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Acme Banner Raised
Over Five Theatres
BIRMINGHAM—Acme Theatres Co. has
taken over five neighborhood houses which
formerly were operated in partnership with
Waters Theatre Co. The five houses are the
East Lake, Avondale. Woodlawn, North Birmingham
and Tan-ant City. A sixth house,
the Five Points, is being retained by Waters
after dissolution of a partnership with Frank
V. Merritt, head of Acme.
The changes are in accordance with a court
decree issued by Circuit Judge Eugene H.
Hawkins.
Two permanent managers have been named
by Acme. They are T. J. Bain, formerly of
the Cullman Theatre. Cullman. Ala., who
will manage the Avondale, and Bill Hampton,
formerly Tarrant City manager for
Waters, who will return to that house. The
three other houses are being handled temporarily
by present Acme employes until
permanent managers can be named. John
Douglas, assistant to Men-itt. is managing
the North Birmingham house: Harry M. Curl.
Melba manager, is handling Woodlawn. and
Henry Hury, Cullman manager, is serving at
East Lake.
Duncan-Richards Buys
Theatre in HefUn, Ala.
HEFLIN. ALA.—The Hefhn Theatre has
been purchased by Duncan-Richards Theatres
of CarroUton. Ga., from John Gaither.
owner since 1937.
G. E. Duncan was here from Carrollton to
arrange details of the transfer. He announced
that Paul Cable, director of music in Heflin
schools, would manage the theatre. Mrs.
Christine Turner will be cashier, with Billie
Ruth Pounds in charge of the sweet shop.
Wendell Brown will continue as operator,
with Bill Cook as relief.
Gaither has not announced his future
plans, but will remain with his family for the
time being.
Crescent Offers to Buy
DuPont in Old Hickory
NASHVILLE—An offer to purchase the
theatre in Old Hickory. Tenn.. from the Du-
Pont Co. has been made by Crescent Amusement
Co. of Nashville. The offer, it was
learned, is in connection with DuPont's program
to sell all commercial property in the
company-owned town. Amount of the offer
was not disclosed.
Crescent, meanwhile, filed a petition in
federal court seeking approval of the contemplated
purchase. Under the terms of an
antitrust decree, the theatre company must
have court approval for purchase of any theatre
outside Nashville.
MEMPHIS
Cteve Stein, operator of Met and Met-N-
Mov-E theatres, Jackson. Tenn.. is back
on the job wearing a number of bandages as
a result of an auto accident while en route
here on business. Stein lost control of his
car and it ran off the road. He was treated
at a local hospital . . . The Palace in Booneville.
Ark., ovmed by E. W. Savage, has
opened for the summer.
Road and highway conditions in the midsouth
temtory, which have been very bad
since last January's record cold weather, are
improving and theatre attendance is picking
up. Exhibitors report that many persons living
in outlying sections have resumed trips
to picture shows in nearby towns since roads
have been fixed. Film Ti-ansit reports many
highway improvements. For example, shipments
of film to Booneville. Miss, have improved
and pictures may now be returned
overnight instead of within two days as in
the past.
Ben Y. Cammack, southwest district manager.
Dallas, was a visitor at RKO . . . David
Flexer of Flexer Theatres, returned from
New York where he has been on business in
connection with his building program of
drive-ins . . . Duke
Clark, district manager.
Dallas, was a visitor at Paramount . . . The
Base Theatre, Goslin, Ark., has set May 19
for its opening date. Gordon Hutchins,
owner, also operates the Dixie at Corning
. . N. B. Blount, manager of Monarch
.
Theatre Supply Co., held a series of conferences
this week with Walter Gilreath. Dallas,
district manager, RCA. Dallas, who is in
on business.
Midsouth exhibitors booking on Filmiow
included L. J. Denning. YMCA. Bemis: H. C.
Langford, Folly. Marks: R. A. demons, Dixy,
Adamsville: W. F. Sormeman, Ozark Amusement
Co., Fayetteville; W. F. Wofford, Union,
Union: J. T. James, James, Cotton Plant:
Amelia Ellis, Mason. Mason: L. P. Haven jr..
Imperial at Forrest City. Brinkley. Marianna
and Wynne: Mr. and Mrs. Orris Collings.
Capitol and Majestic, Paragould.
From the Collier circuit which operates
theatres in Benoit, Drew, Shaw and Ruleville.
Miss., came C. J. Collier, Mrs. C. H.
Collier. Mrs. Valerie Burke and Bim Jackson.
Also Jimmy Sharum. Chandelle. Walnut
Ridge; Norman Fair. Fair. Somerville: Henley
Smith. Imperial. Pocahontas: James C.
Fisher, Hoxie, Hoxie: Mrs. Jack Wilbanks,
Hinz, Walnut Ridge: Jeff Singleton. Tyro.
Tyronza: F. G. "Sunshine" Daugherty, Palace,
West Helena: 'Whyte Bedford, Marion,
Hamilton; Morris Brown, Webb, Ripley, and
J. R. Keller, Joyner, Joyner.
Others included Roy Bolick, Kaiser, Kaiser;
Fitz Farris, Harlen, Clarksdale; H. W. Pickens.
Lyle at Carhsle and Rex at DuVall's Bluff:
J. W. Crabtree. Merlu. Clarendon: J. K.
Jamison. Ritz. Bald Knob: Mrs. H. L. Love,
Bono and Egypt operator: Bruce Young,
booker for Mohrstadt circuit. Hayti; C. A.
Gilliland, Cooler at Cooter and Semo at
Steele.
Also Henry Furr, Booker T., Cleveland;
Nathan Reiss, Bruce, Bruce: J. C. Bonds, Von.
Hernando: G. L. Helms. Hill. Scott's Hill:
J. M. Mounger. Mart. Calhoun City; Louise
Mask. Luez, Bolivar; D. D. Flippin. Flippin,
Brag City, and Jack Watson. Palace, Tunica.
Ruby Estes, branch manager's secretary
at Universal, was visiting her mother in Decatur,
111. ... S. J. A. McCarthy, New York,
and J. E. Harrison, St. Louis, were Universal
officials visiting the local exchange . . . Tom
Young, manager of 20th-Fox, has been ill at
home with a severe cold. George F. Cooper,
auditor, is working at the exchange. W. J.
Kupper. New York, short subjects man, was a
visitor . . . Bill Scruggs, head shipper at
RKO, has a new Plymouth
Pashby, cashier at
. . . Dorothy
RKO, has resigned.
. .
A baby girl was bom April 25 to Mrs. Eva
Mai Denton and Mr. Denton at Oxford, Miss.
Mrs. Denton is a former booker at MGM . . .
Virginia Redmond, stenographer at Paramount,
had her tonsils removed . . .
John S.
Goshom, chair expert from Canal Fulton.
Ohio, was at National Theatre Supply on
business . The Star. Star City, Ark., owned
by W. R. Lee, had a minor booth fire.
This was Cotton Carnival week here with
parades, street dances and royal balls. Theatres,
which usually suffer in attendance
unless it rains during the carnival, were "all
set" this year by arranging a series of top
pictures. Loew's State was setting the pace
with a second big week of "State of the
Union."
The Linden Circle was the scene of the
annual meeting and party for Junior Safety
council boys last Saturday. These are the
youngsters who help school children across
the streets to and from school. There was a
stage show and a picture for their program.
Tri-State Theatre Service & Supply
318 South Second Street
MEMPHIS 3, TENN.
Complete Theatre Decorating
Stage Drapes
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Green Light for Philips
FRAYSER. TENN.—M. L. Philips, whose
theatre job in the heart of the downtown section
was stopped April 6 by the county attorney
after citizens complained the structure
looked unsafe, has received the county's permission
to proceed with construction. The
theatre will cost approximately $50,000.
MONARCH
THEATRE SUPPLY. Inc.
Neil Blount
492 So. Second St.
Memphis. Tenn.
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BOXOFFICE :: May 15, 1948
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