Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1963)

OJVLAhjA JJoward Chapman and Robert Herbold are reopening the Gem Theatre at Moville, Iowa . . . And at Ida Grove, Bob Fridley is making good progress on remodeling operations at the King in preparation for opening there . . . Glenn Slipper was in town last week from Kansas City in connection with the closing of the National Theatre Supply office here. Slipper formerly was manager of the National branch here before it was consolidated with the Kansas City point. Sally Fox, an Omaha girl, started a batch of letters rolling into the Public Pulse column in the Omaha World-Herald when she contributed a letter urging theatres to give special rates to teenagers . . . Another contributor, Carol Janiak, wrote “I agree with Sally Fox that theatres should give teenagers special rates. I think boys and girls on dates in the evening should not be included. Dates are for adults and they should pay adult fair. I am 13.” Other letters supporting Sally were from 12-to-14-year-old movie fans. Abbott Swartz, who has leased the Dundee Theatre from the Cooper Foundation Theatres, opened with “SVz,” a surrealistic film starring Italy’s matinee idol, Marcello Mastroianni and the movie drew a variety of comment, from “great” to “it’s way beyond me.” Swartz said the theatre will be operated on an adult-only basis and those under 16 will not be admitted. Showings will be evenings Monday through Saturday, with matinees on Sunday only. The new operator has scheduled a number of British films and he plans to offer filmed operettas from time to time on a oneday basis. Omaha’s movie men have felt the effects of the fall football activity on the boxoffice and undoubtedly took another rap during the annual Ak-Sar-Ben Stock Show and Rodeo. And now comes a listing of some of the attractions in legitimate musical, comedy and dramatic presentations which are scheduled for the Music Hall at the city auditorium, including the Norman Luboff choir, October 21; a stage comedy, “A Thousand Clowns,” October 23; Mantovani’s concert orchestra, October 26, and Roger Williams, his piano and combo, No READV FOR DELIVERY! n s — izU vember 3 — plus other November attractions, such as Nat King Cole, the musical “Camelot,” a drama and a revue. Bob Hirz, Warner city manager, reported that “Spencer’s Mountain” is still going great guns in the territory, even in smaller situations. Hirz and his wife have been busy getting their daughter to a number of fall appearances as a majorette with the Plattsmouth High band. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Max, exhibitors at Sibley, Iowa, had relatives visiting from Scotland, S. D. . . . Betty Roberts, Warner secretary, had a guest from California, her sister, Mrs. Howard Smith, whom she entertained at a family picnic and a screening. Exhibitors in town included Nebraskans Frank Hollingsworth, Beatrice; Sid Metcalf, Nebraska City; Walt Jancke, Lincoln; Irv Dubinsky and son Sarge, Lincoln; Phil Lannon, West Point; Iowans Jim Dixon, Anthon; Arnold Johnson, Onawa; John Rentfle, Aubudon; S. J. Backer, Harlan, and Missourian Orville Muntz, Rock Port. A. E. Thacker jr. has reopened the State Theatre at South Sioux City on a Saturday-matinee-only schedule for children . . . Ed Cohen, Columbia, and his wife attended the Atokad races on South Sioux with Mr. and Mrs. Thacker and A. E.’s mother Margaret . . . Eskel Lund, who has been on the city council or served as mayor at Viborg, S. D., the past 26 years, broke away for one of his rare booking trips to Omaha . . . Charles Craig, projectionist in Omaha many years, had just recovered from a heart ailment that had him laid up for a couple of months when he had to return to the hospital for a hernia operation. Robert Taylor, film star who was born at Filley near Beatrice, will return to the place where he started his acting career — Doane College at Crete. President Donald Typer announced that Taylor and his wife would be guests October 25 at an all-college banquet which would kick off a $5,000,000 campus improvement campaign. Taylor’s collegiate dramatic career started under the instruction of Mary Ellen Farries, who will return for the program. Taylor later continued his studies in California, where he was discovered by a Hollywood film scout. Senators Roman Hruska and Carl Curtis of Nebraska have relayed to movie producer John Ford in Hollywood the disappointment of Crawford, Neb., that the filming of Nebraskan Mari Sandoz’s “Cheyenne Autumn” is not to be in western Nebraska. Dr. Vernon C. Rockey, president of the Crawford Chamber of Commerce, wrote the senators about the movie locations and said “we of western Nebraska just hate to have our history stolen from us and given to Utah, New Mexico and Arizona.” Senator Hruska invited Ford to visit western Nebraska to “inspect at first hand the natural beauty we have to offer your cameras.” Senator Curtis wrote Ford that “it is a truly beautiful and colorful part of the Old West.” Producer Expounds Horror From Western Edition HOLLYWOOD — Producer Herman Cohen spoke at the annual meeting of Count Dracula Society at the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity house on the USC campus, and screened Allied Artists’ “Horrors of the Black Zoo.” MILWAUKEE Recently we reported a banker has taken over operation of a theatre. Lowell F. McNeill, president of the West Racine Bank who became proprietor of the Capitol there, explained the move was a challenge since he knew nothing about theatre operation. Now he announces he has purcased the property from Mrs. Max Krofta and intends to operate the 900-seater from five to seven days a week. Bill Exton of the Roosevelt Theatre in Kenosha is assisting McNeill in the booking. Sidney Poitier was in town to help promote his “The Lilies of the Field.” . . . Clark Wilkinson, Baraboo, a member of the board of curators of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, will speak at the annual dinner of the 14th annual Institute for Local History. Wilkinson is an authority on the history of the motion picture industry. The dinner will be held at the University of Wisconsin Memorial Union . . . John McKay, manager at the Riverside Theatre, worked up a successful promotion for “For Love or Money.” He had a Tall Girl contest, with 25 beauties covorting at the Leilani’s swimming pool, with station WITI-TV on hand to cover. The Leilani management picked up the tab. Cleveland Grant, famous wildlife photographer who hails from Mineral Point, Wis., has just returned from an expedition into Africa, where he obtained some scenes which will be seen on screens most everywhere around the first of the year. So precious did he consider some of his film, that he gave away most of his clothing in order to meet the plane’s weight limits. Mrs. Shirley Cooper, wrote in to the “A Penny for Your Thoughts” column in the Northwest News, a neighborhood paper here, the following thought: “I wish we had a showhouse closer in this area. When my children want to go to a motion picture, I have to drive them to some place not near. The buses run too far apart. I get tired of driving them, especially in winter time when they need entertainment. They get tired of television!” Chet DeMarsh Into Oil City From Eastern Edition OIL CITY, PA. — Chester DeMarsh, who operates drive-in theatres at Grove City and Butler, has taken over the Drake and Latonia theatres here. Drake Realty Co. had been operating the indoor houses on a lease with John Muller as manager. Vernon L. Wise jr. is a partner of DeMarsh. Take A ^^8 Merchants' | Holiday Tip From f f trS. Greeting C a ~~ Manual SanW / S f | Ready Now Start Selling W Merchant Holiday 7 Greeting Trailers Early ^ | START SELLING TODAY, YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID M » For Speed And Quality Order From Dependable M t 1327 S. WABASH JUnuick CHICAGO 5, ILL. | SOMETHING NEW FROM FILMACK Merchants Christmas Trailers Photographed On Beautilul Holiday Greeting Cards NC-4 BOXOFFICE :: October 14, 1963