NOVEMBER

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The
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Bonham—Mrs.
C! K.
New Movielime Tour
Launched in Texas
DALLAS—Ten Hollywood stars will arrive
here Sunday il6) to launch the second
Movletlme In Texas star tour. Phi! I.sley,
;lM^l(lent of Phil Isley Theatres and chnlri.,in
of the 1952 Movletlme lour, said the
|,urs would arrive at 4 p. m. Sunday.
personalities. comlnK here under the
i;',-orshlp of the Texas Council of Motion
I',. 'lire Organizations, will Include Keenan
A'ynn. Chill Wills, John Carroll, Hugh
)Brian. Wayne Morris. Vera-EUlen. Susan
rabot. Jean Hagen. Mix Talton and Fredrick
DeCordova.
They will appear in public performances
II more than 40 Texas cities, most frequently
ippearlng on the town square, with local and
tate dignitaries participating and local theare
owners and managers as hosts. The stars
vlll speak informally to the thousands exlected
to be on hand at the stops.
Business houses and schools will close when
ihe caravan arrives In each city. School
lands and special activities of local interest
tie in with the 45-minute programs, such
till
s the appearanec of the Apache Belles in
fj'ler and Yamboree festival activities in
iMlmer. Where the tour is scheduled to renaln
overnight, special appearances have
jeen arranged, in such places as the Vetrans
hospital in Corpus Caristi and the
Varm Springs Foundation for Crippled Chil-
Jren at Gonzales.
The stars will split into two groups, with
[ne group appearing in north and east Texas
nd the other in the southeast and valley
ection of the state.
first group will go from Dallas to
l-leKinney on Monday. Ray Brockman of
Ihe Ritz Theatre will be host there.
tour will proceed to Sherman where
losts will be H. C. Overt, Texas Theatre;
Jary Spears, State, and Robert Sparks.
"win City Drive-In.
Other appearances follow with the list of
losts in each town:
Dcntsorv^Trumon Rtley, Riolto, and Lonnic Legg,
Viperbo.
Delio Cole, American.
Paris—(overnight) C. W. Moss, Grand; Mrs. Ann
'eilder, Lamor, and Elmer Bell, 271 Drive-In.
TUESDAY
Clorksville—Cob Wolf, Avolon; Bert Holster, Red
ver Drive-In, and J. V. Kunkel, Rex Drive-ln.
Mount Pleasant—W. R. Gerhord, Martin, end Kencth
Seigh, Pleasant Dnve-ln.
Gilmer—Cronfill Cox jr.. Crystal.
Glodewoter— B. E. Lannon, Cozy.
Longview— (overnight) A. M, Avery, Arlyne
WEDNESDAY
Henderson—A. T. Boren, Strand.
Lufktr>—Stockton Thompson, Pines, and Frank Idait,
Texan.
Nocogdoches—D. J. Hardy, Main; C. A. Christionjn.
Pines Dnve-ln; W. M. Mattison, SFA.
Tyler—(overnight) Jimmy Leothermon, Tyler; S. G.
ry, Joy; Howord Arthur, Rose Gorden Dnve-ln, ond
. T. Wales, Starlight Drive- In.
THURSDAY
Athens—Owen Killingsworth, Texon.
Palestine— J. F. Jones, Ritz, ond Bill Pence, Moonte
Dnve-ln.
Mexia—M. Easterling, Mexia; Cliff Turner jr.,
arkwoy, and Seth Campbell, Liberty.
Corsicana—David Votes, Palace; Sidney Miller, Hilld*
Dnve-ln; B. L. Hogle, Navarro Drive-ln, and
F. Borg, Tex.
Ennis—John Stiles, Plazo, ond Ben Dorbey, Vilige
Drive-ln.
Koufmon—John Harris, Plozo.
Terrell—Leamon Marshall,
Iris.
Greenville—A. S. Moore jr., Texon, ond M. E. Hunt,
unt Drive-ln.
The other caravan of stars, touring the
(Continued on next page)
Brighter Future Foreseen
At Rowley Convention
Feature of the Kowlry I'nited Theatres srmiannual ronvrnlinn in DulU^ wm the
roundtable di.sru.ssion of menhandLsin); and srllinR of produrt. ShoHii. Irfl to rl»ht,
at the head table are .leff Livingston, Inited .Vrlists: John II. Ko»1r>. rxrrullvp vicepresident
of Rowley I'nitcd; Jirry Pickman, Paramount; Fdward II. Koulry. pmidrnt.
Rowley United; Don C. Uoiislas. director of public relations: W. W. Brumbrric. Warner
Bros.; C. V. Jones, vice-president and general manager, Rowley I'nitrd. and Stirling
Silliphant, 20th-Fox.
DALLAS—Rowley United Theatres held its
semiannual convention at the Adolphus hotel
here November 4, 5, with circuit partners and
managers in attendance along with more than
40 special guests from other circuits and film
companies.
Don Douglas, Rowley public relations director,
served as master of ceremonies and
President Ed Rowley, as host, welcomed the
guests. Evelyn Poag, Del Rio partner, selected
the names of the four main speakers
from a hat to determine the order of the
presentation, starting with Jerry Pickman,
vice-president in charge of advertising and
publicity for Paramount.
Pickman opened his remarks by saying that
he had been attending as many exhibitor
meetings as possible, "because I believe we
can all learn to more effectively merchandise
pictures.
"I have been in show business for 20 years,
selling entertainment. I know about other
means of competition, but honestly feel that
motion pictures will become greater in the
years ahead in our ever-expanding industry,"
he said.
He indicated that eastern newspapers are
asking for additional publicity on Hollywood
product, indicating increased public interest.
He went into detail on present plans for
localizing advertising.
He criticized exhibitors for not seeing the
better pictures before they are shown to the
public and he said films are the only product
in the world where a retailer may not see
what he is going to sell before his public sees
it. He criticized exhibitors for not writing to
advertising and merchandising departments
about press sheets and other advertising material.
Stirling Silliphant. 20th-Fox director of
publicity, said that the film studios have settled
down to a careful apprai.si\l of subjects
and are trying to make pictures at a price,
endeavoring to avoid middle border-Une pictures.
Attitudes in the industry have improved.
Silliphant said, adding: "A year or two ago
we were apologetic, but good pictures coming
out of Hollywood In the last year have reflected
the action of COMPO." Hollywood,
he .said. Is interested in facts and figures.
"We hope you will get behind not only
20th-Fox product, but all good product."
Jeff Livingston. United Artists, said that
out of the "threat of bankruptcy. United Artists
has worked up many ideas which exhibitors
can use on the local level—and we have
been pulling away from that threat.
"Exhibitors have done Incredibly fine work
with some of our pictures," he said. He told
about the accelerated trend to color and said
that his firm had encouraged its personalities
to appear on TV to build up "want-to-see"
value. Various pictures were discussd. with
ideas for merchandising.
W. W. Brumberg, Warner Bros., spoke of
the days when he worked In Texas and referred
to the state as "where showmanship
begins," saying, "it happens because you falks
make It happen."
He repeated that advertising in newspapers
has taken a swing back to the motion picture
Industry and he urged exhibitors to cooperate
with papers in making more material available
to them.
A general discussion of merchandising followed,
with owners and partners joining in
the questions and answers. Earlier In the day
a silent prayer was offered in memory of
L. M. "Mike" Rice, legal adviser who was
killed ."^veral months ago. New members of
the organization also were introduced.
Tuesday night a "political wake" was held
in the DanLsh room on the 15lh floor of the
hotel with a buffet dinner followed by talks
by R. J. OT>onn«ll and William C. McCraw.
O'Donnell praised the work and efforts of
the men responsible for the Rowley organization—Harold
Robb and Ed Rowley OT)onnell
spoke highly of the Cinerama threedimensional
process and gave details on the
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OXOFFICE November 15, 1952 sw 67