Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1963)

DES MOINES ^iles Robinson, new manager at the Capri Theatre, replaces able young Peter Frederick, now at the Dundee in Omaha. Robinson comes here from Audubon, where he was at the Rose Theatre for five years . . . Word is that Kenny Waldon of Winterset has taken on a real-life role of “father of the bride." Daughter Mickey Jo is to be wed Thanksgiving eve. Waldron, who now sells films to TV, for many years was associated with the film business here as MGM booker, and as branch manager for Republic. Bert Thomas of B&I Booking has concluded his three-week engagement at Mercy Hospital and is back at his office in the Plymouth Building. Bert's bout with a kidney ailment turned into a longer hospital stay than anticipated ... At Paramount’s exchange, salesman Tony Goodman was in from Omaha. Meanwhile, Charles Caligiuri, the branch manager, was out — with flu. Dave Gold, 20th Century-Fox exchange chief, plans to attend a December 2 meeting in Chicago when his firm’s films for 1964 will be unveiled. Dave reports that 20th-Fox’s bell-ringer, “The Longest Day,” will be taken out of release on the prerelease pattern as of January 1. There will be no bookings until the anniversary of D-Day in June, when the film will be launched on general release. A great movie and big grosser, “The Longest Day” has done its most tremendous business around here where exhibitors have worked out a promotion with veterans organizations. A good stunt, a memory tickler and a head-scratcher was Gordon Gammack’s “Favorite Film” contest in the Des Moines Tribune. Gammack asked his readers to pretend they were stranded on a desert island and for entertainment could see a rerun of their ten favorite films. Which ten would they choose? Tri-State’s Don Allen hopes to reshow the ten favorites compiled from all entries, with free tickets to all fans who chose the film as No. 1. Test yourself. It isn’t easy. The films you loved at 13 might be a bore at 40 and vice versa. This is not a test of the “best” but of your “favorites.” Fit for the King: Residents of Ida Grove 'pop. 2,265) are looking forward to the reopening of the King Theatre there. It promises to be one of the swankiest of small town film houses. Bob Fridley, owner of the lush Capri and Varsity in Des Moines, also has the King. Fridley, assisted by Dick Glenn, has been spending considerable time supervising the celluloid re birth at Ida Grove. The street-to-screen renovation includes installation of reclining seats like those in the comfortable Capri. Manager of the King will be Jim Lindsay, presently Ida Grove’s city clerk. Lindsay formerly was associated with the theatre there. Harvest Note: Marilyn Smith of Universal and friends were assured of Thanksgiving nibbling after bagging 14 pheasants on an armed junket near Ringstead . . . Thelma Washburn, Universal booker and nonhunter, planned for Thanksgiving dinner guests from Kansas City — with a bird from the supermarket . . . And finally, our annual “Thanks” and a second drumstick to all — Pilgrims and Indians of the local industry— who make this column possible ! OJ/jAHA ■phe Niobrara Theatre at Niobrara was badly damaged in a fire that swept the business district of the northeast Nebraska town and destroyed the Sportsman’s Bar. Several other buildings were threatened. The blaze is believed to have started from an overheated furnace and firemen from Niobrara and Verdigre battled to keep the fire spreading. Joe Liska, veteran exhibitor, has not yet announced his plans for the theatre . . . Fred Fejfar, MGM representative for the Nebraska, western Iowa and southern South Dakota territory, spent last week in Des Moines in sales conference. John McNutt, assistant manager at TriStates’ Orpheum Theatre in Omaha, returned from a three-week fill-in trick at the Rivoli Theatre in Hastings during the change in managership which brought Horace Spencer of the Rocket Theatre at Rock Island to the Rivoli. John got back just in time — the Tri-States city manager was laid up with the flu and a number of the girls at the Orpheum also were bitten by the bug . . . Good comments were received at the screening of “The Wheeler Dealers” at the Center Theatre. The picture is scheduled for showing at the Cooper Theatre. Duchesne College students are attending a three-day fall workshop on motion pictures which opened Sunday (24). Mother Marie Louise Martinez, the academic dean, said three film critics will discuss movies and several films will be shown during the sessions. The critics are Moria Walsh, movie reviewer of America Magazine, and the Rev. Emile McAnany, S. J., and Robert Williams, both of St. Mary’s Theoloeate in Kansas. Elsa and Adolph Rozanek, talented exhibitors at Crete, continue to pile up laurels as a dancing team. The Rozaneks received acclaim for their performances at the Americana Hotel in New York and added another trophy for their dancing in a contest at the Taft Hotel, performing with the Vincent Lopez orchestra . . . The Rock Theatre at Bassett will be dismantled, stsrting December 2, and will be converted into a bowling establishment. Rollie Connell has been operating the Rock under a lease agreement. The theatre is part of the estate of Charles Coryell. Connell has OUR FEET are on the ground When It Gomes To Making SPECIAL TRAILERS With Our 45 Yoart Of Experience, We Have The Know-how To Make Trailer! And Precision. a dnve-in theatre located between Bassett and Long Pine. Television programs have been getting a raking over the coals from contributors to the Public Pulse columns in the Omaha World-Herald. An example is this comment from a reader, one of the latest to appear in the letters-to-the-editor column: “I, too, protest trash on TV. A television magazine said: 'Television is being brave and bold about sex. The new dramatic shows are offering sex by way of various themes — rape, frigidity, adultery, prostitution and seduction without benefit of marriage.’ Just what is happening to TV? Most such shows are unfit for adults, let alone children. Isn’t anyone brave enough to protest openly and stop murderous sexy trash?” Early Omaha Industryman Frank A. Van Husan Dies OMAHA — Frank A. Van Husan, Omahan whose career in the motion picture business about spans the life of the industry, died Monday (18) at Phoenix, Ariz. Van Husan, owner of the Western Theatre Supply Co. for 33 years and who retired about ten years I ago, entered the film business in Omaha in 1907. He first worked for Carl Laemmle sr. Frank Van Husan as a distributor in this territory. In the days of the silent films, Van Husan also sold pianos and in 1920 he started operating the Western Theatre Supply Co. He had a hand in building and furnishing many theatres in this section of the Midlands. He became “Omaha’s biggest popcorn salesman,” in his own language, and in the early 1950s sold “one Omaha theatre as much as 50,000 pounds a year.” He served as chief barker of Omaha Tent 16 of the Variety Club and in 1961 received a 50-year membership pin from St. John’s Masonic Lodge No. 25. Survivors include his wife Gertrude and son-in-law, Jack Zigler, Phoenix. Services and burial were in Omaha. Four More for Ransohoff From Western Edition HOLLYWOOD — Martin Ransohoff will produce for Filmways four’ additional productions for MGM release over the next two years. They are “The Aging Boy,” based on a novel by Julian Claman; “Penelope,” adapted from a book by William Anderson; “Muscle Beach,” from an original story by Ira Wallach and “First Love,” from Russian writer Ivan Turgenev. ENDLESS BURNS THE ENTIRE POSITIVE ROD Sove Carbon Cost W#it Coast Thsotrt Ssrvics ltJJ HW. ELAINIT — POCTIAND, OtIOOM Call — ••!!( — wire — for O d("OMl'Ol'0* REVOLUTIONARY PROJECTOR ¥ NC-2 BOXOFFICE :: November 25, 1963