Merle Blair enjoyed the theater.  He worked in a small theater, which he owned in Lewis, which became a success.  After that Blair decided to sell films throughout the Midwest.  Interestingly, Blair would sell his films through a road show.  For a film about a Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman, Blair would have a mounted policeman ride a dog sled on wheels through the town that hosted the show for the evening.  Later, Blair worked for Universal Pictures selling films in many states.  This is where Blair would discover the Cotton.  One of Blair's clients in Mason City had an interest in buying the Cotton Theater and wondered if Blair was interested in being the manager.  Blair agreed only to a one-year commitment and wanted one quarter of stock in the company if the theater was successful.  As history shows, Blair would later stay on as the manager and eventual owner of the Regent Theater.