Boxoffice-March.10.1951

. . Edward
PHOENIX
nctress Virginia Mayo and Michael O'Shea,
her actor husband, plan to purchase a
2,000-acre ranch between Phoenix and Tucson.
Add ranch-buyers in Santa Cruz
county: Jack Warner and Spencer Tracy . . .
John K. Cook is mapping plans for a new
theatre in Tucson and is waiting for the
green light from federal authorities. The
site will be in the 800 block on East Third
street. Cook recently purchased the property
for $16,800. Cook, who comes from Logan,
W. Va., will head a corporation to build and
operate the theatre, which will have a
seating capacity of 600.
The Phoenix Theatre was robbed of $60 by
a gunman. Manager William Ellis gave chase
but lost the holdupman in an alley . . .
RKO will send a location company of around
100 to Sedona, Ariz., this month to start
work on "Halfbreed" .
Arnold and
Mae West appeared in separate plays at the
Paramount in Phoenix and Tucson ... A
Phoenician paid a $50 fine for stealing a car
speaker from the Pioneer Drive-In.
The Lowell Theatre, Bisbee, closed for several
years, will be reopened about April 1,
according to George Cavelarias of the Bisbee
Lyric . . . Aaron Rosenberg, U-I producer,
said "Air Cadet" will be previewed in Phoenix
simultaneously with the picture's first showing
this month in Texas. Scenes in the film
were photographed at Williams air force base
just outside Phoenix.
Hollywood studios are interested in erecting
a permanent western set in Douglas. A
representative of the Douglas Chamber of
Commerce journeyed to the coast recently
to discuss the project with representatives of
seven studios . . . The Palms Theatre, last
stronghold against the candy concession, has
finally siiccumbed. Management of the Paramount
house polled its patrons and then
gave in to the demands of the candy crowd.
SHOWMAN USES HEAD — Running
short of 8's didn't stop W. L. Stratton,
manager of the Lyric Theatre, Caliis,
Idaho, from telling his patrons he was
playing "Mister 880" recently. Rather
than leaving one side of his marquee
blanlt, Stratton simply tacked up the eyecatching
message "Mister Twice 440."
The trick got the whole town talking
and his gross on the picture was good.
Alexander Films Spends
$290,000 in Expansion
COLORADO SPRINGS—J.
Don Alexander,
president of Alexander Film Co., told stockholders
at meeting here that the company
spent $290,000 in improvements and expansion
of facilities last year. The company has
a full production schedule for 1951, he said.
Alexander reported that during 1950 the
company's business had increased 7.2 per
cent over the previous year and set a new
record for the firm. The organization has
been a leader in the film advertising field
for more than 32 years.
Directors elected at the meeting were: J.
Don and Don M. Alexander, Don Alexander
jr., E. B. Foster and Thomas Burgess. The
board of directors elected the following officers:
J. Don Alexander, president; Don M.
Alexander, vice-president in charge of production;
Don Alexander jr., vice-president;
M. J. Mclnaney, vice-president in charge of
sales, and E. B. Foster, secretary-treasurer.
KLAC-TV at Los Angeles
Acquires Film Theatre
LOS ANGELES—Television made further
inroads on the motion picture field when
Station KLAC-TV, local video broadcasting
unit, acquired a two-year lease on the 855-
seat Beverly Hills Music Hall from its present
operators, Al Galston, Jay Sutton and
the Corpin Co., headed by Sherrill Corwin.
KLAC plans extensive alterations, including
removal of several hundreds seats, to
construct a large stage from which video
shows will be presented before live audiences.
The showcase at one time was a unit in
the Music Hall circuit of four day-date theatres,
but in recent months has been operating
on a subsequent run basis, with occasional
bookings of art films.
It marks the second acquisition of a motion
picture theatre by television interests
here. Station KTLA some time ago took
over the Melvan, a neighborhood house in
the Hollywood area, as the site for presentation
of live TV shows.
Portland Books Stage Show
PORTLAND — Two Broadway stage hits
will be playing Portland soon. Frances Mc-
Cann will appear in the lead for "Kiss Me
Kate" at the Auditorium on March 13. William
Duggan, manager, reports a brisk mail
order ticket sale. On April 23 Henry Fonda
is booked to play "Mister Roberts" at the
Orpheum.
George Page Sells Bay
MORRO BAY, CALIF.—George Page has
sold the Bay Theatre hera to the Rono
Amusement Co., Inc., of Los Angeles. The
purchase price was not made public. Mr. and
Mrs. Harold Nash will manage the Bay for
the new owners.
E. K. Taylor Buys Theatre
MISSOULA, MONT. — Veteran theatre
executive E. K. Taylor has purchased part
interest in the Mtn-Vu Drive-In here. Speaker
outlets will be increased from 380 to 425
before the spring opening. Taylor plans to
buy and book and supervise the showcase's
management.
LOS ANGELES
rrom far-flung spots came exhibitor visitors
to the southland's sometimes-sunny slopes.
Making the trek all the way from Petch-
Tikvah. Israel, was H. Ludvinowsky, operator
of the Amphitheatre there, who was shown
around Filmrow and Hollywood high spots
by Jack and Izzy Berman of the Eastland
circuit . . . Bill Connors, general manager
of the Hamrick chain of Washington and
Oregon, also was in, as was M. K. McDaniel,
operator of two theatres in Lamarque, Tex.
McDaniel lays claim to being one of the few
showmen in the country to have private oil
wells—both on his theatre properties.
After many years of occupancy in the Film
building, Roy Dickson has moved his booking
service offices over on Washington boulevard
Max Gardens is reopening the Victor
. . .
Theatre, shuttered for several months, on
the Pike in Long Beach and has renamed it
Herman Wobber, 20th-Fox
the Follies . . .
western division sales chief, and his assistant.
Buck Stoner, came in from San Francisco
for talks at the local exchange with
Manager Clyde Eckhardt and other personnel.
Uncle Sam's navy added another recruit
in the person of Kenneth Weiss, assistant
manager of the Alto, whose father Lew at one
time managed the Savoy . . . C. T. Perrin,
operator of the Atlantic in Long Beach,
made one of his rare appearances on the Row
to book and buy . . . Another visitor. Judge
LeRoy Pawley of the Desert Theatre in
Indio, reported he had to fight his way
John Danz
through snow on the trip in . . .
of the Sterling chain in Seattle paused here
briefly en route home to soak up some sunshine
in Palm Springs. .
Eastland circuit managers flooded the Row
as they came in for huddles with the chain's
toppers. Jack and Izzy Berman. Among the
managerial visitors were Max Keen and Bill
Hughes of the Vern, Morris Rosen of the
Brooklyn. Jimmy Winsker of the Floral
Drive-In and Moe Stessel of the Meralta.
'49er Party on Stage
BUTTE. MONT.—A gala '49er party with
fun prizes and surprises galore was held on
the stage of the Montana theatre to herald
the theatre's 49th anniversary. All participants
were required to wear a '49er costume.
The party was held in connection with "Born
Yesterday."
"No Room for the Groom" is the new title
for Thor Productions' film formerly designated
as "The Golden Goose."
QUICK THEATRE SAUS!
Seven top-flight salesmen
thoroughly experienced in handling all
types of theatres, large and small, indoor
and outdoor, neghborhood and downtown.
WASHINGTON, OREGON, CALIFORNIA
IDAHO, MONTANA, UTAH
Inquiries Ansyrered Immediately
Write Irv Bowron, Sales Mgr.
FRED B. LUDWIG, Realtor
4229 N. E. Broadway * Portland 13, Ore.
BOXOFFICE March 10, 1951
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