Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

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COVEaiNG WESTERN MlSSOimi. KAHSAS. IOWA. NEBRASKA, NORTH AND ' SCUTK DAKOTA AND MINNESOTA CONGRESS IN ON FIRSTRUN RAmE 35 Exhibitors at Omaha MPTO Meet Omaha — The spring meeting of MPTO for Nebraska and western Iowa held at the Loyal hotel here Tuesday attracted 35 exhibitors. Fireworks anticipated because of President Charles E. Williams’ advance notices failed to materialize. The exhibitors discussed product, probable sales policies of the producers and anticipated increased film rentals, but took no action toward adopting resolutions or appointing committees. President Williams did announce, however, that one exhibitor who had been charging a five-cent admission consented to raise prices after the matter was taken up with him through an exchange. Visiting exhibitors also reported pessimistically on business, a decline being felt during the last six weeks. Kansas Exhibitors Must Collect Tokens Kansas City-— Whether they like it or not, Kansas exhibitors will have to collect the sales tax tokens under the new law becoming effective June 1, according to information from headquarters here of the Kansas-Missouri Theatres Ass’n. Having assertedly given tacit agreement to a plan (outlined in this paper last week on page 11) for a one-cent price hike to avoid use of the tokens, the Kansas tax commission this week advised the KMTA that it could not be permitted. Kansas exhibitors also are warned to get a supply of the new metal tokens from the tax commission office before June 1. They are sold in rolls of 500. No Formal Proposals in Clearance Row Kansas City — Carrying the problems of business to Congress for settlement is not a particularly good way to keep government out of business, one observes in the industry comments, especially in view of the fact that the Kansas City, Kas. TOA is said to have made no formal proposals for clearance change; no representative of the Chamber of Commerce approached distributors about the matter; contracts for the present season have been made for some time, and there probably could be no legal change in them until the coming season, and it is actually true that local exchange executives do not have much to say about first-run Kansas City, Mo., contracts, which are made by Loew’s, RKO, B. & K., and even Fox Midwest, which is a subsidiary of National Theatres, in New York, at the same time, usually, that contracts for other houses in the circuits are made. Proposals for changes in clearance normally are taken up when new season contracts are discussed. DEMOLITION AHEAD FOR MINNEAPOLIS MET Minneapolis — The historical Metropolitan, home of the legitimate theatre here for more than 40 years, is expected to be torn down within the near future, the property being turned into a parking lot, the same as the St. Paul Metropolitan. Mrs. L. N. Scott, lessee of theatre, has notified trustees of the estate owning the property that she wishes tO' surrender the lease and give up operation of the theatre. HANDLES FAIR PUBLICITY Lincoln — Boxoffice representative here, Barney Oldfield, has been appointed press agent for the state fair for 1937. He will handle the beauty contest for the heaviest summer load. Kansas City, Kas., C. of C. Attacks Distributors on Clearance Kansas City — The fight for first runs by Kansas City, Kas., has assumed a national aspect in the interest taken in the situation by Congressman U. S. Guyer of Kansas. The cognomen “picture barons” was used last week by Congressman U. S. Guyer when he wrote the Kansas City, Kas., Chamber of Commerce asking for a report on the first-run clearance situation. “Realizing that we in Kansas City, Kas., are classed by the picture barons as a suburb of Kansas City, Mo., and therefore not entitled to first-run pictures,” Guyer" wrote, “it occurs to me that our picture house operators might have considerable information which might be of. value to us. Cites Probe Request “The house judiciary committee voted to ask the rules committee to take some action on house resolution 160 to authorize an investigation of the motion picture industry, particularly with regard to the methods of distribution,” Rep. Guyer wrote. Chamber of Commerce directors prepared and forwarded to Rep. Guyer, a 7 page brief setting forth the situation, anc' concluding with the statement that “wc must insist and demand that our citizens be not discriminated against with reference to securing proper entertainment features for this city. Capper Into Fight Another gun boomed when Senator Arthur L. Capper (owner of the Kansaj City Kansan), lent at least moral support to the fight. Chamber of Commerce directors sent a copy of the 7-page brief to Sen. Capper, as they did also to Senator George McGill From Capper came a letter stating that he is “in hearty sympathy with your complaint. There can be no doubt that there is discrimination against the picture houses in Kansas City, Kas., and I certainly hope we can bring about the passage of some legislation that will protect the rights of our motion picture opei’ators.” Capper pointed out that being in the senate he could not do much to further the specific purpose of the brief. MIDWEST EDITION Is One of the Seven Sectional Editions in Which BOXOFFICE Is Published Weekly. The Other Six Editions Are: NEW ENGLAND, MIDEAST, CENTRAL, WESTERN, SOUTHERN, EASTERN, JESSE SHLYEN, Midwest Editor, 4704 E. 9th St., Kansas City, Mo. Phone CHestnut 7777. MAURICE WOLFF, 801 Wesley Temple Bldg., Minneapolis, Minn. PAUL JAMES, 2711 N. 56th St., Omaha, Neb.