Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

K. C. Kansas Exhibitors Seek First-Run Releases Kansas City — Exchange managers here have been asked individually to confer with a special committee of the Kansas City, Kans., Theatre Owners Assn, on the Association’s demands for first-run release of pictures to the Electric and Granada, and second-run release of pictures to the other Kansas City, Kans. houses. Letters asking the conferences went to exchange managers last week through the office of George Baker, president of the Association. Eleven of the tv/elve Kansas City, Kans. theatres are included in the Association group (the State is not a member), which wants the same first-run privileges for the Fox Granada and the Electric as are granted Kansas City, Mo., first runs. Other Kansas City, Kans. houses will then become “second” run. They now claim to be “third” run. Officials Support Demands The mayor and other city officials are supporting the campaign to get first runs for Kansas City, Kans. The Chamber of Commerce officially added its weight to the argument last week, and Judge Joseph H. McDowell, a city judge, appeared on KCKN, radio station of the Kansas City Kansan last week to state that “theatre owners must fight to remedy this situation. RUSSELL MOON AT K. C. MAINSTREET Kansas City — Russell Moon is here from New York to assist Lawrence Lehman as manager of the RKO Mainstreet Theatre. Moon has been with the Fox circuit the last four years and previously with Publix for seven years. His former affiliations include the Paramount and Roxy theatres in New York. Lou Mayer, who formerly handled publicity and exploitation at the Mainstreet, is now managing the Capitol in Rochester, N. Y. Also effective with the personnel changes is the policy of reverting to single features. Amended Mo. Tax Tilt Bill Favored Kansas City — The bill to double Missouri’s present 1 per cent sales tax has been recommended for passage by the senate ways and means committee. The committee has amended the bill, passed by the house a week or so ago, to give collectors of the tax (retail merchants, exhibitors, etc.) three per cent for collecting the tax, providing the tax is paid before the date it is due; to exempt advertising ; to subject those who wilfully refuse to pay the tax to a fine or jail, and to end the tax May 31, 1936. The house did not put in an expiration date. ''Horizon" Held Over Kansas City — Columbia’s “Lost Horizon” is being held for a second week at the Orpheum. The Frank Capra spectacle opened Friday night, April 23, in Hollywood premiere fashion with Kleig lights and a radio station hookup. Many notables spoke into the microphone while cameras clicked. A. A. Electric Machinery Co. Ernest Amoneno, Mgr. 1117 Cherry St. Phone: Victor 8796 DICKINSON NAMES DISTRICT MANAGERS Kansas City — The Dickinson theatre circuit has inaugurated three new posts of district managers. Glen 'W. Dickinson, president of the chain, announces the following appointments : Robert Guise, who far the past two years has been city manager of the Dickinson theatres in Manhattan, Kas., to manager of the Manhattan district with headquarters in Manhattan, which comprises two theatres in Manhattan, two in Junction City and one in Herington, Kas., which will be under Guise’s supervision. J. G. Weigand, who has been with the Dickinson circuit since its inception, will continue to handle publicity under Guise for his three towns. Jack Carmichael, who has been assistant manager of the Dickinson at Manhattan, has been appointed city manager at Junction City. John Krieger will continue to manage the Dickinson Theatre at Herington, Kas. Howard Sexton, who for the past year has been the city manager at Junction City, having come out to the middle west after successfully managing a Chicago suburban theatre, has been appointed district manager of the Dickinson Missouri and Iowa theatres with headquarters at Chillicothe, Mo. Sexton’s district will comprise the following situations: Chillicothe, Fayette, Marceline, and Slater, Mo., and Creston, la. Robert Mallon, who has been with the Dickinson circuit for the past ten years and recently manager of the Dickinson Theatre at Chillicothe, Mo., will have charge of Paola, Osawatomie, and Olathe, Kas., with headquarters at Paola. Independent Theatre Owners Association 3501 Gladstone — BEnton 5456 E. Rolsky, Pres. Ed Hartman, Sec'y TRADE DIDECTDRy wwwww A HANDY QUIDE FOR THE EXHIBITOR vwwwvwJ KANSAS CITY EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES EXHIBITOR ASSOCIATIONS "Lost Horizon" Draws Impersonator Kansas City — Opening day troubles were augmented for the “Lost Horizon” premiere here when what members of the Orpheum and Columbia Pictures staffs engaged in opening duties gently characterized as a “pest” called and represented himself as Abe Montague, Columbia general sales manager. The individual wanted certain confidential information and is said to have become very tough when the dope was declined. Not only did the caller fail to get the data, but he sent the staff to legal books to look up something about penalties for assuming another person’s name. Great Western Stage Equipment Co. 817 Holmes St. T. L. Greening, Mgr. Phone: Victor 9078 Stebbins Theatre Equipment Co. 1804 Wyandotte St. C. H. Badger, Mgr. Phone: GRand 0134 Southwest Theatre Equipment Co., Inc. 309 West Douglas Ave. Wichita, Kas. C. D. Peck, Mgr. Phone 2-2153 AIR CONDITIONING Peterson Freezem Mfg. Co. Washed Air Units, all sizes, blowers, home units, spray nozzles, multiblade rotors G. A. Peterson VI. 3535 H. F. Rodick 109 W. 18th St. — Kansas City, Mo. K. M. T. A. 128 W. 18th St. — Harrison 4825 John Staple, Pres. R. R. Biechele, Sec.-Treas. SCREEN PUBLICITY Alexander Film Company Motion Picture Advertising E. L. Harris, Dist. Mgr., Mo., Kan., Neb., Iowa. 239 East 72nd Terrace Phone: Hlland 2694 SOUND SERVICE K. C. SOUND SERVICE Syncrofilm Sound Equipment and Service W. L. 130 W. 18th St. W. P. Norris HA 4783 Humston 126 BOXOFFICE May 1, 1937.