Boxoffice-April.07.1958

. . . Rex
. .
. . Harrel
. . Don
. . Mrs.
HOUSTON
The Avalon, an art theatre, has reached an
agreement with the Theatre Guild of
New York to co-produce "Tunnel of Love"
as its fli'st stage attraction this summer, according
to George Lee Marks of the Avalon.
The house will continue showing movies
until ready to go on the live deal. Current
were "Street of Shame" and "Riviera" .
The downtown houses—^Metropolitan with
"The Bridge on the River Kwai," the Majestic
with "Sayonara," and Loew's with
"Witness for the Prosecution"— all reported
a weekend SRO business.
April 1st the Ti'ail Drive-In held a demonstration
for exhibitors after the show hours
of the new extra powerful screen lamp put
out by a Toledo. Ohio. firm. The firm, with
lamps mounted on a truck, showed the boys
how much brighter it could be. said Manager
T. J. Chaney. Chaney. who heads the Independent
Drive-In Theatre Ass'n. reports an
excellent meeting held at the Ti-ail snack
bar last week. Business in general was discussed,
said he, along with the consumption
of coffee and doughnuts.
Gordon Forsythe, GI son of Hazel and Ernest
Forsythe of the Don Gordon Theatre
out on Canal, said some sad farewells before
returning to duty in the Hawaiian Islands
after a montli's leave . . . The Greater Houston
United Theatre Ass'n held its monthly
luncheon meeting at the Texas State Hotel
April 1. with President Alvin Guggenheim of
the Yale and Broadway theatres, presiding
Van. manager of the Variety Club,
has submitted his resignation, effective April
15. He believes that in the smaller quarters
his services are not needed sufficiently.
Rumor has it that he will take over public
relations at another private club in these
parts. Rex currently is dii-ecting the "Black
Faces of 1958" for the Trinity Episcopal
Church, his second year for that chore.
F. M. Blake, new U-I division manager in
this area, and southwestern district head
Bob WUkerson from Dallas, were in Houston
for a conference at the local office.
The new Handy Snack at the Tidwell Drive-
In is off to a good start says Cotton Griffith.
New snack employe at the Tidwell is
Mabel Logan, longtime worker at the Old
Nothing like putting the
South cafeteria . . .
big bosses to work! Alex McKlnzie is spending
his Saturday digging post holes and fixing
speakers at the Ti-ail Drive-In.
[WHO MAKES GOOD, ^
LOW COST TRAILERS?
GREET MARY—Mary Webster, star of
"Eighteen and Anxious," was greeted on
her arrival at San Antonio from Hollywood
at the airport by Norman Schwartz
(left), manager of Aztec Theatre, and
Jack Chalman, publicity director for Interstate
Theatres. She appeared at the
Aztec when the film opened.
DENTON
jyj rs. Geneva Woods is serving as temporarj'
manager of the Trans-Texas Fine Arts,
replacing David Head, who returned to his
home in Waco . McKinzie. who has
been concessionist at the Campus, has moved
to Dallas to do his student teaching, the last
portion of the requirement for his Bachelor
of Science degree, which he wiU receive in
May.
.
George Rickrich, Campus concessionist, is
taking a correspondence course in electronics,
rather than attending college this semester.
George is very active in hi-fi and amateur
radio circles in the Denton area
Anderson. Campus treasm'er. has
. . Betty
recovered
from an attack of pneumonia. Betty spent
several days in the hospital, then convalesced
for several more days at home . . . The
opening of "Raintree County" at the Fine
Arts was greeted with a downpour of rain,
which continued for the first several days of
the two-week run. The rain began about
opening time the first day and continued
until
closing.
The Bowie. Interstate house in downtown
Brownwood, has installed a 24-foot widescreen
for the showing of "The Ten Commandments"
. Johnson, foi-mer employe
of the Bowie and the LjTic in Brownwood,
is scheduled to return soon from Japan,
where he has been the last two years
in the Air Force . Hazel Lackey,
cashier at the Bowie lor many years, has
become a grandmother again. Hazel's daughter
Eileen, who has worked parttime in the
Brownwood Theatre, gave birth to a daughter.
SAN ANTONIO
rjaniel F. Haworth, field representative lor
the Motion Picture Research Council of
Hollywood, was here making a survey of
theatre projection practices, with special regard
to lamp operation, alignment, lens quality
and screen reflection abilities. This activity
Is part of a nationwide .survey in an
effort to get better projection in the theatres
and to better pre.sentation of the producer's
product.
. .
The State Theatre's Buzzo every Thursday
night is packing in the crowds. Last week
the SRO sign was up . John Flache of La
Mesa, owner of El Charro Drive-In here and
the Ascrates in El Paso, was at Clasa-Mohme
booking Mexican pictures. With him was his
p.irtner from El Paso, Delmo Pierce . . .
Word from Clasa-Mohme is that Fred Lindau
of the Valley Theatre, El Paso, is testing a
Mexican picture policy. Currently at the
beautiful Alameda is "El Potro Salvaje" with
Gaston Santos and Carmen Mont«jo.
Bobbe Goff, Texas Theatre cashier, was
home iU a few days. Pat Harris, former Ma-
. . Cliff
jestic cashier, pinch-hit for her
Bledsoe, well
.
known Barbershopper and producer
of countless variety and minstrel shows.
was given a birthday party by friends. He and
his wife Dell operate the Mission Road
School for Retarded Children.
. . .
This correspondent recently visited Oliver
B. Thomas, former manager of the State
Theatre, now retired, and found him looking
very well. O. B. has been on the sick list for
some time Mary Webster, star of
"Eighteen and Anxious," appeared at the
recent opening of the film at the Aztec Theatre.
She was greeted at the airport by
George Watson. Conrad Brady, Jack Chalman,
Norman Schwartz and many young male
admirers from Trinity University. She made
three appearances on the stage of the Aztec
and conducted a press and radio breakfast at
the Menger Hotel, a party for the winners of
a local radio contest and also visited the
drama class at Trinity University.
• PRACTICAL
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