Boxoffice-Septemeber.19.1953

T
! . Nur.sery
;
KMTA Board Okays
New Session Dates
KANSAS CITY- FoMlKnu-innit ol the 3:>tli
animal convention until December 1. 2 Wius
approved at a luncheon meeting of the KMTA
board at the Phillips hotel Wednesday 1I61.
It was also decided that if Louis Higdon, Midcentral
Theatres. Manhattan Is able to attend
the COMPO meeting in New York September
21. 22 a-s KMTA'.s representative, his expense
to the extent of $150 will be underwritten
He was authorized to make the su(.:s;estion
that, in further efforts to obtain admission
tax relief, a ceiling such as 75 or 80 cent
be put on such measures If this would help
to pass the bill.
Senn Lawler. general chairman of tin
KMTA convention, which will be held at tin
President hotel, expressed the conviction that
if each member who plans to attend the TOA
convention in Chicago November 1-5 would
make himself responsible for some particular
phase of the panels and discussions, and report
back to the KMTA meeting, it would
be of immeasurable value to all exhibitors.
It was suggested that a definite plan be
worked out, and also that the next bulletin
urge those members who have not already
contributed the five cents per seat in support
of TOA do so as soon as possible.
Plans are also under way to arrange to
charter a special car to Chicago if enough
exhibitors from this area signify their intentions
to attend.
The meeting was attended by R. R.
Biechele. Marty Landau. Hank Doering, LouLs
Higdon. Ken Winklemeyer, George Baker,
Calvin Strowig, Frank Weary jr.. Elmer Bills.
Senn Lawler. Charley Knickerbocker, and
C. E. Cook, president.
Bert English Is Crowned
Circuit Drive-In King
KANSAS CITY—Bert English,
manager of
the Garden Drive-In at Garden City, Kas.,
was named King of the Moon in the annual
drive-in managerial performance contest conducted
by Commonwealth Theatres. Second
place went to Wally Kemp of the Grand
Island. Neb., outdoor theatre: third place was
won by Bill Ternll of Goodland, Kas.; fourth
place by Jim Krkosska, Ozark, Harrison, Ark.,
and fifth plEice to Stuart Murray, 50 Drive-In,
Sedalia, Mo.
Murray recently resigned and was replaced
by Tom Wolf, but he will receive the prize
just the same.
Buy Worthington State
DUGGER. IND.—Mr. and Mrs. Paul W.
Love of the Cozy Theatre here have purchased
the State Theatre at Worthington from Mr.
and Mrs. C. W. Massey of Seymour. Ind.
The Loves plan to operate both theatres.
Love has 23 years experience in the theatre
industry, both as an employe and as a theatre
owner.
More Walls Installations
TOPEKA—Fred M. Walls, sound engineer,
reports complete booth and panoramic screen
installation at the newly renovated Orpheum
Theatre in Atchison, Kas. Other WaUs installations
include new projectors, a wide
screen and high intensity lamps at Jess
DeLong's Ute Theatre in Mankato, Kas.
St. Louis Tent to Stage
Big Benefit Festival
ST. LOUIS—Dancers and other cnterUilners
in this area will have an opportunity of winning
$3,000 in prizes In connection with the
Riant stage extrava-
^^1^
Au/.;i at the first an-
^^^^^^ Harvest Moon
m^ \ ;val to be presented
\
111-
Variety Club at
''
#
M Kiel Auditorium
Jf
^ int)cr 14 for the
•
lit of the County
building
luiid.
Application blanks
for dance teams and
II JU other talented persons
seeking to participate
*;dw;u-d .Arthur in the contests are
available now in theatres throughout the
greater St. Louis area, and in dance studios
and ballrooms. A number of other theatres
in eastern Missouri and southern IllinoLs have
indicated they will encourage persons in their
areas to attend the big event.
The prizes will be awarded to the contestants
who are judged winners in various
classificatioivs. The dance contests will be
confined to the fox trot, waltz, rhumba, polka.
jitterbug and tango. The talent competition
1% open to any type of entertainer or group
of entertainers.
In addition, nationally known entertainers
will appear.
Variety Club Tent 4. under the leadership
of its Chief Barker Edward B. Arthur, general
manager of the Fanchon & Marco circuit,
adopted the County Day Nursery as its
principal heart fund activity, and in cooperation
with the Greater St. Louis Community
Chest, has assumed the responsibility of keeping
these much-needed nurseries functioning
in various parts of the city and county.
The first major undertaking was the underwriting
of a major portion of the cost of
constructing a new building for the South
Side Day Nursery in the general area between
Twelfth boulevard and Jefferson avenue to
replace the building that was razed to make
way for the major highway connecting
Gravois avenue with the new Third street
expressway.
Chief Barker Arthur and the crew members
of Tent 4 decided to Initiate the Harvest Moon
Festival and to make it an annual affair..
The St. Louis newspapers, radio and television
stations and other branches of the
Only Few Airer Closings
In North Central Area
( hiiiiKO— .\llianie Tlu'atros luis closed
its drive-in theatres at Knox and Rochester.
Ind., for the season.
A quick survc.v showed that most driveins
will remain open until much later
in the sea-son due to the continued fine
weather and unusuall.v firm business.
Jack Hunt reported the larce Oak Lawn
and Illinois drive-ins in this area have
enjoyed exceptionally fine bu.