Boxoffice-July.01/1950

0. F. Sullivan Acquires
Wichita, Kas., Tower
WICHITA—O. P. Sullivan, owner and general
manager of Sullivan Independent Theatres,
has purchased the Tower here from
Herman Hunt, Cincinnati, Ohio. The theatre,
possession of which was taken June 29, becomes
the seventh to be operated here by
Sullivan. His other houses include the Crawford,
downtown first run; the Civic and
West in West Wichita; the Crest, opened
last January, and the 54 and 81 drive-ins. He
also operates the Nile and Regent in Winfield,
Kas.. and two drive-ins in Oklahoma
City, Okla.
Now observing his 25th year in the theatre
business here, Sullivan began his career
here in 1925. The 81 Drive-In here, built by
him in 1946, was the first open air theatre
in Kansas. He also erected the Hi-Way
Drive-In in Oklahoma City in 1947, the initial
ozoner in the state. Sullivan now is
serving his third term as president of the
Kansas-Missouri Allied unit. He also is a
member of the national Allied board of directors.
Marshalltown Orpheum
Celebrates Birthday
MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA—The RKO Orpheum
here observed its first anniversary
in its new home June 23 with special commemorative
ceremonies which featured Harry
Dearmin, manager, and radio station KFJB.
Dearmin received dozens of telegrams and
letters from leaders in the film entertainment
world congratulating the theatre on
its first birthday. It was a very successful
year, too, with more than 500,000 paid admissions
thus far.
A special radio broadcast from the stage
of the theatre featured the celebration. At
the same time KFJB honored couples who
celebrated their first wedding anniversaries
during the week June 18-24. A visitor for the
ceremonies was Harry H. Weiss, RKO division
manager from Minneapolis.
Son of Warner Salesman
Killed in Plane Crash
MINNEAPOLIS — Thomas Hill, 25, New
York advertising man and son of Ernie Hill,
Warner Bros, salesman here, was one of the
passengers in the ill-fated plane which
crashed recently in Lake Michigan near Milwaukee.
He was on the way home for a visit
with his parents. Among the other casualties
were four members of the John Hokanson
family of Dumont, N. J., who were to visit
Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy Davis here. Joan Davis,
radio and film star, is a daughter of Davis
by his first wife.
Walter Rasmussen Buys
Parkersburg Princess
PARKERSBURG. IOWA—Walter Rasmussen
of Anthan has purchased the Princess
Theatre here from Mr. and Mrs. Harri.=on
B. Bagley. Rasmussen has operated the
Anthan for the last five years. The Bagleys
bought the house from Charles Hunnerberg
in 1947. They plan a trip to the west
coast before purchasing another business.
Kansas City Assn Fete
Sets Attendance Record
An orchestra recruited from the membership of the Motion Picture Ass'n of Greater
Kansas City was a feature of the dinner during the get-together at the Milburn
Country club. Shown at the lower left is Robert Shelton, Commonwealth Theatres,
playing the cello. With Ted Painter of KMBC at the microphone is O. K. Mason,
former Commonwealth vice-president, with a mandolin. Next to Leo Davis, Fox Warwick
manager, at the rear, and over the head of Harry Jenks of KMBC, is Ben Shlyen,
BOXOFFICE publisher and editor-in-chief, violinist. Back of Mason is Senn Lawler,
Fox Midwest public relations director, also playing a violin. At the extreme right is
Elmer C. Rhoden, Fox Midwest president, banjoist.
KANSAS CITY—More than 225 persons,
members of the Motion Picture Ass'n of
Greater Kansas City and others associated
with the industry and their friends, attended
the initial summer get-together which the
organization sponsored Monday (26) at the
Milburn Country club here, and the success
of the event resulted in a declaration by Elmer
C. Rhoden, president, that a similar fete
will be an annual event.
The stag get-together began at 1:30 p. m.
with a golf tournament on the Milburn links.
Activities for association members and guests
who do not play golf included horseshoe
pitching, gin rummy and canasta. Radios,
thermos jugs, leather goods, sports equipment,
wearing apparel, cigaret lighters,
household devices, jewelry and various articles
were among a total of 108 items obtained
by Robert withers, general chairman,
cnTQcmcR
as awards to winners of the golf tournament
and other events and as draw prizes.
Following a buffet dinner at 6:30 p. m. in
the Milburn clubhouse, Joe Redmond was
master of ceremonies for a 30-minute floor
show which featured Harry Jenks, pianist,
and Ted Painter, guitarist and banjoist, both
staff artists at radio station KMBC. The
program included a vocal solo by Redmond
and violin numbers by Senn Lawler and Leo
Davis. A surprise finale was provided by an
orchestra recruited from association members
present. Along with Jenks and Painter, the
musicians and their instruments included Elmer
C. Rhoden, banjo: Robert Shelton, cello;
O. K. Mason, mandolin; Ben Shlyen, Senn
Lawler and Leo Davis, violin, and Bob Montgomery,
drums.
Jack Braunagel won the golf tournament
(Continued on next page)
A total of 108 articles was obtained by Robert Withers, chairman for the gettogether
of the Motion Picture .•\ss'n of Greater Kansas City, as awards for winners
of the various events and as draw prizes. The awards, shown in a display arranged
by Withers in his office, included radios, sports equipment, household appliances,
leather goods, wearing apparel, jewelry and many other items.
BOXOFFICE :: July 1, 1950 MW 59