The Exhibitor (1966)

DALLAS Monte G. Young has been appointed anima¬ tion director and Mayme Allen graphic de¬ signer-illustrator of Bill Stokes Associates, Inc., Dallas based audio-visual production firm. Young’s most recent previous position was assistant art director of A-V Gorp. of Houston. Mrs. Allen formerly was art director of Sales Promotion Services, Inc. Both ap¬ pointments are new staff positions, president Bill Stokes said. . . . Two forthcoming Para¬ mount releases will be shown at the Inwood on Nov. 15 (Paramount Day) by the studio. They include “Funeral in Berlin,” starring Michael Caine, and “El Dorado,” starring John Wayne. . . . Condolances are being ex¬ tended to William E. Mitchell, vice-president of Texas Consolidated Theatres, on the death of his father, Charles Mitchell, 87. . . . The Dallas Youth Film Forum held its second meeting of the current school year at Cinema I in NorthPark Saturday at 10 a.m. The forum is sponsored by the Texas Motion Picture Board of Review. . . . Services were held for John C. Greer, 56, who was formerly em¬ ployed by United Artists and Metro-GoldwynMayer film exchanges. . . . Mike Kaplan, assistant to producer-director Robert Wise, was in the city to talk with representatives of 20th Century-Fox about possible dates and locations for the local showing of “The Sand Pebbles.” . . . Richard H. Rogers of New York, vice-president of the theatre division of Modern Talking Picture Service, distributor of free short subjects, has named American International Pictures of Texas as distributor in the local area. There are now five titles available for showing. . . . The Wilshire was shuttered for a two week period to complete its remodeling program. The lobby is being greatly enlarged, new concessions facilities in¬ stalled, and all new 70mm projection equip¬ ment added. . . . Several protests were re¬ ceived from parents concerning the showing of “Civil Riots, U.S.A.” which was shown at a local public school. . . . “Bolshoi Ballet ’67,” featuring the famous Moscow ballet, will open the newly refurbished Wilshire and play for three weeks. . . . Plans are being made for a Texas premiere of the new John WayneKirk Douglas film “The War Wagon,” with Wayne to head the Hollywood troupe to come to Texas for the first showing. . . . McLendon Theatres unveiled the new Pan-I-Rama pro¬ jector for the press in a special screening of “Khartoum” at the Park Forest. The new pro¬ jector features a new lens process which gives more depth to screen images. The new pro¬ jector is now featured for the public. DES MOINES Central States Theatre Corp. of Des Moines has purchased land in the Waterloo, la., area for a drive-in. The circuit operates the Starlite and Skyvue drive-ins in the Waterloo area. . . . Jimmy Ricketts, office manager, Columbia exchange, is hospitalized at Broadlawns in Des Moines. . . . The Des Moines Variety Club annual Christmas party will be held Dec. 6 at the Julia B. Mayer center, with top prize this year to be a color tv set. DETROIT W. R. Praught, W. R. Praught agency, recently spoke to the ladies of the Motion Picture Council at their November meeting. Praught’s topic was “Support the Best, Forget The Rest.” A highlight of Praught’s talk was the showing of a 10 minute production trailer on “Is Paris Burning?” which Praught will be handling for the Music Hall Theatre in Detroit. 18 5>Vsr« mm For Columbia's "Dead Heat On A Merry-Go-Round" engagement at the Victoria and Festival, New York, this mobile carousel traveled between both houses offering free rides to adults only. The street bally was attended by ballygirl Lee Stevens. Larry Collins, the American half of the writ¬ ing team that wrote “Is Paris Burning?” was in Detroit to help publicize the picture open¬ ing at the Music Hall Theatre here Nov. 17. . . . The Variety Club of Detroit’s heart fund chairman William Wetsman, W & W Theatres, announced the annual fund raising premiere will be held at the L;nited Artists Theatre, Feb. 14, 1967. The attraction will be “Ha¬ waii.” The money raised is used for the Variety Club Growth and Development Center at Children’s Hospital. . . . Robert Salter, execu¬ tive with United Detroit Theatres, is recover¬ ing from his recent illness at the Detroit Osteo¬ pathic Hospital, Highland Park, Mich. HOUSTON Maurice Chevalier appeared here in person at Jones Hall of the Performing Arts under the auspices of Barbara and Art Squires, Southwest Concerts, Inc. All those attending were invited to toast Chevalier on his 80th birthday at intermission with free champagne served, the latest in fur fashions, and 1967 car styles in a parking lot across from Jones Hall. Chevalier could also be seen on the screen of the Delman in “Gigi” in a return engagement. . . . Charles Paine, managing director, Windsor Cinerama, is recovering from minor surgery performed at Sharpstown Gen¬ eral Hospital. ... A special screening of “Alfie” was held at Meyerland Cinema I and Cinema II for members of Bill Calder’s Show Biz Army. . . . Andre Previn has been named new conductor of the Houston Symphony Or¬ chestra. Previn has written the background music for more than 40 films. . . . Michael Caine will be unable to visit Houston on a pro¬ motional tour for “Funeral in Berlin,” his latest film. He is scheduled to visit Dallas. . . . “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” had a multiple opening on its return engagement at six indoor and 10 D-I’s. . . . Among the participants in the premiere of “Texas Across the River” at the Majestic was a group of beauties from over the state known as “Dino’s Darlings.” The girls, dressed in brief, freely adapted Indian costumes, were in on numerous promotion events, including a boat trip down the Ship Channel. It was on the cruise that someone overheard a conversation between one of the darlings, a comely blue-eyed blonde with her hair in Pocahontas-style braids, and a not entirely gallant male admirer: “And we had to win a contest to get here,” she was saying. “What kind of a contest?” he asked. “Beauty! Can’t you tell?” JACKSONVILLE Richard Lewis, former head booker at 20th Century-Fox, has taken over the Florida dis¬ tribution of Dominant Pictures following a conference with Harry Kerr, head of Domi¬ nant, who came here from his Charlotte head¬ quarters. Richard is also handling Magna attractions. . . . Cleo Deaver, wife of C. H. “Danny” Deaver, local exhibitor with Meiselman Theatres, is out of Baptist Hospital after being confined there with a broken hip which she suffered in an accident at their home. . . . Harold Popel, booker for Wometco Enter¬ prises, is in Baptist Hospital, South Miami, for major lung surgery. . . . Jane Brooks, a former magazine editorial worker, has taken over Florida State Theatres’ local newspaper ad writing duties from WOMPI Claudia Taylor, who resigned to edit the house organ of the local Massey Business College. . . . Miss Rose McKenny is W. A. “Bill” McClure’s new secretary at Universal, replacing WOMPI Sandra E. Summerlin, who is on a maternity leave of absence. . . . Tom Gerard, former booker in the FST home office here, who broke into the pulp paper field a few years ago, has advanced rapidly in his new career. The St. Regis Paper Co. has promoted Tom from sales manager of the firm’s local con¬ tainer plants (employing hundreds of workers) to general manager of operations. . . . R. A. Altobellis, president of the 1966 Jacksonville Agricultural and Industrial Fair, singled out the local Women of the Motion Picture In¬ dustry for his particular praise among the civic groups which assisted the Motion Picture Charity Club and the Chamber of Commerce in conducting the annual fair. He pointed out that WOMPI donated the impressive total of 1700 hours of work to the fair during its 11day run at the Gator Bowl and environs. He also stated that it was the most successful fair in local history as some 229,000 persons — 54,000 more than last year — enjoyed the fair’s attractions. Mrs. Mary Hart, local WOMPI president, was interviewed by a Florida TimesUnion reporter concerning the work of WOMPI members at the fair. . . . Herb Ruffner, assistant at the downtown Florida who is holding down the fort while manager Walt Meier recovers from an auto accident, pre¬ sented a Saturday night sneak preview of “The Swinger” during his run of “Return of the Seven.” . . . Miss Dorothy Collins, New York television actress, came in to spearhead the local Muscular Dystrophy Association’s annual drive. Assisting her in opening the drive were Mayor Louis H. Ritter and Tandy Swink, announcer for radio station WJAX. . . . The Ballet Folklorico of Mexico has been booked into the Civic Auditorium for late November dates. . . . Frances Langford, for¬ mer singing star, stopped off for an inspection of the Jacksonville Convalescent Center which she owns along with Pat Boone, Gene Kelly, and other Hollywoodians. Frances revealed that she will soon be entertaining U. S. service¬ men in the armed camps of South Viet Nam. With her will be Tony Romano, a sing¬ ing guitarist who accompanied her and Bob Hope on many of their trips overseas, and another singer named Johnny Cuzzins. . . . W. O. “Ollie” Williamson, Warner Bros, division manager in Atlanta, arrived for meet¬ ings with Carroll Ogburn, local Warner Bros, manager, and his sales staff. . . . MCM The¬ atres of Leesburg, headed by Bill Cumbaa, have leased the Lake Theatre and the Lunar Drive-In, both in Lake City, from Robert Cannon. MCM has renamed the Lake, and it is now called the Gateway Theatre. . . . Mrs. Edith Graff has scheduled the shuttering of the Groveland Theatre in Groveland on Nov. MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR November 16, 1966