The Exhibitor (1950)

NT-2 EXHIBITOR , . . Another new drive-in is at Demopolis, Ala. Clyde Goodson, branch manager, Para¬ mount, who has been on the sick list for a few months, is improving. In Langdale, Ala., bowing to the re¬ quests of the ministers and citizens, Ed Thornton, owner, Joy Drive-In, stopped showings on Sunday. . . . Miss Christine Smith, Atlanta censor, passed the “Jackie Robinson Story.” A bill to control the location and type of drive-ins built in Tennessee will be brought before the next session of the legislature. . . . Georgia Crowder, for¬ merly with Eagle Lion, joined Columbia as cashier. . . . Lee J. Murphy, manager, State, Plant City, Fla., resigned to go to Vallejo, Calif., to join his family. Wayne Spiering, former manager, Lakeland, Fla., will take over the State. The best of luck goes to the Floyd Theati’es, Fort Meade, Fla., on the 10th birthday of the Fox. . . . Martin Theatres announced that it has taken over three drive-ins. They are in Fitzgerald, with Gene Raynor, former manager, Ritz, Tifton, Ga., as manager, the Forrest, Valdosta, Ga., with Hugh Watson as manager, and the Skyview, Douglas, Ga., with Jeff Christopher as manager. . . . James L. Beach, former manager, Winter Haven Drive-In, Winter Haven, Fla., has been appointed manager, Beach Drive-In, Jacksonville Beach., Fla. He succeeds John A. Futch, who will be manager, new Beach Drive-In, both owned by the same company. David Cheathman, attorney, Pulaski, Tenn., started work on his new 400-car drive-in. . . . The Mid-Tenn Amusement Company announced that work on the new 600-car drive-in, one mile from Lawrenceburg, Tenn., will start at once. This will make the fourth drive-in for this company. John L. Lawrence is gen¬ eral manager. Berlin Griffin broke grounds for the construction of his new 850-seat house, the Riviera, West Palm Beach., Fla. The entire project will cost around $150,000. The building will be leased to Herman Wall, Miami, Fla., and A1 Berger, New York. The Dunn boys, South Georgia, an¬ nounced that they appointed J. C. Camp, formerly of Tallahassee, Fla., as mana¬ ger, Cairo houses. . . . E. J. Hunter, Colquitt, Ga., announced that he has closed his Colquitt until the fall because of bad business. . . . A. L. Bishop, Bish¬ op’s Theatres, Georgia, announced plans for a new theatre in Richland, Ga., to cost around $50,000. Something new added to the Joyg Drive-In, Florence, Ala., by owner Dan ^iDavis is a 16-passenger streamlined miniature train. Lyman Hamrick, 52, owner, Hamrick, Gaffney, S. C., lost his life by drowning in Lake Summitt, near Hendersonville, N. C. He is survived by his wife, a son, and daughter. . . . New owner of the Maco, Gibsland, La., is H. A. Sibley, who will change the name to the Sibley. . . . Here is one of the arresting window displays promoted recently by Toby Al¬ len, manager, Lucas, Savannah, Ga., for RIvO’s “Cinderella.” It helped grosses. Martin Theatres, Columbus, Ga., opened the new 360-Melody Drive-In, Thomson, Ga. ... In Waycross, Ga., L. H. Hollo¬ way opened his drive-in on the Bruns¬ wick Highway for 300 cars. . . . O. C. Lam, president, Lam Amusement Com¬ pany, Rome, Ga., announced that plans for a 500-car drive-in on the Atlanta Highway near Newman, Ga., will start at once. . . . J. E. Martin, owner, Grand, Montezuma, Ga., opened his 390-car drive-in. . . . Ridgedale, Ga., will soon have a new 1000-seat theatre to be built by Dr. Vosgan A. Avakian, physician in Rossvill, Ga. Mrs. Alva Shook, manager, Boynton, Boynton, Fla., is enjoying her vacation, Jimmy Jurney acting as manager until her return. . . . Back to their desks at Columbia after a vacation were Ernest Pelgrim, booker, and Wilma Parks. . . . Off for a vacation from U-I were Nancy Prather, to Daytona Beach, Fla., and Nancy Hannah. . . . Back after a vaca¬ tion at Republic was Mrs. Nell Rabern, accounting department. After visiting the branch of UniversalInternatinal, F. T. Murray, head of branch operations, returned to the home office. . . . Jack Elwell, Dixie-Drive-In Theatres, checked in after a visit to Florida. Also back was Dusty Rhodes, general manager. In for a visit at the home office of Dixie-Drive-In Theatres was Horace Denning, Florida district manager. . . . Ed McClosky, Dania Drive-In, Dania, Fla., was in. Charlotte Lawrence Terrell, Paramount salesman in the Western Carolinas, has been transferred to a sales post in the Atlanta office. Joe Cutrell, former Paramount booker replaces Terrell on the road, and Tom McKim has been transferred to Charlotte from Washington to fill the vacancy in the booking department. Herb Schlessinger, former Warner head booker, resigned to enter the real estate business. . . . Robert Wolf, for¬ merly of the Warner booking staff, left to return to his home in New York. Employees of each Charlotte exchange have been asked to write their Senator urging the repeal of the 20 per cent federal amusement tax. First-run operators throughout the territory reported good business over the holiday, and drive-in owners rang up some hefty grosses. Charles Duncan has taken over the booking and buying for the Gaffney and Sky-Vu Drive-Ins, Gaffney, S. C., and the Tri-City Drive-In, Forest City, N. C. The massive tractor-trailer units of the Carolina Delivery Service Company, now bear the “Movies Are Better Than Ever” slogan, prominently lettered. Ken Klontz, Film Row projectionist, returned from the Shrine Convention in Los Angeles. He visited Paramount studios while on the coast. Memphis Film Row turned out to celebrate with Orris Collins the opening of his new drive-in, the Sunset, Paragould, Ark., and the opening of Nathan Flexer’s new drive-in at Johnsonville, Tenn. Columbia — Mrs. Genola Broadwell, bill clerk, was vacationing in Florida. Eagle Lion Classics — Miss Katherine Randale, office manager, was vacationing. Mr. and Mrs. J. Tom Robertson, and daughter, Lynn, Popper Supplies and Perless Printing, vacationed at Biloxi, Miss. Monarch Theatre Supply — N. B. Blount, manager, and salesman Neil Murphy, attended the opening of the Lew Herb, EXHIBITOR traveling representative, snapped the above photos during his recent tour of the southern territory, and pictured at left is Harry M. Curl, assistant general manager, Community Theatres, at his office in Birmingham, Ala., while at right, from left, are R. B. Dossett, Henry Hammond, and E. H. Andrews, in Monogram, Memphis. The first two operate the State Drive-In, Columbus, Miss. July 12, 1950