Mack Russell

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This article is about the theater manager. For other uses, see Mac Russell (disambiguation).

P. M. "Mack" Russell Jr was the manager of the Alabama Theatre for a brief time in the 1950s.

Russell had a long association with the theater business. As a youth, he worked as an usher and in other positions at the Strand, Lyric, and Temple Theaters. After graduating from Phillips High School, he worked as house manager of the Alabama while attending the University of Alabama Birmingham Center.

Russell then left Birmingham, serving in the armed forces and acting as manager of the Park Theater in Knoxville. Prior to returning to Birmingham, he was manager of the Palace Theater in Athens, Georgia for four years. While there, he made the Palace one of the most profitable theaters of the Wilby-Kincey chain.

Russell became manager of the Alabama in 1956, replacing Norris Hadaway, who had been promoted. He was also city manager, overseeing the Ritz and Temple Theaters in Birmingham and Grand Theater in Bessemer. While at the Alabama, he began the Teentime Club, reorganized the Mickey Mouse Club which had been suspended for some time, and acted as business manager of the Miss Alabama pageant.

During his two years in Birmingham, Russell was also active with several civic groups. He was a member of Kiwanis Club, Birmingham Ad Club, Monday Morning Quarterback Club, and the advisory board of the Salvation Army. He was also on the board of directors of Jefferson County Tuberculosis Association where he acted as publicity director for their 1958 Christmas Seal drive.

In 1958, Russell was promoted to a district manager position for Wilby-Kincey and left for Atlanta in February 1959.

Russell was married to the former Dollene Bowens of Birmingham. The couple had at least two children.

Preceded by:
Norris Hadaway 		Alabama Theatre Manager
1956–1958 		Succeeded by:
Cecil McGlohon

References

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