Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

St. Louis Friends Planning Dinner for C. E. Kurtzman St. Louis — The many friends here of Charles E. Kurtzman, head of the Kurtzman Agency, Inc., Ambassador Theatre Building, who plans to remove to New York City about July 1, are planning a testimonial dinner in his honor as an expression of regret that he is leaving the local film colony. The details have not been announced by the informal committee in charge of the affair, but a widespread response is anticipated from not only those along Pilmrow, but also from the owners and managers and working forces of various picture theatres hereabouts including many not under the Fanchon & Marco banner. As has been announced, Charley has sold his stock in the Kurtzman Agency and also in various corporations interested in the local F. & M. theatres, and is completely severing his business association with Harry E. Arthur jr., head of the F. & M. theatre organization. However, he is leaving Harry on a vei-y friendly basis. Was Active in Warner Trial It will be recalled that during the troublesome days that marked the conflict of the Fanchon & Marco interests with Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., Paramount and RKO, Kurtzman with Harry E. Greenman, former manager of the Fox Theatre at Grand and Washington boulevards, were very important cogs in Harry Arthur’s board of strategy in the operation of the Fox, Ambassador and Missouri theatres in the face of most adverse handicaps, with Harry Koplar, veteran local motion picture exhibitor, apparently much in the background. But with the coming of peace to the local film colony Koplar has been in the ascendency while first Greenman and now Kurtzman moved into more or less total eclipse. So that today in the absence of Harry E. Arthur from St. Louis — which is often due to his important duties in New York City— Koplar is the most dominant figure in the local exhibition world. For which he is entitled to some credit figuring back to the days of his original tent show in the vicinity of Fifteenth and Montgomery streets. ORPHEUM AT OTTAWA INSTALLS NEW SOUND Ottawa, III. — The Midwest Theatre Supply Co. of Chicago has been awarded a contract by the Gregory circuit to install in the Orpheum Theatre here the latest type of Ultraphone-Jewell sound equipment. The house will open about July 1. The general contractors on the two-story and basement structure was Eickelkraut Bros, of Ottawa, 111. The house complete will cost about $150,000 and be among the finest in that section of the state. Many Towns Want "Good Earth" Buffalo New York — The countrywide tour of M-G-M’s Chinese water buffalo, which was started in the larger key cities as an exploitation tieup for “The Good Earth,” is proving so successful that exhibitors in smaller towns are taking an interest and asking for dates for the beast’s visit. The latest itinerary, covering towns in Missouri, Illinois and Kansas, is as follows: June 28, Illinois Theatre, Centralia, 111.; Plaza Theatre, Mt. Vernon, 111.; Capitol Theatre, Benton, 111.; June 29, Strand Theatre, W. Frankfort, 111.; Orpheum Theatre, Marion, 111.; Gem Theatre. Carbondale. III., and Hippodrome Theatre, Murphysboro. 111.; June 30, Broadway Theatre, Cape Girardeau, Mo.; Mercier Theatre, Frederickton, Mo., and Roseland Theatre, Flat River. Mo. July 1, Jefferson Theatre, Desoto. Mo.; Miller Theatre, Festus, Mo., and Calvin Theatre. Washington. Mo.; July 2, Capitol Theatre, Jefferson City, Mo.; Liberty Theatre, Sedalia, Mo.; July 3, Star Theatre, AVarrensburg, Mo.; Opera House, Butler, Mo., and Star Theatre, Nevada, Mo.; July 5, Midland Theatre, Pittsburgh, Kas. ; Orpheum Theatre, Parsons, Kas., and Beldorf Theatre, Independence, Kas.; July 6, Clock Theatre, Neodesha, Kas.; People’s Theatre, Chanute, Kas., and lola Theatre, lola, Kas.; July 7, Temple Theatre, Yates Center, Kas.; Newks Theatre, Burlington, Kas., and Granada Theatre, Emporia, Kas.; July 8, Jayhawk Theatre, Topeka, Kas.; Granada Theatre, Lawrence, Kas., and Granada Theatre Kansas City, Kas.; July 9, Missouri Theatre, St. Joseph, Mo., and Ritz Theatre. Cameron, Mo.; July 10, Sosna Theatre, Manhattan. Kas.; July 12, U. S. Army Post, Fort Riley, Kas.; Kaw Theatre, Junction City, Kas., and Plaza Theatre. Abilene, Kas. Atlantic Plans Two New York — Atlantic Film Productions, which produced “Thunder in the City” for Columbia release, plans two new productions, one in Technicolor. The films will be made in England and released in the United States, with distribution not set. pRED J. HANKE has installed a new airconditioning system in his Lyric Theatre here and is contemplating the installation of a new front. Oscar Baumann has installed a new airconditioning system in his Classic Theatre at Watertown. Stanley Gross, manager of the Rio Theatre at Appleton, reported the burglary of approximately $15 in pennies from the theatre office. Owen McKivitt, manager of Warner’s Venetian Theatre, Racine, has returned from a vacation in Hollywood with Mrs. McKivitt. The canopy of the Palace Theatre at Antigo is being redecorated. M. & M. Enterprises, operators of the Majestic at Rhinelander, ^recently reopened their remodeled State Theatre there. Fox’s Garden, downtown local house, is now showing action pictures with two program changes a week at a straight 25 -cent admission. The circuit’s Downer, neighborhood house, after several weeks of single features, has returned to double features. A loving cup donated by Fredric March to the alumnus of the University of Wisconsin securing the largest number of members to the Wisconsin Alumni association during its Diamond Jubilee anniversary went unclaimed when no one attempted to win it. March is a graduate of the University. DES MOINES STILL FIRST New York — Des Moines retains first place in the standing of Monogram exchanges in the sixth week of the company’s nine week sales drive, according to Edward Golden, sales manager. Branches which have improved their standing in the lineup are Washington, Portland, Ore., Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Atlanta, Boston and Chicago. DO YOU NEED A DLOWER THIS SUMMER? DRAND NEW DLOWERS — 20,000 C. F. M.— With "V" Belt and Pulleys — ONLY — $ 1^9.75 ^^311 SOUTHERN THEATRE SUPPLY CO. P. O. BOX 333 NASHVILLE, TENN. 124 BOXOFFICE : : June 26, 1937.