The Exhibitor (1949)

THE EXHIBITOR NT5 At a recent meeting of Allied of Gulf States held at the Jung Hotel, New Orleans, seen in attendance were, standing: Frank Corbitt, Andrew W. Orkin, W.M. Sendy, Jack V. 0’ Quinn, Milton Guidry, Doyle Maynard, A1 Hodges, Locke Bolen, Abe Berenson, Nick Lamantia, W.L. Paternastro, and J.A. Parker, and seated, William Lighter, Jr., Maurice Artigues, William Prewitt, Don George, F.G. Pratt, Jr., and B. V. Sheffield. The session was voted a success. LAKE CHARLES W. L. Paternostro, owner. Delta and Palace is building another deluxe downtown theatre here. MARION B. J. Green, owner, Marion, plus theatres at Farmerville, La., and Huttig, Arj., is currently building a new drive-in at Monroe, La., in partnership with H. G. Prophit, Jr. They hope to open by June 15. NEWELL TON New RCA projectors were installed at the Hawkins, E. J. Hawkins, owner. NEW ROADS A new theatre, to be open within 60 days, is being built here by L. J. Lemoine. PORT ALLEN 0. J. Gaude, Magic, recently reseated his theatre, installing new RCA seats. RODESSA New RCA sound has been installed in the Palace, operated by James Watts. shrevepor:t MGM’ s regional celebration of its silver anniversary was observed here with screenings of “The Stratton Story” and “The Secret Garden” at the Glenwood, with Don George, owner, co-ho st. . . . The day’s program^was featured by a silver anniversary luncheon at the WashingtonYouree Hotel, presided over by George, when theatre owners from the surrounding territory, civic leaders, and members of the press and radio were guests. C. J. Briant, MCaV! branch manager, who brought the two prints of the films previewed from New Orleans, was the principal speaker. SICILY I SLAND Dr. R. V. Fairbanks, owner, Island, recently installed new RCA projectors and lamps in the booth of the Island. TULLA New RCA sound has been installed in the Princess. The house is owned and operated by Mrs. E. M. Wilder. VILLE PLATTE A new theatre, currently under construction, is due to open here within 60 days. The house will be operated by H. B. Gillory. Mississippi BROOKHAVEN The new drive-in now being built here by R. B. Walls is scheduled to open within the next 60 days. The Rex, operated by Roy Malta, has recently installed new RCA equipment in the projection booth. GULFPORT A new colored house, the Embassy, is being built here by Taylor Howard. LI BERTY A new theatre is currently being built here by Stanley Taylor. This new house will seat approximatiey 400 people, and is scheduled to open very shortly. LONG BEACH Anew indoor theatre is scheduled to open here within the next three weeks. This house is going to be operated by W. V. Lacey, and is to be named the Lobe. MC COMB Mrs. R. C. Renfro, widow of the late R. C. Renfro, has taken over the operation of the Ren Drive-In, and will continue operating it herself. MERI Dl AN A new drive-in is being built here by A. L. Royal, who also operates three local houses, in addition to several others around the territory. The new drive-in is scheduled to open within a few weeks. North Carolina BELMONT The Belmont Drive-In is being completely remodeled at a cost of $10,000. Clifford Faw, Charlotte, operator, says that the capacity is being increased from 280 to 400 automobiles, and individual speakers will be installed for the new parking areas. The screen also will be en¬ larged, and the present sound equip¬ ment will be improved. In addition. an aluminum fence will be built around the area, and shrubbery will be planted. GASTON I A J. N. Knowles, Capitol, certainly went to town with his front on “The Babe Ruth Story”. He had a reproduction in a beaver board 1 x 12 frame of a bat made in sign form, 30 feet wide and five feet high, with “The Babe Ruth Story” outlined at the top, and “with William Bendix’’ written on the fattest part of the bat. It attracted attention, and as Knowles said, “It cost $7, and I think I got $80 extra business out of it.” RALEIGH Forest Drive-In, located a mile north of the Raleigh, N. C. , city limits on U.S. Highway No. 1, with 500 individual in-car speakers, held its formal opening on April 13. Willard Croom, resident manager at Raleigh for Consolia Consolidated Theatres, Inc., said the $125,000 drive-in is one of the most up-todate in the state. Latest type Century projectors and RSC speakers are provided. Manager of the new drive-in is Harris Luther and J. R. “Jack” Yaw is projectionist. Con¬ solidated also operates the Wake and Colony, Raleigh. REI OSVILLE The Reidsville Amusement Company, (Continued on next page) At a recent plans meeting of the Georgia Theatre Owners and Operators, E. E. Whitaker, Georgia Theatres; Nat Williams, Thomasville, Ga. ; John Thompson, Family Drive-In, Gainesville, Ga. ; J. H. Thompson, president, TOOG and Martin and Thompson Theatres; Emory Austin, MC3W publicity; Jimmy Wilson, Wilson Enter¬ prises, and Charlie Moore, Wil-Kin Theatre Supply Company, Atlanta, were seen. May 4, 1949