The Exhibitor (1954)

EXHIBITOR NT-S west exploiteer, was in. . . . Taking advantage of the momentary absence of the cashier at the Chateau, long-armed thieves stole $25 Oklahoma City 0. K. Kemp, Victory, Poteau, Okla., returned from a business trip to San Antonio, Tex., where he saw the premiere of “Red Garters.” . . . Wait Kerr, Platt, Sulphur, Okla. ; and his father-in-law, Frank Deal, Wynnewood, Okla., returned from a fishing trip. . . . The father of Walsie Campbell, Deal, Wynnewood, Okla.; passed away. Her brother, Paul, connected with a studio in California, was here for the funeral. . . . H. B. Robb, Dallas, owner, Admiral Drive-In, Tulsa, Okla., was in. . . . Mrs. Blanch Camp, assistant cashier, Paramount, was called to Oskaloosa, la. due to the illness of her father. In town were Mrs. C. M. Ausherman, Wakita, Wakita, Okla.; W. F. Deaton, Pix, Alva, Okla.; H. D. Cox, Caddo, Binger, Okla. ; Bill Cleverdon, Ritz, Eldorado, Okla.; Joel Johnson, Tower, Cement, Okla.; C. L. Lance, El Rancho, Ringling, Okla.; Mrs. L. H. Goerke, Grand, Canton, Okla.; Ed Crew, Empress-Royal, Waurika, Okla.; John Sanders, Roxy, Biarnsdall, Okla.; Henry Simpson, Princess-Walmur, Bristow, Okla.; Mrs. Opal Gray, Esquire, Chickasha, Okla.; J. E. Stribling, Gem, Davenport, Okla.; James Leonard, Depew, Depew, Okla.; Roy T. Shields, Sooner, Enid, Okla.; W. A. LaBarthe, Grant, Pond Creek, Okla.; Mrs. Grade Moulder, Criterion, Sapulpa, Okla.; Ruby Jones, Ritz, Shawnee, Okla.; R. V. McGinnis, CozyCove, Tulsa, Okla.; Mrs. R. R. McCoy, Broncho-Gen, Edmond, Okla.; Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Henderson, Mawil, Medford, Okla.; G. E. Ortman, Ortman-Trail, Hennessey, Okla.; and Adolph Bell, Fawn, Jones, Okla. Listing indebtedness of over $250,000 which it is unable to meet and remain in operation, KLPR-TV petitioned in federal court for reorganization under the bankruptcy act. The action, filed by R. Lewis Barton, vice-president and thea¬ tre owner, was approved by district Judge Stephen S. Chandler, who appointed Everett E. Cotter, attorney, as trustee. The station listed liabilities at $318,651.29 and indebtedness in excess of $250,000. Assets were listed at $523,443.34 with $485,074.33 as fixed assets such as land and equipment. The amount still due on equipment is $197,685.23. Gordon McLen¬ don, Dallas, took over active management of the station. He immediately fired 37 employees and then rehired 11. A scheduled showing of Columbia’s “Miss Sadie Thompson” at the Oklahoma, McAlister, Okla., was cancelled after the McAlister Ministerial Alliance protested. Euck Jones, manager, said the Alliance received complaints from congregation members who had seen a trailer on the film, but that the Alliance refused to view the entire film on Jones’ invitation. Omaha Mr. and Mrs. Ben Juracek, Cedar Rapids, Neb., installed wide-screen and other new equipment. Other wide-screen installations include the Tabor, la., thea¬ tre, owned by Max Shoemaker; A1 Bur¬ ney’s Express, Wolbach, Neb.; and the King, Ida Grove, Neb. Merchants at Hamburg, la., launched a 12-week series of Saturday afternoon movies in cooperation with exhibitor Bick Downey at the Colonial and sponsored by the Junior Chamber of Commerce. Businessmen present their customers a 20-cent coupon which, with an additional five cents paid by the customers, serves as admission. The merchants do the advertising, Downey arranges the pro¬ gram and puts on the pictures. Portland Barney Rose, U-I, western division manager, conferred with Ernie Piro, U-I branch manager. . . . Charles Schram, former Liberty manager, Oregon City, Ore., joined the Parker organization as Liberty manager, Astoria, Ore. ... A modern concession bar has been installed in the Broadway by the Oregon Film Service. St Louis The Heart Fund of Tent Four, Variety Club, Edward B. Arthur, general man¬ ager, chief barker, was enriched $4004 through the first night showing of “This Is Cinerama” at the Ambassador. In Springfield, Ill., the Frisina Amuse¬ ment Company plans the installaiton of a 32-foot-wide Walker screen, and CinemaScope sound and projection in the Roxy, furnished and installed by National Theatre Supply. In Ramsey, Ill., for the first time in 14 years, the Roxy entered into a change of policy under which it will play three feature pictures a week instead of four. The theatre is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Woody Proffer. A number of independent drive-in thea¬ tre owners and managers from eastern Missouri and southern Illinois obtained the latest available information at a drive-in conference at the Sheraton Hotel arranged by Andy Dietz, general manager, Andy Dietz Enterprises. Dietz had attended the national drive-in con¬ ference held in Cincinnati. Those in attendance included Mr. and Mrs. John F. Edmundson, Jackson Drive-In, Route 25, Jackson, Mo.; Frank Glenn, Mount Vernon and Starland Drive-Ins, Mount Vernon, Ill.; Woodrow Schmidt and Stuart Morgenstern, Arrow Drive-In, Steeleville, Ill.; Dr. Eugene Brezany, St. Louis, owner, and Robert Smitt, man¬ ager, Quincy Drive-In, West Quincy, Mo.; Dr. D. A. Squires, Vandalia Drive-In, Vandalia, Mo.; Miss M. Mulcally, secre¬ tary, Vandalia Drive-In, Vandalia, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. Hubert E. Lay, Sunset Drive-In, Houston, Mo.; William Zim¬ merman, AutoVu Drive-In, Warrenton, Mo.; Emil Bebermeyer, Bebe Drive-In, Centralia, Mo.; Marvin Bank, Star, Vandalia, Mo.; Louis Odorizzi, Sunset Drive-In and Grand, Mount Olive, Ill.; Edward Peters, Confection Cabinet Com¬ pany, St. Louis; Ed Shapiro, Confection Cabinet Company, Chicago; Andy Dietz, Andy Dietz Enterprises and Coopera¬ tives Theatres, St. Louis; and Mrs. Bette Behr, booker, Cooperative Theatres, St. Louis, Mo. The Aubert, dark since early last summer, is being converted into a super market for the National Food Center Stores. Out-of-town exhibitors in were Bill Williams, Union, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. Leon Jarodsky, Paris, Ill.; Johnny Giachette, and Rani Pedrucci, Frisina Amusement Company, Springfield, Ill. ; Loren Cluster, Salem, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs., John Edmund¬ son, Bloomfield, Mo., owners, Jackson Drive-In, Jackson, Mo. and theatres in Bloomfield, Mo., and Advance, Mo.; Frank Glenn, Mount Vernon Ill.; Woodrow Schmidt and Stuart Morganstern, Arrow Drive-In, Steeleville, Ill.; Robert Smitt, manager, Quincy Drive-In, West Quincy, Mo.; Dr. D. A. Squires, Van¬ dalia Drive-In, Vandalia, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. Hubert E. Lay, Sunset Drive-In, Houston, Mo.; William Zimmerman, Warrenton, Mo.; Emil Bebermeyer, Cen¬ tralia, Mo.; Marvin Bank, Star, Van¬ dalia, Mo.; Louis Odorizzi, Mount Olive, Ill.; Howard Bates, Cape Drive-In, Illmo, Mo.; E. L. Staup, Twin Lakes Drive-In, Paris, Ill.; Forrest Pirtle, Jersey ville, Ill.; Charles Weeks, Jr., Dexter Mo.; Judge Frank X. Reller, Wentzville, Mo; Otto Ingwersen, Montgomery County, Mo.; Joe Goldfarb, Alton, Ill.; Tom Bloomer, Belleville, Ill. ; Charley Beninati, Carlyle, Ill., and A. P. Meier, Cuba, Mo. Salt Lake City RKO’s “Dangerous Mission,” will have its world premiere at the Utah on Feb. 25. The premiere will be followed by saturation bookings throughout the area. The annual Valentine party was held at the Fort Douglas Club, sponsored by Ladies of Variety. In charge of arrange¬ ments were Mrs. Lou Athas, president, and Mrs. James Griffen, Mrs. Art Jolley, and Mrs. Don V. Tibbs. . . . Sympathies go to Miss Mary L. Roman, Roman, Red Lodge, Mont., on the death of her father, Steve Roman. Helen Garrity (Mrs. Gabe Yorke) was in town publicizing “The Glenn Miller Story.” Mrs. Yorke was formerly pub¬ licity director for Intermountain Theatres. Don Haynes, former manager for Miller, was in in connection with the song-writing contest and opening. Thomas McMahon resigned as branch manager of Republic. James Ecker, Denver, succeeds. Exhibitors in were Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Lund, Kinema and Huish, Mount Pleasant, Utah; Mrs. M. G. Price, Novelty, Paris, Idaho; William Fowers, Treasure State Amusement Company, Missoula, Mont.; Robert Benton, Sero Amusement Company, Los Angeles; Virgil Odell, Emmett Drive-In, Emmett, Idaho; Mr. and Mrs. A. O. Halstead, Cozy, Duchesne, Utah; Mr. and Mrs. Glen Yergensen, Parks and Cedar, Cedar City, Utah; Alson Shiner, Shiner Brothers Theatres, Vernal Utah; Mr. Fry, Boise Drive-Ins, Boise, Idaho; and Frank McFaddin, Panoramic Produc February 21*, 1951*