Boxoffice-December.20.1952

^r Nearly Full
For Opera Telecast
MINNEAPOLIS—The local Loop Gopher,
the territory's first independent theatre to
have large-screen television, got off to a fast
and promising start with the Metropolitan
Opera's production of "Carmen." The 1.028-
seat house, scaled at $1.80. $2.40 and $3.60. sold
all but a handful of its seats and earned a
profit on the venture.
Bennie Berger. Gopher owner, expressed
himself as highly pleased with the results. He
believes that the public will support as many
as four such grand opera telecasts a year, one
about every three months. The theatre made a
modest but satisfactory profit on "Carmen,"
according to Berger. who pointed out that
the front page newspaper and other publicity
garnered for the telecast was invaluable and
should pave the*way for even better boxoffice
results.
The Minneapolis Morning Tribune ran a
front page story on the telecast, describing it
as "history-making." The music critics of
the Star and Tribune both pa.ssed up a Minneapolis
Symphony orchestra concert to cover
the televised "Carmen."
Audience reaction for the most part was
favorable, although the general feeling was
that the telecast's picture quality left something
to be desired and was inferior to the
sound. The near-capacity audience was in
the face of a snowstorm, icy streets and the
Minneapolis Symphony orchestra opposition,
and in spite of the fact the Metropolitan
annually plays a four-performance engagement
here at $7.20 top.
The Minnesota Amusement Co. originally
had announced a "Carmen" telecast for the
4.000-.seat Radio City, but stepped out upon
learning it would conflict with the symphony
orchestra concert and it could not be had exclusively
for Minneapolis.
William Miskell Praises
'Carmen' Omaha Show
OMAHA—William Miskell. Tri-States district
manager, said from reports emanating
at other points in the country. Omaha's television
reception for "Carmen" at the
Orpheum probably was among the best.
"Every comment I received was very good,"
he said. "The closeups were excellent and the
only shots not too good were the long ones.
He said he might go for another opera, but
at a different time of the year. Omaha's
gross was about $2,800. with $3.85 high and
$1.20 bottom. The house was approximately
half full. Martin Bush, World-Herald music
critic, was enthusiastic about the TV production.
Mr. Exhibitor . .
"Visually, aside from blurring of some bigscale
shots and two small bits of local interference."
he wrote, "the illusion was most
convincing. The closeups were so excellent
as to enable the theatre audience to better
see the production than many there in New
York.
"Aurally, the music both vocally and
orchestrally was well-night perfect. With
this feat TV has stepped up. May it continue!"
"Carmen' Telecast Draws
Praise in Milwaukee
MILWAUKEE—A near-capacity audience
attended the Riverside Theatre here Thursday
(111 for the Metropolitan Opera telecast
of "Carmen," and local newspaper columnists
were high in praise of the first big-screen
TV opera.
"Despite the blurred and montonous gray
pictures, the performance was immensely
moving and vivid," one critic said. "To the
ear. it could hardly have been better.
"Even with the screen limitations, the
staging of the opera, the movements of the
. . . The
thi'ong of prinicipals and minor people alike
were found to be fluid and precise
fire and passion of this elemental drama
were unfailingly conveyed. After each
familiar aria and dramatic episode the Milwaukee
spectators burst into applause simultaneously
with the New York subscription
audience seeing the performance."
Immediote families of entertainment industry
employes olso eligible for TB core at WILL ROGERS
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DES MOINES THEATRE SUPPLY CO.
1121 High St. Phone 3-6520 Des Moines, Iowa
'Pal Gus' Packs Punch
At 175 in Twin City
MINNEAPOLIS—"My Pal
Gus" ran awa
from the field. Given a tremendous sellini
job. it came through with fine business tha
|
belied the supposed insurmountable prelj
Christmas handicap, raised higher in th)|i
instance by snowstorms, icy streets and colt;
Aside from "Gus," however, there was nl
reason for cheers. Two other newcomerjJ
"Operation Secret" and "Hangman's Knot,]
floundered. Holdovers were "The Miracle c|
Fatima" and "Plymouth Adventure" in
the
fourth and final weeks and "Lost in Alask
in its second stanza.
Century The Miracle of Fatima (WB), 4th wk. . . 81
Gopher Lost in Alaska (U-l), 2nd wk if
Lyric The Block Swan (20th-Fox); To the Shores
of Tripoli f20th-Fox), reissues
Radio City My Pol Gus (20th-Fox) 17|
RKO-Orpheum Hangman's Knot (Col) 51
RKO-Pan Invasion, U.S.A. (Cot); Stronge Fosci*
nation (Col) Si
State Operotion Secret (WB) £l
World Plymouth Adventure (MGM), 4th wk 9l
"Because of You' Gets Honors
In Slow Omaha Week
OMAHA — "Because of
You" at the Omah
was the only offering among the city's down
town first runs to break over the norn
line and a couple failed to make the grad|
Weather turned mild, making streets slopp
with thawing snow in the daytime
treacherously icy at night.
Omaha— Because of You (U-l); Royal Journey
(UA) n|
Orpheum Bloodhounds of Broadway (20th-Fox);
Night Without Sleep
RKO-Brandeis The Rains
(20th-Fox)
Come (20th-Fox), reissue,
S|
3 days; Springfield Rifle (WB), 4 days,
2nd wk. Kl
State Because You're Mine (MGM) .
!|
Town Captive of Billy the Kid (Rep); Harlem
Globetrotters (Col), Fort Osage (AA) (I
Iowa Theatres Entertain
Kids With Free Shows
DES MOINES—Free movies for the cl
dren were the Saturday attraction at a nu:
ber of Iowa theatres recently. In mar
cases, the free shows will be continued for tl
entire month of December.
The Monte Theatre, Montezuma, is givir
programs sponsored by the merchants of U
community and will continue each Satun
thi'ough the month. The idea was a treat
the parents who "parked" their children i
the Monte and then went shopping. i|
Marshalltown, 800 children crowded into tvj
theatres for a picture sponsored by loi
merchants. Gifts were presented by a San',
Claus.
The Aplington Theatre, in cooperation wll
merchants of the city. Ls presenting
Saturday shows until Christmas. In Ochey(
dan. the Mound Theatre will host three Sati
day shows culminating with a Santa Clai
party December 20, and the New Belmon'
Belmond, is presenting free pre-Christra.i
shows for the children. Ed Gentry is tt
manager.
Minneapolis Alhambra
Leased by Lou Gainsley
who ope
MINNEAPOLIS—Lou Gainsley,
ated the abandoned Loop Pix, has leasi
the neighborhood Alhambra Theatre fro
Rubenstein & Kaplan, and will reopen it. Tl
583-seater was closed several months a,
after a long stretch of unprofitable busine:
!
BOXOFFICE December 20, 19.