[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 52 (Tuesday, April 1, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E638]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      CONGRATULATING DANNY WALLACE, FORMER TENNESSEE STATE SENATOR

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 1, 2003

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, sometimes we lose sight of what is really 
important in life. That is why I want to congratulate a former 
Tennessee State Senator, Danny Wallace, for the balance he is achieving 
in his life.
  He has successfully operated the Halls Cinema in Knox County for the 
past 20 years. Small businesses are the backbone of our entire economy, 
and yet a very high percentage fail within the first five years.
  Mr. Wallace has succeeded in an industry where it is very difficult 
for an independent operator to survive.
  More importantly, he is putting his family first, foregoing 
opportunities in politics to spend more time with those who are most 
important to him.
  I want to congratulate Danny Wallace on the 20th anniversary of the 
Halls Cinema and urge all my colleagues and other readers of the Record 
to read the fine article about him, his family, and business that was 
published in the Halls Shopper newspaper.

              [From the Halls Shopper News, Mar. 31, 2003]

                    20 Years for Halls Cinema Seven

                           (By Sandra Clark)

       Sometimes life gets in the way of politics.
       Danny Wallace, a state senator at age 33, was a fund-raiser 
     for Phil Bredesen in last year's election. You might have 
     expected him to land a job in Nashville--perhaps even become 
     a commissioner like his dad, J.D., in the Blanton 
     Administration. But Danny works the ticket booth at Halls 
     Cinema Seven and goes to ballgames with his 12-year-old son, 
     J.D. III.
       ``I'm having a ball,'' he said.
       Wallace is doing what hundreds of moms and dads do every 
     day in Halls and surrounding areas. He's watching his kid 
     grow up and trying to earn a living.
       The Halls Cinema Seven is celebrating its 20th anniversary 
     this month. Danny wanted a commercial--tell 'em we'll have $4 
     tickets ($2 for kids) through April and half-price 
     concessions. (Offer good Sunday through Thursday and not good 
     on certain movies.)
       The theater opened in April 1983. Danny has been the 
     manager since ``day one.''
       He laughs: ``I had just graduated from college (UT with a 
     degree in business) and was planning to go to law school. But 
     Dad and a buddy had opened a four-plex in Halls and they 
     asked me to run it.''
       Twenty years ago the Knoxville market was dominated by 
     local theaters. The Wallaces put a four-plex in Johnson City 
     and built the first theater in Sevierville. They continue to 
     operate a four-plex in Rogersville.
       Danny said it's harder now to make money than when Halls 
     Cinema opened. Last weekend we were competing with ``two wars 
     and 64 basketball games.''
       ``There's not many guys like me any more,'' he said. 
     Ironically, Halls Cinema operates just blocks from the 
     headquarters of Regal Entertainment--the largest theater 
     chain in the world.
       Danny said he'll match his seats and sound with anybody. 
     ``We invest our money back and we give people a good 
     experience.''
       Danny's wife, Lisa, is a theater at Union County High 
     School. J.D. III often helps his dad clean up the theater, 
     making him a third-generation movie-man.
       Some politicians run on ``family values.'' Danny Wallace 
     just lives them.

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