The Exhibitor (1953)

NT-2 EXHIBITOR ing to Forest Avenue High School. . . . Herman Beiersdorf, Herman Beiersdorf Distributing Company, was looking for¬ ward to the Dallas visit of his friend, Elmo Williams. J. Seibert Worley, Eastland and Shamrock, Tex., was in Dallas. ... A Martian stopped at the ticket counter of American Airlines for a ticket “home” as an exploitation stunt for “Invaders From Mars.” The following members of the Texas Drive-In Theatre Owners Association have agreed to give all proceeds for one night this month to the organization as a fund-raising project, with Marvin Godwin and Debb Reynolds, Superior Booking Service, offering to book the pictures used free of charge: Jack A. Farr, Houston and Bryan; Palms, Mc¬ Allen; Lone Star Theatres, Dallas; Varsity Drive-In, San Antonio; Decker Drive-In, Baytown; Pines Drive-In, Nacogdoches; King Drive-In, San Marcos; B. L. and M. Theatres, Wichita Falls; Parkaire Drive-In, Fort Worth; Cowtown Drive-In, Fort Worth; C. A. Richter, Southwest Theatres, Corpus Christi; 87 Drive-In, Fredericksburg; Leon Theatres, Dallas; Surf Drive-In, Corpus Christi; Rowley United, Dallas; Post Oak Drive-In, Houston; Dixie Drive-In, Seguin; Lee Bell, Claredon; John Fagan, Borger and Amarillo; Ed Newman, Ed Joseph, Austin; A. M. Gaines, Bronco Drive-In, Beeville; C. W. Kyle, Kings Drive-In, Kingsville; Millard Jones, Twin Cactus Drive-In, Odessa; Eagle Drive-In, Eagle Pass; Fiesta Drive-In, Winters; Video Independent Theatres; Twin-Vue Drive-In, Odessa; R. S. Sterling, Starlite, Twilite Drive-In, San Angelo; W. E. Cox, Jr., Chief DriveIn, Seminole; Bob Davis, Perrin Drive-In, Sherman; Tim Ferguson, Downs DriveIn; Trail and Sunset Drive-Ins, Lubbock; Market Street Drive-In, Houston, and Hi-Y Drive-In, Conroe. RKO President James R. Grainger was in from Hollywood to conduct sales sessions with district and branch man¬ agers of the southwestern area. A new arbitration proposal, presented by Phil Isley, president, Isley Theatres, and head, Allied Theatres Owners of Texas, is scheduled for consideration by the executive board of Texas COMPO. Louis Novy, head, Trans-Texas Thea¬ tres suffered a heart attack in one of his Austin, Tex., theatres. Novy is in Seton Hospital, and his condition has been reported as improving. A. M. “Al” Kane, Paramount division manager, attended the world premiere of “Pony Express” in St. Joseph, Mo. . . . Lone Star Theatres’ E. L. Pack, first vice-president, Texas Drive-In Theatre Owners Association, spent a week at a ranch near Grand Mesa, Colo. . . . When the girls of “The Girls Of Pleasure Island” arrived (May 5), they had Don Taylor with them as well as Rufus Blair, Paramount publicity man. The girls are Dorothy Bromiley, Audrey Dalton, and Joan Elan. Petticoat Prattle — An outstanding woman with an outstanding record is Columbia’s Lorena Cullimore. In 1919, she took a temporary position with the old Goldwyn Film Corporation as secretary to Lou Remy, and was with the company until its absorption by Metro in 1924. Joe Luckett, well-known Film Row personality, had Mrs. Cullimore as an employee when he was manager of United Artists in 1925. In 1926, when Remy was made district manager for 20th-Fox, Mrs. Cullimore returned to work with him until 1929. The Columbia part of her story began in 1930 when she became secretary to J. B. “Jack” Underwood, branch manager. A member of the board of the Women of the Motion Picture Industry, Film Row luncheon club, Mrs. Cullimore was elected to a double term, or one year, in this office. The warm and vital personality makes friends for her wherever she goes, or stays, as her employer, Jack Underwood, can testify. Frieda Robinson, secretary to John J. “Jack” Houlihan, Republic, drove to Los Angeles with her sister for a vacation. . . . A new bride is RKO’s Bonnie Compton, boxoffice clerk, married to Paul B. Porter, recently assistant manager, Wilshire, now with Firestone. Guests from RKO included Don Grierson, Kath¬ leen Heath, Donna Leyrer, and Shirley Hollabaugh. . . . World Wide’s Billie Barnes is devoting her time to the job of homemaker for husband Runne, accountant for Phil Isley Theatres, and two small sons, Paul and Phillip. Mrs. Barnes, with World Wide for the past seven years, transferred here from the San Francisco office. Alberta Cornelius, a newcomer, has taken her place. . . . Marilyn “Dinky” Bragg, the girl Ray Higdon, Theatre Enterprises, Inc., “brags” about, spent the weekend in San Antonio, Tex. . . . Tower, Film Row, and the Pilot Club all are proud of Mable Guinan. The well deserved award of the Marguerite Demerling Scrap Book Cup for best journalism in publicity for the year went to Dallas, and, as chairman, publicity committee, for the club, Miss Guinan wrote the articles. . . . The newly organized Mosecs has been doing tremendous things. The new name is Women of the Motion Picture Industry, and Mary Pickford wired acceptance to become a charter member. In Dallas in connection with the bond drive, Miss Pickford Was presented a scroll by Verlin Osborne, newly elected president, at a treasury tea. Dallas was studded with stars with Denise Darcel and Mary Pickford in town, and Dorothy Lamour due in. Miss Darcel made two guest appearances on the “Hot From Hollywood” TV show as guest of George O’Bannan, produceremcee. Miss Pickford was honored by the women of the industry, and was an honor guest at a luncheon at the Dallas Country Club and guest of Variety Club, Tent 17, at the Glen Lakes Country Club awards banquet. The banquet was the occasion for presentation of the R. J. O’Donnell Award, given to the show¬ man who has given the greatest service to the Variety Club during the year. Denver Industry goodwill was expended liberally by seven Hollywood celebrities in conjunction with Paramount’s “Pony Express,” Denham. The Fitzsimmons General Hospital for war veterans was the first place visited by Rhonda Fleming, Jan Sterling, Forrest Tucker, Corrine Calvet, Richard Shannon, Hollywood guitarist Tony Romano, and “Pony Express” producer Nat Holt upon their arrival here on North American Air¬ lines’ “Modern Pony Express. Later the visitors participated in special ceremonies in tribute to the memory of Buffalo Bill at the site of the famous pioneer scout’s grave on Lookout Mountain. At Phoenix, Ariz., a new drive-in, the Rodeo, opened with accommodations for 550 cars. It is owned by J. B. Mc¬ Cormick, Jr., theatreman in Arizona; Wade F. Allen, Detroit theatreman, and Weldon Girard, Phoenix theatrical supply company man. A modern snack bar, the Chuck Wagon, has been installed. J. E. Tompkins, 78, veteran Colorado Springs, Colo., theatreman, died there following a long illness. He managed the Princess, now the Ute, later bought the American, now the Trail, and later built the Tompkins. All these theatres are now a part of Cooper Foundation Theatres. He is survived by his wife, a daughter, two grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. C. Bruce Newberry, Republic sales manager, was in conferring with Gene Gerbase, branch manager. . . . Tom Knight, Riverton, Wyo., theatre owner, made another of his many mercy fights when he flew an 11-day-old boy to a local hospital for treatment. Mel Madero moved from Fox Intermountain, Cheyenne, Wyo., to Brighton, Colo., where he will manage the Atlas Theatres’ Kar-Vue Drive-In. . . . “Run For The Hills,” the first feature to be produced by the locally-organized Kinego-Rand, is being released by Realart, with a May release date. . . . Frank De Voracek is managing the Starlite Drive-In, Rapid City, S. D. “Split Second” is set to world pre¬ miere at the Orpheum on May 6. Coming for the event will be Dick Powell, director, and Alexis Smith and Arthur Hunnicut. From here they will fly to Albuquerque, N. M., for an opening at the Kimo. Al Lawter, Denham manager, was vacationing. Don Lappin, former man¬ ager, Broadway, was subbing for Lawter. . . . Betty Mosley, who recently resigned as branch manager’s secretary at U-I, returned to Film Row as branch man¬ ager’s secretary at Paramount. M. J. Konemann is building a 450-car drive-in, to be named the Hicks on 96, at Pueblo, Colo., and is heading for a May 28 opening. . . . Merrill Nygren is building a 250-car drive-in at Oskosh, Neb., and expects to open in May. . . . Merle Swank is building a 285-car drivein, to be named the Park, at Stockton, Ivans. May 6, 1953