Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1948)

Memphis Theatre Closes Its Doors After 22 Days of Union Picketing 'Tap Roots' Is Leader In Atlanta Grosses ATLANTA — Business at the de luxe houses here was only average, held down by hot and dry weather. (Average is 100) Fox— Tap Hoots (U-I) 104 Loew's Grand — Letter From an Unknown Woman (U-I), 2nd wk 100 Paramount — Four Faces West (UA) 103 Roxy — The Walls of Jericho (20th-Fox), moveover 101 Tower — Gung Ho! (U-I); Little Tough Guys (U-I)--102 Fall While Tying Boat Injures J. C. Shanklin LEWISBURG, W. VA.—J. C. Shanklin, operator of the Greenbrier, Charleston and Lewis theatres here, and president of the MPTO of West Virginia, is confined to his home as the result of a recent fall on a river dock. While tying up his canoe on the dock recently, Shanklin fell and sustained bruises and sprains. While no bones were broken, he will be confined to his home two weeks or more, according to his physician. Improvements at Tarpon TARPON SPRINGS, FLA.— Extensive improvements neared completion at the Tarpon Theatre here with an increase of more than 100 in seating capacity, and the installation of a new modernistic office for the manager. Other improvements include two stairways leading to the balcony from the lobby, new rest room entrances and space for a popcorn machine inside the lobby. The Tarpon is owned by Charles Richelieu. Theatre to Newspaper PAYETTE, ALA. — The old Richards Theatre Bldg, here has been taken over by The Payette Times, a weekly paper. A concrete floor has been laid and the building will be renovated to house a modern printing and publishing business. The Richards was operated by Mrs. Lucille Cobb, v/ho now owns the new Roxy. Form Drive-In Company OXFORD, ALA. — Articles of incorporation were filed July 23 by Skyway Drive-In Theatre, Inc. Authorized capital stock was listed at $40,000, with $20,000 paid in. Incorporators were Prances T. Aaron, R. B. Hauss, James E. Aaron and Carrie S. Hauss, all of Anniston, Ala. Paper Gives Theatre Passes TROY, ALA. — The Troy Messenger, cooperating with the Enzor Theatre, offered four passes with each one-year paid in advance subscription. The offer was to expire August 21. 'No' to Tallahassee Ozoner TALLAHASSEE — A. P. Talley was denied permission to build a drive-in on the Perry highway after the county commission ruled that the area involved was zoned for a residential district. The zoning board also pointed out that such a project would interfere with, traffic along the highway. BOXO^ICE :: August 21, 1948 MEMPHIS — DeSoto Theatre, a small neighhood house in the historic Fort Pickering community, closed its door Monday night, after a three-week struggle for its life. The closing, which it was hoped would be temporary, was brought on by a 22-day picket line thrown in front of the house by the Motion Picture Operators Union. Walter L. Sawner, who recently bought the DeSoto from R. C. Middleton, refused to employ a union projectionist because, he said, he was a licensed operator himself and could not afford to hire the union men. Mrs. Sawner was selling tickets. “We will try to get an injunction against the union to stop the picketing,” Mrs. Saw-, ner said. “We can’t reopen until the pickets are withdrawn. We get many calls every night asking if the show is still being picketed. We get a few customers but we can’t continue to operate when we’re barely making expenses.” This was the second time within two months that the DeSoto doors had closed. It first was affected when owned by Middleton and when some 200 homes in the area were razed for a bridge building project. Middleton found himself unable to pay two union men a total of $114 a week to operate his projector so he closed down the theatre. Walter L. Sawner, 39, who works in the Illinois Central railroad shops, heard Middleton’s tale of woe and decided to buy and reopen the DeSoto. Sawner said he operated a projection machine in the navy for three years and he planned to run the machine himself, let his wife sell tickets and keep working on his railroad job. In that way, he said, he would make some money out of the DeSoto. All went well until union pickets appeared in front of the DeSoto and business began to fall off. There is a strong union population in the Ft. Pickering neighborhood. Sawner said: “I am a union man myself. I belong to the AFL Railroad Brotherhood. I would be glad to employ union men if they would leave me alone until I get on my feet. “I went to the union office and filled out an application for membership. I left a check to cover my initiation fee. They sent back the check and said the application was not admissible. “The next thing I knew there were pickets in front of the show. I am unable to hire union men for work I can do myself.” E. L. Hurt, business agent for Local 144 of the operators union, said: “Sawner applied for membership a long time ago when a lot of fellows we didn’t want were trying to get in. He has not applied lately. He just opened the show and we picketed him.” Malco to Build in Camden CAMDEN, ARK. — D. L. Johnson, city manager for Malco Theatres, announced that his firm will construct a fireproof theatre, having seating capacity of 1,200, in Camden. At present Malco operates the Ritz, Rialto and Strand theatres here. Sells 'Rose of Yukon' Norman S. Hall has sold his original screenplay, “Rose of the Yukon,” which Stephen Auer will produce for Republic. WS30aS3«*3636S»S3SSO«£383SS£36«««aS*363S3« Phillip Turnipseed CARPET LAYING CONTRACTOR II you want it done right, let ua aew and lay it tight 530 £. Cambridge Ave. COLLEGE PARS. GEORGIA Phone CAlhoun 3642 (in suburban Atlanta) irS MOTIOGiAPH ¥OW TOP PEiFOiMAMCi The Finest Projection COSTS LESS over the years, when you buy ^FYiotiog^tapL Designed and built by specialists to assure long, trouble-free service. WIL-KM CHARLOTTE, N, C. ATLANTA, GA. ‘Everything for the theatre except film’ 91