DECEMBER

: Shreveport
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Floyd
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downtown
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Municipal
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FORDYCE.
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TAMPA-Mose
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$100,000 Fire Strikes
Saenger
SHREVEPORT—Shreveporfs Saennor T\\vatre,
built In 1911 and one of the city's oldest
motion picture houses, was vlrtuiiUy dctroycd
by fire In which three firemen were
Injured Friday (5). AccordUiB to Fire Chief
Kcndrlck, the fire was the blgKCst
blaze In ten years or more and
loss wa.s estimated In the neighborhood
of $100,000.
fire was dl.scovered at 11:40 p. m.
Thursday. Many of the firemen were In
civilian clothes and were officially off duty,
left the annual Firemen's ball In the
auditorium to Join In combattlnK
the flames. Cecil Parker, projectionist, and
porter were still in the theatre at the time
the fire broke out. The theatre's last show-
|ing of the evening had ended about 30 mlniutes
earlier and the last of its patrons had
left.
blaze was believed to have originated
in an air conditioning unit and appeared at
Ifirst to be confined between the ceiling and
roof of the theatre. The Saenger was for
many years the major theatre of Shreveport.
It was owned by the late Julian and Abe
Saenger and was managed by E. V. Richards.
The theatre was built in 1911 and several
years ago underwent extensive improvements.
It was one of a chain of Paramount-
3ulf Theatres, Inc.
Movietime Corolinas Tour Makes
Fine Impression on Exhibitors
Fordyce Theatre Bums
ARK.—The Dallas Theatre,
jnly local theatre owned by the K. Lee Wiliams
circuit, was destroyed in a fire which
lid damage estimated at $75,000 recently.
rheatremen Post Bond
On Federal Tax Charge
L. Waller jr., Lenoir City,
iTenn.. and F. Hugh Thomas Jr., Sarasota,
president and secretary-treasurer, respecjlvely,
of the Waller & Thomas Amusement
;-o.. have posted bonds in the office of the
J.S. marshal after being accused of failing
p report nearly $11,000 in admission taxes
wr the Trail Drive-In of Sarasota.
The government charged the admission
'axes amounted to $10,781.37 and were due
rom September 1949 through March 1950.
londs were posted to guarantee their apearance
at an arraignment to be set in
'ampa before Judge Barker.
Jandy Contest for 'Gus'
MEMPHIS—The "My Pal Gus" candy con-
|!st sponsored by the Memphis Press-Scimijir
and inspired by the 20th-Fox film, "My
al Gus," which opened Thursday at the
loew's Palace, brought literally hundreds of
>ndy recipes into the office. Final Judgig
of the contest will be this weekend at
le
Press-Scimitar.
Inprove Macclenny Airer
IMACCLENNY, FLA—The 90 Drive-In has
!en closed for December while a number
improvements are being made. The face
the screen is being refinished and the
ounds will be landscaped. R. E. Totman
owner.
ibxOFFICE December 13, 1952
CHARLOTTE—Exhibitors in both North
and South Carolina are highly pleased with
the results obtained from a Movietime tour
timed to coincide with the annual convention
of the Theatre Owners of North and
South Carolina.
Those participating were William Lundigan,
Rod Cameron, Chill Wills, Sally Man.'field,
Alice Kelley and Kathleen Crowley, and
Douglas Morrow and Robert Hardy Andrews,
screen writers.
After a day at the convention, with civic
and publicity activities, the eight were divided
into two teams, with a tpam for each
Father of Blues at Benefit
MEMPHIS — William Chri.-,topher Handy.
Father of the Blues, was guest of honor at
the 14th annual Blues Bowl game staged
by the Beale street Elks to provide Christmas
baskets for the needy. Handy led massed
bands playing "Memphis Blues" and soloed on
his golden horn with "St. Louis Blues." both
of which he wrote. Both were featured in the
motion picture. "The Birth of the Blues."
Handy is now 79.
Free Show for Needy Benefit
GAINESVILLE, FLA —A free show for the
benefit of the 1952 Empty Stocking fund
drive is offered at the Suburbia Drive-In on
the Monday evening preceding Christmas.
Admi.ssion will be an article of food to be used
for Empty Stocking food baskets for needy
families.
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state. They covered 42 towns. TTiere were
public appearances, school appearances, newspaper
and radio interviews In each town.
Everett Olsen was tour director, with Robert
Bryant, Robert Satinders and Jimmy Greenleaf
assisting.
Top photo: Movietime stars interrupted
their tour long enough to attend a big football
rally at Columbia. Left to right: Sam
Suggs, city manager: Miss Mansfield: Duncan
Breckenridge, president of university student
body, and Lundigan. Bottom photo
shows Andrews talking to a crowd at Wilkesboro
Wills is wearing hat.
Carl Moseley & Associates
Open New Tampa Airer
T.\.MP.\ — Tam]).! - r.tw JO'.h Century
Drive-In has been opened. The theatre has
a 65-foot screen and a six-story screen tower
built in triangular fashion, which will house
several apartments.
The grass-covered ramps provide parking
space for 500 cars. An auditorium ha-; seating
capacity for 300 and an air conditioned
snack bar. Here through large plate glass
windows patrons may enjoy refreshments and
view the picture at the same time. There
is provision made outside for an additional
200 walk- in guests.
Free pony rides are available on the
grounds for children under 12. Two entrances
have been provided. The new theatre
is owned by Carl Mweley & Associates.
Moseley. a Tampa attorney, is president of
the company.
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