Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1941)

ft ' ■ ■ ft Concerning the Southeast vs = — >) By A. JULES BENEDIC Memphis — With the flu bugaboo finally on the wane, the Memphis area faces the future with confidence, interviews with local exhibitoi’s and close. There is a fine spirit prevailing and the goose undoubtedly hangs high. We wend our way to West Memphis, which, by the way, is in Arkansas, and chat with J. J. Rhodes, satrap of the Crittenden Theatre. “J. J.” was most enthusiastic in his description of the theatre, which has many points of merit. For tenden, built entirely lowest fire rate of any house in Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi. All wires are in steel conduits, and steel is used for the backs of chairs. In a town of 4,000, this is a most creditable operation. In addition, Mr. Rhodes has 24,000 more persons in the county, so this excellent cinema has what is termed a big “draw.” Folks come here even from Memphis, the owner reports. Handy Square Happenings Back in Memphis, we call upon Zerilla and Maceri, who control the colored situations on world-famous Beale Street. Two shows are operating at present, the Daisy and Palace. The old Grand has been razed, and on the grounds is being erected a fine new modern show for colored folks. This operation will be completed, Mr. Zerilla says, between March 15 and April 1. We idle out to the Idlewild, an independent suburban operation in the hands of Nate Evans and the Cullens brothers. This set-up also controls the Savoy, a suburban house devoted to Negro patronage. The Idlewild is the last word in modernity, and a credit to the city. We run out to the Royal in Memphis, a house more than a quarter of a century old. Walter Parham has been here as owner-manager since ’26 ... We meander to the Madison and ballyhoo about with Bellas, whose first name is Tom . . . Memphis meals are on a high par. A sign reads “only IIV2 hours to New Orleans by bus” and maybe it’s that rather close proximity that causes this cuisine . . . On the Main Stem we visit both Loew houses, and also Warner’s. Down at Malco’s, M. A. Lightman is not available, so we meander away from this hospitable southern city, and head for Atlanta. Old Home Week on The Row En route, we stop at Bolivar, Term., where the tidy Luez Theatre, we ascertain, was named for its owner, Miss Louise Mask, who wanted a name with only four letters. The townspeople joined in a contest, and the contraction of this pleasant lady’s first name resulted . . . We pull into Pulaski, a Cumberland stronghold, and jaw with E. R. Jackson, who manages the Sam Davis for this important circuit. He tells us that the Best Thea tre, closed for two years, now is receiving finishing touches and will reopen approximately February 1. We ramble into Rome, Ga., and go to the offices of O. C. Lam, in order to see his secretary. O. C. Lam, according to that usually authentic publication, Boxoffice, is in Honolulu, but imagine our surprise when Oscar himself shows up after our request to see the guy in charge. It seems that Mr. Lam’s planned trip to southern waters and Hawaii has been postponed for the time being. We renew our acquaintance with Oscar, whose three new theatre projects are detailed elsewhere by our Atlanta correspondent. Another “old home week” on The Row. In a hurry, we don’t catch many notes, but, meeting Ike Katz on the street, we ascertain that PRC’s staff has been enlarged with the addition of Miss Bernice Ball to the office force. Fire in Bristol Bristol, Tenn. — The New Norton was recently destroyed by fire with a loss of $50,000 to $60,000. The fire also destroyed 10 apartments above the theatre. EXHIBITORS seen along the Row: Earl Vandiver, Kennett, Kennett, Mo.; Henley Smith, Imperial, Pocahontas, Ark.; John Crabtree, Merlu, Clarendon, Ark.; C. W. Tipton, New, Manila, Ark.; P. H. Pierce, Von, Booneville, Miss.; Claude Gentry, Lyric, Baldwyn, Miss.; G. H. Goff, Rustic, Parsons, Tenn.; Norman Fair, Fair, Somerville, Tenn.; Orris Collins, Capitol, Paragould, Ark.; Louie jr. and Henry Haven, Imperial Theatres, Inc., Forrest City, Ark.; John Shannon, Shannon, Portageville, Mo.; W. F. Hammer, Town, Collierville, Tenn.; Jack Watson, Palace, Tunica, Miss.; Mrs. H. G. Brewer, Savoy, Clarksdale, Miss.; Miss Louise Mask, Luez, Bolivar, Tenn.; W. O. Taylor, Uptown, Dresden, Tenn.; George Hale and C. H. Collier, Globe, Drew, Miss.; Charles Collier, Globe, Shaw, Miss., and B. F. Jackson, Delta, Ruleville, Miss. Bill Bugie, Paramount’s local manager, reports his crew is again intact. During the flu epidemic, he had eight employes off at one time . . . B. V. McDougald of Monticello has closed the Amusu there. He will continue to operate the Drew . . . Jack Revill, Paramount salesman, mid the family are back after a visit to South Carolina . . . Juanita Scruggs, cashier at Vitagraph, is back on the fob after a fight with flu . . . Mary Ripley Shattuck, booker’s secretary at Vitagraph, is recuperating from an appendectomy at Methodist Hospital . . . Frank Neel, Paramount booker, has returned from Jacksonville, Fla., where he visited his parents. Bill Osborne, branch manager for Monogram, is back after a trip by plane to Jacksonville, Fla., where he went to be with his brother who was in an airplane OK ft, A. CITY ^HE remodeled Folly is getting set for reopening. Standard has begun teaser ads to call attention to the house, but has indicated no policy or pictures as yet. Best guess is first-run thrillers. Word has it that Dee Fuller, Circle manager, will be named manager of the Folly . . . Gordon Derrick, house manager of the Warner and former assistant manager of the Circle, has resigned to go into the oil business in Texas. Work is going ahead nicely on the Variety Club’s new building in southtown. It will be used as a health center. Walls are up and the roof is being put on as this opus is being written. It is expected the club’s $45,000 charitable project will be completed and ready for use sooner than was originally expected. National Theatre Supply gave out some nifty leather do-dads which can be used as a brief case or letter container on one’s desk. Made a hit with the trade . . . Those were good photos of Dee Fuller and his lady that Dee had taken at Christmas time. Could be! Assign Frankovich Hollywood — Mike Frankovich has a featured role in Universal’s “Buck Privates.” crash. Bill reports his brother was badly bruised and shaken up, but that he will soon be okay again . . . M. B. Hasty of the Joy, Dardanelle, Ark., paid the Row his regular monthly booking visit. He is just up from ten days in bed with the flu . . . Clayton Tunstill, Malco city manager in Owensboro, Ky„ reports good advance ticket sales on “Little Men” for a show being sponsored by the Federation of Women’s Clubs there. The Federation will use their percentage to furnish a room in the city hospital . . . Tommy Baldridge is the new availability clerk at Vitagraph. Lee Gentry is the new accessory salesman at Republic. He replaces Seed Wortsmith, who has been called for a year’s military training. Lee, incidentally , is the brother of Claude Gentry of Baldwyn, Miss. . . . Horace Stanley of the Radio at Beebe, Ark., another visitor . . . Marjeanne Baer, Jimmy Rogers’ secretary at Columbia, and Billy Crouch were married January 4. The couple honeymooned in New Orleans and Florida. He will leave the latter part of January for a year’s training at Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga. . . . E. W. Gibson, who for 20 years operated the Tutrovansum in Tutwiler, Miss., died recently at his home after several months illness. Mrs. Gibson, at present, is operating the theatre. C. C. Mundo and E. C. Pickthorne of Central Theatres, Inc., Little Rock, who just opened the Liberty in North Little Rock, were Filmrow visitors . . . A1 and Mrs. Wilson of the Bay at Red Bay, Ala., were in for the monthly luncheon by the Variety Club. Wilson recently became a full-fledged member of the club, and this was his first trip since becoming one of the boys. exchange men dis BENEDIC one thing, the Critof steel, enjoys the 66 BOXOFFICE :: January 18, 1941