The Independent Film Journal (1954)

DALLAS (cent'd.) sound system, modern rest room facilities and a new snackbar with patio, George Comeaux is mgr. . . . Ezell reported that negotiations were under way for sale of his drive-in circuit to Texas drive-in operator E. L. Pack of El Paso. It is also reported that Clint Murchison will have a financial interest in the deal. Newest member of the Family Drive-In theatre chain, the Twin Hi-Ways, opened near Loop 12 interchange on U.S. West 80, with Bob Hill as mgr. Capacity is 750 cars with provisions for doubling it. The ozoner has two separate entrances and two box of¬ fices. . . . Mark Sheridan, 20th-Fox branch mgr., has been named southwest dist. mgr., with headquarters here. He will supervise company operations in Dallas, Houston, Okla. City and Memphis. William B. Wil¬ liams, former city sales nigr., succeeds Sheri¬ dan as branch mgr. Final selection of a state champion in the “Typical Out Of Door Girl” contest, jointly sponsored by Columbia Piets, and Texas Interstate, will be made in Ft. Worth July 16, reports city mgr. James 0. Cherry. “Cinerama Holiday” hit a new high at the Melba Theatre, reports mng. dir. Wm. W. Lewis. DENVER C. K. Beatty has opened Blaekhawk, Colo, to films by way of the 200-seat New Central and will operate four days a week. . . . Lee theatres, which has been using one of the twin screens at its Centennial Drive-In on a first run basis, day and date with two other ozoners here, is now using the other screen for subsequent runs. . . . Because of the death of pres. Leo Bertolero, Black Hills Amuse. Co. elected new officers. Charles Klein is now pres. & treas. ; John Bertolero, v.p. ; Leo’s widow, Marguerite Bertolero, secy, and asst, treas. The company maintains headquarters in Deadwood and Rapid City, S.D. . . . Robert W. Selig, Fox Inter-Moun¬ tain div. mgr., was elected pres, of the board of trustees of the U. of Denver for the eighth time. ( Hugh Braly, representing Distributors Corp. of Am., and B. Seigel of Selznick re¬ issues were in conferring with Hal Fuller, who has both franchises for Denver and Salt Lake City. . . . Five of the Fox Denver thea¬ tres are putting on weekly children’s shows at 20<£, with season tickets for all 10 shows A miniature aircraft carrier, stationed in Court Square right in the heart of downtown Memphis, was a highlight of the promotion campaign for Republic's "The Eternal Sea" at the Plaza Theatre. Watch These Dates! Aug. 15-20: Audience Collection Week to benfit Will Rogers Memorial Hospital and Research Laboratories. Aug. 23-24. Charleston — Allied Theatre Theatre Owners of W. Va. annual con¬ vention — Daniel Boone Hotel. Oct. 6-9: Los Angeles — Theatre Owners of America national convention — Biltmore Hotel. Oct. 24-25: Winchendon, Mass. — Independ¬ ent Exhibitors of New England conven¬ tion — Town Tavern. Nov. 5-9: Chicago — Allied States Associa¬ tion convention — Hotel Morrison. Nov. 6-9: Chicago — International Popcorn Association convention, Hotel Morrison. Nov. 13-15 Jacksonville — Motion Picture Exhibitors of Florida convention. Nov. 13-15: Charlotte — Theatre Owners of N. & S. Carolina annual convention — Hotel Charlotte. Nov. 21-22: St. Louis — Missouri-Illinois Theatre Owners annual convention — Hotel Chase. selling at $1. They are the Aladdin, Bluebird, Esquire, Ogden and Mayan. . . . The 10th chapter of Women of the Motion Picture Industry (WOMPI) was organized here with Jean Gerbase as pres.; Toni Medley, 1st v.p.; Ann LaGendre, 2nd v.p.; Mary Ann Hogle, recording secy.; Irene Canino, cor¬ responding secy.; Charlotte Steuver, treas. Mainly a social organization, the club ex¬ pects later to adopt some local charities. DES MOINES Mr. & Mrs. Jay Montgomery have added new neon lights to the Eldon Theatre mar¬ quee. A new service to Eldon movie-goers are the weekly attractions billboards placed in several business windows in town. . . . Valley Theatre in Eddyville was closed by mgr. Dwight Manson due to lack of business. . . . Dr. J. F. Hardin reports that plans now call for opening of the rebuilt theatre in Bedford about Sept. 15. E. W. Kerr, who leased the building from Dr. Hardin, has most of his new equipment lined up for installation. . . . E. McGraw, mgr. of the Ogden Theatre in Ogden, introduced his new screen and projection equipment with show¬ ing of “The Silver Chalice.” Tent 15 of the Variety Club is sponsoring heart surgery for three Iowa children at its Heart Hospital in Minneapolis, according to chief barker Frank D. Rubel, to cost around $15,000. Membership dues and other monies raised by the newly formed Women’s Com¬ mittee, under chairmanship of Mr. Ralph Olson, will also go to helping children who need special heart surgery. . . . Mr. & Mrs. Richard Chapman, owners of the Craft Thea¬ tre in Bancroft, received a cash award at M-G-M’s Ticket Selling Workshop for giv¬ ing local children passes in recognition of “their bravery” in receiving polio shots. . . . The ozoner near Mason City is erecting a new screen. DETROIT Gilbert E. Light of the Michigan Theatre and pres, of Local 199 is the new v.p. of Detroit Bowling Assn, of over 100,000 mem¬ bers. . . . Ed Long installed a new marquee for Butterfield’s State at Adrian and a drive-in pylon for Joseph Dennison’s new house at Monroe. . . . Donald McRae is new mgr. of the Rouge Theatre in River Rouge, succeeding Kenneth Mexico. . . . John Babl replaces Ray Coppinger as night mgr. of the downtown Loop. . . . Adrian D. Rosen and Elliot Fine closed the Deluxe Theatre and put it up for sale. Marshall Davis is establishing the Surf Theatre on McNichols Road. . . . Joseph Peck reopened the Veterans Theatre at At¬ lanta, giving Montmorency County its only theatre. . . . Lou Mitchell has taken over booking of the Colonial Theatre. . . . Lloyd A. Turel, former supervisor of Jack BrodePs Von Houdt Circuit, is now with Clark Thea¬ tre Service as booker. . . . Allied Theatres of Mich, worked out a deal with six booking service organizations, representing 35 thea¬ tres, to handle dues as a regular part of the weekly service fee. Herbert Fox, owner of the Fox at Mason, was awarded a fellowship at Case Institute of Technology in Cleveland for summer study. He’s an expert in the field of mathe¬ matics. . . . Robert G. Peltier, who opened the old Bijou in Mt. Clemens in 1905, was honored on his 50th anniversary with a lobby display at Community’s Jewel Thea¬ tre and a special newspaper story. . . . Ted Levy was appointed mgr. for Disney’s Buena Vista Distribution Co., opening a new ex¬ change here. . . . Thomas McGuire, former public relations chief for Cooperative, has worked out a plan to solve major industry problems through facilities now provided by the Federal Trade Comm, and Small Busi¬ ness Administration. Detroit industryites gathered at the Fox office to pay tribute to branch mgr. Joseph J. Lee on his 30th anniversary with the company. . . . Moe Teitel has taken over the Rogers Theatre, west side colored house formerly operated by Harry Balk. . . . Annual outing of the Film Bowling League is set for Aug. 22 at Glen Oaks Country Club. . . . Frank Bremer of Saginaw is now operating the Sunset Drive-In at Midland, leased from Cassidy Circuit. William Clark’s theatre service is taking over product buying for E. J. Pennell’s Bronson and Carol Harris’s Rex at Morenci. . . . Richard Sloan, partner in the Mercury Theatre, was winner of the grand prize, a new Buick, at the Variety Golf Outing. . . . Richard Hayes, in the Albany territory for Paramount for 24 years, is new upstate salesman for United Artists. . . . Rex Kinne closed the Lyon at South Lyons, with no known plans for opening. HOUSTON Variety Boys Club will play Beaumont on July 14. Tickets are $1 and Chief Barker Mack Howard reports there will be prizes, including an automobile. All proceeds go to the Club. . . . Daniel Botkin transferred from asst. mgr. at the Yale to same post at the Almeda. . . . James V. Boyle has been named southwestern promotion mgr. for Columbia. . . . Ray Jones, who resigned as head booker for Interstate, is succeeded by Joe Jackson. . . . Roland Connor, student asst, at Loew State, Houston, was upped to full asst, by John Murphy, Loew’s Theatres v.p. Fain Theatre and Dogwood Drive-In at Woodville celebrated the 20th anniversary of owner Fain Wood in show business with big giveaways for several nights. . . . Rex Van is the new mgr. of Variety Club in Houston. 26 THE INDEPENDENT FILM JOURNAL— July 9, 1955