Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1941)

Minnesota Case May Be Taken to Court Minneapolis — Middle States Corp. heads have let it be known they may carry a fight for film product for the 4,000-seat Minnesota Theatre, which they are operating with vaudeville and pictures, into the law courts, instead of to the consent decree’s arbitration board. A large damage suit may be brought agaiilst the major film distributors and the Minnesota Amusement Co. — Mort H. Singer pool which has virtually all of the major product sewed up in the Minneapolis loop. In this connection, the company had Joe Rosenberg, noted Chicago theatre attorney, here to make a survey of the local situation to determine what action should be taken. His law concern has been retained by the company to help it to obtain “relief.” The Minnesota Theatre situation is nothing new to Rosenberg. He was also retained by the Benzes, previous operators of the Minnesota, who also were unable to obtain major screen product and who blamed this for their unsuccessful operation. A conspiracy damage suit was threatened, but the matter was dropped after the Benzes made a deal with the Minnesota Amusement Co. for the latter to lease their local loop theatre, the Palace, for a long term. E. J. Weisfeldt, Minnesota managing director, has expressed the opinion the situation here can be “beaten.” He points out that the Minnesota Amusement Co.’s Aster, scaled at 15 cents to 5 p. m. and 28 cents thereafter, is using up with a double feature policy many of the types of pictures which he is anxious to obtain. However, the Aster policy has been in effect for several years and local film people declare there is no overbuying by the Minnesota Amusement Co. All Funds Nearly In lor Variety Music Project Kansas City — The Cinema Club, junior affiliate of the Variety Club, having undertaken a project in behalf of the music room of the Variety Club, is expected to complete this project within a week or so. The funds are nearly all in now, it was said. They will be used to buy a combination radio-phonograph and a library of records. Alex Schneiderman, with Quality Premium Co., is conducting the drive in behalf of the Cinema Club, assisted by Ward Scott of the 20th Century-Pox branch as representative for Variety. Joe Lysowski, with Altec Service Corp., is president of 'the Cinema Club. Stern Buys House Minneapolis — J. L. Stern, owner of the Majestic exchange and “Bank Night” distributor, has become an exhibitor. He acquired the Mohawk Theatre, St. Paul, from Charles Christians. (r == = = = ' Si Midwest Arbitration Panels k — While additional names probably will swell the total later, the following members of arbitration panels for the motion picture tribunals in Des Moines, Kansas City, Minneapolis and Omaha have been announced by the American Arbitration Ass’n: Des Moines John D. Adams, general secretary chamber of commerce, Savery Hotel. John E. Bemis, accountant, Insurance Exchange Bldg. C. A. Bland, superintendent of production Iowa Power & Light Co., 106 S. E. 1st St. E. S. Boudinot, engineer, 3438 University Ave. Donald Evans, attorney, Equitable Bldg. A. N. Heggen, general manager Des Moines Cooperative Dairy. Percy Hoak, president Wheeler Lumber Bridge & Supply Co. B. F. Kauffman, president Bankers Trust Co., 6th & Locust St. P. H. Mackaman, attorney, Register & Tribune Bldg. Dale L. Maffitt, manager Des Moines Municipal Water Co., 10th & Locust St. Elmer E. Miller, secretary Des Moines Bldg. & Loan Ass’n, 411 Sixth Ave. Harry E. Russell, president Office Equipment Co.. 416-18-29 W. 10th St. Harold B. West, president O. B. West Co., 216 W. Court Ave. R. H. Young, secretary F. W. Fitch Co. Martin Tollefson, dean Drake University law school. Kansas City Parry Barnes, CPA, Lunsford, Barnes Co., 21 West 10th St. Benjamin F. Boyer, dean of law, University of Kansas City. Wallace Brown, chairman of department of English, University of Kansas City. Thornton Coake, Columbia National Bank, 10th & Grand Sts. Powell C. Groner, president Kansas City Public Service Co., 728 Delaware. Ernest E. Howard, bridge designer, Howard, Needles & Tammen, 1012 Baltimore Ave. Morton T. Jones, insurance, R. B. Jones & Co., 301 West 11th St. John F. Rhodes, attorney, 2500 Fidelity Bldg. Henry M. Shugart, attorney, 410 Commerce Bldg. V Minneapolis Lewis L. Anderson, attorney, 2681 First National Bank Bldg. M. D. Chandler, vice-president Northwestern National Bank & Trust Co., 6th & Marquette Ave. Hiram A. Douglas, president Citizens Morris Plan, 710 Marquette Ave. Lloyd Hale, vice-president and sales manager G. H. Tennant Co., 2530 N. 2nd St. J. D. Holtzermann, president Holtzermann’s Antiques, Importing, 415-429 Cedar Ave. George W. Irwin, manager Air Reduction Sales Co., 327-25 Ave. S. E. Arnett W. Leslie, president John Leslie Paper Co., 301 S. 5th St. Ellis B. Southworth, executive vicepresident Title Insurance Co. of Minn., New York Life Bldg. Oscar C. Strand, Strand & Roe, 1010 Foshay Tower. Arthur J. Walker, president Farnham Stationery & School Supply Co., 104 Lumber Exchange Bldg. Omaha H. M. Baldridge, attorney, Omaha National Bank Bldg. Thomas B. Coleman, Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co., 14th & Jones Sts. Gerald E. Collins, attorney, 4838 South 24th St. D. P. Hogan, Loyal Hotel. G. P. Horn, executive manager Omaha Ass’n of Credit Men, Sunderland Bldg. John W. Hughes, president Guarantee Mutual Life Insurance Co., 1805 Douglas St. Harry E. Judd, CPA and attorney, Omaha National Bank Bldg. E. F. Leary, attorney, First National Bank Bldg. Elton C. Loucks, accountant, John M. Gilchrist Co., Omaha National Bank Bldg. Francis P. Matthews, attorney. Insurance Bldg. Henry C. Moeller, CPA, Omaha National Bank Bldg. George W. Pratt, attorney, Omaha National Bank Bldg. Walter F. Sprengel, credit manager Paxton & Gallagher Co., 9th & Jones Sts. Samuel L. Winters, attorney, 48111/2 S. 24th St. No Sioux City Sale Sioux City, Ia. — Odes A. B. Hilton of the Park Theatre here denies a report published last week that his house has been purchased by Ralph Green of Minneapolis. Sign for Altec Service Kansas City— Altec has signed service contracts with the Lake Theatre, Buffalo, Minn.; Robin, Robbinsdale, Minn.; Granite, Granite Falls, Minn.; Falls and Camden, Minneapolis; Star, Stanley, N. D., and the Plaza, Potosi, Mo. Kappler Joins Republic In Booking Department Des Moines — Francis Kappler stepped from the Iowa Film Depot over to Republic Pictures this week to go to work for F. R. (Bud) Moran as booker. Kappler took the berth left vacant by Jean Post who went up the street to Universal where he replaces Chuck Elder as one of Lou Levy’s bookers. As a shipper, Kappler was president of the local union. He resigned before taking over booking chores. 46 BOXOFFICE February 22, 1941