Boxoffice-December.02.1950

. (iUth-1-
—
Detroit Grosses Up;
'Let's Dance' in Lead
DETROIT—Despite increased competition,
business was fair to good at all houses, with
the new United Artists getting a holdover
on its first bill. Thanksgiving day business
was reported super at practically all downtown
shows.
(Average Is 100)
Adams—Bom to Be Bad (RKO), 2nd wk 90
Cinema—The Paris Waltz (Lux Films) 85
Downtown—Hell Tovm (Realart); BuHalo Stampede
(Realarl), reissues 85
Fox—Mister 880 (20lh-Fox),- The Tougher They
Come (Col) 110
Madison—The Fuller Brush Girl (Col); Last ol the
Buccaneers (Col) 90
Michigan— Let's Dance (Para) 115
Palms-S.ale—Gilda (Col); Platinum Blonde (Col),
reissues 85
Paradise—The Federal Mon (ELC), plus stage
show 115
United Artists-The Jackpot (20th-Fox) 100
Btisiness Improves at Pittsburgh;
Stage Show Draws 175 at Perm
PITTSBURGH—A stage show at the Penn
grossed more than the total take of other
theatres in the downtown area. Generally,
business was improved in the seventh week
of the city newspaper strike, which has been
settled. Neighborhood grosses are very depressed
for this season.
Fulton—Edge ol Doom (RKO) 60
Hams—ni Get By (ZOth-Fox), 4 days, 2nd wk bO
J^enn-A Lady Without Passport (MGM), plus
stage show 175
Stanley—Breakthrough (WB) 85
Warner— Ihe Giass Menagerie (WB), 2nd d. t.
'Mines' Leads Cincinnati at 160
As Weather Chills Business
CINCINNATI—"King Solomon's Mines" did
top business last week, hitting 160, and, of
course, remained at the Grand. In all of the
other houses, new pictures were offered for
Thanksgiving week. The extreme winter
weatner, which started Thanksgiving afternoon,
had adverse effects on the holiday
business.
Albee—Two Weeks With Love (MGM) 100
Copitol—I'll Get By (20th-Fox), Srd wk lUU
Grand king Solomon's Mines (MGM) _ IbO
Keiths American Guerrilla in the Philippines
ox) 100
Palace—Breakthrough (WB) 100
Central City Theatre
Destroyed by Fire
CENTRAL CITY, PA.—Fire of undetermined
origin destroyed the Central City
Theatre recently. The inside of the building
was gutted and three sides and the roof were
down. Wind swept flames toward a store and
a garage nearby. Pour hose lines were connecied
in an attempt to stop the fire in the
theatre and prevent outbreaks in neighboring
buildings. Winber firemen were called to
aid the Central City volunteers. The theatre
had been managed for many years by
B. J. Redfoot, veteran exhibitor who also
operates the Arcadia in 'Winber.
Witnesses said that shortly after smoke
was discovered coming from, the theatre
ventilators, the building was a huge mass of
flames. A blast blew out one side of the theatre,
which had been remodeled recently. Loss
was estimated at upwards of $50,000.
COLUMBUS
. . . Harry
JJerman Stofle, a.ssistant at the Palace, became
father of a baby son
Knight has leased the Royal, east Main
street neighborhood house, to Marion and
Elma Porter for five years starting December
John McNulty. former theatre
1 . . . editor of the Columbus Citizen and now
a feature writer for New Yorker magazine,
was in town for the Ohio State-Michigan
game to do a "reporter-at-large" story on
the homecoming classic for the New Yorker.
McNulty is the author of 20th-Fox's "The
Jackpot," starring James Stewart.
Beverly Ann Smith, Upper Arlington High
school homecoming queen, was chosen queen
of queens in finals held on Palace stage
... P. J. Wood, in a letter to newspaper
editors, said that the recent television ads
which stressed discontent in the home in
seeking to sell TV sets, were "nothing less
than an attempt to lure away the movies'
young audience." He added: "The ad might
just as well have said: 'Don't go to the
movies.' "
Civic Ceremony Opens
Detroit UA Theatre
DETROIT—Opening of the United Artists
Theatre drew a distinguished list of civic
leaders, with the Detroit Police band performing
from an elevated platform in front
of the theatre, to set the keynote. Judge
W. McKay Skillman acted as master of
ceremonies, with Mayor Albert E. Cobo delivering
the official welcome of the city from
the stage. The Ukrainian National chorus
presented several numbers in addition to the
screenfare.
On hand for the opening, in addition to
local people, were George Skouras, head of
United Artists Theatres; R. V. Wemple, vicepresident,
and Jules Catsiff. who supervised
the remodeling.
Variety of Cincinnati
Renames Schwartz
CINCINNATI — Vance Schwartz was reelected
chief barker of Variety Tent 3. Jack
Finberg was named
first assistant; Mel
Martin, second assistant;
William Onie,
U'rasurer, and Saul
c;reenberg, secretary.
Ill addition to the
above officers, the following
compose the
crew for 1951: William
Bein, Harry Hartman,
Bob McNabb, Joe
Rosen, Rube Shor,
Louis Wiethe; Lev
Vance Schwartz Bugie, Irving Sochin
and Allan Moritz. Delegates to International
Variety convention are Onie and Noah
Sciiechter, with Shor and Maurice White as
alternates.
The chief project of the local tent is the
Children's Foundling Home.
Avalon at Colon Sold
COLON. MICH.—The Avalon Theatre here
has been sold to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Jacobs
of Jonesville by Robert Swope. The Jacobs
will run the theatre under a family plan.
Jacobs will run the projectors and his wife
and two daughters will take care of other
operations. The Jacobs family has been in
theatre business for 15 years.
'Romeo and Juliet' on Tour
PITTSBURGH—Olivia de Havilland's stage
revival of "Romeo and Juliet" will be featured
at the new Nixon, opening Tuesday
evening, January 30. Following the Pittsburgh
engagement, the show goes to the
Hanna in Cleveland, opening February 6, and
tlie Shubert, Boston, for three weeks, opening
February 13.
Lyle Bettger has been assigned the role of
a love-sick elephant trainer in the Paramount
picture, "The Greatest Show on
Earth."
BOXOFFICE :: December 2, 1950 97