Boxoffice-January.03.1953

Esther Green of FEPCO at Omaha
Is Queen in More Ways Than One
From North Central Edition
OMAHA—Two years ago, while on a trip
east, Mrs. Walter M. (Esthen Green was
chosen Queen for a Day on a national radio
program. The selection was easily understandable
to Omahans. Esther Green had
been a queen in their hearts for many years.
In the midwestern film industry, Mrs.
Henry McGrath, general manager, and
Mrs. Walter IM. Green, check a press
proof at the Film Exhibitors Printing Co.
in Omaha.
Green for a long time had been known as
the pert, attractive and energetic wife of one
of the industry's most successful and highly
respected figures. Walter Green founded
FEPCO—Film Exhibitors Printing Co.-in
1924, a few year.s after their marriage. The
firm grew rapidly and, at the time of his
death in November of 1950, FEPCO was serving
approximately 4,000 small town independent
exhibitors with their daily, weekly and
monthly advertising material.
A few weeks ago A. A. "Jack" Renfro, chief
barker of Variety Tent 16, got a call from
FEPCO. Could he come over for a minute?
Jack came over from hi.s Theatre Booking
Service across the street. On the FEPCO
office wall along with paintings of Green
and a number of other prominent F^lmrow
members was an excellent portrait of Renfro.
All were done in oil by Mrs. Green, with
the idea that some time they might hang
in the Variety Club's quarters. Her work also
includes paintings of her relatives.
When Green died, Mrs. Green shouldered
the task of carrying on the company, with
the able assistance of General Manager
Henry McGrath, who has been with the firm
for years, and a number of other employes
of long service. Mrs. Green is at the office
every day.
But the responsibilities of running the
bustling business haven't decreased Esther
Green's capacity for other interests. She still
does a lot of painting in her studio at Gree"-
cresl, her beautiful home with rolling acres
on West Dodge street. She has thrown herself
into the art of figure skating and has
become one of the accomplished members of
the Figure Skating club at the Ak-Sar-Ben
ice
rink.
She still spends a lot of time at the fine
organ in her home and doesn't neglect a
helping hand for charities. Green was a
charter member of Tent 16, served as chief
barker and gave much time and money to its
projects.
Mr. and Mrs. Green used to entertain guests
with music as both were good musicians and
when they were children played duets on
the mandolin and piano. Mrs. Green likes
to do her own arranging for the organ.
Greencrest has a little motion picture theatre
off the basement recreation room. It has
a full-size screen, stage and footlights, upholstered
seats and the best projection equipment.
When the Greens planned Greencrest
they included about everything that could
contribute to pleasant living. Green did much
of the designing for plumbing and heating
details, such as the cooling system from a
deep well. Mrs. Green's artistic touch is evident
in the good oil paintings and pastels
and the tasteful broad expanse and decoration
of the rooms.
The Greens' most widely known activity
outside the theatre was horses. Mrs. Green
received national writeups as one of Omaha's
most enthusiastic horsewomen.
She was a familiar figure at horse shows
on her three-gaited chestnut mare, Queen of
Greencrest, and carried off many ribbons. Mr.
Green's favorite was a Tennessee walking
horse, Dixie Allen. Mrs. Green held to the
theory that a horse that is good enough to
show is good enough to ride in the park
and the couple were a familiar sight on the
bridle paths.
Green, somewhat of an inventor, had a
field day working out labor saving devices
for the stables. Mrs. Green contributed articles
to horsemen's journals.
The amazing factor in Mrs. Green's life
is that she was a sickly child and doctors
feared she might not live past the age of
12. In fact, she and her husband became
acquainted when Walter used to ride her
home from school on his bike because a
spinal ailment had made it difficult for her
to walk.
He used to tell her, "Don't worry, when
we grow up we'll be married and I'll teach
you to do all the things you want to do."
Now, Just two years after Green's death,
Esther Green is keeping the vital spark going
in FEPCO and yet hasn't let her other skills
and accomplishments wither on the vine.
Indeed, many younger than she are hard
pressed to keep up with her—and few who
and accom-
are younger can match her skill
plishments in so many fields.
Allied Artists to Build
HOLLYWOOI>—Bids are being sought by
Allied Artists for the construction of a $25,000.
sound-proof planing mill which will be built
early next year on the AA lot on the site now
occupied by the studio's lumber yard. The
building will be erected under the supervision
of Eugene Arnstein, studio manager.
CBC Board Will Study
Private TV Appeals
OTTAWA—A climax in the television situation
in Canada with respect to licenses
for TV broadcasting by private enterprises is
expected to be reached at a meeting of the
board of governors of the Canadian Broadcasting
Corp., which is scheduled to be held
January 22-24 in the parliament buildings
here.
According to a formal notice regarding the
meeting, the board of the government's
broadcasting company will consider the representations
from private stations. The lifting
of steel restrictions has boosted activity.
Applications already received by the Department
of Transport will be referred to the
governors for possible recommendations. Reque
ts from radio stations for technical' and
other changes will also be heard.
Television applications from Famous Players
Canadian Corp. and others have been on
file in the Department of Transport for at
least three years.
Fabian Brooklyn Theatre
Now Presenting Circus
From Eastern Edition
NEW YORK—The 2,900-seat Fabian Brooklyn
Strand, closed for several months because
of product problems, reopened Friday (26)
with a circus and the show will continue there
through January 1. Fabian Theatres said
booking the circus was a te. t of the drawing
power of a special live show and that there
was the possibility that other non-film entertainment
might be booked later, though
the circuit still considered the Strand a picture
house and preferred to present pictures
there.
The circus schedule called for three shows
a day. with children admitted for 60 cents
and adults for $1.20, and with a f-mall section
of reserved seats at $1.50. Tlie circus is one
that has been appearing in armories and in
Shrine mosques throughout the country. It is
called the New Polack Bros. Circus, with
headquarters in Chicago. There are trained
elephants, seals, dogs, ponies and bears, and
wild animals and high-wire acts.
UA Theatre Circuit Net
For '52 Up to $491,093
From Eastern Edition
NEW YORK—United Artists Theatre circuit
and subsidiary companies report a net
income of $491,093 for the year ended Aug.
31, 1952, an increase over $402,290 for the
previous 12-month period.
The earnings for the 12-month period In
1950 were $614,383.
The net for the 1952 period was $748,360,
from which was deducted interest, depreciation,
amortization and provision for federal
income taxes. UA theatre chain operates 20
theatres in California, Michigan. Oregon and
New York. It also has an interest in Metropolitan
Playhouses, which operates 128 theatres
in and around New York City: United
California Theatres, with 99 theatres: Rowley
United Theatres, with 127 theatres, and Penn-
Federal Enterprises, with seven theatres.
William Holden, Dawn Addams and David
Niven are starred in F. Hugh Herbert's production,
"The Moon Is Blue."
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BOXOFFICE January 3, 1953