Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1961)

Abstract Mural Adds To Waterloo Strand WATERLOO, IOWA — The Strand Theatre has undergone a $36,000 facelifting which included major remodeling and turned the inner walls of the theatre into one huge abstract painting. The unusual interior art job, a far cry from familiar stencil-type theatre wall decoration, is the work of Minneapolis artist Gunnar F. Dahlstrom. The artist, who has been decorating theatres for 30 years, describes the Strand abstraction as “the farthest out job I’ve ever done.” Lavishly done in yellow, vermilion, charcoal and green on a soft aqua background, the painting has “a message.” Dahlstrom says it is an attempt “to convey a feeling of action and to complement what the viewer will see on the screen.” During remodeling operations at the Strand, a new marquee and ceramic tile front were installed. The lobby, with an inner boxoffice, was enlarged and the entire theatre was recarpeted. Other major improvements include a larger screen, new sound and projection equipment, a new heating and cooling plant and new restrooms. The Strand, a Tri-States Theatre, was closed less than two weeks during the remodeling and redecorating program. Volunteer Film Effort Will Aid Junior Blind HOLLYWOOD — Made on weekends on a budget of $214, “Forbid Them Not,” a documentary film conceived and produced by Norman Kaplan and written and directed by Robert L. Kimble, bids fair to become an Oscar contender in nominations for “best documentary” category. Made for and about the Foundation for the Junior Blind, a nonprofit organization in Los Angeles which offers a recreation and social development program to all blind children from 6-21 years of age, the film was four years in production and was made possible through the cooperation and time donated by volunteer workers for the foundation, plus innumerable unions, guilds, personalities and business firms connected with the motion picture industry. Young Michael Cole, blind from birth and a member of the foundation, was chosen for the lead, 20th-Fox actress Jean Gale was cast as his mother, and 20th-Fox writer Phillip Dunne wrote the narration which is spoken by producer-director Jose Ferrer. It is estimated that had all labor, services, film, music, scripts, props, etc. been paid for the film would have cost $100,000. MINNAPOLIS J^rthur King has taken over operation of the Ai'cadia Theatre at Hannah, N. D. The house formerly was operated by W. Pflaum . . . Jake Stadel has closed the Fox Theatre at Isabel, S. D., and Marvin Agotness closed the Towne Theatre at Northwood, N. D. . . . A. O. Iverson, who reopened the Harbor Theatre at Bayfield, Wis., September 1, has closed the house . . . J. M. Robinson has reopened the Home Theatre at Bridgewater, S. D. The house previously was operated by E. M. Marshall . . . Leonard E. Jorgensen has reopened the Regale Theatre at Salem, S. D. Ben Marcus, Columbia midwest district manager, was in . . . Charlie Creamer of Minneapolis Theatre Supply made a swing through western Minnesota and North Dakota . . . Judy Gotvold is the new assistant cashier at Columbia . . . Roy Fleshbein, booker at National Screen Service, has been confined to St. Barnabas Hospital . . . Morrie Steinman of Morris W. Steinman & Associates is back from New York where he called on his film accounts to line up publicity assignments for the coming quarter. The location crew of Hemingway’s “Adventures of a Young Man,” which has been filming the picture at Mellen, "Wis., was plagued by bad weather. For two days it had 400 extras standing around waiting for the sun so a homecoming scene could be filmed. The cost was $4,000 a day plus the $15,000 a day it costs for the company and not a foot of film was shot. The first 20 days the crew was at Mellen it was able to shoot on only ten days . . . With the lowering of the social security eligibility age for men to 62 Minnesota Amusement Co. has likewise lowered the minimum age for its Golden Age Club at 62. Cinerama’s “South Seas Adventure” will open for a rerun November 6 at the Century Theatre, according to Bob Turner, manager. When the present attraction, “Windjammer,” finishes, it will have run for 21 weeks, also on a rerun . . . Gale Mapes is the new assistant manager of the Lyric Theatre . . . Art Brown, shipper at Columbia, died of a heart attack October 15 while hospitalized. Adela Rogers St. John Film Council Speaker DETROIT — The Greater Detroit Motion Picture Council had the famed Adela Rogers St. John as guest speaker at the October 12 meeting, held at the Women’s Club Building, according to announcement by Mrs. Dorothy Duncan, publicity chairman. Helen Bower, who recently retired as longtime film and dramatic critic of the Detroit Free Press, is slated to take an active part in the activities of the council, with special status as an honorary member, according to Mrs. Duncan. 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Gilbert Gioia Promoted WILLIMANTIC, CONN.— Stanley Warner has named Gilbert Gioia, 22, assistant manager at the Strand, New Britain, for the past 12 months, to his first managership, supervising the first-run Capitol, Willimantic, succeeding Gerard Bouchard, promoted to a similar post at the first-run Capitol, Springfield, Mass., replacing William Shepherd, resigned. Bouchard had been here for the past year. The above features provide a rectifier bulb with increased efficiency, free from all mechanical defects, and a bulb with a far greater life. The Lee ARTOE Deluxe BULB is a tough, triple tested, scientifically built, guaranteed bulb, of latest development, built to give performance. Place Your Business With Engineers Whose Product Application Knowledge Makes The Best Always Cost Less. SOLD ONLY DIRECT FROM CHICAGO Lee ARTOE ElectroCarbons^ 940 BELMONT AVE. CHICAGO 14 BOXOFFICE October 23, 1961 NC-3