Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

^^HEN “Waikiki Wedding” played the Malco Joy at Port Smith, Ark., recently, it broke all previous house records, M. A. Lightman reports. On the Sunday it showed, the gross boxoffice receipts exceeded by 25 per cent the ordinary gross for four combined Sabbath days . . . Speaking of M. A., he arranged the floor show at the 16th district Rotary conference this week and “wowed” 626 people who crowded into the Peabody Hotel ballroom to see it. One of the numbers he presented, take it from M. A. and yours truly, will be seen and heard in the movies and over the airlanes before many years have passed. Her name is Frances Greer, personable little singer from Helena, Ark., and the Malco magnate is already trying to sign her for Paramount pictures. When news is made “Dad” Sipe of Universal will make it. At the same Rotary banquet. Dad announced to the throngs that he wasn’t wearing a tuxedo because he had only one and was married in that more than a quarter of a century ago. “It’d take three suits just like it to go around me now,” he laughed. ACCORD IS REACHED OVER LABOR DISPUTE Memphis — Picketing of the Peabody Theatre by the Memphis Building Trades Council has been discontinued due to an agreement by Manager J. W. Eaton to stop work on a $10,000 improvement program on which non-union labor has been employed. Previous to the settlement, a fleet of cars was placed at the Peabody, Cooper and Nelson theatres, and patrons planning to enter were given free transportation to other theatres. The picketing lasted 45 minutes. “Everything has been straightened out temporarily,” Manager Eaton said. “I agreed to stop the construction project and will see if we can work out an agreement satisfactory to the Union Building Trades.” Malco Into Van Buren Memphis — The old Rio Opera House at Van Buren, Ark., scene of many tales unfolded by the loquacious Bob Burns on his radio programs, has been leased by M. A. Lightman and will operate as a film theatre under the Malco banner after an extensive program of repairs. Bill Hendricks to New WB Post Memphis — Bill Hendricks, manager of the Warner, downtown theatre, has joined Warner West Coast theatres and will leave for his new work in Los Angeles Monday. He will be succeeded by A. B. Morrison, veteran Memphis theatre man and for many years manager of Pantages, bought out by Warner. He has been assistant manager of the house under Hendricks. During his stay in Memphis, Hendricks has made an outstanding reputation for himself as an exploitation expert. His unique ideas have become nationally known. lEFFERSON WILL BUILD IN FELLY Pelly, Tex. — Jefferson Amusement Co. will build a new theatre in Pelly with work to start immediately. The new house will replace the NuGulf, destroyed by fire last October, and will be a duplicate of the Port Theatre at LaPorte. Its capacity will be 450, according to H. E. Brunson, local manager. Here for the Tri-States MPTO convention last week. Jack Lieske of St. Louis and Don Ruliffson of Chicago, popular Erpi representatives, stayed over for a several days’ business confab with exhibitors. Some of the convention highlights: Louis Alford, his father’s assistant in the management of the State at McComb, attended his first convention . . . Cecil Cupp, of the Royal at Arkadelphia, was back for the semi-annual confab after missing several . . . L. C. Griffith of the Griffith Amusement Co. looking hale and hearty ... Ed Kuykendall looking very dapper. Jimmy Rodgers, Columbia manager, is giving his fellow branch executives plenty to worry about. He has recently walked away with first honors in the special four (Continued on next page) AMITY EXCHANGE 109 Walton Street ATLANTA distributing LOUISIANA — MISSISSIPPI — ALABAMA FLORIDA — GEORGIA DRAKES OPEN HOUSE Wadesboro, N. C. — A new theatre has been opened here by Mr. and Mrs. L. L. Drake. They are the managers of the Ansonia, the other theatre here. The new house has a seating capacity of 250 seats. New W. Memphis House Memphis — West Memphis’ new theatre, the Crittenden, will be in operation around July 1 or 15. Norval E. Packwood of St. Louis arrived this week to become manager of the new $35,000 house. IF A TICKET REGISTER WERE EXPENSIVE— THERE'D BE SOME POINT IN STICKING TO ROLL TICKETS^ BUT IT'S NOT — AND THE MONEY IT SAVES IN CASH LOSSES MAKES UP THE COST IN NO TIME. GENERAL REGISTER CORPORATION 1540 BROADWAY NEW YORK MONARCH THEATRE SUPPLY CO. QUALITY SUPREME LET LIVE PRICES 1 494 So. Second Street — Tel, 8-4870 1 EVERYTHING FOR DEPENDABLE SERVICE 1 MEMPHIS, TENN. 1 “THE MOVIES” BOXOFFICE :: May 1, 1937 133