Theatres: Wyoming Theatre
Lusk Free Lance, May 28, 1953
WYOMING THEATRE PURCHASED BY MR. AND MRS. MELVIN MEIER IN DEAL COMPLETED TODAY; ASSUME OWNERSHIP 3RD OF JUNE
Rumors and more rumors relative to the motion picture business in Lusk came to an end today (Thursday) when final papers were signed, making Mr. and Mrs. Melvin “Pete” Meier of Harrison, Nebr., the new owners and operators of the Wyoming Theatre. They will, under terms of the sales contract, take possession nest Wednesday, June 3.
The purchase was made from Wesco Theatres, Inc., which has owned the local showhouse for the past seven years. The negotiations, which have been underway since the Meiers first made known their intentions to erect a drive-in theatre west of town came to a conclusion at Douglas this morning.
The Meiers, owners and operators of the Summit theatre at Harrison, had recently purchased a site on the Bill Bredthauer ranch, adjoining Highway 20 and announced their plans. This was followed shortly by another announcement this time from the Wesco group that it was planning similarly.
Then came the offer to buy or sell from the corporation, with the two parties reaching their decision today. Mr. and Mrs. Meier are credited with being excellent show people and have shown a number of top-bracket films at the Summit far ahead of the theater here.
In the transaction, Mr. and Mrs. Meier had to assume all current film contracts made by Wesco, and even tho these include billings not in line with the policy of the buyers, they hope to have these contracts terminated within the next couple of months if possible. Afterwards the Meiers pledge to show the best and latest pictures available so far as distributor conditions will permit.
Aside from the theatre business in this city, the transaction involved the land purchased by Wesco after the new owners had announced their intentions to build the drive-in theatre.
As to the drive-in possibilities for this year, Mr. and Mrs. Meier asserted that this would now be abandoned for this summer, since the delay encountered in the dealings with Wesco would make it too late to have construction completed before August, leaving but a few weeks for operation following that time. However, the drive-in project will remain among their future pans, they indicated.
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