Boxoffice-January.07.1950
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Komm Family Forms<br />
New Operating Co.<br />
ST. LOUIS—Samuel Komm Theati-es, Inc.,<br />
with headquarters in the New Shenandoah<br />
Theatre, has been incorporated by the children<br />
of the late Samuel Komm. owner of<br />
a number of theatres in St. Louis, Benld and<br />
Collinsville. III., to take over Komm houses,<br />
including the Grand. Benld; Miners and Will<br />
Rogers, Collinsville, and the Longwood, Maryland,<br />
Merry Widow. New Shenandoah. Peerless<br />
and Whiteway in St. Louis.<br />
The new corporation, authorized to operate<br />
and conduct a general theatrical and<br />
amusement business, will have 1,000 shares<br />
of no par value stock. Incorporators were<br />
listed as S. Louis Jablonow, buyer of the<br />
circuit; Mrs. E. K. Jablonow and H. Komm.<br />
Mrs. Jablonow and Komm are children of the<br />
late Samuel Komm.<br />
The Komm family also operates the 1,000-<br />
car Motmds Drive-In, on the Collinsville<br />
road between East St. Louis and Collinsville,<br />
imder lease from the Pines Co., which completed<br />
the drive-in early last year.<br />
THEATRE<br />
SALES<br />
WHITEHALL, WIS.—The Pix Theatre has<br />
been sold to Casper R. Bergene of Barron,<br />
Wis. Possession will be taken this month.<br />
Former manager Harold Saxlimd has gone<br />
to the new Burg Theatre at Shullsburg,<br />
which opened December 26. This is said to<br />
be Bergene's first venture in show business.<br />
NEKOOSA, WIS.—The Rialto Theatre here<br />
has been sold by the Buchholz family, who<br />
operated it for 22 years, to Glenn Schwartz,<br />
formerly of Waukegan, 111., who has been in<br />
show business for 12 years.<br />
WAUPACA, WIS.—The State Theatre, operated<br />
for several months by Carl Cohen, has<br />
been sold to J. P. Adler of Marshfleld, who<br />
owns several theatres in the state. The new<br />
owner says he purchased only the equipment,<br />
not the building nor the real estate and that<br />
the State would not be reopened. This leaves<br />
Waupaca with only two theatres. Cohen<br />
took over the house last August.<br />
EAU CLAIRE, WIS.—It is reported here<br />
that Mirmesota Amusement Co. of Minneapolis<br />
is offering its Eau Claire Theatre here<br />
for sale.<br />
Gene Kilburg Chief Barker<br />
Of Milwaukee Tent 14<br />
MILWAUKEE—Gene Kilburg of the Merchandising<br />
Display Corp. was elected chief<br />
barker of Variety Tent here. It was incorrectly<br />
reported in last week's issue of<br />
BOXOFFICE that James Kllbert of Supurdisplay<br />
Corp. was the one chosen.<br />
Food Show at Kendallville, Ind.<br />
KENDALLVILLE, IND. — Nonperishable<br />
food was the price of admission to the Lions<br />
club's annual holiday show at the Strand<br />
Theatre.<br />
The food was given to the local Red<br />
Cross for distribution in Christmas gift baskets<br />
to the city's needy.<br />
Harry Perlewitz Quits<br />
Wisconsin Allied Job<br />
Two Theatres Are Robbed<br />
At Same Time in Chicago<br />
CHICAGO—Two gimmen appeared almost<br />
simultaneously at the boxoffices of two south<br />
side theatres less than two blocks apart, got<br />
$50 from the cashier of one and $100 from<br />
the other, then fled. Police believe they<br />
escaped in the same auto.<br />
A man about 22 years old stepped up to the<br />
ticket window of the Harper and ordered<br />
Mrs. Loyola Soliday to "hand over the big<br />
money." She handed him a ticket. He rapped<br />
her hand with a revolver. Then she gave him<br />
$50 in bills.<br />
The second robber stepped up to Mrs.<br />
Edana Stickler at the Piccadilly and demanded<br />
money. Mrs. Stickler gave him bills<br />
she estimated at $100.<br />
St. Louis Exhibitors Win<br />
Another Fire Law Delay<br />
ST. LOUIS—Mayor Joseph D. Darst has<br />
signed an ordiance delaying for another year<br />
the effective date for new fire safety regulations<br />
for theatres. The present ordinance<br />
would require theatre owners to comply with<br />
the regulations by Jan. 1, 1950, but the new<br />
measure extends the deadline to Jan. 1, 1951,<br />
One of the chief features of the new regulations<br />
is a requirement for wider aisles.<br />
Mayor Darst signed the ordinance after<br />
telling its sponsor Alderman Louis G. Berra<br />
that it would be the last extension of time<br />
granted to theatre owners. Berra assured<br />
Mayor Darst he would not introduce another<br />
such bill.<br />
New Highland. Theatre<br />
Houses Post Office, Club<br />
HIGHLAND, WIS.—The building housing<br />
the new Highland Theatre which opened recently<br />
includes the Highland post office<br />
and<br />
the American Legion club rooms, all on one<br />
level. The theatre has 350 seats, said to have<br />
more leg room by foiu- inches than most<br />
theatres. Pi'ancis Hegben is manager.<br />
A feature of the projection room is a design<br />
which will carry any smoke in the room to<br />
the outside of the building.<br />
February Opening Set<br />
KEWASKUM, WIS.—The 480-seat Kewaskum<br />
Theatre is scheduled to open about February<br />
10. Local businessmen are the stockholders<br />
and the theatre will be managed by<br />
George Hanson & Son.<br />
The building will include<br />
one store.<br />
New Screen for Melrose<br />
MELROSE PARK, ILL.—A new Cycloramlc<br />
screen has been installed in the Melrose Theatre<br />
here. J. G. Landfield is manager.<br />
Holiday Party for Kids<br />
VIROQUA, WIS.—Children of this area<br />
were guests of the Temple Theatre at a special<br />
Christmas party.<br />
MILWAUKEE—Harry Perlewitz, executive<br />
secretary of the Allied Independent Theatre<br />
Owners of Wisconsin,<br />
resigned effective January<br />
1, according to<br />
Ben Marcus, new president<br />
of the organization.<br />
The resignation<br />
was prompted by pressing<br />
activities in buying<br />
. and booking for Thea-<br />
^A tres Service Co.<br />
^^^k<br />
'-i^iiiy<br />
Perlewitz<br />
^^<br />
was one of<br />
the three original spon-<br />
^^^^^<br />
^^^^ 'Tt ^^^^<br />
/^HiH sors of Wisconsin Allied.<br />
The others were<br />
Harry Perlewitz<br />
John L u d w i g and<br />
Charles Washicheck. The trio started the organization<br />
by holding regional meetings in<br />
Madison, Rice Lake, Appleton and Beloit.<br />
Harold Pearson, who has been field representative<br />
for several years, was appointed to<br />
succeed Perlewitz.<br />
Perlewitz served on the board of directors<br />
in the early days of the organization and in<br />
1939, after relinquishing his interest in theatres,<br />
he was asked to take the fulltime job as<br />
business manager. He served in that capacity<br />
taking part in such activities as membership<br />
drives, the war activities committee, war<br />
bond drives, USO, Red Cross, bond raUles,<br />
premieres and other such events.<br />
He also has represented the independent<br />
exhibitors in all union negotiations in the<br />
city, and has been a leader in the organization<br />
for the last 35 years.<br />
In other organization activities, Marcus<br />
told the new board of directors that there<br />
would be several small group meetings of<br />
from eight to ten exhibitors held periodically<br />
throughout the state during the year.<br />
Marcus was elected national director to<br />
represent the Wisconsin imit at the forthcoming<br />
national board meeting in Washington,<br />
February 8-10.<br />
He also appointed committees for the coming<br />
year. They include:<br />
Legislative: F. J. McWilliams and Charles<br />
W. Trampe, chairmen; Eric Brown, C. W.<br />
Baldwin, Arnold Brumm, John P. Adler and<br />
A. Spheeris.<br />
Membership: Russell Leddy, chairman, and<br />
members of the board.<br />
Budget: S. J. Goldberg, chairman; Edward<br />
Johnson, Floyd Albert, Russell Leddy and<br />
Harry Melcher.<br />
Special committee to cooperate with national<br />
Allied: Arnold Bnimm, chairman;<br />
John P. Adler, Charles W. Trampe, F. J. Mc-<br />
Williams, S. J. Goldberg and Harry Perlewitz.<br />
Vandals Damage Airer<br />
MANITOWOC, WIS. — Vandals damaged<br />
the Lake Vue Drive-In considerably, breaking<br />
six doors in the main building, smashing<br />
a mirror and taking a portable radio and<br />
tool box from the building. Two films and<br />
an assortment of other articles also are<br />
reported missing. In addition, holes were shot<br />
in the screen with a .22 caliber rifle. The<br />
sheriff has questioned teen-age youths, one of<br />
whom is reported to have made a confession<br />
involving others.<br />
BOXOFFICE January 7, 1950 47