Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1939)

When S. G. Fry Tossed a Party in Tyler, Tex, — The gang from Dallas and roundabout gathered in the beautiful home shown above at the right. At the left, the host and his wife are seen in their office in an upstairs nook of their home. She is secretary -treasurer of S. G.’s five theatres. He also is director of a Tyler bank, one of the five city commissioners, a director of the chamber of commerce. They are quite proud of their three sons: Segle Fry jr., in the haberdashery business and the youngest president of a junior chamber of commerce; Robert A. Fry, an ex-Georgia Tech celebrity, and Victor Fry, who is attending junior college at Tyler. Read the accompanying story for details of the party. Tyler Exhibitor Host To Filmrow Figures By V. W. CRISP Tyler, Tex. — Salutations of more than 40 people in the film business went out to S. G. Pry and his family of east Texas theatre folks as the local Rose Festival came a step nearer to the status of a national attraction. During the past few years, the Fry family has had only a few guests to enjoy that celebration. The crowd this year, however, easily made up for the deficit. Arriving at the Pry home between 8:00 and 8:30 in the morning, which, incidentally, is one of the finest in the newly developed residential areas of Tyler, some guests wondered how S. G. could handle the crowd. The answer: He has had full houses recently in his theatres, five in number. Downtown, the crowd was headquartered in the leading haberdashery of Tyler. This, too, is a Fry enterprise. Then into the Strand Theatre, thence to the Rose Parade, and a windup in the Fry backyard where 70 people were fed by four whitecoats, aided and abetted by S. G. himself. Again as Fry’s guests, most of the filmites watched the Texas Aggies wallop Villanova. Included among the guests: From Dallas — W. S. and Mrs. Miller and son, A. M. and Mrs. Witcher; Hal and Mrs. Smithson; J. E. and Mrs. Mitchell; Robei’t and Mrs. Allen; Roy and Mrs. Litsey; Lloyd and Mrs. Rust; Jack and Mrs. Underwood; Eddie and Mrs. Wilson; True and Mrs. Thompson; Harold and Mrs. Brooks; Jack and Mrs. Zern; J. I. and Mrs. Roberts; Clarence and Mrs. Wilson and Eddie Green. From Paris, Tex. — W. C. and Mrs. Francis and two daughter; Dr. and Mrs. Elbert Goolsby; Mrs. W. H. Wheeler and daugh piFTEEN-CENT afternoon admission has been extended from 5 o’clock until 6 o’clock with a fair increase, according to Bill Heliums, skipper of the Capitol Theatre. Misses Sammie Madge Russell and Mary K. Barton are the new cashiers at the Capitol. Boyd Sinclair, assistant manager, has begun his third year as a columnist for The Daily Texan, writing his six-a-week stint, “Steer Standard.” Pericles Alexander is the new amusements editor of the recently launched Austin Daily Tribune. Other local motion picture reviewers are Ruth Lewis of the American-Statesman and Jack Dolph of The Daily Texan. Award Patron $1,000 for "Fall" in a Theatre Oklahoma City— A jury awarded Gerald G. Whistler of Topeka $1,000 Wednesday in a suit charging lack of oxygen in a theatre caused him to fall. Whistler asked $15,000. It was alleged that defective air-conditioning equipment caused him to become faint and fall against a drinking fountain. His jaw was fractured and several teeth knocked out. General Seats for State Miami — The State Tlieatre here is installing chairs manufactured by the General Seating Co. ter, all old friends of the Frys. Prom Van, Tex. came J. E. and Mrs. Rhodes and daughter. Alexander Film Co. Takes Over Tad Dallas — Tad Screen Advertising, Inc., which launched into the field some three years ago under the Griffith banner, has sold out to its competitor, Alexander Film Co., according to officials on both sides of the transaction. J. I. Mclnaney, Alexander district manager, said Alexander had taken over the entire Tad facilities, with a long term contract for screen advertising in Griffith theatres, and that Alexander had absorbed or taken on most of the Tad sales force. According to Mclnaney, this leaves in doubt the status of J. O. (Buddy) Harris, who in past years has been the leader in screen Tad selling. As we get it. Buddy is in the theatre business as an exhibitor in his own right, having operated in Midlothian for the past six months and having more recently purchased the Ritz in Celina from the J. T. McClures. The Tad organization employed more than 100 people. The office and studio in Dallas will be closed, however, it will require five or six weeks before the business here can be completely transferred to the Alexander plant in Colorado Springs. C. B. (Brownie) Akers, head of the Tad outfit, said he will return to Oklahoma for an assignment in the home office of Griffith Amusement Co. He said Tad has sold out to Alexander, in which deal went contracts with 200 theatres with advertising revenue totaling $300,000. The Dallas office is closed, Akers said. RCA for Happy Hour New Orleans — The Happy Hour, Central Amusement link, has contracted for a new RCA sound system. 70 BOXOrnCE : : October 21, 1939