Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

News in Brief Film Exchanges Unionize; Expect Theatres to Follow Minneapolis — Unionization of theatres and film exchanges finally has struck this city. All of the 125 film exchange workers outside of the managers and department heads have been organized by the lATSE, according to the claim of William Donnelly, its business agent. Donnelly also announces that steps immediately will be taken to organize all inside theatre employes, including ticket sellers, ticket takers, ushers, janitors, etc., not now members of any AFL union, by the lATSE or the MPOA, both of which are affiliated with the AFL. Hint of Resistance Donnelly says he anticipates no opposition from the theatre owners to the efforts to organize their employes, numbering 150. However, some of the exhibitors have intimated to Boxoffice that they will resist the efforts. Managers, assistant managers and owners of theatres will be privileged to join the unions if they wish, Donnelly says. AIR-LOC EXPANDS AS BUSINESS INCREASES Minneapolis — Air-Loc opera chair factory here, only one of its kind in the Northwest, has added two floors in order to increase production to meet continually growing demand for the product. The factory has been working night and day the past several months. Among the numerous theatres that have contracted for or installed Air-Loc opera chairs are the New Avalon. Minneapolis: Eddie Ruben’s house at Montevideo, Minn.; Bill Frank’s at Hutchinson, Minn.; Wetstein's at Dickinson. N. D.; H. W. Knutson’s at Livingston, Mont.; and George Miner’s at Chippewa Falls. Wis. Goldberg Hunts Shows Omaha — So confident is Ralph Goldberg of the Goldberg Theatre Corp. that stage shows are coming back that he has left on an eastern trip with the avowed intention of looking over some acts and booking them for his Town Theatre here if he finds what he wants. Algona House Burns Alcona. Ia. — Fire, which started in the boiler room one afternoon last week, destroyed the Call Opera House here. Manager N. C. Rice, co-owner with Tri-States, estimated the loss, which is partially covered by insurance, at $60,000. RIVOLI NOW MUSE Osceola, Neb. — F. E. Klein has renamed his Rivoli Theatre here the Muse. One Exhibitor Halts Student "Rushes'' Harlan, Ia. — “A good deed always is rewarded.” At least that's the way Harlan high school students felt when Manager Carl Ernst of the Harlan Theatre sponsored a free matinee for them following the annual school “rag day” activities. Ernest gave the reward to the students because they did not attempt to “rush” his theatre after football or basketball games during the past year. Television Remote, Says NBC President Kansas City — Television, while practical, still is in a period of rapid technical changes, so that as an entertainment medium it cannot be expected to reach any but the inhabitants of the nation’s largest cities for years, Lenox R. Lohr, NBC president, told 300 members of the Chamber of Commerce here May 5. Even when perfected, television will reach only those in metropolitan centers of 100,000 or over, due to the enormous expense of transmitters and transmission, and to the range of television broadasting, which is 25 to 30 miles, depending on how far sight will reach. For several years, Lohr predicted, Chicago, New York and San Francisco are probably the only cities that will have it. Television won't affect first run movies at all and neighborhood theatres to only a slight extent, if any, because it won’t keep people home from movies more than sound broadcasting already does, thinks Lohr. Neither will it affect sound broadcasting. TRI-STATES HOUSES WILL BE REMODELED Sioux City — More than $50,000 will be spent by Tri-States Theatres in remodeling five of its local houses. The Iowa is slated for the most thorough going-over. Between $15,000 and $20,000 will be spent on structural changes, modernizing of sound and projection, modernizing of cooling and ventilating, new lighting and new marquee. The Iowa, a B house, will be closed from May 25 to 30 for the alterations. ■pHEATRE owners throughout the Northwest and Middle 'West territories are taking advantage of their opportunity to purchase and install in their respective theatres the deluxe AIR-LOC full-upholstered chairs being manufactured and sold by the AIR-LOC SEAT INDUSTRIES, INC. This company is selling its product directly to the theatre owner, thereby eliminating considerable cost that would otherwise go to dealers or salesmen. Those in charge of AIR-LOC SEAT INDUSTRIES, INC., state that most of the sales are being made without the use of salesmen and in so doing, it is made possible to give the exhibitor the finest quality product obtainable at the lowest possible cost. Recent demands for AIR-LOC chairs have been such that production has been more than doubled during the past 30 days. AIR-LOC chairs are now being offered in various types of aisle standards and with complete selection of upholstering materials from which to select patterns. Long-time payment plans are being offered, which now makes it possible for the smallest theatre to protect its business by giving its patrons the last word in comfort, inasmuch as through the easy time payment plan, the AIR-LOC full-upholstered chairs can be purchased for as little as five cents per chair per week. A few of the many new theatres now being constructed that will be equipped with AIR-LOC full-upholstered chairs are the following; 'W. R. Frank’s beautiful 1000-seat Avalon Theatre being constructed on Lake and Bloomington, in Minneapolis. Eddie Ruben’s new State Theatre at Montevideo, Minnesota. George Miner’s new Falls Theatre, Chippewa Falls, 'Wisconsin. Cliff Norine’s new Frederic Theatre at Frederic, Wisconsin. — Adv. 80 BOXOFFICE :: May 8, 1937.