The Film Daily (1943)

Building Remodeling mMb»:>,^m<i Equipment Maintenance DAILY • * * * NEW YORK, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1943 * * * RELAXING OF CONSTRUCTION BANJ.00M! Projector, Lens Mfrs. Gird for Post -War Boon Vast Potential Field Is Seen for Such Equip. In Theaters, Institutions Chicago — Manufacturers of motion picture projectors as well as makers of lenses in various sections of the country are not only fixing their sights on 35 mm. machines, for which there admittedly will be a record market due to the wave of replacements, need for new equipment of this type domestically, and also the huge development which is anticipated within the export market, but are centering much of their attention on both 16 mm. and 8 mm. Considerable impetus has been given in the past fortnight to the flood of trade possibilities for 16 mm. and 8 mm. as the result of pro (Continued on Page 15) Problems Call lor Realism, Says Conrow "Hard-headed realism, applied with a full knowledge of what technical science can contribute to the exhibitor's needs in a period of transition" is the way L. W. Conrow, president of Altec Service, epitomizes the problems with which the service organization which he heads must grapple, now and in the future. This theme, Conrow said last night, is being keynoted and interpreted in all its technical ramifications, before Altec Service's Division Managers' (Continued on Page 15) Missouri Theater's Fire Loss Is Huge Brunswick, Mo. — Loss resulting from the furnace explosion and subsequent fire in the 450-seat Roxy Theater here on Nov. 24 is now estimated at $100,000, including the house's equipment and furnishings. A considerable percentage of the damage was wrought to adjacent business buildings. Accumulation of gases in the furnaces are held the cause of the destruction which is said to be the greatest in local annals. Equipment Field Notes LJOWARD REYNOLDS, owner of the Family, Vogue and Stocking Theaters, ali nabe stands in Grand Rapids, Mich., is retiring from the role of exhibition solon, but will still be a decidedly active factor in the trade. His trio of houses are, it is reported, in process of being leased to Albert Hefferan, owner of the Century in Coopersville, and it is expected that the deal will be concluded this week. Reynolds plans to leave with his wife for a trip to the West Coast, and, upon his return, will take an active part in his manufacturing business, dealing with air conditioners and blowers. * * * Cinder Block, Inc., has sold a new standing rail wall of acoustical cinder block to the Julius London chain for the Booth Theater to replace latter's former wood wall. Fred C. Dickely, Altec's district service manager in the Detroit and surrounding sector, reports installation of sound equipment in the Grove, Windham, O., for C. G. Bosworth. Plans for the reconstruction of the 400-seat Woodbine Theater, Carthage, III., badly damaged by fire on Nov. 15, are under consideration. The house is owned by C. J. Gerard, who also owns the Dallas in Dallas City, III. Tom Flannery, Whiteway Service prexy, has returned to his Chicago headquarters, following confabs in the nation's capital anent Government contracts. His new plant is engaged 100 per cent in war work. An extensive renovation program got under way this past week in Lima, O., Warners' Sigma, Ohio and State Theaters came in for improvement under the personal supervision of J. Leonard Halper, in charge of WB construction in that territory. The program comprises painting, new drapes and redecoration throughout. * * * Ampro Corp. announces it will continue its advertising to the consumer, despite the fact that the armed forces are now taking the output of the firm's factories. Company is wisely looking ahead to postwar business which the management intends to cull in its full potential. * * * Anent Ampro, Abram Shapiro, vicepresident and works manager for the company, reports that he is the daddy of a husky baby girl weighing eight pounds. Celotex reports acoustical installations for the Lindell, St. Louis; Park, St. Paul; Victory Center, Portland, Ore., and the Palace, Los Angeles. Serving the needs of the Government, and at full factory tilt is Weber Machine Corp., Rochester. From Syncrofilm, much will be heard when all the global storm and strife is over, what with research in the field of better projection being fully to the fore at the factory. The 275-seat Plymouth Theater has been equipped with a new screen and also with new hearing-aids. Among the recently effected improvements was elevating the auditorium floor to give clear vision to every attending patron. Roxy Theater, which burned recently, the only film house in Howard City, Mich., will probably be replaced, but P. N. Curtis, owner, has not made any formal statement on the subject. Jack Barger's Drive-In has shuttered in the Chi. district. Although subject to a natural seasonal drop in business as cool weather set in, the theater clocked a satisfactory "take" for the season generally, notwithstanding gasoline rationing, blackouts, and other wartime conditions. The Murray Theater, on Milwaukee's lower East Side, has been taken over by Fox, remodeled, and renamed the East. Jack Litzer remains as manager. Gov't Channels Favorin< Essentiality of Theaters Also Desire Red Tape Cu By ANDREW H. OLDER Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAI] Washington — Although relaxati of the general ban on new constri tion is not anticipated for raai months yet, the situation as regai necessary theaters may be rela? if present plans of the Office of C ilian Requirements win acceptai in WPB. Striving to gain a m< realistic evaluation of the imp tance and essentiality of theaters, Recreation and Amusements sect of OCR, under George W. McM phey, is attempting to simplify procedure whereby new construct may be authorized. What McMurphey is trying to (Continued on Page 14) Maintenance Sfressc By Michigan Stands Detroit — Wave of remodeling circuit theaters in the local terrftH is reported by various chanm I Clarence Williamson, manager National Theatre Supply Division' National-Simplex-Bludworth, Inc.. 5 one who points to the fact til houses here, anxious to keep tfc equipment and furnishings in sha are doing many jobs that are pj (Continued on Page 14) Air Force Major Is Candy Kid, Too Seattle — Herbert R. Ebenstein of the Northwest Automatic Candy Co. has good reason to be proud of his son-in-law, Maj. Milton Joel, 23 who is leader of a Lightning squadron of the U. S. Air Forces in Britain Maj. Joel is credited with destroying one JU-8S, and probably a second as well as one ME-109 in a recent Eighth Air Force raid on Bremen He was married to Ebenstein's daughter, Elaine, last June 29, and left for Paine Field in July for service overseas. ^_