Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1940)

April 27, 1940 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW Page 39 co-owner and manager of the Willoby Theatre, said that the exact site of the new building could not be divulged as yet. The proposed new theatre will be ultra modern in every way and will have twice the seating capacity of the Willoby, which seats 800. The present theatre will be kept running even after the new building is erected, Mr. Stearns revealed. Work on the erection of a new community theatre, seating approximately 700, with four two-story commercial buildings or apartments adjoining, will start immediately in East Point, near Atlanta. It will mean the expenditure of around $50,000 to $60,000. A 15-year lease for a total rental of $45,000 has already been made for the theatre by the East Point Amusement Company, of which Fred Coleman is vice president, and the operator of theatres in East Point, College Park and Sylvan Hills. The amusement company is a subsidiarj' of Lucas & Jenkins. William I. Hohauser has been engaged as architect for the new theatre to be erected at 1637 East 18th Street, Brooklyn. The theatre will seat approximately 600 persons and will have all the most modern equipment, complete air conditioning and will be designed along modern lines for comfort and beauty. A new $50,000 addition to business developments surrounding the DeKalb county courthouse, Decatur, Ga., consisting of three stores and a motion picture theatre, will be constructed immediately and be ready for occupancy by July 1. Acting for the estate of the late A. S. Turner, A. Mell and Carlton H. Turner, executors, announced the new construction work, and said the theatre already has been leased to Mion & Murray, operators of the Rialto and other theatres in Atlanta. Actual construction will cost approximately $35,000, it was said, and equipment will add another $10,000 to $15,000. The motion picture house will be known as the Scott theatre and will be flanked on either side by the stores. The entire development will take place on South McDonough street, with Norman F. Stambaugh as architect. Tri-States Theatre Corp. has entered into a partnership agreement with Lewis L. Lepovitz under which Lepovitz and the A. H. Blank organization jointly will operate the Iowa theatre, Des Moines, and will erect a new motion picture theatre at E. Sixteenth St., and E. Grand Ave. Lepovitz and his father, Roy Lepovitz, have operated the Iowa theatre for the last 10 years. Under the agreement, effective April 16, the theatre will continue with the same management and employes. Myron Blank, secretary of Tri-States Theatre Corp., said plans are under consideration for the proposed new theatre for East Des Moines, and that work is expected to start in the fall. He stated also that work of improving the Iowa theatre will begin at once. The program includes new seats throughout, new decorations and improvement of the projection and sound equipment, in addition to installation of an air conditioning system. Renovations-Openings A building at 509 West Broad St., Savannah, Ga., will be remodelled for use as a theatre for colored people. The cost of the renovations will be $5,000. W. B. Braswell, former owner of the Star Theatre, will own and operate the new house. ling will reopen on August 15, according to Kallet Theatres, Inc., operators of the Strand and Capitol. Sydney Schleman, New York architect, has been engaged to draw the plans. The present seating capacity of 1,015 will be enlarged to 1,500. The stage will be removed, the auditorium will be extended almost to the rear wall and a new balcony will be constructed seating 500. The lobby will be brought down to the street level. New seats, carpets and drapes will be installed and there will be a new marquee. An air-conditioning system will be installed. The Palace Theatre, San Marcos, Tex., damaged by fire last month, will undergo an extensive remodelling, according to Manager F. W. Zimmerman. About $15,000 will be spent on the work. The interior will be entirely rebuilt. New seats of the most comfortable and modern type will be installed. New carpets, lighting fixtures, a revamped balcony and a new arrangement of stage and screen are among the many improvements contemplated. C. W. Hicks, who has been operating the Regent Theatre, Littlestown, Penna., has purchased the property and announced plans for extensive remodelling. The alterations to the structure will cost approximately $40,000, he says. Repairs and improvements approximating $6,000 are being made to the Melz-Arcade Theatre building in Ferriday, La., by Morris Melz, the owner, under the direction of A. E. Stuart, supervisor of the theatre. A cooling system is among the improvements. W. Vosco Call has purchased the Capitol Theatre in Brigham City, Utah, and will extensively remodel the building. The auditorium and stage will be remodelled and the building will be generally renovated. Named Mo+iograph Distrib. Motiograph, Inc., has announced that the Indiana Theatre Equipment Corp. of 316 N. Illinois St., Indianapolis, Ind., has become the exclusive distributor of Motiograph Projection Equipment and Mirrophonic De Luxe Sound Systems in the Indianapolis Film Territory. Before Buying Chairs write for details on the three distinctive and differently priced lines comprising the new Ideal Stieamlinei group. IDEAL SEATING CO. GRAND RAPIDS MICHIGAN Fire Losses Fire of undetermined origin did $30,000 damage to the Strand Theatre at Rutland, Vt. The house had been idle for several years. About $3,000 damage was done to the Lyric Theatre in Carlisle, Ky., in a nocturnal blaze recently. Schines' new Waller Theatre at Laurel, Del., was destroyed by fire early this month. The flames destroyed the entire interior of the house. It will be rebuilt according to the Schine home office. A loss of $60,000 was suffered early this month when the Auditorium Theatre, Crockett, Texas, went up in flames. "FRIENDS TELL FRIENDS" — Yes. That is why F. & Y. has grown Steadily day by day and year by year! THE CLIENT BECOMES AN F. & Y. FRIEND The Client recognizes square dealing, excellent service and outstanding values. He can tell by his monthly fuel and power bills, by his lack of maintenance expense, that his new F. & Y. Designed and Built theatre really operates more efficiently for less money than any other theatre of similar size he has ever owned. It will pay you to talk to the man for whom we have built Theatres. He will know our capabilities better than anyone else. With F. & Y.— Undivided Responsibility Centralized Authority Mass Purchasing Power Basic Integrity Well Grounded Experience are more than just "catch phrases." F. & Y. does give more vaJue for your theatre spending dollar! Friends Tell Friends About . . . The Buildings We Build for Them and that Builds Our Business F. * y. SERVICE INCLUDES THE SERVICES OF REGISTERED ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS. F&Y Building Service Theatre Division 328 East Town Street MAin 4315 Columbus, Ohio The strand Theatre, Rome, N. Y., will be closed on June 1, and after complete remodel i ^ROYALS NEW NO.M i YEARS AHEAD! With Features of the Future! Give it THE DESK TEST ...in your own office! Royal Typewriter Co., Inc. 2 Park Avenue, New York Branches and Rep. the World Over ROYAL more than ever WORLD'S NO. 1 TYPEWRITER