The Exhibitor (1954)

MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR NT-l XKWS OF mil BRANCHES Atlanta Jack Barrett, Allied Artists southern exchanges, Florida, and the Mrs. were in for the holidays. . . . William (Snake) Richardson, president. Capital and Astor, checked in at his office after a Florida trip. . . . C. H. Robuck, UA, Jackson¬ ville, was in at the local office. . . . Leonard Burch, United World Films, was back at his office after a trip to North and South Carolina. . . . Floyd Theatres, Florida, are new owners of Winter Garden, Winter Annex, and Starlite Drive-In, all in Winter Garden, Fla. ... In for a booking trip for his circuit was Nat Williams, Interstate Theatres in Georgia. . . . Jimmy Hobbs, branch manager, Allied Artists, was in Florida. The annual Women of the Motion Picture Industry Christmas party was held at the Atlanta Variety Club. A large crowd, which included husbands, bosses, and guests, were presented a most entertaining program. A. B. Pad¬ gett, past chief barker. Variety Club, was Santa Claus for the night. Betty Rary, WOMPI president, and others participated in skits. W. H. “Rudy” Rudisill, 55, branch manager, Kay Film Company, died at his home after three months illness caused by an heart attack. Rudisill has been in the film business here for the past 35 years. Survivors are his wife, son, brother, and sister. J. E. McLeory, Allied Artists South¬ ern Exchanges, Charlotte, has returned there after spending the holidays with his family here. . . . On the Row were E, H. Griffith, Reynolds, Reynolds, Ga.; Wink Snelson, Co-At-Co Theatres, north Georgia; Branson James, Royce, Royce, Ga. ; Jay Soloman, Independent Thea¬ tres, Chattanooga, Tenn. Harold Spears, president, Bailey Thea¬ tres, checked in at his office after visiting in Florida. . . . Bob Tarwater and Bryon Admas, United Artists, were back after a vacation. . . . Charles Sims, formerly with Stevens Pictures, was appointed as sales representative and service man with the Atlanta branch of the Dixie Theatre Supply Company. . . . Herman Abrams, Lumpkin, Lumpkin, Ga., has installed a gas heating system, new wide-screen, new high arc lamps, and lenses and rectifiers. . . . Hubert Coun¬ tryman and Neal Richardson, owner. Villa, Villa Rica, Ga., installed CinemaScope. . . . The Sevier, Johnson City, Tenn., has been equipped with both optical and magnetic CinemaScope. . . . Ernest Imgram has installed CinemaScope in his Lineville and Ashland, Ala., theatres. . . . C. W. Reed, Pug Drive-In, Monticello, Fla., will install CinemaScope. ... A son was born to the wife of Ralph Puckhaber, manager, Florida, Miami, Fla. Mrs. Betty Rary, president. Women of the Motion Picture Industry, Atlanta, is seen recently presenting gifts and a check to C. M. Ford, president. Formwait Street Mission for Girls, and two girls of the mission. With the Atlanta Better Films Council cooperating, this was the Christmas project of the Atlanta WOMPI. Mack Jackson, theatre owner, Alex¬ ander City, Ala., has returned there from Birmingham, Ala., after under¬ going an operation for his eyes. . . . Larry W. Long, realtor, and his wife filed court petition claiming Gulf Thea¬ tres, Inc., is a delinquent tenant and asking a summons be issued requiring the theatre to pay rent due or to leave the premises at St. Petersburg, Fla. . . . The Florida, Daytona Beach, Fla., has been leased by a professional company which plans to operate it as a legitimate house. Jimmy Campbell and Ben Jordan, Allied Artists, and Jimmy Bello, Astor and Capital, returned to the road after a holiday vacation. . . . Arthur C. Brom¬ berg, president. Allied Artists Southern Exchanges, was in for a visit at the local branch. . . . Howard Wallace, pres¬ ident, Wallace Films, checked in after a visit in Florida. . . . Leonard Burch, United World Films, was back in bis office after visiting in Tennessee. . . . President Ed Stevens, Stevens Pictures, repoi’ts that his business for 1954 was much better than 1953. Seen at the recent Christmas party of Republic exchange, Atlanta, were, kneel¬ ing, left to right, Sam Harrison, Emma Proctor, Lloyd Fortner, Cindy Dumas, Hop Hopkins, and Joe Dumas; and standing, left to right, Lorene Wimberly, Agnes Hurt, Audrey Evans, Prichard Hobson, Frances Hopkins, Eleanor Fields, Stella Poulnot, Byron Adair, Cathrine Clark, Mamie White, Elsie Steerman, Eddie Brauer, Rudy Lehman, ■Marie Pinkston. Frank Longino, and Jim BoIu.s. The Katz boys, owners, Kay Film Exchanges, were back after a tour of their Memphis and New Orleans branches. . . . On the Row visiting were P. L. Taylor, Dixie, Columbus, Ga. ; Sidney Laird and L. J. Duncan, A1 Dun Amusement Company, West Point, Ga. ; Ebb Duncan, Carrollton, Ga.; and W. Welch, Dallas, Dallas, Ga. . . . Branch manager Hobbs, Allied Artists Southern Exchange was on a two weeks stay in Florida. The old stork passed over the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jay Soloman, he’s with Independent Theatres, Chattanooga, Tenn., and left a little baby boy. . . . In for a visit were W. M, Snelson, theatres in north Georgia; Nat Williams, Thomasville, Ga.; W. Welch, Dallas, Dallas, Ga.; 0. C. Lam and son, Lam Amusement Company, Rome, Ga.; Mr. and Mrs. John Carter, theatres in Georgia. Pete Howell, head shipper. Allied Artists Southern Exchanges, and the wife, left for Florida for the holiday. . . . Leonard Burch, branch manager, United World Films, was back after spending the holidays with his parents in New York. ... In for a visit at the local branch w^as Burtus Bishop, Jr., midwest division sales manager, MGM. Jimmy Campbell and Ben Jox’dan, sales representatives. Allied Artists Southern Exchanges, were spending the holidays with their families. Arthur C. Bromberg, president, with the Mrs., was in the local office. . . . Leonard Burch, Atlanta branch manager. United World Films was back at his office after a visit with his family in New York state. . . . President Ed Stevens, Stevens Pictures, was back from Florida. . . . Herman (Dusty) Rhodes, drive-in owner, Georgia and Alabama, was host to the bookers at a party given at the Atlanta Variety Club. . . . The force at Allied Artists Southern Exchanges was host at a Christmas party given at the Paradise Room, Henry Grady Hotel. Moon Croker, Drive-In, Athens, Ga., was in for a visit with his partner, Herman Rhodes. . . . Bryan Adams looks very happy for he will soon be a new papa. He is branch managez*, UA. . . . Christmas trade at all drive-ins and theatres here was much better than last year. Floi-ida State Theatres announced the following changes, Peyton Bailey, man¬ ager, Arcade, Fort Myers, Fla., goes oyer to Marion, Ocala, Fla., and Ted Chapin, former manager, Marion, goes as manager, Daytona, Daytona Beach, Fla., replacing French Harvey, w’ho goes to the home office in Jacksonville. Carl¬ ton Bowden was transferred from the Ritz, Bartow, Fla., to replace Bailey at the Arcade, Fort Myers, Fla. Cliff Bailey, former assistant manager. Capital, Clearwater, Fla., moved up to Bowden’s former post at the Ritz, Bartow, Fla. C. L. Patrick, Martin Theatres, Colum¬ bus, Ga., reported that he has been suc¬ cessful in getting city a<lmi.ssion taxes eliminated or reduced in many towns in Alabama after making personal calls on the councilmen who even promised that January 12, 1955 SOUTHiJRN