Boxoffice-June.19.1948

MIAMI
. . . Paramount
TXTometco never deviates from its Sunday
policy of calling attention in its header
to "Church Day—a Privilege Americans Enjoy"
New summer prices prevail at
. . . Claughton's Royal, 50 cents top
Enterprises had the Zale-Graziano
championship fight films rushed here to show
at the Olympia, Beach and Gables theatres.
Miamians are being told that television experts
are going into the possibility of mass
distribution of their product to schools, clubs,
churches, industrial groups and even to individuals
for home showing. They may sell or
rent television film either in 35 or 16mm
size. Live shows may be filmed and prints
distributed through scores of small distributors
around the country already specializing
in the selling or renting of motion pictures.
This was "Lo, the poor Indian" week on
local screens, with "Fury at Furnace Creek"
at the Miami and Lincoln and "Fort Apache"
at the Sheridan, Paramount and Beach . . .
For Saturday morning's showing of "Conquest
of Cheyenne," plus six color cartoons, at
Paramount's Shores Theatre, free color photos
of Wild Bill Elliott, star of the feature, were
presented to the first 500 patrons at the boxoffice.
Free also were paddle ball sets,
awarded to 50 lucky winners.
A magician, with an audience participation
act, was presented at Paramount's Dade by
Bill Dock, manager, last Saturday morning.
Admission was 25 cents. In addition to an allstar
western there were four color cartoons.
Free comic books were given to youthful patrons
Rumors are being circulated that
. . . a group of "Florida millionaires" is setting
up a syndicate to build motion picture studios
between here and Palm Beach . . . Bernard
Schaft, manager of Wometco's Strand, reads
the Horace Dripple comic strip in the Daily
News. Noticing one in which the Dripples
argued over what film to see and made their
decision by picking the theatre which sold
the best popcorn, Schaft says the Dripples
undoubtedly would choose the Strand in
Miami and sent along a huge carton of popcorn
to the News' amusement editor to prove
his point.
Answering Wometco's No, 1 Query
Exercises Publicises
MIAMI—Heading Wometco's list of "Questions
most often asked us" is the query:
What does the name "Wometco" stand for?
The frequent seekers after this information
will, of cour.se, always receive a courteous
explanation from the organization's public
relations office, Mark Chartrand, director:
but just to vary the monotony the office
also takes the trouble to have a little fun
out of the oft-reiterated question.
Ray J. Schultis was awarded four free
theatre tickets for being "the millionth person"
to ask where the organization got its
trade name and wanting to know if it was of
Indian derivation. The answer was: "Wometco
is an Indian word peculiar to the Mitchellwolfsonsidneymeyer
tribe. Literally it means
Wigwams - of - great - beauty - wherebraves
- squaws - and - papooses - are -
received - graciously - and - served - courteously
- and - where - pictures - lifelike -
best fun - this - side - of - happy - hunting -
ground - and - worth - plenty - wampum -
but - cost - little. Or the word could have
come from the Wolfson-Meyer Theatre Co."
George Seymour got free tickets for his
letter asking the correct pronunciation of
Wometco. Answer: "It's pronounced WOE,
as in what you haven't got any of after visiting
one of our theatres; MET, as where people
are happier if they have met to see the
You can get your
SPECIRL TRAILERS
THE TIME
BY GOING TO YOUR NEAREST
ACK
BRANCH
New York
245 Will
55th $1.
Chicagb
1327 5.
Waboih
Lot
Angeles
1574 W.
Wolhingron
Talents
show at one of our theatres; CO, as the prefix
meaning 'with' or 'together,' as in the
statement, 'Go with me to a Wometco theatre
and we'll have a .swell time together.' Accent
the second .syllable."
Mrs. J. D. Woodbury received complimentary
tickets for asking what "Wometco"
stands for. Being a newcomer, she said, this
had worried her for some time. Answer: "For
being the first one to ask in the last five
minutes, Mrs. Woodbury, you win the two
passes. Wometco stands for 'Courtesy, Service
and Entertainment.'
For The
DRIVE-IN THEATRE
Blevins'
Has
Special Profit - Making
Concession
• Popcorn
• Snow Cones
• Peanuts
Equipment
• Candy Floss
Write for Complete Iniormation
and Catalog
BLEVINS POPCORN CO.,
Inc.
In Popcom Village e 3098 Cbailotte Ave.
NaihTilU, Tenn. e Phones: 7-3272-3-4
In Soulheaitern Induilrial Diitricl
6S0 Muiphy Ave.. S. W.
Bldg. E. Unit I e Atlanta. Go. e Amheral 7141
I
"The Great Waltz," the classic oldie starring
Louise Rainer, has been enjoying a
popular run in various local theatres. Latest
to show it is the Normandy, an independent
. . . Claughton's Embassy and Variety believe
in cooling off their customers in this
hot weather. Besides air conditioning, they
are offering a double bill, "Blonde Ice," and
"Discovery," the Admiral Richard Byrd Antarctic
expedition film.
Phil Masters, manager of Wometco's
Rosetta, has a whole series of promotions
planned for the coming months. Most ambitious
on the list probably will be the "Miss
Little River" contest, an annual affair. The
Rosetta has always been noted for the active
part it takes in its community's affairs.
Lions Elect Robin Wightman
ARKADELPHIA, ARK.—Robin Wightman,
manager of the Radio and Royal theatres
here, has been elected president of the Lions
club.
WIL-KIK
CHARLOTTE, N. C.
ATLANTil. OA.
"Sverything for the theatre except fUm"
BOXOFTICE :: June 19, 1948
99