The Exhibitor (1954)

NT-2 EXHIBITOR and Sunday movies have been shown in Draper since before the town was incorporated in 1949. The Grand and Colonial, Leaksville-Spray, have .just started Sunday showings. The Rocking¬ ham County Ministerial Association also expressed disapproval of commercialized amusements in the county on Sunday. The ministerial groups have pointed out, too, that although there is no state law prohibiting Sunday movies outside mu¬ nicipal limits, it is within the power of muncipalities to ban Sunday movies if they wish. CinemaScope equipment, screens, and stereophonic sound have just been installed at the Paramount and State, Burlington, N. C. Jacksonville Edward McLauglin, Columbia sales¬ man, returned from a road trip. . . . Paul Hargette, Columbia branch man¬ ager, and Bob Ingram, Atlanta office, went to Tampa and St. Petersburg, Fla., on business. . . . Ray Dunn, drive-in owner, Daytona Beach, Fla., visited. . . . In conference with Ed Chumley, Para¬ mount branch manager, was Oscar Morgan. . . . Big openings for “The Long, Long Trailer” in Miami, St., Petersburg, and Tampa, Fla., were reported by Bob Capps, Metro office manager. . . . Rudy Berger, Metro’s Washington office, was in. Florida State Theatres Notes — Mark DuPree, former manager, Daytona, Daytona Beach, won an advancement to a junior executive’s post in the home office. His place iin Daytona Beach was taken by French Harvey, formerly at the Howell, Palatka. . . . Robert Skaggs, young manager, suburban Capitol Thea¬ tre, was jumped to the management of the Florida, the city’s largest first-run. . . . Jim Frazier resigned as manager, Edgewood, in order to move to Miami, and his place was taken by Hal Stanton, former assistant manager, Florida. . . . Bob Corbit became manager, Empire, Daytona Beach, in place of Joe Gatrell, who went to the Colony, Winter Park. . . . Allen Armstrong, formerly of the Colony, went to the Howell, Palatka. . . . Charlie Holcombe, a manager trainee under city manager Robert Heekin, was promoted to manager, Capitol. The Motion Picture Council of Jackson¬ ville met at a luncheon meeting in the MGM’s field force in Charlotte recently held a “30th Sales Jubilee” meeting with John P. Byrne, captain of the campaign, and Rudy Berger, southern sales manager. Seen from left to right are, seated, Byrne, Berger, and R. L. Huffman, assistant branch manager; and, standing, Sal D’Auria, salesman; B. J. Ross, salesman; and C. L. Autry, salesman. Seminole Hotel with 1954 incoming president, Miss Irene Scanlon, presiding. Other >new officers .are Mrs. A. V. Sangster, first vice-president; Colonel John Crovo, manager, Arcade, second vicepresident; Dr. Julia Kline, treasurer; and Miss Magdalene Dallos, secretary. The council recently issued a protest to Mayor Haydn Burns over the exhibition of burlesque films at the Follies. The council’s efforts to change the policy of the Follies’ management was unsuccessful. H. Levine, industry veteran and booker from New Haven, visited many Florida friends and relatives while enjoying a vacation. Plans were revealed to equip the Edgewood, Murray Hill, Fla., with stereo¬ phonic sound and a CinemaScope screen. Memphis Russ Bovim, newly appointed southern district manager of Loew’s, was met here by John Murphy, New York. Bovim, who succeeds Michael J. Cullen, spent time getting acquainted with MGM Mem¬ phis branch manager Louis Ingram, Loew’s State manager Arthur Groom, and Loew’s Palace’s Cecil Vogel. Bob Kilgore, manager, Sunset DriveIn, West Memphis, Ark., booked the Memphis-banned “Wicked Woman” and “The French Line.” Although Mr. and Mrs. George Gaughan sold the Normal to John Eaton, he will continue to reside in Memphis. Gaughan has been executive secretary, Tennessee Theatre Owners Association, for the past 15 months. Prior to owning the Normal, he was office manager for Paramount. A native of Dallas, he was first in the business with the ParamountPublix organization and was with Para¬ mount about 13 years. Eaton, in the film business all his life, says a new policy of the Normal will be to present the first suburban engagements of as many films as possible. Larry Steele’s “Smart Affairs of 1954” opened a five-day run at the Beale Street Palace. Open house was held in front of Loew’s Palacein a trailer by starlets Perry Sheehan and Kathryn Reed to publicize “The Long, Long Trailer.” . . . Keenan Wynn and his new bride are due in for the world premiere of “Tennesee Champ,” Loew’s State. . . . The “Mighty Mite” of bowling, Dot Barker, Exhibi¬ tor’s Service Booking Agency, has done it again. She rolled a nine game total of 1703 the opening weekend of play at Health Center, and could well be the new champ. A 572 was posted in team play, then 546 in doubles, and then on with her singles to a tally of 585, a 189plus average. All Film Row is pulling for her to beat the 1953 champ. Visitors were G. H. Goff, Rustic, Par¬ sons, Tenn; Jack Watson, Palace, Tunica, Miss; J. D. Shepherd, Rex, DeValls Bluff, Ark; Mrs. Shannon DeGuire, Shan¬ non, Portageville, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. Glen Moser, Gay, Olive Branch, Miss.; John Crabtree, Merlu, Clarendon, Ark.; Paul Harrington, Calvert, Calvert City, Ky.; Mrs. J. C. Knoble, Temple, Leland, Miss.; Harry Shaw, Ritz, Selmer, Tenn.; Billy Ruffin, Jr., Ruffin Amusement Com¬ pany, Covington, Tenn.; Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Keller, Joiner, Joiner, Ark.; H. K. Jamison and H. K., Jr., Joy, Bald Knob, and Ken. McCrory, Ark.; Gene Higginbotham, Melodv, Leachville, Ark.; and Mart Monger, Mart, Calhoun City, Miss. Lloyd Miller, former film salesman of Columbia, was in. . . . Jimmy Augustine, Rialto, was catching up with his booking. . . . Richard Bryant, Strand Enter¬ prises, was also booking. Banning Binford called on police twice recently. At the Malco, he had two de¬ tectives to keep out the uninvited to a preview of “The French Line.” The second time, he made an effort to keep Associated Press photographer Gene Her¬ rick from snapping his picture at the Paramount screening room. Using the detectives at “The French Line” screen¬ ing was the first time in 20 years that Binford used police in connection with censoring pictures. Twenty years ago, they were used to keep the public out when he screened “The Kings of Kings.” Binford says the police and his list kept attendance down to about 30. Police Chief Ed Reeves said he did not know the officers were to check on persons enter MGM’s 30th anniversary meeting in Atlanta recently brought Jack Byrne, captain, “Jubilee Campaign,” in for a meeting with the branch. Russell Gaus, branch mana¬ ger, is seen seated at the desk, and from left to right are J. L. Stanton; Rudolph Berger, southern sales manager; L. B. Butler, salesman; Harris Wynn, salesman; Byrne; Grover Fuller, salesman; and Ed Bendler, salesman. February 2 It, 195 ^