Comments from ronruth

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ronruth
ronruth commented about Commonwealth Amusement Company/Corporation on Jun 26, 2012 at 6:22 pm

I stumbled onto this site today as I was looking for info on Ron Leslie, formerly with AMC Theatres. He passed away today and I was trying to refresh my memory as to what he looked like. The name is very familiar but I don’t recall his face.

Regardless, I worked for Commonwealth from 1976 until the summer of 1985. I was hired by Webb Meredith, the Dsitrict Manager over Oklahoma operations. I started at the Hollywood Theatre in Norman in the summer of 1976 before being transferred to the Quail Twin Theatre in OKC a few months later.

I followed Webb when he was transferred to Albuquerque before following him back to my home town of Kansas City. I did a short stint at the Ranchmart Theatre and was the opening manager of the Bannister Mall 5 in December of 1980. I was promoted in the early 80’s to Kansas City City Manager but kept my office at the Bannister Mall.

Webb was a mentor to me. He taught me so much about life, management and business. He and his wife Marcia were friends. Webb died in the early summer of 1985 of a heart problem he had had for a number of years. I believe he was only in his early to mid 40’s.

After his death, my alligience to Commonwealth faded and I took the position of Operations Manager with Cineplex Theatres in Houston.I eventually left the motion picture business in 1989.

Today there is a small group of former industry people in KC who get together for lunch once a month. I don’t get to go as often as I would like but it’s always fun sharing stories of days gone by.

For me…I always remember Webb, Darrell Manes. They hold a special place in my heart. I’ll also remember the wild and crazy days of Show-a-rama. Movie people really know how to throw a party!