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Kemmons finally got his own movie theater by using his
fast-developing creativity and persuasiveness to finance the deal.
He heard there was a little theater for sale in Fort Pickering, a
small community along the Mississippi on the outskirts of Memphis.
The DeSoto Theater had been closed for years, but after making a
trip out to look it over, Kemmons went to the man who owned it. He
offered to pay the $2,000 asking price - if he could pay it at &25
a week after he got the theater open.
When the theater owner agreed, Kemmons went to National
Theater Supply Company. It was run by Bob Bostick, a man who would
become a close friend and provide invaluable assistance as Kemmons
learned the movie business. Bostick sold Kemmons some $4,000 worth
of equipment that day, with nothing down, and helped him get the
theater open. Once again, Kemmons had managed to get into a new
business without so much as a down payment.
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