Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1948)

ELLIOTTS Law Comes to le irn of Daniel Boor ,ne Star Pioneers Frontiers of an From Tomblev ASTOR I PICTURES 1 CORP. R. M. (Bob) Savini President r ASTOR PICTURES New Orleans Magnolia 5821 Serving Louisiana, Mississippi and the Memphis territory Films service serving prints in Memphis territory Circuit's Fan Magazine In Increased Demand DALLAS — Interstate circuit’s fan magazine, “Showtime,” gotten out on trial for its Dallas theatres, has growm by leaps and bounds in popularity during its brief span of five monthly issues. Thousands af people here and in surrounding towns signed slips requesting that the sheet be mailed to them. Requests also were made for mailing in 22 different states and in Canada and Alaska. Current events concerning the private lives of top film stars and promotional matter on new pictures soon to show, plus a lot of photographs, make up the magazine. First Theatre in Abilene DALLAS — H. T. Hodge, veteran independent exhibitor and general manager of the H&H Theatre Co. in Abilene, wrote to give further details as to his theatre holdings and his recent purchase of full interest in the 11 houses in his group. Hodge said he opened his first theatre in Abilene in 1913 and not in Merkel as a previous story related. He owned or operated one to four theatres in Abilene for 14 years and sold out to Dent Theatres in 1927. During this time he acquired theatres in Merkel, Stamford, Ballinger and Winters. In 1938 he built a theatre in Odessa and now has three there. Until recently he had been associated with Griffith interests for 12 years, he said. Blue Ridge, Tex., Rita Sold BLUE RIDGE, TEX. — The Rita Theatre here was sold recently by J. D. Bickley to P. E. Webb of Austwell. L. D. Montgomery of Oakwood negotiated the deal. THEATRE SEAT INSTALLATION 20 years experience — Satisfaction guaranteed. Write or Phone 5327 Johnnie Boutwell Temple, Texas EL and Mono Name New Dallas Heads DALLAS — Switches in branch management at two Dallas exchanges brought James E. Gribble, south Texas representative for Eagle Lion, back to Dallas to take the branch manager’s chair, succeeding J. W. Loewe, who resigned to enter business for himself. Gribble was with 20th-Fox for a number of years in the Houston territory. During the war he was in the army and returned to 20th-Fox at the end of hostilities. He went with EL when H. Biersdorf, his former boss, became district manager for the company. James A. Prichard was named both district and branch manager for Monogram, succeeding Lloyd Rust. Prichard had been branch manager for U-I for the past two years. His successor there has not yet been announced. The Monogram vacancy came when Rust and Ed Blumenthal sold their Texas franchise back to Monogram and retired from the business. Santa Fe Opening Near SANTA FE — The new Santa Fe Theatre here, construction of which is nearing completion, is expected to be ready for opening about November 10. Located on Cerrillos road, the 877-seat house is built of steel and concrete. It will have a 40-foot stage, indirect lighting and air conditioning. Don Beers will manage the theatre. * SPim SERVICE ‘TOP QUALITY * niDTIOnPICTBRESEmflCEC" 12S HYDi ST. ••fan Francisco (Z) Calif. CiEIIAlD L. KARSKI QtmtrS/ Mtiitftr WENZEL PROJECTORS ARE PROVEN Install a Pair Now. The Price Is Moderate. BERBER BROTHERS “Fair Treatment and Adequate Service for 25 Years” 408 S. HARWOOD DALLAS 1, TEXAS 94 BOXOFFICE : : October 23, 1948