The Exhibitor (1956)

22 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 20th-Fox's Marine Film Draws Women s Protest Dallas — The Dallas Federation of Women’s Clubs and the Sunshine Club have protested the proposed plan of 20thFox to film a motion picture based on actions of Sergeant Matthew C. McKeon and the death of the six Marine recruits in a night march into a tidal swamp at Parris Island, S. C. This was on the heels of the announcement concerning the Darryl F. Zanuck production, “Parris Island.” The woman charged that plans for the film “based on the incident, with the sergeant playing himself in the picture, are morbid, macabre, and shocking to the thinking public.” The resolution also claims that “such a movie, by making a hero out of a man . . . will be demoraliz¬ ing and brutalizing, especially to the young and impressionable.” The resolution calls for the clubs to petition 20th -Fox to reconsider the plan, and also calls for the clubwomen “and others interested” in public morals to boycott the film should it be made and released. part time employee of Academy Film Service Company. . . . Doris Day spent a busy day here to promote her newest picture, “Julie.” She made two appear¬ ances in Loew’s State, met members of the press, radio, and TV at a luncheon hosted by Loew’s, Inc., attended a cock¬ tail party staged by Columbia Records distributors, and participated in the Columbus Day parade. . . . Michael Koury, who recently purchased the Grove, Lorain, O., from the George Shenker estate, now is operating the theatre him¬ self. John Dandrea had been operating it. Dallas Raymond Willie, assistant general man¬ ager, Interstate Theatre Circuit, was on the west coast looking into film bookings. ... For outstanding service to the Dallas Society for Crippled Children, Karl Hoblitzell, head, Interstate Circuit, has been named an honorary lifetime director of the philanthropic organization. . . . The local United Artists exchange, headed by James Clemens, has won the United Artists Week Drive. Cash prizes for the leaders are topped by an award of three weeks’ salary for each member of the exchange. . . . Bob Hope was to play a benefit golf exhibit at the Riverlake Country Club to aid victims of cerebral palsy. His partners were to be Governor Allen Shivers, former football star Doak Walker, and National Open Champion Cary Middlecoff. . . . Trans-Texas The¬ atres now maintains its general office in Dallas with Louis Novy, president, in charge. . . . Malvern S. Watson has been named office manager, Paramount, re¬ placing Lloyd Henrick. Bob Dunn, sales¬ man, resigned to accept a post with the Interstate booking department. He was replaced by Ralph Fry, who was pre¬ viously head booker, Paramount. . . . The first Regalscope release, “Stagecoach to Fury” was screened in the 20th-Fox ex¬ change for exhibitors and the sales staff, headed by Mark Sheridan, Bill Williams, and W. S. Miller. ... A special screening of “Sharkfighters” was held by UA. Newspaper Salutes Success Of Small Town Theatre DES MOINES— The Allerton, Keystone, la., received considerable pub¬ licity in the Cedar Rapids Gazette, with a series of pictures and a story which outlined how a small town motion picture house helped business in a small community. The town of Keystone has 450 population and the newspaper article claimed that it probably was one of the smallest communities in Iowa having a movie house that operated three times a week every month each year. The theatre, with 224 seats, has single shows on Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday night and is operated by Dale and Kenneth Allers. Denver Voting by mail is in progress for di¬ rectors of Variety Club, Tent 37. The nominating committee has placed on the ballot Duke Dunbar, Jack Felix, Henry Friedel, Dick Fulham, Marvin Goldfarb, Bill Hastings, Philip Isaacs, Fred Knill, Robt. Lotito, Paul Lyday, Bruce Marshall, Car] Miller, Mayer Monsky, Frank Norris, Jim Ricketts, Bob Spahn, Joe Stone, Bob Sweeten, George Tucker, Dick Wadley, and Jack Wodell. Eleven will be named from this list, and they, in turn, will name the officers for the coming year. . . . Bailey Distributing Company has taken over distribution of 65 Warners reissues for the Denver and Salt Lake City terri¬ tories, along with “Godzilla” and several Lippert features. . . . Carlos Ferrer and Modesto Saenz, Mexico City, of Filmadora Chapultepec, were in buying supplies and conferring with Gilbert Martinez, branch manager, Clasa Mohme. The men said the outlook for Mexican films, both in the U. S. and Mexico, was very good, and that Mexican companies are using more color. John B. McCullough, Motion Pictures Association, New York, was in calling on Clifford Blackstock, manager, Earle, Mount Airy, N. C., recently promoted RKO's "The First Trav¬ eling Saleslady" by utilizing the services of local gal Pat Brown, Miss Osceola, Arkansas, of 1955, who served as an attractive door-to-door street bally. Warners Elevate Southern Executives Dallas — Ed Williamson, Warners south¬ west district manager, has been promoted to midwest division sales manager, with headquarters in New York. Grover Liv¬ ingston has been promoted to southern district manager here from southeast dis¬ trict manager. In his new post, Williamson will super¬ vise offices in Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, Des Moines, Minneapolis, Omaha, Kansas City, and St. Louis. He began with War¬ ners as a salesman in the Memphis ex¬ change in 1929 and was upped to branch manager there in 1942. He became branch manager here in 1950 and was named southwest district manager in 1953. Livingston became a salesman for War¬ ners in Oklahoma City in 1946 and was upped to branch manager in 1948. He be¬ came branch manager at Charlotte in 1950 and took the same title at the Atlanta exchange in 1955. He became southeast district manager later that year. branch managers. . . . R. W. Buckley, recently manager, Belle, Belle Fourche, S. D., has been made manager, West, Gunnison, Colo., an Atlas Theatres house. He succeeds James Ellis, who quit to join the Air Force. . . . The Lakewood, Lakewood, Colo., is closing Jan. 1, and the building will be remodeled for other business. The house is only six years old and situated in the midst of continuing real estate development, but apparently did not catch on. . . . Larry Starsmore, Colorado Springs, Colo., Westland The¬ atres president, to New York on business. . . . Marvin Goldfarb, Buena Vista district manager, went east to visit other cities in his district. Houston A Universal exchange will be built here, with construction to start as soon as the materials arrive, according to Bob Wilkerson, southwest district manager, with headquarters at Dallas. . . . Wayne Taylor, MGM, was due here with three starlets to promote the forthcoming showing of “The Opposite Sex.” The girls, Marjorie Hellen, Theona Bryant, and Betty Uitti, were scheduled to participate in a fashion show at Foley’s Department Store. . . . Zsa Zsa Gabor was to appear in the Ma¬ jestic in conjunction with the opening of “The Death Of A Scoundrel.” . . . Palm trees have been planted at the site of the new Loew’s drive-in at Sharpstown, Tex., according to Phil Brockman, who replaced Roland Connor, transferred to New Eng¬ land. . . . Russell Vovim was in from the Dallas office pinch-hitting for Homer McCallon, manager, Loew’s State, who was on vacation. . . . Sylvia Protka, secretary, 20th-Fox, had an emergency appendec¬ tomy. . . . Leila Campise is the new cash¬ ier, Loew’s State. Jacksonville George Krevo has been promoted from manager, Imperial, to the FST booking staff. Bill Korenbrot, local exploiteer, is now managing the Imperial. . . . Tim Crawford has shifted from managing the San Marco to the downtown Arcade. . . . The local Motion Picture Council, headed by Colonel John Crovo, has launched an October 31, 1956