Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

HOUSTON BILL BELL, publicity director for the Majestic, downtown Interstate theatre, was married recently to Miss Elin Margaret Parker. Miss Parker, an attractive “red head,” was formerly a professional model. Bell was divorced from Mrs. Martha Bell last October. The Houston public library can boast of being one of the few libraries possessing the original shooting script of a moving picture feature. Ray Jones, Majestic manager, and Bill Bell, publicity director, presented the script of “Union Pacific” to Miss Julia Ideson, librarian, the day the picture opened in Houston. “Union Pacific” neared the Majestic attendance record the first week and was held over. The wives of five Houston theatre men rebelled at the idea of attending the recent Interstate convention at Galveston and made up a convention party of their own in the opposite direction — San Antonio. Those enjoying the holidays were Mrs. A1 Lever, Mrs. Bob Kelly, Mrs. W. W. Parsons, Mrs. Ray Jones and Mrs. Bill Bell. Dick Hyland, the Warner publicity director for the southern district, was in Houston this week getting acquainted with newspaper people. Hyland has just taken over his new job with headquarters at Dallas. He attended the Interstate convention at Galveston. Pat Daily has been made assistant man jyjANAGER LYNN KRUEGER of the Harlandale Theatre treated the kids in his neighborhood to a free show the other night as “Clean-up Week” opened here with a parade through the main business street of this southern portion of Santone. The Harlandale Service Club has sponsored the drive to rid the community of all old tin cans and weeds which were exchanged for theatre admission tickets one night during the past week. KTSA Newsnotes: Beatrice Morin, former theatre organist, is back at the Novachord regularly . . . Miss Jean Hatton, ex-secretary to Production Manager Buster “Bill” Bryan, is in Dallas visiting her sister . . . The station soon will become a unit of the Frontier Broadcasting Co. Exhibitors in south Texas, Austin, El Paso and the Hill Country are requested to send in their news items direct to Boxoffice, Santone Branch, Lester Ketner, Editor, 531 North St., San Antonio, Tex. Thanx! In tune with the city election May 9, the National Theatre played the Azteca The Queen Feature Service, Inc. Quality Theatre Equipment & Supplies 1912% Morris Ave. Phone 3-8665 BIRMINGHAM. ALA. ager of the Majestic and Alvin Dear, who recently left the Interstate company for the Horwitz Homefolks chain, has returned to the Interstate fold as Majestic treasurer. Bob Monell of the Interstate personnel staff recently married Miss Dolly Dunson. Homer (Mac) Macallon, publicity director of Loew’s State, and Frank Deering, manager, are sticking their chests out at the success of a recent Mother’s Day contest which brought them reams of publicity. In cooperation with the Houston Press, Loew’s offered a Sunday dinner at a swank downtown cafe to the family whose mother was best extolled in a letter. One hundred of the mothers and writing children of the contest were given a matinee theatre party at Loew’s to see “Prison Without Bars.” Round Rock Theatre Bow Made a Civic Event Round Rock, Tex. — Wallace W. Rucker, former Dallas film man, opened his new Rock Theatre on May 12, the opening going over big for three days. It is modem and well equipped. The Round Rock Leader issued a special edition with many complimentary ads and with the entire first page devoted to the theatre. The chamber of commerce honored the Rucker family which included Mrs. Rucker and Wallace jr., at a diner in the Roberston Cafe. Local business men are keenly interested in the success of the new enterprise brought here by the Ruckers. Film, “Mi Canadidto,” meaning “My Candidate” in English . . . “Union Pacific,” which played to satisfactory business at the Majestic for a week’s run, was moved over to the Texas Saturday for an extended engagement of several days. Leo Mooty of the Paramount exchange shipping department is boating and fishing down Corpus Christi way . . . Two Gulf Coastal city theatremen paid the local Azteca Film office a visit last week. They were Bruce Collins and Henri Piller, both of Corpus Christi . . . Ellison’s Stable, a dine-dance hall on North Flores St., is showing free motion pictures for their customers every Sunday night. Billy Brown, usher at the Texas Theatre, is counting the days now. He can hardly wait until June 1, when he is bound for the Dominion of Canada to work for a photographic outfit. Bill has had several of his pictures in Life, Popular Photography, Boxoffice and other trade publications. Looking back ten years ago: D. W. Griffith, the famed film producer was visiting here and expressed his belief that the advent of talkies will make it necessary for picture producers soon to turn to new locales. There will be great demand for outdoor scenes, he said, and Hollywood cannot supply them all. His next picture then was “The Cradle of the Deep.” Convention in Hollywood Interstate Possibility Dallas — Some talk has been going round, and in Interstate circles, that the 1940 annual convention for this circuit may be held in Hollywood. The idea is presented, however, as only a probability and not a promise. The suggestion arises from value of inspiration the entire Interstate organization would receive in actually seeing motion pictures being made. A visit to Hollywood has always been the goal of everybody connected with theatre and film business, it was pointed out. If it happens, about 150 managers and executive employes will move to the coast for about a week. The Interstate convention for this year, just closed at Galveston, was devoted to circuit routine with the highlight being good citizenship as stressed by President Karl Hoblitzelle. He impressed managers with the importance of being wide awake to opportunities for theatres to serve in all civic movements. Suit Over Hermit Fire Won by Griffiths Kermit, Tex. — Decision was rendered in favor of the R. E. Griffith Amusement Co. in the case of S. Replin, dry goods merchant, against that circuit, who charged negligence as aftermath of a fire which destroyed the Texas Theatre and also four or more other business buildings. Replin claimed the circuit did not have a standard fireproof booth. The fire occurred in December, 1937, soon after Griffith bought the house from Lester Dollison. Griffith produced models in court to show the booth was standard. The circuit was represented by Keaton, Wells and Johnston, of Oklahoma City, and by W. S. Kerr, of Pecos, where the case was heard in federal court. C. B. (Brownie) Akers, formerly with Griffith as West Texas district manager, and B. J. McKenna, general manager of Griffith Amusement Co., Oklahoma City, were in Pecos for the hearing. Dixon s Haskell Reopened Like Hollywood Premiere Dallas — Donald Dixon’s new Haskell Theatre reopened in Hollywood premiere style with Klieg lights and all the trimmings following its destruction by fire on March 9. The house is slightly larger than the old, seating 360 downstairs and 140 in the balcony. The front is of tan stucco, with blue borders, and V-type marquee. The interior scheme is brown with indirect lighting. The job is very modem and compares favorably with any of the other streamlined theatres here. Dixon came to Dallas several years ago and purchased the Haskell from Paul Scott. He formerly lived in Lincoln, Neb., where he received his theatre training from the old Publix circuit. The giant searchlights out in front for the opening were furnished by Roy C. Lee and his crew of technicians. 78 BOXOFFICE :: May 20, 1939