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In Memphis Confabs
MEMFMIIS Two events here this week drew
many Iheutre owners and manaKers from the
trade territory. Thursday (15i, Trlslatcs Thelatre
Owners held an all-day school (or exhibitors
and manaKers at Hotel Gayaso, und
Wednesday. Malco held Its annual year-end
pneetlng for all or It-s managers In this terrl-
|tory.
Instructions on how to run a theatre. In-
Ing concessions, equipment, theatre maniment
ond advertising featured the school
ch started at 9:30 a. m. and continued
day. M. B. Smith. J. D. Braunagel. Her-
Levy and Leon Roundtree .served a.s
itructors.
All Malco managers from the entire chain
ttended the school sessions T\iesday and then
eld their own managers meeting the next
*y at the Gayaso. Malco managers brought
lelr wives along w'ith them and there was
entertainment as well as buslne.ss planned
or them by local company officials.
Pokes Time Off From Army
For Personal Appearance
— Jim Fiiusher. Hollywood
ictor who entered the service a year and a
lalf ago. got back into the theatrical world
jrlefly when he obtained leave from Camp
Rucker to make a personal appearance at
'he Ritz Theatre. Dothan. during the ninth
tnnual peanut festival there. The picture
as "Gene Autry and the Mounties," in which
brasher played.
it
the Martin-Davis circuit.
It was booked by Rufus Davis
Prasher appeared in the Saturday climax
larade and then signed autographs at the
.heatre. The audience was large and reports
ire that the picture made money. He is a
rlend of Mrs. W. G. Brackin. owner-manager
)t three theatres in Ozark, Ala. He expects
lis discharge from the army in April and
^111 then return to Hollywood.
Esl^noxville Firm Named
o Handle Air Coolers
'ilicliicl
:noxville Technical society, has been identiled
with construction and engineering sales
Ctivity in this area since the war. Bradley
(eliit-
KNOXVILLE. TENN. — The Mechanical
pment Co. here has been named manu-
.urer's representative for eastern Teneasee
by the U.S. Air Conditioning Corp.
lechanical Equipment, which will handle
sAIRco's air conditioning, heating and ven-
Uating line, was formed recently by Joe T.
(alley in association with Walter Bradley.
Bailey, a member of the ASME and the
le
for 30 years co-owner and manager of
Nelson Iron Works here.
Covel Clutts Is Named
DARDANELLE, ARK. — Koval Clutts has
een named manager of the Joy Theatre
ere. He replaces Donald Parker, who manged
the house for the past 20 months. Clutts
ad been assistant manager of the Ritz in
tussellville and has also served as relief
elmsman of the Joy and other Malco thea-
:es. Charles Spillers was named to replace
ilutts.
A. B. Padgett and Crew Take Over
At Helm of Atlanta Variety Club
If M
flffj
.\. B. Padgett, new chief barker of Tent 21. poses with HLi crew. S«at«d, left to
right: O. C. Lanun. Padgett, and Marc Berre. Standing: R. J. Bamen. John W.
Harrell, R. B. Wilbv, Emorv .Austin and Leonard .\llrn.
ATLANTA—More than 200 attended the
Variety Club installation dinner and dance
in the clubrooms recently. It was the largest
crowd ever to attend a Tent 25 in.stallatlon.
John H. Fulton, retiring chief barker, gave
the welcoming speech. The ringmaster. Emory
M. Austin, then took over: the Sonny Thorpe
orchestra played "The Star Spangled Banner,"
after which Maj. Joseph Kirkman of
the Salvation Army gave the invocation.
A. B. Padgett was installed as chief barker.
Austin then introduced the beautiful and
athletic Joan McKellen. who appears with
Esther Williams in MGM's "Million Dollar
Mermaid." Austin then cited Heston and
George Vance of the Atlanta Businessmen's
club for their fine cooperation with the Variety
Club's charitable work. Mr. and Mrs.
Jack Sharpless of the cerebral palsy school
also came in for their share of praise. Mills
B. Lane, president of Citizens and Southern
National bank, and wife were next introduced.
Austin said Lane was responsible for the
founding of the Rehabilitation Center several
years ago when he offered to loan the Variety
Club $25,000 to help start the palsy school.
Austin said every cent had been paid back.
Mrs. Lane is chairman of the board of trustees
of the school.
In response, Mrs. Lane related the palsy
school had 19 staff members and that 60
children now are being treated there. She
said Dr. Samuel Wasick of University of
Pittsburgh wsis being brought here to study
the needs, and means and ways, for helping
the handicapped children. Sponsorship of the
Variety Club made the palsy project possible,
she said.
Major Kinkman told of coming to Atlanta
in 1943, and of not knowing what sort of
reception he would get, or what the town was
like. Kirkman is head of Variety': playground
center for boys on Bankhead highway.
He prai.sed Variety members for their
wonderful cooperation in helping the needy
yw
The out^oinK chief barker .>nd wifr
pose with the new chief and wife. At left
are Mr. and Mrs. .X. B. Padgett, new chief,
and Mr. and Mrs. John Fulton, the retiring
chief.
children and adults in the city.
Chief Barker Fulton reported that on Jan.
1. 1951. when he took over, the Variety Club
had 390 members and now the enrollment was
445. an increase of 55 members. He recalled
Tent 21 was organized in 1939 with U members
and since then had spent about S900.000
on charitable work. Fulton related how he
and Fred "Rebel" Coleman obtained the support
of the president of Atlanta new.'^papers
in the Old Newsboys day drive for the palsy
school.
Austin explained the club could not decide
on what kind of gift to give Fulton, saying:
"He did not need anything to eat. look at
him; he didn't need anything to wear, he
dressed too elegantly: therefore, since his
wife had to put up with him more than
anyone else, the gift would be for her." Two
large gift wrapped tioxes were brought in
and presented to Mrs. Fulton. Her face wore
a surprised expression, and John Fulton
beamed. Then she was asked to open them
(Continued on next page)
OXOFFICE :: December 20, 1952
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