Warners

——
. . The
Warm Days Crowd
First Runs in Loop
CHICAGO—Nice warm weather brought
crowds to the Loop who. plus thousands of
visitors in for conventions, sparked business
at downtown houses. 'My Foolish Heart" had
a smash opening week at the Woods as did
"All the King's Men" at State-Lake. The
Oriental with "Malaya" on the screen, plus
all-star acts headed by Buster Shaver, and
the Chicago with a great stage show headed
by Hildegarde. Larry Adler and Al Bernie,
plus "Tell It to the Judge," on screen, had
big weeks.
(Average Is 100)
Chicago—Tell It lo the Judge (Col), plus stage
show 125
Garrick—Hed Hiver (UA), Unexpected Guest (UA),
100
reissues
Grand—The Outlaw (RKO), 5th wk 115
Oriental Malaya iMGM), plus stage show 125
Palace—The Man on the EiBel Tower (RKO), Make
Mine Laughs (RKO! HO
Roosevelt—Thelma Jordon (Para) 110
Selwyn—The Hed Shoes (EL), roadshow attraction,
59th wk Fair
Stale-Lake—All the King's Men (Col) 135
Studio—Carnegie Hall (UA): The Great Waltz
(MGM), reissues, 2nd wk — 95
United Artists—Ambush (MGM), 2iid wk 105
Woods—My Foolish Heart (RKO) - 130
World Playhouse—Don Quixote (Azteca) 110
"Battleground' Grosses 200
At Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS — "Battleground" headed
the straight picture grosses here with 200 per
cent at Loew's. "Undertow" grossed 210 per
cent, aided by the Sammy Kaye orchestra on
stage.
Circle Undertow (U-1), plus stage show. 210
Indiana—Pinky (2Cth-Fox) 130
Keith's—The Hed Shoes (EL), 2nd wk .....100
Loev/'s-Battleground ( MGM) 200
Lyric—The Blue Lagoon (U-1); The Rugged
O'Riordans (U-I) - 100
Installs New Equipment
NEW LONDON. MO.—The Lee Theatre,
owned by Lillard Williams, is being provided
with Simplex projection and sound equipment
and a new Walker Plastic screen purchased
through the National Theatre Supply, St.
Louis.
MILWAUKEE
Jackie Cooper is playing the part of Ensign
Pulver in "Mr. Roberts" at the Davidson,
legitimate house here. Cooper, in an interview
with a reporter of the Milwaukee Sentinel,
said he was displeased with the film
acting roles he obtained when he came back
from three years of service in the navy and
he now hopes to be hired as an actor on his
merits instead of an adolescent . . .
Wilma,
secretary to Lou Elman. RKO manager, now
is Mrs. Wilma Ponik.
The third week of the "Big Parade of
Vaudeville Shows" at the Riverside featured
the Sammy Kaye orchestra and eight acts,
the show being advertised with a big figure 8
in newspaper ads and on large signs on the
marquee . Alhambra offered "The
I>irates of Capri," a Film Classics picture, plus
"The Flying Saucer" . . . The Towne held
"Ambush" for a second week.
The new theatre project at Bonduel, Wis
,
has been abandoned, according to architects
Poeller, Schober, Berners, Safford & Jahn of
Green Bay . . . "The Fallen Idol" kept the Fox
Downer filled for five straight weeks, and was
replaced by "Major Barbara."
At the Riverside, Muzak wired music is now
being used to put incoming patrons in the
right mood for the show, with five speakers
at strategic points, but not in the auditorium.
Only classics and other pleasing music is
sent over the wire.
Billy Connor Opens
Luna-Lite a! Marion
MARION, IND.—Billy Connor, active in the
entertainment world since 1893 when he began
as a stagehand traveling with legitimate
theatre companies, has reopened the Luna-
Lite Theatre after a thorough renovation
Originally opened in 1916, the theatre has
been closed for the last year for refurbishing
New equipment installed includes projectors,
sound equipment and screen.
Connor originally came to Marion at the
invitation of a prop man he had worked with,
and the "visit" has been going on ever since.
In 1913 he was employed at the Marion Theatre
as projectionist, and it was three year;:
later that he opened the doors of the Luna-
Lite. One of four theatres in the town. ii.
was considered the leading house of the time
In 1923. Connor expanded his interests and
took over operation of the Lyric. Royal Grand
and Indiana theatres, which he operated until
1947. He then went into the newly-expanding
drive-in field, supervising construction
of the Marionair Drive-In.
Don Fikes Starts Building
$75,000 Fulton Ozoner
FULTON, MO.—Construction has been
started on a 400-car drive-in to cost about
S75.000 on Route 54 about a mile north of
the city limits. Don Fikes and his nephew
Kenny, both of Fulton, will own and operate
the drive-in. A contract has been signed for
RCA sound and projection equipment, in-car
speakers and other de luxe drive-in equipment
with the St. Louis Theatre Supply Co.
Four-Way Theatre Co.
Plans $60,0Q0 Airer
GREENWOOD, IND.—Leander Browning,
president of the Four-Way Theatre Co. here,
will build a 500-car $60,000 drive-in on Highway
135 two miles west of town and one mile
south of the Marion-Johnson county line.
Construction will begin as soon as weather
permits, and Browning hopes to have the
drive-in open by early spring.
The Four-Way company was incorporated
recently and papers listed in addition to
Browning, John W. Browning of Greenwood,
resident agent and treasurer: Edna Mae
Browning: Mrs. Bayard Allen, vice-president:
Mrs. Byrl Bosstick, secretary; Byrl Bosstick
and Bayard Allen.
Browning said negotiations now were under
way to hire an experienced theatre manager
to take charge of the drive-in and arrange
bookings.
Alliance to Build Second Ozoner
KOKOMO. IND.—Alliance Theatre Corp.,
operator of five theatres and one drive-in
about ten miles north of here, has ptorchased
a 14.7-acre site on Highway 31 two miles
south of town for construction of a second
drive-in.
Sam Neall, general manager for the circuit,
says construction will begin as soon as
the ground is surveyed and plans are drawn.
Charles Scott Builds at Vevay
'VE'VAY. IND.—Work is progressing rapidly
on the new drive-in being built west of town
by Charles Scott. The drive-in wiU accommodate
440 cars with provision for addition
of 115 more cars should business warrant expansion.
In-car speakers will be used.
Projectionists Team 6
Holds Lead in League
MILWAUKEE—Projectionists Team 6 held
a two game lead over Team 1 in the lATSE
Local 164 bowling league games here. Team
6 won 40 and lost 23 games. S. Hoenig held
both top high single game and top high three
games honors, at 257 and 608 respectively.
Team standings are:
Won Lost
Won Lost
Team 6 40 23 Team 7 33 30
Team 1 38 25 Team 2 27 36
Team 4 35 28 Team 8 25 38
Team 3 34 29 Team 5 20 43
Q nil COMPLETE THEATRE
nuH EQUIPMENT
MID-W€ST TH€ATR€
SUPPLY COMPANY, Inc.
Bienkert Projection Equipment — Ideally
Suited lor Diive-In Theatrea.
Riley
448 North Illinois St.
- S65S. Indianapolis, Ind.
Twenty-four hour service
DRIVE-IN
THEATRE
Combination Ramp Idtntlflcation and Driveway
Floodlight
DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO. i^^g,"",!
BOXOFFICE :: February 11, 1950