Boxoffice-January.24.1953

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'Limelight' in Chicago
Scored 125 Gross
CHICAGO—Attendance in first run houses
thinned out somewhat. While a post-hohday
lull was anticipated, fog, rain and icy streets
also kept theatregoers at home. "My Cousin
Rachel," plus a stage show headed by Sunny
Gale, at the Chicago, set a bright attendance
picture. "Thunderbirds" and "Ride the Man
Down" opened above average at the United
Artists, and the Roosevelt, with a twin bill
of "Stop, You're Killing Me" and "Outpost
in Malaya," did all right. The Oriental had
little letup in attendance during the threeweek
run of "Million Dollar Mermaid," but it
switched to "Above and Beyond." "Stars and
Stripes Forever" continued to hold a fairly
steady attendance for three weeks at the
Palace.
(Average Is 100)
Chicago My Cousin Rachel (20th-Fox), plus stage
show 120
Grand Bloodhounds o* Broodwoy (20th-Fox);
Something tor the Birds (20th-Fox) 100
Cornegic Foce to Foce (RKO), 2nd wk 105
Oriental Million Dollor Mermaid (MGM), 3rd wk..ll5
Palace Stars ond Stripes Forever (20th-Fox), 3rd
wk 110
State-Lake The Sovoge (Pare); Hurricane Smith
(Para) 105
Roosevelt Stop, You're Killing Me (WB); Outpost
in Molaya ( WB) 105
Surf The Promoter (U-l), 2nd wk 175
Telenews Tri-Opticon (Capitol), 3rd wk
Good
World Playhouse One Summer of Happiness
(Teitel), 3rd wk 110
Woods Limelight (UA) 1 25
Ziegfeld Under the Red Sea (RKO), 3rd wk 100
"Above and Beyond' Scores
150 in Twin Cities
MINNEAPOLIS — "Above and Beyond" ran
away from the field last week, pulling excellent
business for Radio City. It had to compete
with a hefty array of newcomers, including
such standouts as "Breaking the Sound
Barrier," "Androcles and the Lion" and "The
Four Poster." Holdovers were down to one,
"Road to Bali." The latter in its third Loop
week continued to click in a big way. Blizzards
and subzero temperatures got all of
the fresh entries off to slow start and held
down totals.
Century Road to Boli iPoro), 3rd d. t. wk 110
Gopher Breaking the Sound Barrier (UA) 95
Lyric Holiday for Sinners (MGM); The Narrow
Margin (RKO) 80
Radio City—Above and Beyond (MGM) 150
RKO Orpheum—Androcles ond the Lion (RKO). ... 1 00
RKO Pan The Golden Hawk (Col); Dangerous
Years (20th-Fox) 95
Stote Thunder in the Eost (Para) 95
World The Four Poster (Col) 1 00
"Turning Point'
Sets Pace
In Omaha With 105
OMAHA— "Road to Bali" came through a
second week at the State with a 100 per cent
score. Although the Orpheum dipped, other
first run theatres had firm crowds all the
way. The weather was the June in January
variety and there were no competing productions.
Brandeis The iron Mistress (WB); Captive Women
(RKO), 4 days, 2nd wk; To Hove ond Hove Not
(WB); High Sierro (WB), reissues 100
Omaha The Turning Point (Para); The Blazing
Forest (Paro) 105
Orpheum The Savage (Para); The Hour ot 13
(MGM) 95
Stote Road to Bali ( Para), 2nd wk 1 00
Town The Kid From Broken Gun (Col); Love
Happy (UA); Undercover Girl (U-l) 95
Renovate Maxwell, Iowa, State
MAXWELL, IOWA—A new Transcenic
screen will be installed at the State Theatre
here, along with a complete stage remodeling
and air conditioning.
STAR WATCHES CONTRACT DEAL—
Robert Taylor, stopping over in Omalia
on hi.s tour for "Above and Beyond" visited
tlie MGIVI excliange there and witnessed
the signing of a contract by an
exhibitor for the film. Here Elmer
Huhnke, .secretary of the Iowa-Nebraska
Allied Theatre Owners, is shown signing
up for the film in the office of Vincent
Flynn, MGM manager, standing on the
right.
Ted Mann, Once a Boxer,
Keeps Fit at Handball
MINNEAPOLIS — Ted Mann, circuit
owner, once was a Diamond Belt finalist in
the light-heavyweight division, and today he
plays handball religiously to keep his weight
around the 200-pound level. Mann was the
subject of a profile sketch in the Town Toppers
column of the Minneapolis Star.
Mann was born in Wishek, N. D., and came
here with his parents as a child. He worked
for a spell as assistant manager at the Metro
Theatre in the south side—a job which included
maintenance, among other things—and
this led him, in 1936, to buy the Oxford Theatre
in St. Paul and reopen it, the Star reported.
Three years later he bought the Gem in St.
Paul and in 1941 built the Oxford bowling
center. A year later he acquired the Metro,
and a year after that the Royal in St. Paul.
In 1944, in partnership with Don Guttman, he
bought the Dickerman circuit of five theatres.
He and Guttman built the San Pedro and
Comptou (Calif.) drive-ins, and he is president
of the Skyhne Drive-In organization in
Duluth, as well as director of Minnesota Entertainment
Enterprises, operating a halfdozen
drive-ins about the Twin Cities.
In 1945. Mann bought the World and Alvin
theatres here. He now has sold all of his theatres
except the Duluth Drive-In, the World-
Alvin combination, and the World in St. Paul.
He and Guttman also operate an industrial
banking concern in Los Angeles.
An occasional golfer, Mann reads biography
and politics and is a past president of North
Central Allied Theatre Owners. He and Mrs.
Mann, with their two daughters, 7 and 12, live
at 2731 Dean Boulevard.
James Greene Shifted
CLARION, IOWA—James Greene, manager
of the Iowa City Drive-In for the last three
years, has been named to the staff of the
Clarion Theatre here. The Clarion is a Central
States house.
Theatre Fan Complains
Show Choices Too Few
ST. PAUL—Morning Pioneer Pi'ess here
published a letter from a reader accusing the
city's motion picture theatres of apparently
"trying their best to break the habit of attending
movies by running their shows too long."
Writer complained that with only four downtown
theatres offering first runs, "real movie
fans" don't have much choice now and "this
choice is further restricted by one or two
theatres which persist in frequently holding
over a film for several weeks."
"More frequent changes of films are one
way of getting people to attend the movies,"
the letter pointed out. "Let's get rid of the
long runs which don't seem to bring extra
business to the theatres anyway," urged the
writer. "Theatres may get a reduced rental
on films held over, but what they might gain
in that matter is more than offset by the fans
they permanently lo.se."
Writer stated that he himself attends three
or four shows a week and would like the
chance to see more. He pointed out that if
people get out of the habit of going to the
shows it's difficult to win them back.
Whole Family Attempts
To Make Theatre Pay
MINNEAPOLIS—Clyde Cutter, who has reopened
the Alhambra, local neighborhood
house which its owners were unable to operate
profitably for the year before they closed
it, is trying the family plan of operation
followed by most small-town exhibitors in
an effort to put over the venture.
Cutter himself not only manages the theatre,
but takes tickets which his wife sells.
A daughter handles the candy and popcorn
concession and two sons are janitors-ushers.
The only outsider employed is the AFL projectionist,
and industry leaders are hoping
that his substantial weekly salary won't
exceed the five family members' combined
earnings.
Cutter has not resigned his post with Theatre
Associates, nonprofit buying and booking
group, and is devoting his evenings to the
Alhambra with his family doing much of the
actual work there.
Local 332 Installs Officers
CLINTON, IOWA—Stage employes and
operators Local 332 installed officers at the
Labor temple here. Those installed include
Harold C. Andrews, president; James Wosoba,
vice-president; A. E. Hubbard, secretary;
Tom Mellen, treasurer; Paul Nadelhoffer,
business agent; Wosoba, sergeant at arms;
Eugene Boos, executive board member, and
Nadelhoffer and Hubbard, delegates to the
Clinton Labor congress.
Citizens Build at Marcus
MARCUS, IOWA—Work has begun here on
the interior of the new Marcus community
theatre. Citizens of the community are donating
their services to the construction of the
theatre.
Halts Showings on Tuesdays
OGDEN, IOWA—The Ogden Theatre here,
managed by Bill McGraw, is not holding
shows on Tuesday during January. Features
booked for Sunday and Monday show also
on Wednesday.
BOXOFFICE ;; January 24, 1953 77