Boxoffice-October.27.1951

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Despite
Movietime Postponement
Many Stars Visit New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS—In spite of the postponement
of Movietime in Dixie in this area. New
Orleans has had a flurry of film celebrities
in town. Most spectacular were Barbara Payton
and Franchot Tone. Something of a
Hollywood production, the transcontinental
honeymooners arrived in New Orleans for a
one-night stand. Miss Payton was here for
the southern premiere of "Drums in the Deep
South," which opened at the Orpheum. A
bride of only a few weeks, most of which time
she had been separated from her husband.
Miss Payton was joined here by Tone, who accompanied
her on the stage for five personal
appearances that day.
Tone flew in from Los Angeles an hour
before the arrival of his bride from Savannah,
Ga. Interviews, pictures and personal appearances,
however, did not stop them from
taking in the sights of New Orleans before
they separated the next day for Miss Payton
to
continue her tour.
The couple, who had been headline news
for some weeks, chatted with reporters about
future plans and their home life.
The Orpheum packed in good crowds on the
opening date of "Drums in the Deep South"
due, undoubtedly, to the presence of the star,
since the film received only lukewarm reviews.
In connection with the premiere, John
Dostal, manager of the Orpheum, conducted
a contest to find a local girl representing the
most typical "southern belle." The winner,
Shirley Norman, competed with selections
from 13 other southern states in Atlanta the
following Sunday. The finalist in the Southern
Belle contest will receive a trip to London
and Paris and a seven-year contract with the
King Bros., producers of "Drums in the Deep
South."
The latest arrivals here were actress Joan
Fontaine and Hugh Herbert, stage, film and
television comic, who hit town Saturday (20).
Miss Fontaine was in the middle of a jaunt
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She was accompanied by Peggy Rutledge,
secretary to actress Elizabeth Taylor with
whom Miss Fontaine is starred in MGM's
production of "Ivanhoe," filmed this summer
in England. Miss Fontaine made a trip
to South America in March as a goodwill
ambassador for the film industry. While there,
she adopted a little 5-year-old Inca-Spanish
girl, Marita, because, she said, she was captivated
by the little mountain girl and "her
parents were poor."
Hugh Herbert, on the other hand, was here
not in the interest of films, but grand opera.
He will appear here Thursday, Friday and
Saturday (25-27) in the New Orleans Opera
House Ass'n production of "Die Fledermaus,"
at Municipal auditorium. Herbert recounted
the origin of his trade mark "Woo-woo," which
he said started when he was making a pictrue
with Louis Calhern.
Walter Pidgeon got off to a bad start arriving
here ill with a troublesome head cold and
refused to meet the press on the night of his
arrival. All was forgiven next day, however,
when he received them in his Roosevelt hotel
suite.
En route to Miami to represent the film
colony at the American Legion convention,
the star said that he is not interested in television
but is content to devote all of his time
to films.
Although the film folk made no personal
appearances here, they were played up in the
three daily papers with pictures and interviews.
Since the public apparently never tires
of learning first hand what their favorite
stars eat for breakfast, do with their spare
time and how they look, the industry received
a decided break in the attendant publicity.
Personal appearances were made by Andy
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Devlne and actor Guy Madison who met thi
fans at the annex of the D. H. Holmes C,
department store Thursday il8i. Devi'
amused the customers by telling them th
he "kinda fell into the movies."
"I was walking along the street one d,
and this fellow grabs me and puts me in
college picture. Then after a while th
started making a villian out of me and final
I got around to being a cowboy."
Madison said he and Devine were gettii
quite a kick out of their present radio-T
series, as well as their personal appearani
tour.
On the day before they entertained tl
orphans at Madonna Manor and the childre
at Charity hospital. They received the kej
to the city from Mayor Chep Morrison an
ended their stay here by saying "howdy" t'
the New Orleans children at the departmei
store.
Meanwhile, Movietime in Dixie tentativel
is scheduled for this area the last week i
November or the first in December, accordin
;
:
to Eldon Briwa, business manager. Due t
the large territory to be covered, he saic
they are asking three of the major studios fo
groups of five actors each.
"We don't think it is a good idea to forn;
tours of actors from the same company, si;
we are going to scramble them up after the;!
get here," he explained.
\
Although the campaign receievd a tremen-j
dous amount of publicity before the date ii,
was originally scheduled, Briwa said that thi
postponement had apparently not lessenect
the interest.
"Exhibitors throughout the territory are enthusiastic
about the tour and are building up
big promotions on it."
J. E. Hendrix Is New Owner
TAMPA—The Broadway Theatre has been
reopened by J. E. Hendrix, who has been connected
with the Florida State and State circuits.
A feature will be free admission for
children under 12 when accompanied by their
parents.
Renovate Jackson Amite
JACKSON, MISS. — The Amite Theatre
here is going to undergo a renovation. Plans
for the project have been drawn by Bobby
Overstreet, architect. Orkin Brothers of
Jackson are the owners.
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: October 27, 1951