The Exhibitor (1952)

NT-2 EXHIBITOR play-date drive at the fourth report, according to Mrs. Evelyn Wahlquist, head booker, who is keeping up the steam while office manager Frank Owen is in the hospital recovering from surgery. Exhibitors Service reported several drive-ins in the course of consti’uction. Robert Lee is building a new drive-in at Holeywald, Tenn., and 0. B. Clark expects to have one ready soon at Louis¬ ville, Miss. This booking office, incident¬ ally, moved to new quarters in the old ELC office at 502 South Second Street. Paramount — Visiting exhibitors in¬ cluded; Leon Roundtree, Walter Valley, Miss.; Joe Wofford, Eupora, Miss.; G. H. Goff, Parsons, Tenn., and W. T. Dowdy, Greenwood, Miss. 20th-Fox — In booking were: Zell Jaynes, Trumann, Ark.; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lane, Sofel, Ark.; Robert Bradley and Paul Schaffer, Marked Tree, Ark.; Douglas Pierce, Pocahontas, Ark.; Jeff Singleton, Marked Tree, Ark.; Dan Landers, Harrisburg, Ark.; Gordon Hutchins, Corning, Ark.; Mrs. C. D. Mc¬ Allister, Grand Junction, Tenn., and Grady Cook, Pontotoc, Miss. It is reported on Film Row that Malco Theatres has secured an interest in the Frayser Drive-In, which was built by Miss Amelia Ellis, who also owns house at Mason, Tenn. National Theatre Supply — Bob Bostick, vice-president in charge of the southern district, and his wife were on a trip to Dallas and Oklahoma. . . . C. C. Bach, general manager, reported Miss Mary Ann Cooper is his new stenog¬ rapher and Ralph Bell the new shipping clerk, 0. G. Wren, Crossett, Crossett, Ark., installed new concession equipment, and remodelled the lobby. The new Lincoln Drive-In, the first all-Negro outdoor in Memphis, will be ready in about 45 days. It is owned by Cook and Abernathy. New Orleans Appointment of Richard G. Drown, Jr., as sales representative of United Artists Television in New Orleans was announced. Abe Berenson, president. Gulf States Allied, expressed the opinion that he felt that his organization, as a regional unit of COMPO, would favor William F. Rodgers as the new president of COMPO. For the first time in New Orleans, two theatres simultaneously premiered a new film. The Tudor and the Globe, owned and operated by Slidell Theatres Cor¬ poration, had the unique premiere of “Mutiny.” In con.iunction with the thea¬ tres, The Item sponsored a letter-writing contest with the subject, “Why does the Red Cross deserve your support?” H. Solomon reopened the Columbia, Columbia, Miss. It was closed for more than two years. . . . The Hub Dnve-In, Foley, Ala., scheduled for reopening on March 22, was postponed due to the screen being blown down in a recent windstorm. Leland D. Harris reopened the H and H Drive-In, Newton, Miss. . . . Visiting were Bertrand Kiern, Happy Hour, and D. J. Glister, manager, Abalon, Algiers, La. Leo V. Seicshnaydre, Republic, checked in after a trip to Thibodaux, La., and Houma, La. . . . Emile Loustanan is the new addition in the Southeastern repair service department. Mike Cullen, Loew’s division manager, flew in from St. Louis. . . . Ralph Ketter¬ ing moved on to another assignment after skyrocketing the attendance of “The African Queen,” Loew’s. Kettering isn’t a stranger in New Orleans. Confabbing at Jo.v Theatres, Inc., headquarters were Edward Pearce, Joy, Arcadia, La., and Jack Pope, Joy, Rayville. La. . . .Joel Bluestone, formerly with Republic, now operating his own import and export business in the Inter¬ national Trade Mart, ankled over for a chat. Both drive-in and conventional theatre owner-operators are fighting daylight saving. Barney Woolner is named chair¬ man of the committee. Harold “Babe” Cohen, Lippert, left on an extended motor tour to Nashville, Tenn. . . . Lew Andrews, Hallmark Productions, Inc., returned after a trip. Reports were circulating that two other drive-ins in Mobile, Ala., were going to triple bills. W. A. Ripps and E. I. Fessler’s Do Drive-In have been showing triple bills. The Warren S. Henkle family took up residence here. He is field representative for Triple “AAA” company, Oklahoma City, manufacturer of Triple “AAA” root beer and fountain syrups. Frank B. Moore, owner of one of the town’s oldest photographic studios, rounded out his 82nd birthday on St. Patrick’s Day. . . . J. Sevin and E. T. Calongne, Bell, are eagerly waiting the green light from the New Orleans Zon¬ ing Board to start a parking area adjacent to the theatre. Simultaneously they will start remodeling the entire structure. The “Irish” Eugene H. and Eugene J. Lillis and “Frenchy” Milton Dureau, Masterpiece, along with kith and kin gathered at Lenfants to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Among exhibitors in town were; Paul Brunet, Dixie; J. A. Parker, Gordon and Gem, Westwego, La.; Mrs. Bertha Foster, Violet and Port Sulphur, La.; L. C. Montgomery, Joy; Larry and Barney Woolner, Airline Drive-In and Drive-In Movies; Bertrand Kiern, Happy Hour; E. M. Jones, manager, St. Bernard Drive-In; B. V. Sheffield, Sheff, Poplarville, Miss.; Ed Ortte, Cleremont Harbor, Miss.; C. H. “Preacher” Crossley, Ritz, Royal, and Starlite Drive-In, Laurel, Miss.; Reuben DeGruy, manager. Strand, Laurel, Miss.; Nerry Comeaux, Rex, St. Martinsville, La.; Claude Darcey, Opera House, Morgan City, La.; L. R. Mize,. Regina, Mize, Miss., and Melroy, Taylorsville, Miss.; F. G. Pratt, Jr., Vacherie, La.; Ann Molzon, Royal, Labadieville, La.; Harold Dacey, manager. Fun, Lockport, La., and Rex and Gayle, Raceland, La.; Roy Pfeiffer, Baton Rouge, La.; Jack Pope, Rayville, La.; D. J. Glister, manager, Abalon, Algiers, La.; Milton Guidry, Nona, Lafayette, La., and Yam DriveIn, Opelosas, La.; Frank Smith, Sr., and Jr., Grand, Grand Island, La.; E. V. Landaiche, Biloxi, Miss.; Mr. and Mrs. Vic Smolcich, Roxy, Biloxi; Frank Olah and son. Star, Albany, La., and Star, Jeanerette, La.; Edward Pearce, Joy, Arcadia, La.; Walter Hebert, Jr., Lee Mermentau, La.; John Williams, Lamar and State, Jackson, Miss., and Cecil Kelly, Plain Dealings, La., and Stamps, Ark. Frank Smith’s Grand, Grand Isle, La., has new lighting equipment. . . . C. H. “Preacher,” Crossley has taken over the ownership-operation of the Starlite Drive-In, Laurel, Miss., which was owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Adams and Mr. and Mrs. W. Pietry. Florida Jacksonville Maurice N. Wolf, field assistant to H. M. Richey, MGM exhibitor relations head, has 18 speaking engagements lined up between now and the middle of May. He opened his tour of a number of Florida towns by speaking before the Optimists Club, Tampa, the Optimists Club, Seminole Heights, Tampa, and the Rotary Club, St. Petersburg. His nine engagements in April started off with an appearance before the Kiwanis, Bradenton, and Rotary Club, Sarasota. His next appearance will be on April 9 when he will talk before the Exchange Club, Lakeland. On April 15, he is scheduled to appear before the Opti¬ mists, Miami Beach. On April 17, he will be in Miami for an appearance at the Optimists Club, and the following day he will speak before the Optimists Club, Fort Lauderdale. Talks before the Rotary Club in West Palm Beach on April 22; the Rotary, Sanford, on April 28, and the Lions Club, Deland, on April 29 will wind up the April engage¬ ments. Six engagements in May consist of appearances before the Kiwanis, Orlando, on May 2 ; Rotary, Daytona Beach, 5; University of Florida, Gainsville, 6; Meninak Club, here, 7, and the Kiwanis and Lions Clubs, 8. “Copper Is Scarce” North Carolina Asheville The Imperial was the site of a threeweek series of noontime Lenten services, sponsored by a coordinating committee representing various churches and organizations. April 2, 1952