Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
kl..<br />
. . . Gene<br />
. . Ben<br />
. . . Aldrin<br />
. . Clark<br />
Renovated Fox Ready<br />
By Early December<br />
SPOKANE—The most extensive renovating<br />
and redecorating program in the 20-year<br />
history of the Fox Theatre is under way and<br />
will be completed by December 1. "I can say<br />
without exaggeration that when the work is<br />
finished, the Fox will be one of the most<br />
beautiful theatres in the Pacific northwest,"<br />
said Jack Hamaker, Fox manager.<br />
The work started in midsummer with the<br />
laying of new carpet in the main foyer and<br />
mezzanine. With blue background, it has<br />
overtones of graduating shades of green,<br />
ranging from chartreuse to a light olive. The<br />
carpet, and 1,400 yards of it has been laid, is<br />
three piles deeper than the old one to give<br />
a deep cushioning effect. Painters and interior<br />
decorators started on the walls and ceilings<br />
of the main auditorium in October.<br />
Franz Zallinger of Seattle has charge of the<br />
work.<br />
BLACK DECORATIONS GONE<br />
The black decorations on walls and ceilings,<br />
which had a deadening effect, are being done<br />
away with. "We're using a generous amount<br />
of blue to bring out the marine motif which<br />
highlights the foyer and mezzanine and also<br />
to harmonize with the carpeting," said the<br />
foreman, A. E. Casler. "We'll use between 75<br />
and 100 gallons of paint." Entrance doors,<br />
black since the day the Fox opened, September<br />
7, 1931, have been brightened with<br />
diamond-shaped centers in white against<br />
green and blue. The huge columns flanking<br />
the stage are being done in blue and gold<br />
topped by silver sunbursts on each side.<br />
Casler said that some of the large panels in<br />
the foyer probably will be done in burgundy<br />
to contrast with the blue and silver of the<br />
marine decorations and that the two main<br />
entrances likely would be in rust.<br />
Most startling innovation is the elaborate<br />
contour curtain, an Austrian puff-type<br />
popular in top-ranking theatres 40 years ago.<br />
A combination of nylon and rayon, with the<br />
raw fabric flame-proofed before weaving, it<br />
is chartreuse with heavy festooning at top<br />
and bottom. Festooned valances and borders<br />
are of rich, wine-colored velour with gold<br />
tassels. The curtain itself is 52x27 feet with<br />
35 lines for back and side drops. It required<br />
three men five days to install.<br />
NEW SCREEN INSTALLED<br />
Also added was a new scrim title curtain<br />
of silver, so lightly woven that it is semitransparent.<br />
The stage proscenium has been<br />
cleaned and painted and the women's powder<br />
rooms and men's restrooms redecorated. Recently<br />
completed was the installation of 210<br />
loge seats in the rear rows of the main auditorium.<br />
Deep blue in color, they ai-e in keeping<br />
with the other decoration. "Eventually,<br />
we'll have the new type seats throughout the<br />
house," Hamaker said.<br />
All members of the service staff, he added,<br />
are being equipped with uniforms to carry<br />
out the blue, green and gold color scheme.<br />
Quits After Nine Years<br />
PENDLETON, ORE.—Kenneth J. Wright,<br />
manager of the United Artists Theatre the<br />
last nine years, resigned to take a position<br />
with the Vaughan Electric Co. He has begun<br />
his new work but will continue at the theatre<br />
during the evenings until a new manager<br />
is named and arrives here.<br />
LOS ANGELE S<br />
Qusily wielding croquet mallets down Palm<br />
Springs way were Babe Cobb, Eddie Ashkin<br />
and John Da Costa, all of the RKO Radio<br />
branch, and their respective wives, as well as<br />
Arnold Shaak, operator of the Ramona and<br />
Holly theatres and Roy Dick.son of Theatre<br />
Service Co. . . . Wayne Bateman, U-I salesman,<br />
checked in from a business Junket, while<br />
Barney Rose, western district manager, arrived<br />
from San Franci.sco for huddles with<br />
Bill Marriott, local branch chief.<br />
As concerns both age and length of service,<br />
Bob Beretta, salesman for the National Theatre<br />
Supply branch, ha.s<br />
staked out an iron-clad<br />
claim as the Row's<br />
oldest citizen. He's just<br />
celebrated his 75th<br />
birthday and has been<br />
S^B \<br />
Smith,<br />
^^^^^B years , . . Dick<br />
IPP^' %a«fl^^H district manager for<br />
Fox West Coast in<br />
Phoenix, came in for<br />
home office huddles<br />
Brinham<br />
Bob Beretta resigned as manager<br />
at the Reseda Tlieatre in Reseda.<br />
It was erroneously reported here recently<br />
that Andy Devine had resigned as manager<br />
of the Vinnicof circuit's Strand Theatre.<br />
Tain't so. Andy's still handy . Blythe<br />
resigned after 21 years with Fox West Coast's<br />
ad department and is heading for Mexico City<br />
to go into business on his own. Hasta la vista,<br />
Clark, and buena suerte . . . Burton Jones and<br />
Daryll Johnson are recarpeting and redecorating<br />
their recently acquired Reseda Theatre<br />
in Reseda.<br />
. . Booking<br />
B. F. Shearer, head of the supply and<br />
equipment firm bearing his name, came in<br />
from his Seattle home office for conferences<br />
with Barclay Ardell, local branch manager,<br />
and other personnel . Taylor resigned<br />
as a Lippert Pictures salesman .<br />
and buying visitors included Judge Leroy<br />
Pauley, operator of the Desert Theatre in<br />
Indio; Syd Welder, San Diego exhibitor, who's<br />
20 pounds slimmer as the result of a diet.<br />
In cooperation with the Filmrow club, the<br />
Los Angeles Motion Picture Salesmen's Ass'n<br />
is giving its first dance of the season December<br />
7 at the Aragon ballroom in Ocean<br />
Park. Murray Gerson of Universal is arrangements<br />
chairman for the salesmen and<br />
Stan Lefcourt of United Artists is in charge<br />
for the Filmrow club . . . Luncheon duo: Fred<br />
Stein, United Artists circuit buyer and<br />
booker, and George Hickey. Metro's Pacific<br />
coast sales manager.<br />
M. J. E. McCarthy, Monogram manager,<br />
and salesman Cliff Harris returned from an<br />
Arizona junket . . . Sid Goldman, house manager<br />
of New 'fork's Radio City Music Hall,<br />
and Mrs. Goldman were southland visitors<br />
Salyer is pinch-hitting down in<br />
Tucson for Fred McSpadden, Fox West<br />
Coast's city manager there, who is ill.<br />
Sky-Hi Incorporated<br />
HELENA, MONT.—Sky-Hi, Inc., of Helena,<br />
formed to operate theatres, both drive-in and<br />
inside, has been incorporated with Secretary<br />
of State Sam W. Mitchell. Directors are<br />
Ralph A. Hahn and Keith P. and George<br />
Didrickson, all of Helena.<br />
Forman Buys L Plans<br />
Drive-In at Spokane<br />
SPOKANE, WASH. — Forman Theatres.<br />
Inc., of Seattle ha.s purcha.sed an Interest<br />
in the Autovue Theatre on North Division<br />
and also plans to erect a super drive-in here<br />
to accommodate 1,000 to 1,500 cars. This was<br />
announced here recently by Cyrus Young and<br />
Raymond L. Strawick, president and vicepresident,<br />
respectively, of Autovue Theatre.<br />
Inc., and William R. Forman, head of the<br />
coast firm.<br />
"We are entering the Spokane field because<br />
we know Spokane is a good show town<br />
and we are confident of the continued growth<br />
and prosperity of the city," Forman .said.<br />
He said the new outdoor theatre will be built<br />
"a.5 soon as conditions are right."<br />
Associated with the Ted Gamble theatre<br />
interests which have headquarters in Portland,<br />
the Forman company operates both Indoor<br />
and outdoor theatres in most of the<br />
principal cities of Washington and Oregon.<br />
The chain also has a number of driveins<br />
in California.<br />
Forman also said two sites on North Division<br />
are "oeing considered for the proposed<br />
ozoner. "One site will accommodate a 1,000-<br />
car, single screen, de luxe drive-in," he said.<br />
"If the second, most likely site is chosen,<br />
we will build an ultramodern, two-screen<br />
theatre with a capacity of 1,500 cars." He<br />
emphasized that plans are contingent upon<br />
availability of building materials and relaxing<br />
of government restrictions on construction<br />
of amusement places.<br />
Meanwhile, extensive improvements are being<br />
planned for the Autovue. Forman said<br />
he would be in Spokane soon to confer with<br />
Young and Strawick concerning changes to<br />
be made. The latter pair said the Forman<br />
company will have full charge of the Improvements<br />
at the Autovue and the operation<br />
when it reopens in the spring. Located just<br />
beyond the north city limits, the Autovue<br />
closed for the season at the end of October<br />
to complete its fifth season. It has accommodations<br />
for 750 cars.<br />
New Theatre in Oakville<br />
OAKVILLE. WASH.—This community is<br />
to<br />
have a new theatre. Construction of the concrete<br />
block building, 51x110, has been commenced<br />
by Frank Gwinn, nephew of the late<br />
Cecil Gwinn, who at one time owned the<br />
Montesano Theatre.<br />
WHEN YOU NEED<br />
SPECIAL TRAILERS<br />
'GOOD' AND f-A-S-r<br />
SEND YOUR ORDER TO<br />
FILMACK<br />
CHICAGO, 1327 S. Wabash<br />
[w«<br />
C<br />
Count OB us for Quick Action]<br />
NEW YORK. 630 Ninth Av.<br />
3f^%^.<br />
for<br />
YOUR<br />
THEATRE<br />
Our wide fCTtUicts «rith (h* vvhibiion<br />
amir* you ol •alUfdaory rvsulti.<br />
201 Fin« Arts BIdg. Portland 5. Ornjonk<br />
THEATRE EXCHANGE CO.<br />
I<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: November<br />
24, 1951 45
Change language