Theatre here after a ten-year shutdown. He renovated the entire building, including a new marquee and lobby.
1st Anniversary. Item in Boxoffice magazine, July 29, 1950:
Poli in Norwich, Conn.,
Fetes First Milestone
HARTFORD—-Loew’s Poli Theatre in Norwich, Conn. observed its first anniversary last week with showings of “Duchess of Idaho,” starring Esther Williams. A huge birthday cake in the theatre lobby was provided by Joe Boyle, manager,.
The opening film last year was “Neptune’s Daughter,” also starring Esther Williams, and Boyle invited patrons to sign a giant post card addressed to the star and which was forwarded to her from Norwich.
Photo in Boxoffice magazine showing the front of the theatre for presentation of Annie Get Your Gun, issue of September 30, 1950:
View link
Photo in Boxoffice magazine, September 30, 1950. Front of theatre during showing of Walt Disney’s Treasure Island.
View link
From Boxoffice magazine, August 21, 1954:
“E.M. Loew’s Drive-In was the site of the New England premiere of "Three Forbidden Stories."
[This Italian film was being marketed for its frank depiction of sexual woes. It also played serious art houses in New York and elsewhere.]
Item in Boxoffice magazine, June 23, 1958:
“Stanley Warner booked Italian films into the Cameo, Bristol, and Embassy, New Britain at the regular price scale."
[For those of us interested in places of exhibition of Italian films to ethnic audiences in the U.S.]
Item in Boxoffice magazine, June 23, 1958:
“The Bay State Drive-In, just over the state line [Rhode Island/Massachusetts] in nearby Seekonk, recently highlighted the 12th anniversary with gift nights. Running four consecutive evenings, the anniversary featured the presentation of pearl necklaces to the first 100 feminine patrons; Elizabeth Arden perfume to the next 100 ladies; rain caps to all other females present; cigars to all men, and balloons, candy, and lollipops to the kiddies.”
[Note: this anniversary indicates that the theatre must have opened for business for the first time in 1946.]
Long run for Never on Sunday. Item in Boxoffice magazine, July 10, 1961:
“The Avon Cinema, which broke all boxoffice records when it showed "Never on Sunday” for the seventh straight week, did not quit there. It announced the movie was being carried for its eighth week."
Theatre for sale, item in Boxoffice magazine, July 10, 1961:
“The Paramount Theatre building in Newport went on the auction block July 8, when the movie house, described as fully equipped and ready to operate, was offered for sale. It has a seating capacity of 1,200. The 22,987 square-foot property also includes five income-producing stores in the building, located at 70-80 Broadway.”
Preference shown to Bijou over Metropolitan in in distributor bookings.
“Testimony on Providence Metropolitan is Taken"
Boxoffice magazine on June 10, 1939 ran this long piece on the Metropolitan Theatre, dealing with an anti-trust suit in film bookings, and preference shown to the nearby Bijou in the supplying of films by distributors.
View link
“Testimony on Providence Metropolitan is Taken"
Boxoffice magazine on June 10, 1939 ran this long piece on the Metropolitan Theatre, dealing with an anti-trust suit in film bookings, and preference shown to the nearby Bijou in the supplying of films by distributors.
View link
Estott,
Columbus wasn’t born in “Colon” Italy. There is no such place. He was born in Genoa (Genova).