The Exhibitor (1954)

NT-4 EXHIBITOR W. Bass, Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Bostick, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel M. Brandon, Mr. and Mrs. M. H. Brandon, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Cobb, Mr. and Mrs. N. J. Colquhoun, Nordyce J. Kaiser, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Kohn, Jack Moore, Mr. and Mrs. Alton Sims, T. C. Solomon, Don Stafford, and Mr. and Mrs. Edwin W. Sonz. New Orleans Rumors that the ground area occupied by the Crescent Drive-In on Airline Highway had been sold to outside busi¬ ness interests were quelled upon the return of manager Paul Schaffer from Memphis. Schaffer said, “A purchase offer was made by one of New Orleaxis leading department stores, which owners M. T. Lightman and associates* rejected. Instead, they have plans underway to enlarge it, adding 200 more car speakers and a combined auditorium and conces¬ sion building. Work on levelling the added ground area and laying shells is already in progress.” Among the exhibitors seen were I. Funderburk, Fox, Palace, and J-H Drive-In, Jonesboro, La., and Strand, Cotton Valley, La., accompanied by J. D. Tinsley, associate in the drive-in; Charles Phillips, Delta Theatres, Jonesville, La.; and Mickey Versen, C-Wall, Morgan City, La. Maurice E. Barr, secretary in charge of advertising, publicity, and public relations, Paramount-Gulf Theatres, on behalf of the industry, called on Senator Russell Long in Washington, D. C., a member of the Senate Finance Com¬ mittee, to seek support in the move to end the tax on tickets up to 50 cents. Here buying and booking were William Butterleld, Lake Drive-In, Pascagoula, Miss.; Frank De Graauw, F and R Enterprises, Abbeville, La.; W. E. Limmroth, Giddens and Rester Theatres, Mobile, Ala.; and Tom Watson, Sr., Varsity and Lyric, Ellisville, Miss. Mr. and Mrs. Harold “Babe” Cohen completed arrangements for a trip to Chicago and the Lippert convention. . . . Exhibitors in buying and booking were H. B. Millet, Moonlite Drive-In, West Long Beach, Miss.; John Luster, W. W. Page Amusement Company, Robeline, La.; A. L. Royal and his assistant, Hank Jackson, Meridian, Miss.; and Joseph Barcelona, Regina, Baton Rouge, La. Tom Mix bade farewell to take up his abode with his aunt in Fort Worth, Tex. A. L. Morgan, Fred T. McLendon Theatres, advised Transway that opera¬ tions at the Starvue Drive-In, McKenzie, Ala., and the Hub Drive-In, Monroe¬ ville, Ala., will be resumed on April 2. Elaine and Bill Bump, daughter and son-in-law of Catherine Bonneval, secretary to Abe Berenson, prexy, Allied Theatre Owners of Gulf States, pulled a surprise visit. Mr. and Mrs. Lee Fung, Amusu, New Iberia, La., were in, also Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Berenson, Bogalusa, La., ownersoperators, State and Redwood. Mrs. Bertha Foster’s Port Sulphur, La., theatre was Alton Unit air-con¬ ditioned. Frank Smith, Smith Refrigera¬ tion Sales and Installations, Marrero, La., handled the job. Don Kay returned from Hollywood where he checked on a new feature which he and Woolner Bros, have in production. The trade title of the pro¬ ducing company will be known as the Rebel. Milton and Mamie Dureau, Master¬ piece, are among those at the Variety Club’s International Convention in Dallas. Shedrick Cross resumed work at Man¬ ley’s after absence due to illness and an operation. . . . Bill Cobb was back from Minden, La., where he attended the town’s premiere of CinemaScope with “The Robe” at his and associate Mrs. Ruth Cheshire’s Joy. He said that it broke all house records. Larry Dufour, who opened a buying and booking exchange, reports that he has taken over the buying and booking for Mrs. H. A. Everett’s 49 Drive-In and Magee, Magee, Miss.; Allen W. Vowell’s Lakeview Drive-In and Liberty, Taylorville, Miss.; and J. E. Adam’s East Forrest Drive-In, Petal, Miss. Ross McCausland, former manager, Orpheum, was in in the interest of his new connections, NCA-TV Limited television film sales department. George H. Goodwin reopened the Swan, Bastrop, La. The theatre will be open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. . . . J. L. Dugan shuttered the Fox, Shuqualak, Miss. . . . Booker Lonnie Davis, Pike Booking Company, McComb, Miss., affiliate of N. Solomon Theatres, was in. H. Paul Shallci’oss, southern repre¬ sentative, American Desk Manufacturing Company, Temple, Tex., was in. . . . Manager George Y. Harrell, Jr., Manley, Inc., was back from Atlanta. Seen about were J. A. Parker, Gordon, Westwego, La.; Clarence Thomasie, Gay, Harvey, La.; Rene Brunet, Imperial; D. J. Olister, manager, Do Drive-In; Samuel Corte, Laurel; and Larry and Barney Woolner, Airline Drive-In and Drive-In Movies. Leo V. Seicshnaydre, manager, Re¬ public, was in the territory. . . . Calling on buyer and booker J. G. Broggi were Harold Illings, Jr., Illings Ocean Springs, Miss., and Wallace Turner, Citronelle Drive-In, Citronelle, Ala. Among the distaff exhibitor callers were Mrs. H. A. Everett, Magee, Miss.; Anna Molzon, Royal, Labadieville, La.; Mrs. Ann Guzzardo, Liberty, Indepen¬ dence, La.; and Mrs. Bertha Foster, Violet, La. The Pines Drive-In, Homer, La., and 82 Drive-In, Stamps, Ark., reopened. Both are Grade-Payne theatres. H. B. Millet reopened the Moonlite Drive-In, West Long Beach, Miss. Attending a luncheon staged for him by UA officials, Lazar Wechsler, the Swiss movie producer, gave a synopsis of “Heidi.” Guests attending were press, radio, and theatre officials. Ernest D’Amores wrote that March 17 would have marked the 60th birthday of his late spouse, Sisley Janet, who passed away suddenly. Besides the wid¬ ower, the immediate survivors are a so,n and three daughters. Mrs. D’Amores for many years assisted her husband in the management of the Joy, Churchpoint, La. Robert Bixler, field representative, Paramount, was here from Dallas to boost Paramount’s Pageant. Invitations via mail went to all independent exhibi¬ tors, circuit operators, and film buyers for the all day screening at Brunet’s Imperial on April 1. The program will highlight “Elephant Walk,” “About Mrs. Leslie,” and “Knock On Wood.” Exhibitors visiting and booking were C. C. Meyers and Henry Fayard, Meyers, Biloxi, Miss.; Bertrand Kiern, Happy Hour; Frank Smith, Grand, Grand Isle, La,; E. R. Sellers, Opelousas, La.; C. M. Jones, manager, St. Bernard Drive-In; Lyall Shiell, S. E. Mortimore, and Frank Olah, Skyvue; F. G. Prat, Jr., and Harold Dacey, Prat Aucoin Theatres; J. P. Guitreau, Gonzales Drive-In; Frank and Robert deGraauw, F and R Enterprises, Abbeville, La.; and Mr. and Mrs. William Lighter, Beach Hurst, Pass Christian, Miss. Lew Andrews stopped over a few days to confer with Don Kay on his way to Florida from Indianapolis, where he has been confined to hospital and home since Jan. 15, due to an automobile collision. Andrews represents Kay enterprises in this area. Owner Douglas has taken over the Roxy and has converted it to an allNegro theatre. Florida Miami The Dade had Jay Clark, mentalist, as a stage feature. . . . Jack Fink, Park, Tampa, Fla., was in. . . . Herb Pickman and J. D. Woodard, Warners, were in working with Bill Dock, Florida State Theatres publicist, on the world premiere of “Lucky Me.” . . . Open house at the Variety Children’s Hospital was scheduled to dedicate the new nurses home. . . . Wometco Circuit managers were invited to “Cut themselves a piece of prize” by way of teaser heralds notifying them of the third annual showmanship contest running from April 4 — May 29. The contest will award $2,390 in prizes. . . . Opening of “Beachhead” at the Park, Tampa, Fla., was heralded by a short parade, a concert in front of the theatre by the University of Tampa band, a display by the marines from Drew Field, and exhibits of captured Japanese weapons. A color guard and also special marine platoons were detailed to help put over the picture. In use were 24 recruiting boards. March 24, 1954