Boxoffice-January.07.1950

. . Manager
. . Paul
. . Eight
. . Spike
. . The
SAN ANTONIO Murals Are Feature
Tnterstate's second vaudeville show of the
season opened at the Majestic Theatre December
29. There were six bigtime acts on
the stage with "Free for All" as the screen
attraction ... As the old year closed, several
of the war cycle pictures were brought back
for subsequent runs at drive-ins and downtown
houses. They were "Task Force" at the
Alamo, Mission and Fredericksburg road
drive-ins; "Fighter Squadron," Palace;
"Guadalcanal Diai-y," Prince, and "Wings
Over Honolulu," Uptown.
Tommy Powers has been appointed treasurer
at the Majestic Theatre . . . Roland
Taylor, MGM salesman for the south Texas
territory, was on a deer hunting trip during
the holiday season . Norman
Schwartz played "Dear Wife" as his New
Year's eve midnight show . other
theatres held New Year's eve owl shows;
namely, the Texas, Woodlawn, Broadway,
Palace, Highland, Harlandale, Upton and
Star. The last five named had double horror
pictures.
Visitors to the film exchanges just before
New Year's were T. J. "Stout" Jackson of
Robstown, Kingsville and Falfurrias; Don
Galvan, who operates theatres in Passas, Coahuila.
Mexico; J. E. Greene, Texas, Poth, and
Mr. and Mrs. Dave Parker, IGmm film operators,
Campbellton, Tex. . J. Poag,
R&B city manager, Del Rio, is now in Grace
Lutheran sanitariiun here for treatment.
Paul R. Rodriguez, assistant shipper at
Clasa-Mohme, was released from army hospital
after period of several weeks observation
Rubin Ayala,
for a stomach disorder . . .
head of the poster, shipping and inspection
departments at Azteca, is runding out his
13th year with that firm as the oldest employe
in length of service . . . George Edwards,
Dallas architect who designed the
Beach Theatre, Corpus Christi, and brother
of Edward G. Edwards, Clasa-Mohme chief
booker here, was recently married to Merle
Stokes of Dallas. The newlyweds spent their
honeymoon in Monterey, Mexico. Mrs. Edwards
is an interior decorator.
Genaro G. Garcia, Empire projectionist,
was elected president of MPMO No. 407,
succeeding Gordon Dyer. The new business
. . .
representative for the local is Johnny Dennis,
Grace
who succeeds Bill Keeler Gamez, front office clerk at Clasa-Mohme, is
wearing a new sparkling engagement ring,
and is planning a wedding in April . . .
Fernando Obledo, head booker for Azteca
Films here, has been squiring a lady doctor
around town.
.
Wonder why they call James Omeals,
Azteca bookkeeper-auditor, "the colonel"? . . .
Robert Shelton is the new assistant manager
of the Mimicipal auditorium, succeeding
Henry McMahon. resigned Jones
and his City Slickers will go into the auditorium
for a one nighter January 22.
Of Lamesa Palace
LAMESA, TEX.—Wall murals depicting the
early history of Dawson county are among
decorative features of the Palace Theatre
which recently was reopened here following
extensive remodeling. The interior decoration
was supervised by Perry Nichols, Dallas
designer, and the murals were painted by
Russell Lewis, Dallas artist. The murals were
placed on a red clay background, blending
with red carpeting in the house.
Indirect lighting has been installed in the
theatre. The ceiling is built in sections to
obtain the desired effect. An automatic heating
and cooling system maintains a constant
temperature at any seasonal level. A cycloramic
screen has been installed. The stage is
draped with gold damask curtains. A new
candy bar has been installed off the lobby.
Restrooms have pink plaster and tile walls.
Conveniences for patrons include a cry room.
Audrey Cox owns and operates the house.
Winnipeg Theatre Stand
On Fast Time Backfires
From Canadian Edition
WINNIPEG—Efforts of city exhibitors to
defeat daylight savings time in a referendimi
taken during the civic elections failed, and
publicity measures of the campaign backfired.
Manitoba Motion Picture Exhibitors' Ass'n
tried to fight fast tim.e by fostering united
actions of all forces opposed. One of the
means used by the showmen was a series of
trailers shown in the theatres urging opposition
to fast time on the part of the public.
The shorts were not particularly effective,
and caused many patrons to let loose with
indignant letters to the editors of the dailies.
The comments blasted the trailers as "an unwarranted
imposition on the patience and
good nature of theatre patrons," and lashed
out at what the writers said was an attempt
by the industry "to disguise its rampant
commercialism to masquerade as public servants."
LET
US BUILD YOUR
There is a reason wtiy we ore build
ing more ond more theatres fo
individual owners as well as lorgi
circuits. We furnish plans and com
plete engineering service. Ou
equipment is all modern
includes heavy earth-moving mo
chinery. All personnel are expert
in their field. We have theotri
designs in the price range of thi
smoll town.
TELEPHONE
DALLAS
Oene Autry, western film star, arrived here
last Wednesday (4), went to Fort Worth
Thursday to inspect his oil properties and
returned here Friday for conferences with
Pericles Alexander, his press agent. Alexander
left Friday for Denver to begin preparations
for another tour to be made by Autry
and his cast of entertainers. Autry addressed
a Rotary club meeting Friday in Phoenix.
Jimmy Wakely, cowboy film star, was here
Friday en route to Fort Worth for an appearance
at the North Side Coliseum there.
He was to appear in two performances at
the Sportatorium here Sunday . Christmast
and New Year holidays were a boon to
show business generally here and througohout
the state, according to Raymond Willie, assistant
to R. J. o'Donnell, Interstate general
manager. New Year's eve shows at both
downtown and neighborhood houses drew
fine business.
Tallulah Bankhead will appear in three
performances of "Private Lives" at the Melba
Theatre here January 9, 10 in connection with
the run of "Tell It to the Judge" at the Melba,
daily prizes of dancing lessons were offered
to patrons for the best letters in answer to
the question, "Have you ever been embarrassed
by any incident associated with dancing?"
Ten daily awards were being made,
and a grand prize winner vnll receive additional
lessons. The contest was inspired by
the rhumba sequence by Rosalind Russell in
the film.
C. D. Leon Theatres has announced its new
850-car drive-in will be ready to open around
the last of February. It is located just beyond
the Circle of the Denton highway.
C. D. Leon reports he has sold two of his
Amarillo theatres, the Star and Rex, to Lester
Dollison of Sherman, but he still Is operating
his third house there.
Bill (Hopalong Cassidy) Boyd was grand
marshal at the Beverly Hills centennial
parade December 29.
J. T. BOUTWELL INSTALLATION COMPANY
Contractor of Theatre. School
and Church Seating
We iTistall any Chair lor anyone at any place.
For information, write
Box 325 or Call 6976, Temple, Texas
P - 7 2 1 2 1
HARVEY A.
JORDAN
THEATRE BUILDERS • DRIVE-INS A SPECIALTY
2013 V& YOUNG ST., DALLAS, TEXAS
BOXOFnCE January 7, 1950 89