Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1961)

MINNEAPOLIS £Jharles Winchell, president of Minnesota Amusement Co., attended a meeting of southern affiliates of AB -Paramount Theatres in Clearwater, Fla., recently . . . Don Smith, general manager of Pioneer Theatres, is back from a swing through the circuit’s theatres in Iowa . . . AIP’s "Konga” will open at the Gopher, Minneapolis, Wednesday (17) and the Riviera, St. Paul, Friday (19). Outstate exhibitors on the Row were “Doc" Col, LaMoure, N. D.; Joe Mlinar, Spring Valley; Fred Nelrich, Wyndmere, N. D.; Harold Schlais, Rib Lake, Wis.; Herb Stolzman, River Falls, Wis.; Ed Fredine, Cloquet; Paul DeMarce, Benson; Wray Hiller, Marshall, and Don Quincer, Wadena . . . Jack Hollischer, office manager at Columbia, and his wife have a baby boy born May 3. The Roxy Theatre at Towner, N. D., is reopening the end of this month. The McCarthy circuit, Fargo, N. D., buys and books for the house . . . Kenny Adams, sales manager at Universal, is vacationing in California, Oregon and Washington . . . Minnie Sethney, booking stenographer at Paramount, is vacationing in Albuquerque, N. M. . . . A TV lounge, free coffee and smoking loges are recent innovations at the Riverview Theatre. Northwest Sound Service installed the sound equipment in the new Melby field house at Augsburg College, Minneapolis, and the Myrum Memorial field house and athletic building at Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter . . . The Uptown Theatre sponsored a ghoul contest in connection with the opening of “Black Sunday.” = Jechnikove s W'ATCH PROJECTION IMPROVE with PRODUCTS Now! —The Only ANTI-STATIC SCREEN ^ XR-171 Pearl • Repels Dust r | TtCHI Available from your authorized Theatre Equipment Supply Dealer: Export— Westrex Corp. | TICHNIKOTE CORP, 63 Seqbring St., B'klyn 31, 3 H U R L E Y QUALITY PROJECTION Super-Optica REAL ECONOMY s c R E E N S AMERICAN THEA. SPLY. CO., Sioux Falls, S. D. DES MOINES THEA. SPLY. CO.. Des Moines, la. MINNEAPOLIS THEA. SPLY. CO., Minneapolis. Minn. HURLEY SCREEN COMPANY, INC. 96-17 Northern Blvd. Corona 68, N. Y. John Branton, vice-president of Minnesota Amusement Co., and Ev Seibel, director of advertising and publicity for the circuit, attended the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs near Louisville . . . The Varsity Theatre has been presenting a festival of Shakespeare films. The festival started Wednesday (10) with “Richard III.” Other films on the schedule are Henry V, Othello, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo and Juliet, which will wind up the series Saturday (20). The Berger Amusement Co. has its 400car Stardusk Drive-In in Superior, Wis., up for sale . . . Ben Berger, president of the circuit, who also owns Schiek’s Cafe in Minneapolis has purchased a building at 115 South Fourth St. and will move the operation there late this summer. Schiek’s, established in 1862, has been located at 45 South Third St. since 1889. Its present site will be torn down as part of the lower loop redevelopment project. David Diamond, producer of “Operation Eichmann,” was in for personal appearances in connection with the picture’s opening Wednesday (10) at the Gopher Theatre. Diamond recently finished “The Big Bankroll” for Allied Artists. Bob Murphy in his column, Reporting at Large, in the Star related the following anecdote; Ben Berger, during a recent trip to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, met the manager of the hotel where he was staying. The manager’s name was Tom Dell. He told Berger, “I’ve heard a lot about you.” “From whom?” Berger asked surprised. “From my brother,” Dell said. “He’s your landlord.” The brother is Roger Dell, chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court from whom Berger rents the Falls Theatre in Fergus Falls. OMAHA ^Jr. and Mrs. Howard Jensen, operators of the conventional Silver Hill Theatre in Oshkosh, got a big sendoff in the Garden County News when they reopened their drive-in. The Oshkosh paper pointed out that it is the only drive-in facility in a 90-mile stretch from Northport to Ogallala. During the summer months there will be no midweek shows at the Silver Hill . . . Fred Fejfar, MGM salesman in the Omaha territory, attended a meeting at the Des Moines exchange. H. P. Carleton, exhibitor at Griswold, has turned his Globe Theatre at Griswold over to the Chamber of Commerce and will continue to operate it. The theatre has undergone some redecorating . . . Carl White of Quality Theatre Supply reported his son Carl jr. is winding up a year of graduate study in mathematics and science at Washington University in St. Louis. Herman Gould, one of a trio of Omaha and Lincoln men who have a circuit of drive-in theatres, returned to Omaha from a trip to Texas right in the middle of a stiff Midwest cold wave — after broiling the day before in 100-degree heat down South . . . Allied Artists exchange has an outstanding electric display for “David and Goliath,” with lights flashing and every thing but bells ringing . . . Mary Frangenberg, 20th-Fox cashier, was all smiles — she clicked off a 614 series in the Women’s State Bowling tournament. Dick Barkes of TOP Theatre Advertisers flew to Madison, Wis., to see a screening of “High and Wild,” a thrilling collection of outdoor and wild life movies filmed and narrated by Don Hobart and Vern Hill. They are planning to bring the film into this territory for showings in the smaller situations . . . Margaret Smith, Universal secretary, reported her mother has been brought home from St. Joseph’s Hospital where she had extended treatment for a fracture of the hip. Frank Larson, 20th-Fox manager, is startling the boys of the Variety Club Golf League with his improved play and gleanings in the pot. It is even rumored he is buying a new set of clubs . . . Bill Doebel, Fox booker, is getting in shape to hold down the catching spot with the Carter Lake ball club which was unbeaten in Iowa play last year. One of their early engagements will be at the state penitientary. Ed Cohen, Columbia salesman, took off for Arizona after battling a cold that has hung on for weeks . . . Exhibitors on the Row included Howard Burrus, Crete; Sid Metcalf, Nebraska City; H. P. Carleton, Griswold; Arnold Johnson, Onawa; Frank Good, Red Oak, and Frank Hollingsworth, Beatrice. FourYear Updating Plan Completed at Ohio Airer CONNEAUT, OHIO — New landscaping greets patrons this spring at the Midway Drive-In in North Kingsville on Route 20, an entertainment spot that draws patronage from here. The improvement to the approachway to the theatre and to its grounds is the fourth step in a four-year remodeling plan at the drive-in. The first year the Shea Corp. of New York operated the Midway, a row of 80 speakers was added to the ramp area to increase capacity to 600 cars and the concessions area was remodeled. The second year, the concessions area was enlarged and remodeled for cafeteria-type operations. The most modern equipment for food handling was provided. Men’s and ladies’ lounges were enlarged. The third year brought many improvements in the projection booth and its equipment and resurfacing of the screen. This year, in addition to the accent on new landscaping, the Midway has added new concessions equipment, two new projection machines and a new attractions board. Meanwhile, the Shea Corp.’s Shea Theatre in Geneva and State in Conneaut have been closed and the Bula Theatre in Ashtabula has been placed on a Saturday-Sunday only basis for the summer. The Shea Corp. also operates the Shea Theatre in Ashtabula. Dr Pepper Zone Manager CHICAGO — William R. Snyder has been appointed manager of Zone 21 in the north central division for Dr Pepper Co. He will have his headquarters here, calling on Dr Pepper plants throughout the Great Lakes region. Snyder joined the Dr Pepper organization after approximately 11 years in related bottling industry experience in the midwest. NC-2 BOXOFFICE :: May 15, 1961