Boxoffice-February.18.1950

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a PcU4c Sc(nU Wartime Power Restrictions Return to New York State Coal shortage forces limit on fuel supply and modified brownout calling for ban on electricity for outdoor advertising, 200-watt limit for theatre entrances and marquees. * Labor and Eric Johnston Talk on Unemployment Long-standing complaints that foreign production bv U.S. companies is causing decreasing staffs in Hollywood presented by producers, talent guilds and craft unions. U-I Reduces Its Bank Debt By $1,500,000 Payment Total now owed to First National Bank of Boston, Manhattan Co. Guaranty Trust under May 1, 1947; agreement is $6,000,000 and includes United World Financing. * National Screen Releases Its Second Tax Trailer The film, which urges theatre patrons to support repeal of the admission tax, is titled "Kill That Tax" and is 65 feet long; first trailer is 50 feet. AFL Executive Council Votes Tax Fight Aid * Full support is approved in campaign for repeal of the federal admissions levy, following an appeal by Richard F. Walsh, lATSE international president. Civil Liberties Union Asks To Intervene in Atlanta Files brief with U.S. district court seeking permission to act as "friend of the court" in move to upset censors' ban on DeRochemont's "Lost Boundaries." Missouri High Court Rules Aisle Law Is Invalid state supreme court declares unconstitutional 73-year-old law requiring three-foot aisles next to the walls in theatres and other places of amusement. March of Time Feature To Be Handled by RKO Will relea.se "The Golden Twenties— Chronicle of America's Jazz Age," in April; deal renews an association between the two companies which began in 1935. Films Council in London Discusses 30% Quota X British Film Producers Ass'n and Cinematograph Exhibitors Ass'n agree this 10 per cent cut would be enforceable limit if change is made October 1. 'Stromboli' Opens Strong In Controversial Storm NEW YORK — "Stromboli" opened strong Wednesday (15) in 330 theatres throughout the nation, with attendance ranging from sensational to good. Ned E. Depinet, RKO president, at a press conference the following day, called it "astounding." He quoted figures from various cities to back up his statement. He was especially enthusiastic about San Antonio, Philadelphia. Washington and New York. Here, he said, circuit officials reported business as 50 per cent over normal to "super-sensational." 93 DAY-AND-DATE BOOKINGS In the New York exchange area, morning attendance generally was weak, but it picked up rapidly after noon and was big during the evening after the stormy weather moderated. Most patrons during the day were women but many men came out in the evening. Ninety-three theatres day-and-dated it in this area. Twenty-six more opened it later in the week. No circuits reported any demonstrations or adverse comments. Some daily newspapermen interviewed patrons attending the Criterion, Broadway showcase, and reported them as liking the film. On the other hand, most newspaper critics gave it a "so-so" reception while a couple panned it as weak entertainment. BOXOFTICE checked the various circuits. Sol Schwartz, general manager of RKO Theatres, said the picture's overall average at his 34 local houses was more than 50 per cent above business at the same time a year ago, and that the same was true of houses in 17 outside towns. The Criterion reported "very big" evening business after "almost capacity" during the afternoon. The Randforce circuit with eight houses showing the picture, said business was "fair." Century, with three houses, called it "above average but nothing sensational." ADDITIONAL BOXOFFICE REPORTS Loew's, with one house, said it was "50 per cent more than the same day last year, though all other houses in our circuit ran the same as last year." Brandt, with two houses, said business was "better than an average Wednesday." Skouras reported "good business despite the weather" and "better than an average Wednesday" in its 15 local and five upstate houses showing the film. Warners Bros., with two houses, reported business "in line with top pictures." Fabian, with three houses, said, "a little better than normal." Walter Reade, with five houses, said, "excellent and patrons satisfied." In Chicago, 300 moviegoers, mostly women, lined the sidewalks for the Bergman-Rossellini opus. "Stromboli," when it opened Wednesday (15). They braved the sleet, snow and stood in line on the icy sidewalks 30 minutes before the doors opened at 8:45 a. m. with shopping bags, umbrellas and slightly sheepish grins. The line, three abreast. stretched a half a block when the cashiers furiously punched out the 98-cent tickets. Chicagoans liked "Stromboli" and Ingrid Bergman. Most persons questioned had nothing but praise for the actress. They forgot about her private troubles when they walked in the RKO Grand Theatre, they said. "We had a full house— 1,158 persons—for the first show." said the manager, Matt Plunkett. "It's doing better than "The Outlaw.' " Exhibitors remained divided on whether to play the picture. While six southwest circuits, comprising 351 theatres, announced they would not play the picture, a number of other chains elsewhere in the country said they would book and let the public decide whether it desired to see the film or not. Tri-States Theatres and Central States Theatres which operate throughout Iowa and Nebraska said they would book the film. In this territory, however, the Allied regional unit urged its members not to play the picture and the question is whether the extensive circuit bookings will force independents to book it despite the urging of the Allied office. In Oklahoma and Texas, the Talbot Theatres in Tulsa, the 130-theatre Video Independent circuit, Eddie Joseph circuit and East Texas Theatres joined the big Interstate circuit in banning the picture. In addition, several individual houses decided to follow suit and keep the film off their screens, but simultaneously a number of independent exhibitors reported they had booked the picture. It got a day-and-date opening in seven San Antonio theatres and had dates penciled in by exhibitors in Dallas, Tulsa and Oklahoma City. MARTIN CIRCUIT UNDECIDED C. L. Patrick, general manager of the Martin circuit which operates 75 theatres in Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Alabama, said his company would be guided by public sentiment but would not indicate whether the circuit would ban the film. This was in answer to a press query regarding an appeal by the Marietta, Ga., city council that the picture not be booked. The Huntington, W. Va., Theatre Corp. also announced it would play the film, as did the Evergreen-Hamrick circuit in Portland, but Western Massachusetts Theatres said it would not. Censors differed, but generally the wellorganized censorship bodies okayed the picture. Ohio's board gave its seal several weeks ago though there has been some attempt to withdraw it. In Pennsylvania, Mrs. Edna R. Carroll, state censor board chairman, said that "Stromboli" had met "legal requirements" and has been approved. Any attempt to ban a picture because of conduct by the principals is outside jurisdiction of the board, she said. The Memphis board banned the film, and expected a court fight because of it—but Memphis residents will be able to see the picture at the Crittenden Theatre in West Memphis, Ark., just across the river. Bii-- mingham's city council, answering a protest from the ministerial association, said it had no law to ban the film but asked the Acme Tlieatres circuit not to play it. The picture, however, has been booked to open February 22, and will play in a number of other Ala- 10 BOXOFFICE :: February 18, 1950
ama cities. While there has been no announcement from the Malco circuit, the Malco Theatre in Hot Springs, Ark., opened with the picture this week—indicating the stand of the circuit. The film also posed a problem in Canada. Famous Players Canadian, which has a contract with RKO for exhibition of the company's product, said it was undecided although J. J. Pitzgibbons, president, said the circuit had protested against the type of advertising which was being used in the United States. "We don't resort to that sort of thing; it seems to be misleading advertising," he said. Premier Leslie Frost of Ontario indicated that he may simply refuse to grant a license for the film instead of directly banning—a legal step which would have the same effect as censorship. In the province of Alberta, however, the film censorship board approved the picture. In some sections of the country the pressures to ban the pictures were strong. Ministerial associations, generally, -were leading the protest parade although in Chicago the National Federation of Women's Clubs urged Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Ass'n of America, to invoke the behavior clause in players' contracts. Ministerial protests were voiced during the week in Harrisburg, Pa., and Lowell. Mass. The South Carolina state legislature received a resolution calling for a ban, but no action was taken. Mayors in Lawrence, Mass., and Holyoke, Mass., banned the film. Judge Michael Igoe Refuses Extended Chicago Run CHICAGO—Judge Michael Igoe of federal court said "nothing doing" to an extended Loop run for "Stromboli" this week. He turned down a petition by RKO for permission to book the film for a long run, under Jackson Park decree provisions. The film will be limited to two weeks at the RKO Grand. Judge Igoe. however, did grant Disney's "Cinderella," also released by RKO, the right to an extended run at the RKO Palace. Hollywood in All-Out War On Talent Racketeering HOLLYWOOD—An all-out war on racketeers in the motion picture and television production and agency fields was declared at a meeting of national, state, county and city law enforcement officials and film and video leaders, called by the Motion Picture Industry Council and the Screen Actors Guild, after hundreds of complaints had been received from amateur thespians. Almost simultaneously Don Redwine, assistant city attorney for Los Angeles, began a series of hearings out of which he predicted would come 50 to 75 criminal actions against the asserted bunco artists by week's end. At the MPIC-SAG session, the full facilities of the post office department, the city council and the county board of supervisors were offered in the campaign to crack down on the alleged racketeers, who, it is claimed, are "stealing" from $5,000 to $20,000 a week by charging fees of $50 to $200 to place their "clients" in video and film "productions." Chairman of the meeting was Ronald Reagan, SAG president and MPIC chairman, who pointed out that there are only four recognized unions in the entertainment field—the American Federation of Radio Artists, SAG, Screen Extras Guild and Actors' Equity. The Jim Mote Family and Bowery Boys at the Premiere Jim Mote Opens Theatre With a World Premiere By LARRY GROVE STERLING, OKLA. — Jim Mote's new Friendship Theatre was opened formally Sunday (12) with a world premiere, personal appearances by the Bowery Boys, and an auditorium filled to capacity by the hometown folks who came to pay their respects not only to a neighbor but to an industry which had helped bring back their movie house. It was a gay and festive affair despite the fact that during the day and most of the evening this little southwest Oklahoma town was whipped and drenched by a two-inch rain. The storm, nevertheless, did not keep Jim Mote's neighbors from turning up en masse for the biggest event in the town's history. From the stage of the theatre he named "Friendship" to express his gratitude to those who helped replace the building destroyed by fire 18 months ago. Mote said "thank you" to the motion picture industry for the way it responded to his simple announcement on Aug. 13, 1948, that his theatre had burned to the ground—with no covering insurance. He said he was deeply grateful to the exhibitors who first came forward with their $1 bills, to Ben Shlyen, publisher of BOXOF- FTCE, for taking up the campaign, to Monogram Pictures for staging a special sales drive in his behalf and to those who contributed equipment and films. With a genuine warmth and affection, he also thanked his hometown friends who formed a brigade of volunteers to help dig the basement, hammer together much of the building, and do an endless number of chores involved in getting a theatre built and opened. "There's hardly one of you," he said, "who hasn't helped me in one way or another." He said that the voluntary help probably saved $2,000 on construction costs. The Boy Scout troop dug the foundation in a single day. Local carpenters and bricklayers, seeing what people from far away places were doing, contributed much of their services. It became a community project as well as an industry project. Monogram Pictures, which gave $5,000 toward the building of Friendship Theatre by contributing a share of the receipts in the Steve Broidy 25th anniversary drive, helped stage the formal opening. The picture chosen for the premiere was "Blonde Dynamite,'' which stars the Bowery Boys—and from this troupe Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall and Bill Benedict were on hand for personal appearances. Together with Brownie and Daisy Greene, guitar and song team from Louisiana, they clowned, sang and danced to the delight of the audience. Sterling film fans, like those of any other community, turned out to be autograph collectors and the lobby was one big autographing party after the performance. Milt Lipsner, Monogram branch manager in Oklahoma City, represented the distribution department of the company at the opening. The Jim Motes also entertained—at a dinner at which the visitors were their guests. The girls in the high school home economics class served the dinner in the American Legion hall. Mrs. Mote, her daughter. Arsann, and son, Jimmy, decorated the hall in a Valentine motif. Friendship Theatre on Opening Night. BOXOFFICE :: February 18. 1950
Page 1 and 2: TOTAL NET PAID CIRCULATION EXCEEDS
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Page 17 and 18: 50 WEST THE AA-G-M WAY! rHE OUTRIDE
Page 19 and 20: 3.184 THEATRES HAVE BOUGHT JOLSQN I
Page 21 and 22: ROLLING UP UNPRECEDENTED BEST PICTU
Page 23 and 24: 1 . stherhood— for Peoce and Free
Page 25 and 26: According to the columnists and the
Page 27 and 28: UNNERSMINTERNMIONAL presents SWW WI
Page 29 and 30: CHESTER FRIEDMAN EDITOR HUGH E. FRA
Page 31 and 32: Iriumph \\ rri . 7 // MOTION PICTUR
Page 33 and 34: have t, J Dramatic Front Plus Outdo
Page 35 and 36: ) Joe Boyle, Norwich, Sells 'Hopalo
Page 37 and 38: Parade of New Cars Directs Attentio
Page 39 and 40: Tax Repeal Officials Chosen at Alba
Page 41 and 42: . . . Tony . . Joseph . . Returning
Page 43 and 44: Italian Films to Be Aimed at U.S, M
Page 45 and 46: . . Mary . . . . — Stale Building
Page 47 and 48: . . George . . Louis . . The " . .
Page 49 and 50: fr Six New Promotions In MGM Sales
Page 51 and 52: , OLLXWPOD NEWS AND VIEWS THE PRODU
Page 53 and 54: " Para. TV Outlet Buys Rights to 25
Page 55 and 56: . . Angeline . . Showmen . . Richar
Page 57 and 58: . . . Bob . . Max . . Bob . . About
Page 59 and 60: Rex Allen Will Tour Southwest Stage
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. . Walter SALT LAKE CITY TJus Camp
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Oriental in Chicago To Booth Compan
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— — . . Peter . . Exhibitors .
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. . . MGM's . . The . . Rosa . . Th
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. . . Alvin . . The . . $30,000 Hea
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Fred Harpst Is Named Manager of All
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: February " . . . Evelyn . . Nate
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, Omaha Showmen Meet To Boost Repea
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— Kansas City Colosseum Plans Mee
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Grand Rapids Savoy Remodeling Finis
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. . Parkersburg's . . West . . The
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; BOWLING CLEVELAND—The Motion Pi
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. . Mrs. . . William . . Robert . .
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: Pittsburgh Loge 31 Holds Dinner D
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. . The Chakeres Obtains Warner Int
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10,000 Patrons Sign Tax Protest Car
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. . . Yvonne . . . Ushers Private S
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D. C. Caraway Retires; Sells Meridi
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. . . Rose . . Ingrid . . Jorge . .
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. . "The . GRAND John Payne, film a
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— Marshall, Tex., Forms Censorshi
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have Meiselman Appeal To Supreme Co
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. . . George . . F. . . Myer . . Ne
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. . Carey . . "Sands BIRMINGHAM . .
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Judge Kelley Weighs Film Story Offe
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Showcase in St. John Acquired by Od
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. . "Sands . . OT7 AW A Eugene Kasl
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EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY ABOUT PICTURE
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— — — — Exhibitor Has His S
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; I—June ) WARNER RKO RADIO H (66
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20th Century-Fox Universal-Internat
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, Opinions on Current Productions;
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— RATES: 10c per word. '"'"'""""
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Boxoffice-February.18.1950

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