Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1948)

Tom Jeiferson to Quit Paramount in Miami MIAMI — Tom Jefferson, advertising and publicity director for Paramount theatres in this area the last eight years, has resigned, effective June 1. He will join Jerry Jackson to form the advertising and publicity firm of Jackson & Jefferson. Jeffer s o member of the Paramount home office advertising department before coming to Miami. He formerly had been with the Schine and Prudential circuits. Jackson has been operating an art and production service, Graphic Arts, for a number of years in Miami. Reservations Being Taken For Carolinas Convention CHARLOTTE — Reservations are being received at the office of the Theatre Owners of North and South Carolina for the annual summer convention June 20-22 at the Ocean Forest hotel in Myrtle Beach, S. C. The convention will be on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. George D. Carpenter, president, and Mrs. Waiter Griffith, secretary, have sent notices to members that single rooms at the hotel will be $12 and $14, and double rooms from $20 to $24, with parlors $8 extra. Because the TON&SC convention follows immediately after another conclave at the hotel, those attending will not be able to get into their rooms until 3 p. m. Sunday. Oldest. Youngest Mothers Honored on Mother's Day COLUMBUS, GA. — The Bradley Theatre selected the city’s most unusual mothers in a contest tied in with Mother’s day. The youngest mother, oldest mother and mother with the most ohildren were selected. Youngest mother was 16. the oldest 90. Fourteen children were counted by the mother having the most offspring. Winners and their families were entertained by the theatre and dinner. The mothers later were introduced from the st3,ge and given several gifts. HUNTSVILLE, ALA. — A Mother’s day party given by the Center Theatre featured selection of the oldest mother, youngest mother, mother with the most living children, youngest grandmother, mother with the most living grandchildren and the mother who has been married the longest. 'The program was broadcast over WHBS and WHBS-FM. One to three valuable gifts were awarded each mother called to the stage during the party. Roebuck Drive-In Opens ROEBUCK SPRINGS, ALA.— The new 550-car Roebuck Drive-In on the Trusville highway between here and Huffman, opened May 4. It is equipped with in-car speakers, and is owned by Waters Theatre Co. BIRMINGHAM B. Wilby visited here, accompanied by J. H. Harrison, Wilby-Kincey booker, and Fred Coleman, his brother-in-law . . . Francis S. Falkenburg, Alabama manager, has been appointed by chairman William Engel as publicity chairman of Birmingham’s 1948 Comimunity Chest drive. W. E. Craig, Wylam manager for Waters, is on vacation. He is being relieved by Fritz May, who will manage the new Shades Moimtain Drive-In here . . . Robert Wiggins, former Avondale manager for Waters, has resigned. Marvin Kelly is new relief manager for the circuit. The Carver Theatre is being razed .preparatory to start of construction on a new house for Negroes on the present site . . . The Birmingham Theatre, recently converted into an all-Negro house, has completed its marquee on 17th street. Manager Harry W. Roberts is conducting a talent contest each Friday night at the house, offering prizes of $15, $10 and $5. Herman Silverman of Wometco Theatres, Miami, was a visitor . . . H. M. Addison, EL publicity man, was back in town, along with Spence Pierce, 20th-Fox. Addison was working on “Ruthless,” which opened at the Melba May 13 . . . Mrs. Mildred Geiger, secretary to Frank V. Merritt of Acme 'Theatres, is visiting her parents in Roselle, N. J., while her husband, John W. Geiger, is undergoing treatment at Elizabeth General hospital, Elizabeth, N. J. . . . Mrs. John Douglas, wife of the assistant manager of Acme Theatres, is new cashier at the Capitol. Ollie Haynes, Lyric manager, spent Mother’s day with his family in Anniston, Ala. . . . Fred Tinkard, Lyric projectionist, is planning to spend his vacation taking in the Memorial day speedway race in Indianapolis. Ted Saizis, local cameraman, has returned from Panama City, Fla., with 400 feet of exclusive shots of Alabama’s Gov. James E. Folsom and his new bride. The Folsoms were spending their honeymoon at the beach. Saizis shot the scenes for Fox Movietone . . . Ernest Brown is new chief usher at the Empire . . . Oscar Goodman, Paramount News cameraman, tried unsuccessfully to get some courtroom shots of the trial of U.S. Sen. Glen Taylor on charges of disorderly conduct. The senator was arrested at a Southern Negro Youth congress meeting here. Police Commissioner Eugene Connor ruled that no pictures, still or motion, could be taken of the trial. S. W. Whatley, Ensley projectionist, is on vacation . . . William Tate, Galax projectionist who has been ill about two months, is recuperating and is expected to return to work soon . . . Stan Malotte, Alabama organist, thought “Dance of the Cuckoo” was the winning tune on Stop the Music radio program. But his face turned a deep red after a woman won the nationwide contest by correctly identifying the tune as “Arm.y Duff.” Malotte had to hastily revise his program for the remainder of the week. “State of the Union” won a second week at the Ritz. Only other repeater was “Panhandle,” which moved to the Capitol after a week at the Melba. 200 at Variety Party After Golf Tourney CHARLOTTE — Two hundred barkers and their wives attended a cocktail party and dinner-dance at the El Morocco supper club following the annual golf tournament of the Charlotte Variety Club at the Carolina Golf course. Prizes were distributed to 24 winners in the golf and horseshoe-pitching contests and other prizes were given to the women. The events were arranged by committees headed by Scott Lett, chairman of the outside entertainment committee, and E. E. Dyer, head of the golf subcommittee. George Graves and B. B. Martin, with scores of 84 each, tied for the low gross prize and each got a set of matched woods. Other prize winners in this category, in the order of their finish, were Milton Yeoman, W. G. Boling, A. L. Stout, Barney Slaughter, F. E. Dyer, Hal Keeter and Olin Mock. Low net score was 70, turned in by John Dineer. He won a sport coat. Tommy Thompson and Dean Lynch tied for second place with scores of 71, and trailing them were Don Graham, J. D. Brinkley, L. A. Linder, Prank Strange, Paul Cockrill, Roy Smart, Jimmy Austin and Roy Rosser. Low gross for nine holes was Bob Hames’s 43. Following him was Barney Ross. Morris Nuger got a prize for having the high gross and high net. Charlie Leonard won the horseshoe-pitching contest. Weather and Films Good So Is Atlanta Business ATLANTA — The weather was good, pictures were good and business was good at all theatres here last week. (Average is 100) Loew's Grand — State of the Union (MGM), 2nd wk 105 Fox — Unconquered (Para) 115 Paramount — Smart Woman (Mono) 100 Roxy — The Big Clock (Para), holdover from Fox 100 Tower — Fun on a Weekend (UA); Hal Hoach Comedy Carnival (UA) 102 Talgar to Build Drive-In PORT PIERCE, FLA. — Purchase of a tract of land on highway 1 for erection of a 400car drive-in theatre was announced here by B. B. Garner, president of the Talgar Theatre Co. of Lakeland and a ipartner of the Koblegard interests here. Construction is expected to begin immediately. Let Us Figure with you on your THEATRE OR DRIVE-IN EQUIPMENT Write, wire or phone THE QUEEN FEATURE SERVICE, INC. Complete Theatrical Equipment and Supplies 19121/2 Morris Avenue Birmingham. Alabama Serving the Southern Exhibitor for 35 Years n was a f } Tom Jefferson BOXOFFICE : : May 15, 1948 SE 9S