The Exhibitor (1955)

NT-2 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR "MGM’s Memphis Ticket Selling Workshop was held recently at the Peabody Hotel and drew the greatest exhibitor attendance of any industry event held in that city. Seen on the dais, left to right, are M. A. Lightman, Jr.; Mayor Phank Tobey of Memphis; 31. A. Lightman, Sr.; \V. P. Franklin, Coca-Cola representative in Atlanta; Louis C. Ingram, Memphis MGM manager; Mike Simons, MGM customer relations director; John Ericson, co-star in “Bad Day At Black Rock”; Flmery Austin, 3IGM exploitation head; 3Irs. Ericson; and Ruck Brown, theatre representative for Coca Cola in the Tri-States area. Frank Harris, Harris Theatre Sales, /ost his mother. . . . Bernaid Jacon, IFE Releasing Company, New York, was in town visiting his district man¬ ager, Dave Williams. Exhibitors in buying and booking were W. H. Smith, Pal, Fairfax, S. C.; J. K. White, Allendale, Allendale, S. C.; Bob Wilburn, Sunset Drive-In, Buffalo, S. C.; P. G. McGee, Winston Salem Drive-In, Winston Salem, N. C.; Arthur Martin, Cowpens, Cowpens, S. C.; James K. Huidong, Saluda, Saluda, S. C.; J. W. McMillian, Lamar, Lamar, S. C.; Howai’d Bynum and S. L. Pinkston, 601 Drive In, Salisbury, N. C.; Joe Accardi, Sky¬ line Drive-In, Morganton, N. C. ; W. G. Fussell, Wonet, Bladenboro, N. C.; O. K. Hogan, St. Paul, St. Paul, N. C.; Jim Hyatt, Midway, Lancaster, S. C.; L. J. New, Nu-Pont Drive-In, Kingston, N. C. ; Alfred Rumley, Springs Road Drive-In, Haickory, N. C.; R. R. Rumley, Fox Drive-In, Spartanbui’g, S. C.; W. H. Patrick, Rock Hill Drive-In, Rock Hill, S. C.; R. D. McGowan, Joyce, Spring Hope, N. C. ; George Whitley, Laur-Max Drive-In, Laurinburg, N. C.; and Bill Harward, Concord Drive-In, Concord, N. C. The Visulite was picketed by mem¬ bers of Local 322, lATSE. The dispute was reported to be over pay for Wed¬ nesday afternoon matinees. Jacksonville Walter J. Lloyd, city manager, Florida State Theatres, Tampa, Fla., was the main guest of honor at a testimonial banquet and dance here which marked his retirement from an active part in show business. The affair was attended by 102 persons from FST, the opposi¬ tion theatres, lATSE unions, and Tampa’s city officialdom. Frank Bell, FST district manager, was toastmaster. Leading speakers were LaMar Sarra, Jacksonville, FST vice president, who praised Lloyd’s 33 years of service to the industry in Florida and New Eng¬ land; William Sullivan, who spoke on behalf of lATSE Local 321; and Joe Taylor, manager of the Hillsboro Drive-In, who spoke for managers and employees of the group of theatres who had served under Lloyd. The Lloyds were presented with a 21-inch TV set as a going-away gift. Visitors from Jacksonville at the banquet included Sarra; FST executives Joe J. Deitch, Mark DuPree, and Kenneth Bairet; and John N. Spearing, who represented lATSE president Richard F. Walsh. A legislative meeting of officers and regional directoi’S of the Motion Picture Exhibitors of Florida was scheduled here by Jerry Gold, Pahokee, MPEOF president. To be held at the Roosevelt Hotel, it is expected that more than 40 officers and dii'ectors will attend the planning session which is being held in advance of the opening of the Florida Legislature’s 60-day gathering in Talla¬ hassee this spring. ... In co-operation with the American Cancer Society, George Krevo, manager. Palace, pre¬ sented a free public screening of “Horizons Of Hope.” Claudia Hall, featured player in “Six Bridges To Cross,” made a series of public appearances in connection with the motioTi picture’s first-run opening at the St. Johns. . . . The re-opening of the Ritz, Tallahassee, Fla., was reported by Glenn Gryder, chief booker, Talgar Theatres. He said that it will have an art policy and will be managed by Tommy Hyde. . . . Cliff Hardin has resigned from the United Artists book¬ ing staff. . . . Otis Ray and OliveiMathews, U-I, were planning to attend a U-I bookers gathering in New Orleans. . . . J. D. Jernigan, U-I salesman, was here from his east coast territory. The newly-organized WOMPI schedul¬ ed a membership luncheon at the Roosevelt Hotel, announced president Janice Claxton. ... A Variety Club cocktail party was planned, with T. P. Tidwell, 2()th-Fox branch manager, and George Mason, Jacksonville Journal movie critic, serving as hosts for the evening. . . . Other Variety Club social events planned for the month include a family night “Buck” Robuck, United Artists, and Roy Smith, Roy Smith Candy Company, in charge; and a party to be held jointly with WOMPI at which Johnny Tomlinson, Warners salesman, and Judge May, Florida Times-Union movie critic, will serve as hosts. Linda Fleming, 20th-Fox billing clerk, was rushed to a hospital for an emer¬ gency operation. . . . Bob Mochrie, rep¬ resenting Samuel Goldwyn, was here from New York. . . . With branch man¬ ager Carroll Ogburn at the Warners office were Ollie Williamson and John Kirby, Atlanta, Ga. . . . Exhibitors here included B. B. Garner, Lakeland, Fla., president, Talgar Theatres, and Jim Partlow, Orlando, Fla. . . . Harold Laird, Tampa, Fla., Republic branch manager, was here for a day. . . . Another visitor was Jerry Wexler, J. Arthur Rank rep¬ resentative from New York. Memphis The Memphis Board of Censors has banned Columbia’s “Bamboo Prison” on the ground it is unpatriotic and “inimical to public welfare.” Ruth Collins, former secretary to Joe Young at Warners has replaced Lynn Long at United Theatres. Long married and is moving to California. Young re¬ placed Collins with Wilma Bryant, former Warners employe. . . . Valeria and Sid Gullett spent a weekend in Houston, Tex. They operate the Benoit, Benoit, 3Iiss. . . . The new stenographer at United Artists is Myrtie Pugh. . . . Guy Haskins, Autovue Drive-In, Mald¬ en, Mo., was in booking and making plans for his opening in February. . . . A victim of the flu was J. D. Shepherd, Rex, DeValls Bluff, Ark. . . . Visiting on Row was C. J. Collier, Globe, Shaw, Miss. . . . Cecil Mayberry and wife have sold the New Basin, Eureka Springs, Ark., to John Gray, Tulsa, Okla. Mayberry will retain the Berryville. Ark., theatre. New Orleans Roger Corman and James Nicholson, The Ameiican Releasing Company, Hollywood, will meet here with their southern distributing representatives, J. Francis White, Charlotte; Joy N. Houck and Harold “Babe” Cohen, New Or¬ leans; Herman Beiersdorf, Dallas, and Fred Meyers, Memphis at the Jung Hotel. Also here for the conclave will be the company’s Indianapolis distribu¬ tor Bob Harrell. . . . Alfred Ruh, assist¬ ant manager, Pittman’s Tiger, has been advanced to the managerial post. . . . Callers at J. G. Broggi, buying and booking headquarters were Herb Hargroder, Beverly Drive-In, Hattiesburg, Miss; Eugene T. Calongne, Bell; P. Pecunia, Beverly, Gretna, La., and An¬ thony Fiorita, Pix. . . . T. A. Pittman, president and Earl Perry, general man¬ ager, Pittman Theatres, rate a thank you for renewal subscriptions to Motion Picture Exhibitor for the Pitt, Tiger home office, and Delta, New Orleans; Fox, Sulphur, La.; Pitt, Lake Charles, La., and the Rex and Dalton, Baton Rouge, La. A. J. Broussard has reopened the Bruce, Crowley, La., which he kept closed since the opening of his new Chief last October. . . . Thank you Raymond Gremillion, Sales and Service represen¬ tative Southeastern Theatre Equipment for your renewal subscription to Motion Picture Exhibitor. . . . G. Prat, Prat-Aucoin Theatres, Vacherie, La., February 16, 1955