Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

News in Brief Ultimate From Dollar Is Commonwealth Goal Kansas City — How to get more from the theatre budget dollar keynoted discussion of mutual problems by 27 managers of Commonwealth theatres in their two-day convention at Blue Hills Country Club here May 25 and 26. One of the general policies of the circuit for the coming season, outlined by C. A. Schultz, executive head of the group, will be economy. This arises partly from the fact that along with other houses here and in the area. Commonwealth theatres have not found business this year any better than a year ago at the boxoffice. Efficient Management Stressed Another general idea which characterized the discussions of Commonwealth managers with Schultz, O. K. Mason, secretary-treasurer, and circuit department heads, was ways and means of getting more results from various promotional ideas and contests; in short, more efficient theatre management. Schultz outlined details of the circuit’s annual campaign to overcome the general summer boxoffice slump, the King of the Sun contest. This opens June 6, with an innovation this year in the form of penalties for managers who fail to make their budget every week, as well as bonuses for those who exceed the budget. Each manager will enter the contest with the following items of clothing: shirt, undershirt, shorts, pants, necktie, belt, two shoes and two socks. If the manager’s net profit for the week doesn’t equal the handicap budget set up against his situation, he loses an article of clothing. What clothing he has left, if any, and only that, will he wear at the first dinner of the outing at the Lake of the Ozarks. This outing, which will be in early fall, is the climax of the whole campaign. The five managers having the most clothing left at the end of the campaign will check on other managers to see that they wear only such clothing as they are entitled to wear, and the five managers with the least clothing will check on the five high ones. “Who wants to be a strip tease artist?” wonders Mr. Schultz. Golf Tournament Wednesday The convention closed with a golf tournament Wednesday afternoon, and a banquet at Blue Hills Wednesday evening, attended by approximately 95 Commonwealth executives and managers, exchange managers, film and theatre men. Approximately 35 theatre managers and Commonwealth executives attended the convention. From the circuit offices, besides Clarence A. Schultz, who presided, there were O. K. Mason, secretary-treasurer; Leland Allen, booker; Lawrence Barrett, auditing and Dick Orear, purchasing agent. Theatre managers included Paul Stonum. Uptown, Carrollton, Mo.; Dick Curry Ritz, Chillicothe, Mo.; L. J. Lenhart, Lee, Clinton, Mo.; Rex P. Barrett, Uptown, Columbia, Mo.; M. N. Hillyer, Strand, Creston, la.; Homer Ellison, State, Garden City, Kas.; Jack Kempton, Sherman, Goodland Kas.; L. W. Morris, Strand and Plaza Great Bend, Kas.; Lee Chamberlain, Perkins, Harrisonville, Mo.; C. L. McVey and Ray Holmes, Dreamland, Herington, Kas.; Glenn Deeter, Royal, Hoisington, Kas.; Huston Sterrett, Palace, Kinsley, Kas.; Stanley Schwahn, Granada, and R. Rex Kendall, Patee, Lawrence, Kas.; Jack Stephenson, Gillioz, Monett, Mo.; Hugh Gardner and Edward Harris, Orpheum and Fotosho, Neosho, Mo.; M. B. Smith, Cozy. Norton, Kas.; J. J. McClure, Kansan, Osawatomie, Kas.; W. O. Lenhart, Plaza and Royal, Trenton, Mo.; R. M. Shelton, Star Warrensburg, Mo.; H. Ohlson, Calvin Washington, Mo.; and Lee Miller, Ashland, John Creamer, Benton, and Dale Havelone, Madrid, Kansas City, Mo. FRANK CASSIL ADDED TO GN SALES FORCE Kansas City — Frank Cassil, who for several years has owned and operated the Rialto, St. Joseph, Mo., has gone with Grand National here as sales representative in Missouri and Kansas. Cassil will continue the Rialto, and Mrs. Cassil will keep an eye on the house. Frank used to represent Warner Bros, in this territory as a salesman, and was in the theatre supply business for a time. W. J. Cammer, 15 years with Educational, GB and United Artists in Oklahoma, has been named by Russ Borg, Grand National exchange manager, as northern Oklahoma salesman. Cammer was branch manager at Oklahoma City for Educational several years. This gives Borg four salesmen, including Bill Kubitzki, former booker, who went on the road for the company last week, and Rube Melcher, who has been with the exchange since it was opened. K AYCEE VARIETY CLUB ENTERTAINED BY TRIO Kansas City — Variety Club Monday heartily applauded “The Three Short Waves,” Tower act secured by Senn Lawler, Fox Midwest ad man, for the luncheon. The Waves aped well-known stars of the radio and movies. Emcee for the entertainment was Lawler, who conducts Fox Midwest’s “Let’s Go to the Movies” over WDAF. It was the first occasion on which the Variety Club staff itself prepared and served the luncheon, and they did a nice job. Vice-president Finton Jones whopped the gavel in the absence of Chief Barker Elmer C. Rhoden. JJDDIE RUBEN’S new Hollywood Theatre at Montevido, Minnesota, is scheduled to open on or about June 10th. No expense was spared in making this one of the most beautiful and elaborate theatres constructed in this Northwest territory during the last two years. This theatre seats approximately 800; and as is true of all of Mr. Ruben’s theatres, only the finest equipment obtainable was purchased for this beautiful theatre. Hi * * The booth equipment will consist of DeLuxe Motiograph K projectors with Jewell Sup’rarc lamps and copper oxide rectifiers, Jewell Senior-Size Automatic curtain controls, enclosed electric rewind, and all other miscellaneous booth equipment of the latest and most improved type. * * 4: The auditorium and stage will be equipped with Da-Lite screen, double draw curtain of the finest quality material and beautiful in design, and the chairs are of the DeLuxe AIR-LOC full-upholstered type. 4c 4: 4e All of the equipment for this beautiful theatre is being furnished by CINEMA SUPPLIES, INC., of Minneapolis. 4c * ♦ Mr. Irving Gilman and associates have purchased from H. E. Gilbert the new Riviera Theatre that is now in the process of construction at Hastings, Minnesota. This new theatre is scheduled to open to the public on Wednesday, June 16th. The auditorium will have a seating capacity of approximately 750. The theatre building is most elaborate in construction, and when completed should be one of the most beautiful theatres to be found anywhere in southern Minnesota. « * « Mr. Gilman has already contracted for finest equipment obtainable for this new and beautiful theatre, which will consist of latest type Motiograph Model K projectors, Jewell Sup’rarc high-intensity arc lamps with Jewell rectifiers, Da-Lite sound screen, DeLuxe AIR-LOC full-upholstered chairs, and carpets and drapes of finest quality of modernistic design. « 4e 4( All of the above equipment, plus all miscellaneous parts, were purchased from CINEMA SUPPLIES, INC. 4c « 4i Mr. F. W. Ewald, who operates the Elgin Theatre at Elgin, North Dakota, is opening the Grant Theatre at Carson, North Dakota. All of the equipment for this new theatre, including projectors, sound equipment, arc lamps, and other miscellaneous equipment, was purchased from CINEMA SUPPLIES, INC. 4c 4c 4c Mr. R. J. Deitz, Mayor of Belfield, North Dakota, and representing the business men of Belfield, is opening a new theatre there in Belfield’s Auditorium. All of the equipment for this new theatre, consisting of projectors, arc lamps, sound equipment, screen, etc., was purchased from CINEMA SUPPLIES, INC., and the equipment is to be installed at once, as the theatre is scheduled to open on Thursday, May 27th. — Adv. 108 BOXOFFICE :: May 29, 1937.