Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

AIIIED WILL CONVENE Buying Program Will Be Adopted at Minny Meeting Minneapolis — Northwest Allied States finally has set June 2 and 3 for its convention to adopt a buying program and to consider campaigns against “trade evils” which independents charge are making their lot increasingly difficult. Officers for the new year also will be elected. Sessions will be held at the Hotel Nicollet here. Will Map Buying Procedure Because of the importance of the matters to be considered and because exhibitors in the territory are beset with so many complex problems, S. D. Kane, Northwest Allied States secretary, says he anticipates a record attendance. A special film buying committee will present a definite plan of buying procedure aimed at winning the present war against percentage pictures. Consideration will be given to proposals to have independent exhibitors post cash bonds to insure their good faith in making pledges not to buy any percentage pictures and also to . boycott and picket the worst offending exchange or exchanges. Bulletin Reports Many Complaints The convention program also calls for consideration of plans of proposed action against preferred playing time demands, alleged withholding of good pictures from current year product, average increase in film costs through allocation, producerowned theatres, weekly payment for shorts and dual features. In the organization’s bulletin announcin the convention, it is declared that many independent exhibitors have been complaining bitterly about conditions in the business. ALGONA THEATRE CO. LEASES THE STATE Alcona. Ia. — The State Theatre has been leased by the Algona Theatre Co., which has been operating the burned Call Theatre. Manager N. C. Rice will take charge of the State immediately. The Iowa Theatre will be operated as usual. Plans are now under way for the rebuilding of the Call. When the new theatre is completed it is planned to make the Iowa into a store building. The lease of the State was signed by the Algona Theatre Co. and Gail Pettit, owner and builder of the State. Ownership of the State theatre building is retained by Pettit. The equipment was purchased by the Algona Theatre Co. Ruddick to Iowa Kansas City — Joe Ruddick has been shifted from the Fox Auditorium, Marshall, Mo., where he was assistant manager under Floyd Davis, to Ft. Madison, la., where he will manage the Fox Orpheum. Ruddick has been succeeded by George T. Nuckles as assistant manager. O mi A IIHII A gRECK FAGAN, manager of Tri-States’ Capitol at Grand Island, reports much pro and con discussion over Mayor Dan Butler’s censorship streak out there, too. Another native of Beatrice — whence hails Robert Taylor — has signed a Hollywood contract. She is li-year-old blonde Helen Clancy, who makes her film debut in “It’s Love I’m After” and will go from there into the lead of Dick Foran’s “King of the Rio Grande.” Damian O’Flynn, the local actor who had rather an important role in “Marked Woman,” has left for New York after a visit with Omaha relatives to take the lead in “Censored,” new stage play being produced by A1 Woods. Nada Batson of Kansas City is the final choice for secretary to Tri-States District Manager Evert R. Cummings, replacing marriage-bound Ethel B. Good. Miss Batson hails from Kansas City, but is having her first fling at thr business. Many affairs are being given in Miss Good’s honor. Last Thursday Bridesmaids Elsa Easterly and Julia Anderson gave a shower; Sunday afternoon Miss Regina Molseed, secretary of the Omaha Film Board of Trade, gave a tea at her home. Exploiteer Mike Roth of Columbia breezed into town along with the windstorms and immediately evolved the idea of having Father E. J. Flanagan and some of his lads from Father Flanagan’s Boys’ Home act as a board of censorship for some Columbia shorts. The shorts were screened for the youthful censors. Booker Alice Neal of Warners is nursing injuries consisting of two seriously broken fingernails and one badly scratched hand as result of getting hold of unruly horse last Saturday evening. Branch Manager D. V. McLucas of United Artists, who was local chairman of the Will Rogers Fund drive, announces that more than $500 was collected locally. Exact figures have not been compiled yet. N. R. Oleson, who has been managing the Royal at Wisner, Neb., the last seven years, has left for California to seek employment at his former profession of civil engineering. Owner M. L. Schrieber has resumed active management. Mr. and Mrs. Carl White of Quality Theatre Supply have returned from Rochester, Minn., where Mr. White went through the Mayo clinic for a general checking over and emerged with a clean bill. Thanks to Walt Green of Fepco, who sent an ancient clock to Property Master Eddie Shafton of Variety, Filmrow now has something to keep the evening occupied. The gag is to call Shafton at any hour — the later the better — and ask the time. Some of the gagsters even go so far as to spend money on telegrams. JUNE^2-3 Night Ball Games Dismay Exhibitors Lincoln — Managers of local low-priced theatres are looking upon the menace to the boxoffices which is being provided in floodlighted ball parks and civic leagues with new consternation. Last year the attendance to the free games which ran five nights weekly in five ball parks was 297,243 persons. Games Will Be Broadcast New promise of further interest at the expense of theatres is the KFOR radio announcement that it will broadcast the key game each week with Harry Johnson the sports announcer, at the mike. Although it may not mean increase of the listening public at the boxoffice expense, it very likely will mean undue advertising of the nightly features. Theatre for Huntsville Huntsville, Mo. — This town will have a motion picture show when Mrs. Lena Green completes the removal of the physical equipment of the "Vista from New Franklin, Mo., to the location here. Mrs. Green is closing the show at New Franklin. ATTENTION EXHIBITORS' 500 — American Seating Co. Seats Perfect Condition Squab Seats — Upholstered Panel Backs — A Real Buy One Pair Genuine Simplex Standard Mechanisms used 60 days — GUARANTEED — With New 2,000 ft. Magazines. Ne.v 5-point pedestals. Price — $850.00 A Number of Rebuilt Simplex and Powers Projectors With Attractive Price Tags. Cash or Terms WESTERN THEATRE SUPPLY COMPANY 214 North 15th Street Phone Atlantic 9046 Omaha, Nebr. 110 BOXOFFICE :: May 29, 1937.