Boxoffice-March.10.1951

Mayor Brings Change
To Higher Type Films
SHREVEPORT, LA.—The West End Theatre
here, for the past month offering the
public such films as "Nine Girls in Hell,"
Sunday (4) will inaugurate a new policy of
"better shows," such as "Birth of a Nation"
and "King of Kings." Mayor Clyde E, Fant
said the theatre manager, George J. Ragoa
sr., had willingly agreed to change the theatre's
policy at a conference Wednesday (28).
The mayor said he requested Ragon to
show a "higher type" of movies, after he
(the mayor) had received numerous letters
and telephone calls from citizens complaining
about the "low type" of film fare on the
West End screen. The theatre is at 1831
Texas Avenue.
Ragon agreeably complied to the request
Mayor Fant said, commending the manager
for his cooperative action.
The mayor described the type of film
shown at the West End for about the past
30 days as "suggestive."
Promotion material for the West End's
recent films had boasted such claims as
"Sensation . . . We dare not tell you more . . .
May make you blush but never ashamed . . .
Adults only."
Some of the attractions were "A Night at
the Follies," "Satan's Youth Aflame," "The
True Story of Life" and "Nine Girls in Hell."
Stars Appear on Stage
SARASOTA, FLA.—Cecil B. DeMille, producer
and director, and stars of "The Greatest
Show on Earth," currently in production
here, made personal appearances at the
Florida Theatre recently for the opening of
"Samson and Delilah." With him were Dorothy
Lamour, Betty Hutton, Gloria Graham,
Cornel Wilde, Lyle Bettger, Henry Wilcoxon
and Antoinette Concello.
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BOXOFFICE March 10, 1951
Four Charters Granted
To N. Carolina Theatres
RALEIGH, N. C.—Among recent state
charters granted theatre corporations was the
Lyons Theatre Co., of Raleigh with an authorized
stock of $100,(K)0 and a subscribed
stock of $300. Listed in the company were
Allen Langston, Katie Jones and R. P. Howard
jr., all of Raleigh. Also chartered: The
Cameron Theatre Corp. of Charlotte, claiming
$100,000 capital stock and listing as
heads, F. H. Beddingfield, T. A. Little and
J. F. White, all of Charlotte.
The Alan Theatre Co. of Raleigh with
capital stock of $100,000 and listing Fred
Levi, Mildred Levi and Allen Langston, all
of Raleigh.
The Hannah Pickett Theatre, Inc., of
Rockingham with authorized capital stock
of 1,000 shares at no par value and listing
Alex Monroe of Rockingham, Bette Behar
and Louise Wander, both of New York.
Plant City, Fla., Capitol
Taken Over by Talgar
PLANT CITY, FLA.—Talgar Theatres, with
headquarters in Lakeland, formally took over
the operation of the Capitol here last week
with Jesse L. Marlowe, veteran showman, as
manager. Florida State Theatres gave up
the Capitol and kept the State Theatre. The
splitup in operation of the two motion picture
houses here followed the government's
antitrust ruling which banned the control of
two theatres in one city by the same chain.
A similar change is In process in Ocala.
C. L. King, manager of the Capitol for
several years, moved over to the State.
Bolivar F. Hyde jr., general manager of Talgar,
said this would be the only change in
the Capitol staff. Hyde also said there would
be some renovating at the Capitol with a
new air conditioning to be installed.
Sailors Help Capture
Florida Theatre Bandit
JACKSONVILLE—An armed bandit who
held up the Florida Theatre recently fleeing
with $106 was captured minutes later after
a wild chase by five sailors and two police
officers. The navy men stepped up to the
front of the theatre just as the bandit stuck
up the cashier, Mrs. Virginia Riechardt,
escaping with the loot. Robert Heekin, manager
of the theatre, was in the ticket office
making a call when the holdup occurred.
The gunman was identified as 22-year-old
Kenneth Hester of Herlong Road. The stolen
money was recovered.
Open Gulfport Legion
GULFPORT, MISS. — Several dignitaries
were among those who attended the opening
recently of Gulfport's new 1,250-seat Legion
Theatre. The theatre, owned by the Joe
Graham Post of the American Legion, has
been under construction since last summer.
Charter to Northwest Theatre
COLUMBIA, S. C—A charter has been
granted to the Northwest Theatre Corp. of
Spartanburg. Capital stock was listed at
$16,000 with T. A. Little named as president.
State Sponsors Lenten Contest
ST. PETERSBURG — The Times and
Florida State theatres are sponsoring a Lenten
letter contest. Two passes are awarded
daily to writers of best letters based on personal
experience with religion. The contest
closes March 25. Best entry of the entire
contest will be awarded $50 by Florida State
Theatres, $25 for the writer and $25 to be
given a worthy charity of his or her choice.
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