Boxoffice-August.16.1965

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Atlanta Critics Praise
Dale's Debut on Stage
ATLANTA — It wasn't the gun-toting
'wells Fargo detective Dale Robertson who
had the audience
standing in ovation
here. But his thespic
display, his debut on
a legitimate theatre
stage, had even the
hard-nosed critics
singing praise.
The actor-filmmaker,
who is president
of
United
Screen Arts, had the
lead in "110 in the
Dale Robertson
Shade," the musical
version of "The Rainat
the 6.000-seat Chastain Memorial
Park Amphitheatre. His singing,
however, did not project Robertson as a
standout talent. One critic wrote, "His
voice seems almost strained to a point of
which may be the result of too
:strenuous work in a field that is not his."
But it was agreed that his debut as
'legitimate actor was successful.
Robertson, who was here for two weeks,
'a week in rehearsal for "110 in the Shade"
'and for seven perfonnances, said he will
'stai' in a motion pictm-e he is to make dealing
with the war in 'Viet Nam, "The Gun
|of Glory." "I've never done a war story."
|he said. "'We'll see how this one comes out."
;
Businesswise, his main interests now are
his film distribution, film financing and
'production company. He has hopes of
competing with Walt Disney in the family-
(picture market. "Exhibitors need 52 pictures
a year," Robertson stressed. "Disney
.makes five, maybe, and a few others pro-
Iduce a few more, but there's still a big gap.
That's what I've got my eye on."
is well equipped for his role
las a filmmaker. "I studied production at
luCLA and USC."
also will continue to be part
!3f his futui-e. He's due for a guest shot
isvith Danny Kaye in December and an outjing
with Hollywood Palace in the fall.
Pennsylvania Passes Bill
jfo Prohibit Admission Tax
iTom Eastern Edition
HARRISBURG—A bill to prohibit local
f
communities from enacting and collecting
!imusement admission taxes at motion pic-
];ure theatres, except in Pittsburgh, cleared
•;he Senate, 29 to 10, and will be signed
j-nto law by Gov. William W. Scranton.
Pittsburgh will be the only political sub-
;livision in Pennsylvania where the 10 per
;;ent tax will be continued. Pittsburgh theitres
pay about $400,000 annually through
•his levy. Philadelphia, by local action,
escinded the admission tax some time ago.
A Columbia release, "Fog," will be diected
by Jim O'Connolly.
ATLANTA
D. "Woody" Woodard, Warner Bros.
J
Southeastern advertising, exploitation
and public relations chief, has set out on
one of those backbreaking swings on behalf
of "The Great Race," which will take
him into 46 cities in 12 states. As a rule
he has a seat mate in his motor wagon in
the person of Al Dubin, who is in charge
of the Toronto ten-itory, but is going out
on a similar tour on his own. Woodard
will touch base with exhibitors in key spots
in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina
parts of 'Virginia, Tennessee. Kentucky.
Alabama. Louisiana. Mississippi.
Arkansas and a wee bit of Texas (Texarkanai
before he sees home base.
Seen along Filmrow were Louis Brazelton.
from the Ritz Theatre in Gainesville, Ga.;
Harold Smith from the Clifton in Newport,
Tenn., M. E. Maddox of the Jasper in
Jasper, Ga.
Screenings at Columbia's screening room
included: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's "Laurel
and Hardy's Laughing '20s," American International's
"Sergeant Deadhead," United
Artists "HELP!" and MGM's "The Hill," a
new Sean Connery starrer.
A testimonial dinner was held in the
Capital City Club for Paul Wilson, who retired
as branch manager of 20th Century-
Fox . V. Stansbury, former owner of
theatres in Pikeville and Spring City,
Tenn., was in Atlanta renewing acquaintances
along Filmrow. He's now business
administrator for Bryan College in Dayton,
Tenn. . Smith, booker for the
United Artists Dallas branch, visited Atlanta
en route to see his brother, who is
stationed at Ft. Gordon in Augusta.
.
Kenneth Bates is the new manager of
Storey's Rhodes Theatre, succeeding
Manuel Rodriguez, who has been transferred
as manager to the circuit's new
850 -seat North DeKalb in the shopping
center of the same name , Mary Eileen
Laird, a Disney
.
scholarship winner, who
will be a senior at 'Vanderbilt University,
and her roommate Dottie 'Vaughan of El
Paso, are spending the summer working
in Disneyland. Miss Laird, who is the
daughter of Buena 'Vista's district manager
Ken Laird, is one of the ticket sellers at
the main gate of the amusement park. Mr.
and Mrs. Laird left for a motor tour of
the West, which will include Hollywood
and Disneyland. They vrill return by way
RCA and Brenkert
Parts Available Thru Us
THE QUEEN FEATURE SERVICE, INC.
Phone 251-8665
2409 First Avenue, N., Binningham, Alaboma
of San Francisco and interesting points in
Nevada and Colorado.
Condolences arc being extended by Filmrow
co-workers of Mrs. Daniel G. Hester
upon the death of her mother Mrs. Donald
W. Cook, who lived at nearby Smyrna.
Mrs. Hester is secretary to AIP branch
manager James Hello . Shealey,
Loew's Grand manager, is assuring ticket
buyers that his "Operation Crossbow" is
not the story of Robin Hood . new
smoking loge is proving quite popular at
the Loew's.
The Atlanta WOMPI held its first meeting,
following the installation of officers, at
the downtown 'VTVICA with president Edythe
Bryant presiding. Edythe, United Artists,
and Polly Puckett, vice-president, a United
Screen Arts employe, were named delegates
to the international convention September
17-19 in New York. Alternates are Mary
Jane Keen and Sarah Masdon.
Buena 'Vista held a seminar here for
"That Darn Cat," a Walt Disney Chi-istmas
release, including a screening of the
film in Wilby-Kincey's Fox Theatre. Irving
Ludwig, BV president, and Card
'Walker presided. Dean Jones, who is
starred in the pictui'e, was emcee. Those
on hand for the meeting in Pan and Bill's
Restam-ant included Ed Stem, Miami,
buyer for Wometco; Harvey Garland, Jacksonville,
Florida State Theatres; R. C.
Cobb, president of Alabama circuit bearing
his name; his general manager Leo Young.
Birmingham; Richard Young, city manager
of Cobb's three Tuscaloosa theatres;
H. B. Meiselman, president of Meiselman
Theatres; Walter Powell, Jacksonville,
buyer for the Fred Kent cii-cuit; Horace
Denning, Florida district supervisor for the
Dixie Drive-In chain, and John Tomlinson,
head of Tomlinson Co., Jacksonville booking
and buying agency.
New Chore for Berle Adams
From Western Edition
HOLL"YWOOD—Berle Adams, vice-president
of MCA, Inc., has accepted the general
chairmanship of the 1965-66 International
Broadcasting Awards, according to James
O. Thompson, president of the Hollywood
Advertising Club, sponsors of the event.
[
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•OXOFHCE :: August 16, 1965 SE-3