The Exhibitor (1953)

NT-4 EXHIBITOR Dalton, Joan Elan, and Dorothy Bromiley, arrived from Dallas on their 20-city tour. Portland Plans for a $250,000, 1,000-car drive-in to occupy a 17-acre site were announced by Phil L. Polsky, who operates both the Amphitheatre and Super 99 outdoor. The theatre will also have a playground, which will include a swimming pool, picnic grounds, athletic field, and play¬ ground equipment. Sf. Louis Funeral services were conducted for Erwin L. Deffaa, 53, a member of Local 143. ... In Sedalia, Mo., Charles Yeager, 75, employed at the Fox, was found dead in the lobby of the theatre, a victim of a cerebral hemorrhage. In Charleston, Ill., the 500-car drive-in on Route 130, just south of the water¬ works lane, to be known as the E. I. Drive-In, had its official opening. Tomey Falk is general manager of the owner company. His associates in the drive-in project are Jack Taylor, his partner in the Okaw Drive-In near Camorga, Ill., and William Zurheide, Charleston. In Carlyle, Ill., the Car-Breeze Show, that will be owned and operated by Charley Beninati, Carlyle, Ill., and the Frisina Amusement Company, Springfield, Ill., is to have its grand opening soon. In Sullivan, Mo., repairs are being made to a side wing of the concrete block screen tower structure of the Grande Drive-In. The drive-in is owned and operated by A. Schwartz, who also operates the Grande Cafe and Grande Tourist court. In Harrisburg, Ill., strong winds blew some of the roll roofing off the top of the screen tower of the Starlite Drive-In. In Tuscola, Ill., another drive-in to serve that section was indicated in the leasing by George Barber, owneroperator, Strand, of 15 acres of land on Route 36 west of Tuscola. In Farina, Ill., Louisville, Ky., residents plan the early construction of a drive-in. . . . Several additional driveins had their openings, including the Avon Drive-In, Breese, Ill., owned and operated by Bernard Temborius, who also owns the Avon. Also opening was the Car-Breeze Drive-In, on Route 50 three miles west of Carlyle, Ill., owned by Charles Beninati, Carlyle, and the Frisina Amusement Company, Springfield, Ill. The 400-car K and B Drive-In west of Lasey, Ill., had its grand opening, owned and operated by Leroy Baston and John Kirby. . . . The drive-in on Route 130 near Charleston, Ill., known as the E. I. Drive-In, was opened by Tomey Falk and Jack Taylor, who own the Okaw Drive-In near Camorga, Ill., and William Zurheide. Mountain Grove, Mo., saw the opening of the Autovue Drive In under its new owner, Dean Davis, Jr., West Plains, Mo. John Castner, who also is manager, Cameo, is managing. Out-of-town exhibitors seen included Caesar Berutt, Rolla, Mo.; F. L. Lowe, Lebanon, Mo.; Jimmy Frisina, Taylor ville, Ill., and Rani Pedrucci, Springfield, Ill.; Bud Mercier, Fredericktown, Mo.; William Collins, DeSoto, Mo.; Tom Bloomer, Belleville, Ill.; Herman Tarner, Vandalia, Ill.; Joe Goldfarb, Alton, Ill.; C. Carey, Poplar Bluff, Mo.; Russell Armentrout, Louisiana, Mo., and Forrest Pirtle and Charles Beninati, Carlyle, Ill. In Paris, Ill., John Vestal sold his Twin Lakes Drive-In to Urbana, Ill., drive-in interests. . . . Herman Gorelick, coowner, Realart, became a great uncle when Mrs. Robert Franks, Chicago, gave birth to a son. She is the daughter of his brother, Sam Gorelick, the Chicago branch manager for RKO. The American is to be razed to make way for a multi-storied garage building. At Pittsfield, Ill., Clark Theatres, in cooperation with the Chamber of Com¬ merce, staged a “Miss Perfect 36“ contest. San Antonio The Antelope Drive-In has been opened at Abernathy, Tex., by Mr. and Mrs. George Reed. It has a 250-car capacity. . . . T. W. Horton has been named manager, Caprock Drive-In, Slaton, Tex. . . . Burglars made off with about $400 in cash from the Twin-Vue Drive-In, Odessa, Tex., according to Attus Boyd, manager. . . . The Ford Drive-In has been reopened at McCamey, Tex., by H. Ford Taylor. B. T. Holt has been named manager. Trans Texas Theatres, headed by Louis Novy, has taken over the oper¬ ation of the Orpheum, Waco, Tex., from Interstate Circuit. . . . Lester True, former city manager for Rowley United Circuit, Waxahachie, Tex., has been transferred to Sweetwater, Tex. F. R. Jones, assistant manager, Palestine, Tex., for the circuit, has been named to re¬ place True. . . . James Ellison pur¬ chased the Grand, Happy, Tex., from Travis Payne and Ray Spear. . . . J. C. Capps, manager, Pioneer Drive-In, Denver City, Tex., announced that a new type screen has been installed. . . . L. A. Rickett, coowner, Skyway Drive-In, Fort Worth, Tex., announced that the drive-in has been sold to a Californian. It formerly was operated exclusively for Negro patronage. The new owners plan to remodel, after which it will be re¬ opened for white patronage. Salt Lake City Paul Picerni, in “House Of Wax,” arrived on an extended personal appear¬ ance tour. The annual Roundup of the industry takes place on June 17-19, with Keith Pack as general chairman. Golf will be played at Fort Douglas, with more than 100 expected. Among those aiding Pack are Bus Campbell, Chic Lloyd, K. O. Lloyd, Ed Pegram, Sid Cohen, Howard Pearson, Ed Montague, I. H. Harris, Chet Price, Robert Braby, Ben Hayden, Irv Gillman, Jack Magee, Jordan Friedman, Tom Philibin, Charles Walker, Claude Baisus, Dick Makoff, Hugo Jorgenson, Ed Terhune, Earl Green, Ted Anderson, Art Watts, Bill Rice, John Krier, Don Tibbs, Ray Hendry, and others. Chief Barker Sam Gillette, Tent 38, Variety Club, is supervising. The usual social program for ladies is also planned. San Francisco Rotus Harvey, who resigned in July, 1952, as president, Western Theatre Owners, was reelected. . . . S. J. Gardner, resident manager, MGM, moved his family here. . . . Boyd Sparrow, man¬ ager, Loew’s Warfield, entered Notre Dame Hospital. Lester Pollock, Loew’s Rochester, N. Y., came here to relieve. . . . Ted Galanter, MGM western press representative, returned from a swing. . . . Gladys Pauli, head contract clerk, Warners, was chairman again for WB’s annual picnic. . . . Homer Gray and Guy Meek reported running 3-D at their San Pablo, Cal., Ranch Drive-In. . . . Graham Kislingbury, district manager, North Coast Theatres, announced the birth of his second child, Graham David, seven pounds, 14 ounces. . . . James Simms has been named vacation-relief manager, Ackerman and Rosener Circuit. Ed Sutro has taken over the Gateway, Oakland, Cal., formerly operated by Golden State. . . . Actor’s agent Sam Rosey has been at Polyclinic Hospital. . . . James Voss, treasurer, AFL Musicians’ Union, died at Kaiser Found¬ ation Hospital. Tom Merry was promoted to United Artists floor manager. . . . James Am¬ brose moved from the Orpheum to assis¬ tant manager, United Artists. . . . Paul Valverde sold his interest in the Castroville, Castroville, Cal., and has gone back to Manteca. H. Gracia will continue as sole operator, Castroville. . . . United-California is returning booking and buying of the State, Benicia, Cal., and the Park, El Sobrante, Cal., to Elias-Jeha and Company, Benicia. UA’s Ralph Clark was initiated into his new office as district manager; Frank Harris, sales manager, was promoted to San Francisco branch manag-er; Frank Harr, office manager, stepped up to sales manager, and head booker Robert Hazzard accepted promotion to office manager. . . . Mel Klein, sales manager, Columbia, during his trip up the north coast, ran into heavy rains and heavy mud. . . . Fox West Coast Theatres closed the 1000-seat Baywood, San Mateo, Cal. A truck ballyhoo stunt for 20th-Fox’s “Invaders From Mars” was launched here. Seattle Paramount’s 10-city “Pony Express’’ stars tour wound up with colorful and crowded street celebrations in con¬ nection with the opening at the Coliseum. May 13, 1953