The Exhibitor (1952)

NT-4 EXHIBITOR it, reupholstei’ed the seats, and replaced the screen. . . . Another progressive Pensacola, Fla., showman, C. J. Tringas, before resuming operations of the Twin, Warrington, Fla., gave it an out-and-out renewing. . . . The C. Denis family and the C. M. McGowins will soon take up their abode in the screen tower of their Skyline Drive-In, Milton, Fla. They have just completed extensive improvements. Curtis B. Willard will reopen his Beach, Fairhope, Ala., on May 10. . . . Willis Houck, general manager, Joy Theatres, Inc., returned from a trip to Moss Point, Miss., and William Murphy, manager, Southeastern Thea¬ tre Equipment, checked in after a jaunt in northern Louisiana. Allied Gulf’s prexy and national director, Abe Berenson, and the missus left for Colorado Springs, Colo., and the spring meeting of the National Allied board. Officers of Local 293 were in New York to pay homage to general secretarytreasurer W. P. “Freddie” Raoul at a banquet. Albert S. Johnstone, E. L. Beaud, and W. L. Brettenmoser made the trip. Raoul is a former Atlantan. Parke D. Agnew, RKO auditor, was here. . . . J. A. Rabon, who reopened the New Uriah, Uriah, Ala., suspended operations for a thorough overhauling. The DeGraauw boys, Robert and Frank, are adding another ozoner near Abbeville, La., which they propose to christen the La Fitte. It will accom¬ modate 500 cars. . . . Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Guitreau, Gonzales Drive-In, introduced their twin youngsters, Tom and Terry. . . . Milton Guidry was back from a Lafayette, La., and Opelousas, La., visit. . . . Ed Ortte was seen hobnobbing at Gentillich. . . . William Murphy, Jr., Southeastern Theatre Equipment, re¬ ported that on his trip to Monroe, La., he sold an enire package of RCA equipment to Henry H. Hinckle and H. G. Prophitt, Jr., for the new Star Drive-In, Tallulah, La. They also own and operate the Star Drive-Ins, Monroe and West Monroe, La. Ray Vrazil, manager, Globe and Tudor, joined the UA sales force, re¬ placing Kenneth Kennedy. Florida Miami Among those registered at the Variety Clubs International convention in Las Vegas, Nev., were: George E. Wintz, Mrs. Minna Glass, A. B. Halsell, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Hal Kopplin, and Charles E. Isbell. Hal Wallis’ Technicolor production of “Red Mountain” had a simultaneous four-city world premiere at the Para¬ mount, Miami; the Sheridan, here; the Florida, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and the Paramount, Palm Beach, Fla. Miss Scott was in Florida to make personal appear¬ ances at each of the four theatres. Following the world premiere, Miss Scott made a visit to Orlando, Fla., and Daytona, Fla. Micmi Beach “Faithful City” opened at the Cinema with the entire house sold out to the Israel B nd Drive. North Carolina Durham The Durham Ministers Association, whose president, Dr. D. D. Holt, earlier had stated it would not as an organiza¬ tion oppose a proposal to permit the showing of movies during Sunday evening church hours, at a special called meeting went on record as registering its “firm opposition to this proposal,” and requesting City Council to reject the request by refusing to change the required ordinance.” Council, at a recent committee session, voted unanimously in favor of the change on the grounds that “closing the theatres will not get people to go to church,” and a number of indi¬ vidual ministers afterward said they would not oppose the step. Other minis¬ ters raised a loud protest, however, and, when the issue came up for formal adoption of an ordinance at a later meeting, Council split 7 to 4 in favor of making the change. As a two-thirds majority is needed to adopt an ordinance the first time it is presented, no action was taken immediately on introducing the ordinance. After a proposed ordinance is introduced, it may be passed at a subsequent meeting by a simple majority. A public letter condemning Durham County school teachers for “apparently approving” the showing of “Oliver Twist” at the Carolina was circulated by a group which signed itself “Peoples Peace and Goodwill Council,” and which charged that the movie was “antiSemitic.” The letter was circulated 24 hours after the film had completed a three-day run at the Carolina, and Jewish leaders were quick to disclaim any knowledge of the organization signing it, and to emphasize that it was not a Jewish group. C. L. Abercrombie, man¬ ager, Carolina, said the letter was “much ado about nothing,” and that “if the movie should not be shown, then the book should be taken out of all libraries, and certainly no one would suggest doing that.” FayetteviHe Citizens from this city and Cumber¬ land County turned out enmasse for the world premiere of MGM’s “Carbine Williams,” Colony, with personalities from Hollywood, newspapers, radio, civic, state and public life, distribution, and exhibition on hand. “Carbine Wil¬ liam’s Day” had been proclaimed by the mayor, with Wendell Corey coming on from Hollywood. A parade through Fayetteville, terminating at the court house where Corey took part in the un¬ veiling of an oil painting of Cumber¬ land County’s famous sheriff, highlighted the day’s events. Corey also was honored guest along with Marshall Williams, on whose story the MGM picture is based, at a dinner attended by 300 state, national, Congressional, civic, and busi¬ ness leaders. There were also three radio broadcasts from the lobby of the Colony. Rudolph Berger, MGM southern sales manager, with headquarters in Washington, and Jacques C. ReVille, Charlotte manager, came down for the premiere, as did Roy L. Smart, general manager, North Carolina Theatres, Charlotte; Milton Kaufman, manager, Loew’s State, Norfolk, Va. ; N. G. Enloe, North Carolina Theatres, Raleigh, N. C.; C. N. Snebbens, Florence Theatres, Florence, S. C.; John M. Buyers, Bailey Theatres, Bailey, N. C. ; W. G. Fussell, Wonet, B’adenboro, N. C.; Tom Boney, Wallace Enterprises, Wallace, N. C.; C. H. Candell, Dance, Burgaw, N. C.; Mrs. W. F. Candell, Hyway, Wallace N. C. ; H. C. Cook, Center, Mount Olive, N. C., and George Peters, Loew’s Virginia Theatres. Arrangements were completed for personal appearances of David Marshall Wi’liams in many cities in North and South Carolina in connection with the pre-release showing of “Carbine Wil¬ liams,” following its premiere at the Colony. The citizens of the towns in North and South Carolina will have the opportunity of meeting him and seeing the original guns that were hand-made by him, and which are shown in “Carbine Williams.” The itinerary of Williams includes: Charlotte; Raleigh, N. C.; Wilson-Rocky Mount, N. C. ; Durham, N. C.; Goldsboro, N. C.; Lake Lure, N. C.; Asheville, N. C. ; Winston-Salem, N. C. ; Greenwood, S. C.; Columbia, S. C., and Spartanburg, S. C. Greensboro James Cartledge, Abbeville, S. C., has been named manager, Center, and the Center’s acting manager, James Shepard, has been promoted to man¬ ager, Rialto, Durham, N. C. Shepard, a Wilmington, N. C., native, has been with North Carolina Theatres Corpora¬ tion in Wilmington, Fayetteville, N. C., and Durham. Cartledge, a native of Greenwood, S. C., has been connected with Wilby-Kincey Theatres in South Carolina for 20 years. At Durham, Shepard succeeds W. R. Tugman, who resigned recently to go into the retail business with his father in Eastern North Carolina. Jack Rigsbee had been serving as acting manager until Shepard took over. Greensboro is making a bid for selection as the site for the world pre¬ miere of “The O. Henry Story,” and Mayor Robert H. Frazier has been advised by Charles Einfield, New York, who is vice-president, 20th-Fox, that Greensboro, O. Henry’s birthplace, and Greenwich Village are being considered for the premiere showings. Lexington The safe in the office of the Lexington Drive-In was ripped open, and about $150 was stolen. May 7, 1952