The Exhibitor (1950)

EXHIBITOR NT-3 new Skyvue Drive-In, owned by Fred Brown, Ft. Smith, Ark. It is equipped with RCA. John Jenkins, Astor, Dallas, was readying the former Film Classics’ quarters for opening a Memphis branch, with Eugene Boggs as manager. Paramount — Bob Kilgore was in¬ volved in a bad accident on the high¬ way, but escaped with minor injuries. . . . Whyte Bedford, Hamilton, Ala., was in. Tri-States Theatre Supply — Mr. and Mrs. George Williams, he is the owner, vacationed in Mexico City. 20th Century-Fox — Geneva White, formerly with Eagle Lion, joined the office force. . . . Mrs. Grace Long, in¬ spectress, and Granece Hamby were va¬ cationing. . . . Visiting were Moses Sliman, William Elias, Osceola, Ark.; Wake Newsum, Marmuduke, Ark.; Amelis Ellis, Mason, Tenn., and Louise Mask, Bolivar, Tenn. Seen on the Row: C. D. McAllis, Grand Junction, Tenn.; Herod Jamison, North Little Rock, Ark.; C. R. Grey, Prescott, Ark.; Jack Watson, Tunica, Miss.; C. V. Jones, Dallas; Lew Andrews, Cotter, Ark.; J. D. Shepherd, Jonesboro, Tenn.; Ned Greene, Mayfield, Ky.; Gene Higginbotham, Leachville, Ark.; C. T. Willis, Munford, Tenn., and Gordon Hutchins, Corning, Ark. New Orleans Bill Butz, Stevens, and family have taken up their abode in Dallas. Butz placed Ed Constantine, former salesman, at the helm so that he can give all his time to sales promotion for both Dallas and New Orleans. Ida Klaus, chief booker, Paramount, Gulf Theatres, took in the sights of Seattle on her vacation. . . . The vaca¬ tion of Paramount Gulf Theatres’ secretary, Ruth Bohne, was a state of sorrow. Starting her vacation, she was told that her grandmother, Mrs. Georgiana Dantin, had disappeared. The following day, she was found dead in a pool of tar in an empty lot 15 to 20 miles away from her home. Miss Bohne accompanied the remains for burial in Alexandria, La., for many years the home of the deceased. The Tates, father and son, owners of theatres in Lawtell and Washington, La., were in buying and booking. Bill 967, to abolish the two percent film rental tax, was on the governor’s desk for his signature. It passed the House 57 to 17, and the Senate voted on it unanimously. Members of Allied Theatre Owners of Gulf States, Inc., who sponsored the measure, were jubilant, and were hoping that Governor Earl K. Long would attach his John Henry. Robert Kelly, manager, Dixie, is out hustling to secure play dates for the “Bob Kelly Drive,” which his bosses, Jenkins and Bourgeois, Dallas, inaugurated for June, July and August. Kelly recently purchased a new gas buggy. Memphis, and enroute here called on exhibitors along the line. The colonel is seldom at his desk as he has joined the motorcade of salesmen, at least until the drive is over. Exhibitors in buying and booking were: Neil Robinson and the missus, Crestview, Fla.; Mr. and Mrs. Claude Darce, accompanied by Mrs. Darce’s mother, Morgan City, La.; L. E. Down¬ ing, Haven, Brookhaven, Miss.; J. Hargroder, Beverly Drive-In, Hattiesburg, Miss.; Colonel Bob Molizon, owner of theatres in Norco, Labadieville, and Paincourtville, La.; Mr. and Mrs. Paternostre, Palace, Lake Charles, La.; Ken¬ neth Giddens and Raleigh Sharrock, Mobile, Ala.; Edward Jenner Drive-In, Laurel, Miss.; R. E. Almond, Merrysville, La.; Jack O’Quinn, Kaplan, La.; Felix Touchard, Des AJemandes, La.; Max Connett, Newton, Miss.; W. M. Sendy, Patio, Airline Highway, La.; F. G. Pratt, Vacherie, La.; Arthur, Lehman, Jackson, Miss.; Charles Waterall, Mobile, Ala.; Charles Levy, Ritz, Hammond, La.; A. J. Broussard, Trail Drive-In, Crowley, La.; Lew Langlois, Alamo, New Roads, La.; Don George, owner and general manager Doyle Maynard, Don Circuit, Shreveport, La.; Tracy Barnett, DeKalb, Miss., and Ed Delaney, Magnolia, Miss. Second week winners in Joy’s anni¬ versary drive were, Mrs. Esther Isack, manager Joy Drive-In, Texarkana, Tex.; Jack Pope, concessionaire, and Cecil Howard, booker. Lippert — Paul Davis, special repre¬ sentative, checked in for a breathing spell after an extensive trek. . . . Red Meyers, salesman, was back on the road. Southeastern Theatre Equipment — Raymond Gremillion, service department, was on an inspection tour in Crestview, Fla., Shalamer, Fla., and Mobile and Crichton, Ala. The Leroy, Franklinton, La., changed hands and name. Roy Saxton, former owner, sold it to M. J. Welsh, who renamed it the Welsh. The Page Amusement Company, Robe¬ line, La., is adding another to its list of theatres, a new one under construction in Coushatta, La. Bill Page, owner, announced that his son-in-law, John Luster, replaced C. E. Cooper as buyerbooker. Dotty Gadpille, contract clerk, MGM, was vacationing. . . . C. A. Castlereigh, advance and contract man, Bob and Sally Attractions, occupied his time be¬ tween dates visiting with friends. . . . Mrs. A. J. Ballenger, former manager, Film Row’s Western Union, who is now on the retirement list, will devote her time to domestic duties. Miss Florence Duvernay is the new manager. Drive-Ins opened recently include the Colonial, between Thibodaux and Shrever, La. Owner F. G. Pratt, Jr. already owns and operates theatres in Lockport, Raceland, and Vacherie, La.; and the Garden, New Orleans. The drive-in is situated in the most densely populated rural section in the state, the old Terre Bonne Road of yesteryear. . . . Dennison and Smith announced the opening of the Skyline Drive-In near Milton, Fla., to accommodate 100 cars. Eagle Lion — Joyce Bindewald, secre¬ tary to manager George Pabst, was vaca¬ tioning on the Gulf Coast. . . . Kenneth Kennedy, salesman, is now with Univer¬ sal-International, covering the territory. The Joy Drive-In, Shreveport, La., had its formal opening. Constructed at a cost of $175,000, the project accomodates between 650 to 700 automobiles. Jimmy Harris, Shreveport, who has been with the Joy Theatres for the past six years or more, is managing. STATES Alabama Laragdale In response to requests of ministers and residents, Ed Thornton discontinued Sunday showings at his Joy Drive-In. Florida Miami The Boulevard Drive-In is having “Happy Harold and his Crackerjacks” for a pre show Sunday square dancing and stage show. . . . The Monday night amateur stage shows at the Capitol are uncovering professional type talent. . . . Florida State Theatres combined mana¬ ging the Greater Miami and Palm Beach area theatres into a unit operating as the southeastern Florida division, Florida State Theatres. George Hoover, general manager, Paramount Enterprises, will be divisional manager, and A1 Weiss, Jr., will be divisional supervisor, under Hoover. The post of manager of the Olympia vacated by Weiss will be filled by Bob Daugherty, from Jacksonville, Fla., where he was city manager, Florida State Theatres. Advertising manager A1 Wilkie, will be in charge of all advertis¬ ing, publicity, and exploitation. Walton Oakerson, manager, Essex, was back from a vacation spent in central Florida. Buddy Walshon is relieving as assistant there until mid-July when Phil Lawler returns. The Essex is experi¬ menting with a novel service, a free nursery service. The service, in a vacant store adjoining the theatre, has sections for the crib-aged infant and a play area for the toddler, with playground equip¬ ment, books, and other diverting material. A nurse is in charge who will feed the infants on schedule, and keep the for¬ mula refrigerated until needed. A phy¬ sician is always on call. The patron asks the cashier for a nursery check, in three parts. One stub goes to the nurse, the second is given to the aide, who notes the location of the parents’ seats on the stubs, and returns it to the nurse, in case. The retained stub is the “claiming” one, used by the parents to redeem the child, on leaving. Harvey Fleischman, Wometco district manager, who helped set the experiment, is hopeful that some of the merchants will join in the nursery serv¬ ice as a cooperative basis to everyone’s mutual benefit. The success of the proj¬ ect has other centers planned for the Rosetta, Center, and, possibly, the Park¬ way. July 12, 1950