Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1941)

ft His Staii Learns of Crime First-Hand Oklahoma City — While Bert Stern, manager of the Criterion, was away at the screening room previewing a crime picture, three young men held up his assistant manager, a cashier and head usher, bound them and escaped with $425. JJ "Jack" Shealy Is Dead ; End Comes Suddenly Clinton, S. C. — O. I. Shealy, known to his many friends as “Jack,” died suddenly at his home here on February 2. Shealy was manager of the Casino and Broadway theatres in Clinton and was associated with A. I. “Gus” Mason in the operation of the Capitol and Echo in Laurens, S. C. A resident of Clinton for 34 years, he is survived by his wife, Mrs. Gertrude Fowler Shealy; a daughter, a sister, and two grandchildren. Shealy was a director of Theatre Owners of North and South Carolina until the last meeting in December at which time he was succeeded by his associate, Gus Mason. Exams Are Over College Station, Tex. — Ben S. Ferguson, manager and part owner of the Campus Theatre near Texas A. & M. College, is as glad as any of his 6,500 cadet-customers that final examinations are over. Cramming of students cut heavily into business, he says. O. E. Easter Weds Dallas — O. E. Easter, now a real estate developer in Corpus Christ and former owner of the Peak Theatre here, was married in Dallas, Monday, to Miss Mary Elmo Rowland. After the ceremony and reception, the couple left on a wedding trip to Mexico City. Borrow Jan Fortune Hollywood — Metro has borrowed Jan Fortune from Samuel Goldwyn to script “The Vanishing Virginian,” from a novel by Rebecca Yancey Williams. Edwin Knopf will produce. ft Eberson Will Manage Daytona Beach Unit Jacksonville — Drew Eberson, New York architect for the Brothers Warner, will be resident owner-manager of a new 1,000seat theatre at Daytona Beach, according to announcement here by W. R. Lovett, Jacksonville financier and owner of the property upon which the theatre will be erected. The project involves some $50,000 and the site is the Burgoyne Block, on North Beach Street. A building construction permit has been taken out by George W. Steele, Daytona Beach contractor. Warner pictures will be shown almost exclusively, a Jacksonville announcement reads. V ■ >J a v s r i m “TOHNNY,” central figure of a cigarette 1 radio program, made a personal appearance at the Capitol in connection with the showing of “Bitter Sweet” . . . Same theatre has booked an all-girl revue, as an added attraction for the weekend . . . Mac Roy Rasor is doing a Sunday amusement column in the AmericanStatesman called “Trailing the Trailers,” which is a preview of coming films. The Varsity mob was seen at the Avalon Night Club , celebrating the end of final exams. Diaz Callahan jr„ Jimmy Brown, Stanley Fisher, Clyde Lake were among the celebrants . . . Gerald Raines, skipper of the Texas, burned his face when a roman candle backfired . . . The crowd of nearly 25,000, here to watch the governor’s inauguration, boosted local boxoffices the same day. Frank Bruner, the United Artists representative, in town to beat the drums for “Pastor Hall,” slated for a mid-week stand at the State . . . Kenneth Francis of the Queen and Weldon Dryden of the State exchanged jobs . . . P. B. X.’er, Dorothy Warren, has moved again . . . Charlie Root, bossman at the Queen, is mighty proud of that new Buick convertible. Alfred Rosenthal, cameramanjournalist who was connected with UFA and Paramount newsreel on the other side of the Atlantic, is plying his various trades in Austin now where he shares the darkroom of Harold Eichenbaum, Interstate’s art department chief. Borrow Donald Crisp Hollywood — Metro has borrowed Donald Crisp from Warner for a role in “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” ft = ■' ft Prescribes One Sixth Of a Dual Bill Austin, Tex. — If students persist in attending motion pictures to relax their minds between final examinations, they should stay about 30 minutes, then leave. That is the sage advice given collegians by Dr. David Brace, professor of physical and health education, of the University of Texas. *5 JJ Johnstone Will Again Lead Local No. 293 New Orleans — A. S. Johnstone has been re-elected president of the operators’ union. Local 293. Other officers named for 1941 are: J. C. Miranne, vice-president; E. B. Beaud, recording secretary; J. E. Skelly, financial secretary; S. Picnich, treasurer; B. L. Beaud, business agent; and H. Maitre, sergeant-at-arms. Dallas Arbitration Unit Is Set for Operation Dallas — C. C. Williams, clerk of the local arbitration tribunal, is set for operation in his offices at the Fidelity Building. No cases have been filed to date. Arbiters for the Texas territory are undisclosed at this time. "Your Way" for Griffith Hollywood — Edward H. Griffith will produce and direct “You Go Your Way” for Paramount. Frank Partos is adapting the Katharine Brush story. Round Up Time on Filmrow— The display that greeted exhibitors who brought dates to the RKO exchange in Dallas, as their all-important contribution to making the current Ned Depinet Drive a success. BOXOFFICE : : February 8, 1941 74-C