The Exhibitor (1955)

MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR NT-1 XKWS OF THK BRANCHES Atlanta Johnnie Harrell, Martin Theatres cir¬ cuit buyer, checked in at his office after a trip to Jacksonville, Fla. . . . The Dale, Clarksdale, Ga., which has been closed for several years, will soon be re¬ opened by Harry Miles. . . . H. P. Law¬ rence, Pinson, Pinson, Ala., has closed the theatre. . . . The Pal Amusement Company has closed their Pal, Louis¬ ville, Ga. Nell Allen, Wilby, enjoying a vaca¬ tion in Florida. . . . Lynda Burnett, UA, checked in after a trip to Savannah, Ga. . . . R. B. Wilby, president, Wilby Theatres, and wife, left for a trip around the world. They expect to be gone three or four months. . . . Betty Lane, UA, was called to her home in south Georgia to be at the bedside of her sister who is seriously ill. After having closed for approximately six months, the Star, was reopened by B. H. Hart, in Crawfordville, Ga., who has leased the theatre for two months. Hart said that attendance during these two months would determine whether he would continue to operate the house. If attendance is up to expectations, he will then install all new equipment. Hai’t also owns a theatre in Davisboro, Ga. . . . Announcement was made of the second Florida film company to be organized in recent months. Empire Studios, Inc., the studio and offices will be in Orlando, Fla. They have leased a quarter million-dollar property with 600 acres of land. The Ritz, Hollywood, Fla., will soon be reopened by Tom Hagen. . . . The Dale-Mabry Drive-In, Tampa, Fla., now has Sunday church service as part of its public relations program. ... At Leesburg, Fla., Bill Cumbass, MGM Theatres in Florida, is preparing to build a 500-car drive-in. Hugh Martin, president of the company, is having plans drawn. This will be the second drivein for the company in Leesburg. . . . Hap Barnes, ABC Booking Service, back after visiting his office in Jack¬ sonville, Fla. . . . We had on the Row: R. E. Hook, Hooks Theatres, Alabama; Gordon Stonecypher, Cornelia DriveIn, Cornelia, Ga.; L. J. Duncan and Sid¬ ney Laird, Al-Dun Amusement Com¬ pany, West Point, Ga.; Jay Soloman, Independent Theatres, Chattanooga, Tenn.; H. M. Ford, Ford, Lavonia, Ga.; Tommy Lam, Lam Amusement Com¬ pany, Rome, Ga. . . . George Pabst, United Artists district managei-, was on a visit to the local office. Ben Jordan and Jimmy Campbell, sales representatives. Allied Artists southern exchanges, were in for a sales meeting. ... Ed Stevens, president Stevens Pictures, checked in at his office after a trip to New York. . , , William Georgia’s Governor Marvin Griffin re¬ cently signed a “Go To The Movies’’ proclamation in his capital office in Atlantic, honoring IMGM’s Motion Pic¬ ture Celebration. Watching, left to right, are Russell Gaus, branch manager, MGM; Enn Duncan, Carrollton, Ga., ex¬ hibitor; J. H. Thompson, president, Georgia Theatre Owners; and Alpha Fowler, Douglasville, Ga., exhibitor. Both Muncan and Fowler are members of the Georgia State Legislature. Richardson, president Capital and Astor Pictures, back from Florida. . . . N. E. Savini, special representative Astor Pictures, New York, was visiting at the local office. . . . The Center, Knoxville, Tenn., owned by Jesse Key has closed. . . . C. S. Perkins, Altec Service Corp¬ oration operating manager, has returned to New York. The regular board meeting of officers and directors of WOMPI was held at the Atlanta Variety Club. The regularluncheon meeting for February will be held at the Variety Club, with Margaret Turner, Atlanta Journal club editor, as guest speaker. . . . Arthur C. Brom¬ berg, Allied Artists southern exchanges, and Mrs. Bromberg, returned to their home in Bayou La Batre, Ala., after a visit to the . Atlanta and Charlotte branches. Mayor William B. Hartsfield, played host to an unusual guest, a 750-pound elephant. The mayor and the elephant exchanged greetings on the second floor of the city hall. The elephant, now on a nation-wide tour to publicize a forth¬ coming movie with Esther Williams “Jupiter’s Darling,” happily climbed the steps leading to the second floor of the city hall, entered the mayor’s office and grabbed ,a calendar off hizzoner’s desk. The mayor “presented” the ele¬ phant a key to the city. Jesse C. Cox, superintendent. Tower, has established his own business known as the Cox State Lighting Company. Governor Marvin Griffin has signed a proclamation on behalf of MGM’s “Motion Picture Theatre Celebration” declaring February as the “Go To The Movies Month.” Russell Gaus, MGM Atlanta branch manager; Erb Duncan, theatres in Georgia; J. H. Thompson, president, Martin and Thompson Thea¬ tres, Georgia; and Alpha Fowler, thea¬ tre owner, Douglasville, Ga., attended the ceremonies. Duncan and Fowler are members of the Georgia State Legis¬ lature. Charlotte The very cold weather this winter has caused Howard Chajiman, Cheri-y Hill Drive-In, Cowpens, S. C., to operate only on weekends. . . . Castle Haynes Drive-In, Castle Haynes, N. C., has closed for the winter. J. C. Wellons, who owns several driveins in and around Fayetteville, N. C., was in with his managers, buying and booking. . . . W. G. Funk, who operates the Star, St. Stephens, S. C.; New Drive-In, King.stree, S. C.; and East Main Drive-In, Lake City, S. C., is laid up with the flu. J. G. Scott, Palmetto Drive-In, Holly¬ wood, S. C., is doing a lot of rebuilding this winter, putting in a wide-screen and Cinemascope equipment. . . . Thea¬ tre Booking Service reports the follow¬ ing drive-ins will reopen full time op¬ erations on March 15, Viz-Bon-Air, Burlington, N. C. ; Skyview, Durham, N. C. ; and Twin Pines, Richmond, Va. Max Reinhardt Enterprises had the following exhibitors in talking over their problems: Bill Drace, Grand, Greer, S. C. ; Dick Horton, Wayne, Goldsboro, N. C.; and Carl Dobbin, Wilmington, N. C. . . . J. W. Wimpey, Murphy DriveIn, Murphy, N. C., will reopen full time on March 6. He was in making these arrangements with his booker. Theatre Booking Service. Phillips and Kepley, Welcome DriveIn, Welcome, N. C., were in to see Thea¬ tre Booking. . . . Russ Henderson, booker. Theatre Booking, is out of the hospital. . . . Ray Chapman, Roseland Drive-In, Lincolnton, N. C., was at¬ tending a cattle auction sale, and was run over by a bull, damage slight. Bill Henderson, Theatre Promotions, has returned from Warm Springs, Ga. Bob McClure, booker. Theatre Book¬ ing, has been out with the flu. . . . The cashier at the Jet Drive-In, Fayetteville, N. C., was robbed, hit over the head, and suffered a broken hip. She is Mrs. Virginia Currie, confined in the hospital better than two weeks. It will be at least six months before she will be able to work again. Paul Douglas made a personal ap¬ pearance at the Village, Raleigh, N. C., during the showing of “Green Fire.” . . . The Gaston Drive-In, Roanoke Rapids, N. C., two time victim of hurri¬ canes, will be rebuilt again, and they hope to have it operating again about April. . . . Mrs. R. S. Rogers, wife of owner, Chatam, Pittsboro, N. C., is home from the hospital. J. T. McSwain, South 1 Drive-In, Cary, N. C., managed to stay open dur¬ ing the deep snow they had up there. ... S. S. Stevenson, Embassy and Stevenson, Hendei'son, N. C., has re¬ turned from Florida and now is going to rebuild his fishing pier at Atlantic Beach, N. C., which was demolished by hurricane. . . . George Duffy’s mother from New England was visiting him in Oxford, N. C., George opei-atos the Orpheum and Carolina there. Fehruury 16, 1955 SOUTHERN