The Exhibitor (May-Aug 1948)

THE EXHIBITOR NT-3 Arkansas EL DORADO Manager Clark, owner, Majestic, announced that the house had closed for remodeling, new seats, decor, and refrigeration. FT. SMITH The 22-Drive-In, owned by J. H. Wisdon, reopened. LITTLE ROCK A new 600-seater was scheduled to open between here and Hot Springs, Ark. A Quonset type house, it is owned by Floyd Peete, and is called the Garland. TUCKERMAN Carl Christian, owner, Garden and Cozy, announced that the Garden would reopen immediately, while the Cozy would reopen in about six weeks. Florida CLEW I STON Mrs. Mary Hayes Davis, 64, former editor, Hendry County News, and opera¬ tor of theatres in southwest Florida, died at her home. At one time, she had houses in LaBelle, Naples, Venice, Moore Haven, Pompano, Clewiston, and Fort Myers Beach. FORT PIERCE Talgar Theatres announced it would begin construction of a 400-car drivein. Ml AMI Herman Silverman, Wometco Theatres, returned after a visit throughout the south. Warners announced the world premiere engagement of “Key Largo”, for July 15, day-and-date at the Paramount and Beach. Following the premiere, the feature opens simultaneously at 14 other theatres in that area, including Jacksonville, Tampa, Daytona Beach, Orlando, etc. SAFETY HARBOR A. J. LaVay has taken over the Harbor from N. Leventhal. He was formerly in the navy. Georgia ASHBURN Among those attending the opening of Luckie Stein’ s new 600-seat the¬ atre, the Turner, were Charlie Durmeyer, Southern Automatic Candy Com¬ pany; Harold Spears, Bailey’ s Theatres, Atlanta; Carl Floyd, Stein and Floyd Theatres, and jack Dumestre. MACON 'Mom and Dad” played the Bibb, Leslie Swaebe, manager, with the en¬ dorsement of the president of the local ministerial association, the rabbi of the local congregation, superintendent of the public school, radio station, newspaper, police de¬ partment, and city officials. PINEVI EW J. E. Marshburn has been named mana¬ ger, Pine. ROME WRGA, Georgia’ s pioneer radio sta¬ tion, recently went on 5,000 watts, with elaborate civic ceremonies at the DeSoto. Mississippi AMORY Flexer Theatres, Inc. , closed the Strand, with the house to remain dark until further notice. North Carolina BELMONT Faw Brothers will soon open a new drive-in. CHAPEL HILL E. Carrington Smith was installed as a director of the North Carolina Merchants Association at its annual' meeting at Asheville, N.C. CONCORD The Carolina Drive-In recently opened. GREENSBORO Clyde Wootten was the subject of the daily feature “The Other Fellow’s Job”, which appeared in The Record. He told about the work of a theatre manager. WINSTON-SALEM P. G McGee, owner, announced ex¬ tensive improvements in the equipment of the Winston-Salem Drive-In, at the intersection of Patterson Avenue and Cherry Street Extension, which he said upon completion will increase the total investment in the theatre to $40,000. It opened on Oct. 4 and the installation of 300 individual automobile speakers and a “moonlight” lighting system has just been com¬ pleted. McGee said a temporary stage will be completed soon. South Carolina LI BERTY A new drive in will open here about June 15. Owners are Henry Staley, W. P. Holder, and T.C. Holder. DAI SY Mrs. W.W. Hale sold her Walden to G.L. Dalton. (Continued on next page) TRAVELLING AROUND WITH LEW HERB (Lew Herb, traveling representative of THE EXHIBITOR, continues with his leisurely tour through the southern ar ea. Ed. ) Continuing our tour of Georgia, we dropped in at the Capitol, Macon, and visited Herman Hatton, city manager, Georgia Theatres Company. He is an¬ other of the men who came up the hard way, through the ranks. A native of Macon, he got his start here with the organization about a dozen years ago. He has been city manager ever since his return from the service about two years ago. His du Lew Herb ties as city manager include participation in local civic affairs, and as such he is a member of the Exchange Club, as well as other business organizations. It so happened we dropped in to see him the very day the Exchange Club got together at a weekly luncheon, so, at his request, we accompanied him, and partook of a very tasty meal, prepared by several ladies. The meal was very enjoyable, but we were more impressed by the scope of the club. After returning to the Capitol again, we met Lamar Swift, district manager, Georgia Theatres Company, who makes the Capitol his headquarters Swift, too, has been with the organi¬ zation for quite some time, and has also come up through the ranks. During his term of service, he has had sev¬ eral years in Waycross as city mana¬ ger, after which he moved to Macon, where he first started, and took over the district, which goes as far south as Waycross, and as far east as Brunswick. His duties necessarily require him to be on the road a good deal, but he makes his home in Macon. The Capitol, although not the “A” house in Macon, operates on a semi-first-run policy, and is one of the bigger houses in the city. This house is under the personal supervision of Sam Pierce, an able young man, who has held this post since returning from the service. At the Grand, we encountered Harold Norris, whose duties as manager of this theatre also include that of being ad-man for the circuit in Macon. He also has worked his way up through the ranks. While in the Grand, we went into the projection booth to see J.0. Morgan, business agent. Local 507, but were advised that he has been ill for the past several months, and would not be back on the job for several weeks. Our next call was at the Rialto, where we met a personable young chap by r.he name of Grady Cofer. Grady is a native of Macon, and worked at practically all the theatres in the city before assuming the managership of the Rialto. This house has recently teen completely remodeled. June 2, 1948