Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1940)

Cooper-Dent Deal Is Again Tripped Up Lincoln — Long sought deal between J. H. Cooper and L. L. Dent, who have been opposing each other in Colorado, Nebraska and Oklahoma for nearly six years, failed to jell last week with a final roundtable in Colorado. Agreement would have resulted in an even trade in holdings in Oklahoma City and Lincoln, splits in management, and a better distribution of product which now finds Dent short-ended. Plan was to take the Nebraska here from the Cooper-Paramount operation, allowing them to retain 50 per cent interest, but Dent to manage. In line with that exchange, the State, Dent’s Oklahoma City house, was to split up 50-50 and be managed by Cooper-Warner. Cooper was also to have a hand in the remodeled Liberty, which is to open around September 4. as the New Varsity. Failure was laid to inability to get together on the boot in the deal, no money arrangements satisfactory to either side. Immediate proof that the opposition is on again full steam is the Dent side’s announcement of prices, in conjunction with the downtown subsequent running Capitol (Bob Livington, inde). Livingston, who has been running for 15-cent matinees and nights in the balcony, 20 cents main floor nights, ups to 20 cents all over at night. H. C. Federer, Dent’s man, says the New Varsity will be scaled 25-cent matinees, and 40 cents nights. This will be used to show film companies of intent to re-arrange prices, in hopes they’ll pressure Cooper out of balcony prices at the Stuart and Nebraska. New Product Finds Path Clear to Minny Screens Minneapolis — There were no holdovers at the big de luxe loop houses the past week for the first time in months, all of the film attractions being newcomers. "All This, And Heaven Too” had concluded a three-week engagement at the Century and “Andy Hardy Meets Debutante” a fortnight State run the week previously. Although business warranted a third week, the latter was not moved over to the Century, as expected. Optimism Prevails Minneapolis — Exhibitors are increasingly optimistic and in a receptive mood as far as buying is concerned, according to Phil Dunas and "Hy” Chapman, Columbia district and branch manager, respectively, who have just finished a tour of the territory. ’While business in recent weeks has not been up to standard, the theatre owners are confident that there will be a sharp pick-up by September 1, according to Chapman. Rostvold Opens Anew Harmony, Minn. — J. M. Rostvold is opening a new theatre here. It will replace the one which was destroyed by fire some months ago. tl •" Si Travel Curb Hits Border Houses Minneapolis — Theatre attendance in Minnesota towns on the Canadian border has been wrecked as the result of revised immigration laws which restrict travel between the two countries. At International Falls, Minn., it is reported, Canadian attendance at the two Baehr houses dropped from 2,000 two weeks ago to five last Sunday. One of the houses will be closed. VI — ■ ■ IL 111 M C CO) IlL M yACATION STUFF: R. E. Falkinburg, and the family, are forgetting boxoffice reports, drouth, etc., by taking it easy on the banks of Lake Kornis, near Paynesville, Minn. When home, he’s at Lexington, Neb. ... Ed Vaughan, of the Lincoln, shagged fast out of town for the west coast with his girl . . . Vincent DiFiore and Margie Hart, the burlesque stripteaser, were reported seen in New York — Margie on the stage at the Gayety, and Vinnie in the front row . . . Mike Roth claims to know what makes the wild west wild, anyway he’s wild about it after a single exposure . . . Bob Livingston is going to take Roy McGraw, one of his operators, into Chicago for a baseball game or two. Boh Huffman reported shooting a 74 oji 18 holes, and the rest of the gang is threatening to audit his hook . . . George O. Mojiroe, his Mrs., and their son, Don, went to Kearney for the opening of the Fort Theatre. George "Hodge" Wright, who has heen with the huilding from the ground up. is manager. George jr., from the Westland Theatres of Colorado (Greeley, Colo.), came on to attend the blowout . . . Slim Fraser, who runs Lincoln's one suburban, the Joyo, is now gouig for a shot of radio advertising. Ted Mendenhall and Ike Rubin whizzed through bragging about "Great McGinty,” then sent down a print for screening, which proved their opinion not so much exaggerated as honest. Ted says every town on the map is a “whistle stop” to him these days. He drives up in front of the theatre, whistles for the manager, yells “got any dates,” and if the answer is no, drives on. If the answer is yes, he’ll figure out something, by the time it happens. New hoys turned in executives here this week are Robert Bell and Paul Anderson. Here’s to success! . . . Bill Knight is a stamp scalper . He buys airmails from the government for six cents and tries to get a dime for them from the hard-pressed, like the Boxoffice man, and others . . . Robert Boiler is pretty proud of the job he’s turjiing m on the New Variety i alias the old Liberty) . . . Howard Federer says it's been going on so long, he can’t remember when the city wasn’t going to tear the old Varsity down. Originally bet to go this summer, the old place may have another year . . . Alvin Hendricks finally got the $25 T. B. Noble jr. shortchanged him out of three months ago. DM Firsl-Runs Open, But Keep Remodeling Des Moines — Though first run houses in Des Moines are maintaining an open door policy through the summer to capitalize on air conditioning, there’s some remodeling evident. Attracting the most public comment so far are the electrically lighted (vigorously so) signs that went up on the Paramount and Orpheum last week, blazoning the 30cent matinee price at those houses. In the second run field, Hayden Peterson is counting on the most complete job. He’s closed his State while it gets a complete new set of workings that he can advertise as “new from sidewalk to screen.” Abe Frankie is having the lobby of the Casino redecorated with brown and more brown and is anticipating a heavy tread of customers past the ticket-taker by installing a new floor. Next door at the Family, Harry Hiersteiner is building a fancier boxoffice to entice the dimes from the hesitant and before the snow flies there’ll be a new front on the house if Harry’s plans don’t go awry. Lincoln Theatres Corp, Managerial Realignment Lincoln — Lincoln Theatres Corp. (J. H. Cooper-Para’t) has realigned its managerial staff during the past week. City Manager R. K. “Bob” Huffman was handed the resignation of M. E. Lofgren, who went to York, Neb., and Luke Smith, assistant to Ed Vaughan at the Lincoln, within the last month. Robert Bell has been named Vaughan’s assistant replacing Smith. Eugene Shanahan, formerly Harvey Traylor’s assistant at the Stuart, moved over to the Nebraska as manager, and he has been subbed by Paul Anderson. Fire Guts Ted Allens Guthrie Center House Guthrie Center, Ia. — Flames gutted the Garden here Saturday morning. Ted Allen, operator of the house, has not revealed his future plans. T. B. said he just did it to teach him a lesson, but Alvin lost a handful of hair worrying about it. Either the traveling men, or film salesmen, can take a bow. They’re supposed to be the ones who go for farmer’s daughters. Margie Hart, the take-offer from Lathrop, Mo., wrote Barney Oldfield of the Journal that she’d like to do a guest column for him while he’s vacationing on “Why She, (Margie) Would Rather Be a Farmer’s Daughter.” Considering the drouth, cheap wheat, no com, hens not laying, and hired men on the oldish side, it must be the traveling men who are her reason. 40 BOXOFFICE :: August 10, 1940