Boxoffice-January.07.1950

SALT LAKE CITY
/^old weather and blizzards returned to the
intermountain area to plague theatremen
in Montana, Utah and Idaho. Although not
as disastrous as the winter of 1949 blizzards,
the latest bad weather tended to cut into
theatre grosses.
. . . Jules
The area—particularly Salt Lake City—was
deluged by another kind of blizzard when
three field representatives dropped in to work
on major releases. Dick Stevens, who was
here on "AH the King's Men," succeeded in
setting up showings for the press and radio
and a command showing for Gov. J. Bracken
Lee and his staff . . . Marty Weiser, putting
in his last two weeks for Warners, was lining
up the campaign for the opening of "Montana."
to be held at the Utah
Schwerin was working on "Samson and Delilah"
and had lined up showings for religious
groups.
Mr. and Mrs. Erick C. Peterson and their
son and daughter-in-law Mr. and Mrs. Carl
Peterson were back in their home at the
Motor-Vu Drive-in after a month's vacation
in Hawaii. They retui-ned on the Lurline the
day Clark Gable and his bride boarded it
to leave on their honeymoon.
One New Drive-in Opened
In San Francisco Area
SAN FRANCISCO—Drive-in developments
in this area include:
The Placer county planning commission issued
a pei-mit to Harvey Smith and William
Hall for the construction of a drive-in on a
14-acre tract two miles from Auburn. Smith
will resign as manager of two Roseville theatres
to conduct the enterprise.
The Alameda county planning commission
set Januaj'y 10 for hearing on azi application
for a drive-in on Central avenue north of
Castro Valley boulevard. The application
was filed by Arnold Anderson, realtor.
The San Mateo county planning commission
turned down a request for rezoning to
permit construction of a drive-in next to
Cypress Lawii cemetery in Colma.
The new Rancho Drive-In opened last week
in Placerville. It is operated by Mr. and
Mrs. Lawrence Freitas and Mr. and Mrs.
Clarence Freitas of San Juan Bautista and
Mr. and Mrs. Victor Banta of Placerville.
Ellis Theatre Is Sold
SAN FRANCISCO—Dan McLean and Lee
Dibble, owners of the Embassy here, have
taken over the Ellis, formerly operated by
William David. Dibble and McLean will
change the policy of the house and remodel
it soon after the first of the year. William
Crosby, formerly with Golden State and
Blumenfeld circuits, has been named house
manager.
Two-Day Free Theatre Party
RENTON, WASH.—The Rainier Theatre
here held a two-day free theatre party just
before Christmas for local residents. The
program, which ran continuously from 6
p. m. Friday to midnight and from 1 p. m.
Saturday until midnight, was sponsored by
local merchants, who distributed tickets,
Frank Schock is manager of the Rainier.
United Paramount Gets OK
For Salt Lake Building
NEW YORK—Federal Judge Alfred Coxe
has granted permission to United Paramount
Theatres to build a new second-run theatre
in Salt Lake City to replace the Victory Theatre,
which burned several years ago. The
new house will seat 1,000. Paramount has
filed similar applications for theatres in
Tampa and Miami.
To Attend TOA Session
LOS ANGELES—Two officers of the Theatre
Owners of America from this area wUl be
on hand for the annual midwinter meeting
of TOA, to be held in Washington, beginning
January 9. Planing east for the sessions will
be Charles P. Skouras, president of National
Theatres and Fox West Coast, who is TOA
treasurer, and Sherrill Corwin, head of Metropolitan
Theatres, a TOA vice-president.
,^
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BLOCKBUSTER
Unidentified Man Pays
Admission for 30 Kids
BUTTE, MONT. — Tlie
well-dressed
man who walked along Park street and
paused before the American Theatre here
recently didn't look like Santa Claus, but
to a swarm of 30 youngsters waiting for
the boxoffice to open he soon became a
glorified Kris Kringle.
The man started counting noses, but the
boys and girls paid no attention. Cashier
Margaret Bennett entered the booth and
began setting up her change and, tickets.
The stranger edged through the kids,
dumped a quantity of change on the glass
top and said: "Thirty children's please."
Miss Bennett admitted the 30 as the man
walked off.
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A RESEARCH BUREAU
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Gentlemen:
Please enrol! us in your REf/EARCH BUREAU to receive information regularly, as
released, on the following subjects for Theatre Planning:
n Acoustics
n Air Conditioning
n Architectural Service
n "Black" Lighting
D Building Material
n Carpets
n Coin Machines
D Other Subjects
Theatre
Address
City
Complete Remodeling
D Decorating
n Drink Dispensers
n Drive-In Equipment
n Lighting Fixtures
n Plumbing Fixtures
n Projectors
Signed..
Seating
n Projection Lamps
n Seating
Signs and Marquees
n Sound Equipment
n Television
D Theatre Fronts
n Vending Equipment
(Owner-Manager)
Capacity
Postage-paid reply cards for your further convenience in obtaining information
are provided in The MODERN THEATRE RED KEY Section (Nov. 19, 1949).
BOXOFnCE January 7, 1950 46-C