The Exhibitor (1951)

NT-2 EXHIBITOR Des Moines The Iowa Tax Commission is con¬ sidering a change in the Iowa two per¬ cent sales tax structure, starting the tax at 24 cents instead of the present 15 cents. The new plan calls for a one cent tax starting at 24 cents, and jumping to two cents at 73 cents. At the present time, it starts at 15 cents, and jumps to two cents at 66 cents. The change would mean theatres could not charge for any sales tax on tickets selling for less than 24 cents. Since the theatres pay the state a flat two per cent tax on gross receipts, the change would mean the theatre operators would have to make up the difference for the loss on non-tax sales. The Campus, Storm Lake, la., reopened for the winter. . . . The Farragut, Farragut, la., reopened under the management of Bob Barry and Dan Meyers, Jr., both of Shenandoah, la. . . . Dick Felix, formerly of Oelwein, has been named as manager, new Belmond, Belmond, la., succeeding Gene Bradley. . . . The drive-in at Otumwa, la., is giving its giant screen the mothball treatment, the same type used on war¬ ships. The cocoon material is sprayed on with guns. . . . Mack Johnson has been named as an assistant booker at U-I. Kansas City Lynn Pitts, Paramount salesman, re¬ signed. . . . Craig Stevens was spending a weekend with his father, Gail Shikles, principal, Blenheim School. Also visiting were Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Smith, parents of Stevens’ actress wife, Alexis Smith. The Paramount showed “Dobbin Steps Out,” filmed in Kansas City dur¬ ing the American Royal, and featuring Linda Baker, daughter of George Baker, Consolidated Agencies, Inc. Ruben Melcher, Poppers Supply, was a patient in Menorah Hospital. . . . Stanley Warco, Altec, returned from Denver. . . . Joan Fowler, secretary, Ed Hartman Booking Agency, has announced her engagement. Jay Wooten, president, Allied Theatre Owners of Kansas and Missouri, was on Film Row. Others seen were: C. S. Shafer, Regent, Blue Rapids, Kans.; Dale Danielson, Dream, Russell, Kans.; C. E. Cook, Tivoli, Maryville, Mo.; Frank Weary, Sr., and Frank Weary, Jr., Farrish, Richmond, Mo.; Ben Adams, Drive-In, Liberal, Kans.; Mr. and Mrs. William Flynn, Drive-In, Great Bend, Kans.; Johnny Flynn, former Columbia salesman; T. R. Thompson, former Monogram branch manager, and William Silvers, Silver, Cameron, Kans. A barbeque luncheon was planned for Harold Ross, who left Monogram to book for Monogram in Denver. . . . Ardyth Wingett, secretary, RCA, was vacation¬ ing at home. Elmer C. Rhoden, Jr., general chair¬ man, KMTA convention, expects several Hollywood personalities to attend the two-day meeting here on Nov. 6-7. . . . Ernie Block, Civic, Sabetha, Kans., was in showing a copy of “The Sabetha Herald,” which devoted a front page column to “It’s Movietime, U.S.A.” Seen on Film Row were: Leon Robert¬ son, Fox Midwest; Elmer Bills, Homer Strowig, W. L. Presley, John Travis, Sam Serseney, Nick Kotsis, Ben Spainhour, W. P. Somnerman, Fred Eberwein, O. A. Dickson, R. F. Fite, Fite; Fred Meyn, C. E. Cook, Jay Means, Frank Weary, and Norman Cresswell. The KMTA board met at the Hotel Phillips to make final arrangements for the fall convention. Elmer C. Rhoden, Jr., general chairman, convention committee, expects to meet on Nov. 1, with the committee heads. Pepsi-Cola and Manley Popcorn are giving a cocktail party for the exhibitors, and Sam Abend, Exhibi¬ tors Film Delivery, is handling ticket sales. Dale Danielson, KMTA President, will talk on 20th-Fox product; C. E. Cook, Tivoli and Dude Ranch Drive-In, Maryville, Mo., on U-I; Virgil Harbison, Tarkio, Tarkio, Mo., on Metro; Elmer Bills, on Paramount; David Dallas, Campus, Manhattan, Kans., on Warners; J. Leo Hayob, Marshall, Mo., on RKO; Charlie Knikerbocker, Liberty, Columbus, Kans., on Columbia, and Glen Hall, on United Artists, Monogram, Republic, and and Lippert. Trailers on the new product will be presented with each of these talks. It has been decided to have a question and answer session. This panel will be headed by Elmer Bills. The other members are Tom Edwards, Homer Strowig, Dick Biechele, and Dale Danielson. Ralph Winship, who was operated on, left the Kansas Medical Center, and returned to his home in Phillipsburg, Kans. . . . Mrs. Sam Abend is a patient at Menorah Hospital. . . . Lawrence Lehman, manager, RKO Missouri, has been released from Menorah Hospital. Rube Melcher, Poppers Supply, is back at his desk after illness. . . . Bob Carnie, Monogram, and Mary Carnie returned from Miami Beach, Fla. . . . Dick Wiles and Brooks Noah closed their Spa Motor Movie, Excelsior Springs, Mo. . . . Glen Dickinson is build¬ ing a 36-seat screening room in his new office space in Mission, Kans. . . . T. W. Wiseman purchased the Avon, Hillsboro, Kans., from Glen Dickinson. . . . George Baker, Consolidated Agencies, Inc., has taken additional office space in the Melcher building. Los Angeles Tent 25, Variety Club of Southern California, elected a new slate of barkers to take office for the 1952 term. The meeting was presided over by George Bowser, First Assistant Chief Barker, who has served as acting Chief Barker since Dave Bershon stepped down. The new crew elected includes Ezra Stern, Howard Stubbins, Lew Rosen, Morton Scott, Herb Turpie, Bernie Wolfson, A1 Hansen, M. J. E. McCarthy, Lloyd Ownbey, William Srere, and Chill Wills. Alternates elected were Harry Maizlish, Ben Peskay, and Barclay Ardell. The final regional meeting of U-I bookers and office managers to help for¬ mulate a coordinated plan to relieve the print problem took place with personnel from Los Angeles, Denver, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle attending. The Monogram-Allied Artists’ sales policy for 1952 was outlined by Morey Goldstein, vice-president and general sales manager, at a western region sales meeting, attended by companies’ execu¬ tives and sales personnel from the ex¬ changes in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle. Fox West Coast reopened its renovated Fox Village, Westwood, Calif. Film stars, producers, business officials, and civic leaders joined in the ceremonies heralding the opening of the 1,518-seat showplace, redecorated at a cost of $200,000. Charles P. Skouras, president, and a contingent of company executives were on hand. A highlight of the re¬ modeling program included the installa¬ tion of facilities in the theatre’s 170-foot tower for color television programming. One of the girls at United Artists got a ticket for jay-walking. This is just to serve as a warning to the guys and gals who cut across Vermont to get the most of their 10-minute break. . . . Tom Murray, U-I operations manager; Irving Sochin, Irving Weiner, and Mai Fronti, assistant to Murray, were visiting. This is the first time that Fronti is back after eight years. Don Beers, owner, Sante Fe, N. M., was on the Row on the first leg of his vacation. . . . The Film Row Club was in high spirits over the results and turn¬ out at the picnic. Lavish prizes were given away. A meeting was held to dis¬ cuss ways, means, and plans for further activities. Herbert Bregstein, independent dis¬ tributor, and Robert Kronenberg, Man¬ hattan, have been appointed western division manager, and coast sales mana¬ ger, respectively, by Reub Kaufman, head, Snader sales. . . . Lucille O’Brien, FNC booker’s secretary, is back after a bout with a cold. . . . Manny Feldstein, Deitrich and Feldstein, is on the mend after his heart attack. Milwaukee M. L. Simons, assistant to H. M. Richey, MGM exhibitor relations head, on Nov. 1, will speak before the Better Films Council at Sheboygan, Wis. On Nov. 5, he will also attend the Wisconsin State Convention of Better Films Council here. At both meetings, he will show 50 “Quo Vadis” slides, and discuss the importance of the theatre to the business community. Minneapolis Procrastination by several film com¬ panies in stating a definite position on the demand of the Edina, suburban house, for a 28-day run without bidding is seen as an invitation for the owners to bring threatened court action. The October 31, 1951