Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1940)

unconfirmed rumor: Bud Truog of National Screen Service is thinking about that middle aisle (not theatre aisle) . At least so we gather from his notification of Martin Stone that Stone should have $5 ready. The two some time ago agreed that five bucks goes to the one who marries first. Bill Bradfield and Sammy Naster recently moved from the LaSalle to the Villa Serena, “where it is cooler.” But the rumor is it got pretty hot at the V. S. one night last week — hot for them. Speaking of marriages, August 31 has been set as the date for the nuptials of John Scott of Republic-Midwest and Helen Green. Film Delivery branched out last week in the Wichita division when they extended the line to Ashland, Coldwater, Greensburg. Protection and Meade. The express company reduced service, and Film Delivery came to the rescue. A. J. Simmons and Warren Weber are installing new RCA sound in their Plaza at Burlington, Kas. — via Don Davis. Martin Flesher, manager of the Dickinson at Lawrence, Kas., for Commonwealth Theatres, Inc., has joined the Naval Reserve and will leave shortly on a 30day cruise to South America. He will then go to Annapolis for four months and come out as Ensign Flesher. Bill Lenhart, son of Wendell Lenhart, exhibitor at Trenton, Mo., will accompany Flesher and go through the same procedure, emerging as Ensign Lenhart. William C. Johnson jr., six months old, visited Filmrow Monday accompanied by his mother, Ethel Morrow Johnson, and sponsored (plenty!) by his grandfather, Ralph Morrow of Universal. U bookers turned over all discussion of “dates” to the Universal feminine staff during jr’s visit. Heat isn’t the only thing that causes red faces. C. H. Potter, local exhibitor, now on vacation in the north, recently had a birthday. Ed Hartman, booker for the Potter houses, arranged a singing telegram for Charley, which was “delivered” at the Potter home in the midst of “company.” Charley was really embarrassed . . . Mrs. Frank Warkene at Universal stuck her thumb in a fan last week and hardly got it all back. It’s no fun. On the Row: Paul Taylor, Parris, Richmond, Mo.; George Nescher, Rio, Valley Falls, Kas.; Mr. and Mrs. Glen Moskau, Regal, St. Joseph, Mo.; Charles Thomas, Uptown, Sweet Springs, Mo.; Ray Miner, Ralston, Moren, Kas.; F. L. Lisbona, Maitland, Maitland, Mo.; George Hayob, Mary Lou, Marshall, Mo.; J. W. Grantham, Ritz and New Baxter, Baxter Springs, Kas.; Paul Getting, Lyric, Concordia, Mo.; Jerry Drake, Ritz, Bolivar, Mo.; Lee Sproule, Rex, Newton, Kas.; Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Ghosen, Sedalia, Mo.; J. Bye Coverston, Gravette, Ark.; A. J. Simmons, Plaza at Burlington and Plaza at Howard, Kas., who is leaving on a vacation to California: Bill Leonard, Mystic, Cedarvale, Kas., who doesn’t get in often, and who was here to visit relatives. Charles Brooks of the Ritz, Marshfield, Mo., reports that a skating rink is moving into town . . . Charley Oliver, who was on Filmrow here for many years, until recently as booker at Universal, has sold his grocery store at Springfield, Mo., and entered the Veteran’s Hospital at Fayetteville, Ark., to undergo a serious operation. Drop him a line at the hospital. Jay Means, Oak Park and Carrol, and chief barker of Variety, is on vacation . . . O. K. Mason of Commonwealth and Mrs. Mason are in Estes Park, Colo. . . . Lawrence Parrott of Commonwealth is vacationing in Creston, la., and Columbus, Neb. . . . Charley Lewis of Republic-Midwest has just returned from a vacation in Tulsa and Cape Girardeau, the latter his old home town . . . Hazeljoy Ralph of Commonwealth is in Newton, Kas. M. B. Smith, western Kansas supervisor for Commonwealth Theatres, Garden City, was here this week . . . Dates on the Commonwealth managers’ meetings have been changed from September 4 and 5 to September 11 and 12, same place — President Hotel, here. Zack Beiser, head booker and office manager at Columbia, is off to Minnesota with the Fourth Field Army. As a member of the noth Engineers, Zack will be Lieut. Beiser the next three weeks at Wahkon, Minn. . . . “The Ramparts We Watch” will open the Orpheum after its summer closing on August 15. Lawrence Lehman is managing. Tom Edwards of the Ozark, Eldon, Mo., did a good business with a pet parade August 3 (Sat. p. m.) , and gave passes for the “prettiest dog,” “ugliest dog,” etc. Entries included the dog with the saddest and brightest eyes, longest tail, crookedest tail, and so on. All to promote “The Biscuit Eater.” Reminiscences on the premiere of “When the Daltons Rode,” at Coffeyville, recently: Andy Devine was made a member of the Delaware Indian tribe — Whoopee! The crowd in to see the picture was so large the two Fox houses re-ran the picture after 11 p. m. During the two hours of the first showing, a stage was rigged up on the street and some impromptu entertainment put on for the crowd, which was estimated by state police at 35,000. David A. Lipton, Universal’s studio publicity man, did a nice job with the premiere . . . And the picture is taking money. Paul Hannon, who has just taken over the Lyric at Plattsburg , Mo., has been with Paramount 21 years. That’s quite a spell, and he doesn’t look it. It’ll be hard for Paul to get out of the habit of going out every Monday (or almost every Monday) to call on exhibitors in western Missouri (Continued on next page) TRADE DIRECTORY — A HANDY GUIDE FOR THE EXHIBITOR — KANSAS CITY TERRITORY EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES Peterson "Freezem" Mfg. & 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 Sales Co. Projectors and Sound for the Largest and Smallest Theatre. John A. Muchmore and R. H. Patt. 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, Eas. C. D. Peck, Mgr. Phone 2-2153 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: Hlland 2694 BOXOFFICE :: August 10, 1940 41