Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1948)

From the BOXOFFICE Files • • * (Twenty Yeais AgoJ JOHN L. FRANCONI has been appointed manager of the Kansas City branch of Tiffany-Stahl Productions. He succeeds Guy Bradford who has been transferred to St. Louis . . . Kansas theatres are faced with the possibilities of an amusement tax. R. R. Biechele, president of the MPTO of Kansas and Western Missouri, says; “Kansas exliibitors had better get busy. They are facing a drastic measure and unless they get in touch with their representatives and convince them that the proposal is unfair, an amusement tax is almost inevitable.” * * Si A contract has been awarded to P. W. Sparks of Oskaloosa, Iowa, for construction of a new theatre building to cost $20,000 in New Sharon, Iowa, for Elmo Hoffman, owner of the Star in that city . . . Ray Jones, formerly of the Worth Theatre, Fort Worth, Tex., is new manager of the Riviera Theatre, Omaha, succeeding Harry Watts. * * A motion picture theatre is to be opened in Pittsburg, Kas., soon, according to Mrs. Nellie Jackson of Independence, Kas., who will manage the new theatre, to be located at 714 North Broadway . . . Bandits took approximately $3,000 from S. Bernard Joffee, manager at the Uptown Theatre, Kansas City, and bound Joffee with wire. He worked himself loose but found the robbers had torn the phone wires loose ... A man put his hand through the cashier’s window at the MOO"" REWARO READ YOUR NOVEMBER ISSUE OF "POINTERS TO POPPERS" There's plenty of Good News, lowest prices of the year on BEE HIVE HYBRID. Lower prices on Seasoning . . . Special prices on popcorn cartons including imprinting your name and serial numbering . . . Read the jokes we stole . . . Sensational Expose of Popcorn Village Character by Eddie Ballantyne. WAT C H ! ! ! For the December Issue . . . More Surprises . . . More Ideas . . . Famous NEW YEAR'S DAY BOWL FOOTBALL CONTEST Ideas that will mean MORE PROFITS TO YOU. JIM BLEVINS' "POINTERS TO POPPERS/' published in Popcorn Village, is FREE to Blevins customers. If you haven't received your November Issue write us today. Pantages in Kansas City one night recently and took $90. He disappeared in the crowd. * * * Lou Ehlman, salesman for First National in Des Moines, has been in a hospital for treatment of a stomach ailment. J. J. Jacobson, salesman for Universal in Des Moines, likewise has been hospitalized for stomach trouble. R. S. Ballantyne, manager of Pathe in Omaha, attended a Chicago convention . . Prank Stallings of Gothenburg, Neb., has taken over the management of the theatre in Cambridge, Neb. ❖ 5!! * The Strand at Newton, Iowa, has been reopened by George Weigman of the Strand at Boone and Harry Frankie . . . Abe Frankie, owner of the Casino in Des Moines, underwent an operation. * * C. A. “Red,” Jones and J. F. Poland have organized the Southwest Orchestrola Co. to handle the Good-All Orchestrola in the Kansas City, Oklahoma City and Dallas territories. Wareham in Manhattan Undergoing Renovation MANHATTAN, KAS.— The Wareham Theatre, recently leased by Commonwealth Theatres, is being completely remodeled. The marquee sign has been repainted maroon and cream and a neon border and flashers have been added. The downstairs lounge has been repainted and all furniture has been reupholstered and new pieces added. The walls are decorated with plexi-gla.ss murals. The men’s restroom has been redone and the powder room boasts a new mirror. One of the finest snackbars in this section has been installed in the foyer. Semicircular in shape it is done in padded leather' and mirror glass trim. On the walls behind it are blownup murals of scenes from Kansas State College. The outer lobby has been repainted and new lighting added. Later the house will be reseated, and the main floor will be relaid with concrete and new carpeting. Jack Stephenson, formerly of Columbia, Mo., is manager. Col. McCraw Will Speak At Des Moines Nov. 26 ,DES MOINES — Local Variety Tent 15 will hold two meetings on November 26, a luncheon and business meeting at noon at the Standard club and a dinner for members and their wives at the same place that evening. The speaker for both meetings will be Col. William McCraw, national executive director, Dallas. Prom here McCraw will go to Omaha, where he will speak at Boys Town. William Laird on Road for U-I OMAHA — William Laird started on the road this week as a salesman for U-I in the North Platte territory. He fills a position vacant since the resignation of Nate Galbreath due to illness. Laird began with Universal as a poster boy, then went into the navy and received more than his share of laurels. He came back to advance from shipper to assistant booker, the position he held before his new job. Censorship Is Debated At Forum in Sioux City SIOUX CITY, IOWA — A discussion of censorship at the fall forum of the First Unitarian church here last week showed a division of opinion on the wisdom of censoring motion pictures. Prominent Sioux City residents participating in the panel discussion, “How Much Censorship Can We Permit?” were divided on the action of Mayor Dan Conley’s advisory review board in its recent deletion of a strangulation scene from the picture, “Rope.” Mrs. Berkeley Smith, president of the Sioux City chapter of the American Ass'n of University Women and member of the mayor’s board, upheld the opinion that censorship is necessary for the protection of children. But Jesse E. Marshall, lawyer, argued that censorship curtails a “basic right” of the people and said: "Democracy is always subject to risks and dangers, but a program of vigilance and sound education can overcome the effects of movies that are brutal, obscene or lacking in good taste.” Edward E. Baron emphasized that censorship should be by “public opinion” and deplored censorship by “city ordinance.” He expressed the belief that the “right of expression should be limited only when it infringes on the rights of others to express themselves.” Eddy Theatre Remodeled EDDYVILLE. IOWA— The Eddy Theatre here, dark since 1947, has been remodeled and redecorated under the supervision of F. C. Reed, who recently purchased the house, A new canopy has been constructed over the entrance, and new seats have been installed. Improvements at Diagonal DIAGONAL, IOWA — Improvements have been made at the Diagonal Theatre here by Mr. and Mrs. C. W. McMurphy. The outside of the building has been painted and new linoleum laid in the lobby. HOMER F. STROWIG — Owner and Manager, Plaza and Lyric Theatres, Abilene, Kansas — says; “We attribute our excellent and unfailing sound quality to the efforts of RCA Service and top quality of RCA equipment.” To get the benefits of RCA Service — write: RCA SERVICE COMPANY, INC., Radio Corporation of America, Camden, New Jersey. Adv. BOXOFFICE November 20, 1948 73