Boxoffice® Pro - August 2013

mounted with 24-sheets and playing circus
music, began touring locally and neighboring
communities, continuing this for four days.
The radio station played circus music and received
24 free spots from disk jockey Sam Depine.
Disk jockey made personal appearance
on the third night’s showing at our concession
stand, which helped increase concession sales.
The result was the most colossal business on
any picture for the entire season. Please give
us more like this one, Mr. Producer. –Donald
Morton, Joy Drive-In, Plaquemine, La. (Sept.
22, 1956)
BABY DOLL
Karl Malden, Carroll Baker n This picture I
will never forget. The acting of Carroll Baker
was excellent. This show is a moneymaker
even though the minister did go against us on
this picture. Oh, well, that’s what we need—a
little publicity. –L.J. Bennett, Princess Theatre,
Farmington, Ill., pop. 2,651 (Apr. 19, 1957)
THE GIRL CAN’T HELP IT
Tom Ewell, Jayne Mansfield n For the rockand-roll
fans. Very funny sequence where the
star walks down the street. This brought down
the house. Some women walked out. (They
can’t all be Mansfield, eh!) –Michael Chiaventone,
Valley Theatre, Spring Valley, Ill., pop.
5,000 (May 18, 1957)
REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE
James Dean, Natalie Wood n Played with
East of Eden. Both of these James Dean movies
still are good box office. Most people don’t
seem to realize that he’s dead. –James C. Balkcom,
Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga., pop. 866 (May
18, 1957)
PARDNERS
Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis n As we played
this after the stars parted company, the ending
brought more chuckles than any part of the
picture. For the benefit of those who didn’t
play it, they sing “We’ll Always Be Pardners.”
–Michael Chiaventone, Valley Theatre, Spring
Valley, Ill., pop. 5,000 (May 25, 1957)
THE RAINMAKER
Burt Lancaster, Katharine Hepburn n The
people of my town showed their good judgment
by staying away from this chunk of ham.
Those who came walked out on the second
show, so I saved on the light bill. Is this one of
the good pictures Barney Balaban was spouting
about a few weeks ago? Hepburn has all
the charm of an emaciated steer, with acting
talent to match. Lancaster turns in one of his
worst performances, which is too bad since
the guy actually has considerable talent. He
just needs someone to keep him from going
off on these wild flights of overdone histrionics.
Put this on television, Paramount, and
drive the lost audience back to the theaters.
–Frank. R. McLean, Roxy Theatre, Coulterville,
Ill., pop. 1,160 (Aug. 17, 1957)
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner n With
Technicolor, VistaVision, and everything
else, Cecil B. and his The Ten Commandments
brought people back in this house that haven’t
been to a movie in 10 years. This one set all
new records in cold, unpleasant weather. After
two weeks, I hated to see it go. Buy it with
holdover privileges and run it day and night.
No walkouts or unfavorable comments. Better
get hold of this one, and the sooner the better,
sir. –Carlton Weaver, Carlton Theatre, Sulpher,
Okla. (Feb. 24, 1958)
THE PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL
Marilyn Monroe, Laurence Olivier n
This picture isn’t really longer than The Ten
Commandments. It just seems longer. Lots
of walkouts, a large percentage, that is. We
seriously considered just locking up the third
night rather than bore the few trusting souls
who would lay their money on the line to get
in. –Paul Ricketts, Ness Theatre, Ness City, Kas.,
pop. 1,612 (Feb. 24, 1958)
THE ROAD TO HONG KONG
Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Joan Collins n
This one is a real turkey. Never had such poor
business. It’s really fantastic how poorly this
one did. It is a really fine picture, too. I’ll bet
you already know why it failed, too. Naturally!
All the other Road shows have been on TV, so
everyone thought this one had been on, too.
Had dozens of calls asking whether this had
been on TV (which for me stands for “theater
vulture”). I guess we exhibitors have our doom
sealed by short-sighted executives who sell out
to the Living Room “God.” –Don Stott, 301
Drive-In, Waldorf, Md., pop. 1,100 (Sept. 17,
1962)
THE CABINET OF CALIGARI
Glynis Johns, Dan O’Herlihy n Now everything
has happened: have never canceled an
advertised picture before, but had to do it in
the case of The Cabinet of Caligari, 20th Fox
release, a morbid and objectionable excuse
for motion-picture entertainment. Booked
this on the strength of a recommendation by
the Fox salesman (who’s a helluva nice guy)
and the review in one of the trade magazines,
which listed it as “excellent.” Dated this as
the top half of a double on the action change
but pulled it, as mentioned above. It depresses
and confuses throughout, with an explanation
coming at a time when the impression formed
previously is so strong that it falls on deaf
ears. The mentally ill patient disrobing does
not help the picture. –Otto Settele, Seemore
Theatre, Seymour, Wis. (Sept. 24, 1962)
NEW
BUILD
n B&B THEATRES is pleased to announce
a new state-of-the-art all-digital
projection 12-screener to serve the
greater Waynesville, St. Robert, and
Fort Leonard Wood, M0., area. This
12-screen theater will be situated on
Highway I-44 at North Patriot Landing
near the Waynesville high school
on GW lane. All 12 auditoriums will
have stadium seating, with high- back
rocker-style seats, and Christie digital
projection, and in select auditoriums
3D RealD technology. All auditoriums
will feature B&B’s latest design, with
Dolby 7.1 digital surround sound as
well as wall-to-wall curved screens,
giving the customer a completely
immersive moviegoing experience.
The largest auditorium will feature
the B&B Grand Screen, and will boast
one of the largest screens in all of
Missouri, six stories wide and three
stories tall. The auditorium will feature
an awe-inspiring sound system
with more than 8,000 watts of sound,
a massive floor-to-ceiling wall-to-wall
curved screen, XL stadium seating
for unobstructed viewing, and leather
high-back rocker-style seats, making
it one of the nicest and largest auditoriums
in the area. Two auditoriums
dubbed the Marquee Bar and Grill will
feature plush VIP leather-style rocker
chairs, extended menu options and
a full bar and grill. These two auditoriums
are for our guests 21 years of
age and older. The Marquee Bar and
Grill will be open daily and guests
do not have to buy a movie ticket to
enjoy the bar and grill. B&B expects a
winter 2013 opening date.
AUGUST 2013 BoxOffice ® Pro The Business of Movies 19