Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1947)

MJJ/jPJj±S T A. Garrison, district manager for U-I, St. ^ Louis, was a visitor in Memphis . . . Two former branch managers at Memphis, J. A. Prichard, Universal, and Tom Kirk, Republic, who recently were transferred to Dallas, were visitors on the Row. Prichard is now U-I manager at Dallas and Kirk holds the same position with his company there. Ike Katz of Kay Films, Atlanta, conferred with John Goodenough, local branch manager, and members of the Memphis staff . . . C. W. Tipton, who operates the New Theatre at Caraway, Ark., has bought the opposition, the Caraway, from Red Harris, and will operate both of them. Maurice Bass, MGM salesman, has been transferred to Atlanta . . . Gertrude Thomas, U-I inspector, has returned to Methodist hospital after recovering from a recent illness and spending only a short time back on the job. Midsouth exhibitors visiting on the Row included B. V. McDougall, Drew and Bijou, Monticello, Ark.; G. W. Jones, BusbyJones circuit, Lonoke, Ark; M. C. Alpe, Gay, Crawfordsville, Ark.; Bill Kroger, Shannon, Portageville, Mo., and Norman Fair, Fair, Somerville, Tenn. N. J. Colquhoun, district manager, Dallas, and Walter Titus, vice-president and division sales manager, New York, were at Republic on business . . . Emma Cox, Gem and Joy, Osceola, Ark., is seriously ill at Baptist hospital in Memphis . . . Harper Theatre, Campbell, Mo., had a bad fire and is closed indefinitely . . .The Sondra, Trimble, Tenn., also had a fire. Also visiting on the Row: J. M. Mounger, Mart and City, Calhoun, Miss.; Henry and Burris Smith, Diane, Pocahontas, Ark.; Whyte Bedford, Marion, Hamilton, Ala.; John Staples, Carolyn, Piggott, Ark.; Eugene Fleeman, Ritz, Manila, Ark., and W. C. Sumpter, Cotton Bowl, LaPanto, Ark. W. C. Stahl, representative of Theatre Specialty, Inc., is spending a week at the National Theatre Supply Co. branch in Memphis . . . Neil Blount, manager, Monarch Theatre Supply Co., has returned from a business trip to Nashville. Dave Flexer, head of Flexer Theatres, operator of a chain in Mississippi and Tennessee, is back from a business trip to Cleveland . . . Gene Wankel, stenographer, Columbia, has the flu . . . An exhibitors lounge equipped with chairs, telephone, scratch pads, etc., will be opened in about two weeks at 408 South Second St. by Poppers Supply Co. Ann Williamson is the new secretary at Poppers Supply. Harlan Dunlap, son of Forrest Dunlap, Dallas theatre man, has opened a branch of American Desk Manufacturing Co. in a newly acquired office at 410 South Second St. . . . O. W. McCutchen, Roxy, Blytheville, Ark., was booking on the Row. Little Theatre presented “Ten Little Indians” last week . . . Mr. and Mrs. John Charles Thomas passed through en route to Oklahoma City . . . Frances Greer, Metropolitan opera star, has been booked by the Memphis Open Air Theatre this summer. Her husband, Victor Trucco, musical director for MOAT last summer, is ill and will not be able to return. Harry Martin, amusements editor of the Commercial Appeal, was master of ceremonies at a citywide beauty contest last week to select Miss City Beautiful. Null Adams, Memphis representative for BOXOFFICE, was chairman for the judges. “The Jolson Story,” which recently broke all house records at Malco, has been brought back to Main street in Memphis by popular demand. It is showing at the Strand . . . The Drive-In on Lamar got off to an early start this summer and reported good attendance for the first week. A tradescreening of “Trouble With Women” was held at the Paramount screening room under direction of L. W. McClintock, branch manager . . . M. A. Lightman sr., president of Malco Theatres, Inc., left this week for a Miami Beach vacation; a Hollywood, Fla., bridge tournament and the marriage of his son Richard April 23 in New Orleans to Jeanne Garretson. Harry Martin, amusements editor of the Commercial Appeal, can usually take qpt. Press agent gags recently made him an honorary citizen of Brooklyn and another deeded to him a.n acre of “Sea of Grass.” But when he was named a war correspondent for the Union army this week he wrote a protest in his column. You see, Harry was born in Dixie. Henry Haven, Imperial, Forrest City, Ark., who also owns theatres in Marion, Marianna, Wynne and Brinkley, Ark., was shopping on Filmrow. Other exhibitors visiting were: Orris Collins, Capitol and Majestic, Paragould, Ark.; M. H. Evans, Clinton, Clinton, Ark., and Ethel Lobdell, Talisman, Rosedale, Miss. Manager Jack Tunstill, Malco Theatre, staged a midnight show to aid Greek war orphans. All proceeds went to the fund. It is part of a citywide campaign by the motion picture industry to adopt as many of these orphans as possible— at $80 a year each. MGM’s “Meet Me in St. Louis” was the picture. Use of the theatre and services of all personnel was donated so that the entire proceeds would go to the cause. John M. Carter, salesman for 20th-Fox in the north Mississippi territory, won a new automobile in a nationwide company sales 'BEAT? EVERYTHING FOR THRILL? • WAHOO America's Finest Screen Game HOLLYWOOD AMUSEMENT CO., 831 S. WABASH AVE., CHICAG Theatre to Raise Fund For Crippled War Vet Louisburg, N. C. — R. Glenn Davis, owner of the Louisburg here, reported that the theatre would spearhead a drive to raise a home-building fund for L. G. Catlette, the county’s only completely crippled veteran. The theatre is giving the entire receipts of all shows on April 23 to the fund and has agreed to print and distribute advertising for other benefits planned. Young Catlette, his wife and small son, are living in two small rented rooms. The veteran has a spinal wound that will prevent him from ever walking again. campaign which ended in December. There was some difficulty in obtaining the car, however, and he was given the cash in lieu of the prize. Theatre attendance increased sharply in Memphis first runs this week. Beautiful spring weather prevailed. The outbreak of influenza had apparently subsided, city health authorities reported. This combination was credited with the improvement in business by theatre men. The Palace, showing “The Sea of Grass”; the State, playing “Trail Street”; the Malco with “Cross My Heart”; the Ritz with “Les Miserables” and the Warner holding “Stallion Road” for a second week all reported better business. Ken Maynard’s rodeo played at the fairgrounds this week . . . Helen Traubel, Metropolitan opera singer, is booked for November 19 at Ellis Auditorium . . . MOAT’s manager, Joe Cortese, announced Charles Yearsley, baritone, would be back this summer for three of the eight shows in the Overton Park shell. Marguerite McClelland, Memphis coed who was Miss Louisiana in last year’s Atlantic City Miss America contest, will sing in concert at Goodwyn institute May 5 . . . Spike Jones and his City Slickers will return to Memphis for a second engagement at Ellis Auditorium May 20. Admission prices at the Rosemary and Luciann, suburban theatres operated by Augustine Cianciola, were advanced from 35 to 40 cents this week. Children’s admission remained at 12 cents. New Center Opens ELIZABETH CITY, N. C.— The new Center Theatre here opened April 10. Invitations were sent by Levon Culpepper and J. H. Webster, who also operate the Carolina, Gaiety and Alkrama here. Jack Harris Vacations CORAL GABLES — Jack P. Harris, accompanied by his wife, has arrived for a few weeks vacation. He is head of the booking department of Reade Theatres, New York City. Les Seligman, treasurer of Favorite Films, is another who is vacationing here. Sidney Kane in Florida CORAL GABLES, FLA. — Sidney Kane, executive advertising director for David O. Selznick, was in southern Florida for the premiere of “Duel in the Sun.” He was accompanied by Mrs. Kane. J. D. Steen Sells ELLAVILLE, GA. — J. D. Steen, operator of the Ellaville Theatre since last August, has sold the house to Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Hostetter and has gone to Brooksville, Fla., to enter another business. 106 BOXOFFICE :: April 19, 1947