Boxoffice-March.06.1948

St. Louis Anticipates
Surge by Television
ST. LOUIS—Television competition for
motion picture theatres in the St. Louis area
assumes more threatening proportions almost
week by week.
Up to this time the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
television station, an adjunct of KSD,
has been the only televisor here, but there
has been filed with the FCC applications for
permits to operate several other stations.
KWGD of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat is
the most recent applicant yet. Other applications
from the area are those of WEW,
owned and operated by St. Louis university;
KWK, owned by Thomas Patrick, Inc., the
local Mutual outlet, and the New England
Television Co. of Pall River, Mass.
Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. and the
American Telephone & Telegraph Co. have
taken steps to increase their facilities for
handling television. Already a coaxial hookup
betvTeen St. Louis and Chicago via Evansville,
Ind., has been completed and another
line from St. Louis to Memphis is now under
construction. This apparently will make possible
some attempt at network televising
by early summer.
CHICAGO
Would Exempt Safety Film
From Storage Regulations
CHICAGO—Alderman Alban Weber has
started action in the city council to exempt
retailers, schools, churches and individuals
having more than 2.000 feet of 8mm and
16mm safety film from obtaining a special
license and abiding by strict precautions in
handling the films. A resolution to amend
such an ordinance is pending before the
licensing committee.
His action followed filing of a suit in
superior court for an injunction to restrain
the city from enforcing the ordinance. The
lawyers content that the council erred in
failing to provide a clause for home movie
fans, photographic shops and educational
institutions ownmg or showing only safety
films. They maintain the law was designed
to affect users of celluloid film, which bursts
into flames on contact with fire or excessive
heat.
ESfe-Size Photo as Clown
At Bier of 'Ginger' Gilard
CHICAGO—Gus "Ginger" Gilard, veteran
projectionist at the B&K Lakeside Theatre,
died last week. Near his coffin in the chapel
stood a life-size photo of Gus in a clown
costume, which is the way he was most
familiar to many Balaban & Katz employes.
Gus became a circus clown in 1909 and in
more recent years, while working at the
Lakeside, returned to his first love by entertaining
at parties on his days off. Ill at
the time, Gus was on hand at the B&K
children's Christmas party last December
to greet the boys and girls as they entered.
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