The Exhibitor (1953)

NT-2 EXHIBITOR formerly with Joy’s Booking Service Company and Pittman Theatres, Inc. . . . Mrs. Rene Brunet, Sr., stopped briefly on Film Row to exchange greetings. Richard 0. Schmidt, head, Army Book¬ ing Office, Atlanta, visited. . . . Biney Marcantel, manager, Pelican Drive-In, Jennings. La., and the missus were in from Welsh, La., to buy and book. Marcantel’s father, Joseph, is the owner of the ozoner. . . . Also buying and booking were Robert Molzon, Norco, La.; Ann Molzon, Labadieville La., Roy Pfeiffer, Istrouma, Baton Rouge, La.; Bernard Fonseca, Ashton, La.; Mickey Versen, C-Wall, Morgan City, La.; Milton Guidry, southwest Louisiana theatre owner, and Lefty Cheramie, Rebstock, Golden Meadows, La. Hap Barnes, sole owner, Rebel DriveIn, Baton Rouge, La., made his initial rounds accompanied by Spence Pierce, manager of his Knoxville, Tenn., drive-in, who will be around for a week or so to break in new manager Leonard Allen. Exhibitors calling were: Samuel Corte, Laurel; Mrs. Bertha Foster, Violet, Port Sulphur, La.; J. A. Parker, Westwego, La.; Sydney L. Whittington, Tivoli, Baton Rouge, La., and John Williams, Lamar and State, Jackson, Miss. Confined to their homes with the flu were Cy Bridges, MGM, and Joe Silvers, 20th-Fox booker. . . . Ted Malone, World Theatre Service representative, was minus his car for several hours. The police sergeant announced its theft, and the strange occupant must have listened to the radio in the car for it was in full blast when the policemen discovered the car a mile or so away from Film Row. Calling on Theatres Service were “Preacher” Crossley and Reuben DeGruuy, Laurel, Miss. . . . Making the rounds were E. Jenner, Ellisville, Miss.; W. B. Burrill, Clayton, La.; J. J. D’Antoni, Ann, Baton Rouge, La.; Frank Corbitt, Laurel, Miss.; Mayor Lew Langlois, New Roads, La., and E. O. Hicks, New, Ferriday, La. The Avenue was the scene again of noon devotional services during Lent, sponsored by the New Orleans Council of Churches. Loran E. Eleam, Color Laboratories, Inc., Portland, was in. “Limelight” was scheduled for reopen¬ ing at the Avenue for a two-week engage¬ ment, in spite of its withdrawal from the Orpheum after a request by the American Legion. Correction: The new Brad Drive-In under construction in Plaquemine, La., isn’t for J. Omer Hebert, as previously reported. William Cobb, associate theatre owner and president, Exhibitors Poster Exchange, and B. W. Stevens, Theatre Display Service, are the owners. The construction and landscaping is under the supervision of Stevens, while both had a hand in drawing up the design. Hap Barnes, head of conventional and drive-in theatres in the Atlanta territory, became the sole owner of the Rebel Drive-In, Baton Rouge, La., when he pur¬ chased Robert L. Long’s half interest. Frank Olah, Star, Albany, La., was in as were John Luster, W.W. Page Amuse¬ ment Company, Robeline, La.; Ernest Drake, Ponchatoula, La., and Vincent Smolcich, Roxy, Bilox, Miss. Ed Ortte turned over the buying and booking for his and Clint Vucovich’s Skychief, Pensacola, Fla., to Page Baker, Theatres Service Company. . . . City and suburban exhibitors making the rounds were: Paul Brunet, Dixie; Rene Brunet, Imperial; S. E. Mortimore and Lyle Shiel, Skyvue Drive-In, and Jacques Dicharry, Lincoln, and coowner with Mrs. Lazarus in the Circle and Carver. Florida Jacksonville Ben Newman, Ben Newman Associates, and Nelson Gunther, Banner Candy Com-* pany vice-president in charge of sales, both of New York City, were in. Newman is the national theatre representative for the Banner Company and the Dairy Maid Chocolate Company. The city’s most popular disc jockey, Speed Veal, WJHP, broadcast recordings from “The Stars Are Singing” in the Florida lobby in advance. ... In a similar stunt, Sheldon Mandell, St. Johns man¬ ager, had a juke organ under the mar¬ quee playing the music of “The Jazz Singer.” . . . Joe Taylor is subbing as manager, Hillsboro Drive-In, Tampa, Fla., during the illness of R. J. Thorsted. . . . Lex Benton and Bill Wallace, Benton Brothers Film Express, took off for a week’s fishing in waters of the Gulf Stream as guests of Iggy Carbonell, Key West, Fla., theatre owner. . . . Arvin Rothschild, general manager, National Theatre Enterprises, said that his com¬ pany’s new Negro drive-in, the Moncrief, is due to open soon. Local strikes of AFL craft unions slowed building operations. . . . Charlie T. Jordan, Warner branch office here, was conferring with W. 0. Williamson, Warner district manager from Atlanta. . . . Betty Roby and Rose Hilsord joined Metro as booking clerks, and Lou Compton has become a contract clerk in the same office. . . . Fred Hull, Metro branch manager, and Tommy Harper, his exploitation man, journeyed down the East Coast to Melbourne, Fla., where they visited the set of “The Big Leaguer,” Merto picture. They also went to Cypress Gardens, water skiing center, where Esther Williams’ new Metro pic¬ ture, “Easy To Love,” is being filmed. . . . Harry Botwick, Florida State Thea¬ tres executive, returned from a week’s trip. Out-of-town exhibitors seen here in¬ cluded George Painter, Fort Meade, Fla., and M. C. Moore, Lake Shore, Fla. Miami Universal-International’s “Seminole,” which had its world premiere at the Miami, launched a series of territorial openings. The Florida openings were followed by a gala premiere at the Weis, Savannah, launching a series of Georgia territorial saturation openings. In con¬ nection with the Savannah opening and other Georgia playdates, U-I used a group of eight Seminole Indians for advance promotional purposes. In town for the opening of “Come Back, Little Sheba,” Embassy and Roose¬ velt, were Leonard Allen, Paramount, Atlanta, and Edward Olsen, Paramount, Charlotte. . . . The Variety Children’s Hospital was to get the proceeds of the business done by the Yellow Cab which operates from the stand near the front of the Town during the run of “Taxi.” North Carolina Greensboro The local Carolina, and the Carolina, Winston-Salem, N. C., are installing equipment to permit the showing of 3-D films. Neill McGill, local manager, said the project there entails an expenditure of about $5,000. Urey K. Rice, manager, Winston-Salem house, says the showing of 3-D films there is expected to begin around the end of March or the first of April. Sanford Work will be started immediately on a new theatre to be known as the Wilrik', on Carthage Street, according to W. Banks, Wilkins, a stockholder in a newly, formed corporation, which also oper¬ ates the Temple. The building will be of brick construction and will have a seating capacity of about 500. Other incorporators of the new firm are L. P. Cox and W. M. Womble, Sanford. The firm has authorized capital of $100,000. Wr. and WU CMitor Let an Exhibitor Install and Service Your Air-Conditioning featuring the ALTON UNIT also specializing in BEVERAGE and DISPLAY BOXES • HOLDING ROOMS FREEZING ROOMS Write, Wire or Phone SMITH REFRIGERATION SALES AND INSTALLATION Phone: EDison 5074 Marrero, La. March 1953