Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1940)

Showmanship io Fore In Fall Campaign Kansas City — More showmanship will characterize the annual fall campaign of Commonwealth Theatres, it was indicated during the circuit’s convention of managers at the Hotel President, September 11 and 12. Under the direction of organization officials C. A. Schultz and O. K. Mason, Commonwealth managers took up in detail all phases of theatre promotion, including advertising, theatre fronts, special weeks and various phases of economy down to the purchase of supplies. The 15-week fall campaign from September 16 to December 28 has been divided into four periods. In addition to regular features built around Hallowe’en, election night and Armistice Day, four special showmanship periods are being built around ideas evolved by managers and executives. These include “Know Your Hazards,” a two-week period. During the contest theatres will compete against each other; that is, they will shoot at quotas set up for each. Managers whose houses make or exceed quota will receive a week’s salary as bonus, along with members of his staff. Promotions are being followed from a big work sheet, which resembles a calendar. The best pictures of the 15-week period will be given special attention. In addition, managers will attempt more than ever to fit the picture to the theatre. One of the big problems which the business must face today, Schultz believes, is that of propaganda, “a lot of which is not helpful to attendance.” Announced at the convention was the new grouping of Commonwealth theatres into three districts, western, eastern and central. M. B. Smith of Garden City, Kas., who was made supervisor of that area some time ago, will have the western district. Included in this group are all Kansas theatres of Commonwealth exclusive of those in Lawrence. Smith will continue to headquarter in Garden City. The eastern division, which includes the Missouri houses except Columbia, plus those in Iowa, will be under the supervision of Robert Shelton, who has been manager at Warrensburg, Mo. Shelton will continue to headquarter in Warrensburg where he is mayor. The Columbia, Mo., Lawrence, Kas., Kansas City, and Arkansas houses now make up the central division, directly supervised from the home office in Kansas City. Announced at the convention also were the winners of the summer campaign, the King of the Sun contest. John Tarr jr., Goodland, Kas., earned the title of “King,” but there were a number of others who “placed” in the contest. These were Lloyd Morris, Great Bend, Kas.; Ray Holmes, Lawrence; Emory Scott, Creston. la.; Doyle Branscum, Harrison, Ark.; R. V. Marchbank, Washington, Mo.; Bob Spender, Columbia, Mo.; K. K. King and Jack Bomar, Searcy, Ark.; Raymond McKittrick, Harrisonville, Mo.; Lee Miller, Ashland, Kansas City; Frank Dodson, Ellsworth, Kas.; Gien Deeter, Herington, Kas.; Roy Jones, Rock Port, Mo.; Ed Harris, Neosho, Mo.; Huston Sterrett, Kinsley, Kas.; Rex Barrett, Columbia, Mo.; Paul Stonum, Carrollton, Mo.; Bill Headstream, Batesville, Ark.; Wendell Lenhart, Trenton, Mo.; M. B. Smith, Garden. City, Kas.; Jack Stevenson, Monett. Mo., and Joe McClure, Norton, Kas. Hope in Weather Kansas City — Extremely cold weather the week of September 9 was expected to reduce the number of poliomyelitis cases in Kansas and Missouri and lessen the deleterious effect of the infantile paralysis scare on boxofficesi, particularly in Kansas, where business is off a chunk as a result of the scare. MISSOURI FILM LABORATORY 110 West 18th St. Under New Ownership CHAS. O. SIEBENTHALER Offers Fast, Efficient and Complete Trailer Service Without Hidden Charges for Cards, Backgrounds, Etc. — THINK THIS OVER!!! \^HEN you call the office or hotel room ^ of Bob Gillham, director of advertising and publicity for Paramount, you get a greeting of this kind: “Keep smiling, this is Bob Gillham’s office.” Just spreading a little cheer in a world that needs it. You need to know Bob only about three minutes to know he’s deeply sincere about it, too. The Whiteway, H. J. Griffith house at Fred07iia, Kas., is closed for remodeling . The 4H Theatre will handle picture presentation while the Whiteway is dark. In case you didn’t know, 4H is the insignia of those farm elubs (boys and girls) started some years ago via the American Royal. On the Row: M. B. Presley and the Presley gang. Globe, Savannah, Mo.; Sam Filson, Majestic, Scott City, Kas.; Harry Till, Courter, Gallatin, Mo.; Frank Weary, Richmond, Mo.; Curly Wilson, Excelsior Springs, Mo. Foster Thornhill, assistant manager of the Esquire, played Brigham Young to eight attractive gals on the covered wagon the theatre used the past week to promote the 2Qth-Fox picture. Thornhill took his “wives” to lunch at the Forum, too. Let’s hope he had help with the check. The Chapman, Chapman, Kas., has been opened after a dark spell by Ercil Arnold. Arnold operates the Avon, Hillsboro, Kas. . . . Midweek the negotiations of the operators’ union and exhibitors on renewal of their contracts, which expired August 30, were still going on. Operators are asking for two weeks with pay; other Peterson "Freezem" Mig. & 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. il820 Wyandotte St, Kansas City, Mo. HA. 7473 Missouri Theatre Supply Co. Distributors for nCA, Brenkert, U. S. Air, Heywood-Wakefield 415 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 wise negotiations are for a contract similar to the one which has just expired . . . We now understand how it is that Associated Theatres of Independence, Mo., placed No. 1 in that Variety Club turtle race August 26. Their number at the Plaza is Independence 711. Phew! . . . Morton Truog is a-goin’ to git married. The engagement, with Bettie-Cole McCune, Kansas City, was announced Sunday for late fall. M. is salesman for NSS, and is son of W. E. (UA) Truog. Homer Blackwell of Advertising Accessories and Charley Gregory of National Sereen Service were in Chicago for an NSS meeting . . . Universal held a sneak preview (at regular admission for the public, free for exhibitors) at the Uptown, September 7, on “Hired Wife.” The picture got a very good reception. A number of exhibitors attended. Leon Abraham of RKO just returned from his vacation, which included a stopoff in Texas . . . On the Row: C. E. Martin, Royal, Tonganoxie, Kas. . . . Nat Hechtman of Hollywood Advertising is spending three weeks on the west coast on business. "Rhythm on the River" Held Kansas City — Outstanding business has netted “Rhythm on the River” a holdover at the Newman here. Seff Scripts "Eight Girls" Hollywood — Manny Seff is scripting “Eight Girls on a Horse” for Metro. Southwest Theatre Equipment Co., Indp't Wichita, Kas. D, Peck, Mqr 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 Casail, 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 SCREEN PUBLICITY Alexander Film Company Motion Picture Advertising E. L. Harris,, Dist. Mgr., Mo., Kan., Neb., Iowa 239 East 72nd Terrace Phone: Hlland 2694 TRADE DIRECTORY — A HANDY GUIDE FOR THE EXHIBITOR — KANSAS CITY TERRITORY EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES BOXOFFICE : : September 14, 1940 89