Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1948)

I ASTOR PICTURES CORP. R. M. (Bob) Savini President 'Wild Sill^ ELLIOTTS ‘The Law Comes to Texas Pioneers of the Frontier •Oct. u°'®of?er .verv 4 weeks thereafter. Distributed by: ASTOR PICTURES CO. 1G3 Walton St. • 300 West 3rd St. Atlanta, Ga. • Charlotte, N. C. Main 9845 • Charlotte 4-3538 Crashers Develop New Technique For Drive-Ins, But It Fails, Too ATLANTA — A new wrinkle has been added to the gate-crasher’s handbook on Atlanta theatres. Teenagers have been slipping past the tickettakers of the local ozoner by the simple expedient of hiding in auto trunks. Walt Meir, manager of the Dixie Drive-In, says that despite sweltering hot weather, “there still are a few youngsters who will risk an uncomfortable ride in order to see a free show.” “Last week,” Weir continued, “an old jalopy came rolling by with the rear end sagging down. The diuver appeared to be the lone occupant, however, a muffled sneeze gave us the tip that someone was in the trunk. We followed the car and stood directly in back of it and started a long conversation. “Finally, we opened the door and a perspiring fat boy emerged. We gave him a good scolding, a cool drink of water and let him see the show. He had earned them all.” All gate crashing techniques are not so simple, nor so harmless. At the downtown theatres most of the schemes are known to the managers. Denny Denman, manager of the Fox, says that one of the most tried out methods is quite simple. Usually it’s tried by a gang of boys. One lad will buy a ticket, enter the theatre, unlock the exit doors and admit the rest of the crowd. Another gag, pulled surprisingly by adults, is the lady-and-baby stunt. Manager Boyd Fry of Loew’s Grand says a woman and child would brush by the ticket taker, explaining that her husband was purchasing the tickets. Before the trick is discovered the lady and baby are lost among those already seated. Sam George, Paramount manager, says another stunt pulled by boys, involves looking for a brother with the explanation that “mother is sick at home.” “If we don’t keep a sharp eye on this type he will disappear in the theatre,” George says. Another local trick is the tale, “I saw the show last night but had to leave before it was over. May I see the rest of it now? I still have the stub.” Chances are, the managers say, they borrowed the stub in the first place. Republican Candidate Gets Guy Kibbee's Help MIAMI — Guy Kibbee, stage and screen actor, will take an active part in the gubernatorial campaign of Republican Bert Leigh Acker, who turns a deaf ear to the scoffings of Florida’s Democrats. The two men were showmen together 40 years ago when Kibbee “had hair and Acker looked like Rudolph Valentino.” Just how serious the two men were about campaigning was hard to tell, but when interviewed they swore they were practicing some fancy dance routines to wow the voters. “It was our acting that brought about the downfall of the oldtime road show,” Kibbee said, when the two old friends met here for the first time in many years. “My critics always said I played the king in ‘Hamlet’ like someone had already played the ace.” Acker retired from the theatre in 1926. Kibbee will return to New York for a television appearance but has assured Acker that he’ll be back for the fall campaign. When they will tour the state doing buck and wing dances and a few orations from Shakespeare to gather in the votes. Lexington, Miss., Theatres Sold to Leon Roundtree MEMPHIS — Two Lexington, Miss., theatres, the Strand and Star, have been purchased by Leon Roundtree, well known Mississippi exhibitor. Roundtree, who was in Memphis booking, announced that he had purchased the theatre from Strand Enterprises. Roundtree owns and operates the Grand at Water Valley and the Holly at Holly Springs. The Strand has 351 seats and the Star 325. Paper Promotes Opening Of 'Judy' at Alexandria ALEXANDRIA, LA. — In connection with the showing of “A Date With Judy,” at the Don Theatre in Alexandria Daily Town Talk said: “The Don Theatre has scored another beat in Alexandria, with the opening last night of ‘A Date With Judy,’ acclaimed by first night audiences as one of the most entertaining motion pictures exhibited here in recent months. Crowds filled the theatre for the opening and would-be attenders lined the street in front of the Don for half a block in either direction.” Wrong Drink Suggested For Memphis Drive-In MEMPHIS — Kemmons Wilson, home builder, theatre owner and soft drink bottler, is taking a lot of kidding these days. In a newspaper writeup about the opening of the new Summer Drive-In, the headline writer wrote: “Just Sip a Coke as You Watch From Your Car.” “When did you get into the Coca-Cola business?” friends began to ask Kemmons. The headline writer apparently didn’t know that Wilson owns and operates the Orange Crush Bottling Co. He tells his friends he hopes they ask for an Orange Crush but if they want a coke, he has plenty of that too at his drive-in. Showman Battles False Whispers Decatur, Ala. — Victim of a “whispering campaign,” Manager P. L. Stroud of the Capitol Theatre employed a two-column ad in The Decatur Daily to deny that the house is infested with rats. “Many of you stUl believe that the Capitol Theatre is full of rodents,” Strode wrote. “I believe there are hundreds of people who would visit this thea ♦ tre frequently, but don’t because of something which hasn’t existed for years.” Stroud promised his patrons a clean, rat-less theatre, with clean rest rooms, comfortable seats, good projection, cooling system, courteous staff, friendly atmosphere and a quiet theatre. 12G-B BOXOFFICE :: September 18, 1948