Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1941)

ID) A IL TN HIS NEW role as administrator of the Homer Mulkey estate and operator of the Pastime and Cozy theatres in Clarendon, Lee Bell made his first trip to the Row this week booking and ordering a few miscellaneous supplies . . . With Lee Bell’s visit here, comes word that Mrs. Mulkey continues at the theatres where she has sold tickets, mainly at the Pastime, for many years. Herman Young, who recently opened the Joy for Negroes in Greenville, was here Tuesday along with the McNatts of Naples. He is their son-in-law . . . W. S. “Bill” Hurst, otvner of the Plaza at Denton, was in town with the same enthusiasm he had when he was Columbia’s east Texas representative for a number of years . . . Harold Cunyus, owner of the Gem for colored in Waco, finished up a hurried booking trip and on another walk to the corner, we saw Johnny Blevins of Dublin going in and out of exchanges. Current theatre activity in Texas gets a boost from the fact that G. A. Cole is planning to rebuild the new Cole in New Braunfels which is practically a total loss from a recent fire . . . Knox Riley, a brother of Mack Riley of Logansport, is reopening the Queen at Tenaha. He was here completing arrangements along with Mack and L. G. Tomlinson of Timpson. Knox is associated in Tenaha with Mack, who, in turn, is in partners with Tomlinson. On his own, however, Mack operates the Castle in Logansport . . . Theo Routt, general manager of the J. G. Long circuit with headquarters at Bay City, was here and in a round of the exchanges, dropped in to order a Boxoffice renewal for the Capitol at West Columbia. Karl Hoblitzelle, Interstate president, was on a trip through the Rio Grande Valley this week, in which territory his company is well spotted with theatres. As he left town, R. J. O’Donnell arrived from a trip to New York. He also attended the Balaban testimonial dinner in Chicago . . . In with many reports of new theatres contemplated over almost all areas of Texas, comes one that a new house is about to go up in East Waco. No names, however, could be definitely linked with the project. A committee of Dallas showmen met Tuesday to decide winners in a contest naming two short subjects for the State Pair. The judges were Mrs. Besa Short, Interstate’s short subjects expert; R. I. Payne, official of the R. E. Griffith Theatres; S. L. Oakley, manager of Jefferson Amusement Co.’s Dallas branch office; C. V. Jones, Robb & Rowley circuit officials, and Curt Beck of the State Fair. Walter R. Smock, who took over the Ritz at Hale Center early in December, was on the Row Tuesday along with his projectionist, Odell Walls. They were attending mainly to some equipment repairs, and booking, of course. Smock took time out while in town to renew his subscription to Boxoffice . . . Mrs. C. F. Moeller and her son, Walter of the Palace in Muleshoe who are building a new theatre there, were here calling on exchanges. The Palace will run probably on Fridays and Saturdays when the new house is ready. H. R. and Mrs. Bisby of the Garland in Garland plan to open their second theatre there the first week in March, work on it now being well under way. Their town is about 12 miles northeast of this city where a large airplane factory is nearing completion . . . Mart Cole of Rosenberg was in Tuesday to do some advance booking . . . A. G. “Smitty” Smith, newly appointed Dallas manager of National Theatre Supply, left Thursday for New York to attend the company’s annual sales convention, February 9-14, at the Belmont Plaza. C. D. Leon of the Palace, Graham, is moving his family to Dallas where he will be associated with his brother, H. S., in an undertaking said to be the manufacture and sale of a special type peanut roasting machine . . . Word is received that Martin Lamour has reopened his newly rebuilt National in Graham. The house was partially destroyed by fire several months ago and rather than merely replace the damage, Lamour decided to rebuild the entire show into a modern and streamlined theatre. P. G. Cameron has added a few more modern touches here and there to his Peak in East Dallas. More color and lighting were added to the marquee and the comice over the front entrance has been dolled up with several blue art ornaments which lend to the streamlining. Cameron recently enlarged the Peak’s parking lot . . . Hugh Owen, Paramount’s new district manager, entertained a large group of his salesmen and office staff at the Variety Club luncheon Monday. Pete Blackshear, owner of the Queen at Aspermont, was here the other day pur Interstate lo Build 14th Houston Unit Houston — Interstate’s 14th theatre in Houston, a $100,000 showplace to seat 1,000, will be built in the 2400 block on University Boulevard, it is disclosed following leasing of a site by the circuit for 50 years from Realty Servicing Corp. Interstate’s University Theatre, two miles west, will be remodeled and enlarged, circuit heads advise. Deanna Honor Guest At Ladies' Luncheon Dallas — Deanna Durbin will be honor guest at the first annual Variety Club Ladies Day Luncheon in the Grand Ballroom of the Adolphus Hotel at noon, Monday. Paul Short, chief barker, and Edward “Dutch” Olsmith, branch manager of Universal, are handling arrangements. Judge Sarah T. Hughes of the 14th district court will be the chief speaker, and the affair is expected to be attended by leading theatrical and film executives and their wives in this section. At a special meeting of the club on February 3, it was voted to assume financial responsibility of equipping the Eye Conservation Clinic of the Freeman Memorial Clinic for under-privileged children in Dallas. "Macintosh" for Wexley Hollywood — John Wexley is scripting “Macintosh,” a South Seas story by W. Somerset Maugham, for Sam Goldwyn. chasing equipment for the house which is scheduled for reopening early next week. The Abernathy show burned a short tune ago and Blackshear rebuilt the house. The Way To Do It! Buy certain heavy-duty items NEW to get the benefit of latest improvements. Then, buy the rest in good USED equipment —AND SAVE MONEY. Others are doing it — we can show you how. We have everything in NEW AND USED THEATRE EQUIPMENT, — and, of course, can handle any job complete with all new merchandise. Come To See Us HERBER BROTHERS “Fair Treatment and Adequate Service Always” 408 S. HARWOOD DALLAS, TEXAS BOXOFFICE :: February 8, 1941 73