Filmmaker Walter Resce Recounts Adventures of His European Trip MIAMI—Walter Resce, director of Rainbow Pictures. Miami Beach motion picture production firm, has returned from Europe where he had some hair-raising experiences on his filmmaking jaunt. As part of their photography chores in Italy Resce and his wife were shooting scenes along the Tiber river when their boat capsized, spilling them into the current. Resce was found head down among the rocks along the shore. A 16-year-old boy fished Mrs. Desce from the water. A medico pronounced them dead on arrival at the hospital. Resce regained consciousness a few hour^ later, but his wife, the former Ruth Brigham, a feature writer for International News Service, stayed in a coma for five days. Half of their camera equipment lies at the bottom of the Tiber. Undaunted by the mishap, the Resces finished their work in Italy and went on to Israel. "It is simply unbelievable the progress these people have made," Resce said. "With only a year of independence. Arab gunfire at their very doors, the Israeli people and government have begun an immense agricultural program and have opened many industrial plants, including rubber, glass, cement, wine, etc." With an eye for interesting scenes for his color camera, Resce described the city of Haifa as particularly beautiful, "much like San Francisco." The beaches there, he said, are excellent. "And the people, no matter how poor, and the streets of the city are scrupulously clean. English is spoken everywhere, and everybody I met, from government officials to the man on the street, was wholeheartedly cooperative." Resce's unlucky number almost caught up with him again at Jerusalem. He was shooting parts of the city in the hands of the Arabs from atop Mount Zion in the Jewish zone, when he realized Arab guards below had him in their sights. "Apparently they mistook my camera for a gun," he recalled. Resce's films of Israel will include reels on industry, its appearance to the tourist. its youth and a longer production dealing with the new nation as a whole. He met Baron de Hirsch Meyer, Miami Beach banker and attorney, who is an advLser. Most exclusive of Resce's pictures probably are scenes of the Pope and the Vatican, mos,t of them made before the Tiber dunking. But for the cooperation he received in Rome, Resce met with little help from Italians when it came to photographing other parts of their country. Bribe-hungry officials and petty red tape procedures threatened more than once to bog down the camera team. Admittedly disappointed in Italy, except as it looks through a view-finder, 'Resce observed, "Italy has been the recipient of vast amounts of Marshall Plan aid. with a view to checking communism. Yet the communists are very strong, the government confused and the people bent on an allout effort to fleece Americans this Holy Year." American congressmen and writers, on flying junkets through the country "don't hear the frequency with which the name of Mussolini is cropping up," Resce complained. "People are recalling "better times under II Duce." There are eight films in all, but the Italian pictures will be distributed soon for viewing in schools and institutions. Both English and Spanish sound tracks will be utilized. Osceola, Ark.. Houses Sold OSCEOLA, ARK.—The Joy and Gem theatres here have been purchased by two Osceola businessmen, Leroy Owens and B. Frank Williams, from the estate of the late Emma Cox. Bill Kroeger will remain as manager. J. S. Browning Stricken ELIZABETH, TENN.—J. S. "Bus" Browning, who had been identified many years with the ownership of local theatres, died recently after a brief illness. Browning's death came while he was out of the city recovering after an operation. Funeral services were held here. Sunset Drive-In Bows At West Memphis, Ark. MEMPHIS—The Sun.set Drive-In in West Memphis, Ark., just across the new $12.- 000,000 four-lane highway bridge from downtown Memphis, was all set for its formal opening August 17. Built in a rapidly growing city across the Mississippi river from Memphis and expected to attract Memphians as well, this is the first new drive-in to be finished in this sevtion this summer. The Sunset has all black-topped surfaces, moonlight lighting, Mighty Ninety projection lamps which provide a picture almost twice the size of the usual 50-ampere lamps. It has a playground including a Crosley fire engine on which children may ride free of charge. A picture window in the projection booth enables patrons to watch the white-uniformed projectionists operating the big machines. The Sunset Drive-In is the first of three drive-ins announced for this territory by Ken Corp. of Memphis of which David Flexer is president. One is under construction at Clarksdale, Miss., and the location of the third has not been announced. Flexer also is head of Flexer Theatres, Inc., which operates a chain of theatres from its Memphis headquarters. Build Dickson, Tenn., Theatre DICKSON, TENN.—Work has been started on a new theatre on North Main street here for the Dickson Theatre Co. Mrs. W. F. Bruster, president of the company, said the house would be ready for opening ia January. The theatre, to seat 850 persons, will be of steel, masonry and concrete construction. The cry room will accommodate 16 adults. The front of the building will be of creara brick trimmed with red brick. The floors of the front balcony, the foyer and restrooms will be terrazzo. Heating will be an automatic gas-fired forced hot water system. The lobby will be of structural glass and porcelain enamel. Architects for the building are Speight & Hibbs, Clarksville, Tenn. General contractor is Allen Murphy of Nashville. Roanoke, Ala., Ozoner Opens ROANOKE, ALA.—The 207-car Twilite Drive-In has been opened just outside the city limits on the Rock Mills highway. Louie Treadway is manager and Martin Theatres of Georgia owns the house. WARNERS ATLANTA STAFF—A grand total of more than 50 years in the Atlanta Warners branch has been spent by the staff members pictured above. They are, left to right: Bill Langston, who has been with Atlanta WB office for 13 years; Alvin McAfee, with the branch eight months; J. Waters, office manager, 12 years; Roy Donaldson, ten years, and Sewell Suderth, 15 years. Century, Jackson, Miss., Closed After 50 Years JACKSON. MISS.—The Century Theatre here, originally opened more than 50 years ago and converted into a motion picture house after many years of use as a legitimate house, recently was closed by the Paramount Gulf Theatre Corp., which also operates the Paramount, Majestic and Pix theatres and the Highway 80 Drive-In. No reason for the closing has been revealed by officials of the operating company. The house has been managed many years by Mrs. W. F. Zetrouer. 60 BOXOFFICE :: August 19. 1950
Yipee! What fun ! . . . when the Pine Ridge pOHners invade the big city to out-slick two big-shdtoil men . . . and find themsefves out-kicking a score of show-girl cuties! •DREAMING OUT LOUD' "BASHFUL BACHELOR' "TWO WEEKS TO UVE"
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