The Exhibitor (1953)

EXHIBITOR 7 Seen at the head table, left to right, are Father McCrea, Loia Cheaney, Interstate Theatres, publicity committee and mistress of ceremonies; R. J. O'Donnell, Interstate Theatres; Dorothy Lamour; A. M. Kane, Paramount division manager; Verlin Osborne, Paramount, WOMPI president; Ed Rowley, Rowley United Theatres; Mildred Freeman, Rowley's secretary and membership committee; John Rowley; E. K. Dalton, RKO head booker; Clara Sawyer, Dalton's secretary; Sue Benningfield, Kyle Rorex's secretary, and Rorex, executive director, Texas COMPO, and, in the foreground, Don Douglas, Rowley publicity executive; Debbie Rondeau, Douglas' secretary, and John Q. Adams, Interstate Theatres. The luncheon was a gala affair. Also attending WOMPI's anniversary luncheon, and evidently approving of the young organization, are, left to right, Helen Cayton, program commit¬ tee, secretary to John Allen, MGM district manager; Allen; Marilyn Bragg, program chairman and secretary to Ray Higdon, in charge of buying and booking for Theatre Enterprises, Inc.; Higdon; Margaret Falls, club secre¬ tary, Manley, Inc.; Virgil Meiers, amusement editor, The Dallas Times Herald, and Joel Bezahler, MGM New York office, who thought the whole idea of the club was wonderful. WOMPI has national aspirations, and the enthusiasm of the first 100 charter members has already brought queries from other state and national groups, with expansion certain. reported on the immediate and almost unanimous response to membership ac¬ tivities. She might not have been far wrong when she jokingly remarked that the Variety Club barkers had best keep on their toes if they intend to stay ahead of the enterprising WOMPI’s. In addition to the 100 charter members of the Dallas club, other motion picture women in Texas towns, including some exhibitors, have requested membership. Associate memberships will be extended to these women, and they will be welcome at all meetings, but will not be eligible to vote or hold office. The first action toward forming a na¬ tional organization was taken when Grace Folsom, Interstate, a member of the mem¬ bership committee, mailed each member a bulletin requesting information about vacation plans. Billie Stevens, Rowley United Theatres, club treasurer, was dele¬ gated to meet with industry girls in New Orleans on her vacation, and Wynona Curtis, Interstate, did similar missionary work while vacationing in Washington, D. C., and Norfolk, Va. Juanita Crook, Jefferson Amusement Company and pro¬ gram committee member, planned to talk Shown here, left to right, are Sybil Shannon, Evans Printing Company; Mildred Fulenwider, second vice-president in charge of membership, Ezell and Associates; Albert F. Reynolds, Ezell and Associates; Bob Brock, The Dallas Times Herald; Johnnie Hayes, The Herald staff photographer; L. E. Forrester, in charge of advertising and exploitation. Theatre Enterprises, Inc., Maxine Adams, WOMPI publicity chairman and secretary to Forrester, and Paul Evans, Evans Printing Company, just a few of those on hand. Four hostesses have charge of the luncheon meetings, and serve one month. The program chairman, Marilynn Bragg, Theatre Enterprises, Inc., selects another group of four as hostesses for the follow¬ ing month, and meets with them at least once to discuss plans. One of the group acts as chairman to coordinate the efforts. Officers of the club consist of a presi¬ dent, first vice-president in charge of programs, second vice-president in charge of membership, a secretary, and a treas¬ urer. The membership also elected seven women to a board of directors. Officers are: president, Miss Osborne; first vice-president, Miss Bragg; second vice-president, Miss Fulenwider; secre¬ tary, Margaret Falls, Manley, Inc., Pop¬ corn, and treasurer, Miss Stevens. Direc¬ tors are Mable Guinan, Tower; Joyce Smith, Southwestern Theatre Equipment Company; Lorena Cullimore, Columbia; Freda McCrary, Buddy Harris Theatres; Adeline Franklin, RKO; Rosa Browning, RKO, and Isabel Allport, Isley Theatres. Committee chairmen include Miss Bragg, program; Miss Fulenwider, membership; Maxine Adams, Theatre Enterprises, Inc., publicity; Juanity Till, Jefferson Amuse¬ ment Company, social, and Miss Guinan, by-laws. t Other WOMPI members and their bosses attending the luncheon celebra¬ tion are, left to right, C. O. Wise, general manager, Phil Isley Theatres; Margie Seely, 20th-Fox; Frank Dowd, purchasing agent, Rowley United Theatres; Billie Stevens, WOMPI treasurer and Rowley receptionist; C. J. Jones, Rowley; Lorena Cullimore, secretary to J. B. Underwood, Columbia branch manager; Underwood, and Jean Wood, who is secretary to Wise. The club plans important publicity relations work in the industry. Variety Club’s Chief Barker in Mexico City while on vacation. The original idea that started the group which later developed into the Women of the Motion Picture Industry came from the fertile imagination of Colonel H. A. Cole a little over a year ago when he suggested that four or five of the Film Row women meet at a luncheon to dis¬ cuss the idea of contacting others to meet once in awhile to “get acquainted” with each other. The suggestion was received so well that Cole wrote a letter to other employers on Film Row explaining the plan, suggesting that the employers not only pay for the girls’ luncheons but also allow a little extra time, if needed, one day a month. He was convinced that the plan would pay dividends to all concerned in the greater efficiency that inevitably results from better public relations, whether in one’s own office, the industry as a whole, on with the customers, the public. And so the WOMPI’s were born. Luncheon meetings of the club are held the last Thursday of each month, with special committee meetings called at the discretion of the committee chairmen. Usually, a guest speaker is invited for the luncheon meetings. July 22, 1953