Boxoffice-December.24.1949

'Pinky' Holds Strong
In Detroit at 130
DETROIT—The preholiciay slump hit its
here and business generally was down.
stride
Surprise of the week was "Pinky." holding
a rare third week in the 5.000-seat Fox, after
a second week score of 130 per cent.
Adams—That Forsyte Woman (MGM), 2nd wk 60
Cinema—Monsieui Vincent (Lopert) 100
fox— Pinky COth-Fox), 2ncl wk 130
Pownlown- Intruder in the Dust (MGM); Red Stallion
in the Rockies (EL), 2nd wk 70
Madison—Beyond the Forest (WB). Deputy
Marshal (LP), 2nd d. t wk 65
Michigan—A Dangerous Profession (RKO), Master
Minds (Mono) 95
Palms-Slate Always Leave Them Laughing
(WB); Alias the Chomp (Rer), 2nd wk 90
United Artisls-Bride for Sale (RKO), Stampede
(Mono) 90
Trade at Cleveland Houses
Crimped by Yule Shopping
CLEVELAND—Grosses at first runs here
continued to show the effects of Christinas
shopping, with most houses under par. In
its seventh week at the Esquire, "Jolson
Sings Again" dropped from its previous high
level to 200 per cent at advanced prices.
Alien-Without Honor (UA) 85
Esquire-Jolson Sings Again (Col), 7th wk 200
Hippodrome— Port of New York (EL) 70
Lower Mcfll—The Scoundrel (Para); Crime Without
Passion (Para) - 80
Ohio—The Great Dan Patch (UA); The Lucky Stiff
(UA) 100
Palace—A Dangerous Profession (RKO) 85
Slate—Adam's Rib (MGM), 2nd wk 60
Stillman—Tension (MGM) - 75
'Blue' Leads Pittsurgh
As Shopping Takes Toll
PITTSBURGH—Downtown streets were
packed with shoppers but they were not necessarily
shopping for entertaiimient. Expected
pre-Christmas grosses were registered
by the drop-in shoppers. "Red, Hot and Blue"
at the Stanley chalked up 95 per cent as the
top newcomer.
Fulton—Fighting Man of the Plains (20th-Fox) 90
Harris—Tell It to the ludge (Col) 85
?enn—Adam's Rib (MGM), 2nd wk 75
Stanley—Red. Hot and Blue (Para) 95
V/arner Savage Splendor (RKO) Make Mine
Laughs (RKO) 90
"Adam's Rib' Tops Cincinnati
With 120 Per Cent
CINCINNATI—Business was the poorest it
has been in some time. Only "Adam's Rib"
topped average at the Capitol with 120 per
cent. Others were below the normal mark.
Albee—Without Honor (UA) 70
Capitol—Adam's Rib (MGM) 120
Grand—That Forsyte Woman (MGM), 2nd wk 70
Keiths—The Black Book (EL) 95
Lyric—Hold That Ghost (U-I); Hit the Ice (U-1),
reissues 70
Palace A Dangerous Profession (RKO) 80
;-ubert—Pinky (20th-Fox), 4th d. t. wk 80
Theatres at Urbana, Ohio,
Collect Toys and Food
URBANA, OHIO—Free films were featured
for children at the Gloria and Lyric, Chakeres
theatres here, in a project sponsored by the
Pearce-Kems post, American Legion.
Only fee for entrance was a toy, broken or
new, or a can of food, which were distributed
at Christmas to needy families in the city
and county. Broken toys were taken to the
Urbana fire department for repairs. The feature
attraction was a Roy Rogers show. Santa
Ciaus was on hand to distribute gifts to children.
BOWLING
CINCINNATI— Idle Hour Theatre broke
into the win column for the first time after
losing 36 straight by taking three from Forest
Theatre. Midwest Supply lost one to
RCA. while National Supply lest one to the
Westwood Theatre. This week's 200s : C. Keith
sr. 233, G. Vlochas 205, G. Krebs 201.
Won tost
Won Lost
Midwest 35 4 Westwood 17 22
National 32 7 Keith 16 23
Bond 27 12 Times 14 25
Altec 26 13 Associated 13 26
Mount Healthy 26 13 Theatre Candy 13 26
Strond 23 16 Forest 8 31
RCA 20 19 Idle Hour 3 36
DETROIT—Allied Theatres, which has been
making a .steady climb in the Film Bowling
league, reached second place in the 14th
game of the series, leading Cooperative Theatres
by one game. High 200 rollers declined,
with W. Goryl. 210, and J. Sullivan,
200, the only members of the 200 club. Team
standings:
Team Won Lost Team Won Lost
Theatrical 35 21 Monogram 28 28
Allied 30 26 RKO 28 28
Cooperative 29 27 S6G Premiums 27 29
United Artists 29 27 Republic 19 37
COLUMBUS
fjfrs. Ethel Miles, secretary of Ohio Drive-In
Theatre Ass'n, in a bulletin to members
asks for immediate information about the
action of any Ohio city or other municipal
council in discussing legislatioh aimed at taking
over the federal tax on admissions.
Joan Bennett, her husband Producer Walter
Wanger and their three children were
grounded at Port Columbus when their Paristo-New
York TWA Constellation plane landed
there. Fog prevented a landing at New York.
Miss Bennett was on her way to HoUsTVOod
to start work in "Father of the Bride" with
Spencer Tracy.
It is reported that a neighborhood circuit
is interested in acquiring a long-term lease
on a downtown corner. If a new theatre is to
be built downtown it would be the first allnew
house since opening of the Ohio in
March 1928. The present Grand was rebuilt
about 15 years ago, however, on the site of
the old Grand after a fire leveled the old
building.
Raymond Scott has been named student
assistant at the Broad. He formerly was on
the service staff of the neighborhood Cleve
. . . Robert McKinley, Broad assistant, has
been transferred temporarily to the Ohio, relieving
William Green, who is vacationing at
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. . . . John Rugg, chief
of service, Ohio, was wed recently to Pauline
Illick.
Jean Gaston, former localite, has been appointed
agent in the Los Angeles exchange
area for Hallmark Productions.
Santa Hosts Local 171 Kids
PITTSBURGH—A Christmas party for
children of projectionists of Local 171 wis
held last Saturday morning at Homer
Michael's Liberty on the south side. Motion
pictures of last year's Christmas party were
screened and new pictures were taken as
Santa Claus distributed more than 300 big
bags of goodies. The kiddies and their parents
and grandparents enjoyed a musical program
and a cartoon show.
CIO Theatre Staffs
Strike in Monessen
MONESSEN. PA.—CIO United Theatrical
Workers walked out of the Manos, Grand and
Star theatres Wednesday evening last week
and set up picket lines. The Star closed, but
the Manos and Grand continued in operation.
Projectionists of lATSE Local 628 remained
at their posts, and R. J. Crosby. bu.sine.ss
agent, said that his union absolutely would
live up to its contract.
The strike came without warning after
wage talks between CIO agents and the
Monessen Amusement Co. broke down at the
Monessen headquarters in Green.sburg. Affected
are 34 house employes, including
cashiers, usherettes, doormen, candy girls and
janitors who claim a CIO affiliation but who
do not have a charter. Theatre repre.sentatives
stated that the strikers had demanded
wage increases ranging from 29 per cent for
janitors to 56 per cent for candy girls. Doormen
and cashiers demanded 36 per cent increase
and usherettes demanded 22 per cent
increase.
The CIO won the right to represent the
employes in a bargaining election last July
13. This election was appealed by the AFli
but the state labor relations board certified
the CIO group as bargaining agent in a decision
handed down last November 24.
The Monessen Amusement Co., headed by
Michael Manos, and the other Manos theatrical
interests, always has had satisfactory
relations with organized labor, and in ^5
years of operating theatres, this is the first
time any of its employes ever have struck.
The theatre company announced it "has been
ready and willing to negotiate at all times,
and sincerely regrets that the employes have
seen fit to break off negotiations."
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BOXOFTICE December 24, 1948 77