Boxoffice-Febuary.28.1953

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Mont. Solons Delay
Bill to Cut Taxes
HELENA, MONT.—A bill to cut theatre
taxes $21,000 annually drew the interest of
Montana theatre operators this week to the
state capitol, where the bill caused considerable
excitement despite an effort to kill
it in the senate. It was finally postponed
indefinitely.
The measure was described by Senator
Donahoe (Rep.i of Meagher as one which
v/ould increase the exemption on ticket sales,
on which the IVi per cent tax is based, from
3,000 to 20,000 annually. This, he insisted,
would "cause the state to lo.se about $21,000
a year in taxes."
Senator Robinson (Rep.) of Phillips moved
to postpone action indefinitely on the bill,
saying, "I do not see where this tax imposes
too much on theatre owners. There are 74
theatres which pay tax, and if this bill passes,
only seven will pay any tax, based on
1951-52 figures. Where are we going to
replace this lost revenue?"
Senator Taylor (Rep.) of Roosevelt stated
that "It is unfair to place a gro.ss income
tax on anyone." Senator Scofield (Rep.) of
Powder River said, "I don't believe it is fair
to pick out any group." Senator Nutter
(Rep.) of Richland described it as "just a
sales tax, and it should be removed." Senator
Anderson (Dem.) of Pondera strongly supported
the bill.
Gibraltar Enterprises Buys
New Denver Quarters
DENVER—Gibraltar Enterprises, operators
of theatres in four states, has purchased a
stone residence at 1901 Sherman street here.
The company will use the first floor, and the
second story will be remodeled to meet the
requirements of a tenant, as yet not picked.
The house was built in 1889 and still has the
original cut-glass windows, mosaic tile floors
and antique cut-glass chandeliers, complete
with candles, gas jets and electric lamps.
None of the original fixtures were altered
except where necessary to add modern office
facilities, according to Charles Gilmour, president
of the firm. The kitchen is being remodeled
and will eventually be the private
office of Fred Knill, office manager. The
company is currently running a talent quest
among its theatres. Jerry Lasswell, Casper,
publicist for the Rialto Theatre Corp., who is
in charge of the drive, will have his headquarters
in Denver.
Meri Evans Buys Lake Theatre
JOHNSTOWN, COLO.—Merf Evans, former
manager of the West Theatre in Craig,
Colo., for Schumour Theatres, Inc., has purchased
the Lake Theatre here. Doyle Jackson,
formerly of Denver, has taken over the
reins at the West. Jackson was formerly a
Schumour employe. Evans was at the Craig
for three years. His new theatre has a
seating capacity of about 300.
Sterling Circuit Buys Theatre
BELLEVUE, WASH.—Sterling Theatres of
Seattle, operators of the Sunset Drive-In
here, have taken over the management of
the Bel-Vue Theatre. Ed Brobst will remain
as manager.
'WAC and'Jeopardy Rate High Scores
Of 1 75 and 160 in Los Angeles Bows
LOS ANGELES—Exceptionally strong business
recorded by "Never Wave at a WAC,"
paired with "No Time for Flowers," paced
the week's first runs with a 175 per cent
rating. On its heels, at 160, was "Jeopardy,"
while business otherwise hovered around
normal.
(Average Is 100)
Beverly Canon Face to Face (RKO), 3rd wk
Chinese, (Jptown, Loyola, Globe My Cousin Rachel
90
(20th-Fox) 90
Downtown Paramount, Fox Ritz Anna (IFE),.,. 80
Egvption, State Jeopardy (MGM), plus. State only.
South Pacific Trail (Rep), Egyption only. Rogue's
March (MGM) I 60
Fine Arts Come Baclt, Little Sheba (Para),
advanced prices, 9th wk 125
Four Star The Star (20th-Fox), advanced prices,
9th wk 100
Fox Wtlshire, Los Angeles Moulin Rouge (UA),
odvonced prices, 9th wk
Hillstreet, Pontages Never Wave ot a WAC
1 00
(RKO); No Time for Flowers iRKO) 175
Hollywood Paramount, Rialto The Member of the
Wedding (Col) I 00
Ins, United Artists Ivanhoe (MGM). . 100
Orpheum, Hawaii, Manchester, Picwood, Gage
Drive-In, Von Nuys Drive-In The Stooge (Para),
3rd wk 80
Vogue The Bod and the Beautiful (MGM), 9th
wk 75
Warners Beverly, Palace Hans Christian Andersen
(RKO), advanced prices, 9th wk 100
Warners Downtown, Hollywood, Wiltern The Lowless
Breed (U-l); Girls in the Night (U-l) 125
'Bad and Beautiful' Grosses
120 in Portland Bow
PORTLAND—Entertainment business was
booming here over the week with films showing
brightly and a healthy gross reported
for the Betty Hutton .show which moved
into the Paramount for four days. "Niagara"
did 140 for its final week at both the Paramount
and Oriental, and then moved into
the Mayfalr.
Broodway The Redhead From Wyoming (U-l). ... 90
Liberty The Bad ond the Beautiful (MGM).... 120
Moyfair Niagara (20th-Fox) 100
Orpheum and Oriental The Joiz Singer (WB)...110
Roxy Breaking the Sound Barrier (UA) 85
United Artists The Stooge (Para), 2nd wk 120
'Bwona Devil' Packs
Denver Orpheum
DENVER--"Bwana Devil" packed the Orpheum
to the best money as well as the best
percentage, and would have held over but for
tight bookings. "Ivanhoe" was to stay at least
two weeks at the Broadway, after turning in
a good first.
Aladdin, Tabor, Webber Gunsmoke (U-l); Bomba
and the Jungle Girl (AA) 125
Broadway Ivanhoe (MGM) 1 30
Denhom The Stooge (Pora) 3rd wk 90
Denver, Esquire Treasure of the Golden Condor
(20th-Fox); Stor of Texas (AA) 1 25
Orpheum Bwono DeVil (UA) 250
Poramount—All Ashore (Col); Pathfinder (Col).. 135
Vogue The Barber of Seville (5R) 100
Stereo-Techniques Keeps
"Em Coming in Seattle
SEATTLE—The Stereo-Techniques program
at the Orpheum continued to draw the best
business of local first runs, grossing 1.50 per
cent in its second week. Other first runs were
off.
Blue Mouse The Redhead From Wyoming (U-l). . 50
Liberty Girls in the Night (U-l) 75
Music Box—The Red Shoes (UA) 100
Music Hall The Jazz Singer (WB) 1 00
Orpheum Stereo-Techniques^ plus Rogue's March
(MGM), 2nd wk 1 50
San Francisco Gives 'Sheba'
A 150 Per Cent Welcoming
SAN FRANCISCO—"Come Back. Little
Sheba" walked away with top honors for the
Run-
week by rating a pleasant 150 per cent.
nerup honors went to the second week of "The
Stooge" with 100.
Golden Gate The Rcdheod From Wyoming (U-l);
Bombo ond the Jungle Girl (AA) 75
Orpheum Mississippi Gombler (U-l), 2nd wk 85
Paramount The Stooge (Para), 2nd wk 100
St. Francis Come Bock, Little Shebo (Poro) . . . . 1 50
United Artists Miracle of Fotimo (WB), 2nd run;
Blossoms in the Dust (MGM), reissue, 5 doys . . 30
Nine 1947-51 Film Features
To Be Released to Video
HOLLYWOOD—Video distribution rights to
nine pictures originally made from 1947 to
1951 for theatrical consumption have been
acquired by George Bagnall As.sociates,
headed by the former United Artists vicepresident.
Included are such UA releases as
"Lured," "New Orleans," "Atlantis," "Fun on
a Weekend," "Montana Mike," "Carnegie
Hall," "The Long Night," "Merrily We Roll
Along" and "The Hoodlum."
These and other features previously
acquired by the Bagnall group have been
leased to station WPIX, New York, for telecasting.
Steve Broidy Elected
HOLLYWOOD—Steve
Broidy, president of
Allied Artists, has been elected president of
Hollywood's Temple Israel, founded 27 years
ago by film industry members. Other new
officers include Sherrill C. Corwin, Metropolitan
Theatres, board chairman; Leslie Cramer.
William J. Goldman, Joe Herman jr. and Paul
Ziffren, vice-presidents; Harold L. Fleischer,
recording secretary; Harold J. Mirisch, financial
secretary; I. C. Gordean and Milton Sherman,
assistant recording secretaries; Jack
Weiner, assistant financial secretary; Philip
Wain, treasurer, and Harry Eisner, honorary
treasurer.
MPIC Picks Committees
HOLLYWOOD — Three committees have
been named by the Independent Motion Picture
Producers A.ss'n, of which Steve Broidy,
Allied Artists head man, is president. Named
to the industry's Permanent Charities committee
were Walter Mirisch, Lindsley Parsons,
Robert L. Lippert, Ed Finney and Sam Katzman.
Assigned as delegates to the Motion
Kctures Industry Council were Broidy, Lippert,
Parsons and Jack Broder. A labor relations
committee comprises Mirisch, Parsons,
Jan Grippo, Gene Arnstein and V, Fennelly.
New Aide to Jack Saper
HOLLYWOOI>—In addition to his present
duties as advertising-publicity director for
Hal WaUis Productions, Walter Seltzer has
been named executive assistant to Jack Saper,
production manager for the company.
Cancer Society Names DeMille
HOLLYWOOD—Cecil B. DeMille has been
named chairman of the American Cancer
society's public information committee, which
v/ill spearhead the Los Angeles county drive
in April. Other committee members include
Irene Dunne, Bing Crosby, Y. Frank Freeman,
Walter Pidgeon, Charles Brackett and
Hemy Wilcoxon.
BOXOFFICE :: February 28, 1953 55