The Exhibitor (May-Aug 1948)

THE EXHIBITOR NT-3 Independent Theatres Owners of Wis¬ consin and Upper Michigan, that all the 16mm. resort and tavern operations, with the exception of those utilized for education that have been operating in Wisconsin, now have to conform with all rules and regulations pertaining to a theatre as laid down by the Wiscon¬ sin Industrial Commission. The sole exception is that no booth is required because 16mm. safety film is used. William L. Ainsworth, Fond Du Lac, Wis. president, Independent Theatre Owners of Wisconsin and Upper Michi¬ gan, and National Allied president, was on a tour of conventions of the following Allied units: Independent Exhibitors, Inc., New England, Boston; Allied Inde¬ pendent Theatre Owners of Iowa and Nebraska, Inc., Des Moines; Allied In¬ dependent. Theatre Owners of Kansas and Missouri, Kansas City, and Allied Mountain Independent Theatres, Inc., Denver. When “The Iron Curtain” opened at the Wisconsin, there was quite a flurry of excitement. Pickets outside the Wis¬ consin were distributing handbills tell¬ ing patrons to stay out of the theatre. The handbills had been issued here by the Milwaukee Division, Congress of American Women. An extra force of plainclothes men, and increased police protection, on hand all week, reported no further disturbance. Max Wiesner, who operated the Mozart and Alamo, was ill. Several hospital checkups following a major operation have been made, but Wiesner was not recovering as expected. . . . Modern air conditioning was under installation at the Pearl and Grace. George Levine operates both houses. . . . F. J. McWilliams, Portage, Portage. Wis., called. MINNEAPOLIS Jay MacFarland, branch manager, National Screen Service, attended the company’s managers’ meet at the Am¬ bassador Hotel, Los Angeles. . . . Ben Berger, president, North Central Allied, and Stanley Kane, executive director, NCA, attended the board meeting of National Allied in Denver. Radio City, 4,000-seat Minneapolis house, was getting its face lifted in a $25,000 project. The job includes the theatre’s lobby, foyer, lounges, and mez¬ zanine, and took about two weeks. The drive-in operated by Minnesota Entertainment Enterprises in the Twin Cities will play films on a run no earlier than 60 days after they have played the last neighborhood situation. MEE, com¬ posed of 20 independent exhibitors in the Twin Cities, set this policy to protect year-around houses. Eight speaking engagements before members of the Rotary Club were set for Maurice Wolf, MGM public relations executive, in the Minneapolis film terri¬ tory by W. H. Workman, MGM branch manager. . . . A1 Pinet and associates established Motion Picture Service of America, film advertising service, with studios at Mendota in suburban St. Paul, Minn. Pinet was production manager for Ray Bell Films, St. Paul, for nine years. . . . William Smithers is the new owner, Lyric, LeCenter, Minn. . . . Howard Smith purchased the Marion, Marion, S. D., from George Billings. G. Davidson has purchased the Nancy, Bridgewater, S. D. . . . The Bloomington Drive-in, Bloomington, Minneapolis suburb, reopened for the season. . . . The Pix, Sleepy Eye, Minn., has been sold by Welworth Circuit to Mr. and Mrs. John Brandt, theatre operators at Oregon, Mo., for 13 years. OKLAHOMA CITY Foster McSwain, Oklahoma theatre owner, was the retiring president, Okla¬ homa Public Expenditures Council. OMAHA Mrs. Harriett Miller, manager of con¬ cessions, Goldberg Theatre Enterprises, is promoting peppermint popcorn in her seven Goldberg houses. Mrs. Miller perfected the peppermint popcorn in her home at Nebraska City, Neb. She former¬ ly had her own dance band on Broadway. Lucille Woods, office staff member, Goldberg Theatres, resigned. Leonard Prucha is back. . . . G. W. Taift, Mono¬ gram manager, became a city salesman for Paramount, Kansas City. ... A June opening was hoped for Warners’ new exchange. . . . Adolph Rozanek started building a new house at David City, Neb. . . . The U-I office was redecorated. Bernard Dudgeon, is manager, Oma¬ ha’s first drive-in. . . . Abe Sadoff, owner, Fourth Street, Sioux City, la., is helping with the booking for the Uptown, a new house built by A. M. Seff. . . . George Cappers revamped the auditorium, and installed new seats in his State, Hurley, S. C. . . . Tony Goodman, Eagle Lion booker, failed to win nomination in the race of 100 candidates for 14 nomina¬ tions for city commissioner. . . . Roy Mundin is planning a new house for Winner, S. D. Lawrence Bell, RKO-Brandeis, was hurt in a freak accident going to work. A car bounced off a mailbox, and the mailbox hit him. ... A new house, the Uptown, opened formally in Sioux City, la. . . . Sioux City’s first drive-in opened. L. E. Davidson, veteran Tri-States Theatres city manager in Sioux City, la., resigned to join John P. Kampmeyer in the ownership and management of a drive-in nearing completion off a main highway into the noi'thwest Iowa meat packing and livestock center. Davidson was with Tri-States 26 years, and in charge of the Capitol and Hollywood all but two years. A. M. Seff is principal owner, Sioux City’s new Uptown, furnished by Western Theatre Supply Company of Omaha. . . . Leonard Dudgeon, former Tri-States city manager in Falls City, Neb., was in to manage the drive-in nearing completion. . . . Morrie Smead, Council Bluffs, la., exhibitor, and Meyer Stern, independent booker, returned from Miami. . . . Walter Hagadone, Cozad, Neb., exhibitor, recently elected mayor, was down with a cold. ST. LOUIS RKO staged one of its most successful area premieres for “Fighting Father Dunne” with the assistance of the American Legion, Mayor Kaufman, Governor Donnelly, and other local organizations. Pat O’Brien, star, was on hand for a personal appearance at the Fox, and Jane Wyatt was also present. Manager Yovan is handling Loew’s Orpheum here. . . . Russell Bovin, manager, Loew’s State, announced the winners of the photographic contest held in connection with “Arch of Triumph”. Prizes were awarded for the best photo¬ graphs submitted by G. I.’s of the actual Arch of Triumph in Paris. Republic is undergoing extensive re¬ decorating. . . . Sympathy of UniversalInternational personnel was extended to Mildred Doyle when her mother passed away recently. . . . Joe Sarfaty, sales¬ man, Universal-International, is going on his vacation. Branch manager Mariner, United Artists, left to spend a week on busi¬ ness at Memphis. . . . Owner Snyder recently opened a new theatre in Dixon. Mo., known as the Dixon. Owner Davis, Will Rogers, returned from Boston, where he underwent a successful operation. James Frisina, Springfield, Ill., was actively engaged in a golf tournament at Meadowbrook Country Club. . . . Wilford Fromm recently bought the theatre at Enfield, Ill. . . . Albert Vetter is the new owner of the theatre at Adinberg, Ill. . . . Seen on Film row recently were: Herman Tanner, Vandalia, Ill.; exhib Pedrucci, Springfield, Ill.; Bill Collins, DeSoto, Mo., and Lew Norton, Sullivan, Mo. Andy Dietz, general manager, Cooper¬ ative Theatres, arranged to do the book¬ ing and buying for the Joe Schrempp’s 500 car drive-in on the outskirts of Highland, Ill. . . . The Liberty, Maiden, Ill., is undergoing extensive moderniza¬ tion. Maurice Schweitzer, now entering the drive-in theatre field in Rockford, Ill., and Lincoln, Neb., was guest of honor at a testimonial luncheon at the Shera¬ ton Hotel. Schweitzer recently resigned as Paramount branch manager. Ed Kennelly, manager, Indiana, Indiana, Harbor, Ind., recently put on a Mother’s Day party for all mothers 65 or over, who had lived in the town 25 years or longer. Besides many presents to every one attending, a diamond ring was awarded to the oldest mother. Here Kennelly poses with the group. June 2, 1948