Boxoffice-October.01.1955

Rep)
10th
Eight Hit 200 or More
In Big Chicago Week
CHICAGO
N'fwcunu'is were m the iniiiority.
but opened with nice buslne.-tf. They did
not. however, outdo the holdovers which have
continuously kept grosses to such a high par.
Cinerama Hohday" is still a complete sellout
even though it passed Its 15th week at Eitcl's
Palace. "The McConnell Story" at the
Chicago, where Nat "Kin?" Cole head.s the
stage revue, again did exceptionally well.
Others which have carried on with high boxoffice
honors were "The Shrike" at the
Woods. "Maddalena" at the Ziegfeld, "To
Catch a Thief" at the United Artists and
"The Red Shoes" at tlie World Playhouse.
I
Average Is 100)
Carnegie— Not As a Stronger lUA)
Chicago—The McConnell Story (WB) plus stage
195
275
175
Eitel s Hoiidoy (Cineromo),
revue, 2nJ «k
Cinema—Notorious RKO),
Palace—Cincromo
reissue
I5fh wk 350
Esquire—The Virgin Queen (20th-Fox), 3rd wk, ..195
Grand— Phantom From Spocc (UA), Gog (UA),
3rd wk 165
Loop -Summertime L A
, wk 190
McVickers -The Cobweb ,MGM) 195
Monroe-Not As o Stronger (UA) 190
Oriental—Gentlemen Morry Brunettes (UA) plus
Morctana-Moore tight films 210
Roosevelt—The For horizons iPoro); Hell's Island
(Paro) 205
State Lake— Mister Roberts (WB), 5th wk 200
Surt—The Divided Hcort ;Rep), 2nd wk 190
United Artists—To Cotch a Thief (Pora), 4th wk..215
Woods—The Shrike U Ij, 3rd wk 230
World Playhouse—The Red Shoes (UA) reissue,
2nd wk 220
Ziegfeld—Moddoleno (IFE), 3rd wk 225
'Queen' Is No Whiz, While
•McConnell' Holcis Up
KANSAS CITY—The two art houses did
good business last week, the Glen with "House
of Pleasure" and the Vogue with another
return engagement of two Alex Guinness pictures.
"The Virgin Queen" was disappointing
at the Uptown, although bolstered by a
return engagement of "A Man Called Peter."
The splitting of the four Fox houses into
three groups this time was an innovation.
The Midland's second week of "Tlie Kentuckian"
was helped by the Marciano-Mooie
fight reels the latter part of the week. "We're
No Angels" was held over a day in its second
week at the Paramount.
The Orpheum Theatre will reopen October
6 with "The Tall Men."
Glen— House of Pleosure (Kingsley); Annopurno
IK'ngsley) 175
Kimo— Innocents in Poris (Tudor), 4th wk 90
Midland—The Kentuckian (UA); The Top of the
World SUA), 2nd wk 100
Missouri—The McConnell Story (WB); Wokambaf
(RKO). 2nd wk 150
Poromount—We're No Angels Pore), 2nd wk 100
Roxy, Fairway and Granada— How to Be Very,
Very Popular 20th-Fox> 125
Tower—The Shepherd ol the Hills (Para); The Troll
of the Lonesome Pine Para), reissues 110
Uptown—The Virgin Queen (20th-Fox); A Man
Colled Peter 20th-Fox) 90
Vogue—The Lovender Hill Mob (U-l); The Man
in the White Suit (U-l), return engagements. . . .200
'Many-Splendored' Leads
Indianapolis First Runs
I.N'DIANAPOLIS—Over-all business was
moderately good at the first run theatres
here. "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing." at
'he Indiana, has been attracting the most
ention. "Night of the Hunter," supported
• the Marciano-Moore fight film, got a
moderate play at Loew's.
Circle—The Lost Command (Rep); The Twinkle in
God $ Eye
:
80
Esqu.ro— Morty UA), 3rdwk 90
Indiana- -Love Is a Mony-Splendored Thing
t20th.F3. '. ," '
,40
^c.ths— Moniko Hallmork); Mixed-Up Women
Hallmork) 100
-*s---Nlght of the Hunter (UA); Top of the
World (UA)
too
David Dallas Moves Up
To Home Office Staff
MANlIA'rrAN David Dallas, who hu.s been
city iiianiiKcr foi Mid-Ccntnil Ttuiitre.s hero
for II niunbci- ol years, has Jciincd the Man-
DA\1D DALLAS
hattan home office staff as director of advertising
and public relations. Bob Fellers, general
manager, said the long experience which
Dallas has had In the motion picture business
and his work and interest in the field
of civic endeavor have especially qualified
him for the position.
Fellers said no new city manager will be
named. Bill Mall, who has been Dallas'
assistant for many years, will manage the
Campus. Leo Casey, who has been managing
the Edgewood Drive-In, is being transferred
to the State, and Raymond Miller will run the
Coed. No replacement for Casey at the Edgewood
has been announced.
J. B. Harper Will Remodel
Campbell. Mo.. Theatre
CAMPBELL, MO.— J. B. Harper, grocer of
this city, who recently purchased the Missouri
Theatre here, plans a full-scale remodeling
program. The interior will be redecorated;
all new projection and sound equipment will
be installed and a new screen added.
The new owner also plans to furnish the
theatre with new seats with cushion backs as
well as cushion bottoms. A new heating system
is also in his plans. Harper said, adding
he could not say exactly how long the house
will have to close down, but that he would
have it open for business as soon a-s possible.
Harper purchased the Missouri early in
September from Nathan Reiss of Memphis,
who had owned and operated the theatre
since 1947.
At one time. Harper operated the Harper
Theatre here, and more recently operated a
theatre In Medaryville, Ind.
M. E. Berman Resigns
SPRINGFIELD, ILL Moriimcr E. Berman.
Orpheum Tlieatre manager here for the
last 19 years, has resigned his position with
the Balaban & Katz organization, operator
of the theatre, to undergo medical treatment
for a recurring ailment dating from World
War I. Berman was awarded a Purple Heart
for his war service.
Fox Midwest Circuit
In 26th Convention
KANSA8 CITY—A dinner ol the Saddle
and Sirloin Club, to which Industry leader.')
n the area were Invited, wound up the 26lh
convention of Fox Midwest Theatres at the
Hotel Muchlebach this week. Elmer C.
Rhodcn .sr.. former president who resigned
to head National Theatres, of which Fox
Midwest Is a .subsidiary, opened the convention
of the 130 theatre managers and offlcipersonnel.
Rhoden recounted that the National Theatres
lineup hod been Incren.sed by acquisition
of the Lawrence circuit of Salt Lake City,
composed of six Indoor houses and one drlvein.
Another drlve-ln was acquired at Los
Vegas. These arc the only drlve-lns owned
by NT. Pox Midwest has none.
He told the values to be had from researcli
projects, such as the public-know-about tests
made in an Oklahoma area where it was
found that 730 out of 1,000 knew about
the production of "Oklahoma!" The ex-
|)anslon of such tests is being considered, hi-
.-aid. and that In from six months to a year
I the time needed to develop techniques'.
Cinemiracle will be launched and shown exclusively
by National Theatres.
President Rhoden spoke of the importanci'
of the coming Audience Awards, declaring
that never before in the 50 years of motion
picture exhibition has the public been asked
to help choose the stars of the future and
to decide what type of pictures should be
produced.
"There will be no commercial sponsor for
the televised broadcast of these awards
December 5." Rhoden emphasized. "The program
will be planned to .sell the motion picture
industry to the public, not some other
product."
Chicago Suburb Fights
Proposed Twin Airer
OAK LAWN. ILL.—Some 150 residents appeared
at recent rezonlng hearings to protest
the Installation of a drlve-ln twin theatre
at 79th street and Harlem avenue. Most residents
were not against the proposed rezonlng.
but loudly protested the theatre Installation
Originally the rezonlng petition asked for
a change to light Industry, but the attorney
for the petitioner amended the request so
that the 57 acres of land at the northeast
corner could be used for the drlve-ln.
Residents expre.ssed approval of buslne.--.-^
zoning If stores or shopping districts were
installed, but felt the traffic load on the
streets adjoining the only place of recreation
for the children was too hazardous. Nottingham
school and playground are situated on
ten acres at the northeast section of the proposed
rezonlng area.
The petition was requested by Sam Levin of
Ohio, who told the zoning board he had installed
four such theatres In Ohio and one
in Springfield. 111.
Only Theatre Reopens
ROSEVILLE, ILL.—The La Rose Tlieatre
here reopened September 16 under the managership
of Raymond Hopwood of Peoria.
Hopwood disclosed that Rosevlllc's only movie
house will operate on a Friday. Saturday and
Sunday pobcy with a change of feature on
Sunday.
BOXOFFICE :: October 1, 1955 63