Boxoffice-September.23.1950

Remodeled American at Casper, Wyo„
Reopens; Other Theatre Renovations
CASPER. WYO.—The newly remodeled
American Theatre here has been reopened by
Rialto Theatres, Inc., of which Russell
Schulte is executive vice-president. Tlie renovation
job. started June 11, was under the
direction of Jack M. McLaren, field engineer
and secretary-treasurer of the Western Service
& Supply Co., Denver.
Renovations in the theatre include installation
of new Kroehler seats, a new foyer, modern
restrooms and luxurious carpeting. The
stage has undergone a face-lifting which includes
new drapes and lighting.
The outside of the theatre has been done
over and a new wedge-shaped marquee has
been installed. Seating capacity has been
increased from 808 to 822 and the aisle arrangement
in the auditorium has been shifted.
Cost of the remodeling exceeded $75,000.
Feature of the opening ceremonies was the
appearance of Charles P. Skouras, president
of National Theatres, and his party of big
game hunters at the theatre. Skouras and
his party came here on their annual antelope
hunt and stopped to see the new American.
Among those accompanying the theatre executive
on his trip to Casper were Ray Davis.
20th-Fox northern district manager; Rick
Ricketson, Intermountain district president;
Wilford Williams, mayor of Kemmerer and
manager of the Victory Theatre there; Howard
Hanson, manager of the Plains hotel in
Cheyenne; Bob Selig, vice-president of Fox
Intermountain; Tom Brennan, Fox Theatres
manager in Cheyenne.
The Skouras party attended an open-house
given by E. J. Schulte, president of Rialto
Theatre, Inc., at the Gladstone hotel Crystal
room.
Schulte came to Casper in his boyhood and
before he became a film man in 1922, he was
a general merchant. But in the 1920s the era
of the general store was vanishing, so Schulte
decided to replace it with the Rialto Theatre.
In the late 20s he became owner of the
Rex and America. He showed the first sound
film in Wyoming in 1928.
Public-Owned Scera Remodeled
OREM, UTAH—One of the few theatres in
the Intermountain area to close on Sunday,
the Scera at Orem. celebrated its ninth anniversary
last week by reopening after extensive
remodeling. The showhouse, called
one of the most beautiful in the state, has
new full-length mirror.s in the lobby, heavy
carpeting in place of rubber mats in the
outer lobby, new chandeliers and a display of
tropical plants within the rock wall of colored
sandstone.
The Scera is unique in the west. It is
operated by the people of Orem. who elect
nine directors to control and direct its man-
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PHONE PRoSPicT 5-7146
agement. Three people are elected each year
for a term of three years each on the third
Monday of each September. Every citizen
within the community is eligible to attend
the elections.
As a community building, the Scera has a
lounge which is a meeting place for friends;
its spacious grounds are landscaped and
partly used as a recreation center. The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
leases the building for Sunday use. Also, it
is used by Lincoln High .school students for
special lyceums and concerts.
A big part of the profits go to the people,
part used for the community recreations
program and to build swimming pools and
stage dances.
Rebuild Cheyenne Princess
CHEYENNE, WYO.—The Pi'incess Theatre
has been closed for about two months for
remodeling, according to Tom Brennan, manager
of local houses for Fox Intermountain
Theatres. When the house is reopened it will
be renamed the Wyo.
Mrs. Carl Ray, owner of the building, recently
completed plans with the circuit for
virtual reconstruction of the theatre into a
modem showcase as a memorial to her late
husband, who operated the Princess for many
years prior to his death in 1948. A plaque
in his memory will
be placed in the lobby.
Remodeling will include construction of a
new front, new marquee and other structural
changes. New projection and sound equipment
and new Kroehler seats will be installed,
as will a new screen, stage curtains
and carpeting.
Improve Strand at Delta, Colo.
DELTA, COLO.—Max Story, owner of the
Skylite Drive-In here, will open a new house
in the old Strand building early in October.
Remodeling and redecoration has been
started in the building which once housed
the Strand.
The theatre will seat approximately 300
persons and will be equipped with new booth
equipment. The house will be operated on a
year-around basis with the Skylite, which
probably will be closed for a few months durgin
the winter. Story opened the drive-in
in May 1949.
To Redecorate at Wallowa
WALLOWA. ORE.—Charlie Fisher, local
theatre owner, plans to redecorate and remodel
the theatre and install new upholstered
.seats. The old theatre seats will be donated
to local churches for use in Sunday school
classrooms.
Reopen Enumclaw House
ENUMCLAW, WASH. — The remodeled
Avalon Theatre here has been reopened by
John Hamrick Theatres, according to John
O'Connor, city manager. The house recently
underwent a complete renovation, including
installation of new equipment, new plastering
and painting and a new roof.
Cooper Chain Plans
To Remodel Trail
COLORADO SFKINGS, COLO.—Remodeling
of the Trail Theatre here will be started
as soon a.s materials can be obtained, according
to I. E. Hoig, local manager for Cooper
Foundation Theatres.
Bids have been taken on the remodeling
job and Hoig said the theatre probably would
be closed for as long as three or four months.
Hoig said some changes in the original plans
would be made because of the high cost of
building.
The Trail previously was remodeled in 1935.
Work on Pullman, Wash., Cordova
PULLMAN. WASH. — L. H. Weskil. new
owner of the Cordova Theatre, plans extensive
remodeling to the house, including installation
of a new marquee, candy stand,
redecoration of the foyer and installation of
a new .screen and improved projection equipment.
We-skil recently purchased the Cordova
from Magee Manring. who remains as manager,
and M. A. Hadfield.
Remodel at Fairfield, Mont.
FAIRFIELD, MONT.—Mr. and Mrs. Jay
Blossom have remodeled the Movie-Tone
Theatre here. Improvements included reupholstered
seats, new lobby and ticket window,
new marquee and new paint job on the building
front and new restrooms. The interior will
be refinished and the entire building stuccoed.
Simons Improves Two Houses
COEUR D'ALENE, IDA.—The Dream and
Wilma theatres here are being renovated by
the Simons Amusement Co. The Dream,
closed during the work, is to receive new
carpets, new light fixtures, new seats and
new reader boards on the marquee. The
Wilma, which has remained opened, will have
new seats, and new projection.
Buckley Cosmo Reopens
BUCKLEY, WASH.—The Cosmo Theatre
here has been reopened by John O'Connor,
city manager for John Hamrick Theatres,
after complete renovation. Repairs included
a new roof, new booth equipment, plastering
and painting.
Repair Caldwell Roxy
CALDWELL. IDA.—The Roxy Theatre here
has been repaired, painted and redecorated,
according to Grover Knight, manager. Major
repairs include replacement of wood trusses
on the roof with steel trusses.
New Front to Be Added
CORVALLIS. ORE.—The Whiteside Theatre
here will be improved with a new front
to be completed about December 1. New
sound equipment also will be installed.
Bob Lippert Joins Staff
HOLLYWOOD—Robert L. Lippert jr.. son
of the president of Lippert Productions, has
joined the company's staff as an associate to
Murray Lerner, vice-president and executive
producer.
")0 BOXOFFICE :: September 23. 1950