The Exhibitor (1955)

MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR NT-3 and Harold Dacey, manager, Raceland theatres Rex and Gayle, were here on their regular weekly rounds, as were Pops Molzon, Royal, Norco, La., and daughter, Anna, Royal, Labadieville, La., and Carl T. Withers, East End, Baton Rouge, La. . . . It’s now grandpappy Tom Neely, manager, NTS. Daughter-in-law Ruth gave bi th to a baby girl on Feb. 4. Proud father Tom, Jr., is on the sales staff at 20th-Fox. . . . Allied Theatre Owners of the Gulf States eighth annual convention is slated to be held at the Edgewater Gulf Hotel, Edgewater Park, Miss., Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, Apidl 3, 4, 5. . . . Thank you, Ira Olroyd, general manager, Teche, Franklin, La., for your three year renewal subscription to Motion Picture Exhibitor. . . . R. A. Sellers one of the four owners interest¬ ed in Hub Drive-In Theatres, Inc., re¬ ported that they shut down operations at the Lafayette Drive-In, Lafayette, La. . . . Cy Bridges, one of film rows veteran salesmen rounded out his 65th birthday. In town to promote the various movies either now playing or slated for an early in-town showing were Leon Uris, author of “Battle Cry,” the noval on which the Warners movie of the same name is based. He was accompan¬ ied by his wife, the former lady Marine Sergeant, Betty Beck, Waterloo, la. . . . Another who was here to publicize MGM’s “Green Fire” and “Bad Day at Black Rock,” in which he plays was actor John Ericson. He was ac¬ companied by his wife, singer Milly Coury, who is on a nationwide tour with him. . . . Also here for a couple days, was Mrs. Edwin Wideman and her 800 pound pachyderm “Doiothy,” to trumpet MGM’s “Jupiter’s Darling.” Warners division manager, John Kir¬ by, and district manager, W. O. Wil¬ liamson, Jr., visited with Lucas Conner and staff at the local branch. . . . Exhibitors seen on the Row were Joseph Barcelona, Regina and Tiv¬ oli, Baton Rouge, La.; Maurice Ven¬ able, Cankton, Cankton, La.; Ira Olroyd, Teche, Franklin, La., Roy Saxon, Kent¬ wood, La., and Alex Rosenthal, Joy and Silver City, Alexandria, La. . . . Fred B. McLendon, A1 Morgan and W. B. Johnson, Fred B. McLendon’s theatres. Union Springs, Ala., were here on a three day buying and booking trek. . . . Thank you, Clara Cote, Paramount Gulf “Hello Girl” joining the family of Motion Picture Exhibitor i-eaders. Darwin Jacoby, Berio Vending Com¬ pany, Philadelphia, Pa., was in town as was the company’s special i-epresentative Samuel W. Alexander. . . . Charlie’s Snack Shop, which has catered to Filmrow-ites for 14 years closed. The structure, along with Schaffer’s Film depot will soon be razed to give way to UA’s new modern film exchange, construction of which will soon get un¬ derway. . . . Urban and suburban ex¬ hibitors making the rounds were G. E. Wiltse, owner and manager Robert Ricourd, St. Bernard Drive-In; J. A. Parker, Gordon, Westwego, La.; Mrs. Bertha Foster, Violet, La.; Phillip Corte, Garden; Rene “Wompi” Brunet, Imperial ; Bill Shiell, Marrero DriveIn, Marrero, La.; Paul Brunet, Dixie; S. E. Mortimore; Lyall Shiell; Frank Olah’s Sr. and Jr., Skyvue; B. J. Keyhan, Gretna Greens Drive-In, Gretna, La.; William Sendy, Patio, and S. J. Gulino, Kenner, Kenner, La. Paul Shallcross, representative Amer¬ ican Desk Manufacturing Company, Temple, Tex., handled the sale of all new Ambassador chairs which Rene Brunet will have installed in the Im¬ perial. . . . Ernest Delahaye, Gwen, Maringouin, La., and O. Gaude, Magic, Port Allen, 0., were in, as was John Luster, general manager W, W. Page Amusement Company, Robeline, La., who informed us that they were re¬ modeling and converting a commercial building in Coushatta, La., into a thea¬ tre which will be known as the Paco. This will be their second indoor in that town and their eighth scattered in towns in Louisiana plus a drive-in in Leesville, La. . . . Mrs. Catherine Bonneval, secretary at Allied Theatre Own¬ ers of Gulf States headquarters, observ¬ ed a birthday on Feb. 3, and on Feb. 8 the Bonnevals rounded out 26 years of blissful wedded life. Harold Bailey, Gentilly; Abe Berenson; R. A. Sellers, Opelousas, La.; Jack O’Quinn, Kaplan, La.; Teddy Solomon, McComb, Miss.; Milton Guidry. Lafayette, La.; congregated at Allied headquarters to chat about their forth¬ coming annual convention, and National Allied’s Drive-In Convention from which several had just returned. . . . RKO’s district manager Dave Prince w'as here to confer with manager Roger Laman tia and staff. . . . A. J. Broussard, Chief, Bruce, and Trail Drive-In, Crowley, La., visited with his buyer and booker Rus¬ sell Callen, Associated. . . . Thank you Curtis Matherne getting on the band¬ wagon of Motion Picture Exhibitor readers. Matherne joined the sales staff at Columbia replacing John Winnberry who has been given the managerial post at the company’s Houston branch. . . . Mississippi exhibitors on the Row were M. A. Connett, Newton, Miss.; T. G. “Teddy” Solomon, McComb, Miss., Ed Jenner, Laurel, Miss., and Herb Hargroder, Hattiesburg, Miss. . . . Roy Saxon, Elroy, Kentwood, La., has taken over operation of the Welsh, Welsh, La. . . . Lawrence Woolner returned after a week’s trek in Texas in the interest of Rebel Productions, Inc., which he, brother Bernard, and Don Kay head. The end of the Don George circuit which had its beginning in 1934 was marked with the announcement that George had entered into contract to sell his last four theati’es, two in Shreve¬ port, La., and the other two in Bossier City, La. Thomas L. McElroy, pi-esident, McElroy Theatres; and O. D. Harrison, local hotel operator and head of whole¬ sale tobacco company, announced they signed a contract with George for the purchase “in excess of a half million dollars” of the four theati’es. The thea¬ tres are the Don, Shreveport; Venus, Shreveport; Davis, Bossier City; an the Don Drive-In, located on the Minden Road. The Welsh, Franklinton, La., owned and operated by M. F. Welsh, has been sold to E. E. McMillan, Franklinton, and Roy L. Saxon, Kentwood, for a reported $30,000. McMillan will manage and operate with the name to be changed at a later date. ... Joe D. Lyons, manager. Strand, Shreveport, La., recently held a special morning Disney show for pupils of the Caddo School for Exceptional Children. About 60 children, some using wheel chairs and other special equipment attended, in addition to a speech therapist at the school and her class. Florida Miami James Terry, Jr., has been appointed assistant manager, 27th Avenue DriveIn, replacing Delmar Powell, promoted to manager. North Andrews Drive MGM recently held its fifth Workshop at the Heidelberg MGM field press representative. New Orleans and Memphis Hotel, Jack.son, Miss., with over . 200 in attendance. Shown territories, and Emery M. Austin, director of exploitation, is a general view of the meeting, and, right, Art Katzen, who were present. February 16, 1955