The Exhibitor (1950)

EXHIBITOR NT-l ifKWS OF THK BRANCHES Atlanta The New Brockton, Brockton, Ala., closed because of bad business. . . . Mrs. Lurrline King, former vice-president, Capital City Supply, stopped off on her way to Birmingham, Ala., to visit her mother. . . . Miss Hazel Davis, Southern Automatic Candy, returned after an absence of three months. . . . Marshall Fling, new booker, U-I, replaces Willard Ayers, who reported for duty in the armed forces. . . . Pete Carnes, RKO booker, was back after a vacation. . . . Tremmel Stribling was appointed booker at RKO. . . . Paul Jenkins, former booker, U-I, resigned to go with Republic as sales representative. . . . Bill Kelly, U-I sales manager, was back after ill¬ ness. . . . Dean Morris, ELC booker, was back from New Orleans after a vacation. . . . Bob Burnett, RKO booker, was convalescing at home following hospitali¬ zation. . . . Exhibitors in town were: H. M. Ford, Lavonia, Ga. ; Jay Soloman, Chattanooga, Tenn., and Jimmie Biddle, Fay, Jasper, Fla. Cowan Oldha, Dixie, McMinnville, Tenn., returned after a stay at Hot Springs, Ark. . . . William T. Duggan, Jr., State, Gainesville, Fla., reentered the Army. . . . The Hub Drive-In, Foley, Ala., will stay open all season. Cy Dillon, branch manager. Republic, Charlotte, attended a sales meeting here. . . . Charles A. Richelieu, owner. Vogue, Newport Rickey, Fla., completed remodel¬ ing his theatre. . . . Lanett, Ala., voted to allow theatres to open on Sunday. A charter has been granted to the Hi-Way 601-Drive-In, Columbia, S. C. B. H. Truedale is president. . . . Guy Kenimer, since 1946, maintenance and construction department, Florida State Theatres, has taken over supervision of concessions. . . . Carl “Pete” Albright has been named by Rufas Davis, Jr., as manager. Gem, Maranna, Fla. He came from Dothan, Ala., where he was assis¬ tant manager, Martin. I In for a visit were: Bill Boswell, Greenland, Greensboro, Ga. ; J. E. Webb, Scottsboro, Ala.; J. W. Wilson, Wilson Drive-In, Florence, Ala. ; Hap Barnes, Montgomery, Ala., and Mel Brown, Montgomery Drive-In, Savannah, Ga. The governors of Georgia and Florida as well as those from neighboring North and South Carolina will head the list of celebrities at the world premiere of 20th Century-Fox’s “I’d Climb The Highest Mountain” on Feb. 6. Mayors of princi¬ pal Georgia cities as well as social, busi¬ ness, and financial luminaries will turn out to honor the film which will be presented at the Paramount under the sponsorship of the Tallulah Falls Group. Robert Keekin is new manager, Flor¬ ida, Jacksonville, Fla. . . . Louis Leptler, Stein Theatre Circuit, was enjoying a vacation in New Yoi’k. Visiting and booking were: 0. C. Lam and Howard Schussler, Lam Amusement Company, Rome, Ga. ; P. L. Taylor, Bish¬ op Theatres, Columbus, Ga. ; L. J. Dun¬ can and Sidney Laird, Al-Dun Amuse¬ ment Company, West Point, Ga.; Ebb Duncan and Clyde Sampler, Duncan Theatres, Georgia; Walter Morris, Pike, Knoxville, Tenn. ; Hap Barnes, drive-in, Montgomery, Ala.; H. E. Laird, branch manager. Republic, Tampa, Fla.; Mack Jackson, Jackson and Strand, Alexander City, Ala.; R. E. Hook, Palace, Aliceville, Ala.; Earnest Ingram, Lineville and Ashland, Ala., and D. L. Buzbee, Ritz, Dadeville, Ala. Branch manager Towler, Lippert, was host at a party at the office. . . . Another party was given by the employes of Monogram Southern Exchanges. ... A lone bandit, armed with an automatic pistol, staged a daring holdup at the Fox. On Dec. 23, the Fox, Paramount, and Roxy, operated for 15 years by Georgia Theatres, Inc., were taken over by United-Paramount Theatres, Inc., head¬ ed by R. B. Wilby. Associates of Mr. Wilby said that he planned to remodel all three of the theatres. Noble Arnold, veteran Wilby-Kincey associate from Durham, N. C., will take over supervision of the three Atlanta houses. Emil Bernstecker, district manager, Wilby-Kincey, said that “We will endeaver to maintain the high standards of operations set by Georgia Theatres, Inc.” Walter S. Wishart, 91-year-old re¬ tired theatre owner of theatres in Lumberton, N. C., for many years, died recently. . . . Ed Jenner said his new Midway Drive-In, Lake Charles, La., will be ready to open soon. Mrs. Arthur C. Bromberg, wife of Arthur Bromberg, was confined by ill¬ ness. . . . Abe Brown, owner, K and B Soda Company, was in. . . . The Variety Club gave a big Christmas party to its members and friends. Seen around were: John Moffit, Carver Amusement Company, Montgomery, Ala. ; Paul Engler, Famous Theatres, Birming¬ ham, Ala.; Cecil Cohen, Murray Hill, Jacksonville, Fla.; Nat Williams, Inter¬ state Enterprises, Thomasville, Ga. ; Wendel Welch, Strand, Dallas, Ga.; R. H. Brannon, Holly, Dahlonega, Ga., and J. S. Tankersley, Ellijay, Ga. Oscar C. Lam, Rome, Ga., has been named TOA co-chairman for “Brother¬ hood Week.” Harry Kerr, former sales representa¬ tive, Columbia, Charlotte, is the new owner. Gem, Hillsboro, N. C. . . . E. B. Bowman is the new owner, Carolina, Orangeburg, S. C. . . . Ernest Pelegrin, Columbia booker, is now office manager, Jacksonville, Fla., branch. Columbia redecorated the office. . . . Milton Cohen, eastern division manager, ELC, was in for a meeting. Floyd Theatres Circuit announced that W. T. Masters, manager. Fox, Fort Meade, Fla., for four years, has been transferred to Wauchula, Fla., replacing Reuben Moore, who resigned. Edward Sarvis is Masters’ assistant. Charlotte H. D. Hearn has been named TOA cochairman for “Brotherhood Week.” Marc Wolf, Variety Clubs Inter¬ national Chief Barker, was entertained here. . . . Two officials of Western Ad¬ venture Productions, Jay Houck, vicepresident, and Ron Ormond, producer, were here for a conference with Presi¬ dent Francis White. They came to dis¬ cuss pictures with White and Scott Lett, sales manager. . . . George Downey, for¬ merly with Columbia, was home on fur¬ lough for the Christmas holidays on his way to Cheyenne, Wyo. Also on furlough was Bill Cline, formerly with Exhibitor Service, now stationed at Camp Rucker, Ala. Screen Guild held a party in the Chez Montet. Dinner was served followed by gifts and a brief program. The Para¬ mount party was held in the Variety Club. Republic held a party and open house at the office. In visiting were: Kit McGowan, Joyce, Springhope, N. C.; Finn Lee, Duplin, Warsaw, N. C.; Harry Cook, Center, Mt. Olive, N. C.; W. G. Fussell, Wanet, Bladenboro, N. C.; Max Zager, Palace, Greensboro, N. C., and J. L. Hoyatt, Midway, Lancaster, S. C. . . . Jack Lon¬ don, salesman. Republic and Mrs. London are spending the holidays in Fort Laud¬ erdale, Fla. . . . Mrs. Pat Patterson, wife of the office manager, Columbia, is in Mercy Hospital. . . . Theatre Booking Service held a Christmas party at the home of Bob Saunders. Each member was given a check, two weeks’ salary. . . . Exhibitor Service gave a dinner party for bookers on Film Row at the Ship Ahoy. . . . Vera Robinson, cashier. Republic, was on vacation. . . . Saxton’s Theatrical Service held open house, and presented each booker with a gift. . . . Queen City Booking Service held open house, and presented each booker with a gift. . . . Mrs. Wilma Smith, Republic, spent Christmas holidays in Richmond, Va. . . . Stewart Enterprises held a Christmas party at the home of Worth Stewart. . . . Variety Club held its annual New Year’s Eve party. . . . The New Belvedere opened. Exhibitor Service is doing buying and booking. Memphis M. A. Lightman, Jr., has been named TOA co-chairman for “Brotherhood Week.” New Orleans Theatre Service has taken over the buying and booking for Connett, Mayfield, and Crossley’s theatres, the Ritz and Royal, Laurel, Miss. . . . Absent on January 3, 1951 SOUTHERN