Boxoffice-May.29.1948

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Omaha Rule May Ban
Any New Theatres
OMAHA—A proposal now being bitterly
contested before the city council would virtually
put an end to new theatres in Omaha.
It is a recommendation by the city planning
commission that the right to build a theatre
be eliminated from property classed as first
commercial. Almost all desirable spots remaining
in the city would come under that
classification.
The subject came up as the result of a
move by K. E. Ashley, owner of the Crestwood
Shops, to build an 800-seat theatre next
to his property at the corner of Sixtieth and
William streets. There would be shops in
the building, Ashley said. He declared that
a majority of persons in the neighborhood
favor his plan.
But Attorney Thomas Quinlan, representing
118 property owners, tells a different
story. He said residents fear a theatre would
devaluate their property and traffic it would
bring would endanger their property.
The planning commission was first to hear
the case. It recommended the ban on theatres
in first commercial areas to the council.
The commission's proposal brought other
interests into the suit. Tri-States Theatres
Corp., which owns the Paramount, Orpheum
and Omaha, has a site at the northwest corner
of Seventy-second and Dodge streets near
the city limits where it has planned a theatre
of the future. This tract is zoned first
commercial and would be affected if the
commission proposal were adopted. Attorney
Eugen Blazer spoke for Tri-States. He said
the case should be settled on its merits. It
is unfair to make a blanket rule, he said.
The council decided to talk it over at a
special meeting before acting.
Federal Agency Forecasts
Big Growth in Nebraska
city, as a key point in the
river basin development, has a bright
as does the entire region, according to
forecast by the Federal Power commission.
The FPC estimates the Omaha population
gain at least another 100,000 by 1970.
Statewide the report is just as rosy. Eastern
outside Omaha, is expected to jump
,75 per cent in nonfarm population, while
western Nebraska is expected to gain 60 per
cent.
PPC bases its prediction on low-cost electric
power and improved navigation.
i
Uptown Offers Facilities
As Community Center
CITY. IOWA— Sioux City's newjest
theatre, the 650-seat Uptown, opened last
week in the north side. Robert M. Krueger.
said the theatre is equipped with a
address system and was constructed
for use as a community center outside of
hours. Various groups interested in
activities may use the one-story
structure for meetings during morning
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hours.
:Buy Stacyville Theatre
IOWA—Mr. and Mrs. Bill
jAdams have purchased the Stacyville Theatre.
They plan to redecorate the lobby and
ijmake additional improvements and repairs
Mto the interior.
His Theatre Is the Community Center;
Goodwill Shows Up at the Boxoffice
CLARISSA, MINN.—In this community,
the Mark Theatre is much more than a motion
picture place. Because M. D. Plaisted,
the proprietor, has made the theatre a community
center, it has been an outstanding
success in contrast to the predictions of many
who said such an enterprise would never pay
in this small town.
Plaisted built the Mark during the
winter of 1946, and opened it for the first
time in April. He spared no time or money
to make it the most beautiful motion picture
place for many miles around. That he would
gamble such a huge investment in a town of
500 was the talk of exhibitors of the area,
especially since Clarissa's last theatre had
gone into bankruptcy back in the twenties.
The Mark is not only a theatre to this
community. Plaisted has made it a community
center, and the friendship and goodwill
built by this policy has paid off handsomely
at the boxoffice every night of the
week.
He opened the theatre for a gala Christmas
party for children during the holiday
season, and with the cooperation of local
businessmen, treated them to a show and
No MAC-Ted Mann Deal
MINNEAPOLIS—Negotiations between the
Minnesota Amusement Co. and Ted Mann,
circuit owner, looking toward the acquisition
of the Alvin Theatre here by the former,
have been dropped because of failure to agree
on terms. A proposal to trade two St. Paul
neighborhood houses to Mann for the Alvin.
acquired by the Mann group from the estate
of the late W. A. Steffes, was rejected by the
MAC because of certain stipulations insisted
upon by Mann. The MAC lease of the Alvin
expires August 31.
CORNHUSKER DISPLAY—Some good
exploitation by Chuck Kroll, manager of
the Lincoln in Lincoln, Neb., is illustrated
above along with the tasteful popcorn
bowl recently completed at the Lincoln.
The usher is wearing a fezz with a
crest on front which reads, "Come to the
Casbah Tuesday." Beside him is a good
art job on "The Iron Curtain."
fiee popcorn. He olfered the facilities of
the theatre to the various farm organizations
fur their annual meetings, and at least Ihi-ee
days a year are taken up with farmer gatherings.
Two school plays yearly are produced
there, as well as the high school commencement
exerci-ses in May. Other community
events have included amateur shows,
vaudeville attractions and golden glove boxing
events.
"The people of my community take a personal
interest in the theatre," Plaisted said.
"The fact that their organizations and
schools are able to use it for special events
give them a proprietary feeling, and bui.ds
a remarkable friendship for me."
He said those occasions have brought people
into the theatre who rarely if ever w'ere
there before, and he noticed that many of
them started coming to the shows at the
Mark instead of driving elsewhere.
"Best of all," he said, "the community
residents show a pride in the place that has
sprung from this personal interest. If exhibitors
in small towns really want to be
successful, I suggest that they strive to make
their theatres the recreation and entertainment
centers of their communities."
Variety of Norihwest
Needs $160,000 More
MINNEAPOLIS—Plans to raise an additional
$160,000 for the Northwest Variety
Club's University of Minnesota campus heart
hospital were discussed at a meeting called
by Chief Barker Bill Elson. The club already
has turned over $300,000 to the university for
he project, but rising costs necessitate an
additional substantial sum to permit the sort
of institution which the club has had in mind.
The hospital, when completed, will involve
an expenditure in excess of $700,000. The
sum of $230,000 will be forthcoming from the
federal government. A show or some big
athletic event likely will be sponsored by the
club to raise money.
Northwest Variety Club won last year's Variety
Clubs International award for the most
outstanding philanthropic project of an)
< lub.
Charles Farquhay Shifted
To Minneapolis Orpheum
DAVENPORT—Charles Farquhay, assistant
manager of the RKO Orpheum. has been
transferred to the Orpheum in Minneapolis,
after three years here. He is being succeeded
by James Gillespie of Rock Island. 111., who
has been associated with Rock Island theatres
since his discharge from the army air
forces in 1946.
'Blandings' Opens June 10
In Two Des Moines Spots
DES M0II>JES—The first regular showing
outside New York City of "Mr. Blandings
Builds His Dream House" is scheduled to
open June 10 at the Des Moines and Roosevelt
theatres here.
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|BOXOFFICE : : May
29, 1948