The Exhibitor (1950)

NT-4 EXHIBITOR exhibitor who can proudly say, “Film Row was all mine.” He was the lone exhibitor to visit here when the frolic and convention were taking place in Biloxi, Miss. . . . Leo Seichsnaydre, manager, said that Republic is all set for the 15th annual anniversary drive for June, July, August, and September. It anticipates a lead from start to finish. , . . Mrs. Bernatte Labiche, Eagle Lion steno. booking department, was on a vacation. Arkansas Little Rock The Little Rock Censor Board has re¬ fused to ban “The Outlaw,” at several neighborhood theatres. The film has com¬ pleted a downtown run at the Arkansas, operated by the Arkansas Amusement Corporation. It has been shown in neigh¬ borhood theatres in some sections of the city within the past two years. Sponsors of the movement to ban the film said their purpose is to prevent its exhibition to children, who are among the princi¬ pal patrons of the neighborhood theatres. About half of the board members had seen the film during its first run. Since no member had seen the current version, in which objectionable features are sup¬ posed to have been removed, the board announced that no specific reason was presented for prohibition of the film in small theatres, and voted against the petition. The $8,000, 41-foot-high sign of the new Center, operated by the Arkansas Amusement Corporation, has been re¬ moved under a federal court order issued by Federal Judge T. C. Trimble. Florida Jacksonville The anti-trust suit of M. C. Moore, who formerly owned the Riverside, against Florida State Theatres and others, has been settled, it was an¬ nounced last fortnight. The action had asked $720,000 treble damages. Miami Wometeo’s Colonel Mitchell Wolfson and family will leave on June 23 for an extended vacation which will include visits to Europe, Israel, and Africa. . . . The Edward N. Claughtons were very interested in the June 5 commencement exercises at Duke University, where their son, Edward N., Jr., was pre¬ sented with a Bachelor of Arts degree. . . . Frances Williams is the latest of the artists to tenant the lounge of the Mayfair Art. . . . Two shorts filmed at University of Miami, with university talent, are due for release soon, “Road to Romance — Coral Gables” and “Sun¬ shine U”. Variety Children’s Hospital patients enjoy the latest equipment and methods of healing, and the Tent 33 members are promoting TV sets and other recrea¬ tional assets. Ed Claughton appealed to Walt Disney in Hollywood, and Disney is sending seven original drawings to be framed and circulated through the wards. Louisiana Shreveport The Don George Theatres Interests sold the Glenwood to the Harrison and McElroy Theatres Company, and the latter organization in turn sold the Venus to the George interests, according to announcement by Doyle Maynard, general manager George Theatres inter¬ ests and Thomas E. McElroy, general manager, H. and M. Theatres. The Don George interests own the Don, Lake and Venus in Shreveport, and The Davis, Bossier City, La., across Red River from Shreveport. The H. and M. Interests own and operate the Broadmoor, Centenary, Rex, West End, and Glenwood in the district. Mississippi Biloxi T. E. Williams was elected president, Mississippi Theatre Owners Association at a recent meeting. The 1951 convention will also be held here. Others named to office were: A. L. Royals, secretary-treas¬ urer, and R. B. Cox, J. S. Mayfield, and B. V. Sheffield, vice-presidents. The asso¬ ciation commended the film companies for coming through with good product, and making the slogan “Movies are better than ever” a true slogan, and urged Congressmen to eliminate the 20 per cent federal admissions tax. Max Connett, past president, said that busi¬ ness is so bad at present that about 20 per cent of the state’s theatres will be closed by 1951 unless something is done about it. “Federal and state taxes are killing us,” he stated. Brookhaven Construction is well underway on the remodeling and enlargement of the Haven, according to L. E. Downing, owner-manager. On completion the house will have a seating capacity of 850, ac¬ cording to report. North Carolina Burlington The Circle H Club, open to children between the ages of six and 14, has been formed by the Town, and is modeled after the Circle K Ranch originated by Norris Hadaway at the Carolina, Greensboro, N. C., which has grown to be one of the largest youth organizations in the city. Sponsored jointly by the City Recre¬ ation Commission and a sporting goods store, the organization has as its objec¬ tive providing wholesome and entertain¬ ing activities for the youngsters of the city. It will meet at the theatre each Saturday morning, and no dues are charged. Each time a member has a birthday, he will be given a free ride on the merry-go-round at the City Park by the Recreation Commission, a special gift by the sporting goods store, and a pass to the Town. The Club president, who is in charge of making the birthday awards, is given a year’s pass to the Town. Gastonia The State has launched a remodeling program which calls for the replacing Lew Herb Covers That Bainbridge Bow (Lew Herb, travelling representative of Exhibitor, continues with his report on his southern travels , still in Georgia. —Ed.) Continuing northward again in Geor¬ gia, we stopped in Smithville and Ellaville but in neither community could we a theatre, so our next stop proved to be in Butler, where the Dean is operated by H. H. Gee, a druggist, we learned from his son, La Roy Gee, whom we found at the theatre. The Gees have been operating the Dean for the past four years, with the son taking over active manage¬ ment. The house was originally built by a man who also built the local hotel, and both structures still bear his name. Young Gee had been helping his father operate the house, and although he is still a youngster, he has his feet on the ground. The next visit was in Thomaston, where we dropped in at the Ritz for a chat with J. P. Odom, who also operates the 5 Points and Harlem, the latter a colored house. The business was originally founded back in 1912 by W. A. Odom in the old Palace, and J. P. joined his brother in the business in 1917. Conditions here have not been as good during the past year as they were the year before. In the adjoining community, Silvertown, we dropped in at the theatre, and sat down for a chat with J. R. Roberts, who has been managing the Silvertown for C. E. Beach ever since it was built back in 1931. Beach has another theatre, a quonset-type house, which he opened some time ago at Fernandina, Fla., where he also resides. Roberts is an able exploiteer, and sells the theatre as well as his attractions to the public, which was evidenced by the capacity audience on hand. Further up Highway 19, we stopped briefly at the Starlite Drive-In, owned and operated by Otis E. Hudgins, whom we found in the concession department, located just at the entrance, which serves in a dual capacity as the ticket booth also. Hudgins opened this openair theatre in August, 1949, and reported business as satisfactory. He was closed for several months due to a fire which destroyed the projection booth, leveling it to the ground. Having tried to see P. J. Gaston at the Rex, Griffin, on our way down to Bainbridge, we hoped to see him on the way back, but arrived too late at night to stop. of the floors and ceiling, repainting of the walls, installation of new tile rest rooms, and the repainting of the foyer and marquee. When the seats are in¬ stalled again, the aisles will be on the sides instead of the center, as formerly. W. L. Parker, Charlotte, operates the theatre, and Charles Tucker is manager. June 1U, 1950