Boxoffice-October.01.1955

-, iept^mber
I
CAMPBELL,
Joe Simon, Showman
At Memphis, Is Dead
MEMPHIS JoL' Simon, ii.>.>i^l;iiU nuiiuiger
3( tho Plazii. Luclami and Ro.seinary theitres,
operated by Augustine Ciaiiciolo, died
it Baptist Hospital here Saturday night i24>
liter a week's iUness. He was 62.
Sinion came to Memphis 22 years ago. He
lad tjeen assistant manager of the Warner
Theatre, ticket salesman at Ellis Auditorium,
nanager of the Rltz and associated with the
,)peration of the Plaza, Luciann and Roseniuy.
Simon was a friend of show people all over
he Uivited States. He was born in Jones-
X)ro, Ark. He went into show business very
/oung. He was a clarinetist and played bit
ij3
jarts in stock companies. Then he settled
lown as a musician and for many years was
n the orchestra and was assistant to Merle
'>ans. band master for Ringling Bros., Barium
& Bailey circus.
Cecil Vogel, manager of Loew's Palace, decribed
Simon as "a trouper all his life."
Vogel said; "He would do anything for
nybody. night or day."
Simon was active in the Shrine and Vaiety
Club. He was a member of the Anshei
Sphard Congregation. Funeral services were
leld Sunday with Rabbi Morton Baum oficiating.
Burial was in Anshei Sphard cemeery.
Simon leaves a sister and four brothers.
".
B. Harper Will Remodel
IJampbell, Mo.. Theatre
MO.— J. B. Harper, grocer of
his city, who recently purchased the MLssouri
."lieatre here, plans a full-scale remodeling
frogram. The interior will be redecorated:
II new projection and sound equipment will
€ installed and a new screen added.
The new owner also plans to fiu'nish the
heatre with neve seats with cushion backs as
'eU as cushion bottoms. A new heating sysem
is also in his plans. Harper said, adding
.e could not say exactly how long the house
'ill have to close down, but that he would
jiJiave it open for business as soon as possible.
2,300 Fight Fans Crowd
Savannah Auditorium
SAVANNAH, UA.— A capacity crowd ol
2,300 witnessed the closed circuit TV showliiK
of the Marcluno-Moore fight which wivs presented
by a local promoter in the City Auditorium.
Reception was reported by local sports editors
as being very good, with very little Interference
on the screen.
The equipment wils
brought to the city by the Theatre Television
Network. Seat prices ranged from $2.30 to
S3.45 for reserved seats in the orchestra. A
special section was set aside for colored
patrons.
Small seating capacity of the local Indooi
theatres was said to be the reason the pre.sentation
was not made in a theatre. The
largest theatre in the city seats 1,500, and
because of the expense involved in bringing
in the closed circuit setup, it was felt the
price scale would have had to have been set
tof) hich to make the venture pay off.
M. J. Brummell Heads Sales
For United Productions
SARASOTA, KLA.— M. J. Brummell, lormerly
associated with Eastin Pictures of Davenport.
Iowa, has been appointed executive
director of .sales
for United Productions with
offices in the Florida Theatre building here.
United Productions, succes-sors to the Thomas
organization as distributors of Movie Sweepstakes,
will continue to operate their screen
advertising and promotion facilities.
Closes Temporarily
CLEARWATER, FLA.—J. N. Dakos, owner
of the Ritz Theatre, has closed the house
temporarily. The Ritz is a neighborhood
theatre.
Lad Confesses Burglary
TAMPA, FLA.—A 13-year-old boy has admitted
burglarizing the Tower Drive-In. He
was placed in the custody of juvenile officers
Tristate Will Meet
In Memphis Oct. 24
MEMI'llIS A nujonllKlil bout ride on tin
Ml.ssl.vslppl will hlghllRht the Trl.sUiU- Tlieaire
Owners convention here Oct