Boxoffice-August.21.1954

I
WEST
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'Lance' Is 300; Cooler
Weather at Boston
BOSTON—Cool weather and drizzly showers
plus new product perked up business at the
theatres. "Broken Lance" pulled down the
best gross in several years at the Paramount
and Fenway theatres. Prices were
upped a dime for this feature. "Gone With
the Wind" continued strong at the State and
Orpheum.
(Average Is 100)
Astor—The Coine Mutiny (Col), 6th wk 110
Beacon Hill Man With a Million (UA), 6th wk. , . 90
Boston—This Is Cinerama (Commercial),
32nd wk 100
Exeter Street The Holly and the Ivy (Pacemaker)
Welcome the Queen (BIS) 125
Memorial Magnificent Obsession (U-1), 3rd wk...llO
jMetropolitan About Mrs. Leslie (Para); Paris
Express
Paramount and Fenway Broken Lance (20th-Fox)-
Heot Wave (LP)
State and Orpheum Gone With the Wind
(MGM), 3rd wk
Obsession' 225 Per Cent
In New Haven First Week
NEW HAVEN—Ths big grosser in New
Haven was "Magnificent Obsession," which
rolled up 225 per cent in its initial stanza at
;he Paramount. "Gone With the Wind"
;losed after a four-week run.
ollege Gone With the Wind (MGM), 4th wk. . . 80
oramount Magnificent Obsession (U-l); Pride of
the Bluegrass ( AA) 225
oli— Broken Lance (20th-Fox) 105
(oger Sherman Susan Slept Here (RKO);
Dangerous Mission (RKO) 120
iartford Boxoffices
lold Averages
HARTFORD — Business maintained the
iiverage mark in Hartford with "Broken
iance" holding down the top position at 130
ler
cent.
llyn—About
Leslii
; The Fighting
Pimpernel (Carrol
M. Loew's— Pushi (Col); The Law vs. Billy
the Kid (Col), 3r_
3li Broken Lance (20th-Fox) . . .
alace Magnificent Obsession (L
Tomahawk (UA), 2nd wk
trond—Susan Slept Here (RKO)
(LP)
>onates to Jimmy Fund
ROXBtTRY, MASS.—Michael Redone,
president of Redstone Drive-In Theaes,
donated the opening night take at the
w V.F.W. Drlve-In to the Jimmy fund.
PROVIDENCE
le Strand neared a record as "The Caine
Mutiny" went into its fourth week . . .
11 Trambukis, Loew's State manager, has
Ided two ushers to his staff . . . Local
eatremen extended condolences to Phil
igel, 20th-Fox exploiteer for this area, on
death of his wife in Boston . . . United
ates Senator John O. Pastore and his
tnily visited Bill Trambukis, an old friend
)m when Pastore was governor of Rhode
:and.
E. M. Loew's Drive-In was the site of the
w England premiere of "Three Forbidden
... A sneak preview featuring
even Brides for Seven Brothers" drew a
eked house at Loew's State . . Surrounding
ve-ins are enjoying one of the best seain
years.
XOFHCE : : August 21, 1954
Settin'-Down Ozark Oscar
'Desirabul/ Miller Says
From Central Edition
BRANSON, MO.—Now that the second
"Ozark Oscar" has been presented to a
Hollywood star, Owen Theatre Manager
Steve Miller, in typical mountain style,
this week came up with this description
of the award:
"This is the famous 'Ozark Oscar'
which we'uns present to popular movie
stars who come down in these parts to
git hit. This here Oscar is more desirabul
than the cheep variety they give out in
Hollywood as there air not so many of
them give out, and also this here one is
differunt, as hit is settin' down.
"Hit tipyfies the peepul's judgment of
true actin' ability, and has no connekshun
with schools or academys. Only
other one we have gave out is to Forrest
Tucker. He came all the way down to
these here hills after hit, and got filled
up with Ozark bacon and strawberrys,
besides."
Film Salesmen Start
Scholarship Fund
BOSTON—The Motion Picture Salesmen's
Club has started a college scholarship fund
for sons and daughters of persons in the motion
picture industry in five New England
states, excluding Connecticut, with a donation
of $300.
The eligible youths must be high school
seniors or engaged in undergraduate work in
an accredited college. Tlie scholarship prizes
will be awai-ded to winners in an essay contest
on "The influence of Motion Pictures on
the American Way of Life." The essays mu.st
not run more than 1,000 words each.
According to plans drafted by the salesmen's
club committee, the contest will start
November 1 and run through Jan. 31, 1955.
The committee, composed of President
Maynard Sickles, Jack Grubbins, Irving
"Mac" Farber, John Peckos and Arthur Gerome,
expects other industry leaders will donate
other scholarships.
Theatre Float in Parade
BROOKS, ME.—The Brooks Theatre
float
won second prize in a Lions club field day
parade, according to Manager R. O. Hall. The
float, constructed by projectionist Harold
Brown, carried two concession employes
dressed as Mickey and Minnie Mouse who
tossed bags of popcorn to children along the
parade route. The sides of the float carried
the slogan, "Motion Pictures—Your Best
Entertainment." Over 30 units participated
in the field day to raise funds for a new
community playground. Hall, who is also the
Lions club president, filmed color pictures of
the day's events for a local newsreel showing
at the theatre the following weekend.
Mrs. Florence Kane Dies
NEW BRITAIN, CONN.—Mrs. Florence
Kane, wife of Walter Kane, manager of the
local Music Box Theatre, died at the age of
48 in Milwaukee. The burial was in Milwaukee.
Jimmy Drive Chiefs
Confer With Lodge
HARTFORD- H;iny Ffin.stcin, zone manager
for Stanley-Warner Theatres, and I. J.
Hoffman, Connecticut Theatres, co-chairmen
of the Jimmy fund campaign, met with Gov.
John Lodge to receive the official statement
in support of the Children's Cancer Research
Foundation.
Governor Lodge declared: "Our children
repre.sent our stake in the future and everything
which contributes to their health and
well-being warrants our constant support.
"This unique appeal of the foundation affords
everyone, regardless of financial status,
the opportunity to contribute, since it seeks
the small donations of the many.
"I am glad to call again for public a.ssi.stance
to this compassionate cau.se which
involves boys and girls of every race, creed
and color.
"The work of the Children's Cancer Reseai-ch
Foundation in the study, diagno.sis
and treatment of cancer is most worthy of
our continued support."
Feinstein told the governor that some 200
Connecticut theatres have pledged their full
cooperation to assist the Jimmy fund drive.
Norman Zalkind Adds
CS to Sub Run Strand
BOSTON—Norman Zalkind, owner-operator
of the second run neighborhood Strand
Theatre at Fall River, has added Cinema-
Scope equipment with optical sound. The installation
was by Capitol Theatre Supply
Co. The new curved screen is 33x20 feet.
It was necessary to widen the stage and
remove 100 seats for the larger screen, reducing
the capacity to 980.
Zalkind emphasized that in adding this
process for the showing of Cinemascope
films, he is giving the public the best pictures
in the best medium with the hope that
the public will recognize that the small, independent
theatre is a vital cog in the community
and will support it. "If this new
equipment doesn't restore my subsequent run
theatre to a profitable, economic position
so that I can get my investment back in a
reasonable length of time, then there is
little hope left for the small exhibitor," he
said.
Drops Censor Board Plans
WORCESTER—City Manager McGrath has
dropped his plan for setting up an advisory
board to review- films and other public entertainment
after City Solicitor Meleski informed
him that such a board would have
no legal standing. The city solicitor noted
that the police already have the power to
bring court action against anyone presenting
indecent shows.
John Findley Retiring
MYSTIC, CONN.—John Findley, operator
of the Strand Theatre and a showman for
more than 25 years, is retiring. The Strand
has been leased to Mary Jane Fox effective
September 1. Findley, also co-owner of the
Central and United theatres in Westerly,
R. I., will sell his interest in these houses to
his partner Morris Pouzzner.