The Exhibitor (1952)

EXHIBITOR NT-3 by Waddy Jones, Booking Service, an affiliate of Joy Theatres. A few months ago Joy N. Houck had turned them over to Sammy Wright, M. A. Connett’s Buying and Booking Service. The citizens committee’s Anti-Daylight Saving Time protest activities was one long drawn out hoop-la. Cards and banners were placarded all over New Orleans. Sound trucks rolled through Orleans Parish. Buddy Schaffer, Schaffer Film Delivery Service, was at the control of one of the trucks. Lloyd Edwards, who had joined Pitt¬ man Theatres, returned to his 20th-Fox. . . . William Rosenthal, who recently re¬ ceived his farewell message from Uncle Sam, will join the 20th-Fox sales force. Despite shocked nerves, broken ribs, abrasions, and cuts, Mr. and Mrs. William Sendy, Patio, are glad that their lives were spared. Suspending operations in observance of the preEaster Holy Days, their plans were to occupy the leisure days motoring through southwest Lousiana, with the missus at the wheel. Nearing DeQuincy, they encountered a rain storm. The car skidded into a ditch. Passers-by dis¬ covered the wrecked automobile, and applied first aid measures. Mrs. Sendy was suffering from a gash on her head and abrasions. Sendy received broken ribs and scratches on his face and body. Mrs. Raymond Gremillion and chil¬ dren meandered to Film Row for a brief chat. Before her marriage, she used to spend considerable time with her father and mother, the John Elzeys, who owned the Delta Theatre Equipment Company, now Southeastern. In to confer with Joy N. Houck, Joy Theatres, were Alex Rosenthal, Alex¬ andria, La., and Ira Phillips, Joy, Moreauville, La., who revealed that he and Houck, according to the old show term, “are doubling in brass.” They operate a ranch stocked with prize cattle. August Gobert, Masterpiece shipping department, replaced Lawrence Hoadley, now with Uncle Sam; Donald More¬ land, Republic shipping department, re¬ placed Gobert. Moreland’s father is office manager and local sales repre¬ sentative at U-I. . . . Isabelle Mont¬ gomery returned to the industry after many years absence as bookers’ stenog¬ rapher, J. G. Broggi Exhibitor’s Service. She was formerly with MGM. . . . Albert King heads the Royal, Waynesboro, Miss., it was announced by A. L. Royal’s manager of theatre operations, Hank Jackson. Theatres reporting installations of new equipment are the Rivoli, a United Theatre, air-conditioning unit; McLen¬ don’s Fairhope, Fairhope, Ala., new sound, carpeting, and “Voice of the Theatre” speaker; Fox, LeCompte, La., a cooling system and other improvements by owner Billy Fox Johnson, and Air¬ line Drive-In, a late model drink dis Seen here in a recent coast shot, reveal¬ ing the bravery of MGM’s publicity men in the field, is Emery Austin, who handles the southern division. penser, furnished by Southeastern Theatre Equipment. Ross HcAusland came in from the Uptown, Detroit, to take over the city manager’s post at RKO’s Orpheum and Liberty. Max Schoenberg remains as manager, Orpheum. Joe Raviotta’s Film Row Bar and Grill, is undergoing a transformation. . . . Dixie Chemical Company has taken over distribution of “Magic Fog.” Joel Bluestone is in charge of the foreign and South American trade. A six-and-one-half-pound boy was born to the Tommy Dunns, but it died a few hours afterward. Condolences are extended. A six-and-one-half-pound baby boy was delivered to the Cambias home. Mama Joyce was manager George Pabst’s secretary at ELC. ... At the Teddy Solomons, McComb, Miss., it was a pair, two baby girls. E. R. Sellers and Milton Guidry, Yam, Opelousas, La., got together with their buying and booking representative, Page Baker, Theatres Service Company. . . . Fred Houck, vice-president, Joy Thea¬ tres, Inc., made a tour of the territory. . . . Claud Darce, Opera House, Morgan City, La., and the missus, after an absence of several months, took up their round of visits. . . . J. L. Shreiner, airconditioning man, returned from south central Louisiana. . . . E. V. Landaiche reported that his Beach Drive-In, Biloxi, Miss., is minus 28 speakers stolen a fortnight ago. Exhibitor callers were: Teddy Solo¬ mon, Harry Thomas, J. B. Alford, Sol Gulino, G. R. Moody, L. E. “Jack” Downing, Cy Carolla, Jack O’Quinn, R. L. Osborne, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Watson, and Roy Pfeiffer. Joy Theatres, Inc., callers were L. D. Powers and Frank Mullins, Texarkana, Tex. . . . G. E. Wiltse, owner, St. Bernard Drive-In, and his manager, E. M. Jones, made a day of it on the Row. Bill “Wee Willie” Cobb has his new Joy Drive-In in operation. His new pro¬ ject in Minden, La., and his poster busi¬ ness in New Orleans, Memphis, and Atlanta kept him close to the grindstone the past four months. The open-airer, one of the finest in northern Louisiana, opened with pennants flying. Its Motiograph equipment was supplied by Hodges Theatre Equipment. The 20th-Fox Family Club enjoyed its first spring outing at Harold Kings. . . . Rose Marie Hammer returned to National Screen Service. . . . Eva Vignolles, 20th-Fox, was on her annual vacation. Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Millet, Moonlight Drive-In, West Long Beach, Miss., and John Elzey, accompanied by son Pat, local RCA engineer, called on buying and booking agent J. G. Broggi. Elzey said that his youngest son, Bob, is still with the navy, stationed on the west coast. Don Page and Charles Gautney opened their Dixie Drive-In, Opp, Ala. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Harold “Babe” Cohen started on their postponed Nashville, Tenn., motor trip. . . . Orleans Parish theatre owners as well as other outdoor amuse¬ ment operators were very much enthused when daylight saving got a drubbing. Among the regulars visiting and booking were: Ann Molzon, Labadieville, La.; Joseph Hatty, Jr., LaFitte, La.; Barney and Larry Woolner; Mayor Lew Langlois, New Roads, La.; Paul Brunet, Dixie; Ed Thomasie, Marrero, La.; S. E. Mortimore and Lyle Shiell, Skyvue Drive-In; Mrs. O. Barre, Luling, La.; Rene Brunet, Imperial; Sam Corte, Laurel; Frank Ruffino, Gaiety; Papa Gallo, Gallo; William Shiell, Marrero Drive-In, and Ed Thomasie, Royal, Marrero, La. Joan P. M. DeBeilby is the new secre¬ tary to George Pabst, UA district man¬ ager. . . . Mickey Versen, C-Wall, Morgan City, La., accompanied by Ray Folse, visited with Russell Callen, Asso¬ ciated buying and booking exchange. Callen will handle the buying and book¬ ing for H. A. Forbes’ and T. D. Courtney’s Denham Springs, La., Drive-In. Don George completely remodelled the Don, Alexandria, La. The work was under the supervision of general man¬ ager Doyle Maynard. . . . ParamountGulf added poster cases to its Strand, Shreveport, La. Ben Bicknell, manager, said that six illuminated displays readily draw attention. ... Joy Theatres, Inc., is in the process of replacing in-car speakers at the Leo Drive-In, Shreve¬ port, La. Hodges Theatre Supply is furnishing Motiograph units. . . . Wil¬ liam Shiell and E. Jenner report that their Marrero Drive-In underwent a complete reconditioning, which includes the enlargement of the refreshment stand and the addition of a two-unit Drincolator purchased from National Theatre Supply. . . . G. H. Mercer had a new Imperial generator installed in his Sunset Drive-In, Shreveport, La., as well as Strong “Mighty 90” lamps. . . . J. C. Hester continues improving the Isis, Pensacola, Fla. Since he ac¬ quired the showcase, he has recarpeted May 7, 1952