20th Century-Fox Dynamo (April 18, 1953)

“PRESIDENT’S LADY” DAY-AND-DATE RUNS POTTING SOUTHERN DIVISION OVER QUOTA By the end of May, Harry Ballance’s seven southern branches ex- pect to have played off some 2000 bookings on "The President’s Lady.” This will stack up a new high for our southern branches’ day-and-date showings, and no combination of offices has enjoyed as much success in this type of simultaneous key-situations circulation as the Dixie group. Because Nashville plays a big part in the fabulous love story of Andrew Jackson and the luckless Rachel, "The President’s Lady” set off the day-and-date run in that city at the Paramount theatre where it outgrossed "I’d Climb The Highest Mountain” by 12%. Charlton Hes- ton (second from right, above) was present at the premiere in Nashville. However, he also visited other Southern cities including St. Petersburg, Fla., where the above picture was snapped. Left to right: Dan Coursey, our Atlanta branch manager, R.G. McClure of Atlanta, Charlton Heston and Marvin Doris. In Norfolk, Va., "The President’s Lady” outgrossed "Highest Mountain” by more than 24%. Exhibitors attended the key-city showings of "The President’s Lady” where co-star Charlton Heston (second from left) made personal appearances. The above group was pictured during Heston’s Atlanta visit, during a press interview. Among those who attended the conference were, left to right: Ernie Rogers of tha Atlanta Journal; Mr. Heston; Celestine Sebley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Sunday Magazine; Paul Jones of the Atlanta Constitution; Mrs. Heston; Nible Arnold, manager of the Fox theatre, and Davenport Stewart of the Atlanta Journal. Heston’s good-will and publicity trip was characterized by newspapermen and exhibitors alike as a stimulant not only for first-run engagements, but aroused so much interest it will reflect itself in better patronage at the subsequent runs. Best grosses were earned by "The President’s Lady” at the Paramount, Nashville; New theatre in Baltimore; Imperial, Charlotte, and the Strand in Memphis. At the Memphis house "The President’s Lady” opened to a gross that was 40% higher than the first day of "Stars And Stripes.” Charlton Heston’s personal appearances covered 10 key cities in five southern States. During his 10-day flying trip, Heston who was accompanied by his lovely actress-wife, Lydia Clarke, visited Nashville, Memphis, Atlanta, New Orleans, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Fort Worth. At each stop he was feted by local showmen, socialites, the press and municipal officials. At the Atlanta reception he posed with (left to right) Mrs. Dan Coursey, wife of our Atlanta manager; Mrs. Harry G. Ballance, wife of our Southern division manager; Mr. Paul Wilson, wife of our assistant Southern division manager, and Mrs. Henry Harrell, wife of our Atlanta head booker. The South is also now rolling with "Call Me Madam.” Incidentally, Tidwell’s Jacksonville won a three weeks’ bonus for first quarter delivery. "The President’s Lady” has been so expertly booked in its Southern day-and-date run that it set new playoff marks. Seven offices are booking 300 prints through April 30, and 100 for an additional subsequent four weeks. Here are the prints each branch is booking on that love story: Atlanta 55, Charlotte 40, Dallas 65, Memphis 35, New Orleans 35, Oklahoma City 35 and Jacksonville 35. During the stopover at our Atlanta branch, co-star Charlton Heston chatted with A.B. Padgett of the Wilby circuit (second from right) and posed for the Dyna- mo cameraman with that showman and, left to right: Atlanta manager Coursey, Henry Harrell, and Southern exploitation representative Jimmy G ‘"' ,pi " Pog. 9