Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

News in Brief Northwest Allied Plans Sequel to National Meet Minneapolis — Northwest Allied has started plans for a convention to be held here immediately after the national Allied convention May 26 to 28. The local meeting will be devoted principally to the formulation of a further campaign against percentage pictures and preferred playing time. S. D. Kane, Northwest Allied executive secretary, claims that Twin City members of his organization and independent exhibitors generally in the territory have abided by the Northwest Allied “request” not to buy any new season percentage deals. Would Consider Boycott One of the matters to be considered at the convention here will be the proposal of a buyers’ strike with the worst offending exchanges to be picketed by theatre owner members. The pickets would carry banners proclaiming the exchanges “unfair” to theatre owners. A “boycott” against the percentage pictures would have teeth put into it by the requirement of a cash bond from exhibitors to insure good faith, under anoher proposal. Among the exchanges insisting upon percentage deals, 20th-Fox here claims to have made the most progress in sales of new season product. Moe Levy, its district manager, insists that contracts have been signed by a number of Twin City exhibitors and that these contracts include percentage deals. MANAGERS ATTEND ASHLAND OPENING Ashland, Wis. — A number of Minneapolis branch managers, including Gilbert Nathanson of Republic and Don Woods of Grand National, were present at the opening of the Miner Amusement company’s new theatre, the Bay, here. The 750-seat house represents a $75,000 investment. The opening attraction was Republic’s “Hit Parade.” Ashland now has three theatres, Abe Latz operating the other two houses. RKO Closes 80 Deals Minneapolis — L. E. Goldhammer, branch manager, states that the local RKO branch has made approximately 80 new-season deals to date. In number, he says, the exchange is even with the corresponding period a year ago. Gillis Opens House Wahpeton, N. D. — Leo Gillis has opened a new theatre, the New Gillis, here. It is a 600-seat house and cost $50,000. The initial attraction was “Personal Property.” Guests included Morrie Abrahams, special M-G-M exploiteer, from Minneapolis. Night Baseball Bogey Before Exhibs Minneapolis — Twin City exhibitors have a new cause for summer worry. The Minneapolis and St. Paul American Ass'n baseball teams are to launch night baseball, starting in July. Two night games will be played each week, according to present plans. This is something that Twin City showhouses have not had to contejid with up to this time. Under any circumstances, summer affords tough going for theatres here. There are so many lakes throughout the state to lure fishermen and other resorters, the many miles of boulevards and good roads coax the motorists and the numerous parks and lakes in the city are a mecca for the public during the warm weather. PATRON SUES FOR $550 CASH AWARD Minneapolis — Another suit arising from a theatre gift night — the third action of its kind in recent months — has been filed in the Twin Cities. Eva Janet Lonetti is suing the Northland Amusement Co. of Minneapolis for $550 which she alleges she won in its Roxy Theatre gift night drawing, and payment of which was refused her. Mrs. Lonetti avers that the reason the Roxy would not pay her was because marriage had changed her name. The name draw was that of Eva Janet Knopps which was her name at the time she registered when she was still single. When her maiden name was drawn and she went to claim the prize as Mrs. Lonetti the theatre would not come across, she alleges. David Gillman, secretary of the Northland company, recently was fined $550 when a jury found his theatre gift nights were lotteries in violation of the state law. MINNY WORLD FACES SUIT OVER ACCIDENT Minneapolis — T. M. Cundy, special administrator for the estate of William B. Jones, has filed suit for $7,650 damages against the World Theatre here. Jones and Mrs. Mary Kuffel were killed last November when their auto was smashed into by a car owned by the World Theatre and which had been stolen from in front of the showhouse. It is alleged by Cundy that the theatre company employes negligently left the doors of the stolen car unlocked and the keys inside. 1^ R. CLIFFORD Norine is building a new and beautiful 500-seat theatre at Frederic, Wisconsin, to replace his old theatre that was recently destroyed by fire. Mr. Norine states that when this new building is completed, it will be one of the most beautiful theatres to be found anywhere in Western Wisconsin. Only the finest equipment obtainable has been purchased for this new theatre, which includes latest type ULTAPHONE SOUND SYSTEM and five hundred deluxe AIR-LOC fullupholstered chairs. The new theatre is scheduled to be complete and ready to open on or about June 1. Mr. B. R. Bly is completely remodeling his Bula Theatre, Ashtabula, Ohio. Included with other improvements was the purchase of eight hundred deluxe AIRLOC full-upholstered chairs, purchased from AIR-LOC SEAT INDUSTRIES, INC. The Wayne Theatre at Greenville, Ohio, owned and operated by Mr. A. Macci has let contract with AIR-LOC SEAT INDUSTRIES, INC., for 650 deluxe AIR-LOC fullupholstered chairs, with installation scheduled for the early part of May. Mr. Mike Enrico of the Grand Theatre, Benld, Illinois, has purchased through the office of George A. Busher of St. Louis, Missouri, latest type ULTRAPHONIC SOUND SYSTEM. Mr. Busher is the St. Louis distributor of ULTRAPHONE SOUND SYSTEMS. Mr. Edw. "Velat of the Radio Theatre, St. Paul, is making improvements in his theatre, which improvements jnclude a new ULTRAPHONE JEWELL "WIDERANGE SOUND SYSTEM. The theatre closes down on May 1st and is scheduled to reopen on Thursday, May 6th. Mr. Billy Gowan of the Orpheum Theatre, Ortonville, Minnesota, purchased deluxe AIR-LOC full-upholstered chairs from AIR-LOC SEAT INDUSTRIES, INC. Installation is scheduled for the early part of May. — Adv. 120 BOXOFFICE :: May 1, 1937.