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•<br />
Kontoi<br />
JULY 14. 1956<br />
/ne rdue (^ ine /v7o^&&rt MctuAe ynAcd^<br />
Doris Day and James Stewart, as they appear in a scene in "The Man Who<br />
Knew Too Much," the Poromount-Altred Hitchcock production which hos<br />
been selected by the Notionol Screen Council to receive the June BOXOFFICE<br />
Blue Ribbon Award. The Award was mode on the basis of general merit ond<br />
the picture's wholesome fomily entertainment values .<br />
. . Poge 24.<br />
>• motUr at th* Po»i<br />
I waskly bv AMocia'><br />
Clly. Mo. Si/1<br />
11 Kl.t.on, 13 00 p«f v»o/. Notionol E.lilion<br />
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE EDITION<br />
iiKlu4ln« Ikt SMitdwl Ntn tin or All [dltlani
EVERYBODY<br />
LIKES<br />
N.Y. P«fWfMf<br />
*»««<br />
'*"*'''«<br />
screen-<br />
^?<br />
SOMEBODY!<br />
The Excitement of the Week is M-G-M's<br />
SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES ME<br />
VARIETY RANKS IT WITH I'LL CRY TOMORROW"<br />
"Excitement and heart-tug in another of M-G-M's hard-hitting biopix.<br />
Superbly done. The same gutsy dramatic quahty featured in M-G-M's 'Love<br />
Me Or Leave Me' and Til Cry Tomorrow,' is present here in full measure.<br />
Also, 'Somebody' has the real-life punch of 'On The Waterfront' to grip the<br />
viewer and swell ticket sales. Sure of strong word-of-mouth to aid the selling."<br />
FILM DAILY PREDICTS: "STRONG BOX-OFFICE"<br />
''Highly popular entertainment of the first rank. A strong box-office contender.<br />
Should score highly. First-rate drama, touched off with fine bits of comedy."<br />
M.P. EXHIBITOR FORECASTS: "BOX-OFFICE HIT"<br />
"Superior screen entertainment. Excitement, drama, wonderful performances.<br />
This entry could go far both box-office wise and from an entertainment<br />
viewpoint."<br />
M. P. HERALD SAYS: "TO REPEAT SUCCESS OF BOOK"<br />
"The frankly told best-selling autobiography, has been brought to the screen<br />
in a strikingly performed production. Having captured a large section of the<br />
reading public, it seems destined to repeat its success as a motion picture."
SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW RAVES ABOUT IT<br />
"Excellent! Turbulent, exciting, heart-warming, terrific. Acting triumph for<br />
Paul Newman. Everybody out there is<br />
sure to love 'Somebody Up There'!<br />
Screen's most rewarding entertainment. Your patrons will thank you."<br />
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER HAILS: "VERY BIG ONE"<br />
"This will be one of the very Big Ones in box-office returns and in critical<br />
kudos. Sock popular B. O. attraction with a great heart. One of the most<br />
absorbing pictures ever made."<br />
M. P. DAILY SAYS: "IT WILL EARN A FORTUNE"<br />
"A box-office knockout. Paying audience reaction to this one rattled the<br />
rafters. It has sheer theatrical entertainment. It figures to earn a fortune."<br />
HOT<br />
TYPEWRITERS!<br />
ON!<br />
N.Y. PRESS POURS IT<br />
"Hard, biting movie — and a good one . . . these are real people. Paul Newman<br />
should jump to movie stardom with this role. First-rate!"<br />
-WILLIAM K. ZINSSER, Herald Tribune<br />
"Excellent! Genuine emotion ... powerful. You'll find this picture extraordinarily<br />
appealing!"<br />
—ARCHER WINSTEN, Post<br />
"Tremendous crispness and pace!"<br />
-BOSLEY CROWTHER, Times<br />
"Amazing and heartening story . . . An effective human document . . . Well<br />
worth seeing!"<br />
"Action . . . laughter<br />
-WANDA HALE, Daily News<br />
and wit!" -ALTON COOK, World-Telegram<br />
"Immensely absorbing . . . remarkably realistic and compelling . . . believable<br />
."<br />
at all times . .<br />
-ROSE PELSWICK, Journal-American<br />
"Sympathetic warmth that cannot be denied. Explosively funny humor.<br />
Take our advice. Go see it!" * -JUSTIN GILBERT, Daily Mirror<br />
M-G-M presents ''SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES ME" starring PAUL NEWMAN •<br />
PIER ANGELI<br />
with Everett Sloane • Eileen Heckart<br />
• and Sal Mineo • Screen Play by Ernest Lehman • Based on the Autobiography<br />
of Rocky Graziano Written with Rowland Barber • Directed by Robert Wise • Produced by Charles Schnee<br />
•<br />
I Available in Perspecta Stereophonic or 1-Channel Sounds
OPENING DAY SMASHED EVERY<br />
OF BOTH THE CRITERION AND<br />
ANDTHAfS HOW THEY'RE POU^
ECORD IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY<br />
TTON THEATRES, NEW YORK!!<br />
ING IN EVERYWHERE IT OPENS!
.<br />
•••••••<br />
becomes<br />
s best!<br />
20th CENTURY-FOX presents<br />
^^<br />
COLOR by DE LUXE<br />
^^ ^^ C* Kroducea Produced Dy by Directed Uirectea by screenplay Screenplay oy by<br />
CINEMaScOPE<br />
I (§1<br />
buddy ADLER JOSHUA LOGAN GEORGE AXELROD<br />
• •<br />
and introducing<br />
Hollywood's newest<br />
hunk of man. .<br />
DON MURRAY<br />
ARTHUR O'CONNELL<br />
BETTY FIELD<br />
EILEEN HECKART<br />
>d on the Stage Ploy by Williom Inge
THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY<br />
Published in Nine Sectional Editions<br />
BEN<br />
SHLYEN<br />
Editor-in-Chiel and Publisher<br />
DONALD M. MERSEREAU . . Associote<br />
Publisher & Generol Manager<br />
JAMES M. JERAULD Editor<br />
NATHAN COHEN. .Executive Editor<br />
JESSE SHLYEN. .. .Manoging Editor<br />
HUGH FRAZE Field Editor<br />
AL STEEN Eastern Editor<br />
IVAN SPEAR Western Editor<br />
LARRY GOODMAN. Promotion Editor<br />
I. L. THATCHER. .Equipment Editor<br />
MORRIS SCHLOZMAN . Business Mgr.<br />
Publication Offices: 825 V.in Bnint Blvd..<br />
Kansas City 24, Mo Naltian Colien. Exectitlve<br />
Editor: Jes.<br />
Central Offices: Editorial— 920 No. Michigan<br />
.Ave.. Chicago 11. 111.. Frances B.<br />
Clow. Telephone Sl^perlor 7-3972. Advertising—.IS<br />
East Wacker Drive. HilcaEO 1.<br />
111.. Euing Iliitrhison and E. E. Yeck.<br />
Telephone ANdover 3-3042.<br />
Western Offices: Editorial and Film Advertising—6404<br />
Hollywood Blvd.. Holl.vwood<br />
2S. Calif. Ivan Spear, manager. Telephone<br />
HOllpvood S-llSB Equipment and<br />
Non-Film Advertising— 672 S. Lafavette<br />
Park Place. Los Angeles. Calif. Boh Wett-<br />
!teln, manager. Telephone ntlnklrk 8-22S6.<br />
London Office: Anthony firuner, 41 Wardour<br />
St. Telephone OERard 5720/8282.<br />
Tlle MnnERN THE.ATRE Seel Inn Is included<br />
In the first issue of each month.<br />
AtLinla: Paul .lones, The Constitution.<br />
.Albany: .1. S. Conners. 21-23 Walter Ave.<br />
Baltimore: George Browning. Stanley Thea,<br />
Birmingham: Eddie Biidcer. The News<br />
Boston: Frances Harding. Lib. 2-930.";.<br />
Charlotte: Annie Mae Williams. ED 2-1254.<br />
Cincinnati: Lillian Laz.irus. 1746 Carrahen.<br />
Cleveland: Elsie 1-oeb. Fairmoimt 1-0046.<br />
Cohimbus: Fred Oestrelcher. 646 Rhoades<br />
Place.<br />
Dallas: Frank Bradley. 2n08A .lackson St.<br />
Denver: Jack Rose. 1645 Ijifayelte St.<br />
Tlta Moines: Buss Schoch. Register-Tribune.<br />
Detroit: n. F. Reves. Fox Theatre Bldg.<br />
Indianapolis: Corbin Patrick. The Star.<br />
.Iicksonville: Robert Cornwell. 323 E. Bav.<br />
Memphis: Null Adams. 707 SpMng St.<br />
Miami: Kitty Harwood. 66 S. Hibiscus.<br />
Milwaukee: Wm. Nlchol. 636 N. 14th St.<br />
Mlnneanolls: I>.s Rees. 2123 Fremont Sr].<br />
New Haven: Walter Durtar. The Register.<br />
N Orleans: L. Divver. SSIS Prllchard n<br />
Oklahoma City: .loyce Outhier. 1744 NIV<br />
17th St.<br />
Omaha: Irving Baker. 911 N. 51st St<br />
Philadelphia: Norman Shigon. 5363 Berk<br />
Pittsburgh: R F. Klingensmith. 516 .leannette.<br />
Wilklnsburg. Churchill 1-2801,<br />
Portland. Ore.: Arnold Marks, .lonmal.<br />
St. I/>uls: Dave Barrett. 5149 Rosa.<br />
Salt Lake City 11. Pearson. Peseret Ne«s.<br />
San Antonio: Lrq Krtnrr. 230 San Pedro<br />
San Francisco: Gail l.inman. 2S7-2Sih<br />
Ave., Skyline 1-4355: Advertising: .Ifrrv<br />
Nowell. Howard Bldg.. MI 6-2522<br />
Washln-t
IT'S<br />
OFFICIAL: WARNER BROS.<br />
PASSES TO SEMENENKO GROUP<br />
Jack Warner Is Elected<br />
President; Three New<br />
Members on Board<br />
NEW YORK—The sale of Warner Bros.<br />
Pictures to a sroup headed by Serse Semenenko.<br />
Boston banker, has been completed.<br />
Official announcement of its completion<br />
was made Wednesday (11> by Warner<br />
Bros. Negotiations for a ma.ior portion of<br />
the stock of Hany M. and Major Albert<br />
Warner in the company had lasted several<br />
months.<br />
SOLD FOR 518,000,000<br />
Tlie two brothers and members of their<br />
families are reported to have sold 600,000<br />
shares of stock for about $18,000,000. Jack L.<br />
Warner is said to retain 200.000 of his estimated<br />
330,000 shares. That would make him<br />
the largest individual stockholder.<br />
The Semenenko group includes Charles<br />
Allen jr.. senior pai'tner of Allen & Co., investment<br />
bankers, and board chairman and a<br />
director of a number of important corporations.<br />
Jack L. Warner, vice-president in charge<br />
of production, as previously indicated, was<br />
elect.ed president. He succeeded his brother,<br />
Harry M. Warner. Harry and Albert Warner<br />
will continue on the board of directors to<br />
which Semenenko, Allen and Benjamin Kalmenson<br />
have been elected. The composition<br />
of the board otherwise remains unchanged.<br />
Kalmenson is executive vice-president of<br />
the parent company. P»reviously, he was vice-<br />
JACK L. WARNER BENJAMIN KALMENSON SAMUEL SCHNEIDER<br />
president in charge of distribution and president<br />
of Warner Bros. Pictui-es Distributing<br />
Corp.<br />
Samuel Schneider continues as vice-president<br />
and assistant to the president, with the<br />
added responsibilities of treasurer.<br />
Jack Warner announced that all of the<br />
worldwide facilities of Warner Bros, and its<br />
subsidiaries will be "directed more vigorously<br />
to the acquisition of the most important<br />
story properties, talents and to the production<br />
of the finest motion pictures possible.<br />
"Our sole purpose," he said, "is to work<br />
wholeheartedly toward the providing of a<br />
constant supply of important and challenging<br />
motion picture product for the U. S. and for<br />
the world markets.<br />
"By producing motion pictui-es of merit, we<br />
not only are assuring the exhibitors of a<br />
Into New Executive Positions at Warner Bros.<br />
continuous flow of product for their theatres,<br />
but we also are reaffirming our faith in the<br />
motion picture industry generally and in our<br />
company specifically,<br />
"We intend to go forwaxd with absolute<br />
confidence in the future of this business and<br />
in the great contributions which we know<br />
Warner Bros. Pictures will make toward that<br />
goal. The exhibitors and the public can<br />
confidently expect that Warner Bros. Pictures<br />
will spare no effort to develop a continuous<br />
program of quality motion pictures."<br />
Warner also expressed his pleasure that his<br />
brothers, the directors and the new financial<br />
group have put under his direction "the<br />
perpetuation of the company which our family<br />
has pioneered." He thanked employes and<br />
stockholders for loyalty and devotion to the<br />
company, and assured them that the company<br />
is "in business more confidently and more<br />
proudly than ever before."<br />
Serge Semenenko Long a Figure in Film Finances-<br />
Alien, New Board Member, an investmenf Banker<br />
SERGE SEMENENKO, who headed the group of investors<br />
acquiring a major share of the stock held by<br />
Harry M. and Albert Warner, has a long record of<br />
interest in the motion picture business. This interest<br />
has extended back 20 years, during which he took part<br />
in the financing and reorganization of Paramount,<br />
Loew's, Universal, Columbia, Warner Bros., RKO Radio<br />
and Stanley Warner Corp. He is senior vice-president<br />
and a director of First National Bank of Boston, and<br />
his industrial associations are extensive and eminently<br />
successful. He is a director of Chemway Corp., American<br />
News Co., Hoving-Bonwit<br />
Teller,<br />
City Stores, Minne- SERGE SEMENENKO<br />
sota & Ontario Paper Co., United-Carr Fastener Corp.,<br />
and has additional interests in oil, machinery and<br />
other industries.<br />
CHARLES ALLEN JR., who becomes a member of the<br />
board of Warners, is senior partner of Allen & Co.,<br />
investment firm. He is chairman of the board of such<br />
CHARLES ALLEN JR,<br />
indu.strial organizations as Colorado Fuel & Iron Corp.,<br />
John A. Roebling's Sons Corp., Wickwire Spencer Steel,<br />
Cincinnati, Newport & Wyoming Rwy. and North<br />
Kansas City Development Corp. as well as on the<br />
board of Pepsi-Cola, Polarus Steamship Co., American<br />
Bosch Arms and American Wire Fabrics Corp.<br />
Volk Bros., Mpls., Abandon<br />
Antitrust Suit Appeal<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—Volk Bros., which operates<br />
two of the country's most luxurious suburban<br />
theatres, has called it quits in its antitrust<br />
fight with the major distributors. The<br />
firm on Thursday (12) announced it had<br />
abandoned its appeal from a completely adverse<br />
federal court decision in their suit<br />
against the majors, Minnesota Amusement<br />
Co. and RKO Theatres. The Volks had sought<br />
$1,000,000 in damages on a conspiracy charge<br />
as well as day-and-date availability with<br />
Minneapolis Loop first run and moveover theatres.<br />
The court here said the distributors<br />
could sell first run to whatever theatres they<br />
J. Cheever Cowdin Joins<br />
N. Y. Brokerage Firm<br />
NEW YORK—J.<br />
Cheever Cowdin, who was<br />
chairman of the board of Universal Pictures<br />
from 1936 to 1949, has joined the New York<br />
brokerage firm of Cady, Roberts & Co.<br />
Cowdin, who began his career in finance as<br />
a partner in Bond & Goodwin in New York,<br />
was later vice-president of Blair & Co. and<br />
Bancamerica Blair Corp. He also has played<br />
a leading role in the formation of several<br />
American aviation companies.<br />
BOXOFFICE July 14, 1956
"<br />
MODEST-BUDGETED FILMS SEEN;<br />
NEW MGM POLICY ON BIG ONES'<br />
No Bigness Simply for<br />
The Sake of Bigness,<br />
Says Dore Schary<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Indicating a significant<br />
change in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's production<br />
policy, with a trend toward more<br />
modestly budgeted pictures, Dore Schary,<br />
studio chieftain, ordered the Immediate inauguration<br />
of a "severe and disciplined<br />
economy drive" at a meeting of 110 of the<br />
organization's key personnel.<br />
ECONOMY DOWN THE LINE<br />
Schary stressed to the attending executives,<br />
producers, directors, writers and department<br />
heads that there is no choice except to cut<br />
costs all along the line, and that drastic<br />
economies must be maintained by everyone<br />
concerned if the studio is to be operated profitably<br />
in the futui-e.<br />
"We are just emerging from an era in the<br />
entire business of making big pictures for<br />
'bigness' sake," Schary said. "This road<br />
turned out to be a blind alley. In the last<br />
year and a half, our most profitable pictures<br />
have been those made at a reasonable cost.<br />
"MGM is still willing to put as much<br />
money as is necessary into a given project,<br />
provided that money is controlled and seen<br />
on the screen. But we are going to be a lot<br />
more careful in the future. We are going to<br />
have to reduce oui- 'margin of error.'<br />
Accenting need for wholeheai'ted cooperation,<br />
the studio head cited the importance<br />
of careful plamiing of each step taken on<br />
every picture from the time of story purchase<br />
until the finished print is delivered for distribution.<br />
Production costs in the past 20 years have<br />
increased by 500 per cent, but grosses have not<br />
increased in the same proportion, he said.<br />
"More and more attention in recent years<br />
has been given to the selection and production<br />
of MGM pictures for the world market,"<br />
Schary continued, "and that this policy<br />
has been successful is demonstrated by the<br />
fact that since 1940, MGM has made 90 pictures<br />
with a world gross of more than five<br />
million dollars each. Previous to 1940, only<br />
five pictures had gi-ossed that much.<br />
PLANS FOR 10 FILMS<br />
Schary also outlined plans for ten MGM<br />
pictures to be started within the next two<br />
months. Three pictures now are in work.<br />
Again he emphasized that for the successful<br />
picture, the returns still will remain large.<br />
Ten years ago, he said, world grosses of seven<br />
million dollars on an individual picture were<br />
very few. Today a .solid hit can achieve that<br />
worldwide figure and perhaps, in some instances,<br />
more.<br />
Among pictures scheduled to go into production<br />
soon are "Ten Thousand Bedrooms,"<br />
"Something of 'Value," "The 'Vintage," "The<br />
Wings of Eagles," "Pattern of Malice," "Silk<br />
Stockings," "Designing Woman," "Tip on a<br />
Dead Jockey," "Les Girls" and "Capital<br />
Offense."<br />
BOXOFFICE : : July 14, 1956<br />
DORE SCHARY<br />
Speaks Out /or 'Reasonable' Budgets<br />
TOA Names Stellings<br />
To Showmanship Post<br />
NEW YORK—Ernest G. Stellings of Charlotte<br />
has been named chairman of the national<br />
showmanship conference of Theatre<br />
Owners of America to be held July 30, 31 at<br />
the Edgewater Beach Hotel, Chicago. Myron<br />
N. Blank, president, made the announcement.<br />
Theatre showmen will attend the conference<br />
and exchange showmanship opinions and suggestions<br />
on a regional basis. Campaigns that<br />
promise to be outstanding boxoffice aids will<br />
be presented at the TOA convention here in<br />
September. By sorting the wheat from the<br />
chaff in advance of the convention instead of<br />
on the convention floor, much time will be<br />
saved, it is felt.<br />
Suggestions will come from the sub runs<br />
to attend the Chicago gathering. He said<br />
that another tentative plan had been to select<br />
a cross-section of members on a geographic<br />
and operating unit basis of both large<br />
and small theatres.<br />
"In so doing," he said, "we have undoubtedly<br />
passed up some valuable men who could<br />
give assistance to us. Consequently, we take<br />
this opportunity to invite all TOA members."<br />
Stellings, an exhibitor since 1912, is president<br />
of Stewart and Everett Theatres.<br />
Number of the Majors<br />
Considering Less<br />
Costly Pictures<br />
NEW YORK—The statement in Hollywood<br />
this week by MGM's Dore Schary to<br />
the effect that the era of big pictures for<br />
the sake of bigness had ended, apparently,<br />
is an echo of what other companies, also,<br />
have been thinking for some time.<br />
CONCERNS WIDE FILM<br />
This, especially, is true in connection with<br />
wider film dimensions, such as 65mm and<br />
Cinemascope 55. The trade regards the outcome<br />
of MGM's "Raintree County" in 65mm<br />
as the big test. It is expected that the 65mm<br />
process may well rise or fall with that picture<br />
which is the sole entry in that category.<br />
The future of 20th Century-Fox's Cinema-<br />
Scope 55 at present is indefinite. The boxoffice<br />
success of "The King and I" in the<br />
latter process may spur the company to add<br />
to its "55" schedule, although even 20th-<br />
Fox's competitors have been heard to say<br />
that the picture would have been a smash<br />
hit in any process.<br />
Currently under consideration by 20th-Fox<br />
as the next Cinemascope 55 production is<br />
"Boy on the Dolphin," which is slated,<br />
tentatively, for production in Greece. However,<br />
no decision has been made.<br />
PAYING OFF PROFITABLY<br />
Some major companies have found, or. perhaps,<br />
rediscovered that moderately budgeted<br />
pictures aimed at the twin bUl market are<br />
paying off profitably. This factor is said<br />
to have influenced 20th-Fox's decision to take<br />
on six productions to be made by Regal Pictures.<br />
These will be in black-and-white<br />
Cinemascope, a departure from the company's<br />
original intent to limit all Cinemascope product<br />
to color. And 20th-Fox is making a<br />
black-and-white Cinemascope on its own,<br />
"Teen-Age Rebel."<br />
Other companies are reported eyeing the<br />
lower-budgeted pictures as supplemental<br />
product, with cost ceilings at $200,000.<br />
Decision Expected Soon<br />
On Credit Plan Survey<br />
NEW YORK—An early selection is ex-<br />
as well as first runs and be of assistance to<br />
all types of theatres. It is expected that<br />
some will be highly original and valuable.<br />
The idea of the showmanship conference<br />
followed an earlier tentative plan to cull ideas<br />
from the smaller showmen at the convention.<br />
The thought then was to seat them on a<br />
regional basis and lock out the big circuit pected of the research organization which<br />
operators whose presence might embarrass will survey the public attitude in the Indianapolis-Marion<br />
County area toward a plan to<br />
them. The new plan caters to the little<br />
fellow as well as the big showman.<br />
have theatres there extend credit on admis-<br />
Stellings said all TOA members are invited<br />
sions.<br />
The matter was discussed again Tuesday<br />
(10) at a meeting of the subcommittee of the<br />
general sales managers committee of the<br />
Motion Picture Ass'n of America, headed by<br />
William C. Gehi-ing, 20th Century-Fox vicepresident.<br />
It was held at the office of Charles<br />
M. Reagan, MGM vice-president in charge of<br />
sales.<br />
If the public survey turns out favorably,<br />
the plan can be put into operation within a<br />
six-to-eight-week period, Gehring said.
Edmund C. Grainger Named<br />
Crescent General Manager<br />
Chain of 75 theatres in Tennessee. Kentucky<br />
and Alabama now being supervised out<br />
of Nashville headquarters by former executive<br />
of 20th Century-Fox. Shea Enterprises,<br />
RKO Theatres and Republic Pictures.<br />
Movie Attendance at Peak<br />
Among Persons 20-29<br />
Look Magazine survey finds 7.500.000 in that<br />
age group saw at least one film during<br />
selected week in February; teenage attendance<br />
next highest with 4.500.000: larger<br />
share of audience in suburbia and small<br />
cities.<br />
•<br />
MPEA Embargo Will Remain<br />
On Film Exports to Spain<br />
Eric Jolmston's office says government<br />
there must make next move in long dispute<br />
over number of licenses to be granted, dubbing<br />
costs and attempt to force distribution<br />
in U. S. of Spanish films.<br />
•<br />
Smaller British Exhibitors<br />
Take Tax Plaint to Public<br />
Letters to newspapers claim that entertainment<br />
levy is closing hundreds of houses<br />
and ask support of campaign for immediate<br />
relief from "over-systematic taxation"; revenues<br />
and tax deductions given in detail.<br />
•<br />
Columbia Broadcasting Co,<br />
Ends Manufacture of Sets<br />
Triple Features Abandoned<br />
By Philadelphia Drive-Ins<br />
William S. Paley. board chairman, and<br />
Frank Stanton. pre.iident, say decision applies<br />
to both television and radio receivers;<br />
no reason given; manufactiu'ing of records.<br />
phonographs and tubes and research to continue.<br />
Ik-<br />
Exhibitors in that area agree on elimination<br />
July 24; will reconsider October 1: also<br />
decide to restrict SI a carload admissions to<br />
not more than two days a week and not during<br />
a weekend.<br />
*<br />
Atlas Corp. Stockholders<br />
Act on Stock Conversion<br />
Floyd Odium, president, reiwrts they have<br />
requested conversion of 1,365,000 shares of<br />
new common into new 5 per cent $20 par<br />
preferred; one exception is Howard Hughes,<br />
largest holder of old RKO common stock,<br />
who retains common shares.<br />
*<br />
France Tops Hollywood<br />
In Current Production<br />
Report 31 production units at work in<br />
Paris last week; in Hollywood. 22 pictures<br />
were before the cameras: however, some on<br />
the French stages were being produced by<br />
O. S. companies.<br />
'Moby Dick; King' Big<br />
In NY and All Key Spots<br />
"Moby Dick" drew long lines in New York on opening day (July 4) outstde the Criterion<br />
Theatre as seen in the above photo. The Warner picture also opened the same<br />
day at the Sutton, east side house, and broke records at both theatres.<br />
NEW YORK—The opening of such "block-<br />
at the Stanley, Philadelphia, and at the<br />
busters" as Warner Bros.' "Moby Dick" and Stanley. Baltimore, and the Paramount, Pantages<br />
"The King and I." 20th Century-Fox Cinema-<br />
and Wiltern, Los Angeles. "Moby Dick"<br />
Scope 55 feature, on Broadway, as well as in is in its second big weeks at the State. New<br />
other key cities throughout the U. S., resulted<br />
Bedford. Mass., where the picture had its<br />
in a strong business upturn, even world premiere, and at the Astor Theatre,<br />
greater than the business spurt dm-ing the Boston. "The King and I" also did the biggest<br />
July 4 period of a year ago. The Saturday<br />
business in three years at Grauman's<br />
and Sunday, both before and after the Independence<br />
Chinese Theatre, Hollywood, and the Pox,<br />
Day holiday, were tremendous, with San Francisco, and ahead of last summer's<br />
long waiting lines at several of the Times "Seven Year Itch" in Chicago, Atlantic City,<br />
Square houses.<br />
Buffalo, Pittsburgli, Boston, Denver, Seattle<br />
"Moby Dick," which opened July 4 at two and Washington, D. C. "The Eddy Duchin<br />
theatres, the Criterion on Broadway and the Story" has been running ahead of Columbia's<br />
east side Sutton, set new records at both "Picnic" in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Chicago<br />
houses, according to Warner Bros., and long and New Orleans.<br />
waiting lines were in evidence opening day at The total gross for the July 4 week at the<br />
the Broadway house. "The King and I,"<br />
21 fii-st run houses in Manhattan, including<br />
which gave the Roxy Theatre its best week<br />
the east side aj't theatres, was far ahead of<br />
since "The Robe" in 1953, had a smash second<br />
week with a long run in prospect. Busi-<br />
the corresponding week in 1955. Other pictures<br />
which did strong business included<br />
ness for the third week of "The Eddy Duchin<br />
Story" at the Radio City Music<br />
"Somebody Up There Likes Me" in its opening<br />
Hall varied<br />
only slightly from the terrific gross of the<br />
week at Loew's State; "That Certain Feeling,"<br />
two first weeks at the world's largest theatre<br />
and the total for the three weeks approached<br />
in its third and final week at the Paramount;<br />
"The Proud and Pi'ofane," in its fourth week<br />
the $500,000 mark.<br />
at the Astor Tlieatre, and "Trapeze," in its<br />
In other key cities, the record pace for fifth good week at the Capitol. "The Great<br />
these three films was the same, with "Moby<br />
Dick" setting a new high in its first six days<br />
Locomotive Chase" slipped in its second week<br />
at the Mayfair, after a strong opening week.<br />
Fabian Denies Report He's Selling SW Circuit, Cinerama<br />
NEW YORK—Reports that S. H. Fabian,<br />
president of Stanley Warner, was considering<br />
the disposal of the Stanley Warner theatres<br />
and the company's Cinerama operations were<br />
denied by Fabian on Wednesday (11).<br />
"I have no intention of selling the Stanley<br />
Warner theatres." Fabian said.<br />
Fabian originally was linked with the deal<br />
under which the Serge Semenenko group<br />
took over Warner Bros. Pictures but was<br />
stymied because of consent decree restrictions.<br />
Rumors had been afloat that he was<br />
angling for the sale of the SW houses which<br />
would permit him to head up Warner Bros.<br />
In a formal statement. Fabian said:<br />
"Certainly I'm interested in production.<br />
Our theatres— all theatres—live from motion<br />
picture production. Like every other exhibitor,<br />
I am very much concerned about the shortage<br />
of product that now exists. I am still hopeful<br />
that the present production companies<br />
can furnish our needs."<br />
In regard to Cinerama, Fabian said that<br />
last week the theatre gross reached its highest<br />
figui'e.<br />
"We are working to expand Cinerama theatres,<br />
to improve Cinerama technically and<br />
plans are under way for more productions<br />
which will maintain Cinerama entertainment<br />
supremacy." Fabian concluded.<br />
Development Is Reported<br />
Of New 16mm Test Film<br />
NEW YORK—The Society of Motion Picture<br />
and Television Engineers has a new<br />
16mm test film that measiu'es registration,<br />
aperature size, resolution, shutter timing, centering<br />
of the image and steadiness of its own<br />
test image with respect to perforation. It<br />
also provides a "thousandths scale" for measui-ing<br />
film movement in double-exposure testing<br />
of printer steadiness.<br />
10 BOXOFFICE July 14, 1956
20th ANNOUNCES<br />
Rigger than<br />
A MOTION PICTURE SO<br />
YOU MUST ASK<br />
^<br />
did<br />
they<br />
dare<br />
to<br />
^<br />
^<br />
make<br />
I<br />
it?
A saMT him take<br />
the first pill...and the<br />
next«..and the next!<br />
Then he ^was lying for<br />
theni..*begging for them...<br />
forging prescriptions for<br />
theni.**and then...''<br />
20th CENTURY-FOX presents<br />
JAMES MASON<br />
BARBARA RUSH<br />
«i<br />
jigger<br />
than<br />
LIFE-SAVER 01^<br />
LIFEDESTROYE?<br />
"/ prescribed it<br />
he misused it.<br />
COLOR by DE LUXE<br />
CiNemaScoP^<br />
co-starring WALTHER MATTHAU with Robert Simon . Christopher Olsen<br />
Produced by Directed by Story and Screenplay by<br />
JAMES MASON- NICHOLAS RAY- CYRIL HUME and RICHARD MAIBAUM<br />
Based on an article in The New Yorker by Berton Roueche
A theme so vital • • •<br />
so violent that we<br />
urge you to<br />
bring all your<br />
contpasslon and<br />
understanding<br />
to It!<br />
^p^Mm^m:<br />
20th delivers its<br />
most startling attraction<br />
since "THE SNAKE PIT"...<br />
from the director of<br />
"REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE"!
ONLY 5/ OF 4,500 THEATRES OWNED BY DIVORCED CHAINS<br />
Drive-Ins Still Eluding<br />
Ex-Affiliated Circuits<br />
By J. M, JERAULD<br />
NEW YORK—Opening of the fourth Loew's<br />
Theatres Drive-In at Keyport, N. J., July 3<br />
served to point up the fact that since divorcement<br />
approximately 4.500 drive-in theatres<br />
have opened and only 61 of these are operated<br />
by affiliates of the defendants in the<br />
antitrust suit—56 by Paramount Theatre<br />
affiliates, four by Loew's Tlieatres. one by<br />
former 20th Century-Fox affiliates and none<br />
by RKO.<br />
Schine Theatres and Crescent Amusement<br />
Co.. which have figured in antitrust actions,<br />
also have been chary about going into the<br />
drive-in competition. Crescent has six and<br />
Schine none. The Schine case is still pending<br />
in the U. S. District Court at Buffalo.<br />
NEW competiti\t: factor<br />
These developments have introduced an<br />
entirely new factor into the competitive situation.<br />
Loew's is now studying it and is<br />
expected to apply for Department of Justice<br />
permission to build more open-air theatres.<br />
Since the first rush to build drive-ins many<br />
of them have fallen by the wayside, but it<br />
is estimated that between 4,500 and 5,000 are<br />
in operation.<br />
Drive-in circuits have been created. There<br />
are five of them that operate drive-ins exclusively<br />
in California, New Mexico, Texas,<br />
Florida and Georgia.<br />
Two circuits which have developed in the<br />
past few years and operate a few indoor theatres<br />
as well as drive-ins jump from one<br />
widely separated place to another and are<br />
expanding aggressively.<br />
These are the Smith Management Corp.<br />
of Boston and Redstone Drive-In Theatres,<br />
also of Boston.<br />
Smith Management has 42 drive-ins, eight<br />
of which are in Massachusetts, one in New<br />
Hampshire, four in New Jersey, three in New<br />
York state, and others in Chicago, Indianapolis.<br />
Des Moines, Council Bluffs, Timonium,<br />
Md., Kansas City, St. Louis, Omaha, Cincinnati,<br />
Cleveland, Baden. Pa., and Milwaukee.<br />
More are being acquired.<br />
The Redstone Drive-In group has five in<br />
Massachusetts, one in New Jersey, one in<br />
New York City, one on Long Island, three<br />
in upstate New York, and one in Virginia at<br />
Falls Church. This circuit, too, is spreading<br />
out.<br />
LONG DISTANCE MANAGEMENT<br />
Their unique methods of managing over<br />
long distances are being watched closely by<br />
their competitors.<br />
Drive-ins are turning more and more to<br />
buying and booking combines for their picture<br />
service. Twenty of them serve 278 drive-ins<br />
out of Chicago, Dallas, Charlotte, Detroit,<br />
Columbus, San Francisco, Seattle, Pittsburgh,<br />
Cincinnati, Albany, New Haven, Jacksonville,<br />
Dallas and Grand Rapids. Jack<br />
Kirsch, former president of Allied, is an important<br />
figure in this activity. The accounts<br />
run from a minimum of three drive-ins to 41.<br />
Three—Cooperative Theatres of Ohio, with<br />
39; Queen City Booking Service of Charlotte,<br />
with 41, and Steam-Hanna Cooperative Thewwn'inFfhTil.<br />
When this pylon and attraction board<br />
was lit on the eve of Independence Day<br />
a week ago, it announced the opening of<br />
the fourth drive-in theatre acquired by<br />
Loew's Theatres. The theatre, a 1,000-<br />
car project near Keyport, N. J., ballyhooed<br />
its circus playground, a midget<br />
railroad and a merry-go-round.<br />
atre Service of Pittsburgh, with 35—are important<br />
factors in their territories. The biggest<br />
in the New York area is Liggett-Florin<br />
Booking Service, which has found a fertile<br />
field in the rapidly-growing Long Island area.<br />
It now has 24 drive-in accounts in addition<br />
to its regular service for four-walled houses.<br />
Circuit-owned houses are increasing rapidly.<br />
These circuits range from five houses to<br />
such large aggregations as Martin Theatres<br />
of Georgia, Inc., and Rowley United Theatres,<br />
Inc., Texa^.<br />
34 DRIVE-INS FOR MARTIN<br />
E. D. Martin, a former president of Theatre<br />
Owners of America, who operates in Florida,<br />
Alabama and Georgia, has 34 drive-ins out<br />
of a total of 135 theatre properties. John H.<br />
Rowley has 143 theatres in Texas, of which<br />
38 are drive-ins.<br />
With the exception of Daytz Theatre Enterprises<br />
Corp., operating in Maine, Massachusetts,<br />
New Hampshire and Rhode Island<br />
with 46 open-air units, the well-known<br />
southerners are the largest open-air operators<br />
in the country.<br />
Others with important holdings are Commonwealth<br />
Amusement in Arkansas, Iowa,<br />
Kansas and Missouri, with a total of 33 driveins<br />
out of 81 of both types. Frontier Theatres,<br />
Inc., of Texas, headed by H. J. Griffith, has<br />
39 drive-ins in New Mexico and Texas out of<br />
a total of 121. Jefferson Amusement Co., Inc.,<br />
has 13 auto theatres out of a total of 68.<br />
As might be expected, the heaviest concentration<br />
of drive-ins is south of the Mason and<br />
Dixon line, because of the longer periods of<br />
operation. Texas is away out front with<br />
547, North Carolina is second with 367,<br />
Georgia third with 329, Florida fourth with<br />
234.<br />
Other states in the warm belt are:<br />
Kentucky, 145; Louisiana, 134; Mississippi,<br />
84; New Mexico, 70; Oklahoma, 152; South<br />
Carolina, 112; Tennessee, 175; 'Virginia, 120,<br />
and West Virginia, 152.<br />
Several hundred of the houses in these<br />
states operate all year and have become important<br />
factors in the over-all competitive<br />
situation.<br />
California, for some reason, has not become<br />
as enthusiastic about drive-ins as some of its<br />
sister states with mild climates. There are<br />
209 drive-ins in the state.<br />
NEW YORK LEADS IN NORTH<br />
In the northern part of the country, New<br />
York is an outstanding leader with 294 houses<br />
and more coming. Several of these are in<br />
the rapidly-growing central and eastern<br />
sections of Long Island where there has<br />
been a tremendous outward movement of<br />
population followed by huge real estate<br />
developments and the growth of shopping<br />
centers. New centers are announced almost<br />
monthly. In the first week of July, New York<br />
newspapers carried pictures of a shopping<br />
area being developed by R. H. Macy at what<br />
used to be Roosevelt Field; another at Hicksville<br />
on the Northern States Parkway for<br />
Gertz, a department store, and a third for<br />
Gimbel's at Green Acres Shopping Center<br />
near Valley Stream in Nassau County.<br />
We-stchester County to the north has a<br />
number of these centers. The New York<br />
State Thruway and a group of parkways<br />
make them accessible to shoppers from long<br />
distances.<br />
Theatremen are speculating on what the<br />
huge highway spending program to be<br />
financed mostly by the federal government<br />
will do to increasingly wide expanses of the<br />
counties to the north of New York City.<br />
The central industrial regions of the<br />
country have drive-ins in numbers that rival<br />
some of the southern states. Pennsylvania<br />
leads with 359, followed by Ohio, 294; Illinois,<br />
247; Indiana, 224; Missouri, 189; Michigan,<br />
131, and Massachusetts, 109.<br />
Even the farm belts are well equipped with<br />
drive-ins. Kansas has 128, Iowa, 85, and<br />
Wisconsin, 100.<br />
Vacation areas are well equipped with driveins,<br />
too, but they are short-period operations<br />
covering about four months a year. Connecticut<br />
has 52; Maine, 62; Minnesota, 66;<br />
Montana, 58; Nebraska, 57; New Hampshire,<br />
46; New Jersey, 44; Vermont, 35.<br />
Cold, sparsely settled areas have the fewest,<br />
of course. Idaho has 51; Nevada, 11; North<br />
Dakota, 21; Oregon, 96; Utah, 43; Washington,<br />
79; Wyoming, 32.<br />
ALSO IN CANADA, ALASKA<br />
Even the short summer periods turn in a<br />
profit in many places. There are drive-ins<br />
all the way across Canada and one in Alaska.<br />
There are varying estimates of what portion<br />
of the total theatre revenue is turned in by<br />
drive-ins. They run up to 25 per cent. If<br />
the last figure is anywhere near correct, it<br />
becomes clear that all the troubles of roofed<br />
theatres are not due to television.<br />
Marian Seldes in Screen Debut<br />
HOLLYWOOD—New York stage and TV<br />
actress Marian Seldes will make her screen<br />
debut in a featured role in RKO's "The Young<br />
Stranger," starring James MacArthur, Kim<br />
Hunter and James Daly. Stuart Millar is<br />
producing; John Prankenheimer, directing.<br />
14 BOXOFFICE :<br />
: July 14, 1956
THIS IS<br />
CAROL REED<br />
THE DIRECTOR OF
THE BOXOFFICES<br />
OF THE HATION<br />
ARE SOArIHG with<br />
FIRST RETURNS ARE IN<br />
FROM A 405 COAST-TO-COAST<br />
SATURATION BOOKING...<br />
AND THEY SHOW UA HAS THE<br />
BIGGEST BLOCK-BUSTER<br />
IN ITS HISTORY!
Successor to<br />
Lichtman<br />
To Be Appointed Soon<br />
NEW YORK—A successor to Al Lichtman,<br />
former distribution head of 20th<br />
Century-Fox, as a member of the governing<br />
board of the Council of Motion Picture<br />
Organizations is expected to be<br />
named soon. It is believed that Eric<br />
Johnston, MPAA head, will name him.<br />
Spyros P. Skouras, 20th- Fox president,<br />
is considered a possibility. He declined<br />
the paresidency several years ago. Board<br />
rule followed.<br />
Sam Pinanskl of Boston now represents<br />
TOA on the board. Robert W. Coyne,<br />
special counsel, became a member of the<br />
board when National Allied withdrew<br />
affiliation. The Lichtman spot represents<br />
distribution.<br />
TOA Still Has Hopes<br />
A TOA repre-<br />
For Public Exposition<br />
NEW YORK—There still was hope late this<br />
week that Theatre Owners of America would<br />
be able to incorpwrate a public participation<br />
project at the TOA convention in New York<br />
in September. Efforts were being made to<br />
crystallize a plan whereby a motion picture<br />
exposition would be hooked up with the annual<br />
meeting in the Coliseum.<br />
sentative was seeking to wrap up the details<br />
in Hollywood, but the time element was said<br />
to be a factor against its success. The big<br />
question was whether it could be put together<br />
in the approximate two months between now<br />
and the ojiening of the convention.<br />
If efforts fail, the exposition definitely will<br />
be included in the 1957 convention, a spokesman<br />
said.<br />
Meanwhile, convention chiefs were faced<br />
with the problem of holding the customary<br />
luncheons between the morning and afternoon<br />
sessions. Although the Coliseum has<br />
facilities, such as a kitchen and dining space,<br />
TOA is balking at the price tag being asked<br />
per plate. Cost is said to be around $6.50 per<br />
guest. There is a possibility that the luncheons<br />
will be held at the Hotel Henry Hudson,<br />
a short walk from the Coliseum.<br />
20th-Fox August Release<br />
For Controversial Film<br />
NEW YORK—The release date of "Bigger<br />
Than Life," a Cinemascope picture dealing<br />
with miracle drugs, has been moved up by<br />
COMPO Plans Projects<br />
To Follow Tax Drive<br />
By SUMNER SMITH<br />
NEW YORK—With the financial backing<br />
of the Motion Picture Ass'n of America assured,<br />
the Council of Motion Picture Organizations<br />
is free to develop programs for<br />
the future. Of immediate importance, of<br />
course, is the campaign to obtain Congressional<br />
approval of a bill affording relief from<br />
the federal admissions tax. Other COMPO<br />
In a way, it was a curious situation with<br />
politics definitely involved in it, because a<br />
majority of both the House and Senate is<br />
known to favor some kind of relief. But<br />
tangled up In the scheme of things were Republican<br />
and Democratic ideas—and desires<br />
to cop the credit—for budget balancing now<br />
and various forms of tax relief that might<br />
develop at coming sessions of Congress if not<br />
at this one.<br />
Robert W. Coyne, a member of the COMPO<br />
triumvirate and special counsel, who has been<br />
spending much of his time in Washington,<br />
said he had not abandoned hope.<br />
"We have not thrown in the towel," he<br />
said. He added that if no relief bill became a<br />
law this year, the way had been paved for<br />
later relief. However, he was hopeful that a<br />
bill will be enacted into law which would<br />
make admissions of $1 or less tax-free.<br />
If the tax battle should be won, the financial<br />
backing voted COMPO by the MPAA<br />
would be channeled to another project or<br />
projects. The MPAA board has voted a<br />
maximum of $100,000—Coyne asked for $150,-<br />
000—but it will appropriate only the total sum<br />
raised by COMPO from exhibitors.<br />
The COMPO drive for exhibitor dues may<br />
start in August. The procedure of previous<br />
years will be followed, with salesmen of the<br />
major companies seeking pledges from exhibitors.<br />
Coyne will discuss the routine<br />
shortly with the general sales managers. He<br />
is hopeful that, while National Allied as an<br />
organization will not back a dues drive, many<br />
individual Allied members will contribute.<br />
20th Century-Fox from September to August<br />
to take advantage of the controversy over the<br />
DUES SAME AS LAST YEAR<br />
psychotic effects in administering cortisone. The dues scale will be the same as last<br />
The film is based on an article, "Ten Feet year. That was:<br />
Fall," published last summer in the New Conventional theatres—up to 500 seats,<br />
Yorker magazine.<br />
$7.50; up to 750 seats, $11.25; up to 1,000<br />
"Bigger Than Life," which stars James seats, $18.75; up to 2,500 seats, $37.50; over<br />
Mason and Barbara Rush, has been booked<br />
to open at the Victoria Theatre, New York,<br />
2,500 seats, $75.<br />
Drive-Ins—up to 300-car capacity. $7.50;<br />
in late July and will be the second picture up to 800 cars, $11.25; up to 600 cars, $18.75;<br />
with a drug theme to play the theatre in a over 600 cars, $37.50.<br />
year. "The Man With the Golden Arm" The success of the 1955 Audience Awards<br />
played the Victoria from December 1955 to campaign helped to influence the MPAA in<br />
April 1956.<br />
supptorting COMPO for another year. It was<br />
"Bigger Than Life" is James Mason's first widely regarded as an outstanding aid to the<br />
personal production. "Bus Stop," starring boxofflce and valuable In a public relations<br />
Marilyn Monroe, is the other 20th-Fox release<br />
way. It was In some respects a little cum-<br />
for August.<br />
bersome and this year it will be<br />
simplified.<br />
BOXOFTICE :<br />
: July 14, 1956<br />
according to Coyne. He said he expected the<br />
full support of the studios to be announced<br />
soon. Preparations for that drive will go into<br />
high gear the moment Congress adjourns. It<br />
probably will be staged in November.<br />
The Audience Awards committee consists<br />
of Alice N. Gorham of American Broadcasting-Paramount<br />
Theatres in Detroit, chairman;<br />
FYank H. Ricketson Jr. and Paul Lyday<br />
of Pox Intermountaln Theatres, Denver; Paul<br />
Levi, American Theatres Corp., Boston;<br />
Ralph Russell, Palace Theatre, Canton, Ohio;<br />
Etoil Bernstecker, Wilby-Kincey, Atlanta;<br />
Senn Lawler, Fox Midwest Theatres, Kansas<br />
City; Harry Mandell, RKO Theatres, chairman<br />
of the COMPO pre.ss relations commit-<br />
moves will wait on that, but they will not<br />
have to wait long.<br />
The next five days are the crucial ones in<br />
the tax campaign. If a bill providing relief<br />
is reported out of the House Ways and Means<br />
Committee within that time, then additional<br />
industry pressure will be exerted on Congress<br />
for outright repeal or a further tax reduction. tee, and Charles E. McCarthy, COMPO information<br />
director. The committee will meet<br />
POLITICS SEEN INVOLVED<br />
soon.<br />
Another project influencing MPAA approval<br />
of COMPO was the latter's program of institutional<br />
full-page ads in Editor & Publisher.<br />
These are considered to have carried<br />
considerable weight in a public relations way.<br />
FEMALE AUDIENCE DRIVE<br />
Another possible—if not probable—COMPO<br />
project is a boxofflce drive aimed specifically<br />
at the feminine audience. Leonard H. Goldenson,<br />
president of AB-PT, is intensely interested<br />
in that and has been conducting considerable<br />
research. The same is true of the<br />
advertising-publicity managers committee of<br />
the MPAA.<br />
Just how the COMPO projects will be<br />
tied in with the boxofflce campaigns now<br />
being set up by MPAA groups was not known.<br />
COMPO could act separately on those of its<br />
projects which have boxofflce appeal, such as<br />
the Audience Awards campaign, or they could<br />
be merged with the MPAA drive. Coyne<br />
seemed to regard them as separate projects.<br />
MPAA expects to reach its decisions on the<br />
drive this week.<br />
TALENTLESS<br />
TELEVISION<br />
ATTACKED<br />
George Jean Nathan, dean of drama critics,<br />
says that the competition offered the stage<br />
by television is about as fierce as that offered<br />
the .New York Philharmonic by a<br />
Trinidad Calypso band.<br />
But he doesn't stop at this. Writing in the<br />
current issue of Esquire. .Nathan claws<br />
through the guts of T\' and bares its very<br />
soul. His outspoken report on talentless<br />
television, its "gook" and its writers will<br />
draw nods of appreciation from some quarters<br />
and stem condemnation from others.<br />
.No matter which side of the fence you<br />
stand on, don't be unprepared for an explosion<br />
from Video Land. Be sure to get<br />
your copy of<br />
August ESQUIRE now on sale<br />
V /<br />
17
ISTAVISIOH<br />
MOTION nCTUIEf HIOM-FIDELITY<br />
Brings New Mcagnificence To Tk(<br />
So Rousing m ocope-<br />
So Provocative in Romance<br />
So Ricn in Selling Angles...<br />
its the picture<br />
i^:,:<br />
that will he long<br />
remembered for<br />
introaucing the<br />
greatest new<br />
singing star of<br />
our time^<br />
ORESTE!<br />
LAUNCH IT LABOR DAY and start Paramount's Golden<br />
Autumn— After A Sumnner of Hits<br />
Feeling" (Tec/?.) and "The Proud and Profane" ........ ....<br />
Like "Pardners" {Tech.)— "Thai Certain
Host Magnificent Of All Musical Spectacles!<br />
IKATHRYN Grayson- Oreste<br />
RITA SIR CEDRIC WALTER<br />
MORENO<br />
•<br />
. ^<br />
'AT DUGGAN •<br />
MICHAEL<br />
HARDWICKE<br />
•<br />
^'°'^""'* ^y DirecteJ ty Screenplay ty<br />
CURTIZ<br />
•<br />
HAMPDEN<br />
KEN ENGLUND „j NOEL LANGLEY<br />
aseJ on tKe Musical Play • Music ty Rudolf Friml • Book anJ Lyrics Ly ^57illiam H. Po.t and Brian Hooker • Presented on tte SUtfe t<br />
Russell I by lustin Huntlv McCartbv • Additional eonUs bv Rudolf Fri loknm^urU
Trapeze Sets an All-Time<br />
Record Gross for Ist Week<br />
Seen at the New York tradepress conference, at which VVilliam J. Heineraan,<br />
United Artists vice-president in charge of distribution, announced the record-breaking<br />
business on "Trapeze," are left to right: Milton E. Cohen, eastern and southern division<br />
manager; James R. Velde, general sales manager; Heineman, and Al Fitter, western<br />
division manager.<br />
NEW YORK — Hecht and Lancaster's<br />
"Trapeze" grossed more in the first week of<br />
its general release than any other picture<br />
in its first week anywhere in the world,<br />
according to William J. Heineman, United<br />
Artists vice-president in charge of distribution.<br />
The period ended July 3.<br />
Heineman put the figure at $4,112,500 for<br />
405 bookings in the U. S. and Canada. He<br />
said that the earned film rental of $2,385,250<br />
set another industry record.<br />
The grosses and rentals do not include receipts<br />
from prerelease engagements in Chicago,<br />
Los Angeles and New York.<br />
"Trapeze" registered 336 holdovers among<br />
the 405 dates for 84 per cent extended playing<br />
time, and there were 17 moveovers, Heineman<br />
said. Many of the theatres playing the<br />
picture set records while in others the records<br />
set by "The Robe" and "Prom Here to<br />
Eternity" were approached, he said. Results<br />
In the south and southwest were especially<br />
striking.<br />
All key runs in the U. S. and Canada were<br />
covered with 500 prints with optical sound.<br />
Terms were 70-30-10 or 90-10 with no adjustments<br />
requested to date, Heineman said.<br />
United Artists plans to play off the picture<br />
fast, with every sub run being taken care of.<br />
Releasing in Brooklyn will start August 8.<br />
The company's hope is to play 20,000 engagements,<br />
including repeats. Prints now total<br />
600. Pressed for an estimate of the total<br />
gross, Heineman said it would be a guess. He<br />
mentioned $10,000,000.<br />
Heineman described a national advertising<br />
campaign developed by Max E. Youngstein,<br />
vice-president, and slanted to the opening<br />
date, and credited it with greatly aiding the<br />
picture.<br />
Wald Gets Okay to Shop for New Post;<br />
Columbia Hands More Work to Sidney<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Long reported agitating for<br />
a release from his post as Columbia executive<br />
producer and vice-president, Jerry Wald has<br />
been given the green light to conduct negotiations<br />
with other major companies. The official<br />
go-ahead, in the form of a letter signed<br />
by B. B. Kahane, Columbia executive vicepresident,<br />
was dispatched to Wald and<br />
stresses the following:<br />
1. Such negotiations are limited to a sixweek<br />
period from the date of Kahane's letter.<br />
If, within that time, Wald cannot arrive at a<br />
"satisfactory deal" to replace his present<br />
Columbia contract, which has two and a half<br />
years to go, he will return to Columbia to<br />
resume his present position. During the six<br />
weeks he will be on a "contractual vacation."<br />
2. When and if another studio deal is<br />
made it will be Wald's right to terminate his<br />
Columbia pact immediately.<br />
3. All percentage interests in films made<br />
under Wald's executive producership at Columbia<br />
will remain with him.<br />
4. In the event no commitment with another<br />
studio is secured during the six-week<br />
time si>an, Wald will return to his home<br />
studio, to supervise the company's top-budget<br />
product.<br />
Columbia Adds Three Top<br />
Films to Sidney's Lineup<br />
HOLL"yTVOOD—Prom Columbia Studios on<br />
Thursday (12) came an announcement which<br />
apparently establishes that George Sidney,<br />
whose production slate was increased by three<br />
important pictures, may a.ssume many of the<br />
duties of Jerry Wald as executive producer<br />
In the event the latter transfers his activities<br />
to another filmmaking organization. Earlier<br />
in the week it had been revealed that Columbia<br />
had given its official approval to<br />
Wald's negotiations toward another, and<br />
probably independent, affiliation.<br />
Sidney, who previously drew the supervisory<br />
reins on "Pal Joey," also has been<br />
handed "Andersonville," from the current<br />
best-seller by MacKinlay Kantor, "The<br />
Jeanne Eagels Story," and "The Great<br />
Sebastians," from the Broadway play by Howard<br />
Lindsay and Russell Crouse. "Joey" and<br />
"Jeanne Eagels" will be produced under the<br />
Sidney aegis by Fred Kohlmar.<br />
Trailers Called Top<br />
Advertising Medium<br />
NETW YORK—Trailers are the most valuable<br />
advertising medium available to the motion<br />
picture theatre, returning the greatest<br />
volume of ticket sales for each dollar expended,<br />
according to Herman Robblns, board<br />
chairman of National Screen Service.<br />
Robblns ba.sed his statement on a June 22<br />
survey of 84 weeks' length made for theatres<br />
in Oklahoma City and county by Sindllnger<br />
& Co. He said the findings told "an impressive<br />
story" and confirmed what NSS "has<br />
known since Its inception."<br />
TRAILERS USED 38 YEARS<br />
"Theatre trailers have been employed for<br />
38 years," Robblns said, "and it is most<br />
urgent that the industry be reminded from<br />
time to time of their ticket-selling potency.<br />
They should not be taken for granted, and<br />
that is why the broadest news coverage and<br />
editorial comment on the meaning of the<br />
Sindllnger figures would be of great Importance.<br />
"The last authoritative statistics available<br />
to us were contained in a 1947 survey of the<br />
Woman's Home Companion, which revealed<br />
that, of the factors Influencing attendance,<br />
trailers drew 31 per cent of the patrons. This<br />
Is all the more significant when considered in<br />
relation to the Sindllnger figures.<br />
"Theatre trailers today are carefully designed<br />
selling E)ackages—the result of thought<br />
and planning aimed at whetting the appetite<br />
of the greatest audience," Robbir|s continued.<br />
"One trailer is easily worth a thousand words<br />
and patrons enjoy it. When wg couple the<br />
above-mentioned facts with the realization<br />
that the average theatre shows its coming<br />
attraction trailers for less than the price of<br />
one admission ticket daily, there must also<br />
come the realization that trailers achieve the<br />
greatest sales potential at the least cost."<br />
Robbins admitted a self-interest in the subject.<br />
He called trailers "the unsung showmanship<br />
heroes," adding that they deserve<br />
"their place in the sun and should be exhibited<br />
with continuity and regularity."<br />
Robblns summarized the Sindllnger report<br />
as follows:<br />
The trailer was the primary Influence behind<br />
$342 of every $1,000 expended for admissions<br />
at first run theatres In Oklahoma<br />
City.<br />
STRONG THROUGHOUT RUNS<br />
A follow-up report will demonstrate that<br />
the trailer in all other Oklahoma City and<br />
county theatres, excluding first runs, runs<br />
about 12 per cent higher as an influencing<br />
factor than it does among first run audiences.<br />
Of the total patronage influenced primarily<br />
by the trailer, 28.6 per cent are Infrequent<br />
moviegoers.<br />
Of the 47 per cent that return to the same<br />
first run theatre In Oklahoma City for the<br />
next program, 84.7 per cent can "play back"<br />
something they remember from the coming<br />
attraction they saw during their prior visit,<br />
while 72.8 per cent say that the trailer was<br />
an Influence in "wanting to see this picture."<br />
Warshciw Joins Schwalberg<br />
NEW YORK—Malvin Warshaw, former<br />
United Paramount theatre manager, has<br />
been made director of the educational division<br />
of Artists-Producers Associates by<br />
A. W. Schwalberg, president.<br />
20 BOXOFFICE :<br />
: July 14, 1956
—<br />
MPAA Near Accord<br />
On <strong>Boxoffice</strong> Drive<br />
NEW YORK— All details of the boxoffice<br />
campaign being prepared under the auspices<br />
of the Motion Picture Ass'n of America should<br />
be settled for submission within a week or ten<br />
days to Eric Johnston, MPAA president.<br />
Johnston then will submit the planning to<br />
the member company presidents constituting<br />
the board of MPAA.<br />
Considerable progress toward agreement was<br />
reached at a Wednesday (11) meeting of the<br />
MPAA advertising-publicity directors committee<br />
of which Jerome Pickman, Paramount<br />
vice-president, is chairman.<br />
The heads of the various subcommittees<br />
reported to the full committee. Rodney Bush,<br />
of 20th Century-Fox, reported on a proposed<br />
Hollywood symposium; Phil Gerard, of<br />
Universal-International, on having company<br />
presidents and advertising-publicity heads<br />
"sell" the industry at meetings with opinionmakers;<br />
Paul Lazarus jr., of Columbia, on<br />
employment of an outside business management<br />
group to survey the industry; Silas P.<br />
Seadler, of MGM, on new advertising methods<br />
and Alfred Tamarln, of United Artists, on<br />
merchandising films at the local level.<br />
Ray Moon Funeral Rites;<br />
Sales Executive for U<br />
WESTPORT, CONN.—Funeral services for<br />
Raymond E. Moon, 59. assistant general sales<br />
manager of Universal Pictures Co., Inc., were<br />
held at the Christ and<br />
Holy Trinity Church<br />
here Tuesday (10).<br />
Moon died at his home<br />
on North Compo road<br />
July 7. Interment was<br />
at Christ Church<br />
Cemetery.<br />
Moon, a pioneer in<br />
the motion picture industry,<br />
began his career<br />
40 years ago as a<br />
salesman for Universal<br />
in Detroit. In the<br />
Raymond E. Moon early 1920s, he organized<br />
Cooperative Theatres of Michigan, a<br />
film-buying group of individual theatre owners.<br />
Several years later, he organized another<br />
cooperative. General Theatres of Detroit.<br />
In 1940, he became New York branch<br />
manager for 20th Century-Fox and was later<br />
promoted to eastern division manager. He<br />
rejoined Universal in 1950.<br />
Moon is survived by his wife, Mrs. Audrey<br />
(Sorbin Moon, and three sons, Raymond, Robert<br />
and David.<br />
Harry H. Birch Named<br />
Filmack Executive<br />
CHICAGO—The appointment of Harry H.<br />
Birch as executive vice-president of Filmack<br />
Studios, producers of theatre trailers, was announced<br />
this week by Irving Mack, president.<br />
Birch will assume direction of Filmack's<br />
live action production and will be<br />
in charge of the firm's new sound stage,<br />
scheduled to open August 1.<br />
Birch formerly was chief cameraman and<br />
camera department head for WBBK-TV,<br />
Chicago CBS station. He had held the same<br />
position previously with WBKB, Chicago ABC<br />
outlet.<br />
A DELAYED PRESENTATION TO SIR WINSTON—On behalf of Variety Clubs<br />
International, members of the London Tent last week presented the 1954 Humanitarian<br />
Award to Sir Winston Churchill in an informal ceremony at the statesman's<br />
London home. Wlien the Award was voted to the noted Briton, the presentation was<br />
delayed because of Sir Winston's illness and, later, because he was out of the country.<br />
The solid-gold heart-shaped Award was presented to him "in recognition of his<br />
life-long devotion to the liberty of man, his everlasting vigil in safeguarding democracy,<br />
and his zealous dedication to the furtherance of world peace." In the photo, left<br />
to right, are: Nat Cohen, chief barker of the London Tent; C. J. Latta, European<br />
international representative for Variety who made the presentation; Sir Winston;<br />
Sir Tom O'Brien, member of the London Tent crew, and barker Major Husklsson.<br />
K. C. Star President Sees Big Impact of U.S. Films<br />
KANSAS CITY—Despite all the millions<br />
America pours out through government information<br />
services and Radio-Free Europe<br />
a popularly financed project—to interpret<br />
the real America to the continent, it is obvious<br />
to the traveler that the public must get its<br />
most fixed and lasting impressions from U. S.<br />
motion pictures. This was reported by Roy A.<br />
Roberts, president of the Kansas City Star,<br />
in one of a series of articles he wrote for the<br />
paper following a tour of Europe.<br />
He rates the impact of motion pictures<br />
even above the effect of personal contacts<br />
made with "the torrent of American tourists."<br />
Writing further on U. S. films, he said:<br />
"Increasing numt)ers of American companies<br />
are going to Italy to shoot productions—but<br />
go where you will, you won't get<br />
away from the American movie stars. Eurojjean<br />
newspapers are small in comparison to<br />
our own. Yet I believe they devote more<br />
attention to Hollywood stars, their lives, their<br />
cheesecake, their gossip, than they do to<br />
general American affairs.<br />
"It's a cinch the masses know a lot more<br />
about our movie people than they know<br />
about our statesmen, except possibly the very<br />
top bracket. The stars, when they visit<br />
Europe, get a huge welcome and as much<br />
publicity, or more, than they do over here."<br />
COLUMBIA PICTURES ANNOUNCES THAT PRINTS OF THE FOLLOWING<br />
PICTURES ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN OUR EXCHANGES FOR SCREENING<br />
Joan<br />
Crawford<br />
Autumn<br />
Leaves<br />
co-stirrini<br />
VERA MILES • LORNE GREENE<br />
RUTH DONNELLY<br />
.nd CLIFF ROBERTSON<br />
Directed t>y<br />
ROBERT ALDRICH<br />
A WILLIAM GOETZ PRODUCTION<br />
Frankfe<br />
Lucy<br />
lAINE^MARLOW<br />
c»,.... ANTHONY DEXTER • DICK LONG<br />
with ALAN REED • JESSE WHITE<br />
SOMI Pliy by BUXE EOWAHOS Stoi) by HICHARI) OUINE xd BLMd OWMOS<br />
Producld by JONIE TAPS • DirKixt by BLAKE EDWADOS<br />
Priot by TECHNICOLOR<br />
FAITH DOMERGUE • LEE PATTERSON<br />
SPJKA<br />
RONA ANDERSON •MARTIN BENSON<br />
.»» mCRT AJtOEN<br />
ScfMIWIty by IAN iTUAUT •!>» • bllO 0« i nml n DOUIIT KtSTOIt<br />
Pt««icM by UO»a lurNAAD • OxKIM by XIINOII UwtLl<br />
BOXOFFICE : : July 14, 1956 21
. . Femme<br />
^oilcf€(MMd ^eftcnt<br />
By<br />
IVAN SPEAR<br />
Studios Get an Increase<br />
Of Overseas Visitors<br />
Filmdom's red carpet has undergone a record<br />
workout during the first six months of<br />
this year, ditflng which the studios have<br />
played host to 489 representatives from 52<br />
foreign nations, the international committee<br />
of the Ass'n of Motion Picture Producers reported.<br />
The visitor total represents an Increase of<br />
more than 20 per cent over the number of<br />
guests entertained during the same period in<br />
1955 and is indicative of Hollywood's continued<br />
support of the State Department's foreign<br />
leader program as well as similar programs<br />
of other government agencies.<br />
Numbered among the guests were 166 government<br />
officials, 93 journalists, 70 educators,<br />
43 students, 17 radio and TV executives, 13<br />
motion picture producers, directors and technicians,<br />
and 87 industrialists, businessmen,<br />
labor leaders and others.<br />
Most notable among the visitors in the<br />
half-year period was President Sukarno of<br />
Indonesia, who was given a top-level industry<br />
dinner hosted by Eric Johnston.<br />
Other important foreign government representatives<br />
hosted by the committee were<br />
Maurice Couve de Murville, French ambassador<br />
to the U. S., Henry de Torrente, Swiss<br />
minister to the U. 8., and U Win, Burmese<br />
amba-ssador to the U. S. Each was accorded<br />
an industry luncheon where he met top Hollywood<br />
executives and stars.<br />
U-I Purchases Three Yarns;<br />
T'wo Other Buys Reported<br />
Far and away the most active lot as concerns<br />
the acquisition of literary properties<br />
during the period was Universal-International,<br />
which picked up no less than three vehicles.<br />
Pi'obably rating the most attention was its<br />
purchase of "The DevU's Hornpipe," a musical<br />
by Maxwell Anderson and Rouben Mamoullan,<br />
r TALENTLESS<br />
TELEVISION<br />
ATTACKED<br />
George Jean Nathan, dean of drama critics,<br />
says tiiat the competition offered the stage<br />
hy television is about as fierce as that offered<br />
the New York Philharmonic by a<br />
Trinidad Calypso band.<br />
But he doesn't stop at this. Writing in the<br />
current issue of Esquire, Nathan claws<br />
through the guts of TV and bares its very<br />
soul. His outspoken report on talentless<br />
television, its "gook" and its writers will<br />
draw nods of appreciation from some quarters<br />
and stem condemnation from others.<br />
N'o matter which side of the fence you<br />
stand on, don't be unprepared for an explosion<br />
from Video Land. Be sure to get<br />
your ropy of<br />
^<br />
August ESQUIRE now on sale<br />
V. ^<br />
which has been handed to Aaron Rosenberg<br />
to produce. At the same time James Cagney<br />
was booked to star in the venture, which Is<br />
being shaped for lensing early next winter.<br />
It has a modern New 'Vork background and<br />
ca.sts Cagney as a racketeer. U-I also bought<br />
"Pilots for Hire." a yarn by Danny Arnold,<br />
and "The Colonel Everest Story," by Roland<br />
Kibbee, both of which were added to producer<br />
"Showdown." an<br />
William AUand's .slate . . .<br />
original by Les Crutchflcld. was purchased<br />
by producer Hal WalUs, who Inked James Poe<br />
to write the screenplay. It will roll early next<br />
year for Paramount release . . . Planning to<br />
package It as an independent effort, producerdirector<br />
Charles Vidor bought "Honey From<br />
a Dark Hive," a new novel by Bernice<br />
Kavlnsky.<br />
Republic Ready to Start<br />
On 'Accused of Murder'<br />
Backing up Republic President Herbert<br />
Rates' recent disclosure that the valley<br />
studio, in a productional hiatus for the past<br />
several months, would soon embark on a<br />
new program of theatrical features for the<br />
1956-57 season, the plant has completed preparations<br />
for an early camera start on "Accused<br />
of Murder," which will be produced<br />
and directed by Joe Kane.<br />
Adapted from W. R. Burnett's novel, "Vanity<br />
Row." the suspense drama now is in the<br />
process of casting. First to be recruited was<br />
Virginia Grey, who will have a top supporting<br />
role.<br />
RKO Reaches High Point<br />
In Scrivener Acti'vity<br />
High point In writer activity at RKO for<br />
the past year has been reached with a total<br />
of 21 scripters working on 17 films. Scriveners<br />
and the properties on which they are<br />
working are Goodman Ace, "I Married a<br />
Woman"; Robert Hardy Andrews, "The Rough<br />
Rider"; Gwen Bagni and Irwin Gielgud, "On<br />
My Honor"; Oscar Brodney, "The Old Maestro";<br />
Niven Busch, "Galveston"; Lenore<br />
Coffee, "Cash McCall"; Katherine and Dale<br />
EXinson, "The Day They Gave Babies Away";<br />
Earl Felton, "Underdog"; Frederic Frank,<br />
"The Cid"; Devery Freeman, "The Girl Most<br />
Likely"; Jonathan Latimer. "The Lady and<br />
FOR OLD TIME'S SAKE—Cecil B.<br />
DelVIille takes time away from his own<br />
production of "The Ten Commandments"<br />
to make a brief on-camera guest appearance<br />
as himself in Paramount's currently<br />
shooting "The Buster Keaton Story." The<br />
scene finds him directing a picture when<br />
Keaton, portrayed by Donald O'Connor,<br />
inadvertently walks into the shot. Photo<br />
shows O'Connor, made up as Keaton,<br />
producer-director DelVIille and Keaton<br />
himself.<br />
the Prowler"; Reginald Rose, "Three Empty<br />
Rooms"; Stirling Silliphant, "Pakistan"; Harry<br />
Tugend, "Stage Door"; Richard English and<br />
James Clavell. "The Far Alert"; Winston Miller,<br />
"Escapade In Japan," and Terry and<br />
Code Seal of Approval<br />
Granted 1G5 Features<br />
Here and there in the Hollywoodlands: Reflecting<br />
an increase of nine over the corresponding<br />
period in 1955, the Production Code<br />
Administration of the Motion Picture Producers<br />
Ass'n reported It has granted the code Denis Sanders, "The Naked and the Dead."<br />
seal of approval to 165 features during the<br />
first six months of this year. Short subjects<br />
approvals also jumped—to 83 through June<br />
30 as against 73 to the same date a year<br />
ago . disk jockey Jean King Rousseau,<br />
known on the airwaves as "The Lonesome<br />
Gal," will be given the film biographical<br />
treatment by Universal-International, which<br />
has secured rights to produce the opus and<br />
inked the lonesome lady to write a treatment<br />
thereof. Albert Zugsmith has been assigned<br />
the production reins.<br />
Brazilian-Made Feature<br />
To Be Released by U-I<br />
Universal-International—which, along with<br />
most of the other majors, is always on the<br />
prowl for independently made product to<br />
supplement its own lineup of studio-made<br />
celluloid—has acquired "Beast of the Amazon,"<br />
filmed in Brazil by Richard K. and<br />
Harry Rybnlck under the banner of Jewel<br />
Enterprises.<br />
Made with the cooperation of the Brazilian<br />
government, the action drama stars John<br />
Bromfield and Beverly Garland. It was directed<br />
by Curt Siodmak from his own original<br />
story, and was lensed In color.<br />
Ten Hours to Doom' Reunites<br />
Levin and Chester Team<br />
Reuniting the production team which<br />
turned out "The Bold and the Brave," now<br />
being distributed by RKO Radio, Irving H.<br />
Levin, president of Pilmakers, has set a deal<br />
whereby Hal E. Chester will function as producer<br />
on the forthcoming "Ten Hours to<br />
Doom," a story and script by Fred Freiberger.<br />
"Doom" is slated to roll in September, and<br />
a major release is being negotiated.<br />
It marks the third Levin-Chester association,<br />
the latter having just returned from<br />
London after completing "The Weapon," starring<br />
Steve Cochran and Lizabeth Scott.<br />
Nina Foch Will Co-Star<br />
In Warren's 'Norman'<br />
Producer-director Charles Marquis Warren<br />
has signed Nina Foch to co-star with Jack<br />
Palance and Dan O'Herlihy in "The Norman,"<br />
slated for filming by Warren's Commander<br />
Pictures upon completion of his directorial<br />
chores on "Trooper Hook." "The<br />
Norman," to be shot in CinemaScope and<br />
color, from Warren's original story, is based<br />
on the life of William the Conqueror.<br />
22 BOXOFFICE :<br />
: July 14, 1956
31 Universal Serials<br />
Sold for TV Showing<br />
NEW YORK—Universal-International has<br />
sold 31 serials outright to Hygo Television<br />
Films, which paid in excess of $1,500,000 for<br />
them. Hygo has exclusive television and theatrical<br />
rights to the films throughout the<br />
world through Serials, Inc., a Hygo subsidiary.<br />
The serials average 13 episodes each. U-I<br />
produced and distributed them between 1936<br />
and 1947. Among them are "Jungle Queen"<br />
with Lois Collier and Ruth Roman, "Great<br />
Alaskan Mystery" with Ralph Morgan and<br />
Fuzzy Knight, "Royal Mounted Rides Again"<br />
with Milbum Stone and Robert Armstrong,<br />
"Gang Busters" with Kent Taylor, "Scouts to<br />
the Rescue" with Jackie Cooper and "Winners<br />
of the West" with Dick Foran and Anne<br />
Nagel.<br />
Hygo will be the exclusive TV sales agent.<br />
Robert Seidelman, vice-president and general<br />
sales manager, will work out a flexible<br />
sales plan.<br />
Hygo is negotiating with two national outlets<br />
for network programming of a half -hour<br />
show built around two serial episodes a show.<br />
If that does not go through, the company will<br />
make the serials available for immediate distribution<br />
to all TV stations.<br />
Balaban, in From Abroad,<br />
Praises 'War and Peace'<br />
NEW YORK—Hailing the completed film<br />
version of Tolstoy's "War and Peace" as a<br />
"masterpiece," Barney Balaban, president of<br />
'Keep 'Em in the East/<br />
A N.Y, Production Cry<br />
By PRANK LEYENDECKER<br />
NEW YORK—"Keep 'Em in the East"<br />
seems to be the slogan at the Fox Movietone<br />
News Studio, on West 54th Street and<br />
Tenth Avenue, where someone (probably the<br />
crew or technicians) has tacked it on the<br />
back wall of the set during the current filming<br />
of "12 Angry Men," an Orion-Nova production<br />
for United Artists release.<br />
The new company, which was formed by<br />
Henry Fonda, who also is the star of "12<br />
Angry Men," and Reginald Rose, who wrote<br />
the screenplay as well as the original TV<br />
drama from which it was adapted, is the<br />
latest of several to use Manhattan studios for<br />
filming features—and all the stage and TV<br />
actors, as well as directors, writers and film<br />
technicians hope the current trend will continue.<br />
FIRST OF 12 FOR RKO<br />
Galahad Productions started the first of<br />
12 features for RKO release, "Brave Tomorrow,"<br />
at another Manhattan studio. Production<br />
Center, Inc., July 9, and MGM recently<br />
completed "A Man Is Ten Feet Tall" mostly<br />
on location in Manhattan. Last summer,<br />
Michael Myerberg filmed the screen version<br />
of another successful TV drama, "Patterns,"<br />
entirely at the old Warner Vitaphone Studio<br />
in Brooklyn, the first company to use the<br />
studio for making a feature in almost 20<br />
Paramount, returned<br />
years.<br />
from Europe on the<br />
Except for Henry Fonda, who recently completed<br />
another feature, "The Wrong Man,"<br />
Queen Elizabeth with<br />
Mrs. Balaban Tuesday made partly on location and in an eastern<br />
(10). Balaban flew<br />
studio and paa-tly In Hollywood, and Lee J.<br />
from Paris to London Cobb, who came on from Hollywood especially<br />
to attend a private<br />
for "12 Angry Men," the cast of this Jury<br />
showing of the Vista- room drama is composed entirely of actors<br />
Vision - Technicolor who are busy in Broadway stage plays or on<br />
production with a TV in Manhattan. "The actors we wanted<br />
group of other Paramount<br />
executives last was given by Reginald Rose as the reason for<br />
for the leading roles were all in New York,"<br />
week.<br />
filming the picture in Manhattan.<br />
Balaban said he had<br />
kept in close touch for IN BROADWAY PLAY<br />
Barney Balaban<br />
the past three years The other actors included: Ed Begley, who<br />
with "this vast adventure in super-showship<br />
is featured in the stage hit, "Inherit the Wind,"<br />
which many top producers had now in its second year on Broadway (Begley<br />
contemplated but none had previously dared also made "Patterns" while playing in "Inherit<br />
attempt." However, he had arrived in London<br />
the Wind" in 1955); Robert Webber,<br />
reserving final judgment until he could currently featured in the Broadway smash<br />
see the picture for himself, he said.<br />
hit, "No Time for Sergeants" at the Alvin<br />
"In its magnitude of scope, its timely epic Theatre; George Voskovec, who was featured<br />
theme, its spectacular drama of colorful nations<br />
in the off-Broadway production of "Uncle<br />
embattled in war and enmeshed in the Vanya" when the filming started and who is<br />
romance, tragedy and comedy of peace, the making his screen debut In "12 Angry Men";<br />
gripping private lives of the appealing leading<br />
characters, the wonderful performances of<br />
Joseph Sweeney, grand old character man of<br />
stage and TV, who was recently featured in<br />
all the inspired players, the magnificent "The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit" in<br />
quality of its production, direction and Hollywood; E. G. Marshall, who recently<br />
breath-taking Technicolor and VistaVision closed on Broadway in "Waiting for Godot";<br />
photography, 'War and Peace' has never been Martin Balsam, who has been featured in<br />
excelled," Balaban said.<br />
Edward G. Robinson's Broadway play, "Middle<br />
of the Night," now suspended for the summer<br />
Warners to Make TV Commercials<br />
only, and Jack Warden, John Fiedler, Edward<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Warner Bros, is entering Binns and Jack Klugman, all stage and TV<br />
the field of filmed television commercials, performers and all of whom play Jurors and<br />
making available to advertisers and agencies are practically the entire cast. Even the<br />
the full technical resources of the company's alternate juror is played by a stage and TV<br />
motion picture studios, as well as the animation<br />
veteran, Graham Velsey, who fills in some<br />
facilities of its cartoon division. A new spare time on the set by acting as stand-in<br />
commercial department has been set up. for Joseph Sweeney. Sweeney and Voskovec<br />
Henry Fonda, left, star of "12 Angry<br />
Men," and Reginald Rose, co-producer<br />
and author of the screenplay, discuss the<br />
advantages of filming in Manhattan, as<br />
regards the use of Broadway stage and TV<br />
players, at luncheon on the set at the<br />
Fox Movietone News Studio. On the right<br />
is Frank Leyendecker of BOXOFFICE.<br />
are repeating their TV roles in the film version.<br />
Both "Patterns" and the currently filming<br />
"Brave Tomorrow" also have casts composed<br />
mainly of stage and TV talent. In addition<br />
to being fine actors, these players do<br />
not demand the exorbitant salaries of the<br />
regular Hollywood film actors.<br />
As a stunt to publicize the Manhattan<br />
filming of "12 Angry Men," the Arthur P.<br />
Jacobs Co., which is handling public relations<br />
for Orion-Nova, sent out simulated jury<br />
summons to the Court of Criminal Sessions to<br />
aU members of the tradepress. The blue slip<br />
ordered each tradepaper representative to<br />
act as a special juror at Fox Movietone News<br />
studio to "observe production activities on<br />
the fUming of '12 Angry Men' and then have<br />
luncheon on the set with Fonda and Rose."<br />
WATCH LUMET AT WORK<br />
The morning's activities included: watching<br />
the dynamic Sidney Lumet, a director<br />
from the TV field who is making his first theatrical<br />
film, direct Fonda, Begley and the<br />
others in a crucial jury room scene, as well<br />
as observing the numerous retakes necessary<br />
to attain perfection in any brief scene and<br />
then seeing cameras and Ughts being set up<br />
for the next scene. During lunch at a long<br />
table similar to the jury room table, Fonda<br />
mentioned that "12 Angry Men" is his first<br />
independent prcxluction for United Artists.<br />
The picture is going faster than the average<br />
feature because of Lumet's prefilming reheai-sals<br />
and should be completed before the<br />
end of July. How-ever, the picture will not<br />
be released before 1957 so as not to conflict<br />
with "Seven Angry Men," an Allied Artists<br />
picture released early in 1955. In the meantime,<br />
Fonda will be seen on the nation's<br />
screens in two important pictures, "War and<br />
Peace," which he made in Rome for Paramount<br />
release and which will open in New<br />
York in late August, and "The Wrong Man,"<br />
produced and directed by Alfred Hitchcock<br />
for Warner Bros, release late in 1956 or early<br />
1957. Fonda also has plans for the filming<br />
of "The Clown," the life story of Emmett<br />
Kelly, which was repeated twice on TV. but<br />
he also may do another Broadway stage play<br />
in the fall, if he finds the right script.<br />
^OXOFHCE :: July 14, 1956<br />
23
. . The<br />
—<br />
8ES McKENNA (JAMES STEWABT) IS INVOLVED IN FOR-<br />
EIGN INTRIGUE. TOURING MOROCCO WITH FAMILY<br />
DORIS DAY AS JO McKENNA TRIES TO CONVINCE LONDON<br />
POLICE HER HUSBAND IS A PRISONER IN THIS CHURCH<br />
'The Man Who Knew Too Mvch'<br />
Wins June Blue Ribbon Award<br />
By VELMA WEST SYKES<br />
ICATIONAL Screen Council members selected Paramount's "The Man Who Knew Too<br />
Much" as the winner of the June BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon Award. Outstanding<br />
entertainment which the whole family can enjoy in a group, the Alfred Hitchcock thriller<br />
ha.s scored 181 per cent at the boxoffice in its first run engagements in key cities and there<br />
is every indication this will continue in subsequent runs. James Stewart and Doris Day<br />
head a competent cast which gives the right realistic touch to fantastic events which keep<br />
patrons glued to their seats by suspense. Following those tense moments when the audience<br />
awaits the clash of the cymbals—signal for murder—audience applause breaks out<br />
when the attempt fails.<br />
As the BOXOFFICE review said in the<br />
issue of May 5: "Perhaps nothing more<br />
laudatory can be said about the boundless<br />
entertainment qualities and the promising<br />
fiscal potentialities of this Alfred Hitchcock<br />
hair-raiser than to report that it represents<br />
the maestro of suspense and shivers at his<br />
best."<br />
Checking through the comments of NSC<br />
members on their postcard ballots, we find<br />
these estimates of the winner's entertainment<br />
qualities:<br />
"The Man Who Knew Too Much" has the<br />
irresistible combination of the master of<br />
suspense and intrigue, Alfred Hitchcock, and<br />
the charm of Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day,<br />
plus the clash and color of stirring forces<br />
in Morocco. It is as timely as today's headlines.—Mrs.<br />
William R. Thomas, General<br />
Federation of Women's Clubs, Cleveland.<br />
Plenty of Tense Action<br />
This has plenty of tense action yet a<br />
tongue-in-cheek quality that is new and<br />
refreshing in a picture of its type.—Mrs. W.<br />
Hayden Miller, San Antonio Motion Picture<br />
Board.<br />
The picture has an intriguing plot which<br />
challenges the imagination, and the London<br />
Symphony Orchestra gives added appeal.—<br />
Mrs. Edward C. Wakelam, Indianapolis NSC<br />
Group . . . Alfred Hitchcock has done It<br />
again—with another wonderful movie.—<br />
Earl C. Kelley, Concord (N. C.) Tribune.<br />
Another excellent offering from Hitchcock<br />
—and Stewart. — Glenn Trump, Omaha<br />
World-Herald . . . Excellent for the family.<br />
Doris Day and James Stewart are tops.<br />
Agnes E. Rockwood, Bennington (Vt.) Banner<br />
. . . You can't beat a combination like<br />
James Stewart, Doris Day and Alfred<br />
Hitchcock!—Dorothy R. Shank, WEBR, Buffalo.<br />
A humdinger in the old Hitchcock tradition.<br />
Doris Day rates applause for a fine<br />
acting job.—Mark Nichols, Coronet Magazine<br />
... A gripping, superbly made and<br />
acted suspense tale.—Willard Benjamin,<br />
Canton Repository ... A typical American<br />
family and the little boy is excellent. This<br />
would appeal to old and young.—Mrs. William<br />
A. Dalton, International Federation of<br />
Catholic Alumnae, Avon, N. J.<br />
An excellent suspense thriller. The players<br />
were well chosen and played their roles<br />
exceptionally well. I must see it again.<br />
Mrs. Kurt W. Schmidt, Indianapolis NSC<br />
Group . old Hitchcock suspense<br />
touches make it a first-rate thriller.—Shirley<br />
H. Freydberg, National Board of Review,<br />
New York.<br />
CHRISTOPHER OLSEN AS HANK McKENNA IS RESCUED<br />
FROM KIDNAP PERS BY HIS FATHER AFTER THIS SCENE<br />
Be7i McKenna<br />
Jo McKenna<br />
Mrs. Drayton<br />
Mr. Drayton<br />
Buchanan<br />
Louis Bernard<br />
Amhassador<br />
Val Parnell<br />
The Cast<br />
James Stewart Jan Peterson<br />
Hillary Brooke<br />
Doris Day Hank McKenna Christopher Olsen<br />
Brenda de Banzie Rien— Assassin Reggie Nalder<br />
Bernard Miles Assistant Manager Richard Wattis<br />
Ralph Truman Wohurn<br />
Noel Willman<br />
Daniel Gelin Helen Parnell<br />
Alix Talton<br />
Mogens Wieth Cindy Fontaine<br />
Carolyn Jones<br />
Alan Mowbray Police Inspector<br />
Yves Brainville<br />
Production Staff<br />
Vice-President in Charge of<br />
Production<br />
Frank Freeman<br />
Producer and Director. .Altrzd Hitchcock<br />
Screenplay John Michael Hayes<br />
Based on a Story by Charles Bennett,<br />
D. B. Wyndham-Lewis<br />
Director of Photography<br />
Robert Burks, A.S.C.<br />
Color by Technicolor<br />
Color Consultant Richard Mueller<br />
Art Direction<br />
Hal Pereira,<br />
Henry BtrMSTEAo<br />
Edited by George Tomasini, A.C.E.<br />
Costumes<br />
Edith Head<br />
Technical Adviser Constance Willis.<br />
Abdelhaq Chraibi<br />
Sound Recording by<br />
Paul Franz,<br />
Gene Garvin<br />
"Storm Cloud Cantata" by Arthur<br />
Benjamin, D. B. Wyndham-Lewis<br />
(Performed by London Symphony Orchestra,<br />
Conducted by Bernard Herrmann,<br />
Covent Garden Chorus and Barbara<br />
Howitt, Soloist; Songs— "Whatever Will<br />
Be" and "We'll Love Again" by Jay Livingston<br />
and Ray Evans.)<br />
Scrnn Council on the tasis of outstanding merit<br />
ii This Award is gi«tn tach month by the National<br />
suitability for and family entertainment. Council membership comgrises motion picture editors, radio<br />
film commentator.^, and representatives better film councils, ciiic and educational organizations.<br />
of
CALENDARsfEVENTS<br />
JULY
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[NDIAN AGENT JOHN PHILIP CLUM!<br />
!<br />
who defied Geronimo's legions of hate with the strength of his Faith<br />
and his love for a woman ... to turn back the tide of savagery itself<br />
CO-STARRING<br />
ANNE BANCROFT • PAT CROWLEY<br />
w.h CHARLES DRAKE<br />
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tommy rall<br />
jay silverheels<br />
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JtSSf IBS • screenplw fly Gil OOUD m }MM mwrn fly MRON (1<br />
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July<br />
LETTERS<br />
MILLION-DOLLAR QUESTIONS<br />
It is certainly a sorry state of affairs when<br />
a mighty entertainment industry suffers a<br />
liohday sluinp in business during the Fourth of<br />
July leisure period.<br />
Almost all theatres. Including the drive-in<br />
theatre, is feeling this drop off In business.<br />
Why?<br />
And why are the top hit pictures doing<br />
poor business even in the initial first run<br />
playdates?<br />
Here we some questions that need to be<br />
answered<br />
Aie we devoting too much time to TVderived<br />
dramas, so much so. that the public<br />
believes that the theatre is to become second<br />
run to the Kraft TV Tlieatre and other<br />
dramatic programs seen on their 21 -inch<br />
electronic window panes?<br />
In the long-term view, are the saturation<br />
bockings and area promotions of blown-up<br />
kinescope gangster di-amas first seen on home<br />
television, then thrown into the theatres<br />
under rapid play off bookings doing boxoffice<br />
damage?<br />
We set the public mind afire with our development<br />
of Cinemascope. VistaVision.<br />
stereophonic sound: but. did we sell them<br />
short by lack of exclusiveness of our entertainment<br />
product via the wholesale sale of<br />
our copyrights, property rights, i-elatlng to<br />
old features released to television?<br />
Have we implied that eventually ALL<br />
movies will be seen on home television for<br />
free?<br />
you're not<br />
iisinq<br />
Met } 'opol ita ) i<br />
^f^<br />
J^vJ,<br />
%/^<br />
Ad Mat<br />
Service ... v^\<br />
^<br />
you're<br />
worrying<br />
too much!<br />
WRITE OR WIRE TODAY TO:<br />
Metropolitaii Mat Seiivice<br />
303 EAST 4lh STREET • lOS ANGEIES 13, CALIF.<br />
BLOWERS<br />
AUXILIARY LAMPHOUSE BLOWERS<br />
loth Drh«-lii *nt Indoc ~<br />
=U for each<br />
- -<br />
la<br />
EASY TO INSTALL.<br />
PRICED RIGHT<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO. 1?.„*rc'Si.'K<br />
Should wc restricl the exhibition license on<br />
current pictures to the theatre medium for a<br />
period of ten years? iThe Federal Court, Los<br />
Angeles District, rendered a decision favorable<br />
to exhibition licen.sc restriction.)<br />
Isn't this so-called marriage of the motion<br />
picture Industry and television just so much<br />
hokum?<br />
What good is all the promotion for a picture<br />
like "Alexander the Great" if the public<br />
is given to understand that, in just a few<br />
yeai-s, this di-ama will be presented on one of<br />
the major television networks as a "spectacular"?<br />
Is it true, that theatre owners are known,<br />
within and outside the motion picture industry,<br />
fundamentally as real estate operators<br />
who know nothing about programming or<br />
showmanship procediu'e?<br />
If we aie showmen, how can we avoid<br />
duplicating the progi'am service of the television<br />
stations and networks?<br />
Ai-e our selling methods "old hat" with the<br />
public?<br />
Should w'e stop buying film and start buying<br />
attractions; selecting each commitment on<br />
the basis of story value, screen technique,<br />
whether in color or black and white, and paying<br />
particular attention to our entire program?<br />
Is it just possible that we must face reality<br />
and forget about .so-called mass audience;<br />
just sell our own special type of movie audience<br />
hoping in the long pull the intellectual<br />
development of the mass audience will build<br />
theatre patronage to greater heights of volume?<br />
These questions MUST be answered by those<br />
in production, distribution and exhibition!<br />
All segments of our industry are guilty of<br />
the present sustained business slump. We<br />
have, for too long a period, suffered from a<br />
sense of inadequacy! ! !<br />
If you never knew anything about your industry<br />
before, you must study it now!<br />
JOSEPH HARVIS<br />
Gilbert Stuart Theatre.<br />
Riverside. R. I.<br />
EVALUATES BOOKING 'COMBINES'<br />
Possibly a few comments are in order as<br />
to the article appearing in BOXOFFICE of<br />
June 30 under the caption, "Film Salesmen<br />
Strike at Combines in Letter to Senate Committee."<br />
The so-called combines are buying and<br />
booking services, composed of reputable persons,<br />
hired as agents, to represent and<br />
transact business for the theatres that pay<br />
them for services rendered.<br />
There are several classifications of agents<br />
other than booking agents, namely, salesmen<br />
who are agents for the various motion picture<br />
distributors, also an agent for the Colosseum<br />
of Motion Picture Salesmen, who is the general<br />
counsel.<br />
In using the word "Fi-ankenstein" in referring<br />
to booking and buying agencies, there<br />
is a play upon a word which could give a<br />
bad impression to the uninformed. For many<br />
years, such agencies have been looked upon<br />
as sound business institutions, doing a good<br />
job for those that pay for their services.<br />
The background of vaudeville acts and stage<br />
shows, in the good old "legitimate" was none<br />
other than agencies making deals for the<br />
acts with the theatres and they, too. were also<br />
very legitimate.<br />
In the bartering of motion pictiu-e film contracts,<br />
the independent agent simply renders<br />
the same services to individual theatre owners,<br />
as do the company-owned buying and booking<br />
services of theatre circuits.<br />
Booking agencies must be of SOME service<br />
to SOME theatre owners, for the obvious<br />
ramifications of our industry are herewith<br />
listed<br />
1 1 Shortage of feature product, as against<br />
rental terms quoted.<br />
2) Advance .screening of product, not available<br />
to all theatre owners, account of time<br />
and cost involvement.<br />
3) Centralized Filmrow offices.<br />
4) Sales personnel available on short notice.<br />
5) Local telephone availabilities without resorting<br />
to costly long distance calls, under<br />
which the exhibitor could be at a disadvantage.<br />
The statement, "The combines may well be<br />
ruinous to both exhibitors and distributors"<br />
a rather far-fetched statement and possibly<br />
is<br />
those booking agencies that have rendered<br />
valuable services to hundreds of theatre<br />
owners over the past few years, may feel put<br />
out with such remarks.<br />
A survey of distribution branch managers<br />
and salesmen who work with booking agencies<br />
might point up a thing or two.<br />
The economics of our business forces changes<br />
in distribution, buying and booking and theatre<br />
operations. Centralized shipping by shipping<br />
and inspection bureaus is a change to<br />
note. Reduction in the number of releases by<br />
many companies enters into the scheme of<br />
things.<br />
Another statement from the article, "In the<br />
past two years there has been a decrease of<br />
more than 75 salesmen in the industry." This<br />
is regrettable. Also it is regrettable that thousands<br />
of theatres have been shuttered and<br />
many more thousands of theatre employes<br />
forced out of employment in the theatre<br />
world. Many theatre owners have reduced<br />
the number of employes in the remaining<br />
theatres.<br />
Why don't the objectors of buying and booking<br />
agencies also object to the closing of nonprofitable<br />
theatres; likewise, object to circuits<br />
of theatres buying and booking films through<br />
their own booking services: and why don't<br />
they object to circuits, occasionally, taking on<br />
another town or two; or why not just object<br />
to everyone running his own business?<br />
These theatre closings affect salesmen, but<br />
not to the same extent as those that are<br />
forced to close. Circuit theatres booking their<br />
own programs may affect salesmen in a way.<br />
Who knows?<br />
There is one certainty, pulling together is<br />
better than pulling apart. There is a place<br />
in the motion picture and theatre world for<br />
all groups—salesmen, booking agencies and<br />
all component parts. Let's keep it that way<br />
and get along. Mi.s.statements directed in the<br />
wrong direction will be of no value.<br />
For 15 years I was a proud film salesman<br />
and. for 17 years, a proud theatre owner and<br />
manager.<br />
El Reno Theatres,<br />
El Reno, Okla.<br />
RED SLOCUM<br />
Japanese Film Gets Seal<br />
NEW YORK—"Phantom Horse," the Japanese<br />
film in Eastman Color which Edward<br />
Harrison will distribute in the U. S., has<br />
been approved by the Production Code Administration<br />
and been given a code seal.<br />
28 BOXOFFICE :<br />
14. 1956
Newsweek Profiles<br />
Thomas F. O'Neil<br />
NEW YORK—The July 16 issue of Newsweek<br />
magazine devotes the cover photo and<br />
four pages to Thomas F. O'Neil, president of<br />
RKO Teleradio Pictures, new General Tire &<br />
Rubber subsidiary, and calls the RKO comeback<br />
under his direction "one of the fastest<br />
and most supercolossal in all Hollywood history."<br />
"Howard Hughes' onetime white elephant,<br />
in fact, has become a bellwether of its industry<br />
almost overnight," Newsweek says. It<br />
adds that his credo is that the really big<br />
profits in entertainment come from "crossfertilization"<br />
between its different branches.<br />
"His cost-conscious mind," Newsweek says,<br />
"has consistently rebelled against the dividing<br />
lines which separate the industry into<br />
movies, TV, recording and other departments,<br />
with their overlapping distribution systems<br />
and hodgepodge of middlemen.<br />
"At the moment he is negotiating for a<br />
radio station in 'Washington, D. C, acquiring<br />
an interest in a television station in Windsor,<br />
Ont., and weighing the possibility of investing<br />
in Broadway stage productions. His next<br />
major move, trade gossips believe, may be to<br />
set up a nationwide television network supplied<br />
largely with filmed shows.<br />
"In the last two years, O'Neil has doubled<br />
the net income of General Tii-e's entertainment<br />
investments to $2,100,000. This year,<br />
helped by a flat tax write-off from the RKO<br />
investment, they probably will clear at least<br />
$6,000,000."<br />
The cover photo shows O'Neil against a<br />
color still from "The First Traveling Saleslady."<br />
the first RKO production under his<br />
management.<br />
Reade Names Bert Green<br />
Freehold City Manager<br />
NEW YORK—Bert Green has been made<br />
City manager of Walter Reade theatres in<br />
Freehold, N. J., as well<br />
as manager of the<br />
Strand Theatre. He<br />
replaces Dave Rogers.<br />
He has been a consistent<br />
winner in the<br />
monthly manager a-<br />
wards contests and has<br />
won prizes in the ann<br />
u a 1 showmanship<br />
drives of the circuit.<br />
Green was associated<br />
with Skouras<br />
Theatres for 13 years<br />
Bert Green<br />
^-s a theatre manager.<br />
He joined the Reade circuit in 1954 as manager<br />
of the Paramount Theatre. Plainfield,<br />
N. J., and soon thereafter managed the Park<br />
in Morristown, N. J. He became manager<br />
of the St. James in Asbury Park, N. J. last<br />
year.<br />
Reade Circuit Winners<br />
NEWARK—Winners in the Walter Reade<br />
circuit Spring Refreshery Decoration contest<br />
follow: A-houses, Mike Dorso of the Community<br />
in Kingston, and Bert Green of the<br />
St. James in Ashbury Park; B-houses, John<br />
Guiton of the Strand in Perth Amboy, and<br />
Frank Deane, drive-in manager. Refreshery<br />
the Reade term for concession stand.<br />
is<br />
UA Six-Month Gross Hits<br />
All-Time Company Mark<br />
Brooks to Philadelphia<br />
In SW Realignment<br />
NEW YORK— Bernard P.<br />
Bcnue" Brooks,<br />
film buyer of Fabian Theatres in New York<br />
since 1942. has been<br />
appointed assistant<br />
zone manager and<br />
chief film buyer for<br />
Stanley Warner in the<br />
Philadelphia zone. The<br />
appointment was made<br />
by Harry M. Kalmine,<br />
SW's vice-president<br />
and general manager.<br />
Ted Minsky, in<br />
charge of film buying<br />
in Philadelphia, has<br />
been promoted to the<br />
film department in the<br />
New York home office.<br />
Bernard P. Brooks<br />
Daniel B. Triester of<br />
the New York film department, has been<br />
advanced to the post of film buyer for the<br />
Los Angeles zone.<br />
Ted Schlanger, Philadelphia zone manager<br />
for Stanley Warner, has realigned the supervision<br />
of the in-town theatres as follows:<br />
A. J. Vanni will take over the direction<br />
of the three downtown first runs, in addition<br />
to the out-of-town theatres which he has<br />
been handling. Jack Flynn will leave the<br />
film department to become a district manager<br />
and supervise a group of in-town houses.<br />
Brooks started in the film business in the<br />
ad sales department of Paramount Pictures,<br />
later serving as booker and salesman. Subsequently<br />
he became general manager and<br />
chief film buyer for the Rosenblatt & Welt<br />
circuit in New Jersey and Staten Island.<br />
Brandt Closes Globe Sale<br />
To Legit for $1,200,000<br />
NEW YORK—Brandt Theatres closed the<br />
deal for the sale of the Globe Theatre, Broadway<br />
first run film house, to Cy Feuer, Hugh<br />
Martin and Roger Stevens, legitimate stage<br />
producers, for an estimated payment of $1,-<br />
200.000. The Globe was a legitimate house for<br />
musicals prior to 1933.<br />
The theatre will continue showing first<br />
run films until September, when the new<br />
owners will spend an additional $400,000 in<br />
refurbishing and changing the entrance from<br />
Broadway to one on west 46th St. The Broadway<br />
lobby will then be converted into a store,<br />
with William Zeckendorf receiving this property<br />
as commission for financing the deal.<br />
Tentative plans call for the moving of the<br />
Brandt Theatres staff on the second floor of<br />
the Globe to the Rialto Building on Seventh<br />
Ave.<br />
The Bijou Theatre, another former legitimate<br />
house which has played films, lastly<br />
"Richard III" for a two-a-day run early in<br />
1956, has been leased to Carmen Capalbo and<br />
Stanley Chase by City Playhouses. The producing<br />
team will put on a series of legitimate<br />
plays, starting October 15.<br />
NEW YORK—The midyear gT0.ss of United<br />
Artists reached $28,330,000—approximately<br />
$4,000,000 more than in 1955— A.thur Krim,<br />
president, announced Friday (13). He recalled<br />
that he had predicted a gross of<br />
$65,000,000 for the year, and said the company<br />
wa-s on .schedule. Last year's gross had<br />
set a company record.<br />
The United States and Canadian gross was<br />
up $3,000,000 while the foreign gross Increa.sed<br />
$1,000,000.<br />
The prospects for a record second half are<br />
bright, Krim said, revealing that in the first<br />
week in July United Artists had bookings in<br />
18.000 theatres in the United States and<br />
Canada—an all-time record for any motion<br />
picture company.<br />
He reported that UA has 41 films in the<br />
can, being edited or in production, besides<br />
those in release. They represent an investment<br />
of $35,000,000, not including deferment<br />
and participation deals.<br />
United Artists, he said, will continue to<br />
release four pictures a month, and he assured<br />
exhibitors of a continuous flow of pictures<br />
for at least three years. The company<br />
will continue to release the "little" pictures<br />
not only because exhibitors need them but<br />
because they also show a profit, Kim said.<br />
Atlas Stockholders Ask<br />
Conversion of Stock<br />
NEW YORK—Atlas Corp. stockholders<br />
asked for conversion of 1,365,000 shares of<br />
new Atlas common stock into the new five<br />
per cent $20 per value preferred stock during<br />
the 40-day conversion period that has expired,<br />
according to Floyd B. Odium, president.<br />
The conversion rights have been offered in<br />
connection with the recent merger into Atlas<br />
of RKO Pictures. Airfleets. San Diego Corp.,<br />
Wasatch Corp. and Albuquerque Associated<br />
Oil Co. Holders of common stock had the<br />
right to convert into preferred on the basis<br />
of six-tenths of a share of preferred for each<br />
of common.<br />
Filling all conversion requests would require<br />
about 880,000 shares of preferred stock as<br />
compared with the 1,250,000 preferred shares<br />
authorized for issuance on such conversion.<br />
Former RKO Pictures stockholders, other<br />
than Howard Hughes, chose to convert about<br />
212.000 of the 660.571 new Atlas common<br />
shares they received in the merger. Hughes,<br />
largest single holder of the old RKO stock,<br />
chose to keep his new Atlas common shares.<br />
On the basis of ownership of 1.262,120 shares<br />
of the RKO stock, he was entitled to receive<br />
in the merger a total of 961.616 shares of the<br />
new Atlas common stock.<br />
Odium said that Hughes was committed<br />
with respect to any common stock acquired<br />
by him in the merger to give Atlas a proxy<br />
for a term of years.<br />
Columbia Votes Dividend<br />
NE'W YORK—The Columbia board of directors<br />
has declared a quarterly dividend of<br />
$1.06 '4 a share on the $4.25 cumulative preferred<br />
stock, payable August 15 to stockholders<br />
of record August 1.<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: July 14, 1956 29
—<br />
—<br />
— — —<br />
—<br />
—<br />
—<br />
—<br />
—<br />
Record Crowds of Broadway Opening<br />
Of 'Moby Dick; The King and I'<br />
NEW YORK—"Moby Dick" and "The<br />
KiriK and I" were the top Broadway attractions<br />
of the week, drawing record crowds.<br />
"Moby Dick" opened at two theatres, grossing<br />
250 per cent at the Criterion and 225<br />
per cent at the Sutton. "The King and I," in<br />
its second week at the Roxy, doubled average<br />
business. "The Eddy Duchin Story," in<br />
a third week at the Radio City Music Hall,<br />
scored 70 per cent above average.<br />
In the art spots, "Bullfight" had a big<br />
opening week at the tiny 55th St. Playhouse,<br />
where favorable reviews in the New<br />
York Times and Herald Tribune drew class<br />
patrons. "Rififi" still had waiting lines outside<br />
the Fine Arts Theatre in the evening<br />
during its fifth week and another French<br />
film, "The Proud and Uie Beautiful," held<br />
up well in its fourth week at the Paris<br />
Theatre. "Simon and Laura" had a good<br />
opening week at the Little Carnegie Theatre<br />
but both "Invitation to the Dance" and<br />
"Gaby" fell off at the Plaza and Trans-Lux<br />
52nd St. theatres and will be replaced by<br />
new pictures in mid-July.<br />
Four new action films, "Santiago," "Foreign<br />
Intrigue," "The Fastest Gun Alive" and<br />
"Congo Crossing," opened during the week.<br />
1<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Astor— The Proud and Profane iPara), 4th .135<br />
Baronet—^Madame Butterfly (IFE), 11th wk .115<br />
Capitol Trapeie ,UA), 5th wk<br />
.140<br />
Criterion—^Moby Dick (WB)<br />
.250<br />
Fine Arts Rififi (UMPO), 5th wk<br />
.160<br />
80<br />
55th St. Bullfight (Janus)<br />
Fulton The King and I (20th-Fox) 170<br />
Globe Brute Force (U-l); Naked City (U-1), reissues,<br />
2nd wk 105<br />
Guild The Wild Oat (Carroll), 2nd wk 110<br />
Little Carnegie Simon and Laura (U-l) 120<br />
Loew s State Somebody Up There Likes Me<br />
(MGM) 150<br />
Mayfair The Greot Locomotive Chose (BV), 2nd<br />
wk<br />
Normondie Lost Horizon (Col), reissue, 3rd wk.<br />
115<br />
100<br />
Palace<br />
. .<br />
Three for Jamie Dawn (AA), plus vaude-..<br />
Paramount<br />
The Certoii ig (Para), 3rd wk.<br />
autiful (Kingsley),<br />
e (MGM) 7th wk..<br />
Radio City Music Hall Th<<br />
.<br />
Eddy Duchin Story<br />
(Col), plus sfoge show, 3rd<br />
Oklahoma! (Magna), 39th of two<br />
oil<br />
day<br />
Roxy The King nd t (20th-Fox), plus ice revue.<br />
2nd wk 200<br />
Sutton Moby Dick (WB) 225<br />
Trans-Lux 52nd St, Gaby (MGM), 9th wk 100<br />
Victoria<br />
Warner<br />
The Catered Affair (MGM), 4th wk...l05<br />
Seven Wonders of the World (SW),<br />
13th wk. of two-a-day 150<br />
World—Crowded Paradise (Tudor), 3rd wk 95<br />
Sunday Storm Puts Kayo<br />
On Buffalo <strong>Boxoffice</strong><br />
BUFFALO—For the second Sunday in a<br />
row, a terrific storm broke over Buffalo about<br />
7 p.m. and knocked the pins out from under<br />
Ixixoffice grosses on what is normally the<br />
best day of the week. Even the Barnum &<br />
Bailey circus had to cancel its Sunday night<br />
GOOD REASONS<br />
FOR<br />
ORDERING YOUR<br />
SPiCIAL<br />
TRAILERS<br />
performance. "Trapeze" hit 130 in its second<br />
stanza and "The King and I" tacked up a<br />
135 in it.s holdover engagement. "Santiago"<br />
turned in a 125 at the Paramount.<br />
Buffalo— Tropcic (UA) 130<br />
Center— The King and I (20th-Fox), 2nd wk 135<br />
Century The First Texan (AA) 95<br />
Cinemo The Lodykillers (Confl Dis.) 90<br />
Lafayette Congo Crossing (U-l) 80<br />
Porcmount Santiogo (WB) 125<br />
'Moby Dick'<br />
Smashes<br />
Baltimore Records<br />
BALTIMORE—The week's biggest business<br />
was chalked-up by "Moby Dick," breaking<br />
records of years' standing at the Stanley.<br />
The film enjoyed a remarkably strong opening<br />
and weekend crowds were capacity.<br />
"Trapeze" continued big in its second week.<br />
Otherwise, grosses were only average.<br />
Century Trapeze (UA), 2nd wk 175<br />
Film Centre Oklahoma! (Magna) 1 8th wk 95<br />
Hippodrome The Great Locomotive Chase (Buena<br />
Vista) 3rd wk 90<br />
Little Intermezzo (SRO) 90<br />
Moytair Toy Tiger (U-l) 95<br />
Playhouse Adorable Creatures (Cont'l), 5th wk.. . 90<br />
Stanley Moby Dick ( WB) 250<br />
Cinema The Noked Night (Times), 3rd wk 85<br />
Five West—The Lodykillers (Cont'l), 7th wk 85<br />
Town The Catered Affair (MGM) 1 00<br />
New—That Certain Feeling (Para), 2nd wk 85<br />
Pittsburgh's Best Gross<br />
Of Year on "Trapeze'<br />
PITTSBURGH—"Trapeze" turned in the<br />
best gross of the year at Loew's Penn and<br />
earned a holdover run. The Fulton's gross<br />
also was the year's best to date with "The<br />
King and I." The neighborhood theatres continued<br />
downward on the barometer and most<br />
of the area out-of-town grosses are very<br />
poor. Outdoor theatres here are experiencing<br />
their very poorest season to date.<br />
Horns A Kiss Before Dying (UA) 50<br />
Penn Trapeze (UA)<br />
Stanley Animal World (WB); Goodbye, My Lady<br />
185<br />
(WB) 70<br />
Galahad Starts 1st Film<br />
For RKO in Manhattan<br />
NEW YORK—Shooting on "Brave Tomorrow,<br />
the first Galahad Productions feature<br />
in a series of 12 to be made for RKO release,<br />
started Monday (9) at Production Center,<br />
Inc., the Manhattan studio owned by Hiram<br />
Brown, executive producer of Galahad.<br />
John Beal and Augusta Dabney, most recently<br />
on the Broadway stage and TV, and<br />
Shepperd Strudwick, who just completed a<br />
featured role in RKO's "Beyond a Reasonable<br />
Doubt," have the starring roles and John<br />
Newland, also from the TV field, is directing.<br />
Mende Brown is serving as executive in<br />
charge of production for Galahad.<br />
All of the 12 pictures which Galahad will<br />
make for RKO during the next three years<br />
will be made in New York with Broadway<br />
stage and TV talent.<br />
Dance on Concession Building<br />
PITTSBURGH—The concrete roof of the<br />
concession building at the Echo Drive-In<br />
60x110 ft., is being used every Monday and<br />
Thursday evening for free dancing from early<br />
evening until show time. The Sky Larks are<br />
featured and the music is amplified.<br />
BBKJa||^HC>
. . . Capt.<br />
. . June<br />
. . Malvin<br />
. . . Paul<br />
. . Robert<br />
. . Ralph<br />
. . Alfred<br />
GPE Now Free lo Bid<br />
For Graflex Control<br />
NEW YORK—A charter amendment increasing<br />
the authorized share of preference<br />
stock of General Precision Equipment Corp.<br />
from 25,000 to 1.500.000 and the authorized<br />
common shares from 2.000,000 to 3.500.000 was<br />
voted by stockholders Tuesday (10). The<br />
authorized preferred stock remains unchanged<br />
at 500.000 shares. Approximately 73 per cent<br />
of the outstanding common and preferred<br />
stock was voted in favor of the increases.<br />
GPE now is in a position to make an offer<br />
for the preferred and common stock of<br />
Graflex, Inc., of Rochester. N. Y. The proposed<br />
acquisition would involve the issue by GPE<br />
of up to 59.445 new preference shares and<br />
up to the same number of common shares. A<br />
registration statement covering the exchange<br />
offer was filed with the Securities and Exchange<br />
Commission June 20.<br />
GPE would issue one-quarter of a share<br />
of a new series of preference stock and onequarter<br />
of a share of common stock for each<br />
share of Graflex common stock accepted for<br />
exchange with each share of Graflex preferred<br />
stock being treated as if it were five<br />
shares of common stock.<br />
Shares of the new GPE preference stock<br />
would carry an annual cumulative dividend<br />
of $1.60 a share, be redeemable at $42 a share<br />
plus accrued dividends, and each share, at<br />
the owner's option, would be convertible into<br />
two-thirds of a share of GPE common stock.<br />
Graflex produces cameras and other equipment<br />
in the field of still photography. Its<br />
products are distributed nationally through<br />
dealers and branch offices in New York,<br />
Chicago and Hollywood. Net sales for 1955<br />
amounted to $11,310,000 and net income was<br />
$366,000. GPE sales in 1955 were $133,338,000<br />
and net income was $2,531,000.<br />
Sydney Gross Joins Times<br />
As Ad-Publicity Head<br />
NEW YORK—Sydney Gross, who was director<br />
of advertising and publicity for Film<br />
Classics until that company went out of<br />
business a few years ago, has joined Times<br />
Film Corp. as director of advertising, publicity<br />
and exploitation, according to Jean<br />
Goldwurm, president.<br />
Gross entered the industry as advertising-publicity<br />
head of the Rivoli Theatre before<br />
World War II. Since the demise of Film<br />
Classics, he has promoted national campaigns<br />
for various Israeli organizations. He<br />
resigned as public relations director for the<br />
American Technion Society to join Times.<br />
Adeline Padula Is Named<br />
Ampa Publicity Director<br />
NEW YORK—Adeline Padula of Endorsements,<br />
Inc.. has been made public relations<br />
and publicity director of the Associated Motion<br />
Picture Advertisers. David Bader is<br />
president. She will aid a committee headed<br />
by Bob Montgomery of Paramount in planning<br />
Ampa's 40th anniversary luncheon.<br />
Mrs. Steele Joins Ascap<br />
NEW YORK—Paul Cunningham, president<br />
of the American Society of Composers, Authors<br />
and Publishers, has reported the election<br />
of Mrs. Lois Steele of Chicago to the<br />
membership, which exceeds 4,000 persons.<br />
BROADWAy<br />
prank Sinatra will make a week of personal<br />
appearances at the Paramount Theatre,<br />
starting August 15 to launch the New York<br />
run nf hLs first independent picture. "Johnny<br />
Concho." a United Artists release. Frank will<br />
be reunited with Tommy Dorsey and his<br />
band on the Paramount stage, where the<br />
two made show business history back in<br />
1942 . . . Barry Nelson, who completed "The<br />
First Traveling Saleslady" for RKO, sailed<br />
.<br />
for Europe on the Mauretania July 11 to star<br />
in the London stage production of "No Time<br />
for Sergeants" Havoc, recently in<br />
Allied Artists "Three for Jamie Dawn," and<br />
Wanda Hale, New York Daily News film<br />
critic, sailed for Europe on the Flandre July<br />
12 . . . Chill Wills, featured in "Santiago,"<br />
made personal appearances in the Paramount<br />
Theatre lobby on opening day, Friday (13).<br />
Vincent Trotta, art director and head of<br />
Trotta Associates, has again been named to<br />
head the panel of judges to select "Mi.ss<br />
Universe" of 1956-57 in the International<br />
Beauty Congress, to be held in Long Beach,<br />
Calif., July 15-22. Trotta has headed the<br />
"Miss America" contest judges in Atlantic<br />
City for the past 16 years . Warshaw,<br />
who has managed theatres for United<br />
Paramount in Buffalo. Phoenix and Poughkeepsie<br />
from 1950 to 1956, has been named<br />
director of the educational division of Artists-<br />
Producers Associates by A. W. Schwalberg . . .<br />
John J. Conway, nephew of the late John<br />
J., has been named New York City sales<br />
manager for National Ticket Co. in the Palace<br />
Theatre building . . . Norman Wright, associate<br />
producer of John Sutherland Productions,<br />
has arrived from the coast to be permanently<br />
located in the New York office.<br />
Robert Aldrich, who has completed "The<br />
Fragile Fox" for United Artists release, is<br />
in New York for home office conferences . . .<br />
Arthur Mayer, special promotion consultant<br />
on "War and Peace" for Paramount, went<br />
to Washington to appear on two TV programs,<br />
a radio show and a Lions Club<br />
luncheon to promote the picture Friday (13)<br />
Harold Auten. American representative<br />
of Greater Union Theatres. Australia,<br />
arrived on the Queen Elizabeth July 10 following<br />
his participation in official receptions<br />
by Her Majesty's Government for holders<br />
MEETING THE STAR—Pier Angeli,<br />
star of MOM'S "Somebody Up There Lilies<br />
Me," is greeted in tlie lobby of Loew's<br />
State Theatre, where she appeared in<br />
person on opening day, by, left to right:<br />
Dan Terrell, MGM publicity director;<br />
Jim Bruno, manager of Loew's State, and<br />
Ernest Emerling, director of advertising<br />
and publicity for Loew's Theatres.<br />
of the Victoria Cross . . . Bernice Livingston,<br />
publicity director of United Motion Picture<br />
Organization, left for Europe . Katz,<br />
public relations consultant for Figaro, Inc.,<br />
returned from Vietnam July 11 after obtaining<br />
President Dlem's a.ssurance of government<br />
assistance on "The Quiet American"<br />
filming.<br />
Jesse Chinich, western division manager of<br />
Buena Vista Film Distributing Co., left July<br />
9 for .'ales meetings in Seattle, San Francisco<br />
and Los Angeles . Budd, director<br />
of personnel for Warner Bros., delivered his<br />
50th lecture on "What Is a Motion Picture"<br />
at the Kiwanis Club in Schenectady July 11<br />
Bracco, chief electrician at the Paramount<br />
Theatre, became a grandfather this<br />
week when his daughter, Mrs. Richard Jennison.<br />
gave birth to a baby girl at New Rochelle<br />
Hospital . Blo&som. protege of<br />
Carmel Myers, has won the Obie (Off-Broadway)<br />
award for his performance in "The<br />
Village Wooing," this being the third prize<br />
for a Myers' protege.<br />
William Dozier, RKO vice-president in<br />
. . . Jean Goldwurm.<br />
charge of production, left Hollywood Saturday<br />
( 14 1 for New York for four days<br />
conferences with Daniel T. O'Shea,<br />
of<br />
RKO<br />
president, on forthcoming productions . . .<br />
William German left for Europe Thursday<br />
(12) to look over production in France and<br />
Germany. E. F. Hutchinson, managing director<br />
of Paramount Film Service. Ltd.. sailed<br />
for Europe on the Queen Elizabeth with Mrs.<br />
Hutchinson the same day<br />
president of Times Films, was on the<br />
same boat . . . Gerry Dolin, executive musical<br />
director of Esther Williams' Aqua Spectacle,<br />
flew to London July 10 for the July 30<br />
opening there.<br />
. . . Anita<br />
Rita Hayworth, Jack Lemmon and Robert<br />
Mitchum arrived in New York July 9 after<br />
vacation filming in Trinidad, accompanied<br />
by A. R. Broccoli, co-producer. Miss Hayworth<br />
flew to London the following day to do interior<br />
scenes and Lemmon and Mitchum<br />
planed out Wednesday (11) . Jes-se Royce<br />
. .<br />
Landis. stage actress, went to Hollywood<br />
July 8 to play in RKO's "I Married a Woman,"<br />
as mother of Diana Dors<br />
Ekberg, featured in "War and Peace." and<br />
her new actor-husband, Anthony Steele, flew<br />
in from England July 8.<br />
SPG of N. Y. Officers<br />
Installed for 2 Years<br />
NEW YORK—Martin Blau. newly elected<br />
president of the Screen Publicists Guild, and<br />
other new officers were installed Wednesday<br />
night (11). Blau, of Columbia Pictures, succeeds<br />
Harry Hochfeld of 20th Century-Fox<br />
who served three terms as president.<br />
Other officers elected by the SPG were<br />
Edwin Altechuh, Warner Brothers, vicepresident,<br />
and Henry Kelly, 20th Century-<br />
Fox, secretary. All will serve for two-year<br />
terms.<br />
The new- SPG executive board, in addition<br />
to the officers, consists of Sheldon Roskln<br />
and Herman Silver, Columbia: Leo Israel and<br />
Nat Wei.ss. 20th-Fox; Pete Gute and Jack<br />
Kingsley, Warners; Robert Berenson, MGM;<br />
Burt Sloane, United Artists, and Al Cohen,<br />
Universal.<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: July 14. 1956 31
. . Nick<br />
—<br />
. . Pizza-Puff<br />
. . Henry<br />
. . Max<br />
. . Johnny<br />
ALBANY<br />
fll LaKlamnie lias resigned as nianasor ol<br />
the Stanley Warner Strand to put in full<br />
lime at<br />
the new Unadilla Drive-In. UnadiUa.<br />
in which he is a<br />
partner with Johnny<br />
Gardner, owner of<br />
Turnpike Drive-In,<br />
West mere. The veteran<br />
manager originally<br />
planned to resume direction<br />
of the Strand,<br />
following a two-weelc<br />
vacation and a month's<br />
leave of absence. La-<br />
Flamme started as<br />
doorman at the<br />
Stanley, Utica. in 1928.<br />
.•\l LaFIamme jje became manaKor of<br />
the Strand in 1948 and he helped to make<br />
the 1.900-seater a flagship of Stanley Warner<br />
circuit. Steve Barbett, who has been in<br />
temporary charge of the Strand, is slated<br />
to return to management of the Broadway,<br />
Lawrence. Mass. The assistant manager of the<br />
Strand is George Hogan, who had been John<br />
Brousseau's aide at the Delaware, SW art<br />
house darkened until September.<br />
The Auto-Vision, East Greenbush, rolled<br />
back the pages of time, with advertisements<br />
for a gala anniversary show to highlight<br />
its 17th bii-thday. The Auto-Vision was<br />
the first airer built in the Albany exchange<br />
district, the first upstate, and one of the<br />
first in New York State. A pair of Massachusetts<br />
projectionists constructed and operated<br />
it in pre-World War II days, and for<br />
a time later. Alan V. Iselin is the present<br />
owner. Like his predecessors, he is reputed<br />
to have garnered fine profits . "Away All<br />
. .<br />
Boats" will be launched in August in key<br />
situations of the exchange district wath close<br />
Navy cooperation. Cmdr. Frederick Lovell,<br />
in charge of the Navy recruiting stations for<br />
the Albany district, is arranging with U-I<br />
Manager N rman Weitman for the display of<br />
an amphibious duck at the Strand August 8.<br />
There probably will be a parade and the<br />
presentation by U-I on the theatre stage of<br />
an award to a local Navy hero. The Naval<br />
Reserve will work on this angle. Through a<br />
stroke of good luck, a 119-foot landing craft<br />
utility boat, with a display of guided missiles<br />
and other devices, is to dock at Waterford<br />
near Troy for a 36-hour inspection by the<br />
public August 13-14.<br />
.<br />
Brookhaven Amusement Co. has been<br />
formed to conduct business in Babylon, Suffolk<br />
County. Bernard Sterler, 51 Kine Ave.,<br />
Babylon, is an incorporator Di-<br />
Marco's Love Star Theatre in Cairo uses<br />
an arresting cut for its newspaper copy<br />
cupid shooting an arrow at a heart . . .<br />
Jackie Miller. 3'2-year-old son of Sandy<br />
Miller, associated with his father Joe, in<br />
the operation of Menands Drive-In, is master<br />
of an exceptional vocabulary.<br />
. . . Louis<br />
Totals reported for the Variety Club's recent<br />
15th annual golf tournament and dinner<br />
at Shaker Ridge Country Club: 94 players,<br />
206 diners. Turnout broke all records, according<br />
to committee chairmen<br />
W. Schine and Donald Schine of Gloversville<br />
visited radio station WPTR in the<br />
Sheraton-Ten Eyck Hotel. It's a Schine<br />
operation. Incidentally, the general manager.<br />
Leo Rosen, was reported making steady<br />
recoviry at St. Peter's Hospital from a heart<br />
attack. He was removed from an oxygen tent.<br />
Members of the Albany County Restaurant<br />
Liquor Dealers A.ss'n held their annual<br />
outing Tuesday at the Variety Club's Camp<br />
Thacher on Thompson's Lake. The group<br />
dedicated the boathouse which it had donated<br />
to the Camp. The group has cooperated<br />
with Tent 9 on fund drives for the mountain<br />
camp during the past seven years.<br />
The new 600-car drive-in on Route 9-W<br />
ten miles south of Albany was to be opened<br />
on Friday the 13lh by Sylvester Albano. His<br />
sons John, Michael and Robert are associated<br />
in the operation . Gardner<br />
offered free ice cream to the first 400 kiddies<br />
at Turnpike Drive-In, Westmere, on a<br />
Friday .<br />
is a new item on<br />
sale at Tri-state Automatic Candy Corp.<br />
drive-in concession stands of the Albany area.<br />
. . . Mrs.<br />
It comes frozen; is heated in the French<br />
fryer and is marketed for 25 cents<br />
Sara Young, 20th-Fox booker in Washington<br />
and correspondent for BOXOFFICE there<br />
and mother of Dick Young, local 20th-Fox<br />
date setter, will take a vacation in Florida.<br />
The shortage of good product is seriously<br />
hurting drive-ins, declared Harry Lamont,<br />
owner of five such theatres. "I am scraping<br />
the bottom of the barrel," he said. "Seldom<br />
before has the situation been so bad. My earlier<br />
predictions and expectations this would<br />
be a fine season outdoors are proving wrong.<br />
It's not the weather, although that was unfavorable<br />
in the spring, but the lack of sufficient<br />
pictures with boxoffice appeal, which<br />
is crimping drive-in business." Lamont spoke<br />
pessimistically of outdoor prospects for 1956.<br />
"The economic level of the country is very<br />
high, and I would like to share in it at my<br />
drive-ins," asserted Lamont. "When you<br />
play a good picture, you rake in money, but,<br />
unfortunately, there are few in that category<br />
today for drive-ins. It's discouraging. I don't<br />
know how to rectify the situation, other than<br />
to suggest that the distributing companies<br />
spread their releases more evenly."<br />
SYRACUSE<br />
fJarry Unterfort, zone manager for Schine<br />
Theatres, and wife were vacationing on<br />
Cape Cod, East Brewster, Mass. En route they<br />
stopped at Tanglewood. Recent guests of the<br />
Underforts were Mr. and Mrs. Lazare Gelin<br />
of New Rochelle Berinstein is<br />
.<br />
operating Cornell Theatres while his parents<br />
are attending a convention in Hawaii. Marvin<br />
Coon, manager of the Eckel, is through relieving<br />
in Oswego and is substituting in<br />
Gloversville for John Corbett, formerly at<br />
the Syracuse Paramount.<br />
Gene Mielnicki, assistant manager of Loew's<br />
State, announced a good advance sale of<br />
tickets for the "11 Record Stars of '56" given<br />
at tw'o performances Friday night (13 > ...<br />
Sol Sorkin, manager of RKO Keiths, arranged<br />
a promotion with the Post-Standard to give<br />
away tickets to "Santiago" to carrier boys<br />
w^ho won the This Week magazine contest<br />
for the newspaper Rubin, manager<br />
.<br />
of Schine's Paramount, hosted a special<br />
evening showing of "The King and I" to<br />
which public officials and press were guests.<br />
IFE Release Is Winner<br />
Of 2 Awards in Rome<br />
HOME, ITALY -"Roman Talcs" (Racconti<br />
Romanii, Italian-made feature in Cinemascope<br />
and Technicolor, which IFE Releasing<br />
Corp. will distribute in the U. S., has captured<br />
two "Golden Davids" in the first presentation<br />
of the new awards in Rome.<br />
The "Golden David" awards will be made<br />
annually to the best Italian and foreign films<br />
shown in Italy and are presented by the International<br />
Cinema Club of Rome. "Roman<br />
Tales," which stars Silvana Pampanini,<br />
Vittorio De Sica and Toto, was directed by<br />
Gianni Franciolini, who won one of the<br />
awards for "best direction of an Italian film."<br />
"Symphony of Love," a Technicolor feature<br />
based on the life and works of Franz<br />
Schubert, also will be distributed in the U. S.<br />
by IFE. Marina Vlady, Lucia Bose and<br />
Claude Laydu as Schubert are featured. A<br />
fall release is planned.<br />
Italian Week July 16<br />
To Honor 'La Strada'<br />
NEW YORK—Count Leonardo Vitetti, new<br />
Italian ambassador to the U. S., has designated<br />
the week of July 16 as "Italian Film<br />
Week" to honor the opening of "La Strada,"<br />
grand prize winner of the 1954 Venice Film<br />
Festival, at the Trans-Lux 52nd St. Theatre.<br />
Trans-Lux Distributing is handling the<br />
American release of the picture, which stars<br />
Anthony Quinn and Richard Basehart.<br />
Count Vitetti will play host to delegates<br />
from the United Nations at the opening<br />
July 16.<br />
Two other film openings at Manhattan's<br />
art houses later in July are: "The Phantom<br />
Horse," Japanese film distributed by Edward<br />
Harrison, which will open at the Normandy<br />
Theatre July 23, and "Secrets of the Reef,"<br />
a nature adventure in Eastman color, a<br />
Butterfield & Wolf production, which will<br />
open July 23 at the Baronet Theatre.<br />
Herbert Wilcox to Make<br />
Three for DCA Release<br />
NEW YORK—Herbert S. Wilcox. British<br />
film producer, announced prior to his departure<br />
for London that he will make three<br />
feature films for release by Distributors Corp.<br />
of America. The films will be produced in<br />
Great Britain within the next nine months.<br />
DCA will invest $1,000,000 in the productions.<br />
The three films, "Yangtse Incident," "The<br />
Battle" and "Eastern Approaches," will have<br />
an over-all production budget of over $3,000.-<br />
000. The first, starring Richard Todd, will<br />
start in London next month for release by<br />
Christmas. The others will be made later.<br />
Steelworkers in Free<br />
At Albany Drive-In<br />
ALBANY—The Rustic Drive-In, near West<br />
Sand Lake, broke copy July 11 on free admissions<br />
for steelworkers and their families<br />
Monday through Thursday for the duration<br />
of the current strike. William Donato heads<br />
the operation. Seventeen hundred production<br />
workers of the Allegheny-Ludlum Steel Corp.<br />
in Watervliet and of the Republic Steel Corp.<br />
in Troy are on strike. Some 600 office employes<br />
of Allegheny-Ludlum, continue at<br />
work.<br />
32<br />
BOXOFFICE July 14, 1956
. . Arthur<br />
. . Past<br />
. . The<br />
Global Sales Drive Plans<br />
Outlined by 20th-Fox<br />
CHICAGO—Plans for a "world showmanship<br />
drive" by 20th Century-Fox's domestic<br />
and international organizations were outlined<br />
at a meeting here on Thursday (12) by Alex<br />
Harrison, general sales manager. The sessions<br />
were held for the midwest and central districts<br />
and were the first of a series to be held<br />
in the next few weeks.<br />
The 26-week sales drive will be split into<br />
two 13-week periods. Bonuses and special<br />
prizes will be awarded. The sales push will<br />
be on "The King and I," "Bigger Than Life,"<br />
"Bus Stop." "The Last Wagon," "The Best<br />
Things in Life Are Free," "Anastasia," "Teen-<br />
Age Rebel" and "The Wayward Bus."<br />
Attending the sessions were T. O. Mc-<br />
Cleaster, central district manager; M. A.<br />
Levy, midwest district manager, and branch<br />
managers Tom R. Gilliam, Chicago; Robert<br />
C. McNabb, Cincinnati; I. J. Schmertz, Cleveland;<br />
Joe J. Lee, Detroit; Ray Schmertz,<br />
Indianapolis; David Gold. Des Moines; Joseph<br />
R. Neger, Kansas City; Jack Lorentz. Milwaukee;<br />
Saul Malisow, Minneapolis; George<br />
Regan, Omaha, and William C. Gehring jr.,<br />
St. Louis. Also in attendance was Robert<br />
Conn, assistant branch manager in Chicago.<br />
'Marty' Will Be Shown<br />
Behind Iron Curtain<br />
NEW YORK — United Artists' release,<br />
"Marty" will be the first major American<br />
feature to have a public showing in a nation<br />
behind the Iron Curtain in a decade, according<br />
to word received by Harold Hecht and<br />
Burt Lancaster, producers of the film, in<br />
New York.<br />
"Marty," which has won the Hollywood<br />
Academy Award, the Grand Prix of the Cannes<br />
Film Festival and the British Film Academy<br />
Award, will be presented "out of competition"<br />
at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, Czechoslovakia,<br />
July 21 at the invitation of the<br />
Czechoslovakia State Films.<br />
Pepsi-Cola Will Build<br />
On Park Ave. Location<br />
NEW YORK—The Pepsi-Cola Co. has<br />
bought the building at 500 Park Ave., at 59th<br />
Street, from the city for $2,000,000 at public<br />
auction and will replace the nine-story<br />
structure with one to house its present New<br />
York headquarters at 3 West 57th St.<br />
Pepsi-Cola outbid several rivals for the<br />
property, ow-ned by the city since 1890, with<br />
a winning bid which topped the $1,925,-<br />
000 bid made by Lazarus Joseph, former city<br />
controller for a real estate syndicate headed<br />
by Samuel H. Golding.<br />
AA Will Distribute 3<br />
Features During July<br />
NEW YORK—Allied Artists will release<br />
three features during July, according to<br />
Morey R. Goldstein, vice-president and general<br />
sales manager.<br />
They are: "Three for Jamie Dawn," starring<br />
Laraine Day and Ricardo Montalban,<br />
which was released July 8; "Magnificent<br />
Roughnecks," starring Mickey Rooney and<br />
Jack Carson, to be released July 22, and<br />
"Hold Back the Night," starring John Payne<br />
and Mona Freeman, to be released July 29.<br />
BUFFALO<br />
TXrhethcr the city of Buffalo will step in<br />
to save the Erlanger Theatre depends<br />
on one question: Is it le.ss expensive to expand<br />
Kleinhans Music Hall for stage productions<br />
or acquire the Erlanger by condemnation?<br />
The council's finance committee<br />
hopes to have the answer in two weeks.<br />
This was decided after<br />
the committee heard<br />
a request from William Raikin. executive<br />
vice-president of Foundation Theatre, Inc.,<br />
that the city take over the Erlanger. Raikin<br />
said that Buffalo is "a red hot show town"<br />
and if the Erlanger was properly promoted,<br />
it would be a profitable venture. In reply<br />
to questions by council pre.sident William B.<br />
Lawless jr., Raikin said his foundation would<br />
be willing to accept a long-term lease for<br />
a city-owned Erlanger and operate the<br />
theatre on a nonprofit basis, paying back<br />
to the city the cost of acquisition. Lawless<br />
said acquisition of the Erlanger, through<br />
outright purchase or condemnation, would<br />
cost the city about $200,000 or $250,000.<br />
The new Wehrle Drive-In at Transit road<br />
and Wehrle drive is using large space ads<br />
in the Williamsville Bee, the town from which<br />
the outdoorer draws a very large part of its<br />
patronage . Krolick, district manager<br />
for Paramount Theatres, was vacationing<br />
with his family on Cape Cod.<br />
The Cinema Theatre in Rochester, recently<br />
taken over by Martros Theatres, is<br />
presenting "Gaby" on a new Cinemascope<br />
screen, about which Manager John Martina<br />
got plenty of publicity in the local sheets . . .<br />
There's one straw hat theatre that you do<br />
not have to drive out to the country to visit.<br />
It is right within the Buffalo city limits.<br />
'Secrets of Reef Booked<br />
At Reade's Baronet, NY<br />
NEW YORK—"Secrets of the Reef," a Butterfield<br />
& Wolf production filmed in Eastman<br />
Color off the coast of Florida, will have its<br />
first U. S. showing at the Baronet Theatre,<br />
New York, following the current engagement<br />
of "Madame Butterfly," according to Walter<br />
Reade jr., president of Reade Theatres, which<br />
operates the theatre.<br />
The full-length nature story was produced<br />
by Alfred Butterfield and directed and photographed<br />
by Lloyd Ritter, Robert Young and<br />
Murray Lerner. Narration is by Joseph Julian.<br />
New Drive-In at Buffalo<br />
BUFFALO—The new Sheridan Drive-In<br />
on Sheridan Drive near the Grand Island<br />
bridge was opened on Sunday (8). Boasting<br />
one of the largest screens in the state and<br />
accommodating 1,600 cars, the Sheridan is<br />
owned and operated by Irving Cohen and<br />
Harry Seeberg. Sid Cohen, brother of Irving,<br />
is managing the theatre.<br />
National Theatres Dividend<br />
LOS ANGELES—At a meeting held<br />
Wednesday (5) the board of directors of<br />
National Theatres, Inc., declared a quarterly<br />
dividend of 12'i cents per share on the outstanding<br />
common stock of the corporation.<br />
The dividend is payable Aug 2,<br />
1956, to stockholders<br />
of record at the close of business on<br />
July 19. 1956.<br />
It is known as the Theatre Arts Academy,<br />
Inc., and is operated by Arthur G. MllllKan<br />
Jr. at 2265 Seneca St. Milligan's a,ssociates<br />
are James E. Murphy, Charles D. Poth and<br />
Mike M. Reuther. Frank J. Lombardo is<br />
stage manager . Chief Barker Billy<br />
Keaton of the Variety Club has added an<br />
afternoon DJ radio program to his WXRA<br />
schedule. He is on each early morning with<br />
his Mr. and Mrs. show.<br />
Filmore Enterprises, the company headed<br />
by Morris Slotnick and Phil Cohen, is retaining<br />
ownership of the buildings housing<br />
the Cinema theatres in Buffalo and Rochester,<br />
the operation of which recently was<br />
taken over by Martros Theatres under a 15-<br />
year lease. Slotnick said his company now<br />
will concentrate in the real estate field. The<br />
firm proposes to build a medical office<br />
building on the site of the Arnett Theatre<br />
in Rochester.<br />
John Springer, ex-Rochesterian, who long<br />
has held an important position in the RKO<br />
offices in New York, is the author of a newbook<br />
dealing with the entertainment world.<br />
"This Was Show Business." It is published<br />
in film magazine form by Pine Publications<br />
of New York . annual Rochester<br />
police ball and stage show is the creation of<br />
Lester Pollock, manager of Loew's Theatre<br />
in Kodak Town. Pollock, however, is just<br />
one of the many private citizens, under the<br />
chairmanship of Carl S. Hallauer, president<br />
of Bausch & Lomb, who aid in staging the<br />
ball in behalf of the Rochester Police Benevolent<br />
Ass'n. This year's ball, held May<br />
29, was a huge success. Sammy Kaye and his<br />
orchestra played for the dancing and Jaye<br />
P. Morgan headed the vaudeville bill.<br />
Chicago and Milwaukee<br />
Denied Bid for Pay-TV<br />
WASHINGTON—A bid for authority to<br />
inaugurate pay-TV in Chicago and Milwaukee<br />
was denied by the Federal Communications<br />
Commission this week. Lou Poller, who holds<br />
the permit for channel 25 station WCAN-TV<br />
in Milwaukee and said he intended to buy the<br />
proposed channel 44 station WOPT in Chicago,<br />
had asked for immediate authority to<br />
install the service on a 25 per cent of airtime<br />
basis.<br />
The FCC turned down the bid because the<br />
Commission is still studying pay-as-you-see<br />
TV, and tests which have been permitted<br />
were on a noncommercial basis.<br />
COMPO Praises Paper<br />
For New Series of Ads<br />
NEW YORK—Publication by the New York<br />
Journal-American of a series of banner lines<br />
urging people to attend motion picture theatres<br />
has been praised by Robert W. Coyne<br />
of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations.<br />
He said other newspapers throughout<br />
the country should follow suit.<br />
One recent ad dealt with the lack of traffic<br />
problems, no sunburn, air conditioning<br />
and wide choice of entertainment.<br />
John Derek in 'Showdown Creek'<br />
John Derek has been signed by the Bob<br />
Goldstein Productions for the stellar spot<br />
in United Artists' "Showdown Creek."<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: July 14, 1956<br />
33
. . Pete<br />
. . Joe<br />
. . The<br />
. . Joseph<br />
. . Morris<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
.<br />
. .<br />
. . Princess<br />
PITTSBURGH<br />
nssociated circuit officials report they are<br />
very pleased with their newly iiUrociuced<br />
"Charpe-n-Movle" plan . Manos. Indiana.<br />
Fa., theatre executive of the Manos<br />
c rcuit was back home after being hospitalized<br />
at Cleveland,<br />
Joe Mulone, Cheswick exhibitor, who constructed<br />
dozens of CinemaScope screen<br />
frames to specifications for Stanley Warner<br />
circuit and other circuit and independent<br />
oxhibitors. now is busy with the making of<br />
even larger screen frames for Todd-American<br />
Optical exhibitions. Presently he is constructing<br />
one for the Brown Theatre, Louisville,<br />
Ky. Mulone assembled the materials<br />
and accessories for the Todd-AO screen for<br />
the local Nixon where "Oklahoma!' is being<br />
shown on a roadshow basis, and his wife<br />
Molly drove the truck to deliver it. Joe's<br />
Miami Theatre at Springdale. near Cheswick,<br />
is dark. He constructed the beautiful Cheswick<br />
Theatre himself, with a.ssistance only<br />
en the roof construction. In recent years he<br />
sold his grocery store and since has devoted<br />
most of his time to building widescreen<br />
frames after first building one for his Cheswick<br />
Theatre, which in turn had exhibitor.s<br />
begging him to make one for them.<br />
Ben and Irene Stahl are vacationing at<br />
Wildwood N. J. Ben is the well known Atlas<br />
Theatre Supply representative . Mazzei.<br />
M Uvale exhibitor who served the FBI<br />
as an undercover agent, departed for Miami<br />
to testify again in a communist litigation.<br />
He was there only two weeks ago with his<br />
son.<br />
. . .<br />
Kathryn Bates is the new secretary at the<br />
Associated circuit office on Filmrow and<br />
The<br />
Leila Her is the new stenographer<br />
Alpme Theatre, Punxsutawney, closed for the<br />
summer. The Jefferson Theatre there also<br />
dark ...CM. Ducray of the Sunset Beach<br />
theatre on Route<br />
is<br />
swimming pool and drive-in<br />
40, seven miles from Washington, Pa., reports<br />
more damage there in another flash<br />
flood last Sunday evening. It was the second<br />
flood there within two weeks . . , Mrs. Hollis<br />
Hayes, Linesville theatre owner, was a Filmrow<br />
visitor.<br />
Paramount Weeks are announced from July<br />
25 through August 7 as part of the George<br />
Weltner drive . , . Joanne Douglas, former<br />
actress, is the new secretary for the Variety<br />
Tent 1.<br />
The Squirrel Hill Theatre had kiddies on<br />
downtown streets with all-day sucker handouts<br />
exploiting "Lovers and Lollipops" . . . Bill<br />
Brcoker, who used to be with Paramount, was<br />
here to get in a lick or two for Columbia's<br />
"The Eddy Duchin Story."<br />
Martha Scott will exploit "The Ten Commandments"<br />
here July 28 when she will assist<br />
in presenting a 2,000-pound stone monolith,<br />
engraved with the Ten Commandments,<br />
.<br />
.<br />
to the City, The presentation, made by the<br />
Fraternal Order of Eagles, will climax the<br />
Eagle's national convention here. The monolith<br />
. . .<br />
will be installed in Gateway Park The Warren Danas are parent-s of a daughter.<br />
Grandpop is Pete Dana. U-I executive<br />
There has been an increase in the family of<br />
Bob Munn. Moundsville exhibitor. The<br />
daughter has been named Jessie Lou<br />
John Gardner of the Airport Drive-In. Short<br />
Creek; Grove Drive-In, Elm Grove, and the<br />
Riverside Drive-In. Rayland, Ohio, all in<br />
the Wheeling area, has moved from Elm<br />
Grove into his new home in Forest Hills.<br />
Wheeling.<br />
Newspapers here hammer out interviews<br />
with children of the steel strikers who have<br />
given up movies and dances for the duration.<br />
Also they print chats with kiddies who<br />
is on a cruise to Nassau . , .<br />
. .<br />
Sylvia Goldman, SW circuit office, vacationed<br />
don't go to the movies because of television . .<br />
in White Plains with her sister and brotherin-law,<br />
the Ben Kalmensons, and now she<br />
Reissue of "Citizen<br />
Kane" was a fast flop in the Squirrel<br />
Hill Theatre . Janice Norris, Playhouse<br />
musical starlet who will be 16 in September,<br />
has been signed to a seven-year option by<br />
Herb (SW artist) Waltons are<br />
RKO .<br />
vacationing in New England.<br />
BALTIMORE<br />
IJal Colley. publicist for the Century and<br />
NeW', had Princess Rudivoravan of Thailand<br />
in town for promotion on "The King<br />
And I" opening at the New. She made TV<br />
and radio appearances . Mechanic,<br />
owner of the Century, was host this week to<br />
his brother Bill and family from Miami,<br />
where Bill owns the New Essex House.<br />
Frank Hurley, member of the "Oklahoma!"<br />
boxoffice staff at the Film Centre, took off<br />
for New York to see ten Broadway shows<br />
in eight days . . . Irving Kantor, manager of<br />
the Hippodrome, returned from a vacation<br />
in Florida . Liberto jr.. assistant<br />
at the Stanley, was vacationing . . . Lea Coulter,<br />
manager, has installed a new art exhibit<br />
in the Five West Theatre.<br />
.<br />
Helen Leonard, secretary at the Town and<br />
Hippodrome, returned from vacation<br />
Henry Jones, manager of the Town, and<br />
wife are expecting a blessed event in August<br />
Mrs. Helen Diering, secretary to the<br />
. . . Maryland Motion Picture Theatre Owners<br />
Ass'n, is reading travel literature, prior to a<br />
motor trip through northern states.<br />
Jacon Film Bookings<br />
NEW YORK—"Forbidden Cargo," British<br />
film being distributed by Jacon Film Distributors,<br />
has been booked at the MacArthur Theatre,<br />
Washington. D. C. July 18, and the<br />
Brooklyn Paramount, New York City, August<br />
8, according to Bernard Jacon, president.<br />
August bookings have also been set in Cincinnati,<br />
Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Detroit.<br />
PHILADELPHIA<br />
Oov. George M. Leader has appointed Ted<br />
Schlanger. Stanley Warner Philadelphia<br />
zone manager, a commissioner of the Delaware<br />
River Port Authority. Philadelphia is<br />
the second largest port in America. Schlanger<br />
was appointed for a five year term to fill a<br />
vacancy on the bi-state commission. He is<br />
the first representative of the motion picture<br />
industry to receive such an honor. Schlanger.<br />
as zone manager for Stanley Warner is in<br />
charge of the company's theatres in Eastern<br />
Pennsylvania. Southern New Jersey and Delaware.<br />
Four persons, including a young Navy<br />
mother and two of her three children, lost<br />
theh- lives on Sunday i8) when two cars<br />
collided on Route 40, at the entrance of a<br />
drive-in theatre one mile east of Elkton,<br />
Md. . Rudivorian, whose husband<br />
is finance minister of Thailand, was in town<br />
to help promote the opening of "The King<br />
and I" at the Fox Theatre. The Princess<br />
works for the Voice of America. "The King<br />
and I" is at>out the princess' grandfather,<br />
and the Englishwoman who went to Siam to<br />
tutor his many children.<br />
. . . Harry<br />
Kendrick Packer, former assistant manager<br />
of Paris in New York, is the new manager<br />
of the World Theatre here<br />
Green, former World manager, has joined<br />
George A. Hamid. Atlantic City exhibitor . . .<br />
Variety Club's Johnny Night baseball game<br />
is now being arranged. Proceeds are to help<br />
club's camp for handicapped children.<br />
Reade Returns to Helm<br />
Of Hudson, N. Y„ Theatres<br />
NEWARK—The management of the Community<br />
and Warren theatres in Hudson. N.<br />
Y., has been resumed by Walter Reade<br />
Theatres, terminating leases with Henry H.<br />
Freider and Henry Grossman. Walter Reade<br />
jr. announced:<br />
"We have been trying to reacquire these<br />
theatres for several years. The Community<br />
is one of the flagships of the circuit. We<br />
leased it in 1941 because it was virtually impossible,<br />
due to manpower problems and<br />
physical distances from our home office, to<br />
give it the proper supervision and management.<br />
Now that these difficulties are no<br />
longer a factor, we are delighted that e<br />
have been able to work out the details with<br />
Messrs. Freider and Grossman in order for<br />
us to resume management."<br />
The Community, a 1,419-seat theatre, was<br />
built by Walter Reade sr. along the architectural<br />
lines which have now become a<br />
trademark of the Reade circuit—the full<br />
length massive white pillars and red brick<br />
facade resemble a school or public building<br />
rather than the usual theatre front.<br />
The Community will be managed by<br />
George Kemble, who has been manager of<br />
the circuit's New York de luxe art house,<br />
the Baronet, for the past year.<br />
SAM FINEBERG<br />
TOM McCLEARY<br />
JIM ALEXANDER<br />
84 Van Braam Street<br />
PITTSBURGH 19, PA.<br />
Phone Express 1-0777<br />
Betttf Thiti E»er H»w't Your EoulDmntr<br />
New Airer at Wampum, Pa.<br />
WAMPUM, PA.—A new outdoor theatre is<br />
being constructed by John Fontanella, three<br />
miles north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike<br />
exit at the Beaver Valley interchange. The<br />
capacity is reported to be around 400 and the<br />
new ozoner is expected to be opened in September.<br />
WANT TO SELL OR LEASE<br />
YOuR DRIVE-IN THEATRE?<br />
(Hove buyers waiting)<br />
"M R T ENGLAND"<br />
85 Van Braam St. Pillsbiiroh 19, Pa. AT 1-1760<br />
Licensed Theatre Brolier Correspondence Confidential<br />
34 BOXOFFICE July 14, 1956
. . The<br />
. . Ivan<br />
. . Dorothy<br />
. . Booker<br />
. . Ditto<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
. . The<br />
;<br />
WASHINGTON<br />
•The WOMPI Club of Washington, at its July<br />
luncheon meeting in the Continental<br />
Hotel, voted to hold the next two luncheon<br />
meetings at Rector's restaurant, 149 Independence<br />
Ave. SE. in the hopes of getting a larger<br />
turnout. Subscription books were distributed<br />
to all members to raise funds to send seven<br />
children to the Cardiac Camp this summer.<br />
Mrs. Madeline Ackerman presided.<br />
Variety Tent 11 welcomed David B. Karrick,<br />
new commissioner, as a member at a<br />
luncheon in his honor, attended by the club<br />
board of governors. Also present were commissioners<br />
Robert E. McLaughlin and Brig.<br />
General Thomas A. Lane, who are members<br />
of Variety. The boaj-d will meet at noon<br />
during August and September instead of in<br />
the evening . Kolinsky, Variety<br />
secretary, plans to spend her vacation in<br />
Atlantic City . . . Tent 11 officers were busy<br />
with plans for the welfare awards drive, the<br />
golf tournament and the annual dinner<br />
dance.<br />
Ira Sichelman, 20th-Fox manager, and wife<br />
hosted a lawn party last Saturday night on<br />
the occasion of the confirmation of their- son<br />
Lewis Ken. Guests from out of town included<br />
Mr. and Mrs. David Rosenthal, UA manager,<br />
Cleveland: Mrs. Jack Sichelman, mother of<br />
Ira; Dr. Jesse Sichelman and family; Mrs.<br />
Ann Fishman Davis, and Mr. and Mrs. Glenn<br />
Norris . . . Booker's secretary Elaine Epstein<br />
celebrated a birthday .<br />
Sara Young<br />
is spending a vacation in Albany, N. Y., and<br />
Cape Cod, Mass. Her son Herbert who operates<br />
a hydroponic tomato farm in Boca<br />
Raton, Fla., was a Washington visitor for<br />
several days.<br />
.<br />
Fox Salesman Fritz Goldschmidt is<br />
spending two weeks in Alabama on Army<br />
maneuvers<br />
. Rosenbaum's daughters,<br />
Mrs. Alma Hurwitz. who lives in Schenectady,<br />
and Mrs. Louise Ann Morewitz, who lives in<br />
Warwick, Va.. celebrated birthdays<br />
Student salesman Dan Priest resigned from<br />
20th-Fox and returned to his home in New<br />
York . Sun Theatre at Rising Sun, Md.,<br />
is dark on Monday and Thursday of each<br />
week.<br />
Vacationists at RKO included booker George<br />
Sullivan, who has gone to New England, and<br />
Sylvia Hodgkins, In Ocean City . . . Mrs. Clara<br />
Lust, Ben Lust Theatre Supply Co., spent<br />
several days in New York visiting two<br />
brothers in a hospital . . . Booker Ida Barezofsky,<br />
MGM, was in George Washington<br />
Hospital<br />
. . . Assistant Manager Sidney<br />
Eckman vacationed in Ocean City . . . Ditto,<br />
Salesman Cal Bien . Doris Perrie.<br />
Paramount's Pat Atwood will wed Preston<br />
Phillips July 26 . . . Mr. and Mrs. Bob Grace<br />
were vacationing in Miami Beach, Fla.<br />
Booker Bill Fischer of Paramount will celebrate<br />
Cashier Ida<br />
a birthday July 16 . . . Booker Max Rutledge, Bonita Meek, Florence<br />
Green was vacationing in Ocean City . . .<br />
Donohue, Peggy Tutt and Gilbert Newman<br />
were on vacation or preparing to leave . . .<br />
Sally and Sammy Myers will celebrate their<br />
seventh wedding anniversay Monday<br />
Exhibitors on FUmrow included<br />
.<br />
Sam Bendheim<br />
jr., Morton Tlialhimer jr., Ralph May,<br />
Ivan Rosenbaum, Harold Wood, Edgar Growden.<br />
Jack Levine, Bob Gruver, Iz Rappaport,<br />
Mike Leventhal, Irwin Cohen, William Buck,<br />
Aaron Seidler, Joe Walderman. M. K. Murphy<br />
and Sammy Melllts.<br />
INDUSTRY<br />
PROFILE<br />
Ben Pitts Circuit of 31 Theatres<br />
Outgrowth of $125 Investment<br />
RICHMOND— In 1909, a 15-year-old<br />
Fredericksburg boy dreamed a dream. A<br />
local movie house, its owners heavily in<br />
debt, was closing<br />
shop. That 15-yearold<br />
boy, one of seven<br />
children forced by<br />
circumstances to<br />
begin early their<br />
work for a living,<br />
possessed $75 in<br />
savings. He borrowed<br />
$50 from an<br />
older brother and<br />
bought the departing<br />
owners' equipment.<br />
Benjamin Pitts<br />
Today the boy<br />
who dreamed a dream owns 31 motion picture<br />
theatres and ten drive-in theatres.<br />
The modest estimate of his material wealth<br />
is "several million dollars," reports Carl<br />
Shires in the Richmond News-Leader.<br />
Tlie boy has grown into a man; the man<br />
is State Senator Benjamin Pitts, a lean,<br />
blue-eyed individual who stands 6 feet 1 M;<br />
inches tall and weighs in at a fighting 172<br />
pounds.<br />
The theatreman, who started with a $75<br />
nest egg, conveniently likes movies. Trouble<br />
is, he has to get elected to the senate and<br />
come to Richmond every other year to<br />
sit through one uninterrupted.<br />
At any of the theatres he owns he no<br />
sooner sits than there's an usher, manager,<br />
a popcorn vendor or a friend to ask a<br />
question. He gets up and answers—of such<br />
are millions made.<br />
Senator Pitts, the second largest theatre<br />
owner in the state, is not overwhelmed<br />
at the competition afforded by television.<br />
"Television has helped the industry,"<br />
he contends. "Hollywood has learned a<br />
pood mo\ic can draw people out of their<br />
1 n^ and it goes about making<br />
NEWARK<br />
The Littlest Outlaw" played last week at the<br />
Newark Drive-In. On the 3rd and 4th,<br />
the theatre offered a coffee-and-doughnut<br />
break at midnight preceding a midnight Horrorama<br />
show . Bellevue in Upper<br />
Montclair reported "The Ladykillers" set a<br />
new house opening day, according to Frank<br />
Ka.ssler, president of Continental Distributing,<br />
which is releasing the J. Arthur Rank<br />
film.<br />
Police Chief William Charles promised that<br />
he would not prevent teenagers from attending<br />
a midnight musical rock and roll<br />
session at the Colonial Theatre in Pompton<br />
Lakes. He explained the law prohibits children<br />
from attending late shows, but it is<br />
musically neutral. He said he would place<br />
two patrolmen at the door of the Colonial<br />
and "anybody too young will be chased<br />
home."<br />
The new title of MGM's "Somew-here I'll<br />
Find Him" is "These Wilder Years."<br />
good movies."<br />
His ten drive-ins, which represent an<br />
investment of $750,000, provide one particular<br />
problem. People are forever driving<br />
off without unhooking the speaker<br />
from their car- window. And he doesn't<br />
go for all these tales about overzealous<br />
"necking" at the dollar-a-car-load cinemas.<br />
When that $125 was scraped together<br />
47 yeais ago, and young Pitts went into<br />
business he hit upon a nickel as the going<br />
rate for attendance. He rented the theatre,<br />
which held 700 persons, for $1 a night.<br />
He had to call Norfolk when he wished to<br />
rent a new film— the rental rate was $10.<br />
He recalls the first COD film that arrived<br />
he borrowed $4 to pay the postman.<br />
Senator Pitts, a widower, has one daughter,<br />
Mrs. Walter Lowry of Fredericksburg.<br />
He lives with a sister in a big house in<br />
the Spottsylvania County city.<br />
The modest senator has a heart as big<br />
as the fortune he has made. His civic<br />
activities include work with the Salvation<br />
Army and the Fredericksburg Rescue<br />
Squad. He is a member of the Board of<br />
Visitors at the Virginia School for the<br />
Deaf and Blind, at Staunton.<br />
He belongs to the usual number of social<br />
and civic clubs. The titles he's possessed<br />
include district deputy, grand exalted<br />
ruler of the Elks Club.<br />
The formal education of the boy who<br />
went to work early ended when he completed<br />
the eighth grade. Correspondence<br />
courses and avid reading have filled in the<br />
educational void.<br />
Despite his self-education, however, the<br />
senator does not think that's the best type<br />
of education. From the fortune that has<br />
come from a $125 investment, Pitts has<br />
paid for 128 college scholarships in the<br />
past 20 years. Any deserving boy or girl<br />
;<br />
in his senatorial district can go to college.<br />
|<br />
Art Exhibits in Lobby<br />
CAPE MAY CITY—The lobby of the Cape<br />
Theatre has been turned into a municipal<br />
art gallery, open to the public even when<br />
the regular show schedule is not in force.<br />
Hundreds of art fans have visited the theatre<br />
during the exhibits.<br />
Theatre Aids Observer Post<br />
EGG HARBOR CITY, N. J.—The Colonial<br />
Theatre here went all out to take a prominent<br />
part in the dedication of the area's eighth<br />
Ground Observei-s post. Three days prior to<br />
the dedication ceremonies il4). a lobby display<br />
and recruiting booth was set up at the<br />
theatre, which showed "One Plane-One<br />
Bomb." In addition a stripped down plane<br />
was given a spot outside the theatre.<br />
Miniature Golf at Drive-In<br />
ELLWOOD CITY. PA.—John Popescue,<br />
owner of the Blue Sky Drive-In Theatre, near<br />
here, has opened a miniature golf course on<br />
the outdoor theatre property.<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: July 14, 1956<br />
35
. . which<br />
A
. executives<br />
: July<br />
wmww<br />
NEWS AND VIEWS OF THE PRODUCTION CENTER<br />
Hollywood Office— Sidtc 219 at 6404 Hollywood Blvd.. Ivan i>pear. western Manaiirri<br />
'Society' Sneaks Begin<br />
In Exchange Cities<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Patterned after the recent<br />
sneak preview of "Somebody Up There<br />
Likes Me" in all exchange cities, MGM has<br />
decided to hold similar theatre showings for<br />
"High Society," first independent production<br />
by Sol C. Siegel for MGM release. It stars<br />
Bing Crosby. Frank Sinatra and Grace Kelly.<br />
Theatre screenings in exchange areas are<br />
being lined up for the week beginning Monday<br />
(16), with invitations to be extended by<br />
branch managers to exhibitors, bookers and<br />
buyers, TV and radio personalities, nevifspaper<br />
writers and critics and local civic<br />
leaders.<br />
Republic set a record multiple southern<br />
California booking for its William J. O'SuUivan<br />
production, "A Strange Adventure," when<br />
the picture bowed Wednesday (11 1 at 46 Fox<br />
West Coast and independent theatres and<br />
Cal-Pac drive-ins. "A Strange Adventure"<br />
toplines Joan Evans, Ben Cooper, Maria English<br />
and Jan Merlin. Direction is by William<br />
Witney.<br />
The Marine Corps and Allied Ai-tists will<br />
join forces on Wednesday (25) to launch the<br />
world premiere of "Hold Back the Night,"<br />
starring John Payne and Mona Freeman and<br />
dealing with an episode in the Korean campaign.<br />
More than 200 film luminaries, members<br />
of the Hollywood press corps and studio<br />
will be transported to Camp Pendleton,<br />
Calif., 100 miles south of the film<br />
capital, by chartered train for the premiere.<br />
Shortly after arrival, the visitors will be<br />
guests at a luncheon on the Marine base,<br />
and in the afternoon, troops will stage maneuvers<br />
for the entertainment of the guests. Following<br />
a cocktail party and dinner in the<br />
officers club, the film, produced and directed<br />
by Hayes Goetz and Allan Dwan, will be premiered<br />
at the Crest Theatre in nearby Oceanside.<br />
Proceeds from the premiere will be<br />
donated to the Navy Relief F\ind.<br />
200 Technicolor Workers<br />
Are Given Brief Layoffs<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Postponement of<br />
release<br />
dates on a number of pictures being prcxiessed<br />
in Technicolor has resulted in a temporary<br />
cutback in the operating personnel of that<br />
company. Spokesmen for the tint firm, stressing<br />
that Technicolor has commitments for<br />
as many features so far this year as in the<br />
corresponding period in 1955, said they understood<br />
approximately 200 workers were<br />
placed on layoff effective Monday (9) but<br />
that they will be called back within the next<br />
few weeks.<br />
THAR SHE BLOWS—A star-studded premiere, in the staging of which Hollywood<br />
is a past master, was accorded producer-director John Huston's "Moby Dick" when<br />
tl:e film version of Herman Melville's maritime classic, being released by Warners,<br />
bowed recently at the RKO Pantages Theatre on Hollywood boulevard. Huston (at<br />
nght) chats with Gregory Peck, who portrays Captain Ahab in "Moby Dick," Mrs. Peck<br />
and Lauren Bacall.<br />
Vera Miles Is Given Lead<br />
With Bob Hope in 'Beau'<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Paramount has signed<br />
Vera Miles for the key romantic role opposite<br />
Bob Hope in Scribe Productions' "Beau<br />
James." The Jimmy Walker biography, from<br />
an original story by Gene Fowler, is being<br />
jointly produced by Hope, Jack Rose and<br />
Melville Shavelson. The latter two, who<br />
collaborated on the screenplay, also are sharing<br />
directional chores.<br />
British Actress Signed<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Briti.sh stage-TV actress<br />
Patricia Owen (Mrs. Sy Bartlett) has been<br />
signed to a long-term contract by 20th-Fox.<br />
The initial assignment for the actress will be<br />
a top role with Robert Wagner and Jeffrey<br />
Hunter in the new version of "Jesse James,"<br />
to be produced by Herbert Bayard Swope jr.<br />
in August.<br />
Tony Curtis in Bond Short<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Tony Curtis stars in a<br />
short subject filmed at U-I Wednesday (11><br />
for the savings bonds division of the Treasury<br />
Department as a part of its 15th anniversary<br />
drive.<br />
Biggest Heart Dinner<br />
To Honor Jack Benny<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Martha Hyer. U-I contractee,<br />
planed to New York to attend an exhibit<br />
of her painting at the Greenwich Village<br />
galleries and to participate in a series<br />
of home office press interviews and conferences<br />
with eastern editors, magazine writers<br />
and photographers.<br />
Selected as "The Man with the Biggest<br />
Heart" by the Los Angeles County Heart<br />
Ass'n, Jack Benny will be feted by the Friars<br />
at a testimonial dinner October 20 at the<br />
Beverly Hilton Hotel. Proceeds of the SIOOa-plate<br />
dinner will go to the heart group for<br />
research. The arrangements are being coordinated<br />
by Arthur W. Stebbins and Jules<br />
James. George Jessel will emcee the event.<br />
Herbert T. Silverberg, veteran motion picture<br />
attorney, has been named "Man of the<br />
Year" in the San Fernando valley by the<br />
American Jewish Congress in recognition of<br />
his public service on behalf of the community<br />
in the fields of culture, health and welfare,<br />
youth and human relations.<br />
^<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
14, 1956<br />
37
SAG Calls for Action<br />
To Revitalize Four A<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Continuing its running<br />
fight with the American Federation of Radio<br />
and Television Artists, whose recent proposals<br />
for a merger were spurned by the Screen<br />
Actors Guild directorate, the SAG has asked<br />
the Associated Actors and Artists of America,<br />
AFL-CIO parent of all actors unions, to call<br />
a special meeting for the purpose of<br />
stiengthening and revitalizing the international<br />
organization.<br />
As one of the objectives of such a move,<br />
the SAG listed the "setting up of machinery<br />
by the Four A for the impartial settlement<br />
of jurisdictional problems between actors<br />
unions."<br />
The guild's letter to the Four A was<br />
signed by John L. Dales, national executive<br />
secretary, and copies were sent to each of the<br />
other Four A branches— Actors Equity.<br />
AFTRA, American Guild of Musical Aa-tists,<br />
American Guild of Variety Artists and<br />
Screen Extras Guild.<br />
Ten days following its action, the SAG<br />
issued a special report to its membership,<br />
signed by President Walter Pidgeon for the<br />
board of directors, in which the guild detailed<br />
its reasons for rejecting an APTRA proposal<br />
for a merger with SAG. In this report, the<br />
guild pledged it would work toward "a<br />
stronger and more vigorous international<br />
federation of actors unions and a simplified<br />
membership card plan for the entire entertainment<br />
indusb-y"<br />
Marin County Board Axes<br />
Black Point Drive-In<br />
NOVATO. CALIF.—The Marin County<br />
board of supervisors ended three weeks of<br />
suspense by voting to deny the rezoning proposal<br />
which would have permitted a drive-in<br />
on the 12-aere John Novak property on<br />
Atherton avenue.<br />
Black Point area residents almost unanimously<br />
opposed the plan of builder John<br />
Novak and theatre owner Donald Donohue in<br />
the agricultural-residential district, although<br />
a rezoning petition signed by some 200 Novato<br />
area residents had previously been submitted<br />
to the board. Prime reasons offered by Black<br />
Point residents against the drive-in were<br />
that it would destroy the rural character of<br />
the area and depress real estate values.<br />
Drive-in proponents claimed the drive-in<br />
would be a recreational asset to the community<br />
and would add tax dollars to the county coffers.<br />
The Novato Chamber of Commerce<br />
had urged rezoning to permit construction<br />
of the outdoor theatre.<br />
Barry Atwater in U-I Film<br />
HOLLYWOOD—A featured role in "The<br />
World and Little Willie" has been awarded<br />
to Barry Atwater. The Technicolor fUm<br />
for U-I release is being produced by Howard<br />
Christie, directed by Jerry Hopper, and<br />
stars Maureen O'Hara, John Forsythe and<br />
Tim Hovey.<br />
'Searchers' Booked for Cunard Line<br />
HOLLYWOOD—"Tlie Searchers," a C. V.<br />
Whitney picture for Warner Bros, starring<br />
John Wayne, has been booked on the Cunard<br />
White Star fleet and will play the Queen<br />
Elizabeth, Queen Mary, Mauretania, Carinthia,<br />
Saxonia, Ivernia and the Brittanic.<br />
Cagney to 'The Hornpipe/<br />
Which U-I Will Film<br />
HOLLYWOOD "The Uevils Hornpipe," a<br />
niusK-al by Maxwell Anderson iuid Rouben<br />
Mamouliiui, has been acquired by U-I. James<br />
Cagney will star in tlie picture, whicli Aai'on<br />
Rosenberg has been set to produce. It is the<br />
story of a diabohcally clever racketeer in a<br />
modern New York s-etting. In addition to<br />
collaborating on the book, Anderson also<br />
penned lyrics for the songs, with music by<br />
Allie Wrubel.<br />
In U-I's "Interlude," Jane Wyatt will replace<br />
Ilka Chase, who was recently stricken<br />
with a severe attack of pleurisy. The production,<br />
which now is being filmed abroad,<br />
stars June Allyson, Rossano Brazzi, Marianne<br />
Cook, Francoise Rosay and Keith Andes, with<br />
Ross Hunter producing and Douglas Sirk dilecting.<br />
Producers New PR Group<br />
Plans Press Luncheon<br />
HOLLYWOOD—First meeting of the new<br />
public relations committee of the Screen Producers<br />
Guild was held Tuesday (10) with<br />
Harriet Parsons, committee chairman, presiding.<br />
The group discussed plans for a producer-press<br />
roundtable luncheon to be staged<br />
later this month and also blueprinted public<br />
relations projects for the next 12 months. In<br />
addition to Miss Parsons, the committee comprises<br />
Jack Gross, Harold Hecht, Jud Kinberg,<br />
Frank McCarthy, William J. O'Sullivan,<br />
Mai-tin Rackin, William C. Thomas, Jerry<br />
Wald and William H. Wright.<br />
Role to Don Dubbins<br />
HOLLYWOOEX—MGM contractee Don Dubbins<br />
has been assigned a role in "Tlie Vintage."<br />
which stars Mel Ferrer and Her Angeli,<br />
to be produced by Edwin H. Knopf, with<br />
Jeffrey Hayden directing. John Kerr also<br />
has been inked for a part in the picture.<br />
JAPANESE AWARDS—More than two<br />
dozen trophies, plaques and scrolls,<br />
awarded Warner Bros, for "bests" in films<br />
shown in Japan during the last year,<br />
were presented on behalf of film fans,<br />
press and cultural groups to Jack L. Warner<br />
by Shigeru Nakamura, Japanese<br />
consul general in Los Angeles. Shown<br />
assisting in the ceremonies is Mrs.<br />
Nakamura.<br />
C^cjecddiiijue ^na^aele^A.<br />
East: William Dozicr, RKO vice-president<br />
in charge of production, took off Saturday<br />
114) for New York for huddles with Daniel T.<br />
O'Shea, president, on upcoming production<br />
plans.<br />
West: Lee Katz, European production liaison<br />
for Allied Artists arrived from his Paris<br />
headquarters for conferences with executive<br />
producer Walter Mirisch.<br />
West: Clark Ramsay, executive aide to<br />
David A. Lipton, U-I vice-president in charge<br />
of advertising and publicity, planed out for<br />
Tokyo to set up the advance drumbeating<br />
campaign for "Joe Butterfly," on which filming<br />
began Monday (9) on location in Nippon.<br />
East: Gil Golden, eastern advertising manager<br />
for Warners, and aides Sam Kaiser and<br />
Sam Weisman returned to their Gotham<br />
headquarters after a week of .studio conferences<br />
and a gander at upcoming releases.<br />
Meantime, studio arrivals included producer<br />
Leland Hayward, checking in from the<br />
Bahamas location site of "The Old Man and<br />
the Sea," and Lord KlUanin, chairman of<br />
Four Pi'ovinces Productions, here from Ireland<br />
with a rough cut of the John Ford production,<br />
"The Rising of the Moon," which<br />
Warners will release. He screened the opus<br />
for Jack L. Warner.<br />
East: Sol C. Siegel, independent producer<br />
releasing through MGM, and megaphonist<br />
George Cukor planed to Europe to finalize<br />
preparations for Siegel's next venture, "Les<br />
Girls," which will be lensed on location in<br />
various continental countries.<br />
• • •<br />
East: Producers Frank and Walter Seltzer<br />
headed for Manhattan with a print of their<br />
just-completed fUm, "The Boss," to screen it<br />
for executives of United Artists, which will<br />
handle distribution thereon.<br />
West: Aithur Lubin, RKO producerdirector,<br />
planed to Tokyo for three weeks of<br />
location scouting in connection with his upcoming<br />
assignment, "Escapade in Japan."<br />
Shurlock to Europe<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Geoffrey Shurlock, director<br />
of the Pi-oduction Code Administration, was<br />
on a two-week on-the-spot sm-vey of the relationships<br />
between the code and censorship<br />
problems in England, France and Germany.<br />
The trip is being made at the recommendation<br />
of Ei-ic Johnston, MPAA president, who<br />
just returned from Europe.<br />
SA Film to Superscope<br />
HOLLYWOOD—The first<br />
South American<br />
production to convert to the Tushinsky anamorphic<br />
widescreen system, "Seccion Desaparecidos,"<br />
has arrived at the Superscope<br />
laboratories for immediate processing.<br />
Title<br />
Changes<br />
"Massacre at Dragoon Wells" (Allied Artists)<br />
to DRAGOON WELLS MASSACRE.<br />
"Love Story," a Bob Goldstein production<br />
for United Artists, to THE DEADLY TRI-<br />
ANGLE.<br />
38 BOXOFFICE :<br />
: July 14, 1956
: July<br />
Palhe-TV Tightens<br />
East-West Facilities<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Thorough integration of<br />
TV motion picture production facilities at its<br />
studios in the east and west has been achieved<br />
by RKO Pathe-TV. division of RKO Radio<br />
Pictures. FYed Ahern. supervisor of television<br />
operations, reported upon his return from<br />
two weeks of conferences in New York with<br />
Daniel T. O'Shea. president of RKO: Jay<br />
Bonafield, head of RKO Pathe-TV in the<br />
east, and Douglas Travers, production executive.<br />
RKO Pathe-TV just has completed 39 halfhour<br />
shows for the NBC-TV Crunch and Des<br />
series, starring Forrest Tucker. The series<br />
was filmed on location in Bermuda. Another<br />
series, the Big Idea, was recently finished by<br />
RKO Pathe-TV for Dorm Bennett Productions.<br />
This consists of 30 half-hour programs.<br />
The General Electric Theatre kicked off<br />
second summer season on CBS-TV Sunday<br />
its<br />
(8) with a lineup of 16 stars geared to<br />
keep the anthology series running during the<br />
ne.xt 12 weeks. Leading off the summer<br />
schedule was "Lash of Fear,"<br />
Keenan Wynn starrer.<br />
John Payne-<br />
Producer Mel Epstein, formerly of Paramount<br />
studios and CBS- TV, has been signed<br />
by Irving Asher, TCF television head, as one<br />
of the producers of the new Broken Arrow TV<br />
series starring John Lupton. In a switch<br />
from the prevalent practice of making feature-length<br />
theatrical films from TV shows,<br />
TCF Television is converting two features<br />
into telefilms for the 20th Century-Fox Hour.<br />
Producer Sam Marx is currently preparing<br />
"Smoke Jumpers," scripted for TV by Clark<br />
E. Reynolds from the feature "Red Skies of<br />
Montana," and "City in Flames," telescripted<br />
by Arthur Ross from "Old Chicago."<br />
* * *<br />
Ziv has inked Henry Kesler to a 52-week<br />
producer-director pact on its new Young Dr.<br />
Christian teleseries. Although Kesler's deal<br />
with Ziv is exclusive for TV. it does permit<br />
the producer-director-writer to handle additional<br />
bids outside the television field.<br />
Lloyd Nolan Joins Cast<br />
Of 'Seven Waves Away'<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Copa Producers has signed<br />
Lloyd Nolan to star with Tyrone Power and<br />
Mai Zetterling in "Seven Waves Away." for<br />
Columbia release. Filming began in London,<br />
Monday (9i, under the direction of<br />
Richard Sale, who also wrote the screenplay.<br />
Ted Richmond is executive producer, with<br />
John R. Sloan producing.<br />
Una Merkel on Set<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Una Merkel reported to<br />
Producer Edmund Grainger Monday (9) for<br />
her featured role in RKO's "Bundle of Joy."<br />
The actress recently closed a six-month run<br />
on Broadway in "The Ponder Heart."<br />
Screenplay by Jim Poe<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Producer Hal Wallis has<br />
signed James Poe to write the screenplay on<br />
"Showdown." from an original story by Les<br />
Crutchfield. It will be filmed at Paramount<br />
early in 1957.<br />
WHEN<br />
the Allied invasion of Italy<br />
signaled the beginning of the end<br />
of World War II, Sir Winston<br />
Churchill, then prime minister of Britain,<br />
made a cogent observation about the expediency<br />
of hitting the enemy in his soft<br />
underbelly. In fact, the strategy of attacking<br />
an opponent when and where he is the weakest<br />
is as old as warfare itself; and applies also<br />
to any form of competition, commercial included.<br />
Therein might lie a lesson for the masterminds<br />
of production, distribution, and exhibition,<br />
currently sweating to devise some<br />
means of rehabilitating intere.st in and acceptance<br />
of theatrical motion pictures.<br />
No one will gainsay that television, generally<br />
conceded to be one of the principal<br />
reasons for the industry's present liaison with<br />
the doldi-ums, is at its worst and weakest<br />
during the summer months, diu-ing which period<br />
of last year, video attained an all-time<br />
low in repetitious boredom. So-called top<br />
programs, many of which were sufficiently<br />
bad when initially telecast, were repeated ad<br />
nauseum, in the same time slots and under<br />
the same sponsorship>s that accompanied their<br />
debuts. And the so-called replacement shows<br />
were even worse—had viewers turning off<br />
their sets in droves. Early indications are<br />
that TV will again scrape the bottom of the<br />
barrel this summer.<br />
What more propitious conditions could obtain<br />
under which the amusement-seeking<br />
masses might be wooed back to the nation's<br />
show houses, and be reconvinced that the<br />
theatrical screen stUl offers more unadulterated<br />
entertainment than any other medium?<br />
One step in the right direction—be it<br />
calculated or inadvertent—has already been<br />
taken because of distributors' obvious eagerness<br />
to serve the hot weather market with<br />
the best of their product. In or approaching<br />
release are such productional titans as 20th-<br />
Pox's "The King and I," United Artists'<br />
"Trapeze," Warner Bros.' "The Searchers"<br />
and "Moby Dick." Universal-International's<br />
"Away All Boats." Paramount's "The Proud<br />
and Profane." Disney's "Davy Crockett and<br />
the River Pirates." RKO's "The F^rst Traveling<br />
Saleslady." Allied Artists' "Friendly Persuasion,"<br />
Columbia's "The Eddy E>uchin<br />
Story," MGM's "High Society," and others too<br />
numerous to list.<br />
It is doubtful that ever before has so impressive<br />
an array of celluloid been offered in<br />
the period that during more prosperous times<br />
was considered the dog days, when it was<br />
habitual to piu-ge agenda of their inferior<br />
pictures. But. judging by the patronage<br />
being accorded them, the mere exhibition of<br />
sterling motion pictures is in itself not<br />
enough to re-win the lost audiences. Something<br />
seemingly must be done additionally to<br />
bring ticket-buyers to the theatres so that<br />
they can be convinced of the precedential<br />
superiority of contemporary movies.<br />
Literally dozens of suggestions have been<br />
made and considered as to wherein lies the<br />
passible panacea. They have stemmed from a<br />
wide variety of sources, ranging all the way<br />
from the trade's top brass to opportunistic<br />
press agents and kibitzers. Some have boasted<br />
elements of merit, others have been ridiculous<br />
per .se.<br />
Certainly an industry that has lived and<br />
grown proudly and prosperously through more<br />
than half a century of development, economic<br />
upheavals, ceasorshlp, and flurries of<br />
harrassment from other entertainment media<br />
is equipped to determine the necessary<br />
strategy.<br />
But whatever is to be done must be done<br />
NOW, before the enemy stiffens that soft<br />
underbelly and again has season and entertainment<br />
ammunition in his favor.<br />
Just so long as the master minds of production<br />
know everything about what's wrong<br />
vpith the motion picture trade—and are eager<br />
to spill aU of their knowledge upon the drop<br />
of a line of type—exhibitors have nothing<br />
to worry about. Not much, that is.<br />
In a recent issue of a trade publication<br />
appeared two interviews with a pair of Hollywoodians:<br />
Herman King, youngest of the<br />
tribe, who is tickling his tom-tom on behalf<br />
of "The Brave Ones," which his big brothers<br />
have produced for RKO distribution; and<br />
producer- director Mervyn Le Roy of the<br />
Brudern Warners' uppermost echelon.<br />
Opined King: The industry's current woes<br />
are attributable to Hollywood's failure to make<br />
enough "big attractions."<br />
Held Le Roy: There are enough good films<br />
to go around and the public apathy toward<br />
theatrical screen entertainment results from<br />
showmen's "greater interest in selling popcorn<br />
than keeping their houses in good operating<br />
condition."<br />
So harrassed theatremen. while contemplating<br />
their respective vistas of empty seats,<br />
pays their money and takes their cherce of<br />
these two hackneyed and contradictory gems<br />
of eruditious analysis.<br />
Appearing as "guest lecturer" at the public<br />
relations class of Columbia college, Milton<br />
Luban, erstwhile film reviewer and now a<br />
catch-as-catch-can space snatcher, chose as<br />
his theme "Tradepapers and the Motion Picture<br />
Industry and Their Significance to Public<br />
Relations Men."<br />
An edifying subject, no doubt, but after<br />
that mouth-filling handle, what remained<br />
for the Lubanian lecture?<br />
From Teet Carle's Paramount praisery. Information<br />
that in assigning Ining Talbot to<br />
compose original music for "The Search for<br />
Bridey Murphy." Roy Fjastell, head of the<br />
studio's music department, with a de%'astating<br />
originality, instructed: "Irving, we need out<br />
of this world music."<br />
When Irving finishes the chore, he might<br />
offer a lift to Teet, et al, who'll probably need<br />
a few astral gimmicks to sell this one.<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
14. 1956 39
WB)<br />
. . Mr.<br />
. . Jimmy<br />
. , The<br />
. . RKO<br />
'King' Holds Top Los Angeles Spot LOS ANGELES<br />
While Moby Dick' Opens With 260<br />
LOS ANGELES— .^.-i it is doiiiK in virtually<br />
all key spots where it has been booked. "The<br />
King and I" held on to its No. 1 position among<br />
local fijst run moneymakers, hitting a glittering<br />
320 per cent average in its second<br />
stanza. Among the newcomers. "Moby Dick."<br />
opening in tlviee houses, topped the list with<br />
260 per cent, while "That Certain Feeling"<br />
finished its initial canto with a substantial<br />
165. Business otlierwise was spotty, ranging<br />
from very good to dismal.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Chinese—Tiio King ond I (20th-Fox), 2nd wl(...320<br />
Downtown Paramount. Pantoges, Wiltern—Moby<br />
Dick I 260<br />
Egyptian. United Artists—Okiahomo! (Magno),<br />
33rd wk no<br />
Fine Arts—Fontosio {Buena Vista), reissue, 5th<br />
wk 120<br />
Four Star—The Proud ond Profone (Para),<br />
4th wk 200<br />
Fox Beverly—Tlle Great Locomotive Chose<br />
(Bueno Visfa), 3rd wk 85<br />
Fox Wilshire—Tropeze (UA), 6th wk 170<br />
Hillstreet, El Rey, Fox—Toy Tiger (U-l); The Rawhide<br />
Ycors (U-l) 75<br />
Los Angeles, Loyola, Ritz, Vogue—Abdulloh's<br />
Horem (20th-Fox), D-Doy the Sixth of June<br />
(20th-Fox)<br />
Paramount Hollywood—That Certain Feeling<br />
60<br />
(Para) 165<br />
State, Hollywood, Uptown— Santiago iWB); plus,<br />
State only—Girl on the Run (Manhattan); plus,<br />
Hollywood ond Uptown—Wake of the Red Witch<br />
(Rep), reissue 1 00<br />
Warners Beverly—The Eddy Duchin Story (Col),<br />
2nd wk 170<br />
Warners Downtown, Hawaii—Soforl (Col); Storm<br />
Over the Nile (Col), 2nd wk 75<br />
Warners Hollywood—Cinerama Holiday (Cinerama),<br />
34th wk 100<br />
"King and I' Scores 400<br />
As Frisco Leader<br />
SAN FRANCISCO—"The King and I"<br />
opened at the Fox Tlieatre with 400 per cent,<br />
the greatest gross since the booking of "The<br />
Robe." to walk off with local first run honors.<br />
Another new bUl. "Trapeze" ranked a fine<br />
second spot with 350 per cent at the United<br />
Artists. Other grosses stayed for the most<br />
part well at)ove the average mark.<br />
Fox—The King ond I (20th-Fox) 400<br />
Golden Gote—Congo Crossing (U-l); The Woy Out<br />
(RKO) 50<br />
Loews Worfield—Tribute to a Bod Mon (MGM). .120<br />
Paramount—Thot Certoin Feeling (Poro) 120<br />
St. Francis—Sontiogo (WB) 110<br />
United Artists—Trapeie (UA) 350<br />
Teachers, Blockbusters Push<br />
Portland to Bumper Week<br />
PORTLAND—Some 5,000 schoolteachers<br />
converging on Portland to attend the National<br />
Education Ass'n convention helped boost theatre<br />
grosses, as did the opening here of some<br />
of the big guns of film entertainment. "The<br />
King and I" was launched at the Fox with<br />
Rita Moreno, one of the stars of the picture,<br />
attending the Northwest premiere.<br />
Broadway—Toy Tiger (U-l). 130<br />
Fox—The King and I ;20fh-Fox) 200<br />
Guild—Goby MGMl, 4th wk 125<br />
Liberty—The Great Locomotive Chase (BV) 150<br />
Orpheum—The Eddy Duchin Story (Col) 1 65<br />
Paramount—Tropeze (UA) 200<br />
'King' and 'Trapeze' Stay Big,<br />
'Saucers' Good, in Seattle<br />
SEATTLE—Both "The King and I" and<br />
"Trapeze" continued to pull high grosses for<br />
their second w-eeks. with "King" dropping<br />
down from 300 and "Trapeze" slackening off<br />
to 220 from 260 last week. A strong promotion<br />
behind "Flying Saucers" built up attendance<br />
the first week to a healthy 200.<br />
Blue Mouse—The Cotered Affoir (MGM) 125<br />
Coliseum— Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (Col).... 200<br />
Fifth Avenue—The King and I (20th-Fox) 2nd wk. 250<br />
Music Box- Inside Hell ISR), Lite With the Lyons<br />
(Assoc. Film) 85<br />
Music Hall- While the City Sleeps (RKO) 90<br />
Orpheum— Froncis in the Mounted House (U-l).. 90<br />
-Tropeze ;UA) ?n
. . Leo<br />
. . John<br />
. . M.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
. . . The<br />
. . . Also<br />
'<br />
. . Red<br />
. . Republic<br />
. . Ben<br />
. . Ernie<br />
SAN FRANCISCO Allen Burl's Salari<br />
II gnes Cannon, AA cashier, and her husband<br />
Emmett vacationed at Lake Tahoe. Myron<br />
Hopkins, shipper, is off on her two weeks .<br />
Jerry Wong is opening the Great China Theatre<br />
in Chinatown to American fihns. It<br />
formerly offered Chinese plays ... Li Li-Hwa.<br />
Chine.se film star, was greeted on her arrival<br />
aboard the SS President Wilson by Jack<br />
Stevenson, manager for Paramount. She is<br />
on the way to Hollywood under contract to<br />
Cecil B. DeMille . Adler, auditor, was<br />
at the UA exchange where remodeling has<br />
been completed.<br />
Contact Arthur Unger of Arthur Unger Co.<br />
for Information and reservations to the TOA-<br />
TESMA-TEDA conventions in New York City<br />
September 20-24 . . . The Alameda Drive-In<br />
was installing new RCA lamps . Spivey<br />
of the Porterville Drive-In is mighty proud<br />
of his new 100-foot-wide screen . . . Johnny<br />
Sullivan, Western Theatrical Co., purchased<br />
new custom built levis . . . Visitors on the<br />
Row were few but those spotted included<br />
Jimmy Stephens, Dixon Theatre, Dixon; the<br />
Enea brothers in from their Airport Auto<br />
Movies, Oakland; Peter Garrette, Yolo and<br />
Sunset drive-ins. Woodland, and Jack Neugebauer,<br />
Donner, Tinickee.<br />
Earl Brown, manager of Los Gatos Theatre,<br />
Los Gatos, was in the hospital for an operation<br />
, . . Recuperating following illnesses are<br />
Bill Nasser. Nasser Bros, circuit, and Jimmy<br />
Chapman, Redwood Theatres . Bowles<br />
is handling the booking and buying for the<br />
Oak Theatre, Live Oak, owned by Joe Serry<br />
. . . Call Me Sam, the tyrannosaur measuring<br />
12 feet tall, greets all who enter the<br />
portals of the local Warner exchange.<br />
Tyrannosaur was used to promote the<br />
"Animal World" at the Paramount Theatre.<br />
Easy rental terms to interested parties . . .<br />
Glenn Koropp of the Glenn Koropp Speaker<br />
Co., Sacramento, spent several daj's in<br />
Oregon and Washington familiarizing drivein<br />
operators with new Ballantyne equipment.<br />
Gerald L. Karski, president of Motion Picture<br />
Service Co., has received notification<br />
that his company, for the third consecutive<br />
year, was awarded first place in the special<br />
low budget television film commercial competition<br />
at the recent convention of the Advertising<br />
Ass'n of the West held in Los<br />
Angeles. The spot was placed with MPS by<br />
the Long Advertising of San Jose for "Oven<br />
Magic."<br />
Added to 'War Drums'<br />
HOLLYWOOD—In Bel-Air Productions'<br />
"War Drums," Joan Taylor and Ben Johnson<br />
have been signed to star with Lex Barker.<br />
The screenplay by Gerald Drayson Adams<br />
will be produced by Howard W. Koch for<br />
United Artists release with Reginald Le Borg<br />
directing, for executive producer Aubrey<br />
Schenck. Jil Jarmyn has been set for a<br />
featured role in the picture, which will be<br />
filmed near Kanab, Utah, beginning Monday<br />
(16).<br />
RKO Signs 15-Year-Old<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Placed under term contract<br />
by RKO was Janet Norris, 15-year-old actress<br />
from Pittsburgh, who will report to the studio<br />
early next year upon her graduation from<br />
high school.<br />
BOXOFFICE July 14, 1956<br />
Nets Big Game Bag<br />
i<br />
Allen Burt, Portland theatre broker, is<br />
pictured with a roan antelope shot while<br />
on safari recently in the Lake Tchad region<br />
of central Africa. The Ubangi<br />
native is carrying a duiker Burt bagged<br />
the same morning during his 26-day visit<br />
to the French-controlled big game hunting<br />
area.<br />
PORTLAND—Thirty tons of African wild<br />
game were shot by Allen Burt, manager of<br />
the Theatre Exchange Co., and two hunting<br />
companions on a combined around-the-world<br />
tour and African safari. Burt's safari companions<br />
were Jim Rudisill, Portland, and Dr.<br />
P. Gebhardt, Menlo Park, Calif. The trio<br />
had plarmed the hunting expedition, which<br />
was made mostly by Air France, for several<br />
years.<br />
Burt's hometown Milwaukie Review published<br />
installments from the broker's<br />
safari diary, along with many photographs<br />
made by Burt during the 26 days and nights<br />
in the heart of Africa near Lake Tchad. In<br />
an excerpt, Burt wrote:<br />
"We killed 41 animals as follows: four cob<br />
antelope, five sable antelope, five damalisk,<br />
eight waterbucks, six wart hogs, one duiker,<br />
two hartbeast. four forest buffalo, three baboons,<br />
one oribi and two elephants. Our expenses<br />
for plane fare, cost of the safari,<br />
licenses, ammunition, air freight, duty, head<br />
fees and incidentals were something over<br />
$10,000 for the thi-ee of us.<br />
"Thus we provided the natives with some<br />
cheap meat (about 17 cents a pound), had<br />
the experience of a lifetime and brought out<br />
pictui'es that will enable our friends and<br />
neighbors to share our 26 wonderful sunny<br />
days in Tchad and Ubangi.<br />
The greatest discomfort of the safari, Burt<br />
reported, was sore feet, since the native<br />
guides seem to have a policy of so crippling<br />
white hunters early in the safari by long<br />
marches, knowing that sore-footed foreigners<br />
will soon prefer to rest in camp to scouring<br />
the hot country for game.<br />
Burt met another Milwauklan, Glen Clay,<br />
in Cairo. Esypt. and continued his journey<br />
around the world by crossing the Orient and<br />
the Pacific Ocean in Clay's company.<br />
SE ATTLE<br />
II Ilcn Wieder returned from Spokane where<br />
he was working on "Somebody Up There<br />
Likes Me." Sam Slegel, Columbia, covered<br />
his tenitory on the promotion for "The Eddy<br />
Duchin Story." Walter Hoffman, Paramount,<br />
returned from Portland where he was working<br />
on "That Certain Feeling" . Fish,<br />
who handles Sam Goldwyn product, was in<br />
Palomar Theatre will open July 19,<br />
20 for a "Stars of Magic Show," which is being<br />
promoted by the Pacific Coast Magicians<br />
Ass'n to help pay expenses for their convention.<br />
Mercedes Cleveland of Favorite Films will<br />
vacation on Whidbey Island . Ptro<br />
and his wife are being welcomed back from<br />
Las Angeles . Jacobs, franchise holder<br />
of Favorite FMlms, is expected to be up<br />
shortly from California . . . The lease on the<br />
Centralia and Chehalis theatres has expired,<br />
and Ron Gamble, who operated the houses,<br />
will concentrate on his drive-ins.<br />
Pat Preston, 20th-Pox secretary, returned<br />
from a vacation . . . Mr. and Mrs. Buck Smith,<br />
Favorite nims, were vacationing in California<br />
. . . Also on vacation was Bob Swanson,<br />
Paramount head booker and office manager<br />
. . . Back from a vacation was Del Larrison,<br />
manager of the Fifth Avenue Theatre<br />
... In town was Junior Mercy from Yakima<br />
on the Row was Bob Monohan of the<br />
Grand, Bellingham . auditor J.<br />
V. ScuUy left by plane for Des Moines.<br />
PHOENIX<br />
•Phe Cinema Park Drive-In has been packing<br />
them in with "The Searchers." On opening<br />
night the cars were lined up three deep<br />
for over half a mile. Business has stayed<br />
consistently good throughout the run of the<br />
picture . . . Mabel Mitchell, publicist for Arizona<br />
Paramount, is back at work after a<br />
vacation in Omaha.<br />
The Vista Theatre was playing two old favorites<br />
of the younger generations. "The<br />
Wizard of Oz" and "Song of the South," to<br />
good attendance . . . Manager Wayne Sweeney<br />
of the Paramount reports excellent business<br />
with "The Eddy Duchin Story."<br />
TVWOirTGET<br />
KMJDOWNIF<br />
nJU GET yOUR<br />
SPECIAL<br />
IRAILEftS<br />
THE SUPCRSELLING KIND, from<br />
mniis<br />
I2S HYDI STRUT, SAN FRANCISCO (1) CAlirORNU<br />
THEATRE FOR SALE<br />
Only theatre in growino California town of 2.500.<br />
New lenses, widescreen. 58,000 down. Olhefs. write<br />
for<br />
list.<br />
THEATRE EXCHANGE CO.<br />
41
. .<br />
. . . Filmrow<br />
. . W.<br />
. . The<br />
SALT LAKE CITY<br />
Ifim Novak cnptivaUxl hundreds of Si\lt<br />
Lakers during a one-day visit here this<br />
week at tlie end of her three-month-long tour.<br />
She was met at the railroad station by a<br />
group of more than 200 fans, stopped at a<br />
Salt Lake newspaper office, engaged in several<br />
radio interviews and was guest at a luncheon.<br />
Prior to leaving for Hollywood, she was guest<br />
of honor at a dinner given by Gov. J. Bracken<br />
Lee, who invited her to return to Utah this<br />
fall to crown Miss Utah at the state fair.<br />
Her visit was in connection with "The Eddy<br />
Duchin Story." which will be playing at<br />
the Uptown and Villa theatres. Ai-rangements<br />
for her visit were made by Phil Speckart,<br />
Columbia Pictiu-es; S. S. McFadden, Columbia<br />
exchange manager; Jack McGee,<br />
Fox Wasatch and Fox Intermountain manager;<br />
Dick Frisby. Villa Theatre manager,<br />
and John Denham. city manager for Fox<br />
Wasatch.<br />
.Vn armed bandit robbed Daniel B. Woodland<br />
of the Woodland Drive-In of $450, but<br />
was captured a short time later in a nearby<br />
field. He had threatened Woodland .<br />
Eric Peterson has added two more monkeys,<br />
another fawn and several ducks to his zoo at<br />
his Motor-Vu Drive-In overlooking Salt Lake<br />
valley. The zoo at the ozoner rivals the city<br />
zoo nearby.<br />
John Krier of Intermountain Tlieatres deserves<br />
some sympathy for headaches received<br />
from overlapping bookings on attractions<br />
here this month. He had two stage attractions<br />
booked into the Capitol. "Teahouse of<br />
the August Moon" and "The Boy Friend." At<br />
the same time, the University of Utah opened<br />
its summer festival w'ith "The King and I"<br />
and then presented "Madame Butterfly."<br />
Harry James, Louis Armstrong and Gogi<br />
Grant have been other performers in Salt<br />
Lake during the same period. Members of<br />
the cast of "The King and I" at the University<br />
of Utah were guests of Fox and the<br />
Villa Theatre at a .special preview showing<br />
of the film ver.sion of the musical last week.<br />
All praised the picture.<br />
G. M. Dodge to Pilot D&D<br />
Theatre at Salmon, Ida.<br />
SALMON, IDA.—G. M. Dodge has been installed<br />
as manager of the Roxy Theatre for<br />
the DeMordaunt & Drennen interests. He<br />
succeeds Lela Peterson, who resigned after 20<br />
years affiliation with the enterprise.<br />
Before moving to Salmon, Dodge had been<br />
associated with DeMordaunt & Drennen at<br />
Idaho Falls .since 1950, and had been a theatreman<br />
in Oakland, Calif., before that. He<br />
and Mrs. Dodge will make theii- home in the<br />
apartment in the theatre building.<br />
-y/ SPEED GOOD REASONS<br />
FOR OROERINa YOU*<br />
y QOAinr<br />
SPECIAL<br />
y SHOW-<br />
-' MANSHIP<br />
TRAILERS<br />
Star Kim Novak Returns<br />
From European Tour<br />
HOLLYWOOD Columbia star Kim Novak<br />
has returned from a three-month tour on<br />
behalf of "The Eddy Duchin Story," which<br />
started April 10, took her to the Cannes film<br />
festival for her first trip abroad, then to<br />
Italy, to Paris, to London, and to Blackpool,<br />
England, for a convention of British exhibitors<br />
who were given a special screening of<br />
the "Duchin" film, in which she co-stars<br />
with Tyrone Power. She returned to New<br />
York for the June premiere of the Cinemascope-Technicolor<br />
musical drama at Radio<br />
City Music Hall, remained in the east for a<br />
week of interviews, then took off on a erosscountry<br />
tour which has Just been concluded in<br />
Salt Lake City.<br />
Laurie Carroll Is Signed<br />
For Sam Katzman Film<br />
HOLLYWOOD—For the feminine lead<br />
opposite James Darren in "Rumble on the<br />
Docks," producer Sam Katzman has signed<br />
Laurie Carroll, young singing star who appeared<br />
in the Broadway musical, "Plain and<br />
Fancy." The Clover production for Columbia<br />
release will mark Miss Carroll's film debut.<br />
Fred F. Sears is directing the New York<br />
waterfront film, which went before the cameras<br />
Tuesday (101, with a featiu-ed cast including<br />
Jerry Janger, Edgar Barrier, Michael<br />
Granger, and Don Devlin.<br />
Johnsons Buy and Reopen<br />
Clatskanie, Ore., House<br />
CLATSKANIE, ORE.—A local<br />
couple. Dale<br />
and Lela Johnson, have assumed ownership<br />
of the Avalon Theatre here and have put it<br />
into operation five days a week.<br />
The Johnsons purchased the Avalon from<br />
Westlake Theatres, the sale bringing to a<br />
close 21 years of operation of the local house<br />
bv the Westlake interests. The theatre is now<br />
open each Sunday, Monday and Tuesday and<br />
Friday and Saturday.<br />
Army Assigns Adviser<br />
To 'Men in War' Filming<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Assigned as technical<br />
adviser on Security Pictures' "Men in War,"<br />
a drama of the Korean conflict, was Maj. John<br />
Dick.son. former liaison officer between the<br />
motion picture industry and the chief of<br />
information of the Army Department in<br />
Washington. Starring Robert Ryan and Aldo<br />
Ray, "War" is being produced by Sidney<br />
Harmon and megged by Anthony Mann for<br />
United Artists release.<br />
Films as Baby Sitter<br />
CHINOOK. MONT.—The following notice<br />
was seen in the local paper recently; Let the<br />
Blaine Theatre be your baby sitter during<br />
dollar days, Friday and Saturday. Matinee<br />
1;30 p.m. For 15c we'll be your baby sitter<br />
for two full hours. Shop at your leisure<br />
while we entertain your youngsters with real<br />
good western shows!<br />
To Cast of 'Babies'<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Rita Johnson has been<br />
added to the cast of RKO's "The Day They<br />
Gave Babies Away," starring Glynis Johns,<br />
Cameron Mitchell, Patty McCormick and Rex<br />
Thompson, under the direction of Allen<br />
Reisner, with Sam Wiesenthal producing.<br />
DENVER<br />
pvuke \V. Dunbar, onetime secretary to the<br />
old Film Board of Trade, has announced<br />
he will run for re-election to the office of<br />
attorney general for Colorado. He has held<br />
the office for three terms, never having been<br />
defeated . B. Weil has reopened the<br />
trail. Evergreen, for the tourist .season . . .<br />
Don Spaulding, office manager and booker,<br />
went east to West Virginia and Michigan on<br />
vacation. Warren We.st, salesman, is filling<br />
in for Spaulding.<br />
George Tucker, booker and buyer for Albuquerque<br />
Exhibitors at Albuquerque, is moving<br />
his office to Denver . . . Pete Bayes, Paramount<br />
publicity man, went to Salt Lake City<br />
to whip up the campaign on "Tliat Certain<br />
Feeling" . . . Philip Isaacs, Paramount district<br />
manager, went to Des Moines on company<br />
business .<br />
Hiway, Deertrail, has<br />
been closed.<br />
Tom Bailey, independent distributor, returned<br />
to Albuquerque to finish his sales<br />
chores there, after spending a few days at<br />
his Denver headquarters . . . Bonnie Mae<br />
Lloyd is working at Apex Films, helping her<br />
father. Chick Lloyd, who owns the exchange<br />
visitors included C. E. Mc-<br />
Laughlin, Las Animas; Elden Menagh, Fort<br />
Lupton; B. A. Weil, Evergreen; C. F. "Chuck"<br />
Flower, Estes Park; John Roberts, Fort Morgan;<br />
George and Harold McCormick, Canon<br />
City, and Virgil Bohanan, Hatch, N. M.<br />
Denver WOMPI Installs<br />
Mary Hogle as President<br />
DENVER^—Local Chapter 10 of the Women<br />
of the Motion Pictiu-e Industry installed its<br />
second slate of officers, with Mary Ann<br />
Hogle, MGM, taking the president's chair in<br />
succession to Jean Gerbase, Western Service<br />
& Supply, who became first president of the<br />
club following its organization in August 1955.<br />
Irene Canino and Mae Alstatt were installed<br />
as vice-presidents; Gloria Genovese,<br />
recording secretary; Edith Musgrave, corresponding<br />
secretary, and Charlotte Steuver,<br />
treasurer.<br />
'The Outlaws Are in Town'<br />
Under Way by Regal<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Robert Arthur and Kathy<br />
Nolan have been set to co-star in "The Outlaws<br />
Are in Town," a Regal production for<br />
20th Century-Pox release. Others signed by<br />
producer-director Kurt Neumann for the picture<br />
include Rhys Williams, Mae Clarke,<br />
Rhodes Reason, Dave O'Brien, Robert Osterloh,<br />
Frank Sully, William Challee, Carol<br />
Kelley, Michael Garrett, Phil Van Zandt and<br />
Todd Griffin. Filming began Tuesday (10).<br />
John Sturges to Complete<br />
Direction of 'Old Man'<br />
HOLL'YWOOD—John Sturges has been<br />
signed by producer Leland Hayward to complete<br />
the direction of Warners' "The Old Man<br />
and the Sea," celluloid version of Ernest<br />
Hemingway's Nobel and Pulitzer Prize novel,<br />
which stars Spencer Tracy. Sturges takes<br />
over the reins from Fred Zinneman, who directed<br />
the picture while it was on location<br />
in Cuba.<br />
42 BOXOFFICE July 14, 1956
. . . Please<br />
. . Hay<br />
Roundabout the<br />
Rockies<br />
By BOB WALKER<br />
CATURDAY is always a hectic day for me<br />
to spend any time with a salesman, but<br />
MGM's Jimmy Michiletti really had it<br />
rough<br />
as he tried to talk pictures while I kept ducking<br />
in and out of the back room dodging the<br />
local constabulary in an effort to stay out<br />
of jail until the matinee was out of the way.<br />
In our ad in the Fruita Times that week<br />
I had a paragraph announcing, free tickets<br />
to all folks arriving on muleback for the<br />
showing of "Francis Joins the Wacs" on Sunday,<br />
Monday or Tuesday. The ad further<br />
advised mule riders to park all critters in<br />
front of the Fruita Times. The editor added<br />
an editor's note which read, "Over My Dead<br />
Body."<br />
It didn't seem right to let it go with that<br />
so I bought a bale of hay and printed a<br />
sign, which read, "Mule riders! Please park<br />
your mules here while seeing 'Francis Joins<br />
the WACS' . courtesy Fruita Times<br />
leave space for editor's body." I<br />
placed the hay with the card in front of the<br />
Times about 2 in the morning after calling<br />
the city clerk and asking his okay. He had<br />
read my ad and was tickled to go along with<br />
the gag.<br />
The night marshal and one of the day<br />
pohce thought it was such a good gag that<br />
they wanted in the act so they went out and<br />
got a burro during the night and tied him to<br />
the front door of the Times. At 4 a.m. that<br />
fool burro cut loose with some of the fanciest<br />
early morning braying you ever heard and<br />
everyone within six blocks got up much<br />
earlier than they are used to.<br />
But everyone had a wonderful time; tourists<br />
stopped, then the editor called me and said,<br />
"I surrender. I'll never change one of your<br />
ads again. But what in hell do I do with<br />
this donkey?" By the time I got down to<br />
work with Mitch, the whole town was having<br />
the best laugh in many moons. But the new<br />
mayor couldn't see anything funny about the<br />
stunt and he started demanding that I be<br />
thrown in jail and fined.<br />
I kjiew I was innocent, but no one else<br />
would have believed it except the two cops<br />
and their consciences wouldn't let them<br />
jail me even if they could have found me.<br />
but the mayor was so mad the policemen<br />
thought they might lose their jobs if the<br />
truth got out.<br />
That dang bale of hay sure set off some<br />
fireworks, but everyone starting wanting to<br />
buy postcards with jackasses on them to send<br />
to the mayor and chide him, until the cops<br />
finally got up nerve enough to go and confess.<br />
When he found even the cops were<br />
against him he finally had to begrudgingly<br />
decide it was funny after all.<br />
I didn't expect so much publicity, but like<br />
Mitch said, you couldn't buy all I got at any<br />
price. Everyone was talking about Walker and<br />
his mule that evening.<br />
Jimmy Michiletti, w'ho I'm sure is the<br />
smallest MGM salesman in the organization,<br />
has been with the company since I was in<br />
short pants but he doesn't look it. He was<br />
telling me that the Denver branch manager,<br />
Henry Friedel, just celebrated his 40th year<br />
with the company. Seems like even the help<br />
gets along better with the Friendly company.<br />
As mad as I get at the Times for the discouragement<br />
it dishes out in Its high hat<br />
reviews of some of my family features, I bet<br />
my mad ain't nothing as compared to the<br />
producer's who just bought the "Bridey<br />
Murphy" story, or the young fellows who<br />
ended it all to go back and start over with<br />
Bridey's friends from the shadows. Before<br />
either one of them could get down to business<br />
Times had a reprint this past week that<br />
proves Bridey was as much imagination a.s<br />
those mules that I thought would be parked in<br />
front of my editor's were to be.<br />
Leonard Scales, skipper of the Rocket<br />
Drive-In in Grand Junction, called me wanting<br />
to know if I knew of some stray theatre<br />
chairs he could pick up to place on a patio<br />
at the concession area. In course of our<br />
confab, Leonard asked if I had noticed how<br />
many big Technicolor features were loaded<br />
with night scenes lately. He had just finished<br />
Columbia's "Last Frontier" and said the<br />
screen was dark half the time with night<br />
scenes that were impossible to bring out. He<br />
said he thought that producers were using<br />
lots of night scenes to cut down on cost of<br />
background scenery. I hadn't thought much<br />
about it, but I have about gone crazy here<br />
of late with dark Technicolor night scenes,<br />
and if they're dark on my screen I can<br />
imagine the trouble they'd cause outdoors.<br />
I just read where there are 13,000 varieties<br />
of aphids. Things aren't bad enough, so one of<br />
those varieties had to show up in western<br />
Colorado this year by the billions and eat up<br />
the hay before the poor weevils could get a<br />
look in.<br />
This selling tickets in a farm community<br />
seems to get more complicated daily. Well, I<br />
could have bought the Bridey Murphy story<br />
so things could be worse.<br />
Warren Low Observing<br />
33rd Year in Industry<br />
HOLLYWOOD—His 23rd year as film editor<br />
for Producer Hal Wallis, and his 33rd year in<br />
the industry, is being observed by Warren<br />
Low, currently scissoring "The Rainmaker,"<br />
a Wallis production for Paramount release.<br />
Low, who began his career as a child actor,<br />
is one of the founders and incumbent president<br />
of the American Cinema Editors.<br />
HANDY SUBSCRIPTION<br />
NKW CANCKR DRIVE—June Ally.son is<br />
co-national chairman with husband Dick<br />
Powell of the Suzan Ball Memorial Fund<br />
which will aid City of Hope near Los<br />
Angeles. Here she is with Richard Long,<br />
husband of the late actress, who died of<br />
cancer.<br />
E. H. Showve Purchases<br />
Puente, Calif., Theatre<br />
PUENTE, CALIF.—Steve Chorak has sold<br />
his Puente Theatre here to Earle H. Showve.<br />
formerly with the Garmar and Vogue theatres<br />
in Montebello. who has formed the<br />
Puente Theatre Corp. Chorak built the theatre<br />
in 1948 and sold out because of illness.<br />
He will undergo a major operation soon.<br />
Showve. a former northwest exhibitor, came<br />
to southern California in 1950. He managed<br />
the DeAnza and Arlington theatres in Riverside<br />
for four years.<br />
'Smile' Rights to Fox<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Screen rights to "A Certain<br />
Smile," a new novel by the French authoress<br />
Francoise Sagan. have been secured by 20th-<br />
Fox, which has assigned the production reins<br />
to Henry Ephron. Being scripted by Frances<br />
Goodrich and Albert Hackett, the opus will<br />
roll on location in Paris next spring.<br />
Star Roles to Three<br />
HOLLYWOOD— Starring roles in Republic's<br />
"Accused of Murder" will be filled by<br />
David Brian, Vera Ralston and Sidney Blackmer.<br />
The suspense drama is scheduled to be<br />
produced and directed by Joe Kane.
VOTE<br />
Study the issues and the candidates—<br />
and then decide where you stand<br />
You wouldn't buy a new car without at least<br />
driving it around the block.<br />
You wouldn't buy a new house without<br />
checking up on the neighborhood, the schools,<br />
and any back taxes.<br />
So vote -but don't vote in the dark in this<br />
exciting election year.<br />
Listen to what candidates are saying on TV<br />
and radio.<br />
Read your newspapers— especially the politi-
—<br />
—<br />
—<br />
—<br />
'Duchin Story' Is Bright<br />
255 in Chicago Bow<br />
CHICAGO—A midweek holiday and new<br />
product resulted in a bright picture for loop<br />
movie business. "The Eddy Duchin Story"<br />
was an outstanding opener at the Woods,<br />
while "The King and I" in its second week<br />
at the Oriental outdid opening week. "Autumn<br />
Leaves" at the Monroe was also outstanding.<br />
"Trapeze" in its fourth week at the United<br />
Artists and "The Proud and Profane" in a<br />
third week at the Chicago continued to make<br />
boxoffice news.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Carnegie A Bill o» Divorcement (RKO), reissue. 190<br />
Chicago The Proud and Profane (Para), 3rd wk..235<br />
Esquire—Toy Tiger (U-l), 2ncl wk 200<br />
Grand The Come On (AA); Thunderstorm (AA),<br />
2nd wk<br />
Loop ^Meet Me in Las Vegas (MGM), 12th wk. .<br />
210<br />
200<br />
McVickers Oklahoma! (Magna), 28th wk<br />
.<br />
265<br />
Monroe Autumn Leoves (Col) 225<br />
Oriental—The King and (20fh-Fox), wk...250<br />
I 2nd<br />
Palace Cinerama Holiday (Cineroma), 59th wk. . .325<br />
Roosevelt—The Animal World (WB); Goodbye, My<br />
Lody (WB), 2nd wk 1 80<br />
State Lake The Greot Locomotive Chose (Buena<br />
Vista), 4th wk 195<br />
Surf—The Lodykillers (Cont'l) 2nd wk 200<br />
United Artists—Trapeze (UA), 4th wk 240<br />
Woods—The Eddy Duchin Story (Col) 255<br />
World Playhouse Madame Butterfly (IFE), 8th<br />
wk 205<br />
Ziegfeld Diobolique (UMPO), return, 2nd wk...l95<br />
'Feeling' cmd 'Number' Score<br />
WeU in Better KC Week<br />
KANSAS CITY—The grosses<br />
looked better<br />
here last week. The Bob Hope picture at the<br />
Paramount topped the list with 200 per cent<br />
and "The Night My Number Came Up" was<br />
next at 175 per cent. Both were held, of<br />
course, and "T:-apeze," which did 135 per cent<br />
at the Midland in its second week, was also<br />
held over. "The Great Locomotive Chase"<br />
playing the four Pqx houses to 125 per cent<br />
was held an extra day.<br />
Other grosses were down, but "This Is<br />
Cinerama" was holding up well in its fourth<br />
week. A deal has been made whereby tickets<br />
may be purchased at any Katz drugstore in<br />
Kansas City, St. Joseph, Sioux City and Des<br />
Moines. A special broker has also been<br />
arranged for Atchison, Kas. A surprising<br />
number of out-of-town groups are coming<br />
in to see the show.<br />
Glen The Naked Night (Times), 3rd wk 90<br />
Kimo Sins of the Borgios (Aidarf), 2nd wk 80<br />
Midland Trapeze (UA), 2nd wk 135<br />
Missouri This Is Cinerama (Cinerama), 4th wk.. .400<br />
Paramount That Certain Feeling (Paro) 200<br />
Roxy Santiago (WB), 2nd wk 75<br />
Tower, Uptown, Fairway and Granada The Greot<br />
Locomotive<br />
Vogue<br />
Chose (BV)<br />
The Night My Number Come Up (Cont'l<br />
1 25<br />
Dis.) 175<br />
Hope on Stage Boosts 'Feeling'<br />
To 200 in Indianapolis Bow<br />
INDIANAPOLIS — New attractions and<br />
holdovers alike benefited from a sharp upswing<br />
in business here dui'ing the week.<br />
Personal appearances by Bob Hope on the<br />
stage at the Circle helped "That Certain<br />
Feeling" to a fast start, and it was the week's<br />
best grosser, holding over. "Trapeze," still a<br />
boxoffice standout in its second week at<br />
Loew's, rated a third week. "Santiago" was<br />
doing a nice business at the Indiana.<br />
That Certain Feeling (Para) 200<br />
Circle<br />
Indiana Santiago (WB); The Wiretapper<br />
(Embassy) 100<br />
Keiths The Great Locomotive Chose (Buena<br />
Vista), 3rd wk 80<br />
Loew's Trapeze (UA), 2nd wk 150<br />
Ginger Rogers, Michael Rennie and Betty<br />
Lou Keim will play the starring roles in<br />
20th-Fox's "Teen Age Rebel."<br />
AT KANSAS CITY SCREENING OF 'KING—Exhibitors were guests of 20th-Fox<br />
at a screening of "The King and I," held in the Brookside Theatre at Kansas City.<br />
Upper photo, left to right: Harold Hume, Fox Midwest; Lloyd Morris and Leon Hoofnagle,<br />
Commonwealth; Claude Moore, Fox Midwest; Harold Guyette, Uptown Theatre<br />
manager whose theatre opened with the show Tuesday (11). Below, Senn Lawler, Fox<br />
Midwest; Joe Neger, 20th-Fox manager; R. P. Brous, Ralph Adams and Leon Robertson,<br />
Fox Midwest.<br />
New Trial on Two Points<br />
In Long Durwood Suit<br />
KANSAS CITY—The Missouri Supreme<br />
Coui't has overruled a motion for a rehearing<br />
in the extended civil action by Edward D.<br />
Diu'wood against other members of the<br />
Dubinsky family over control of the Dm-wood<br />
circuit. Durwood's brothers. H. W. Dubinsky<br />
and Irwin Dubinsky, and their widowed<br />
sister-in-law, Mi's. Barney Dubinsky, filed the<br />
motion.<br />
Litigation has been going on for 11 years<br />
and there will be a new trial this fall when<br />
Judge McQueen will hear arguments on the<br />
second two counts which were not ruled on<br />
by him but decided by a court-appointed<br />
referee, Paul Harnett.<br />
MPA in Robert Withers Will<br />
OLATHE, KAS.—The will of Robert P.<br />
Withers, former manager and franchise<br />
holder for Republic Pictures Midwest, has<br />
been filed in the probate court here. His<br />
estate is left in trust for his wife Helen B.<br />
In the event of her death, 5 per cent of the<br />
estate will go to the Motion Picture Ass'n<br />
of Greater Kansas City.<br />
Changes Language Policy<br />
HOOPESTON, ILL.—Don Merrill,<br />
manager<br />
of the McCollum theatre here, has introduced<br />
a new policy at the Princess. Spanishlanguage<br />
films, previously shown on Tuesday<br />
and Wednesday, have been moved to Friday<br />
and Saturday each week and the theatre will<br />
not be open Sundays, at least for the present.<br />
Bev Miller Re-Elected<br />
To ITO Helm 4lh Time<br />
KANSAS CITY—Directors of the Kansas-<br />
Missouri Allied Independent Theatre Owners<br />
Tuesday tlOi elected Beverly Miller of Kansas<br />
City to his foui-th term as president. Ronald<br />
Means of Kansas City was elected vice-president<br />
for Missouri and Ben Adams of El<br />
Dorado for Kansas. Bill Bradfield of Carthage<br />
was elected treasurer and Komp Jarrett<br />
of Nevada secretary.<br />
Chairmen also were appointed by the<br />
board for next spring's convention, date and<br />
place to be announced later. Jay Wooten of<br />
Hutchinson will be in chai'ge of the convention<br />
booklet and Ronald Means of attractions<br />
and publicity. Joe Stark of Wichita was put<br />
in charge of displays.<br />
Since Stark's son Charles had just made<br />
him a grandfather, the grandson, Douglas<br />
Clay Stark, was named Joe's assistant because<br />
of his lusty voice!<br />
Paul Mason Will Operate<br />
OTallon, 111.. Theatre<br />
O'FALLON, ILL.—Paul Mason, who has<br />
been operating lessee of the Lions Theatre,<br />
has closed a deal to take over the operation<br />
of State Theatre. He planned to have the<br />
theatre in operation again by July 15.<br />
Mrs. David S. Nelson closed the theatre<br />
on June 21, immediately after receiving word<br />
of her husband's untimely death in Maplewood,<br />
Mo. Nelson had operated the State,<br />
under a lease, for about 18 months.<br />
BOXOFFICE July 14, 1956 45
. . "This<br />
"s<br />
SZmmore<br />
. . Vacationers<br />
. . Glen<br />
. . Mary<br />
. . . Dave<br />
. . . Gus<br />
. . The<br />
: July<br />
KANSAS CITY<br />
The Kin? and I" is being shown at road-show<br />
prices at the Uptown Theati'e only. The<br />
theatre is also running continuous shows<br />
daily for its engagement, instead of on Sunday<br />
only as its usual pattern. Matinee prices<br />
for adults have been increased from 65 to<br />
85 cents and for the evening show, admission<br />
is $1.25 instead of 85 cents. Children's prices<br />
remain the same at all shows—25 cents . . .<br />
L. D. Hasty, salesman for Shreve Theatre<br />
Supply, was on a trip in Kansas, Keith Blackburn<br />
went to Marceline, Mo., to assist Basil<br />
Fogelson with equipment to show "The Great<br />
Locomotive Chase" premiere.<br />
. . .<br />
Harold Lyon, manager of Paramount Theatre,<br />
was taking a short vacation in Minnesota<br />
and Iowa . Is Cinerama" was<br />
seen by a group from the Radio-Lab last<br />
Saturday. This week 400 from the Lee Wholesale<br />
Distributors came in groups of 100 each<br />
on successive nights, Thursday, Friday. Saturday<br />
and Sunday. There were 21 persons who<br />
Tom<br />
came up from Atchison one night<br />
Bridge, Paramount division manager, was in<br />
from Dallas conferring with Harry Hamburg,<br />
manager . . . Mis.souri Filmrow visitors included<br />
Ed Harris. Neosho; J. Leo Hayob,<br />
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MiU-.sliall; Koiup JaireU, Nfvada. Bill Bradfield,<br />
Roy Disney, president of Walt Dl.sney Productions,<br />
visited the local Buena Vi.sta office<br />
Friday (6> after attending the celebration at<br />
Marceline, Mo., honoring his brother Walt.<br />
Tommy Thomp.son, local BV representative,<br />
and Mrs. Thompson also attended the<br />
Marceline events. It is Thompson's hometown<br />
as well as Disney's. Thompson was<br />
asked to be on a committee there with Roy<br />
and Walt to judge the bathing beauty contest.<br />
'1 here were 40 girls in Uie contest and Tommy<br />
had to look them all over in order to make a<br />
choice. A fellow gets a lot of tough assignments<br />
in this business!<br />
Joe Neger, 20th-Fox manager, Chick Evens,<br />
exploiteer. Jack Cohan, sales manager and<br />
all his salesmen left Wednesday (H) for<br />
Chicago to attend the sales meeting at the<br />
Blackstone Hotel Thursday and Friday.<br />
Division Manager Glen Norris and M. A.<br />
Levy, district manager, conducted the meeting<br />
There will be no board meeting of<br />
. . . the Kansas-Missouri Theatre Ass'n in July<br />
The Motion Picture<br />
—not until August 15 . . .<br />
Ass'n of Greater Kansas City held its<br />
monthly meeting Thursday (12) and discussed<br />
plans for the annual golf and gin rummy stag.<br />
A. E. Jarboe was in town from Cameron and<br />
reported a small booth fire wliich did some<br />
damage to projectors in his Ritz Theatre<br />
. . . J. W. Shreve isn't selling all the paint he<br />
had in stock—the interior of the Shreve<br />
Theatre Supply has had a new paint job<br />
that brightens things up . Beth Miles,<br />
who played a boogie-woogie piano solo at the<br />
New 50 Highway Drive-in's Ted Mack<br />
Amateur Hour contest, was voted first place<br />
for the June 30 contestants and will thus be<br />
one of the semifinalists.<br />
James Lewis, RKO manager, returned from<br />
a Canadian vacation that included weather<br />
down to 54 the morning he and Mrs. Lewis<br />
left. As usual, he said, the missus outfished<br />
him . reported this week include<br />
Howard Thomas, office manager at<br />
Warner Bros.; Grace Roberts, head cashier<br />
at 20th-Fox who left with her husband and<br />
her sisters from Bethany, Mo., for California<br />
to be gone about three weeks; Sharon<br />
Mercier, clerk at Durwood Theatres; Lettie<br />
Thurman, RKO assistant cashier . . . Kansas<br />
visitors on Filmrow included R. F. Fite, El<br />
Dorado; Jay Wooten, Hutchinson; Ben<br />
Adams, El Dorado; Ben Spainhour, Greensburg;<br />
Ernie Block, Sabetha; Chet Borg, Fort<br />
Scott.<br />
Universal will hold its Lester Zucker (district<br />
manager) campaign July 22 through<br />
August 25. Margaret Pierce is the new bUler,<br />
replacing Loretta Bisacca, who resigned for<br />
family reasons . Jones was m from<br />
Gravois Mills and reported being grateful<br />
for two recent rains, except that the one<br />
which rained over six inches in a very short<br />
time came about 8:30 p.m. The next one<br />
was a little more considerate and waited until<br />
midnight to add two inches to the water<br />
gauge. Everyone down in his neck of the<br />
woods is delighted to see the Lake rising— it<br />
was "getting mighty low."<br />
Presidents seem to run in the Rhoden<br />
family. Mrs. Elmer C. Rhoden jr. has just<br />
been elected president of the Musettes of the<br />
Kansas City Museum. Since her husband Is<br />
president of Commonwealth Theatres and<br />
her daddy-in-law president of National Theatres,<br />
perhaps she felt it necessary to be<br />
elected president of something in self-defense<br />
Williams, who operates the Royal<br />
Theatre at King City, Mo., and Mrs. King<br />
made a three-week vacation trip to Denver<br />
Kopulos of Regal Poppers returned<br />
from a business trip to Wichita.<br />
Birth announcements came from Mr. and<br />
Mrs. Bill Terrill of the Woodlane Drive-In at<br />
Wayneville, Mo., who have a son, and from<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Wrench of the Varsity<br />
Theatre at Columbia, Mo., who announced<br />
a daughter. Both were born on the same<br />
date, June 11 . . . Tal's Drive-In at Coffeyville,<br />
Kas., is reported to have lost its tower<br />
in a bout with the wind recently. At the<br />
Rocket Drive-In in Salina there was wind<br />
damage to the fence . . . Gil Wilson, who is<br />
making a 52-city nationwide lecture tour and<br />
presentation of paintings based on "Moby<br />
Dick" will be in Kansas City July 19, 20. On<br />
Thursday I19) night he will show his slides<br />
at the Kansas City Museum, after appearing<br />
at the Cosmopolitan Club at the Muehlebach<br />
that noon. Besides radio and TV interviews,<br />
he will be at the Kansas City Art<br />
Institute on Friday.<br />
Carl Krueger, Hollywood producer whose<br />
current release, "Comanche," is being distributed<br />
by United Ai'tists, stopped in Kansas<br />
City for several hours over the weekend. He<br />
was accompanied by Mrs. Krueger and they<br />
were entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Louis Patz<br />
while in town. Patz is district manager for<br />
National Screen Service .<br />
Hartman<br />
Motion Picture Booking Agency has taken<br />
over the booking for the Chief Drive-In at<br />
Topeka.<br />
Allied Artists Booker and Office Manager<br />
Don Clark attended a recent company meeting<br />
in Chicago for bookers only and came<br />
back enthusiastic about its success. "It was<br />
THE BEST<br />
Advertising Method .<br />
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46<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
14, 1956
k'<br />
. . Nat<br />
. . Mrs.<br />
—<br />
worth a whole year's correspondence," he<br />
explained. "Everyone there was on the same<br />
. . . Harold<br />
level, with the same problems"<br />
Wirthwein, western division sales manager,<br />
was in conferring with Frank Thomas, manager<br />
. Hechtman and family spent the<br />
weekend visiting in St. Louis. Tlie business<br />
barometer at Capitol Flag & Banner Co.<br />
registered these highest: "The King and I,"<br />
"Trapeze," and "The Eddy Duchin Story."<br />
National Theatre Supply is furnishing<br />
everything for the new Dickinson Drive-In at<br />
Dighton, Kas., which is being built by Frank<br />
Dickinson. Dickinson also operates the theatre<br />
in Dighton. According to Bill Allison of<br />
NTS, the concession equipment will be installed<br />
by his company as well as all the other<br />
detailed needs of a drive-in . . . United<br />
Artists had its second biggest week last week<br />
in the history of this office, according to<br />
Bud Truog, office manager. This was laid to<br />
the saturation booking of "Trapeze" in key<br />
spots. Next goalpost is Branch Manager<br />
Week, August 26 through September 1, honoring<br />
Ralph Amacher.<br />
. . . Filmrow<br />
.<br />
Wilbur J. Vaughn is the new manager of<br />
the 50 Hiway Drive-In at Jefferson City.<br />
Vaughn has had theatre experience at Willow<br />
Springs and other points in southern Missouri<br />
and in Arkansas. He is 27 years old, married<br />
and has two small children. The drive-in<br />
is owned by Beverly Miller and his brother<br />
Herbert, usually called "Hub"<br />
has a new parking lot between the Columbia<br />
and the 20th-Fox exchanges. It has room for<br />
12 cars, all spaces rented Beverly<br />
Miller Is attending the Missouri Women's<br />
State golf tournament at Excelsior Springs.<br />
Joe Redmond, director of advertising and<br />
publicity for Fox Midwest, attended the<br />
memorial service at Flagstaff, Ariz., for the<br />
victims of the recent airplane disaster at<br />
Grand Canyon. Joseph Kite, who with his<br />
wife and two children was among the<br />
passengers killed, was a first cousin of Redmond<br />
and since they were about the same<br />
age. they were very close.<br />
Filmack Trailer Compares<br />
Widescreen vs. TV<br />
NEW YORK—Filmack Trailer Co. has a<br />
special trailer demonstrating the advantages<br />
of the giant wide theatre screen vs. the small<br />
television screen. The film, designed to run<br />
just ahead of the feature attraction, allows<br />
the tiny TV picture to be followed immediately<br />
by the opening scenes of the feature on<br />
the widescreen.<br />
The announcer emphasizes the message<br />
with this narration;<br />
"TV IS OKAY ... IF you like<br />
a picture<br />
THIS size! But ... if you prefer big,<br />
many of them in<br />
clear, sharp pictures . . .<br />
compare THIS with<br />
glorious color . . .<br />
our feature you are about to see on our<br />
GIANT SCREEN!"<br />
F>i'ints are available from Filmack Trailer<br />
Co., 1327 South Wabash, Chicago 5, 111.<br />
f»Mw«8 INDUSTRY PROFILE ammiiimm^^<br />
Dorothie Warnekes Filmrow Job<br />
Confused With 'Bookie by Tax Men<br />
KANSAS CITY—Whenever anyone outside<br />
the industry asks Dorothie Warneke,<br />
Columbia booker, what she does, she<br />
hastily explains her<br />
duties. Otherwise,<br />
people look at her<br />
in surprise under<br />
the impression that<br />
she is a "bookie."<br />
In fact, one of those<br />
who was confused<br />
about her work was<br />
an income tax man<br />
helping her make<br />
up a report. The<br />
other was a janitor<br />
at one of the ex-<br />
Dorothie Warneke changes where she<br />
has been employed as a booker.<br />
It was during the war and she and<br />
another girl were working late at Universal.<br />
Here came the Negro janitor with<br />
a number of followers.<br />
"My goodness, are you having a party<br />
here tonight?" she asked him.<br />
"No, ma'am," he answered, "but I told<br />
some of my friends you was a bookie an'<br />
they want to talk to you!"<br />
Dorothie says most people outside the<br />
mdustry have no idea how films get into<br />
the theatre—seem to think they are mailed<br />
out of Hollywood. So naturally they have<br />
no idea what a booker's job entails.<br />
Can t Get Safe Open;<br />
Sets Theatre Afire<br />
HERINGTON, KAS.—A 17-year-old<br />
youth<br />
broke into the Dreamland Theatre after the<br />
show Tuesday (3) night. When he could not<br />
get into the safe, he got mad and set the<br />
theatre afire. This resulted in considerable<br />
smoke and water damage and there also was<br />
other damage to the interior, particularly to<br />
the stairway. The theatre is managed by the<br />
Commonwealth circuit for C. L. McVey, who<br />
now lives in California. It was dark about<br />
four days. Kansas authorities arrested the<br />
youth.<br />
Trial Series Scheduled<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Producer Collier Young<br />
has green-lighted production of 21 approved<br />
dramas for his Fordyce Enterprises, Inc., On<br />
Ti-ial television series. Joseph Cotten is hostnarrator<br />
for the new program, based on offical<br />
court records, which makes its debut<br />
on the NBC-TV network September 7 with<br />
Campbell Soups and Lever Bros, as alternate<br />
spon.sors.<br />
She started her work with FBO mow<br />
RKO) in 1931 as a switchboard operator.<br />
Charlie Oliver, now a booker at Warner<br />
Bros., was office manager and Gib Jones<br />
of RKO was head booker. Roy Churchill<br />
was branch manager.<br />
In 1936, she transferred to Universal as<br />
contract clerk and switchboard operator.<br />
She became a district booker and then<br />
second booker during World War n. She<br />
left to take a six-month vacation in<br />
Florida and when she came back, booked<br />
for Realart.<br />
In June of 1952, she was driving over to<br />
the KU medical center, where she gave<br />
her services for a certain amount of<br />
time each week, when her brakes gave out<br />
and she hit a tree. In January of 1953 .she<br />
was able to return to work as a booker<br />
for Columbia, where she has been ever<br />
since.<br />
"When I explained my work to that<br />
income tax man, he said he thought mine<br />
would be classed as a high precision job,"<br />
Dorothie stated. "We don't have many<br />
women bookers on the Row now. They<br />
don't get advanced like they did during<br />
the war, but those of us here like our work<br />
though we agree it's a high precision job."<br />
John C. Warneke, her husband for<br />
more than 25 years, is in real estate and<br />
insurance. The only other member of the<br />
family is a blond cocker spaniel, Timmy.<br />
Conscience Money<br />
ST. JOSEPH—The Cowtown Drive-In<br />
management has had a couple of experiences<br />
lately which tend to indicate it is in an<br />
essentially honest community. A letter came<br />
through the mail with the message and<br />
enclosure: "I am sorry I only paid for two<br />
but took in three people. My conscience hurts<br />
me. Enclosed is 65 cents."<br />
Another envelope wa^ just stuck into the<br />
mailbox. This, too, contained a message and<br />
money. The message read: "I snuck in<br />
enclosed is 65 cents."<br />
Louis Stein to Operate<br />
Baxter Springs House<br />
BAXTER SPRINGS, KAS.—Louis Stein,<br />
president of Stein Enterprises, confirmed<br />
reports that he is taking over the operation<br />
of the New Baxter Theatre, which Commonwealth<br />
closed last week. The theatre will<br />
remain closed for redecorating purposes.<br />
Stein said, and a September 1 opening is<br />
planned.<br />
Other Stein theatres include the Twilight<br />
Drive-In here and the Parsons Drlve-In at<br />
Parson.<br />
J(n^uUuc<br />
BOONTON, N. J.<br />
Large Core<br />
Greater Crater Area<br />
MAXIMUM LIGHT<br />
Even/y Distributed<br />
Mo.—CENTRAL SHIPP. & INSPECTION, Konsas City—Grond 2094<br />
NATL THEATRE SUPPLY, St. Louis— Jefferson 1-6350<br />
Kansas—THEATRE SERVICE Co, Inc., Topeko- Tel 3 7225<br />
I Illinois— KAYLINE COMPANY, Chicago—Tel Webster 9-4643<br />
NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY. Chicago— Wobash 2-8266<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: July 14, 1956 47
. . Charley<br />
J_<br />
ST.<br />
LOUIS<br />
IViTrs Lawrence Lieber, whose late hii.--l),uul<br />
. . . Mrs. Fred Wehrenberg,<br />
was one of the owners of the Royal<br />
Theatre at Pacific. Is a patient at Barnes<br />
Hospital here<br />
whose late husband was one of the national<br />
and regional leaders of motion picture theatre<br />
owners, entered St. Mary's Hospital for<br />
a minor operation and is recovering satisfactorily<br />
. . Russell Armentrout of Louisana.<br />
.<br />
Mo., a director of MITO. is an expectant<br />
grandfather . Goldman. St. Louis<br />
exhibitor and treasurer of MITO. is a patient<br />
NESTLE STYLE CARRY-OUT TRAYS<br />
Require no settin up— save labor.<br />
The SAVADAY Paperboard Tray<br />
Four cup compartments with ompic space<br />
for sondwiches, ico cream dishes, etc.<br />
/J/do
MITO Meeting Plans<br />
Begin to Take Shape<br />
ST. LOUIS—L. J. Williams, president of<br />
the Missouri-Illinois Theatre Owners, has<br />
announced the personnel of the committees<br />
which will function in connection with<br />
MITO's 38th annual convention at the<br />
Kingsway Hotel here August 27, 28.<br />
Features of the gathering will be an enlarged<br />
trade exposition and the selection of<br />
Miss Filmrow of 1956-57, Plans were to be<br />
discussed at a meeting of officers and directors<br />
at MITO headquartei-s.<br />
A chief topic will be means to bring back<br />
the many former patrons who have quit<br />
attending the theatres for various reasons.<br />
An intensive effort will be made by members<br />
to ascertain from persons in their own communities<br />
the reasons for the falling off in<br />
attendance, and what can be done to win<br />
back old customers. This checkup will not<br />
be controlled by any preconceived ideas from<br />
either Hollywood or New York. Grassroots<br />
reactions will be sought.<br />
The committees as announced by President<br />
Williams follow:<br />
PAUL KRUEGER CHAIRMAN<br />
Paul L. Krueger, general chairman; Tom<br />
Edwards sr.. Tom Bloomer and Lester R.<br />
Kropp.<br />
Trade Show—A. B. Magarian, chairman:<br />
Pete Gloriod, John Carothers, Harry Hoff,<br />
Bernie McCarthy. Stu Tomber, Ed Peters,<br />
and Gene Beckham.<br />
Transportation — Kenneth Hirth, Sid<br />
Sayetta, Howard Spies, Meyer Kahan,<br />
Gregory Zotos, Spero Karides and Nick<br />
Karakas.<br />
Reception—William Dean Davis, chaii-man,<br />
and Mrs. Ora Redford, Mrs. Grace Kccione,<br />
Miss Anita Piccione and William Kalmann.<br />
Sponsors — Thomas James, Edward B.<br />
Arthur, Louis Jablonow, John Meinardi and<br />
Howard Zulauf.<br />
Decorations—Spero Karides, Mrs. Alma<br />
Medley, Mrs. Ann Ballman and Miss A.<br />
Freeman.<br />
Program—Philip Nanos, Sen. Edward Long.<br />
Eddie Clark and Russell Bovim.<br />
Miss Filmrow Contest—Charles Goldman.<br />
Jimmie James, Nick Karakas and Frances<br />
Hoffman (1955-56 Miss Filmrow).<br />
Celebrities and Guests—David G. Arthur,<br />
Louis and Joseph Ansell.<br />
Entertainment—Frank Henson. Mrs. Bess<br />
Schulter, Tom Edwards sr., Tom Edwards<br />
jr., Pete Medley and Eddie Clark.<br />
Donations— Bill Waring jr., Tom Edwards<br />
jr., Tom Williamson, Ray McCafferty and<br />
Charles Goldman.<br />
FRANK HENSON PUBLICITY<br />
Publicity—Frank Henson, Frank Plumlee,<br />
Frank Bloomer, Wes Bloomer, Myra Stroud,<br />
Dave Barrett and Harry Kaufman.<br />
Registration—Mjia Stroud, Imogene Bleeks,<br />
Mary Karches, Grace Engelhardt, Marcella<br />
DeVlnney and Frances Hoffman.<br />
Banquet s e a t i n g—Russell Armentrout,<br />
Harry Miller, Guy D. Haskins, Bernard Temborius,<br />
Herschell Eichhorn, William C. Earle,<br />
Lester Bona and C. D. Hill.<br />
Hotel Arrangements—Paul Krueger, L. J.<br />
Williams, A. B, Magarian, Mrs. Bess Schulter<br />
and Myra Stroud.<br />
Film Exchange Participation—Ray Mc-<br />
Cafferty, chairman. He will pick the other<br />
members of his committee.<br />
Ticket Sales—Pete Medley, Bill Collins,<br />
Eddie Clark, Paul Horn, Charley Beninati.<br />
Joe Gioldfarb, Paul Krueger, Bud Edele and<br />
Herb Washburn,<br />
Some of the motion picture companies have<br />
indicated they will send some of their stars<br />
to the gathering.<br />
Adam G. Goelz to Manage<br />
New Middleboro Drive-In<br />
BOSTON—Adam G. Goelz ha.s been appointed<br />
general manager of the Meadowbrook<br />
Drive-In on Route 44. Middleboro,<br />
according to John J. Abberley, president of<br />
the Meadowbrook Theatre Co. The drive-in<br />
will be completed for a grand opening the<br />
week of August 15.<br />
The Meadowbrook will be the first in a<br />
number of drive-ins to be operated in New<br />
England by Abberley and Wilbur Edwards,<br />
an associate. Goelz will do the booking,<br />
buying and managing from headquarters at<br />
Middleboro.<br />
Goelz will employ' a staff of 12, including<br />
the projectionist. The Meadowbrook concession<br />
section will offer pizza pies, French<br />
fries, sandwiches. Ice cream, popcorn and<br />
other light snacks.<br />
Goelz has had considerable theatre management<br />
experience. He handled the construction<br />
of two of the largest drive-ins in<br />
Texas. He has managed the Hippodrome<br />
Theatre in Baltimore, has been a district<br />
manager of Midwest Theatres and has been a<br />
city manager with Alliance Theatres.<br />
Charles McGraw will play one of the<br />
starring spots in Aaron Rosenberg's production,<br />
"Joe Butterfly." a U-I film.<br />
Central headquarters<br />
Chester Fleming Leaves<br />
Nowata Theatre Business<br />
NOWATA, OKLA.—Thirty-five years of<br />
theatre business ended this week for Chester<br />
Fleming as he turned over operation of his<br />
downtown Luxor and Park-Vu drive-in to<br />
C. D. Hicks and J. J. Bowden.<br />
Fleming announced he had leased the two<br />
theatres to the operators of the downtown<br />
New Rex and the Sky Vu Drive-In. The<br />
Iea.se is effective July 1. At the same time<br />
Fleming announced plans for the opening of<br />
his Rainbo cafe in the building formerly<br />
occupied by Tex cafe across from the city<br />
park on Highway 169.<br />
Openmg of the new cafe, which will be<br />
Nowata's largest, is tentatively scheduled<br />
within the next few weeks.<br />
Orleans, Neb., Exhibitor<br />
Moves to St. Joseph, Mo.<br />
ORLEANS, NEB.—The Orleans Theatre<br />
here went dark recently, after Hal and Fern<br />
Burright decided to spend full time managing<br />
the Orpheum Theatre in St. Joseph, Mo. Mrs.<br />
Burright said the decision had been forced<br />
on the family by declining patronage here<br />
the past two years.<br />
Burright has been managing the Orpheum<br />
in St. Joseph for a year and four months,<br />
while Mi-s. Burright and the three daughters<br />
have remained in Orleans to operate the local<br />
theatre. The Buirights plan to make their<br />
future home in St. Joseph. They had operated<br />
the Orleans since March 1, 1946.<br />
for Complete Theatre equipment<br />
OUTDOOR THEATRES<br />
Ballantyne is )our complete source. From famous Dub'l-<br />
Cone speakers to any operating supplies. Soundheads,<br />
projectors, arc lamps, amplification S)stems, parts. One<br />
call to Ballantyne covers e\erything.<br />
INDOOR THEATRES<br />
From carbons to complete sound systems for any size<br />
theatre. Magnetic or optical. All types of lenses. All are<br />
ruM: I,<br />
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I /';/ stock at Ballantyne.<br />
FAST SERV/CE on a// Sfock irems<br />
\Ballaiiti/neC)<br />
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BOXOFFICE :<br />
: July 14, 1956 48A
. . Balaban<br />
. . Ken<br />
. . During<br />
CHICAGO<br />
Tack Kirsch, chief barker of the Vailcty<br />
Tent 26, and Harry Balaban, golf outing<br />
chairman, announced the annual golf outing<br />
will be held this year at the Elmhurst Country<br />
Club August 24. As In the past, the event<br />
will combine a full day of golf, luncheon, dinner,<br />
soft ball and cards for members and<br />
others in the film and allied amusement industries.<br />
Price of ticlcets is $10. which includes<br />
the entire package, and reservations<br />
are being received by Mike Stern, ticket<br />
chairman. Attendance is limited to 200 persons.<br />
The "Uncle Bob Show," introduced at the<br />
RCA IN-CAR<br />
SPEAKERS<br />
NEW LAMPS<br />
and POWER<br />
EQUIPMENT<br />
A<br />
MID-WEST THEATRE<br />
SUPPLY CO., INC.<br />
INDIANA REPRESENTATIVEA<br />
ED N. HOWE<br />
HANDY<br />
1638 Central Parkway<br />
Cincinnati 10, Ohio<br />
CHerry 7724<br />
A<br />
Armitage by Manager Robert Blanchard<br />
about a year and a half ago to increase kid<br />
attendance, has closed. A new program, which<br />
Blanchard believes will have the same impact,<br />
will be ready for September introduction.<br />
According to Blanchard, the "Uncle<br />
Bob Show" increased Saturday afternoon attendance<br />
from 350 to between 700 and 900 . . .<br />
W>nB. radio station operating in the Carnegie<br />
Theati-e lobby as an added feature for<br />
patron interest, is now programming two<br />
hours of cla.ssical music from 9 to 11 p.m.<br />
Sunday through Friday . Edgerly. who<br />
managed the recently closed Paradise Theatre,<br />
has been appointed manager of the<br />
Northshore, a B&K property . June<br />
the Chicago censor board reviewed 89 films,<br />
of which 24 were foreign pictures. One was<br />
cl.assified for adults only and one was rejected.<br />
Van Nomikos, owner of several theatres<br />
in the Chicagoland area, purchased the Twin<br />
Air Drive-In at Champaign. He bought the<br />
property from Barr Bros., former owners and<br />
operators . & Katz is planning a<br />
Theatre.<br />
new marquee for the United Aj-tists<br />
It is hoped to have the new sign structiu-e<br />
completed by September.<br />
. . . Phyllis Kirk of "Johnny<br />
The enthusiasm with which young people<br />
have accepted Friday college nights, and the<br />
family group the "twi-night" band concerts<br />
has prompted Herb Ellisburg, managing director<br />
of the Essaness Halstead Outdoor<br />
Theatre to add a special night of recorded<br />
preshow and intermission music. Last week<br />
the Halstead started offering a polka night.<br />
The new feature will be presented every Tuesday<br />
evening<br />
Concho" arrived here for personal appearances<br />
and to do some autographing when the<br />
film opened at the Roosevelt Theatre.<br />
Tony Steuver of the Oriental Theatre managerial<br />
staff returned after a vacation on his<br />
place in the South . . . Services were held Saturday<br />
(7) for Mrs. Louise Burns, wife of Howard<br />
Burns, day manager at the Monroe Theatre<br />
. . . R. P. Barry, manager at the Capitol,<br />
was vacationing in the Ozarks. R. K. Kubick,<br />
who came to the Capitol recently as assistant<br />
manager, was pinchhitting . . . Robert Sherman,<br />
formerly assistant manager at the<br />
Capitol, is now acting in this capacity at the<br />
Highland.<br />
Cole Products Corp., manufacturers of
. . . Dean<br />
Waldo<br />
. . Bob<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
INDIANAPOLIS New $230,000 Airer<br />
rsates for the annual convention of the<br />
Allied Theatre Owners of Indiana are<br />
October 22-24. First speaker to accept is<br />
Milton Schapp, president of Gerrold Electronics,<br />
who is to discuss cable theatres at the<br />
invitation of Bob Jones, general manager<br />
of Affiliated Theatres . Hope<br />
sandwiched a rovnid of golf between two<br />
personal appearances at the Circle, followed<br />
by a party at the Claypool. in a whirlwind<br />
visit July 4 . . . Marc Wolf, general manager<br />
of Y&W, was in Washington for the all-star<br />
baseball game Monday.<br />
Paul Webster, Republic manager, is off the<br />
sick list and back at work. So is Jack Safer,<br />
manager of Safer Film Distributors. Earl<br />
Penrod. head of Affiliated Advertising Distributors,<br />
has left the hospital and is recuperating<br />
at home . . . Drive-ins, which have<br />
played more first runs than ever this season,<br />
are agitating for a 21-day clearance. The<br />
waiting period now is 28 days . . . Dr. Marvin<br />
Sandorf has installed a zoo as a free extra<br />
attraction for children at his Twin Drive-In<br />
here.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
Alliance has bought the South Peru Drivein<br />
at Peru from Pete Fortune, who recently<br />
disposed of the Tuxedo here to Charles<br />
Stanley, owner of the Hamilton . Thomas<br />
. .<br />
H. Coomes has taken over the Parkway<br />
Drive-In at Owensboro. Ky., from Mrs.<br />
The new Starlight Drive-In at<br />
Blinco . . .<br />
Clinton, owned by Eugene Marietta and<br />
Eugene Hathaway, was set to open Sunday<br />
(15). Ted Mendelssohn is buying and booking<br />
.. Michel, 20th-Fox cashier,<br />
was vacationing at Colorado Springs<br />
Ray Schmertz, 20th-Fox manager, attended a<br />
district meeting at Chicago with salesmen<br />
Herman Halberg, Ken Dotterer and Bob<br />
Meyer and head booker Bill Zoetis.<br />
Ruth Chatteron, stage and film actress,<br />
appeared in "Jane" at the Avondale Playhouse,<br />
summer tent theatre, here last week<br />
Brown, manager of the Lyric, now<br />
closed, is promoting an all-star country style<br />
jamboree on Sundays at Plantation Park .<br />
Mae Glover is managing Zaring's Egyptian<br />
for the Levitt brothers, the new owners . . .<br />
E. B. Sconce has closed the Daisy for the<br />
summer and Earl Bell is operating the Bell<br />
on weekends only.<br />
V SPEED<br />
Vquaiity<br />
/ SHOW-<br />
-^ MANSHIP<br />
l«t us mak<br />
YOUR<br />
GOOD REASONS<br />
FOR<br />
ORDERING YOUR<br />
SPECIAL<br />
TRAILERS<br />
T<br />
THEJBJTRE EQUIPMENT<br />
442 N. ILLINOIS ST., INDIANAPOLIS. IND.<br />
"Everything tor the Theatre"<br />
Opens at Guliporl<br />
GULFPORT, MISS. — The new $230,000<br />
Don Drive-In. located on Highway 90 midway<br />
between Gulfport and Biloxi, was opened<br />
June 28 by O. O. Cummings, owner and general<br />
manager, and his associates.<br />
Cummings previously was affiliated with<br />
a drive-in in Port Arthur, Tex., and Ed Ortte.<br />
his associate, is also associated with other<br />
area theatres.<br />
The new Don has a capacity of 900 cars<br />
and an all-steel frame screen measuring 60x116<br />
feet.<br />
Ortte also is associated with the Legion<br />
and Gulf theatres here and the Highway<br />
Drive-In at Bay St. Louis. He built and later<br />
sold a drive-in at Pascagoula.<br />
'Heir and 'Bridges' Top<br />
Military Favorites<br />
FRANKFURT. GERMANT—"To Hell and<br />
Back" and "Bridges at Toko-Ri" walked off<br />
with top honors among GIs and airmen stationed<br />
in the European area according to a<br />
survey just completed by the armed service<br />
publications, Army Times and Air Force<br />
Times.<br />
The list of 18 Army pictures that sold over<br />
lOO.OOO admission tickets from January 1955<br />
through February 1956 included five military<br />
pictures—To Hell and Back, Bridges at<br />
Toko-Ri, Strategic Air Command, Battle Cry<br />
and The Long Gray Line. To Hell and Back,<br />
starring Audie Murphy, Congressional Medal<br />
of Honor winner, topped them all, with 187,-<br />
000 tickets sold.<br />
Grace Kelly appeared in two of the top<br />
films, James Stewart scored in three, and<br />
both Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster played<br />
leads in two favorites.<br />
On the Air Force side, the top 15 films<br />
contained three about the services—Bridges<br />
at Toko-Ri, The Long Gray Line and<br />
Strategic Air Command. Grace Kelly led<br />
the stars by appearing in three of the films,<br />
and James Stewart was in two.<br />
The Air Force commented that since the<br />
British do not allow 35mm films in Air Force<br />
theatres in Britain because of competition<br />
with the local theatres, the only films for<br />
airmen there are 16mm, and if figunes could<br />
be obtained to show how many airmen<br />
bought their films on the British economy,<br />
figures undoubtedly would vary.<br />
Too, some of the films listed on the Air<br />
Force tops list have not yet completed their<br />
run on the circuit. Strategic Air Command,<br />
for instance, is still making the rounds.<br />
Here are the ratings in order of popularity:<br />
Army circuit (Films that sold over 100,000<br />
tickets)—To Hell and Back, Rear Window,<br />
Man Without a Star, Bridges at Toko-Ri,<br />
Young at Heart, Three Ring Circus, Seven<br />
Brides for Seven Brothers, The Barefoot Contessa.<br />
Strategic Air Command, The Last Time<br />
1 Saw Paris, Ulysses, Apache, Duel in the<br />
Sun, Vera Cruz, Man from Laramie. Blackboard<br />
Jungle, Battle Cry and The Long Gray<br />
Line.<br />
Air Force circuit (15 most popular) —<br />
Bridges at Toko-Ri. Rear Window, The Long<br />
Gray Line, Dragnet, Vera Cruz, The Barefoot<br />
Contessa, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,<br />
Athena, Strategic Air Command. Country<br />
Girl, The Last Time I Saw Paris, Man<br />
Without a Star, Young at Heart, Three Ring<br />
Circus and Six Bridges to Cross.<br />
RESEARCH BUREAU<br />
for<br />
AAODERN THEATRE PLANNERS<br />
ENROLLMENT FORM FOR FREE INFORMATION<br />
The MODERN THEATRE<br />
PLANNING INSTITUTE<br />
325 Van Brunt Blvd.<br />
Kansas City 24, Mo.<br />
Gentlemen:<br />
Please enroll us in your RESEARCH BUREAU<br />
to receive iniormation regularly, as released, on<br />
•he lollowing subjects for Theatre Planning:<br />
n Acoustics<br />
G Air Conditioning<br />
n Architectural Service<br />
D "Black" Lighting<br />
D Building Material<br />
D Carpets<br />
D Coin Machines<br />
n Complete Remodeling<br />
n Decorating<br />
D Lighting Fixtures<br />
n Plumbing Fixtures<br />
n Projectors<br />
D Projection Lamps<br />
° Seating<br />
^ Signs and ^larquees<br />
Sound Equipment<br />
D Television<br />
D Drink Dispensers D Theatre Fronts<br />
n Drive-In Equipment Vending Equipment<br />
D Other Subjects..<br />
Theatre<br />
Sealing Capacity..<br />
Address<br />
City..<br />
Signed..<br />
Postage-paid reply cords for your further convenience<br />
in obtoining Inlormotion ore provided in The MODERN<br />
THEATRE Section, published with the firjf issue of<br />
each month.<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: July 14, 1956<br />
48C
: July<br />
If youVe not<br />
in the book<br />
REGISHRED<br />
WIERS<br />
yoare<br />
a man without<br />
a country<br />
a state<br />
. . . • . a county<br />
a town<br />
a party<br />
a street<br />
a school<br />
a vote<br />
Look at all the things you can lose, if you're not<br />
a registered voter.<br />
If you're not in the book, you lock yourself out<br />
of the elections. The poUs are closed to you. You<br />
can't vote on streets, or schools, councilman or<br />
mayor (not to mention congressman, senator or<br />
president). You don't even have the right to<br />
complain about your government and the way<br />
things are run!<br />
But more than that, you cut yourself apart<br />
from your neighbor next door, your friends at<br />
the shop, your feUow members in union or club.<br />
You lose the right to look that boy of yours<br />
in the eye when he wants to know if you're doing<br />
your part.<br />
And you lose the self-respect that comes from<br />
knowing you can walk into the polls on Election<br />
Day— the one place in the world where all free<br />
men are really equal. Isn't it too much to risk for<br />
the httle time that registering takes?<br />
Get your name in the book<br />
,,.„<br />
—and do it now! /(^.'t<br />
Through the Courtesy of<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
48D BOXOFFICE :<br />
14, 1956
Court Fight Likely<br />
Over Till Story'<br />
MERIDIAN, MISS.—A plan by Hollywood<br />
producers Sam Bischoff and Dave Diamond<br />
.0 produce "The Emmett Till Story," reportedly<br />
without authority or necessary releases,<br />
threatens to set up an industry court<br />
battle.<br />
A. L. Royal. Meridian exhibitor and film<br />
producer, said he has authorized United<br />
Artists to institute legal action against Bischoff<br />
and Diamond via injunction and/or<br />
any other legal method to halt production<br />
and distribution of the film.<br />
Royal and William Bradford Huie, well<br />
known .southern author, and United Artists<br />
currently hold any-all rights to make the<br />
picture, including releases from J. W. Milam,<br />
Roy Bryant, Mi-s. Carolyn Bryant and Mamie<br />
Bradley, participants in the Till murder case.<br />
Royal and Huie thus far have failed to give<br />
the "green light" of production to United<br />
Artists "because we have in mind the protection<br />
in the film of our southern way of<br />
life. United Artists thinks one way. We<br />
think another. However, it appears our differences<br />
will be ironed out."<br />
Royal made it clear that the plan of<br />
Bischoff and Diamond has been set up by the<br />
Hollywood producers as "purely a calculated<br />
risk. If they care to take that risk, we shall<br />
fight them to the last ditch. And further.<br />
we shall never otherwise be connected with<br />
the picture unless and until it qualifies as<br />
being fair to our kind of people in the<br />
south."<br />
In the meantime, Bischoff and Diamond<br />
issued a nationwide news story they plan to<br />
go ahead with the picture production, regardless<br />
of legal action by Royal-Huie-United<br />
Artists.<br />
Two Theatremen Honored<br />
With Awards From VFW<br />
BRISTOL, TENN.—The Veterans of Foreign<br />
Wars Patton Crosswhite Post 6975 here,<br />
at its recent anual banquet and dance, named<br />
Wilfred Gillenwater, manager of the Paramount<br />
Theatre here, as its outstanding citizen<br />
of Bristol for 1955. Gillenwater was selected<br />
for his record of achievement in service of<br />
every kind to the city and community.<br />
At the same event, Emil Bernstecker, district<br />
manager for Wilby-Kincey Theatres, was<br />
inducted and appointed as a Rebel Hlllbillie<br />
Colonel and was presented with a coonskin<br />
cap, corncob pipe, overalls and deeds for<br />
plots of ground under Holston Lake. Gillenwater<br />
assisted in the ceremony.<br />
J. L. Raulerson Rebuilds<br />
Bartow Ozoner Tower<br />
BARTOW, FLA.—J. L. Raulerson, owner of<br />
the Bartow Outdoor Theatre, reopened the<br />
drive-in July 3 after rebuilding the screen<br />
tower, which was destroyed June 26 by a<br />
freak<br />
windstorm.<br />
What observers believed to be a small tornado<br />
made a shambles of the big concrete<br />
block screen tower. The new tower is made of<br />
wood, Raulerson said, with improved structure<br />
and built ten feet wider than the old<br />
screen. The old tower, measuring 60x75 feet,<br />
was reinforced with steel rods and cost<br />
$6,000 to build, Raulerson said. It was not insured.<br />
Filmrow Clubs Install in 4 Cities<br />
K<br />
I<br />
(<br />
TAKE OVER AT ATLANTA—Guy Brown, district manager of .'Motion Picture<br />
Advertising Service, is seen here with the 1956-57 VVOIPI officers he installed at the<br />
dinner held recently at the Variety Club. Seated are Juanita Elwell, first vice-president,<br />
and Jackie Cowart, president. Standing with Brown are left to right: Polly<br />
Puckett, corresponding secretary; Frances Hopkins, recording secretary; Edythe<br />
Bryant, treasurer, and AUene Robbins, second vice-president.<br />
CHARLOTTE—New officers of the Charlotte<br />
WOMPI chapter were installed in a<br />
candlelight ceremony at the Charlotte Hotel.<br />
A dinner and dance followed. J. H. Dillon of<br />
Republic served as emcee.<br />
Viola Wister of the Howco Exchange staff,<br />
who was installed as president, succeeding<br />
Myrtle Parker, pointed to the progress of<br />
the club since its organization in March<br />
1955 and asked for continued lively cooperation<br />
of all members.<br />
Others installed were Nancy Wilson and<br />
Billie Harris, vice-presidents; Margie Thomas,<br />
recording secretary; Vera Ledbetter, corresponding<br />
secretary; Mildred Warren, treasurer,<br />
and the following directors—Mrs. Parker,<br />
Rebecca Miller, Pauline Griffith, Margaret<br />
Raines, Rosaline Hutton, Alice Craver<br />
and Verdah Looper.<br />
Activities of the Filmrow w'omen during<br />
the last year included sponsoring of kiddy<br />
matinees to help raise funds, a sewing party<br />
to make frocks for the Florence Crittenton<br />
Home, costuming of dolls for the Salvation<br />
Army at Christmas, assisting in the March<br />
of Dimes and Poppy Day Drive, purchase of<br />
a hearing aid for a needy deaf man and a<br />
brace for a crippled child, adoption of a<br />
Thompson Orphanage girl, (Gail Letchworth<br />
i, and holding benefit parties, rummage<br />
sales and box suppers.<br />
The club now numbers 70 members.<br />
John Walters of Columbia won the $100<br />
prize in the recent fund raising effort, in<br />
which S800 was realized.<br />
The invocation was given by Mildred Hoover,<br />
Paramount cashier, and Dillon spoke on<br />
"Chasing the Dollar." He also introduced<br />
the following guests; Dick Huffman, new<br />
MGM manager, and his wife; Robert Saunders,<br />
owner and operator of Theatre Booking<br />
Service; Harry Cooke, Center and Wayne<br />
theatres. Mount Olive, N. C; Woodrow Fussell,<br />
Wonet Theatre, Bladenboro, N. C; John<br />
Allen, new MGM assistant manager; Mrs.<br />
Dillon; Emery Wister, husband of Viola Wister,<br />
newly elected WOMPI president; W. T.<br />
Parker jr., husband of Myrtle Parker, outgoing<br />
president, and Gail Letchworth of<br />
Thompson Orphanage.<br />
Sarah Keller at Helm<br />
Of Jacksonville Club<br />
JACKSONVILLE — Sarah Keller, MGM<br />
booker, was installed as president of the<br />
local WOMPI chapter at the group's second<br />
annual banquet in the Hotel Roosevelt which<br />
was highlighted by an address given by Nat<br />
Williams, head of Interstate Enterprises,<br />
ThomasviUe, Ga. Other invited guests and<br />
speakers were Carl Carter, chief barker of<br />
Variety Tent 44. and Abner Camp, branch<br />
manager of the Howco Film Exchange.<br />
Williams declared that he felt "deeply<br />
honored at being invited to Jacksonville to<br />
address a group of persons who represent the<br />
best in the motion picture industry. It is<br />
refreshing at a time like today, when industry<br />
problems are demanding so much of our<br />
efforts and thoughts in planning against an<br />
uncertain future, to see the women in WOMPI<br />
gi-oups all over the country who are acting as<br />
goodwill ambassadors within and outside the<br />
industry and who are unselfishly devoting<br />
their leisure hours to charitable work and<br />
community betterment."<br />
Other officers installed for the coming<br />
year were; Edith Prescott, Howco, first vicepresident<br />
; Jane Faircloth, Lake Forest Drivein;<br />
second vice-president; Marjorie Edenfield,<br />
MGM. recording secretary;; Jerry<br />
Wardlow, RKO. corresponding secretary; Jane<br />
Popplewell, Warner, treasurer, and the following<br />
board members—Mamie Newman. Talgar;<br />
Betty Loop, Dixie Drive-Ins; Alene<br />
Reinhardt, Columbia; Melvarine McCrary,<br />
MGM; Doris Posten and Ida Levy, both of<br />
UA, and Philomena Eckert, Columbia.<br />
Following the installation ceremonies,<br />
WOMPI members and guests moved to the<br />
(Continued on next page)<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: July 14, 1956 SE 49
I<br />
. . So<br />
. . So<br />
. . The<br />
New officers of the Charlotte WOMPI. Seated, left to right: Vera Ledbetter, Viola<br />
Wister and Nancy Wilson. Standing are Mildred Warren. Margie Thomas and Billie<br />
Harris.<br />
Filmrow Clubs Install<br />
Continued from preceding page)<br />
Variety Club for an informal cocktail party<br />
and games of cards.<br />
Ruth Taubman Takes<br />
Over at New Orleans<br />
NEW ORLEANS—Gail Barnette of the Joy<br />
Theatre, retiring president, handed over the<br />
gavel to Ruth Toubman of Southeastern<br />
Theatre Supply, the new president of the<br />
New Orleans chapter of the Women of the<br />
Motion Picture Industry, at installation ceremonie.s<br />
held recently at the Jung Hotel.<br />
Loraine Cass. UA, was the installing officer.<br />
Wins FST Contest<br />
SEBRING, FLA.—Mrs. Mary A. Gast was<br />
winner of the gold engraved lifetime pass<br />
given by the Florida State Theatres for the<br />
best essay on "What Does a Motion Picture<br />
Theatre Mean to Your Community?" Manager<br />
Jesse Watson said several hundred entries<br />
were submitted.<br />
Exceptions in Film Rental Rules<br />
An exception in film rentals of 25 per cent<br />
of net receipts is made in France fixing the<br />
minimum at 20 per cent if two years have<br />
elapsed since the film was first shown in<br />
France.<br />
V^ SPEED<br />
V^QUAUTY<br />
/ SHOW-<br />
-^ MANSHIP<br />
GOOD REASONS<br />
FOR<br />
ORDERING YOUR<br />
SPECIAL<br />
TRAILERS<br />
iliMiiVlitil<br />
BismarckJ.D.Xapilol<br />
To Reopen Sept. 1<br />
BISMARCK, N. D.—The Capitol Theatre,<br />
300-seat second run house, was shuttered<br />
June 13, but is scheduled to reopen around<br />
September 1 after a face-lifting and possibly<br />
with a new policy.<br />
The Capitol has been operated for the<br />
last six years by J. P. Fleck, Frank Wetzstein,<br />
A. P. Wetzstein and J. K. Kennelly, who plan<br />
to concentrate this summer on their Sundown<br />
Drive-In west of Bismarck.<br />
The recent installation of Cinemascope<br />
failed to offset the inroads of two TV<br />
channels on the Capitol's diet of westerns and<br />
action pictures. Semipro baseball threatened<br />
to deal another blow, besides the fact that<br />
the Capitol has never been a good runner on<br />
a dry, hot track, for lack of effective air<br />
conditioning. The Catholic church also<br />
slapped the management with an off-limits<br />
decree after the Capitol played 'T Am a<br />
Camera" early this year. To make things<br />
complete. Manager Don Larsen was hospitalized<br />
recently with a broken leg.<br />
Fleck and F. E. Wetzstein also operate two<br />
theatres in Mandan and in addition. Fleck<br />
has theatre interests in Dickinson.<br />
"Our first runs are doing business," he<br />
says, "but television has killed off westerns<br />
and second runs."<br />
Bismarck's remaining four-wallers are both<br />
first run, jointly operated by Welworth Theatres<br />
of Minneapolis and the Dubinsky<br />
organization of Omaha.<br />
New Plastics Experiment<br />
ROCHESTER, N.<br />
Y.—The Texas Eastman<br />
Co., division of Eastman Kodak Co., will<br />
broaden its work in the field of high-density,<br />
low-pressure polyethylene plastics, according<br />
to James C. White, president. A semi-commercial<br />
manufacturing unit will be added to<br />
its plant at Longview, Tex., for experimental<br />
production.<br />
Rogers Drive Appeal<br />
To Florida Theatres<br />
JACKSONVILLE—Cam Price, Florida distributor<br />
chairman for tlie Will Rogers Memorial<br />
Ho.spital drive, has issued an appeal<br />
for complete industry support of its important<br />
tuberculosis hospital and research laboratories<br />
at Saranac Lake, N. Y. The RKO brancii<br />
manager said:<br />
"The public will respond generously, I am<br />
sure, with cash donations if all theatre managers<br />
and owners will secure the Henry<br />
Fonda trailer from National Screen Service<br />
and run it on their screens the week of July<br />
16. After seeing this heart-warming short<br />
film, audiences will gladly contribute to this<br />
fine cause if exhibitors will cooperate by<br />
having persons on hand to accept contributions<br />
after each show.<br />
"Local women's organizations will work<br />
with us if we ask them to make the collections,<br />
or the money can be taken in by friends<br />
and employes of each theatre. Whatever is<br />
done, let's get behind this thing and help<br />
the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital to the<br />
best of our abilities."<br />
Horace Denning, district manager of Dixie<br />
Drive-ins and exhibitor chairman of the<br />
Will Rogers drive in Florida, has sent personal<br />
letters to more than 400 exhibitors to<br />
urge that they give their personal support<br />
to the drive.<br />
FST Manager Quotes<br />
In Ads on 'Oklahoma!'<br />
MIAMI—Florida State Theatres advertising<br />
of "Oklahoma!" at its Sheridan Theatre<br />
featured quotes from its theatre managers<br />
in this area, with their photos, each<br />
in a two-column ad. Across the top was a<br />
heading. First in the series read: "Color So<br />
Perfect . Vivid Real. Here is a<br />
.<br />
beautiful and enormous picture with color so<br />
perfect, so vivid, .so real, it's like standing in<br />
the center of all creation. You won't be sorry<br />
it you treat yourself to this show!" Charles<br />
Whittaker, Mgr., Paramoimt Theatre.<br />
Headings on other ads were; "I've Seen It<br />
Five Times Already I" followed by a quote from<br />
Charles Rich, Cinema Theatre.<br />
"You'll Want to See It Again and Again,"<br />
David Payne, Boulevard Theatre.<br />
"An Experience That Should Be Shared,"<br />
Jack Miller, Shores Theatre.<br />
"The Perfect Cast .<br />
Perfect Picture."<br />
Allan Johnson, Gables Theatre.<br />
"Oh! What Beautiful Music!" Hal Stanton,<br />
Florida Theatre.<br />
"As American as Apple Pie," James Bamett,<br />
Olympia Theatre.<br />
"The Genii That Puts You in the Show!!<br />
Harry Margolesky, Beach Theatre.<br />
Guy Hevia Seeks Permit<br />
For Key West Drive-In<br />
KEY WEST, FLA,—Key West will get a new<br />
drive-in if the city commission okays a permit.<br />
Guy Hevia of Spring Lake, N. J.., says<br />
he will build the theatre on Roosevelt boulevard<br />
if it is approved by the city. Hevia and<br />
Ben Marden, Miami Beach realtor, have<br />
formed the Riviera Drive-In- Theatre Corp.<br />
The theatre will handle 700 cars and have<br />
seats for 500 patrons. The cost of land and<br />
theatre will be approximately $300,000.<br />
50<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
: July 14, 1956
. .<br />
. .<br />
Frances Wolfson Wed<br />
At Asheville Home<br />
ASHEVILLE, N. C—In a noon ceremony at<br />
the summer home of her parents, Miss Prances<br />
Louise Wolfson exchanged marriage<br />
vows with Jack Wakenberg. Both are from<br />
Miami Beach and it is there they expect to<br />
make their future home. Setting for the<br />
ceremony was Milofran Knoll, the summer<br />
home of Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Wolfson of<br />
Wometco Theatre chain.<br />
The bride, who recently returned from an<br />
around-the-world trip with her parents, wore<br />
a white lace over pink silk organdy ankle<br />
length gown, which was designed by Fontana.<br />
White roses and lily of the valley<br />
formed the bridal bouquet.<br />
Mrs. Louis Wolfson II, sister-in-law of the<br />
bride, served as matron of honor. She wore<br />
a dress of soft mint green marquisette over<br />
white. Her daughter Lynda Louise Wolfson,<br />
dressed in ruffled white organdy with a mist<br />
green organdy pinafore, was flower girl.<br />
The bride was given by her father. A reception<br />
at Milofran Knoll followed the ceremony.<br />
After a month's trip to the Canadian Rockies,<br />
the couple will make their home in<br />
Miami.<br />
Lester Persall Winner<br />
Of Floyd Chain Prize<br />
TARPON SPRINGS, FLA.—Lester<br />
Persall,<br />
manager of the Midway Drive-In, won an<br />
all-expense paid trip to Cuba for himself and<br />
his wife in a contest sponsored by Floyd<br />
Theatres for the circuit's 16th anniversary.<br />
Persall competed against seven other driveins.<br />
The contest was based on the greatest<br />
percentage increase of concessions over boxoffice<br />
receipts.<br />
C. S. Sherer Will Manage<br />
Theatre in Selma, Ala.<br />
SELMA, ALA.—The new manager of the<br />
Walton Theatre here is Charles S. Sherer,<br />
Owner R. M. Kennedy announced that Sherer<br />
will succeed Hobart Love, who has joined the<br />
furniture department of Sear's here. Love<br />
had managed the theatre six months.<br />
Sherer, a 1956 graduate of Walker County<br />
High School at Jasper, formerly was employed<br />
by W. P. Call, manager of the Jasper Theatre.<br />
35-Year Schedule Broken<br />
BRUNSWICK, GA.—The recent change in<br />
the Bijou Theatre policy from fulltime operation<br />
to a weekend-only policy marked<br />
the first time since the theatre was established<br />
35 years ago that a break occurred in<br />
its continuous operating schedule. Manager<br />
Frank McCullough said. The Georgia Theatre<br />
Co. unit will offer matinee and evening<br />
shows on Friday, Saturday and Sunday<br />
through the summer. The fall schedule has<br />
not yet been determined, McCullough said.<br />
CHARLOTTE<br />
T B. Harvey was re-elected representative<br />
from York County to the South Carolina<br />
legislature in the June<br />
primary. Harvey has<br />
.served in this capacity<br />
liir three preceding<br />
terms and has been<br />
instrumental in promoting<br />
many bills that<br />
have been of value to<br />
the residents of York<br />
County. He owns the<br />
Carolina Theatre in<br />
Clover, and has been<br />
a director of Theatre<br />
Owners of North and<br />
J. B. Harvey South Carolina for the<br />
past ten years . . . Re-elected from Fairfield<br />
County to the legislature was Walter Brown<br />
of Winnsboro. Walter and his mother operate<br />
the Boyd and Fairfield theatres there.<br />
The executive secretary's office of Theatre<br />
Owners of North and South Carolina has<br />
opened in new quarters at 147 Brevard Court.<br />
This will be the permanent address .<br />
Many of the film industry personnel attended<br />
the funeral of Thomas W. Varnon<br />
who died unexpectedly in his office here last<br />
week. Varnon has served as legal adviser<br />
to the Wilby-Klncey Service Corp. in Charlotte<br />
for 15 years. Prior to becoming associated<br />
with Wilby-Kincey office, he was<br />
comiected with Paramount in New York .<br />
Arthur C. Phillips, owner and operator of<br />
the Strand in Walhalla, S. C, for many years,<br />
died recently. He was much liked in the<br />
film circle here.<br />
Colonial Theatres of Valdese, was the host<br />
at three days of fun at its annual get-together<br />
for the film industry at Linville . . .<br />
Sam L. Irvin, owner and operator of the<br />
Plaza in Asheville, became father of a baby<br />
son.<br />
Gordon Kay will produce Universal's "Quantez"<br />
in Cinemascope and Technicolor.<br />
the best source of supply for the finest<br />
in approved<br />
equipment<br />
Storm-Leveled Drive-In<br />
Has New Screen Tower<br />
SEMINOLE, OKLA. — Manager Harold<br />
Ward of the Skyway Drive-In Theatre here<br />
was looking forward to an early opening of<br />
the theatre as soon as construction has been<br />
completed on a new 60xl06-foot .screen tower.<br />
Ward said the screen will be of the same size<br />
as the one blown down May 31 during a<br />
storm which did considerable damage northwest<br />
of Seminole. The former screen tower<br />
was designed to withstand winds up to 160<br />
miles an hour.<br />
The new screen. Ward said, is of metal and<br />
will be smoother than the former screen,<br />
hence better for viewing movies. The new<br />
tower is of all metal construction, the manager<br />
said, adding he hoped for an early-July<br />
reopening. Ward also manages the local Seminole<br />
Theatre.<br />
Free Show for Birthday<br />
FLORALA, ALA.—The Jim and Tim Drive-<br />
In celebrated its second birthday with a free<br />
showing of "Titanic."<br />
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BOXOFFICE July 14, 1956 51
. .<br />
. . . The<br />
. . The<br />
MIAMI<br />
por Ihr next month or so regular Miami corre.spondcm<br />
Kitty Harwood will be far<br />
from her regular haunts, touring Europe with<br />
her husband. The couple will fly from New<br />
York to London, then from London to Paris.<br />
Here they will acquire a Renault and tour<br />
France, Germany. Switzerland and Italy.<br />
Harwood wants to look at some of the battlefields<br />
where he fought in World War II.<br />
Kitty expects to be back in Miami early in<br />
August . . . B. Earl Puckett. a member of the<br />
board of directors of 20th-Fox. was here for<br />
the dedication of the Jordan Marsh customer<br />
yacht pier. He is chairman of the board<br />
of Allied Stores Corp. of which Jordan Marsh<br />
is the newest unit. Immediately after his<br />
arrival at International Airport with his<br />
family he was given a "barker" membership<br />
in Vai-iety Tent 33. The presentation was<br />
made by Maurey L. Ashmann, past chief<br />
barker of Variety.<br />
.<br />
Reela Films of Miami has just finished a<br />
series of sound-on-film TV trailers with<br />
Red Grange. They will be used to promote<br />
football games in the fall . . . The Riviera<br />
Theatre in South Miami finally succumbed<br />
to the demand for popcorn. It was about the<br />
only first run house that didn't sell corn,<br />
but it had to give in to the demands<br />
Dave Martin, onetime advertising-publicity<br />
manager for the Olympia Theatre, is vacationing<br />
in Florida. For the last 11 years he<br />
has been with MGM's advertising department<br />
in Culver city.<br />
Havana's biggest white elephant, the gigantic<br />
Blanquita Thcatrf. buill by a Cuban<br />
senator as a memorial to his wife, has been<br />
leased to a sjaidicate of Cuban and American<br />
businessmen for the production of films<br />
by Miami Productions, Inc. The 6,750-seat<br />
theatre, reputedly the world's largest, has<br />
been a flop ever since its inception. Now,<br />
however, with the recent interest in Cuban<br />
locales for motion picture and television films,<br />
it looks like it will pay off as a studio. The<br />
syndicate, whose local members would "rather<br />
not be mentioned," it is understood, has a<br />
50-year lease on the premises. Miami Productions<br />
hopes to move in by August.<br />
Hal Carrington, producer for Nationwide<br />
Pictures, has moved headquarters of the production<br />
unit from New York to Coral Gables<br />
Florida Theatre had a mobile float<br />
for its promotion of "Trapeze." A bannered<br />
truck, announcing the picture and playdates,<br />
and containing zebras, lions and other papiermache<br />
animals as well as live performers,<br />
including a clown, slight-of-hand man and<br />
woman balancer. Business was great,<br />
especially with the Lions convention in town.<br />
Special midnight shows were held for the<br />
huge influx of visitors. Henry Cabot Lodge<br />
and his wife were among the early viewers of<br />
the film.<br />
Oversized bookmarks were made up by<br />
Florida State Theatres for "Moby Dick,"<br />
which opened at the Olympic, Beach and<br />
Gables. Displays were also set up In the<br />
public library ... A special birthday luncheon<br />
was held for District Manager Harry Botwick<br />
by Florida State Miami office personnel.<br />
There were two other honored guests at<br />
the same party, Judy Botwick, Harry's<br />
daughter, and Ralph Puckhaber, whose birthdays<br />
fell on the same date.<br />
Shirley Jones, star of "Oklahoma!" was<br />
hosted to a press after-theatre party by<br />
Florida State Theatres, whose Sheridan is<br />
showiJig the film. Aside from newspaper interviews,<br />
radio disk jockeys taped interviews<br />
with Miss Jones, She was whizzed over to<br />
Miami Beach for the party after her appearance<br />
that night in the Orange Bowl<br />
show for the Lions International.<br />
The Gateway is losing three of its staff.<br />
Susan Hyatt and Dick Anderson, candy sales<br />
and usher, respectively, were among the graduating<br />
class at Fort Lauderdale High School,<br />
and in spite of their work at the theatre,<br />
both received special recognition for outstanding<br />
scholar.ship. Now Dick is entering<br />
college and Susan is preparing for marriage.<br />
The third member to leave is Louis Celozzi,<br />
assistant manager, who has decided to return<br />
to his former profession of teaching.<br />
A tie-in between Lincoln road merchants<br />
and theatres features 30-second trailers urging<br />
people to patronize members of the<br />
Lincoln Road Merchants Guild . . . Wometco<br />
invited all taxi drivers to an 11:30 preview of<br />
"The Catered Affair." Each driver could<br />
bring a "fare" with him.<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Douglas Bullman<br />
were married in Plymouth Congregational<br />
church June 22. The father of the bride,<br />
Byron Huffstuller, works at the Miracle Theatre<br />
in Coral Gables . starting date for<br />
John Ford's to-be-made-in-Florida produc-<br />
JUNIOR JET ACE REPORTS MILLION KILLED<br />
SPECIAL TO BOXOFFICE<br />
According to news reports more than a million mosquitoes<br />
were killed last night by the 4 year old ace shown<br />
holding the DYNA FOG JUNIOR JET FOG GENERATOR<br />
recently introduced. The 15 lb. edition of the new revolutionary<br />
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52 BOXOFFICE July 14, 1956
. . Stan<br />
. . Walter<br />
—<br />
tion. "Wings of Eagles" depends upon when<br />
there will be a Saratoga class carrier at the<br />
Jacksonville Naval Air Station. Several of<br />
the class are about to be auctioned for scrapping<br />
and it is one of these which will be made<br />
available for MGM and Ford. MGM is negotiating<br />
to take space in Shanu-ock Studios<br />
in Orlando for the local filming.<br />
At a luncheon for Joel McCrea at the<br />
Fontainebleau not long ago, Joel let slip the<br />
line that he knew "movie business wasn't<br />
so good right now." Immediately Howard Pettengill<br />
and Al Weiss of Florida State Theatres<br />
echoed the reply, "Not down here, Joel.<br />
It's doing quite all right around here."<br />
King-Sized Play Lots Now<br />
SHREVEPORT, LA.—The recreation and<br />
playground facihties at three Tom McElroy<br />
drive-ins, the Sunset, Barksdale and the Don,<br />
have been considerably expanded into kingsized<br />
playgrounds. They now are equipped<br />
with whirl-a-way rides, merry-go-rounds,<br />
elephant-decorated slides, lai-ge swings and<br />
smaller swings for infants and six pony<br />
swings.<br />
Widescreen for Decatur, Ala., Theatre<br />
DECATUR, ALA.—Manager Bob Williams<br />
has instituted a double feature policy at the<br />
Roxy Theatre here. Williams also has<br />
ordered a widescreen and hopes to have it<br />
installed in the next month.<br />
Florida's FIRST Supply House<br />
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Mail Address: Box 375, Tompo 1, Flo.<br />
JACKSONVILLE<br />
Teanne Pottengill, attractive daughter of Howard<br />
Pettengill, FST advertising chief in<br />
south Florida, will be married to Joseph Anthony<br />
Reinert at the Church of the Little<br />
Flower in Coral Gables on the morning of<br />
July 28. Mi.ss Pettengill formerly lived here<br />
and worked in the film industry . . . Another<br />
wedding of interest was that of Wilma Hettrick,<br />
local Florida Theatre cashier, here on<br />
July 10 to Bob Smith, former Florida assistant,<br />
who came here for the maiTiage ceremony<br />
after completing Air Force training in<br />
Texas and before being transferred to Nagoya,<br />
Japan. Bob hopes to re-enter theatre busine.ss<br />
when he becomes a civilian again.<br />
Saul Lett, Charlotte executive of Howco<br />
Film Exchanges, was here for meetings with<br />
Abner Camp, local manager, Roland Fairchild,<br />
salesman from St. Petersburg, and<br />
other fii-m members . Powell, 20th-<br />
Fox salesman, returned from a tour of his<br />
Arthur Davis,<br />
south Georgia territory . . .<br />
Gold Coast Pictures Co. of Coral Gables, was<br />
in ... R. J. Ingram, Columbia Pictures, Atlanta,<br />
and Marty Kutner, local manager,<br />
made the rounds of circuit booking offices<br />
with new product . . John Martin, Republic's<br />
.<br />
booker at Tampa, visited friends during his<br />
vacation.<br />
. . . J. L. D'Anna's<br />
Jack Rigg, independent booker, has added<br />
Bob Crawford's Riviera Theatre, Riviera<br />
Beach, to his accounts<br />
Palm Beach Drive-In, also at Riviera Beach.<br />
is now being booked by Charley King of<br />
Exhibitors Service . . . Capt. Hans G. Vige,<br />
owner of the local Pinecrest Drive-In, continues<br />
his daily newspaper ads while his<br />
screen tower is being rebuilt. The screen was<br />
leveled recently by high winds. The ads<br />
simply state: "Closed for storm damage repair."<br />
"Trapeze," first motion picture ever to be<br />
shown here at two first run houses at the<br />
same time, entered its second week at the<br />
Joe Charles,<br />
Five Points and St. Johns . . .<br />
manager of the local Capitol Theatre, returned<br />
from a weekend visit with the Foster<br />
Hawthornes of the Capitol Theatre in Cleai'-<br />
water Kramer was subbing for<br />
.<br />
Herb Roller, manager of the Edgewood Theatre,<br />
while the latter vacationed in Orlando<br />
. . . Clint Ezell. NXE executive, and his family<br />
journeyed to their former home of Vero<br />
Beach for a vacation with relatives ... St.<br />
Augustine exhibitors Hoyt Yarbrough and E.<br />
C. Kaniaris were here to make business calls.<br />
outdoor theatre operations. Night after night<br />
scattered .showers have kept away patrons<br />
and seriously curtailed boxoffice receipts at<br />
drive-ins of the area.<br />
Dance Recital at Theatre<br />
ISLAMORADA, FLA.—When MaJ. and Mrs.<br />
Robert L. Duncan built the Cinemorado Theatre<br />
here they offered it to area residents<br />
for any civic event or entertainment at operational<br />
costs only. The latest event to be given<br />
at the theatre was a dance recital by the<br />
Betsy Ann studio. All proceeds were used for<br />
the Upper Keys Youth Center activities.<br />
Fred Messenger has formed his own production<br />
unit and has acquired "Gold Train"<br />
as his first filmmaking venture.<br />
'•^<br />
/-^<br />
mmk<br />
• . . may we tell<br />
you how we can help<br />
you keep it full * . •<br />
M HIE OUIUn ON A RAMPAGE!<br />
PiNKEE<br />
LEMONAD E<br />
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JACKSONVILLE<br />
Carlton J. Carter, Variety chief barker,<br />
and Ted Chapeau, WJHP-TV executive who<br />
is president of the Jacksonville Fair Ass'n,<br />
are both optimistic over the prospects for a<br />
successful and profitable fair this coming<br />
autumn under Variety's sponsorship. They<br />
and Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce associates<br />
are expecting a gate of 125.000 persons<br />
to view industrial and agricultural exhibits,<br />
the Cetlin-Wilson midway .shows and<br />
a first Southeastern Boating Exhibition. In<br />
addition to his Variety and fair activities,<br />
Carter is kept busy managing his Ribault and<br />
Air Base drive-ins and his Service Concession<br />
and Vending Co. which distributes Sun<br />
Gleam drink syrups, pvaper goods and other<br />
items to exhibitors.<br />
Florida's rainy season began the latter half<br />
of June and .soon became a major problem in<br />
Write, wire or phone<br />
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BOXOFFICE :<br />
: July 14, 1956<br />
53
Phone:<br />
. . . Sympathy<br />
. . Bob<br />
. . Among<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
. . .<br />
Vacationing<br />
. . Dan<br />
. .<br />
90^<br />
Capt.^f
. . . Faye<br />
. . Ned<br />
: July<br />
. . Alvin<br />
. . From<br />
MEMPHIS<br />
f^<br />
. . .<br />
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C. Hale likes rattlesnakes. At least that's<br />
what he claims. Hale, of National Theatre<br />
Supply's service department, is home<br />
from a Texas vacation and guess what he<br />
brought with him? That's right, four live<br />
rattlesnakes. He caught them himself<br />
Wanda Schroeder, secretary, and Sherlie<br />
Ann Glosson, bookkeeper, are new employes<br />
at National Fraser jr. is the new<br />
owner of Lake Theatre at Lake City, Ark.<br />
McPherson is the new telephone<br />
operator and stenographer at 20th-Fox. She<br />
succeeds Betty Jones who was promoted to<br />
the booking department to succeed Lorraine<br />
Stephens. Lorraine resigned recently to become<br />
a fuUtime housewife.<br />
VV. F. Ruffin jr. of Ruffin Amusements,<br />
Covington, and Amelia Ellis of Ellis Drive-In,<br />
Millington, were among west Tennessee exhibitors<br />
visiting Filmrow . Tipton<br />
of Tipton theatres. Caraway, Manila and<br />
Monette: Moses Sliman and William Elias,<br />
Murr Theatre and Elias Drive-In, Osceola;<br />
W. C. Sumpter, LePanto Drive-In. LePanto.<br />
and K. H. Kinney of Hays Theatre at Hughes<br />
were in town from Ai'kansas . Mississippi<br />
came Leon Rountree, Holly at Holly<br />
Springs and Valley at Water Valley: L. P.<br />
Foley. Palace. Tunica; Findley Moss, Ackerman,<br />
Ackerman; A. N. Rossie. New Roxy.<br />
Clarksdale: J. M. Mounger. Mart, Calhoun<br />
City, and Frank Heard of Lee Drive-In at<br />
Tupelo.<br />
Top Mississippi Column<br />
JACKSON, MISS.—N o r m a n Shavin's<br />
amusements column, "Aisle Say," appearing<br />
in the Jackson State Times, has been awarded<br />
the Mississippi Press Ass'n first place citation<br />
for the best among original daily columns<br />
in Mississippi.<br />
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N. Haven Roger Sherman<br />
Marks 30th Anniversary<br />
NEW HAVEN—The downtown SW Roger<br />
Sherman Theatre is celebrating its 30th anniversary<br />
a.s an entertainment center with a<br />
"Summer Parade of Hits."<br />
Manager irviiig hiilman has mapped out<br />
an extensive campaign in connection with the<br />
celeoraiion. Iwo payes ol cooperative advertising<br />
in the morning Journal-Courier publicly<br />
launched the anniversary.<br />
Other newspaper breaks, radio and TV spot<br />
aimouncements, tie-in windows and a banner<br />
spanning the street in front of the Roger<br />
Sherman, located on one of the city's principal<br />
thoroughfares, also ai'e being utilized.<br />
The "Summer Parade of Hits" was opened<br />
with UA's "Trapeze." An attractive girl performed<br />
on a trapeze set up on a flat-bed<br />
truck that toured the area. Another vehicle<br />
used in the promotion of "Trapeze" was a<br />
gaudy, carnival truck that played recorded<br />
calliope music.<br />
Other films to be shown at the SW house<br />
during the festival include "Santiago," "The<br />
Great Locomotive Chase," "The Ambassador's<br />
Daughter," "Moby Dick," "Away All Boats"<br />
and "SatelUte in the Sky."<br />
The Roger Sherman was the first local theatre<br />
to have sound. It presented "The Jazz<br />
Singer" and aJso introduced three-dimension<br />
films to the city. The management actively<br />
participates in civic and charitable efforts,<br />
including the United Fund and Red Cross.<br />
James Stewart to Report<br />
For Reserve Training<br />
SHREVEPORT—Jimmy Stewart, a colonel<br />
in the reserves as well as a top-flight actor,<br />
reported to Barksdale Air Force Base for<br />
active training duty this month. Barksdale<br />
was informed recently that the 48-year-old<br />
screen star would fly here from the Strategic<br />
Air Command headquarters at Offutt Air<br />
Force Base. Neb.<br />
Stewart, who flew B47 Stratojets in "Strategic<br />
Air Command," will recheck out in the<br />
big bombers while at the base. He'll also go<br />
tiu'ough the altitude chamber and the B47<br />
mobile training detachment just like any<br />
other reservist pilot on active duty.<br />
The star, who wears a Distinguished Flying<br />
Cross on his bemedaled Air Force jacket,<br />
arrived at Barksdale July 12.<br />
Celebrates 5th Anniversary<br />
With 7-Day Promotion<br />
CHATTANOOGA—The 23rd Street Drive-<br />
In celebrated its fifth anniversary with a<br />
week-long program of special promotions.<br />
On Sunday night all autos with license<br />
numbers ending in "5" were admitted free. On<br />
Monday the first 25 Fords in Une were admitted<br />
free. Tuesday was "Pill the Car Night."<br />
Wednesday all couples celebrating their fifth<br />
wedding anniversary during the week were<br />
admitted free. Thursday was "Lucky Night,"<br />
introducing a new game. Friday night Luther<br />
Masengill of station WDEF passed out 100<br />
free tickets.<br />
Prints Industry Release<br />
APOPKA, FLA.—H. R. Johnson, owner of<br />
the Municipal Theatre here, was instrumental<br />
in planting an industry public relations release<br />
on "What the Theatre Means to Your<br />
Community" in the local newspaper, the<br />
Chief, recently.<br />
Trapeze' Soars to 400<br />
For Memphis Record<br />
MEMPHIS—Hous^ records<br />
were broken by<br />
the first week of "Ti-apeze" at Loew's Palace.<br />
Attendance .skyrocketed to four times<br />
average. "That Certain Feeling" did 15 per<br />
cent above average at Strand, and "The<br />
Searchers" did 5 per cent above average in<br />
its third week at Warner.<br />
(Averoge Is 100)<br />
Maico—23 Paces to Boker Street (20tti-Fox) . . . . 75<br />
Palace—Trapeze !UA) 400<br />
State—Congo Croising (U-l) 50<br />
Strand—Thot Ccrtoin Keeling (Para) 115<br />
Warner—The Searchers (WB), 3rd wk 105<br />
Stephen Longstreet will screenplay his<br />
original "Gold Train," a Civil War drama.<br />
Twm<br />
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BOXOFFICE :<br />
14, 1956 55
.<br />
i<br />
VOTE<br />
Study the issues and the candidates—<br />
and then decide where you stand<br />
You wouldn't buy a new car without at least<br />
driving it around the block.<br />
You wouldn't buy a new house without<br />
checking up on the neighborhood, the schools,<br />
and any back taxes.<br />
So vote— but don't vote in the dai'k in this<br />
exciting election year.<br />
Listen to what candidates are saying on TV<br />
and radio.<br />
Read your newspapers— especially the political<br />
news and editorial page.<br />
Talk things out with your neighbors over the<br />
back fence and at the filling station on the corner.<br />
Take part in the discussion group at your<br />
church, club, lodge, or school.<br />
Think about the issues and the candidates—<br />
and then make up your own mind. Remember,<br />
nobody is in that voting booth but you and your<br />
conscience. Step behind that curtain with pride<br />
on election day. Then vote as a free American.<br />
5G<br />
1<br />
registered.<br />
VOTER'S CHECKLIST<br />
Be sure you're<br />
2. Study the issues and<br />
candidates. Go to rallies.<br />
Ask questions. Read the<br />
papers. Listen to speeches.<br />
3. Mark up a sample ballot<br />
in advance. (They are<br />
published in the papers.)<br />
4. Join your neighbors at<br />
the polls on Election Day<br />
November 6th.<br />
Through the Courtesy of<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
Is your<br />
name<br />
in the<br />
book?<br />
You can't vote if you're not registered.<br />
You lock yourself out of the<br />
polls, unless you're a registered<br />
voter. And you and only you can<br />
get your name in the Registration<br />
Book. When they call the roll on<br />
election day, will you be there? Do<br />
you know anyone who won't?<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
: July 14, 1956
—<br />
Video Adds Theatres<br />
In 2 Oklahoma Cities<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY—Video Theatres, which<br />
operates more than 200 theatres in 50 cities<br />
in Oklahoma and Texas, has extended its<br />
operations in Lawton and Chickasha.<br />
Joe Turner, sole owner of the Lawton<br />
Theatre Co., sold a major interest in the firm<br />
to Video and J. R. Montgomery, Lawton<br />
banker. Turner will retire from active operation<br />
of the Dome and Murray theatres in<br />
downtown Lawton, the Austin Drive-In, west<br />
of the city, and the Vaska Theatre in the<br />
suburban area. He will remain as a partner<br />
of Video and Montgomery and serve on the<br />
Video board of directors.<br />
Mrs. Opal Gray announced she had sold<br />
her Esquire in Chickasha to Video. She had<br />
been in the theatre business there 23 years,<br />
and built the Esquire 16 years ago on the site<br />
of the old Pix. Video also operates the<br />
Washita, Rialto and Chief Drive-In theatres<br />
in Chickasha.<br />
Employes involved in the two deals will<br />
continue in operation of the theatres. Clyde<br />
Walker will remain as city manager at Lawton<br />
and Jack Peace as office manager there.<br />
The Lawton theatres formerly were owned<br />
by Mrs. Margaret Day, pioneer Lawtonian,<br />
before she turned over the interests to<br />
Turner, her grandson, ten years ago. The<br />
Lawton Theatre was opened in 1929 and the<br />
Dome in 1941.<br />
San Antonio Light Asks<br />
Removal of Ticket Tax<br />
SAN ANTONIO—The San Antonio Light<br />
editorially urged reforms in excise taxations<br />
in a recent issue, placing particular emphasis<br />
on the need for abandoning the federal<br />
tax on theatre admittances.<br />
"This tax," the editorial read, "pays the<br />
government $80,000,000 a year. But it has<br />
caused a dwindling patronage that threatens<br />
the existence of motion picture theatres<br />
worth $1,457,800,000.<br />
"The country has 19,200 movie theatres.<br />
Of these. 10,900 are in financial straits<br />
5,200 are operating at a loss and 5.700 are<br />
approaching the depressed status. Figures<br />
show that the 10 per cent federal tax is a contributing<br />
cause of the current distress.<br />
"Movie houses have competition in television<br />
and radio. Yet, they continue to be<br />
the principal amusement source for millions<br />
of families in the lower income groups.<br />
"Taxing the recreation of these families<br />
out of existence and. in so doing, destroying<br />
a large taxpaying industry, along with thousands<br />
of jobs, can be called anything but<br />
sound economics or good government."<br />
Ray Jones in New Offices<br />
DALLAS—Ray Jones, Dallas district manager<br />
of Continental Distributing, has opened<br />
new offices at Suite 21-B, 2013'i Young St.<br />
Area South, West of San Antonio<br />
In Midst of Texas Worst Drouth<br />
HOUSTON—About 30 per cent of the people<br />
in 13 counties south and west of San Antonio<br />
are being fed on the bread line as a<br />
result of the longest drouth in Texas history,<br />
Leon Hale relates in a recent article in the<br />
Houston Post following an on-the-spot survey.<br />
Of 15,000 people in Karnes County, 9,000<br />
are on government relief. Hale reports.<br />
The drouth has extended from four to<br />
seven years. In some area-s the land is so dry<br />
it has become like flour and isn't even<br />
planted any more. The only hope now is a<br />
long period of fine, misty winter rains.<br />
FEAR HEAVY RAIN<br />
"'The most disastrous thing that could happen<br />
to us right now," said Lee Pope, a farmer<br />
a few miles out of Three Rivers in Live Oak<br />
County, "would be a hard five-inch rain. It<br />
would wash these farms completely away. The<br />
land just couldn't take it.<br />
"Did you ever E>our a little water on a<br />
handful of flour? Then you know the water<br />
only rolls off the flour. It's the same way<br />
with this soil. A real hard rain would ruin<br />
us."<br />
Hale relates he talked with ranchers and<br />
farmers, once well to do, who are now operating<br />
service stations, working with picks and<br />
shovels at air bases or laboring in oil fields.<br />
"We saw parts of ranches in Webb County,<br />
near Laredo, which haven't had as<br />
much as<br />
a single measured inch of rain in three years.<br />
And we saw adjoining land that didn't look<br />
any better, even though it has had a few<br />
inches of moisture in that period. We saw<br />
farm houses deserted, with topsoil drifting<br />
over the doorsteps and beginning to cover<br />
up farm implements left idle in the fields.<br />
"We saw livestock men who, for the past<br />
three to five years, have spent $5 a month<br />
feeding a range cow that is now worth about<br />
$35 on the market.<br />
FARMER CREDIT EXHAUSTED<br />
"We saw men who, in battling this drouth,<br />
have spent all they acquired over 45 years of<br />
hard work, and who have borrowed until the<br />
banks and other lending agencies—being in<br />
a pinch themselves—can help them no more.<br />
"And we've talked to merchants in drouth<br />
towns who have extended credit until they<br />
can no longer do it and stay in business.<br />
"How long has this been going on? There<br />
in the powdery field at Three Rivers, Lee<br />
Pope said: 'The last time this land had a<br />
good moisture season was 1949. It was dry in<br />
'50, '51 and '52, but we got by. Prices were<br />
pretty good.<br />
" 'But from there on, it didn't rain enough<br />
to raise anything, and the market on farm<br />
products slumped, too. So the worst of It began."<br />
"Now Lee Pope is not one of the hard hit<br />
farmers, becau.se he went to work in Three<br />
Rivers two years ago and quit farming. H«<br />
idled his three farms that once kept three<br />
tenant families working. Now those families<br />
are gone, off somewhere to find work. Or<br />
probably eating out of the bread line down at<br />
George West, Live Oak County seat.<br />
"To look at some of this drouth, we went<br />
west to San Antonio and on to Uvalde, then<br />
south through Crystal City and Carrizo Springs<br />
to Laredo. Then back up through George<br />
West, Karnes City and Cuero."<br />
Variety of Oklahoma<br />
Starts on Big Derby<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY—Eddie Thome, former<br />
general manager of Cooper Foundation Theatres<br />
who recently resigned from Sindlinger<br />
& Co., was appointed executive director of<br />
Variety Tent 22 of Oklahoma at a general<br />
membership meeting of the club in the Biltmore<br />
Hotel Monday night. Thome replaces<br />
Connie Riggs who resigned in June.<br />
The meeting was held as a kickoff for the<br />
Turtle Derby to be held in the Oklahoma<br />
City Coliseum Saturday night, September 15.<br />
This will be the 14th annual Turtle Derby,<br />
with one exception. No Turtle Derby was<br />
held in 1955, but the club gave away an oil<br />
well, or rather tried to. but the winner,<br />
Johnny Laughlin, decided to take $5,000 in<br />
cash in lieu of the oil well. The club still<br />
has the oil well and is getting monthly returns<br />
from it at present.<br />
Don Tullis. Warner Bros, manager here,<br />
is chief barker. R. Lewis Bai-ton, owner and<br />
operator of 15 theatres and drive-ins in Oklahoma<br />
City, is the general chairman of the<br />
Turtle Derby committee and his co-chairmen<br />
are Charles Hudgens, David Hunt and William<br />
Lewis, the latter one of the associate<br />
members.<br />
A $10 donation to the club's charity fund<br />
entitles the contributor to a turtle entry in the<br />
race. The person whose turtle wins the race<br />
receives a 1956 Lincoln Premiere as a prize.<br />
Second place winner receives a $1,000 bond<br />
and third prize is a $500 bond.<br />
GOOD REASONS<br />
FOR<br />
OROERINa YOUII<br />
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TEXAS PROJECTOR CARBON, Dallas— Riverside 3807<br />
n Oklohoma—OKLAHOMA THEATRE SUPPLY CO., 628 West Grand<br />
Ave., Oklahoma City 2, Oklahoma<br />
BOXOFFICE July 14. 1956 sw 57
MOSf /NG<br />
THROUGH<br />
pDDIE COURTNEY (Mrs.) has run the three<br />
downtown Mineral Wells theatres since<br />
her hu>band James B. died early last year.<br />
Tlie Courtney family has had theatre<br />
interests at the health spa since 1930. when<br />
J. W. Courtney came to town after running<br />
houses in Weatherford and Sweetwater. He<br />
actively managed them himself until his<br />
retirement in 1942. His son continued on in<br />
that capacity until his death.<br />
Aside from the resort popularity it has<br />
enjoyed for many years. Mineral Wells also is<br />
the home of Wolters Air Force base.<br />
Mrs. Courtney runs the Grand on a de luxe<br />
first run policy, with a Saturday night midnight<br />
preview. Her office is located down<br />
the street in the Brazos, a family-type theatre,<br />
which has been remodeled since it was<br />
purchased from the Phil Isley Theatres after<br />
World War II. Across the street is the Ritz.<br />
which is open only on weekends.<br />
She has instituted a Tuesday only single<br />
attraction at the Brazos and bills it as<br />
Bargain Day. The regular admission is<br />
dropped to 15 cents per adult ticket and it<br />
has stimulated midweek attendance. At the<br />
same theatre a special kid show feature is<br />
used each Saturday morning at 25 cents admission<br />
and the youngsters are permitted to<br />
remain for the regular program without a<br />
break.<br />
While her Grand and Brazos operate with<br />
single bills, the Ritz is booked with a double<br />
feature every Saturday and Sunday. She has<br />
one drive-in as opposition. The theatres are<br />
Central & West Texas<br />
.Hv E.MiL MOSELFY.<br />
MK. .\ND MRS. L.<br />
E. HOLLOWAY<br />
in partnership with Rowley United Theatres.<br />
Aside from weekly program cards, Mrs.<br />
Courtney uses another very appealing advertising<br />
gimmick: that of situating an 11x14-<br />
inch frame at an advantageous point in each<br />
of the theatres to plug the attraction currently<br />
showing at. another house. Bill posting<br />
is also done effectively for the Grand playdates.<br />
She is the daughter of a retired Methodist<br />
minister who lives at Cleburne, and she has<br />
a son who recently was 15 years old.<br />
While all Fort Worth drive-ins run double<br />
tcaturt- programs, Uiere are occasions when<br />
the bill is expanded for special bookings that<br />
can be exploited for better boxoffice receipts.<br />
Phil Isley's Riverside and Westerner used<br />
three Universal features for Audie Murphy<br />
Day. Managers Landrum and Durham<br />
worked out their adverti.sing campaign thusly:<br />
"In honor of World War II's most decorated<br />
hero, we are giving our patrons three of iiis<br />
best pictures to enjoy." The pictures were<br />
"To Hell and Back," "Tumbleweed" and<br />
"Gunsmoke."<br />
Later, Lone Star's Pike Drive-In ran a<br />
four feature, $1 per carload program captioned<br />
"Teenage Terrorist Hits." E. L. Pack's Dallas<br />
highway underskyer ran "Mad at the World,"<br />
"Jail Bait," "Dead End" and "So Young, So<br />
Bad."<br />
In nearby Arlington, Glen Stoterau<br />
.screened a "Giant Spookathon of Five Horrific<br />
Sliows," consisting of "The Mummy's Ghost,"<br />
"Dracula's Daughter," "The Ghost of Frankenstein,"<br />
"The Black Cat" and "Night<br />
Monster" at Charles Weisenburg's Arlington<br />
Drive-In until the wee hours of the morning<br />
on a one complete showing basis. The admission<br />
was 80 cents per carload.<br />
L. E. HoUoway has been in and out of show<br />
business since 1919, when he went into his<br />
first projection room at Leonard, Tex. In<br />
it for good now, he is projectionist at the<br />
Fort Worth Como Theatre.<br />
After working at the Murray Gin Co. and<br />
a Henryetta cafe in 1925, he went into the<br />
booth at the Liberty in Graham for the late<br />
W. S. Wilke in January 1926, and to the<br />
American in Bonham for Maj. H. S. Cole in<br />
JUNIOR JET ACE REPORTS MILLION KILLED<br />
SPECIAL TO BOXOFFICE<br />
According to news reports more than a million mosquitoes<br />
were killed last night by the 4 year old ace shown<br />
holding the DYNA FOG JUNIOR JET FOG GKNERATOR<br />
recently introduced. The 15 lb. edition of the new revolutionary<br />
Jet Fog Generator holds more than 2 gallons of<br />
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58 BOXOFFICE July 14, 1956
. . Mark<br />
. . King<br />
. . The<br />
1928. He returned to Wilke at Graham in<br />
1934. In Bonham again in 1936, he went to<br />
work in a garage.<br />
Holloway left tlie garage a year later for<br />
employment in Robert Hook's Lenora Theatre<br />
in Mineola. He left the theatre busine.s.s until<br />
January 1943, when he went into Griffith's<br />
Rodeo Theatre in Oklahoma City. He was<br />
transferred to Seminole 18 month.s later under<br />
Paul Shipley. He followed other lines of work<br />
for several years, then in December 1948. he<br />
went into the Rio Grande Valley and took<br />
the Sky Vue Drive-In booth job between Elsa<br />
and Weslaco for Jewell Archer. Later, he<br />
worked at Interstate's Strand at Harlingen,<br />
becoming a member of lATSE Local 688.<br />
Holloway went to Fort Worth in 1950<br />
and decided to make it his home. Having<br />
been employed at the Como previously, he<br />
also worked at the Grand five years, where<br />
his wife has been assistant to W. D. Hightower<br />
for some time.<br />
Ruth Wafford and J. T. Orr of the Dallas<br />
Plaza have made practical use of a display<br />
rack standee for Saturday, Sunday and Monday<br />
playdates at low cost to the advertising<br />
budget. The expense entails less than a<br />
quarter per week for materials.<br />
The plywood board is 40x60 inches in size<br />
and the two feature bookings are ballyhooed<br />
together with the use of National Screen<br />
Service one-sheets and pressbooks, a pair of<br />
scissors and staples. While some of the layouts<br />
are more attractive than others, the<br />
overall effect is eye-catching. Since neither<br />
of them is a professional letter artist, no<br />
additional copy is used, with the cutouts<br />
posted underneath the playdate copy.<br />
Most of the material is gleaned from the<br />
various pressbooks for the attractions but,<br />
when they are not suitable, the one-sheet<br />
is cut for title, cast and player outlines. The<br />
"dolls" are thence stapled strategically to the<br />
board and placed in the inner lobby. When<br />
the run begins, the cutouts are removed carefully<br />
so that the new attractions can be<br />
plugged on the same board. The board itself<br />
is painted to match the decor of the lobby.<br />
When suitable material can be gained from<br />
the pressbooks for both attractions, there is<br />
no cost attached to the layout. The pressbooks<br />
are gratis to exhibitors.<br />
Bill Jensen Reopens Pix<br />
WEWOKA, OKLA.— Bill Jensen reopened<br />
the Pix Theatre here, welcoming "all kids<br />
from one to 100 years" to a free show to<br />
celebrate the occasion. Jensen, who formerly<br />
operated the Pix, bought it back late in May<br />
and closed the house for a thorough overhauling,<br />
including the installation of a widescreen.<br />
HOUSTON<br />
Tn the coincidence department:<br />
On the back<br />
of the page carrying the industry profile<br />
of Interstate's Art Katzcn in last week's<br />
BOXOFFICE was a story about a Moline,<br />
111. theatreman, W.I. Brotman. The Brotmans<br />
were customers of a delicatessen operated<br />
by Mrs. Katzen's parents. One day while delivering<br />
some goods to their home Bert (Mrs.<br />
Katzen) had stationwagon trouble and had<br />
to stay around the Brotman house for a<br />
couple of hours. She feels sure that was the<br />
thing that made them remember her so well,<br />
and so arrange a meeting with the then<br />
young MGM publicity man Art Katzen when<br />
he was in Rock Island on business.<br />
. . . Virginia Drane Mc-<br />
Art and Bert Katzen went to Dallas over<br />
the Fourth. It was business combined with<br />
pleasure, to meet with other press folk and<br />
Kim Novak there in connection with "The<br />
Eddy Duchin Story," due at the Metropolitan<br />
here on the 25th<br />
Callon, fashion editor for the Houston Post,<br />
helped County Judge Bob Casey officiate<br />
at the ribbon-cutting formal opening of a<br />
new Western Auto store the other day. She's<br />
the attractive wife of Loew's State Theatre<br />
Manager Homer McCallon.<br />
These hot days it's refreshing to call Loew's<br />
and get for an answer, "Good morning, cool<br />
Loew's State Theatre" . Sheridan,<br />
district manager of 20th-Fox, was in town<br />
a couple of days on business .<br />
Center<br />
Twin Drive-In was showing "The Witch,"<br />
recommended for adults only . Hempstead,<br />
Ii-vington and Pasadena drive-ins<br />
arranged Kiddy Cartoon Carnivals beginning<br />
at 7:45.<br />
"EXTRAORDINARY!<br />
"<br />
BRILUANJr<br />
^IxcinNGi:<br />
"TMR/HC!"<br />
k(^T.<br />
j^n'*<br />
"mMMkV.<br />
Joe Traveno, an assistant at the Majestic,<br />
finished a mortician's schooling, took hLs<br />
state board Monday (9), and then left for<br />
Brownsville to enter the profession . . .<br />
Metropolitan Theatre assistant Joe Adzgery<br />
and hLs wife were vacationing with her<br />
Mrs. Ruby Gibson.<br />
parents In east Texa.s . . .<br />
Navaway Theatre owner, returned from a<br />
vacation, visiting with relatives In Los Angeles,<br />
Long Beach, San Diego, Las Vegas<br />
and Dallas.<br />
Harold K. Shelton won the Cadillac at<br />
Variety Club's drawing at a luncheon In the<br />
clubrooms Thursday ARC CONTROLS<br />
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Tulsa Convention Marks<br />
UTO's First Anniversary<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY—Directors of the<br />
United Theatre Owners of Oklahoma completed<br />
final arrangements for the first anniversary<br />
convention in Tiilsa Tuesday (17>,<br />
and sent out last-minute attendance pUiggers.<br />
Attending the Monday meeting were<br />
Bernard McKenna. Claude Motley. Dick<br />
Thompson. Eddie Jones. Earl Snyder jr. and<br />
E. R. "Red" Slocum.<br />
The anniversary session program includes<br />
a morning screening of "Oklahoma!" at the<br />
Rialto Theatre, courtesy of Jack and Jim<br />
Hull. The business session will open at 1:30<br />
at the Tulsa Indian Hills Country Club.<br />
There will be golfing for the men. swimming<br />
for the women, supervi-sed swimming for<br />
children, a refreshment hour from 7 to 8 p.m..<br />
an 8 to 9 p.m. industry dinner, and an industry<br />
dance from 9 p.m. to midnight. Fee is<br />
S7.50 for man and wife: $5 for a single man,<br />
S3. 75 for a single woman. Accommodations<br />
for both men and women for showers, changing<br />
clothes, etc.. are available at the Indian<br />
HUls Country Club.<br />
Scheduled at the business session are<br />
speeches by Julius Gordon, who will speak<br />
on "The Washington Fracas and Government<br />
Controlled Film Rentals"; Al Reynolds, speak-<br />
As a screen game,<br />
HOLLYWOOD takes top<br />
honors. As a box-office attraction,<br />
it is without equal. It has<br />
leen a favorite with theatre goers for<br />
over 1 5 years. Write today for complete defails.<br />
Be sure to give seating or car capacity.<br />
HOLLYWOOD AMUSEMENT CO.<br />
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__<br />
TV WON'T GET<br />
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THE SUPER-SELLING KIND. from<br />
IliillFltilW<br />
I2S HYDE STREET, SAN FRANCISCO (1) CALIFORNIA<br />
ing on "The Thrillarama Story": Gordon<br />
Leonard, who.se topic is "Oklahoma's 50th<br />
Anniversary—Your Theatre and You." and<br />
Ed Thorne. on "The Al Sindlinger Story on<br />
the Local Level in Oklahoma."<br />
SAN ANTONIO<br />
.<br />
Jit least a dozen Texas towns reported 100<br />
degree temperatures or over last week,<br />
which sent the business barometer up at<br />
many boxoffices . . Miss America Martin,<br />
Mexican-born film<br />
.<br />
and TV star was in . . .<br />
The Paramount. Austin, had a Tom and Jerry<br />
cartoon show- with a free gift for each<br />
youngster paying 25 cents admission<br />
Fourth of July business was about average<br />
at the first run theatres here. Leading the<br />
parade was "The Eddy Duchin Story" at<br />
the Aztec. Coming in for a close second was<br />
"Ti-apeze" at the Majestic.<br />
Gerald Ashford, film critic for the San<br />
Antonio Express and News, is spending a<br />
portion of his vacation seeing the shows and<br />
plays in Dallas . Kaczmar, manager<br />
of the Empire, double-billed two space<br />
thrillers: namely, "Red Planet Mars" and<br />
"Rocket Ship" for a midweek holiday run.<br />
The first 50 youngsters bringing the current<br />
Empire advertisement to the theatre on that<br />
day were admitted free of charge.<br />
Eph Charninsky, retired veteran theatre<br />
operator, has become a great-grandfather.<br />
His granddaughter. Libby Ann Cohn. gave<br />
birth to a baby son at Port Arthur last week<br />
. . . Jeff Smith of Texas Sound Studios has<br />
been named chairman of the newly formed<br />
High-Fidelity Council of South Texas . . .<br />
The South Loop 13 Drive-In billed a ten-unit<br />
July Fourth Moviethon.<br />
Fern Chick, radio-television columnist for<br />
the San Antonio Evening News, returned<br />
f;'om a holiday in Dallas where she interviewed<br />
Kim Novak who was there to spark<br />
her first Texas opening of "The Eddy Duchin<br />
Story" . . . Leonard "Tex" Sneed, RKO-Pathe<br />
newsreel cameraman, was a recent visitor.<br />
The Starlite Drive-In at nearby Schertz, held<br />
a gigantic fireworks display for their onehour<br />
intermission on the Fourth.<br />
. . Sid Goldstein<br />
.<br />
A weekend horror show at the Empire ran<br />
four hours and a half. There were four<br />
features on the program .<br />
of Radiant Screen Mfg. Co., Dallas, was a<br />
recent visitor at Independent Theatre Supply<br />
Co. here first free Moviette for<br />
kiddies while their parents shopped in Las<br />
Palmas community center was held there<br />
July 5. L. R. Pletz of Moviette here plans to<br />
expand these 16mm shows in other rural<br />
shopping centers in the near future. The<br />
name is copyrighted and is sponsored by<br />
merchants in the Culebra Road shopping<br />
district.<br />
Vundalism ran wild at the South Loop 13<br />
Dnvc-In here early Friday morning when the<br />
culprits entered the grounds and wrecked<br />
motion picture projectors and other equipment.<br />
Police estimated the loss at around<br />
$1,000. Incidentally, one of the pictures that<br />
was being shown was "Running Wild" .<br />
Joe Rodriguez of the Azteca Films shipping<br />
department was on a vacation . . . Visitors to<br />
the exchanges were few and far between<br />
since Independence Day hit .square in the<br />
middle of the week. In town to book and<br />
buy Mexican pictures were Bob Otwell of<br />
the San Marcos Theatres at San Marcos;<br />
Manuel Womble. the Royal, La Feria, and<br />
T. J. "Stout" Jackson, who has theatres in<br />
Kobstown. Falfurrias and other south Texas<br />
towns . Arias, a.s,sistant booker<br />
at Azteca, was spending his vacation in<br />
Guanajuato, Mexico.<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY<br />
/"• L. Lance has sold the Palace Theatre and<br />
Canadian Drive-In at Canadian. Tex., to<br />
Frank F. McMordie. Booking for the two<br />
theatres will be handled by the A&O Booking<br />
Service here . . . Also changing owners is the<br />
Grand at Locust Grove. T. V. Terbush<br />
recently bought the theatre from Claud<br />
Callahan.<br />
Billie Robertson, secretary to the bookers<br />
at Warner Bros., was married June 30 to Bill<br />
New at<br />
Burkett of Oklahoma City . . .<br />
Warners is Delores Jun. biller . .<br />
Mahaney. AA salesman, and<br />
. Everett<br />
family, on his<br />
recent vacation trip to California, visited the<br />
set of "The Pinkerton Man," starring George<br />
Montgomery.<br />
Vacationing on Filmrow were booker Jerry<br />
Malone of Allied Artists; Nina Davis, cashier<br />
at Warners, and Mrs. Nina Milner. cashier for<br />
Screen Guild. Mrs. Milner reports she'll be<br />
glad to get back on the job—she's taking care<br />
of her grandchildren during her vacation!<br />
Seen on Filmrow was Cotton Martin,<br />
former owner of the Alamo and Franroy<br />
theatres at Snyder . in town<br />
included Delton Moody, manager of Brewer<br />
Amusement Co.. Pauls Valley; R. M. Downing.<br />
Collinsville: Jack Hankins, Lawton; J. G.<br />
Millirons. Snyder; B. J. McKenna. Norman;<br />
Don Cole. El Reno; Amas Page, McLean. Tex.;<br />
Henry Simpson. Bristow; Earl Snyder, Tulsa;<br />
Eddie Jones, Sand Springs; Levi Metcalf,<br />
Purcell; E. B. Anderson, Ardmore; Walsie<br />
Campbell, Wynnewood; Bill Boren, Memphis,<br />
Tex.; Truman Ellerd, Blanchard; O. T.<br />
Matthews. Prague, and R. R. McCoy. Edmond.<br />
Lou Walters Opens Shop<br />
DALLAS—Lou Walters has completed a<br />
new building at 8548 San Fernando Way here<br />
to house his projector repair shop. Walters<br />
has been associated with a local supply house<br />
in years past and has now entered the repair<br />
business independently, feeling that his services<br />
can be better utilized by the trade.<br />
He has been a Simplex speciahst. however,<br />
all makes of projectors, arc controls, lamphouses,<br />
soundheads, etc.. will be repaired at<br />
his new address.<br />
BUFFALO COOLING EQUIPMENT<br />
3409 Ook Lown, Room 107 BUFFALO ENGINEERING CO., INC Dallas, Texof<br />
Lions Pin to Lew Bray Jr.<br />
MCALLEN. TEX.—Lew Bray jr.. manager<br />
of the Queen Theatre, recently was awarded<br />
a Lions Club perfect attendance pin at the<br />
end of his first year's membership.<br />
60 BOXOFFICE July 14, 1956
—<br />
— —<br />
Trapeze' Fills Omaha<br />
Theatre, Scoring 240<br />
OMAHA—The 2,000-seat Omaha Theatre<br />
needed its room for several packed showings<br />
as "Trapeze" opened last week. Manager Carl<br />
Hoffman announced the first week's average<br />
at 240 per cent. The State went slightly<br />
below average figiues as "The Searchers" completed<br />
its fourth week.<br />
.<br />
(Averoge Is 100)<br />
Admiral-Chiet High Noon (UA); reissue 90<br />
Brandeis Bhowoni Junction (MGM), 2nd wk 80<br />
Omaho Trapeze (UA) 240<br />
Orpheum The Proud Ones (20th-Fox); Hilda<br />
, Crane (20th-Fox) 80<br />
State The Searchers (WB), 4th wk 90<br />
Bob Hope and "Feeling'<br />
Make Joy at Mill City<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—What with three of the<br />
four new bills hitting a fast pace, the boxoffice<br />
was brighter hued. "That Certain<br />
Peeling," "The Fastest Gun Alive" and "The<br />
Great Locomotive Chase" were the healthy<br />
fresh arrivals. Helped by the opening night<br />
personal appearance of Bob Hope, its star,<br />
"Feeling" took the money lead. Two holdovers,<br />
"The Searchers" and "Ti-apeze," in<br />
their sixth and second weeks, respectively.<br />
continued in the big money.<br />
Gopher The Fastest Gun Alive (MGM) 125<br />
Whispering Smith (Para); Streets of Laredo<br />
Lyric<br />
(Poro), reissues 90<br />
Orpheum The Great Locomotive Chase (BV) 100<br />
Radio City Trapeze (UA), 2nd wk 1 50<br />
Pan—The Searchers (WB), 6th wk 100<br />
State—That Certain Feeling (Para) 125<br />
World The Catered Affair (MGM), 2nd wk 90<br />
Carl Rose Leaves Industry<br />
After 40-Year Career<br />
YORK, NEB.—Carl Rose recently resigned<br />
his position as manager of the York theatres<br />
to take over as steward and secretary of<br />
the Elks Lodge 1024 of this city. His new<br />
duties began July 1.<br />
Termination of the local manager's affiliation<br />
with Central States Theatre Corp. of<br />
Des Moines, operator of the Sun Theatre and<br />
the Pines Drive-In at York, brings to a close<br />
40 years of work in the theatre for Rose. He<br />
started in 1917 at Grand Island when he became<br />
projectionist at the Empress Theatre.<br />
In 1926 he assumed the management and<br />
latier served in a like position at the Majestic<br />
Theatre at Grand Island.<br />
In 1928 he went to Columbus as manager<br />
of the Swan Theatre for a Des Moines circuit.<br />
He has served as theatre manager in<br />
Norfolk, Kearney, Chariton and Marshalltown,<br />
Iowa, and in 1932 was sent to Hastings<br />
to reopen a theatre. Two years later he and<br />
his family moved to York where they have<br />
since made their home. A successor to Rose<br />
had not as yet been named by the circuit.<br />
Iron Ore Miners to Shows<br />
On Credit During Strike<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—Woody Fraught, Minnesota<br />
Amusement Co. district manager and the<br />
managers of the theatres at Bemidji and<br />
Virginia, Minn., have extended admis-sion<br />
credit to iron ore miners and their families<br />
during the steel strike, it was announced by<br />
Charlie Winchell, MAC president here.<br />
The miners and their wives and children<br />
are admitted to the MAC (United Paramount)<br />
theatres in the two towns on presentation of<br />
their union identification cards. After the<br />
miners return to work they'll be billed and<br />
have 30 days to pay, says Winchell.<br />
Patron Wouldn't Want<br />
To Waste His Time<br />
Omaha—Herman (iould, e.xhibitor at<br />
the 84th and Center Street Drive-In,<br />
answered hi.s phone July 4 and was asked<br />
if he was going: to have a fireworks display.<br />
He said he wa.s.<br />
"Is it going to be in Technicolor?"<br />
the voice asked.<br />
"You bet," answered Herman. "And<br />
widescreen, too!"<br />
Free Parking Offered<br />
By Downtown Houses<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—Fre« parking, which has<br />
been in vogue generally at Twin Cities<br />
neighborhood theatres, promises to be the<br />
thing downtown, too. The Minneapolis and<br />
St. Paul Worlds, operated by Ted Mann,<br />
started it in their downtowii houses and now<br />
the Minnesota Amusement Co. has inaugurated<br />
it for its two St. Paul Loop houses, the<br />
Pai-amount and Riviera. It'll be launched<br />
for the three Minneapolis Loop houses within<br />
a month, according to Charles Winchell, MAC<br />
president-general manager.<br />
It's expected that the other Minneapolis<br />
and St. Paul downtown theatres also will<br />
fall in line. The gratis paridng in lots near<br />
the theatres is the result of deals made with<br />
the parking lot owners. The Minneapolis<br />
and St. Paul Worlds free parking starts at<br />
5 p.m. daily. That of the MAC houses begins<br />
at 3 p.m. MAC also is instituting a 50-cent<br />
bargain admission to 1 p.m. daily. Otherwise<br />
the regular 85 cents-$l scales will continue.<br />
Bob Hope Is Sure Films<br />
Will Survive Video<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—Bob Hope is confident<br />
that films on theatre screens will survive any<br />
and all competition that TV will be able to<br />
throw at them, including the not-so-old<br />
Hollywood pictures that will be increasingly<br />
on video.<br />
Here for appearances at the Minneapolis<br />
State and St. Paul Paramount on the opening<br />
night of his latest picture, "That Certain<br />
Feeling," the famous comedian-producer said<br />
he has no intention of retiring as a producer<br />
or actor in pictures for theatres. However,<br />
he shares the belief there'll be considerably<br />
fewer theatres and pictures and he thinics<br />
that many of the smaller communities will<br />
have to look to TV for their screen fare.<br />
It's Hope's belief that more and more,<br />
as in the case currently, only the exceptionally<br />
meritorious pictures will be big boxoffice.<br />
He feels producers always will be willing to<br />
gamble on hitting the theatre jackpot. He<br />
cited the fact that his own "Seven Little<br />
Foys" will gross $6,000,000.<br />
Hope believes that population growth will<br />
help to offset theatre patronage losses due to<br />
TV and other causes.<br />
Army Equipment in Lobby<br />
BARABOO, WIS.—To call attention to tlie<br />
new film, "D-Day the Sixth of June," Manager<br />
W. P. Moyle of the Al Ringllng Theatre<br />
arranged for a display of army equipment<br />
from Camp McCoy. Five soldiers from McCoy<br />
were on hand to explain the workings of the<br />
mortars, machine guns and 105 recoiless rifle<br />
to theatre patrons.<br />
Three Houses Close<br />
In Milwaukee Area<br />
MILWAUKEE—"Conditions have not improved,"<br />
said Harold J. Pearson, executive<br />
secretary for Allied of Wisconsin this week in<br />
revealing that three more area theatres had<br />
been shuttered.<br />
Latest to close, according to Pearson, are<br />
the Climax Theatre, operated by Jim Doctor;<br />
the Comet, operated by A. J. Honthamer, and<br />
the Liberty, operated by Charlie Fox.<br />
Pearson said several other theatre owners<br />
are considering .seriously opening on weekends<br />
only because of the pinch afflicting the entire<br />
industry. Pearson pointed to the admissions<br />
tax as one of the great difficulties which<br />
must be overcome.<br />
Among the houses in this area already<br />
closed are the Alamo, Mozart, Bay, State,<br />
Kosciuszko, Lyric, Mars, Mirth, Oakland, Park,<br />
Riviera, Shorewood, Tivoli, Venetian, Atlantic,<br />
Zenith and Empress.<br />
MINtflEAPOLIS—Patronage declines continued<br />
to cause some small town theatre<br />
shutterings in this territory. Quits have been<br />
called by showhouses in LeRoy and Barnsville,<br />
Minn., at Bismarck, N. D., and at Wittenburg.<br />
Wis.<br />
As a partial offset to these closings the<br />
Legion Theatre at Michigan City, N. D., has<br />
reop>ened after being dark for some time.<br />
Drouth in Dakota Areas<br />
Spots North Central Map<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—A disturbing note in some<br />
parts of this territory is sounded by adverse<br />
crop outlook reports, with large North and<br />
South Dakota areas still needing moisture<br />
despite widespread rainfall elsewhere.<br />
Attention to this situation is called by the<br />
Minneapolis district Federal Reserve bank's<br />
current monthly review, which also states<br />
that in other areas, which became drouthstricken<br />
early in June, the rains, when they<br />
came were too heavy and prolonged and<br />
caused considerable damage. In sections<br />
around Minneapolis, too, there has been<br />
recent heavy hail damage.<br />
The review, however, states that, despite<br />
the drouth, northwest business at midyear<br />
remains at prosperity levels, with bank<br />
debits, reflecting business activity, and department<br />
store sales at record levels for May,<br />
early June employment figures 3 to 5 per<br />
cent over last year, and unemployment down<br />
15 per cent.<br />
Omaha MGM Office Gives<br />
Itself a Farewell Party<br />
OMAHA—The MGM staff held what probably<br />
was the last office social function as a<br />
group.<br />
A smorgasbord luncheon was arranged<br />
in the assembly room with a dozen varieties<br />
of cheeses, meats, pastries and tidbits. The<br />
event was held before the departure of Rich<br />
Wilson, salesman, who will report to Cincinnati<br />
after a Minnesota vacation.<br />
The MGM office is closing at the end<br />
of the month, with Vince FIj-nn, manager,<br />
taking over the consolidated office in Des<br />
Moines. Johnny Jones, booker, and Bill<br />
Taylor of the custodial staff will go to Des<br />
Moines. MGM still will have two salesmen<br />
working the Nebraska -South Dakota-western<br />
Iowa territory as usual.<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
; July 14, 1956<br />
NC 64
. . Darlene<br />
. .<br />
Edna<br />
. . Bob<br />
. .<br />
OMAHA<br />
pdna Nass, finishing up her last week as<br />
Republic office manager, looked out the<br />
window of the exchange to see her car being<br />
driven off by a man and woman. Edna<br />
made it around the office enclosure and out<br />
the door yelling: "Stop, that's my car!"<br />
Meanwhile, cashier Eleanor Hunt had grabbed<br />
the phone and called police. The couple<br />
sped through a green light, outdistancing<br />
Miss Nass. A few minutes later police found<br />
the car. a Chevy hardtop, at the curb a few<br />
blocks away where the frightened thieves had<br />
parked it.<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Reggie Gannon, exhibitors at<br />
Schuyler, report their 17-month-old son<br />
Shane is recovering from second degree burns.<br />
Shane turned on the hot water tap while in<br />
the bathtub Nelson Force,<br />
.<br />
former Theatre Booking Service and Warner<br />
Bros, secretary, is filling in for Tillie Fowler<br />
of RKO during vacation.<br />
.\rnoId Johnson, exhibitor at Onawa, Iowa,<br />
reports the addition of a calf and the departure<br />
of a male sheep at his farm. Pat<br />
Halloran. 20th-Fox salesman, cheered both<br />
events—particularly the departure of the<br />
ram. which he had "met" while visiting the<br />
farm one day. The ram connected with<br />
Halloran's pasterior when Pat was not looking.<br />
Maury Rosenblatt, Allied Artists salesman,<br />
was transferred to Washington and drove a<br />
company car back to his new position last<br />
week Helen Newman, AA office manager,<br />
spent part of her vacation in Chicago following<br />
a company bookers meeting there .<br />
Harry Wood and Bill Wiedig, 20th-Fox<br />
auditors, have been working in the Omaha<br />
exchange.<br />
Mrs. Esther Green of FEPCO may add<br />
writing to her list of activities. A former<br />
Omahan, Bea Cheescbrough, now a resident<br />
of Des Moines and active in TV writing, read<br />
one of Mrs. Green's articles and has offered<br />
to help her try some short stories. Bea has<br />
had 12 stories published Nass,<br />
.<br />
former office manager for Republic, started<br />
her new job as 20th-Fox booker last week<br />
like an old hand. The Republic branch now<br />
is<br />
closed.<br />
Omaha golfers came out on top in the<br />
Variety Club stag at the Field Club. Meyer<br />
Stern was presented with a briefcase after<br />
the chicken dinner. The outing, called Meyer<br />
Stern Day, had a good attendance in spite of<br />
a heavy rain . . . The Pai-amount staff held<br />
its annual summer picnic last week . . Erma<br />
.<br />
DeLand, United Artists booker, is sight.seeing<br />
and visiting relatives in Boulder, Colo.<br />
Bill Schaefer, MOM press representative<br />
for Omaha and Des Moines, did a bang-up<br />
window dressing job with Debbie Reynolds'<br />
wedding dress at the Brandeis store . . .<br />
Allied Artists exchange now has air conditioning<br />
.. . Gladys Pullman, 20th-Fox inspector,<br />
was vacationing in Minnesota .<br />
Hirz,<br />
Warner office manager-salesman, and his<br />
family are In the Black Hills vacationing.<br />
Exhibitors in town included Sid Metcalf,<br />
Nebraska City; Howell Roberts, Wahoo; Mr.<br />
and Mrs. Dick Lysinger. Ravenna; Mr. and<br />
Mrs. Fred Schuler. Humboldt; Paul Tramp,<br />
Oxford; lowans Roy Warfield, Sioux City:<br />
Arnold John.son, Onawa; Dick Johnson and<br />
Prank Good. Red Oak. and Ed Kugel, Holstein.<br />
Leo Ross Urges Unifying<br />
To Bring Back Patrons<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—Leo Ross, president of a<br />
large circuit of small town theatres, wants<br />
exhibitors and film companies to quit fighting<br />
among themselves and combine forces to obtain<br />
repeal of the remaining 10 per cent admission<br />
tax, then, after that's accomplished,<br />
use the $200,000,000 which would accrue to<br />
the industry to sell motion pictures in theatres<br />
to the public.<br />
"If something big isn't done to bring people<br />
back into the showhouses," he declared, "we'll<br />
all be out of business in six months. With<br />
grosses at their present level we don't have<br />
enough money to pay running expenses. But<br />
we can't expect the government or film companies<br />
to subsidize our losses."<br />
Ross said that "the exhibitor and the distributor<br />
have been fighting each other for<br />
many years to no avail" and he thinks it's<br />
time now for peace to be declared so that<br />
forces can be combined in a proposed drive<br />
to bring people back to the theatres.<br />
Orleans, Neb., Exhibitor<br />
Moves to St. Joseph, Mo.<br />
ORLEANS, NEB.—The Orleans Theatre<br />
after Hal and Fern<br />
here went dark recently,<br />
Burright decided to spend full time managing<br />
the Orpheum Theatre in St. Joseph, Mo. Mrs.<br />
Burright said the decision had been forced<br />
on the family by declining patronage here<br />
the past two years.<br />
Burright has been managing the Orpheum<br />
in St. Joseph for a year and four months,<br />
while Mrs. Burright and the three daughters<br />
have remained in Orleans to operate the local<br />
theatre. The Burrights plan to make their<br />
future home in St. Joseph. They had operated<br />
the Orleans since Mar. 1, 1946.<br />
62<br />
North Central headquarters<br />
for Complete Theatre equipment<br />
OUTDOOR THEATRES<br />
Ballantyne is your complete source. From famous Dub'l-<br />
Cone speakers to any operating supplies. Soundheads,<br />
projectors, arc lamps, amplification systems, parts. One<br />
call to a Ballantyne dealer or Ballantyne covers everything.<br />
INDOOR THEATRES<br />
From carbons to complete sound systems for any size<br />
theatre. Magnetic or optical. All types of lenses. All are<br />
in slock at Ballantyne.<br />
FAST SERVICE on all Stock Items<br />
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Janesville, Wis., Apollo<br />
Sold to Realty Company<br />
JANESVILLE, WIS.—The Apollo Theatre<br />
building here has been purchased by the Cullen<br />
Realty Co. and will be remodeled into a<br />
three-story office building. The property was<br />
purchased from Mrs. Marcia Larsen, Green<br />
Bay, and Mrs. Joan Eberlein, Shawano, heirs<br />
to the estates of Mr. and Mi-s. Edward Litts.<br />
The women are daughters of the Litts, who<br />
were among eight killed in Rock County's<br />
worst traffic tragedy in history last July.<br />
The building was erected in 1912 by the<br />
late W. T. Sherer, father of Mrs. Litts. It<br />
was operated as a theatre until a few years<br />
ago, when it was closed.<br />
Air Condition Appleton House<br />
APPLETON, WIS.—The Appleton Theatre<br />
here has been air conditioned at a cost of<br />
about $30,000, according to Manager Robert<br />
Racker.<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
: July 14, 1956
. . . Bob<br />
. . Ben<br />
. . The<br />
. . Ben<br />
. . The<br />
. . Gene<br />
. .<br />
.<br />
.<br />
. . Bob<br />
MINNEAPOLIS<br />
pxploiteer Don Walker was In town in behalf<br />
of "Moby Dick," which opens this month<br />
at the Minneapolis Radio City and St. Paul<br />
Paramount day and date . Sichelman,<br />
Columbia home office auditor, was a visitor<br />
Hope was in town for a day and<br />
made appearances on the Minneapolis State<br />
and St. Paul Paramount stages in addition<br />
to being on TV and the radio to plug "That<br />
Certain Feeling."<br />
Victoria Shaw, who plays one of the lead<br />
feminine roles in "The Eddy Duchln Story,"<br />
was here in behalf of that picture, slated for<br />
the Minneapolis and St. Paul Orpheums day<br />
and date . . . MGM salesman LeRoy Smith<br />
reports the fishing is great at the Canadian<br />
lakes 60 miles out of Port Arthur where he<br />
just spent a week. He and his party quickly<br />
caught the legal limit.<br />
Chiclt Evens, 20th-Fox exploiteer, was in<br />
from Kansas City to make noises for "The<br />
King and I" which opened at the Minneapolis<br />
and St. Paul Worlds . Berger, North<br />
Central Allied president and circuit owner,<br />
and his wife are back after a two-month<br />
European jaunt . Lander, 20th-Fox<br />
head booker, returned from a New York vacation<br />
. . . Also back from New York is Ted<br />
Mann, circuit owner, who visited Gotham in<br />
quest of attractions for his local neighborhood<br />
fine arts Suburban World.<br />
Mary Seibel, daughter of Ev Seibel, Minnesota<br />
Amusement Co. advertising and publicity<br />
head, returned to the stage to play a lead<br />
.<br />
role in the Old Log strawhatter production of<br />
"He Was Born Gay" . United Artists<br />
branch here was in third place in its division<br />
at the close of the second lap of the company's<br />
Fifth Anniversary sales drive . . .<br />
Otto Kobs' new 650-car drive-in will be<br />
nearer Eden Prairie than Shakopee, as<br />
previously reported, and only about ten miles<br />
out of Minneapolis ... A new drive-in also<br />
is planned at Pelican Rapids, Minn., by<br />
Charles Woodward who operates a conventional<br />
showhouse at Bemidji, Minn.<br />
Work is progressing on the new Litchfield,<br />
Minn., drive-in and one has just opened at<br />
Long Prairie, Minn., with Mrs. Tillie Smith<br />
the operator.<br />
Circuit owner and Hollywood producer W. R.<br />
Frank is sufficiently recovered from a heart<br />
attack to be able to take occasional trips<br />
away from his home ... A total of 116 of<br />
this territory's theatres to date have agreed<br />
to run trailers and make collections for the<br />
Northwest Variety Club's annual drive for<br />
funds for its heart hospital on the University<br />
of Minnesota campus ... A windstorm pulled<br />
down the tower of the Spicer, Minn., Green<br />
Lake Drive-In . State Theatre,<br />
Mountain Lake, Minn., gave a free show to<br />
celebrate the present ownership's amuversary.<br />
Leo Kalman, Mellon, Wis., exhibitor, was on<br />
the Row. He also has taken over the theatre<br />
at Augusta, closed since last December 13, and<br />
will reopen it . . . Paramount booking manager<br />
Joe Rosen was vacationing in and around<br />
Minneapolis and getting in some fishing . . .<br />
U-I will put on a big 24-sheet campaign for<br />
"Away All Boats," which opens July 27 at<br />
the Minneapolis State and St. Paul Paramount.<br />
There'll be 40 such billboard showings<br />
in the Twin Cities.<br />
Independent distributor Don Swartz was in<br />
Chicago on buslne.ss . . . Ev Seibel, Minnesota<br />
Amusement Co. advertising and publicity<br />
head, vacationed in northern Minnesota .<br />
District Manager M. A. Levy, Branch Manager<br />
Saul Malisow and the 20th-Fox sales<br />
staff here attended a meeting in Chicago.<br />
. . . The<br />
The current North Central Allied bulletin<br />
urges exhibitors to "protest with everything<br />
you have" against the proposed $1 an hour<br />
minimum wage for theatre employes. It asks<br />
that the point be emphasized that "minors<br />
should not be placed in the same category<br />
with adult women living alone and entirely<br />
dependent upon their resources"<br />
oldie "Ecstasy" racked up a two-week run<br />
at the neighborhood Suburban World. The<br />
Swedish "One Summer of Happiness" was<br />
at the Arion.<br />
Allied Lakes Session<br />
At Okoboji Tuesday<br />
ARNOLDS PARK, IOWA—Members of the<br />
Allied Independent Theatre Owners of Iowa,<br />
Nebraska, South Dakota and Midcentral will<br />
gather here Tuesday (17) for their annual<br />
midsummer lakes meeting.<br />
Besides business discussions the session<br />
will feature an old-fashioned church chicken<br />
dinner, served by the women of the Arnolds<br />
Park Methodist Church, in the basement of<br />
which the meeting will be held.<br />
Many of the exhibitors bring their families<br />
and stay for a few days' vacation and cooling<br />
off at Iowa's famous blue water Lake Okoboji.<br />
Al Myrick, Lake Park, Iowa, is in charge<br />
of cottage reservations.<br />
Directors will meet Monday night at Picks<br />
Cottages near here.<br />
Assists As 'Success' Director<br />
Richard Maybery has been appointed assistant<br />
director on Hecht-Lancaster's "The<br />
Sweet Smell of Success," released to United<br />
Artists.<br />
DES MOINES<br />
•Llelen Windsor, Warner assistant cashier,<br />
ha.s an interesting two weeks ahead of<br />
. . .<br />
her. She left July 7, with her parents, to<br />
drive to Seattle by way of the Black Hills.<br />
In Seattle, the Windsors will pick up Helen's<br />
sister, a member of the WAVES, and go by<br />
boat to Victoria. Later they will drive south<br />
down the coast of California and return home!<br />
Other Filmrowers also are enjoying vacations.<br />
Verne Stevens, Warner shipper, has<br />
completed one week . Newman, NSS<br />
office manager, spent his holiday visiting<br />
Enos<br />
relatives in Iowa and Missouri<br />
Travaini, Columbia, journeyed to California<br />
for her vacation . . . Edna Cloonen, RKO<br />
cashier, spent her time in Seymour, Iowa,<br />
visiting relatives and friends.<br />
ORDER YOUR POPCORN SUPPLIES<br />
Dorothy Fobst, president of WOMn, has<br />
. . .<br />
announced postponement of the charter<br />
luncheon which was scheduled for July. It was<br />
decided to wait until vacations were over so<br />
that no one would have to miss this gala affair.<br />
A September date is being considered<br />
Lester Zucker,<br />
Two<br />
and will be announced later . . .<br />
district manager, was at U-I here<br />
Universal employes were called out of town<br />
by family funerals. Gwelda Jones' mother<br />
died after a 13-year illness. Ralph Olson was<br />
called to Indiana by the unexpected death<br />
of his brother-in-law from a heart attack.<br />
Lou Levy, Universal manager, hosted a<br />
screening of "Francis in the Haunted House"<br />
at the Fox projection room.<br />
Airer Celebrates All Week<br />
COLUMBUS, NEB.—The Columbus Drive-<br />
In observed its sixth anniversary with a weeklong<br />
celebration, culminating in a July 4 display<br />
of fireworks. The week began with a<br />
Thursday and Friday two-for-one coupon<br />
plan, continued with "bumper strip night"<br />
on Monday and buck night on Tuesday. Free<br />
coloring books were given to children under<br />
12 Thursday through Saturday.<br />
FROM US<br />
White Japanese Hulless Popcorn Per 100 lbs. $12.75<br />
XXX Yellow Popcorn Per 100 lbs. 9.75<br />
Standard Yellow Popcorn Per 100 lbs. 7.90<br />
Standard White Popcorn Per 100 lbs. 10.90<br />
"Seazo" Coconut Oil Seasoning Per Case 13.75<br />
Liquid Popsit Plus Seasoning Per Case 15.75<br />
Popcorn Salt Per Case 2.95<br />
No. 400 Automatic Bottom Boxes, P4 oz Per 1000 10.75<br />
No. 300 Automatic Bottom Boxes, 2 oz Per 1000 11.75<br />
Large 25c Popcorn Boxes Per 1000 18.75<br />
1 lb. White Popcorn Sacks Per 1000 2.40<br />
1 lb. Brown Popcorn Sacks Per 1000 1.80<br />
Va lb. Popcorn Sacks Per 1000 1.50<br />
Vi lb. Popcorn Sacks Per 1000 1.20<br />
IV2 lb. White Popcorn Sacks Per 1000 2.95<br />
1 lb. Printed Noiseless Sacks Per 1000 3.90<br />
Vi lb. Printed Noiseless Sacks Per 1000 3.50<br />
Iowa Distributor for Silver Skillet Brand Canned Meats.<br />
Prices Subject to Change Without Notice<br />
DES MOINES THEATRE SUPPLY CO.<br />
1121-23 High St. Des Moines, Iowa<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: July 14, 1956 63
. . Walter<br />
. . Oscar<br />
MILWAUKEE<br />
poblucki & Sons, who now own the Highway<br />
5" Drlve-In. opened the Jolly Roger<br />
Kiddylajid directly opposite to the theatre<br />
on July 4 . . . Judging from the promotions,<br />
all the downtown theatre managers were up<br />
to their ears in exploitations. Milt Harman<br />
with •Trapeze" at the WLsconsin; Harry<br />
Boesel, Palace, with "UFO"; Estelle Stelnbach,<br />
Strand, with her 12th week of "Oklahoma!"<br />
and all reserved at that!; Bob Groenert, Alhambra.<br />
with "Screaming Eagles"; Joe<br />
Reynolds. Towne, "That Certain Feeling";<br />
Al Meskis, Warner. "Safari"; Erv Clumb,<br />
River.side, and hLs brilliant push on "The<br />
Great Locomotive Chase."<br />
Over at Fox Wisconsin, Harry Finning has<br />
been transferred to the accounting department.<br />
Replacing him, assisting Al Camillo,<br />
film buyer and booker, is Harriet Ackman<br />
. . . Nanza Schroeder has been added to the<br />
secretarial staff . . . Connie Stevens, secretary<br />
to Al Frank, general manager, is flashing a<br />
big diamond ring.<br />
Here is the correct list of officers and directors<br />
for Allied of Wisconsin: Ben Marcus,<br />
Marcus Theatres, president; Bill Charboneau,<br />
Grantland Theatre, Lancaster, vice-president;<br />
Oliver Ti-ampe. Trampe Theatres, treasurer;<br />
Ed E. Johnson. Roosevelt, secretary; Harold<br />
Pear.son, executive secretary; Sig J. Goldberg,<br />
Hollj-wood, Wausau, national director; and<br />
directors. John P. Adler, Adler. Marshfield;<br />
J. J. Goderski, Airway; Russell Leddy, Orpheum,<br />
Green Bay; Floyd Albert, Strand,<br />
Mount Horeb; FYank Hahn, Bay, Ashland;<br />
Harry Melcher, Unity Theatres; Angelo Provinzano,<br />
Pix; D. S. Deakin, Dells Theatre,<br />
Wisconsin Dells; Martin Holzman, Pix,<br />
Whitehall, and F. J. McWilliams, Portage,<br />
Portage.,<br />
Qgood reasons<br />
^^ FOR ORDERING VOUR<br />
SPECIAL<br />
TRAILERS<br />
TiTmrr<br />
Howard Clarke, booker for Standard Theatres<br />
Management Corp., returned from an<br />
eastern vacation, including a stop at Niagara<br />
Falls . Baier of the Fort Theatres<br />
in Fort Atkni.son is home convalescing after<br />
being haspitalized a couple of weeks . . . Russel<br />
Leddy of the Orphcum Theatre at Green<br />
Bay was a local visitor Thursday (5).<br />
MGM sneak-previewed "Somebody Up<br />
There Likes Me" at the Riverside Theatre,<br />
The picture was well received by press arid<br />
trade members . . . Glen Wood, head booker<br />
for U-I in Minneapolis, was here on vacation.<br />
Wood was a booker here a few years<br />
Edward J. Weisfeldt is now managing<br />
ago . . .<br />
Gran's Oriental, a de luxe house on<br />
the east side. He formerly managed Fox's<br />
Wi,sconsin Theatre here.<br />
Unity Theatres closed the Prairie in Sun<br />
Prairie July 7. No reopening date has been<br />
set but it possibly will be in the early fall . . .<br />
Barry Sherman has sold the local Peerless to<br />
Kenneth Gomow, who took over the theatre<br />
on July 2. Gomow was never in the theatre<br />
business prior to this venture. The theatre<br />
will be closed for remodeling.<br />
Lester Fischer, son of the late Bert Fischer,<br />
an early day local exhibitor who operated<br />
the Alamo, Mozart and Lincoln theatres,<br />
married Dona Haskka July 7. Earl Fischer, a<br />
brother, operated the Alamo Theatre until<br />
recently, when the family closed it . . . Ward<br />
Bently, UA exploiteer, was in town to help<br />
sell "Ti-apeze," now playing at Fox's Wisconsin<br />
Theatre.<br />
Paul Baroni, formerly of Hancock, Mich., is<br />
now manager of the 64 Drive-In at Marinette<br />
. . . Samuel Trinz, formerly operator of<br />
several local theatres and an owner of the<br />
Lubliner and Trinz circuit in Chicago, died<br />
in San Jacinto, Calif., where he had resided<br />
for the past few years . '. Frank Hellstrom<br />
.<br />
has closed the Badger Theatre at<br />
Wittenberg for lack of patronage.<br />
Adlcr's Relda Theatre in Marshfield is also<br />
being dismantled and converted for commercial<br />
use . . . Ben Poblocki installed a new<br />
widescreen and is refiunishing the lobby and<br />
foyer with decorations and carpeting at his<br />
Plaza Theatre in Burlington . Olson,<br />
business agent of Local 164, lATSE, was honored<br />
by the Wisconsin Club of Milwaukee for<br />
his activities leading to better labor-management<br />
relations. He was presented several<br />
gifts for his efforts.<br />
HANDY SUBSCRIPTION
—<br />
——<br />
— —<br />
'Trapeze' Top Grosser<br />
At 225 in Cleveland<br />
CLEVELAND — "Tiapeze" was the big<br />
news of the week at downtown theatres. It<br />
opened very big at the State and kept piling<br />
bigger takes daily, so that the gross for the<br />
opening week was 225 per cent. It moved<br />
to the Stillman for an extended run. Another<br />
boxoffice moneymaker was "The Fastest Gun<br />
Alive," registering 185 at the Stillman. The<br />
Ohio Theatre patrons liked the double feature<br />
program "The Black Sleep" and "The Creeping<br />
Unknown." Other downtown takes were<br />
on the minus average side. Weather was hot<br />
and humid.<br />
(Averoge Is 100)<br />
Allen Crime in the Streets (AA) 75<br />
Hippodrome The Proud Ones (20th-Fox) 85<br />
Lower Mall The Lost Ten Doys (Col), 3rd wk.. . 80<br />
Ohio The Block Sleep (UA); The Creeping Unknown<br />
(UA) 120<br />
Palace Distant Drums (WB); Dallas (WB), reissues,<br />
5 days 65<br />
State Tropeie (UA) 225<br />
Stillman—The Fastest Gun Alive (MGM) 185<br />
'Trapeze' Scores 250 Per Cent<br />
In Opening at Detroit<br />
DETROIT—First run grosses showed some<br />
general improvement, and "Trapeze" paced<br />
the city, opening to terrific business at the<br />
Madison and finishing the week with 250<br />
per cent.<br />
Adams<br />
Bhowoni Junction (MGM), 3rd wl< 90<br />
Broadway Capitol Earth vs. the Flying Saucers<br />
(Col); The Werewolf (Col), 2nd wl< 100<br />
Fox—Mohawk (20th-Fcx) 70<br />
Madison Trapeze (UA) 250<br />
Michigan The Greot Locomotive Chase (BV);<br />
Quinconnon, Frontier Scout (UA) 90<br />
Polms Crime in the Streets (AA); Magnificent<br />
Roughnecks (AA), 2nd wk 110<br />
United Artists Oklohomo! (Magna), 1 9th wk 150<br />
New Summit at Akron Is<br />
Opened by Skirball Bros.<br />
CLEVELAND—After a delay of one year,<br />
Skirball Bros. Summit Drive-In near Akron<br />
finally opened Friday (6). Scheduled to open<br />
last summer, construction was held up by<br />
engineering difficulties and also by the heavy<br />
spring rains. The Summit, estimated to<br />
cost close to $500,000, accommodates 1,360<br />
cars. It is said to be the finest outdoor theatre<br />
in the greater Cleveland exchange area,<br />
which has approximately 105 drive-ins in operation.<br />
Ezra Skirball, who has been manager of<br />
Skirball's Stark Drive-In, Massilon, has been<br />
appointed manager of the new Summit.<br />
Continental Bookings Set<br />
In Mideast Territory<br />
NEW YORK—Sanford W. Weiner,<br />
general<br />
sales manager of Continental Distributing, has<br />
set up playoffs on "The Ladykillers" and<br />
"The Night My Number Came Up" in the<br />
Cleveland and Cincinnati areas. They include<br />
four Cleveland first run engagements<br />
and first run situations in Akron, Canton,<br />
Lima, Mansfield, Marion, Sandusky, Steubenville,<br />
Toledo, Warren and Youngstown.<br />
Cincirmati territorial dates were set with<br />
the Guild, Cincinnati, and in Dayton and<br />
Lexington, Ky. Dayton also booked "Adorable<br />
Creatures."<br />
To Reopen at Youngstown<br />
YOUNGSTOWN. OHIO—The State Theatre<br />
will reopen July 20, with Thomas Long<br />
as manager.<br />
Film Truck of Michigan<br />
And Ray Branch to Court<br />
DETROIT—The long-smoldering feud over<br />
the operations of Film Truck Service, which<br />
erupted at the Allied Theatres of Michigan<br />
RAY BRANCH<br />
convention three months ago, reached a head<br />
here in a suit and countersuit filed in Wayne<br />
County circuit court.<br />
The issue is of dominant interest in this<br />
territory for two reasons: (1) Film Truck has<br />
provided film carrier service to most Michigan<br />
theatres outside of Detroit for over a<br />
quarter century, and (2) as the result of a<br />
program of diversifying ownership in the past<br />
few years, some 50 Michigan exhibitors are<br />
now stockholders. Two exhibitor leaders hold<br />
key offices; Ernest T. Conlon, Michigan Allied<br />
executive secretary, and William Clark<br />
of Clark Theatre Service, secretary and vicepresident,<br />
respectively.<br />
Suit first was filed by Ray Branch, a former<br />
president of Michigan Allied for nearly<br />
two decades, against Film Truck for about<br />
$6,000, based on his service as general manager<br />
until last spring.<br />
Then in a statement to Film Truck stockholders,<br />
Mrs. Gladys B. Pike, who resumed<br />
the presidency of Film Truck a few months<br />
ago, said that Branch "used the harsh remedy<br />
of garnishment before judgment in the<br />
attempt to bring the corporation to its knees<br />
before this matter could be justly considered<br />
by our legal process."<br />
In a detailed answer. Film Truck Service,<br />
through its attorneys, admitted that<br />
Branch was employed at a salary of $150 a<br />
week as general manager for several years,<br />
but denied he had any employment contract<br />
or any yearly contract, and stated he was<br />
discharged and excluded from the offices<br />
about March 13. Accordingly. Film Truck<br />
maintain.s that Branch's claim against it<br />
should be discharged, and he should be made<br />
to pay the company some $225,000.<br />
The money is sought in a countersuit<br />
against Branch which asks $75,000 on each<br />
of three counts as follows:<br />
1. About June 25, 1953, Mrs. Pike and Miss<br />
Jane V. Robin.son, her sister, who is treasurer<br />
of the company, agreed to .sell 10,666<br />
and two-thirds shares In Film Truck to<br />
Branch under a contract. This gave Branch.<br />
alleged, control of the company, by voting<br />
it is<br />
the shares held in e.scrow, with the understanding<br />
that he was to sell the stock to<br />
various exhibitors, the payments to be released<br />
to the two women.<br />
It is alleged that certain Branch "representations<br />
were false and he did not have<br />
the contracts, ability, nor did he act in good<br />
faith to enhance the goodwill and financial<br />
position of the business." Damages for "false<br />
and fraudulent representations" is sought.<br />
2. It is alleged that Branch "used his position<br />
of trust and responsibility to put the<br />
corporation out of business with the purpose<br />
of obtaining the valuable certificate of public<br />
convenience and necessity held by the<br />
corporation and establishing a new business<br />
altogether." It is this certificate which Ls<br />
considered to be the invaluable basic asset of<br />
Film Truck Service. It is claimed the company<br />
suffered "the loss of goodwill, customers,<br />
business, financial standing, and other<br />
grievous losses due to Branch's attempt in his<br />
position of trust to destroy the business."<br />
3. Numerous details of alleged mismanagement<br />
are cited, such as "refusing to carry<br />
out reasonable requests of customers, antagonizing<br />
customers, failing to devote full<br />
time and attention to corporate activities,<br />
etc." As a result of this, it is stated, the<br />
company "in effect was on the brink of total<br />
collapse."<br />
Cumulative damages on the three counts<br />
sought would be $225,000.<br />
Edmund Goulding is directing the Charles<br />
Brackett production, "Teen Age Rebel," a<br />
20th-Fox film.<br />
THE EHTIRE<br />
JOB FOR YOU<br />
°'<br />
I . „ new d'l"-'" "'•°"'<br />
„ ,ou plon to erect o n ,^„„.<br />
contemplate converting ^'"l^^^^^,„ „.,<br />
„e,.ophonic sound why ^^^^,,,„„<br />
entlr. loW W« «'" "" '.<br />
,^, .„,„. |ob.<br />
nCTROIT OFF'CJ<br />
IHEAIRE EOOIPMENI CO.<br />
1206 Cherry St. • loledo 4, Ohio<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: July 14, 1956 ME 6S
I<br />
. . Marshall<br />
. . John<br />
: July<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
CLEVELAND<br />
Ha/.fl and Loren Solether, owners of the<br />
Falls Theatre in Chagrin Falls, celebrated<br />
their 40th wedding anniversary .<br />
Victoria Shaw of "The Eddy Duchin Story"<br />
was in town two days to meet the pre.ss and<br />
make TV and radio appearances . . . Milt<br />
Grant of Silk Proce.ss Screen Co. and Variety<br />
Club's second chief barker, missed out<br />
in the gin rummy tournament to an associate<br />
club member, William Krause . . . Here<br />
on a vi.sit from Miami Beach, where he has<br />
a cafe and package store on the 79th Causeway,<br />
was Ralph Rose, onetime owner of the<br />
Film building cigar store.<br />
Nativa Roberts, MGM booker, was vacationing<br />
in the east with stopovers in New<br />
York and coast vacation spots . . . MGM<br />
.<br />
in the fall . . .<br />
shipper Steve Andrews also was on a vacation<br />
Back from an automobile trip<br />
. .<br />
. through Colorado and Arizona were Don<br />
Jacobs, manager of the Parma Theatre,<br />
Parma, and his wife . . . Nat Barach, NSS<br />
manager, and wife spent the Fourth of July<br />
with Toledo relatives Fine, Variety<br />
Club chief barker, says negotiations have<br />
been completed to move the club headquarters<br />
from the Hollenden to the Tudor Arms Hotel<br />
July 27 is the date and<br />
the Lake Shore Country Club is the site of<br />
the Variety Club's annual golf tournament.<br />
For those who don't play golf there will be<br />
swimming and other outdoor games. And for<br />
all there will be dinner.<br />
Max Mink, manager of the Palace, and<br />
wife have been in Rochester. Frank Smith<br />
Lyn Hogue Trammer, secretary<br />
relieved . . .<br />
and office manager for Academy Film Service,<br />
became the mother of a baby son<br />
Oscar Markovich, Miami and New<br />
.<br />
York<br />
businessman who got his start as a Toledo<br />
newsboy and candy vendor in Toledo theatres,<br />
has purchased, in association with<br />
George Wasserman, the Lucerne Hotel in<br />
Miami Beach for a reported four million<br />
dollars.<br />
AT TESTIMONIAL DINNtK— Xttendmi; the recent testimonial dinner honoring<br />
Morris Lefko in Cleveland, top photo, left to right: Elmer Lux, emcee; George Mc-<br />
Kenna. Lafayette Theatre; Lefko; Gus Basil and Spencer Balser, Basil circuit, all of<br />
Buffalo. N. Y. Center photo: Sam Schultz and Nate Schultz of Allied Artists and Bill<br />
Onie, Cincinnati circuit owner. Bottom photo, Detroit guests at the affair: Ed Stuckey,<br />
Butterfield circuit; Lefko; Dan Lewis, buyer for Cooperative Theatres; Howard Mlnsky,<br />
Paramount district manager, and Harold Brown, United Detroit Theatres.<br />
Sell Airer's Competitor<br />
CLEVELAND—Kiddyland amusement park<br />
occupying a five acre tract on Northfield<br />
road, next door to the East Side Drive-In,<br />
has been sold for a reported $175,000 to a<br />
Cleveland corporation composed of Louis<br />
Cowan, Louis Fodor and Gerhard Kronenberger.<br />
I<br />
Personalized Film Buying & Booking<br />
For INDOOR and OUTDOOR THEATRES<br />
in the Cleveland Exchange Area<br />
• Styled to Vour Individual Situation •<br />
Phones:<br />
HERBERT H. HORSTEMEIER I sup^nnr 1.7222<br />
66<br />
409 Film BIdg.<br />
ONtario 1-9812<br />
Cleveland 14, Ohio<br />
Mel Donlon Again Is Head<br />
Of Nightingales Club<br />
DETROIT—Mel Donlon of the Beverly<br />
Theatre has been re-elected president of the<br />
Nightingales Club, Filmrow social organization.<br />
Other officers elected include Floyd H.<br />
Akins, Circle Theatre, vice-president and secretary<br />
of the bowling league; Edgar Douville,<br />
Westown Theatre, treasurer; Jack Pickering,<br />
financial secretary, and Roger Valliquette,<br />
recording secretary.<br />
Roy Thompson was appointed chairman<br />
of the all-important bowling committee, with<br />
Jack Colwell and Sherman Lambly sr. of the<br />
Nortown and United Artists theatres, respectively,<br />
as members.<br />
.<br />
Hatton Taylor, RKO district manager, and<br />
Frank Belles, local manager, were in New<br />
York for a home office conference . .<br />
.<br />
Frances Bolton is back with the National<br />
Screen Family. She recently took a flier in<br />
another type of business but returned to<br />
the home base, where she had been for the<br />
previous eight years A. Madger, a<br />
member of Local 160, lATSE, for more than<br />
35 years, died after an illness of one week.<br />
He was projectionist at the Windameer Theatre,<br />
a unit of the Associated Theatres<br />
circuit.<br />
V Serve<br />
r A Very Good<br />
Trailer FREE<br />
I Wlfh a 10-ease<br />
^ order.<br />
SHAKE!<br />
A N£W and BETTER<br />
Chocolate Drink<br />
HOT or COLD<br />
w<br />
1 M!^<br />
Per cose<br />
AT CONCESSION HEA[>QUARTERS==<br />
NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY COMPANY<br />
2129 Payne Ave. Phone PRoipect 1-4613<br />
CLEVELAND 14, OHIO<br />
BOXOmCE<br />
:<br />
14, 1956
, . . Tower<br />
. . Ruth<br />
. . Henry<br />
—<br />
. .<br />
. . . Cedric<br />
DETROIT<br />
Dud Harris opened the new Commerce Drivein<br />
at Walled Lake July 3 . . .<br />
Krause, new RKO manager, went to<br />
Lloyd<br />
New<br />
Sid Bowman,<br />
York for a three-day meeting . . .<br />
United Artists manager, is returning<br />
to his desk after a 13-week absence because<br />
Howard Pearl, United Artists<br />
of illness . . .<br />
exploiteer, is using some specialty promotions,<br />
with an oversize water pitcher marked<br />
" 'Trapeze' the biggest pitcher of them all,"<br />
and an ash tray with " 'Johnny Concho,'<br />
watch his smoke" . . . George Goodman, new<br />
20th-Fox salesman, likes his upstate territory.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
Personalities missed at the Variety Club<br />
outing included Stan Baran, Republic booker<br />
of the Paul Bunyan Drive-In at<br />
Hubbard Lake, operated by Lou Ki-amer, was<br />
reported blown down by the big weekend<br />
wind . , . Vacation notes—Lillian Wechsler,<br />
cashier at Republic, took off for a Bermuda<br />
Mrs. Gladys B. Pike, president of<br />
trip , . .<br />
Film Truck Service, has been at Caseville<br />
with her husband, who has been ill . . . Mary<br />
Benham, RKO bookers stenographer, spent<br />
her vacation in towm, just resting up<br />
Harvey Trombley, Columbia head booker,<br />
headed for the big north country around<br />
Gaylord Bolton, bookers clerk at<br />
Warner Bros., planned to vacation on Lake<br />
Erie.<br />
.<br />
. . . Jane Robinson,<br />
At RKO, Agues Young, head inspector, has<br />
been vacationing in parts unknown, while the<br />
big weeks are coming up for Florence Hilborn,<br />
branch managers secretary, who goes<br />
to northern Michigan, and inspector Florence<br />
Bowers P. Zapp, Cooperative<br />
Theatres booker, and Mrs. Zapp were up<br />
north at Central Lake<br />
treasurer of Film Ti-uck Service, was taken<br />
to Mount Carmel Hospital following injury<br />
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in an automobile accident July 5, but was<br />
released with a report of no fractures . .<br />
.<br />
Dillon M. Ki-epps of the United Artists Theatre<br />
and his wife have had his mother from<br />
the west as a house guest.<br />
John Magocs of Theatre Sound Engineering,<br />
met aboard the Aquarama on one of her<br />
first cruises, is planning to build a new drivein<br />
in an undisclosed site . . . Barbara Samuels,<br />
daughter of Bernard V. Samuels, manager of<br />
the Jolly Roger Drive-In. and her.self known<br />
to many filmites, had a pleasant surprise<br />
when she returned home from Nazareth<br />
Academy. She found plane tickets waiting<br />
for her for a round trip to California, and<br />
was speedily on her way to the west coast<br />
for an extended vacation.<br />
Louis George now is managing the Fort<br />
Drive-In and Alexander Thomas, his brother-in-law,<br />
the Michigan Drive-In . . . Orville<br />
C. Wells, formerly of Theatre Equipment<br />
Co., Toledo, is to be manager of the<br />
new Commerce Drive-In being opened near<br />
Walled Lake by Bud Harris and associates<br />
Harding is filling in at the Jolly<br />
Roger Drive-In booth with Jack Smukler,<br />
whOe Van Wagner, his regular teammate, is<br />
convalescing.<br />
Alice Sloniawski, cashier-clerk at Warner<br />
Bros., and George Rush, second shipper, decided<br />
to be married June 30. Sylvia Sienicki<br />
of the exchange informs us this is one of the<br />
first marriages between two staffers of the<br />
same exchange here in years . . . Richard<br />
Graff, new Universal manager, is able to<br />
keep an eye on progress of his new exchange<br />
building from his office window. Plans to<br />
move about January 1.<br />
. . . Bill Sidenstecker<br />
Sid Cooper, UA district manager and onetime<br />
salesman in the Detroit exchange, was<br />
in town from Washington for a few days.<br />
He reported Sid Bowman, branch manager,<br />
is expected back on the job soon . . . The<br />
Columbia, Flint, which was operated by Edward<br />
Weingarten, is being reopened, with<br />
bookings by Bill Clark<br />
of Allied Artists attended a bookers meeting<br />
at the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago on<br />
July 7, 8.<br />
. . . Ray<br />
Ernie Conlon, executive secretary of Michigan<br />
Allied, said the big gathering at the<br />
Midland Country Club at Midland July 19<br />
will be an all-day affair for the entire family,<br />
with distributors and salesmen invited as<br />
well as exhibitors and managers<br />
Cloud, city salesman for Columbia, is back<br />
on the job after hospitalization, many pounds<br />
Norman Meyers, managing director<br />
lighter . . .<br />
of the Adams, has pcstponed his<br />
scheduled vacation in order to fit in his coming<br />
bookings . . . Dave Cantor, RKO press<br />
agent, was on the visitors roster.<br />
Harry Fussner, 72, died suddenly June 29<br />
from a heart attack. He was the father of<br />
Betty Fussner, head booker for Paramount.<br />
His wife and a son also survive.<br />
Third Cinerama Feature<br />
Comes to Detroit Aug. 14<br />
DETROIT—The Motor City, which was<br />
the No. One town for the introduction of<br />
"This Is Cinerama" and "Cinerama Holiday,"<br />
outside of New York, will witness the debut<br />
of the third Cinerama production. "Seven<br />
Wonders of the World" on Tuesday, Augu.st<br />
14, at the Music Hall. "Holiday" will bow<br />
out after 80 weeks on August 12, setting,<br />
with its companion earlier production, the<br />
two top records for length of run for any<br />
type of amusement attraction here, previously<br />
held by the stage show, "Abie's Irish Ro.se."<br />
The midwest premiere of "Seven Wonders"<br />
will be ushered in with elaborate ceremony,<br />
complete with motion picture stars and personalities,<br />
giant .searchlights, band music and<br />
all typical trimmings.<br />
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DETROIT<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: July 14, 1956 67
. . Walt<br />
rAir Cooler Water Tax<br />
Is Threat at Detroit<br />
DETROIT—Vigorous opposition to a new<br />
demand by the city water board for a "ready<br />
to ser\-e" tax based on the tonnage of air<br />
conditioning equipment is being vigorously<br />
spearheaded by Allied Theatres of Michigan.<br />
Object of the water authorities is to force the<br />
installation of recirculating type of air conditioning<br />
systems, reducing the load on the<br />
water system at peak hours. Such installations<br />
would cost approximately $10,000 each,<br />
prohibitive for most local theatres.<br />
&nest T, Conlon, executive secretary of<br />
Michigan Allied, declared; "Should this tax<br />
force any theatre to close during the summer<br />
months, the possibility of this theatre reopening<br />
in the fall is remote."<br />
An Allied committee is working on a formal<br />
petition to present the exhibitor's side of<br />
the case, showing, according to Conlon, "the<br />
problems of the neighborhood theatre and<br />
its value to the community— its conti-ibution<br />
to the entertainment, comfort, health and<br />
happiness of those who live in crowded conditions<br />
and seek the air-cooled theatre for<br />
physical relief." Conlon warned that such<br />
a tax would certainly spread to other Michigan<br />
cities.<br />
Local exhibitors are generally "well regulated,"<br />
as in the requirement for provision<br />
of parking facilities for all new theatres. As<br />
a partial result of this, only two new indoor<br />
theatres have been built in Detroit in 15 years,<br />
while according to a survey (.which included<br />
suburbs) made several years ago, some 50<br />
have pass-ed out of existence.<br />
Two New Kentucky Airers<br />
Are Nearly Completed<br />
STANTON. KY.—A drive-in theatre under<br />
construction here by J. M. Mahaffey and two<br />
partners, Kidd & Faulkner, probably will be<br />
ready for operation in August. The Midwest<br />
Theatre Supply Co. is equipping the airer.<br />
Mahaffey operates the Sunset Drive-In,<br />
Beattyville, and has an interest in the Valley<br />
Drive-In at Mount Vernon, with Carnahan,<br />
Hughes & Crawford. The latter drive-in is<br />
scheduled to open soon. Midwest also is<br />
equipping the Valley.<br />
Newcomer Joseph Coffron<br />
Buys Detroit's Bijou<br />
DETROIT—The Bijou Theatre,<br />
downtown<br />
house dating back almost to nickelodeon days<br />
and believed to be the oldest surviving motion<br />
picture theatre in Detroit, has been taken<br />
over by Joseph Coffron, a newcomer to show<br />
business. Buying and booking of product will<br />
be handled by Louis Mitchell.<br />
The move marks the retirement from active<br />
operation of Wesley B. Schram, who operated<br />
the house for 43 years and once headed the<br />
Schram & Goldberg circuit.<br />
Bob Hope in Cleveland<br />
Pulls Capacity Crowds<br />
CLEVETLAND—Bob Hope played to three<br />
capacity audiences during his one-day visit<br />
to Cleveland last Thursday to promote his<br />
latest release, "That Certain Feeling," showing<br />
at the State Theatre. His first capacity<br />
audience was at the Rotary Club luncheon<br />
meeting, which welcomed tlie star back<br />
"home." The other two capacity crowds were<br />
at the State Tlieatre, where he appeared on<br />
the stage at 2:30 and 8;30 p.m. Hope talked<br />
about his old days at Doan's Corners (Euclid<br />
avenue and East 105th street) and his first<br />
stage appearance at the now almost forgotten<br />
Pri.scilla Theatre on East Ninth street.<br />
Between stage appearances he played some<br />
golf.<br />
Allen Lowe, manager of the Carter Hotel<br />
and official city greeter, introduced Hope to<br />
the audiences as "America's number one goodwill<br />
ambassador."<br />
"That Certain Feeling" won good newspaper<br />
notices. W. Ward Marsh in the Plain<br />
Dealer said "it is the season's comedy hit."<br />
COLUMBUS<br />
^ine Ohio State University students from<br />
Thailand were among the guests at a<br />
special screening at Loew's Ohio of "The<br />
King and I," which opens July 19 at the<br />
Ohio. Manager Walter Kessler arranged a<br />
phone interview for the students with the<br />
Princess Rudivoravan, granddaughter of King<br />
Mongkut of "The King and I." The princess<br />
conducts a daily Voice of America program<br />
to Thailand from Washington, D. C.<br />
"Trapeze" hit the boxoffice bell in its first<br />
week at Loew's Broad and Manager Robert<br />
Sokol held the Hecht-Lancaster film for a<br />
second week . Disney's "The Great<br />
Locomotive Chase" did well in a holiday<br />
week at the Palace and Bob Hope's "That<br />
Certain Feeling" attracted good business to<br />
Loew's Ohio, indicating that the summer upsurge<br />
in business is here.<br />
Bob Hope dropped in unannounced to visit<br />
with his brothers Fred and George, both of<br />
Columbus, over the Fourth of July. Hope<br />
managed to get in a round or two of golf<br />
at Scioto Country Club. Newspaper reporters<br />
discovered Hope's presence here and Manager<br />
Walter Kessler of Loew's Ohio persuaded<br />
the papers to link Hope's visit with the opening<br />
of "That Certain Feeling." Ohio State<br />
Journal carried a page one story with a<br />
photo of the three Hope brothers.<br />
Film on Israel Shown<br />
TOLEDO— All members of the Toledo Jewish<br />
community received a card recommending<br />
a featurette, "Land of the Bible," at the<br />
Paramount Theatre.<br />
Tent 27 Plans Gala<br />
Outing on July 24<br />
DETROIT — Michigan filmites will trek<br />
"Westward Ho" on Tuesday (24j for the big<br />
annual golf outing of Variety Tent 27 of<br />
Grand Rapids to be held at the Green Oaks<br />
Country Club. Tickets for the big stag event<br />
are being sold at $10 apiece, and include golf,<br />
swimming, dinner, card games and allied entertainment.<br />
Either a door prize or a souvenir<br />
of the day is guaranteed to every participant<br />
by Clive R. Waxman of Independent Exhibitors<br />
Theatre Service, who is general<br />
chairman.<br />
Tickets are being handled by Joseph Busic<br />
of the Our Theatre, Grand Rapids. Others<br />
on the committee include: arrangements,<br />
Bill Freck, Beltline Drive-In, and Ed Lane,<br />
Sparta Theatre; prizes. Jack Locks, Midtown<br />
Theatre: Tom Wenger, Beltline Drive-In, and<br />
Abe Meyers. To make it a full day event,<br />
luncheon will also be available on the grounds,<br />
Waxman said.<br />
Siamese Royalty Attends<br />
'King' Detroit Opening<br />
DETROIT—The opening of "The King and<br />
I" at the Fox Theatre was given an unusual<br />
eclat by the personal appearance here of<br />
Princess Rudivoravan. a granddaughter of<br />
the Siamese King Mongkut, who is the leading<br />
figure in the picture. The event was<br />
marked by a luncheon arranged by Joseph J.<br />
Lee and Sol Gordon of 20th Century-Pox for<br />
press, radio, television and show people.<br />
All food served at the luncheon was Siamese,<br />
specially procured and prepared for the occasion.<br />
At the serving table, a large ice elephant,<br />
symbol of the coimtry, was the main<br />
decorative feature. The unusual culinary and<br />
decorative arrangements won the special attention<br />
of f(Xid editors of the various media,<br />
who were guests, while the women's editors<br />
were very strongly and favorably impressed<br />
by the princess in interviews, as evidenced in<br />
subsequent space devoted to her visit.<br />
A number of consuls of various nations were<br />
present at the gathering. W. K. VonWeiler,<br />
Netherlands consul, presented the official<br />
medallion celebrating Detroit's 250th anniversary<br />
to the princess, paying formal tribute<br />
to her work with the Voice of America, and<br />
she responded with a short talk on her work<br />
and her country.<br />
Cove to the C. A. Greenes<br />
TROY, OHIO—Ml-, and Mrs. Carl A.<br />
Greene of Dayton have purchased the Cove<br />
Theatre in Covington, including the building,<br />
from Thomas A. Ryan. The new owners<br />
are remodeling the theatre, which seats<br />
350. The building also contains an insurance<br />
office, a jewelry store, and a vacant room,<br />
in which Mrs. Greene plans to operate a<br />
beauty shop.<br />
Jon/iAOdC<br />
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MAXIMUM LIGHT<br />
Even// Distributed<br />
3<br />
_<br />
68 BOXOFFICE ;<br />
: July 14, 1956
—<br />
—<br />
—<br />
——<br />
—<br />
UA),<br />
—<br />
'Moby' Boston Debut<br />
Tops Town at 200<br />
BOSTON—"Moby Dick" led in a strong field,<br />
with "The King and I" and "Trapeze" close<br />
behind, despite intensive heat and a general<br />
rush to the beaches. Nearly every first run<br />
had new pictures on the preholiday weekend<br />
to remain over the Fourth of July.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Asfor Moby Dick (WB) 200<br />
Beacon The Littlest Outlaw (BV), 3rd wk. . Hill<br />
70<br />
Boston—Cineroma Holiday (Cineroma), 44th<br />
.<br />
wk. 75<br />
Exeter Street A Kid tor Two Farthings (Lopert),<br />
2nd wk 85<br />
Kenmore ^Goby (MGM) 100<br />
Memorial The Greot Locomotive Chose (BV);<br />
Zanzabuku (Rep) 100<br />
Metropoliton The 175<br />
King and I (20th-Fox)<br />
Paramount and Fenway That Certain Feeling<br />
(Para); The Leather Saint (Para) 1 00<br />
State and Orpheum Trapeze (UA) 1 60<br />
'Trapaze,' "Certain Feeling'<br />
Gross Well in Hartford<br />
HARTFORD—Paramount's "That Certain<br />
Feeling," at the Allyn, and UA's "Ti-apeze,"<br />
held over at Loew's Poll, were among brisk<br />
grossers.<br />
AHyn—That Certoin Feeling (Para); The Scarlet<br />
Hour (Para) 140<br />
Art<br />
Two Farthings (Lopert) A Kid for 110<br />
E. M. Loew<br />
Guitar (Rep); Rio Grande<br />
Johnny<br />
(Rep), reissues 75<br />
Paloce Brute Force iDCA); Naked City (DCA),<br />
reissues 80<br />
Parsons The Big Sky (RKO); One Minute to<br />
Zero (RKOl, reissues 80<br />
Trapeze 2nd wk 1 80<br />
Poll<br />
Meadows<br />
(<br />
Sontiogo (WB); Passport to Treason<br />
(Rep) 120<br />
Strand Toy Tiger (U-l); Star of India (UA) 110<br />
'Trapeze' Does Soaring 260<br />
In First New Haven Week<br />
NEW HAVEN—The SW Roger Sherman<br />
had one of the best weeks of the year with<br />
"Trapeze," which grossed 260 per cent. The<br />
film, which opened the theatre's 30th anniversary<br />
celebration, was held over.<br />
College The Three Musketeers (MGM); The<br />
Strotton Story (MGM), reissues 85<br />
Paramount Toy Tiger (U-l), Stranger at My Door<br />
(Rep) 60<br />
Poll Sofori (Col); Storm Over the Nile (Col).... 105<br />
Roger Sherman Trapeze (UA) 260<br />
Two Hartford Drive-Ins<br />
Book Area First Runs<br />
HARTFORD—Another first run package<br />
was sold away from the downtown area with<br />
booking of a twin bill from ARC (American<br />
Releasing Corp.) into the Pike and Blue<br />
Hills drive-ins.<br />
The attractions, "Female Jungle," and<br />
"Oklahoma Woman," were slated to open<br />
July 11 at the two suburban outdoor theatres.<br />
Normally, first run product opens In<br />
downtown theatres and eventually works<br />
out into the suburban area. On occasion,<br />
however, the Pike, managed by Paul W. Amadeo,<br />
and the Blue Hills, operated by the Le-<br />
Roy interests, have booked releases on a<br />
first run basis.<br />
July 14 Opening Planned<br />
For New Twin Drive-In<br />
MEDFORD, MASS.—The Medford Twin<br />
Drive-In, the first tw^o-section outdoor theatre<br />
in this area, will be opened July 14. It<br />
is owned by Lloyd Clark, Winthrop Kno.x<br />
jr. and George Hackett.<br />
Charles Cutelis of Reading, a former restaurateur,<br />
has been named manager of the<br />
new drive-in.<br />
Church Koves to Drive In<br />
For Summer Worship<br />
BATH, ME.—During the months of July<br />
and August the Beacon Street Methodist<br />
Church here will be closed, arrangements<br />
having been made to adjourn to the Bowdoin<br />
Drive-In Theatre for regular Sunday morning<br />
wcrship services. The move, spon.sored<br />
by the mens club of the church, was originated<br />
for the convenience of tourists and those<br />
wiihing to attend church services before<br />
leaving town for the day.<br />
An altar has been erected on the roof of<br />
the concession building and individual car<br />
Ijudspeukers will be in use for the services.<br />
A portable organ will furnish music for the<br />
services. Transportation will be furnished for<br />
the members of Beacon Street Church who<br />
generally walk to the services.<br />
Court Order Blocks<br />
BOSTON—Judge Horace T. Cahill of Suffolk<br />
superior court granted a temporary injunction<br />
under which the commissioner of<br />
labor and industries was enjoined from enforcing<br />
the 90 cents an hour minimum wage<br />
order, which would have gone into effect<br />
July 1. As it now stands, the minimum wage<br />
for all employes in the commonwealth is set<br />
at 75 cents an hour, a figure which the legislature<br />
decided on for effect April 1.<br />
On June 20, Ernest Johnson, commissioner<br />
of labor and industries, signed an order<br />
whereby the minimum wage for the Amusement<br />
and Recreation Department was set at<br />
90 cents per hour for assistant managers,<br />
doormen and cashiers; 80 cents for ushers.<br />
Allied Theatres of New England, an affiliated<br />
exhibitor organization, through its executive<br />
secretary, Frank C. Lydon, filed a<br />
petition asking for an injunction against the<br />
raise, calling it "ai"bitrary, unreasonable and<br />
capricious."<br />
On June 29, the temporary injunction<br />
was granted by Judge Cahill. It is returnable<br />
in September, when there will be a formal<br />
hearing on the merits of the case to determine<br />
whether or not there should be a permanent<br />
injunction. Attorney James C. Gahan,<br />
representing Allied Theatres, satisfied<br />
the court that the procedure of the minimum<br />
wage commission failed to conform to the<br />
statutes and was therefore illegal when the<br />
temporary injunction was granted.<br />
lack Keppner Promoted<br />
HARTFORD—Jack Keppner, student assistant<br />
manager at Loew's Poll Palace for the<br />
last several years, has been promoted to assistant<br />
manager, succeeding Zigmunt Rossiliano,<br />
who was shifted to a New York post by<br />
the cu'cuit.<br />
Elected by Yale Club<br />
HARTFORD—Sperie Perakos, general manager,<br />
Perakos Theatre Associates, has been<br />
elected a three-year director of the Yale<br />
Club of neighboring New Britain.<br />
Services at Vermont Drive-In<br />
BARRE, VT.—Piotestant ministers of Barre<br />
and Montpelier have launched their second<br />
season of Sunday morning church services<br />
at the Moonlight Drive-In on the Barre-<br />
Montpelier road.<br />
Ted V/illiams Leads<br />
Jimmy Fund Drive<br />
BOSTON—Ted Williams, Red Sox slugger,<br />
has accepted the general chairman.shlp of<br />
the 1956 Jimmy Fund drive. The news wa-s<br />
greeted with enthusiasm by the Variety Club<br />
of New England and the motion picture industry,<br />
joint sponsors, with the Boiton<br />
Baseball Club, of the annual drive.<br />
In accepting the role, Williams told the<br />
radio and press that he had developed an<br />
interest in the Jimmy Fund when he fiist<br />
visited the Children's Cancer Research Foundation.<br />
"I used to drop in on the kids in the Jimmy<br />
building frequently and I learned to admire<br />
the men behind this project, and appreciate<br />
the great work they W'ere doing with limited<br />
funds," he said. "When I was asked to take<br />
over the general chairmanship this year I<br />
felt honored."<br />
Williams, who has given generously of his<br />
time to cheer the children at the hospital<br />
who are stricken with cancer, sketched<br />
briefly his plans for the forthcoming drive.<br />
"I'm going to leave no stone unturned trying<br />
to make this the biggest campaign in the<br />
history of the organization," he said. "I<br />
hope to get some support for the Jimmy<br />
Fund nationally. So far most of the money<br />
has been raised in New England, yet kids<br />
from every state in the union are benefiting<br />
from the wonderful research that is being<br />
provided at the Boston hospital."<br />
Williams made several tape recordings for<br />
national radio and TV shows and he expects<br />
to appear personally on others. Whenever<br />
the Red Sox are playing in Boston, Williams<br />
expects to make appearances for the fund.<br />
Curt Gowdy, Red Sox announcer, explained<br />
to the press that last year Williams personally<br />
raised about $250,000 for the Jimmy Fund.<br />
Under Ted's dii-ection this year, Gowdy added,<br />
it is hoped that another baseball club<br />
will get behind the campaign.<br />
Watertown, Conn., Airer<br />
Holds Grand Reopening<br />
HARTFORD—Connecticut's newest outdoor<br />
project, the $200,000, 1,000-car capacity<br />
Watertown Drive-In, Watertown, Conn.,<br />
opened for business July 3 with two films<br />
and a live circus on the program.<br />
The project is situated on the site of the<br />
former Watertown Drive-In, which was destroyed<br />
during the 1955 floods. The owners,<br />
WiUiam and John Sirica and Fred Quatrano,<br />
rebuilt the entire theatre.<br />
A 120-foot screen, an 80-foot patio with<br />
tables and chairs, and a Snack-a-Teria, accommodating<br />
four lanes of food service, are<br />
among features.<br />
Opening night off-screen attraction was a<br />
50-minute performance by the Gangler Bros.<br />
Cu'cus, presenting clowns, wild animals, domestic<br />
animals, bears, monkeys, baboons,<br />
horses, trapeze dog stars and trick ponies.<br />
Reopening film progi'am consisted of "The<br />
Searchers" and "Invasion of the Body<br />
Snatchers."<br />
The Sirica brothers and Quatrano also<br />
operate the Lido and Hamilton theatres,<br />
subsequent run theatres in Waterbury.<br />
The theatre site is in suburban Waterbury,<br />
and can be reached via Route 8 to Thomaston<br />
avenue or Watertown avenue to Falls<br />
avenue.<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: July 14, 1956 NE 69
. . Beverly<br />
BOSTON<br />
pen Williams of Ben Williams QUerprlses is<br />
moving liis headquarters from Ajlington<br />
street to the Metropolitan building at 260<br />
Ti-emont St.. where he will be assoeiated in<br />
the distribution of the films of Edward Ruff<br />
Film Associates. Two large offices have been<br />
taken on the seventh floor. Williams will<br />
contniue to buy and book for his several independent<br />
theatres.<br />
Karl Fasick, Loew's Theatres publicist, his<br />
wife and twin sons took a vacation motor<br />
trip to Washington. Mar.vland and Michigan,<br />
visiting relatives . . . Another publicist. Ralph<br />
Banghart. who represented RKO in this<br />
territory several years, brought his family to<br />
New England for their vacation. Now in the<br />
RKO publicity department in Chicago. Ralph<br />
was greeted warmly by his many friends in<br />
the film district ... A baby girl was born<br />
to the wife of Edwin Fideli. owner of the Ti-i-<br />
The baby's name<br />
Town Drive-In, Lunenberg.<br />
is Marjorie. She is the Fidelis' fourth child<br />
and second daughter.<br />
Rifkin Theatres took over its sixth drivein<br />
July 1. The new Rifkin ozoner is the Lisbon<br />
Drive-In, Lewiston. Me., built in 1953 by<br />
John Bolduc of Lewiston and accommodating<br />
600 cars. Joseph Donohue remains as manager.<br />
Bolduc leased the theatre to the Rifkins<br />
under a long term contract. It is the only<br />
drive-in in the state under Rifkin management<br />
. Metrano, a graduate of<br />
Bo-ston University's School of Business Administration,<br />
is the new secretary to Bill<br />
Powell at Smith Management Co.<br />
With all the Interstate Theatres Corp. summer<br />
situations and drive-ins on Cape Cod<br />
open, following is a listing of the managers:<br />
Jack Garcin, Hyannis Drive-In, Hyan-<br />
V^ SPEED<br />
v^QUAirrY<br />
HANDY<br />
GOOD REASONS<br />
FOR<br />
ORDERING YOUR<br />
SPECIAL<br />
TRAILERS<br />
nls, Mass.; Bill Slnnott, Dennis Drlve-In,<br />
Dennis, Mass.; Dick Manga, Quinebaug Drive-<br />
In, Quinebaug, Conn.; Bud Wass, Avon Drive-<br />
In, Avon, Ma.ss.; Bill Bailey, White River<br />
Drive-In, White River Junction. 'Vt.; How'ard<br />
Cadman, Hyannis Theatre, Hyannis; Mike<br />
Fleisher, Center. Hyannis; Ed Doyle, Capo<br />
Cinema, Dennis; Brad Parker, Community,<br />
Osterville Mass.; George Colbert, Modern,<br />
Harwichport, Mass.; Teddy Bearse, Chatham,<br />
Chatham, Mass.<br />
More Linage to Cartoons<br />
As Family Trade Lure<br />
HARTFORD—Despite obvious viewing-time<br />
inroad.s by television cartoon programs,<br />
numerous regional theatres persist—and<br />
some ai-e even stepping up linage—in advertising<br />
the special kiddy lure in their regular<br />
new.spaper campaigns.<br />
Martin H. Kelleher, pioneer operator of the<br />
downtown Princess Theatre, a subsequent<br />
run house, runs the line, "Cartoons for the<br />
Children!" in his weekend advertising. The<br />
action is believed to be a great encouragement<br />
towards greater family attendance, particularly<br />
when major screen attractions are<br />
of family appeal.<br />
Paul Amadeo. general manager of the Pike<br />
Drive-In. uses the line, "Extra! Cartoons for<br />
the Youngsters! (or Junior! i" in his daily<br />
advertising. Amadeo asserts that daily inclusion<br />
of reference to cartoo:as in advertising<br />
"reminds and reassures the family newspaper<br />
reader about the theatre's basic entertainment<br />
worth for all members of the<br />
family group."<br />
"We can't underestimate the drawing power<br />
of a simple line in our advertising about<br />
cartoons," he adds. "After all, increasingly,<br />
the patrons are younger and younger, and<br />
what else do we have to better the appeal of<br />
the young-in-heart cartoon?"<br />
The traditional Saturday morning or matinee<br />
children's program, with accent on cartoons<br />
and novelty fOms, continues in a majority<br />
of circuit and independent theatres,<br />
particularly in the smaller cities and towns<br />
of Connecticut. On occasion, too, the large<br />
city circuit houses, such as the local 2,000-seat<br />
Allyn, will run special holiday morning<br />
shows for children, charging reduced rates.<br />
"We've got to maintain our contacts with<br />
the coming generation," says Amadeo, "and<br />
the best way is to continually offer the best<br />
in youngster appeal programming."
. . Frank<br />
. . The<br />
. . Jack<br />
. . Another<br />
. . Numerous<br />
Jackson, Tenn., Will Vote<br />
On Sunday Show Issue<br />
JACKSON, TENN.—A fifth election In 12<br />
years will be held here August 2 to determine<br />
whether Sunday motion picture shows will be<br />
legalized. Voters have turned thumb.s down<br />
on the Sabbath shows in each of four previous<br />
elections.<br />
Jackson ministers are fighting the proposal,<br />
under which theatres, in conformity with<br />
state law. would operate Sunday afternoon<br />
and close at night during church hours. With<br />
one theatre closed, managers of the two<br />
remaining downtown houses said that one<br />
or both would be forced to cease operations<br />
if the income for Sunday operations was not<br />
made available.<br />
HARTFORD<br />
C"xploiteers in the city included Abe Bernstein,<br />
UA, working on "Johnny Concho,"<br />
at the Stanley Warner Strand, and Dave<br />
Lustig, Columbia, handling "E-^rth vs. the<br />
Flying Saucers" and "The Werewolf" at E. M.<br />
Loew's . McQueeney of the Pine<br />
Drive-In, Waterbury, came up with a country<br />
store night promotion, with free prizes to<br />
patrons for conectly identifying records<br />
played on the public address system.<br />
The Avon, Stamford, brought back two<br />
Paramount attractions, "Two Years Before<br />
the Mast" and "The Virginian." Catchline<br />
used in advertising: "Two Paramount Champion<br />
Hits Together" . revival bill<br />
—this one at the Danbury Drive-In, Danbury—featured<br />
Columbia's "Theodora Goes<br />
Wild," which stars Irene Dunne and Melvin<br />
Douglas . Starlite Drive-In, Stamford,<br />
now is offering five cartoons on its<br />
Friday programs and late performances on<br />
Saturday evenings<br />
. regional<br />
drive-ins played dusk-to-dawn shows July 3,<br />
with free coffee and doughnuts to those hardy<br />
patrons able to sit thiough upwards of five<br />
films thi'ough the wee hours of the morning.<br />
Lockwood & Gordon reopened the Torrington<br />
Drive-In, Torrington. This is the last<br />
outdoor project in Connecticut to resume operations<br />
for 1956 . . . The Oak, Oakville, ran a<br />
Three Stooges birthday party as a Saturday<br />
matinee, with refreshments, audience participation<br />
games, etc., among the afternoon<br />
The Tower, Waterbury, brought<br />
activity . . .<br />
in Popeye, the performer, as a Saturday<br />
matinee attraction . . . "All Quiet on the<br />
Western Fi-ont" played a revival run at Lockwood<br />
& Gordon's East Windsor Drive-In.<br />
iPWHW INDUSTRY<br />
PROFILE<br />
Area Merchant Goodwill an Asset<br />
To Ozoner, Milton LeRoy Believes<br />
By ALLEN M. WIDEM<br />
HARTFORD—To Milton LeRoy, manager<br />
of the Blue Hills Drive-In theatre,<br />
cooperation with<br />
neighboring merchants<br />
and business<br />
is of paramount<br />
importance in daily<br />
operations.<br />
"I've always<br />
maintained that<br />
H'tting along with<br />
I'very businessman<br />
within hailing distance<br />
of our drivein<br />
is just as important<br />
as advertising<br />
Milton LeRoy<br />
regularly in the<br />
daily newspaper," he asserted. "The theatreman<br />
who thinks he can do anything<br />
alone in this world is sadly misinformed<br />
and headed for poor grosses as well as a<br />
minus in public relations."<br />
LeRoy has been operating the drive-in,<br />
an 800-car capacity theatre, for the last<br />
five years in association with his father<br />
Peter and other partners. All concerned<br />
with the theatre are cognizant of the need<br />
for "getting along with the next guy."<br />
This philosophy has paid off handsomely.<br />
LeRoy was the first drive-in manager<br />
in metropolitan Hartford to convince an<br />
appliance dealer of the public relations<br />
worth behind providing a television set<br />
gratis to the drive-in concession building<br />
every Wednesday night so that male adults<br />
could watch wrestling and boxing matches<br />
during intermissions.<br />
"This tieup with a dealer," he adds, "is<br />
now in its second year, and it hasn't cost<br />
us a penny. In return for the favor, we<br />
erect a small card next to the TV set,<br />
announcing that we're grateful to the cooperating<br />
dealer. You'd be surprised how<br />
many visitors to that dealer's store have<br />
told him that they first thought of doing<br />
business with him after seeing that card<br />
in our concession building!"<br />
Last year, the LeRoys purchased an antique<br />
fire engine, overhauled the vehicle,<br />
and now an aide drives youngster patrons<br />
around the grounds before show time.<br />
The LeRoys contmue to operate a large<br />
restaurant, called the Spot, in the western<br />
section of the city. They divide their time<br />
between the restaurant and drive-in theatre.<br />
The father-and-son team, optimistic<br />
over drive-in theatre future business, can<br />
be found at either location seven days a<br />
week.<br />
Their idea of cooperating with mer- M<br />
chants continues to pay dividends. Latest<br />
action concerns daily use of a $400 tape<br />
p<br />
4<br />
recorder (also borrowed from a cooper- p<br />
ating merchant, in return for a small con-<br />
;J|<br />
cession building display card). Instead of li<br />
using wornout recordings on the public p,<br />
address system during intermissions, the p,<br />
LeRoys now come up with daily announce- d<br />
ments, taped during the afternoon, and ^<br />
used on the public address system nightly, p<br />
The latter are concerned with upcoming M<br />
bookings, schedules, etc. "We've had noth- g<br />
ing but compliments from this innova- S<br />
tion," added Milton. "We're the first<br />
g<br />
drive-in theatre in the territory with this,<br />
too."<br />
The LeRoys have installed and are now<br />
operating a miniature railroad on the<br />
grounds, for use primarily by youngster<br />
patrons, during preperformance hours.<br />
About a year or two ago, the LeRoys<br />
used thousands of heralds to announce upcoming<br />
shows. Distribution was by unique<br />
means. The heralds were stuffed into<br />
shopping bags at the huge supermarkets<br />
within driving distance of the theatre.<br />
Cooperation was obtained by providing<br />
screen trailer time for the markets.<br />
The LeRoys also distributed heralds<br />
through drugstores, beauty salons and<br />
gasoline stations.<br />
The father-and-son team is on excellent<br />
terms with all city officials and other<br />
authorities.<br />
When a pony-ride concession took over<br />
space on grounds adjoining (but not<br />
owned by the LeRoys) the drive-in, the<br />
LeRoys didn't complain.<br />
"Why should we kick?" asked Milton<br />
"After all, that guy's got to make a living,<br />
too, and if he's going to bring people with<br />
young children to an area close to the<br />
drive-in, w'hy, it's inevitable that a percentage<br />
of these families will eventually notice<br />
the drive-in attractions! Business follows<br />
business, we feel"<br />
Numerous showmen planned to attend the<br />
July 9 testimonial at Waverly Inn Chesire,<br />
honoring Irving C. Jacocks jr. of the Branford<br />
Theatre. Branford, and the MPTO of<br />
Connecticut<br />
. Sanson, Stanley Warner<br />
Strand, planned an upstate New York auto<br />
trip during his vacation.<br />
Mrs. Lille M. Ray Manages<br />
Pix Theatre at Jackson<br />
JACKSON, MISS.—The Pix Theatre has a<br />
new manager, Mrs. Lille M. Ray. She has<br />
ten years of managerial experience at Pensacola,<br />
Fla., New Orleans, Winona, Miss., and<br />
at the Royal Theatre here. She succeeds<br />
E. R. Edwards, who left to manage a theatre<br />
in Savannah, Ga.<br />
Al Shumans Visit<br />
HARTFORD—Al Schuman, former general<br />
manager of the Hartford Theatres circuit, and<br />
his wife have been visiting here from their<br />
Daytona Beach, Fla., home. Tlie Schumans recently<br />
returned to the U. S. from an extended<br />
European vacation.<br />
Drive-In Church Series Starts<br />
WATERVILLE, ME. — Through arrangements<br />
made with WiUiam Staples, manager<br />
of the Winslow Drive-In. and Norman Rolfe,<br />
district manager for the Lockwood-Gordon<br />
circuit. Sunday morning services are being<br />
conducted each week at the outdoor theatre<br />
by the Winslow and Benton Falls Congregational<br />
churches.<br />
Family Night Policies<br />
Started by Several<br />
HARTFORD—A "Family Night" policy announced<br />
by Murray Lipson of the independent<br />
Majestic Theatre. West Springfield,<br />
Mass., is following a recently instituted trend<br />
towards encouraging children's attendance at<br />
theatres in two Connecticut cities.<br />
The Lipson move is obviously a counter attack<br />
agairist the prevailing drive-in policy of<br />
admitting families for similar process.<br />
The Hartford Theatre circuit's Lyric, Hartford,<br />
and the Stanley Warner Palace and the<br />
Lord Midtown and Lord Theatre, Norwich.<br />
Conn., have been admitting children under 12,<br />
accompanied by adults, after 6 p.m., as guests<br />
of the management.<br />
BOXOFFICE July 14, 1956<br />
71
. .<br />
, . . The<br />
:<br />
: July<br />
.<br />
NEW HAVEN<br />
TJithiird Altschuler, Republic general sales<br />
manager, was in town to confer with local<br />
Manager George Somma . . . Mayor Richard<br />
C. Lee has issued a proclamation commending<br />
the SW Roger Sherman Theatre on its<br />
30th anniversary. The statement says, in<br />
part, that the house 'hiis endeavored always<br />
to bring wholesome and sound entertainment<br />
to the citizens of the community, having in<br />
mind the impression movies make on youngsters."<br />
The Bowl Drive-In, West Haven, and the<br />
Southington Drive-In ran dusk to dawn<br />
Fourth of July shows with moderate success.<br />
Patronage was very heavy during the early<br />
paJt of the night, but tapered after midnight.<br />
The Bowl offered free makeup kits to the<br />
first 200 women visiting the concession between<br />
4 and 6 a.m. and free coffee and<br />
doughnuts for all at dawn. Both theatres<br />
showed a total of five full-length fcatiu-es<br />
during the night.<br />
Major accidents occurred on tw'o successive<br />
nights in front of the Post Drive-In, East<br />
Haven, which fronts on a heavily traveled<br />
highway which is an alternate route for<br />
Route 1. Thiee persons were injured in the<br />
first crash and 13 in the second pileup. None<br />
was critically hurt, however. Mrs. Anastasia<br />
Wilson, an employe of the Post, was injured<br />
in the first accident. Patrons driving into the<br />
ozoner were involved in the second crash.<br />
Al Levy, 20th-Fox district manager, was in<br />
to see branch head Shep Bloom . . . Duke<br />
Ellington and his orchestra were featured at<br />
the second pops concert in the Yale Bowl .<br />
Lou Williams, assistant booker at WB, resigned<br />
to enter another field . . Pete Dana,<br />
.<br />
U-I general manager, was another visitor,<br />
conferring with exchange manager Alec<br />
Schimel.<br />
The SW Roger Sherman, marking its 30th<br />
anniversary with a "Summer Festival of<br />
Hits," had the SRO sign up three nights during<br />
the first weekend for "Ti-apeze" . . . The<br />
Summit Drive-In, Branford, paired "The<br />
Grapes of Wrath" and "Tobacco Road" . . .<br />
Loew's Poll Manager Morris Rosenthal and<br />
his wife w-ent to Cape Cod on his annual<br />
vacacijn.<br />
Conduct All-Boy Search<br />
FREMONT, NEB.—Local theatre managers<br />
have been conducting a search for Fremont's<br />
"all-boy" in a promotional stunt tied in with<br />
the showing of "Toy Tiger." Theatregoers<br />
w-ere to vote for their choice from pictures of<br />
local boys displayed in the lobby of the Empress<br />
Theatre. Pictures of candidates were<br />
taken free at the Fremont Theatre on three<br />
mornings before the start of the contest. The<br />
local Toy Tiger was to be awarded a new<br />
bicycle.<br />
Seat Prices Stable<br />
In Montreal Area<br />
MONTREAL — Motion pictiue admission<br />
prices in Montreal and the district have remajned<br />
fairly stable in the past year. Although<br />
there have been repeated rumors of<br />
price increases in recent months, there has<br />
been no general upward movement, as far<br />
as a survey could reveal. There have been<br />
price adjustments in certain theatres but they<br />
followed a change of policy. For instance,<br />
some neighborhood theatres have within the<br />
past few months adopted first run policies<br />
and this has resulted in boxoffice increases.<br />
However, generally price levels have remained<br />
unchanged.<br />
This is in contrast with reports reaching<br />
here that seat prices in about 1,200 motion<br />
picture theatres owned by five major British<br />
circuits are going up.<br />
The increases, which range from six<br />
pence on seats costing one shilling to four<br />
pence on seats costing three shillings two<br />
pence, ai-e due to rising costs of exhibition<br />
and to the United Kingdom's Chancellor of<br />
the Exchequer's decision against a reduction<br />
in entertainment tax on the cinemas.<br />
Amiouncing the price increases on behalf<br />
of the circuits, the Cinematograph Exhibitors'<br />
Ass'n in London said the decision had<br />
been taken with reluctance. No increases are<br />
being made in admission prices for old age<br />
pensioners and children, said the association.<br />
The association also pointed out that because<br />
of the entertairunent tax, a relatively<br />
small proportion of the increase in price will<br />
be retained by the exhibitor. The entertainment<br />
tax is still taking 31.5 per cent of<br />
cinema gross receipts. In 1955, this take<br />
amounted to no less than £33,425,000.<br />
Although there are around 4,500 cinemas<br />
Bill Zedicker to Succeed<br />
Retiring Theatreman<br />
OSCEOLA, NEB.—OUie Schneider, owner<br />
and operator of the Mu.se Theatre here the<br />
past nine years, announced he has leased his<br />
theatre and is retiring immediately.<br />
Schneider has leased the Muse to Bill<br />
Zedicker, who has been associated with him<br />
for ten years and who has been in the<br />
theatre business since 1938. with the exception<br />
of a few years while in Army service.<br />
NEWHAMPSHIRE<br />
Wincent Ferdinando, orchestra leader at the<br />
Palace Theatre in Manchester for more<br />
than a decade and a half, directed the band<br />
that played at the 12th annual Soap Box<br />
William H. Stevens,<br />
Derby in that city . . .<br />
81, who had been employed at several theatres<br />
in Boston before his retirement, died at<br />
New London Ho.spital after a brief illness.<br />
He was a native of Boston and had resided<br />
in Springfield for the last 45 years.<br />
The new $77,OO0,000-plus Portsmouth-Newington<br />
Air Force Base, which has been officially<br />
opened, includes a big theatre handy<br />
to the Service Club. It has a seating capacity<br />
of 1,000 and the very latest equipment<br />
for stage and film productions, including<br />
stereophonic sound and Cinemascope screen<br />
Plaza Theatre in Derry has installed<br />
Kroehler pushback chairs.<br />
An even dozen summer stock theatres are<br />
now in operation throughout New Hampshire,<br />
in addition to Potash Bowl in Swanzey<br />
Center, which will stage its annual revival of<br />
"The Old Homestead" July 20-22 . . . Outdoor<br />
films, featuring "Gunsmoke" in color,<br />
were a main attraction at the 25th Foiu-th<br />
of July celebration in New Boston<br />
Manchester, Sky-Ray, Pine<br />
.<br />
Island and<br />
Nashua drive-ins celebrated the "Night Before<br />
the Fourth" with "horror shows" in addition<br />
to the regular films.<br />
Letters to All Teachers<br />
From FPC Winnipeg Head<br />
WINNIPEG—Harold Bishop, Manitoba district<br />
manager for Famous Players, mailed the<br />
following letter to every school teacher in<br />
greater Winnipeg just before the school term<br />
terminated<br />
in Great Britain, with a total seating capacity<br />
of about 4,100,000, the 1,200 theatres cov-<br />
"As the close of the current school term approaches,<br />
it occurs to us in Famous Players<br />
ered by the five circuits concerned are among<br />
Canadian Corp., that we owe our teachers a<br />
the largest, many of them seating more than<br />
generous vote of thanks for the grand job they<br />
1.000 persons each and some seating over<br />
are doing in helping build a community of<br />
2,000. Thus a substantial proportion of<br />
fine young people and citizens of tomorrow . .<br />
United Kingdom's total available seating<br />
We are also very grateful to you for the<br />
capacity is likely to be affected by the increases.<br />
Many other theatres, including the<br />
sponsoring of many pictiu:es which we have<br />
had the privilege of showing during the past<br />
smaller circuits and independents, may decide<br />
to follow the lead now given by the<br />
season, such as "Richard III," "Julius Caesar"<br />
and the Walt Disney True-Life series. As a<br />
big circuits.<br />
small token of our appreciation, we would like<br />
you to be our guest at any one of the Famous<br />
Players theatres in Winnipeg. Kindly present<br />
this letter any weekday dui-ing the next 30<br />
days to the boxoffice of any one of the<br />
theatres listed below when you will be issued<br />
a guest ticket.<br />
"Best wishes for an enjoyable summer vacation."<br />
The letter was signed by Bishop and listed<br />
the FPC houses in Winnipeg.<br />
Louise Beavers has been added to the<br />
featured cast of 20th-Fox's "Teen Age Rebel."<br />
JorVKXjM^<br />
BOONTON, N. J.<br />
Large Core<br />
Greater Crater Area<br />
MAXIMUM LIGHT<br />
Evenly Distributed<br />
in Mass.—MASS. THEATRE EQUIP. Co., Boston— Liberty 2-9814<br />
in Connecticut—NAT'L THEATRE SUPPLY, New Haven—Stote 7-5829<br />
72<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
14, 1956
—<br />
—<br />
—<br />
—<br />
Two Holdovers Slay<br />
Strong in Toronto<br />
TORONTO—The week's race was between<br />
two holdover features, "Trapeze" at Loew'.s<br />
and the Uptown and "The Man Who Knew<br />
Too Much" at Shea's, both playing a second<br />
week. Leading the new pictures were "The<br />
Great Locomotive Chase" at the Imperial<br />
and "An Alligator Named Daisy" at the<br />
Hyland.<br />
Eglinton, University—John and Julie (IFD) 100<br />
Hyland—An Alligator Named Daisy (JARO) 110<br />
Imperial The Great Locomotive Chase (BV)....)10<br />
Loew's, Uptown Trapeze (UA), 2nd wk<br />
Nortown—The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit<br />
115<br />
00<br />
(20tti-Fox), 2nd wk 1<br />
Odeon Storm Over the Nile (Col) 105<br />
Shea s—The Mon Who Knew Too Much (Para),<br />
2nd wk 115<br />
Tivoli Oklahoma! 100<br />
(Magna), 1 1 th wk<br />
Towne Song of the South (BV), rerssue 105<br />
Vancouver Theatres Enjoy<br />
Strong Holiday Boom<br />
VANCOUVER—With the holiday weekend<br />
of July 1 giving theatres a boost in grosses,<br />
most houses registered better than average<br />
business for the fh-st time in months. The end<br />
of school terms also helped matinee business.<br />
"Trapeze" did smash business at the Vogue.<br />
The second week of "The Man in the Gray<br />
Flannel Suit" and a revival of "The Wizard of<br />
Oz" also did solid business. "Johnny Concho"<br />
at four local houses did only average business.<br />
Film Festival Attendance<br />
Down in First Two Weeks<br />
STRATFORD, ONT.—Although the<br />
Capitol The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (20th-<br />
Fox), 2nd wk Good<br />
Cinema Bottle Stations (Col); Jubol (Col),<br />
moveover<br />
Average<br />
Orpheum Bhowoni Junction (MGM) Fair<br />
Johnny<br />
Paradise, Plaza, Olympia and Circle<br />
Concho (UA) Average<br />
Strand—The Wiiord of Oi (MGM), reissue .... Good<br />
Studio John and Julie (IFD) Good<br />
Vogue Trapeze (UA) Excellent<br />
entertainment<br />
scope of the Shakespearean Festival<br />
here has been broadened greatly this summer,<br />
attendance for the first two weeks of the<br />
season at 26.005 was the lowest total for the<br />
last three years. Last year's patronage for<br />
the two weeks was 500 higher.<br />
Among the new features yet to come is the<br />
International Film Series at the Avon in<br />
Stratford which opens July 23 with a program<br />
consisting of "Citizen Kane," "The Stratford<br />
Adventure" and the cartoon "Gerald McBoing<br />
Boing." This will be followed by the Spanish<br />
feature, "Marcelino Pan y Vino," "Song of<br />
the Prairie" from Czechoslovakia and a National<br />
Film Board release.<br />
The series runs to August 16 with films<br />
from the U. S., Great Britain, Italy, Russia,<br />
Germany and other countries.<br />
The added attractions this yeai", apart from<br />
Shakespeare plays, include French stage<br />
farces, jazz concerts on ten days, gi-and<br />
opera, recitals, symphony orchestras and<br />
choirs.<br />
FPC-Flour Mill Tieup<br />
TORONTO — Famous Players Canadian<br />
Corp. is cooperating with Ogilvie Flour Mills<br />
in the acceptance at any unit of guest tickets<br />
for juveniles which are printed on boxes of<br />
Ogilvie chocolate or white cake mixes now<br />
being widely sold at shopping centers and<br />
groceries around Ontario. The tickets are<br />
valid when the child is accompanied by a<br />
paying adult.<br />
Canadian TV Set Sales<br />
Down 6,000 in April<br />
OTTAWA—Tlio government has revealed a<br />
further decline in the sale of TV .sets in<br />
Canada for the month of April at 24,300, compared<br />
with 30,665 in the same month last year.<br />
For the first four months of 1956 the sales of<br />
TV sets dropped to 166,253 from 195,831 in<br />
the same period of 1955. Monthly sales<br />
reached a peak in September 1955 at 118,400<br />
sets.<br />
An increase was noted in radio sales, the<br />
total in April being 66,775 sets compared<br />
with 44,678 last year. For the four months<br />
of 1956 the total was 195,931, against 160.057<br />
a year ago.<br />
Canada Showmen Bid<br />
For Kiddy Patronage<br />
OTTAWA—With school children on holiday,<br />
many area exhibitors are making a<br />
special bid for juvenile trade at weekday<br />
matinees.<br />
Fred Leavens, manager of the Elmdale<br />
here, has added a screen feature to the<br />
afternoon program until the end of August<br />
and has arranged for free gifts to the kids<br />
at every matinee. The fii-st gift consisted of<br />
flags of many countries.<br />
At the Glebe Cinema here daily matinees<br />
with a juvenile admission price of 10 cents<br />
have been inaugurated by Hye Bessin under<br />
the name of Children's Film Festival.<br />
Rivalry has developed for juvenile patronage<br />
at Cornwall, Ont., between two theatres.<br />
At the Palace Clarence Markell has organized<br />
a Famous Players Movie Club for Saturday<br />
morning shows, with a program of action<br />
features, cartoons, free gifts and various contests.<br />
At the Roxy, which is operated by the<br />
Odeon Regional Theatre circuit, a feature<br />
has been added to the regular matinee double<br />
bill as well as stage stunts on Saturdays.<br />
At St. Catharines a summer policy has been<br />
adopted by the Centre with a qualified<br />
matron in attendance at daily matinees to<br />
look after the children. The announcement<br />
was made that "all programs will be suitable<br />
for children of all ages."<br />
Promotions at Winnipeg<br />
WINNIPEG—Aiming at<br />
the student trade,<br />
Ernie Diamond is holding a special Friday<br />
gift night for students, 13 to 16. The main<br />
prize is a $10 purchase certificate from Dayton's.<br />
The owner of Dayton's also owns the<br />
Rialto building . . . Latest gimmicks at the<br />
Northmain Drive-In include a clown to entertain<br />
the children, a name-your-own auction,<br />
a giant fireworks display Sunday midnight<br />
and the opportunity to be eligible for a free,<br />
all<br />
expense paid trip to Miami Beach.<br />
Saturday Matinees Dropped<br />
WINCHESTER, ONT.—Manager Arthur<br />
Knapp of the Winchester Theatre reluctantly<br />
announced he has been forced to drop the<br />
regular children's Saturday afternoon matinee<br />
because of a gradual decline in patronage to<br />
the point of no returns. He added the matinee<br />
may resume at a later date if sufficient<br />
interest is shown.<br />
James Olson, New York stage actor, will<br />
play a key role in Columbia's "End As a<br />
Man."<br />
Nova Scotia Show Tax<br />
Will Be Cut July 15<br />
ST. JOHN—A reduced tax scale on theatre<br />
admissions in Nova Scotia will go into effect<br />
July 15. The reduction in admissions taxes<br />
was .secured by the Maritime Motion Picture<br />
Exhibitors Ass'n after several conferences with<br />
Premier Hicks of Nova Scotia.<br />
The new scale will be: no tax on ad missions<br />
up to 30 cents; two cents tax on admi.sslons<br />
from 31 to 38 cents: five cents tax on admissions<br />
from 38 to 70 cents. With this reduction.<br />
Nova Scotia theatres will enjoy the lowest<br />
theatre tax In Canada.<br />
Representing the association were President<br />
Archie Mason, owner of the Capitol Theatre,<br />
Springhill: Fred Gregor, Academy and Roseland<br />
theatres. New Glasgow, vice-president<br />
for Nova Scotia; F. Gordon Spencer, vicepresident<br />
for New Brunswick; Jim McDonough.<br />
Famous Players supervisor for the<br />
Maritimes, and Peter Herschorn, Frankhn &<br />
Herschorn Theatre Co.<br />
Film Appreciation Study<br />
Seen As Industry Need<br />
MONTREAL—The CBC Times, in an article<br />
over the signature of Gerald Pratley, motion<br />
picture critic and radio commentator, entitled<br />
"Whither the Cinema?" stated that much<br />
has been written about the effect of TV on<br />
motion pictui-es, of diminishing audiences and<br />
falling receipts and that in trying to bring<br />
people back to the cinemas, the film industry<br />
has spent millions on new techniques and<br />
sound systems. All this prompted Pratley to<br />
write, "I sometimes wonder if the studio<br />
heads and publicity departments ever give<br />
a thought to spending just a fraction of the<br />
sum they often waste on technical devices<br />
and far-fetched advertising on winning back<br />
their public by promoting film appreciation?"<br />
F>ratley explained that by this he meant sustained<br />
study of all aspects of film history,<br />
production and film aesthetics, not only in<br />
the press, but also on radio. He added that<br />
so far such matters have been the concern<br />
of a few responsible film journals, struggling<br />
along on limited budgets and with little encouragement<br />
from the studios. The writer<br />
said that the restricted outlook taken by the<br />
film trade toward cooperating in film appreciation<br />
in its many forms is brought about by<br />
its determination to show no interest in anything<br />
but the films currently receiving their<br />
initial showings. They cannot believe that<br />
anyone is interested in a picture once it has<br />
left a first run theatre. They cannot believe<br />
that talking about older films as well<br />
as new ones is good for films "in general."<br />
Pratley added that the film industry might<br />
well pause and reflect that if movies are to<br />
hold their own against competing forms of<br />
entertainment, then the pubUc needs to be<br />
kept informed of the films, not In terms of<br />
the latest releases but with a knowledge of<br />
the film in all its many forms.<br />
Close for Vacation<br />
OTTAWA—Graeme Fraser, vice-president<br />
of Crawley Films, said that the company's<br />
laboratory here will close July 23-August 7 for<br />
a joint vacation for the staff and for the Installation<br />
of further equipment In the new<br />
building. Crawley now is using, PYaser said,<br />
the new Eastman Color reversal print stock<br />
for all color prints.<br />
BOXOFFICE July 14, 1956<br />
73
. . . Wanted<br />
. . The<br />
. . "Wee<br />
"Go<br />
. . Jerry<br />
. .<br />
I —<br />
n w 1<br />
1<br />
WINNIPEG<br />
Drtause of heavy rains and poor road conditions.<br />
Fox Manager Phil Geller had to<br />
be towed ten miles in southern Saskatchewan<br />
when his city-bred car couldn't take the<br />
rugged country roads. To add to these hazards<br />
for film salcs;nen and managers, hotel space<br />
is at a premium these days, with travelers<br />
having to sleep in spare rooms in the basement<br />
of hotels or being forced to take rooms<br />
in private homes. There are probably more<br />
miles of detours, cratered and washboard<br />
road.s than of decent highways in the prairie<br />
provinces. Heavy snows in the winter and<br />
heavy rains in the spring have ruined all<br />
graveled and even .some bituminous roads<br />
out west, doing neither any good to human<br />
spinal columns or auto chassis.<br />
Nate Bresvcr's Oak, Brandon, is closed for<br />
the summer . Airport. Pembina, Eldorado<br />
and Starlite drive-ins had this startling<br />
announcement to make: "Jalopy Nite Tonite<br />
! ! ! 3,000 Jalopies ... To Attend<br />
Winnipeg's First Jalopy Jamboree . . . Cash<br />
Prize at Each Drive-In for the Kraziest.<br />
Kweerest Klunker . . . Judging of Jalopies<br />
at 9:45. Free Jalopy Tonight to a Lucky Ticket<br />
Holder" . . . Latest epidemic to sweep the<br />
west is a giant bingo sponsored by a service<br />
organization, with the event held at a drivein<br />
theatre or group of airei-s. A recent giant<br />
four-car bingo in four Winnipeg drive-ins<br />
was a disappointment attendance-wise. Many<br />
feel the SIO per car entry fee was too steep<br />
. . . While the railway shops are closed in<br />
Weston, Bill Minuk will close the Corona<br />
for holidays at the .same time ... I like this<br />
double bill: "Jesse James Women, "<br />
Man<br />
Go."<br />
. . . Ttie<br />
ITiUted Artists' "Ti-apeze" went into its<br />
.second week at the Odeon . Geordie"<br />
is proving to be just as popular in Winnipeg<br />
as it was in Toronto and Hamilton. Tlie Scottish<br />
comedy was in a fourth downtown week,<br />
presently ensconced at the Gaiety<br />
Northmain Drive-In runs its kiddie rides on<br />
Sundays from 12 noon right to midnight . . .<br />
The "Pic of the Pix Show" policy that Western<br />
Theatres started a while back with first<br />
four houses playing the same double bill, then<br />
three hou.ses, has found that the film exchange<br />
finds it too arduous to supply that<br />
many prints. Policy of the POTP show now<br />
seems to consist of only two non-competitive<br />
houses playing day and date.<br />
Bill Johnston of Yorkton, who is equally<br />
Flannel Suit" for a second week at the Capitol<br />
.. . Circus Drive-In is still sticking to its<br />
policy of "admission absolutely free" and<br />
the grapevine reports attendance is slowly<br />
building from day to day. Should enough<br />
patronize this ozoner on these terms, the refreshment<br />
profits will have to carry the entire<br />
business, since this is apparently the<br />
premise the gimmick is based upon. Could this<br />
be the beginning of a new trend in the entertainment<br />
world? "Come jam my drive-in<br />
for free, I'll make it up in hot dog sales"<br />
. . . Bill Minuk had his patrons recently<br />
baffled with his double bill of "Battle Cry"<br />
and "Battle Fury" at the Corona. Asked for<br />
an explanation Minuk said that this is the<br />
double bill he plays every day in the office of<br />
his bank manager.<br />
Bill Johnston, of Yorkton. who is equally<br />
handy with a new promotion or gimmick or<br />
art layout, dreamed up this window card,<br />
which he silk screened and had distributed<br />
to all Rothstein theatres. On a jet black card,<br />
in large white letters appear the words, "Do<br />
You Know Your Wife Is Expecting?" and<br />
underneath, in small neat white letters, the<br />
.sentence continues, "You to Take Her to a<br />
Movie Tonight?"<br />
Manager Roy Smith of the Tower, Yorkton,<br />
has tied in with the Kinettes (female division<br />
of Kinsmen) for the Kinette queen<br />
contest. Judging was held on the stage of the<br />
Tower between shows. Two weeks before the<br />
beauty contest photos of all the contestants<br />
were attractively displayed in the lobby and<br />
patrons cast their ballots for their favorites.<br />
ST.<br />
JOHN<br />
XXrilliam Guss. manager of the MGM Montreal<br />
branch, and his wife made a weekend<br />
call here in his hometown. They visited<br />
with his relatives and friends . . . Lassie, the<br />
canine of TV and films, together with singing,<br />
comedy and dancing acts, is making one<br />
day stands at Halifax, St. John, Moncton,<br />
Sydney and Glace Bay. A great amount of<br />
advance free publicity has been given by<br />
newspapers. A tieup with the largest supermarket<br />
chain provides for a child's ticket<br />
given free with every $7.00 purchase . . . Promoter<br />
Allison Morrison of Glace Bay has the<br />
"Crew Cuts" booked for a six-day Maritime<br />
tour.<br />
.<br />
Teresa McBride, contract clerk of Paramount<br />
Pictiu-es, will go to the altar with<br />
Joseph Gallant September 1 . . Clarice Mc-<br />
.<br />
Gowan, Paramount cashier, returned after<br />
a vacation in Toronto Solway of<br />
Toronto, sales manager for Canada of Astral<br />
Films, made his first trip to St. John, calling<br />
at circuit offices with Maritime manager<br />
Ernie Whelpley. Jerry is the son-in-law of<br />
Izzy Allen, president of Astral.<br />
Harry McLaughlin and Bill Richards of<br />
the Opera House and Uptown theatres, Newcastle,<br />
visited St. John Filmrow . . . Mitchell<br />
Bernstein, partner of the B&L Theatre circuit,<br />
has fully recovered from his siege of<br />
M. E. Walker's Roxy Theatre,<br />
illness . . .<br />
Shubenacadie, N. S., has been closed. His Rio<br />
Theatre in Petitocodiac is operating weekends<br />
only.<br />
SINGLE CHANNEL MAGNETIC SOUND<br />
S'-nplex XL-101 is the most modern of single track sound equipment. The tight loop system used in the<br />
^/aq^etic Sound Head has been used and proved by all major studios—eliminates all gears and belts.<br />
The System Selector Box gives optical sound, single-film magnetic sound or dual-film magnetic sound,<br />
merely by pushing a button.<br />
GENERAL THEATRE SUPPLYCOMPANY<br />
L I ^/1 I T e o<br />
HEAD OFFICE: 861 BAY ST. TORONTO. ONTARIO<br />
BRANCHES: Halifax, N. S. • Saint John, N. B. • Montreal, Que. • Ottawa, Ont. • London, Ont.<br />
Timmins, Ont. • Winnipeg, Man. • Calgary, Alta. • Edmonton, Alta. • Vancouver, B. C.<br />
John "Buddy" Babb, after an absence of 16<br />
years from his hometown St. John, paid a<br />
weekend visit to his friends and relatives.<br />
Buddy and his brother-in-law Arthur Florman,<br />
operate a large motion picture equipment<br />
business in New York City under the<br />
name of Florman & Babb. Both partners<br />
are active in the Variety Club of New York<br />
City and the Cinema Lodge, B'nai B'rith.<br />
.<br />
Malcolm E. Walker's 613-seat Gaiety Theatre<br />
and 330-seat Kent Theatre, Spryfield. in<br />
the Halifax district closed July 9. On July 1<br />
the 375-seat Empire Theatre operated by the<br />
Maritime Amusement Co. was closed. Eight<br />
theatres are in operation in Halifax<br />
Tlie Royal Theatre, owned and operated by<br />
J. K. Pidgeon, Borden, P.E.I. . will close on<br />
July 14.<br />
74 BOXOFFICE July 14, 1956
. . . Arrow<br />
. . Marc<br />
. . The<br />
. . Jim<br />
MONTREAL<br />
Jflbert Blondin, manager of the York Theatre<br />
who spent some time at the Royal Victoria<br />
Hospital, is back home recuperating.<br />
However, the popular Blondin is scheduled to<br />
enter the hospital again in August for a minor<br />
operation . Thibault. publicity manager<br />
for "This Is Cinerama" in Montreal for<br />
some time and who resigned a few months<br />
ago to publicize the revue presented at the<br />
Orpheum Tlieatre by Gratien Gelinas, has<br />
joined the Mountain Playhouse organization.<br />
A great number of Filmrow people currently<br />
are enjoying summer holidays. Paula<br />
Trefler. Empire Universal assistant cashier,<br />
is somewhere in the Laurentians and Ruby<br />
Rabinovitch, head booker at IFDL, is at<br />
Concord, N. H. Gilles Labelle, booker at the<br />
MGM's 16mm depai'tment; Eddie Yaworsky,<br />
contract clerk; Marcel Thibault, shipper; Lisa<br />
Grenon, office clerk, and Pierrette Couture of<br />
the 16mm division, are all on vacation. Romeo<br />
Goudreau, Paramount's sales representative,<br />
spent some time at Lake Connelly in the<br />
Laurentians and now is on a sales trip to the<br />
Gaspe Peninsula . . . Also on summer holidays<br />
are Huguette Pelletier and Nora Ashley of<br />
the J. Arthur Rank Organization; Irving<br />
Goldsmith, Odeon Theatres booker, and<br />
Colette Heroux, billing clerk, 20th-Pox.<br />
J. Markin, owner of the Royal Theatre of<br />
East Angus, Que., was a local Filmrow visitor<br />
Films is no longer in the film<br />
rental business. Al Dudlets, An-ow FUms<br />
manager, now is concentrating on photographic<br />
equipment. Arrow Films, it was announced,<br />
is liquidating its entire film Ubrary<br />
. . . William Lsster, vice-president of United<br />
Amusement Corp.. is returning home after<br />
touring the British Isles and several countries<br />
on the Continent . . . Morey Hamat, UA sales<br />
representative, left on a sales trip to Quebec<br />
City and district . . . William Deveault, assistant<br />
secretary at UACL, now on his summer<br />
vacation, motored to Philadelphia.<br />
The Alouette Theatre, featuring "Oklahoma!"<br />
reported considerable success with<br />
the Todd-AO vehicle. At time of writing, the<br />
feature was in its eighth week at the St.<br />
Catherine street theatre ... At the Imperial,<br />
showing "Cinerama Holiday," the patronage is<br />
good for the second local Cinerama presentation<br />
"Trapeze," UA feature, has broken<br />
. . . every existing record at the Capitol Theatre<br />
... A series of films about Israel has started<br />
here in connection with the Israeli commercial<br />
exJiibition. The films show many aspects<br />
of economic and industrial development of<br />
The Trans-Canada network<br />
the new state . . .<br />
of Canadian Broadcasting started (July<br />
12) a series of "Movie Scene" programs about<br />
contemporary British film-making, prepared<br />
especially for the CBC by the BBC.<br />
Free Sunday Night Shows<br />
Given at Kingston, Ont.<br />
KINGSTON, ONT.—A series of free Sunday<br />
night outdoor film shows has been arranged<br />
by municipal authorities here. The<br />
program consists of a group of short subjects<br />
including industrial pictures, documentaries<br />
from the National Film Board and cartoons.<br />
The shows are held outside the Community<br />
Memorial Center under the sponsorship of<br />
the civic parks committee with the cooperation<br />
of the Kingston Film Council.<br />
Sexsmith Memorial Hall<br />
Is Becoming a Theatre<br />
SEXSMITH. ALTA- -Renovation to convert<br />
SexsmiUi Memorial Center into a theatre is<br />
chairman of<br />
well advanced, said Ken Lar.-^on,<br />
a newly formed theatre group in charge of<br />
the project. Work on the structure wa.s expected<br />
to be completed this month.<br />
One of the features of the full-.scale program<br />
i.s the sloping of 40 feet of the building's<br />
floor to provide unobstructed vision for Sexsmith<br />
moviegoers. The interior of the building<br />
is being completely redecorated. Larson said,<br />
and will feature indirect lighting. The picture<br />
screen will measure llx26'i feet and will<br />
be capable of handling present-day widescreen<br />
films. The seating capacity will be<br />
about 250. Two hundred new leatherupholstered<br />
seats have been installed in the<br />
building.<br />
Operation of the new theatre will be<br />
directed by a corporation formed through<br />
sale of shares, Larson said. The program,<br />
estimated to cost $15,000 to $20,000, was<br />
approved by officials of the Sexsmith<br />
Canadian Legion branch and the Community<br />
Ass'n this spring. The changeover, which will<br />
include the building of a new projection<br />
room at the back of the theatre, w'ill not<br />
affect present clubrooms in the basement of<br />
the structure, Larson said.<br />
Lease Toronto Avenue<br />
TORONTO—The New Play Society, a<br />
Toronto stage group of ten years' standing,<br />
has taken a lease on the Avenue on Eglinton<br />
avenue, a former unit of the Famous Players<br />
chain, which will be operated with a policy<br />
of Canadian productions, according to Mavor<br />
Moore, director and producer. Currently at<br />
the Avenue is "Spring Thaw '56," a burlesque<br />
on local personalities and situations, which<br />
has reached its 14th week.<br />
Licensed at Dauphin, Man.<br />
DAUPHIN. MAN.—The rural municipality<br />
of Dauphin recently approved the granting of<br />
a license to the Park, a 250-car drive-in.<br />
TORONTO<br />
Tames Stuart Duncan, a director of Odeon<br />
* Theatres of Canada, announced his resignation<br />
July 5 as president and chairman of the<br />
board of Massey-HaiTls-Ferguson, the big<br />
farm implement company .<br />
Hardiman,<br />
who goes to 20th Century-Fox in Hollywood<br />
in September, is collaborating with Charles<br />
Ma.son, publicity director for Canadian Rank,<br />
on arrangements for the gala Canadian premiere<br />
of "Reach for the Sky" at the local<br />
Odeon around Labor Day. It looks like<br />
Hardiman's last big project for the Odeon<br />
circuit.<br />
After completing a deal with Edward Small<br />
of Hollywood through C. S. Chaplin. Canadian<br />
district manager of UA. for the production<br />
of a 39-episode TV series, "The Last of<br />
the Mohicans," Arthur Gottlieb went to a<br />
hospital here with a broken shoulder. Some<br />
of the film shooting is scheduled to be done<br />
at Gottlieb's country estate near Pickering.<br />
Ont.<br />
. . . For<br />
Gerald Pratley, local film critic and commentator,<br />
has been elected president of the<br />
Toronto and District Film Council<br />
"The Animal Kingdom," pretty Beryl Goodwin,<br />
manager of the suburban Scarboro Theatre,<br />
conducted a neighborhood dog .show<br />
for prizes . Eastwood, a unit of B&F<br />
Theatres, featured the annual beauty contest<br />
under the sponsorship of the Gerrard<br />
Street Business Men's Ass'n, the winner being<br />
Catherine Bigelow. 19, a brunette.<br />
Four projectionists have been installed as<br />
members of the Famous Players 25-Year Club.<br />
'ihey are Fred S. Jackson at the Bloor; Dave<br />
A. Crowe, Eglinton; George E. Blackshaw.<br />
Paramount, Peterborough; Fi-ank Macauley,<br />
Regent. Ottawa. Theatre managers installed<br />
included Don Summerville and Arthur D.<br />
Grover, Toronto; Louis Gauthier, Cartier,<br />
Hull; C. J. Jeffreys, Capitol, Sudbury; W. F.<br />
O'Loghlin, Capitol, Montreal.<br />
Contractee John Gavin has been cast as a<br />
tank robber in U-I's "Quantez."<br />
The first laboratory XRMS-WORLD<br />
in Canada, which can<br />
remove scratches<br />
from films<br />
A NEW SERVICE<br />
To FILM end TV<br />
& whit* or color<br />
FITM<br />
LABORATORIES<br />
4*24 Cot* dn N«
. . . The<br />
. . An<br />
. . Mary<br />
. . Max<br />
.<br />
.<br />
. . The<br />
. . New<br />
. . Jack<br />
. . For<br />
: July<br />
VANCOUVER<br />
J. E. B. Harbus . . The<br />
^1<br />
and<br />
LA<br />
.<br />
Avenue Drive-In at Calgary, formerly operated<br />
by Bill Cole and L. Jones.<br />
IIu;:h Hamilton, after being with other<br />
compiuiies. is back at RKO again as Calgary<br />
office manager.<br />
.Another victim of TV and bingo competition,<br />
the Northtown, Regina's newest and<br />
most modern theatre, was closed indefinitely.<br />
It was operated by Regal Amusements. The<br />
owners are considering converting the theatre<br />
into a night club . . . With theatre business<br />
on the downbeat, the night club business<br />
is booming here. In the Oriental section, five<br />
supper clubs are featuring floor shows and<br />
all report business brisk with lots of talent<br />
available and TV no competition.<br />
Sulphuric acid poured on theatre seats by<br />
teenage toughs at the Famous Player Palace<br />
Theatre in Calgary caused considerable damage<br />
to patrons' clothes, one patron even losing<br />
the seat of his pants. Vandalism also is in<br />
high gear at Vancouver downtown theatres,<br />
especially at midnight shows. E.Khibitors have<br />
police patrol the houses to stop drinking and<br />
catch trouble-makers CBC-TV director<br />
for British Columbia is Hugh Palmer.<br />
.<br />
He succeeded Peter McDonald, who moved to<br />
Toronto as assistant director of national program<br />
and production.<br />
Two films were completely banned and<br />
eliminations were ordered in three more out<br />
of those reviewed during 1955, reports Ray<br />
McDonald, British Columbia censor. He said<br />
that brutality was the chief source of trouble.<br />
The new 600-seat Park Theatre was opened<br />
recently at High Prairie, Alta. The theatre<br />
owned and operated by W. Dorish, a mink<br />
is<br />
rancher, and Alex Tomanuk, garage operator.<br />
It will be opposition to the 125-seat Roxy<br />
owned by George Watson. Population of<br />
High Prairie is 1,900. The town is in the<br />
Peace River area of Alberta, a fanning community<br />
. Calgary, Alta., city council<br />
declared war on teenage gangster films. Police<br />
said the films provoke juvenile delinquency.<br />
By a 12-to-l vote, the council asked<br />
the Alberta board of censors to make "more<br />
stringent attempts" for a complete ban on<br />
the exhibition in the province of films which<br />
"glorify the terror of teenage gangs."<br />
30 Girls Are Qualified<br />
FOR SALE For Miss Canacia Event<br />
YfS.'<br />
TORONTO—Thii'ty girls from<br />
10,000 LATE MODEL<br />
all over the<br />
Dominion qualified for the Miss Canada<br />
USED OR RECONDITIONED Pageant at the Hamilton Forum this month<br />
Also new British-Luxury Chairs available following full cooperation by the J. Arthur<br />
THEATRE CHAIRS<br />
Rank Organization in staging preliminary<br />
contests in many Odeon houses for the selection<br />
of regional finalists under plans drawn<br />
Spring edge steel bottom seat cushions and<br />
upholstered bocks— spring back types also.<br />
up by Jim Hardiman, JARO promotion director<br />
fully<br />
Carpeting, ospholt, rubber. Vinyl here.<br />
tiles and<br />
linoleum.<br />
In addition to various special awards, the<br />
WE ARE FACTORY AGENTS-<br />
Rank organization provided the chief prize,<br />
AT BARGAIN PRICES<br />
an all-expense flight to London, England, for<br />
Drop us a line—we will give you photographs a screen test at a Rank studio. Following<br />
lull<br />
SALLE n<br />
.<br />
.<br />
•The Rev. Robert Pearson, 77, motion picture<br />
censor for Alberta until his retirement<br />
in 1946. when he moved to Vancouver, died<br />
at his home here. He was called the "grand<br />
old man" of Canadian football and baseball<br />
Clarence Palmquist, assistant manager<br />
. . . at the International Cinema, was hospitalized<br />
for a checkup Ruddick,<br />
former Orpheum cashier, now is at the cigar<br />
stand at Vancouver Hotel Sheine,<br />
Peerless Films sales manager, was in from<br />
Toronto to check local theatre conditions.<br />
Peerless is a states' right company. The<br />
Odeon Vogue smashed its alltime midnight<br />
show record for the showing of "Trapeze."<br />
It is playing three hou.ses day and date to big<br />
business in the greater Vancouver area. Also<br />
doing surprising business is a revival of "The<br />
Wizard of Oz" at the Strand.<br />
New members of the Alberta branch of<br />
Canadian Picture Pioneers are Chai'les<br />
Coombes, who operates two theatres and a<br />
drive-in at Lloydminster, Sask., and R. V.<br />
Kiefer of the Kiefer circuit at Hardisty. Alta.<br />
city's liability for flood damage arising<br />
out of a broken main last March will be<br />
tested in supreme court by the Odeon chain.<br />
It is claiming unstated damages as a result<br />
of the flooding of the 868-seat Lux Theatie .<br />
Orpheum Manager Ivan Ackery is holidaying<br />
at Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island.<br />
The Odeon circuit has reopened its Sapperton<br />
Theatre, a 450-seater closed in January.<br />
It is situated in the New Westminster<br />
area, which has been without a theatre since<br />
the Academy in Maillardville was destroyed<br />
by fire a month ago . ozoner, closed for<br />
the past two years at Grand Forlis, was taken<br />
over by Jim Altomare, who operates the Gem<br />
in the same town ... A new drive-in is<br />
planned for Cache Creek district in the Ashcroft<br />
area. It is being built by local lumber<br />
interests.<br />
Distributors and theatre operators report<br />
that conditions on Vancouver Island are at<br />
the lowest ebb in years. This includes Victoria<br />
Pete Repushka has taken over the<br />
. . . 250-seat Victory in the farming community<br />
(285 population) of Prudhomme, Sask., from<br />
RECREATIONS, Ltd.<br />
Theatre Chairs. Carpet. Linoleum and Tile Division<br />
945 GRANVILLE ST., VANCOUVER A<br />
MARINE 5034-5428<br />
^<br />
Odeon circuit has<br />
acquired its first ozoner in western Canada<br />
in partnership with Jack BaiTon, who operates<br />
two Calgary theatres. The airer is the 17th<br />
this torn- the winner is scheduled to travel to<br />
Atlantic City to compete in the Miss America<br />
contest as the official representative of<br />
Canada.<br />
"This Day Alone," an original by Larry<br />
Marcus, has been assigned to Gordan Kay<br />
to produce for Universal.<br />
OTTAWA<br />
pcopcning here is the Towne Cinema, 550<br />
scats. The theatre has been leased by<br />
Umberto Fusco, who came here from Italy<br />
in 1951, The Towne Cinema has an Italian<br />
film policy, with shows tlu-ee nights weekly.<br />
Fusco's cashier and chief a.ssistant is Monique<br />
Ouellette, his fiancee, whom he plans to<br />
marry in October.<br />
Piccadilly at Williamsburg had a special<br />
celebration with an anniversary show for "21<br />
years of continuous movie entertainment in<br />
the district." Two adults were admitted for<br />
the price of one. The theatre, which has<br />
undergone improvements, is operated by Mrs.<br />
A. J. Casselman . Charlebois, 19, was<br />
fined $15 and costs for impersonating a<br />
woman when he appeared before Magistrate<br />
Joachim Sauve in the Ottawa police court<br />
after he had been ejected from the ladies'<br />
retiring room at a local theatre. The accused<br />
said he had gone into the women's room to<br />
adjust his female attire. Accompanying the<br />
conviction was the warning from Police Chief<br />
Macdonell that his con.stables had been instructed<br />
to crack down on youths who created<br />
disturbances.<br />
. . . The<br />
Gordon Adamson, executive director of the<br />
Canadian Film Institute for many years, has<br />
moved to Montreal. He has joined an organization<br />
of professional engineers<br />
Startop Drive-In in suburban Cyrville, under<br />
the management of Len Larmour, has been<br />
equipped with a new Cinemascope screen.<br />
Bingo games are featured on Thursday nights<br />
at the Startop under the auspices of the<br />
South Ottawa Lions Club . the summer<br />
season the Glebe Cinema is being operated on<br />
Friday and Saturday nights only under a<br />
"Curtain at 8;30" policy.<br />
Ernie Warren has held "Geordie" for a<br />
sixth week in the Little Elgin. "Trapeze" was<br />
in its third week at the Main Elgin ... A<br />
marriage of wide interest took place at the<br />
Notre Dame de Grace Church in the wedding<br />
of Pierrette Paquin, daughter of Mr. and<br />
Mrs. Donat Paquin, to F. M. Devine, Ottawa,<br />
The father of the bride is an exhibitor.<br />
Oshawa, Ont., City Council<br />
Reduces Theatre Tax<br />
OSHAWA, ONT.—The four local theatres<br />
have gained a concession from the city<br />
council with a substantial reduction in the<br />
municipal seat tax, which has long been<br />
collected in addition to other taxation.<br />
Following lengthy negotiations for which<br />
Jack Weiser of the Plaza was largely the<br />
spokesman, the Oshawa council decided to<br />
reduce the annual 25-cent levy to a flat fee<br />
of $50 per year for a total of $200 from the<br />
four theatres. The largest house is the<br />
Famous Players Regent, with 970 seats.<br />
Oshawa collected from $750 to $800 per<br />
annum in the local seat tax.<br />
Schedule Film Discussions<br />
TORONTO—The Ontario Ass'n of Film<br />
Councils has scheduled three-day summer institutes<br />
on films and community leadership<br />
to be held at Queen's University, Kingston;<br />
the University of Western Ontario, London,<br />
and the Northern Ontario Teachers College,<br />
North Bay.<br />
76 BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
14, 1956
• ALPHABETICAL INDEX<br />
• ADLINES & EXPLOITIPS<br />
• BOXOFFICE BAROMETER<br />
• EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY<br />
• FEATURE RELEASE CHART<br />
• FEATURE REVIEW DIGEST<br />
• REVIEWS OF FEATURES<br />
• SHORTS RELEASE CHART<br />
• SHORT SUBJECT REVIEWS<br />
• SHOWMANDISING IDEAS<br />
#<br />
THE GUIDE TO i BETTER BOOKING AND B U S I N E S S - B U I L D N G I<br />
SEVEN MAJOR TIEUPS FOR AWAY ALL BOATS'<br />
Navy Aid and Pocketbook Promotion Stand Out in<br />
Preselling Campaign<br />
Seven major tieup categories have been<br />
developed for "Away All Boats," Universal-<br />
International's most expensive film ever<br />
produced which opens July 18 in five key<br />
cities in the United States where important<br />
naval commands and installations are located.<br />
Other premiere engagements in key<br />
Navj' areas will follow during the rest of<br />
the month.<br />
HAILED AS GREAT NAVY FILM<br />
The film, already scheduled for Boston,<br />
San Francisco, Philadelphia, New Orleans,<br />
San Diego, New York, Norfolk, Seattle,<br />
Washington, D. C, and Chicago, has been<br />
hailed by the U. S. Department of Defense<br />
and the Navy as one of the greatest naval<br />
films of all time. Hence, cooperation from<br />
the Navy looms as the chief exploitation<br />
weapon to be utilized in behalf of the film.<br />
The Navy has sent a directive to all fleet<br />
commands and naval districts praising the<br />
film and calling for local cooperation.<br />
Local naval headquarters lists are available<br />
to exhibitors on request to Universal's<br />
exploitation department. On a national<br />
level, a number of promotions have been<br />
developed, many of which are tailor-made<br />
for use on the local level. Among the promotion<br />
items are A-boards sniped with film<br />
credits, a colorful 8V2XII tie-in poster,<br />
bumper strips, drop-in mats, radio transcription<br />
spots and special 2x2 slides of<br />
scenes from the film accompanied by audio<br />
disks for local television use.<br />
HONORARY ADMIRAL CARDS<br />
Among the gimmicks added by the film<br />
company for the motion picture tieups are<br />
honorary admiral cards for theatre distribution.<br />
Navy ship mats which can be used<br />
for contests locally, semaphore signal displays,<br />
contest material on "Great Ships in<br />
Films," an eight-page "Diary of a Navy<br />
Wife" in the form of a herald, contest material<br />
for a "Great War Films" contest and<br />
a display of service medals and decorations<br />
bestowed by the Navy.<br />
U-I also recommends that exhibitors<br />
conduct "spoken letter" promotions in<br />
which recordings are sent to relatives or<br />
friends in service, and that theatremen select<br />
a local naval hero as guest of honor<br />
at the opening show. In practically every<br />
one of these phases of activity, local sup-<br />
Manager Jack Silverthornc of the Hippodrome in Cleveland hosted Navy personnel in the area at o<br />
special screening of "Away All Boats," as part of the preselling campoign for the film. Full Navy<br />
cooperation around the nation has been obtained for this film.<br />
port from the Navy can be obtained.<br />
Second in the list of promotion potentials<br />
is the giant Bantam Book promotion. Bantam<br />
has issued a reprint edition of the<br />
novel timed with the release of the film,<br />
and is going all-out in supporting this<br />
special copy. Tieup material includes a<br />
22x28 two-color poster and a 9x14 two-color<br />
rack card. These are available free to exhibitors<br />
through the local Bantam representative<br />
or the U-I exploitation department.<br />
Also available on request is a special<br />
20-second trailer which uses still<br />
scenes from the fUm and closes with reference<br />
to the Bantam Book.<br />
In addition, a special promotional deal<br />
has been arranged with Bantam wherein<br />
the publisher provides the theatre with a<br />
500-volume library of Bantam Books for<br />
$25, to be used as contest prizes. The minimum<br />
value of this package is $125. To<br />
arrange for this deal, local Curtis Circulation<br />
Co. representatives should be contacted.<br />
Any kind of contest permitted in<br />
the state may be used.<br />
Another tieup classification available for<br />
"Away All Boats" is the promotion worked<br />
out with Grosset & Dunlap, publisher of<br />
BOXOFFICE Showmondiaer : : July 14, 1956 177 —<br />
the hard-back edition of the book. An<br />
effective wrap-around band plugging the<br />
film has been prepared, as well as a display<br />
poster which is available at no cost.<br />
In addition to this display material,<br />
Grosset & Dunlap is furnishing theatres<br />
with contest prizes at half price. The complete<br />
set of seven Great Adventure Library<br />
titles are offered at $1 each or the complete<br />
set for $7. Regularly, these books would<br />
retail at $1.95 each.<br />
U-I is backing up these book tie-ins with<br />
an array of promotional material. Included<br />
are a set of eight stills for local libraries,<br />
free bookmark mats with space for theatre<br />
imprints, and layouts of stills from other<br />
motion pictui-es headed, "Great Books<br />
Make Great Rims." These can be used for<br />
contests, for placing local publicity, or for<br />
lobby board blowups.<br />
The fourth exploitation suggestion developed<br />
by the film company is a 5.000-word<br />
serialization of the novel, which can be<br />
offered free to local newspapers. This<br />
serialization has been specially prepared<br />
for newspaper reading, and has been<br />
worked out by special arrangement with<br />
(Continued on page 181)
Thank<br />
. . and<br />
Schine Showmanship<br />
Here Is<br />
the Circuit's Guide to Managers on Selling More Tickets<br />
USE SHOWALANSHIP. Here's a different<br />
approach which will be more powerful on<br />
occasion than a trailer.<br />
Try this . . .<br />
Step out on the stage.<br />
Tell the audience that you're not going<br />
to give them the usual selling line, but an<br />
actual part of the next new program instead.<br />
Run off part of the first reel, including<br />
title and credits, or choose an enticing sesequence<br />
from the show.<br />
Cut it off at a p)oint where their curiosity<br />
is aroused.<br />
This should bring them back!<br />
HERE'S A SAMPLE INTRODUCTION<br />
"Ladies and Gentlemen. I've been trying<br />
to think of different ways to prove to<br />
the world that movies are better than ever.<br />
I know you're convinced, for you have just<br />
seen an outstanding example.<br />
Normally, at this point, we'd show you<br />
a trailer on our coming attraction, but<br />
since it's such a swell picture, and one that<br />
you really should tell your friends about,<br />
I'm going to show you part of it! Please<br />
look me up in tlie lobby as you leave the<br />
theatre, and tell me what you think of this<br />
picture. It starts its regular run on<br />
—<br />
.<br />
you."<br />
Have the projectionist ready to put the<br />
scene on the screen as you start to leave<br />
the stage.<br />
Either replacing or augmenting the<br />
trailer, effective tableau may be presented<br />
on the stage in advance of an important<br />
coming production. Local vets will plug war<br />
pictures with their personal experiences<br />
. . . local dance instructors will stage short<br />
dance exhibitions for musical or other appropriate<br />
pictures.<br />
If you have a horror show trailer, use<br />
Manogcrs in the Schine circuit currently<br />
ore awoy on the first leg of o six-month<br />
showmanship drive, under which they ore<br />
to participate in a profit-sharing plan. As a<br />
guide to better picture selling, the management<br />
prepared a manual, "Blue Print for<br />
Today," in which many promotional ideos were<br />
presented. Some of them are published here.<br />
some green gelatin for an eerie effect. Before<br />
your trailer goes on, flash your house<br />
lights or footlights, crash a thunder sheet.<br />
Maybe on an animal picture or an African<br />
hunt you can get a costume of a gorilla or<br />
wild animal and have him jump off the<br />
stage and run through the audience, keeping<br />
a spotlight on him.<br />
Think of new ways of presenting your<br />
trailers. They are your show windows, so<br />
dress them up, and just don't let them run<br />
because they take up time on your schedule.<br />
We are thinking of making up a short<br />
tag trailer that will run after a good picture,<br />
and we would like your advice on it.<br />
If you think it's a good Idea, let us know.<br />
The trailer would read something like this:<br />
"Tliank you for attending this performance.<br />
Now that you have greatly enjoyed<br />
the picture you have just seen on our Big.<br />
Big, Screen . all its gorgeous color . . .<br />
"Don't you agree that staying at home<br />
and watching the little TV set really makes<br />
you a shut-in. Please come often, and enjoy<br />
America's way of living."<br />
Sell<br />
With Screenings<br />
When you get a picture that is good, but<br />
perhaps needs a great deal of advance<br />
word-of-mouth advertising . . . there's no<br />
better way of getting it than screening it<br />
for the opinion-makers in your area.<br />
For whom you screen it depends on the<br />
subject matter. It may need school support,<br />
or church cooperation, or even a cross<br />
section of your community.<br />
Sometimes you may even use a gag like<br />
a "Stag Screening" on a picture you feel<br />
won't pull in the men, but you know they<br />
will like it after they see it.<br />
We also have used the "Incentive<br />
Screenings," where we screened early in<br />
the morning or in the afternoon for factory<br />
workers or store or bank clerks whose<br />
employers want to give them some award<br />
for outstanding service. They give them<br />
the time off to see the screening, and<br />
plenty of good comment results from such<br />
an activity.<br />
Sell Door to Door<br />
Let's make up our minds to take a<br />
a couple of hours a day and really go calling<br />
on the folks in and around your town.<br />
Be your own goodwill ambassador.<br />
First acquaint yourself thoroughly with<br />
the product you will soon be playing. Then<br />
start out ringing doorbells. Besides doing<br />
a selling job, you will find out a lot of<br />
things you need to know.<br />
Organize a plan for person-to-person<br />
contacts. Set yourself a quota of so many<br />
calls a day. Set similar quotas for staff<br />
members who will join with you in this<br />
effort.<br />
Leave a pass at each home you visit. Be<br />
sure to write the name of the person on<br />
the pass and the dates for which it is good.<br />
Then be sure you are on the floor to welcome<br />
your guests when they arrive, and<br />
give a hospitable and warm greeting.<br />
SCHINE MANAGERS MEET—A meeting of all Schine Theatres division, group<br />
and theatre managers in New York state was held recently at the Onondaga Hotel in<br />
Syracuse. The session was called primarily to discuss showmanship plans for the next<br />
six months. From left to right: Lou Hart, Auburn; Sy Evans, home office; Jack<br />
Mitchell, Watertown; William B. Kraemer; Louis W. Schine; Donald G. Schine;<br />
Seymour L. Monis, all of the home office, and Harry H. Unterfort, zone manager of<br />
central New York.<br />
Sell to Groups<br />
Every club and organization is always<br />
seeking something new and novel to present<br />
to its members.<br />
Let all various civic, church, school, dramatic,<br />
lunclieon clubs and women's organizations<br />
know that you are available for<br />
talks to them.<br />
You can even go so far as to leave a<br />
guest ticket at each plate at a luncheon or<br />
dinner meeting. Most of these people are<br />
the ones who do not attend the movies<br />
often, and this is a good way to get them<br />
started coming.<br />
— 178 — BOXOFFICE Showmandiser : : July 14, 1956
You can even arrange to have them<br />
hold their meeting at your theatre an Iiour<br />
or so before your regular opening. Set it<br />
up like a theatre party so after their meeting<br />
they stay and see the show, which could<br />
take the place of a speaker on their program.<br />
Remember that in large blocks of<br />
tickets you can give them our regular discounts.<br />
If you address them at a meeting not<br />
held in the theatre, perhaps you can show<br />
some trailers. Even some of the 16mm<br />
clips made for TV can be used for this purpose.<br />
Sell<br />
by Phone<br />
The next best person-to-person selling<br />
is the telephone campaign, but experience<br />
has taught us that this can be both good<br />
and bad.<br />
They are good when you or your staff<br />
members call people THEY KNOW, and<br />
tell them they are calling because there is<br />
a picture coming which will be of special<br />
interest and great enjoyment to them.<br />
Just calling on a hit and miss basis by<br />
using names from a phone directory is<br />
likely to annoy people.<br />
^'^<br />
Sell<br />
the Crowds<br />
Wherever crowds gather, be sure you<br />
have a ballyhoo there, or heralds ... or<br />
get armouncements over the P.A. system<br />
or a banner.<br />
This goes for all athletic events, parades,<br />
exhibitions, fairs, etc. Always sell "There's<br />
No Entertairunent Like the Movies" and<br />
tell them what you have coming.<br />
Sell<br />
the Traveler<br />
Get your transportation companies to<br />
cooperate with you. Impress upon them<br />
that when people stay home, their business<br />
suffers too.<br />
Have them use cards with "Ride the<br />
Buses to the Movies" and "Take a Cab to<br />
the Movies." Work out a deal with them<br />
that if they pay one way, they get a free<br />
ride home.<br />
^^
l-^olntof<br />
Uieiv<br />
Canadian Exhibitors Show Ingenuity<br />
In Gray Flannel Suit' Activities<br />
•THERE was real big thinking behind the<br />
Schine Managers Participation Plan<br />
announced by the eastern circuit a week or<br />
so ago. If you've missed the news reports,<br />
the plan, in essence, puts every theatre<br />
manager in business for himself by providing<br />
him with 5 per cent of all net cash<br />
balance over a fixed charge amount, determined<br />
by actual operating expenses for<br />
1955. Thus, every manager has added Incentive<br />
to shave urmecessary overhead, use<br />
his manpower wisely, and create bigger<br />
boxoffice returns.<br />
Of course, the Schine employes received<br />
this news with new inspiration and a sense<br />
of optimism that is sure to pay off in better<br />
showmanship at every theatre. Schine<br />
headquarters, which also has offered the<br />
managers special ammunition in the form<br />
of a colorful brochm-e filled with moneymaking<br />
and cost-cutting ideas, is to be<br />
congratulated for this important step. We<br />
feel confident it will pay off up and down<br />
the line.<br />
Now, a lighter note: They're looking<br />
for a first name for Magoo. He's Vie<br />
spindly legged, slightly batty and ohso-7iearsighted<br />
character who cavorts<br />
through the Columbia cartoons known<br />
as the Magoo series. Mr. Magoo is an<br />
Acadeyny Award winner, too, and he's<br />
one of our own personal favorites. Now,<br />
Photoplay magazine is running a contest<br />
to get the old codger a first name.<br />
We think there's a chance here for<br />
theatres to whip up some community<br />
interest by latching on to this stunt in<br />
some way. You're sure to have a<br />
ready-made Magoo audience in your<br />
area!<br />
The Theatre Owners of America, which<br />
of late has been making a determined effort<br />
to incite its membership to new heights<br />
in showmanship fervor, comments on another<br />
fine proposal in the recent issue of<br />
its newly inaugurated showmanship bulletin.<br />
The idea, while not entirely original,<br />
recently was given a new twist. It's the<br />
one about closing a letter with a brief P.S.<br />
on the merits of an upcoming film, to get<br />
the reader hepped up and "on the lookout<br />
for it." It was tried out as the close<br />
of a telegram to a businessmen's club in<br />
Little Rock, Ai-k., and it went over handsomely.<br />
So, comments TOA's Waller<br />
Reade jr., not without strong justification:<br />
"If each of the many thousands employed<br />
in this industry added a similar P.S., what<br />
an impact it would make on the moviegoing<br />
public!" Why not give it a try. next time<br />
you're writing to a potential patron?<br />
In closing, a brief note on a great<br />
pressbook for a great picture: The<br />
manual for the newest Cinemascope<br />
55 production, "The King and I," is a<br />
32-page oversize affair complementing<br />
and augmenting the film company's<br />
huge Tiational program for the picture.<br />
Reports on north-of-the-bordcr activities<br />
for "The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit"<br />
point up the ingenuity employed by Canadian<br />
exhibitors in doing that extra little<br />
bit for a picture that pays off at the boxoffice.<br />
A giveaway of gi'ay flannel suits was<br />
suggested to Len Bishop of the Shea's Theatre<br />
in Toronto, but he went the idea one<br />
better by turhing it into a mutually profitable<br />
three-way tie-in.<br />
He promoted six suits from the Tip Top<br />
Tailors, and had the shop provide a man<br />
for a citywide bally, too. This man, dressed<br />
in a gray flannel suit, made the rounds<br />
To get the most out of this potentially<br />
great film, read those pages carefully!<br />
It means extra dollars for you!<br />
When a man sets his mind to something,<br />
he's not going to stop till he gets it. Just<br />
got a call from Kentucky—exhibitor wanted<br />
to know where to get more info on the<br />
Elmer promotion we had May 26. Famous<br />
Players Canadian headquarters in Toronto,<br />
we told him. Okay, what's the number,<br />
says he. And as soon as we rung off, we<br />
know he placed that call on through to<br />
Toronto. Man, there's a guy who's going<br />
to get results!<br />
When "The Bold and the Brave" had<br />
its Canadian premiere in five Montreal<br />
theatres of the United Amusement<br />
cliain recently, the RKO exploiteers<br />
engineered a coup both simple and<br />
brilliant at the same time. Nicole<br />
Maurey, French actress who stars in<br />
the film, uns squired around town,<br />
meeting representatives of all English-speaking<br />
and French-speaking<br />
publications, radio-TV stations, magazines,<br />
etc. The success of her tour<br />
through the French sections, of course,<br />
was greatly responsible for the boxoffice<br />
success of the picture at the five<br />
houses.<br />
—LARRY GOODMAN<br />
of all Toronto's busy sections. Each day,<br />
for the first six days of the run, this man<br />
was prepared to award one similar suit to<br />
the first person who stopped him and inquired,<br />
"Are You the Tip Top Man in the<br />
Gray Flannel Suit?"<br />
The Toronto Star also got into the act,<br />
with the addition of the following "catch"<br />
to the terms of the giveaway: the inquirer<br />
had to be holding a copy of the Star at the<br />
time he accosted the ballyhoo man. For<br />
its part, the Star came through with generous<br />
space evei-y day during the week.<br />
This publicity, of course, was beneficial to<br />
the haberdashery as well as to the theatre.<br />
A screening also was held at the theatre<br />
for newspaper people, radio disk jockeys<br />
and television announcers, netting some<br />
good breaks in these media. The American<br />
News Co. bannered all its tiTicks and<br />
placed displays in all retail outlets handling<br />
the paperback edition of the book. The "<br />
local Italian newspaper sold a doublcrtruck<br />
co-op ad to its clothing accounts.<br />
At another Famous Players Canadian<br />
house, the Capitol in Brantford, Manager<br />
Bill Burke took extra pains with his campaign.<br />
He, too, arranged with a local men's<br />
clothing shop for a cooperative program,<br />
which included a men's fashion show on<br />
the stage of the Capitol on two successive<br />
evenings. Radio station CKPC was corraled<br />
into the deal, donating well over $200 worth<br />
of free time to help publicize the show and<br />
then broadcasting the proceedings from the<br />
Capitol stage.<br />
The haberdashery shop also took a large<br />
three-column ad on "The Man in the Gray<br />
Flannel Suit" in advance, and then two<br />
two-column ads plugging the fashion show.<br />
But Burke, looking for a "topp>er," also<br />
promoted a gray flannel suit to use as a<br />
giveaway on a lucky ballot promotion.<br />
There were 10,000 of these ballots distributed<br />
around Brantford, with the tab<br />
picked up by the merchant.<br />
In a stunt similar to that employed in<br />
Toronto, the merchant also provided a man<br />
wearing a gray flannel suit to parade -<br />
'''^^<br />
through the streets and hand out some<br />
guest tickets to the people identifying him<br />
The local newspaper obliged with a twocolumn<br />
photo of the man, with his face "^<br />
,<br />
blanked out, on the lead page.<br />
'Moby Dick' Junketeers<br />
Take Home Special Issue<br />
A special souvenir edition of the New<br />
Bedford Standard -Times, turned out for<br />
the world premiere of "Moby Dick," has<br />
been brought "home" by many of the newspaper<br />
and radio-TV people who visited the<br />
New England city for the gala opening.<br />
The special edition consists of four pages<br />
of news stories, features and photos, most<br />
of which previously appeared in the Standard-Times<br />
in connection with New Bedford's<br />
preparations for the big event. The<br />
"ears" on page one read "Greasy Luck!"<br />
and "Thar She Blows!"<br />
Sneak Preview Comments<br />
Recorded for Radio Use<br />
When Bill Elder, manager of Loew's Warfield<br />
in San Francisco, arranged for a<br />
sneak preview of "Somebody Up There<br />
Likes Me." he figured he had a good chance<br />
to build up some good advance publicity<br />
over and above the expected word-ofmouth<br />
results. The manager arranged for<br />
recordings of patrons' comments to be<br />
taped on their way out of the theatre after<br />
the screening. Evangeline Baker of radio<br />
station KGO did the interviewing and<br />
later used the tapes on her radio show.<br />
— 180 — BOXOFFICE Showmandiser : : July 14, 1956
Tieups for 'Boats'<br />
Cttn-ttrknc / ic+ frkr Ittnc^<br />
(Continued from page 177) ^^ f I CI I I W 1 1 ^ IhI^I I W f ^ CI I i \Z<br />
the publishers of the book. It runs for five<br />
consecutive days and is illustrated with<br />
scenes from the motion picture.<br />
Another natural tie-in effected for "Away<br />
All Boats"<br />
9<br />
is a giant model ship building<br />
promotion with Flevell, the nation's largest<br />
manufacturer of authentic scale plastic<br />
model hobby kits. Revell has made up a<br />
replica of the USS Belinda, the attack<br />
transport featured In the film, and is distributing<br />
5,000 promotion kits to its jobbers<br />
around the country. In addition, 20,000<br />
posters and other display material as well<br />
as mats for cooperative advertising will be<br />
supplied to dealers. A one-minute television<br />
commercial, featuring the attack transport,<br />
will be used locally by dealers.<br />
The sixth promotion medium is the music<br />
tie-in. The theme music from "Away All<br />
Boats" has been made into a popular tune,<br />
and already has been recorded by two top<br />
artists, for Decca and Coral. The songs'<br />
title sheets give effective treatment to the<br />
film, and can be used to good advantage in<br />
window displays. A limited number of<br />
these title sheets have been made available<br />
at no cost by the film company's exploitation<br />
department.<br />
A final category is a series of merchandise<br />
tie-ins which already have been arranged<br />
or are in the process of completion.<br />
These include cruise wear tieups with department<br />
stores and specialty shops, beachwear<br />
tieups with haberdasheries, displays<br />
in travel agencies and a tieup with the<br />
Bm^ Inco Lounge Co., which features Julie<br />
'"' ' Adams in its ads.<br />
New Bullfighting Craze<br />
Aids 'Bullfight' Premiere<br />
The American premiere of "Bullfight,"<br />
first full-length documentary of its kind<br />
ever passed in its entirety by the New<br />
York censors, benefitted by a strong public<br />
intei-est in bullfighting as showm both<br />
in new books and new movies. The film<br />
opened at the 55th Street Playhouse in<br />
New York.<br />
Janus Films executed an extensive tie-in<br />
campaign for "Bullfight." Window displays<br />
of all the current books on bullfighting<br />
were arranged with the five Marboro bookstores<br />
and several of the Doubleday bookstores.<br />
Over 2,000 posters were distributed<br />
in various stores in the Spanish-speaking<br />
neighborhoods of New York, and the<br />
Greenwich Village area was blanketed with<br />
posters and programs in every shop.<br />
Milkmen Rent Theatre<br />
For Kiddy Matinee<br />
Four milk dealers were lined up by Bob<br />
Anthony for a kiddy show rental at the<br />
State Theatre in Cortland, N. Y. This was<br />
a morning show, and in addition to the<br />
amount contributed by each merchant toward<br />
the rental fee, the dairy committee<br />
also kicked in some money.<br />
International in Flavor<br />
Henry Gralnik, Century,<br />
Buffalo, N. V.<br />
*Ra.v Monroe, Dunes,<br />
Zion, III.<br />
•A. VV. Peahl, Monte,<br />
Monticcllo, Iowa<br />
'Previous Citation Winners<br />
BOXOFTICE Showmandiser : : July 14. 1956 — 181 —<br />
The awarding of Citations in June to<br />
exhibitors from Ontario, British Colunibia<br />
and Australia as well as scattered points<br />
across the United States lent an international<br />
flavor to the list.<br />
The winner from Down Under was J. J.<br />
Collins, manager of the State Theatre in<br />
Melbourne. Collins took the top prize in<br />
the ballyhoo department with a full slate<br />
of activities for "Doctor at Sea." Photos<br />
and story appear on page 145.<br />
Manager Syd F^-eedman of the Studio<br />
Theatre in Vancouver was the Citation representative<br />
from British Columbia. His<br />
category was display advertising, and four<br />
illustrations of the original layouts which<br />
helped him snare the honor can be found<br />
on page 143.<br />
AN AWARD FOR TICNIC<br />
The other north-of-the-border grand<br />
showman for the past month was Ken<br />
Garbig, manager of the Century in Lindsay.<br />
The lobby display he set up as part of<br />
his "Picnic" campaign merited the award,<br />
page 169.<br />
Best original idea of the month was submitted<br />
by Dennis Leslie, who runs the Gold<br />
Coast Theatre in Chicago. His programming<br />
of silent films as a means of boosting<br />
his boxoffice take is reported on page 154.<br />
Maude and Jeff Jefferis, operators of the<br />
Pine Hill Drive-In in Piedmont, Mo., won<br />
recognition for their month-long program<br />
bulletin which has become a regular institution<br />
in the area. Description of the<br />
latest program can be found on page 151.<br />
Winning the award for the most attractive<br />
theatre front in June was Manager<br />
Abe Ludacer of the Valentine Theatre,<br />
Toledo, Ohio. Ludacer made good use of<br />
lifesize artwork of Ava Gardner as the<br />
basis of his striking display for "Bhowani<br />
Junction," page 153.<br />
SAFETY PROGRAM CITED<br />
Peter Perakos jr. of Perakos Theatre<br />
Associates in New Britain, Conn., received<br />
a Citation for the best public relations<br />
campaign reported in Showmandiser last<br />
month. Perakos embarked upon a safety<br />
program this past school year at the Aixh<br />
Street Theatre, page 153.<br />
A steady contributor to these pages is<br />
Manager Sid Kleper of Loew's College Theatre<br />
in New Haven, Conn. For his window<br />
displays in connection with the engagement<br />
of "Gaby." he picked up another Citation<br />
award, page 165.<br />
In the general tieup category, last<br />
month's winner was Ed Schoenthal, manager<br />
of the Fi-emont Theatre in Fremont,<br />
Neb. Schoenthal arranged a three-way<br />
tieup with a photographer and a sporting<br />
goods store that was mutually profitable<br />
for all concerned, page 165.<br />
Al Meskis, manager of the Warner Theatre<br />
in Milwaukee, won an award for a<br />
Co-op on "The Harder They Fall."<br />
Peter Perakos Jr.<br />
A. B. JefferisA<br />
Ken Garbig<br />
Sid Kleper<br />
Syd Frcedman
BOXOFFICE BAROMETER<br />
This chorf records the performance of current attractions in the opening week of their first runs in<br />
the 20 key cities checked. Pictures with fewer than five engagements ore not listed. As new runs<br />
arc reported, ratings ore added and averages revised. Computation is in terms of percentage in<br />
relation to normal grosses as determined by the theatre managers. With 100 per cent as "normal,"<br />
the figures show the gross rating above or below that mark.
1 Three<br />
SF.<br />
. . . My.<br />
.<br />
I<br />
Rack,<br />
.<br />
.D<br />
.<br />
.<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
Feature productions bv eompany in order or rctcos Number in squore is<br />
time is in parentheses. C' is tor CinemoScopc; V VistaVlsion; % Suoersc<br />
denotes BOXOFFICE Blue lilbbon Award; io color hotogrophy. Letters am<br />
story typo: (C) Comedy; (D> Drama; (Ad) Adventure Drama; (CD) Comedy-Dr<br />
(Complete key on next page.) For review dotes and Picture Guld 90<br />
BOOKINGUIDE<br />
.<br />
>nal release date. Running<br />
M Noturoma. Symbol IJ<br />
Tibinotions thereot Indicate<br />
(M) Musical; (W) Western.<br />
mbers, see Review Digest.<br />
chart<br />
Milrial<br />
-ted/<br />
ALLIED<br />
ARTISTS<br />
Ittl ©Paris Folliei of 1956<br />
(73) M..5534<br />
Forrest Tucker. Whiting Sisters<br />
I4l Shack Out on 101 (80 ) . . D . . 5535<br />
Terry Moore, Frank Lovejoy,<br />
Keenan Wynn<br />
lip ©At Gunpoint (80) ©. .W. .5531<br />
Krecl M.icMurray. Dorothy Malone.<br />
Walter BrenDan<br />
Ifl Dio That Uranium (61) . .C. .5541<br />
Bowery Boys. Mary Beth Hughes<br />
1211 Deadliest Sin. The (75) . .D. .5601<br />
Sydney ChapUo, Audrey Daltoo<br />
Is] Invasion of the Body Snatchers<br />
(80) ® SF..5602<br />
Kevin McCarthy, nana Wynter,<br />
Klni{ Donovan<br />
|4] Atomic Man, The (78) . .5612<br />
Gene Nelson, Faith Domergue<br />
111 Indestructible Man (70) . Ho. .5613<br />
Lon Chaney, Marian (^arr<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.SF.<br />
W.<br />
. . Ho.<br />
D<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
. D<br />
.<br />
EATURE<br />
CHART<br />
Tka K«r to lattan ond comblnotloiM Ihtraot Indicating itory typ«: (Ad) Adrcnturc-Dramo; (Ac) Aetlon-<br />
Dromo; (An) Animated-Action; (C) Comedy; (CD) Comtdy-Droma; (Cr) Crlm*-Dramo; (DM) Drama<br />
with Muilc; (Doc) Documentary; (O) Oromo; (F) Fontoiy; (FC) Force-Comody; (Ho) Horror-Drama; (HI)<br />
Hlitorkal-Droma; (M) Muilcal; (My) Myitory; (OD) Outdoor-Dromo; (SF) Sclanco-Flctlon; (W) Wattam.<br />
REPUBLIC<br />
SSKrtt Vinture (70)<br />
K(Dt Tulor, Jane Uyllon<br />
S<br />
Vanishing American, Tht<br />
(90) W<br />
8cotl Bradi. Audrey Tolter<br />
20TH-FOX<br />
Bjl<br />
©View From Pompey'i Head, The<br />
(97) © D. 525-6<br />
Richard E(an, Dana Wynter<br />
©Deep Blue Sea, The<br />
(99) © D .527-2<br />
Vlilcn l.rlth, Kenneth More<br />
©Good Morning, Miss Dove<br />
(107) © 0.. 528-0<br />
Jennifer Jones, Robert Black<br />
UNITED ARTISTS g ^g<br />
.'.. Big Knife. The (111) .0 . .5532<br />
Jack I'alanrc. Ida Luplno.<br />
Blirllcy Winters. Rod Slelger<br />
an With the Gun (83) . .5535<br />
Robert Mllchum. Jan Sterling<br />
UNIVERSAL-INT'L<br />
B ti WARNER BROS.<br />
|i|©l Died a Thousand Times<br />
(109) © D..505<br />
Jack Palance, Shelley Winters<br />
SJ ©Sincerely Yours<br />
(115) M..506<br />
l.lborace. Dorothy Malone,<br />
Joanne Dru<br />
©Rains of Ranchlpur, The<br />
(104) © D.. 529-8<br />
Lana Turner, Richard Burton,<br />
Fred MacMurray<br />
©Heidi and Peter (89) D..5538<br />
Etsbcth SIgmund, l^omas Klametli<br />
OIndian Fighter, The<br />
(88) © 00 .5537<br />
Kirk Douglas, Elsa MartlnelU<br />
Top Gun (73) W..5536<br />
Sterling Bayden, Booth<br />
Karen<br />
Running Wild (81) D..S604<br />
\Vm. Campbell, Mamie Van Doren<br />
©Second Greatest Sex, The<br />
(89) © M..5606<br />
Jeaime Crain, George Nader<br />
Tarantula (80) Ho.. 5605<br />
John Agar, 0>rday<br />
Mara<br />
a§ Target Zero (92) D..508<br />
Richard Conte. Peggie Castle<br />
m ©Court-Martial of Billy<br />
Mitchell (100) © D..507<br />
Gary Cooper. Ralph Bellamy<br />
(U QFIame of (hi liluidi<br />
(90) D..5502<br />
Yionne Hosard Dutr.<br />
De Carlo.<br />
Zach-iry Scott<br />
a Jaguar (66) Ad. 5531<br />
Sabu. Barton Mactane<br />
Track the Man Down<br />
(73) D..5S33<br />
Kent Ta)'lor. Petula Qark<br />
CD Hidden Guns (65) W. .5534<br />
Bruce Bennett. Mchsrd .\rlen<br />
S When Gangland Strikes<br />
(70) Cr..5535<br />
Kannond Qreenlea/. Marjle Millar<br />
a ©Doctor at Sea (92) ®.C..5504<br />
Dirk Bogarde. Brlgllte B;irdol<br />
©Lieutenant Wore Skirts, The<br />
(101) © C, 601-5<br />
Tom K«ell, Sheree North<br />
©Bottom of the Bottle, The<br />
(88) © D .602-3<br />
Van Johnson, Ruth Roman,<br />
Joseph Cotten<br />
©Man Who Never Was, The<br />
(103) © D.. 603-1<br />
nirton Wrbb, Gloria Graliame<br />
(JOCarousel (127) ©55. DM. .604-9<br />
Gordon MacRae. Shirley Jones<br />
Man With the Golden Arm, The<br />
(119) D..5540<br />
Frank Sinatra, Eleanor Parker,<br />
Kim Novak<br />
. Storm Fear (88) D 5539<br />
Cornel Wilde, Jean Wallace<br />
Three Bad Sisters (75) 5602<br />
Br.imflrld<br />
Maria English, John<br />
Is . . Killer Loose, The (73) D. .5608<br />
Joseph Cotlen, Rhonda Fleming.<br />
WLMidell Corey<br />
QLet's Make Up (72) . . M. .5604<br />
Errtil Flynn, Anna Neagle<br />
SManfish (76) Ad.. 5607<br />
Jolin Bromfield. Jory<br />
Victor<br />
Shadow of the Eagle (93) D..5605<br />
Richard Greene, Valentlna Cortesa<br />
©All That Heaven Allows<br />
(89) O..5609<br />
Jane Wyman, Hud.son<br />
Rock<br />
©Spoilers, The (84) D..5607<br />
Jeff Chandler, Anne Baxter,<br />
Rory Calhoun<br />
Square Jungle, The (86) D . . . . 5608<br />
Tony Curtis. Ernest Borgnlne<br />
©Benny Goodman Story. The<br />
(116) M. .5611<br />
Steve Allen, Donna Reed<br />
There's Always Tomorrow<br />
(84) D..5610<br />
Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray,<br />
Joan Bennett<br />
g ©Hell on Frisco Bay<br />
(98) © D..509<br />
Alan Ladd, Joanne Dm<br />
5 ©Helen of Troy © (115). D.. 510<br />
Rossana I'odesta. Jack Scrnas<br />
IQLonc Ranger, The (86) W..511<br />
Clayton Moore, Bonlta Granville<br />
SOCome Next<br />
Soring<br />
(92) D..5505<br />
8t«e Cochran. Ann Sheridan<br />
S ©Magic Fire (90) DM . . 5503<br />
Vronne De Carlo. Carlos Thompson<br />
; Stranger at My Door<br />
(87) D..5507<br />
Macdonald Carey, Patricia Medina<br />
i Terror at Midnight (70). My. .5536<br />
Scott Brady. Joan Voba<br />
a ©Maverick Queen<br />
(90) (H) W. .5509<br />
Barbara Stanwyck. Barry SuIUvan<br />
©On the Threshold of Space<br />
(96) © SF. 605-6<br />
Guy Madison, Virginia Lelth<br />
UOMan in the Gray Flannel<br />
Suit. The (152) ©..D.. 606-4<br />
Gregory Peck. Jennifer Jones<br />
Krcdrlc March. .Marlsa Pavan<br />
QRevolt of Mamie Stover, The<br />
(93) © D.. 608-0<br />
Jane Russell, Richard Egan<br />
©Mohawk (79) OD.. 609-8<br />
Scott Brady, Rita Gam,<br />
Neville Brand<br />
©Hilda Crane (85) ©.... D. .611-4<br />
Jean Simmons. Jean Pierre Aumont.<br />
Guy Madison<br />
©23 Paces to Baker Street<br />
(103) © D. .607-2<br />
Van Johnson. Vera Miles<br />
©Proud Ones, The (94) ©.D. .610-6<br />
Robert Ryan, Virginia Mayo<br />
Ghost Town (75) W. .5610<br />
Kent Taylor, Marian Carr<br />
Patterns (83) 0..5612<br />
Van Benin. Beatrice Straiglil<br />
©Comanche (87) © W..5611<br />
Dana Andrews. Linda Crista)<br />
Sea Shall Not Have Them, The<br />
(91) Ad.. 5606<br />
Miohael Redgrave. Dirk Bogarde<br />
©Alexander the Great<br />
Kettles in the Ozarks (81) . C. .5615<br />
Marjorie Main, Arthur Hunnlcutt<br />
(141) © D..5621<br />
Richard Burton. Claire Bloom.<br />
Fredric March (Prerelease)<br />
©Backlash (84) W..5616<br />
Timetable (79) D..5609 Itlchard Wldmark. Donna Reed<br />
.Mark Stevens. Felicia Farr<br />
Broken Star (82) W..5614 Creature Walks Among Us, The<br />
Houard Duff. Llta Baron<br />
Unknown .5620<br />
(78) SF..5617<br />
Creeping (78) .<br />
Jeff Morrow, Snowden<br />
I>elgh<br />
Brian Donlev7, Margia Dean<br />
Crime Against Joe (69) . .My. .5615<br />
John Bromfield. Julie London<br />
©(}uincannon. Frontier Scout<br />
(83) W..5616<br />
Ti>nv Martin, Peggie Castle<br />
©Foreign Intrigue (100) . .D. .5626<br />
RnbtTt Mitchiim. Genevieve Page<br />
Unidentified Flying Objects<br />
(91) Doc. 5625<br />
©Never Say Goodbye (96) . .D. .5613<br />
Hock Hudson, Cornell Borchers<br />
©Red Sundown (81) W. .5614<br />
Rory Calhoun, Martha Hyer<br />
World in My Corner (82) . . .5612<br />
Aiidie Murphy. Barbara Rush<br />
Touch and Go (85) C..56S1<br />
Jack Hawkins, Margaret Johnston<br />
©Day of Fury, A (78) . . . . W. 5619<br />
Dale Robertson, Mars Corday,<br />
Jock Mafaoney<br />
g] Our Miss Brooks (85)<br />
Eve Ardcn. Don Porter<br />
. . -C. -515<br />
SRiver Changes, The (91)-.D..513<br />
Rossana Rory, Harold Maresch<br />
a<br />
Steel Jungle, The (86).. D.. 514<br />
Perry Lopez, Beverly Garland<br />
It] Miracle in the Rain (107) D..512<br />
Jane Wyman, Van Johnson<br />
m<br />
a<br />
©Serenade (121) DM.. 516<br />
Mario Lanza. Joan Fontaine<br />
Serlta Montell, Vincent Price<br />
Goodbye, My Udy (95).. D.. 517<br />
Brandon de Wilde, Walter Brennan<br />
§ ©Searchers, The (119) (».W. .518<br />
John Wayne. Natalie Wood,<br />
Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles<br />
SOZanzabuku (64) Doc.. 5508<br />
Lestls Cotloir's African S,ifarl<br />
S ©Circus Girl (S8) D..5506<br />
Special production<br />
a ©Dakota Incident (..).W..<br />
Linda Darnell, Dale Robertson<br />
©D-Day the 6tli of June<br />
(105) © D.. 612-2<br />
Robert Taylur. Dana Wynter,<br />
Eilmond O'Brien, Richard Todd<br />
©Abdullah's Harem (88) .CD. .613-0<br />
Grei;ory Ratoff, Kay Kendall<br />
©Massacre (76) W.. 614-8<br />
Dane Clark, Marta Roth<br />
©King and 1. The<br />
(133) ©55 DM., 615-5<br />
Deborah Kerr. Brynner<br />
Yul<br />
(Special engagements)<br />
OQueen of Babylon (..) D..<br />
Rhonda Fleming. Ricardo Montalban<br />
Barefoot Battalion (63) D .<br />
Maria Cosli. Nicos Fermas<br />
(Reviewed 5-6-54)<br />
©Kiss Before Dying (90) ©.D..5622<br />
Robert Wagner, Jeffrey Hunter<br />
Nightmare (89) D..5627<br />
Edw. G. Robinson, Kevin McCarthy<br />
©Star of India (84) Ad . . 5623<br />
Coinel Wilde. Jean Wallace<br />
. The (83) Black Sleep, .5617<br />
Basil Rathbone, Bela Lugosi<br />
Shadow of Fear (76) D..5630<br />
Mona Freema n, Maxwell Reed<br />
©Trapeze (105) © D . . 5629<br />
Burt Lancaster, Tony Courtis,<br />
Gina Lollobrlgida. Katy Jurado<br />
Johnny Concho (86) W..5631<br />
Frank Sinatra, Phyllis Kirk<br />
Killing, The (83) Cr..5624<br />
Sterling Hayden. (^leen Gray<br />
Rebel in Town (78) W..561S<br />
John Payne, Ruth Roman<br />
©Star in the Dust (80) . W. .5620<br />
John Agar, Mamie Van Doren<br />
Outside the Law (80) Cr. .5621<br />
Ray Danton, Leigh Snowden<br />
©Rawhide Years, The (85). W.. 5622<br />
Tony Curtis. Colleen Miller<br />
©Congo Crossing (83) ... Ad . . 5623<br />
George Nader. Virginia Mayo<br />
©Toy Tiger (94) CD.. 5624<br />
Jeff Chandler. Tim Hovey,<br />
l^aralne Day<br />
Behind the High W/all (85). D.. 5629<br />
Tom TuUy, Sylvia Sidney<br />
B) As Long as You're Near Me<br />
(101) D.-519<br />
W. Fischer, Maria Schell<br />
a ©Animal World (82) . .Doc .520<br />
plus<br />
Nature feature (photography<br />
animation)<br />
gg©Moby Dick (116) .<br />
Richard Basehart,<br />
Gregory Peck.<br />
Leo (lenn. Orson Welles<br />
( Special engagements only)<br />
[7] ©Santiago (93) Ad.. 524<br />
Alan Ladd. Rossana PodesU,<br />
Lloyd Nolan<br />
i] ©Satellite in the Sky<br />
(85) © ...j^SF..525<br />
Kleron Moore, Lois Maxwell,<br />
Donald Wolflt<br />
S OThunder Over Arizona<br />
(•) (S) W..<br />
Skip Homeler. Krlstlne Miller<br />
©Last Wagon. The (..) ©.W..<br />
E ©Lisbon (. .) ® D.<br />
Richard Wldmark. Felicia Farr<br />
Ray Milland. Maureen O'Hara<br />
H Strange Adventure. A<br />
(•)<br />
P..<br />
Joan Evans. Ben Cooper<br />
©Woman's Devotion D.Sep OBetween Heaven & Hell ©.D..Sep<br />
Robert Wagner, Cameron Mitchell<br />
©<br />
Ralph<br />
©Daniel<br />
.Meeker,<br />
Boone.<br />
Janice Rule<br />
Trailblazer. Ad. .Sep ©Bigger Than Life D . . Sep<br />
Bmce Bennett. Lon Chaney<br />
James Mason, Barbara Rush<br />
Strange Adventure D . ©Best Thinos in Life Are<br />
Joan Evans. Ben Cooper<br />
©Congress Dances M Oct<br />
(^man cast<br />
.<br />
(special production)<br />
Hinky Dinky Parley Vous C.<br />
Mickey RooDey. WaJly Ooi<br />
Man in Question. The D..<br />
Ella Raines, Derek Farr<br />
©Osceola OD .<br />
James Oalg, Lita Milan<br />
©Bus Stop (. .) © CD.<br />
Mariljn Monroe, Don Murray<br />
© Ambassador's Daughter, The<br />
(..) © CD..<br />
Olivia de BaiUland, J. Forsythe<br />
Hot Cars (. .) Ac.<br />
John Bromfield, Jol Lan.sing<br />
©Huk (..) D..<br />
George Montgomery, Mona Freeman<br />
©Run for the Sun (. .) ©.Ad.<br />
Richard Widmark, Jane Greer<br />
Emergency Hospital D<br />
Maigaret Undsay. Walter Reed<br />
Fragile Fox D . . Sep<br />
Jack Palance. Eddie Albert<br />
Beast of Hollow Mt. © Ad..<br />
Guy Madison. Patricia Medina<br />
Wild Party D..<br />
.\nthony Qulnn. Carol Ohmart<br />
Pharaoh's Curse Ho.<br />
Diane Brewster<br />
Mark Dana.<br />
©Bandido © D. .<br />
Robert Mltchum, Thiess<br />
Ursula<br />
Five Steps to Terror My..<br />
Sterling Hayden. Ruth Roman<br />
Flight to Hong Kong D .<br />
Rory Calhnun. Dolores Donlon<br />
©Revolt at Ft Laramie W..<br />
Don Gordon, John Dehner<br />
©Away All Boats (114) (V1.D..5626<br />
Jeff Chandler, George Nader<br />
Francis in the Haunted<br />
House (80) C..5625<br />
.Mickey Rooney, Virginia Welles<br />
©Walk the Proud Land ©..W..Sep<br />
Audle Murphy. Anne Bancroft<br />
©Raw Edge 0D..Sep<br />
Rory Calhoun. Yvonne De Carlo<br />
©Showdown at Abilene W. .Oct<br />
Jock Mahoney. Martha Hyer<br />
©Pillars of the Sky © D. .Oct<br />
Jeff (handler. Dorothy Malone<br />
©Written on the Wind 0. .<br />
Rock Hudson. Lauren Bacall<br />
©Unguarded Moment. The D..<br />
Esther Williams. George Nader<br />
©Kelly and Me © M..<br />
Van Johnson. Piper Laurie<br />
Mole People. The Ho. .<br />
John Agar. CiTithia Patrick<br />
©Istanbul © Ad..<br />
Errol Flynn. Cornell Borchers<br />
a ©Seven Men From Now<br />
(78) yy-^^^<br />
Randolph Scott, Gall Russell<br />
©Burning Hills, The W.<br />
Tab Hunter, Natalie Wood<br />
Bad Seed, The 0.<br />
Kelly, Nancy Patty McCormack<br />
©Giant<br />
D<br />
Elizabeth Taylor. Bock Hudson<br />
©Spirit of St. Louis © D.<br />
James Stewart. Sheila Bond<br />
©Toward the Unknown D.<br />
William Holden. Vlrjinla Lelth<br />
Baby Doll 0-<br />
Karl Maiden. Carroll Baler<br />
Grass ©Buffalo W.<br />
,Uan Ladd. Virgtoia Maye<br />
Wrong Man. The 0.<br />
Henry Fonda. Vera MHh<br />
Girl He Left Behind, The C.<br />
Tab Hunter. Natalie Wood<br />
BOXOFHCE BookinGuide<br />
: : July 14, 1956
: July<br />
Dec<br />
Doc<br />
. D<br />
. Feb<br />
. Feb<br />
. Apr<br />
. Mar<br />
. May<br />
. .Jun<br />
.Apr<br />
Dec<br />
Dec<br />
Apr<br />
Feb<br />
FEATURE CHART<br />
^HORTS CHART<br />
INDEPENDENT |. t|<br />
-teci/<br />
AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL<br />
Beau Witn a Millian Eyes (7g) . .SF. .Oct 55<br />
I'diil UiK-h, Lurnu Ihayer<br />
Operation Malaya (65)... Doc. Oct 55<br />
Spi'clal ca.sl<br />
Day the World Ended (80) ;Si. SF. .<br />
55<br />
K'lchard iMinliii;, l.ori .Nilsiin<br />
Phantom From 10.000 Leagues<br />
SF..Dtc55<br />
(SO)<br />
['.nylnr. Knii Cathv l>o»ns<br />
Oklahoma Woman (73) D.. May 56<br />
liiftmrd Iicnning. Peggie Castle<br />
Female Jungle (71) O..Jun56<br />
Ja>ne Mansfk'UI, Lawrence TIerney<br />
ARLAN<br />
Living North. The (74) Doc.<br />
Filmed in Laplaiid: native cast<br />
(Kngli.'ih<br />
narration)<br />
ASSOCIATED FILM<br />
Last of the Desperados (71) W.. Dec 55<br />
.lanKs Craig, .Margla Dean<br />
Two-Gun Lady (76) W.. Dec 55<br />
IVi;ele raslle. William Talman<br />
Wild Oakotas (73) W.. Feb 56<br />
Bill Williams. Coleen Oray. Jim Da*<br />
Blonde Bait (71) D. .Apr 56<br />
Be\fT\y Michaels, Jim Davis<br />
Three Outlaws, Th« (..) W.. May 56<br />
Ni'iUle Brand, Brace Bennett<br />
ASTOR<br />
Fear (S2) D..<br />
'iL'riil Berirman. Mathlas Wleman<br />
Dynamiters. The (74) D.. Apr 56<br />
Wajne Slorrls, Slmone Sllvi<br />
BANNER<br />
©Wetbacks (S6) AC .. May 56<br />
LUiyd Bridges, Nancy Gates<br />
I'edri) .Vrraondariz. .\ndre^ Vplasfjuez<br />
©Great Locomotive Chase (85) ©..D.. Jul 56<br />
IVs, Parker. Jeff Hunter<br />
©Davy Crockett and the River<br />
Pirates (..) Ad.. Jul 56<br />
Pess Parker. Buddy Ebsen<br />
CONTINENTAL<br />
Hill 24 Doesn't Answer (100) D . . Nov 55<br />
Michael Wager. Haya Hararit<br />
IBnslish<br />
dialog)<br />
. . D Feb 56<br />
SUchael Redgrave, .Alexander Knox<br />
©Ladykillcrs. The (93) D.. Mar 56<br />
.\Iec Guinness, Cecil Parker. Katie Johnson<br />
. ) D . . May 56<br />
DCA<br />
Wages of Fear (106) D . . Feb 56<br />
Yves .Montand. Charles Vancl<br />
Please Murder Me (76) D.. Mar 56<br />
.\n.;i-l:i Lansbury, Raymond Burr<br />
Jedda the Uncivilized (..) D.. Mar 56<br />
.N.irla Kiinolh, Hubert Tuda Wall<br />
Frisky (98) CD.. Apr 56<br />
fiina Lollohrlgida. Sica<br />
Vlttorlo De<br />
Woman of Rome. The ( .<br />
Glna Lollobriglda. D.inlel Gelln<br />
EDEN<br />
One Way Ticket to Hell (65) D .. Feb 56<br />
Non-professional cast<br />
EMBASSY<br />
Wiretapper (80) D . . Feb 56<br />
Bill Williams. Georgia Lee<br />
Godzilla, King of the Monsters<br />
(80) Ho.. Apr 56<br />
Raymond Burr, Japanese cast<br />
(Eng. dialog and narration)<br />
FINE<br />
ARTS<br />
Strangers (80) D. .<br />
Ingrld Bergman, (korge Sanders<br />
GIBRALTAR<br />
©Fury in Paradise (77) D..<br />
Peter Thomi)son, Rea Iturbide<br />
Silent Fear (66) D..<br />
Andrea King, Peter Adams<br />
HOFFBERG<br />
Vengeance of the Black Eagle,<br />
The (..) Ad..<br />
Rossano Brazzl, Canale<br />
Glanna Maria<br />
(Filmed In Mexico; English dialog)<br />
HOWCO<br />
Lum and Abner Abroad (72) C..FebS6<br />
I.iim and Abner, Jill Alls<br />
©Mnaga (. .) Ad. May 56<br />
Sabu<br />
IFE<br />
©Lease of Life (93) D.. Jan 56<br />
Robert Donat. Kay Walsh<br />
(English dialog)<br />
©Lost Continent (95) © Doc. May 56<br />
Travelog of Indonesian Islands<br />
(English narration)<br />
©Madame Butterfly<br />
(114) Filmed Opera.. Jun 56<br />
LOUIS deROCHEMONT<br />
Great Adventure. The (72) Doc. Sep 55<br />
Allri' .-:iii'k.,il,irrf, An.llT, .V..thutK<br />
Helen Keller in Her Story (formerly<br />
"The Untoniiuered") (55) .Apr 56<br />
.Nari.fteil h) KalliiTllie Cornell<br />
MAGNA<br />
Okl.ahoma! (150) T-AO DM .<br />
Oct 55<br />
(.union MacKae. Shirley Jones<br />
TOP PICTURES<br />
^Frontier Woman (SO) W.. Jul 56<br />
Cindy Carson, Lance Mm Kelly<br />
Fuller,<br />
TRANS-LUX<br />
©Dance Little Lady (87) D. Mar 56<br />
Mai Zcil.aliiig, Terence Mo.gan<br />
Lovers and Lollipops (S5) CD .Apr 56<br />
Lori ,Mareh, Gerald U'Luughlln<br />
VAN WOLF-API<br />
Dementia (55) D.<br />
Adrienne Barrett, Bruno Ve Sola<br />
SPicasso (50) Doc .<br />
A lour ot the artist's vvork<br />
VISUAL DRAMA<br />
BUENA VISTA<br />
REISSUES<br />
UQAfrican Lion, The (73) Doc. Oct 5b<br />
©Littlest Outlaw, The (75) D . . Feb 56<br />
BUENA VISTA<br />
Sins of Pompeii (73) D. .<br />
Georges Marcbal, Micheline Preble<br />
WOOLNER BROS.<br />
Swamp Women (75) D.. Apr 56<br />
Keiirly Garland, Marie C. Matheivs<br />
Windsor,<br />
3Fantasia (81) M . 55<br />
(Siipcrsctipe added. «ith -l-track sound and<br />
stereophonic sound.)<br />
©Song of the South (95) M 56<br />
Uiilh Warrick. Bobby Uriscoll. Liiana Patten<br />
OCA<br />
Brute Force (96) D. Jun 56<br />
Burt Lancaster, Carlo<br />
Yvonne De<br />
Naked City (96) D.. Jun 56<br />
llouard Duff, Barry Fitzgerald<br />
HOWCO<br />
©Outlaw Women (80) W .<br />
55<br />
.Marie Windsor, iiichard Rober. J. Coogan<br />
(States<br />
MGM<br />
Rights)<br />
Stratton Story, The (106) D Feb 56<br />
James Stewart, June Allyson<br />
©Three Musketeers (126)) D.. Feb 56<br />
Ilefliji<br />
Lana Turner, Gene Kellv. Van<br />
©Northwest Passage (126) D 55<br />
Spencer Tracy, Robert Young, Ruth Hiissey<br />
©Yearling, The (128) D . . Mar 56<br />
G. Peck. J Wyman. Claude Jarman jr.<br />
©Annie Get Your Gun (107) M.. Jun 55<br />
Betty lliitton, Howard Keel, Louis (^Ihem<br />
PARAMOUNT<br />
©Streets of Laredo (92) W. . May 56<br />
William Holden, Macdonald Carey<br />
Two Years Before the Mast (98) . . 56<br />
Alan Ladd, Brian llonlevy, William Bpndix<br />
©Whispering Smith (89) W. May 56<br />
Alan Ladd. Robert Preston. B. M.ushall<br />
RKO<br />
One Minute to Zero (105) D.. Mar 56<br />
Robert Mltchum. Ann Blyth<br />
Big Sky, The (112) 0D..Apr56<br />
Kirk Houdas. Dewey Martin, E. Threatt<br />
©Flying Leathernecks (102) D. May 56<br />
John Wayne, Robert Ryan, Carter<br />
Janls<br />
Lusty Men (113) .. May 55<br />
Susan Hay«ard. Robert Mllehiim<br />
King Kong (100) F-Ad..Jun56<br />
Bnicp Cabot, Kav Robert Armstrnni;<br />
Wray.<br />
I Walked With a Zombie (69) ... Ho. .Jun 56<br />
Frances Dee, James Ellison, Tom Conway<br />
UNIVERSAL-INT'L<br />
©Tap Roots (109) D . . May 56<br />
Van Hcflln, Susan Haward, Ward Bond<br />
©Kansas Raiders (80) W. May 56<br />
Audle Murphy, Tony Curtis, B. Dunlevy<br />
UNITED ARTISTS<br />
High Noon (85) W. .Jun 56<br />
Gary CiiopiT. Grace Kaly Jurado<br />
Kelly,<br />
WARNER BROS.<br />
Distant Drums (101) W. .Jun 56<br />
Gary Cnoper, Marl Aldon<br />
Dallas (94) W. Jun 56<br />
Gary Cooper, Riitb Roman<br />
COLUMBIA<br />
ALL-STAR COMEDIES<br />
B411 One Spooky Night, (16). Sep 55 -f 10- 8<br />
S412 He Took a Powder (17) Oct 55<br />
3-J13 Hook a Crook (16) ... Nov 55 ...<br />
8414 Come On Seven (16).. Feb 56 ~ 4-21<br />
8415 Army D.aze (I6I/2) . . . Mar 56<br />
S416Andy Goes Wild (17).Apr56<br />
ASSORTED FAVORITES<br />
3421 Honeymoon Blues (17). Sep 55<br />
8422 The Jury Goes Round 'n<br />
Round (18) Nov 55<br />
8423 Should Husbands Marry?<br />
(17) Dec 55<br />
8424 Black Eyes & Blue<br />
(ISI/2) Feb 56<br />
8425 Renovated (IS'/j) Mar 56<br />
8426 Get Along Little Zombie<br />
(17) May 56<br />
CANDID MICROPHONE<br />
(One-Reel Specials)<br />
8551 Subject 3. Series 2 (11) Sep 55<br />
S552 Subject 4, Series 2<br />
(lOi/s) Dec 55<br />
8553 Subject 5. Series 2 (11) Jan 56<br />
8554 Subj. 5, Ser. 2 (10!/2)-Mar 56<br />
8555 Suhj. 1. Ser. 3 (11) . 56<br />
S556 Subject 2. Scries 3 (10) .Jul 56<br />
CINEMASCOPE FEATURETTE<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
B441 Wonders of Manhattan<br />
H (161 .Feb 56 1-21<br />
8442 April in Portugal (20). Apr 56<br />
COLOR FAVORITES<br />
(Technicolor<br />
8601 Tooth or Consequences<br />
Reissues)<br />
(61 2) Sen 55<br />
8502 Up 'n Atom (6) Oct 55<br />
8603 Hot Foot Lights (7).. Nov 55<br />
8604 Rippling Romance (8) . Nov 55<br />
3505 Foxy Flatfoots (6) Dec 55<br />
8506 Cagey Bird ieVzl Jan 56<br />
8607 Boston Beanie (6) Feb 56<br />
8608 Swiss Tease (6) Feb 56<br />
8609 Peekoolyar Sitcheeayshun<br />
(7) Mar 56<br />
8610 Phoney Baloney (7).. Apr 56<br />
8511 Pickled Puss (51/2) . . Apr 56<br />
8612 Uncultured Vulture<br />
(51/2) May 56<br />
8613 Be Patient, Patient (7) .Jun 56<br />
8514 Loco Lobo (6) Jun 56<br />
8615 Woodman, Scare That Tree<br />
(71/2) Jul 56<br />
COMEDY FAVORITES<br />
(Reissues)<br />
8431 Pardon My Lamb Chop<br />
(17) Oct 55<br />
3432 Radio Romeo (I71/2). . Dec 55<br />
8433 Wedlock Deadlock (16) . 55<br />
8434 Microspook (16) Mar 56<br />
8435 Flung by a Fling (16) . 56<br />
8435 Socks Appeal (I71/2) . Jun 56<br />
GERALD MC BOING-BOING<br />
(CinemaScope-Technicolor)<br />
8511 Gerald McBoing-Boing on<br />
Planet Moo (7) Feb 56<br />
MR. MAGOO<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
3701 Stage Door Magoo (7) .Oct 55<br />
MR. MAGOO CINEMASCOPE SPECIAL<br />
3751 Magoo Makes News (6) . Dec 55<br />
8752 Marjoo's Canine Mutiny<br />
(51/2) Mar 56<br />
8753 Magoo Goes West (6) . .Apr 56<br />
8754 Calling Dr. Magoo<br />
(6I/2) May 56<br />
8755 Magoo Beats the Heat<br />
(6) I 56<br />
SCREEN SNAPSHOTS<br />
Hollywood Bronc Busters<br />
(9) Sep 55 ± 11-19<br />
Great Al Jolson (11). Oct 55<br />
Hollywood Premiere<br />
(10) Nov 55<br />
Ramblin' Hollywood<br />
Around<br />
(lOi/j) Dec 55<br />
Hollywood Goes A-fishin'<br />
(IOI/2) Jan 56<br />
Hollywood Small Fry<br />
(11) Feb 56 ± 3-24<br />
H'ywood City of Stars<br />
(9) Mar 56<br />
Playtime in Hollywood<br />
(91/2) May 56<br />
Mr. Rhythm's Holiday<br />
(9) Jun 56<br />
Fabulous H'ywood (..).Jul56<br />
SERIALS<br />
(15 Chapters)<br />
8120 The Sea Hound Sep 55<br />
8140 Perils of the Wilderness. Jan 56 4- 3-3<br />
8160 Monster & the Ape. . .Apr 56<br />
8180 Blazing the Overland<br />
Trail Aug 56<br />
STOOGE COMEDIES<br />
(Reiiiues)<br />
S401 Wnam-Bam-Slam (ibi.SepSS -^ 10- 8<br />
IS-4U2 Hot ice (J6'/:>l Ocl 55 ...<br />
8403 Blunder Boys (16). :-12 Saved by the Bell (6) Sep 55<br />
BOXOFHCE BookinGuide :<br />
14, 1956
Sep<br />
Dec<br />
Nov<br />
.<br />
SHORTS<br />
CHART<br />
ubiecti, llJtcd by compony, In order of rslcoio. Running time foliowi title. Fiut l> notional rcleos«<br />
iccond tho doto of review In BOXOFFICE. Symbol between dotes 1$ roting from BOXOFFICE<br />
,1 Very Good. * Good. ~ Fair. - Poor. = Very Poor. Photography: Color ond process os specified.<br />
iz a: Q a: 0:0<br />
CASPER CARTOONS<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
BlS-1 Red. While & Boo (6) Oct 55 + 1-28<br />
B15-2 Boo Kind to Animall<br />
(6) Dec 55 + 1-21<br />
B15-3 Ground Hog Pl»> (6). Feb 56 + 3-17<br />
B15-4 Dutch Treat (6) Aor 56 + 5-26<br />
BIS-S Penguin lor Your Thoughts<br />
(7) Jun 56 ....<br />
GRANTLANO RICE SPORTLIGHTS<br />
RI5.I Sporting Dogs Afield<br />
(9) Ocl5S + 10-22<br />
R15-2A Nition ol Athletes<br />
(9) Nov 55 + 1-28<br />
R15-3 AnimalSports Quiz<br />
(9) Feb 56 + 3-24<br />
R15-5 Carolini Court Champs'<br />
(10) Mar 56 + 5-26<br />
R15-4 Winter Wonder Trails<br />
(9) Apr 56 + 6-9<br />
R15-6 Men Who Can Take It<br />
(9) Jun 56<br />
HEADLINER CHAMPIONS<br />
(Reissues)<br />
A15-1 •Tain! So (10) Sep 55<br />
A15-2 Moiikeyshines (9).... Sep 55<br />
A15-3 Be Kind to Animals<br />
(8) Sep 55 ....<br />
A15-4 From A to Zoo (9) 55<br />
HERMAN & KATNIP<br />
(Technicolor<br />
Cartoons)<br />
H15-1 Mousieur Herman (6) Nov 55 1-21<br />
H15-2 Mouseum (6) Feb 56 + 3-17<br />
H15-3 Will Do Mousework<br />
(6) Jun 56<br />
NOVELTOONS<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
P15-1 Rabbit Punch (6) Sep 55 + 12- 3<br />
P15-2 Little Audrey Riding Hood<br />
(6) Oct 55 + 12- 3<br />
P15-3 Kitty Cornered (6) . Dec 55 -(- 1-21<br />
P15-4 Sleuth but Sure (6) . Mar 56 + 5-26<br />
P15-5 Swab the Duck (6) . . May 56<br />
POPEYE CARTOONS<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
£15-1 Mister & Mistletoe (6) Sep 55 12- 3<br />
E15.2C00S Is Tops (6I/2) Nov 55 1-21<br />
.<br />
E15.3A Job for a Gob (6) . Dec 55 + 1-21<br />
E15-4 Hillbilling & Cooing<br />
(6) Jan 56 + 1-21<br />
Popeye E15-5 for President<br />
(6) Apr 56 -f 5-26<br />
E15-6 Out to Punch (6) Jun 56<br />
TOPPERS<br />
M15-1 Three Kisses (10) ...Oct 55 + 12- 3<br />
M15-2 Reunion in Paris (10) Nov 55 + 1-28<br />
M15-3 Animals a la Carte<br />
(10) Jan 56 ± 1-21<br />
M15-4 There's Gold in Them<br />
Thrills (10) Mar 56 - 3-31<br />
MlS-SUps and Downs (9). May 56+ 5-26<br />
VISTAVISION SPECIALS<br />
V15-2 VV Visits Panama<br />
(10) Jun 56<br />
RKO RADIO<br />
BROWN-KIRKWOOD REISSUES<br />
63.601 Heart Troubles (16). Sep 55<br />
63.602 Put Some Money in the Pot<br />
(17) Nov 55<br />
DISNEY CARTOONS<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
54.114 Beezy Bear (7) Sep 55 -f 10-22<br />
54.115 lip a Tree (7) Sep 55<br />
54.116 Chips (7) Feb 56 +f Ahoy 4-7<br />
54.117 Hooked Bear (7)... Apr 56+ 4-28<br />
EDGAR KENNEDY REISSUES<br />
63.501 No More Relatives<br />
(18) Sep 55<br />
63.502 How to Clean House<br />
(18) Oct 55<br />
63.503 Dip That Gold (17). Nov 55<br />
63.504 Contest Crazy (17) . . Dec 55<br />
GIL LAMB REISSUES<br />
63.301 Groan and Grunt (17) Sep 55<br />
63.302 Bashful Romeo (16) . Oct 55<br />
LEON ERROL REISSUES<br />
63.701 Wife Tames Wolf (17) Sep 55<br />
63.702 Dad Always Pays<br />
(18) Oct 55<br />
63.703 Spook Speaks (19) Nov 55<br />
63.704 In Room 303 (17) . Dec 55<br />
MY PAL REISSUES<br />
63.201 Dog ol the Wild (21). Oct 55<br />
63.202 Pal. Canine Detective<br />
(22) Nov 55<br />
RAY WHITLEY REISSUES<br />
63.401 Musical Bandit (16)0ct 55<br />
.<br />
63.402 Bar Buckaroos (16) 55<br />
SCREENLINERS<br />
M.201 Gold (lO'/j) Sep 55 + 11-26<br />
64.202 Black Cats and Broomsticks<br />
(8) Oct 55 + 12-10<br />
34.203 Make Mine Memories<br />
(8) Nov 55<br />
64.204 Teenagers on Trial<br />
(8) Dec 55 + 1-14<br />
64.205 Her Honor, the Nurse<br />
(8) Jan 56<br />
54 206 Fortune Seekers (8) Feb 56 3-24<br />
64.207 We Never Sleep (8). Mar 56 + 4-28<br />
54.208 Where Is Jane Doe?<br />
(8) Mar 56 + 4-28<br />
54.209 Merchandise Mart<br />
(g) Aor 56 + 4-28<br />
64.210 Phonies Beware! (8). May 56 +7-7<br />
SPECIALS<br />
Now<br />
63.101 The Future Is<br />
(15) Sep 55 ....<br />
63.102 Golden Glamour (15) . Oct 55 + 12-10<br />
63.103 Sentinels in the Air<br />
(15) Feb 56 + 4-7<br />
63.104 Golden Equator<br />
(13) Mar 56 + 4-28<br />
SPORTSCOPES<br />
Game Warden (8) .Sep 55 10<br />
64.301<br />
64.302 Gym College (8)<br />
.<br />
Sep 55 + 11<br />
64.303 Bonefish and Barracuda<br />
(8) Oct 55 + 12<br />
64.304 Canadian Carnival (8) Nov 55+1<br />
54.305 Headpin Hits (8)..Dec55 +<br />
Island 64.306 Windjammers<br />
(8) Jan 56 64.307 Ski-Flying (8) Feb 56 +<br />
54.308 Canadian Lancers<br />
(8) Mar 56 +<br />
64.309Strioer Time (9)..Apr56 +<br />
64.310 Races to Remember<br />
(8) May 56 +<br />
64.311 Four Minute Fever<br />
(9) Jun 56 ±<br />
SPORTS SPECIALS<br />
63.901 Football Headliners<br />
(15i/j) Dec 55 + 1-14<br />
63.801 Basketball Headliners<br />
(15) Apr 56+ 5-26<br />
WILDLIFE ALBUM<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
53,001 The Whitetail Buck<br />
(271/2) Oct 55 + 11-12<br />
20th<br />
CENTURY-FOX<br />
CINEMASCOPE SPECIALS<br />
(Color)<br />
7601-8 Lady of the Golden Door<br />
(9) Jan 56<br />
A Thoroughbred Born<br />
7602-6 Is<br />
(9) Jan 56 + 4-21<br />
7603-4 Adventure in Capri<br />
(9) Feb 56 + 4-21<br />
7608-3 Land of the Bible<br />
(21) Apr 56<br />
7605-9 Hunters of the Sea<br />
(9) May 56<br />
7609-1 The Dark (23) .Jun 56 ++ Wave 6-9<br />
of 7607-5 Cowboys the Maremma<br />
(9) Jun 56<br />
TERRYTOONS<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
5601-0 The Clockmaker's Dog<br />
(7) Jan 56 + 4-21<br />
5602-8 Miami Maniacs (7). Feb 56+ 5-26<br />
5603-6 Hep Mother Hubbard<br />
(7) Mar 56 It 5-26<br />
5604-4 Baffling Bunnies (7) . Apr 56<br />
TERRYTOON-CINEMASCOPES<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
5631-7 Park Avenup Pussycat. Jan 56 ....<br />
5632-0 Uranium Blues (7), Feb 56+ 4-28<br />
5633-3 Scouts to the Rescue<br />
(7) Mar 56 * 5-26<br />
5634-1 Oceans of Love (7). Apr 56<br />
5636-8 Lucky Dog (7) May 56<br />
5636-6 Police Dogged (7).. Jun 56<br />
TERRYTOON TOPPERS<br />
(Technicolor<br />
Reissues)<br />
5605-1 The Wolfs Pardon<br />
(7) May 56<br />
5606-9 Felix the Fox (7).. Jun 56<br />
UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL<br />
CINEMASCOPE FEATURETTE<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
2600 The Nat "King" Cole<br />
Musical Story (18) H 12-10<br />
COLOR<br />
PARADE<br />
2671 Pacific Sports (8) Nov 55<br />
2672 Fighters of the Lakes<br />
(9) Jan 56 ....<br />
2673 Blue Coast (9) Feb 56 ++ 1-28<br />
2674 Queens of Beauty (10). Apr 56 + 3-31<br />
2675 Olympic City (9) May 56 + 4-7<br />
2676 Invi'alion to New York<br />
(91/2) Jul 56 + 7-7<br />
MUSICAL FEATURETTES<br />
(16) Mar 56 + 3-31<br />
2656 Mills Brothers on Parade<br />
(16) Aor 56 + 6-9<br />
2657 Cool & Groovy (15). May 56 +6-9<br />
VARIETY VIEWS<br />
1347 Brooklyn Goes to Las Vegas<br />
(9) Sep 55 + 3-31<br />
1348 Small Wonders (9) .Oct 55+ 3-31<br />
(1955-56)<br />
Danger (9) . . 2691 Alert to .Jan 56 + 6-9<br />
2692 Brooklyn Goes to Paris<br />
(9) Feb 56 ± 4-7<br />
WALTER LANTZ CARTUNES<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
2611 The Tree Medic (6).. Oct 55 11-12<br />
2612 Pigeon Holed (6) Jan 56 + 3-3<br />
2613 After the Ball (6) Feb 56 -|- 3-3<br />
2614 Get Lost (6) Mar 56<br />
2615 Ostrich Egg<br />
(6) Apr 56 +4-7<br />
and I<br />
2616 Chief Charlie Horse<br />
4- (6) May 56<br />
2617 Room and Wrath (6) . .Jun 56 ±<br />
3-31<br />
7-7<br />
2618 Woodpecker From Mars<br />
(6) Jul 56 +7-7<br />
WALTER LANTZ REISSUES<br />
2631 D05 Tax Dodoers (7) . Feb 56<br />
2632 Playful Pelican (7) -Mar 56<br />
2633 Wet Blanket Policy (7) .Apr 56<br />
2634 Scrappy's Birthday<br />
(7) May 56<br />
2635 Wild & Woody (7). Jun 56<br />
2636 Drooler's Delight (7). Jul 56<br />
WARNER BROS.<br />
3910 24Hour Alert (30) U. S. Air<br />
Force Short (3 reels) +f 12-31<br />
BLUE RIBBON HIT PARADE<br />
(Technicolor<br />
Reissues)<br />
3301 Dogoone Cats (7).... Sep 55<br />
3302 Rattled Rooster (7) .. Oct 55<br />
3303 Fair and Wormer (7) Nov 55<br />
3304 Mousemerized Cat (7) Nov 55<br />
3305 Foghorn Leghorn (7) . Dec 55<br />
3306 Bone, Sweet Bone (7) Jan 56<br />
BUGS BUNNY SPECIALS<br />
3723 Knight-Mare Hare (7) Oct 55<br />
3724 Roman Legion-Hare<br />
(7) Nov 55 + 1-28<br />
3725 Buos Bonnets (7) Jan 56 + 3-31<br />
3726 Broomstick Bunny (7). Feb 56 + 4-21<br />
3727 Rabbitson Crusoe (7) . .Apr 56<br />
CLASSICS OF THE SCREEN<br />
3101 Small Town Idol (20). Sep 55<br />
3102 It Happened to You<br />
(18) Dec 55 1+ 2-25<br />
3103 Dog in the Orchard<br />
(20) Nov 55<br />
COLOR SPECIALS<br />
3001 Movieland Magic (19). Oct 55<br />
3002 Golden Tomorrow (17) . 55 + 1-7<br />
3003 Behind the Big Top<br />
(18) Dec 55<br />
3004 They Seek Adventure<br />
(19) Jan 56 + 3-17<br />
3005 Out of the Desert (19). Feb 56 ++ 3-31<br />
3006 Copters & Cows (17). Mar 56 +f 4-21<br />
JOE McDOAKES COMEDIES<br />
3401 So Want to be a Vice-<br />
You<br />
President (10).... Oct 55 + 12-31<br />
You Want to be a<br />
3402 So<br />
Policeman (10).... Dec 55 + 1-28<br />
3403 So You Think the Grass<br />
Is Greener (10) Jan 56 + 3-31<br />
3404 So You Want to be<br />
Pretty Mar 56 + 4-21<br />
MELODY MASTER BANDS<br />
(Reissues)<br />
3B01 Jan Savitt & Band<br />
(10) Sep 55<br />
3802 Arlie Shaw & Orch.<br />
(10) Oct 55<br />
3803 Ozzie Nelson & Orch.<br />
(10) Dec 55<br />
3804 Carl HofI & Band (10) . Feb 56<br />
3805Borrah Minevitch (10). Apr 56<br />
MERRIE MELODIES—LOONEY TUNE<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
Retire (9). Sep 55 H<br />
3701 Dime to<br />
3702 Speedy Gonzales (7). -Sep 55 3703 Two Scents Worth (7) Oct 55 +<br />
3704 Red Riding Hoodwinked<br />
(7) Oct 55<br />
3705 Heir Conditioned (7) Nov 55 +<br />
. .<br />
3706 Guided Muscle (7) Dec 55<br />
3707 Pappy's Puppy (7) Dec 55 +<br />
3708 One Froggy Evening<br />
(7) Jan 56 +<br />
3709 Too Hop to Handle<br />
(7) Jan 56 +<br />
3710 Weasel Stop (7) Feb 56 ±<br />
3711 HiQli & the Flighty (7). Feb 56 +<br />
3712 Rocket Squad (7) Mar 56 tt<br />
3713 Tweet & Sour (7) Mar 56<br />
3714 Heaven Scent (7).... Mar 56<br />
3715 Mixed Master (7) Apr 56<br />
3716 Gee Whizz-z-z (7)... May 56<br />
3- 3<br />
2-25<br />
3-24<br />
4- 7<br />
3-31<br />
4-28<br />
4-21<br />
You<br />
SPORTS PARADE<br />
Picturesgue Portugal (9) 3501 ± 1-7<br />
3502<br />
3503<br />
3504 Crashing the<br />
Barrier<br />
Fish Are Where<br />
Find Them<br />
Green Gold<br />
Water<br />
(10)<br />
(10)<br />
(10)<br />
.. ^,<br />
Mar 56 + ,<br />
,<br />
,<br />
^^<br />
Jan 56 +<br />
Feb 56 H 4-28 . . ,<br />
4-7<br />
WARNER VARIETIES<br />
3601 An Adventure to Remember<br />
(9) Oct 55 + 1-14<br />
3602 Shark Hunting (9)..-. N0V-S5 .. .<br />
3503 Faster and Faster (9). Dec 55 +4-7<br />
3604 Neckin' Party (9) Mar 56<br />
3505 I Never Forget a Face<br />
( ) Apr 56<br />
WARNERCOLOR SCOPE GEMS<br />
(Two Reel)<br />
3211 Journey to the<br />
(18)<br />
Sea<br />
Sep 55 ++3-3<br />
(One<br />
3220 Heart of an Empire<br />
Reel)<br />
Sep 55 ± Z-18<br />
(9)<br />
3222 Ski Valley (9) Sep 55 + 2-25<br />
3221 Springtime in Holland<br />
(9) Dec 55<br />
INDEPENDENT<br />
Report on Love<br />
H<br />
.<br />
(15) Edward Kingsley.<br />
Goya (20) Edward Harrison +<br />
Queen's Navy, The (20)<br />
British Information Service. ±.<br />
Grey Ghosts (21)<br />
British Information Service ±<br />
©The Heart of England (20)<br />
British Information Service. +<br />
The Rocket (17) British Information<br />
Service +<br />
Pantomimes (13) Go Pictures +f<br />
©On the 12th Day (20)<br />
George K. Arthur ++<br />
The Face of Lincoln (16) Cavalcade. ++<br />
©London's Country (IS)<br />
British Information Service. +<br />
©East Anglian Holiday (26)<br />
British Information Service. +<br />
©Festival in Edinburgh (14)<br />
British Information Service. +<br />
©Jungle Search (25)<br />
British Information Service. ±<br />
Operation Noah (28)<br />
U. S. Army Engineers +<br />
12- 3<br />
12-10<br />
1-14<br />
114<br />
1-21<br />
1-21<br />
1-21<br />
3- 3<br />
4-21<br />
6- 9<br />
6- 9<br />
7- 7<br />
7- 7<br />
7- 7<br />
7- 7<br />
(a<br />
e<br />
10 BOXOFFICE BookinGuide<br />
: :<br />
July 14. 1956
—<br />
—<br />
ALLIED ARTISTS<br />
Betrayed Women (AA) —Carole<br />
Mathews, Beverly Michaels, Peggy<br />
Knudsen. This is no big picture,<br />
but It is good. All about a<br />
women's prison. On the small<br />
side, with no big star names.<br />
Should do very well on bottom<br />
half. Played Wed.-Sat. Weather:<br />
Starting to warm up.—Harold<br />
Bell, Opera House, Coaticook,<br />
Que. Pop. 6,341.<br />
Top Gun (AA)—Sterling Hayden,<br />
William Bishop, Karen<br />
Booth. A good little western,<br />
which color would have helped.<br />
Played two Little Rascals<br />
comedies with it. They are still<br />
good, even though they were<br />
made 20 years ago. Played Fri.,<br />
Sat. Weather: Good.—B. Berglund.<br />
Bijou Theatre, Ray, N. D.<br />
Pop. 721.<br />
BUENA VISTA<br />
The (BV)—Doc-<br />
African Lion,<br />
umentary. Doubled with "Tennessee's<br />
Partner" (RKOi, but<br />
weather Just didn't cooperate.<br />
Played Sun.-Tues. — Robert B.<br />
Tuttle, Sky Drlve-In, Adrian,<br />
Mich. Pop. 18,393.<br />
COLUMBIA<br />
Apache Ambush (Col)<br />
— Bill<br />
Williams, Richard Jaeckel, Alex<br />
Montoya. Doubled with "My Sister<br />
Eileen" (Col) for one of our<br />
better early season boxoffice<br />
draws. Played Sun.-Tues. Weather:<br />
Cold.—Robert B. Tuttle, Sky<br />
Drive-In, Adrian, Mich. Pop. 18,-<br />
393.<br />
Harder They Fall, The (Col)—<br />
Humphrey Bogart, Rod Steiger,<br />
Jan Sterling. Certainly not for<br />
small town family draw. No entertainment<br />
value in the picture.<br />
My patrons certainly smelled<br />
this one out and stayed away.<br />
Played Thurs.-Sat. Weather:<br />
Good.—M. W. Long, Lans Theatre,<br />
Lansing, Iowa. Pop. 1,536.<br />
Teenage Crime Wave (Col)—<br />
Tommy Cook, Mollie McCart, Sue<br />
England. A good crime picture<br />
which carries a lesson in it about<br />
how a person can become Involved<br />
innocently in a brutal<br />
crime. Played Tues.-Thurs.<br />
Weather: Warm.—B. Berglund,<br />
Bijou Theatre, Ray, N. D. Pop.<br />
721.<br />
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER<br />
Forever Darling (MGM)—^Lucille<br />
Ball, Desi Arnaz, James Mason.<br />
Excellent comedy. Business<br />
dropped hard, but this situation<br />
can't be remedied here, so I<br />
can't blame the movie. However,<br />
I do feel that a better title could<br />
have been used. Played Sun.,<br />
Mon. Weather: Warm. — Ralph<br />
Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville,<br />
W. Va. Pop. 1,343.<br />
I'll Cry Tomorrow (MGM)—<br />
Susan Hayward, Richard Conte,<br />
Eddie Albert. Congratulations of<br />
the highest order should be<br />
bestowed on the studio and<br />
stars that made this most wonderful<br />
picture possible. Our hats<br />
are off to Miss Roth for permitting<br />
the story to be told. This picture<br />
is an absolute must for any<br />
and all situations and is a story<br />
that should have been brought<br />
forth a long time ago. The ending<br />
is a happy one and the picture Is<br />
one of human understanding and<br />
misunderstanding and the lengths<br />
a per.son, through loneliness and<br />
despair, will go to in finding the<br />
understanding he or she needs,<br />
or a substitute. This case dealt<br />
also with grief for a dead loved<br />
one. It is a picture you cannot<br />
afford to pass up. Played Sun.-<br />
Tues. Weather: Warm.—F. A.<br />
Phillips, Nortown Theatre, Flint,<br />
Mich. Pop. 163,143.<br />
Better Imports<br />
A superb piece of acting by<br />
Stewart Granger and Jean<br />
Simmons in "Footsteps in the<br />
Fog." We ran it as a second<br />
feature and it received more<br />
comment than the main feature.<br />
It is an excellent suspense<br />
picture with a surprise ending<br />
.that will leave them wondering<br />
at the irony of it all. Color very<br />
good. Don't let the fact that it<br />
is an English picture stop you<br />
from buying it. Our patrons as<br />
a general rule don't attend<br />
English pictures, but the word<br />
got around and business was<br />
nice. The English import is<br />
getting better and the people<br />
like them.<br />
F. A. PHILLIPS<br />
Nortown Theatre<br />
FUnt, Mich.<br />
Many Rivers to Cross (MGM)<br />
—Robert Taylor, Eleanor Parker,<br />
Russ Tamblyn. Although we did<br />
very good business with this outdoor<br />
comedy-romance, our patrons<br />
could not make out whether<br />
they were seeing a western or just<br />
plain comedy. We advertised it<br />
as a followup for "Seven Brides"<br />
and pulled them in by the thousands.<br />
Eleanor Parker has made<br />
a hit here—she's like a bit of<br />
fresh air. Hope Metro makes<br />
good use of her. Russ Tamblyn<br />
was a complete waste in this one.<br />
He deserves better, so give the kid<br />
a break, MGM—he's tops. Played<br />
Sunday through Saturday.<br />
Weather: Rainy.—Dave S. Klein,<br />
Astra Theatre, Kltwe-Nkana,<br />
Northern Rhodesia, Africa.<br />
Government, mining and business<br />
patronage.<br />
Ransom! (MGM)—Glenn Ford,<br />
Donna Reed, Robert Keith.<br />
Entertaining kidnapping picture,<br />
but poor business, as I had rain<br />
both days. Played Sun., Mon.<br />
Weather: Warm.—E. M. Freiburger,<br />
Dewey Theatre, Dewey,<br />
Okla. Pop. 2,513.<br />
Seven Brides for Seven<br />
Brothers (MGM)—Jane Powell,<br />
Howard Keel, Jeff Richards.<br />
Brother, this was it! Bad roads<br />
and all, this picture paid off.<br />
Everybody got a real kick out of<br />
it, including yours truly. Cinemascope<br />
was good and stayed<br />
well in focus. Sure, it was a high<br />
price, but it was worth it. Thanks,<br />
Metro, for a good picture that<br />
helped pay off some of my winter<br />
setbacks. Played Fri., Sat.<br />
Weather: Good, roads poor. —<br />
P. L. Murray, Strand Theatre,<br />
Spiritwood, Sask. Pop. 355.<br />
Tender Trap, The (MGM) —<br />
Frank Sinatra, Debbie Reynolds,<br />
David Wayne. A really fine comedy<br />
drama that could have done<br />
better. Those who came loved<br />
"S-<br />
XHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY<br />
every minute of It. We should<br />
have played It four days to capacity,<br />
but had to play It seven.<br />
So, we split the houses. Sinatra<br />
and Wayne tops in this one. The<br />
laughs come fast and furious and<br />
the actual drunk scene is a gem.<br />
Play it. You can make some<br />
money with it. Played Sun.<br />
through Sat. Weather: Cold.<br />
Dave S. Klein. Astra Theatre.<br />
Kitwe-Nkana, Northern Rhodesia,<br />
Africa. Mining, government,<br />
business patronage.<br />
PARAMOUNT<br />
Artists and Models (Para)—<br />
Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis,<br />
Shirley MacLaine. Sold on sex,<br />
color and glamor, which is not<br />
for small towns. Hollywood<br />
curves on directions miss every<br />
time. They've got to throw that<br />
sex about and we little fellows<br />
can't make it. Business very<br />
disappointing. Played Sun.-Tues.<br />
Weather: Fair.—Ken Christianson,<br />
Roxy Theatre, Washburn,<br />
N. D. Pop 913.<br />
Artists and Models (Para) —<br />
Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis,<br />
Shirley MacLaine. One of their<br />
better pictures that failed here<br />
at the boxoffice. Maybe their<br />
appearance on TV has hurt their<br />
draw at the theatre boxoffice.<br />
Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Hot,<br />
and I have refrigeration.—M. W.<br />
Long, Lans Theatre, Lansing,<br />
Iowa. Pop. 1,536.<br />
Lucy Gallant (Para>—Jane<br />
Wyman, Charlton Heston, Claire<br />
Trevor. Doubled with "Postmark<br />
for Danger" (RKO). Lousy weather<br />
opening day partly offset by<br />
stronger than average Friday.<br />
Played Wed. -Fri. — Robert B.<br />
Tuttle, Sky Drive-In, Adrian,<br />
Mich. Pop. 18,393.<br />
Trail of the Lonesome Pine<br />
(Para)—Reissue. Henry Fonda,<br />
Sylvia Sidney, Fred MacMurray.<br />
At least 25 years old, but still a<br />
most entertaining picture. Business<br />
normal. MacMuiTay and<br />
Fonda just kids when this was<br />
made. Played Tues., Wad.—Frank<br />
E. Sabin, Majestic Theatre,<br />
Eureka, Mont. Pop. 929.<br />
Rose Tattoo, The (Para)—<br />
Anna Magnani, Burt Lancaster,<br />
Marisa Pavan. No good for a<br />
small town. Too much Italian<br />
talk. Had complaints and w-alkouts.<br />
Business was very poor.<br />
E. M. Freiburger, Dewey Theatre,<br />
Dewey, Okla. Pop. 2.513.<br />
Rose Tattoo, The (Para)—<br />
Anna Magnani, Burt Lancaster,<br />
Marisa Pavan. The comments<br />
heard on this one were many and<br />
varied. The adults liked it, but<br />
the younger set still likes the<br />
action type picture. The cast and<br />
acting were excellent and this<br />
one should do well or better in an<br />
art house. This is of the human<br />
interest type and while we affree<br />
that there should be more of<br />
them, people still like to get away<br />
from the things that remind them<br />
of their everyday lives and cares.<br />
Miss Magnani and Mr. Lancaster<br />
were wonderful in their parts<br />
and played them to a point of<br />
excellence that few actors or<br />
actresses can attain. Played<br />
Sun.-Tues. Weather: Warm.<br />
F. A. Phillips, Nortown Theatre.<br />
Flint, Mich. Pop. 163,143.<br />
ABOUT PICTURESi<br />
You're Never Too Young (Para)<br />
Dean Martin, Jerry LcwLs, Diana<br />
Lynn. One of the best Martin<br />
and Lewis pictures to date. A<br />
better picture than "Three Ring<br />
Circus," and with VistaVlslon,<br />
this was a real picture. The<br />
laughs were so continuous that<br />
some of the dialog was lost. CJolor<br />
beautiful. This was a real treat<br />
to play. (Comments were all good<br />
and everybody was happy. So<br />
was I. WTiile the boxoffice was<br />
not as big as for "Seven Brides,"<br />
still business was well above<br />
average. Played Fri., Sat.<br />
Weather: Good, roads fair.—P. L.<br />
Murray, Strand Theatre, Spiritwood,<br />
Sask. Pop. 355.<br />
REPUBLIC<br />
Doctor in the House (Rep)<br />
Dirk Bogarde, Muriel Pavlow,<br />
Kenneth More. Frightfully<br />
British, but awfully Jolly. Loaded<br />
with fun, but somewhat hard to<br />
sell. No "names" in the cast.<br />
Frank E. Sabin, Majestic Theatre,<br />
Eureka, Mont. Pop. 929.<br />
Man Alone, A (Rep)—Ray Milland,<br />
Mary Murphy, Ward Bond.<br />
A .story dealing with Wes Steele<br />
and his stay in Mesa. Ariz. A<br />
picture on the order of "Shane."<br />
Very entertaining. Only drawback<br />
was its slow start. Drew<br />
below average. Played Sun.-<br />
Tues. Weather: Hot and dry.—<br />
D. W. Trisko, Runge Theatre,<br />
Runge, Tex. Pop. 1,055.<br />
CENTURY-FOX<br />
20th<br />
Angela (20th-Fox) — Dennis<br />
O'Keefe, Mara Lane, Rossano<br />
Brazzi. This one was made in<br />
Rcune, and as for us, if they had<br />
left it there it would have been<br />
okay. Should have given this one<br />
to TV and it would have helped<br />
us. Played Wed.-Sat. Weather:<br />
Hot.—Harold Bell, Opeca House,<br />
CJoaticook, Que. Pop. 6,341.<br />
Carmen Jones (20th-Foxi —<br />
Harry Belafonte, Dorothy Dandridge.<br />
Pearl Bailey. Played wuth<br />
"The Other Woman" (20th-Fox)<br />
but the standing room only sign<br />
never got dusted off at all,<br />
although we've done worse.<br />
Played Wed. -Fri. — Robert B.<br />
Tuttle, Sky Drive-In, Adrian,<br />
Mich. Pop. 18,393.<br />
Good Tear-jerker<br />
A swell picture with class,<br />
"All That Heaven .Allows,"<br />
should have done much better.<br />
Average boxoffice. Need<br />
more like this. The women go<br />
for this type. ,\ny tear-jerker<br />
makes for good boxoffice.<br />
LEONARD J. LEISE<br />
Roxy Theatre<br />
Randolph, Neb.<br />
How to Be Very, Very Popular<br />
(20th-Fox^—Betty Grable. Sheree<br />
North, Bob Cummlngs. A college<br />
type musical involving a couple<br />
of strip dancers. Very good<br />
comedy angles. Some fair music.<br />
Drew about average. Played Wed.,<br />
Thurs. Weather: Hot.—D. W.<br />
Trisko, Runge Theatre, Runge,<br />
Tex. Pop. 1,055.<br />
Love Is a Manv-Splendored<br />
Thing (20th-Fox)—William Hol-<br />
(Continued on following page)<br />
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: July 14, 1956 11
]<br />
Now<br />
I<br />
they<br />
I love<br />
'<br />
Agnes<br />
:<br />
"Magnificent<br />
;<br />
Wyman<br />
I heartwarming<br />
.Stanley<br />
(<br />
•<br />
^"^<br />
EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY<br />
(Continued from preceding page)<br />
.want to see. no matter what condition.s<br />
prevail, they will leave<br />
their TV set.s and come to the<br />
show. Played Wed., Thurs.—<br />
James Edwards, R&R Theatres,<br />
Hattiesburg, Miss.<br />
Violent Saturday (20t.h-Fox>—<br />
Victor Mature, Richard Egan,<br />
Virginia Leith. Old show, but<br />
still very good. Played Wed.,<br />
Thurs. Weather: Hot.—Leo A.<br />
Backer, Valley Theatre, Browns<br />
Valley, Minn. Pop. 1,117.<br />
UNITED ARTISTS<br />
Heidi and Peter (UA)—Elsbeth<br />
S i g m u n d. Thomas Klameth,<br />
Heinrich Gretler. A beautiful<br />
show with a true to life story and<br />
good direction. Beautiful color<br />
and scenery of the Swis.'; Alps.<br />
Played Sun., Mon. Weather:<br />
Good.—B. Berglund, Bijou Theatre,<br />
Ray, N. D. Pop. 721.<br />
Marty CUA>—Ernest Borgnine.<br />
Betsy Blair, Esther Minciotti. Say<br />
what you will, it's a fine, human,<br />
Wc.l aone story. The title called<br />
tw^o strike,s on it. The New York<br />
angle failed to appeal to my flock.<br />
Played Tues., Wed.—Frank E.<br />
Sabin. Majestic Theatre, Eureka,<br />
Mont. Pop. 929.<br />
Marty (UA)—Ernest Borgnine,<br />
Betsy Blair, Esther Minciotti.<br />
Below average. Not too well liked.<br />
—Leonard J. Leise, Roxy Theatre,<br />
Randolph, Neb. Pop. 1,029.<br />
UNIVERSAL-INTERNAT'L<br />
Abbott and Costello Meet the<br />
Mummy (U-D—Bud Abbott, Lou<br />
Costello, Marie Windsor. We just<br />
got by. Opened very weak,<br />
finished fair, just another "A&C"<br />
here. Years ago, this was bread<br />
and butter and in the hit class.<br />
only 33 per cent of the gross<br />
used to make. The kids still<br />
them, so. that's our future!<br />
Played Thurs.-Sat. Weather:<br />
Fair.—Ken Christianson, Roxy<br />
Theatre, Washburn, N. D. Pop.<br />
913.<br />
All That Heaven Allows (U-I)<br />
—Jane Wyman, Rock Hudson,<br />
Moorehead. The stars of<br />
Obsession," Jane<br />
and Rock Hudson, outi<br />
shine them all in a picture as<br />
as I have ever<br />
•<br />
seen. The patrons "loved every<br />
minute of it" and there were<br />
many tears of happiness for the<br />
happy ending. If you haven't as<br />
yet played this one do so at once.<br />
This one falls in the category of<br />
"Obsession," where acting ceases<br />
to be acting and the people on<br />
the silver screen seem to be actu-<br />
den, Jennifer Jones, Torln That-<br />
'cher. A wonderfully entertaining<br />
film with top stars, wonderful<br />
allv living the story. Played Wed.<br />
music, outstanding photography<br />
-Sat, Weather: Cool.—F. A.<br />
of actual Hong Kong and a st«ry<br />
Phillips, Nortown Theatre, Flint,<br />
to hold anyone's interest. Played<br />
to capacity all the lime with<br />
Mich. Pop. 163,143.<br />
heart-warming comments from Benny Goodman Story, The<br />
the patrons. Highly recommended (U-D—Steve Allen, Donna Reed,<br />
to most houses. Played Tues. Berta Gersten. Sw-ell -show, delightful<br />
music, but what a terrific<br />
through Sat. Weather: Cold.—<br />
Dave S. Klein, Astra Theatre. let-down at the boxoffice. Just<br />
Kitwe-Nkana. Northern Rhodesia.<br />
Africa. Mining, govern-<br />
grosses in months. Played Sun.,<br />
couldn't believe one of the lowest<br />
ment, business patronage.<br />
Mon. Weather: Good.—Leonard<br />
J. Leise, Roxy Theatre, Randolph.<br />
Tall Men, The (20th-Fox)—<br />
Neb. Pop. 1,029.<br />
Clark Gable. Jane Russell, Robert<br />
Ryan. A very good western. All Red Sundown (U-I) — Rory<br />
of our customers liked it very Calhoun, Martha Hyer, Dean<br />
much. It will go over well in an Jdggcr. Very good western.<br />
action house. Business was above Plenty of action. Good cast and<br />
average even though it was pouring<br />
down rain. Tliis showed us change. Used a two-reel short of<br />
story. Drew to average for this<br />
that if you have something they U-I's called "Eddie Arnold the<br />
Tennessee Ploughboy," which<br />
drew more comments than the<br />
feature. Very good selection of<br />
music and singers. Played Sat.<br />
Weather: Hot.—D. W. Trisko,<br />
Runge Theatre, Runge, Tex.<br />
Pop. 1,055.<br />
Running Wild (U-D—William<br />
Campbell, Mamie Van Doren,<br />
Keenan Wynn. This is an exploitation<br />
special. If you can get<br />
them in with teenage movies,<br />
single bill this one. The few that<br />
turned out liked this better than<br />
'Blackboard Jungle." Played Fri.,<br />
Sat. Weather: Warm.—Ralph<br />
Raspa, State Theatre, RivesviUe,<br />
W. Va. Pop 1,343.<br />
Second Greatest Sex, The<br />
(U-Ii—Jeanne Grain, George Nader.<br />
Kitty Kallen. Entertainingmusical.<br />
Some called it the "poor<br />
man's 'Seven Brides,' etc." Square<br />
dances in this one very good.<br />
Played Wed.. Thurs. Weather:<br />
Warm. — Michael Chiavent-one,<br />
Valley Theatre, Spring Valley,<br />
111. Pop. 5,123.<br />
There's Always Tomorrow<br />
(U-D—Barbara Stanwyck, Fred<br />
MacMurray, Joan Bennett. The<br />
trailer and paper advertised this<br />
as the eternal triangle, and the<br />
show turned out to be a good<br />
family picture. It seems they<br />
point their ads for the city and<br />
this keeps our small town patrons<br />
away. Played Tues., Wed. Weather:<br />
Warm.—M. W. Long, Lans<br />
Theatre, Lansing, Iowa. Pop.<br />
1.536.<br />
WARNER BROS.<br />
McConnell Story, The (WB)—<br />
Alan Ladd, June Allyson, James<br />
Whitmore. Even playing this picture<br />
late didn't hurt the draw.<br />
It is a good picture and well<br />
worth a playdate. Played Sun.,<br />
Mon. Weather: Fine.— M. W.<br />
Long, Lans Theatre, Lansing,<br />
Iowa. Pop. 1,536.<br />
Pete Kelly's Blues (WB)—Jack<br />
Webb, Janet Leigh, Edmond O'-<br />
Brien. Personally, I don't like his<br />
type of story-telling, hit-andmiss<br />
affair. A stretched "Dragnet"<br />
movie. Not for Sunday playing<br />
time. Too brutal. But. here<br />
we go! Best Sunday-Monday<br />
business in three months. Business<br />
was near normal and as<br />
good as his last picture. Played<br />
Sun., Mon. Weather: Fair to<br />
rain.—Ken Christianson, Roxy<br />
Theatre, Washbiu-n, N. D. Pop.<br />
913.<br />
FOREIGN<br />
FEATU RES.<br />
1<br />
Foreign-lanquago productions by lotlve country llitod alphabetically<br />
by title, followod by running time<br />
which review appeared. Norn<br />
Dote shown li Issue of BOXOFFICE<br />
of distributor is in porcnthosos.<br />
in<br />
ARGENTINA<br />
Kevlcwed<br />
4-28-56<br />
ODon Juan (90) 7- 7-56<br />
(Times) . .Cesare UauovH, Josef Mftnrid<br />
BRITAIN<br />
Alias John Preston (71)<br />
(Iiumln.uu). Ak'x Knox, BeUa St. John<br />
Anoel Wlio Pawned Her Harp (73) . 4-28-56<br />
.<br />
(Iiuminanl). .Wane Cllcnlo. H'olix Aylmcr<br />
Appointment in London (96) 12-31-55<br />
(A.wuc. Artists) -.11. Boeardc, Ulnah Slieridaii<br />
Belles of St. Trinian's, Tlie (90).. 4-30-55<br />
(.Vs.'ioc. ArlLsls). .Al.Mlalr Sim. Joyce Cienfcll<br />
Cliance Mectinj (94) 8-27-55<br />
(I'aremakei) . .Odlle Versol.'i. David Kiilehl<br />
OCoclnifllms)..Arturo De Cordova, D. Garces<br />
RUSSIA<br />
©Boris Godunov (105)<br />
(Artkino)..A. Plrogov, G. NeUep<br />
©Romeo and Juliet Ballet (%)<br />
(Tohan). .Galina Ulanova, Yuri Zhdanov<br />
SWEDEN<br />
Naked Night, The (82)<br />
(Times)<br />
. -Harriet Andersson, Ake Groenberg<br />
One Summer of Happiness (92) 7-16-55<br />
(Times-Film)<br />
. -tjlla Jacobson, Folke Sundqulst<br />
YUGOSLAVIA<br />
Lctjends of Anika (85)<br />
I (Grand Prl»e) . .Mlleoa Dapeevlc. B. OrtMe<br />
12<br />
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide<br />
:<br />
:<br />
July 14, 1956<br />
m
nTime<br />
Review<br />
An InUrprellvc onalysis of lay and tradeprois leviews. The plm and minus signs Indlcat*<br />
degree of merit. Listings cover current reviews, updotcd regulorly. This department serves<br />
also as an ALPHABETICAL INDEX to feature rclcoses. Symbol Cl denotes 80X0FFICE<br />
Blue Ribbon Aword Winner. Photogrophy: O Color; ci CincmoScopo; V VistoVlslon; '3 Superscope;<br />
K Noturomo. For listings by company, in tho order of release, sec Feature Chort.<br />
digest<br />
AND ALPHABETICAL INu£X<br />
t+ Very Good; t Good; - Fair; ~ Poor; = Very Poor. In the summory H js rated 2 pluses, — as 2 minuses.<br />
Page<br />
G.<br />
le<br />
pe
toffice<br />
ports<br />
riety<br />
REVIEW DIGEST" Vary Good; + Good; - Foir; - Poor; — Very Po In the summary H js rated 2 pluses, — as 2 minuses.<br />
1981 Ltntri ft Lollipops (80) Com. Dr....T-L 6- 9-S6 ±<br />
1851 Olucy Galliint (104) y Drama Para 10- 1-55 H +<br />
1943 Lum & Abntr Abrud (72) Comedy. Howco 3-ia-5£ ±
'<br />
)<br />
_<br />
Opinions on Current Productions<br />
^EATURE REVIEWS<br />
Symbot O denotes color photogrophy; ci CincmoScopa; V Vljta Vision; (S Supcrscope; lli Naturomo. For story synopsis on ooeh picture, s«« foverte tide.<br />
Man.i]<br />
Walk the Proud Land<br />
Univ.-Infl (5627) 91 Minutes<br />
Ratio:<br />
2.55-1<br />
Western Drama<br />
© O<br />
Rel. Sept. '56<br />
Audle Murphy, the star; producer Aaron Rosenberg and<br />
director Jesse Hibbs have a strong follow-up to their 1955<br />
record-breaker, "To Hell and Back," in this exciting and<br />
colorful outdoors drama based on the biography of a real<br />
Apache agent. Made to order for the action-minded fans,<br />
the picture also has ample feminine interest, headed by<br />
Anne Bancroft, who is a striking figure as a beautiful<br />
Indian widow, who unrequitedly loves the hero, and pert Pat<br />
Crowley, as the fiery littls girl who marries him. Murphy's<br />
casual acting style is well suited to the role of John Philip<br />
Clum, a brave young man who helped restore peace to the<br />
restless redskins in the early history of the southwest,<br />
and he demonstrates his fistic prowess in several free-forall<br />
fights. Tommy Rail is convincing as a handsome Indian<br />
brave and he has one brief opportunity to show his dancing<br />
skill. Except for the villainous marauder. Geronimo, the<br />
Indians are portrayed sympathetically, but there is plenty<br />
of riding and shooting footage to thrill the youngsters.<br />
Filmed almost entirely in the Arizona desert, where the<br />
massive rock formations are magnificently photographed in<br />
Cinemascope and Technicolor by Harold Lipstein.<br />
Audie Murphy, Anne Bancroft, Charles Drake, Pat<br />
Crowley, Tommy Rail, Robert Warwick, Morris Ankrum.<br />
Seven Men From Now F ^^^- '"%'"'<br />
Warner Bros. (526) 78 Minutes Rel. Aug. 4, '56<br />
So many recent sagas of the sagebrush have displayed a<br />
propensity toward sacrificing the basic bang-bang ingredients<br />
of the traditional western in favor of dramatic<br />
qualities, that it "is entirely possible devotees of hoss operas<br />
will welcome one that adheres to fundamentals, in which<br />
the hero is a hero and the villain is a villain—with nary a<br />
smidgin' of soul-searching or psychiatric undertones. Resultantly.<br />
this solidly mounted feature should fare satisfactorily<br />
in situations where actioners are provenly productive<br />
bookings. Because Randolph Scott, virtually the last of<br />
the old-school celluloid cowpokes, is starred and his name<br />
has established marquee value, the film is worthy of topside<br />
consideration in those theatres, especially inasmuch as<br />
the application of bright WamerColor accords it further<br />
importance. Of the above-mentioned villainy, there is certainly<br />
aplenty. In fact, there ai'e so many heavies, that<br />
at times spectators may encounter difficulty in deciding<br />
who's a-chasin' whom—and why. Bearing the Batjac banner,<br />
produced by Andrew V. McLaglen and Robert E. Morrison,<br />
and competently directed by Budd Boetticher, the picture,<br />
photographed in the High Sierras, boasts beautiful<br />
scenic mountain and desert backgrounds.<br />
Randolph Stott, Gail Russell, Lee Marvin, Don Barry,<br />
Walter Reed, John Larch, Fred Graham.<br />
,,.U•t^<br />
.$80(1<br />
d<br />
soft,<br />
Inl<br />
Johnny Concho<br />
Drama<br />
Ratio:<br />
1851<br />
United Artists (5631) 86 Minutes Rel. July '56<br />
Certainly it is no longer necessary to report that Frank<br />
Sinatra, whose initial fame and fortune were attained<br />
through crooning, has developed into one of the contemporary<br />
screen's most effective dramatic actors. In this offering<br />
he adds still another laurel to his amazing collection<br />
inasmuch as he produced as well as starred, and with impressive<br />
distinction on both counts. His name in the topline<br />
is, in itself, sufficiently magnetic to assure the vehicle<br />
profitable patronage, and spectators will in no manner be<br />
disappointed with what they have bought. The picture,<br />
which rates loose classification as a western—because of the<br />
locale and circa— is a classical example of the new trend<br />
in sagebrush sagas which places accent on straight drama<br />
rather than the stock elements which for so many years<br />
earmarked screenfare of its category. Storywise, the yarn<br />
finds its foundation in a premise that is a trifle difficult to<br />
accept during early sequences but which seems to grow<br />
more logical as the plot unfolds. In addition to Sinatra's<br />
expectedly effortless and excellent delineation, there are<br />
several other praiseworthy performances, most especially<br />
that contributed by the femme star, Phyllis Kirk. Don Mc-<br />
Guire directed and collaborated on the screenplay.<br />
Frank Sinatra, Keenan Wynn, William Conrad, Phyllis<br />
Kirk, Wallace Ford, Willis Bouchey, Dorothy Adams.<br />
Three for Jamie Dawn<br />
F<br />
F<br />
Ratio:<br />
1.85-1<br />
Drama<br />
Allied Artists (5618) 81 Minutes<br />
Rel. July 8, '56<br />
A different and praiseworthy approach to the so-called<br />
courtroom drama sets this apart from most of the genre<br />
and provides it with sufficient offbeat interest to indicate<br />
that it will be warmly accepted in virtually all exhibition<br />
situations. This deviation from the norm lies in the fact<br />
that there is no question as to the guilt of the accused, the<br />
motivation being, rather, that of an insight into the ways<br />
and means by which an unscrupulous defense attorney attempts<br />
to capitalize on bribery rather than sound legal<br />
tactics to gain acquittal. Additionally, the offering possesses<br />
star power in its four top cast names that will be of<br />
benefit as marquee dressing and as the nucleus of merchandising<br />
efforts. Supplied with a skillfully wrought script<br />
by John Klempner, director Thomas Carr extracted topflight<br />
performances from the aforementioned quarter as<br />
well as from the balance of the thespian roster, while<br />
Hayes Goetz, functioning as producer, mounted the vehicle<br />
with a realistic eye toward accuracy rather than unnecessary<br />
lushness. All in all, the film can safely be pegged as a<br />
potentially profitable, audience-pleasing entry with the additional<br />
asset of a provocative and exploitable title.<br />
Laraine Day, Ricardo Montalban, Richard Carlson, June<br />
Havoc, Maria Palmer, Eduard Franz, Regris Toomey.<br />
1984<br />
Columbia (110) 91 Minutes Rel. Sept. '56<br />
"P<br />
Ratio: Drama<br />
(tentative)<br />
A shuddery thriller which has a fantastic idea of life in<br />
the not-too-far distant future, this British-made feature<br />
is freely adapted from George Orwell's widely read novel<br />
(published in 1954) and is highly exploitable fare, particularly<br />
for the teenagers and action fans. Edmond O'Brien<br />
and Jan Sterling are good marquee names and Michael<br />
Redgrave is becoming increasingly familiar since his Broadway<br />
stage hit, "Tiger at the Gates" and his TV and British<br />
film appearances. It's a terrifying picture that Orwell paints<br />
of a world under the domination and regimentation of an<br />
unseen but ever-watchful Big Brother, who has outlawed<br />
love, sex and marriage and tolerates only the emotion of<br />
hate. Produced by N. Peter Rathvon, it has been tautly<br />
directed by Michael Anderson. The drab settings and dull,<br />
uniform like costumes are appropriately photographed in<br />
black-and-white. Miss Sterling, utterly without glamor, and<br />
O'Brien are members of the underprivileeed Outer Party who<br />
carry on a clandestine love affair until they are betrayed<br />
and brain-washed by the Thought Police. Redgrave is<br />
effective as a member of the Inner Party. Some of the torture<br />
scenes may be too frightening for squeamish women.<br />
Edmond O'Brien, Jan Sterling-, Michael Redgrrave, David<br />
Kossoff, Mervyn Johns, Ernest Clark, Donald Pleasance.<br />
t* — .-—<br />
fear t ^^.-^<br />
"C Ratio: Drama<br />
Astor Pictures 82 Minutes Rel. May '56<br />
Ingrid Bergman once again proves herself to be a superb<br />
emotional actress in this German-made drama, the latest<br />
in a succession made abroad by her director-husband Roberto<br />
Rossellini. Best suited to the art houses, where there was<br />
never any patron resentment against the star, it could<br />
also be coupled with a lighter picture for the majority of<br />
neighborhood spots. The English dubbing is first rate and is<br />
noticeable only in a few closeups of Mathias Wieman, a<br />
fine German actor who plays Miss Bergman's outwardly<br />
understanding scientist husband. Based on a novel by<br />
Stefan Zweig, the story often has a TV-soap opera quality<br />
(which should appeal to feminine fans) but Rossellini<br />
cleverly builds suspense up to the near-tragic denouement.<br />
Kurt Kreuger, who made several Hollywood films in the<br />
1940s, is suavely handsome as the "other man" and Renate<br />
Mannhardt is excellent as a young blackmailer. However, it<br />
is Miss Bergman's picture and her portrayal is an outstanding<br />
one. The low-key lighting is well suited to the drab backgrounds,<br />
many of them Berlin streets. Music is by Renzo<br />
Rossellini. Produced by Jochen Genzow for Ariston-H. M.<br />
Gloria. Scenario by Sergio Amidel and Franz, Count Treuberg.<br />
Inftrid BerRman. Mathias Wieman. Kurt Kreuger, Renate<br />
Mannhardt, Elise Aulinger.<br />
The reviews on these pages mov be filed for future reference In<br />
loose-leaf binder; (2) Individually, by company, in onv srandard<br />
GUIDE three-ring, pocket-ilze binder. The latter. Including • yci<br />
may be obtained from Associated Publications. 82S Van Brun<br />
TV of the following ways: '1) In any standord three-ring<br />
3x3 card Index file; or 13) In the BOXOFFICE PICTURE<br />
s supply of booking and dally business record sheets,<br />
Blvd.. Kansas City 24, Mo., for SI.00. postage paid.<br />
1992 BOXOFnCE BookinGuide : : July 14, 1956 1991
FEATURE REVIEWS Story Synopsis; Exploitips; Adiines for Newspaper and Programs<br />
Tin: sroKV: "Jolmnj Concho" (UA)<br />
Everybody in Cripple Creek hates Frank Sinatra—except<br />
Phyllis Kirk, who loves him—because he is the brother of<br />
a eunsllnger who runs the town. Sinatra is a coward and a<br />
cheat, but his pasuion of power is wiped out when another<br />
desperado, William Conrad, rides in, takes over and runs<br />
h.m out af;cr revealing he h.is killed Sinatra's brother. •<br />
Phyllis goes with him. but backs away when Sinatra displays<br />
his yellow streak. However, Sinatra's manhood is<br />
restored by an understanding minister, and he returns to<br />
Cripple Creek to he.p dispose of Conrad and his henchmen.<br />
EXPLOITIPS:<br />
In a recent issue of Life magazine, there was a layout<br />
on Hollywood "gunslingers," including FYank Sinatra. Tear<br />
sheets of this article could be used in lobby display.s. as well<br />
as in "Concho" tieups with magazine stands. Play some of<br />
Sinatra's many recording hits over the theatre P. A. system.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
Why Did Everyone Hate Johnny Concho—Except One<br />
Lovely Girl Who Loved Him. But Didn't Like Him? ... He<br />
was a Coward Who Learned to Have Courage—But Only<br />
When His Back Was Up Against a Wall.
I Antitheft<br />
> I'rolecl<br />
I<br />
Automatic<br />
[<br />
:<br />
I<br />
BAl'ES: ISc per word, minimum $1.50. cash with copy. Four consecutive insertions lor price<br />
«i three. CLOSING DATE: Monday noon preceding publication date. Send copy and<br />
I<br />
! • answers to Box Numbers to BOXOFFICE, 825 Van Brunt Blvd.. Kansas City 24. Mo. •<br />
POSITIONS WANTED<br />
Available StDtember First. Couple. 21 ytiirs<br />
Hide expeilence. AM phases ttietitre operjitloii.<br />
Will be In Soulliem Texas, Florida, Seplember.<br />
Inleresled permanent position. James, Q030<br />
Miiple. SI. I.oiils, Mo.<br />
Manager at liberty. C'ompeienl, experienced In<br />
all types of e.\lilbillon. ineliulini; modern (Irlve-in.<br />
A-l recoid In nielropolltun, detn.ve or lieli^libnrtiood<br />
llteatres. Will go anywhere for lop deal. IJoxortlce.<br />
7211<br />
Manaoer-Projectionist, over 20 years experience,<br />
married, two children, wife cashler-hookkeeper.<br />
.Ml phases escepi drive-ln. wllllne to learn.<br />
Ilefercnces fnrnished. Will relocate North or<br />
Norlliwest, all offers considered. Boxofflce, 72ilT.<br />
Projectionist, 17 years experience all makes<br />
equipment. Single, reliable. Edward (!. Tabor,<br />
lloom M. Hold Tlvoll. 300-3()2 West 42nd 8t ,<br />
New York 30, N. Y.<br />
HELP WANTED<br />
Salesmen who contact drlve-ln theatres, t'nlisllally<br />
aUi.ieliu- commissions. Driirinc anil-theft<br />
device liir s|it,il.iis, (lives complete iMOlectloii for<br />
only 57e |ier spt-alii'i ! I'roven, in nse now thronKhout<br />
V. S. llet:iils upon request. Speaker Seenrlty<br />
Co.. Iiept. 57, Willow Ave. at 17lh SI., lloboken,<br />
N. J.<br />
Road show salesman. Sell dates advance of show<br />
to llieatres and drivc-lns. lliisller can earn<br />
(300 salary nnil expenses. Ileply age and experlcnce.<br />
llox (12. Atlant,- "<br />
Wanted—Theatre Managers: Experienced Exploitation-minded.<br />
For Key and Neighliorhood<br />
honses. rutsbnrgb arrd surrounding territories.<br />
Wille In detail to Oiarles Comar. I'ersonnel<br />
Manager, Stanley Warner Theatre. 2217 Oark<br />
building, I'lttsbiirgh, Pa.<br />
Managers wanted! Theatre managers wanted for<br />
Jersey. salary. New Top Many benefits including<br />
retirement plan, group insurance, and hospitalization.<br />
Apply, Walter Tteade Theatres, Mayfair<br />
lloirsc, Oakhurst. New Jersey, or call KEllogg<br />
I-lfton.<br />
Wanted: Theatre general manager, must be<br />
thoroughly experienced and famili:ir with all<br />
phases, buying, booking, supervising. For chain<br />
theatres in the middle west. An unusual position<br />
for a live and competent man. Answer in detail.<br />
Boxofflce, 7237.<br />
Wanted: Theatre managers, thoroughly experienced<br />
for in<br />
theatres the midd'e west. Good<br />
positions. Answer in detail. Boxofflce, 7238.<br />
BUSINESS STIMULATORS<br />
Bingo, more action! $4.5U.M cards.<br />
games avalliibie, olr-ull scvreen. ,\ovully Ga.<br />
106 liogers Ave.. Brooklyn, N. Y.<br />
Build attendance wilh real Hawaiian orchids<br />
feu cenls each. Write of Hawaii. l''lowers fi'70<br />
8. I.ifayette I'aik I'iace, Los Angeles 5, Calif.<br />
Binoo-dle-cut cards. Increase vonr boxofflce<br />
76 to inn numbers. $4.50 per M. Rest Cards<br />
Premium Products. 346 West 44th St., New York<br />
:16. .N. Y.<br />
Mo.ie Sweepstakes! World's most exciting<br />
I<br />
audience participation game. Horse racing on<br />
film. United Productions, 208 Florida Theatre<br />
Bldg.. Sar.isota, Fla.<br />
EQUIPMENT<br />
WANTED<br />
Wanted, used theatre booth equipment. We<br />
dismantle. Leon Jarodsky, Lincoln Theatre, Paris.<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE EQUIPMENT<br />
Device for speakers gives complete<br />
proteclion fur ordy 57c per speaker! Exhibitors!<br />
your speakers now against costly and<br />
repealed losses. In use now tbroughnul U. S.<br />
Speaker Security Co., Dept. 623, Willow Ave.<br />
Jt 17th St.. Iloljoken. N. J.<br />
In-car speakers, $3.95, 3>/4" cone, rugged<br />
flbcrgla.ss case, 3'/4"-4" replacement units. $2.30<br />
each, year warranty. Movie Supply Co., Inc., 1318<br />
So. Wabash Ave., Chicago 5, III.<br />
For sale: Everything for drlve-ln theatres.<br />
Projection equipment, concession equipment, screen<br />
tw»er (prefab), neon sign and attraction board,<br />
XL equipment, magnarcs. You want equipment.<br />
«e have It! 50% off. Write, Box 471. Cairo.<br />
Ill, for prices.<br />
In-car Speakers, $4 25! Year warranty. 4"<br />
unit, steel case painted blue, white. Price per set<br />
2 8peake.-s. junction box, $12.25. Dept. cc, 8.0 S.<br />
Cinema Supply Corp., 602 W. 52nd St., New<br />
York 19.<br />
__GENERAL EQUIPMENT—NEW<br />
Intermittent movements, new surphis for Slrrv<br />
Plex $69 50: DeVry $59.50: Holmes $24.50.<br />
enclosed rewinds $69 50. Dept cc,<br />
GENERAL EQUIPMENT—USED<br />
Excellent coated Prolection Lenses— inanv<br />
brand new! Wollensak •Sunray", Series 1: 2". 3",<br />
3%", 3%-, 5-, 5V4-. 6". 7%"—$315 pair.<br />
coated: 2-Tii", Suiierlite, Series 111 C 3". 3'«"—<br />
$150 pr. Trades taken. Write or tekiihoue order<br />
today. Dept. cc. 8.0. Cinema Supply Corpu-<br />
S.<br />
ration, 602 W. 52ud Stree t. New York II).<br />
H. I, lampliouses galore! Peerless Magnarcs,<br />
$395 pair: Strong Mogul, Urenkerl, Enure. Forest<br />
AsherufI, Ballanlyne, $300,<br />
conilltion. Available on time. Ileiit. cc, 8.0.S<br />
CliU'ma Supply Corp.. 602 W. 62ud St., Neu<br />
York 19.<br />
For sale. Ilallanlyne .Magnetic sound complete<br />
0, iglruil cartons. List $1,200— seil for $800<br />
In<br />
lliixotfiee, 7207.<br />
Magnarcs $299 50, Selenium 70A Itectlfieis<br />
$1150, Simplex High $150, National Ilectiflers<br />
$150, Simplex Hear Shutter $120 Film<br />
pr..<br />
eablnets $1.50 section. Aluminum Heels $1.50,<br />
Wire lieels .75. Ilallantyne and Werrzel Souiulbearh<br />
eorr>plete $198 pr , Amplifiers $49 50. Neon Trans-<br />
(luniers $15, 5 pt. Bases $50. Super Star Popcorn<br />
M.ieliuie $100. 5" 5%" 6" Series II Lens $75<br />
pr.. lieVry Portables Amp and Slieaker $1.50,<br />
lliilmes Educalo.s Amp and Speaker $275, Motlel<br />
II Ilrriikerl :i5-li5 Amp Lamps $50. What ilo yoir<br />
need? .Mid Soiilli Theatre Supply Co., 502 8,<br />
I SI Memphl<<br />
Pair reconditioned SIm|)lex-Acme sound proctors,<br />
Mazda lamps. 4%" Supeilite lenses,<br />
..ire Intermittent, $250. Portable 3,000-vvatt<br />
light platit. like new, $300. George Weniger.<br />
532 Ogdcn Avenue, Bend, Oregon<br />
Rectifiers, 80 amp. Dallantync, single or 3-<br />
phase, new or used. Amplifiers of all types and<br />
most any kind j'ou would want.<br />
Selling nut complete inventoiy. What do yoir need?<br />
3:t8(i,<br />
Sa<br />
Tliousands of parts for all make projector<br />
and soiuid systems. Tell us what you want. Bo<br />
3386. Savannah. Ga.<br />
Real Bargain! All equipment from closed 400-<br />
car drlve-ln. Pawo acoirsllcraft spe.ikers, ItCA dual<br />
eliaiuiel sound, Century projectors, M:ignarc lan>ps,<br />
Ballantyne 80 amp. rectifiers and ail other hoolh<br />
equipment. $4,500 F.O.B., Box 33S6, Ph<br />
Allams 3-8788. Savannah. Ga.<br />
ew and used equ'pment at give-away prices.<br />
Century. Simplex, Wcnzel, Brenkert mechanisms.<br />
Simplex star sound .systems at $650. Ballantyne.<br />
fnirr<br />
Simplex or RCA soundheads at $300 and<br />
up. Enarc, l\Iagnai-c, Simplex and Ballantyne<br />
lamps at $250 and up. Box 3386, Savannah. Ga.<br />
Complete theatre equipment. 700 Heywood-<br />
Wakefield upholstered seats. Simplex projectors.<br />
Brenkert lamps. Strong rectifiers, RCA sound,<br />
(?inem;rScope lenses, la:ge screen, new. Two soft<br />
ice cream makers, popcorn machine, located In<br />
Kansas City. Sell all or part. Dealers bids invi'ed.<br />
Boxofflce, 7166.<br />
Pair Holmes sound projectors. Strong baby arcs,<br />
rectifiers, bases, amplifier, speaker. Complete,<br />
excellent condition. $350. Money back guarantee.<br />
Pete Sabo, 916 N.W. 19th Ave., Portland<br />
9. Oregon.<br />
Complete theatre equipment for 325-seat theatie.<br />
$1,725. Wyatt Co., Box 856, Childress.<br />
Tex.as.<br />
Exceptional buy! All or part. Complete<br />
modern booth equipment. including Hertner<br />
generator. Strong rectifiers. Peerless lamps. Super<br />
Simplex mechanism, Panatar Cinemascope lenses.<br />
RC.\ sound, projection lenses, 750 American<br />
soft cushion leather seats, rewind table, etc.<br />
Boxofflce, 7236.<br />
400 cushioned seats, top condition: screen, new<br />
15'x25'. Raytone Hllux. including all metal<br />
frame: Ballantyne Dual Soundmaster sound system<br />
with Dual sound bons. cry room speaker Included:<br />
all metal rewind table, complete with 12<br />
case film cabinet: utility metal cabinet: booth<br />
exhaust fan: RCA hl-fidellty amplifier and<br />
speaker; 4" assortment of replacement<br />
pair lense:<br />
and 14" used: com-<br />
parts tubes: pair ref ectors,<br />
plete steam heating equipment. No reasonable<br />
offer refused, for any part or all. J. A. Pilgrim,<br />
Box 127, Elberta, Alabama. Phone: Foley<br />
W 6-6290<br />
STUDIO AND PRODUCTION<br />
EQUIPMENT<br />
Hallen synchronous KV^mm recorder, B22,<br />
value $1,950. excellent $495: Neumade RK-102<br />
film racks, hold 102,1000' reels, originally $165,<br />
now $87.50: Arrlflex II J5mm camera complete<br />
$2,000 value, $1,195: Afrlflex cinekad blimp,<br />
w/follow focus, $995: American Clnemalographers<br />
handbook, % price, $2.50: Brldgamatic Ji . 16mm<br />
automatic processor, $1,500 value, $975: Maurer<br />
16 camera. lens, 2 miigazines, syncmotor,<br />
12V motor w/battery, all cases, complete $2,395:<br />
Moviola 35mm composite sound-picture, $495.<br />
Ilept. cc, SOS. Cinema Supply Corp., 602 W.<br />
52nd St , New York 1 9.<br />
THEATRES FOR SALE<br />
CLfflfilOG HOUSE<br />
West coast theatres lor sale. Write for li
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