Boxoffice-April.17.1948

MORE THAN 7,000 DELEGATES
ATTEND VARIETY CONVENTION
Miami Entertains Leaders
Of Show Business of
Three Nations
MIAMI—Variety Clubs International demonstrated
Sunday, preconvention opening day,
in a small but significant way that "the
heart of show business" is not limited to the
theatre. A group of delegates to this 12th
annual convention were speeding to Miami
Beach with a motorcycle escort.
At a main intersection one of the motorcycle
riders, R. R. Hedemark, was involved
in a collision with an automobile. Damage
was negligible—about $40, but Variety insisted
that the organization pay the bill. It was
a fitting prelude to the convention opening,
which brought here approximately a thousand
members from 33 clubs in the U.S.,
Mexico and Canada. They arrived on special
trains from New England and Texas.
Others came by plane and still others by
automobile.
Pretty girls in cowboy outfits, bathing suits,
silk hats, and shorts, boarded trains bringing
delegates to Miami. The girls coronet models,
and members of the local tent welcomed
the visitors with orange juice, grapefruit
juice and other refreshments which are native
to Florida. One of the pretty models,
Shirley Modell, was so enthusiastic in her
greeting assignment that she boarded the
wrong train in Hollywood, a town a short
distance north of Miami where delegates
were met by the advance local guard.
* * *
Tom Connors was greeted right and left
when he appeared at the Roney Plaza, which
was entirely taken over for the convention.
Conners, former 20th-Fox sales chief, was in
Miami to interest Variety Club members in
the showing of advertising reels which he is
handling as a new enterprise.
Part of Wednesday morning's business session
in the Surf room was devoted to a showing
of "Tobacco Land." This film, the first
of the group, is a Chesterfield cigaret short
subject which is currently playing in Fox
West Coast and National Theatres houses.
Under the plan, theatres playing the subject
receive $10 per thousand tickets sold. All
the revenue, or a percentage, may go into
the treasuries of the local Variety tents.
Connors expects to handle six or more advertising
reels a year.
« * *
At Variety International initial dinner in
the Alcazar hotel headquarters of the host
tent. Mayor Robert L. Floyd, of Miami, lauded
the local tent for its recent contribution of
$50,000 for children's charities. The mayor
was introduced by Mitchell Wolfson, general
chairman. Marcie Leiberman, mayor of
Miami Beach, also spoke briefly. The reception
was held in honor of international officers,
canvasmen, and chief barkers from
the 33 tents represented at the convention.
* * *
Tuesday's top billing for wives of delegates
was the luncheon-fashion show in the garden
of the Roney Plaza at the edge of the ocean.
It was put on by Hartley's, a Miami house.
At Oklahoma City Govern air Parley
Kepre.sentatives from NTS branches in three states, exhibitors from four states
and representatives of the Governair compaJiy assembled in Oklahoma City for a
three-day training institute, a total of 30 delegates registered. Front row, left to
right: J. H. McDowell, St. Louis; HeI Moore, NTS, Dallas; Dick Logan, American
Theatre, Charleston, Mo.; OUie Bland and B. R. Bugbee, NTS, Memphis; S. M.
Berry, NTS. Dallas. Second row: A. M. Keyser, Oklahoma City; Pete Medley, Malone
Theatre, Sikeston, Mo.; Gordon Hutchins, State, Coming, Ark.; Conrad Bach and
Chuck Sumner, NTS, Memphis; Jim Dohrman, NTS, Dallas; Paul Maxey, Honey,
Indianola, Miss.; R. L. Bostick, NTS, Memphis. Third row: Hugh B. Ginn, W. E.
"Red" Storey and Howard VVortham, all of NTS, Oklahoma City; Lyie Richmond,
Richmond Theatre, Senath, Mo.; Jake Watkins, NTS, Oklahoma City; H. Smith,
Imperial Theatre. Pocahontas, Ark.; Dutch Koneman, NTS, Dallas; Buster Quinn.
Oklahoma City. Fourth row: Ted Wilson. Joy Theatre, Hoyte, Mo.; R. M. Hamilton,
New, Dewitt, Ark.; Felson Osborne, Rialto, Eldorado, Ark.; Lloyd Crites, Richmond,
Senath. Mo.; George Hale, NTS, Memphis; John Wilson, Princess, Lexington, Tenn.;
Bill Segar, Eureka. Batesville, Miss.; Burris Smith, Imperial, Pocahontas, Ark.
and was coordinated by Jeanne Davis, stylist.
The wives were able to do their sun tanning
while enjoying the entertainment given in
their honor.
On display to the delighted gathering were
all types of resort wear from bathing suits,
through afternoon clothes, and ending with
a spectacular wedding scene. Ensembles were
selected that would be just as appropriate in
other states as they are now in Miami. Due
to the warm, sunny weather, and the setting
of the show, most of the women attending the
show looked with envious eye at the sunbacks
and beach togs.
$50,000 Damages Asked
As Result of 'False Arrest'
MEMPHIS—Charging "malicious and false
arrest," L. E. Ragland, 51, filed suit for $50,-
000 damages against J. C. Alexander jr., individually,
and as a partner of Dixie Film
Service, and J. C. Alexander sr., and H. O.
Powell jr., doing business as Dixie Film Serv-
Ragland charges he was arrested April 3
and released April 5 with the apologies of
police when Alexander sr., refused to sign a
warrant to support "his original and false
accusations that Ragland had embezzled
funds from Dixie Film Service."
Greenville Strong
Against Show Tax
GREENVILLE, S. C—Amusement activities
are not an appropriate field for local city
taxation, the local newspaper stated in a
recent editorial approving the rejection by
the city council of a proposed levy on theatres
and other forms of recreation. The
editorial:
"The Greenville city council, we think, has
acted with sound wisdom in its rejection by
an overwhelming vote of the proposal to
levy a city tax on admissions to amusements
and recreational events. This is a field of
taxation which has already been very thoroughly
occupied by both the federal and state
governments. An attempt at municipal taxation
of such enteiTDrises and activities would
place a further unjust burden upon these
events, probably force the suspension of some
of them and perhaps cause the removal of
some commercial amusement activities beyond
the city limits. This seems very clearly
not an appropriate field for local city taxation."
BOXOFFICE :
: AprU 17, 1948 SE 95