Boxoffice-May.03.1952

HARRY HART
By
pRED McLENDON and Al Morgan and all of
the office force were in the office of Mc-
Lendon Theatre at Union Springs, Ala., when
I called. The firm'.s drive-ins at Hazelhurst,
Miss., Monroeville and Foley, Ala., are now
open after being clo.sed for the winter. The
theatre at Bay Minette. Ala., is getting a new
lobby and restroonis and general renovation.
Jimmy Gaylaid of the Starlite Drive-In at
Troy is a real promoter. He gave away 700
colored baby chickens for Easter. Ramps at
the drive-in were in wonderful shape and
Gaylard maintains the ozoner in points of
neatness and attractiveness. In his promotions,
Gaylard makes a big play for community
attendance and goodwill.
* * «
Eddie Tomberlin of the 864-seat Pike Theatre
in Troy had a lovely display of flowers
in the lobby and boxoffice. He said that he
runs a trailer for a local florist and in return
the florist supplies fresh flowers for the
theatre lobby and boxoffice. Eddie, who
never misses a bet when it comes to showmanship,
keeps the public well informed on
what is playing at the Pike at all times. The
Pike has a 50-ton air conditioning unit.
Dozier Roberts of Elba, who has been manager
of the theatre there for 16 years, believes
in down to earth showmanship. He says that
a manager has to meet and mingle with his
patrons and, with his charming personality,
this policy has meant success for his theatre.
Roberts promised lots of good fishing the
next time we're down his way.
* * *
Owners of the new Dixieland Drive-In, Opp,
were taking a personal interest in the completion
of the ozoner, which is open and playing
to a very nice house. They were anxious
to get the airer completed, as they lacked
driveway lighting and a few other minor details.
At the Opp Drive-In, which also is under
construction, George Owens was supervising
construction and said he hoped to have the
350-car situation open by June 15. He has a
concrete patio in front of the concessions
stand. The ozoner will be equipped with
Wenzel projectors. Strong lamps and DIT-
MCO speakers. The drive-in is located at the
Opp city limits.
No one was around at the Midway Drivein,
but the drive-in looked clean and well
kept.
* •
Jules Stidstill, assistant manager of the
Martin Theatre, greeted me at Andalusia.
Manager Owen Lawson was in Atlanta on a
business trip. Eai-1 Hallford, manager of the
Ritz, came over, and they told me of some
of the goodwill they built recently when
they hosted local Four-H clubs to programs,
which included speakers on stage and "Green
Promise" on the screen. They said R. E. Martin,
county agent, was pleased with the program.
The theatres also recently screened
HART BEATS
In Alabama
Six-year-old Shirley Ann Coburn,
daughter of George R. Coburn, manager
of the Prattmont Drive-In, Prattville,
Ala., spends many of her free hours at
the drive-in helping her dad with his
chores. Here she poses on her father's
knee for a photograph for BOXOFFICE
representative Harry Hart.
the cancer film, "Self Examination," with
three performances for women and three performances
for men.
Attendance is being upped at Luverne,
Manager J. A. Richardson said, by Jackpot
Quiz night, which is held every Tuesday night.
The beautifully landscaped Crenshaw Drive-
In has been doing fair business since its opening
Christmas eve. Manager Mack Clark
had his maintenance man sprinkling and
trimming flowers at the airer, which was neat
and clean.
* * »
The Prattmont Drive-In, which we approached
just before sunset, was surrounded
by fields of Autauga crimson reseeding clover
in full bloom. The field made a lovely setting
for the drive-in. Manager George R.
Coburn said that a clover tour was started
from the drive-in April 17 and that many
notables were there as well as editors of farm
papers. The fields do not belong to the
drive-in, but the theatre is very proud of
them, since they add such beauty to the setting.
Coburn was getting ready for the first stage
show this year. It is the policy of the theatre
to have stage shows or local talent shows
at least once a month during the summer.
The first one was billed for April 30 and
starred Uncle Bob Hilton and his radio cowboys.
The theatre has an unusual midnight show
policy. Patrons who have paid to see the
earlier shows may stay without extra charge
for the Saturday midnight feature. Coburn
plays a double feature every Wednesday.
Coburn, who has had a great deal of experience
in chemical research, has developed
a chemical coating which will prevent the
cone of the speaker from being shorttd out
by water. The coating completely waterproofs,
the speakers and also restore.s life to
hardened fabrics. He says It is much better
to waterproof the speakers when they are
new, because once the cones become warped,
it Is difficult to get them In line again. His
experiments have proved successful, he .says.
His speaker cones have been treated for more
than a year, but none of them have given
him any trouble from dampne.ss.
0. W. Wade was in the midst of remodeling
the old Wadsonian Theatre at Clanton
in central Alabama. The theatre will be a
Spanish-type front, new seats,
beauty with its
new .screen, draperies, fireproof booth of concrete
and brick and a balcony enlarged from
50 to 210 seats. Ten feet ha.s been added all
the way around- the downstairs of the theatre
and restrooms have been redesigned. A new
concession stand is being installed and new
offices are placed downstairs. The theatre
is expected to reopen for full-time business
about June 10.
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BOXOFTICE May 3, 1952 71