Boxoffice-April.17.1948

i
LEAK
. . Don
. . Sam
of
. . Seen
OMAHA
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. . .
.
Ralph Branton, general manager of Tri-
States Theatres, was in the city a few
days H. O. Qualsett, exhibitor in Tekamah,
w-as called to St. Paul, Neb., due to
illness of his father Henry, Sutherland,
Iowa, exhibitor, has a gun repair shop
in his basement. A recent visit to the Minneapolis
sports show gave some new ideas.
. . .
The Chief Theatre in South Omaha passes
its first birthday this month. The house,
owned by Ralph Blank, is the city's newest
Carl Bailey, owner of the Pawnee Theatre
in Pawnee City, is recuperating from
an operation. Lifting of a heavy film container
caused the injury that forced the
operation.
Byron Hopkins' new theatre in Bellevue,
Neb., which was opened some time ago, now
has a name—the Elk. It is named for an
historic hill in Nebraska's oldest town. The
theatre is Bellevue's first . . . Dick Kehrberg,
owner of the Iowa Theatre in Sheldon, Iowa,
is heading the fund drive for a new community
hospital . . . "Unconquered" is only
the fourth picture ever to be held over at the
Orpheum Theatre, the city's largest.
Wally Johnson, Friend, Neb., exhibitor, is
back at his theatre after a honeymoon trip
to Honolulu . . . W. H. Heath, Republic Pictures
salesman, suffered a badly cut finger
on the road. His auto ran out of fuel and
bringing back a tin of gasoline he injured
Eleanor Horwich, Columbia
the finger . . .
cashier, says she has an announcement, too,
along with all the other girls displaying
sparklers. Her boy friend got married
Ernie Meyers, husband of Ruth Meyers,
. .
UA
.
inspector, entered a hospital for a serious
operation.
Anita Colby, Paramount "ambassador,"
held up a train. Due to a change in signals,
she missed her train here and it was held
for her in Council Bluffs imtil a United
Airlines limousine could rush her there.
Visitors along Filmrow included Cliff Sherron,
David City: Fobert Bertram, Schleswig,
Iowa; Eddie Kugel, Holstein, Iowa; 'Wally
Johnson, Friend; F. 'W. Nulteus. Mapleton,
Iowa; Tom Sandberg, Ravemia; Richard Mc-
Tague, Iowa Theatre, Dennison; Don Henry,
Sutherland, Iowa; Byron Hopkins, Sidney,
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Wade Man-
Iowa; M. P. King, Shelby, Neb.;
chester, Dow City, Iowa; Joe Jenny, Malmo;
John Fisher, Valley; Harold Dunn, Valentine,
and Mrs. M. D. Lyhane, Wood River.
Harry Waliier, who worked for nearly 50
years at Fifteenth and Harney streets, is in
Clarkson hospital. He collapsed while talking
with friends. Walker started with the old
Creighton Tlieatre, stayed on when it was
taken over by the Orpheum, was still there
when it became the Keith-Albee-Orpheum,
the Radio-Keith-Orpheum, and finally just
plain Orpheum. He is probably the oldest
active theatreman in town.
Manager Will Singer had a direct wire
from radio station KOIL so he could give
patrons results of the Nebraska primaries
during the regular programs . . . Appearance
of the three top Republican presidential candidates
off and on in the city last week, plus
other campaign fever activity, took away
some theatre patrons.
Tri-States Theatres has a unique anniversary
celebration coming up for the Omaha
Theatre . . . Don't be surprised if the missing
Oscar that Jack Benny talks about shows
up in Omaha . . . Sol Reif, new Film Classics
branch manager, learned that his mother
suffered a slight stroke ... Ed Kugel reports
his new house in Holstein, Iowa is well
under construction . . . Sioux City's Uptown
now is scheduled to open April 29 ... A
year of work was ended with the opening
of the new 200-seat Majestic in Oakland.
. .
All North Platte theatres suffered a temporary
blackout when power lines failed. Exhibitors
refunded admissions . Max Shoemaker,
Tabor, Iowa, exhibitor, joined the list
of new car owners . . . C. E. Paulson has put
in new sound, screen and projection in the
Strand, Wakefield, Neb.
Chief Barker F. A. Van Husan, Western
Theatre Supply owner, and Mrs. Van Husen,
headed the Omaha delegation to the Variety
Club international meeting in Miami. Others
were Meyer Stern, local secretary, and Mr.
and Mrs. Walter Creal, owners of the Beacon
and North Star theatres.
First Sioux City Drive-In
Is Under Construction
SIOUX CITY, IOWA—The first outdoor
motion picture theatre in Sioux City is scheduled
to open between May 15 and June 1,
depending on the weather, at 2900 Highway
75. A permit was issued last week to the
Sioux City Drive-In The-atre for a $3,000 steel
screen tower and a $1,500 projection room
with rest rooms.
John Kampmeyer, president of the firm,
said the foundation of the tower already has
been laid and work on the booth is nearly
finished. Grading will begin this week. The
area will accommodate 700 automobiles and
each car will be provided its own speaker.
The tower will be 56 feet high and the screen
will be about 46 feet square. There will be a
refreshment stand behind the projection
room.
Dickinson Drive-In
Open at Pittsburg
KANSAS CITY—Invitations were received
by all exchanges on Filmrow to attend the
opening Thursday (15
1 the Dickinson
Operating Co.'s 69 Drive-In Theatre one
mile south of the city hmits of Pittsburg,
Kas. Many drove down from Kansas City
to see the theatre, which covers 13 acres,
accommodates approximately 600 cars on its
ramps, and in
addition seats 200 on benches
in front of the screen. The screen is 52x48
feet and is covered with transite, making it
weather resistant.
Individual speakers are used. Heavy duty
projectors throw images on the screen 240
feet.
A playgroimd for children, in front of
the screen but below the audience line of
vision, is equipped with teeter-totters, slides
and swings. A platform will be built back
of this later to accommodate amateur night
programs.
Manager A. C. MacKinney has announced
that shows will begin each night at dusk,
regardless of the weather.
Glen W. Dickinson revealed that land has
been purchased at Salina, Kas., and construction
will start immediately on a 600-car
drive-in there, with a tentative opening date
set for July 4. Art Perry, construction engineer
for the Dickinson Co. and who built
the Pittsburg Drive-In, has been placed in
charge of the one at Salina.
From the BOXOFFICE Files
• •
(T-wenty Years Ago)
n RTHUR A. COLE has resigned as manager
of the Kansas City Paramoimt
branch, after 12 years of service with the
organization. Cole gave ill health and a
nervous condition as his reason for his
resignation, but it is understood that Paramount
executives will not let him leave the
company and that after a vacation and rest,
he will return to the office in another capacity.
* * *
J. L. Waybill has again become the owner
the Royal in Carrolton, Mo. . . . The Star
of
at Cole Camp, Mo., has opened for business
under the management of C. P. Junge . . .
J. H. Campbell of Baldwin, Kas., has bought
the Crystal in Ottawa.
* * *
. . .
. . Walter
. .
A foot of snow fell in northern Iowa last
week and many film salesmen had to leave
their cars over the weekend . on Des
Moines Filmrow: Wesley Mansfield, Tama;
W. A. Graham, Knoxville and Mr. Washburn,
Mount Vernon Naster of Kansas
City is
.
now managing the Lake in Omaha
Nathan Dax has taken over the Hipp
in Sioux City from Morris Smith .
Renz, formerly with National Theatre Supply
in Minneapolis, joined the NSS sales staff
in Omaha . W. A. Burke, formerly of Kansas
City, will assume the south Platte territory
for Paramount, replacing T. M. Tardy.
i\
STEBBINS THEATRE Equipment Co.
TJ^
KANSAS CITr a. MO-
A. B. Krumm Buys Sibley
WINTHROP, MINN.—The Sibley Theatre
has changed hands. A. B. Krumm is the new
owner.
Omar Nelson Leases Soldier
SOLDIER. IOWA—Omar Nelson has leased
the Soldier Theatre here from Conrad Evenson.
He took possession April 1, and is operating
the machines himself.
66 BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948