Boxoffice-October.01.1955

October
. . Joe
. . Ruby
. . Jack
. . DaLsey
. . Dave
. . Charlotte
. . Arthur
. . Mirry
, . The
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Yakima Reopening
Depends on Ciiy Tax
YAKIMA. WASH The Liberty Theiltrt-,
severely diuiuiKed in a $25,000 fire early In
September, probably will not be reopened as
a theatre because of the city amusement tax.
It was revealed this week.
Freder.ck Mercy Jr.. owner of the theatre,
said that he is attempting to lease the building
for use as a store and if a tenant can be
found, will not resume operation of the theatre.
He said the amount of amusement tax the
theatre company is required to pay the city
makes closing of the theatre advisable. He
said that about 7 per cent of the theatre's
gross receipts are paid in city ticket tax. The
company operates tJiree theatres here.
"That's the difference between a profit
or loss," Mercy continued. "The city officials
have said the city must have the tax,
but they aren't going to get it if operation
of the theatre is discontinued.
"I would love to have a theatre there," he
added, 'but, we are a specialized business and
we pay the highest business tax of any operation
in the city. It amounts to between
$35,000 and $40,000 a year ... No business
can stand that kind of assessment. That's
why we recently closed the Roxy."
Meantime, City Finance Commissioner
Stephen H. Huza said the amusement tax
paid by the theatres and licenses .some others
are required to pay are the type of discrimination
which has prompted him to urge the
adoption of a general business tax by the
city, which he asserted would be more equitable.
T!ie fire which hit the Liberty broke out
under the stage floor and was spotted by
Blazer Miller, night janitor. It worked Its
way through the floor and destroyed the
screen, front curtain and sound equipment,
curtain control motors and paint shop equipment.
Smoke and water damage was suffered
in the auditorium.
Arch Bartholet, general manager of the
theatre firm, said the damage was covered
by insurance, but added that the theatre
company had experienced difficulties in
theatre business on a paying basis because of
the city ticket tax.
"We have closed one of our theatres," he
"We are thinking of closing another and
said.
we may go out of the business altogether. We
A.mt to continue operat.ons if the community
ints motion pictures, but the situation as it
at pre.^ent ls not encouraainc."
De Luxe L250-Car Ozoner
Opened at Las Vegas. Nev.
LAS VEUAS. NEV. — Manager John H.
Echols has opened the 1,250-car de luxe Nevada
Drive-In on the Salt Lake highway at
Nellis boulevard here. The new first run
drive-in was started a year ago by Bernie
Leavitt, California theatre owner: Sam
Decker, theatre owner and picture producer,
and Woody Wickersham, theatre owner and
dnve-in builder.
Echols previously managed Grauman's
Egyptian in Hollywood, the Beverly in Beverly
ills, the Arlington in Santa Barbara and
f Criterion in Santa Monica, and was gen-
• lal manager of the Denham Theatre in
Denver.
SAN FRANCISCO
JS^W three local theatres showlnK the Marcluno-Moore
fight telecast were sold out
several da>-s before the event. In fact, one
theatre reports that the house was oversold.
Showing the telecast were the Telenews,
Paramount and Golden Gate . California
Theatres Ass'n board at a meeting
Thursday (22 1 laid plans for continuing work
on the Audience Awards campaign. The
third boUot is to be sent to exhibitors . . .
L. S. Hamm, president of CTA and treasurer
of the Exhibitor Film Finance Group, will
attend the TOA convention in Los Angeles
along with Roy Cooper, regional TOA vicepresident,
and a large delegation of theatre
executives from this area.
Fred Johnson, drama editor of the Call
Bulletin since 1915, was honored at a testimonial
Tuesday (20) by Bay area theatremen.
Attending were drama critics and press folk
from the area and Celeste Holm, currently
fulfilling a night club engagement. Johnson
was complimented by theatremen, union officials
and executives for his many years of
service. A scroll was presented to him with
more than 60 names of theatremen attesting
to his fine workmanship.
E. I. Rubin was back from a business trip.
His sister Rose Marfisi from Omaha is visiting
here . Smith, former RKO manager,
was back visiting
his many friends. Joe,
now located in New- York, handles film rights
for television . . . Elmer Sedin, Buena Vista,
was in from Los Angeles . Petersen,
Western Theatrical Equipment Co., was vacationing
. Silverman, and Oriette
Philpott, both from Paramount exchange,
returned from vacations . Halburton,
W. G. Preddey Theatre Supplies, was
vacationing . . . Pat McGuinness Thompson,
Loew's Warfield Theatre, returned from a
vacation . . . Visitors to the Row included
Rudy Buchanan, Lakeside, Stateline; Robert
Reese, Lakeport Theatre. Lakeport: Jack
Neugebauer, Brockway at Kings Beach and
the Donner at Truckee; Al Stanford, Oaks
Drive-In, Paso Robles, and A. J. Longtin,
Guild, Sacramento.
The Motor-In at Mooney Park near Visalla,
formerly an Affiliated theatre, has been sold
to Harvey Amusement Co., effective Sunday
(25 1, for an undisclosed sum . Unger
has opened a Los Angeles branch of his
popcorn and concession supplies company on
Filmrow . Stevenson, manager at
Paramount, was a happy man last week.
Mrs. Cary Grant stopped off in town between
trains and was shown our fair city by the
very able Mr. Stevenson.
. . . Laverne
.
A. C. Brown, auditor, is at Paramount .
Gladys Beaupre, receptionist at Paramount,
returned from Los Angeles . Gilbert,
Paramount, celebrated a birthday
Stamey, new Paramount blller, has a
southern accent Kehoe, Paramount
ledger clerk, is recovering from a bite
in the cheek from her friendly dog ....
Robert Bemis, W. G. Preddey Theatre Supply.
is on tour of the valley on business.
. . . Lucille
Changes in the management In Charles M
Pincus' district for the Blumenfcld Theatres
include: Carroll Bradley, to the Vogue In
Pittsburg; Lou Spllzler, manager of the Auto
Movies Drive-In, and Dee De Witt back at
the Motor Movies in Stockton
Negri, formerly with Herbert Rosener Co. and
now retired. wiLs.seriously Injured neiir Suntu
Crua when the car In which she and in
woman were driving plunged over a dc
,
bankmcnt. The women were trapped n
car. Luclllc's condition was described it
Internal Injuries.
"fair." She hos u fractured pelvLs ond po.sdibli-
Keports are that representative!! of thi
new Todd-AO movie process, which Is said
to utilize a screen even larger than Clncramn.
have been In town shopping for a theatre
adequate for Installation of the $Kiii.(Hmj
screen. Already surveyed are the Fox, Ooklen
Gate and State theatres. First film to come
her;; under the Todd-AO banner will bv Oklnhoma!"
. Hugh.son Lions Club contributed
$500 toward the purchase of the Del
Rcy Theatre by the Hughson Youth Center.
Hold Briefing Meets
For FWC Executives
LOS ANGELES—Theatre and district managers,
department heads and executive officers
of Fox West Coast's northern and
southern California divis.ons were briefed on
the various subjects covered at the recent
National Theatres conclave In Colorado
Springs, in meetings held here and In San
Francisco September 28, 29. respectively.
Speaker.'^ at the Los Angeles se.'^sion included
Elmer C. Rhoden, NT president: John B.
Bertero, president of FWC: Edwin F. Zabel.
NT vice-president in charge of Pacific
coast operations: M. Spencer Leve, FWCsouthern
California division chief: Bert
Pirosh, Thornton Sargent, R. H. McCullough,
A. M. Ahlskog, Andy Krappman, Stan
Brown, Jesse Elliott, Bob Smith, Harold
Wyatt, Dick Smith, Russ Brown and John
E. Lavery.
At the San Francisco huddles these speakers
were supplemented by William Thedford,
James Runte, John Klee. Bob Bracken and
G. G. G. Patterson. Zabel presided at both
meetings.
John Newton Purchases
California Theatre
FAIR OAKS, CALIF.—John Newton h8>
purchased the Fa.r Oaks Theatre from C. J
Remington, who had owned and operated the
house four years to a day. Newton is an
Oregon showman and accountant.
The theatre building is owned by Walter
Preddey. theatre equipment dealer, who i.';
leasing It to Newton. The theatre sale effective
October 1. was handled by Theatre
Exchange Co., Portland and San Francisco
SALE Of THEATRES
ALL J SHOWS. INCLUDING DRIVE-IN,
TROL IV TIX KEY CITY
Allracllitly Fricid. libtral Ivmt. Eirningt h>|hlr
altrwtivr. Oil pliy. Irrlgatloci. ttry large trade
ttrritory. Ftdcral tai rrco-dt arailabli Unuiual
dtai dut to relirtmtnt. S50.000 down. Liberal timf
on balance.
Box «012
80X0FFICE, 83S Van BrunI Blvd. K C. 24, Mo.
:OXOmCE
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l, 1955 61