Boxoffice-January.24.1953

Ezell Drive-In Circuit Arranges Plans for
1953 Season
Ezell & Associates, large Texas theatre circuit, held its fifth
annual convention in Galveston recently. Shown at the convention,
left to right, seated: Marion Hudgins; Herman Goldstein, president,
Electro- Aire Corp.; Frank Whisenant. Surf Drive-In. Port
Arthur; Conley Cox, Trail Drive-In, San Antonio; Al Lipscomb,
Jacksboro, Fort Worth; Eph Charninsky, San Antonio; Claude C.
Ezell, president of Ezell & .Associates; Joe Dulay, Circle, Waco;
Glen Stoterau, Circle, Beaumont; Mike Hopkins, Burnet, Austin,
and Kenny Morris, Chief, Austin. Standing: Jimmy Harris, Hempstead,
Houston; Jack Veeren, Northwest Highway, Dallas; Dave
Voung, Brownsville; Dan Goodwin, Fredericksburg Road, San
.Antonio; Joe DeAtley, Irvington, Houston; Kay Griffin, Pasadena,
Pasadena; Earl DeVane, Winkler, Houston; Al Reynolds, vicepresident
and general manager, Ezell & .Xssociates; Bobby Chambers,
Belknap, Fort Worth; Hugo Plath, home office executive; Marshall
Nichols, Charro and Star, Brownsville; Jeff Wolf, Gulf, Corpus
Christi, and Ray Trojahn, Chalk Hill, Dallas.
The circuit may add a few more drive-ins, Ezell said.
GALVESTON, TEX.—The fifth annual
manager.s and partners convention of Ezell
& Associate.s was held at Gaidos re.staurant
here recently, with President Claude C. Ezell
making the opening address, despite his recent
illness.
Ezell reviewed the year's activities and
mentioned plans for 1953, saying that a fewmore
drive-ins may be added to the circuit
in the coming year. He praised particular
managers, who had done outstanding work.
The bu.siness sessions were opened with an
introduction of the managers, partners and
home office officials. On the lapel name
tags of each man were gold stars representing
the number of conventions he had attended.
A welcoming address was given by
John Browning, city manager for Interstate
in Galveston and active in local government.
Eph Charninsky of San Antonio spoke on
Savage Cousins Building
Booneville, Ark., Airer
OKLAHOMA CITY—Byron Savage of
Century Supply here and his cousin E. W.
Savage of Booneville. Ark., are building an
ozoner at Booneville and by all reports the
work has been jet-propelled. It seems Byron
went over and for 30 minutes briefed a crew
of four men, none of whom had even seen a
drive-in theatre, and at 10:30 a. m. the work
began. Byron reports the first ramp was
built by that noon. The four men, under his
personal direction, spent four hours that
afternoon and four hours the next morning,
and by noon of that day they had all eight
ramps shaped i2600 lineal feet of ramps) for
a 320-car drive-in. Used in the operation
were two ten-foot caterpillai's and one pulling
blade. Savage, quite proud of the record,
said the eight ramps were packed down, as
well as shaped in the IS'a hours. The ozoner
is to open in late March or early April. No
name for same has been chosen as yet. The
equipment will be Century. E. W. Savage has
a conventional house in Booneville now.
Bronislau Kaper will compose and conduct
the score for "Fame and Fortune," a Metro
picture.
the future leadership of the film business,
pointing out the opportunities available for
alert and energetic young men. He said
that most of the Ezell officials were at one
time employed in a minor capacity and
worked their ways up through the channels
and opportunities which are present today.
Dave Young, partner in Brownsville, discussed
drive-in business in that city, and
Herman Goldstein, president of Electro-Aire
Corp., discussed care of equipment.
Hugo Plath, home office executive, gave a
word picture of an imaginary drive-in in
which everything is wrong and emphasized
the things that are not allowed to happen
in Ezell drive-ins.
Marion Hudgins, manager of the Oleander
Drive-In, Galveston, w-as pre.sent throughout
the meetings as a guest. The convention
banquet was held on the first night.
Ozro Mills, 36, Succumbs
WOODVILLE, TEX.—Ozro Mills, 36, manager
of the Pain Theatre here, died at his
home January 6. He was a native of San
Augustine, Tex., and had been manager of
the theatre the last seven years.
Claude Ezell Resigns
As Drive-In Ass'n Head
Dallas—Claude Ezell, first president
and a founder of the Texas Drive-In Theatre
Owners .'\ss'n, has notified directors
and members of his resignation, effective
immediately, because of ill health.
"Of course, I will retain active membership
and will do everything possible to
perpetuate the growth and progress of the
organization, but to head an association
of this kind requires an enormous amount
of work and a great deal more time than
I would be permitted to give," he wrote.
"It is with reluctance that I have tendered
my resignation as president, but
seriously feel I have no alternative for the
sake of my own health as well as the good
of the association."
Jack Farr is first vice-president of the
drive-in association.
Al Reynolds, vice-president and general
manager, conducted the open forum sessions
which ran from 3 to 5 p. m. and continued
most of the following day. Discussions centered
particularly on what can be done to
reduce expenses without reducing income or
sacrificing service. Other matters taken up
included methods of increasing business at
the boxoffice and increasing over-all concessions
sales.
Use of part-time help was considered as
was concession merchandising, particularly in
regard to introduction of new items. It was
revealed that a 25 per cent saving can be
effected by better storage of ice and delivery
closer to time of use.
Exploitation ideas for increasing business
were delved into and saving of carbon by
using stubs was emphasized, with proper
adjustment of lamps and voltage.
'April in Paris' Contest
Draws Letters in Tulsa
TULSA—Hundreds of letters have been
delivered to the Ritz Theatre here in the
last few days as part of the big Trip to Paris
contest being held with the current film,
"April in Paris." Five persons will be awarded
prizes in the contest, on the basis of letters
written by contestants telling why they would
like to spend April in Paris.
The winners will receive merchandise gifts
selected from local stores and will have a
chance to win a trip to Paris with all expenses
paid. Two of the five winners will
make the Paris trip with expenses paid by
Warner Bros, and a group of tourist bureaus.
Sponsor 'Hiawatha' Bow
DALLAS—The opening night of "Hiawatha,"
Walter Mirisch production in color released
by Allied Artists, at the Coronet Theatre
here February 18 will be sponsored by
the Delta Phi Epsilon alumnae as a benefit
for the Dallas School for Blind Children, according
to Hulda Silvernail, theatre manager.
Your cooperation to the March of Dimes drive is
importont. Let your patrons cooperate.
BOXOFFICE January 24, 1953 sw 67