Boxoffice-December.20.1952

•
'Andersen and 'Mermaid' Hold Up Big
As Other Bway Films Feel Slump
NEW YORK—Two Tech«icolor musicals,
••Hans Christian Andersen" and "Million Dollar
Mermaid," both holdovers, continued to
do smash business while three new color
films, "Stop, You're Killing Me," "Hangman's
Knot" and "The Raiders," had just average
opening weeks during the pre-Christmas
slump when, except for weekends, patrons
are more intent on Christmas shopping than
filmgoing.
••Andersen," which is in its third week at
both the Criterion on Broadway and the
Paris on the east side, was very little below
the first and second weeks while •Million
Dollar Mermaid," coupled with the Radio
City Music Hall's annual '•Nativity" stage
pageant, was above the strong opening week.
"Forbidden Games," highly-praised French
film, gave the Little Carnegie Theatre its
best gross since '•Ra.sho-Mon," which opened
the new theatre during last Christmas week.
The other pictures which held up well were
all art house films. "The Pi-omoter," in its
seventh big week at the Fine Arts, "Limelight,"
in its seventh week at the Trans-
Lux 60th Street, and '•Under the Red Sea," in
its fourth week at the Beekman. •'The White
Line" did so well at the Cinema Verdi that
it also opened a run at the Baronet Theatre
December 11.
Only three new films, •'Pony Soldier,"
••Torpedo Alley" and another Italian film,
••Two Cents Worth of Hope," opened during
the week but at least eight new pictures will
open in the few days before Christmas.
(Average Is 100)
Astor— Limelight (UA), 8th wk., continuous 1]0
Boronet—The White Line (Lux) U
Beekmon—Under the Red Sea (RKO), 4th wk... 110
Broadway This Is Cineroma (Cinerama), llthwk.
reserved seats .
] ^f
Capitol—Because of You (U-l), 2nd wk 9^
•. •
Cinema Verdi—The White Line (Lux), 2nd wk 110
.
Criterion Hans Christion Andersen (RKO), 3rd
'^'^
y,k
Fine Arts—The Promoter (U-l), 7th wk \v'^°
55th Street Life Begins Tomorrow (M-K), 4th
Globe—konsos City Coiifidentioi (UA), 3rd wk 110
Guild Leonordo da Vinci (Picture), 4th wK 05
Little Carnegie Forbidden Games (Times) 140
Loew's State Hangman's Knot (Col) HO
Mayfoir-The Thief of Venice (20th-Fox), 3rd wk. 95
Normandie To Have and Hove Not (WB), revival 95
Poloce The Raiders (U-l), plus vaudeville .... 1 05
Paramount Stop, You're Killing Me (WB), plus
stage show ]l^
Pans Hans Christian Andersen (RKO), 3rd wk...t50
Radio City Music Holl Million Dollor Mermaid
(MGM), plus Christmas stage show, 2nd wk...l45
Rivoli The Snows of Kilimanjaro (20th-Fox), 13th
wk 100
Roxy—Closed until December 22
Sutton—The Four Poster (Col), 9th wk 100
Trons-Lux 52nd Street — O. Henry's Full House...
(20th-Fox), 9th wk 100
Trons-Lux 60th Street Limelight (UA), 8th wk...llO
Victoria Breaking the Sound Barrier (UA), 6th
y„k
1 05
World—Streets of Sorrow (Union), 4th wk 90
Winter's Worst Storm Slaps
At Grosses in Buiialo
BUFFALO—The worst storm of the winter
hit Buffalo over the weekend and anyone
who was at home stayed there. The Para-
mount did fair with "Cattle Town" and the
century got a little business with "Tarzan's
Savage Fury." The Lafayette was off with
"Horizons West."
Buffalo—The Prisoner of Zenda (MGM), 4 days, ^^
Center— Battle 'Zone' (AA),' 5 'days, 2nd wk 75
Cinema—The Quiet Man (ReP). 2"^ wk 80
Century—Torian's Savoge Fury (RKO) »=
Lafayett