The Exhibitor (1950)

EXHIBITOR NT-3 owner of theatres in Kentucky and West Virginia, died recently in Miami, Fla. The Lewisburg Theatre Company started work on its new drive-in in Lewisburg, Tenn., after a federal judge in Chattanooga, Tenn., denied the request of U. S. attorney for a preliminary in¬ junction. . . . Joseph F. Ford, Jr., 40, auditor, Waters Theatres, Birmingham, Ala., died while attempting to save his young son from a fire which destroyed his home. . . . Another death of a former Birmingham, Ala., theatre man was William F. Green, 29, manager of State, Knoxville, Tenn. He was the former assistant manager, Ritz and Pantages, Birmingham. Green died after a fall. Cliff Wilson, formerly with the Moody Theatres Circuit in South Geor¬ gia has been added to the booking de¬ partment of Martin and Thompson Theatres, Atlanta. Charlotte Theatres in North Carolina will co¬ operate with the State Motor Vehicles Department in a program to reduce highway fatalities by presenting a 20minute motion picture on teen-age di’ivers on their screens this summer. The picture, “The Last Date,” stars Joan Taylor, York, Bob Stern, Sally Hughes, and is presented by the Lumber¬ men’s Mutual Casualty Company of Philadelphia. A preview of the film was given at the Ambassador, Raleigh, N. C., for officials of the Motor Vehicles Department. Memphis The trade last week mourned the passing of Burris Smith, 36, Pocahontas, Ark., part owner, with his brother, Hen¬ ley Smith, of the Imperial and Skylark Drive-Ins. He is survived by his widow and two children. Memphians are very proud of a home town boy who has made good. He is Robert Fallon to Hollywood and Broad¬ way, but to Memphians he is Robert Friedman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ike Friedman, who will shortly step before the lens of a Hollywood camera for his film debut in “Tripoli.” He will also resume stage work in New York this fall. Columbia: Bert Craig, assistant ship¬ per, was on vacation, and Miss Elizabeth Rich, is the new inspectress. . . . Dorothy Grantham, who has had a serious bout with virus infection, was ill again. U-I: F. T. Murray, home office opera¬ tions, was visiting. . . . Two staff mem¬ bers were on vacation, Ilene Grohan, ledger clerk, and Gertrude Thomas, who had two weeks in Detroit. Paramount: L. W. McClintock, branch manager, salesmen Joe Young, Bob Kil¬ gore, and Tom Donahue, and bookeroffice manager Travis Carr, left for a Paramount convention at the studios in Los Angeles. 20th Century-Fox: Mrs. H. A. Fitch Erin, Tenn., and Mrs. J. C. Noble, were in. Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Taylor, Trumann, Ark., owners, Grand, returned from Columbia, Mo., where they attended the graduation of their daughter, Natalie, at Stephens College. Dave Flexer, Flexer Theatres, Inc., returned from an extensive trip to Europe, and announced that he will have two new drive-ins opened by July and August. One will be in West Memphis and one in Clarksdale, Miss. A final settlement has been made of all theatres owned by Paramount in partnership with Lightman-Richards in Mississippi and Arkansas. The deal in¬ volved some cash and four theatres in Mississippi and eight in Arkansas. M. A. Lightman, Sr., announced that terms give Paramount the Paramount Rich, West Point, Miss., and the Lyric and Strand, Tupelo, Miss. Richards-Lightman gained control of the Rialto and Strand, Hope, Ark.; Saenger, Malco, and Strand, Pine Bluff, Ark., and the Paramount, Pastime, and a new theatre under con¬ struction at Helena, Ark. Other theatres owned jointly by Malco and Paramount had been settled last year. New Orleans Atlantans visiting after taking in the Mississippi Theatre Owners Association convention in Biloxi, Miss., were John B. Dumestre, president, Southeastern Theatre Equipment Company, calling on W. H. Murphy, Jr., manager, and Ike Katz, Kay Film Exchange. No one on the row has the answer why activities have been practically at a standstill, the quietest week in 1950, with the exception of the week before Easter or Holy Week. Among the few spotted were: F. G. Pratt, Jr., Vacherie, La.; Sy Carrollo, Slidell, La.; Jack O’Quin, Kaplan, La.; Ann Molizon, Labadieville, La.; Max Connett, Newton, Miss.; Albert J. Rayford, Turkey Creek, La.; John B. Elzy, New Roads, La.; Neil Mixon, Amite, La.; Lefty Cheramie, manager, Rebstock, Golden Meadows, La.; and “Uncle Bob” Molizon, Norco, La. Joy N. Houck planed in from Shreve¬ port, La., to spend the week with local officials of Joy Theatres, Inc., for the final touches of Joy’s anniversary drive. . . . J. R. Stutzman, Lottie, La., is con¬ templating the erection of a theatre in Franklinton, La. . . . Bob Kelly, Dixie, spent a few days in Covington, La. Everett Stocker, booking representa¬ tive, “The Masked Texan,” back for a brief visit, said that he had booked him for early personal appearances at the Elroy, Franklinton, La.; Marion, Colum¬ bia, Miss.; Avenue, Tylertown, Miss.; Clarke, Natchez, Miss.; Mitchel DriveIn, Hammond, La.; Pontiac, Yazoo City, Miss., and Trace, Port Gibson, Miss. Bob Roberts was back for a breathing spell after three weeks in Louisiana and Mississippi with his hill billy troupe, “The Keno Ranch Boys.” Max Connett, Newton, Miss., on a visit said that he declined to be re¬ nominated for president, an office he held for years, and that T. E. Williams, Clarksdale, Miss., was elected. A. L. Royal, Meridian, Miss., was elected sec¬ retary, replacing E. W. Clinton. Jim Davis’ Houma Drive-In near Houma, La., is scheduled to open on June 15. . . . Bob Howl, Ballantyne rep¬ resentative, stopped to confer with R. L. Johnson, who also operates Johnson Theatre Service, 223 South Liberty Street. . . . The Algiers Drive-In, Al¬ giers, La., is being readied for a late June opening. The result of the Eagle Lion, Film Classics merger was the complete shut¬ down of Film Classics with Eagle Lion taking charge of all business on June 12, with George Pabst at the helm. Al¬ berta Schindler was named head cashier ; Colleen Gilmore, head biller, and John Greer, salesman. All were formerly with Film Classics. The remaining personnel of Eagle Lion stay. Colonel Bob Kelly, Dixie Films, Inc., is now grandpappy Kelly. His daughter, Mrs. Hamilton Chauvin, presented him with a grandson. . . . Waddy Jones is back at his desk at Joy Theatres, Inc., after an air spin visit of theatres in north and central Louisiana in connec¬ tion with the “Joy Anniversary Drive.” G. Y. Harrell, Jr., Manley, Inc., in¬ stead of attending the regional meetingin Memphis as originally planned, offi¬ cially was asked to attend the general meeting at the Phillips Hotel, Kansas City, which he said “was one of the largest and enthusiastic crowds ever gathered for their many conventions.” He added that Manly is going strongon extensive advertising trade paper campaigns. Harrell is all elated, eagerly awaiting the new popcorn machines. Tom McElroy, Shreveport, La., is the latest exhibitor to become circuit-minded. In the past few months, he has gone to five, all in Shreveport. To the long time operated Broaclmore and Glenwood he added the Rex, Centenary, and West End, which he purchased from Para¬ mount Gulf Theatres. John J. Ganacheau has been made office manager at United Artist. He recently left Film Classics, where he was employed as salesman. . . . Jake Lutz, southern district manager, Film Classics, now El Classics, was here on a brief visit with Milton Dureau, Film Classics, and George Pabst, Eagle Lion. He left for Memphis, St. Louis, and other regional offices. Mr. and Mrs. Harold “Babe” Cohen attended both the Allied Gulf States Theatre Owners Association frolic and Mississippi Theatre Owners convention in Biloxi, Miss. They continued their trip to Mobile, Ala., for a visit with their son, attending Spring Hill College. Alex Malliho will continue as salesman for Eagle Lion Classics. . . . Billie Bagley is the new “hello” girl at Joy Theatres, Inc. . . . Paul Ketchum, Uni¬ versal-International salesman, spent a weekend here. . . . J. Hargroder, Bev¬ erly Drive-In, Hattiesburg, Miss., is one June H, 1950