Boxoffice-March.10.1951

Kansas Bill Seeks
To End Censorship
TOPEKA—A measure has been introduced
in the state senate here which would discontinue
operations of the state board of review,
official motion picture censoring body
of Kansas. The bill provides that the board,
with its offices in Kansas City, Kas., clear
its books by May 1 and turn over its property
to the state for disposition.
Senator Wilfred Cavaness of Chanute,
chairman of the senate ways and means
committee, said the attempt to abolish the
board was being made because the board is
"useless."
"The film industry," he said, "is doing a
good job in policing its films. I don't believe
Kansas needs a separate censor board."
The senator, noted for wielding the budget
knife during the current legislative session,
said the move was not necessarily an economy
measure. Chairman of the board of
review, Mrs. Frances Vaughn of Bonner
Springs, receives $2,100 a year. The other
two members, Mrs. Bertha Hail of Mission
and Mrs. J. B. Stowers of Kansas City, receive
$1,800 a year plus necessary traveling
expenses.
St. Louis Park Rejects
Otier to Bid on Film
MINNEAPOLIS—The St. Louis Park, de
luxe suburban theatre, has turned down an
offer from distributors to permit it to bid
competitively with the Minnesota Amusement
Co. Uptown here for the 28-day clearance
it is demanding. The offer came in response
to the St. Louis Park's demand for the 28-
day slot which the nearby Uptown now has.
The Edina, another de luxe suburban theatre
in the same area, also has been offered
the privilege of bidding competitively with
the Uptown and St. Louis Park. It also rejected
the offer.
St. Louis Park owners contend they are
entitled to the 28-day availability without
competitive bidding and they declare that
if they are refused they will start a court
fight.
Start 30-Day Celebration
For Remodeled Iowa House
JEFFERSON, IOWA—On March 1 the Iowa
Theatre here started a 30 -day celebration
in honor of the house's recently concluded
remodeling program. On the opening day the
first' 100 women received an orchid. Harold
Adams, manager, says special programs will
be held during the month.
The lobby and foyer and theatre interior
has been redecorated with aluminum and
glass front doors installed. Sunset pink was
the prevailing color used. New carpeting
covers the foyer and theatre aisles, new
lighting and new curtains and drapes have
been added.
G. V. Fleming Buys House
CUMBERLAND, IOWA—G. V. Fleming of
Dunlap has purchased the theatre building
formerly owned by Doc Pace of Masena
and will start operation about April 1. Fleming
has been in the theatre business in Iowa
and Nebraska for many years.
Twin Cities First Runs
Hike Night Admissions
MINNEAPOLIS — Downtown Minneapolis
and St. Paul first runs have tilted their admission
prices in the first boost in several
years, advancing the scale after 5 p. m. from
70 to 76 cents.
Thus far four Minnesota Amusement Co.
and two RKO theatres in Minneapolis have
made the move. Two other independent
Loop A houses, the Gopher and World, are
Nebraska Exhibitors
Rename Livingston
expected to follow suit soon.
Afternoon prices remain at 50 cents. Charlie
Winchell, MAC assistant general manager,
describes the slight evening readjustment
as "a leveling off process," similar to that
which has been taking place throughout the
area. No adverse boxoffice reaction has been
visible, said Robert Whelan, RKO Theatrea
city manager.
GRAND ISLAND, NEB.—Nebraska Theatre
Owners Ass'n went on record as opposing
a proposed sales tax
- "
^^^- bill before the legisla-
^^^^^^^^\ '^s association also
i^^^^^W •:% re-elected Robert Liv-
^^HF 'Jl^ ingston of Lincoln
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as president. Other of-
fleers :
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William Miskell,
^^Bv^ H^ Tri-States Theatres,
^^K ..^^^^1 Omaha, vice-presi-
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Halph Falkinl^urg,
Lexington, treas-
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^^H^Q^I^H and Avis Rutherford,
Grand Island,
Robert Livingston secretary. Named to
the board of directors: Howard Kennedy,
Broken Bow; Ralph Ayre, Lincoln; WaUy
Kemp, Lincoln; Mons Thompston, St. Paul;
William Ostenberg, Scottsbluff, and M. E. Mc-
Lane, Fremont.
Hardy Hendren Returns
From Caribbean Tour
KANSAS CITY—Hardy Hendren jr., president
of the United Film Service here, has
returned to his desk after a Caribbean tour
via the Alcoa Clipper, which included stops
at Jamaica, at Curacao, Venezuela, and other
ports. He was accompanied by his wife and
daughter Carol and by Mr. and Mrs. Robert
H. Flarsheim of the Seavey & Flarsheim
Brokerage Co.
Hendren left New Orleans January 27 for
a 16-day cruise of the West Indies and South
America and returned to Mobile, Ala., in mid-
February.
New Dickinson Theatre,
St. Joseph, to Open Soon
ST. JOSEPH, MO.—A 800-seat Trail Theatre,
now under construction here for the
Dickinson Operating Co., will open in April.
The new showcase will be the fourth theatre
operating here under the Dickinson management.
Other houses are the Jo, Rialto and
King.
Named Defense Director
GREAT BEND, KAS.—Elton Kuhlman,
manager of the Crest Theatre, has been
named civil defense director here.
Northwest Variety
Plans Hospital Bow
MINNEAPOLIS—A. W. Anderson, Northwest
Variety Club chief barker, said this week
that only 500 tickets are available for the
testimonial dinner at Coffman Memorial
Union, University of Minnesota, to commemorate
the opening of its heart hospital, a
project brought to comp.etion after five years.
He urged members to contact Johnny Branton
at the Minnesota Amusement Co. for
tickets, which are priced at $7.50 per person.
A number of filin luminaries nave been
invited to attend, but as yet tnere have been
no acceptances, although such stars as Alan
Ladd, Danny Kaye, Ronald Keagan and Abbott
and Costeilo have assured tne club they
will make every effort to oe present.
"We have made some plans, wnich are
more or less in the tormauve stage, but if
tney materialize this event will be
one of great iniporcance to snowmen in the
terriwry, as we.l as to show business in general,"
Anotrison said in his letter to club
members.
Ine iNorthwest Variety Club has raised approximately
one-half million dollars for the
neart hospital, its greatest project, and has
pledged itself to contribute at least $25,000
additional every year. The hospital will be
devoted exclusively to the treatment of heart
ailiiients and heart research.
KMTA Directors to Meet
In Kansas City March 21
KANSAS CI'TY—Directors of
the Kansas-
Missouri Theatre Ass'n have set Wednesday
(21) as the date for the next board meeting,
to be held at the Phillips hotel at 12:15 p. m.,
according to Gladyce Penrod, executive secretary.
Directors, meeting here immediately
after the KMTA drive-in session last week,
issued a vote of thanks to Stanley Durwood,
chairman of the 1951 drive-in meeting, for
his excellent work in carrying out the sessions.
Hal Parker Completes
Mining Methods Film
KANSAS CITY—Hal Parker of the Hal
Parker Studios here has returned from a trip
with the State department in which he made
a film on mining methods for the Economic
Cooperation Administration. The trip included
tours of mines at Copper Hill, Tenn.;
Joplin and Miami, Mo., and a tour of the
only oil shale operation in the U.S., sponsored
by the government in Colorado. He
also toured a silver mine in Eureka, Utah.
$3,000 Palsy Benefit
OMAHA—Three thousand dollars was netted
at a special benefit for children suffering
from cerebral palsy staged at the
Omaha, a Tri-States Theatres house. The
audience saw "September Song" and heard
the Omaha Symphony orchestra. The picture,
theatre and all services were donated.
Kesner Owner Moves
LEROY, KAS.—Mr. and Mrs. Ray Miner,
owner of the Kesner Theatre here, have given
up the operation and moved to Rice Lake,
Wis. The move follows the death of Miner's
brother at Rice Lake.
BOXOFnCE :: March 10, 1951
MW 55