The Exhibitor (1955)

NT-2 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR son, Fla., is the new owner of the New Drive-In, High Springs, Fla., from its former owners, Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Gutschlag. . . . Norris Hadaway, man¬ ager, Alabama, Birmingham, Ala., is the new president of the Birmingham Ad¬ vertising Club. . . . Maurice Shaaber, WilKin Theatre Supply Company, Atlanta, supervised the installation of Cinema Scope at the Imperial, Jacksonville, Fla. . . . Ralph B. Mann, manager, Monroe, Monroeville, Ala., is conducting a contest in cooperation with local merchants to select a “Movie Queen of 1955.” The winner will receive a trip to Florida for herself and a companion. The Main Street Drive-In, Jacksonville, Fla., is asking damages of $450,000 in Federal court, Jacksonville, against Trop¬ ical Drive-In, owner-operator of the twoscreen Normandy Theatre. Grounds are alleged agreements enforced by the op¬ position theatre to get films ahead of the plaintiff. Violations of portions of the Sherman and Clayton anti-trust acts are alleged to constitute actual damages of $150,000, and triple the amount is allowed under the law. Dr. T. A. Cochran and John P. Edge, owners, Blue Sky Drive-In, La Fayette, Ga„ feature 400-car capacity and a 100foot screen. . . . The 78 Drive-In, Jasper, Ala., installed Cinemascope and paved all parking areas and driveways. . . . The Sky-Vue Drive-In, Oneonta, Ala., formerly the Blount Drive-In, has re¬ opened, having undergone extensive re¬ pairs and remodeling. The Tamiami, Naples, Fla., installed Cinemascope. ... A Federal gift tax claim against Mrs. Nettie E. Sudekum, widow of Tony Sudekum, has been settled out of court for $84,307.50. Mr. Sudekum was founder of the Crescent Amusement Company. . . . Ernest Ingram, Lineville, Lineville, Ala., has installed a new wide screen. . . . Celebrating its sixth anni¬ versary, the Martin, Florala, Ala., awarded a week’s pass to the first person who correctly named the house’s opening attraction. Charlotte The Waylyn, Charleston, S. C., opened. Manager is James W. Cox. This is served by Queen City Booking Agency. . . . Mrs. C. E. Wister, mother-in-law of Mrs. V. Wister, employee, Screen Guild, is a patient in Mercy Hospital. Cathy Sykes, daughter of H. M. Sykes, Jr., operator, Queen City Booking Agency, is ill in Mercy Hospital. . . . Dave Wil¬ liams, salesman for IFE, has been under the weather with a slight heart condition which is improving slowly. Brightleaf Drive-In, Mt. Airy, N. C., has reopened with E. L. Davis and E. R. Forrest, owners, under Queen City Book¬ ing Agency. . . . Mrs. Blanche Carr, cashier, MGM, is vacationing in Florida. . . . Mrs. Lillian Nolen missed the WOMPI banquet due to the serious illness of her father. Mrs. Sam Garber, owner, Williston. Williston, S. C., was in buying and book¬ ing with her arm in a sling. She states Along with E. H. Brauer, Atlanta branch manager. Republic, the “Wompettes” of the Atlanta Club of the Women of the Motion Picture Industry joined in the recent Old Newsboys Day parade. Seen, left to right are Mrs. Ernestine Carter, Paramount; Mrs. Harriett Duval, A.B.C. Booking Office; Mrs. Shirley Smoak, UA; Greta Flowers, MGM; Doris Honea, Buena Vista, and Mrs. Jackie Cowart, UA. Fol¬ lowing the parade, they assisted Brauer sell papers in the Buckhead area. Old Newsboy Day was jointly sponsored by the Atlanta Variety Club and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, with all proceeds, over $75,000, going to the Cerebral Palsy School. that she fell down and sprained her wrist. Her daughter accompanied her this trip. . . . Lloyd Todd, Jr., employee, StewartEverett Enterprises, was made an officer in the American Legion Club at Morris Field recently. Gordan Bradley, district manager. Para¬ mount, Atlanta, was in visiting with branch manager A1 Duren. Jacksonville The Davy Crockett craze here reached a new high several days prior to star Fess Parker’s scheduled round of public appearances. Department and children's stores blossomed out with numerous win¬ dow and counter displays. Managers of the new city baseball park were planning to accommodate a capacity crowd when Parker arrives there for dedication cere¬ monies. The motion picture is booked at the Palace, managed by George Krevo, on June 9. The two starlets promoting Mickey Spillane’s “Kiss Me Deadly” for UA, Maxine Cooper and Elyse Novy, were greeted upon their recent arrival at the Atlanta air¬ port by A. B. Padgett, Wilby-Kincey Thea¬ tres; Bob Tarwater, sales manager, UA in Atlanta; and two of the Wompettes of the Atlanta Club of Women of the Motion Picture Industry, Mrs. Jackie Cowart and Miss Doris Honea. Seventh WOMPI Croup Chartered Charlotte — The newly decorated Chel¬ sea Room of Hotel Charlotte was the scene of the installation ceremony of the officers of the newly chartered WOMPI Club, which is the seventh one in existence at the present time. Scott Lett, branch manager, Screen Guild, was master of ceremonies. He ex¬ pressed appreciation to Mrs. Myrtle Parker, president, for asking him to serve in this capacity. He introduced the male guests as the bosses were the honored ones on this occasion. They in¬ cluded Gene Dyer; Kermit High, Carolina, Charlotte; W. M. Primm; Carl Patterson, office manager, Columbia; R. D. William¬ son, branch manager, Columbia; J. E. Holson, branch manager, 20th-Fox; Olin Mock, office manager, 20th-Fox; Dick Huffman, MGM salesman; Jack Reville, branch manager, MGM; J. King; F. Nor¬ man; R. M. Simril, National Screen Serv¬ ice; R. M. Young; Weber Howell, office manager, Paramount; A. B. Craver, Con¬ solidated Theatres; J. H. Dillon, branch manager, Republic; E. G. Stellings, Stellings-Gossett Theatres; Charles Trexler; R. C. Saunders, Theatre Booking Agency; C. A. Dandelake, president, North and South Carolina Theatre Owners; W. Ayers; J. Greenleaf, branch manager, U-I; A. Sclar, office manager, Warners; R. L. Smart, Wilby-Kincey Theatres, and J. C. Tipton, Wilken Theatre Supply. Lett congratulated the club on the success they have already realized on their project for the women of the County Home and also in their fund raising project, raffle. Preceding the dinner, Dandelake held a cocktail hour. The Charlotte chapter was officially in business after receiving its charter from national headquarters. The charter was presented to Mrs. Myrtle Parker by Lett, who also installed the officers, Mrs. Myrtle Parker, president; Mrs. Gladys Hawkins, first vice-president; Mrs. Rosaline Hutton, second vice-president; Mrs. Mildred War¬ ren, treasurer; Mrs. Mildred Hoover, re¬ cording secretary; Mrs. Margaet Baker, corresponding secretary, and Mrs. Hazel Miller, chaplain. The board consists of Mrs. Rebecca Miller, Mrs. Pauline Griffith, Mrs. Lillian Nolen, and Mrs. Viola Wister, in addition to the officers. The banquet was attended by approximately 100 persons, including executives of film exchanges, theatre chains, theatre booking and supply houses, and other firms engaged in the film industry here. Mrs. Parker congratulated the commit¬ tee who planned the installation, Mrs. Pau.ine Griffith, Mrs. Gladys Hawkins, Mrs. Margaret Baker, Katherine Lomax, and Mrs. V. Wister. The reopening of the Fairfax is planned at an early date, but not as a motion picture house. The city’s new Theatre Guild, directed by Paul Geisenhof, will offer stage plays in competition with the Little Theatre. . . . Efficient fire fighters prevented the burning of the Arcade when the largest downtown fire in many years destroyed a nearby clothing store. June 8, 1955