Boxoffice-January.07.1950

COSTS cess
Vneqiialled in performance at such
low cost. .A conventional, rear-shutter
Simplex type mechanism with shockproof
gears, slip-in type gate, doublebearing
intermittent movement, and a
highly sensitive focusing device which
permits moving of lens exactly to the
slightest degree.
American Theatre
Supply
316 South Main Avenue
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Complete Theatre Equipment & Supplies
Virginia Mayo for Femme Lead
Virginia Mayo will take one of the two
femme leads opposite Richard Todd in the
Warner picture, "Lightning Strikes Twice."
Bonus Checks Are Given
To Employes in Iowa
DES MOINES — Parties for employes of
several Iowa theatres were held by the management
over the holidays. At Spencer, 20
persons were guests of Mr. and Mrs. G. C.
McKinnon, owners of the Spencer theatres.
Gifts were exchanged.
Employes of the Coed and Rex theatres in
Fairfield, received bonus checks based on
length of service at a party in the McElh;nny
house. Bob Dunnuck, manager, received a
top coat from the employes. Attending the
party from Des Moines were Mi-, and Mrs.
Nate Sandler and Ruby Zelcher.
Thirty-five employes of the Knoxville,
Iowa, theatres were guests at a dinner,
screening and dance. Festivities were at the
Marion Theatre.
Ml-, and Mrs. Harold M. Johnson entertained
employes of the Ritz and Majestic
at their home in Centerville. Each of the
26 guests was given a bonus check.
False Arrest Suit Filed
By Manager at Duluth
DULUTH—A $10,050 false arrest suit resulting
from the shutdowai of Duluth's Lake
Theatre may begin this month in Duluth district
court. Bert Langley, theatre manager, is
suing the Duluth safety commissioner, city
license inspector and a police patrolman for
arresting him on charges of operating a theatre
without a license. The charges were dismissed
in municipal court. The theatre, however,
still is shut down because the city council
will not grant a license.
Langley. meanwhile, has found employment
elsewhere. Ray Lumsden, owner of the theatre,
was acquitted of the same charge in a
Duluth municipal court trial. City officials
are making little or no pretense about the fact
that the shutdown was caused more by the
type of pictures the Lake was showing than
the technical lack of a license. No mention of
city objections to the type of pictures is found
in the official court proceedings.
Lumsden also intends to question in court
the city's decision to deny him a license.
Your Best Buy is Griggs' New 30-Line Chair!
with the self' rising seat!
A brcmd new chair for finer thecrtres.
Well constructed, comfortable, good
looking, reasonably priced. This chair
is equipped with autoraatic self-rising
seat. For complete information
«^ee E. J. Staton
in our Oklahoma City office, 708 W.
Grand, 7-1821, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Or Call, Wire or Write:
Princess Reopens
After Fire Repairs
ST. MARYS, KAS.—Tlie Princess Theatre
here, extensively damaged by fire December
6, reopened Friday (6t after renovation
and installation of new equipment.
The fh-e. of undetermned origin, was discovered
in the lobby at about 5:30 p. m. by
H. P. Higgins, owner and a theatreman of
some 24 yeai-s experience.
Higgins suffered second and third degree
burns in attempting to reach emergency firefighting
equipment. The flames were under
control two hours later.
Higgins will be released from St. Francis
hospital in Topeka about January 15. This
is the first business interruption for Higgins
during his long career as an exhibitor.
His sons Mark and Brian of Denver planned
and supervised reconstniction of the theatre.
The Princess was covered by insurance, but
there was no rider for the interruption of
business.
1949 Boxoffice Decline
Less in Duluth Houses
DULUTH—Despite the steel strike and
competition from outdoor recreation, the
1949 boxoffice decline among Duluth theatres
was less than the nationwide average.
Al Anson, Duluth district manager for
Minnesota Amusement Co, said the CTopojf
in attendance was sharpest during and right
after the steel shutdown. Duluth economy
is dependent in large measure upon the steel
industry.
A Irss-than-average decline, said Anson,
indicates business generally was good in the
Duluth area last year, and the caliber of
Hollywood production apparently pleased
most patrons. Advance notices on 1950 releases
appear to continue a pledge of improving
attendance by improving picture
quality, he said.
Few other areas of the country face as
strong summertime competition from the
great outdoors, according to Anson. His
comments on 1949 theatre business were
made in a review written for the annual
edition of the Duluth News-Tribune.
— FOR CENTURY —
THEATRE and DRIVE-IN THEATRES
PROJECTION MACHINES, SOUND
SEE
EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES
STEBBINS THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO.
In Your Service Since 1899
1804 Wyondotte Kansas City 8, Mo.
C. H. Badger, Mgr.
^p/qqc^
Belton,
Texos
EQUIPMENT
COMPANY
Offices: Dallas, Memphis, Shreveport, Oklahoma
City end New York City.
Theatre