The Exhibitor (1950)

NT-2 laws will be rigidly enforced. The law provides that children under 15 must be off the streets and other public places by 10 p.m. and those under 18 by 11 p.m. . . . M. B. Warrick, manager, Rialto and Valley, Missouri Valley, la., is in the Mercy Hospital, Council Bluffs, la., for treatment and observation. Gary Sandler is in charge of the the¬ atres. . . . Boyd Roberts, Huntsville, Ark., sold the Grand, Wellman, la., to Omar Freeman, New Hyde Park, N. Y. . . . Marian Jean Burkhalter, Iowa United Theatres, was married recently to Ed Mann. . . . Morrie Friedman, U-I salesman, returned to the road after recovering from an illness. . . . Russel Frazer, publicity department, Tri-States Theatres, was forced home with illness. . . . Don Walker, Warners, visited. Kansas City Trade interest is centering on the golf tourney to be held on June 2,6 at the Milburn Country Club. . . . The Motion Picture Association of Greater Kansas City held a meeting last fortnight, with E. C. Rhoden, president, in charge. Gloria Swanson was in to participate in the Centennial celebration. . . . Ben Kalmenson, Warners’ general sales man¬ ager, was in visiting the exchange. . . . J. E. Courter, owner-operator, Courter, Gallatin, Mo., celebrated his 30th anni¬ versary in show business. . . . Frances Ames, secretary, Warner, returned from a vacation in California. . . . Donald Elliott, former aide at the Liberty, Sedalia, Mo., has been appointed assist¬ ant manager, Fox, Sedalia, Mo. He re¬ places Clyde Patton, transferred to Centralia, Ill. . . . Harry Gaffney, branch manager, Lippert, attended a sales meet¬ ing in Chicago. . . . Visitors included: Ben Adams, Eldorado, Kan.; G. W. Owen, Seymour, Mo.; Frank Meyers, Brookfield, Mo.; James L. Johnson, Gyp¬ sum, Kan.; M. B. Landeau, Horton, Kan.; Dan Payton, Mt. Vernon, Mo., and J. Wooten, Liberal, Kans. Los Angeles The Mel-Van, a block from the Para¬ mount Studios, closed. . . .The manage¬ ment of the Melrose announced a reduc¬ tion of admission prices, 40 cents for general admission, 30 cents for juveniles of 12 or older, and nine cents for young¬ sters under 12. There’s a new theatre being built at the corner of Selma and Iva which will have a stage. The house will be housing only 380 seats, and will be ready for oc¬ cupancy by Sept. 1. . . . The De Ansa, Riverside, Cal., and the Obispo, San Luis Obispo, Cal., are still being offered for sale by FWC. Roger Stewart, Figueroa, hit manager Jim Richardson with an idea to paint fancy pictures on the mirrors inside the theatre. . . . Oldtimers are welcoming back Fred Alwaise to the Egyptian, San Diego, Cal. Following a return from overseas service in World War II, he went into other entertainment fields. . . . Sherrill Corwin came up with an agreement whereby his Orpheum will release two Metro first-runs. . . . Harry Marks and Bruce Fowler, FWC, were EXHIBITOR helping to make history when U-I opened the Carthay Circle for one night to stage a special preview of “Louisa.” 20th Century-Fox film moved to new quarters at 1620 West 20th Street. Milwaukee According to The Milwaukee Journal’s recent survey, theatre business is “lousy.’’ The following reasons were given: television, sports events, smaller pay checks, high admission prices, the annual summer slump, and so forth. Many of the downtown theatres find receipts off 40 per cent to 50 per cent from 1949, with neighborhood houses business off 25 per cent to 35 per cent. To overcome the situation, one theatre offers the show for a price of 12 cents for everyone, children and adults, while another featured 14 cents and another, 17 cents. Larry Schultz, manager, National, worked out a tieup with his neighboring druggist wherein it featured toy horns at 25 cents, and paid the freight for a contest calling for the kids to learn to play a tune on the horns, the winners to appear on the National’s stage. Joe Bouldin, Uptown, rates mention for his efforts along showmanship lines. His most recent gimmick was a leg contest, with 12 young men as con¬ testants and an all-girl panel of judges. . . . Eddie Nelson, recently moved to the downtown Strand, did a bang up job out at the Allis, particularly in his calling out the National Guard. . . . Over at the Riviera, those birthday parties pack ’em in. Ted Pappas, former Strand manager, is now at headquarters booking for FoxAmusement Company. . . . Robert Stephniewski, 23, Strand, passed away sud¬ denly due to a heart attack. Jack Heineman, Ripon, Wis., manager has been named a board member of that community’s Better Films Council for 1950-51. Members decided to hold their first meeting of the new year in Septem¬ ber. A roster of films will be chosen, and the children in the schools will have the opportunity to select by ballot those they wish to see. Minneapolis Minnesota Amusement Company, Para¬ mount affiliate, announced that it is looking for buyers of its lease of the 800-seat loop Aster. The house has been showing “B” first runs. Harry B. French, president, Minnesota Amusement, said that the circuit plans to show only top¬ flight pictures in its four remaining “A” houses in the loop. The circuit owns the 4,000-seat deluxe Radio City, Century, and Lyric, and has a long-term lease on the State. WTCN-TV will go on the new tele¬ vision cable about Sept. 30. The station has been informed that the Columbia Broadcasting system has placed an order for the cable service. . . . Dick Powers has moved from the United Artists sales staff to the RKO sales staff, and will travel North Dakota, replacing Don Ful¬ ler, who will travel southern Minnesota for RKO. . . . Norman L. Reule has let a contract to build a theatre at Medina, N. D. The one-story structure is expected to cost about $38,000, and, when com¬ pletely equipped, about $60,000. . . . The Variety Club of the Northwest will close its club rooms in the Nicollet Hotel from June 28 to July 12 for renovation and a vacation for the employees. . . . John Ludwig, Jamestown, N. D., exhibitor and former executive of Minnesota Amusement Company, was ill. National Allied’s board of directors, in Memphis convention, failed by a split vote to take definite action on the arbitration plan offered by Ben Berger, president, North Central Allied, and delayed action on an NCA resolution to “boycott” all companies and their product where they insist on compul¬ sory percentage on any of their pictures. Twin Cities member of North Central Allied were called into a special meeting to air complaints over alleged forced buying, according to Stanley Kane, NCA executive director. Kane called the cur¬ rent forcing of one film on another a “pretty bad situation,” and asked exhib¬ itors for affidavits which would be used either in court actions or for relay to the Department of Justice (or both). Other trade problems also were dis¬ cussed at the meeting. Ben Berger and Ted Bolnick, owners, have taken over operation of the 1,800seat Palace, loop “B” run house, five weeks in advance of the expiration of Minnesota Amusement Company’s lease. Bolnick has notified exchanges that he will use a last-run policy at the Palace, which recently was switched to that slot. . . . Berger Amusement Company recently withdrew membership in Thea¬ tre Associates, and is now doing its own buying for its theatres. The Berger Cir¬ cuit stands in addition to the Palace are the Gopherland Cedar, Minneapolis; World, St. Paul, Minn.; Lyceum, Duluth, Minn.; Peoples, Superior, Wis.; Fergus and Lyric, Fergus Falls, Minn.; State, St. Peter, Minn.; Riviera, Hastings, Minn., and Hollywood, Wausau, Wis. Equipment for theatre television is being installed in the new 7-Hi Drive-In being built at the intersection of High¬ ways 7 and 101 near Minneapolis. One of the first drive-ins to be so equipped, it is expected to be ready in about a month. With its capacity for 750 cars, the outdoor stand will be one of the largest in the territory. . . . Fire of un¬ disclosed origin caused $50,000 damages to the Savoy, Watertown, Wis. . . . F. J. LeMay is the new owner, Grand, Grantsburg, Wis. Don Halloran, dropped from Eagle Lion in the merger with Film Classics, joined Warners. Halloran replaces Don Urquardt, called back to the booking staff of WB. John Max has been pro¬ moted to a position in the shipping de¬ partment. Foster Daniels, WB second shipper, resigned. . . . Harry Saveriede, head, Saveriede Brokers, theatre special¬ ists, was a recent visitor. He announced the appointment of Lawrence Fredericks to the sales staff. . . . Don Palmquist, June 21, 1950