Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1938)

TEXAS HOLDS FIFTH PLACE IN THE NATION, RESULTS IN MOVIE QUIZ SHOW THUS FAR Contest Has Proven a Big Boon for Increasing Attendance By V. W. CRISP Dallas — In the stream of 1,000 completed Movie Quiz booklets a week flooding into New York contest headquarters, the gratifying report is that Texas ranks fifth in ultimate results so far in the Greatest Year Campaign by way of increased attendance. New York state holds first place. A circuit official and campaign worker, who .have been sold on Quiz advertising value from the start, said some exhibitors “just don’t realize the actual value they are getting from the contest.” It was intimated that without the present campaign show business would be way off. One direct result of the Quiz was that it put hundreds in film salesmen’s pockets. It is recalled that when R. E. Griffith, as chairman for Texas, inaugurated the Greatest Year drive for this state that he, R. J. O’Donnell and W. G. Underwood dug into their own pockets and offered $750 to three salesmen turning in the most pledges of exhibitors to donate 10 cents per seat, so staunch were these three in support of the move and with Underwood’s own company, Republic, not being a participant in the campaign. It is also remembered that the $750, at a sparsely attended Variety meeting, was awarded first to J. E. Gribble, 20thFox, $400; second, Neal Houston, 20thFox, $250; and third, Fred Larned, Paramount, San Antonio, $100. These men turned in the most pledges and the results show that the Fox men had the most fire (or the breaks) , although Jack Groves of United Artists and Clyde Houston of M-G-M made good showings. 'J’HE San Antonio News cooperated with the Majestic Theatre in the “Great Waltz” dance competition to send two local steppers to the state contest at Dallas. Local winners were Alice McFarland and Raymond McLean, who bid fair to compete in the national finals in New York City next month when the winners from the country’s 12 zones compete for first place. The national prize will be a three-month film contract offered by M-G-M. Kenneth Taylor of Uvalde goes to Lubbock December 1 to become assistant city manager for Consolidated there . . . Rollie Moore, formerly with Horne Film Co., Home Town Welcome Canyon, Tex. — Coincidence, and alertness on the part of W. J. Wooten of the Olympic Theatre here, brought this Texas town a personal appearance of a film actor in conjunction with his picture. The Olympic had booked Republic’s “Man From Music Mountain,” a Gene Autry picture in which Albert Terry, local boy, makes his first film appearance. At the time of the showing Albert Terry, called by the illness of his grandmother, came from Hollywood back to his home town of Canyon. The resultant interviews and pictures that made the papers drew a tremendous crowd to the Olympic, where the young star also made a personal appearance. Dallas, is now connected with Jimmy Zintgraff photo studio here. Senor J. J. “Peppe” Jimenez of LatinAmerican exchange, is out with Tona La Negra under his wing. The Mexican songbird is playing engagements in Corpus Christi, Alice, Kingsville, Robstown, San Diego and Houston. Visitors: “ Fisherman ” Taylor, M-G-M, Dallas; Trueman Hendricks, Fox, Dallas; Henry Krum and W. O. Williamson, WB, Dallas; Bill Miller, Lyric, Flatonia; Roy Pringle, Rio, Fabens; T. B. Phillips, Junction; Carl Garner, Llano; Dr. A. Duran, Regis, Rio, San Diego, Tex.; Bob Smith, Mission, with Stooge Bert Boswell; Paul Poag, Empress, Del Rio. Two Thanksgiving Openings in Miami Miami — What will be the second Thanksgiving Day opening in the area is scheduled for the newest acquisition of Wometco theatres, the old Seventh Avenue Theatre — entirely reconstructed during the past couple months by its former owners, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Walders. In keeping with its new exterior and interior, the house has been renamed the Strand. Miami’s other Thanksgiving Day opening, previously announced, is to be that of the new de luxe Paramount. When the Strand reopens, it will reveal new stage equipment, and Mirrophonic sound, and new seats. Floyd Stubbefield, formerly assistant manager at the Capitol and Tower, will helm the house. He came here a year ago from Marysville, Cal., where he was in charge of publicity for a theatre unit. Herman Berlin, formerly assistant manager at the Grove, goes to the Strand as Stubbefield’s assistant. Operating on a neighborhood policy, the Strand will launch on the organization of a Mickey Mouse club as soon as it opens. Also newly acquired by Wometco is the colored house in Coconut Grove known as the Ace. With the addition of the Strand and the Ace, the total of Wometco-owned and controlled theatres in this area mounts to 19. Fall Orders Hitting Peak At Herber Bros, in Dallas Dallas — With fall buying at its peak, Herber Bros., local dealers in theatre equipment and supplies, report the following list of recent orders: Grand Theatre, Cooper, Tex., sound equipment; Texas State College for Women, Denton, Tex., lamps, lens, screen, powers gates, ballasts; Castle, Logans Pert, La., lamps, screen, rectifiers, sound equipment; Mexican Amusement Co., El Paso, Tex., converter; Palace, Paducah, Tex., lamps, rectifiers; Pastime, Itasca, conversion units; Hollywood, Hillsboro, N. C., amplifier; Charles Knauf, Beggs, Okla., machines, lamps, rectifiers, lens, rewind, screen, sound equipment and accessories; G. W. Eddington, amplifier, lens, machines; Rule, Rule, Tex., popcorn machine; Strand, Gilmer, Tex., popcorn machine; Queen, Quitaque, Tex., popcorn machine; Carl Faith, Robert Lee, Tex., popcorn machine, and J. R. Sullivan, Midlothian, Tex., popcorn machine. Close Carter in Reed Reed, Okla. — George W. Mayfield and Louis Venable have closed the Carter Theatre here. They are looking around for a new location. 82 BOXOFFICE :: November 19, 1938