The Exhibitor (1953)

NT-2 EXHIBITOR Memphis The 41 Drive-In near Amory, Miss., owned by Mr. and Mrs. U. Walker, has been sold to John Carter, salesman for 20th-Fox. 20th-Fox — Johnny Gannon has taken over the spot of John Carter, sales¬ man, who became a drive-in owner. Cannon has been connected with U-I. . . . Visiting exhibitors included Gordon Hutchins, Corning, Ark.; U. Walker, 41 Drive-In; Mr. and Mrs. John Lowery, Russelville, Ark.; Clark Shivley, Clarksdale, Miss.; Mrs. Unice Mitchell, Dumas, Ark.; Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Heth, Bentonville, Ark.; Henry Smith, Pocahontas, Ark.; C. N. Eudy, Houston, Miss., and G. H. Goff, Parsons, Tenn. Bill Headstream, manager, Melba, Batesville, Ark., has been named chair¬ man, Heart Fund drive, Independence County, with a quota of $859. Jack Burton, manager, Grant, Sheridan, Ark., has been named chairman, Heart Fund drive, Grant County. New Orleans Ike Funderburk, Fox, Palace, and J-H Drive-In, Jonesboro, La., after partial recovery of pneumonia, had a relapse. His many friends wish him speedy con¬ valescence. . . . Grady-Payne Theatres which operated the Vicksburg, Miss., Drive-In for several years, has a drivein under construction in Stamps, Ark. . . . The temporarily closed Monte Sano, Baton Rouge, La., was slated for reopen¬ ing as the Ann. S. J. Campisi is the new owner. John D’Antoni, formerly with Pittman’s Theatres, will hold the reins, and J. G. Broggi will do the buying-book¬ ing. Exhibitors seen about were: Bill Lighter, Southeastern Theatres, Inc.; Ernest Drake, Ponchatoult, La.; C. H. Crossley, Laurel, Miss.; Ernest Delahaye, Maringuoin, La., and O. Gaude, Port Allen, La. . . . Earl Warner visited. . . . Pascal Caruso, National Theatre Supply salesman, was bedded with the flu. Mrs. Paul Shallcross returned to New Orleans from Temple, Tex., to be hospital Charlie Lewis, manager, Center, Dur¬ ham, N. C., recently presented the annual Center trophies to Louis Tepe, left, Duke University, and Buddy Bass, right, Durham High School, voted by their teammates as the most valuable members of the football teams last fall. Meet Your Neighbor New Orleans — Mrs. Henry Lazarus, pioneer exhibitor, who, by perseverance, prowess, and progressive showmanship, has attained the rank of executive head of a circuit of local theatres, is the only woman in the south to lay claim to such a position. Her debut in the business dates back to 1914 when she acquired the neighborhood Happyland. After four years, she sold it to United Theatres. After a three-year period, she rented the shuttered Trymore for $60 a month, and changed the name to the Crown, operat¬ ing it until 1925 when United Theatres added it. Meantime, her brother, Alex Schulman, joined her. Together, they started construction on a theatre which they proposed to operate as the Cos¬ mopolitan, but before the building was completed they again sold to United. In 1926 the dual team made ingress on Canal Street, and leased the Wonder¬ land. Henry Lazarus, who, up until then, was occupied in commercial enterprises, together with Mrs. Lazarus, purchased the Newcomb, a few doors away from the Wonderland, which was operating under the title of the Best, since the former owner of the Wonderland installed a theatre in the building next to New¬ comb, using his title, Wonderland. In 1929 ,the Lazarus-Schulman interests were mutually dissolved, Schulman obtaining the Best, the Lazarus family acquiring the Newcomb. Mr. and Mrs. Lazarus purchased the Wonderland, operating the two theatres until 1936, when they sold the Newcomb building to outside interests to be converted to mercantile business. They then remodeled the Wonderland, and rechristened it the Center, which still is in operation as a first-run situation. Meantime, Schulman sold the Best, and acquired the Coliseum, an uptown theatre. Mr. and Mrs. Lazarus purchased ized for surgery at Sara Mayo’s. . . . H. S. Ballam, Hodges service representative, stopped off between extended treks. . . . Nick Lamantia, owner-operator, Ritz, Bogalusa, La., is now associated with Joel Bluestone’s buying and booking ex¬ change. He will continue to operate his theatre. Bluestone said that he has in¬ augurated a plan of special services to be rendered. One department will give attention to purchase of concession and booth supplies and Sunday theatre re¬ quirements. Tom Claroix has taken over operations of the Isis, which he will operate ex¬ clusively for negro patronage. Bluestone and Lamantia will buy and book. RKO’s southeastern and southwestern division sales meeting was held with Charles Boasberg, general sales mana¬ ger, and Dave Prince, division sales man¬ ager, in charge. M. A. Connett, associate with Fred T. McLendon in the Algiers Drive-In, was here for the final arrangements of its sale to Sidney Otis, Warner salesman, who assumed operation of the ozoner the following day. A1 Boneno, booking department, Warners, replaced Otis. MRS. HENRY LAZARUS it in 1931, which through remodeling has become one of the finest. In 1938, the Lazaruses, along with Jacques Dicharry, formed the Jadel Theatre Corporation, and built the Circle in the northeast section. In 1940, both Lazarus and Schulman died. The latter was operating the Best and Casino. In 1941, Mrs. Lazarus took over the opera¬ tions of both theatres, and in conjunction with Schulman heirs operated the Best, which they renamed the Crown, as United had relinquished the title. Since the Casino was a rental proposition, the Schulman children weren’t interested in retaining the lease. Consequently, Mrs. Lazarus alone assumed the lease, and closed the theatre for repairs, reopening it as the Cinema. In 1950, Jadel Theatres, now headed by Mrs. Lazarus and Dichai-ry, built the new Carver exclusively for Negro patronat a cost of $260,000. After nigh 40 years of toil Mrs. Lazarus enjoys her accomplishments. Limiting her activities to an advisory capacity, she has turned over the physical operations to her son, Isadore, whom she has named general manager, and has placed the buying and booking in the hands of Maurice Joseph. Otis will do the buying and booking here¬ tofore handled by Sammy Wright. Sid Fuhrman, Madison, Madisonville, La., and the Lake, Mandeville, La., be¬ cause of the flu, curtailed his policy until further notice. He may prolong this policy during the Lenten season. Mr. and Mrs. Ray Watson, Baltimore, Md., were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Isadore Lazarus. . . . Joe Pentard opened his New Star, all-negro theatre, Lafayette, La. J. G. Broggi will do the buying and booking. Pentard has joined the band¬ wagon of Exhibitor readers. Locke Bolen, Jackson, Ala., back home after a short stay in Oschner Clinic, said “I am feeling all OK, but the doctors have all agreed that I should undergo surgery in the next month or before warm weather arrives.” Mrs. Clarence Thomasie, Harvey, La., said her husband is feeling better, but doctors say, rest and quiet are in order for several more weeks. . . . Bob Kelly, Jr., back from Camp Chaffee, Ark. . . . T. V. Garraway was in buying and booking for the Prentiss, Miss., thea¬ tres and the Pine Hill Drive-In, Pica Februanj 25, 1953