Boxoffice_May.09.1960

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'Free Night' Technique
Used to Open Drive-In
Experienced people in the entertainment
field say it is just as difficult to revive an
old unused habit as to establish a new
habit. Specifically, owners and operators
of drive-in theatres declare they have to
"sell" their type of entertainment anew
each season. The problem is how to get
people out of their homes and into a mood
for outdoor entertainment. And the hardest
problem of all is to get them to the
time at the opening
drive-in for the first
of a new season.
CIRCULARIZE ENTIRE AREA
Sol Gordon of the Selected Theatres
Circuit, Cleveland, has hit upon a successful
answer to this problem. This is to
open with a free show. "We circularize the
entire area which a drive-in draws, and
invite the population to a get 'acquainted'
night. Admission is free to everyone.
Naturally, the concessions stands are operated
on a regular profit basis. But the
announcement of the free opening show
puts spark and momentum into the new
season operation. Also it emphasizes the
route to the drive-in theatre as well as
indicating its entertainment facilities,"
Gordon concluded.
This free, get-acquainted opening policy.
is used by practically all of ten Selected
drive-ins and also by most of Jack Armstrong's
12 drive-ins.
New Members Are Announced
By Concessionaires Ass'n
Harold P. Chesler, vice-president and
membership chairman of the National
Ass'n of Concessionaires, has reported the
following new members:
Manufacturers and suppliers: James W.
Stitt, EWxie Cup Division of American Can
Co. and Woodson W. Latimer, Hollywood
Servemaster Corp.
Broker and consultant firms: Jack H.
Levin, New York, and Joe F. Johnson,
Tampa.
Concessionaire and automatic merchandiser
segment: Wesley Bloomer, Bloomer
Theatres, Belleville, HI.; J. D. Braunagel,
Jay D. Bee Amusement Co., North Little
Rock, Ai-k.; Gladys Gexstein, Candy Departmient.
Inc.. New York; Don Campbell,
Judith and Westemaii-e, Lewistown,
Mont.; Melvin Wintman, Smith Management
Co., Boston; Herman S. Gould, Center
Drive-In Theatre, Omaha, and Beverly
Miller, Miller Theatres, Kansas City.
Chesler has reported that L. E. Liebers
has purchased the Kom Popper, Lincoln,
Neb., and is continuing the membership
CMOaniEilMOIH Full
CALI CARBON COUPLERS
Let You Burn All the Carbon
"They're Expendable"
The most popular carbon sover. Used by more
theatres than ALL other makes COMBINED.
Per Hundred, postpoid: Not Packed in
Mixed Sizes.
6fnfn $2.25 Smm $2.75
7mm $2.50 9mm $3.25
No worrying about injury to high priced carbon
savers. Burn 'em up, you still profit.
Refund
if not 100%
S a t i s f i e d
FOR ROTATING CARBONS
10mm or 11mm EXTENDER KITS
Complete for 2 lamps $8.50
They saye 25% or more of carbon costs.
Most economical curbon sover you ever used!
CALI Products Company
3719 Marjorie Woy Sacramento 20, Colif.
The WORLD'S LARGEST Producer of Carbon Savers
At all progresi'rre supply houses.
held for many years by Mrs. Grace Miller,
former owner. Sam Rosenblum of Nebraska
Popcorn Supply Co., Omaha, has
changed the firm name tx) Nebraska Concession
Supply. Emanuel Frisch of New
York has changed the name of Theatre
Concessions to Entertainment Concessions
due to an enlargement in scope of operation.
First
Downtown Drive-In
ProposecJ in
Cleveland
A 1,200-car drive-in theatre will be the
top attraction in a multi-million-dollar
amusement center proposed this week by
Ted Vermes and Roy Gross, exhibitors, as
a step in stimulating renewed interest in
the downtown section of Cleveland. This
would probably become the first downtown
drive-in theatre to be built in the
U. S.
ON LAKEFRONT SITE
Location of the center along Cleveland's
lake front must still be approved by the
city council and the zoning commission,
but it is understood that officials are looking
with favor on the project. The center
would occupy 30 acres of lakefront property
and include, besides the drive-in theatre,
a children's amusement park, miniature
golf course, driving range and a glassdomed
restaurant at which patrons would
have the privilege of watching movies
while dining.
Behind the project, in addition to
Vermes and Gross, are a number of Cleveland
businessmen, according to the public
announcement made by Edward Schweid.
attorney for Affiliated Amusement Corp..
the syndicate which proposed the undertaking.
Vermes is a prominent local theatre
owner and Gross operated theatres
in Bedford, Ohio, before leasing them
several years ago to the Selected Theatres
Circuit.
Swing seats can be dangerous if not
properly designed. Some of the better
seats have the wooden board enclosed in a
soft rubber covering while others are of
the strap type. Consequently, there are no
sharp corners, rough edges or massive end
castings to cause injury. For the very
small tots, the nursery chair type of swing
seat assures upmost safety for it is impossible
for them to fall off.
Lipsti
fori
POINTS OF DISTRIBUTION
ALBANY, N. Y.
ALEXANDRIA. LA.
ATLANTA, GA.
BALTIIMORE. MD.
BOSTON. MASS..
BUFFALO, N. Y.
CHARLOTTE. N. C.
CHICAGO. ILL.
CINCINNATI. OHIO
CLEVELAND. OHIO
DALLAS. TEXAS
DENVER. COLO.
DES MOINES. IOWA
DETROIT. MICH.
GREENSBORO. N. C.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIF.
HOUSTON. TEXAS
INDIANAPOLIS. IND.
KANSAS CITY, MO
LOS ANGELES, CALIF.
LOUISVILLE. KY.
MEMPHIS. TENN.
MILWAUKEE. WISC.
MINNEAPOLIS,
MINN.
ETHYLOID
FILM CEME
FISHER
MANUFACTURING CO.
lias Ml. Raad Blvij.
Roch