/

. . H.
. . Another
—
——
—
—
DES MOINES Bells' Rings Loudly MINNEAPOLIS
•Two former lowans got together on the
Paramount lot the other day. They are
Katlrleen Strong, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Al Strong, and Macdonald Carey. They met
on the set of Paramount's "The Great Gatsby."
Miss Strong recently was signed to a
Paramount contract and is attending the
studio school.
New spring cushion leather seats have been
installed in the Mills Theatre, Tama. The
new seats were purchased, however, for the
. . .
new theatre which W. W. Mansfield plans
for Tama in the near futui'e. When the house
is built, Mansfield says, the cushions will be
taken out and put in the new theatre
Lieut. Col. and Mrs. B. B. Manchester III
(she's the former Pat Crosland of Warners
and Universal! were visitors.
Ilene Perin, Paramount, is on vacation at
her home in Baxter . M. Richey, public
relations man from New York, was a visitor
at MGM . . . Rumors are flying that Leatha
Morrow of RKO will be a bride soon . . . The
Sol Yeagers are in the midst of redecorating
their home. We understand the RKO
salesman gets very tired sitting and advising
his wife what to do next! . busy
RKO salesman is Raymond McKittrick who
has just finished building a very elaborate
fence arotmd his home.
Bob Newman, NSS office manager, is being
married May 15 in Kii-ksville, Mo., to
Irene Blankenhorn, who expects to continue
her work as a nurse in Des Moines following
a week's honeymoon in Kansas City . . . Barney
Brotman of the Quad Cities was a visitor
on the Row and attended AITO convention
. . . E. G. Closson, Lamona exhibitor, was in
the city . . . Moms Relder, Universal salesman,
is back on the road after a week's illness.
Marie Frye, general manager of the confection
department for Tii and Central
States, was a very popular gal at the AITO
convention here last Monday and Tuesday.
Marie had arranged with candy wholesalers
to have an attractive bar in the meeting
rooms, with free candy, gum and popcorn for
aU convention delegates. A welcome innovation!
Drive-In at Parsons, Kas..
Opened by Lewis Stein
PARSONS. KAS.—Lewis Stein, formerly of
Spearville, opened his 500-car drive-in on
highway 160 May 6 with "Home in Indiana"
as the opening feature. Admissions are 50
cents for adults, 14 cents for children. The
airer employs RCA projection lamps, sound
and speakers. Screen size is 40x50 feet.
Attending the opening from Filmrow in
Kansas City were L. J. Kimbriel of Missouri
Theatre Supply; Arthur deStefano, National
Theatre Supply; Paul Connett, RCA Service
Co.; Guy Bradford, United Artists; Mr. and
Mrs. Ned Busher, NTS, and Charles Knickerbocker,
20th-Fox.
Drive-In for St. Cloud
ST. CLOUD. MINN.—A drive-in will be
erected here by J. A. Cremisino and H. E.
Clark.
In Des Moines Week
DES MOINES—"The Miracle of
the Bells"
at the Orpheum topped boxoffice receipts last
week. It was on a double bill with "Adventures
in Silverado." "The Iron Cm-tain" at
the Des Moines did just normal business.
(Average Is 100)
Des Moines—The Iron Curtain (20th-Fox) 100
Orpheum—The Miracle of the Bella (RKO); Adventures
in Silverado (Col) 150
Paramount Drums Along the Mohawk (20th-Fox);
The Mark of Zorro (20th-Fox), reissues 95
"Bells' Rings, "Clock' Ticks
In Minneapolis Debut
MINNEAPOLIS—"The Miracle of the Bells"
and "The Big Clock" cornered much of the
trade last week. They were the important
newcomers and both came through strongly.
Holdovers were "The Naked City," in its third
week, and "State of the Union," "Street
Corner" and "The Sign of the Ram," in their
second.
Asler—Border G-Man (RKO); Our Relations
(Indie), reissue - - 90
Century—The Tender Years (20th-Fox) - 60
Gopher Broadway (FC); Flame oi New Orleans
(FC), reissues 90
Lvceum Street Corner (McCall), 2nd wk _ 125
Lyric—The Sign of the Ram (Co!), 2nd d. t. wk 90
Radio City—State of the Union (MGM), 2nd wk 125
RKO Orpheum—The Miracle of the Bells (UA) 140
RKO Pan—The Naked City (U-I), 3rd wk...._ 110
Stole-The Big Clock (Para) _...135
World—Lost Moment (U-1) 100
"State of Union' Is Healthy
In Sub-Par Omaha Week
OMAHA—Strikes and heavy outside competition
held back theatre receipts here.
Omaha had considerable rain during the
week. "State of the Union" at the Orpheum
was the big draw.
Omaha My Girl Tisa (WB); Fugitive From
a Chain Gang (WB), reissue 90
Paramount—State of the Union (MGM) 120
Orpheum Panhandle (Mono) 95
RKO Brandeis—Winter Meeting (WB); Devil Ship
(Col) _ 90
State—If Winter Comes (MGM); The Arnelo Affair
(MGM)
U5
Two Blondes and a Redhead (Col), 2nd
run; The Body Snatcher (RKO), reissue; split
v/ith Black Hills (EL); California (Para), reissue 95
Town
"Miracle of the Bells' Gets
Second Kansas City Week
KANSAS CITY—"The Miracle of the Bells"
was the local topper and was held over for a
second week at the Orpheum. "State of the
Union" at the Midland scored an encouraging
135 in its second week at the Loew's
showcase.
Esquire The Naked City (20th-Fox), moveover 90
Midland—State of the Union (MGM), 2nd wk 135
Orpheum—The Miracle of the Bells (RKO);
Western Heritage (RKO) 140
Paramount
The Woman in White (Para) 70
Roxy—Women in the Night (FC); For You I Die
(FC) 105
Tower, UptowTi, Fairway Casbah (U-I) 65
To Open Winona House
WINONA, KAS.—Ed Smith, a newcomer to
show business, plans to open his new 400-
seat theatre here within the next few days.
Lenox State Has Birthda-y
LENOX, IOWA—The State celebrated Its
ninth anniversary May 5. The house first
opened its doors on May 5, 1939. Manager
Prank Shipley said the day was marked by
completion of a redecoration program which
included a new carpet.
lyronogram has put its first picture in Radio
City, the territory's top theatre, "Smart
Woman," being run in conjunction with a
stage show headed by Sammy Kaye's band.
Morrie Steinman, local manager who has his
exchange at the top in the company's current
sales drive, reports widespread bookings
for the Academy award winning short,
"Climbing the Matterhorn." It recently
played the RKO-Pan here.
. . .
Exhibitors on Filmrow: Ray Blakeslee,
Medford, Wis.; Harry Rolbiecki, Arcadia,
Wis., and Prank Kinas, Thorp, Wis.
Home Theatres buying and booking has reelected
James Rendgaard, Staples, Minn.,
president; George Miner, Rice Lake, Wis.,
and Charles Clossen. Anoka, Minn., first and
second vice-presidents, and Frank Mantzke.
Minneapolis, secretary and treasurer. It
voted to have Northwest Theatres Service,
of Which Mantzke is president, to continue
to do its buying and booking.
Herb Greenblatt, RKO district manager,
was a visitor . . .
Condolences to Joe Loeffler.
Republic manager, whose 65-year-old
mother died in Cleveland . . . W. C. Gehring.
20th-Fox assistant sales manager; Jack
Lorenz. division manager, and Clarence Hill,
in charge of exchange operations, were here
on a routine visit.
. . .
"Duel in the Sun" was at the St. Paul
Riviera for its first Twin City engagement
Harry B. French, Minnesota
at regular prices . . .
Amusement Co. president, hopes the
supreme court decision will permit the big
circuit to proceed with the building of new
theatres that it has been planning
John Fritchie has resigned as United Artists
office manager to handle his resort near
Big Fork, Minn.
Ronald's Oscar in Omaha
For Theatre Anniversary
OMAHA—Omahans knew quite a while
before Jack Benny listeners that Ronald
Colman's "Oscar" wasn't really missing. It
showed up here for the 25th anniversary of
the Omaha Theatre, managed by Stanley
Blackburn. It was displayed about town as
well as at the theatre. The Omaha's anniversary
program consisted of "A Double
Life," in which Colman won the Oscar, and
"Gentleman's Agreement." There also were
prize-winning shorts.
LEAK THEATRE SALES
A New Proven Method Based on
Reputation and Experience. We
S. Market Privately.
^— • ^— Artnur Leak
BERT THOMAS
Manager, Midwest Oifice
1109 Orchard Lane
Des Moines 13, la. Phone 4-9087
Confidential Correspondence
Invited
COMPLETELY NEW
HORKY'S CAFE
Bigger and Better Than Ever
— Featuring 'Delish' Steaks
1202 High St. Des Moines. Iowa
"Where Filmrow Friends Gather"
Open Daily at 4 p. m.
BOXOFFICE :: May 15, 1948 MW 71