Boxoffice-March.04.1950

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^(McCcM ^cfront pOR THE FIRST TIME a government committee has decided to exercise the power vested in it to force the major circuits to show an independent British production to which they have already refused playing time. In 1948 the Board of Trade set up a selection committee which has the power to force every circuit owning more than 200 cinemas (in practice this means only the Gaumont, Odeon and ABC circuits) to show up to a maximum of six independent productions—a total of 18 a year if necessary. So far no producer has approached the committee as there is a feeling that such all action might prejudice the circuits against any future product from the same source. A year ago United Artists submitted two British films to the committee but withdrew them when a tradepaper announced the fact. They claimed at the time that the announcement would lead independent exhibitors to feel that the films were not good if the circuits had to be forced to take them. In the present case the film in question is "Chance of a Lifetime" which was made by Pilgrim Pictures (formerly Pillipo Del- Guidice's company) and which stars Basil Radford and Bernard Miles. The picture is distributed by British Lion. No comment can be made on its quality since the film has not yet been tradeshown but it is at least permissible to comment that with only the two artistes mentioned to carry the billing it would really have to be another "Naked City" to justify a circuit booking. By JOHN SULLIVAN ANOTHER FILM OPENING this time at the Odeon. Leicester Square, is Noel Coward's "The Astonished Heart." which Antony Darnborough produced for Sydney Box. Darnborough also co-directed with Terence Fisher. Since the film has already opened in New York and has had American reviews there is no point in writing a detailed review for American exhibitors. In any event, it is understood here that the U.S. version differs somewhat from the British as the Johnston office is reported to have objected to the sequences which show Celia Johnson as condoning the adultery of her husband. It is worth mention, however, that this was the first of the Rank pictures to be pro-, duced on a fifty-fifty basis with an American company. In this case Universal put up one-half of the budget in frozen sterling in exchange for the western hemisphere rights. The film is beheved to have cost around $600,000 and at that price wiU not cause any worry to either Rank or Universal since it is a well-made and polished job that should appeal to the carriage trade in any country in which it Is shown. 'Baron' Premiere Held March 1 at Phoenix HOLLYWOOD—Stars, members of the Hollywood press and executives of Lippert Productions participated in a busy round of social and civic activities when Lippert's "The Baron of Arizona" was given its world premiere March 1 at the Paramount Orpheum in Phoenix. Gov. Dan E. Garvey proclaimed it "Baron of Arizona" day and a chartered airliner flew the guests in from Hollywood for the day's festivities. Film notables making the air junket included Ellen Drew, who stars with "Vincent Price in the film; Donald and Gwenn O'Connor. Jackie Coogan and Hal Derwin, recording artist and screen player, as well as company executives including President Robert L. Lippert. Murray Lerner. Jack Leewood and Marty Weiser. Price left earlier by automobile and visited exhibitors in Yuma. Prescott, Flagstaff, Globe and Mesa before arriving in Phoenix for the premiere. PRESS CORPS JUNKET The press corps was represented by columnists George Fisher and Erskine Johnson; Frank Neil, International News Service; Florabel Muir, Los Angeles Mirror and New York News; Fred Johnson, San Francisco Call- Bulletin; Tom Brady. New York Times; Nat Dallinger. King Features Syndicate; Howard Heym. Associated Press; Grant McDonald, Los Angeles Mirror; Frank Filan. World Wide Photos; Ezra Goodman, Los Angeles Daily News: Aline Mosby. United Press; Doris Smith. Los Angeles Daily News; and Wood Soanes. Oakland Tribune. The trade press group included Ivan Spear. BOXOFFICE; Aim Lewis. Showmen's Trade Review; Paul Manning, the Exhibitor; Bill Weaver. Motion Picture Herald; Larry Urbach. Film Daily; Milton Luban, Independent Film Journal; and Chuck Daggett. Va- ALL THREE CIRCUITS have met their quota obligations during the year ending Sept. 30, 1949, according to a release issued by the Board of Trade this week. Associated British Cinemas, Odeon and Gaumont all devoted 47.6 per cent of their playing time to British pictures when the statutory requirement was only 45 per cent. With a second feature quota of 25 per cent the circuits actually showed 31 per cent of British support fea- IF THE FIRST TWO MONTHS are anythintures. D. J. Goodlatte, to judge by managing 1950 director will be of a vintage ABC, disclosed year in for a tradepaper British pictures. With interview "The that Blue liis circuit will Lamp" now be on two riety. general pictures short release of their and chalking legal up requirements the in biggest the six gross for years months another ending film RODEO QUEEN in March SELECTED of this likely to do year, the so it is same huge business has more than The likely that debut opened his its run chain was a three-show will at the accept Gaumont. the Haymarket showing affair. At the first, with of Price and the Marble "Chance as emcee, of Arch a Lifetime," the Pavilion. This mentioned queen of the is a annual above. Phoenix world championship rodeo Jay Lewis production released by General was selected, Film Of the with Lippert independent Distributors exhibitors, and any and Miss of is titled "Morning whom Drew among the six were judges. given Also Departure." It was exemption on the or directed reduction by Roy Baker from agenda the were a cocktail 45 per party and cent and dinner. stars quota, John there is Mills. Richard a total of 1,474 Attenborough Television defaults coverage was in accorded first and Nigel feature the Patrick. obligations proceedings via and 1,331 in second a tieup with the feature. "Morning Departure" About Phoenix TV 77 per cent of tells the the story of a station, KPHO. defaulters submarine were which among had a mobile video taking those off exhibitors for a routine with exercise camera on hand. a The TV full 45 lenses per in cent peacetime quota. were allowed to pick up the main titles and opening with the crew expecting to be back in time for tea. Within a few hours it scene of "The Baron" when it began unwinding has struck a floating mine left over from THERE IS UNLIKELY to at be any the radical Orpheum, with an announcer then the war and is lying on the bottom with change in legislation affecting cutting in the film to suggest industry as a result of the that viewers attend the only 12 of its crew of 70 left alive. Eight theatre to general see the election. entire picture. escape suits are left from the wreck and With such a small majority The the opus Labor has been government is not booked into 37 Arizona when the sub is sighted by rescue ships eight situations in a position during the first to introduce week of this month, men are sent through the hatch and the any of its extreme with socialist measures 18 other Arizona since theatres booking it for remaining four are left to await the lifting a defection by dates a handful during the of its members next would two weeks. of the .submarine by a salvage ship. After mean a defeat. It seems certain that another general election will now be held with- several days of alternate hope and despair bad weather forces the ships to abandon 'Stromboli' the in the next Ban few Is weeks, Lifted although parliament salvage, the crippled sub returns to the ocean will have to assemble now to pass the finance bill and issue a budget. By Court in Seattle bed and all hope for the four survivors is gone. SEATTLE—After declaring that the ban The Cinema Exhibitors Ass'n received assurance during the campaign from more than the echo of on the showing of This "Stromboli" is strong and sombre sounded "like material and no attempt a police state has to been me." made, except Superior in the Cockney 300 candidates that they would support any Judge James humor Hodson granted of one a temporary of the last four, to lighten measure involving a reduction in the entertainment tax and CEA officials are now of the film. The injunction to the RKO permitting narrative. the In showing spite of this the film does not picture leave opened the the following observer with a sense of depression, but Mouse Theatre. busy preparing a list of those supporters who day at John Hamrick's Blue rather with a great admiration were elected. Judge Hodson's decision for granted the bravery a temporary injunction of men who travel beneath enjoining the police the chief sea. Order your taxation trailer today! from interfering with the showing. 5.2 BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950
— — — , with 1 Lamps I with 'Strombolf Chalks In Los Angeles 2- LOS ANGELES—As has been the case in other situations where the film has opened, "Stromboli" reaped a golden harvest from the Bergman-Rossellini headlines in its initial stanza at two theatres here. It was well out in front of the pack at 200 per cent. (Average is 100) Chinese, Los Angeles, Loyola, Uptown, Wilshire— Mother Didn't Tell Me (20lh-Fox); The Blonde Bandit (Rep) 130 Downtown, Hollywood Paromounts Samson and Delilah (Para), advanced prices, 4th wk 150 Egyptian, Loews Slate—Malaya (MGM); Blonde Dynamite (Mono), 2nd wk;,_ ICO Fine Arts—Spring Four Star in Park Lane (EL), A Song to Remember 5th wk (Col), reissue, 90 2nd wk 80 Music Halls, Forum—Never Fear (EL), 2nd wk 70 Orpheum to (EL), eight acts Passport Pimlico ot vaudeville _ 85 Pontages, HiUstreet— Stromboli (RKO): The Tattooed Stranger (RKO) ,._ 200 United Artists, Ritz, Culver, Studio City, Vogue- Francis (U-I); There's a Girl in My Heart (Mono) „ 175 Warners Hollywood, Downtown, Wiltern Chain Lightning (WB), 2nd wk 90 Up strong 200 House Opening Gate Theatre here and topped the honor roll. "Woman in Hiding" and "The Rugged O'Riordans" at the Esquire carded 125 per cent. "Never Fear" at the United Artists was strong with 115 per cent. Cinema—Twelve O'Clock High (20th-Fox), 3rd d. t wk 100 Esquire—Woman in Hiding (U-1); The Hugged O'Riordans (U-1), ind d I wk 125 Fox—When Willie Comes Marching Home (20th- Fox): Bomba on Panther Island (Mono) 90 Golden Gate—Stromboli (RKO) 175 Orpheum—Father Is a Bachelor (Col); The Traveling Saleswoman (Col) 110 Paramount--Blue Grass of Kentucky (Mono); Killer Shark (Mono) SO United Artists—Never Feor (EL) _ 115 V/arheld—Ambush (MGM), 2nd wk 110 YOU DONT KNOW WHAT YOU'RE MISSING... 'TIL YOU TRY 'QUICKER ABETTER' SPECIAL TRAILERS Chicago - 1327 S. Wabash Avenue New York - 619 West 54th Street 'On the To-wn' Grosses 165 In Portland Opening PORTLAND—"On the Town" took the town 100 by storm, hitting the top of 165 per cent at the United Artists. With the number of first run houses cut down by the Hamrick-Evergreen split, downtown business was below what the weather would indicate. Broadway Malaya (MGM); Challenge to Lassie (MGM), 2nd d, t. wk _ Maylair—Davy Crockett, Indian Scout (UA); Satan's Cradle (UA) „ 115 Oriental and Orpheum—Mother Didn't Tell Me (20th-Fox); Blondie's Hero (Col) 130 Paramount The Nevadan (Col); Blonde Dynamite (Mono) _ 95 United Artists—On the Town (MGM) 165 Holdovers Continue to Pace Seattle First Run Trade SEATTLE—Holdovers were racking up the greater portion of first run trade here "Battleground," in a fourth round with "Change of Heart" at the Music Hall, registered 200. Blue Mouse—Backfire (WB); Unmasked (Rep), 2nd d. t, wk Coliseum— Port of New York (EL); Boy From 60 Indiana (EL) 100 Filth Avenue—Dear Wife (Para); They Live by Night (RKO), 3rd wk _....110 Liberty—On the Town (MGM); Tension (MGM), 3rd wk 125 Music Box—The Fallen Idol (SRO), 2nd wk 110 Music Hall—Battleground (MGM); Change of Heart (20th-Fox). reissue, 4th wk 200 Orpheum Woman in Hiding (U-I); Beyond the Hio Grande (SR), reissues SO Paramount—Twelve O'Clock High ((20lh-Fox); There's a Girl in My Heart (Mono), 2nd wk 165 "Francis' Grosses 200 Per Cent At Three Denver Houses DENVER— "Francis" packed them in and, for the first time, a film was moved across the street from the Denver to the Paramount. Aladdin. Denver, Webber—Francis (U-1); Chinatown at Midnight (Col) 200 Broadway—Battleground (MGM), 4th wk 120 Denham—Thelma Jordon (Parcf) 100 Esquire, Parasiount—Tell It to the Judge (Col); Mule Troin (Col) 90 Orpheum— East Side, West Side (MGM); Satan's Cradle (UA) 140 Riallo—Twelve O'Clock High (20th-Fox); Girls' School (Col), 6th d. I. wk 100 Vogue—The Genius and the Nightingale (SR); Enchanted Lake (SR) _ 90 "Stromboli' Registers 175 In San Francisco Opening SAN FRANCISCO—"Stromboli" registered 175 per cent in its opening at the Golden ASHCRAFT SUPER HIGH 16" Reflector Arc using 9 m. m. or 10 m. m. Rotating Positive Carbons. with MOTIOGRAPH 5" Plastic In Car Speakers. MOTIOGRAPH Drive In Projectors with Air Blowers. with Arc Lamps & Generators built to develop I more light at lower amperage with less current and carbon consumption. CRETOR Popcorn Machines, especially designed I for DRIVE-IN operation . . . Beverage dispensers and modern revenue producing equipment designed for greater profits. EVERY SUCCESSFUL DRIVE-IN THEATRE MUST ALSO HAVE Careful individual planning, engineering and service, backed by EXPERIENCE . . . ABILITY. . . and ORGANIZATION! A trio of important unseen elements never found except in an organization where personalized, individual thinking is beamed directly to the proposition of MAKING YOUR DRIVE-IN THEATRE THE VERY BEST. Starting with the selection of the site, right through to bringing and maintaining screen satisfaction to you and your patrons, you can get expert, experienced and economical counsel on everything from a carbon to a complete theatre installation with SERVICE AND SATISFACTION GUARANTEED by B. F. SHEARER COMPANY lUeatte C^ttifune4tt SfxecUUuti LOS ANGELES: 19E4 Stulh Veifnont .Hipubhc 3 1I4S> PORTLAND: 1941 NW Keitnt) >T>rllei 7543 SAN FRANCISCO: 24] Co . UNderlnll l-KIE • SEATTLE: 2318 St< BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950 53
Page 1 and 2: 1 of the "^Jj, ^Jto run 1 aKord ! ,
Page 3 and 4: MORE LOVE rr LEHERS! Cv top^ ^"tts
Page 5 and 6: BEST HITCHCOCK MANNER
Page 7 and 8: i s i i:\TliE: , SE -i^ i Herbert,
Page 9 and 10: Western United DuMont General QUEST
Page 11 and 12: lis iime fo puf that 'A ^p \[^WOUf^
Page 13 and 14: ffhat ALAN LADD WANDA HENDRIX with
Page 15 and 16: See Record Turnout At Variety Concl
Page 17 and 18: ANOTHER HIGH HONOR FOR -G- I FOLLOW
Page 19 and 20: In more than pj comparable engageme
Page 21 and 22: United Artists Closes Hollywood Off
Page 23 and 24: OAlLÂ'i^ I nflA j^' uuuAR M^1« RE
Page 25 and 26: presents THE COMEDY O YEAR MIllAND-
Page 27 and 28: DOROTHY MALONE FORREST TUCKER FRANK
Page 29 and 30: CHESTER FRIEDMAN EDITOR HUGH E. FRA
Page 31 and 32: 20th IS FAIREST! Allied Theatres of
Page 33 and 34: :( Here is acclaim with one Meaning
Page 36 and 37: Press breaks down » but $2.88 keep
Page 38 and 39: BOXOFFICE NUGGETS Phil Masters, man
Page 40 and 41: Midwestern and Southwestern DRIVE-I
Page 42 and 43: . . . Carl . . Mrs. . . . Jack BROA
Page 44 and 45: . . Dorothy . . Booker's . . Manage
Page 46 and 47: . . . Wilham . . Helen . . Benton's
Page 48 and 49: \ About $35.00 worth of popped corn
Page 50 and 51: STUDIO PERSONNEUTIES Barnstonners M
Page 54 and 55: . . Lew . . . Barney . . Tim . . Wo
Page 56 and 57: . . . Beverly . . Roy LOS ANGELES l
Page 58 and 59: . . Kenneth . . Logansport, . . Mrs
Page 60 and 61: ^H^^^l
Page 62 and 63: . . The ST. LOUIS John Rees, owner
Page 64 and 65: RESEARCH BUREAU for MODERN THEATRE'
Page 66 and 67: . . Marguerite . . Missouri . . KAN
Page 68 and 69: . . Sidney . . . . Minnesota . . Af
Page 70 and 71: OMAHA T^rs. Jerry Drennan of the Pi
Page 72 and 73: . . R. RESEARCH BUREAU for MODERN T
Page 74 and 75: . . . LaVerne j' CINCINNATI Q,eorge
Page 76 and 77: . . . Earl . . . Bradley . . . Harr
Page 78 and 79: : Heywood Memo TO: Smart Buyers THE
Page 80 and 81: • . . Sun . . . . Andy . . The PI
Page 82 and 83: . . . Nick . . Lloyd . . . Figures
Page 84 and 85: . . . Sam . . . Ray . . The . . . J
Page 86 and 87: . . Harold . . TOO OKLAHOMA CITY TU
Page 88 and 89: . . . Edward . . Red . . Mrs. . . M
Page 90 and 91: Two Actors Offer Help To Senate Can
Page 92 and 93: Tell . . and Sell Scores of busy li
Page 94 and 95: manager in YOU DONT KNOW WHAT YOU'R
Page 96 and 97: . . MEMPHIS TJfrs. \V. F. Ruffin sr
Page 98 and 99: . . Florence TARZAN AT ATLANTA—Se
Page 100 and 101: . . Paramount's . . Nate . . Mrs. C
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. . Some ST. JOHN lyjotiun picture
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. , The . . Congratulations . . Mr.
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ôsi '-»®**^.'„oae ^'>"*" iecô
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Mii nI i R.K.O. Missouri Theatre, K
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USE COUPON NOW! ^THE STRONG ELECTRI
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, Figure Your Own DESIGN FOR DEFEAT
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as Increased Efficiency With Added
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The Latest Display in Comfort Condi
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Proper Insulation Is the Basis of C
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DON'T BE A HALFWAY HOST Attention t
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My Best Supporting Feature is CHRYS
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Few Touches Necessary In Brightenin
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THERE IS MO SUBSTITUTE FOR.- DRAFTL
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A TEN-STRIKE IN CONVERSION Soufh-Si
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New Equipment, New Appearance For M
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increasem Boxoffice Receipts^ WITH
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CIVIC ACTIVITY THE BASIS FOR GOOD T
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Putting the Parsley on Screen Prese
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! RECTIFIERS Fnr EvTT Siz9 Thcatrm
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NEW APPROACHES IN SALT LAKE CITY TH
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ONLY Mmh^ BUILDS THE ARISTOCRAT OF
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i I PHONE SOUNDPROOF POPCORN BAG SI
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WHAT MAKES NAMA Makes Awards And Ap
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National Theatres ''Munchindisers"
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RCA Dealers to Market Typhoon Air C
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DO BUSINESS ALL SUMMER! New Detroit
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Iklmrncatii Girpiti lial OJi-!IMlEI
Page 156:
Promoting Profits With Playgrounds
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V I item has been adequately tested
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A CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND COME TRUE Th
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For MORE INFORMATION on any Product
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— . . skilled Hands That Work in
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DRIVE-IN PREFAB OWNER MAY NOW BUY M
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— Cleaners Who Work 'for Peanuts'
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High-Speed 16mm Lens P-381 In Produ
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— Adjustable Post Lights P-387 Fo
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Improved Features on P-392 Majestic
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— — — Ttie following concerns
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about PEOPLE / A NEW PATENTED POPCO
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fXOFFICE BAROMETER • EXHIBITOR HA
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Weather: Okay.—D. w. Trisko, Rltz
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Alphabetieal Picture Guids ladex aa
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: 1084 1009 1073 f tt Very Good; +
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' WARNER i RKO RADIO ai (91) Com-dr
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I Arthur UNIV.-INT'L WARNER RKO RAD
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20th Century-Fox PfOif. No^ Title R
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I Opinions on Current Productions;
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— Fine — ATES: 10c per worcL mi
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Boxoffice-March.04.1950

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