Cecil McGlohon: Difference between revisions

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'''H. Cecil McGlohon''' was the city manager of Wilby-Kincey theaters in the [[Birmingham]] area from [[1959]] until at least [[1965]]. These included the [[Alabama Theatre|Alabama]], [[Ritz Theatre|Ritz]], and [[Temple Theater]]s in Birmingham and the [[Grand Theater]] in Bessemer.


'''Cecil McGlohon''' was the manager of [[Alabama Theatre]] from about 1958 until at least 1965. During his tenure, a new marquee with neon lighting was erected on Third Avenue, replacing the 1927 marquee and its screw-in lightbulbs.  
McGlohon grew up in Savannah, Georgia and attended Armstrong Junior College in that city as well. He came to [[Birmingham]] from Augusta, Georgia, replacing [[Mack Russell]] after his promotion to district manager for the Wilby-Kincey Theater chain. McGlohon started as an usher in the theater business around [[1944]] and worked his way up.


In 1964, McGlohon worked to ensure that the Alabama was one of only 1,000 theatres in the U.S. to host a screening of "Hamlet" with Richard Burton in the title role. The production was filmed at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre in New York, then simulcast through a process called
One of McGlohon's first initiatives was a 10-week Lady Shoppers Matinee Theater Party series held each Wednesday at the Alabama over the spring of 1959, showing special movies apart from the regular theater schedule. Tickets were not sold at the Alabama, but were available free to shoppers from a wide variety of downtown stores.
Electronovision Theatrofilm.


McGlohon also presided over the May 1965 launch of [[Cinema Unlimited]], a monthly foreign film series at the Alabama.
During his tenure, a new marquee was erected at the Alabama on [[3rd Avenue North]] in [[1960]], replacing the 1927 marquee and its screw-in light bulbs with fluorescent fixtures.


In [[1964]], McGlohon worked to ensure that the Alabama was one of only 1,000 theatres in the U.S. to host a screening of ''Hamlet'' with Richard Burton in the title role. The production was filmed at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre in New York, then simulcast through a process called Electronovision Theatrofilm. He also presided over the May 1965 launch of [[Cinema Unlimited]], a monthly foreign film series at the Alabama.


---
McGlohon was married and had two young daughters <!-- Debbie (b. c. 1955) and Kelly (b. c. July 1957) --> when he came to Birmingham.
 
== References ==
* "Alabama Theater Manager P. M. Russell Jr., promoted"  (December 17, 1958). {{BN}}.
* "McGlohon will manage Wilby-Kincey theaters" (January 27, 1959). {{BN}}.
* "Shoppers Theater Parties all set" (May 3, 1959). {{BN}}.
* Weaver, Emmett (May 12, 1960). "Alabama's marquee will shed new light". {{BPH}}
 
{{start box}}
{{succession box |
  before=[[Mack Russell]] |
  title=[[Alabama Theatre]] Manager |
  years=[[1959]]&ndash;[[1965]]? |
  after=?
}}
{{end box}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:McGLohon, Cecil}}
[[Category:Theater managers]]

Latest revision as of 23:51, 12 January 2019

H. Cecil McGlohon was the city manager of Wilby-Kincey theaters in the Birmingham area from 1959 until at least 1965. These included the Alabama, Ritz, and Temple Theaters in Birmingham and the Grand Theater in Bessemer.

McGlohon grew up in Savannah, Georgia and attended Armstrong Junior College in that city as well. He came to Birmingham from Augusta, Georgia, replacing Mack Russell after his promotion to district manager for the Wilby-Kincey Theater chain. McGlohon started as an usher in the theater business around 1944 and worked his way up.

One of McGlohon's first initiatives was a 10-week Lady Shoppers Matinee Theater Party series held each Wednesday at the Alabama over the spring of 1959, showing special movies apart from the regular theater schedule. Tickets were not sold at the Alabama, but were available free to shoppers from a wide variety of downtown stores.

During his tenure, a new marquee was erected at the Alabama on 3rd Avenue North in 1960, replacing the 1927 marquee and its screw-in light bulbs with fluorescent fixtures.

In 1964, McGlohon worked to ensure that the Alabama was one of only 1,000 theatres in the U.S. to host a screening of Hamlet with Richard Burton in the title role. The production was filmed at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre in New York, then simulcast through a process called Electronovision Theatrofilm. He also presided over the May 1965 launch of Cinema Unlimited, a monthly foreign film series at the Alabama.

McGlohon was married and had two young daughters when he came to Birmingham.

References

Preceded by:
Mack Russell 		Alabama Theatre Manager
1959–1965? 		Succeeded by:
?
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