Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1940)

"Wind" to Gale Force After a Slow Start Kansas City — After a slow advance sale start, “Gone With the Wind” developed from a light breeze into a terrific gale at Loew’s Midland here. On the basis of early advance sales the picture looked hardly good enough for a fair week, but with the opening on January 26 attendance has grown prodigiously, and it will go at least a second stretch. Mid-week estimate placed the take at over $40,000, which makes it the biggest thing on record. The picture opened in subzero (9 below) weather last Friday morning with a 4wide line extending from the boxoffice to Thirteenth street, west on Thirteenth to Baltimore avenue, and north on Baltimore to Twelfth street. That, too, was something of a record. Since then the early morning patronage has been heavy; heavier than at the mid-day break. But both boxoffice sales during the day (when seats are not reserved) and for reserved seats during the evening performances have been very heavy. Practically everything in the book was done to promote the picture by John McManus and his associates at the Midland. The picture was even given an opening review by J. C. Moffitt of the Star, which was another “something of a record.” Those waiting in line to buy tickets on cold mornings have carried thermos jugs; some have had along sandwiches, or purchased them from nearby restaurants. EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLES Peterson "Freezem" Mlg. & Sales Co. Blowers, washers, spray nozzels, office and home units. Special Offer — Priced to Sell. Why Pay More? G. A. Peterson Victor 4075 316 Southwest Blvd. Kansas City, Mo. A. A. Electric Machinery Co. Ernest Amoneno, Mgr. 1117 Cherry St. Phone: Victor 8796 Holmes Projector Theatre Supply Projectors and Sound for the Largest and Smallest Theatre — Also Portable 16 mm and 35 mm equipment. 1820 Wyandotte St. Kansas City, Mo. HA. 7472 Oklahoma Theatre Supply Co. Distributors for RCA, Brenkert, U. S. Air, Heywood-Wakefield 126 West 18th St. 708 West Grand Ave. GR. 2864 Oklahoma City, Kansas City, Mo. Okla. Stebbins Theatre Equipment Co. 1804 Wyandotte St. C. H. Badger, Mgr. Phone: GRand 0134 Southwest Theatre Equipment Co.. Indp't Wichita, Kas. C. D. Peck, Mgr. Phone 2-2153 QREDIT Ben Spewak, showman, with a showmanship idea. He has installed a ski slide at his Tyrol Hills home. An escalator takes his guests to the top of the slide . . . His pals say one of the best informed men among the film bunch on foreign affairs is J. L. Stern, Majestic exchange owner . . . A. P. Bill reports more optimism among exhibitors than in some time, and modestly hints at an increase in RCA business . . . “Hy” Chapman of Columbia is visiting South Dakota accounts this week . . . Charlie Weiner, Monogrammer, is putting lots of steam behind his own sales drive . . . Earl Perkins, Warner salesman, resigned from the Fiddlers’ club in a dispute over the organization’s charity policy . . . George Baker of the Strand at Britton, S. D„ is vacationing in Florida. A. K. “Kelly” Evidon’s sales letter to exhibitors on the Warner patriotic short subjects was a nifty and sold many pieces of advertising for him . . . Dick Wagner, popular Sioux Falls, S. D., showman, spent a busy month working up enthusiasm for the Golden Gloves tournament there . . . Allen Clatworthy, veteran M-G-M salesman, is still confined to Northwestern Hospital, instead of being at home, recovering from his major operation. His friends hope for a speedy recovery . . . W. H. Workman, M-G-M branch manager, attended district meeting in Chicago . . . Congratulations to Moe Levy, 20thFox district manager, and the wife who celebrated their 17 tli wedding anniversary last week. EXHIBITOR ASSOCIATIONS Independent Theatre Owners Association 1214 Brush Creek Road — VAlentine 2770 E. E. Webber jr.. Pres. John Wolfberg, Sec. K. M. T. A. 221 W. 18th St. — Harrison 4825 Frank Cassil, Pres. Fred Meyn, Sec.-Treas. AIR CONDITIONING National Air Conditioning and Engineering Corp. VI. 3535 213 West 19th St. — Kansas City, Mo. Manufacturing — Engineering — Installation SOUND SERVICE K. C. SOUND SERVICE Syncrofilm Sound Equipment and Service 1818 Wyandotte St. W. P. Humston HA 4783 SCREEN PUBLICITY Alexander Film Company Motion Picture Advertising E. L. Harris, Dist. Mgr., Mo., Kan., Neb., Iowa 239 East 72nd Terrace Phone: HUand 2694 Good luck to Roy Palmquist, former Paramount ad sales department head here, and his new venture. He has taken over the theatre at Rushford, Minn. . . . Charlie Rubenstein, independent circuit operator, is back from a business trip to Chicago and Milwaukee . . . Harry Dryer, one of the local film contingent’s champ fight fans, missed one of his few cards last week. Just wasn’t in the mood for it with his side-kick, W. A. Steffes, who invariably accompanies him, ill in a Washington, D. C., hospital . . . Bob Odium, book and screen author, whose “Dust Be My Destiny” and “Each Dawn I Die” were boxoffice hits, went to New York to confer with Paramount regarding a writing contract . . . “Hy” Chapman of Columbia and Lyle Talbot, the film player, appearing at the Lyceum, renewed old acquaintanceship. Ted Karatz of Air-Loc seats vacationing in Florida . . . Bennie Berger, prominent independent circuit operator, a grass widower. His wife is in California on a pleasure trip . . . Florence Meng of Warner is a bride . . . Donald Guttman resigned from Universal sales staff to become booker and general manager of the Harry Dickerman independent theatre circuit. Harold Johnson hasn’t filled the vacancy yet . . . Kenny Adams, RKO head booker, busy passing around the cigars. He’s the daddy of a 6V2-pound boy — his first child . . . Jack Goldhar, United Artists district manager, a visitor . . . Marguerite Sondergaard has been added to Warner’s office staff to help handle the increasing business . . . Bill Scholl, RKO home office exploiteer, here working on “Hunchback of Notre Dame” in the territory's key towns and also putting in a few licks for the impending “Swiss Family Robinson.” Out-of-town exhibitors visiting Filmrow included Don Buckley, Redwood Falls, Minn.; Sheldon Grengs, Clouquet and Two Harbors, Minn.; Gene McCarthy, Fergus Falls, Minn.; P. R. King, Adrian, Minn.; Jack Hey wood, New Richmond, Wis.; Lyle Webster and George Miner, Rice Lake, Wis.; D. P. Qualey, Lanesboro, Minn.; Leo Molitor, Lake Crystal and Norwood, Minn.; W. H. McIntyre, Blooming Prairie, Minn.; Everett Dilley and Erline Larson, Northfield, Minn.; W. Lower, Moon Lake, Minn.; Andy Anderson, Detroit Lakes, Lakes, Minn.; Mike and Pete DeFae, Milbank, S. D.; Leo Backer, Browns Valley, Minn.; M. A. Miller, New York Mills, Minn.; Tony Paulson, Amery and Clear Lake, Wis.; S. J. Backer, Hankinson, N. D.; Eph Parsons, Renville, Minn.; Paul Helquist, Proctor, Minn.; Harvey Thorp, Crosby, Minn.; James Anderson, West Concord, Minn.; A1 Inman, Fairfax, Minn.; J. M. Rostvold, Harmony, Minn.; Kenneth Johnson, Bricelyn, Minn.; A1 Ashenbrener, Staples, Minn.; Jack Wright, Red Wing, Minn.; Ray Blakslee, Medford, Wis.; Gay Hower, Worthington, Minn.; Crane brothers, Lake City and Cambridge, Minn.; John Piller, Valley City, N. D., and Charlie Cannought, Olivia, Minn. Gay Hower, Worthington, Minn., exhibitor, just back from a visit with his parents in Florida reports that his father is recovering from a severe illness that caused him to go south this winter. TRADE DIRECTORY — A HANDY GUIDE FOR THE EXHIBITOR — KANSAS CITY TERRITORY 86 BOXOFFICE ;: February 3, 1940