Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1949)

E-12 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, October 15, 1949 Average of 47 New Theatres a Month Attained by Industry This Summer New theatre projects reported by Showmen's Trade Review during the months of July, August and September, 1949, totaled 142, or an average of slightly more than 47 per month. The new projects were not evenly distributed through the summer, however. To the contrary, the total figure was dragged down by a severe slump in August, when only 21 new projects were reported, as against 67 in July. September marked a sharp recovery, with 54 new projects, almost touching the July level. Throughout the summer, drive-ins led indoor projects in the ratio of better than 2 to 1, for a three-month total of 45 new indoor theatres and 97 new drive-ins. The approach of the winter season did not change the ratio. In the month of September, STR reported 17 new conventional theatre projects and 37 new drive-in projects. The approach of the winter season did not even adversely affect drive-in projects in Northern states. September's reports include 1 in Canada, and not less than 4 in Wisconsin. In fact, Wisconsin's September drive-in total equalled Florida's — 4 in both states; and was exceeded nowhere except by Texas with 7. Drive-in projects reported during September had an average capacity of 607 cars — apparently showing a trend toward reduced size, since July's average capacity was 693 and August's 636. There is no discernible trend with respect to total costs — September's drive-ins were built or planned to an average cost of $94,300 per theatre, as against $82,608 for July and $168,000 for August. There seems to be a definite trend, however, in the direction of lower cost per car. So far as both capacity and cost figures for the same theatres are available, they are: July, $210 per car; August $264 per car and September, $180 per car. Two of September's outdoor projects— in Arkansas and in Florida, check in at average costs of only $100 per car. Indoor theatre projects reported in September show a declining average in both number of seats and cost per seat. Seating capacities are down from 1,042 in July to 1,000 in August and 687 in September, and so far as detailed figures are available, in average cost per seat from $286 in July to $140 in September. It would appear that the overall summer trend, both for driveins and for indoor houses, is in the direction of lower costs per patron unit. Some part of this trend may well be accounted for by the current slight easing in the supply of building materials and of labor. September Projects Widespread September's new drive-ins are distributed throughout the country as follows: Texas, 7; Florida and Wisconsin, 4 each; New York, 3; Alabama, Missouri and New Mexico, 2 each; and one each in Arkansas, California, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Vancouver. September's new indoor theatre projects are distributed as follows: 2 each in Illinois, Kansas, Utah and Wisconsin; one each in Arkansas, California, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina and Texas. Two new remodeling projects were reported in September — in Connecticut and Vermont. Air Devices Sues Competitor, Alleging False Advertising Air Devices, Inc., New York, has filed a complaint against Anemostat Corporation of America in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The complaint, filed September 29, 1949, alleges that defendant has resorted to false and misleading advertising, as well as other unfair trade practices, in connection with the defendant's manufacture of air diffusers. Air Devices, Inc., seeks damages in excess of $100,000, as well as injunctive and other relief. Emil J. Wienke Passes Emil J. Wienke, Chief Projection Design Engineer for Motiograph, Inc., died last month at the age of 68 after a prolonged illness. He had been with Motiograph since 1921, and patented numerous improvements in projector design that were incorporated in Motiograph models. GRIAUR SPUD SHARPER PICTURES MORE UNIFORM ILLUMINATIod snvmt "You Get the Most Uniform Light with Super-Snaplite" If you're up against a really tough projection problemput in Super-Snaplites. When the picture has to be really big . . . really sharp . . . really brilliant — SuperSnaplites have proven the answer the world over. 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