Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

Kansas City — The above picture shows managers and executives of Commonwealth Amusement Corp. at their regional spring meeting in Great Bend, Kas., May 18. The Great Bend meeting was for Kansas managers. The circuit held one in Columbia, Mo., May 23, and another at Hollister, Mo., May 25, for Missouri and Arkansas managers. From left to right: C. A. Schultz, head of Commonwealth: John Tarr jr„ Sherman, Goodland; Glenn Deeter, Dreamland, Herington; Elton Kuhlman, assistant manager, Plaza and Strand, Great Bend; Jack New Theatres, Many Changes in Omaha Omaha — 'New construction, new equipment, and several changes in ownership of theatres in the Omaha trade territory feature exhibitor news as the industry enters the summer season. George Campau, former owner of the Lyric Theatre at Halsey, Neb., has sold that house to his operator, A. J. Holly, and is building a 260-seat theatre at Stapleton, Neb., to be known as the New Theatre. Campau expects to open about June 1. Western Theatre Supply Co. of Omaha handled installations which included projection and sound, air conditioning, screen, units and seats. Charles Prokop, veteran exhibitor at Wahoo, la., will retire June 1. The Wahoo Theatre, seating 500 persons, will be operated by A. R. Miller, former operator of the Broadway Theatre at Audubon, la. Miller sold the Audubon house to Harry Pace, Iowa exhibitor. The Strand Theatre at North Loup, Neb., has been taken over by L. B. Nelson and Ivan Miller. It was formerly operated by Warren G. Hall. D. K. Bucholtz has taken over the Lyric Theatre at Pierson, la., formerly operated by business men there. W. T. Carter, exhibitor at State Center and Exira, la., has just opened the Strand Theatre at Walnut, la. The house had been closed for some time and had been previously operated by Guy Cocklin. Stanley Blackburn is operating the Mainstreet Theatre in Fremont, Neb., built and formerly operated by R. R. Booth. Dean Rice has the Farnam at Farnam, with Francis McNickle as former operator. R. S. Ballantyne of Scott-Ballantyne Co. Kempton, Royal, Hoisington; Harry Wareham, Wareham. Manhattan: M. B. Smith, State and Ritz, Garden City; Leland R. Allen, head booker; L. W. Morris, Plaza and Strand, Great Bend; C. L. McVey, Dreamland, Herington; J. J. McClure, Kansan, Osawatomie; Ray Holmes, Cozy, Norton; Duward Whitford, assistant, State and Ritz, Garden City; Emory Scott, Patee, Lawrence; S. E. Schwahn, Granada, Lawrence; Dr. C. C. Sterrett, Palace, Kinsley; Frank Dodson, Golden Bell, Ellsworth; O. K. Mason, secretary-treasurer of Commonwealth; Huston Sterrett, Palace, Kinsley. reports installation of Duo Soundmaster equipment in the Neu Theatre, Ashland, Neb.; Aladdin, Butte, Neb.; Community Theatres at Linn Grove, la., Brunswick, Neb., and Maskel, Neb.; Iowa Theatre at Williamsburg, la. Ballantyne reports air conditioning installations at the Roseland and Lothrop in Omaha; Croft, Bancroft, Neb.; Woodbine, Woodbine, la. Starrer lor Robinson Hollywood — Columbia has purchased Philip MacDonald’s “An American in Scotland Yard” as a vehicle for Edward G. Robinson. Anti-Ascap Measure Dies In Missouri Sessions Jefferson City, Mo. — As the legislature entered the final phase of its session here, it killed the last of the bills affecting the motion picture business. The house turned thumbs down on H. B. 704, Turner and Hamlin, which was the same anti-Ascap bill they had introduced earlier as H. B. 633. The earlier bill, along with a similar anti-Ascap measure introduced by Asotsky and Gill, died in revision committee. The legislature was scheduled to finish a few important bills like the Kansas City police measure, and go home next week. It may grind on a few days longer. Members are getting $1 a day. Other bills affecting films which were killed by the legislature were: Divorcement, Turner and Smart, H. B. 252; censorship, Hayden, H. B. 390; chain store, H. B. 34-116. In Kansas, where the legislature adjourned several weeks ago, bills dealing with divorcement, censorship, antiblock booking and chain store were lost. Omaha Exhibitors Await School Tax Election Omaha — Local exhibitors are waiting anxiously for the outcome of a special election here June 6 to determine an increase of two mills for school purposes. If the proposal is successful, and many believe it will not be, a theatre assessed at $5,000 would pay $10 more a year in taxes, one assessed at $10,000 would pay $20 more a year, etc. Hiller Hoffman Drowned St. Paul, Minn. — Hiller Hoffman, veteran local theatre owner and for years a popular figure in film circles, was drowned on a fishing trip when his boat overturned. His wife was rescued. New Theatre Supply Firm — Manager L. J. Kimbriel and his secretary, Miss Mary Lou Collins, pose in front of the new Oklahoma Theatre Supply Co. branch store in Kansas City. The neu, firm opened for business last week. 80 BOXOFFICE :: May 27, 1939