Boxoffice-March.04.1950

Kentucky Pastor Asks
Repeal of State Tax
WARSAW, KY.—The Rev. T. H. Tinsley,
former speaker of the house and a native of
Warsaw, joined Kentucky theatre owners in
pleading for repeal of the state amusement
tax. He introduced a bill in the Kentucky
lower house declaring that an "admissions
tax is unfair to the people who find in the
movies an economical means of entertainment
and enlightenment."
"In other fields of taxation the authorities
have sought to place the burden on those
best able to pay. but this tax is a flat tax
that penalizes large families. The tax is
discriminatory, for every theatre owner in the
U.S. already is paying all the taxes levied
on business enterprises generally.
"The state tax was levied by the Chandler
administration for the express purpose of retiring
the state debt and it was promised
to be repealed as soon as the debt was
retired. We now have a surplus,
"Movies are not a luxury. In the American
way of life a moderate amount of relaxation
is recognized to be necessary and motion pictures
provide the maximum entertainment
at the lowest cost."
United Detroit Circuit
Sues on Chain Store Tax
DETROIT—Suit has been filed in Wayne
county cuTuit court by United Detroit Theatres
maintaining that the Michigan state
chain store tax should not apply to refreshment
concessions. The circuit contends that
the state chain store tax should not apply
to concessions operated by the theatre chain
itself in some sixteen theatres, mainly as a
service to customers, and not primarily for
a profit. The circuit has been subject to tax
for the last six years and under protest a
total of $5,220 was paid.
Temporary injunction has been granted by
Circuit Judge Chester P. Ohara restraining
the state from collecting the $970 for the
present fiscal year. Case will be heard March
3.
TOLEDO
The first vaudeville bill at the Paramount
was so well attended that the theatre
scheduled a second eight-act bill to open
March 23 for four days . . . Outlook for legitimate
attractions in Toledo is better, too, said
David Nederlander. Detroit, who manages the
Town Hall here as well as the Shubert
Lafayette in Detroit. "Private Lives," last
stage offering in Toledo, sold out every seat
in the 1,180-seat house for every performance,
establishing a new three-day record
gross for the house. The week's record is
still held by native son Joe E. Brown, who
played here in "Harvey."
When Bosley Crowther, film critic and motion
picture editor of the New York Times,
came to Toledo to talk on the Town Hall
lecture series Saturday recently. Mrs. Flora
Ware Hineline invited several local theatre
managers to have lunch with Crowther after
the lecture. These included Howard Feigley
of the Rivoli, Jack Armstrong of the Schwyn
circuit, Giles Robb of the Princess, Edward
Bush of the State, Abe Ludacer of Loew's
Valentine, and Jack Lykes, Colony.
Mrs. Magdalene Rihacek, 63, owner and
operator of the Tivoli since 1927, died recently.
She was known to friends and patrons
of the theatre as "Maggie," and was
one of the first women exhibitors in Toledo,
continuing operation of the house run
by her husband when she became a widow
with seven youngsters to support. She lived
in Toledo for 49 years, and was a native of
Czechoslovakia.
The Variety Club gave a testimonial dinner
for ex-Chief Barker Jack Lykes in the
Willard hotel on St. Valentine's day.
Somerset Permit Denied
SOMERSET. KY.—An application for a
drive-in theatre near here has been denied
by Circuit Judge R. C. Tartar. Opposition to
the proposed theatre was expressed by religious
groups and rural residents. It was
the third time in three years that such an
application was denied. H. E. Otto, Danville,
filed the application for the theatre
to be built just outside Somerset on Highway
80-E.
Now Is the Time to Order
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Cooling Units
Giant Post Card Mailed
To Protest Ticket Tax
CLEVELAND—Harold "Bud" Friedman,
manager of Warners' Vogue, a de luxe neighborhood
house in the exclusive Shaker
Heights residential suburb, mailed a giant
30x40-inch card to Congressman Prances P.
Bolton containing signatures of patrons asking
for repeal of the 20 per cent amusement
tax. This is the largest piece of mail ever
stamped at the Shaker post office.
Forwards Petitions Daily
PORT HURON, MICH.—Cyral A. Dailey,
manager of the Desmond Theatre, reports he
has collected more than 1,000 petitions against
the federal amusement tax, all signed by patrons,
and sent them to Jesse P. Wolcott in
Washington, congressman from this district.
He forwards the signed cards daily.
2.500 Cords Signed
BATTLE CREEK. IVHCH.-More than 2,500
patrons of the Regent and Bijou have signed
cards petitioning for the repeal of the amusement
tax.
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BOXOFFICE :: March 4. 1950 81