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RESTORATION OF TICKET TAX<br />
THREATENED IN N. CAROLINA<br />
State's Showmen Also Fear<br />
Move to Authorize City<br />
Theatre Levies<br />
RALEIGH, N. C—The forthcoming session<br />
of the North Carolina general assembly, which<br />
convenes January 6, has Tar Heel state exhibitors<br />
expressing apprehension over the fate<br />
of the present motion picture theatre tax<br />
structure, which almost got the ax from the<br />
1947 legislative term.<br />
On top of whopping demands from all<br />
state-supported institutions, pay raises for<br />
state employes and school teachers are a certainty,<br />
with the popular good health program<br />
coming in for a large slice of funds. To top<br />
off these appropriations. Gov. W. Kerr Scott,<br />
whose inaugm-ation will take place prior to<br />
the assembly meeting, was elected on a<br />
program that promised hard-surfaced rural<br />
roads. Scott, an Alamance county dairy<br />
farmer and former state commissioner of<br />
agriculture, is a fighter and speaks his mind<br />
regardless of the consequences. There is little<br />
doubt but that the legislature will give him<br />
his road program.<br />
It is also practically certain that attempts<br />
will be made to put the 3 per cent general<br />
sales tax back on theatre admissions. The<br />
theatre sales tax was repealed during the<br />
1943 session and replaced with a flat sliding<br />
scale state licensing plan. Theatre operators<br />
also fear that the North Carolina League of<br />
Municipalities will attempt to put through<br />
a bill that will allow towns to tax theatre<br />
admissions. Municipal bodies are at present<br />
prevented by state law from taxing admissions<br />
and have other financial restraints from<br />
the legislature. A proposed constitutional<br />
amendment that would greatly liberalize municipal<br />
bond issues was defeated in the November<br />
elections. Many town governments<br />
are reported as desperate for new revenues<br />
to support expansion programs and increased<br />
administrative costs.<br />
Even the legislators admit that the 1949<br />
session will be one of the "toughest" in history.<br />
Santa Claus Featured<br />
In 2 Memphis Lobbies<br />
MEMPHIS—Santa Claus did his stuff at<br />
the Rosemary and Luciann theatres here.<br />
All this week, jolly old St. Nick was on duty<br />
in the lobby of both theatres, passing out<br />
free comic books and talking to the kiddies.<br />
December 23 a free show—in fact, two free<br />
shows—were presented at Rosemary for children.<br />
"A Christmas Carol" was shown at<br />
12:30 p. m. and again at 2:30. Both shows<br />
were free, said owner Augustine Cianciola.<br />
Henry Tarbes Is Dead<br />
MIAMI BEACH—Henry Tarbes died suddenly<br />
at his home here. He was a member<br />
of the Miami Showmen's Ass'n. He is survived<br />
by his widow Beatrice and one daughter,<br />
Mrs. Estelle Belle. Interment was in<br />
New York City.<br />
State Theatre Lobby in<br />
Tallahassee<br />
Boasts Rotating Christmas Tree<br />
TALLAHASSEE, FLA.—For 14 years<br />
Perry and Giles Neel have been cooking up<br />
ideas for unusual Christmas trees in the<br />
lobby of their State Theatre on College<br />
avenue. This year the Neel brothers combined<br />
their ingenuity, experience and a few<br />
steel stays from a corset to produce a tree<br />
that rotates.<br />
In 1935 the Neels introduced the first aUsilver<br />
tree to the city. The year after, "the<br />
silver trees appeared in almost every show<br />
window and in many homes," recalled<br />
Perry.<br />
Perry does most of the "idea phase" for<br />
brother G. B., in the production of the unusual<br />
trees, and the electrical work. The<br />
actual construction is by G. B.<br />
The first tree appeared in the State's<br />
lobby 13 years ago; it was the silver tree.<br />
Since then they've appeared regularly,<br />
about two to three weeks before the visit<br />
of St. Nick.<br />
The second year tree was an all-cellophane<br />
tree ; the third was a spruce painted<br />
with blue gun metal paint; the fourth was<br />
snow white; fifth, a red tree and the sixth<br />
was a natural colored evergreen with novelty<br />
trimmings, each gaily lighted.<br />
Diu'ing the war years, the Neels had<br />
sightly trees but they had to throttle their<br />
"gay trimmings," because of shortages resulting<br />
from war-time scarcities.<br />
In 1947 the 13th tree was really a<br />
whiz.<br />
The tree was painted in stroblite fluorescent<br />
colors, had no bulbs but the ornaments<br />
were in the stroblite and the utilization<br />
of black light produced one of the<br />
most unusual yule season trees ever seen<br />
in Tallahassee.<br />
This season's tree is an evergreen.<br />
First it was treated in white lacquer and<br />
silver glass was sprinkled on before the<br />
lacquer dried.<br />
The large wreath that circles it is made<br />
of wallboard. There are more than 3,000<br />
individually cut-out green foil leaves which<br />
were glued on the weath.<br />
Toys for Admission<br />
FORT LAUDERDALE—Cln-istmas toys<br />
for<br />
every needy child in the county was the<br />
goal of the Warner Theatre when it staged<br />
its tenth annual Christmas party In conjunction<br />
with the local Salvation Army. Admission<br />
for either adults or children was<br />
one or more toys per person. Last year more<br />
than 1,000 usable toys were collected. The<br />
program lasts from 10 a. m. till noon. Bill<br />
Russell is manager of the Warner.<br />
The rotating Christmas tree in the<br />
State Theatre, Tallahassee, Fla., is admired<br />
by Peggy Ann Neel, daughter of<br />
Perry Neel who, with his brother Giles,<br />
manages the theatre.<br />
The tree rotates and that is where the<br />
steel corset stays come in.<br />
Power for the motion of the tree is<br />
furnished by a little motor used in show<br />
window display, loaned by Moon's Jewelry,<br />
and the flashing circuit was loaned by<br />
Culpepper sign company.<br />
Breaker points— to switch on the tiny<br />
bulbs around the inner circle of the wreath<br />
—at the base of the tree are made of the<br />
steel corset stays.<br />
Perry said he encountered a bit of trouble<br />
trying to find steel stays. The new<br />
fangled "shape helpers" have plastic or<br />
bone stays. They wouldn't do. After a<br />
search, a corset with steel stays was purchased<br />
at Mendelson's.<br />
What's new for 1949?<br />
"Heck, that's a year away, a lot of ideas<br />
can be produced before then," chimed the<br />
Neels.<br />
F. E. Hall to Fort Myers<br />
As Circuit City Manager<br />
FORT MYERS, FLA.—Floyd E. Hall, manager<br />
of the Sunset Theatre in Fort Lauderdale,<br />
has been transferred here by Florida<br />
State Theatres to assume the post of city<br />
manager for the chain. He has been active<br />
in many civic organizations since his return<br />
from active service in World War II, and<br />
is past president of the Exchange club of<br />
Fort Lauderdale.<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25, 1946 SE 87
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