Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

OVERSEATING SITUATION LOOMS Chicago and Territory Building Spree Needs Brake QARL SPITZ, owner of Buck, St. Bernard seen in “Call of the Wild,” was a Milwauke visitor, with his dog. B. N. Judell has secured the distribution rights in the Milwauke territory for eight Tom Tyler films, four United Artists pictures'. "Rain,” "The Locked Door,” "The Bat Whispers,” and "Street Scene,” and a series of new Sam Small colored cartoons. Ben Olson is adding a second floor over the front portion of his Mission Theatre at Wisconsin Dells. The Palace at Superior has added a new marquee. Fibber McGee and Molly, sponsored by S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc., Racine, for the past two years, have signed a contract with Paramount for a full length picture. Repair Geneva Fargo Geneva, III. — The Fargo Theatre here, recently damaged by fire, is undergoing extensive repairs. The work will cost about $12,000. Charles Fargo owns the house. HALLORAN SUCCEEDS TO PACKWOOD POST St Louis — Dick Halloran, who has been manager of the Hi-Pointe Theatre, will succeed N. E. Packwood as manager of the Mikado Theatre in the St. Louis Amusement chain, while Jack Rosenzweig, chief accountant for Fanchon & Marco here, has been transferred to the Hi-Pointe post. His duties as accountant have been taken over by his assistant, M. J. Riordan. Packwood resigned recently to become general manager of the Crittenden Theatre Co. at West Memphis, Ark. He assumes his new duties on May 1. May Sue for Award Milwaukee, Wis. — Victor E. Neuhaus, 23, a filling station employe, has sought information through a discovery examination before Court Commissioner George A. Ballhorn here on which he plans to base a lawsuit against the Wisconsin Amusement Enterprises, Inc., operators of the Tower Theatre here. Neuhaus contends that he was declared the winner of a Bank Night award of $450 April 6, but was barred from collecting the money because he couldn’t reach the stage to identify himself in the allotted three minutes. By CAL HERMER Chicago — If the present theatre building spree, with its accompanying “war” between circuit and circuit, and circuit and independent, continues much longer intelligent observes predict an overseating condition unparalleled in the annals of the industry. Since a year or so ago, when the boxoffices of this territory began to feel the surge of revived business and exhibition again became an enterprise of fairly certain profit, the grab for theatres has been on until by now every possible available location in this region is being considered as a prospective theatre site. In the city of Chicago it is said that with only one or two exceptions every spot where a theatre ever existed is again open and operating, and plans for new houses are being announced with alarming regularity. The total of all the houses which have been reopened after many years of darkness plus the new ones built within the past year or so, added to those for which plans are already drawn and in some cases contracts let for building, shows that the number of seats in Chicago alone will have • Continued on page 116) OUR SEATING SERVICE IS SECOND TO NONE! Tliis beauty is but one of many fine new models with which we can seat your theatre RIGHT and at reasonable cost. We give quarter to no one in the matter of seating quality style, comfort, prices, promptness of delivery and reliability of installation. Others may promise; but we GUARANTEE greater seating value for the price you pay. Come in and inspect our line of new chair samples. Compare what we offer you — point by point. CHICAGO 825 S. Wabash Ave. Phone: Webster 734G-7-8-9 ST. LOUIS 3210 Olive St. Phone: lefferson 8494-5 News Flash! GENUINE PARTS made and guaranteed by the manufacturer of your Simplex Mechanisms are now offered you at 36% discount from new lower list prices. Why use imitations when you can now buy the GENUINE at a big saving? Remember — National Repair Service means BONA FIDE parts, properly fitted and guaranteed. UlTinUMI INDIANAPOLIS 436 N. Illinois Street Phone: Lincoln 5758 MILWAUKEE 725 W. Wells St. THEATRE SUPPLY COMPANY Phone: Marquette 7333 ■TTTrii*Ju;in EVERY STORE A LOCAL INSTITUTION WITH A M ATKIN AL R EPUTATIOM FOR RELIABLE SERVICE | BOXOFFICE :: May 1, 1937. 113