Boxoffice-Septemeber.19.1953

.
. . The
Indoor-Outdoor Theatre Under Way;
Both Use Same Projection System
From N^-v. L/i.,kin,) Edition
MONTPKLIER. VT. — An indoor-outdoor
theatri'. believed to be the first of Its kind In
the world, will be ready for year-around operation
late this fall, when a four-wall indoor
theatre is added to the operations of the
recently opened Moonlight Drive-In here.
The new theatre, owned by Richard M.
Cody, is unique in that both the drive-in and
the four-wall house will be operated under
the same projection system. The projection
booth, atop the concessions and lobby building,
will be used both for the drive-in and the
indoor theatre. The rear wall of the bonih
serves as the front wall of the indoor tluatn
The transfer of projection equipment liuni
drive-in usage to indoor usage merely involves
turning the equipment around to face
in the opposite direction.
Electrical connections to provide for the
transfer have been built into the booth, so
that moving the equipment will be much the
same as moving a lamp in a living room.
Tlie conce.'ision building is constructed of
cinder blocks with the concessions counters,
lobby and reslrooms on the ground floor, beneath
the booth. Cinder blocks also will be
used for construction of the 800-seat fourwall
theatre.
The drive-in, opened last month, is less
than one mile from the Twin City Drive-In,
which also is operated by Cody. The Moonlight
accommodates 400 cars. Cody also operates
the Strand in Montpelier and the Strong
in Burlington, both indoor houses. Conrad
Cody will manage the new indoor-outdoor
theatre.
The concessions building has walls of light
A&W Circuit at Detroit
Adds West End Theatre
DETROIT—A&W Tlieatres, Detroit's newest
apd fastest growing circuit, acquired its
tenth theatre last week; namely the West
End, operated for several decades by William
Kimmel. It is the second A&W suburban
addition this summer. Walter Janice, manager
of the Times Square, headquarters house
of the circuit, was moved out to take charge
of the West End, and Emil Riewe, a newcomer,
replaced him at the Times Square.
Winnogene Scott Dies
DETROIT—Winnogene Scott, of Manistee
died last week at the age of 89. She was
the daughter of the late T. J. Ramsdell, who
built the old Ramsdell Opera House, which
.served for years as a motion picture theatre
in Manistee. In recent years she was active
in establishing a summer theatre to revive
use of the structure.
'Martin Luther' Booked
CLEVELAND—"Martin Luther," the Louis
DeRochemont production, has been booked
into eight northern Ohio situations, Nat
Barach, National Screen Service manager,
announces. They are the Warner, Youngstown;
Strand, Akron: Ohio, Canton; Loew's
Ohio, Cleveland: Loew's Esquire, Toledo;
Shea's Ashtabula; State, Conneaut, and the
Ohio, Mansfield.
BOXOFHCE September 19, 1953
green complemeni ,,
lurs in the tile
flooring. The entire Iruiii of the lobby is a
huge picture window where patrons can watch
the drive-in film. The ticket booth, of
natural-finish wood, can serve two lines of
cars simultaneously.
Capitol Theatre Supply equipped the Moonlight,
with particular emphasis placed upon
screen equipment for showing both threedimen.Mon
and wide-angle films with a minimum
of distortion.
Projection illumination is provided by RCA
wide-arc high intensity lamps. The projector
is water-cooled and Ls lubricated by a pumpdriven
lubrication system requiring no additional
oiling or greasing.
The entire project is under the supervision
of Charles Fish, RCA representative with
Capitol, and Charles James, RCA representative
from Newfane, Vt., who directed installation
of the sound system.
Houston Manager's Ad
Praises Competitor
From Southwest Edition
HOUSTON—In eight-inch display ads in
all three local newspapers, Homer McCallon,
manager of Loew's State, congratulated a
competitor for his showmanship. The ad
was headlined, "A Letter to a Competitor"
and read:
"Mr. John Smith, Manager
"River Oaks Theatre
"Dear John:
"Your presentation of Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer's "Lili" is in my opinion one of the
all-time great feats of showmanship.
"I wish to take this public means of congratulating
you and your fine staff for the
outstanding success you have achieved in
your unprecedented engagement of eight
weeks manner in which you acquainted
the Houston public with the picture
was most outstanding.
"Homer Mc "allon. Manager
"Loew's State Theatre"
Stores Start Giveaways
CLEVELAND—Chain food stores have
taken over where theatres left off in the
matter of stimulating business. The Pick-N-
Pay stores in 13 situations have contracted
with Jack Gertz of the G. L. Gertz Enterprises
to sell a volume of the American International
Encyclopedia with a purchase of any
amount, upon payment of 89 cents.
RESEARCH BUREAU
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PLANNING INSTITUTE
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Please enroll us in your RESEARCH BUREAU
to receive information regularly, as released, on
the following subjects for Theatre Planning:
n AcouslicB
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D "Black" Lighting
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n Coin Machinoa
D Complete Remodeling ^ ^°'""^
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G Lighting Fixtures
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Projection Lamps
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97