The Exhibitor (1954)

EXHIBITOR NT-3 ing the theatre, but thought they were invited to see the picture along with the censor board. Bill Crider, Associated Press staff writer, has been working for some time on a feature story on Binford and the board, whose ages average past 70. Crider says he has requested an in¬ terview with Binford without success and also had been denied requests that he pose for a picture, so, with Gene Herrick, AP photographer, he went to the Para¬ mount screening room to try to get a picture and Binford declined to pose. Paramount branch manager Nicholson asked them not to take a picture inside the building, not wanting to aggravate Binford, so they left and returned later to get a picture when he was leaving. Binford saw them and went back in the exchange and called the police. When they arrived, they called in the photog¬ raphers. While waiting for the police to arrive, Binford stood facing the wall about 30 minutes. Police advised that pictures couldn't be taken on private property. The reporters went out on the sidewalk and got Binford’s picture sitting in his car with his chaffeur, but Binford insisted his picture was not taken. How¬ ever, Beverly Young, Memphis Associ¬ ated Press Bureau manager, said the picture was made and the picture and negative sent to New York with Crider’s story for future release. New Orleans John Harvey, Nabor, Oberlin, La., said, “Theatre business in Elizabeth, Oakdale, Kinder, Oberlin, Glenmora, and many other towns in the vicinity of Elizabeth is on the upbeat since the mill strike is practically settled, and tranquil¬ ity prevails again as a large percentage of the mill’s employees, many of them from the neighboring towns, are back to work again. Elizabeth town folks are particularly happy that they have a theatre to go to again. Orchids goto T. M. Miller, the owner who endured the brunt, always hopeful and on constant look¬ out for brighter skies.” Don Kay revealed that he and Bernard and Larry Woolner are having the final touches of a burlesque movie done in Hollywood. A portion of the picture was filmed in New Orleans. Mrs. Carrie Keen, MPA; Mrs. Vivian Marlborough, MPA; Evelyn McNulty, U-I, and Ethel Sindt, Paramount, are the newest members of WOMPI. Alex Rosenthal, Alexandria, La., was enthralled over the appointment of mutual friend Edwin P. Hunter, Jr., as United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana. Mrs. Ruth Bohne, secretary to J. T. Howell, in charge of buying and booking at Paramount Gulf, spent a weekend in Dallas. An expression of gratitude goes to Joy N. Houck for the extended overall circuit managers plus home office personnel sub¬ scriptions to Exhibitor. Exhibitors visiting and booking were E. V. Landaiche, Beach Drive-In, and Buck, Biloxi, Miss.; J. E. Hamilton, Pinehill Drive-In, Picayune, Miss.; General Melvin Haas, Marine Corps, retired, in Washington recently presented Colonel Mitchell Wolfson, Miami, Fla., with the award of merit from the Presi¬ dent’s Committee To Employ The Physi¬ cally Handicapped. The presentation was made at the board meeting of the Thea¬ tre Owners of America at the Mayflower Hotel. Ernest Delahaye, Gwen, Maringouin, La.; and 0. Gaude, Magic, Port Allen, La. John Bethea, formerly with Teddy Solomon Theatres and now representing the Berio Vending Company, Philadel¬ phia, was a caller. . . . Manley distinct manager John F. Saunders and the missus were here from Memphis on a combined pleasure and business trip. They were the house guests of Mr. and Mrs. George Y. Harrell. . . . S. L. Graham, Morgan, and Wally Hicks, Leaksville and Lucedale, Miss., exhibitors, visited with buyer booker J. G. Broggi. . . . Pascal Caruso, NTS counter clerk, was in after illness. . . . Benton Roy, Roy, Man sura, La. was in as were Ira Olroyd, Teche, Franklin, La., and John Luster W. W. Page Amusement Company, Robeline, La. . . . Thanks to Herb Hargroder for the renewal to Exhibitor. . . . Locke Bolen, here on a couple day buying and bookingtrek, said he was feeling fit as a fiddle again after following out doctor’s orders for many months. He was accompanied by brother. . . . Mayor Lew Langlois, Alamo, New Roads, La., and John Schaffer were jubilantly engaged in a “recalling” session at Schaffer’s head¬ quarters, inviting the “droppers-in” to join them. . . . Sidney Harp made the round of equipment and supply stores after calling o.n his buying and bookingagency, Theatre Service, in the interest Curtis Mays, manager, Roxy, Atlanta, recently had this special front on War¬ ners’ “Public Enemy” and “Little Caesar.” of Grand, Donaldsonville, La., and the Giand and Baby Grand, Thibodaux, La. Merlin E. Jacobs, Jr., has taken over the managerial reins at the Panorama. He hails from Dallas, replacing T. E. Willis, who returned to Shreveport, La. UA’s trade showings were “Dragon’s Gold,” “Overland Pacific,” and “Personal Affair.” . . . Among the early drive-in reopenings are Neil H. Mixon’s Mixon, Amite, La., scheduled for Feb. 27, and Len Stevens’ Legion, Coushatta, La., on Feb. 28. Dan M. Brandon, general manager, Transway, Inc., announced that the com¬ pany’s annual party for exchange ship¬ ping clerks and Transway’s traffic personnel will be staged in the Stein Room of the Jackson Brewing Company on May 14 from 8 to 11 p.m. The bill of fare will feature boiled shrimps and all its trimmings. “Needless to say,” said Brandon, “we hope all the shippers can join us in what should turn out to be a very enjoyable affair.” Leon John¬ son, manager, Transway’s Film Rowdepot, is in charge. At Republic, Mrs. Barbara Palermo has been promoted from 16mm. booker to 35 mm. booker. Mrs. Jackie Ames, a newcomer, has taken over the po^c vacated by Mrs. Palermo. . . . Earl Perry, Pittman Theatres general man¬ ager, advised that the Rex, Baton Rouge, La., is being equipped for CinemaScope presentations and that the installations of the new equipment techniques in the Pitt, Lake Charles, La., should be com¬ pleted soon. The WOMPI first social affair of the year was a game carnival held at the New Orleans Athletic Club. Tables were arranged for canasta, samba, bridge, poker, gin rummy, and “Bingo.” Calling on buying and booking repre¬ sentatives were L. E. “Jack” Downing, who confabbed with Sammy W right, Southern Theatres Service, and H. H. Hargroder, who checked bookings with J. G. Broggi, Exhibitor Service. . . . Mrs. Clara Cote, Paramount-Gulf’s “Hello Girl,” was confined due to illness. A six and a half-pound baby girl arrived at the home of Shirley and Tommy Egan on Feb. 5. She was named Sherry Ann. Mama was formerly with Joy’s Theatres, Inc. . . . Ike Katz, Kay president, returned to Atlanta after a stay at the exchange. . . . Ed Ortte, Cleremont Harbor, Miss., made the rounds in the interest of his Legion and Gulf, Gulfport, Miss., and Hiway DriveIn, Bay St. Louis, Miss. . . . John Lawson is the new city manager, Pittman’s Baton Rouge, La., theatres, with head¬ quarters at the Rex, and Edward Patton is the new house manager at the Dalton. MGM starlets Kathryn Reed and Perry Sheehan, on tour for “The Long, LongTrailer,” were in. With them was MGM’s Leonard Hirsch. . . . The “three muske¬ teers,” William Sendy, Patio; E. W. Ansardi, Burras, La.; and S. J. Guli.no, Kenner, Kenner, La., were about as usual. February 24, 1954