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Ted Gamble to Speak<br />
Ai Omaha Conclave<br />
OMAHA—Robert Livingston of Lincoln,<br />
regional vice-president of Theatre Owners<br />
of America, has scheduled a luncheon meeting<br />
Tuesday (27i for the Nebraska Theatremen's<br />
Ass'n in Hotel Fontenelle.<br />
Discussion of the legislative problems of<br />
Nebraska will be held following the luncheon.<br />
Ted Gamble, president of Theatre Owners of<br />
America, will be the main speaker.<br />
Every showman of Nebraska is invited to<br />
attend the luncheon and afternoon meeting.<br />
Reservations may be made by post card addressed<br />
to William Miskell. Orpheum Theatre<br />
Bldg., Omaha.<br />
Wheel-Chair Vets Interest<br />
Hollywood in Their Case<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—Three Minneapolis war<br />
veterans who went to Hollywood to interest<br />
film people in making a picture built around<br />
war-crippled, wheel-chair veterans, said they<br />
received assurances that the project will be<br />
undertaken. The picture, in fact, already has<br />
been tentatively titled "Let's Go On From<br />
Here," they assert.<br />
The veterans are Ralph Elliott, L. K. Swanson<br />
and Woody Hawkinson. Many of the<br />
background shots will be made at the veteran's<br />
hospital here, and at least two top<br />
stars will be sent to Minneapolis for them,<br />
according to Elliott.<br />
One of the early scenes will show a wheelchair-confined<br />
veteran totally bewildered by<br />
the maze of steps all about him. The picture<br />
will have its climax when the wheel-chair<br />
veterans move into a ramp-equipped "dream<br />
village" built for them by public donations.<br />
Elliott<br />
says.<br />
A. £. Garansson Leases<br />
WAMEGO. KAS.—A. E. Garansson, owner<br />
and operator of the Garansson Theatre here,<br />
has leased his house to Lynn E. and Ruth<br />
Kay Alexander of Council Grove, Kas. The<br />
Alexanders will take over operation May 1.<br />
They are experienced theatre operators and<br />
now manage a large Council Grove theatre.<br />
The 600-seat Garansson, built last summer<br />
at a cost of $100,000, is one of two theatres<br />
in this city.<br />
Film Delivery Rate Cut<br />
Scheduled for May 15<br />
Better Films Seen as Cure<br />
To Poor Public Relations<br />
DES MOINES—Better public relations for<br />
the industry depend on better pictures from<br />
Hollywood, Leo Wolcott, chairman of the<br />
board of Allied Independent Theatre Owners<br />
of Iowa and Nebraska, says.<br />
"The need for better public relations is a<br />
fact no one can deny," he observed in the<br />
latest bulletin of the organization. "We've<br />
sunk to a new low, and it's later than we<br />
think. But the best public relations—and<br />
showmanship— will be wasted if they aren't<br />
backed by better pictures.<br />
"The kindest thing that could be said for<br />
the sad pictures we have been getting from<br />
Hollywood these last two years is to call<br />
them 'borderline' pictui-es. Hollywood can<br />
make better pictures; they proved that during<br />
the 20 per cent cancellation days. And<br />
they better do it again."<br />
16mm Film Group Formed<br />
MANHATTAN, KAS.—A group of civic, religious<br />
and educational leaders in this community<br />
have just formed the Manhattan<br />
Film council. The organization, it is understood,<br />
will confine its interest entirely to<br />
the 16mni field to stimulate the use of fUms<br />
in group discussions and educational work<br />
and to act as a clearing house in aiding organizations<br />
in selecting and obtaining the<br />
proper film for their purposes. At a forthcoming<br />
meeting of the council five films<br />
will be previewed.<br />
'Bells' Sneaked at Brandeis<br />
OMAHA—The Brandeis broke a precedent<br />
this week. For the first time in the theatre's<br />
history Manager Will Singer scheduled<br />
a sneak preview. The picture was "The<br />
Miracle of the Bells."<br />
KANSAS CITY— Contingent on approval<br />
by the Interstate Commerce commission,<br />
film delivery truck rates in this exchange<br />
territory will be reduced May 15.<br />
This date was set by the Exhibitors Film<br />
Delivery & Service Co. in an application it<br />
forwarded last week to the ICC in Washington<br />
for permission to reduce rates to a point<br />
approximately 50 per cent of the current<br />
Railway Express charges. Specifically Exhibitors<br />
Film Delivery proposes to eliminate<br />
lot shipment delivery charges and re-establi.sh<br />
the 50 per cent return rate.<br />
E. E. Jameson, in a letter addressed "to all<br />
exhibitors," listed several examples of the<br />
round trip cost under the proposed changes<br />
compared to Railway Express charges. For<br />
such towns in western Kansas as Hugoton,<br />
Johnson, Liberal and Ulysses, the new Exhibitors<br />
Film Delivery charge would be $7.35 on<br />
a 100-pound round trip basis, as compared to<br />
$13.08 by express. Federal tax would be added<br />
to both.<br />
Belief that the ICC will approve the ratereduction<br />
was expressed by Jack Stewart,<br />
general manager of Allied Independent Theatre<br />
Owners of Kansas and Missouri, who<br />
also is a member of a committee consisting of<br />
Vancil Stamm and Ben Adams appointed on<br />
the delivery rate question.<br />
If the ICC does not approve the reduction,<br />
the Allied organization will immediately proceed<br />
with its plans to set up a cooperative<br />
film delivery company, the committee said.<br />
Promoted at Cedar Rapids<br />
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA — Piomotion of<br />
Reed Jeffrey, chief of service at the Paramount<br />
here, to assistant manager of the<br />
State, has been announced by Francis C. Gil-<br />
Ion, city manager for Tri-States Theatres.<br />
Jeffrey succeeds Charles F. Mittlestadt, who<br />
resigned from the State job.<br />
Matis Doing Advertising<br />
OMAHA—It was reported incorrectly recently<br />
that John Matis had succeeded Eddie<br />
Shafton, who resigned as counsel for the R.<br />
D. Goldberg Theatres. Matis did join the<br />
Goldberg circuit, but will serve only in the<br />
advertising department.<br />
Harold McCracken to Creston<br />
CRESTON, IOWA—Harold McCracken of<br />
Rockport, Mo., has been named assistant to<br />
Robert H. Spencer, manager of the Strand<br />
and Uptown theatres here. He will have<br />
direct charge of the Uptown. McCracken<br />
has been associated with the Commonwealth<br />
Theatre organization for years.<br />
Held in Theatre Candy Theft<br />
FORT MADISON, IOWA—Dennis M. Murphy,<br />
24, of Fort Madison, has been bound<br />
over to the grand jury on a charge of breaking<br />
into the Iowa Theatre Bldg., and stealing<br />
a box containing candy bars and mint rolls.<br />
YOUNG STAR ON TOUR—Between personal appearances on the stage of<br />
Loew's Midland Theatre in Kansas City, Marshall Thompson, young MOM star,<br />
was introduced to exhibitors and newspaper and radio representatives at a luncheon<br />
in the Muehlebach hotel. Shown here, left to right, are Leon Robertson and Edd<br />
Haas, district managers of Fox Midwest Theatres; Al L. Adler. resident manager<br />
of the MOM exchange; John Meinardi, assistant film buyer for Fox Midwest; D. L.<br />
Hartley, motion picture editor of the Star; Howard Burkhardt, manager of Loew's<br />
Midland; Bernie Evens, MOM exploiteer; Bill Lyon, MGM studio representative; Mori<br />
Greiner, editor of Swing; Rosemary Howard of WHB; Thompson, and Senn Lawler,<br />
Fox Midwest publicist.<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: April 17, 1948 G7
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