Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

COVERING TEXAS, OKLAHOMA, ARKANSAS, TENNESSEE, LOUISIANA, ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI, GEORGIA, FLORIDA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA JACK PICKENS FORMING CIRCUIT UNUSUAL FEATURES MARK FLORIDA HOUSE Orlando, Fla. — An outstanding example of modern theatre construction is the new 700-seat Lincoln Theatre, de luxe Negro house opened here last month and managed by Dick Thorsted. The house, which is modern in every respect includes some novel and unusual features. One of these is a guest room, glass-partitioned from the theatre auditorium, and equipped with a speaker and chromium furniture. Another innovation is the use of a vacuum conveyor, leading from the boxoffice to the manager’s office, which makes possible the “banking” of sums of money from the boxoffice and reduces accordingly the possibility of big losses through robbery. The theatre is also equipped with a large stage and dressing rooms affording facilities for handling a fifty person show. Oil paintings of various Negro popular idols such as Stepin Fetchit, Joe Louis, Booker T. Washington and others adorn the auditorium walls. CONDITIONS OKAY IN SOUTH — C. SMITH New York — “Business conditions for motion pictures and in general are very good in the southern district,” said Cresson Smith, sales manager for the southern and western division of RKO, on his return from a tour of the company’s branches in those territories this week. Smith, who was accompanied by Harry Michalson, short subjects sales manager; Herbert MacIntyre, southern district manager, and Vernon H. Adams, public relations representative in the district, made the trip principally to introduce Adams to the trade and exchange managers through the south. City Hall-Theatre for Tuscaloosa, Ala. Tuscaloosa, Ala. — A new city hall and a new Paramount Theatre, to he built in one building at 'public expense has been authorized by the citizens of Tuscaloosa. The combination building will cost $164,000, which is expected to be returned to the city in rentals from a 20-year lease on the building. I. H. SPANN JOINS SOUTHERN FILMS Atlanta — J. Harry Spann, former salesman for Republic Pictures, has resigned to join Southern Film Exchanges as zone sales manager, for John Mangham, in charge of New Orleans and Memphis territory. Spann entered the film business two years ago, under John Mangham, then with Republic, and his entire film experience has been under Mangham’s supervision, except for the short time since Mangham opened the Southern Film Exchanges. Monogram Conventioneers Atlanta — Southern Film Exchanges officials are attending the Monogram convention in Chicago this week. Those going from this section are John Mangham, president; P. H. Savin, vicepresident; J. Harry Spann, zone sales manager; Fred Mathis, salesman, all from the Atlanta office, and W. E. Osborne and Roy Springer, salesmen, from the Charlotte office. Lynch Calls Meet Miami — W. R. Lynch, new general manager of Paramount Enterprises, Inc., who replaces Robert (Jack) Frost, leaving for a managerial position in the north, had his initial meeting with his new staff and the managers of 11 theatres of this chain throughout Greater Miami at a luncheon meeting Wednesday. To Operate in South Texas With Capitalization of $50,000 Dallas — After conferences in Dallas on film buys. Jack Pickens of San Antonio, announced the formation of Jack Pickens Theatres, Inc., which will operate in south Texas. The company is being organized at $50,000 and the interested parties named are Pickens, Freddie Hansen and Lanham Crowley. Hansen formerly was connected with a Dallas film exchange and lately with theatres in San Antonio. Jack Pickens, former film salesman, went to town with theatres at Harlingen and his latest connection was city manager and partner with Robb & Rowley in Laredo. Franchise deals have been closed with three major companies, according to the announcement. The home office of Jack Pickens Theatres, Inc., is 602 Milam Bldg., San Antonio. Into South Texas? Dallas — Information from sources close to the new Pickens movement is that he will open up in some of the towns of Hall Industries Theatres in south Texas and the Valley. The new theatre company also has other situations in mind, it was said. THEATRE BUILDING CO. SEEKS HUGE TAX CUT Tampa, Fla. — The Tampa Theatre Building, Inc. has requested the city tax board to make drastic reductions in tax values of the Tampa Theatre and office buildings now valued at a total of $408,870. Request is for a cut from $220,890 to $80,000 on the office building and from $188,480 to $70,000 on the theatre building. Leave for New Orleans New York — Abe Montague, Columbia Pictures sale manager, and Rube Jackter, assistant sales manager, left here late last week for New Orleans to preside over a meeting at which pre-convention sales plans will be discussed with branch managers of the southern division. Dick Thorsted SOUTHERN EDITION Is One of the Seven Sectional Edi crisp, southwestern Editor. 210 S. Harwood St„ Dallas, Tex. tions in Which BOXOFFICE Is Published Weekly. The NELL BENEDIC, Southeastern Editor, 148 Walton St., N. W., Atlanta, other Six Editions Are; NEW ENGLAND, MIDEAST, CEN Ga. J. W. LEIGH, 1509 Bodenger Blvd., New Orleans. LES KETNER, TRAL, MIDWEST, WESTERN, EASTERN. South Texas Editor, 531 N. St., San Antonio. Tex.