I have enjoyed reading this blog. I started working at Commonwealth Theaters in Emporia, Kansas as a projectionist at the 50-S Drive In in the late 1970’s. I managed theaters for CAC in Emporia, and at the Ranchmart, Trailridge, and Crest Drive-In in Kansas City. I worked in the home office at 215 W. 18th Street as a clerk, and then moved to the Denver office as a film booker. In 1987 they moved me to Dallas as a film buyer, and I left the company as it was being dissolved by Golan/Globus and joined Disney as a salesman. I became a branch manager for Disney at Buena Vista Pictures Distribution and handled many territories: New Orleans, Memphis, Kansas City, St. Louis, and Los Angeles. I served a decade as Assistant General Sales Manager, then head of Worldwide Digital Cinema Operations. I am now in my 27th year at Disney as Vice President, Strategic Planning at the studio in Burbank. It has been a fascinating career, enabled by great mentors and friends such as Hal McClure, Jack Poessiger, Don Starkweather, Don Ireland, Marvin Goldfarb, Cliff Godfrey, Steve Zuehlke, John Roberts and many other Commonwealth alumni. I too have fond memories of Darrell Manes, Webb Meredith, Jess Spain, John Lightner, Eldon Harwood, Richard Ytell and so many others.
The Commonwealth days were great fun. Nice to see the post from Ron Ruth, who I remember from Kansas City.
I have enjoyed reading this blog. I started working at Commonwealth Theaters in Emporia, Kansas as a projectionist at the 50-S Drive In in the late 1970’s. I managed theaters for CAC in Emporia, and at the Ranchmart, Trailridge, and Crest Drive-In in Kansas City. I worked in the home office at 215 W. 18th Street as a clerk, and then moved to the Denver office as a film booker. In 1987 they moved me to Dallas as a film buyer, and I left the company as it was being dissolved by Golan/Globus and joined Disney as a salesman. I became a branch manager for Disney at Buena Vista Pictures Distribution and handled many territories: New Orleans, Memphis, Kansas City, St. Louis, and Los Angeles. I served a decade as Assistant General Sales Manager, then head of Worldwide Digital Cinema Operations. I am now in my 27th year at Disney as Vice President, Strategic Planning at the studio in Burbank. It has been a fascinating career, enabled by great mentors and friends such as Hal McClure, Jack Poessiger, Don Starkweather, Don Ireland, Marvin Goldfarb, Cliff Godfrey, Steve Zuehlke, John Roberts and many other Commonwealth alumni. I too have fond memories of Darrell Manes, Webb Meredith, Jess Spain, John Lightner, Eldon Harwood, Richard Ytell and so many others.
The Commonwealth days were great fun. Nice to see the post from Ron Ruth, who I remember from Kansas City.