Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1948)

Howard E. Jameyson Retires at Wichita KANSAS CITY — Several changes in assignments of Pox Midwest district personnel resulting from the retirement of Howard E. Jameyson, for many years district manager at Wichita, Kas., have been announced by Elmer C. Rhoden, president. Fred Souttar, f o r several years in charge of the St. Louis district, is being shifted' to Wichita to replace Jameyson. John Meinardi, who has been in Howard Jameyson the accounting department at the home offices here, is being sent to the Missouri metropolis to succeed Souttar. Jameyson is retiring after having been one of the leading figures in Wichita theatre circles more than 30 years. A graduate of Central high school here, he first became interested in motion pictures as a reporter for the old Moving Picture World. After managing the Miller Theatre in Wichita several years, he came back to Kansas City in 1930 as Fox Midwest display advertising manager and remained two years. He plans to enjoy an extended vacation at a resort home he owns in Colorado, where he expects to devote much time to trout fishing before returning to Wichita. Belmond Lyric to Reopen With W. A. Mack Manager BELMOND, IOWA— The Lyric Theatre here will reopen June 27 under the management of W. A. “Bill” Mack. Mack got his start as a vaudeville dancer and then served several theatrical circuits as a stage and production manager. After leaving vaudeville Mack operated theatres for the Central States Theatre Corp. He comes to Belmond from Fort Dodge where he was manager of the Strand. Mack announced that he plans to rename the Lyric the New Belmond and that extensive remodeling will be done. This will include a new cooling system and a new marquee. Mack was a winner of awards for courtesy and service while with Central States. Big Tauy Safe Recovered On Country Roadside OTTAWA, KAS. — A 250-pound safe which was taken from the Tauy Theatre here, finally was recovered near a farm roadside. But owner Don Shade and local police still are baffled about the burglar who carried it away. The combination dial had been knocked off the safe when it was found and. about $400 in cash and two wrist watches were stolen. A bimdle of uncanceled tickets and other papers had not been disturbed. Merle Summers Is Buyer GARY, S. D. — Merle Summers, Boles, Ark., has purchased the Prom Theatre here from J. Ronglien. Antique Coins Arouse Manager's Suspicion Russell, Kas. — The vigilance of a local film exhibitor has paid off for a Unionville. Mo., coin collector. Dale Danielson, manager of the Mecca here, thought it suspicious when two teenaged youths bought theatre tickets with five quarters dated 1853. Danielson notified city policeman Joe Long. Long questioned one of the boys, 15-year-old Jimmy Duncan. The course of questioning revealed that the quarters, valued at about $57 each, had been stolen from a Unionville, Mo., coin collector. Duncan was returned to Unionville to face robbery charges and the valuable quarters were returned to their owner. Rites for Fred Ableson Held in Los Angeles SAN FRANCISCO— Fred Ableson, longtime Minneapolis film salesman and Film Classics branch manager here, died here recently. Abelson, who was in his early 50s, formerly was a Universal salesman in Minneapolis and St. Paul. He resigned there a year ago to accept the Film Classics post in San Francisco. Funeral services were held in Los Angeles. Ableson is survived by his wife and two brothers. Art, with the Welworth circuit, and Bob, also with Film Classics on the west coast. To Rebuild in Watertown WATERTOWN, S. D.— Plans to renovate and completely remodel the 1,000-seat Colonial Theatre here, closed since 1937, have been announced by the Minnesota Amusement Co. The new house will be known as the Plaza. The firm operates the Lyric here, also and operated the State, which burned recently, leaving the city with only one theatre. Sells Carson, N. D. House CARSON, N. D. — Mrs. Viola Kund'ert has sold the Flasher Theatre here to Hans Jorgeson, former local film man. The Kunderts plan to leave for the west coast after the completion of the sale. Louis-Walcott Fight Piped to 10 Theatres MINNEAPOLIS — Screen entertainment was stopped in ten Minnesota Amusement Co. theatres Thursday night while public address systems carried the radio broadcast of the Louis-Walcott heavyweight championship fight. Newspaper ads featured the “special attraction,” which also was plugged in advance on the theatres’ screens and in the lobbies. As a result, patronage was boosted on a night when it was expected to be off. The theatres had a direct line from WTCN, local station carrying the fight broadcast from New York. Houses which made the broadcast for patrons were the State, Gopher, Nokomis and Arion here; the Paramount, Tower and Center, St. Paul, and the State, Mankato, Minn. Dow B. Summers Is Dead; Exhibitor in Missouri UNIONVILLE, MO.— Dow B. Summers, manager of the Royal Theatre, died Monday, June 21. Summers was a familiar figure to the film trade in this area as he managed to get around Filmrow and attend exhibitor conventions in a wheel chair despite his paralytic condition 14 years due to arthritis. Summers operated the Royal for the past ten years after his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Summers, former owners, retired and moved zo California. Because of young Summers’ failing health the parents returned in the past year to help out. An internationally known photo service was another enterprise maintained by Dow Summers. Besides his parents he is survived by his wife and a five-year-old daughter. The funeral was in Unionville Friday (25). Fay M. Honey Will Operate Atomic Project Theatre PORTLAND, ORE. — Fay M. Honey, an exhibitor in Iowa and Nebraska since 1924, was awarded the bid to construct and operate a theatre in North Richland, Wash., by the Atomic Energy commission at Richland. The General Electric Co. and the federal government will handle the construction of the house which is scheduled to open June 17. Work was started on the project January 1, but bids were not opened until last week. AT COLUMBIA MEET — District managers and branch managers from 16 Columbia exchanges, as well as home office executives, department heads and top sales personnel, were present recently at a five-day sales meeting in Chicago’s Hotel Drake. Among those present were, left to right: Ben Marcus, midwest division manager; Joe Jacobs, Omaha manager; Hy Chapman, Minneapolis manager; Clark Baker, Des Moines manager, and Tom Baldwin, Kansas City manager. BOXOFFICE : : June 26, 1948 MW 75