Boxoffice-January.17.1953

'Mississippi' Debut
Aids Variety Home
MEMPHIS—Patrons mingled with film
People paid as much as $100 a seat for
stars.
a motion picture and the Variety Club's campaign
for funds to build a Home for Convalescent
Children got a shot in the arm.
That just about told the story of the premiere
January 14 at Malco Theatre of the
picture, "Mississippi Gambler." All proceeds
went to the children's home fund. Admission
was by contribution. A $100 gift called
for a seat near the film stars.
to get in was $5.
Minimum gift
Julia Adams, Piper Laurie and Valerie
Jackson, who have parts in the picture, were
there in person.
Valerie said Jeff Chandler had always been
her favorite star. "And now he eats lunch
with us," she said dreamily. "And he calls
everybody by name."
Miss Laurie was asked if experienced actors
like Tyrone Power helped youngsters like
herself along.
"Some pretend to help you because it looks
good," she said. "But Mr. Power is exceptional.
He helped me when people were not aware
of it as well as when they were."
She was speaking of the picture, "Mississippi
Gambler," in which Miss Laurie and
Miss Adams star with Power.
M. A. Lightman sr., president of Malco
Theatres, and Dick Settoon, branch manager.
Universal, arranged for the premiere for Variety's
fund.
FEDERAL TAX REPEAL
SOUTHEASTERN STATES
COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN
Richard M. Kennedy Jack Bomar Sam Kirby Lamar Sarra
i
Home Owners Win Fight
In Rezoning for Airer
TAMPA, FLA.—Home owners have won a
second round in their fight to prevent the
construction of a drive-in on Dale Mabry
highway. A rezoning petition by S. E. Britton,
which would have permitted him to construct
a theatre on the tract, was rejected
by the county commissioners. Residents opposed
the ozoner on the grounds the traffic,
noise and lights would depreciate the value
of their homes and become a hazard to the
neighborhood.
Britton claims to have invested about $50,-
000 in the theatre venture for the site and
equipment during an interval when it was
rezoned for commercial, then rescinded when
residents protested. He has also taken another
drive-in decision by the commissioners
to court. This concerns the rezoning of an
area on 40th street at East Broadway. A
theatre is now under construction there,
started last summer under a zoning permit
approved by the commissioners. Now four
property owners declare it to be illegal be-
registered notices had not been mailed
cau.se
to them as required by law.
Lloyd Binford Is 111
MEMPHIS—111 With a virus infection, Lloyd
T. Binford, chairman of board of censors, has
entered Baptist hospital at Memphis. Binford
is 86. Visitors are not permitted.
Plan Airer at Indian Rocks, Fla.
TAMPA. FLA.—Mrs. Sarah Higginbotham,
a well-known businesswoman, will erect a
drive-in at Indian Rocks.