Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1948)

CALIFORNIA LEADS THE NATION IN NEW THEATRE CONSTRUCTION Survey for Last 4 Months Reveals 93 Theatres And 26 Drive-Ins SAN FRANCISCO — There is no question about it. California is the nation’s boom state in theatre building. Approximately $20,000,000 has been poured into theatre construction in the state in the last four months. This is revealed in a survey of California theatre construction just completed by BOXOFFICE. Reflecting the terrific population increase in the state the number of construction projects zoomed to 93 new theatres and 26 driveins either announced, placed under construction or opened during the June 1-October 1 period. This figure surpassed by 21 the number of similar jobs in ten other western states, where the same period found a combined total of 98 theatres and drive-ins. SUMMER BUILDING SOARS The huge summertime building activity in California was believed to be the peak in construction since the lifting of building restrictions last January 1. Unquestionably in this state construction jobs were far more numerous than in any other state and served as added emphasis to the state chamber of commerce figures on California population. That body estimated that since January 1 the population had risen 435,000. This figure, if correct, would place the California estimated total population at 10,483,000, an increase of 3,575,613 persons, or approximately one-third more than the 1940 official census. Total expenditures on theatre construction reached more than $15,000,000 while drive-in construction costs totaled over $4,000,000. The total seating capacity of California theatres was increased by some 69,369 while drive-in capacity rose by 17,285 cars. Individually theatre capacity ranged from 400 to 2,000 with the average at 745 seats. The list of openings and new projects announced since June 1 follows: CALIFORNIA THEATRES ARBUCKLE — A 400-seat theatre announced by W, A. Wright. ARCADIA — The 1,400-seat Rancho under construction by James Edwards jr. ANTIOCH — Stamm Theatre under construction. ARTESIA — A new theatre announced by Perry McDaniel, Judy Poynter ol Westlake Theatres. AUBURN — A new theatre announced by T&D Enterprises. BAKERSFIELD — A 689-seat theatre, costing $100,000, under construction by the Carnakis lamily. BARSTOW — A 750-seater, costing $100,000, opened by W. E. Cox circuit. BELLFLOWER — A $50,000 theatre announced by A. Hanson. BOYES HOT SPRINGS — A 400-seater under construction by Granville McPherson. CAMPBELL — A new theatre announced by Sunnymount Theatres, Inc. CAPITOLA — The 500-seat Capitola, costing $70,000, opened by Arthur Meyer and Joseph Jacobs. CASTROVILLE — A 400-seater, costing $70,000, under construction by Salvadore Alvarey. CHESTER — A 300-seat theatre announced by L. E. Blair. CHICO — The 975-seat El Rey Theatre opened. CHULA VISTA-^The 400-seat Star, under construction. COMPTON — A 999-seater, costing $550,000, announced by Rector Theatres. CORONA — An 800-seater announced by Leslie Harper. CORONA DEL MAR — A 1,000-seat theatre announced by Ralph Wilmot and to be operated by Perkins Theatre Corp. CORONADO — The Coronado Theatre, opened by Metzger, Srere & Associates. COSTA MESA — A 750-seater, costing $150,000, under construction by the Griffith Co. DANVILLE — The Village, opened by William G. Cooke. DAVIS — An 800-seat theatre, costing $150,000, announced by Davis Theatres. ENCJNO — The $300,000 Encino, announced by Lee Theatres. ESCALON A 600-seater, costing $85,000, under construction by Frank Titus and the Mantecd Corp. EXETER — The Exeter Theatre, announced by C. E. Pease. FARMERSVILLE — The 528-seat Rancho, announced by C. E. Pease. FONTANA — The 750-seat Arrow, costing $120,000, under construction by I. H. Harris and leased to Robert Smith. FONTANA — -The 750-seat Harper, costing $100,000, aniiounced by Ernest Harper. GALT — A new 500-seat theatre under construction by Schauer & Spiess, expected to open November 1. HAYWARD — An 1,105-seater under construction by Golden States Theatres. INGLEWOOD — The 1,025-seat Granada, costing $250,000 announced by Fox West Coast; a 1,500seater announced by W. J. Kupper jr.; the 1,200seat Imperial Village, announced by Griffith Enterprises. INDIO — The Aladdin Theatre, opened by Leroy Pawley. LA HABRA HEIGHTS— The 952-seat Norwood, opened by Kelly Norwood. LAKEPORT — A 700-seat theatre, announced by Leo Reece. LANCASTER — The 800-seat Antelope, costing $200,000, opened. LODI — A $150,000 theatre, announced by T&D Enterprises. LONG BEACH — A 1,000-seater under construction. LOS ALTOS — A new theatre announced by L. S. Whaley & Co.; and a 500-seal theatre, costing $150,000, under construction by Los Altos Theatres, Inc. LOS ANGELES — An $85,000 theatre under construction by Southside Theatres; an 1,100-seat Southside announced by O. V. Webb; the Studio Theatre opened by Seth Perkins; a $120,000 theatre announced by LelOnd M. Ford; the $250,000 Baldwin Hills Theatre, announced by Baldwin Hills Co.; A $90,000 theatre in Sherman Oaks, announced by Philip Land; a 450-seater in Sherman Oaks under construction by Jack Grosman; a $95,000 theatre announced by Bruen Whittier Theatres, Inc.; the 2,000-seat PicWood, costing $400,000, under construction by Gritfith-Isley in West Los Angeles; a 1,250-seater in North Hollywood, under cbnstruction by Bobmick Theatres, Inc.; the 1,400-seal Westchester Paradise, announced as part of a $1,200,000 building job in Los Angeles and San Fernando by Alex Schreiber and Associated Theatres. MADERA — The 400-seat Bass Lake, opened. MILLBRAE — The El Camino Real Theatre, under construction. MONTEREY PARK — A 1,400-seat theatre, costing $400,000, announced by James Edwards. NATIONAL CITY — The Star Theatre, opened by Anton Baldessari. OAKLAND — The Lux Theatre, opened by D. B. Levin & Louis Kaliski. PACIFIC PALISADES — A 1,500-seater, costing^$500,000, under construction by Leland M. Ford. PALM CITY — A new theatre announced by C. E. Norcross and John Frier. PALMDALE — The 500-seat Palm Theatre, under construction by Frank Smith. PASADENA — A l,0G0-seal theatre, announced by James Edwards jr. PICO — A $95,000 theatre, announced by the Bruen circuit. Quincy — The Log Cabin Theatre, announced by Ed Claeys. SACRAMENTO — The $45,000 Lincoln, under construction by S. Nakatani and H. Muraki; the 750seat, $100,000 theatre, announced by McMahon & Ford, builders, and leased to Fruit Ridge Manor Theatre Corp,; the 900-seat Sequoia, costing $130,000, opened by Mrs. Joseph Babich. SAN DIEGO — The 600-seat Rio Theatre, opened by S.W. & J.B. Lowenbein. SAN FERNANDO — The 2,000-seat Valley Plaza and the 1,200-seat Valley Village, both part of a $1,200,000 project, announced by Alex Schreiber and Associated Theatres, Inc. SAN JOSE— The 600-seat Gay, costing $55,000, opened by Bert Kennerson. SAN JOSE — ^A 1,200-seater, costing $300,000, under construction by Willow Glen Theatre Corp. SANTA CRUZ — An $80,000 theatre announced by T&D Enterprises. SARATOGA — A 475-seater, costing $70,000, under construction by Mason Shaw, SEASIDE — The Del Rey Theatre, under construction. SHARP PARK — A new theatre announced by C. R. Barley. SOQUEL— The Osocales Theatre, a 500-seater, costing $60,000, opened by Charles Ide of Texas. SUSANVILLE — The 600-seat Pine, under construction by T&D Enterprises. TOBIN — The Tobin Theatre, under construction, TORRANCE — A $52,000 theatre, announced by Grant Theatres, Inc. TRONA — A 1,000-seater, announced by American Potash & Chemical Co. TURLOCK — A $120,000 theatre, opened by United California Theatres. UKIAH — The $275,000 Ukiah Theatre, opened by George Mann. VALLEJO — ^The $150,000 Crescent, opened by Guy W. Meek. VAN NUYS — ^The 1,000-seat Encino, costing $250,000, under construction by Lee Theatres; a new theatre announced by P. Land. VENICE — A $150,000 theatre, announced by W. J. Kupper jr. VISTA — The 800-seat Avo, under construction by Palomar Investment Corp. WATSONVILLE — A 600-seat theatre, costing $100,000, under construction by the New Salinas Theatre Corp. WILLOW GLEN— A 1,076-seater, costing $300,000, under construction by the Willow Glen Corp. WILLOWS — A 945-seater, under construction by T&D Enterprises. YUBA CITY — A new theatre announced by T&D Enterprises ir. CALIFORNIA DRIVE-INS BELL GARDENS — A 1,000-car drive-in, under construction by Pacific Drive-In Theatres, Inc. CLEARWATER — The 500-car Roadium, opened. COLMA — A new ozoner, announced by A. D. Hamlin jr. DOWNEY — A new drive-in, announced by the Cummings circuit. EL CENTRO — A $25,000 drive-in, announced by Joseph Blumenfeld & Louis Kaliski. EL CERRITO — A $500,000, 400-car airer, under construction by the Fairmount Developing Co. EL MONTE — A 900-car, $300,000 drive-in, announced by Pacific Drive-In Theatres, Inc. FRESNO — A 500-car ozoner, costing $100,000, announced by Affiliated Theatres Service. HUNTINGTON PARK — A 900-car drive-in, under construction by Pacific Drive-In Theatres, Inc. HYNES — The 900-car Lakewood, costing $300,000, opened by Pacific Drive-In Theatres, Inc. 'INGLEWOOD — A 1,000-car drive-in, under construction by Pacific Drive-In Theatres, Inc. LOS ANGELES — The 650-car Gilmore, opened by Sero Enterprises; the Strand Drive-In, opened by Drive-In Theatres of America. LYNWOOD — A $125,000 drive-in, announced by American Drive-In Theatres. MILL VALLEY — The $200,000 Motor Movies, opened by Reseda Drive-In Corp. OCEANSIDE — A new drive-in, announced by Floyd Bernard. RIVERSIDE — The 700-car Mount Rubidoux, under construction by Roy Hunt. SAN BERNARDINO— A $180,000 drive-in, under construction by Highland Theatre Co. SAN DIEGO — The 500-car Campus, announced by Sam Russo. SAN FRANCISCO — The 650-car Starlight, costing $300,000, opened by San Francisco Drive-In Corp. SAN PEDRO — A 750-car drive-in, announced by Guttman-Mann. SAN RAFAEL — A new theatre, opened by Blumenfeld Theatres. VALLEJO — The 735-car Crescent, costing $150,000, opened by Crescent Drive-In Corp. VAN NUYS — The 900-car Van Nuys, opened by Pacific Drive-In Theatres; a $100,000 drive-in announced by Paul Glick; an 800-car ozoner, announced by San Fernando Valley Amusement Co. BOXOFFICE : : October 16, 1948 19