Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1941)

HOUSTON JJ^BOUT 8,000 persons attended the President’s Ball at the Auditorium. Eddie Bremer, Kirby manager and chairman of the entertainment committee, came through with his promise to present a sterling program of variety acts. Music was by the Torres-Waters combo. Buster Dees was emcee. Acts included Vocalist Libbie Palla, Dancer Thelma Gregg, Bobby “Rubber Legs” Bixley, Imogene Sappington and Merle Irwin, song duo; T. J. Ellis, singer; Bill Fleet, imitations; Kless sisters, dancers, and Howard Hartman, singer. In a novel contest designed for children, Interstate neighborhood managers have given away 90 guest tickets to suburban houses. Using the Houston Post’s Saturday’s comic book, boys and girls were asked to give the correct count of either A’s, B’s or C’s (depending on which week the contest was entered ) and submit the best 10word statement telling which comic book character they liked best. Aline Muller, Kirby cashier, and “Hank” Hannington, Bluebonnet, are back from their honeymoon . . . Friends of Jim Meador, former Rice Institute man, recognized him in the picture “Kitty Foyle” in spite of his screen name, James Craig. This is his first important role and critics agree he made the most of it . . . Johnnie Andrew, Houston cotton man and producer of amateur shows, will replace A1 Irwin on February 15 as manager of the Coliseum and the Auditorium. Houston’s newest theatre, the Lindale, opened January 30. The 800 -seater is owned by Oskar Korn and will be managed by Jimmie Dezendorf. There will be matinees only on weekends and holidays. Admission is scaled at 10 and 20 cents . . . J. A. Hudson and family spent a few days visiting relatives in Denton, Tex. . . . Jack Groves was in Dallas buying pictures. Ray Wilson, Alabama, has moved into his new home in West University Place. The event was marked with a housewarming for a group of friends . . . Virginia Cloud, the ever-smiling candy girl at the Uptown, is planning a trip to Mexico. New Metro Film Based On Noted Texan's Lite Ft. Worth — Information comes from the Metro studio that ‘“Blossoms in the Dust,” starring Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon, has been placed in production. The original by Ralph Wheelwright is based upon incidents in the life of Edna Gladney, founder of the Children’s Home and Aid Society here. The Queen Feature Service, Inc. Quality Theatre Equipment 5 Supplies 1912 Vi Morris Are. Phone 3-8665 BIRMINGHAM, ALA. Paper Recognizes Varieiy Project Oklahoma City — Here’s another tribute to the local Variety Club, this time in an editorial by the Oklahoma City Times which reads as follows: “Theatre owners and operators and the show people of the community, long organized as the Variety Club, are building a health center to serve the unfortunates and underprivileged. The spirit back of the movement is praiseworthy indeed and the health building itself with its equipment and service is one of the best contributions made to the city in a long time. “We like the way in which Mr. Griffith and the Variety Club went about establishing the health center. Instead of going into it blindly and independently, they sought cooperation of the welfare and charitable groups already functioning. The health center will dovetail right into the work of organized, community-supported welfare maintained to lighten the way for poverty-darkened lives. It will be a valuable addition to the community’s program of help for the other half.” Caporal Opens Bison As a 10-15 Center Oklahoma City — Sam Caporal’s third suburban house, the Bison, at 1314 Northeast 23rd Street, was opened last Sunday, under a 10-15 cent admission scale. Caporal also operates the Yale in Capitol Hill and the Mayflower on Northwest 10th Street. Boh Busch at Helm of Oklahoma City Uptown Oklahoma City — Charles “Chuck” Ferris’ new Uptown was scheduled to open Thursday, with Bob Busch, former Standard manager, in charge. Double features second and third run at popular prices will be the policy. gUDDY WELKER, Empire manager, fell off of the second stage over the orchestra pit last Wednesday night while conducting “Buzzo” . . . Alfred W. Rohde jr., March of Time cameraman, flew in from Quantico, Va., to attend his grandmother’s funeral. Rohde is the San Antonio boy who is making good in the U. S. Marines as an instructor of photography . . . Helen Morley, daughter of Christopher Morley, author and novelist, was a one-day visitor. Film Reviewer Mary Louise Walliser of San Antonio Evening News attended the “Back Street” premier in Miami . . . Adkins “Butch” Lenoir, San Marcos theatreman, is a proud pappy. It’s a boy. Name: Clinton Adkins Lenoir jr. And he has all of the earmarks of becoming a showman OKLA. CITY ^WO more suburbans opened this week and the old Victoria is supposed to be reopening shortly. Pretty soon one will have to wear shin guards to keep from stumbling over the neighborhood houses in and around Oklahoma City . . . Ted Lewis and his band are coming to the village for a one-night stand February 8 at Blossom Heath and there should be a lot of show people on hand for that date. Joe Wallace, former State assistant manager, is new house manager for Standard’s recently reopened Folly, which is under Paul Townsend’s direction . . . Gene Hudgins, Rialto usher and son of Jim of Columbia, is the town’s neivest amateur film fan, having procured for himself an 8 mm outfit. E. Frank Roberts has replaced Julius Krish as booker at the Standard offices. Krish moves over to the Midwest as manager following the resignation of Bob Busch, who became manager of the Uptown, new neighborhood house . . . Bert Stern is scheduled to leave Standard as advertising manager as soon as Joe Cooper returns to O. C. . . . The State put on a heavy campaign for “Foreign Correspondent.” Bill Elliott, Columbia western star, made personal appearances in Tulsa last week. He’s making an airplane trip through Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Elliott spent two days at the Lyric and Circle and the Rita, the latter in West Tulsa. Mr. and Mrs. J. Eddie Holt admitted draftees of Coal county free to their Wigwam at Coalgate upon their induction last week. Mrs. Eddie brought a cake to the city’s party for the boys. It was beautifully decorated and topped with 16 miniature flags which brought $22.50 of the $45.05 raised for the boys and split up among them as a going-away present. Holt is commander of the Coal county American Legion. some day they say . . . Joe Abreu has opened here a Cuban shoiv under canvas . . . Lola Flugrath is the new popcorn machine girl at the State, and Peggy Norby has taken over the candy counter at the Texas . . . The President’s Birthday Ball at the Auditorium netted $3,500. Bob May, Texas chief usher, has changed his mind about becoming a benedict this month . . . Peter C. Ramirez doing some deep-sea fishing down Florida way . . . Beulah Greene, State cashier, all set to tickle the ivories for the forthcoming K. of C. Minstrel Show . . . Lorraine Meeks, the constable’s daughter, writes back from California where she is vocalizing with a Fanchon & Marco unit . . . “The Man Who Came to Dinner” has been set for the Texas, February 18, one evening performance only . . . Billy Corder, the red-head, denies all rumors he has ever been married . . . Corpus Christi theatremen look forward to a big increase in boxoffice receipts when 26,000 sailors move in for training maneuvers. BUFFALO COOLING EQUIPMENT 1026 SANTA fe bldg. BUFFALO ENGINEERING CO., INC. Dallas, texas 74 BOXOFFICE :: February 8, 1941