Boxoffice-July.01/1950

New Frisina Drive-In
To Bow at Litchfield
LITCHFIELD. ILL.—Russell Hogue. who
came to Litchfield from St. Charles, Mo., to
manage the FYisina Amusement Co. properties
here, will manage the new Sky-View
Drive-In. which is scheduled to open this
week, as well as the Ritz and Capitol theatres.
The big drive-in accommodates 507
cars, compared with 535 cars at Taylorville,
410 at Effingham and 400 at Robinson, 111.
The other drive-ins also are operated by the
Frisina company, which headquarters in
Springfield. 111.
Hogue has had 16 years of experience
as a theatre manager, starting with the
Frisina company at Charleston. 111. Later he
went to Effingham to open the Effingham
and Heart theatres. He remained there ten
years, then was transferred to St. Charles.
Mo., where the circuit has the Roxy and
Strand. Virginia Henderson is assistant manager
of Frisina properties here.
Personnel at the new Sky-View will include
Harold Coville. projectionist; Betty Kean.
cashier; Buel Schwab, head usher, and Rex
Doolin. manager of the snack bar.
The Sky-View covers 16 acres and fronts
on old Route 66 Just north of the Ferndon
street road. Simplex projectors were installed
by the St. Louis branch of National
Theatre Supply. The screen tower measures
55x65 feet, while the screen itself is 42x52
feet. Films will be projected from a building
265 feet from the screen. Two lighted pylons
extending to the top of the screen tower carry
the Sky- View in neon lights over large block
cutout letters.
The snack bar is located in the same building
as the projection booth but a four-foot
breezeway separates the two rooms. The entire
building is of concrete blocks faced in
white cement. Interior color scheme is white,
trimmed with green and yellow. All types of
food and soft drinks will be sold.
The opening of the Sky-View has been delayed
from week to week by inclement
weather.
State Senator Yewell Lawrence Opens
New 400-Car Drive-In at Dexter, Mo.
DEXTER. MO.—The Dexter Drive-In. a
400-car project located on Route 60 about
one and one- half miles west of Dexter, had
its grand opening recently, playing to fine
attendance. F^-om St. Louis for the opening
came Myra Stroud, managing secretary of
the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of St.
Louis, Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois,
and Mr. and Mrs. Morton S. Gottlieb
of the St. Louis branch of Joe Hornstein.
Inc.. which furnished sound and projection
equipment, in-car speakers and other facilities.
State Senator Yewell Lawrence of Bloomfield.
Mo., is owner of the drive-in. The
manager is Norwin Garner, who has considerable
experience in the operation of brickand-mortar
theatres in recent years.
Lincoln Airer to Open in July
LINCOLN, ILL.—The Jones Construction
Co. of Fairfield and Lawrence ville. 111., is
supervising construction of the 600-car
drive-in being built by Steve Bennis north
of here adjoining the Highway 66 beltline.
The Jones company has completed work on
15 other drive-ins and has advised Bennis
that his drive-in will be completed early
in July, weather permitting. Sound equipment
and in-car speakers have been purchased
from RCA, through the St. Louis
Theatre Supply Co. Bennis opened his drivein
at Freeport, 111., May 18.
announced that his company would
Kerasotes to Build at Pekin
PEKIN. ILL.—George Kera.sotes. a partner
in Kerasotes Theatres circuit, Springfield,
111.,
commence work at once on a new drive-in
at the Intersection of state highways 29 and
98, about two miles north of the city. Jones
Construction Co. of Lawrenceville has the
contract. Plans call for a capacity of 700
cars.
Opened
Family Drive-In
URBANA, ILL.—The Family Drive-In was
opened here (16 1 by Fiank Stewart of the
Family Amusement Co.. Danville. Located on
Route 45 north of Urbana. the Family has
a capacity of 650 cars with parking stalls
arranged in a semicircle before the big screen.
Opening attraction at the Family was "The
Big Wheel."
54 Drive-In Being Enlarged
KANKAKEE, ILL.—The capacity of the 54
Drive-In near here is being increased from
625 to 900 cars, and other improvements are
to include a new fence around the parking
area, and additional equipment for the playground.
Sparta, 111., Drive-In Planned
SPARTA. ILL.—Stuart Morgenstern and
Woody Schmidt, both of Pinckneyville. 111.,
are reported to be planning construction of
a drive-in near the Steeleville Y. about eight
miles south of Sparta. Details were not
immediately available.
Weather Delays Drive-In Debut
BENTON. ILL—The weather has delayed
opening of the Midway Drive-In near here,
owned by Robert Strauss and Joe Sulliman
of Benton. Present indications are that the
500-car theatre may not open until after
July 10.
Weyauwega, Wis.,
WEYAITWEGA. WIS.—The grand opening
of a new 200-car drive-in on Highway 10
Airer Opens
between this city and Waupaca was held
June 24 by owner Albert Behm jr.
Al Warnik Buys Harvey
BROOKSFIELD. ILL.—Albert Warnik, former
owner of the Iceland Drive-In in Oak
Park, has taken over the Harvey D:ive-In
on south LaGrange road.
Warnik. wno was
in the service for three years during the last
war. purchased the Harvey from H. McCleary
who retired from the business bncausc of
ill health.
Carl E. Swenson Buys lola
lOLA. WIS.—Carl E. Swenson has purchased
the lola Theatre from Robert Biederman.
who has been operating it since last
fall. Sw-enson is being assisted by his son,
Merhn. Biederman has joined the U.S. navy.
First Runs at Two Drive-Ins
INDIANAPOLIS—Two drive-ins near here
have inaugurated a policy of running first
run films. The west side twin of the Theatair
Twin and the Westlake, both owned by Dr.
Marvin Sandorf. are show'ing "The Baion of
Arizona." The change in policy did not affect
the admission scale.
What have YOU done today to help secure
repeal of the unfair amusement tax?
CHEC K GIVEN TO HOSPIT.\I^-C. W.
Trair.'pe, chairman of the heart fund
committee of Variety Tent 14 of Wisconsin,
is shown at left handing a check
for SIO.OOO to Dr. John S. Hirschboecli.
dean of the Marquette university medical
school. The presentation was made
at the annual Great Heart ball given by
Variety Tent 14. The gift is for establishment
of a heart disease diagnostic
clinic at the medical schooL
Gift to Projectionist
LAKE GENEVA. WIS.—After 22 years of
service as a projectionist at the Geneva
Theatre. Ray Mellien was presented with a
gold wrist watch by the management. The
presentation was made from the theatre
stage. Officials on the stage with Mellien
included Russell Mortenson. theatre manager;
Mayor Ralph Williams and William Murow.
vice-president of the local chamber of commerce.
The mayor had proclaimed it Geneva
Theatre week.
To Remodel at Eldorado
ELDORADO, ILL—The Orpheum, 500-seat
unit of the Turner-Farrar circuit of Harrisburg,
111., will be remodeled and modernized
late this month. Manager John Falk says
the remodeling will include both the exterior
and interior.
H. L. Stewart Drowns
INDIANAPOLIS—Harold Lee Stewart, film
truck operator for Bradford Film Transit
Co. here, was drow-ned in White river recently.
He was 38 years old.
BOXOFFICE :: July 1, 1950 83