Boxoffice-11.11.1950

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Wisconsin ITO Asks End to Film Bidding (Continued from preceding pagei with Russ Leddy as discussion leader. Displays of theatre equipment and supplies were set up in the foyer of the fifth floor of the hotel. Firms with exhibits were: Romer Vide Co., Chetek, Wis.; Merchandising Corp., Vic Manhart Co., Theatre Equipment Co., National Theatre Supply, Theatres Candy Co., Variety Tent 14, Vendex Co. and Poblocki Co., all of Milwaukee. Kroehler and Price Theatre Pi-emiums Co., Chicago; Hires, Refresho Co. and Manley, Inc. Convention highlights Mrs. Nagel of the Crescent Theatre, Shawano, Wis. was introduced as the oldest woman exhibitor, in point of service, in show business. John E. O'Connor, Gem and Avalon Theatres, Plattsville, stood head and shoulders over other exhibitors. He towers at six feet, prices. Freuler helped to found a goodwill group for the industry and did a turn at producing silents and talking films. He exhibited in Wisconsin and Kansas City and is proud to own the Century in Milwaukee, a far cry from his first theatre there. F. J. McWilliams, operator of the Portage Theatre at Portage, Wis., was another oldtimer present at the convention. He has been a director of Wisconsin Allied for many years and has missed few conventions. He is 77 and has been in the theatre business for 40 years. Mi's. Donna Borchert of the Door Theatre at Sturgeon Bay, Wis. entered the theatre business after the death of her husband. She will open a new house, the Donna, at Stiu-geon Bay the latter part of November. The convention was shocked by the death of George Panka, Prairie du Chien exhibitor, at a Milwaukee hospital during the conclave. He and Harry Melcher operated the Metro Theatre at Prairie du Chien. The house was completed last year to replace a theatre of the same name which burned in 1949. 'Smoky Tom' Edwards Star in Staged for TOA Guests in ST. LOUIS—A star performer in the calf roping and tying contest at the rodeo staged for the delegates at the TOA convention at Mac's ranch in Houston, was "Smoky Tom" Edwards, president of the local area MPTO. "Smoky Tom" played to full stands of delegates from all parts of the U.S. and Canada who were decked out in full western regalia. He made a nice try but missed winning the contest in roping and tying the calf by a scant margin. He also missed the calf. "Smoky Tom" drawled in explanation, "I didn't aim to rope it—it was a bum steer anyhow." Mrs. Bess Schulter of St. Louis, co-owner and operator of the Columbia and Roxy theatres in St. Louis, was featured in a special story that appeared in the Houston Chronicle. The feature started: "Mrs. Bess Schulter, St. Louis theatre owner here for the Theatre Owners of America convention at the Shamrock, is a queenly woman. But she does the work of a half dozen men. So the Variety Club, one day three years ago, officially recognized her as 'one of the boys' and crowned five inches. John R. Freuler, owner and operator of the Midcity and Century Theatres here, was called the oldest exhibitor attending the meet, His autobiography written for the official program was entitled, "My First 50 Years." her king. That day King Bess presided over It described his start in the nickelodeon days the club's luncheon. on Milwaukee's south side at a house called "Co-owner and operator of the Columbia the Theatre Comique. He purchased films and Roxy, neighborhood theatres, Mrs. in those days from George K. Sporrer who Schulter has been in the business since 1916. produced the Broncho Billie films. It was She started as a film inspector and booker difficult to get enough pictures in those days, for Universal, later she went into business Freuler said, the features being too short to for herself when she bought the Ashland keep patrons happy. Theatre in St. Louis. In 1926 she built the In 1906, he started his own distributing Columbia and Roxy, with George Skouras as firm. Western Film exchange, the first in partner. Milwaukee. He later helped to form the Motion Picture Patent company which collected " 'I am a student of the old school of theatre operations,' she said. 'You must run a two-dollar fee per week from exhibitors for your theatre like you would your home. using patent rights which the company Cleanliness, efficient and courteous service, owned. Later associated with Mutual Picture Corp., Freuler remembered making and catering to children are musts.' The a contract 59-year-old exhibitor, who was busy meeting with Charlie Chaplin for 12 pictures at a total old friends in the industry Tuesday, empha- of $670,000 per year, and later, running D. W. Griffith's "Birth of a Nation" at road show sized the need for the personal touch in running a theatre. 'During the war courteous service to the public slipped badly. It Equipment Installed INDIANAPOLIS—Midwest Theatre Supply Co. reports the following installations: The Rialto, Plymouth, Ind., new RCA sound. Tlie house is operated by the Settos Tlieatres. The Lincoln, Indianapolis, operated by Peter Fortune, has installed 300 International chairs. The drive-in at Noblesville, under construction by F. I. Mitchell of Veedersburg, complete RCA equipment. New Front at Shullsburg SHULLSBURG, WIS.—A new black and white vitrolite front has been installed on the Burg Theatre here. A new generator also is being installed to give a brighter light on the screen. Hebron Theatre Sold BROOK, IND.—Arve and Henry Hermansen, owners of the Brook Theatre, have purcha-sed the Hebron, Ind. Theatre, a 350-seater, from C. W. Ritenour of Milford, Ind. Rodeo Houston has improved, but there is still much we can do to improve public relations.' "She is fighting the general drop in boxoffice by holding school benefits, popularity contests, giveaway programs, birthday club sessions for children, and such. " 'We are doing all the tricks today that we did 25 years ago. For example, we dress our ushering staff in costumes apropos of the movie—cowboy outfits for westerns, sailor uniforms for navy pictures, and the like. We have trucks with banners and loudspeakers to advertise our pictures.' " The story also mentioned two other women from St. Louis at the TOA meeting: Mrs. Lillian Krueger, former chairman of the TOA's board and executive committee, who with her mother and husband operates a chain of 11 indoor theatres and two drive-ins founded by her father, and Miss Myra Stroud, managing secretary of the MPTO. The feature closed with this paragraph; "A folder of the organization being passed out by these St. Louis women at the convention says, "There ain't no bull in Texas that cain't be throwed in Missouri.' The following delegates from the St. Louis trade territory received assignments to serve on the various TOA committees during 1950-51: Theaire television—Tom Edwards, Farmington, Mo. National legislation—Loren Cluster. Salem, 111. Stale and local legislation—A. L. Matreci, St. Louis. Concessions—Paul Krueger, St. Louis. Public relations—Bess Schulter, St. Louis. Organization and membership—Tom Bloomer, Belleville, 111. Distributor-Exhibitor relations—Tom James, St. Louis, Theatre equipment and accessories—Pete Medley, Sikeston, Mo. Theatre maintenance and operation—Philip Nanos, St- Louis. Drive-in theatres—Frank Plumlee, Farmington, Mo. Each delegate from the St. Louis sector wore a four-inch lapel button carrying the following appeal: "Meet Me in St. Louis, November 13, 14, Hotel Chase." The same slogan appeared on a sign prominently displayed in the Shamrock room during the business sessions of the TOA gathering. Beaver Dam Airer to Open By April for Chos. Lowe BEAVER DAM. WIS.—A drive-in, under construction here for Charles Lowe, is expected to be completed and in operation by April 1951. Nine ramps and approaches for the airer have already been completed and no halting of work by the federal ban on amusement building is expected. The outdoorer is located on Highway 33, three and one-half miles east of here. There will be spaces for 500 cars with additional room for waiting cars. A snack bar will be built in the center of the location. The Valley Construction Co. of Minneapolis is contractor. 350-Car Drive-In Started BLUFFTON, IND.—Tile Tomkinson Bros, of Fort Wayne have started a 350-car drivein on 20 acres at the junction of state highways 1 and 116, one mile north of here. Clifton and Richard Tomkinson leased the site from Ed Culver and have begun grading. 84 BOXOmCE November 11, 1950
; BOXOFFICE Small-Towner Must Watch Competition MILWAUKEE—The small-town exhibitor must keep alive the public interest in films and concentrate on selling tickets to every potential customer he can reach or he will run the risk of losing business, Mike Simons, assistant to H. M. Richey, MGM exhibitor relations director, told the 1950 convention of Allied Independent Theatre Owners of Wisconsin Wednesday (1). Simons said that today the public wants to know all the facts about the industry because so many statements have been made about it being in a desperate plight. •SOLID AS A ROCK' "They're finding out. of course," he said, "exactly what we in the industry already know—that the movies are solid as a rock. Under the bright spotlight of renewed interest brought about by our own howls of pain, the public is being convinced that operating a picture theatre is a pretty good business just as they thought it was. Even Wall Street recently made a survey of the movies and, among other things, denied charges that Hollywood is extravagant, despite huge sums spent on production. "This interest in our business is great stuff for the showman who keeps it alive and hot by selling tickets to every last potential showgoer in his community. But if he allows any segment of the public to turn elsewhere for entertainment, he may wake up any morning from now on to find that a more enterprising showman is filling the vacuum—and taking business away from him in the bargain. We can't be too sure that opposition will not arise, despite restrictions on new theatre construction." DRIVE-IN GROWTH 'MIRACLE' Simons said the "miracle growth" of driveins is only a sample demonstration of what happens unexpectedly In the industry when new capital is available. "What the next new and forward-looking development in exhibition will be is anybody's guess," he said. "When it will come, how long the war scare will last, is something none of us can predict. "In the meantime, the small-town theatre owner is not safe from opposition nor is he ready to reap the benefits of any new development in this business if he is not serving the whole public of his community. Even those who profited by their proximity to army camps in World War II may find that the GI of 1951 will be demanding a better shake than his older brothers got in 1941-45. Conditions then were not always the best because the crisis was not anticipated. It's a different story today as the country prepares, through increased production, to enjoy life as much as possible even in the face of threats of the A-bomb. This means that even the lowly private is going to insist on seeing his movies in style and comfort. "At the same time, the civilian public, as it starts working longer hours and worrying about war, is going to demand that the local picture house live up to all those bright and snappy slogans we've been coining to prove that we're on the ball." Edwin H. Knopf will make his debut as a director on the MGM film. "The Law and Lady Loverly," starring Greer Garson. St. Louis MPTO Prepares For Record Attendance ST. LOUIS—Prominent industry personalities have made plans to attend the annual meeting of the MPTO of St. Louis, Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois to be held in Chase hotel November 13, 14. Among those expected are Sam Pinanski of Boston, president of TOA; Gael Sullivan, executive director: Herman Levy, TOA general counsel; Robert Mochrie, vice-president in charge of distribution, RKO: Senn Lawler. director of public relations. Fox Midwest, Kansas City; Jack Braunagel. head of the drive-in division. Commonwealth Amusement Corp., Kansas City; David Walerstein, Publix Great States Theatres, Chicago, and Robert L. Lippert, president of Lippert Productions. Several stars of the screen will appear at intervals during the meeting, which will be climaxed by an outstanding floor show at the banquet session. All of the business sessions are to be open to theatremen and exchange managers, salesmen and other representatives of distribution A full report of the recent TOA convention held in Houston will be made by members of the delegation of two dozen from this territory who went to the Lone Star state gathering. The delegation was headed by Tom Edwards of Parmington, Mo., president. At Houston, the St. Louis group handed all delegates of the TOA meet a four-page brochure on the MPTO meeting here. This brochure proved a real hit at the TOA gathering and gained recognition from the Houston newspapers. The program will start with the registration. The first business session will follow a luncheon at 12:15 p. m. with talks on "The COMPO Story," the Houston TOA meeting, concessions and on third dimensional screens. The second day's program includes Indiana Allied Parley Also Opens on 13th Indianapolis—The program for the 24th annual convention of Associated Theatre Owners of Indiana here November 13, 14 has been completed with preparations made to include Gov. Henry F. Schricker as a speaker at a testimonial dinner for Trueman Rembusch and Marc Wolf on the 14th. Convention speakers will be Abram F. Myers, general counsel of National Allied; H. A. Cole, Dallas; Sam Shain, 20th- Fox; Leon Bamberger, RKO; H. M. Richey, MGM, and Arthur Mayer, executive director of COMPO. Mrs. Trueman Rembusch, Mrs. Marc Wolf and Mrs. Ernest L. Miller compose a ladies' entertainment committee for the conclave. Closed sessions for theatremen will be led by Guy Hancock, Plainfield exhibitor, and sessions for drive-in operators will have Richard Pell, Rnshville, as moderator Ṫom McCleaster, chief barker of the Variety Club here, is in charge of the dinner for Rembusch and Wolf. Both are ATOI leaders and, in addition. Rembusch is national president of Allied and Wolf is chief barker of International Variety. discussions on drive-in theatre operations, television and showmandising with the principal address to be made by the general counsel. Entertainment will include cocktail parties at 5:30 p. m. Monday and at 6 p. m. Tuesday. Special entertainment for women will include a motor tour of St. Louis. AT DRIVE-IN CONCLAVE—Shown above are exhibitors who attended a recent drive-in conference, sponsored by the Cooperative Theatres and Andy Dietz, at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Eugene Brezany in St. Louis. Seated, left to right. Cliff Mantel, Mrs. Wayne Hackworth, Morty Gottlieb, Mrs. Betty Bahr, Andy Dietz, Mary O'Brien, Bates Donze, Mr. Caldwell and Johnny Walsh. Standing: Dick Ingles, Dr. Robert Courtney, Oliver Collins, Dr. Eugene Brezany, Frank Glenn, Wayne Hackworth, Mike Lee, Gordon Halloran, Harry Haas, Mrs. Rollen Robinson. Bill Earl, Herman Gorelick, John Kane. Mike Edel, Rollen Robinson. Wayne Smith and Emil Bebermeyer. November 11, 1950 85
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Page 35 and 36: i P. .^( CHESTER FRIEDMAN EDITOR ox
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Page 45 and 46: ' Two , (London). I viUe ' BUFFALO
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Page 83: HALT TO COMPETITIVE BIDDING IS ASKE
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Page 105 and 106: I 1 O'Rourke . . The . . For . . .
Page 108 and 109: BOXOFFICE BookinGuide Nov. 11, 19 ^
Page 110 and 111: ' j ' ExhihiioT Has His Say (Contin
Page 112 and 113: tt Very Good; + Good; — Fair; —
Page 115 and 116: 1 Western : .'iinan-Ward I CHECK RU
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Page 119 and 120: ' •.. :: ((16) . (8) , Rabbit ' i
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Boxoffice-11.11.1950

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