Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1961)

DES MOINES ^ick Glenn, manager of the Eastown Theatre, is enthusiastic about his “South of the Border” shows. Glenn has started showing Mexican-produced, Spanish-language films on Tuesday nights. Not only ai-e Mexicans and other residents of Spanish descent coming to see the topnotch films, there is a definite interest being shown by local high school and college Spanish teachers. Prof. Harold Hill, Meredith Willson’s “Music Man,” never envisioned anything like the trombone section that will blare away at Mason City’s Music Man Marching Band Festival next June 19. Chamber of Commerce officials have received applications from 121 bands in 34 states to participate in the event, planned in conjimction with a press preview of Warner’s “Music Man” film. Mason City, Willson’s boyhood home and the River City setting for the musical, will play host to more than 8,000 musicians for the big and brassy summertime festival. The Variety Club’s 18th annual Christmas party was a tremendous success, both financially and entertainmentwise. The Jewish Community Center was filled to capacity for the event, thus enabling Variety folk to continue their many charitable endeavors. Much credit is due Lou Levy and all who worked many months to assiu-e the party’s success. Cinema Arts, a new Des Moines film society, will present a series of eight movies, starting January 5, at the First Unitarian Church. Attendance will be by membership and the fee for all eight is $7.50. The first film will be “Letter From an Unknown Woman,” starring Joan Fontaine and Louis Jourdan . . . The Empress at Malvern had —ORDER YOUR NEXT — SPECIAL TRAILER I WITH CONFIDENCE FROM I FILMACK 13Z/ South Wabash Chicago, Illinois to turn away patrons on a recent Saturday night when “The Absent-Minded Professor” was playing there. Even standing room was a sellout . . . The Marine Corps Reserve sponsored a special Saturday morning cartoon show at the Hiland in Des Moines. Admission was a toy for children at Woodward State Hospital. Jerry Baumann has left MGM and now is at Independent Film Distributors. John Winn, formerly with Paramount, replaces Baumann as booker at MGM . . . Gene Sichelman, Columbia, was at the local exchange . . . Margaret McGaffey, MGM secretary, returned after three weeks in Arizona, where she visited her son . . . Vacationing 'Thelma Washburn, Universal booker, headed for California and sunny holidays . . . Helen Hansen, MGM cashier, spent a week’s vacation at home . . . Sam Rich, Paramount booker, was down with a strep throat. The WOMPIs had their Christmas party December 13 at the Vets Club in West Des Moines. Dinner at 7 was followed by a gift exchange and drawing for winners in the Chatty Cathy doll, tablecloth and cab due bill projects. These gals deserved a big night out! They’ve been busier than Santa’s elves outfitting 20 dolls for the Salvation Anny. 'The dolls will be distributed to the children of prisoners. Ralph Olson, manager, and Frank Zanotti, salesman, attended Universal’s regional sales meeting at Dallas . . . Cherokee’s first of four free movies for small fry brought out 1,065 youngsters, probably a record there for such an event . . . The SE 14th Drive-In, local airer, is closed for the winter. Milt Fienberg of National Screen Service was in from Chicago . . . Wally Stolfus, manager of the Majestic at Centerville, and family have moved into a new home . . . Cy Fangman of Boone, manager of the Rialto Theatre, marked his 33rd year with Central States! . . . Visitors included Emil Bozeik of Madrid, Joe Jacobson from Davenport and M. E. McClain from Fremont. Barbara Anthony has returned to the Tri-States home office as Don Knight’s secretary . . . Joe Jacobs, Columbia manager, was in Lincoln working with Irwin Dubinsky. Clarence Frasier Marks 34th Year LINCOLN — December 6 was a milestone date for Joyo Theatre owner Clarence Frasier of Havelock. It was just 35 years to the day that Frasier entered the motion picture business in Havelock — right across the street from his present operation. That older, smaller theatre also was called the Joyo Theatre. Frasier liked it so much he took it with him when he bought the 1927-built bigger showhouse, then known as the Lyric, in 1937. As Frasier caught snatches of the Dec. 7, 1961 Joyo offering, “Greyfriars Bobby,” he recalled: SILENT ‘SADIE’ FIRST FILM “Subway Sadie,” silent, of course, starring Jack Mulhall and Dorothy McPhail, was his first picture offering on Dec. 6, 1926, at the old Joyo. A blind pianist, Charles Zadina, provided the musical accompaniment for the silent screen. He would have a boy sit alongside to clue him on the action, all the time playing. Ci'owds were good, especially on Sundays w’hen downtown Lincoln theatres were closed by since-amended ordinances. Adult admission was 20; children, 10, compai’ed to present 75 and 25-cent tickets. 'The old Joyo, built in 1913, had nineseat rows in its 25-foot-wide auditorium for a total of 220 seats when Frasier bought it in 1926. The newer Joyo, about twice as wide with 375 seats, has gone through a costly series of remodeling projects from 1937 to the present, including projectors and sound in 1946; then air conditioning and new seats in 1950; CinemaScope in ’54, and many odds and ends since, to quote Frasier. AROUND 8,000 SHOWN Between 7,000 and 8,000 screen features have appeared on the Joyo screens since 1926, necessitating three or four trips a month to Omaha for bookings. Frasier has added a wife and two children as his family in these years. With no intention of taking it easy, he says he’s beginning another 35-year rim now. : IN DOUBLE : > QUICKTIME • • • DES MOINES DES MOINES A Merry Christmas and Happy 1961 from all of us at WARNER BROS. Joe Young, Branch Manager Joe Ancher Norman Holt Kenny Claypool Bob Hirz f UNITED ARTISTS I ^ 8 K wishes you all a wonderful holiday season! S Eugene A. Jacobs Dorothy Pobst 8 NC-8 BOXOrnCE : : December 18, 1961