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TEXAS NEWSMEN GET A CHEERFUL
EARFUL ON STATUS OF MOVIES
Interstate Circuit Brings Critics and Editors
To Dallas to Tell Their Upbeat 1958 Story
In Texas, they believe In the direct approach.
And. mused the collective executives
of Interstate Theatres, what more direct
approach to letting the state's newspapermen
know about the long line of fullblown
blockbusters due for theatres soon
than asking them to come along and see
for themselves?
So, a week ago, from all sections of
Texas, movie critics, feature editors, city
editors and publishers came to Dallas to
be guests of the Interstate executives at an
all-day session of seeing new pictures and
hearing about them. The movie roundup
was a great success. The visiting newspapermen
not only were greatly impressed
by the lineup of pictures due, and at the
general cheerful outlook for the film business—several,
on the basis of recent downbeat
trade stories, had been ready to write
off the movie Industry—but the Texas press
gave the event full coverage.
City managers of Interstate Theatres
brought along newspapermen from their
hometowns, and acted as hosts during the
Dallas meeting. In Dallas, the visitors were
greeted by the top men in the Interstate
organization, among them Karl Hoblitzelle,
president and a 50-year veteran In the theatre
business: R. J. O'Donnell, vice-president
and general manager; John Q. Adams,
vice-president and assistant to the president;
W. E. Mitchell and Raymond Willie,
assistants to the general manager, and
Frank Starz, director of advertising and
publicity.
From Hollywood, the circuit brought
George Murphy, the Industry's goodwill
ambassador, who addressed the newspapermen
at a luncheon.
The visitors saw screenings of "A Farewell
to Arms" and "The Bridge on the
River Kwai" but the big Job of the day was
selling the newspapermen on the fact that,
as O'Donnell put it, the industry is not "on
the verge of panic." He looked back at the
years of growth for the Interstate circuit,
and the plans it had for the future. He
discussed the lineup of big pictures coming
within the next four or five months, and
assured the critics and their associates that
the industry was in an upbeat mood.
"Since last fall I have visited both coasts,
headquarters for the movie Industry, and
attended exhibitor conventions, frequented
by film producers," O'Donnell said. "This
has put me in a position to know what
really great motion pictures are ready for
release or will be during this year. I cannot
recall when an immediate future looked
more glorious. The public—looking for entertainment—will
never have had it so
good."
Murphy, introduced by O'Donnell, picked
up where the Texan left off, and told
about the big production plans of the various
companies, and the general upsurge of
interest nationwide in motion pictures.
The coverage given the promotion went
over big with the press. It was fully covered
in the newspapers, and the Dallas
Times Herald published a special edition
with the front page devoted entirely to the
story "Fourth Estate Invades Big "D" for
Movie Confab."
The hoopla served another purpose for
Interstate. It also kicked off the circuit's
big winter business drive, "The 7-11 Challenge,"
in which all theatre personnel is
to
participate.
The fop men in the Interstate Circuit were en hand
to grccr the visiting newspapermen, along with
their well-known Hollywood guest, George Murphy
(center). At the left is the veteron of more fhon
50 years in show business, Karl Hoblitzelle, Intcrsfafc's
president, and at the right is the ubiquitous
vice-president and general manoger of the circuit,
R. J. O'Donnell.
EXTiATln Dmus Times Hesald extra
FOURTH ESTATE INVADES
BIG D FOR MOVIE CONFAB
FINEST FILMS ^amha
Writers Entertamed
IN HISTORY NmLirffc
HINTED FOR '58*'*'*^
By Interstate CtrcuM
•=
- Ffo*w 0*ff Stofy
1
Special issue published by the Dollos Times Henrid
to creote enthusiasm for the meeting.
Intcritote officials and newspopermen met infurmully to discuss pictures previewed
of the Dolloi confob Shown of one of the sessions ore: left to right—
Aubrey Van Hoy, city monogcr for Interstate in Eastland, John Q. Adams,
•ice president ond otintont to the president; Claude Stewart. Waco city
manoger, Gyntcr Quill, Woco News Tribune; Paul Hudgins, Tyler city manager,
Virgil Moore, Eastland Telegram. Bill Underwood, Wichita Falls Record-
News, Bill McReynolds, Amarillo News Globe; Fronk Stan, Intcntote's
od publKily director, Kyle Rorc>, eiecutive director, Teiat COMPO
Raymond Willie, assistant to the gencrol monogcr of Intcrstole Theatres (of
right) met with a group of the visiting newspapermen to talk obout some of the
upcoming product. Getting an earful on pictures they will be viewing soon
are, left to right (seated) John Bustin, Austin American Statesman; Tony
Zoppi, Dallas News, Paul Hochuli, Houston Press; (stonding) Bill Payne, Dallas
News, Elston Brooks, Fort Worth Stor-Telegrom; Jock Gordon, Fort Worth
Press, Gynter Quill, Woco News-Tribune. The critics offended on oil-day
session.
— 20 — BOXOFTICE Showmondi—r jAn. 87. 1AS8