Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1941)

m he m p h in $ ^*HE bookers and office managers on the Row were hosts during the holidays at a cocktail party at the Variety Club. Approximately 200 film people enjoyed their hospitality. There were special door prizes for both the ladies and gentlemen. The committee responsible for it all consisted of Ed Doherty, Mark Sheridan, Tom Kirk and Herman Chrisman . . . B. H. Jordan, Universal salesman, and Tony Carruth, Warner’s salesman, together with Mrs. Carruth, left the latter part of the week for Atlanta where Ben will visit his mother and the Carruths will be the guests of Mrs. Carruth’s parents. W. A. Rush of the Houston, Houston, Miss., has been confined to his home for the past ten days with the flu . . . M. S. McCord, secretary-treasurer of Malco Theatres in Little Rock, spent several days in Memphis conferring with M. A. Lightman . . . Bill Osborne, Monogram’s branch manager, is back at his desk after a conference with John Mangham in Atlanta. Eric Landeau, manager of the Linden Circle in Memphis, is convalescing at his home after spending three weeks in the hospital following a major operation . . . B. V. “Brooksie” McDougald, who owns and operates the Amusu and Drew theatres in Monticello, Ark., was a visitor Christmas Day. Alton Sims, R&R booker, and his mother spent the holidays in Dallas with Mr. and Mrs. Bill Sims . . . Exhibitors seen along the Row. George Hale, Globe, Drew Miss.; Guy B. Amis, Princess, Lexington, Tenn.; Jack Wilbanks, Him, Walnut, Miss.; W. O. Taylor, Uptown, Dresden, Tenn.; Jack Marshall, Frances, Dyersburg , Tenn.; J. E. Adams, Bruce, Bruce, Miss.; B. F. Jackson, Delta, Ruleville, Miss.; C. W. Tipton, New, Manila, Ark.; H. B. Brewer, Savoy, Clarksdale, Miss.; Jack Watson, Palace, Tunica. Miss.; Bob Martin, Bells, Bells, Tenn. The holidays brought many familiar faces to Memphis. Among them were Bill and Marie Mattingly, who drove up from Omaha to visit Mrs. Mattingly’s parents; Kate and Norman Colquohoun, from New Orleans, and Jimmy and Sarah Frances Prichard of Charlotte . . . Opal Cullum of RKO is back on the job with the aid of crutches after several weeks’ absence due to a foot operation . . . The Variety Club was the scene of much laughter and gaiety Christmas Day when M. A. and Mrs. Light man entertained with a cocktail party. Homer and Essie Hisey of Warner Bros, spent the holidays with Mr. Hisey’s mother in Nashville, III. . . . Al Moore, Alice and little Mike enjoyed the holiday season with their parents . . . Lew Andrews, Malco’s office manager, says the burglar who entered his home the night before Christmas and took all the gifts from under the tree, plus his best suit, is the “meanest man on earth.” Other Memphis visitors during the holidays were Louis and Juanita Weber (he’s Metro’s salesman in Dallas), who were visiting Mrs. Weber’s parents. Louis was with Metro here for several years before his transfer to Dallas . . . Merritt Davis, Republic’s Arkansas salesman, spent the holidays in Charlotte with Mrs. Davis and the children. Filmrow was saddened on learning of the death of Winfield Snelson’s father, Dr. D. M. Snelson, who passed away Christmas morning at his home at Toccoa, Ga. Winfield is branch manager of the local Republic office, and his brother is co?inected with Al-Dunn Theatres in Toccoa . . . Charles and Mrs. Collier and daughter, Marcia, drove up to Blytheville during the holidays to visit Mrs. Collier’s parents. Incidentally, Charles combined business with pleasure as he stopped off on the Row to take care of his bookings. Gloria Jean, who made a personal appearance at the Malco in conjunction with the showing a “A Little Bit of Heaven,” did a terrific juvenile business during her three-day engagement . . . Despite the fact that flu has almost reached the epidemic stage in Memphis and the surrounding territory, all theatres report excellent business. Herb Cohn, Columbia’s ace salesman, postcards season’s greetings from New York where he is enjoying a winter vacation . . . The J. A. Wests of the Hollywood in Memphis have been operating their theatre under great odds during the past ten days, as both of them have been fighting the flu. Their son, Allen, who is home from school for the holidays, has been the mainstay . . . Harold Keitle, branch manager for Ross Federal in Dallas, spent the Christmas holidays as a guest of Cliff and Marguerite Wallace, who are at the helm of the local Ross Federal office. Readying Big Affair For R. J. O'Donnell Dallas — Elaborate plans are humming for the big testimonial luncheon to be given by the Variety Club of Texas on Monday, January 6, in the Grand ballroom of the Adolphus Hotel honoring Robert J. O’Donnell, retiring chief barker of Tent No. 17. Paul Short, newly elected chief barker, has written a personal letter to all barkers stressing this important date. Members are being urged to bring their families, friends and associates. There will be but one speech, that by General William McCraw, who will highlight O’Donnell’s outstanding career in show business and in Variety work. The luncheon starts at 12:15 and tickets are $1. Attendance will be limited to 700, which will include not only circuit and exchange employes, non-resident and local members, but a number of social, civic and business leaders of Dallas and other cities of Texas. Seaton Adapting "Miami" Hollywood — George Seaton is adapting “Miami,” Betty Grable starrer for 20thFox. The Harry Joe Brown production will be filmed in Technicolor. JOHN L. CALDWELL is building a new , theatre in Ruston, La., yet unnamed, which will be opened some time in February . . . Don George of the Glenwood in Shreveport is building a suburban house in Alexandria to take care of the troops at Camp Beauregard. A. M. Randall has taken over the house controlled by Manager Hughes in Centerville, Miss. ... A. L. Royal and Monte Hance have sold their Queen Theatre in McComb, Miss., to local interests . . . Vinton L. Thibodeaux of the Fern Theatre, Lafayette, has opened the colored house in Crowley, formerly owned by George Guidry of Elizabeth, La. Construction has begun on W. A. Prewitt’s and Bill Cobb’s theatre in Shreveport on Texas St. . . . The Olla Theatre, Olla, La., opened the first week in January . . . A. L. Royal and W. A. Prewitt open the New Royal in Meridian, Miss., January 6 . . . R. O. Sigler and W. A. Prewitt opened the Lake, Greenville, Miss., December 22. Affiliated Producers local office was closed in observance of the death of Mrs. Martha Brannan, mother of Thomas Brannan, president of the company . . . W. H. Cobb of Exhibitors’ Poster Service and family spent the Xmas holidays with his folks in Spring Hill, La. . . . A. N. Lee jr. of Exhibitors Poster Service spent the holidays with his parents in Shreveport . . . The Ritz theatres of New Orleans have purchased the Lutcher hi Lutcher, La., and will continue its operation. The Saengers held their annual Christmas party in the banquet rooms over the Tudor Theatre, attended by executives of the company, managers of the Saenger houses, and managers of the United Chain houses, as well as managers from out of the city. G. Pipitone has been re-named president of the local (AFL) musicians union . . . Pete Daily, for 11 years a member of the Item editorial staff, is now in Hollywood where he will be a member of the publicity department of Columbia Pictures. Great preparations are being made for the coming sessions of the Filmrow Hunting Club which meets early in January when the reports of the various committees and officers will be submitted to the membership. The exact date has not been announced, as the secretary says he is too busy — the treasurer is saying nothing but — well that is the way the treasury is supposed to be. It is claimed by the janitor that when the members arrive they will be greeted by a hollow expression on the faces of the dictators. Visitors to the Row during Xmas week can be reported as nigh zero, the weather being b-a-d and the roads almost impassable owing to rain. It’s seven years with M-G-M for Gladys Villars of the local exchange, come January 13. 110 BOXOFFICE :: January 4, 1941