Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1948)

OKLAHOMA pjome Theatre Manager Lester Lloyd was pictured recently in the Daily Oklahoman with a couple of jaguar kittens, Luis Abreu, Mexican counsul, and Julian Frazier, zookeeper at Lincoln Park. The jaguar kittens from Mexico, named Pancho and Panchita, are new residents of the park’s zoo, a gift of Lloyd’s brother William V. jr. who captured them on a hunt in Vera Cruz. The zookeeper, who had just gotten the jaguars out of customs at San Antonio, had the Mexican consul and the theatre manager welcome the kittens to Oklahoma City in a special ceremony photographed for the local paper. The kittens soon will make personal appearances in the Home. The Warner was playing “Romance on the High Seas,” starring Jack Carson and Doris Day. The Home’s July 4 screen fare was to be “The Big Clock” . . . “Fighting Father Dunne” was at the State Theatre . . . “On An Island With You” opened at the Criterion . . . Moving into the Midwest Wednesday (30) was “Give My Regards to Broadway” . . . New at the Center is “The Mating of Millie.” Opening of the Oklahoma City replica of the “Blandings” dream house has been moved back to August 1 because of recent heavy rains, which slowed construction almost to a standstill. ’The two-story early American home was to have opened July 18. Builder Pennington planned to keep the house open until September 1. It will now remain open until September 15. The John A. Brown Co. is furnishing the dream house. Kenneth Fruit, an interior decoration consultant, is supervising the furnishing and decorating of the interiors. The house and furnishings together are worth more than $40,000. Newt Butler of Hobart, assistant manager for Griffith, celebrated his birthday . . . Ben Ball of SRO’s publicity department. Culver City, was here in connection with the picture, “Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream V. A. WILKINSON— Owner, Ritz Theatre, Comanche, Oklahoma — says; “You can’t beat RCA when it comes to Service, Anything I say will not be enough in praise of their service organization.” To get the benefits of RCA Service —write: RCA SERVICE COMPANY, INC., Radio Corporation of America, Camden, New Jersey. Adv. CITY Guthrie Plans Pomp For 'Badmen' Debut COLUMBIANS MEET— The above three were among those present at Columbia’s five-day sales meeting in Chicago last week. Left to right: C. A. Gibbs, Oklahoma City branch manager; Jack Underwood, southwestern division manager, and Herman Chrisman, Memphis branch manager. House.” He met builders and theatre officials to lay plans for the local opening of the film and the “Blandings” dream house . . . Judy Canova and a supporting cast will appear in the Lincoln park amphitheatre for a onenight show July 4 . . . George Bannan of Warner Bros, publicity department, Dallas, was here recently. GUTHRIE, OKLA. — The world premiere of of the new RKO film, “Return of the Badmen,” will be held at the Melba here July 7. Guthrie, one-time capital city of the state, plans to decorate with all the pomp and color that goes with its annual ’89er celebration. The film was given a double dose of front page publicity when the alleged Jesse James rode into Guthrie recently to offer his services in connection with the “big day.” The self-styled Jesse James hit the front page of the Guthrie Daily Leader with half page spread. He will take part in the parade on premiere day. The picture, starring Randolph Scott, Anne Jeffreys and George “Gabby” Hays, begins with the land rush of 1889 opening Indian territory to settlement, and the story is centered around the founding and growth of Guthrie and the engagements of its pioneer people against the Younger brothers, the Dalton boys and other renegades of the time who preyed on this territorial government seat. Hollywood stars whose names will be disclosed later will attend the premiere along with radio personalities, state officials including Governor Turner and theatre executives. The premiere is set for the Melba 'Theatre. Robert Hickey of Chicago and Eddie Terhune of Dallas were here for RKO, working on the world premiere of “The Return of the Bad Men,” slated for Guthrie July 7. The film depicts Guthrie in 1889 . . . Griffith Theatres postponed two drive-in openings because of inclement weather which delayed construction work. The Starlite near Shawnee and the Skyway near Seminole had their openings postponed indefinitely. When Lois Butler of Hollywood visited Oklahoma City to appear on the Center Theatre stage, she received fine turnouts. The entire afternoon was good at the boxoffice, however, the Louis-Walcott fight that night kept theatregoers at home. Miss Butler appeared in connection with the showing of the new EL film, “Mickey” . . . The Variety Club health center, home of the Oklahoma County Health Ass’n, which is sponsored by Tent 22, celebrated its seventh anniversary recently with a three-day open house. Dennis Morgan, Jack Carson, Dorothy Malone, Penny Edwards and other Hollywood personalities will be here August 7 to appear at the Warner in connection with the showing of “Two Guys From Texas” . . . Frances Langford and Jon Hall were overnight guests here recently. They were en route to New York by plane . . . “Water Follies of 1948,” a combination aquatic and stage musical revue, is slated for Taft stadium, July 13-17, as a benefit for the city Lions club health camp, northeast of town. 'Two portable pools are to be used. Improves Elmwood Drive-In ABILENE, TEX. — Mrs. Ruth Likens, owner of the Broadway who recently purchased the Elmwood Drive-In, has made sweeping improvements in the latter, including in-car speakers and car-to-concession stand connections. Oklahoma Circuit Owner Named to School Board OKLAHOMA CITY — R. Lewis Barton, a former school teacher, now owner of a string of theatres including the Knob Hill here, is a new member of the local school board. Barton taught school in Cleveland county and in 1920 went to Stroud as football coach and high school principal. Acquiring theatres there, he asked the school board to accept his resignation in 1925. The board’ did, but immediately appointed him to the board. He served for four years. He subsequently was mayor of Stroud for ten years, still holding that office when he moved in 1941. Among his theatres are the Redskin and Skytrain. He also owns houses in Pryor. Commercial Films in Parks DALLAS— The Dallas Morning News and Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. are running a point series of free motion pictures in city parks propagandizing their institutions and their scope of public service. The newspaper film is “Textbook of Democracy,” produced by the News with professional help and using “Freedom of Speech” as the background. The phone company’s film tries to put over party line courtesy. Comedies furnished by the public library are shown in between. Free band concerts under auspices of the city park department are due to follow in the park system. SELL YOUR THEATRE PRIVATELY Your Deal Handled Personally 27 years experience We Cover the U. S. Market Arthur Leak Theatre Sales Exclusively 3422 Kinmore Dallas 10, Texas Phone T3-2026 112-D BOXOFFICE ;: July 3, 1948