Howco later Howco International was an American film production and distribution company based in New Orleans specialising in low budget B pictures designed for double features. In 1951 Joy Newton Houck Sr. (born 10 July 1900, Magnolia, Arkansas died 8 July 1999, Texarkana, Texas) an owner of 29 Joy Theatres in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi teamed up with producer/director Ron Ormond and J.