The Exhibitor (1955)

MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR NT -3 Among film personalities on hand for the Southeastern Movie Festival being held in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, were, left, Jim Arness, Warners star; Mary Murphy, Paramount star; Tommy Thompson, Georgia president, TO A; and, seated, Governor of Georgia Marvin Griffin; and, right, Thompson; Miss Murphy; and Dick Kennedy, Alabama president, TOA. Byron Adams, United Artists branch manager from Atlanta, called at booking offices. . . . Another Atlanta visitor was "Snake” Richardson, Capitol Releasing Corporation. . . . George Stonaris came in for a day from the Dreka, Deland. Fla. . . . Bob Daugherty, Haines City, Fla., general manager, Floyd Circuit, called at the company’s booking office here. . . . S. O. Jenkins, Sunset Drive-In, Brunswick, Ga„ returned from a stay at Hot Springs, Ark. . . . Going to Tampa, Fla., for two weeks was Roy Smith to oversee his candy and popcorn warehouse there while Billy Knight vacationed in Illinois. The latest local conversion to Cinema Scope has been at the Studio in the Florida Theatre Building. Except for War¬ ners product which is screened at the St. Johns, all Florida trade screenings are now being held in the seventh floor Studio, which seats approximately 80 persons. Leaving for a New York trip were Leon D. Netter, president, Florida State Thea¬ tres, who is scheduled to retire on July 1, and Mrs. Netter. . . . FST’s presidentdesignate, Louis J. Finske, returned from a visit into the circuit’s hinterland of south and central Florida. . . . Here for FST home office meetings were district supervisors Harry Botwick, Miami; Frank Bell, Tampa; and J. L. Cartwright, Daytona Beach. The local WOMPI club took an active part in selling advance tickets of the Variety Club’s “let’s get acquainted ball” at the Roosevelt Hotel. . . . Janice Claxton presided at a monthly luncheon meet¬ ing of the WOMPI. ... A picnic was scheduled on June 10 by all workers in the MGM branch office. . . . The Hinson School of Dancing will stage its annual “holiday for rhythm” show at the Palace on June 8. Memphis Full Navy cooperation on Allied Artists’ “Annapolis Story” at the Warner was assured by commanding officer R. D. Hutchins and liaison officer J. F. Dawson. The campaign is highlighted by the exhibition in front of the theatre of the million dollar replica of the Navy’s largest aircraft carrier which will remain on display for the full run of the picture. Two Navy chiefs and four enlisted men will work in shifts handling the display, which is electrically operated and carries its own truck and generator. Through Navy tieups, 13 radio and four TV pro¬ grams will plug the pictures, and 500 window cards will be distributed by Navy personnel. Off amusement page publicity has been promised by military editors of the Commercial Appeal and Press Scimitar. John Flinn, director of adver¬ tising and publicity for Allied Artists, congratulated Commander Dawson. New Orleans F. T. McLendon Theatres closed its Frisco, Frisco City, La. . . . Members of exchange personnel who are back at their posts after vacationing are Virginia Deano, ledger clerk; Ethel Sindt, same depart¬ ment; and Ellen Beyer and Effie Carlisle, inspectresses, all of Paramount, and at Republic, Nicholas Herkes, assistant ship¬ per, and Ethel Engler, inspectress. . . . In observance of the fifth anniversary of the Ritz, Natchez, Miss., under the same management, the local paper fea¬ tured a four column photo of the staff with owner Mrs. Irving Oberlin. . . . Thank you, Eileen Kaiser, 20th-Fox head booker, and a WOMPI member, for your subscription to Motion Pictuke Exiiiiutok. Theatres shuttered recently are Bossier, Bossier City, La.; Rex, Osyka, Miss., a Nick Erdey situation; and A1 W. Ribbeck's Rebex, Lake Charles, La. . . . Mrs. Vida LeBeau advised Transway to suspend service as she has closed the Blanche, Rougon, La., temporarily . Ralph B. Mann, manager, Fred T. Mc¬ Lendon’s Monroe, Monroeville, Ala., in cooperation with local merchants, is con¬ ducting a “Movie Queen of 1955” contest. The winner’s award will be an all expensepaid vacation trip to Florida for herself and a companion. . . . G. S. Owen, who WOMPI Group Elects New Officer Slate NEW ORLEANS — The Women of the Motion Picture Industry, in elec¬ tions held at the New Orleans Hotel, named Mrs. Gene Barnette, Bri-Mont Buying and Booking Exchange, presi¬ dent. Mrs. Barnette succeeds Mrs. Connie Aufdemorte. Also elected were Mrs. Ora Johnson, MPA, first vicepresident; Miss Shirley Folse, UA, second vice-president; Mrs. Mary Kelly, U-I, recording secretary; Mrs. Marie Berglund, MPA, corresponding secretary; Mrs. Imelda Giessinger, Richards Center, treasurer; and Mrs. Mary Morris, Paramount; Mrs. Nat¬ halie Odom, MGM; Miss Ruth Toubman, Southeastern Theatre Equip¬ ment, and Miss Elizabeth Bacon, UA, directors. The slate of nominees was under the direction of Miss Augusta Woolverton, MGM, chairman of the nomi¬ nating committee, who was assisted by committee members Mrs. Mary Morris, Paramount, and Miss Eliza¬ beth Bacon, UA. Serving as election tellers were Miss Claire Stone, MGM, Miss Judith Badeau, Pittman, and Mrs. Ellen Beyer, Paramount. but a few weeks ago announced that he acquired operation of the Dixieland DriveIn, Opp, Ala., sent word that he has also taken over another opposition airer, the Midway in that vicinity, from Robert Senn. The Army and Air Force Motion Pic¬ ture Service advised Transway that they have changed the name of the Alexandria Air Force Base to England Air Force Base, Alexandria, La. . . . Southern Amusement Company reopened the long closed Delta, Opelousas, La., completely remodeled, refurbished, and equipped with large screen and the newest in projection and sound. . . . William Bryant, manager, 20th-Fox, is back at the office after a business trek in Mobile, Ala., and western Florida. . . . Members of Republic’s per¬ sonnel on vacations are Sylvia Jensen, typist clerk, and Hazel Gordon, inspectress. Drive-ins reporting temporary clusing for screen tower repairs or replacements were the Joy, Greenville, Miss., which was completely blown down, and the Rio, Vidalia, La., which was partially destroyed in a series of vicious wind storms that whipped through Mississippi and eastern Louisiana. . . . William Murphy, South¬ eastern’s manager, checked in after a business jaunt in Florida. . . . G. B. Elam, Winnsboro, La., theatre operator, visited with his buying and booking representa¬ tive, Theatre Service Company, followed by a social call with Don Stafford and staff. Dixie Theatres. Art Katzen, Loew’s, Inc., field repre¬ sentative, was in town. . . . Marion Francioni, stenographer, Paramount, is on a pleasure jaunt. . . . Mrs. Tony Loiacano resigned as secretary to manager F. H. Hein, Stevens Pictures, to resume secre¬ tarial work for her previous employer, president, Bayou Candy Company. . . . Harold "Babe” Cohen returned from a trip to Atlanta. Joyce Quave, Joy N. Houck’s secretary, Joy’s Theatres, is spending her vacation at home. . . . Martin, Florala, Ala., a Martin Theatre situation, marked its sixth anniversary. Among the gifts presented to the people was a week’s pass to the first person who recalled the theatre’s opening feature presentation on May 6, 1949. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Frank Olah returned to their home in Albany, La., June 8, 1955