The Exhibitor (1952)

NT -2 EXHIBITOR W. L. Titus, Jr., vice-president an<| district manager. Republic, continued on a swing of exchanges . Tub Wilpams^ recently with .E. Jenner’s driye-ins visited. He may be reached atr 2416 Columbus, BYwater 7425. . . The Prichard Drive-In, Prichard, Ala., is’ getting all dolled up before its usual spring reopening. . . . Bob Roberts has been appointed night manager, Civic. He is an old timer in the business. . . . Alice Mahan, secretary to Russell Callen, Associated Theatres, became Mrs. Percy Brouger. She has returned to her desk after honeymooning. Among the Rilm Rowites attending the dance given by the American Legion, Nicholas J. Caddo Post 351, at the Arrow club rooms, wei'e: Mr. and Mrs. Tom Neely, Sr., and son, Tom Neely, Jr.; Mr. and Mrs. W. H. “Bill” Cobb, Mr. and Mrs. Dan Brandon, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Silver, Mr. and Mrs. Regerrio, William Briant, Mr. and Mrs. Waddy Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Vito LoCoco, Mr. and Mrs. Milton Aufdemorte, the Misses Pat Wagner and Margaret Foerster, and Joseph Faia. Tom Neely, Sr., was awarded a plaque for deeds rendered the post in the absence of his son, soldier¬ ing with the marines in Korea. Visiting Joy headquarters were Mr. and Mrs. Frank Mullins and L. D. Powers, Texarkana, Tex. . . . Pat Downs, Joy Theatres Booking Service, is the vice-president of the newest of carnival club organizations, the Krewe of Orio. York-bound to the Realart-Jack Broder franchise holders conclayg. i • • ' Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ola'h an^on wej;e, on a theatre and shoiming beur, . Mrs. Genevieve Fager«n is ■^he comer with Manley, In* ; Vera-Ellen was in '"^two days. ^Sme appeared in person i^ Hotln’s Store, endorsed the 1952 “Hea^ Fund” cam¬ paign, and met with prftfe radio, theatre, and film representative^^ Sam Pasqua, Gonzale^ La., was up and about again after medical treatment. . . . Pat Wagner, Joy Theatres, Inc., was a weekend visitor in Houston, Tex. C. K. Couch, -‘Pensacola, Fla., buying and booking representative for G. E. Padgett’s Gulf, Pensacola, Fla., and Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Stewart’s Warring¬ ton Drive-In, Warrington, Fla., visited. He was accompanied by W. Nichols and Frank Lister. '*Uncle Sam Needs Copper” Florida Wauchula Mark L. Sanders, who served as man¬ ager at the opening of Floyd Theatres Star-Lite Drive-In, resigned to return to Geneva, N. Y., to prepare for the 1952 season at the Seneca Drive-In. Georgia Savannah Realart — Visiting was former owner Jerry Jernigan, who is still toying -with becoming an exhibitor. . . . Walter Lee, Heber Springs, Ark.; H. G. Waldran, Red Bay, Ala., and Robert Lowery, Jonesboro, Ark., were in. New Orleans Prexy Abe Berenson, ATOGS, called a board meeting. . . . Milton Guidry is disposing of all booth equipment, screen, and chairs housed in the closed Nona, Lafayette, La. . . . J. E. Adams, asso¬ ciate owner, Starlite Drive-In, called on his buying and booking representative, Russell Callen, Associated. Members of the industry are mourning the loss of a dear friend and one-time fellow worker, Sam Stockard, who recently died in Memphis. . . . Hap Barnes was visiting with Jack Dumestre, president. Southeastern Theatre Equip¬ ment. Together, they attended the open¬ ing of the Rebel Drive-In, Baton Rouge, La, Exhibitors from Louisiana making the rounds were; Rev. C. T. Withers, East End, Baton Rouge; Harold Dacey, Raceland and Lockport, La.; William Sendy, Patio; Barney and Larry Woolner, and Bill Shiell, accompanied by his partner, E. Jenner, Marrero DriveIn. In from Mississippi were; Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Millett, Moonlite Drive-In, West Long Beach, visitors at Broggi’s Buying and Booking Service, and Al Randall, Woodville and Centerville thea¬ tre owner-operator. Harry Epting, traveling engineer. National Theatre Supply Company, visited with manager Tom Neely. . . . The customary finger of Jean Rovira Dixie, is ringed with a sparkler, re¬ cently put there. ... A. Rosenthal, .Alexandria, La., visited with Joy N. Houck at Joy Theatres, Inc. . . . Roy Nicaud and Larry Dufour are on their usual junket for Lippert; Tommy Dunn, for U-I; Harry Thomas, for Republic; E. E. Shinn, for Paramount, and Joe Fabacher, for Monogram Southern. Fred T. McLendon, conventional and drive-in magnate. Union Springs, Ala., accompanied by Walter Johnson, Mont¬ gomery, Ala., visited. . . . Executives in town were Joy N. Houck, -Shreveport, La., at Joy Theatres, Inc., and M. A. “Max” Connett, Newton, Miss., at M. A. Connett Theatre and Booking offices. As reported by W. Y. DeJarnette, .Altec service men will handle Paramount Gulf Theatres, Inc., technical problems. .A deal was consummated by Altec gen¬ eral sales manager D. L. Netter, Jr., and the theatres’ president, Gaston J. Dureau, Jr. The contract designates April 1 as the starting date of service with De¬ Jarnette and N. V. Schneider as local representatives. . . . Mrs. Pearl Donnegan Wright, 66, mother of Samuel Wright, Jr., died. A number of people of the industry attended the funeral. Burial was in Metarie Cemetery. Samuel, Jr., is in charge of the M. A. “Max” Connett Buying and Booking Service. It’s always fair weather when the Molzons, Robert, Norco, La., and daugh¬ ter, Ann, Labadieville, La., join the side¬ walk club. . . . “Smiley” Burnett dashed in from Tampa, Fla., where he closed a personal appearance tour of 21 one-night stands with Gene Autry. Dale Robertson signed autographs in the Jo.v lobby -w-hile his picture, “Return of The Texan,” unreeled. . . . Exhibitors in from Baton Rouge, La., to book were Dick Coor, Ogden, and Roy Pfeiffer, Istrouma. Neil H. Mixon advised that his Mixon’s Drive-In, Amite, La., reopened. . . . W. C. Sharp, 964 McEvers Road, Memphis, advised that he had closed his Harlem, Lake Providence, La., until further notice. The Bernard Fonsecas recent bundle was a darling baby girl, which completed a Fonseca nine, five little masters and four little mistresses. William Briant, manager, 20th-Fox, attended the preview of “Return Of The Texan” at the Don, Shreveport, La. Dale Robertson was there in person. Ed Ortte was hobnobbing with friends at Gentillich. . . . Louis Watts, W and K Circuit, Oil City, La., was in shopping. . . . Smiling “Jack” Downing, Haven, Brookhaven, Miss., was ankling up Film Row with cheerful greetings. . . . H. K. Paul, field representative, Dixie, was in the territory. Milton Dureau, vice-president and general manager. Masterpiece, was New The newly remodeled Circle Drive-In opened. Hudson Edwards is manager. New owners are Harris Robinson, R. A. Edmonson, Jr., Horace Denning, and Edwards. Edwards also is manager. Highway 80 Drive-In, nearby. Free roses were given to the ladies at the opening, while everybody received free doughnuts. Louisiana Shreveport Dale Robertson, 20th-Fox star, made his first visit to the Ark-La-Tex, and was given an enthusiastic welcome dur¬ ing his three personal appearances on the stage of the Don. Robertson appeared in connection with “Return of the Texan” accompanied by Jimmie Gillespie, studio exploitation representative, and Billy Bryant, New Orleans branch, 20thFox. Doyle Maynard, general manager, Don Theatres, met the star at the airport. North Carolina Boone Robert E. Agle, promoted to general manager, Statesville Theatre Corpora¬ tion Theatres, has taken charge of the company’s theatres in five eastern North Carolina towns. The promotion places him in charge of all the company’s thea¬ tres except those in Statesville, which are to be included in his group in the near future. Carlton H. Trotter, former man¬ ager, Appalachian and Pastime, has been promoted to executive assistant to the president, and takes on other new duties as an executive of the corporation. March 5, 1952