Boxoffice-October.01.1955

FROM EMPTY STORE TO FULL-TIME CONCESSIONS
17-Hour-a-Day Street-Side Restaurant Serves Theatre Patrons
From a Special Counter at the Back Opening into the Lobby
—are always available. Customers cannot
go into the theatre lobby through the restaurant.
A special counter at the back
serves theatre customers in the lobby.
Cards distributed before the official
opening early in August helped bring in
customers—cards were good for a free cup
of coffee. "We gave away hundreds of cups
of coffee the first day." Cain said. He
also gave away, appropriately enough. 1,000
candy canes!
And how is this ambitious venture paying
off?
STEADY STREAM OF CUSTOMERS
Already it is said to be the meeting place
for throngs of people in this thriving farsouth
Texas city of 25,000—shoppers,
movie-goers, "coffee breakers," breakfasters.
Best evidence of success is that it takes
five full-time employes to take care of the
steady stream of customers. Mrs. Marjorie
Forehand is manager. The Rialto Theatre
IS one of Hall Industries' chain, of which
Sydney Hall is in charge.
Photos, courtesy Jake Trussell, Kingsville Record.
The Rialto Theatre in Kingsville, Tex., hod only o meager concessions setup consisting of a popcorn
machine and a candy vending machine, but Manager Hugh Cain had the vision and industry to convert an
adjoining empty storeroom into a full-time restaurant and concessions operation. Note the attractive brick
front and the neon "Candy Cains" sign, and also how the theatre marquee has been extended to encompass
the restaurant. Provision was also made for the display case to feature the current picture. Some of
the ten double booths may be seen through the door, and there are also ten seats at the counter.
^
I o THE THEATREMAN seeking to make
a full-time operation out of his business,
there is no better example than the recent
innovation at the Rialto Theatre in Kingsville.
Tex.
Candy Cains Snack Bar is a gleam-inthe-eye
of Hugh Cain come true. A vision
of blended soft colors and stainless steel
that emerged out of a nine-foot-nine-anda-half-inch
by 60-foot empty storeroom
adjoining the Rialto.
A $15,000 INVESTMENT
Replacing a concessions of only "popcornmachine
- in - front - and - candy - vending-machine-in-lobby,"
the theatre now
boasts a swank restaurant worth about
$15,000 with custom-made fixtures, and a
complete electrical kitchen for all to see.
There are ten double booths, and ten
seats at the counter. Altogether 50 customers
can be seated. The booths are two
inches shorter than standard, leaving a
30-inch aisle through the center of the
narrow room.
Candy Cains is open for business to
those entering from the street side for 17
hours a day—6 a.m. until 11 p.m. Breakfast,
lunch, dinner—or p>opcorn and a Coke
14
JiPi I
Hugh Cain is shown here at the concessions counter at the rear of the restaurant which opens into th
theatre lobby. Behind him, along the wall, the gleaming electric kitchen may be seen and in front, th
counter with stools for ten persons. The bar at the rear of the restaurant not only serves the theatr
patrons but, of course, prevents anyone from entering the theatre through the restaurant.
The MODERN THEATRE SECTIOl