Boxoffice-March.06.1948

Fox Midwest Renews
Du Quoin, III, Grand
DU QUOIN. ILL.— Extensive improvements
are under way at the Fox Midwest Grand
Theatre here, including the replacement of
the concrete main floor and the installation
of 862 new seats.
The floor construction is being undertaken
by sections so as not to interfere with the
operations of the theatre. Original plans
were to close the house while the reconstruction
work was in progress, but the contractor,
was not certain how long the project
would take and officials of the circuit he.sitated
to deprive the community of the
Grand's faculties for an indefinite period,
Manager Albert Spargur explained.
A small tunnelway is to be placed beneath
the floor to carry steam pipes, electric wiring,
etc. A new heating plant will be installed
after the cold season is over. The
new system will eliminate radiators now on
the theatre walls.
700-Seater, Charleston. 111..
Undergoes Remodeling
CHARLESTON. ILL.—An extensive remodeling
program at the Lincoln Theatre.
700-seater operated under Frisina Amusement
Co. banner is nearing completition. The
seats in the terraced balcony are to be rearranged
to allow more knee room, which
will mean a slight reduction in the seating
capacity. New stairways are to be constructed
and some changes will also be made in the
arrangement of the rest rooms. The ticket
booth, which has been at the rear of the
lobby, is to be rebuilt farther forward and both
the upstairs and downstairs sections are to
be redecorated. The work has been scheduled
so there will be httle interference with the
show schedule. Ed Clark of Mattoon is a
principal stockholder in the Charleston Theatre
Co., which owns the theatre.
Wisconsin U. Has Short
For Commercial Theatres
MADISON—The University of 'Wisconsin
bureau of visual instruction has received five
35mm prints of a state centennial film, "Wisconsin
Makes Its Laws," for circulation
among commercial theatres in the state, according
to 'Walter A. 'Wittich. head of the
bureau. The film runs 12 minutes, and shows
how a bill is enacted into law in the state
legislature. The bureau has also received 14
prints of a 16mm version of the film running
29 minutes, and has 11 more on order.
These are for use by schools, colleges, PTA
associations and historical societies. Wittich
said the 16mm films had already been booked
solidly through March, with more than half
of the April dates also spoken for.
Warners Whips Allied Five
To Take Bowling Lead
CHICAGO— Warner,s not only whipped
Allied for three games in last week's session
of the Chicago Motion Picture Bowling
league, but their 2,756 was also the highest
team total of the session. They also shot a
high game of 997, and are now leading the
league by one game over the second place
Film Chauffeurs, who took a couple from
National Screen. United Artists won a
couple from Columbia and Universal copped
two from Metro. Sweepstake winners were
E. Berger, R. Otto, E.' Klass, H. Hebel, M.
Canavan. F. Lingenfelser and O. Leman.
Censor Rejects 'Furia'
CHICAGO—Film Classics' Italian-made
picture "Furia" was rejected by the Chicago
motion picture censor board last month.
Classed for adults only were Warners' "I
Became a Criminal" and Tricolore's French
picture, "Panic." The censors looked at
425.000 feet of film during February, which
represented 99 releases, and made six cuts.
Television Network
Ready by Autumn
ST. LOUIS— Television network channels
extending from Buffalo to St. Louis will be
available In time for the 1948 football season,
Bartlett Miller, a vice-president of the
American Telephone & Telegraph Co., announced.
Two channels, one in either direction, will
be set early in October to connect St. Louis.
Cleveland. Toledo and Chicago. One channel
is to be set up to carry television program
from this network to Buffalo, N. Y.
Miller said the midwest network would be
linked with the present east coast network
by December, 1948, through a coaxial cable
linking Cleveland and Philadelphia. The
present two channels between New 'Vork
and Washington are to be supplemented by
two additional channels by June, in time for
the national political conventions. A single
channel will be opened to Richmond, 'Va.
Curfew Law Liberalized
CHICAGO—A liberalized c\ufe\v ordinance,
dropping the age limit to 16 :ind giving
"
youths an extra hour "grace on Fridays and
Saturdays, was passed unanimou.sly by the
city council. Mayor Kennelly signed it immediately.
The new ordinance sets 10.30 p. m.
Sunday through Thursday and 11:30 p. m.
on Friday and Saturday as the hours when
all under 16 must be off the streets unless
they are employed or accompanied by an
adult.
Fresh Air Via Truck
HA'VANA. ILL.—A truck cra.shed into the
alcove at the rear of the Lawford Theatre,
which houses the ventilating ducts, giving the
house "fresh air" ventilation until the damage
could be repaired. No shows were missed,
Manager Howie Young reported.
Retail Sales on Upgrade
In St. Louis Territory
ST. LOUIS—Retail sales in the five leading
department stores of St. Louis in the
week and four-week periods ended February
.28 showed increases of 33 per cent and 7 per
cent, respectively, compared with the same
periods in 1947, it was stated in a report issued
by the Federal Reserve bank of St. Louis.
Cumulative sales for the year to February 28
were 8 per cent greater than in the same 1947
period.
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March 13, 1948