Boxoffice-January.24.1953

Texas COMPO Sponsors
Red Expose Film as Must
Chill Wills Telethon
Collects $50,000
DALLAS—The March of Dime.s program
here hit the jackpot on Saturday night when
Chill Wills, U-I film star, acted as master
DALLAS — "The Hoaxters," f aclual-type
expose of Communism produced by MGM,
has been chosen by Texas COMPO showmen
as its first 1953 public relations project.
The COMPO unit, representative of all
exhibitors in Texas, sponsors a motion picture
at intervals and asks state theatremen to
give it special promotion and statewide booking
as a means of building industry prestige
and creating good public relations.
"The Hoaxters" was personally produced
by Dore Schary, production head for MGM,
as a public service feature of the motion
picture industry.
"It is essential that every per.son, regardless
of age, race or creed, see this feature,
which is regai-ded as one of the world's
most shocking documentary films," Texas
Around Oklahoma
By WESLEY TROUT
The Ritz Theatre, Chickasha, formerly
owned by Video Independent Theatres, was
purchased recently by Mi's. Opal Gray, who
operated the Pix Theatre there for many
years and the Squaw Drive-In at El Reno
last year. The Ritz was remodeled after
being closed several weeks. The facelifting
included a new front, streamlined Wagner
marquee with green plastic letters and a
new name—The E.squire, in script 19-feet
long, molded in three-foot red plastic letters
filled with red neon. This sign was installed
across the top of marquee. Under the marquee
there are ten large floodlights.
The building has been painted white. The
low'er lobby is Portland cement stucco and
rose tile. There are new attractive lobby
di.splay frames for advertising and large
illuminated letters on the marquee for program
advertising. The doors are solid gum
with attractive trimmings.
A new streamlined boxoffice and a new
snack bar have been installed. The lobby
has been enlarged to twice its former size
with a new brick tile floor to match the wood
w-ork. Walls have been finished in green and
the ceiling in yellow. Tlie house is also
equipped with 33-ton Carrier refrigeration.
The Pix Theatre, formerly owned by Mrs.
Gray, has closed and will be remodeled into
a store. The house had 12 years of continous
operation.
The Squaw Drive-In, El Reno, has been
sold to "Red" Slocum and Video Independent
Theatres and will be reopened early in the
spring. This situation was remodeled last
year by Mrs. Gary.
* * •
Paul Shipley, city manager. Video Independent
Theatres, Enid, put on a big publicity
and advertising campaign for "Road to Bali"
and the five-day engagement did very nice
business
TV does not bother Wesley Ruggles, Grand,
COMPO directors inform exhibitors. "It is
the patriotic duty of every theatre to play
this informative picture. Special arrangements
have been made with MGM for the
film to be sold to you at production, print
and distribution costs in order that you
might take full advantage of this important
project. You are urged to book it as soon as
possible."
It is emphasized that, while the film is a
documentary, it is interesting, entertaining
and highly informative and unmistakably will
increa.se boxoffice receipts if well exploited.
COMPO has prepared a special promotion
kit, containing suggestions for handling the
film, and is offering a special trailer and
radio publicity record at nominal cost.
The film runs 36 minutes.
Geary. He rents part of his other theatre,
which is closed, to a TV repairman.
« « *
Clarence Ausherman, owner of the Wakita,
Wakita, enjoys something unusual in newspaper
advertising. His ad is run on the
front page.
Variety of Houston
Installs New Crew
I Continued from preceding page)
ning the international canvasman from Tent
17 executive vice-president of Rowley United
Theatres, John H. Rowley. Many great projects
were undertaken and completed during
his two years as chief barker. He will tell
us about the highlights of the midwinter
meeting at Pittsburgh."
Rowley emphasized the importance of having
a big delegation from the Variety Clubs
in Texas at the Mexico City convention in
May. He stressed the great interest that is
following the Adolph Zukor testimonial dinners
throughout the country. He then inducted
the crew and officers for 1953.
As his first official remarks, Mitchell M.
Lewis, chief barker, said, "L. C. Kirby has
been entirely too modest in recounting the
results of the club under his capable leadership,
which was also handicapped by some
illness. During the past year Tent 34 raised
more than in any previous year in history.
It gives me great pleasure to show the appreciation
of the club members to Lew'is
Kirby by presenting him with this life membership
gold card."
Joe Foster was the final speaker of the
evening. As one of the ten outstanding young
men in the U. S. for 1952 selected by the National
Junior Chamber of Commerce, he related
in detail some of his harrowing experiences
as undercover man for the police
departments of Texas in exposing illegal narcotic
rings.
Chill Wills performed brilliantly as
master of ceremonies for the March of
Dimes Telethon over Wr.\.\-TV in Dallas
recently. Shown, left to right: Jack Sherman,
WF.\A-TV sports editor; Cannon
Ball Taylor and Wills, who is about to
start auctioning off cakes.
of ceremonies on the WFAA-TV Telethon
program, which lasted for 22 hours. Wills,
who appeared on the program at the request
of Texas COMPO, clowned, kidded and wisecracked
with hundreds of entertainers and
civic leaders while telecasting the show. The
result was that $50,000 was contributed by
listeners in Dallas and the surrounding territory.
Outstanding performers who appeared with
Wills included Pat O'Brien, Eva Gabor and
Richard Egan, who were in the stage production
at the Melba Theatre, Spike Jones and
entertainers and musicians from the local
night club.s.
Wills auctioned off a large array of donated
articles from local merchants and brought
fancy prices for the cakes, radios, dre.sses, iron
lungs and other items given to the cause.
Exhibitors in the territory were generous
in their contributions and in expressions of
high regard to Chill.
Phil Isley, president of Phil Isley Theatres
and president of Allied Theatre Owners,
said. "We are proud of Chill for his unexcelled
performance in raising funds for
this worthy cause."
Don C. Douglas, Rowley Theatres executive
and finance chairman for Texas COMPO,
said, "Chill is always a credit to our industry
and this magnificent job he performed
for the March of Dimes is characteristic of
his great heart."
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