Boxoffice-November.24.1951

Picture Trademark Gone;
Stage Is First Love Now
NEW ORLEANS—Two film stars who
soared to fame in different directions, Veronica
Lake and Lawrence Tibbett, have completed
a week's run here starring in the
stage play. "Peter Pan," at the Civic Theatre.
Miss Lake, whose famous blond locks threatened
to obliterate one eye under Hollywood's
glamor treatment, was completely shorn of
the flopping hairdo of the screen to play the
part of Peter Pan. Her hair is a dull blond,
as though it had never seen a proxide bottle
and she was devoid of makeup when interviewed.
Reporters blinked when the tiny
5-foot, 2-inch actress greeted them.
"I have to go to a man's barber to get a
hair cut," explained Miss Lake.
She related her secretary's experience in
making the first appointment at the barbershop
because, she said, the barber insisted
that she go to a beauty parlor. The over-theeye
coiffure, she explained, became her Hollywod
trademark quite by accident. Like other
actresses, she wore her hair in an 18-inch bob
for film roles. It happened that the wave in
her hair broke just over her eye.
"After that it became a publicity stunt and
was soon my trademark, like F.D.R.'s long
cigaret holder," she added.
The agile little actress who flies over the
stage in her current play said that her chief
hobby is her family, which includes husband,
Andre DeToth, a freelance movie director,
and three blue-eyed, blond-headed children-
Elaine who is 10, Michael 6 and 3-year-old
Diana. The actress, who tips the scales at
a mere 96 pounds, plans to make the stage
her mainstay, with a few screen roles thrown
in.
Her preference for the stage is shared by
Tibbett. The famed baritone, who plays the
double dramatic role in "Peter Pan" of Captain
Hook and the father of the children
who go roaming into the Never Land, said the
theatre is his first love.. Older now than the
days when his vibrant voice captured the motion
picture public in such films as "Blue
Moon," the Metropolitan Opera star has lost
none of the charm which has made him famous
with audiences.
Theatre Gets Warning
FT. LAUDERDALE, FLA.—The Little Theatre
of Ft. Lauderdale, which uses the Flight
Deck Theatre at the naval air station, has
been ordered to clean up. The theatre is
cluttered with stage props and other articles
and fire extinguishers are not easily accessible.
It is deemed a fire trap and president Ben
Short has been notified to clean up or
close
up.
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HART
T H. THOMPSON, president of Motion
BEATS
.By HARRY HART.
Picture Theatre Owners of Gergla, said
about 50 exhibitors
attended a meeting
of MPTO members
held in Atlanta
Wednesday a4).
Thompson said that
figures were presented
as evidence
that no theatre which
grossed less than $1,-
000 could pay 40 per
cent film rental and
survive. Thomp.son
said the figures were
taken from records of exhibitors and offered
as added evidence that there was much to be
gained from discussion and grievance panel
meetings.
A date was tentatively set for the next
MPTO convention sometime between March
1 and April 15. Plans for the convention
call for ticket sales to start by December 15
and to end by February 1.
* *
Bernie Shapiro and his wife of Triangle
Poster Co. made a business trip to Philadelphia
and New York. Ronnie Otwell of
Martin Theatres said that L. C. Hanks had
been transferred from Etowah, Tenn., to
Griffin, Ga.. to become city manager. He
was succeeded by E. M. Zimmerman.
Don Walsh now is managing the Cobb Theatre
in Marietta, Ga. When you buy a package
of cigarets in a Martin Theatres concession
stand you receive a book of matches
with a picture of Marty Mart, the Martin
theatre trademark. Marty Mart is shown on
the back of the cover flashing a picture on
the screen, which reads "Martin Theatres
present the best in motion pictures." On the
front of the cover he is shown unrolling a
strip of film which reads : "It is always Movietime
with Marty Mart."
The Martin circuit now is aiding the copper
drive by saving copper drippings from burned
carbons. The chain also is mailing copies of
its house organ, the Martin "IMpster. to all
former personnel now overseas.
C. L. Patrick, general manager for Martin
Theatres, .said circuit hou.ses now are running
date strips on the ends of trailers advertising
forthcoming attractions.
. • •
When the Melody Drlve-In, Thompson, was
Manager Charles Traylor was moved
clo.sed.
to the Cadet Drive-In, Milledgeville. Charley
Clark of Jackpot Quiz nite made a business
trip to the Memphis area.
Bill Kelly of U-I was a visitor in Nashville.
Rainy, cold weather slowed busine.ss to little
more than a snail's pace in drive-ins
across Georgia and eastern Alabama.
Florida Theatre Sold
ST. AUGUSTINE. FLA—The old Florida
Theatre has been sold by L. O. West to E. D.
Ramos of Jacksonville.
Child of Year Contest
RAYNE, LA.—Joy Acadia Theatre is conducting
a "1951 Child of the Year" contest
for babies to 12-year-old children. Their
photos, in natural color poses, w^ill be shown
on the screen of the Joy Acadia Theatre,
Florida's mST Supply House
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BOXOFFICE :
: November
24, 1951
57