Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

Griffith Circuit Adds Two Kansas Houses Kansas City — With the purchase this week of the two theatres at Fredonia, Kas., the Griffith circuit of Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska, extended their KansasMissouri interests to 29 houses. Griffith interests this week took over the Whiteway (A. W. Pugh) and the Klock (Glen E. Klock) at Fredonia. Klock just recently completed his house. Last week Griffiths were reported dealing for W. A. Booth houses in Auburn and Nebraska City, Neb., and for the A house in Falls City, Neb. Personnel Changes Made In Three Towns Kansas City — Several personnel changes were announced by the Griffith-Dickinson Theatres, Inc. Sam Carr succeeds Ed Smith, resigned, as manager of the Dickinson, Osage City, Kas. At Independence, Kas., Lou A. Chatham replaces Ted Siler as manager of the Booth and Mainstreet. Siler has resigned. At the Dickinson, Slater, Mo., Gordon Howard has been replaced by Harold Sachse as manager. Kearney Buying Pool Ends After Five-Year Span Lincoln — The operating pool in Kearney, Neb., involving George O. Monroe sr. here and the Harry Warren-Ray & Myron Blank Central States Theatres, Inc., is at an end as of June 11. With break-off announcement, Monroe said George “Hodge” Wright had been assigned to operate and manage his Empress, a 900-seater, there. The Warren-Blank manager in the Kearney situation is Nevins Lynn, who will now confine his activities to the World, the town’s ace house. The buying and operating pool in Kearney has been in action since 1934. Wright, the new Empress manager, is a lawyer, and formerly with Security Mutual Life here. In Select Circle Los Angeles — Named a new member of Paramount’s 100 Per Cent Club at the company convention here, was Robert Ableson, Minneapolis salesman. Ableson also was the recipient of a bonus and special insurance policy. Not Light on His Conscience Lincoln — There are honest men! This week City Manager Bob Huffman, of the Lincoln Theatres Corp., received a letter. . It read: "Dear Sir: Enclosed is a dime, for which you will please buy one small light globe to replace the one I swiped off your marquee last February. Ever since I did it, I have been unable to rest.'' Theatre Insurance Cost Up in Missouri St. Louis — The liability insurance rates for motion picture theatres in Missouri have been increased in Kansas City and St. Louis from 15 cents per $100 of protection to 21 cents per $100. Outstate the rate was upped from 10 cents to 14 cents. Nebraska Is Easy On the Industry Lincoln — Nebraska’s 1939 legislature bowed out after giving the film industry one of its shakiest experiences in this state. The session set a record in more ways than the 111 days, the longest in the state’s history, which was heralded in the headlines. In the 523 bills offered were one asking divorcement of exhibitor-distributor setups, one gigging exchanges $1,000 per year to do business, plus a $1 reel tax for each one distributed, one asking for all booths to have toilet installations, and one making it illegal for people to do business in Nebraska under other than their christened name, which would affect film star billings. There was a fifth bill to outlaw w'alkathons, backed strongly by the filmites who wanted to rid themselves forever of the bugaboo of endurance show competition. In the 139 bills which became laws, only the anti-walkathon measure was signed by the governor. None of the other four succeeded in passing. Sole dark spot was provided by the failure of showmen to get across the amendment to the fair trade act, which would have outlawed free shows for merchant come-ons. This is the fourth straight year that Bob Livingston, manager of the Capitol, and Max Towle, attorney, have lobbied for the industry and batted 1,000. Free Show in Parsons on " National Dairy Week " Parsons, Kas. — Six hundred youngsters paid five milk caps apiece to see a free show at the Uptown Theatre here put on by Manager David Dallas, in cooperation with local dairymen as part of “National Dairy Week.” A cooperative full-page ad on the show was carried in the local paper. The Uptown was packed twice so none of the kids would be disappointed. Property Levy Increase Proposal Voted Down Omaha — Local exhibitors rejoiced when a proposed increase in the property levy was voted down almost 2-to-l. Had the proposal been approved, theatres here would have had to pay an additional property tax each year of $10 on every $5,000 valuation. Name Panel Soon for Concilialion Setup Kansas City — The Kansas-Missouri Theatres Association shortly will take up the problem of naming a panel of ten members for the three-way arbitration board, according to Frank Cassil, St. Joseph, Mo., president. The organization will invite the cooperation of independent exhibitors who are not members of the association, he said. Cassil has not made any legislative committee appointments for either Kansas or Missouri, since no legislatures are meet^ ing this year. However, Cassil indicated that the legislative committee setup for both states would be revised this year. Says Neely Bill Would Force Ind'p'ts to Chains or Pools Kansas City — “The Neely bill, which looks now like it might pass, will force independent theatres into the chains or into buying pools,” asserted Frank Cassil, St. Joseph, Mo., president of the KansasMissouri Theatres Ass’n. “It will be physically impossible for the one-theatre exhibitor to handle the job by himself,” Cassil said. Omaha Mayor Reaffirms Censorial Intentions Omaha — The censorship situation in Omaha will remain unchanged as long as Mayor Dan B. Butler is in office, by his own admission. The Omaha World-Herald quoted Butler as follows: “I desire to emphasize the fact I will continue to insure the people of Omaha clean and wholesome entertainment and amusements. Filthy, obscene and suggestive amusements will not be tolerated. “There are plenty of good, clean, and interesting plays and pictures to satisfy everybody.” Butler has gained nation-wide reputation for his straight-laced views in the entertainment field. Cinema Club Picnics Kansas City — The Cinema Club celebrated Flag Day, June 14, with a “mammoth” picnic at the waterworks hill, North Kansas City. About 35 members and their guests, attended. The club plans a big steak fry for June 28. They Can Pick Out The Boners Lincoln — The Burlington railroad holds a get-together picnic in Wymore, Neb. every year, which is a signal for reunion of all employes who aren't on the job that day. The theatre manager there this year with a rare sense of humor has booked "Union Pacific" for the day. That's like an orange shirt on St. Patrick's day in Dublin. BOXOFFICE : : June 17, 1939 MW 51