Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

Commonwealth Comment The Commonwealth theatre circuit convention last week at Blue Hills Country Club wound up with a banquet, speeches, and fun. Before the eating. Itex Barrett of Columbia, Mo., (hizzoner to you), ran some movies of the convention, showing (mostly up) the managers’ acting ability, imluding Stan "Robert Taylor" Sehwahn, Mayor "Tyrone Power" Barrett. "Director" Ohl.son. Pavlowa Xorris Cresswell. (this must have been a mistake, Cresswell was supposed to take pictures), Handsome Harry Clarence Schultz, Natty O. K. Mason, etc., etc. At the banquet, Knnee Schultz presided. Arthur Cole made the >hortest speech, of the evening. pointing out that tJJ film men were invited, came, to give some idea of how well the ('ommonweath hoys are liked. Lelaiid Hazard, atttirnej, made an a<hlress, gently ribbing the i>rin<‘ip(ils present in some very fine Websterian language. Elmer Rhoden, one of the guests, won the plaudits of managers, however, with his fine talk (HI friendship in business, and his offer to have (he five managers who come out on top in Commonwealths’ King of the Sun contest as his guests on his good ship "Jtoma" for a cruise of the Lake of the Ozarks early this fall. He offered also to take along the two exchange managers of companies whose product made Commonwealth the most money during the contest. Hill AVarncr of \VH can swear pretty well an.vtinie, but Iasi aeek he did himself proud. Hith Paul Parrett, ( oinnuuiwealth cashier, I)i<*k Curry, Commonwealth manager at ChiHic«»the, ami "Les" Durlaiid of .Monogram of Kansas City, he was pla.>ing in the Commonwealth con\ention tournament at Blue Hills. Durland hadn’t played for more than a jear, and showed it, up to the ninth htole. There he became confused, aimed at the IKth instead of the t)th green, hooked his hall, and landed on No. 9. This was ha<I enough for Warner. But on No. 17 Durland hit in a sand trap, ( hopping it out, he clouted it hard enough to send it over the Paseo. The hall striK’k the pole, aliicli the <*a<ldy was holding, Ixaim’ed off a bag the caddy was <*arrying, and stopped a foot from the hole. ACTED FOR ANOTHER IN DEAL AT LATHROP Kansas City — This publication is advised that the Lathrop Theatre at Lathrop, Mo., was purchased by Miss Kathryn Whelan of Kansas City, not Gerald Baker of the Granada in Kansas City, Kas., as reported last week. Baker acted as adviser to Miss Whelan and supervised the transfer of the house from B. Waers. Waers also leased the Waemore at Plattsburg to J. B. Trice. Olathe Renovations Olathe, Kas. — The Dickinson Theatre here is being overhauled under the supervision of Bob Mallon, district manager. House manager is Bob Parker. Also a new cooling system will be installed. KOENIGNER OPERATING AT HERON LAKE Heron Lake, Minn. — With the opening of the New Lake Theatre here, the old Majestic has been permanently closed. E. Koenigner. formerly at Bristol, S. D., is operating the new house. VARSITY PRICE DROP Lincoln — For the summer, City Manager Milton Overman of the Westland Theatres, has dropped the Varsity’s balcony price a nickel to 15 cents. Helm to Steffes (Continued from page 75) is invasion,” Steffes roared. ‘‘Unless something is done to protect exhibitors from invasion by producer-owned circuits, independent chains and individuals, there’ll be few of us left in business.” Wants Independent Insurance Steffes, after taking the presidency, told the body that he simply wanted those independents now in business assured that they could remain in business and earn a fair return on their investments. He said that a lot of independent chains “are worse competition than, and as much of a menace as, the producer-owned circuits.” It was charged by Steffes that whereas independents are charged as much as 40 per cent for pictures, producer-owned circuits such as the Publix Minnesota Amusement Co. periodically receive substantial rebates on similar percentage contracts, bringing their film costs down 15 per cent under those of the independents. He also accused the distributors and their salesmen of engineering new theatre competition in numerous situations. Opposes Buying Combines Steffes declared himself opposed to “film buying circuits,” asserting that the motive behind them usually was to penalize distributors and that they probably would (Continued on page 82) Commonwealth Amusement Corp.’s 33 executives and theatre managers are represented in the above photo which was snapped last week during the circuit’s annual meetmg at the Blue Hills Country Club in Kansas City, Mo. Front row ileft to right) — Joe McClure, Kansan, Osawatomie, Kas.; Lee Chamberlain, Perkins, Harrisonville, Mo.; Merle N. Hillyer, Strand, Creston, la.; R. M. (Bob) Shelton, Star, Warrensburg, Mo.; Lloyd Morris, Strand, Great Bend, Kas.; C. A. Schultz, president; O. K. Mason, secretary-treasurer ; Stanley Sehwahn, Granada, Lawrence, Kas.; M. B. Smith, Garden City, Kas.; Jack Kempton, Sherman, Goodland, Kas.; Jack Stephenson, Gillioz, Monett, Mo.; Glenn Deeter, Royal, Hoisington, Kas. Second row — Rex Kendall, Patee, Lawrence, Kas.; Dick Orear, purchasing agent; Rex P. Barrett, Uptown, Columbia, Mo.; Leland Allen, booker; Lee Miller, Ashland, Kansas City, Mo.; Paul Stonum, Uptown, Carrollton, Mo.; Lloyd J. Lenhart, Lee, Clinton, Mo.; C. L. MeVey, Dreamland. Herington, Kas.; Ed Harris, Fotosho, Neosho, Mo.; Hugh Gardner, Orpheum, Neosho, Mo. Back row — Robt. Spencer. Columbia Mo.; Dale Havelone, Madrid, Kansas City, Mo.; John Creamer, Benton, Kansas City, Mo.; Ray Holmes, Cozy, Norton. Kas.; Homer Ellison, State, Garden City, Kas.; Dick Curry, Ritz, Chillicothe, Mo.; Paul Parrett, auditor; Wendell O. Lenhart, Plaza and Royal, Trenton, Mo.; Huston Sterrett, Palace, Kinsley, Kas.; H. Ohlson, Calvin, Washington, Mo.; Lee Jones, Trentori, Mo. (Photo by Cresswell). 80 BOXOFFICE June 5, 1937.